An excuse

                                       An Excuse

Originally this blog was was designed and created for the purpose of helping my students who are appearing at the MP and HS board examinations in West Bengal. This year the MP examinations are scheduled to begin on and from 1st February, 2016 and the HS will follow suit on and from 15 February. As I don't want to divert their attentions I have decided to stop writing on the blog for the time being. 

           I propose to restart the blog again after the examinations are done and dusted. 

         

  
          Madhyamik and Higher Secondary Examinations
          are knocking at your doors. 
                                   How should you approach it?
In our previous post I have stated what you should do and what you should not at this stage of preparation. Now I am going to suggest how you should tackle your examination phobia when you are inside the class room. For the MP students this will be first time in your life when you are sitting in a class room which is alien to you. The ambiance is different and the invigilators are new. You are not familiar with them and their antics. They may not be friendly with you. So it will take some time to assess them. Be friendly with them. Address them with respect and all the modesty at your command. A warm and sweet smile wins a lot of friends. Don't try to be too smart. Don't wear your vanity on your shirt sleeves.
Now follow the steps stated below:

• First of all read the entire question paper minutely. Take your time. There is no hurry. Start with the grammar problems. You have practised it time and again. You will find them easy. You have just scored 12 marks.
• Go back to the Text portion. This is your familiar territory. Write the answers after reading the questions attentively. You are sure to score between 18 to 20 marks.
• Now attempt the writing portion. You can write correct English. Write short sentences. Don't compose lengthy answers. You are not writing your auto-biography or writing an epic. Be precise.
• After completing these three parts take a water break. Go outside the class room. Wash your face and eyes with cold water. Look at the open sky. Fill your lungs with fresh air. Come back. Read the unseen passage 3 or 4 times. Find out the meaning of the 4 given words from the passage. Now write the remaining answers. Well done.

If you follow the above guidelines YOU ARE SURE TO SCORE 90% OR MORE? 
Ditto for HS Examinees. BEST OF LUCK. 

          MP and HS Examinations are knocking at your door. 
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                                                   How you should approach? 

It is examination time folks. I know from my experience that most of you are having nervous moments. And almost all of you are burning midnight oil, so to say. Nowadays you, who live in cities and towns, big or small , don't have to burn any oil. You have you have your own arrangement.. Your parents are very particular. They have made alternative arrangements, in case there is a power failure or power cut. They are more worried than you. They just want you to score good marks so that you can enroll yourself to a course of your choice. Of course the preffered choice is science streams. But think of those who live in remote villages or in slums ! They still use kerosene lamps. So they literary burn midnight oil.
As a teacher I can assure you that MP Examination is relatively tougher for you. First of all you are still a child. You are in your early teens. How old are you? 14 plus or 15 plus, not older than that. Some are may be 16 years old. So , you like it or not, you are raw and immature in your thinking. You love to think that your syllabus is is a huge burden on your your young shoulders. You want to feel important. This is a demon created by you and your loving parents. In reality the MP syllabus is very easy and it not at all a burden. You can complete this syllabus in three to four months. Readning this far you are definitely calling me names. You are of the opinion that I have lost my balance of  mind and I have gone out of my mind. Call me by whatever name you like. But when you will be promoted to class eleven ,I know, you will understand my point.
So don't worry and don't burn midnight oil. A good night's sleep is very essential at this stage of your life. Don't study for more than six hours a day for the last thiry odd days before your examination. Relax. Listen to music you prefer, watch your favourite TV shows and sports. Take a walk in the evening. Eat good food. Laugh a lot. It will take away your worries and tensions. The demon will get slain.
In my next lesson I am going to tell you what to do in the examination hall. Cheer up, mates.

      Madhyamik Grammar (ABTA Test Papers)

•  They threw mud and stone at him. ( Passive voice)=Mud and stone was thrown at him by them.
• 'I want that toy', he pleaded.( Indirect narration )= He pleaded (with him) that he should be given that toy.
• An earthquake hit Nepal. It was of  a magnitude  of 7.9. (Complex)= The earthquake which hit Nepal was of a magnitude of 7.9.
• We can't but be laborious for success. (Make the sentence affirmative)= We have to be laborious for success.
• The old lady saved much wealth. (Phrasal verb)= The old lady put by much wealth.
• Overeating affects one's health. (")= Overeating tells upon one's health.(Page-164)

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2. Suppose you are the secretary of Student's Union of your school.Now write a notice for the students requesting them to donate in cash or kind for earthquake victims of Nepal.

                                                  NOTICE
 No......                                                                                                                       Date--......
                          Sub: Appeal for donation for the earthquake victims of Nepal

You all know that our neighbouring country Nepal has been hit by a very powerful earthquake. The magnitude of the quake has been measured at 7.9 on the rhichter scale. Thousands of people have lost their lives and a lot many are feared to be buried under the rubble and ruins. At this time of natural calamity it is the duty of everyone of us to stand by the people of Nepal. It is hoped that the students of our school will rise to the occasion and donate generously to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. You are requested to deposit your donation to the monitors of your respective class within  next Monday. You can also donate rugs and clothes and medicine. We will send the collected money and articles to the D.M. Office. Your co-operation and participation is  earnestly  solicited.
                                                                                                                                ABC
                                                                                            Secretary, Students' Union, RKI,Burdwan
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The above is just a model notice. While writing notice try to use the passive form of sentences.
 
