ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of English Language & Applied Linguistics)

WARNING
1.
2.

PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING

THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD
OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM
OTHER(S) AS ONES OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN
AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY.

Course: Compulsory English-I

Level: Intermediate
Total Marks: 100

Course Code: 386

Semester: Spring, 2015
Pass Marks: 40

ASSIGNMENT No. 1
(Units 15)
Q.1 What do you understand by the term study skills? Do you think that they can be
developed and enhanced by employing some useful techniques? If yes, then briefly
describe at least five techniques which you may find helpful in studying effectively.
Follow the example given below.
(10)
Example: Time management is the most important factor in studying effectively, if
it is not managed well, it can have a negative impact on a learners performance.
Q.2 Unit 1 of your text book discusses the importance of setting a realistic and
achievable goal which serves as an important motivational force and compels an
individual to work hard to realize it, select any one of your favourite personalities
who is renowned internationally and briefly describe some of the important goals
which she/he set in her/his life and achieved them as well.
(10)
Q.3 Unit 2 of your textbook talks about greetings and then differentiates between
formal and informal greetings, read the unit carefully and then use appropriate
expressions to greet the following people, write down their possible responses as
well.
(10)
i.

Your boss at your work place............................................................................

ii.

One of your siblings.........................................................................................

iii.

A bosom friend.................................................................................................

iv.

The coach of your football team.......................................................................

v.

A stranger at your door step..............................................................................

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Q.4 Suppose you have found a new job and it is your first day at your workplace, how
would you introduce yourself to your colleagues? You can add details about your
educational qualification and professional experience, your introduction should be
brief and concise and it should only contain the relevant information according to
the requirements of the situation.
(10)
Follow the example given below.
Example: Good Morning, Im Sarah, I have joined this institution with the aim of
imparting quality education.
Q.5 In Unit 2, you read about the different types of questions which we normally ask to
seek information regarding the time, reason, place and manner of an events
occurrence, read the following responses given by an individual carefully and
construct relevant and suitable questions for each of them.
(10)
i.

I intend to visit England the next year.

ii.

She has been serving this organization for the last ten years.

iii.

I am fond of English novels and classical music.

iv.

He died of lungs cancer.

v.

You must consult your legal adviser.

vi.

You need to take exercise daily.

vii.

The aim of my life is to serve my country and nation.

viii. You have to work hard to overcome this difficult situation.

ix.

We should plant more trees to reduce pollution.

x.

You should spend your money for the betterment of the poor and the needy.

Q.6 In Unit 3, you read how to guess the meanings of difficult words through context.
The following instances contain some highlighted words, guess the meanings of
these words and use them into sentences of your own.
(10)
i.

Ali was so hungry that he consumed the cranberry muffin and went back for

ii.

a donut.
Since it was a school day, she thought it was peculiar that she saw no

iii.

children on the street during her drive to work.

Dad had no need for the broken air conditioner, so he discarded it on the

iv.

corner by the trash.

Because I have such good friends and family, I consider myself fortunate.

v.

On the way to her room after just having been grounded, she murmured
something under her breath.

Q.7 In Unit 3, you studied how to grant or refuse permission politely, keeping in mind
the guidelines given in the said unit what sort of expressions would you use in the
following situations to refuse or grant permission? Follow the example.
(05)
Example: Its raining. May I take your umbrella?
Yes, of course.
Sorry, you cant.
i.

Can I have a book of stamps, please?

ii.

Could you tell me where the English department is?

iii.

Can I have another plastic bag? Ive got so much to carry.

iv.

Shall I take this coat with me?

v.

Can I take this bag as hand luggage?

Q.8 In Unit 4, you were guided how to describe people and places. Suppose you are
asked to talk about your teachers, how would you give the personality description
of one of your favourite teachers? Write a brief and comprehensive paragraph
highlighting all of the important personality traits and attributes of your teacher.
You can add details regarding her/his physique, appearance, educational
qualification, professional experience and teaching style as well. Your paragraph
should be both cohesive and coherent.
(10)
Q.9 A.

Use appropriate coordinating conjunctions and add meaningful and related

clauses to complete the following sentences.
(10)
i.

Last year she moved to London..............................................................

ii.

People have left their homes...................................................................

iii.

The English Department called for a meeting.........................................

iv.

He stayed in a hotel.................................................................................

v.

I couldnt sleep properly at night............................................................

vi.

She could not attend my party.................................................................

vii.

They are disappointed by the current state of affairs...............................

viii. He was unable to resolve my issue..........................................................

ix.

He was deprived of his due share in inheritance.....................................

3

x.
B.

You could not resist the temptation.........................................................

In Unit 4, you were taught some punctuation rules, apply appropriate rules
and punctuate the given unpunctuated text.
(10)

(10)
clarck was born in England but he has lived mostly in Srilanka since 1957 he
started writing science fiction at school in 1983 he predicted the possibility
of star wars he was a commentator on American television in 1969 in 1983
he presented a television series named as the mysterious world
Q.10 Differentiate between skimming and scanning with the help of examples.

