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Thinking about Language

Question I: There are nouns in the text (formation, government) which are formed from the corresponding verbs (form, govern) by suffixing - (at) ion or mint. There may be a change in the spelling of some verb - noun pairs: such as rebel, rebellion; constitute, constitution.

1.    Make a list of such pairs of nouns and verbs in the text.

Noun	Verb
Rebellion	Rebel
Constitution	Constitute

2.    Read the paragraph below. Fill in the blanks with the noun forms of the verbs in brackets.

Marti n Luther King's (contribute) to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the (assist) of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days America n Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by   restrictive laws and       customs.  To break these laws would mean

 (Subjugate)   and (humiliate) by the police and the legal system. Beatings,             (imprison) and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King's tactics of protest involved non-violent  (resist) to racial injustice.

Answer I:

1. Noun Rebellion Constitution Formation Government Obligation

Transformation on Discrimination Deprivation Demonstration Oppression Imagination

Verb Rebel Constitute Form Govern Oblige

Transform Discriminate Deprive Demonstrate Oppress Imagine

2.    Martin Luther King's contribution to our history as an outstanding leader began when he came to the assistance of Rosa Parks, a seamstress who refused to give up her seat on a bus to a white passenger. In those days America n Blacks were confined to positions of second class citizenship by restrictive laws and customs. To break these laws would mean subjugation and humiliation by the police and the legal system. Beatings, imprisonment and sometimes death awaited those who defied the System. Martin Luther King’s tactics of protest involved non-violent resistance to racial injustice.

Question II: Using the Definite Article with Names

You know that the definite article 'the' is not normally used before proper nouns. N or do proper nouns usually occur in the plural. (We do not say: *The Nelson Mandela, or *Nelson Mandela’s.) But now look at this sentence from the text: the decades of oppression and brutality ... produced the Oliver Tambo’s, the Walter Sisals, of our time.

Used in this way with the and/or in the plural, a proper noun carries a special meaning. For example, what do you think the names above mean? Choose the right Answer.

(a)   For example Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisal,

(b)  Many other men like Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisal .../ many men of their type or kind, whose names may not be as well known.

Did you choose option (b)? Then you have the right Answer!

Here are some more examples of 'the' used with proper names. Try to say what these sentences mean. (You may consult a dictionary if you wish. Look at the entry for 'the'.)

1.    Mr. Singh regular rly invites the Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.

2.    Many people think that Madhuri Dixit is the Madhubala of our times.

3.    History is not only the story of the Alexanders, the Napoleons and the Hitlers, but of ordinary people as well.

 Answer II:

1.    This means that Mr Singh regularly invites Bollywood stars such as like Amitabh Bachchans and the Shah Rukh Khans to his parties.

2.    This means that Madhuri Dixit is compared to a landmark in acting just like Madhubala of our times.

3.    This means that history is not only the story of the great fighters and leaders such as Alexander, Napoleon and Hitler, but also of ordinary people.

Question III:

Idiomatic Expressions

Match the italicized phrases in Column A with the phrase nearest in meaning in Column 8. (Hint: First look for the sentence in the text in which the phrase in Column A occurs.)

A	B
1.    I was not unmindful of the fact	(I)   had not forgotten; was aware of the fact (ii)  was n to careful about the fact (iii) forgot or was not aware of the fact
2.    when  my  comrades  and  I were pushed to our limits	(I)   pushed by the guards to the wall (ii)  took more than our share of beatings (iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer
3.    to reassure me and keep me going	(I)   make me go on walking (ii)  help me continue to live in hope in this very difficult situation (iii) make me remain without complaining
4.    The basic and honorable freedoms of ...earning my keep.	(I)   earning enough money to live on (ii)  keeping what  I  earned (iii) getting a good salary

Answer III:

A	B
I was not unmindful of the fact	(I) had not forgotten; was aware of the fact
when my comrades and  I were pushed to our limits	(iii) felt that we could not endure the suffering any longer
to reassure me and keep me going	(ii)  help  me  continue  to  live  in  hope in  this  very difficult situation
The basic and honorable freedoms of earning my keep.	(I) earning enough money to live on