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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

1
ENGLISH SPELLING RULES
Writing (and therefore spelling) is a representation of the spoken
word. The spoken word is not a representation of writing. Because accents
and pronunciation can change easily and quite quickly, whereas what is
written in books and dictionaries remains "fixed" for years, as well as for
various historical reasons, there is often little correspondence between
spoken English (pronunciation) and written English (spelling). English
spelling therefore often appears to be totally illogical. The following rules
can help you to decode the mysteries of English spelling. But remember,
even the best rules have their exceptions.

Adding -er/est
We make the comparative or superlative forms of short adjectives by
adding -er or -est.

Spelling Rule
Just add -er or -est to the end of the adjective, for example:
quick > quicker > quickest
great > greater > greatest
full > fuller > fullest

Exceptions
If the adjective do this:
ends in:

and
add:

For example:

consonant + -y

change the -y to -er


an -i
-est

happy >
happiest

happier

consonant + -e

remove the -e

late > later > latest

>

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

consonant
vowel
consonant

+ double
+ letter

the

last

hot > hotter > hottest

Note: adjectives ending in -l are regular, except:


cruel > crueller > cruelest

Adding -ing/-ed
Often we need to add -ing or -ed to a verb to make other forms of the
verb, for example:
I was talking when John arrived.

Spelling Rule
Just add -ing or -ed to the end of the base verb:
work > working > worked
play > playing > played
open > opening > opened

Exceptions
If the base verb
ends in:

do this:

and
add:

For example:

consonant + vowel double the final -ing


+ consonant
consonant
-ed
and a
stressed
syllable

stop
>
stopping
>
stopped
begin
>
beginning
tap > tapping > tapped
But,
for
example:
open
>
opening
>
opened
(because no stress on
last syllable of open)

consonant + -e

phone >
phoned
dance >
danced

remove the -e

-ing
-ed

phoning

>

dancing

>

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

make
>
making
rake > raking > raked
-ie

change the -ie to -ing


-y

lie
>
die > dying

nothing

lie
>
die > died

-d

lying

lied

Adding -ly
We often make an adverb by adding -ly to an adjective, for example:
quick > quickly.

Spelling Rule
Just add -ly to the end of the adjective:
coy > coyly
loud > loudly
beautiful > beautifully
senseless > senselessly
intelligent > intelligently

Exceptions
If the adjective ends in:

do this:

and
add:

For example:

-ll

nothing

-y

full > fully

consonant + -le

remove
final -e

the -y

-y
(except
adjectives)

1-syllable remove the -y

-ily

terrible
terribly

>

happy
happily

>

Note: 1-syllable adjectives ending in -y are regular, except:


day > daily
gay > gaily

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Adding -s
We add -s to words for two reasons:
to make plural nouns (boy > boys)
to form the 3rd person singular of the present simple tense (I
work > you work > he works)

Spelling Rule
Just add -s to the end of the word, for example:
dog > dogs
play > plays
demand > demands

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Exceptions
If the word ends do this:
in:

and
add:

For example:

-ch
-s
-sh
-x
-z

nothing

-es

church > churches


mass > masses
brush > brushes
fax > faxes
box > boxes
chintz > chintzes

-f
-fe

remove the -f -ves


or -fe

wife > wives


calf > calves
except:
beliefs, cliffs, chiefs, dwarfs,
griefs, gulfs, proofs, roofs

consonant + -y

remove
-y

spy > spies


baby > babies

the -ies

Note: words that end in -o normally just add s, except:


buffalo > buffaloes
cargoes (or cargos)
domino > dominoes
echo > echoes
go > goes
grotto > grottoes
halo > haloes
hero > heroes
mango > mangoes
mosquito > mosquitoes
motto > mottoes (or mottos)
potato > potatoes
tomato > tomatoes
tornado > tornadoes
torpedo > torpedoes
veto > vetoes
volcano > volcanoes

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

-ible or -able
Many words end in -ible and -able. Sometimes it is difficult to
remember which spelling to use.
The ible ending is for words of Latin origin. There are about 180
words ending in -ible. No new words are being created with -ible endings.
Here are the most common examples:
accessible
divisible
indelible
possible
admissible
edible
inedible
responsible
audible
fallible
insensible
reversible
collapsible
flexible
intelligible
sensible
combustible
gullible
invincible
susceptible
compatible
horrible
invisible
suggestible
comprehensible
illegible
illegible
tangible
contemptible
implausible
irresistible
terrible
credible
inaccessible
irreversible
visible
defensible
incontrovertible
ostensible
destructible
incredible
permissible
digestible
indefensible
plausible
The -able ending is for:
some Latin words, for example: dependable
non-Latin words, for example: affordable, renewable, washable
new (modern) words, for example: networkable, windsurfable

Rule of thumb
This rule can help you decide the correct spelling. It works most (but
not all!) of the time. Remember, if you are not sure about a word, it is
probably best to use a dictionary. Here is the rule:
If you remove -able from a word, you are left with a complete
word.
If you remove -ible from a word, you are not left with a complete
word
(note
that accessible,contemptible, digestible, flexible and suggestible
above are among the exceptions to this rule).

-ie- or -ei-

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Sometimes it is difficult to remember whether a word is spelled with


-ie- or -ei-. There is a very simple rule about this:
I before E
except after C
or when sounding like AY
as in neighbour and weigh
Rule

Examples

I before E

achieve, believe, brief, chief, friend, grief, hygiene,


patience, pierce, priest, thief

except after C

ceiling, conceit, conceive, deceit, deceive, perceive,


receipt, receive

or
when beige, feint, freight, inveigle, neighbour, sleigh, vein,
sounding like AY
weigh, weight
Here are some common exceptions to the above rule:
either, neither, caffeine, codeine, counterfeit, foreign, forfeit,
height, leisure, protein, their, weird, seize, seizure

English and American English Spelling


Here are the principal differences in spelling between English and
American English.

Final -l is always doubled after one vowel in


stressed and unstressed syllables in English but
usually only in stressed syllables in American
English, for example:

English

American
English

rebel >
rebelled
travel >
travelled

rebel >
rebelled
travel >
traveled

Some words end in -tre in English and -ter in centre


theatre
American English, for example:

center
theater

Some words end in -ogue in English and -og in analogue


catalogue
American English, for example:

analog
catalog

Some words end in -our in English and -or in colour


labour
American English, for example:

color
labor

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Some verbs end in -ize or -ise in English but only realise,


realize
in -ize in American English, for example:
harmonise,
harmonize

Common Differences
English

American English

all right

all
alright (disputed)

analyse

analyze

centre

center

cheque

check

colour

color

counsellor

counselor

criticise, criticize

criticize

defence

defense

doughnut

donut

favour

favor

fibre

fiber

flavour

flavor

fulfil

fulfill

grey

gray

honour

honor

humour

humor

jewellery

jewellery, jewelry

judgement, judgment

judgment

right,

realize
harmonize

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

kerb

curb

labour

labor

license, licence (verb)


licence (noun)

license (verb)
license (noun)

litre

liter

metre

meter

mould

mold

neighbour

neighbor

offence

offense

practise (verb)
practice (noun)

practice (verb)
practice (noun)

pretence

pretense

programme
concert
program
software)

(plan, program
etc) program
(computer

pyjamas

pajamas

realise, realize

realize

savour

savor

speciality

specialty

theatre

theater

travelled
travelling

travelled, traveled
travelling, traveling

tyre

tire

valour

valor

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

2
IDIOMATIC PHRASES
In every language there are hundreds of combinations of words, each
having a special significance, which are very difficult for the foreign
student to grasp because he has no identical expressions in his own
language. Note, for instance, the following English idiomatic phrases
containing the word give.
give away, give in, give up, give out, give way to, give off,
give the cold shoulder, give vent to, give someone the slip
Not all these phrases can be translated literally into other languages.
In fact, the literal translation most often is ridiculous. Consider, for
instance, the literal translation of the following phrases into Urdu.
a maiden speech, at sixes and sevens, to hold water, through
thick and thin, to play ducks and drakes with, a rainy day.
Idioms are, thus, peculiar to a language. Even in the same language,
an idiom often has a meaning other than its grammatical or logical one.
The word-order and phraseology in an idiom have been fixed by usage
and any unwarranted change is considered a mistake. We can have a
mosque at a stone's throw from our house but not at a bullet's throw.
Care must be taken, therefore, in the memorising and use of idioms so
that their form and phraseology is not tampered with.
Idiomatic phrases do seem to break the accepted rules of grammar,
but they are not to be discarded on this account. The correct and easy use
of idiomatic expressions is the requirement of a good prose style. They are
necessary short-cuts in the language and make writing picturesque and
vigorous.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

11

In these notes an attempt has been made to explain almost all the
important idioms that are generally set in our examinations. They have
been roughly classified as under:
(a) Idiomatic Noun Phrases e.g., an apple of discord, a mare's
nest, the ins and outs, a stone's throw
(b) Idiomatic Adjective Phrases e.g., bad blood; a laughing
stock, red tape, tall talk.
(c) Idiomatic Verbal Phrases with certain verbs like to be, to
break, to bring, to call, to make, to play, to stand, etc.
(d) Adverbial Phrases e.g., above board, again and again, few
and for between, now and then.
(e) Prepositional Phrases e.g. according to, at the risk of, by
dint of, in keeping with, on behalf of
(f) Miscellaneous Idioms and Phrases

SENTENCE
CONSTRUCTION
A common examination question is "Use the following idioms
and phrases in sentences so as to bring out their meanings:
"to turn the tables, against the grain" etc.
In answering such a question, care must be taken to frame such a
sentence as will really illustrate the meaning of the given phrase. You may
write two or three sentences giving a situation in which only one meaning,
and that the correct one, fits. It is useless to say, for exampleHe is brave and has turned the table.
He had to act against the grain.
Here the two phrases may mean anything. One can substitute many
things for them. No credit is given for such sentences. Now consider the
following sentences.
The defence counsel produced in court the very man who was
alleged to have been murdered by the accused and thus
turned the tables on the public prosecutor.
He married the rich but plain girl against his grain as his
greedy father threatened to disinherit him if he didn't.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Even if you did not already know the meaning of these phrases, after
a reading of these sentences, you can easily guess itand you will not be
wide of the mark.

IDIOMATIC NOUN PHRASES


An apple of discord/ bone of contention cause of strife
The diamond necklace proved an apple of discord; the dacoits began
to fight among themselves for it.
2. Apple of one's eye very dear
Being the only son, he was the apple of his mother's eye.
3. Bird's eye view a general view: not detailed.
From the Minar-i-Pakistan, we had a bird's eye view of the town.
4. Birds of a feather .persons of like tastes
They are birds of feather and unanimously oppose this measure
designed to end corruption.
5. A bird of passage a person not sticking to one place
Vasco de Gama was a bird of passage.
6. Castles in the air imaginary schemes
You will soon be starving if you do not stop building castles in the air.
7. A cock and bull story silly, improbable story
There is no substance in what you say about their bad relations. It is
all a cock and bull story.
8. The fourth estate the Press
The opinions and criticism by the fourth estate cannot be easily
ignored by the government
9. A fish out of water in uncomfortable surroundings
When first I came among fashionable students in the hostel -straight
from my remote village I felt like a fish out of water.
10. Flesh and blood human nature
Flesh and blood cannot endure the hardships that the tyrant king
inflicted on the prisoners of war.
11. The gift of the gab fluency of speech
The politician was able to sway the mob with his gift of the gab.
1.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

13

12. The ins and outs full details


He knows the ins and outs of this case. Therefore, his opinion should
weigh with us.
13. Jack of all trades one who can turn his hand to any kind of

business but is expert in none


Though just a jack of all trades, he proved indispensable to the
expedition for his versatility.
14. The lion's share major part.
He got the lion's share of the profits for he was the only active
partner.
15. The long and short the whole briefly stated.
The long and short of his speech was that America will not sacrifice
her interest.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

16. A man of letters one proficient in literature


The men of letters of Iqbal's day used to take a great pleasure in
conversing with him.
17. A man of straw insignificant man, having no will of his own
Who cares for a man of straw like him? He is entirely under the
thumb of his uncle.
18. A mare's nest a discovery which turns out to be false or

19.

20.
21.
22.

23.

24.

25.
26.

worthless
Many medieval alchemists believed they would find the philosophers
stone and elixir of life. They didn't know that they were after a mare's
nest.
A moot-point a point yet open to discussion
Whether we should abolish English as a medium of instruction in our
universities is yet a moot-point.
Pros and consarguments for and against
The scheme was adopted only after weighing its pros and cons.
A rope of sanddelusive security
Your hope of financial help from him is a rope of sand.
Rule of thumbrough rule based on experience or practice, not
on any nice theory
You must employ some expert. Such a big business cannot be done
well for long with rule of thumb methods.
Between devil and deep sea/between two firesbetween
two dangers.
The dacoits have demanded Rs. 50,00,000 of him or face death. He
is between devil and deep sea/between two fires. In one case he
loses his fortune, in the other, his life.
A snake in the grasssecret foe,
That sneaking cunning person is not your friend. He will rob you of
your money and then you will realise that he was a snake in the
grass.
A stone's throwas far as one can throw a stone
The post office is at a stone's throw from my house.
The sum and substancethe essence, the meaning in a nutshell

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

15

The sum and substance of his speech is that if Pakistan starts


manufacturing Atom Bombs her economy will be ruined.
27. Ups and downsrise and fall of fortune
He is an experienced man of the world for he has seen the ups and
downs of life.

IDIOMATIC ADJECTIVE PHRASES


28. Animal spirits natural cheerfulness and liveliness of healthy

29.
30.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

youth
All the young men in the hostel were ever cheerful and full of animal
spirits.
In apple-pie order in perfectly orderly arrangement
Ali loves his garden well and keeps it in apple-pie order.
Backstairs influence secret and improper influence
Even though he was t qualified for the post, he got it through
backstairs influence
Bad blood ill-feeling; active enmity
The division of their father's property has created bad blood between
the two brothers.
Blue blood noble blood; aristocratic; of gentle birth
Although they are one of most blue-blooded families in the land yet
they are desperately poor.
A black sheep one having a bad reputation in a company
A black sheep among the workers kept the authorities informed of all
their secret meetings.
A blind alley a narrow lane with a wall at the end; a dead-end.
To cut short the distance by the wide street, we followed a lane
but it turned out to be a blind alley.
His business has come to a blind alley, for no further expansion is
possible now.
A blue stocking a woman affecting literary tastes and learning

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Miss Raza is nothing more than a blue stocking and bore. Therefore,
Khalid who loves live a cheerful life, refused to marry her.
36. Blue ribbon the highest prize, in any sport competition or

37.

38.

39.

40.

41.

42.

43.

44.

45.

tournament
Pakistan team got the blue ribbon in cricket in 1992.
A brown study a reverie; day-dreaming
Ahmad was in a brown study and did not notice my entrance in her
room.
A burning question a matter in a dispute which urgently
presses for settlement.
Kashmir has continued to be the burning question for India and
Pakistan since Independence.
Chicken hearted timid, cowardly.
You should have no hopes of help from such a chicken-hearted fellow.
He is daunted even by minor problems.
Crocodile tears pretended sorrow
Having poisoned her husband to death, the wicked woman shed
crocodile tears, to mourn his death.
Casting vote in case of a tie, the vote of the chairman which
decides the issue
The committee was equally divided on the point. The casting vote of
the chairman clinched the issue.
A close shave a narrow escape
During the encounter, a bullet fired by the criminal grazed the cops,
shoulder. It was a close shave indeed.
A cold blooded murder an unprovoked murder
The judge felt that it was a cold-blooded murder and he sentenced
the accused to death.
Cold comfort very slight satisfaction
He could not seek admission I to the medical college but got 900
marks in F.Sc. It was a cold comfort for him.
A curtain lecture scolding given by a wife to her husband in
the privacy of the bedroom
He seems to have received a curtain lecture. That is why he does not
agree to play cards with us today.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

17

46. A dog-in-the-manger policy the policy of a selfish man


You should not hinder my election when you know you yourself are
not qualified for it. Do not follow a-dog-in-the-manger policy.
47. Dutch courage courage excited by wine
At night when he had the Dutch courage he abused and challenged
his neighbours but in the morning repented and begged pardon of
them.
48. A fair weather friend one deserting you in difficulties.
Akbar was ruined not as much by his misfortunes as by his fair
weather friends.
49. A free lance a journalist not paid by any one newspaper, or a

50.
51.
52.

53.

54.
55.

56.
57.

politician unattached to any party


He is earning more as a free lance than he did as an employee of The
Dawn.
French Leave absent without permission.
The students were punished for enjoying a French leave.
A gala day a day of gaiety and festivity.
14th of August is a gala day in the history of Pakistan.
The green eyed monster jealousy
John could bear the superiority of no one over him; the green-eyed
monster kept him always unhappy.
A Herculean task work requiring very great effort
The Herculean task of building a dam across the river is now
successfully over.
Hush-Money bribe paid to secure silence
The murderer paid the eye-witness hush-money and went Scot-free.
A hair-breadth escape a very narrow escape.
The brakes failed, he collided against a truck and had a hair-breadth
escape.
Hall-mark showing genuine excellence
Whatever Shakespeare wrote, carries the hall-mark of excellence.
A henpecked person one under the thumb of his wife
He is a henpecked husband and dare not do anything without her
permission.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

58. A jaundiced eye a prejudiced eye


Use your reason and don't look at this matter with a jaundiced eye
for thus you can find no good in it.
59. A laughing stock object of ridicule
He talked nonsense and made himself the laughing stock of his
hearers.
60. Lynch law the practice of punishing criminals or suspects

61.

62.

63.
64.

65.

66.

67.
68.

without any proof


The furious mob followed lynch law and stoned the ruffian to death.
A maiden speech the first speech made by a new member in
a public
His maiden speech in the Assembly convinced the members that he
is one of the finest orators.
A nine days' wonder an event which causes great excitement
for a short time and is then forgotten.
The marriage of the prince with an ordinary woman was a nine days
wonder in the country.
An oily tongue glibly using honeyed words of flattery
Women are extremely susceptible to an oily tongue.
Palmy days prosperous days.
Great many massive and beautiful buildings were built in Indo-Pak
during the palmy days of the Mughals.
A rainy day time of adversity.
Now that you are earning a good salary, do lay up something against
a rainy day.
A red letter day auspicious, fortunate day
Fourteenth of August is a red letter day for Pakistani, for we won our
freedom on that day.
Red tape or tapism excessive official formality
To streamline administration red-tapism should be severely curtailed.
A screw loose something wrong or irregular; be mentally
deficient
He seems to have a screw loose for he could not understand what I
explained to him again and again.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

19

69. Scot free unhurt


After having abetted the criminal, he could not expect to go Scot
free.
70. A sleeping partner one who invests money in a business but

71.

72.

73.
74.

75.

76.

77.

78.
79.

does not take active part in its management.


The cunning man has swindled the whole of the money, due to his
sleeping partner, by constantly showing losses.
Small fry insignificant persons
Now that he has become a gazetted officer, he does not care for his
poor relatives and such small fry.
Small talk trivial conversation; gossip
While the ladies continued their small talk in the drawing-room, I felt
bored.
Tall talk boastful, exaggerated language
Don't be taken in by his tall talk; he has not a penny in the bank.
Sour grapes a desirable thing which is despised because it is
unattainable
Peter was ardently in love with Julia but when she refused to marry
him; he started talking of sour grapes.
A street Arab destitute, homeless children who wander in the
streets
In many of his novels Charles has described the miserable lot of the
street Arabs of London.
A swan song last effort of a man who is much appreciated is
called his swan song
Hyperion was the swan song of Keats.
A Utopian scheme unpractical, unrealistic and idealistic
scheme
The scheme suggested by the philosopher for world peace is a
Utopian one.
A white elephant distinction that proves too costly to support
Car is a white elephant for a low salaried man.
A white lie an innocent falsehood
The old man was dying but the doctor uttered a white lie and assured
him that he would live long.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

80. A wet blanket a person or thing whose presence dampens

enthusiasm
The children were full of fun and frolic, but, the grandfathers
entrance into the room acted as a wet blanket to their mirth.
81. A wild goose chase foolish, unprofitable adventure
Capturing the notorious dacoit, Riaz Basra, was believed to be a wild
goose chase by the police.

IDIOMATIC VERBAL PHRASES


82. To be afterin pursuit of
He was after a good job but he could not get it.
83. To be up and doingactively engaged.
Be up and doing during your college days if you want to lead a happy
life.
84. To be born with a silver spoon in one's mouthborn in a rich

85.
86.

87.

88.

89.

family
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was born with a silver spoon in his mouth but
he dedicated his whole life to the service of his poor countrymen.
To be ill at easefeeling uncomfortable.
The boy was ill at ease in the presence of the Principal.
To be caught nappingcaught in an unguarded moment of
neglected duty
The officer is a clever swindler but the police will catch him napping
sooner or later.
To be in good booksin one's favour
He is a hard working man and is in the good books of his employer
whereas many of his colleagues are in the bad books (out of
favour).
To be on the alertwatchful and ready for any emergency
In view of the danger from India, Our Army should be always on the
alert.
To be on the wanegradually weakening.
When The English came to India, the Mughal empire was already on
the wane.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

21

90. To be out of placeunsuitable, inappropriate


This paragraph on the present political situation in Pakistan is out of
place in this essay on Shakespeare.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

91. To be within an ace/ inch ofvery nearly


The pistol went off accidentally and he was within an ace /inch of
being killed.
92. To be down and outbeaten.
After suffering crushing defeats in three successive elections he is
now down and out and will not contest any election again.
93. To be in the doldrums or dumpsin low spirits
You look to be in the doldrums. Take heart and be up and doing,
94. To be in a fixin awkward or difficult situation
Our car broke down some ten miles from the town and we were in a
fix.
95. To be out of sortsslightly unwell
I am out of sorts today and don't feel like working.
96. To be neither here nor thereof no importance
In this company, he is neither here nor there; don't depend on his
recommendation for a job.
97. To be the order of the daydefinite plans
In Pakistan planning in every sphere is the order of the day.
98. To be on tenterhookspainful anxiety, and suspense
The votes were being counted; it was a neck to neck fight and he was
on tenterhooks.
99. To be at logger headsdisagreeing or quarrelling with
The husband and wife are ever at logger heads with each other.
100. To break (new) groundbegin something new or different
We shall break new ground in the spring by opening a shop in Landi
Kotal.
101. To break the iceput an end to formality
At first we all felt constrained and shy, but Mr. Mohsin broke the ice
by a witty remark on lean men, and we all chatted away freely.
102. To break looseescape
The dog broke loose from its chain.
103. To break the newsconvey a startling and unusually bad news

as tactfully and gently as possible


No one was willing to break the news of/her son's death to the widow.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

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104. To carry one's pointsucceed in convincing one's opponent


In the discussion the astute lawyer carried his point though his
argument was based on wrong facts.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

105. To carry weightto have influence


Don't depend on his recommendation for he carries no weight with
the officer.
106. To carry a thing too farto go beyond reason
They carried the joke too far and it resulted in violent quarrel.
107. To

carry coals to Newcastleto do a thing which is


unnecessary
If you are taking fruit with you to Kashmir, you are carrying coals to
Newcastle.
108. To cast a slur onbring discredit to
By eloping with his lover, he has cast a slur on the fair name of the
family.
109. To cast pearls before swineto offer a thing to a person who is
unable to appreciate it
To talk of Shakespeare and of English literature before school
students is to cast pearls before swine.
110. To catch by the heelschase and capture
The thieves ran off, but the police soon caught them by the heels.
111. To catch a glimpse ofsee for a moment
While on the train, we caught a glimpse of the mud houses.
112. To catch a Tartarmeet an unexpectedly violent and difficult
opposition
By attacking Russia, Hitler soon found that he had caught a Tartar
because she proved to be his ruin.
113. To catch at a strawto try eagerly to seize any help when in
trouble
Your request for monetary help from him at this stage is only
catching at a straw for he himself is penniless
114. To come to blows-proceed to fight
The brothers began to argue and presently came to blows.
115. To come into existence / the worldbe born
A new spirit of oneness must have come into existence in Muslim
Ummah since 9/11.
116. To come to griefsuffer disaster

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

25

If you go on wasting your time and money like this, you will soon
come to grief.
117. To come to an endto end
The meeting came to an end at 7 o' cock.
118. To come to handto reach.
Your interesting letter came to hand yesterday.
119. To come to termsreach a formal agreement
We expect to come to terms about the house very soon.
120. To come into forceoperate, function.
The new laws will come into force next month.
121. To come to lightto be revealed.
His share in the mischief came to light during the enquiry.
122. To bring to bookbring a wrong-doer to punishment
The swindler was caught and brought to book by the police.
123. To bring home tocause one to realize, to feel, to understand.
The Principal brought home to him the guilt of his son.
124. To bring down the houseto elicit great applause of the

spectators.
The actress brought down the house by her clever performance.
125. To bring to lightto reveal clearly, to discover.
The searching cross-examination by the advocate brought everything
to light.
126. To call namesabuse
The teachers slapped him because he called names to his friends.
127. To call in question express doubt about.
He called in question the accuracy of these figures.
128. To call to accountdemand explanation, take to task.
The cashier was called to account by the principal for tampering with
the accounts.
129. To call a spade a spadespeak quite, plainly, bluntly and
without refinement.
To call a spade a spade, your cousin is a coward and a liar.
130. To come to harmto be injured

