Improve Your English – 225 [Archives:2004/716/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (62):
Birthday wishes (V)

Birthday wishes bestow on us a bouquet of benediction that goes a long way to make our life cheerful and sublime. They also make us re-define our relationships, giving them warmth and strength which are invaluable assets to steer us through.

– May pleasure walk with you always. May luck smile upon you and may joy be at home in your heart.” If your Birthday is a perfect one right from the very start and brings you all the things it takes to make a happy heart and if it's filled with special joys and pleasant moments, too, you'll know that all the wishes that were wished for you come true. Happy Birthday.
– A spcial prayer for God's blessings on your Birthday. Have faith in God, for He will bring the very best of everything. Wishing you every blessing as you celebrate your special day, beautiful dreams as you begin another year. May God's loving presence be there in your life always. Happy Birthday.
– Wishing you wonderful moments on your Birthday. You're wished the kind of day that's wonderful in every way with moments bright as butterflies, light and breezy. A perfect day to take it easy, with all your favorite things to do and dreams just waiting to come to you.
– Thorns are but steps to the flowers of success. What better time can there be than now, that your Birthday is here, to wish you joys that keep on growing. Happy Birthday.
– Faith is believing in the shores when you are at mid sea. Affectionate wishes for every good thing that a wonderful day can possibly bring. A happy Birthday.
– You're also wished lovely things which, if they come true, will make me glad because there's no one who deserves them more than you.
– Nothing means more than sharing every moment with you and letting you know that you're very important. Happiness always!

II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any in the following sentences
1. I intended to have met you at the airport.
2. You cannot depend on him because his character and conduct have not been good.
3. The great Akbar, worked for the welfare of not only the Muslims but also the Hindus.
4. The English have left our country with bag and baggage.
5. High and low, rich and pour, wise and foolish must all die

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. You should avail yourself of the opportunity without fail.
2. Yemen not only represents a cradle of an ancient civilization, but also is a confluence of cultures.
3. Every one should perform his duty.
4. He always sits in the middle of the class.
5. The murderer was hanged till death.

III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. Animals of a particular region or epoch.
2. One who is genuinely interested in the emancipation of women.
3. The tendency to grow downwards.
4. The scientific study of old age and related diseases.
5. Of animals which live in-groups.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. A state of mental weariness caused by lack of interest and having nothing to do: ennui (n.).
2. Writing inscribed on a tomb: epitaph (n.).
3. Fruit-eating animals: frugivorous (n.).
4. Meat -eating animals: carnivores (n.)
5. The study of man as an animal: anthropology (n.)

(B) Foreign words and expressions
Give the origins and meanings of the following
1. diatribe. 2. dictionary
3. didactic. 4. ellipsis.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. deixis (Gk 'to show' in grammar and linguistics) The use of words relating to the person, time and place of utterance. For example, personal pronouns (I, you, it/them), demonstrative adjectives and adverbs (this, that, here, there, now, then) (adjectival form: 'deictic').
2. denouement (Fr. ' unknowing'): it may refer to the event or events following the major climax of a plot, or the unravelling of a plot's complications at the end of a story or play.
3. diachronic (Gk 'through/across time'): A term coined by Ferdinand de Sauaaure (1857 – 1913) A diachronic approach to the study of a language involves an examination of its origins, development, history and change.
4. synchronic (GK 'together time'): This Saussurean concept entails the study of a linguistic system in a particular state, without reference to time.
5. dialysis (Gk 'dismembering'): the term denotes a method of analysis, argument or inquiry by which all the possible reasons for or against something are put forward and then disposed of rationally.

(B) Words often confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following
1) temper, temperament. 2) hart, heart.
3) bridal, bridle. 4) corps, corpse.
5) differ, defer.

Suggested answers for last week's questions
1) contact (n.) (state of touching or coming together): I have lost contact with my childhood friends.
contract (n.) (binding agreement between persons): I have signed a contract with Sana'a university.
2) air (n.) (the mixture of gases which we breathe): We should breathe pure air.
heir (n.) (person with the legal right to receive a title, property, etc. when the owner dies): The eldest son is usually the heir to father's property.
3) lesson (n.) (something to be learnt or taught): She is now taking lessons in music.
lessen (Vt.) (make or become less): We should make efforts to lessen the suffering of the downtrodden.
4) metal (n.) (any of a class of mineral substances): He deals in metals.
mettle (n.) (quality of endurance and courage): President Saleh is a man of mettle.
5) sore(adj.) (hurting when touched or used): I have a sore throat.
sour (adj.) (having a sharp taste): Grapes are sour.
soar (Vi.) (fly or go up high in the air)
His ambition soars high.

(C) Idioms and phrases
Bring out the meaning of the following in sentences.
1) pen and ink. 2) without fear or favour.
3) Judas kiss 4) on the knees of gods
5) neck and crop.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1) to fight shy of (trying to avoid a person): Don't fight shy of telling the truth.
2) to gild the pill (cover an unpleasant thing with something pleasant): He demanded an unusually high rate of interest on the loan, but gilded the pill by offering some discount.
3) to nip in the bud (to destroy in early stages of growth, to kill in infancy): When her father died prematurely, her ambitions were nipped in the bud.
4) other fish to fry (more important work to attend to): I can't give you more time. I have other fish to fry.
5) go to roost (retire for the night): You're yawning; you seem to be ready to go to roost.

IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete the following sentences with these words.
achieve board of directors communication
innovation manageable performance resources
setting supervise
1. Managers have to decide how best to allocate the human, physical and capital _ available to them.
2. Managers have to make sure that the jobs and tasks given to their subordinates are _
3. There is no point in ________ objectives if you don't _ them to your staff.
4. Managers have to ____ their subordinate, and to measure, and try to improve, their______.
5. Managers have to check whether objectives and targets are being _.
6. A top manager whose performance is unsatisfactory can be dismissed by the company's _.
7. Top managers are responsible for the ____ that will allow a company to adapt to a changing world.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Potatoes are grown by farmers
2. Coal is dug out by miners
3. Eyes are tested by opticians
4. Food is cooked by chefs
5. Books are written by authors
6. Letters are typed out by secretaries
7. Horses are ridden by jockeys
8. Portraits are painted by artists
9. Money is lent by bankers
10. Planes are flown by pilots
11. Criminals are caught by detectives.

(B) Composition: Paragraph writing
Expand the idea contained in the saying
56. Distance lends
enchantment to view

Last week's topic
55.Discretion is the
better part of valour
Discretion means prudence which implies the ability to decide what is most suitable to be done. A truly valiant or brave person does not thoughtlessly plunge into a difficult situation. He rather makes a realistic assessment of the situation in depth and detail of different dimensions of the situation, adequately equips him self for the task and then swings into action. Stratagem is better that strength. Wisdom and bravery go together. In a battle victory is not always assured to the party which has armory and troops, but lacks proper planning. On the other hand, one who has made a realistic study of the enemy's strength and adopts an effective strategy has greater chances of a win. It is not true sign of bravery and strength to leap before looking: A wise man exercises utmost restraint and caution before deciding to take any action.

V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
“Those who believe
fight in the cause of Allah,
And those who reject faith
Fight in the cause of Evil (Tagut):”
S.4A.76

VI.Words of Wisdom
“There are only two forces in the world, the sword and the spirit. In the long run, the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.”
)Napoleon Bonapart
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