NIOS Class 12 English: Chapter 19 Summary- ‘READING with UNDERSTANDING’

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Section 19.1 Summary of Seen or Unseen Passage- ‘the Reward of a Good Deed’

  • Many years ago, an elder man with his wife enters the lobby of small hotel located in Philadelphia in stormy night.
  • They move towards the front desk with the hope to get room for night as it was raining outside.
  • The husband has asked to clerk “Could you possibly give us a room here?”
  • The clerk seems very friendly and he have charming smile, reply them as there were three conventions in town so all of their hotel՚s room are taken.
  • But the clerk was kind enough he offered the couple his own room if they do not mind as its one o՚clock of morning already and raining outside.
  • He told the elder couple that his room is not exactly a suite but it comfortable enough for them to spend the night.
  • The couple had refused his proposal, so the clerk had told them not to worry about him he will be fine, after hearing this couple had agreed.
  • At morning when the elder man was paying his bill, he appreciate the clack and told him that he is so kind manager and he should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States.
  • The elder men also added that maybe someday he will build one for you. And three of them had good laugh.
  • The couple exist from hotel and they talk about the clerk that it՚s not easy to find out such good man who is friendly as well as helpful.
  • After two years the clerk received a letter for the same old man, I n letter the elder man had recalled the incident of that stormy night which was almost forgotten by the clerk, and with this the elder man had sanded a round trip ticket of New York.
  • The old man had requested the clerk to visit ones.
  • The clerk met the old man in New York and the old man led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street.
  • He showed a great new building there, a pale reddish stone, with torrets and watchtowers thrusting up to the sky.
  • The older man told him that, he had just built the hotel for you to manage.
  • The clerk replies him that he might be joking.
  • The elder man told him with great smile that he is not joking.
  • The older man՚s name was William Waldorf-Aster, and that magnificent structure was the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
  • The young clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.
  • This young clerk had never thought that, his kindness would lead him to become the manager of one of the world՚s most glamorous hotels.

Section 19.2 Summary of Seen or Unseen Passage- ‘India by Eyes of Nehru’

  • Jawahar Lal Nehru said that, we are livening in a wonderful world which is reach in beauty, charm and adventure.
  • If we have ability to identify the adventures then world is made up of endless adventures.
  • Our country India is a little world in itself with rich heritage and many places to discover.
  • Nehru ji had travelled a lot in India and have grown in years. He had seen many parts of the country and he still wish that he had more time to visit the nooks and corners of India.
  • He wishes to visit India with bright young children whose minds are opening out with wonder and curiosity as they make new discoveries.
  • Rather than visit great cities of India, he wish to discover the mountains and the forests and the great rivers and the old monuments, all of which tell us something of India՚s story.
  • He would like if children discover by themselves that they can play about in the snow in some parts of India and also see other places where tropical forests flourish. And it must be journey of discovery of the beautiful trees of India՚s forests and hill sides and the flowers that grace the changing seasons and bring life and colour in our life.
  • He also wants to watch the birds and try to recognize them and try to be friends with them.
  • But going to forests and see the wild animals, both the little ones and the big would be the most exciting adventure itself. Some of stupid people go to forest with a gun and try to kill wild animals but they do not have idea that they are killing something that was beautiful.
  • Rather than this, most interesting thing would be to visit forest without any kind of weapon and to find that wild animals are not afraid and can be come close to us?
  • Animals have better instincts than man. If a man goes to near them to kill them, they will get afraid of us and run away. But if we have any love for animals, they realize it and friendly behave with us.
  • If we afraid of them then the animal is afraid too, and might attack us for self-defense. Just as human, if we meet someone in friendly way, they also become friendly or we dislike them then the situation will be give and take.