Paraphrasing

EXERCISE 11.

It is very easy to acquire bad habits, such as eating too many sweets or too much food, or drinking to
much fluid of any kind, or smoking. The more we do a thing, the more we tend to like doing it; and, if we
do not continue-to do it, we feel happy. This is called the force of habit, and the force of habit should be
fought against.

Things which may be very good when only done from time to time, tend to become very harmful when
done too often and too much. This applies even to such good things as work or rest. Some people from a
bad habit of working too much, and others of idling too much. The wise man always remembers that
this is true about himself and checks and bad habit. He says to himself, “I am now become idle” or “I like
too many sweets,” or “I smoke too much,” and then adds, “I will get myself out of this bad habit at one.”

Paraphrase:
It’s really easy to pick up bad habits like eating too much candy or food, drinking too many fluids, or
smoking. The more we do something, the more we start to enjoy it, and we feel happy when we
continue doing it. This is called the force of habit, but we should try to fight against it.

Even good things can become harmful if we do them too often and too much. This includes things like
working or resting. Some people have the bad habit of working too much, while others have the habit of
being lazy too much. A wise person understands this about themselves and tries to stop any bad habits.
They tell themselves, “I’m being lazy now” or “I eat too many sweets” or “I smoke too much,” and then
say, “I will break free from this bad habit soon.”

EXERCISE 12.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing but sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you
cannot walk over it with your bare feet in daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water
that come from deep down under the ground- so deep that the sun cannot dry them up. These springs
are few and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it.
Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green, shady place around the
spring. Such a place is called an oasis.

The Arabs who are not In the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put
up and take down very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass
and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe, sweet figs, and also
the dates that grow upon the palm trees; they dry them, too, and use them as food all the year round.

These Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very proud of his riding horse, and loves him
almost as much as he loves his wife and children. He never puts heavy loads upon his horse, and often
lets him stay in the tent with his family.

The camel Is much more useful to the Arab that he beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and
stronger. One camel can carry as much as or more than two horses. The Arab loads the camel with
goods and rides him, too, for miles and miles across the desert-just as if he were really the “Ship of the
Desert” which he is often called.

Paraphrase:

A big part of Arabia is made up of deserts. In these deserts, there is only sand and rocks. The sand gets
so hot during the day that you can’t walk on it without shoes. Sometimes, you can find springs of water
in the desert that come from deep underground. These springs are far apart, but when there’s one, the
area around it becomes green with grass. Trees like fig and palm trees grow there, creating a cool and
shady spot called an oasis.

The people in Arabia who don’t live in cities stay in the desert all year round. They live in tents that are
easy to set up and take down quickly. This way, they can move from one oasis to another, looking for
grass and water for their animals like sheep, goats, camels, and horses. These desert-dwelling people eat
sweet and ripe figs and dates from the palm trees. They even dry the dates to eat them all year long.

Arabs in the desert have the best horses in the world. They take great pride in their riding horses and
love them almost as much as their own families. They don’t put heavy loads on their horses and
sometimes let them stay in the tent with their family.

However, the camel is even more important to them than the beautiful horse because it is bigger and
stronger. A camel can carry as much as or even more than two horses. The Arabs load the camels with
goods and also ride on their backs for long distances across the desert. That’s why camels are often
called the “Ships of the Desert.”
EXERCISE 13.

The man who is perpetually hesitating which of the two things he will do first, will do neither. The man
who resolves, but suffers his resolution to be changed by the first counter-suggestions of a friend, who
fluctuates from opinion to opinion, from plan to plan, and veers like a water-cock to every point of the
compass, with every breath of caprice that blows-can never accomplish any thing great or useful.
Instead of being progressive in any thing, he will be at best stationary, and more probably retrograde in
all. It is only the man who first consults wisely, then resolves firmly, and then executes his purpose with
flexible perseverance, undismayed by those petty difficulties which daunt a weaker spirit – that can
advance to eminence in any line. Take your course wisely, but firmly; and having taken it, hold upon it
with heroic resolution, and the Alps and Pyrences will sink before you.

