Walt Disney: An Example of Struggle and Success [NEB English Class 10 Exercise]

Walt Disney: An Example of Struggle and Success

A. Use the correct words/ phrases given below to complete the sentences.

a. Kisan had to sell his house to keep his business afloat.

b. He was accused of plotting the robbery of the bank.

c. Scientists are trying to harness the sun’s rays as a new source of energy.

d. Many companies went bankrupt during the economic depression.

e. Courage and perseverance are the keys to success in life.

f. The government had mounting pressure from the public to withdraw the bill.

g. After his graduation, he worked as an apprentice electrician in a company..

h. The government spent a colossal amount of money on the renovation of the historical buildings.

I. Kathy was brought up by an unkind domineering stepmother.

J. Patrick took solace in the company of his mates.

B. Find the meaning of the following phrases/idioms from a dictionary and use them in sentences of your own.

make ends meet – to have enough money to cover one’s expenses or to make a living.

Example sentence: Despite having a low-paying job, Sarah managed to make ends meet by budgeting carefully and cutting down on unnecessary expenses.

silver lining – It refers to a positive aspect or a hopeful outlook in a challenging or negative situation.

Example sentence: Although Jack lost his job, the silver lining was that it gave him the opportunity to explore a new career path.

nervous breakdown – It is a state of severe mental or emotional distress, often resulting in the inability to function normally.

Example sentence: The stress from work and personal issues became too overwhelming for Sarah, and she eventually suffered a nervous breakdown.

kick in the teeth – to experience a sudden and unexpected setback or disappointment.

Example sentence: After years of hard work, getting rejected for the job was a real kick in the teeth for Mark.

drop out – to quit or withdraw from a course, program, or activity before completing it.

Example sentence: Due to financial constraints, Jane had to drop out of college in her second year.

set off – to start a journey or to begin a particular course of action.

Example sentence: We set off on our road trip early in the morning to avoid the traffic.

C. The following sentences represent some events in Disney’s life. Study and rewrite them in chronological order.

I.⇒ Disney left home and went to France to work as an ambulance driver.

II.⇒ He returned to Chicago and worked as a trainee at an art studio.

III.⇒ The cartoon company collapsed.

IV.⇒ He created the characters, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse.

V.⇒ Disney suffered severe mental and emotional illness.

VII.⇒ He shifted his focus from big screens to television shows.

VIII.⇒ He successfully founded the famous Disneyland.

D. Answer these questions.

a. How was Walt Disney’s childhood?

Walt Disney had a difficult upbringing, characterized by his elder brothers’ departure, financial difficulties, and an allegedly violent father. Drawing gave him comfort, and he finally decided to pursue a career in animation and painting.

b. Describe Disney’s family background.

Disney was the fourth of five boys in a household of five siblings. Elias Disney, his father, was said to be controlling and violent. Elias found it difficult to provide for the family, which led to financial problems. One by one, Walt Disney’s elder brothers fled their homes to avoid their father. Walt’s life and profession were eventually formed by his childhood and the influence of his family history.

c. What did Disney do after his failure in the first business?

Disney successfully persuaded his brother Roy to accompany him in California to establish an animation studio following the loss of his first business and his abortive effort at acting in Los Angeles. They had their first significant triumph when they made Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

d. How was the character of Mickey Mouse created?

Walt Disney created the character of Mickey Mouse on the train ride back to California after he discovered that he had lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

e. Why did Disney have a mental breakdown?

Disney’s mental breakdown was caused by a combination of factors, including work-related stress, tensions with his employer, who stole his best animator, and the overall challenges of keeping his business afloat.

f. Which of his films were commercially useless?

The films “Pinocchio” (1940), “Fantasia” (1940), and “Bambi” (1942) were commercially useless.

g. Which films produced him great financial returns?

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs produced him great financial returns.

h. Why do you think the opening of Disneyland was called ‘Black Sunday’?

