IGNOU BCA AND BCOM SOLVED ASSIGNMENT 2017-18
FEG-02 Foundation Course In English-2
QUESTIONS SOLVED IN ASSIGNMENT:
- Read the following passage and make notes in an appropriate format:
The Northern Lights are actually the result of collisions between gaseous particles in the Earth’s atmosphere with charged particles released from the sun’s atmosphere. Auroral displays appear in many colours although pale green and pink are the most common. Shades of red, yellow, green, blue, and violet have been reported. The lights appear in many forms from patches or scattered clouds of light to streamers, arcs, rippling curtains or shooting rays that light up the sky with an eerie glow. The most common auroral color, a pale yellowish – green, is produced by oxygen molecules located about 60 miles above the earth. Rare, all – red auroras are produced by high – altitude oxygen, at heights of up to 200 miles. Nitrogen produces blue or purplish – red aurora.
The connection between the Northern Lights and sunspot activity has been suspected since about 1880. Thanks to research conducted since the 1950’s, we now know that electrons and protons from the sun are blown towards the earth on the ‘solar wind’. The tem perature above the surface of the sun is millions of degrees Celsius. At this temperature, collisions between gas molecules are frequent and explosive. Free electrons and protons are thrown from the sun’s atmosphere by the rotation of the sun and escape th rough holes in the magnetic field. Blown towards the earth by the solar wind, the charged particles are largely deflected by the earth’s magnetic field. However, the earth’s magnetic field is weaker at either pole and therefore some particles enter the ear th’s atmosphere and collide with gas particles. These collisions emit light that we perceive as the dancing lights of the north (and the south).
Northern Lights can be seen in the northern or southern hemisphere, in an irregularly shaped oval centred over each magnetic pole. The lights are known as ‘Aurora borealis’ in the north and ‘Aurora australis’ in the south. Scientists have learned that in most instances northern and southern auroras are mirror – like images that occur at the same time, with similar sh apes and colors.
Winter in the north is generally a good season to view lights. The long periods of darkness and the frequency of clear nights provide many good opportunities to watch the auroral displays. Usually the best time of night (on clear nights) t o watch for auroral displays is local midnight.
Many cultural groups have legends about the lights. In medieval times, the occurrences of auroral displays were seen as harbingers of war or famine. The Maori of New Zealand shared a belief with many norther n people of Europe and North America that the lights were reflections from torches or campfires.The Menominee Indians of Wisconsin believed that the lights indicated the location of manabai’wok (giants) who were the spirits of great hunters and fishermen. The Inuit of Alaska believed that the lights were the spirits of the animals they hunted: the seals, salmon, deer and beluga whales. Other aboriginal peoples believed that the lights were the spirits of their people.
Source: Adapted from https://www.northernlightscentre.ca/index.html
- Write a summary of the passage and suggest a suitable title.
- Write a paragraph of 100 – 150 words on any one of the following topics:
- Choosing a career
- Virtual friends
- Celebrating special occasions
- Reading
- Write a composition of 250 – 300 words based on any one of the pictures given below:
- Dog
- Flowers
- Bus
- Kid/Smile
- Fish/Fishing
- You are the President of the Cultural Society of your institution. Write a report in 250 words of a meeting held to discuss plans for the annual Cultural Fest .
- Write a report in 250 words of an interview you had with the President of your students union regarding his/her plans for making your institution environment – friendly.