Improve Your English – 252 [Archives:2004/770/Education]
Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (70):
Marriage Anniversary
Marriage anniversary revives the fond memories of the happy wedding. The couple reaffirm their love for each other and pledge to cross many more milestones of their happy togetherness.
– Congratulations as you celebrate your anniversary. Warm wishes for a future that just keeps getting better.
– May the happiness and love that the two of you have shared over the years be just the start of more beautiful times ahead and may you find that the bond of your love keeps growing stronger, with each passing year that you are together.
– Don't worry about potholes on the way. Keep celebrating the journey year after year. Happy Marriage Anniversary!
– Happy Anniversary with lots of love. Congratulations as you celebrate your anniversary. Warm wishes for a future that just keeps getting better.
II. How to say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. One should always help his friends in difficulty.
2. Hana should avail of this golden opportunity to get success in her life.
3. In Bombay he enjoyed to his heart's content during his stay at Taj Hotel.
4. If I were him, I would not go there at any cost.
5. The speed of my new motor cycle is much higher than the old one.
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. I love going there at any time of the day.
2. I feel that it is quite easy to do this work without the help of others.
3. He should take leave of you after an hour.
4. You and he tried your best to pass the exam.
5. Every one of us should do his duty to the mother land.
III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. The distance between the middle and the top or bottom of a sound wave.
2. The study of animal behavior.
3. The study of human bodily communication.
4. Word or phrase made by changing the order of letters in another word or phrase.
5. The condition of being unable to feel pain even though conscious.
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. The character, quality, feeling, etc of a place: ambience (n)
2. Having opposing feelings towards, or opinions about, one person or thing: ambivalent (adj)
3. Things or circumstances that make life easy or pleasant: amenity (n)
4. Appliance for increasing the strength of electrical signal: amplifier (n)
5. Study of laughter: gelotology (n)
(B) Some useful terms and their origin
Give the source of origin and meaning of the following
1. slang 2. slogan 3. solecism
4. soliloquy 5. sonnet
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. serial (Lat. 'series': 'row, chain, succession'): The term serial is derived from Neo-Latin 'Serialis' in the 1830s. There are three basic usages: a) a story occurring in sections in a magazine; b) a work published or broadcast on television or radio in parts; c) a periodical like a scientific journal which has numerous part and is catalogued.
2. sermon (Lat. 'sermo' 'talk, discourse'): As a form of literature is a means of the preaching orders.
3. sic (Lat. 'so'): Put in brackets after a word or expression or even perhaps a sentence from a quoted passage to indicate that it is quoted accurately even though it may be incorrect, absurd or grotesque.
4. simile (Lat. neuter of 'similis': 'like'): A figure of speech in which one thing is likened to another, in such a way as to clarify and enhance an image. It is an explicit comparison (as opposed to the metaphor, where the comparison is implicit) recognizable by the use of the words 'like' or 'as'.
5. similitude (from Lat. 'likeness'): A synonym for parable and allegory; and thus in the sense 'in the guise of'.
(C ) Words commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. sanguinary, sanguine 2. shade, shadow
3. casual, causal 4. whither, wither
5. abet, abate
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. communication (n) (the act of passing on news, information, etc.): Communication is a basic need of human beings.
communion (n) (think deeply of moral or religious problems): He has a religious bent of mind and holds communion with himself.
2. cheat (vt) (act in a dishonest way to win an advantage or profit): You shouldn't cheat in the exam.
deceive (vt) (play a trick on): We were deceived into believing that all was well whereas there were serious problems.
3. delightful (adj) (giving great pleasure): Wish you a delightful holiday.
delicious (adj) (pleasing to the sense of taste or smell): The chocolate cake is very delicious.
4. freedom (n) (the state of being free): During the holidays students enjoy their freedom.
liberty (n) (freedom from prison, control, etc.): Can I have the liberty of disclosing my mind?
5. attend (vt) (give care and thought to): I have to attend an important meting today.
escort (n) (person or persons going with another or others or with valuable goods to protect them): The remittance was sent under police escort.
(D) Idioms and phrases
Use the following idioms in illustrative sentences
1. as fresh as a daisy
2. flog a dead horse
3. play one's cards right
4. be on the go
5. be in a cold sweat
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. at full stretch (exerting full power, energy, etc. in doing something): The advocate made efforts at full stretch to save his client.
2. out of the top drawer (out of the upper social classes): People out of the top drawer have little knowledge about the sufferings of the poor.
3. have a job (to have difficulty in doing something): You will have a job proving your innocence in the matter.
4. to make one's bed and have to lie in it (to have to suffer the consequences of one's own actions): No one sympathizes with him after he committed an offence because he made his own bed and has to lie in it.
5. work like a charm (to be very effective): Her soothing words worked like a charm on him.
IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Rewrite the sentences without changing the meaning
1. The musical concert was so successful that all the tickets were sold. It was
2. 'Drop in and see me tomorrow.' Ali said to me. Ali told
3. He carried on working in spite of his illness. Although
4. I haven't seen my aunt and uncle for quite a long time. It's
5. Henry wasn't hurt because he was wearing a seat bet. If
6. I won't let you forget about your appointment. I'll
7. They crossed the Atlantic in just over three days. It
8. She isn't old enough to play in the championship. She is too
9. Someone almost certainly stole the car during the night. The care must
10. He didn't become an accountant because he failed his exams. If
Suggested answers to last week's questions
1. Profile: a description of a person's characteristics
2. attitude: a way of thinking or behaving
3. relationship: the connection between two or more people
4. meeting: an assembly of people, especially for discussion
5. suit: to be right or convenient for
6. bonus: a sum of money given in addition to a salary
7. motivate: to stimulate someone to take an interest in something
8. redundancies: reduction in the number of employees
9. sack: to tell an employee that he/she must leave his/her job
10. rationalize: a statement which tells you what you should do
(B) Composition
Expand the central idea contained in the maxim
78: Liberty cannot exist without discipline
Last week's topic
77: Love knows no barriers
Love is an elemental emotion. It is an image of God. Love is a fine flower and the salt of life. 'Love consists of lots of emotion and sighed effect.' It is such a powerful emotion that knows no bounds. That's why it is said that 'love's law is out of rule and that love rules its kingdom without a sword.' Shakespeare exclaims: “O powerful love! That in some respects makes a beast a man, in some other, a man a beast.” Under the powerful and overpowering impulse of love, the lovers are prepared to face any challenge or hardship however formidable it may seem to be. The course of true love never runs smooth; yet love conquers all barriers of caste or class or social status and seeks fulfillment or consummation at all costs.
V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
VI. Food for Thought
“I am a happy man, indeed. I visit the Pure Land as often as I like; I'm there and I'm back, I'm there and I'm back.”
)Saichi
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