Question : Mathematics: A mirror of modern civilization.
(2022)
Answer : Modern civilization differs from the great cultures of the distant past in that we have mastered the use of numbers. A railroad engine may have developed in Athens or Babylon, but even the most scientific minds could not have planned or comprehended a railroad timetable. In other words, we have mastered the skill of calculation, and new applications for it emerge every day. The average person can easily figure out answers to problems that stumped the greatest mathematicians of antiquity, and the day will come when Einstein will be clear to the average person.
The needs of daily life gave rise to the modern science of mathematics, which has developed day by day alongside global daily life. Intelligent social planning will need to use mathematics more and more, and a greater passion for studying mathematics will be required.
The way in which a society's members live reflects the essence of that society's culture. The culture is reflected in how people live, act, dress, eat, and drink, as well as how they raise their children and uphold their social ties. The development of science and technology, which in turn depends on the progress and development of mathematics, greatly influences how people live in a society. Thus, the development in mathematics has continuously influenced changes in living practices and, in turn, culture. Additionally, mathematics aids in the transmission and preservation of our cultural traditions.
The proper setup and upkeep of a successful social structure are made possible by mathematics. It is crucial for the proper establishment of social institutions like banks, co-operatives, railways, post offices, insurance firms, businesses, transport systems, and navigation, among others. Without mathematics, it is impossible to conduct efficient business transactions, exports and imports, trade and commerce, and communication. Thus smooth and orderly functioning of the civil society is ensured by Mathematics.
At the individual level, a person's success in a society depends on how well he can fit in, what contributions he can make to the society's advancement, and how well he can benefit from the society. Today, scientific and technological knowledge—which can only be acquired through the study of mathematics—completely controls our social existence. Investigation, analysis, and inferences regarding the creation of various social laws and their compliance are done using mathematical logics and methods. Additionally, the values learned through studying mathematics will aid an individual in self-adjustment and a harmonious social life.
The study of mathematics aids a person in developing his character in a variety of ways. As there is no room for prejudiced feelings, biased outlook, discrimination, or irrational thinking, it helps him develop a proper attitude. It helps him with accurate analysis, sound reasoning, sound judgment, and impartial judgment. These moral principles instilled in an individual aid in his success.
Despite the fact that many people are unaware of the connection between civilizations and mathematics, it does not mean that the relation is insignificant. The structure and functioning of the society is highly dependent on mathematics. The only issue is that all society members are unaware of this relationship, regardless of their level of education or line of work. In today's technologically advanced world, it is impossible to imagine a society without mathematics.
It is therefore abundantly clear that the language of mathematics has other noteworthy characteristics, including being global, being logically planned, having no place for sentiment or prejudices, having no social distinctions, and having no emotional inheritance. The prediction that the study of mathematics and the spread of pure mathematics knowledge will lead to the resolution of the world's numerous problems is thus not overstated.
Question : New frontiers of science need to be explored in the current times
(2022)
Answer : All around us, various technologies are maturing and changing the world in nuanced, unpredictable ways. In order to prepare for the future, we must pay attention to lesser-known but equally significant aspects of the natural world. Several of these have the potential to produce technologies that will change the game and lead to new insights.
Future Frontiers of Science
As we might anticipate, the technologies that so many of us read about and discuss have promise for the future. The usual suspects, such as artificial intelligence, human genome editing, sustainable energy, and the future of weapons, were among the complex issues that came to light. We can distil eight ‘future frontiers’ of science and technology from these fascinating perspectives that we all should learn more about. Four of them are highly promising, while the other four require great concern.
Four Most Promising Frontiers of Science
Four Concerning Areas of Research
Therefore, Science is vital to addressing the major global challenges humanity faces currently and those it will face in the future. Scientists have much to contribute to society, and a right and responsibility to do so. Doing good quality work is where our responsibilities begin, not where they end. Scientists, as individual members of society and as citizens, can bring specialised knowledge that may be essential to addressing social concerns. New frontiers of science offer the potential for effective application of scientific education and expertise to societal and global concerns If done carefully.
Question : The role of literature in a common man’s life.
