Thursday, May 31, 2012

I B Tech II Sem Notes



1. This house belonged  __________  my grandfather.

         a) of     b) to     c) for     d) in   
                                    
2. The salary depends  __________  the level of responsibility.
         
         a) of     b) with     c) in     d) on
 
 3. Aparna  likes potatoes but she's not very keen  __________ carrots.

         a) of    b) to     c) into     d) on

 4. He  is not interested  __________ politics.

         a) in     b) with      c) to     d) by
 
 5.Congratulations __________   your promotion.  You deserve it.

          a) with     b) after     c) on    d) for

  6.Avinash didn't participate  __________  the negotiations.
      
          a) on     b) at     c) in     d) to

  7.We must divide the group  __________  four teams.

          a) into     b) to     c) in     d) by

  8.The efforts of the whole team contributed  __________ our success.

          a) for     b) on     c) in     d) to

   9. He crashed  ___________  the fence on the side of the road.

         a) with     b) in     c) into     d) to

   10.Swamy  is not here today.He is in London  __________  business.

          a) on     b) for     c) in     d) at

ANSWERS :

1.This house belonged  to  my grandfather.
2.The salary depends  on  the level of responsibility.
3.Aparna  likes potatoes but she's not very keen  on  carrots.
4.He  is not interested  in  politics.
5.Congratulations  on  your promotion.  You deserve it.
 6.Avinash  didn't participate  in  the negotiations.
 7.We must divide the group  into  four teams.
 8.The efforts of the whole team contributed  to  our success.
 9. He crashed  into  the fence on the side of the road.
 10.Swamy  is not here today. He is in London  on  business.

 1. Jack is responsible __________ advertising.

           a) of     b) on     c) for     d) by   
                                   
 2.That's very kind  __________  you.  Thank you very much!
         
           a) to     b) with     c) for     d) of

 3.My boyfriend is very  interested  __________  art.

           a) in     b) to     c) into     d) by

 4.My school is close  __________  the swimming pool.

           a) by     b) with      c) to     d) at

 5.The policeman was shouting  __________   the boys who were 
     throwing stones.

           a) on     b) after     at)    d) to

 6.I'm going to visit London __________  August.
      
           a) on     b) at     c) in     d) for

 7.Jack is married  _________  my sister.

            a) to     b) onto     c) with     d) of

 8.It was difficult for my grandmother to get __________ the taxi.

            a) at     b) on     c) in     d) into
 
9.Your grandfather is old.  You must be nice __________ him.

            a) with     b) to     c) of     d) by
 
10.Please stop making fun __________ my accent!

           a) with     b) for     c) of     d) out of

ANSWERS :

1. Jack is responsible for advertising.
2. That's very kind  of  you.  Thank you very much!
3. My boyfriend is very  interested  in art.
4. My school is close  to  the swimming pool.
5. The policeman was shouting  at   the boys
     who were throwing stones.
6. I'm going to visit London  in  August.
7.Jack is married   to  my sister.
8. It was difficult for my grandmother to get  into  the taxi.
9. Your grandfather is old.  You must be nice  to  him.
10. Please stop making fun  of  my accent!
 
 1.Dad doesn't approve __________ smoking.

              a) of     b) on     c) in     d) to     
                                         
 2.Be careful. You're going to fall __________  the chair!
         
             a) out     b) down     c) of     d) off

  3.I'll meet you __________ the cinema

            a) by     b) at     c) along     d) before

  4.The fire-fighters were called because the building was __________ fire.

            a) in     b) on     c) into     d) up

  5.We look forward __________ seeing you on Sunday.

           a) to     b) for     c) in     d) of

  6.The ceremony is __________ the 4th of July

            a) at     b) for     c) in     d) on

  7.Yesterday we watched a film __________ television.

            a) in     b) on     c) by     d) with

  8. Julie was so upset, she burst __________ tears.

           a) over     b) out of     c) on     d) into

  9.Children are very fond __________ chocolate chip cookies.

           a) with     b) on     c) of     d) to

  10. I'll prepare dinner. I'm good __________ cooking.

          a) in     b) for     c) on     d) a

ANSWERS :

1.Dad doesn't approve  of  smoking.
 
2.  Be careful. You're going to fall  off  the chair!.
          
3.I'll meet you  at  the cinema

 4. The fire-fighters were called because the building was  on  fire.

 5.We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

 6.The ceremony is on the 4th of July

 7.Yesterday we watched a film on television

 8.Julie was so upset, she burst into tears.

 9.Children are very fond  of  chocolate chip cookies.

 10.I'll prepare dinner. I'm good  at  cooking

   Complete the following sentences with 'for', during' or  'while'.
    
    1. I have been waiting for the bus _______________ 20 minutes.

    2.Tom played golf ______________ Julie went shopping with
       her friends.

    3. The family lived in Japan  _______________ three years.

    4.  Larry called his mother _______________ Caroline was watching
        television.

    5. My mother came to stay with us ______________ the summer
          ___________ 10 days.

     6. Yesterday we played tennis _______________ 2 hours.

     7. _______________  the holidays we relax, go sightseeing
         and  visit friends.

     8.In Europe, meals are different. People stay at the
        table ______________ a long time.



Answers :

  1)  for                 2)  while            3)  for            4) while   

 5) during/for         6) for               7) during          8) for  

   
   Fill up these blanks with  :although - even though / despite - in spite of

   1. ___________ the weather was bad, we enjoyed our trip.


   2.The children slept well ____________ the noise.


   3.________________ earning a low salary, Linda gave money to
      her parents.


   4. John rarely sees Paul ___________ they live in the same town.


   5.Julie failed the exam ____________ of working very hard.


   6.____________ it was cold, she didn't put on her coat.


   7.Tom went to work ___________ not feeling very well.

   8. Anna never learned the language ___________ she lived there
      for two years.


   9.____________ of the difficulty, they managed to climb to the top
     of the mountain.


  10.I couldn't eat _____________ I was very hungry.

ANSWERS:

1) although                     2) despite/in spite of     

3) in spite of                   4)although 

5) in spite                       6) although      
           
7) despite/in spite of       8) although

  9) in spite                    10) although

 
1.It's obvious he's only interested in (make) ______________ money.

