Hafiz Ashfaq Ahmed
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Comprehension Comprehension is an initial step in the approach from reading towards writing, as well as measure of testing the student’s ability to understand a given text. Essential Guideline for Answering Questions: 1. Read the given given text text carefully carefully as to get a clear idea of what it says. 2. In case of complex complex sentence sentence-str -structure ucture and and illusive illusive expressio expression, n, read the passage passage over over and over again till the meaning is clear to you. 3. Do not run after after the meaning meaning of every every new or or unfamiliar unfamiliar word word or phrase. phrase. Instead Instead try to guess from the context what word or o r phrase means. 4. Read each questi question on carefully carefully and underline underline the answer answer in the the passage. passage. 5. Shape the answer answer in in accordance accordance with the the question question and write write it down. down. It is better better to to use your own words instead of copying cop ying the answer word for word from the passage. 6. Your answer answer should should be a complete sentence, sentence, not just just a phrase or a clause. clause. For instance instance if the question is: Why do you go for a walk? As an answer if you say: Because I like to go out in the morning. (It is a clause not a sentence) The correct and complete answer to this question is: I go for a morning walk because I like to go out in the morning. 7. Avoid omitting omitting auxiliary auxiliary verb (helping (helping verb) verb) 8. Your answer answer must be in the same same tense which which is used used in the questio question. n.
PRECIS DEFINITION: It means an abstract or a gist of a longer passage or document. SOME IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS A précis must fulfill the following three requirements: (a) It must be in form of a continu continuous ous narrati narrative, ve, that is, it must not consis consistt of disjoi disjointe nted d sentences. (b) It should include all the important important ideas expressed in the original passage. (c) It should rigidly rigidly exclude exclude all that is unimportant unimportant and irrelevant irrelevant.. ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD PRECIS: (i) (i) A good good préc précis is sho shoul uld d give give the the leadi leading ng thou though ghts ts and and the gene genera rall impre impress ssio ion n of the passage summarized. (ii) (ii) A good good préci préciss shoul should d be a cont contin inuou uouss and and comp compac actt piec piecee of pro prose se.. (iii (iii)) A préci préciss should should be clear clear.. It must pres presen entt the subst substan ance ce of the origin original al in your your own language. (iv) (iv) A préc précis is shoul should d be precis precisee and brief brief.. Précis Précis-wr -writi iting ng means means givin giving g the essen essentia tials ls in the the fewest possible words. Thus the brevity is the very soul of a précis. (v) A précis précis should should not be be sketchy sketchy.. It shoul should d be compl complete ete and and contai contain n all that that is import important ant in the original.
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Hafiz Ashfaq Ahmed
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There is no royal road to making a précis. It is an intellectual exercise. We can only achieve success in précis writing if we can fully enter into the spirit of the given passage.
AVOID THE FOLLOWING. (i) Avoid comments of your own and other irrelevancies. (ii) Avoid borrowing phrases and sentences from the original. (iii) Avoid emphasizing the wrong points. (iv) Avoid exceeding the prescribed length by more than five words. (v) Avoid bad style. See that your sentences do not lack unity. (vi) Avoid colloquial expressions.
As a rule a précis should be in Indirect Speech. Great care must be taken to avoid lapsing into Direct Speech.
The summary should be in the Third Person. The first person must be changed into third person. EXAMPLES: (i) “I say, first we have despised literature. What do we, as a nation, care about books? I say, we have despised Science. I say we have despised Art.” PRECIS:
The writer said that they had despised literature, science and art.
The précis should be generally made in the past tense unless the original passage expresses some universal truth in which case the present tense must be used. (ii)
War is a great calamity. It is worse than famine or plague. It settles nothing but unsettles everything.
PRECIS: War is more destructive than epidemics and starvation.
(iii)
I never found a woman who was so generous in her gifts and who loved to entertain so many guests in her home.
PRECIS: I never found so hospitable a woman. THE PRECIS OF A PARAGRAPH In attempting the precis of a paragraph the following plan may be of some assistance.
