Chapter 7 — In Celebration of Being Alive

Class 12 General English | PSEB | A Rainbow of English
Author: Dr Christian Barnard

1. Lesson Summary

In “In Celebration of Being Alive,” Dr Christian Barnard reflects on the meaning of life after witnessing the courage and positive attitude of two seriously ill children. Their example changes his understanding of suffering and teaches him that the real business of living is to celebrate being alive.

Barnard recalls his own painful experiences, particularly the suffering of his younger brother, who had a serious heart condition. These memories made him sensitive to the suffering of children and their families.

At Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital, he witnessed children suffering from severe illnesses and disabilities. Some had lost limbs, while others faced conditions that offered little hope of recovery. Their pain made him feel agony, fear and anger because he could not always remove their suffering.

However, he also observed two young patients who demonstrated remarkable courage and enthusiasm. One was a little boy who could move only by raising his head, yet he participated in a trolley race and laughed afterwards. The other was the trolley’s driver, whose shoulder and arm had recently been amputated because of a malignant tumour. Despite his condition, he proudly declared the race a success.

These children taught Barnard that the business of living is not simply pleasure, amusement or recreation. It is the joy of being alive and making the best of whatever remains to us.

The essay concludes that suffering does not automatically make a person better. Rather, experiencing suffering can help people understand life more deeply. The children taught Barnard that what matters most is not what a person has lost, but what remains.

2. Short-Answer Type Questions

Q1. According to Dr Barnard, what is the business of living?

According to Dr Barnard, the business of living is the celebration of being alive. It means finding joy and purpose in life, even when circumstances are difficult, rather than depending only on pleasure, amusement or recreation.

Q2. What do people with brave and positive attitudes teach us?

People with brave and positive attitudes teach us to face difficulties courageously, appreciate life and make the best of our circumstances. Their example reminds us to value what we still have rather than remain defeated by what we have lost.

Q3. In which incident were Dr Barnard’s gloomy thoughts rooted?

Dr Barnard’s gloomy thoughts were rooted in the suffering of his younger brother, who had a serious heart condition. This painful experience made Barnard deeply aware of illness and suffering.

Q4. What was Dr Barnard’s father’s attitude towards life?

Dr Barnard’s father had a positive and courageous attitude towards life. Despite difficulties, he believed in facing life with strength and maintaining hope rather than surrendering to despair.

Q5. What introduced Dr Barnard to the suffering of the children?

His work as a doctor at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital introduced him to the suffering of seriously ill and disabled children. Their pain and difficult circumstances affected him deeply.

Q6. Why couldn’t Barnard’s brother survive?

Barnard’s brother suffered from a serious heart condition that could not be successfully treated with the medical facilities available at that time. His illness eventually led to his death.

Q7. Why does Dr Barnard consider the suffering of the children heartbreaking?

Dr Barnard considers their suffering heartbreaking because many children endure severe illnesses, pain and disabilities at a very young age. Some face operations and uncertain futures, while others have little hope of recovery. Their innocence makes their suffering especially painful to witness.

Q8. What made the driver and the mechanic choose their roles?

The two boys chose their roles in the trolley race according to their physical abilities. The little boy who could move only by raising his head became the mechanic, while the boy who had undergone amputation of his shoulder and arm became the driver. Despite their disabilities, they worked together enthusiastically.

3. Long-Answer Type Questions

Q1. What was the lesson Dr Barnard learnt from the two brave youngsters?

Answer:

Dr Barnard learnt a profound lesson about the meaning of life from two seriously ill children at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Their courage and enthusiasm changed his understanding of suffering and taught him that the real business of living is the celebration of being alive.