(2022)
Answer : The majority of us encounter literature for the first time in a serious way in school. All of us have had reading and writing drilled into us since we were young, and the start of exams sets this in motion. From the viewpoint of a student, it is categorical and essential to be able to empathize with a cast of characters on a page. Additionally, being able to discern themes and messages allows us to think differently, literature serves as a vehicle. More than 130 million books have been published worldwide, and each one serves as a reader's guide and a gateway to new knowledge.
History not only provides access to the past, but it also offers clues about the present and the future. Every era contains unique individuals, and within them, distinct stages in our ever-evolving culture. Each person before them was a creation of their own era. As a species we evolve every day and without that timestamp that literature gives us, we would know nothing about the past. Through literature, one can travel through time and learn about life on Earth from those who came before us. We can learn more about different cultures and develop a deeper appreciation for them. We gain knowledge from the methods used to record history, including manuscripts and verbal communication. We can learn about ancient Egypt's history by studying its paintings and hieroglyphs. We now use the symbols that the Egyptians left behind to understand their culture. Due to their innate desire for accuracy in their writing, Greek and Roman cultures are easier to find than this one. This is the influence that words have. They are completely eternal and have the power to ignite meaning, transform nations, and start movements. They will always outlive their speaker.
The influence of literature on contemporary society cannot be disputed. Each author uses literature as a medium for expression. Some books serve as social mirrors that help us comprehend the society we live in. Through their stories, authors easily allow us access to their psyche. Literature, however, also emphasizes the necessity of comprehending contemporary problems like human conflict. According to a Gulf News article, people are led astray by contemporary media, like television and movies, into believing that every issue has immediate fixes. However, literature confirms the real complexity of human conflict.
Our vocabulary grows as a result of reading, which is one of its most significant benefits. We can communicate more effectively verbally and in writing the more words we know. Because of our innate desire to describe things in great detail, language evolved from pictures into words in humans. This is why reading to children is so crucial because it exposes them to a vast vocabulary that they can use throughout their lives. If we want to find out more about a subject, the quickest way is to read about it. All the solutions we require can be found in literature, whether we decide to read a book or conduct an online information search. No matter what subject we are learning, there will be a ton of writing about it, providing us with a wealth of knowledge to draw from.
No matter when or where they are actually set, all books are products of the era and location in which they were written. Reading books by various authors allows us to gain knowledge of various historical eras and cultures while also providing commentary on modern society. The most well-known illustration of this is Charles Dickens, whose works are renowned for their commentary on Victorian England and the appalling conditions that existed for the working class and poor at the time.
We learn more about ourselves through literature in addition to others. Additionally, it strengthens our critical thinking skills, enabling us to understand all the information we must process and ask the right questions about life. Reading makes us better thinkers in a variety of ways, from analyzing what a writer is trying to tell us through the use of a specific literary device to figuring out the truth on social media. Our understanding of ourselves and the outside world is improved as a result.
Reading is enjoyable and fun. It provides us with a break from our daily lives in a similar way to watching a movie, but it gives us much more freedom to use our imaginations than a movie does. We can also choose the genre of literature we feel like reading at any given time because there are so many books available. Adults who enjoy reading do so in about 63% of cases, and this habit typically develops in childhood. This is why it's so crucial that kids have fun and interesting books to read from an early age.
Therefore, literature is a window into humanity and a means of communicating with one another. We can get a sense of another person's thought process by listening to their voice. Literature is significant because it serves a purpose, and books can start a conversation in a society that is becoming less and less receptive to it.
Question : The Crying Need for Embracing Minimalism
(2021)
Answer : Some people's conception of a minimalist lifestyle involves giving up all of the world's modern conveniences. They picture themselves living in a log cabin in the woods with no electricity, a wood stove, and an outdoor lavatory. There may be some people who live in this manner, but not everyone who practices minimalism must go to this extreme. There are other ways minimalism can be utilised that do not require any real sacrifices.
