UNIT - 5

The Pamplona Clone

JALLIKATTU
From Intriguing India – The Historic South by Hugh and Colleen Gantzer
The bulls are manoeuvred to the corrida early in the morning. Corrida is the Spanish word
for running but is also applied to bullfights in which men challenge especially bred bovines.
We too, nurture bulls for our own corridas: Tamil Nadu's Jallikattu They are burly, self-
willed, beasts, developed for their truculence; handling them on a motor road is a tricky
business, as we saw on our way to a Jallikattu.

A guide strode ahead, anxiously waving a flag and warning vehicles and pedestrians to
give a wide berth to the belligerent beasts. Many of the animals were so fractious that they
had to be wrangled by two men tugging at their bridle ropes like straining tugs handling a
pitching ship. As the Prize bulls bucked and pranced down the road they were ringed by a
host of admirers cheering them on, and the proud owner strutting behind like a game cock.
The bulls had been decorated: horns painted, often sharpened; bright dots glittering on
their rippling muscles; garlands around their necks. Many were rambunctious stud bulls as
arrogant as prize fighters. Others belonged to rich landowners who flaunted them as
proudly as T exas ranchers brandishing their Cadillacs.

A lean-muscled competitor hangs on to a raging bull.

"In the old days," an aficionado told us, "rich men even promised their daughters in
marriage to the tamers of such great bulls. Our informant wore rings on his fingers, diamond
studs in ears and a heavy gold chain draped around his triple chins. We wondered if he had
been a bull-taming bride-earner in his youth and if his own daughters had once been comely
trophies. Possible, we thought, quite possible. To have a bull-tammg Hercules as a son-in-
law should ensure sturdy grandsons.

We wondered if this happened in Spain's Pamplona. There, on the week- long celebrations
of the feast of St. Fermin, there arc bullfights every day.

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 Jallikattu recalls the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.

These are preceded each morning by the eucierro, the enclosing, of the bulls when they
are driven through the streets and challenged by men and boys who stand in their path
and then try to dodge them. The most skilful of them, the ones who come closest to the
charging bulls, are the most admired by the watching senoritas. And, of course, by
interested fathers.

But this was not Pamplona. We were in Tamil Nadu during the January harvest
festival of Pongal. We overtook two unruly bulls, drove through a crowded village street,
parked our car and joined a stream of people heading towards the cordoned road where
they would hold the corrida. We were eager to see the Tamil version of such ancient
contests between bulls and men which, we believe, point to the distant origins of the
Tamil people.

Bleachers had been erected on a forest of bamboo poles rising on both sides of the
dusty street. These uncovered seats were massed with people and more eager
spectators stood in front of the stands pressing against the bamboo fences meant to
separate the raging bulls from their human challengers. We shouldered our way to the
steps leading to the concrete grandstand, sat down. The crowd waved to us from below.
We waved back.

The crowd stilled. The first bull was brought in by its handlers. It still had its bridle
on and was being exposed to the crowd and shown its escape route. The crowd yelled
at it, taunting it verbally and with gestures. No sticks were allowed, no weapons. In this
corrida there were no tormentors riding on expendable old horses sticking flagged spikes
in the shoulders of the bulls to agonise them into blind fury. Here the bulls and their
humans would be more evenly matched with the dice weighted in favour of the bulls.
The first bull lowered its head in anger and its handlers tugged and hustled it out. Then
came the next bull. And the next. And the next.

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Before the 160th bull had made the rounds, the crowd had psyched itself into a frenzy.
Every one there ... manv wearing only vests and lungis tucked up knee-high, ail barefooted
... everyone of these hundreds of men seemed determined to tackle his own bull. Like
fighters in a ring, they flexed their muscles, leapt around, reached down to rub dust on their
hands f or a better grip. The crowd bad "pill out onto the road and was so dense that there
seemed no room for the bulls to run. The air was crackling, tense, hot, dusty. The PA
system spluttered, blared out the name of the first bull.

These massive bulls require many handlers.

Suddenly, miraculously, like a great sponge, the crowd drew into itself, s.q.ueczing tight.
The gate opened and the bull came galloping through. A bare-chested man leapt at it.
Misscd. Another leapt. Clung onto the bucking animal. Was thrown off. The bull was ten
metres from the finish line beyond which the challenge ended. Another man leapt. Got a
grip on its black hump. 'The bull lowered its head. Shook. The man was flung into the
crowd. The fleeing bull thundered away, spirited by the cheering of the spectators pursued
by its handlers carrying a long rope and bull-herding canes.

