PERIYAR INSTITUTE OF DISTANCE EDUCATION

(PRIDE)

PERIYAR UNIVERSITY
SALEM - 636 011.

B.A. / B.COM. / B.B.A. / B.SC. / B.C.A.

FIRST YEAR
FOUNDATION ENGLISH
PART – II : ENGLISH – I

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Prepared by :
Dr. R. GANESHAN
Government Arts College
Salem – 636 007.

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 B.A. / B.Com. / B.B.A. / B.Sc. / B.C.A.
FIRST YEAR
FOUNDATION COURSE
PART – II ENGLISH
ENGLISH - I
DETAILED PROSE : CONTEMPLATIONS I
LESSON I
A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT YOU FANCY
BY DESMOND MORRIS
ESSAY:
In “A Little Bit of What You Fancy”, Desmond Morris makes fun of the
strange habits of food faddists. One has to eat to lead one’s life but there are
some people who have a strong liking for eating a lot. There are many food
items now available in the market; but one has to know the right type of food
and the right way of eating. The food experts, like dieticians offer different
suggestions and therefore ordinary people get confused in the eating aspect.
Morris gives his personal experience to solve the eater’s dilemma. His
mother had at one time a strong passion for eating. She indulged herself in the
food pleasures till late in her life. She never bothered to know of the value of
food items and ate whatever was available at hand. Morris concludes that her
strange way of eating would have been the main reason for her longevity.
In modern times, many health gurus advise the people in regard to
nutrient value in the foods. They however, do not maintain the same argument
for ever. They forget the elementary fact that the humans became omnivores
after eating different variety of food stuffs. It is now understood that, the more
various and nutritious food stuff one eats, the healthier one becomes.
Now people suffer from obesity, indigestion and other health
deficiencies. Our life style is naturally responsible for such happenings. In the
cities people tend to be physically inactive. They are subject to lots of nervous
tension and anxiety. Some people eat a lot to reduce the tension or stress.
Everybody, according to Morris, has to realize that food stuffs should be
relished and enjoyed. And at the same time they should be digested at leisure.
They are many do’s and don’ts in regard to food stuffs. The reasons
behind these taboos are: One has to do with totems and the next, we have to
deal with poison. Our forefathers held certain animals as totems and exploited
our primary fear of poisoning to keep the totem alive. Even modern medical
people dealing with anxiety advise us not to eat certain food stuffs. We have to,
in order to lead a normal and happy life, announce our preference to a short and
merry life. The author’s personal experience has taught him the fact that this
free-mental attitude to food stuffs will lead one to a longer span of life.

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ANNOTATIONS:
1. If you are perfectly relaxed about what you are eating, your
parasympathetic nervous system rewards you by helping you do digest it well.
Context:
This passage has been taken from “A Little Bit of What You Fancy”
written by Desmond Morris.
Meaning:
Nowadays dietician or the food faddists advise us a lot about food
stuffs. They almost confuse us by offering contrary views in regard to them.
But according to the author, his mother lived long just because she never
minded diet experts’ views on food items; rather she went on patting different
types of food. She was ninety nine years only, when he wrote this lesson. This
may be the reason for her long and healthy life.
2. There are two flaws in their argument.
Context:
(As said in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Dieticians offer a lot of confusing advices. They tell people about the
do’s and don’ts in regard to food stuffs yet the author finds two errors in their
argument first, they go on contradicting themselves by saying one opinion this
year and offering the opposite idea next year. Second they do not realize the
basic fact that the human species has finally evolved as omnivore. Men ate in
those days the wildest possible variety of food stuffs thus they gained a singular
advantage over the animals. The higher the variety of food stuff one eats, the
healthiest one becomes. Our digestive system is so structured as to discard
unwanted excess matter. What is needed and nutrions is consumed and made
part of the blood system and the nebbish is discarded.
3. Food should be savoured, relished enjoyed and digested at leisure
Context:
(As said in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Man can eat any variety of foods and his power of digestion will never
get reduced But, owing to the excessive consumption of food items, people in
the cities suffer form obesity, and indigestion. This factor has become very
common now-a-days during to our different lifestyle. Moreover, town people
are physically inactive and are subject to nervous tension and anxiety. They eat
a lot not because they are hungry but because they suffer from stress-related
issues. Morris advocates that food stuffs should be enjoyed and digested at
leisure. There should be no room for anxiety and tension while eating.

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4. One has to do with totems and the other with poison. Many plants and
animals have protected themselves from the attacks of predators by
becoming poisonous or foul-tasting.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Geneticists or dieticians offer counseling to people suffering from food-
related diseases. They advise them as to what to eat and what not. On many
food stuffs, they lay taboos. There are two sides in relation to food items. One
is concerned with totem. From the earlier part, the tribal have chosen and
respected certain animals and plants as having spiritual connections. The
second angle is that nature has protected certain plants and animals form the
poachers by making them poisonous. Primeval people suffered from this fear
of poisoning and avoided certain animals and plants.
5. And where food and drink is concerned you might as well stay with a
swing.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Life is to be enjoyed. Giving up all the advices given by the health-
gurus, one can go for any variety of food stuffs and try to lead a simple and
merry life. Morris gives examples from his personal life. He expected to die
ten years earlier. Therefore he led a carefree life enjoying all the varieties of
food. His mother also lived up to ninety nine years. She too had enjoyed the
pleasures of food till her death. Even while breathing her last, she asked for gin
and tonic. Therefore Morris asks the readers to lead a merrier life not worrying
about the advices given by the dieticians.
Essay-type Questions
1. What are the salient views of Desmond Morris in regard to the varieties
of foods stuffs”.
2. Describe the personal experiences of Morris as for as eating is
concerned.

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VOCABULARY
Substitute ‘very’ in these sentences with a more appropriate word from
the list below. In some cases, you may be able to use more than one word.
(increasingly, enviably, refreshingly, surprisingly, irritably, amusingly).
1. He is a man with very original ideas
Answer: He is a man with refreshingly / enviably original ideas.
2. Bangalore has a very pleasant climate.
Answer: Bangalore has a refreshingly / an enviably pleasant climate.
3. She is very frank with her ideas on sex education.
Answer: She is amusingly / irritably frank with her ideas on sex education.
4. Life is becoming very difficult in the islands.
Answer: Life is becoming increasingly/ surprisingly difficult in the islands.
5. She is very slow in typing on the computer while chatting.
Answer: She is irritable slow in typing on the computer while chatting.
6. Travel by air is becoming very cheap.
Answer: Travel by air is increasingly becoming cheap.
Find from the passage references that are neutral and negative and write
them in two lists.
Neutral Negative
Health gurus Pontificator
Faddist gurus diet fascists
Health police anxiety makers
Diet experts misery makers
Grammar
A. Rewrite the ideas in each pair using the structure The + comparative.
… the + comparative
1. He worked harder. He became luckier. Ans. The harder he worked,
the luckier he became.
2. Speak more, you hear less.
You hear less, you understand less
You hear more, you understand more.
Better he a good listener
(Rewrite the first three lines only and add the fourth line to it and read
all the lines)
The more you speak, the less you hear.
The less you hear, the less you understand.

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 But the more you hear, the more you understand.
And therefore you had better be a good listener.
Punctuation
Use hyphen appropriately in these sentences:
1. Despite recent scare stories about geneticists interfering with our food,
we have in reality been genetically modifying them for about ten
thousand years.
Ans:
Despite recent scare-stories about geneticists interfering with out foods,
we have in reality been genetically modifying them for about ten thousand
years.
2. From ancient times, it became a local custom to select one particular as
animal a tribal mascot- an emblem, a god figure, a totem – and to
protect it.
Ans:
From ancient times, it became a local custom to select one particular
animal as a tribal mascot–an emblem, a god figure, a totem-and to protect
it.
3. Aiding and abetting these totemic taboos was a deep seated human fear
of being poisoned.
Ans:
Aiding and a betting these totemic taboos was a deep-seated human fear
of being poisoned.
4. It is this same, ancient fear of poisoning that comes to the aid of the
modern day misery makers when they tell us that we should not eat
certain foods because they will damage our health.
Ans:
It is this same, ancient fear of poisoning that comes to the aid of the
modern-day misery-makers when they tell us that we should not eat certain
foods because they will damage our health.
2. Leave this Chanting and Singing and Telling of Beads
- Rabindharanth Tagore
Essay:
“Leave this Chanting and Singing and Telling of Beads” has been
written by Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore is an internationally-known Indian
writer and Nobel Laureate. His Gitanjali and other poems express spiritual
overtones. Here he is advising the readers as to how to find God and how to
worship him. He rejects the ritual and blind worship of God.

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 Tagore notices a devotee at prayer in a dark corner of a temple and st
starts addressing him. The devotee is sincerely praying, chanting mantras.,
singing devotional songs and telling of beads. Tagore opines that these rituals
are devoid of meaning. He wonders as to whom this devotee is worshipping,
when his eyes are shut in this small lonely corner of the temple. He requests
the man to open his eyes and see that God is not present before him in this
small place.
The poet tells the devotee that God can be seen in the poor, the toilers
and hard workers. The road worker who is toiling hard under the hot sun is an
agent of God. God is only with these labourers. He is with them both in sun
and shower and his clothes are covered with dust.
Tagore asks the question “Where is this deliverance to be found”. Man
is vainly seeking deliverance from his worries and sorrows in a wrong place
and ways. No one can escape from the troubles of life. After having taken the
task of bounds of creating, God is with the human beings.
The poet therefore asks the man to come out of the small narrow
conference to meet God in the working class people. The devotee must come
out of his meditations to see God everywhere. He must leave aside his flowers
and incense. Our need not worry over his tattered and stained clothes. He must
come and join the hard working toilers and sweat like them God can be thus
seen among the working-class masses.
Annotations
1. Open thine eyes and see the God is not before thee!
Context:
This passage has been taken from “Leave this Chanting and Singing and
Telling of Beads” written by Rabindranath Tagore.
Meaning:
Man does not know where to see God. He chants, sings and tells of
beads in a dark lonely corner of a temple. Tagore says that it is of no use sitting
in such a place and worshipping God. These rituals are meaningless. Man has
to realize the fact that only by opening his eyes, he can see the presence of God
among the workers.
2. Deliverance? Where is this deliverance to be found?
Context:
(As said in the first Annotation)
Meaning:
Man tries to seek salvation by worshipping God through the old
ritualistic ways. These rituals are meaningless. He cannot thus find deliverance
in a lonely place away from the rest of the world. God himself is bound with
his creation by love and care. God is happy with the lands of his creation.

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Therefore, Tagore asks the devotees to come out of their secluded place and
mingle with the world. Then only they can attain deliverance.
3. Meet him and stand by him in toil and in sweat of thy brow.
Context
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
According to Tagore, God cannot be found in dark and secluded place
in the temples. Mere rituals are meaningless. The devotee should come out of
the temples giving up chanting and singing to see the working-class people.
God is there with them. The devotee can meet God there and like the workers,
he too should work hard to feel the presence of God.
Tagore’s advice is based on personal experience. His ideas of the
presence of God are very practical.
3. The Portrait
- Aldous Huxley
Essay:
Mr. Bigger, the art-dealer was a shrewd businessman. By convincing
his customers, he used to sell ordinary paintings as originals. Besides, he
exploited the poor artists by paying less amount for their work.
A Lord of a Manor one day came to the shop of Mr. Bigger. He became
rich only by selling his belongings and then he bought a Manor House. Though
he was not a real art-lover he wanted to have a portrait painted by the famous
Rembrant in his drawing room to show off his social status.
Mr. Bigger planned to cheat the Lord and showed the portrait of a lady.
He told the lord that it was drawn by one Giangolini in the eighteenth century.
Then he started telling the background of the portrait.
The lady in the portrait was the wife of Earl of Hurtmore. Their
marriage took place when he was fifty-five years old. To honour her, the Earl
employed Giangolini to paint her portrait. But the sad thing was that she fell in
love with the artist. They planned to elope to Vinenna with all the jewels of her
family Unluckily for them, the Earl took away his family jewel-box from the
studio of the artist. As a result, the lady had to return to her husband. Then the
couple left for England with the finished portrait.
Mr. Bigger went on saying that he had bought the portrait a year ago.
Finally the Lord of the Manor House bought it for six hundred and eighty
pounds. When the customer had left, the actual painter of the portrait came to
Mr. Bigger’s office and requested him to pay him the promised twenty pounds.
Out of feigned over-generosity, Mr. Bigger gave him twenty-five pound.
Huxley says that Mr. Bigger deceived the customer by selling an
ordinary portrait as an original one. Moreover, he had also exploited the
painter by earning a huge profit.

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Annotations:
1. “In a house of this style”, he was saying, and with a position like
mine to keep up, “one must have a few pictures”.
Context:
This passage has been taken from “The Portrait” by Aldous Huxley.
Meaning:
The Lord of the Manor house, who become recently rich wanted to
replenish his manor with all the costly items. He asked for a good portrait
drawn by any famous painter, from Mr. Bigger, the owner of the portrait shop.
The lord wanted to show off his superior social position by exhibiting costly
art-pieces.
2. “A Natural instinct”, said Mr. Bigger, “That is a very precious gift”
Context:
(The same as in the first annotation).
Meaning:
Mr. Bigger understood the urgency of the lord of the Manor house in
buying a famous portrait to show off his social superiority. When the Lord
asked for any portrait drawn by Rembrandt, Mr. Bigger decided to sell off a
recent portrait drawn by his own artist, saying that it was drawn by Giangolini.
To convince the customer, Mr. Bigger went on with a concocted background of
the portrait.
3. Woman’s place, she decided at last, is the home with the family jewels.
Context:
(The same as in the first annotation).
Meaning:
When Mr. Bigger wanted to sell the ordinary portrait to the Lord of the
Manor House, he had to invent a background. The romantic backdrop enhanced
the value of the portrait for six hundred and eight pounds. The lady who was in
love with the artist was disappointed to know that all the jewels to be taken
away at the time of elopement had been stored carefully by her husband to the
family. Therefore in stead of spending penurious days with the artist, she
decided not to go with him and came back to the home of her husband.
Essay Question:
Write an essay on the exploitation of the art shop owner?
Vocabulary:
A. Study these sentences paying attention to the underlined word in
each of them. Can you think of a word that could be synonymous with all the
underlined words.

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 1. What sort of a vegetable is it?
2. Yoga is one of the best forms of exercise.
3. This aircraft is the first of its kind.
4. These are problems of a different order from those we have in our
neighbouring states.
(Clue: The word begins with ‘t’).
GRAMMAR
A. In the following sentences, for which of the functions is “should”
being used?
1. If you should change your mind, please let me know.
Ans:
To express possibility.
2. “Will he also join us for lunch”. “I should think so”.
Ans:
To express probability
3. Where should we go for lunch?
Ans:
To make a suggestion.
4. Is it too warm? Should I turn the far on?
Ans:
To make an offer.
5. If I were you, I should apologize,
Ans:
To mention responsibility
6. If this is not acceptable to you, you should tell me
Ans:
To offer advice.
USAGE:
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words form the brackets.
1. Before you buy this, please--------------- that this -------------- to all the
standards laid down by the ISI. (Confirm, Conform).
Ans:
Before you buy this, please-confirm that this conforms to all the
standards laid down by the ISI.

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2. It was ------------ a huge palace. There was no one around and everything
was very ---------------------- (quiet, quite)
Ans:
It was quite a huge palace. There was no one around and everything
was very quiet.
3. They wanted to ---------------- the height of the wall a little more but gave up
the idea thinking it might -------------- suspicion in the neighbors minds. (rouse,
raise).
Ans:
They wanted to raise the height of the wall a little more but gave up the
idea thinking it might rouse suspicion in the neighbors’ minds.
4. He wants to ----------------- the old structure but expects his architect to
----------- and give him fresh ideas (renovate, innovate)
Ans:
He wants to renovate the old structure but expects his architect to
innovate and give him fresh ideas
5. To be -------------- to you, they offered me an exciting ------------ to lender
(fare, fair)
Ans:
To be fair to you, they offered me an exciting fare to lender.
4. To Know When to Say “It’s None of Your Business”
- Mark Mc Cormack
Essay:
Excessive curiosity to know about others is a disease with some people.
They will adopt all sorts of methods to find out others’ affairs. Inquisitiveness
may be natural to such people; but the common people are very often put to
embarrassing situations. We have to be very careful in letting our personal
affairs or else we will land in trouble.
Mc Cormack had a strange executive who tried to know of others’
affairs. He had his own method to probe into things. He would ask questions
as if he had already known of such things. The innocent colleagues who
answered him did not know what this executive did with the information. His
curiosity was harmless and nobody questioned it.
The writer poses the question to the readers. In this fact-moving world,
is it proper to exercise one’s curiosity or not? He comes out with two aspects
which are nobody’s business. One is money and the other is one’s personal life.
In regard to monetary aspect, one should avoid asking too many or close
questions. For instance, a writer of a famous textbook for a publishing
company, enquired about the payment for the illustrator. The reply was a shock
to him and he was asked to mind his business.

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 Nobody should try to probe into another’s personal life. Another point
to be noted is that one’s professional life and personal life cannot he clubbed
together. For instance, a staff member of a company could not understand what
was being explained to him at the office, because he had been much involved
with his girl-friend in personal life. Thus one ought to know how to keep the
personal life away from his professional one.
Annotation:
1. They know the difference between innocent curiosity and outright rudeness
or invasion of privacy – and they usually do not go over the limit.
Context:
This passage has been taken form the lesson “To Know When to Say,
“It’s None of Your Business” written by Mark McCormack.
Meaning:
To know about other’s private affairs is a common weakness with
inquisitive people. They have a strong desire to ask questions and find out
things about the personal affairs of others. Others may not understand what
these curious people would do with the given information. Anyhow their
inquisitiveness is quite harmless. They know the difference between curiosity
and invasion of privacy. Mostly these people do not cross the limit”.
2. As a general rule, there are two topics for which “None of your business”,
should always be on the tip of your tongue.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Curiosity has now become a common weakness with many people.
They like to know of the personal affairs of others. Their desire to understand
others personal lives is harmless but in this fast moving world it is not sure
when somebody’s curiosity is appropriate and when it is not. One has to know
that there are two areas which are beyond one’s business. The first one is
money matters of other people and the second is the personal affairs of other
people. Yet there are some die-hard people who are bent on probing into these
secret affairs of others.
3. “You’ve accepted the fee. What the illustrator gets is none of your business”
Context:
(As given in the first annotation).
Meaning:
Curiosity has become a common disease. Some inquisitive people are
eager to know about others’ affairs which do not concern them. It’s none of
their business to probe into other’s monetary acquisitions. One need not
unnecessarily pry into others income. Once a publisher told rudely to an

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inquisitive writer that it was none of his business to ask for the remuneration
paid to an illustrator. This sort of silly questions would embarrass every one.
VOCABULARY
A. Fill in the blanks with the right phrasal verb from the list. You may
need to know some of them twice check your answers with a dictionary fill in,
fill out, fill up.
1. We had to ----------- a form before we were le in.
Ans:
We had to fill in a form before we wee let in.
2. I am running low on petrol. I must ---------------------
Ans:
I am running low on petrol. I must fill up.
3. The restaurant ------------ early. So try and get there before eight.
Ans:
The restaurant will fill out early. So try and get there before eight.
4. We must leave now. You can ---------- on the in the car.
Ans:
We must leave now. You can fill in on the incident in the car.
5. Renu wanted me to ----------------- for her which she was away.
Ans:
Renu wanted me to fill in for her which she was away.
B. Add a defining relative clause to each of the sentences below using the
information in the situation given.
1. I am looking for a book on the history of tsunami. Have you got a look that
---------
Ans:
Have you got a book that describes tellingly the actual history of
tsunami.
2. I met a man yesterday. I met him again today. I bumped into the man who
----------.
Ans:
I bumped into the man who I met yester day.
3. You were looking for a red Maruti. I found it. I found ------------
Ans:
I found the red Maruti you were looking for

