PART A
1)According to the narrator, the value of gift is rooted in__________________
Ans: Sacrifice and generosity
2)Wangari Mathai is the first ___________women won the Nobel prize award.
Ans: African
3)” Telephonic conversation” is the _____________narrator poem by Wole Soyinka.
Ans: First person
4) In “Ulysses” the speaker has delighted in battles fought ____________
Ans: On the plains of troy
5) When was the poem “Leisure” published?
Ans: 1911
6) Where there is a will believes in the thumb rule and total dominance of the old generation in the family
Ans: The old generation
7) _____________ anybody attend the lecture or is it for registered students?
Ans) Can
8) To catch a tarter
Ans: To trap wanted criminals with difficulty.
9) Which of the following is the purpose of a letter to the editor?
Ans: both a & c
10) How do you end the main body of a formal letter?
Ans: by expressing your love
PART B
11(a) Explain the style and tone of story “The gift of Magi”
‘The Gift of the Magi’ is a short story by the US short-story writer O. Henry, whose real name was William Sydney Porter (1862-1910). His stories are characterised by their irony, their chatty narrative style, their occasional sentimentality, and by their surprise twist endings.
The Gift of the Magi” is a touching short story about a couple that wants to buy each other meaningful Christmas presents with very little money. Delia sells her long, beautiful hair in order to buy her husband, Jim, a gold watch chain, while Jim sells his gold watch to buy Delia a set of combs that she has always wanted. In this twist of comic irony, the couple discovers that their gifts, while now practically useless, symbolize their enduring and total love for one another since they were both willing to sacrifice their most prized possessions to make the other happy. In this respect they are both the Magi. Much like other famous short story writers of the time, O. Henry creates believable characters that seem like real people. With the uniquely oratory style of the text and endearing drive of the characters, the story connects to readers on a sentimental level. Rather than describing complex characters with well-developed backgrounds and intricate psyches, O. Henry gives the audience just enough detail to help them sympathize with the characters’ situation. This, coupled with an optimistic tone and warmth, makes “The Gift of the Magi” popular among readers to this day.
11(b) Write a brief note on Wangari Mathai views on Nobel Prize acceptance speech.
Wangari Maathai’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech, delivered on December 10, 2004, is a profound reflection on her life’s work and the broader implications of her achievements. Here are some key points and themes from her speech:
Maathai emphasizes that the Nobel Prize is not just a personal accolade but a recognition of the collective efforts of many individuals and groups worldwide. She acknowledges the contributions of those who work tirelessly to protect the environment, promote democracy, and defend human rights, often without recognition.
As the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, Maathai highlights the significance of this achievement for women and girls. She hopes her recognition will inspire them to raise their voices and take on leadership roles. This theme of empowerment is central to her speech, reflecting her lifelong commitment to gender equality.
Maathai’s work with the Green Belt Movement, which focuses on tree planting and environmental conservation, is a cornerstone of her speech. She underscores the critical link between environmental sustainability, democracy, and peace. By addressing environmental issues, she believes we can also tackle broader social and political challenges.
Maathai calls for the embrace of democratic governance and the protection of human rights. She believes that sustainable development and peace are inextricably linked to democracy. Her speech urges leaders and citizens alike to commit to these principles to improve the quality of life for all.
Throughout her speech, Maathai conveys a message of hope and inspiration. She expresses gratitude to the people of Kenya and Africa, encouraging them to continue striving for democracy and environmental sustainability. Her speech is a call to action, urging everyone to use the recognition of the Nobel Prize to advance their missions and meet the world’s high expectations.
Conclusion
Wangari Maathai’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech is a powerful testament to her life’s work and vision. It highlights the interconnectedness of environmental conservation, democracy, and peace, while also serving as a rallying cry for continued efforts towards these goals. Her emphasis on collective action is not merely a call for unity but a profound recognition that the challenges we face are too vast and complex to be tackled by individuals alone. She underscores the importance of community, collaboration, and solidarity in addressing global issues. By working together, she believes we can create a more sustainable, just, and peaceful world. This elaboration on collective action reflects her deep understanding that true progress requires the concerted efforts of all sectors of society, from grassroots movements to international organizations.
12(a) Consider “Telephonic conversation” by Wole Soyinka as an example of dramatic monologue?
‘Telephone Conversation ‘, as the title suggests, is a conversation over the telephone. It is between a black man seeking a room for rent and a white landlady who had advertised such an offer.
Over the conversation, the hypocritical nature of the landlady as a racist is brought to light.
