142. If you were to look back on your high school years, what advice would you give to someone beginning their high school career? (Simmons)

If I were to advice someone beginning his or her high school career, I would tell him only one thing. Enjoy this time to the core, as it won’t come back. High school is the time of school when a person can follow his passion, take a variety of courses that he likes and practice his hobbies without restraint. As a person grows life becomes more hectic. He has to think about his income, job and how will he support his family. But during the school years these fears are no longer there. The people can relax and take things lightly. The true friends are generally those who a person makes during his school life. They will be there for you whenever you need them. But high school is not all play no study. A person in high school has to think of the colleges he wants to go to. He also has to work hard to get good grades and do extra curricular activities so that he gets admission into a good college. The high school life is full of fun and frolic. When a person is in high school he or she cribs about their lives accusing it of being too much of hard work. They desperately look forward to college. According to them the college life is only party and no study. This is mainly because of the wrong portrayal that movies and TV shows give of college life. When they come to college life they start realizing how wrong they were. College life is a lot more hard work than high school life. Students start missing their high school life and regretting that they did not enjoy it to the fullest. To all the high schoolers, I can only say one thing. Don’t waste this time as t will never come back and then you will regret it throughout your life.

141. Why are you interested in attending [this university]? (your top choice)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a heaven for all the math and reasoning lovers. It has always been a dream. As I grew older I just kept thinking about it day and night. MIT is a university, which is the best in the field I want to pursue. It is a place where I can do what I like unrestrained, i.e. solving problems. It offers so many questions and riddles in front of its students that those who like those stuff will never want to leave. I am one such person. Since childhood I loved solving problems put forward in front of me. It did not matter whether it was a riddle or a Sudoku, a jumble word or a math question I had to find the answer. For me no problem existed without a solution. This is the motto I believe ever student who wants to go to MIT must have if he wants to be a part of that prestigious institution. I always have felt the zeal to learn something that I don’t know. Whether it was a mathematical problem given to my senior or junior, I had to solve it. If not then I thought about it all the time whether I was in the washroom, eating my food, getting ready for school and every second that I was awake. Sometimes even in my dream. MIT is an institution, which provides its students with problems whose solutions no ordinary person can find. It requires a lot of intense research and this is something that I would love to do if accepted. MIT offers students who are interested in research and problem solving with unbelievable opportunities. Its students are always ready to face any challenge thrown in front of them and will never give up. This ‘every problem has a solution’ is the main idea of the university. It will help me develop and learn a lot of new thing in the field that I am interested in. This is why I am interested in Massachusetts Institute of Technology, my top choice.

Article 10

Light is still the fastest

Title: Faster-than-light neutrino result queried

Date published: November 21, 2011 
Date Accessed: November 22, 2011

At the INFN-Gran Sasso laboratory in Italy, a group of scientists said that they had discovered a substance known as neutrinos which travels at a speed faster than that of light. However, another group of scientists from the same laboratory proposed that the neutrinos do not travel faster than the speed of light. This has undermined the discovery which the scientists had claimed to have found in September. If proven true, neutrinos will dismiss all theories of modern physics including the widely used, Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity. Critics had earlier portrayed askance in this issue. The people all around the world are not ready to accept this theory until scientists from various parts of the world verify it. 

The speed of light is 300000000m/s. Till date that is the fastest speed ever recorded. The fact that the light is the fastest has helped formulate various theories. The very foundation of modern physics is based on it. To prove it false would be to undermine an entire century worth of intense physics research. Recent studies has shown that neutrinos may travel faster than light. This new shocked the entire world. However, a group of scientists, from the same laboratory, have argued that the light is still the fastest. Many people have portrayed askance on this issue and the research is still far than complete.

VOCABULARY

askance

with an attitude or look of suspicion or disapproval
ORIGIN late 15th cent.: of unknown origin.
The teacher looked at the student with askance when he gave the same excuse for not doing his homework as he had the week before.

undermine
damage or weaken
ORIGIN Middle English: from under- + the verb mine2, probably suggested by Middle Dutch ondermineren .
Tom had a habit of undermining whatever his friends said, which really annoyed them.

propose
put forward (an idea or plan) for consideration or discussion by others
ORIGIN Middle English: from Old Frenchproposer, from Latin proponere (seeproponent), but influenced by Latinpropositus ‘put or set forth’ and Old Frenchposer ‘to place.’
The teacher proposed that the class goes on a field trip to understand the topic of American Revolution better.

Attach a small photograph of something important to you and explain its significance. (Stanford)

Photographs for me are time capsules, which capture special moments into rectangular sheets for us to relish it later in life. This photograph is of my grandfather’s complete paternal family. This photograph was taken when we were all together in our house in Kathmandu. This photograph is of a deep significance to me as I have always lived away from my family. When I was young my parent’s sent me to Kolkata to live with my maternal grandparents. According to them education in Nepal was not of the level they wanted me to achieve. In Grade 11, I came to Woodstock, as I wanted to become independent and self-reliant. Now that I look at myself, I am grateful to my parents for giving me this exposure and education in life that has made me what I am now. This photograph reminds me of my family. It is a memory to remind me of the high hopes that my family members have for me and that I have to live up to it. The people in this photograph care for me a lot. It reminds me of the time when we all had gathered together and the fun we had. This photograph is something with which I can spend time if I am lonely. It is a sort of companion and a motivator, which helps me strive for what I believe in. It has me standing by my parents and my cousin by theirs. But in the end it shows us as a united, happy family ready to face difficulties together. It also shows that in today’s world where most families prefer to go the nuclear way, we still are there for each other. This photograph is one of my most priceless possessions showing something which makes me happy.

