The fear of human beings when faced with the mysteries of life and their weakness by comparison with the vastness of nature created in them a need to communicate with the divine, with the superior powers which they believed regulated the universe and determined their own fates. Knowledge of wishes of the gods was always a sure guide for human behavior. In ancient Greece, the precise nature of these wishes was ‘decoded’ by the art of giving oracles, practiced by soothsayers who had the gift of understanding the signs or signals sent by the gods. The soothsayers uttered their oracles by interpreting flashes of lightening, rolls of thunder or the flights of certain birds of prey (omens); alternatively, they might observe the direction in which the fire burned when a sacrifice was made, examine the entrails of animals which had just been sacrificed, or base judgments on the sacrificial beast’s willingness to approach the altar. The interpretation of dreams was popular too, and so was palmistry. The most notable soothsayers of ancient Greece were Tiresias, Calchas, Helenus, Amphiaraus and Cassandra.
However, there were abundant instances in which the gods did not manifest themselves to the faithful in the forms of signs but spoke directly to an intermediate who for a short time was overcome by a ‘divine mania’ and transcended his own human essence. Here the prophet–or more usually the prophetess–entered a state of ecstasy in which he or she delivered the message from the gods to the suppliants.
These practices for foreseeing the future were the basis on which the ancient Greek oracles operated. Each oracle was located within a properly-organized sanctuary and was directly associated with one or other of the gods. Apollo was the archetypal soothsayer for the Greeks, the god who was responsible for conveying to mortals the decisions pronounced by Zeus. The most important of all the oracles, that at Delphi, delivered the messages with the intervention of Apollo, while the oldest, that of Dodona, functioned with the assistance of Zeus.
solution:
Title: Divine Guidance in Ancient Greece
Précis:
Human fear of life’s mysteries and the power of nature led them to seek guidance from divine forces. The Greeks believed that knowing the gods’ wishes ensured correct human behavior. Soothsayers interpreted signs such as lightning, thunder, bird flights, sacrificial fires, animal entrails, dreams, and palm lines to deliver oracles. Famous among these interpreters were Tiresias, Calchas, Helenus, Amphiaraus, and Cassandra. Sometimes, instead of signs, gods directly inspired prophets or prophetesses, who entered a state of ecstasy to convey divine messages. These practices formed the basis of Greek oracles, each located in a sacred sanctuary dedicated to a specific god. Apollo, regarded as the chief soothsayer, communicated Zeus’s decisions, especially through the renowned Delphi oracle, while the ancient Dodona oracle operated under Zeus’s guidance.Q. 3. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end. (20)
Civil society refers to all of the places where individuals gather together to have conversations, pursue common interests and, occasionally, try to influence public opinion or public policy. In many respects, civil society is where people spend their time when they are not at work or at home. For example, a group of people gather at a local park every Thursday afternoon for a game of football. Most of them arrive well before the game begins and stay for some time after it ends. Some of them go out for dinner or a drink after the game. In the course of their meetings they talk about a wide range of topics, including football but also extending to include issues such as work, family, relationships, community events, racial issues and politics. This kind of solidarity can be found in a variety of other places in civil society – such as sports clubs, bowling leagues, reading groups and social movements – where individuals get together to associate on the basis of some shared interest fostering more effective forms of citizenship. Even though people may come together on the basis of an interest they all share in common, they eventually have to develop productive strategies for dealing with conflicts and differences that emerge within the association. Team mates in a bowling league discover, on certain issues, significant differences of opinion. And yet, because they value the association and look forward to participating in its activities, they do not respond to these differences by exiting the scene. Instead, they search for the ways of interacting that will not threaten the solidarity of the group. In the process, they learn to appreciate and to tolerate social differences, a valuable skill to have in an increasingly multicultural nation. They also develop a general sense of social trust and mutual obligation, which makes society function more efficiently (this is what political scientists and sociologists are talking about when they refer to the importance of social capital). Gathering together in an association, people begin to think about their shared private interest as a collective public interest, and they try to make sure that this public interest is safe and secured. For example, the group that gets together for a weekly football game begins to talk about the park as an important community resource; if feel that the park is being mistreated or mismanaged, will organize a ‘save the park’ campaign to try to influence their local politicians and the other residents of the community. Recently, there has been growing concern that civil society is weaker than it used to be, because people are losing interest in joining associations. As citizens become increasingly disconnected from voluntary associations, they will experience less trust and less social connection, and as a result political institutions will function less efficiently. However, some scholars opine that many people are simply choosing to participate in different kinds of associations with fewer face-to-face meetings but supplemented with ‘virtual’ interactions facilitated by resources.