2. Anne couldn't find a taxi so I offered (drive) ________________ her  
    to the station.
3.I managed (book) ________________ two seats on the morning flight

4.I promise (send) _______________ you our new brochure as soon as
    it's available.
5.Peter was delighted (meet) _______________ a former colleague 
   at the conference.
6.I avoid (take) _______________ the car whenever possible, especially
   in big cities.
7. We finished the job by (work) _______________ 12 hours a day.

8.Bob sent a report to the Chairman instead of (attend) 
    _______________ the meeting.

9. A lot of people dislike (drive) _______________ at night. 

10.  I intend (speak) _______________ to my boss about your complaint



ANSWERS:
1) making          2) to drive        3) to book         4) to send   

5) to meet         6) taking            7) working       8) attending       

9) driving         10) to speak


  1. Receptionists must be able to relay information ______ pass messages  
     accurately.                         
     (A) or  
     (B) and     
     (C) but      
     (D) because


2. I did not go to the show ______ I had already seen it.
                                                                                    
   (A) until    
   (B) because
   (C) so        
   (D) but

3.Mary is a member of the Historical Society ______ the Literary Society.
                                                                                    
   (A) as            
   (B) or           
   (C) and
   (D) but         
                                                                                    
4. Read over your answers ______ correct all mistakes before you pass them  
    up.
                                                                                    
  (A) or             
  (B)and
  (C) because     
  (D) while         
                                                                                    
5. Keep the food covered ______ the flies will contaminate it.
                                                                                    
  (A) or
  (B) and           
  (C) until           
  (D) though      
                                                                                    
6.______ he is thin, he is strong.
                                                                                    
  (A) But           
  (B) As          
  (C) Though
  (D) Because  
                                                                                    

7. Susie ______ phoned ______ wrote after she left home.
                                                                                    
  (A) either,  or             
  (B) neither,  nor
  (C) while,  and           
  (D) though,  or           
                                                 
8. She had an unpleasant experience ______ she was in Thailand.
                                                 
  (A) but           
  (B) and           
  (C) because    
  (D) while
             
                                                 
9. The committee rejected the proposal ______ they did not think it was 
    practical.
                                                 
  (A) or             
  (B) but            
  (C) though      
  (D) because
             
                                                 
10.John welcomed his guests ______ offered them drinks.
                                                 
  (A) and
  (B) while        
  (C) until          
  (D) as

Answers:

1.B    2.B    3.C    4.B    5.A    6.C    7.B    8.D   9.D    10.A


Fill in the blanks with these words: (although, and, because, but, or, since, so, unless, until, when)

Try it and then go for answers:

1. Things were different _____ I was young.

2. I do it _____ I like it.

3.Let us wait here _____ the rain stops.

4. You cannot be a lawyer  _____ you have a law degree.

5.That was years _____ years ago.

6.She has not called _____ she left last week.

7.I saw him leaving an hour _____ two ago.

8.This is an expensive _____ very useful book.

9.We were getting tired _____ we stopped for a rest.

10.He was angry _____ he heard when happened.

11 Walk quickly _____ you will be late.

12. He had to retire _____ of ill health.

13 .We will go swimming next Sunday _____ it's raining.

14.I heard a noise _____ I turned the light on.

15.Would you like a coffee _____ tea?

16.Do you know _____ she will arrive?

17. _____ the car is old it still runs well.

18 .Do you want a pen _____ a bit of paper?

19. I would like to go _____ I am too busy.

20. She will die _____ the doctors operate immediately.


ANSWERS:

1.Things were different when I was young. 

2. I do it because I like it. 

3. Let us wait here until the rain stops. 

4. You cannot be a lawyer unless you have a law degree. 

5. That was years and years ago.

6. She has not called since she left last week. 

7. I saw him leaving an hour or two ago. 

8. This is an expensive but very useful book. 

9. We were getting tired so we stopped for a rest. 

10. He was angry when he heard when happened. 

11. Walk quickly or you will be late. 

12. He had to retire because of ill health. 

13. We will go swimming next Sunday unless it's raining. 

14. I heard a noise so I turned the light on. 

15. Would you like a coffee or tea? 

16. Do you know when she will arrive? 

17. Although the car is old it still runs well. 

18. Do you want a pen and a bit of paper? 

19. I would like to go but I am too busy. 

20. She will die unless the doctors operate immediately.


The words sport and game are used almost interchangeably these days. But they don’t mean the same thing. I’m going to tell you the traditional meaning of these words.

Learn the difference between sports and games, and you learn a new way of thinking about physical fitness and all the activities which require it.

Athletics

When you engage in purely physical activities, you’re engaging in athletics.

Things like running, jumping, and throwing are athletic activities.

Sports are extensions of useful activities

There are countless physical activities that are useful to us in our everyday lives. Things like shooting a gun, catching a fish, fighting, automobile driving, and running are all indispensable activities that someone, somewhere, relies on for their life, liberty, and/or happiness.

By practicing an activity that requires some expertise, you’re engaging in a sport.

Target practice, for instance, is a sport because, even though it is enjoyable, it has a practical value. The same with race-car driving. It is a sport because even though it is an indulgence, it has its basis in practicality. You get the idea.

Traditionally, sportsmen were men of leisure who had the time and resources to devote themselves to pushing the envelope of human performance. In many cases, these sportsmen were also instrumental in driving technological advances. Without sportsmen, we would have no idea how well the human mind and body can perform in concert with technology.

Games are for fun, but they are not necessarily sports

Soccer, baseball, tennis, etc. are games. They have no practical value beyond the enjoyment we derive from them.

We can take a sport and turn it into a game by using it as a form of competition with others or against the clock.

For example, javelin throwing is a sport. But it becomes a game when a bunch of javelin throwers get together and see who can throw the farthest.

The same with weight lifting. It is a sport because it is based in usefulness: when you bulk up, you get stronger and more physically capable. But it can also be a game when you use it as the basis for a competition.

All sports can be games, but not all games are sports

For instance, soccer and baseball are games, but they will never satisfy the traditional definition of the word “sport”.

