The cry of a cat – Meow The cry of a dog – Bark The cry of an elephant – Trumpet The cry of a horse – Neigh The cry of a lion – Roar The cry of a monkey – Chatter The cry of an owl – Hoot The cry of a rooster – Cock-a-doodle-doo The cry of a crow – Caw The cry of a seagull – Squawk The cry of a duck – Quack The cry of a goose – Honk The cry of a pig – Oink The cry of a sheep – Baa The cry of a turkey – Gobble The cry of a wolf – Howl The cry of a dolphin – Click The cry of a whale – Song
Which article should be used before a singular countable noun starting with a consonant sound? a) A b) An Answer: a) A
Which article should be used before a singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound? a) A b) An Answer: b) An
Which article should be used before a proper noun? a) A b) An c) The Answer: c) The
Which article should be used before an uncountable noun? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before a singular countable noun that represents a class or category? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before a singular countable noun that has been mentioned before? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
Which article should be used before a plural countable noun? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before a superlative adjective? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
Which article should be used before the names of mountains, oceans, and seas? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
Which article should be used before a common noun used in a specific or particular sense? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
Are the articles “a” and “an” interchangeable? a) Yes b) No Answer: b) No
In which situation is it appropriate to use “a” instead of “an” before a singular countable noun starting with a vowel sound? a) When the vowel is pronounced as /æ/ b) When the vowel is pronounced as /ɪ/ c) When the vowel is pronounced as /ju:/ Answer: a) When the vowel is pronounced as /æ/
Which article should be used before languages and subjects of study? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before musical instruments? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before professions? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: a) A
Which article should be used before titles or honorifics followed by a name? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before geographical locations that consist of multiple regions or areas? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
Which article should be used before meals or mealtimes? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article is used before a book, film, or play that is being discussed in a general sense? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: d) No article
Which article should be used before a unique thing or something that is one of a kind? a) A b) An c) The d) No article Answer: c) The
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Collective Nouns for Things & Places a pair of shoes a group/chain of islands a chain/range of mountains an album of photographs a bale of cotton a book of exercises a shower of rain a fleet of ships a series of events a glossary of words/phrases a bundle of sticks a heap of sand a list of names a line of cars a cluster of stars a set of tools a stack of hay a gallery of pictures a box of cigars a clutch of eggs a cellar of wine a batch of breads a museum of art a flight of stairs a catalogue of goods a sheaf of arrows a babel of words a whirl of windmills a fleet of lorries a palette of colors a ring of keys a battery of guns a pack of cards a network of computers a library of books
Which sentence is correct? a) “Me and my friend went to the movies.” b) “My friend and I went to the movies.” c) “My friend and me went to the movies.”
Answer: b) “My friend and I went to the movies.”
Which sentence uses the correct verb tense? a) “I will studied for the test yesterday.” b) “I studying for the test right now.” c) “I studied for the test yesterday.”
Answer: c) “I studied for the test yesterday.”
Which sentence uses the correct pronoun? a) “Him and me went to the store.” b) “He and I went to the store.” c) “Me and he went to the store.”
Answer: b) “He and I went to the store.”
Which sentence uses correct punctuation? a) “Lets go to the beach today bye the way.” b) “Let’s go to the beach today. By the way, do you have sunscreen?” c) “Lets go to the beach today by the way!”
Answer: b) “Let’s go to the beach today. By the way, do you have sunscreen?”
Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement? a) “The dogs barks loudly.” b) “The dog was barking loudly.” c) “The dogs were barking loudly.”
Answer: c) “The dogs were barking loudly.”
6.Which sentence uses the correct verb form for a singular subject? a) “The group of friends is planning a surprise party.” b) “The group of friends are planning a surprise party.” c) “The group of friends was planning a surprise party.
Answer: a) “The group of friends is planning a surprise party.”
7.Which sentence uses the correct punctuation? a) “I love cooking it makes me happy!” b) “I love cooking, it makes me happy.” c) “I love cooking; it makes me happy.
Answer: c) “I love cooking; it makes me happy.”
8.Which sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement? a) “My parents and sister agrees with my decision.” b) “My parent and sister agree with my decision.” c) “My parents and sister agree with my decision.”
