HS 2161- TECHNICAL ENGLISH – II

ASSIGNMENT –III

Part A

1. Match the words in column A with their meaning in column B.

i) A B

a) cascade - out of date

b) contingency - waterfalls

c) gerbil - incidental or dependent

d) obsolescence - a small rodent resembling a mouse

ii) A B

(a) heritage - a complete view of a wide stretch of land;

a continuously changing view or scene

(b) intact - strange; unusual, and attractive

(c) panorama - unbroken

(d) exotic - custom

iii) A B

a) ballast - unite

b) amalgamate - resist

c) formidable - substance used for making foundation

d) withstand - dreadful

2. (a) Add suitable prefixes to the following base words to match the meaning / definition given against them.

1. ---– social : harmful to the society

2. --– conductivity : property having zero electrical resistance

3. --– developed : a nation not fully developed

4. --– impose : an image placed over another image

5. --– little : make something or someone unimportant

b).Add suitable suffixes to the following base words to match the meaning / definition given against them.

6. Fear__ : without fear

7. Sympathy__ : to have pity for

8. Superior__ : state of being higher

9. Unity__ : to form into a single unit

10. Require __ : something necessary

3. Combine the following sentences using words to show causal relation:

1. Exhaust gases poison the air we breathe. People who are exposed to such

gases can suffer from lung diseases.

2. The steel tray is painted black. The black paint prevents the heat from escaping.

3. Solar energy can be used to supplement fossil fuels. Fossil can be saved for

peak periods of demand.

4. Newspapers will survive. They are a cost efficient way of providing information.

5. Training is given to the employees. They update their technical knowledge.

b. Use the following expressions showing cause and effect relationships in sentences of your own

6. Consequently

7. As a result of

8. Hence

9. Owing to

10. Because of

4. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense form:

1. In nature, gold _____ (occur) in the metallic state. The extraction of gold ___ (be)

a simple process. Most of the impurities _____ (remove) from the freshly mined

metal by a simple physical process.

2. Tendulkar ________(start) playing cricket at a very young age.

3. Japanese _________ (make) great progress in the field of electronic since the

sixties.

4. The bed was very comfortable. I_________ (have) a sound sleep.

5. It _________(rain) heavily, while he was passing through the garden.

6. They _________(be) in London, last summer.

7. What _________you _________ (look) for?

8. Reaching the station, he __________ (find) that _________ (leave) the keys at

home.

9. By the end of this semester, we __________ (pick) up a good practice in writing

English.

10.He _________ (feel) exhausted because he __________ (play) cricket since

morning.

5. a) Rewrite the following sentences into passive voice:

1. A very small quantity of nuclear fuel can produce enormous amount of energy.

2. Multinational companies make huge investments in oil-rich countries.

3. Artificial intelligence has made today’s computers very efficient.

4. Forests perform many ecological and social functions.

5. The cricket board made an offer to give 1400 transmitters.

b. Rewrite the following sentences in active voice:

6. The murder is investigated by the police.

7. Metals have been replaced by the plastics and ceramics.

8. The auditorium is used for special occasions.

9. Hundreds of cars are produced every year by the automobile companies and

heavy loss is incurred.

10. In 2010, a person may easily be treated for heart disease and cancer, by

Doctors.

6. Expand the following compound nouns1. College canteen

2. Machine language

3. Mains electricity

4. Computer education

5. Silver compound

6. Traffic jam

7. Mass Production

8. Mild Steel

9. Network cord

10.Petroleum Products

7. Rewrite the following as Numerical Expressions.

1. a pipe with a length of 15 meters

2. a team of 7 members

3. a hotel having the status of 5 stars.

4. a workshop lasting for 4 days.

5. a monitor with a size of 20 inches.

6. a certificate course for 10 months.

7.an interval of 15 minutes.

8. a car with 8 seaters

9. a cooker with a capacity of 5 litres.

10. a budget estimate of 10 lakhs.

8. Expand the following SI Units

1. 10 psi

2. 300 rev/min

3. 32 Kbps

4. Cd/m2

5. 500 Btu/ft3

6. 1000 kg/cm2

7. 5.58 m/s

8. 50mm3

9. 100 MB

10.30 ppm

9. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of words.

Verb Noun Adjective

1. _______ answer _______

2. _______ modernism _______

3. Assemble _______ _______

4. _______ _______ infectious

5. Inhibit _______ _______

6. _______ memory _______

7. _______ _______ valuable

8. Decorate _______ _______

9. _______ _______ dehumanized

10._______ repression _______

10.a) Write sentences expressing purpose using the hints given below.

1. a Muffle Furnace : heats materials upto 800 degree Celsius.

