3 December 2001
The Manager
Indian Bank Bangalore 560 001
Dear Sir,
Would you please stop the payment of cheque 104662 dated 2 December ? I signed it in
favour of Mr. K. Ramakrishna. The sum was Rs. 500
Yours faithfully,
Kv gokak
(Account no. 986)
( Note:- A cheque has to be stopped only where there is some good reason for it, such as
fraud.)
Page 383
[Ordering a journal]
23PatelNagar
Gurgaon 122 001
Haryana
1 December 2001
The Business Manager
'Employment News'
East Block IV
Level-7, R.K. Puram .
New Delhi 110 066
Dear Sir,
I enclose a draft for Rs. 120 for one year's subscription to your journal Employment
News. Kindly arrange to put this order into effect immediately so that I may receive the
next issue.
Yours faithfully,
Abdul Rahim |
[From a shopkeeper to a customer, asking for the settlement of an overdue account]
Fashion and Style Ltd. R.G. Street Mumbai 400 012 5 Jan. 2001
Mr. VN Patil
43 Park lane
Pune 411 004
Dear Sir,
We wish to call your attention to our bill for Rs. 650, payment of which is long. overdue.
We have sent you several reminders, but have received from you no reply. We must ask
you to settle this account without further delay, or we shall be obliged to take legal steps
to recover the amount due to us.
Yours faithfully,
S. Nazeeruddin Manager
(Order for books)
16 Ring Road
Ravulapalem 533 238
30 November 2001
The Manager
Sudhitha Book Centre .
Kakinada 533 001
Dear Sir,
I shall be grateful if you will send me by VPP one copy each of the following books
(Collin's Retold classics, published by Messrs S. Chand & Company Ltd.) as early as
possible.
1. David Copperfield
2. Huckleberry Finn
3. Treasure Island
Page 384
4. Monte Cristo
5. Pickwick Papers
My address is as above.
Yours faithfully,
N. Chaitanya
Exercise 142
1. Write a letter to Messrs Babcock and Singer, complaining that the watch lately bought
from them does not keep good time.
2. Write a letter to a landlord, asking that certain repairs be done to the house in which
you are living.
3. During the last two weeks your baker has been supplying bread of a quality inferior to
what you were getting previously. Write a letter calling his attention to this.
4. Draft out the baker's apology.
5. Write a letter to your baker, telling him not to deliver any bread while you are away on
a holiday.
6. Shri. Ramesh Bannerjee sends a letter to a firm, asking for their catalogues. The firm
reply that the catalogues are being reprinted, and that they will send one as soon as
possible. Write these two letters.
7. Write on behalf of your father to a house-agent about a suitable flat, stating clearly
your requirements.
8. Write the house-agent's reply.
9. Write to the local Gas or Electric Company, saying that you need the light, etc., on
your premises, and asking them to forward the lowest estimate. Do not forget to supply
full particulars of your requirements.
10. You have sprained your ankle while playing football. Copy out the letter your father
writes to your family doctor.
11. M.O. of Rs. 100 to your aunt-no reply from aunt-no receipt from Post Office. Write to
the Post Master.
12. Write a letter to a railway company, complaining that your furniture has been
damaged in transit, and claiming damages.
13. Write a letter to the manager of a factory, asking permission for a party to visit the
factory.
14. Write a letter to the secretary of a joint-stock company of which you are a share
holder, notifying your change of address.
LETTERS OF APPLICATION
A letter applying for employment should contain:-
(a) A short introduction stating whether the writer is answering an advertisement or is
applying on his own responsibility.
(b) A statement of his age, education and experience.
(c) A conclusion giving references, testimonials, or an expression of the applicant's
earnestness of purpose.
Letters of application should be in the form of business letters.
[Reply to an advertisement for a junior clerk.)
24 Old Gate
Saranpur
3rd October, 2001
Messrs Abdul Rahim & Sons
Merchants
Saranpur
Gentlemen,
I wish to apply for the position of junior clerk, advertised in today’s The Hindu.