"But this is dangerous!" exclaimed a tourist. "Someone might be killed!" A grey-haired

Tamil patriarch nodded. "People have been killed," he said, "hut even if no o n e is
killed, blood will certainly flow. That is the nature of Jallikattu”

He was right.
The next bull snorted in. Was challenged. Lowered its head, turned, and bulldozed
into the crowd. Men fell like nine-pins, scrambled up poles, two supporting poles
shook dislodging people, the bull gored two ...one in the arm, the other in the thigh
...and went galloping away.

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In a frenzy of whirling images bulls pounded in, men clung on, men fell off, men
scattered, regrouped, more bulls, more yelling, running.

Silence.
A great bull stood and challenged the crowd. People massed in a circle around him. A
man stepped forward. The bull turned and glowered at him. The man retreated into the
wall of people. Slowly, with massive dignity, the hull lumbered away, a path clearing
magically before him, closing behind him like the waters of a human Red Sea. The
gigantic bull moved in the breathless hush of his own power.
But then the frenzy began again, the dust rose in clouds, sweat poured from us secure
in our high concrete perch. The noise rose like a crashing sea.

The contest down there was primitive, ancient, biased in favour of the bull, incredibly
stirring. Swift cameos flashed flicker-swift in our minds: naked Cretan women vaulting
over the horns of bulls, slim acrobatic women leaping over charging bulls in the arenas
of Dholavira. Down there, in our corrida, all that those human challengers had in their
favour was raw courage, this was stark virility, in this dusty Tamil Nadu corrida,
stripped all pretensions.

Millennia ago, settled Dravidians had migrated from the drying Meducrrancan lands
seeking new fields and farms to support their urban settlements. They had brought their
bull-culture with them moving before waves of infiltrating lndo-Iranian nomadic
herdsmen. In Spain, their entertainment had grown in to the sophisticated cruelty of the
bull fight with all its ceremonial and trumpets and capes and matadors and their
romanticised Suits of Lights. Then, after many generations, its sadistic popularity had
waned. The famed Running of the Bulls through the streets of Pamplona may not be
seen again.

Blindfolded bulls are led down a corridor.

And possibly, quite possibly, that too could be the fate of Jallikattu. When that happens it
will be a sad day because, then, another irretrievable chip will have fallen from the
endangered mosaic of our heritage.
___________________________________________________________________________

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 UNIT – 5 TASKS AND EXERCISES
GLOSSARY
Manoeuvre : A movement with skill and care
Corrida : A bull fight, running of bulls
Bovines : Cows
Truculence : Unpleasant and likely to argue a lot
Belligerent : Wishing to fight or argue fiercly
Bridle ropes : a set of leather straps
Rambunctious : Full of energy, difficult to control
Cadillas : Something that is an outstanding example of its kind, especially
in terms of luxury, quality or size
Encierro : confinement, enclosure
Bulldoze : to forcibly enter
Irretrievable : impossible to correct/return to a previously existing situation
Cameos : A small but noticeable part in a film or a play.
Bleachers : A cheap bench seat at a ground
Virility : Strength or power
Glower : to look very angry or annoyed
Expendable : of little significance
Wane : To become weaker in strength
Scramble : To move or climb quickly
Gore : To cause an injury with horns or tusks

Pre-Reading Task
1. What is a travelogue?
2. Why people visit places?
3. What places do people prefer to visit?
4. Have you ever come across any interesting traditions and cultures exhibited in a place
visited?
5. What is the importance of knowing and understanding various traditions and cultures
across the nation and the world?

Reading Comprehension:
Answer the following questions in about 100 words each:
1. What is a Corrida?
2. How are the belligerent beasts/bulls brought to the Corrida or Jallikattu?
3. Explain how Spain’s Pamplona event is conducted?
4. Describe the bull fight or Jallikattu that happens in Tamilnadu during the January
harvest festival or Pongal.
5. How did the Bull culture find its way to different parts of the world?
6. Write a travelogue describing part of your remarkable journey visiting a place for
Trip Advisor, an online travel guide website.

