Improve Your English – 236 [Archives:2004/738/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situation and expressions:
Felicitations on the Graduation Day

Graduation! A dream come true; culmination of years of toil; fullfilment of a vision of hope; a passport to a young man's entry to public life; a transition from life devoted to academic pursuits to one of being a nucleus to radiate the knowledge acquired over the years for the betterment of the society. Graduation is, therefore, an auspicious turning point in a budding intellectual's life and career that deservedly earns him accolades from friends and well-wishers around.

– 'The key to happiness is having dreams The key to success is making them come true.' May the degree you've received be a key to open doors and make your dreams become a reality. May it lead to the fulfillment of things you've planned to do, and to bring you satisfaction in the years ahead of you. Congratulations on your graduation.
– You have put your heart and soul to come to this special moment. May you look forward to a bright future now that you've graduated.
– At this important time in your life, this graduation message brings warm congratulations and then a wish to say: may everything you're hoping for in future years, come true, and may each new endeavor bring success and joy to you.
– Heartiest congratulations on your graduation. This is an occasion when congratulations are due, and it certainly is a pleasure to be sending them to you! Your extraordinary brilliance to meet every challenge, unmatched wisdom to make right decisions and always a strong belief in yourself and your abilities has made you reach the pinnacle of success.
– For you with love, as you graduate. 'The greatest gift you can give to those around is yourself.' Wherever you go in the future, whatever success you pursue, remember, you are loved and valued simply for being you. Congratulations.

II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. A list of books recently added to the library have been posted on the notice board.
2. This is the station from which we setout from on that rotten journey.
3. In reply to your letter. There are no vacancies in July.
4. The travelers owing to the noise from the airfield and their uncomfortable beds did not get a lot of sleep that night.
5. The Committee insisted that myself – as captain of the team – should make a speech at the dinner.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Walid, Raydan and Nasry discussed the news at Walid's house.
2. One should always carry a map when one is in an unknown place.
3. If I were you, I would go by train.
Note: When the 'if words' introduce a purely imaginary condition, that is one extremely unlikely to be true, use 'were'
4. Ali's father was angry at the mess in the kitchen (no error)
5. He badly needs his hair cutting.

III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. The representation on map of natural and artificial features of a town/district etc.
2. A student who runs away from the class or school without permission.
3. One who easily gives up his party or principles.
4. An event that happens once in three years.
5. A truth which is often repeated.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. An elderly unmarried woman: spinster (n)
2. Communication between mind and mind: telepathy (n)
3. The branch of science that deals with the principles of classification: taxology (n)
4. The art of preparing and mounting skins of animals in life-like manner: taxidermy (n)
5. That which relates to a barber or his work: tonsorial (adj)

(B) Foreign words and phrases
Give the source of origin and meaning of the following:
1. metathesis 2. meter 3. metonymy
4. mime 5. minstrel

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. masque (Fr. 'mask'): A dance of masked figures. A masque was a fairly elaborate form of courtly entertainment which was particularly popular in the reigns of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I. It combined poetic drama, song, dance and music.
2. maxim (Lat. 'propositio maxima', 'greatest theme'): Widely accepted rule of conduct or general truth briefly expressed (eg. 'Waste not, want not')
3. melodrama (Gk. 'song drama'): Exciting and emotional drama, usually with a happy ending.
4. metaphor (Gk. 'carrying from one place to another'): Example of the use of words to indicate something different from the literal meaning.
5. metastasis (Gk. 'a changing' a cursory treatment of a matter'): A glossing over as if it were of no importance.

(C ) Words commonly confused
Bring out the differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. vacant, empty
2. spiritual, spirituel, spirituous
3. disburse, disperse
4. fictitious, factitious
5. evolve, devolve

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. liberty (n) (state of being free from captivity, slavery, imprisonment, etc): We must fight to defend our liberty.
freedom (n) (condition of being free): India won freedom from the British rule in the year 1947.
2. principal (adj) (highest in order of importance): The principal secretary to the government made a review of the progress of the developmental projects.
principle (n) (guiding rule for behavior): One should stick to one's principles.
3. lovable (adj) (worthy of love): He has a lovable nature.
lovely (adj) (beautiful; attractive; pleasant): It's lovely weather here today.
4. memorable (adj) (deserving to be remembered): We had a memorable experience at the party last evening.
memorial (n) (something made or done to remind people of an event, person, etc.): A war memorial has been erected to commemorate the martyrs of freedom.
5. popular (adj) (liked and admired): Dr. Mohammed is very popular among students.
populous (adj) (thickly populated): New Delhi is one of the most populous cities in the world.

(D) Idioms and phrases
Bring out the meanings of the following in illustrative sentences
1. pitch in 2. break the back of
3. for nothing 4. take things easy
5. be news to

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. the salt of the earth (a very good and worthy person): Mother Teresa was an angel for the down-trodden. She really was the salt of the earth
2. have a nose for (something): (to be good at discovering things): The police officer always has a nose for a way to elicit the truth from a culprit.
3. slip one's mind (to be forgotten about): I'm sorry I couldn't attend the party; it just slipped my mind.
4. be living on a shoe string (to have very little money): Following her husband's sudden and premature demise, she is living on a shoe string and can not obviously afford luxury.
5. rope in (someone) in (to do something) (to persuade someone to join in doing something): We are trying to rope in volunteers for the community welfare work.

IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete the sentences with one of the words below in the correct form. Use each word twice
give, cause, make, bring
1. Please don't shout at her. You'll only )) her cry!
2. The letter may )) you the news that you are expecting.
3. He )) a lot of problems by interfering in this affair.
4. It can't )) you any satisfaction to be so unpleasant.
5. Football fans often )) a lot of damage after the match has ended.
6. It you said you loved me that would )) me very happy.
7. Wealth doesn't always )) happiness.
8. Don't forget to phone your grand mother! It always )) her so much pleasure to hear your voice.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. I was very annoyed by her refusal to help me.
2. Governments around the world are becoming increasingly worried about both air and sea pollution.
3. I don't like Shakespeare; I find most of his plays rather boring.
4. The shops are in the central area of the city.
5. The government has sent in more than a hundred military advice to help the army.

(B) Composition
Expand the idea contained in the maxim
67: Handsome is that handsome does

Last week's topics:
66: Humor is the salt of life
Pleasure and pain are the cat and dog in the double bed of life. Each of us should be prepared to take hardship with a stride. We should learn how to laugh away the pain and penury of the sad, gloomy, miserable and comfortless circumstances. It is said the world is a tragedy to those who feel and a comedy to those who think. Thus if we take every contingency seriously, life may become an unbearable burden. A sense of humor especially at cheerless moments is a great redeeming feature to pull a person from the quagmire of pessimism and put him back on rails. That's why it is rightly observed, laughter is the cheapest luxury man enjoys. It is a veritable tranquilizer with no side-effects. One needs to demonstrate one's largeness of heart by the ability to laugh. Laughter, indeed, is the best medicine to liberate us from the bondage of life's trials and tribulations.

V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
“If any do deeds
Of righteousness, )
Be they male or female –
And have faith,
They will enter Heaven,
And not the least injustice
Will be done to them.
S4:A124

VI. Words of Wisdom
“Common sense is in spite of, not the result of, education” )Victor Hugo
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