Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Communication English-Sem 1& 2
Communication English-Sem 1& 2
Communication English-Sem 1& 2
Untouchability is a sin
Untouchability is a crime
Untouchability is inhuman
Government of Tamilnadu
First Edition 2011
Chairperson
Co-ordinator
Convenor
Er. S. Govindarajan
Thiru.S.Ganesan
Principal
Dr. Dharmambal Government
Polytechnic College
Tharamani, Chennai 113.
HOD/First year
Central Polytechnic College
Tharamani
Chennai-113.
Reviewer
Thiru P.G. Rajasekaran
HOD/First year (Retd.)
State Institute of Commerce Education
Chennai 600 113.
Authors
Thiru.R.D.Rajendran
Vice Principal
Govt. Polytechnic College
Purasaivakkam, Chennai - 600 012.
Thiru.V.Subramanian
Lecturer-Selection Grade
Sakthi Polytechnic College
Sakthi Nagar - 638 315.
Thiru.N.Gurunathan
HOD/First year
Seshasayee Institute of Technology
Trichy - 620 010.
Thiru.M.Jeyaprakash
Lecturer-Selection Grade
Ramakrishna Mission Polytechnic
College, Mylapore, Chennai - 4.
Thiru.A.Thiruppathi Vengateswaran
Lecturer
PAC Ramasamy Raja
Polytechnic College
Rajapalayam - 626108.
Tmt. S. Vijayakumari
Lecturer
(Self Supporting Basis)
Seshasayee Institute of Technology
Trichy -620 010.
iv
FOREWORD
English has become the language of our day-to-day life. With
the advent of Globalisation, the expanding corporate sectors and the
entry of MNCs, communicative competencies in English is one of the
most essential and desired qualities from the candidates aspiring for
a successful career . Hence, there is an urgent and persistent need
on the part of the teachers in developing the skills of English language
learning in the budding diploma engineers. Keeping this in mind a
revised syllabus of Communication English under L scheme for
Polytechnic Colleges has been prepared to suit the requirements of
the individuals, industries and all the stake -holders concerned.
The exercises are graded in such a way as to make the learners
move gradually from the simple to the complex areas, ie. a step
ahead of what they have already learnt.
The selection of contents is designed to facilitate self-learning.
Thus, it makes learning purposeful, fruitful, as well as an interesting
one.
For the first time in the curriculum, an attempt has been made to
improve the reading skill of the students by allocating 16 hours for
library use. The contents give a wider scope for the teachers also to
be innovative and creative in imparting the essential language skills.
It is earnestly hoped that the steps taken in this direction, will go
a long way in enabling the students in enhancing the four skills of
language learning.
-Authors
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We record our sincere thanks and acknowledgment to the
Publishers namely Oxford University Press(India), Macmillan
Publishers India Ltd.,(India),/Cambridge University Press(India),/
Samba publishing (P) Ltd. Chennai and the English Magazines namely
The Hindu/The New Indian Express and The Deccan Chronicle and the
publishers of the books mentioned in the reference for our use of their
texts /materials in this book.
vi
SYLLABUS
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH-1
Part A GRAMMAR [Non Textual]
1. Parts of speech
2. Functional units [SVOCA]
3. Active voice/Passive voice/Impersonal passive voice
4. Framing Questions [for the responses given]
5. Conjunction
6. Infinitives and Gerunds
7. Question Tag
8. Articles
9. Prepositions
10. Affixation (Prefixes and Suffixes)
11. Correction of Errors
12. Synonyms (Matching/Textual)
13. Tenses
Part B COMPOSITION
Unseen Passage Comprehension
Dialogue Comprehension
Visual Comprehension
Personal Letter Writing
Rearrange the jumbled sentences in order
Hints Development.
Part C LITERATURE
PROSE
1. OF TRAINS AND TRAVELLERS
2. GLOBAL WARMING
3. BOOKS-OUR NEVER FAILING FRIENDS
4. A SENSE OF THE FUTURE
POETRY
1. AGELESS TAMIL
2. HOPE
3. SONG OF A DREAM
vii
SYLLABUS
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH-II
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Part B COMPOSITION
Unseen passage comprehension
Newspaper Report comprehension
Advertisement comprehension
Precis Writing / Summary Writing
Impersonal Letter Writing
Graphics
Part C LITERATURE
PROSE
MACBETH
THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
MAORI VILLAGES
LIGHT DESTROYS DARKNESS
POETRY
1. A POISON TREE
2. THE STORM
3. CAN EARTH BE EARTH?
viii
FIRST SEMESTER
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH - I
CONTENT
PAGE NO.
PROSE
1. OF TRAINS AND TRAVELLERS .......................................... 1
2. GLOBAL WARMING.............................................................. 5
3. BOOKS-OUR NEVER FAILING FRIENDS ........................... 9
4. A SENSE OF THE FUTURE .................................................. 14
POETRY
1. AGELESS TAMIL .................................................................. 20
2. HOPE....................................................................................
21
3. SONG OF A DREAM.............................................................. 22
Model Question Paper - I............................................................ 23
Model Question Paper - II .......................................................... 29
MODELS & EXERCISES ............................................................ 35
ix
SECOND SEMESTER
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH - II
CONTENT
PAGE NO
PROSE
1. MACBETH ............................................................................ 49
2. THE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT .............................................. 53
3. MAORI VILLAGES ................................................................ 57
4. LIGHT DESTROYS DARKNESS .........................................
62
POETRY
1. A POISON TREE .................................................................. 66
2. THE STORM ........................................................................ 68
3. CAN EARTH BE EARTH?...................................................... 69
Model Question Paper - I............................................................ 70
Model Question Paper - II .......................................................... 78
MODELS & EXERCISES ............................................................ 85
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH-I
listener, if not a friend, every moment. It may be said that this man
attempts to guide the life and thought of everyone in the compartment.
There a child may cry. Our friend will not only persuade the child to remain
quiet but also explain to the mother how children should be brought up,
what should be done if they suffer from stomach ache, how to treat a cold,
how to tackle bad temper or mischief. If need be he can move everybody
and clear a space for the young mother to spread out a piece of cloth and
put her child sleep. He once cleared a lot of space for elders by
persuading all children to sit in a row on an upper berth. One might take
him to be a child specialist until one sees him turn his attention to the next
subject. He may happen to notice the glutton eat his orange when he will
yell out, How much did you pay for the orange?" and follow it up with a
discourse on the ups and downs of the orange trade, the method of its
cultivation and the geography of the country where it is grown. If he
happens to see the actual transaction, this or any other, you may feel rest
assured he will throw his weight on the side of the buyer and force the.
vendor to bring down his price. If he overhears some others in a coner
talking among themselves of political matters, he will step in and put an
end to their conversation, compelling them to listen to his own talk. He is
one who knows all that goes on behind the scenes at New Delhi. He can
explain why this policy is being pursued or why the other one is dropped.
He knows who is at the back of everything. He may even claim to be the
one who originated the Janata Express, Shatabdi Concession or the
Hindusthan Coach through his mysterious agencies in the proper
quarters. When he mentions the Parliament, he assumes the look of one
who bears it like a burden on his back. He knows all the persons that pull
the strings that move the puppets in the Parliament and in the Cabinet.
His hints about his own participation in various political activities, builds
up a background to whatever he says and gives them a touch of
credibility. He can mention most of the personages at Delhi by their pet
names; it may take time for an ordinary man to spot them out under his
terms. Not for him, the word Prime Minister but just Jawahar. For most of
the others, in the Government, he employs mystifying initials and
abbreviations.
This man gives one the impression, that he travels for no other
purpose, than to gain first - hand impression of how people are faring. He
demands very little from others except a hearing which he will get anyway.
He hardly keeps a seat for himself always surrendering it to anyone who
may look for more space. I have always wanted to ask, whether he
possesses a ticket or not, but could never muster enough courage to put
the question to him.