Reading Skills:
Understanding the Organization of a text – Global Comprehension
We read texts/articles/passages/to understand the ideas that the writer is trying to convey
through words. Here are some techniques for effective reading which will enable the readers
to understand the texts as they are meant to be.

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Reading Techniques:
1. Look at the title of the text and ask yourself what you know about the topic and what
it is likely to be about.
2. Look at the headings, highlighted words or points if any.
3. Read the first and last paragraph of the passage to get an idea of the author’s views
4. Observe the development of ideas, author’s point of view or bias, frame your own
ideas or thoughts about the content while reading it.
5. Pay close attention to paragraphs. Identify the main idea of the paragraph which may
be located anywhere; in the beginning, middle or end of the paragraph. Main idea is
also called, ‘topic sentence’. To locate the main idea, keep asking yourself the
question, ‘What is this paragraph about?’
6. The last sentence of a paragraph is likely to be a concluding sentence, used to sum up
a discussion or to emphasize a point. The last sentence may lead to the next
paragraph.
7. Understand and put all the main ideas of the paragraphs to get the overall idea of the
text
8. Try writing the summary of the text in three to four lines for the global
comprehension of the text.

UNDERSTANDING TEXT

Signal Words/Logical Devices:

One of the effective ways of understanding the pattern of a paragraph’s organization is to
look out for signal words. Signal words provided hints about what is about to happen in the
passage you are reading. They give us directions. They will help in understanding how the
sentences in the paragraph are connected with each other and how the paragraphs are
connected with each other.
a. Addition: Given below are the examples of words and phrases used to add more
information.
Again, in addition to, also, and, then, besides, further, more, too, another, a number of,
several.
b.Comparison: Words used to compare two or three things, objects, situations.
Compared with, in the same way, in comparison with, similarly, similar to, likewise, bigger
than, parallel to, smaller than, more than, less than.
c. Contrast: Words used to show difference
different, however, but, in contrast, while, nevertheless, on one hand, on the other hand.
d. Time order and Process/Enumeration: Words used to list one by one
First, firstly, second, secondly, finally, in the first place, next to, to begin with, before, after,
when, later, until, at last, earliest.
e. Exemplification: Words used to give examples.
For example, for instance, such as, like.
f. Cause and Effect: Words used to show how one event leads to another
Consequently, Apparently, as a result, on that account, hence, because, for this reason.
g. Summary: Words used to conclude
in all, in short, finally, on the whole, in brief, in conclusion, to sum up.

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\

EXERCISE – Developing a paragraph

A. Arrange the following jumbled sentences to make a paragraph.

1. In addition, circulars of the University Grants Commission on ragging, rulings of the
High Court and Supreme Court in ragging cases, and other related literature, are being
circulated among the students.
2. But what was common among all these colleges was the orientation on anti-ragging
measures
3. Each college had charted out the day differently for the students.
4. The boards and complaint boxes are already put up or are in the process of being
readied with names and numbers of new members from the college and also that of
the Police Department.
5. Colleges have already constituted fresh anti-ragging committees or are in the process
of constituting one with representatives from the second and third-year students.

B. Arrange the following jumbled sentences to make a paragraph.

1. Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science that reopened in the second week for the
seniors had the freshers come in on last Friday.
2. Students, along with parents, spent the whole day in college familiarising themselves.
3. There were a few colleges that decided to go about it differently
4. There were even some small mementos to remember their entry into college life.
5. The customary welcome with chocolates and roses was made, besides a few culture
events.
6. Sri Krishna College of Arts and Science that reopened in the second week for the
seniors had the freshers come in on last Friday.

EXERCISE – Reading Comprehension

Read the following passage and answer the questions accordingly:

From ‘apparel to aerospace’, ‘steel to software’, the pace of technological innovation
is quickening. No longer can companies afford to miss generation of technology and
expect to remain competitive. Adding to the pressure, innovations are increasingly
crossing industry boundaries: a new fibre developed by the textile industry has potential for
building materials and medical equipment. Some companies are adept at using a diversity of
technologies to create new products that transform markets. But many others are floundering
because they rely on a technology strategy that no longer works in such a fast changing
environment. The difference between success and failure is not how much a company spends
on research and development (R &D), but how it approaches it.
There are two possible approaches. Either a company can invest in R &D that replaces an
older generation of technology – the ‘breakthrough’ approach --- or its focus on combining
existing technologies into hybrid technologies – the ‘technology fusion’ approach. It blends
incremental technical improvements from several previously separate fields of technology to
create products that revolutionize markets.