Answer: c) “My parents and sister agree with my decision.”
9.Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier? a) “She ate the sandwich that was covered in cheese.” b) “Covered in cheese, she ate the sandwich.” c) “She ate the cheese-covered sandwich.
Answer: b) “Covered in cheese, she ate the sandwich.”
10.Which sentence uses the correct comparative form of the adjective? a) “This book is more interesting than the one I read last week.” b) “This book is interestinger than the one I read last week.” c) “This book is interesting than the one I read last week.
Answer: a) “This book is more interesting than the one I read last week.”
Type-I or Open Condition: Conditionals of this type tell us that something will happen if a certain condition is fulfilled. The condition may or may not be fulfilled.
Examples :
If it rains, I will stay at home.
If she studies hard, she will pass the exam.
If we leave now, we will catch the train.
If you save money, you can buy a car.
If he eats too much, he will feel sick.
If they finish their work on time, they can go on holiday.
If I wake up early, I will go for a run.
If you don’t wear sunscreen, you will get sunburnt.
If the concert starts on time, we will enjoy the opening act.
If she calls me back, we can plan our trip.
Type-II or Improbable or imaginary Condition: Conditionals of this type are used when we talk about something which we don’t expect to happen or which is purely imaginary.
Examples:
If I had a superpower, I could fly from one place to another.
If I could turn back time, I would undo my biggest mistake.
If I could read people’s minds, I would know what they were thinking about me.
If I could travel through space, I would explore all of the galaxies.
If I could speak every language in the world, I wouldn’t need a translator.
If I had wings, I could fly to the moon.
If I could turn back time, I would undo all my regrets.
If I could read minds, I would know what everyone was thinking.
If I could teleport, I would be able to travel anywhere in the world instantly.
If I could create an entirely new universe, I would choose a place with no suffering or pain.
Type-III or Unfulfilled Condition: Conditionals of this type say that something did not happen because a certain condition was not fulfilled.
If I had taken the day off work, I wouldn’t be so exhausted.
If I hadn’t stayed up late studying, I would have felt more energized in the morning.
If I had gone to bed earlier, I would have felt more alert this morning.
If I had been more prepared for the meeting, I wouldn’t have been so anxious.
If I had said no to that extra cup of coffee, I wouldn’t be so jittery now.
If I had more money, I would have bought a bigger house.
If I had been paying more attention in class, I would have gotten better grades.
If I had gone to the doctor sooner, I wouldn’t be dealing with these health issues now.
If I had taken that job offer, I would have been in a much better position now.
If I had invested my money better, I would have more financial security now.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 20 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
Learning to speak English fluently can be a daunting task for many Indian students. It requires focus, dedication, and lots of practice. In this chapter, I have tried to provide you with a step-by-step guide to learn spoken English. From the basics of grammar and pronunciation to tips for improving your conversational skills, you’ll be speaking English like a pro in no time. So let’s get started!
Improving Your Spoken English
To improve your spoken English, one of the most important things is to practice regularly. Try to find activities and opportunities to practice speaking in English as often as possible – this could be with friends, in language exchange groups, during morning assembly or by joining an online course. This will not only help you increase your vocabulary and become more grammatically accurate, but it will also give you the chance to converse fluently in English. Additionally, you can also try reading magazines, newspapers, blogs and books written in English to further expand your understanding of the language and its nuances. Finally, listening to podcasts and watching movies or TV shows with subtitles are great resources for improving your spoken English.
Another key way to improve your spoken English is by focusing on improving your pronunciation and mastering the fundamentals of grammar. Be sure to also practice using different words and phrases to expand your vocabulary. One way to do this is by utilizing vocabulary apps, websites, and books that are designed to help you increase your vocabulary. Additionally, try using vocabulary in different conversations to really help hone in on using them comfortably. Focus on pronunciation and accentuation of words too, as this can help you communicate more clearly. Finally, be sure to practice vocabulary regularly in order to keep your skills sharp and make it easier to use those words in conversation.