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

If you insist on quarrelling with that rascal, you will come to harm
and not he.
131. To come down upon a personrebuke or punish him.
The teacher came down upon him when he found him copying in the
examination.
132. To come to the pointto reach the matter under discussion.
Stop beating about the bush and come to the point.
133. To come truehappen as expected.
My fears have come true for my cousin has failed in the examination.
134. To come off with flying colourscome out of a competition

with brilliant success


In the University examination, he came off with flying colours
because he had burnt the mid-night oil.
135. To come to one's sensesto recover from a fainting fit
We sprinkled cold water on his face and he soon came to senses.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

27

136. To come to close quartersto get into immediate contact.


The Social Welfare Projects can be a success only if our planners and
officers come to close quarters with the villages.
137. To cry stinking fishspeak unfavourably about one's own

profession, trade, family, etc


He told me there was a great deal of dishonesty in selling antiques. It
was crying stinking fish, as he deals in them himself.
138. To cry one's heart outto cry bitterly
She cried her heart out when she heard of her husband's death.
139. To cry halvesto claim an equal share.
You paid little attention to the business but now you are crying halves
in profits.
140. To cry for the moonto ask for the impossible.
You can't marry that millionaire's daughter. Don't cry for the moon.
141. To cry over spilt milkto regret uselessly
You failed because you didn't work hard. Don't cry over spilt milk now
but start working for the next examination.
142. To cry wolf too oftencause excitement or anxiety by
spreading fake news
He borrowed money from me thrice on the pretext that his pocket
was picked, but he cried wolf too often and when he asked me for
money for the fourth time, I refused point blank.
143. A far cryremote; a long way
Even after two devastating wars and in spite of the efforts by the
U.N.O., world peace is still a far cry.
144. A crying evilrequiring immediate correction
Corruption in all spheres of life is the crying evil in the country.
145. A cry in the wildernessa warning or advice which goes
unheeded
Lord Russell is loudly advocating world peace but his is a cry in the
wilderness.
146. To cut both waysto tell for both sides.
This argument of yours cuts both and proves my point equally well.
147. To cut fineallow little margin for accident, etc.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

You may catch the train but you are cutting it rather fine.
148. To cut the Gordian knottake a quick and drastic method of

ending a difficulty
The Home Minister promised to cut the Gordian knot of corruption in
government officials by inflicting severe punishments on them after
summary trials.
149. To cut no icefail to convince or impress
The salesman's arguments cut no ice at all.
150. To cut and runhurry away, leave as quickly as possible
You will have to cut and run, if you want to catch the train.
151. To cut shortend abruptly
The preacher cut short his sermon when the church caught fire.
152. To cut a sorry figureto make a poor impression by failing to
do something
Thought he was a good speaker yet in the debate yesterday he cut a
sorry figure.
153. To cut one's coat according to one's clothlimit one's
expenses to the money available
We would like to go on a holiday in Kashmir, but we have to cut our
coat according to cloth and shall have to be content with a week in
Swat.
154. To be cut updistressed, unhappy
She was terribly cut up when she heard the sad news.
155. To do to death. kill violently, murder.
Caesar was done to death by the conspirators.
156. To have done with cease to have any connection with
stop
After finding out that he is a cheat and a liar, I have done with
him for the rest of my life.
Have done with all this nonsense.
157. To do one a good turnhelp a person on one occasion
I will support him with might and main because once he did me a
good turn when I was in trouble.
158. To have to do withhave to deal with

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

29

You are responsible for returning me the money I lent to your cousin
on your asking. I have nothing to do with him.
159. To draw the long bowexaggerate
The old sailor says he once swam thirty miles, but he is always
drawing the long bow.
160. To draw to an endfinishI shall be glad when the concert draws to its end.
161. To draw a blankto be unsuccessful in an enterprise
He is careless and lazy by habit and in the export business too he
drew a blank.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

162. To draw the line at somethingto fix the limit


It is good to talk to friends but it should not be at the cost of one's
work. One must draw the line somewhere.
163. To

draw/pull/make a long faceappear melancholy or


distressed
It is no use drawing a long face because the doctor says you are not
well enough to go out tonight.
164. To fall backretire, retreat
The guns began to fire and the troops began to fall back.
165. To fall back uponmake use of in an emergency
Even it we fail to get fresh milk, we can always fall back upon
condensed milk.
166. To fall between two stoolsattempt to combine two plans, and
succeed with neither
He invested half the money in one business and half in the other,
hoping to have roaring success in both but fell between two stools
and suffered heavy losses in both.
167. To fall flat be prostrate; Fail to amuse or interest; to
have no effect
The wounded man staggered and fell flat on the ground.
What was meant to be a funny story fell completely flat.
My advice fell flat on him for he did not mend his ways.
168. To fall foul ofquarrel with
That detestably querulous old woman falls foul of everyone she
meets.
169. To fall shortbe less than, or below
My income falls short of my expenditure by five thousand rupees a
month.
170. To fall to the groundto be abandoned
All his plans fell to the ground for lack of money and support of
relatives.
171. To fall a prey toto be victim of
Being very innocent, she fell a prey to the evil designs of the
scoundrel.

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31

172. To feel something in one's bonesto have a vague emotional

conviction of
I felt it in my bones that some untoward happening like this would
ruin our project.
173. To get hold of grasp; catch; understand
By chance I got hold of him in the market and demanded my
money back.
I shall explain and you will soon get hold of the idea.
174. To get the wind ofobtain early information about something

that is likely to happen


The General got wind of the enemy's plans and altered his own
accordingly.
175. To get the wind upbecome scared; frightened
I get the wind up every time I walk under the tottering over-bridge.
176. To get round a personto prevail upon some body
He hopes to get round his rich uncle to get money for his plans.
177. To get into one's headto be convinced of some idea
It got into the officer's head that all his subordinates were dishonest
and corrupt and he was, therefore, severe on every one.
178. To get the start/advantage/upper hand /better of a person
to get superiority over him
He got the start of me because of my illness and was able to
finish the work earlier than I did.
He got the advantage (upper hand) of me in the interview for he
was already known to the board.
In the contest, he got the better of me not by ability but by
cunning and trickery.
179. To get out of handbreak loose from control.
His son has now got of his hand and will not be mended
180. To get the sack,to be dismissed from service.
Naseer got the sack due to his own negligence and rudeness,
181. To get into a scrape/a hole/a mess/ hot waterto get into a
difficulty
He got into scrape with his landlord over a trifle.
By disobeying his boss, he has got into hot water.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

182. To get by heart or roteto commit to memory.


The singer has got many lyrics by heart.
183. To give rise tocreate; cause.
The sound of guns gives rise to a rumour of invasion.
184. Give and takemutual allowances and concessions.
With a little give and take, we can soon come to an agreement.
185. To give up the ghostdie, expire.
At midnight the old man gave up the ghost and his tired relatives felt
relieved.
186. To give way to yield Break; collapse
Rita refused at first to marry John, but she gave way at last.
Under heavy rain the roof of the house gave way and the inmates

were hurt.
187. To give one's wordto promise, guarantee
I give you my word that I shall stand by you through thick and thin.
188. To

give oneself airstry to impress people with one's


superiority
Since her engagement to a millionaire's only son, she has started
giving herself airs.
189. To give ear tolisten
Give ear to what your teacher says and don't make mischiefs.
190. To give vent toexpress
She gave vent to her pent-up feelings when she was alone in her
bed-room and wept bitterly.
191. To give a person a piece of one's mindscold, reproach
In the presence of my friends, I did not say anything to him but later I
gave him a piece of my mind for uttering foolish things about me.
192. To give as good as one getstit for tat
Since he abused you so you should have slapped him and given him
as good as you got.
193. To give the cold shouldertreat coldly and formally
The rich friend he had, once known so well, now gave him the cold
shoulder.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

33

194. To give the devil his dueto allow even the worst man credit

for what he does well


He rarely says a sensible thing but this time you must give the devil
his due.
195. To give one the slipevade or escape from a person who is
seeking you
The thief gave the policeman a slip by first hiding behind a tree and
then climbing it.
196. To give a false colouring toto misrepresent.
He has given a false colouring to my statement; I did not mean this.
197. To give / lend countenance toto favour or support.
Some of the greatest benefactors of mankind had few friends at first
to give countenance to their inventions or discoveries.
198. To give good account ofto prove one's ability.
Our team gave a good account of themselves in the University
matches.
199. To give a loose reinto give a license.
Don't give a loose rein to your passions. Self-indulgence is never
good.
200. To go back onreverse a previous promise or undertaking
He said he would help me, and then went back on his promise.
201. To go to the wallbe pushed on one side ; ignored ; forced to
yield
In a contest with the rich, the poor must go to the wall.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

202. To go without sayingbe obvious, self evident


He will inherit his father's moneythat goes without saying.
203. To go to the dogsto be ruined
If you do not give up drinking and gambling, you are sure to go to the
dogs.
204. To go with the times / tide / steamdo as others do
Most of the old people refuse to go with the times and continue
holding fast to their old ideas and opinions. This results in their
having few friends from among young men.
205. To go all lengthsuse of every effort.
The revolutionaries went all lengths to overthrow the foreign rule.
206. To go the way of all fleshto die.
Whatever modern medicine and surgery might do, we must go the
way of all flesh..
207. To go a long way tobe nearly sufficient for
The sum you have lent me will go a long way to helping me in this
difficulty.
208. To go / run to seeddeteriorate, with effect of neglect and

decay
A house will soon go or run to seed if left untenanted.
209. To go to piecesto break up.
When I quoted statistics his argument went to pieces..
210. To go through fire and water undergo any risk and danger
To win freedom for their mother-land, the revolutionaries went
through fire and water.
211. To go on a fool's erranda fruitless journey or expedition
The Insurance Company sent him to a village about 400 miles from
here to interview the old man. He went on a fool's errand for the old
man had died two years ago.
212. To go hot and coldhave excess of shame
Mohsin went hot and cold on the mention of her name.
213. To hold goodremain unaffected and unaltered
My promise to visit you in summer holds good and I hope to stay with
you for at least a weak.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

35

214. To hold one's own or one's groundmaintain successfully

one's opinion, argument


He is a clever debater; though attacked on all sides he held his own .
It was a hard struggle, but we held our ground, and won in the end.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

215. To hold watersound, able to bear close examination


Your argument will not hold water if the correct statistics be quoted
by him.
216. To hold one's head highbehave proudly
He was proud of his blue blood and always held his head high.
217. To hold the stageto have the attention of the audience
Tara held the stage for two hours and kept the spectators spellbound.
218. To have nothing to do withhave no concern or connection.
He doesn't play fair I have nothing to do with him; I have warned you
in time.
219. To have a finger in the piebe concerned with, or mixed up

with some affair


He is too bossy and meddlesome, and has a finger in every pie.
220. To have too many irons in the fireto have too many jobs to
do so that none can be well done.
Why do you accept this work when already you have too many irons
in the fire?
221. To have clean handsto be perfectly innocent.
Whatever may be the part played by others in this embezzlement of
money, I am sure my friend has his hands clean.
222. To have a bee in one's bonneta crazy idea or notion in one's
head, obsession
He has a bee in his bonnet. He insists the earth is not round but flat.
223. To keep abreast ofkeep level with
It is difficult to keep abreast of modern developments in every
sphere.
224. To keep one's countenancerefrain from laughing
The mathematics teacher with ink on his nose and cheeks looked so
funny that it was difficult to keep our countenance.
225. To keep in countenanceencourage; support morally
I have an appointment with the lawyers tomorrow. You had better
come to keep me in countenance.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

37

226. To keep at arm's lengthkeep away from close contact of

intimacy
I always keep such drunkards and gamblers at an arm's length.
227. To keep an eye onwatch; take care of.
I would be glad if you keep an eye on our garden while we are away.
228. To keep a stiff upper lipnot allow one's lip to tremble with
emotion; be firm and brave
Always keep a stiff upper lip whatever your trouble.

38

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

229. To keep it upcontinue in the same manner


I have been working ten hours a day, but shall not be able to keep it
up.
230. To keep an open houseto welcome and entertain all comers
As the elections draw near, the politicians start keeping an open
house,
231. To keep a good tableto habitually provide good food
Dr. Johnson was a gourmet and loved to be invited by those who kept
a good table.
232. To keep in touch within communication or contact with
To know the latest developments here, keep in touch with me.
233. To keep in the darkto conceal from
You should not keep your partner in the dark about the losses you
have suffered in this deal.
234. To keep up appearancesto remain outwardly unchanged
Though his business is ruined and he is on the verge of bankruptcy,
yet he is trying hard to keep up appearances.
235. To keep body and soul togetherto keep alive by avoiding

starvation
Most of the Pakistanis are so poor that they can keep body and soul
together with difficulty.
236. To keep the wolf from the doorto keep away extreme
poverty and starvation
Most of the Pakistanis villagers suffer from grinding poverty and can
hardly keep the wolf from the door.
237. To keep the ball rollingcontinue the conversation or
proceedings successfully.
My host had very little to talk about and it was difficult to keep the
ball rolling.
238. To keep one's head above waterlive within one's income
He has a wife and six children to support. I don't know how he
manages to keep his head above water, with so meager income.
239. To keep pace withmove at an equal speed
He is a fast worker. I find it difficult to keep pace with him.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing


240. To keep backconceal.
This is the whole truth. I have kept back nothing from you.
241. To lay one's hands onObtain possession of, or arrest
The police hope to lay their hands on the murderer soon.
242. To lay heads togetherconsult together; discuss
We laid our heads together and formed a good plan.

39

40

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

243. To lay by the heelsto imprison; to fetter


The judge laid the thief by the heels.
244. To lay aside, cease to consider
It is better if you lay aside your false pride and seriously try to come
to agreement.
245. To look sharphasten; hurry
Look sharp or you will miss the train.
246. To look daggerslook at with fury and hatred
Rehan looked daggers at his friend when the latter invited (his close
rival) to dinner.
247. To look for a needle in the haystacklook for a small object in

a large place
I tried to find Ali in the crowd, but it was like looking for a needle in a
haystack.
248. To look before one leapsavoid hasty action
Don't rush about investing the whole of your money in this business.
You must look before you leap.
249. To look down one's noseto regard with contempt or
displeasure
When she met her husband's poor relation, she looked down her
nose.
250. To look in the faceto meet or face without shrinking or feeling
ashamed
He dare not look me in the face for he has not returned me the
money he borrowed two years ago though he had promised to pay it
back within a week.
251. To make a clean breast ofconfess all.
One of the murderers made a clean breast of the crime and helped
the police in tracing out the others.
252. To make clean sweepget rid or dispose of everyone or
everything concerned.
The new manager is determined to make a clean sweep of the old
staff.
253. To make douse as the best substitute available

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

41

We hadn't time for luncheon but we made do with sandwiches.


254. To make fun ofridicule ; joke about
It is cruel to make fun of the cripple or the blind.
255. To make goodrepair; restore; recover
The carpenter will make good the broken leg of the chair.
256. To make a splashcause a sensation, excitement
They made a splash by requesting the Prime Minister to join the
marriage party. All the guests were eager to have themselves
photographed with him.

42

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

257. To make a virtue of necessitytreat something one is obliged

to do as it were being done from choice.


Knowing that the police will ultimately find him out, he made a virtue
of necessity by surrendering to the police and made a clean breast of
the crime.
258. To make way formove away to allow something else to fill the
place
The dismissal of the cashier made way for Alis promotion.
259. To make up one's minddecide; determine
I have made up my mind to take up journalism as my career.
260. To make bricks without strawmanufacture something
without the necessary material
The children wanted sweets to be prepared at home but we had no
sugar and one can't make bricks without straw.
261. To make one's wayto progress through obstruction
He has made his way up from poverty and hardships quite unaided.
262. To make hay while the sun shinesUse of favourable
opportunity to win an advantage
The corrupt man got himself elected to the National Assembly and,
making hay while the sun shines, enriched himself and his relatives
through the ministers and officers.
263. To make an example ofto punish one so as to make it a
warning to others
The way to eradicate corruption is to make an example of a few
corrupt officials.
264. To make a fool of oneselfexhibit one's foolishness by
awkward behaviour
I thought he was making an impression on the distinguished
gathering with his oratory; actually, he made a fool of himself with
his childish suggestions.
265. To make much ado about nothinggreat fuss about a trifle
By thinking too critically over his remark, you are making much ado
about nothing. He didn't mean to insult you.
266. To make amends forcompensate for damage, injury or insult

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

43

He had cheated his partner in business but he made amends for it by


bequeathing his property to him.
267. To make one's markdo something noteworthy
Wordsworth and Coleridge made their mark as poets by publishing a
volume of poems called Lyrical Ballads in 1798.

44

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

268. To make facesmake grimaces, or twisting of features to

express disapproval, disgust or ridicule.


The rude children made faces at the old man.
269. To make a mountain of a mole-hillto exaggerate a trifle
He disliked the joke and making a mountain of a mole-hill,
complained to the Principal that he had been bullied and beaten.
270. To make one's markdo something noteworthy.
Though he is yet only 30, Dr. Zia has already made his mark as a
Physicist.
271. To make both ends meetprovide oneself with the necessaries
of life within one's income
Prices have risen so much that salaried people find it hard to make
both ends meet.
272. To make fish of one and flesh of anothershow partiality
The father should have treated both his sons equally; it is unjust to
make fish of one and flesh of another.
273. To play the second fiddlebe in a subordinate position
He is too proud to play the second fiddle to a man like Akram who
got the promotion through recommendation.
274. To play fast and loosebehave recklessly without consideration
for others, and regardless of one's promises
He was a dishonest scoundrel and played fast and loose with the
innocent boys respect for him.
275. To play ducks and drakes withsquander money, etc
He played ducks and drakes with his father's money and is now
penniless.
276. To play into the hands ofbehave so that one's actions are an
advantage to an opponent or enemy
He played into the hands of his rival who had deliberately incited him
to be rude to the officer and thus lost the opportunity of promotion to
him.
277. To play to the gallerytry to achieve popularity among one's
inferiors
The speaker, playing to the gallery, finished his speech with a lot of
cheap sneers and silly jokes.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

45

278. To play falsebetray; cheat


His best friend played him false, and he lost his faith in humanity.
279. To play truantremain away from classes
The two boys played truant and went to the pictures.
280. To play the Devil / Deuceruin; injure seriously.
This illness will play devil with her passing the examination.
281. To play upon wordspun ; a verbal joke.
The cobbler played upon the sole when he offered to' mend his
sole.'
282. To play fairto act in a fair way
Though his father bequeathed the whole of his property to him, he
played fair and divided among all his brothers.
283. To play one's cards wellmake good use of opportunities
I will introduce you to the boss. If you play your cards well, you can
certainly get the job.
284. To play a double gameto do one thing fairly and openly and

another secretly.
The innocent Pakistani leaders did not know that America had been
playing a double game of open friendship and secret aggression
against Pakistan.
285. A Child's playextremely easy to perform
Getting into Civil Services Academy is certainly not a child's play.
286. To pull one's legplay a joke on him, make him look foolish.
Don't take him seriously. He was only pulling your leg when he said
she loved you ardently.
287. To pull the stringsuse private and personal influence
Akram had to pull a good many strings to obtain the appointment.
288. To pull a long facelook miserable and depressed.
We have lost a good deal of money, but it is no use to pull a long face
about it.
289. To put all one's eggs in one basketrisk everything one has
in a single venture

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

It is not always wise to put all your eggs in one basket. If you invest
all your money in this company, and if it fails, God forbid, you will be
ruined.
290. To put two and two togetherdeduce from obvious facts;

reason logically
Putting two and two together, he realized that his firm would soon be
bankrupt.
291. To put in a wordrecommend; speak in favour of
I have applied for this job. I will be grateful if you kindly put in a word
for me.
292. To put a spoke in one's wheelto obstruct one's progress ;
interfere with one's plans
If she intends to marry Aziz, her relatives will soon put a spoke in her
wheel.
293. To put in one's oarintervene; interfere
I am selling the matter, you need not put in your oar thus uninvited.
294. To put the cart before the horsebegin doing a thing at the
wrong end; put the second and the less important thing first
To learn a foreign language before one can speak one's own
language properly is to put the cart before the horse.
295. To put one's shoulder to the wheelwork hard steadily
instead of looking to others for help
Don't depend on his help. Put your shoulder to the wheel and you will
succeed in this business.
296. To put the screwto exert pressure, especially in way of
extortion or intimidation
He accused the party in power of putting the screw on the voters.
297. To run to earthtrace to the hiding place; of a quotation, its
origin
They ran the murderer to earth in his mother's cottage.
I ran the quotation to earth in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
298. To run one's earthly racelive one's life
The priest ran his earthly race in the most pious manner.
299. In the long runeventually
In the long run, dishonesty does not pay.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

47

300. On the runbeing pursued, from place to place


The deserter from the army was on the run.
301. To run amuckgo mad; dash about wildly and senselessly
The elephant ran amuck and killed many people.
302. To run highbecome heated; excited
Feelings always run high during an election.
303. To run riotbehave in a completely undisciplined way
The children in my neighbour's family run riot.
304. To run to seeddeteriorate, with an effect of neglect and decay
His business ran to seed because leaving everything to the charge of
his manager he wasted all his time in gossiping with his friends.
305. To run away with the ideaassume hastily and incorrectly
I don't want you to run away with the idea that I am the only good
man in the world.
306. To run the gauntletsubjected to any form of criticism or

attack from an organized body of people


He ran the gauntlet of criticism from every doctor in the country
when he published his book.
307. To run in the familyto be found in all the members of the
family
Military skill and courage run in their family.
308. To see redbecome infuriated or extremely angry
Whenever I hear of a man ill-treating a small child, I see red.
309. To see at a glance or with half an eyesee immediately with
no effort at all
One could see with half an eye that she was very ill.
310. To see how the land liesdiscover the state or condition of
affairs
I am going to meet my partner in Islamabad to see how the land lies.
311. To see eye to eyeagree; regard in the same way
I do not see eye to eye with you in this matter.
312. To see through coloured glassesto view a thing favourably
because of one's illusions

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Being his father, you see her through coloured glasses and fail to
notice his faults.
313. To set one's heart or affections ondesire intensely
The child set her heart on the big doll in the toy shop and will not
move without buying it.
314. To set one's face againstoppose firmly
The conservative old man has always set his face against coeducation.
315. To set on footTo start; initiate.
An enquiry will be set on foot to find out the cause of the accident
316. To set at naughtdisregard completely ; defy
Sometimes the young men want to set at naught all the social
conventions and customs.
317. To set the Thames on firedo something remarkable; achieve

sensational success
Whatever he might boast of, he can never set the Thames on fire.
318. To set the table in a roarcause shouts of laughter
The comedian's jokes set the table in a roar.
319. To set one's wits to workuse one's intelligence
The prisoner set his wits to work to discover some way of escape.
320. To stand on ceremonybehave stiffly; insist on formal
ceremonies
When among intimate old friends, why should you stand on
ceremony?
321. To stand one's groundmaintain one's position, in a fight or
argument
The police tried to make him admit that he had made a mistake, but
the boy stood his ground and said that he had seen the murderer
with a dagger.
322. To stand on one's own feet or legsdepend on one's own self;
accept no assistance
My uncle offered to help me but I told him I would rather stand on my
own legs.
323. To stand in the shoes ofto occupy his position or place

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49

Your boss is not to my liking. I would not like to stand in your shoes.
324. To stick to one's gunsremain faithful to the cause
The freedom fighters stuck to their guns in spite of the oppression
and tortures inflicted on them by the foreign rulers.
325. To

stick to ones coloursadhere firmly to one sporty,


principles
His faith in the cause is unbounded. He will stick to his colours in all
dangers and difficulties.
326. To stick in the mudto be unprogressive and unambitious
For want of money and technical help, his enterprise seems to be
stuck up in the mud.
327. To stick to the pointnot to digress
Please stick to the point and don't bring me in unnecessarily.
328. To be taken abacksurprised; disconcerted.
The thief who was walking in the garb of a sadhu was taken aback
when the police man recognized him and caught him by the neck.
329. To take one's fancycharm; attract; interest
I saw nothing in the shop to take my fancy.
330. To take to one's heelsrun away
Hearing footsteps, the bandits took to their heels.
331. To take to taskreprove; rebuke; bring to book
His wife took him to task for coming very late at night and now he
will not stay to play cards with us.
332. To take one by surprisecome upon suddenly and
unexpectedly
I never could foresee this trouble. It has taken me by surprise.
333. To take a leaf out of another's bookto imitate a man, to
take a hint from his mode of action and to follow it
I took a leaf out of my friend's book and saved my business from
ruin.
334. To take the bull by the horns grapple boldly with a difficulty
or adversary
He took the bull by the horns by charging his opponent openly, with
corruption and asking him to disprove it before the electorate.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

335. To take a leap in the darkembark on a dangerous thing

without foreseeing its consequences


This enterprise is a mere gamble. Don't take a leap in the dark by
investing all your money.
336. To take with a grain of saltto accept with some reservation
I believe there is much exaggeration. We must take, all that he said,
with a grain of salt.
337. To talk a horse's hind leg offto be very talkative
He is a big bore and would talk a horse's hind leg off.
338. To talk tallto boast
He is in the habit of talking big; take everything he says with a pinch
of salt.
339. To talk shopdiscuss one's business or profession on private
and informal occasions.
The two doctors have a bad habit of talking shop in club meetings.
340. To talk through one's hatboast; talk foolishly.
I did not take him seriously for I knew he was talking through his hat.
341. To talk a person roundbring him round; persuade.
He wanted to oppose my suggestion but I talked him round
successfully before the meeting.
342. Small talktalk concerning trivialities.
The two French generals employed by the king record that through
he was illiterate in the formal sense, they had no small talk when
conversing with him.
343. To throw dust in the eyes ofmislead; deceive; hoodwink.
He went to play snooker but he threw dust in the eyes of his parents
by telling them that he was going to post a letter.
344. To throw light uponmake plainer by facts or information
This information may throw some light upon the mystery of the
millionaire's death.
345. To throw down the gauntlet / glovegive an open challenge
The boxing champion threw down the gauntlet but none dared fight
him.
346. To throw up the spongeadmit complete defeat; surrender.

