Chapter 2.3 – Connecting the Dots
This lesson talks about three stories in the life of Steve Jobs which according to him were the three turning points in his life. He trusted his intuition and his heart and achieved name and fame and he advises his readers to follow their heart as well.
The first story Connecting the Dots talks about his college days wherein he dropped out of college to follow his heart and ended up designing the first mackintosh computer. According to him whatever you do in life helps you in future somewhere down the line.
His second story is about love and loss. This story tells us how he lost what he had made. He was fired from his own company because he drove the people a little too hard, as being gentle and polite was not his nature. He took this as a lesson and began all over again with a different perspective. He also talks about the love of his life Laurene whom he married later.
His third story talks about death and how he escaped the jaws of death. He was diagnosed with cancer and his doctor had advised him to settle all his things. The cancer turned out to be a rare form of pancreatic cancer which could be cured with surgery and he had the surgery done. He had nearly knocked at the doors of Heaven and returned to Earth. He says that life is unpredictable, so live your life and use your living time judiciously.
dropped out of : discontinued, left
drop in : visitor
dorm : dormitory
cent : a coin worth one hundredth of the US Dollar
dorm : dormitory
typography : the appearance of printed matter
Mac : Macintosh computer
connect the dots : associate one idea (previous to another (next) to find/create a new big picture.
gut : courage and determination
got fired : lost the job
devastating : causing severe shock, distress and grief
began to dawn on : began to become clear to
renaissance : rebirth, revival
hits you in the head with a brick : give a great shock suddenly
dogma : belief or a set of beliefs held by a group or organisation which others are expected to accept without argument
drown out : be louder than another sound and prevent it from being heard
intuition : instinctive understanding
anew : in a new or different way
Stay Hungry : Always keep wanting something more, something new.
Stay Foolish : Always keep an open mind. Never think you know everything.
Warming up!
1. (A) Connect the dots to get what means a lot to you.
Ans: Success
(B) With your benchmate, use the letters given above to make a word register of ‘computers’. Set a time -limit of 5 minutes and compare your list with that of other classmates.
Ans: Computer, mouse, C.P.U., motherboard, processor, monitor, computer case, laptop, education, listening to music, watching movies, news, etc. Science, business, health, and medicine Information, project work, helping to use the Internet, etc.
2. You are quite familiar with computer, especially the personal computer. Form pairs and make a list of famous computer manufacturing companies. One is given to you.
(a) Apple
Ans:
(b) Hitachi
(c) Dell
(d) HCL
(e) Intel
(f) IBM
(g) Hyundai
(h) Panasonic
(i) Lenovo
(j) LG
3. Complete the web by filling the various benefits of computers.
Ans:
4. (A) Expand the following into their full forms.
(a) that’s
Ans: that is
(b) didn’t
Ans: did not
(c) here’s
Ans: here is
(d) can’t
Ans: can not
(e) I’ve
Ans: I have
(B) Write the shortened forms of the following.
(a) You have
Ans: You’ve
(b) I would
Ans: I’d
(c) It is
Ans: It’s
(d) You are
Ans: You’re
(e) He will
Ans: He’ll
(f) I had
Ans: I’d
(g) will not
Ans: won’t
(h) shall not
Ans: shan’t
(i) are not
Ans: aren’t
(j) need not
Ans: needn’t
(k) must not
Ans: mustn’t
(l) ought not
Ans: oughtn’t
In Between The LESSON
Q1. What did Steve Jobs do for two years after he joined Reed College?
Ans: Steve Jobs stopped taking classes that did not interest him and instead took classes that looked interesting.
Q2. What hardships did Jobs face?
Ans: Jobs didn’t have a dorm room and had to walk seven miles to get a decent meal, every Sunday night.
Q3. What basic course in Reed College helped Jobs while designing the Mac?
Ans: The calligraphy class helped Steve ten years later when he and his partner were designing the first Macintosh computer.
Q4. What setback did Jobs suffer when he was thirty?
Ans: When he was thirty, Jobs got fired from Apple.
Q5. What does the second story of Jobs convey to you?
Ans: This extract teaches me never to give up in the face of adversities. It teaches me to follow my passion and persevere even if things look bad, for every dark cloud has a silver lining.
Q6. What does Jobs warn you about life and dogma?
Ans: Jobs warns us not to get trapped by life and dogma.
