www.sanctumenglish.in 9982019963 Gopal pura, Jaipur 12 th December Cloze Test – The Hindu What makes us learn? I mean, what really makes us learn? Is it the way a course is organised, the teaching approach, the materials we are exposed to, the _______(1)______ group we find ourselves with, the physical infrastructure, the number and nature of assignments given, the commitment of the teacher…? The list can go _____(2)______. If we think back to the moments in our journey through formal education, we might find that at different points in time, we can give credit to one or other of _____(3)________ elements. Research has shown that in primary school, one of the biggest differentiators is the teacher and the way in which she/he _______(4)______ to students. To a large extent, our choices about what we would like to study and our preferences for subjects can be traced back to who taught us in early school and how. But as we move higher up the education ladder, the external factors — teacher quality, materials, infrastructure, and so on — matter less , even if their importance does not completely _______(5)_______. Internal factors such as motivation, application, effort, interest, and perseverance become key to learning. It is hard for even the most gifted teacher to “make” someone learn at the high school or college level, without the presence of these internal drivers. 1. (a) friends (b) college (c) close (d) peer 2. (a) on (b) up (c) from (d) to 3. (a) such (b) these (c) that (d) those 4. (a) relates (b) creates (c) guide (d) rebukes 5. (a) gone (b) disappear (c) neglected (d) disregarded Parajumble – SE421 A. “Never send a human to do a machine’s job” became popular. B. Dark-suited, sunglasses-sporting ‘agents’ — powerful, sentient AI programmes — patrolled the Matrix, led by Hugo Weaving’s snarling villainous Agent Smith. C. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the term “artificial intelligence?” D. They suppressed human rebellion by dodging bullets and punching through concrete. E. I am reminded of the famous 1999 movie Matrix in which the dialogue F. The movie, Wachowski brothers’ cyberpunk action classic, was set in a grim future where intelligent machines had enslaved mankind, keeping them subdued with a simulated reality called the Matrix. Basic Fillers 1. When he was questioned by the police, the thief didn’t ________ the truth. A) say B) reply C) answer D) tell E) respond 2. When their mother died, the children were _____ by their Aunt Mary. A) brought in B) brought round C) brought to D) brought forward E) brought up 3. Don’t touch that wire or you may get an electric ________. A) shock B) current C) attack D) feeling E) surprise 4. Mr. Brown thinks he knows ________ about football, but he doesn’t. A) anything B) everybody C) everything D) somebody E) nobody 5. The High Street is so narrow that the Council have decided to ________ it. A) increase B) extend C) widen D) lengthen E) shorten www.facebook.com/sanctumenglish
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www.sanctumenglish.in
9982019963 Gopal pura, Jaipur
12th DecemberCloze Test – The Hindu
What makes us learn? I mean, what reallymakes us learn? Is it the way a course isorganised, the teaching approach, the materialswe are exposed to, the _______(1)______ group wefind ourselves with, the physical infrastructure,the number and nature of assignments given,the commitment of the teacher…? The list cango _____(2)______.
If we think back to the moments in our journeythrough formal education, we might find that atdifferent points in time, we can give credit to oneor other of _____(3)________ elements. Researchhas shown that in primary school, one of thebiggest differentiators is the teacher and the wayin which she/he _______(4)______ to students. Toa large extent, our choices about what we wouldlike to study and our preferences for subjectscan be traced back to who taught us in earlyschool and how. But as we move higher up theeducation ladder, the external factors — teacherquality, materials, infrastructure, and so on —matter less , even if their importance does notcompletely _______(5)_______. Internal factorssuch as motivation, application, effort, interest,and perseverance become key to learning. It ishard for even the most gifted teacher to “make”someone learn at the high school or college level,without the presence of these internal drivers.
Parajumble – SE421A. “Never send a human to do a machine’s job”
became popular.
B. Dark-suited, sunglasses-sporting ‘agents’ —powerful, sentient AI programmes —patrolled the Matrix, led by Hugo Weaving’ssnarling villainous Agent Smith.