I am 18 years old, and have just passed the matriculation examination.
Page 385
from the Saranpur High School. I have also taken a course in type-writing and
bookkeeping.
I enclose some testimonials, and would refer you to the Principal of the Saranpur School
for my character.
If I am given the post, I can assure you I will do my best to give you satisfaction.
Yours faithfully, Nathu Ram Baxi
Exercise 143
1. Answer the following advertisement:-
Wanted a clerk with a good knowledge of English and Arithmetic. Apply Manager, New
Press, Allahabad.
2. Apply for position as book-keeper, advertised in a daily paper, staling age. education,
experience, qualification, reasons for leaving last position, references, previous salary,
salary required, etc.
3. Speaking to a friend, a prominent businessman said, '"I require a successful applicant
for employment under me to demonstrate that he is sober, energetic and adaptable, and
that he possesses practical knowledge of the work he proposes to undertake." Make an
application to the gentleman, saying you possess the required qualifications.
4. Sir, having tried very earnestly to fit myself for advancement in your
organisation, I would like to approach you in the matter of an advance in salary. In
support of my request, I would like to point out the following facts:-
Finish this letter, referring to the length of your service, last promotion, why you deserve
promotion, etc.
FURTHER OFFICIAL LETTERS
(Request to the Postmaster)
46 Kingsway
Nagar 440 001
18 Jan. 2001
The Postmaster
Head Post Office
Nagpur440 001
Dear Sir,
I have recently shifted from 25 Park Street, Nagpur 440 002 to 46 Kingsway, Nagpur 440
001.1 shall be grateful if you could kindly redirect my letters to the new address.
Yours faithfully, K. Joseph
(Letter of inquiry to an educational institution)
Unscrew
Vetapalem 523187
21 May 2001
The Director
APTECH
4/7 Brodiepet
Guntur 522 002
Dear Sir,
I have passed the B.Sc. degree examination with Electronics as the main subject. I intend
to have a course in Computer Science and would like to know the details
Page 386
of the courses taught at your institution. Could you please send me a copy of your
prospectus?
Yours faithfully,
N. Mahesh
Exercise 144
Write:-
1. To the Director of Education, applying for appointment as a teacher in the Educational
Service.
2. To the Commissioner of Police, about the grant for an appointment as Sub-Inspector.
3. To the Commissioner of Police, about the grant of licence to carry arms, stating
reasons.
4. To the Municipal Commissioner on the necessity of public parks in a crowded city like
Mumbai.
5. To the Postmaster of your town, asking for particulars about Post Office Cash
Certificates.
6. To the Superintendent, Government Central Press, asking for a list of Government
publications relating to dairying in India, and inquiring if any periodical is published on
the subject.
7. To the Jailor, Yerawada Prison, as from a prisoner's mother, asking permission to see
her son.
LETTERS TO NEWSPAPERS
These should always be addressed to "The Editor," and they usually end with Yours
faithfully.
The form of Salutation is Sir/Dear Sir.
If the writer gives his address for publication, it is often placed below the letter and to the
left of the signature.
If the writer does not wish his name to be published, he can sign his letter with a non-de-
plume (such as "Interested", "Anxious", "One who knows", etc.); but in any case he must
give his name and address (in a covering letter) to the Editor, for no respectable
newspaper will publish anonymous letters.
[To a newspaper, about a bad piece of road that is in need of repair.]
The Editor
"The Hindu"
Sir,
Our Municipality wants waking up; and, as private appeals to their office have had no
effect, perhaps a little publicity will do no harm. For the last month Chetry Road has been
almost impassable. The surface is badly broken up by the heavy rains, and on a dark night
it is positively dangerous for motors or carriages to pass that way-Moreover, there are
heaps of roadmetal on both sides of the road, which leave very little room in the middle.
It is scandalous that we should be inconvenienced in this way for weeks, and I hope the
public will bring pressure to bear on those responsible so that the road may be put in
thorough repair without further delay.
