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. 
              ***************************************************************
                                                   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)

**********************************************************************************
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
************************************************************************************
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.

*******************************************************************************
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.

**********************************************************************
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.

***************************************************************************************** 

   
                  One word substitution--8

•  Things through light cannot pass----Opaque
• Things that cannot be done away with--Indispensable
• Things that can be seen and touched---Tangible
• Things that cannot be understood---Unintelligible
• To do away with a rule--..Abrogate
• To explain a spiritual truth through a story --Parable ( The parable of the Good Samaritan)
• To spread and post troops for battle--Deploy
• Tumor which is not likely to spread and which is not malignant--Benign
• Unexpected store of good fortune/wealth--Windfall
• Using of new words--Neology
• Views which are not of one's liking-- Irritating
• Walking in sleep--Somnambulism
• Things which cannot be rectified-- Irrperable
• Works which involve too much official intervention -Red-tapism

*********************************************************************
MADHYAMIK GRAMMAR( ABTA TEST PAPERS--2015-16)
Page-85

• She said to me,; Bravo! well done."(Narration change)= She congratulated me for doing well.
• He has won the prize, The news is true .( Join into a complex sentence )= It is true that he has own the prize.,
• Iron feels hard. (Passive voice)= Iron, when it is felt, is hard.
• She is one of the best girls in our class. (Comparative degree)= She is better than most other girls in our class.
• The strike was withdrawn. (Phrasal verb)=The strike was called off.
• He did not reject my proposal.( Phrasal verb)= He did not turn down our proposal.
• Arrive in time. (Phrasal verb)= Turn up in time.
• She finds the word in the dictionary. (Phrasal verb) She looks up the word in the dictionary.

****************************************************************************************** 

                     One word substitution--7

•  Poem written on someone loved and lost---Eligy
• Policy document of a political party--Manifesto ( The most famous is The Communist Manifesto prepared by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels)
• Power of reading thoughts of others--Telepathy
• Public building where weapons are made and stored--Arsenal ( Curiously 'Arsenal' is the name of a top-flight English football club)
• Riding on someone else' back--Piggyback
• A small room leading into a large room--Anteroom
• Roo with toilet facility--Lavatory
• Seat on the elephant's back --Hawdah
• Sending unwanted person from a country... Deportation
• A slow witted person---Duffer( It is a derogatory word )
• A song sung on the occasion of burial---Dirge
• Speech without preparation-- Extempore
•  Speech by an actor at the end of  play--Epilogue ( The opposite is Prologue)
• Study of birds--Ornithology( DR Salim Ali was a famous ornithologist of India)
•  Study of human body  Anatomy
•  Study of statistics of birth, death and diseases----Demography
• Sudden rush of wind--Gush
•  Thing that brings peaceful and painless death from incurable disease--Euthanasia
•  Things that cannot be touched or felt---Palpable

****************************************************************************
 MADHYAMIK GRAMMAR : ( 2015-16) ABTA TEST PAPERS
 (Page-71)

• Mother said,' Tom, don't run in the sun.'( Narration )= Mother advised Tom not to run in  the sun.
• When he will arrive is uncertain. ( Noun form of 'arrive' )= The time of his arrival is uncertain.
• Mr Sen has abandoned  his bad habit. (Phrasal verb)= Mr Sen has given up his bad habit
•  The ship has started for Australia. (Phrasal verb)= The ship has set out for Australia.

• When we walk along the beach we come across sea shells lying on the sand washed away by waves. (Articles and prepositions)

*****************************************************************************************

                        One word substitution--6

•  One who believes God in everything--Ben Theist
• Person who does not believe in any religions ---Pagan ( Paganism became a creed in course of time and caste its influence in literature and art)
• Person who enjoys sensuous pleasures- Epecure
• Persons who have long experience-- Veteran
• Persons who hate women---Mysogynist
• Person who is made to bear the blame--Scapegoat
• Person who kills political persons for money--Assassin
• Person who lives alone and avoid other persons--Recluse
• Person who loves nature--Aesthetic
• Person who makes love for amusement--Philanderer
• Person who pretends to have more knowledge--Charlaton
• Person who loves the whole world as his own country--Philanthropist
• Person without manners-- Rustiic 
• Persuasive and eloquent speech--Eloquence
• Place where birds are kept--Aviary
• Place where cows are sheltered---Bygre
• Place where Govt. records are kept..-- Archives
• Plants and vegetation-- Flora
• Animals, insects, birds...Fauna
• Poem narrating a popular story ---Ballad