 

 

              Madhyamik Grammar( ABTA Test Papers-2015-16)

•  Help your friend in distress. ( Change into passive voice )=Your friend in distress should be helped.
• Bipasa said to her mother,' How did I look in my childhood?"( Change into indirect narration)= Bipasa was curious to know from her mother how she(Bipasa) looked in her childhood.
• I was an uneasy observer of the scene.( Use the verb form)= I observed the scene uneasily.
• Soumick was sorry for his offence.(Turn into complex)= Soumick was sorry that he had committed the offence.
•  Nisha arrives timely.(Phrasal verb)= Nisha turns up timely.
• He was born in a rich family. (Phrasal verb)= He came of a rich family.
• My  brother will appear in the IAS Examination. ( Phrasal verb)= My brother will sit for the IAS examination.
• The strike was withdrawn. ( Phrasal verb )= The strike was called off.
• The teacher said,' Keep quiet, my boy.'(Narration change)= The teacher asked the boy to keep quiet.
• He speaks too fast to be understood. ( Use so-----that)= He speaks so fast that nobody can understand him.
• As soon as he got the English question paper, he started writing the answers. ( Simple) =Immediately after getting the English question paper he started writing the answers.
• I am to make a telephone call. ( Passive voice)= A telephone call has to be made by me.
• He will continue his study.( Phrasal verb)= He will carry on with his study.
• The sport demands both speed and strength.(Phrasal verb)= The sport calls for speed and strength.
• He said,' What a beautiful sight!'( Narration change)= He exclaimed in joy and said that it was a very beautiful sight.
• Health is more valuable than wealth. (Positive degree)= Wealth is not as valuable as health.
• He bought the pen yesterday. It was a useful one. ( Join with a relative clause)= The pen which he bought yesterday was a useful one.
• White represents purity.( Phrasal verb)= White stands for purity.
• The bomb exploded in a market. (Phrasal verb)= The bomb went off in a market.
• The meeting continued for two hours. ( Phrasal verb)= The meeting went on for two hours.

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You will find many repetitions. Don't get bored. Patience is very important.

                   English Proverbs----2

•  A burden of one's own will never be felt.
• A clean fast is better than a dirty breakfast. ( Always )
• A close mouth catches no flies. ( Keep your opinion to yourself to avoid criticism)
• A cracked bell can never sound loud/ sweet. 
• A fool can ask more   questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years.
• A foul morn may turn to  fair day. ( It means morning does not always show the day.)
• A good dog deserves a good bone. ( Merit should be recognised and rewarded.)
• A good face is a letter of recommendation .
• A good Jack makes a good Jill. ( Choose your friend judiciously)
• A good fortune is a great slavery. 
• A great ship asks deep waters. ( The braves always love to face new challenges in life.)
• A good name is sooner lost than own.( One false step may ruin your reputation.)
• A guilty conscience needs no accuser. ( Because he himself knows that he is guilty.)
•  A heavy purse makes light heart.( Very often he may become a miser)
• A hedge between keeps the friendship green. ( Friends should not be xeroxed copies of each other.)
• A hungry belly has no ears.( Does not listen to reasoning)
• A hungry man is an angry man. ( Obviously)
• A Jack of all trades is a master of none.
• A lazy sheep thinks its wool heavy.
• A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth. ( Because  nobody trusts a liar.)
• A lie begets a lie.
• A man can die but once. ( Be brave and do your duty and enjoy your life to the full.)
• A man is known by the company he keeps. ( Choose your friends cautiously.)
• A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.
• A penny saved is a penny earned. ( Spend judiciously)
• A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder. ( Because he has committed no sin)
• A rolling stone gathers no moss.
• A small leak will sink a great ship. ( Don't neglect minor faults either.)
• A stitch in time saves nine. ( Timely action is always recommended.)
• A tree is known by its fruit.

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Hope you find these proverbs helpful even in your regular conversations with your friends.

                              Some well- known Proverbs
 In every language there are proverbs. According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary a Proverb is ..'a well-known phrase or sentence that gives advice or says something that is generally true...'. I don't think we need any better definition of a Proverb. Here are some important English Proverbs for the learners. It is hoped you will be able to use these proverbs in the right context when you write or say something. Let us start learning. The meanings are self explanatory.

• A bad beginning makes a bad ending. ( So be careful with your beginning of a task.)
• A bargain is a bargain. ( Once made you have to honour it.)
• A beggar can never be bankrupt.( Obviously)
• A beggar cant be a chooser. ( This is obvious too)
• A bird in hand is better than two in the bush. ( Be satisfied with what you have.)
• A black hen lays a white egg. ( Only result matters.)
• A burnt child dreads the fire. ( He knows the pain and is always apprehensive of danger-- real or perceived. )
• A cat in gloves catches no mice.
• A civil denial is better than a rude grant.( Behaviour matters)
• A clean hand needs no washing. ( If your conscience is clear you need not be afraid of anyone or anything)
• A clear conscience laughs at false  accusations.( Why not?)
• A cock is valiant on its own dunghill. ( obviously)
• A danger foreseen is half avoided. ( Because you can take precautions.)
• A drowning man catches at a straw. ( He has no other alternative available)
•  A fair face may hide a foul heart. ( It is often the case.)
• A fault confessed is half redressed. ( Confession gives one strength of mind.)
• A fool always rushes to the fore. ( Because he can not foresee the dangers, if any.)
• A fool's tongue runs before his wit. ( Because he lacks in common sense.)
• A forced  kindness deserves no thanks. ( Don't thank the politicians!)
• A friend to all is a friend to none. ( He may be a good Samaritan, though.)
• A friend's frown is better than a foe's smile. ( Always)
• A good anvil does not fear the hammer. ( Because it is strong and ready for the blow.)
• A good beginning is half the battle won.( It is true in all cases.)
• A good deed is never lost. ( So be kind to everybody)
• A good example is the best sermon. ( When will our politician learn this basic lesson?)
• A good name is better than riches.

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