INDEX
Chapter 1 The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary 2-3
Chapter 2 Articles (Reading & Skimming) 4-7
Chapter 3 Descriptive Writing (Letter & Essay) 8-10
Chapter 4 Reading Comprehension 11-15
Chapter 5 Perfection vocab 16-17
Chapter 6 Perfection (with annotation) pdf 18-20
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The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary
Idioms/Phrasal Verbs
1. Drift apart
○ To gradually become distant or lose a close connection, often
in relationships or friendships.
2. Fall through
○ To fail to happen or be completed, especially a plan or
arrangement.
3. Get across
○ To successfully communicate an idea or message so that it’s
understood.
4. Go down
○ To be remembered or recorded; also used to mean to
happen, or to be received in a certain way (e.g., "The
proposal went down well").
5. Turn a blind eye
○ To ignore something or pretend not to notice, especially
something improper or wrong.
6. Read the riot act
○ To give a strong warning or reprimand to someone for bad
behavior.
7. I’ve got it in the bag
○ To feel assured of success, to be confident that something is
certain to happen.
8. Play fast and loose
○ To act irresponsibly or deceitfully, especially with someone’s
feelings or with the truth.
9. Tooth and nail
○ To fight or compete with great determination and intensity.
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Vocabulary Words
1. Instrumentalise
○ To make use of something as a means to achieve a particular
goal, often in a way that is exploitative.
2. Jeopardise
○ To put something at risk or in danger, especially something of
value.
3. Mitigation
○ The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or impact of
something, often a problem or crisis.
4. Vitiate
○ To spoil or impair the quality or efficiency of something; to
make it invalid or ineffective.
5. Dissent
○ Disagreement or opposition, especially to a prevailing idea,
policy, or authority.
6. Offset
○ To counterbalance or make up for something; to diminish the
impact of something by introducing an opposite effect.
7. Ambit
○ The scope, extent, or bounds of something, particularly in
terms of authority, influence, or responsibilities.
8. Transparency
○ Openness, clarity, and honesty in communication and actions,
often in government or business contexts.
9. Complacent
○ Self-satisfied and unconcerned, often with an implied neglect
of potential dangers or challenges.
10. Unscrupulous
○ Lacking moral principles, willing to do dishonest or unfair
things to achieve a goal
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Articles (Reading & Skimming)
Article for Reading:
Testing time: on climate action and President Trump
Many goals related to climate change and public health have important
deadlines by 2030: reducing carbon emissions, financing poorer
countries’ climate mitigation and adaptation plans, protecting
biodiversity, anticipating future pandemics, and instituting sustainable
development. It does not bode well for any of them that in the second
half of this decade — when the world has greater need of science
sensitive to societal, developmental, and humanitarian needs plus
cross-border trust — Donald Trump will be the U.S. President. Those
goals have been instrumentalised by treaties that demand collective
action, the ability to negotiate and compromise, and a willingness to
assume the long view, all of which Mr. Trump has shown he is
incapable of, thus jeopardising the desperate progress the world needs
to make. Already, at the recent COP16 summit, the world’s richest
countries refused to meet their own commitments to pay for
biodiversity management and instead pointed to private-sector funding
to bridge the gap.COP29 will begin next week to draft the framework in
which the carbon offsets system will operate without devolving into a
“pay to pollute” scheme. In his first term, Mr. Trump pulled the U.S. out
of the Paris Agreement; refused to fund WHO; censored research
findings; promoted the expansion of carbon-intensive industries; and
fanned pseudoscience. He also vitiated scientific collaborations by
raising the bogeyman of “hidden” political agendas and, after his
appointees to the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine,
weakened federal agencies’ ability to regulate emerging technologies.
Given the U.S.’s likely turn towards transactionalism for the next half
decade and the world’s rapidly shrinking carbon budget, countries
fighting climate change must consider binding agreements so that
commitments thereunder survive changes in government, while
bracing to miss targets by wider margins in the interim. Then again, Mr.
Trump’s U.S. cannot be treated as an isolated stressor. For one, the
repercussions for U.S.-Europe trade under Europe’s new Carbon
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Border Adjustment Mechanism are yet to be worked out. Similarly, if
the U.S. reduces adaptation financing, which is not unlikely, the drain
on other countries’ budgets will compromise their capacity to deal with
everything from pathogen surveillance to early-warning systems. There
is still hope, however. U.S. States have considerable power to effect
subnational action and, while less than ideal, it must not be
underestimated. Mr. Trump’s re-election also places a higher premium
on other governments’ support — material and otherwise — for their
scientists, their collaborators, and evidence-based policymaking to
keep the world on course to meeting its goals.