Further, don’t forget that confidence is key when it comes to improving your spoken English! Practicing regularly and maintaining positive self-talk will help you become more confident in speaking the language Thus, practice makes perfect when it comes to increasing your vocabulary and improving your spoken English. Take the time to build your vocabulary, practice with native speakers, and be confident in yourself.(The success of students of Government School of Bendapudi, Andhra Pradesh is a good example) Remember, the more confident you are in your abilities the more at ease you will be when speaking English.
Strengthening Your Vocabulary
To strengthen your vocabulary, focus on learning more specialized words. For example, search for synonyms of the words you use most often and consider adding those to your word bank for future conversations. To ensure grammatically accurate spoken English, learn the correct usage of the words you know and the nuances of their context. Developing a good foundation in words and phrases that are frequently used in conversations will also help you become more confident while speaking. Additionally, practice speaking with native English speakers whenever possible and focus on understanding how language is used to communicate effectively. If you cannot find native speakers to talk with, listen to standard English News channels and T V shows. With this kind of practice, you will soon be able to converse fluently in English.
Additionally, look for opportunities to expand upon the topics you already know and supplement with relevant new vocabulary. By doing this, you’ll be better equipped to converse in a more advanced manner and better comprehend conversations around you Finally, by continually expanding upon the topics you already understand and supplementing them with grammatically accurate new vocabulary, you will be able to converse fluently in more advanced conversations. This will help you in increasing your spoken English vocabulary and gaining a better understanding of conversations around you.
To Conclude:
Learning to speak English can be intimidating for beginners, but with patience and dedication, anything is possible. By breaking down the language into manageable chunks and practicing regularly, you’ll soon be speaking English fluently like a native! Remember to take your time and enjoy the process, as there’s no better reward than being able to express yourself in a new language.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 20 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 15 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 15 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 20 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 8 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
It is good to practice previous years papers, to modify our preparation towards a particular exam. Here are 20 questions taken from previous papers of KVS. These questions belong to General English section only.
Practice makes man perfect and the same holds true for competitive examinations also. Here are some micro tests, containing 20 questions each, taken from previous papers of NVS and KVS Librarian recruitment tests. Many of the candidates may not have time to attend 100 marks tests at a time and hence these micro tests are made. If you have time, complete tests are also available on our website. Wish you good luck!
Using idioms and phrases enhances the quality of your spoken as well as written English and your language looks elegant and eloquent. In essay writing contests, it fetches you good score and keeps you a head of others.
An idiom is a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word.( Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
A phrase is a group of words that together have a particular meaning, especially when they express the meaning well in a few words. .( Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
One -word Substitutions form an essential part of vocabulary. As the name suggests, questions based on this concept ask you to replace a given sentence with an appropriate word. Such questions frequently feature in the verbal section of many competitive exams.
Give below are ten questions to test your word-power.
“One word substitutes” as the phrase indicates itself are the words that replace group of words or a full sentence effectively without creating any kind of ambiguity in the meaning of the sentences. These are an important part of vocabulary tests in various competitive examination. Hope the following test gives you good practice.
Questions related to synonyms/antonyms require strong word power and knowledge of appropriate usage of words. The following questions will help you in enhancing your word power.
The following questions are taken from the General English section of the Recruitment test conducted for the Librarians by KVS in the month of August 2015.
This contains 5sections and each section contains 4 questions. The maximum marks are 20.
Prepositions are described as the non-inflecting words that are primarily employed to connect the following noun or pronoun in an adjectival or adverbial sense.
These are also employed to link phrases in order to displays the relationship between them.
Prepositions are described as the non-inflecting words that are primarily employed to connect the following noun or pronoun in an adjectival or adverbial sense.
These are also employed to link phrases in order to displays the relationship between them.
• Prepositions are described as the non-inflecting words that are primarily employed to connect the following noun or pronoun in an adjectival or adverbial sense. • These are also employed to link phrases in order to displays the relationship between them.
Prepositions are generally placed in front of those word, which they control. They could also come after the words they govern, notably in questions and in relative and interrogative clauses.
Below are ten questions, in which errors regarding pronouns are given. Solve the questions as per the instructions given.
Prepositions are generally placed in front of those word, which they control. They could also come after the words they govern, notably in questions and in relative and interrogative clauses.
Below are ten questions, in which errors regarding pronouns are given. Solve the questions as per the instructions given.
