ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION)

TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS MAXIMUM MARKS: 100

NOTE:  (i)    SUBJECTIVE PART to be attempted on separate answer book. (ii)   Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from SUBJECTIVE PART. ALL questions carry EQUAL marks. (iii)  All the parts (if any) of each Question must be attempted at one place instead of at different places. (iv)  Write Q. No. in the Answer Book in accordance with Q. No. in the Q. Paper. (v)    No Page/Space should be left blank between the answers. All the blank pages of the Answer Book must  be crossed. (vi) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the question will not be considered.

SUBJECTIVE PART

Q.2. Write a Precis of the following passage and suggest a suitable title. (15+5 = 20 marks)

Why dwell on this aspect of the matter? It is too indisputable, not doubtful now to anyone. Descend where you will into the lower class, in Town or Country, by what avenue you will, by Factory Inquiries, Agricultural Inquiries, by Revenue Returns, by Mining-Laborer Committees, by opening your own eyes and looking, the same sorrowful result discloses itself: you have to admit that the working body of this rich English Nation has sunk or is fast sinking into a state, to which, all sides of it considered, there was literally never any parallel. At Stockport Assizes,— and this too has no reference to the present state of trade, being of date prior to that,—a Mother and a Father are arraigned and found guilty of poisoning three of their children, to defraud a ‘burial-society’ of a small amount due on the death of each child: they are arraigned, found guilty; and the official authorities, it is whispered, hint that perhaps the case is not solitary, that perhaps you had better not probe farther into that department of things. This is in the autumn of 1841; the crime itself is of the previous year or season. “Brutal savages, degraded Irish,” mutters the idle reader of Newspapers; hardly lingering on this incident. Yet it is an incident worth lingering on; the depravity, savagery and degraded Irishism being never so well admitted. In the British land, a human Mother and Father, of white skin and professing the Christian religion, had done this thing; they, with their Irishism and necessity and savagery, had been driven to do it. Such instances are like the highest mountain apex emerged into view; under which lies a whole mountain region and land, not yet emerged. A human Mother and Father had said to themselves, What shall we do to escape starvation? We are deep sunk here, in our dark cellar; and help is far. The Stockport Mother and Father think and hint: Our poor little starveling Tom, who cries all day for victuals, who will see only evil and not good in this world: if he were out of misery at once; he well dead, and the rest of us perhaps kept alive? It is thought, and hinted; at last it is done. And now Tom being killed, and all spent and eaten, Is it poor little starveling Jack that must go, or poor little starveling Will?

Q.3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow. (20 marks)

Much of today’s business is conducted across international borders, and while the majority of the global business community might share the use of English as a common language, the nuances and expectations of business communication might differ greatly from culture to culture. A lack of understanding of the cultural norms and practices of our business acquaintances can result in unfair judgements, misunderstandings and breakdowns in communication. Here are three basic areas of differences in the business etiquette around the world that could help stand you in good stead when you next find yourself working with someone from a different culture.

A famous Russian proverb states that ‘a smile without reason is a sign of idiocy’ and a so-called ‘smile of respect’ is seen as insincere and often regarded with suspicion in Russia. Yet in countries like the United States, Australia and Britain, smiling is often interpreted as a sign of openness, friendship, and respect, and is frequently used to break the ice. In a piece of research done on smiles across cultures, the researchers found that smiling individuals were considered more intelligent than non-smiling people in countries such as Germany, Switzerland, China and Malaysia. However, in countries like Russia, Japan, South Korea and Iran, pictures of smiling faces were rated as less intelligent than the non-smiling ones. Meanwhile, in countries like India, Argentina and the Maldives, smiling was associated with dishonesty.

An American or British person might be looking their client in the eye to show that they are paying full attention to what is being said, but if that client is from Japan or Korea, they might find the direct eye contact awkward or even disrespectful. In parts of South America and Africa, prolonged eye contact could also be seen as challenging authority. In the Middle East, eye contact across genders is considered inappropriate, although eye contact within a gender could signify honesty and truthfulness. Having an increased awareness of the possible differences in expectations and behavior can help us avoid cases of miscommunication, but it is vital that we also remember that cultural stereotypes can be detrimental to building good business relationships.

Questions:

1. What role do the national cultures play in shaping the way we behave and think? (4)

2. Why does the author think that communication could be affected by culture? (4)

3. How is a smile treated in different cultures? (4)

4. Why is eye contact so important in meetings? (4)

5. What role does mannerism play in business relations? (4)

Q. 4. (a) Correct any FIVE of the following. (5 marks)

1. At the end, we are all equal.

2. Two and two always makes four, neither more nor less.

3. When the tall ship sailed in the harbor, everyone marveled at its majesty.

4. With the exams being so close, he whiled away his time in trivia.

5. From now onwards, you will not be able to attend that class.

6. One can attract more with honey than vinegar.

7. The author felt more than satisfied having completed the article.

Q. 4. (b) Punctuate the following passage. (5 marks)

unfortunately as the characters in nolan’s scripts keep discovering, things don’t always work out as expected. in june warner’s studio executives accepted that the situation wasn’t improving as quickly as they had hopedespecially in the us with a reported budget of more than $200m (£154m) tenet has to be seen by a vast audience in order to break even, and so its release was pushed back to the end of july and then to the middle of august. and now… well the current plan is that tenet will open around the world on 26 august, and in some us cities on 3 september depending on how safe they are.

Q. 5. (a) Rewrite the following dialogue, written in direct speech, in a paragraph form. (5 marks)

Jack: Hello, Swarup! Swatting away as usual. Come out, man; shut up your old books, and come and have a game of tennis.

Swarup: I am sorry I cannot do that, Jack. The examination is drawing near, and I want every hour I can get for study.

Jack: Oh! Hang all examinations! I do not worry about mine. What is the use of them, anyway?

Swarup: Well, you can’t get a degree if you don’t pass the examination; and I have set my heart on being a graduate.

Jack: And pray what good will graduation do you? You may get a clerkship in a government office; but that’s all, and there are hundreds of fellows who have got their degrees, and are nearer getting jobs of any sort.

Swarup: That may be so; but I am not studying so much to pass my examination and obtain my degree, as to store my mind with knowledge and develop my intellectual faculties.

Q. 5. (b) Select the appropriate preposition (Any FIVE) (5 marks)

1. Please bring your documents _____ you. (1) for (2) of (3) to (4) with

2. I told him to wipe _____ the cream from his face, but he didn’t understand. (1) away (2) off (3) out (4) on

3. She couldn’t imagine going _____ the boat again. (1) on (2) for (3) to (4) about

4. They play some outdoor games _____ the morning, and rest at noon (1) for (2) of (3) about (4) in

5. Send the message _____ the channel that the storm is coming. (1) through (2) across (3) around (4) in

6. The damaged ship sank _____ the bottom of the sea. (1) in (2) at (3) by (4) to

Q. 6. (a) Explain the difference between the following word pairs (Any FIVE) by using each word in your
own sentences. (Write both sentences one after the other, ending both sentences with full stops. (5 marks)

1. accomplish, accomplice

2. artifact, artificial

3. varnish, vanish

4. displace, misplace

5. sound, voice

6. pronounce, denounce

7. assemble, ensemble

Q.6. (b) Use ONLY FIVE of the following in sentences which illustrate their meaning: (5 marks)

1. Bound for

2. With tongue in cheek

3. To be in the air

4. Head in the clouds

5. As the word goes

6. With fingers crossed

7. To end in smoke

Q.7. Translate the following into English by keeping in view figurative/idiomatic expressions. (10)

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