Yours faithfully,
Indignant
4 Bazar Road
Page 387
Exercise 145
Write:-
1. To the Editor of a newspaper, on reckless driving.
2. To a newspaper, drawing attention to the insanitary condition of the city bazaars.
3. To a newspaper, protesting against street noises.
4. To a newspaper, advocating the establishment of a Free Library in your town.
5. To a newspaper, appealing for the funds for an orphanage.
6. To a newspaper, complaining of the bad quality and inadequate supply of Municipal
water in your town.
7. To a newspaper, suggesting to the public the desirability of a Social Service League in
your town.
8. To a newspaper, on the evils of street-begging.
9. To a newspaper, appealing for funds to relieve the sufferers from a flood.
MORE LETTERS
[To a very near neighbour about quiet for the benefit of a person who is seriously HI]
21 Osborne Street
7th May, 2001
Dear Shri Naik,
I am sorry to have to worry you with my troubles, but when I have explained I am sure
you will understand. I regret to say that Mrs. Pradhan is seriously ill. The doctor, who has
just been, says she is in a critical condition, and that absolute calm is essential for her
recovery. She has had several bad nights, and cannot get sufficient sleep. I am sure you
will not be offended if, in the circumstances, I ask you to tell your servant and your
children to make as little noise as they can during the next few days. Our houses are so
close together that we cannot help hearing shouting, and even talking; and the slightest
noise disturbs my wife, who is in a very low, nervous state. If she can only have a few
days and nights of calmness, I think it will work wonders.
Apologizing for putting you to this inconvenience.
Yours sincerely
Satish Pradhan
[A father reports to the police that his son has not returned home from school, giving
particulars of the boy, his dress, etc.]
35 Patel Street
Ahmednagar
4 Jan. 2001
The Inspector of Police
Police Station II
Ahmednagar
Dear Sir,
My son, Abdur Rashid, a lad twelve years old, is missing, and I am very anx-lQus about
him. As all my efforts to trace him have failed., I must appeal to you for "telp. He went to
school this morning as usual, but although it is now nearly eight 0 clock, he has not
returned. He generally comes home before 4-30 p.m., everyday. I nave made inquiries at
the school (the Government High School), but the headmaster cannot throw any light on
the matter. He says Abdur Rashid left school as usual about ^'5 p.m., and he was quite
well. The only clue I can find is from one of his school 'riends (a boy called Mhd.
Hussain) who says he saw my son going along the canal bank"at about 4-30 p.m., with a
man whom he did not know. He cannot describe this "^n, but says he was wearing a
white pagri and a brown jacket.
Page 388
Abdur Rashid was wearing a red fez, a white coat and trousers. He is rather tail for his
age, and walks with a slight limp.
I cannot think he has got into mischief, as he has always been a good boy and most
regular in his habits. In view of the kidnapping case a few weeks ago, I naturally very
anxious lest he may have suffered from some foul play. Please do your best to trace him,
and let me know as soon as you have anything to report.
Yours faithfully,
Abdur Rahim |
[Certificafe to a pupil]
Ideal College
Varanasi
12 May 2001
Ahmad Hasan has studied in this college for two years, and has just appeared in the
Intermediate Examination. As he has worked well and is intelligent, he stands a good
chance of passing. His conduct has been most satisfactory and he bears a good character.
Physically he is robust and active, and was a member of the college football team. I am
sure he will do any work entrusted to him conscientiously and efficiently.
N. Solomon
Principal
Exercise 146
1. Write a courteous letter to a neighbour whose dog annoys you by barking at night.
2. Reply to the above.
3. Write as from the father of a boy to a gentleman who rescued his son from drowning.
4. Your father thinks you are a precious boy; so he writes, “There have been many men
whose early life was full of brilliant promise, but whose careers have ended HI failure,
owing to lack of industry.” Write to him, assuring him that you will nor belief me
promise of your boyhood.