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51

You have still a chance of winning the first price; don't throw up the
sponge.
347. To throw cold water upondiscourage; depreciate
He wanted to set up a book shop but his father threw cold water on
the scheme

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

348. To

throw off the scentdistract from what is of true


importance.
The criminal was very clever; the police were completely thrown off
the scent, and arrested the wrong man.
349. To throw mud / dirt atabuse, vilify a person.
By throwing mud at Jinnah, the politician harms only himself.
350. To throw stones atfind fault with.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others.
351. To throw off the maskreveal one's real self after acting
deceitfully
He took her in by pretending to be her saviour and a sincere
benefactor but when the villain threw off the mask she was
completely in his power.
352. To throw out a feelerfind out by a preliminary question, hint
or step
Through my cousin he threw out a feeler to discover what chances
there were of his becoming a partner in the business.
353. To turn one's back ondeliberately ignore.
The penitent woman turned her back on the unhappy past and began
a new existence.
354. To turn the cornerpass a crisis successfully.
The patient has turned that corner and will recover.
355. To turn one's hand toundertake some work that is not one's
normal occupation
I am a teacher by profession but occasionally I can turn my hand to
painting.
356. To turn an honest pennyearn money, usually by extra work,
or unusual methods
He is trying to turn an honest penny by selling newspapers in UK in
the morning.
357. To turn the tables onreverse the position of success or
superiority
The sudden arrival of the police turned the tables; The villains who
had kept the prisoners were themselves captured and led away.
358. To turn turtleturn upside down.

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53

The truck struck the tree and turned turtle.


359. To turn up one's nose attreat with contempt; sneer.
Now that he has spent many years in England he turns up his nose at
everything in Pakistan.
360. To turn the scalesfinally decide some matter which was in

doubt
The evidence given by his friend turned the scale, and the boy was
set free.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

361. To turn tailto retreat in an inglorious manner; run away


He threatened me with violence but the moment he saw my friends
coming, he turned tail.
362. To turn over a new leafchange one's course of action

completely; change one's manner of living usually for the better;


make a fresh and better beginning
After a year's term in the jail, he seems to have turned over a new
leaf for he is setting up a fruit-shop.
363. To turn to accountmake good use of.
Instead of burning it away, you could have turned this timber to good
account.
364. To turn a deaf ear torefuse to listen; pay no heed to
He turned a deaf ear to the doctor's warnings against excessive
drinking and is now suffering from tuberculosis.
365. To turn in one's gravethe dead may be said to turn in their
graves if something by the living might have caused them
annoyance, grief or astonishment
Muhammad Ali Jinnah would turn in his grave if he were to know all
that corruption that our politicians do in his name.
366. A turn coatone who often changes his opinions.
A turn coat like him cannot long retain public esteem.

ADVERBIAL PHRASES
367. Above allmost important of all
Send to me all these things and above all don't forget to wire to me.
368. Above boardhonest and unconcealed
His conduct has been entirely above board and your criticism of him
is quite unjustified.
369. After allwhatever may be against it
You must help him in his distress. After all he is your own brother.
370. Again and again/over and over/time and againrepeatedly,

often
I dialed his number again and again but every time I found his
telephone engaged.

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55

371. As it werein other words ; speaking metaphorically


After a meeting with his boss, he was, as it were, flying in the air.
372. At largeunconfined.
The murderer is still at large and the police are actively after him.
373. At any rate/at all eventswhatever may happen
In this matter you must help your friend at any rate.
374. At a stretchcontinuously
Yesterday I worked for ten hours at a stretch.
375. At the eleventh hourat the last moment.
He was coming with us but at the eleventh hour he changed his
mind.
376. Before long in a short time.
Please be seated: I'll be here before long.
377. By and byafter a little while, soon.
Don't be impatient, you will come to know everything by and by.
378. By the by/wayincidentally.
Yes, I'll come to you tomorrow. By the way, my brother has come
back from England.
379. Far and away, out and outbeyond all comparison.
Chris Gayle is far and away the best player in his team.
380. Far and widein all directions.
Soon the news spread far and wide.
381. Few and far betweenrare, scarce.
Even though he lives in the same city, his visits to us are few and far
between.
382. First and foremostbefore anything else.
The first and foremost duty of a student is to study. Games and
sports come later.
383. In the long run / Sooner or latereventually
In the beginning, honesty may not progress so rapidly but it pays in
the long run.
384. For goodfor ever
The doctor has left Pakistan for good and has settled in England.
385. (Every) now and thensometimes, occasionally.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

He pays me a visit every now and then.


386. Off and on irregularly
It is long since he left for America but I still write to him off and on.
387. On and on continuously.
He went on and on in the forest till he saw a small cottage.
388. On the wholegenerally speaking.
On the whole, he is the best person for the job.
389. Once for allfinally
I must warn you once for all that no mischief shall be tolerated in the
class.
390. Once and againrepeatedly.
The enemy attacked the military post once and again but was
repulsed every time.
391. Now and againoccasionally.
Now and again we have been meeting in the library but I never had
the occasion of talking to him for a length of time.
392. Over and abovemoreover.
Over and above being industrious and intelligent, he is very humble
and obedient.
393. Through and throughentirely, completely
It was a torrential rain and we were drenched through and through.
394. To and frobackwards and forwards.
The lion seemed restless and was walking to and fro in its cage.
395. Then and thereat the very place and time.
How could you hear him talking against your friend? You should have
taken him to task then and there.
396. Without failpositively, certainly
I will meet you there on Monday at ten without fail.
397. Through thick and thinunder all difficulties.
They decided to stand by each other through thick and thin.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES

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57

398. According to/In accordance withadopted medical field as his

career
In accordance with his father's wishes, he married the rich but plain
girl.
399. At home infamiliar with
The professor is at home in ancient Indian history and literature.
400. At the mercy of
The rich man was at the mercy of the dacoits and had to give them
the keys of the safe.
401. At the top ofat the highest pitch
The dying woman shouted for help at the top of her voice
402. At the risk ofendangering
He saved the child from drowning at the risk of his own lif
403. At enmity withenemies to
Some centuries ago the Roman Catholics were at great enmity with
the protestants.
404. At variance withopposed to, different from
He is at variance with his partner at many points. Their partnership is
not expected to last long.
405. Because of/On account of/ Owing todue to
He could not attend your wedding because of his wife's illness.
406. By dint of/By virtue ofwith the strength of.
He got a first class by dint of hard work.
He won the prize by virtue of his diligence.
407. By force of
You can never convince an unwilling man by force of your arguments
408. By means ofthrough with.
The firemen got to the roof by means of a ladder
409. By the side ofbeside
The new building shall be erected by the side of the library building.
410. By way ofas, in the form of
I gave him some money by way of help.
411. Due toon account of.
His failure was due to his ill health.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

412. For fear of


I did not mention the subject for fear of hurting her feelings.
413. For the sake offor.
Some people write books for the sake of money only.
414. For want ofdue to shortage of.
He had to discontinue his studies for want of money.
415. In case of/in the event of
In case of the failure of crops, a famine will break out in the country.
416. In common withThough she is your sister, she seems to have

nothing in common with you


417. In connection withregarding.
He met the officer in connection with his promotion.
418. In consequence ofas a result of
In consequence of her carelessness, the whole house was burnt
down.
419. In consideration ofconsidering.
The judge sentenced him to a light punishment in consideration of
his tender youth.
420. In course ofduring.
In course of his travel abroad, he delivered many lectures on Islamic
Philosophy.
421. In defence ofnot caring for
The strikers took out a procession in defiance of the ban imposed by
the magistrate.
422. In favour ofsupporting.
I am not in favour o/your resigning this job before you get another.
423. In front ofopposite. There is a lovely fountain in front of the
building
424. In honour ofas a token of respect.
Offices and colleges remain closed for a day in honour of Jinnah's
birth-day.
425. In keeping withappropriate to.
The mourners wore black in keeping with the sad occasion.
426. In lieu ofas a substitute for.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

59

He got himself relieved from his job after paying one month's salary
in lieu of a month's notice.
427. In the face ofwhen opposed or beset by.
He remains calm in the face of difficulties.
428. In opposition tocontrary to.
You should not insist on doing this in opposition to your father's
wishes.
429. In point ofIn respect of.
He was not promoted though he is senior to others in point of length
of service.
430. In the place of
She has been appointed in the place of Majid who has resigned on
account of ill-health.
431. In the prospect ofin the hope of.
He has invested all his money in business in the prospect of getting
rich returns.
432. In pursuance ofin execution, performance of.
In pursuance of the instructions of the university, the college did not
admit third divisioners.
433. In quest of/In search of.He wandered from place to place in

quest of happiness.
At last he found it in working hard for humanity.
434. In spite of'notwithstanding.
In spite of my warning, he did not work hard and failed in the
examination.
435. Instead ofin place of
Instead of going to college, he went to the pictures.
436. In view ofafter consideration of.
In view of what you tell me about Kala Bagh, I will not go there.
437. In sight ofable to see.
After many days of hardship and despair, Columbus came in sight of
land.
438. In the guise of'disguised as.
Better be warned against him; he is a wolf in the guise of a sheep.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

439. In the name ofwith the authority of.


The teachers should not inflict severe punishments on the students
in the name of discipline.
440. In the rear ofat the back of.
There were beautiful pageants in the rear of the procession.
441. In the teeth ofin opposition to, against the full force of.
He got elected to the Parliament in the teeth of a great opposition.
442. In order tofor.
He worked hard in order to win a scholarship.
443. In proportion to
The success of a man is always in proportion to the work he puts in.
444. In regard toconcerning.
I want to say something in regard to the point under discussion.
445. In unison within agreement or harmony with.
The chairman was well pleased with me for my arguments were in
unison with his.
446. In recognition ofin honour of.
In recognition of his services to the country he was given the Tamgai-Imtiaz..
447. On behalf offor some one.
The principal thanked the chief guest on behalf of the staff and the
students.
448. On the brink / verge ofon the edge of.
The crops having failed, the country was on the verge of famine.
449. On the eve ofjust before.
On the eve of his retirement from chief commissionership, he was
feted by the people of the town.
450. On the ground / score ofbecause of.
He was dismissed on the ground of gross negligence of duty.
451. On the part ofof, by.
Ignorance of law on the part of some magistrates leads to faulty
judgments.
452. On the point ofbe about to.
He was on the point of leaving for Simla when the wire arrived.

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61

453. Out of harmony within disagreement with, at variance with


Some members of the staff were out of harmony with the Principal on
this issue.
454. Over and abovein addition to.
Over and above being careless, he is disobedient too.
455. With a view tofor the purpose of.
He does everything with a view to grinding his own axe.
456. With an eye towith a view to, hoping for.
Bakar read books always with an eye to finding suitable answers for
possible questions in the examination.
457. With the intention ofwith the purpose of
He said this with the intention of hurting his friends feelings.
458. With the exception ofexcept.
All had reached in time with the exception of the secretary.
459. With reference to
with reference to your letter No. 324/64 BISE, dated 12th July, 2014, I
am to state that I shall not be able to act as an examiner on the
dates mentioned by you.
460. With regard to, with respect to
I have little more to say with regard to the subject in hand.

MISCELLANEOUS PHRASES
461. To beggar descriptionto be indescribable
The beauty of the Taj Mahal in moonlight beggars description.
462. To bear the brunt ofendure the chief stress of the attack.
The leader of the strikers had to bear the brunt of the punishment by
the management.
463. To beard the lion in his denconfront boldly one's opponent or

superior in his own home or office, and discuss the matter in


dispute
I am going to beard the lion in his den, and ask him plainly why he
hasn't increased my salary.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

464. To blow one's own trumpetboast of one's own work or

actions.
The way to win friends is not to blow your own trumpet always but
get interested in others.
465. To blow hot and cold in the same breathbe in consistent
and unreliable; say contradictory things.
The politician who blows hot and cold in the same breath soon loses
the confidence of the people.
466. To blunt the edge ofto dull the keenness of
Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.Shakespeare
467. To bury the hatchetto make peace after a quarrel.
There is no use quarrelling. Let us bury the hatchet and be friends
again.
468. In a bodyall together
All the labourers went to the officer in a body and placed their
demands before him.
469. Beside the mark/off the mark/wide off the marknot hitting
the mark; irrelevant.
Your remark is witty but unfortunately beside the mark.
470. To beat about the bushto say irrelevant things and not come
to the point
If you want to get good marks, don't beat about the bush; write only
what the examiner wants.
471. To bear the palmbe the winner or conqueror ; be above all
others.
The athletes had practised a lot and bore the palm in all races.
472. To bell the catto try to render a common enemy harmless at a
great personal risk.
All the clerks decided to tell the officer frankly to change his
unreasonable and harsh attitude but no one was ready to bell the
cat.
473. To burn the candle at both endsto spend money or energy
extravagantly or recklessly
After the death of his father he burnt the candle at both ends and
soon became a pauper.

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63

474. To burn one's boatsmake the change of plan or retreat

impossible; make certain that the decision is final


Now there is little sense in his asking his boss to keep him because
he burnt his boats by resigning his job himself.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

475. To burn one's fingerssuffer a loss or injury in a venture


If you buy that business, I think you will burn your fingers for there is
little chance of your making a success of it
476. Bolt from the blueunexpected calamity or blow.
The news of her husband's death in the air-crash came as a bolt from
the blue for her.
477. In black and whitewritten on paper in ink
To avoid the disagreement later, put the terms of the contract in
black and white.
478. By fits and startsat intervals; without steady application
Don't do your job by fits and starts for slow and steady wins the race.
479. Bull in a china shopa clumsy awkward person in a delicate,

refined place
The clumsy villager, like a bull in a china shop, made her delicately
decorated drawing room pell-mell.
480. To buy a pig in a pokebuy a thing without carefully examining
it
Let me test this watch for a few days. I am not going to buy a pig in a
poke.
481. To change hands-pass from one owner to another
Is there something wrong with this house that it has changed so
many hands?
482. To clip a person's wingsmake him weak or powerless
The conspirators wanted to clip the wings of Caesar so that he could
not become a dictator.
483. To cook an accounttamper with the account in order to
deceive people
I suspected that the treasurer had cooked the accounts and reported
the matter to the police.
484. To dance attendance onattend, as an inferior, to every whim
or requirement of a person.
Nasim is dancing attendance on his rich neighbour hoping for some
gain.

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65

485. To feather one's nestacquire money dishonestly during one's

employment.
Many of the income-tax officials feather their own nests instead of
collecting government revenue.
486. Root and branchentirely
The new minister has promised to eradicate corruption root and
branch.
487. The sword of Damoclesa constant danger
Stringent disciplinary action even at minor slips on the part of the
officials hangs like the sword of Damocles and hampers their
administrative efficiency.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

488. To smell a ratto suspect or detect something wrong.


The parents were sure to smell a rat when they found her growing
intimate with the neighbour's son.
489. To show one's cardsto let out one's designs.
He is no politician who shows his cards to his opponents.
490. Silver liningbrighter aspect of something bad
Don't be pessimistic after this defeat. Even the darkest cloud has a
silver lining.
491. Spick and spanneat and smart
Everything in her drawing-room was so spick and span that one could
not but praise her house-wifery.
492. A scape-goatone punished for the misdeeds of others.
Although the policy emanated from the whole Cabinet, the minister
was made a scape-goat on its failure and had to resign.
493. To shake in one's shoesfright; nervous dread.
The lion roared in the cage but some women shook in their shoes.
494. To weather a stormto come through a trouble safely.
Churchill weathered the storm of the Second World War and led his
country to victory.
495. To ventilate one's grievancesto make one's grievances

known
In a democracy, people can ventilate their grievances through their
representatives in the Parliament.
496. To sow one's wild oatsto indulge in youthful follies before
becoming steady
The old man is quite indulgent towards his young son as he
remembers himself having sown his wild oats.
497. To rub one's shoulders withto come into contact.
He has seen the world and has rubbed shoulders with people from
different countries.
498. A round peg in a square hole(or vice versa)a person unfit
for a particular job

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67

All through his life he has practised medicine. To appoint him as the
vice-chancellor of the university is to put a round peg in a square
hole.
499. At the zenith of powerat the height of
During Akbar's rule, the Mughal empire was at the zenith of its
power.

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Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

500. Under the thumb ofunder complete control and influence of


Expect no such independent action from him. He is completely under
the thumb of his wife.
501. To spread like wild fireto spread rapidly.
The news of the scandal spread like wildfire in the city.
502. Pennywise and pound foolishthrifty in small things but

wasteful in large ones


Don't be pennywise and pound foolish. If you don't repair the roof,
rains will spoil the walls and the whole of your furniture.
503. Cat's pawperson used as tool by another.
The mischief did not originate with him. He is only the cat's paw.
504. Up to the markup to the standard.
You may be satisfied with your achievement but I do not consider it
up to the mark.
505. To curry favourto try to win a person's approval by flattering
him
Although he was quite unfit for this job yet he managed to get it by
currying favour with the secretary.
506. Out of the woodout of danger.
The doctor has assured us that the patient is now out of the wood.
507. The dark horseone who does well unexpectedly.
He was proved to be a dark horse. No one thought he would stand
first.
508. Head and shouldersfar above
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was head and shoulders above all other
leaders in the country.
509. At a snail's pacevery slowly.
You will not be able to complete this task in time if you continue to
work at a snails pace as you are doing now.
510. To hope against hopeto hope even when there is little chance
She has repeatedly rejected his proposal but the fool continues to
hope against hope.
511. From pillar to postfrom one place to another.

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69

Though he has a brilliant record, he has been driven from pillar to


post in search of a job.
512. Fly in the ointmenttrifling circumstance that mars enjoyment
It would have been a grand picnic but the sudden shower proved to
be a fly in the ointment.
513. Toil and moillabour like a drudge.
He was a poor man but by toiling and moiling he has made a fortune.
514. Neck and neckvery close together.
The first two boys in the class usually go neck and neck.
515. Bull's eyecentre of the target.
Only exceptional marksmen can hit the bull's eye so often as you
have done.
516. To

rise to the occasiondo one's utmost to meet an


emergency.
The country rose to the occasion and drove back the aggressor.
517. To harp on the same stringto repeat the same thing again
and again
We have agreed to discuss your suggestion at the proper time. Don't
keep on harping on the same string.
518. To hang in the balancein a state of great uncertainty.
His fate is hanging in the balance for there are as many chances of
his being acquitted as of being imprisoned.
519. To tempt Providencecourt danger by doing something
reckless
You would be tempting Providence if you go out in the bitter cold
when you have such a high temperature.
520. To tread on the heels offollows close behind.
Epidemic trod on the heels of famine and the whole country suffered
intensely.
521. To leave no stone unturneddo one's best for something
He left no stone unturned for getting a job here but could not.
522. To leave the beaten trackdo something in an original way
leaving the trite old way

70

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

Genius lies not in following others blindly but in leaving the beaten
track and finding one's own way.
523. To leave in the lurchleave one in a difficulty.
His fair-weather friend left him in the lurch and now he has lost faith
in humanity.
524. To rack one's brainsexercise one's brains to the utmost
I racked my brains but could not devise a plan to do this.
525. To pocket an insultreceive it without protest.
He was guilty and had to pocket the insult offered to him by the
police official.
526. To hang by the threadin a precarious state.
In the past the life of a courtier hung by a thread for the king could
kill him at his will.
527. To lead a cat and dog lifeto be always quarrelling and so

miserable.
Though it was a love marriage, the husband and wife are leading a
cat and dog life.
528. To be in leading strings-puppet in the hands of others ; under
the thumb of some one
He has no brains of his own. He is completely in the leading strings of
his elder brother.
529. To kill two birds with one stoneaccomplish two things by a
single effort
Now that I have to go to Murree, I will kill two birds with one stone
and visit Nathiagali and my uncle too.
530. Not to let the grass grow under one's feetdo a thing very
promptly and quickly; not to delay
Be up and doing and finish this work quickly. Don't let the grass grow
under your feet.
531. To plough the sandsundertake an unprofitable, useless
venture.
He said that China is ploughing the sands by laying stress on cottage
industry in this age of heavy machinery.
532. Against the graincontrary to one's inclination

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

71

He had to marry the rich but plain girl against his grain because his
greedy father insisted on it.
533. With might and mainwith all the energy one has.
We struggled with might and main and cleared the road of the treetrunk.
534. Head over earscompletely; excessively
He cannot be dissuaded from this marriage because he is head over
ears in love with her though he is head over ears in debt.
535. Rain or shinewhatever the weather.
Rain or shine, a soldier must do his duty and defend his motherland.
536. Hard and faststrict ; clear-cut.
No hard and fast rules can be given for English spelling.
537. Out and outthoroughly and completely
It is no use your trying to defend him. He is out and out a scoundrel.
538. A storm in a tea cupgreat fuss about a trifle
The two families were quarrelling and all the neighbours had
gathered. It turned out to be a storm in a tea cup for the quarrel
started because a child had snatched the doll of another.
539. To husband one's resources manage one's means in an

economical way.
If you do not husband your resources, whatever your salary, you will
remain miserable.
540. A feather in one's cap an honour ; something to be proud of
It is a feather in Muhammad Hafeezs cap to be chosen captain of the
cricket team.
541. To show the white feather behave like a coward
Any soldier who shows the white feather in battle should be instantly
shot.
542. To eat the humble pie to have to humiliate oneself.
He began by threatening me but soon had to eat the humble pie
when I told him that I knew all about his past life.
543. To eat one's words withdraw a statement or challenge
completely and ignominiously.

72

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

He boasted that he would throw me downstairs, but with a sharp slap


on his face I made him eat his words.
544. To end in smoke in vain ; useless ; to come to nothing
All his attempts at defeating his adversary ended in smoke.
545. To hang fire slow in going off (a gun).
This issue has been hanging fire for the last many months. It should
be decided immediately one way or the other.
546. To find fault with to blame
If a married couple are always finding fault with each other, they can
never be happy.
547. Hobson's choice no choice
The Russian electorate had only Hobson's choice because generally
only one candidate was allowed to contest the election and he too
was invariably a communist.
548. To worship the rising sun to honour the man who is coming

into office.
When the Chief Minister came under a cloud, all his supporters
deserted him to join his competitor for the office because people
worship the rising sun.
549. To wash one's dirty linen in public discuss one's family
scandals and disgraces in public.
The husband and wife are leading a cat and dog life and she has no
hesitation in washing her dirty linen in public.
550. To burn the midnight oilsit up late at night to work or study
If you want to lead a happy and prosperous life, burn the midnight oil
during your college days.
551. To fish in troubled watersinterest oneself in affairs that are
likely to lead to trouble and danger.
Any country that interferes in African politics is fishing in troubled
waters.
552. To rest on one's oarscease work for a time ; remain passive,
after making progress.
After doing a roaring business for a season, he is resting on his oars
now.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

73

553. To rest on one's laurelshaving earned distinction or honours,

to remain satisfied and do nothing further


He is an ambitious man and will not rest on his laurels after winning
this distinction.
554. To beat a retreatdepart defeated ; turn back or go away
ignominiously
I told the rascal I would fetch a policeman, and he beat a retreat.
555. To slip through one's fingersescape one narrowly
If you let such good opportunities slip through your fingers, you will
never be able to do anything in life.
556. To snap one's fingers atdespise ; disregard ; treat with
contempt
He was one of those who snap their fingers at all regulations and are
hard to be disciplined.
557. To swallow the baitto be caught in the trap ; to be taken in by
false promises, etc
He pretends to be a millionaire's son and the innocent girl has
swallowed the bait.
558. To speak volumesbear ample evidence ; convey much, while
actually saying little or nothing
The creation of Pakistan speaks volumes for Jinnahs talent.
559. To steal a march ongain an advantage for which one's
adversary was not prepared
He stole a march on his enemies and betrayed them to the king.
560. To split hairsmake subtle and useless distinctions
There is no need to split hairs over the exact meaning of the words of
the telegram when he is arriving here within an hour.
561. To be on the right scentto be on the right (or wrong) track
I was on the right scent when I suspected John of this mischief,
562. Tooth and nailwith all power
At first the Congress opposed the partition of the country tooth and
nail.
563. Behind one's backin one's absence
If you have courage, say this thing to his face and not behind his
back.

74

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

564. To pay one in his own cointo treat another in his own manner

as you were treated


He let you down at a critical moment; now you must pay back in the
same coin by refusing to help him.
565. To pay off old scoreto avenge some previous wrong
The police think it to be a cold-blooded murder. In fact, he had to pay
off old scores because the victim had murdered his brother many
years ago.
566. Cheek by jowlin close proximity, in the neighbourhood of
Here was a doctor who never had a patient, check by jowl with a
lawyer who never had a client.
567. Loaves and fishesmaterial benefits
If the legislators run after their own loaves and fishes, democracy
becomes a farce.
568. To flog a dead horseto waste energy by trying to revive
something feeble or out-of-date
There was no use in flogging the dead horse .
569. On the spur of the momentwithout deliberation
He could give no convincing answer on the spur of the moment.
570. A wolf in sheep's clothinga hypocrite
I was deceived because I did not know that he was a wolf in sheep's
clothing.
571. All and sundryeveryone, without distinction.
After his victory in the election he invited all and sundry to a feast.
572. To pay the debt of naturedie
Wordsworth was an old man when he paid the debt of nature in
1850.
573. Bad debtirrecoverable debt. It is a bad debt
I have little hope of realising even one-tenth of it.
574. Elbow greasehard work
Success depends on elbow grease and not on luck. Therefore, burn
the midnight oil if you want to shine in the college.
575. To egg onto urge
Flatterers had egged him on to foolish impracticable schemes.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

75

576. Elbow roomspace to move freely


Our office is moving to a building where we shall have more elbowroom.