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABTA Test Papers for the MP students for the academic year-2015-6 are just out.                            Here are  some grammatical problems

•  Promises should be kept. ( Passive to active voice)= We should keep our promises.
• None but a fool can do this. ( Change into affirmative  )= Only a fool can do this.
• The orphan boy was reared by his uncle. ( Phrasal verb)= The orphan boy was looked after    by his uncle

•  Mita will recover soon.= Mita will come round soon. (Page No.22)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We shall solve some specific grammatical questions here . We also propose to include some writings too. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask those questions. Thank you.
     

  
                One word substitution--5
    

•    One who pays too much attention to one's appearance and clothes--Dandy
• One who plays for pleasure, not as a professional- Amteure
• One who pretends illness to avoid duty-- malingerer
• One who is fond of reading books- Bookworm
• One who sacrifices his life for the country.-- Myrtar
• One who sneaks into another country -- Infiltrator ( Today this term is used in a wider sense)
• One who speaks many languages--Polyglot
• One who studies the formation of the earth- geologists
• One who talks continuously-- Laquacious
• One who thinks human nature is evil--- Cynic
•  One who abstains from alcohol-- Teetotaler
• One who travels from one place to another-- Itinerant
• One who wants to see others unhappy-- Sadist
• One who works without remuneration-- Honorary
• One whose attitude is to eat, drink and be merry-- Epiqurean
• Opposing arguments --------- Rebuttal/Rebut
• Out of date things--- Obsolscent
• Paper written in one's own hand writing---Manuscript
• Part of a church where bells are hung--Belfry
• Person indifferent to pleasure or pain----Stoic
• Person who is obsessed with one idea or thought--Monomaniac
• Person pretending to be somebody which he is not-- Imposter
• **************************************************************

Processing/Paragraph

                                               How to score good marks in English 
We all know that English is the most popular international language. We can call it the Lingua Franca
of the world. Whatever career we may choose for our future there is no escape from English. for achieving success in any field of profession we must possess a fairly good command over the English Language. In our schools and colleges English is taught as another subject with a structured syllabus. You can score good marks in English if you follow certain method.
    The first step is to allot a definite period of time for this. Read a story, an essay or a poem in its entirety at a given time. Read again and again to comprehend the meaning and essence of the subject matter. Jot down the unknown words in your exercise book and consult a good dictionary to know the meaning. Be careful with your use of tenses and prepositions. Keep a good grammar book by your side. Reading the daily newspaper , magazines and story books will help you immensely. You will get a feel of the nuances of the language. You cannot learn a language without listening to the sound and pronunciation of Native speakers. So listen regularly to BBC or other such channels. Watch English films and speak in English among friends. If you have a computer and/or a smart phone it will be easier for you to learn the language. If you follow the above mentioned simple method before long you will become very confident with your English.
*********************************************************************************








 e

                 One word substitution--4

•  One who collects coins---Numismatist
• Murdering an infant--- Infanticide
• Murdering of the King--Regicide
• One who compiles dictionaries- Lexicographer ( Lexicon means a dictionary)
• One who does not take definite stand-- Evasive ( Nowadays most people are evasive)
• One who eats everything--Omnivorous
• One who eats human flesh-- Cannibals. ( It is widely believed that some cannibal tribes still live in Africa)
• One who is shy and keeps within oneself-Introvert ( The opposite is an extrovert)
• One who is neither intelligent nor dull-- Mediocre
• One who comes from a foreign country -- Alien ( In modern jargon an alien is a person who comes from the outer space)
• A person who loves talking and talks incessantly- Garrulous
• A person who enjoys unlimited power over everything- Omnipotent ( Only God is omnipotent)
• A person who is present everywhere and in everything all the time- Omnipresent. ( Again it is God and only God who is omnipresent)
•  One who is very careful and particular in every respect-- Meticulous
• One who is very well versed in any subject--Connoisser
• One who lends money at high rates.. Usurer 
• One who loves all and sundry and tries to help the people--Philanthropist
• One who loves books --Biblophile
• One who enters into into prohibited places-- Trespasser