(i) (ii) (iii)
Read the passage carefully two or three times or more till the meaning is well understood. Note down the central idea or the main topic. Often the main idea of the passage can be expressed in a phrase: this phrase will make the title of the passage. Make an out line summary of the passage dividing it into main topics and sub topics if possible.
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Hafiz Ashfaq Ahmed (iv)
3
0300-9461951
Write off in plain businesslike English a continuous summary linking up the topics and sub topics already written down. Pay as much a ttention to grammar and style as in any composition.
EXAMPLE: I often wish that this phrase “applied science” had never been invented. For it suggests that there is a sort of scientific knowledge of direct practical use which can be studied apart from an other sort of scientific knowledge, which is of no practical utility, and which is termed as “pure science”. But there is no more complete fallacy than this. What people call applied science is nothing but the application of pure science to particular classes of problems. It consists of deductions from those general principles, established by reasoning and observation, which constitute pure science. No one can safely make these deductions until he has a firm grasp of the principles, and he can obtain that grasp only by personal experience of the operations of observation and of reasoning on which they were founded. (T.H.Huxley) PRECIS: Application science is not a separate and independent branch of science. It is nothing more than application of the laws and principles of pure science to specific problems for specific results. It may, therefore, be called the practical use of pure science for more specific purpose. (First Group) 2003 Properly speaking, the cave men were the human beings who lived before the most important of the early inventions on which a stable civilization can be based: farming or the regular cultivation of edible plant; the domestication of ho ofed animals; pottery ---- and perhaps with it the revolutionary technique of grinding, polishing, and boring stone tools so as to make them almost as efficient as the later tools of metal. The cave men did not farm, they were hunters and fishermen, and their women collected wild fruit, vegetables, and grain. They lived lives rather like those of the American plains Indians before the introduction of the horse. They did not domesticate animals – or at best only one animal, our oldest friend dog. They lived largely on animals; they thought about animals constantly; but they were hunters, so they treated even the horse as something to be stampeded over a cliff and then eaten. They knew something about clay and how it hardens in the fire, but so for we have found no real clay dishes or containers among their remains. We find it difficult to imagine life without the peaceful cornfields, the quiet cattle, and the dishes from which we eat and drink, yet for most of man’s existence on the earth these things were unknown and undreamed of. Settled farming began somewhere about 7000 years ago, in the new Stone Age; that seems like a long time ago, but it is only about 200 generations from our own time. Questions: i. Make a précis of the passage. ii. Who were the cave men? iii. What are the basic elements of a stable civilization? 03 iv. What did the cave men eat to live? 03
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(Second Group) 2003 It is one of life’s choicest blessings to have a few sincere friends. This is not as easy as it may seem. For to attract friends, one must oneself be attractive. For this, the first thing necessary is to have trustful nature. Confidence alone begets confidence. One must open one’s heart to a
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friend, holding back nothing. Secrecy is the poison that always destroys lasting friendship and so one must have no secret from a real friend. Secondly, one must be tolerant and forbearing. No man is all good, and if one is always fault finding, it will produce a feeling of natural irritation. This leads to estrangement. It is only when friendship is tested by the trials of life that faults may be pointed without creating ill- will. Thirdly, there can be no true or lasting friendship between men of unequal status or worth. Real friendship is possible between equals. There must be no intention on one side or the other to make friendship a matter of gain or convenience. But real friendship is a very rare thing in the world. There are many people who seem to be incapable of it. Suspicious natures, and those who are credulous are easily influenced by reports and whispers can never make good friends. Questions: i. Make a précis of the passage. 16 ii. What were conditions of good friendship? 03 iii. What are the causes that destroy friendship? 03 iv. What type of people are incapable of friendship? 