New Oxford Modern English Class 4 Lesson ‘Message from Mountains’ – book exercise question and answers, lesson summary, and word meanings. It is meant for students in Pakistan schools.
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📖 Summary – Message from the Mountain
Here the summary is given in English, Urdu and Hindi
Aliyah and Aftab saw photos from their Uncle Rafi’s trip to Gilgit-Baltistan. Uncle Rafi worked in a travel company and loved adventures. He took his team to the Karakoram mountains for trekking. They saw bridges, villages with ancient writings, glaciers, and beautiful valleys. The children learned about glaciers, climate change, and the importance of saving nature. Aliyah was adventurous like her uncle, but Aftab liked safety. In the end, they were excited because Uncle Rafi was coming for dinner to tell them more stories.
عالیہ اور آفتاب نے اپنے انکل رفی کی گلگت بلتستان کی سیر کی تصویریں دیکھیں۔ انکل رفی ایک ٹریول کمپنی میں کام کرتے تھے اور مہم جو تھے۔ وہ اپنی ٹیم کو قراقرم پہاڑوں میں ٹریکنگ پر لے گئے۔ وہاں انہوں نے پل، قدیم تحریروں والے گاؤں، گلیشیر اور خوبصورت وادیاں دیکھیں۔ بچوں نے گلیشیر، ماحولیاتی تبدیلی اور قدرت کو بچانے کی اہمیت کے بارے میں سیکھا۔ عالیہ اپنے انکل کی طرح بہادر تھی لیکن آفتاب کو حفاظت پسند تھی۔ آخر میں وہ خوش ہوئے کیونکہ انکل رفی رات کے کھانے پر آ رہے تھے اور مزید کہانیاں سنائیں گے۔
अलिया और आफ़ताब ने अपने अंकल रफ़ी की गिलगित-बाल्टिस्तान यात्रा की तस्वीरें देखीं। अंकल रफ़ी एक ट्रैवल कंपनी में काम करते थे और रोमांच पसंद करते थे। उन्होंने अपनी टीम को कराकोरम पर्वतों में ट्रेकिंग पर ले गए। वहाँ उन्होंने पुल, प्राचीन लिखावट वाले गाँव, हिमनद (ग्लेशियर) और सुंदर घाटियाँ देखीं। बच्चों ने ग्लेशियर, जलवायु परिवर्तन और प्रकृति को बचाने की ज़रूरत के बारे में सीखा। अलिया अपने अंकल की तरह साहसी थी, लेकिन आफ़ताब सुरक्षित रहना पसंद करता था। अंत में वे खुश हुए क्योंकि अंकल रफ़ी रात के खाने पर आने वाले थे और और कहानियाँ सुनाएँगे।
Vocabulary – Message from the Mountain
| Word / Phrase | Meaning (English) | अर्थ | معنی |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hearty | full, warm, and healthy | भरपूर, पौष्टिक | پُر لطف، صحت بخش |
| Organised | arranged or managed properly | व्यवस्थित किया, संगठित | منظم کیا |
| Trek | a long, hard walk in the mountains | कठिन यात्रा / पहाड़ी यात्रा | مشکل سفر / پہاڑی سفر |
| Qualified | having the right knowledge or training | योग्य, प्रशिक्षित | اہل، تربیت یافتہ |
| Encouraging | giving hope or support | उत्साह बढ़ाने वाला | حوصلہ افزائی کرنے والا |
| Motivating | making someone eager to do something | प्रेरित करने वाला | تحریک دینے والا |
| Scenic | very beautiful to look at | मनमोहक, सुंदर दृश्य वाला | دلکش، خوبصورت منظر والا |
| Suspension Bridge | a bridge hung with ropes/chains | लटकता पुल | معلق پُل |
| Adventurous | liking to try new, exciting things | साहसी, रोमांचप्रिय | مہم جو، جرات مند |
| Ancient | very old | प्राचीन | قدیم |
| Culture | way of life, beliefs, traditions | संस्कृति | ثقافت |
| Graffiti | writing/drawing on walls without permission | दीवारों पर चित्रकारी (बिना अनुमति) | دیواروں پر تحریریں (بغیر اجازت) |
| Glacier | a very large mass of ice | हिमनद, बर्फ़ का बड़ा टुकड़ा | گلیشیر، برف کا بڑا ٹکڑا |
| Receding | becoming smaller, going back | पीछे हटना, घटते जाना | پیچھے ہٹنا، گھٹنا |
| Fossil fuel | coal, oil, or gas from the earth | जीवाश्म ईंधन (कोयला, तेल, गैस) | فوسل فیول (کوئلہ، تیل، گیس) |
| Carbon dioxide | a gas made when fuel is burned | कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड गैस | کاربن ڈائی آکسائیڈ گیس |
| Climate change | changes in weather patterns of the earth | जलवायु परिवर्तन | ماحولیاتی تبدیلی |
| Solutions | answers or ways to fix a problem | समाधान | حل |
| Picturesque | very pretty, like a painting | चित्रवत सुंदर | تصویری، دلکش |
| Incredible | amazing, unbelievable | अद्भुत, अविश्वसनीय | شاندار، ناقابل یقین |
Answers to Book-Exercises
📝 A. Comprehension – Answers
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Where does Uncle Rafi work?
