Assignment Code: FEG-01/ BEGF-101/TMA/2023-24

Course Code: FEG-01/ BEGF-101

Assignment Name: Foundation Course in English

Year: 2022-2023

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Q1) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

You seemed at first to take no notice of your schoolfellows, or rather to set yourself against them because they were strangers to you. They knew as little of you as you did of them; so that this would have been the reason for their keeping aloof from you as well, which you would have felt as a hardship. Learn never to conceive a prejudice against other because you know nothing of them. It is bad reasoning and makes enemies of half the world. Do not think ill of them till they behave ill to you; and then strive to avoid the faults which you see in them. This will disarm their hostility sooner than pique or resentment or complaint. I thought you were disposed to criticize the dress of some of the boys as not so good as your own. Never despise any one for anything that he cannot help - least of all, for his poverty. I would wish you to keep up appearances yourself as a defence against the idle sneers of the world, but I would not have you value yourself upon them. I hope you will neither be the dupe nor victim of vulgar prejudices.

Instead of saying above "Never despise anyone for anything that he cannot help," I might have said, "Never despise anyone at all"; for contempt implies a triumph over and pleasure in the ill of another. It means that you are glad and congratulate yourself on their failings or misfortunes. You have hitherto been a spoilt child, and have been used to have your own way a good deal, both in the house and among your playfellows, with whom you were too fond of being a leader; but you have good nature and good sense and will get the better of this in time. You have now got among other boys who are your equals, or bigger and stronger than yourself and who have something else to attend to besides humouring your whims and fancies, and you feel this as a repulse or piece of injustice. But the first lesson to learn is that there are other people in the world besides yourself. The more airs of childish self-importance you. give yourself, you will only expose yourself to be the more thwarted and laughed at. True equality is the only true morality or wisdom. Remember always that you are but one among others and you can hardly mistake your place in society. In your father's house you might do as you pleased; in the world you will find competitors at every turn. You are not born a king's son, to destroy or dictate to millions; you can only expect to share their fate or settle your differences amicably with them. You already find it so at school, and I wish you to be reconciled to your situation as soon and with as little pain as you can.- William Hazlitt

Q1a) Who were strangers to you in your school?

Ans) The strangers referred to in the passage were the schoolfellows.

Q1b) How much did you know about them?

Ans) The passage suggests that both the narrator and the schoolfellows knew very little about each other.

Q1c) What was the reason for keeping your schoolfellows aloof from you?

Ans) The reason for keeping the schoolfellows aloof from the narrator was the lack of familiarity or knowledge about each other. This lack of understanding could have led both parties to stay distant.

Q1d) Describe in detail as to what the writer wants you to learn?

Ans) The writer emphasizes on the following key lessons:

a)     Avoid prejudging or having prejudices against others due to lack of knowledge about them.

b)     Refrain from thinking negatively about others until they behave negatively towards you.

c)     Strive to avoid faults seen in others rather than responding with resentment or complaint.

d)     Avoid despising anyone, especially for things they cannot control, like poverty.

e)     Maintain appearances as a defence against judgment but don't base your self-worth on them.

f)      Reject the satisfaction in another's misfortunes, as contempt implies a triumph over their ill fate.

Q1e)What is the message that we get?

Ans) The overarching message is to practice empathy, avoid prejudice, and understand one's place in society. It encourages treating others with respect and avoiding contempt or despise, especially for things beyond their control.

Q1f)Give a suitable title to the passage.

Ans) A possible title for the passage could be "Lessons on Understanding and Equality."

Q1g)Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:

i) Appear

Ans) Keep up appearances

ii) Classmates

Ans) Schoolfellows or playfellows

iii) Detached

Ans) Keeping aloof

iv) Suffering

Ans) Hardship

v) Bias

Ans) Prejudice

vi) Rivals

Ans) Competitors

vii) Antagonism

Ans) Hostility

viii) Guard

Ans)Defence

ix) Applaud

Ans)Congratulate

Q2) Choose the correct form of the verb from within the brackets so as to make it agree with the subject.

A famous Irish banister, who._______ (be) a very witty person, _________ (appear) before a judge who _________ (not like) him and. _________  (not try) to hide the fact. While the barrister. _________ (argue) his case, the judge. _________ (not seem) to be paying any attention to him. He. _________ (pat) his huge dog, which _________ (sit) beside him, and_________ (say) something to it. The barrister. _________ (stop).

Ans) A famous Irish barrister, who was a very witty person, appeared before a judge who did not like him and did not try to hide the fact. While the barrister was arguing his case, the judge did not seem to be paying any attention to him. He patted his huge dog, which was sitting beside him, and said something to it. The barrister stopped.

Q3) Put the verbs given in brackets in the present perfect or the present perfect continuous tense:

1) I not (see) a film since December.

Ans) I have not seen a film since December.

2) Which book you (read) since this morning?

Ans) Which book have you been reading since this morning?

3) I (try) to swim for years but I not (succeed) yet.

Ans) I have been trying to swim for years but I have not succeeded yet.

4) The judge (examine) three witnesses since morning.

Ans) The judge has examined three witnesses since morning.

5) The servant (wait) for an hour now. Your mother not (give) him any work yet.

Ans) The servant has been waiting for an hour now. Your mother has not given him any work yet

6) I (read) this essay five times but I can't understand it.