The launch of Disneyland was dubbed “Black Sunday” because of the obstacles and problems that came up on that particular day. These difficulties included counterfeit tickets, lengthy lineups, sweltering heat waves, liquefied asphalt, broken rides, and broken drinking fountains. The disorderly and terrible park opening was dubbed “Black Sunday” by the criticism.

i. What special quality of Disney made him finally a successful entrepreneur?

The special quality of Disney that made him a successful entrepreneur is his determination and perseverance.

j. What lesson do you learn from Disney’s life?

Disney’s life serves as a lesson on the strength of tenacity and willpower. Despite his disappointments and defeats, he persisted in moving forward with unrelenting determination. His imaginative vision and meticulous attention to detail produced classic works that encouraged future generations to dream large. Disney teaches us that we can overcome challenges and achieve greatness if we have a strong vision and are resilient.

E. Who has inspired you significantly in your life? Share her/his life story with the class.

One such individual is Mahabir Pun, a well-known personality and social entrepreneur who has significantly aided in closing the digital gap in the nation’s rural areas. In rural locations, he has been instrumental in closing the digital gap. He improved education, healthcare, and economic prospects by bringing internet access to remote people through the Nepal Wireless Networking Project. His work is an example of the power of grassroots creativity and has inspired many others.

Glossary of the Text

1. Adversity /ədˈvɜːrsəti/ – difficulties; misfortune.
2. Allegedly /əˈlɛdʒɪdli/ – said, without proof, to have taken place or to have a specified illegal or undesirable quality.
3. Ambulance /ˈæmbjʊləns/ – a vehicle equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from the hospital, especially in emergencies.
4. Animator /ˈænɪˌmeɪtər/ – a person who creates animations.
5. Apprentice /əˈprɛntɪs/ – a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer, having agreed to work for a fixed period at low wages.
6. Asphalt /ˈæsfɔlt/ – a mixture of dark bituminous pitch with sand or gravel, used for surfacing roads, flooring, roofing, etc.
7. Ave /eɪv/ – a short form of avenue.
8. Beyond /bɪˈjɒnd/ – at or to the further side of.
9. Black Sunday /blæk ˈsʌndeɪ/ – a term used to describe the challenging opening day of Disneyland in the text.
10. Brought /brɔːt/ – past tense of bring.
11. California /ˌkælɪˈfɔːnjə/ – a state on the western coast of the United States.
12. Callet /ˈkælɪt/ – (archaic) a woman of low character.
13. Cartoon /kɑːˈtuːn/ – a simple drawing showing the features of its subjects in a humorously exaggerated way, especially a satirical one in a newspaper or magazine.
14. Chicago /ʃɪˈkɑːɡoʊ/ – a city in the U.S. state of Illinois.
15. Colossal /kəˈlɒsəl/ – extremely large.
16. Commercial /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/ – concerned with or engaged in commerce.
17. Concept /ˈkɒnsɛpt/ – an abstract idea or general notion.
18. Countless /ˈkaʊntlɪs/ – too many to be counted; very many.
19. Davy Crockett /ˈdeɪvi ˈkrɒkɪt/ – a frontiersman, folk hero, and politician in the 19th century.
20. Debts /dɛts/ – the state of owing money.
21. Defunct /dɪˈfʌŋkt/ – no longer existing or functioning.
22. Deter /dɪˈtɜːr/ – discourage someone from doing something, typically by instilling doubt or fear of the consequences.
23. Develop /dɪˈvɛləp/ – grow or cause to grow and become more mature, advanced, or elaborate.
24. Digs /dɪɡz/ – lodgings; accommodations.
25. Disneyland /ˈdɪznɪˌlænd/ – an amusement park in Anaheim, California, opened in 1955 by Walt Disney.
26. Domineering /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪərɪŋ/ – assert one’s will over another in an arrogant way.
27. Duds /dʌdz/ – something that fails to function properly or is otherwise unsatisfactory or worthless.
28. Elias /ɪˈlaɪəs/ – the father of Walt Disney.
29. Empire /ˈɛmpaɪər/ – an extensive group of states or countries ruled over by a single monarch, an oligarchy, or a sovereign state.
30. Endeavor /ɪnˈdɛvə/ – try hard to do or achieve something.
31. Enterprises /ˈɛntəpraɪzɪz/ – projects or undertakings, especially ones that are important or difficult.
32. Fantasia /fænˈteɪziə/ – a Disney animated film released in 1940.
33. Father /ˈfɑːðər/ – a male parent.
34. Filmmaker /ˈfɪlmmeɪkər/ – a person who directs or produces films, especially professionally.
35. Forged /fɔːrdʒd/ – copied fraudulently; fake.
36. Gamble /ˈɡæmbəl/ – take risky action in the hope of a desired result.
37. Happen /ˈhæpən/ – take place; occur.
38. Heels /hiːlz/ – the back part of the human foot below the ankle.
39. Humble /ˈhʌmbəl/ – having or showing a modest or low estimate of one’s importance.
40. Inocchio /ɪˈnɒkioʊ/ – a misspelling of Pinocchio, a Disney animated film released in 1940.
41. Integral /ˈɪntɪɡrəl/ – necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