An African man is looking for a room to rent, and he finds an advertisement in a newspaper. The ad says that there is no problem with race – white or black. As the man had bitter experiences with such ads earlier, he makes a telephone call to the landlady from a public telephone booth.
He tells the lady that he is a black man and asks if it is acceptable. The lady hesitates for a while; she wants to know if he is completely black or half-black. When the man says that he is not completely black because his palms and soles are white. The lady goes silent and hangs the phone even though the man pleads with her to at least meet him in person to see for herself if he is totally black.
The poem shows how racial discrimination prevails hidden in the hearts of individuals. Even though there are laws against discrimination in the country, they become ineffective if individuals do not change their mindset. The landlady shows double standards. Publicly, she shows that she is not a racist, but privately, she shows her true attitude. The poem also captures the frustration of the black man.
He is angered by the double standards of such individuals as the landlady. First, he is angry over the lady’s questions about his exact shade of color. Then, he becomes enraged and sees red all over. But, at the end of the telephone conversation, he is found pleading with the landlady
Structure and Form
Wole Soyinka’s ‘Telephone Conversation’ is a lyric poem written in free verse. The poem is a dialogue involving a black man and a white woman. The two are indulged in a phone call throughout the poem. The poem, to a considerable extent, follows the question and answer pattern. That is, the white landlady fires away one question after another and the black man, who is desperate for a place to stay, patiently answers them all. Also, a major chunk of the poem is written in the present tense.
12(b) Bring out the theme of the poem ”still I rise”
“Still I Rise” presents the bold defiance of the speaker, implied to be a black woman, in the face of oppression. This oppressor, addressed throughout as “you,” is full of “bitter, twisted lies” and “hatefulness” toward the speaker, and hopes to see the speaker “broken” in both body and spirit. However, despite all the methods of the oppressor to “shoot,” “cut,” or “kill” her, the speaker remains defiant by continuing to “rise” in triumph.
Angelou was a staunch civil rights activist, and “Still I Rise” can be taken as a powerful statement specifically against anti-black racism in America. At the same time, its celebration of dignity in the face of oppression feels universal, and can be applied to any circumstance in which a marginalized person refuses to be broken by—and, indeed, repeatedly rises above—prejudice and hatred.
Society relentlessly tries to humiliate and demean the speaker, who has little power to fight back. The speaker acknowledges that society “may” enact violence upon her. It also has the ability to write “lies” about the speaker and present them as facts. The speaker does not have the ability to prevent any of this, and, in fact, the attempts to harm the speaker only escalate as the poem continues. This “you” may crush the speaker into the dirt; it may “shoot,” “cut,” and eventually even “kill” the speaker with “hatefulness.” An oppressive society, the poem is saying, presents a clear and pressing danger to the speaker’s body and mind.
Yet the speaker responds to this treatment not only by surviving, but by thriving—something that provokes anger from her oppressor. The speaker wonders—her tone tongue-in-cheek—why the oppressor is so “upset,” “offend[ed],” and “gloom[y].” Perhaps, she proposes, it is because of her confident “walk,” generous “laugh[ter],” or dazzling “dance.” In other words, the speaker presents her joy—her refusal to bend to the speaker’s will—as its own act of defiance. Moreover, all of her acts are associated with traditional signs of wealth in the form of “oil,” “gold,” and “diamonds.”
Regardless of the oppressor’s negative and hateful responses, the speaker continues to prosper. The speaker even explicitly rejects the oppressor’s desire to “see [her] broken.” The oppressor wants to elicit “lowered eyes,” “teardrops,” and “soulful cries” from the speaker, to see her downtrodden. Thus simply living with joy, pride, and dignity is an act of resistance against and triumph over oppression.
Indeed, the speaker “rise[s]” repeatedly over the oppressor’s violent hatred and prejudice. The speaker’s rise is first compared to the rise of “dust,” a reference to the earth. Later, her rise transforms from the rise of “dust” to “air,” which is located physically above the earth. The progression of these comparisons over the course of the poem reinforces the speaker’s rise over oppression. And just like the rise of “moons and … suns,” the speaker’s rise is inevitable and unstoppable. Her dignity and strength are qualities that society can’t touch, no matter how hard it tries. The speaker is thus able to ascend out of “history’s shame” and “a past that’s rooted in pain,” both of which are particular references to slavery, by living with pride and joy. Indeed, her rise—a powerful form of resistance against oppression—is the ultimate “dream” and “hope” of oppressed peoples.
