TEXT 2.
🔹 Explicit Meaning (directly stated in the text):
1. "In truth, I found it really hard;"
→ The writer clearly says that his experience was difficult.
2. "Coping with fear was the big one."
→ He directly states that fear was his biggest challenge.
3. "My way was to behave badly, and learn to scrap..."
→ He explicitly explains how he coped with the situation—by
misbehaving and fighting.
(Directly stated in the text — clear facts or feelings the author expresses)
1. “I embarked on this mission called boarding school.”
→ He clearly says he went to boarding school.
2. “In truth, I found it really hard.”
→ He directly admits that the experience was difficult.
3. “There were some great moments like building dens in the snow in the
winter.”
→ He remembers positive experiences like building dens.
4. “Getting chosen for the tennis team.”
→ He was part of a sports team — a specific happy moment.
5. “On the whole it was a survival exercise.”
→ He clearly compares school to a survival test.
6. “Coping with fear was the big one.”
→ Fear was the main challenge for him.
7. “The fear of being left and the fear of being bullied – both of which
were very real.”
→ He had two specific fears, and he confirms they were real.
8. “I couldn’t manage either of those things very well on my own.”
→ He states he struggled to deal with fear alone.
9. “It wasn’t anything to do with the school itself.”
→ He says the problem wasn’t the school’s fault.
10. “The headmaster and teachers were almost invariably kind.”
→ The adults at the school were mostly kind.
11. “They were well-meaning and good people.”
→ He describes the staff as caring individuals.
12. “That sadly didn’t make surviving it much easier.”
→ Even with kind staff, school was still hard.
13. “I was learning very young that if I was to survive this place then
I had to find some coping mechanisms.”
→ He explains that he had to learn to cope to survive school.
14. “My way was to behave badly.”
→ He says clearly that he misbehaved as a coping strategy.
15. “And learn to scrap.”
→ He learned to fight or argue.
16. “As a way to avoid bullies wanting to target me.”
→ Fighting was used as self-defense.
17. “It was also a way to avoid thinking about home.”
→ He acted out to avoid missing home.
18. “Not thinking about home is hard.”
→ He directly says it's difficult to ignore thoughts of home.
19. “All you want is to be at home.”
→ He clearly says he wanted to be at home.
20. “From Mud, Sweat and Tears by Bear Grylls.”
→ The source of the text is clearly stated.
🔹 Implicit Meaning (not directly stated, but suggested):
1. "But on the whole, it was a survival exercise in learning how to cope."
→ Implicitly suggests that boarding school was emotionally and
mentally harsh, like a test of endurance—not just a school.
2. "What I learnt was that I couldn’t manage either of those things very
well on my own."
→ Implies that he lacked support or felt emotionally alone, even if
adults were around.
3. "But not thinking about home is hard when all you want is to be at
home."
→ Suggests deep homesickness and emotional distress, without
directly saying “I missed home terribly.”
(Not directly stated — the reader has to infer these based on clues in the
text)
1. “I embarked on this mission…”
→ He saw school as a challenge or battle, not a normal part of life.
2. “There were some great moments…”
→ Suggests that positive moments were rare or stood out against a
difficult time.
3. “Survival exercise”
→ Implies school was mentally and emotionally tough, not just
academic.
4. “Fear of being left”
→ Suggests he felt abandoned or alone, even if people were around.
5. “Fear of being bullied”
→ Implies he didn’t feel safe in the school environment.
6. “Couldn’t manage… on my own.”
→ Suggests a lack of emotional support or guidance.
7. “Nothing to do with the school itself…”
→ Implies the problem was personal or emotional, not academic.
8. “Teachers were kind… didn’t make it easier.”
→ Shows that even kindness can’t fix internal struggles or fear.
9. “I was learning very young…”
→ Implies he had to grow up too fast.
10. “Behave badly… learn to scrap”
→ Suggests he had to toughen up to survive, even if it meant getting
into trouble.
11. “Avoid bullies…”
→ Suggests he was targeted or feared being attacked.
12. “Avoid thinking about home.”
→ Implies he missed home badly but didn't want to face it.
13. “Not thinking about home is hard…”
→ Suggests he was constantly homesick, even when trying to distract
himself.
14. “All you want is to be at home.”
→ Shows deep emotional longing for family and comfort.
15. Repeated mention of fear and coping
→ Suggests the school environment felt hostile or emotionally intense.
16. Lack of mention of friends
→ May imply he didn’t have close companions or felt isolated.
17. No mention of academic success
→ Suggests academics weren’t his main concern — survival was.
18. Tone of reflection
→ Implies that now, as an adult, he’s come to understand how hard it
was emotionally.