(05)

ASSIGNMENT No. 2
(Units 69)
Q.1 A.

Unit 6 is about Apologizing. We apologize when we make a mistake or have

done something wrong knowingly or unknowingly. How would you express
your apology in the following situations? Follow the example given
below and choose different expressions for apologizing. Write complete
sentences.
(05)
Example: You had an important meeting but you could not reach on time.
Apology: I am sorry for being late.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

B.

You could not reach airport to receive your cousin.

You were unable to look after your friends pet cat during his/her
absence.
You could not help your sibling in the hour of need.
You somehow damaged your fathers camera while it was in your
possession.
You did not let your class fellow to use your cell phone.

Now using the above statements for which you had to apologize to different
people, give reasons for not being able to do those things. Write complete
sentences. Follow the example.
(05)
Example: I am sorry that I could not reach the airport because my boss
called me for an urgent meeting.

Q.2 Section C of Unit6 defines and describes cohesive linkers. Read the Section
carefully and write a paragraph on a birthday party you have recently attended by
making use of appropriate cohesive linkers.
(10)
Q.3 Unit 7 is about giving reasons. Read Section A of the unit carefully and then write
one sentence for each of the profession expressing your reason for choosing that
particular profession. Use different expressions. Follow the example:
(10)
Example: I want to be a doctor because I love to serve ailing humanity.
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

A lawyer:..........................................................................................................
An architect:.....................................................................................................
A policeman:.....................................................................................................
A lecturer:.........................................................................................................
A businessman:.................................................................................................

Q.4 Unit 7 is about paragraph writing and discusses its three essential elements: the
main idea, the supporting details and concluding sentences. Read the Section
5

carefully and then solve the activity 19, related to supporting details, given on page
no 182- 183.
(10)
Q.5 Unit 8 is about expressing agreement and disagreement. Read the unit carefully
and express agreement/disagreement on the following issues as indicated in the
brackets.
(10)
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

Police should control the state of lawlessness in the city.

People should not question governments policies.
We should try to reduce the rate of overpopulation.
Women should not be given equal employment opportunities.
Dictatorship is a better mode of government than democracy.

(Agree)
(Disagree)
(Agree)
(Disagree)
(Disagree)

Q.6 Unit 8 is about anticipating what comes next in a piece of text. Read the following
newspaper headlines and then predict or anticipate what news story it gives? The
news story should not contain more than five sentences in each case.
(10)
i.
ii.

Military operation will target all terrorists indiscriminately

Rigging in election needs to be investigated

Q.7 Section C of Unit 8 is about descriptive writing. After reading the section, write a
paragraph describing a wedding ceremony you have recently attended.
(10)
Q.8 Unit 9 is talking about Past. Talk to one of your parents and recollect some of
his/her unforgettable memories. Now tell the story or experience that you liked the
most from his/her past life. Follow the principles given on page 231 in your book
while narrating that incident/event.
(10)
Q.9 Unit 9 deals with developing narratives by putting logical connections between the
sequences of events. Suppose one of the houses in your neighborhood was robbed
by a notorious gang. Narrate the sequence of events in the form of a story. Your
narrative should have a proper beginning, middle and end. It should be both
cohesive and coherent.
(10)
Q.10 Read the following story carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

(10)

On a mango tree in a jungle, there lived many birds. They were happy in their small
nests. Before the onset of the rainy season, all the animals of the jungle repaired
their homes. The birds also made their homes more secure. Many birds brought
twigs and leaves and others wove their nests. We should also store some food for
our children, chirped one of the birds. And they collected food, until they had
enough to see them through the rainy season. They kept themselves busy preparing
for the tough times.
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Soon the rains came. It was followed by thunder and lighting. All the animals and
birds stayed in their homes. It continued raining for many days.
One day, a monkey, wet in the rain, came into the forest. He sat on a branch,
shivering with cold, water dripping from its body. The poor monkey tried his best
to get shelter, but in vain. The leaves were not enough to save him from the rains.
Brrr! It is so cold! said the monkey. The birds were watching all this. They felt
sorry for the monkey but there was little they could do for him. One of them said,
Brother! Our small nests are not enough to give you shelter. Another bird said,
All of us prepared for the rainy season. If you had, you would not be in this
piteous situation. How dare you tell me what to do? said the monkey, growling
at the bird. The monkey angrily pounced on the birds nest, tore it and threw it on
the ground. The bird and her chicks were helpless. The poor bird regretted its deed
but in vain.
Questions
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

What did the birds do before the onset of the rainy season?
Why did the birds feel sorry for the monkey?
Why did the poor bird regret its deed?
Give a suitable title to the story?

v.

What is the moral lesson of the story?