13(a) Write a critical note of poem” Leisure”
The poem Leisure by William Davies conveys a wonderful message about how we are busy with our own lives and have little time to enjoy our surroundings and nature. He blamed people in this poem for the fact that we are like a machine and run every day without knowing the little information about our world.In the poem, the demerits of the busy modern world are portrayed. The Poet expresses his disappointment with the incapacity and ignorance of modern man in reacting to the beauties of nature. Nature is the most beautiful gift offered to us by Heaven, perhaps. But modern man has little time to enjoy these little but precious joys offered by nature, busy with his job and caught up in worries.
The Poet says that our life is useless if it is full of worries and if we have no time to stand and look at charming scenes of nature. The Poet says that we are so busy that we have no time to stand for some time under the dark, deep shadow of trees in the forest. We pass by the jungle without looking at these natural objects. The life of animals like cows and sheep is better than our life. They have a lot of time to spend in the company of nature. We have no time to see how squirrels hide their nuts in the grass. To experience all these joys we need time. But we suffer with the problem of the lack of time. We have no time to look at the fresh and clear waters of streams in the daylight when rays of the sun fall on the waves of water in streams. It looks as if the stars are twinkling in the sky. We have no time to look at the beauty of a woman. The Poet personifies beauty as a dancing girl with a smile. He has no time to watch her feet and note the movement in her dance. He has time to look at her smile and appreciate it. The Poet brings out the quality of her smile. He says that her smile is moving slowly. It begins with her eyes. Moving slowly it reaches her lips. This movement makes her smile more charming. But we need time to note the movements and charms of her smile, but we have no time to do so. By citing all these examples, the poet shows his disgust over man’s way of living in which he has no time for leisure. At the end of the poem, the poet repeats the opening lines to give more stress to his idea.
13(b) Write a short note on the portrayal of Islamic world in” The forty fortune” by Aaron Shepherd.
Forty Fortunes is a story about Ahmed, a poor man. He is married to Jamell and they live in the Royal City of Isfahan. He has no trade and is not determined to learn any. All he owns is a shovel and a pick which he uses to dig holes for little money. He is clearly unambitious and tells his wife that all they need is only to survive.
Jamell is not satisfied with what her husband does and the situation becomes worse when she is turned away at the public baths, simply because the wife of the king’s Royal Diviner is using them. This leads her into thinking that her life and that of her husband can only change if the husband became a diviner.
Ahmed is taken by surprise when his wife advises him to become a fortune teller and at first takes her for an insane person. This is because he knows nothing about fortune telling. However, Jamell seems to be wise and creative since she tells him that diviners only apply wisdom to earn their living.
She tells him that all he needs to do is only get a dice and mumble some wise things failure to which she will leave him. To keep his wife, Ahmed is left with no option other than selling his shovel and pick to get a dice and the robes worn by fortune tellers. After he lands into the market place, he encounters the wife of one of the king’s masters who has lost her precious ring while at the public baths.
He doesn’t know what to tell her but as he looks at her, he notices a hole on his cloak. He mentions it thus assisting the wife remember where he had hidden her ring. This earns him a gold coin.
When Ahmed takes the gold coin to his wife, she congratulates him but he keeps on saying that it was the grace of God implying that the thing was not going to work for long. On the same night, the royal treasury of the king is robbed of forty chests. The king’s Royal Diviner and his assistants fail to unravel the mystery forcing the king to call Ahmed since he had heard about him after recovering the lost ring.
When he enquires from him about the robbery, Ahmed has no idea on what to say but uses his own wisdom which turns out to be impressive to the king. Since there were forty chests, he tells the king that the thieves must have been forty, something that the king’s diviners could not find out.
He also promises the king that he will find the thieves after forty days failure to which he will end up in prison. Later, he expresses his worry to his wife because he knows that it is likely for him to end up in prison if he does not reveal the thieves.
In order for Ahmed to know when the forty days are over, he puts forty dates in a jar and eats one every evening. Surprisingly, one of the thieves is the king’s servant who overhears the conversation between the king and Ahmed. He goes back and explains this to their chief who then sends him to Ahmed’s house to listen for any information.
As the thief sits on the roof of the house, ahmed takes one of the dates and tells his wife ‘that’s one.’ The thief gets very scared and returns to the chief to tell him that Ahmed has unbelievable powers because he could know there was somebody on the roof.
The chief repeats the same procedure with an additional thief and everytime the number of the thieves on the roof coincides with the number of dates Ahmed has eaten. This convinces them that Ahmed knows about them and that he will take them to the king.
