An instance in which you helped someone.

• When that was
• Whom you helped
• What help you offered
• What you felt after that.

Well, sir, as part of my personal life and professional life,

I have had many opportunities to help others.

Among them, I would like to speak of one which I particularly remember.

It happened last year. And it was like this:

I was on my way to Pondichery on a train.

The journey up to Coimbatore was really interesting

as I happened to meet many people, including students,

professionals and ordinary folk.

When we reached Coimbatore, as usual, a lot of passengers got in and out of the compartment. But no sooner than the train left the station, one of my newly met friends had started panicking and shouting out, that someone had stolen her bag.

She broke down like anything because she had all her belonging in that bag except her certificates.

I felt really sorry for her first, but soon, I tried to console her with encouraging words

and offered her all the help. Within a few minutes she came back to her normal mood.

When we reached Pondichery, I took her to my place, and I made her comfortable.

On the following day, I accompanied her to the hospital where she was going to attend an interview. She attended the same, and I arranged for her return trip to Kerala.

When it comes to the feelings on the incident, frankly speaking,

I didn’t expect anything, She thanked me a lot and the same made really glad.

But after some three four weeks, I received a call from her.

She told me that she got selected in the interview.

That was the best of all phone calls I have ever received.

Now she is working there, and we are thick friends.

That is all about the incident in which I helped someone.

Jaypees.doc

Our oceans are under threat

A jaypee. Freelance writer www.MERINEWS.COM

A.

Ever since the declaration at the Earth Summit in Brazil in 1992 that June 8 every year would be observed as Oceans Day, much water has flown down the bridges to the seas and oceans around the world. Anyway, the declaration had many lofty objectives. The role of Oceans and seas in maintaining the balance of life on earth and therefore the need to keep three fourth of the globe without pollution or with bearable amount of pollution were the ultimate objectives.

B.

Our Ocean and Seas are maintaining the mercury levels of the world at sustainable levels, keeping the clock of rains around the world, sustaining the lives of millions of people who eke out their lives on fish stock and maritime activities, watering the lives and their hundreds of thousands of live stock and farm sectors of millions of people in water scarce countries like the ones in the Middle East and elsewhere. They are again contributing a huge share for the food security of the world and providing a level playing field for all geographically convenient nations around the world to have their own shares of maritime trade and the revenue thereof and the never exhaustible corals and similar invaluable natural reserves and finally they humbly contribute a sizeable share of revenue through tourism to many economies.

C.

As this is the case with our Seas, do they not deserve much better treatment than what they get over the years of these so-called-human evolution and the technological and intellectual revolutions thereof. ‘They do’ is the answer. Our Oceans are being constantly threatened by human activity the same way our environment in the land is. Pollutions of all types contribute to this threat. Drainages, industrial effluents and exhausts, international dumping of electronic, toxic radio active substances, frequent oil slicks from container ships and their frequent wrecks, the ever increasing maritime transportation and the exhaust, oil and fuel leakages linked to it, mounting motorized fishing, run off from the shores carrying residues of pesticides and chemicals used in the agriculture and other farming sectors, and finally the ever billowing carbon bubbles getting generated from every other act of human development are some of the ways though which our oceans are getting polluted.

D.

When dwindling fish stock stares at the lives of millions, when water needs of a sizeable number of lives on earth go dry, when clocks of rains around the world happen to run back ward or come to halt leading to poor production and food insecurity, when temperature levels cross human and habit endurance, when glaciers come to add to the woes of the seas, threatening the low lying areas and the habitat there, when our coral reefs go extinct slowly and steadily, and eventually when life on earth itself becomes near impossible, we the humans feign ignorance to all these and go on living our lives to our gluttonous full.

E.

Hypocritically, we find it comfortable not to know that it is going to be the beginning of an end. So, before it is too late, we all need to do our shares to save the Oceans. The same way we keep our people aware of environmental pollutions, we have to have a global campaign against aggressions of all types on the seas. June 8 is the most appropriate day to have a start off.  Though the world order is global, when it comes to an attitudinal change of global dimension, it is the individual initiatives that make the bigger difference than what the institutions and international forums and parlays do.

F.

International summits, like the one held in Geneva in 1992 or the one that went on in the Bali Island last year, would come, make declarations and go winding them up. Unless we include ourselves in these declarations, unless all humans start talking and thinking in terms of the rest of the humanity in general, life on earth is going to be much more difficult in the coming days.

Match the following headings appropriately with the paragraphs

A to F : there are more headings than needed. There may be a heading fitting to two paragraphs: write corresponding letters against questions one to six                                          1 to 6

A. Earth summit objected.

B. Let June 8 save our oceans individually

C. It is hard to make summits

D. Global summits hardly help

E. Oceans! What do they do for us?

F. Oceans Do they do something?

G. Earth Summit: objectives

H. Human callousness towards oceans

I. Oceans’ inhuman attitude

Say whether following statements are true or false and write T or true and F for false: against question from 7 to 10

7 to 10

7.           Mercury levels of the world are balanced thanks to ocean.

8.           Geographically inconvenient economies enjoy a common                           platform in terms of marine revenue.