*******************************************************************************
In English language only four parts of speech -- NOUN, VERB, ADJECTIVE and ADVERB-- occupy very important positions. They are the main words or members of the word family. We have seen that GERUND and PARTICIPLES play an important role. They are actually a combination of two parts of speech. Gerund is a verbal noun and Participle is a verbal Adjective. In this category we can add the PAST PARTICIPLE form of the verb because we can use a majority of them as an adjective. Examples: 1. a BROKEN glass 2. a LOST opportunity. 3. a WOUNDED soldier 4. a FINISHED product 5. a FORGOTTEN hero. etc.
Find as many such participial adjectives and use them in your writing. We always do that without being conscious of their identity. These participial adjectives are different from the participles in the sense that these words are used in the passive voice and in all types of perfect tenses. The root is same. We get them from verbs.
*****************************************************************************

                                One word substitution-3

•  Intentional destruction of ethnic group- Genocide ( as Hitler did )
• Interval between two events-----Interlude
• Killing of another human being---Homicide
• Language difficult  to understand or comprehend--Jargon ( Today this word is used in a broader sense too ie; political jargon, mathematical jargon etc.)
• Large-scale departure of people from one country to another country/one place to another due to political or other reasons---Exodus ( Remember the Great Exodus )
• List of explanation of words-- Glossary ( generally appended at the end of a serious book )
• List of goods with their price-- Invoice ( A term used frequently in business and commerce field)
• Longing for something gone by/past memories- Nostalgia
• Loud talks or speeches--Harangue ( Politicians practise it )
• Man having the qualities of a woman-- Effeminate ( It is not regarded as a positive compliment either by a man or a woman)
•  Man of lax moral--Licentious ( You are sure to meet so many of them around you)
• Man whose wife has been unfaithful to him- Cuckold ( Being paid/repaid by the same coin?)
• Mania for setting fire- Pyromania
• Mania for stealing things--Kleptomania ( A bit different from shop-lifting )
• Mania for talking--Logo Mania ( Indian politicians excel in this art form )
• Mania for being important-- Megalomania ( Most Indian political leaders--especially our PM are Megalomaniac)
• Member of a band of robbers-- Brigand

Murdering of a husband by a wife-- Matricide

• Old age when a person behaves like a fool-- Dotage
• One who believes that everything is predetermined- Fatalist
• One who believes that pleasure is the only good-- Hedonist
•  One who betrays one-- Traitor

***************************************************************************
We have discussed about Gerund and Participle. These two words are formed from verbs as root words. A gerund is used as a noun and a participle. There is another type of participle in English language. It is called THE PAST PARTICIPLE. We use this verb form in the Perfect Tenses and we can not write the Passive form without using the Past Participle Form of a verb.
Another important use of this form is that we can use it as an ADJECTIVE in many cases.
Examples: Don't sit on the broken chair. This is an imported mobile phone. They served us boiled eggs with dried fruits. I have found my lost watch.

We should remember one important thing about these terms. A Gerund has no gender, number or person. Similarly participial adjectives have no degrees.
                                                                     Happy learning

