Ethics and Morality
Last Updated: August 2026
Complete solutions for Class 10 English Unit 11 Ethics and Morality. This page covers Reading I The Two Little Girls by Leo Tolstoy and Reading II World Record with all textbook exercises, grammar on negative sentences and subject-verb agreement and writing tasks for SEE 2083.
What this unit is really testing
Unit 11 pairs two texts that make opposite arguments about human nature. The Two Little Girls shows children who forget a quarrel within minutes and go back to playing. The adults around them hold on to the same quarrel until it nearly becomes a fight. Tolstoy's point is that moral sense is not learned. It is lost. The children already have it. The adults have forgotten it.
World Record is a satire. It shows adults chasing pointless records on live television. A man stands on one leg in hot soup for seven hours. Another leans on a brush. A third wanders on set without trousers. The host treats all of it as entertainment. The play asks a simple question through comedy. What counts as achievement when the achievement itself is meaningless.
Exam weight of this unit. Negative sentences and subject-verb agreement appear in the grammar section. The moral story and the condolence message belong to the writing section. Reading comprehension from this unit can appear in Reading 1 or Reading 2 as a textbook extract.
Where this unit's content types appear in the SEE paper
Reading 1 (5 marks). A short extract from one of the two passages with one comprehension question type. Length about 100 words.
Reading 2 (10 marks). A short extract from either passage with two comprehension question types. Length about 200 words.
Reading 3 (10 marks) and Reading 4 (15 marks). Unseen passages of the same text types. A story or a one act play similar to World Record can appear here. Reading 4 includes vocabulary items.
Grammar (11 marks). Negative sentences and subject-verb agreement appear in the transformation section and in the multiple choice in context section.
Writing. The moral story belongs to Free Writing II (8 marks, about 200 words). The condolence message and the sympathy letter also belong to Free Writing II.
Table of Contents
Summary of Reading I: The Two Little Girls
The story is about two little girls named Malasha and Akoulya. They met in a lane between two homesteads where dirty water had formed a large puddle. Their mothers had dressed them both in new frocks. They had just come from church and first showed each other their finery. Soon the fancy took them to splash about in the water.
Akoulya stopped Malasha from stepping into the puddle with her shoes on. They both took off their shoes and stockings and began walking through the puddle. When they got near each other Malasha plumped down her foot and the water splashed right onto Akoulya's frock. Akoulya got angry and ran after Malasha to strike her. Malasha scrambled out of the puddle and prepared to run home.
Just then Akoulya's mother happened to be passing. She saw her daughter's dirty frock and asked what had happened. Akoulya said Malasha did it on purpose. Akoulya's mother seized Malasha and struck her on the back of her neck. Malasha began to howl. Her mother came out and began scolding her neighbour. One word led to another and they had an angry quarrel. The men came out and a crowd collected in the street. The affair had very nearly come to blows.
Akoulya's old grandmother stepped in and tried to calm them but they would not listen. While the women were abusing each other Akoulya had wiped the mud off her frock and gone back to the puddle. She took a stone and began scraping away the earth to make a channel. Malasha joined her and with a chip of wood helped her dig the channel. The water ran streaming into the street towards the very place where the old woman was trying to pacify the men. The girls followed it one running each side of the little stream.
The old woman said to the men that they should be ashamed of themselves. The little girls had forgotten all about their quarrel and were playing happily together. The men looked at the little girls and were ashamed. They laughed at themselves and went back each to his own home. The story teaches that we should forgive and forget like little children.
What to remember from this unit
Reading I in one sentence. Two girls quarrel over splashed water, their mothers turn it into a street fight, and the girls themselves forget the quarrel and go back to playing.
Memory device for Reading I. Two girls, two mothers, one puddle. The girls forget. The mothers do not. The men fight. The grandmother speaks sense. The girls end the fight without knowing they ended it.
Memory device for Reading II. Four people on stage. Albert stands on one leg in hot soup. Daisy pours more soup every half hour. Mabel leans on a brush. A stranger looks for his trousers. Mabel pushes Albert at the ten second mark. He breaks his leg instead of the record.
Glossary for Reading I: The Two Little Girls
Errors seen in real SEE scripts
- Confusing finery with fancy. Finery means fine clothes and jewellery. Fancy means a sudden desire or whim. Question A tests both. Students mix them up because they sound similar.
- Choosing the wrong alternative in Question B. The question asks why the girls were dressed in new frocks. Most students pick the first option because it sounds nice. The correct answer is the one the passage supports: they had just come from church.
- Missing the lesson. The lesson is not that children should obey adults. It is that adults should learn from children. The girls forgive in minutes. The adults do not. The SEE answer must reflect this direction.
- Using much in negative transformations of a few. "He ate a few mangoes" becomes "He did not eat many mangoes" not "He did not eat a few mangoes." The quantity word changes with the negation.
- Changing all of to none of incorrectly. "All of them can help her" becomes "None of them can help her" not "All of them cannot help her." English does not allow two negatives in one clause.
- Mismatching subject and verb in the letter. "Here is my resume" not "Here are my resume." "Everyone appreciates" not "Everyone appreciate." The letter exercise in this unit tests exactly these cases.