9.           The clocks of rain around the world go back

10.         Individual efforts can contribute little to save oceans

Fill the following sentences meaningfully by reading the paragraph  D E and F. write no more than three words

11to13

11. Constant assault  on oceans will make life on earth itself………….

12. In order to have our oceans devoid of aggressions we need to

have ………….

13. International summits will come, make declarations………….

Writing: Describing a Process 21

From Oilfield to Petrol Station

Use the information in the following flow diagram to describe the stages from the discovery of oil to the sale of petrol in the filling station.

Write 150 words in 20 minutes. Use the passive.

Oil is one of the most important commodities in the modern world. In this

Lecture I will outline the main steps in the production of oil.

The process begins in the oil field.

First the oil has to be located. This is a very expensive and time consuming process. Once the oil has been found, pipelines are built to pump the oil to storage tanks.

The next step is the most important one - refining. The crude oil is refined to produce different products such as petrol, aviation fuel, diesel, and tar. Sulfur and water have to be removed, and sometimes other chemicals added to improve the quality of the petrol.

After the petrol is refined it is stored in huge tanks. It is then shipped to countries all around the world in massive supertankers, and transported to petrol stations in tankers. At the stations, the petrol is stored underground in tanks and then finally it is ready to be pumped into your car. 

Writing: Describing a Process 21

From Oilfield to Petrol Station

Use the information in the following flow diagram to describe the stages from the discovery of oil to the sale of petrol in the filling station.

Write 150 words in 20 minutes. Use the passive.

Oil is one of the most important commodities in the modern world. In this

Lecture I will outline the main steps in the production of oil.

The process begins in the oil field.

First the oil has to be located. This is a very expensive and time consuming process. Once the oil has been found, pipelines are built to pump the oil to storage tanks.

The next step is the most important one - refining. The crude oil is refined to produce different products such as petrol, aviation fuel, diesel, and tar. Sulfur and water have to be removed, and sometimes other chemicals added to improve the quality of the petrol.

After the petrol is refined it is stored in huge tanks. It is then shipped to countries all around the world in massive supertankers, and transported to petrol stations in tankers. At the stations, the petrol is stored underground in tanks and then finally it is ready to be pumped into your car. 

Writing: Describing a Process 21

From Oilfield to Petrol Station

Use the information in the following flow diagram to describe the stages from the discovery of oil to the sale of petrol in the filling station.

Write 150 words in 20 minutes. Use the passive.

Oil is one of the most important commodities in the modern world. In this

Lecture I will outline the main steps in the production of oil.

The process begins in the oil field.

First the oil has to be located. This is a very expensive and time consuming process. Once the oil has been found, pipelines are built to pump the oil to storage tanks.

The next step is the most important one - refining. The crude oil is refined to produce different products such as petrol, aviation fuel, diesel, and tar. Sulfur and water have to be removed, and sometimes other chemicals added to improve the quality of the petrol.

After the petrol is refined it is stored in huge tanks. It is then shipped to countries all around the world in massive supertankers, and transported to petrol stations in tankers. At the stations, the petrol is stored underground in tanks and then finally it is ready to be pumped into your car. 

Task one

Dropout rate in four schools

Rural	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
Male	6	7	8	14	11	7
Female	10	9	8	12	7	7
Urban
Male	2	3	6	4	2	1
Female	6	7	8	7	6	2

Figures are in percentage

This table is a percentage-wise breakdown of male and female children, of rural and urban schools, who dropped their studies during six years starting from 1991.

To begin with rural males, there was a regular upward spiral in the first three years. It was 6,7,8 respectively, and it recorded the all time high rate,14, in 1994.  But the final two years saw a declining pattern, from 14 to 11 and then to seven. However, the figures of their urban counterparts show contrasts. The rate was two times less in 1991 and 1992, but it was six in 1993. However, the downward spiral followed dropped it to two percent in 1996.

Moving on to urban females, the figures were higher in rural than in urban. But over the years, say in the 1991-93 stretch, there was constant decline from 10 to eight, but it went up by four percent in 1994. Interestingly, the final two years kept the figures in tact, seven. The corresponding figures for the urban schools showed a rise from six to eight, in1991-93 period, but it fell down to two in 1996.

That is the end of the report.

