ENGLISH 1ST YEAR 2ND SEMESTER

( PALAMURU UNIVERSITY )

1. A VISIT OF CHARITY
EUDORA WELTY

Introduction: - The story “A Visit of charity” was written by “Eudora Welty” she was an American
writer. She was a prolific author.

“A Visit of charity” tells the story of fourteen-year-old girl Marian and her visit to an “Old
ladies home”. Marian is in a youth-development organisation in America called “Campfire” and one of
her duties, which will earn her extra three points is to visit a home for the elderly.

If the number visits home for the elderly one point.

If they bring flowers to the old, one more point.

If the visitor reads the Bible to them, the score could double.

Marian is the main character in the moving story. It begins on a cold morning. Marian gets off
the bus at the old ladies’ home. She walks into the building carrying a potted plant. She tells the nurse
that she is a campfire girl and needs to pay a visit to “an old lady”. The nurse asks her if she knows any
of the residents, but Marian tells nobody knows, the nurse takes Marian down the hall and sends into
the room, where two old women were staying. The room was getting bad smell and dirty with more
furniture. When door opens one old woman smiles dangerously at her, while another lies in bed, she
was bedridden. Marian is disturbed by darkroom and compares it’s a robber’s cave.

One old lady wanted to know about Marian and she enquires about her. Marian says that
she was a campfire girl and gives them potted plant. Marian starts reading the Bible to get the points
but they don’t listen to her and make disturbance to Marian.

Marian scared about them and wanted to leave the room but she waits for points, after sometime
they started asking money as she leaves the room. Marian leaves the room as quickly as she can,
ignoring the questions from the nurse about stay, and runs outside and catches the bus and taking a bite
of her apple.

A visit of charity exposes the selfish motives behind charity. Writer brought out bitter facts
behind the activities of individuals and organisation.
 2. BENARES
ALDOUS HUXLEY

Introduction:- Aldous Huxley was an English writer, novelist and philosopher. He was a best
novelist. He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature seven times.

In the essay writer describes about the Indians believe towards the solar eclipse and
superstitions.

The solar eclipse was about visible from Benares, but it needed more than smoked glass to see
it. Writer came to observe it. On the particular day the city of Benares, a pilgrim place was
crowded with a big population, millions of people from all over the country come there to save
the sun from serpent. He expresses his surprise at Indians ability to see the eclipse that was
taking place at a far off place like SUMATRA. He surprises the desire of Indians to save the
sun from the clutches of evil serpent. He feels pity for the woman of royal families as they were
not as free as common people to take a holy dip in the sacred waters. The time of climax came
at last, the eclipse was to take place suddenly the Brahmins started sitting in a line like
cormorants chanting and singing.

Later the author felt extremely sorry for poor India when he came into the city of Benares
placed with beggars. He saw a sacred bull eating away the rice from one of the sleepy beggars.
The writer says that being stupid and having no imagination, animals behave more sensibly
than men. But they are happy. When the whole mankind was engaged to influence gods for
their benefit the bull came with timely care and ate away the rice given to a beggar in charity.

Writer says that to save the sun a millions of Hindus will assemble on the bank of the
Ganges. How many would assemble to save India? Much of their energy is wasted in stupid
superstitions.

Huxley says India will never be free until the Hindus and the Moslems give up all their
superstitions and try to realise their own state of life.
 3. STANZAS WRITTEN IN DEJECTION, NEAR NAPLES
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY

Introduction: - The present poem “Stanzas Written In Dejection, Near Naples” was written by
P.B. Shelley, he was an English poet.

The poem was written when Shelley and his wife Mary visited Naples during the winter
season. The climate was pleasantly warm and it looks beautiful. Shelley was able to see the
beauty of nature and describes but when it comes to his own life, he is unable to find even a
little hope.

Shelley was suffering from depression due to a number of reasons so that he feels at
beautiful place also a state of depression and wanted to commit suicide.

Naples is one of the most beautiful port cities in Italy. The weather there is particularly warm
and pleasant in winters. Shelley is going to explain about the nature at Naples.

The Sun shines gloriously in the clear sky. The sea reflects it. Waves dance brightly,
sands and mountains reflect in purple colour. The shores are wet and the buds are eager to
blossom. The winds, the birds, the ocean floods and green plants. Its waves hit the shores and
break into stars of light. The poet sits alone on the sand and observing the sparking ocean and
listening to the sound of the waves. How pleasant! All this would be if there were someone
with whom he could share the emotion he feels.