-R.K.Narayan
Glossary
strict train
shuttle (V)
unspectacular (Adj)
distort (V)
paterfamilias
glutton (N)
edible(adj)
haggle (V)
inclination (N)
perch (N)
precarious (N)
loquacious (Adj)
persuade (V)
berth (N)
discourse (N)
credible (Adj)
personage (N)
muster (V)
din (N)
trot (V)
2 I have a weakness for odd trains, some shuttle or passenger which will
crawl through the countryside and stop long enough at unkown
stations.
Q:Why does the author prefer odd trains?
3. He may happen to notice the glutton, eat his orange when he will yell
out, How much did you pay for the orange?" and follow it up with a
discourse.
Q:What type of traveller is referred to in this passage?
What do you think will be his reaction on this scene?
4. This man gives one the impression that he travels for no other
purpose...
Q:What impression does this man give?
Fill up the blanks and rewrite:
1. The disadvantage of ______by such a strict train is that one glides past
most places at dead of night.
2. He is the _______ man. He can never leave anyone alone.
3. He is one who knows all that goes on behind the scenes at _______.
4. He may even claim to be the one who_______ the Janata Express
Shatabdi Concession or the Hindusthan Coach, through his
mysterious agencies in the proper quarters.
5. He demands very little from others except a______ which he will get
anyway.
2. GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is defined as the increase of the average
temperature on earth. As the earth is getting hotter, disasters like
hurricanes, droughts and floods are getting more frequent.
Over the last 100 years, the average air temperature near the
earth's surface has risen by a little less than 1 degree Celsius or 1.3
degrees Fahrenheit. Doesn't seem that much, does it? Yet, it is
responsible for the conspicuous increase in storms, floods and raging
forest fires, we have seen in recent years, say scientists.
Their data show that an increase of one degree Celsius makes the
earth warmer now than it has been for atleast a thousand years. The top
11 warmest years on record have all been in the last 13 years, said NASA
in 2007, and the first half of 2010 has already gone down in history as the
hottest ever recorded.
Projections from UN climate change body, the Inter-governmental
Panel on Climate Change, (IPCC) say that global surface temperature
will probably rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 degrees Celsius (2.0 to 11.5 degrees
Fahrenheit) during the 21st century. The huge range of estimates is due
to the amazing complexity of our earth's climate system and the
uncertainty about whether mankind will fight this warming or continue with
business as usual.
A certain degree of warming is unavoidable even if we managed to
reduce our burden on the climate immediately. Oceans, for example, act
as huge heat repositories that follow changes in air temperature with a
time lag of decades or even hundreds of years. Melting ice caps reflect
less sunlight than previously; so our planet absorbs more and more heat.
Exactly how these changes will influence the warming trend is
unclear. All we know for certain is that it's going to be warmer and that
human greenhouse gas emissions are an important reason for this.
Are climate change and global warming one and the same?
In a nutshell: global warming is the cause, climate change is the effect.
Scientists often prefer to speak about climate change instead of
global warming, because higher global temperatures don't necessarily
mean that it will be warmer at any given time at every location on Earth.
5
10
11
Glossary
invaluable(Adj)
primitive (Adj)
pristine (Adj)
shudder (V)
bestow (V)
obligation (N)
alarming (Adj)
indispensable (Adj)
perennial(Adj)
lucid (Adj)
instrumental(Adj)
unprecedented(Adj)
commendable(Adj)
12
5. .it makes one shudder to think what man would have been if
printing press had not been invented.
Q:What would have happened to man if printing press was not invented?
6. Shakespeare takes the uppermost place in anybody's mind.
Q:Why does Shakespeare take the uppermost place in anybody's mind ?
Fill up the blanks and rewrite :
1. Literature is vitally connected to life and the eminent writers become
instrumental in the formation of ________.
2. Words worth, Shelly, Keats, and other nature poets ask us to approach
______ for inspiration.
3. The books of All Time are ________.
4. Writers like __________, Sarojini Naidu, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and
many others have won international honours as great and meritorious
writers in English.
5. However,________ is an activity that is indispensable, and can be
neglected only at one's peril.
13
death rate cut by eighty or ninety percent, and the span of life enlarged by
at least twenty-five years. Every machine has been a liberator. They have
freed us from drudgery and disease and ignorance and from the misery
Hogarth painted that could forget itself only in the stupor of drink.
We owe that miracle to science; and it is a miracle. But the scientists
who have worked it have been neither gods nor witch-doctors. They have
been men: men who had faith in the future; and they have used no magic.
What they have used is at bottom only Darwin's method; because that
method is science. Science is experiment; science is trying things. It is trying each possible alternative in turn, intelligently and systematically; and
throwing away what won't work, and accepting what will, no matter how it
goes against our prejudices. And what works adds one more piece to the
slow, laborious but triumphant understanding of our world.
This is not a secret or a mysterious progress. If it sometimes seems
so, that is just because the day-to-day work of science is so
unspectacular. You hear nothing from the research worker for years, arid
then, suddenly, there is the result in the headlines: penicillin or the jet
engine or nuclear fission. No one tells the layman about the years of
experiment and failure. How is he to know what has not been done, or to
guess the labor of what has? What is he to think but to marvel at the skill of
science, and to fear its power?
I believe that both these feelings do equal harm: the feeling of
marvel as much as the fear. Because they have this in common that they
both want to persuade the layman that there is nothing he can do for
himself. Science is the new magic, they whisper; it is out of your hands; for
good. or ill, your salvation or your doom is the business of others.
That is why I have attacked the magic before the fear: because the
marvel lies below the fear. In the minds of most people today, the fear is
plainly uppermost. They are afraid of the future; and if you ask them why,
they conveniently blame the atomic bomb. But the atomic bomb is only
the scapegoat for our fears. We are not afraid of the future because of a
bomb. We are afraid of bombs because we have no faith in the future. We
no longer have faith in our ability, as individuals or as nations, to control
our own future. That loss of confidence has not sprung overnight from the
15
invention of a weapon. The atomic bomb has merely brought home to us,
harshly, as a matter of life and death, what has long been growing: our
failure to face, our refusal to face, as individuals and as nations, the place
of science in our world.
There is the taproot of our fears. In our hearts, of course, we know
that the future belongs to science; we do not deceive ourselves about
that. But we do not want to have to think like scientists. We want to cling to
the doctrines and prejudices which we imagine, quite wrongly, made the
world snug fifty years ago. We do not care about the future; we just want
that world to last our time. Because we do not feel equal to the new ideas;
we have been told that science is mysterious and difficult. And so we let
the exciting new knowledge slip from us, a little further every day, and our
confidence with it; and then, face to face, with the sense of our
helplessness, we pretend that it is all a conspiracy among nuclear
physicists.
It is in our power to change that in our own generation. As nations,
we can apply to affairs of state the realism of science: holding to what
works and discarding what does not. As individuals, we can grasp the
commonsense ideas of science. And there is the most important lesson
we must learn: it is the ideas of science that are remaking the world, not its
mechanical achievements. When we have learnt that, we will see the
achievements too in their proper place. The atomic bomb is not a great
achievement of science. But scientists made a great discovery: the
fundamental discovery, that we can tap atomic energy. That is an
achievement not of bickering nations but of man. And we have the whole
history of science to tell us that every fundamental discovery has in the
end brought men more good than harm. I said 'has, in the end' almost by
habit: has, if we are willing to look forward. Every scientist looks forward;
what else is research but to begin what others will finish and enjoy. And
what other incentive can satisfy any of us but that sense of the future.
Disaster threatens us only if we perpetuate the division between science
and our own everyday living and thinking. Let no one tell you again that
16
- J.Bronowski
Glossary
Bromley
come on (Idiom)
Bassoon (N)
earnest (Adj.)
Charles Darwin
content (Adj)
gloom (N)
worse off(Idiom)
Napoleon
infant (N)
span (N)
sewer (N)
linotype (N)
X-ray tube
- a small town near London. (Kent is the SouthEastern country of Britain. Darwin had
settled at Down in Kent.)
- found unexpectedly
- musical wind instrument of low range, with
double tubes
- serious and determined
- the great English naturalist (1809 82) who,
through his theory of Evolution by means of
Natural selection, revolutionized man's ideas
about himself and his place in the animal
kingdom
- satisfied
- feeling of sadness and hopelessness
- in worse circumstances
- the great French general and administrator
- (1769 1821).