76

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

577. An eye-washa deception ; mere professions


What the authorities have done to alleviate the suffering of the
labourers is just an eye-wash
578. An eye-openerenlightening circumstances
This insult should serve as an eye-opener to you. You should mend
your ways.
579. Fair and squarestraight-forward ; above board
None can point a finger at him. He is so fair and square in his
dealings.
580. In finein short
They have, in fine, proved to be scoundrels at every step.
581. To die in harnessto continue in one's occupation until death
The late Zia-ul-Haq was active all through his life and died in harness.
582. A hole and corner policysecret, underhand policy
I like frank and straight-forward people. One following a hole and
comer policy is my abhorrence.
583. To laugh in one's sleevesto make merry inwardly
The teacher was unaware of the inkblot on his nose and the students
laughed in their sleeves.
584. To let the cat out of the bagto disclose a secret
They had intended to highlight the debate by disclosing the
minister's share in the scandal, but one of their supporters let the cat
out of the bag a little earlier and thus ruined their chances of
catching the Government napping.
585. To move heaven and earthmake every possible effort
They moved heaven and earth to collect the funds but enough could
not be managed.
586. To nip in the budto destroy in the early stages
The management dismissed the ring leaders and nipped the strike in
the bud.
587. A queer fisha strange man
He is a queer fish. In spite of having much wealth, he still wears rags.
588. To read between the linesto read carefully in order to get at

the writer's concealed meaning

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

77

Only those who read between the lines can appreciate the mastery of
irony that this writer has employed.
589. To kiss the rodto accept punishment submissively
The offender kissed the rod and did not murmur any complaint.

78

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

590. To a Texactly
This amount will meet my needs to a T.
591. To the backbonethoroughly
Iqbal was a democrat and a pacifist to the backbone.
592. In a jiffyvery soon, no time
Don't worry, boy, I'll do it now in a jiffy.
593. Not worth one's saltgood-for-nothing.
He looked smart when we appointed him but now we have found that
he is not worth his salt.
594. Null and voidnot in force ; valueless.
That contract is now null and void for you failed to make the payment
in time.
595. At a pinchin an emergency ; if absolutely necessary
We have a good many guests, but at a pinch one or two can sleep in
the lounge.
596. A swelled heada conceited, vain person
I don't mean that I can't be friends with a very rich man but he has
an exceptionally swelled head.
597. The skin of one's teethloss of everything but life.
The ship broke up, several men were drowned, but four sailors
managed to escape with the skin of their teeth.
598. To hit below the beltto strike another unfairly
In a public discussion of his political opinions, you hit him below die
belt by referring to his private morals.
599. Out of the frying pan into the firefrom a bad to worse

position
To escape from the lion, he climbed the tree. The poor man fell out of
the frying pan into the fire because on the tree was a deadly snake.
600. On the horns of a dilemmain a fix or critical position
The young man was on the horns of a dilemmaif he married the
ugly girl, his happiness for life would be ruined; if he didn't, his
greedy father would disinherit him.
601. With open armswith a warm welcome

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

79

When the prodigal son returned home, he was received with open
arms by his father.
602. By hook or by crookby fair means or foul.
He is determined to get the job by hook or by crook
603. To all intents and purposespractically, virtually.
To all intents and purposes the Prime Minister is the ruler of the
country.
604. To gild the lilythe ridiculous attempt at beautifying something

naturally very beautiful.


Don't try to gild the lily; you cannot put the- line in better order than
Shakespeare did.
605. Fifth columntraitors; spies; organized body sympathizing with
and working for the enemy within a country at war.
Some newspapers dub anti-social fifth columnists who are ever eager
to make mischief.
606. Heel of Achillesthe only vulnerable spot; weak point
In argument you could not have beaten him ; you hit the heel of
Achilles by referring to his personal moral laxity.
607. To show a clean pair of heelsto escape from pursuit
We chased the thief for some distance but he showed us a clean pair
of heels.
608. A hard nut to cracka problem difficult to solve
To restore the world peace is a hard nut to crack.
609. To blink the factrefusing to see
You cannot blink the fact like that you will have to face it boldly,
610. A close-fisted manstingy, niggardly, miser
It is silly of you to hope for monetary help from that close-fisted man.
611. A dead letterno longer in force
Illicit distillation of liquor is rampant and the prohibition laws are
almost a dead letter.
612. A dead heata contest where it is impossible to decide who the
victor is
Although he made up the difference, it was a dead heat, and they
were neck and neck.

80

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

613. Straight from the horse's mouthfrom the reliable source.


He is shortly going to be engaged to a rich heiress; I have it straight
from the horse's mouth.
614. To weigh anchorstart for voyage.
The ship weighed anchor and bidding him farewell, we returned
home.
615. To have other fish to fryother business to do
I am sorry I cannot accept this invitation. I have other fish to fry.
616. To live in an ivory towerto live sheltered from the harsh

realities of life
An artist cannot live in an ivory tower. His art must reflect the weal
and woe of society around him.
617. To face the musicshow no fear at a time of danger or trial
The union leaders alone among the strikers faced the music boldly.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

81

3
ERROR ANALYSIS
ERRORS IN THE USE OF NOUN
1.

Alms was given to the poors.

2.

Give me a blotting.

3.

Good night, sir, I am glad to see you.

4.

He gave me a ten rupees note.

5.

He gave me many information about the examination.

6.

He gave order to release him.

7.

He has an urgent business at home.

8.

He has bought a new trouser.

9.

He has four grey hair on his head.

10. He has given up his study.


11. He has twenty heads of cattle.
12. He is one of the best boy in his class.
13. He is weak in mathematic.
14. He spent the last summer vacations with his uncle.
15. His hair are white.
16. His weight is five stones.
17. I have many works to do.
18. I have ten heads of cattle.
19. I hope to obtain an employment in this firm.
20. I take pain over my work.

82

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

21. I will go to Swat during the summer vacations.


22. Mathematics are taught in the first year.
23. My sheeps are grazing in the field.
24. My spectacles is old.
25. Please pay my respect to your teacher.
26. Please, give me a scissors.
27. Politics are his chief interest.
28. She bought some stationeries.
29. Ten miles are a long way.
30. The cattles are grazing in the field.
31. The news are not true.
32. The sceneries of Murree are wonderful.
33. The sceneries of Swat are splendid.
34. The teacher gave me much good advices.
35. The United Nations have done nothing to help Kashmiris.
36. The United States are a rich country.
37. The wages of sin are hell.
38. There are a lot of fishes in the river.
39. There are new furnitures in the drawing room.
40. There is no place on this bench.
41. They have read many poetries.
42. This volume contains many interesting poetries.
43. You gave me many advices.
44. You have many works to do.
45. You sold two dozens eggs.
46. Your hairs are white.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


PRONOUNS
1.

Akhtar and my went to see a picture.

2.

Any one of those two boys are absent.

3.

Anyone can do it if one tries.

4.

Do you know who the teacher is punishing now?

5.

Each of our students pay their tuition fee in advance.

6.

Either of these boys have told a lie.

7.

Either Sajid or Khalid come here daily.

8.

Every boy and every man should love their country.

9.

Every one that see you love you.

10. Everyone should do ones duty well.


11. Four girls were playing with each other.
12. Have you read either of these three books?
13. Have you read Ghalib and Iqbals poetry.
14. He availed of the opportunity.
15. He called at mine yesterday.
16. He is one of the ministers who has served the country.
17. He is wiser than me.
18. I and he are friends.
19. I cannot endure his separation.
20. I have read none of these two books.
21. I insisted on him doing it.
22. I took his leave and set out for America.
23. I want a teacher for my son who is over fifty.
24. I want any of these two pens.
25. I want your reply by return of post.
26. I, he and you shall go to the fair.

83

84

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

27. I, you and he will help the poor.


28. If some of you make a noise, he shall be punished.
29. It is him who are not trustworthy.
30. It is him who did it.
31. It is I who is to blame.
32. It is me who did it.
33. Let you and I go to the river.
34. Naseem and Perveen loved one another.
35. Neither Karim nor Rahim are known to me.
36. Neither of the two sisters got the prize they expected.
37. Neither of them was a scout.
38. None of these two have failed.
39. None remain to tell the story of that distress.
40. One must not forget his duty.
41. One of the boy is absent.
42. One often does not know what he is to do.
43. One should do his duty well.
44. Only one of the men were arrested.
45. Such men who work hard succeed in life.
46. Such things which you say are not true.
47. The boys who works hard he will pass.
48. The committee was divided in its opinion.
49. The man is my brother who was sitting there.
50. There is no one but I.
51. These books are for you and she.
52. They are enjoying at the party.
53. This is the same book which I bought yesterday.
54. Those who are proud they are not happy.
55. Who is there? It is me.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

56. Whom do you think I am?


57. You, he and I are in the wrong.
58. Your shirt is like Khalid.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


ADJECTIVES
1.

Aslam is the eldest boy in our class.

2.

Death is more preferable than dishonor.

3.

He gave me little water to drink.

4.

He is a coward person.

5.

He is a miser man.

6.

He is elder than me.

7.

He is junior than me.

8.

He is more cleverer than .

9.

He is more wiser than his cousin.

10. He is my older brother.


11. He is my oldest son.
12. He is senior than me in service.
13. He is the most unique teacher.
14. He is the mot ablest of all the boys in the class.
15. He is the tallest boy of the two.
16. He is too tired to attend to some work.
17. He played cricket whole the day.
18. He sold fewer than ten mounds of wheat today.
19. He spent little money he had.
20. He worked the all day.
21. He worked whole the day.

85

86

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

22. Health is more preferable than wealth.


23. His name is the latest in the list.
24. His oldest son died yesterday.
25. I do not like these kind of books.
26. I have no any money to buy books.
27. I saw a good many man there.
28. Iqbal was greater than any poet.
29. Islamabad is a worth-seeing place.
30. It is much fine today.
31. Kaghan is a worth seeing place.
32. Lahore is largest than any city in the Punjab.
33. Little money is better than no money.
34. Many a men were present there.
35. My family members have gone to Islamabad.
36. My younger brother is elder than you.
37. Of the two books this is the best.
38. Of the two routes, this is the shortest.
39. One day I shall go abroad.
40. Pervaiz is abler than all the boys of his class.
41. Peshawar is further from Lahore than Rawalpindi.
42. Rich should not hate poor.
43. Saleem is a political minded man.
44. The climate of Lahore is hotter than Murree.
45. The climate of Multan is hotter than Lahore.
46. The two first stories in this book are not interesting.
47. The whole Pakistan mourned the death of Quaid-i-Azam.
48. There are a little boys in the room.
49. There are no less than forty boys in our class.
50. This is the eldest tree in our garden.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

51. This is the last news that we have received.


52. This pen is superior than that.
53. You must help the poors.
54. You slept whole the night.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF ARTICLES


1.

A white and a brown dog is barking.

2.

Cow is a useful animal.

3.

Do not make noise here.

4.

Do not make noise.

5.

English are patriotic.

6.

He got an employment in the bank.

7.

He is a M.A.

8.

He is a poet and a philosopher.

9.

He is an European.

10. He is at home in the English.


11. He is M.A. in English.
12. He is not at the fault.
13. He is wisest man in his village.
14. His father is a poet and a novelist.
15. Horse is a faithful animal.
16. I have near seen so good picture.
17. I have obtained appointment in a factory.
18. I have sent him a word to come.
19. Indus is largest river in Punjab.
20. More we get, more we want.
21. Muslims are a brave people.
22. Muslims read Holy Quraan every day.

87

88

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

23. Paris is as famous city as London.


24. Ravi is famous river.
25. Ravi is in spate.
26. Rice of Bangla Dash is good to eat.
27. She is taller of the two.
28. The all boys are going to college.
29. The all boys were punished.
30. The both men were arrested.
31. The both sisters failed in the examination.
32. The English is the language of English.
33. The gold is more valuable than the silver.
34. The honesty is the best policy.
35. The house caught the fire.
36. The rice is favourite food of Bengalis.
37. The third and fourth chapter of this book are interesting.
38. The virtue is its own reward.
39. The wisdom is the gift of the God.
40. This is a man who helped me.
41. This is news to me.
42. What kind of a man he is.
43. Which is cleverer, Riaz or Iqbal?
44. You are in wrong.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


PARTICIPLES
1.

After crossing the river, the weather became clear.

2.

Arriving on a cycle, the inauguration of the function began.

3.

Being a very hot day, we did not go out.

4.

Being Sunday, I did not go to office.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

5.

Coming out, he found his cycle there no more.

6.

Demonstrating, a stick struck him.

7.

Driving a car, a boy was knocked down.

8.

Eating, a beggar appeared.

9.

Elected, revision in pay will be done.

10. Enter the room, the money was found stolen.


11. Entering the room, things were found at sixes and seven.
12. Lying in bed, the telephone rang.
13. Playing in the ground, a wasp stung the child.
14. Quarrelling, the father separated the sons.
15. Reaching in time, the show began.
16. Reading a newspaper, she noticed the rainbow.
17. Reading a short story, my friend came.
18. Running the road, a cycle hit him.
19. Sleeping in the courtyard, a thief enter the house.
20. Walking in the park, a snake bit him.
21. Walking through the field, a tower appeared in the distance
22. Watering the plants, the clouds thundered.
23. Winding the wristwatch, I saw her walking along the road.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


CONJUNCTIONS
1.

Although he is old, but he is strong.

2.

Although I am late but I think I must start.

3.

As he is ill, so he cannot come.

4.

Be careful lest you do not fall ill.

5.

Because he is honest, therefore, we believe in him.

6.

Both Shahid as well as Khalid are happy.

7.

Drive slowly lest you may not be involved in an accident.

8.

He cannot pass unless he does not work hard.

9.

He cried as if he was mad.

89

90

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

10. He is no other man but Hamid.


11. He must either go or I.
12. He sings like his brother does.
13. He will not come unless you do not insist.
14. I asked him that whether he was ill.
15. I had scarcely gone out that it began to rain.
16. I like neither him or her.
17. I like such book which are interesting.
18. I not only ate biscuits but also sweets.
19. I went not only to him and also to her.
20. If he is poor, then I will help him.
21. Kindness as well as justice are to be our guide.
22. My friend as well as I am disgraced.
23. Neither he comes nor he writes.
24. No sooner I reached the station the train left.
25. No sooner we left the shop it began to rain.
26. Run fast lest you do not miss the train.
27. Scarcely had I entered the room than I saw her.
28. Supposing if it rains, would you come?
29. Supposing if you won race, how would you spend the money?
30. Though he tried hard but he could not succeed.
31. Though they tortured him but he did not betray the trust.
32. Unless you do not speak the truth, you will not be forgiven.
33. Walk carefully lest you should not fall down.
34. Work hard as me.
35. You will repent unless you do not heed my advice.
36. You would scarcely believe me if I say I saw a ghost.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


PARTICIPLE VERBS
1.

A log of wood is swimming in the river.

2.

Burn a lamp, it is getting dark.

3.

He denied lending me money.

4.

He is fail in English.

5.

He made a goal.

6.

He refused having stolen my watch.

7.

He said me a knave.

8.

He said the truth.

9.

He spoke a lie.

10. Hear what your teacher says.


11. I cut my pencil.
12. I gave a speech.
13. I said him good-bye.
14. Kindly, grant me two days leave as I intend to go to Multan.
15. Open the light.
16. Tell my compliments to your teacher.
17. The building of our college is consist of eighteen rooms.
18. The child is trembling with cold.
19. The dog is floating in the tank.
20. The hen has given eggs.
21. The numerator and the denominator cut each other.
22. The ship was drowned and its crew was sunk in the storm.
23. The students gave a test in English.
24. The teacher took a test in English.
25. This book is belongs to me.
26. Turn of the light.

91

92

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

27. When he met me, he was putting on a new suit.


28. You are all right, I believe.
29. You will leave for Karachi today, I think.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF ADVERBS


1.

Alms were given free.

2.

As I was going to warn him, the boat capsized.

3.

At first I thought I would not attempt the task altogether.

4.

Did he apply for the job? No, he did.

5.

Did you break his slate? No, I broke his slate.

6.

He gave me this book freely.

7.

He is enough mean to do such an act.

8.

He is seldom if never able to join us.

9.

He is too solicitous.

10. He is very disappointed at his failure.


11. He is very weak to walk.
12. He only wrote on one side of the paper.
13. He rarely or ever visits us.
14. He will just come now.
15. I am much pleased to hear this.
16. I am quite glad to see you again.
17. I am quite sorry to hear this.
18. I am too busy to do anything else.
19. I am very well today.
20. I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
21. I have been playing cricket since a long time.
22. I met you a week before.
23. I shall be very obliged to you for your kindness.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

24. I was too glad to receive your letter.


25. It is much hot and so I cannot go out.
26. It is much hot and so I cannot go out.
27. It is much hot.
28. It is much strange that you should be very surprised.
29. It is too cool here.
30. Just I was going to write you about it.
31. Just I will let you know.
32. Only write on one side of the paper.
33. She feels warmly.
34. She is much pretty.
35. The communities are foolishly fighting since a long time.
36. The flowers smell sweetly.
37. The mangoes taste sourly.
38. The match is much exciting.
39. The rose smells sweetly.
40. The sun shines bright.
41. These goods are seldom or never used in this country.
42. This hardly-won freedom was not to be lightly given up.
43. This mango is too sweet.
44. This water is very cold for me.
45. Yesterday I reached school lately.
46. You seem to be much disgusted with your son.
47. Your behaviour is too bad.

93

94

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

AGREEMENT OF SUBJECT WITH


THE VERB
1.

A great poet and philosopher are dead.

2.

A number of boys was caught copying.

3.

A time of peace and plenty are coming to us.

4.

A variety of pleasing object charm the eye.

5.

Ali as well as his brothers have come here.

6.

Ali or Zia are wrong.

7.

Arabian Nights are an interesting book.

8.

Each man and woman were in their best dresses.

9.

Each of them have done his best.

10. Either Ali or his friends is to blame.


11. Either he or I is ruined.
12. Either Khalid or Asghar are to blame.
13. Either of these two boys have stolen my pen.
14. Either You or he have stolen my knife..
15. Every man, woman and child on board have been saved.
16. Every one of them are honest.
17. Every town and village were affected by war.
18. Forty miles are a long distance.
19. Fourteen pound are not a heavy weight.
20. Gold, besides precious stones were found in the cave.
21. Good order, and not mean savings, produce profit.
22. Happiness and misery is from within.
23. He as well as his brothers deserve praise.
24. He do not know English.
25. Husband and wife has gone away.
26. I who is your friend will always help you.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

27. Khalid and not you deserve the prize.


28. Lives of the Poets are not much read today.
29. Many a student do not know their own shortcomings.
30. Milk and soda are a refreshing drink.
31. My brother as well as his friend have been invited.
32. Neither Akhtar nor his friends has been invited.
33. Neither my uncle nor I is invited.
34. Neither of these two boys are naughty.
35. Neither the horse not the cow were stolen.
36. Neither youth nor beauty are safe against time.
37. One hundred paisa are equal to one rupee.
38. Our chairman and friend have spoken to us.
39. Pickwick papers are by Dickens.
40. Sixteen annas are equal to one rupee.
41. Slow and steady win the race.
42. Ten thousand rupees are a large sum.
43. The father, with his friends, were going for hunting.
44. The horse and carriage are at the door.
45. The jury was divided in its opinions.
46. The jury were of one mind.
47. The jury were of one mind.
48. The king with his bodyguards have arrived.
49. The king with his ministers are expected to arrive here.
50. The majority overrule the decision of the minority.
51. The members of the club will be him and her.
52. The poet and philosopher are dead.
53. The poet and the philosopher is dead.
54. The United states are a rich country.
55. There are large number of boys in our school.

95

96

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

56. This is one of the best books that has been written on this subject.
57. This meeting do not recommend these proposals.
58. This room or that one are required at once.
59. Time and tide wait for none.
60. To win or to lose a game are not important.
61. Two and two makes four.
62. Who is there? It is me.
63. You as well as he is at fault.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF


PREPOSITIONS
1.

Aslam married with Farhat.

2.

At last he reached in the garden.

3.

Copy this manuscript word by word.

4.

Eggs sell in dozen.

5.

Free books should be provided to poor students.

6.

He died from cholera.

7.

He entered into the hall.

8.

He is blind from one eye.

9.

He is ill from fever.

10. He is like a brother for me.


11. He is sitting under the shade of a tree.
12. He jumped on the table.
13. He jumped on the tank.
14. He lives at Karachi.
15. He loves with his children.
16. He passed in the examination.
17. He picks up a quarrel with everybody.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

18. He prays God in the morning.


19. He recommended for me to the principal.
20. He resembles to his father.
21. He rises at the sunrise.
22. He sat under the shade of a tree.
23. He swore of God.
24. He took revenge from his enemy.
25. He went to Karachi in train.
26. He will come after two days.
27. He will come to office since tomorrow.
28. He writes with red ink.
29. I am afraid from him.
30. I am angry on you.
31. I am getting late from school.
32. I am not your friend since today.
33. I asked from him what he was doing.
34. I congratulate you for your success
35. I have ordered for four chairs.
36. I prevented him to fall.
37. I regret at the delay.
38. I said it upon his face.
39. I shall set sail for England after four days.
40. I was amazed on his wonderful performance.
41. I was not allowed to sit in the examination.
42. I wrote him yesterday.
43. In the way he met me.
44. India is in the East of Pakistan.
45. It is a cheque of Rs.500/46. It is quarter to seven in my watch.

97

98

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

47. It is time to rest.


48. Mary was married with John.
49. Monkeys live on trees.
50. No Pakistani is in this Committee.
51. Of the man you speak came to see me once.
52. Of what you are talking?
53. Open the book on page 30.
54. Open your book on page ten.
55. Our examination will begin from the 10th instant.
56. Please send the books on my address.
57. Search the rupee and you will find it.
58. She resembles with her sister.
59. The cat fell in the tank.
60. The examination begins from Monday.
61. The mother beat him by a stick.
62. The mother loves with her son.
63. The patient has been operated.
64. The pen is to write.
65. The police investigated into the matter.
66. They attacked on me.
67. This cheque is of the National Bank.
68. Write it on the margin of your book.
69. You are very kind on me.

ERRORS IN THE USE OF TENSES


1.

A number of boys is absent.

2.

Arshad denied to do what he was told.

3.

Babar has founded the Mughal Empire.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

4.

Do not speak a lie.

5.

He has refused my invitation.

6.

He dared not to say word.

7.

He had better to go to the doctor.

8.

He had seen a lion in the forest.

9.

He has come here yesterday.

10. He has given his examination.


11. He has gone to Rawalpindi yesterday.
12. He has taken admission.
13. He is suffering from fever for ten days.
14. He talks as if he is mad.
15. He wears a long beard.
16. I can hear him to speak.
17. I hanged the picture on the wall.
18. I have and will lend you money.
19. I have been writing a letter.
20. I have seen him an hour ago.
21. I know him for four years.
22. I laid in bed for three hours.
23. I lived in this house since 1970.
24. I made him to stand.
25. I shall bring toys if I shall go to Karachi.
26. I shall never desert you till I die.
27. I will not be able to accompany you to Murree.
28. I work hard lest I may not fail.
29. I would rather to die than to beg.
30. If he was rich, he would have helped the poor.
31. If he will not do his home-work, he will be fined.
32. If I do not learn my lesson, I will be punished by the teacher.

99

100

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

33. If you had worked hard you would pass.


34. Look this word in the dictionary.
35. Majority in Pakistan are poor.
36. Mr. Iqbal with his wife and children live here.
37. Open the knot.
38. Tell me when did you see him.
39. The general invaded the enemy.
40. The Headmaster said, Tomorrow will be holiday.
41. The jury was divided.
42. The mother with her daughters have come.
43. The murderer was hung.
44. The patient died before the doctor arrived.
45. The students are on strike for three days.
46. They have come to take your leave.
47. Two and two makes four.
48. Unless you will work hard, you will not pass.
49. Why you left the room without my permission?
50. Will I accompany you to Karachi?

MISCELLANEOUS ERRORS
1.

A log was swimming on the water.

2.

Being a fine day, we went out for a walk.

3.

Due to illness, he could not come to college.

4.

Good night, I am very glad to meet you.

5.

Having failed in the first attempt, another was made.

6.

He and his sister visits the museum quite often.

7.

He bade me to do it.

8.

He called her as a fool.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

9.

He completed his work before I did mine.

10. He forbade me laugh.


11. He has no house to live.
12. He intended to have seen you.
13. He is a man to avoid.
14. He lives miserly.
15. He lost his way in the wood which I expected.
16. He persisted to go there.
17. He prevented me to smoke.
18. He said that you are late.
19. He struggles to adequately increase his knowledge of English.
20. He succeeded to win a scholarship.
21. Her employer dismiss her a year before.
22. I am in this school since 2011.
23. I am working in this factory for two years.
24. I could not help but laugh.
25. I dare not to go there.
26. I did not ask any question to him.
27. I have come for seeing you.
28. I have received your letter yesterday.
29. I heard him to say so.
30. I insisted on him going with me.
31. I laid in bed for three hours.
32. I live here since 2008.
33. I prefer to be poor and honest than to rich and base.
34. I request you to kindly grant me four days leave.
35. I should have come yesterday if I get your message.
36. I suffer from fever since last night.
37. I wait here for an hour but my friend did not come yet.

