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Monday, August 6, 2012

Bhumika Pardesi's lens



A face so deep!


Even the nature loves being in love....

 Expressing the inexpressible music!


 He is now rising from affluence to poverty--Mark Twain


Twice as nice!

The Ailing Planet: Notes for Revision


The Ailing Planet Objectives
·        Green Movement
·        Sustainable development
·        Zoo at Zambia
·        Brandt Commission
·        Four Principal biological systems
·        Article 48 of Indian Constitution
·        Population Explosion (consequences, the best contraceptive etc.)
·        Era of Responsibility

Notes
1. Locate the lines in the text that support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’.
The following lines in the text support the title ‘The Ailing Planet’:
·        Are we to leave our successors a scorched Planet of advancing deserts, impoverished landscapes and ailing environment.
·        A three years study using satellites and aerial photography conducted by the United Nations warns that the environment has deteriorated so badly that it is critical in many of the 88 countries investigated.
2. Significance of ‘The World’s most dangerous animal’ at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia:
The notice signifies that there is depletion of resources and deterioration of environment. Man is responsible for this and his own survival is threatened.
3. Why does the author agree that the growth of world population is one of the strongest factors distorting the future of human society?
The population of India was estimated to be 920 million in 1994. Overpopulation upsets all plans of development and puts a severe strain on the earth’s principal biological systems. This leads to poverty and unemployment and development is hampered.
4. The causes for endless anguish to common man are:
The endless anguish is caused to common man, when laws are constituted but are never enforced or respected in our country. Evils like casteism, untouchability, and bonded labour still exist and need to be abolished by strict laws.
5. The unusually alarming statistics about the population that the author talks about are:
The author says that the population explosion has distorted the future of human society. Mankind took a million years to reach the first billion. The second billion was added in just another 100 years and the twentieth century has added 3.7 billion more.
The present population is over 5.7 billion. Every four days the population increases by one million.
6. Importance of Green Revolution:
The Green Revolution is important as the signs of the earth which are connected with life shows the earth as a patient. We have moral obligations. We must become good stewards of the planet and act as responsible trustees of the legacy for future generations.
7. Concept of sustainable development:
Sustainable development is that progress which is made to meet the needs of the present and takes care not to endanger the future. This means we must not deprive the world of its resources and protect our endangered species.
8. Role of industry in the new era of responsibility:
Industry is the main source of environmental pollution. In the new era of responsibility, the industrialists must become conscious of their responsibility towards environment. They should remain environmental friendly even when they exist as leading manufacturers.
9. Justify the title of the essay.
The author has depicted the planet earth as someone who is suffering from a disease. The green movement takes a holistic view of the situation and seeks to maintain and conserve the environment and maintain it.
10. What is the holistic and ecological view of the world that has emerged in recent times?
The view about the world in the recent times is that it is an organism which has become ailing and needs looking after. It also has metabolic needs and vital processes which have to be nurtured and preserved. We have to save the earth for our successors.