In a world where the old maxim ‘one technology one industry’ no longer apples, a singular
breakthrough strategy is inadequate; companies need to include both the breakthrough and

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fusion approaches in their technology strategy. Relying on breakthroughs alone fails because
it focuses the R & D efforts too narrowly, ignoring the possibilities of combining
technologies. Yet many western companies still rely almost exclusively on the breakthrough
approach. The reasons are complex: a distrust of outside innovations and not-invented here
engineering and arrogance and aversion to sharing research results.

A. Pick out the signal words from the above passage and explain what you have
anticipated or understood through those signal words about the successive sentences or
paragraphs:

B. Answer the following questions based on the above passage:

1. What are the features of technology that have been highlighted most prominently by the
author of the passage?
2. What does the author want to highlight by using the example ‘apparel to aerospace’ and
‘steel to software’?
3. What according to the author, is adding to the ‘pressure’ on the companies?
4. Why do western companies avoid the ‘technology fusion’ approach?
5. What is the meaning of the word, ‘floundering’ in the passage? Make a sentence of your
own using this.
___________________________________________________________________________

VOCABULARY BUILDING:

ONE WORD SUBSTITUTES

Substitution is to use one word for a sentence or a part of sentence. Substitution plays a great
role in achieving brevity of speech and writing. In this age of jet-set competition, one has to
communicate effectively in minimum time and space. Thus this art helps one to adjust to the
contemporary situation. You can master it by the usual process of learning it and committing

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it to memory by constant use and rigorous practice. A command in the art of substitution will
help one immensely in sentence completion as well.

EXERCISE – One word substitutes

Match the following phrases with one suitable word:

1.One who looks at the bright side of things a. Humanitarian

2.One who does not believe in God b. Teetotaller
3.One who is all powerful c. Confectioner
4.One who is eighty years old d. Complacent
5.One who is sympathetic to mankind e. Regicide
6.One who does not drink wine f. Atheist
7.One who settles in another country g. Monologue
8.One who knows many languages h. Manuscript
9.One who sells sweets and pastries i. Octogenarian
10.One who collects stamps j. Kaleidoscope
11.A record of one’s life written by oneself k. Superannuated
12.Killing of one’s king l. Intelligentsia
13.A book or paper written by hand m. Immigrant
14.Retired on account of age, usually with pension n. Optimist
15.The intelligent and educated group or class of a o. Altruist 0
society or country
16.A speech uttered by one person p. Philatelist
17.The tendency to postpone things for future q. Omnipotent
18.One who is interested in the welfare of other people r. Procrastination
19.A swiftly changing scene or pattern s. Polyglot
20. State of being completely self-satisfied t. Autobiography

EXERCISE – One word substitutes

Choose the one which can be substituted for the given words or sentence:
1. One who is an expert in judging art, music, etc.
a. Expert b. connoisseur c. musician d. artist
2. One who hates mankind
a. Philanthropist b. misanthrope c. hater d. rebel
3. The art of beautiful handwriting.
a. Palaeography b. calligraphy c. draftsman d. painter
4. The history of a man written by others
a. Biography b. autobiography c. history d. manuscript
5. A book containing information of all branches of knowledge
a. Refresher b. compendium c. encyclopaedia d. ledger
6. A speech made without preparation
a. Prepared b. debate c. extempore d. elocution
7. A cure for all diseases.
a. Panacea b. cure c. antibiotic d. remedy
8. Government in which all religions are honoured.

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 a. Fanatic b. secular c. catholic d. progressive
9. A place for keeping bees
a. Aviary b. apiary c. cage d. nest
10. A short walk for pleasure or exercise
a. Stroll b. gallop c. jog d. promenade

GENERAL VOCABULARY VERSUS ACADEMIC VOCABULARY

General Vocabulary
General words are words that name a group or a category of a set of things, people, idea, and
he likes. These terms are usually used when you want to discuss an idea as a whole.
Eg. Furniture, money, equipment, shoes.

Academic Vocabulary
Academic Vocabulary refers to words that are traditionally used in academic dialogue and
text. These types of words are used to explain a concept, they are not necessarily common or
frequently encountered in informal conversation.