C. What’s the first thing that comes to mindwhen you think of the term “artificialintelligence?”
D. They suppressed human rebellion by dodgingbullets and punching through concrete.
E. I am reminded of the famous 1999movie Matrix in which the dialogue
F. The movie, Wachowski brothers’ cyberpunkaction classic, was set in a grim future whereintelligent machines had enslaved mankind,keeping them subdued with a simulatedreality called the Matrix.
Basic Fillers1. When he was questioned by the police, thethief didn’t ________the truth.A) say B) reply C) answerD) tell E) respond
2. When their mother died, the children were_____ by their Aunt Mary.A) brought in B) brought roundC) brought to D) brought forwardE) brought up
3. Don’t touch that wire or you may get anelectric ________.A) shock B) current C) attackD) feeling E) surprise
4. Mr. Brown thinks he knows ________ aboutfootball, but he doesn’t.A) anything B) everybody C) everythingD) somebody E) nobody
5. The High Street is so narrow that the Councilhave decided to ________ it.A) increase B) extend C) widenD) lengthen E) shorten
6. Your brother is very tall. What is his exact________?A) size B) length C) breadthD) measure E) height
7. If Maria comes to England, it will be a good________ for her to improve her English.A) possibility B) opportunity C) advantageD) probability E) experience
8. Please ________ your hand if you want to askthe teacher a question.A) rise B) pull C) pushD) lift E) raise
9. ________ 100 if you want to speak to thetelephone operator.A) Ask B) Hear C) DialD) Describe E) Turn
10. Our school ________ for the summer holidayson 10th July.A) breaks up B) breaks downC) breaks in D) breaks offE) breaks through
Idioms – Theory1.
Put your foot down(i) To be very strict in opposing
You’ve got to put your foot down andmake him stop seeing her.
(ii) To drive fasterShe put her foot down and roaredpast them.
2.Be footloose and fancy-freeFree to go anywhere and to not have anyresponsibilitiesAh, I was still footloose and fancy-free inthose days.
3.Be out in forceTo be present in large numbersThe prince’s young supporters were out onforce.
4.Force sb’s handTo make sb do sthThey decided to strike to force themanagement’s hand.
5.Forelock-tuggingToo much respect for sbAs the general marched in, the collectiveforelock-tugging began.
Choose the Right Word
4. On the basis of the latest survey, we knowthat most people have a very negative / bleakview of politicians and their parties.
5. In many parts of the world, people arebecoming more worried about the danger ofpollution and its effect on the environment /ecology.
6. Education experts from France travelled toJapan to evaluate / judge the secondary schoolsystem there.
In an elite club: onIndia’s Wassenaar entryIndia’s admittance into the WassenaarArrangement, a multilateral export controlregime, as its 42nd participating member is abig step forward in its quest for formalacceptance as a responsible nuclear power. Thishas come a year after India made the request formembership. As a non-signatory to the NuclearNon-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), New Delhi hasbeen at pains to convey to the internationalcommunity that it adheres to, and is invested in,a rules-based order. The WassenaarArrangement was founded in 1996, and isclubbed with mechanisms such as the NuclearSuppliers Group (NSG), the Missile TechnologyControl Regime (MTCR) and the Australia Group.Its stated aim is “to contribute to regional andinternational security and stability, bypromoting transparency and greaterresponsibility in transfers of conventional armsand dual-use goods and technologies, thuspreventing destabilising accumulations.” India’sWassenaar success at the Vienna plenarymeeting last week presumes a broad acceptanceamong its members of the country’s credentialsas a fastidious adherent to export controls. Itcomes on the heels of membership last year ofthe MTCR. Ever since India signed the 123Agreement in 2005, the underlying assumptionwas that the United States would helpchaperone New Delhi into global nuclearacceptability after it separated its civil andmilitary nuclear programmes and plugged theloopholes to prevent diffusion of nuclearmaterials and technology in a way that isdemonstrably in line with best practices followedby the members of the NSG.
