Monday 29 April 2013

Table (13 Apr

The below chart shows the result of a European survey into  young people’s expectations for a change in the five different areas of life in next 20 years. They were asked if they thought whether various changes would improve or get worse.



Will improve
Will get worse
Communication between people
64%
36%
Quality of food
49%
51%
Quality of water
40%
60%
Quality of air in cities
23%
77%
Health
42%
58%


                                                                               Sample Answer 1
The given table reveal the perception of young Europeans about the changes expected in five aspects of life in the next two decades.

It is evident from the claims of the respondents that most of the factors would deteriorate in the time to come with an exception to communication between people. As 64% of the respondents, claimed that communication between people is going to get better in contrast to 36% who anticipated the converse.

The thing that, according to the majority, is going to get worst is quality of air. While more than three quarters of young Europeans believed that quality of air is going to deteriorate, one 1/4th expected it get better in the time to come.  60% feel that even water quality will fall. 50 – 58% expect that the quality of food and health will go down as well. Though the difference between those who think quality of food will improve and those who think it will deteriorate was of 2% with the one having pessimistic view leading.

Eventually, it can be concluded that most of the respondents agrees that quality of life will fall in the next two decades. Except the communication which is believed to get better.



Sample answer 2

The presented table cast light on the view of the European youth on changes expected in respect of the five different areas of life in the next couple of decades.

According to the figures, majority of the respondents have a pessimistic view to the expected changes. Communication between the people appeared to be the only factor that is likely to witness the positive change with 64% the youth believing that it will improve in the time to come.

While towards other factors young Europeans appeared to have negative conception. Quality of air leads with 77% persons claiming it to get worse. While quality of water followed with 60% foresee that water quality will fall. Food quality and health will also take the toll with more than half of the survey respondents stating that these will too pose more problems in the next couple of decades.

40% to 49% the youth expect that the conditions will improve in quality of food, quality of water and health. On the contrary there was mass support on the issue of contamination of air.
It can be concluded that most of the people believe that majority of the factors affecting life would get worse in next twenty years.

Some people think that women have different qualities. Which make them suitable for certain jobs whereas men for other jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the opinion?

Sample Answer 1


Certainly when almighty created Adam and Eve, he put not only anatomical but psychological differences  too – that make them apt for certain jobs while misfit for others. Thus I support the view that both the genders are meant to perform different kind of activities.
On one side male members are believed to be physically strong and with technical bent of mind thus the jobs that require more physical strength or need technical knowhow like colossal labour, engineering are best suited to male members of the society. Further jobs that require the one to exert his dominance are the one at which male members can do well. Owing to the physical constraints it is only the males who can fly the fighter jets. Similarly females cannot be employed for a bouncer’s  job.
On the contrary, females are believed to possess great patience and are creative by nature. Therefore the creative jobs like designing and decoration can be better performed by fairer sex. The professions like educating especially to tiny tots are also the domains that are bastions of women folk. Women also possess soothing voice and awesome appearance making them perfect for the front desk and tele-calling jobs. The great looks and sweet voice has got the power to turn the casual enquiry to certain client or customer; this is the reason that at these post the women are preferred and you hardly see a masculine face at such places.
Finally, I would wholeheartedly argue in favour of notion that owing to physical and genetic variations, men are apt for some professions that cannot be taken over by the women members while women are suitable for certain other jobs that man cannot do well.