Then Shelley presents his pitable condition. He lacks hope, health, peace, calmness
power, love and leisure. He sees others, who enjoy all these and find life a pleasure. He would
like to lie down like a tired child and weep away the life of care. Which he had to bear till the
death because he was born. Death would steal upon him, turning his warm cheeks cold. Some
might mourn his death just as he will regret the sweet day is gone.

He says that he was not popular, nevertheless and rejected his poem. They might mourn
his death while disapproving of his life. The end of this day will not bring mixed feeling to him,
however. Since it has been enjoyed, it will live on in his memory.
 4. JULIUS CAESAR
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Introduction: - This tragic play was written by William Shakespeare. It is one of the greatest
plays of the Shakespeare. It extracts from Act III, Scene 2.

Characters:-
Julius Caesar: - A successful military leader.

Antony: - Roman General and close friend of Caesar.

Brutus: - A Roman politician, who is friend of Caesar.

Citizens: - The common people of Rome.

The play opens with great celebration in the streets of Rome. Julius Caesar has returned
from a battle, after defeating his political rivals. Rome is a republic, Governed by elected noble
men some of them fear that Caesar could hold the power and declares as a king. Caesar had
great support from common people and army.

Cassius and Brutus made a plan to kill the Caesar for that they form a conspiracy killed
the Caesar on 15 march 44 B.C at Pompay. The people of Rome are confused and agitated by
the murder of Caesar and demand for answers.

There are two speeches one is from Brutus and second one from Antony. Brutus made a
powerful speech, he said that Caesar was his friend and he loved the people of Rome more than
anything else. Brutus says that he wanted his country to be free from everybody. But Caesar
became ambitious to have the crown so I joined with the conspirators to kill Caesar. Brutus said
if anyone opposes him he will take the responsibility. The citizens agreed to Brutus speech and
wished him to be ruler.

Then Antony came with Caesar’s dead body then Brutus says to citizens to listen to
Antony’s speech.

Antony was very clever in delivering the speech. He said that Brutus was an honourable
man but he said that Caesar was ambitious man. During the Lupercal festival Caesar rejected
politely royal crown and he brought many captives of war back to Rome. When the poor were
sad, Caesar wept with them. Antony changes the mindset of the people and motivate them to
think about the Caesar. The common people change the mood and cry for the Caesar, then they
decided to kill the murders.

At finally Antony’s team defeat the Brutus and his group and rule the Rome. It shows
that power of Oratory to change the people’s mindset.
 GRAMMAR
1. NON-FINITE VERBS

NON-FINITE VERBS: - It is not affected by tense, person or number. There are three types of non-finite
verbs: Infinitives, Gerunds and Participles.

A) Infinitives are the most basic form of a verb, often preceded by the word ‘to’. They may function
as adverbs, nouns or adjectives.

i) I struggle to understand. (adverb)

ii) To exercise is good for the body (noun)
iii) I do not have time to enjoy dinner. (adjective)
iv) He gave me a pen to write with.
v) It was a sight to see.
vi) I want to buy some vegetables.

B) Gerund is a verb ending in – ‘ing’ which functions as a noun

i) I love swimming.
ii) Travelling is my favourite hobby.
iii) Are you interested in singing?
iv) Barking dogs do not bite.
v) Finding the door open, my mother went inside.

C) Participle is a verb ending in ‘-ed’ or ‘-ing’ and is used as an adjective.

i) The movie was interesting. (Present participle).

ii) Eating freshly picked fruits is good for health. (Past participle)
iii) Ladakh is fascinating. We are all excited to be going there.( present and past participle)
iv) I had my car polished.

2. ADJECTIVES

ADJECTIVES:- It describes some aspect of a noun or a pronoun.