EXAMPLE
Words related to the lesson: Bleachers, bridle, gore, endangered, bovines, burly, prance,
strut, ripple, ranch.
Words related to Literature and Language: Interpretation, theme, syntax, semantics,
philology, linguistics, Simile, Metaphor, Irony, Pun
Words related to Research: Approach, Methodology, Analysis, Distribution, assessment,
theory.

EXERCISE - General Vocabulary

Do as directed:
Word Part of Synonym Antonym Usage
Speech/Any other
Part of speech
Fragile
Esoteric
Nerve
Lethargy
Emaciated
Enigmatic
Compendium
Ameliorate
Ostentatious
Mitigate
Pilfer
Ecstasy
Emancipate
Accolade
Acumen
Banal
Boisterous
Ingenious

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Impetuous
Catharsis
Appellation
Fastidious
Penchant
Malevolent
EXERCISE – General versus Academic vocabulary

Read the following Newspaper extract and pick out the general and academic vocabulary:

On October 31, the world biggest statue, that of SardarVallabhai Patel, was unveiled in
Gujarat to celebrate the birth anniversary of India’s ‘Iron Man’. As home minister in 1947, he
helped weld together over 500 princely states to create a unified India. His birthday is now
celebrated as National Unity Day.

Paeans of praise have been heaped on Patel. I, however view him as a flawed hero. He was a
great Independence leader. Yet his anniversary is an occasion to remember his failures as
well as successes.

When Independence was close in 1946, the Congress and Muslim League jointly formed an
interim government. Nehru was Prime Minister; Patel was home minister and Liaquat Ali
Khan was finance minister. In this power-sharing experiment, the Congress should have gone
all out to accommodate the Muslim League, showing that Hindus and Muslims could work
together in a united India, avoiding Partition. This did not happen.

General Vocabulary Academic Vocabulary

EXERCISE – General versus Academic vocabulary

Fill the gaps with appropriate words given in brackets of general and academic vocabulary:

A major ailment _______________ (traumatizing, problematizing, afflicting) society that has

come into focus in recent times is Corruption. Just as computers are _________ (ubiquitous,
omniscient, permanent) tools, corruption is an omnipresent disease. Everyone is afflicted with
the virus and no off-the shelf _________ ( clues, remedies, problems) seem to be there.
Corruption has become so widespread and troubles the common man and the business
________ (entities, tactics, politics) so much that it is eating into the very fabric of society.

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Combining this with our ___________(dynamic,exploding, dividing)population where
everyone is coerced into giving bribes to get their _____________ (illegal, legitimate,
awful) work done. This has become the norm while acquiring a ration card, passport,
property registration, or driving licence – all of which is your right to have – by paying a
________ (stipulated, guaranteed, fixed) fee. The industry is equally concerned about the
large amount of money they are having to shell out to get their normal work done.

EXERCISE – Paragraph writing

Write a paragraph of about 250 words on ‘Role of Technology in modern day world’
using appropriate subject specific jargon (Academic vocabulary) and cohesive devices.

___________________________________________________________________________

LITERAL MEANING(DENOTATION) VS CONTEXTUAL MEANING

(CONNOTATION)

Denotation is the literal meaning of a word. It is the definition that one could get from
dictionaries. Thus for example, when we say poor, its denotation could be “a state of having
little or no money”

Connotation is the association that a word has with reference to other ideas. Poor, with its
connotative meaning could be used to refer to people who do not excel in their field. If you
notice, connotations are also derived from the denotative meanings of words.
(Source: https://learnenglishfastnow.wordpress.com)

Use Context to Get a Sense of the Word

It takes practice to understand both the connotation and denotation of a new word, but it's
well worth the effort to do so. The best way to learn a word's connotation is to read it in a
sentence or two to get a sense of how it is used. You can also compare how synonyms are
used to understand which ones are positive, negative or neutral to help you select the best
word for your purposes.

