HEALTH [Unit 2]
INTRODUCTION
Health is wealth. A lot of things contribute to good health such as taking ideal diet, doing physical exercise, going to a health club and taking care of personal hygiene. Balanced diet will keep everyone of us healthy. Different vegetables have different nourishing values. A particular diet on each day of a week will ensure good physical health. In every season, a kind of fruit is available and the fruit must be eaten regularly.
This systematic consumption of food items and fruits make everyone strong and healthy. It is also important to take food at fixed regular timings for appropriate digestion. Food intake should correspond with the energy needs of the body. If more food than required is consumed, then, fat content will be accumulated in the body. In such case, physical exercise could be of great help in reducing the unwanted fat. At least, a morning or an evening walk can serve the purpose. There is a variety of exercises such as yogasanas, aerobic and muscle exercises. They will surely bring in a perfect control over body. If a person cannot go to a gym, he / she can go to a health club. There, all sorts of physical training will be given. Modern practices like laughing therapy will also contribute to good health.
Personal hygiene is one of the crucial factors in keeping good health. Hand- washing with soap and water is a must before and after taking food or doing any activity. Doctors follow this meticulously and wash their hands before performing surgeries. It is more so even after the surgery as hands carry millions of good and bad bacteria and spread diseases easily. At present, hand-sanitizers are being used in place of conventional hand washing soaps. These sanitizers are being used quite frequently now. They can easily remove bacteria from our hands.
Now-a-days, our body is prone to many unknown dreadful diseases due to ecological imbalance. This piece of advice may be of immense help in the prevention of such scourges. We all know that prevention is better than cure.
PRE-READING ACTIVITY [Page 54]
The name of the health club will be ‘Health at your doorstep’. We, the members, will meet thrice a week. We need to collect funds to start the club. We decided to contribute our pocket money and raise funds through a social awareness programme. We would discuss the day-to-day schedule, events to be planned and organizational procedures.
Every club member must go for a walk either in the morning or in the evening, whichever is convenient.
Laughing therapy will be introduced to those who have crossed sixty years of age and it will be given only on Second Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Special training classes on yoga to children above 10 years and housewives will be provided. College students can have aerobic exercises and Salsa dance to tone their muscles.
Facilities for different sports and games will be made. Within one year of its establishment, a swimming pool will be set up for the use of all the members. To bring awareness among the people in the town, expert talks will be arranged from time to time. Other than these activities, a special room will be allotted for video-based lessons on physical fitness exercises and entertainment videos.
A theme park will be developed to attract majority of the residents of the town. Club-members will have free access to it and outsiders will have to pay some minimum fare.
All these activities will be done in order to make the club popular within a short span of time. We all would have the entertainment, knowledge, fun and above all, health as an asset. We would stay fit by practicing appropriate health measures.
Exercise IV [Page 58]
Safewash
Cleanses hands
100% germ-free.
Dries hands in no time.
No water, no towel
No harm to babies
Happy homes with more smiles
Non-toxic, Hypo allergic, Dermatologist tested
Leaves soft and smooth hands
Vocabulary practice—Exercise I [Page 58]
1. Primary: One of the primary reasons for the spread of common diseases is the lack of
cleanliness in one’s surroundings.
2. Hygiene: Personal hygiene will prevent illness and disease.
3. Water-borne: Sometimes, water-borne diseases may cause the death of a person.
The most dreadful diseases are water-borne.
4. Contaminate: Contaminated water is a major source of any disease.
5. Sanitize: Doctors sanitize their hands after visiting patients, or else they may easily be
affected by contagious diseases.
Exercise III [Page 61]
Tuberculosis is an ancient lung and bone destroying disease. It affects the mankind that lives in unhealthy, crowded cities. This bacterium has now grown so powerful. It has developed a resistance to nearly all the drugs which had been developed against it.
Malaria is spread by a mosquito. These two diseases have been killing millions of people world wide for centuries. Even though they are preventable and treatable they continue to threaten the future of the population as they have developed resistance for drugs. One of the major causes for these diseases to develop resistance against medicines is the usage of heavy dosage of medicines. Another reason is, feeding the livestock with too many antibiotics.
But, initiatives are being taken by the WHO and a few private organizations to fight against these epidemics and the cases are significantly being reduced. A few measures like using mosquito nets, taking nutritious diet, getting exposed to fresh air should also be taken.
Exercise III [Page 68]
I was very much inspired by Swami Vivekananda and admire him a lot. He was born in an aristocratic family. He was the main disciple of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He was influenced by his parents. He became a wondering monk, sailed to Chicago and represented India as a delegate.
Exercise III [Page 70]
There has been a drastic change in science in the recent years. It would be exciting if there will be some innovation that connects people with the beings of other planets. It would be interesting if we could read the minds of people, animals and birds. It would be amazing if we could record and store the smell of moist soil at the time of first rains.
SPEAKING
Conversation I [Page 73, 74]
Ideas expressed by one group
It is true that computer games, just like outdoor games are very useful from health point of view. When you play a variety of computer games, it will improve your mental alertness which is a part of active health condition. Sitting with the computer for uninterrupted hours of play will make people inactive. But it may benefit their suffering from obesity. Such continuous playing will reduce a person’s appetite and helps in reducing fat contents in the body. It will also help us get rid of negative thinking that damages health. When preoccupied, these health-deteriorating ideas will not enter our mind. In this way, we can restore good health. Hence, one cannot deny the fact that computer game is a good habit from the point of view of health.
Ideas from the other group
It is absolutely wrong to think that computer games create good health. Sitting long with the computer will make us dull and inactive. It will create many health problems. First, our eye-sight will go down drastically. Secondly, it will create Spondilitis, a severe neck-pain. The same body posture for unending time will certainly bring indigestion, ulcers and joint pains. Back pain will be another serious problem and for many reasons, it will continue life long.
Especially, the life of students will be spoilt by long hours on computer games. This will distract them from studies. Once addicted, they cannot move away from computer and it will pave the way for their own down fall in life. On the whole, computer games are a curse rather than a boon to children and also others who play them.
Conversation II [Page 74]
I, myself being health-conscious, relate to Asif. I often have such conversations with friends. We share health related knowledge and keep ourselves fit and healthy by practicing them.
Or
I could relate more to Arun than to Asif .My life style is closer to his. He has realized and recognized the importance of health and so have I.
Importance of balanced diet [Page 75]
A nutritionally balanced menu will prevent us from diseases and keep us healthy. It is important to eat fresh fruits regularly. Taking fresh vegetables will be advantageous. As it is rightly said, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Taking seasonal fruits will make our body function properly. The skin will glow, the mind can function briskly and our body parts work perfectly. So, it is health that is wealth and not money that brings all happiness.
As we grow older, our body becomes weak gradually. We should not have food as many times as possible at old age. We should take light food and that too, twice a day. It is better to skip off evening meal for easy digestion and a comfortable sleep. It is very essential not to take more calorific food than actually required. Dietitians advise us on the nutritional values of a variety of food and provide us with diet chart to maintain good health. By taking nutritious food in the right quantities depending on our age, no doubt, we can have solid health.
Analytical Writing
Exercise I [Page 75, 76]
1. Psychologist and Psychiatrist
Psychologist: A scientist who studies and is trained in psychology.
Psychiatrist: A doctor who studies and treats mental illnesses.
A psychiatrist is a doctor who treats psychological problems whereas a psychologist is one who can study a person’s psychological problems and diagnose the illness.
2. Conform and Confirm
Conform: To behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society.
Confirm : To state or show that something is definitely true or correct, especially by providing evidence.
Confirm is to provide evidence for the truth whereas conform is to agree with others.
3. Method and Methodology
Method: A particular way of doing something.
Methodology: A set of methods or principles used to perform a particular activity.
Method is a part of methodology whereas methodology is a set of rules used to do an activity.
4. Advice and advise
Advice: (noun) an opinion or suggestion about what someone should do in a particular situation.
Advise: (verb) to give advice to
Advise is to recommend whereas advice is the opinion about what to do or how to behave.
5. Amoral and Immoral
Amoral: not following any moral rules and not caring about right and wrong.
Immoral: (of people and their behaviour) not considered to be good or honest by most people.
Amoral is not caring about right and wrong whereas immoral is the behaviour without morality.
Exercise II [Page 77]
1. Pattern: method, scheme, rhythm, cycle, model, template, design
2. Increase: hike, mount, rise, growth, escalation, buildup
3. Enjoy: bliss, happy, delight, relish
4. Confused: disturbed, puzzled, baffled, bewildered, chaotic, perplexed
Exercise III [Page 78]
1. Herbal: connected with or made from herbs. Herb means a plant whose leaves, flowers or seeds are used to flavour food, in medicines or for their pleasant smell.
2. Crucial: extremely important, because it will effect other things.
3. Incurable: that cannot be cured.
4. Motherhood: the state of being mother.
5. Sheer: complete and not mixed with anything else.
IDENTIFYING TYPES OF WRITING & UNDERSTANDING TARGET READERSHIP [Page 81]
Hand hygiene………………….now a days.
This is a formal presentation and the style is expository. This emphasizes on facts and information. This might have taken place in a workshop where audience shares similar value system with the speaker.
In 1994, Delhi initiated………………….every child
This piece of writing is descriptive and is intended for general readership. This may be a news paper report and the style of it is formal.
Father: Well, yours is….too much weight. Kiran : What does that have to do anything?
This is a dialogue. The style is conversational and informal / colloquial in nature. It has anecdotes drawn from real life. The speaker persuades the other speaker.
Dear Sir/ Madam…………yours truly
It is an informal e-mail / letter. It is a casual enquiry. In this piece of writing, both the sender and the receiver share the information.
Long years ago……….life and freedom
This is a persuasive type of writing. It is a formal spoken presentation before a huge gathering.
Even, the audience may share similar value system with the speaker. It is written for an important occasion.
The Word Processing Committee
This is to address a specific target audience. The style is conversational and persuasive
in nature. The information is shared with others.
There was once…………….skies were blue.
It is a narrative piece, formal in style. The readers do not know much about the topic; hence it attempts to familiarize them with the topic.
Scenario [Page 84]
2. I know how important it is to have a healthy life-style. But because of postponing things, I am not able to change it sternly. I know that I shouldn’t go to bed late but I do it frequently. I understand the significance of taking food on fixed timings but I put it off. I am also aware of the need of doing exercise but very rarely do I visit the college gym. I am a victim of many bad habits. The reason is that I lack the initiative to apply practically what I really want to do. But these days, I have made up my mind not to postpone the things that constitute a healthy life. Henceforth, I will get up from bed early and do exercise for sometime. For this, I follow the counsel of an expert physical trainer. As I frequently experience mental tension due to heavy study, I will adopt relaxation techniques. I will keep a diary to watch carefully my progress in the journey towards better health. For all this, I have prepared a health chart to follow.
My Health-Chart
The time to wake up: 5 a.m.
My Daily Meals
Breakfast: at about 7 a.m.
Lunch: at 12.20 p.m.
Dinner: around 8 p.m.
Other Times
At Parties and Other Special Occasions: Before 1 p.m and 8 p.m.
The physical activity I do during the day: physical exercise one hour in the morning
The forms of entertainment that I like to turn to, for relaxation: Reading books and
listening to soft music
The time to go to bed: 10 p.m.
3. Is looking good superficially also an important part of staying healthy? What are the practices connected to personal care and grooming which can be considered healthy, and what practices can be called unhealthy? Discuss it.
Answer:
Youngsters in cities have crazy habits regarding displaying things in many ways. They have their hair style in peculiar shapes with the available hair-creams and other methods. They wear stunningly awkward models of shoes and pose themselves as the most fashionable people on the earth. They have a different walking style. These are a few of personal styles of modern youth. With these practices, they may appear like modern but these superficial styles have no connection with staying healthy.
On the other hand, there are practices which are connected to healthy life-style. Personal hygiene is one of them. It is important to trim our nails from time to time and have head-bath twice a week. Applying coconut oil to the hair, half an hour before taking bath, can prevent dandruff. Body odor is another problem. This can be rectified with a few drops of rose oil in water before taking bath. Oral hygiene is also very important to keep up good health.
The practices like biting nails, not taking bath twice daily, not applying deodorants onto the body, especially during summer; and not caring about our feet and not cleaning ear-wax periodically will affect health adversely. Therefore, every individual must observe and reform his habits in order to restore health.
1. Do you agree with Dr Sonali? Do you like chocolate or any other sweets? When you feel sad, what do you like eating? What are your favourite food items and what are the health benefits you get from them?