A minimalist is someone who values themselves above material possessions. It entails making choices based on what you require rather than obtaining everything you desire. It does not mean the things you buy are cheap. It implies that regardless of their price, you must have them. A person can decide how much of a minimalist lifestyle they want to lead. They can also carry it out in phases. The majority of people start by going through their homes and getting rid of things they don't need. They eventually succeed in simplifying their lives to a much more minimalistic state.
A minimalistic lifestyle involves purposefully highlighting the things we value most and getting rid of anything that detracts from them. It is a way of life that encourages us to lead simpler lives so we can concentrate on what matters most to us. When you live simply, you own fewer possessions and have more resources to devote to the things that are most important to you.
Before moving further and talking about how to embrace a minimalist life, the question arises why minimalism? The answer to this question is very simple: You can reclaim your time and get more time to enjoy your life, focus on the important aspects of your life. Minimalism helps you to live a life with happiness: a life with purpose and a life with meaning. Minimalism changes the way a person thinks.
Place More Value on Experiences than on Things
When you make the decision to live on less, you start looking for opportunities to invest your time, energy, and resources in experiences rather than constantly considering what "thing" you can purchase next. Instead of accumulating more clutter in your life, you would prefer to spend your time and resources doing something to make memories. It becomes more important to have experiences, activities, and adventures than to accumulate more things.
Quit purchasing Items You don't need
As you adopt minimalism, you start to think more carefully about the things you bring into your space. You stop (or at least slow down) making purchases solely to satisfy your desire for something new. Learning to embrace living with less is a process and won't happen overnight.
Be a Strict and Deliberate Gatekeeper when it comes to What You Let into Your House and Your Life
The last thing you want to do is to stuff your home again after all of your hard work cleaning, purging, and minimising it. The motivation to keep unnecessary items out of your home in the first place comes from realizing how much work it took to get rid of your excess belongings. You might start acting as a gatekeeper and paying closer attention to what "stuff" is coming into your house.
Make Better Use of the Time You Have
It goes beyond simply your "things" to practise minimalism. It affects more than just material things; it also affects how you spend your time. You start declining commitments that don't fit with your values. Additionally, avoid committing to things that will take too much time away from the things you do value. You make a concerted effort to become more deliberate with how you spend your time because you realise that it is your most valuable resource. A minimalist way of thinking urges you to be more deliberate about what you let occupy your time and space.
Stop Comparing Yourself to Others Based on Your Possessions
You give up the idea of "keeping up with the Joneses" as you adopt a minimalist mindset. You develop the ability to be content with what you have. The things you use and adore are the things you know you possess. They are the things that enrich your life rather than make it more difficult. And that is sufficient. It gets simpler to let go of comparisons and the notion that you need to do more to "keep up." Instead, you are at ease and self-assured in adopting what is adequate for you and your family.
Now if you want all these things in your life and you are willing to practice minimalism, here are the five things you must focus on: Health, relationship, purpose, growth, and contribution.
Health: It includes two elements - diet and exercise. A minimalist maintains a healthy diet. He increases the amount of fruits and vegetables, particularly leafy greens, while decreasing the amount of packaged and processed food. Good habits like getting enough sleep, rising early, and exercising each day are steps in the right direction. A minimalist views his body as his most valuable possession and goes to great lengths to cherish and safeguard it.
Relationships: We all have relationships, whether they are with our family, friends, or acquaintances. But you must consider whether your relationship is right or wrong. We need to let go of the wrong relationships and nurture the ones that bring us happiness. A healthy relationship includes love, trust, honesty, care, support, attention, authenticity, and understanding. If you have a relationship which fulfills all these eight elements then conserve. If you have such relationships, they are very important to you. If not, find someone who can assist you in completing these eight requirements.
Purpose is very important in our lives. Without a purpose, our lives have no meaning because we will be heading in the wrong direction. Purpose helps in channelizing our power to get fruitful results. Therefore, we need to give our lives a purpose. To fulfill our purpose in life, we must identify it and work to develop our abilities and skills.
Growth: In order for your life to remain meaningful, you must continue to evolve, change and adapt to improve/grow. It may be giant leaps characterized by immediate and sizeable changes that have dramatic effect or daily incremental changes characterized by small, gradual changes that occur bit by bit every day in which when you look back, you can see the massive shift that has occurred eventually.
