EK DUM BASIC
5_6098107082119054916.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 30th MAY
Paying a price: On monkeypox outbreak
In three weeks since the first case of monkeypox infection was confirmed on May 7 in the U.K. in a person who had just arrived from Nigeria (where the outbreak has been continuing since September 2017) the virus has spread to at least 21 countries and infected 226 people, mainly in Europe and North America. The U.K., which is the hardest hit, has reported 106 lab-confirmed cases as of May 26. As per WHO, more cases can be expected as surveillance expands; scientists believe the virus has been spreading under the radar for some time. For instance, a person in Canada had symptoms of monkeypox on April 29, though it was not tested at that time. Similarly, the monkeypox genome sequence first shared by Portugal was from a sample collected on May 4 but was not tested for monkeypox till the U.K. reported the first case. All the 21 countries that have reported at least one case are non-endemic for monkeypox, raising concerns about the fast spread of the virus, by far the largest outbreak in humans outside Africa. Two rave parties in Spain and Belgium have been super-spreader events. Nigeria has reported 231 confirmed cases and eight deaths since 2017, with 15 cases reported this year till April 30. There have been a few instances of exportation to non-endemic countries from Nigeria since 2017, and eight such instances in all from the endemic countries in Central and West Africa. However, human-to-human transmission in non-endemic countries has been very limited, if at all, in the past.
Despite the first case in humans being reported in 1970, and the virus becoming endemic in about a dozen countries in Africa, very little attention has been paid to study the virus characteristics, the host animal, and the modes of transmission. However, in September 2019, the FDA approved a vaccine, and two antivirals approved for treating smallpox have shown promise in animal studies. It is unclear how long it would take to contain the outbreak. Meanwhile, there is a potential risk of the virus jumping from humans to animals, which may make it endemic in these countries. While China was rightly criticised for keeping the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a secret for weeks, the developed countries have paid scant attention to stop the outbreak in Nigeria. The low mortality rate of about 1% for the virus clade now in circulation in Europe and North America, the slow rate of mutation, the relative ease of stopping the virus spread, and the availability of vaccines should not be a reason once more to ignore the virus spread in Nigeria. Instead, it should spur more research on the virus and make vaccines and antivirals available in Nigeria and other endemic countries in Africa.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Genome (N)- the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
2. Exportation (N)- the act of sending something to another country for sale.
3. Outbreak (N)- a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease.
4. Scant (Adj)- barely sufficient or adequate.
5. Clade (N)- a group of organisms believed to comprise all the evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor.
6. Mutation (N)- the way in which genes change and produce permanent differences. परिवर्तन
Paying a price: On monkeypox outbreak
In three weeks since the first case of monkeypox infection was confirmed on May 7 in the U.K. in a person who had just arrived from Nigeria (where the outbreak has been continuing since September 2017) the virus has spread to at least 21 countries and infected 226 people, mainly in Europe and North America. The U.K., which is the hardest hit, has reported 106 lab-confirmed cases as of May 26. As per WHO, more cases can be expected as surveillance expands; scientists believe the virus has been spreading under the radar for some time. For instance, a person in Canada had symptoms of monkeypox on April 29, though it was not tested at that time. Similarly, the monkeypox genome sequence first shared by Portugal was from a sample collected on May 4 but was not tested for monkeypox till the U.K. reported the first case. All the 21 countries that have reported at least one case are non-endemic for monkeypox, raising concerns about the fast spread of the virus, by far the largest outbreak in humans outside Africa. Two rave parties in Spain and Belgium have been super-spreader events. Nigeria has reported 231 confirmed cases and eight deaths since 2017, with 15 cases reported this year till April 30. There have been a few instances of exportation to non-endemic countries from Nigeria since 2017, and eight such instances in all from the endemic countries in Central and West Africa. However, human-to-human transmission in non-endemic countries has been very limited, if at all, in the past.