Connotative Words: EXAMPLES

Words with similar denotations can have positive, neutral or negative connotations, refer to the
chart below:

Positive Connotation Neutral Connotation Negative Connotation

interested questioning nosy
employ use exploit
thrifty saving stingy
steadfast tenacious stubborn
sated filled crammed
courageous confident conceited

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unique different peculiar
meticulous selective picky
vintage old decrepit
elated happy manic

EXERCISE - Connotations
Below are groups of similar words used to describe people. What is the connotation of
each word?
1. Childlike, Youthful, Childish, Young
2. Disabled, Crippled, Handicapped, Retarded
3. Relaxed, Laid-back, Lackadaisical, Easygoing
4. Slim, Skinny, Slender, Thin
5. Cheap, Frugal, Miserly, Economical
6. Adolescent, Immature, Juvenile, Innocent
7. Inquisitive, Interested, Curious, Prying
8. Confident, Secure, Proud, Egotistical
9. Lovely, Knockout, Beautiful, Stunning
10. Talkative, Conversational, Chatty, Jabbering

EXERCISE – Negative connotations

Read the sentences below. Identify the words that have a negative connotation.
1. Bedford is a gritty neighborhood, but the rents are low.
2. On my flight to Los Angeles, I sat next to this babe. She was absolutely stunning.
3. Every morning my neighbor takes his mutt to the park. It always barks loudly when
leaving the building.
4. You need to be pushy when you are looking for a job.
5. Bob is bullheaded sometimes, but he always gets the job done.

EXERCISE – Contexual Meaning

Write the literal and contextual meaning of the italicized words in the following sentences:

1. I recognized the familiar smell of my roommate's cooking.

2. Scrapple is an inexpensive meal.
3. Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby.
4. Uncle Henry lives in a hut deep in the woods.
5. Phileas Fogg was an adventurous traveler.
6. We stopped for lunch at a diner in West Virginia.
7. My parents are committed, conservationists.
8. My old laptop has finally died.
9. In a quiet and stealthy way, Bartleby moved into the lawyer's chambers.
10. The teacher was mildly intimidated by Merdine's assertive behavior.

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REMEDIAL GRAMMAR

EXERCISE - Sentence Correction

Correct the following sentences to make them sound grammatically correct.

Eg. Pawan is resembling his father (incorrect)

Pawan resembles his father (correct)

1. I was working in the company for five years

2. I have seen the movie yesterday
3. How long are you here?
4. The room has become very cold. You will not have closed.
5. Last time when I met him, he is working in a private school
6. I have a news for you.
7. What you want to do after dinner?
8. I don’t know what is her name.
9. My children go to the school everyday
10. Give me pen.
11. One of my teachers are from IIT, Kanpur
12. The tree was fallen due to wind
13. They came here by foot
14. She enjoys to listen to music
15. We have completed the project last Monday
16. If my friend comes home today, I go out with him for dinner.
17. My friend and I is on the project team
18. Neither the teachers nor the Principal have given any notice
19. He has been working in the college since 5 years
20. We talked to the concerned person about the payment of fee.

EDITING AND PROOF READING

EXERCISE – Error Correction

Read the following sentences and identify in which part of the sentence there is an error and
write the correct answer in the space provided:

1. Now that she is living in her own flat (a)/ she cleans the windows, (b)/ twice a week
in the summer and once a week in the winter(c)/ No error (d)……………………….
2. This town isn’t very well know (a)/ and there isn’t much to see (b)/so a few tourists
come here (c)/No error (d) ……………………………………………………………

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 3. The majority of the (a)/computer professionals recommends (b)/that effective
measures (c)/should be taken against software piracy (d)/No error (e)………………..
4. The recent study has (a)/indicated that there (b)/is perceptible change in (c)/ the
attitudes of the people (d)/No error ………………………………………………….
5. Our system of assigning (a)/different jobs to different people (b)/should be based on
(c)/their strengths and weaknesses. (d)/No error (e) …………………………………
6. We admired the way (a)/he had completed all his work (b)/ and appreciating the
method (c)/adopted by him.(d) /No error (e) ………………………………………..
7. A picture of (a)/one of the progenitors (b)/of the founder (c)/of the company hanged
(d)/on the wall.(e) /No error (f) ……………………………………………………..
8. It is not difficult to believe that a man (a)/ who has lived in this city for a long time
(b)/ he will never feel at home anywhere else in the world (c)/No error (d)………..
9. By arresting the local criminals (a)/and encouraging good people, (b)/we can end
(c)/hostilities of the area (d)/No error (e) …………………………………………….
10. One of the members (a)/expressed doubt if (b)/the Minister was an atheist(c)/No error
(d)………………………………………………………………………………………

EXERCISE – Proof reading and Editing

Edit the following paragraph to make it grammatically and syntactically acceptable:

Books are, by far, the most lasting product of human effort. Temples crumbles into ruin,
pictures and statues decay, but books survives. Time does not destroy the great thoughts
which is as fresh today as when they first passed through their author’s mind. This
thoughtsspeak to us through printed page. The only effect of time has been to throw out of
currency bad products. Nothing in literature which are not good can live for long. Good
books has always helping man in various sphere of life. No wonder that the world keepit’s
books by great care.