Now that you know the difference between these two concepts, I hope you can appreciate that there is a sport for virtually everyone! There is no need to sheepishly say that you are no good at sports; odds are, there is a sport that suits you just fine. All you have to do is try it out!

http://www.englishcorner.vacau.com/grammar/prepchk.html

Examinations are tests for evaluating a student's knowledge. The present system of education ignores the student's individual skills and intelligence. Parents and teachers judge a student's potential through examinations. The Indian system of education is based on the pattern set up by the British. Nothing much is taught beyond the syllabus and only examinations determine the degree or grade of a student. Various Commission, which were set up to improve this system recommended practical training and periodical tests. Cheating, leaking of question papers and other corrupt practices, that have cropped up in the examination system should be checked. the aim of education should be to equip the student to face the tough battle of life.

Examinations aim at judging a student's knowledge in a specific time frame and in analyzing whether the student has gone through a certain course of study satisfactorily. Tests enable the teacher to know how well the student has understood the subject. A good result makes the teacher as well as the parents happy. The effort of the teacher is rewarded when a student passes an examination and vice versa. Thus, a teacher's dedication towards his profession is judged through examination. Examinations help the parents to assess their child's capability. Parents become proud of their children when they perform well in the examinations.

Students become alert when examinations are at their door step. They utilize their time for preparation. Examinations make them work hard for scoring good marks. Some schools award citations and certificate and give scholarships to those students who excel. Such awards prompt the students to work hard.
Examinations help the teachers and the parents in analyzing the amount of labor put in by the students in gaining knowledge. Teaching is always followed by tests because the tests give an impression as to how well the students have understood the subject. A good result helps the teacher feel relieved at his success in imparting education to his pupils while a bad result indicates that there is a need of more effort on the teacher's part. Thus, examinations are also a means of judging a teacher's dedication towards his profession. With the help of the result of examinations parents can make the right assessment of their child' caliber. If he is weak in his studies, they could guide him further in the subject. f his performance is up to the satisfaction of his parents, they would be proud of him.

However, there are certain flaws in the examination system. The system of education in India is based on the pattern set up by the British. The knowledge imparted is restricted to the syllabus. Students are taught according to the prescribed syllabus. Nothing much is taught beyond the syllabus. When a student is unable to gasp a particular subject, the seeks private tuitions or enrolls himself in a coaching institute.
Students tend to learn their subjects by heart, without applying their mind. Thus, cramming enables many students to pass examinations. Most students look towards their examinations with an anxious mind. They, at a very young age, begin to feel the tension and stress of examinations.

Examinations are just the first in a series of tests that initiate young ones into a competitive world. But the importance attached to them is unreasonably high. During the examination period and till the result is declared, not only the students but also their parents and tutors remain tensed. It is cast as a do-or-die battle.

Students do not have enough spare time for games and are unable to give wings to their hobbies due to the burden of examinations. Failure in the examination arouses a felling of low self esteem and negative self-image in the minds of the students. At times, students break down under pressure to perform and resort to extreme measures like running away from their homes or even committing suicide. Today school psychologists or school counselors give them proper advice to increase the efficiency of learning in schools and handle to pressure of examination. A positive mental state can improve one's chances of success.

Leakage of question papers, copying and cheating in examination halls have become a common affair. Bribery and other corrupt practices also have crept into the examination system. Even some of the teachers check the examination papers without assessing them properly, as a result of which students suffers.

Examinations give a degree or a grade to the student. The prevailing system of education does not help the students to make their career in life or to earn a decent living. The youth who fails to get the desired percentage of marks suffer the most.

In order to overcome the shortcomings present in our educational system, many Education Commissions were set up from time to time to suggest changes in the pattern. Action on their suggestions Central Board of Secondary Education and other State Boards of Secondary Education decided to introduce a separate steam of vocational education. According to Educational experts, ongoing evaluation is more effective than board examinations. They have recommended that Class X examinations be made mandatory only for those who want to opt out of formal education. Further, it has been suggested that class XII examination be staggered over a two-year period. They have recommended the need for a new pattern which would impart education thought training. Educational experts feel that the educational system being obsolete and redundant is not serving the purpose of educating the youth. They have felt the need to evaluate a student's performance during the whole year. This could make the examination system more acceptable.

According to the new method adopted by many public schools, examinations would remain a part and parcel of the education system. However, periodic tests will be held at regular intervals. The syllabus would include practice exercise at the end of each lesson. This will help the student in grasping the subject matter properly.

The aim of education should be to equip the student for the tough battle of life, build his character and personality, widen his sphere of knowledge and qualify him for employment. The student should not only be taught lessons from books but also lessons from practical life. The educational system should not only be theoretical and academic but also give practical knowledge.

Students should not be encouraged for rote learning. Projects and term papers may encourage an engagement with the subject matter and are more likely to add sum and substance to a student's knowledge base. When History, Geography and Maths are reduced to mere digits on a mark sheet, they cease to inspire, give joy, or nurture the faculty of inquiry.

Nevertheless, the system of examination, prevalent for centuries, cannot be changed overnight. It will take some time to change the system. While this transition take place, the corrupt practices, cheating and leakage of question papers related to examinations should be checked.

Parents should not make their love conditional to the performance of their children in the examinations. Their expectation level should be reasonable. With this and with the revised system of education, examination will prove beneficial for the students.

