A. Many of us think that we must have a steady big job to be happy in life. Is that always true? Look at the picture and discuss in pairs what you see in it.

B. Read the text. It is about a young entrepreneur, Sayeed Kamal. Notice what he thinks about job and happiness. Then answer the questions that follow.

I know you will wonder if I say the best thing that ever happened to me was when I left my last job. Yes, really!

I was a desk clerk in an office. But believe me I never liked my job. Nothing can be more boring than being stuck in an office all day with computers and telephone.

So after two years or so, I decided to leave my job though I had a good salary. Now I’m the owner of a nursery. Planting seeds, budding, grafting, taking care of saplings, cleaning the flower beds and spending time with trees are different parts of my full time job. I start work very early. In summer I usually leave home at 5:30 in the morning, but in winter not until about 7. I’ve a small hut in my nursery. There cannot be any more pleasure for me than when I see the moon from there or walk through the trees in the soft moonlit night. 

The winter is just over. So I’m cleaning up the winter flower garden. Now I’m busy producing more timber and medicinal plants which people will buy from July. Every season is so different and I love them all. When I compare my present days with the past, I simply can’t understand how I could survive in my previous job. I love nature. I just love working outside in the open air after all those months in a stuffy office. Gadgets never attract me and perhaps never will.

I’m not married. I do my own work, even cook my own food. I try not to depend on others for the work which I myself can do. Often my friends are annoyed with me. They say, I should engage a maid for household chores. They are not happy to see me in this ‘rustic life’. They are professionals. They earn a lot. Maybe much more than what I do, but I think I enjoy my work more.

At weekends, I often go to the countryside. Sometimes with my friends, sometimes alone. I love collecting unknown saplings. I have another hobby. I love collecting stamps. I have a Russian stamp from the period of Lenin. I don’t watch TV. Almost everyone has a TV set these days. But I don’t have any. How

is that?.

The only problem I face is I do not earn enough money in all seasons. The winter and the monsoon are two busy seasons for me. But it’s OK. Maybe I do not earn enough like many other people around me. But I at least earn enough for my family, employees, and myself to run a decent life. I must say I’m a very happy

man!

Questions:

1 What is the best thing that ever happened to this man?

2 Why didn’t Kamal like his last job?

3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of his present job?

4 When does he earn most money?

5 What attitude of Kamal is reflected in the lines: ‘Maybe I do not earn enough like many other people around me. But I at least earn enough for my family, employees, and me to run a decent life’?

C. Ask and answer questions about Kamal. Use the clues given.

Example:

……………. married?

Q: Is he married?

A: No, he isn’t. He isn’t married.

1……………. happy?

2 When……………. leave home in summer?

3 What……………. plant after winter?

4 What……………. do at the weekend?

5 What……………. collect?

D. Look at the following table. The left column shows some positive aspects of Sayeed Kamal’s character. Add some more to the list. Also find out some aspects of Sayeed that you think are unacceptable and write them in the right column.

Unacceptable aspects of
Sayeed

E. Write a paragraph on Sayeed Kamal. Take your cues from D.

F. ‘I must say I’m a very happy man!’— Do you agree with Sayeed? Write why/why not?


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