Precis & Composition Paper 2007
 

[CENTER][B]FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMISSION
COMPETATIVE EXAMINATION FOR RECRUMENT TO POSTS
IN BPS – 17, UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 2007

ENGLISH (PRECIS AND ACOMPOSITION)
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS MAXIMUM MARKS :100[/B][/CENTER]

[B] Q#1 Make a précis of the given passage and suggest a suitable heading.[/B]

The author of a work of imagination is trying to effect us wholly, as human beings, whether he knows it or not; and we are affected by it, as human beings, whether we intend to be or not. I suppose that everything we eat has some effect upon us than merely the pleasure of taste and mastication; it affects us during the process of assimilation and digestion; and I believe that exactly the same is true of any thing we read.
The fact that what we read does not concern merely something called our literary taste, but that it affects directly, though only amongst many other influences , the whole of what we are, is best elicited , I think, by a conscientious examination of the history of our individual literary education. Consider the adolescent reading of any person with some literary sensibility. Everyone, I believe, who is at all sensible to the seductions of poetry, can remember some moment in youth when he or she was completely carried away by the work of one poet. Very likely he was carried away by several poets, one after the other. The reason for this passing infatuation is not merely that our sensibility to poetry is keener in adolescence than in maturity. What happens is a kind of inundation, or invasion of the undeveloped personality, the empty (swept and garnished) room, by the stronger personality of the poet. The same thing may happen at a later age to persons who have not done much reading. One author takes complete possession of us for a time; then another, and finally they begin to affect each other in our mind. We weigh one against another; we see that each has qualities absent from others, and qualities incompatible with the qualities of others: we begin to be, in fact, critical: and it is our growing critical power which protects us from excessive possession by anyone literary personality. The good critic- and we should all try to critics, and not leave criticism to the fellows who write reviews in the papers- is the man who, to a keen and abiding sensibility, joins wide and increasingly discriminating. Wide reading is not valuable as a kind of hoarding, and the accumulation of knowledge or what sometimes is meant by the term ‘a well-stocked mind.’ It is valuable because in the process of being affected by one powerful personality after another, we cease to be dominated by anyone, or by any small number. The very different views of life, cohabiting in our minds, affect each other, and our own personality asserts itself and gives each a place in some arrangement peculiar to our self.

[B]Q.2 Read the following passage and answere the questions that follow:[/B]

Strong section of [U]industrials [/U]who still imagine that men can be mere machines and are at their best as machines if they are mere machines are already menacing what they call [U]“useless” education[/U]. They deride the classics, and they are mildly contemptiois of history, philosophy, and English. They want our educational institutions, from the oldest universities to the youngest elementary schools, to concentrate on business or the things that are [U]patently useful[/U] in business. Technical instruction is to be provided for [U]adolescent artisans[/U]; book keeping and shorthand for [U]prospective clerks[/U]; and the cleverest we are to set to “business methods”, to modern languages (which can be used in correspondence with foreign firms), and to science (which can be applied to industry). French and German are the languages, not of Montaigne and Gorthe, but of Schmidt Brothers, of Elberfeld and Dupont et Cie., of Lyons. Chemistry and Physics are not explorations into the physical constitution of the universe, but sources of new dyes, new electric light filaments, new means of making things which can be sold cheap and fast to the Nigerian and the Chinese. For Latin there is a [U]Limited field[/U] so long as the druggists insist on retaining it in their prescriptions. Greek has no apparent use at all, unless it be as a source of syllables for the [U]hybrid names[/U] of patent medicines and metal polishes. The soul of man, the spiritual basis of civilization- what [U]gibberish [/U]is that?

[B]Questions[/B]

a) What kind of education does the writer deal with? (2)
b) What kind of education does the writer favour? How do you know? (3)
c) Where does the writer express most bitterly his feelings about the neglect of the classics? (3)
d) Explain as carefully as you can the full significance of the last sentence. (4)
e) Explain the underlined words and phrases in the passage (8)


[B]Q-3 Note (250-300 words) on any one of the following[/B]

1- Honesty is the best policy but advertising also helps.
2- It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.
3- A suspicious parent makes an artful child.
4- Spontaneity and creativity as symbols of freedom.
5- Means justify ends.


