Unit- 2 (Nima's Letter to Her Brother)- IX

Exercise 1 (Questions and Answers)

Select the appropriate meaning for the given words. 

[conscious, verbally, benefit, audiovisual, lingua franca, significance, worldwide, nationalities, sentiments, fraternity, attributes]

orally – verbally

common language- lingua franca

aware of something- conscious

to be useful to somebody- benefit

importance- significance

a group of people with the same language, culture and history forming a part of a political nation- nationalities

using both sounds and pictures- audiovisual

a feeling of friendship- fraternity

qualities or features of somebody- attributes

to or in all parts of the world- worldwide

feelings- sentiments

Decide whether the following sentences are true or false.

a. Sister is advising as asked for by her brother. True

b. Lhakpa is planning to visit Nima during Lhosar. False (Nima is planning to visit Lakpa)

c. The English language is the only international language. False (Nima says that the English is one of international languages.)

d. Nima suggests her brother that he should never use his native language. False (She doesn’t suggest her brother that he should never use his native language.

e. Communicating in the target language helps build up mastery over it. True

f. Love, fraternity and respect for others are some of the qualities of humanity. True

Answer these questions.

a. What is the main message of this letter?

Ans- The main message of this letter is improving the English language.

b. Why does Nima advise Lhakpa to buy a radio?

Ans- Nima advises Lhakpa to buy a radio to listen to radio programs in English.

c. According to Nima, what is an interesting way of learning English?

Ans According to Nima, listening to radio programmes in English is an interesting way of learning English.

d. How does the writer feel about her performance in the English language?

Ans- She feels great about her performance in the English language.

e. How does the English language as a lingua franca unite different countries in the world?

Ans- The English language helps people of different nationalities understand each other’s culture, values and sentiments. This leads to the promotion of fraternity which results in better relations among individuals, societies and countries. In this way, the English language as a lingua franca unite different countries in the world.

Sample of an Email Writing (Answer)

To: recipient’s email address

Subject: Information about audio materials

Dear Mr. Kiran Adhikari,

I am thankful to your email I received yesterday. I really appreciate your interest in our English audio materials.

Using the English audio materials could be an interesting way for the learners. It helps the learners improve their pronunciation and listening skill. Our basic aim is to support and encourage our learners like you for the smooth target language learning.

Our audio materials are developed by national curriculum center. The voice in the audios are of professional artists, native speakers, teachers and students. The audios are comprehensible and easy to handle. You can listen to them through internet logging onto our web page or downloading. They are in an MP3 format and can be played using a common MP3 player. They are completely free of cost.

I hope you’ll love our audio materials.

Looking forward to your supportive reply.

Sincerely yours,

Manisha Adhikari

Curriculum Development Center

Sanothimi, Bhaktapur

Expressions for suggesting and advising people:

If I were you, I’d + verb / Why don’t you + verb------? / You should/ought to + verb

You’d better + verb / How about + v-ing/noun ----?

Examples:

A: I have had stomachache for one hour. B: Why don’t you take some hot water?

A: I have taken it but there is not any progress. B: You had better tell the teacher and go home.

C: I’m looking for a wrist watch. Can you show me one? D: Of course! This is Sharp Time Quartz. It’s an original one.

C: Is it durable? How much is it? D: No doubt. There’s a year warranty on it. It’s cheap as well. If I were you, I’d buy it.

Exercise 2 (Questions and Answers)

Your pronunciation is not so good.

A: My English pronunciation is not so good.

B: Why don’t you use an English dictionary?

A: I have done but there is no improvement.

B: You ought to imitate the speaker in English audios.

You are putting on weight.

A: I am putting on weight.

B: You’ better play games regularly.

A: It can’t help me.

B: How about avoiding oil food?

You have forgotten your homework.

A: I have forgotten my homework.

B: You’d better do now.

A: My class will start in a while.

B: How about asking permission with your teacher?

You have no pen to write with.

A: I have no pen to write with.

B: How about buying new one?

A: I have no money.

B: You’d better burrow from your friend.

You lost your note copy in the school.

A: I lost my note copy in the school.

B: Why don’t you ask your friends.

A: I inquired them but it was useless.

B: You’d better inform your class teacher.

You want to learn to dance.

A: I want to learn to dance.

B: What about joining the dance class?

A: But my exam is at hand. 

B: If I were you, I would start it after my exam.