General English (AEC)

Morphology is the study of how words are built from smaller meaningful units called morphemes. A free morpheme can stand alone as a word: book, happy, write. A bound morpheme cannot stand alone and must attach to another morpheme: un- in unhappy, -ness in kindness, -ed in walked, -s in books. So unhappy = un- (bound) + happy (free); books = book (free) + -s (bound).

(a) cheese /tʃiːz/ — begins with the affricate /tʃ/ and has the long vowel /iː/; (b) judge /dʒʌdʒ/ — begins and ends with the voiced affricate /dʒ/, with the short vowel /ʌ/ between them; (c) sing /sɪŋ/ — ends with the velar nasal /ŋ/, not /n/ + /g/; there is no separate /g/ sound in sing.

(a) information /ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃn/ — primary stress on the syllable -ma- (words ending in -tion stress the syllable before it); (b) present (noun, a gift) /ˈprezənt/ — stress on the first syllable; (c) present (verb, to give) /prɪˈzent/ — stress on the second syllable. Nouns/adjectives usually stress the first syllable, verbs the second.

(a) Falling — a tag question in which the speaker expects confirmation (a yes) takes the falling tone. (b) Falling — an offer or polite imperative/invitation takes the falling tone; rising would sound like a genuine yes-no question. Rising tone is mainly for yes-no questions where the answer is unknown and for unfinished lists.

(a) regular → irregular; possible → impossible. Rule: the prefix in- changes its last letter to match the first letter of the base — in- + r- → ir-, in- + p- → im-. (b) honest → dishonest. Rule: dis- (not un-) is used with many Latin-origin words; *unhonest is wrong.

SVOO (Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object). “She” is the subject, “gave” the verb, “me” the indirect object (to whom the book was given), and “a book” the direct object (what was given). Verbs like give, send, offer and tell take two objects.

“The Ganga is a sacred river of India.” — “the” before the names of rivers (the Ganga, the Yamuna); “a” before “sacred” because it begins with the consonant sound /s/, and it is the first mention of the river as one of a class.

“I have already seen this film.” — present perfect (have/has + V3). Words like already, just, yet and ever/never point to the present perfect, which connects a past action to the present moment.

“He could swim across the river when he was young.” — “could” expresses past ability. “Can” is only present/future ability; with a past-time marker like “when he was young”, the past form “could” is required.

“The news is very good today.” — “news” looks plural but is a singular uncountable noun, so it takes a singular verb. Other such nouns: information, advice, furniture, mathematics, physics.

(i) A bridge is being built (by them). Rule: present continuous passive = is/are + being + V3. (ii) A story will be written (by her). Rule: after will/shall, passive = will be + V3. (iii) Let the door not be opened. Rule: a negative imperative becomes Let + object + not + be + V3.

(i) He said that he had met her the previous day. Rule: past simple → past perfect, and yesterday → the previous day. (ii) She said that she was reading then. Rule: present continuous → past continuous, now → then. (iii) He requested me to help him. Rule: a polite imperative (please) is reported with requested + to-infinitive.

(i) Although he worked hard, he failed. Rule: two contrasting ideas join with the subordinating conjunction although. (ii) The thief saw the police and ran away. Rule: the phrase “on seeing” expands to a finite clause joined by the coordinator and. (iii) The boy in the red shirt is my brother. Rule: the relative clause “who is wearing a red shirt” reduces to the phrase “in the red shirt”.

(i) Is it raining? Rule: bring the auxiliary is before the subject. (ii) They were not playing. Rule: put not after the existing auxiliary were. (iii) Can he drive? Rule: bring the modal can before the subject; no do-support is needed when an auxiliary already exists.

(i) No other girl in the class is as tall as she. Rule: superlative → positive with “no other … as … as”. (ii) Delhi is one of the biggest cities. Rule: “very few … as … as” → “one of the + superlative”. (iii) I am not as rich as he. Rule: comparative (richer than) → positive with “not as … as”.

(a) The sports day was held on Saturday on the main ground. (b) Ravi of BA second year won the 100-metre race in 11.8 seconds. (c) The march past by the NCC cadets opened the programme. (d) The teachers won the friendly football match 2–1. (e) A suitable title: “College Sports Day”.

