Worksheet Solutions: Paragraph

I. Write Paragraphs on the given Topics:

Rinse your teeth after every meal to remove food particles that feed bacteria. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Avoid sweets between meals because frequent sugar intake damages teeth. Visit the dentist regularly for check-ups and cleanings.

Happiness is linked with sound health. We must follow the rules of hygiene and eat healthy food. We should avoid eating too many sweets to keep our teeth healthy. Timely precautions can save us from many troubles. In the morning we should wash our face and brush our teeth properly. After every meal we should rinse our mouth with water to remove food particles. We must avoid excess sweets between meals because chocolates and candies can damage teeth. For protection from bacteria, we should visit the dentist from time to time for a check-up. Negligence of any kind can prove dangerous. Hence, we should take proper care of our teeth.

Choose baked food instead of fried food when possible. Take part in sports and walk to school or nearby places. Do Yoga to control weight and improve flexibility. Avoid anger and tension; stay calm and cheerful for better health.

Early to bed and early to rise help to ensure sound health and happiness. A sound mind lives in a healthy body. Keeping fit and fine needs careful habits of diet and exercise. We should eat a balanced diet and avoid overeating, which can cause many health problems. Physical exercise also helps in the healthy growth of the body. Yoga is useful to reduce unnecessary fat and increase flexibility. Anger and tension are our great enemies; they damage both body and mind. So one should learn to keep calm and cheerful in all circumstances. Regular exercise, good food, and a calm mind together help us stay fit and fine.

Book fairs are held every year in Delhi. The site is Pragati Maidan. There is an exhibition of thousands of books under one roof. You can buy books on all subjects and topics. The fair attracts people from far and near. Hundreds of stalls are put up by Indian and foreign publishers. It is a great attraction for book lovers and scholars and should not be missed.

Education is the key to a happy life. It develops the mind. Memory and knowledge have made humans superior to other animals. Education has made people more capable of understanding and changing the world. It is unfortunate that millions of people in India remain uneducated and so remain poor and backward. They are easily cheated and exploited by a class of educated people. No nation can prosper unless the masses are educated. Hence, education should reach even the remotest corner of our country. Every Indian must be educated so that overall progress can be achieved. Poverty, the greatest curse, can be reduced by education. Therefore, education for all is essential and is the solution to many social problems.

The postman is a useful public servant. He belongs to a very important department. He wears a khaki uniform and a khaki cap. On duty he appears quite active. He carries a bag on his shoulder containing many letters and parcels. He distributes them while travelling on a bicycle. In the morning he sorts the mail and arranges it in bundles. Then he sets out on his round. He delivers letters, parcels, money-orders and telegrams to the people of his area. Sometimes he reads or writes letters for illiterate people. His duty is hard; he has to work in rain, cold or sunshine. He gets very few holidays. In rural areas the duty of a postman is even harder because he has to cover long distances from village to village.

A farmer grows food for us. He is the bread-giver of the nation. His life is very hard. He gets up early in the morning, looks after his cattle, tills the land and sows seeds. He waters his fields and protects crops from pests and stray animals. At harvest time he and his family cut the crop, thresh it and take the grain to the market to sell. He grows different crops in different seasons and depends largely on nature for a good crop. Sometimes his whole crop is destroyed by hailstorms, locusts or floods. Many farmers live in acute poverty. They often grow crops but have little to eat themselves. They are sometimes ignorant of modern methods and therefore do not use scientific implements. Owing to poverty and lack of awareness, they miss the benefits of modern farming. It is necessary to spread awareness and provide support to improve their lives.

I am fortunate to have many good friends, but my best friend is Rajan. We have a lot in common. We both love reading books and newspapers and we play cricket in the evening. Both of us are fond of South Indian food. Rajan is very polite to old people, women and strangers. He behaves well with everybody and loves children. He can spend hours playing with them. He is a brilliant student and is also good at sports. He is sincere, honest and hard-working. I have learnt a lot from him. We share each other's joys and sorrows. He often reminds me of the saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Whenever I feel tense, he stands by my side and helps me ease my tensions. I am proud of him. He is truly a boy of fine qualities and I hope our friendship will last long. May God bless our friendship.

All the teachers of my school are highly educated, sincere and hard-working. However I like Mrs Biswas the most. She is a tall, graceful and interesting lady who is always well dressed and well informed. She teaches English in a lively manner and makes her lessons interesting. She never loses patience with students and explains the subject in simple language. She is regular and keeps strict discipline in the class without using a rod. She is never partial to anyone and her hard-working nature inspires us. She encourages questions and is always ready to help even after school hours. These qualities have made her very popular among students. Other teachers respect her and the principal has great faith in her. She commands respect and affection from one and all.