Ans: Of course, I do. I take her idea as she is a proven nutritionist. Like any child, I used to take a 70 g Helpmate plenty of chocolates when I was young. But I don’t feel like eating them now. But occasionally I would like to have chocolates or any other sweetmeats available at home. I don’t know much about the nutritional values of food items. When I like something, I take it in full measure. Commonly, I take non vegetarian
items and literally die for home-made sweets. I’ve come to know that regular consumption of non-vegetarian items, may in the long run, disturb the digestive system but non-veg. delicacies are quite irresistible to me.
2. Go back to the health chart you had prepared in the earlier exercise. Is it too strict? Do you need to give yourself more time to relax, or more opportunities to eat food which is not considered healthy?
Ans: If I consider the health chart I’ve prepared, I feel that it needs certain modifications as far as my work is concerned. I can’t have breakfast very early and I will have it at about eight o’clock. Considering my dinner, I want to slightly delay it. This is because I may not reach home early most of the times.
According to this revised plan of action, I will give myself some room for relaxation, apart from following the timings sincerely. From today onwards, I will restrict myself from going to many parties which obviously spoil my health.
Task: Coping with Stress
1. What do you think the patient should do in this case? What would act as a stress buster
for him? What are the ways in which stress can be managed?
Ans: The circumstances have made the patient a mental wreck. He requires to be diverted entirely from his studies for sometime. He must be advised not to think seriously about exams and the ranks.
He may be taken to a new place on a short tour where he can enjoy himself watching the scenic beauty and relaxing in the serene atmosphere. This will slowly elevate his spirits and he will eventually get rid of stress. More importantly, he needs a lot of support from his parents till he comes out of depression.
2. Pretend you are a doctor and draw up a prescription for the patient. Describe the illness
first, then your solution to it.
Ans: After a detailed discussion with you, I now understand that you are suffering from severe mental tension because of your problems at home and in the college. If this condition continues to be like this, it will be highly difficult to control it later.
I prescribe you some medicines for it and you must take them without fail. You must continue this medication for fifteen days and then, you should meet me for further treatment. Apart from medicines, whenever you feel stressed out, you need to come out of that situation with great effort.
You should realize that you’ll have to maintain good mood all the time. If something is distracting you, listen to light music. More than medicines, your attitude to a stressful situation really counts a lot. As a wise saying goes, your attitude decides your altitude. Follow my advice, you’ll come out of it very easily.
2. An Essay on Physical Fitness
A sound mind dwells in a healthy body. In this busy competitive world, people find no time to take care of their physical fitness. It doesn’t mean that they are not aware of the significance of healthy body. In olden days, people had enough physical work right from dawn to dusk. They had no motor vehicles and other conveyances to reach their offices and perform their regular tasks. They had to exert themselves physically to fulfill their duties. In that way, they had enough physical exercises to keep their body fit. So, they never faced any health problems. They had a natural and wonderful life even without the presence of sophisticated technology.
On the contrary, modern man has all the technology but no physical health. He has all the
comforts and luxuries. But the technologically advanced man has all health problems right from chronic head aches to cancers and Aids. The present man and woman can keep good health by adopting good habits such as exercise and proper diet-control. The suggestions, made here, help them to stay fit.
Time to wake up:
Early to rise and early to bed is good for health. In spite of busyness, proper planning and
scheduling will sustain physical health. Taking nutritious and light food at fixed timings will promote good health.
Kinds of exercises for different days:
Now-a-days, we can set up our own gym at home for perfect body care. There are a lot of
exercises to take up. One can also practice aerobic exercises and basic yoga by watching fitness programmes on TV channels. Yoga, the time-honoured science of India, is a real boon for serious seekers of physical and mental health. Aerobic exercises will tone up the body muscles. Walking, jogging and swimming will be good options to maintain health. Since there are a variety of exercises, it is nice to follow each one of them per day in a week.
A diet chart indicating caloric content:
Along with exercises, a proper diet care is required. With improper diet and indulgent food habits, fat will accumulate in the body. For this, a diet chart indicating caloric content may be pasted on the wall as a constant reminder so that health consciousness will improve.
Relaxation techniques you can adopt:
In this busy world, people very often suffer from mental tension. To get relief from stress, the person who is suffering from it must try to know the root cause of this problem. Relaxation techniques will reduce the ill-effects of stress. If it is not identified from the very beginning, the problem will mount up. In that case, it is more difficult to find a remedy for that. So, prevention is always better than cure.
A scale to measure your progress and achievements:
For any success, careful monitoring is required. A book has to be maintained to assess the
progress. This will help us keep on track. So, while taking exercise regularly, a careful watch on our progress will give fruitful results.
Any one can get good health for a life time by following this regimen.
DIALOGUE WRITING
1. Imagine that Jawaharlal Nehru is talking to a child and write a dialogue based on this situation.
S1: Gita S2: Sita
S1: Look at this picture, Sita. Do you find anything in the picture, Latha?
S2: Of course, he is our first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. He loved children very much.
S1: You are right. His birth day is celebrated as Children’s Day. Do you remember what today signifies?
S2: Today is November 14th. Oh! I’ve forgotten it. It is children’s day.
S1: Nehru always liked children for their innocence and inner beauty.
S2: It’s true. Whenever he found time Nehru talked to children to raise their self-esteem by telling them Indian History and the values of our country.
S1: What do you think Nehru is speaking to the small boy in the picture?
S2: I guess, Nehru is telling him many things which might help him become a great citizen of India. S1: I also think so. Nehru loved to put on a cap and liked to carry a rose flower on his coat.
S2: Rose flower is as tender as that of a small child. For that reason, he might like rose flower.
S1: You know, he was a freedom fighter, a great writer and an orator.
S2: Yes, you are true. Shall we go and join the celebration at the town hall?
S1: Certainly. Let’s move on.
2. Imagine you are at ISRO and develop a situational dialogue on this.
S1: Rani S2: Latha
S1: Hai, Latha!
S2: Hai, Rani! How are you?
S1: Fine, have you ever been to ISRO?
S2: What’s ISRO? I don’t know anything about it! Can you explain what it is?
S1: Look at this picture. Do you find anything in the picture Latha?
S2: Yeah Rani, there is a launch pad and a rocket. Some persons are roaming around.
S1: This place is called ISRO, Indian Space Research Organization. It is located at Sriharikota where rockets are launched into the space for different purposes.
S2: Oh! I see. Sometime back I heard our former president APJ Abdul Kalam had looked after the space activities at ISRO.
S1: You’re right Latha. We all know that the advancement in technology has changed our life style.
By the way, do you know how we get weather reports?
S2: I don’t exactly know, Rani.
S1: We get weather reports with the help of satellites. Even communication is done through them.
These satellites are sent into space with the aid of rockets.
S2: Thank you Rani, for telling me many interesting things. I must go now. Bye.
S1: Bye, bye.
3. You’re looking at a historical monument along with your friend. Write a situational dialogue keeping this in mind.
S1: Rakesh S2: Satish
S1: Hi Satish, how are you today?
S2: I am fine, thank you Rakesh. How about you?
S1: I’m O.K.
S2: What is it that you are carrying?
S1: It is a picture. Can you guess what it is Satish?
S2: It is a monument, perhaps located in Hyderabad.
S1: Your guess is right. Can you tell me the importance of it?
S2: I think it is a historical monument.
S1: Of course, can you look at it from a different view point?
S2: No Rakesh, I don’t get any idea.
S1: O.K. then. Do you know that the cities have a threat from pollution?
S2: Well, I am getting it. Do you mean to say that the great monuments like this are being affected by pollution?
S1: Exactly Satish. It is high time we thought about protecting these constructions from pollution.
S2: Certainly. By protecting them, we can preserve our culture for future generations.
S1: Look! How beautiful this construction is. People say that the view of Hyderabad from the top of it is wonderful.
S2: Yes Rakesh, we can have a bird’s eye view of the city from it.
S1: Satish, these monuments have to be preserved. In this process, the government has to renovate them from time to time.
S2: Of course, Rakesh. I am running out of time. See you tomorrow.
S1: O.K. bye, Satish.
4. Write a situational dialogue between a Red Cross Volunteer and an earth quake victim.
S1: Good morning, I am a volunteer from the Red Cross.
S2: Good morning, Sir. You are doing an excellent job.
S1: Thank you. It was really a disaster. We tracked the earthquake from the very beginning but we were not able to control the great damage done to the people and their belongings.
S2: Yes, you’re right. Who can prevent it? But you are doing a great service to mankind.
S1: Thank you, we thought it would subside soon but most surprisingly it turned out to be a nightmare that night.
S2: Well, it was unpredictable and it smashed away the area when people were in deep sleep.
S1: Yes, it’s true. It all happened during midnight.
S2: It was terrible. We had no scope of coming out and take shelter. Children were crying. Everyone panicked at that time. People were moving helter - skelter in the darkness.
S1: Do you have any idea of how many families have lost their houses in your area?
S2: Approximately one hundred families have become homeless. Even most of the buildings have been damaged partially and the rest completely.
S1: So, obviously everyone is a victim in one way or the other.
S2: Absolutely!
S1: What about your family?
S2: We are five. Two of them got badly injured. They were hospitalized. Right now, they are under medical care. I had a narrow escape from the earthquake or else you wouldn’t be talking to me now.
S1: Oh! Really! That was great. At your temporary shelter, are you getting food packets and water?
S2: Well, everything. There is no shortage in the essential supplies.
S1: Our organization is trying its level best. What do you say?
S2: Fantastic. Many voluntary organizations like you are nursing the victims day and night. Your job is exemplary and commendable.
S1: We are one thousand volunteers dedicated to rescue victims from this situation.
S2: Is it? All of you have proved that serving people in trouble is serving God Himself. S1: I’ll meet you again. I need to visit other shelters as well.
S2: O.K. See you.
5. Discuss with your friend about different methods of eliminating stress.
S1: Hi! friend, What is wrong with you? Are you feeling stressful these days?
S2: I am feeling fine right now. But these days, I am unable to cope with my work in the office.
S1: That’s why you don’t look your usual self. You must be under stress.
S2: Really, What is stress, Ravi?
S1: Stress is a common factor in most people’s lives today. People of all ages experience it.
S2: I see. Does it have any bad influences on health?
S1: Certainly. People who suffer from stress have psychological problems. S2: Oh! Is it true? How to get rid of this monster, Ravi?
S1: There are ways Raju! First, it is important to identify the root cause of your distress and think of simple and workable solutions to gain control over it.
S2: Somebody has told me that stress can be avoided with the help of yoga. Is that right?
S1: Yes, exactly. But more importantly, when you feel stress it is important to be away from the surroundings that cause the stress.
S2: Is it that simple?
S1: Not at all. It requires much attention, a firm resolve to put it down and readiness to change and evolve.
S2: Then tell me, are there any practical methods to control stress?
S1: Yes, listening to light music will elevate your mood and infuse a freshness in your thinking.
S2: Well, I accept. But would mere listening to music suffice to outwit stress?
S1: Let me complete Raju! You’d better combine it with Yoga which includes pranayam. It will really work. But don’t practise Yoga by reading books. Take counsel from a competent master. Do it regularly and I’m sure you would witness yourself being transformed into a new individual.
S2: Thank you for your concern Ravi! I’ll certainly follow your advice. See you later.
S1: See you Raju.
S2: Okay, bye Ravi.
6. Discuss the town planning and laying of bypass roads with your junior engineer in the authority of a civil engineer, Roads and Buildings, Hyderabad to avoid traffic congestion in your town. Develop a dialogue.
Junior Engineer - S1 Civil Engineer - S2
S1: Good Morning Sir. What’s the matter?
S2: Good Morning Ajay! We need to find out a solution to the traffic menace in the town.
S1: Yes, You’re right, Sir. These days the town has attracted people from the surrounding villages and has become overcrowded.
S2: No doubt about that. People are settling here for umpteen reasons.
S1: It is true Sir. The main reason is that many engineering colleges and top class international schools have been set up in this town. So, traffic congestion has increased very much.
S2: Of course. That is why I have called you today. We must think together and evolve some solution to end this problem.
S1: I think we can only do this by laying the bypass road, Sir. This has to be done immediately to divert the heavy traffic from the narrow main road in the town.
S2: Yeh, I have already talked to the Municipal Commissioner to take prompt decision in this matter. He only said that he would look into the matter. But to materialize this, we need to come out with a concrete plan at the earliest.
S1: Sorry Sir, I have forgotten to tell you one thing that I have already drawn a suitable bypass-road plan to effectively avoid the heavy traffic threat.
