NEB Class 11 English Question Paper 2078 Nepal

A. a. snow (cap); b. height; c. 2005; d. (height-measuring) equipment; e. (tectonic) plates.

C. a. They agreed on a single new official height of Mt. Everest, 8,848.86 m (including the snow cap). b. To settle the long-standing difference between Nepal's and China's figures and "set the record straight once and for all" (also prompted by the 2015 earthquake). c. "...but for the first time the country has now conducted its own measurement of the summit." d. They chose 03:00 to minimise errors that could be caused by sunlight in the daytime. e. An avalanche (caused by the earthquake) buried/covered parts of the base camp.

a. Why does the speaker say that 'the children are the most beautiful flowers of all'? (The Selfish Giant)

When the Giant returns and lets the children play in his garden, spring and the singing birds come back with them. The Giant realises that his garden was cold and barren only because he had driven the children away. Their innocence, laughter and love bring life, warmth and beauty to the garden, surpassing even the real flowers. Hence the children are called the most beautiful flowers of all.

b. What circumstances led to Aksionov's imprisonment? (God Sees the Truth, But Waits)

While travelling to a fair, Aksionov stopped overnight at an inn with a fellow merchant. During the night that merchant was murdered and robbed. Aksionov left early, but a bloody knife was found in his bag. The circumstantial evidence convinced the authorities he was guilty, so he was flogged and sentenced to hard labour in Siberia, though he was innocent.

c. What is the speaker's attitude toward war? (The Gift in Wartime)

The speaker, a grieving woman addressing her dead lover, views war with bitterness, pain and condemnation. War has taken her beloved and given her nothing but sorrow, ruins and loss. Her ironic 'gifts' of grief and her own death expose war as cruel, destructive and meaningless. Her attitude is strongly anti-war and full of anguish.

d. Main idea of 'What is Poverty'? Explicit or implicit?

The main idea is that poverty is not mere lack of money but a degrading, dehumanising condition of constant hunger, dirt, sickness, helplessness and humiliation that traps people generation after generation. Jo Goodwin Parker urges readers to truly understand and feel it rather than judge the poor. The main idea is mostly implicit, conveyed through vivid personal description rather than a single stated sentence.

e. Why are Don Gonzalo and Laura annoyed with each other? (A Sunny Morning)

In the park both want the same bench. Don Gonzalo is irritated to find Laura already occupying his favourite seat where he feeds pigeons, and he frightens the birds away. Laura is annoyed by his rude, grumbling manner and his snuff-taking. They exchange sharp, sarcastic remarks, each finding the other ill-mannered, before slowly recognising each other as old lovers.

a. Do you agree that you must love what you do to be great at it? (How to Live Before You Die)

I strongly agree with Steve Jobs that loving one's work is essential to greatness. In his Stanford speech, Jobs argues that work fills a large part of life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. When people love what they do, they remain motivated even through failure and hardship; passion turns difficulty into perseverance. Jobs himself was fired from Apple, yet his love for technology and design drove him to return and transform it. Without genuine interest, work becomes mechanical and uninspired, and excellence rarely follows. Talent and skill matter, but passion sustains the long effort that mastery demands. Love also fuels creativity and the courage to take risks. Therefore, finding work you love is, as Jobs insists, the foundation of doing great and meaningful work.

b. Summary of the poem 'All the World's a Stage'

In this extract from Shakespeare's As You Like It, the speaker Jaques compares the whole world to a stage and all men and women to mere actors who have their exits and entrances. Each person plays many parts in a lifetime, which the poet divides into seven ages. First is the helpless infant crying in the nurse's arms. Second is the unwilling schoolboy creeping to school. Third is the passionate lover sighing and writing songs to his beloved. Fourth is the soldier, quick-tempered and eager for honour even in the face of danger. Fifth is the wise, well-fed justice full of wise sayings. Sixth is old age, the lean and slippered figure whose strong voice shrinks again to a childish treble. The last stage is second childishness and oblivion, without teeth, eyes, taste or anything. Thus the poem presents life as a brief, changing performance ending in helplessness and death.

Interpretation of the COVID-19 Bar Graph

The stacked bar graph illustrates the total number of COVID-19 infected cases in Nepal from 1 January 2020 to 20 January 2021, classified by age group and by gender (total male and total female infected). The horizontal axis shows nine age groups ranging from 0–10 up to 80+, while the vertical axis indicates the number of cases, scaled from 0 to about 80,000.

