HISSAN CENTRAL EXAMINATION - 2081(2025)

 

HISSAN CENTRAL EXAMINATION - 2081 (2025)

Grade: XII                                                                                            F.M.: 75

Time: 3 hrs

ENGLISH (0041 M1)

Candidates are required to give answers in their own words as far as practicable. The figure in the margin indicates full marks.

Attempt ALL the questions:

1. Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.

Cure-all pills: myths or reality? Browse the shelves of any health food shop or pharmacy and you'll find dozens of dietary supplements -vitamins, antioxidants, minerals - along with a seemingly endless range of homeopathic remedies. There is always something new, some 'miracle ingredient' offering the promise of a longer, healthier, happier life. There are extracts of every kind of fruit and vegetable you can imagine - tomato, celery, carrot, papaya and cranberry - along with green tea potion, red wine extract and vitamins A-K in every colour and form. And all of these supplements claim to assist us in the constant battle against ageing, cancer, cardio-vascular disease, and a cornucopia of other afflictions. However, recent research may show it is all too good to be true. So how real are these claims? Vitamin tablets have been around forever, but antioxidants are the latest miracle cure; the question is, do they work? If the hype is true, then what antioxidants do is work to neutralise the free radicals in our bodies and later excrete them. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that have at least one unpaired electron and are therefore unstable and highly reactive. In animal tissue they are believed to accelerate the progression of cardio-vascular and age-related diseases, such as dementia and cancer. Antioxidants in fresh fruit and vegetables have been shown to combine with free radicals and neutralise them, preventing the oxidation which may lead to disease.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away' if eaten alongside four other portions of fresh fruit and vegetables! It is clear that those who eat more fruits and vegetables and the recommended daily intake is at least five portions are less prone to disease and live longer, healthier lives, Over the last 20-30 years, scientists have worked to isolate the active ingredients in fruit and vegetables- believed to be the antioxidents and have conducted controlled tests of antioxidants, which revealed that they do indeed appear to have the ability to halt some of the chemical processes that cause disease. Thus, the multimillion dollar industry of bottled antioxidants to supplement the diets of the busy and the stressed was born.

Antioxidants were first cast into doubt during a major clinical trial in the US, in which a very common antioxidant, beta-carotene, also known as pro-vitamin A (found in yellow and green vegetables, milk and fish), was being tested for its efficacy against lung cancer in high-risk subjects. To the surprise and concern of the scientists conducting the experiment, those individuals taking the supplement intended to reduce the risk of cancer-were at a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. This startling discovery led to the abandonment of the trials mid-way through the experimental process.

Since this experiment in the mid-90s, other studies have similarly indicated that antioxidants and vitamin supplements are of dubious health value at best, and may possibly be harmful. It seems that even common vitamin supplements such as vitamin C may, in large doses, actually exacerbate the risk of cardio-vascular disease or cancer.

A.     Answer the following questions in a single sentence each. [5×1=5]

a) What are the supposed advantages of using 'miracle ingredients’?

b) Why do antioxidants claim to be beneficial for health?

c) What do free radicals do in the human body?

d) When did scientists begin questioning the effectiveness of antioxidants?

e) In which foods can beta-carotene be found naturally?

B.    Look at the highlighted words in the text. Complete these sentences using them. Two of them are not necessary.         [5×1-5]

a) The cost of living has …………….. increased due to inflation and rising fuel prices.

b) Spreading false information on social media can be …………….. to individuals and society.

c) People with weak immune systems are more ……………. to infections and illnesses.

d) Technological advancement will …………….. even further in the coming years.

e) It was a ……………. that the lost child was found safe after two days in the forest.

C.    Read the text again and state:          [5×1=5]

TRUE if the statement agrees with the information given in the text.

FALSE if the statement contradicts the information given in the text.

NOT GIVEN if there is no information in the text.

a)      Vitamin supplements from health food shops may differ from those in pharmacies.

b)     Antioxidants eliminate free radicals from the body.

c)     Professor Horton's study led to a decline in vitamin supplement use.

d)     Pro-vitamin A studies caused US drug companies to face trial.

e)     The FDA and EMEA funded research on high-dose vitamin supplement safety.