101

102

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

38. I want that you should come here.


39. If he works hard next year he pass the examination.
40. If I buy a cycle, I would soon learn to ride.
41. Kindness as well as justices are to be our guide.
42. Let you and I be friends.
43. Make him to transcribe this passage.
44. My cousin is a doctor which I should like to be.
45. No sooner I had reached the station when the train started.
46. No sooner I reach the station than the train start.
47. Rahim and Karim enjoyed at the fair.
48. Salim denied to do it when he was told.
49. She was no longer to rely on.
50. Some days ago I had been to the post office.
51. The boy who stands first, he will get a prize.
52. The chief with his followers were present there.
53. These females have come here to take your advices.
54. They told him that they see the film twice before.
55. Travelling by train, a strange sight was seen by me.
56. Walking along the road, a scorpion stung me.
57. We are told to rejoice and weep with others.
58. Who did you call names ?
59. You had better to stay here.
60. You should not make noise.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

103

4
PREPOSITIONS
FILL IN THE BLANKS
1.

A great leader always stands ____ his people.

2.

A teacher imparts knowledge _____ others.

3.

A young man usually rebels _____ against discipline.

4.

Aftab always objects _____ loose talk.

5.

Always guard ______ evil.

6.

Arrangements were compatible _____ the position of V.I.P.

7.

Be careful ____ money matters.

8.

Boys congratulated the captain _____ winning the match.

9.

Compare the two essays _____ each other.

10. Do not expose yourself ______ danger.


11. Do not grieve _____ a minor loss.
12. Do not laugh _____ your elders.
13. Do not meddle _____ my affairs.
14. Everybody recoils _____ murder
15. Everybody was amazed _____ your progress.
16. Food makes _____ warmth in the body.
17. Good health is an incentive _____ hard work.
18. Hard work tends _____ success.
19. Have you been listening _____ the radio?
20. He acceded _____ my request gladly.

104

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

21. He always persists _____ what he says.


22. He always scoffs _____ his opponents.
23. He always tries to vie _____ his friends.
24. He backed _____ of his promise.
25. He begged _____ me to leave him alone.
26. He called _____ the Principal in his office.
27. He clings _____ his principles.
28. He competed ____ me for the prize.
29. He concurs _____ me in everything.
30. He confided _____ me fully.
31. He could not carry ____ his designs.
32. He despairs ____ winning a scholarship.
33. He died ____ cholera.
34. He differs ______ his brother in many things.
35. He digressed ______ his earlier statement.
36. He does not listen _____ my advice.
37. He felt indignant _____ my remarks.
38. He felt rejoiced _____ the happy news.
39. He gave _____ smoking.
40. He gave _____before his opponent.
41. He glanced _____ me casually
42. He goes _____ the name of Gama.
43. He had left previous _____ your arrival.
44. He has a great ambition _____ wealth.
45. He has close intimacy ______ the Minister.
46. He has deep passion _____ music.
47. He has duly provided ______ his family.
48. He has entered _____ a contract with me.
49. He has entered _____ a contract with me.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

50. He has great confidence ____ his assistant.


51. He has no desire ____ fame.
52. He has no liking ____ cards.
53. He has not yet recovered _____ prolonged illness.
54. He has run ____ debt on account of his bad habits.
55. He has tided _____ many difficulties.
56. He is addicted _____ opium.
57. He is always bargaining _____ his friends.
58. He is always forgetful _____ his duty.
59. He is always mindful _____ others feelings.
60. He is always partial _____ his friends.
61. He is always true _____ his word.
62. He is bent _____ mischief.
63. He is blind ____ his own interests.
64. He is blind _____ his own weakness.
65. He is careless _____ his belongings.
66. He is deficient _____ humour.
67. He is eligible _____ his post.
68. He is entitled _____ free accommodation.
69. He is equal _____ Aslam in cunning.
70. He is ever grumbling _____ everything.
71. He is fully competent _____ the job of a Principal.
72. He is gifted _____ an oily tongue.
73. He is good _____ English.
74. He is grown _____ and quite capable __ helping himself.
75. He is guilty _____ the betrayal of his country.
76. He is hostile _____ veil.
77. He is indifferent _____ his business.
78. He is keeping something ____ me.

105

106

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

79. He is lame _____ one foot.


80. He is loyal _____ his institution.
81. He is negligent _____ his studies.
82. He is not sensitive _____ criticism.
83. He is now reconciled _____ his friends.
84. He is now reconciled _____ his lot.
85. He is opposed ______ his view.
86. He is penitent _____ his misconduct.
87. He is prepared ____ anything to happen.
88. He is proficient _____ Arabic and Persian.
89. He is prompt _____ replying to letters.
90. He is prone _____ accept your request.
91. He is quick of understanding ____ mathematics.
92. He is related _____ me.
93. He is responsible _____ the people for his misdeeds.
94. He is struggling _____ poverty.
95. He is susceptible _____ noble feelings.
96. He is trifling _____ his business.
97. He is weary ______ his son.
98. He made _____ his deficiency during the holidays.
99. He mourned ____ his deceased uncle.
100.He mourned _____ his deceased uncle.
101.He never deviates ______ the path of truth and virtue.
102.He never responded _____ my request.
103.He pleaded ______ me to forgive him.
104.He plunged _____ the river.
105.He prevailed _____ me to help him.
106.He prevented me _____ the beating you.
107.He prides _____ his high birth.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

108.He proceeded _____ his mission without fear.


109.He proved false _____ hi word.
110.He rails _____ everybody and so nobody likes him
111.He reflected _____ his past misfortunes
112.He refrained ______teasing her.
113.He remonstrated _____ me against the injustice done to him.
114.He repented _____ his hasty step.
115.He reproached me _____ not helping him.
116.He set ______ about his work in right earnest.
117.He showed great zeal ______ welcoming the Quaid-e-Azam.
118.He sniffs _____ the work of his clerks.
119.He stares _____ me in anger.
120.He supplied me _____ a packet of cigarettes.
121.He told me that he was not familiar ____ that subject.
122.He urged _____ his part to vote for him.
123.He warned me _____ against my partner.
124.He was bereft _____ his purse.
125.He was brought _____ in the lap of luxury.
126.He was condemned _____ life imprisonment.
127.He was condemned to death ____ his crime.
128.He was confined ____ bed by illness.
129.He was deprived _____ his purse by the pick-pockets.
130.He was guilty _____ theft.
131.He was overcome _____ sleep.
132.He was prejudiced _____ me by my enemies.
133.He was prevented _____ a new difficulty.
134.He was rewarded _____ gallantry.
135.He was robbed _____ his belongings.
136.He was shouting ____ the top of his voice.

107

108

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

137.He was surprised _____ the news.


138.He was vexed _____ my remarks.
139.He will compete _____ you in shot-put.
140.He withdrew ______ bargain.
141.He wondered _____ my remarks.
142.Healthy habits are conducive _____ long life.
143.His actions are not consistent _____ his professions.
144.His argument is void _____ reason.
145.His death resulted _____ injuries.
146.His efforts were crowned ____ success.
147.His face is familiar _____ me.
148.His health is improving day ____ day.
149.His services have been dispensed ____.
150.His speech was not relevant _____ the occasion.
151.History reminds us _____ our past.
152.I acted according ____ his advice.
153.I always comply _____ your wishes.
154.I am absorbed _____ my studies.
155.I am allied _____ the common cause of national freedom.
156.I am certain _____ my success.
157.I am confident _____ success.
158.I am desirous _____ going abroad.
159.I am fond _______ books.
160.I am fully alive _____ my domestic problems.
161.I am fully contented _____ my lot.
162.I am fully convinced _____ his guilt.
163.I am fully sensible _____ the danger.
164.I am hopeful _____ his speedy recovery.
165.I am not accustomed _____ hot weather.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

166.I am not acquainted _____ this country.


167.I am not concerned _____ his failure.
168.I am not inclined _____ visit Lahore.
169.I am obliged _____ pay the fine.
170.I am preparing ______ the competition.
171.I am sanguine _____ my success.
172.I am satisfied _____ your progress.
173.I am short _____ money these days.
174.I am sick _____ his tricks.
175.I am thankful _____ you for this favour.
176.I am tired _____ his company.
177.I am very much concerned _____ his progress.
178.I believe _____ hard work.
179.I blame you ____ neglect of studies.
180.I cannot bear _____ you any longer.
181.I cannot make _____ anything.
182.I cannot part with _____ my property.
183.I could not desist _______ laughing.
184.I delight ____ the law of God.
185.I delight________ serving others
186.I do not approve _____ your familiarity with bad boys.
187.I do not know his name but I know him ____ sight.
188.I do not want to comment _____ his speech.
189.I do not want to reason _____ you.
190.I enjoin ______ you to take exercise daily.
191.I feel a great pity _____ the poor.
192.I guarantee _____ his good conduct.
193.I have a great liking _____ pictures.
194.I have keen abhorrence _____ crime.

109

110

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

195.I have no access _____ the Governor.


196.I have not concealed the fact ____ you.
197.I have preference _____ his honest methods.
198.I have taken great pains ____ this book.
199.I like always to lean ____ the side of mercy.
200.I long _____ a meeting with you.
201.I may warn you _____ the consequences.
202.I prefer Geography _____ Mathematics.
203.I shall abide _____ my promise.
204.I shall profit _____ your rich experience.
205.I shall stand _____ you through thick and thin.
206.I sympathize _____ you in your sorrow.
207.I testify _____ his innocence.
208.I tried but could not prevail ___him.
209.I was introduced _____ the visitor.
210.I would never stoop _____ such meanness.
211.If you preserve _____ studies you may top the list.
212.Iqbal is renowned _______ his poetry.
213.Iqbal ranks _____ the greatest poet of the East.
214.Iqbal was endowed ______ the gift of high poetry.
215.It is better to leave the children ____ themselves.
216.It is incumbent ____ students to work hard.
217.It is incumbent _____ students to work hard.
218.It never occurred _____ me that he was lying.
219.Kashmir will finally cede______ Pakistan.
220.Keep _____ bad company.
221.May God preserve you _____ misfortune!
222.My words penetrated _____ his head.
223.Nehru stood ______ the Muslim independence.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

224.Never be jealous _____ your neighbour.


225.Never connive _____ the faults of children.
226.Never despair _____ success in life.
227.Never feel envious _____ anybody.
228.Never go _______ empty show.
229.Never intrude _____ others.
230.Never jeer _____ your own friends.
231.Never murmur _____ adversity.
232.Never resort ______ mean tricks.
233.Never run _____ after empty show.
234.Nothing can prevail _____ death.
235.Pakistan cannot confide _____ west.
236.Pakistan has an abundance _____ mineral wealth.
237.Paris is notorious _____ fashions.
238.Philosophers ponder _____ many problems.
239.Please account _____ your absence.
240.Please write ____ me as soon as you reach Lahore.
241.Pleasure is accompanied _____ pain in life.
242.Pray _____ God regularly.
243.She burst _____ tears.
244.She has great affection ____ her grand-child.
245.She is married ____ her cousin.
246.She is married ______ her cousin.
247.She tried to tempt the child _____ sweets.
248.She works according _____ the time-table.
249.Sialkot is celebrated _____ sports-material.
250.Some people are highly ambitious _____ fame.
251.Strike hard and trust _____ God.
252.Strike the evil _____ the root.

111

112

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

253.Stronger nations prey _____ upon weaker nations.


254.Students are prohibited _____ smoking.
255.Superficial friendship soon wears _______.
256.Tariq voted _____ his friend.
257.The absentees were exempted ______ fine.
258.The aeroplane compares _____ a flying kite.
259.The bridge gave _____.
260.The cat pounced ____ the rat.
261.The chairman joined _____ the debate.
262.The child insisted ____ going home.
263.The child insisted _______ going home.
264.The clerk was charged _____ accepting bribe.
265.The commissioner presided _____ the meeting.
266.The convict was sent ____ jail.
267.The country suffers for want ____ skilled labour.
268.The culprit was accused _____ theft.
269.The deputation waited _____ the governor.
270.The district of Sialkot is contiguous _____ Gujranwala
271.The entire city is infected ______ cholera.
272.The essay is replete _____ wisdom.
273.The forest is infested _____ robbers.
274.The gas escapes ______ the tube.
275.The guilty will be punished ______ their sins.
276.The house was reduced _____ ashes.
277.The labourers called _____ a strike.
278.The matter was hushed _____.
279.The mother was solicitous _____ her sons welfare.
280.The nation is proud _____ its heroes.
281.The national plunged _____ grief at the death of the Quaid-e-Azam.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

282.The officer inquired ______ the matter.


283.The old woman burst ____ tears.
284.The old woman burst _____ tears.
285.The patient abstains _____ heavy food.
286.The patient is ill _____ typhoid fever.
287.The police could not elicit anything ______ him.
288.The police could not elicit anything ______ him.
289.The police searched _____ the thief.
290.The police was informed ______ the murder.
291.The prince is heir _____ the throne.
292.The prisoner gave _____ the secret.
293.The prize will compensate _____ for hard work.
294.The records have been tampered ______
295.The river abounds _____ fish.
296.The scene is clothed ________ beauty.
297.The servant was accused ____ theft.
298.The son is obedient ____ his father.
299.The son is obedient _____ his parents.
300.The story smells _____ mischief.
301.The strike was called _____.
302.The student acted _____ his teachers advice.
303.The teacher is popular ______ the students.
304.The teacher pointed _____ the blackboard.
305.The tomb is studded _____ jewels.
306.The train arrived ____ 6 oclock.
307.The two brands of tea are distinct _____ each other.
308.The widow was overwhelmed _____ grief.
309.The young man is innocent _____ any experience.
310.There has been no abatement _____ flood-water.

113

114

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

311.They are deprived ____ their rights as citizens.


312.They plotted ______ the government.
313.This book deals ____ questions of political economy.
314.This case was registered prior _____ his appointment.
315.This climate is peculiar _____ the region.
316.This ship is bound ___ Karachi.
317.This water is not fit _____ drinking.
318.Too much familiarity ____ friends breeds contempt
319.Trust ____ God and do the right.
320.Truth triumphs _______ everything.
321.We go _____ college every day.
322.We must not boast ____ our good action.
323.We simply shuddered _____ his tragic death.
324.When I went there he was busy ____ his lesson.
325.You action is prejudicial _____ the college discipline.
326.You are badly enamoured _____ your wife.
327.You are deaf _____ the voice of wisdom.
328.You have bestowed a great honour _____ me by visiting us.
329.You must write ___ ink or ___ a pencil.
330.You never subscribe _____ my view.
331.You should be grateful _____ God.
332.You want ___common sense.
333.You will be accountable _____ me for your rudeness.
334.Your case is similar _____ mine.
335.Your proposal is inconsistent _____ reason.
336.Your remarks always offend ______ good taste.
337.Your speech abounds _____ idioms.
338.Your watch is inferior _____ mine.
339.Zamurrad has great zeal ______ music.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

FIND OUT THE PREPOSITIONAL


ERROR
1.

A Jew entertains a strong prejudice to a Christian?

2.

A master should never impose his servants too much work.

3.

A ruler should act according fixed principles.

4.

A wise student is careful for his books.

5.

A wise teacher dissuades his pupils to read immoral books.

6.

Akram is absorbed with the study of Logic.

7.

Akram is blind about his own interests.

8.

Ali has not taste in chemistry.

9.

Are you connected in this new scheme?

10. Are you convinced regarding this clerks trustworthiness?


11. Are you not ashamed at your companion?
12. Be careful to guard from danger.
13. Bisect the line AB into the point C.
14. By hearing this statement, we were too much surprised.
15. By this document it appears that the witness evidence is false.
16. Can I get a two horse carriage upon the railway station?
17. Did you go in school today?
18. dog plunged in the river and swam to the opposite bank.
19. Every man has sinned to God.
20. Flowers of many kinds grow into this garden.
21. Germany concluded peace to France.
22. He arrived to his conclusion after thoughtful consideration.
23. He brought his both horses in my compound.
24. He cleared the matter before he left is.
25. He finds fault at everything I do.
26. He grieves the loss of his property.

115

116

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

27. He has arrived into England.


28. He is a too modest man to boast his merits.
29. He is jealous from your popularity.
30. He is proud for his own attainments.
31. He keeps envy upon me.
32. He railed at the world from its neglect of his genius.
33. He ran away by seeing a tiger.
34. He readily complied my request.
35. He set on fire to the hayrack, and then made off.
36. He sympathized for me very sincerely.
37. He warned his pupils from listening obscene songs.
38. He was angry against me.
39. He was confined in bed by severe fever.
40. He was deprived from his liberty.
41. He was dismissed for violating against the rules.
42. His knowledge of Sanskrit gives him advantage above me.
43. How can the war be carried successfully?
44. I am amazed by his audacity.
45. I am astonished by his ignorance.
46. I am not aware regarding any change in his circumstance.
47. I am persuaded for the truth of your statement.
48. I assure you that I have no interest upon this matter.
49. I can read this page from the light of the moon.
50. I changed my plan in accordance to your suggestion.
51. I confess my ignorance about many things.
52. I could not approve his conduct.
53. I could not prevail him to accompany with me to Delhi.
54. I do not know why he delayed replying my letter.
55. I felt compelled to dissent with his opinion.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

117

56. I have held this appointment since the last six months.
57. I have not faith upon this mans story.
58. I intend to inform your insolence to your father.
59. I regard his opinion as little in value.
60. I tried to give him wise advice, but he was deaf at my counsels.
61. I warned him about his danger.
62. I will do my very best to please to my master.
63. I will fine eight annas to you.
64. Information was sworn to the magistrate, but he shrank at issuing
any warrant.
65. Is it true that you have a dislike against geometry?
66. It is easy to write well by a good pen.
67. It is outside my power to help you.
68. It is time for you to go on the railway station.
69. It is twelve in my watch.
70. It is very wrong to make persecution upon any one for changing his
religion.
71. John felt certain about his success.
72. Keep this practice inside due bounds.
73. Many new words have been introduced in our language.
74. Marius married to Julia, the sister of Julius Caesar.
75. My brother has gone at Calcutta.
76. My enemies would deprive me from both my liberty and my property.
77. My master readily complied to my request.
78. My neighbours bullock strayed in my rice field.
79. My playmate is offended against me.
80. Never be guilty for impoliteness.
81. Never be neglectful to those who showed you kindness.
82. Never rejoice from anothers misfortune.

118

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

83. Never worship to an idol, for all idolatry is sin.


84. No one has applied the Governor on behalf of this vacant
appointment.
85. On arriving to England, he went at oxford.
86. On reaching China, he went in the interior of the country.
87. One may sob from rage as well as from grief.
88. Permit me, sir, for bringing this before your notice.
89. Persevere in study and never despair for success.
90. Please send your letter on my address in Bombay.
91. Profiting from my friends suggestion, I modified my plan.
92. Results often turn out contrary from ones expectation.
93. She engages herself into her usual household duties.
94. She was quite overcome through emotion.
95. Shoulder this box and carry it in the store.
96. Sir, I have come to apply you for a vacant post.
97. Sir, I have something to ask to you.
98. Such conduct is unworthy for you.
99. The artist took pains on his picture.
100.The captain led an expedition upon his enemies.
101.The caste system is not worthy any ones support.
102.The Chinese are very jealous for the interference of foreigners.
103.The climate of Bombay does not agree to me.
104.The climate of Bombay is not at all agreeable with me.
105.The crown passed in the hands of a foreign prince.
106.The culprit has escaped out of prison.
107.The eldest son will succeed his fathers dukedom.
108.The gentleman alighted out of his carriage.
109.The Germans deprived Strasburg from the French.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

119

110.The Governors visit in Ahmadabad was the occasion of great


rejoicing.
111.The judge decided the case to him.
112.The judge disposed the case at once.
113.The lions roar struck terror to the spectators.
114.The love of a mother on her children is proverbial.
115.The master is beating to the boy.
116.The memory is improved from exercising it.
117.The mourning mother was overwhelmed by grief.
118.The nobles of the kingdom quarrelled by themselves.
119.The prisoner murmurs for the treatment he receives.
120.The professor was much pleased at my essay.
121.The sailor drank water by my cup.
122.The schooner was laden by jute and indigo.
123.The servant lighted to the lamp.
124.The soldier is pleased by his new sword.
125.The thief deprived the poor blind man from all he had.
126.The title of knight was conferred to him.
127.The young prince became attached with the minister.
128.The zenith is a point in the sky directly upon ones head.
129.There are many ways in which a conquered people may be dealt.
130.There were two persons in the room beyond my father.
131.This boy is afraid by a dog.
132.This crime makes a man liable for transportation.
133.This gentleman built a public library by his own expense.
134.This is an old word which has fallen from use.
135.This little fellow has eaten away all the cake.
136.This man has been suffering by ague and dysentery.
137.This man is blind in one eye.

120

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

138.This ox is not accustomed with the yoke.


139.This pupil is attentive at his studies.
140.Water is a chemical compound composed with oxygen and hydrogen.
141.We should thank to God for all His goodness to us.
142.Weeds hinder flowers to grow.
143.What do monkeys feed?
144.What does he feed to his god?
145.When did you write a letter upon your father?
146.When do you intend to go at Bombay?
147.When he reaches to manhood, he will visit to England.
148.Why do you not act according your promise?
149.Why do you prohibit me to speak?
150.Why should he be excluded out of our party?
151.Why should he be indignant from my refusal?
152.Why should you not be content from what you have?
153.You are too fond for making money.
154.You need not boast for your success.
155.You should be alive at your responsibilities.
156.You should have prevented the gardener to do his work.
157.You should not be angry upon me.
158.You will never convince to me that betting is right.
159.Your friend rejoices for your prosperity.
160.Your present views are inconsistent from your speech.
161.Zaid resembles with Bakar.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

121

5
DIRECT AND INDIRECT
NARRATION
MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISES
1.

He says, I am tired.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

2.

He says to me, I am going to the post-office.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

3.

Ali will say, I am a humble man and do not wish to offend anyone.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

4.

He says, The moment I read my fathers letter, I realized my


mistake.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

5.

The guests say to their host, I have really enjoyed my stay at your
house.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

122

6.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

He says, I shall be coming back in a day or two.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

7.

The boy says to the teacher, I shall come tomorrow if you have no
objection.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

8.

The old man says to his sons, I am dying and I wish you to get all
my riches.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

9.

My father said, Pakistan became free in 1947.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

10. The professor said, If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
11. My father said, The Hindus cremate their dead bodies.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
12. He said, During my school days I took a morning walk daily.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
13. The peon said, The principal was not in his office when the visitor
came.
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

123

______________________________________________________________________
14. He explained, I was not briefed on what to do.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
15. She explained, My friends and I am here to help you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
16. She said, My brother and I have heard the news.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
17. He explained, I was too ill to do work regularly.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
18. The student answered, Heat expands, cold contracts.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
19. He said, Good food means good health.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
20. She promised, I will return this book tomorrow.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
21. She said to us, Green vegetables contain vitamins.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

124

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

22. He said, The earth travels round the Sun.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
23. We said to them, you are always welcome.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
24. He said, My name is Robert.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
25. Father said to us I shall be going to Murree to see your uncle.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
26. They said to me You are a clever student.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
27. Life he said, is not a bed of roses.
______________________________________________________________________
28. The postman said to me, I have a letter for you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
29. The soldier said, It will be an honour to die for my country.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
30. The teacher said, The First Battle of Paniput was fought in 1526.
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

125

______________________________________________________________________

126

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

31. Man is mortal and soul is immortal, said the saint.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
32. I said to her, You can ask me a question if your want to.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
33. I said, The library is not open after ten oclock.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
34. The boy said to the teacher, Sir, the last bell has gone.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
35. You said to hi, No, your brother did not come here yesterday.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
36. They said to him Sir, we are very sorry for coming late today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
37. I said to her, These hens were bought by your uncle just today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
38. Hello, Asif he said, You have again come here after two days.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
39. Peter said, I wrote many poems when I was a student.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

127

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
40. He said God-bye my friends.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
41. My father said to me, You had better act on the advice of your
teacher who is your well-wisher at heart.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
42. The father said to his son, You will spoil your career, if you do not
keep the bad boys at an arms length.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
43. The lecturer said to the principal, I shall be highly obliged to you if
you kindly grant me leave for a week.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
44. Yes, mother, said Hamid, I slapped the servant on his face but I
am sorry for that.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
45. They said, No, we do not live in this house.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

128

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

46. She was married last year, said the mother to her neighbour.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
47. The peon said to the lady lecturer, Madam, I forgot to post this letter
yesterday.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
48. She said, I was reading the Holy Quran.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
49. The mouse said to the lion, Sir, I am a poor creature and you are the
king of the forest. If you take pity on me and let me go, I shall be able
to do you a kindness some time or another.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
50. My mother said, I am baking a cake for you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
51. I said to my brother, You have never told me a story.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
52. He said to his father, You have already given me a lot of money.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

129

53. The captain said about you, He is certainly one of the best players.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
54. The old man said, My sons! I am dying and I wish you to get all my
riches.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
55. They said, Our neighbours house is always full of gamblers and
drunkards, because they are the chips of the same block.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
56. She said to him, Well, Sir, my brother has not come to school today,
because he is suffering from fever.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
57. She said to us, Sir, I did not sleep the whole night, because your
dogs were barking at somebody.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
58. He said to me, No, Sir, I did not quarrel with your servant
yesterday.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

130

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

59. Now it is my turn, said he to them, to sit here behind this chair.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
60. Father said to us, Those who dig a pit for others fall into it
themselves.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
61. He said to me, Can you tell me the way to the Railway station?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
62. The beggar said to the rich lady, Will you not pity the suffering of an
old and miserable man and help him with a rupee or two?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
63. The shepherd boy shouted to the villagers, Will you not come and
save me from the jaws of the fierce animals?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
64. The poet said, Will no one tell me what she sings?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
65. The teacher said to us, Do not you know that honesty pays in the
long run?
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

131

______________________________________________________________________
66. The wolf said to the lamb, Did you not make the water muddy last
year?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
67. He said, Can the radio be repaired by tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
68. The passenger asked, Does this bus go to the city?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
69. They asked the landlady, Can we rent a room for a month?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
70. I said, Is there a good restaurant in this town?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
71. The official asked me, Do you have a ticket?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
72. My father asked me, Have you studied your lessons for tomorrow?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
73. He said to you, Will you go to the pictures tonight?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

132

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

74. You said to her, Did you buy these cups and saucers yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
75. They said to us, Were you sleeping in this house yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
76. The headmaster said, Who has broken this window-pane?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
77. The lamb said to the wolf, Sir, how can I make the water muddy
when it is flowing down to me from you?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
78. The woman said to Buddha, Whom do you consider to be the happiest
man on the earth?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
79. I said to him, What do you mean by this? Are you trying to defraud
me?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
80. Do you really come from America? How do you feel in Pakistan? said I
to the stranger.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

133

______________________________________________________________________
81. He said to you, How far is Multan form Lahore?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
82. They asked us, How far is it to the museum?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
83. They asked, Who has written that beautiful poem?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
84. She said to us, Where were you going yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
85. The doctor said to me, Why did you not take this medicine
yesterday?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
86. I said to Amir, How have you got a good gardener to look after your
roses?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
87. The principal said to me, How many brothers have you?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
88. He said to his teacher, Sir, kindly excuse me now.
______________________________________________________________________

134

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

______________________________________________________________________
89. The officer said to the peon, Come in time otherwise you will be
turned out.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
90. The doctor said to the patient, Do not take eggs and sweets.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
91. He said to me, Do not try to teach me my business.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
92. My father said to me, Beware of the fair-weather friends.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
93. The accused said to the judge, Pardon me this time.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
94. The mother said to her daughter, Do your best and leave the rest to
God.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
95. The wise-man said, Let by-gones be by-gones, bury the hatchet and
be friends again.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
96. She said to me, Go home and bring my brother.

