Chapter 11
Our Civilisation -I
Q:1 Why does it seem that modern human beings are lazy, and what is the reality?
Ans: At first sight, modern humans seem lazy because they get most of their work done by machines, such as cranes, lifts, trains, and motor cars. However, in reality, man is not lazy at all. He is the most restless and energetic of all living creatures. He invented machines not to avoid work but to save time from tasks he finds boring, so he can spend more energy on things he really wants to do.
Q:2 What are machines described as in the text, and why are they important for man?
Ans: Machines are described as man’s extra limbs. Cranes and lifts act as extra arms, while trains and motor cars act as extra legs. They are important because they allow humans to perform tasks efficiently, freeing them from routine work so they can focus on creative, intellectual, or meaningful activities.
Q:3 Why did man invent machines according to the author?
Ans: Man invented machines because certain tasks such as lifting, carrying, walking, running, and remembering were boring to him. He wanted to delegate these repetitive or tedious tasks to machines, so he could have time and energy to pursue activities he truly values and enjoys.
Q:4 What does the author mean when he says that civilization has “good parts” and “bad parts”?
Ans: The author refers to the positive aspects of civilization, like order, safety, health, and security, which help humans thrive. The bad parts, though not fully discussed here, are the flaws or negative behaviors of humans that civilization may encourage or fail to prevent. Recognizing both allows a fair and balanced understanding of human progress.
Q:5 How has the concept of order and safety contributed to civilization?
Ans: Order and safety have allowed humans to live without constant fear of physical harm or robbery. Disputes are settled through law rather than brute force, allowing inventors, scientists, and artists to work without fear. These conditions make higher human activities possible, which are essential for civilization.
Q:6 Why does the author compare law to a protective measure in civilization?
Ans: Law protects people from robbery, violence, and unjust treatment. Without law, humans would constantly live in fear and would not be able to pursue intellectual, artistic, or social advancements. Thus, law acts as a backbone of civilization.
Q:7 How does the author compare order and safety to air?
Ans: The author suggests that order and safety are so essential to civilization that humans take them for granted, much like they do the air they breathe. Without them, civilization could not exist.
Q:8 What does the text say about the fear of pain in modern civilization?
Ans: Modern civilization has reduced the fear of pain significantly. Illnesses and injuries are no longer as terrible because of advances such as anaesthetics, medical care, and improved health. While people still fall ill, the ability to treat and prevent pain enhances the quality of life and supports civilization.
Q:9 How is good health connected to civilization?
Ans: Good health is essential for enjoying and achieving anything in life. While great individuals have accomplished much despite poor health, civilization benefits when humans live healthier and longer lives, allowing them to contribute more effectively to society.
Q:10 What role does the security of civilization play in its sustainability?
Ans: Security ensures that civilization is protected from external threats. Earlier civilizations, like Babylon, Assyria, Greece, and Rome, collapsed because they were surrounded by uncivilized peoples who destroyed them. Modern civilization, being widely spread, is more secure and less likely to face such destruction.
Q:11 Why does the author say previous civilizations were like oases in a desert?
Ans: Previous civilizations were like small oases surrounded by uncivilized areas. They were isolated and vulnerable to attacks, which eventually led to their destruction. Today, civilization is spreading globally, reducing isolation and increasing its chances of survival.
Q:12 What does the text suggest about the possibility of global unity?
Ans: The text highlights that the modern world has the chance to become a single, unified entity. Trade, exchange of goods, and communication are connecting different regions, showing that humanity is no longer divided into isolated communities.
Q:13 How does the author illustrate the concept of a unified world through a grocery shop?
Ans: The author gives an example of a grocery shop that sells oranges from Brazil, dates from Africa, rice from India, and tea from China. This shows that goods from all over the world are accessible locally, proving that the world is interconnected and unified.
Q:14 What is the significance of man’s energy and restlessness in civilization?
Ans: Man’s energy and restlessness drive invention, creativity, and progress. Even though machines reduce physical labor, human initiative and curiosity push civilization forward in science, art, and culture.
Q:15 How do machines help humans pursue what they truly want to do?
Ans: Machines take over repetitive, boring, or physically demanding tasks. This frees humans to focus on intellectual, artistic, social, and personal endeavors—activities that give life meaning and advance civilization.
Q:16 Why does the author say civilization cannot exist without order and safety?
Ans: Without order and safety, humans would be in constant fear of theft, violence, and injustice. Such fear would prevent them from creating, discovering, or enjoying higher pursuits, which are the essence of civilization.
Q:17 How has medicine contributed to civilization according to the text?
Ans: Medicine has reduced illness and pain, enabling humans to live longer and healthier lives. Anaesthetics, treatments, and preventive measures reduce suffering, allowing people to work, create, and contribute to society more effectively.
Q:18 In what ways is modern civilization more secure than previous ones?
Ans: Modern civilization is widespread, interconnected, and less isolated. Unlike earlier civilizations that were easily surrounded and destroyed, today’s civilization has global networks that make it harder for external threats to end it.
