Language through Literature I (LZ13A), 2nd Year 3rd Semester for all BA Degree courses, November 2021 Question Paper with Answer Key, University of Madras

 University of Madras

November 2021 University Exam

Question Paper with Answer Key

Part II – Language through Literature I - LZ13A

2nd Year 3rd Semester

For all BA (except BA English) and

B.Com (Corporate Secretaryship & Cooperation) Programmes 

Time: 3 Hours                                                                                                    Max. Marks: 50

Answer any FIVE questions. Each question carries 10 marks.

1. (a) Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow (5)

      In America, they have freed the language from the stifling tyranny of the passive voice. Where we would say ceremoniously Trespassing prohibited, their sign boards, as I noticed in the parks of Berkeley, merely say, ‘Newly planted’, Don't walk' or 'Absolutely no parking’ leaves no room for speculation and no motorist need spend too much time peering out and studying the notice. In a similar situation our authorities are likely to plant a twenty line inscription on the landscape’ to say, ‘Under Municipal Act so and so and this area has been reserved, etc, etc., and any vehicle stationed thereon will be deemed to have contravened subsection so and so of the motor vehicle act, etc., I saw on many American office doors just ‘Do Not Enter’. The traffic signs at pedestrian crossing never mince words; they just say ‘Go’ or ‘Wait’.

Answer the following.

(i) Add suffix/prefix for the following words. (2)

      (1) Self  - Ans: himself

      (2) permanent - Ans: permanently

(ii) Find out the synonym for the following words. (2)

      (1) tyranny - Ans: cruel

      (2) contravened - Ans: break

(iii) How do children get their money back from the money box? (1)

Ans: To get the money back form the money box, Children stuff all the things inside it. Because some of the money boxes are to open itself when it is full.

(b) Do as directed (5)

(i) The cats disappeared under the table. (Convert into present perfect tense)

      Ans: The cats has disappeared under the table.

(ii) It is a highly serviceable money-box. You can either put coins into or take money out of it. (Combine the sentences using ‘Which’)

      Ans: It is a highly serviceable money-box which you can either put coins into or take money out of it.

(iii) What is the economic possibilities of our children. (Identify the error).

      Ans: What is the economic possibilities of our children?

(iv) While british usage confines it to its bare dictionary definitions, the americas uses it anywhere. (Use appropriate punctuation marks)

      Ans: While British usage confines it to its bare dictionary definitions, the American uses it anywhere.

(v) Children use screw drivers to open money-boxes. (make Wh - question)

      Ans: Which tool is used by the children to open money-boxes?

 

2. (a) Read the following lines and answer the questions that follow. (5)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers.

That perches in the soul.

And sings the tune without the words.

And never stops-at all.

 

And sweetest-in the Gale-is heard.

And sore must be the storm.

That could abash the little bird.

That kept so many warm.

 

Answer the following.

(i) What is ‘hope’ compared to? - Ans: Bird

(ii) The tune sung by the bird is sweetest during ___________.  - Ans: (3) storm

      (1) summer (2) spring (3) storm

(iii) What does the poet mean by “That could abash the little bird that kept many warm”?

      Ans: The poet means that the hope protects many people from adverse situations.

(iv) Hope is light as a feather but if can lift when combined as a_______.

      Ans: (3) song

      (1) wing (2) swing (3) song

(v) What does the poem convey?

      Ans: The poem conveys that hope lives inside all of us. It can encourage us no matter what trials and tribulations we experience.

 

(b) Do as directed (5)

(i) Use word attract as a noun and as an adjective in sentence of your own.

      Ans:

      Attraction - Noun - Detective stories hold a special attraction for me.

      Attractive - Adjective - The interior of the house was very attractive.

(ii) Emily Dickinson has written over a thousand poems. (Change into passive)

      Ans: Over a thousand poems has been written by Emily Dickinson.

(iii) Sara says, “I like ice cream”. (Change into reported speech)

      Ans: Sara said that she liked ice cream

(iv) Give suitable affixes to the following words.

      (1) real - Ans: Unreal, Realize

      (2) courage - Ans: Encourage, Courageous.

(v) Ask him _________ (come) earlier. (Use suitable infinitive)

      Ans: Ask him to come earlier.

 

3. (a) Write a brief essay on the following in 200 words. (5)

Why and how does Pahom die?

      Ans: Pahom sets out to encircle so much land that by the afternoon he realizes he has created too big of a circuit. Panicked, he begins to run and is ultimately driven to exhaustion. As the sun is setting Pahom falls down and dies.

 

(b) Answer the following. (5)

(i) Write a letter to your friend giving your opinion on rich people getting subsidies.