Essay on Female Education

There was a time when very few women received proper education. But now girls are receiving the highest education. Some people insist on having educated girl as their wives. Others are strongly against this. Let us here consider, in brief, the advantages and disadvantages of having an educated wife.
We can easily recognize, even by her appearance, a girl who has received western Education. She is fashion loving. The greater part of her time is wasted in dressing her hair. She changes the style of her hair so-often. She is too fond of using cosmetics. She puts on costly dresses of the latest fashion. She is often seen going on the roads with a hand bag in her hand or shoulders.
But there are many advantages also of having an educated wife. Being educated, she can manage her home more efficiently. She can look after the work of the servants. She can maintain accounts. Thus, by keeping the family budget, she helps the family in making the best of its income. She keeps her kitchen in hygienic condition. In short, she is of definite help as a successful manager of the household.
An-educated girl understands her duties well. She proves a source of great comfort to her husband in times of trouble. She can amuse and entertain her husband in different ways. Thus she cam keep his away from various vices. Besides this, as a mother also an educated wife is very useful. She can teach many things to her children. She can given them elementary education. She can keep them neat clean. The become healthy. Thus, both the husband and the children are benefited.
Not only this, an educated wife can also help her husband in his office work. When an author writes a book, she can help him in revising the script. She can work as a typist. by checking accounts, preparing draft, and by her personal suggestions, she can help her husband in his business.
Ups and downs come in life. If the husband is out of employment, his educated wife can be a great help to him. The husband may be ill or he may meet with some accident. In such emergencies an educated wife can get some job for herself. An unfortunate widow, if she is educated, need not remain at the mercy of others. She can stand on her legs. She can support herself and her children.
But this is only one side of the picture. A modern, educated wife, due to her love for fashion and expensive habits, is often a financial burden. She puts the poor husband often in difficulty.
An educated girl is not always obedient and faithful. She has her own friends. She does not like to observe family traditions and customs. She goes to her club, whatever may be the condition of her family. She wants to dominate her husband. In her pride and sense of superiority, she does not care for his likes and dislikes. At times, her actions put him to shame.
She likes to live in her own independent way. She does not like interference in her affairs. She wants to have her own way in every matter. Often she looks down upon the less educated or uneducated members of the family. Her independent outlook, ill-temperament and haughty nature make the home a hell.
We can safely conclude that female education is not always a blessing. Only if a girl has been educated properly at home, she can remain unaffected by the evil effects of modern education. There are girls who have received the highest university education, still they do all the domestic work. This is very important, for this promotes love, affection and harmony among the family members. An educated wife can be a great asset to her husband and her family, if she is good and respects the traditions of the family and co-operates to run it smoothly.

Essay on Co-education

Co-education is a system of educating boys and girls together. In ancient times, co-education was prevalent in Greece. Today, this system of education is there in almost all the countries of the world. It is economical. It generates a spirit of comradeship between boys and girls.
The problem of shortage of trained teachers can be dealt with by this system. Boys overcome their curiosity and girls, their shyness. They learn to respect one another. Though a few conservative people are against this system, their views do not hold ground. Co-education generates harmonious relationship, a sense of co-operation, and thus, helps in the progress of the nation.
Co-education is a system of educating boys and girls together. In ancient times, co-education existed in Sparta in Greece. There was no discrimination between boys and girls. They studied and played together. Along with academic education, physical training was also given to both the sexes.
Plato, the Greek philosopher, believed that co-education helped in the development of personality of both men and women and created a feeling of comradeship among them. He felt that co-education was the only method to make both men and women useful members of society. Hence, in the west, the importance of co-education has been felt since ancient times.
In early Vedic Society (Ancient India), co-education was prevalent in a few places. But gradually female education began to be ignored. Moreover, the system of education was quite different from that of today. The boys stayed in Gurukuls, for the whole educational period. There they received both in academic education and physical training. The former included the study of the scriptures and the latter, training in warfare. Girls were not sent to the Gurukuls, and thus were deprived of the benefits of education.
In medieval India, those belonging to lower castes and the womenfolk were not allowed to attend schools or study the scriptures. Raja Rammohan Roy, great social reformer and scholar, fought against this practice and succeeded in his mission. His job was further carried on by other social reformers.
Today, co-education is prevalent in almost all the countries of the world. In India, there are a number of co-educational schools, colleges and universities.
There are a number of advantages in the co-educational system of education. It is economical. Poor countries cannot afford to open separate schools for boys and girls. If boys and girls are taught together in the same school, then there will be no need to open separate schools for them. Thus, the cost to be incurred on building infrastructure, furniture, stationery, personnel recruitment, etc. will be saved.
There is a shortage of good trained teachers in developing countries like India. If there is co-education, same staff can teach both boys and girls at the same time in the same class, and the problem of shortage can be dealt with. Establishing more of co-educational schools can help in spreading literacy even with the limited teaching staff and infrastructure. Thus, it will be beneficial for both boys and girls and the nation as a whole.
Co-education helps the boys and girls to intermingle and understand each other well. They become more broad-minded and tolerant towards the opposite gender. They interact freely with one another, thereby overcoming hesitation and shyness. Thus, co-education leads to a healthy and harmonious relationship between boys and girls.
In a co-educational school, boys are free to meet and talk with girls. They develop a feeling of friendship among themselves. Boys then, usually don't indulge in eve-teasing. Co-education contributes to the balanced development of the personality of boys and girls.
A new study has revealed that the co-educational schools are better as the presence of girls in classes restrains boys from indulging in unruly behavior and improves their academic performance. Infact, a higher percentage of girls not only lowers the amount of classroom disruption but also fosters a better relationship between students and their teachers. The researchers found that classes with more than 55% of girls resulted in better exam results and less violent outbursts overall. Boys with more female peers in their classes showed higher enrolment rates in both advanced mathematics and science classes, but overall benefits were found in all grades for both sexes. They conclude that this effect is due to the positive influence, the girls are adding to the classroom environment.
Infact the study found that primary school classrooms with a female majority showed increased academic success for both boys and girls. In the middle and high schools, the classrooms which had the best academic achievements overall were consistently those that had a higher proportion of girls enrolled. The researchers suggest that boys and girls may learn differently, but it is better not to send them to sex-segregated schools.
Boys become conscious of their dressing habits, behavior and the style girls. They work hard to remain ahead of one another. Co-education reduces gender bias in the society. It generates a feeling of equality between both and sexes. The feeling of male dominance may be wiped out from the society if this system of education is given importance.
However, some people are opposed to the system of co-education. According to them, this system is against the Indian culture and tradition. It is also argued that girls feel more free in an institution which is meant only for girls. As such they have greater scope of developing their personality. They also participate in sports, dramatics and debates more freely.
Teachers of some subjects like Biology also find it easier to explain some chapters more thoroughly if only girls or only boys are sitting in the class. Sex education has also been introduced and in co-educational schools even teachers find it difficult to discuss such topics in the class.
It is also felt that since students (especially teenagers 13-19 years of age) are of impressionable age, the possibility of their going astray is much more in co-educational institutions, where they enjoy more freedom of intermingling with the other sex. They also do not remain focused on studies.
It should be acknowledged that in the fast changing society of twenty first century co-education has to become the order of the day. Today girls are entering all professions in large numbers. Many of them are heading big organizations. Co-education will help young boys and girls to mix freely and understand one another better. Today's children are tomorrow's citizens. We must encourage them to develop their personality in a free healthy atmosphere. Girls no more have to remain confined to the four walls of the house. Co-education will help both sexes to learn and work together for the progress of the country.