2. Painting iron parts : protect them from rust.

3. Developing English

Language skill : get better job

4. Laying four lane roads : reduce the accidents in the highway.

5. Conducting interview : select suitable candidate for the job.

b. Write purpose statement to the following.

6. Calculator

7. Model exam

8. Education

9. Laboratory class

10. Microscope

Part-B

1. Imagine that you are the sports secretary of your college and write a checklist of eight items that are to be checked before starting the sports day function

2. Write a checklist of eight important points to be checked before going for University Practical exam.

3. Write a set of eight recommendations to reduce water pollution.

4. Write a set of eight recommendations to improve the standard of education in India.

5. Write a letter to the editor of a leading newspaper about the indiscriminate use of cell phones by drivers. Your letter should identify the problems associated with the use of cell phones by drivers and suggest suitable solutions.

6. Write letter to the editor of a newspaper about the increasing intolerance of the students’ community towards teachers. Your letter should list out the causes for the students’ attitude and suggest practical solutions to maintain good rapport between teachers and students.

7. Write two paragraphs about the electronic media and its impact on society.

8. Imagine yourself to be in the year 2050 and you are in early 70’s. The fuel position is very bad. Describe how life was fifty years ago when fuel was easily available.

9. Write an e- mail to the Manager, Indian Bank, requesting him to send the details of educational loan.

10. Imagine yourself as the secretary of the English club and draft an e-mail to be sent to the members of the club for inviting creative articles.

11. Write an essay on Transportation and the Problems that accompany to ensure road safety.

12. Write an essay on Unemployment Problem in India.

13. As the marketing manager of L.G Home Appliances, you are asked to write a proposal regarding the various modes by which the product range from the company can be advertised. Inventing all the required details, write a proposal that is to be submitted to the Zonal manager of the company.

14. Assume that you have decided to establish a shoe manufacturing unit in your area. You wish to avail the loan facility from the Industrial Development Bank under self-employment scheme of the Government of India. Invent the necessary details and draft a proposal.

15. Write a survey report on a project survey you have conducted to find out the preferences of youth to use two wheelers as a mode of transportation.

16. Imagine that you are the Secretary of Chennai Metropolitan Corporation and a team has recently conducted a survey of air pollution in Chennai. Write a survey report to be submitted to the Mayor.

Technical English – II HS 2161

A Ready Reference for Model Examination – I

Part –A

CAUSE AND EFFECT EXPRESSIONS

The causal relation between two actions can be shown by using connectives like because, since, as, therefore, consequently, as a result, due to, owing to, etc.

Example:

Use TWO of the following expressions, showing cause and effect relationship in sentence of your own:

(a) On account of On account of perennial losses, the company collapsed.

(b) Because of Because of the frequent power cuts, production has decreased in the state.

(c) As a result of As a result of regular training, our college students are able to get campus placements easily. Points to remember:

1. The connectives ‘because’, ’as’, ‘since’, show the cause of an action. ‘Because’ is generally used in the middle of the sentence. ‘As’ and ‘since’ are used usually in the beginning of the sentence.

2. The words ‘therefore’, ‘consequently’, ‘as a result’ show the result or effect of an action. These words usually occur in the middle of the sentence.

You need to study well because your family is dependant on you. As / Since I practiced well, I was able to win the gold medal easily. I practiced well therefore/ consequently/ as a result I was able to win the gold medal easily.

TENSES

TenseAffirmative/

Negative/ Question

Use Signal Words

Simple Present

A: He speaks.N: He does not speak.Q: Does he speak?

action in the present taking place once, never or several times

facts

actions taking place one after another

action set by a timetable or schedule

always, every …, never, normally, often, seldom, sometimes, usuallyif sentences type I (If I talk, …)

Present Continuou

s

A: He is speaking.N: He is not speaking.Q: Is he speaking?

action taking place in the moment of speaking

action taking place only for a limited period of time

action arranged for the future

at the moment, just, just now, Listen!, Look!, now, right now

Present Perfect

A: He has spoken.N: He has not spoken.Q: Has he spoken?

putting emphasis on the result

action that is still going on

action that stopped recently

finished action that has an influence on the present

action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

Present Perfect

Continuous

A: He has been speaking.N: He has not been speaking.Q: Has he been speaking?

putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result)

action that recently stopped or is still going on

finished action that influenced the present

all day, for 4 years, since 1993, how long?, the whole week

Simple Past

A: He spoke.N: He did not

action in the past taking place once, never or several times

yesterday, 2 minutes ago, in 1990, the other

speak.Q: Did he speak?

actions taking place one after another

action taking place in the middle of another action

day, last Fridayif sentence type II (If I talked, …)

Past Continuou

s

A: He was speaking.N: He was not speaking.Q: Was he speaking?