11. Explain the statement ‘forests precede mankind; deserts follow’.
Forests have helped to nurture mankind from times immemorial but man has destroyed these forests ruthlessly and deserts have taken their place. Man is destroying himself by destroying forests.
12. Role of industries in the preservation of environment:
Industries and industrialists have to exercise control in use of natural resources. The top officials need to become the guardians of our environment if we have to think about our future generations.
13. What are the four principal biological systems that the author refers to?
The author refers to fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands as they form the foundation of the global economic system. They provide raw materials for industry.
14. How are the earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?
Earth’s principal biological systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over fishing is quite common. Forests are being destroyed to obtain firewood for cooking.
Grasslands are turning into deserts and produce from croplands is decreasing.
15.How has the growth of world population affected the environment? Support your answer with suitable arguments?
The author Nani Palkhivala enumerates some alarming statistics to suggest how the growth of world population has tremendously affected the environment. The population which took a million years to reach the first billion took just another hundred years to reach the second billion. Another century passed it and reached the alarming figure of 3.7 million. Presently it is over 6 million and there is a huge demand on resources, natural or man made. The resources worldwide are under a lot of stress and pressure. The four principal biological systems i.e. fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands which form the foundation of the global economic system and provide raw materials to the industry are facing a lot of stress. The human demands on these systems are increasing at a rapid speed. Hence, sustainability and productivity are both hampered. When this happens, fisheries collapse, forests disappear, grasslands become wastelands and croplands deteriorate. The need of the hour is to become sensitive towards the needs of the environment to get affected; we will leave behind nothing but an ailing planet for our future generations.
16. We have not inherited this earth from our forefathers; we have borrowed it from our children. Discuss.
Earth’s resources are limited and will not last for ever. In the twentieth century, there has been a revolutionary change in human perception. We cannot take the planet for granted. We are mere custodians. We have to take a holistic view of the very basis of our existence. The earth is a living organism of which we are parts. It has its own metabolic needs to stay alive and must be respected and preserved for the future generation. What is required is sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the destiny of future generation. There are four biological systems, namely fisheries, forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the foundation of the global economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry. In larger areas of the world, these systems are reaching unsustainable levels. Their productivity is being damaged. The growth of world population is another factor distorting the future of our children. Development is not possible if population increases. In this era of responsibility towards our future generation, population must be controlled. Industries must become environmental friendly. Now many industrialists, politicians and writers have realized their responsibility in preserving the non renewable natural resources for the future generation.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Passage for Practice: Note-Making and Summary


(i) Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:
(8 marks)
1. The practice of soil conservation involves methods to reduce soil erosion, prevent depletion of soil nutrients, and restore nutrients, already lost by erosion and excessive crop harvesting. Most methods used to control soil erosion involve, keeping
the soil covered with vegetation.
2. In conventional farming, the land is ploughed several times and smoothed to make a planting surface – a practice that makes it vulnerable to soil erosion. To reduce erosion, an increasing number of farmers in many countries are using conservation –
tillage farming, also known as minimum – tillage, or no‐ till farming, depending on the
degree to which the soil is disturbed. Farmers using these methods disturb the soil as
little as possible in planting crops.
3. For the minimum‐tillage method, special tillers break up and loosen the
subsurface soil without turning over the topsoil. In no‐till farming special planting
machines inject seeds, fertilizers and weed‐killers into slits made in the unploughed
soil.
4. In addition to reducing soil erosion, conversation – tillage and no‐till farming reduce fuel and tillage costs and water loss from soil. They can also increase the number of crops that can be grown during a season.
5. Soil erosion can also be reduced by 30‐50 percent on gently sloping land by means of contour farming – ploughing and planting crops in rows across, rather than up and down, the sloped contours of the land. Each row planted horizontally along the slope of the land acts as a small dam to help hold and slow the runoff of water.
6. Terracing can be used on steeper slopes. Each terrace retains some of the water running down the vegetated slope. Terracing provides water for crops at all levels and decreases soil erosion by reducing the amount and speed of water runoff. In areas of high rainfall, diversions ditches must be built behind each terrace to permit adequate drainage.
7. In strip cropping, a series of rows of one crop, such as corn or soybeans, is planted in a wide strip. Then the next strip is planted with a soil‐conserving cover crop, such as grass or grass‐legume mixture, which completely covers the soil and thus reduces erosion. These alternating rows of cover trap soil that erodes from the other rows, catch and reduce water runoff, and help prevent the spread of plant diseases and pests from one strip to another.
8. Windbreaks can reduce erosion caused by exposure of cultivated lands to high winds or shelter beats. These are long rows of trees planted to partially block the wind. Windbreaks also provide habitats for birds, pest eating and pollinating insects and other animals.
2.1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it using
headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations, wherever necessary. Give the passage a suitable title. (5 marks)
2.2. Write a summary of the notes prepared in not more than 80 words. (3 marks)

From the pen of Ishana Vats


Discovering the new me!
मेरी सोच......
एक राह पर चल रहें हैं हम ,मंजिल भी एक है ,
तो फिर कैसी हैं येह दूरीयाँ , जब अल्लाह भी एक है।

कह हम बहुत कुछ देते हैं, लेकिन सुनते हम कुछ भी नही ,
अपनी ही उलझनों में बंधे रहते हैं, दुनिया की हमें परवाह नही।

इधर उधर भटकना तो सभी को आता है ,
जो अपनी मंजिल तक पहुँच जाये, वही खिलाड़ी कहलाता है।

वो ज़िन्दगी ही क्या, जिसका कोई लक्ष्य हो,
वो ज़िन्दगी ही क्या, जो दूसरों के लिए कुर्बान हो।

ऐसा ही कुछ नज़ारा हम हर रोज़ देखते हैं,
इत्तेफ़ाक यह है.....की "सब चलता है" .....