Contribution: By following the above four elements, you will have reached at a place in your life where you can now give back to the society. You can contribute for the betterment of people around you. For example, you can mentor others to achieve their dreams and purpose.
In short, embracing a minimalist way of live can lead to a better, less stressed, high achieving life. Minimalism leads to deeper connections. It is not about letting go of things that you hold dear but to get rid of things of little to no value. In doing so, you make room in your life to enjoy more of the things that bring you joy and add meaning to your life.
Question : Journalism has been rendered into sensationalism
(2019)
Answer : Journalism is a medium of collecting, writing and reporting news, and more broadly it includes the process of editing and presenting the news articles. Journalism is not only confined to publishing news in the newspapers, but also includes magazines, radio, and television.
Unfortunately, at present, Journalism is plagued by sensationalism and wrong reporting. Rather than making people aware of the ongoing events around the world, it focuses on presenting an exaggerated, distorted and perverted version of the most absurd and insignificant events. This is what is known as “Yellow Journalism”.
The term ‘yellow journalism’ came to be used in the mid-1890s to characterize the sensational journalism that used some yellow ink in the circulation war between Joseph Pulitzer’s ‘New York World’ and William Randolph Hearst’s ‘New York Journal’. By now, it has become rampant and has taken the form of an epidemic - spreading widely in media circles.
There are many instances of yellow journalism in India. The live coverage of Taj Mumbai terror attack at the cost of national security issues, extensive coverage of Aarushi murder issue at the cost of breach of privacy laws, extensive coverage of Nirbhaya rape issue at the cost of conducting a media trial and prejudice to the accused, and the list is endless.
In State of Uttar Pradesh v. Raj Narain, the Supreme Court of India held that Article 19(1) (a), in addition to guaranteeing freedom of speech and expression, guarantees the right to receive information on matters concerning public interest.
Media nowadays often portrays non-issues as real issues, while the real issues are sidelined. A glimpse at any of Indian news channels would send a shiver down the spine. Rather than publishing real issues that the public should be informed about like, the bad economic condition of our country and farmer suicides, there are special 1 hour shows on TV news channels about how ‘Simar’ has reincarnated as a housefly.
A common misconception is that large fonts or bright colors make the story sensational. But it’s the content that matters more than the presentation. Every news reporter wants to see their story on the front page or at the top of the primetime news. That may lead to the temptation to make a story sound bigger than it is. By twisting facts and publishing wrong news, media not only breaches the right to privacy of those who are being wrongly portrayed but is also in breach of the right to receive information of the general public.
Media is often driven by politics and often targets issues which serve as an agenda for political parties in a meticulously well planned manner in the garb of so called “News”. So, media nowadays is hand in gloves with various political parties working as agents for them portraying an unreal picture and sometimes even sensationalizing issues which sometimes lead to a sudden outbreak- outraging a particular section of the society, leading to political unrest and lawlessness in the society.
The Media is termed as the “Fourth Pillar” of Indian democracy. If it has been given such status, it must also abide by the responsibilities that come with it. In an era of sensationalism when most of the rationality, sensibility and sanity has gone down the drain, battling with trash journalism of many websites, journals and news channels must be taken seriously and should be a responsibility to correct ourselves and others who fall prey to such pieces of information. Somehow we all have stopped listening to the other side of the stories to get a balanced view.
Question : Uses and Abuses of Social Networking
(2017)
Answer : We can access information in better way. People who have a childhood and pubescent life minus the internet are faced with the difficulty of getting access to vital information and knowledge they need for education. With the birth of the internet, every single bit of information or knowledge a child or teen needs to learn is compiled in a very large library called the World Wide Web. With social networking, research is a thousand times easier and getting the information you want may be done in minutes. Social networking provides interactive involvement with other peoples. Long ago, most children and teens were limited to joining community, neighborhood, and school groups.
They were not that exposed to events and happenings outside their community. But with social networking and the internet in general, correspondence to virtually anyone from anywhere is possible Interactive involvement even reaches as far putting children and teens under the spotlight for discussing and participating in online and social networking forums for issues that concern them.