Fill in the blanks with adjectives formed using the present and past participle of the verbs in brackets.

i) It was a -boring- book. I was bored by the book. (bore)

ii)This film is frightening. I was frightened while watching it. (frighten)
iii) I felt annoyed after I ran into him. That man is very annoying (annoy)
iv) It is an interesting topic. I am interested in learning more about it. (interest)
 v) I am tired because I’ve had a tiring day(tire)

Choose the appropriate word as adjective from the options provided.

i) There isn’t ------ sugar in the pot. (much / many)

ii)Tanya has very ------- options left. (little / few)
iii) Rohan brought ----- food with him. (some / many)
iv) I have ------ faith in Amar. (little / less)
v) People buy ------ newspapers these days. (fewer / less)
vi) Do you have any ----- plans? (further / farther)
vii) I ran pretty far yesterday, but I ran even ---- today. (farther / further)
viii) Of the two shirts, I prefer the ----- (later / latter)
ix) Sonia arrived at the party --- than Srinivas did. (later / latter)
x) The people in the photo are Raju, Sonu, and Manu. The --- is my brother. (last / latter)

Fill in the blanks with adjectives formed from the words given in the brackets.

i) This is the fascinating story I have ever read. (fascination)

ii)Non-smokers usually live longer than smokers. (long)
iii) A holiday by the sea is better than a holiday in the mountains. (good)
iv) Today was the worst day of my life. (bad)
v) This is the least of the two evils. (less)

Fill in the blanks with the comparative and superlative forms of the adjectives given in the brackets.

i) My bungalow is larger than hers. My bungalow is the largest in my colony. (large)

ii)I am the fastest runner in my school. But my sister can run faster than me (fast)
iii) Not only is her handwriting better now, it is in fact the best in her class. (good)
iv) This task is more important to me. It is the most important task I’ll do this week.(important)
v) I thought the green ones would cost the least, but the red ones cost less. (little)

3. ARTICLE

ARTICLES: - Articles are used before nouns to define their use in the context of the sentence. There are
two kinds of Articles.
a) Indefinite articles :- a, an
b) Definite articles :- the

A is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with consonant sounds.
An is used before singular, countable nouns which begin with vowel sounds.
The is used when talking about something which is already known to the listener or which has been
previously mentioned, introduced, or discussed.
The is used before the names of oceans, seas, coasts, rivers, mountain ranges, group of islands, planets, gulfs,
Newspapers, musical instruments, directions, deserts, names of trains, hotels, holy books, ordinal numbers and
superlative degrees.
Fill in the blanks with indefinite articles where necessary.
i) She doesn’t own a car.
ii) He came from no article humble beginnings.
iii) I saw no article bears at the zoo.
iv) He asked for no article milk.
v) She didn’t get an invitation.
vi) I saw an eagle fly by.
vii) She was an English teacher. She taught at a European university.
viii) He bought no article milk, no article butter, and a loaf of bread.
ix) The table is made of no article wood.
x) Dr. Abdul Kalam was an honest man.

Correct the following sentences by inserting articles wherever necessary.

i) There is book in my backpack. Book is very heavy.

There is a book in my backpack. The Book is very heavy
ii) Do you know where I left car keys?
Do you know where I left the car keys?
iii) I enjoy reading detective novels, especially ones by famous author Arthur Conan Doyle.
I enjoy reading the detective novels, especially the ones by the famous author Arthur Conan Doyle
iv) French drink wine, while Americans drink beer.
The French drink wine, while the Americans drink beer
v) Group of MBA students from university of Mumbai visited Harvard University in United States.
A Group of MBA students from university of Mumbai visited the Harvard University in the United
States
vi) Bible was first book to be printed by Guntenberg in fifteenth century.
The Bible was the first book to be printed by Guntenberg in the fifteenth century.
vii) I am fond of music of Mozart. My grandfather owns antique piano.
I am fond of the music of Mozart. My grandfather owns an antique piano.
viii) Cloth is sold by metre. Metre of this fabric cost me moon.
The Cloth is sold by metre. A Metre of this fabric cost me moon.
ix) Sun is at highest point in sky at noon.
The Sun is at the highest point in the sky at noon.
x) After humans, Chimpanzees is most intelligent among animals.
After the humans, Chimpanzees is the most intelligent among the animals.

4. ADVERBS
ADVERBS: - Adverbs are words used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They add meaning
to the word they modify.

i) The old man walks slowly. (modifies the verb walks)

ii) This place is very peaceful. (modifies the adjective peaceful)
iii) The news came quite suddenly. (modifies the adverb suddenly)

Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs, using the adjectives in brackets as clues.

i) Come quickly before it finishes! (quick)

ii) Although he is a good student, he did not do good in the exam.(good)
 iii) Telugu is my mother tongue. I speak it fluently. (fluent)
iv) He did not complete the course as easily as he thought he would. (easy)
v) I reached on time because I left home early. (early)
vi) Mrs Reddy had begun the class early. I had been late sometimes, and was punished severely for it. I
decided to sneak into class. I tiptoed in quietly from the back door and slid into my seat quickly
before she noticed.

