THE MISSION OF MOTHER TERESA

LESSON ELEVEN

THE MISSION OF MOTHER TERESA 

SOLVED EXERCISES 

Introduction 

Make a list of at least 5 famous people. Compare your list with the person sitting next to you. Discuss with each other why the names you listed are famous. You could jot down reasons against each name in a word or phrase. 

For example - Tenzing Sherpa - First to climb Mt. Everest. 

In this lesson you are going to read about an internationally famous person called Mother Teresa. Read and find out how she first started the work which has now made her so famous. However, while reading, you will perhaps come across some difficult words. So, do the following vocabulary exercise before you read the entire article. 

Fill in each circle with a word or phrase whose meaning is given below. The number after each meaning shows the paragraph where the word is found. All the words will be related to the word in the centre. 

1. a beginner in a religious house (2) 

Answer - novice 

2. period when one is a novice (2) 

Answer - novitiate 

3. accept as a saint i.e. an extremely holy person (2) 

Answer - canonized 

4. to spend time in prayers in a very quiet place (4) 

Answer - retreat

5. to give up (4) 

Answer - renounce 

6. eager / strong requests (4) 

Answer - fervent 

7. a promise not to live a married life (7) 

Answer - vow of chastity 

Meanings of some words from the article are given below. The number after each word shows the paragraph where the word occurs. Find the word and write it against its meaning. 

took up (2) 

Answer - assumed 

greatly influenced (2) 

Answer - inspired 

start doing something (4) 

Answer - embark 

not planned /permitted (4) 

Answer - unchartered 

well marked (4) 

Answer -distinctive

fight against (2) 

Answer - resist 

those who doubt (5) 

Answer - skeptic 

were in plenty (5) 

Answer - abounded 

real /complete (5) 

Answer - reality 

supported (5) 

Answer - sustained 

have an effect upon each other (5) 

Answer - reciprocated 

way of speaking (6)

Answer - parlance 

between continents (6) 

Answer - intercontinental 

across nations (6) 

Answer - transnational 

very poor (6) 

Answer - abject 

completely different from all others (7) 

Answer - unique 

Now read the article. 

LISTEN CAREFULLY 

Your teacher will read out the first two paragraphs. As you listen, full up the blanks to complete the summary correctly. 

Mother Teresa came to India on 29th January, 1929  at the age of 18 from Skopje 

then in Albania . She came to India because she heard God's call. 

She travelled from Skopje to Rathfarnam in Ireland which was the headquarters of the Loretto Mission  .  She joined as a novice in Darjeeling   and took her first vows in 1931 under the name of Teresa because she was greatly inspired by the life of St. Teresa  of Lisieux . 

READ FURTHER

Read paragraphs 3 to 4 and answer the following questions. 

1. For how many years did Mother Teresa teach at the Loretto Convent, Entally in Calcutta? 

Answer -  For thirteen years Mother Teresa taught at the Loretto Convent, Entally in Calcutta.

2. What assignment (work) did Mother Teresa take up next? 

Answer - The next assignment or work Mother Teresa took up was that in 1944, she was made principal of St. Mary's School. 

3. Why was she called 'Bengali Teresa'? 

Answer - She was called 'Bengali Teresa' because she conducted her lessons in Bengali.

4. According to Sister Marie Theresa Breen, who are the only people Mother Teresa does not listen to? 

Answer - According to Sister Marie Theresa Breen, the only people Mother Teresa did not listened to were the poor doctors.

5. What was the second call Mother Teresa got? 

Answer - The second call Mother Teresa got was to renounce Loretto and go out into the slums and the streets to serve the poor. 

6. Why could she not start her work immediately? 

Answer - She could not start her work immediately because she had no money, no companion and no helper.

7. What is the symbol of the Missionaries of Charity? 

Answer - The symbol of the Missionaries of Charity is blue bordered sari.

READ CAREFULLY 

Read paragraphs 5 to 7 and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

No.	Statements	True	False
1.	When Mother Teresa started her new work   she knew very well what to expect.		✅
2.	She did not mind starting her work all alone   and without a single paisa.	✅
3.	There were many in the Church who   supported her.	✅
4.	She requested people to donate chairs and a  blackboard for her first school at Motijhil.		✅
5.	Mother Teresa's organizations have today   crossed international boundaries.	✅
6.	Mother Teresa is very proud of having so   many centres all over the world.		✅
7.	The vow of poverty means to serve the poor.		✅
8.	By the vow of chastity the Missionaries of Charity are Wedded to Christ.	✅
9.	The vow of obedience means giving up one's  free will for the service of Christ.	✅
10.	The vow to serve only the poorest of the poor  is taken by nuns of all orders.	✅