03 (First Group) 2004 Fortunately, however, the growth of industrialism has coincided in the West with the growth of democracy. It is possible now, if the population of the world does not increase too fast, for one man’s labour to produce much more than is needed to provide a bare subsistence for himself and his family. Given an intelligent democracy not misled by some dogmatic creed, this possibility will be used to raise the standard of life. It has been so used, to a limited extent, in Britain and America and would have been so used more effectively but for war. Its use in raising the standard of life has depended mainly upon three things: democracy, trade unionism, and birth control. All three of course, have incurred hostility from the rich. If these three things can be extended to the rest of the world as it becomes industrialized, and if the dangers of great wars can be eliminated, poverty can be abolished throughout the whole world, and excessive hours of labour will no longer be necessary anywhere, but without these three things, industrialism will create a regime like that in which the Pharaohs built the pyramids. In particular, if world population continues to increase at the present rate, the abolition of poverty and excessive work will be totally impossible. Questions: i. What connection does the writer show between industrialism and democracy? 02 ii. How can the standard of life be raised? 02 iii. How can poverty be abolished? 02 iv. What will be the impact of increase in population at the present rate? 02 v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. 02 vi. Make a précis of the passage. 15 (Second Group) 2004 Real beauty is as much an affair of the inner as of shape, of colour, of surface texture. The jar may be empty or tenanted by spiders, full of honey or stinking slime – it makes no difference to its beauty or ugliness. But a woman is alive, and her beauty is therefore not skin deep. The surface of the human vessel is affected by the nature of its spiritual contents. I have seen women who, by the standards of a connoisseur of porcelain, were ravishingly lovely. Their shape, their colour, their surface texture were perfect. And yet they were not beautiful. For the lovely vase was either empty or filled with some corruption. Spiritual emptiness or ugliness
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shows through. And conversely, there is an interior light that can transfigure forms that the pure aesthetician would regard as imperfect or downright ugly. There are numerous forms of psychological ugliness. There is an ugliness of stupidity, for example, of unawareness (distressingly common among pretty women), an ugliness also of greed, of lasciviousness, of avarice. All the deadly sins, indeed, have their own peculiar negation of beauty. On the pretty faces of those especially who are trying to have a continuous good time, one sees very often a kind of bored sullenness that ruins all their charm. Questions: i. What does real beauty signify? ii. Where does the beauty of a porcelain jar lie? iii. Differentiate between inner beauty and outer beauty? iv. Point out some forms of psychological ugliness. v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. vi. Make a précis of the passage.
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(First Group) 2005
A person who is aware of (Second Group) 2005
Ought women to have (First Group) 2006
When the time for a general (Second Group) 2006
Great progress has been made by America in the field of mechanization. It is spending lavishly on labour-saving machines. Efficient organization of highly mechanized system has resulted in maximum productivity in America. With mass production, the amenities of life are available to almost every citizen. On the contrary Europe subordinates the use of machines to human happiness and welfare. It encourages man’s reliance on his own faculties and realizes the dangers inherent in the American scheme. However great the advantages of mechanization, it crushes the creative faculty of man and makes a machine out of him. His individual liberty and personality suffer an irretrievable loss. In his moments of leisure the worker finds it difficult to turn his hands to creative work because the machine made goods do not inspire him in the direction of refinement. These goods also lose their fascination because mass production has given a set back to the individuality of the articles produced. The European, therefore, contend that it is better to sacrifice a few material comforts than crush the aesthetic and spiritual urge in the individual which large-scale mechanization is doing in America. Questions: i. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. ii. What is the result of progress in the field of mechanization in America? iii. How has it affected the citizens? iv. What is the case in Europe? v. Why do Europeans sacrifice a few material comforts? vi. Make a summary of the passage.