“Stay away from those people who try to disparage your ambitions. Small minds will always do that, but great minds will give you a feeling that you can become great too.” — Mark Twain
One-word substitution is a wonderful literary system of writing one word for a given term described in many words. This helps us communicate in brevity. In this modern-day world, people are avoiding boring and lengthy descriptions and hence expressions in short are very powerful communication tools.
For students job aspirants this is a very important topic, because questions based on this section are asked in almost all the exams.
Using idioms and phrases enhances the quality of your spoken as well as written English and your language looks elegant and eloquent. In essay writing contests, it fetches you good score and keeps you a head of others.
An idiom is a group of words that has a special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word.( Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
A phrase is a group of words that together have a particular meaning, especially when they express the meaning well in a few words. .( Source: Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English)
In this post, let us learn about some of the idioms in which items normally seen in kitchen are used to express meaning.
CABBAGE:
As cabbage to cauliflower: an inferior thing to a superior one.
Usage: A tech-savvy person is to an ordinary person as a cabbage to cauliflower
Cabbages and kings: covering a wide spectrum of topics
Usage: Yesterday, I met my old friend Srikanth and we talked about cabbages and kings.
GINGER
To ginger up: to encourage
Usage: Encouragement from the audience gingered up the singer to sing the song once more.
BASKET
Pick of the basket : the best thing available
You have to reach the market early to get the pick of the basket.
CAKE:
To eat one’s cake and have it : to gain the advantages from both the alternatives
(have one’s cake and eat it too)
They seem to think they can have their cake and eat it too by ordering online food and claiming refund by complaining about the food.
CHICKEN:
Chicken feed : small amounts of food or money
The salaries given to contractual employees are chicken feed to maintain families
To count one’s chicken before they hatch: too assume success to early
He is counting his chickens before they hatched as he booked a new car expecting his increment the next month.
POTATO:
Couch Potato: a lazy person
Sitting all the day at computer makes a person couch potato
DISH
To dish out a story: to give interesting news
Social media tends dish out new stories to attract viewers.
EGG:
a bad egg: a waster person
Education without morals generates bad eggs.
To egg on : to evoke, to incite, to urge
The hateful speeches of the politician egged on communal violence.
To put all one’s eggs in one basket: to risk all one’s money at one place
The best advice regarding investments is not to put all one’s eggs in one basket.
PAN
Out of the frying pan into the fire: from one problem to another.
He lost his job and then caught with corona. His situation is like Out of the frying pan into the fire.
MILK
The milk of human kindness: compassion
Money makes people the persons without the milk of human kindness
MINT
To mint money: to make a huge money
Kanthara movie minted money at the box office.
OATS:
To sow one’s wild oats:To behave foolishly and indulge in excess while one is young.
The heroine of the movie breaks up with the hero as he wants to sow his wild oats.
PEPPER:
To pepper with : to add humour
The guests speech was peppered with jokes.
Pepper and salt: of mingled black and white colour
The hero flaunted the pepper and salt look.
PICKLE:
In pickle:
Be in a pickle: to be in a very difficult situation and not know what to do
He lost his passport and is in a pickle now.
POT:
Pot-pourri: a mixed stew,
Potpourri is a mixture of dried, naturally fragrant plant materials, used to provide a gentle natural scent, commonly in residential settings. It is often placed in a decorative bowl.
The movie is a pot-pourri of many stories in one.
SALT:
True to one’ salt: faithful to one’s employers
Though the maid is poor, she is true to her salt.
With a pinch of salt: with some doubt
The teacher allowed the students to go to picnic with a pinch of salt.
The salt of the earth: people with good and true values.
Friends of my grand father are the salt of the earth.
SUGAR:
To sugar one’s words: to flatter by talking sweetly
The peonsugared his words to get the increment from his boss.
WATER:
Water of life: spiritual refreshment
The water of life is what needed today in the society.
To water with one’s tears: to get by constant weeping
He watered the hall with tears as he got emotional about his father.
To make a hole in the water: to commit suicide by drowning
Many people in villages with ponds tend to make a hole in the water.
Water under the bridge: no longer important
The success of his first wife is water under the bridge for him.