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WRITING SKILLS

Covering Letters:

Writing letters to apply for jobs is an important form of written correspondence, and is an
essential skill to possess for career advancement. Such letters are always attached to one’s
CV/resume and are called covering letters. Below is a sample of a covering letter. You can
also use this as a model to write an email to apply for a job.

Flat No. 36
C Wing
Sea Breeze Apartments
Beach Road
Goa 346 087

19 July 2017

The Personal Manager

Hotel Malabar Palace
M.G. Road
Kochi 643 008

Dear Sir/Madam,
Sub: Application for the post of Assistant Manager, Reservations
This is with reference to your advertisement in the Hindu dated 19 July 2017 calling for
applications for the above post in your hotel.
I am 26 years old and I am a graduate in hotel management from the College of Vocational
Studies, Mumbai. Although I belong to Madhya Pradesh, I am working at present in Hotel
Surya, a three-star hotel in Goa, as a sales executive in Reservations. One of my main
duties here is to liaise with travel agents and private companies and get business for the
hotel. I have been with Hotel Surya since September 2014.
I enclose copies of my school and college certificates as well as a testimonial from the
Manager, Reservations at Hotel Surya.
I would be grateful if you could consider me for the advertised position.

Yours faithfully,

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(Asif Ahmed)
Encl. 1. Copies of certificates
2. Testimonial

CURRICULUM VITAE/RESUME

A Curriculum Vitae (Resume in American English) is a brief written account of your

personal details such as full name, address and telephone number, educational qualifications,
previous work experience, languages spoken, and sometimes your interests, that you send
with a short letter of application when you are trying to get a job or admission to a course of
study. A resume tells the employers what they would like to know about an applicant before
they can shortlist them for an interview. It is basically a document that showcases your
suitability for the job in question. The information should be presented in a neat, clear and
easy-to-read format.

A Curriculum Vitae is longer, is arranged chronologically, is a full record of education and

career history and is static and follows a fixed format. A Resume is brief, can be arranged in
various ways to suit the position being applied for (i.e, to highlight the work experience,
educational qualifications etc), is a targeted list of skills and achievements, follows no
specific format and is customisable.

Sample CV:

Curriculum Vitae

Name: ShantaSwaroop

Address:A 23, Garden View, Saket, New Delhi 110 001

Phones:26658278, 9966240784

Nationality:Indian

Date of Birth: 6 August 1986

Objective: To obtain the position of a banking sales executive

Work Experience: July 2011 – June 2016: Working as sales assistant in Capital Chit
Funds

Job Profile: Identifying clients, establishing contact and selling company’s schemes

Academic Qualifications:
 2011 Postgraduate diploma in marketing, BVB Institute of Marketing and
Management, Ghaziabad
 2010 B. Com, Maitreyi College, New Delhi (70%)
 2007 All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, KendriyaVidyalaya,
Andrews Ganj, New Delhi (75%)

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  2005 All Indian Secondary Certificate Examination, KendriyaVidyalay, Andrews
Ganj, New Delhi (65%)

Other Qualifications/Skills:
Diploma in C++, working knowledge of Microsoft Excel

EXERCISES – Resume writing and Cv

Write a covering letter and a Resume/CV to be sent in response to the following

advertisements:

1. Trainee SoftwareEngineer, Ed Ventures E-learning Pvt Lit, Hyderabad

Eligibility Criteria: Should have a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering on any of these
streams (CSE/IT) with 70% and above throughout the academics – Demonstrate an
aptitude and appetite for learning new technologies, evidenced by the ability to
expand upon core knowledge.

2. Fresher- Apple Group, Hyderabad – Must be proficient in development

environments, debugging tools and source control systems.

3. Software Engineer inINFOSYS, Hyderabad - The candidate should have got trained
in any programming language – should possess good communication skills, both oral
and written and possess good interpersonal skills. The candidate should have
familiarization to Desktop/Web applications and industry standard User Interface.

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