Article for Skimming:
All or any: on resources and Supreme Court verdict
That the Constitution has an economic philosophy rooted in socialist
principles, mainly embodied in its Directive Principles of State Policy, is
well understood. However, a question that has often arisen for judicial
review concerns how far the state’s obligation to subserve the common
good and prevent the concentration of wealth and means of production
can be allowed to go against fundamental rights of individuals. The
state’s obligation to ensure that the ownership and control of “material
resources of the community are so distributed as to subserve the
common good” and to prevent the working of the economic system to
the common detriment is found in Articles 39(b) and (c). The recent
verdict of a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, holding that not all
private resources would fall under the ambit of ‘material resources’ of
the community in Article 39, is notable for its examination of whether
the underlying economic thought should be given an expansive view,
or there are limitations on what sort of private property can be the
subject of state action. The Court’s majority opinion rejects the
expansive view taken in a few precedents in favour of any private
resources, including those individual-owned, falling under its ambit. In
tune with present-day economic realities, it holds that this directive
principle cannot be seen through any particular ideological prism, and
disapproves of such earlier formulations. The majority view is that
while, theoretically, private resources could be part of the community’s
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resources, the relevant consideration for the state to acquire or
distribute them in pursuit of the common good will depend on
“non-exhaustive factors”: the nature of the resources and their
characteristics, whether such acquisition is essential for the
community, the scarcity of such resources, and the consequences of
their being concentrated in private hands. Land acquisition has always
been based on the principle of eminent domain, while allocation of
natural resources will require fair and transparent processes. On the
other hand, nationalisation of utilities, services and industries has
required constitutional justificatio
Bullying significantly impacts child development, affecting emotional,
psychological, and academic aspects of a child's life. Victims of
bullying often experience low self-esteem and chronic anxiety, which
can lead to depression and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. The
constant fear and stress caused by bullying can hinder emotional
growth, making it difficult for children to form healthy relationships and
trust others.
Psychologically, bullying can cause long-lasting trauma. Children who
are bullied may develop a negative self-image, believing they are
worthless or unworthy of kindness and respect. This can result in
long-term mental health issues, including anxiety disorders,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ongoing emotional
instability.
Academically, bullying disrupts a child's ability to concentrate and
participate in school activities. Fear of encountering bullies can lead to
increased absenteeism,lower grades, and disengagement from school.
This academic decline can affect future educational and career
opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.
Moreover, bullying can impact social development. Victims may
struggle to develop essential social skills and withdraw from peer
interactions, leading to social isolation. This isolation can hinder the
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development of communication skills and the ability to work
collaboratively, which are crucial for personal and professional
success.
In conclusion, bullying has profound and far-reaching effects on child
development. Addressing bullying through comprehensive prevention
and intervention programs is essential to ensure that all children can
grow up in a safe and supportive environment, allowing them to reach
their full potential.
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Descriptive Writing (Letter & Essay)
● Write an essay of 200 words about the effects of bullying on
Child Development.
Bullying significantly impacts child development, affecting emotional,
psychological, and academic aspects of a child's life. Victims of
bullying often experience low self-esteem and chronic anxiety, which
can lead to depression and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. The
constant fear and stress caused by bullying can hinder emotional
growth, making it difficult for children to form healthy relationships and
trust others.
Psychologically, bullying can cause long-lasting trauma. Children who
are bullied may develop a negative self-image, believing they are
worthless or unworthy of kindness and respect. This can result in
long-term mental health issues, including anxiety disorders,
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and ongoing emotional
instability.
Academically, bullying disrupts a child's ability to concentrate and
participate in school activities. Fear of encountering bullies can lead to
increased absenteeism, lower grades, and disengagement from
school. This academic decline can affect future educational and career
opportunities, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage.
Moreover, bullying can impact social development. Victims may
struggle to develop essential social skills and withdraw from peer
interactions, leading to social isolation. This isolation can hinder the
development of communication skills and the ability to work
collaboratively, which are crucial for personal and professional
success.
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In conclusion, bullying has profound and far-reaching effects on child
development. Addressing bullying through comprehensive prevention
and intervention programs is essential to ensure that all children can
grow up in a safe and supportive environment, allowing them to reach
their full potential.
● Write a letter to the mayor of your city on behalf of the
Principal of your school, requesting him to preside over a
seminar on ‘School Education’ in your city.
[Principal's Name]
[School Name]
[School Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
Honorable [Mayor's Name]
[City Hall Address]
[City, State, ZIP Code]
Subject: Invitation to Preside Over Seminar on 'School Education’
Dear Honorable [Mayor's Name],I hope this letter finds you well. On
behalf of [School Name], I am writing to invite you to preside over a
seminar on 'School Education' that we are organizing in [City].
The seminar aims to discuss the current challenges and future
prospects of school education, and your esteemed presence would
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greatly inspire the participants and add significant value to the
discussions.