Paraphrase:

A person who constantly hesitates between two choices will end up doing nothing at all. Similarly,
someone who makes a decision but easily changes their mind based on the suggestions of others, who
keeps changing opinions and plans with every little whim, will never achieve anything significant or
helpful. Instead of making progress, they will remain stuck at best, or more likely, go backward in
everything they do. Only the person who seeks wise advice, makes a firm decision, and then carries out
their plan with determined persistence, undeterred by small challenges that discourage weaker
individuals, can truly succeed in any field. So, choose your path wisely and decisively, and once you’ve
made that choice, stick to it with unwavering determination. Even formidable obstacles will eventually
yield to your strength.

EXERCISE 14.

Man has a passion to conquer the unconquerable, and that great natural defense called the Gobi Desert
(Wall of Spears) Desert had by some means to be surmounted. Lack of water was the main problem, so
ancient diviners brought their skill to bear on the question. The possible daily stage for man or beast to
walk over loose gravel, or shifting sand, was tested and found to be twenty-five to thirty miles, and it
was with this in mind that wells were dug and springs released. Whenever the trek was more difficult
than usual, by reason of bad road surface or rising hills, the stage was shortened and the well dug a little
nearer. In a few cases, however, the diving-rod failed to respond, so to this day the traveler still has to
negotiate the double stage before he can water his beasts. Centuries come and go, but the traffic of the
desert path is still the same as when the oasis-makers plied their craft, and whether it be camel, horse,
donkey, cart or foot travel, three miles an hour is the accepted pace for the traveler as he crosses the
desert.

It is difficult for the westerner, accustomed to the tempo of modern life and the conditions of its
civilizations to adapt himself to the simplicities of this caravan life which has remained untouched by the
pressure of mechanical transport. Yet once he is committed to it he inherits a freedom which he has
never known before. His mentality is released from the tyranny of a timepiece with its relentless ticking,
and from the dead reproach of its neglect. The flickering needle of a speedometer is not there to urge
him to greater effort, and there is no concentration on speed as an objective in itself. He has ample time
for observation and nothing of interest need escape his attention. This is the pace for talk, and no desert
wayfarer is jarred by the annoyance of a hurried companion not delayed by the slackness of a fellow-
traveler. The human body, having found its natural swing, becomes strangely unconscious of itself and
releases the mind to its normal function of transmuting incident into experience. These are conditions in
which the wayfarer becomes, according to his own measure, an observer, a philosopher, a thinker, a
poet or a seer.

(M. Cable and F. French)

Paraphrase:

Humans have a strong desire to conquer challenges, even those that seem impossible. One such
formidable obstacle is the Gobi Desert, also known as the “Wall of Spears” Desert. To overcome this
natural defense, the main issue to address was the scarcity of water. Ancient experts in divination used
their skills to find a solution. They determined that people or animals could cover a distance of twenty-
five to thirty miles per day over loose gravel or shifting sand. Wells were then dug and springs were
discovered accordingly. Whenever the journey became more difficult due to rough terrain or rising hills,
the daily distance was shortened, and a well was dug closer to provide water. However, in a few cases,
the diviners failed to locate water, so travelers still have to complete a double stage without access to
water. Despite the passing of centuries, the traffic along the desert path remains the same as when the
experts created oases. Whether it’s by camel, horse, donkey, cart, or on foot, the accepted pace for
crossing the desert is three miles per hour.

For Westerners accustomed to the fast pace and conveniences of modern life, adapting to the simplicity
of caravan life, untouched by mechanical transportation, can be challenging. However, once they
embrace it, they experience a newfound freedom. They are no longer bound by the ticking of a
timepiece or burdened by the guilt of neglecting it. The pressure of a speedometer needle urging them
to go faster is absent, and speed itself is not the main focus. There is ample time for observation, and
nothing interesting goes unnoticed. This pace allows for conversations, without the annoyance of a
hurried companion who is not slowed down by a fellow traveler. The human body, finding its natural
rhythm, becomes blissfully unaware of itself and frees the mind to engage in its natural function of
transforming experiences into thoughts. These conditions enable the traveler to become an observer, a
philosopher, a thinker, a poet, or a seer, according to their own disposition and perspective.