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4. You told me about a file. I studied the file. ---------------------
Ans:
I studied the file which you told me about.
5. One shop sells pearls. I am looking for that shop. I am looking for
------------------------------
Ans:
I am looking for the shop that sells pearls.
PUNCTUATIONS
Insert commas wherever necessary in the given passage (see page 50 of
the text)
Answers:
We had just negotiated a fee for this writer to write the text of an
illustrated book. For the work that needed to be done, the fee the publisher
offered was fair and the writer agreed to it. As the writer began working on the
book, however he started having second thoughts about the illustration’s
contribution to the project. So he called our office and asked us to find out
what the illustrator was being paid. He didn’t feel it was right if he was earning
less than the illustrators. I suppose you could argue that this wasn’t a totally
inappropriate request. As agents, we want to get the best deal for our clients.
But in another sense, the request was outrageous. In effect, our client was
prying into the illustrations pay cheque.
5. The Second Crucifixion
- Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre.
Larry Collins and Dominique Lapierre bring to the readers all the events
that happened just before the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, in “The
Second Crucifixion”.
The news of Gandhi’s death reached Lord Mountbatten. He did not
want the assassin to be a Muslim. Therefore he asked the director of all India
Radio not to air the news at once. Only when the police informed the radio
station that the assassin was a Hindu, the AIR announced the sad news to the
Indian people.
Gandhi’s dead body was taken to the Birla House. Nehru and Patel both
were near the corpse. Some woman started chanting Gita and others wept over
the death.
When Lord Mountbatten visited the gloomy scene, he could not
recognize the face of Gandhi, since the spectacles were removed. He paid his
tributes to Gandhi by showering rose petals. Lord Mountbatten knew that
Gandhi would enshrine his name in history like Buddha and Jesus Christ.
Nehru and Patel, though ardent disciples of Gandhi, had differences of
opinion. Lord Mountbatten reminded them that it was Gandhi’s last wish to

15
unite these two great leaders. When Lord Mountbatten planned to take the
embalmed body of Gandhi in a special train across India, Gandhi’s secretary
Pyarelal Nayar told him that Gandhi wanted his remains to be cremated within
twenty-four hours of his death. Therefore Lord Mountbatten had to conduct the
funeral procession with the help of the military. Finally it was suggested to
Nehru that he had to address the nation over AIR about the death of Gandhi.
When the masses received the sad news, they were shocked and sad
people rushed to the newspaper offices for news. There were sporadic
violence’s here and there against the R.S.S. offices in the cities.
Great leaders of the world sent in their condolence messages to India.
King George VI, British Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, Winston Churchill and
others expressed their shock over the assassination. Pope Pius XII from the
Vatican city glorified Gandhi as “An apostle” of peace and a friend of
Christianity. President Truman of the U.S. said that the entire world would
mourn the death of Gandhi. Jinnah, the Muslim leader also sent in his
condolence message. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, sister of Nehru recorded all these
messages.
The Hindustan Standard paid the richest tribute on its editorial page
praising Gandhi as another Jesus Christ, killed by his own people on a Friday.
These two authors thus compare the death of Gandhi with the crucifixion of
Jesus saying it as a second one.
ANNOTATIONS
1. The slaughter had been avoided; it now remained to India to mourn.
Context:
This passage has been taken from “The Second Crucifixion” from the
book Freedom at Midnight jointly written by Larry Collins and Dominiques
Lapierre.
Meaning:
When Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, Lord Mountbatten had the
doubt that the assassin might be a Muslim. In that case a lot of communal riots
would take place. Therefore he advised the director of All India Radio not to
leak out the news at once. When they were sure that it was only a Hindu and
not a Muslim, the death news was announced. At once a terrible gloom
enveloped India and the Indian masses were shocked and mourned the death of
Gandhi.
2. On the other side of Delhi, a heart broken man found in the depths of his
sorrow the words that he had despaired of finding.
Context: (As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
People from many places came to Delhi to see the dead body of Gandhi.
Jawaharlal Nehru was asked to address the nation through A.I.R. about the

16
demise of Gandhi. As Nehru was heavy with grief, he was struggling for exact
words to describe the unfortunate event.
3. “The light has gone out” I said and yet I was wrong.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
Jawaharlal Nehru was asked to address the nation about the death of
Gandhi through all India radio. He struggled for exact words, since he was
very sad over Gandhi’s death. Yet he came out with a pithy sentence saying
that the light that was guiding India had gone.
4. “A prince among us has passed” he said
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
When the news of Gandhi’s assassination was announced to the whole
world, all the leaders sent in their condolence messages. When Gandhi was in
South Africa, General Smuts was his political rival. On hearing the death of
Gandhi, he felt sad forgetting their rivalry. He has expressed his personal
message that a prince among people had passed away.

VOCABULARY
A. Which of the words in column one can collocate with those in the next
three columns?
B. Put a or a appropriately in the relevant columns as shown in the care of
“Hearty”.
Condolence Congratulation Sympathy

Deepest

Hearty

Heart-felt

Popular

Sincere

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 Condolence Congratulation Sympathy

Deepest X X

Hearty X X

Heart-felt X

Popular X X

Sincere X

Warm X X

Widespread X X

STUDY SKILLS
We need to express agreement with some one else’s idea or point of new
here are a few other ways of non-verbal communication. In each caste, identify
which part of the body is involved and what message is communicated through
each act. Complete the table below appropriately. Consult a dictionary, if
necessary.

Feeling / Emotion /
Part of the body
Communicated

Nod Head Agreement

Shrug Shoulders Carelessness
Frown Expect rows Anger
Purse Lips Disapproval
Wink Eye Private signal
Glare Eyes Fury
Grimace Face Disgust
Sneer Face disrespect
Writing:
Study this sentence
“Never had he seen his features as peaceful and composed in life as
they now were in death”
Notice that the writer begins the sentence with ‘Never’ for the sake of
emphasis.

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 Write sentences about your personal experiences using the following
constructions.
1. Never have I witnessed a gory scene as this in my life.
2. Never have I seen my fatter in his gloomy mood as he is now in my life.
3. Rarely do I go out late in the night.
4. Seldom do I see such a film of violence as this.
5. Seldom did my mother selected me as she did now in my life.
GRAMMAR
Study this sentence:
The thought that Gandhi, of all men, should be conducted to his funeral
pyre by those whose profession was war, appalled them. Complete the
following sentences appropriately.
1. The thought that she had become an orphan did not unease her.
2. The thought that his father would die soon perplexed him to the fullest
care.
3. The thought that she would be eating her dinner with Amitabh Bachan
put her on cloud nine.
4. The thought that she would he meeting for the first time his girl friend
with whom he had been talking on the internet exhilarated him.
5. The though that her son would be coming home soon smoothened her
feeble nerves.
6. The thought that he night lose the elections enraged him.
PUNCTUATION:
Some of the following sentences would read more natural if the
underlined part is rewritten using ’s or just an apostrophe at the end of the
word. Do appropriately.
1. Three classmates of my brother are coming for diner tonight.
Ans:
My brother’s three classmates are coming for dinner tonight.
2. The acing of Rani and Bachan in the movie is indeed praise worthy.
Ans:
Rani and Bachchan’s acting in the movie is indeed praise worthy.
3. The view from the top of the building is marvelous.
Ans:
The view from the building is top is marvellous.

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4. I am meeting the partner of Davis tonight.
Ans:
I am meeting Davis’ partner tonight.
5. What’s the width of this room?
Ans:
What’s this room’s width.?

6. I am a cat
- Natsume Soseki.
Essay:
In this lesson Natseime Soseki brings out the feelings of a cat in a
humorous way. “I am a cat” is a presentation of a cat’s experiences with human
beings.
A student picked up a cat which was thrown down by some one. It
remained unconscious for sometime. When it regained consciousness, the
student had gone away. It realized that from its straw bed it had been taken
away.
Now the cat was hungry and began to search for food. There was a hole
in the broken bamboo fence and the cat crawled through it to reach a man’s
estate.
The cat has a hostile attitude towards children who hold it upside down
or throw it around or squeeze it. If the cat tries to defend itself, it is punished.
Another cat by name Shiro gave birth to four kittens; but a student
threw them all into a pond. Mike, another cat on hearing Shiro’s case, said that
cats could be happy only if they overthrew human beings.
The hungry cat went into a room in search of food. But it was thrown
out by the maid. Yet the cat kept on returning to the room. The master, a kind
man, allowed the cat to stay.
The master was a school teacher. The cat found out, that though he
pretended to be hardworking, he was always sleeping. The cat wished to be
born next time a teacher, since school teachers have a lot of leisure. The
master was the only person who was kind to the cat. The cat started sitting on
his lap when he was reading the newspaper and perched on his back while he
was asleep. But when the master found the cat by the children, he would whip
it.
The cat describes the peculiar acts of its master. Though he was
ignorant of many things, he liked to pose his nose into everything. He would
write ‘haiku’ poems. He might try at archery but he was not good in these
activities. He ate a lot. He was called Mr. Mensroom by his neighbours. His
friends encouraged him to try his hand at drawing.

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 The master began drawing using the cat as a model. He shaded the cat’s
colour wrong and there were no eyes on the cat. The cat had to wait for long
posing as a model forgetting its urgent nature’s call.
The cat has thus drawn the human beings’ arrogant attitude. All the cats
have the same opinion in regard to people.
ANNOTATIONS
1. In such a way it was able to establish this place as ;my home.
Context
This passage has been taken form the lesson “I am a cat” written by
Natsume Soseki.
Meaning:
The cat which was thrown into a ditch managed to cross a bamboo
fence and came to a house. When it searched for food, it was noticed by the
maid. She at once threw it out. But the cat kept on coming into the house.
Finally the master saw the cat and permitted it to say there. Thus the cat
established the master’s house as its home.
2. He contributes his poems to Hototogisu magazine or writes some modern
poetry for the Myogo magazine.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
The cat describes the peculiar activities of its master. It has the opinion
that its master is a useless person. He cannot do anything well. But he will pry
into everything. He writes ‘Hiku’ poems and sends them to magazines. He tries
archery, sings lyrical songs and plays violin. In all his attempts excellence is
missing. Even the poems he writes are full of grammatical mistakes.
3. I found him trying out Andrea did Sarto’s theory on me.
Context
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
The cat is describing its master’s funny activities. Now he has taken up
the art of drawing.. Once during its sleep, the cat woke up. He saw its master
sitting in front of it. He had a brush in his hand and was drawing the cat on the
canvas. The cat realized that it was used as a model by her master.
Andrea del Sarto was a famous Italian painter.
4. “You fool”, This is the best he can manage as he does not know any other
way to swear.
Context:
(As given in the first annotation)

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Meaning:
The master of the cat has his own way of responding to different
situations. He usually uttered the word “fool”. When the master was drawing,
the cat come out of its original posture and posed as a model. Therefore the
master was disappointed and in a fit of range, he exclaimed, “you fool”.
VOCABULARY
A . Match the following with their meanings and then use them appropriately in
the sentences below
Idiom Meaning
a) On cloud nine 1) extremely happy
b) cross your mind 2) be good at something
c) how your heart in your 3) leave just enough time to do
mouth something
d) have a head 4) to come into your mind.
e) Cut it / things five 5) To feel nervous or frightened about
something.

Answer:
1) a – 1
2) b – 4
3) c – 5
4) d – 2
5) e – 3
1. I am not surprised at her tremendous success in
business. She has a head for it.
2. I didn’t cross my mind that she didn’t like
medicine. Had I known I would have been the least person to ask her to
study it.
3. When she won the state award. She was
extremely happy.
4. At the interview, I felt nervous or frightened
about something.
5. She reached the examination hall just in time.
She felt nervous.
B. Read this sentence
“When I came to, I could not find the student anywhere”

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 The line mentioned earlier means” when he came to consciousness”.
Here are five more phrasal verbs with the verb “come”. Use them
appropriately in the sentences given below.
Come back to (something), come down to (something), cone to
(something), come to nothing, come under (something).
Answer:
1. The army suddenly came under heavy fire form behind the hillock.
2. I can’t remember the name of the village it’ll come to mind.
3. Our choice of our holiday destination will come to nothing, how much we
an afford to.
4. We spent two whole months and it has come to nothing, all because of the
rains.
5. You need to came to down to a decision on the matter in a day.
GRAMMAR
Some nouns are countable in one sense and uncountable in another
sense. The use of an article with such nouns will depend on their countability.
Example:
1. She had a wonderful experience on her world tour.
2. Experience tells me that you need to be far more compassionate to your
younger colleagues.
Use articles where necessary:
a. She says awful things when she is in the temper.
b. She walked out in a fit of temper.
c. A good part of out time was spent in waiting for the bus.
d. A part of the village was destroyed by the tsunami.
e. The government has introduced a new law on sale’s tax.
f. The law doesn’t permit smoking in public places.
Usage:
Each of the following words express varying degrees of anger. Go
through them:
If you are You are
annoyed A little angry that not very angry
furious very angry
offended angry and upset

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livid so angry that it is difficult for you
to speak properly or think clearly

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Use the words appropriately in these sentences.
1. She was angry because I got a few minutes late to the party.
2. He was furious, when he know that his son smoked at school
3. Annie was lived, when she knew that her colleagues need her
personal mail everyday.
4. Please don’t feel offended if I don’t stay for dinner. I am catching a
late-night train to Mumbai tonight.
7. The Boy Comes Home
- A.A. Milne
Essay:
The lesson “The Boy Comes Home” has been written by A.A. Milne. It
is a one-act play describing the futility of war.
Philip lives with his Uncle James and Aunt Emily after returning from
the battle field. He has now grown, after four years at this war front, from an
innocent boy into a man.
In the opening of the play, the boy comes late to breakfast. Mary, the
maid, is reluctant to provide him with breakfast saying he is late by two hours.
Finally Philips is given eggs and jam. Uncle James is unhappy with Philip’s
behaviour. He has hoped Philips to have picked up discipline and sense of
punctuality. James decides to involve Philips in his jam business; but Aunt
Emily doubts Philip’s willingness to be a part of it.
James tells Philip that he will like him to join their venture. He asks
Philip to start earning money soon. When James feels impertinence on the part
of Philip, he threatens him saying that he can withhold the amount due to Philip
from his father’s account. Philip realizes that his uncle has no respect for his
difficult times at the battle field. On the other hand James goes on boasting of
his own contribution to his own country engaged in the war. He has sacrificed
eating potatoes and paid excess profit tax.
Philip decides to teach his uncle lesson. He threatens him with a
revolver and gets the paper signed. He narrates the brutality of war and how
each day and every minute they faced the fear of death. His return to London
after four years stay at the battle field seems to him almost a holiday.
Uncle James realizes that Philip is no more the same boy. He has
matured into a man and an individual, since he has experienced the sad aspects
of life. Thus James learns to respect and appreciate Philip more. In return
Philip decides join his uncle’s business.
ANNOTATIONS
1. Breakfast has been cleared away an hour ago.

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CONTEXT:
This passage has been taken from the drama “The Boy Comes Home”
written by A.A. Milne.
MEANING
The maid at Philip’s uncle’s house was irritated by the late arrival of
Philip for breakfast. When he demanded breakfast, she told him that Uncle
James was strict on everything. Thus Philip was denied breakfast by the
servant maid.
2. “Good Heavens! What do you think we did in France!”
CONTEXT:
(As given in the first annotation)
MEANING:
Then Uncle James wanted Philip to join his Jam business, Philip was
not interested in the offer. Philip casually took a cigarette and started smoking.
He told his uncle that they were only smoking in France in the Army for four
years.
3. I propose to take you into my business.
CONTEXT:
(As given in the first annotation)
MEANING:
When Philip returned from the army after four years of service, Uncle
James uttered these words to him, Philip had lost his parents. Uncle James and
Aunt Emily were his guardians. James wanted him to join his jam business but
Philip planned to become an architect. Uncle James anyway forced him to join
his firm.
4. Put it down at once, sir, good heavens anything might happen.
CONTEXT
(As given in the first annotation)
MEANING
James wanted Philip to join his company. But Philip wanted to prove to
his uncle that he was not immature. Therefore to prove his manliness he sprang
a revolver at his uncle’s forehead. At this sudden reaction, James became
frightened and requested Philip to put down the revolver to avert any untoward
act.

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 8. REFUND
- Friz Karinthy
ESSAY:
“Refund” is a one-act play written by Fritz Karinthy. One day the
school of the small town had a strange visitor. The visitor informed the
principal that he was the former student of the school by name Wasserkopf.
Wasserkopf complained to the principal that he did not receive good
education from the school. As he had not learnt anything worthwhile, he
demanded the school fees paid by him to be refunded. In case the school failed
to return the money, he threatened that he would report the matter to the
minister of education.
The principal swung into quick action and called for a meeting of all the
staff-members. When the principal explained the seriousness of the situation, it
was suggested that a re-examination should be held on Wasserkopf. He must
pass the examination by all means. If he failed, it would mean that he had not
acquired anything from the school. So they must pass him. Only when he
passed the examination, the school need not refund the tuition fees.
When Wasserkopf entered the conference hall, he scolded his former
teachers as loafers. The mathematics teacher interpreted the action as
Wasserkof’s lack of manners. He further explained that in the medieval days,
teachers and pupils met on the footing of perfect equality. Since Wasserkopf
kept true to the medieval manners, he gave him a good grading.
Now the history teacher started testing Wasserkopf. When the student
did not like to be seated, the maths teacher granted the candidate an excellent in
physical culture. The teachers granted him excellent in logic. When
Wasserkopf asked the teachers to pose questions, he was at once given
“boundless” in ambition.
The history teacher asked him how long the thirty years had lasted.
Wasserkopf said that he did not know the answer when the physics and
geography teacher tried to guess the answer, Wasserkopf accused them of
encouraging him to cheat. When Wasserkopf replied that it was metres, the
history teacher proclaimed that it was correct. The maths teacher justified the
answer as correct on the basis of quantum theory. Thus he was passed.
Next the physics teacher posed him questions. When he asked him
whether the clocks in the church sleepers would become smaller as one walked
away from them, Wasserkopf called the teacher an ass. But the physics teacher
certified the answers as very good in physics.
The geography teacher then conducted the test. He asked Wasserkopf
what city is of the same name with the capital of German province of
Brunswick, Wasserkopf promptly answered it as “same.” Wasserkopf was given
an excellent by the geography teacher.

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 Lastly the same maths teacher conducted the test. He asked one simple
question and another a hard one. For the easy one Wasserkopf gave an answer
which was nearly correct but not exact. The maths teacher marked a failure to
the student. The overjoyed to Wasserkopf demanded the tuition fee back. The
maths teacher then, as a second question, asked him to calculate the amount the
school owed him. Wasserkopf quickly calculated the exact amount due to him.
The maths teacher at once gave him a pass. Wasserkopf realized that he had
been outwitted. Thus the refund he demanded was denied.
ANNOTATIONS
1. Treat me wrong here as I’ll go straight to the ministry of education and
complain about you.
CONTEXT
This passage has been taken from the one act play “Refund” written by
fritz Karinthy
MEANING:
Wasserkopf has come to the school asking for the refund of the school
feels he has paid, since he has not learnt anything from the school. He has
threatened the principal. He says that if he is treated badly, he will complain to
the ministry of education and take necessary action.
2. We are dealing with a sky crafty individual who will try to get the better of
us.
CONTEXT:
(As given in the first annotation)
MEANING:
The Mathematics teacher told other teachers about the character of the
old student of the school who came there claiming the tuition feels he paid to
the school. The maths teacher approves of his claim; but before that he has to
undergo a re-examination.
The maths teacher told his colleagues that since Wasserkopf is very
intelligent and crafty, they should not ask difficult questions. Instead they
should ask only easy questions and must make him pass.
3. To hell with a seat! I’ll stand
CONTEXT:
(As give in the first annotation)
MEANING
When Wasserkopf was asked by the history teacher to be seated, he
refused the offer. Two things became clear to the teachers. The first one was
Wasserkopf was not for a written examination but for an oral one. By standing
he wanted to impress them with his physical stamina. Therefore he was given
excellent in the subject physical culture.

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4. I congratulate you. That was my difficult question
CONTEXT:
(As given in the first annotation)
Meaning:
In his turn, the maths teacher asked him two question. One was an easy
one and the other difficult. When asked about the speed of light, Wasserkopf of
gave a wrong answer. The teacher failed him. Then the teacher asked him to
calculate the tuition fees he paid to the school, Wasserk of calculated and gave
him the exact figure. The maths teacher praised him that he gave the right
answer for his difficult question. Therefore he lost his chance of getting the
refund of fees.

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 EXTENSIVE READER
1. ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE
(Sir George William Cox)
Describe the story of Orpheus and Eurydice in your own words.
Orpheus, a famous musician, lived in Thessally. He sang beautiful
songs and played upon his golden harp. His music charmed even the animals
and natural objects like clouds, hills, trees and streams.
Orpheus loved his wife, Eurydice, very dearly. One day Eurydice was
bitten by a snake and she died. Orpheus felt very wretched. He could not bear
to be without her. He decided to go to the land of the dead and bring her back
to the earth.
Taking his harp in his hand, Orpheus went to the world of the dead.
When he saw Cerberus, the three headed dog at the gate, he played upon his
harp. His music lulled the dog to sleep.
Orpheus met the king of the world of the dead and played upon his
harp. His music pleased the king very much. Orpheus requested the king to
give him back Eurydice. The king agreed to send her with him on condition
that he should not look at her until she had reached the earth.
When Orpheus was nearing the earth with Eurydice, he just turned
round to look at her. At once she was taken away from him. Orpheus with
sadness lived for a few years and then died to join his wife in Heaven.

