अंग्रेजी एक लिंगुआ फ्रेंका के साथ विभिन्न परीक्षाओं में सफलता का गोल्डन पासपोर्ट भी हैI आईये, हम भी अंग्रेजी के अपने ज्ञान को बढ़ायें–
Choose the closest meaning of the words given in the capital letters –
1. FLAGELLETE
(A) to flog or beat oneself (B) to attach (C) to believe
2. FIZZ
(A) to bubble (B) to leave (C) to arrange
3. DROWSE
(A) to hear (B) to sleep (C) to revise something
4. CORROBORATE
(A) to influence (B) to inform (C) to confirm
5. COMBAT
(A) to think (B) to oppose, to fight (C) to stand
6. CERTITUDE
(A) liability (B) retention (C) certainty
7. ASPHYXIATE
(A) to choke, to gasp (B) to infect (C) to touch
8. Achilles’ heel
(A) a vulnerable point, flaw (B) a devotee (C) an ideologue
9. CELLULOID
(A) something pleasant (B) films and cinema (C) celebration
10. CHISEL
(A) to carve (B) to eat (C) to throw
Answers 1.A 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.B 6.C 7.A 8.A 9.B 10.A
Let us learn these idioms
To take the bull by the horns – to deal decisively or bravely with a difficult situation (किसी कठिन परिस्थिति का बहादुरी के साथ सामना करना) The lady took the bull by the horns and tried hard to meet the huge expenditure of her daughter’s education.
To strike a chord – to cause someone to have sympathy or emotion (किसी को सहानुभूति या भावनात्मक रूप से अभिभूत करना) Her story of struggling with poverty strikes a chord with millions of the people in the country.
That is the way the cookie crumbles – it is used to say when something bad happens which cannot be averted (यह उस परिस्थति में यूज किया जाता है जब कि कुछ बुरा घटित होता है और जिसको कि टाला नहीं जा सकता हो) My sister was very disappointed when she could not pass the IAS examination but that is the way the cookie crumbles.
To paint someone into a corner – to put the people in a difficult situation where they have no other option (किसी को कठिन परिस्थिति में डालना और जिसके अंतर्गत कोई और विकल्प नहीं हो) She has painted herself into a difficult situation by marrying the man to whom her parents had a deep aversion.
A sacred cow – any idea, custom, belief, or institution held to be above criticism (कोई भी विचार, परंपरा या संस्था जो कि आलोचना के परे हो) The reservation policy has proved to be a sacred cow in the Indian democracy.
Until the cows come home – for a very long time (लंबे काल के लिए) You can try your luck in cinema until the cows come home but it would not be a successful journey for you.
WORD OF THE WEEK
CASTIGATE – verb, to criticize or oppose or punish someone very severely, (किसी की घोर निंदा करना, विरोध करना या कड़ी सजा देना) The judge castigated the criminals for their heinous crimes. She was castigated by her friends for her lavish and promiscuous life style.
