English For Today chapter 6: Our Neighbours

Unit Six

Our Neighbours

Learning outcomes

After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

• read, comprehend and summarise texts
• ask and answer questions
• read travel advertisements and talk about them
• select and write headings
• write letters to friends describing places of interest.

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Lesson 1: Nepal, the Land of the Everest

A. Read the following passage on Nepal.

a. Known as the Land of Everest, Nepal is one of the most charming countries in Asia. The Kingdom of Nepal is a small land of sublime beauty. It has some of the world's best and very important temples. It is a country that is rich in scenic beauty and cultural heritage.

b. Nepal lies between India and the Tibetan part of China. This small country has an area of 147,181 square kilometers. Southern Nepal is tropical low land known as the Terai Plains. This part of Nepal has hot summers and warm winters. Here the temperatures reach up to 40°C in April and May and monsoon rains drench this region from June to September. The central hill-lands including the Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys have a temperate climate and are also influenced by the monsoon. North of that is the slope of the main section of the Himalayan range. This part of Nepal has some of the highest peaks of the world including Everest.

Figure

Labels: China; Nepal; Himalayas; Dhaulagiri; Pokhara; Kathmandu; Lalitpur; Bhaktapur; Everest; India; Bangladesh; [unclear] (top left); [unclear] (top centre); [unclear] (bottom right)

Description: Map of Nepal as an elongated shaded country, with India to the south and China to the north. Places are marked with dots and names, including Pokhara and Kathmandu in the centre and Lalitpur and Bhaktapur near Kathmandu. A peak labelled Everest appears in the east.

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c. Nepal is home to nearly 29,000,000 people. The population is primarily rural. Kathmandu, the capital city, has less than one million inhabitants. Nepal's demographic features are complicated not only by dozens of ethnic groups, but by different castes. In total, there are 103 castes and ethnic groups living in this small country. The two largest of such groups are known as Chetri and Bahun. Others include Magar, Tharu and Tamang, Newar, Muslim, Gurung and Damai. About 48 percent of the people speak Nepali. Among other languages spoken are Maithali, Bhojpuri, Tharu and Tamang.

d. Nepal is the holy land of Lord Pashupatinath and Gautam Buddha where the Hindus and Buddhists have lived together in harmony for centuries. The Temple of Pashupatinath is the most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the four most important sites in the world for Shiva worshippers. Lord Buddha, the light of Asia, was born in Lumbini in Nepal's southern plains, which makes this a sacred pilgrimage destination for the Buddhists as well. In fact, many Nepalese combine Hindu and Buddhist practices; many temples and shrines are shared between the two faiths, and some deities are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists.

e. The Kathmandu Valley is the richest cultural heritage centre of Nepal. The three ancient cities of the Valley - Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur - represent an epitome of harmony in urban design, elegant architecture and refined culture. These cities are famous for religious monuments unequalled in the world. The seven monument zones situated within the Valley have been named as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

f. Many festivals add dazzling colour to Nepal's vibrant culture, which are celebrated throughout the year. Dasain or dusherra is celebrated nationwide in October. This is the most important of all Nepalese celebrations and includes the biggest animal sacrifice of the year. Tihar is celebrated in November. Other festivals include the Holi and Chaitra Daisan. Some Hindu festivals are the Haribodhini Ekadashi, Maha Sivaratri and the Krishna Jayanti. There are Buddhist celebrations too and those include Mani Rimd, Buddha Jayanti and Losar, which marks the Tibetan New Year.

B. The passage has six paragraphs (a-f). Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs (a-f) from the list of headings below. There are more headings in the box than the paragraphs, so you will not use all of them.

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List of headings

1. Climate that varies from place to place
2. A land of religious coexistence
3. A land of high peaks and Everest
4. A small country with a huge population
5. A blend of natural beauty and cultural heritage
6. The temples of Nepal
7. Many occasions to celebrate
8. A rich spot of cultural heritage
9. A small population with huge diversity

C. For each phrase below choose the meaning that is closest to the meaning used in the passage.

1. tropical lowland a. an area of land having humid climate b. a land situated on the hill c. a low land close to river d. a land that lies at the foot of a hill

2. temperate climate a. a weather condition of high temperature b. a moderate climate c. a climate with high rainfall d. a climate that is uncomfortable to live in

3. ethnic groups a. groups based on their religious faiths b. groups of people living in the hills-tracts c. groups having distinct racial and cultural features d. groups who believe in Buddhism

4. pilgrimage destination a. a sacred place where people travel to perform religious rites. b. a historical place with many old buildings. c. a tourist spot of great scenic beauty. d. the birthplace of a famous person.

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5. elegant architecture a. temples of gods b. graceful work of building crafts c. buildings of historical importance d. well-designed area of cultural acts

D. Answer the following questions.

1. How many ethnic groups are there in Nepal?
2. What do you know about the weather of Nepal?
3. "Many Nepalese combine Hindu and Buddhist practices."- Explain this statement with examples from the passage.
4. Which three cities of Nepal will you visit in order to see the rich samples of Nepal's cultural heritage sites?
5. Make a list of the festivals that are celebrated in Nepal.
6. Give at least three reasons why you might be interested to visit Nepal. Also make a list of the places you would love to visit in Nepal.

E. Look at the advertisement of a package tour to Nepal.

Dhaka-Kathmandu-Pokhara Package Tour

Price: BDT 39,999/

Duration: 4 nights and 5 days

Package includes:

• Return air ticket with Bangladesh airport taxes & Kathmandu departure taxes
• 2 nights accommodation in Kathmandu
• 2 nights accommodation in Pokhara
• Buffet: Daily Breakfast and Dinner
• Both way airport transfers in Kathmandu
• Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu by AC bus
• Half day sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley

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Now, discuss if the following statements are True/False. Give the correct information if a statement is false.

a. The package includes the cost of travelling from Kathmandu airport to the hotel in Kathmandu. b. The tourists will be provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner. c. The tourists do not have to pay extra for a half-day sightseeing in Pokhara. d. The tour operators will bear all visa related costs. e. The tourists will go to Pokhara from Kathmandu by domestic airlines flights.