Despite the first case in humans being reported in 1970, and the virus becoming endemic in about a dozen countries in Africa, very little attention has been paid to study the virus characteristics, the host animal, and the modes of transmission. However, in September 2019, the FDA approved a vaccine, and two antivirals approved for treating smallpox have shown promise in animal studies. It is unclear how long it would take to contain the outbreak. Meanwhile, there is a potential risk of the virus jumping from humans to animals, which may make it endemic in these countries. While China was rightly criticised for keeping the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak a secret for weeks, the developed countries have paid scant attention to stop the outbreak in Nigeria. The low mortality rate of about 1% for the virus clade now in circulation in Europe and North America, the slow rate of mutation, the relative ease of stopping the virus spread, and the availability of vaccines should not be a reason once more to ignore the virus spread in Nigeria. Instead, it should spur more research on the virus and make vaccines and antivirals available in Nigeria and other endemic countries in Africa.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
------------------------------------------
1. Genome (N)- the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a cell or organism.
2. Exportation (N)- the act of sending something to another country for sale.
3. Outbreak (N)- a sudden occurrence of something unwelcome, such as war or disease.
4. Scant (Adj)- barely sufficient or adequate.
5. Clade (N)- a group of organisms believed to comprise all the evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor.
6. Mutation (N)- the way in which genes change and produce permanent differences. परिवर्तन
EK DUM BASIC
5_6102910874190611995.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 31st MAY
Born to win: On Gujarat Titans’ maiden win at IPL 2022
A debutant team winning a trophy is a unique sporting high. Gujarat Titans did precisely that while clinching the Indian Premier League (IPL) title through a clinical display against Rajasthan Royals during Sunday’s final in front of a delirious home crowd at Ahmedabad. Summit clashes, except in rare episodes, can be tepid affairs despite all the hype and the IPL climax dished out a low-scoring tussle on a dry surface. But credit is due to the Titans for remaining the stand-out unit through the tournament that remained anchored in Mumbai and Pune before shifting base to Kolkata and Ahmedabad in the concluding stretch. The league also offered some redemption for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the Titans’ captain. Often weighed down by injuries and the comparisons with Kapil Dev, Pandya finally turned the corner, leading Titans with finesse, scoring brisk runs and prising out valuable wickets like he did in the final — scalping Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer and Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson. Through the IPL’s long summer, Titans always had consistent performers chipping in without fail. In the final too, players cutting across skill-sets and nationalities excelled, be it spinner Rashid Khan or batters Shubman Gill and David Miller while Hardik too etched a 34. For Royals, there were expectations about the team wresting the cup as a tribute to its first captain, the late Shane Warne.
However, sport does not entirely ride on emotion and Royals stumbled at the last step. But there was no shame as the squad did remarkably well until the final with Buttler leading the run charts, scoring tons almost at will. Royals last won the title during the 2008 inaugural edition and the latest comeback augurs well for Samson’s men. Another debutant unit, Lucknow Super Giants, also performed fine to book a last-four slot. That Titans and Giants stayed the course allayed those fears about a bloated league with 10 teams, throwing up forgettable cricket. Instead it was the established behemoths, former champion Mumbai Indians and defending champion Chennai Super Kings, that ate humble pie and reiterated the surprise factor in sport. India’s blue-chip batters — skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — had a horror run while the success of rookie speedster Umran Malik, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and veteran Dinesh Karthik, who blitzed with a strike-rate of 183.33, revealed that hope is intrinsic to the league. In a year that will witness the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the league was a selection-primer. But a few worries remain and those are centred on the IPL’s commercial heft. The drop in TRPs hints at saturation with the event and the organisers need to find ways to get back viewership. Other than that, the league is here to stay with 10 teams to boot.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
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1. Delirious (Adj)- marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion. उन्मादी
