Improve Your English (243) [Archives:2004/752/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
Associate Professor
College of Education, Mahweet
[email protected]
Tel: (01) 465396
Mobile: 73889013
P. O. Box 14533, Sana'a
I. What to Say
Situations and Expressions (68)
Friendship Day (IV)

Blessed is the man who enjoys the privilege of the company of good and honest friends. Verily, one is hallowed to have the august association of friends who love to give their all without any expectation of a return.

– Friend! You are my spirit-lifting, joy-bringing, problem-solving, gift-giving, heart-mending, love-sending, soul-searching, laughter-sharing, story-telling, fun-seeking, merry-making, forever kind friend who means the most to me!
– Our companionship, dear friend, gives me the comfort of knowing that I can always rely upon you. And it's because of your support and you by my side that my life is a whole lot brighter and happier, too. It gives me a feeling that someone is there for me forever. True friends like us don't always need a lot of words to stay close. There's a silent communication always taking place within our minds and hearts my friend, no matter how far apart we are, we can stay close with few words, as long as there is love in our hearts for each other.
– A friend enriches life with the most beautiful joys. With you, dear friend, simple joys of life become special and are kept dear to the heart I feel happy to share my dreams with you and contented to find that they'll surely come true if I'm with you. Lots of love.
– Our friendship means the world to me. Surely, there are a lot of people in our lives who we care about and spend times with; but when it comes down to what's important, when we really need someone to count on, you're the first person I think of and rely on, too You're there without question, any judgment and without any condition. You're what a friend ought to be. Thank you so much for being mine.

II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. Ahmed Azzan is the runner whom I think will win.
2. Gloria was the star who the crowds flocked to see.
3. I have seen the traveling arrangements, and you and us are starting at different times.
4. The height of the building is 40 meters high.
5. The rainfall of Cherapunji in India is wetter than that of any other place.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. They are twins, but they are not at all like each other.
2. Have you seen any of those four boys?
3. Richard was beaten in the final because Tom had trained harder than he.
4. In the end it was I who started the problem.
5. Politicians forget that it is we voters who have to pay.

III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. Pleasant and easy to talk to.
2. Be engaged to marry.
3. Project for planting large areas with trees.
4. Business to be discussed at a meeting.
5. Person employed to find suspected criminals.

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Something that exists or moves through air: aerial (adj)
2. Science dealing with the forces exerted by air (or other gases) in motion: aerodynamics (n)
3. Science of aviation: aeronautics (n)
4. Person who claims to have great love for and understanding of what is beautiful in nature: aesthete (n)
5. Study of the cause of a disease: aetiology/etiology (n)

(B) Common terms and their origin
Give the source of origin and meaning of the following:
1. pamphlet 2. panegyric 3. pantomime
4. parable 5. paradigm

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. orientalism (a term pertaining to the Orient as described, defined, produced and, in a sense, 'invented' by Europe and the West.
2. orismology (Gk 'definition of knowledge'): The explanation of technical terms.
3. ottava rima (It. 'eighth rhyme'): An eight-line iambic stanza rhyming abababcc.
4. oxymoron (Gk. 'pointedly foolish'): A figure of speech which combines incongruous and apparently contradictory words and meanings for a special effect. Ex. 'I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief' (Lamb).
5. palaeography (Gk. 'ancient writing'): The study of and the art of deciphering manuscripts, inscriptions and writing.

(C) Words commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. ghastly, ghostly
2. compulsion, obligation
3. conscious, conscientious
4. handsome, beautiful
5. choir, coir

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. respectable (adj) (person of good character and fair social position): He may be poor, but is certainly respectable.
respectful (adj) (showing respect to): They stood at a respectful distance from the President.
2. re-dress (vt) (put on clothes again): This wound needs to be re-dressed every alternate day.
redress (vt) (set a wrong right again): You should confess and redress your errors.
3. ostensible (adj) (put forward a reason to hide the real reason): He came here with the ostensible objective of collecting secret information.
ostentatious (adj) (displaying wealth, learning, skill, etc.): Ostentatious arrangements were made for the marriage reception.
4. honorary (adj) (degree or rank conferred as an honor): An honorary doctoral degree was conferred on the President.
honorable (adj) (possessing or showing the principles of honor): The society has become so polluted that honorable men are rare.
5. gracious (adj) (pleasant, kind; agreeable): We are grateful to you for your gracious presence.
graceful (adj) (having or showing grace): She is a graceful dancer.

(D) Idioms and phrases
Use the following phrases in illustrative sentences
1. in the soup
2. a bone of contention
3. cry one's eye out
4. a dark horse
5. let the cat out of the bag

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. the die is cast (something has been done which makes the future inevitable): He has sent in his resignation and so the die is cast.
2. be with someone in spirit (to be thinking of someone, although not actually present in person): I am unable to attend your wedding ceremony, but I'll be with you in spirit.
3. put two and two together (to work out something): He worked very hard and finally put two and two together.
4. loom large (to be about to happen and so to be very important): We have to work hard because the final exam is looming large.
5. have other fish to fry (to have something else to do): My friend wanted me to accompany him to the party, but I have other fish to fry – I have to visit my sick relative in the hospital.

IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete the following sentences with a suitable form of 'having something done'.
1. That's a nice photo of you. When (you/it/take)
2. These clothes are very dirty. Do you know where (I/can/them/dry-clean)
3. I think your car needs a bit of attention. When was the last time (you/it/service)
4. Their house will be much warmer this winter because (they/central heating/install)
5. He couldn't eat properly because (he/his back teeth/ take out)

Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Students were so enthusiastic to organize the picnic that the Dean could not refuse them.
2. It was such an expensive car that we couldn't afford to buy it.
3. The rent of the house was so high that I was forced to look for a cheaper one.
4. It was such a crowded city that I felt claustrophobic.
5. The football players were so good that they scored an easy victory.
6. The coffee was so strong that no one liked it.
7. It was such a long journey that we got extremely tired.
8. They were such naughty children that all the neighbors complained against them.
9. The film star was so talented that he bagged the best actor prize for three years in a row.
10. The company was so successful that it is going to open two new units soon.

(B) Composition
Expand the central idea contained in the maxim
71: If wishes were horses, beggars could ride them

Suggested answers to last week's questions
The Cultural Attache Majid Al Aliee
Indian Embassy Al-Rakas Street
Djibouti Street Hayel Street
Sana'a Sana'a

Dear Mr. Krishna Kumar,
I am writing to apply for the position of Public Affairs Associate which was advertised last week in the Yemen Times.
Although I am presently employed by a non-profit making organization, it has always been my intention to work in an embassy. I would particularly welcome the chance to work for your organization and as you will notice on my enclosed CV, the job you are offering matches both my personal and professional interests.
My work experience has familiarized me with many of the challenges involved in public relations today. I am sure that this, together with my understanding of the needs and expectations of your organization, would be extremely relevant to the position. Moreover, I am fluent in English and would definitely enjoy working in a professional environment.
I would be pleased to discuss my CV with you in more detail at an interview. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely
Majid Al-Aliee

V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
VI. Food for Thought
“What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”
)Confucius
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