Phantom of words

1. Literal comprehension: This essay is about the value of education. Moti Nissani shows some disadvantages and many advantages of university Education. He says that we have to spend a lot of time and money in university but it yields sweet fruits. We go to university for formal degree. The first and most important benefit of university education gives us awareness about better health. Educated people are healthier, physically and mentally. When we study in university, there is mental exercise and our mind does not rust. Another advantage is that university education broadens our mind and widens our social horizon. In the educated society and country democracy flourishes. Democratic norms and values spread in the educated society. University education makes us intelligent, social, healthier, aware and broadminded citizens. A country needs education manpower for its development. It is fulfilled by university education. Not only that university education gives us opportunity to make many friends, teamwork, friendship, prestige, respect, awareness, co-operation etc. develop and increase because of university education. More than that, such formal education provides us personal and social freedom. Thus, we should go to university to understand ourselves, our responsibility, the meaning of our life and the mystery of the whole universe.

1. Literal comprehension: Richard Wright is the narrator of this essay. He is a Negro boy who is uneducated and unaware in the beginning. One day, he is reading the editorial of newspaper. There, he finds that a white writer named H.L. Mencken is severely criticized by other whites. The writer wants to know the reason of hatred. For this, he wants to read the books written by Mencken. However, the blacks are not allowed to go to library and they are deprived of the library cards. The boy gets two library cards from a kind and gentle Irish Catholic Mr. Falk who gives the boy the cards of his wife. The writer forges the letter himself and obtains two books by Mencken. When he reads these books, he understands why his own people hate Mencken. He has written about the equality between whites and blacks. The more he reads, the more he becomes aware. The boy often goes to the library obtains books and read critically. Then he understands himself his rights freedom and he understands the mystery of the universe. He makes himself different from other blacks. He understands the misery of the blacks and foolishness of the whites. He improves his English, becomes wise and begins to write for the rights and freedom of the blacks.

1. Literal comprehension: Dionysius was tyrannical rule of Sicily. He was powerful, rich and cruel. The people used to him. But he was surrounded by a large number of wise and brilliant advisor or court men. He had also many foolish flatters in his place. Among them, Damocles was famous for flattering the king. He used to tell the king that it was greatest glory of the world to be great king like King Dionysius. One day, the king thought to teach Damocles wise lesson. During a banquet, he offered Damocles to sit on the throne. A first, Damocles was happy and proud of being king. However, when he saw a sharp sword hinging with slender thread over his head, he was shocked and terrified. He immediately wanted to leave the throne but the king told him to sit in the throne till the feast was over. As soon as the feast was over, he willingly left the throne and understood a good lesson that the life of a king is not only joyful and honorable but full of danger.

1. Literal comprehension: During Ming reign, cricket fighting was popular at court. The ordinary people had to supply outstanding specimens of crickets to the high officials. A man named Make-good was appointed as neighborhood head to supply crickets to the magistrate. He was severely punished when he could not supply enough crickets.

One day, a fortuneteller gave him the idea to search cricket behind a Buddhist temple in a thicket. He found a large bug and brought home. When his nine-year-old son released the cricket, Make-good was shocked. Later, he found his son dead in the well and became grief-stricken. However, he was overjoyed when his son came back to life, Make-good again found a large cricket but could not catch. Finally, he caught a small cricket and tamed it. However, this cricket brought good fortune in his life. This cricket defeated all other insects and even the rooster. In the end, the magistrate and governor rewarded Make-good. His son regained fall consciousness and vital spirits.

1. Literal comprehension: Phaedo is the disciples of Socrates. When Socrates was executed, Phaedo was present at that time. In this story, Phaedo says that Sorates was very wise and brave. He was accused of misleading the youths. So, he was arrested by the authority. However, he was not executed immediately because the ship was to Delos with seven youths and seven maidens. No human murder would take place before the ship comes back. So, Socrates had enough time to beg excuse. The authority also wanted Socrates to beg excuse before he was executed. However, Socrates said that he wanted to die by telling the truth than live by telling the false. So, he decided to give up his life for sake of truth and justice.

Many friends and disciples tried to convince him but only he had to beg excuse. Socrates was great religion philosopher. So he said that dying bravely is for better than living cowardly. He said that our life is only a sleep and we wake-up after death. The authority brought his wife and three sons before him but he did not move a bit. Rather he convinced his wife and sons satisfactorily and sent them home. He even encouraged them to die for the sake of truth and justice. He said he would be under the providence of God even after death. At last, he drank hemlock and left the world. Before his death, he ordered Crito to offer a cock to Asclepius. Thus, the bravest, wisest and upright died.