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

135

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
97. You go off to bed, said her mother, and do not get up till I call
you.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
98. The watch-marker said to the customer, Do not try to threaten me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
99. The instructor said to her, Do not drive so fast.
______________________________________________________________________
100.He said to his brother, Be at home before lunch.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
101.The old woman said to the young man, Help me with this heavy
box.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
102.He said to me, Please lend me your bicycle.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
103.The master said to the servant, Hang this coat on the peg.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
104.He said to his servant, Blow out the candle and go to your bed.
______________________________________________________________________

136

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

137

105. The doctor said to patient, Do not eat stale bread because you will not
be able to digest it.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
106.The teacher said to the students, Open your books at page twenty.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
107.I said to them, Come to dinner tonight.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
108.The said to me, Dont threaten me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
109.He said to his boss, Please give a day off.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
110.I said to my classmate, Lend me your book for today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
111.The engineer said to me, Dont use those steps very often.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
112.She said to him, Give me your advice.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

138

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

113.I said to her, Dont be so sure.


______________________________________________________________________
114.He said to his son Dont use bad words.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
115.The farmer said to the boy, Get me those sheep.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
116.The host said to the guest, Please feel at home.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
117.The officer said to his soldiers, Attack now.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
118.The teacher said to us, Pay attention in class.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
119.The chief said to his men, Stand straight.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
120.The little boy said to them, Please dont hit me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

139

121.I said to the committee, Allow me to stay here.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
122.The director said to the group, Do not smoke here.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
123.The girl said to the stranger, Please dont hurt me.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
124. My father said to my uncle, Let us start a new business with our joint
capital but he declined.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
125.He said, Let me do my duty.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
126.He said to me, Let us knock at his door.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
127.The teacher said to me, Do not let the boys pass through the
corridor.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
128.He said to his servant, Let the guests come in.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

140

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

129.The saint said to me, Good boy, gain knowledge and wisdom.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
130.The slave said, Would that I were a free man.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
131.We said, May the police arrest the thieves.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
132.The teacher said to the students, Would that I were on leave today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
133. People said, Would that the Quaid-i-Azam were alive these days to see
the fate of Pakistan.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
134.The beggar said to me, May you go to hell.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
135.I said to her, May you succeed in life.
______________________________________________________________________
136.The old woman said to her son, May you return home safe and
sound.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

141

137.All the people said, May her soul rest in peace.


______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
138. May God bless you with prosperity said the beggar.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
139.He said, Oh that I were born a king.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
140.We said to him, Would that you were with us during our visit to
Swat.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
141.You said, Would that I were at home today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
142.The teacher said to me, May you all have a nice holiday! You
deserve it.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
143.The mother said, May you prosper because you have been helpful to
the needy.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
144.The children said, May our school be closed tomorrow for a week.
______________________________________________________________________

142

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

______________________________________________________________________
145.They said, Would that we had attended the funeral of the
deceased.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
146.They said with great repentance, Would that we had stood by our
friends through thick and thin.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
147.The hunter said, Would that I had shot down many birds today.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
148.The wretched and miserable man said, Would that I were never born
in this world.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
149.The old lady said to them, Would that I were rich enough to help you
in your distress.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
150.She said, Aha! My father is taking me to Murree tomorrow.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
151.We said, Bravo! Asif, you have played very well.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

143

152.The widow said, Alas! My only son has been killed in the war.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
153.He said, Ha! My brother has been run over by a Tonga.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
154.He said, What a beautiful horse I have bought!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
155.She said to her mother, How lucky you are to win this prize!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
156.He said, What a pitiable condition I am in!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
157.You said, What a beautiful bird it is!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
158.He said, What a pretty flower it is!
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
159.He said, Alas! My son has failed.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
160.Rashid Said, Hurrah! I have got the first prize.

144

Handy Notes of The Art of Essays-Writing

______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
161.The merchant said to his friend, Alas! I have been reduced to
poverty.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
162.The old man said, Alas! I have been wasting my life.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
163.The teacher said to us, Hurrah! Our result has been excellent.
______________________________________________________________________
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164.She said, Alas! All my hopes have dashed to the ground.
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165.My dear lord, answered the accused do you really think that I steal
for pleasure? I hate stealing. But I must eat. I must mix in society.
Man is not a solitary animal. Tell me, my lord, how to do this.
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166.Comrades. He said, listen to me, for though I often talk nonsense.


I can talk sound sense whenever I choose. Fortune has sent us this
treasure so that we may lead a life of ease and we will spend it as
lightly as we have come by it. Who could have guessed when we set
out to-day that we should come by so fair a fortune!
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167.Indeed, son, replied the mother seriously. I cannot help telling you
that you have quite forgotten yourself. Besides, if you really mean to
put this resolution of yours into execution, I do not see whom you can
get to venture to propose it for you. You yourself. He replied
immediately. I go to the Sultan, answered his mother amazed. I
shall take care how I meddle in such an affair. Why, who are you,
son, continued she, that you can have the assurance to think of
your Sultans daughter?
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168.I wish I were a kings son, cried a poor boy as he sat on straw in his
wretched home. Why do you wish that, my boy? asked the teacher

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who had entered unobserved. Why, sir, I was standing by the palace
gate this morning to see all the grand folk going to court splendidly
dressed in fine carriages. I thought how happy they must be to be
allowed to see the queen and to enter the beautiful palace! What
would you think if I told you that you might be the kings son, if you
chose, this very moment? asked the teacher.
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6
THE ART

OF

ESSAYS-WRITING

BEAUTIES OF NATURE
The vast lap of Nature is replete with infinite sights of beauty which
satisfy the aesthetic taste and the deepest emotions of man. Beauty of
Nature is an imperishable artistry of God which undoubtedly mirrors His
image. Physical beauty declines and deteriorates, it is within the impact of
relentless time; but "a thing of beauty is a joy forever, its loveliness
increases, it will never pass into nothingness." Beauty of Nature is a divine
treasure that never comes to an end. Successive seasons have different
phases of beauty. If spring has its own charms and attractions, autumn
has its own sombre and dismal beauty.
The beauties of Nature are not only endless but also countless.
Nature presents this vast panorama of beauties to bedeck the fair face of
earth. The beauties of Nature are found in small objects as well as in
panoramic scenes. A person who has aesthetic sense will always be
inspired by the fascinating scenes of Nature. The red glare of the rising
sun, the fading twilight of the parting sun, the silvery beams of the moon,
the fleecy floating clouds, the twinkling and glittering stars; the sounding
cataracts, heaven-kissing snow-capped mountains; winding rivers flowing
serenely, the tranquil blue lakes; old shady trees; the meadows and
pastures filled with infinite variety of flowers are the beauties of Nature If
observed by human eye, they not only captivate human soul but also
haunt the mind in pensive solitudes.
The poets and philosophers have vied with each other in describing
the beauties of Nature. Different aspects of Nature have appealed to
different poets. Wordsworth's heart leaped up with joy when he saw a

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rainbow in the sky or the golden daffodils growing by the side of a lake
and tossing their heads in sprightly dance. This sight of beauty so
possesses the mind of the poet that it becomes the bliss of solitude.
Byron liked the solitary grandeur of the mountains and the majesty of the
deep blue ocean. Shelley liked the fleeting clouds and the ever-changing
waters. To Keats, "a thing of beauty was a joy forever." He loved the
beauty of forests and fields, of flowers and sky and sea. There is not a
mood of earth he did not love, not a season that did not cheer and inspire
him.
Nature possesses endless variety and one does not know what to
admire and what to reject. To men like Wordsworth "beauteous forms
appareled in celestial light," sounding cataracts; and majestic mountains
appear charming; others are delighter by the flowers. Some like the sweet
music of the murmuring brook, but others like the gentle breeze laden
with the fragrance of flowers. The mighty tempests, the aimlessly
wandering clouds, rainfall, thunder and lightning please some, the
tenderness, softness, richness, and delicacy, of moonlight others. To some
sunrise is a glorious spectacle while the fading twilight of the parting sun
is the joy for others. Such are the intuitive charms of Nature, that the
growing cupidity of man for industrialism cannot dull, their eternal
attractiveness nor the relentless time withers their beauty.
Who does not like the green fields waving under the air of heaven,
the bowers of innocence and ease, cool and refreshing, the beautiful
blooming flowers of different hues fluttering and dancing in the breeze,
the shady haunts and the majestic trees spreading their branches to the
sky. What a world of joy and beauty lies before us where the cares and
worries, sorrows and anxieties of the world cannot torment us. Hills and
dales, fields and rivers, mountains and cataracts, fruits and flowers all are
delightful spring clothes.
Nature in green, autumn changes it to yellow and gold, while winter
leaves the branches leafless. There are the dulcet songs of the birds.
There is the melodious song of the lark, the double cry of the cuckoo, the
plaintive song of the nightingale, the cooing of the doves, and the chirping
of the sparrows.

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A delectable panorama and succession of beauties of Nature comes


before us if we visit the Northern parts of Pakistan. One feels as if one has
entered into a paradise on earth. The grandeur and splendour of
mountains reflect the glory of God. Mysterious silence, secluded places
laden with flower-bearing bushes, whispering streams, gushing springs of
water, lofty trees growing on the precipitous slopes of hills, the bending
flowers, the unending carpet of green grass all contribute to augment the
beauties of Nature.
Nature provides us an escape from the miseries of the world. This
realm of beauty provides us a balmy asylum that takes us away from the
world "where men sit and hear each other groan
where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin and dies
where but to think is to be, full of sorrows."

THE COUNTRY IN SPRING


Spring is the sweetest and most pleasant season of the year. It is a
season full of freshness and gaiety, charm and beauty, delight and mellow
fruitfulness. Spring brings before our eyes the things unknown, glories
undreamt of and beauties of heaven and earth hitherto unfelt. The glories
of the rising and the setting sun, the woods, gardens and trees alive with
the songs of the birds, the air full of scent, the murmur of insects,
butterflies with their painted wings hovering from flower to flower, all
these things fill us with exquisite delight ineffable peace. The sights and
sounds of Nature, the solitary hills, the high-sounding waterfalls, the tall
and majestic cliffs, the grandeur of the sky, the bleating of the mountain
sheep, the rushing of the winds, the valleys with falling rain, and the
cattle grazing all these things have a subtle and deep influence on us.
Nature is bathed in radiant light. The cuckoo the messenger of spring
delights the hearts of the people with its melodious notes.
A man remains happy in such a jocund company. The birds singing a
joyous songs, the young lambs in the fields, fragrance of flowers wafted
by the gentle breeze, the fluttering of the gauzy wings of butterflies, the
different colours of rainbow, the infant blossoms on the boughs of fruit
trees, all seem to transport us into a different world altogether. With the

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newly born Time, we feel that we are face to face with the Divine power
and realise the Holy Spirit pervading the whole atmosphere.
The spring comes in country with countless beauties in its wake. Its
arrival in big cities is manifested in colourful flowers, blooming gardens
and refreshing greenery. But the country in spring presents such beautiful
sights as are hardly seen in cities. At the end of February, the fields are
alive with greenery, the trees blossom and the whole surface of the earth
seems to be wrapped in colourful cloak as if it has been touched by the
wand of a mysterious magician.
The country people are not devoid of aesthetic sense. When the
hoary frost that benumbs the earth disappears and the earth reawakens
from its deep slumber, they anxiously await the moment when their eyes
would be entertained by the blossoms on all sides. A cursory glance at the
waving green stalks of crops brings smile to their lips and lustre in their
eyes. It gives them a rare pleasure and satisfaction which they
experience. The beauty of the present is mingled with the hopes of the
future. As the farmers gaze at the fields they feel a sense of pride and joy.
There before them is the reward of their labours. The stalks, which but six
months ago had been green, are now clustered with grain and are ready
for the farmer's blade. Even a stranger from the city cannot withhold his
admiration for the wide-spread dark-green fields with plain beautiful
surface.
People living in cities might think that this natural beauty is no match
to that of the cities. Here are many kinds of flowers with peculiar smells
and different colours. No doubt the flowers grown in gardens and park add
beauty to the dull and drab cities and arouse feelings of wonder and
admiration in us but when we see the natural beauty of shrubs and
thickets with flowers blossoming without cut and clip we are unable to
withhold our admiration. The blossom of mango trees with their unripe
fruits, clad in one green hue, have beauty of their own. The blossoming
trees of "shisham and pipal" with their thick foliage present the
atmosphere of a fairyland. Does it not give us an uncommon experience
of delightful wonder?
When the country is so clad in colourful garb, the birds further add to
its beauty. Before dawn, the continual cooing of a cuckoo coming from a

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hard by garden, is no less attractive. Flocks of birds perch on the sweetsmelling boughs of the trees and they seem to be fully enjoying the
festivities of spring.
The animating spirit of spring is a beneficent spirit. It creates life and
beauty. Before its advent, there is not much attraction in the countryside.
The fields and the trees look dismal and sad. But when it arrives with its
magic wand, it gives the country a new alluring look, a look that is
uncommonly charming. It becomes a harbinger of happiness, messenger
of life and a herald of prosperity for those who live in the country.
It was not foolish of the poets and the birds to sing of the country in
spring. They were attracted and impressed with the simple grandeur and
pure beauty of the country and could not restrain from singing its songs.
The words cannot communicate the experienced pleasure of look at the
country in spring. Its fascinating joys and dizzy raptures can be felt and
experienced and not to be talked about

THE PLEASURES OF COLLEGE


LIFE
If we ask a student about the best period of his life, he will certainly
say that it is a college life. College life has its own attractions. It has its
own charms and pleasures. A student's life in a college is very enviable
because it is free from cares and anxieties. In fact, college life is full of
"fun and jollity, mirth and laughter."
There is a great difference between the college and school life. A
school boy is at the mercy of others, gets up at regular hours, goes to
school regularly, prepares his lessons every day, is rebuked and punished
by the teachers for his mistakes and faults, but a college student is the
master of his own will. He may attend the class or nobody is there to scold
and rebuke him. He may commit faults and nobody is there to take any
action against him. Here there is quite a different atmosphere from that of
the school. The professors treat the students like their friends and talk to
them in the friendliest manner but the teachers in the school regard the
students as mere inexperienced boys, treat them with an iron hand and
always address them in strict tone

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The student enjoys a perfect spirit of freedom in a college. There is


no check on his freedom of movement. He can go to any place of
entertainment or recreation. He is not accountable to anybody. He does
not act in obedience to the commands of others. He is the master of his
own time and regulates it according to his own sweet will. He may beguile
and squander his precious time in idle gossips, in useless chats, in futile
trifles; nobody is to restrain him. He may absent himself from college
without fear of reproach or punishment. He may lead his life like a
prodigal son, he has no rod to fear and no physical punishment to
undergo. In the school he had to observe discipline, he had to remain
under the vigilant eyes of his parents, but here in the college, he is as free
as the birds of the air. This feeling of freedom that a young man feels
when he enters the college keeps him festive and gives him a sense of joy
and pride.
Not only do we enjoy physical freedom but we also have intellectual
freedom. A new vista of life, a new psalm of thoughts and a new avenue
of ideals opens before us and we live in a wider circle of intellectual
atmosphere. The period of spoon-feeding comes to an end and we
determine our own destinations. We do not accept the words of others as
Gospel truths. We are free to criticise the opinions of others and hold our
own views. Textbooks are not our only concern but we read other books
which expand the bounds of our knowledge, enlarge our mental horizon,
widen our sympathies and broaden our outlook. It is perfectly true to say
"there is no knowledge without college."
Besides these, college life affords us many chances for developing
our social relationship. Friendships formed in busy college days sometimes
last throughout our lives. Knowledge about 'the pleasant and unpleasant
aspects of life create a soft corner in our heart. We feel spiritual pleasure
in nursing the sick and the wounded. We take delight in rescuing a
helpless person from the clutches of tyrants, in feeding a famished person
and in serving the poor and the needy. We are not weighed down under
the heavy load of misfortunes but feel vigour, vitality and a pulsating life
in our limbs.

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MY FIRST DAY AT COLLEGE


As I look back to-day over the colourful passage of my college life,
what flashes first in my mind is the first day at college. I can recollect
every one of its varied memories and experiences as vividly as if they had
happened only yesterday.
Unlike many others, I approached the day after a good deal of
craving and preparation. It was a sunny Monday. I hurried through my
breakfast, put on a new suit of clothes and set out for the college with
only one exercise book which I knew to be a custom of college students.
But as soon as the stately college building came in sight, my courage
began to fail. As I passed through the massive gate and was walking up
the majestic flight of stairs leading to the first floor, I could clearly hear
the beats of my fluttering heart. With trembling legs, I entered into the
lecture hall, crowded all over with about one hundred and fifty students. I
cast a glance around the hall and discovered a couple of known faces.
One of them an old class mate called me by my name. This dispelled my
nervousness considerably. I replied to his greeting with a laboured smile,
went along and took my seat by him. For the first time he appeared so
dear to me though in the school we had never been very close.
Shortly afterwards the commencing bell rang. It was a class on
English. A middle-aged Professor came a few minutes after. He was
wearing a sombre face. We stood in his honour and he returned it with an
indifferent nod. Then he opened the register and called over the rolls with
the names, eyeing over every boy as he responded. The Professor
delivered an address in stiff English not on anything relating to the subject
but on the relation between the teacher and the taught, on their mutual
rights and obligations.
Our next class was to be held downstairs. As soon as the Professor of
English left, almost all of us at once made for the doorway, which was
already crowded around by another group of students who were to come
in. A push-and-elbow contest ensued-we trying to get out and they
wrestling to get in. It was an interesting sight and looked very much like a
scuffle. It was now a class on Civics. Soon the Professor appeared at the
door, putting on a smile which broadened into a grin as we stood up in his

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honour. With an easy but impressive gait, he moved up to the dais, placed
the register on the table and opened a chat, asking this boy his name,
that boy his address and enquiring about a lot of other things. The period
thus rolled by and towards the close he took the roll call.
This class was followed by two off-periods and the general recess. My
friend and I, therefore, went to the common room. It was packed to
capacity. I met a few familiar faces and exchanged smiles with them. The
common room was very noisy and there was no room for us to sit. So we
moved out through the opposite door and found the college canteen to
the left. We went in but found it no less crowded. Here also was the same
noise and debate.
I went to the library and received there the greatest joy and
amazement of the day. It consisted of two big rooms, packed up with rows
of almirahs and shelves, containing an incalculable number of books on
various subjects. To me the library appeared to be an ocean of books,
whose countless waves can only be wondered at and never fully admired.
I had no mind nor any mood to attend any further class though two
more were to be held in the last periods. Having, therefore, taken leave of
my friend I started home back. On my way home, I fell into a reverie, and
began to recapitulate the lessons and experiences of the day. I found
nothing to doubt that the college meant a definite change-over from a life
of spoon feeding to one of independence. But I found at the same time
that the freedom was not absolute, that it was conditioned at every step
by the shadow of responsibilities and that an improper use of the freedom
might well lead to self-destruction. In my boyish imagination I fancied the
college to be a domain of liberty and learning. On the very first day I
found the college life burdened with responsibilities which is the price to
be paid for its liberties. And throughout these years of study in it, I have
found that the scale of responsibility is much heavier than that of
freedom.

COLLEGE MAGAZINES AND THEIR


USES

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155

Most colleges have their own magazines, edited by one of the


students or a member of the staff, and made up of articles written mainly
by the students themselves. They may be good, bad or indifferent; but a
good college magazine may serve several useful purposes.
First, a college magazine encourages the students to practise writing,
by affording opportunities to budding authors to see their compositions
printed. A young man who will take little interest in doing a set of
composition exercises in class, will put forth his best efforts when he
knows that his composition will appear in print It gives him a real thrill to
see something that he has written appearing as an article in a printed
magazine. To bring forth the best efforts, prizes are sometimes offered for
the best articles.
Next, a college magazine, well edited, helps to foster what is called
esprit de corps, or college patriotism. It can be made to help the college
students to realize that they are a united body, however diverse may be
their individual tastes and occupations. It should, moreover, teach them to
be proud of their college, loyal to its best interests, and anxious to uphold
its best traditions.
The college magazine, further, may serve as a link between the
present students and "the old boys", and help to keep the latter in touch
with their old college. As former students read the college news month by
month, they will feel again something of the old pride in the place where
they got their education and their interest in it will be maintained.
Sometimes it has been the college magazine that has led to the starting
of an "old boys' association", which gives monetary help to the college. If
a college has no magazine, these "old boys", scattered about the country
and absorbed in their own occupations, are liable to forget their college,
and lose interest in its welfare.
To serve all these useful purposes well, a college magazine must be
carefully edited. Too often such magazines do more harm than good, or
are at best very poor productions, simply because the editor does not take
his work seriously. The editor should raise the standard of the magazine
by refusing all badly written contributions, and any that are silly, in bad
taste, or objectionable on other grounds. Better no magazine at all than a
worthless and silly production.

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THE HORRORS OF WAR


As the world has seen the destruction and devastation caused by the
two World Wars, the very horrors of war shake the nerves of modern men.
War brings unemployment, spread of diseases and crimes and untold
sufferings not only for the present generation but also for the coming
posterity. They launch a strong protest against war, raise slogans against
war and compel the rulers to desist from war. Men know that history of
mankind is replete with heinous crimes committed in the name of war.
History of mankind is nothing but a pathetic story of perpetual
sorrows, a heart-rending tale of plunder and repine, a dismal odyssey of
destruction and carnage, a sorrowful saga of waste and horror. The warlords, while unchaining the dogs of war, cause general massacre on the
battle-field, killing the innocent souls without rhyme and reason and thus
add a chapter of triumphant victory in the history of their life.
We know that war de-humanise human beings. Instead of creating
feelings of mercy and compassion, it rouses and awakens the dormant
beast in man. It creates barbaric darkness in the minds of the soldiers,
who, disregarding all the human values, wade through blood and
slaughter simply because of the reason that the coming generation may
remember him as a great hero. Innocent persons are being duped and
allured to perpetrate abominable crimes to satisfy the unbridled ambitions
of the warmongers. There are war-lords in the world who are busy day in
and day out in inducing men to wage war and slaughter innocent
humanity.
War is a tomfoolery of political lunatics in the name of a country's
glory. It is a beastly business full of bloody and despotic policies. It is
accompanied by loss of life, pain and agony, deaths and calamities.
Smiling and virgin fields are ravaged, historical monuments are destroyed,
holy places and shrines of saints are damaged, art-galleries are razed to
the ground, big cities are levelled to the ground and institutions and
treasures of knowledge are changed into heaps of debris. It generally
sweeps away the strongest and leaves the aged, the weak, the disabled
and crippled to breed the next generation. Just imagine the sorrows and
sufferings it causes to those whom it does not kill. Just feel the throes of

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separation of the departed souls whose better memories often haunt the
mind in pensive solitudes. It wastes a nation's wealth and hampers its
pace of progress. It turns back the speeding wheel of civilization. It calls
into play the fierce and animal instinct of man and sets his worst passions
loose.
War is fit for beasts and not for human beings. Just imagine of what
happens on the battlefield! The ground is covered with pools of human
blood. Wherever we go, we hear the cries and groans of the dying
persons. The battlefield is littered with dead bodies, foul smell, fragments
of human flesh. Desertion and dread prevails everywhere. It appears as if
we had entered into a spectral domain where death dances, demons sing
melancholy songs and vultures hover in quest of human flesh. What a
dreadful sight! What a gloomy and dismal spectacle!
We hear the thunder of booming guns, the whistling of bullets and
the blasting and exploding of bombs. We suffer privation, discomfort and
death. Can there be anything more hideous than this? Martin Luther says,
"War is one of the greatest plagues that can afflict humanity. It destroys
religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge, in fact, is
preferable to it. Famine and pestilence are nothing in comparison to it."
There are those who praise war on the ground that without war and
bloodshed a nation decays and loses its manhood, courage and sense of
bravery. They hold the opinion that in the times of peace men become
slaves to slothfulness and resort to love of ease and selfishness. They
further hold that it brings out in marked degree the qualities of heroism,
patience endurance and faithfulness in a nation. But our practical
experience contradicts this view. To call war the soil of courage and virtue
is like calling debauchery the soil of love. To let loose the dogs of war in
the name of glory, to bathe a country in blood, to jeopardize a nation's
wealth, is a terrible responsibility.

