Compulsory English BA First Year 2081
Baneshwor Multiple Campus
Shantinagar, Kathmandu
Pre- Board Exam 2081
Year: First Full
Marks: 70
Subject: Compulsory English Pass
Marks: 28
Level; BA Time: 3 hours
Candidates
are required to answer the questions in their own words as far as practicable.
The figures in the margin indicate full marks.
Section
“A”: (Long Answer Questions) 2x15=30
Answer any TWO questions, but Question 2 is compulsory.
- Write
an essay discussing the impact of technology on modern education. Focus on
both the positive and negative aspects, and analyze how technological
advancements have transformed teaching methods, student learning
experiences, and educational outcomes. Use examples from scholarly
articles or case studies to support your argument.
- Apply the four levels of reading to Franz Kafka’s
story "Before the Law" provided below.
Before the Law sits a gatekeeper. To this gatekeeper comes a man from the
country who asks to gain entry to the Law. But the gatekeeper says that he
cannot grant him entry at the moment. The man thinks about it and then asks if
he will be allowed to enter later on. "It is possible," says the
gatekeeper, "but not now." Since the gate to the Law stands open as
usual and the gatekeeper steps to one side, the man bends down to peer through
the gate into the inside. When the gatekeeper sees that, he laughs and says,
"If it tempts you so much, try it in spite of my prohibition. But take
note: I am powerful. And I am only the least of the gatekeepers. From hall to
hall, keepers stand at every door, one more powerful than the other. I cannot
endure even one glimpse of the third."
The man from the country has not expected such difficulties: the Law, he thinks,
should be accessible to everyone and at all times. But as he now looks more
closely at the gatekeeper in his fur coat, with his big, sharp nose and long,
thin, black Tartar beard, he decides that he had better wait until he gets
permission to enter. The gatekeeper gives him a stool and allows him to sit
down at the side of the door. There he sits for days and years. He makes many
attempts to be let in and wearies the gatekeeper with his requests. The
gatekeeper often interrogates him briefly, questioning him about his home and
many other things, but they are indifferent questions, such as great lords put,
and in the end he always tells him once more that he cannot let him in yet.
The man, who has equipped himself with many things for his journey, spends
all he has, however valuable, to bribe the gatekeeper. The latter takes it all
but, as he does so, says, "I am taking this only so that you do not think
you have omitted anything." During the many years, the man observes the
gatekeeper almost continuously. He forgets the other gatekeepers, and this one
seems to him the only obstacle for entry to the Law. He curses his bad luck, in
his early years boldly and loudly; later, as he grows old, he only grumbles to
himself. He becomes childish, and since in his prolonged study of the
gatekeeper he has also come to know the fleas in his fur collar, he begs the
very fleas to help him and to change the gatekeeper's mind.
Finally, his eyesight grows weak, and he does not know whether it is really
getting darker around him or whether his eyes are only deceiving him. But he
recognizes now in the darkness an illumination which breaks inextinguishably
out of the gateway to the Law. Now he has not very long to live. Before he
dies, all his experiences of the whole time gather themselves in his head to
one point, a question which he has not yet asked the gatekeeper. He beckons to
him, since he can no longer lift up his stiffening body. The gatekeeper has to
bend down to him, for the great difference in size between them has altered
very much to the man's disadvantage. "What do you still want to know,
then?" asks the gatekeeper; "you are insatiable." "Everyone
strives after the Law," says the man, "so how is it that in these
many years no one except me has requested entry?" The gatekeeper sees that
the man is nearing his end, and, to let his failing senses catch the words, he
roars in his ear: "No one else could ever be admitted here, since this
gate was made only for you. I am now going to shut it."
- With suitable examples, discuss how a student-writer
can improve the following aspects of their writing:
a. Clarity of expression
b. Logical organization of ideas
c. Consistent tone
d. Grammar and syntax
Section B: Short Questions (04 x
10 = 40 Marks)
Answer any FOUR questions, but Question 5 is compulsory.
- Make notes of the following passage by using
headings and sub-headings.
The integration of technology in education has seen a remarkable evolution
over the years. Initially, technology in education was limited to basic tools
such as chalkboards and overhead projectors. The introduction of personal
computers in the 1980s marked a significant shift, providing students and
teachers with new ways to access information and complete assignments. With the
advent of the internet in the 1990s, educational resources became more widely
available, leading to the development of online courses and digital libraries.
In the 2000s, interactive whiteboards and educational software transformed
classrooms into dynamic learning environments. Students could engage with
multimedia content, enhancing their understanding of complex concepts. The rise
of mobile devices and tablets further revolutionized education, allowing for
personalized learning experiences and greater flexibility.
Today, technology in education encompasses virtual reality, artificial
intelligence, and machine learning. These advancements offer immersive learning
experiences and adaptive learning platforms that cater to individual student
needs. As technology continues to evolve, it is essential for educators to stay
informed and integrate these tools effectively to enhance the learning process.
- Read the following passage and answer the questions
given under it.
The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th
century revolutionized the way information was disseminated and consumed.
Before the printing press, books were copied by hand, a laborious and
time-consuming process that limited the number of books available and made them
expensive. Gutenberg’s invention allowed for the mass production of books,
making them more accessible and affordable to a wider audience.
The printing press played a crucial role in the spread of knowledge during
the Renaissance. It enabled the rapid distribution of new ideas and scientific
discoveries, contributing to the advancement of various fields. The
Reformation, a significant religious movement, also benefited from the printing
press, as Martin Luther’s writings could be widely distributed, challenging the
Catholic Church's authority and promoting religious reform.
The impact of the printing press extended beyond Europe. It facilitated the
spread of literacy and education, transforming societies and cultures
worldwide. Today, the legacy of the printing press is evident in the modern
printing and publishing industries, which continue to evolve with digital
technology.
a. Summarize the main idea of the passage.
b. What were the limitations of book production before the printing press?
c. How did the printing press contribute to the spread of knowledge during
the Renaissance?
d. Explain the role of the printing press in the Reformation.
e. What is the legacy of the printing press in today's world?
- Answer the following questions briefly and to the
point.
a.
What, according to Tabarrok in "The Meat Market", is “the great
paradox of deceased donation”? Why is this paradox significant?
b.
Do you think Brady really wants the kind of wife she describes?
Explain your response. [I Want A Wife]
c.
Is Halperin’s essay [No Pay? Many Interns say 'No Problem'] structured
inductively or deductively? Explain.
7.
Describe a place that has played an important role in your life. Include a narrative
passage that conveys the place’s significance to you.
- Give the meanings of any FIVE of the following words
and then use each of them in sentences of your own (in the same sense of
meaning you have given).
Radical, Laden,
Trigeminal, Bloated, Circumvent, Construe, Surcharge
………………………..
