PONDICHERRY ENGINEERING COLLEGE

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

GENERAL PROFICIENCY I

ASSIGNMENT

OCTOBER 2012

NAME:

BRANCH: IT ROLL NO.:

SUBMITTED TO:

SIGNATURE OF THE TEACHER:

I SYNONYMS

1. THROTTLE a. choke b. silence c. destroy d. murder

2. FRIPPERY a. jewellery b. soft feeling c. empty display d. delicacy

3. PREVARICATE a. give testimony b. know in advance c. early warning d. avoid truth

4. INTRACTABLE a. culpable b. efficient c. unruly d. heavy

5. TERSE a. bold b. pithy c. strenuous d. fearless

II ANTONYMS

6. DESSICATE a. lengthen b. exonerate c. saturate d. anesthetize

7. EXTANT a. destroyed b. extinguished c. forgotten d. unheeded

8. EFFRONTERY a. diffidence b. backwardness c. bravery d. flattery

9. ACCRETION a. decrease b. spoil c. accumulation d. detraction

10. AMICABLE a. penetrating b. zigzag c. hostile d. compensating

III VERBAL ANALOGY

11. Impeccable: Flaw ::

a. Impeachable:Crime b. Impetuous:Warning c. Moribund:Living d. Absurd:Sense

12. Guzzle: Drink ::

a. Elucidate:Clarify b. Ingest:Eat c. Boast:Describe d. Stride:Walk

13. Flood:Diluvial ::

a. Bacteria:Biological b. Light:Candescent c. Heart:Cardiac d. Verdict:Judicial

14. Sphinx:Perplex ::

a. Oracle:Interpret b. Prophet:Prepare c. Siren:Lure d. Jester:Astound

IV In each question choose the sentence which is grammatically correct

15. a) He was deprived of not only his money but also his luggage.

b) Not only he was deprived of his money but also his luggage.

c) He was not only deprived of his money but also his luggage.

d) He not only was deprived of his money but also his luggage.

16. a) Some firms only work when they are faced with the threat of closure.

b) Only some firms work when they are faced with the threat of closure.

c) Some firms work only when they are faced with the threat of closure.

d) Some firms work when they are faced with the threat of closure only.

17. a) Very few people have realised the value of time.

b) Very few people have realised the value for time.

c) Very few people has realised the value for time.

d) Very little people have realised the value of time.

V Choose the correct meanings for the idioms

18. A bolt from the blue

a. something unavoidable b. unexpected occurrence c. good assistance d. timely help

19. Bone of contention

a. difficult task b. cause of happiness c. cause of dispute d. reason for failure

20. To be in the doldrums

a. to be out of danger b. to be in low spirits c. to be in anger d. to be in debt

21. A white elephant

a. something very old b. useless possession c. lazy person d. something rare

22. To look for a needle in a haystack

a. to search carefully b. look for things hidden

c. look for lost things d. seek what is impossible to find

VI Complete the following proverbs and write their meanings

23. Fortune-----------------------------------------.

24. A new broom----------------------------------------.

25. A rolling stone -------------------------------------------.

26. Discretion --------------------------------------------.

27. Not all who own a lyre ------------------------------------.

VII What do the following terms signify? Frame sentences to make the meanings clear.

28. Bona fide

28. Ipso facto

29. Zeitgeist

30. Vox Populi

31. Prima facie

32. Deus ex machine

VIII Expand the following

33. ONGC

34. SENSEX

35. NASSCOM

36. IRDP

37. BPO

IX Choose the appropriate word (5)

(hallucination, sagacity, pugnacity, cachet, dawdle)

38. She likes to ……………. along by the river, laughing and talking.

39. Was the figure real or just a …………………………?

40. In designer wear, no other brand name has quite the same …………………..

41. He showed excellent ………………….. in dealing with the problem

42. She used to be often involved in violent arguments because of her …………………

X Rewrite the following sentences avoiding redundancy of expression

43. They came one after the other in succession.

44. He was often in the habit of going to race meetings.

45. The subject of the first paragraph tells how the couriers brought the news of a great victory.

46. The speed of the car was too fast.

47. The reason why he did not come was because he was ill.

XI Choose the correct prepositions (5)

48. The mother was anxious …………… the safety of her son.

a) for b) upon c) about d) at

49. He had to repent ………………………….What he had done.

a) for b)at c) of d) over.

50. Give an example pertinent …………….the case.

a) with b) on c)for d) to

51. Very often we do not get what we pine………………

a) with b) for c) of d) by.

52. I will call ………………………. him tomorrow.

a) on b) at c) for d) about.

XII ANALYTICAL WRITING

“In India social networking sites have proved to be socio-cultural, political, economic, and legal hazards.”

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19 20 21

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24 25 26 27 28 29 30

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35 36

ACROSS 1 Fight(6) 5 Haunt(6) 8 Preserve(8) 9 Ceremony(4) 10 Damp(3) 12 Cut(5) 15 Deity(3) 17 Knock(3) 18 Hatchet(3) 19 Beverage(3) 20 Expel(5) 21 And not(3) 22 Males(3) 23 Bird(3) 24 Tear(3) 26 Trample(5) 29 Agent(3) 33 Asterisk(4) 34 Buy(8) 35 Pal(6) 36 Alerted(6)

DOWN 2 conscious(5) 3 Flavour(4) 4 Avoid(5) 5 Scope(5) 6 Tender(4) 7 Proportion(5) 10 Irrigate(5) 11 Hobe(5) 12 Exhausted(5) 13 Utter(5) 14 Assessed(5) 15 Class(5) 16 Unclean(5) 25 Bury(5) 27 Swift(5) 28 Missile(5) 30 Adhesive(5) 31 Release(4) 32 Scorch(4)