                              One word substitution--2

•  Cure for all disease---Panacea
• Custom of having many wives---Poligamy
• Custom of having only one wife.. Monogamy
• Custom of having many husbands-- Poliandry
• Dealing in counterfeit things--Forgery
• Disease which spreads by contact-- Contagious
• Equal in rank----Peer
• Fault that may be forgiven--Venial
• Favouring own kith and kin-- Nepotism
• First speech-- Maiden speech/ Maiden century etc.
• Funny imitation of a song/poem--Parody
•  Giving up throne by the king---Abdication
• Going back and forth--- Shuttle ( as in the case of shuttle train/ shuttle bus
•  Food items agreeing with one's taste--- Palatable
• Govt. by a single person/ dictator-- Autocracy
• Cracy of the demos ( Rule by the people) -----Democracy
• Group of three novels----Trilogy
• Incapable of being wounded-- Invulnerable ( opposite= vulnerable )
• In charge of museum/cricket pitch--Curator
• Indifference to pleasure or pain-- Stoicism
• Intentional destruction of a racial/ethnic group-- Gemocide
• Killing of another human being---Homicide
• Interval between two events--Interlude
• Language difficult to understand or comprehend--Jargon ( this word is now used in a broader sense)
• Large-scale departure of people from one country/place to another for political or other reasons-- Exodus ( Remember the Biblical Exodus?)
• List of explanations of words appended at the end of a serious book-- Glossary
• List of goods with their price---Invoice
• Longing for something gone by(bygone)---Nostalgia
• Loop of rope is called--Noose
• Loud talk or speech-- Harangue ( Indian political leaders have patented this word !!)
• Man having the qualities of a woman--Effiminate
• Man of lax moral--Licentious
• Man whose wife has been unfaithful to him--Cuckold ( The opposite happens all the time, doesn't it?)

**********************************************************************
In English language Gerund, Participle and Past participle play a very important role. We form a

Gerund and a present Participle by adding ''ing'' at the end of a verb. A Gerund, a Participle and the continuous form of a verb has the same look and pronunciation but the uses are different. A Gerund is used as a noun and does the work of a noun. A present participle does the work of an adjective. Look at the following sentences:
1. The girl is dancing. (verb- present continuous tense)
2.Dancing is my passion. ( gerund)
3. I have bought a dancing doll for my sister. ( participle)
Just think about these sentences. You will definitely understand the differences.
*******************************************************************************

                                                                         

                                                                         TOPIARY

                            
                                         One word substitution  

•   A dramatic performance---------------Masque
• A man of odd habits---------------------Eccentric
• A man who dances to the tune of his wife----Henpecked
• A nation engaged in war---------------Belligerent ( this term can be applied to a person too 0
• A person behind time-----Antiquated ( we can apply this term to other things or opinion too )
• A person who wants to throw his establishment---Anarchist ( It is a political term. The British termed many of our freedom fighters as anarchists.)
• A place of good weather--Sanatorium ( Nowadays the term refers to a place where mental patients are treated )
• A place for washing dishes adjoining kitchen--Scullery
• A religious song----------Hymn/ Mantra
• A remarkable talent-----Prodigy
• A short but amusing story---Anecdote
• A verse letter------------------Epistle
• Act of killing one's wife---Uxoricide  ( Dont do it)
• An animal story with a moral-----Fable
• An unknown person -------Anonymous
• Animals living both on land and water----Amphibian
• Appointed by two parties to settle a dispute--Arbiter ( The Honourable Court can also appoint an arbiter if the two disputing parties agree)
• Art of cutting trees and bushes into ornamental shapes--Topiary
• At the same time-----Contemporary ( This can apply to persons also )
• Award given after death---Posthumous

These one word substitutions are very helpful in writing a good composition. Some more will be added in the next lesson.