42. Itching /ˈɪtʃɪŋ/ – having or causing an itch.
43. Kansas City /ˈkænzəs ˈsɪti/ – a city in the U.S. state of Missouri.
44. Laid /leɪd/ – past tense of lay.
45. Learned /lɜːrnd/ – past tense of learn.
46. Lining /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/ – material that covers the inner surface of something.
47. Longtime /ˈlɔŋˌtaɪm/ – having been such for a long time; long-standing.
48. Luck /lʌk/ – success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s actions.
49. Mickey Mouse /ˈmɪki maʊs/ – a cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at the Walt Disney Company.
50. Misfortune /mɪsˈfɔːrtʃən/ – bad luck; an unfortunate condition or event.
51. Missteps /ˈmɪsˌstɛps/ – actions that are unintentional but lead to a mistake or failure.
52. Mounting /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/ – increasing; growing in amount or intensity.
53. Nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/ – easily agitated or alarmed; tending to be anxious.
54. New York /nuː jɔːrk/ – a state in the northeastern U.S. and a city on the southern tip of the state.
55. No longer /noʊ ˈlɔŋɡər/ – not now as formerly.
56. Noticing /ˈnoʊtɪsɪŋ/ – observing or becoming aware of something.
57. Oswald /ˈɒzwəld/ – a cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in the 1920s.
58. Paved /peɪvd/ – covered with a hard, flat surface, such as concrete or asphalt.
59. Perseverance /ˌpɜːrsɪˈvɪərəns/ – persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
60. Personality /ˌpɜːrsəˈnæləti/ – the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual’s distinctive character.
61. Phonemic /foʊˈniːmɪk/ – relating to the study of the sound distinctions (phonemes) of a particular language.
62. Phonetic /fəˈnɛtɪk/ – relating to the sounds of human speech.
63. Plotting /ˈplɒtɪŋ/ – secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action).
64. Producer /prəˈduːsər/ – a person responsible for the financial and managerial aspects of making a movie or broadcast or stage play.
65. Realize /ˈriːəˌlaɪz/ – become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly.
66. Rebuild /riːˈbɪld/ – build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed.
67. Recovering /rɪˈkʌvərɪŋ/ – returning to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
68. Reject /rɪˈdʒɛkt/ – dismiss as inadequate, inappropriate, or not to one’s taste.
69. Renegotiate /riːnɪˈɡoʊʃɪˌeɪt/ – negotiate (something, especially a term of a contract) again.
70. Revenge /rɪˈvɛndʒ/ – the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.
71. Road /roʊd/ – a wide way leading from one place to another, especially one with a specially prepared surface that vehicles can use.
72. Rocky /ˈrɒki/ – characterized by difficulties or obstacles; full of hardship or troubles.
73. Roy /rɔɪ/ – the older brother of Walt Disney.
74. Run off /rʌn ɒf/ – leave a place, especially suddenly.
75. Setback /ˈsɛtbæk/ – a reversal or check in progress; a change from better to worse.
76. Seven Dwarfs /ˈsɛvən dwɔːrfs/ – characters from the fairy tale “Snow White,” featured in Disney’s animated film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”
77. Set up /sɛt ʌp/ – establish or arrange (an organization or system).
78. Silver lining /ˈsɪlvər ˈlaɪnɪŋ/ – a sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation.
79. Slow to /sloʊ tuː/ – not quick or prompt in doing something.
80. Solace /ˈsɒlɪs/ – comfort or consolation in a time of great distress or sadness.
81. Soaring /ˈsɔrɪŋ/ – flying or rising high in the air.
82. Springs /sprɪŋz/ – (here) comes quickly to mind.
83. Stakes /steɪks/ – the sum of money that a gambler must hazard.
84. Stalling /stɔːlɪŋ/ – delaying or procrastinating.
85. Stressful /ˈstrɛsfl/ – full of or causing stress.
86. Straitened /ˈstreɪtənd/ – (archaic) characterized by financial difficulty or trouble.
87. Strike /straɪk/ – a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in an attempt to gain a concession or concessions from their employer.
88. Success /səkˈsɛs/ – the accomplishment of an aim or purpose.
89. Successful /səkˈsɛsfəl/ – accomplishing an aim or purpose.
90. Surfacing /ˈsɜːrfɪsɪŋ/ – emerging; becoming apparent or obvious.
91. Theme park /θim pɑːrk/ – an amusement park that has a unifying setting or theme.
92. Throwaway /ˈθroʊəweɪ/ – (informal) intended to be discarded after use; disposable.
93. Trails /treɪlz/ – (here) extends behind in a line.
94. Unsuccessful /ʌnsəkˈsɛsfəl/ – not achieving the desired outcome; not successful.
95. Venture /ˈvɛntʃər/ – a risky or daring journey or undertaking.
96. Version /ˈvɜːrʒən/ – a particular form of something differing in certain respects from an earlier form or other forms of the same type of thing.
97. Visions /ˈvɪʒənz/ – ideas or images that come into the mind, especially when imagining future achievements.
98. Vivacious /vɪˈveɪʃəs/ – attractively lively and animated.
99. Would /wʊd/ – expressing a consequence or conditional result.
100. Zigzag /ˈzɪɡzæɡ/ – a line or course having abrupt alternate right and left turns.