[B] Q-4 Choose synonyms (only five)

[/B][B] 1- LACUNAE[/B]
a-tiny marine life
b-shallow water
c-local dialect
d-missing parts
[B]
2-PAROXYSM[/B]
a-moral lesson
b-sudden outburst
c-contradiction
d-pallid imitation

[B] 3-GROTTO[/B]
a-statue
b-cavern
c-neighbourhood
d-type of moth

[B] 4-FETTER[/B]
a-rot
b-to restrain
c-make better
d-enable to fly

[B] 5-STOICISM[/B]
a-indifference
b-boldness
c-deep affection
d-patient endurance

[B] 6-SUCCULENT[/B]
a-edible
b-parched
c-generous
d-mature

[B] 7-MALEDICTION[/B]
a-compliment
b-summary
c-perfume
d-awkwardness

[B] (B) Pick the most nearly opposite in meaning to the capitalized words.[/B]

[B] 1-TWINE[/B]
a-straighten
b-continue
c-unravel
d-detach

[B] 2-FRUGAL[/B]
a-prodigal
b-intemperate
c-extravagant
d-profuse
[B]
3-GAWKY[/B]
a-neat
b-handy
c-graceful
d-handsome

[B] 4-CAPRICIOUS[/B]
a-firm
b-decided
c-inflexible
d-constant
[B]
5-CONGEAL[/B]
a-liquify
b-molify
c-harden
d-solidify


[B]( Precis is originally composed by Tasneem )[/B]

[B]Q.5 (A) Change the narration from direct to indirect or indirect to direct speech: (do only five ) extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considerd. [/B] (5)

1) “this world, “he decleared” is full of sorrow. Would that I were dead!”
2) he said to me, “come early; we shall be waiting for you.”
3) “how delighted I am, “said he, “to meet my friends here by my own fireside!”
4) the man said that he was quite sure he should succeed.
5) John exclaimed with a sigh that he was ruined.
6) The constable enquired of the man where he was going
7) The boy said that he would walk.
8) “what losses, “cried he, “have I suffered? What anguish have I endured!”

[B]Q5 (B) correct Only five if the following:Extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considered.[/B][B](5)[/B]
1) either of these three umbrellas will suit me.
2) Shall you not take my word in this matter?
3) This poor man was suffering much for a long time past,
4) If he had not died, he would grow up to be a murderer.
5) Neither he nor I are in the wrong
6) It is high time they mend this road
7) I heard him went down the stairs
8) Paper is made of wood.

[B]Q. 6 (A) Use only Five of the Following in sentences which illustrate their meaning:Extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considered (5)[/B]

1) To put the lid on
2) Flavour if the mouth
3) Zero hours
4) Gloom and doom
5) To pig out
6) Bag people
7) Compassion fatigue
8) No to mice matters

[B]Q6 (B) Use only five of the following pairs of words in sentence which illustrate their meaning: extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considered. (10)[/B]

1) Affluence, effluence
2) Wretch, retch
3) Euphemistic, euphuistic
4) Amoral, immoral
5) Imperial, imperious
6) Degrade, denigrate
7) Temporal, temporary
8) Precipitate, precipitous

Q-4 Choose synonyms (only five)
1- LACUNAE
d-missing parts
2-PAROXYSM
b-sudden outburst

3-GROTTO
b-cavern

4-FETTER
b-to restrain

5-STOICISM
d-patient endurance
6-SUCCULENT
a-edible b-parched
c-generous d-mature
7-MALEDICTION
d-awkwardness

(B) ANTONYMS

1-TWINE
a-straighten
2-FRUGAL
a-prodigal
3-GAWKY
c-graceful
4-CAPRICIOUS
a-firm
5-CONGEAL
b-molify
That is how i did.Corrections with references are needed
Q.5 (A) Change the narration from direct to indirect or indirect to direct speech: (do only five ) extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considerd. (5)

1) “this world, “he decleared” is full of sorrow. Would that I were dead!”
2) he said to me, “come early; we shall be waiting for you.”
3) [COLOR="blue"]He exclaimed that he was very happy to meet his friends there by his own fireside.[/COLOR]4)
[COLOR="blue"]The man said,"I am quite sure,I will succeed."[/COLOR]
5) [COLOR="blue"]John said,"Alas! I am ruined."[/COLOR]
6) [COLOR="blue"]The costable said to the man,"Where are you going?" [/COLOR]
7) [COLOR="blue"]The boy said,"I shall walk."[/COLOR]
8) “what losses, “cried he, “have I suffered? What anguish have I endured!”

Q5 (B) correct Only five if the following:Extra attempt of any part of the question will not be considered.(5)
1) [COLOR="Blue"]Anyone of these three umbrellas will suit me[/COLOR].
2) Shall you not take my word in this matter?
3) [COLOR="blue"]This poor man had been suffering much for a long time[/COLOR].
4) If he had not died, he would grow up to be a murderer.
5) [COLOR="blue"]Neither he nor I am wrong[/COLOR]
6) It is high time they mend this road
7) [COLOR="blue"]I heard him going down stairs[/COLOR]
8) [COLOR="blue"]Paper is made from wood.[/COLOR]

This is what and how i did.Corrections with reference.

