IGNOU BEGC-131 June 2023 Previous Year Question Paper

Q1.Read the following passage and answer the questions given below : The Himalayas are the source of three major Indian rivers namely the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. Flowing for about 2,525 kilometres (km), the Ganga is the longest river in India. The Ganga basin constitutes 26 per cent of the country‟s land mass and supports 43 per cent of India‟s population. The Ganga flows from the Himalayas all the way to the Bay of Bengal, through some of Asia‟s most densely - populated regions. Its river basin is more than 1 million sq . km, and home to over 650 million people. The Ganga has the most populated river basin in the world. The Ganga river faces a lot of serious challenges, mainly because of the fast growth of cities, agriculture and industries in recent decades. Too much water is being removed for farming and other u ses, barrages and dams disrupt the Ganga‟s natural flow, and pollution from homes and industries have badly contaminated what‟s left of this once mighty, free-flowing river. Hundreds of millions of people and a huge range of wildlife rely on the river Gang a. But pollution, dams and removal of too much water (mostly for agriculture) have affected the flow and health of this vital river. One of the river‟s most at -risk animals is the Ganga river D olphin. There used to be tens of thousands of them, but now onl y around [ 3 ]

Q2.200-1,800 are left in the river. Biggest threats to them include fishing (they‟re targe tted for their oily blubber), as well as toxic pollution, dams and barrages in the river. Environmental activists are now working to encourage more sustainab le water use and helping build community awareness and action to protect the river Ganga. River wildlife — including dolphins, gharials and turtles — urgently need clean and free -flowing water as well as safe protected areas away from threats on the Ganga, and environmentalists are researching the best options to help them thrive. Environmentalists are working with the Government of India as much as possible for sustainable impacts, supporting policy implementation and development, and to find new ways of susta inable water management; species monitoring and protection, and climate change adaptation. The government of India has set up an empowered body as part of the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti. The NMCG has stat ed its vision in terms of four restoration pillars, namely Aviral Dhara (continuous flow), Nirmal Dhara (unpolluted flow), Geologic Entity (protection of geological features) and Ecological Entity (protection of aquatic biodiversity). It is clear that the Ganga cannot be restored by only pollution -abatement measures. Many of the strtegies need to seriously integrate long -term ecological and sustainability goals, and cannot simply be a short-term move.

(A)

(i) The river Ganga is wor shipped as a sacred river in India. It is a lso extremely important for the Indian economy. Why ? 2

(ii) What are the serious challenges faced by the Ganga in recent decades ? 2

(iii) What are the factors that have affected the flow of this great river ?

(iv) Which animal is mentioned as being one of Ganga rivers most at -risk animals ? 2

(v) What are the greatest threats faced by this animal ? 2

(vi) What actions are being taken up by environmental activists to protect the river Ganga ? 2

(vii) What are the four „restoration pillars‟ envisaged the National Mission for Clean Ganga ? 2

(viii) Give a suitable title to this passage. 1

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

(i) disrupt

(ii) contaminate

(iii) implementation

(iv) restoration

(v) integrate [ 6 ]

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

(i) A Lion‟s share Referring to sound

(ii) Hike Spreading from one person to another

(iii) Acoustically Making amends for a wrong action

(iv) Atonement Along walk, usually in the countryside

(v) Recuperative Pertaining to the study of population

(vi) Contagious Helping you to regain health after illness

(vii) Demographic A large portion of something

(viii) Proliferate Bright, colourful and impressive (ix) Tedious Increase rapidly in number (x) Resplendent Boring and Tiring

Q4.(A) Fill in the blanks/Rewrite as directed : 1 × 15 = 15

(i) A new medical discovery has been in this week‟s „Science‟ Journal. (Use the correct form of report)

(ii) It is important to preserve the valuable cultural traditions ancestors. (Correct form of „hand‟)

(iii) he come to the University by the metro train ? (Use „do‟ or „does‟)

(iv) The teacher advised me to read that book. (Use „have‟ or „has‟)

(v) The date in my new watch automatically if I cross the International Data Line. (Use correct form of „change‟)

(vi) Everyone ... to be involved in finding ways to protect India‟s natural resources. (Use „have‟ or „has‟)

(vii) You will your money if you do not keep it in your purse. (Use „lose‟ or „loose‟)

(viii) Yesterday me the bus from Chennai to Bangalore. (Correct form of „take‟) (ix) If I this job offer down, I would have regretted it all my life. (Correct form of the verb „turn‟) (x) If we early, we would have reached by now. (Correct form of the verb „leave‟) (xi) The teacher will understand. You must explain the situation to him. (Rewrite as one conditional sentence) (xii) Hymns are sung every evening, by the monks in the monastery. (Change into active voice) (xiii) The greatest artist of the nineteenth century had painted this portrait. (Change into passive voice) (xiv) Rhine is the longest river in Germany. (Use the correct article) (xv) You should take umbrella with you, as it might start raining. (Use the correct article)

Q5.Two friends have decided to spend their vacation together. Write out a dialogue (in about 250 words) where they discuss the places they would like to visit and other plans for the holiday. 15 [ 10 ]

Q6.Write a letter to a friend in a neig hbouring state inviting him/her to visit a historical monument near your town/village. Your letter should highlight the historical significance of the monument.

Q7.You have been invited to make a speech to a group of school students on the topic : „Career options available for students in India today.‟ Write out the speech in around 250 words.

Q8.Write an essay (in about 250 words) on the following topics : 15 “India‟s role in the 21st Century World.” BEGC–131 26,870