March 2024
18. Today’s women are all set to take up various roles in life. In those roles, they might face many challenges.
List out four qualities that a woman needs, to face the challenges of life. (4)
19. The African adage quoted by Christine Lagarde in her speech The 3Ls of Empowerment throws light on the importance of educating girl children.
Explain the significance of the adage in a few words. (4)
June 2023
26. “A woman should be two things — who and what she wants” — such slogans have been said and gone. Still atrocities against women continue. March 8, Women’s Day is fast approaching. Write an article on “Women Empowerment A Dire Necessity’. (8)
March 2023
12. ‘Women deserve equality and not reservation’. Write 2 points either to support or counter the statement. (2)
14. “Women sometimes lack confidence to match their competence.” Comment on the statement. (4)
27. “Emancipation and empowerment of women is of prime importance in every society”. In the light of your understanding of the ideas expressed by Christine Legarde, prepare an editorial on the role played by women in the progress of the nation. (8)
June 2022
Read the passages and answer the following questions :
Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Nowhere is this more essential than in the developing world.
1. Identify the speaker of the passage. (1)
2. How is learning helpful to women ? (1)
20. Elaborate the idea of the African adage, “If you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you train a village.” (4)
33. In her speech ‘The 3 Ls of Empowerment’, Christine Lagarde speaks about three different ways of empowering women. Do you think that Indian women are empowered ? What are the challenges which women of the 21st Century face ? Suggest possible solutions also. (8)
March 2022
27. Your school has conducted a seminar on the topic ‘The Role of Schools in Women Empowerment.’ Prepare a report of the seminar to be published in the school magazine. You can use the given hints : (Hints : venue – date and time – welcome speech – inaugural address – paper presentation – open forum – vote of thanks) (6)
30. Imagine that you become a topper in the Civil Service Examination, and you realise the value of education in the modem world. Your classmates and juniors arrange a function to honour your success. Prepare the script of the speech you would deliver on the occasion. (6)
SAY 2021
Read the excerpt from ‘The 3Ls of Empowerment’ and answer the questions that follow :
“They represent half the world’s population, but contribute far less than 50 percent of economic activity. What is needed to change this picture is a concerted effort to open the door to opportunity with what I call the “3 Ls” of women’s empowerment” :
(a) Who represents half the world’s population ? (1)
(b) What is needed to change their poor economic condition ? (1)
(c) What are the 3Ls of women’s empowerment ? (1)
7. ‘Women empowerment should begin at home’ – How do you reflect upon this statement ? How many women in your locality are truly empowered ? Prepare a write up on the lives of some empowered women you are familiar. (6)
9. After listening to the speech Christine Legarde delivered on women empowerment, you decide to send her an e-mail to say that her ideas influenced you very much. Write the e-mail to Christine Legarde. (6)
13. Christine Legarde has spoken about the need for women’s empowerment. Imagine she meets Nomitha and learns of her experiences at her husband’s house. Write a possible conversation between them in at least four exchanges. (4)
19. Christine Legarde affirms in her speech that women should dare the difference and step outside their comfort zones to succeed in life. Look at the profiles of two outstanding women from Kerala. Make use of the information in the profiles to prepare a speech on the topic ‘woman-victor, not victim’. (8)
March 2021
34. A webinar is conducted by the English club of your school on the topic ‘21st century Indian women and the challenges they face in society’. As a member of the club, you are asked to make a speech on the topic. Prepare the script of your speech. (8)
July 2020
24. “We need to empower women in India because even now they face numerous challenges and discriminations.” Draft a blog expressing your views on this statement in the light of the speech by Christine Lagarde. [gender inequality – discrimination – low status – social taboos – need of education – labour – leadership] (6)
March 2020
29. Christine Lagarde says, “It’s time to create a world where all women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice and the world will reap the benefits.” Prepare an essay on the topic ‘women Empowerment and Development are Intertwined.”
(Hints : represent half the world’s population – per capita income affected – sensitive to needs – peace loving – good at decision making – concensus building ) (8)
Short Questions
1.What are the essential factors for empowerment?
The essential factors for empowerment are learning, labour and Leadership.
2. What’s the role of learning in empowering women?
Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion.
3. How can we promote more opportunities for women in the workplace?
The basic norm at our workplaces should be ‘equal pay for equal work.’ Eliminating gender gaps in economic participation increases per capita income of a country.
Paragraph Questions
1. How can we build self confidence in women?
It is true that women sometimes lack the confidence to match their competence. But they need to change the mindset and dare the difference facing risks. Even those who have the drive to succeed face barriers. It’s time to create a world where women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice. If they come out of their comfort zones they can deliver the difference in society.
2. The African adage quoted by Christine Lagarde in her speech The 3Ls of Empowerment throws light on the importance of educating girl children. Explain the significance of the adage in a few words.
The African adage says that “if you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl you train a village.” A boy’s education helps him to progress himself. But an educated girl makes her family and society progress. The children raised by an educated girl get better formation. Such a family makes a role model in the village. Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion.
Essay
The lesson ‘The 3Ls of Empowerment’ underlines the role of women’s economic participation in a country’s development. The former chief of the IMF, Christine Lagarde, in her speech describes the various factors that ensure women empowerment.
Women empowerment can be attained through three factors: Learning, Labour and Leadership. The greatest challenge the twenty first century poses is the economic role of women in a rapidly changing world. Though they represent half the world’s population they are denied equal opportunity. Eliminating gender gaps in economic participation can increase the per capita income of a country.
The African adage says that “if you educate a boy, you train a man. If you educate a girl, you train a village.” A boy’s education helps him to progress himself. But an educated girl makes her family and society progress. The children raised by an educated girl get better formation. Such a family makes a role model in the village. Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion.
Labour enables women to achieve their true potential. However, with the same level of education and work they get less wages compared to men. ‘Equal pay for equal work’ should be our basic norm at our workplaces. Thirdly, in order to rise in society and show their talents women need leadership. It is ironic that women are capable of providing better leadership but don’t get opportunities. Most often their decisions are based on consensus building, inclusion, compassion and sustainability.
It is true that women sometimes lack the confidence to match their competence. But they need to change the mindset and dare the difference facing risks. Even those who have the drive to succeed face barriers. It’s time to create a world where women can meet their potential without impediment or prejudice. If they come out of their comfort zones they can deliver the difference in society.