5. Write, as from a father to his son, about a drunkard and his unhappy family.
6. Write an imaginary letter as from a great-grandfather to his great-grandson about the
means of communication in his days.
7. You have left school and are seeking a situation. Write to your Headmaster, asking for
to testimonial.
8. Write to your Headmaster, asking for a Setter of recommendation and explaining what
you want.
9. Write a letter to your Headmaster, thanking him for the testimonial.
10. Write to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals about a case of cruelty
to a bullock, giving details including the date and place and name and address of the
guilty person.
11. "It is often the steady plodder who gets prizes." Write as from a father to his son.
12. Write to a friend, setting forth your views on prize-giving in schools.
13. It is wonderful how a rumour grows. In an imaginary letter to your friend, give a
story which, though foolish enough, was accepted by a large number of credulous people.
14. Write to a friend who, you think, is "a rolling stone".
15. Write as from a grandfather to his grandson who lives beyond his income.
16. Write a letter to your younger brother, advising temperance,
17. "It is often at school that life-friendships are made." A father makes this observation
when writing to his son at a boarding school. Imagine the letter and copy it out.
18. Write as from a father to his son, asking him to make a habit of reading the daily
newspaper, and pointing out what portions he should particularly read, etc.
Page 389
19. Write to a prince, as from his teacher who believes. "There is no royal road to
learning.
20. Write a letter from a shopkeeper to another shopkeeper about "cut-throat
competition."
21. Write to your sportmaster, criticising the decision of the referee in a hockey match.
22. Write a letter to the manager of a local paper, enclosing an advertisement of your
school conceit.
23. You have advertised your bicycle for sale, reply to an inquirer, and give him full
details.
24. You see in a local paper an advertisement offering a second-hand bicycle. Write
to the advertiser, asking for an appointment, as you wish to inspect the bicycle with a
view to purchase.
25. Draft these advertisements:-
(i) Seeking a cheap second-hand typewriter.
(ii) Offering for sale of your car.
(iii) Announcing the loss of your dog and offering a substantial reward.
CHAPTER 37
COMPREHENSION
A comprehension exercise consists of a passage, upon which questions are set to test the
student's ability to understand the content of the given text and to infer infromation and
meanings from it.
Here are a few hints:-
1. Read the passage fairly quickly to get the general idea.
2. Read again, a little slowly, so as to know the details.
3. Study the questions thoroughly. Turn to the relevant portions of the passage, read them
again, and then rewrite them in your own words, neatly and precisely
4. Use complete sentences.
5. If you are asked to give the meaning of any words or phrases, you should express the
idea as clearly as possible in your own words. Certain words require the kind of
definition that is given in a dictionary. Take care to frame the definition in conformity
with the part of speech.
SPECIMEN
Read the passage below and then answer the questions which follow it.
It has been part of Nelson's prayer that the British fleet might be distinguished by
humanity in the victory which he expected. Setting an example himself, he twice gave
orders to cease firing upon the Redoubtable, supposing that she had struck because her
great guns were silent; for as she carried no flag, there was no means of mstantly
ascertaining the fact. From this ship, which he had thus twice spared, he received his
death. A ball fired from her mizzen-top which, in the then situation of the two vessels
was not more than fifteen yards from that part of the deck where he was standing, struck
the epaulette on his left shoulder about a quarter after one, just in the heat of action. He
fell upon his face on the spot which was covered with his poor secretary's blood. Hardy
who was a few steps from him turning round, saw three men raising him up. “They have
done for me at last Hardy !” said he. “I hope not !” cried
Page 390
Hardy. “Yes,” he replied; “my backbone is shot through !” Yet even now not for a
moment losing his presence of mind, he observed as they were carrying him down the
ladder, that the tiller-ropes which had been shot away, were not yet replaced and ordered
that new ones should be roped immediately. Then that he might not be seen by the crew,
he took out his handkerchief and covered his face and his stars. Had he but concealed
these badges of honour from the enemy, England perhaps would not have had cause to
receive with sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar. The cockpit was crowded with
wounded and dying men; over whose bodies he was with some difficulty conveyed, and
laid upon a pallet in the midshipmen's berth. It was soon perceived, upon examination,
that the wound was mortal. This, however, was concealed from all, except Captain
Hardy, the chaplain, and the medical attendants. He himself being certain, from the
sensation in his back, and the gush of blood he felt momently within his breast, that no
human care could avail him, insisted that the surgeon should leave him and attend to
those to whom he might be useful.
