Idioms & Phrases

 Choose the appropriate idiom given in the bracket and Fill in the blank . 

( hit the nail on the head

,piece of cake,

 once  in a blue moon

, under the weather

, cutting corners

, add insult to injury

, Break a leg

, speak of the devil

, see eye to eye

, the best of both worlds

, you can't judge a book by its cover

, costs an arm and a leg

let the cat out of the bag, pigs fly

, kill two birds with one stone)

A) I can’t afford this purse! It _______. I won’t be able to pay my rent!

B) His birthday was supposed to be a surprise! I can’t believe you _____. Now he knows!

C) Ha! John has been promising to paint the house for five years…. Maybe when _______.

D) Yeah, it’ll _______. I need to sign some papers at Jenny’s school anyway so i’ll pick her up for you too.

E) I don’t really like going out to bars anymore. I only go _______.

F) I’m sorry I can’t come into work today. I’m ________. I have a sore throat and runny nose.

G) inf it was our fault!

I) I can’t wait to see you perform on stage tonight! ______!

J) Jane is just never on time to work, it’s really annoying. O wow, ______ here she comes…

K) So we’re going to London, then Munich, then we will fly out of Athens, right? Great. I’m so glad to be traveling with someone I _______ with.

L) Wow, she found her dream man and has now landed an amazing job. She really does have ______.

M) OK, she might not be the most attractive but _________. I’m sure she is a sweetheart.

N) I have been trying to figure this out for ages. Thanks so much, you’re right. You _______.

O) I can’t believe that was our test. I think it was easier than some of our homework! It was a ______.

Virtual message.

 Most often the input for a message comes in the form of a telephonic conversation between two people. The virtual conversation conveyed in the conversation is to be converted into a message for a third person. Whereas, sometimes, standard instructions contain the necessary information for the message. Such messages are written on small pieces of papers called memo-slips. Basically such messages contain the following:

  Format : 

• Date 

• Time 

• Name of a person to whom the message is directed 

• Body of the message 

• Name of the writer / sender 

  Points to remember : While writing the body of the message, the following points have to be kept in mind. 

• Only the most important details should be written. 

• No new information should be added. 

• Grammatically correct sentences should be used. 

• Indirect or reported speech should be used. 

• The message should be written in simple language and without any abbreviations. 

• Check your message before you submit and send it. 

• Be friendly and polite. 

• Avoid pun/ambiguity/witticism, in short words that would create confusion or a chaotic situation.

  Example:

You receive a telephone call from your mother’s office when she is not at home. You have the following conversation with the speaker. But you have to go for your tuition class. So you leave a message for your mother. Write the message within 50 words using the information given below. Do not add any new information.

Ambuj : Hello! 

Mr Rastogi : Hello! May I speak to Ms Dixit, please? I am Naresh Rastogi from the office. 

Ambuj : Mom’s not at home right now. 

Mr Rastogi : In that case can you give her a message? It is urgent. Please tell her that the meeting fixed for tomorrow has been rescheduled. Ask her to check her mail as soon as possible for the details. Please don’t forget to inform her. 

Ambuj : Don’t worry. I will tell her as soon as she returns. 

 

  Message

14 Feb 3:30 pm Mom , Mr Rastogi from the office called up to say that the meeting fixed for tomorrow has been rescheduled. He wants you to check your mail as soon as possible for the details. He said it was urgent.  Ambuj

  BRAINSTORMING

(A1) (i) In pairs, enact the given conversation between Rakesh and Mrs Sarkar.

Rakesh : Hello, may I speak to Dr Sarkar? 

Mrs Sarkar : He has gone to the hospital to attend the OPD. May I know who is speaking? 

Rakesh : Yes. I am Rakesh Sood. My wife has been having a severe headache since yesterday. Since this morning she has also developed a high temperature. I would be very grateful if the doctor could come over to our place to examine her. 

Mrs Sarkar : Of course. Please let me note down your address. 

Rakesh : It is B-49, New Colony. 

Mrs Sarkar : I will give him your message as soon as he returns. 

Rakesh : Thank you. 

  Mrs Sarkar had to leave for the school where she teaches. So she wrote a message for her husband. Draft the message in not more than 50 words. 