To avoid being taken to the king, the forty thieves reveal themselves and plead with Ahmed to save them. He agrees to save them on condition that they return all the treasures they had stolen. Before the end of the night, they return all the treasures to the treasury.
Ahmed returns to the king and tells him that his magic arts can only get him either the thieves or the treasures but not both, so he has to make a choice. He does this since he has agreed to save the thieves if they returned the treasures. Since the king values the treasures, his choice is to get them back.
He is extremely happy to find them back and decides to make Ahmed his Royal Diviner. However, Ahmed knows that he does not have the powers to be a diviner for the king so he regrets the fact that he used all his powers that he cannot be a diviner anymore. In appreciation, the king rewards him two chests which make him a rich man.
14(a) Fill in the Blanks.
a) The flight will ______________ any moment now
b) Please ____________this application and submit there.
c) My car ___________ in the middle of the road
d) The judges will __________to their decision for a while.
e) The kid decided to ___________ a new hobby.
Ans:
a) Take off
b) fill in
c) broke down
d) hold on
e) take up
14.b) i) Your phone __________damaged (should be/would be)
ii) I am sorry, I________ (CANNOT/COULD NOT) make it to your wedding.
iii)Derrick __________(has/had) submitted all the documents last week.
iv) Peter __________(would/was) asked to host the ceremony.
v) Sam and Joe __________ (will be/shall be) attending the event.
Ans:
i) would be
ii) could not
iii) had
iv) was
v) will be
15(a) Write a letter to your uncle thanking him for birthday present.
From,
Vivek sharma
Juna Mondal Society
4, Krishna Baugh
Rajasthan-435671
To,
Ramesh
Diwan Housing Society
45, Amrit Nagar
Ahmedabad-415611
Dear Uncle,
Hello, Uncle. How are you? How is everyone at home? I hope all the family members are in the pink of health.
I missed you all yesterday at my birthday celebration. We would have enjoyed it a lot more if you could have joined us. I received my birthday gift sent by you yesterday. I was very excited to see such a huge box, and finally, when I opened it, my joy knew no bounds when I saw that you had gifted me a new bicycle. I am very thankful to you for sending me such a great present on my birthday.
I wanted a bicycle for a long time so that I could go with my friends to school by bicycle and also ride it in the evening. Cycling will also help me stay fit and healthy. I showed all my friends my new bicycle, and they all loved it. This was the best birthday present ever.
I once again thank you for the love that you expressed by giving me such an awesome birthday present.
Please convey my regards to my aunt.
Yours lovingly,
Vivek Sharma
15(b) Evaluate the differences between Formal and informal invitation?
A formal invitation
As we’ve mentioned earlier, formal invitations follow strict rules that should be followed. They are used in formal events such as cocktails, weddings, etc… Formal invitations should contain and comprise with the following rules and information:
An informal invitation
An informal invitation or non-formal invite can take on many different forms and it does not require all the pomp and ceremony of a formal invitation. The important thing to include in non-formal invitations is:
You can be much more creative with informal invitations, so wreck your brain and think of some original ideas that can make your event more attractive to your possible attendees.
Difference between formal and informal invitations
The formal invitation is much more classical and elegant, with letters, for example, in Times New Roman, with proper punctuation and capital letters. It will also speak to your guests with the highest grade of formality. Formal invitation must be sent by post and you should wait for confirmation by post or by telephone, whereas the informal invitation can be done by e-mail or over the Internet.
PART – C
16(a) Write an essay about “In a grove” by Akutagawa Ryunosuke.
Set in pre-modern Japan, Ryūnosuke Akutagawa’s short story “In a Grove” is a collection of testimonies and confessions that concern the death of a twenty-six-year-old samurai named Kanazawa no Takehiro.
The first section of the story comprises four testimonies given to a magistrate, a Kyoto city official who is investigating the mysterious death. The woodcutter who found the body that morning speaks first, confirming the location of the deserted bamboo grove where he found the corpse and describing the dry chest wound in detail. Next, a traveling Buddhist priest says he saw a man, a woman, and a horse the day before just after noon. Next, a policeman testifies that he has caught a bandit named Tajōmaru, who is infamous for raping women around Kyoto. The policeman suggests Tajōmaru is responsible and that the magistrate should question him. The fourth testimony is delivered by the young woman’s mother, who confirms that her daughter Masago and Masago’s husband Takehiro—the dead samurai—would have been traveling in the hills the day before. She breaks down crying, worried for her missing daughter’s safety.