Ans) I have read this essay five times but I can't understand it.

7) The old man (sleep) in the garden all day.

Ans) The old man has been sleeping in the garden all day.

8) You (eat) four ice creams already.

Ans) You have eaten four ice creams already.

9) What you (do) since I saw you last?

Ans) What have you been doing since I saw you last?

10) The lions in the zoo (roar) for a quarter of an hour; they will soon be given food.

Ans) The lions in the zoo have been roaring for a quarter of an hour; they will soon be given food.

Q4) Supply the appropriate particles from those given below: up, out, after, to, down.

i) I can't start the car; the battery has run-----

Ans) Down

ii) Look------- the baby while I am away.

Ans) After

iii) The price of fruit usually goes ------- in summer in Delhi; even melons cost a lot.

Ans) Up

iv) I am looking forward --------meeting my cousin next week.

Ans) To

v) Long sideburns went-----years ago.

Ans) Out

Q5) Fill in the blanks using who, which or that:

i) The man is standing at the door is an actor.

Ans) The man who is standing at the door is an actor.

ii) The policy the government is following these days is praiseworthy.

Ans) The policy that the government is following these days is praiseworthy.

iii) Teachers generally like students are punctual and hardworking.

Ans) Teachers generally like students who are punctual and hardworking.

iv) The play we saw last night was hilarious.

Ans) The play that we saw last night was hilarious.

v)You are telling a story is unbelievable.

Ans) The story that you are telling is unbelievable.

Q6) Frame questions to which the following statements are answers. Use the question word given in brackets. e.g., The door leads to the balcony. (Where?) Where does the door lead?

1) I arrived at ten this morning. (When)

Ans) When did you arrive?

2) I didn't write a letter because there was no time. (Why)

Ans) Why didn't you write a letter?

3) Miss La1 came with me. (Who)

Ans) Who came with you?

4) We came by train. (How)

Ans) How did you come?

5) We travelled by train because we couldn't get seats on the plane. (Why).

Ans) Why did you travel by train?

6) We took the night train. (Which)

Ans) Which train did you take?

7) We left home around seven in the evening. (When)

Ans) When did we leave home?

8) I rang you up at the office. (Where)

Ans) Where did I ring you up?

9) A derailment delayed us. (What)

Ans) What caused the delay?

10) We took a taxi from the station. (How)

Ans) How did you get from the station?

Q7) Write a about 300 words on any one of the following topics:

i) The impact of digital tools on children’s education.

Ans) The integration of digital tools in children's education has transformed the learning landscape, bringing both opportunities and challenges. With the rise of technology, classrooms now encompass a variety of devices and applications, shaping how children absorb, process, and apply knowledge.

One significant impact lies in the accessibility of information. Digital tools grant children the ability to explore vast realms of information beyond textbooks. The internet serves as an endless library, offering diverse perspectives, interactive lessons, and engaging resources. This accessibility fosters self-directed learning, allowing students to delve into subjects of personal interest and explore at their own pace.

Moreover, digital tools facilitate personalized learning experiences. Adaptive software and platforms cater to individual learning styles, providing customized content and adaptive assessments. This tailoring of educational material helps address each child's strengths and weaknesses, promoting a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

Collaboration and communication are also greatly enhanced. Online forums, video conferencing, and collaborative platforms enable students to connect with peers globally, fostering cultural exchange and collaborative learning. Such interactions not only expand their worldview but also nurture crucial skills like teamwork, communication, and empathy.

However, this digital revolution in education brings along its own set of challenges. Excessive screen time poses concerns about the impact on children's physical health and mental well-being. Balancing the use of technology with outdoor activities and face-to-face interactions becomes imperative to ensure holistic development.

Moreover, the digital realm introduces the challenge of navigating misinformation and discerning credible sources. Teaching critical thinking and digital literacy becomes crucial to equip children with the skills to evaluate and analyse information effectively.

Addressing the digital divide is another significant issue. Not all children have equal access to technology due to socioeconomic disparities. Bridging this gap is essential to ensure equitable opportunities for all learners.

The impact of digital tools on children's education is profound and multifaceted. Empowering children with the skills to navigate this digital landscape responsibly is key to harnessing the full potential of technology in education.

Q8) In about 200 words, write a conversation between:

i) You and your younger brother where you are suggesting him what subject he should go for after completing class .

Ans) You: Hey, bro, so you are almost done with your class. Have you thought about what subjects you want to take up next?

Brother: Not really, I am kind of torn between a few. What do you think I should go for?

You: Well, it really depends on what you enjoy and what you are good at. Have you been leaning towards any particular subject lately?

Brother: I am quite into science and math, but I am also intrigued by art.

You: That is cool! Science and math open up a lot of doors. You could explore fields like engineering, medicine, or even computer science. But don't underestimate art either; it's a fantastic way to express yourself and develop creativity.

Brother: I am more confused now! I like both but can't decide.

You: Why not consider something that combines both? Like engineering design or architecture? They blend science with creative design elements.

Brother: Hmm, that sounds interesting! I'll check those out. Thanks for the suggestion!

You: No problem! Remember, it's important to enjoy what you study. Take your time to explore and find what really sparks your interest.

Brother: Thanks, I will think about it. Your advice helps a lot!