Article 8

Article title :

A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China

Date Published : November 16, 2011 

Date Accessed : November 17, 2011 

The United States of America plans to deploy 2500 troops in Australia as a part of its alliance in Asia. This agreement with Australia is the first time since the Vietnam War that the US has deployed its force somewhere in Asia. This is despite the fact that the United States of America has had a tremendous cut in its military budget. The US has signed a Trans Pacific Partnership with other Pacific Rim nations to create a free trade bloc. This excludes China, despite it being the worlds largest exporter and producer of manufactured goods. China is accusing the US of creating a military tension in China. They are accusing the United States of encircling them both economically and military. Tensions have arisen between both these nations right from the time China overtook US as the most developed nation in the world.

This method is quiet similar to the steps taken by the British in the early 1800's and 1900's to expand its imperialism over various colonies. The Britishers initially entered every nation as traders, but they did not just remain traders. They soon began setting up their own rule in those nations and eventually made them British Colonies. India and America are examples of nations which were earlier British Colonies. History has also shown us that if a powerful nation considered some other nation as a dangerous enemy, they would attack it both military and economically. The spread of US influence in China has raised these questions. The people are now suspicious. Is this part of the US strategy to restore its supremacy and dominance in the world? For the answer to this question we will have to wait and see.

VOCABULARY

deploy

move (troops) into position for military action

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: from Frenchdéployer, from Latin displicare and late Latindeplicare ‘unfold or explain,’ from dis-, de-‘un-’ + plicare ‘to fold.’ Compare with display.

The Indian Army deployed extra troops as soon as it heard that its soldiers were facing men shortage in the western border.

imperialism

a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force

DERIVATIVESimperialistic |-ˌpi(ə)rēəˈlistik|adjective,imperialistically adverbThe British imperialism has now come to an end, but is the American imperialism about to start?
viciousdangerousMiddle English, from Anglo-French vicios, from Latinvitiosus full of faults, corrupt, from vitium vice. First Known Use: 14th centuryThe vicious behavior of his companion shocked Tom, who till now considered him a very friendly person.

If you were to write a book, on what theme or subject matter would it be based, and why? (Stanford/93)

If I were to write a book, it would be adventurous and nerve wrecking. The book would be full of twists and turns at every point. The reader would be transported into another world while reading it. This is mainly because I like suspense, thrill and mystery. The book will be a sort of treasure hunt in which the characters will have to solve puzzles and riddles to reach the next stage. I love puzzles, problems and riddles. Finding a solution to puzzles always excites me. I enjoy it and would love writing a book in which the characters explore ancient ruins, face booby traps and try solving the clues to succeed in their adventure. I am an ardent fan of mystery novels and have always wanted to write one. Thus if I were to write a book, I wouldn’t think twice about the topic. I would also incorporate a lot of machinery into the book, as I am very fond of machines. The novel would be full of hidden machinery that would be activated if the characters by mistake stepped on a trap system. I would love describing this machinery, as I am very fond of it. I have always wanted to visit old archaeological tombs and see how the ancient trap mechanisms worked. And if I write a book on those traps, I will have to go and visit those places. Thus I will be able observe and understand the trap mechanisms that ancient architects instilled in the structures they built. My book will be full of things which quite a large number of modern teenagers including me like. It will be something which I like as an adults view is quite different from a teenagers view.

Tell us about one of the best conversations you’ve had. (Stanford/93)

Conversations play an integral part in the learning process if any person. A conversation can be with anyone, whether it be a stranger or a family member, a friend or an enemy, an animal or a human. However there is always something new to learn. One of the best conversations that I ever had was with one of my uncles. It was the day before I went to hostel in the car. He spoke to me about hostel life, people I may encounter and life as a whole. And the surprising thing was that even though I had already set my mind to the fact that the conversation would be nothing but a boring lecture, it turned out to be pretty good. My uncle told me that whatever I do in life, not to lose confidence in myself. He also told me that if I felt I was right and people were against me, to stand up for myself. I really found that advice helpful and have been following it ever since. It has helped me develop into a confident, smart and independent person ready to face any challenge in life thrown at me. He also told me that in life character of a person is more important than his intelligence. If a person has a bad character but is intelligent nobody will respect him. That guidance really hit me hard. I realized that even though education is important, how I am as a human being is even more important. In life I wont be carrying around my report card everywhere telling how good my grades were. The way I speak, the way I represent myself and my respect towards others will determine people’s opinion about me. This has helped me develop into a humble, kind and friendly person who treats everybody equally. During the conversation asked him about my biggest fear, not being able to maintain good grades, not being able to get into a top college and overall failing in life. He told me that failures are nothing but lessons that teach a person. If one has confidence in himself or herself, then he can never fail in life. I have always kept that in mind. When I came into Woodstock I was overwhelmed by the diversity of the crowd. However I kept on trying and ended up being friends with quite a large number of people and I am quiet proud of that. In the English class I had difficulty in adapting to the standard of education. I got bad grades but I kept on trying and am now confident of my English skills. He also told me that life is more than just about studies and I have indulged in a lot of extracurricular activities whether they be sports or social work. The conversation lasted for an hour but at the end, it helped me become a different person from what I was when I entered the car. That conversation with him helped me become a self-confident, trustworthy, friendly, gentle, happy go lucky and an overall person rather than just someone who is a nerd and gets good grades. And some may like it, some may not, but I am very happy with what I have turned out to be.