Nalanda Open University
Annual Examination 2016
Bachelor in Computer Application Part-I
Paper-I [Foundation Course in English for Computing
Time: 3.00 Hrs. Full Marks: 80
Answer all questions.
1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
There was a great excitement in the school. We were a set of four brothers known for
our toughness. We had proved it again. king cobra'. 'Six feet long'. The tin was presented
to the science teacher. It was on the teacher's table and we waited for him to open it and
admire our kill. The teacher pretended to be indifferent and set us some problems to work
on. With studied matter-of-factness, he fetched his forceps and a jar. He began to hum and
untie the cord around the box. As soon as the cord was loosened, the lid flew into the air, just
missing the teacher's nose. There was Kala Nag. His eyes burnt like embers CS-610 1 P.T.O.
and his hood was taut and undamaged. With a loud hiss, he went for the teacher's face. The
teacher pushed himself back on the chair and toppled over. He fell on the floor and stared at
the cobra petrified with fear. The boys stood up on their desks and yelled hysterically.
Kala Nag surveyed the scene with blood shot eyes. His forked tongue darted in and out
excitely. He spat furiously and then made a bid for freedom. The fell out of the tin on the floor
with a loud plop. His back was broken in several places and he dragged himself painfully to
the door.
What did the four brothers bring to the school and what was their attitude? 4
What happened when the teacher loosened 2 the cord around the tin? 3
What happened to the teacher when the 2 Kala Nag darted towards his face? 3
Find words from the text that are close in 2 meaning to 2
behaviour exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotions.
Stunned with terror, fear
Give a suitable title to the passage given above. 3
2. Write an essay of about 400 words on any one of the following: 20
ICT and mass empowerment
Technology is a good servant but a bad master
Life without a mobile phone.
3. Rewrite the following sentences as directed. 2
I gave you a book on Saturday. I need the book (Combine using a defining relative
clause)
This computer is a very old model. It will not support the new software. (Combine
using "too").
Fill in the blanks with suitable options from the ones given in the brackets. 3
It is not normal for this program to get stuck. (will/must) be some
conflict with another program.
P.T.O
People …………….. (have used/have been using) computers for the last twenty five
years now. They (have begun/have been beginning) to depend on them.
4. Write a paragraph in about 200 words on any one of the following: 15
Constantly upgrading gadgets (machines) in a modern day problem.
Managing stress in life.
Using unconventional energy resources.
5. Rewrite the following sentences removing the errors if any: 5
The accepting letters from two candidates have come.
Nowadays you can make your PC to perform many functions simultaneously.
Humans today hope to become space tourists.
Adjustment means making up with whatever one has.
The tablet PC is lighter to the Note book because it does not have a CD drive.
6. Read the following passage and summarize it to one-third of its length. Give a suitable title-
20
Akbar was a man far in advance of his time. So potent was his persona that only those
most gifted and possessed of a strong sense of self worth could stand up to him. It was a
trait that was to have fateful consequences for his heirs.
Akbar had three sons: Salim, Murad and Daniyal, born to him in 1569, 1570 and 1572
respectively. Yet, by 1608 only Salim still lived: the other two had self-destructed through
addiction to opium and alcohol. At the time of his father's death, Salim too had become fond
of stimulants and subject to the most capricious mood swings. When in the grip of arrack and
opium, between 1600 and 1605 he also led a series of revolts against Akbar, and war between
father and son was averted only through the intervention of Akbar's senior begins and by
Salims own realisation that he was militarily no match for his father. Despairing over the
successor Akbar's mind turned to one who, by widespread comment had all the required
qualities to succeed him, Salim's eldest son Khusram. Khusram was born in October 1587 to
Salim and Man Bai. He soon grew up to be a court favourite. He had a pleasing presence and
excellent personality, and was exceedingly beloved of the common people. At 18 Khusram
was personable, brave and a talented battlefield commander.
(Adapted from Khusram: The shadow of power from The Hindu Magazine, February 28, 2010).