THE DURRELS

 GERALD MALCOM DURREL

Gerald Malcolm Durrell, OBE (7 January 1925 – 30 January 1995) was a British naturalist, writer, zookeeper, conservationist, and television presenter. 

He founded the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Jersey Zoo on the Channel Island of Jersey in 1959.

He wrote approximately forty books, mainly about his life as an animal collector and enthusiast, the most famous being My Family and Other Animals (1956). 

Those memoirs of his family's years living in Greece were adapted into two television series (My Family and Other Animals, 1987, and The Durrells, 2016–2019) and one television film (My Family and Other Animals, 2005). 

Durrell was born in Jamshedpur, British India, on 7 January 1925.[1] He was the fifth and youngest child (an elder sister having died in infancy) of Louisa Florence Dixie and Lawrence Samuel Durrell, both of whom were born in India of English and Irish descent. Durrell's father was a British engineer.

Durrell reportedly recalled his first visit to a zoo in India and attributed his lifelong love of animals to that encounter.

The family moved to the UK after the death of his father in India.[2] Durrell was enrolled in Wickwood School, but frequently stayed at home, feigning illness.

Louisa moved to the Greek island of Corfu in 1935 with Leslie, Margaret, and Gerald, joining her eldest son Lawrence who had arrived there with his wife Nancy about a week earlier. On Corfu Durrell began to collect and keep the local fauna as pets.

Comprehension (Answers)

A. 1. My Family and Other Animals. 2. Corfu 3. England

4. Mr Stephanides 5. Luke

B. 1. False 2. False 3. True 4. True 5. True

C. 1. a. England

b. They left because the cold and rainy weather in England made them fall

sick all the time.

2. a. The pelican

b. It is because the pelican had got only one wing, and he takes him out for walk

with the lead that he made. 

3. a. Gerald Durrell

b. Mr Stephanides

D. 1. Myla thinks so because the house she is in looks like the one she read in the

book My Family and Other Animals, written by Gerald Durrell.

2. Gerald likes to explore the island and its wildlife.

3. Luke fell off the cliff because the pelican pushed him off the cliff. 

4. Gerald takes them to visit his butterfly farm.

Extra Questions

Why does Myla think they're in Gerald Durrell’s house?

Myla thinks so because the house she is in looks like the one she is reading in the book, My Family and Other Animals, written by Gerald Durrell.

Describe Gerald's love for animals.

Gerald loves animals very much. He always keeps animals around him and enjoys learning about them. He wants to build a zoo on the island of Corfu. He studies animals carefully and shares interesting facts about them with Myla and Luke. Even when the pelican behaves badly, Gerald still takes care of it. He also collects butterflies and shells. This shows that his love for animals is strong and true. He feels happiest when he is close to nature and wildlife.

What do you get to know about Corfu from the story?

From the story, we learn that Corfu is a beautiful island full of plants and animals. Corfu is depicted as a place of warmth and sunshine, contrasting with the cold and rainy climate of England. There are many different kinds of birds, insects, and other creatures. The island is peaceful and close to nature. It is a wonderful place for Gerald to explore and study wildlife. Corfu seems like a small paradise for nature lovers.

Write about Gerald Durrell's house in Corfu.

Gerald’s house in Corfu is old and needs some repairs, but it is large and comfortable. It has space for guests like Myla and Luke. The house is in a lovely place surrounded by nature. Even during storms, the family stays together happily inside. The house becomes a place filled with love, laughter, and adventure. It represents a break from the gloomy weather in England, giving warmth, sunshine, and exciting new experiences on Corfu.

What do Myla and Luke learn about the wildlife of Corfu during their time with Gerald?

Myla and Luke learn many things about animals in Corfu. Gerald teaches them about snakes, chameleons, insects, and birds. They see a pelican that Gerald looks after. They learn that Corfu has many different kinds of animals living in forests and near water. By the end, they understand and respect nature more because of Gerald. Their time in Corfu makes them more curious about the natural world.

GRAMMAR

PARTICIPLES

The form of a verb that often ends in "-ed," "-ing," or "-en" is usually referred to as a participle. Participles are used in verb tenses and also function as adjectives.

Eg. Are you taking the medicines regularly?

We are making progress.

They will be leaving in some time.

She is running late.

They had finished the project.

He has worked hard.

We will have eaten by the time you arrive.

He has taken the test already.

The broken vase was repaired.

As Adjectives:

-ing as an adjective: The crying baby needs attention.

-ed as an adjective: I was bored during the lecture.

-en as an adjective: The broken vase cannot be repaired.