The narrative switches to Tajōmaru’s voice as he casually confesses to having killed Takehiro. He details how Masago’s beauty led him to execute a plan: first leading Takehiro into a bamboo grove under the pretense that he would sell him treasure stolen from an aristocrat’s burial mound, Tajōmaru then tied Takehiro up and raped Masago. To his surprise, she asked him to kill either himself or her husband, saying she would be with the one who lived. Tajōmaru untied Takehiro and challenged him to a sword fight that ended in Tajōmaru stabbing Takehiro in the chest on his twenty-third thrust. Meanwhile, Masago escaped, so Tajōmaru fled the forest with Takehiro’s weapons and rode Masago’s horse until he was bucked off and subsequently caught. Tajōmaru is resigned to his fate and asks that he be executed by hanging at the tree outside the prison.
The next account comes from Masago herself, delivered as a confession in the Kiyomizu Temple. In her version of events, Masago details the contempt that she saw in Takehiro’s eyes after Tajōmaru raped her. She went to her husband’s side but Tajōmaru kicked her to the ground and she lost consciousness. When she awoke, the bandit was gone; she concluded that she and her husband needed to die, now that her honor had been disgraced. She found the dagger she had used to try to fend off Tajōmaru and, with his permission, plunged the dagger into her husband’s chest. She tried to stab herself in the neck and throw herself into a pond but ultimately failed to commit suicide. After her rape and her failed attempt to commit joint suicide, Masago asks the religious authority to whom she speaks what she should do.
The final testimony is delivered by Takehiro’s spirit, as told through a medium. Takehiro’s version contradicts Masago’s and Tajōmaru’s accounts by claiming that Masago asked the bandit to kill her husband. United in their shock at Masago’s betrayal, the men discussed whether Tajōmaru should kill her; this show of respect makes Takehiro forgive Tajōmaru for his crimes. While Takehiro hesitated to answer the bandit, Masago escaped into the grove. Tajōmaru untied the rope binding Takehiro to the cedar tree and fled with Takehiro’s weapons. Exhausted, Takehiro took Masago’s dagger and stabbed himself. He slowly bled as he watched the sun set over the grove; in the dark, an unidentified character walked up to him and withdrew the knife. The story ends with Takehiro saying he then sank into the darkness between lives. With no unifying narrative presence to clarify the contradictory events presented in the testimonies, the reader is left without a clear idea of how Takehiro died, only possibilities.
16(b) Enumerate the importance of listening by Robin Sharma’s Listening.
Listening is a skill that is often taken for granted, yet it is one of the most important skills we can cultivate in our personal and professional lives. When we truly listen to others, we not only demonstrate respect and empathy, but we also gain valuable insights and information that can enhance our relationships and lead to better decision-making. Robin Sharma, a renowned leadership expert and author, emphasizes the importance of listening in his teachings. He believes that listening is a key component of effective leadership and personal growth. In his book, “The Leader Who Had No Title,” Sharma emphasizes the role of listening in building trust, fostering collaboration, and inspiring others. According to Sharma, listening is not just about hearing words, but about truly understanding the emotions, intentions, and needs behind those words. It requires being fully present and attentive, and being open to the perspectives and experiences of others. This type of deep listening not only strengthens our relationships, but it also helps us to gain new insights and learn from the wisdom of others. In the age of constant distraction and information overload, the art of listening has become increasingly rare. However, Sharma argues that those who master the skill of listening will stand out as leaders and influencers in a world where everyone is vying for attention. By truly listening to others, we show that we value their contributions and are willing to learn from them, which in turn builds stronger connections and fosters a culture of trust and collaboration. Furthermore, listening is also a critical skill in decision-making and problem-solving. When we listen to the perspectives of others, we gain a broader understanding of the issues at hand and can make more informed choices. By considering different viewpoints and incorporating diverse input, we can arrive at more creative and effective solutions. This is why Sharma advocates for creating a culture of listening within organizations, where everyone’s voice is valued and respected.
In conclusion, listening is a skill that is essential for effective leadership, personal growth, and strong relationships. Robin Sharma’s teachings emphasize the power of truly listening to others, as it not only enhances our understanding and empathy but also leads to better decision-making and collaboration. By cultivating the art of listening, we can become more influential leaders and create a culture of trust and respect in our personal and professional lives.
17(a) How does Bacon explains the first and third fruit of friendship?