 

2. Write short answers to the following questions in about 75 words each.            [5×2=10]

a)   Why does the author argue that the traditional approach to human rights is insufficient in addressing economic inequality?(Human Rights and the Age of Inequality)

OR

In what ways does the bull in the play symbolize more than just an animal, and how does its treatment, compared to the neglect of the people, reflect the values and priorities of the feudal system? (The Bull)

b)   What is personification? How is the moon personified in the poem? (Soft Storm)

c)   Analyze the role of Gouvernail in the story. How does his presence act as a catalyst for Mrs. Baroda's internal struggle? (A Respectable Woman)

d)   How does the poem, The Awakening Age inspire hope for a better future?

OR

How does the neighbours' silent but consistent help, and everyday acts of kindness contribute in building relationships with the new couple? (Neighbors)

f)      Write a letter that Monsieur Durand might have written to his daughters before his death, explaining his choices. (Facing Death)

 

3.   Write long answers to the following questions in about 150 words each     [2×5=10]

a)   How does the poem critique the historical oppression of women and their roles in society? (I was my Own Route)

OR

Discuss how marriage is shaped by legal, moral, and social norms, and how these rules distinguish it from cohabitation. (Marriage as a Social Institution)

b)   How does the behavior of Pelayo and Elisenda reflect human tendencies of greed and exploitation? Explain. (A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings)

 

4.   Write a readable news using the hints given below.      [7]

KIIT Student Prakriti Lamsal's Death Sparks Protests and Political

Uproar

20-year-old Prakriti Lamsal committed suicide...a third-year BTech Nepali student at KIIT, Bhubaneswar, India... triggered demands for justice in Nepal and India...... harassment by her boyfriend, Advik Srivastava ...... Srivastava arrested and sent to judicial custody.... five others, including three KIIT arrested...candlelight vigils held on KIIT's premises ... Nepali students voiced concerns over their safety and treatment following the incident...investigations going on ....political and public pressure mounts on authorities in both Nepal and India to deliver justice.

 

5.   You are the purchasing manager of a retail store and are looking for a new supplier for electronic gadgets. Write a business letter to a potential supplier requesting a price quotation for bulk purchases of smartphones, laptops, and accessories.                      [8]

 

6.   Traditional Nepall culture is being influenced by Western lifestyles, including clothing, food, and social values. Some believe this is a sign of modernization, while others argue it is leading to cultural loss. Write an essay discussing your opinion on whether these changes are positive or harmful, providing relevant examples. [10]

 

7.   Do as instructed in the brackets and re-write the sentences.  [10x1=10]

a.   That was the …..... movie I have ever seen. (Use "bad" in the correct form to fill the blank)

b.   The number of students ......... (is/are/were/was) singing the national anthem at this time yesterday (Choose the correct verb.)

c.   He apologized on his mistake and promised to never lie to his parents again in any situation. (Identify which bolded word is incorrect and rewrite correctly)

d.   If you don't hurry, we ........ (might/must/shall/need) miss the bus. (Fill in the blank choosing the appropriate auxiliary verb)

e.   By the time we will arrive, the meeting had already started. (Identify the grammatical error in the underlined part of the sentence and correct it.)

f.    She failed ……….. (to complete/ completing /complete/completed) the assignment on time. (Fill in the blanks choosing appropriate infinitive or gerund to complete the sentence.)

g.   I waited for him ……. he arrived. (Fill in the blank with an appropriate conjunction.)

h.   The topic was quite interesting. She gave a presentation on it.        (Join the sentences using an appropriate relative pronoun.)

i.    Next week, the documents ....... (have been signed/are signed/ will be signed/ were signed) by the manager. (Choose the appropriate passive form of the verb and write it.)

j.    He said to me, "I did not take your cycle." (Report the speech using the verb, 'denied")

 

8.     Choose and copy the correct alternatives:                   [5×1=5]

a. Which of the following words has /l/ sound?

            i. self               ii. calf              iii. calm            iv. could

b. What is the relation between two children of the same parents?

i. cousins         ii. siblings        ii. niece and nephew  iv. in-laws

 c. Identify the word that has a prefix.

            i. Disaster        ii. disappear    iii. Distance     iv. Disturb

d. The influencer has a huge follow on social media. The word “follow” in this sentence is ………….

i.  A verb          ii. An adjective            iii. A noun       iv. An Adverb

e.   Despite his failure, he decided to turn over a new leaf. In this sentence, the phrase ‘turn over a new leaf’ means …….

i. start a new life   ii. continue the same way       iii. change for the better                  iv. become careless