The cow is a mammal and a domestic animal that provides us with milk. A cow is considered sacred in India and is regarded as a mother by many Hindus. The cow is herbivorous and eats grass and husk. It is a very useful animal and gives us many valuable things. For example, milk is highly nourishing, especially for young children, and many people like a glass of fresh milk daily. Cow dung is used as manure and also as fuel in some places. Calves and oxen help in farming and in drawing carts. Cow skin gives leather for making shoes, and horns are used to make decorative items. The cow is rightly respected by many people.

Everyone is familiar with the railway coolie. He is a man who carries passengers' luggage to and from train compartments. He often wears a red shirt and a yellow turban and may carry a brass plate. He knows train numbers, their names and arrival and departure times along with platform numbers. He is very helpful to passengers and assists those who are confused. He carries heavy loads and his hard work goes on day after day with little rest or recreation. He receives a small payment that depends on the weight of the load and the distance. Thus the coolie is very useful to passengers and his service is commendable. We must keep a soft corner for him and always give him a fair payment when we hire him.

Television is one of the wonders of science. It is more friendly and entertaining than the radio and works on wireless principles. Television is an important means of entertainment and information. The introduction of colour television and the entry of private channels with sponsored programmes have made TV hugely popular. It is educative as well as informative and helps to spread education and fight social evils. A television set has a screen on which pictures move; it receives signals from a satellite through a set-top box (STB). We can control brightness, colour, contrast, volume and channels by using a remote. There are many useful programmes such as sports, health shows and educational broadcasts. But one should not become addicted to watching TV.

I like the rainy season very much. Rains are welcome after the hot summer months. One day I was on my way to school when suddenly the sky became overcast with dark clouds and the first raindrops began to fall. I did not have an umbrella and by the time I reached school it started raining heavily. Fortunately I was not completely drenched, but many students and teachers got wet. After an hour our principal declared a holiday and we returned home when there was a short break in the rain. In the afternoon my mother served hot pakoras. It was an enjoyable day for me and for other children. My friends and I enjoyed floating paper boats in the running rainwater. We shouted loudly whenever anyone's boat sank or floated away. It was a memorable day and I always welcome such days for the fun and freshness they bring.

The summer season is usually troublesome and is not liked by many people. Power cuts occur frequently and make the situation worse. Last Friday I went to see an important book fair but I wanted to avoid it because of the extreme heat. I was sweating badly on the way. I boarded a bus but found it very suffocating. Very few people were on the roads as most preferred to stay indoors to avoid the heat. Many activities seemed suspended. I badly needed a glass of cool water and felt some relief when I reached the air-conditioned hall where the book fair was held. I enjoyed selecting books, but on my way home my clothes were wet with sweat again. I drank a bottle of chilled water and sat before the cooler, yet it was still too hot to feel comfortable.

India adopted its own Constitution on 26 January 1950 and thus became a Republic. Since then, 26 January is celebrated with great pomp. The President of India presides over the Republic Day parade held in the capital along Rajpath to mark the importance of the day. The President unfurls the national flag and is given a twenty-one gun salute. There is a colourful march-past by the armed forces and display of various weapons. Cultural pageants are presented by different states. School children and folk artists also take part in the parade. Brave children and performers on elephants are among the main attractions. Those who cannot attend in person watch the ceremony on television.

Holi is the festival of colours, fun and frolic. People apply colour to one another's faces and many children and adults play with coloured water. There is a well-known story connected with the festival. Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was saved from being burnt while sitting on a pyre. Holika, who had a boon that protected her from fire, was burnt instead. This event symbolises the victory of good over evil and Holi is celebrated every year to remember it. Huge bonfires are lit on the eve of Holi to mark the end of Holika. I eagerly await the festival in March and enjoy the atmosphere of festivity. People often forget their malice, meet one another and exchange good wishes. Thus Holi brings people closer and should be celebrated in high spirits.

Diwali is the festival of lights. It falls in the month of Kartik (October/November) on Amavasya. It is celebrated to mark Lord Rama's return home after fourteen years of exile. On this day people also worship Goddess Lakshmi. Preparations start several days in advance: houses are cleaned, painted and decorated with flowers. On the day of the festival earthen lamps, candles and electric lights are lit. Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi are worshipped and sweets are exchanged. Sweet shops are beautifully decorated and sweets are displayed attractively. Children enjoy fireworks and crackers, though this practice can pollute the environment. Despite this, Diwali remains a festival that many people enjoy the most.

Newspapers have become an essential part of our daily life. We cannot live without them; the morning newspaper is as important as a morning cup of tea for many people. In modern society a newspaper has great social and educative value. It is a common medium for presenting news and views. It satisfies different readers: a businessman reads to know market trends, a reader wants to learn about new books, a sportsperson wants sports news, and a farmer seeks weather reports. A newspaper contains all these items and so is widely read. But sometimes some newspapers present only the negative side or even publish false reports. These are major drawbacks. A newspaper should avoid such problems and give priority to accurate and important news of national significance.