ATOMIC ENERGY
The discovery of Atomic Energy is one of the greatest scientific
discoveries of the present age. We may use it for destructive or
constructive purposes. If we use it for the settlement of our disputes it will

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obliterate the traces of humanity from the earth. If we are sensible in its
use, it will bring in prosperity for the suffering and ailing humanity. In the
constructive sphere, the atomic energy can work miracles.
The use of atomic energy for medical purposes can cure those
diseases which were once considered incurable. Radium can be used in
the destruction of abnormal tissues and cancer. Radio-therapy is an
important branch of medical science. Superfluous cells destroyed once for
all. The isotopes of sodium, potassium, bromine and iodine will go a long
way in tracing the origin and cause of many diseases. This saves man
from the cruel clutches of a slow and painful death. In this way, the atomic
energy has alleviated human sufferings. Medicine and surgery owe a deep
debt of gratitude to scientists who discovered the secrets of Atomic
Energy.
In the sphere of industry also, the atomic energy is going to play a
very important role. Coal and petrol supply of the world is being gradually
exhausted. The time is not far when they may not be available. Without
them electric current cannot be produced. Now atomic energy may be
used in the generation of electric current. Factories will get abundant
quality of electricity to produce things on a large scale. In U.S.A., a large
number of big and small firms are harnessing atomic energy for securing
cheap production. Electronic machines and computers are being used in
the process of metal working, mineral processing, machine designs, glass
making, textile manufacture, plastic and paper processing, electrical
equipments, rubber and cement.
In the field of agriculture, atomic energy will be of great help to the
farmers. Atomic explosions can level the hills and mounds. The land so
made available can be used for the cultivation of crops. Crops can be
ripened within a shorter period with the help of atomic energy. The yield
of grain per acre can be doubled the original one. Moreover, atomic
energy can prevent the pests of harmful bacteria. In this way food
problem can be solved.
We come to the use of atomic energy for transport purposes. With
the help of atomic energy, the means of communication can be made
swifter and more reliable than at present. Trains, cars, trucks, ships,
submarines aeroplanes, missiles and rockets can all be worked by atomic

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energy. Thanks to the power of Atom, the scientists are planning voyages
to the moon. Soon inter-planetary voyages will become a reality in near
future.

MY AIM IN LIFE
An aim is the greatest motivating force that determines the course of
one's life. Life without impetus and incentive is like a sandy desert where
no flower blooms. It is the guiding principle of life that gives us inspiration
and urges us to head towards our destination or goal of life. Greatness
and success in life are not like windfalls, they are achieved through honest
labour and perfect devotion to one's ideal. Shakespeare says, that "Some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust
upon them." The common man certainly belongs to the second category
Man himself is the maker of his destiny and the architect of his own life. It
has been rightly said by Bacon that "The mould of a man's fortune is in his
own hands". When a man does not know what harbour he is making for,
no wind is the right wind.
Some want to be civil and military officers, others want to be
engineers and doctors. Some want to be lawyers; other to be politicians
and rulers. Some cherish ambition to be world-renowned poets and
artists; other to be novelists. All that suits to the capabilities, aptitudes of
a man is the best aim for him.
The greatest aim of my life is to be an intellectual teacher. I know
that teaching profession is not so lucrative. Teachers are poorly-paid in the
under-developed countries. But just consider that the best people in the
world are those who impart knowledge to others, who give enlightenment
others, who launch a crusade against ignorance and who are the makers
of a nation's destiny. To me this profession is the only profession through
which a man can serve the ignorant humanity in the best possible
manner. Educating the existing generation is, as a matter of fact, paving
the way to success and prosperity for the succeeding posterity. Engineers
may construct palatial buildings, metalled roads, colossal dams doctors
may serve the ailing humanity and alleviate the pains of the wounded
persons; civil and military officers may feel proud of their successful

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policies and deeds of bravery but they cannot bring about a miraculous
change in the minds and hearts of the people. A teacher is like a lamp
spreading light that shows the path to those who are sauntering aimlessly
in the pitch darkness of ignorance. A teacher is like a ladder which
remains at the same place, but helps others to ascend higher and higher.
So instead of undertaking a technical calling, it is better to be an
engineer-maker, doctor-maker, an officer-maker. It is said that the hand
that rocks the cradle rules the world. Similarly the brain that produces
genius and intellectuals, administrators and rulers, patriots and soldiers,
also rules the hearts and minds of the people. Great teachers have always
achieved an immortal niche in the temple of fame. Aristotle Socrates and
Plato were the greatest teachers of their times. Their ideas, doctrines and
works have deeply influenced every sphere of life and people are still
deriving inspiration and light out of their works.
Realization of such a noble ambition demands perfect devotion,
perpetual labour, and a constant work to glean and gather lofty ideas of
the greatest literary artists of the world. I cherish sanguine hope produce
such men as could leave behind indelible marks on the sands of time, as
could become a beacon of light for others, as could render great service to
the coming generation. Whatever others think of my aim, I am satisfied
that this aim suits perfectly to my taste and disposition. Deviation and
digression would result in nothing but harm and confusion of my mind.

LIFE IN A BIG CITY


Life in villages and small towns crawls slowly but in big cities it
moves rapidly. It is not simple as in villages. It is complex and full of
manifold problems, both of personal and impersonal interest. A man living
in a big city has a busy life full of competition and activity. He cannot
afford to be lazy or idle. Similarly, he can hardly remain ignorant. Unlike
his brethren in the villages, he is always in a hurry doing many jobs
punctually. It all happens because life in big cities moves fast and does
not allow us to be lazy or idle.
Those who live in big cities have a strong desire to have as many
comforts as they can. The Municipal Committees or Corporations provide

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all modern amenities which make life of the people comfortable and
pleasant. Parks and play-grounds attract people of all ages. People work
all the day long and need entertainment for relaxation. They can go to
cinema or a hotel. Occasionally cultural shows are arranged by some
organizations which provide valuable recreation. Music concerts and
Mushairas attract other people.
In big cities, every man keeps himself well-informed on local, national
and international problems. Newspapers and magazines are published and
are within easy reach of every citizen. Radio is another source of
information and entertainment. It broadcasts news, music, speeches, etc.
Moreover, one lives among the educated people who daily discuss
points of common interest. The exchange of views is another source of
information.
The big cities are full of political activities. Before and after elections,
there is much enthusiasm among the people which keeps the public life
alive. People living in big cities play key role in the political life of a
country and affect deeply the policies of the government. This is a role
which their brethren in the rural areas are ignorant of. The same vigilance
appears in the social life of the cities. In the economic sphere there is
much competition. It is a source of inspiration, worries and cares behind
all progress and development. But the common experience is that
inhabitants of the cities are victims of unusual strain and worries. Their life
is full of hurry and noise and add to their mental burden. On the contrary,
a man living in a village follows a straight course in life. His needs are
simple for which he never exerts himself very much. Life in big cities
causes complex problems of transport, traffic, dearness, shortage of
supplies etc. The daily life of the people may be made wretched by big
Business. The black marketeers and profiteers control the prices of things
of daily use by creating artificial shortage. This practice is very frequently
repeated every year. Apart from this, the life of the people living in big
cities is so much dependent upon modern mechanical devices that he is
at the mercy of forces beyond his control.
It should not be understood that life in big cities is full of worries and
has no charm. It is only the people of big cities who enjoy comforts and

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luxuries that modern life provides. Big cities are centres of national culture
and serve as standards for the whole country.

QUAID-I-AZAM MOHAMMAD ALI


JINNAH
Mohammad All Jinnah popularly known as Quaid-i-Azam, was born in
Karachi in the year 1876. He had his early education at Bombay and
Karachi and passed his Matriculation at the age of sixteen. From his early
childhood, Jinnah had displayed sign of keen shrewdness, unparalleled
ability and super intelligence. His father had discerned in him the making
of a great man. Jinnah was therefore sent to England to study law. He
devoted himself to his studies there with a singleness of purpose and, as a
result, was called to the bar in 1896.
On his return to India he started his career as a lawyer and won a
name. Jinnah had a natural inclination toward politics. Congress was then
the only political party which represented the aspirations of the Indian
people against the highhandedness of the British Raj. Jinnah
unhesitatingly joined that and served it most selflessly and sincerely for
quite a number of years. In 1906, when it dawned upon the Muslims of
India that the Congress organisation worked against their interests, they
set up a parallel organisation called the Muslim League. Jinnah became a
member of the Muslim League, too, but his best efforts were directed
towards bringing about reconciliation between the Muslims and the
Hindus. His effort in this regard, however, proved in vain.
Jinnah therefore forgot all about Hindu-Muslim unity in this political
field and organized the Muslims on one platform of the Muslim League.
Under the inspired leadership of Jinnah, the Muslim launched a
political struggle to liberate themselves from the political bondage of the
English and the economic thralldom of the Hindus. The leader of the
nation performed heavy responsibilities, faced critical problems and risked
perils and hazards. He always had a singleness of purpose before him. He
worked untiringly and exposed himself to wind and rain as he toured the
sub-continent to awaken the political consciousness of the people. Jinnah
deserves to be classed among the charismatic leaders because of his

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unprecedented political insight, strength of character and indomitable


courage and fortitude. Even at the cost of increasing work and failing
health, he translated the demand for Pakistan into a heroic chapter of
human history, gave him a gift of bewitching oratory which opened new
vistas for the nation heading towards her final destination. He used this
weapon of oratory to frustrate the evil designs of his political rivals. It was
his matchless political insight that won Pakistan for the Muslims.
Ultimately the demand for partition was accepted by the British
Government in 1947. On August 14, 1947, the establishment of Pakistan
took place. It was sad that the Quaid-e-Azam's proposal for transfer of
population was not given due consideration in time. The result was that
migrants particularly the Muslims suffered heavy losses in life, property
and money.
On the establishment of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam was appointed its
first Governor-General. He devoted himself most selflessly to the task of
strengthening Pakistan. He worked day and night in old age and did not
care for his health. This overwork shattered his nerves and health and he
developed consumption. It was on September 11, 1948, that he died at
Ziarat and was buried in Karachi. In him, not only the Muslims of Pakistan
but of the entire world, lost a unique , sincere and a beloved leader. It
would perhaps appear improper if we say that history would remember
this personality because in fact Quaid-e-Azam himself made history.

SIR MUHAMMAD IQBAL


Sir Muhammad Iqbal, our national poet, was born of pious parents in
the year 1877, in the city of Sialkot in the Punjab. His forefathers were
Kashmiri Brahmins. From early in life Iqbal had English education like his
elder brother. This was an unusual thing for a Muslim boy at that time. He
came out first in every school examination and obtained scholarships in
the Primary, Middle and Entrance Examinations. His college career also
was as bright as his school career. He passed his B.A. and M.A.

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examinations with high distinction and won gold medals in each.


Immediately after obtaining degrees he joined a college as professor.
Iqbal set off for Europe in 1905 to give the finishing touch to his
education. He obtained his M.A. in philosophy from the Cambridge
University. In London he held discussions with many scholars of repute
and delivered six lectures on Islam which were very much appreciated. He
came back from Europe in 1908 as a Bar-at-law and with a doctorate of
the Munich University in Germany.
He took up his duty again as professor but gave up that post in 1911.
Thereafter he earned his livelihood by occasional legal practice. He fought
all his life for the ideas he cherished. He was a poet of fine feeling and one
of the greatest masters of language. Those who knew him in his life time
found in him an interesting combination of East and West. He was a lover
of the good old ways in his dress and habits. Still he was well-read in
western literature and kept abreast of the latest ideas in science, politics
and social progress.
Iqbal had a wider field of activities and more opportunities for literary
pursuits at Lahore. He wrote profusely and published some of his famous
Urdu poems here. He led a strictly regular life and scrupulously observed
the religious practices. He wielded his mighty pen to awaken the world,
particularly the Muslim world the glories of Islam. He chose for this
purpose Persian as the vehicle of thought. He wrote with equal grace and
power in both Urdu a Persian. One of his well-known books of Urdu poems
bears unusual title Bang-e-Dara or the sound of the Caravan Bells. Here
the Caravan stands for the poet's countrymen and does not mean body of
travellers crossing a desert. He calls upon them to undertake the trying
and dangerous journey to freedom. Asrar-i-Khudi (Seen of self) is a Persian
poem. It holds up two great ideals before me power and courage. It
instantly made the poem famous where Persian; is read or spoken, in Iran,
Afghanistan, Turkey and in parts of Russia. It was translated into English,
German and Italian. His fame as a poet and a philosopher spread
throughout the world. As an appreciation in his contribution to world
thought he was Knighted by the British; Government in 1922.
The political views of Iqbal were broad and liberal. He worked all his
life for peace on earth. It should not be forgotten that he saw before

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anybody else in the land the great vision of Pakistan the homeland of free
Muslims.
Iqbal gave up practice owing to illness in 1934. He died on April, 21,
1938. His death was mourned by millions of his countrymen who were
thrilled by his poetry. He was a man whose name will stand out through
countless ages. His tomb near the 'Shah Mosque' at Lahore still draws
reverent crowds. It will remain as tomb of our national monuments.

FRIENDSHIP
People often talk about friendship but nobody knows what it means.
It is not something vague. It is something dynamic and real. It is not for a
day or two. It is forever. It is a perfumed flower which blossoms in different
hearts and the more it is cherished, the better fruit it brings forth. True
friendship is like a shady tree that gives us shelter from the broiling and
scorching heat of the sun; When time hangs heavy, and we are caught in
the whirlpool of sorrows and despair, we long for the company and
consolation of a true friend who could alleviate the tension of sorrows and
could put balm on our wounded and afflicted heart. A true friend is not
only a blessing of God but an everlasting asset of life. Life really becomes
intolerable without true friends. No doubt, a friend is like nectar that
sweetens the bitterness of our life. It has been truly said that a faithful
friend is the medicine of life, is a balm to our wounded hearts and is a
panacea to our tortured souls
True friendship does not exist where there is doubt and suspicion,
lack of sympathy and confidence. When the walls of confidence and
trustfulness crumble down, all emotional associations, all bonds of love,
all relations of friendship vanish in the dusty limbo of the past. Friendship
demands sacrifice and devotion and those who betray their sincerest
friends are placed by Dante in the lowest circles of Hell. An insincere and
selfish friend is like a blasted tree that never brings forth leaves and
flowers even in spring. Unforgettable are the moments of life spent in the
company of a true friend.
Everyone tries to find out his friend after his heart. There are some
who look upon their friends as their refuge and shelter. They like friends

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who are friends in need, who help them in their difficulties. They like
Antonio who tried to help his friend with money by borrowing it from a Jew
on the condition that he would give him a pound of flesh if he did not
return the money at the appointed time. There are others who wish that
their friends should be made of the stuff of which heroes are made of. He
should be one who should sacrifice his life and wealth whenever he is
called upon to do so in the interests of friendship. Such was the friendship
of Dante and Pythias. Damon was condemned to death by a tyrant. He
wanted to go home to settle his affairs. He was allowed to go on the
security of Pythias. The day of execution arrived, but he did not return. His
friend went to the scaffold cheerfully. Damon, however, just arrived at the
nick of time and saved his friend from death.
A friend should bear a friend's infirmities and I like to have a friend
who does not indulge in carping criticism day in and day out. He may try
to point out my faults with the intention of corrective purpose. He should
not be prepared to hear anything against me from the mouth of others as
"whispering tongue can poison truth." Moreover he should enrich my mind
by a lively as well as an instructive talk and not lead me to futilities and
mere abortive gossips. He must teach me something by his talk, by his
exemplary character, by his noble deeds and wise thoughts. If he fails to
do this, his companionship is a mere waste of time.
A faithful friend is the best medicine of life and my friend should act
as a balm to my wounded heart and a panacea to my tormenting soul. He
should take away the sting from my misfortunes and cheer the dark path
of life laden with sharp thorns and sweeten the poisoned springs of life.

TELEVISION
Television is one of the latest inventions of our age. It means "to see
from a distance." On the television, we can see people and their
movements from a very long distance. It has gained a wide-spread
popularity in Western as well as in Eastern countries. Now-a-days it has
become the need of every home. In leisure hours, it is the best means of
recreation and mental diversion. In this age of anxiety and tension,
emotional suffocation and depression, television serves the purpose of

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ventilation of pent-up emotions. Apart from its advantages, it also has


some disadvantages.
Television is of much importance in modern life. It is the best source
of domestic recreation. We can enjoy the dramatic performance of the
artists in dramas; songs sung in musical concerts, games and matches
played in the playgrounds and films and pictures shown on the screen.
Special programmes for students, children, men and women, soldiers and
farmers are worthy to be enjoyed. It is the reliable source of information.
Sitting in our rooms, we can know and learn many things. It gives
complete information concerning all, the happenings in the country in
political, industrial and economic affairs. It is also a means of instructions.
It has done a great service in the field of education and research. It is very
beneficial for audio-visual education. Students can observe complicated
experiments operations on the television. Programmes belonging to
different spheres of life are displayed for the guidance and instruction of
the people. Farmers are informed of chemical fertilizers, new seeds and
the methods of rapid growth of corns. Announcements are made to keep
the people aware of any critical situation. People are warned against
diseases that are likely to break out during rainy season.
Television has its disadvantages too. The allurements of glamorous
life, coquetry of charming talents, the attraction of romantic sights
transports us to a Utopian world of pleasures. Being absorbed in this
imaginary realm of pleasure, we try to escape the naked and bitter
realities of life. It makes us a victim of slothfulness and inertia. It creates
mental-lethargy and physical passivity. It does not allow us a few tranquil
moments of solitude. Deep reflection about the mysteries of life has
disappeared. People do not study serious and thought-provoking books
because much of their time is squandered in television programmes.
Advertisements are made purely on commercial lines.
People are persuaded to buy more and more new things and this has
created a buying-lust. Their instructive side is often ignored. The more
thrilling and interesting programmes it displays, the worse it becomes.
On the whole, Television is a good thing. Its dangers can be met by
introducing more and more instructive programmes. It can be used to
build up a cultural awareness had to create a sense of national unity. It

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can be employed in propagating moral values. If used with caution and


care, it is an important means of information, entertainment and
instruction.

WHY I LOVE PAKISTAN


I love Pakistan more than my own life because my existence has no
value apart from it. I love it because I owe my life to it. If I have to give
reasons for my love of Pakistan, 1 can say that it commands my love for
being the land which begot me and which sustains me. It is not surprising
that a person loves his home and family. It is because he is bound to it
with ties that are known and felt by every one of us. It is ungrateful to
betray one's benefactor. So, I can never think of fulfilling anything except
love for my country.
The culture and civilization of this country are felt in my blood. What I
am very deeply connected with Pakistan and cannot be separated from it
as a part of the body cannot be separated from it without bitter pain. The
atmosphere around me is an outcome of the centuries of development. I
am proud of the cultural heritage of Pakistan which sustains me and my
countrymen. If I disown these bonds nobody can be more ungrateful.
The Romans thought that the greatest moral virtue was to love one's
country. A person who failed to love his country was called a traitor and
was punished with death. The Germans in the 20th century defied the
whole world because they loved their country above anything else and
thought that they were worthy of ruling the whole world. Intoxicated with
this idea, they proved to be the most powerful nation of the world. Their
unity was without any stain. It proves that love of one's country gives new
personal strength and faith in a higher ideal which lies behind all human
progress.
There is still another reason for my love of Pakistan. Since the decline
of the Muslim rule in Indo-Pakistan, the Muslims had a very bad time. With
the efforts of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan and his friends and followers, the
Muslims of this country realized their condition. Then under the inspiring
leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam, they fought for the creation of Pakistan.
Pakistan came into being in August 1947 for which we had to give great

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sacrifices. Millions of people lost their lives and homes. Such a dearly
bought prize cannot be neglected. My love has immense depth for this
reason too.
In the end, I should say that I love Pakistan because it is fountain of
my life, safety and honour. To have no love for it means to have no love
for my own self.

TERRORISM
The general view of the origin of the universe is that it started with a
BANG. The word suggests, both phonetically and semantically, violence:
And the holy scriptures table of creation has chaos as the origin of things.
Both the scientific and religious theories, notwithstanding science and
religion being antagonistic to each other, ironically agree on the point of
violence.
It follows, therefore, that violence forms a part of Nature as well as of
man, But there is a marked difference between natural violence and
human. Nature's acts of violencesuch as earthquakes, floods, volcanic
eruptionsare actually acts of creation. Nature destroys the unnecessary,
the unhealthy, the unwanted, and creates new landscapes to provide a
better, and perhaps more interesting, situation for social life. Change is
one of the laws of Nature. Man does violence to Nature's creations as well
his own.
There has always been violence in human society individual as well
as organised in the form of wars. And politics and religion joined hands to
massacre people who challenged their authority. This was followed by the
emergence of antagonistic political ideologies and isms. But terrorism is a
peculiar if not an entirely new, phenomenon of the later part of the
twentieth century.
What is terrorism? The most simplistic definition of this highly
complex phenomenon would beit is the result of the secret conspiracy
between politics and organised crime. The syndication of killing in a form
of big business combined with politics has given birth to the monster of
terrorism.

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We have known and still see the inhuman violent acts committed in
the name of caste, creed or community. But they are only extensions of
the violence inherent in Nature and in man. As such they are only sporadic
and can be located and controlled.
But terrorism is a synthetic form of violence. It is a kind of deviation
from the norm of the organic violence. The production and applications of
the pill of terrorism as a solution to political questions has created new
kind of problems in human society. The most difficult aspect of the
terroristic situation is its nature of unpredictability as regards its place and
time. It is ironic that the armed forces raised to fight external invasion are
now being used in our country to contain the consensus internal eruptions
of terrorism from Kashmir to North-East and down south. The soldier is
given the task of a curer. He is asked to cure what he has not been trained
to do. He can only mow down the mole-hills of terrorism. The moles are
rarely caught. If caught, others take their place. Both national and
international politics plays a large role in fanning the fire of terrorism in
various ways.
Obviously terrorism requires a new way to control it. Like the AIDS, it
requires a new medicine. The organic violence has somewhere, somehow,
at sometime, got mutated and it has created a new social virus which
travels fast, finds new places to hide, decide to erupt at unpredictable
points. No national or international apparatus of controlling violence
criminal communal or politicalcan even succeed in weeding out the
roots that terrorism has taken in human society. Some entirely new and
drastic weapon has to be invented to fight out the monster of terrorism.
Till then, we have to live with it, whether we like it or not, and wait for the
day of miracles. Eradication of any evil is a costly enterprise. To eradicate
a syndicated evil will require a much greater cost in terms of human life.
Man has paid this price during the two wars in the 20th century. He must
not hesitate to pay a greater price for a kind of violence he himself is
responsible for.

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A VISIT TO A HISTORICAL PLACE


On a fine day of August some of my friends suggested that I should
go with them to Jahangirs Tomb. There was nothing finer than this idea.
We took our bikes and went off cycling in a moment's time. As we passed
from over the bridge of the Ravi we saw many young college students
rowing their boats in the river. The rainy season has set in long ago, and
the river was almost in flood. None but the experienced could row these
days.
As we reached the Tomb we saw a large crowed of men, women and
children in the lawns and parks of the main building. On a fine day like this
people usually come out of doors to have a picnic. We entered this
historical building from the main gate. There were grassy lawns on either
side of the path, with longer rows of flowers. We saw a rare proportion in
this Mughal building. As we passed through the gate we marched towards
the mausoleum. Now we were walking on a raised platform. On both sides
of the platform there are beautiful lawns. The path is paved with small
bricks in the Mughal style. These bricks are fitted together in a style just
like the forks of a fish. In the middle of the path there is a beautiful
fountain.
This mausoleum is a model of design and symmetry. It is built of
marble and coloured stones. There are four grand minarets standing on its
four corners, pieces of coloured stones have been fitted in the whole
building in a wavy design. Inside the hall here is a marble tomb, and
Shahenshah Jahangir lies buried in a chamber below this tomb. We offered
"Fateha" for the soul of the great Emperor. Then we climbed up the stairs
and went on the roof of the building. The marble flooring of the roof is
simply wonderful, especially when it has been washed clean after a heavy
rainfall. The cool breeze that blew gave us a rare sense of health hand
happiness. After climbing down from the minarets we enjoyed ourselves in
the lawns for a few hours. Then we returned to the city in the evening.