Ans. Uncle Rafi works for a travel company in Karachi.
b. Where is Aliyah and Aftab’s father?
Ans. He has gone to buy food for dinner.
c. How do Rafi, Mum, Aliyah, and Aftab stay healthy?
Ans. They stay healthy by playing sports, swimming, hockey, trekking, and walking.
d. In what way is Aliyah like her Uncle?
Ans. Aliyah is adventurous like her Uncle Rafi.
e. What are the marks on the rock wall in Rafi’s photograph in the village? What does Aftab think they are?
Ans. The marks are ancient writing by Buddhist monks. Aftab thinks they are graffiti.
f. What is the name of the glacier Aliyah has learned about in school? Where is it and what is happening to it?
Ans. It is the Tasman Glacier. It is in New Zealand and it is getting smaller (receding).
More difficult questions
g. Who is older, Aliyah or Aftab? How can you tell?
Ans. Aliyah is older. We can tell because she explains things to Aftab, and he asks her questions like a younger brother.
h. Aliyah talks about climate change. What does she say about climate change and its impact on glaciers?
Ans. Aliyah says that burning fossil fuels makes carbon dioxide which causes climate change. Because of this, glaciers are melting, the earth is getting hotter, and there may be floods and less fresh water.
2. Answer the questions about this line from the story.
Aliyah laughed, ‘It’s not graffiti, Aftab!’
a. What is graffiti?
Ans. Graffiti is writing or drawing on walls without permission.
b. What did Aftab think was graffiti?
Ans. Aftab thought the ancient writing on the rocks was graffiti.
c. Why was Uncle Rafi trying to protect it?
Ans. Uncle Rafi was protecting it because it was ancient writing that shows the history of the area.
B. Working with Words
1. Use a dictionary to look up the meanings of these words.
Answers:
- Alpine – relating to high mountains
- Carabiner – a metal loop with a spring gate, used in climbing
- Knot – a fastening made by tying a rope or string
- Avalanche – a mass of snow, ice, and rocks falling down a mountain
- Glacier – a large, slow-moving river of ice
- Peak – the pointed top of a mountain
- Anorak – a warm, waterproof jacket with a hood
- Ice pick – a tool with a sharp point used to cut ice
- Summit – the highest point of a mountain
2. Use the words in sentences but add adjectives to make the sentences more interesting.
Answers:
- The cold alpine air makes you feel alive.
- The climber clipped the rope with a strong carabiner.
- He tied a tight knot in the rope.
- The villagers were scared of a huge avalanche.
- We saw a giant glacier in the photo.
- Mount Everest has the highest peak in the world.
- She wore a thick anorak to stay warm.
- The climber carried a sharp ice pick.
- At last, they reached the snowy summit.
3. Complete this table of adjectives. Use the words in oral sentences.
Answer:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
| big | bigger | biggest |
| small | smaller | smallest |
| smooth | smoother | smoothest |
| rich | richer | richest |
| poor | poorer | poorest |
| low | lower | lowest |
| high | higher | highest |
C. Learning about Language
FACT AND OPINION
A fact is something that is true. Facts can be proved. An opinion is something that someone thinks or believes.
1. Which of the following are facts and which are opinions?
Snow is cold. Snow is pretty. Eagles are grumpy.
An eagle is a bird. Sea water is salty. Lemonade tastes bad.
Answer:
- Snow is cold. → Fact
- An eagle is a bird. → Fact
- Sea water is salty. → Fact
- Snow is pretty. → Opinion
- Eagles are grumpy. → Opinion
- Lemonade tastes bad. → Opinion