- small child
- length in time
- underground channel (pipeline, etc.,) that
carries off waste matter
- machine with a typewriter-like key-board
used for setting metal type in the form of
complete lines for printing
- electronic tube for producing X-rays
17
puzzling over
inheritance (N)
18
19
POETRY
1. AGELESS TAMIL
Tamils provided culture and made the world glow.
Long before metamorphosis of rocks
We matured Tamils have lived some say
Rice with farming appeared in the land
Life with a code of conduct man founded
Was looking for green pastures
Journeyed on foot then - later
Words and language appeared in the world
Tamils provided culture and made the world glow.
http://www.4to40.com/poems/index.asp?p=Ageless_Tamil&k=Tamil_Nadu
matured
20
2.HOPE
cowed
vibrant
21
3.SONG OF A DREAM
Once in the dream of a night I stood
Lone in the light of a magical wood,
Soul-deep in visions that poppy-like sprang;
And spirits of Truth were the birds that sang,
And spirits of Love were the stars that glowed,
And spirits of Peace were the streams that flowed
In that magical wood in the land of sleep.
Lone in the light of that magical grove,
I felt the stars of the spirits of Love
Gather and gleam round my delicate youth,
And I heard the song of the spirits of Truth;
To quench my longing I bent me low
By the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow
In that magical wood in the land of sleep.
- Sarojini Naidu
Its about being in that calm place somewhere within oneself and
experiencing the peace and magnificence of Nature. The values of life
like Truth, Love and Peace are compared to Natural entities like birds,
stars and streams. Sleep can be such a magical slice of a day. It helps us
to renew and refresh ourselves from all stresses of the waking hours.
Glossary
wood
visions poppy spring glowed grove gleam -
forest
experience of seeing something or someone in dram
a herbal plant with showing flowers
jump suddenly upwards
shone brightly
an orchard
shine brightly
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH - I
Max Marks:75
PART A-GRAMMAR
Each question carries 2 marks
Last question No. 2 carries 6 marks
(24+6=30)
(h)
(ii) responsible
ancient
royal seat
reject
ruin
2) Write any six sentences in six different tense forms for the subject
and the verb given:
(6)
He subject draw-verb
24
PART B
COMPOSITION / COMPREHENSION (6x5=30)
a) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow:
5marks
Insects are small creatures having six legs, no backbone and a body
divided into three parts. They are the most plentiful of all living creatures.
Insects can be divided into two main kinds. Those insects which are
useful to man and those insects which are harmful to him. There are also
those which are merely interesting or beautiful.
Bees and silkworms are examples of useful insects. Bees collect
honey and wax from flowers for our use. Silkworms supply us with fine,
strong silk. These insects provide man with food and clothing.
Locusts and mosquitoes, on the other hand, are harmful to man.
Locusts will eat all growing plants and every year trees and crops are
destroyed by these hungry creatures. Mosquitoes pass the dangerous
disease of malaria from person to person and every year millions of
people become ill and even die because of the activities of mosquitoes
which are a great danger to health.
There are some insects which are not directly useful or harmful to
man but are interesting and beautiful. Examples of such insects are
colourful butterflies, pretty little ladybirds and fluttering moths.
Questions:
a. Define insects.
b. Give some examples of useful insects.
c. Name some beautiful insects.
d. Insects are always harmful to mankind. Say - True or False.
e. Complete in your own words: Mosquitoes _________.
25
:
:
:
:
:
:
Questions:
1. Name the occasion for releasing the stamp.
2. Mention the year of the occasion.
3. What is the value of the stamp?
4. Identify the animal cartoonised here.
5. Identify a monument shown here.
26
d) Imagine you are S.R. Abi residing at 14, 1st Cross, T. Nagar,
Chennai.
D.Laxmi of Trichy is your friend.
(5)
Write a letter to her describing a picnic spot you visited recently.
(or)
Invite your friend for your College Day Function.
e) Rearrange the following jumbled sentences in order:
(5)
Finally, it is true that the influx of immigrants in our urban areas and
stress in our society have hastened the spread of the use of drugs.
At a still deeper level, young intelligent and often sensitive members of
our society experiment in the hope of finding an alternative society.
In recent years, drug-taking by young people has become a habit.
It is a grim epidemic that requires the attention and help of every
responsible citizen.
At a somewhat deeper level, the habit may have started as a protest
against authority.
f) Develop the following hints into a passage:
(5 marks)
Students--not serious in studies--waste time--watching unwanted TV
channels--moving to movie very often--accumulate the portions of study-at the time of examination--become serious-study day and night-become worried and tired--faint in the exam hall-fail in the exam-message
PART-C
Literature (15 Marks)
1) a)Answer any three of the following in one or two sentences
each:
(3x2=6)
i) Books written by great men are invaluable gifts to mankind. It is
humanly impossible to imagine the infinite variety of books that adorn
the cupboards and shelves of libraries all over the world. Books, like
food and water, have become essential requirements of modern
civilized world.
Q:Name the third essential requirement of modern civilized world
mentioned here..
27
ii) All these facts lead scientists to infer that the global warming we now
experience is not a natural occurrence and that it is not brought out
buy natural causes. Humanitys industrial emissions are
responsible, they say.
Q:What, according to the scientists, are responsible for global warming ?
iii) There is one other type of person who grips everbodys attention the
moment he enters a train.
Q:Mention the three characteristics of the other type of person.
iv)This is the sense of the future I want to talk about, at first hand, as a
scientist.
Q:What is the sense of the future, according to the author ?
b)Fill up the blanks and rewrite
i)
(5x1=5)
Melting ice caps reflect less sunlight than previously, so our planet
absorbs more and more_________.
ii) A great writer has classified books into two categories. Books of the
Hour and Books of __________.
iii) The contribution to English literature by Indian writers is also______.
iv) We owe that miracle to ___________and it is a miracle.
v) But the atomic bomb is only the _________for our fears.
c) Answer any two of the following in one or two sentences each:
(2x2=4)
(i) We matured Tamils have lived, some say.
Q: What do some people say about the origin of the Tamils?
(ii) I am still alive, vibrant with life.
The black cloud will disappear,
Q: What makes one alive and vibrant?
(iii) To quench my longing I bent me low
By the streams of the spirits of Peace that flow
Q: What is her longing?
28
Max Marks : 75
PART A
GRAMMAR
Each question carries 2 marks
Last question No 2 carries 6 marks
(24 + 6=30)
12X2=24 marks
29
'win' -verb
PART B
COMPOSITION / COMPREHENSION
(6 X 5 =30 marks)
a) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions
that follow:
(5 marks)
Somanathahalli, near Gulbarga in Karnataka, is a village which has
over 300 abandoned houses, located on the banks of the Bhima. The
village has several natural resources. Somanathahalli and other villages
in the region have large reserves of limestone. The cement factories in
nearby towns covet this resource. In addition, there is granite as well. The
village itself, however, has seen no development. It has about 700
residents, but no school or primary health centre.
30
Questions:
1. What is the warning given through the visual?
2. What has broken the glass panel?
3. Where is the house located?
4. Mention an item that is stained.
5. What has happened to one part of his spectacles?
d) Imagine you are Mr. S. Ram of Trichy.
Mr. S. Raghul, of 24, IInd Cross, Jevan Nagar,
Madurai is your friend.
Invite him to attend your sister's marriage.
(or)
Describe a cricket match you witnessed recently.
(5 marks)
(5 marks)
(5x1=5marks)
34
Exercise :
1. Pune will host two IPL matches in the new stadium.
2. They live on a busy road.
e. Question Tag:
Model :
Books enlighten men.
Books enlighten men, don't they?
Let's go.
Let's go, shall we?
Exercise :
1. He won't mind if I use his phone.
2. I am too impatient.
f. Infinitive into gerund.
Model :
To see children glued to TV is alarming
Seeing children glued to TV is alarming
Exercise :
1. It is a nice day. Does anyone fancy to go for a walk?
2. To work with you is a pleasure.
g. Articles:
Model :
It is not just about how much the earth is warming
Exercise :
1. What is wrong with you? Have you got _________ head ache?
2. Would you like to be __________ actor?
h. i Prefix to form negative words:
Model :
available unavailable.