Ans:

Dear Yamuna,

            How are you? Here I am good. Recently I read the article entitled ‘Economic survey says the rich get implicit subsidy of more than Rs1 trillion.

            After reading this I thought that I want to share this with you. Subsidies play a vital role in the economy as it is provided to ensure equitable distribution of essential resources to the people particularly the vulnerable section.

          Taking into account small savings schemes, tax/subsidy on cooking gas, railways, power, aviation turbine fuel, gold and kerosene, the survey says that though subsidies are meant for the poor, they are benefiting the relatively well-off.

          Country like India, Gold is purchased by all people. “Gold is a strong demerit good: the ‘rich’ consume most of it (the top 20% of population account for roughly 80% of total consumption) and the poor spend almost a negligible fraction of their total expenditure on it. 

          It also questioned why aviation turbine fuel was taxed at only 20% by states as against petrol and diesel which are taxed in the range of 55-61% when a majority of air travellers are well off. The survey made similar arguments on the subsidy for cooking gas and kerosene.

          “Kerosene makes up about 1% of the consumption basket of the poor; however about 50% of the kerosene given under PDS (Public Distribution System) is consumed by the well-off and the rest by the bottom 3 deciles, showing that half of the subsidy benefit goes to the well-off section.

          Economic Survey, which dwells on the inequalities in different income groups in the country. Tax benefits, he said, benefited the super rich more than others. We talk about subsidy for the poor but do not realize that the rich also benefit from these subsidies. In my opinion rich people getting more subsidies.

          Let me know your opinion about this. Hope you enjoyed reading this letter.

Take care.

With lovable friend

Banu

(Or)

(ii) Create a dialogue between a bus conductor advisiting a passenger to avoid   footboard travelling, finally the passenger realises his mistake.

Ans:

Bus conductor: Hello everyone get in... The bus is going to start.

Passenger: Well... It's ok. You can go. I will get down in the next stop.

Bus conductor: First you get into the bus. Don’t stand in footboard.

Passenger: ok, you can start the bus.

Bus conductor: Get in otherwise I will never start the bus. On an average, every year 4 to 6 deaths of school students occur due to footboard travel. 

Passenger: Oh, is it more dangerous?

Bus conductor: Yes, there is the chances of hitting against other vehicles overtaking from the left side, dividers, electricity poles or tree branches.

Passenger: Yes, you are right.

Bus conductor: Footboard travelling is considered only a “minor offence” and is penalised under Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Passenger: Sorry, I realize my mistake. Hereafter I never use footboard travelling.

Bus conductor: That’s good.

 

4. (a) Write a brief essay on the following in 200 words. (5)

How as Ootacamund discovered.

- Ans:

          Ootacamund or Ooty is situated in Nilgiri Mountains near Tri Junction of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Ooty is the only hill station in India which attracts visitors during all seasons. It has built up a fame as the `all-seasons -hill resort' and the `queen of hill stations'.

          The first inhabitants of this land were a tribe called Todas who had been living here long before the British came in the early nineteenth century. Mr. John Sullivan, the collector of coimbatore discovered Ooty in 1820. He built a permanent house at Nilgiri Hill and this was the beginning. The name udagamandalam is derived from the word “ottakkalmandu” which means “A village of a single stone” in Tamil language. But, afterwards people used to call this place as ooty in short form.

 

(b) Answer the following. (5)

(i) Write a blog on Junk food culture.

Ans:

          The word junk food means eating those food which are not beneficial to the body at all, it is low in nutrition and harmful to body systems. Junk food consumption worldwide is increasing day by day which is not good for the future.

          Most of the junk foods have high levels of saturated fat, sugar, salt and bad cholesterol which is a toxin for health.

          They are deficient in dietary fiber, making them easily involved in causing constipation and other digestive disorders.

          Junk foods have gained so much popularity due to their good taste and easy to cook. There are many readymade junk foods available in the market packed in polybags. Most people depend on such readymade foods due to their busy schedules or they do not know how to cook at home.

          People of all age groups like to eat junk food and they usually choose to eat whenever they enjoy a special time with the family like birthday party, anniversary, etc., they can easily drink soft drinks, used to consuming wafers, chips, noodles, burgers, etc.

          Pizza, French fries, Chinese cuisine and other varieties of fast food available in the market. Junk foods are always harmful to health and if taken regularly without providing any health benefits, the health condition worsens. We should avoid eating junk food to enjoy good health and a happy life throughout life.

(Or)

(ii) Write a mail discussing cyber crime.

Ans:

From: geethatrt@gmail.com

To: subashni09@gmail.com

Mar. 2021

Subject: About Cyber crime

Dear Ram,

          Hope you are well. I would like to discuss about cyber crime. 