ENGLISH (PRECIS & COMPOSITION)
Questions: (4 marks each)
- How does the author characterize the concept of civil society?
- Why does civil society strive towards better socialization driven by tolerance?
- What do you understand by the term ‘Social Capital’ used in this passage?
- Why does a civil society assume the role of a public stake holder?
- What impact is feared by the weakening state of civil society?
1. How does the author characterize the concept of civil society?
The author describes civil society as the space where people gather outside home and work to talk, share interests, build relationships, and sometimes influence public opinion or policy. It includes parks, sports clubs, reading groups, and other associations where individuals interact socially.
2. Why does civil society strive towards better socialization driven by tolerance?
Civil society encourages people with shared interests to work through differences instead of leaving the group. By learning to manage disagreements respectfully, members develop tolerance and appreciation for diversity, which improves socialization in a multicultural society.
3. What do you understand by the term ‘Social Capital’ used in this passage?
Social capital refers to the trust, cooperation, mutual support, and sense of responsibility that people develop through regular interaction in associations. These qualities help society function more smoothly and effectively.
4. Why does a civil society assume the role of a public stakeholder?
When individuals repeatedly meet for shared activities, they begin to view their private interests as public concerns. For example, a group using a park starts seeing it as a community resource and works to protect it, thus acting as public stakeholders.
5. What impact is feared by the weakening state of civil society?
If people stop joining associations, trust and social bonds will weaken, leading to reduced social connection. As a result, political institutions may become less efficient and society may function less effectively overall.
Q. 4. Correct only FIVE of the following: (10)
(i) I must walk two miles to school every morning when I was a child.
(ii) After the storm, we had got to pick up some fallen branches..
(iii) Guitar is most popular instrument among teen age boys, but not girls.
(iv) You are not well and I wish you feel better soon.
(v) The grass not looking green now because it is not raining since last month.
(vi) The cold air made me shiver a little when I was waiting for him.
(vii) I offered my seat to an older woman who just smiled me.
(viii) She packed her bags, carried downstairs and put the back seat of her car.
solution:
Wrong: I must walk two miles to school every morning when I was a child.
Correct: I had to walk two miles to school every morning when I was a child.Wrong: After the storm, we had got to pick up some fallen branches.
Correct: After the storm, we had to pick up some fallen branches.Wrong: Guitar is most popular instrument among teen age boys, but not girls.
Correct: The guitar is the most popular instrument among teenage boys, but not girls.Wrong: You are not well and I wish you feel better soon.
Correct: You are not well and I hope you feel better soon.Wrong: The grass not looking green now because it is not raining since last month.
Correct: The grass is not looking green now because it has not rained since last month.Wrong: The cold air made me shiver a little when I was waiting for him.
Correct: The cold air made me shiver a little while I was waiting for him.Wrong: I offered my seat to an older woman who just smiled me.
Correct: I offered my seat to an older woman who just smiled at me.Wrong: She packed her bags, carried downstairs and put the back seat of her car.
Correct: She packed her bags, carried them downstairs and put them in the back seat of her car.
Q. 5.
(a)
Punctuate the following text, where necessary. (05)
unfortunately we often miss a basic school lesson every big task consists of several small ones done precisely and perfectly as a nation we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down our moonlit goals into small accomplishable tasks it will reduce frustration anxiety depression in society and embarrassment for the government machinery too as they dont have to defend their unkept promises.(b)
Re-write the following sentences (ONLY FIVE) after filling in the blanks with appropriate Prepositions. (05)
(i) Despite regular practice he never seems to win ———- tennis.
