Improve Your English – 266 [Archives:2005/820/Education]
Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (76):
Job advertisement (III)
One of the striking features of the language of job advertisements is its sharpness, focus and lack of ambiguity. In addition, the suppleness and grace of the language of ads lure the potential candidate to feel strongly motivated to offer his candidature.Let's look at some of the following ads:
– Opportunities to get your adrenaline going. Do a reality – check on your current position. Does it offer you the adreline rush that comes with the thrill of achievement? Take a look at your functions. Do they help you fulfill your potential? )) , an IT major that's surging up the growth chart and uses cutting-edge technology to provide comprehensive, end-to-end software solutions across the globe. If you have the experience and expertise in building the market and leading a Delivery organization, e-mail to ).We are committed to quality, innovation, initiatives and alliances with global majors.
– Where do you want to be? Inside the frame or in the audience?
– 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' Keep walking.
– Creativity ambition knowledge passion. If you've got the fire, we know how to fan it.
– There's one place on earth where you're trained for the skies. Calling aspiring cabin crew. (Airways)
– Wounded Tigers with killer instinct. (Ad for Medical Representatives)
– Leading change is not every one's forte. But, then, we are not talking to everybody. Being different is normal.
– Take your career on a long, pleasant drive.
– Extend your intellectual capital with )) knowledge service.
– Wake the world to your dreams. Rise and shine and open your eyes to a dream opportunity with
– Improve the Health of your career.
– )) Your gateway to an exciting career.
– Success is about making the right moves.
– Life begins at ))
– Look beyond boundaries. Success will garland you. (career in travel and tourism)
– Does your job make you so happy that you have stopped thinking big? If you are happy at the job you are doing, then it's time to wake up. Take 2 minutes off to put in your resume and relax after that.
– To enjoy your second childhood, invest young. (Lifelong pension)
– Wrap yourself in books this winter. (World Book Fair, Delhi)
– If you're driven by challenges, this is a great opportunity to work in a learning environment with its culture of mentorship and empowerment. Your creativity will get fully nurtured, leading to amazing career growth. It is also a place where individual competence gets due recognition. We are looking for talented, passionate and motivated team members who are inspired to achieve fundamental breakthroughs in the areas of
– I'm fired by complexity. I envision the next generation. I architect landmarks. The challenge of working on cutting-edge system software at )).
II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. Until you do not speak the truth you will be dismissed.
2. One ought to perform his duty to the best of his ability.
3. You must work hardly if you want to achieve success.
4. The police was successful to capture the culprit.
5. The political leaders should refrain to tell lies in their speeches.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. He had hardly recovered from his illness when he had another heart attack.
2. Supposing I give you a cheque, how will you deposit it?
Note: 'if' is unnecessary after 'supposing'.
3. As he is generous, he spends lavishly. (omit 'so')
4. They had hardly gone a few yards than they met Rashid
5. Unless you give up bad habits you will have to repent.
III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. Make another sound track for a cinema film in a different language.
2. To lower one's head or body so as to avoid being hit.
3. A person or behavior that is easily influenced or controlled.
4. Goods on which customs duties must be paid
5. Goods that are allowed to come into the country without tax.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. To work or talk about to silly lengths: belabor (vt)
2. Of a liquid to flow or fall out in drops little by little: dribble (vt)
3. A short private road leading from the street to a house: drive away (n)
4. To rain in very small drops or very lightly: drizzle (vi)
5. Ready to fall asleep: drowsy (adj)
(B) Synonyms and Antonyms
(i) Synonyms
Given below are some words followed by four answers. Mark the answer which is nearest to the meaning of the given word
1. entail
a. to win b. to impose or result in
c. to weaken d. to lag behind
2. thwart
a. to strike vigorously b. to enlarge
c. to injure d. to block
3. assiduously
a. persistently b. bitterly
c. hopefully d. enthusiastically
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
Word Synonym
1. chide to rebuke
2. riddle to fill with holes
3. stringent severe
(ii) Antonyms
Given below are some words followed by four answers. Tick the answer which gives the opposite meaning of the given word
1. laud
a. to censure b. to respect
c. to connive d. to descend
2. reverence
a. rejection b. disdain
c. dislike d. honor
3. sycophant
a. psychic b. elegant
c. slanderer d. arrangement
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
Word Antonym
1. adorn blemish
2. refinement vulgarity
3. optimism despair
(C ) Words commonly confused
Bring out differences in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. partiality, bias, prejudice
2. locate, find
3. jealous, zealous, envious
4. hoard, horde
5. excursion, incursion
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. as and like
Like can be used as a verb, an adjective, a preposition, a noun, an adverb, and a conjunction. For example,
verb: I like cultivating relationship.
adj: Like thinking produces like ideas.
prep: You are like my son.
noun: I've never seen or heard its like.
adv: She can't cook like her mother does.
conj: Do it like I tell you.
as: can be used as an adverb, a conjunction, a pronoun, and a preposition. For example:
adv: She can sing sweetly. Her sister can sing as sweetly.
conj: She sings as sweetly as her sister (does).
pron: Ramzy, as you know, is an excellent computer programmer.
prep: He is famous as a humanist.