Essay on the Value of Games and Sports

Games and sports keep one physically and mentally fit. They keep one away from diseases relating to heart, obesity, mental stress an sleeplessness. They instill in the player a spirit of self-confidence, self-reliance, discipline, justice, fair play and patriotism. games provide us with recreation and enjoyment.
Games are very essential for students but they are neglected in schools. Even parents do not have high opinion about games and they want their children to devote more time to studies. India lacks funds, and proper training facilities are not provided to the players. Sports bring rich dividends to sportsmen. The government has formulated a New National Sports Policy. Effective measures should be taken to popularize, and encourage participation in games and sports.
We all are familiar with the maxim 'Health is wealth'. According to the World Health Organization, 'Health is a state of complete physical, the absence of disease.' Academics serve the purpose of nourishing the mind. But a healthy mind resides in a healthy body. One can develop and maintain a healthy body by actively participating in games and sports.
Games keep our body alert, active, youthful and energetic. They instill in us a spirit of adventure. Games increase the circulation of blood, boost metabolism, burn calories and improve the respiration and digestive system. A healthy person can work hard cheerfully for a long period of time, and can face dangers boldly. Games also instill in the players the spirit of self-reliance, self-confidence, justice, and fair play. They enable him to follow other virtues like discipline, honesty, integrity, loyalty and patriotism.
While playing games various exercises are performed automatically and one need not join a gymnasium to exercise. Brisk walking, running, cycling, skipping, swimming and yoga are common activities to keep fit. They also tone up the body of both the young and the old. Mild exercise are beneficial for patients recovering from heart attacks and those who suffer from obesity, diabetes, blood pressure etc. Exercise invigorates the mind and the body and helps to keep fit.
Games provides us with recreation and enjoyment. Soccer, cricket, lawn tennis or wrestling are watched by millions of fans all over the world. When we watch and play games, we forget all our worries and anxieties. They enable us to divert our mind fro the nasty thinking.
A player develops team spirit, he learns to adjust with other person's shortcomings. A player respects and follows the rules of the game he plays. He, thus, becomes a man of principles. Sportspersons display punctuality, diplomacy and self-discipline. Sports help us to face the challenges in life bravely. One would not be deterred by failures as they are the stepping stones to success. Such an approach would help one reorganize one's skills and work harder with renewed vigor, to achieve one's goal.
Games generate a feeling of sportsmanship and broaden one's outlook. They are very essential for the students. In our schools, however, games and sports are not given much importance. A period of half an hour or forty five minutes is dedicated to games everyday in schools. Some schools dedicate this timing for games only once a week. Children find it difficult to pursue a game in the specified period. Some schools cannot afford funds for sports equipments while most schools do not have a playground. Many schools do not employ any physical instructor to guide the children in various games. Even parents want their children to complete their home assignments after school hours rather than play games. They fail to realize that games make children strong both mentally and physically. Many school children become obese due to lack of participation in games. Obesity puts them in the high risk category of contracting diseases like diabetes, heart ailments etc. The education system needs to be reformed, and equal importance needs to be given to sports and games.
Lack of concern of the general public and authorities is evident from out country's poor performance in international sports events. In Beijing Olympics, India's best-ever performance by winning one gold and two bronze medals is a 'historic break through' for the country. It is very disappointing that our players win few medals at the Olympic Games. Even players from small countries like South Korea, Romania etc. are able to win a large number of medals. We are far behind other countries in a number of games. Moreover, in the absence of funds and facilities, the players are unable to use their talent and energy in an organized way. For example, hockey is mostly played on grass courts in India. There is also a lack of training of international standards. The players lack motivation. They are unaware of the diet they should follow to keep it. Cricket is the only game which is given some importance. But accusations of match-fixing and faulty selection procedures have harmed the image of cricket in India.
Sports bring rich dividends to sportsmen. Whether it is the matter of getting admission in institutions or getting jobs, sportsmen receive preference everywhere. Sports also bring fame and reputation.
No doubt sports have plenty of advantages but they also have drawbacks. Some sportsmen lose their limbs, fracture their legs or get permanently disabled while playing games. Many students take more interest in games and ignore their studies.
The government has formulated a New national Sports Policy. It promotes a liking for sports among public at large. It aims at development of infrastructure and provision of better coaching facilities.
Seventy percent of our population lives in villages. To popularize games and tap hidden talent in rural areas, Rural Sports Programme was launched in 1970-71. The scheme has been revised recently. Grants to sports has been increased. Sports scholarships are given to talented boys and girls.
Effective measures should be taken to ensure people's active participation in games. The government should evolve a long-term national sports policy. Children should be informed about the advantages of games. They should be made to play games regularly. Training facilities for various games should be introduced. The existing training facilities should be upgraded and expanded. Selection of players for national and international games should be fair. Participation in sports and games will improve the overall health of the nation and its citizens.