Questions
1. What is meant by 'supposing that she had struck’?
2. How can Nelson be said to have been partly responsible for his own death?
3. What do you understand by the 'mizzen-top' ?
4. Why did Nelson insist that the surgeon should leave him and attend to others?
5. What qualities in Nelson's character are revealed by this passage?
Answers
1. 'Supposing that she had struck means 'thinking that the men in the ship had
surrendered'.
2. Nelson ordered his men two times to cease firing on the Redoubtable.
From the same ship a ball was fired at him and brought about his death.
He was thus partly responsible for his death.
3. The 'mizzen-top' is the platform round the lower part of the mast nearest the stern.
4. Nelson was certain that it would be impossible to save his life. He, there fore, insisted
that the surgeon should leave him and attend to others.
5. His patriotism, his humanity and his powers of endurance are revealed by this passage.
A work from S. CHAND & COMPANY LTD.
Exercise 147
Read the passages carefully and answer briefly the questions appended below:-
1
People talk of memorials to him in statues of bronze or marble or pillars and thus they
mock him and belie his message. What tribute shall we pay to him that he would have
appreciated ? He has shown us the way to live and the way to die and if we have not
understood that lesson, it would be better that we raised no memorial to him, forthe only
fit memorial is to follow reverently in the path he showed us and to do our duty in life
and in death.
He was a Hindu and an Indian, the greatest in many generations, and he was proud of
being a Hindu and an Indian, to-him India was dear, because she had represented
throughout the age's certain immutable truths. But though he was intensely religious and
came to be called the Father of the Nation which he had liberated, yet no narrow religious
or national bonds confined his spirit. And so he became the great internationalist,
believing in the essential unity of man, the underlying unity of all religions, and he needs
of humanity, and more specially devoting himself to the service of the poor, the
distressed and the oppressed millions everywhere.
Page 391
His death brought more tributes than have been paid at the passing of any other human
being in history. Perhaps what would have pleased him best was the spontaneous tributes
that came from the people of Pakistan. On the morrow of the tragedy, all of us forgot for
a while the bitterness that had crept in, the estrangement and conflict of these past months
and Gandhiji stood out as the beloved champion and leader of the people of India, of
india as it was before partition cut up this living nation.
What was his great power over the mind and heart of man due to ? Even we realize, that
his dominating passion was truth. That truth led him to proclaim without ceasing that
good ends can never be attained by evil methods, that the end itself is distorted if the
method pursued is bad. That truth led him to confess publicly whenever he thought he
had made a mistake - Himalayan errors he called some of his own mistakes. That truth
led him to fight evil and untruth wherever he found them, regardless of the consequences.
That truth made the service of the poor and the dispossessed the passion of his life, for
where there is inequality and discrimination and suppression there is injustice and evil
and untruth. And thus he became the beloved of all those who have suffered from social
and political evils, and the great representative of humanity as it should be. Because of
that truth in him wherever he sat became a temple and where he trod was hallowed
ground.
-Jawaharlal Nehru
Questions
1. About whom is the passage written?
2. Why does Nehru make the difference about being a "Hindu" and an "Indian"? Is there
any difference really?
3. What great lesson did this great man show us for life?
4. Mention some of the virtues of "the great internationalist."
5. Nehru seems to suggest that his hero was "the beloved champion and leader of the
people of India" only before the partition of Pakistan and India.' Do you agree with that?
Explain.
6. What did "truth" mean to this great man ?
7. Give the meaning of the following : memorials, immutable; essential, estrangement,
spontaneous, discrimination, dominating, Himalayan.