Courage despite disability: The two children suffered from serious physical conditions. Nevertheless, they did not allow their disabilities to destroy their enthusiasm for life.
The little boy’s determination: One boy could move only by raising his head. Despite this severe limitation, he participated in a trolley race and remained cheerful.
The driver’s positive attitude: The other boy had recently undergone the amputation of his shoulder and arm because of a malignant tumour. Despite his condition, he took part in the race and proudly declared it a success.
Joy in ordinary activities: The children found happiness in a simple trolley race. Their enthusiasm showed Barnard that joy does not always depend on comfort, wealth or perfect health.
The importance of teamwork: The children chose roles suited to their physical abilities and worked together. Their cooperation demonstrated that people can achieve something meaningful even when they face serious limitations.
A change in Barnard’s thinking: Before witnessing their example, Barnard had often looked at suffering from a gloomy perspective. The children helped him see that suffering does not have to destroy a person’s happiness or hope.
The business of living: Barnard realised that living is not merely about pleasure, amusement or recreation. It is about appreciating life itself and finding meaning in whatever circumstances one faces.
What remains is important: The children taught him that a person’s life should not be judged only by what has been lost. What remains, including courage, hope, friendship and the ability to enjoy life, is equally important.

Conclusion: The two children taught Dr Barnard to appreciate life and face suffering with a more positive outlook. Their example shows that courage and joy can survive even in the most difficult circumstances.

Q2. In the hospital, Dr Barnard experienced not only agony and fear but also anger. How?

Answer:

Dr Barnard experienced agony, fear and anger while working at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital because he regularly witnessed the suffering of seriously ill and disabled children. His medical knowledge made him aware of their pain, but he could not always prevent it or provide a cure.

Witnessing children’s suffering: Barnard saw young patients enduring severe illnesses, painful treatments and physical disabilities. Their suffering affected him emotionally.
Memories of his brother: His own experience of losing his younger brother to a serious heart condition made him particularly sensitive to the suffering of children.
Agony at their pain: He felt deep emotional pain when he saw children suffering from conditions that could cause lasting damage or threaten their lives.
Fear of losing patients: As a doctor, he understood that some illnesses were difficult to treat and that certain children might not recover. This uncertainty created fear and anxiety.
Anger at helplessness: Barnard sometimes felt angry because medical treatment could not remove every form of suffering. He wanted to help the children but was painfully aware of the limits of medical science.
The injustice of childhood suffering: Children are innocent and have barely begun their lives. Seeing them endure severe pain seemed especially unfair and distressing.
A change in perspective: His encounters with the brave youngsters later helped him understand that suffering was not the whole story. Their courage and happiness revealed the strength of the human spirit.

Conclusion: Barnard’s agony, fear and anger arose from his compassion for suffering children and his frustration at being unable to cure every illness. The courage of the two youngsters later helped him discover a more hopeful understanding of life.

Q3. Write in detail about Dr Barnard’s brother’s suffering.

Answer:

Dr Barnard’s memories of his younger brother’s illness deeply influenced his understanding of suffering. His brother had a serious heart condition, and watching him struggle with it left a lasting emotional impression on Barnard.

A serious heart condition: Barnard’s younger brother suffered from a heart problem that severely affected his health. The illness made his life difficult and caused concern for the family.
The family’s distress: The illness brought anxiety and sadness to those who loved him. It was painful to see a young family member suffer from a serious medical condition.
Medical limitations: The treatment available at that time could not successfully save Barnard’s brother. The limitations of medical science made the situation particularly distressing.
The brother’s death: His brother eventually died because of the illness. This loss deeply affected Barnard and contributed to his gloomy thoughts about suffering.
A lasting emotional effect: The experience made Barnard more aware of the pain caused by serious illness. It influenced the way he responded to the suffering of children in the hospital.
A doctor’s perspective: Later, as a doctor, Barnard encountered many young patients who were seriously ill or disabled. Their suffering brought back memories of his brother and made him feel agony, fear and anger.
A lesson about suffering: Although his brother’s illness had given him a painful understanding of suffering, the brave children at the hospital later helped him realise that suffering was not the only truth about life.

Conclusion: Barnard’s brother’s illness and death left a deep mark on his mind. This personal experience made him especially sensitive to the suffering of children and prepared him to appreciate the courage and positive attitudes that he later witnessed in the hospital.

