Build up your knowledge of English

The knowledge of English has proved to be the most significant parameter of the successes in almost all the domains of human endeavours, especially in the modern age of the 21st century. There is no denying the fact that learning a foreign language like English for the non- native speakers of our country has been a herculean task. The mastery upon English, inter alia considerably depends upon the building up of the word power. However, knowledge of basic rules of grammar of English too makes what we may call the sine qua non for attaining the mastery over it. Below are given some words for checking their most appropriate meanings for enriching the vocabulary and also are given a few idioms and their usage which may help us know the language of English and ultimately lead us to the path of attaining mastery upon it -

Choose the closest meaning of the words given in the capital letters -

1. GLADDEN

(A) to develop

(B) to depress

(C) to delight

2. GIRDLE

(A) to evaporate

(B) to encircle

(C) to cajole

3. GLEAM

(A) to glitter

(B) to run away

(C) to direct

4. GLISSADE

(A) to glide

(B) to revive

(C) to surround

5. CORUSCATE

(A) to fail

(B) to define

(C) to sparkle

6. DOTAGE

(A) senility

(B) allocation

(C) implementation

7. DOTE

(A) to love someone deeply

(B) to give

(C) to rescue

8. DROWSE

(A) to produce something

(B) to stay

(C) to doze

9. DOLE

(A) height

(B) allowance

(C) enchantment

10. DOGMA

(A) doctrine

(B) deviation

(C) intelligence

11. DODGE

(A) to relieve

(B) to evade

(C) to searech something

12. TUSSLE

(A) to continue doing something

(B) to wrestle

(C) to stand

13. CLUTCH

(A) to elect

(B) to glorify

(C) to grab

14. GOURMAND

(A) gourmet

(B) confident

(C) affable

15. RESPLENDENT

(A) gorgeous

(B) dull

(C) motivating

16. SURFEIT

(A) to install

(B) to satiate

(C) to suggest

17. GOAD

(A) to create something (B) to love someone deeply

(C) to spur

18. SHEEN

(A) gloss

(B) memory

(C) childhood

19. GLEAN

(A) to gather

(B) to bring about

(C) to commence

20. ENNOBLE

(A) to intensify

(B) to glorify

(C) to strike

Answers: 1.C 2.B 3.A 4.A 5.C 6.A 7.A 8.C 9.B 10.A 11.B 12.B 13.C 14.A 15.A 16.B 17.C 18.A 19.A 20.B

Let us know these idioms and their usage

To sign someone’s death warrant – to be the cause of destruction or death of a person. (The farmers believe that government’s proposal to reduce the subsidies on the crops will be tantamount to signing their death warrant.)

To flex your muscles – to display your power or strength. (With the announcement of the dates of the general elections, the political parties have started flexing their muscles. )

Mutton dressed as lamb – it is used to criticize the old women who dress in the style which is suitable for the younger ladies. (She is a prolific writer but sometimes she wears the bright short miniskirt which makes her look like mutton dressed as lamb.) The last or final nail in the coffin – the last adverse event which causes complete destruction or failure.

(The actor’s latest sex scandal, published in the English dailies across the nation, may prove to be what we may call the last or final nail in the coffin of his acting career.)

To hit the nail on the head – to say or do something which is exactly correct and accurately describes the problem.

(The audiences were agreed with what she had explained about the reasons of the poverty in the country. She had hit the nail on the head.)

Your heart bleeds for someone – to have a lot of sympathy for someone because they are suffering. (Despite hard labour and consistent efforts, she failed to get promotion as the board director. My heart bled for her when I read about it in the newspaper.) To harden one’s heart – to stop having sympathetic or caring feelings for someone. (She hardened her heart against her husband after their divorce last year.)

Your heart is in your mouth – to feel extremely nervous because you think that something unpleasant is likely to take place. ( My heart was in my heart when I heard the eerie noise outside my house last night.)

To bring someone to heel/ to call someone to heel – to force someone to obey you or make them act as per the established norms.

(It is still not known how the government will plan to bring the agitating students to heel.)

Word of the week

FAROUCHE – adjective, wild, having the absence of social etiquettes and graces, shy, socially awkward. (She was initial ly farouche in the public parties but gradually she adapted herself to the sophisticated life style of the urban culture.)

(The author is Principal, PM Shri School Jawahar NavodayaVidyalaya, Garhbanaili, Bihar)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shreeprakash Sharma

[email protected]