It is clearly seen that the working-age population was the worst affected. The highest number of infections occurred in the 21–30 and 31–40 age groups, where the totals approach the upper end of the scale. Infection then declines steadily in the older groups. The lowest numbers of cases appear among the very young (0–10) and the very old (80+) age groups, which recorded the fewest infections.

In every age group, the number of infected males is noticeably higher than the number of infected females. Overall, the graph shows that young adults and males were the most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection in Nepal during this period.

Are Smartphones Useful for Secondary-Level Students?

Smartphones have become an inseparable part of modern student life. For secondary-level students, these devices bring both remarkable benefits and serious drawbacks, and a balanced view is necessary before deciding how they should be used.

Advantages

The greatest advantage of smartphones is access to a vast world of information. With a single device, students can search for study materials, watch educational videos, attend online classes and use learning apps and dictionaries. This makes learning faster, cheaper and more independent. Smartphones also improve communication: students can stay in touch with teachers and friends, share notes and discuss homework instantly. Features such as calendars, reminders and note-taking apps help them stay organised and manage their time. During emergencies, a phone is also a vital safety tool, allowing students to contact their parents at any time.

Disadvantages

However, smartphones can be equally harmful when misused. The biggest problem is distraction. Games, social media and endless notifications draw students away from their studies and reduce concentration. Many become addicted, spending long hours scrolling instead of reading or sleeping, which harms both their academic performance and their health. Excessive screen time causes eye strain, headaches and poor posture. Smartphones can also expose young students to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and online fraud, and constant comparison on social media may damage their self-confidence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, smartphones are neither wholly good nor wholly bad for secondary-level students; their value depends entirely on how they are used. If students use them mainly for learning and communication, with proper guidance from parents and teachers and reasonable limits on time, smartphones can be a powerful educational tool. But uncontrolled use turns them into a source of distraction and harm. Therefore, smartphones are useful for students only when used wisely and in moderation.

Smartphones and Secondary-Level Students

The smartphone has become one of the most powerful tools of the modern age. For students of the secondary level, it is both a helpful companion and a possible distraction. Whether it is useful depends largely on how wisely it is used.

Advantages

First, a smartphone is a vast source of knowledge. With a single device a student can reach online libraries, dictionaries, video lessons and educational apps, making learning easier and more interesting than a textbook alone. Second, it improves communication. Students can stay in touch with teachers and classmates, share notes, join online classes and clear their doubts instantly, which proved especially valuable during the lockdowns. Third, it develops digital skills that are essential for higher studies and future jobs. Finally, it is a source of healthy entertainment and relaxation through music, games and creative apps after long study hours.

Disadvantages

However, the smartphone has a darker side. Its biggest danger is distraction: social media, games and endless videos can pull students away from their studies and waste precious hours. Excessive use also harms health, causing eye strain, headaches, poor sleep and a lazy, inactive lifestyle. Moreover, the internet exposes young students to harmful and inappropriate content, online fraud and even cyber-bullying. Constant use can also create addiction and weaken real, face-to-face relationships with family and friends.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the smartphone is useful for secondary-level students only when it is used with discipline and a clear purpose. If students use it mainly for learning and limit their entertainment time, it becomes a window to the whole world of knowledge. But if it is misused, it turns into a thief of time and health. Therefore, like any sharp tool, the smartphone must be handled wisely — guided by parents and teachers — so that its benefits outweigh its harms.

a. "...my tooth is aching terribly." (adverb, not 'terrible').

b. on the way.

c. The incorrect form is have waiting → "I have been waiting for him since early morning."

d. must (You must stop smoking.)

e. does (He usually does his homework in his room.)

f. study is wrong → "...requested their teacher to stop studying." (stop + gerund).

g. "Both Ganesh and his wife are doctors."

h. "The man who is wearing a blue jumper is in the garden."

i. "A wonderful play was written by my uncle."

j. "Mohan said that his brother had arrived home late."

a. 'special' is an adjective (it qualifies the noun 'pen').

b. Dictionary order: chancellor, chanting, chirruping, chivalry, chopper.

c. (i) He got himself into trouble.

d. (i) below.

e. (iii) Kelsey said, "I want to go to Aunt Joy's for Thanksgiving."