2. Hype (N)- the use of a lot of advertisements and other publicity to influence or interest people.
3. Redemption (N)- the act of purchasing back something previously sold.
4. Weigh Down (Phrasal Verb)- to cause problems for someone or something, or to make someone worried.
5. Ride On (Phrasal Verb)- depend on something.
6. Stumble (V)- trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall.
7. Behemoth (N)- something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
8. Ate Humble Pie (Phrase)- to admit that you were wrong about something.
Born to win: On Gujarat Titans’ maiden win at IPL 2022
A debutant team winning a trophy is a unique sporting high. Gujarat Titans did precisely that while clinching the Indian Premier League (IPL) title through a clinical display against Rajasthan Royals during Sunday’s final in front of a delirious home crowd at Ahmedabad. Summit clashes, except in rare episodes, can be tepid affairs despite all the hype and the IPL climax dished out a low-scoring tussle on a dry surface. But credit is due to the Titans for remaining the stand-out unit through the tournament that remained anchored in Mumbai and Pune before shifting base to Kolkata and Ahmedabad in the concluding stretch. The league also offered some redemption for all-rounder Hardik Pandya, the Titans’ captain. Often weighed down by injuries and the comparisons with Kapil Dev, Pandya finally turned the corner, leading Titans with finesse, scoring brisk runs and prising out valuable wickets like he did in the final — scalping Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer and Royals’ skipper Sanju Samson. Through the IPL’s long summer, Titans always had consistent performers chipping in without fail. In the final too, players cutting across skill-sets and nationalities excelled, be it spinner Rashid Khan or batters Shubman Gill and David Miller while Hardik too etched a 34. For Royals, there were expectations about the team wresting the cup as a tribute to its first captain, the late Shane Warne.
However, sport does not entirely ride on emotion and Royals stumbled at the last step. But there was no shame as the squad did remarkably well until the final with Buttler leading the run charts, scoring tons almost at will. Royals last won the title during the 2008 inaugural edition and the latest comeback augurs well for Samson’s men. Another debutant unit, Lucknow Super Giants, also performed fine to book a last-four slot. That Titans and Giants stayed the course allayed those fears about a bloated league with 10 teams, throwing up forgettable cricket. Instead it was the established behemoths, former champion Mumbai Indians and defending champion Chennai Super Kings, that ate humble pie and reiterated the surprise factor in sport. India’s blue-chip batters — skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — had a horror run while the success of rookie speedster Umran Malik, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and veteran Dinesh Karthik, who blitzed with a strike-rate of 183.33, revealed that hope is intrinsic to the league. In a year that will witness the ICC Twenty20 World Cup, the league was a selection-primer. But a few worries remain and those are centred on the IPL’s commercial heft. The drop in TRPs hints at saturation with the event and the organisers need to find ways to get back viewership. Other than that, the league is here to stay with 10 teams to boot.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Delirious (Adj)- marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion. उन्मादी
2. Hype (N)- the use of a lot of advertisements and other publicity to influence or interest people.
3. Redemption (N)- the act of purchasing back something previously sold.
4. Weigh Down (Phrasal Verb)- to cause problems for someone or something, or to make someone worried.
5. Ride On (Phrasal Verb)- depend on something.
6. Stumble (V)- trip or momentarily lose one's balance; almost fall.
7. Behemoth (N)- something enormous, especially a large and powerful organization.
8. Ate Humble Pie (Phrase)- to admit that you were wrong about something.
EK DUM BASIC
5_6105162674004297226.pdf
💢💢The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 1st JUNE
Women at the top: On 2021 Civil Services results
Taking another step towards equity, three women, Shruti Sharma, Ankita Agarwal and Gamini Singla, secured the first, second and third ranks, respectively, in the 2021 Civil Services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Considered one of the toughest examinations to crack, the girls emerged successfully at the top in their second attempt, and in the case of the second-ranker, in her third try. All three women agreed that it was a long, difficult and challenging journey. With 10 of the top 25 rank-holders being women, there is a lot to celebrate — and ponder over. According to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education report, published by the Ministry of Education for 2019-2020, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education for the female population is 27.3%, compared to 26.9% for males. In this backdrop, women comprised only 26% — or 177 — of the total of 685 candidates recommended by the UPSC for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services, Group A and B. This skewed statistic must change because public service offers a unique opportunity to bring about social change, and women can drive this, especially in a country where girls often have to drop out of school for a variety of reasons, from poverty, early marriage to lack of toilets.