However, over the past couple of years it hasbecome evident that Delhi has to do most of theheavy lifting to gain a seat at various global hightables. The Wassenaar Arrangementmembership is also a lesson on the need forquiet diplomacy in sensitive nuclear issues,compared to the botched attempt to gain entryto the NSG last year. While India’s efforts at theNSG were stopped by China, which is not amember of the Wassenaar Arrangement, raising
the pitch publicly at the time came with costs. Itmade the task of forging a consensus onmembership to the NSG more difficult. Andwhen that attempt failed, it gave the setback theappearance of being significantly moreinsurmountable. Nonetheless, now that moreand more countries are signing on to India’ssteadily strengthening credentials in the nucleararea, there is hope that a fresh momentum willbe imparted to a future bid for the NSG. It willnot be easy. The Australia Group, whichfocusses on biological and chemical weapons,may be easier to crack given that China is not amember. But meanwhile, the WassenaarArrangement will embed India deeper in theglobal non-proliferation architecture and enableaccess to critical technologies in the defence andspace sectors.
Daily the Hindu editorial Vocab – 12th DecIn an elite club: on India’s Wassenaar entry
Quest – to search for sth that is difficult to findखोजAdhere – to stick firmly to sth पालन करनाAccumulation – to get more and more of sthइ कठा करनाFastidious – being careful that every detail of sthis correct यानपूवकOn the heels of – following closely behind sb पीछेपीछेBotched – to spoil sth by doing it badly ढलाई सेकया गया कामInsurmountable – that can’t be dealt withsuccessfully दगुमImpart – to give particular quality to sth दानकरनाEmbed – to fix sth firmly अंत: था पत करना
1. The humble potato — drought-resistant, ableto thrive in diverse soils and enjoyed fried,steamed or baked — brought centuries ofrelative calm and prosperity to Europe after itsintroduction in the 16th century, a new studysays.
The crop, discovered in Latin America in the1400s before eventually sweeping throughEurope, greatly boosted productivity, helpinglower land costs while improving nutrition andraising wages, from peasants up to the rulingclasses, according to the study for the NationalBureau of Economic Research.
The blessings that flowed from this agriculturalrevolution helped ease the economic and societalpressures that can lead to costly and disastrousconflicts, says the report. The introduction ofpotatoes and the resultant increase inproductivity “dramatically reduced conflict” bothwithin and between states for some twocenturies, it says. The researchers, whoexamined 2,477 battles fought in 899 wars overa 500-year period, drew two key conclusions.The first is linked to the declining value of landon which potatoes are grown.
Land value fell
According to the study, the value of the land onwhich potatoes were grown fell with advances inproductivity. Populations were able to feedthemselves on ever smaller amounts of land.
“Conflicts declined when the value of the objectfor which one was fighting decreased,” the studysays.
Increases in farmers’ incomes, often due tomuch bigger and more reliable harvests, boostedtax revenues for the state, providing addedgovernmental stability and thereby helping to“buy” the peace, the report states.
To risk losing these resources — for workers andfor political leaders — represented a financialdanger that states were less and less willing torisk, resulting in “a decline in peasant revoltsand civil wars,” the study said.
It had become “too expensive to engage incombat.”
The analysis does not detail the impact ofspecific wars or conflicts but says that most ofthose studied took place on the borders ofmodern-day Austria, France, Russia and Turkey.Others were in the Near East and North Africa.
2. The leader of International Campaign toAbolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the group thatwon this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, on Sundayurged nuclear nations to adopt a UN treatybanning atomic weapons in order to prevent “theend of us”.
ICAN is a coalition of 468 grassroots non-governmental groups that campaigned for a UNTreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,adopted by 122 nations in July. The treaty is notsigned by — and would not apply to — any ofthe states that already have nuclear arms.
Beatrice Fihn, ICAN’s Executive Director, urgedthem to sign the agreement. “The United States,choose freedom over fear. Russia, choosedisarmament over destruction. Britain, choosethe rule of law over oppression,” she added,before urging France, China, India, Pakistan,North Korea and Israel to do the same.
Ms. Fihn delivered the lecture together withSetsuko Thurlow, 85, a survivor of theHiroshima bombing and now an ICANcampaigner, who recalled some of her memoriesof the attack.
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The Nobel prizes in literature, physics,chemistry, medicine and economics wereawarded later on Sunday at a separate ceremonyin Stockholm.
