LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034  U.G. DEGREE EXAMINATION – GENERAL ENGLISH

AP 03

FIRST SEMESTER – NOV 2006

         EL 1057 – GENERAL ENGLISH – I

(Also equivalent to GEL 057)

 

 

Date & Time : 25-10-2006/1.00-4.00           Dept. No.                                                       Max. : 100 Marks

 

 

 

1. Read the following poem and answer the questions given below. 2×5=10

                        Honest Thought and Simple Truth

How happy is he born and taught

That serveth not another’s will;

Whose armour is his honest thought,

And simple truth his highest skill!

Whose passions not his masters are,

Whose soul is still prepared for death

Untied unto the world of care

Of princely love or vulgar breath;

Who hath his life from rumours freed,

Whose conscience is his strong retreat

Whose state can neither flatterers feed,

Nor ruin make accusers great;

Who God doth late and early pray

More of His grace than gifts to lend;

Who entertains the harmless day

With a well-chosen book or friend;

This man is free from servile bands

Of hope to rise or fear to fall;

Lord of himself, though not lands;

And having nothing, he hath all.

 

Questions:

1. What is the armour of the happiest man?
2. What is his skill?
3. What kind of life does he lead?
4. Write five qualities of this man?
5. Pick out four pairs of rhyming words.

 

 

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below. 2×5=10

                                        Selfless Love

In the cold mountainous regions of North India, where it is very cold, travellers are helped to keep warm in this way. They take a small vessel, put burning coal in it, and cover it up. They weave strings around it and, wrapping it with cloth, carry it under their arms. Three men were travelling thus towards the sacred place of Amarnath. One of them saw several others suffering with cold, and, taking the fire out of his vessel lit a fire so that everyone could get warm. So everyone left the place alive. When they had all to walk in the dark the second man of the party took out the fire in his vessel and lit a torch with it, and helped them all to walk along in safety. The third man of the party mocked them and said: `You are fools. You have wasted your fire for the sake of others.’ `Show us your fire, ‘said they to him. When he broke open his vessel there was no fire, but only ashes and coal. With his fire one had given warmth and another had given light. But the third man was selfish and kept the fire to himself, and it was no use even to him.

In the same way, it is God’s will that the love which we receive from him, should give warmth and light to others.

 

Questions:

1. Where were the three men travelling?
2. How do the people in these cold regions keep themselves warm?
3. How did the first man help others?
4. How was the travellers’ path lit?
5. What do you learn from the third man?

 

 

III. Annotate any TEN of the following in about 75 words. 10×4=40

 

1. I am a part of all that I have met;

 

2. Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;

Death closes all: but something before the end

 

3. And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise

 

4. If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of a distance run

5. You see I’m not as young as I was and it couldn’t seem able to get the

letters in me’ead when I was a nipper I don’t think there’s much chance

of it now.

 

6. “That’s an idea” he said. “Strange `ow things come to you when you least expect it.”

 

7. And I will make thee beds of roses

And a thousand fragrant posies;

 

8. …. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds.

 

9. It is the star to every wandering bark.

 

10. But no one descended to the Traveller

No head from the leaf-fringed sill

Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes.

 

11. While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf

`Neath the starred and leafy sky.

 

12. If these delights thy mind may move,

Then live with me and be my love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Answer any FOUR of the following in about 300 words. 4×10=40
2. How does the character of Ulysses in the poem represent an ideal role model for the youths of today?

 

2. How does the poem “The Listeners” portray the spiritual plight of mankind?

 

3. Describe the various images used by Shakespeare to drive home the idea of constancy in `love’.

 

4. What are the qualities suggested by Rudyard Kipling to become a successful man in life?

 

5. Attempt a character sketch of the Verger, Albert Edward.

 

6. How does the “Foreword to the Broken Wings” depict the true love of Gibran for Selma?

 

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