Improve Your English – 180 [Archives:2003/632/Education]
Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (46):
Expressing in how many cases a statement is true (IV)
Here are a few more ways of expressing in how many cases a statement is true:
– In no way can I hope to remedy the situation.
– Under no circumstances am I willing to take to the path of dishonesty.
– On no account must you go there.
– No longer is the voice of reason being heard.
– In no other place/country are foreigners given so much respect and recognition as in Yemen.
– At no cost am I going to let my friend down.
– At no other time can you buy this at a cheaper price.
– Never before was life so comfortable as it is now.
– Neither did you come nor he showed up.
– By no means is it desirable to neglect one's duties and responsibilities.
– In none of the cases did the university show any leniency.
– Little did I know that there was so much humiliation in store for me.
– Few are the friends who could stand by you in need.
– In only few cases did the minister intervene.
– Only rarely does a country get a leader like President Saleh.
– Hardly ever is he seen sitting with his books.
– Hardly had I gone a few steps when it started raining.
– No sooner did the teacher enter the class than the students stood up.
II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. He accused the man for stealing.
2. Faiz has not come also.
3. I want to tell me the truth.
4. From now and on I will study hard.
5. When school is over I go to home.
Answers to last week's questions
1. Ahmed is absorbed in his work.
2. I asked my friend for his book.
3. Do your work without speaking.
4. The student failed to answer my question.
Note: But the noun 'answer' takes 'to'. Ex: His answer to my question was wrong.
5. Last night I went to a park. Or, I went to a park last night.
III. Increase your Word Power
A) How to express it in one word
1. A person who makes drawings of all the parts of a new building.
2. To feel weak after illness.
3. A list of characters in a play.
4. A measured amount of liquid swallowed at one time.
5. A state of affairs in which neither side wins.
Answers to last week's questions
1. To sleep lightly: doze (vi)
2. A group of twelve: dozen (det)
3. A group of twenty: score (det)
4. First public appearance: debut (n)
5. The first rough written form of anything: draft (n)
B) Foreign phrases and expressions
Use the following expressions in sentences
1. cure; 2. curriculum vitae;
3. dauphin; 4. debacle; 5. debris
Answers to last week's questions
1. corpus delicti (Lat) (the facts which together show that a criminal act has taken place): The corpus delicti provided conclusive evidence about the motive of murder.
2. coup de grace (Fr) (a blow or shot intended to kill a suffering person or animal): His chances of getting the job suffered the coup de grace when the chairperson became interested for another candidate.
3. coup d'etat (Fr) (a sudden or violent seizure of power by a small group): The king was dethroned in a military coup d'etat.
4. cr'che (Fr) (a place where babies and young children are cared for by specially trained people while their mothers work): There is a cr'che available where she works.
5. cuisine (Fr) (a style of cooking): This hotel is famous for Chinese cuisine.
C) Word commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words:
1. custodial, custodian
2. custom, customs
3. cut-out, cut out
4. cut throat, cutthroat
5. door keeper, door man
Answers to last week's questions
1. abjure (vt) (promise on oath to give up evil ways): He solemnly promised to abjure alcohol.
adjure (vt) (to request earnestly): They adjured the suspect to tell the truth.
2. adaptation (n) (making suitable for a new need): This play is an adaptation of a famous English novel.
adoption (n) (taking as one's own): If India is the country of my birth, Yemen is the country of my adoption.
3. adoration (n) (love, worship): He has deep adoration for the English Romantic poetry.
adulation (n) (the giving of too much praise or respect to win favor): His adulation for the boss has reached ridiculous proportions.
4. advantageous (adj) (profitable, helpful): Renting a house near their children's school will be very advantageous for them.
adventitious (adj) (accidental): The adventitious arrival of the relief materials greatly helped the cyclone victims.
5. adventuress (n) (woman adventurer): Bacchindra Pal, an Indian adventuress, scaled the mount Everest.
adventurous (adj) (full of danger and excitement): Kalpana Chawla embarked on an adventurous voyage to space.
D) Idioms and phrases
Use the following phrases and idiomatic expressions in sentences
1. in bad faith; 2. contrary to;
3. to the contrary; 4. on the contrary;
5. open and above board
Answers to last week's questions
1. strike a balance (to reach an arrangement which is fair to every body): Many countries made unsuccessful efforts to strike a balance between the US and Iraq.
2. bad blood (angry feeling): There is a lot of bad blood between them.
3. bad debt (a debt that is unlikely to be paid): I have got to forget about the money I lent him as bad debt.
4. in a bad temper (angrily): You shouldn't take every harmless joke in a bad temper.
5. go bad (to become unfit to eat): The meat has gone bad due to hot weather.
IV. Grammar and Composition
A) Grammar
Substitute one of the following words or phrases for the parts of the following sentences which are in italics
Racial prejudice, religious bigotry, to exploit, equality of opportunity, discriminated against, unconventional beliefs, treat women badly/like second class citizens, are prejudiced
1. The new sex discrimination act gives women the same chance as men in the field of employment.
2. Men have previously tended to behave towards women as if they were inferior.
3. It was only people with unusual ideas who thought that women should not be taken advantage of.
4. It is possible that a lot of men still have unreasonable feelings against women.
5. The new law, however, means that women cannot be treated worse than men.
Answers to last week's questions
British English and American English are different languages, or rather they are distinctly different dialects of the same language. Nevertheless, the two 'dialects' are slowly moving closer together for a variety of reasons, especially, as a result of telecommunications. There has been a kind of rivalry for well over two centuries. In particular this rivalry has expressed itself in 'mutual snobbishness', in other words each language has been regarding the other as somehow 'inferior.'
Attitudes in Britain have changed a lot in the last twenty years, at least the attitudes of some people have changed.
Young people, particularly university students, tend to use more 'American words' than their elders. You will still find the occasional true-bred English 'bull dog' who insist that the American language, in particular the accent, has a corrupting influence. What such people do not seem to realize is that English is a living language, and what is more the importation and coining of new words and phrases is absolutely essential in our ever-changing world.
B) Composition
Expand the idea contained in the saying
14. IF WINTER COMES, CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?
Answers to last week's questions
13. THEY ALSO SERVE WHO
ONLY STAND AND WAIT
This line written by John Milton, an eminent English poet of the 17th century, illustrates a thought provoking idea. It implies that service, in the real sense of the term, consists not only in actual performance of duty, but also in willingness and readiness to serve when called upon or when one's turn comes. If a master has a number of servants, he does not need the services of all of them at one and the same time. There may be some of his servants whose services might never be needed, although they are not only ready but eager to serve their master whose kindness and generously bestowed gifts they are enjoying.
But they may not get the opportunity to serve him. They have always waited for their turn so that they might show their gratitude to him. They have not been idle or disobedient, but ever ready to do their humble bit. Here the 'master' symbolizes God. The true significance of this idea is that true service of God is to bear patiently and uncomplainingly whatever He gives because they serve Him best who best bear His mild yoke. Humble submission to the will of God or unsceptical acceptance of His commands and readiness to serve Him when one's turn comes is the truest and best homage that one can pay to the Almighty.
V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
” Allah knowth well
All the secrets of the heart.”
S3 :A119
VI. Words of Wisdom
“Art is power.”
)Longfellow
——
[archive-e:632-v:13-y:2003-d:2003-04-21-p:education]
