Improve Your English – 277 [Archives:2005/872/Education]

Dr. Ramakanta Sahu
I. What to Say

Situations and expressions (80):

Social Service ads

Peter Trudgill, an eminent socio-lingusit has said, “Advertising not only influences any human society in which it is spread, but also reflects certain aspects of that society's values and the society's structure.” Social Service advertisements are meant to convey a pertinent socially useful message. This could be: a) appeals to the public during a calamity, b) campaigns on literary programs, c) road safety maxims, d) cancer check ups, and similar awareness raising campaigns. They are more pursasive by means of using a stronger emotonal appeal than ordinary 'commercial consumer advertising'.

Social ads

– Bombay is a love story for me. (Tourism)

– One today is worth two tomorrows.

– Only a busy person can enjoy leasure.

– Words have a life of their own. Think before you speak.(Good manners ad

– People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.( New Age ad

– Attitudes are contagious. Ease yours.

– Help. And your heart will feel a lot lighter than your wallet. (Donations for a Cancer campaign)

– Each one. Teach one. (Literacy campaign)

– You can send your hanky to wash; where can you send your lungs? (Cancer checkup campaign)

– Don't let litter spoil the glitter. (Health and hygiene)

II.

Correct errors, if any, in the following sentences

1. Even though I was sick, but I went to work.

2. Gold silver and copper. They are metals.

3. I'd like a cup of coffee, and so does my friend.

4. I like coffee, but my friend does.

5. Even I am very exhausted, I didn't stop working until after midnight last night.

Suggested answer to the previous week's questions

1. I thanked him for driving me to the airport.

2. Is it difficult to learn a second language?

3. It is important to get education.

4. Bobby isn't old enough to get married.

5. Do you want to go swimming tomorrow?

III. Increase your word power

A) How to express it in one word:

1. Diseases found regularly in a particular place.

2. The natural qualities that a person is gifted with.

3. An agreement to marry.

4. To cut words, pictures,etc. on wood, stone,etc.

5. To destroy by swallowing up.

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. To go beyond what is right, usual, or natural: encroach (vi)

2. A book dealing with every branch of knowledge: encyclopedia (n)

3. To try to do as well as or better than another person: emulate (vt)

4. To turn a message into an agreed arrangement by which certain signs are given a special secret meaning: encode (vt.)

5. To be faced by a danger or difficulty: encounter (vt)

B) Words commonly confused

Bring out the difference in meaning of the following pairs of words:

1. interesting, interested.

2. emulsion, immersion.

3. aspiration, perspiration, inspiration.

4. death, expiry.

5. inhibition, prohibition.

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. non-human (adj.) ( not human): You can't induce human feelings in nonhuman objects.

inhuman ( adj.) ( too cruel; lacking in feelings to be worthy of human behavior) : The under-trial prisoner was subjected to inhuman treatment.

2. initiation (n) (the act of being initiated): His initiation into the spiritual order was performed with traditional fervor.

initiative (n) (first or introductory step or move): The leaders have taken fresh initiatives to resolve the tribal conflict.

3. compete (v) (take part in a race, contest, examination, etc.): The two friends keenly competed with each other for the top position in the class.

contest (vt) (argue; debate; dispute ): I contest your argument.

4. forth (adv.) (onwards; forwards): He wandered back and forth.

fourth (adj) I live on the fourth floor of the apartment.

5. country (n) (state with its land or population): The southern part of the country is very hot and humid.

nation (n) (a large group of people living in one area with an independent government): In his address to the nation, the President called upon the people to be patriotic in their outlook.

C. Synonyms and Antonyms

1. Synonyms

Choose the word that is closet in meaning to the one given at the top

1. connive

a. instigate b.disregard

c. shield d. threaten

2. egregious:

a. common b. social

c. plain d. shocking

3. immunity

a. freedom. b. tolerance

c. disinclination d. apathy

4. mania

a. greatness b. fame

c. madness d. unwisdom

5. dredge

a. press b. clear away

c. bring down d. raise

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

Word Synonym

beneficiary one who receives benefits

freak monstrosity

mammoth huge

frantic hurried

aviary large cage for birds.

