1

ASSIGNMENT No: 2 (Units 5-9)

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 40

Q.1 Read about ‘Compare and Contrast’ on Pages 147-148. You should also have read

about a brief comparison and contrast between Abu Dhabi and Ajman given on

Page 149.

a. How both of the cities are similar (provide a comparison between

Rawalpindi and Islamabad)? The Islamabad-Rawalpindi metropolitan area is Pakistan's third most populous metropolitan area. It consists principally of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, along with smaller towns such as Murree, Wah Cantonment, Taxila, Gujar Khan, Golra Sharif, and

several gated suburbs including Bahria Town and DHA Islamabad.

The metro area is connected by a network of highway's with the rest of the country. Within the metro area the Islamabad Highway and Kashmir Highway provide the primary link between Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

B. How both of the cities are different (provide a contrast between

Rawalpindi and Islamabad)?

Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan and Rawalpindi is NOT.

Q.2 Read about ‘Academic Reading’ on Pages 183-185. Now briefly EXPLAIN the

following terms (in your own words) with appropriate examples:

a. Reading

What Is Reading? Reading is defined as a cognitive process that involves decoding symbols to

arrive at meaning. Reading is an active process of constructing meanings of

words. Reading with a purpose helps the reader to direct information towards a

goal and focuses their attention. Although the reasons for reading may vary, the

primary purpose of reading is to understand the text. Reading is a thinking

process. It allows the reader to use what he or she may already know, also called

prior knowledge. During this processing of information, the reader uses strategies

to understand what they are reading, uses themes to organize ideas, and uses

textual clues to find the meanings of new words. Each of the three components of

reading is equally important. Let's take a look at the components!

Examples of comprehension skills that can be taught and applied to all

reading situations include:

2

• Summarizing.

• Sequencing.

• Inferencing.

• Comparing and contrasting.

• Drawing conclusions.

• Self-questioning.

• Problem-solving.

• Relating background knowledge.

b. Skimming

Skimming is reading a text quickly to get a general idea of meaning. It can

be contrasted with scanning, which is reading in order to find specific

information, e.g. figures or names.

Example

A learner taking a reading exam decides to approach text by looking at the

title, introductions, and any diagrams and sub-headings, then skim reading

to get a clear general idea of what the text is about.

In the classroom

Skimming is a specific reading skill which is common in reading

newspapers, messages and e-mails. It is important that learners understand

that there is no need to read every word when skimming, so often teachers

set this as a timed task to encourage speed

c. Scanning

Scanning is reading a text quickly in order to find specific information,

e.g. figures or names. It can be contrasted with skimming, which is

reading quickly to get a general idea of meaning.

Example

A learner taking a reading test needs to scan a text on population rates

quickly to find out if a series of statements about the population figures

are true or false.

3

In the classroom

As the above example shows, scanning is a specific reading skill which is

often used in combination with others such as skimming and intensive

reading. Learners need to learn different ways and understand that

choosing how to read is an important step in building reading skills.

d. Reading technique

Reading is a method of communication that enables a person to turn writing into

meaning.

It allows the reader to convert a written text into a meaningful language with

independence, comprehension, and fluency, and to interact with the message.

7 Reading Techniques or Styles are the following:

1. Scanning.

2. Skimming.

3. Active Reading.

4. Detailed.

5. Speed.

6. Structure-Proposition-Evaluation

7. Survey-Question-Read-Recite-Review.

e. Guessing meaning

Although the skill of guessing word meanings from context is widely

acknowledged as a useful skill there has been little research in this area and very

little useful guidance for teachers or learners. This article describes a strategy for

guessing meanings from context and suggests ways of practising this strategy. The

strategy involves four steps: 1, determining the part of speech of the word; 2,

looking at the immediate grammar; 3, studying the wider context (usually the

conjunction relationships); 4, guessing the word and checking the guess. A basic

list of conjunction relationships is given in the Appendix. The previous research,

and value and applications of the skill are discussed and suggestions are made for

future studies.

4

Q.3 Keeping in mind the pre-reading activities given in the unit, complete Exercise 8

(given on Page 198). Look at the picture carefully and WRITE down a

paragraph of about 100 words predicting and guessing about the background of the

picture.

Wagah, a village situated on the Grand Trunk Road between Amritsar of India

and Lahore in Pakistan. The Wagah border is situated at a distance of 29 kms.

from Lahore (Pakistan) and 27 kms. from Amritsar (India). Radcliffe Line which

had been drawn during 1947, Split one country into two parts. Radcliffe Line

passes through the village Wagah on the Indian side. Wagah border is the crucial

point between India and Pakistan and is open for tourists on a regular basis.

Q.4 Read about ‘Implied Meaning and Making Inferences’ on Pages 217-228. Now

briefly EXPLAIN the following terms (in your own words) with appropriate

examples:

a. Implied meaning

Imply means to express, suggest, or show something without stating it

directly: A friend’s gruff manner would imply that she’s in a foul mood.

the verb imply comes from a Latin word meaning “enfold or entangle” but

has come to mean “to hint at.” You might imply something that you don’t

want to outright say if you’re feeling coy. If you don’t call someone back

after she leaves eight messages, you imply that you don’t want to chat.