To write on water or sand: to fail to leave behind an abiding record
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
If we were to believe the latest reports from medical laboratories, immortality is within human reach. By the next century, the possibility of living up to 5,000 years might well become reality. Does this mean that it’s time to celebrate the conquest of the final frontier of science? Certainly not. There can be nothing more dismal than the possibility of living indefinitely. What makes life so fascinating is its transient nature. It’s the knowledge that death can come calling at anytime and anywhere which gives such poignancy to our lives. This finds expression in Wallace Steven’s wonderful lines: “Death is the mother of beauty; hence from her, / Alone, shall come fulfillment to our dreams / And our desires”. The idea that death is the key to life is also the foundation of Martin Heidegger’s philosophy of being.
Leaving aside these philosophical considerations, the predictions of immortality are at best based on dubious science. The scientific fraternity rarely takes seriously the prophets of immortality, who say that one can turn back the biological clock or at least keep it constant. But even if we were to assume for a moment that the majority of humans will live beyond 5,000 years, that would spell disaster for mankind.
On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements with suitable words and phrases:
Q1.Man will hopefully live up to 5,000 years in _________________________.
Q2. What makes life fascinating is____________________________________.
Q3.What gives poignancy to our lives?
Q4.Explain: Conquest of the final frontier of science.
Q5.Find a word from the passage which means the same as ‘temporary’.
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: ( 5 marks )
The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the sun’s heat and light is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. This is like when heat is trapped in a car. On a very hot day, the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot. This is because the heat and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it can’t get back out. This is what the greenhouse, effect does to the earth. The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it can’t get out. As a result, the temperature rises.
The greenhouse effect makes the earth appropriate for people to live on. Without it, the earth would be freezing or on the other hand it would be burning hot. It would be freezing at night because the sun would be down. During the day, especially during the summer, it would be burning because the sun would be up with no atmosphere to filter it, so people, plants and animals would be exposed to all the light and heat.
Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die. Plants like corn, wheat, and other vegetables and fruits would not be able to take the heat. This would cause us to have less food to eat, but it would also limit the food that animals have. With less food, like grass, for the animals that we need to survive (like cows) we would even have less food. Gradually, people, plants and animals would all die of hunger.
On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions briefly:
1.When does greenhouse effect rise?
2.Why is the global temperature rising?
Fill in the blanks :
3.Greenhouse effect is essential for our existence as _______________.
4.Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be_______________.
5.The word which means ‘to be able to live by doing efforts’ is________.
This quiz contains 10 questions of sentence improvement, useful for various competitive exams. In each sentence, some part is kept in brackets. The part kept in sentence requires some correction. Identify the correct option from the options indicated. If you think there is no requirement of correction, choose no improvement.
The following is a collection of some interesting words. You will also find the connection between puri jagannath and English. Learn and enjoy!
JUGGERNAUT:
a huge wagon, an unstoppable force
Origin: Lord Puri Jagannath, jagat( world) became jugger and nath( the lord) became naut
Example : The juggernaut of global warming
Broadcast:
To spread the good word.It actually meant ” to scatter seed’. Initially used in Van Gogh’s paintings, the verb was applied to spreading the word over radios. With the latest web technology, the word ‘Webcst’ became popular.
Example: AIR broadcasted the event.
FRIBBLE:
To kill time, a frivolous or foolish person.
Example: People fribble freebies
PHANTASMAGORIA:
a flickering series of phantoms, apparitions, vision, or illusionary images.
Origin : Greek word ‘Phantsma’ which means to show.
Example:
“My childhood was a phantasamgoria of horror and mystery”
SALARY:
pay, wage
From the Latin word ‘salarium’ which means ” salt allowance”.