Q4. What was an eye-opener for Dr Barnard at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital? Explain.

Answer:

The behaviour of two seriously ill children at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital was an eye-opener for Dr Barnard. Their courage, cooperation and happiness changed his understanding of suffering and taught him to appreciate the value of being alive.

The hospital environment: Barnard regularly saw children suffering from serious illnesses and disabilities. Their conditions often made him feel helpless and distressed.
A little boy with severe limitations: One child could move only by raising his head. Despite this limitation, he remained interested in life and took part in an activity that brought him happiness.
A child who had undergone amputation: The trolley’s driver had a malignant tumour of the bone. His shoulder and arm had been amputated, and there was little hope of recovery.
The trolley race: The two children decided to organise a race using an unattended trolley. They chose roles that suited their abilities and worked together to make the activity possible.
Their enthusiasm: The children treated the race as an exciting event rather than allowing their disabilities to define their lives. Their enthusiasm amazed Barnard.
The driver’s reaction: After the race, the driver proudly told Barnard that it had been a success. His cheerful attitude was remarkable given the seriousness of his medical condition.
A new understanding of suffering: Barnard realised that suffering did not necessarily destroy a person’s capacity for joy. The children showed him that life could still be celebrated despite physical loss and pain.
The real business of living: Their example helped Barnard understand that living is not merely about pleasure or recreation. It is about finding meaning, courage and happiness in life itself.

Conclusion: The two children became an eye-opener for Dr Barnard because their positive attitude challenged his gloomy view of suffering. They taught him to focus not only on what people lose but also on what remains.

Q5. How did the driver and the mechanic put up an entertaining show with an unattended trolley?

Answer:

The two children at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital created an entertaining trolley race despite their serious physical disabilities. Their ingenuity and teamwork turned an ordinary trolley into a source of excitement and happiness.

An unattended trolley: The children found a trolley that was not being used and decided to make an activity out of it.
Choosing their roles: One boy, who could move only by raising his head, became the mechanic. The other boy, whose shoulder and arm had recently been amputated, became the driver.
Working within their abilities: Although their physical conditions were severe, the children found roles that they could perform. They adapted to their limitations rather than giving up.
Preparing for the race: They treated the trolley as a vehicle and organised a race. Their imaginative approach made the activity exciting.
The mechanic’s contribution: The boy acting as mechanic helped make the trolley race possible despite his restricted movement.
The driver’s contribution: The driver steered the trolley and took responsibility for the race. He remained enthusiastic despite his recent operation and serious illness.
The race itself: The children took part with great excitement. Their performance demonstrated cooperation, courage and a desire to enjoy life.
A successful event: After the race, the driver told Barnard proudly that it had been a success. The only problem he mentioned was that the trolley’s wheels were not properly oiled.
The effect on Barnard: The children’s happiness and determination deeply impressed the doctor. Their example helped him understand that life could still be celebrated even when a person had suffered greatly.

Conclusion: The children turned an unattended trolley into an entertaining race through imagination, teamwork and determination. Their activity showed that a positive attitude can help people find joy even in difficult circumstances.

Q6. What made the mechanic lose his eyes?

Answer:

The textbook’s story describes the mechanic as a seriously ill child whose physical condition severely restricted his movement. The exercise asks specifically what caused him to lose his eyes, but the visible story extract does not clearly establish the cause of that loss.

A serious medical condition: The child had severe health problems and could move only by raising his head.
Major physical limitations: His condition restricted his movement and made ordinary activities difficult.
A courageous attitude: Despite these limitations, he took part in the trolley race and remained cheerful.
The importance of the example: His courage impressed Dr Barnard and helped change the doctor’s understanding of suffering.

Note for the website: The exact cause of the mechanic’s loss of sight should be verified against the full printed passage or the teacher’s reference before publishing this answer. The exercise question alone does not provide enough evidence to state a cause confidently.

Q7. How did Dr Barnard correct his notions about “suffering”?

