IGNOU BEGC-131 December 2020 Previous Year Question Paper

Q1.Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : The peaks and valleys of the Himalaya mountain ranges are some of the most inaccessible, remote regions in the world today– but even the most isolated va lleys have been touched by climate change. The changes have already complicated life for the people who live in the region. Across the high mountain region, temperatures have risen by nearly two degrees. Fahrenheit since the start of the 20th century. In response, glaciers are retreating, permafrost is melting, and weather patterns are becoming more erratic, disrupting the lives of millions and instigating more natural disasters. For farmers growing apples or grains on steep mountain slopes, that means they have to shift their farms to higher levels, to ensure the cool seasons necessary for the ir crops. For other, changing patterns of snow and rain have dried up streams and springs or increased the threat of disastrous floods. At the same time, many glaciers across the region have retreated by somewhere between 20 to 47 percent since the year 2000. Glacier and snow melt feeds into rivers, sust aining their flow. As glaciers get smaller, th at water supply to rivers like the Indus will likely dwindle, leaving th e communities a nd ecological systems that rely on that water vulnerable. Cha nges to the glaciers also has another effect : more melt means more water pools in lakes on top of the glaciers. But those lakes are often growing so fast and hold so much water that they can –and have–burst through the rock-piles holding them back, resulting in devastating outburst floods.

(A)

(i) How has climate change altered the temperature in the Himalayan region ? 2

(ii) Changes in temperature have affected the Himalayan region in many ways. Mention any two of them. 2

(iii) Farmers in the region have been faced to adopt new practices in response to climate change. Explain any one such practice. 2

(iv) Communities and ecological systems in the Himalayan regio n are likely to face problems due to retreating glaciers. Explain some of these problems briefly. 3

(v) What are the effects of changing patterns of snow and rain ? 2

(vi) How are changes in the glaciers responsible for flooding in the region ?

(vii) Give a suitable title of this passage. 2

(B) Use the following words in sentences of your own : 1×5=5

(i) Inaccessible

(ii) Dwindling

(iii) Disastrous

(iv) Sustain

(v) Devastate

Q2.Match the words in Column A with their meanings in Column B : 1 × 10 = 10 Column A Column B

(i) Lustrous

(a) clothes

(ii) Conservative

(b) that which cannot be overcome

(iii) Eulogise

(c) loud and flashy

(iv) Proliferate

(d) easily damaged or broken

(v) Legendary

(e) praise someone or something

(vi) Insurmountable

(f) at risk of being destroyed completely

(vii) Fragile

(g) famous and renowned

(viii) Flamboyant

(h) not liking sudden change (ix) Apparel

(i) increase rapidly in number (x) Endangered (j) very shiny

Q3.(A) Fill in the blanks choosing the correct word from those given below : 1 × 10 = 10 (does, have, is, are, need, particular, am, do lose, loose)

(i) If you are not careful, you may your money.

(ii) I going to the cinema today.

(iii) your father work in the office near your house ?

(iv) I not think I can come to your house today.

(v) they got a school in the village ?

(vi) There many people in this class who cannot speak English correctly.

(vii) I think this the most interesting film I have ever seen.

(viii) What we is a sound approach to education ? (ix) My grandfather is very about going for his morning walk. (x) That shirt is very for me.

(B)

(1) Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the word in brackets : 1×5=5

(i) Our country (be) ric h in trees and wildlife.

(ii) I (buy) a new car l ast month.

(iii) (Do) you see today’s newspaper ?

(iv) I thoroughly (enjoy) my visit to Kolkata last week.

(v) After the test held yesterday, all the students (hand) in their answer scripts.

(2) Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles/prepositions as indicated :

(i) When I was a child, my grandmother would tell me story every night at bed time. (article)

(ii) She narrated story of the Ramayana. (article)

(iii) He met old friend when he went to Shimla last week. (article)

(iv) He was born a small village in Punjab. (preposition)

(v) The train departs 3 p.m. (preposition)

Q4.Write a dialogue (around 200 words) between you and a neighbour regarding plans to improve the green cover of your neighbourhood. [ 8 ]

Q5.You and your family are planning a visit to a hill station during the holidays. Write a letter to the manager of a hotel in that town requesting accommodation for your family. Your letter should clearly state your requirements.

Q6.You have been invited to deliver speech to a youth group in your locality. Write a speech of about 250 words on the importance o f preserving the historical monuments in the area.

Q7.Write an essay in about 250 words on any one of the following topics : 15

(a) “Caring for the elderly in India”

(b) “Pollution in Indian cities : a serious health hazard”