It helps in improving the world awareness. It is quite usual to think that children and teens are not that keen to knowing issues that shape the world. Politics, social problems, population, health, and the economy are things that the younger populace lacks interest in. But because of social networking, they have no choice but to face the world‘s problems and share their opinions. The good thing about this is that their voices are given weight in issues where adults are traditionally the prominent protagonists. With all this positive effects social networking also lead to the hazards and adverse effects of it and are as follows.
Even though social networking sites keep people connected and have many other great uses, there are also some disadvantages and ways these sites can be misused. However, social networking sites have become an established part of everyday life for many people, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. Therefore, it’s very important to acknowledge the problems that have accompanied this huge increase in popularity. Below is a list of several misuses and disadvantages that can be associated with blogs, chat rooms, virtual worlds, and specific social networking sites like Facebook.
One basic problem that can come with the use of social networking sites is the loss of individual privacy. This is because all social networking sites involve placing personal information on the internet, and it’s possible for people in almost all corners of the world to see that information. There are privacy settings for these sites, but many young people can be careless about this. In addition, information placed on the internet creates a “digital footprint” that can’t be erased as easily as words simply written on a piece of paper. Many young people don’t make good choices about what to include on their profiles.
A very serious problem which is related to loss of privacy is sexual predation on social networking sites. Because they don’t always think before they post, students sometimes upload scandalous pictures of themselves onto their profiles.
A cyberbully is someone who abuses another person through the internet or other technology. Social networking sites are often breeding grounds for such abuse. This is because it’s so quick and easy to post a mean comment, send an intimidating message, start a nasty rumor, or upload embarrassing photos. Students don’t think twice about their actions because the time between planning a prank and actually going through with it is greatly decreased on a social networking site. Another problem with social networking sites is that they can be very addicting and take up a lot of students’ time. That time could be used for more productive activities. Homework aside, students could be doing many other productive activities like reading or being more physically active.
Instead, they are sitting in front of computer screens to look at social networking sites—for around an hour on average every day.
It seems to be contradictory that people would lose social skills because of social networking sites. However, some people perceive this as another disadvantage. Many of today’s students feel more comfortable chatting with a person online than talking in a verbal conversation. Also, almost anything you can do in real life can be done online in virtual realities like Second Life
There have even been many virtual marriages within this community. Sometimes people start to prefer their fake online lives to their actual lives, and this is when social networking sites start to negatively affect social skills. Some argue that there is even a mental disease that should officially be labeled “Internet Addiction Disorder.”
Question : Fitness and healthcare - latest fad in urban India
(2013)
Answer : In India, fitness and health care is becoming a serious business and the growing popularity. There have always been fitness fanatics and motorcycle-riding, bicep-flaunting men but it’s refreshing to see fitness being brought into the urban mainstream.
Of course there is the risk of this going too far and leading to a generation of young women dealing with eating disorders and body image issues in a quest to look like Bollywood stars.
But right now, it’s nice to see full gyms and studios and endorphin-fuelled people streaming out of them. In all the big cities now, there are countless gyms and studios catering to all different fitness, financial, and glamour levels. There are kick-boxing, spinning, aerobics, pilates, mixed martial arts (MMA) classes and more. There are outdoor running, biking, and hiking groups. There’s something for everyone.
Today, fitness industry accounts to over $24 billion franchise industry which is waiting to be expanded and exploited to achieve the complete potential.
The fitness world is popular enough for plenty of options but small enough for quality to be maintained.
While embracing the latest fitness fads, it’s important to keep in mind that these routines have helped preserve the health of generations over centuries.
The past few years have seen increased health awareness in India. Today’s urban Indians, especially, are not only better informed, but actively making the choice to embrace good health and fitness.
But ironically, for a country with diverse healing traditions, the thrust is often skewed in favour of patronizing Western imports such as new-fangled diets or five-star gyms.
At the same time, some very traditional health-enhancing routines continue to be widely practiced too.
Question : Cultivation of organic foods
(2012)
Answer : Cultivation of organic food is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.
Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.
Consumers purchase organic foods for many different reasons. Many want to buy food products that are free of chemical pesticides or grown without conventional fertilizers. Some simply like to try new and different products. Product taste, concerns for the environment and the desire to avoid foods from genetically engineered organisms are among the many other reasons some consumers prefer to buy organic food products. In 2007 it was estimated that over 60 per cent of consumers bought some organic products. Approximately five per cent of consumers are considered to be core organic consumers who buy up to 50 per cent of all organic food.
In organic food cultivation Yields of each organic crop vary, depending on the success of the manager. During the transition from conventional to organic, production yields are lower than conventional levels, but after a three to five year transition period the organic yields typically increase.
Cereal and forage crops can be grown organically relatively easily to due to relatively low pest pressures and nutrient requirements. Soybeans also perform well but weeds can be a challenge. Corn is being grown more frequently on organic farms but careful management of weed control and fertility is needed. Meeting nitrogen requirements is particularly challenging. Corn can be successfully grown after forage legumes or if manure has been applied. Markets for organic feed grains have been strong in recent years.
Question : Modern world’s fears about nuclear energy
(2011)
Answer : Despite nuclear energy’s potential as a low-carbon replacement for baseload fossil fuel generation, the public remains sceptical. However, as matters stand, it is looking increasingly uncertain that energy markets, particularly in Europe and the US, will support nuclear energy assuming this more central role. Nuclear energy is in relative decline, with its share of worldwide energy supply dropping from 18% in 1996 to 11% in 2013. And although there are more than 70 nuclear reactors currently under construction around the world, these are offset by the current and upcoming shutdown of dozens of ageing nuclear units throughout the developed world.
Perhaps the main issue for companies looking to build new nuclear reactors is the complex economics involved. The construction of nuclear power plants requires massive upfront investment in both cash and time - according to the Nuclear Energy Agency, a large modern nuclear plant could easily be expected to cost up to $6bn in OECD countries, with typical construction timeframes lasting between five and seven years.
Committing to such a gargantuan task necessitates a similarly epic risk management effort, and as a result the majority of new nuclear projects are taking place in regulated energy markets.The need for supportive policies to help nuclear grow in a competitive energy market reiterates the importance of political and public support for the technology in general. But this is an area where the nuclear sector has struggled, especially in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear incident in 2011. A poll undertaken by research agency GlobeScan for the BBC in November 2011 showed a noticeable spike in global opposition to civil nuclear compared to poll results taken in 2005.
A mere 22% of the more than 23,000 people polled in 23 countries thought nuclear was safe and important enough to support the construction of new plants, with 39% supporting the continued use of existing reactors without building new ones, and a whopping 30% in favour of a wholesale shutdown of nuclear plants - perhaps unaware that renewable energy sources currently have no hope of replacing them and that more coal and gas would be the default alternative.
With the broader public perception of nuclear veering between apathy and outright hostility, it comes as little surprise that governments have been loath to throw any significant weight behind new nuclear, especially when it comes to the modern Generation III and III+ reactors that incorporate the passive safety systems to actually address many of the public’s concerns.
Question : Uses of Mobile phones
(2008)
Answer : Today mobile phone has become something indispensable.Business is next to impossible without a mobile phone. Starting from aviation industry to service sector, the mobile phones are playing an important and vital role. The use of a mobile phone is not limited to speaking alone it is being used in making video, recording information and transmitting it to a phone or a computer as was being done by a computer. Mobile phone can be connected to a computer to download information from it or vice versa. Other facilities like on line chatting, conferencing, sending text, transferring MMS information by a mobile phone are compatible with a computer.
Mobile phone uses have also taken a lead role in medicine field as well. Now days a Bluetooth protocol of mobile phone is being used to develop a generic and real time Internet telemedicine aid system, which uses very high radio frequency to heal a patient. This type of method of healing a disease has been already tested on several volunteers with satisfactorily results. These tests have been carried out by continuously recording of electrocardiograms (ECGs) of several persons.
