LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034
U.G. DEGREE EXAMINATION –GENERAL ENGLISH
LO 07
FIRST SEMESTER – APRIL 2007
EL 1065 - ESSENTIAL ENGLISH
Date & Time: 03/05/2007 / 9:00 - 12:00
Dept. No.
1. Fill in the blanks with Articles (a, an, the).
Max. : 100 Marks
(10 X 1 = 10)
______ lad waited for ______ long time for him. ______ sun rose high in ______ sky, then began
to sink down lower ______ lower, but still ______ Nine- Headed Monster did not return.
______ lad climbed out of ______ boat ______ drew it up onto ______ shore.
______ lad went through ______ opening along ______ passage that grew higher ______ wider
until at last he came to some copper gates. He stopped ______ gave ______ light knock on ______
gates. Not ______ sound. He knocked ______ bit louder, but there was still not ______ sound.
2. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.
A learned business man was at the pier of a small costal village when a small boat with just
one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow tuna. The educated
complemented the fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, “Only a little while”. The businessman then asked why didn’t he stay out
longer and catch more fish? The fisherman said that he had enough to support his family’s
immediate needs. The businessman then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta, stroll into the
village each evening where I sip coffee and chat with my friends. I have a full and busy life, sir”.
The businessman scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time
fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat and with the proceeds from the bigger boat you
could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your
catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own
cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this
small coastal fishing village and move to a big city. You will run your expanding enterprise”.
The fisherman asked, “But sir, how long will this all take?”
To which the businessman replied, “15-20 years”.
“But what then, sir?”
The businessman laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would
sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions, Sir? Then what?”
The businessman said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small costal fishing village where
you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta, stroll to the village in the
evenings where you could sip coffee and talk with your friends”.
The fisherman replied “……………….. ……… ……………..”
Answer the following questions.
(5 X 3 = 15)
1. What were the suggestions given by the businessman to the fisherman?
2. What did the business man say about the fisherman’s life after retirement?
3. “Millions, Sir? Then what?” Who asked these questions and what are their implications?
4. If you were in the position of the fisherman what would your reply be?
5. Why didn’t the fisherman think of spending more time on catching more fish and for
making money?
6. Write about the different perspectives of the wise businessman and the fisherman in a
tabular column.
(5 marks)
3. A Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below.
He came at around ten thirty form his office very tired and worn out from the hard day’s
work. He wanted to just fall on his warm and cozy bed and go off to sleep. But he knew his duty
always comes first before his comfort. Sitting at the feet of his father, he took a bowl of warm water
and started to clean the infected areas surrounding his feet. The wounds on the wrinkled skin
needed tender care and love in order to slowly heal. Since a diabetic needs to be very careful, he
made sure that the nails were trim and clean. He did all possible things to prevent an infection from
erupting. His father sat watching his son with silent admiration. Through his misty eyes he could
see him entering the kitchen and could hear the clatter of plates and tumblers. With a broad smile he
came and sat beside his father. Then he began feeding him with a spoon. Everything had to be
clean. Besides his father also had a nervous problem, as a result of which his hands were not steady.
So he had to help him out with everything.
“Good night appa”, he said and went to the hall. There he knelt down to say his prayers. The
father who was a skeptic has observed this for a couple of months. He recollected the days when he
had insulted him several times whenever he saw him praying. He remembered how he debated with
his son about the reality of God. “God is for the weak. Strong men can do anything without him.” A
weak smile emerged in his face. A moment of realization dawned on him. From the half open
shutters the moon light filtered into the darkness raising shadows unknown. Suddenly he realized
that he was walking towards the hall. He sat beside his son.
Answer the following questions.
(5 X 2 = 10)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
How did the son feel when he came home from his work?
What did he do every day after he came home?
What are the ailments his father is suffering form?
Describe the attitude of the father.
What resulted in the change in the father’s attitude?
Compare the above passage with the lesson “Prayer” and write a paragraph in ten sentences
on the values expressed in the two passages.
(5 marks)
7. Make sentences using the following words.
(5 x 1 = 5)
1. worn out 2. admiration 3. emerged
4. recollect
5. dawned
5. (a) Write a paragraph on “My best day at Loyola” in about 100 words.
(b)Write a paragraph on “Me, Myself and My Friends” in about 100 words.
(2 x 5 = 10)
6. What is the best gift that you would give to your parents? (200 words)
(15 marks)
7. Write a letter to your friend about the recent World Cup Cricket series.
(10 marks)
8. Write an essay on the topic “If I were a god…” in about 200 words.
(15 marks)
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