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(First Group) 2007
Pakistanies are sometimes treated as suspects as they enter Saudi Arabia. The procedures for search and investigation are aggressive, and naturally, time-consuming may be a humiliating experience for a self respecting Pakistani. Lately, another trend is developing which can hurt as still more as injury is being added to insult. Quite a few Saudis are now unwilling to employ Pakistanis as they used to do in the seventies. One main reason cited is the incidence of drugtrafficking (business) through expatriate Pakistanis who, at times, collaborate with drugtraffickers. Thus, the channel of employment for our labour in Saudi Arabia is drying up, partly owing to our failing as people. Pakistan is a victim as drugs produced in Afghanistan pass through our territory. It cannot be denied that drugs are produced in Pakistan, but the government is trying to curtail their production. However, with an estimated indigenous (native) population of just over three million addicts the local production of drugs does not appear enough to meet the home demand, thus, having started as a producer of heroine in 1979, thanks to the transfer of such technology by a western adventurer, it is now the major consumer. However, in the western countries, the treatment meted out to Pakistani nationals is humiliating. Questions: i. Why is the treatment humiliating for Pakistanis on entering Saudi Arabia? 02 ii. What is the main reason for the reduction of employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia? 02 iii. How much is Pakistan responsible for drug-trafficking? 02 iv. Who is technologically responsible for the production of heroine in Pakistan? 02 v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. 02 vi. Make a précis of the passage. 15
(Second Group) 2007
One of the main objectives of Imam Khomeini’s foreign and domestic policy was the propagation of the humanitarian principles of Islam. The Islamic Republic of Iran took a bold stand on the basis of this objective. Iran explained this stand at every international forum. The divine commands that have shaped the Iranian policies are perhaps common to every major religion. The revered Imam tried to associate the masses in his own and other Muslim countries with his own and other Muslim countries with his objective. He addressed them directly, had a silent dialogue of the heart with them even when he could not meet them personally. The people in almost all the Muslim countries and even in others whether they were inhabited by Muslims or followers of other faiths, listened to his speeches and talks attentively and devotedly. Thus instead of appealing to the unpopular and reactionary governments of the day, he established durable and lasting contacts with the common people and their true representatives. The great leader demanded the common people’s presence, through their representatives, at important meetings and participation in his decision-making. In this way he wanted to ensure the achievement of the aims of the Islamic Revolution. This policy was instantly successful in 231-E, E Block, Rehmanpura, Wahdat Road, Lahore.
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winning the support of the Muslim masses even in the countries that were being ruled over by the so called representatives. Questions: i. Explain the main objectives of Imam Khomeini. ii. What was his mode of achievement toward his goal? iii. How can we call The Iranian Revolution a “people’s revolution”? iv. Comment on the success of The Iranian Revolution. v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. vi. Make a précis of the passage.
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(First Group) 2008 It is common in our day, as it has been in many other periods of the world’s history to suppose that those among us who are wise have seen through all the enthusiasms of earlier times and have become aware that there is nothing left to live for. The men who hold this view are genuinely unhappy but they are proud of their unhappiness which they attribute to the nature of the universe and consider to the only rational attitude for an enlightened man. Their pride on their unhappiness makes people suspicious of its genuineness: they think that the man who enjoys being miserable is not miserable. This view is too simple; undoubtedly there is some slight compensation in the feeling of superiority and insight which these sufferers have, but it is not sufficient to make up for the loss of simple pleasure. I do not myself think that there is myself think that there is any superiority rationality in being unhappy. The wise men will be as happy as circumstances permit and if he finds the contemplation of the universe painful beyond a point, he will contemplate something instead. I am persuaded that those who quite sincerely attribute their sorrows to their views about the universe are putting the cart before the horse; the truth is that they are unhappy for some reasons of which they are not aware. Questions: i. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. ii. What is common with the wise today to suppose? iii. What is the result of pride on unhappiness? iv. How can a wise man be happy? v. Explain the meaning of the following words: vi. (a) Enthusiasm (b) Conteplation vii. Make a summary of the passage.
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(Second Group) 2008 Space travel is by far the most expensive type of exploration ever undertaken by man. The vast expenditure of money and human effort now being devoted to projects for putting man into space might well be applied to ends more practically useful and more conducive to human happiness. It is a strange world in which tens of millions of pounds are spent to give one man a ride round the earth at thousand miles an hour, while beneath him in his orbit live millions for whom life is a daily struggle to win a few coins to buy their daily struggle. The money and effort that go into the development and construction of a single type of space-rocket would more than suffice to rid several countries of such scourge as malaria or typhoid fever, to name only two of the diseases that medical science has conquered but which still persist in the world
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simply because not enough money and effort are devoted to their eradication. Why should the richer countries of the world be pouring their resources into space when poverty and disease on the earth are crying out for relief? One could give a cynical answer to this question and assert that man’s expensive adventures into space are merely the by-products of the struggle between great powers for prestige and possible military advantage. Questions: i. Why is it a strange world? ii. Why do malaria and typhoid still exist in the world? iii. Why is man pouring his resources into space? iv. Explain the meaning of the following words: (a) Scourge (b) Eradication v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. vi. Make a précis of the passage.
