Anna University
B.E./B.Tech. DEGREE EXAMINATION, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011.
Common to all B.E./B.Tech.
Second Semester
186202 — TECHNICAL ENGLISH — II
and 886202 — TECHNICAL ENGLISH — II (Tamil Medium)
(Regulation 2010)
B.E./B.Tech. DEGREE EXAMINATION, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011.
Common to all B.E./B.Tech.
Second Semester
186202 — TECHNICAL ENGLISH — II
and 886202 — TECHNICAL ENGLISH — II (Tamil Medium)
(Regulation 2010)
Time : Three hours
Maximum : 100 marks
Answer ALL questions.
PART A — (10 * 2 = 20 marks)
1. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B : (4 * 1/2 = 2)
A B
(a) holistic (i) required by written law
(b) statutory (ii) a reciprocal action
© repercussion (iii) unfit to eat
(d) inedible (iv) seeing as a whole
(v) splash
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions : (4 * 1/2 = 2)
One of the banes ——————— contemporary civilization is TV viewing. Not enough attention has been paid ——————— its adverse effects —————— our young men who remain glued to the screen ——————— hours together.
3. Write purpose statements for TWO of the following : (2 * 1 = 2)
(a) a dictionary
(b) a thermometer
© a flowchart
4. Use TWO of the following words in sentences of your own and show the difference in stress shift : (2 * 1 = 2)
(a) subject
(b) rebel
© conduct
5. Fill in the blanks with suitable forms of the words given : (8 * 1/4 = 2)
Noun Adjective Person concerned
(a) ecology
(b) mathematics
© tradition
(d) economics
6. Give the numerical expressions for the following : (4 * 1/2 = 2)
e.g. a match lasting five days – a five-day match
(a) a lamp of a power of 20 watts
(b) a an investment of Rs. 500 crores
© a training of 4 days
(d) a project of 15 months
7. Use TWO of the following cause and effect expressions in sentences of your own: (2 * 1 = 2)
(a) because of
(b) result in
© lead to
8. Use TWO of the following phrases in sentences of your own : (2 ´ 1 = 2)
(a) set up
(b) make out
© get along
9. Supply the appropriate prefix for the following words to match their meanings:
(4* 1/2 = 2)
(a) ——————— zero: less than zero.
(b) ——————— saturate: add to solution beyond saturation point.
© ——————— standard: not having the required or normal quality.
(d) ——————— structure: subordinate underlying parts on which something is built.
10. Match the gestures with their meanings : (4 ´
2 *1 = 2)
A B
(a) the V sign (i) disapproval
(b) thumbs down (ii) victory
© touching one’s nose (iii) thinking about some matter
seriously
(d) walking up and down with one’s hands at the back (iv) nervousness
(v) doubt
PART B — (5 ´ 16 = 80 marks)
11. Read the following passage and answer the questions given at the end :
(1 ´ 16 = 16)
Former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), Dr. Anil Kakodkar, said that in the backdrop of the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, the design of the Jaitapur nuclear power plant (JNPP) being planned in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, should be strengthened.
The eminent scientist said that unlike Fukushima, the Jaitapur plant will be located at a considerable height above sea level. “India is in a less seismically active zone as compared to Japan. Therefore, the probability of massive earthquakes is pretty low. Yet, I would suggest that the plant be designed to withstand the worst scenario to prevent any repetition of the Fukushima disaster,” he said.
Kakodkar was reacting to the ongoing crisis at the ill-fated Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan after it was struck by a massive earthquake and flooded by the resultant tsunami. The cooling system of the plant malfunctioned due to flooding of the generators, which led to radiation leakage and subsequent evacuation of residents of the area.
Kakodkar pointed out the requirement for large quantity of water for cooling at a nuclear plant and sea being the largest water body, seaside makes an ideal location for such plants. He noted that India already has three nuclear plants in Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Tarapur (Maharashtra) and Kakrapar (Gujarat) near the seaside.
“Kalpakkam was hit by the tsunami in December 2004, but the reactors were safe. In India, safety factor is always the top priority while designing a nuclear plant,” he said. However, Kakodkar warned against being complacent and called for learning from the tragedy in Japan. “In the nuclear industry, we share our experiences to improve our designs and increase our safety standards. The Fukushima incident should be analyzed in detail by Indian nuclear engineers to better the designs of the Jaitapur plant” he said.
Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, former chairman of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, stressed on adoption of maximum safety standards while designing nuclear plants in India. “The chances of a tsunami hitting Jaitapur are relatively less. Jaitapur comes under a relatively seismically less active zone, so the chances of a major earthquake are low,” he said. Kate Hudson, head of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in London, says building nuclear plants on the shore line, like Japan or Britain do, because of the need for water passing through the station for cooling purposes, may lead to a very dangerous situation in case of a natural disaster like tsunami or a rising water level. Valery Petrosyan, a UN expert on chemical safety, has joined the chorus of voices admitting that there is real cause for concern about what is happening at the Japanese plant. However, Dr. Richard Philips from the School of Earth and Environment at Britain’s University of Leeds says Japanese nuclear facilities are very well prepared for any natural disasters and the catastrophe is unlikely to happen.
(a) Choose the correct answer : (5 ´ 1 = 5)
(i) What happened to Kalpakkam nuclear power plant in 2004?
(1) Destroyed by tsunami
(2) Saved by engineers
(3) Remained normal
(4) Partially disturbed by tsunami
(ii) How many nuclear power plants does India have now?
(1) 3
(2) 5
(3) 4
(4) 6
(iii) Which country is more prone to earthquake?
(1) Britain
(2) Japan
(3) France
(4) India
(iv) Why does Richard Philips say that the catastrophe is unlikely to happen in Japan?
(1) Japanese scientists are well trained
(2) Japanese electricity board is well organized
(3) Japanese people are industrious
(4) Japanese power plants are prepared to meet any natural disaster
(v) Why does Kakodar say that the Fukushima disaster should be studied thoroughly?
(1) To know the impact of the disaster
(2) To build safe reactors in other places
(3) To gain knowledge of the disaster
(4) To assist the Japanese in their recovery.
(b) Mention whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE : (6 ´ 1 = 6)
(i) Jaitapur nuclear power plant should be dropped because of the Japanese disaster.
(ii) Massive earthquakes will never occur in India.
(iii) Radiation was leaked in Fukushima due to failure of cooling systems.
(iv) Seaside is normally chosen for a nuclear power plant because of
scenic beauty.
(v) Setting up nuclear power plant is a top priority for India.
(vi) Valery Petrosyan says that there is enough cause to be worried about nuclear power plants.
© Choose the definition which best suits the given words as they are used in the text : (5 ´ 1 = 5)
(i) backdrop
(1) backyard
(2) backup
(3) background
(4) backpack
(ii) massive
(1) very large
(2) serious
(3) concentrated
(4) ordinary
(iii) ill-fated
(1) badly designed
(2) unnecessary
(3) badly informed
(4) unlucky
(iv) resultant
(1) consequent
(2) effective
(3) remainder
(4) result-oriented
(v) called for
(1) desired
(2) dedicated
(3) demanded
(4) decided
12. Write two coherent paragraphs on ONE of the following :
(a) Economic development versus environmental protection. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
Or
(b) Higher standards of life at the cost of human values. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
13. (a) Write a letter of job application for the post of General Manager to the Vice-President, Star Solar Energy Private Limited, 235, Lattice Bridge Road, Adyar, Chennai-600 020. Add a suitable résumé to your letter.
(1 ´ 16 = 16)
Or
(b) Suppose you are an old student of an engineering college in Chennai. You have started a new business of training students for placing them in multinational companies. You want to have a business contact with your old college. Write a letter to the Principal of your college about yourself and your company. Remember this note will help your principal to decide whether to give you business or not. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
14. Write a set of eight recommendations for ONE of the following :
(a) To maintain your two wheeler in good condition. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
Or
(b) To impart English language skills to students successfully. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
15. Write a short proposal of two or three pages on ONE of the following :
(a) Imagine that you and your friends have developed a high speed cycle for public use. You want to produce this cycle in large and bring it to the market. Write a short proposal to a famous cycle manufacturing company describing the special features of your cycle. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
Or
(b) You know that electricity department sends some people to your house for taking meter readings once in two months. Imagine that you have got a new idea to take meter reading from a centralized server like the telephone department. Write a short proposal to the Managing Director, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, 18, Anna Salai, Chennai-600 002, describing the benefits your system will bring to the board and the people. (1 ´ 16 = 16)