F. Imagine that you have chosen the package tour shown in E to visit Kathmandu and Pokhara. Now, write a letter to your friend highlighting the main attractions offered by the package. In your letter you should cover the following points:

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• Duration of travel
• Means of transport used:
  1. Dhaka-Kathmandu-Dhaka
  2. Kathmandu-Pokhara-Kathmandu
• Accommodation facilities
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Total cost of the package
• Any other cost that is not covered by the package offer

Lesson 2: Sri Lanka: The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

A. Look at the picture. Ask and answer the following questions in pair.

Figure

Labels: SRI LANKA, INDIA, NORTH EASTERN, NORTH CENTRAL, NORTH WESTERN, SOUTHERN, SABARAGAMUWA, [unclear] Description: Map of Sri Lanka with its provinces shaded in different tones; India is shown at the top-left corner. Many small place names are printed across the map but are too small to read.

1. What is the name of the country?
2. What is the country surrounded by?
3. What do you know about the country?

B. Now read the following passage to find your answers to the questions in A.

a. Anyone visiting Sri Lanka may often hear the word Ayubowan. This word means 'May you have the gift of long life'. It is with this traditional greeting that everyone is welcomed to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is variously known as: Serendip, Ceylon, Teardrop of India, Pearl of the Indian Ocean, etc. These names reveal the richness and beauty of this island nation. Many travellers, from ancient mariners and merchants to present day tourists, have been attracted by the beauty of this island.

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b. Sri Lanka is located in the Indian Ocean, just off the south-eastern coast of India. Shaped like a teardrop, the island of Sri Lanka measures about 415 kilometers from north to south, and about 220 kilometers from east to west, with a total land area of about 65,600 square kilometers. It has more than 1340 kilometers of coastline.

c. Despite its modest size Sri Lanka has a population of about 20 million. Sri Lanka is a multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-lingual country. The four major ethnic groups are the Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils and Sri Lankan Moors or Muslims. A fifth group, the Veddhas are the original inhabitants of the island. The ancient history of Sri Lanka is depicted in the Hindu epic the Ramayana and in the Mahavamsa or 'The Great Chronicle'.

Figure: Colombo: The capital city

d. Sri Lanka's economy has traditionally been based on agriculture. The emphasis is on exporting crops such as tea, rubber, and coconuts. In fact, Sri Lanka is the largest tea exporter of the world. The country is also a major producer and supplier of a variety of spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, cloves, and nutmeg. Cinnamon first originated in Sri Lanka and was introduced later to the world by the Arab merchants.

e. Sri Lanka's archaeological treasures may be compared to other civilizations of the past like the Golden Age of Greece, the Roman Empire and Mayan citadels. The culture has been influenced by the western colonisers and eastern traders. That resulted in developing a unique mix of races and religions, arts and

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crafts, festivals and costumes in this small country.

f. Besides the man-made riches,one may find the God-given blessings of nature in Sri Lanka. The island is circled by azure seas and is blessed with sandy beaches, green hills, cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife and a variety of flowers and fruits. The country abounds with coconut groves, spice gardens, tea estates and many other gardens and woods. Travellers from all over the world come to Sri Lanka. Here, a weary traveller can pass a relaxing day by a palm-shaded lagoon looking at the endless ocean. And for the adventurous, days can be full of excitement snorkelling, swimming, fishing or sailing.

C. From your reading of the above text, complete the table with no more than two words and/or numbers.

Sri Lanka: Facts

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D. The passage in B has six paragraphs (a-f). Choose the most suitable headings for paragraphs (a-f) from the list of headings below. There are more headings in the box than the paragraphs, so you will not use all of them.

List of headings

1. A beautiful island with natural richness
2. Teardrop of India
3. Geographical features
4. A rich multicultural setting
5. Some religious groups of Sri Lanka
6. A traditional economy
7. The land of cinnamon
8. A melting pot of the past civilizations
9. Tourist attractions and leisure activities
10. A country with beautiful beaches

E. Read the brief descriptions of some of the best tourist places in Sri Lanka. Then discuss the questions that follow.

Anuradhapura

Anuradhapura is one of the ancient capitals of Sri Lanka. The old city is today surrounded by monasteries, covering an area of over sixteen square miles. The city is also significant in Hindu legend as the capital of King Ravana.

Bundala National Park

Bundala National Park is one of Sri Lanka's leading destinations for birdwatchers. The park is also home to large populations of elephants, crocodiles, turtles and leopards.

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Hikkaduwa–Coral reef & sandy beaches

Hikkaduwa is a little town on the south coast of Sri Lanka. It is well-known for its beach and corals. It is principally a tourist destination, and serves as a great beach with options to surf, snorkel and enjoy the sun.

Dambulla

Major attractions of this city include the biggest and greatest potted cave temple complex of Sri Lanka. It is also famous for the Rangiri Dambulla Global Stadium, which was built in just 167 days. The city also boasts of the biggest rose quartz mountain range in South Asia and the iron wood forest.

Now discuss the following questions in pairs.

1. Which of the following tourist places do you like to visit?

   • Places with beaches
   • Places of historical importance
   • Places that preserve wildlife

   Explain why you like such a place.

2. If you are given an offer to visit any two of the four Sri Lankan cities above, which two cities will you choose. Explain why.

F. Write a paragraph on some of the interesting places to visit in Sri Lanka. Use your own words and the information given in section E.