1 EEG-4 I BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMME Term-End Examination I-r) December, 2009 in to -7r, ELECTIVE COURSE : ENGLISH EEG-4 : ENGLISH FOR PRACTICAL PURPOSES Time : 3 hours Maximum Marks : 100 Note : Attempt all questions. Internal choice has been given in the questions. 1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow it : A sophisticated X-ray camera made by scientists and engineers in the UK was launched into space aboard the Chandrayaan - I spacecraft - India's first mission to the moon. India joins the international space race with the unmanned spacecraft, which was successfully launched on 22nd October 2008. The X-ray specs' camera is part of a range of instruments to map the moon's surface EEG-4 1 P.T.O.
composition that will help scientists to understand its origin and evolution, as well as quantify its mineral resources. The first lunar mission from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) contained the X-ray camera made by scientists and engineers at the UK's Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). This is the first time that India and the UK have collaborated in space science and the UK partners at STFC's Rutherford Application Laboratory at Oxford keenly followed the progress of the launch from the Satish Dhawan space centre at Sriharikota, India. The camera the CIXS - was designed and built at the UK's space Science and Technology Dept. of the STFC at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory. Dr. Ian Crawford, who chairs the CIXS science team, said, "There is a lot we don't know about the moon. Accurate maps of the surface composition will help us unravel its internal structure and geological history. Among other things, this will help us better understand the origin of the earth moon system. We will also be able to learn more about what happened on the moon since it formed and how and when it cooled". EEG-4 2
The CIXS is a compact, lightweight, sensitive instrument that can measure the abundances of chemical elements in the lunar surface, by detecting the X-rays they absorb and re-emit. The 11") CIXS will work by looking at the X-rays from the If) Fr) sun that have been absorbed by atoms in the lunar soil and then re-emitted in a manner that reveals the chemistry of the surface. The spectrometer is sensitive to magnesium, silicon and aluminium X-rays. When the solar X-ray illumination is bright, for example during a solar flare it may also be able to make measurements of other elements such as iron, titanium & Calcium. The CIXS also has an X-ray solar monitor to measure the X-rays produced by the sun. The CIXS uses an advanced version of conventional CCD sensors such as found in a digital camera. These are mounted behind a gold/copper 'collimator' which limits the field of view of the X-ray detectors to a narrow beam. These help to form an X-ray camera that is far more compact and of lower mass than other X- ray spectrometers. EEG-4 3 P.T.O.
1. (a) Say whether the following statements are 6 True or False : The spacecraft had scientists and engineers aboard it. The CIXS detects the X-rays emitted by the lunar surface. The lunar surface has few chemical elements A solar flare brightens the X-ray illuminations of the sun The collinator is similar to a digital camera The CIXS is the only instrument used to map the moon's surface position. (b) From the choices given below, tick the most 4 appropriate answer : (i) The function of the X-ray camera is to Enable India's first mission to the moon Understand the moon's surface Picture the moon's surface composition Unravel its internal structure and geological history EEG-4 4
(ii) The camera has been made at ISRO Satish Dhawan Space Centre India and U.K.'s partners at STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (iii) The camera can measure the X-rays of magnesium and titanium gold and copper the solar illumination all of the above (iv) "Among other things, this will help us better understand..." 'This' refers to : The internal structure and geological history The moon The camera The accurate maps of the surface composition of the moon EEG-4 5 P.T.O.
(c) Answer any five : 10 (1) What are some of the things we don't know about the moon? Where did the Chandrayaan take off from? What is the similarity between a digital camera and CIXS? Which X-rays can the spectrometer measure? How is the CIXS better than other spacecraft's X-ray spectrometers? (vi) What can the CIXS do during a solar flare? 2. Read the article given below and answer the questions given below : On June 8th the Supreme Court ordered Eastman Kodak to stand trial in a competition case about the repair of expensive photocopiers. It has thrown a spotlight on the increasingly hostile relationship in America between manufacturing companies and the firms that service and repair the goods which the manufacturers produce. If firms chose to use an independent service company, it is alleged, Kodak refused to supply EEG-4 6
either the servicing firm or the customer with spare parts. In effect, Kodak was trying to get customers to agree not to employ any firms that competed with it for service contracts on the Kodak machines. Many economists would side with Kodak, rather than the court. They argue that consumers take servicing costs into account when buying equipment, so restrictive service agreements are not necessarily anti-competitive as long as there is competition in the equipment market itself. The market for servicing high-technology electronic products alone is worth roughly $100 billion a year. Thousands of independent contractors compete for the business, but the lion's share goes to equipment manufacturers. Roughly a quarter of the revenues of America's computer makers comes from servicing and maintaining the machines they sell. Profit margins on service contracts can be as high as 50%. That comes in handy when profit margins on the sale of computers are disappearing because of recurring price wars. Other industries may also be affected. Detroit's car makers also backed Kodak. In 1990 the retail market for car parts was worth $150 billion, about the same as that for new cars. EEG-4 7 P.T.O.
Servicing cars came to another $100 billion on top of that. Detroit used to be happy to leave the repair business to mom-and-pop garages. No longer. Many independent distributors of spare parts complain that the big car makers are muscling in on their business. Big manufacturers in Japan and Germany service nearly all their own products. But America's high job mobility and entrepreneurial traditions have encouraged many engineers in high-tech industries to set up service firms of their own, often to the fury of their former employers. Not all manufacturers are keen on the repair and service business. Makers of cheaper electronic goods, such as washing machines, televisions and video-recorders, find it cheaper and easier to replace faulty machines with new ones, or encourage customers to buy a new model, than to bother with spare parts. But many states in America require that manufacturers honour warranties on anything they sell. To satisfy the law they have appointed dealers and service agents. And yet because the manufacturers of electronic goods now view many of their products as disposable, they are in direct conflict with the dealers who have to provide service under those warranties. EEG-4 8
Decide whether these statements are true (3 ) or 8 false (X ), according to the article : It is alleged that Kodak refused to supply repair firms which competed with them. It is generally agreed that Kodak acted unfairly. Most servicing of electronic equipment is done by independent contractors. US computer manufacturers earn about half their income from selling spare parts. Servicing computers is more profitable than selling computers. US car manufacturers earn about half their income from selling spare parts. The number of independent servicing companies is greater in Japan and Germany than in the USA. If cheaper electronic products go wrong, they are more likely to be replaced than repaired. EEG-4 9 P.T.O.
3. Complete the following sentences by putting the 12 verb in the Past Simple, Past Perfect or Past Continuous. The consultant (never work) in Italy before she got this contract. She (drive) to Milan when the storm began. Maggie recently move to Italy. (decide) to I (be) born and bred in the States. Oh sorry, I already (tell) you that! (e) While Paolo the employees ready for dispatch. (talk) to Maggie, (pack) the prints Paolo (be) in charge of the Naples shop before he (take) over the company. When his father (die) he (run) the business in the South. (h) Although we (invest) a lot of money in the project, we decided to pull out. EEG-4 10
4. Write an essay of about 250 words on any one of 20 the following topics : Education in schools contrasted with education at the college level. The effects of economic recession and strategies for the feature. (c) 'Bollywood' or the Indian Cinema - tracking its growth and change in the past 25-30 years. 5. Write a dialogue in about 200 words, on any one : 20 Two friends are discussing the pros and cons of doing Higher Education abroad as compared to India. Two friends are discussing the status of women in India today. 6. As the Divisional Marketing Manager of a 20 company manufacturing air coolers, you have been asked to investigate the reasons for the decline in sales. Write a report in about 250 words. - o 0 o - EEG-4 11