During Roman times, salt was worth its weight in gold and soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, hence the word “salary”
In some cities and towns all over the world, the high volume of traffic is a problem. When we see this situation in light of our country, it focuses on rapid growth of urbanisation and also the industrialisation. None of this can be curbed as the industrialisation is the hope of our future and urbanisation is the crippled political outcome. Once, whenever we spoke about the traffic problems, the core discussed was about the air pollution and sound pollution. Nonetheless, the pollution remained as it is giving way to the other problems. This is due to the growth in population and the growing need of the changing times. The life style has changed. The social and economic standards of the citizens changed. The craze among youth on new vehicles have grown rapidly. Even, elders who once used bicycles and went on foot, now interested in vehicles. Vehicles are the symbols of social estate. We have been introducing several measures to curb the traffic. Governments have educated the masses enough to use the public transport for several years, yet, it yielded no results. The reasons behind are varied but the impact of the rapid growing traffic has become challenging. The growing accidents on highways during nights are alarming. We engineered the bridges, introduced the speed breakers and signalled every corner, the highways are broadened, yet the problem is invincible. What can be done to improve this situation? Now, the goal is not in the court of the government alone. The citizens should also be alert and contribute a little as the growing traffics result in traffic jams resulting a heavy loss of time on roads. This results on the commerce and economy of the nation as the trade too gets hindered.
What is the focus of the passage? a) Accidents b) Urbanisation c) Pollution d) Traffic and its effect
What did the government educate the masses about? a) Growing accidents b) Need to use public transport c) Need to be cautious about pollution d) Growing industrialisation
What is the cause of the high-volume traffic in light of the country ‘India’? a) Ruralisation and population b) Urbanisation and population. c) Ruralisation and industrialisation d) Urbanisation and industrialisation.
What is the hope of the country? a) New Vehicles b) Industrialisation c) Commerce d) Air pollution
Find out the synonym of the word ‘restraint’ from the given passage? a) Curb b) Hinder c) Rapidly d) Alarming
Answer key is appended at the end.
Contributed by: Smt Suneela Jyotsna, M.A,M.Ed.,NET, ( A Teacher, Blogger and Podcaster)
I strongly disagree to the notion that the social networking sites have had a huge negative impact on both individuals and society. This is an archaic line of thought as, the recent times, after the pandemic, the entire world has witnessed the significance of the social media. Almost for a year when the world is locked in the houses in fear of the virus, it was the social media which connected us to the family and relatives. Even the one who is living far has took instructions from the doctors and near and dear through the social media. Ever since the invention or discovery of new thing, for certain time it is usually believed that the entire human kind would shortly be enslaved by the latest inventories. People weren’t positive to the invention of a car or the invention of an aeroplane. It took a lot of time to let the nuance occupy the prominent space. Even social media was also received with such contempt. Nevertheless, now the world has seen the powerful and affectionate hand of the social media. Presently, it is the apple of the eye of every country. The social media is ruling the world of advertisements. It is the easiest way to get to the crowd and most affectionate way to tender the minds of the users. With just a click the messages reaches to millions. Now, even the Prime Minister of the country Mr. Modi tweets or shares his views on the worldly affairs through the social media. In certain places it is the social media which helped the police in reaching the accused or even the culprit. Once, making a video is a very expensive and creative work which only a selected chunk would handle. Now, even the kids of grades 4 & 5 are able to make videos with the help of technology and they send it to their near and dear just with a click. How wonderful, it is to think that several people became celebrities just with a small fiber piece in their hands.
Any new idea is not immediately welcome, so is the case with the social media. Now, the day starts and ends with the sending a message or watching a show in YouTube. Sending a tweet or liking a picture in Instagram. Surfing the old pictures from the Google to uploading a selfie in Facebook. The times have changed, so we are. The mark of social media is evident even in the sector of education. Social media is the latest teacher. It repeats the same lesson without an ounce of difference and can teach the same topic without a minute of boredom. Its illustrations are so illustrious that they make a way to the heart and settles in the brain in a concrete picture.
What is the passage about? a) Social media b) Face book alone c) Mr. Modi d) Nuances
Find out the word which is similar in meaning to ‘important’. From the second paragraph. a) Notion b) Instruction c) Archaic d) prominence
What helped the people to turn into celebrities just over night? a) By making videos b) Social media c) Hard work d) None of the above
What is the fiber piece, which is referred in the article? a) The social media b) A toy c) A Mobile d) Tweeter
Find out the synonym of the word ‘admired’ from the last paragraph. a) Illustration b) Illustrious c) Surfing d) Ounce
Answer key is appended at the end of this post.