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 2. THE PENANCE OF VISWAMITRA
(From Tales of India.)
Write in your own words how Viswamitra attained the title of Brahmarishi.
When Viswamitra was once a great king on earth, he was so powerful
and had no enemy. But he grew tired of peace and wanted to wage a war with
an enemy. So he went out with an army. He met the great sage, Vasistha.
Vasistha had a divine cow named Sabala. She would do anything her master
wanted with her divine power. She prepared a grand feast for her master’s
visitor and his army.
Viswamitra was surprised and wanted the cow for himself. He decided
to fight for it. Vasistha milked the cow and there appeared an army. He blew
Viswamitra’s hundred sons into pieces.
Viswamitra did great penance and got all the weapons of gods and
demons. Armed with them, he marched against Vasistha but they were
powerless against Vasistha.
Viswamitra realized the power of the Brahmin and decided to become a
Brahmin. He did a severe penance for thousand years and Brahma gave him
the title of Rajarishi. At this time, there was a king named Trisanku. He loved
his beautiful body so much that he wanted to enter heaven in his mortal body.
Viswamitra promised to help him. He organized a great Aswamedha and
ordered Trisanku to enter heaven in his earthly body. But Indra ordered him to
go down. Viswamitra, with his power, held up Trisanku in mid air and then
turned him into a star in the heaven.
Meanwhile, Viswamitra’s power was all gone. So he began again to do
penance. After another thousand years, Brahma appeared and Viswamitra
asked for more power. The gods became afraid. They sent the heavenly nymph
Menaka to him. He was attracted by her charm and lived with her. All his
power was gone.
For another thousand years he prayed. Brahma appeared and gave him
the title of Maharishi. But Viswamitra wanted to be called Brahmarishi. For
this, he had to control his passions. Ramba, another heavenly nymph was sent
to disturb his penance. He cursed her and his power was gone again because he
could not control his anger. But Viswamitra did penance for another thousand
years. Brahma was pleased with his mighty will power and gave him the title
of Brahmarishi. He thus became a Brahmin.

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 3. IT IS QUITE TRUE
(Hans Anderson)
Prove “It is Quite True” as a fable.
“It is Quite True” is a fable. A fable is a story in which animals behave
like human beings. It is mainly a children’s story. Therefore it always has a
moral or message. The moral is not directly stated. This story is about
gossiping birds which spread rumors and scandals.
One evening the hens as usual went early to roost. Among them there
was a pretty hen who was not only very much esteemed but also the merriest of
all the hens in the hen house. As she scratched herself, one of her feathers fell
off. She said good – humouredly that she would look beautiful if her feathers
fell off one by one. Then she fell asleep.
One of the hens in the hen house was half wakeful. She overheard the
words of the white hen. She woke up her neighbour and told her that the white
hen had completely pulled out all her feathers. The gossiping hen soon went up
to the neighbouring owl and told her that a hen had plucked out all her feathers
and stood naked before her cock. The owl flew over to the neighboring pigeon-
house and told the pigeons that a hen had bared herself of all the feathers and
was freezing to death. Another pigeon said that two hens who had done like
that had died of cold. Thus the story went round from one farmyard to another,
every time the number increasing.
At last the story came back to the place of its origin. Now the number
had increased to five. The cock had died unable to bear the disgrace caused by
his hens. The hen who had really lost one feather naturally could not recognize
her own story, but she was a sensible hen. She said that she hated the gossiping
hens. When people had a secret to gossip about in future, she said she would
find it out and send it to the newspapers. Everybody would come to know of it.
The newspapers took it up and altered the entire story, saying that one little
feather had become five hens.

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 4. DON QUIXOTE AND THE WINDMILLS
(Adopted from the Spanish story of Cervantes)
Elaborate Don Quixote’s adventure with the windmills.
“Don Quixote and the Windmills” is a humorous story based on the
tales of knights and their adventures in the middle ages. A knight was a man of
noble rank with a duty to fight for the king.
Don Quixote was a middle aged country gentleman. He bought and
read a lot of books about knights. He decided to become a knight himself to
defend the weak and punish the wrongdoers. He put on a suit of old armour
and got an old sword and lance. Then he sat on an old horse and set out in
search of adventures. He got a short and stout farm labourer to be his squire.
Don Quixote promised to make him the governor of an island. This man,
named Sancho Panza, followed him on his ass.
They rode merrily on their way. At last they came near a plain. There
were a number of windmills. Don Quixote got excited on seeing them. He
thought that they were evil giants and decided to fight with them. Sancho told
him that they were not giants, but windmills with sails rotating in the wind.
Dox Quixote said that Sancho might go away if he was afraid and he would
himself fight with the giants.
The knight charged at the nearest windmill. The sails of the windmills
began to move in the wind. His lance was caught and broken to pieces. He and
his horse fell down and he was badly injured. Sancho rushed to help his
master. Don Quixote told him that some magicians had turned the giants into
windmills to present him from winning fame but he would fight with his sword.
Sancho said that he believed his master. When he pointed out how his master
was hurt, Don Quixote said that a knight should not complain about his wound.
Then they rode away together again.

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 5. THE BLUE BOY OF THE POOL
(A Chinese Legend)
Describe the story of the blue little boy and Wang, the herb seller.
Once their lived a herb seller named Wang Shuh in China. At that time
Ta Ti was the Emperor of the country. One day Wang went up a mountain to
search for herbs. The sun was very hot. So he felt tired and lay down to rest on
a knoll at the foot of waterfall. After finishing his food, he stretched himself on
the knoll, looking into the pool below the waterfall.
Suddenly he saw a little boy at the bottom of the pool. The boy was
riding a red carp with a blue crush in his right hand. His body sparkled like a
sapphire. Every scale of the carp shone as brightly as fire. The carp rose in the
air. Wang got afraid and hid himself behind a bush. But the little boy rode
away towards the east. Then Wang started his search. The sky became dark.
There was a thunderstorm followed by a heavy rain. Wang understood that the
little boy was the thunder dragon.
At last the rain stopped and the sky had cleared and the sun was shining.
The little boy returned with a sound of sweet music and sank to the pool and
disappeared. Wang ran towards the pool. He noticed that one of the herbs he
sought for had grown upon the edge of the pool. He plucked it and ran down to
the village where he told his friends what he had seen.
At this time the Emperor’s daughter was lying ill. All the doctors had
given up her. Hearing of Wang’s adventure, the Emperor sent for him. He
asked the herb-seller to cure his daughter with the herb he had found during the
thunderstorm. He made a medicine from the herb and gave it to her. She
became well and strong again. The Emperor was glad and made Wang his chief
medical advisor. Thus Wang Shuh became a great man

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 TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE
1. THE MERCHANT OF VENICE
1. In what way did Basanio seek Antonio’s help and why?
William Shakespeare, the king of English literature, wrote 37 dramas
and many Sonnets. Of these 37 dramas some plays are historic, some are
tragedies and some are comedies. The Merchant of Venice is a beautiful
comedy. It tells the story of the merchants of Venice namely Shylock and
Antonio.
Long ago in the city of Venice lived a rich merchant called Antonio. He
was a kind and generous person. He was always ready to help people who
were in trouble. He had many friends and well-wishers. He was leading a
happy and contented life.
Antonio was not a married man. He lived all alone. But he had a
number of friends. One such friend was Bassanio. He was a handsome young
noble man. He spent more than he should have done. He was without any
worry. For he knew that his friend Antonio would help him to settle the debts.
Bassanio was in love with Portia. She was in Belmont. She was a very
rich and beautiful lady. He could not express his love to her for he was poor.
Portia was surrounded by men of wealth and rank.
So one day Bassanio came to his friend Antonio. He told him that
Portia would definitely accept him if only he had equal footing with the other
suitors. For that he needed money. So he requested Antonio to help him
financially. He told him that then only he could marry his lady love Portia.
The plot of the drama The Merchant of Venice rests on this request
only. Had Bassanio not approached Antonio with the request for money,
Antonio would not have gone to prison. He would not have been threatened by
the Jew, Shylock.
2. Why did Shylock hate Antonio?
In those days Venice in Italy was one of the richest cities in the world.
The people of Venice lived in great style. Many rich merchants also lived
there. Among the wealthiest of its merchants there were Antonio and Shylock.
Antonio was an unmarried man. He had no family and dependants to
support. He had his friends only. He was a kind and generous person. He was
always ready to help those in trouble. He was a Christian. He never lent
money for interest. So people loved and respected him very much.
Shylock was a Jew. He had a daughter by name Jessica. Shylock was a
greedy person. He hoarded wealth, He was highly selfish. He loved only one
thing in this world and it was money. He lent money to Christians merchants at
very higher rates of interest. He was cunning and merciless.
Shylock hated Antonio for several reasons. By lending money to those
in need Antonio brought down the rates of interest in Venice. This damaged

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Shylock’s business. As he was a Jew, he was not at all respected by the
Christian Antonio. He called names like dog and cur and insulted Shylock. In
the exchange all merchants respected Antonio and praised him for his generous
nature. But they despised Shylock. All these things made Shylock hate
Antonio like anything.
Shylock is also equally an important character in the drama. Some
critics say the merchant in the title actually refers to Shylock. In fact Shylock
is more sinned than sinning.
3. What was the bond which Shylock made Antonio sign?
In the drama The Merchant of Venice the plot circles around a bond.
Once Antonio’s friend, Bassanio, came to him asking for 3000 ducats. He
wanted to compete with the rich suitors of Portia. At that time Antonio’s ships
had gone to foreign countries. He was literally without money. So they decided
to meet Shylock and ask for money.
Shylock was very much humiliated and hurt by Antonio’s actions in the
Exchange. He lent money without interest to those who needed. Thus he
brought down the rates of interest in Venice. This damaged Shylock’s business
very much. Further as he was a Jew, Antonio called him ‘a dog’, ‘a cur’ and
once he even spit on the coat of Shylock. For all these humiliations Shylock
was waiting for a chance to seek vengeance. It came in the form of Bassanio’s
request.
When Antonio asked for 300 ducats, first Shylock teased him saying
how could a dog lend money. This angered Antonio and he told him that the
money would be repaid with due interest. But Shylock replied that he would
lend the money without interest. But they must execute a bond in front of a
notary writing that one pound of flesh would be cut off from the body of
Antonio if he failed to return the money in time. At this Bassanio warned
Antonio. But Antonio calmed him saying that his ships would return soon and
he could return the money on time.
The execution of the bond reveals the characters of the Jew Shylock and
the Christian Antonio. Antonio is innocent and broad-minded, whereas shylock
is crafty, treacherous and cunning.
4. What did Portia’s father will state regarding her marriage?
Portia’s father was a rich and wise man. Portia was his only one
daughter. When he was about to die, he thought of the future of his daughter.
He wanted his daughter to marry a good man and lead a safe and secure life.
So he left a will at the time of his death. This will contained strange terms
about the marriage of Portia.
The will contained a strange term. Behind the rich curtains of Portia’s
house there were three caskets. The first one was a gold casket. The second
one was of silver and the third one was of lead. Whoever came courting Portia
had to choose one of the caskets and open it. He must also abide by the
conditions of Portia’s will. If he chose the right casket, he could marry Portia.

36
If he lost, he had to go away forever. He should never trouble Portia or any
other woman again with a proposal of marriage.
Many suitors came to woo Portia. Each one was well known and richer
than the other. Among them were the prince of Morocco, the Neopolitan
prince, a Scotish lord, noblemen from France, Italy and Germany. Portia liked
no one. The suitors were also not able to make the right choice.
The gold casket had the following words. “Who chooses me shall gain
what many men desire”. The Silver casket had the following words inscribed
on it. “Who chooses me shall get as much as he deserves”. On the leaden
casket were found the following words. “Who chooses me must give and
hazard all he has”
The prince of Morocco opened the gold casket and found an empty
skull. So he lost the chance and went out. The prince of Arragon chose the
silver casket. He also failed because he found the portrait of a fool in it.
Bassnio was in love with Portia and was ready to make sacrifices for the
woman he loved. So the inscription on the leaden casket seemed to reflect his
love for her. So he opened the leaden casket. He found the portrait of Portia
and won the contest.
True love never fails. Bassanio and Portia loved each other sincerely.
Bassanio did not want the wealth of Portia. He wanted her hand only. That is
why God blessed him with the wisdom to open the right casket.
5. What bad news did Antonio’s letter to Bassanio contain?
Shylock’s daughter Jessica had run away from her father’s house. She
was in love with Lorenzo and wished to marry him, But Shylock would not
consent to her marriage as Lorenzo was a Christian. Further he was a friend of
his enemy Antonio. When Jessica left her house she took with her a lot of
jewels and money. This increased the anger of shylock. So he decided to take
Antonio to the court.
When Jessica and Lorenzo were running away from Venice they met
Salerio. He was also a friend of Antonio. He was going to Belmont to meet
Bassanio. Antonio had sent him with a letter to Belmont. Salerio persuaded
the lovers to accompany him Belmont. On reaching Portio’s house, Salerio
handed the letter to Bassanio.
Antonio had written that all his ships had been lost. His creditors were
asking for payment. Among his creditors Shylock had taken very strong steps.
He wanted to cut off one pound of flesh from the body of Antonio. The Duke
of Venice and all the most important men of Venice had tried to reason with
him. But he would not listen to them. He argued that he must have justice as
the bond was legal. So Antonio would die if one pound of flesh would be taken
from his body. So Antonio had written that he wanted to see Bassanio before
his death.
On hearing this Portia was shocked. Bassanio admitted that he was a
poor man. He confessed that he wooed Portia only with the 300 ducats Antonio

37
borrowed for him from Shylock. Portia was both practical and clever. She
took Bassanio with her to church and they were married. She then placed a
large amount of money at Bassanio’s disposal. Now Bassanio could go to
Venice and save Antonio.
In Romantic comedies of Shakespeare usually the women will dominate
over men. Women will be clever, intelligent and save men from difficulties. In
this play also we find an intelligent and practical Portia.
6. How did Portia, as Dr. Balthazar, help Antonio?
Portia gave a lot of money to Bassanio and asked him to go to Venice
and save Antonio. After his departure Portio also decided to go to Venice. She
decided to go in disguise and help Antonio. She was deeply impressed by the
quality of the friendship of Antonio for Bassanio.
The Duke of Venice approached Bellario for helping Antonio. Bellario
was a very good lawyer. Porito knew him very well. So she wrote to Bellario
outlining the case. She had also asked for his legal advice. She also begged
him to send her the red robes, normally worn by a counsellor in a court. Then
with her servant Nerissa she went to Venice. Now she was Balthazar and
Nerissa was her clerk. Then Bellario wrote a letter to Antonio saying that a
young lawyer would lead in his place.
First (Portia) Balthazar asked Shylock to show mercy on Antonio. But
Shylock flatly refused her request. Then she gave a speech on the noble quality
of mercy. This time also Shylock was not moved. Then she asked Shylock to
take three times the amount due to him. But again Shylock refused. So finally
she said that lawfully Shylock could claim one pound of flesh. On hearing
these words Shylock was very happy. He called Balthazar a noble judge and
told that “A Second Daniel” had come to judgment.
Then the jew came with his knife and scales to cut off one pound of
flesh from the body of Antonio. Now Portia stopped him. She told him that the
bond gave power to him to cut off only one pound of flesh. He could not take
even a drop of blood. Further he should take exactly one pound of flesh. If he
took more or less than the quantity stated in the bond then he would be
punished. All were happy. Bassanio wanted to return the money. But Portia
did not accept that. Instead she got half of the property of the Jew for Antonio.
As you sow so you reap. Thus goes the adage. The Jew Shylock had
the evil intention of killing Antonio. For this he lost half of his property. Once
again Portia proved that she was cleverer than her husband.

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 2. MACBETH
1. What did the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo when they first met them
in the forest.
Of all the tragedies of William Shakespeare, King Lear, Hamlet, Othello
and Macbeth are remarkable. Of these four Macbeth is lengthwise the shortest
play. It is also, the most horrific tragedy. Usually in Shakespeare’s tragedies
the women characters will have an insignificant role. But in this drama Lady
Macbeth plays a major role.
Long ago Scotland was ruled by King Duncan. Once there was a
rebellion against him led by the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth was the Thane of
Glamis. Macbeth was a brave soldier. He was held in high honour by the
King, the nobles and the people of Scotland. The king sent Macbeth to put the
rebels down. Macbeth with his courage and valour defeated Cawdor. When
Macbeth and a fellow-commander named Banquo were returning from the
battle field a strange thing happened.
When they were crossing a desolate heath suddenly three frightening
creatures appeared before them. They looked like women but they had beards.
They were witches. The first witch said, “All hail Macbeth Lord of Glamisl.
As Macbeth was already Thane of Glamis this was not extraordinary. The
second witch cried, “All hail Macbeth Lord of Cawdor”. Though the thane of
Cawdor was defeated the title was not passed to anyone. So both Macbeth and
Banquo were surprised at this. Then the third witch cried, “All hail Macbeth,
who will be the King of Scotland.” The two men were startled to hear the third
prophecy.
Now Banquo challenged the three witches. Then the first witch said,
“All hail Banquo, who are lesser than Macbeth but greater” The second witch
said, “You are not as happy as Macbeth but you will be happier” Your
descendants will be kings of Scotland” Full of curiosity Macbeth and Banquo
tried to stop the witches. But they disappeared.
The audience of Elizabethan age or the age of Shakespeare found
delight in super natural elements. So to satisfy them Shakespeare introduced
supernatural elements both in his comedies and tragedies.
2. How was the murder of Duncan arranged?
In token of his appreciation King Duncan granted the title Thane of
Cawdor to Macbeth. Thus the second prophecy of the witches had come true.
So Macbeth started wondering whether the prophecy of his becoming the King
would also become true.
Like her husband, Lady Macbeth was also ambitious. She was
determined to do everything possible to make the prophecies come true. She
was a practical woman and saw that the main obstacle to Macbeth was the fact
that Duncan was still alive.

39
 King Duncan wished to honour Macbeth for his services. As was the
custom of those days, he decided to visit Macbeth’s castle. She planned to kill
King Duncan on the night of his arrival. No one was likely to suspect as
Macbeth was known to be honourable and had recently proved his loyalty. As
soon as her husband arrived, Lady Macbeth spoke to him of her plan. He
reacted as she had expected.
The King arrived with his sons. Lady Macbeth welcomed him
graciously. Tired from his journey, the King decided to retire early to bed. As
night arrived Macbeth was not happy with the murder plan. But Lady Macbeth
argued that it was easy to kill Duncan and lay the blame on others. First they
drugged the wine of the guards who slept in the King’s room. First Lady
Macbeth decided to kill the King by herself. But as he resembled her father she
could not kill him. Then she handed the dagger to her husband. He went
swiftly into the room and plunged the dagger into Duncan’s heart. Then he
returned. In the confusion he brought the dagger with him. So Lady Macbeth
went into Duncan’s room, smeared the sleeping guards with the King’s blood
and left the dagger in their hands.
Usually women dominate over men only in the comedies of
Shakespeare. But here we find Lady Macbeth dominating over her husband
and executing the murder of King Duncan. That is why some critics call her as
the fourth witch in the play.
3. What happened at the banquet which Macbeth gave for his lords?
There were several things about Banquo that made Macbeth
uncomfortable. There was his natural loyalty to Duncan. He was of a quietly
reserved temperament. He had a young and splendid son Fleance. Suspicious
of all who were not openly for him, Macbeth resolved that he must kill all
passive enemies. So he wanted to kill first Banquo and his son.
One day Macbeth arranged for a banquet and invited Banquo to attend
it. Banquo said that he had to attend to a business and would come to the
banquet late. He said that he would be going with his son Fleance. Then
Macbeth though it was high time he murdered them. So he hired some
assassins and when Banquo was returning they killed him. But his son Fleance
managed to escape.
Meanwhile Macbeth had summoned his nobles to the banquet. The host
and all his guests were there except Banquo. Macbeth who seemed nervous
said he hoped Banquo had not met with nay accident. No sooner were the
words uttered than the ghost of Banquo appeared in the chair. Macbeth gazed
at it with terror. He started crying. No one else seemed to see the ghost. Lady
Macbeth somehow managed the situation. She took her husband aside and
brought him to his senses. Now the ghost disappeared.
Then he drank to the health of ‘his friend Banquo’ and said now he
wished he were there. The ghost promptly reappeared. Shaken with horror
Macbeth cried at the ghost and asked it to go out. Lady Macbeth and all the

40
guests thought that Macbeth had lost his mind. Lady Macbeth again managed
the situation saying that her husband was unwell. She asked the guests to leave
quickly.
The ghost scene in the play Macbeth is a wonderful creation of
Shakespeare. It tells how the wicked deeds of men hurt them and result in
hallucination. The ghost of Banquo is visible only to the eyes of Macbeth and
not to others.