1. The first fruit of friendship
The connection and communication of man’s self to his friends represent two contradictory effects. First, it boosts his joy, and second, it reduces grief and desperation in half. It is certain obvious that when a person imparts joy to his friends, he feels joy more than others.
Likewise, when he utters his grief to his friend, he feels light and less burdened. It is true that when a person shares his feelings with his friends, he becomes not only optimistic but also healthier. According to Sir Francis Bacon, the first fruit of friendship is affection/care because friendship requires affection and communication, whereas these together can be called an initial stage.
2. The Second Fruit of Friendship
The second fruit is understanding. It implies a mutual understanding between friends. If a person fails to understand his friends’ needs and wants, he cannot maintain friendship for a long period of time; he may lose his time and friends together, and Friendship requires understanding of things from different perspectives.
The mutual understanding may help a friend to play a crucial role as a counselor or advisor. Sharing true feelings with true friends can help lessen the stress. A friend’s advice may work if a person is stressed or feeling distraught in his mood. This would happen if there was a mutual understanding between friends.
3. The third fruit of friendship
The third fruit is like pomegranate. The pomegranate fruit has manifold fruits in itself. The third fruit describes many advantages of friendship: friends as counselors, as assistants, as lifesavers, grievance-sharing partners, supportive partners, and business partners.
Importance of Friendship
Fellowship plays a crucial role in emotional support, sense of belonging, personal growth, decision-making, memorization, and cultural and social support. Friendship offers a sense of belonging and acceptance because it creates a space where friends feel confident without fear of judgement. Fellowship is also important for personal growth because it offers constructive support and encouragement in certain difficult situations.
Bacon exposes certain traits in Of Friendship essay. Bacon employs analytical, philosophical, practical, comparative, and constructive approaches in this essay. According to Bacon, true friendship is beneficial in numerous ways.
True friendship brings joy, removes sorrows, and offers company when a person feels lonely. Bacon resonates with readers, presenting valuable reflections on the nature of true friendship and its enduring importance in people’s lives. However, Bacon warns that false friendship can cause suffering and desperation for people. Friends who are not emotionally attached can be men of their own interest.
Conclusion
Of Friendship essay is a remarkable work by Sir Francis Bacon. The essay represents different aspects of friendship and exposes different traits of friendship. The Loyal Friends assuage unpleasant feelings and bring healing life. Sir Francis Bacon concludes the essay by criticizing the people who do not have friends; he puts them in the category of unsociable men as an aloof of being not fit for society.
17(b) How does Tennyson use legend and myth in Ulysses.
Ulysses (Odysseus) declares that there is little point in his staying home “by this still hearth” with his old wife, doling out rewards and punishments for the unnamed masses who live in his kingdom.
Still speaking to himself he proclaims that he “cannot rest from travel” but feels compelled to live to the fullest and swallow every last drop of life. He has enjoyed all his experiences as a sailor who travels the seas, and he considers himself a symbol for everyone who wanders and roams the earth. His travels have exposed him to many different types of people and ways of living. They have also exposed him to the “delight of battle” while fighting the Trojan War with his men. Ulysses declares that his travels and encounters have shaped who he is: “I am a part of all that I have met,” he asserts. And it is only when he is traveling that the “margin” of the globe that he has not yet traversed shrink and fade, and cease to goad him.
Ulysses declares that it is boring to stay in one place, and that to remain stationary is to rust rather than to shine; to stay in one place is to pretend that all there is to life is the simple act of breathing, whereas he knows that in fact life contains much novelty, and he longs to encounter this. His spirit yearns constantly for new experiences that will broaden his horizons; he wishes “to follow knowledge like a sinking star” and forever grow in wisdom and in learning.
Ulysses now speaks to an unidentified audience concerning his son Telemachus, who will act as his successor while the great hero resumes his travels: he says, “This is my son, mine own Telemachus, to whom I leave the scepter and the isle.” He speaks highly but also patronizingly of his son’s capabilities as a ruler, praising his prudence, dedication, and devotion to the gods. Telemachus will do his work of governing the island while Ulysses will do his work of traveling the seas: “He works his work, I mine.”
In the final stanza, Ulysses addresses the mariners with whom he has worked, traveled, and weathered life’s storms over many years. He declares that although he and they are old, they still have the potential to do something noble and honorable before “the long day wanes.” He encourages them to make use of their old age because “ ’tis not too late to seek a newer world.” He declares that his goal is to sail onward “beyond the sunset” until his death. Perhaps, he suggests, they may even reach the “Happy Isles,” or the paradise of perpetual summer described in Greek mythology where great heroes like the warrior Achilles were believed to have been taken after their deaths. Although Ulysses and his mariners are not as strong as they were in youth, they are “strong in will” and are sustained by their resolve to push onward relentlessly: “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
18(a) Write an essay on anxiety monster.