The sun rises and the birds start singing their sweet, soft morning songs. The farmer walks alone through his field, whistling happily as he goes along the stony path. The stanza paints a peaceful picture of early morning in the countryside, full of freshness and quiet joy.

The proverb means that strong determination always finds a path to success. A student who truly wants to learn will study even without costly books or coaching; a poor farmer who is determined will dig a well with his own hands. Difficulties stop only those whose wish is weak. History is full of people who had nothing but willpower and still changed their lives. The lesson is simple: before complaining about problems, strengthen your desire, and the way will appear by itself.

At the clinic

Patient: Good morning, doctor. I have had a fever since last night. Doctor: Good morning. Let me check. Hmm, 101 degrees. Any cough or body pain? Patient: Yes, my whole body aches and I feel very weak. Doctor: It looks like viral fever. Take this tablet twice a day after food, and drink plenty of water. Patient: For how many days, doctor? Doctor: Three days. If the fever does not come down, come again. Patient: Thank you, doctor.

CITY COLLEGE, BIKANER NOTICE Date: 5 October 2026 Blood Donation Camp

A blood donation camp will be organised in the college hall on Friday, 9 October, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. by the Red Cross Society. All students above 18 years of age are requested to donate blood and save lives. Donors will receive a certificate.

Ramesh Kumar (NSS Coordinator)

To: sharma.books@example.com Subject: Order for three books – college library

Dear Sir, I am the library in-charge of City College, Bikaner. We wish to order the following books: (1) Intermediate English Grammar by Raymond Murphy, (2) Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, (3) A Textbook of General English by R. P. Bhatnagar – two copies of each. Please send them by registered post and include your bill.

Thanking you, Anil Sharma Library In-charge

The proverb 'Actions speak louder than words' means that what a person does matters far more than what he says. Words are easy; anyone can make big promises in a minute. Actions need effort, time and courage, and that is why the world trusts deeds more than speech.

A student who loudly declares that he will top the class but never opens a book will surely fail, while a quiet student who studies honestly every day will succeed. The first had words, the second had actions. In the same way, a leader who works shoulder to shoulder with his team earns deeper respect than one who only delivers long speeches from a stage. People follow example, not advice.

Friendship also proves this truth. A friend who arrives with help in difficult times means more than a hundred sweet messages sent on festivals. History remembers doers, not talkers: reformers, scientists and freedom fighters changed the world by acting, often at great personal cost, while many fine speakers were forgotten.

Even small daily acts build character. Helping an old person cross the road, keeping a promise, or finishing one's duty on time creates trust that no speech can create. However, this does not mean words are worthless. Words can guide, comfort and inspire others. But words without matching action are empty and soon lose their power.

Therefore we should judge others by their deeds and try to make our own actions match our words. Let us speak less and do more, because in the end the world believes what it sees, not what it hears.

REPORT ON THE ANNUAL SPORTS DAY To: The Principal, City College, Bikaner From: Sunita Verma, Sports Secretary (BA Semester II) Date: 4 October 2026 Subject: Report on the Annual Sports Day held on 3 October 2026

Introduction: The Annual Sports Day of the college was held on Saturday, 3 October 2026, on the main ground. About four hundred students took part in ten events.

Details: The programme opened with a march past by the NCC cadets, followed by the principal's address and the lighting of the sports torch by the chief guest, District Sports Officer Mr R. K. Jain. The main track events were the 100-metre race, 400-metre race and 4x100-metre relay, while the field events included long jump, high jump and shot put. Team games like kabaddi, volleyball and tug of war drew loud cheers from the crowd. Ravi of BA second year won the 100-metre race in 11.8 seconds and was declared the fastest athlete of the meet. Priya of BSc first year won both the long jump and the 400-metre race. The girls' kabaddi final between BA and BSc was the most exciting event of the day and ended in a narrow 28-26 victory for BA. The day ended with a friendly football match between teachers and students, which the teachers won 2-1. Prizes and certificates were distributed by the chief guest at four in the evening.