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 4. TWELFTH NIGHT
1. What plans did Viola make to earn her living?
Viola is the heroine of the play. She is shipwrecked and helpless. She
has lost her brother also. She is cast upon a strange land of Illyria. Her
courage knows no bounds. She discusses with the sea-captain and concludes
that her brother, whom she has been thinking as dead, is alive. Now she
becomes cheerful. She asks the captain about Illyria and its ruler. The captain,
being a native of Illyria, tells that Duke Orsino is the ruler. Since Viola’s father
had talked to her about Orsino, Viola is more comfortable now. Viola
remembers that Orsina is a bachelor. The captain tells Viola about the rumour
that Orsino is fallen in love with Olivia. Olivia is a countess who has lost her
brother and father. Viola desires to serve Olivia but to her dejection she is told
that Olivia is mourning for her brother’s death and she is not ready to meet
anyone. So viola decides to serve the Duke. This shows that viola is very
natural and genuine. She too has lost her brother like Olivea but she is not
sentimental. She is dynamic and determined. She faces the reality with brove
heart.
Viola is intelligent and practical. She seeks the Captain to provide her
with male attire and to introduce her to the Duke without disclosing her
identity. She is ready to make use of her talents of singing and speaking “in
many sorts of music” to win the favour of the Duke. She assures the Captain
that she will prove worthy of his pains. Her sincerity in complementing the
captain and her promise of bounteous reward reveal her generous nature. The
captain is moved by the manners of Viola and agrees to help her. Viola
disguises herself as a boy. She serves Orsino as his page under the name of
Cesario. By her pleasing manners Viola is able to win the favour of the Duke.
She bears herself with such ease and dignity that no one suspects her to be a
young maiden in disguise. Her success becomes evident when the Duke
commissions Cesario to plead on his behalf with Lady Olivia for her love.
2. What happened when Cesario visited Olivia?
It opens on a note of love and we are told the nature of love. In it all the
characters are in love. The comedy is a “study of love on various planes”.
Olivia is a rich Countess of Illyria. She is a more complex character than Viola.
It is impossible to form an opinion of her at once. Different readers will
express different opinions about her thoughts and actions. At first we take her
to be proud but the very next moment we find her casting herself and her
fortunes at the feet of a page. She makes a rash vow that she would mourn her
brother’s death for full seven years, but the very next moment we find her
breaking this vow. She refuses one messenger from the Duke but soon after
admits the next. Some of these changes are no doubt the result of love but
others are owing to willfulness or caprice. Love comes to her as a kind of
punishment for her coldness and pride. She herself calls it a most exacting
frenzy. It is more like madness than anything else. She is conscious of the
unreasonable nature of her love and tries to control it but it is so violent and

42
passionate that all her efforts at self-control are of no avail. She falls in love,
“at first sight” and is thus mastered by a passion stronger than her pride. Then
there is the love at first sight of Olivia for Viola disguised as Cesario. Her love
is so violent and passionate that she loses all control over self. Even at the cost
of being considered immodest and losing her reputation she sends the ring to
Viola. She cannot bear separation from the object of her love even for a short
while. She must possess him and marry him without delay. As soon as Sebastin
agrees to be married to her she calls the priest and is married to him then and
there. Thus her love is aggressive it requires immediate satisfaction and can
brook no delay.
3. Describe the confusion that took place when Viola met Sebastian?
The role of Sebastian in the play is of far-reaching significance. Great
complication in the play is introduced as well as resolved by his arrival on the
scene. He was shipwrecked with Viola. But he was saved by a brave and kind
sailor, Antonia. Both of them came to Illyria.
As Antonia had once offended the Duke he could not enter Illyria with
safety, so he stayed behind but gave Sebastian his full purse so that he may
meet his expenses. Sebastian closely resembles his sister Viola. They are twins
and if Viola were to wear a man’s dress one could easily be mistaken for the
other. That is what actually happens in the play to further complicate matters.
He introduces a number of complications in the play. His arrival on the scene
leads to many misunderstandings and mistakes. It is all a comedy of mistaken
identities. He is mistaken for Viola by Sir. Andrew, Sir Toby and the Fool.
Oliva also takes him to be Viola and goes to the extent of marrying him on the
spur of the moment. Her hot wilful and impulsive nature is thus further
revealed. It is also because of him that Viola’s identify is mistaken. Viola is
mistaken for Sebasitan by Antonio who, no doubt, protects him from harm at
the hands of Sir Toby but also curses him as being thankless and treacherous.
Later on she is mistaken for Sebastian by Olivia and she tells the Duke that the
young man married her an hour ago. Viola denies this and is proved to be liar
by the evidence of the priest and is then cursed by the Duke as well. Just as
Sebastian introduced complications in the play so also he paves the way for a
happy denouement. Without him the play could not have ended as it does now.
His marriage with Olivia leaves Viola and the Duke free to get married. Thus
the role of Sebastian in the play is one of essential dramatic significance.

43
 KING LEAR
1. On what basis was Lear’s Kingdom divided?
Lear, the king of Britain, decides to handover the crown to his
successor. He convenes the full court. As there are men they are opinions.
Everyone has their own choice for the crown. Great commotion prevails in the
town, as Lear has no son to succeed him. His two daughters, Goneril, the elder
and Regan, the second, are married. They are married to the Duke of Albany
and the Duke of Cornwall respectively. The third daughter Cordelia is
unmarried. Cordelia is gentle and affectionate, whereas her sisters are selfish
and arrogant. Lear too loved Cordelia dearly.
Lear, an elderly King with good experience, surprises everyone by
deciding to divide the Kingdom. Experienced and knowledgeable Lear proves
himself a fool by this. His foolishness gets highlighted when he has told how
the division would be. He concludes to retire the title of “King” with himself.
He declares that he is not going to divide the country equally for his daughters.
He says that he wishes to test their love for him and whoever he feels love him
the most will get the biggest share.
First chance goes to the elder daughter Goneril. She is very cunning
and ruthless. She is a great opportunist who never misses a chance. When the
chance comes she determines to use it properly. She would get a large share of
the Kingdom. She flatters her level best to win the confidence of he father. She
goes to the extent of telling that she has no words to express her love. She says
that her father is more precious than her eyesight. She adds that he is someone
more treasured than her liberty and she considers him more the cherished
world. The old king is pleased by the reply and gives her one-third of his
Kingdom.
Lear offers the next chance to Regan. Regan is someone who is flaxy.
She is cleverer than her sister Goneril. She schemes in such a way that she
overrules her sister in complementing her father. She says that she loves him
more than her sister. She improves that there will be no joy in her life without
her father. Satisfied Lear offers her share to Regan.
Cordelia, who is carefully listening to her sisters, feels it unnecessary to
prove her love in words. Her love is true and so she never gives importance to
words. She, moreover, believes that her father has understood her well. Lear,
on the other hand, looks forward to her words of cajolery. When he learns that
Cardelia has nothing to tell, he banishes her.
2. Why was Cordelia disowned?
Lear decides to select his successor, since he has no sons. He plans to
divide the country and give it to his daughters. Lear goes for a queer method of
breaking up the nation. He resolves to award the daughters on the basis of their
love for him. Goneril and Regan, the two elder daughters, won the confidence
of their father.

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 Cordelia is the most loved by the king, as she is gentle and affectionate.
She is a very lovable creature who cannot harm anybody. She is a girl who
does not believe in words but in action. She considers that true love does not
require any explanation. So, she listens quietly to her sisters. Their pompous
words do not move her. She is determined and feels it unnecessary to prove her
love by putting it in words. She maintains that her father knew her and her love,
so she remains wordless. However, Lear actually looks forward to her words of
adulation and praise. To his shock, he learns that Cordelia has no words to
utter. She is very humble and says that she has no power of speech like her
sisters. She calls herself a dutiful daughter who respects her father. She poses
a question which really brings the devious nature of the sister to spotlight. Her
questions make one think that if their words are true, they should not have got
married. She reveals herself truly without hesitation by saying that she will
share her love for her husband. Lear who is not pleased with his answer expels
her.
3. In what ways did Goneril and Regan trouble Lear?
Immediately after receiving their share, Goneril and Regan start to
reveal their true character. They discuss their father’s age and they conclude
that it is the age that makes him behave silly. They are also aware of the fact
that their father loved Cordelia more. They know mighty well that they receive
some kind of treatment. They decide to keep an eye on him.
Lear first goes to stay with Goneril.Lear understands the true nature of
Goneril very soon. Lear is very unhappy. Goneril behaves the opposite of what
she has told about her love. She treats him unkindly. She is rude and
ungracious. Things become worse when the servants of Goneril refuse at work
for Lear. Lear’s position becomes more pathetic when he learns that Goneril
has ordered her servants not to obey Lear. The only good thing that happens in
Goneril’s castle is that Lear gets a good servant in Caius. Lear likes him very
much. A time comes when Lear is forced to get out. Goneril’s steward answers
Lear rudely. Caius knows that true nature of Goneril and Regan. He has
followed Lear to help him. Goneril orders her father to send home a few
knights who have accompanied him. Lear has nearly one hundred knights with
him, they are his close friends. Goneril complains that they often quarrel with
her men. She also condemns that they shout unnecessarily and she is unable to
bear it. She does not want her castle to become a tavern.
Lear next visits his second daughter Regan. Lear is insulted at the gate
itself. Regan punishes Lear’s servant. The servant has taken the message of
Lear’s arrival to Regan. Regan even refuses to meet her father. She sends a
message that she is resting. This enrages Lear and orders his daughter to meet
him because he is still the king. Regan comes and to Lear’s surprise, supports
her sister Goneril. She says that Goneril has done her duty because she has to
protect her own house. She calls him an old man.
She complains that Lear has lost his senses and requires somebody’s
help. She also asks him to go back and apologize to Goneril. She also advises

45
him to control his men and reduce them to half the number. She instructs Lear
that the servants of two masters cannot live peacefully in one house. She goes
to the extent of saying that she is not ready to accommodate her father. When
Lear refuses to go back to Goneril, Regan says that she will allow only twenty
five of his men to stay with him. This insult makes him mad.
4. Why did Lear go mad?
Immediately after receiving their share, Goneril and Regan start to
reveal their true characters. They discuss their father’s age and they conclude
that it is the age that makes him behave silly. They are also aware of the fact
that their father loved Cordelia more. They know mighty well that they receive
only some kind of treatment. They decide to keep an eye on him.
Lear first goes to stay with Goneril. Lear understands the true nature of
Goneril very soon. Lear is very unhappy. Goneril behaves the opposite of what
she has told about her love. She treats him unkindly. She is rude and
ungracious. Things become worse when the servants of Goneril refuse to work
for Lear. Lear’s position becomes more pathetic when he learns that Goneril
has ordered her servants not to obey Lear. The only good thing that happens in
Goneril’s castle is that Lear gets a good servant. Lear likes him very much.
A time comes when Lear is forced to get out. Goneril’s steward
answers Lear rudely. Caius is unable to bear this and he knocks the steward
down. Caius is in fact the Duke of Kent. He tells that knowing the nature of
Goneril and Regan, he has followed Lear to help him. Goneril orders her father
to send home a few knights who have accompanied him. Lear has nearly one
hundred knights with him. They are his close friends. Goneril complains that
they are quarrel with her men. She also condemns that they shout
unnecessarily and she is unable to bare it. She does not want her castle to
become a tavern.
Lear next visits his second daughter, Regan. Lear is insulted at the
gates itself. Regan punishes Lear’s servant. The servant has taken the message
of Lear’s arrival to Regan. Regan even refuses to meet her father. She sends a
message that she is resting. This enrages Lear and orders his daughter to meet
him because he is still the king. Regan comes and to Lear’s surprise supports
her sister Goneril. She says that Goneril has done her duty because she has to
protect her own house. She calls him an old man.
She complains that Lear has lost his senses and requires somebody’s
help. She also asks him to go back and apologize to Goneril. She also advises
him to control his men and reduce them to half the number. She instructs Lear
that the servants of two masters cannot live peacefully in one house. She goes
to the extent of saying that she is not ready to accommodate her father. When
Lear refuses to go back to Goneril, Regan says that she will allow only twenty
five of his men to stay with him. This insult makes him mad.

46
5. How did Kent prove his loyalty to Lear?
The Duke of Kent is one of the faithful Lords to Lear. He is a shrewd
man and understands the real reason for the flattering words of Lear’s elder
sisters. He attempts to talk to the king, when he exiles Cordelia. He is a true
friend who advises Lear to reconsider his sentence. He projects the real
character of Lear’s elder daughters. He highlights the love of Cordelia towards
Lear. He wants Lear to discriminate between flattery and love. Lear is unable
to tolerate Kent. He banishes Kent for his disagreement with his judgment.
Even after exile, Kent follows Lear. He joins as his servant in the name
of Caius at Goneril’s castle. Lear likes Gaius very much. Caius’ sincerity and
honesty move Lear very much. When Goneril’s steward answers Lear, rudely,
Caius knocks him down.
When Lear happens to leave Goneril’s castle, he sends Caius, the Duke
of Kent, as a messenger to Regan. As Regan moves to Gloucester castle, Kent
meets her there. Kent enters a quarrel with Goneril’s messenger there and
receives punishment. He is arrested and placed in stocks in front of the castle.
On seeing this Lear becomes angry. Lear is insulted by Regan also. This
makes him mad. He goes to the heath. Deserted and dishevelled, Lear roams
around alone on the heath. He is unable to take the strain of his betrayal. Kent
finds him and takes him to a shelter.
As the king is out of scene, the Duke of Cornwall and Albany try to
attain absolute power. Both want to become the king. This weakens the nature,
giving place to France to invade Britain. Kent understands this plan and sends
a word to Cordelia about the condition of her father. Since Lear’s health starts
deteriorating day by day, Kent decides to leave Lear under the care of Cordelia.
6. What happened to Duke of Cornwall?
The Duke of Cornwall is the husband of Regan. He and the Duke of
Albany, husband of Goneril, start quarrelling for absolute power. Both want to
become king. It weakens the country. In between, Edmund, the bastard son of
the duke of Gloucester meets him. From Edmund, he learns the treasonous
ideas of Gloucester. Cornwall summ -ons Gloucester but discovers that he has
gone to find King Lear. He has decided to give shelter to Lear. This infuriates
Cornwall.
Gloucester, failing to locate Lear, returns to the castle. He finds
Cornwall and Regan waiting for him. They accuse Gloucester for disobeying
their orders. They order Gloucester’s own servant to arrest him. Cornwall
takes his knife and takes out one of Gloucester’s eyes. Regan cries to take the
other eye also.
Gloucester’s servants are unable to tolerate this. They charge toward
the Duke with their swords. One of them wounds Cornwall to death.

7. How did Edmund harm his father, brother, Goneril and Regan?

47
 Edmund is an illegitimate child of the Earl of Gloucester. Edgar is his
legal son. Edgar is gentle and kind but Edmund is dashing and handsome
soldier, Gloucester likes more than Edgar. Edmund is cunning and ambitious.
He wants to succeed his father. He hates Edgar. He sketches plans to get rid of
his brother. He complains to Gloucester that Edgar studies the occult and
spirits. He also tells his father that Edgar schemes to kill him. Though
Gloucester hesitates to believe this at first Edmund cunningly arranges a scene
and makes Gloucester believe his words. He goes to Edmund and tells him that
Gloucester believes his words. He is angry with Edgar and if he goes out for a
few days Gloucester may forget his faults. Edgar leaves the place. Now
Edmund acts as if he is wounded. Gloucester decides that his son Edgar is a
criminal.
The Duke of Cornwall is the husband of Regan. He and the Duke of
Albany, husband of Goneril, start quarrelling for absolute power. Both want to
become king. It weakens the country. In between Edmund, the bastard son of
the Duke of Gloucester meets him. From Edmund he leans the treasonous
ideas of Gloucester. Cornwall summons Gloucester but discovers that he has
gone to find King Lear. He has decided to give shelter to Lear. This infuriates
Cornwall.
Gloucester, failing to locate Lear, returns to the castle. He finds
Cornwall and Regan waiting for him. They accuse Gloucester for disobeying
their orders. They order Gloucester’s own servant to arrest him. Cornwall
takes his knife and takes out one of Gloucester’s eyes. Regan cries to take the
other eye also.
Gloucester’s servants are unable to tolerate this. They charge towards
the Duke with their swords. One of them wounds Cornwall to death.
Edmund is loved by Goneril and Regan. Both of them are madly in
love with him. Edmund has become more ambitious now. He wants to become
the king of Britain. If he marries one of the sisters he would get only half of
the kingdom. So he decides to wait until the end of the war. He plans to kill
the Duke of Albany and marry any one of the sisters. Albany suspects Edmund
of encouraging both his wife and sister-ion-law. Regan has openly declared
that she will marry Edmund. This statement enrages Goneril. She herself is
waiting for a chance to kill her husband, in order to marry Edmund. When
Edgar and Edmund fight she carefully watches her sister Regan because she has
poisoned her. In the fight Edmund dies revealing the whole plan. This stuns
Goneril and shestabs herself to death.

48
 GRAMMAR
1. Identifying People and Things
(Determiners, including Articles)
What is anxiety? When you’re in a potentially dangerous situation –
facing a large, barking dog, for example – anxiety is a healthy response. Your
brain, sensing the danger, signals for the release of hormones to prepare your
body to defend itself. Muscles tense, heartbeat and breathing rate of increase,
and the blood event becomes more likely to clot (in the event of injury). In
some people however, this response is set in motion even when there is no
obvious threat. Such a reaction can be bad for your health, causing exhaustion,
poor concentration, a sense of detachment form yourself, causing exhaustion,
poor concentration a sense of detachment form yourself or your surroundings,
headache, stomach problems, and an increase in blood pressure. (From “The
Healing Power of Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs”)
The words printed in italics in the above paragraph – a, an, the your, this, some,
no, etc. are called ‘determiners’.
Say whether the determiners (the words in italics) in the following sentences
are used correctly (√) or incorrectly(X)
1. There was just a hour’s delay. (X)
2. The honey is better than sugar for the health. (X)
3. Both trains leave early in the morning. (√)
4. Her beautiful two daughters won everybody’s heart. (X)
5. She has an MA from the University of London. (√)
6. He’s down with a malaria. (X)
7. Why are there so much people in the room? (√)
8. She’s always championed the cause of the downtrodden. (√)
9. They’ve been living in the New York for ten years. (X)
10. “A man, “said Aristotle, “is a reasoning animal.” (X)
The most common determiners are words like a, an and the (called
articles), my, your, his, her, its, our, their (called possessives), this, that, these,
and those (called demonstratives), some, any, no, enough, each, every, either,
neither (called indefinite determiners), and which, what, whose etc., (called
interrogative determiners).
Practice: 1: Underline the determiners in the following text
The showiest of birds: the female sunbird and the female hummingbird
are usually drab. But the males of both families are spectacularly coloured with
elaborate *iridescent feather adornments. The feather of the malachite sunbird
is extended into two long ribbons; the racket – tailed hummingbird, into elegant
pennants. Both are extremely aggressive birds, driving away any other male

49
that fries to invade their territory with fierce physical attacks. During
courtship, the males dive and hover in front of the females showing off their
decorations and flicking their plumes. They will take no part in the work of
incubating eggs, leaving that entirely to the females.
Showing many bright colours which appear to change when seen from
different angles.
The showiest of birds: The female sunbird and the female hummingbird
are usually drab. But the males of both families are spectacularly coloured with
elaborate *iridescent feather adornments. The feather of the malachite sunbird
is extended into two long ribbons; the racket – tailed hummingbird, into elegant
pennants. Both are extremely aggressive birds, driving away any other male
that tries to invade their territory with fierce physical attacks. During courtship,
the males dive and hover in front of the females showing off their decorations
and flicking their plumes. They will take no part in the work of incubating
eggs, leaving the entirely to the females.
(a) We use determiners before nouns or noun groups.
Just look at her face and the digital photograph.
Do they have any resemblance?
When we use quantifiers (such as numbers), we place them after
determiners.
Her three daughters are film stars.
Her three sons are in the army.
(b) If we add modifiers (such as adjectives), we place them after
determiners and words of quantity.
The three little monkeys ate my pets.
I had two terrible dreams last night.
Several pretty girls have crowded around the film star.
His lovely three dogs won prizes at the show.(X)
His three lovely dogs won prizes at the show(√)
Practice 2: Place their determiners, quantifiers and adjectives given in brackets
at the appropriate positions.
1. Boys went on an adventure. (naughty, four, little)
Four naughty little boys went on an adventure.
2. Stories are from the Panchathanthra. (four, these, lovely)
These four lovely stories.
3. Story in this anthology is by O.Henry (interesting, first, the)
The first interesting story.
4. Complaint is (this, serious, my, first)

50
 My first serious complaint in this.
5. Grandson is playing with puppies(little, naughty, my, lovely, three,
his)
My naughty little grandson is playing with his three lovely puppies.
We can use nouns without determiners in certain situations.
(a) a proper noun in the singular
Kerala is rich in scenic beauty.
Latha is my close friend.
Khajuraho is a popular tourist spot.
(b) an uncountable noun in the singular.
Milk is good for health (with low fat!)
Honey is sweet. And so are you!
Platinum is a precious metal, more costly than gold.
(c) a countable noun in the plural
Elephants have long trunks, which are really their noses.
Dew drops pretend to be diamonds in the sun!
Ostriches are huge flightless birds.
We can group determiners under two main types: ‘specific determiners
and ‘general’ determiners.
When we know that our listener/ reader knows which people or things
we are talking about, we can refer to them in a specific way. We use specific
determiners in such cases.
When we know that our listener / reader knows which people or things
we are talking about, we can refer to other in a specific way. We use specific
determiners in such cases.
When we refer to people or things in a general way without saying
exactly who or what they are, we can use general determiners.
Specific determiners are the definite articles: The demonstratives: this,
that, these, those are possessives: my, your, his her, its, our, their.
At the next station a young Frenchman and his Indian girl friend got
into our compartment. The girl was quite friendly and rather talkative. But the
man never once opened his mouth! “These snooty French”, I said to my firmed.
We later found out that the poor man was deaf and dumb.
Possessives such as my, his, her, its, their, etc, used before nouns show
possession.
This is his dog, his guide and his constant companion.
He is blind.

