Code: AC02/AT02                    Subject: COMMUNICATION AND TECHNICAL WRITING

Flowchart: Alternate Process: DECEMBER 2008Time: 3 Hours                                                                                                     Max. Marks: 100

 

NOTE: There are 9 Questions in all.

·      Question 1 is compulsory and carries 20 marks. Answer to Q. 1. must be written in the space provided for it in the answer book supplied and nowhere else.

·      Out of the remaining EIGHT Questions answer any FIVE Questions. Each question carries 16 marks.

·      Any required data not explicitly given, may be suitably assumed and stated.

 

 

Q.1            In this question (parts a to j), some of the sentences have an error and some have none.  Each sentence has three divisions – (A), (B) and (C).  Find out which part of the sentence has an error and indicate that in the space provided for it in the Answer Book against the appropriate question number (i.e. A, B, C, etc.).  If there is no error in the sentence, then write (D) against that Question in the Answer Book. (20)

 

a.       Candidates will be questioned (A)/ on three first books (B)/ of  ‘Paradise Lost’. (C)/ No error. (D)

       

b.      He has ridden (A)/ a tricycle (B)/ three years ago. (C)/ No error. (D)

 

c.       He is very cruel (A)/ with his children (B)/ and exerts a bad influence on them. (C)/ No error. (D)                                                                         

 

d.      I felt sure he (A)/ would die and that (B)/ his money would go to his son. (C)/ No error. (D)

 

e.       She has no time to write (A)/ so she sent a verbal message (B)/ by her son. (C)/ No error. (D)      

                                                                

             f.    Good night Ram; (A)/ where have you (B)/ been all these days? (C)/ No error. (D)

 

             g.   I gave him (A)/ one and a (B)/ half rupees. (C)/ No error. (D)

 

             h.   My sister and myself (A)/ are pleased to accept (B)/ your invitation to dinner (C)/ No error. (D)

 

             i.    I am certain (A)/ that he is (B)/ in the right. (C)/ No error. (D)

 

j.        He asked me (A)/ where was I (B)/ going. (C)/ No error. (D)

 

 

Answer any FIVE Questions out of EIGHT Questions.

Each question carries 16 marks.

 

 

  Q.2     a.   The positioning of the hands signals forth a message. Explain the significance of the positions:                      

                   (i)   Rubbing of hands: (A) quick rubbing (B) slow rubbing.                                 (4)

                   (ii)  Clenching of hands: (A) speaker (B) listener.                                                (4) 

 

             b.   (i)  Explain how the voice modulation of the interactant manages to communicate the message.                                                                   (4)

 

                   (ii) Explain how body language is an important factor in oral communication.                       (4)

 

  Q.3     a.   Mobile phones have proved to be a mixed blessing. Do you agree? Give a reasoned answer.                                                                     (16)

 

                                                                              OR

 

             b.   It is difficult to imagine the present business world without computers. Discuss.                   (16)

 

  Q.4     a.   Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow in your own words:

 

                   The more things change for rural India, the more they seem to remain the same. Successive generations of Indians have dreamt that their lives would be transformed by the Green Revolution, food sufficiency, high yield technologies, liberalization and so on. But miracles have eluded us so far. Even transparent and rule-bound global trading hasn’t helped.

                   From the eighties, Integrated Rural Development Programme(IRDP) to the latest National Rural Employment Programme(NREP), our rural development plans have tackled extreme poverty but failed to boost earning capacities. Successive Human Development Reports have recommended that the rural poor need to be equipped with resources and skills for livelihood options outside the cycle of subsistence agriculture, which needs investment in rural infrastructure. The World Development Reports definition of infrastructure includes public utilities like power, telecom, water, sanitation and public works like roads, railways, waterways and airports.

                   There is sufficient consensus among economists that high GDP growth rate does not necessarily promote human development by widening opportunities and choices for marginalized sections. Even political and social freedoms lose their meaning if the citizens have no access to markets for their needs or for the goods and services. A NABARD official has quoted on the basis of surveys in a recent paper to demonstrate that rural purchasing power and agricultural productivity are directly linked to transport, irrigation and research infrastructure.

                   (i)   What has been the cherished dream of the successive generations of India and how far has it been realized?

                   (ii)  What has been lacking in our development plans to boost earning capacities of the rural poor?

                   (iii)  Which factors constitute the public utilities?

                   (iv) In what way would the GDP growth not necessarily lead to development/widening opportunities and choices for the poor?

                   (v)    What truth has been revealed by the recent rural based surveys?   (5 x 2 = 10)

 

             b.   Distinguish between the meanings of the following pairs of words by framing sentences of your own.

                   (i)   Ceiling, sealing

                   (ii)  Alteration, altercation

                   (iii) Childish, childlike                                                                                         (6)

 

  Q.5     a.   Most technical writing is concerned with description and explanation.          Discuss.

                                                                                                                                            (8)

 

             b.   During the last three centuries, there has been an unprecedented expansion of technical vocabulary. What care should be taken in the use of words in the technical writing?                                        (8)

 

  Q.6     a.   How to make professional presentation? Briefly discuss seven steps of a successful presentation.                                                               (8)

 

             b.   What are the requisites of running effective meetings? What are the usual purposes of holding various meetings?                                            (8)

 

  Q.7          a.                                                        Draft a Memo to an employee who is in the habit of coming late and doing his work carelessly.                                                                                   (8)          

 

             b.   Draft an application for the job of a professional, giving curriculum vitae for the post.                       (8)

 

  Q.8           What is an analysis report? Explain in detail the importance of technical reports.                  (16)

 

  Q.9           A customer has complained about the faulty working of the Kitchen Gas Burner that your company has supplied. He insists on the replacement of the gas burner since it is within the warranty. Draft a suitable reply to the complaint of the customer.                                                                      (16)