S2: Really Ajay? Where is it? Show it to me.
S1: Here it is Sir. If you find it useful, we can go ahead with this plan.
S2: The plan has come out wonderfully well. Only thing is that we need to execute all this.
S1: What shall I do right now, Sir?
S2: We need to estimate the cost for the bypass-road and submit it to authorities for permission. Later, we need to call for quotations from the contractors. No doubt, we require a lot of manpower and infrastructure to complete this stupendous task.
S1: But we can only process all this after getting approval from the Commissioner, am I right Sir?
S2: Yes, I must discuss all this with him today. I believe he would accept our plan without any reservations.
S1: Sir, above all this, we need to speed up the project or else, it is impossible to complete the work before the onset of rainy season. By the way, the school-going children and old people are suffering a lot because of the unruly traffic.
S2: Yes, I know, we must finish it within two months. Otherwise, we will be forced to wait till next year. S1: First, the plan has to be approved. Then, we can move on. I have some work. Shall I take leave of you, Sir for now?
S2: Okay Ajay! Bye!
7. Develop a dialogue — explain to your parents, convince them and take permission to go on an industrial tour along with your teachers and classmates.
Son: S1 Father: S2 Mother: S3
S1: Good morning, mummy and daddy. How are you today?
S2: Good morning, Varun!
S3: Good morning, What’s the matter?
S1: Here are my results in the mid exams.
S2&S3: Wonderful. You got very good marks.
S1: Yes, but I need to improve upon it. I am trying for the first rank in my class. S2&S3: That’s the spirit. That’s why we always admire you.
S1: Thanks for your compliments. I have vacation next month.
S2: Well, do you have any plans?
S3: Do you want to say anything to your father Varun? Ask without any hesitation.
S1: Yes mom! I want to go on an industrial tour along with my teachers and class mates.
S3: I see. Is it so important? Can’t you postpone it to next year?
S1: I can’t mom. I will have project work next year and I need to prepare for competitive exams.
S2: If it is so, you can go. To which place are you planning to go?
S1: The power project in Srisailam. This exposure will help me a lot.
S2: How long will you stay there?
S3: How much do you have to pay for it, Varun?
S1: Dad, it’s only a two-day stay. Mummy, the expenses will be around three thousand rupees.
S2: What will you visit in two days there?
S1: Dad, we’ll study various aspects of power generation. I need to watch carefully how power is generated and the equipment involved in the process.
S2: O.K. my son, if that is so essential, you can go ahead. But we don’t know much about all these things.
S3: O.K. you can proceed, keep us informed of your schedule Varun, on phone!
S1: Sure mom. Thank you very much dad!
8. Discuss with your doctor-friend the treatment given to your relative who suffered from heart attack. Develop a dialogue.
Friend: S1 Doctor: S2
S1: Good morning, doctor.
S2: Very good morning, Vishnu. What brings you here?
S1: Do you remember that a woman patient was admitted for cardiac arrest late in the night?
S2: Yeh, the emergency. When I was about to go to bed last night, I got a call from the hospital and I hurried up there. Is she your relative?
S1: Yes, she is my cousin. What is her condition now?
S2: Everything is alright. But she requires a bypass surgery.
S1: Is it so serious? Will she be O.K. soon?
S2: Don’t worry too much. It is an open surgery but has become common now-a-days. You need not worry about her. Everything is under control. But, when she was brought here last night, she was sweating profusely. But by God’s grace, we could help her come out of the trauma.
S1: I have a doubt. Can you clarify it if I ask? S2: Why not, Vishnu? Come out, what’s it?
S1: There is a notion that the incidence of heart stroke is more in men than in women? Is it true?
S2: You are right in some sense. But now-a-days, food habits and life styles have made both men and women vulnerable targets.
S1: I see. By the way, is there a threat of a second stroke in the case of my relative?
S2: No chance, as she is under expert medical care. Anyway, she’ll be operated on next week.
S1: How many days will the treatment continue?
S2: Not more than two weeks after the operation.
S1: Can I see her now?
S2: Sure, come on. But don’t talk much.
S1: Thank you very much.
S2: You’re welcome.
9. Develop a dialogue — seek the guidance and advise of your senior whether to join the job or to pursue higher studies.
Junior Student: S1 Senior Student: S2
S1: Hai Rakesh, how are you?
S2: Hello, Satish. Fine. How about you? How is your preparation?
S1: Fine. I am in a dilemma as to what to do after the end exams? Can you advise me in this matter?
S2: Certainly, may I know what actually your problem is?
S1: You know about my family. My parents want me to join a good job after my degree. S2: Do you have any other idea in mind?
S1: To say frankly, I am interested in studies.
S2: Considering your family problems, I can better advise you to join a lucrative job. But at the same time, You’re the topper of our college and you cannot stop here. What’s your choice for further study?
S1: I want to pursue my MS in America.
S2: Your idea is good. But money will be a big problem.
S1: I can’t go abroad without getting a scholarship. I have been telling you many times about my passion for studies.
S2: I know if at all you want to go there, I can help you in one way. I have many senior friends who’ve settled in America. I will direct you to them so that they will be able to help you.
S1: Thank you for your concern.
S2: First convince your parents. Tell them about all the opportunities you will have with an MS degree.
S1: Of course, I will try my best to persuade them.
S2: By the way, are you preparing for TOEFL and GRE?
S1: Yes, I am. I will write the exams in a month.
S2: So, best of luck in all your efforts Raju.
S1: Thank you for your advice and help Rajesh. See you, bye.
S2: Bye, bye.
10. Write a situational dialogue between you and a social welfare officer about the information to get Adhar Card’.
You: S1 Social welfare officer: S2
S1: Good morning, Sir.
S2: Good morning. What brings you here?
S1: Sir, the government of India has recently introduced ‘Adhar Card’. May I know the details of it?
S2: Surely, every Indian has to have this card to enjoy a lot of civilian benefits.
S1: What are those benefits, Sir?
S2: Basically, it’s a unique ID card and it has a unique ID number.
S1: Is it like the ration card?
S2: In fact, it is more than a ration card. It officially approves of your citizenship.
S1: What else can I get?
S2: You will be entitled to many benefits that government declares from time to time.
S1: Oh, I see.
S2: In the near future, you can use it for every transaction as a proof.
S1: Can you elaborate it, Sir?
S2: You can use it for every business transaction, for loan purposes and for taking and withdrawing money from a bank. If I have to put it briefly, without it, a person will not be considered an Indian citizen.
S1: How can I apply for it, Sir?
S2: We will be available right from morning till evening. Come with your family. Fill up the application form. Every member of your family must undergo a kind of identification inspection here like iris test, thumb impression sampling etc
S1: What is that all about?
S2: They will take impressions of your fingers and iris as this process will identify every individual.
S1: Thanks a lot, Sir. I’ll immediately do it.
S2: That’s good!
11.You are working on your project. But your Internet is not working. You would like to work on your friend’s system. Request your friend to allow you to use his computer.
S1: Latha S2: Geetha
S1: Hi Geetha, How are you?
S2: Hi Latha, I’m fine. Thank you. How about you?
S1: I’m getting on well.
S2: What brings you here, Latha?
S1: Are you busy with your computer right now?
S2: Why? Tomorrow is my birthday and at the moment I’m busy e-mailing to our friends now.
S1: I’m sorry I’ve forgotten it. Advanced happy returns of the day!
S2: Thank you. Do you need my help now?
S1: Really, Geetha you know that I’ve been working for Infosys.
S2: Yes. What’s the matter?
S1: My computer has broken down all of a sudden and I must submit the project by tomorrow morning.
S2: I see. How long will it take to complete your project work?
S1: Actually, I’ve called the technician to fix the problem. He will come at any moment. But it may take around three hours to complete.
S2: Then, it’s not a big problem for me. Do you really need more time to work on the system?
S1: Not really. I won’t use it for more than three hours. By that time my system will be ready.
S2: Please don’t misunderstand my inquiry!
S1: Never. I can understand your problem.
S2: You can use the system, Latha. Nobody will disturb you as long as you can peacefully work for any stretch of time.
S1: Thank you very much, Geetha.
S2: It’s my pleasure.
12. A conversation between interviewee and interviewer.
S1: Interviewer S2: Interviewee
S1: Good morning, Sir.
S2: Good morning. Please be seated.
S1: Thank you, Sir.
S2: I understand that you did your MBA last year.
S1: Yes, Sir, I obtained my MBA from JNT University.
S2: Well, do you have any idea about our products?
S1: Yes, Sir, I know about your computer products.
S2: Right, how do you plan to promote the sales?
S1: Sales of any products depend on many factors like assurance of quality, customer service and reasonable price. Sometimes, discount on products will improve sales.
S2: O.K. Could you suggest some strategies to make our products more popular among the customers?
S1: By smart advertisement, the sales can be easily enhanced.
S2: But Ms.Rani, there is always a heavy competition in the market. Will this technique work out?
S1: It will certainly attract people. But, Sir, as long as we assure the customers of quality, our sales will never come down.
S2: So, you are very confident of your selling strategies.
S1: Certainly Sir.
S2: What is your previous experience in sales?
S1: I handled the sales-section in my uncle’s company for a few months.
S2: Why do you want to quit that company?
S1: I want a better exposure and personal growth. Just to gain some experience, I chose to join my uncle’s company.
S2: O.K. then, can you sign a bond with us for two years, if you are appointed?
S1: Surely Sir. I would happily do it.
S2: Thank you, Ms. Rani, we shall send you the offer letter within a week.
S1: Thank you very much Sir!
13. A conversation between the hostel warden and student.
Student: S Hostel Warden: H
S: Good morning, madam.
H: Good morning. What can I do for you?
S: I’ve got an admission in this college. I want to enroll my name for the hostel room.
H: I see, first fill up this form with all the details. Then affix a passport size photo of yours here.
S: I’ve already done it madam.
H: Okay. There are different rooms here. It all depends on what you can afford.
S: I don’t understand. Will you please explain it again, madam?
H: Certainly, there are single rooms with a/c or non a/c, double rooms and rooms which can accommodate 4 students.
S: What makes the difference madam if I select a single room instead of a double room?
H: The tariff will vary from the type to type. The comfort and size of the room will vary accordingly.
Some parents like their children to be in a single room or otherwise.
S: Oh, I see. I’ve got it, madam.
H: Do you want to see the rooms?
S: Yes, madam. How far are they from college? H: Just look over there.
S: Yes, madam I can see now. The hostel is very close to college. Shall we go now? H: Yes, let’s make a move.
S: All these rooms are spacious but are not well furnished.
H: We provide you with a cot and a bed. You need to bring bed sheets and pillows.
S: I want this single room without a/c. How much is the rent?
H: You have to pay Rs.34, 000/- which includes breakfast, evening snacks and food for one academic year.
S: What about a double room?
H: You must pay Rs.25, 000/- including everything.
S: Oh, I see, now I understand that there’s a lot of variation between single room and a double room. H: Yes.
S: O.K. madam, I’ll pay for a double room. How often can my parents visit me? H: They are allowed every Sunday.
S: Thank you, madam.
H: You’re welcome.
14. A conversation between a teacher and a student.
Student: S Teacher: T
S: Good morning, madam.
T: Good morning, Deepthi. Where have you been recently?
S: I have been to my grand parents’ village.
T: Any special occasion?
S: Actually, my grandmother passed away.
T: I’m sorry to hear that. By the way, what about your preparation? Exams are only a month away.
S: I’ve sought the help of all the teachers. They’ve agreed to teach me.
T: O.K. then, I’ll also help you. For how many lessons have you finished your preparation?
S: I’ve finished the first five lessons, madam!
T: I see. You still have to finish five more lessons. Now, the last lesson is going on in the class.
S: Yes, madam. You need not teach me all the five lessons. I need only a brief introduction of the first two lessons.
T: Sure, when will you come for it?
S: I will come from tomorrow, madam.
T: Then, You have to stay in the college till 6 o’clock.
S: O.K. madam. Shall I take leave of you now?
T: Wait, can you come to me during lunch break for the first few days? S: Certainly madam. I’ll have my lunch early and come to you.
T: Come to me at 12.30p.m. I’ll be ready. I’ll teach you for half an hour. After a week, I will be able to spend more time with you.
S: So nice of you madam. Thank you.
T: It’s O.K. Deepthi!
15. A conversation between a tourist guide and a tourist.
S1: Tourist S2: Tourist guide
S1: Good Morning, madam. How can I approach a tourist guide?
S2: Good morning, I’m a tourist guide. How can I help you, madam?