Grammar I

A. Choose the correct prepositions and complete the sentences.

1. A: When did you reach school? B: I reached sometime ….between… 9:00 to 9:15 am.
2. I usually stay in my office …from…. 10 am to 4 pm.
3. You should finish your test….in…. next 30 minutes.
4. Noor worked in the hotel….until… 2010.
5. I have been looking …..for…..my spectacles. I don’t remember where I kept them.
6. Mr. Shahi has ten members working ……under…..him.
7. There is a knock ….at.. the door, Who can be calling us now?
8. Kritlka is….in…..her twenties.
9. There is a great deal …..of….. violence in some countries.
10. Their discussion turned ….into…an unpleasant quarrel.

B. Complete the sentences with in, on, or at.

1. Water boils ..at…..100 degrees Celsius.
2. Last year, we went …on….. a trip to the National Botanical Garden, Godawari from our school.
3. Can you turn the light on, please? I don’t want to sit ..in… the dark.
4. She was married …at….. the young age of 20.
5. Science and technology have developed ….at…. a great pace.
6. ….In……. my opinion, violent films should be banned for children.
7. I heard the news ..on… the radio this morning.
8. My father is not at home ……at…. the moment.

Writing I

Imagine that your school football team has won the Football Tournament title organised by the District Sports Development Committee. Write a message of congratulation to the team on behalf of the school to appear on the school notice board.

Your maternal uncle has recently been promoted to the post of Inspector of Nepal Police. Write a letter of congratulations extending him your best wishes.