Answer:

Dr Barnard corrected his earlier notions about suffering after observing the courage and positive attitude of the two children at the hospital. Their example showed him that suffering does not have to destroy a person’s joy or ability to appreciate life.

His earlier gloomy outlook: Barnard had often viewed suffering from a negative perspective, partly because of his painful experience with his younger brother.
Witnessing severe illness: His work brought him into contact with children who suffered from serious diseases, disabilities and painful medical conditions.
The two brave youngsters: The trolley race showed him that children who had lost important physical abilities could still find happiness and excitement in life.
Courage despite loss: The mechanic had recently undergone amputation, while the other child had extremely limited movement. Yet both participated in the race enthusiastically.
Suffering does not automatically improve people: Barnard realised that simply suffering does not make someone a better person. However, experiencing suffering can deepen understanding and appreciation.
Appreciating contrasts: He understood that people appreciate light after knowing darkness and warmth after experiencing cold. Difficult experiences can help people value what they might otherwise take for granted.
What remains is important: The children taught him not to focus only on what has been lost. The abilities, opportunities and joys that remain are also important.
Celebrating life: Barnard concluded that the real business of living is the celebration of being alive, not merely the pursuit of pleasure or amusement.

Conclusion: The two children transformed Barnard’s understanding of suffering. They taught him that courage, hope and the ability to appreciate life can survive even in the presence of severe pain and loss.

Q8. Write a note on the theme of the chapter “In Celebration of Being Alive”.

Answer:

The central theme of “In Celebration of Being Alive” is the importance of appreciating life, maintaining a positive attitude and finding joy despite suffering. Through his experiences as a doctor, Dr Christian Barnard learns that the true value of life lies in what remains possible, not merely in what has been lost.

The reality of suffering: The chapter describes children who endure serious illnesses, disabilities and painful medical procedures. Their suffering reminds readers that life can involve great hardship.
Personal experience and empathy: Barnard’s memories of his younger brother’s illness make him sensitive to the suffering of others. His personal loss shapes his response to the children in the hospital.
The courage of children: The two youngsters demonstrate remarkable determination despite their physical limitations. Their enthusiasm challenges the idea that suffering must always lead to despair.
The trolley race: The children organise a race with an unattended trolley. Their creativity and teamwork show how people can find enjoyment even in difficult circumstances.
A positive attitude: The children focus on what they can still do rather than on everything they have lost. Their behaviour teaches the importance of hope and resilience.
A new understanding of suffering: Barnard realises that suffering itself does not automatically make someone better. However, the experience of hardship can help people appreciate life more deeply.
The value of what remains: The chapter encourages readers to recognise the importance of remaining abilities, relationships and opportunities instead of focusing only on loss.
The celebration of being alive: The author concludes that living is more than seeking pleasure, amusement or recreation. It means finding meaning and joy in existence itself.

Conclusion: The chapter delivers a powerful message of courage, hope and gratitude. It teaches us to face difficulties with strength and to celebrate life by appreciating what we have, rather than allowing suffering to define us.

4. Vocabulary Practice

Exercise 1: Form adjectives using the suffixes -al, -ful and -able.

Word	Adjective
Drink	Drinkable
Option	Optional
Avoid	Avoidable
Nation	National
Care	Careful
Peace	Peaceful
Beauty	Beautiful
Count	Countable
Profession	Professional

Exercise 2: Match the nouns in Column A with their definitions in Column B.

No.	Word	Correct definition
1	Pedestrian	Someone who is walking in a street, not travelling in a vehicle
2	Compass	An instrument used for finding directions
3	Kidnapper	Someone who takes a person away by force and demands money for their safe return
4	Customer	A person who buys something, especially from a shop
5	Referee	A person who controls a sports match or contest
6	Orphan	A child who has lost both parents

5. Grammar Exercises

Exercise 1: Change the Narration

1. The leader said, “Trust in God.”

Answer: The leader advised us to trust in God.