S1: How long have you been in this profession?
S2: I have more than five years of experience as a tourist guide. I can show you all places of tourist importance of your choice.
S1: That’s great. I’m lucky to have a guide like you.
S2: Not at all, madam. Where are you from madam?”
S1: I’m from Andhra Pradesh.
S2: I see. I heard a lot about A.P. In Kerala, you have many places to watch and enjoy. S1: Will you please tell me about enchanting places in and around Kochi?
S2: Certainly. Of all the places, the harbour is the attractive one.
S1: I see. What is unique about it? We also have harbours in A.P.
S2: Not like that madam, there is a beautiful island in the river and it is close to the bank. S1: Is that very attractive?
S2: No doubt about that, madam. There is one more place called ‘back waters’ near Kochi.
S1: What is ‘the back waters’?
S2: Actually the river seems to move everywhere, the length and breadth of Kerala State. Wherever you go you’ll find it. The river water meets the sea water and sometimes the sea water comes back into the river. Hence, this name.
S1: So, Kerala is full of water and coconut trees. I’ll stay here for one day. How many places can I possibly visit?
S2: If you can book a taxi, we can go round six or seven locations.
S1: How much will be the expenses?
S2: It will be around Rs.2000/- for taxi.
S1: Please quote reasonable price since this is off season. Can you make it for Rs.1500/-? S2: Then, it’s O.K., madam.
16. A conversation between a local inhabitant of a city and a visitor.
S1: Visitor S2: Local Inhabitant
S1: Excuse me, will you please show me the way to the Charminar?
S2: Are you new to this place?
S1: Yes, by the way, I’m Sita. Nice meeting you.
S2: Nice to see you. I’m Ramya.
S1: Are you familiar with Hyderabad city?
S2: Yes, I have been a resident of Hyderabad since my childhood.
S1: It’s my fortune to meet you, madam.
S2: The pleasure is mine. Why do you want to visit the Charminar?
S1: I have come here for an important personal work. I’ve got some free time now. So, I’ve decided to roam around the city till evening.
S2: Oh, I see. That sounds good.
S1: How long will it take me to reach there?
S2: Not more than half an hour. But it may get delayed since there is heavy traffic.
S1: Are there any other nice places to visit in Hyderabad?
S2: There’re a plenty of them. The Birla Temple and the museum are a few to name.
S1: If I travel in a local bus, can I go round all these places?
S2: No, you would better take a taxi.
S1: Do you have any idea about the taxi fare to cover all these places?
S2: I suppose, the charges may be around Rs.500/-.
S1: Very kind of you madam, thank you.
S2: Not at all.
EXPANSION OF PROVERBS
1. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
A man catches a bird and he is not satisfied with it. He finds two birds in a bush nearby and wants to catch them. While trying to catch the birds in the bush, he may lose the bird in his hand. He will not be able to catch two birds in the bush either. In the same way, a person who has some money with him will not be satisfied with it. Instead, he will invest the small amount of money in a business with ambitious expectations. If fate decides, he may even lose his investment, not to speak of any profit. He will lose everything. So, we should understand that the bird in the hand is more valuable than the two birds in the bush and contentment is essence of a peaceful mind.
2. A friend in need is a friend indeed
Good friendship is an asset in our life. We cannot expect that everyone who talks to us are our best friends. They are our acquaintances. We should be careful while making good friendship. Many people come to us for many things. They take our help and leave. But when we are in troubles, they never turn up. They disappear at once. Such people cannot be our real friends. A person, who comes to our rescue in times of adversity, is a real friend. Such friends are very rare in this world. This proverb says that a friend should help us when we are in troubles. So, a friend in need is a friend indeed.
3. All that glitters is not gold
Gold is a very precious metal and it shines. Glass only glitters and never shines. But the glittering glass may even outshine gold apparently. This comparison is like that of salt with camphor that resembles the same in colour but their tastes are different. In the same way, some people in the society seem to be like glittering gold but actually they are glittering glass. They pose like they are very respectable.
But they are worthless and useless charlatans in the society. The proverb cautions us to be careful in identifying such people.
4. An idle man’s brain is a devil’s workshop
Laziness, idleness or sloth is one of the seven deadly sins. The devil keeps his workshop in an idle man’s brain and prospers in his wicked business. The bee, the ant, and even the watchdog in our house do their work sincerely. We must prove ourselves as their betters in hard work. Great people like A P J Abdul Kalam and Mother Theresa worked incessantly for two noble causes. One worked for the development science and technology in India. And the other served the poor people for the cause of their economic development. We should remember that they sacrificed their lives for the cause of others. At least we must work for ourselves. We must plan our work in the mind and keep the mind busy with the ideas of the work. We can do our work efficiently. Then, the devil cannot enter our brains.
5. A rolling stone gathers no moss
This is true in the case of a person who keeps on changing his professions in his life. There are some fickle minded people who constantly change their profession. These people are like rolling stones. A rolling stone never gathers moss. These people cannot acquire the required skills as a result of constant change in their profession. As the famous saying goes, such people are Jack of all trades, but masters of none. They lead a purposeless life and are criticized by everyone in the society. Such people are not an asset to the family or the society they are living in. A person of this kind of attitude cannot be a role model even to his own children. He is an epitome of instability. Hence, one should carefully decide upon one’s profession and stick to it to develop and grow as an example for others to follow.
6. A stitch in time saves nine
When a shirt is torn and needs stitching, it has to be done immediately. Initially a single stitch may prevent the shirt from becoming bigger. So when action taken quickly a stitch is enough. On the other hand, the delay will make the tear bigger and bigger. Then, nine stitches may be required to prevent it. The same principle may be applied in our lives also. The faults we make are to be rectified in the initial stage otherwise the defects become permanent and stay with us forever. Then it becomes highly impossible to eliminate them. Therefore, a stitch in time saves nine.
7. Every man is the architect of his own future
Any person can decide his own future with his actions. Generally, people comment on us in many ways. They call someone lazy, someone hard working and someone else intelligent. We get these comments because of our deeds in the past. The present points back to the past. If the present actions are taken care of, better rewards await in future. If any one wants to be successful, he must have a proper planning about implementing his ideas that are going to happen. This means, he has to be watchful about all his current actions. Since we build our future brick by brick through our present actions, we are indeed the architects of our own future.
8. Example is better than precept
Precept is only a theory. While precept refers to an abstract idea, an example presents a concrete fact. We can speak of many percepts. Without examples, these percepts become useless For example, work hard and you can achieve anything is a precept. The life of a man is a practical lesson which teaches us better morals than the empty rhetoric about ideals. One good act speaks volumes about charity, but a hundred volumes on charity may not inspire anybody.
9. Failures are the stepping stones to success
A person cannot succeed or come to lime light over night. Before he gets success, he has to face many failures. We should remember that failures form an essential part of any success. If we understand this truth, we will not be discouraged by our failures. Instead, we work harder to get success. Many scientists work day and night to get some result of their work. The success will tantalize them in the form of failures. But failures never discourage them from getting success. They know that failures are the stepping stones to success.
CORRECTION OF SENTENCES
1. Await = wait for
(W) Let’s await for the minister to come. (R) Let’s wait for the minister to come.
2. ‘Owing to’ is used at the beginning of a sentence. ‘Due to’ is used in the middle of a sentence. (W) Due to his friend’s arrival he came late to college.
(R) Owing to his friend’s arrival he came late to college.
3. Overflow - overflowed - overflowed is correct. (W) The river has over flown its banks.
(R) The river has overflowed its banks.
4. ‘listen to’ is the correct expression
(W) I like to hear the news
(R) I like to listen to the news.
5. Cousin is correct
(W) She is my cousin sister. (R) She is my cousin.
6. Only a single conjunction should be used: because or therefore.
(W) Because he was late therefore I scolded him. (R) Because he was late I scolded him.
7. ‘Sixteen’ or ‘Sixteen years of age’ or ‘Sixteen years old’ is correct
(W) I am sixty years.
(R) I am sixty. Or I am sixty years of age. Or I am sixty years old.
8. ‘Neither’ or ‘either’ takes singular verb
(W) Neither of us were present in the class. (R) Neither of us was present in the class. (W) Either of the two are suitable for the job. (R) Either of the two is suitable for the job.
9. ‘Not only — but also’ is used properly before the appropriate nouns / pronouns
(W) I not only saw you but also your friend. (R) I saw not only you but also your friend.
10. ‘As well as’ takes singular verb
(W) Radha as well as Kamala have gone to Delhi. (R) Radha as well as Kamala has gone to Delhi.
11. ‘ Avail oneself of’ is the correct expression
(W) I availed the opportunity.
(R) I availed myself of the opportunity.
12. ‘Fast’ is the right word.
(W) The trains do not run very fastly on this line. (R) The trains do not run very fast on this line.
13. ‘If clause’ takes simple present tense verb form
(W) If he will call me, I shall go. (R) If he calls me, I shall go.
14. ‘Know’ is not used in continuous tense. Words like ‘remember’, ‘forget’, ‘understand’, ‘possess’,
‘own’, ‘hear’, ‘smell’, ‘perceive’, ‘think’ etc., are generally not used in continuous tenses. (W) I was knowing it all along.
(R) I knew it all along.
(W) He is loving his parents very much. (R) He loves his parents very much.
(W)People are wanting to see one side on top and the other side humiliated. (R) People want to see one side on top and the other side humiliated.
15. Past action or state takes past verb only. (W) I saw a man who is thirsty.
(R) I saw a man who was thirsty.
16. For an earlier action in the past, past perfect tense is used
(W) The train left before I arrived.
(R) The train had left before I arrived.
17. ‘Than all other’ is the correct comparison here. (W)Foster is better than all English essayists.
(R) Foster is better than all other English essayists.
18. ‘Scenery’ is the correct word.
(W) The sceneries in Kashmir are wonderful to look at. (R) The scenery in Kashmir is wonderful to look at.
19. ‘Advice’ is the correct word
(W) The advices my father gives are very useful. (R) The advice my father gives is very useful.
20. ‘Information’ is the correct word
(W) The informations on the recent railway accident are all wrong. (R) The information on the recent railway accident is all wrong.
21. ‘Business’ is uncountable. A or an should not be used. (W)I have an urgent business at home.
(R) I have some urgent business at home.
22. The reporting verb ‘Said ‘is the past tense verb, so the sentence should be in the past tense. (W) The teacher said that I am working hard.
(R) The teacher said that I was working hard.
23. For past action, the past tense verb must be used.
(W) Yesterday I have written many letters to different friends. (R) Yesterday I wrote many letters to different friends.
(w) They have played a game last week. (R) They played a game last week.
24. Present perfect continuous tense is used for an action continuing over a period of time. (W) I live here since 1990.
(R) I have been living since 1990.
25. ‘For’ is used for a period of time. ‘Since’ is used for a point of time. (W) I have been working in this office since 30 years.
(R) I have been working in this office for 30 years. (W) I have lived with it since forty years.
(R) I have lived with it for forty years.
26. ‘Every day actions’ are used with simple present tense. (W) He is going to college everyday by bus.
(R) He goes to college everyday by bus.
27. ‘Have’ with its true sense can not be used with -ing form. (W) I am having a house of my own.
(R) I have a house of my own. (W) I am having many friends. (R) I have many friends.
28. The expression ‘it is time’ or ‘it is high time’ takes past tense verb. (W) It is time you go to bed.
(R) It is time you went to bed.
29. ‘Hang’ has two meanings.
1. Hang — hanged — hanged ( to put someone to death by fastening a rope around the neck.)
2. Hang — hung — hung ( to attach something onto the wall.)
(W) He was hung for murder. (R) He was hanged for murder.
(W) The photograph was hanged on the wall. (R) The photograph was hung on the wall.
30. ‘prevent from’ is the correct expression.
(W) We were prevented to go to the office.
(R) We were prevented from going to the office.
31. The order of an indirect question is in the statement form. (W) Tell me where is the post office.
(R) Tell me where the post office is.
32. Words ending in -ior take ‘to’ after them. ‘Prefer’ and ‘preferable’ also take ‘to’ after them. (W) He is senior than me in service.
(R) He is senior to me in service. (W) I prefer coffee than tea.
(R) I prefer coffee to tea.
(W) Death is preferable than dishonour. (R) Death is preferable to dishonour.
33. When comparing two things, the same idea has to be expressed as given in this example. (W) The climate of Bangalore is better than Chennai.
(R) The climate of Bangalore is better than that of Chennai.
That of = the climate of
(W) The mangoes of Hyderabad are tastier than Chennai.