Difference between the used of 'like' and 'as'
(1) As is used especially before adjectives and participles. If a verb follows or is understood then 'as' should be used. If only a noun or pronoun follows then 'like' should be used.
– You will soon be able to read like I can
– You will soon be able to read as I can. Or
– You will soon be able to read like me.
(2) Let me speak to you as a teacher (= I am your teacher and I am speaking in that capacity)
Let me speak to you like a teacher (= I am not your teacher but I am speaking in the way a teacher would)
2. alibi (n) (plea that one was in another place at the time of an alleged act): The accused tried to give an alibi.
excuse (n) (reason given to explain one's conduct): I am not prepared to believe your lame excuses.
3. elapse (vi) ( time to pass or slip away): Three months have elapsed since I left India.
lapse (n) (interval): The two friends met after a lapse of twenty years.
4. fruit (n) (usually singular as a collective, uncountable noun): I eat a lot of fruit. Do you want some fruit?
fruits (n) (different items): Many fruits are grown in an orchard like mangoes, guava, peaches, apples. Etc.
5. enough (adj) (relates to quantity or number): As an adj: 'enough' may either precede or follow a noun. It is used with 'of' and 'for' and with to and infinitive): There are enough students in the class.
sufficient (adj) (enough. It is used when degree is implied): He doesn't have sufficient sense of proportion to behave. Is YR1000 sufficient for your expenses for a week? There is sufficient food for ten people.
(D ) Idioms and phrases
Use the following idioms in illustrative sentences
1. be tied up
2. burn the midnight oil
3. hit the nail on the head
4. twist (someone's arm)
5. have a stab at (something)
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. in the long run (eventually; in the end; after a long period of time): If you invest efforts now, you will reap the benefits in the long run.
2. play it safe (to act with care and caution, not to take risks). I will play it safe and reserve my comments on the subject
3. make (someone's) blood run cold (to make someone feel extremely frightened or horrified): My blood ran cold as I heard knocks on my door at midnight.
4. take the bull by horns (to deal with something boldly and without delay): He decided to take the bull by horns and demanded the reinstatement of the dismissed employees before the management.
5. take one's life in one's hands (to take great risks): He took his life in his hands when he confronted the dacoits single handed.
IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Complete the following sentences using the correct form of one of the following phrasal verbs or verbs with prepositions.
go on, go up, look up, look into, come down
1. Dr. Adel's upstairs are getting changed, but he will )) in a moment.
2. When they heard the sound of the helicopter, they )) and waved.
3. The enquiry team are )) exactly why the accident happened.
4. I can't remember her number )) could you )) it )) in the phonebook for me?
5. At the end of the concert, the audience )) clapping until the singer came back and did an encore.
6. When they )) the nest, they saw three baby birds.
7. When I last visited the Eiffel Tower, the lift wasn't working so I )) the stairs.
8. Although unemployment is high, the government says it will )) soon.
9. When he went to the fair, Ali wanted to )) the big wheel.
10. He was pleased to hear that the value of his house had )) since he had bought it.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. I'm fine, thank you. Replying
2. If you don't shut up, I'm going to hit you very hard. Threatening
3. Don't go too close to the dog – sometimes he bites. Warning
4. I stole the money from the desk. Admitting
5. I had absolutely nothing to do with the robbery. I wasn't even in the country. Denying
6. I won't ever forget you, and I'll write every day. Promising
7. Why don't you go to the cinema this evening? Suggesting
8. As I said before, I think you're making a mistake. Repeating
9. There's definitely a ghost here – I've seen it with my own eyes. Claiming
10. I think that if I were in your position, I would talk to her and tell her exactly how you feel. Advising
(B) Composition
Expand the idea contained in the proverb
91. Prosperity gains friends.
But adversity tries them
The previous week's topic
90. ONE SPARROW DOES
NOT MAKE A WINTER
It is unfair to jump to a conclusion from a single instance. Such sweeping generalizations are likely to be grossly misleading. On the other hand, one should be keenly observant of incidents with patience and critical awareness. The inference one deduces on the basis of recurring phenomena is likely to be sound and flawless. There is another aspect to this maxim. If by some chance or mischance, one is victim of a sad set of circumstances, one should not be discouraged or disheartened. Rather one should wait for happier or better times when the table would be turned and the person at the receiving end may be at the helm. The maxim alerts us to one valuable principle: It pays to have tremendous patience.
V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
” Those who turn (for
friendship) to Allah, His Messenger, and the believers, – it is the party
of Allah that must certainly triumph.”
S5:A56
VI. Food for Thought
“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your lens of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.”
)Stephan R. Covey
——
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