When you make a subtle suggestion, you imply.

b. Making inferences

Making an inference involves using what you know to make a guess about what

you don't know or reading between the lines. Readers who make inferences use

the clues in the text along with their own experiences to help them figure out

what is not directly said, making the text personal and memorable. Helping

students make texts memorable will help them gain more personal pleasure from

reading, read the text more critically, and remember and apply what they have

read.

c. Denotation

Denotation is the literal meaning, or "dictionary definition," of a word. Denotation

is defined in contrast to connotation, which is the array of emotions and ideas

5

suggested by a word in addition to its dictionary definition. The words "house"

and "home," for example, have the same denotation—a building where people

live—but the word "home" has a connotation of warmth and family, while the

word "house" does not. A word's denotation does not include any of the

subjective or emotional associations that are part of that word's connotation.

d. Connotation

Connotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing

which it describes explicitly. Words carry cultural and emotional associations or

meanings, in addition to their literal meanings or denotations.

Q.5 Go to Exercise 5 on Page 232 and carefully READ the two situations given there.

Now complete the exercise by answering the two questions: (5+5)

a. Why students reacted in this manner (Situation 1)?

A disrespectful student can get under a teacher’s skin like almost nothing

else.

When confronted with disrespect, it’s easy to take it personally. This is a

normal reaction from a passionate teacher.

But it’s a colossal mistake.

Because when you take behavior personally, you’re likely to react in ways

that make managing that student’s behavior much more difficult.

b. Why the colleagues wrote this type of notice (Situation 2)?

The workplace can be dangerous, even more so in an industrial environment.

Numerous factors can cause accidents, ranging from overexertion to mishandling

of hazardous materials. There are also a multitude of variables that can contribute

to or influence a workplace incident.

6

Q.6 Read about ‘Denotation and Connotation’ on Pages 249-260. Now carefully READ

the text titled as ‘Life in the Indus Valley’ on Pages 238-243 and take out the

words which have either NEGATIVE or POSITIVE connotation.

Positive Negative

slowest

Flat

Prosperous

Fertile

Rumbling

Q.7 Keeping in mind the definitions of ‘Denotation’ and ‘Connotation’, COMPLETE

Exercise 2 (given on Pages 262) by numbering the words. Follow the examples

given.

1 Gaze Look Stare Watch Ogle Gape glance

STARE Gaze glance Look leer Stare

2 Uprising Riot Demonstration Gathering Protest Disturbance

Mob

3 Guerilla Freedom Fighter Mercenary Soldier Terrorist revolutionary

Freely Kick Bomb Freedom

Q.8 Which English newspaper is your favorite? What benefits do you think you are

getting out of reading it on daily basis?

I cannot begin my day unless I read The Times of India. It adds to the relish of my

morning tea 'The Nation: ' is my most favorite newspaper.

It satisfies the reading taste of all. At a low cost it gives ample of variety of

reading matter to the readers. It gives the latest news from at over the globe. It

depicts a detail, clear picture of current wan in Pakistan as well as in the other

corners of the world, A glance over its columns keeps the readers in touch with

happening in every fields from politics and commerce to art and literature. From

these one feels the pulse of the nations on the globe. This newspaper is the mirror

of public opinions.

The Benefits of Reading Newspapers Reading newspaper is a good habit that can provide a great sense of educational

value. It carries information about politics, economy, entertainment, sports,

business, industry, trade and commerce. With this habit, it will not only enhance

your knowledge about general information but it will likewise improve your

language skills and vocabulary.

• Newspapers carry the news of the world.

7

• Newspapers provide information and general knowledge.

• Newspapers provide news about a country’s economic situation, sports,

games, entertainment, trade and commerce.

• Reading newspaper makes a good habit and it is already part of the

modern life. This habit will widen your outlook and will enrich your

knowledge.

• Reading newspaper makes you well informed. It enables you to take part

in every discussion pertaining to the world’s current events.

• Reading newspapers will improve your knowledge in general and it will

be easy for you to relate to other people who often talks about current

events and politics.

• Through newspapers, you will have a clear idea and understanding of what

is happening in your country and the whole world.

Q.9 Which page of your favorite newspaper you like the most? Why?

My Favorite Page in Newspaper is Column because of i m love column. A

column is a recurring piece or article in a newspaper, magazine or other

publication, where a writer expresses their own opinion in few columns allotted to

them by the newspaper organisation. Columns are written by columnists.

What differentiates a column from other forms of journalism is that it is a regular

feature in a publication – written by the same writer or reporter and usually on the

same subject area or theme each time – and that it typically, but universally,

contains the author's opinion or point of view.

Some types of newspaper columns are:

>Advice column >Community correspondent

>Critic's reviews >Editorial opinion

>Exchange column >Fashion column

>Features column >Food column >Gossip column

>Humor column or causerie >Sports column >opinion column