- Writing the condolence as a personal letter. A condolence message is not written to the deceased. It is written about the deceased, addressed to the family. The tone is formal and restrained.
Reading I: The Two Little Girls
A. Replace the words or phrases in red in the sentences below with the correct words from the box.
Words: abusing, finery, lassies, scrambled, fancy, folly, rejoicing, chip
B. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.
C. Answer these questions.
D. Remember a similar incident that happened during your childhood and share it in the class.
Negative Sentences
The idea
A negative sentence says that something is not true or does not happen. English forms negatives in different ways depending on the verb. Understanding which rule applies is the whole exercise in Grammar I.
The rules
| Verb type | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be (is, am, are, was, were) | Add not after the verb | She is happy. becomes She is not happy. |
| can, must, should, will (modals) | Add not after the modal | He can help. becomes He cannot help. |
| Simple present, other verbs | Add do not or does not before the verb. Drop s from the main verb | She works. becomes She does not work. |
| Simple past, other verbs | Add did not before the verb. Change the verb back to base form | He ate. becomes He did not eat. |
| Present perfect | Add not after has or have | She has come. becomes She has not come. |
| a few, a little | Change to many, much in the negative | He ate a few mangoes. becomes He did not eat many mangoes. |
| all | Change to none | All can help. becomes None can help. |
| sometimes, always, often | Replace the word with its negative counterpart | He is sometimes late. becomes He is never late. |
| ever, anything, someone | Change to never, nothing, no one | She has something. becomes She has nothing. |
How to solve the exercise
Look at the verb first. Then pick the rule. Do not change the tense. Do not add or remove information. The only change is the negation.
Common traps
- Do not write "All of them cannot help her." English does not allow two negatives in one clause. Use "None of them can help her."
- Do not write "He did not ate" or "She does not works." The main verb goes back to base form.
- Do not add not with do or does when the verb is be. "She is not happy" is correct. "She does not is happy" is wrong.
Grammar I
B. Transform the following sentences into negative.
C. Complete the following sentences choosing the correct forms of verbs in brackets.
Moral Story
Parts required. Title. Setting. Characters. A short conflict. A resolution. A stated moral at the end.
Length. About 150 to 200 words.
Slot and marks. Free Writing I or Free Writing II. Six to eight marks depending on the year.
What the model below shows. The structure and the language. The story in the exam will be different. Keep the format and change the content.
Writing I
You might have read or heard some moral stories. Write your favourite one in your own words.
The Hare and the Tortoise
Once upon a time a hare and a tortoise lived in a forest. The hare was very proud of his speed. He always mocked the tortoise for being slow. One day the tortoise challenged the hare to a race. The hare laughed but accepted the challenge.
The race began. The hare ran very fast and soon left the tortoise far behind. He thought he had plenty of time to rest. He lay down under a tree and fell asleep. The tortoise kept walking slowly but steadily. He did not stop anywhere.
When the hare woke up he saw that the tortoise was near the finish line. The hare ran as fast as he could but it was too late. The tortoise had already won the race.
Moral: Slow and steady wins the race.
Summary of Reading II: World Record
The text is a comedy show set in a big TV studio. The host Michael Moonshine presents a program that gives people the chance to break world records. Two people are trying to break world records.
Albert Hargreaves is standing on one leg in a bucket of hot soup. He has been standing there for almost seven hours. The world record is seven hours and three minutes. His wife Daisy pours sizzling soup into the bucket every half hour to keep it hot. Albert is very close to breaking the record.
Mabel Phillips is another contender. She is leaning on a brush. She is a very charming young lady. While Albert is about to break his record a man appears without trousers. He is not trying to break a record. He is just looking for his trousers that went missing while he was having a bath.
When Albert has only ten seconds left Mabel pushes him. Albert falls over and breaks his leg instead of breaking the world record.
Glossary for Reading II: World Record
Reading II: World Record
A. Complete the following table to extend the words to different word classes.
B. Write True for true and False for false statements.
C. Answer these questions.
E. How do you feel if somebody interrupts you on the verge of winning point? Do you think it is ethical?
Subject-Verb Agreement
The idea
The subject and the verb in a sentence must match in number. Singular subject takes singular verb. Plural subject takes plural verb. English has many cases where this is easy to get wrong.
The rules
| Case | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a number of | Takes plural verb | A number of soldiers were injured. |
| the number of | Takes singular verb | The number of soldiers is small. |
| a pack of, a group of | Takes singular verb | A pack of lions was approaching. |
| pants, scissors, trousers | Takes plural verb | His pants were torn. |
| the + adjective (the rich, the truthful) | Takes plural verb | The truthful are always trustworthy. |
| to + verb as subject | Takes singular verb | To cry is never the solution. |
| here, there | Verb agrees with the noun after the verb | Here lies the tomb. Here are the books. |
| either or, neither nor | Verb agrees with the nearer subject | Either she or her friends are responsible. |
| each, every, everyone | Takes singular verb | Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly. |
| none | Takes singular or plural depending on meaning | None is under the sun. |
| all that, everything | Takes singular verb | All that glitters is not gold. |
| I along with, together with | Verb agrees with the first subject | I along with my colleagues am efficient. |
How to solve the exercise
Find the real subject first. Ignore phrases between the subject and the verb. Then check whether the subject is singular or plural. Then match the verb.