23 Nov 2020 , 8:05 A.M. Dear Hubby,  Mr. Rakesh Sood called up to say his wife has a severe headache and high fever the previous day. He requested you to visit his place to examine his wife. He would be grateful  if you do so. He lives at B-49, New Colony. Leaving this message since I have to go to school to teach.  Mrs. Sarkar

(ii) Using information from the dialogue given below, write the message which Amrita left for her brother, Sourajit. (Do not leave out any vital information or add any new information). 

Shekhar : Is this 28473892? 

Amrita : Yes. May I know who is speaking?

Shekhar : I am Shekhar. I want to speak to Sourajit. I am his friend from IHM, Goa. 

Amrita : I am his sister. Sourajit is not at home at the moment. Can you ring up a little later? 

Shekhar : I shall be a little busy. Actually, I have got a placement at the Hotel Mumbai, and will have to join with immediate effect. So right now I am trying to get all the formalities completed. This is the news that I wanted to give Sourajit. Will you do that for me? Also tell him that I will let him know my new cell phone number as soon as I get one. 

Amrita : I’ll do that. Bye and all the best. 

  Amrita had to leave for office. So she wrote a note for Sourajit. Draft her message in not more than 50 words. 

 

23 Nov 2020 , 8:05 A.M.                                                                                                                                                         Sourajit,  Mr. Shekhar , your friend from IHM Goa called up when you were not home. He called up to give news about his placement at Hotel Mumbai. He stated that he would be busy in completing formalities of joining. He would let you know his new cell phone number very soon.  Amrita.

(iii) You are Priyanka, a personal assistant to Ms Sen. She was away attending a meeting when Mr Garg rang up. You spoke to him and jotted down his message in your note- pad. Draft the message for Ms Sen using the information in your notes given below.

Mr Garg - rang up - 5pm - has received the CDs and the posters - coming tomorrow - to thank Ms Sen and to personally hand over the cheque. 

 

31 December 2020, 05:10PM Ms. Sen Mr.Garg called up at 5 PM stating that he had received the CDs and the posters. He will be coming tomorrow to thank you and hand over the cheque personally. Priyanka.

(iv) Read the following conversation between Aashna and Mr Singh. 

Aashna : Hello, may I speak to Ranajit, please? 

Mr Singh : Ranajit is getting ready for school. May I know who is speaking? 

Aashna : My name is Aashna. I am Ranajit’s classmate. 

Mr Singh : Hello, Aashna. I am Ranajit’s father. Is there any message? 

Aashna : Yes. Please ask him to bring his biology notebook to school today. I was absent from school due to illness. I would like to see the notes which our biology teacher gave to the class during my absence. 

Mr Singh : I will definitely do that. 

  Since Mr Singh had to go for his morning walk he left a message for Ranajit. Draft that message in 50 words. 

 (v) Rajat comes home from school and finds the door locked. Since he has a duplicate key he enters and finds a note from his mother kept on the table. In it she explains that she had to rush to the hospital with Mrs Manohar, their neighbour, who had met with an accident. She has also written that he should have the rice and curry kept on the dining table for lunch. He could heat the food in the microwave oven if he wanted to, but he should be very careful while handling the switch. Draft the message which Rajat’s mother left for him.

(vi) Using the information given below, write a message which Manu left for his sister, Renu. (Do not add any new information. The message should not exceed 50 words). 

Ruhaan rang up-book-reading session-‘Children Ask Kalam’-Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam-ompilation of letters received by him from children and his answers- Oxford Book Store-8 pm, this evening,-pick you up-6:30 pm-attend reading session together. 

 (vii) Given below is a template for a message. Imagine you are working as a receptionist in a company and you are supposed to maintain the call record. Complete the details given in the template for a particular message.

Call For : From : Company : Date Time Phone ( ) Message : Action (Circle One) Taken By Phoned Returned Your Call Back Will Call Again Call

Unseen passage

 Q.2A) Read the following extract and answer the questions given below. (12)

