.In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
.English Grammar
.Lesson No. 3
:Part A: Comprehension Passage
The tiny village of Um-tin is said to possess a “cursed tree”. Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Um-tin has now increased. The tree was planted near a mosque fifty years ago, but it is only in recent years that it
has gained an evil reputation. It is said that anyone who touches it will have bad luck; if he picks a leaf, he will get serious injuries, and he may die. Many villagers believe that the tree has already claimed a number of victims. The people of Um-tin wish they had no such a tree. They asked the governor to cut it down, but he refused saying that it is a useful source of income as tourists have been coming from all parts of the country to see it. In spite of all that has been said, the tourists have been picking leaves and cutting their names on the tree-trunk. So far, not one of them has been struck down by sudden death !
Comprehension Questions:
1. What happens to the person who touches the tree ?
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2. What happens to the person who picks a leaf ?
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3. What do the people of Um-tin wish ?
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Part B: Grammar Questions
Make a circle round the best answer from a , b , c or d.
1. I wish he …………. French.
a. speaking b. to speak c. could speak d. speaks
2. The fire caused serious …………. to many buildings.
a. damage b. damages c. harmful d. injuries
3. The man …………. is standing with her is probably her brother.
a. whom b. which c. who d. whose
Part C: Correct Your Mistakes
1. Don’t say:My brother he is at school.
Say: My brother is at school.
“brother” is subject for the verb “is”, so no need to repeat the subject into “he”.
2. Don’t say:The poor man doesn’t able to pay.
Say: The poor man isn’t able to pay.
“able” is an adjective preceded with verb to be “is”. It is not a verb so as to come
after “doesn’t”.
3. Don’t say:My shirt worths 120 pounds.
Say: a) My shirt is worth 120 pounds.
b) It is of great worth. (value)
“worth” is used as an adjective in: a) above preceded with verb “to be”.
“worth” is used as a noun in: b) above meaning “value”.
.Part D – 1: Model answers for Part A (Comprehension)
1. The person who touches the tree will have bad luck.
2. The person who picks up a leaf will get serious injuries.
3. The people of Um-tin wish they had no such a tree.
.Part D – 1: Model answers for Part B (Grammar)
1. Correct Answer: c. (could speak): with “wish” we use the past, which is unreal past
indicating impossibility of achieving the action (fulfilling the wish).
Rejected Answers:
All the other answers are not applicable because they are either in the present tense (speaks), or in to-infinitive (to speak), or gerund/present participle “speaking”.
2. Correct Answer:a. (damage) is uncountable, so it doesn’t take “s” for plural.
Rejected answers:
c. (harmful) is an adjective, and it must not be preceded with the adjective “serious”.
d. (injuries): means wounds, and so it is not applicable to houses which do not have blood.
3. Correct Answer:c. (who). Man is subject; he is a person, taking: “who” for subject, or
“whom” for object.
Rejected answers:
For the other answers check the lesson No 3 in Summary section.