Exercise :
responsible
courage
ii. Suffix to change the part of speech
Model :
weak weakness
36
Exercise :
warm
globe
i. Correction of errors:
Model :
His air of assurance and friendliness win him new listener every
moment.
His air of assurance and friendliness wins him new listener every
moment.
Exercise :
1. Plutarch's Lives are an interesting book.
2. He killed the sparrow which was eating some crumbs with a gun.
j. Preposition :
Model :
We stopped at a small village ________ (on, in) our way to London.
Exercise :
1. Even ______humans, climate change causes problems. (for/of)
2. She sat _________ the fire and told me a tale. (on, by)
k. Using right conjunction:
Model :
Books of the Hour give us relaxation.They provide rest to our tired
minds.(but, and)
Books of the Hour give us relaxation and provide rest to our tired
minds.
Exercise :
1. It was stuffy last night. I could not sleep. (if, as)
2. It was a stormy night.We ventured out.( and / but)
l. Matching words with their meanings:(from the text)
Meanings matched
Persuade
- convince / cause to do something by reasoning
Conspicuous
- obvious / noticeable
commendable - praiseworthy/ deserving appreciations
Doctrines
- beliefs and teachings
37
Exercise
i. loquacious
ii. repository
iii. treasure
iv. infant
storehouse
valuable objects
small child
talkative
2. Writing sentences in any six tense forms using the subject and the
verb given :
Model :
Subject He verb speak
Present Simple
Past Simple
FutureSimple
Present Continuous
Past Continuous
Future Continuous
Exercise :
1. Use the subject 'I' with the verb 'work'.
2. Use the subject they' with the verb walk.
PART - B
COMPREHENSION - MODELS & EXERCISES
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
Model :
There was a farmer in a village. He had three sons. They always
quarrelled with one another. The father was not happy about their
behaviour. He tried hard to bring them into union. All his efforts ended in
vain. The father was getting old also. He was worried and he called his
sons. He begged them to stop fighting but his sons did not listen to him.
They continued their quarrel.
One day, the father fell ill. He called his sons, My dear sons, I have
nothing to leave behind you except this piece of field. If you work together
in the garden, you will make your living. Even that did not stop them from
quarrelling with each other. The father was depressed.
38
Suddenly, the farmer got an idea. He called out his sons and asked
each of them to bring two sticks of same height and thickness. When they
returned with the sticks, the farmer took one stick from each of them and
tied the three sticks together. Then he asked them to break the single stick
with their hands. The brothers broke their sticks very easily. Then, the
farmer gave the bundle of sticks to the first son. He asked him to break the
bundle. He tried to break it but could not. The second and the third sons
too tried it. They also could not break the bundle. Thus, the father made
his sons realise the importance of UNITY.
Questions:
a. How many sons did the farmer have?
The farmer had three sons.
b. What did the farmer ask his sons to bring?
He asked his sons to bring two sticks each of same height and
thickness.
c. Why was it difficult for them to break the bundle?
It was difficult for them to break the bundle because all the sticks were
tied together.
d. Did the father succeed in his effort?
Yes, the father succeeded in his effort.
e. Complete: Unity ..............................
Unity is Strength.
Exercise:
The Arabs, who are not in the cities, live in the desert all the year
round. They live in tents that can be put up and taken down very easily
and quickly, so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking
grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desertArabs eat ripe, sweet figs and also the dates that grow up in the palm
trees; they dry them too, and use them as food all the year round.
These Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very
proud of his riding horse and loves him almost as much as he loves his
wife and children. He never puts heavy loads upon his horse and often
lets him stay in the tent with his family.
39
The camel is much more useful to the Arab than his beautiful horse,
for he is much larger and stronger. One camel can carry twice as much
load and do twice as much work as one horse. The Arab loads the camel
with goods and rides on it for miles and miles across the desert just as if
it were really the Ship of the Desert, which it is often called.
Questions :
a. Which section of Arabs lives in the desert?
b. Why do these Arabs live in movable tents?
c. What do they eat?
d. Which animal do they love most?
e. Complete: The Ship of the Desert .................
Dialogue comprehension
I: Read the following dialogue and answer the questions that follow:
Model:
Opening a Savings Bank Account
Ms.Seema : Excuse me, I want some details on opening a savings
account here.
Officer
: Oh, sure, madam! Are you new to this bank?
Ms.Seema : Yes. I have come to Chennai from Pune just a week ago.
But I have an account with your Pune branch.
Officer
: Oh! Then that shouldn't be a problem at all. Do you want
to transfer your account from Pune to this branch or do
you want to open a new account here?
Ms.Seema : Please tell me which would be easier and faster?
Officer
: Transferring the account would be faster and easier.
Please fill up this form and bring two passport size
photos.
Ms.Seema : By the way, does the Chennai branch have ATM facility?
Officer
: Sure, madam. We have ATM facility all over India.
Ms.Seema : Thank you very much.
Officer
: You're most welcome!
40
Questions:
1. Who are the speakers?
2. What does Ms. Seema want?
3. Where has she come from?
4. Does this bank have ATM facility?
5. How many photographs are required?
Answers:
1. Ms. Seema and an offficier in a bank are the speakers.
2. Ms. Seema wanted to open a savings account with the bank.
3. She has come from Pune.
4. Yes, the bank has ATM facility.
5. Two photographs are required.
Exercise:
I: Read the following dialogue and answer the questions that follow.
Situation : Two students are sitting at table in Vijay Restaurant waiting
to be served.. After a few minutes, they converse.
Dialogue
Maria : The service is really slow here. I've been trying to get the
waiter's attention for the last ten minutes.
Ali
: I hope he waits on us soon. I have a class at two o'clock.
Maria : Me, too. I recognize that English book. You must be a
student at the English Language Centre.
Ali
: Yeah. I'm in the fourth course. Are you also studying there?
Maria : Yes, I'm in the fifth course. I took the fourth course last
month.
Ali
: I just came here two weeks ago. Do you like the institute?
41
Maria : Venezuela. I'm only staying here for three more months.
Then I go to Columbia University in New York.
Ali
: Hi. Oh, here comes the waiter. It looks like we're going to get
served atlast.
1. How many persons are involved in this conversation?
2. Where is Ali from?
3. Where are they studying?
4. Where is Maria from?
5. Where will Maria go after three months?
II: Read the following dialogue and answer the questions that follow:
Situation : Maria and Ali are enjoying their lunch in Vijay Restaurant
when a friend of Maria's, Tom, comes up.
Conversation
Tom : Hi, Maria.
Maria : Hai, Tom! Do you want to join us?
Tom : Sure.
Maria : Ali, this is my friend Tom. He lives in the apartment across
from mine. Ali's from Saudi Arabia. He's studying at the
English Language Center.
Tom : Hi, Ali. Nice to meet you.
Ali
: Very nice to meet You..
Tom : How long have you been in the United States?
Ali
: For the past two months.
Questions:
1. How many persons are involved in this conversation?
2. Where does this conversation take place?
3. For what does Maria invite Ali?
4. What is the Nationality of Ali?
5. Where does Ali live in the United States?
42
Exercise:
III:Read the following dialogue and answer the questions that follow:
[between two friends, Govind (G) and Leela (L)]
G : Latha has misplaced her wallet again.
L : Are you sure? Do you recollect last time when she couldn't locate it,
we searched every nook and corner of the office and come to think
of it, we found it in her hand bag.
G : I very well remember the incident. That's why this time I asked her
to look for it there immediately.
L : If I misplace something, I mentally go through the day and try to
recollect the moment I set it down.
G : This is what I also do. I have cultivated the habit of putting things
back in the place.
L : I wish, Latha did the same. By the way, have you ever seen her
room?
G : No, and I don't want to. I imagine it to be awfully messy.
L : Yes, it is. It looks as though an earthquake hit it.
G : Really! is it that bad?
L : Thats bad! Give Latha some time and she herself will get lost in it!
