Question

English is the language of the future and it opens up the whole world to you. It is the

realization of opportunities which English offers that is persuading a growing number of

Indian parents to opt for sending their kids to English-medium school. And the poor are often

more desperate to do so, rejecting the option of free education in a government school, where

the medium of instruction is usually Hindi or the primary language of the respective region.

They willingly bear the burden of not so-cheap private school education to have their children

learn a language that might take them to where they, their fathers and grandfathers never

went.

2 Official data on the number of children enrolled in recognised English-medium schools

show that it has more than doubled within just half a decade from over 61 lakh in 2003 to

over 1.5 crore in 2008. Data collected by the National University for Education Planning and

administration (NUEPA) shows that the number of those opting for English medium from

class-I-VIII has grown by 150% in these years, while the number of students opting for Hindi

grew by just 32%.
Several studies have shown that a large number of students study in unrecognized schools

as well. Prof. Arun Mehta of NUEPA says that there are thousands of unrecognised English-

medium schools. “Hence, the number of those studying in English could actually be a lot

more than what the official data indicates,” says Mehta.

4 Ironically, despite all these figures showing a steady increase in the number of people

learning English, studies show that the growth is still not fast enough and the skill level

remains poor. The British Council study pointed out that the rate of improvement in English

language skills of the Indian population was “too slow” compared to many other countries,

especially China. It says that a “huge shortage of teachers and quality institutions is

hampering India despite a growing demand for English skills. This could threaten India’s

English advantage in the global market.

5 On its part, the government seems aware of the need to retain English advantage. An

English- speaking skilled workforce” is listed among India’s strengths in a brochure titled

‘Advantage India’- brought out by the Ministry of Communications and Information

Technology.

7.1. On the basis of your understanding of the above passage make notes on it, using

headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary– minimum

4). Also supply an appropriate title to it. (5)



7.2. Write a summary of the passage in about 50 words.​

Answer 1

Answer:

English : of, relating to, or characteristic of England, the English people, or the English language. English. noun. Definition of English (Entry 2 of 4) 1a : the language of the people of England and the U.S. and many areas now or formerly under British control