                                                                     Happy Deepavali

                             Joining of sentences---2

•  The boy lost the book. He said this to us.= The boy said to us that he had lost the book.
• I met an old friend after a long time. He could not recognise me at once. = My old friend could not recognise me at once because I met him after a long time./ After a long time I met an old friend who could not recognise me at once.
• The sun gives us heat and light. The sun is one of the stars in the universe.= The sun which gives us heat and light is one of the stars in the universe./ The sun which is one of the stars in the universe , gives us heat and light.
• He works very hard. His object is to maintain his family.= He works very hard to maintain his family.(Simple)/ He works very hard because he has to maintain his family.( Complex )
• This is the boy. His father saw you yesterday. =This is the boy whose father saw you yesterday.
• This is the place. Here poet Rabindranath was born. = This is the place where poet Rabindranath was born. ( Complex )/ This is the birthplace of poet Rabindranath. ( Simple )
• Columbus died in 1506. He discovered America.= Columbus who discovered America, died in 1506.
•  Have you seen the car? The car was following us.= Have you seen the car which was following us? ( Complex )/ Have you seen the car following us? ( Simple)
• The players' kits have been stolen. I know the players. =I know the players whose kits have been stolen.
• You met a gentleman last week. He is my cousin.=The gentleman whom you met last week is my cousin.
• The sun came out. Everything looked cheerful.=When the sun came out everything looked cheerful.
• You must ask the Headmaster's permission. You want to go out early.= If you want to go out early you must ask the Headmaster's permission.
• Cork is lighter than water. It floats on water.= As cork is lighter than water it floats on water.
• It is very cold now. It is the month of January.= As it is the month of January it is very cold now..
• I hear a scream. It is frightening.= I hear a frightening scream. ( Simple )
• My sister has lost her watch. It is a costly watch.= My sister has lost her costly watch. (Simple)
• I walk for heath everyday. I walk in the morning.= Every morning I walk for health. ( simple )
• My friend promises to come on a visit. He will come on Saturday.= My friend promises to come on a visit on Saturday.
• A body was found last week. The police is trying to identify the body.= The police is trying to identify the body which they found last week.
• I went to see the doctor. The doctor told me to rest for a few days.= I went to meet the doctor who told me to rest for a few days.
• She told me her address.   I wrote the address on a piece of paper.=I wrote the address which she gave me on a piece of paper.
• The man answered the phone. He told me that you were out.= The man who ansewred the phone told me that you were out.

*********************************************************************************
                                                  CHANGE THE VOICE

• Please post the letter.= You are requested to post the letter.
• Shut the door.= let the door be shut.
• I received a phone call.= A phone call was received by me.
• We call the tiger our national animal.= The tiger is called our national animal.
• Someone wrote this letter in the nineteenth century.= This letter was in the nineteenth century by someone.
• They gave each of the participants a handsome prize.= each of the participants was given a handsome prize by them.
• Let the door be shut.= Shut the door.
• Honey tastes sweet.= Honey is sweet when it is tasted.
• Respect your parents.= Your parents should be respected.
• We expect him to come any moment.= he is expected to come any moment.
• The chair is broken.= Someone has broken the chair. ( Passive to active )
• I have lost my new mobile phone.= My new mobile phone is lost.

 

 
 

                         Joining of sentences
 There are 93 days more before the MP Examinations for the academic year 2015-16 begin. As they say 'it is knocking at the door'. This is the most important examination of the student's life for more than one reasons. He/she is very young and immature. And a bit nervous too. A student needs proper guidance and advice at this stage. If he/she can keep his/her nerve and fare well in this examination it will do him/her a world of good. He/she will get a tremendous boost up if he/she does well. He/she will feel confident that he/she can crack any examination if he/she applies his/her mind to it. On the other hand if he/she fail to achieve good grades it will dampen his/her spirit and his/her self-confidence will take a nose-dive. My friendly advice would be not to think about the outcome. Just treat is as another class test and study normally as you have been doing so far. Don't waste your time and the result will take care of itself. For the next few days let us brush up our grammar lessons once again. Let us start with joining of sentences.

• Th e boy was lazy. He was punished. ( Single)= The boy was punished for being lazy. (simple) or The boy was punished as /because he was lazy.
• He was a famous man. His fame spread throughout the world. ( Join with a nominal compound) = He was a world famous man.
•  The little children saw the giant. He was playing in the garden. (use a relative clause) = The little children saw the giant who was playing in the garden. { The children saw the giant playing in the garden.= simple }
• I borrowed a book from the library. I have the return it today. (Relative clause)= Today I have to return the book which i borrowed from the library.
• He gave me a pen. It was green in colour.. (Relative clause )= He gave me a pen which was green in colour.
• Shakespeare was a great playwright. He wrote Othello. ( relative clause )= Shakespeare who wrote Othello was a great playwright. or Shakespeare who was a great playwright, wrote Othello.
• Have you seen my brother? He is an MA in English. ( single) Have you seen my brother who is an MA in English?
• Mahatma Gandhi was a true son of the soil. It is known to all. ( single) = It is known to all that Mahatma Gandhi was a true son of the soil.

• My parents went to Shillong. It is a beautiful hill-town.( single)= My parents to Shillong which is a beautiful hill-town.
•  

 .

• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  
•  

                                                       Idioms and phrases
 Here are some more useful idioms for the readers. We all know that English is a living language and 

 it is but natural that  there can be no limit to learning any particular aspect of the language. Almost every day the new idioms and phrases are being added. You have to flow with the tide, as they say or you will lag behind. Please don't rest on your oars.

• as deaf as a post (very deaf)= It is useless to tell him anything for he is as deaf as a post.
• an apple of discord ( a disputed matter )= Kashmir is an apple of discord between India and Pakistan and it will remain so till the dooms day.
• listen to reason ( accept logic )= My father is so egoistic that he would never listen to reason however hard you may try.
• without rhyme and reason ( illogical )= There is no rhyme and reason in banning the consumption of cow-meat. After all food should be a personal choice and the Govt. have no business in telling people what they should or should not eat.
• a bolt from the blue ( all of a sudden )= The news of his uncle's death at such a young age came as a bolt from the blue. He was not prepared for it

*******************************************************************************
Some advice for the MP students who are appearing for this year's ( 2015-16 ) MP Examinations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

1. Don't burn midnight oil. In simple language , don't keep late night. Remember : a tired brain does not absorb much. It is better to get a full night's sleep.
2. Get up early in the morning. Do some free hand exercises or take a walk in the open before you sit down to study.
3. You have completed your Test Examinations. It is expected that you have already covered your allotted syllabus. So take no additional pressure upon yourself.
4. Make your own routine on a weekly basis for the month of November. You know your strong as well as your weak points. Plant your routine accordingly. At the end of the month reassess your priorities and make your plan of study for the next month.
5. Consult your notes and write them afresh. Write your answers as if you are in the exam room. Try to finish it before time. Check them. Repeat the procedure at least four times a month. Ask your parents to keep an watch on you.
6. Shun your mobile phone, smart phone , tabs or laptop for three months unless it is absolutely necessary.
7. Listen to music and watch a game of your favourite sport on TV or watch your favourite movies form time to time to get rid of your boredom or built-up anxiety. These activities will help you relax.

                                                  Feel confident. NOT OVERCONFIDENT.
                                                      ******************************

               Idioms and phrases

Happy Vijoya greetings to all the readers. Hope you have enjoyed your puja days with great deal of festivities and joy with your close friends and relatives. My Muslim friends have observed their Muharram with due respect and in tearful remembrance of the tragic death and supreme sacrifice of Hassan and Hussein.

It is now time for going back to the grindstone. As far as i remember we were discussing about the use of idioms. Let us resume our journey into the mysterious and fascinating world of the WORD.

• argue the toss ( to dispute a decision )= I am not going to argue the toss with the umpire.
• a tough customer ( a difficult person to deal with )= It is very difficult to convince Ranjit. He is a very tough customer.
• the Midas touch ( whatever one touches turns into gold=success )= It seems that Dhoni has lost his Midas touch with the cricket bat; he is no longer the great finisher of the game. 
• throw in the towel ( give up and admit defeat )= In the 5th ODI India threw in the towel after Rahane got out.
• have a sweet tooth ( fond of eating sweets )= My blood sugar level has increased alarmingly ,yet I can't give up eating sweet dishes. I have a sugar tooth since my childhood days.

                            Idioms and......(6)

•  the fur was flying ( having serious and heated argument )= When Ram's wife met his latest girl friend in a party they began to argue and within minutes the fur was flying.
• make a fuss ( complain )= Stop making a fuss over so trifle a matter.
• in the fullness of time ( at the right and proper time )= Stop chasing love at this tender age. You will get what you deserve in the fullness of time.
• make fun of ( to belittle somebody )= Don't make fun of your grandpa, he belongs to a different era when there was no smart phone.
• by hook or crook ( by any means )= Soumyo is desperate. He is going to get an i-phone by hook or crook.
• to hope against hope ( continue hoping )= His doctors have given up but I am hoping against hope that he will survive till his son comes next month.
• jump on the bandwagon ( opportunists ) =Since Mr Modi came to power with a popular mandate in the last election many intellectuals have began praising his leadership qualities. They have jumped on the Modi bandwagon hoping for some plum posts.
• as weak as a kitten ( very weak )= After her operation she has become as weak as a kitten.
• a ladies' man ( loves the company of women )= Nirenbabu is a very handsome man . Some call him a ladies' man behind his back for he loves to be  in the company of beautiful women.
• as happy as a lark ( very happy )= I saw Anuska on the beach at Puri with her parents. She was looking as happy as a lark.