(R) The mangoes of Hyderabad are tastier than those of Chennai.
Those of = the mangoes of
34. In every question tag, the helping verb and the pronoun form of subject are used. In addition, a statement changes into negative and vice versa.
(W) Mr.Ravi is a business man, isn’t it?
(R) Mr.Ravi is not a business man, isn’t he?
When there is no helping verb in the sentence, one of the appropriate ‘do’ forms is used. Simple present tense : don’t or doesn’t
Simple past tense : didn’t
(W) The conductor comes to the door, did he?
(R) The conductor comes to the door, doesn’t he?
35. The verb agrees with the second subject in the expressions: ‘neither — nor’, ‘either — or’. (W) Neither he nor his friend are to blame.
(R) Neither he nor his friend is to blame. (W) Neither he nor I are to blame.
(R) Neither he nor I am to blame.
36. ‘ Every’ takes singular verb.
(W) Every boy and every girl were given prizes. (R) Every boy and every girl was given prizes.
37. ‘die of’ is the correct expression. (W) The patient died from cancer. (R) The patient died of cancer.
38. ‘Nature’ which means the country side, the scenery or wild life, takes no article. (W) Wordsworth worshiped the nature.
(R) Wordsworth worshiped nature.
39. An adjective is used with ‘the’ to mean ‘people of a particular class’. (W) Rich do not care for poor.
(R) The rich do not care for the poor.
The rich = rich people ; the poor = poor people
40. ‘Get into’ is the correct expression to show movement. (W) Two women and a man are getting in the bus.
(R) Two women and a man are getting into the bus.
41. ‘Returned’ itself means ‘come back’. It doesn’t require ‘back’ again. (W) None coming, he returned back to his seat.
(R) None coming, he returned to his seat.
42. ‘Enter’ does not take ‘into’.
(W) He entered into the studio. (R) He entered the studio.
But, ‘he entered into an argument/ discussion’, is the correct expression.
43. ‘cease to’ is the correct expression. (W) It ceased rain.
(R) It ceased to rain.
44. ‘scarcely’ takes ‘when’.
(W) Scarcely had the woman shouted for help than the robber stabbed her. (R) Scarcely had the woman shouted for help when the robber stabbed her.
45. ‘amazed at’ is the correct expression.
(W) I am amazed to the courage of your sister. (R) I am amazed at the courage of your sister.
46. ‘It being’ or ‘as it was’ is the correct expression in the following sentence. (W) Being a cold day, I did not go out of my room.
(R) As it was a cold day, I did not go out of my town.
(R) It being a cold day, I did not go out of my town.
47. Both ‘though’ and ‘but’ can not be used in the same sentence.
(W) Though he is poor, but he is honest.
(R) Though he is poor, he is honest.
(R) He is poor but he is honest.
48. ‘Suffer from’ is the correct expression.
(W) He is suffering with a fever since Sunday last. (R) He is suffering from a fever since Sunday last.
49. ‘Call’ does not take ‘as’ after it.
(W) He was called as a great man. (R) He was called a great man.
50. Both ‘as’ and ‘so’ can not be used in the same sentence. (W) As I was ill, so I could not go.
(R) As I was ill, I could not go.
51. ‘By’ is used for an agent. ‘With’ is used for instrument. (W) The house is built by brick.
(R) The house is built with brick.
52. ‘No sooner—— than’ is the correct expression. (W) No sooner had I reached the place he left.
(R) No sooner had I reached the place than he left.
53. ‘Pass away’ means ‘die’.
(W) He reads novels to pass away the time. (R) He reads novels to pass the time.
54. ‘Responsible for something’ is the correct expression. (W) Who is responsible to all the accidents?
(R) Who is responsible for all the accidents?
55. ‘The ‘ is used for a particular thing or person. (W) Tea which I am drinking is hot.
(R) The tea which I am drinking is hot.
56. ‘One of the’ takes singular verb and plural subject. (W) One of the boys have stolen the watch.
(R) One of the boys has stolen the watch.
57. ‘Beside’ means ‘by the side of’ and ‘besides’ means ‘in addition to’. (W) My house is besides the temple.
(R) My house is beside the temple.
58. Comparative degree is used to compare two things or persons. (W) This short story is the best of the two.
(R) This short story is the better of the two.
59. When ‘one’ is the subject , it takes ‘one’s’. (W) One should respect his teachers. (W) One should respect one’s teachers.
60. ‘Order’ does not take ‘for’ after it. (W) He ordered for coffee.
(R) He ordered coffee.
61. ‘Discuss’ will never take ‘about’ after it. (W) I want to discuss about it now.
(R) I want to discuss it now.
62. In case only one single ‘The’ is used when there are two nouns, a singular verb is used. But the article ‘The’ is twice in the sentence, it requires a plural verb.
(W) The poet and singer has come. (Here, both poet and singer are one.)
(R) The poet and the singer have come. (Here, both poet and singer are two individuals.)
SYNONYMS - ANTONYMS - THEIR USAGE
TO-INFINITIVE
To-infinitive is ‘to + verb’ and not ‘to + noun/ pronoun’.
For example: I went there to talk to him/ to Ravi. Here, ‘to talk’ is to-infinitive, whereas to him/ to
Ravi is not.
Some examples are given here.
l I always try to help him. (to help)
l They like to talk to me. (to talk)
l We want to go there. (to go)
l We tried to solve the issue. (to solve)
l They went there to seek his help. (to seek)
SYNONYMS - ANTONYMS - THEIR USAGE
What is a dictionary?
A dictionary is a book that contains a list of words in alphabetical order with their meanings explained or written in another language, or a similar product for use on a computer.
The advantages of a dictionary
A dictionary is a great source of learning a language. It helps the students learn words and their usage. It helps look up for the spelling, pronunciation, inflected forms of words, capitalization, etymology and word division. Every student must have a dictionary for ready reference to improve his/her vocabulary.
Types of dictionaries
There are many dictionaries such as bilingual, etymological, reverse and collocations dictionaries and Roget’s thesaurus. Of all the dictionaries, a learner must have a learner’s dictionary like Oxford Advanced learner’s Dictionary. The student can also select Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary or Collins Cobuild Student’s Dictionary. There are also subject dictionaries such as Physics Dictionary and technical dictionaries.
Bilingual English Dictionary
The dictionary gives the meanings of English words in our mother tongue.
Etymological Dictionary
This dictionary deals with the root meanings of English words so that it becomes easy to learn all the words built on that particular root.
Reverse Dictionary
This is revolutionary among all other dictionaries. It is the dictionary in which one can search on a concept to find words and phrases related to or expressing that concept
For Example: A reverse dictionary has the entry ‘green fruit’ which finds kiwi, grape, olive, etc. under that head word.
Noun: n; Singular: sin ; Plural: pl; Adjective: Adj; Adverb: Adv ;Verb : V
Verb Form 2: V2 , Verb Form 3: V3, Synonyms: syn & Antonym: Ant are the abbreviations used here.
Abundance (n): a large quality that is more than enough
Fruit and vegetables grow in abundance in our area.
Syn: plenty, plethora, profusion, exuberance, riot
Ant: scarcity, lack
Academic (adj): Connected with education especially in schools and universities
You must improve your academic qualifications to have a better career. In this academic year, I will try to get distinction.
Syn: educational, theoretical, scholarly
Ant: non-academic
Academics (n): formal education
She is good at academics.
Achieve (v): attain, accomplish
You can achieve it easily with hard work.
Syn: attain, complete, accomplish
Ant: fail
Achievable (adj):
Your goal is achievable if you believe in yourself.
Syn: attainable, reachable,
Ant: unattainable
Achievement (n): a thing that somebody has done successfully using their own effort and skill
Getting a seat in a college is not a great achievement.
Syn: accomplishment, completion, fulfillment
Ant: failure
Aeronautics (n): the science or practice of building and flying aircraft
Aeronautics is an interesting subject.
Syn: flight, aviation
Aeronautical (adj): related to building and flying aircraft
He got a seat in aeronautical engineering.
Syn: aerial, airborne
A household name (n): a name that has become very well known
Ghantasala became a household name as a great singer.
Annul (v): to officially statement that something is no longer valid
Their marriage was annulled within one year.
Syn: declare, invalid, nullify
Ant: restore, enact
Annulment (n): official statement that something is no longer valid
Now-a-days annulment has become a fashion between newly married couples.
Syn: nullification, invalid, declaration
Ant: restoration
Approve: (v): to think that someone or something is good, acceptable or suitable
Do you approve of my idea? Syn: accept, ratify, validate, pass Ant: refuse
Approval (n): a positive opinion of somebody or something
I have got leave the approval from the principal.
Syn: acceptance, consent, permission
Ant: disapproval
Aseptic (adj): free from harmful bacteria
This water is aseptic. You can have it.
Syn: sterile, clean, purified
Ant: septic
Battered (adj): attacked violently and injured; old, not in good condition In India there were battered child wives in the past. There are many battered old cars in the garage.
Batter (v): to hit someone or something hard many times, especially in a way that causes serious damage
The child was battered by his father. She battered at the door with her fists. Her killer battered her to death.
He had been badly battered about the head and face.
Syn (v): beat up, pound,buffet, thrash
Believe (v): to feel certain that something or someone is true
I do not believe in ghosts. Syn: trust, accept, think, credit Ant: doubt
Belief (n): a strong feeling that somebody or something is good or right
I have complete belief in his abilities.
Syn: trust, acceptance
Ant: doubt
Benign (adj): kind and gentle; not hurting anybody Syn: kindly, kind, mild, gentle, harmless Ant: unkind, unhealthy, hostile, malignant
Bioreserve (n): an area where wildlife is preserved
Forests are the best bioreserves to protect animal life.
Syn: wild life, natural resources
Blurred (adj): not clear
Now-a-days young people are suffering from blurred vision.
Syn: fuzzy, hazy, misty, foggy, faint, unclear
Ant: sharp, clear
Cadre (n): a small group of people trained for a particular purpose
In military service, there are different cadres.
Syn: officers, personnel, staff
Carrier (n): a person or animal that passes a diseases to other people but does not suffer from it
Most creatures are the carriers of common diseases.
Syn: bear, bring, convey
Caution (n,v): care that you take in order to avoid danger or mistakes
Learn driving with caution.
I cautioned him against making a hasty decision.
You must deal with the problem with extreme caution.
Syn (n): care, attention, alertness, discretion
Syn (v): advise, warn, counsel, urge, reprimand
Cautious (adj): not taking any risks
Be cautious while driving.
Syn: careful, attentive, alert, prudent, tentative
Ant: reckless
Ceremony (n): a public or religious occasion
Today is my wedding ceremony.
Syn: rite, ritual, observance, event, function, formality, protocol
Ceremonial (adj): We have ceremonial occasions during this month.
Syn: formal, official, public, ritual
Ant: informal
Challenge (n,v): a new or difficult task that tests somebody’s ability and skill
Can you face the challenge?
The job does not challenge me at all.
Schools must meet the challenges of new technology.
Syn (n): dare, opposition, problem, difficulty
Ant: cinch
Syn (v): question, dare, defy, invite, test, tax
Change (v): to become different
Fate will only change his life.
Syn: alter, adapt, amend, modify, revise, substitute, switch
Ant: preserve, keep
Change (n): the act or result of something becoming different
There has been no change in his approach to life.
Syn: alteration, modification, variation, revision, replacement
Cheer (v): happy
Cheer up!
Syn: applaud, hail, salute, gladden, encourage
Ant: depress, boo
Cheerful (adj): happy, and showing it by the way that you behave
He is always cheerful.
Syn: happy, jolly, merry, bright, pleasant, welcoming, sunny
Ant: sad, gloomy
Cheerfulness (n): the state of being cheerful
Cheerfulness is his asset.
Syn: happiness, brightness
Ant: sadness
Cluster (n,v): a group of things that grow or move close together
Have you ever seen a cluster of stars during the day?
The children clustered together in one corner of the room.
Syn: bunch, clump, mass, knot, group, crowd, congregate
Coercion (n): forced to do something
He claimed he had only acted under coercion.
Syn: force, compulsion
Commitment (n): promise to support somebody or something
His commitment to work is extraordinary.
Syn: responsibility, dedication, devotion
Competent (adj): the ability to do well
Students are competent enough to succeed in their chosen field.
Syn: able, capable, proficient, expert,fit, suited
Ant: unfit,incompetent
Competence / Competency (n): the ability to do something well.
Now-a-days, students need a high level of competence in English.
Syn: ability, skill, prowess, capability, proficiency
Ant: incompetence
Contentment (n): a feeling of happiness or satisfaction
We all need contentment to lead happy lives.