Sample Answer 2

Though I do admit that both the genders are equipped with certain traits both physical as well as intellectual which the other gender may not possess to the required levels and thus make fairer sex excel in certain spheres of work while men at others.  However it would be sarcastic to under estimate the prowess of the so believed weaker segment of the society, particularly  in the 21st century – a space era when women have proved their mettle in every walk of life.
Gone are the days when male and female had specified role where male members were supposed to earn for the family and women’s major responsibility was to give birth and rear the kids and look after the house hold chores. However, in this contemporary phase both the genders have  begin to take up the jobs that were once  considered to be the other genders domain. For instance women have started taking care of both internal and external security of the nations by signing up for the  military and paramilitary forces. Chanda Kochar, Sonia Gandhi,       Ritu Kumar, Kalpana Chawala, Mary Kom and the list goes endless, who have proved themselves in the different fields from sports to fashion and from politics to space. In such circumstances it would be absurd to assume that the qualities of females make them excel in particular fields and make males to dominate the others, thereby restricting them to enter each other’s domain (of course with few exception like giving birth) especially the women folk.
At the same time, I emphasise on the fact that there are certain inherent individualities but those individualities are bound to exist even in the same gender. The difference between the male and female dominant professions is shrinking. Male members are entering the kitchen along with fashion industry besides working as nurses. On the contrary females have the charge of big corporate houses or even the governance of the states and countries.

Eventually, my notion could be summarised by stating that despite the women possessing different characteristics they can and are venturing into the male realms   and proving themselves while converse is true too. Thus I grossly reject the idea that the difference in qualities among the women make them apt for some jobs and men for others. 

Tuesday 16 April 2013

Some people think that it is the responsibility of an individual to save the money for his own care after he retires. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (13 Apr 13/AC)


Sample Answer 1

Time spins and with every spin there is a change. The mortals never remain in the same state forever. The child turns young and young turns old. With the change of stage, the circumstances vary too. An individual needs not to worry about all the stages of life but the one that is old age. To make it smooth and hassle free, I reckon people must act like an ant rather than a grasshopper and save money for the difficult days and thus this accountability should lie with the person himself.

First reason for my belief is significance of money in the contemporary times. Certainly in this materialistic world ‘money makes the mare go’ and without money person cannot fulfil his basic needs. In order to ensure a secure future, it is believed that person should save something for rainy days and old age being one of those days when person usually does not have any source of income, he must save some amount of his regular earning for these times to meet his day to day expenses without depending upon others and compromising with the self respect and dignity. Further, there is great uncertainty in job market specially the high paying private jobs. Employees never know when they are going to be handed over the pink slip. So it is essential for an individual to save for the uncertainty of present and future as well.

Secondly, in most of the countries especially oriental nations like India, it is very difficult for the countries to offer strong social security. Further, the volatile world economy makes it hard even for the occidental nations to take care of all the needs of the people after they retire. Even when these are offered by the public exchequer, these are not adequate to meet even the prerequisites. It would be imprudent to expect more from the government, thus an individual is left with no other option but to save for his own old age.

Finally, I substantiate the opinion that an individual should take reign of his post retirement period and be held responsible for saving for the cause.


Sample Answer 2


I tend to out-rightly condemn the perception that individual is responsible for saving the money for his post retirement expenses since this may shift the focus of life and could affect the present.

The notion of saving the money for post retirement expenses, though seem rational planning but not feasible for the masses these days. The high living standard accompanied with cost of living makes it very hard for the majority of the people to remain hand to mouth.  This does not happen only with the people from low economic strata but even from middle and upper middle class families. Even with both husband and wife working, it becomes tricky for parents to rear even a single child. In such state of affairs it will be unrealistic to anticipate the people to hoard for their old age.

Next, people are paying through their nose to government in form of taxes. Throughout the period when they earn, they build the society and nation not only by the payment of taxes but also with their skills and services. Hence, people should not be overburdened with an additional expense for securing the old age.  Rather there should be free gift from the state to those who have contributed to the nation and society during their heydays and now it is the responsibility of the state to take care of the people during old age.

Last but not the least, the hiring and firing, short-term approach in the job market is disastrous for people planning their lives. Lack of job stability does not allow them to put aside an amount for the old age and shift the focus from the future to present.

Thus it can be reiterated that instead of making an individual responsible for saving for the old age, this responsibility should vest with the government.




Sample Answer 3

I wholeheartedly argue in favour of holding an individual responsible for saving for the falling days of life.

The most important cause to substantiate my view is the uncertainty which prevail the life. As change is the law of nature, man cannot expect to keep generating money throughout the span of life. At one stage person has to cease working out of will or age or owing to other constraints. Cessation of work does not mean the expenses will also cease to exist, rather health, higher/professional education or marriage of kids, a shelter for peaceful retirement present as great monsters. If not planned, the last days of life can turn miserable and intolerable. To ensure to have secure future an individual has to be prudent and exercise his option of saving a part of his monthly earning.