********************************************************************************
When my younger brother was 5 or 6 years old he was a very arrogant child. He was very intelligent too. He was clever enough to know how to get out of a sticky situation. One day he called an old man ( whom we addressed as 'dadu' ) a 'nonsense'. The old man was naturally and complained to my mother. She in turn brought this up to the notice of our father who was a very strict person. Naturally it made him very angry and he demanded an explanation from my brother. Our mother and I thought that he was sure going to be getting a good dressing down by my father. But my younger brother had already thought of his defense. He told father ,'' I am sorry baba, I didin't know that 'nonsense' was such a bad word.  I thought it meant ' fool'. I have seen it in the dictionary. At that moment of time we did not have a dictionary at our home but his explanation was valid. He got a scolding but was spared a beating. Whenever I talk with my students about the power of the language I recall this little story. Now you can say '' Mr SPK is talking nonsense. ( It means what he is saying has no meaning. ). If you say that Debnath is a man of letters, it we will understand that he is an educated man and not a postal peon. Similarly ' a big fish' does not mean a fish as such. ' A big mouth' does not refer to the size of Mr Modi's mouth. If you thought that catching ' a fish out of water' would be easy sure people will brand you as a 'fool of the first water.'
 
So be careful what words, phrases or idioms you use while speaking and writing. Consult your dictionary as often as necessary.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Let us revisit the time prepositions. Once more:
At dawn, In the morning,at 8 am, At noon, At/In the afternoon, At dusk, In the evening, At night/midnight, In a day,/a week, a month, year, January etc, / a decade/century etc / on Monday etc./ 24th september/ In 2015, In the past/ In future/ At present etc.
********************************************************************************

                                Idioms and......( 5 )

•  with flying colours ( come out successful )= I am sure you will come out with flying colours in the JEE .
• flesh and blood ( normal human being )= No flesh and blood can put up with such insult.
• play with fire ( doing something dangerous )= Hiten knows that he is playing with fire by having an affair with a married woman.
• of the first water ( rare quality )= Lady Diana was a beauty of the first water so it was natural for Prince Charles to fall for her.
• take the floor ( to rise to speak )= When Ranjit  took the floor it was already late but many people stayed back to hear him speak.
• a fool's paradise ( a false sense of optimism )= People are living in a fool's paradise if they believe that Modi will deliver the goods as promised.
• take French holiday ( take unauthorised leave)= When he was in school Mr Kundu used to take French holidays on the drop of a hat.
• the gift of the gab ( oratorial skill )= If you want to succeed in a democracy you must possess a gift of the gab to convince people to accept your point of view.
• play to the gallery ( to try to become popular by saying what the people want to hear )= Mr Modi is already become famous for playing to the gallery. He has promised so many things to so many people.
• a golden handshake ( offering monetary benefits for leaving a job before time)=Many bank employees have opted for the golden handshake policy as they want to enjoy their life with their family.

*******************************************************************************
Prepositions;::::::
--------------- You are a man with a soft and sympathetic heart. So you feel sympathy for everyone who appears to be needy and poor. You  are sympathetic to the slum dwellers of your locality and you want to do some charity work for them. You always sympathise with the poor of the country .

       You should listen to what your elder say. You must be devoted to your parents and care for and provide for them in their hour of need. Your friends are very precious to you so it is your duty to be loyal to them. It is your duty to be faithful to your employer. You may not agree with on all points but is it not your duty to agree to what your mother says?

