Paper : IES General English Previous Year Paper (2005)

1. Write an essay on one of the following topics in about 1000-1200 words:     (40)
(a) Globalization and erosion of culture values.
(b) The indispensable Opposition.
(c) Empowerment alone is no solution to Women’s plight.
(d) Popular Superstition.
(e) The perils in Privatization of higher Education in India.
(f) Ecological Boomerag.
(g) Aspirations of the modern youth.

2. Write a precise of the following passage in about 200 words, using your own words as far as possible. Please state the number of words used in your precise: (Note: The precise must be written only on the special sheets provided for the purpose – one word in each block – and these sheets should be fastened securely inside the answer book). 20

The happy man will have in childhood parents who are fond of him. He will be more likely to get affection from his parents than he is at present, their affection will be freer and their anxieties will be less, and because they will regard parenthood as a partnership in the bringing up of children not as a sexual person. In childhood, his environment will be such that it is much less often necessary to say “don’t” than it is at present. He should spend most of the daytime hours in large playrooms with other children or out of the door if the weather is conducive. During these hours he should not be surrounded by valuable but fragile objects with he must not touch. The wills should not be so exquisitely colored that on no account must dirty finger marks paper upon them. The playroom should be sufficiently remote from other people for it to be unnecessary to tell children not to make a noise. Everything must be on one level sot that there are no steps upon which they can hurt themselves. There must, of curse, be no knives or other sharp instruments within their reach. In such an environment a great many “don’ts” which are unavoidable in a small home will be unnecessary. I do not pretend that there will be no prohibition. Children will have to be prevented from ill-treating each other, but, as for as possible, this should be done by keeping them interested in some activity which they enjoy, rather than by restraining bullying impulses by direct authority.

The framework of life in childhood should have a routine which is only varied on great occasions, such as holidays or expeditions. The child needs two things above all else: one is freedom to grow, and the other is security. Security comes to children from affection and routine. They do not feel secure unless they know more of less what to expect. Although children should not be surrounded by tabus, they should not be left entirely to their won devices. Intelligent adults should suggest occupations that children will like, and should have the art of suggesting them in a tone of vice that inclines children to say ‘yes’ rather than ‘no’ I think by this means a child can reach school age without being filled with complexes, fears and furies.

In personal relation, the happy man having been taught to get rid of the twin obsessions of sin and fear, will be free and generous and expansive, regarding other people, except where there is some definite reason to the contrary, as people with whom he co-operates rather than as competitors. He will not be constantly inhibiting impulses to friendliness for fear lest others should take advantage of him or more trustful than is common in the present day, and in nine cases out of then the fact that this is his attitude will bring about a response that justifies it. Having learned while he was ong the economics and politics of co-operation, and the habit of regarding the human family as enemies, and he will see war as the folly that it is.

I want to insist once more that the happy man, as I conceive him, is happy, not only owing to the outward circumstances of his adult life, but also owing to a happy temperament which he will owe to the wisdom and kindness of those with whom he spends his first years. Given this temperament and given an economics system which affords him security, he will be able to enjoy work, to have many friends, to feel affection to his children, and to pass through the middle years of his life without any sense of frustration and fear that is all too common among middle-aged man in the world as it is. When at last he reaches old age he will look back upon his life without remorse or undue regress.

Some old people are oppressed by the fear of death. In the young there is a justification for this feeling. Young men who have reason to fear that they will be killed in battle may justifiably feel bitter in the thought that they have been cheated of the best things that life has to offer. But in an old man who has known human joys and sorrow, and has achieved whatever work it was in his hands to do, the fear of death is somewhat abject and ignoble. The best way to overcome it is to make your interests gradually wider and more impersonal, until bit by bit the walls of ego recede, and your life becomes increasingly merged in the universal life An individual human existence should be like a river – small at first, narrowly contained within its banks, and rushing passionately past boulders and over waterfalls. Gradually the river grows wider, the banks recede, the waters flow more quietly, and in the end, without any visible break, they become merged in the sea, and painlessly lose their individual being. The man, who, in old age, can see his life in this way, will not suffer from the fear of death, since the things he cares for will continue. The thoughts of rest will be not unwelcome.

3. Write a single paragraph in about 200 words, on one of the following: 10
(a) If you want peace, be prepared for war.
(b) Small is beautiful.
(c) Science is not opposed to religion.
(d) Brevity is the soul of wit.

4. Use the following words in sentences so as to bring out their meaning clearly. Do not change the form of the word. No mark will be given for a vague of ambiguous sentence: 10
(a) conspicuous (adjective)
(b) solicitude (noun)
(c) industrious (adjective)
(d) vengeance (noun)
(e) flabbergast (verb)

5. Supply the correct forms of verbs given in parentheses in the following passage. You may write only correct verb forms in your answer book against numbers given in parentheses, not necessarily reproducing the entire passage:   20
As the train (1. draw) to a stop, Nagaraja (2. lift) his suitcase off the rack and placed it on the empty seat beside him. Then (3. raise) the wooden shutters which he (4. keep) closed because of the coal-dust which the engine (5. emit) so liberally, he looked out. It (6. be) almost dark and the landscape scarcely visible. It was his first visit to the west coast of India, and he already (7. hear) much about the beauty of Malabar. He was the only one to descend at the desolate wayside station and soon (8. understand) the purpose of the urgent summons he (9. receive) in Delhi (10. request) him to come immediately.

6. Correct the following sentences without changing their meaning. Please do not make unnecessary changes in the sentences :  10
(a) Knowing about my interest in music, the Principal asked me that I would like to perform on the stage.
(b) Whatever the solution to the problems, we should consider them carefully before we decide to take any action.
(c) Priyanka is younger of two sisters.
(d) He is too tall and best suited to play basketball.
(e) No sooner the chief guest arrived the show started.
(f) Most of us are not aware that eating some varieties of mushrooms result in death.
(g) After every participant had had three minutes to express their opinion the debate was thrown open to the audience.
(h) We will learn a lot by attending the English course, isn’t it?
(i) Along the Northern frontier of India, is seen the Himalayas, mighty in their grandeur.
(j) I do look forward to meet you in a couple of days. 

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