          Cybercrime is a dangerous attack a company or an individual may face. There are many cases where the cyber attack has brought massive loss to the company and individuals due to the data hack. We live in a technology-driven era, and every piece of information is now fed on computers. Cybercrime involves an attack on computers and digital devices. These cyber-attacks can prove hazardous not just for the organization, but also for the nation.

          One major step towards prevention of cybercrime is the spread of Awareness. There are many individuals who aren’t comfortable using a computer, and hence they are more prone to cybercrimes. People don’t know how much and to what extent things can be done with the help of technology and computers; once, people are made aware of all these factors, a little wall of prevention can be created. Updated software and use of reliable anti-virus software are critical practices in preventing cybercrimes.

          Besides, the best way to curb this problem is to stay alert. I think now you will understand well about cyber crime. So that by practicing some safety measures and security applications, we can prevent the crime.

          I think this letter may be useful to you. Let me know about your opinion on cyber crime.

Truly your friend

Geetha

 

5. (a) Write a brief essay on the following in 200 words. (5)

Consider “A Marriage proposal” a farce.

Ans: 

A farce is a comedy which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication. Farce is also characterized by physical humour, the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances.

A Marriage proposal explores the process of getting married and could be read as a satire on the upper middle class and courtship. The play points out the struggle to balance the economic necessities of marriage and what the characters themselves actually want. It shows the characters’ desperation for marriage as comical.

In Chekhov’s Russia, marriage was a mean of economic stability for most people. They married to gain wealth and possessions or to satisfy social pressure. The satire is conveyed successfully by emphasizing the couple’s foolish arguments over small things. The main arguments in the play revolve around “The Oxen Meadows” and two dogs called “Guess and Squeezer”.

 

(b) Answer the following. (5)

(i) Create a web for yourself to be updated regularly.

Ans:

 

 (Or)

(ii) Write a dialogue between two faculty members of a college about eve testing.

Ans:

Kishore : Hello Naveen, how’re you?

Naveen : Oh, I’m not OK, actually. I’m worried about the incidents of eve-teasing around the country.

Kishore : Yes, it’s the most talked topic in the country. But what the term actually refers to?

Naveen : It’s actually a euphemism for sexual harassment or street harassment of women by men.

Kishore : What’re the reasons behind eve-teasing?

Naveen : Moral degradation and gender discrimination. I think. Do you agree?

Kishore : Yea, I also think so. Well, tell me what’re the-effects of this evil practice?

Naveen : It leaves deep psychological effects on the victims. Often it’s associated with rape and murder.

Kishore : Does it harm girls education?

Naveen : Yes, drop-out rate of girls from schools and colleges increase due to this.

Kishore : So, we,should stop this at any cost. Do you agree?

Naveen : Yes, and for this govt. should introduce strict laws. At the same time, media and the conscious people should work for raising awareness against eve-teasing.

Kishore : You’re right, in fact. But I think, we also should uplift the status of women and girls in the society by ensuring gender equality. What do you think?

Naveen: I also think so. if we can ensure all these , we may get a society free from this social vice.

Kishore: Yes of course.

 

6. Write any ONE essay in 300 words of the following topic. (10)

(a) Effect of drug addiction as a subculture.

Ans:

          According to the sociocultural model, the cultural standards of a society and the negative effects of culture and society on individual behavior, cause addiction. Many cultural standards are quite subtle but the effect is powerful nonetheless. For example, people in the United States not only tolerate intoxication, but also consider it humorous. Audiences find it entertaining when television sit-coms, movies, and comedians depict intoxicated characters in a humorous manner. Furthermore, in many states the police may arrest you for drunk driving several times before any severe consequence occurs. Contrast this to a hypothetical society that executes its' citizens for a single instance of drunk driving. This rather extreme example illustrates addiction arises because larger systems permit it.

Addiction may also be an effect of culture. Within every region of the United States there are entire communities living in poverty. These impoverished communities have fewer opportunities to advance in life and experience higher crime rates. Lacking basic safety and opportunities for a better life, boredom and frustration run high. Daily living becomes stressful as day-to-day survival becomes more challenging. These circumstances create an environment that allows addiction to flourish. The problems that drugs and alcohol bring to communities are multidimensional.

 

(b) The Impact of online classes.

Ans:

          In E-learning, the students study from home or any other place, that is most convenient for them. They can acquire learning material online. The study materials in online education could be texts, audio, notes, videos, and images. However, the method of study has its benefits and various drawbacks too.

          Online education is suitable for those who can not visit or obtain the traditional education method for one reason or the other. Nearly 6.1 million college students are currently attending online courses, and this number is growing by around 30 percent yearly.

            Online education provides a myriad of advantages for people, as well as companies because it allows for, among others, flexibility. A great way to benefit more from online education is to consolidate online education and traditional ways of teaching.

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