180 words: model by jaypee

Processing in exam point of view

Vocabulary	Compare/contrast	Cohesion/coherence	Task meeting
Upward spiral Went up by 4 percent Showed a rise Fell down to Dropped Constant decline	All time high rate Declining pattern Shows contrasts Two times less than Downwards spiral Higher in rural than	To begin with But the final two years However, However, Moving on to Interestingly	One eighty words Three distinct paragraphs, A closure line, touched almost all major points of the data.

TASK II

Some people believe that female teachers at schools do much better than their male counterparts.

• Check whether this belief has some substance.

It is been a topic of discussion for ages: whether female teachers or their male counterparts do well at schools. I think the belief that the former are better does hold some water, but males on the other hand have their own strengths. 

Teachers, as a matter of fact, are very much influential among all school children. This fact notwithstanding, there is a little gender preference towards female teachers among children. This must be primarily due their (female teachers)’ being more compassionate, understanding and above all empathetic towards children’s likes and dislikes.

For example, most of the modern day children are from nuclear families where mothers are more involved in the academic, physical and emotional well being of children than fathers. This heightened and all round involvement is likely to get reflected in a school ambience as well where what we find is a cross section of children from families of diverse socio-economic, academic and emotional statuses.  So no wonder female teachers have a little extra edge among school children.

However, this is not to mean that male teachers are totally out off the scene; rather they have a different set of quotients. Keeping a heterogeneous student community in the set order of the school is cut more for male teachers than for females. For example, male teachers are more comfortable in handling bullies, managing outdoors stints and ensuring general discipline. Therefore, male teachers are really a force to reckon with when it comes to school as a system.

An overview of the discussion makes me conclude that the argument on female teachers is not without much reason; rather there is great substance. But their counterparts, on other the other hand, are placed in a different plain of theirs.

275 words 29.7.012

Processing in exam point of view

Vocabulary	Grammar/structure	Cohesion/coherence	Task meeting
For ages Counterparts Influential Gender preference Compassionate Understanding Empathetic Academic Emotional Heightened Extra edge Heterogeneous Bullies Discipline To reckon with	Try to identify them. Longer sentences with more grammar and structural particles. Idiomatic or phrasal expressions and the like. FOR EXAMPLE: This heightened and all round involvement is likely to get reflected in a school ambience as well where what we find is a cross section of ………	As a matter of fact Notwithstanding For example So However For example Therefore An overview Rather But	275 words Distinct 5 paragraphs A strong example in a separate paragraph The question is addressed very well with a  positive look Better punctuation, strong spelling, and generally speaking enough and sound English language knowledge

This table is a percentage-wise breakdown of male and female children, of rural and urban schools, who dropped their studies during six years starting from 1991.

To begin with rural males, there was a regular upward spiral in the first three years. It was 6,7,8 respectively, and it recorded the all time high rate,14, in 1994.  But the final two years saw a declining pattern, from 14 to 11 and then to seven. However, the figures of their urban counterparts show contrasts. The rate was two times less in 1991 and 1992, but it was six in 1993. However, the downward spiral followed dropped it to two percent in 1996.

Moving on to urban females, the figures were higher in rural than in urban. But over the years, say in the 1991-93 stretch, there was constant decline from 10 to eight, but it went up by four percent in 1994. Interestingly, the final two years kept the figures in tact, seven. The corresponding figures for the urban schools showed a rise from six to eight, in1991-93 period, but it fell down to two in 1996.

That is the end of the report.

Some people believe that female teachers at schools do much better than their male counterparts.

• Check whether this belief has some substance.

It is been a topic of discussion for ages: whether female teachers or their male counterparts do well at schools. I think the belief that the former are better does  hold some water, but males on the other hand have their own strengths. 

Teachers, as a matter of fact, are very much influential among all school children. This fact notwithstanding, there is a little gender preference towards female teachers among children. This must be primarily due their (female teachers)’ being more compassionate, understanding and above all empathetic towards children’s likes and dislikes.

For example, most of the modern day children are from nuclear families where mothers are more involved in the academic, physical and emotional well being of children than fathers. This heightened and all round involvement is likely to get reflected in a school ambience as well where what we find is a cross section of children from families of diverse socio-economic, academic and emotional statuses.  So no wonder female teachers have a little extra edge among school children.

This is not to mean that male teachers are totally left in the lurch; rather they have a different set of quotients. Keeping a heterogeneous student community in the set order of the school is cut more for male teachers than for females. For example, male teachers are more comfortable in handling bullies, managing outdoors stints and ensuring general discipline. So male teachers are really a force to reckon with when it comes to school as a system.

An overview of the discussion makes me conclude that the argument on female teachers is not without much reason; rather there is great substance. But their counterparts, on other the other hand, are placed in a different plain of theirs.