The broken vase was lying on the floor.

She loves frozen yogurt on a hot day.

The hidden treasure was never found.

The fallen leaves covered the ground.

His heart was taken by the beautiful music.

They roasted chestnuts  because roasted chestnuts were profitable.

The exciting movie kept everyone awake.

That was an amazing performance.

The confusing question puzzled the students.

It was a shocking piece of news.

1. Past Participle:

Shows completed action or something that has already happened.

The past participle is usually the form of a verb ending in -ed, -en, or an irregular form (e.g., gone, written, done). It mostly end with -ed, -d, -t,-en or -n for irregular verbs and -ed is added for regular verbs to create past participle. 

 It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice and can also act as an adjective.

Verb: bake

• Past participle: baked
• Sentence (Perfect tense): She has baked a cake.
• Sentence (Adjective): The baked bread smells delicious

She has written a letter.

The car was damaged in the accident.

The broken vase is on the shelf.

They had driven all night.

The cake was eaten by the kids.

2. Present Participle:

The present participle always ends in -ing and is used in continuous (progressive) tenses. It can also function as an adjective or a gerund (a noun derived from a verb).

Verb: run

• Present participle: running
• Sentence (Continuous tense): He is running fast.
• Sentence (Adjective): The running water is soothing

He is running fast.

The laughing child brightened the room.

They are swimming in the lake.

The singing birds woke me up.

She was painting a portrait.

3. Perfect Participle

The perfect participle shows that one action was completed before another. It is formed by using "having" + past participle of the verb.

Having finished his homework, he went out to play.

Having eaten, they decided to leave.

Having studied, she felt prepared for the exam.

Having completed the project, they celebrated.

Having slept, she felt refreshed.

QUIZ SESSION

• ___ (Break) by the storm, the tree lay across the road.
• Answer: Broken
• The ___ (run) dog was tired after chasing the ball for hours.
• Answer: Running
• The ___ (boil) water was too hot to touch.
• Answer: Boiling
• ___ (Read) the book, he found many interesting ideas.
• Answer: Reading
• The food ___ (prepare) by the chef was delicious.
• Answer: Prepared
• ___ (Excite) by the news, she couldn’t stop smiling.
• Answer: Excited
• The students ___ (study) in the library were very focused.
• Answer: Studying
• ___ (Paint) the fence, he felt proud of his work.
• 
  
• Answer: Having painted
• The ___ (cry) baby was quickly comforted by her mother.
• 
  
• Answer: Crying
• The ___ (write) letter was found on the table.
• 
  
• Answer: Written

QUESTION BANK EXERCISE

1. ___ (Choose) for the role, she has felt honoured to play the lead.
2. ___ (Freeze) by the cold, the lake had been impossible to cross.
3. The sun is ___ (shine) brightly in the sky.
4. ___ (Know) his mistake, he has quickly apologized.
5. The building was ___ (destroy) by the storm.
6. The house had been ___ (burn) by the fire before the firefighters arrived.
7. The store has been ___ (close) by the manager for the weekend.
8. The children were ___ (laugh) at the joke when the teacher entered.
9. The leaves have ___ (fall) from the trees this season.
10. ___ (Confuse) by the directions, she has decided to ask for help.
11. After ___ (finish) his work, he had finally relaxed for the evening.
12. ___ (See) the movie before, she has decided not to watch it again.
13. The puppy was ___ (lose) but was later found.
14. ___ (Feel) tired, they have decided to rest for a while.
15. The candles were ___ (blow) out after the birthday song.
16. The note was ___ (write) in such haste that it was hard to read.
17. They were ___ (surprise) by the sudden news.
18. After ___ (eat) breakfast, she has left for school.
19. The window was ___ (break) by the strong wind.
20. After ___ (complete) all her assignments, she has felt a sense of accomplishment.
21. He has ___ (forget) to bring his notebook to class.
22. The decision had already been ___ (make) before the meeting.
23. The car was ___ (repair) after the accident.
24. The essay has been ___ (submit) to the teacher.
25. The team is ___ (plan) the project for next month.

WWhat are Non-finite Verbs?

A non-finite verb is a verb form that does not show tense. In other words, you cannot tell if a sentence is in the past tense, present tense, or future tense by looking at a non-finite verb. Therefore, a non-finite verb is never the main verb in a sentence.

Introduction to the Three Types of Non-finite Verb

There are three types of non-finite verb:

(1) Gerunds

baking, singing, running

(2) Infinitives

to bake, to sing, to run

(3) Participles

There are two types:

(3a) Present Participles

baking, singing, running

(These look the same as gerunds.)