Questions:
1. Name the three persons involved.
2. What are the people discussing?
3. Where was the wallet found in the last instance?
4. How does Govind remember where his possessions are?
5. Does Latha keep her room neat and clean?
43
3.Visual comprehension
5x1 = 5 marks
Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Answers:
1. Barrack Obama, the U.S. President is handshaking with the students.
2. It is taking place at St.Xaviers college in Mumbai.
3. He visited the Holy Name School first.
4. Diwali was the occasion
5. Barrack Obama is fond of meeting students.
44
Exercise - 1
Answer the questions on the visual
Questions:
1. Who has inserted this visual?
2. Name the occasion of this release.
3. Is the child in happy mood?
4. For whom is this visual meant?
5. Name two bank schemes for the children.
45
5 x 1 = 5 marks
Answer:
1. There was a selfish giant who owned a beautiful garden.
2. He did not allow the children to play in his garden.
3. So there was only winter in his garden alone.
4. Then he allowed the children to play in his garden.
5. Spring came to his garden and he was happy.
Exercise:
Rearrange the jumbled sentences in order:
Finally, he touched his daughter and she too became gold.
His touch would turn anything into gold.
The greedy Midas touched all the materials and changed them into
gold.
Thus he was punished for his greed.
King Midas got a boon of golden touch.
6. Developing the hints into a readable passage:
[Hints Development]
Points to note:
(i) Read the given outline carefully.
(ii) Be careful to connect as naturally as possible the various points given
in the outline.
(iii) The conclusion is equally important
Model:
A bee falls into a tank a dove flies past drops a large leaf into the
water the bee climbs on the leaf flies away a boy takes aim at the
dove the bee stings the dove is saved.
MUTUAL HELP
Once a bee went to a tank to quench its thirst. Unexpectedly, it fell
into the tank. It almost drowned. A dove was passing that way. It saw the
sinking bee. The dove desired to help the bee. It hurriedly flew to the
nearby tree, plucked off a leaf and dropped it in to the water before the
bee.The bee moved on to the leaf, dried its wings and flew away. The bee
was full of gratitude to the dove that had saved its life. A few days later the
47
bee was returning to its home at the end of the day. It saw a boy taking aim
at a dove sitting upon the branch of a tree. The bee realized it was the
dove that saved its life. At once the bee flew down and stung the boy in his
wrist. The boy lost his aim and shouted in pain. The dove realized the
danger it had been in and flew away. Thus the bee showed its gratitude for
the dove that saved its life.
Moral : A friend in need is a friend indeed .
Exercise :
A king had a clever jester a favourite of the king's made jokes about the
courtiers offended the king condemned to death bagged the king for
mercy allowed to choose the kind of death he would like to die he said,
I choose, Your Majesty, to die of old age the king pleased pardoned
him.
48
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH-II
1. MACBETH
Macbeth and his friend Banquo were riding back home after a
victorious war, proud and happy over their achievement.
It was a cold day and mist had spread across the Scottish plane. The
two riders rode on in silence, each one's mind occupied with his own
thoughts. Suddenly they saw three strange figures, resembling old
witches. The figures uttered greetings to Macbeth in their shrieking
voices, addressing him as Governor of Glamis. Macbeth had become the
Governor of Glamis very recently after the death of his father.
They next called him Governor of Cawdor. This address surprised
Macbeth because the Governor of Cawdor was still alive.
The witches addressed him, for the third time, as the king of
Scotland. This greeting again puzzled Macbeth greatly, because Duncan
was the reigning king and he had two worthy sons to succeed him.
The three frail creatures then danced queerly around Banquo
making contradictory statements. They said that Banquo was lesser than
Macbeth but greater. Banquo was not so happy, yet he was very much
happier and that his son would become a ruler, although Banquo himself
would not. After this, the three witches disappeared into the mist as
mysteriously as they had appeared.
Banquo and Macbeth exchanged glances and were both at dismay
at the strange happenings. They met two horsemen who said that they
were noblemen sent by king Duncan to receive the victorious generals.
They said that the Governor of Cawdor, found guilty of treachery, had
been sentenced to death. The king had conferred the title of Cawdor on
Macbeth for his bravery in the war.
Macbeth was stunned. But Banquo quickly warned Macbeth to be
very cautious because the evil powers were bound to cause harm to men
who believed their words. But Banquo's warning fell on deaf ears, for
Macbeth's mind, was occupied by some other thoughts. He was thinking
about the third prophesy.
49
When Macbeth reached his castle, to his surprise, he found the King
himself waiting at his castle to welcome Macbeth. Immensely pleased,
Macbeth sent word to his wife to make all the arrangements for the royal
visit. He also wrote a letter to her describing the events that had happened
on the way and how two of the three prophesies had already been
fulfilled.
Macbeth's wife, a woman of great ambition and greed, craved for
power. She filled Macbeth's mind with dreadful thoughts and deeds, she
did it with such skill that Macbeth was willing to do anything for his wife.
Macbeth entered the King's bed chamber and using the two daggers
placed by his wife there, killed the King in his sleep. He, then, went back to
his room.
The next day, Macduff, a nobleman, who went into the royal bed
chamber to wake up the king, was shocked to find the king lying in bed
murdered. The news spread, creating confusion and chaos in the country.
Duncan's sons, alarmed by the happenings, fled form the country.
Later Macbeth, who was considered a mighty soldier and as one
loved by Duncan, was chosen to become the king of Scotland. In this way
the third prophesy of the evil witches had come to pass.
Instead of peace and happiness, dreadful happenings continued to
take place after Macbeth became the king. People began to fear and
distrust each other. Macbeth remembered the words of the witches that
Banquo's son would become a ruler. Macbeth set assassins to murder
Banquo and his children. Banquo was murdered, but Banquo's son
escaped.
Soon after this, Macbeth went to attend a dinner party, where the
ghost of Banquo was visible only to Macbeth. Macbeth was struck with
terror. He shouted at it madly. The other nobles were unable to
understand Macbeth's behaviour. Macbeth continued to behave like a
madman whenever the ghost appeared. Finally, Macbeth's wife led him
out of the dining hall, saying that Macbeth was experiencing fits.
50
prophesy(N)
craved (V)
chamber(N)
daggers (N)
distrust (N)
desperate (Adj)
havoc(N)
stunned(V)
assasins (N)
prediction
desired
private room
small knives
disbelief
helpless
damage
terribly shocked
murderers
54
55
56
3.MAORI VILLAGES
When you go bathing in a river or a pond, do you expect the water to
be hot or cold? Cold of course, you would be very surprised indeed if you
find it hot.
And yet, that was what I found, when I visited North Island, the
northern part of New Zealand, I had been invited to spend my holidays
with some friends who had taken a house for the summer on the outskirts
of the Maori village of Ohinemutu, near the town of Retotua. The Maori, as
I expect you know, are the natives of the New Zealand. Retotua lies in the
centre of a district known as the Hot spring District, where the water is not
only hot but boiling. You see it bubbling away in pools, or shooting up into
the air in a column known as a geyser and you come across little pools,
where the mud boils like porridge in a saucepan.
My friends live in a wooden house as do the Maoris themselves.
Most of the houses in the district are of wood, for there are frequent
earth quakes and a wooden house does not cause so much damage
when falling as a brick house would do.
The first day of my visit was Sunday.
Would you like to come with us to a service in the Maori church?
asked my hostess.
Indeed I would, I replied, and we set off. The church was beautifully
built and decorated by the Maoris themselves. As we reached the door,
my hostess said, I will show you over the church after service. The
service itself was very interesting, for the clergyman was a Maori. He said
the prayers first in the Maori language and then in English and the same
with the lessons and the sermon. The hymns, we all sang together ,the
Maoris singing in their language, while the rest of us sang in English.
Afterwards, my hostess kept her promise and took me around the church.
I very much admired the ends of the pews and choir stalls, which had
been very cleverly carved and I was standing, looking at the pulpit, which
appeared to be made of finely carved wood, when my hostess said, That
isn't really wood you know it is flax, the kind known as phermium.
57
I looked at it more closely and saw that she was right. It was made of
panels of flax, beautifully hand woven.
As we walked back through the churchyard, my guide suddenly
stopped at the side of a gravestone.
