Improve Your English – 274 [Archives:2005/860/Education]
Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say
Situations and expressions (77):
Institutional ads
Institutional ads are used for building up the 'image' of the institution or firm. That's why they are called prestige building advertising. As far as their stylistic features are concerned, they are less persuasive in tone and content. Some people call it wasteful advertising.
– Fat to fit. (Sliming center)
– Today, we carry the flame of courage, knowledge and technology. Tomorrow the flame will burn even brighter. (Oil and Natural Gas Commission, India)
– A dream called MBA. A starting point called “Career-Launcher.” Enroll today. (Career Institute)
– United Nations – Serving beyond boundaries (UN)
– E-pay from SBI. Get on line to escape the line. – -Run away with the person you love most Yourself.
– Retire from work, not life. Iron out your worries.
– Your different needs have one solution: Personal Loan (Bank)
– As a newspaper we usually record history. Sometimes we go ahead and create it. (Newspaper)
– Our future was born 100 years ago. (a 100 year-old company)
– The bank that starts with 'U'. (United Bank of India)
– Explore the freedom enjoy the facility (Bank)
– Today we celebrate the pride of our nations. Tomorrow our pride will soar even higher. Making tomorrow brighter. (Oil and Natural Gas Commission, India)
– An idea can change your life. (Bank)
– Needs are many, Bank is one. (Bank)
– We strive and and you thrive. (Bank)
– Until money grows on trees, think of investment, think of us. (Bank)
– Dare the devil in you. Slip into one and watch your deepest, darkest desires come true. (Advert for shirts)
Job Advert
– Drive down the job highway with us. Count on us.
– Ignite your latent aspirations.
– Looking for a fast paced career growth? Join us. Live your dreams.
– Discover infinite possibilities. Discover hidden capabilities. Discover exciting opportunities.
– Race ahead with the winning team.
– Conquer. If challenges are your best teachers and difficulties your inspiration to learn, welcome. Express your self!
II. How to Say it Correctly
Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences
1. I call to thank you for the present you sent.
2. This large goat is only living in the mountains of the Himalayas.
3. She is resembling her mother.
4. The rise in demand for timber destroys large areas of rainforest.
5. I work at Sana'a University for over six years now.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. Do you enjoy going to the zoo?
2. I went to the store to get some tooth paste.
3. Did you go shopping yesterday?
4. I usually go to the cafeteria to get a cup of coffee in the morning.
5. I cut the rope with a knife.
III. Increase Your Word Power
(A) How to express it in one word
1. Something which causes a blocking of a blood vessel.
2. To cause a raised pattern to appear on metal, paper, etc.
3. To do ornamental needlework on cloth.
4. The young of any creature in its first state before birth.
5. Professor who is no longer holding office but keeps his title.
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. To cause to become very thin: emaciate (vt) (usually passive)
2. To cause to feel ashamed or socially uncomfortable: embarrass (vt) (often passive)
3. To take and use for oneself in a wrong way money that is placed in one's care: embezzle (vt)
4. To make more beautiful, especially by adding ornaments: embellish (vt) (with)
5. To fill with painful or bitter feelings: embitter (vt) (often passive)
(B) Words commonly confused
Bring out the difference in meaning of the following pairs of words
1. site , sight
2. too , two, to
3. corporal, corporeal
4. satiated, satisfied
5. embassy, residency
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. raise (vt) (lift up; cause to rise): The Englishmen raise their hats to somebody to show respect.
rise (vi) (to come up; appear above the horizon): The sun rises in the east.
2. climatic (adj) (of or related to climate): The climatic conditions of Antarctica are not conducive to human habitation.
climactic (adj) (of forming a climax): The climactic moment in the play is very absorbing, indeed.
3. somewhere near (adv) (at some place. It is used in the context of distance or position): Your friends are somewhere near the market.
nearly (adv) (almost; not quite or not yet completely): We are nearly home.
4. fairly (n) (small imaginary being with supernatural powers): Children are fond of fairy-tales.
fairly (adv.of degree). This is a fairly easy task.
5. incite (vt) (stir up, rouse): Harsh words incite feelings of unpleasantness.
excite (vt) (to cause someone to lose calmness and to have strong feelings): Keep calm, don't excite yourself.
(C ) Phrases and idioms
Use the following phrases in sentences
1. blow the cobwebs away
2. be sitting pretty
3. be falling to bits
4. on tenterhooks
5. with flying colors
Suggested answers to the previous week's questions
1. a false start (a beginning of an activity which is unsuccessful and so has to be repeated): The team got off to a false start when it lost the opening match.
2. in the soup (in serious trouble): He is in the soup after the police raided his house.
3. sink one's differences (to forget about past disagreements and try to get on with each other): Work hard to sink the differences and begin a new era of fellowship
4. to take to one's heels (to run away): The thieves took to their heels when they saw the police.
5. to learn the hard way (to learn from one's experiences): He learnt the hard way that all that glitters is not gold.
IV. Grammar and Composition
(A) Grammar
Finish each of the following sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the sentence printed before it
1. I really regret resigning. If only ))-
2. Please don't make phone calls during the morning. I wish ))-
3. You annoy me because you won't listen to what I say. If only ))-
4. I'm sorry you weren't at the concert. If only )))
5. I'm sorry you aren't here; the weather's lovely. I wish ))-
6. I'm upset because I know she's not going to phone me. If only ))-
7. I'm sorry we can't see you a bit more often. I wish ))-
8. I'm annoyed that it's not going to stop raining. If only ))-
9. I really regret ever starting to smoke. I wish ))-
10. What a pity that I am not twenty years younger. If only ))-
Suggested answer to the previous week's questions
1. I'm very close to my brother and we get on with each other very well.
2. It's nearly three months since I gave up smoking, but I still miss it quite a lot.
3. Abdulkareem rang me up and pretended to be a police man, but I wasn't taken in. I recognized his voice at once.
4. He caught the right train, but he got off at the wrong station and had to take a taxi.
5. The terrorists argued with the police for hours, but in the end they finally gave in and threw down their guns.
6. When the old lady got on the bus I offered her my seat.
(B) Composition
Expand the central idea contained in the maxim
96. Penny wise pound foolish
Answer to the previous week's topic
95. Perseverance is the
hinge of all virtues
Human life is an ordeal. It is beset with formidable challenges and difficulties. However, as Napoleon once said “Victory belongs to the most persevering.” All problems and obstacles can be sublimated by a strong determination or an uncompromising will power coupled with relentless effort in the right direction. Francis of Sales has aptly remarked, “Though perseverance does not come from our power, yet it comes within our power.” In other words we can cultivate undaunted hard work to achieve our target if we are impelled by an undeterred, irrevocable will and a single-minded devotion. On the other hand, if one is deflected from his objective or deterred from his endeavor then he is likely to end in failure. A winner says: “it is possible, but difficult.” Whereas a loser holds the view: “it is possible, but difficult.” Hence perseverance or dauntless hard work is the key to success.
V. Pearls from the Holy Quran
“Allah is witness between me and you; this Quran hath been revealed to me by inspiration
S6. A19
VI. Food for Thought
“Creating without claiming,
Doing without taking credit
Guiding without interfering,
This is primal virtue.” )Taw te Ching
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