NEB NotesNepal
Unit 11 • Lesson 1 • Class 11Compulsory English (Grade 11) (Eng.003)

Unit 11: Hobbies — Lesson 1: On Walking

एकाइ ११: रुचिका विषयहरू — पाठ १: हिँड्नुको आनन्द

An evocative reflective essay celebrating pedestrianism as a conduit for self-discovery, mindfulness, spatial intimacy, psychological grounding, and cross-continental adaptation.

Prescribed Lesson Text

Official Reading Material • ~2 min read (297 words)
### On Walking: Movement, Solitude, and Geography *A Reflective Essay* Walking has always been my truest, most enduring hobby. It is neither an athletic competition nor a utilitarian race to reach a destination; rather, it is an exquisite physical and psychological cadence—a rhythmic undulation of the senses and the body that attunes the mind to the pulse of the living earth. When I was a young child in Nepal, my preferred paths were always the unpaved, winding trails around my mamaghar (maternal uncle’s home). They were earthy, irregular, and teeming with intimate surprises—wild shrubs, crumbling brick walls, and the damp smell of fresh morning loam. Later, walking home with school friends offered us an exhilarating taste of autonomy. Released from the regimented routine of classrooms, we charted our own meandering paths through the bustling, cacophonous streets of Kathmandu. The city was a kaleidoscope of commotion: honking tempos, temple bells, stray calves, and the fragrant steam of tea stalls. It was chaotic, loud, and vibrantly alive. Years later, when I moved across oceans to Sydney and eventually the United States, walking became my primary anchor in alien landscapes. The quiet, organized, and distant roads of suburban Sydney initially seemed sterile compared to Kathmandu’s communal warmth. Yet, by deliberately walking every street of Petersham, I uncovered its hidden treasures: a secluded pocket park that no one visited, and another rocky enclave situated between the roaring highway and the residential quietude. The streets, lampposts, and alleys gradually became my permanent, patient friends—silent companions with whom I could share feelings of loneliness, nostalgia, and gradual adaptation. Walking bridges the inner realm of human consciousness with the physical geography of the outside world. It teaches us patience, dissolves anxiety, and grants us the quiet clarity needed to understand who we truly are.
Lesson Summary & Key Concepts

A contemplative autobiographical study on the transformative power of walking, sensory geography across Nepal and the diaspora, the psychological benefits of movement, and English passive voice mechanics.

Core Themes & Main Ideas

1

Walking as an active physical and psychological pathway to mindfulness, presence, and self-knowledge

2

Childhood explorations of unpaved paths around the ancestral home (mamaghar) versus urban landscapes

3

The stark contrasts in sensory geography between chaotic, vibrant Kathmandu and orderly Sydney

4

Pedestrian exploration as an essential mechanism for adapting, navigating, and overcoming isolation in foreign cities

5

Mastery of passive voice, impersonal passive constructions, and agentless reporting verbs in formal English

Key Figures & Historical / Literary Personalities

The Essayist / NarratorReflective Flâneur

An observant autobiographical narrator using walking to anchor identity across geographic relocations (Nepal, Australia, USA).

Henry David ThoreauPhilosopher and Naturalist

Celebrated proponent of solitary morning walks as foundational spiritual blessings for the day.

Textbook Exercises & Solutions

Showing 9 of 9 Solved Questions
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Working with wordsEx AQuestion 1• 9 Marks
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Working with wordsEx BQuestion 2• 5 Marks
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ComprehensionEx 1Question 1• 15 Marks
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Critical thinkingEx 1Question 1• 6 Marks
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Critical thinkingEx 2Question 2• 6 Marks
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Critical thinkingEx 3Question 3• 6 Marks
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WritingEx 1Question 1• 10 Marks
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GrammarEx 1Question 1• 9 Marks
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GrammarEx 2Question 2• 10 Marks
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High-Yield Exam Focus Questions (1)

Exam Preparation

Practice questions curated specifically for On Walking.

Exam FocusExam Preparation Question5 Marks

Exam Rationale: CDC Curriculum Unit: Hobbies — Focuses on reflective personal essay writing, sensory imagery, and psychological well-being.

Model Answer & Key Marking Points:
Key Criteria Needed for Full Marks:
  • ✓
  • ✓
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Quick Revision Takeaways

Common Exam Pitfalls to Avoid

⚠️ Common Error: Using an unnecessary agent: "My car was stolen by someone."

✓ Correct Approach: "My car was stolen."

Why: Indefinite pronouns like "someone" or "somebody" add no meaningful information and should be omitted in clean passive prose.

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Curriculum Sourcing & Reference
Curated Study Resource
Content ContributorNEB Notes Preparation Team
Review StatusEditorial Review
Curriculum AlignmentCDC Syllabus Aligned
Last Updated2026-10-24
Curriculum References & Textbooks
public curriculum
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