We would be honored if you could share your insights and experiences
with us during this important event. The seminar is scheduled for
[Date] at [Time] at [Venue].
Thank you for considering our invitation. We look forward to your
positive response.Sincerely,
[Principal's Name]
[School Name]
[Contact Information]
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Perfection Vocab
Cordon
● A line or barrier (often of police, soldiers, or objects) set up to
restrict access to an area.
Aqueduct
● A structure or channel built to transport water, often over long
distances.
Conduit
● A pipe or channel for conveying fluids, or a means of transmitting
information or goods.
Emendation
● A correction or revision, especially in a written text.
Retraction
● The act of taking back or withdrawing a statement, opinion, or
promise.
Recantation
● A public withdrawal or renouncement of a previously held belief or
statement.
Promulgated
● Formally announced or publicly declared, often in relation to a law
or rule.
Proclaimed
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● Declared publicly or officially.
Withheld
● Kept back or refused to give.
Egregious
● Shockingly bad or blatant in its wrongness.
Flagrant
● Clearly offensive or immoral, often without attempting to hide it.
Grievous
● Causing great pain, suffering, or sorrow; very serious.
Avant-garde
● Innovative, experimental, or ahead of its time, especially in art or
culture.
Retrograde
● Moving backward or reverting to an earlier, less advanced state.
Metamorphic
● Related to transformation or change in form, particularly in
geology (rocks altered by pressure/heat).
Manifestations
● Signs or expressions of something; ways in which something
becomes visible or evident.
Imperative
● Absolutely necessary or required; also used as an urgent
command.
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Contravenes
● Acts in conflict with or violates a rule, law, or principle.
Purview
● The range or scope of authority, influence, or responsibility.
Sodomy
● Sexual acts that deviate from traditional norms, historically
referred to specific acts now seen as outdated terms.
Transvestism
● The practice of dressing in clothes traditionally associated with the
opposite gender.
Partisan
● A strong supporter of a particular party, cause, or person, often to
the point of bias.
Gridlock
● A situation where there is no progress or movement, often used in
politics to describe legislative stalemate.
Ensnared
● Caught or trapped, usually in a difficult or complicated situation.
Competing
● Engaged in a rivalry or striving against others.
Polarization
● Division into sharply contrasting groups or opinions.
Dysfunction
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● Impairment in the normal functioning of a system or relationship.
Foster
● To encourage the development or growth of something.
Accelerating
● Increasing in speed or happening at a faster rate.
Devolved
● Transferred or delegated to a lower level, often in government.
Persistently
● Continually, repeatedly, or enduringly.
Pervasive
● Spreading widely throughout an area or group; present
everywhere.
Obsolete
● No longer in use; outdated or out of fashion.
Disillusionment
● A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that
something is not as good as believed.
Ineptitude
● Lack of skill, ability, or competence.
Unexamined
● Not carefully considered or thought about.
Paradigm
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● A model or example; a widely accepted way of thinking or set of
beliefs.
Simultaneously
● Happening or done at the same time.
Surveillance
● Close observation, especially of a person or group, often for
security purposes.
Dismantle
● To take apart or disassemble something, often systematically.
Threatening
● Expressing an intention to cause harm; menacing.
Diplomatic
● Skilled in managing international relations or tactfully handling
sensitive situations.
Beneath the surface
● Hidden from immediate view; underlying aspects that are not
immediately obvious.
Walking a tightrope
● Managing a difficult or risky situation where there is a high chance
of failure.
Grapple with
● To struggle with or try to deal with a challenging issue or problem.
Constant
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● Something that is unchanging, steady, or regularly occurring.
Imperative
● Of vital importance; something that must be done.
Nascent
● Just coming into existence and showing potential for growth.
Potentially
● With the possibility of becoming something in the future.
Semblance
● An outward appearance or form of something, often not the whole
reality.
Grievances
● Complaints or feelings of resentment due to unfair treatment.
Rivalries
● Competitive relationships or conflicts between people, groups, or
nations.
Rhetoric
● The art of persuasive speaking or writing, often used to influence
an audience.
Hegemonic
● Dominant or having influence over others, often culturally or
politically.
Antidote
● A remedy or solution to counteract a problem or harmful situation.
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Deregulation
● The removal or reduction of government rules or controls in an
industry or sector.
Laissez-faire
● An economic philosophy of minimal government intervention in
business and economic matters.
Inequalities
● Situations where people or groups have unequal access to
resources or opportunities.
Exacerbates
● Makes a situation worse or more severe.
Ostensibly
● Appearing to be true or stated as true, but possibly not actually so.
Expediency
● The quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly
being improper or immoral.
Competing
● Striving against others for a goal or advantage.
Alliances
● Formal agreements or partnerships between individuals, groups,
or countries for mutual benefit.
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Perfection (With Annotation) Pdf
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