Syn: amount, constituents, ingredients, thesis, substance, material ideas
Ant: discontentment, dissatisfaction
Continue (v): to keep happening
Please continue with the work until I tell you. Syn: persist, persevere, keep at, maintain, remain, resume Ant: stop, break off, leave
Continuous (adj): happening or existing for a period of time without interruption
Learning a language is a continuous process.
Syn: continual, persistent, ceaseless, perpetual, incessant, non-stop
Ant: intermittent
Contrast (n): a difference between two or more people or things that you can see clearly when they are compared or put close together
Syn: difference, dissimilarity, opposite, complement
Ant: similarity
Cooperate (v): to work together to achieve a goal
They always cooperate with each other.
Syn: collaborate, work together, unite, assist, help
Cooperative (adj): involving doing something together or working together with others towards a shared aim
There is a cooperative bank in our area.
Syn: collaborative, collective, combined, joint, shared, helpful
Ant: unwilling
Courage (n): to face pain or opposition without fear;
He has a lot of courage to walk alone in the dark.
You must show great courage and determination to achieve any great task. Courage is what you need at this time.
Syn: bravery, pluck, valour, fearlessness, nerve, guts
Ant: cowardice
Courageous (adj): showing courage
He has taken a very courageous decision. Syn: brave, plucky, fearless, intrepid, dauntless, gutsy Ant: cowardly
Courageously (adv):
He did it courageously.
Syn: boldly, bravely, fearlessly
Dedicate (v): to spare much time to do something
You must dedicate yourself to your work for better success.
Syn: devote, commit, pledge, sacrifice, inscribe
Dedicated (adj): working hard at something because it is very important to you
He a dedicated teacher.
Syn: committed, devoted, staunch, firm, exclusive
Ant: half-hearted, general purpose
Dedication (n): the hard work and effort that somebody puts into an activity or purpose
because they think it is important
You need a lot of dedication to complete it. Syn: commitment, devotion, application,
resolve Ant: apathy
Destiny (n): 1. the power believed to control events
I believe there is some force guiding us —— call it God, destiny or fate.
2. What will happen to someone in future cannot be changed
He wants to be in control of his own destiny.
Syn: future, fate, fortune, chance, karma
Disapproval: a feeling that you do not like an idea, action or somebody’s behaviour
because you think it is bad
She shook her head in disapproval
Syn: disfavour, objection, dislike, dissatisfaction, denunciation
Disapprove (v): to think that someone or something not suitable
She strongly disapproves of any changes in the system.
Syn: dislike, deplore, censure, condemn, denounce
Disapproving (adj): showing that you do not approve of somebody or something
I could not bear his disapproving glance. Disapprovingly (adv): He looked
disapprovingly at the empty wine bottles. Drunken, drunk (adj): intoxicated
Drunken driving is dangerous.
Syn: pickled, tanked, legless, paralytic, tiddly, sauced
Ant: sober
Drunkenly (adv): He drove drunkenly.
Drunkenness (n): the state of drunk
Drunkenness spoils our health.
Syn: intoxication
Ant: sobriety
Earnest (adj): very serious and sincere
Syn: serious, solemn, grave, sober, humourless, devout, intense
Ant: frivolous, half-hearted
Earthy: concerned with the body, sex, etc. in an open and direct way that some people
find rude or embarrassing
He is widely known for his earthy sense of humour. I like earthy colours.
Eliminate (v): to remove or get rid of something or somebody
Credit cards eliminate the need to carry a lot of cash.
Syn: remove, stop, end, destroy, knock out, exclude
Elimination: All the candidates will have to undergo the elimination process.
Syn: stop, end, destruction
Encourage (v): to give support, courage or hope
Always encourage children to be creative.
Syn: hearten, cheer, uplift, inspire, motivate, persuade, press
Ant: discourage, dissuade, hinder
Encouraging (adj): The sales are not encouraging this year.
Syn: cheery, inspirational, motivational
Ant: discouraging
Encouragingly (adv): The percentage of pass is encouragingly high.
Encouragement (n): the act of encouraging somebody to do something
I always get encouragement from my parents.
Syn: support, persuasion, urging, backing
Epic (n): a great long historical poem about the actions of great men and women
The Mahabharatha is a great epic.
The Ramayana and the Mahabharatha are great epics.
Syn: long story
Ant: short story
Epic (adj): It was a tragedy of epic proportions.
Syn: classic, blockbuster, heroic, marathon
Eradicate (v): to destroy or get rid of completely
That disease has been eradicated in our country.
Syn: eliminate, remove, obliterate, extinguish, destroy
Eradication (n): Some steps have to be taken in the eradication of poverty in India.
Syn: elimination, destruction
Euphoria (n): extremely strong feeling of happiness and excitement that usually lasts a
short time.
I felt euphoria when I got through Civil Service Examinations.
Syn: excitement, bliss, elation, jubilation
Ant: depression
Euphoric (adj): My euphoric mood could not last long.
Syn: excited, jubilant
Exclude (v): not considering
She was excluded from the discussion.
Syn: keep out, deny, ban, prelude
Ant: admit, include, allow for
Exclusive (adj): complete
I have exclusive rights in taking a decision for your misbehaviour.
Syn: select, high-class, elite, fashionable, stylish, sole
Ant: shared, inclusive
Exploit (v): treat a person or situation as an opportunity to gain your own advantage
Don’t exploit my name to get that job.
Syn: utilize, make use of, capitalize, fear, escapade
Exploit (n): a brave, exciting or interesting act
In that film, you can watch the exploits of Indian heroes.
Syn: adventure, feat, venture
Exploitative (adj): treat someone unfairly to get an advantage or to make money
I can never tolerate his exploitative attitude. I don’t like his exploitative nature.
Fantasy: a pleasant situation that you imagine but that is likely to happen
His books are full of fantasies.
Syn: imagination, fancy, invention, daydreaming
Ant: realism
Formalize (v): to make something official
They have decided to formalize their relationship by getting married.
Syn: orderly, precise, set
Frank (adj): honest and direct in everything you do
To be frank with you, I think you son has little chance of passing the exam.
Syn: candid, direct, forthright, plain, straight
Ant: evasive, disguised
Frankness (n): Frankness is a virtue.
Syn: honesty, straightforwardness
Ant: evasion
Get: receive, obtain
I have to go and get my uncles from the bus complex.
Syn: obtain, fetch, capture, contract, understand, persuade, prepare
Ant: give, shake off
Gloomy (adj): sad and without hope
We sat in a gloomy silence.
Syn: dark, shadowy, sunless, despondent, dejected, pessimistic
Ant: bright, cheerful
Grow (v): increase in size, number, strength or quality
Pine trees grown in our area.
Syn: enlarge, extend, increase in size, sprout, cultivate, become
Ant: shrink, decline
Harass (v): to annoy or worry someone by putting pressure on them
Don’t harass him like that.
Syn: intimidate, persecute, hound, persist, worried, troubled
Ant: carefree
Harassment (n): I cannot tolerate his harassment any more.
I will complaint it to his father.
Heritage: the history, tradition, qualities that a country has for a long time
The picture displays Indian heritage.
Syn: tradition, history, past, background, culture, customs, ancestry
Hospitable (adj): generous and friendly to visitors
Indians are very hospitable to foreigners. Syn: generous, kind, cordial, sociable, friendly
Ant: inhospitable, rude, unsympathetic
Hospitality (n): the act of being generous
I can never forget your hospitality. Thank you for your hospitality.
Syn: accommodation, consideration,friendliness
Ant: unfriendliness
Imagination: the ability to create pictures in your mind; the part of your mind that does this
Nobody hates you — it is all your imagination.
Syn: mind’s eye, fancy, creativity, inventiveness, originality
Inalienable (adj): that cannot be taken away from you
Everyone has inalienable right to decide his own future.
Syn: basic, natural, nontransferable
Ant: separable
Inevitable: that you cannot avoid or prevent
Syn: unavoidable, inescapable
Ant: preventable
Indistinguishable (adj): impossible to see any difference between two things or persons:
not clear
His words were indistinguishable.
Syn: duplicate, identical, twin
Ant: distinguishable
Inevitable (adj): that cannot be avoided or prevented
A rise in the interest rates seems inevitable.
It was an inevitable consequence of your decision.
Syn: unavoidable, inexorable,inescapable, assured, certain
Ant: avoidable, escapable
Infest (v): insects or animals to exist in large numbers and cause diseases
The kitchen was infested with cockroaches.
Syn: crawl, live, plague
Infestation (n): Woman’ plait is an infestation of lice.
Influence (n): the power that somebody or something has to make someone or
something behave in a particular way
Those friends are bad influence on her.
Her parents have no longer any influence on her.
Syn: effect, impact, control, spell, sway, leverage, pull
Influential (adj): It is a highly influential book.
Syn: controlling, powerful, important, guiding
Initiate (v): to make something begin
Who will initiate the discussion?
She has finally initiated the discussion.
Syn: begin, start, commence, inaugurate, instigate, install
Ant: finish, expel
Initiation (n): We are attending to an initiation ceremony.
Initiative (n): a new plan for dealing with a particular problem or for achieving a
particular purpose
Unless to take initiative, nothing will move on. Syn: enterprise, inventiveness, scheme,
imagination Ant: apathy
Irregular (adj): not arranged in an even way; not having an even, smooth pattern or
shape
It rained at irregular intervals. She has irregular teeth.
Syn: uneven, aimless, intermittent
Ant: regular
Irregularly (adv): He attends classes irregularly.
Syn: intermittently, unsteadily
Irregularity (n): activity or practice not according to normal rule
I hate irregularity.
Irrigate (v): to supply water through pipes or canals so that crops will grow
Farmers irrigate crops.
Syn: flush, water
Irrigation (n): Irrigation is a livelihood in this area.
Irritate (v): to annoy someone
His accent irritates me.
Syn: annoy, bother, vex, infuriate, anger, inflame,scratch, rub
Ant: delight, soothe
Irritating (adj): That is absolutely an irritating habit.
Syn: annoying, vexing
Irritatingly (adv): He laughed at me irritatingly.
Irritation (n): I get irritation when watch his behaviour.
Syn: annoyance, exasperation, vexation, indignation, anger
Ant: delight
Irritated (adj): annoyed or angry
She was getting more and more irritated at his comments.
Syn: annoyed, vexed
Ant: delighted
Knowledge (n): the information, understanding, and skills that you gain through education or experience
Knowledge is divine.
An engineer should have practical knowledge in field. Syn: understanding, comprehension, learning, awareness Ant: ignorance
Lapse (n): 1. periods of time between two things that happen
After a lapse of two years we met up again.
2. Small mistakes, especially a few that are caused by forgetting something or by being careless
My grand father could not identify me due to lapse of memory.
Syn: failure, slip, error, decline, fall, interval
Lapse (v): My concentration lapsed after a few minutes
Syn: expire, become void, revert, relapse, drift
Leverage (n): the ability to influence what people do
An ambassador must have diplomatic leverage to solve issues.
Syn: force, grip, hold, authority, advantage
Make (v): create or prepare by putting parts together
She makes her own clothes.
Syn: construct, build, assemble, force, perform, appoint, prepare
Ant: destroy, lose
Make (n): the name or type of a machine What make of car does he drive? Syn: brand, label, marque
Manufacture (v): to make goods in large quantities
Our factor manufactures medicines.
Syn: make, mass-produce, build, invent, fabricate
Manufacture (n): There are no units of manufacture of cars in AP.
Syn: production, making, mass production, assembly
Meander: to curve a lot rather than being in straight line The stream slowly meanders
down to the sea. Syn: twist, wind
Melancholy (adj): very sad
I feel melancholy when I see orphans.
Syn: sad, sorrowful, unhappy, gloomy, despondent, glum
Ant: cheerful
Melancholy (n): a deep feeling of sadness
Sometimes everyone feels a mood of melancholy.
Syn: sadness, sorrow, unhappiness
Ant: happiness
Melancholic: feeling or expressing sadness, especially when the sadness is like an illness
After losing money in business, he has become melancholic. Metropolis (n): a large
important city
In metropolis, people have different life style.
Syn: capital, municipality
Ant: small town
Milestone (n): a very important stage or event in the development of something
Achieving self-sufficiency in rocketry is a milestone in the history of India.
Syn: landmark, break through, turning point
Minor (adj): not very large, important or serious
I escaped from minor injuries.
Syn: slight, small, unimportant, unknown, insignificant
Ant: major, important
Minor (n): young; not reached adulthood
Minors are not allowed to drive cars.