Common traps
- Do not match the verb with the noun right before it. Match with the real subject. "A pack of lions" is singular because a pack is the subject, not lions.
- Do not mix singular and plural in "either or" or "neither nor" sentences. The verb follows the nearer subject.
- Do not write "Here is my books." Use "Here are my books" because books is plural.
Grammar II
A. Change the following sentences into affirmative.
B. Rewrite the following letter correcting the errors in subject-verb agreement.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I feel that I am the ideal candidate for the position of Communication Manager in your company. I have three years of experience as a receptionist in a company that is similar to yours. My phone skills and written communication are excellent. These skills and others that I have learned on the job help me understand that every person in a company helps make the business a success. At my current job the team always says that I am very helpful. Everyone appreciates when I go the extra mile to get the job done right. My current employer and co-workers feel that I am an asset to the team. I along with my colleagues am efficient and organized. Are there any other details about me that you would like to know? If so please contact me. Here is my resume. You can reach me by e-mail or phone. I look forward to speaking with you in person.
Sincerely Yours
Adara Banu
Condolence Message and Sympathy Letter
Condolence message parts required. Photo of the deceased (optional). Full name. Birth and death years. A short paragraph about who the person was. A short paragraph about their contribution. A line of sympathy to the family. A signature.
Sympathy letter parts required. Sender's address and date. Salutation. Body expressing shock and sympathy. Mention of the incident. Offer of help. A closing line of good wishes. Sign off with name.
Length. Condolence message about 100 to 150 words. Sympathy letter about 150 to 200 words.
Slot and marks. Free Writing II. Eight marks.
What the models below show. The structure and the tone. Both are formal. The situation in the exam will be different. Keep the format and change the content.
Writing II
B. Write a similar message of condolence using the given outlines.
Jayananda Lama
We are deeply saddened to share the passing away of Jayananda Lama, the senior folk singer and actor. He passed away at his residence Kaushaltar Bhaktapur.
His passing is an incredible loss for the Nepali art sector. He was a legendary figure who contributed greatly to Nepali folk music and cinema. His super hit folk songs like Kalakate Kainyo, Herda Ramro, Chuin Chuin Chuikane Joota and Mulako Chana are still loved by millions. He also acted in more than a hundred movies.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the entire bereaved family members at this colossal loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the loved ones during this difficult time. Let us pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul.
C. Imagine you and your friend Purna were working in a factory. Unfortunately he broke his hand while working with a machine. Write a letter of sympathy using the clues given below.
New Baneshwor, Kathmandu
21 October 2022
Dear Purna,
I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the accident that happened at the factory. I cannot imagine how difficult this time must be for you.
We have been working together for three years. You have always been a regular and dutiful worker. Your dedication and hard work have always inspired me. It is very unfortunate that a sort of mechanical failure caused such a serious injury. I heard that your hand got broken on 20 October 2022 and you are in hospital under treatment.
Please do not worry about work. Focus completely on your recovery. I am always here to help you with anything you need. I will visit you at the hospital soon.
I wish you a speedy recovery. May you get well soon and return to your normal life.
Yours sincerely,
Sagar Bhandari
Questions beyond the textbook exercises
These questions follow the SEE paper format. All content is drawn from Unit 11 only. Answers are not provided.
True or False
- The two girls were wearing the same colour frocks.
- Akoulya's grandmother was able to stop the quarrel by herself.
- Albert had been standing on one leg for more than seven hours.
- Mabel Phillips was trying to break a record for leaning on a brush.
- The man without trousers was also a contender for a world record.
Fill in the Gaps
- The dirty water after running through the farmyards had formed a large __________.
- The girls showed each other their __________ after coming from church.
- Albert's wife poured __________ soup into the bucket every half hour.
- Mabel pushed Albert when only __________ seconds were left.
- The old woman said the little girls were __________ than the men.
Short Answer
- Why did Akoulya's grandmother fail to stop the quarrel at first?
- How did the water channel the girls dug end the fight?
- What is the satire in World Record aimed at?
- Is chasing world records a worthwhile goal? Give one reason.
Grammar: Negative Sentences
- She writes stories for children. (Change to negative)
- He bought several books. (Change to negative)
- Both of them can solve the problem. (Change to negative)
- Everyone was present at the meeting. (Change to negative)
- He is always late for class. (Change to negative)
Grammar: Subject-Verb Agreement
- A number of students ____ absent today. (was / were)
- The number of applicants ____ increasing every year. (is / are)
- Either the teacher or the students ____ responsible. (is / are)
- Each of the players ____ a new uniform. (has / have)
- Here ____ the keys you were looking for. (is / are)
Writing Task
Imagine your school organised a tree plantation programme last month. Write a message of appreciation to the students who participated.
- Write the message in about 100 words.
- Include a title and a signature.