IELTS SERIES-8:

IELTS SERIES-8:
IELTsians beware:

DEPARTMENT store OR DEPARTMENTAL store???? 

My wife was on a buying spree. From the mall, I chauffeured her to the always-busy Commercial Street. 
“What is our next destination?” I asked in all politeness though I was irked inside at her shopping mood. I had lost all my 4 hours of reading, watching comedy serials and Face Book.
She looked at me astounded “Don’t you remember even a simple thing? I am telling this 100th time. ‘Go to any Departmental store’ where I would like to purchase some provisions and stationery.”
Driven by this command and to save myself from further salvos for my forgetfulness, I moved the vehicle fast and increased the volume of songs in the car’s stereo.

After a while, I decided that offence is the best form of defense. “I have also told thousand times to you that ‘to say ‘DEPARTMENT STORE” is correct and not ‘DEPARTMENTAL STORE’.” I never miss these unexpected small opportunities to chide her. As usual, she didn't care my words and actually started intently listening to songs. Then, she told “It doesn't matter. After all there are millions who say DEPARTMENTAL STORE.”
“When you go abroad, they may not understand this word-...”
“I won’t go...” is her immediate reply. She opened the door of the car and shut it with a deafening noise. That sound closed my lips from talking further and I followed her gloomily as a person defeated in a fight.

Points to ponder over:
There is no word like ‘DEPARTMENTAL STORE’. (INDIAN usage: OK in India)
IT is ‘DEPARTMENT STORE’ only.
We can say ‘departmental library or departmental action; but NOT DEPARTMENTAL STORE’.
‘DEPARTMENT STORE” is correct.
At least, will you listen to me?

IELTS series-7: What or Which?

IELTS series-7:    WHAT and WHICH?

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?” She asked me in the overcrowded mall. We came here to select a cotton shirt for me. Hundreds of shirts just opposite to us inside the shop!

 I knew well that I could not choose any one on my own because she was ready with her choice from among the 20 shirts  hanging colorfully in front of us. If I chose anyone, surely it was going to be rejected at the first instance. So, I kept mum.

“Don’t you know what your taste is?” she continued with her AK47.

At last, she came with two-one with long stripes and another with plain light blue color.

“WHICH...ONE  DO YOU LIKE?” Again the same nagging question! Please, go through the second paragraph above. I need not repeat the same words.

Then, in a low voice I told “The blue one.”

“NOoo...it won’t suit you. You take the stripes.” Like any wife, her preference was just the opposite. But, here I know, she wants me to look younger.

Points to IELTsians:

You can use “WHAT” when there are many choices before you.

 For example, there are hundreds of shirts when my better half asked me “What do you want to choose?”

You can use “which” when there are only a few options in front of you.

There are only three flowers. Then, “Which one do you prefer?” is the correct usage.

What is ‘Custom’ and ‘Habit’?

IELTS series-6

Beware IELTsians: 

It was a compact air-conditioned room with dim lights and cool air.

The interviewers welcomed me with artificial smiles.

“Please ...take your seat. Why are you sweating...Take some water.” The lady in the middle said in a soft tone. I could not talk. I nodded and tried to appear comfortable but in vain.

Suddenly I remembered that I did not even make the customary greetings of saying ‘Good morning’. I felt sad for me.

‘Tell me about your habits which other people don’t like?” The third man came with a salvo.

What is there to tell about my habits? Everybody in my home scold me for continuously watching television or reading novels, even when there is an examination next day.

“...I do not have any such habit that people criticize about.” This unexpected sudden spurt of a lie from my mouth emboldened my posture and I felt like managing the interview satisfactorily. After all ... we, people like me, need a small first success! It is the spring board of further launch of successive wins.

“What is the relationship between habit and custom?”

I believed firmly that I was going to manage this missile too. “Yes ...sir....habits become customs. The seed is habit and the plant is custom.” First time, a smile crossed my dry lips.

It was a wonderful feeling at that time. I strongly believe that you might have also felt like that if you started confidently replying for the future-job.

At home, I tried to analyze the words ‘habit and custom’, because it is always my practice to probe things. (Effect of detective novels and films) Next time I should be clear about these things and should not manage things. Don’t you feel so?

HABIT:

Habit is something a person often does unconsciously...so naturally that it is part of his personality.

EX.:Ramesh kumar bunks his college whenever a new film is released.

 Custom:

 Customs are practices of a certain group, sect, religion or people belonging to a certain ethnicity.

  EX.:1.Indians say ‘namasthe’ whenever they meet each other.(instead of ‘good morning’)

         2. People decorate Christmas trees with lights during Christmas Eve.

So, let us be careful in understanding ‘custom or habit’ and their usage in IELTS examination or in other examinations. Be sure. There should be no confusion! 

If you get confused, it may become your habit. Beware!

IBPS-interview-9

ATTENTION IBPS-INTERVIEWEES-PART-9
LATEST INTERVIEW QUESTIONS-2014
If you have not seen part-1 to 8 of IBPS-SBI  2012 questions, you need to vist previous posts in FEB 2013 to March 2013. Practice ...practice. Then you can solve even the unexpected questions.

Candidate 1:

Subject : Mechatronics

1)Tell  me about you

2)Netbanking

3)RTGS

4)Did  you take training in  any institute

5)Application  of  engineering in  banking

6)Jewel loans and agricultural loans

7)What is CBS

8)What is IBPS  written   score

Candidate 2

Subject: ESI Employee

1)Job role in central  government

2)What are the banking services ?

3) What is CASA

4) Difference  between  private bank and public sector bank

5)What is a nationalised  bank

Candidate 3:

Subject :B –tech

1)How do you relate  electronics and communications to  banking

2)Lok sabha speaker

3)NPA

4)KYC norms

5)In which  bank  do you have your SB a/c

6)Bitcoin

7)Other languages  known

8)DO you know Tamil

9)If you are transferred to  any other state  -will you accept it ?

Candidate 4:

Subject :Mechanical engineering

1)Tell  me about your family

2)Why not join core industries

3)What is banking

4)What is capital market

5)5 Women chairpersons of banks

6)Who is PEPSI chairman

7)What are a deliver channels for a bank

Candidate 5

Subject : Agriculture

1) What is BT ?

2) What is IRRI

3) Role of NABARD

4)RRB

5)Tell me about  RBI  chairman

6)REPO/CRR/MSF?

7)What is the %  of loans for priority sector  for  foreign  banks

8)What is banking

Candidate 6:

1)You are b.tech ECE-then why banking? 

2)Money  laundering  /black money

3) What are extra curricular activities

4)United nation’s  headquarters

5)What is there  in Hague, Switzerland?

6)Banking Ombudsman

7)NPA

8)Banking services

9) RBI governor

10) RBI deputy governor looking after customer redressal?

11) Customer  relationship means what?

12) Do you know cooking ?

Candidate 7

1)Why  have you come to banking  after  studying environmental sciences

2) How will you manage  transfers SINCE YOU ARE MARRIED?

3) Difference between bancassurance and mutual fund

Candidate 8

B.tech in communication engineering and  media

1)about family

2)About  native place

3)First  preference  of  bank and why ?
4)Why did you shift  from  IT ?