Understanding the text:

1. How does the writer distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?

According to J. B. S. Haldane, one can look forward to the life of peace in the peaceful age. In a heroic age, on the other hand, the writer feels the lack of peace and quiet.

1.  Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?

The writer wants more freedom of speech than most people because he enjoys a good deal of freedom. Moreover, he wants to write about anything he wishes to. He desires to make us aware of the false reality of the ruler and raise voice against their sophisticated life; however, the law of libel prevents him from doing so.

1. According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?

According to the writer, the four general human needs are interesting and productive work, freedom, good health, and friendship. and

1.  What is the difference between desire and demand according to the writer?

According to the writer, demand refers to the basic needs, such as health, employment, freedom and right to choose work and liberty as well as happiness. On the other hand, desire means wanting more than basic needs, such as a room with books, a motorcar, a pleasant garden, and a bathing pool.

1. Why does the writer demand security?

Haldane demands security since peace and security are the rightful aim of life. Violent adventure is merely an adaptation to the age in which he lives. All the worst things occur because of violent culture. He wants to feel ownership. He wants freedom within his territory. Moreover, he wishes to spend a joyful life in liberty because this is the ending era of fascism.

Reference to the context:

Explain the lines with reference to the context: 

1. "The satisfaction of adventure is something much more solid than a thrill."

This line has been taken out from a modern western essay entitled "What I Require from Life", by a British-Indian scientist and writer, J.B.S. Haldane. The essayist is always in favour of life, liberty, and happiness. He has some basic demands in life, including health, security, liberty and happiness. He raises voice against fascism and tyranny. He is demanding democratic activities in his life.

In this very line, he describes an adventurous life. It is impossible to understand the meaning of life without understanding a series of adventures. The writer regards an adventure as a demand of life rather than just a thrill. All of us are supposed to be explorers, and treasure hunters of the soul. We are not supposed to sleep walking through the world. We can't be confined to tyrannical rules. This is the world of the dramatic arena, and each of our lives is supposed to go ahead in the best possible way. We want democratic activities. We must have the right to think critically and reason the truth. We have to get all the essential things that we demand. We must have a chance to question things with moral values.

1.  "I want the workers to see the fruit of their own work not in profits for others, but in their own and their friends' well-being."

The above given extract is taken out from a modem western essay entitled "What 1 Require from Life", by a British-Indian scientist and writer, J.B.S. Haldane. Here, the writer focuses on the democratic activities in the workplace.

According to the writer, the workers should be paid according to their work, not according to the rules of the company. They have to see the fruit of their own work. Their friends also should be in well-being. Here, the author somehow talks about socialisms. First, the factory owner should satisfy their workers. Due to the efficient workers, the industrialists get benefits. The author doesn't like the exploitation of laborers. He seeks the rights of human beings through these lines.

Only workers' work is prioritized. Their benefits of and liberty within the work are ignored. By presenting inhuman treatment of the laborers in a factory, J. B. S. Holden brings the socialistic motive here: he demands for democracy because the depressive time of fascism ends in the democratic era.

1. Why do you think the essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers?

J.B.S. Haldane has taken reference from the two well-noted ancient philosophers: Aristotle and Socrates. Firstly, he uses the Aristotelian definition of happiness while talking about pleasing jobs. Similarly, he makes reference to Socrates' suicidal death while elaborating his own requirement of death from life. I think the writer has used these allusions to make his credibility of delivery strong. To say in another word, he wants to appeal to the readers by showing that the notable philosophers also share his concern.

1.  Discuss the essay in terms of its language, purpose, subject, point of view and mode of writing.

"What I Require from Life" is a modern western essay by a British-Indian scientist and writer, J.B.S. Haldane. This essay is written in simple and lucid language with substantial references and examples. The writer aims to take a glimpse of a freedom-based life in the age of war and terror. He further advocates for democratic activities in workplaces. He has applied a first-person point of view. Besides, he implies a subjective or personal mode of writing while discussing his requirements to be happy and satisfied in his life.

Reference beyond the text

1.  What do you require from your life to be happy and satisfied?

J.B.S. Haldane in his essay "What I Require from Life" delivers on his requirements to be happy and satisfied in his life. I also follow some of his principles. I require freedom, good health, interesting work and positive companionship to be happy and satisfied.

1. What is socialism? How is it different from capitalism?

Simply speaking, socialism is a political and an economic system. It covers a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production. Moreover, it upholds collectivism. In a state of socialism, there is no privately owned property. In it the production of goods and services is either partially or fully regulated by the government. Cuba is an example of a socialist nation. Its economy is state-run, and it lacks a stock exchange. Healthcare and education are all completely managed and administered by the government.

Capitalism, on the other hand, is a political and an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. Furthermore, the capitalist Economic model relies on free market conditions for the creation of wealth; the production of goods and services is based on supply and demand in the general market. In capitalism, owners control the factors of production and derive their income from it, not the state. Hong Kong and Singapore are capitalist nations.

1. Write an essay about your dream house.

 My Dream House

Everyone has an idea of what kind of house they need in when they grow up. Some prefer large mansions in big towns, while others wish to own smaller houses in the isolated islands. I belong to the second group. I hold the belief that it is not how big the house is, it is how happy we are in it.

I am a nature lover. I want a small beautiful house in the countryside, where I can feel closer to nature. I admire the place surrounded by trees. Environment filled with trees will ensure I have clean air, peace and happiness. Listening to the bird's song is what I love, as that gives me joy and leaves me refreshed and encouraged. A small garden with flowers, vegetables and fruits is a must. It should have a large compound for playing and rearing animals. A farm is an added advantage, as I love farming. The house should be near a mall, school and church for shopping, education and my spirituality, respectively.