Borana University College of Social Sciences and Humanities Department of English Language and Literature Course Title: Communicative English Language Skills II Course Code: FLEN 1012 Instructor: Duba Jillo (MA) Group Assignment (5 students per group) Weight: 20% Program: weekend Year: I Semester: II Submission Date: 30/08/2018 E.C Part One: Reading Skills Direction I: Read the following passage thoroughly and do the questions that follow (10 marks). Did you know that some people don't do their reading assignments? It's shocking, but it's true. Some students don't even read short texts that they are assigned in class. There are many reasons for this. They may be distracted or bored. They may be unwilling to focus. They may be unconfident readers. Whatever the reason, it has to stop today. Here's why. Reading stimulates your mind. It is like a workout for your brain. When people get old, their muscles begin to deteriorate. They get weaker and their strength leaves them. Exercise can prevent this loss. The same thing happens to people's brains when they get older. Brain power and speed decline with age. Reading strengthens your brain and prevents these declines. You can benefit from reading in the near-term too. Reading provides knowledge. Knowledge is power. Therefore, reading can make you a more powerful person. You can learn to do new things by reading. Do you want to make video games? Do you want to design clothing? Reading can teach you all this and more. But you have to get good at reading, and the only way to get good at something is to practice. Read everything that you can at college, regardless of whether you find it interesting. Reading expands your vocabulary. Even a "boring" text can teach you new words. Having a larger vocabulary will help you better express yourself. You will be able to speak, write, and think more intelligently. What's boring about that? Do not just discount a text because it is unfamiliar to you. Each time you read, you are exposed to new ideas and perspectives. Reading can change the way that you understand the world. It can give you a broader perspective on things. It can make you worldlier. You can learn how people live in faraway places. You can learn about cultures different from your own. Reading is good for your state of mind. It has a calming effect. It can lower your stress levels and help you relax. You can escape from your troubles for a moment when you read, and it's a positive escape. The benefits of reading far outweigh for those of acting like a passive readers. So do yourself a favor: the next time you get a reading assignment, take as much as you can from it. Squeeze it for every drop of knowledge that it contains. Then move on to the next one. Which one of the following best expresses the main idea of the second paragraph? a. Reading is exciting. b. Reading strengthens your mind. c. Age affects the body in many ways. d. Working out keeps your body in shape. Why does the author think that you should read books that are boring? a. You will eventually grow to love them if you read them enough. b. You will get better grades in reading class. c. You will make your teacher very happy. d. You will learn new words. Of the following which one best expresses the main idea of the third paragraph? a. Reading can benefit you. b. You can learn to design clothing by reading. c. You can learn amazing things and become a better person by reading. d. Knowledge is power. Which one is not a reason given by the author why students fail to complete reading assignments? a. Students may be bored. b. Students may be distracted. c. Students may be unwilling to focus. d. Students may be tired. Which one can best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text? a. He is trying to persuade students to do their reading work. b. He is teaching people how to become better readers. c. He is explaining reasons why people don't do their reading work. d. He is entertaining readers with facts about the mind and body. Which one best describes the author's tone in the first three sentences? a. Surprised b. Sarcastic c. Informative d. Irate Which of the following is not one of the author's main points? a. Reading broadens your perspective and makes you a better person. b. Reading is a relaxing activity with positive mental side effects. c. Reading helps you perform on tests and get into selective schools. d. Reading keeps your mind in shape and prevents losses due to age. Which one is not one of the author's arguments in the fifth paragraph? a. Reading gives you a broader perspective on the world. b. Reading changes the way that you understand the world. c. Reading prepares you for your job in the real world. d. Reading teaches you about distant lands and cultures. Why does the author believe that reading is good for your mind state? a. It has a calming effect. b. It can lower your stress levels. c. It can help you relax. d. All of the above Which title best expresses the main idea of this text? a. Reading is good for the Mind in Many Ways. b. Reading is the Key to a Successful Academic Future c. Reading improves your vocabulary while being entertained d. Reading is the best Way to improve your Writing Skills Part II: Briefly discuss and give short explanation based on the above passage Does the author argue his point well? Analyze one of his arguments and explain whether or not it is an effective argument. (2Pnt) _______________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ Why does the author believe that reading boring or unfamiliar books can be helpful for readers? Use the text in your response. (2 Pnt) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Why does the author describe reading as a "positive escape"? In what ways does reading be positive? Use evidence from the text to support your response. (2 Pnt) _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ Part III: Change the following Direct speech into Reported speech (1 mark each) The officer told the guard, “Open the gate immediately and let the visitors in.” The manager instructs the employees, “Submit the report before the deadline without any excuses.” She said to me, “Why have you not completed your assignment yet?” He said to his friend, “Did you attend the meeting yesterday?” The stranger said to me, “Where do you live and what is your name?” The officer said to the clerk, “How long have you been working in this department?”

Part I: Reading Skills 1. b. Reading strengthens your mind. 2. d. You will learn new words. 3. c. You can learn amazing things and become a better person by reading. 4. d. Students may be tired. 5. a. He is trying to persuade students to do their reading work. 6. a. Surprised 7. c. Reading helps you perform on tests and get into selective schools. 8. c. Reading prepares you for your job in the real world. 9. d. All of the above 10. a. Reading is good for the Mind in Many Ways. Part II: Briefly discuss and give short explanation based on the above passage 1. Yes, the author argues his point well. One effective argument is that reading strengthens your brain. The author uses a clear analogy, stating, "Reading stimulates your mind. It is like a workout for your brain." He explains that just as physical exercise prevents muscle deterioration with age, "Reading strengthens your brain and prevents these declines." This analogy makes the abstract concept of brain health relatable and compelling, effectively persuading the reader of the tangible benefits of reading. 2. The author believes that reading boring or unfamiliar books can be helpful because it expands your vocabulary and exposes you to new ideas and perspectives. According to the text, "Even a 'boring' text can teach you new words," which helps you "better express yourself." Additionally, when you read unfamiliar texts, you are "exposed to new ideas and perspectives," which can "change the way that you understand the world" and make you "worldlier" by learning about different cultures. 3. The author describes reading as a "positive escape" because it allows readers to temporarily step away from their problems in a beneficial way. Reading is positive because it "has a calming effect," "can lower your stress levels," and "help you relax." These effects contribute to a better "state of mind," making the escape a constructive and healthy one. Part III: Change the following Direct speech into Reported speech 1. The officer ordered the guard to open the gate immediately and let the visitors in. 2. The manager instructs the employees to submit the report before the deadline without any excuses. 3. She asked me why I had not completed my assignment yet. 4. He asked his friend if he had attended the meeting the previous day. 5. The stranger asked me where I lived and what my name was. 6. The officer asked the clerk how long the clerk had been working in that department. That's 2 down. 3 left today — send the next one.