Ms. Sharma hails from Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh), Ms. Agarwal from Kolkata and Ms. Singla from Sunam (Punjab), and each of their stories is that of struggle and persistence. It has been a hard-fought battle for women to come this far in the IAS, and sometimes a trickier road awaits them once inside the steel framework of the administrative setup. If three women are at the top today, they have a lot to thank trailblazers such as Anna Rajam Malhotra (née George), the first woman to join the Indian Administrative Service in 1951, or C.B. Muthamma, the first woman to join the IFS in 1948 who fought a landmark case in the Supreme Court of India when she was looked over for a promotion for Ambassador, or even Anita Kaul who worked tirelessly to champion the Right to Education Act 2009 which made education a fundamental right for every child. The early part of a civil servant’s career is usually spent in rural or semi-urban India, giving her a vantage point over issues including women’s health, literacy, economic independence, caste and gender disparities that are in need of reforms or policy intervention but are often overlooked due to lack of a proper understanding. To achieve this, education is the key. Also, if civil service has to represent all sections of the population, of which half are women, their representation in the services too must increase at all levels of the bureaucracy, starting with the highest rung.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Ponder (V)- think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. विचार करना
2. Backdrop (N)- the situation or place in which something happens. पृष्ठभूमि
3. Skewed (Adj)- not accurate or exact.
4. Bring About (Phrasal Verb)- cause something to happen.
5. Persistence (N)- the continued or prolonged existence of something. दृढ़ता
6. Trickier (Adj)- (of a task, problem, etc.) requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward. जटिल काम
7. Trailblazer (N)- a person who is the first to do something; an innovator.
8. Vantage Point (N)- a particular personal way of thinking or set of opinions.
Women at the top: On 2021 Civil Services results
Taking another step towards equity, three women, Shruti Sharma, Ankita Agarwal and Gamini Singla, secured the first, second and third ranks, respectively, in the 2021 Civil Services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Considered one of the toughest examinations to crack, the girls emerged successfully at the top in their second attempt, and in the case of the second-ranker, in her third try. All three women agreed that it was a long, difficult and challenging journey. With 10 of the top 25 rank-holders being women, there is a lot to celebrate — and ponder over. According to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education report, published by the Ministry of Education for 2019-2020, the gross enrolment ratio in higher education for the female population is 27.3%, compared to 26.9% for males. In this backdrop, women comprised only 26% — or 177 — of the total of 685 candidates recommended by the UPSC for appointment to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Central Services, Group A and B. This skewed statistic must change because public service offers a unique opportunity to bring about social change, and women can drive this, especially in a country where girls often have to drop out of school for a variety of reasons, from poverty, early marriage to lack of toilets.
Ms. Sharma hails from Bijnor (Uttar Pradesh), Ms. Agarwal from Kolkata and Ms. Singla from Sunam (Punjab), and each of their stories is that of struggle and persistence. It has been a hard-fought battle for women to come this far in the IAS, and sometimes a trickier road awaits them once inside the steel framework of the administrative setup. If three women are at the top today, they have a lot to thank trailblazers such as Anna Rajam Malhotra (née George), the first woman to join the Indian Administrative Service in 1951, or C.B. Muthamma, the first woman to join the IFS in 1948 who fought a landmark case in the Supreme Court of India when she was looked over for a promotion for Ambassador, or even Anita Kaul who worked tirelessly to champion the Right to Education Act 2009 which made education a fundamental right for every child. The early part of a civil servant’s career is usually spent in rural or semi-urban India, giving her a vantage point over issues including women’s health, literacy, economic independence, caste and gender disparities that are in need of reforms or policy intervention but are often overlooked due to lack of a proper understanding. To achieve this, education is the key. Also, if civil service has to represent all sections of the population, of which half are women, their representation in the services too must increase at all levels of the bureaucracy, starting with the highest rung.