Conclusion: The sports day was a grand success. It created a spirit of healthy competition, discipline and teamwork among students. The sports committee suggests holding practice sessions every evening from next month and arranging a professional coach for athletics so that our athletes perform even better at the university meet next year.

To: editor@dainikexamplenews.com Subject: Poor condition of roads in Shastri Nagar, Bikaner

Respected Sir,

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I wish to draw the attention of the municipal authorities to the shocking condition of roads in Shastri Nagar, Bikaner.

For the last six months, the main road of our colony has been full of deep pits. During the rains, these pits fill with dirty water, and two-wheeler riders often slip and get injured. Last week, an old man fell from his scooter and fractured his arm, and a schoolgirl was hurt near the turning. Stagnant water in the pits has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, raising the fear of dengue in the area. Street lights are missing on the whole stretch, so the road becomes dangerous after dark, especially for women and elderly people returning from work. We have complained to the municipal office three times in writing, but no action has been taken so far, which is most disappointing.

The residents request the authorities to repair the road, fill the pits properly and install street lights immediately before some bigger accident takes place. School buses and ambulances also struggle on this broken stretch every single day. Good roads are not a luxury; they are a basic need and a right of every tax-paying citizen.

I hope you will kindly publish this letter in your esteemed newspaper so that the sleeping authorities wake up and take quick action.

Yours faithfully, Mohan Lal Sharma Shastri Nagar, Bikaner 5 October 2026

The Importance of Reading Newspapers for Students

In the age of short videos and quick messages, many students think newspapers are old-fashioned. This is a mistake. A newspaper is still the cheapest and most reliable teacher a student can have.

First, newspapers build language skills. Reading news daily improves vocabulary, sentence sense and general knowledge at the same time. Students preparing for competitive examinations find that most current-affairs questions come straight from the newspapers of the last six months.

Second, newspapers connect students with the real world. A student who reads about the economy, sports, science and government policies understands society better than one who lives only in textbooks. This wider understanding improves answers in examinations and confidence in interviews.

Third, the habit of reading develops thinking. Editorials present both sides of an issue and train the mind to form balanced opinions instead of blindly following others.

Fourth, newspapers improve writing. Students who read well-written reports and editorials slowly absorb good sentence patterns, and this shows in their own answers and essays. Teachers can easily tell the copy of a newspaper reader from the copy of one who never reads.

Students should begin with thirty minutes a day: headlines first, then one editorial and the sports page. English newspapers improve language, while Hindi newspapers keep one rooted. Reading aloud for ten minutes also improves pronunciation and confidence. Those who read daily for a year will feel the difference in their marks, their speech and their personality. A newspaper costs a few rupees, but the habit it builds is priceless, and no mobile app can replace it.

Procedure for Opening a Bank Account

This note describes the standard procedure by which any Indian citizen can open a savings bank account. The procedure has five steps and usually takes one working day.

Step 1: Choose the bank and visit the branch. Carry original documents and one photocopy each of proof of identity (Aadhaar card, voter ID or passport) and proof of address (Aadhaar card, electricity bill or rent agreement). Also carry two recent passport-size photographs.

Step 2: Collect the account opening form from the help desk and fill it carefully in block letters. Write the name exactly as it appears on the identity proof. Choose the type of account (savings) and tick the services needed, such as ATM card, mobile banking and SMS alerts.

Step 3: Paste the photographs on the form and sign at the marked places. The signature on the form becomes the specimen signature, so it must match the signature used later on cheques.

Step 4: Submit the form with the documents to the counter clerk. The officer will verify the originals and return them immediately.

Step 5: Deposit the minimum opening amount in cash. The clerk will issue a receipt and an acknowledgement slip. Keep this slip safe until the passbook is issued.

Step 6: Collect the welcome kit. The account number and passbook are given within a few working days, and the ATM card arrives by post within a week. The account becomes active with the first deposit, and mobile banking can be started through the bank's app.

Note: Applicants below eighteen years of age need a guardian to open the account jointly. If the address proof is not in the applicant's name, a self-declaration form must also be submitted as per KYC rules.