What I require from Life? Exercise Class 11 English: Summary & Questions Answers

What I Require from Life essay discusses Haldane's ideas about what makes a good life. It looks at his practical viewpoint influenced by his own experiences, and there's also an underlying connection to socialist beliefs. This essay is in class 11 English essays Unit 3. The textbook exercise question answers solution and summary of this essay is provided in this article.


What I require from Life Exercise Notes

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

Class 11 English Notes Guide

What I Require from Life by JBS Haldane Summary

J.B.S. Haldane's essay "What I Require from Life" demonstrates his socialist beliefs, which call for democratic workplace practices. The language used in this article is straightforward and clear.

Haldane begins the article by accepting the world's reality. He doesn't imagine a world in which everything is perfect. He claims that when he was younger, he wished for a tranquil  existence. 

The First World War, on the other hand, altered his perspective on peaceful coexistence. As a result of this, he goes on to discuss the four most fundamental human needs. And he also needs these things.

Health is a major concern for JBS Haldane since it is a precondition for pleasure and success in life. We can work more productively if we have sound health. Good health encourages us to strive for other worthwhile goals in life. 

Next one that he wants is a Job with a reasonable salary. He seeks employment that pays a respectable wage. He considers himself fortunate to have landed a job he enjoys.

He also desires the right to freedom. According to him, freedom is a necessary (but not sufficient) condition for the existence of human beings. He seeks autonomy in his professional life and also the freedom to speech so that he could expose social and political problems. He values his right to free expression above everything else.

Next, he desires genuine friendship, friendship. He wants friends who do not criticize others. He is looking for companions who have the same values as him.


What I require from life Questions Answers

a. How does the writer distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?
→  Despite being born in a peaceful and serene period of history, he has spent the most of his adult life in a heroic one. Heroic age means the time period after WWI and WWII. Before the First World War, there was a calm time period.

b. Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?
→  Writing about harmful products and negative traits that are going on in the industrial market and current society requires more freedom of expression than most people have these days. So, the writer wants for more freedom than anybody else.


c. According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?
→  A job with a reasonable salary, excellent health, friends, and independence are important human needs according to the writer.


d. What is the difference between desire and demand according to the writer?
→  Unlike desire, which is everything we want to have or need but cannot afford, desire is anything we wish to have or desire but can afford.

e. Why does the writer demand security??
→  The protection of life is more essential than everything else, therefore the author strives for security. The main concern is life safety, with all other criteria coming in second. The author initially asserts his right to live during wartime.