Contributed by: Smt Suneela Jyotsna, M.A,M.Ed.,NET, ( A Teacher, Blogger and Podcaster)
It is said that people should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. Do you really agree to this? It is really difficult to come to a conclusion on this notion as, today, many Indians have settled abroad. From times immemorial we have foreign settlements in our mother land too. In places like Goa, Coorg, Assam we see a mixed culture of native Indians and foreigners who settled here. It is very difficult a task now to find out their origin also. The saying goes as ‘Be a Roman in Rome’ refers to the importance of adapting yourself to the customs of the people who are in a certain place. Customs and traditions are age old practices which can’t be toppled in a day, at the same time, one can’t be conservative and follow it as it is. When we are the part of a new habitation, the first thing which gets affected is the language. To have a conversation with the people of the locality and get our things done, the first thing a person does is to learn the language and to imitate the localites in gestures. Slowly, yet steadily without the knowledge of the person himself, he starts to change many things, finally effecting their culture and tradition too. Today, many Indians have settled abroad but are still Indians by heart. This happens when the person, after getting accustomed to this new lifestyle, one day realizes that a great deal of change has accumulated, resulting a loss of their identity. Meanwhile, this shapes into nostalgia. Finally, such a person starts to crave to enhance their own custom and tradition, which has already compromised with their way of living. Henceforth, it is evident that when we settle in abroad, we must change our culture to adopt the culture of the country where we settle, nonetheless remain an ardent follower or lover of one’s own culture and tradition. ‘Remember, change is the only permanent notion in any nation. So, instead of fretting about cultural exchange, enjoy the fun of it. Answer the following questions that follows:
What happens when a person settles in foreign lands? a) Cultural instability b) Cultural tolerance c) Cultural exchange d) None of the above
What is the meaning of the quote ‘Be Roman in Rome’? a) Everyone must change to look like a Roman. b) People of Rome too don’t look like Romans. c) To make oneself suitable to the new place. d) To make oneself conservative to the customs and traditions.
What is the most inevitable thing according to the passage? a) Change b) Nostalgia c) Conservative d) Imitate
What can’t be toppled in a day? a) Knowledge b) Age old customs and traditions c) Wisdom d) Adaptation
Pick up the synonym of the word ‘ancestry’. a) Adapt b) Adopt c) Adept d) Origin
Answer Key is appended at the end.
Contributed by: Smt Suneela Jyotsna, M.A,M.Ed.,NET, ( A Teacher, Blogger and Podcaster)
LIFE SKILLS You are a Scion of Ikshvaku yet you are lost in the market yard not knowing how to het grocery. You are a topper of IIT but can’t manage a square meal in the absence of your family. In these situations what fun is it to brag you with superlatives. Meanwhile, the children on streets whom we fondly call urchins and brats excel in meeting their ends. Now, the question raises as ‘What for are we striving in the schools?’ to make rubber stamps! Or white colored puppets! The life skills mark their identity in every day’s life. The hen which fights pitched battles with Eagles, birds and even the people of the vicinity in order to save its’ chicken, leaves the young ones to manage themselves on attaining age. On the other hand, human beings go with spoon feeding to show the world that they take good care of their family. When the conch shell of parents plays in the ears how can a child play in the grounds? Without practical knowledge of ice and fire, how can that man taste the life? Who can take thrill in pleasure without the practical knowledge of a morsel of pain? Finally, What is a day, without a night? When a question in competitive exam comes with word limit, we compress our words even when the thought gushes in torrents. Nevertheless, we expand the topic without a hint of idea about the same. Similarly, in our day to day life too one needs to manage. Often, we see youth standing still with lack of expression when an auto-driver or a shopkeeper cussing them with words they never heard or used. Even, they fumble for words to propose a girl of their choice, who is a close pale. The situation looks grave when a graduate or a student from board classes find themselves in a tight spot to fill an application or to write a letter. The society grieves for producing such uneducated literates. Here, the ‘LIFE SKILLS’ surface and mock the system. Changes are to be made to strengthen the spine of the nation. To prepare the youth for tomorrow, tomorrow’s yesterday should be strong. Poet’s celebrated nature and beauty, film makers have celebrated love and hatred. Let’s celebrate life with special skills while giving a little freedom to the tiny hands to throw a stone on the ripe mangoes, to run and fall on the hedges, to hear and assimilate some shit. We have grown hearing the celibacy of Bheeshma and fantasy of Krishna, let’s contribute a little lunacy to the next generation.