Advertisements: A Comprehensive Study


Dear  Students
This document on Advertisements offer an exhaustive compilation of varied types of advertisements, used for personal and official purposes, with examples. Kindly refer to it while writing and practising assignments on Advertisements.

 

ADVERTISEMENTS
PURPOSE:
·        To persuade people to buy

CHARACTERISTICS:
a.    Must stand out and grab attention
b.    Must sustain attention – provide clear information, transmit message about the product’s utility, establish supremacy above other similar products
c.     Must utilize the limited ad space effectively
d.    Must convince the potential consumers to accept the message and buy
TYPES:
I.            Classified Advertisements:
                    i.        Appear in a particular section of the paper according to the type
                  ii.        Generally brief as the advertiser is billed by the word
                iii.        To make it brief- grammar is generally ignored, abbreviations and certain words peculiar to the product are used
                 iv.        Sometimes – no contact address given-  a P.O. box number is provided by newspapers to maintain secrecy

Types:
a.   Situations Vacant
b.  To – Let
c.   Property for Sale
d.  Sale of Vehicle
e.   Sale of Household goods/ equipments
f.    Services – Packers and Movers, Counseling, Training, Detectives
g.   Lost or Found
h.  Missing person or pet
i.    Matrimonial
j.    Travel and tours
k.  Appeal
l.    Pets and livestock
m.Educational institute
n.  Business proposal
 II.   Display/ Commercial Advertisements
                                    i.        Graphically designed
                                  ii.        Various shapes and sizes
                                iii.        Often with logos, photos, drawings, or borders
                                 iv.        An advertisement with a border or pictures will be a display advertisement, even if it is in the classified section
                                   v.        Found throughout the newspaper

Types:
                    i.        Local or retail – emphasizes on merchandize, products or services available at stores in the community
                  ii.        National – promote countrywide operations like a soap or a car
DETAILED ANALYSIS
CLASSIFIEDS
       Situations Vacant
                                    i.        Begin with ‘Wanted’ / ‘Required’
                                  ii.        Write the name of the organization
                                iii.        Indicate post, no. of vacancies
                                 iv.        Include essential qualifications, experience
                                   v.        Give preferences – age, sex of candidate, fresher/ experienced
                                 vi.        State pay scale, perks, opportunities for growth
                               vii.        Mention mode of applying – online, courier, personally
                             viii.        Inform about interview procedure
                                 ix.        Contact address and phone number of employer
 
To – Let
                            i.        Begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Available’
                          ii.        Indicate type of accommodation – flat/ bungalow/ villa
                        iii.        Describe – carpet area, porch, garage, store, garden, size of rooms, BHK, bathrooms
                         iv.        Indicate direction/ location – sun facing/ park facing, well lit, corner/ two sides open, proximity to market/ school, landmarks
                           v.        State type of construction – earthquake resistant, etc
                         vi.        Details of facilities - water/ electricity supply
                       vii.        Preference of tenants –bachelor/ small family/ company lease
                     viii.        Rent amount – negotiable/ fixed
                                      Property for sale
Kind of property (house/bungalow/flat/villa/cottage/ floor)
  If commercial, you can mention - 
                                    i.        Conference room
                                  ii.        Reception
                                iii.        Pantry
                                 iv.        Centralized AC
                                   v.        Server
                                 vi.        Computerized/web cam
                               vii.        Tiffin facilities
                             viii.        Video conferencing
                                 ix.        Proper flooring and wall-to-wall carpet
                                   x.        Plasma TG/Projector
Specify the location /area
                                    i.        Nearby market
                                  ii.        Recreational/sports club
                                iii.        Sun facing
                                 iv.        Based  on vaastu.
Facilities (toilet/kitchen/Balcony/ store room)
Area in sq. yards
Price expected
                                    i.        Negotiable
                                  ii.        Payment in 2/3 installments
·        Contact address / phone no
Sale of Vehicle
              Mention the
                    i.        Heading
                  ii.        Model/ year of manufacture
                iii.        Features/ accessories fitted
                 iv.        Mileage
                   v.        Kilometers done
                 vi.        Make
               vii.        Colour
             viii.        Condition
                 ix.        Ownership details
                   x.        Insurance details
                 xi.        Contact details
            Sale of household goods
                    i.        Name of the item
                  ii.        Brand/ model/ year of manufacture
                iii.        Condition
                 iv.        Contact address/ phone number
    
