Chapter 17 of Winning English Grammar and Composition by Mureed Hussain Jasra (CSP)

 

CSS Special 2023 Solved
English Precis and Composition


(Q) No 2. Write a précis of the following passage and suggest a suitable title: (20)

Despite complaints from viewers, television commercials are not getting any more realistic. Their makers continue to present idealized people in unreal situations. The wide gaps between their fanciful depiction and the mundane realities of life in most cases make them appear funny as well as repulsive. A footballer suddenly starts scoring goals after consuming a particular energy drink. A would-be groom avoids hugging his father-in-law because he recalls not having used a particular shampoo that morning. A busy manager leaves an important meeting to grab a dozen packets of his favourite cookies, and so on. The advertisers also persist in showing a version of male-female relationships that can hardly exist in two households in an entire city. A wife panics simply because a meddlesome neighbour points out that her husband’s shirt is dirty, while another fears for her marriage because her finicky husband doesn’t like her coffee. What do the advertisers know about us, or how we see ourselves, that makes them continue to plunge millions of dollars into these kinds of commercials? They probably do not know that these glamorous and noisy clips in no way promote the product for which they are aired. The reported number of viewers may be what we see ourselves, which makes them continue to plunge millions of dollars into these kinds of commercials? They probably do not know that these glamorous and noisy clips in no way promote the product for which they are aired. The reported number of viewers may be heartening and tempting for the manufacturers of the products. It might also be the main reason for them to keep on hiring advertisers for promoting these products. In fact, however, these advertisements are mostly watched either to laugh at or because the viewers are unable to skip them by changing the channel as soon as they start.

Precis

The television commercials seem unrealistic. Their presentation is amusingly queer. A footballer’s sudden goal-scoring after consuming an energy drink appears odd. A groom avoiding a hug due to a specific shampoo choice looks humorous. A busy manager leaving his essential meeting for cookies counts as comical. A wife getting worried about her marriage, for her husband, does not like her prepared coffee seems droll.  Making these comical ads highlights advertisers’ perception of targeted viewership. The viewers watch these absurd commercials only for entertainment rather than concentrating on advertised products or because they can’t switch channels.

Title: Television Commercials: Comically Comic

Word Count of the Passage: 300
Word Count of the Precis: 95


(Q) No 3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end. (20)

During the past two decades, there has been a mushrooming growth of universities and degree-awarding institutions in Pakistan, which our policymakers consider a source of pride and prestige. This increase in the number of universities and the students enrolled therein has been recurrently projected as a major parameter for qualifying national development. No one can deny the pivotal importance of education for the progress and prosperity of a nation. In the contemporary world, human resources have emerged as the greatest asset of unequivocal primacy, and education aims at creating and enhancing that resource. But can it be done through higher education only, or even primarily through higher education? Looking at the developed countries of the world – almost all having progressed by virtue of better human resource-one can easily explore that they don’t encourage massive enrolment in universities. In other words, they don’t want the domain of higher education open to every member of the population. After completing the 12-year school education (which is both compulsory and free for everyone), students term courses leading to certificates and diplomas in colleges and training institutes. The admission criteria and fee structure of these colleges and institutes vary according to a number of factors. The latter class acquire practical skills in their chosen areas of utilitarian nature without an undue burden of theoretical discourses. Consequently, due to these marketable skills and practical training, they easily get employed, earn for themselves, and contribute to the national economy. On the other hand, we produce an unskilled lot of university graduates without even a basic understanding of other subjects. They consider themselves highly qualified but have no meaningful knowledge. Hence, instead of becoming an asset, they become a social and economic liability. We need to realize that, unlike the fundamental right of basic education, higher education should be treated as a privilege for the deserving ones. This realization is imperative for enabling our universities to produce scholars, scientists, and researchers as done by the developed world.

Questions:

  1. What can be inferred from the passage as the main goal of education?
  2. What is the benefit of guiding students in their choice of career?
  3. Is the only direct question in the paragraph answered affirmatively or negatively?
  4. Which sentence do you think to be the topic sentence of the paragraph, capturing its central idea?
  5. Which sentence looks redundant and out of place in the context of the paragraph, seeming a later addition rather than part of the original?

Answers:

  1. The passage infers that the goal of education is to maximize human resources. Despite inflating higher education, the system should focus on guiding students based on their interests and aptitudes. This leads to a more diversified and practical approach to education.
  2. Guiding students in their choice of career benefits them a lot. It allows them to select fields of their choice and interest. They would work appropriately after undertaking academic pursuits in universities and training institutes. They will contribute to the national economy after getting employed.
  3. The direct question of enhancing human resources through higher education is answered negatively. The system should focus on guiding students based on their interests and aptitudes. A diversified approach to education rather than inflating higher education may prove fruitful.
  4. The sentence gripping the central point of the passage is: “During the past two decades, there has been a mushroom growth of universities and other degree-awarding institutions in Pakistan, which our policymakers consider a source of pride and prestige.” This topic sentence introduces the main theme of the passage.
  5. The sentence “No one can deny the pivotal importance of education for the progress and prosperity of a nation.” seems somewhat redundant and out of place, as it reiterates an obvious point that is already implied by the rest of the passage.

(Q) No 4. Correct only FIVE of the following: (10)

  1. I am looking forward to see you on Monday.
  2. How many students are ready to give the test?
  3. I contacted my five colleagues, but all of them did not respond.
  4. I am tired and would not rather go out this evening.
  5. Our economical situation is worsening day by day.
  6. One can find useful information about eating nutritiously on the internet.
  7. I couldn’t found you there yesterday.
  8. Orphaned in infancy, he was brought about by his grandfather.