Q7. How does Jobs close his address to the graduate students?
Ans: Jobs closes his address to the graduate students by telling them to ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. (A) Rearrange the incidents in the life of Steve Jobs in chronological order.
(a) Steve Jobs started Next.
(b) Jobs underwent a surgery.
(c) Jobs learned about serif and sans serif type faces.
(d) Jobs returned to Apple Inc.
(e) Jobs married Laurene.
(f) Jobs was diagnosed with cancer.
(g) Jobs dropped out of Reed College.
Ans:
(g) Jobs dropped out of Reed College.
(c) Jobs learned about serif and sans serif type faces.
(a) Steve Jobs started Next.
(e) Jobs married Laurene.
(d) Jobs returned to Apple Inc.
(f) Jobs was diagnosed with cancer.
(b) Jobs underwent a surgery.
(B) Read the third story again. Complete the flow-chart given below.
Ans:
2. Read the lesson. Refer to a dictionary and match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.
Ans: (a) – (iii), (b) – (v), (c) – (iv), (d) – (vi), (e) – (i), (f) – (ii)
3. Go through all the three stories. Identify some qualities of Steve Jobs and complete the webchart.
Ans:
4. Complete the following table.
‘The Three Stories in the Life of Steve Jobs’
Ans:
‘The Three Stories in the Life of Steve Jobs’
5. Say HOW?
(i) The calligraphy classes helped Steve Jobs after 10 years.
Ans: To design the first Macintosh computer
(ii) You can connect dots.
Ans: By looking backwards
(iii) Jobs reacted later on, after the shock of being fired from Apple.
Ans: Started a company ‘Next’ and another company ‘Pixar’
(iv) Jobs was cured of a rare cancer.
Ans: Underwent surgery
(v) Jobs acquired the famous words ‘Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish’
Ans: From the final issue on the back cover of his favourite publication called “The Whole Earth Catalogue’
6. Besides those given at the end of the talk by Steve Jobs, pick out other pieces of advice that Jobs gives in his speech.
Ans:
(i) Don’t be trapped by ‘dogma’.
(ii) Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.
(iii) Have the courage to follow your own heart and intuitions.
(iv) Love what you do. If you haven’t found it, keep looking. Don’t settle.
(v) You have to trust that the dots will connect in your future.
(vi) You can’t connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect it looking backwards.
7. (A) Use the following idioms/phrases in sentences of your own.
drop it
Ans: This conversation is not going in the right direction, let’s drop it.
drop out
Ans: Lack of time forced me to drop out of the project.
stumble on
Ans: I stumbled on the clue by sheer luck.
look backwards
Ans: Looking backwards at my childhood days, makes me feel nostalgic.
look forward
Ans: I am looking forward to joining the new office.
let (someone) down
Ans: I make sure not to let my parents down under any circumstances.
sign off
Ans: He always signs off his lectures with motivational quotes.
begin anew
Ans: I have decided to forget my past and begin anew.
(B) Fill in the gaps choosing the appropriate idioms.
(drown out, hits in the head with a brick, get one’s affairs in order, connect the dots, begin to dawn, stay hungry)
(a) The wealthy landlord made a will ______ before he could die.
Ans: to get his affairs in order
(b) Those who aspire for success should always ______ to learn more.
Ans: stay hungry
(c) If you ______ you will realise that crime ultimately leads to poverty.
Ans: connect the dots
(d) The siren of the ambulance ______ all other traffic noise.
Ans: drowned out
(e) When the father learned about his son’s misdeeds, it ______.
Ans: hit him on the head with a brick
(f) On reading exactly same essays in both answer sheets, it ______ the examiner that the students had cheated during exams.
Ans: began to dawn on
8. (A) Name the Tense of the Verbs underlined to include Time (Past / Present / Future) and Aspect (Simple / Continuous / Perfect / Perfect Continuous)
(1) I slept on the floor.
Ans: Simple Past Tense
(2) You haven’t found it.
Ans: Present Perfect Tense
(3) We were designing the first Macintosh computer.
Ans: Past Continuous Tense
(4) It had made all the difference.
Ans: Past Perfect Tense
(5) I am fine, now.
Ans: Simple Present Tense
(6) I have been facing death.
Ans: Present Perfect Continuous Tense
(7) I shall be telling you three stories.
Ans: Future Continuous Tense
(B) Change the Tense as instructed.