Services
                    Detective services
                                            i.        Mention the name of agency
                                          ii.        Work timings and scope
                                        iii.        Services provided
                                         iv.        Qualification of detectives
                                           v.        Guarantee of anonymity
 
Packers and Movers
                            i.        Mention the name of the agency
                          ii.        Qualities that make them trustworthy
                        iii.        Scope of business dealings
                         iv.        Customer care facilities
 
Lost or Found
                                    i.        Begin with ‘Lost’ or ‘Found’
                                  ii.        Specify item
                                iii.        Brief physical description
                                 iv.        Where and when lost/ found
                                   v.        Reward – optional
                                 vi.        Contact number
Missing person or pet
                                            i.        Heading – ‘Missing’
                                          ii.        Physical description – Person (name, age, height, complexion, built, health, mental condition, identification marks, clothes); Pet (name, breed, colour, fur, identifying features)
                                        iii.        State missing since when, from where
                                         iv.        Reward, if any
                                           v.        Contact address and phone no.
  Matrimonial
                                            i.        Begin with ‘Wanted’ or ‘Required’
                                          ii.        Personal details – appearance, educational qualifications, family members and background
                                        iii.        Professional details
                                         iv.        Preferences in religion, etc.
                                           v.        Contact address and phone no.
   Travel and Tours

                                                    i.        Begin with the phrase – ‘Package Available’
                                                  ii.        Name of the travel agency
                                                iii.        Details of destination and duration
                                                 iv.        Details of the package – boarding, lodging
                                                   v.        Cost and discount
                                                 vi.        Contact address, phone number

Appeal
                                            i.    Begin with ‘Appeal’ or ‘Help Required’
                                          ii.    Specify nature of appeal
                                        iii.    Brief description of the problem
                                         iv.    Specify the demand
                                           v.    Contact address and phone number
                    Pets and Livestock
                                            i.    Begin with the word ‘Sale’ or ‘Purchase’
                                          ii.    Specify animal, breed
                                        iii.    Mention pedigree, parentage
                                         iv.    Brief physical description
                                           v.    Details of vaccination
                                         vi.    Other details – training, qualities
                                       vii.    Price expected
                                     viii.    Contact address, phone number
Educational Institute
                                                    i.        Name of the institution
                                                  ii.        Courses, classes offered
                                                iii.        Eligibility criteria
                                                 iv.        Facilities
                                                   v.        Fee
                                                 vi.        Last date for registration
                                               vii.        Address/ contact details
Business proposal
                                                            i.        Name, nature of organization
                                                          ii.        Business it deals in
                                                        iii.        Requirements
                                                         iv.        Contact number
                         COMMERCIAL ADVERTISEMENTS
                                    i.        Put up by corporate or business house
                                  ii.        Eye catching, glamorous
                                iii.        Vary in shape and size
                                 iv.        No set format
                                   v.        Visually appealing – catchy headlines, slogans, punch lines, witty expressions and visuals
                                 vi.        Classified – formal language; commercial – informal
IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE INCLUDED
1.  Name and address of the advertising agency/ institution/ organizer
2.  Details of products/ service advertised
3.  Special attraction/ discounts
4.  Areas covered by these: educational institutes, consumer goods, product launch, etc.