IGNOU BEGC-131 December 2025 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 [ 2 ] BEGC–131 inaccessible, remote regions in the world today–but even the most isolated valleys 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 degree 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 investigating more natural disasters. For farmers growing apples or grains on steep moun tain slopes, that means they have to shift their farms to higher levels , to ensure the cool seasons necessary for their [ 3 ] BEGC–131 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

Q2.Glacier and snow melt feeds into rivers, sustaining their flow. As glaciers get smaller, that water supply to rivers like the Indus w ill likely dwindle, leaving the communities and ecological systems that rely on that water vulnerable. Changes 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 [ 4 ] BEGC–131 they can —and have —burst through the rock-piles holding them back, resulting in devastating outburst floods. Questions :

(a)

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

(ii) Changes in temper ature have affected the Himalayan region in many ways. Mention any two. 2

(iii) Farmers in the region have been faced to adopt new practices in response to climate change. Explain any one such practice. 2 [ 5 ] BEGC–131

(iv) How are changes in the glaciers responsible fo r flooding in the region ? 2

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

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

(vii) Give a suitable title to the passage. 2

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

(i) Inaccessible [ 6 ] BEGC–131

(ii) Dwindling

(iii) Disastrous

(iv) Sustain

(v) Devastate

Q3.Match the words/phrases in Column ‘A’ with their meanings in Column ‘B’ : 10×1=10 Column ‘A’ Column ‘B’

(i) Demographic

(a) Journey to a holy place for religious reasons

(ii) Chronic

(b) Happening again

(iii) Pilgrimage

(c) A trip on a ship or a boat taken for pleasure [ 7 ] BEGC–131

(iv) Cynosure of all

(d) Spreading from eyes one person to another

(v) Apparel

(e) Very ancient

(vi) Primeval

(f) Conservative

(vii) Cruise

(g) Clothes

(viii) Orthodox

(h) Pertaining to the study of population (ix) Recurrence

(i) Lasting a long time (x) Contagious (j) Something that strongly attracts attention [ 8 ]

Q4.Fill in the blanks/rewrite as directed : 15×1=15

(i) Why do you ……….. me like this ? (Use either ‘treat’ or ‘treats’)

(ii) He ……….. a teacher since 1994. (Use the correct form of ‘be’)

(iii) I ……….. a new car last month. (Use the correct form of ‘buy’)

(iv) You will ……….. your money if you do not keep it in your purse. (Use ‘lose’ or ‘loose’)

(v) Everyone ……….. to be involved in finding ways to protect India’s natural resources. (Use either ‘has’ or ‘have’) [ 9 ] BEGC–131

(vi) ……….. you know how to make a pasta in white sauce ? (Use either ‘Do’ or ‘Does’)

(vii) The chief guest will not ……….. this gift. (Use ‘accept’ or ‘except’)

(viii) The new office building is under (Use the correct noun form of ‘contract’) (ix) You ……….. try this soup if you like. (Use either ‘may’ or ‘ought to’) (x) He met ……….. old friend when he went to Shimla last week. (Use the correct article) [ 10 ] BEGC–131 (xi) When I was a child, my grandmother would tell me ……….. story every night at bed time. (Use the correct article) (xii) Agra is famous ……….. its historical buildings. (Use the correct preposition) (xiii) The teacher will understand. You must explain the situation to him. (Rewrite as a conditional sentence) (xiv) I know her. (Rewrite changing into passive voice) (xv) The order had been delivered by him. (Rewrite changing into active voice)

Q5.You and your friend are planning to visit a Book Fair. Write a dialogue in about 250 words discussing it. 15 [ 11 ]

Q6.Write a letter to your friend informing about a Health Checkup Camp in your residential area.

Q7.You have been invited to deliver a speech on “Strong Mind, Strong World”. Write a speech on around 250 words informing students about the importance of mental health.

Q8.Write an essay (in a bout 250 words) on the following topic : 15 Cultural Heritage of Indian Tribal Communities.