Secondly, the population explosion and economic pressure on public exchequer make it unviable for the government to take care of the needs of the people after they retire. Even if government takes initiative, it will offer the amount which will not even suffice the necessities Therefore person has no other option but to take the reign of his post retirement life by inculcating the habit of saving.

Further, since the social values are turning for worst, the person is respected till he earns. When a person stops earning he is considered a burden and is at the mercy of his earning children. So, it is essential for every individual to have his own saving to lead dignified and independent life. These savings would make him enjoy the company of his family and relatives.

Eventually, it can be concluded that it is not feasible for the government to take care of the people, thus it the liability of the individual himself to save for the post retirement period. However, cautioned must be exercised that people do not hoard the money at the cost of the present.



Thursday 11 April 2013

For some people consumer goods have become the most important thing in life. Do the advantages of this development outweigh its disadvantages? (14 Feb 13/AC)


Sample Answer 1

It is materialistic world where money makes the mare go.  Certainly the present era is of show off, where every bird likes to show off its feather and I would say not for some rather for most of the individuals materialistic possessions are more precious than anything. It has to be seen if the brighter side of this dominates its darker one or not. 

On the brighter side, since the consumer goods have become a style statement, they bring respect to the person in the society. That is why people of all age groups could be seen hanging to the latest versions of consumer goods for instance mobiles and cars. Besides bringing the respect to the person, these also improve the quality of life. Life becomes more comfortable and luxurious.

On the darker side, when people become materialistic, they forget the moral and human values. They do not give any weight to any kind of relations. It has been observed that such people lead a socially alienated life and enjoy the company of things than the friends and relatives. They usually do not have emotions or feelings for others. In addition, when people become crazy, they tend to cut the coat without considering the length of the cloth they have. That is they tend to become extravagant. As a consequence their chances of getting carried away and indulge in antisocial activities rises too.

Eventually, it can be concluded that negative side outweighs its brighter. This development tends to make the people self centred. Such people will definitely have the comforts of life but not the peace of mind. There is no harm in desiring the things but doing so at the cost of ethics and morality is not good.


Sample Answer 2



Beyond any shred of doubt, it can be said that present era is of materialism. People thrive for materialistic possessions. The consumer durables like refrigerator, washing machines etcetera have starting ruling the people’s mind. This development brings both advantages and drawbacks and before offering my comments on the trend, I would like to present the facts associated with both.
On the brighter side, the quest for consumer goods boosts the economy and improves the living standards. According to the theories of economics, the urge to possess consumer durable makes a person work harder and demand of goods makes the industries to employ more people and this vicious circle strengthens economy of both the individual and society. The presence of these things, offer great comfort and decide the status of the person in the society.
As roses are accompanied with thorns, in the similar fashion; the desire for materialistic wants is not free from glitches. Urging for means beyond one’s financial ability/condition, leads to undue pressure and stress on the individual. People tend to become workaholic and getting deprived off of pleasures of family and society. They would start enjoying the company of things rather than people and become socially alienated leading to man social and behavioural problems. Last but not the least, when material goods start ruling one’s mind, he would not hesitate to employ illegitimate means to fulfil his desires.
Finally, considering the presented facts, it can be stated that the development of giving undue significance to consumer goods, definitely does more harm than doing good to the people. Hence, people should limit their desires according to their financial means and further should give due importance to the basic human values.




Sample Answer 3

In a world which is increasingly becoming materialistic, success is surely measured by the materials and money one has got. Hardly you'll find people appreciating success in terms of values and qualities. Anyone who owns high-priced things is a successful person, it doesn't matter how they got it. Corrupt politicians are regarded as successful people despite of the fact that they siphon off a huge sum of public money into their pockets. Even researchers have proved how, even women judge men by their wealth. Success is about what kind of consumer goods you own. However, it has to be evaluated whether this outlook has more advantages or limitations.