(1) I got fired. (Future Perfect)
Ans: I shall have got fired.
(2) Life hits you in the head. (Present Perfect Continuous)
Ans: Life has been hitting you on the head.
(3) The dots will somehow connect. (Past Perfect)
Ans: The dots had somehow connected.
(4) I started a company. (Present Continuous)
Ans: I am starting a company.
(5) My doctor advised me. (Past Perfect Continuous)
Ans: My doctor had been advising me.
9. Read the News item and write an application for a suitable job in the same company. Attach a seperate CV/Resume.
May 19, 2016
Apple Opens Development Office in Hyderabad
(A) The new office in Hyderabad will focus on development of maps, Apple products, like iPhone, iPad, Mac. etc. This will create upto 4000 jobs.
Ans:
5/2A, Taximens Society,
L.B.S. Road, Mahatma Nagar (E),
Hyderabad – 500003.
20th May, 2016
The Manager,
Apple Development office,
Nanakram Guda,
Hyderabad – 500032.
Reference: Your advertisement in ‘The Times of India’, issue dated May 19, 2016.
Subject: Application for the post of H.R. manager
Respected Sir/Madam,
With reference to your advertisement in “The Times of India’, issue dated May 19, 2016, I wish to apply for the post of HR manager in your esteemed organization. I have obtained an M.B. A degree in H.R.D. (human resource development) from N.M. College, Mumbai Hey Besides English, I am also fluent in Hindi and Marathi. I have worked for a shipping company for a period of three years and have learned much. I relate well with my colleagues and am friendly by nature. If given a chance in your reputed organization, I will prove my skills and be an asset for your company.
I have attached my resume along with photocopies of my testimonials for your kind perusal. I look forward to an interview.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
X.Y.Z.
(B) Imagine you are already working as an Engineer in Apple Development Office, Hyderabad. Write an application for 2 weeks leave to the HR Manager as you have to undergo an urgent surgery.
(Follow all steps of formal letter writing for both the above letters.)
Ans:
5/2A, Taximens Society,
L.B.S. Road, Mahatma Nagar (E),
Hyderabad – 500003.
20th August, 2023
The H.R. Manager,
Apple Development Office,
Nanakram Guda,
Hyderabad – 500032.
Subject: Application for leave
Respected Sir,
I, Amaan Khan, am working in the engineering department. I am writing this letter to let you know that I would need leave of absence for two weeks as I have to undergo a surgery which cannot be delayed.
A medical certificate confirming the same is attached. Please grant me this leave as I will be undergoing the surgery at the earliest. I would like to avail this leave from the 25th of this month. I would appreciate your consent and consideration in this matter. I can resume work on the 9th of September.
Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Amaan Khan
10. Prepare a speech on the title “The Will to Win” to be delivered before the class during a competition.
Hints –
Title
Introduction
Objective and Illustrations
Specific examples
Purpose of the title.
Sources/Resourses for implementation.
Usefulness/Benefits
Conclusion
Ans:
The Will to Win
Good day, respected teachers and my dear friends. The topic for today’s competition is “The Will to Win”. I would like to utilize this platform to share some secrets of winning with you all. The interpretation of winning may vary from person to person. The ultimate winner is happiness and satisfaction. It’s important, too, that you pursue your passion and love. Follow your own dreams and reach for your own goals. Sometimes life may hit you as hard as a brick does, but don’t lose hope. Always believe that those who don’t give up are the ones who ultimately become winners. You must concentrate on your activities. Don’t get disheartened initially; instead, keep trying until you succeed. you fail Remember, it’s the determined who win. Winners don’t do different things; they do things differently. Your greatest weapon is winning.
Thank you for being such a wonderful audience.
11. Project :
Collect more information about Steve Jobs with the help of Internet. Complete it with images into a file.
Ans: Students should do this on their own.
12. Do you remember doing some activities in your childhood that you didn’t like it. Form pairs and make a list of all those activities. Do you think, any one of these activities have helped you in solving your problems? Share your experience with the class.
Ans: Once while driving home from school, the chain of my bicycle got dislodged and I almost fell off. There was no bicycle repair shop nearby and no passers-by were able to help me. Since I had experience helping dad to repair his bicycle, somehow I managed to get the chain fixed and wobbled back home. My hands were black and dirty with grease and oil, but at least I didn’t have to walk back home, pushing my bicycle along.