Organic farming is the form ofagriculture that relies on ecological   processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions. Organic  farmers ensure soil fertility with the help Ofcrop rotation, compost and  other biologically induced soil amendments. A healthy soil structure increases its ability to hold waterand theplants become better equipped to  resist diseases and insects and there is no need to depenJd on synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, plant growth regulators, livestock feed additives and genetically modified organisms, all of which are extremely harmful to the plants as well as human beings who consume them.
According to the International Federation of Organic Agriculture  Movements : 'Organic apiculture combines tradition, ümovaüon and science   to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality oflife for all involved... ..." In India, the Green Revolution, which  was water intensive and involved a heavy dose ofchemical fertilizers, has not been a boon. Many farmers have seen the effect ofchemical farming soil erosion and loss ofsoil nutrients, loss ofnutrition in food, and human   diseases resulting from the chemicals that seep into the watertable.
But organic farming is often hard for the farmers who have to invest
 considerable time, energy and resources to regenerate the soil and reestablish the delicate balance between soil, water, air, animals and plants. Fulfier, the lack ofsupport inmaintaining such abalance makes the products more expensive, putting the burden on the consumers who choose to eat  healthy.

1) What does the first paragraph focus on? 1

2) Why was the Green Revolution not a boon for Indian farmers? 2

3) How is organic farming advantageous to farmers? 2

 4) What agicultural problems, according to you, do farmers face? 2

 5) Rewrite the following sentences in the ways instructed .

1) Organic farmers ensure soil fertility with t he help of croprotation.
(Add a question tag.)

i) Ahealthy soil sfructure increases its ability to hold water.    1

(Frame a 'Wh - question' to get the underlined part as answer.)

 iil) Chemical fertilizers are extermely harmful to the plants as well as human beings.  1
(Rewrite the sentence using 'not only.........but also'.)        1

6) Find out the words from the extract which mean: 1 
1) leak slowly.
il) substance added to improve something.


B) Summary : (4 Marks)

Write a sumary of the above extract with the help ofthe following points and suggest a suitable title:
 Organic farming -- depends on -- ensures soil fertility by -- organic  agriculture promotes -- difficulty for farmers because -- burden on consumer.

Q.3A) Answers


l) The benefits oforganic fanning.

2) Because it was water intensive and involved a heavy dose ofchemical fertilizers. It resulted in soil erosion, loss of soil nutrients and nutrition in food. and human diseases arising from the use ofchemicals.

.3) Organic farming ensues soil fertility and healthy soil structure which increases its ability to hold water. It makes plants healthier to resist diseases.

4) According to me, Indian farmers are facing the problems like loadsheding  insufficlent rainfall, lack of modem 

  




 Organic farming : Aboon to farmers

4 B) Organicfarming depends on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles  adapted to local conditions. Organic farmers ensure soil fertility with the  help ofcrop rotation, compost and other soil amendments. An ability to hold water in soil is increased. Itis beneficial for the plants to resist diseases  and insects.
Organic farming promotes fairrelationships and a good quality of life. But there are some diffculties for the farmers who investtime, energy and resourses and maintain the balance between soil, water, air, animals and plants. The products become more expensive and become burdon for the consumers.

Idioms & Phrases

 *Everyday Idioms* 

Use these idioms in your own sentences. 

A grey area – Something unclear

A rip-off – Too expensive

Add fuel to the fire – To add more to an existing problem

As easy as ABC – Something is very easy

Call it a day – Time to quit

Cool as a cucumber – To be very calm under stress

Crack a book – Open up a book and study

Down to the wire – At the last minute

Draw a blank – Can’t remember

Fill in the blanks – Provide more information

Get a kick out of it – Really enjoy/like something

Get your act together – Behave properly

Give it a shot – To try to do something

Have mixed feelings – Be unsure of how you feel

Have second thoughts – Have doubts

In hot water – Be in trouble

In the same boat – Be in the same situation

It’s in the bag – It’s a certainty

I've got your number – To say you can't be fooled by someone since you have them figured out

Miss the boat – You missed your chance

Mumbo jumbo – To call something total nonsense

Out of the blue – With no warning

Pass with flying colors – To succeed at something easily

Piece of cake – Something very easy

Read between the lines – Find the hidden meaning

Second to none – The best

The icing on the cake – Something additional that turns good into great

Interview of women in old age home.

 I was lucky to visit an old age home today. I met a grandma to whom I asked few questions.

1. How did you land at this place?

2. What is your opinion about this place?

3. How do you spend your time?

4. What are the facilities provided here?

5. What is your routine at this place?

6. What about your family members?

7. How often do they come to visit you?

8. How is the health taken care of?

9. Do you have any suggestions for improvement of this place?

10. Any message you would wish to convey to senior citizens?

Thanks grandma. I enjoyed talking to you. Hope you too liked it.