Correct the error in the use of adverbs in each of the following sentences.

i) My sister always worked hardly. (hard)

ii) He is driving too fast. (fast)
iii) He is dressed casually. (no error)
iv) The plane flew highly in the sky. (high)
v) The pan is really hot. (no error)
vi) I go to the park every evening. I often/sometimes run into my neighbour, Tara. Her pet dog wags its tail
happily when it sees me.

VOCABULARY

1). PALINDROMES: - A palindrome is a word, number, or other sequence of symbols that reads the same
backward as forward.( reverse also same spelling and same meaning).

Ex: i) bib ii) peep iii) tot iv) madam v) refer vi) level
vii) radar viii) eve ix) nun x) civic xi) noon xii) wow

Fill in the blanks with a palindrome based on the given clue.

a) When both hands of a clock are on 12, and the sun is overhead ---- (noon)
b) A part of the body ---- (eye)
c) A male member of the family ----- (dad)
d) A female member of the family ---- (mom)
e) The smallest palindromic number greater than 9 ----- (11)
f) The next palindromic number after the one above --- (22)
g) The smallest palindromic number greater than 99 --- (101)
h) The greatest palindromic number less than 99 ------- (88)

2.) PORTMANTEAU WORDS:- It is a new word formed by joining two or multiple words and
combining their meanings. A portmanteau word fuses both the sounds of the original words and the
meanings of its Components.
Some examples.
a) Advertorial: advertisement + editorial
b) Biopic: biography + picture
c) Biog: web + log
 d) Edutainment: education + entertainment
e) Emoticon: emotion + icon
f) Internet: international + network
g) Malware: malicious + software
h) Multiplex: multiple + complex
i) Motel: motor + hotel
j) Pixel: picture + element
k) Romcom: romantic + comedy
l) Smog : smoke + fog

3). LOANWORDS: - A loanword is a word taken from a foreign language with little or no change.

LOANWORD BORROWED FROM PRESENT ENGLISH

MEANING
Avatar Sanskrit Manifestation, personification
Guru Hindi A spiritual teacher or recognised
teacher
Cafe French A small restaurant selling drinks
and snakes
Kindergarten German A preschool for children aged 4 to
6 years
Cigar Spanish A roll of tobacco for smoking
Vodka Russian A distilled alcoholic beverage

4). OXYMORON: - It is a figure of speech that juxtaposes (just opposes ) elements that appear to be
contradictory. It combines words that have opposite or very different meanings.

a) She let out a quiet scream.

b) The design is composed of an irregular pattern.
c) The room was filled with a deafening silence.
d) The clown was seriously funny
e) You are clearly confused by the explanation.
f) Did you bring the original copy?
g) She is deeply superficial.
h) That dog is pretty ugly.

5). HYPERBOLE: - It is a figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect.

a) The suitcase weight a ton

b) She is as skinny as a toothpick
c) We had to wait forever for the bus
d) I have a million things to do
e) I could sleep for a year
f) It was the most amazing sight ever
g) I am so hungry I could eat a horse
h) I have told you a hundred times to wash the dishes.
 6). SIMILE: - It is a literary device used to compare two different things in an attempt to make a
description more interesting or vivid. Such comparisons are made through the use of the
words “like” or “as”.

i) His hair is as black as coal. (hair compared with coal )

ii) She is as brave as a lion. (a person compared with a lion)
iii) Her eyes sparkled like diamond (eyes compared with diamond)
iv) The water was as black as night.
v) She was as busy as a bee and had no time to relax.
vi) The room was so warm it was like a sauna.
vii) She moves with such grace, like a gazelle.
viii) My love is like a red rose.

7). METAPHOR:- It is a literary device, similar to a simile, used in descriptive writing. Unlike a simile,
which compares two different things, a metaphor equates two different things without using the words
“like” or “as”.

i) The city is a concrete jungle. (equating the city with jungle)

ii) Her words were poison. (equating the words with poison)
iii) All the world’s stage.
iv) You are the light of my life.
v) How old are these computers? They are practically dinosaurs!
vi) They were covered in a blanket of flowers.
vii) London is a melting pot.
viii) The wheels of justice grind slow.

Soft skills

1. Time management
2. Leadership
3. Stress management
4. Etiquette and grooming

Value orientation
1. Time and tide wait for no one
2. The pen is mightier than the sword
3. Practice makes perfect
4. Necessity is the mother of invention