Solution:

  1. I am looking forward to seeing you on Monday.
  2. How many students are ready to take the test?
  3. I contacted my five colleagues, but none of them responded. OR I contacted my five colleagues, but none responded. OR I contacted my five colleagues, but no one responded.
  4. I am tired and would rather not go out this evening.
  5. Our economic situation is worsening day by day. OR Our economic situation is getting worse day by day.
  6. One can find useful information about nutritious eating on the internet.
  7. I couldn’t find you there yesterday.
  8. Orphaned in infancy, he was brought up by his grandfather.

(Q) No. 5 (a) Punctuate the following text, where necessary; (05)

  1. Courts were open today, however no cases were heard.
  2. His duty was clear he had to report theft.
  3. Did he really say, “I can do it again?”
  4. Great Expectations is an autobiographical novel.
  5. The item was discussed and decided however members were by no means convinced.
  6. Theatrical performances are governed by one simple principle, the quality of play depends on the quality of pay.
  7. Who said these words, “I regret having just one life to lose for my country?”
  8. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is popular due to the complex character of Hamlet.

Solution:

  1. Courts were open today, however no cases were heard.

Courts were open today; however, no cases were heard.

Courts were open today, however, no cases were heard.

  1. His duty was clear he had to report theft.

His duty was clear; he had to report theft.

His duty was clear: he had to report theft.

  1. Did he really say, “I can do it again?”

Did he really say, “I can do it again.”?

Did he really say: “I can do it again.”?

  1. Great Expectations is an autobiographical novel.

“Great Expectations” is an autobiographical novel.

  1. The item was discussed and decided however members were by no means convinced.

The item was discussed and decided; however, members were by no means convinced.

The item was discussed and decided, however, members were by no means convinced.

  1. Theatrical performances are governed by one simple principle, the quality of play depends on the quality of pay.

Theatrical performances are governed by one simple principle: the quality of play depends on the quality of pay.

  1. Who said these words, “I regret having just one life to lose for my country?”

Who said these words, “I regret having just one life to lose for my country.”?

  1. Shakespeare’s play Hamlet is popular due to the complex character of Hamlet.

Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, is popular due to the complex character of Hamlet.

(b) Re-write the following sentences (ONLY FIVE) after filling in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions. (05)

  1. What can be the reason ___ his absence?
  2. You won’t be able to bring him ___ his knees.
  3. I was utterly unaware ___ the looming threat.
  4. We shouldn’t give ___ to such pressure tactics.
  5. Please remind me ___ the meeting next week.
  6. Heavy rains are generally preceded ___ violent winds.
  7. Do you pay the bill ___ cash?
  8. I agreed ___ his revised plan.

Solution:

  1. What can be the reason for his absence?
  2. You won’t be able to bring him to his knees.
  3. I was utterly unaware of the looming threat.
  4. We shouldn’t give in to such pressure tactics.
  5. Please remind me of the meeting next week.
  6. Heavy rains are generally preceded by violent winds.
  7. Do you pay the bill in cash?
  8. I agreed to his revised plan.

(Q) No. 6. Use only FIVE pairs of words in sentences clearly illustrating their meanings.

 (10)

  1. Industrial: Faisalabad is an industrial city.

Industrious: We should be industrious to achieve our goals.

  1. Veracity: Voters should be concerned about the veracity of the politician.

Voracity: Voracity for money is lethal.

  1. Eligible: Our teacher is quite eligible.

Illegible: The handwriting of the student was illegible.

  1. Doze: The student was dozing in the class.

Dose: The patient is taking a dose of the medicine.

  1. Allude: She was alluding to her son who is a troublemaker.

Elude: Limousine eludes him a lot.

  1. Credible: Our teacher is quite credible.

Credulous: A credulous man can easily be deceived.

  1. Exhausting: A long walk often proves exhausting.

Exhaustive: An exhaustive report is written on the issue.

  1. Virtual: Some virtual images were shared in the meeting.

Virtuous: Akmal is a virtuous man.

(Q) No 7: Translate the following into English, keeping in view figurative and idiomatic expressions;

1۔ آپ اس فیصلے کی مضمرات سے ابھی واقف نہیں ہیں۔

You are not aware of the consequences of this decision at present.

You are not cognizant of the outcomes of this decision at present.

You are not mindful of the implications of this decision at present.

2۔  صدر کی اپنے ہم منصب سے ملاقات پہلے سے طے شدہ تھی۔

The president’s meeting with his counterpart was already fixed.

The meeting of the president with his opposite number was already arranged.

3۔ میرا بھائی مہرِ فلکیات ہے ، نجومی نہیں۔

My brother is an astronomer, not a fortune-teller/astrologer.

4۔ہمیں خودکو نئے حالات کے مطابق ڈھالنا چاہئے۔

We should adapt ourselves to the new conditions.

5۔ نماز با جماعت جلد ادا کی جائے گی۔

The congregational prayer shall shortly be offered.

6۔ سفارتی آداب کا خیال رکھنا   ضروری ہوتا ہے۔

It is necessary to take care of the diplomatic norms.

Diplomatic norms should be kept in consideration.

Diplomatic cults/practices should be taken care of.

7۔ تقریب کا باضابطہ افتتاح کون کرے گا؟

Who will inaugurate the ceremony formally?

8۔ فرقہ پرستی کئی تعصبات کی جڑ ہے۔

Sectarianism is the root cause of many prejudices.

(Courtesy Winning English Grammar and Composition by Mureed Hussain Jasra, CSP)



Complete Book is Only Available in Hard Form! 

For Order; CSPs Academy, Islamabad 
0315-6551593