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EDUSAT Study Material
Subject : Communicative English-1 (HMT-101)
Branch : Common to all Branches
Semester : 1st
Session : Winter-2014
This material comprises of
1 – Unit 1 (Section-A) : Reading Comprehension
2 – Unit 2: Application of Communicative English Grammar
2 – Unit 3 : Paragraph Writing
3 – Unit 4 : Vocabulary Building

UNIT – 1 READING COMPREHENSION
READING COMPREHENSION
In our everyday life, if we talk of life in its most standardized form, we have a lot of reading to do. This includes reading from newspaper, text books, books, articles, journals, notes and so many. Reading does not mean reading words and sentences simply for the purpose of identifying them. Understanding comprehending and remembering are some of the features without which reading keeps no meaning. In this reading section we will, therefore go through a couple of passages which have been carefully framed to make a student well acquainted with the skills of reading.

Skimming and Scanning:
Skimming is a task of finding out the important details of a written text without giving a close reading to it. The word ‘skimming’ is derived from ‘skum’ implying the thick layer floating on liquid. Similarly by skimming a text we take out all the key points out of it in one look. But scanning is not overlooking – it searches for those details which are not apparent on the surface. Scanning skill operates in the manner a scanner takes the photos of what is not seen on the ground.

Inference and Evaluation:
Inferencial and evaluative analysis of the text relates more to close reading. A reader, here, examines the text to find out what the written text conveys and how it can be accessed. This is some kind of an analytical task done by the reader.

Note-making:
Note-making means converting an extensive text into a brief form that can be easily digested, remembered and reproduced. Brevity and clarity are two important features of a note.

When we read or listen to something, we may not remember each and every bit of it. Many relevant details may slip away from our memory. Such a slip of memory facilitates the need to make of what we read or listen. Making a note of a speech is something like jotting down important points quickly while listening and later on making a fare copy of it. But making a note of a reading comprehension observes a more detail and systematic procedure.

Making a Note:
Always a close reading is demanded before making a note. By skimming and scanning we get all the important points of it. In a simpler way if one desire to attempt on note- making, the steps below would be of much help.
** Read the passage closely without missing a single detail.
** Make a list of important words with their meanings.
** Make a list of relevant details that you have picked up by skimming and scanning briefly.
** Trace out them or the key point. This would provide you with the main idea of the text. The point that you have picked up by the task of skimming and scanning would serve as supporting points to this main idea better known as topic statement.

Now go through the following passage.

Religion to Gandhiji was a living force, and for years in his youth he spent much time in studying comparative religions from the standpoint of one seeking for the correct mode of approach. His mean was singularly original, prepared to take imprints yet clear as to what he strove to find. This knowledge of the various faiths had the effect of creating within him a curiously open mind, free from narrow-mindedness or orthodoxy. He was prepared to concede much to any believer; he was only intolerant of those who deride God. To him religion was the crux of all matters, and success or failure could only be dependent upon how living and active was one’s faith.

One’s professional conductor and public life should be guided by well defined principles. He did not reject asceticism but in working out one’s life according to the needs of the moment in service to one’s fellow creature he found equal merit and fulfillment. His own life was thus directed and devoted; without discussing his achievement, it is certainly true that he has model his own conductor upon consistent basic ideas inspired by his deep belief in religion. It is this faith in religious principles which helped him to promulgate the Gandhian way. “Means” became religions although “ends” might be necessary and practical. Because he essentially believed in truth as part of religion, it was possible for him to frankly admit his own mistakes and faults.

Notes on words:
Singularly – Remarkably , exceptionally.
Imprints – Impressions.
Strove – Tried hard, made great efforts.
Faiths – Religions.
Curiously – Unusually, strangely.
Orthodoxy – Conformism.
Concede – Grant, surrender.
Deride – Ridicule, make fun of.
Crux – Problem that is the most difficult to solve.
Asceticism – Living a simple life without ordinary pleasure.
Consistent – Regular.
Promulgate – Make public, announce officially.

Points:
1. Religion – a living force for Gandhiji
(a) Studied comparative religions with original mind.
(b) Open mind free from narrow-mindedness.
(c) Respect for all believers.
(d) Intolerant of those who ridiculed God.

2. Religion – the crux of all matters.
(a) Success or failure depends on active faith.
(b) Personal and public life guided by well defined principle.
(c) Accepted asceticism – equal merit in service to fellow creatures.

3. Deep faith in religion.
(a) His own conduct and public life modelled on basic ideas inspire by deep faith in religion.
(b) Promulgated the Gandhian way.
(c) “means” more important than “ends”.
4. Truth – a part of religion
(a) Frankly admitted own faults and mistakes

The above notes on words and points (in short cut) prepare the skeletal work for the final note. The final note or note simply would be appeared in a point-wise structure as below.
Note
Gandhiji and Religion
1. Gandhiji studied comparative literature with an open mind and original approach.
2. He had respect for all religions.
3. Religion was the crux of all matter, he opinioned.
4. Success and failure depend upon our active faith, argued Gandhiji.
5. He found equal fulfillment in service to fellow creatures.
6. His personal life was modelled upon his basic idea of religion.
7. To him, means were more important than ends.
8. Truth was religion to Gandhiji and he admitted his faults frankly.

UNIT – 2
APPLICATION OF COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH GRAMMAR
This section comprises of following sections in detail. Some sections, such as prepositions etc. are not inclusive of the prescribed syllabus but included for better interest of the students.
ARTICLES AND DETERMINERS
(DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE)
Determiners are words that determine the number, quantity and definiteness of the noun phrase. There are five different kinds of determiners.
1. Articles : a, an, the
2. Demonstrative : this, that, these, those
3. Possessive : my, your, his, her, their, Ram’s etc.
4. Numerals : one, two, first, second, etc.
5. Quantifiers : many, much, less, few, both, either etc.

ARTICLES:
Articles a/an and the are the commonest determiners.
I. The Indefinite Article a and an
1. We use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound.
Example: a pen an inkpot
a dog an elephant
2. We use a/an before a verb when that is used as a noun.
Example : Have a look at the book.
3. We use a/an to describe and classify.
Example: It is an excellent morning.
My husband is a seller.
4. We use a/an for generalization.
Example: a parrot will speak only what it is trained.
5. We use an before silent ‘h’.
Example: An heir (a holiday)
An hour (a hint)

II. The definite article the
1. We use the before a consonant sound.
Example: The chair
The board
2. We use the with singular and plural countable nouns.
Example: The letter
The letters
3. We use the with uncountable nouns.
Example: The water
The fun
4. We use the before common places.
Example: She is at the bus stop.
My friend is going to the library.
5. We use the before nouns of directions.
Example: The East The North
The West The South
6. We use the before objects of nature.
Example: The Himalayas The Deccan Plateau
The Ganges The Alps
7. We use the before sacred books, famous newspapers and magazines.
Examples: The Gita The Hindustan Times
The Bible The Weekly
The Koran
8. We use the before superlative degree.
Example: He is the richest man in the town.
Which is the longest river in Odisha?
9. We use the before adjective used as noun.
Example: The rich are not always happy.
III. Omission of the
1. We do not use the before phrases and idioms.
Example: Christians go to Church on Sundays.
People love to travel by air.
2. We do not use the before names of games and languages.
Example: My brother plays cricket.
I am learning French.
3. We do not use the before plural nouns with general meaning.
Example: Cows eat grass.
4. We do not use the before uncountable nouns.
Example: I drink milk.