1. Literal comprehension: Once upon a time, a great storm fell upon a forest. Lighting flashed thunder crashed and a dead tree was struck by lighting and it burst into flames. Then the whole forest was on fire. The birds and animals of the forest scattered. A little parrot also flew towards the safety of the river. While flying he saw many animals trapped in the forest surrounded by the great flames of fire. The little parrot decided to save them. He flew into the river. He dipped himself into water and flew back to the forest. He shook his body and sprinkled some drops of water over the raging fire. The god overhead laughed at the parrot seeing his attempt to put out the violent fire with some drops of water. One god disguised as a golden eagle and come down to earth. He advised the parrot to stop his foolish effort. The parrot, however replied that he needed help instead of advice. The eagle was impressed and his heart melted. He wept and this tear fell upon the fire like stream. The fire was put out and all the burned animals, birds and plants returned to their previous life.

2. Interpretation: This story talks about the selfless service benevolence. Even a little parrot becomes successful in his attempt to put out the raging fire and to save the life of many animals. We human beings are more conscious and powerful than the parrot and if we continue our efforts, we will be successful one day. The story also shows that if we were sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others. God will help in our efforts.

1. Literal Comprehension: Early every Friday morning, the Rabbi of Nemirov would go. So other people assembled for prayer said that he would go to heaven at the time. But, one a Litvak came and laughed. He did not believe on such baseless matter. So one night after evening prayers, the Litvak slid under the Rabbi's bed and waited. He remained there the whole night. At down the Rabbi woke up and groaned for whole hour to pray the God for the freedom of disease, pain and poverty of the people Israel. After that, he reached the jungle, he cut down a dead tree, made firewood, tied with the rope and took the bundle to the house of sick poor old widow Jew women who needed the firewood. He sold her the firewood on credit for six cents. The women were so weak then she could not make even the fire. So, the Rabbi made fire for her, when he put the firewood in the oven, he recited the first portion of the penitential prayers when the wood brunt brightly, he recited the second portion of penitential prayers and when there fire was set, the Rabbi recited the third portion and shut the stove.

The Litvak was observing his all activities. So he becomes the true disciple of the Rabbi. After that when other disciples said that the Rabbi would go to heaven at the time of penitential prayers, the Litvak didn't laugh. He only said quietly, 'If not higher.'

1. Literal comprehension: Naboth had a vineyard. It was nearby the palace of the king Ahab. The king told Naboth to give him the vineyard for money. But Naboth refused to give the inheritance of his fathers to the king. The king became sad and ate no bread. Then the queen Jez'ebel made a plot to kill Naboth and capture his vineyard. She ordered the nobles of the city to bear witness against Naboth to prove that he blasphemed Lord and the king. The Naboth was carried out of city and stoned to death. When the king was ready to capture the vineyard of Naboth, Lord sent Eli'jah to warn the king. Eli'jah warned the king that he was the enemy of Lord as he involved into evil work by killing Naboth and capturing his possession.

Story source from the Mahabharata

1. Literal Comprehension: One day the Pandova brothers went for from their dwelling place in search of Deer in the jungle. They saw a deer and followed it but the deer vanished. They felt very tired and thirsty. Yudhishthira could not find any sign of water around them. SoYoudhishthira sent Sahadeva to search water. Sahadeva went from there but he didn't come back. Yudhishthira became worried and he sent Nahakula. But Nahakula also failed to return. Then Yudhishthira sent Bhima and Arjuna there foot steeps to know what had happened to them. After sometime, he comes to a clearing. He saw a beautiful pool looked fresh, cool and inviting. But at the some time, he saw another terrible scene. His all brothers were lying on the bank of the pool, their eyes were closed.

Yudhishthira became mournful. He prayed the God to take him also because he could not live without his dear brothers. He cried bitterly. However, he could not control his thirst. When he bent down to drink the water, the sound of the Yaksha ordered him that he could not drink the water until he answered his questions. He had given the same order. However, Yudhishthira was very wise and patient. He requested the Yaksha to ask his questions and promised that he would answer them as well as he could.

The Yaksha asked him many questions that he answered sincerely and rightly. The Yaksha was very much impressed by his replies and promised to revive one of his brothers. Yuthishthira was very just fair, truth and wise. So, he requested the Yaksha to save Nahakula the son of step mother. The Yaksha was even more impressed by Yudhishthira's wisdom and justice. He revived all the brothers of Yudhishthira. He also advised them to remember him in future difficulties. Then he suggested them to go to Matsya with Draupadi and spend the rest exile period.