We are the World

Class 9 English Main Course Book Unit 6 Children Chapter 5 We are the World

1.The following are the lyrics of a famous song. Complete it by filling in the missing letters (mostly vowels)?

ans:There comes a time When we heed a certain call When the world comes together As one There are people dying Oh, and it time To lend a hand to life The greatest gift of all We cant go on Pretending day by day. That someone, somewhere Will soon make a change We are all a part of God great big family And the truth, you know Love is all we need We are the world We are the children We are the ones To make a brighter day So let start giving There a choice we are making Were saving our own lives It true well make a better day Just you and me Well send them your heart So they know that someone cares And their lives will be stronger And free As God has shown us By turning stone to bread And so we all must Lend a helping hand We are the world. Were down and out And there seems no hope at all But, if you just believe There no way we can fall Oh yes, let realize That change can only come When we stand together As one We are the world.

2.Your teacher will now play the song We Are the World, sung by many famous singers of the West. Do you know why it is called We Are the World? Why was it recorded? What were the singers trying to do? Did they succeed?

ans: "We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. Following Band Aid "Do They Know It Christmas?" project in the UK, an idea for the creation of an American benefit single for African famine relief came from activist Harry Belafonte. He along with fund raiser Ken Kragen, was instrumental in bringing the vision to reality.

Several musicians were contacted by the pair, before Jackson and Richie were assigned the task of writing the song. The last recording session for the song was held on January 28,1985. The historic event brought together some of the most famous artists in the music industry at the time. The song was released on March 7, 1985, as the only single from the album. A worldwide commercial success, it topped music charts throughout-the world and became the fastest-selling American pop single in history. Fans enjoyed hearing racially and musically diverse recording artists singing together on one track, and felt satisfied in buying "We Are the World", knowing that the money was going to charity. The promotion and merchandise aided the success of "We Are the World".

It was eventually named the biggest-selling single of all time. As of 2009, it has sold more than _ 20 million units and raised over $63 million for humanitarian aid in Africa and the US. Following the devastation caused by the magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 2010, a remake of the song by another all-star cast of singers was recorded on February 1, 2010. Entitled "We Are the World 25 for Haiti", it was released as a , single on February 12, 2010, and proceeds from the record will aid survivors in the impoverished country. (Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_are_ the_world)

Listen to the song and check whether you have guessed right in Question 1. Listen again until you are ready to sing along with it.

ans:For self-attempt.

3.What do the following extracts mean?

• We are the children
• There a choice were making
Were saving our own lives.
• Well, send them your heart< So they know that someone cares.
• Change can only come When we stand together As one.

ans:We are the children of the mother earth. We are making a responsible decision to help our brothers and sisters, who are in deep trouble. Heartfelt wishes will give them strength because it will show them that there are so many who are taking care of them. If all of us get united for a cause, we can change the way the world functions.

4.As children of the world, you have a role in helping to solve the problems prevalent in society. In groups of four prepare a short skit on any one problem and present it in front of the class.?

ans:If it hits one of your best friends. Even other passersby Are not your enemy. Roads are for walking And not a dustbin. If you will throw garbage on the road It will come again with your footsteps. So be clean inside And be clean outside Dont be clean inside And dirty outside. Enjoy your coke But before throwing it out of window Think twice!!