Essay on Sports Education

It is good to enjoy the delight of running about in the open field and to ‘feel life in every limb’. But that only makes the lesson that we learn, of discipline, obedience and tenacity, all the more pleasing. To develop character not by arid and dry moral lessons, but in the course of our enjoyment of games, is a privilege which we must set store by.
The most important lesson that sports of all kinds teach us is a sense of discipline. A good sportsman must always learn to obey the rules of the games and the orders of the captain. He knows the value of the proverb – “He who knows how to obey will know how to command”.
Discipline goes hand in hand with duty. On the playground, each individual has an allotted duty to perform. He has to carry out his share. It is his duty to help in winning games by obeying his captain and maintaining teamwork through concerted movement and display of spirit de crops (team spirit).
Another great virtue, which sports help us acquire, is the will to win. Life is a struggle, a constant fight against difficulties. The week-willed man resigns himself to what he calls his fate. Hr belongs to the ranks of the defeated. He is not a sportsman. For a sportsman takes defeats and disappointments as a true part of the game in its stride. Today he is defeated, but he knows that tomorrow he may win. He knows also how to take defeat in a sporting spirit, and to prepare for a greater fight.
The true sportsman knows also the value of unity in action. Look at the rowers in a boat from the cockswain to the helmsman, how harmonious and concerted are their strokes. If one of them misses his rhythm, the harmony is destroyed. How often have we not seen on the football ground, a splendid opportunity lost by the selfish desire or individualistic effort of one man to score! It is the same in the cricket field; the same everywhere, not individualistic display for record but to play for the team.
Sports should teach us another lesson, which is often ignored, to obey the umpire or the referee whether he is right or wrong. In the hard battle of life, we do not always get justice. Often the verdict goes against us through no fault of ours. A true sportsman takes these ‘slings and arrows of outrageous fortune’ as in the course or part of the game. He is not disheartened but prepares for a further effort; for he is not to question why in defiance.
So sports of all kinds are not only good for the body, but they are good for the mind and for the moral make-up, i.e. that is, conducive to building the character. The lessons learnt on the playground will make better soldiers of us in the battlefield of life, in our war with adversity, illness, opposition and destiny itself.

Essay on Should ragging be banned?

The accurate meaning of the word 'ragging' is to 'tease', but even the dictionary says it is an archaic meaning.
The main objective of ragging is to 'break the ice' between the senior students and the new entrants. By means of an interaction, they get close and know each other. But in practice, it is noting but a kind of torture.
Ragging is any disorderly conduct whether spoken or written or by an act which causes annoyance, hardship or psychological harm or raises fear or shame in a student. It is generally committed by 'senior' students, upon the first year students.
Ragging generally takes place in colleges and hostels. They are many tales of torture and humiliation that are associated with ragging. The new students feel that they are in for a series of practical jokes at the hands of the senior students. Once they fall into the clutches of the latter, they don't find a way to escape. There are a few senior students in every hostel who don't take enough interest in studies. They indulge in ragging, bullying etc. They create an image of themselves as rowdies. No one dares to interfere with their ways.
Ragging originated in the west. But today, it has reached the Indian society too. For an estimated sis million young students enrolled in approximately India's 335 universities and 17,000 colleges are contaminated by ragging. At the start of every academic session, the media brings the news of suicides by new entrants, who no longer can bear the disgrace, ignominy and dishonor inflicted on them by their seniors. Ragging has caused intense fear and shattered the trust and ability of the new students to make sound judgment about the people (seniors) around them.
Some people feel that it is a socio-cultural problem. The truth is that in some cases, ragging has occasionally, ended in fighting, serious injuries, and even deaths, leading to the ruin of some brilliant careers.
Senior students tease the new students about their looks and manners. The tall and the short, the fat and the lean, all become easy targets. Students wearing glasses, have their glasses snatched away and are made to read without them. Few of the, are made too bow before the senior students and forced to greet them with folded hands. Sometimes the eatables brought by the new students are eaten by the seniors in the formers' presence.
Ragging is a short of mock interview of the new entrants. The senior students take the position of the interviewers, while the new students become the interviewees. Sometimes, there are probing and indecent questions about the minutes details that hardly matter.
A new student who resists becomes a target for harassment. He might be falsely accused of stealing a thing or things from a senior. He would be put on a mock-trail. During the trail, he might be forced to admit his guilt, he is pressurised by physical threats and humiliation. After the trail, the accused asked to polish the shoes of his senior students. He could be asked to clean the clothes even. If the new entrants complains to the warden or any other authority, he becomes a target of regular harassment.
As students come from different backgrounds, ragging can have different effects on different individuals. Sometimes, senior students indulge in smoking, alcoholism and drug abuse that compels the new students also to initiate in bad habits.
Ragging has some positive effect too on the new students. It influences the new students to behave in a socially acceptable way. It makes one change one' eccentric behavior. It creates self- awareness. Those who endure it get emboldened. They become courageous. They get used to facing hardships in life. They learn to face unpleasant situation boldly. Many a time, it is seen that the juniors and the seniors become very good friends after the ragging period.
In the beginning, 'ragging' was an amusing practice. it has degenerated into an evil. It has become a synonym for 'torture'. It should be banned. The supreme court of India has defined it as. "Any disorderly conduct whether by words spoken, or written or by act which adversely affect the physique or psyche of fresher or a junior student is an act of ragging." But if through ragging the decency and morals are violated, one's body gets injured, if any wrongful restraint and criminals intimidation is involved in it, then ragging becomes a legal offence. For such cases, there are certain punishments in UGC's anti-ragging guidelines which includes a fine upto RS 25,000, cancellation of admission, with holding scholarship, debarring from appearing for exams, suspension or expulsion from hostel ad rustication from a period of one to four semesters.
Even the institutions where ragging is prevalent could be punished by withdrawing of affiliation or other privileges and debarring from awarding any degree and withholding grants. Most authorities have tackled the problem with an iron hand. More effective steps need to be taken to deal with the evil. Institutes should arrange counseling session for fresher so that they can speak their mind. Anti ragging cells should also be established. A fresher party should be organized by the institutes itself within town weeks of the academic session so that junior and senior can easily interact with one another.