2
The Voice had to be listened to, not only on account of its form but for the matter
which it delivered. It gave a message to the country that it needed greatly. It brought to
the common people a realization of their duty to concern themselves with their affairs.
The common, people were made to take an interest in the manner in which they were
governed in the taxes they paid in the return they got from those taxes. This interest in
public affairs - politics as you may call it - was to be the concern no longer of the
highly educated few but of the many - the poor, the propertyless, the workingmen in
town and country. Politics was not to be the concern of a small aristocracy of intellect
property of the masses. And with the change in the subjects of politics that Voice
bought about also a change in the objects of polities'. Till then politics had busied itself
mainly with the machinery of Government towards making its personnel more and
more native, with proposals for a better distribution of political power, with protests
against the sins of omission and of commission of the administration. This Voice
switched politics on to concern for the needs of the common people. The improvement
of the lot of the poor was to be the main concern of politics and the politician. The
improvement, especially of the lives of the people of the neglected villages, was to be
Placed before Governments and political organizations as the goal of all political en
deavour. The raising of the standard of living of the people of the villages, the finding of
subsidiary occupations which would give the agricultural poor work for their enforced
leisure during the off season and an addition to (heir exiguous income, the improvement
of the housing of the poor, the sanitation, of the villages – these were to be the object-
Page 392
tives to be kept in view. In the towns, the slums and cheries were to receive especial
attention. There was especially a class of the poor for which that compassionate Voice
pleaded and protested. This was for the so-called depressed class, the outcastes of Hindu
society. The denial of elementary human rights to this class of people it considered the
greatest blot on Hindu society and history. It raised itself in passionate protest against the
age-old wrongs of this class and forced those that listened to it to endeavour to remove
the most outrageous of them like untouchability. It caused a revolution in Hindu religious
practice by having Hindu temples thrown open to these people. It made the care of them a
religious duty of the Hindus by re-naming them Harijans.
-Mr. Ruthnasami
Questions
1. Why had people to listen to "The Voice" of Mahatma Gandhi?
2. Why had people to take an interest in politics?
3. What was the change brought about in the objects of politics?
4. What improvements were made for the common man?
5. Explain:-
(a) Sins of omission and of commission of the administration.
(b) No longer the monopoly of the classes, but the property of the masses.
3
The next ingredient is a very remarkable one: Good Temper. “Love is not easily
provoked”. Nothing could be more striking than to find this here. We are inclined to look
upon bad temper as a very harmless weakness. We speak of it as a mere infirmity of
nature, a family failing, a matter of temperament, not a thing to take into very serious
account in estimating a man's character. And yet here, right in the heart of this analysis of
love, it finds a place; and the Bible again and again returns to condemn it as one of the
most destructive elements in human nature. The peculiarity of ill temper is that it is the
vice of the virtuous. It is often the one blot on an otherwise noble character. You know
men who are all but perfect, and women who would be entirely perfect, but for an easily
ruffled quick-tempered or "touchy" disposition. This compatibility of ill temper with high
moral character is one of the strangest and saddest problems of ethics. The truth is there
are two great classes of sins-sins of the Body, and sins of Disposition. The Prodigal son
may be taken as a type of the first, the Elder Brother of the second. Now society has no
doubt whatever as to which of these is the worse. Its brand falls, without a challenge,
upon the Prodigal. But are we right? We have no balance to weigh one another's sins, and
coarser and finer are but human words; but faults in the higher nature may be less venial
than those in the lower, and to the eye of Him who is Love, a sin against Love may seem
a hundred times more base. No form of vice, not worldliness, not greed of gold, not
drunkenness itself does more to un-christianise society than evil temper. For embittering
life, for breaking up communities, for destroying the most sacred relationships, for
devastating homes, for withering up men and women, for taking the bloom off childhood;
in short for sheer gratuitous misery-producing power, this influence stands alone.
Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, cruelty, self-righteous-ness, touchiness, doggedness,