19. “Surviving” rather than “enjoying” school
→ Indicates that school was more about endurance than learning.
20. Describing behavior as coping
→ Suggests that his “bad” actions were rooted in pain or fear, not just
rebellion.
✅ Writer’s Intention:
Bear Grylls wrote this piece to share an honest and personal account of his
childhood experience at boarding school. His goal was not to criticize the
school or the teachers, but to highlight how emotionally difficult it was for a
young child to be away from home, and how he had to find his own way to
survive those challenges.
💡 What the Writer Wanted to Imply (Implied Meaning):
Even though he had some good moments at school, most of the time he felt
afraid, alone, and emotionally unprepared.
His behavior — like misbehaving and fighting — was not because he was a
"bad kid" but because he was trying to cope with fear and homesickness.
The kindness of adults wasn’t enough to solve the deeper emotional issues
— he needed connection, comfort, and emotional support, not just discipline
or supervision.
He was forced to grow up fast and develop coping strategies early, some of
which were unhealthy but necessary at the time.
📩 Message the Writer Wanted to Convey:
Childhood struggles can be hidden beneath the surface.
Just because someone looks like they’re coping doesn’t mean they’re okay.
Children need emotional support.
Being young and away from home is hard. Even kind adults may not be
enough to help if a child is feeling lonely or scared.
Misbehavior is sometimes a cry for help.
The way children act out might be their way of trying to protect themselves
emotionally.
Resilience comes from struggle.
His experiences at boarding school, though painful, shaped his inner strength
— these ties into the title of his book: Mud, Sweat and Tears.
In Text 2.1, Bear Grylls writes about his experience at boarding
school to share the emotional and mental challenges he faced as a
child. His intention is not to criticize the school or the teachers, but to give
an honest account of how difficult it was for a young boy to cope with fear,
bullying, and homesickness. Through his words, he implies that even when
adults are kind, children may still feel emotionally unsupported and alone. He
also wants readers to understand that misbehavior in children can
sometimes be a coping mechanism rather than just bad conduct. The overall
message Grylls wants to convey is that emotional resilience often comes
from struggle, and that young people, especially those separated from their
families, need more than rules — they need care, empathy, and emotional
connection. His story encourages readers to look beyond the surface and to
recognize the hidden battles others may be fighting.
1.
TEXT 2.2
Word/ Meaning in What the Writer is
Synonyms
Phrase Context Conveying
That the car journey
airless,
suffocating, is uncomfortably hot
stifling sweltering,
oppressively hot without air
choking
conditioning
That the destination
insignificant, not unimportant, will make the
minor
very important slight uncomfortable
journey worth it
The destination offers
provide make it better, ease, comfort,
comfort from the
relief lessen discomfort soothe
city’s heat
endless never-ending, The couple has been
constant, repetitive
cycle of continuous arguing repeatedly
arguing
bickering arguing and can’t escape it
Their car seems small
made to look small overshadowed,
dwarfed next to the tall city
by comparison dominated
buildings
country child, Yaseera’s longing and
someone raised in
rural child non-city nostalgia for simple,
the countryside
dweller open country life
The drive on the
smoothly and effortlessly, highway was
seamlessly
without interruption fluidly comfortable and
problem-free
Word/ Meaning in What the Writer is
Synonyms
Phrase Context Conveying
The road is not
winding,
meandering winding, with lots of straight, adding to
twisting,
drive twists and turns the peaceful country
curving
feel
enjoying the
luxuriating They are enjoying the
pleasant feeling delighting,
in thought of arriving at
while looking reveling
anticipation a wonderful place
forward to
The area is famous
stunning very beautiful breathtaking,
for its beautiful
views scenery spectacular
scenery
atmosphere, The park is expected
peaceful calm and tranquil
environment, to be calm and
ambiance atmosphere
mood relaxing
fighting, The couple continues
arguing fighting fiercely with
quarreling, to argue intensely,
bitterly strong emotions
disputing even during leisure
sadly, feeling sadly, They feel
dejectedly hopeless or hopelessly, disappointed by the
disappointed dismally crowded park
moving around in a wandering, Crowds are moving
milling
confused or aimless roaming, around in an
about
way mingling unorganized way
paradise a perfect, blissful heaven, Their dream picnic
place utopia, idyll spot turns out to be
Word/ Meaning in What the Writer is
Synonyms
Phrase Context Conveying
disappointing
The general feel or
mood,
atmosphere/mood of mood at the park,
ambiance environment,
a place which was expected
feeling
to be peaceful
Summary of the Text
The passage tells the story of a married couple, Faisal and Yaseera, who
leave their cramped city apartment for a day in the countryside. Despite
the uncomfortable, hot (stifling) car journey, they look forward to the
promise of cool breezes and open space. Yaseera in particular hopes this
country trip will help the couple overcome their constant arguments. Once
they leave the city, Yaseera admires the countryside and anticipates a
peaceful picnic. However, when they arrive, the park is overcrowded,
noisy, and full of other disappointed people. Their dream of a calm, idyllic
escape is ruined by mass tourism, leaving them disillusioned.