2. My friend said to me, “Let me go home now as it is already twelve.”

Answer: My friend requested me to let him go home then, as it was already twelve.

3. She said, “What a lovely scene!”

Answer: She exclaimed that it was a very lovely scene.

4. My father said to me, “Learn your lesson every day.”

Answer: My father advised me to learn my lesson every day.

5. Columbus said to the courier, “Oh, leave me alone.”

Answer: Columbus exclaimed impatiently and told the courier to leave him alone.

6. The policeman advised me to obey the traffic rules.

Answer: The policeman said to me, “You should obey the traffic rules.”

7. She asked him when the postman came.

Answer: She said to him, “When does the postman come?”

8. He asked, “Will you serve me faithfully?”

Answer: He asked whether I would serve him faithfully.

9. You said, “You must work hard.”

Answer: You said that I must work hard.

10. He says to me, “I will leave you now.”

Answer: He tells me that he will leave me then.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners.

1. He did not make any mistakes in his essay.

2. I have lost appetite, so I did not eat any bananas.

3. I must sign the will.

4. When I think of India, I think of many things.

5. A lot of people go without food in India every day.

6. She said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

7. The book you want is not with me.

8. Many houses were damaged in the cyclone.

9. I shall return this book in a few days.

10. I had put in much hard work.

Exercise 3: Do as Directed

1. She was sobbing too deeply to give any answer.
(Remove “too”.)

Answer: She was sobbing so deeply that she could not give any answer.

2. No other season is as refreshing as the spring.
(Change the degree of comparison.)

Answer: Spring is the most refreshing season.

3. Seeing the signal, the troops marched out.
(Change into a complex sentence.)

Answer: When the troops saw the signal, they marched out.

4. You must encourage him, as he is sure to lose.
(Change into a compound sentence.)

Answer: You must encourage him, or he is sure to lose.

5. He is respected for his humility.
(Change the voice.)

Answer: People respect him for his humility.

6. Combine the two sentences:

(i) The scout carried a silken banner.

(ii) He had stood first.

Answer: Having stood first, the scout carried a silken banner.

7. You will never learn manners.
(Change into the interrogative form.)

Answer: Will you never learn manners?

6. Practice in Spoken English

The textbook asks students to practise English sounds and pauses in connected speech.

Vowel and consonant sounds

Sound	Example
/g/	get
/tʃ/	chain
/iː/	weep
/ɪ/	bit
/e/	pet
/æ/	bat
/dʒ/	join
/ŋ/	long
/ɑː/	part
/ɒ/	hot
/ɔː/	court
/ʊ/	put
/θ/	thin
/ð/	then
/uː/	root
/ʌ/	but
/ɜː/	bird
/ə/	away
/ʃ/	ship
/ʒ/	measure
/eɪ/	play
/aɪ/	buy
/aʊ/	cow
/j/	yes
/ɔɪ/	boy
/ɪə/	hear
/eə/	pair
/ʊə/	poor

Practise pauses in connected speech

Read each sentence aloud, pausing at the slash.

If I go to Mumbai / I shall bring a camera for you.
He might come tonight / but I don’t think he will.
If you go to Mumbai / stay at the Taj.
At this university / you can’t get two degrees in the same year.
In the hope of winning more / he lost what he had.
As a matter of fact / I should have kept quiet.
Uneasy lies the head / that wears a crown.

7. Revision Points

The chapter is written by Dr Christian Barnard.
Barnard’s experiences at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital changed his understanding of suffering.
His younger brother’s illness and death had a lasting emotional effect on him.
Two brave children demonstrated courage and enthusiasm despite serious disabilities.
The trolley race became an example of teamwork, imagination and a positive attitude.
Barnard learnt that suffering does not automatically make a person better, but it can deepen one’s appreciation of life.
The central message is to celebrate being alive and value what remains.

Exam preparation tip: Learn the long answers through their numbered points and examples. Remember the trolley race, the children’s disabilities, Barnard’s earlier gloomy outlook and the lesson that life should be celebrated despite suffering.