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(First Group) 2009 Advertising is essentially the art of communication. As such, its origin can be traced right back to the origin of species. “Advertising Colouration” is a familiar biological phrase denoting the colours developed by certain animals to make them stand out against their natural background. It is the direct opposite of camouflage. There is always a message in these colours, such as “keep away”, “mind your step”, “darling won’t you care for a dance?” while camouflage is tricky and timed, “advertising” is honest, confidant, and forthright, as far as the world of nature goes. In human life, advertising through the mouth must have begun with the beginning of commerce. The tradition is still kept alive by hawkers and street vendors in our towns and villages. As regards advertising through the written word there is archeological evidence that it was being practiced at least 3,000 years ago. An advertisement offering a gold coin as a reward to anyone tracing out a run away slave was unearthed in the ruins of Thebes and is computed to be as old as the third millennium B.C. it was the prototype of our “lost and found” classified and that was painted on a wall. Questions: i. What is advertising? 02 ii. Where does the phrase “advertising colouration” mean? iii. What is the difference between camouflage and advertising? iv. When did verbal and written advertising begin in human life? v. Suggest a suitable title for the passage. vi. Make a précis of the passage. 15
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(Second Group) 2009
(Repetition see First group 2004)
(1) The tyrannical regimes of several dictators like Stalin, Mussolini and Hitler form a very important part of our world history. Why don’t we learn from this? Why don’t we stop the continuing debate between the supremacy of despotism over democracy or vice versa? Democracy has attracted support since the time of ancient Greek because it represents an ideal
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of justice as well as a form of government. The ideal and practice of democracy are inseparably linked because rulers subjected to voter approval are more likely to treat the voters justly. Many of us may say that the ideal of justice and equality is easier said than done. I admit that our own country reflects this but we still have the right to choose in election. All we need is the ability to face up to our rights and demand our rights fearlessly. In my opinion we lack this fearlessness. In short we lack true patriotism. Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) also encouraged the concept of democracy and all of the four caliphs following him based system of their government and administration on this form of government. But what about a country in which ruling party is a despot? What if it turns out to be fascist then what choices are the citizens of the country left with? If the natural rights of life, liberty and property are not guaranteed, the people have the right to overthrow the government. Questions: a. What was the Greek ideal of democracy? 02 b. Why do we have ineffective democracy in Pakistan? 02 c. What was the practice of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and the four caliphs in this connection? 02 d. Make a précis of the passage and suggest a suitable title to it. 09 (2) Once we have found the habit of looking within, listening to ourselves and responding to our own impulses and feelings we shall not let ourselves be so easily the victim of uncontrollable emotions and effects; the inner life, instead of being either a gaping void or a ghoulish nightmare, will be open to cultivation and in both personal conduct and in art will bring us into more fruitful and loving relations with other men, whose hidden depths will flow through the symbols of art into our own. At this point we can nourish life again more intensely from the outside too, opening our minds to every touch and sight and sound, instead of anaesthetizing ourselves continually to much that goes on around us, because it has become so meaningless, so unrelated to our inner needs. With such self discipline, we shall in time, control the tempo and rhythm of our days; control the quantity of stimuli that impinge on us; control our attention so that the things we do shall reflect our purposes and values, as human beings not the extraneous purposes and values of the machine. Questions: a. How can we control our emotions? 02 b. How can we cultivate loving relations with other men? 02 c. What is meant by the phrase “the extraneous purpose and values of the machine”? 02 d. Make a précis of the passage and suggest a suitable title to it. 09
(3) Travelling is the best means of acquiring sound knowledge.
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