In the poem, the “Anxiety Monster” is depicted as a constant and unwelcome presence in the speaker’s life. The poet describes how the monster appears uninvited, making everything seem harder and more frightening than it actually is. This “monster” creates a sense of fear and helplessness, leaving the person unable to think clearly or enjoy life. McFerran captures the way anxiety distorts reality, turning small concerns into larger, more terrifying challenges, making the reader sympathize with the person’s struggle.
The theme of the poem centers around the debilitating effects of anxiety on a person’s mind. McFerran illustrates how anxiety takes control, making it difficult for the person to cope with daily life. The “monster” represents the fear and irrational thoughts that people with anxiety often battle. This metaphor highlights how anxiety can be an invisible force, hard to explain to others but deeply felt by the person experiencing it.
McFerran uses personification as the primary figure of speech in this poem, bringing the abstract concept of anxiety to life as a monster. By giving anxiety a physical form, the poet effectively communicates how real and overpowering it can feel. The metaphor of the “Anxiety Monster” helps readers understand the inner turmoil faced by those who live with anxiety, while the use of imagery allows them to visualize the oppressive presence of this invisible force.
In conclusion, “Anxiety Monster” by Rhona McFerran provides a clear and relatable depiction of the struggles associated with anxiety. The poet’s use of personification and metaphor helps convey the overwhelming nature of anxiety and its impact on a person’s life. Through this poem, McFerran gives a voice to those who suffer from anxiety, offering a glimpse into their inner world and raising awareness about the condition.
19(a) Write the meaning and example of idioms given below.
i) when it rains it pours
Meaning: “When it rains, it pours,” tells us that when trouble comes, it often comes all together.
After months of job hunting, she received three job offers in one week. Indeed, when it rains, it pours.
ii) See eye to eye
Meaning: “see eye to eye” means to agree with someone or share the same opinion on something.
“I’m glad that we see eye to eye on the project’s details.”
iii) Comparing apples to oranges
The phrase “comparing apples to oranges” means trying to compare two things that are very different and cannot be fairly compared.
example, if someone says, “My computer is much better than your bicycle,” you could respond, “That’s like comparing apples to oranges,” because computers and bicycles serve completely different purposes. This shows that the comparison does not make sense.
iv) Cry over the spilt milk
The idiom “crying over spilled milk” means regretting or distressing about a past event that cannot be changed.
Don’t go crying over spilled milk. We already submitted the report, so we can’t fix it now.
19(b) Fill in the Blanks.
20(a) Write a letter to your brother suggesting ways to improve health.
Kumar purr
Machia
Olmeda
December 05, 2019
Dear Raju,
Mother always tells me that you are getting weak day by day. She is worried about your physical fitness. You sometimes fall ill. She complains that you do not take your food on time and try to develop your health. You always remember “Health is wealth.” Good health makes the mind sound. If you are weak in a physical way, you will lose interest in the study. So I will advise you to take rich food daily and take physical exercise regularly to improve your health and mind. Good health is the key to success.
I hope that you will be conscious of your health and follow my advice to be healthy in both health and mind. Good health gives us joy and happiness.
yours
Elder brother
20(b) How to prepare an effective brochure for a college event.
Let’s take them one by one and get into more details.
Before you dive into the design and layout of your event brochure, it’s crucial to first understand its purpose. An event brochure serves as a key communication tool, helping your audience grasp the most important details of your event quickly and clearly. Whether you’re promoting a business conference, a music festival, or a charity fundraiser, your brochure should be tailored to meet the specific needs of your attendees. Ask yourself:
The primary goal of your event brochure might be to provide logistical details like the event schedule, speaker bios, and venue information. Or it could focus more on generating excitement and encouraging sign-ups. By clearly defining your brochure’s purpose, you’ll have a solid foundation to guide the rest of the design and content decisions.
For instance, a conference brochure might prioritize the agenda, speaker profiles, and sponsor details, while a festival brochure might emphasize performers, stages, and ticketing information. Aligning your design and content with the event’s goals ensures that your brochure meets both practical and promotional needs, all while keeping the audience engaged.
A well-thought-out layout ensures your event brochure flows logically and guides readers through the content. The layout sets the tone, helping attendees quickly access the most important information without feeling overwhelmed.