There is a popular saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." This shows the importance of games and sports. Games and sports are necessary for the all-round development of a child. Youths are energetic and should spend some time on sports besides their studies. Sports benefit their body, mind and character. They teach discipline, cooperation and tolerance. Sports also teach the value of teamwork: every player plays for the good of the team, not only for personal glory. Students learn lessons of true sportsmanship by playing various games. Hence, games and sports should be given due importance. There should be a proper balance between study and play so that both mind and body develop well.

Environmental degradation is one of the major global issues. The overuse of resources, whether land or water, and rapid industrialisation are among the main causes. People cut trees for selfish purposes and do not consider the dangerous consequences. If this continues unchecked it can lead to soil erosion and floods. Our ever-increasing population is another major cause; it promotes urbanisation, congestion and pollution. Industries emit smoke and discharge polluted water. Therefore factories should not be allowed to emit large quantities of harmful effluents into the air or rivers without treatment; they must treat waste before release. We should also value tree plantation and plant more trees in our surroundings. It is necessary to check environmental degradation for the sake of all humanity.

Discipline can be defined as conduct based on obedience to law, regularity and a sense of duty. Discipline is a national virtue and gives strength to a nation. We can notice discipline in nature: the earth, the moon and the sun follow fixed systems. Discipline is necessary in all walks of life-playground, school or college. Without it our goals cannot be achieved. Children must be taught to obey their parents and teachers and to follow the norms of life and the rules of discipline at home and outside. We should take inspiration from the lives of great people such as Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln, who valued discipline throughout their lives. Discipline should be our guide and guardian. A disciplined child is loved and respected by all.

Sachin Tendulkar is a superstar of Indian cricket who has brought many laurels to India. His talent is appreciated not only in India but abroad as well. He was born on 24 April 1973 in Mumbai and was inspired by Kapil Dev. He worked hard to realise his dream and began to play international cricket at a very young age, making his debut as a teenager. He achieved many great feats in domestic and international cricket and won many awards. He has been a top scorer in both Test and One Day Internationals, with thousands of runs to his name. I am a great fan of Sachin Tendulkar; his name is taken with reverence and he is admired by cricket lovers everywhere.

Subhash Chandra Bose was a great leader of India. He was born on 23 January 1896 and was popularly called Netaji because he led his countrymen on the path of freedom. He strongly opposed British rule and vowed to serve his motherland in the freedom struggle. He went to prison many times but continued his efforts to free India. During the Second World War, when British power weakened, he sought help from other countries and travelled abroad to organise efforts for independence. He organised the Indian National Army, which fought against the British. He urged his countrymen with the famous appeal, "Give me blood and I will give you freedom." Many Indians joined his cause. It was a sad day when Netaji reportedly died in an air crash. We remember him as one of the greatest fighters for India's freedom.

Trees are very important for us and it is unfortunate that we often ignore their significance. Trees give many things that are essential for our existence while asking for nothing in return. They produce oxygen in the presence of sunlight, which is vital for human life. Trees help maintain the ecological balance and contribute to rainfall through transpiration. They purify air, provide homes for birds and animals, and give products such as gum, lac and wood. Children enjoy games under their shade and tree roots bind the soil to prevent erosion. Hence we should avoid cutting trees and instead plant more and more of them. Cutting forests leads to the greenhouse effect and global warming, causing serious consequences for life on the planet. Afforestation is the only long-term measure to avoid such disastrous results. We must save trees for our own survival and take a pledge to plant more of them.

Whenever I have leisure time I enjoy gardening. I am a great lover of nature and therefore spend most of my free time in my small garden in the compound of my house. I take interest in preparing the soil for sowing vegetable seeds by digging and manuring it. I am fond of growing flowers like roses, dahlias, marigolds and lilies. I can study well among these flowers because I feel peaceful and concentrated there. I also grow green vegetables such as ladyfingers, pumpkins and cucumbers in abundance. My grandparents and parents like bitter gourd, so I grow that too. I enjoy watering the plants, watching their steady growth and keeping my garden neat and clean.

Everyone cherishes a dream in life and it gives meaning to one's efforts. I have a sweet dream and I know I must work hard to realise it. I wish to become a doctor so that I can serve my motherland and help those who live hard lives in poor conditions. Many people live in dingy places and suffer from diseases because they cannot afford medical care. I want to help these people and open a clinic in rural areas to provide medical aid to poor villagers. I also wish to contribute to research for a cure for cancer, a deadly disease. I dream of a day when society will be free from this illness. I am working hard in my studies and hope to fulfil my dream in the coming years.

Modern gadgets are a boon because they have made our lives more comfortable. Through wireless, telegraph and fax machines, messages can now be sent quickly to any part of the world. Modern gadgets combine comfort with advanced engineering and reliability and have greatly contributed to human welfare. New equipment for navigation, data processing and computer-controlled systems provide useful information for many fields. They have also contributed to entertainment-television, compact discs (audio and visual) and radios are examples. As a result of these inventions, people's lifestyles have changed and many gadgets have become necessities. They have also increased human capability and convenience.