Essay on The Status of Women in India

Women in ancient India were held in high esteem. The position of a woman in the Vedas and the Upanishads was that of a mother (maata) or goddess (Devi). In the Manusmriti, woman was considered as a precious being o be projected first by her father, then by her brother and husband and finally by, her son. With the passage of time, the status of woman was lowered. Muscle power and money power dominated the societies. Since men fought the wars and ran the enterprises of industrial production, they considered themselves superior to woman.
In the early Vedic age, girls were looked after with care. They were given the facilities of education. Remarriage of windows was permitted. But in the later Vedic period, daughters were regarded as a source of misery. The practice of polygamy deteriorated the status of woman. Women in the later civilizations were not allowed to go to schools. In the Gupta period, they were allowed to listen to the scriptures. In the medieval period, the practices of purdha system, dowry and sati came into being. Sati and PolyGram were glorified.. It is thought that the right place for woman ins the home. Her main duty is to cook to all other menial jobs. They are considered fit for producing and bringing up children. Thus, women have been deprived of their rightful place in society and exploitation. has been going on for centuries.
The inhuman practice of sati where the wife burns herself alive in the funeral pyre of husband existed through the centuries. Raja Ram Mohan Roy fought against this evil practice and it was finally abolished by Lard William Bentinck in 1829. After the development of science and technology, female foeticide is being practiced on a large scale. This has led to a drop in the female ratio. According to the census 2001, the sex ratio in India is 927 females to 1,000 males. Dowry have become common. The more educated and well employed a groom, the higher is the dowry demand. The birth of a girl child is, therefore, considered inauspicious. In many parts of India, women are viewed as an economic liability despite contribution in several ways to our society and economy. Early marriages lead to teenage pregnancies which often prove risky to both the mother and the child.
Rape, sexual harassment, molestation, eve-teasing, forced prostitution, etc are a common affair today. The crime graph against women is increasing at an alarming rate. The condition of an Indian widow is quite deplorable. At home, the woman's contribution towards home as a housewife is not recognized. Sexual harassment at work places is also a common affair.
It is a shame that even after over sixty years of independence women are still exploited. The 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments have provided 33 percent reservation for women in the Panchayati Raj System. Women have now started demanding their rights. They want to work side by side with men and contribution towards the social, economic and political development of the society. Swami Vivekananda has rightly remarked, "It is impossible to think about the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved. It is impossible for a bird to fly on only one wing."
Women themselves should come forward and unite in the march towards improving their status. They should g\draw inspiration from empowered women like Indira Gandhi, the first woman Prime Minister of India; Vijayalakshmi Pandit, the firs woman President of the UN General Assembly; Kiran Bedi, India's first woman IPS officer; Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian-American woman astronaut, Pratibha Devsingh patil, the first woman President of India, and many others. Some of the great women of the pre-Independence periods are Rani Laxmi Bia of Jhansi, Chan Bibi, Ahilya Bai, Razia Sultan and others.
Today modern woman is so deft and self-sufficient that she can be easily called superwoman, as she juggles many fronts single handedly. Women are now fiercely ambitious and are providing their metal not only on the home front, but also in their respective careers, education in the society.
Women represent 48.2 percent of the country's population. Several developmental programmes have been implemented by the Five Year Plan. In 1985, a separate Department of Women and Child Development was set up. The major programmes include Support to Tanning-cum- Employment Programme (STEP) for women, Mahila Kosh, Women's Development Corporation, etc. The Supreme Court has made a ruling that a other has the right to act as the guardian of her minor child. It has made sexual harassment at workplace as an offence.
The Indian Constitution has bestowed equal rights on women. They enjoyed all social, political and economic rights. For equal work, both men and women are eligible for equal wages. Women in Indian are coming up in all spheres of life. They are joining the universities and colleges in large numbers. They are entering into all kinds of professions like engineering, medicine, politics, teaching, etc. A nation's progress and prosperity can be judged by the way it treats its women folk. Men must recognize and accept the fact that women are equal partners in life.




An essay on the importance of English language in India.
English came to India with the British rulers. With their prosperity on the Indian soil, their language English also prospered. Since the British left Indian shores, it was hoped that English also would leave this country at no distant date, but English has stayed with us. Some people resent it stay and others welcome it. The continued use of English in post-Independence era, is viewed with hostility. English is a foreign language in India is true, but with a difference.
English is one of the richest languages of the world. It has become the language of science, commerce, trade and international negotiations. It cannot be ignored for higher scientific technological studies. Hence we must benefit ourselves by this language. Almost 60% of the world's advanced research is done in English and the rest is quickly translated into English. So it becomes necessary for an Indian to know English otherwise he will cut himself off from the world knowledge. The history of English literature and language, shows that English has not become what it is today by a sudden leap, but it has gained in strength and maturity by perseverance of its votaries.
English is an International language. It is understood and spoken by more than half the population of the world. If we want to remain in touch with the outside world, we will have to retain English. Those who wish to go for higher studies, to carry on research work, to be in touch with great scholars of advanced countries, to enter into foreign service and to travel abroad, cannot possibly do without having a good working knowledge of English.
States like Tamil Nadu threatened to break away from India, if Hindi is enforced on them. In Tamil Nadu people feel that English is very important and should be studied by all the students compulsorily. There have been outcries from the champions of Hindi. Nothings and drafting can be done in Hindi in government offices. Any competitive exam­ination including I.P.S. and I.A.S. can be taken in Hindi, also telegrams can be sent in Hindi, but English has continued to enjoy the same position as it did decades ago.
English acts as the link-language, because it is easier to find people in every part of country, who know English. Therefore, a north Indian traveling in the South can communicate with them, if he knows English. The same cannot be done in Hindi. The experience of replacing English with the regional language as the medium of instruction of the university level has proved extremely harmful. The regional languages are not fully developed. Moreover books in different subjects are not available in regional languages. This makes the task of teaching in the regional language very difficult.
With the adoption of English as the official language by Nagaland in 1967, it has acquired the status of a regional language. In spite of all these facts, in India after the achievement of independence, people have a set reaction against it. They want English to be abolished, as it was the language of the British who kept us slaves for a long time. We should always keep in mind the contribution which English had made to India. Learning of English does not mean that we will evolve a slave mentality. Hence English should be encouraged to be learnt.