Syn: child, infant, youth, adolescent, teenager, boy, girl, kid
Ant: adult
Miserable (Adj): very unhappy or uncomfortable
Don’t look so miserable!
Syn: unhappy, sad, sorrowful, dejected, depressed
Ant: cheerful, lovely
Miserably (adv): It was a miserably cold day.
Syn: unhappily, sadly, sorrowfully
Ant: cheerfully
Misery (n): great suffering of the mind or body
All his wealth brought him nothing but misery. Fame bought her nothing but misery.
Syn: unhappiness, distress, anxiety, pain
Ant: contentment, pleasure
Miserly (adv): hating to spend money Some rich people lead lives miserly. Syn: mean, ungenerous
Ant: generous
Modest (adj): not very large, expensive, important
I have a modest little house.
Syn: humble, shy, diffident, acceptable, small, demure
Ant: conceited, great, grand, indecent
Modesty (n): the fact of not talking much about your abilities or possessions
I hate false modesty.
Syn:humility, shyness, reserve, self-consciousness
Ant: immodest
Mores (n) [pl]: the customs and behaviour that are considered typical of particular social group
Our customs and traditions are different from the mores of these people here.
Syn: practices, formalities, manners, protocol
Mourn (v): to feel and show sadness because someone has died
He was still morning his brother’s death. We morn when dear ones die. Syn:deplore, bewail, bemoan, rue, regret
Mournful (adj): very sad
I cannot bear the mournful looks on her face.
Syn: melancholy, sad, sorrowful, gloomy, depressed
Ant: optimistic, hopeful
Notion (n): an idea, a belief
It is only wrong notion to think so.
Syn: belief, idea, opinion
Notional (adj): based on guess; not existing in theory.
That is completely notional.
Syn: hypothetical, conceptual, assumed
Ant: practical
Paranoia (n): a mental illness in which a person wrongly thinks that someone is trying to harm him
My friend is suffering from paranoia. He is doubting everyone’s actions.
Syn: mad, eccentric, insanity
Ant: normal
Participate (v): take part in an activity She participated in the discussion. Syn: join,
engage, share, contribute Ant: observe
Participation (n): the act of participating in an activity
Students participation in cultural activities is encouraging in our college.
Syn: completion, engagement
Ant: observation, watching
Persevere (v): to continue trying to do or achieve something despite difficulties
Despite of set backs, you must persevere in your attempts.
Syn: persist, continue, carry on
Ant: leave, quit
Perseverance (n): the quality of continuing to try to achieve a particular aim despite
difficulties
Perseverance will always bring success.
The only way to improve is through hard work and dogged perseverance.
Syn: persistence, continuation
Persevering (adj): You must put in persevering efforts to get success in that.
Syn: continuous, incessant
Place (v): to put something in a particular place
You can place your hand on my shoulder.
Syn: lay, deposit, position, identify, remember, accommodate
Place (n): a particular position, point or area We are looking for a place to eat. Syn:
location, spot, situation, position
Pledge (v): to formally promise to give or do something
He has pledged to behave well.
Syn: promise, vow, undertake, swear
Pledge (n): a serious promise
He has taken pledge not drink beer.
Syn: promise, vow, undertaking, word, commitment
Pressurize (v): to persuade somebody to do something
Don’t pressurize him. Let him go at go at his own pace.
Syn: coerce, pressure, push, intimidate, dragon
Pressure (n): the act of trying to persuade someone for something
Private employees feel a lot of pressure while discharging their duties.
Syn: force, load, stress, persuasion, compulsion
Puberty: come of age
She has reached puberty.
Syn: youth, spring, girlhood
Quest (N): a long search for something
Saints go in quest of self-realization.
Syn: search, hunt, expedition, journey, voyage, odyssey, adventure
Rarely : not very often
She is rarely seen in public now-a-days.
Syn: seldom, infrequently, scarcely
Ant: often
Realm: an area of activity, interest, or knowledge
Fools live in the realm of imagination.
Syn: kingdom, country, land, dominion, nation, area
Receive: to get or accept something that is sent to you or given to you
We receive many presents on birthdays.
Syn: collect, get, obtain, gain, sustain, undergo, meet
Ant: give, send, inflict
Recount: to tell somebody about something, especially something that you have
experienced
He always recounts his childhood memories.
Syn: tell, relate, narrate, describe, convey, report
Redeem: to pay the full sum of money that you owe somebody
I must redeem the bank loan in a week. Syn: save, absolve, recover, regain, reclaim Ant:
damn, pawn, buy
Remind (v): to help somebody to remember something, especially something important
that they must do
I have forgotten your name. Can you remind me? The incident reminded me of my childhood.
Syn: prompt, jog someone’s memory, evoke
Remnant (n): a part of something that is left after the other parts have been used, removed, destroyed etc.
These woods are remnants of a huge forest.
Syn: remains, reminder, leftovers, offcut, residue
Rival (n): a person or a company that competes with others
The two teams have always been rivals.
Syn: opponent, challenger, competitor, equal, match
Ant: ally
Rituals: a series of actions that always performed in the same way as a part of religious ceremony
We follow religious rituals in our country.
Rug: a small carpet that is used for covering or decorating part of a floor
I bought a rug to cover it on the floor.
Syn: mat, carpet
Ruin (v): to damage something so badly that it gets spoiled That one mistake ruined his chances of getting the job. Syn: spoil, wreck, shatter, dash, destroy
Ant: save, rebuild
Ruin (n): We visited the ruins of a Norman castle.
Syn: disintegration, decay, disrepair, remains, downfall
Ant: preservation, triumph, wealth
Ruinous (adj): causing serious problems or damage
The decision was to prove ruinous.
Syn: destructive, devastation
Ant: wealthy
Ruination (n): the process of destroying something or somebody
Urban development has led to the ruination of vast areas of countryside.
Syn: destruction, devastation
Ant: creation
Ruinously (adv): This hat is ruinously expensive.
Schedule (n): a plan that lists all the work that you have to do and when you must do each thing
You must have a schedule for preparation.
Syn: timetable, agenda, diary, schedule, plan, programme
Schedule (v): to arrange for something to happen at a particular time
The meeting is scheduled for Monday.
You must have a schedule for preparation.
Syn: organize, arrange, plan, programme, timetable
Seminar (n): a meeting for discussion or training
Teaching is by lectures and seminars.
Syn: discussion, forum, meeting, workshop
Sheepskin (n): the skin of a sheep with the wool still on it
My coat is made of sheepskin.
Syn: woolen cloth, thick blanket
Simple (adj): not complicated
It is so simple to understand.
Syn: easy, straightforward, clear, plain,unpretentious
Ant: complex, difficult, fancy, sophisticated
Simplicity (sin): the quality of being easy to understand or use
For the sake of simplicity, let’s divide the discussion into two parts.
Syn: clarity, plainness, simplicity
Ant: difficulty, complexity, adornment, sophistication
Solemn (adj): not happy or smiling
Her face grew solemn.
Syn: dignified, ceremonial, formal, sincere, honest
Ant: frivolous, light-hearted, insincere
Striking (adj): interesting and unusual enough to attract attention
She bears a resemblance to her father.
Syn: noticeable, obvious, marked, impressive
Ant: unremarkable
Stunning: (adj): extremely attractive or impressive
You look absolutely stunning.
Syn: beautiful, lovely, glorious, wonderful
Ant: ordinary
Stunt (v): to prevent something from growing
The constant wind has stunted the growth of trees.
Stunt (n): a dangerous and difficult action that somebody does to entertain
The hero in that film did all his own stunts.
Syn: exploit, trick, feat
Stunted (adj): that has not been able to grow or develop as much as it should
These are stunted trees.
Syn: small, undersized, underdeveloped, diminutive
Stupendous (adj): extremely large or impressive, especially greater or better than you expect
Becoming an IAS officer is a stupendous achievement in the life of every Indian.
Syn: amazing, incredible, marvelous
Ant: unimportant, unimpressive
Substantial (adj): large in amount, value or importance
He ate a substantial amount of breakfast. Syn: considerable, real, significant, valuable Ant: little, meagre, flimsy
Substantially (adv): very much; a lot
The costs have increased substantially. Syn: considerably, significantly, really Ant: flimsily
Summit (n): the highest point, especially the top of a mountain
We finally reached the summit at noon.
Syn:top, peak, crown, hilltop
Ant: base
Suppress (v): to put an end
It is much difficult to suppress the Telangana issue.
Syn: subdue, conceal,censor
Ant: allow, encourage, reveal
Swirl (v): to move around quickly in a circle
The flood water is swirling down the drain.
Syn: spiral, circulate, spin, twist
Take (v):to carry or move something from one place to the other
I forgot to take my laptop with me.
Syn: grasp, capture, steal, subtract, write, bring
Ant: give
Tramp (v): A homeless or jobless person begs in the streets for good; a long walk
Beggars tram from door to door.
Syn: trek, walk, hike, march, roam
Transmission (n): the process of passing from one person, place or thing to another
The risk of transmission of that disease is less during summer.
Syn: communication, circulation
Ant: withholding
Transmit (v): to send an electronic signal
The programme was transmitted on TV.
Syn: transfer, communicate, covey, spread, broadcast
Ant: receive
Treasure: collections of valuable things such as gold, silver and jewelry
It is believed that there are buried treasures in our ares.
Syn: riches, valuables, jewels, gems
Ant: poverty
Tryst (n): a secret meeting between two lovers He frequently has a tryst with his lover.
Syn: rendezvous, meeting, appointment
Unique (adj): being the only one of its kind Everyone’s finger prints are unique. Syn:
remarkable, distinctive, individual Ant:common
Uniquely (adv): The place was uniquely decorated with rare flowers.
Syn: remarkably, individually
Ant: commonly
Uniqueness (n): Sages always stress the uniqueness of individual.
Syn: individuality, specialty, specificity
Ant: commonness
Unorthodox (adj): different from what is usual or accepted
He is very unorthodox in his approach to life.
Syn: unconventional, untraditional, unusual, different
Ant: conventional,orthodox
Utterance (n): the act of expressing something in words Only poets can give utterance to
their thoughts. Syn: completeness, totality, perfectness,
Ant: silence
Vast: extremely large in area, size, amount, etc.
India is a vast country with many states. Syn: broad, boundless, mammoth, giant Ant: tiny
Vicious (adj): violent and cruel
Terrorists are vicious criminals.
Syn: heartless, cruel, malicious, ruthless
Ant: gentle, kindly
Viciously (adv): violently and cruelly She was murdered viciously. Syn: ruthlessly,
brutally, cruelly Ant: gently
Viciousness (n): violence and cruelty
Police were shocked by the viciousness of the murder.
Syn: enmity, evil, hate, hatred, malice
Ant: kindness
Vision (n): the ability to see; the ability to think about or plan the future with great
imagination and intelligence
I have a good vision.
We have a few leaders of vision in our country.
Syn: eyesight, ghost, dream, imagination
Ant: blindness
Voluntary (adj): done willingly, not because you are forced
There are a number of voluntary organizations to help the poor. Attendance on the course
is purely voluntary.
Syn: optional, discretionary, unpaid, honorary
Ant: compulsory, paid
Vulnerable (adj): weak and easily hurt physically or emotionally
Postponement is his vulnerable point.
Syn: jeopardy, unprotected, unguarded, susceptible
Ant: invulnerable, safe
Zenith (n): the highest point that the sun or moon reaches in the sky
Mountaineers can go to the zenith of highest mountains.
Syn: peak, top, highest point
Ant: nadir
Zone (n): an area or a region with a particular feature or use
We cannot enter the security zone unless we get permission.
Syn: area, sector, region, territory, district, neighbourhood
STEP BY STEP SECOND EDITON UNIT 3
Exercise II (page 95)
1. What shows you that Ruskin Bond strongly feels nostalgic about his earlier trip to Kaddukhal?
Ans: When he saw a group of huts on the way to Sirikhanda Devi temple, he could recollect the memories of the night he had spent 40 years ago. He could remember that he slept on a sheep-skin rug in a hut. He could not sleep at all because of flees and khatmals. In spite of all this, he could enjoy the moonlit night. Now, he thanked the goddess for blessing a wonderful life to him.
2. In three or four sentences, using your own words, describe the natural beauty of the hilltop that Bond visits.
Ans: The hilltop is lonely, wonderful and the view of the surroundings from it is eye-catching. The snow is falling all around. The gentle breeze is mystical and musical. The tall deodar trees are swinging from one side to the other. All this is wonderful to cherish life long.