     Mr Rajat Basu was travelling in a car. The car was running at a great speed and met with an accident. The driver of the car was killed on the spot but Mr Bose was rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. He was survived by his wife and two daughters. The police  has started an investigation into the accident.
*********************************************************************************
spk-19/9/15

                                      Idioms and...........(4 )

• a cock and bull story ( an absurd tale )=My friend told me a cock and bull story that he had discovered a treasure in the haunted house.
• under a cloud ( under suspicion ) = The manager was not dismissed but he left the company under a cloud of some wrong doings.
• clutch at straw ( trying desperately )= A drowning man tries to clutch at a straw to save his life.
• on cloud nine ( very happy ) =Ranjit Guha is now on cloud nine because his hotel Sikkim Aurora is making a lot of profit.
• through cold water on ( discourage )= Mr SPK threw cold water on our enthusiasm by announcing that he was not going with us to Pelling.
• as cool as a cucumber ( very calm ) = Everyone except Apratim was worried for the safety of him climbing down a stiff hill. He remained as cool as a cucumber.
• out of date ( old fashioned )= Debnathbabu does not support live-together for his ideas are out of date.
• take a dim view of ( disapprove )= I take a dim view of his attitude towards his parents ; he should be more supportive.
• a rough diamond ( unsophisticated but good at heart )= You have to bear with Ram's loud and harsh language but he is good at heart. He is a rough diamond.
• an apple of discord ( cause for dispute )= Kashmir was, is and will always remain an apple of discord between India and Pakistan.
• dog eat dog ( fierce competition )=We are living in an era when every company is trying to destroy another company. It is really a dog eat dog situation.

*********************************************************************************
My friend Ranjit Guha is a good samaritan at large. He always tries to help others, including me. Recently he has sent me a pictorial presentation of common prepositions and their appropriate uses. I thank him profusely for that. I am really indebted to him for his help and advice. I am really very fond of him. He has always been kind to me. We are going to Pelling on 2.12.15 by train. We will put up in his Hotel Sikkim Aurora for three nights. My friends Ram and Nirenda are going with me. We will have a blast of time there at Pelling. I am sure of it.

Last evening I was telling my students that boats sail on water but fishes live in water. We swim in the river but boys jump into the river.
 We sit on the benches but gas balloons go up into the sky. Being chased by the police the thief jumped over the wall. The sun is shining brightly above our head.
*********************************************************************************

 

  

                                                Idioms and.........( 3 )

•  Out of date ( old fashioned )= His ideas are out of date
• At the end of a day ( at last )= We may differ on many things but at the end of the day we all want to be happy and contented.
• from day to day ( temporarily )= I dont know what is in store for me in future ; I live from day to day.
• save the day ( prevent something from happening )= We were stranded midway and were in a fix but Ranjit saved the day for us by sending his personal car.
• some day ( sometime in future )= Urmi is passing through some difficulties but she hopes to get married some day.
• make someone's day ( to make someone very happy )= Apratim and Mamoni sent me a bunch of beautiful roses which made my day.
• fall on deaf ears ( not to be listened to )= All our appeals fell on deaf ears for the H.M. refused to declare it a rainy day.
• keep one's ears to the ground ( remain alert )= Dont get frustrated; keep your ears to the ground and you will soon get a job of your choice.
• easier said than done ( easy to talk about but difficult to do )= Getting a pair of tickets at the Eden Gardens is easier said than done.
• easy on the eye ( looks beautiful )= Debnath likes his new secretary. She is easy on the eye.
• at the eleventh hour ( at the last moment )= After we reached the station I remembered that I had forgotten to bring my extra pair of shoes. I remember things at the eleventh hour.
• a white elephant ( something which is useless and expensive to keep )= Buying a Mercedes is like keeping a white elephant these days. It guzzles gallons of petrol.

********************************************************************************

Let us study the following sentences:
Hurry up lest you should miss the train.
Apratim gripped his father's arm firmly lest he fell from the running train.
Debnath was apprehensive lest he revealed too much.

The word lest means =to prevent something from happening. In the first sentence the meaning is obvious. It means a) you should hurry up and if you do hurry up you won't miss the train but b) if you do not hurry up there is every chance of your missing the train. So you are advised to hurry up to prevent the happening.

In the second sentence the following things happened a) Apratim was very alert and careful about his father. b) the train was moving and there was every chance that his father might fall down from the running train and in order to prevent that accident from happening he gripped his father's arm tightly.

In the third sentence the situation was a) Debnath was talking to somebody and he did not tell him the whole truth b) but he was apprehensive that if he were not careful he could have revealed the truth which he had no intention to reveal to that particular person.
********************************************************************************
spk-15/9/15