Description
Foundation Course in English (FEG-01/BEGF-101)
Assignment Course Code: FEG-01/BEGF-101
Assignment Code: FEG-1/BEGF-101/TMA/2026-27
Max. Marks: 100
Answer all the questions
1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:
For centuries, millets were a staple food across large parts of India. These small-grained cereals — jowar, bajra, ragi and several minor varieties — were valued because they could grow in arid regions with poor soil and very little rain. Farmers found them resilient: they withstood drought, pests and heat far better than rice or wheat. Yet after the Green Revolution of the 1960s, the area under millet cultivation dwindled steadily. Government policy favoured rice and wheat, which received assured prices and irrigation support, while millets came to be dismissed as ‘coarse grains’, the food of the poor. In recent years, however, millets have witnessed a remarkable revival. Nutritionists point out that they are rich in fibre, iron and calcium, and have a low glycaemic index, which makes them suitable for people with diabetes. Environmentalists add that millets need only a fraction of the water consumed by paddy, making them ideal crops for a warming world. Recognising this, the United Nations declared 2023 the International Year of Millets, following a proposal made by India. The change is visible in the market as well. Urban consumers who once considered millets old-fashioned now buy millet biscuits, breakfast cereals and ready-to-cook mixes. Restaurants have begun to feature ragi dosas and bajra khichdi on their menus. Several state governments offer incentives to farmers who return to millet cultivation, and start-ups are building supply chains that connect small farmers directly to retailers in the cities. Challenges, however, remain. Yields are still low compared to rice and wheat, processing facilities are scarce, and many farmers hesitate to switch crops without an assured market. Scientists argue that sustained investment in research and better seeds is essential if the momentum is to continue. Still, the story of millets shows how a forgotten food can return to the centre of our plates — provided health, the environment and public policy all pull in the same direction.
Questions:
1a. Why were millets valued by farmers for centuries?
1b. What led to the decline in millet cultivation after the 1960s?
1c. What health benefits do nutritionists attribute to millets?
1d. Describe in detail the signs of the revival of millets in India.
1e. Why are millets considered suitable crops for a warming world?
1f. Give a suitable title to the passage.
1g. Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
i. a basic or main item of food
ii. dry, receiving very little rain
iii. able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions
iv. gradually became smaller in size or amount
v. the growing of crops
vi. the process of becoming popular or active again
vii. rewards offered to encourage people to do something
viii. amounts of a crop produced
ix. insufficient in quantity; not easily available
x. the force that keeps a process moving forward
2. Choose the correct form of the verb from within the brackets so as to make it agree with the subject:
i. Neither of the answers ……………. correct. (is/are)
ii. The committee ……………. divided in its opinion. (was/were)
iii. Politics ……………. never interested me. (has/have)
iv. Each of the students ……………. given a certificate. (was/were)
v. The teacher, along with her students, ……………. visiting the museum. (is/are)
3. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate article (a/an or the or no article):
Yesterday I met ………… old friend of mine at ………… railway station near my house. He is ………… engineer and works in ………… United States. We had ………… cup of tea together and talked about our school days.
4. Fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the verb given in brackets:
Last Sunday, Meera (decide) to visit her grandmother in the village. She (pack) her bag the night before and (leave) home early in the morning. When she (reach) the village, her grandmother (water) the plants in the courtyard. The old lady (be) delighted to see her. By evening, the whole family (gather) for dinner. They (talk) and (laugh) late into the night. Meera now (plan) to visit the village every month.
5. Replace the italicized words with another word of similar meaning beginning with un-, in- or im-:
i. The minister’s behaviour at the function was quite not proper.
ii. The water in this well is not fit for drinking.
iii. The old fort is not visible from here because of the fog.
iv. It is not polite to interrupt someone who is speaking.
v. She remained not aware of the changes in the timetable.
6. Correct the following sentences:
i. He do not know the answer to this question.
ii. She is having two brothers and one sister.
iii. The sceneries of Kashmir are very beautiful.
iv. Neither of the two boys were present in the class.
v. He returned back the book to the library yesterday.
7. Asking Wh-Questions, example:
You want to know what time the library opens. What time does the library open? Now make questions in a similar way:
i. Find out where the new principal comes from.
ii. You’d like to know why the train was late.
iii. Find out how much the tickets cost.
iv. You want to know when the results will be declared.
v. Find out who is in charge of the sports club.
vi. You’re interested in knowing how far the airport is from the hotel
. vii. You need to know which bus goes to the museum
. viii. Find out whose umbrella this is.
ix. Find out how often the magazine is published.
x. You want to know what the visiting hours of the hospital are.
8. Write about 300 words on any one of the following:
i. You have recently moved to a new neighbourhood. Write a description, giving details of where it is located, the kind of houses it has, the market, the park or any other facility, and what makes it convenient or pleasant to live in.
ii. A teacher who has influenced you deeply.
9. In about 200 words, write a conversation between:
i. You and a shopkeeper who has sold you a defective mobile phone and is reluctant to replace it. OR
ii. Neha, who wants to learn music alongside her studies, and her mother, who feels that it will affect her performance in the board examination.
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