Q:19 How does trade illustrate the concept of global civilization?
Ans: Trade connects people from different countries, allowing them to access goods produced elsewhere. This economic interdependence shows that people are no longer isolated, and the world functions as a single, unified place.
Q:20 Why does the author mention Babylon, Assyria, Greece, and Rome?
Ans: These ancient civilizations collapsed because they were surrounded by uncivilized regions that invaded them. This illustrates how isolation made civilizations vulnerable, unlike today’s globally connected world.
Q:21 How does civilization help inventors, scientists, and artists according to the author?
Ans: Civilization provides order, safety, and security, which give inventors, scientists, and artists the freedom to pursue their work without fear. They can create, explore, and innovate, contributing to human progress.
Q:22 Why are law and order considered foundations of civilization?
Ans: Law and order replace physical strength with justice. They protect people from robbery, violence, and unfair treatment, allowing society to function smoothly and ensuring that civilization can flourish.
Q:23 What does the text suggest about human curiosity and innovation?
Ans: Human curiosity and energy are boundless. While machines handle tedious work, humans invent, explore, and innovate in areas that matter to them, which drives civilization forward.
Q:24 How does the author explain the role of machines in lifting and walking?
Ans: Machines are described as extra arms and legs that assist humans in lifting, carrying, walking, and running. They act as tools to ease labor, enabling humans to focus on creative and meaningful pursuits.
Q:25 How does modern civilization compare to ancient civilizations in terms of security?
Ans: Modern civilization is more secure because it is widespread and interconnected. Ancient civilizations were isolated and vulnerable to attacks by surrounding uncivilized groups, which often led to their destruction.
Q:26 What does the author mean by saying civilization is spreading like an oasis?
Ans: The author means that modern civilization is expanding globally rather than being isolated in small pockets. Unlike past civilizations, it now has a chance to survive and thrive over a wider area.
Q:27 Why is freedom from fear of pain significant for civilization?
Ans: Without fear of pain or illness, humans can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. This freedom enables them to pursue knowledge, art, and culture, which are essential components of civilization.
Q:28 How does global trade support the idea of a single world?
Ans: Goods from different countries are readily available in local markets, showing interdependence. This exchange breaks down geographical barriers, making the world a unified, interconnected place.
Q:29 What lesson does the text convey about human effort and machines?
Ans: Machines do not replace human effort entirely; they supplement it. Humans still need energy, creativity, and intelligence to invent, guide, and use machines effectively, showing that human effort drives civilization.
Q:30 How has civilization affected life expectancy and health?
Ans: Advances in medicine, sanitation, and living standards have improved health and increased life expectancy. People today enjoy better health, which allows them to contribute more effectively to society.
Q:31 How does the author describe civilization as a whole?
Ans: Civilization is described as a system built on safety, order, health, security, and interconnectedness. It allows humans to pursue higher goals, protects them from physical harm, and fosters creativity and progress.
Q:32 How is law an example of civilization replacing might with right?
Ans: In civilization, disputes are resolved through legal systems rather than violence. Physical strength no longer decides conflicts; instead, justice, fairness, and law ensure equality, demonstrating that civilization prioritizes right over might.
Q:33 Why does the author emphasize the widespread nature of modern civilization?
Ans: Widespread civilization is less vulnerable to collapse because it is interconnected and supported by global communication, trade, and cooperation. This makes it more resilient than ancient, isolated civilizations.
Q:34 What does the example of a grocery shop signify about civilization?
Ans: A grocery shop with goods from around the world symbolizes global unity. It demonstrates how modern civilization connects people, resources, and cultures across vast distances, creating interdependence.
Q:35 How does civilization contribute to creativity and intellectual progress?
Ans: Civilization ensures safety, health, and order, which allow inventors, scientists, and artists to explore ideas without fear. This environment fosters innovation and intellectual achievements.
Q:36 Why does the author state that civilization would be impossible without order and safety?
Ans: Without order and safety, humans would live in fear of violence or theft. This fear would prevent the pursuit of arts, sciences, and inventions, making higher human activities—and therefore civilization—impossible.
Q:37 How does civilization help humans focus on meaningful activities?
Ans: By delegating boring or repetitive tasks to machines, humans have more time and energy to engage in creative, intellectual, and social endeavors, which enrich life and advance civilization.
Q:38 How do anaesthetics illustrate the progress of civilization?
Ans: Anaesthetics reduce the pain of medical procedures, showing how civilization prioritizes human welfare. This advance improves quality of life and enables humans to pursue other meaningful activities.
Q:39 What does the author imply about humanity’s ability to survive global threats today?
Ans: Because civilization is widespread and interconnected, it is less vulnerable to attacks or destruction than ancient civilizations. This gives humanity a better chance of long-term survival and progress.
Q:40 How does the text show the contrast between ancient and modern civilizations?
Ans: Ancient civilizations were isolated, vulnerable, and often destroyed by surrounding uncivilized groups. Modern civilization, in contrast, is widespread, interconnected, secure, and has the potential for global unity and survival.
Answer by Mrinmoee