(B) correction

(2)Will u not take my word in this matter?
(4) If he had not died,he would have grown up to be a murderer.

(6)IT is high time that they mend this road.
It is high time for them to mend this road.
For them,it is high time to mend this road.
(A)direct and indirect narration.

(1) He declared this world to be full of sorrow and wished he might have died.

(2)He asked me to come early because they would be waiting for me.

(8)He cried over the losses he had suffered and the anguish he had endured.
He cried in pain about the losses he had suffered and the anguish he had endured.

@ amjad bai

direct and indirect narration

He exclaimed with joy to meet his friends there by his own fireside.
He exclaimed with joy that he had met his friends there by his own fireside.

Reference:

In exclamatory sentences,said is changed to'exclaimed with' after which expressed feelings are mentioned such as joy,sorrow,surprise etc.

there is another solution to this(followed by authors):

HE expressed sheer delight to find his friend there by his own fireside

(1)“how delighted I am, “said he, “to meet my friends here by my own fireside!
Well WEstwind above is the original sentence,
I suggest two ways
1)He exclaimed that he was very happy to meet his friends there by his own fireside.
2)He expressed his pleasure to meet his friends there by his own fireside.
First two sentences , which you have written , i have reservations about these.
Here i request from the kings and queens of literature to interfere.

redirect
 

@ amjad hafeez

dear bro,the first two sentences mentioned in my previous posts are in line with direct and indirect rules u may find in different grammar books.U did not explain ur reservations,relate them first so that they may be taken care of.

ur second suggestion seems to be ur second thought,though it appears more appropriate to me.

One thing more........the kings and queens of literature shud not be disturbed every now and then:nono let them concentrate on their stately affairs:D

3) “how delighted I am, “said he, “to meet my friends here by my own fireside!”
The correct indirect form is:
He exclaimed with joy that he was very delighted to meet his friends there by his own fireside.
Accodring to the rules,whenever there is exclamation,it should be followed by with .Secondly,how is changed into very or great depending upon intensity.Thirdly,there doesnt seem any reason to change delighted to pleasure or something else.It should be quoted in indirect as it is.

precis 2007

[B]EXTENSIVE READING DEVELOPS CRITICAL JUDGMENT[/B]

Any literary piece of writing has a bearing upon readers' mind as well as shapes their attitude. The degree of influence relates to the strength of author's personality reflecting through the written material and the weakness of the reader's attributes. A young reader or an old reader without sufficient reading background is more likely to be inspired by the charm of one or more than one writers. Gradually, as one's span of reading increases then he or she starts evaluating one author from another and this ability of assessment develops critical thinking, which protects one from the supremacy of any particular form of writer. Value of excessive reading is not accrual of knowledge but it is the critical judgment that sprouts from it. Hence, at a single time, multitude of opinions of different authors resides in an intellect but the reader assorts them according to his or her taste. (149 word Precis)

Expansion of paragraph Q3: "IT IS HARD FOR AN EMPTY BAG TO STAND UPRIGHT"
 

[B][U][SIZE="4"][CENTER]IT IS HARD FOR AN EMPTY BAG TO STAND UPRIGHT[/CENTER][/SIZE][/U][/B]

The development of a character, which is full of ability and competence, takes years of toils. The fuel of such a personality is sleepless nights of untiring hard work until the glimmer of dawn. Blood of such ones, no doubt, is full of patience, forbearance, and hope. In fact, they never stop doing unflinching efforts and travail that become their cravings. Consequently, such people never afraid of competitions and failures; they always get ready for any struggle or contest. This is because of strong foundation of their individuality. However, contrary to this, a weak character, which is devoid of any significant inclination for exertion and fond of laxity, luxury, easiness, would easily cripple like a mound of dust. Such individuals would always be apprehensive of any competition as well as struggle and this is all owing to their careless nature without any glimpse of achievement and success. Moreover, if they take any kind of challenge like a test or an exam then they fail to perform any significant outcome, for their background lacks solid foundation of diligence. Their personality is like an empty bag, which has nothing to give out; and at the least, they are unable to stand upright for themselves. Hence, it is necessary for a successful life that one should always be laborious in developing his or her skills, qualifications, and education. This is the key for confidence; otherwise, the result would be like a disaster at any time in life and all that is due to one's negligence of striving for a bright future.

Thanks

regards

SECONDOPINION02