3. ‘Forget the bugs and think of the moon coming up over the mountains, and life becomes a little more tolerable.’
a. Discuss this quote with your partner. What do ‘bugs’ and ‘moon’ refer to in this sentence? What does the entire quote signify? Write in three to four sentences.
Ans: Moon is a symbol for ‘pleasantness’ and bugs signify ‘miseries of life’. One should learn to live life which has both pleasure and pain. The writer mentions that everyone of us should enjoy all small things in life in the midst of adversities. This is the real philosophy of life that one should arrive at.
b. What makes travel interesting for you and what makes it worrisome? Write a short note. Ans: Travelling is quite thrilling and a nice experience that includes watching scenic beauty spots and landscapes as one moves on. It is not really worthy to expect a very comfortable stay and food of our liking when we go to far off places because food habits differ from place to place. It is also worrisome if we are not able to communicate properly in their language.
Exercise III (Page 99)
1. Does Seth believe that China’s future relations with other countries will improve? Give at least two reasons to support your answer.
Ans: Yes, he believes that China’s future relations with other countries will improve. First, China’s policy towards foreigners is slowly becoming more liberal. Secondly, China has realized the importance of technology and is gradually making relationship with other countries, keeping aside the ill-effects of foreign culture creeping into the country.
2. Do you think Vikram Seth come across as someone who likes to meet new people and makes friends? Or do you think he is a loner? Give at least two reasons to support your answer.
Ans: Seth likes travelling and meeting people. He is enthusiastic in talking to new people and likes to inquire into their personal details. Later, he asks about politics and other things. He is also curious to know their life style and customs. This shows how Seth is very much interested in making lasting
friendship with the people he meets.
Exercise IV (page 100)
a. Compare the Chinese with Indians in ways they are different from each other.
Ans: Chinese are very frank in giving answers and are curious about knowing new things. They are very friendly according to Vikram Seth. They are also hard workers. They believe in their efforts more than anything else. On the other hand, Indians are very talkative. People of India believe in others and expect the same from them. They are originally talented even without formal education. They also work hard when the situation demands. They are very sincere and friendly. They want to keep up lasting relationships.
b. Do you think that someone from China will like it if he/she came to India? If he/she came to India for only eight days, of which two days are spent travelling. What do you think he/she should do in the remaining six days in our country? Make notes on your discussion.
Ans: Most ordinary citizens of China are very frank about their views. They also have a healthy curiosity about foreigners. This shows that they might like to visit India if they got a chance and might spend eight days in India, of which two days would be spent in travel. Then, I would suggest them to spend their six days in this way. I would ask them to visit the Taj Mahal at Agra for it is one of the greatest monuments in the world. Later, I recommend these visitors to behold the stunning beauty of Himalayas. I advise them to visit Kashmir for its mesmerizing surroundings. Next,I strongly insist them on visiting famous temples in Tamil Nadu, and if possible I would tell them to visit temples of fame in Andhra Pradesh. No doubt, by visiting all these places, these people would be enthralled by the grandeur and greatness of our places and temples.
Exercise V (page 101)
1. What does Seth mean by this sentence the lapses into paranoia that the official line sometimes suffers from, cannot but harm the much acclaimed cause of International friendship’?
Ans: India and China are two entirely different countries in social, cultural and economical aspects. The government of Republic China makes the people work according to its whims and fancies. On the other hand, Indians have complete freedom in this democratic country. They have every right to act on their own, until without disturbing the rights of others. The government of China believes that foreign culture spoils the innate nature and culture of their people. That is why the government is very much apprehensive of the migration of the Chinese to other countries and the immigration of foreigners into China. But China has to realize that this transition is very common and the Chinese may remain aloof from the rest of the world if this type of attitude persists. Such thinking, no doubt, will do much harm than good to them in the long run, especially in this globalised world. But in India such a situation has never arisen and never will.
2. ‘China is to learn foreign science and technology, not foreign habits and mores. But contact cannot be as aseptic as all that’. Discuss with your class.
Ans: When we live in a foreign country, we first try to learn the habits and mores of people in that country. This will help us in getting along with those people either to learn something or to work with them. If a country is good at science and technology, we, no doubt, wish to go there to learn that technology. But it will be a day dream to acquire just that expertise from those people without being a part of that culture. In this way, the study of anything or in particular the learning of science and technology has got social or cultural implications in it. He meant that the personal relationship with those people is not aseptic in nature and there need not be any suspicions on the part of Chinese.
Exercise VI (page 101)
Reread the passages 1 and 2. Which one of the two do you like more? Why? Are there elements of reflection that you specifically relate to? Or do you find the brief descritpions of the visited places more appealing?
1. Think of a place that you visited in your childhood. Try to write about it in a short, 50-word paragraph. What made that trip memorable for you? Did you ever go back to the same place?
Ans: My friend took me to his native place when I was in first standard. I spent a week with him. His mother treated me like her son and fed me with her own hands, showering great affection each time. She gave me many toys to play with and traditional sweetmeats. I was enthralled to receive a pair of new clothes. I can never forget this experience in my life.
2. Think of a place that you visited in your childhood. Try to write about it in a short paragraph. What made that trip memorable for you? Did you ever go back to the same place?
Ans: I remember an incident which happened in my life when I was a little girl. It was a summer and I finished my school exams. My grandfather took me to his village. I was thrilled to travel as it was my first train journey and my first visit to his village. Within a few days, I made friendship with children of my age. Every day we went out into the paddy fields and played many village games. Soon, I was accustomed to the village atmosphere and I really liked it. The village ponds, green fields, railway track between the paddy fields, the huts and everything fascinated me. It was quite thrilling to roam in the village and everyday was a new experience to me. The days rolled off quickly and I had to get back to my town. I wanted to stay back and study in the village. But I had to move to my town as my father had convinced me of buying a new Hero Ranger bicycle for me. I never forget those memories in my life.
Speaking Exercises I Page 115
Do you like to travel by train? Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of train journeys. Compare train journeys with other modes of transport.
India has beautiful countryside. Indians love watching the scenic beauty of villages. Even foreigners who happen to visit India love its natural beauty. I too admire the beauty of village atmosphere. I always prefer to travel by train rather than other modes of conveyance.
Travelling by train can be a memorable experience. There are many advantages in it. It is possible to watch the villages passing by and enjoy the sight of farmers attending to their duties in the fields. It is also quite interesting to see women carrying pots full of water from the ponds and the sight of cows and buffaloes grazing in the fields, and drinking water from the canals. Even a glimpse of children playing and fighting in the fields is a feast to our eyes. It is wonderful to watch the train passing through the tunnels while making peculiar sounds. Visiting places like Araku and Ooty by train can be an unforgettable experience. The view from the train down the hills is captivating and our hearts rejoice with great delight. Children are quite excited at the very idea of train travel to longer distances. They are quite aroused to watch geographical changes and weather conditions as they move on. This will be a rare experience to them. It is a great moment when trains cross rivers. While crossing bridges, trains make rhythmic sounds and children very much like them. Trains stop at railway stations. Lots of sweetmeats and a variety of food items water the mouths of travelers. Especially, children are very fond of them.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages in train travel. The second class bogies are untidy and are infested with flies and cockroaches. Travelers spit in the bogies and create much nuisance to co-passengers. Sometimes, thefts happen and chain snatchers create great alarm to the passengers. Trains run by oil and coal create pollution by releasing fumes into the air.
Airplanes are more suitable to long-distance and international travel. Ship journey is less expensive but it takes weeks to reach our destinations. Bus travel is more appropriate between villages and sometimes, from city to city. Considering all these, I believe that train journey is safe, comfortable, less expensive and creates great recreation to passengers.
Exercise II (Page 116)
One day, we wanted to have a funny tour to a nearby river about 10 kilometers away. We did not want to have conventional modes of travel. Instead, we wanted something novel and freaky which can afford us great fun. Hence, we took to random modes of transport. We travelled in a bus for about 5 kilometers. From there, we boarded a bullock cart for 3 kilometers. Later in our journey, we hired bicycles, since it was a narrow, uneven village road. After reaching the river, we decided to cross it. There also, we wanted to show the difference. Instead of using the routine ferry, we used a circular dinghy (boat) to cross the stream. We spent sometime on the other side of the river happily by playing with the grazing cattle and colourful tiny birds flying all over. After spending two hours with overflowing enjoyment, we returned. It was one of the most fun-filled travels I have ever had in my life.
Exercise III (Page 116)
For the motion:
Good morning friends, now we’re going to share with you some of our ideas about ‘Brain Drain’. Brain Drain means the phenomenon of educated Indians moving to ‘first world’ countries such as America and other European countries. Well, my friends, everyone of us would want to have better lifestyles. For that we, the educated Indian youth, are migrating to other developed countries to enjoy all the comforts in life. The main reason is that Indian government is unable to provide lucrative jobs to everyone of us, the proud products of IITs and IIMs. Even the much acclaimed companies in private sector are not helping us in getting high-pay jobs. If we honestly analyze our present economic conditions, we aren’t as good as the majority of the peoples of developed countries in having worldly luxuries that the modern world could offer us.
We have struggled for better living so far, and we will want to enjoy every moment of life with our family henceforth. We very much long to provide all the comforts to our parents and other members of our family to show our gratitude and to serve them in the best way. We aspire to have costly villas with all modern amenities like modern bedrooms and the kitchen, a beautiful garden and the swimming pool. For umpteen reasons of our own, there’s no wrong to go abroad and live luxuriously as we genuinely deserve it. That’s all we wanted to say.
Against the motion:
Well, good morning friends. Our friends have safely stood on their ground by defending themselves very cleverly. A good old saying goes, ‘ Never forget your country and your mother’. Any mother will always think about the welfare of her children. She feels happy to see the real growth of her children. The parents will never expect their children to go away from them and the motherland only to accumulate much wealth. They very well know that money in life is not be all and end all. They will be happier to have their children with them and moreover, they will be satisfied if their kids stay near them and lead a comfortable life without too many financial problems.
Remember one thing, we were born in India and we shouldn’t forsake it. I think that all our friends here know the hard reality that our country is spending lakhs and lakhs of rupees on every IIT and IIM student for a simple reason. The reason is that India acutely requires its own experts in different fields to progress well in this highly technological and competent world. So, as a priority, the IITans, IIMites and even doctors should first think about the development of our own country. The reason is that only we, the highly qualified people, can alter the fate of our nation and develop it on par with other highly developed countries. This and only this would be our real service to the motherland. If we really dedicate ourselves to our nation, it will definitely flourish and then there will be no need for the cream of the society look for greener pastures outside the motherland. So, dear friends, let’s not live like a frog in the well but let’s be a creature from the vast sea. From now onwards, let’s give a new direction to our journey and be open-minded without being egocentric. That’s all my dear folks.
Exercise II (Page 119)
Travelling Alone for the First Time
Everyone enjoys travelling to distant places. One should bear in mind certain points before beginning a journey. First, it is very important to have a map to locate the places of visit. It is equally important to know the local language to communicate freely or else a guide is needed to make the trip more enjoyable. Next, carrying the first aid box is a must. Light luggage is always easy to carry. It is not good to make friendship with strangers since there is every possibility of exploitation. Moreover, cell phone numbers should not be disclosed to strangers. It is better to avoid roaming in the streets during night time since there is a lot of risk involved. One should not eat too much of street food as it affects health adversely. So, one should take all the precautions while planning to travel long distances.
Exercise III (Page 120)
My destination is ....
Ans: My dream destination is Araku. I like watching it for many reasons. The very first reason is that it is a famous hill station in Andhra Pradesh. The journey to Araku valley is the most enjoyable experience as the train goes through the tunnels. It is lovely to watch hill sides during the train journey. While coming back, journey by road is equally unforgettable. It is also entertaining to watch the local tribal dance. There are other sight-seeing places in and around Araku. Borra caves are one such spot. Borra caves are spread in an area of one square kilometer. The stalagtite and stalagmite natural formations impress the visitors very much. The breathtaking hilly terrain, beautiful landscape, green forests and wild fauna are a good feast. Another interesting place in the vicinity is the Padmapuram gardens. Tree top cottages located in the middle of green surroundings is the major attraction here. For all this, Araku valley is the most sought after tourist spot and people from every nook and corner of India flock to it and spend their holidays along with their families. People of all age groups come and enjoy their time and take with them an unforgettable experience.
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4 comments:
I like your way of teaching on internet..so thanks mam
thank you ma'am
thanku for giving this easiest way for learing english
It's so usefull and saved lot of time mam
Thanks a lot mam
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