Explanation of the Text
The story uses contrasting settings—the suffocating, noisy city and the
supposed peace of the countryside—to highlight what the couple is
hoping to escape from.
The writer uses language that emphasizes discomfort ("stifling," "endless
cycle of bickering") and then hope ("relief," "luxuriating in anticipation"),
building up the reader’s expectations just like the couple’s.
When reality hits (overcrowded park, "milling about," "bitterly," "dejectedly"),
the contrast shows their disappointment and disillusionment.
The text comments on modern life, expectations vs. reality, and the impact
of mass tourism on the environment and personal experiences.
Meaning in Writer is
Word/Phrase Synonyms
Context Conveying
suffocating, The journey was
stifling airless, sweltering
hot uncomfortably hot
unimportant, Discomfort was little
minor insignificant
slight compared to reward
ease, comfort, Destination brings
provide relief make it better
soothe comfort
endless cycle continuous repetitive, never- Repetitive conflict in
of bickering arguing ending arguing relationship
Car felt small
made to look overshadowed,
dwarfed compared to city
small dominated
buildings
Nostalgia for simple
rural child country-raised non-city dweller
country life
The drive was
seamlessly smoothly effortlessly
smooth
meandering Relaxed, scenic
winding road curving, twisting
drive journey
enjoying Relishing the
luxuriating in savoring,
looking thought of the
anticipation delighting
forward experience
stunning beautiful spectacular, Natural beauty of
views scenery breathtaking the park
Meaning in Writer is
Word/Phrase Synonyms
Context Conveying
peaceful calm tranquil Expected a calm
ambiance atmosphere environment mood at the park
arguing fighting quarreling, Relationship conflict
bitterly intensely disputing continues
sadly, hopelessly, Felt let down by
dejectedly
disappointed gloomily reality
moving wandering, Crowded, chaotic
milling about
aimlessly mingling scene
Idealized dream of
paradise perfect place heaven, utopia
an escape
mood, Expected peaceful
ambiance atmosphere
environment mood
The city and countryside often function as powerful symbolic opposites in
literature. The city typically represents modernity, congestion, artificiality,
conflict, and alienation, while the countryside symbolizes nature, simplicity,
peace, and an idealized purity or escape. Your text reflects this classical
dichotomy:
The city is depicted as cramped, stifling, noisy, and a source of
continuous bickering, capturing the claustrophobia and interpersonal
conflict often associated with urban life.
The countryside is initially idealized as a place of relief, stunning views,
peaceful ambiance, and a place to luxuriate in anticipation, embodying
traditional pastoral virtues of calmness and natural beauty.
However, the story complicates this binary by showing the disillusionment
when the couple’s idealized vision of the countryside is shattered by the
reality of mass tourism. The "paradise" turns overcrowded and hectic
("milling about"), illustrating that the countryside is no longer a pure haven
untouched by modern problems. This nuanced portrayal aligns with Raymond
Williams' critique that the rural idyll is "a myth functioning as a memory"—
idealized but never completely true, as real rural life also contains conflict,
complexity, and intrusion by modernity.
The language choices reinforce this tension:
Words like "stifling," "endless cycle of bickering," and "dejectedly"
emphasize alienation, tension, and disappointment.
Positive words such as "seamlessly," "luxuriating in anticipation," and
"stunning views" express hope, desire, and a yearning for connection
to something purer or simpler.
These dynamic echoes the literary tradition of a perpetual journey between
city and country as a metaphor for humanity's quest for an ideal life. Writers
like Henry Fielding used this contrast to discuss moral values, framing the
countryside as a place of virtue and innocence despite its imperfections,
while the city represented corruption and vice. Yet, as in your text, this
journey frequently ends in the realization that such utopia is elusive.
Moreover, the contrast between the couple’s personal conflicts (the
relentless arguing) and the external environments (urban tension versus
rural ideal) deepens the exploration of human dissatisfaction and the
difficulty of escaping societal pressures even in supposedly idyllic settings.
In sum, your text employs classic city/countryside motifs and richly
connotative vocabulary to explore themes of:
Conflict versus peace
Expectation versus reality
The myth of rural paradise versus modern intrusion
Personal relational strain mirrored in environmental contrasts
This layered treatment invites reflection on how modern life fractures
traditional binaries and complicates simple escapes, highlighting the tension
between cultural ideals and lived experience.