51
 That is their dream-house, build with a generous load from her parents.
Where is your computer, which you love more than your wife?
The demonstratives ‘this, that, these and those’ mostly show nearness to
or distance form the speaker.
This garden is full or rare trees and plants.
That house is haunted. That’s what the smugglers say.
I bought these books at the book fair at a good discount.
Those trees are very old. Some of them are nearly 500 years old!.
The most common general determiners are: a, all, an, another, any, both,
each either, enough, every, few fewer, little, many, more, most, much, neither,
no, other, several and some.
1. We can use the following general determiners with singular count.
Nouns: a, an, another, any, each, either, every, neither, no.
The cloth mill is opening a new retail outlet in a week.
The old man had another heart attack this morning.
Every cloud has a silver lining. Most of the time you cannot see the
lining.
2. We can use the following general determiners with plural count nouns: all,
nay, both enough, few fewer, many, more most, no other, several, some.
Several directors resigned in protest against the CEO’s autocratic ways.
Some people are never happy whatever you do for them!
3. We can use the following general determiner switch uncounted nouns: all,
nay, enough, less little, more, most, much, no, some.
There was enough food to feed an army. Well, at least a very small
army!
The police are looking for more evidence to prosecute him.
4. We cannot use the following general determiners with un count nouns: a/ an,
another, both, each either, every, few many, neither, several.
Do you want another milk? (X)
Do you want another cup of milk?(√)
Do you want another more milk?(X)
Do you want some more milk? ?(√)
Lets discuss in some detail the uses of the common general determiners.
(a) a and an
We’ll attempt a detailed discussion of a and an.
(b) Some, any and no

52
1. We use some when we want to say that there is a number of things or a
quantity of something, without being precise. We use it normally in affirmative
sentences.
There is some truth in what he says.
Some people will believe anything.
There are some visitors waiting for you in the sitting room.
2. We use nay when we want to talk about a quantity the may or may not exist.
We normally use nay in question and negatives.
Is there nay buttermilk in the cooler?
There is never been any love in their twenty-year-old marriage.
3. We can use ‘no’ instead of ‘not’ any in affirmative sentences to show the
absence of things.
There’s no ice-cream in the fridge.
He had no explanation to offer.
I have no patience left.
(c) each and every
We use each and every to talk about all the members of a group of
people for things.
Each student had a lame excuse to give.
Every rupee has to be accounted for; this is public money.
Every participant is expected to obey the rules of the game.
(d) Other and another
We use other and another to talk about an additional person or thing.
Can you think of another animal with tusks?
The other thief escaped under cover of darkness.
(e) Many, Much, few and little
1. We use many to talk about a large number of people or thins without
being very precise. We use few to talk about a small number of people or
things.
She’s been to many countries; she’s an air-hostess.
There are few doctors interested in working in remote villages.
2. We use much to talk about a large quantity of things, and little to talk
about a small quantity of things.
There isn’t much money left in our bank account.
We know little about her past, or her present for that matter!
3. We normally use much in questions and negatives. In affirmative
sentences, we use a lot of, lots of and plenty of to talk about large quantities.

53
 There wasn’t much discussion at the meeting.
Why wasn’t there much enthusiasm about a charitable hospital?
(f) either, neither and both
We use either and neither to indicate ‘one to two’, either being positive
and neither negative.
Either city is good for shopping, if you have plenty of money.
Either colour will suit you; you have such good complexion!
Neither solution was acceptable to them.
Neither plan was good, according to the management expert.
We use both when we are talking about two people or things as a group.
Both proposals were turned down by the committee.
Both players were fined for swearing at the umpire.
(g) What, which, whose, etc.
We use what, which, whose, etc., to ask question about unknown items.
Which dress shall I wear?
What explanation will convince him?
Whose poems are you talking about?
‘Who’, ‘Which’ and’ that’ are called relative pronounce.
‘Who’ is used before persons.
‘Which’ is used before things.
‘that’ is used both before persons and thins.
1. I have aunt………………… writes all her letters poetry (who)
2. The family…………………….lives opposite our house are Punjabis
(that)
3. All…………………. Glitters is not gold. (that)
4. My brother………………….. runs a small cycles shop has won a
lottery. (who)
The definite article, ‘the’ is used before proper nouns in the following cases:-
a) before the names of rivers, oceans bays, mountains and groups of islands, as,
The Cauvery, the Bay of Bengal, the Indian ocean, the Himalayas, the
And amass.
Note:
This is not put before the name of single Mountains or hills or peaks.
Mt. Everest, Mt. Etna,Mont Blanc.

54
b) before a geographical name that describes the place, as
The Punjab, the Sahara, the Suez Canal
c) before the name of a nation, party or a community, as
The English, the Congress, the Muslims.
d) before the name of a ship or an aero plane or a train, as.
The S.S. Rajula, the Vikranth, the Pushpak, the Brindavan Express, the
Howrah Mail.
e) before the name of newspaper, as,
The Hindu, The Mail, The illustrated Weekly.
f) before the name of a public building, as,
The town Hall, The Taj Mahal
g) before the names of some books (epics, scriptures, etc), as,
The Vedas, the Bible, the Ramayana, the Illiad.
h)before a proper noun when it is qualified by an adjective, as
the great Shivaji, the late Nehru.
The definite Article is also used in the following cases:-
i) When we refer to a particular person or thing, as
Read the poem at the end of the book.
j) When we refer to a particular person or thing already mentioned, as,
We saw a man; the man was walking along the road.
k) before a common-noun which is the name of a thing of which only one
exists; as,
The sun, the moon, the sky, the earth.
l) before a common noun (countable) in the singular to mean a whole class, as
The cow (cows in general) is a useful animal.
m) before an adjective in the superlative degree, as
Rama is the best boy in our school.
n) before an adjective used as a noun, as
We pity the blind and the deaf.
o) before an adverb in the comparative degree in some cases, as,
The sooner you leave the better it will be.
p) before an adjective in the comparative degree when selection is intended; as,
Of the two sisters, which is the cleverer?
q) before proper nouns used as common nouns of abstract nouns; as,

55
 Kalidass is called the Shakespeare of India.
s) before the names of government departments banks, shops, business houses,
etc. except when they begin with a personal names as.
The Railway Ministry, the Ajantha Hotel, the Syndicate Bank (but
Sundaram Industries, Lloyd’s Bank etc.)
t) before a personal name made into a plural to denote all the members of a
family; as
the Lancasters, the Georges, the Nehrus.
u) before ordinal numbers; as,
The first, the second.
“A” is used before words beginning with consonants a bat, a cat, a dog,
a fan, a horse, etc.
Example:
An honest man
An hour
An M.L.A.
“An” is used before singular noun beginning with vowels : a, e, i, o, u
an apple, an egg, an Indian, an orange, an umbrella
But Not:
Example:
A European
A one-eyed man
A university
A utopian idea
* Practice 3: Fill in the blanks with appropriate determiners.
When the famous American, Danier Webster, was a school boy, he often
went to school with dirty hands and face. His teacher warned him that she
would punish him if he didn’t wash before class the next day. Daniel paid no
attention.
The next morning, the teacher asked him to hold out his hand for
inspection. Danier spat on a /his hand, rubbed some of the dirt on to his
trousers, then showed his palm up. The teacher looked and shock her head.
“Danierl, “She said, “if you can find a hand in the room that’s dirtier than this
one, I’ll let you off!”
Danierl immediately showed her his other hand.
* Practice 4: Insert ‘the’ wherever necessary.

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 Sahara is greatest desert on earth. It stretches form scrublands of
northern Sudan and Mali to coast of Mediterranean where its sands blow across
ruined Roman cities. On east it crosses Nile and meets waters of Red Sea.
Five thousand kilometers away to west, it reaches Atlantic Ocean. No river
rises in it. Rain may not fall on parts of it for years on end, Here heights shad
temperatures on earth have been recorded: 58 oC. Some of its covered by sand.
Much are is an arid plain of wind gravel and tumbled boulders. And at its heart
stand ranges of grotesque sandstone mountains. (from David Attenborough:
The Living Planet)
The Sahara is the greatest desert on earth. It stretches form the
scrublands of the northern Sudan and Mali to the coat of the Mediterranean
where its sands blow across ruined Roman cities. On the east it crosses the
Nile and meets the waters of the Red Sea. Five thousand kilometers away to
the west, it reaches the Atlantic Ocean. No river rises in it. Rain may not fall
on parts of it for years on end. Here the highest shade temperatures on earth
have been recorded: 58oC. Some of it is covered by sand. Much ore is an arid
plain of wind gravel and tumbled boulders. And at its heart stand ranges of
grotesque sandstone mountains.
*practice 5: Fill in the blanks with ‘a’ or ‘an’ appropriately.
Example:
An Australian novel
A year’s income
1. an essay competition
2. a * eulogy for a departed friend.
3. a European tradition
4. an eye-witness
5. an heir to the family fortune
6. a historical event
7. an honest man among thieves
8. an hour’s delay
9. a humorous story
10. a Member of Parliament.
11. an M.L.A. for several terms
12. an MP form Nagaland
13. a one-eyed man.
14. an Owlish-looking girl
15. an S.O.S. message
16. an ulcer in the mouth.

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17. an umbrella organization
18. a uniform policy
19. a yardstick of quality
20. a youth hostel.
* Practice 6:
Point out in what sense a/an is used in the following sentences. (first
mention, one, a certain, any / single, or every).
1. I bough a pen yesterday? But it? First mention
2. I have a copy of the book. One
3. I came by a translation of Manusmriti. One.
4. There is a boy waiting for you. A certain
5. There is not an atom of truth in his story. Any/single
6. I met a man last night who? First mention
7. There was not a being anywhere around. Any /single
8. Sound travels at 332 m a second. Every.
* Practice 7: Fill in the blanks with the name of the illness given in brackets,
using the appropriate indefinite article a/an wherever necessary
1. Don’t play in the rain, you’ll catch a cold (cold)
2. There is an outbreak of measles in the city. (measles)
3. He has been suffering from rheumatism for years (rheumatism)
4. Your face looks flushed. Do you have a fever? (fever)
5. Don’t eat too many sweets. You will get a toothache, (tooth-ache)
* Practice 8: Fill in the blanks in the following sentences with a, an or the
wherever necessary.
1. We saw a herd of elephant pacing along as if they had an appointment
at the end of the world. (Isak Dinesan)
2. The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to
be one. (Emerson)
3. The curious incident of a dog in the night time.
The dog did nothing in the night time. That was a curious incident.(Sir
Author Conan Doyle)
4. There are only tow qualities in the world: the efficiency and
inefficiency, and only two sorts of people: the efficient and the
inefficient. (George Bernard Shaw)
5. Titles distinguish the mediocre, embarrass the superiors, and are
disgraced by the inferior. (George Bernard Shaw)

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6. The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress
depends on the unreasonable man. (George Bernard Shaw)
7. A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of its absolutely
fatal. (Oscar Wilde)
8. …………… culture shock is what happens when a traveler suddenly
finds himself in a place where ‘yes’ my mean ‘no’, where…………’
fixed price’ is negotiable, were to be kept waiting in an outer office is
no cause for an insult, where ………….. laughter may signify anger.
(Alvin Toffler: Future Shock).
9. Well, if I called the wrong number way did you answer the phone?
(James Thurber)
10. I cannot forecast to you the actions of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in
a mystery inside an enigma (Winston Churchill).

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 MAKING CONNECTIONS
(Conjunctions and other Devices)
Read the following passage:
A morning walk is a pleasant experience. Besides, it is a kind of good
exercise. Still many people fail to understand this. Although doctors often
prescribe it, people make it a habit only when they are compelled to do so, for
instance, after an illness.
The italicized items are examples of linkers. When we express our
ideas and thoughts in connected speech, in the spoken or written form, the
logical connection between the sentences and between the paragraphs is very
important. The ideas, arguments, narrative details, etc., should be presented
coherently i.e., with their logical sequential relationship made clear so as to
avoid ambiguity. For this purpose we make use of verbal devices, viz., words
and phrases, called linkers which bring out the logical connection between one
sentence or idea and the next and also between one paragraph and the next.
Thus they serve as connecting links.
Look at the pairs of sentences below.
The sky was very cloudy.
We cancelled our plan for an outing.
I may be responsible for this.
I’m not the only one responsible.
Sunlight is warm.
Moon light is cool.
The connection between the two sentences in each of these pairs can be
made clear with the use of linkers as shown below.
The sky was very cloudy. Therefore we cancelled our plan for an
outing.
I may be responsible for this. However, I’m not the only one
responsible.
Sunlight is warm, but moonlight is cool.
Linkers may be classified as logical and lexical, while logical linkers
indicate relationships such as similarity, contrast, cause and effect, etc., lexical
linkers are generally performs which refer back to what has been mentioned
earlier, and therefore help to avoid repetitions. For instance, look at the
sentence.
The film I saw today was really good, but the one saw last Sunday was
hopeless.

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 Here but is a logical linker denoting contrast and the one a lexical linker
that refers to the film already mentioned.
Linkers can occur (1) within a sentence (2) connecting one sentence to
the next and (3) linking one paragraph to the next.
1. Within a sentence
I haven’t written to him since he left for London in 1998. Besides good
food, exercise and relaxation are essential for health.
2. Connecting one sentence to the next.
He is not at all generous. Nevertheless, he will help us. She performed
beautifully. This impressed me a lot.
3. Linking one paragraph logically to the next.
Sherlock Holmes was the first of all story – book detectives, and he is
still the greatest. You may have seen pictures of him – a tall man of six foot
two, dressed in a peculiar way, with a pipe in his mouth and a magnifying glass
in his hand.
Yet, it was not his appearance that made him famous, but his marvelous powers
of detection. These powers can be proved with many an example.
A conjunction is a word used to join together words or phrases.
A conjunction that joins together pairs of words or sentences of equal
rank is called a Coordinating conjunction.
1. Cumulative or Copulative Conjunctions
These conjunctions merely add one statement to another. They are:-
and, both ……… and, as well as, not only…….but also.
e.g.
The old man got up and slowly walked away.
He was both clever and hard – working.
You as well as I have passed the examination.
She not only came late but also disturbed the party.
2. Adversative Conjunctions
These conjuctions express opposition or contrast between two
statements. They are:
But, still, yet, whereas, while, nevertheless, however
e.g.
He is slow but he is sure.
He has not done well, yet (or still) he is hopeful of his success.
Henry is industrious whereas (or while) his brother is quite lazy.

61
 There was little hope of the patient’s recovery, nevertheless the
doctors decided to perform the operation.
He refused the offer of a reward, however later on he decided to
accept it.
3. Alternative or Disjunctive Conjuncitons.
These conjunctions present two alternatives some / times indicating a
choice between them. They are:-
Or either, or neither, ……. Nor, otherwise, else.
e.g.
Please give me coffee or tea.
Either you or he will have to go.
He is neither a fool nor a mad man.
You must admit your guilt, otherwise (or else) you will be
punished.
4. Illustrative Conjuncitons:
These conjunctions express something inferred form an other statement
or fact. They are:
For, so, therefore.
e.g.
Taka torch, for the night is dark.
He has been studying well, so he will pass.
They are praying : therefore don’t make any noise.
A conjunction that joins a dependent statement in a sentence to another
statement on which it depends for its full meaning is called a Subordinating
conjunction.
A subordinating conjunction connects a noun clause or an adverb
clause to some other clause. It is not used to connect adjective clauses. The
adjective clauses are joined to other clauses by relative pronouns or relative
adverbs.
The following subordinating conjunctions introduce noun clauses:
That, whether, if, when, where, why, how
e.g.
He told me that he was not well.
I don’t know whether she will come.
I don’t care if he speaks to me or not.
I don’t’ know when the doctor will come.
This is where I came in.

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 I don’t’ understand why he behaves so.
Tell me how you managed the situation.
There are eight groups of subordinating conjunctions that introduce
adverb clauses. They are:-
1. Adverb clause of Time:
It is introduced by
When, while, before, after, as, as soon as, since, till ,until, no sooner
than etc.,
e.g.
I met your brother first when he was in Bombay.
Do not talk while you are eating.
You must meet me before you leave this place.
I returned home after he had gone.
Birds return to their nests as the sun goes down.
I waited till the bus arrived.
He went out as soon as the rain stopped.
I have not seen my cinema since I saw “enter the Dragon”.
I will stay until you return. No sooner did the bell ring than the
boys went in.
2. Adverb Clause of Reason:
It is introduced by: - as, because, since.
e.g.
He remained at home as he was ill.
I believe him because he is truthful.
Since you say so, I must believe it.
3. Adverb Clause of Result:
It is introduced by so-that
e.g.
This fact is so evident that it does not require proof.
This news is so good that it cannot be true.
4. Adverb Clause of Purpose:
It is introduced by:
That, so that, in order that, lest,
e.g.
We eat that we may live.

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 He remind here so that he might see you.
My brother held my arm lest I should fall.
5. Adverb Clause of Condition
It is introduced by:
If unless, provided, whether – or.
e.g.
He will come if you invite him.
You will be late unless you hurry.
I can help you provided you tell me the truth.
I shall go whether you come or not.
6. Adverb Clause of Concession or Contrast:
It is introduced by:-
Though, although, however.
e.g.
He finished first though he began late.
He passed the examination although he had been prevented by
illness from studying.
He was not happy however rich he became.
7. Adverb Clause of Manner:
It is introduced by: - as, as if.
e.g.
I did it just as you wanted it.
He acted as if he were afraid.
8. Adverb Clause of Comparison.
It is introduced by:-
As – as, than.
e.g.
She is as pretty as her sister.
Her sister is more clever than she.