(3b) Past Participles

baked, sung, run

Non-finite verbs function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs or combine with a finite verb for verb tense.

ANSWERS

Chosen for the role, she has felt honoured to play the lead.

Frozen by the cold, the lake had been impossible to cross.

The sun is shining brightly in the sky.

Knowing his mistake, he has quickly apologized.

The building was destroyed by the storm.

The house had been burned by the fire before the firefighters arrived.

The store has been closed by the manager for the weekend.

The children were laughing at the joke when the teacher entered.

The leaves have fallen from the trees this season.

Confused by the directions, she has decided to ask for help.

After finishing his work, he had finally relaxed for the evening.

Having seen the movie before, she has decided not to watch it again.

The puppy was lost but was later found.

Feeling tired, they have decided to rest for a while.

The candles were blown out after the birthday song.

The note was written in such haste that it was hard to read.

They were surprised by the sudden news.

After eating breakfast, she has left for school.

The window was broken by the strong wind.

After having completed all her assignments, she has felt a sense of accomplishment.

He has forgotten to bring his notebook to class.

The decision had already been made before the meeting.

The car was repaired after the accident.

The essay has been submitted to the teacher.

The team is planning the project for next month.

BIOGRAPHY WRITING

A biography is a detailed description of a person's life. It covers more than just basic facts like birth, education, work, relationships, and death, but it also delves into the person's experiences, motivations, and the impact they have made on society.

Biography: Definition and Components

A biography is a detailed description of a person's life. It covers more than just basic facts like birth, education, work, relationships, and death, but it also delves into the person's experiences, motivations, and the impact they have made on society.

Components of a Biography

Introduction (WHO):

Introduces the person being written about, including their name, significance, and a brief mention of their major contributions or achievements.

Early Life (WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW):

Provides detailed information about the person's background. This can include where and when they were born, their upbringing, education, challenges faced, and what motivated them to pursue their path.

Life-Changing Moment (HOW):

Describes a turning point or significant event that had a profound impact on the person's life, leading to change or success.

Key Achievements (HIGHLIGHTS):

Focuses on the major accomplishments or contributions the person made, especially after overcoming personal or societal obstacles.

Current Status and Impact (OUTCOME):

Concludes by explaining the lasting impact of the person's life and work, along with how their story resonates today, leaving a legacy or ongoing influence.

Model Biography

Helen Keller: A Journey of Courage and Determination

Helen Keller is a well-known name around the world today, recognised for her achievements despite being both blind and deaf. She became a symbol of hope and strength for people with disabilities and continues to inspire millions through her life story and work.

Helen was born in a small town in Alabama on June 27, 1880. At the age of 19 months, she contracted an illness that left her unable to see or hear. Her early life was extremely challenging, as she struggled to communicate. At the age of seven, her teacher Anne Sullivan entered her life. Anne taught her words through touch, and the moment Helen understood the word “water” became a turning point in her life.

From that point, Helen worked tirelessly to learn and grow. She became the first deaf-blind person to earn a college degree and later went on to write books, give speeches, and advocate for people with disabilities. Her work brought attention to the challenges faced by the disabled community.

Today, Helen Keller’s legacy continues to inspire people across the globe. Her journey from isolation to success shows the power of determination and the importance of helping others. Her story reminds us that even the most difficult obstacles can be overcome with the right support and a strong will.

MODEL 2

Here are the hints to guide the structure of Shakuntala Devi’s Biography:

1. Introduction (WHO):

   • Name: Shakuntala Devi
   • Known as: "Human Computer"
   • Famous for: Extraordinary math skills and mental calculations

2. Early Life (WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW):

   • Born on: November 4, 1929
   • Place: Bengaluru, India
   • Early gift for numbers (started solving problems at age 3)
   • Family background: Father was a circus performer
   • Performed in shows to support family

3. Life-Changing Moment (HOW):

   • Started traveling internationally to demonstrate math abilities
   • In 1977, impressed experts by multiplying two 13-digit numbers in 28 seconds

4. Key Achievements (HIGHLIGHTS):

   • Guinness World Records (1980) for mental calculation
   • Wrote books on puzzles, mathematics, and astrology
   • Raised social awareness through elections

5. Current Status and Impact (OUTCOME):

   • Her story inspires students and mathematicians
   • Legacy: Natural talent combined with passion leaves a lasting impact on the world

Shakuntala Devi: The Human Computer

Shakuntala Devi is remembered today as a brilliant mathematician, popularly known as the "Human Computer" for her extraordinary ability to solve complex calculations in seconds. Her remarkable talent amazed people worldwide and earned her a place in the Guinness World Records.