On the brighter side, giving consumer goods the utmost importance benefit both an individual and business. When people strive to have the possessions of the thing they do not posses, they work hard to increase their income offering more productivity. The increased demand of the product makes companies to employ more individuals, reducing the problem of unemployment. More employment and business opportunities further the economy. All these improve the quality of life.

Gone are the days when people  used to enjoy the company of their friends and relatives, now a days they want to lead a socially alienated life surrounded by machines where no can disturb them. People value goods more than relations. I opine that this development certainly does more harm than doing good. This not only leads to increased stress and psychological problems but may drift a person towards unethical means to achieve his goals.

Undoubtedly, the giving more importance to consumer goods is not what humanity teaches. By Comparing the presented facts, it can be envisioned that this development unquestionably poses more problems than benefits.


Tuesday 9 April 2013

SAME PREPOSITION WITH MANY USES


The same preposition may be used in various senses. The uses of at, in, with are given below grouped according to the different meanings or Contexts:

AT
·         Place, Direction
o   He will meet you at the station.
o   The soldiers rushed at the enemy.
o   The hospital is at a distance.
·         Time, Order
o   He will come at 2 o'clock.
o   I left school at (the age of) 16.
o   Sujata succeeded at the third attempt.
o   You must visit him at regular intervals.
·         Activity, Manner
o   I found him at play. ( = while he was playing.)
o   What is she at now? ( = what is she doing?)
o   He is hard at it. ( = working hard)
o   She is good at singing.
o   I will do it at leisure.
o   We will complete it at one sitting.
·         Rate, Degree, Value
o   He ran at full speed.
o   I got it at great cost. I
o   It's now running at a loss.
o   She appeared at her best.
·         Cause
o   I marvelled at his performance.
o   We were delighted at the idea of going to Goa.
IN
·         Place, Direction
o   Kangaroo is found in Australia.
o   He is standing in the corner of the room.
o   I saw a light in the distance.
o   You are sitting in an armchair. (Compare - on a chair without  arms.)
o   He was wounded in the leg.
o   Vishavdeep has gone in that direction.
·         Motion
o   He dipped his pen in ink.
o   I have cut the apple in two. ( = into halves)
o   They fell in love.
·         Time
o   in the 19th century, in 1947, in spring, in his old age, in the morning/afternoon/evening/day time (compare - at night), in the end, in my time. She was a beauty in her day (during her best years), in the reign of the Mughals.
·         Within a Space of Time
o   I will do it in a moment.
o   He can finish this work in an hour.
o   I shall be back in a week's time.
·         Inclusion
o   He has in him the making of a good leader.
o   He is a man in his twenties. (between 20 and 29)
·         Of dress
o   He is a prince in disguise.
o   The boy is in his shirt sleeves. (not wearing a coat)
o   Look at the girl in white. (wearing white clothes)
·         Physical Surrounding
o   Don’t go out in the rain.
o   I like to sleep in the open.
o   He lost his way in the dark.
o   It s difficult to work in this heat.
·         Relation, Reference
o   He is a good man in every way.
o   She is deficient in courage.
o   Basu is blind in the left eye.
·         Occupation
o   He is in the army/navy/air force/business.
o   I spent a lot of time in reading.

WITH
o   Possession
§  Here is a book with yellow pages.
§  I saw her with angry looks in her eyes.
o   For Filling
§  The sack was filled with cement.
§  The hills were covered with snow.
§  Fill the box with books.
o   Means, Instrument
§  He writes with a costly pen.
§  I did the work with your help.
§  I have seen it with my own eyes.
o   Accompaniment, Relationship
§  I live with my parents.
§  He will be going to the city with me.
§  The inspector with his staff will come here.
o   Opposition
§  Unnecessarily he fought with me.
§  Cause He was trembling with (because of, owing to) fear/rage.
o   Manner
§  He did the work with his whole heart.
§  They welcomed the guests with open arms.
o   Care, Responsibility
§  The decision rests with you.
§  I am leaving the child with you. (under your care)
o   In Regard to
§  We sympathized with her for what happened.
§  What do you want with me?
§  Smoking is a habit with many people.
o   Agreement,Harmony
§  I am with you on this point.
§  Does this tie go well with this coat?
o   In Spite Of
§  With all her best efforts she could not succeed. 

