Life And Learning Questions and Answers of  Class 11 AHSEC Assam Board Alternative English book Seasons. Also, get the summary of the chapter written by G. B. Shaw and important notes and textual questions solutions.


Summary

The passage is saying that after we finish school, we enter the "bigger school of life" where we continue to learn and face new challenges. The basic skills we learned in school, like reading and math, are useful, but many of the other things we learned in school don't necessarily help us grow up or succeed in life. Even in our working life, we still have routines and exams to deal with, and sometimes we have to give answers that may not be entirely correct just to please the older people evaluating us. This skill of giving the right answer even if it's not true can be learned from a "crammer," which is someone or something that helps us prepare for exams quickly.

The passage suggests that learning new scientific truths and having experiences may not necessarily help us pass exams. Instead, it claims that relying on the Bible and accepted scientific facts from several decades ago is more likely to help us pass exams and succeed in our chosen routine or career. However, the real beginning of life happens after we successfully navigate these exams because there are important basics of life, like eating, drinking, and sleeping, that are not taught in school or college.

The passage also mentions that the classics, which are old and well-known works of literature, remain important because they are written in languages that are no longer spoken. It emphasizes that each person, whether they are a student or an adult, is an individual and needs individual attention, which is something that is difficult to get in school. Finally, it suggests that our achievements in school do not necessarily guarantee success in life, as there are many other things to learn outside of school.

Textual Questions Answers

COMPREHENSION

I. State whether the following sentences are True or False.

1.. The hardest part of schooling, according to Shaw, is the early part.
Ans: True

2. School life is always irksome.
Ans: True

3. There was a time when German boots were not divided into rights and lefts.
Ans: True

4. The scholar who knows everything exists.
Ans: False

5. Shaw forgets everybody five minutes after they have been introduced to him.
Ans: True

II. Answer these questions in one sentence.

1. What is Shaw's interesting opinion on 'routine'?
Ans: Shaw thinks that even though routines are supposed to work well for everyone, actually they suit nobody.

2. Why were English people going to live in Germany astonished?
Ans: English people going to live in Germany were astonished because the Germans did not have their boots divided into lefts and rights.

3. Why is da Vinci's notebook considered 'funny'?
Ans: Da Vinci's notebook is considered funny because people during his time did not accept or take seriously his thoughts and views.

4. Why does Shaw call himself 'an educated man'?
Ans: Shaw considers himself an educated man because he has been able to make a living by doing work that requires a high level of education.

5. Why didn't the governess teach Shaw the table of logarithms and the binomial theorem?
Ans: The governess didn't teach Shaw the table of logarithms and the binomial theorem because she herself didn't know or understand them and didn't have knowledge or expertise in them.

III. Answer these questions in two or three sentences.

1. Why does the author say that the hardest part of schooling is the early part?
Ans: According to the author, the most difficult part of going to school is when children are first taught how to read, write, and compute. The author believes this is a remarkable achievement because we don't remember being taught these things. It's strange that we tend to remember things we learn when we are young, but as we get older, it becomes harder to remember new things.

2. How can a crammer find out what questions are going to be asked?
Ans: A crammer is someone who prepares for an exam by studying previous exam papers. Even though they don't have access to the actual questions in advance, they can still figure out what questions are likely to be asked by looking at the patterns in the old exam papers. By studying these papers repeatedly, they become familiar with the questions that examiners tend to ask repeatedly.

3. Why does Shaw say that once the students are safely through their examinations, they will discover their education to be defective?
Ans: Shaw suggests that after students finish their exams successfully, they may realize that their education is lacking because they haven't been taught important and basic life skills. They might find themselves completely unprepared when it comes to activities like eating, drinking, breathing, and sleeping.

4. Who is a savage or an ignoramus according to Shaw?
Ans: The author, Shaw, admits that he lacked knowledge about great musicians and painters because he wasn't taught about them in school. He refers to himself as a savage and an ignoramus, suggesting that he considered himself lacking in cultural education compared to others who had learned about these artists in school.

5. Why does Shaw think he has not grown up yet?
Ans: Shaw believes that he hasn't fully matured or become an adult yet because he's constantly discovering new things and his learning journey isn't complete. He sees life as a never-ending school that presents him with new and exciting challenges to learn from.

IV.Answer these questions briefly in your own words.

1. Why does Shaw say that to do well in an examination, 'you must go to a crammer'?
Ans: Shaw suggests that if someone wants to do well in an exam, they should consider going to a crammer because it helps students prepare for exams, and even though they don't have access to the actual exam questions in advance, they can figure out which questions are likely to be asked by studying previous exam papers. By familiarizing themselves with the questions that examiners tend to repeat, the crammer can help the student be well-prepared for the exam.

2. 'School to me was a sentence of penal servitude.' Explain.
Ans: Shaw expresses that school felt like a punishment to him because he had an artistic nature. While he could easily understand and appreciate masterpieces of literature, poetry, and history but he struggled to connect with textbooks because they were written by individuals who lacked the skill of engaging writing.

3. How does Shaw argue that a routine, supposed to suit everybody, suits nobody?
Ans: Shaw contends that a routine, which is designed to be suitable for everyone, actually fails to meet the needs of individuals. He argues that each person is unique and requires individualized attention, which is not possible within the confines of school and other structured routines. To support his argument, Shaw gives an example of German boots that were not divided into left and right. This example illustrates how everyone has distinct needs that cannot be adequately addressed by a uniform routine.

4. Explain why it is dangerous to give up-to-date answers in examinations.
Ans: Shaw says it is dangerous to give up-to-date answers in examinations because the people conducting these examinations are old people with old knowledge and concepts which they think are eternally right. They do not take into account recent developments in the field of knowledge. Shaw gives examples of Copernicus and Da Vinci's views, which although established as truth now, were considered false in their time.

V. Answers these questions in detail.

1. Shaw had a reputation for holding radical views and opinions, and 'Life and Learning' is an excellent example of it. Which views of Shaw do you agree with, and why?
Ans: I completely agree with everything Shaw expresses in this essay because it all makes a lot of sense. Many of us share the view that school life can be frustrating and that routines rarely suit everyone. We can relate to the idea that learning during childhood is both difficult and effortless, as we often don't remember being taught certain things. Shaw's perspective that the fundamental skills we learn in school, like reading and basic math, are always useful and relatively easy, while the rest taught through monotonous routines doesn't contribute much to our growth, is sensible. Life itself is like a larger school with new challenges, which align with our own experiences. I can relate to his criticism of stubborn old teachers who resist new ideas and his observation that textbooks are often poorly written by individuals lacking writing skills.

2. Suggest some steps to improve the quality of school education in your state/region.
Ans: Our school education system primarily relies on memorization, which doesn't provide genuine knowledge. Instead, we should focus on delivering practical and valuable education that truly benefits children. Shaw's viewpoints throughout the essay can serve as guidelines for enhancing the quality of education in schools. By shifting the emphasis towards education that meets real-life needs, rather than overwhelming students with theories and irrelevant facts, we can improve the learning experience and make it more meaningful for students.