Question

Comment on the dominant variety of prose (narrative, expository or descriptive) present in each of the following passages. Write a brief critical appreciation of each passage in about 250 words each: a) We set out for the gallows. The warders marched on either side of the prisoner, with their rifles at the slope; two others marched close against him, gripping him by arm and shoulder, as though at once pushing and supporting him. The rest of us, magistrates and the like, followed behind. Suddenly, when we had gone ten yards, the procession stopped short without any order or warning. A dreadful thing had happened – a dog, come goodness knows whence, had appeared in the yard. It came bounding among us with a loud volley of barks, and leapt round us wagging its whole body, wild with glee at finding so many human beings together. It was a large woolly dog, half Airedale, half pariah. For a moment it pranced round us, and then, before anyone could stop it, it had made a dash for the prisoner, and jumping up tried to lick his face. Everyone stood aghast, too taken aback even to grab at the dog. b) Symptoms of autism-related disorders are well-known: undeveloped social behavior and difficulties with social adaptation (upto complete isolation from the society); delayed or in some other way impaired cognition; severely limited interests − an autist shows interest only towards a small part of the world around him or her, sometimes completely ignoring the rest of it; repetitive or ritual behavior; language abnormalities. At the same time, many autistic persons possess talents not commonly found in regular people: for example, they can be brilliant mathematicians, or have photographic memory. According to the statistics, one of 68 children has autism related symptoms, so the amount of autistic people around us is much higher than it could be possibly expected. However, even though some symptoms such as language difficulties, or social dysadaptation can intervene in normal social interactions, they do not necessarily prevent an autistic person from living a normal life, especially with the help of other people. c) Today, the most technologically advanced skyscraper is the famous Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is also the highest skyscraper in the world. Its exact height is 2,722 feet, or 829,8 meters, and it obviously can be seen from any point in Dubai. Burj Khalifa looks like a stalagmite, which usually has a shape of a cone. If you look at it from a distance, it will remind you of a gigantic sharp cone make of glass and steel. The most impressive aspect about Burj Khalifa is that it had been planned to be a “city within the city”; this means that inside the tower you can find parks, alleys, districts, fountains, and so on. The glass of the tower’s surface always shines, because it is washed every single day, and the concrete with which the tower is built, was invented specifically for Burj Khalifa. There are three entrances to the tower. At the foot of the skyscraper, there is a big artificial lake that measures up to 12 hectares. Inside, the building is as magnificent as it is from the outside. The interiors were projected by famous designers. The air inside Burj Khalifa is conditioned and flavored-it is said that the flavor was also designed exclusively for the tower. 57 elevators work 24/7 to transport visitors between floors. (

Answer 1

Passage 1
The given passage is from a non-fiction narrative 'A Hanging' written by George Orwell. The essay denotes an incident in Burma while he served as a policeman and the prisoner, an Indian was being taken for execution. As the passage opens, we get to know that prisoner is being taken to gallows for execution. The tone of the narrator seems to be a matter of fact in the beginning describing the order of the warders, attitude of the men accompanying him 'as though at once pushing and supporting him.' It identifies the reaction of those two men as a tussle between their duty and pain of seeing someone off to his ultimate departure, i.e. death. How dreadful it is! Nonetheless, it looks like a regular routine, but all of a sudden something dreadful happens. Where the inhuman capital punishment is a normal routine, a matter of fact instance, the appearance of the dog is considered as dreadful, for the dog 'wagging its whole body' stands for something that the narrator identifies with himself. The onlookers are 'aghast , too taken aback' as it is something unusual to their heart and mind. The dog stands for love and compassion and dashes on to the prisoner trying to lick his face. The dog also symbolizes the helplessness of a mute animal against the 'all powerful' system that is comfortable at the thought of a man being slaughtered in the name of law and order. The subject of capital punishment has always been debatable.

Passage 2

The given expository passage presents a discussion on autism wherein the author explains the symptoms of autism which may get conveyed in impaired cognition, troubled adaptation, language in-capabilities and behavioral disorders. Despite their disorders they may have extra ordinary talent in certain areas like mathematics or memorizing.
The author wants to sensitize the readers by indicating the number of autistic children being much higher than expected, and with their limitations deliberate efforts are required on part of the other people who live with them to help them lead a normal life.
The author used a reflective and suggestive tone to suit the purpose. The example of one child among sixty eight showing the symptoms of autism denotes the magnitude of the problem and hence the concern and need for a compassionate outlook.

Passage 3

The passage is a descriptive one highlighting the features of unique Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai. The author stresses upon the technical, architectural as well as aesthetic marvel that the building presents to its viewers.
The figures about its height, artificial lake, number of lifts and and their timings all relate to the precision involved in the making and functioning of the skyscraper. The elaborate description of its shape, exterior, material used to make it one of its own kind, tastefully designed interiors to have a city within the city create an effective imagery. The conditioned and flavored air inside bring a whiff of fragrance to the reader.
The author uses his word-play efficiently to present the grandeur of the grand skyscraper. At the same time it suggests the splendor of the country that houses such a marvel.