Monday 8 April 2013

Some people claim that public museums and art galleries will not be needed because people can see historical objects and works by using computer. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (02 Feb 13/AC).



Answer 1


The view of shutting down of Public art galleries and museums in wake of advances in Information technology seems to be an absurd idea to me. These places play a great role in sensitizing the masses about history, civilization and other aspects to which they are devoted. From my perspective, the technology can only supplement them and not replace them.

Admittedly, the advances in the computer and internet have revolutionised the way people work and access various things. Using this wonder, man can access any information electronically from the remote location and even view the exhibits displayed in the art galleries and museums from his bedroom. Nevertheless, viewing them on screen is certainly different from seeing them in person from the convenience of one’s home. On screen, one can feel the exhibit through only one sense that is vision, however, at the actual place he can employ his other senses, like touch, too to make it more rewarding and memorable experience; which is very hard to get on screen. Learning about a mummy electronically is not the same as knowing about them by paying visit to Pyramids of Egypt or British National Museum.

Besides, archives and Art galleries help the visitors to get the feel by organizing various activities requiring their participation. Some times the skill sessions are organised to help the visitors learn the art. As it is said that ‘A picture is worth thousand words’, In the similar fashion it can be concluded that actual object is no match to the image/video on screen.

It can be summarised that computers may offer the convenient way of getting the information on rare objects or art forms but the can never be a substitute of exhibition halls and art galleries

Answer 2

I tend be at variance with the opinion of doing away with the  Museums and art galleries and to acquire the information online. As I opine the advocates of this view seems to have exaggerated the abilities of computers and undermined that of archives and exhibition halls.

            The museums preserve objects of historical, scientific or artistic  importance and act as repository for the people to learn about them.  Most of the times, the exhibits are rare and hard to find in the day to day life and to learn about them people often pay visit to such places. Besides offering them with the relevant information such visits not only break their monotony of life and rejuvenates them but promote the place, where it is situated, as tourist destination thereby benefiting both the locals and authorities. These benefits would fade away if these are done away with.

          Though using tools of information technology all the information can be remotely obtained from the convenience of home. Nevertheless, viewing onscreen can never match the feel that one can have by visiting such places in person. On screen one can only use his sense of vision, but in the exhibition hall other senses can also be employed  to get the better insight into other aspects of the exhibit.
As it is well said that ‘Walking a mile is worth reading thousand books’, in the same way museums and art galleries provide the rich and rewarding experience that can not be secured by passive activity of surfing the internet.

Eventually,  it can be concluded that computers  can certainly  be used to know about rare objects or various art forms but it is going to be hard nut to crack for computers to replace these place. Indeed, they can only compliment the museums and art galleries and not take their place.

Answer 3

Undoubtedly, museums and art galleries have great role to play to connect the masses to their past or know about their culture, tradition or other aspects to which the place is dedicated and hence are indispensable. The view of using the computer in place of them sound like ludicrous/ preposterous thought to me.

I have reasons to believe so. Firstly, such places offer tremendous features that passive activity of computing can not offer. Museums and art galleries, offer a rich and gratifying experience to the person that is hard nut to crack for electronic forms. The feel that a person can have by interacting with the curator of the museums/gallery, touching sculpture, observing the intrinsic details of the exhibit can not be secured electronically. Such visits often put an indelible impression on one’s mind and the information so acquired tend to be more detailed and long lasting.

In addition to providing details about the exhibits, such places  help the individual to come out of his hectic schedule and have some time for himself, family and friends thus serving as social and recreational activity too.  Further, such places develop as tourist destinations; that promote the local business and thereby benefiting both locals and authorities.

Finally, it can be summarised that though computers can provide the required information without stepping out of your study(room) but still they can not replicate the physical museum and art galleries rather can supplement them.