Medicine science has claimed that mobile phone telemedicine system will give a high reliability and a reasonably good performance, and in future time the design will prove to be a foundation for healing the patients on real time basis with the help of mobile phone.Mobile phone is not only used for the welfare of humankind but also its misuse has serious effects on our society worldwide. Time and again, there are the reports that mobile phones are being misused by antisocial and miscreant elements to carry out their inhumane activities. Good or bad are the two sides of a coin, but it is up to the users, to make a best use of mobile phone.
Question : Nuclear Energy in War and Peace
(2005)
Answer : There is an increasing number of people in the United States today who are standing up and speaking out against the dangers of nuclear weapons. At the same time a large number of these people are in favor of the use of nuclear power as a means of generating electricity. They believe, perhaps correctly, that the threat from the former is greater and more imminent, and further, that there is no connection between nuclear power and nuclear weapons. The facts, however, seem to point to a different conclusion.
The connections linking nuclear power and weapons is more than political or historic. It is the same nuclear fuel cycle with its mining of uranium, milling, enrichment and fuel fabrication stages which readies the uranium ore for use in reactors, whether these reactors are used to create plutonium for bombs or generate electricity. In the end, both reactors produce the plutonium. The only difference between them is the concentration of the various isotopes used in the fuel.
In the case of the proposed “breeder” reactors, in which more plutonium is produced than is consumed, the connection is more obvious. Since the only other use for the highly toxic plutonium is to make weapons, one can easily see where the surplus might be used.
If one were to imagine for a moment that commer- cial nuclear power no longer existed, it would be obvious that the only use a country would then have for its uranium mining, milling, fuel fabrication and reactors would be to produce nuclear weapons. But because commercial nuclear power does exist, it is sometimes difficult to tell whether a country is using its reactors for research, or for weapons production. It is precisely this ambiguity which makes the proliferation of nuclear weapons from so-called “peaceful research” a certainty, and the proliferation of commercial nuclear reactors worldwide a Trojan Horse for nuclear weapons production.
Since World War II there have been several instances where countries have pieced together nuclear weapons from the fuel from “peaceful research reactors.” France, China, and India have done so. Recently, it was feared that Iraq and North Korea would do likewise, a prospect which was lessened only through the direct threat or actual use of military intervention as an option. Examination of the list of countries currently building or desiring “peaceful” nuclear reactors and the leaders of those nations does not inspire confidence for curtailing nuclear proliferation, either.
Question : Add a question tag at the end of each of the following sentences.
(2010)
Answer : (i) Pooja can speak French
Ans: Pooja can speak French, can’t she?
(ii) The meeting is at ten.
Ans: The meeting is at ten, isn’t it?
(iii) You dint speak to Mohan.
Ans: You didn’t speak to Mohan, did she?
(iv) She wouldn’t like a pet.
Ans: She wouldn’t like a pet, would she?
(v) Harish gave you a cheque.
Ans: Harish gave you a cheque, didn’t he?
Question : Make sentences using the following words as verbs:
(2008)
Answer : (i) rebel
Ans: The people rebelled against the harsh new government.
(ii) export
Ans: French cheeses are exported to many different countries.
(iii) ring
Ans: I rang the bell but nobody came to the door.
(iv) warm
Ans: We can warm up the room pretty quickly with this electric heater.
(v) experiment
Ans: The school is experimenting with new teaching methods.
Question : Make sentences using the following words as directed so as to bring out the meaning:
(2006)
Answer : (i) Pitch (as noun and verb)
Noun- Her voice rose steadily in pitch.
Verb- You’ve pitched the melody very high.
(ii) Mirror (as noun and verb)
Noun- He checked his appearance in the mirror.
Verb- The clear water mirrored the sky.
(iii) Humble (as adjective and verb)
Adjective- I felt very humble when meeting her.
Verb- He was humbled by his many ordeals.
(iv) In (as adverb and preposition)
Adverb- come in and sit down.
Preposition- He is staing in Delhi.
Question : Which of the two words within brackets in the following sentences is correct in the context?
(2005)
Answer : (i) Poets often (sore, soar) to great heights of imagination.