(ii) ———- luck, we should be in Islamabad by 5 p.m.
(iii) He went ———– his own accord: nobody forced him to go.
(iv) My husband brought me some flowers today. He must be ———– something!
(v) My younger son tripped ———— the cat and fell downstairs.
(vi) You look really ———- the weather. Are you ill?
(vii) The car went ———- the brow of the hill and was soon out of sight.
(viii) He told that his career was ———- ruins because of pandemic.
solution:
Unfortunately, we often miss a basic school lesson. Every big task consists of several small ones done precisely and perfectly. As a nation, we acutely need to learn the art of breaking down our moonlit goals into small accomplishable tasks. It will reduce frustration, anxiety, and depression in society, and embarrassment for the government machinery too, as they do not have to defend their unkept promises.
(b) Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions (only five selected)
- Despite regular practice, he never seems to win at tennis.
- By luck, we should be in Islamabad by 5 p.m.
- He went of his own accord; nobody forced him to go.
- My husband brought me some flowers today. He must be up to something.
- My younger son tripped over the cat and fell downstairs.
- Other options for reference:
- You look really under the weather. Are you ill?
- The car went over the brow of the hill and was soon out of sight.
- He told that his career was in ruins because of the pandemic.
Use only FIVE pairs of words in sentences clearly illustrating their meanings. (10)
(i) Annalist, Analyst
(ii) Gest, Jest
(iii) Sleigh, Slay
(iv) Shoot, Chute
(v) Coign, Coin
(vi) Key, Quay
(vii) Wile, While
(viii) Leek, Leak
solution:
Annalist, Analyst
The annalist wrote a detailed record of the events of the past year, while the analyst studied the data to find patterns and trends.Gest, Jest
The knight’s brave gest was remembered in the village, and everyone laughed at the jester’s clever jest.Sleigh, Slay
Santa Claus rides a sleigh pulled by reindeer, whereas the hero vowed to slay the dragon.Shoot, Chute
The gardener will shoot the new plants into the soil carefully, and the soldiers slid down the chute to reach the lower level.Wile, While
The fox used its wile to escape the hunter, while the children played happily in the garden.Q. 7. Translate the following into English by keeping in view figurative/idiomatic expressions. (10)
ہر دور اپنے ساتھ بہت سے ایسے معاملات بھی لے کر آتا ہے جو کسی کی پسند کے نہیں ہوتے مگر انہیں قبول کرنا ہی پڑتا ہے۔ بعض اوقات ایسا بھی ہوتا ہے کہ قدرت شاید ہمیں آزمانے کی خاطر ہمارے سامنے کچھ صحیح نہ جوڑ دے، جو ہمارے لیے مطلب کا نہیں ہوتا بلکہ اس سے ہمارا کوئی تعلق ہی نہیں ہوتا مگر پھر بھی اس سے زندہ کا حصہ بننے پر مجبور ہونا پڑ جاتا ہے۔ آج ہر صدی اپنے ساتھ ایسی تبدیلیاں لاتی رہی ہے جو گزشتہ صدیوں کے مقابلے میں بالکل نئی تھیں۔ فطری ترقی نے انسان کو وہ بہت کچھ دے دیا ہے جسے علمی و معاشی عمل کا میوہ قرار دیا جاتا ہے۔ قدرت بہت بھلی ہے جو ہمارے ساتھ ساتھ ایسی بات بھی پسند کرتی ہے کہ اس کے چہلوں کو ٹھوکرگئے نہ لگے۔ اگر انسانہ کیا بجائے تو قول کی غلط فہمی بڑھ جاتی ہے۔
solution:
Every era brings events and changes that may not be to human liking, yet they must be accepted. Sometimes, nature creates situations that are not directly meaningful to us, but we are still compelled to be part of them. Each century has introduced changes different from previous ones. Natural progress has provided humans with intellectual and economic benefits. Nature wants humans to maintain a connection with it and avoid misunderstandings of its intentions.