275 words

29.7.012

Reading

Culture has always been a major object of travel, as the development of the Grand Tour from the 16th century onwards attests. In the 20th century, some people have claimed, culture ceased to be the objective of tourism: tourism is now culture. Cultural attractions play an important role in tourism at all levels, from the global highlights of world culture to attractions that underpin local identities.  Culture, heritage and the arts have long contributed to appeal of tourist destination. However, in recent years ‘culture’ has been rediscovered as an important marketing tool to attract those travellers with special interests in heritage and arts.

Heritage tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry because there is a trend toward an increased specialization among tourists. This trend is evident in the rise in the volume of tourists who seek adventure, culture, history, archaeology and interaction with local people.

Heritage tourism is important for various reasons; it has a positive economic and social impact, it establishes and reinforces identity, it helps preserve the cultural heritage, with culture as an instrument it facilitates harmony and understanding among people, it supports culture and helps renew tourism. Cultural heritage tourism has a number of objectives that must be met within the context of sustainable development such as; the conservation of cultural resources, accurate interpretation of resources, authentic visitors experience, and the stimulation of the earned revenues of cultural resources. We can see, therefore, that cultural heritage tourism is not only concerned with identification, management and protection of the heritage values but it must also be involved in understanding the impact of tourism on communities and regions, achieving economic and social benefits, providing financial resources for protection, as well as marketing and promotion.

Try to answer these questions in 10 minutes. You cannot write more than three words each answer. Some answers may demand only one word.  

1.       Culture has been ……………….of travel

2.       16^th century is known for…………….

3.       Now tourism has turned to be……………………..

4.       These days culture is a ………………….to attract tourists.

5.       In the past century culture was taken by some to have nothing to do with……………….

6.       Specialization among tourists has made tourism………………………

7.       Heritage tourism cements and fosters…………………

8.       The conservation of cultural resources is part of…………...

9.       Cultural tourism must involve in realizing the …………….tourism

10.   Cultural tourism needs to offer ……………..for protection.

A real reading gives you 20 minutes for every section, and the passage will be two time bigger than this, there will be three such texts, but you have to answer some 14/13/13 questions of minimum three types in all three sections. Here is a token for a try. 

Cultural heritage tourism (or just heritage tourism) is a branch of tourism oriented towards the cultural heritage of the location where tourism is occurring.

Culture has always been a major object of travel, as the development of the Grand Tour from the 16th century onwards attests. In the 20th century, some people have claimed, culture ceased to be the objective of tourism: tourism is now culture. Cultural attractions play an important role in tourism at all levels, from the global highlights of world culture to attractions that underpin local identities.  Culture, heritage and the arts have long contributed to appeal of tourist destination. However, in recent years ‘culture’ has been rediscovered as an important marketing tool to attract those travellers with special interests in heritage and arts.

Heritage tourism is the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry because there is a trend toward an increase specialization among tourists. This trend is evident in the rise in the volume of tourists who seek adventure, culture, history, archaeology and interaction with local people.

Heritage tourism is important for various reasons; it has a positive economic and social impact, it establishes and reinforces identity, it helps preserve the cultural heritage, with culture as an instrument it facilitates harmony and understanding among people, it supports culture and helps renew tourism. Cultural heritage tourism has a number of objectives that must be met within the context of sustainable development such as; the conservation of cultural resources, accurate interpretation of resources, authentic visitors experience, and the stimulation of the earned revenues of cultural resources. We can see, therefore, that cultural heritage tourism is not only concerned with identification, management and protection of the heritage values but it must also be involved in understanding the impact of tourism on communities and regions, achieving economic and social benefits, providing financial resources for protection, as well as marketing and promotion.

Heritage tourism involves visiting historical or industrial sites that may include old canals, railways, battlegrounds, etc. The overall purpose is to gain an appreciation of the past. It also refers to the marketing of a location to members of a diaspora who have distant family roots there.

Decolonization and immigration form the major background of much contemporary heritage tourism. Falling travel costs have also made heritage tourism possible for more people.

Another possible form involves religious travel or pilgrimages. Many Catholics from around the world come to the Vatican and other sites such as Lourdes or Fátima. Large numbers of Jews have both visited Israel and emigrated there. Many have also gone to Holocaust sites and memorials. Islam commands its followers to take the hajj to Mecca, thus differentiating it somewhat from tourism in the usual sense, though the trip can also be a culturally important event for the pilgrim.

Heritage Tourism can also be attributed to historical events that have been dramatised to make them more entertaining. For example a historical tour of a town or city using a theme such as ghosts or vikings.

Answer the following questions:

1.       Define heritage tourism?

2.       Why is it becoming the fastest growing segement of tourism?

3.       Why is it becoming very popular today than it was in the past?

4.       What all things come under heritage tourism?

5.       Why do more and more people go for this tourism now?

6.       Cultural heritage tourism is mainly concerned with two things. What are they?

Write no more than 150 words about heritage tourism possibilitiies in your country?