Ans: Soar
(ii) Knowledge (preceeds, proceeds) from the Goddess of Learning.
Ans: Proceeds
(iii) The tower was struck by (lightning, lightening) and fell down.
Ans: Lightning
(iv) Kanpur lies on the air (rout, route) to Calcutta.
Ans: Route
(v) Everyone is (jealous, zealous) of him.
Ans: jealous
(vi) The crocodile emerged from the river and (seized, ceased) a goat.
Ans: Seized
(vii) He was found in (collusion, collision) with the plotters.
Ans: Collusion
(viii) Wicked persons are not (illegible, eligible) for responsible posts.
Ans: Eligible
(ix) He is a man of (lose, loose) character.
Ans: Loose
(x) The Emperor is staying at the royal (mansion, mention).
Ans: Mansion
Question : Rewrite the following sentences as directed within brackets:
(2004)
Answer : (i) He had to sign or be executed.(Turn into a complex sentence)
Ans: He had to be executed if he had not signed it.
(ii) Given the order. (Use the passive form)
Ans: The order was given.
(iii) I was doubtful whether it was you. (Turn into a negative sentence)
Ans: I was not sure whether it was you.
(iv) He was disgraced his family. (Use the noun form of “disgraced”)
Ans: He is in disgrace due to his family.
(v) He was so tired that he could not stand. (Turn into a simple sentence replacing “so” by “too”)
Ans: He was too tired to stand.
Question : Rewrite the following sentences as directed within brackets:
(2003)
Answer : (i) No metal is as costly as gold. (Use the comparative degree of “costly”)
Ans: Gold was costlier than any other metal.
(ii) I doubt if you have done it. (Change into a negative sentence without changing the meaning)
Ans: You have done it, have you?
(iii) He was elected leader. (Change into active voice)
Ans: People elect him leader.
(iv) She confessed that she was guilty. (Turn it into a simple sentence)
Ans: She declared her guilt.
(v) She said, “Can you write a poem?” (Change into indirect speech)
Ans: She asked me if I could write a poem.
Question : Rewrite the following sentences as directed parenthetically:
(2002)
Answer : (i) “Do not make a noise.” said the teacher to his students. (Change into indirect form)
Ans: The teacher instructed his students not to make a noise.
(ii) Han is so short that he cannot touch the ceiling. (Replace ‘so by ‘too’)
Ans: He is too short to touch the ceiling.
(iii) I gave him a ten-rupee note yesterday. (Change into passive voice)
Ans: He was given a ten-rupee note yesterday.
(iv) She bought a house last year. The house is white. (Change into a simple sentence)
Ans: She bought a house, white in colour, last year.
(v) Hard as he worked, he failed in the examination. (Use ‘though’)
Ans: Though he worked hard, he failed in the examination.
Question : Rewrite the following sentences as directed:
(2001)
Answer : (i) You are too early for the show. (Use “enough”)
Ans: You are early enough for the show.
(ii) The Mahanadi is not as long as the Ganga. (Use the comparative degree)
Ans: The Ganga is longer than the Mahanadi.
(iii) Varsha readily complied ………….….. my request. (Fill in the gap with a preposition)
Ans: Varsha readily complied with my request.
(iv) We are sure of his honesty. (Change into a complex sentence)
Ans: We are sure that he is an honest man.
(v) Santa said, “Don’t open the window.” (Change into the indirect form)
Ans: Santa instructed him not to open the window.
Question : Rewrite the following sentences as directed parenthetically:
(2000)
Answer : (i) “Shut the door after you,” she told him curtly. (Change into indirect form)
Ans: She ordered him to shut the door.
(ii) Did she commit all the mistakes?(Change into passive voice)
Ans: Were all the mistakes committed by her?
(iii) Many difficulties are impossible to overcome. (Use a single word forthe underlined phrase)
Ans: Insurmountable
(iv) Hard as he tried, the old man failed to find a buyer for his bicycle. (Use “though’’)
Ans: Though the old man tried hard but failed to find a buyer for his bicycle.
(v) She is so good that others cannot beat her. (Replace “so” by “too”)
Ans: She is too good to be beaten by others.