Look! she said, that was not there last time I passed this way. She
was pointing to a little boiling pool at the corner of the gravestone. Some
one had put a stone over it so that no passerby should step into it by
accident but I could hear the water boiling furiously underneath.
We often find new pools like that appearing all over the place, said
my hostess, as we walked on. After a while I noticed that the ground on
which we were walking sounded hollow, I mentioned it to my companion.
Yes I know, She said I often feel that if I were to stamp my foot
heavily it might go through the ground into the boiling water or mud below.
We really live on a sort of crust, which is always cracking. Even those of
us, who know, where the pools are, have to be careful when we go out at
night, all the more on because, as you have just seen, new ones are
constantly appearing.
But isn't it very dangerous to live here at all? I wanted to know. The
Maoris don't seem to think so. she answered, they build their houses
almost on the edges of the hot pools. They find them very useful, you
know, both for cooking and bathing. There is no need for a Maori house to
have either a kitchen or bathroom.
After the mid-day meal, it was suggested that we go for a picnic to
another Maori village near by, called Whakaraswarewa,
What a tongue twister. I could not help saying.
Oh, we call it Whaka, for short, said my host.
I will make your tea for you, said the Maori woman.
I expect you would like to see how she makes it, My host
suggested, I did not see why, but to my surprise, the woman, after filling a
kettle with cold water, carried it outside the house, instead of putting it on a
stove, near by was a boiling pool and in one corner of this, she placed the
kettle. In a very short while, the water inside was boiling too and we were
able to have our tea. How convenient it would be on a hot summer day not
to have to stoke up the kitchen range to cook the dinner, I thought, and
58
how much cheaper to have a hot pool handy than to have to pay for coal or
gas.
On the way home there were many other interesting things to see.
One was a little pool fenced round.
What is that for? I asked, Oh, that is the washing pool, said my
hostess. the women take the clothes and some soap and do their
washing there. Maori houses do not need coppers or basins either.
As we came along the village again, there was a very good smell in
the air of food cooking. I sniffed appreciatively, and my host and hostess
smiled.
Those are the Maoris suppers cooking they told me. Just then a
woman came to see if her supper was done. She pulled out of one of the
pools a bag made of woven flax.
She would call that a kit, said my hostess. her supper is inside it.
Endingly it was nicely cooked, for the woman disappeared with it into her
house.
The good odours had made us all hungry and we were glad of our
own supper when we got home. Then after a pleasant evening wandering
about the village though with care so as to avoid the hot pools we went
to bed.
I hope you slept well, said my host at break fast next morning.
Very well, thank you, I replied, once I could get to sleep, that is. But
there was party of singers who kept me awake for a good while.
Oh dear I should have warned you, exclaimed his wife.
Our house is very near the pool which the Maoris like for their
bathroom and as they always like to sing in their bath, while they swim
about and play in the hot water. People, who are not used to it, do find it
hard to get to sleep.
How amazing it is! I said, the Maoris use the hot water for cooking,
bathing, and washing. Is there any other way in which it can be used?
Yes indeed, said my host. many of these pools have medicinal
powers, and people come to the district to bathe in the water and even to
drink it, though I believe it is some what unpleasant, for the sulphur in it
makes it taste like bad egg.
59
passer by (N)
panela (N)
gravestone (N)
furiously(Adv)
underneath (Prepo)crust (N)
cracking (N)
carving (N)
fence (N)
stoke up (V)
borders of a town
thick, sticky food made of oats.
a woman honouring the guests with food etc.
priests or ministers of the Christian church
a religious lecture
long wooden seat with back used in church.
a trained group of singers for singing together
an area of land around church where dead people
are buried.
a person who is walking past someone
flat rectangular piece of wood or other material
a large stone on a grave with words on it.
angrily
beneath /below
a hard layer of something
forming a cut without breaking
a design that is cut out of a material such as stone
or wood
a barrier between two areas of land made by wood
or wire/ border marker
put fuel on
60
61
C.M
Jyothi
C.M
Jyothi
:
:
:
:
C.M
[In the palace -court in session-the King is seated on his throne-The C.M.
and other Ministers are also seated in their seats. Two seats, very close to
the throne, are vacant.]
King
1st Prince
2 nd Prince :
King
The princes :
King
Scene-4
After six days
(King's court-enter Princes-)
Elder Prince
: Sire, I am ready.
(King and his retinue follow him into a big hall)
I have filled the hall with hay; Hay is neither costly
nor decorative.
King
: (to the second son)We shall now look at your hall.
Younger Prince : (leads them into his hall. It is very dark inside. The
king and the others are just wondering.)
Your Majesty, the hall is dark. I wish to remove this
darkness. (He lights a candle. The light now fills the
entire hall.)
King
: What is your interpretation?
Younger Prince : Sire, our world is full of problems related to physical.
mental and spiritual sides.
We are in the dark as we are unable to solve such
problems. My aim, as a King, would be to find
solutions to the physical, mental and spiritual
problems and remove the darkness from our
society.
(The King, highly pleased, looks at his Chief Minister who supports
the King's decision.)
The King
: This is my decree. My second son will be the
successor to my throne. He has realized the
important duties of a King.
(the entire court including the elder prince
applauds.)
Glossary
succession(N)
successor (N)
consequence (N)
eavesdropping (V)
stealthily (Adv)
wanton(adj)
wantonly (Adv)
implement (N)
throne (N)
retinue (N)
interpret (V)
interpretation (N)
decree (N)
applaud (V)
wilful / playful
deliberately/knowingly
a tool(V) put into effect
a ceremonial chair for a monarch / royal seat
a group of assistants accompanying an important
person
explain the meaning
explanation
an official order with force of law
express approval by clapping / praise
65
POETRY
1. A POISON TREE
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe;
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watched it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles,
And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
-William Blake
Like the slow and steady growth of a tree, anger when hidden and
untold, gradually develops a murderous intent as mighty and deadly as a
poisoned tree .Blake warns the reader of the dangers of grudging and of
rejoicing in the sorrows of our foes.
The apple, in the poem, is a product of hate. The expression, And I
sunned it with smiles describes not only false intentions, but the
processing of sunning, giving nutrients to a plant (anger) so that it may
not only grow but flourish also. To err is human; to forgive is divine.
66
Glossary
sunned
veiled
hidden / covered
deceitful wiles -
cunning tricks
67
2.THE STORM
We wake to hear the storm come down,
Sudden on roof and pane;
The thunder's loud, and the hasty wind
Hurries the beating rain.
The rain slackens, the wind blows gently,
The gust grows gentle and stills,
And the thunder, like a breaking stick,
Stumbles about the hills.
The crops still hang on leaf and thorn,
The downs stand up more green;
The sun comes out again in power,
And the sky is washed and clean.
Edward Shanks
This poem describes something with which we are all familiar-the
movement, the sounds and the effects of a storm. It seems to take place a
little before sunrise, and wakes up the poet from his sleep. The storm is
not just destructive. It cleanses and purifies Nature.
Glossary
panel
slackens
gust
stumbles
68
69
COMMUNICATION ENGLISH-II
Max Marks:75
PART-A GRAMMAR
(24+6=30)
l) Rewrite the following sentences filling the blanks with the suitable
homophones from the given choice:
i) I want to ______my car (cell/sell)
ii) Rama visited a _______(fare/fair)
m) Give two instructions to Mr.X for reaching the temple.(Road Map)
Signal
RS Road
Roy Road
Temple
RS Road
Roy Road
Mr.X is here
(BUS STOP)
71
PART B
COMPOSITION / COMPREHENSION (6x5=30)
a) Read the following passage and answer the questions that
follow:
(5)
The coral is often mistaken for a flowering plant. It is actually the
skeleton of a tiny, soft-bodied animal known as coral polyp. This animal
has tentacles with which it catches as its food the planktons floating
about. The polyp develops a cup shaped skeleton of limestone outside its
body and lives inside it . Through an opening, it goes out and comes in.
The tiny, young polyp buds grow like the branches of a tree. When an old
polyp dies it skeleton is left behind to which the young ones remain
attached and in their turn produce their new buds. This process goes on,
fusing the skeleton together. In course of time, they grow into huge
colonies which become coral reefs and island.