Essay on Child Labour

"The child is the father of man." This famous line quoted by William Wordsworth refers to the importance of the child for the development of society as well as for the all-round development of the human race. Childhood is the time to garner the best physical, intellectual and emotional capacity to fulfill this duty towards the nation and to one's own self. However, this simple rule of nature has been crippled by the ever-growing menace of child labour. If one conceives the idea of child labour, it brings before the eyes the picture of exploitation of little, physically tender, illiterate and under-nourished children working in hazardous and unhealthy conditions.
About 250 million children between the age of five and fourteen work in developing countries. At least 120 million of these children work on a full-time basis. In India the conservative estimate is about 11.3 million (according to the 1991 censure), but the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated it at 23.2 million 1996. Both estimates include full-time and marginal child workers. Most working children in rural areas are found in agriculture; many work as domestic labourers; urban children work in the trade and services sector; while some other work in manufacturing and construction. Such children range from four-years-old doing petty jobs to seventeen0years olds helping out on the family farms. Denied education and a normal childhood, some children, confined and beaten, are often reduced to slavery. At times they are denied freedom of movement - the right to leave the workplace and visit their families. Some are abducted and forced to work. Instances of human rights abuses in such practices are clear and acute.
Child agricultural workers frequently work for long hours in the heat, haul heavy loads of grains, are exposed to toxic pesticides, and suffer high rates of injury from sharp, dangerous tools. Children working in factories often work near hot furnaces, handle hazardous chemicals like arsenic and potassium, work in glass blowing units where the work harms their lungs, damages their eyes and causes disease like tuberculosis, asthma and bronchitis. Some are injured in fire accidents. They become unemployable at the age of 20. if injured or incapacitated, they are mercilessly discarded by their employers. Child domestic workers, mostly girls, work for long hors for little or no pay. They are subjected to verbal and physical abuse, at times even sexual abuse. They may be fired from their work, losing not only the job but their place of shelter as well. Millions of children are involved in work that, under any circumstances, is considered unacceptable for children, including the sale and trafficking of children into debt bondage, serfdom, and forced labour. It includes the forced recruitment of children for armed conflict, commercial sexual exploitation, and other illicit activities, such as drug trafficking.
The prevalence of child labour is a slap on the conscience of society. It harms not only the present generation but also the posterity. The origin of the problem of child labour can be traced to some complex social vices illiteracy, poverty, inequality, failure of social welfare schemes, population explosion, etc. The root cause lies in the economic insecurity of families that results from job loss, natural calamities, and sickness of parents in poor families that are often in debt and have no savings. Children of the poor have become an expendable commodity. The children either supplement their poor parents' income or are the only wage earners in the family. Discrimination based on gender, race or religion is also responsible for the problem of child labour. Domestic employers often compel poor children to work for minimal wages. Also, work is relatively easy to get in households. Thus, the household sector employs the largest number of children labourers. Sometimes, child labour is deliberately facilitated by vested interests to get cheap labour. Employers justify this with the logic that it saves children from starvation and prevent them from being sucked into the world of crime. The "nimble finger theory" holds that children are better producers of certain products such as knotted carpets and other such kinds of goods. Hence, poor children are hired, exploited and made to work and produce such types of goods.
The government says that it is not easy to completely end child labour. it, therefore, has only tried to improve their working conditions--reducing working hours, ensuring minimum wages and providing facilities for health and education. It can be said that the government measures have three main components legal action focusing on general welfare, development programmes for child workers and their families, and a project-based action plan.
The present Factories Act 1948 prescribes prohibitory actions for employment of children below 14 years of age in any factory. Indian Mines Act 1951 prohibits employment of children below 16 years in the any underground mines.
The main instrument for the regulation of child labour in India was launched in the year 1986. This was the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986. It came to being due to the requirement of ILO convention and foresee ability of the National Seminar on Employment of Children in 1975, to prevent exploitation of children. The Indian government felt a need to enact a single law to deal with the prohibition of Child Labour. In 1979, Gurupadswamy committee was set up to study the problem of child labour and evolve measures to sort it out. This committee also agreed to enact a single law to govern child labour. The Committee examined the problem in detail and made some far-reaching recommendations. it noted that any attempt to abolish it through legal means would not be a practical proposition. The Committee felt that in such circumstances, the only alternative left was to ban child labour in hazardous areas and to regulate and ameliorate the conditions of work in other areas. It recommended that a comprehensive policy approach was required in dealing with the problems of working children. based on the recommendation of this Committee, the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation( Act was enforced in 1986. The Act prohibits employment of children in certain specified hazardous occupations and processes and regulates the working conditions in others. The list of hazardous occupations and processes is progressively being expanded on the recommendation of Child Labour technical Advisory Committee constituted under Act. Further, Article 24 of the Indian Constitution also prohibits employment of children below the age of fourteen in hazardous works.
The Conventions of the ILO, the 1926 and 1656 Slavery Conventions, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child are the major tools used for regulation of child labour. The other potent instruments used for the eradication or regulation of child labour are: Article 32 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), which holds, "State parties recognize the right of the child to be protected form economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, mortal or social development."
Successive governments have been aware of the need for release of these children from hazardous work and their rehabilitation through education. With this end in view, the National Policy on Child Labour was formulated in August 1984. The National Child Labour Projects were conceptualized and launched around the same time. Later on, it was further strengthened for the total liberation of all children in the age group of 5 to 14 employed in hazardous work and for their physical and emotional rehabilitation through a composite package under the National Child labour Projects which are to be administered under the Societies Registration Act, 1960. Many other organizations (both governmental and NGOs) are stepping forward for the upliftment of these children and regulation and eradication of child labour. Recently, the Parliament's adoption of the right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Bill, 2009, has also ushered in a new ray of hope for the deprived children of India.
The problem of child labour must be recognized as a human rights problem, both directly (e.g. slavery) and indirectly (e.g. compulsory labour that results in denial of the right to education). It embraces not only "the rights of the child" per se, but also the broad panoply of entitlements across the whole spectrum of rights through which, at least civil, political, social, cultural and economic rights. The policymakers as also the ordinary citizens must understand that the future of children would not be secured unless their rights are clearly identified, redefined and restored. Seen from this perspective, it becomes a mandatory duty of all governments across the world to take all possible steps to put and end to the problem of child labour once and for all. Today's children will constitute the backbone of tomorrow's society. Hence, it is the obligation of every generation to bring up children, who will be citizens of tomorrow, in a proper way.

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