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 3. INTERJECTIONS
An interjection is a word put into a sentence to show some sudden
feeling or emotion like joy, surprise, sorrow, fear, anger, etc. It is not a part of a
sentence. It is not grammatically connected with the rest of the sentence.
e.g.
Hurrah! We have won the match. (Shows joy)
Hello! Where are you going” (shows surprise)
Alas! He is dead. (shows grief)
Oh! What a beautiful picture this is. (shows wonder)
Bravo! Viswanath, well hit. (Shows praise)
Ah! I have hurt my toe. (shows pain)
Hush! The baby may wake up. (shows fear)
Hark! I hear a drum. (calls attention)
There are some compound expressions which are used as interjections.
Ah me! Well done! Good gracious! Good heavens!
Practice 1: Read the passage given below and underline all the linkers in it. Say
whether each of them is a ‘logical linker’ or a ‘lexical linker.
Some animals only half hibernate, that is to say, they sleep during the
winter but their sleep is not such a deep one. In the autumn the bear eats and
consequently becomes very fat indeed. Soon he has a thick covering of fat and
fur. Later on, in November, he finds a place in a cave or under a tree, and just
lies down and goes to sleep. On a warm winter day, however, he may think that
spring has arrived and so he gets up and walks around. Finally, when he sees
that the snow is still thick on the ground, he quickly goes to sleep again. This
goes on until spring arrives.
Logical linkers- but, consequently, later on, and however, so, finally,
that until, Lexical linkers – one, he this.
Practice 2: Correct he following sentences and rewrite them in tow ways,
wherever possible.
Example:
In case if you need my help, don’t’ hesitate to ask.
In case you need my help,………………..
If you need my help,…………………….
1. Although she had a good job in the USA, but she came back to India.
Although she had a good job in the USA she came back to India. She
had come back to India.
2. Since you’re leaving early in the morning, so you go to bed early.

65
 Since you’re leaving early in the mooring, you go to bed early. You’re
leaving early in the morning, so you go to bed early.
3. If you’re rude to me, I won’t talk to you.
If you’re rude to me, I won’t talk to you. You’re rude to me, so I won’t
talk to you.
4. Because my father is ill, so can you take me on your scooter?
Because my father is ill, can you take me on your scooter? My father is
ill, so can you take me on your scooter?
5. It’s nearly six months since after we met.
It’s nearly six months since we met.
* Practice 3: Say whether we conjunction and its clause are placed correctly(√)
or incorrectly (X) in each of the following sentences.
Example:
1. After he won the elections, he never returned to his constituency. (√)
He never retuned to his constituency after he won the elections. (√)
2. The jewellery is heavily insured; so don’t worry. (√)
So don’t’ worry; the jewellery is heavily insured (X)
1. As soon as you reach Pune, send me a telegram(√)
Send me a telegram as soon as you reach Pune. (√)
2. I will finish the work however long it takes. (√)
However long it takes, I will finish the work(X)
3. Before he does anything important, he asks his mother (√)
He asks his mother before he does anything important. (√)
4. The doctor can’t take a decision until the test – results are available. (√)
Until the test- results are available, the doctor can’t take a decision. (√)
5. He doesn’t speak Spanish but his wife can. (√)
But his wife can speak Spanish I he doesn’t (X)
Practice 4: Fill in the blanks with suitable linkers form the ones given in
brackets.
Example:
I knocked at the door, but nobody opened it. (still, but, and)
1. I have been waiting here for a long time, but my friend has not turned
up. (and, or, but)
2. Excessive consumption of vitamins is a waste of money; on the contrary
it could be harmful to the body. (but, moreover, on the contrary)

66
 3. He is interested in politics. His brother, on the other hand won’t have
anything to do with it. (nevertheless, moreover, on the other hand)
4. There are lots of job opportunities in this field. Moreover he has an
aptitude for the subject. (moreover, however, in fact)
5. Machines do a lot of work for us. Nevertheless, don’t allow them to
become our masters. (still, etc, however, nevertheless)
6. They go married and left or the Middle East the next day. (and, but or)
7. She is very bright. In fact, she stands first in all the subjects. (b8ut,
however, Infact, otherwise.
8. His ankle got sprained in the second game, but he played on to win the
match. (and, but otherwise).
Practice 5: What function does as / since/ while, have in each of the following
sentences?
Example:
As she was proficient in Japanese, she went with the trade delegation to
Japan. Reason.
1. Do people get more selfish as they grow older? Time
2. How long is it since we took a long holiday? Time
3. The situation is, as I see it, explosive. Manner
4. Since you cannot repair the TV, can you replace it? Reason.
5. The husband prefers black coffee, while the wife likes plenty of milk
with her coffee. Contrast.
* Practice 6: connect the following pairs of sentences using appropriate
linkers. The function of the linker is mentioned in brackets.
Example:
There was a thick fog.
The vehicles couldn’t see each other. (result)
There was a thick fog and so the vehicles couldn’t see each other.
1. It was very late.
I waited. (concession)
Though it was late, I waited.
2. The situation was normal.
There was no untoward incident. (rephrase)
To sum up, the situation was normal and there was no untoward
incident.

67
3. You practice hard.
You will perform well. (condition)
If you practice hard, you will perform well.
4. He was tired after a day’s work.
He agreed to come with me. (concession)
Though he was tired, he agreed to come with me.
5. According to the weather forecast, today will be sunny.
You can never trust their predictions (contrast)
According to the weather forecast, today will be sunny. However, you
can never trust their prediction.
6. I first met him many years ago.
He was a struggling young writer. (time)
When I first met him many years ago, he was a struggling young writer.
7. I’m going to protest strongly.
This kind of thing should not happen again(purpose)
I’m going to protest strongly so that this kind of thing should not
happen again.
8. He is a senior professor of philosophy.
He has a fine sense of humor. (contrast)
Although he is a senior professor of philosophy, he has a fine sense of
humour.
9. Your answer is not fully correct.
I won’t give you pass marks (reason)
I won’t give you pass marks because your answer is not fully correct.
10. Prices have come down recently.
Percent costs Rs.1.30 less a liter. (example)
Prices have come down recently. For example, petrol costs Rs.1.30 less
a liter.
Practice 7: Fill in the blanks with words that refer back to what has already
been mentioned.
Example:
Would you like to renew your subscription of the Drinkers’ Digest at a
discount? If so post this coupon within fourteen days.
1. My brother’s got two boys and two girls. I’ve got one of each.
2. In My college days, I spent a lot of time trying to build my body. I
suppose I was young and foolish then.

68
 3. The leader has addressed ten thousand public meetings. Or so he claims.
4. My uncle says he’d washed dishes to earn a few dollars when he was
studying aboard. He says he can never forget it.
5. He signed a confessional statement. He did so under duress.
Practice 8: Use appropriate expressions to ‘refer forward’, and fill in the blanks
in the following.
Example:
The following have been permitted to take the retest on Monday, 22
February.
1. The next chapter deals with the fall of the Slave Dynasty.
2. The information below is based on a Govt. of India report.
3. Have you heard this joke: the absent-minded professor…
4. The conditions are listed below: No candidate shall…
5. Just listen to this : an old woman and her seventh husband…..
Practice 9: Use appropriate expression to avoid repetition in the following.
Example:
They complain that I haven’t helped them when they badly needed
support. But I Have.
1. My friend said he was going to seek an appointment with the Chairman.
I asked him why.
2. Do you believe that some esoteric thing like panic healing can crude
diseases like cancer?
I certainly do.
3. Do you think this young woman is capable of completing the project on
her won?
I think so.
4. I’m not interested in going on with this meaningless discussion.
Nor am I.
5. How did you feel after spending a day with your would-be wife’s
people?
Great.

69
 COMPOSITION
1. LETTER WRITING
A. Kinds of Letters:
There are two kinds of letters. They are:
(i) Informal and (ii) Formal
(i) Informal Letters are personal letters, which are written between
friends or relatives. These letters mostly deal with description of places visited,
narration of events, expression of personal experiences, conveying family
news, etc.,
A few personal letters tend to be formal when they are written solely
with the purpose of accepting invitations or expressing inability to accept
invitations, sending messages of congratulations or sympathy, seeking
guidance, etc.,
(ii) Formal Letters are business and official letters. The business letters
deal with commercial transactions, which might include orders for goods,
acknowledgement of receipt of goods and requests for payment. The official
letters deal with any type of correspondence between an individual and an
officer or between one officer and another. Applications for suitable positions
in companies and letters to newspaper editors fall under this category.
B. Parts of a Letter:
A letter, informal or formal ,has six parts invariably.
They are:
(i) The Heading: The writer’s address and the date of writing.
(ii) The superscription: The name / designation of the recipient of the
letter and his / her address.
(iii) The Salutation : The courteous greeting with which the addressees is
addressed.
(iv) The Body: The message or content of the letter split into easily
readable paragraphs, where necessary.
(v) The Subscription: The form of courteous leave-talking.
(vi) The Signature: The signature, and sometimes, the name of the
writer.

70
C. Format:
The following table explains how the six parts of a letter are invariably
used in the informal and the format
Informal Letters Formal Letters
1. The Heading at the right hand In case of company letter head,
top, usually with the omission of no need for the Heading. Else,
the name of the writer make use of ‘From’ form at the
left.
2. The Superscription either at the At the left, in Heading make use
end (left side) or on the envelope. of ‘To’.
3. The Salution (beginning at the (beginning at the left margin)
left margin
To elders: In business letters;
My dear mother, Dear Sir,
My dear cousin, Dear sirs,
To Youngsters: In official letters:
My dear Balu, Sir
My dear Latha Madam
Dear Mohan,

To acquaintances:
Dear Mr. Kumar

To strangers:
Sir,
Dear Sir,
Madam,
Dear Madam
4. The body is simple In simple, courteous language, to
conversational style. Avoid slang. the matter of fact
5. The Subscription (on the right (on the right hand side)
hand side) To companies and officers
To relatives and friends: Yours faithfully,
Your affectionate son,

71
 Yours lovingly, To teachers:
To strangers: Yours obediently,
Yours faithfully,
To superiors:
Yours respectfully,
To Known recipients:
Yours sincerely
6. The Signature (Below the Subscription)
(Below the Subscription) Sign the name in full below
sign the name in full which the name /designation may
be written in capitals.
In modern formats, the conventional terms ‘From’ and ‘To’ may be
omitted. The date, heading and subscription may be omitted. The date,
heading and subscription may begin at the left.
TASK -1
INFORMAL LETTERS
1. Write a letter to your friend inviting him to a musical party organized in your
college.
15/A, Ramalingam street,
Tagore Nagar,
Salem – 636 002.
Aug 16, 2006.
My dear Senthil
I am fine here. How do you do? How are your studies going on?
As you know, this is the middle of the first term our Fine Arts
Association is organizing a musical party in our college auditorium on the 25th
of this month. Students form nearby colleges are participating in it. As one
musically inclined. You would enjoy it. Why don’t you join me on this special
day? I would be very happy if you accept my invitation and come over here. I
would like to introduce to all my friends.
Yours sincerely,
S. Kumar

2. Write a letter to your close friend inviting him to the Christmas dinner.

72
 Dec 15, 2006.
My dear joe,

I am fine, How do you do? I hope you have done your odd semester
examinations well.

I am writing this letter to invite y9ou to a Christmas dinner that we are

arranging for the 24th evening. It will really be a merry get-together to which
we have invited all our close friends and relatives. Please don’t miss it. I will
be eagerly waiting for your arrival.

Convey my love and regards to your family members.

Yours sincerely,
R. jack.

3. Write a letter to your informin her how you narrowly escaped an accident.
June 6, 2006
My dear mum.
I am fine here. How do you? How is everyone at home. My studies are
going on well.
I am writing this letter to convey to you some news which though
unnecessary, I should not conceal from you.
Yesterday I narrowly escaped an accident which would have proved
fatal to me. As I was riding my two wheeler along the bazaar roada t about 6
p.m., a Maruti car which was coming in the opposite direction, suddenly truned
to my side to avoid an opposite two wheeler. I got confused but quickly roade
towards the edge of the road, stopped the two wheeler and jumped on to the
side walk. By God’s grace, I narrowly escaped death. Don’t get frightened,
mum, I am really o.k. I was not at all hurt. I will myself come home this
weekend.
Convey my love and regards to day.
Yours affectionately.

G. Anand.

4. Write a letter to your sister extending her the Deepavali greetings.

73
 9th October 2006.
My dear sister,
I am finer here, mummy and daddy and brother are all fine. How do
you do? How is uncle and baby Ram?
I am writing this letter to convey my Deepavali greetings to you. On
this Deepavali eve, I wish you all a very merry Deepavali. How I wish to see
you all in your new Deepavali dresses! Take care of the baby while bursting
crackers.
Convey my regards to uncle and loving kisses to the baby.
Yours lovingly,
T. Kumaresan.
5. Write a letter to your close friend extending him your since felicitations of
the grahapravesam of his newly constructed house.
16 June 2006.
Dear Ram,
I got your invitation for the grahavpravesam of your newly constructed
house and I congratulate you on having constructed a new house. May God
bless you with all prosperity and happiness!
I could not attend the function due to preoccupation but nay how I will
soon come over to Salem and felicitate you in person.
Till then bye.
Yours Sincerely,
V. Krishna Rao.
6. Write a letter to your close friend condoling the sudden demise of his
grandfather.
17th June 2006.
Dear Mohan,
I was shocked to hear of your grandfather’s sudden death. Even last
month when I visited your house, he was very hale and healthy. What
happened? Was he bed-ridden? Or, did he have heart attack? I am very sorry.
When are we going to see such a good old man! May his soul rest in peace and
may God give you strength to bear his loss.

Yours sincerely,
A. Nandha kumar.

74
7. Write a letter to your uncle expressing regret for your failure to buy a ticket
for a journey.
7th may, 2006
Dear uncle,
I got your letter asking me to book a ticket on Kovai express to
Chennai. I went to the railway junction to book a ticket but as it was the
vacation time, the reservations were over and I was told all seats had been
reserved for two weeks. I am very sorry I could not do this simple obligating
for you. Excuse me please uncle.

Yours lovingly,
M. Sakthivel.
8. Write a letter to your relative enquiring about the availability of
accommodation for a friend explaining the type of flat he requires.
5h may, 2006.
Salem
Dear uncle,
How do you do? I am fine here. How is aunty?
I am writing this letter to enquire whether nay flat will be available for a
friend of mine. He was my classmate in the college. His father has been
transferred to Coimbatore. So he wants to move his home to Coimbatore.
Since you belong to Coimbate, you will be familiar with the entire Coimbatore
city. So please search for a flat in a decent area in Coimbatore. If you find one,
inform me immediately. I will come over there with his father and meet you.
Your affectionately,
V. Jayaraman.

75
9. Write a letter to your close friend enquiring about the health of his mother.

7th June, 2006

Hyderabad.
Dear Vijay,

I am sorry to know that your mother has been ill for the past one week.
What is the problem? Who is attending on her? Which doctor are you
consulting? I there any improvement? If necessary, shall I enquire to find a
good hospital for her in our place? Please write. Take care of her. I wish her a
speedy recovery.

Yours sincerely,

M. Sakthi.

10. Write a letter to your younger brother counseling him on his studies, as his
examinations are fast approaching.

11th November, 2006.

Salem.
Dear Selvam,

How do you do? How do you find your hostel life? I hope you are
well-settled in your studies. First semester is fast getting over. You have hardly
a month more for the first semester examinations. Plan your time for your
preparations. You need not all the time pore over your books. That’s too bad.
At the same time don’t be negligent. You can combine with good students and
prepare for the examinations. Work hard and at the same time take care of your
health.

Bye.

Yours affectionately,

A. Sivakumar

76
 TASK II
FORMAL LETTERS.
1. Write a letter to Professor of English inviting him to inaugurate the literary
association of your college.
10.06.2006
N. Deepak Saravanan,
Secretary,
English Literary Association,
P.K.P. Arts & Science College,
Salem – 636 007.

Prof. V.M. Antony Joseph,

Head of the Deaprtment of English,
The presidency College,
Chennai – 600 005.

Sir,
I am pleased to introduce myself as secretary of our English literary
Association and I wish to invite you to inaugurate the activities of the
association for the year 200-2007. Your are already popular among our
student’s We have often heard your debates in T.V. and Radio programmes. So
we will be very happy if you consent to inaugurate our literary association
activities. you can speak on any topic of your choice and you can given a date
of your own convenience. If you let us know your consent, we will arrange for
your travel and lodging.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
N. Deepak Saravanan.
2. Write a letter to the principal requesting him to grant you leave for a week
on health grounds.
12. 07.2006
From:
S. Kumanan,
Lecturer,
Department of Computer Science,
Vysya College
Salem – 636 005.

77
To.
The Principal
Vysya College,
Salem – 636 005.
Sir,
As I suffering from viral fever, the doctor has advised me complete rest
for a week. So I request you to kindly grant me leave on medical grounds for a
week. i.e. from 13.07.2006 to 19.07.2006. Kindly find enclosed the medical
certificate. I shall submit the fitness certificate on returning to reporting for
duty.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
S. Kumanan

3. Write a letter to the Junior Engineer of the electricity department of your

village, complaining about the frequent failure of power supply.
15.05.2006
T. Sadasivam,
Secretary,
Vidya Nagar Welfare Association,
5/9, Mel Thindal,
Erode – 638 009.

The Junior Engineer,

TNEB,
Erode – 638 002.
Sir,
Sub: Frequent power failure – complaint – Reg.
We, the undersigned, are the residents of Thindal village which belongs
to your jurisdiction. Through this letter, we wish to bring to your notice the
request failure of power supply that occurs in our village. As you know, our
village is comparatively a large village with a population of nearly 5000. The
roads are not in good condition with many pits. So it is hazardous for the old
people who return form work or town after dusk. There are many school and
college students. They find it a nuisance when the power supply suddenly
breaks off. As our village is a little far away from the neighboring villages,
there is a constant menace of night robbery. So we request you to look into the

78
matter immediately and take steps to maintain a regular uninterrupted power
supply to our village.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully.
T. Sadsivam Secretary,
Vidhya Nagar Welfare Association.

4. write a letter to the Municipal Commissioner about the irregular supply of

water to your locality.
20.03.2006
J. Muthukrishnana,
18, Rajan Nagar,
Dharmapuri – 636 702.

The Municipal Commissioner,

Dharmapuri Municipality,
Dharmapuri - 636 702.

Sir,
Sub: Irregular supply of water –complaint –reg.
I am a resident of Rajan Nagar, which is a largely populated area. I am
writing this letter to represent a grievance which the people of this area suffer.
I am sorry to complain that water supply to this area is poor. Water
supply often fails. We get the supply only once a week and sometimes the
supply is suddenly stopped for days together. Moreover, the supply of water is
inadequate for a population of the size. So, on behalf of the residents of this
area. I request you to look into the matter and take immediate steps to redress
this grievance.
Looking forward to your immediate action.
Thanking you,
yours truly,
J. Muthu Krishnan.

79
5. Write a letter to the post master about the non-delivery of an important
registered post
26.06.2006.
R. Vinoth Kumar,
63, First agraharam,
Salem – 636 001.

The post master,

Head post office,
Salem – 636 001.
Sir,
Sub: Non –delivery of a registered post –complaint – Reg.
I am sorry to make the following compliant. Last week i.e. on
12.06.2006, I sent an important document by registered post to my brother
living in Chennai. The receipt is dated 12.06.2006 with receipt no. 5566. But it
has not yet been delivered. My brother phoned up and told me that he had not
yet received the post. It contains a very important document. It is very much
concerned over the undue delay. I request you to look into the matter and take
steps to trance out the post and deliver it immediately.
Waiting anxiously for your reply and action.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
R. Vinoth kumar.

6. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper about the importance of moral

instructions to students.
23.08.2006
S. Anitha Shastri,
56, Mandapam Street,
Krishnagiri – 635 001

The Editor,
The Hindu,
Chennai – 600 002.

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Sir,
I shall be highly thankful to you, if you kindly publish the following in
your esteemed daily.
The importance of moral instruction
There is no denying that the present generation is advanced over the
previous one in the matter of learning and education. They study more difficult
and more advanced subjects than their counterparts in the past. They gain more
knowledge but they lack wisdom. They understand scientific truths but they
don’t’ understand what is good and what is bad. They understand scientific
principles but they don’t have moral principles. They don’t’ understand love
and humanism. Today there is only one side development of personality. Here
comes the role of moral instruction. Every student needs to be trained in moral
thinking and behavior. Moral training should start form the beginning i.e. right
form nursery school stage. As the child grows, he will come to know what is
right and what is wrong. So, education whether at lower level or at higher
level, must aim at personality development along with intellectual development
of a student. Knowledge and wisdom make education complete.
Anitha Shastri.