action going on at a certain time in the past

actions taking place at the same time

action in the past that is interrupted by another action

when, while, as long as

Past Perfect

A: He had spoken.N: He had not spoken.Q: Had he spoken?

action taking place before a certain time in the past

sometimes interchangeable with past perfect progressive

putting emphasis only on the fact (not the duration)

already, just, never, not yet, once, until that dayif sentence type III (If I had talked, …)

Past Perfect

Continuous

A: He had been speaking.N: He had not been speaking.Q: Had he been speaking?

action taking place before a certain time in the past

sometimes interchangeable with past perfect simple

putting emphasis on the duration or course of an action

for, since, the whole day, all day

Future Simple

A: He will speak.N: He will not speak. Q: Will he speak?

action in the future that cannot be influenced

spontaneous decision

assumption with regard to the future

in a year, next …, tomorrow

Assumptions: I think, probably, perhaps

Future Continuou

s

A: He will be speaking.N: He will not be speaking.Q: Will he be speaking?

action that is going on at a certain time in the future

action that is sure to happen in the near future

in one year, next week, tomorrow

Future Perfect

A: He will have spoken.N: He will not have spoken.Q: Will he have spoken?

action that will be finished at a certain time in the future

by Monday, in a week

Future Perfect

Continuous

A: He will have been speaking.N: He will not have been speaking.Q: Will he have been speaking?

action taking place before a certain time in the future

putting emphasis on the course of an action

for …, the last couple of hours, all day long

ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE

Passive voice is more frequently used in technical or scientific writings to produce an objective and impersonal effect.

Structure of a passive construction

Noun/pronoun (the object in the active brought to the subject place)

+ a form of ‘be’ or ‘have been’ + past participle.

Look at the following table:

Tense Active Voice Passive Voice

Present Simple Verb ( Base Form) Be + Past Participle form of the verb

Present Continuous am/is/are + Present am/is / are being + Past Participle form of the verb

Participle

Present Perfect has/ have + Past Participle form of the verb

has/ have + been + Past Participle form of the verb

Past Simple Verb ( Base form + ed or irregular forms)

was / were + Past Participle form of the verb

Past Continuous was/were + Present Participle

was / were+ being + Past Participle form of the verb

Past perfect had + Past participle had been + Past participle

Future Simple will + Base Form will + be + Past participle

Future Perfect will have + Past participle will have+ been+ Past participle

Modal Can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, dare, ought to, need to give.

Modal + be + Past participle

Imperative Pour the Water. Let the water be poured.

Let + The object of Active voice + Be + Past Participle

Points to remember:

1. When the subject in the active voice is a personal noun/pronoun, it becomes the object in the passive structure. When the passive structure takes an object it is preceded by a preposition.(e.g.) Raju drove the car. (Active)

The cat was driven by Raju. (Passive)The subject is not carried to the object place, if it is impersonal or general.(e,g.) People speak English Fluently in India. (Active)

English is spoken fluently in India. (Passive)2. There is no change in the Tense.3. The Main verb in the passive is always in the past participle. 4. The verb changes in accordance with the number of the Passive subject.

(e.g.) He has written many poems.Many poems have been written by him.

5. When we exclude the agent who carries out the action then it is Impersonal passive voice.

(e.g) Ragav Stole my Purse.

My purse was stolen.

Numerical expressions

When numerical expressions are changed into phrases with numerical adjectives, the nouns whose quantity is mentioned are changed from plural to singular form.

A bottle with a capacity of ten litres (plural)- a ten litre (singular)capacity bottle

The following are some examples for rewriting a numerical expression using numerical adjectives.

A bridge with a length of 2.5 kilometres - a 2.5-kilometre long bridge

A budget estimate of ten crores - a ten-crore budget estimate

A committee of five members - a five-member committee

A degree programme for three years - a three-year degree programme

A hard disc with 320 GB memory - a 320-GB hard disc

Part - B

Sample Survey Report

TO

Dheeruj

Manager, HR

FROM

Pranav,

Manager (Maintenance)

DATE March 20, 2012

SUBJECT Report on Survey of Bus Proposal; Recommendations

SUMMARY

Our employees have a severe parking problem as our office is located in a busy area in the city where extension of the parking lots in not possible, which has developed recently along with the increased numbers of employees. Our department proposed having an excellent transport system to solve the problem, but we wanted to hear what employees thought. We conducted the following survey, and the results are given below, along with our recommendations.

BACKGROUND

A few years ago, parking for cars was no problem at our company. Recently, though, (about the last two years) this has become a serious problem with lateness, accidents, damage and frustration. Our department has decided to implement a bus system for our employees and conducted a survey of all the cadres of employees to get their opinions and the best way to serve their needs. They survey took one week, and the results are in the next section.

