Grade 4 September Blog
WHAT I VALUE MOST
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man who used to live next door. College, girls, career, life itself got in the way and Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Belser died last night. The funeral is on Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh, sorry Mom, yes I heard you." It's been so long since I thought of him. I thought he died years ago." Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him, he'd ask how you were doing? He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "After your father died, Belser stepped in, to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important ...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral ,"Jack said .
As busy as he was, Jack kept his word and took the next flight to his hometown to attend Belser's funeral. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see "Belser's house next door one more time. The house was exactly how he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture….Jack stopped suddenly. "The box is gone", he said ."There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was "The Thing I Value Most." Jack said . It was gone.
Two weeks after Belser died, Jack got a packet in his mailbox. There inside was the gold box and a note which said: " Upon my death ,please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued the most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. Jack unlocked the box and found a beautiful gold pocket watch.Inside it's cover he found these words engraved "Jack, Thanks for your time! Harold Belser." " The thing he valued the most was my time."
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked "I need sometime to spend with my son," he said ."Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time !"
II. Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
I Language record:
1. Find the Synonyms from the passage:
word
|
synonym
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occupied
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helper
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2. Find the Antonyms from the passage:
word
|
Antonyms
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surrender
| |
locked
|
3. Write the word class and frame a sentence of your own:
word
|
word class
|
sentence
|
1. influence
| ||
2. valued
| ||
II Answer the following questions:
1. What kept Jack busy in his life ?
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2. Pick the correct word from the passage that means " abruptly"
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3. Jack and his Mom stopped by to see Belser's house next door one more time. What do you understand by this sentence ?
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4. Use the given phrase in a sentence of your own -
i. cleared his appointments __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5 Read the sentence "It's the thing I valued the most in my life."
What do you think the old man is referring by saying this sentence?
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6. What according to you is the most important thing in the world. Valuing time or valuing our loved ones or both of these? Justify your answer. (Application based)
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7. How did Belsar make sure that Jack would not miss his father after his death?
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8 What did Jack find in the small gold box ? What was engraved on it ?
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9 Why did Jack clear all his appointments ?
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