The front cover of your brochure is your first chance to grab attention. It should be visually striking and clearly communicate the event’s main message. Focus on bold, large fonts for the headline and complementary colors that align with the event’s theme. However, avoid cluttering the cover with too much information—save the details for the inside pages.
Once you’ve captured attention with the front cover, the inside pages should be organized in a way that guides readers effortlessly through the content. For example, you could have these sections: event overview, schedule, and speakers and Guests: Introduce key speakers, presenters, or special guests, briefly outlining their role and importance to the event. And possibly sponsors.
Ensure that each event brochure content flows logically from one to the next, making it easy for readers to find the information they need without backtracking or getting lost in the details. Maintaining a consistent format—such as using the same font size for section headers or consistent color themes—ensures a professional look and feel.
In this event brochure cover example, there are also other elements that are captivating. The bright orange color alongside the combination of fonts and the representative black & white image make it a music event brochure that intrigues the readers.
If your event has a logo, make it a key visual element in your design. Think of iconic event logos like those for the Olympic Games, TEDx, or the Untold Festival. These logos are instantly recognizable and can be more memorable than the event’s name. Why? Because the brain processes visuals far more quickly than text—a majority of our communication is visual, and images are processed a lot faster than words.
Capitalize on this by placing your logo prominently, perhaps on the front cover’s left side, in the corner. Make it large enough to be noticeable but don’t clutter it with other elements. This is especially easy to do with tools like Flipsnack, which allow you to upload and position your brand’s logo effortlessly. By giving your logo prime real estate, you ensure that it stands out and sticks in the minds of your audience.
When writing your event brochure, always include essential logistical details like the event’s date, location, and contact information. Think of these details as the anchors that guide your attendees through the event. Use bold text, bright colors, or even highlight these details to make sure they stand out.
For example, in an effective event brochure, the date and location might be highlighted in white against a bright background for maximum visibility. To make it even easier for attendees, you can embed a map showing the event’s exact location on the back cover of your digital brochure. Additionally, provide contact details such as your company’s name, website, email, and social media handles. Consider adding a QR code for readers to easily find more information online.
Every event brochure should include the necessary conditions of participation, such as ticket prices, fees, or entry requirements. Also, provide any deadlines, such as when tickets go on sale or registration closes. Adding calls to action like “Don’t miss out!” or “Apply before…” encourages urgency, making readers more likely to act quickly. This section provides clear information while driving potential attendees to take the next step.
For instance, in this event brochure example, the date and the location are highlighted in white. Looks professional, right?
Visuals are a crucial part of any event brochure, as they can convey the tone and theme of your event instantly. High-quality images or illustrations help break up text, making your brochure more engaging and easier to digest. Use visuals strategically to enhance key points—whether it’s photos of past events, product images, or custom graphics.
Be sure to select images that align with the event’s purpose. For instance, for a business conference, you might want professional imagery, while a music festival brochure can feature bold, energetic visuals that reflect the event’s lively atmosphere. Avoid generic stock photos where possible and instead opt for unique visuals that make your brochure stand out.
Providing essential event details like the date, location, and schedule is critical to making your brochure useful for attendees. These details should be easy to spot, ideally placed near the front or on the cover itself for quick reference. Consider using bold typography or standout colors to highlight the event date and venue, ensuring it’s one of the first things readers notice.
In addition to the date and location, include important contact information. Make sure your website, email address, social media handles, and any other relevant contact details are visible. If possible, include a QR code linking to additional event details or ticketing information, giving readers an easy way to learn more.
Also, having a history will definitely make people trust the potential of your event even more. If you don’t want to mention any of the other anterior editions, you can at least specify the number of the edition your event has reached.
Once your brochure design and content are complete, the final step is proofreading. Carefully review all text for spelling and grammatical errors, as well as inconsistencies in formatting, font usage, and alignment. Typos or formatting issues can distract from the overall professionalism of your brochure, so take the time to ensure everything is polished.
It’s also a good idea to check the layout and flow of the brochure. Are the sections logically organized? Does the design make it easy for readers to find key information? Reviewing these elements ensures your brochure looks clean, professional, and easy to navigate.
Once your brochure is ready, it’s time to share it with your audience. For digital brochures, consider distributing them via email campaigns, embedding them on your website, or sharing them across social media platforms. Ensure that your brochure is optimized for viewing on various devices, from desktops to mobile phones, so your audience can easily access it wherever they are.