The largest reef is the great barrier reef of Australia and it is more
than 2000 km long. The sea where it lies is called the Coral Sea. Corals
are also found in the warm, shallow waters of the Indian Ocean, the South
Pacific Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
The coral resembles beautiful flowers. The most beautiful of them
looks like chrysanthemum (a kind of flower) which you may have seen in
the flower shows. They have fascinating colours and shapes to attract
small animals towards them. The strong tentacles, around the mouth of
the polyp, strangle prey when they come near. So, most of the animals
prefer to avoid them although many sea creatures like crab, shrimps,
sponges and some fish reside among them.
i) Complete the following:
(3x1=3)
1. The coral polyp catches its food, planktons with_______________
2. The young ones remain attached to the skeleton of the old polyp
_________
3. The small animals are attracted towards the coral because of
their______
4) Find the words from the passage which are the opposites of (2x1/2=1)
(a) rarely (Para 1)
(b) ugly(para 3)
72
5) Find the words from the passage which mean the same as: (2x1/2=1)
(a) To be similar (para3)
(b) Keep away from (para3)
b) Read the following Newspaper Report carefully and answer the
questions that follow:
(5marks)
ORACLE OCTOPUS PAUL NO MORE
Berlin Oct, 26:
Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year's football World
Cup in South Africa for his flawless record in predicting game outcomes,
has died, his aquarium in Germany said on Tuesday. Management and
staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Center were devastated to discover that
octopus Paul who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup,
had passed away overnight, the aquarium said in a sombre statement.
Paul amazed the world by correctly predicting the winners of all
Germany's World Cup clashes and then of the final. Said Sea Life
manager Stefan Porwoll. His success made him almost a bigger story
than the World Cup itself We had all naturally grown very fond of him
and he will be sorely missed,said Porwoll. Paul's body is now in cold
storage while the aquarium decides how best to mark his passing
However, Paul's fans need not despair. The aquarium has already
been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor. We may
decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect
a modest permanent shrine, said Porwoll. ---AFP
Questions:
1. Who is called Paul? Is he alive now?
2. When did Paul achieve global renown ?
3. What was Paul famous for?
4. Where was his aquarium?
5. Name the successor of Paul.
73
DEALERS REQUIRED
GUJARAT , MAHARASHTRA
ANDHRAPRADESH , TAMIL NADU
Interested parties may send the details of their
current line of business, nature of firm ability to
invest etc., within 10 days
Questions:
1. Who has inserted this ad?
2. Is it a marketing company or manufacturing company?
3. Name any two states for which they seek partners.
4. What is the time limit for responding to the ad?
5. Complete: The company is manufacturing ________ .
d) Make a precis of the following passage with topic sentence and
note making:
(5)
Contemporary urban lifestyle demands that we spend more than a
third sometimes even half of our lives in the workplace. Infact, most
urbanites, whatever their gender, derive their very identities from the work
that they do. As a result, work has come to occupy a position of
predominance in modern lives and the workplace has slowly become
almost as important as home, oftentimes, even being a substitute for it.
This probably explains why many large business corporations invest
substantially in increasing work environments that are friendly and
supportive.
Today, employees in many progressive companies besides doing
their work, can eat, sleep, work, lounge around, read books and
74
magazines and so on, without ever leaving the office, the idea being that if
employees think of their workplace as a more engaging environment than
home, they may, then, find it easier to spend increasing amount of time at
work, thereby, ensuring greater productivity.
e) Imagine You are S. Rani of Madurai.
Write a letter to the editor of The Hindu regarding the poor sanitary
condition in your area.
(5marks)
(or)
Place an order with M/S Goyal Publishers, 17 Anna Salai, Chennai 2,
for the supply of text books.
f) Study the following diagram carefully and convert it into a passage:
(5 marks)
Murali Vijay
India
Full Name
: Murali Vijay
Date of Birth : Apr 01, 1984, Chennai
Major Team : India, Tamil Nadu
Playing Roll : Batsman
Career Statistics
International Debut : 2008
ODI Debut
: India v South Africa,
Feb 27, 2010
Test
ODI
T20I
M
8
5
6
Inns
12
5
5
Runs
509
86
103
HS
139
25
48
Lead Questions:
1. When did Vijay make his International debut?
2. What is his average score in ODI?
3. What is his highest score in test match?
4. How many ODI matches he has played?
5. Make your observation on Murali Vijay
75
Ave
42.42
17.20
20.60
PART-C
LITERATURE
(15 Marks)
a) Answer any three of the following in one or two sentences
each:
(3 X 2 = 6 marks)
i. My friends live in a wooden house as do the Maoris themselves.
Most of the houses in the district are of wood, for there are
frequent earthquakes..
Q:Why are the houses made of wood?
ii. The king : This is my decree. My second son will be my
successor to my throne. He has realised the important duties of a
King.
Q:Why does the king choose second son as his successor?
iii) The witches addressed him, for the third time.
Q:What is the third prophesy?
iv)Nitrogen, oxygen and argon make up 98 percent of the earth's
atmosphere.
Q:Do these gases contribute to Greenhouse effect?
State the reason.
b) Fill up the blanks and rewrite:
(5x1=5 marks)
i. But isn't it very ___________ to live here at all?
ii. Your Majesty, the hall is dark. I wish to remove this________
iii. Using the two daggers placed by his wife, he killed the king in his
_________.
iv)All signs now suggest that a major ______ change is happening
again.
v) The ___________ use the hot water for cooking, bathing
c) Answer any two of the following in one or two sentences each:
(2x2=4 marks)
1. I was once called earth
But now bereft of mirth, I weep
Q:Explain I Weep
2. I told it not, my wrath did grow
Q:What and whom did he not tell?
3. We wake to hear the storm come down
Q: What are the effects of storm?
76
(12X2=24 marks)
Each question carries 2 marks.
Last question No: 2 carries 6 marks.
1. Answer any twelve of the following as directed:
a) Change the following sentences into plural form:
i)They want a book.
ii)He bought a car.
b) Convert the following interrogative into assertive sentence:
Isn't he good?
c) Convert the following exclamatory into assertive sentence:
What a nice man Gopal is!
d) Answer the verbal question, first in affirmative and then in negative:
Will they win the match?
e) Identify the main clause in the following sentence:
Though he was poor he was honest.
f) Identify the subordinate clause in the following sentence:
The teacher said that he would come over there.
g) Combine the following simple sentences to form
i) a compound sentence and ii) a complex sentence:
a) There was a heavy rain.
b) The match was cancelled.
h) Change the following sentence into negative without changing the
meaning:
It is common.
i) Change it into superlative degree:
Gold is costlier than any other metal.
j) Change it into comparative degree:
Bombay is the biggest city in India.
k) Convert the dialogue into reported speech:
Teacher: Is the work over?
Student: I need one more day.
77
l) Rewrite the following sentences, filling the blanks with the suitable
homophones:
i) The_______ of a baby is an occasion for joy in the family.
(birth/berth).
ii) You have to keep a ________ on your expenditure. (check/cheque)
Nehru
Nagar
I cut
T.S.P.
School
II cut
Gandhi Salai
Mr.S.Vishnu
here
5. Find the words from the passage which mean the same as :
(a) competition (para1) (b) merits (para2)
b) Read the following newspaper report carefully and answer the
questions that follow:
(5marks)
AIRCRAFT SAFETY
79
CMRL has revised the cost of the project and the final draft of the
modified proposal is being prepared. we will soon submit the plan to the
AAL, the official said.
The estimated cost of underground tunneling is Rs. 450 crore per km.
while the cost of the elevated track is Rs. 150 crore per km.
Corridor 1 of Metro Rail was supposed to be on an elevated platform
from Little Mount to the airport, but on objections by the airlines, CMRL
prepared a plan to go underground just opposite Trident Hotel. The
tracks of the transit system will go above ground, soon after the plane
approach area.