Answer the following questions that follows:
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘the country grieves for producing such uneducated literates? a) Country is happy about the literates b) Country is unhappy about the literates c) Country is unhappy as the educated behaves like uneducated, when it comes to life skills. d) Country is unhappy as the uneducated behaves like educated, when it comes to life skills.
What does the phrase ‘tomorrow’s yesterday’ refers to? a) Tomorrow b) Today c) Yesterday d) Day before yesterday.
What is the source of developing the life skills among children? a) Freedom to play and have hands on practical knowledge. b) Freedom to become Bheeshma and Krishna c) Not to spoil their freedom by playing in the grounds d) Concentrate on studies.
Identify the figure of speech used in the statement ‘Here, the ‘LIFE SKILLS’ surface and mock the system’. a) Hyperbole b) Simile c) Metaphor d) Personification
Identify the synonym of the word ‘Proximity; the state of being near’ from the Para 2. a) Conch b) Vicinity c) Pitch d) Morsel
Answer Key is appended at the end.
Contributed by: Smt Suneela Jyotsna, M.A,M.Ed.,NET, ( A Teacher, Blogger and Podcaster)
It is true that every individual is responsible for his/her own happiness, nonetheless the undisposed fact is, happiness depends on external factors like your social status, friends and even financial status. This is so because we aren’t monks. To begin with, a well settled man is open to speak and express his thought, wherein a poor man’s tongue should always lose the edge. What brings all of us here is our education. Can we expect the same freedom of expression from an uneducated? Without freedom of expression, without access to riches, attaining happiness is a rarity. Often, we see people saying happiness is a state of mind. The fact is it is a state of mind for a well settled person. Truth always changes and wisdom is in understanding the fact. In many cases people earn to their posterity. I this process they lose the most promising relations, only to repent later on their loss, for such people it is quite perfect to think that the person is responsible for his/her own happiness as having everything which a common man craves for, yet is unhappy. Nevertheless, the poor too enjoys life provided they limit their needs. To me, happiness depends not only on the state of mind. Let us compare the life of two kids. A rich boy who is bereaved of his mother, envies the slum neighbor’s mother’s hug, at the same time the kid in the slums aspire to attend school like the former . Here it is evident that happiness depends on your aspirations. Let’s see the third fellow who has parents and takes regular schooling but is jealous of his friend who is a great dancer. Henceforth, happiness lies in fulfilling aspirations. After reaching the goals one can feel satisfied therefore limit your needs, limit your aspirations to the fullest of your potential and strive to reach your targets. On reaching the target, every individual is responsible for one’s happiness.
Answer the following questions that follows:
What is the passage about? a) Hard work c) Aspirations b) Happiness d) Goals
As per the passage, what is happiness? a) Happiness is a state of mind. b) Happiness depends on an individual. c) Happiness has rarely some importance. d) Happiness is a state of mind of a well settled person.
What is the aspiration of the poor kid? a) To be happy with his mother. b) To be bereaved of his mother. c) To attend schooling as the rich kid. d) He doesn’t aspire at all.
Find out the synonym of the phrase ‘to take away someone’ from the passage given above. a) Bereave c) Potential b) Aspire d) Posterity
Replace the word ‘nonetheless’ from the first paragraph with the best option given below. a) And b) But b) Yet d) so
Answer key is available at end of this post
Contributed by: Smt Suneela Jyotsna, M.A,M.Ed.,NET, ( A Teacher, Blogger and Podcaster)
Directions: Each question below has two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted. Choose the set of words for each blank which best fits the meaning of sentence as a whole.
This is a quiz on General English. For more quizzes on General English, please visit the page here.
For General Knowledge quizzes, kindly click here Which of the phrases (a),(b),(c), and (d) given below should replace the phrase given in the brackets in the following sentences to make the sentence grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no improvement, select option(e),i.e., “No correction required” as your answer
Which of the phrases (a),(b),(c), and (d) given below should replace the phrase given in the brackets in the following sentences to make the sentence grammatically correct. If the sentence is correct and needs no improvement, select option(e),i.e., “No correction required” as your answer.