CREDIT SOURCE - THE HINDU
-------------------------------------------
1. Ponder (V)- think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. विचार करना
2. Backdrop (N)- the situation or place in which something happens. पृष्ठभूमि
3. Skewed (Adj)- not accurate or exact.
4. Bring About (Phrasal Verb)- cause something to happen.
5. Persistence (N)- the continued or prolonged existence of something. दृढ़ता
6. Trickier (Adj)- (of a task, problem, etc.) requiring care and skill because difficult or awkward. जटिल काम
7. Trailblazer (N)- a person who is the first to do something; an innovator.
8. Vantage Point (N)- a particular personal way of thinking or set of opinions.
EK DUM BASIC
5_6109475212011505073.pdf
🔰The Hindu Vocabulary For All Competitive Exams | 03-06-2022🔰
1. AGITATE (VERB): (उत्तेजित करना): upset
Synonyms: perturb, fluster
Antonyms: calm
Example Sentence:
The thought of questioning Tony agitated him extremely.
2. CAPRICIOUS (ADJECTIVE): (मनमौजी): fickle
Synonyms: inconstant, changeable
Antonyms: stable
Example Sentence:
It's terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss.
3. IMPART (VERB): (प्रदान करना): communicate
Synonyms: pass on, convey
Antonyms: keep to oneself
Example Sentence:
The teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils.
4. ABSURDITY (NOUN): (अर्थहीनता): idiocy
Synonyms: ridiculousness, stupidity
Antonyms: reasonableness
Example Sentence:
I laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
5. IMPERIL (VERB): (संकट में डालना): endanger
Synonyms: jeopardize, risk
Antonyms: safeguard
Example Sentence:
They advised against tax increases for fear of imperiling the recovery.
6. PERTURB (VERB): (घबड़ा देना): worry
Synonyms: upset, unsettle
Antonyms: reassure
Example Sentence:
They were perturbed by her rude behavior.
7. RESILIENT (ADJECTIVE): (प्रबल): strong
Synonyms: tough, hardy
Antonyms: vulnerable
Example Sentence:
Babies are generally far more resilient than new parents realize.
8. MODERATION (NOUN): (आत्मसंयम): self-restraint
Synonyms: restraint, self-control
Antonyms: extremism
Example Sentence:
He urged them to show moderation.
9. PREFATORY (ADJECTIVE): (प्रारंभिक): introductory
Synonyms: preliminary, opening
Antonyms: final
Example Sentence:
His prefatory remarks the author claims that
10. AFFRONT (VERB): (अपमान करना): insult
Synonyms: offend, outrage
Antonyms: compliment
Example Sentence:
She was affronted by his familiarity.
1. AGITATE (VERB): (उत्तेजित करना): upset
Synonyms: perturb, fluster
Antonyms: calm
Example Sentence:
The thought of questioning Tony agitated him extremely.
2. CAPRICIOUS (ADJECTIVE): (मनमौजी): fickle
Synonyms: inconstant, changeable
Antonyms: stable
Example Sentence:
It's terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious boss.
3. IMPART (VERB): (प्रदान करना): communicate
Synonyms: pass on, convey
Antonyms: keep to oneself
Example Sentence:
The teachers imparted a great deal of knowledge to their pupils.
4. ABSURDITY (NOUN): (अर्थहीनता): idiocy
Synonyms: ridiculousness, stupidity
Antonyms: reasonableness
Example Sentence:
I laughed at the absurdity of the situation.
5. IMPERIL (VERB): (संकट में डालना): endanger
Synonyms: jeopardize, risk
Antonyms: safeguard
Example Sentence:
They advised against tax increases for fear of imperiling the recovery.
6. PERTURB (VERB): (घबड़ा देना): worry
Synonyms: upset, unsettle
Antonyms: reassure
Example Sentence:
They were perturbed by her rude behavior.
7. RESILIENT (ADJECTIVE): (प्रबल): strong
Synonyms: tough, hardy
Antonyms: vulnerable
Example Sentence:
Babies are generally far more resilient than new parents realize.
8. MODERATION (NOUN): (आत्मसंयम): self-restraint
Synonyms: restraint, self-control
Antonyms: extremism
Example Sentence:
He urged them to show moderation.
9. PREFATORY (ADJECTIVE): (प्रारंभिक): introductory
Synonyms: preliminary, opening
Antonyms: final
Example Sentence:
His prefatory remarks the author claims that
10. AFFRONT (VERB): (अपमान करना): insult
Synonyms: offend, outrage
Antonyms: compliment
Example Sentence:
She was affronted by his familiarity.