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.
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                                                       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

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