She was born on November 4, 1929, in Bengaluru, India. Her father worked in a circus, and Shakuntala showed her gift for numbers at the age of three. Without any formal education, she began solving tough problems with ease and soon performed in public shows to support her family.

Her talent took her across the world, where she amazed people with her mental calculations. A memorable moment came in 1977 when she multiplied two 13-digit numbers in just 28 seconds at Southern Methodist University, leaving experts astonished.

Shakuntala Devi wrote books on mathematics, puzzles, and astrology, and even took part in politics to spread social awareness. Her outstanding skills earned her a place in the Guinness World Records in 1980.

Shakuntala Devi passed away in 2013, but her legacy continues to inspire learners and mathematicians across the globe. Her life proves that with passion and practice, even natural talent can reach extraordinary heights.

Practice Work

1. Introduction (WHO):

   • A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, "Missile Man of India," 11th President of India.

2. Early Life (WHEN, WHERE, WHY, HOW):

   • Born: October 15, 1931, Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
   • Humble background; sold newspapers to support education.

3. Life-Changing Moment (HOW):

   • Joined ISRO and DRDO; key role in India’s first satellite launch and missile programs.
   • Played a key role in India’s first satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3)
   • Led missile development projects (like Agni and Prithvi)

4. Key Achievements (HIGHLIGHTS):

   • Highest Civilian award, Bharat Ratna awardee, led missile projects (Agni, Prithvi), President (2002-2007).

5. Impact and Legacy (OUTCOME):

• Passed away on July 27, 2015, inspiring students.
• Legacy: Promoted education, science, and national development.

Active to Passive Voice Examples:

1. Active: The chef cooked a delicious meal.
   Passive: A delicious meal was cooked by the chef.

2. Active: She will complete the project by Friday.
   Passive: The project will be completed by Friday.

3. Active: They are cleaning the house now.
   Passive: The house is being cleaned now.

4. Active: The teacher gave the students homework.
   Passive: The students were given homework by the teacher.

5. Active: Someone has stolen my phone.
   Passive: My phone has been stolen.

6. Active: We expect them to finish the work soon.
   Passive: They are expected to finish the work soon.

7. Active: They cancelled the event due to bad weather.
   Passive: The event was cancelled due to bad weather.

8. Active: He is writing a book on wildlife conservation.
   Passive: A book on wildlife conservation is being written by him.

9. Active: She painted the entire room.
   Passive: The entire room was painted by her.

10. Active: The company will launch a new product next month.
    Passive: A new product will be launched next month by the company.

12. Active: The police have arrested the thief.
    Passive: The thief has been arrested by the police.

13. Active: They were watching the match.
    Passive: The match was being watched by them.

14. Active: She had completed the report before the meeting.
    Passive: The report had been completed before the meeting.

15. Active: We will have finished the work by 5 PM.
    Passive: The work will have been finished by 5 PM.

16. Active: Someone is serving the guests.
    Passive: The guests are being served.

17. Active: They had repaired the car before the journey.
    Passive: The car had been repaired before the journey.

18. Active: The manager will assign new tasks tomorrow.
    Passive: New tasks will be assigned tomorrow by the manager.

19. Active: They are going to announce the results soon.
    Passive: The results are going to be announced soon.

20. Active: The government is building new schools.
    Passive: New schools are being built by the government.

21. Active: They will discuss the proposal at the meeting.
    Passive: The proposal will be discussed at the meeting.

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam: The Missile Man of India

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, fondly known as the "Missile Man of India," was a visionary scientist and the 11th President of India. He is celebrated for his immense contribution to India’s space and defense programs and for inspiring millions with his humility and dedication to education.

Born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, Kalam came from a modest background. His father was a boat owner, and young Kalam sold newspapers to support his education. Despite financial challenges, he pursued his passion for science and engineering, which shaped the course of his life.

Kalam’s career took a major leap when he joined ISRO and DRDO, where he worked on India's first satellite launch vehicle (SLV-3) and led the Agni and Prithvi missile projects. His success in strengthening India’s defense earned him the title "Missile Man" and the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

In 2002, Kalam became the 11th President of India and was loved for his approachable and inspiring leadership. He continued to focus on education and youth empowerment until his last breath. On July 27, 2015, Kalam passed away while delivering a lecture to students, leaving behind a lasting legacy of knowledge, humility, and service to the nation.