2. Antonyms

Choose the word that is most opposite in meaning to the one given at the top

1.erratic

a. free b. punctual

c. right d. regular

2. endow

a. rob b. snatch

c. divest d. dispossess

3. mundane

a. excellent b. superior

c. spiritual d. extraordinary

4. furtive

a. open b. obvious

c. unambiguous d. straight

5. turgid

a. personal b. familiar

c. deflated d. intimate

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

Word antonym

pretentious humble

considerate in adequate

inquisitive uninterested

gratify frustrate

fabulous common place

D) Spelling

Choose the correctly spelt word:.

1. a. resonens b. resonance

c. resonence. d. rasonance

2. a. spetial b. spatial

c. spashel d. spashiel

3. a. farenheit b. ferenheit

c. fahrenheit d. fahrenheight

4. a. colesce b. collesce

c. coalece d. coalesce

5. a. mathimatician b. mathematician

c. mathemetician d. mathematishen

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions( correct spelling)

1. inflammatory 2. communique

3. homogeneous 4. pernicious

5. marriageable

E) Phrases and idioms

Use the following phrases in sentences:

1. broad in the beam

2. make it one's business ( to do something)

3. to do things by halves

4. steal a march on ( someone)

5. cap in hand

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. do a u turn ( to change completely a decision): The management unexpectedly did a u turn and reversed their earlier decision about the worker's demands.

2. at a pinch (in an emergency): At a pinch he was forced to sell his car.

3. put on a brave face (to try to appear calm, confident, happy): Although our team lost the championship we tried and put on a brave face.

4. have one's heart in the right place (to have a kind, generous nature): Although she often criticizes him, she has her heart in the right place and is soft to him.

5. set one's heart on something (to be very keen to get or do something): He set her heart on winning the championship.

V) Grammar and composition

Use one of the following words in its correct form to complete the sentences given below:

gossip shout whisper scream sing speak say tell

1. I wish you wouldn't .I'm not deaf !

2. When I was a teenager I used to n the school choir.

3. I haven't got time to waste standing here .about the neighbors.

4. Come and your secret in my ear.

5. As the bus ran into the lorry all the passengers .

6. I can three languages: English, Hindi and Arabic.

7. He .me a wonderful story about his adventures in Africa.

8. She that she did not agree with all our proposals.

Suggested answers to the previous week's questions

1. The latest negotiations came to a sudden close with the threat of renewed agitation.

2. No sooner is he in Bombay than he calls his uncle.

3. Though she was most eager to reveal the secret, she exercised some restraint.

4. Our forefathers would find miraculous the speed with which we can travel round the world.

5. To be frank, I think you did not do the night thing.

B) Composition

Answer to the previous week's topic

98. Strike the iron when it is red hot

One should grab the opportunity as and when it presents itself. Opportunity once missed may not come again. Just as the blacksmith waits for the most opportune moment, that is when the iron is red hot before he can strike it to mould it to the desired shape and size, similarly a man of insight and vision springs to action at the right moment. He does not fall a victim of indecision or procrastination. On the other hand, he unleashes determined efforts in the right direction at the right moment and scales greater heights of success. As Shakespeare has says: “there is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the full leads on the fortune So one should be well aware of the potential of a situation and exploit it to the fullest by initiating suitable action at the most appropriate moment.

VI. Pearls from the Holy Quran

'When those come to thee

who believe in our signs, say:

“Peace be on you: your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily ” If any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amended (his conduct), Lo! He is

Oft.forgiving. Most Merciful.

5.6A. 54

VII. Food for thought

” Grief can take care of itself, but to get the full value of joy you must have somebody to divide it with.”

)Mark Twain
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