7. Write a letter to the manager of Nationalized Bank about the unhelpful and
rude behavior of cashier.
05.07.2008.
K. Ravindran,
Manoj textiles,
15, Sudnaram Chettiar Street
Gugai,
Salem – 636 002

The manager
Punjab National Bank
Gugai Branch
Salem – 636 002

Sir,
Sub: Rude Behavior of cashier – complaint made –reg.
I am very sorry to bring to your notice an unpleasant thing that
happened to me during my last visit to your bank. Two days back I came to
your bank to withdraw money. It was about 10’O clock in the morning. I
handed over the withdrawal slip duty filled in along with the pass book. I

81
waited in the queue. Almost one hour had passed since I gave the withdrawal
slip but my name was not called. I lost patience, went up to the counter and
enquired. The cashier at the counter No 3 ruddy asked me to go back and stand
in the queue. I told him that I had waited nearly an hour and I even saw people
who came after me had left after receive the cash. He answered in rude manner
that he had only two hands. He even asked me to go and complain to anyone.
The incident upset my mind. I simply could not bear the insult in the presence
of others.
I request you to call him to explain his conduct and render me justice.
Looking forward to your immediate action
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,

K. Ravichandran
8. Write a letter to Doordarshan Chennai complaining about he defective
recording and telecast of evening news.
13.06.2006
J. Jayavardhan
63, Nethaji Road,
Attur – 636 102.

The Director,
Doordarshan
Chennai – 600 005.
Sir.
Sub:
Defects in telecasting of news – complaint made – Reg.
I feel sorry to bring to your notice some defects in the recording of the
news telecast yesterday evening i.e. 1206.2006. Your evening news usually
starts at 6.00 p.m sharp. But yesterday advertisements were being shown ever
after 6.00 clock. Then after 6.05 p.m. the news came on the screen but in a
miserable way. Te headlines had been slipped. The telecast suddenly jumped
in the middle. We were not able to follow the telecast. Moreover, both video
and audio effects were not good.
On behalf of thousands of Doodarshan viewers, I request you to see that
such defects do not occur in telecasting news in the future.
Yours truly,
J. Jayavardhan.

82
2. WRITING A PARAGRAPH
A paragraph is a unit of thought presented in a sequence of sentences. It
has one controlling idea and begins with a topic sentence. The topic sentence is
the important of all the sentences in a paragraph. It can be placed in the
introduction or towards the concluding section of the paragraph. The topic
sentence is followed by a set of sentences which support the main idea.
While writing or speaking, we have to arrange our thoughts in the form
of ideas. The ideas can be presented in paragraphs one by one. There must be
logic and reasoning when paragraphs are written. It should also be interesting
to the reader. Similarly, there should be coherence or consistency in the
paragraph. Nothing irrelevant should be added.
I. TASKS
1. Read the following jumbled sentences and arrange them into a coherent
paragraph:
Answer: - 3, 5, 4, 6 ,1, 7, 9, 8, 2
An interview is a purposeful conversation. It is not a question and
answer session. The panel of members listens to your comments and views and
observes your attitude and reactions. They create a situation for you by a asking
a question. They create a situation for you by asking a question. They make
you do the bulk of talking to find out your communication skills. They
evaluate your leadership qualities and personality traits. You are required to
react in one way or other. They find out whether you react in positive and
purposeful way. You win if you give a good account of yourself in all the
fronts.
2. Write a coherent paragraph based on the outline given below, using either
the inductive or deductive order.
Answer:
Cigarette smoking, which young people are inclined to, is injurious to
health. The health hazards this habit creates are various. They include cough,
TB and cancer. The smokers not only become subject to these hazards but do
harm to people around them. They pollute the surroundings with the poisonous
smoke form cigarette. This smoke affects the health of others. They throw
down lighted cigarette butts which may cause a fire. Doctors should warn
people against this habit. Government must take steps to discourage this habit.
Smoking in the public must be banned.
3. Develop the following sentences into coherent paragraphs:
1. Information Technology has made man lazier
The computer is no doubt the greatest wonder of science. IT has led to
the development of information technology. Information technology has
entered almost every field of life – science, art, entertainment, business and so
on. It helps man to keep with the fast moving modern world. Today we are
able to send communication around the world quicker and easier form where

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we are. For this we use e-mail, cellular phone, fax etc. The offset printing
which he replaced old method of printing owes itself to this technology. We
can design anything in advance before making it. We design cars, buildings,
two wheelers, etc. We even make portraits of people easily. We can even make
feature films without actual cine actors. So goes the list. All this saves time
and energy. But it does not mean at the same time that information technology
has made man lazier.
2. Ways of Managing stress
“What is life if full of cares and worries?” asks a poet.
But this is what modern life is like. In the past, people led a leisurely
life. But today modern life is hectic. Man has to move fast with the world. So
life is stressful. He feels a strain on him and he is always in nervous tension.
Can’t this be overcome? Yes, we can get over it. There are different ways. We
can go to Nature. We can spend time watching the life of Nature. We can live
amidst nature for sometime or till we get refreshed. We can set apart sometime
from our regular work and spend it in leisure activities like sports, gardening,
or hunting. We can do mediation regularly in the morning and evening. We
must change our attitude to our work. Instead of taking it as a compulsory one,
let us develop an interest in it and involve ourselves in it and enjoy doing it.
3. Causes of anxiety and tension
In the modern rush life has become stressful. Man has to do everything
in a hurried manner to keep with the fast world. So he feels strained and he is
put to nervous tension. His strain in the outside world affects his relationship
with his family also. In such a situation he loses his calmness of mind and
becomes nervous and tense. This is true mainly of people at helm of affairs in
any organization, professional or commercial . In this complex world, more and
more new problems arise for them. They find it very difficult to cope with
them. Naturally they feel nervous and anxious. They have to deal with
problems quickly, otherwise new problems will arise. Thus there are so many
complex situations that cause anxiety and tension for every one in the modern
world.
4. Examination is a necessary evil
Education involves tests and examinations. They are part of any
educational technology. Education is not just a process sin which so many
hours are spent inside the classroom teaching the syllabus prescribed or
conducting practical in the lab. Tests are conducted daily or periodically to take
stock. They reveal how much the students have learnt in a subject or whether
the method used by the teacher has been efficient or whether any change in the
method is necessary. These tests are as much for the teacher as for the taught.
But these tests and classes are not enough. Of course, they are enough if the
purpose of education is just to learn things for the sake of knowledge. But in
countries like India, education is pursued with an ulterior motive. Students
pursue education not fro the love of knowledge but to acquire degrees so as to

84
get some job or other. Therefore if one wants to have a job, he cannot just
complete his course and apply. It must be checked whether he or she is eligible
for going to a job. Only an examination can reveal this. Hence examination,
though not popular, is a necessary evil.
Topics suggested for examination:
1. Community Development Projects
2. Dangers of Drugs
3. Work is Worship
4. Welfare Measure of an industry for its workers
5. The Heroism of person who Rescues Earthquake Victims
6. The Importance of Newspapers
7. An interesting Personality you have met.
3. ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-mail)
E-mail (Electronic Mail) is an instant communication process when
compared to the traditional small mail (i.e. the customary postal service). The
e-mail is much faster than the courier delivery and is a real time message
transmission process.
If you have access to a personal computer with internet connectivity,
you can send across your message (Whether ‘text alone’ or with graphic
presentations and / or sound bytes) to any part of the world.
The sender should have an E-mail I.D (which is nothing but a typical
address format) like the one given below:
Ksraman16@yahoo.com
The first part usually denotes the person / organization whose identity is
marked with a word like ‘ksrman 16’ and the second part (yahoo) refers to the
specific mail service. The last part (e.g. com/org/in) refers to the nature or
location of the holder or even the service provide. An e-mail can be sent to any
person / organization with similar computer facilities and id.
Once an e-mail is sent, it can be accessed from any place in the world.
Even very large data can be sent in a condensed format, which may be later
downloaded and read as a full form. The same message can be sent to a
number of recipients at the same time with a single operation.
The following conventions have been established in the transmission of
e-mail messages:
1. The slot reveals the e-mail
TO:
Id (s) of the recipients(s)
2. The
CC:

85
Slot indicates the id of the person receiving the same message without knowing
to whom the original message has been sent.
3. The

From
Slot marks the id of the sender.
4. The date and time of the transmission are recorded by default.
5. The
Slot briefly indicates the topic / themes of the message.
Subject:

6. The body of the message should be brief, precise and accurate. Short forms
and abbreviations can be used. The style is usually informal.
7. In actual practice, the larger texts/ data are sent as one or many attachments
in separate files appended to the shorter covering message.
TASKS – I
Write the following e-mails inventing suitable ids.
1. To the professor of history, who has given his consent to inaugurate
the history association, giving details of the transport arrangement and the
meeting schedule.
To : Prof .Ramesan < gan23@yahoo.co.in?
From : Ajit ajit@hotmail.com
Date :Wed 15 Jun. 2006.
Subject :History Association inauguration arrangement.
Respected Professor,
Thank you for giving us your consent to inaugurate our History
Association on 20 Jun 2006. We will send a car form the college at 3.30 p.m.
to your residence. The meeting will star here at about 4.30 p.m. Our principal
will give welcome address and you may be pleased to deliver the inaugural
address for about 45 minutes. After the inaugural function please join us for
high tea in which our correspondent and all the faculty members of the history
department will have a get together. We will look forward to listening your
enlightened address.
With regards
Ashok
Secretary, History Association,
P.G.. College, Dharmapuri.

2. To your younger brother congratulating him on his success in the exam and
good marks in all subjects.

86
To : Kumar < kumar007@sancharnet.in>
From : Sekar sekar@rediffmail.com
Date : Sun 11 Jun. 2006.
Subject: Greetings
My dear Kumar:
I was very happy to know that you have secured 98% marks and above
in all the subjects of your +2 examinations. You deserve this marks because
you have worked very hard for the last two years. I trust that you will get a
medical seat in a reputed college of your choice. My heartiest congratulations.
With love,
M. Sekar.
3. To your elder brother in the states requesting him to send a few latest books
on computer, which are not available in our country.
To : Dr.Ramasamy drsamy@hotmail.com
From : Krishnasamy krish21@sancharnet.in
Date: Mon 11 Dec 2006 : 22:05 (IST)
Subject: Requirement of latest computer books.
My dear Ram:
Read your mail this morning and all of us were glad at MIT. My hearty
congrats! By the bye, I am happy to tell you that my assignment on algorithm is
nearing completion. However, I require the following books immediately:
1. Taylor, James Robertson : Embedding and interlinking Server Codes in
Unusual Patterns (Hamilton Press, New York, 2006).
2. Deveraux, RR: Structural Markers in Encrypted Languages (Corgi
Books, Memphis, 2006).
As these books have been recently published, I cannot get hold of them
either on online or in India. The books are very much needed to completes my
assignment in time. Kindly arrange to send them at the earliest.
With Love,
P. Krishnasamy.

87
4. To a friend condoling him on the death of his grandfather.
To : Manokar mano@hotmail.com
Form : D.Arvind <arvind@redifmail.com>
Date: 13th May 2006.
Subject: Message of condolence
Dear Mano:
I was shocked to hear the news of sudden death of your grandfather.
My family members also join with me in expressing our sorrow and distress at
the sudden death of your grandfather. May God give you and your family
members strength to bear the loss of your grandfather. May his soul rest in
peace.
With sorrow,
D. Aravind.

88
5. to a friend congratulating him on his getting a good job in the foreign
country.
To : Ms. Kalaivani <kalai@rediffmail.com
From : Amudhavalli <amuval@msn.com
Date :Wed 05 Feb 2007.
Subject: Greetings on getting a position in Australia
My dear Kalai:
Kindly accept my heartiest congrats! I was much delighted to learn that
you have been selected for the post of receptionist in Shelton Hotels at Sydney.
Hope you would join them by the end of this month. You are very lucky that
you have got this nice position within a month of successfully completing your
Diploma Programme in Hotel Management and Administration. Your dream all
these years has been to get a good job in a reputed hotel on completion of your
diploma course. Now you have landed in a country of prosperity where hard
work will definitely fetch your fortunes. At this joyous occasion let me wish
you more luck and favors.
Lovingly,

M. Amudha.

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4. TELEGRAMS
When you want to convey an urgent message, you sent a telegram. You
have to pay for every word in your telegram. So the telegram must be brief and
packed with meaning. For the sake of brevity, you may omit such words as
“Please”, “Sir” etc. Avoid ambiguous words. Write the address completely.
Service Indications:
O = ordinary
X = Express or urgent
Xx = Most urgent or priority (Death)
Gtgs = Greetings
Models:
Draft telegrams on the following situations:
1. Samson who lives in Chennai has received a letter form his friend
David in Coimbatore informing him of his arrival in Chennai on 15 th of
this month on a short visit. But Samson has to go to Madurai on the 12 th
and will be back on 20th. He wants to inform David about it. He also
wants David to inform him of the changed dates of his visit.
DAVID Time Date
70 TOWN HALL ROAD 10.30 14.10.2006
COIMBATORE- 1
VISITING MADURAI TWEFLTH RETURNING TWENTIETH
POSTPONE YOUR VISIT INFORM
- SAMSON
2. Gopal works in the head office young Engineer’s Enterprises. When the
General Manger of the company is away in Delhi on some business
purpose, one of the branch offices in Gwalior asks for some urgent
advice. Gopal wants to inform the Gwalior office about the General
Manger’s absence and his scheduled return on the twentieth. He also
wants the Gwalior office to wait for further instruction till the GM’s
return.
MANAGER Time Date
YOUNG ENGINEER’S 12.00 16.08.2006
ENTERPRISES
41, NEHRU ROAD,
GWALIOR-1
GM AT DELHI RETURNS TWENTIETH AWAIT FURTHER
INSTRUCTION MEANWHILE
- GOPAL

90
 3. Indu is to appear for the M.A. Final examination. Unfortunately she
hasn’t received her admission car for entering the examination hall and
taking the examination. She wants to request the university authorities
to allow her to take the examinations pending receipt of the admission
card.
CONTROLLER OF Time Date
EXAMINATIONS 14.00 27.11.2006
BHARATHIAR
UNIVERSITY
COIMBATORE
FINAL M.A. HALL TICKET NOT RECEIVED REGISTER NUMBER
THREE ZERO FOUR FIVE KINDLY INSTRUCT KONGU ARTS COLLEGE
TO ALLOW ME TAKE EXAMS INDU
TASKS
Draft telegrams in proper format based on the following situations.
Invent necessary addresses.
1. Sumithra is a hosteller in an engineering college. While sitting on the
pillion of her friend’s two-wheeler, she met with an accident. The
vehicles crashed against a car. She sustained multiple fractures on the
right leg and is hospitalized. As her friend, you draft a telegram to her
father asking him to come immediately and at the same time consoling
him that she is out of danger.
X Gopalsamy Time Date
64 Nethaji Raod 20.15 Hrs 16.Dec.2006
Pollachi 642 001
= Sunithra admitted Apollo Hospital Creams Road Pillion rding
on Vanis Scooty crashed against car Right leg multiple fractures
nothing to worry come immediately = Sujatha
P.K. Sujatha
Star Engineering College
Chennai 600 037.
2. You were traveling form Chennai to Krishnagiri in a govt. transport
bound for Bangalore. While getting down, you forgot to take your
suitcase, which seemed to have been deposited at the Bangalore office.
Draft a telegram to the manager, govt.transport corporation, Bangalore
in forming him that you would come to the office on Monday to claim
the suitcase.

91
 Manager Time Date
Tamil Nadu Transport 07.00 Hrs 04 Jan 2007
Corporation
City Bus station
Bangalore 560 002
= Yesterday traveled by Chennai Bangalore bus reaching there
eleven fifteen night got down Krishnagiri forgetting my black VIP
suitcase coming to Bangalore lost goods deposit centre next
Monday to claim = Ramachandran
M. Ramachandran
A 124 Anna Nagar
Chennai 600 040
You got through your higher secondary examination securing more than
80% in all subjects. Draft a telegram to your uncle in Warangal, informing him
of your results and requesting him to get a BE application form from IIT,
Warangal and sent it to you.
Veenugopal Time Date
86 YRS colony 14.30Hrs 20.May.2007
Warangal 506 002
= Secured eleven twenty out of twelve hundred in HSC get BE
application form IIT Warangal send by courier = Krishnamurthy

A. Krishnamurthy
12 Big Bazaar Street
Salem 636 001.
3. Assume that your are working as a clerk in a private company and you
left for your native place availing causal leave for two days. Now, your
are suddenly indisposed. Draft a suitable telegram extending the leave
for two more days.
X Manager Time: Date
HDFC Ltd 09.00 Hrs. 03 March ‘07
Kamaraj Street
Coimbatore 641 012
= Suddenly indisposed Pray extension of casual leave two more days
= - Radha

92
 M. Radha
21 Mohanur Road
Namakkal – 637 001.
4. Assume that you are the manager of an electrical shop. You ordered
form some electrical goods with a request to sent them within a
fortnight. The company assured you that they would execute the order
before the stipulated period. One month a has passed and the goods
have not reached your end and you have purchased the goods from
some other company. Now suddenly the company (former) has
dispatched the goods. Send a suitable telegram explaining your position
and informing them that you are returning the goods.
Sales Manger Time Date:
Beekay Corporation 11.30 Hrs 14 Apr 2007
16 MG Road
Sion Mumbari 400 001
= Got your dispatch note and way bill for two hundred boxes of
5 mm cable wire only today Regret returning the goods since you
had assured the supply before march tenth= -Raghavan

R.S. Raghavan
Manager (Purchase)
Royal Electrical Appliances and Stores
Dharmapuri 636 701.

5. NOTE - MAKING
Note-making is an important part of your study. When you read a
lesson or listen to a lecture you must take a note of all the important points.
Some hints are given below:
Read the passage carefully from the beginning to the end. Read the
passage again and note down the main headings. Note down the points under
each main heading. Arrange neatly the different sections.
Do not write the notes in complete sentences.
Use only phrases. Select a suitable title and write it at the top of the
note.

93
 Task - I
1. Read the following passage and complete the notes:
Aero planes have the reputation of being dangerous. They also have the
grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport. But nothing
can match them for speed and comfort. Traveling at a height of 30,000 feet far
above the clouds and over 500 miles per hour is an exhilarating experience. An
aero plane gets you to your destination rapidly, for a few hours you settle back
in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a free film
show and sip Champaign on some services. But even when such refreshments
are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aero plane offers
you an unusual and breath taking view of the world. You soar effortlessly, over
high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land.
Answer:
Journey by an Aeroplane.
1. Demerits / Disadvantages:
(a) the reputation of being dangerous
(b) the most expensive form of transport

2. Mets / Advantages:
A. Speed
(i) 500 miles per hour
(ii) reaching destination rapidly
B. Comfort
(i) an enjoyable flight I a deep armchair.
(ii) a few hour’s journey.
C. Refreshments and entertainment.
(i) Champaign
(ii) a free film show.
D. Other advantages
(i) an unusual and breath taking view of the world.
(ii) effortless flight over high mountains and deep valleys.
(iii) A look at the shape of the land.

94
 Task – II
Read the following passage and complete the Notes:
ANAESTHETICS : PAIN KILLING DRUGS
Anesthetics are drugs causing unconsciousness insensibility to pain.
Their use in modern medicine permits painless surgery during the simples
operation of few minutes’ duration, to the most delicate operation lasting many
hours.
Anesthetics are divided into two broad groups: general anesthetics and
local anesthetics. General anesthetics can cause total unconsciousness in the
patient by temporarily altering the normal activities of the central nervous
system. Local anesthetics temporarily deaden sensation on a particular, or
local, area for the body.
General anesthetics are usually administrated to the patient in one of
two ways; inhalation or intravenous injection. In the inhalation method the
patient breathes a gas or vapor to his lungs. In the intravenous injection the
drug is put directly into a vein.
Two drugs often used as general anesthetics in operators of short
duration are the liquids vinethene, which causes rapid anesthesia, and trilling,
which produces a light, pain killing effect. Trireme is usually combined with
nitrous oxide and oxygen.
Not all surgery requires that the patient be unconscious. For minor
operations, only restricted, or local area of the body need be made insensible to
pain; thus a local anesthetic is administered. The local anesthetic prevents
sensations of pain form traveling through the nerves in the drugged area.
Local anesthesia can be produced through three sites of injection.
Infiltration is the injection of the drug into the tissues. Block anesthesia is
produced by the injection of the drug around the main nerves leading to the
operation area. These main nerves are blocked form transmitting sensory
impulses. Spinal anesthesia results form the injection of the drug into the space
surrounding the spinal cord.
(From Science, Medicine and Technology: English Grammar and
Technical Writing.)
Answer:
Notes: - Anesthetics: Pain Killing Drugs.
1. Anesthetics
drugs causing
Unconsciousness
Insensibility to pain
1.2 used for painless surgery

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 2. 2 Groups
Gen., Anesthetics – cause total unconsciousness
Local anesthetics – deaden sensation
3. 2 ways of administering
patient – breathes gas vapor
injected – intravenously
4. Local anesthetic
used for minor operations
prevents pain sensations.
produced through 3 injection sites
infiltration – into tissues
Block anesthesia – around main nerves
Spinal anesthesia – injection into spinal cord.