A VISIT TO A HILL STATION

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It is a great pleasure to visit a hill station in summer. It was in these


months that I visited the Murree hills. I went there to spend a part of my
summer vacation for enjoying this visit. I also invited some close
associates. We left Lahore for Murree by car. As we knew that in Murree
essential commodities are costly so we bought many things of daily need
from Rawalpindi.
When we reached Murree it was a fine cloudy day and the weather
was very pleasant. We put up at an old hotel. After having rested there for
a while, we come out to have a view of the hills it was a new experience
for me. The houses were built in an irregular way and very often the top of
one was in level with the door of the other. This looked very interesting.
The valley below the hills looked like a great cu full of beautiful flowers
and flowing streams. On the first day we walked to the Kashmir point and
enjoyed ourselves with its beautiful view. Well dressed ladies and gents
crowded the cafes and tea stalls. I wondered how so many educated and
cultured people had come together at such a far off hill station at one and
the same time.
In the evening when we were returning to our hotel, it grew dark and
a gentle shower of rain began to fall. We hurried up and reached our hotel
at once. Then we changed our dress, as it had become quite wet due to
rain. The night was quite cold and I had to cover myself with a blanket.
Throughout the night it continued raining, but when it was dawn, the rain
stopped. We were very glad to see this sudden change of weather. After
our breakfast, we saw little spot situated in fine valley. There are also fruit
gardens on the slopes. On our way back we crossed two fast flowing
steams. The water of these streams was very cold and clean, but was not
so deep.
After three days stay in the hills we returned to Lahore, which was as
hot and dry as we had left it. Anyhow, our short visit to the Murree Hills
was a good change and I shall ever remember the beautiful "Sunny View"
and the "Kashmir Point". These were perhaps the well-spent days of my
life.

OUR COUNTRY/ PAKISTAN

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Our country Pakistan came into existence on 14 th August 1947. The


Muslims of the sub-continent achieved for themselves a homeland after a
good deal of shard ships. It is the realization of the dram of Sir Allama
Muhammad Iqbal and the greatest achievement of the Quaid-e-Azam
Muhammad AH Jinnah. The Hindu majority of India was reluctant to give
the Muslims their rights of freedom and worship. Quaid-e-Azam proposed
fourteen amendments in the famous Nehru's Report on the basis of which
India wanted Independence from British Empire. These amendments were
considered fit to be incorporated in the Nehru's Report.
Quaid-e-Azam organised the Muslim of India on the platform of
Muslim League and started mass campaign for procurement of freedom
and rights of worship for Indian Muslims. He proclaimed that Muslims in
India was a separate nation quite different from Hindus in respect of
religion, customs and creed.
In the historic Muslims League session held on 23 March 1940 at
Lahore, it was decided that Muslims must have their own home-land.
Consequently, division of India was made. Pakistan was
formed and comprised of five provinces. East Bengal, Punjab, North
West Frontier Province (NWFP), Baluchistan and Sindh, Karachi become
the Capital of Pakistan. East Bengal which was East Pakistan until Indian
aggression separated it from Pakistan in 1971 and assumed a new name
Bangladesh. Now Pakistan consists of four provinces, viz Sindh, Punjab,
N.W.F.P. and Baluchistan. Now its capital is Islamabad.
The total population of the country is about sixteen corers. The
domestic resources of the country have made it self-sufficient. Pakistan is
forgoing ahead day in and day out in the field of economic progress.
Pakistan is basically an agricultural country. A great portion of
population depends on agriculture. Most of the population is illiterate. The
present ratio of literacy is not more than 35%. Cotton, rice and leather are
it chief exports. Our present government, led by our untiring president, is
leaving no stone unturned to make Pakistan as its illustrious founder
visualized it.

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It is our duty to be loyal and patriotic to Pakistan. We should serve


our country selflessly. May God make it like heaven. Let us pray to God to
give her eternal life.

THE WONDERS OF SCIENCE


Modern age is the age of science. Science has certainly become an
indispensable part of life. It has placed magical power into the hands of
man. Man has, more or less, conquered the forces of nature with the help
of science. Science has rendered its valuable service to mankind in
various spheres.
Science helps in our work and makes it possible for us to eat, sleep
and experience comfort and relief. Civilised life means life in the lap of
science. The most valuable service rendered by science to mankind is the
control over environment. The inventions of agricultural machines and
chemical fertilizers have increased production. Tube-wells, canals and
dams, supply water for agriculture. In industry, giant power-driven
machines make man's job easy, comfortable and pleasant. Science has
extracted minerals and oils of great value from the bowels of the earth.
Work and leisure go hand in hand. Thus, machines, have relieved man of
heavy burdensome task and also provided ample leisure, which he can
use for cultural activities.
Science has invented new means of entertainment and education like
cinema, radio and television. We can hear and enjoy music, speeches of
great leaders and running commentary of international games. With the
help of a television-set, we can hear and also see the artists and the
performers with our eyes. Modern man has refrigerators and coolers to
make his life more comfortable. Motorcars, trains and aeroplanes have
made his journey safer and quicker. Man has conquered time and space
with the help of advanced means of transport and communication. It is
now possible to rush help to any part of the world in case of flood,
earthquake etc. It has reduced the world to the size of a small family. The
Printing Press has expelled ignorance and promoted enlightenment.
Medical sciences have made miraculous inventions for protecting man
from deadly diseases. Till only a few years back, diseases like leprosy,

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cancer, tuberculosis and polio were incurable. People suffering from these
diseases, would strike horror and pity on the one hand and despair on the
other. But, today X-rays, antibiotic drugs and surgical operations have
controlled diseases to a great extent. Science has given eyes to the blind,
ears to the leaf and legs to the crippled. It has made a check on Diseases,
improved the standard of health and increased the longevity of human
life. Plastic surgery can even change a monster into a fairy. Scientific
breeding has yielded satisfactory results in the case of animals, plants and
even men. It has produced test-tube babies for childless couples.
Science has provided man with the means of comforts. The gift of
electricity has placed unlimited power into the hands of mankind. It not
only runs our factories and mills, but also lights our houses, cools and
warms our rooms and works our fans. We no longer need to sweat in the
heat or shiver from the cold. Electric gadgets can finish the entire cooking
in half an hour. Washing, drying and ironing can be done mechanically.
Another one of the miracles of science is the discovery of atomic
energy. It has created a paradise on Earth. It can create artificial weather
for crops and can also make barren land fertile. Fatal and incurable
diseases can be cured with its help. Atom bombs, hydrogen bombs,
missiles and other destructive war armaments are the valuable gifts of
sciences. Man has succeeded to reach the moon and explore its
mysteries. Science is trying to reach other planets in the near future.
Science has provided knowledge and power and affected our life in
various ways. But in doing so, science has also created a large number of
problems for the human race. Huge labour and time saving machines
have led to large-scale unemployment. Destructive weapons provided by
atomic energy are the threatening our existence. They can destroy
civilization, built up after centuries of hard and sustained labour. Science
has also created boredom, from which relief is found only in sex, drink and
drugs. Large-scale industrialisation has caused the concentration of
wealth in a few hands leading to the exploitation of labour. Better living
standard has caused competition. Man has acquired the material
possessions, but lost his soul.
Knowledge and power gained through science should be used for
creative and constructive aims. It is the duty of statesmen, humanists,

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social reformers and religious teachers to give a sense of purpose to


mankind. It is true that evil lies, in science, if it is badly applied. The
remedy itself lies in science, if it is applied in an effective manner.

THE DISADVANTAGES OF SCIENCE


The great playwright, Shakespeare has said, "There is nothing either
good or bad, but thinking makes it so." Science itself is not bad. If science
is used for constructive purposes, it shall be a boon for the entire
mankind. If it is for used for destructive purposes, then it will prove to be a
curse, as it can destroy the entire human civilisation. Science will serve
mankind, so long, as it is under the control of sensible people. It will
threaten to destroy human civilization only, if human thinking goes wrong.
Science has proved a friend of mankind in numerous ways.
Electricity, means of transport and communication, powerful machines,
means of recreation, cinema, radio, plastic surgery, etc. are the various
gifts of science. It has brought everything within the reach of everybody.
Printing press has carried knowledge to every household. Science has
brought innumerable comforts to human life. It has reduced human
sufferings. It has helped farmers to grow more food.
The tragedy of modem civilization is that our life is completely
controlled by science. While science has enabled man to win over the
forces of nature, it has turned him weak. Machines that were meant to be
man's faithful servants have become his cruel masters. Large-scale
industrialisation has caused the concentration of wealth in a few hands,
leading to the exploitation of labour.
The progress of science has changed the whole outlook of man
towards life and its aims. Science has made us highly money-oriented. We
have lost faith in God and high moral values. The sources of pity,
sympathy, charity and brotherhood have dried up in the hearts of human
beings. It has made man just like a tool in this age of machinery.
While science has brought an industrial revolution in the world, it has
given birth to many social and economic hardships and evils. It has split
up men into two classes the capitalist and the labour classes. Both classes
are deadly opposed to each other. The capitalists exploit the poor. This

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system is responsible for widespread miseries as well as tension in the


world.
Science has given us big machines to work with. These machines
relieve man of all the heavy and unpleasant work. At the same time, they
provide man with more leisure and save our time. The misfortune of the
man of today is that he is making more of these machines. He is spending
his precious life in cleaning and patrolling them. Instead of becoming their
master, he has become their slave.
Science has also given the world, the highly destructive weapons of
war. A single bomb can play havoc with the entire population of a country.
Nuclear weapons can destroy in a moment, what takes centuries to build.
The effects of radioactivity pass on from generation to generation. A
world war is only a twentieth century phenomenon. Humanity faces
destruction unless the destructive forces of science are kept in sufficient
check.
Science is indeed a good servant. Nothing can serve us better. If we
allow it to become our master, nothing can harm us more. His wars have
become international. A country can simultaneously fight on a number of
fronts. Better living standard has caused competition. A man scrambling
for the acquisition of material goods destroys the sleep of many. Man has
gained the world, but lost his soul. But, all this happens because man
allows himself to be ruled by his scientific discoveries and inventions
rather than using them discreetly.

INFLATION
At present, Pakistan is faced with a host of problem which are
extremely important and the problem of rising prices is one of the most
important, faced by our motherland. The problem is two-fold, first is to
check the rising prices and second, is to bring the prices down. The prices
are touching the sky.
The problem, on the face of it, may seem to be quite simple. But, in
fact, it is not. It is closely related to the welfare of the people. It owes
much to the administrative efficiency of the Government. The success of a
government depends largely on the behaviour of the prices in that

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country. This problem of rising prices has wide consequences. It is the


result of operation of a large number of causes.
The present shortage and bottlenecks are mainly the result of a
development programme, which had been based on the present drift.
While concentrating on food production, the Government appears to have
overlooked the obvious fact that in years of agricultural prosperitydemand for cloth, edible oils, vegetables, fish, meat and milk, etc., is
bound to increase. These are the edibles which have been showing the
maximum per capita increase.
Another cause for the rapid price rise is the phenomenal increase in
population. This has further accentuated inflation. The production of
goods is rising very slowly. The current consumption of goods is increasing
because of the population growth, thereby resulting in a price rise.
The repercussions of inflation are quite serious. During inflation, the
profit gap widens because the demand is in excess of the supply. The
scarcity of goods provides an opportunity for all sorts of evil practices to
thrive. The chances of profit increases at an extremely fast rate and there
is a great market for goods. Therefore, accumulation of goods or what is
popularly known as 'hoarding' takes place. Hoarding further accelerates
the already rising prices. The production cost of the goods increases. The
foreign buyers, therefore, are not attracted to buy such goods. The result
is that the foreign market is lost and much foreign exchange is lost and
consequently, the value of Rupee falls.
Also in the period of rising prices, the rich get richer and the poor get
poorer. The rich own the means of production. They pay the labourers
extremely meager amounts, which they give by the right hand and take
away by the left hand. As the cost of goods swell up, the prices also,
naturally, do increase. There exists a wide gap between the whole sale
and the retail prices. The labourer now, pays in the market more than he
did before. Whatever his master gives him, the market takes away. The
money naturally goes in the hands of profit-earners, businessmen,
merchants and manufacturers. The result, therefore, is that there is no
equitable distribution of national wealth.
A two-pronged attack has to be launched in order to hold and bring
down the price line. The short-term measures, such as fair price shops,

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rationing of provision, distribution of shortage in an egalitarian manner,


seizing hoards, etc. will help the government to check the present
situation from deterioration. The long-term measures, such as drafting a
small plan, increasing bank rate, taxation, government borrowing will also
help the government to withdraw the huge amount of money, which had
been pumped into circulation during the last few years. They will also help
to create a time lag between the supply of money and the supply of
goods.
The real answer to inflation lies in a greater production and
productivity. Industrial production can be appreciably raised with the help
of the existing installed capacity, if bottlenecks such as raw material
shortages, undue licensing restrictions against efficient large-scale
producers and unreasonable labour demands are removed. The
Government's task should be not only to ensure a proper material balance
for industry, but also to adopt a fair-minded policy to bring about the
much-needed climate of industrial peace and harmony.
In a developing economy, prices are bound to rise and there can be
no absolute price stability. But, limits should be defined. A general view is
that a modest annual increase in prices is not unhealthy for a Developing
economy. But, there cannot be a general yardstick of the so-called safe
limit. Price increase must be matched by increase in the national income
in real terms so as to avoid the disastrous consequences of it.

LIFE IN RURAL PAKISTAN


Pakistan lives in her villages. To know herto know her perfectly, one
must ramble through her villages and mix with the humble village folk
who live "far from the maddening crowd."
The first thing characteristic of our rural life is the village nature. The
quiet repose, the air of placid calm and serenity, the pleasing natural
scenery all aroundall these fill her children with a wistful longing to
return to them time and again. The murmuring brooks, the chirping birds,
the breezy air wafting^ the fragrance of her flowers, the green patches of
vegetation, the verdant stretches of corn fieldsall these inspire a natural
poetry in her people. And the variety of colours brought about by every

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visiting season charms the sight and enchants the soul of all who have
eyes to see. Nowhere else in the world1 does Nature bestow her gifts of
light and shade, of breeze and balm, of splendour and beauty so lavishly
as in our land, particularly Swat, which is traditionally known as the
sporting-ground of Nature.
Next in importance comes her economy which is, however, as bleak
as her Nature is lively. For several decades rural Pakistan was exposed to
ruthless exploitation by Zemindars, money-lenders and unscrupulous
officers. Freedom has swept them off to a large extent. Landlordism is no
more. Usury has been abolished. Other kinds of extortion also have
lessened. But her economy has not suffered any material change, except
for the worse. Production from land is on the decrease. Rural industry is
yet to be born and village commerce is struggling hard for life. The
principal source of income, in most cases, the only avenue of earning is
the land which due to various reasons, is yielding decreasing output.
Hence the economic condition of the villagers is rather deplorable. A small
percentage of the people are enjoying bare sufficiency, while the rest are
in perpetual want, their poverty increasing with the passing of every year.
Considered economically, life in rural Pakistan js too poor, too mean and
too insecure to be coveted Rural society, which one was a model of
beauty and grandeur is now in a similarly pitiable state. There is no doubt
a semblance of social structure but only at the exterior. The interior has
broken down long before. As a result, unending factionalism has replaced
perennial friendship mutual helpfulness has yielded place to crude
enmities and jealousy; litigation is flourishing at the cost of peace and
harmony. Rioting is a common feature at every harvesting season. Every
village is divided into as many factions as there are disputes. Sometimes
one clan is bifurcated or trifurcated on grounds of group interests. In a
word, there is now nothing like a village society which was once the pride
of cur country.
The only thing that has withstood the wear and tear of time is the
village customs and usages. Here our villagers remain where they were
centuries ago. Largely dominated by their respective religion, every
community has its own customs and usages which are being handed over
from generation to generation and are being fanatically preserved

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against any onslaught of modern civilization. These are so old and primitive that our rural customs are subjects of archaeological interest.
These customs testify how incurably conservative our people are. But
civilization is steadily making its inroad into the core of village-life and
are thereby breaking these customs too on an increasing scale. If they
go, the village-life will stand completely shorn of any stamp of the past, as
others have already disappeared.
In an equally pitiable condition are the village health and education.
Poverty is so extensive and crushing that most of villagers cannot send
their children to school though education is free up to the primary stage. A
-few that are receiving education, their percentage is small. For want of
mass support, new schools are not growing and old ones, resembling
dilapidated huts, are fast going out of existence. Similar is the condition of
health and sanitation. Most of the villagers have neither money nor
knowledge enough to eat good food. They eat to fill the stomach and
swallow whatever they get. They eat meat on rare occasions. They grow
vegetables only to sell them to the urban people. They tend cows to sell
their milk in the towns. Thus undernourished, they labour hard,
disproportionately hard to their bodily capacity. Naturally the general
health of the village is very poor. Diseases and epidemics occur frequently
and take heavy tolls of life every year. When attacked, most of them die
without treatment because there are no qualified doctors in the locality
nor have they mean enough to call in urban physicians. Here and there
charitable dispensaries may have been but without medicine and with one
doctor entrusted with the care of thousands of diseased persons. Rural
sanitation is in a worse state There is no drain anywhere. Water accumulates, petrifies and breeds germs of diseases. Unclean ditches and jungles
are found all about. There is hardly any lavatory and people leave their
nightsoil wherever they can. All these vitiate the air regularly and keep
the villages permanent dens of death and disease.
These conditionseconomic and educational in particular have
their influence on the general life of the villagers. Men and women go
about their daily round of duties with a calm resignation to fate. They rise
early, work the whole day and go to bed early. A couple of hours after
sunset, a village is indistinguishable from a graveyard. There is no

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amusement, no means of recreation. If attempts are made to introduce


some life by starting a night school or a club the response is poor because
everybody is worried over the day and the morrow. Festivals are
celebrated when imperative but under a sense of painful necessity. In
short, in every walk of village-life, the ever-increasing want of pulsation
and enthusiasm is prominent People live as though out of compulsion. To
many, death is a real relief from the unrelieved gloom of life. There are a
few exceptions but they are only exceptions and nothing else Poverty
drives them to fatalism and fatalism to inertia and to further poverty. Thus
they move in a vicious circle.
The cumulative effect of all these is that the villages an, being
increasingly abandoned by the villagers. The rich have already left and
now the poor are going 'abroad' but no farther than the nearest town, in
quest of livelihood. But there also they are suffering the same fate, at
times more helplessly. After all how much of the rural population can the
towns absorb and accommodate? The flight from village to town is thus
erroneous and harmful for all. Pakistan lives and will have to live mainly in
the villages for all times to come. Their integrity must, therefore, be
preserved at all costs. Sheer admonition will not do. Villages must be
thoroughly reformed so as to make them habitable and attractive. To that
end, a master plan of rural reconstruction is long overdue more emphasis
on rural development is urgently called for.

VALUE OF DISCIPLINE IN LIFE


Life without discipline is like a ship without a rudder. Just as it is
impossible for a ship to sail over the sea with safety without a rudder, so it
is impossible for man to pass through the journey of life successfully
without discipline. It is discipline that helps a man to sail aright on the
ocean of life and bring him safe to the haven of peace and prosperity. Life
is sure to become a hopeless wreck, if it is without discipline.
The training of a child is a good "example of discipline in the right
sense. To be a useful member of society, a child has to be trained by its
parents and teachers from its earliest year. The first lesson it has to learn
is obedience. Then it has to learn how to behavehow to avoid conduct

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which is considered unbecoming and wrong and how to form good habits.
Such a disciplined child will become a useful member of society.
The methods of training are patient instruction, example and
punishment. A child must be given proper instruction to discriminate
between right and wrong. It must be educated to distinguish between
good and bad. It must be told what to do and what not to do. But
sometimes all this preaching fails and a child is a born imitator and heroworshipper. It does what its teacher does; it practises what its parents
practise in daily life; it chooses its hero and imitates him. So the best
discipline for a child is through training and example. Fear of punishment
may keep him away from doing wrong but it will not make him do what is
right. In the same way domestic animals, such as a dog or a horse, have
to be trained before they can be of any use to man. Like the child, they
must first learn to obey. The horses must learn how to draw a carriage and
carry men and goods, and dogs how to guard the house, property and
look after flocks of sheep.
But the hardest task of all is to learn self-discipline. We must learn
how to control our passions and desires, how to check the evil
propensities of our nature and resist the temptations of the world. Selfdiscipline is the crown and glory of man's life.
"Self-reverence, self-knowledge, self-control These three alone lead
life to sovereign power."
Men cannot work together harmoniously in societies and companies,
if they do not agree upon certain rules of conduct Strict obedience to
these rules is called discipline. A society that has no rules or which does
not see that its rules are obeyed, will soon fall to pieces.
Discipline is necessary in every department of life. A home in which
there is no discipline among its members, where everyone acts according
to his whim can know no peace. It becomes the scene of disorder,
confusion and conflict without a system. Half of its peace will vanish for
want of discipline. Children must obey their parents, servants their
masters, and inferiors their superiors if it is to be an abode of peace.
No less important is discipline in schools and colleges. That school or
college cannot exist long where discipline is not enforced. If the boys can

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do as they like, regular teaching becomes impossible, and education a


farce. No amount of teaching can make boys perfect men if they are not
drilled in discipline. Students must yield implicit obedience to their
teachers and professors and submit to proper authority and conform to
rules and regulations if they are to attain perfection in education and
training.
Rules and discipline are necessary even in games. If a batsman
refuses to go out when he is bowled, or players defy the referee's whistle
when he gives a foul or off-side, there is an end of cricket and football.
In matters of administration discipline is equally important. It is
discipline that holds together an organization as the Government of
Pakistan. From the head of the government down to the lowest servant of
the State, they obey the orders and rules promulgated by the superiority.
If discipline is lax, the whole structure is set to pieces. It is the
maintenance of strict discipline ' a government going.
Nowhere is discipline so necessary as in the army. An army or a
regiment without discipline is no better than a mob. Soldiers have to learn
to act together as one man undertakes, command of their officers ; and
the object of military drill is to make obedience to orders so perfect.
Those who have read the story of the Loss of Birkenhead know how
patiently the crew met death on that tragic occasion Another beautiful
illustration is the charge of the Light Brigade.
But if discipline be exercised with unusual rigour, its object will be
frustrated, for too much strain is unbearable and is in danger of
disorganizing the thing which it seeks to organize. For example, if
excessive strictness be exercised upon a ward that is under training, and
no relaxation whatever allowed to him, he will grow up to be a peevish or
sullen youth always looking out for an opportunity to break loose and
enjoy the pleasures he is debarred from. Such unhealthy discipline is
detrimental to the growth of a boy.
What discipline is in society, "the Spirit of the Hive" is among social
insects. This "spirit" in societies of bees is supposed to direct their labours
on a fixed plan, with intelligent consideration of needs and opportunities;
and although proceeding from no fixed authority, it is yet operative in

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each member of the community. So in an ideal state of society, the same


spirit works. No one rules; all men obey. Men obey because they have,
that highest form of discipline called self-discipline which has taught them
to prize others' happiness more 'than theirs, because thus alone can their
own happiness be .achieved in the easiest possible way, and the smooth
working of society ensured.

MY FAVOURITE SEASON
It seems to be a part of human nature to have favourites in every
walk of life. Consciously or unconsciously, we come to bestow our choice
on some particular thing, in preference to the rest and such choice is
called our favourites. Thus we have, at least many of us have, a favourite
game, a favourite poet, our favourite food and dress, 'en favourite pets,
whether of birds or animals. Similarly among the seasons of the year we
have our favourite season. Some are fond of Spring, some of the Rains,
others of the Autumn and some others of Winter. The general incidence of
choice is for the Spring but I like Winter and have my reasons for it.
Among the other likable seasons, the first place doubtless longs to
Spring. With its flowers, balmy breeze and the song of the cuckoo, it
makes an appeal far too deep to be ignored. But in our part of the world,
Spring is neither half as beautiful as the poet have described nor does it
last for a time to enable us to enjoy the little charm that it has. Spring
lasts here, if at all, for no more than a fortnight. But the intense heat,
want of drinking water and the outbreak of epidemics detract so much of
its appeal and charm Spring comes and goes without making its advent
felt in any considerable measure. So in our country Spring is a short
season.
The other season having claim on anybody's choice is the Rains. It is
both long and outstanding, making its existence felt both in her bounties
and in inflicting her punishment on us. But she always overdoes herself so
much that in my memory the rainy season is associated more with
sufferings than with joy. She brings in rainfall and in such heavy measure
that one of our heart's prayers becomes "God, no more rain". Then
comes flood and epidemicfamine and death were prevailing all around.

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As regards autumnthe early and the late autumnit is beyond


doubt a fine season, when rains begin to decrease and the golden fields
delight the heart of everybody. But in this land it is very short and the sad
memories of the rains lingering still in the imagination, the season passes
off before the mind had been ready to receive it. Like spring, Autumn also
comes and goes in the midst of confusion.
So, the only season left for consideration is winter. It is, in fact, the
best season of the year as far as our land is concerned. Firstly, it is the
only season which reigns exclusive over its specified period. In winter
there is nothing but what winter should possess. There is no rain, no
clouds and no heat. Winter is meant to be cold and it is cold but never so
excessively as to be beyond our toleration.
The average health of our region remains better in this season. There
is no outbreak of fatal diseases and the habitually sluggish stomach of our
people is toned up at this time. We eat better and digest more. Delicious
vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower, bean, tomato, turnip and carrot are
available in plenty. Ditches and ponds are de-watered and fishes are
caught in large quantities. Best of all, sleeping in this season is a real joy,
both at day and night. Our winter, in fact, makes everything delightful
eating, sleeping, working and reading. For all these reasons, I like winter
so dearly and consider it the best season of the year in our part of the
world.

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