Questions:
1. What is CMRL ?
2. What is AAL ?
3. What is this news about?
4. What is the estimated cost of the underground tunnelling?
5. Who has raised objections for the elevated structure near airport?
c) Read the following advertisement and answer the questions that
follow:
(5 marks)
AIEEE/AIPMT
BITSA/VITEE/AMRITA/SRMEEE/CMC/JIPMER/AFMC
Comprehensive Training Program
From March 25
Join now
RAJ Circle
80
Questions:
1. What is this advertisement about?
2. Who has inserted this ad?
3. Name any two places where training is given.
4. When does the program start?
5. Do they give study materials?
d) Make a prcis of the following passage with topic sentence and
note making:
(5 Marks)
If you want to get on well in life, you must do your duty to the best of
your ability. In this connection, it is right to say that the youth are the future
rulers of the country. From this point of view, it will be quite clear that the
future of students depends on how fast and how well development takes
place. For this purpose, it is a good idea that the students should really
first train themselves. It means that they should do well in whatever they
have chosen to study. It is not in any way wrong for them, when they can,
to take part in other activities.
The government have been trying to encourage city students to go
to the villages. Of course, it is better that the rural people do the village
work and not the city people. But, at the same time, it is true that these two
different societies are cut off. It is fair to say that this is not at all a good
thing. We must do, what all we can, to close this gap.
e) Imagine You are S.Rajan, DME of Madurai.
Write a letter to the Personnel Manager, XYZ Limited, Chennai, enclosing
your curriculam vitae , for the post of supervisor.
(5marks)
(or)
Place an order with M/S Abu sports, Trichy, for the supply of sports goods.
81
Branch
Computer
Civil
Electrical
Electronics
Mechanical
Corporate
INFOSYS
TVS
WIPRO
40
22
11
23
35
25
45
12
17
32
23
78
57
30
27
Lead Questions:
1. What is this chart about?
2. Name the corporates that visited the polytechnic.
3. Name the branches of engineering that appeared for placement.
4. How many students are selected for placement in INFOSYS?
5. How many students are selected in Civil Engineering Department?
PART-C
LITERATURE
(15 Marks)
Answer any three of the following in one or two sentences each:
(3X2=6 marks)
a) 1) She filled Macbeth's mind with dreadful thoughts and deeds.
Q:What was the character of Macbeth's wife?
2) The hymns, we all sang together, the Maoris singing in their
language, while the rest of us sang in English.
Q:Name the language spoken by the Maoris.
3) But they do not absorb significant amounts of infrared radiation, and
t h u s d o n o t c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e g r e e n h o u s e e ff e c t .
Q:What does the term they refer to?
4) No, Your Highness, we wish to be your sons. We are not interested in
ascending the throne.
Q:Who spoke this passage ?
82
83
84
1.
2.
1.
2.
85
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
86
Traffic
Signal
Bus
Stand
Temple
100 mts
N
W
College Road
S
Airport
Temple
Exercise:2
To reach the harbour
Ram Road
Harbour
50 mts.
You are here
X
Mall
87
50 mts.
Example
Exercise:
1. On and off
2. Round the corner
PART-B
COMPREHENSION/COMPOSITION
Passage:
Exercise:
All true students need a library. In the library we find information for
class work, extra reading in subjects which interest us and reading for
pleasure. We call these three types as Information Reading,
Supplementary Reading and Recreational Reading.
Books in libraries are arranged in a special order, that is, they are
classified. Many libraries use the Dewey system which divides books into
these ten divisions (0) General Works, (1) Philosophy, (2) Religion, (3)
Social Sciences, (4) Languages, (5) Science, (6) Technology, (7) Arts, (8)
Literature, (9) History and(10) Geography .
These are divided into subdivisions and the exact class number of
any book is put on the spine of the book so that it can be easily seen.
Every library should have card catalogues. These are small
drawers holding cards on which we find information about each book.
Usually there are two catalogues; one arranged alphabetically as to the
authors' names, the other arranged by the class numbers. In the author
catalogue we find the names of authors beginning with A, then those with
B, C and so on. In the subject catalogue we start with General Works,
88
earth's atmosphere, healthy air and drinkable water. Thus, protecting the
environment means keeping nature's gifts to mankind in as good and
natural condition as possible. Murder of the environment, which involves
senseless poisoning of the earth, air and water, and wanton destruction of
forest wealth in our mad race for development, expansion and growth, is
fraught with grave consequences for mankind. The chemicals being
produced and marketed for various purposes are proving useful to
modern civilization, particularly in the manufacturing of weapons of war
but their adverse effect on the environment can hardly be lost sight of.
THE UNESCO Director-General even warned the world recently that the
problems of environment were jeopardizing the development of mankind.
It is, therefore, essential that every country should have department of the
environment - Government Department responsible for land planning,
construction of industries, transport, preservation of public amenities,
control of air and water pollution, the protection of the coast and the
countryside.
Topic Sentence :
(I) Now-a-days more and more attention is being paid all over the world to
the protection of man's environment on which human existence
depends .
Note Making:
(i) definition of environment.
(ii) dependence of human existence on environment.
(iii) protection and pollution.
(iv) warning of the UNES CO.
(v) a separate department for environment.
Title :Environment Protection
Rough Draft :
Human existence depends on environmental protection.
Environment includes the natural things like atmosphere, air and water
Environment protection means keeping nature's gifts in their natural
condition. Poisoning earth, air and water and destroying forests in the
91
92
93
Dear sirs,
I shall be obliged if you send me the following books by V.P.P at your
earliest convenience:
One copy of :
1. A Junior English Grammar and Composition
2. General Knowledge Today : Books I-VIII
3. Spell-well English Word books : I-VIII.
Yours truly,
R.Subbu
Exercise:
Imagine you are S.Tilak, student representative of PGR Polytechnic
College of Salem.
Write a letter to the district collector inviting him for your college day
function.
Graphic conversion:
Model:
Admission /Placement details of students in a Polytechnic
College During 20092010
Course
Civil
50
30
12
Mechanical
50
40
10
Electrical
50
32
15
Paper Tech
30
20
08
Lead Questions:
1. What is this chart about?
2. How many courses are offered?
3. How many are placed in total?
4. Make an observation on the option for Higher studies.
94
Answer :
This table is about the admission and placement details of students
in a Polytechnic College during 20092010. There are four columns.
The first column shows the different courses offered in the Polytechnic
College during 2009-2010. The second and third columns show the
number of students admitted and placed coursewise. The fourth column
shows the number of students opted for higher studies. Four courses
namely Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Paper Technology are offered in
this Polytechnic college. One hundred and twenty students are placed in
total. Option for higher studies will result in higher qualification and better
placement.
Exercise:
Population Density
16%
18%
20%
Mumbai
24%
Delhi
22%
Kolkata
20%
Chennai18%
Bengaluru
16%
24%
22%
Lead Questions:
1. What is this chart about?
2. Name the cities mentioned.
3. Which city suffers maximum density?
4. Where do you find minimum density?
95
to cause havoc
taken aback
to give up
in the dark
dead of night
Achilles' heel
rest assured
to go on
to pull the string
to freeze one's blood
to rule out
to set off
round the corner
for a short while
to make both ends meet
to lose ground
to win laurels
to turn a deaf ear
by hook or crook
on and off
to make up one's mind
to turn over a new leaf
up-to- date
to get into hot water
hoping against hope
to wash one's hands off
to go out of hand
to beat about the bush
96
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
to be out of spirits
to spread like wildfire
gift of the gab
in the eleventh hour
to be in the bad books of somebody
to be at sea
to fight tooth and nail
to take to one's heels
to read between the lines
in cold blood
to hit the nail on its head
once in a bluemoon
97
Bank of Homophones
Homophones are words with same sound but with different
spellings and meanings.
Rewrite the sentence filling up the bank with correct homophone:
Model:
Q : He sprayed(scent/cent)over his body.
A : He sprayed scent over his body.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
scent / sent
oar/ ore
heir/ air
coarse / course
minor/miner
hare / hair
knew/new
some/sum
blue / blew
fare /fair
week / weak
see / sea
road /rode
whole /hole
hear /here
tale /tail
dear/ deer
sweet / suite
made /maid
pale /pail
stare /stair
alter/altar
sell/cell
check/cheque
birth/berth
98