SURVEY RESULTS

The attached survey questionnaire give the details of the actual questions the employees were asked. For all questions, either a response of excellent, very good, good, neutral, or poor with

numbers 1 to 5 were asked for. The questions ranged from the preferred vehicle to affordable charge.

The most preferred choices are,

1. 87% of the employees prefer corporate transport than personal transport2. 78% prefer air-conditioned vehicles3. 69% prefer buses over Taxis (15%), Vans (10%) and other means of transportation (6%)4. 60% prefer the company buying the vehicles rather than outsourcing the service5. 51% prefer Volvo buses than Ashok Leyland (24%), Tata (15%), AMW (5%) and others

(5%)

RECOMMENDATIONS

As a result of this study, here are the recommendations:

1) The required no of buses should be purchased by the Management

2) The fuel and maintenance expenses ought to be levied from the employees.

3) Drivers must be appointed and given additional duties during the Office hours.

Thank you.

Encl: sample of survey (4 pages)

Consolidated survey report

Sample Business Proposal

Santosh Project ManagerSkills FoundationAdyar

Chennai

Date: March 20, 2012

Ranjith KumaarDirectorAmazon Schools Pvt. Ltd.Medavakkam

Chennai

Dear Mr. Ranjith Kumaar

It will indeed be a pleasure to get associated with an educational institute like yours. We are pleased to present this proposal to your group of schools. It would be great to have partnership with you and be part of learning process for young students. We are into Skills Development for last five years. Five schools have partnered with us in the last five years and the results have been quite encouraging and fruitful.

We develop the four basic communication skills in the students who have problems in learning a language. As per our telephonic discussion, you had informed us that your four schools have around 100 students who lack linguistic abilities. Our Program "Developing Communication Skills for Success" is student friendly and interactive.

In the program, our team of trainers helps students to read and write about real life situations. Group activities motivate the students in speaking. Training, activities, assignments are the core areas through which our program works. We take up a batch of 20 students and work with them through out the year. We charge a Fee of Rs. 2000 per student.

With this letter, I am enclosing the entire proposal, feedback of the schools that had partnered with us in last five years and the student-wise analysis of pre training and post training development. This will help you in understanding our style of working and our illustrious results.

You can contact me on my phone or email address - aaaaaaaa@rediffmail.com for your queries about this proposal.

Yours truly,

Santosh

Writing Checklists

Prepare a check list eight important to be checked in a workplace to avoid spread of infectious diseases like swine flu.

1. Do you have a sick time policy that encourages all ill workers to stay home?

Yes No

2. Do you provide antiseptic hand cleansers in areas of your workplace where it is not convenient to wash hands?

Yes No

3. Do you teach workers to cover coughs and sneezes, and wash their hands at appropriate times?

Yes No

4. Do you offer your employees annual flu shots? Yes No

5. Do you clean all frequently touched surfaces in you workplaces on a regular basis?

Yes No

6. Have you trained your staff on the basics of infectious diseases and their control?

Yes No

7. Do you have a tradition and mechanisms for timely, honest and open communication?

Yes No

8. Do you have a succession planning and cross- training policies, so that no one employee is indispensible?

Yes No

Points to remember while writing an e-mail

Don’ts

1. Do not include vague or nonexistent subject line.

2. Do not Change the topic without changing the subject.

3. Do not include multiple subjects in one note.

4. Avoid sending the mail before thinking twice about the content.

5. Do not inadvertently reply to all.

6. Do not omit the context of a reply.

7. Do not Display the addresses of recipients who are strangers to each other.

8. Do not confuse between Replying and forwarding.

Do’s

Addressing

• Limit to who really needs to know.

• Make it clear in text who has action and who is info addressee.

• Use BCC to protect Email addresses unless everyone knows each other.

• Watch Reply All.

• Use address book with mail groups & validate often.

• Make sure forward does not embarrass sender.

• Fill in addresses last to avoid sending an incomplete Email by mistake.

Message Text

• Keep the message focused and readable.

• Keep it short.

• Break into paragraphs; skip lines between.

• Use short sentences and active voice.

• Use plain text editor.

• Avoid HTML.

• Avoid fancy typefaces.

• Write in standard professional English with Capitalization and correct spelling.

Sample e-mail format

Dear Mr. Miller,

As your business associate, it gives me great pleasure in informing you about the new offer we are giving on the Latest Office Furniture Series.

As our customer of many years, you can avail of this offer at a Special Discount of 20%.  This offer is only valid for special customers like you and not across the board.

It gives us great pleasure to inform you that this latest series has been designed by our team keeping in mind comfort, style, and durability.

You can visit our website www.greatfurniture.com to see for yourself, the wide range we are offering.

We request you to kindly order at the earliest, so that you can avail of the fabulous discount and also get an additional special gift from us.

Thanking You,

Sam Vincent