96
 Task –III
3. Read the passage and complete the notes.
The ultimate aim of all advertising is to sell the commodity but in order
to achieve this there are a few obstacles which the admin has to overcome.
First of all, prospective buyers are likely to be reading the newspaper or
magazine not because of its advertising material but because of its editorial
material; moreover, roundabout half of the publication is likely to consist of
advertisements, all of them competing for the reader’s attention. The first tasks
of the admin, then is to make sure that his advertisement is noticed. Once the
reader’s attention has been caught, the advertisement should also hold his
attention and it should convince him that the subject of this particular
advertisement is of interest to him. Furthermore, the advertisement has to
convince the reader that the commodity will satisfy some need to create a need
which he has not felt before. Finally, it is not enough that the prospective
customer should come to feel a need for the product in general; the advert must
convince him that the particular brand advertised has poem qualities which will
make it superior to other similar brands. In addition, the ideal advertisement
should be constructed in such a way that as much as possible of its message
will get across even to the redder who merely notices it but decides not to read
it.
Answer:
THE ADMAN’S TASK
1. Aim of advtsng – to sell commodity
2. Advt. should
ensure adv. Noticed
hold reader’s attention
convince that
sub of particular adv. Concerns him
commodity will
satisfy some need
create a need unfelt before
2.3.3. advertised brand is superior to other brands
2.4 Put message across even to uninterested reader.

97
 Task - IV
Read the following passage and make notes on it.
LINE ORGANIZATION
A line organization is one in which there is a direct flow of authority
form the top executive to the rank-and-file-employee, usually through several
lesser executives at various managerial levels. It is sometimes called the
military type because each person has someone immediately over him.
Although modern armies have become too complex to rely exclusively on a
line organization, they still use the direct chain of command.
There are many advantages inherent in this form. It is simple and easy
to understand. Responsibility is clearly defined and each worker, regardless of
his rank, reports to but one individual. This simplifies discipline. Decisions
can usually be rendered quickly and executives mutt produce or be replaced.
As long as each employee carries out the orders of his immediate superior, he is
relatively free from criticism, which makes for harmonious working conditions.
There are, however many disadvantages to the line type of organization.
Each superior needs to be a master of many diverse angles to his job. He
should be able to handle his men, keep the machines running, invent new
processes, recommend pay increases and train new employees. Frequently he
may be outstanding at one or two of his numerous responsibilities and very
poor at other’s The line organizational has the disadvantage of placing so much
final authority and directional the top that the individual concerned, instead of
devoting his attention to working out important matters of policy and general
practices, finds most of his time devoted to reading reports and rendering
decisions on operating problems. Coordination of the different ‘line’s is
difficult to achieve, particularly in a complex, large-scale industry.(from
English for Economics)
Answer:
LINE ORGANIZATION
1. LINE ORGANISATION:
Authority flowing directly from top executive to last employee though
several lesser executives.
2. ADVANTAGES:
2.1 Simple and easy to understand
2.2 Responsibility clearly defined.
2.3 Each worker reporting to one individual,
2.3.1 Discipline simplified.
2.4 Decisions rendered quickly.
2.5 Each employee obeying immediate superior.
2.5.1. Relatively free form criticism.

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 2.5.2 Making for harmonious working conditions.
3. DISADVANTES:
3.1 Each superior to be master of diverse angles.
3.2 Should be able to
3.2.1 Handle men
3.2.2 Keep machines running
3.2.3 Invent new processes.
3.2.4 Recommend pay increase.
3.2.5 Train new employees.
3.3. Outstanding at some responsibilities and very poor at others.
3.4 Final authority and direction placed at the top so much that
3.4.1 The individual concerned devoting must of his time to
reading decisions on operating problems
3.5 co-ordination of different lines difficult to achieve in a complex,
large-scale industry.

99
 Task – V
Make notes on the following passage on
“TELECOMMUNICATION”
One of the key factors which sustain the pace of modern life style is
Telecommunications. It plays a very vital role in the commercial, industrial
and economic activities of mankind and has helped to shrink the worked into a
global village. Exchange of information, data and facts and figures including
life pictures form one part of the world to any other part is now routinely
possible. Telegraph was the earliest means of communication between two
points separated by distance. In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell discovered the
telephone which made possible the transmission of human voice over long
distances. I both telegraph and telephone, the transmitting and receiving points
have to be connected metal wires through which electrical signals travel in the
form of current variations. The discovery of wireless at the turn of this century
by Marconi was a revolution in the history of communication technology. It is
no longer necessary to connect the transmitter and the receiver by wires.
Instead electro magnetic was the existences of which was predicted by
Maxwell in 1873, could be sued to carry information and messages form one
point to another. The advent of artificial satellites has marked a new age in the
history of global communication.
Answer:
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
I. Role of Telecommunication.
a. sustains the pace of modern life style.
b. a vital role in the commercial, industrial and economic activates.
c. helps to shrink the world into global village.
d. exchange of information with life picture across the world possible.
II. Means of Communications.
A. Telegraph
1. invented by Maxwell, 1873.
2. earliest means of communication.
3. between two distant places.
B. Telephone
1. invented by Alexander Graham Bell, 1876.
2. transmission of human voice over long distances.
3. Similarities between telephone and telegraph
a) two points connected by metal wire
b) message by electrical signal

100
C. Wireless
1. Wireless invented by Marconi.
2. a revolution in communication technology.
III Merits
1. transmitter and receiver not connected by wires.
2. message through elector magnetic waves
IV Artificial Satellites.
1. a new age in global communication.
2. fast.
6. ADVERTISEMENT
Newspaper advertisements are meant to draw the attention of the
reading public. They serve a purpose. They must be short, simple and crisp.
In advertisements we must use colorful and catchy words and phrases to attract
the prospective buyer. Classified advertisements appear in the newspaper
under different headings : Personal ,Educational, Matrimonial, Rental, Kennel
and Pets, Accommodation Wanted, Travel, Situation Vacant, Situation
Required, Real Estate, Lost and Found, etc.,
SPECIMENS:
PERSONAL
Blue Lotus – city’s finest Health Club – An ideal spot for relaxation –
Visit 20, Pickoffs Road, Chennai-5.
EDUCATIONAL
Computer programming in Basic – Next session from 10th Jan 2007.
Part Time –Evening classes – Twelve weeks - +2 eligible for admission –
Practical Training on Computer – Contact : BITS Computer Center, 180,
Brough road, Erode -1.
MATRIMONIAL
Alliance invited for a Delhi-based Smartha South Indian Post –
Graduate girl – Smart, Good –looking, 25 years, 16”, Central Government
employee earning Rs.15,000/-per month – subject no bar. Only broadminded,
city-based, well-settled professional need correspond- Box No. 4812 C/o The
Hindu, Chennai -2.
TRAVEL
Rome, Paris, London tour –three weeks –Board and Lodging, Airfare
and local transport inclusive Rs. 50,000/ - per head. Leaving 10 th Feb, 2007.
contact Aswin Travels, 102, Bazaar Street, Mylapore, Chennai-4.

101
KENNEL AND PETS
Highly pedigreed Doberman pups four months old for sale. Contact:
Pet Corner, Near round Ana, Anna Nagar, Chennai -40.
Draft suitable classified advertisements with the details given below.
1. You wish to sell your Maruthi 800, 1998 model in excellent condition.
MARUTI 800 98 A/c white low mileage,
Seat covers Excellent condition
Contact : 044-26477899
98940-55877
2. A three bedroom apartment is available for rent in Kilpauk in Chennai. It is
on the third floor and available for immediate occupation.
3 Bed Room flat on the third floor available
for rent, good locality in Kilpauk,
1500 sq. ft with all fittings and car parking
Contact : 044 – 22314221
3. You want a Sales Executive for a new product manufactured by your
company.
WANTED SALES Executive Male/ Female
Smart graduates with good communication skills,
Spoken English and computer knowledge to interact
With corporate clients architects and builders for a leading
Paint company. Two-wheeler is a must.
Contact Box No. AB 9697,
THE HINDU, Chennai – 600 002.
4. You are an eligible bachelor. You want a bride of your particular
specifications.
For Handsome Kerala Boy, 27/169 Design Engineer,
Singapore Citizen, looking for professionally qualified girl,
Slim, 160 to 165 cms, below 25, from educated cultured family
With modern out look.
E.mail : suresh@bom2vsnol.net.in
Box No CB 2271
THE HINDU, Coimbatore -641018.

102
Exercises:
1. Write copy for an advertisement for a toilet soap.
An advertisement for a toilet soap:
It only needs ten minutes to be fresh for ten hours.
Feel the great experience of bat with our ayurvedic toilet soap, Nicky.
Full of fragrance and rich lather.
Made from pure coconut oil
It would be smooth and serene on your skin.
Special Introductory Offer:
Available at reduced price for one month
Only up to 2nd Feb ’07.
NEVER STICKY
THAT’S OUR NICKY!
2. You wish to sell your Maruthi 800, 1999 model
MARUTHI 800 99 A/c white low milege, Single owner,
Fancy number, Koya seat, Excellent conditon.
Contact : 044-26477899
98940-55877

103
3. Write an advertisement for spoken English courses for 3 month. Area to be
covered: Communication, grammar.
Spoken English & written English

SPOKEN
ENGLISH
COACHING
Veera’s English Communication and
Personality Development
Courses!
 Personalised Training
 Flexible Place & Timings
 Well – Trained Faculty

Areas to be covered
Communication Grammar
Spoken English & Written English

H.O: 199, Cherry Road, Salem – 636 007.

Ph: 0427 – 2404060
98430-55989
B.O.: 54, Mohan Kumaramangalam Road
Salem – 636 001.
Ph: 0427-26216053
STRATEGY FOR SUCCESS

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4. Draft and advertisement for IIT Entrance coaching:
PERFECT ENTRANCE COACHING CENTRE
Sankari Road, Tiruchengode.
Ph: (04288) 285102, 286202
AIEEE, IIT , AIIMS
COACHING CLASSES FOR ENTRANCE
TEST START FORM 31.03.07.
 20 years experience in conducting coaching classes.
 Experienced teaching Faculty
 Well – prepared test materials
 Separate Hostels for Boys & girls
 Both English medium and Tamil Medium.
To full fill your dreams join today:
PERFECT ENTRANCE COACHING CENTRE
Sankari Road, T. Code
5. Draw an advertisement for sight seeing tour for 3 days, 5 days and 7 days
travel schedule.
KPN TRAVELS
15, Sri Chakkrapani East Street,
Salem.
Ph: 0427 – 4050607
Cell: 94431 -86265
www.kpntour.com
Visit anywhere we help you plan memorable vacation
PACKAGE TOUR.
Ooty, Mudumalai, Bandipur, Mysore 3 days. Quality Accomodation &
Food : Tour Cost Rs. 3000-per head.
Kanyakumari, Trivandram, Cochin, Guruvayur, Ooty, Mudumali,
Bandipur, Mysore 5 days quality accommodation & Food : tour cost Rs.
5000/per head.
NAVAGRAHA TOUR
Visit the Navagraha Temples in Tanjore & Nagai District, Pondicherry,
Chennai, Tirupathi, Kalahasthi, Puttaparthi, Banglore- 7 days – Tour cost
Rs.7000/per head.

105
6. A two bedroom apartment for rent in posh locality in Anna Nagar, Draft a
suitable advertisement.
2 Bed Room flat on the first floor available for rent, Posh locality in
Anna Naagar East 1500 sq. ft full furnished and with car – parking.
Contact : 044 26162358

7. You are an eligible bachelor and you require a bride of your community.
Telugu Brahmin Velnad Visaka Srivastha B.Tech, MBA 26/180 Fair
Handsome Family Business with substantial income clear habits seeks tall slim
fair cultured girl homemaker below 24 form respectable Telegu Brahmin
family. Send horoscope with photo & family details,
Mobile: 94433 22266
E-mail: lakshman@rediffmail.com
Box No XA 72383, THE HINDU, Chennai -600 002.

8. The sale of decent bungalow 2800 sq. ft in the heart of the town.
Residential House for sale
Anna Nagar East 2800 sq. ft fully marbled furnished
independent bungalow, North facing vasthu European style 3
BR attached bath. Above 1.2 crore. Strictly no brokers.
Contact: 044-2626344 / Box No. DM 34456
THE HINDU, Chennai – 600 002.

9. You are the proprietor of a firm and you require the following office staff,
Stenographer, Programmer, Sales Manager.
WANTED

An ISO 9001 certified, Govt. of India recognized garment manufacturer

and exporter looking for all dynamic and result oriented persons for the
following posts.
Stenographer
With minimum 3 years experience. Knowledge in secretarial work a
must.
Programmer
Young, dynamic engineers / graduates with skills, working knowledge
in C++ for online business development. Candidates with 1-2 years experience
preferred.

106
Sales Manager
Should be customer focused and target oriented with 2-3 years
experience in Sales & Marketing. IT exposure will be an added advantage but
not mandatory.
Location: Tirupur & Coimbatore.
For the above mentioned positions excellent communication skill is a
must, Suitable candidates can apply by post / mail to the following address.
APURVA TECHNOLOGIES
Jupiter House, Tel 0422 2212608/2212609
18, Trichy Road, Email: ATN@hotmail.com
coimbatore-641 045 visit: www.apurvatech.com

107
 MODEL QUESTION PAPER
(For the candidates admitted from 2006-07 onwards)
B.A./B.Sc./B.Com/B.B.A/B.B.M/B.E.S Degree
Examination
FIRST YEAR
FOUNDATION ENGLISH PAPER – I
Time: Three hours Maximum:100 marks
Section A 20 marks
1. a. Complete the following sentences 2 Marks
i) If we miss the train………………………… (take the bus)
ii) If you stayed longer, we ………………………….. (eat diner together)
iii) If you had asked me, I ……………… (helped you)
iv) I would abolish all taxes if…………….. (become finance Minster)

b. Change the voice 2 Marks

i) Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin
ii) The her is thrashing the villain
c. Place the determiners, quantifiers and adjectives given in brackets at the
appropriate positions. 2 Marks
i) Boys went on an adventure (naughty, four, little)
ii) Stores are from the panchathanthra. (four, these, lovely)
d. Insert ‘the’ wherever necessary. 2 Marks
Sahara is greatest desert on earth. It stretches from scrublands of
northern Sudan and Mail to coast of Mediterranean.
e. Insert articles:
We saw______ herd of elephant, pacing along as if they had _______
appointment at ______ end of __________ world.

f. Study the utterances below. Then choose the most appropriate reporting verb
for it. 2 Marks
i) “Surrender” _________________
ii) “Well Done!’________________
iii) “What a marvelous idea!”_______________________
iv) “You should see a psychiatrist”________________

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g. Change the following passage into reported speech 2 Marks
Arjun: Good morning, Sir, I’m Arjun Special Correspondent of
Hindustan Daily.
Principal: Welcome to Model college what can I do for you?
h. Fill in the blanks with suitable linkers 2 Marks
i) I Knocked at the door _________ nobody opened it. (still, but and)
ii) Machines do a lot of work for us __________ don’t allow them to
become your masters. (Still, yet, however, nevertheless)
i. Connect the following pairs of sentences using appropriate linkers. The
function of the linkers is mentioned in brackets. 2 Marks
i) There was a thick fog.
The vehicles couldn’t see each other (result)
ii) I first met him many years ago.
He was a struggling young writer (time)
j. Fill in the blank spaces in the following sentences using who, which or that
appropriately. 2 Marks
i) I have an aunt __________ writes all her letters in poetry.
ii) The family ____________ lives opposite our houses are Punjabis.
iii) All __________ glitters is not gold.
iv) My brother _____________ runs a small cycle shop has won a
lottery.
Section B 20 Marks
2. a) Draft a telegram based on the following situations.
Invent necessary addresses 5 Marks
Assume that your are working as a clerk in a private company and you
left for your native place availing casual leave for two days. Now you are
suddenly in disposed. Draft a telegram extending the leave for two more days.
OR
Draft advertisement matter for the following programme. Spoken
English courses for 3 months. Area to be covered – communicative grammar,
Spoken English.
b) Make notes on the following passage. 5 Marks
Aero planes have the reputation of being dangerous. They also have the
grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport. But nothing
can match them for sped and comfort. Traveling at a height of 30000 feet far
above the clouds and over 500 miles per hour is an exhilarating experience. An
aero plane gets you to your destination rapidly; for a few hours you settle back
in a deep arm chair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a free film

109
show and sip champagne on some services. But even when such refreshments
are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aero plane offers
you an unusual and breath taking view of the world. You soar effortlessly, over
high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land.
c) Turn the following sentences in to the passive 5 Marks
Neighbours know very little about the new occupant of the big
bungalow. People believe she is rich. They say she is also very beautiful.
They think she is a smuggler. They believe she is hiding form the police. They
suppose she has several guns. They know she has a number of ferocious dogs.
They expect the police to come in search of her any day.
OR
Fill in the blanks in the following using the active or the passive forms
of the verbs given in brackets.
By this consumer warranty, Electron India Ltd ___________
(guarantee) the product to be free form defects in mate trials and workmanship
for a period of two years. After this said period charge __________ (will
make) on all service labour adjustment and any replacement of parts. This
warranty ________ (will grant) only when the original invoice or sales receipt
_____________ (present) together with the defective product. This warranty
will not cover the damage resulting from adaptations or adjustments which
_______ (may make) to the product without the prior written consent of
Electron India Ltd.
d. Fill in the blanks with appropriate determiners. 5 Marks
When _______ famous American, Daniel Webster, was ________
Schoolboy he often went to school with dirty hands and face. _______ teacher
warned him that she would punish him if he didn’t wash before class ________
next day. Daniel paid no attention. ___________ next morning, ______ teacher
asked him to hold out ________ hand, rubbed some of the dirt onto ________
trousers, then showed it up. __________ teacher looked and shook her head.
OR
Fill in the blanks in the following sentences using who, which, that,
why and when.
i) The doctor _____________ examined the body was the first witness.
ii) The Gun _________ was used by the murdered was not found.
iii) The evidence ______ the prosecution produced was not sufficient.
iv) No one knows the reason ____________ the man was killed.
v) There was even some doubt about the time ____________ the man died.

Section – C 60 Marks

110
3. Annotate four out of six of the following 4 x 3 = 12
a ) I spit into the face of time
that has transfigured me.
b) The slaughter had been avoided; it now remained to India to mourn.
c) Only one ship is seeking us, a balck sailed, un familiar, towing at her back a
huge and birdless silence.
d) If some power doesn’t appear to control them better, ther’s no telling how far
they will go in their excesses.
e) That was when I became twenty five or thirty five or forty five.
f) If I were to be reborn a man, I would, without doubt, become a teacher.
4. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below
12 Marks
The light whose disappearance Nehru mourned belonged to the rest of
the world as well as to India. From every corner of a shocked globe, messages
of condolence poured into New Delhi.
The news of Gandhi’s death moved London as no event had done since
the end of the war. Londoners passed each other copies of the sold-out editions
of the evening newspapers announcing the murder of the perplexing figure who
had come to their city fifteen years earlier in a sheet, a goat by his side, to ask
for the return of the crown jewel of their empire. King George VI, Prime
Minister Clement. Atlee Gandhi’s old foe Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Stafford
Cripps, The Archbishop of Canterbury and thousands of others sent their
condolences. None was as memorable as the taut tribute form the Irish
playwright whom Gandhi had met in London in 1931, George Bernard Shaw.
His murder Shaw said, shows how dangerous it is to be good.
a) What is the light referred here?
b) Why did the Londoners call Gandhi a perplexing figure?
c) Who were King George VI, Clement Atlee and the Arch bishop of
Canterbury?
d) Why does the author refer to Churchill as the foe of Gandhi?
e) What is the meaning of Shaw’s comment?
f) Why did the death of Gandhi affect the people of London?

111
5. Answer each question in about 200 words. 12x3=36
a) Write an essay on Mount Batten’s useful services to India during India’s
critical moment.
OR
How does the effects of a war bring about a change in Philip[s attitude towards
his uncle in the ‘The Boy comes Home’?
b) How did Portia rescue Antonio from the clutches of Shylock?
OR
In what way did the witches cheat Macbeth?
c) Narrate the love story of Viola.
OR
How did Antony avenge the death of Caesar?

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