Class 12 Section I English Lesson 6

Working with words

A. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’.

a. prominent

Ans 👉 standing out so as to be seen easily, conspicuous

b. vulnerable

Ans 👉 exposed to the possibility of being attacked / harmed

c. potentially

Ans 👉 with the capacity to develop or happen in the future

d. transaction

Ans 👉 an instance of buying or selling of something

e. initiatives

Ans 👉 the power or opportunity to do something before others do

f. launched

Ans 👉 to introduce a new plan or product

g. enduring

Ans 👉 lasting over a period of time; durable

h. robust

Ans 👉 strong and unlikely to break or fall

B. Full forms of abbreviations

QR : Quick Response

ISO : International Organization for Standardization

IEC : International Electrotechnical Commission

URLs : Uniform Resource Locators

EMVCo : Europay, Mastercard, and Visa Company

PIN : Personal Identification Number

C. Vowel sounds

/ʊ/

Ans 👉 put, push, hood, full, bull, book, foot, look, hook, cook, should, soot, stood

/u:/

Ans 👉 boom, fool, food, loose, boost, groom, moon, soon, room, soothe

Comprehension

A. True / False / Not Given

a. The system of QR codes was first launched in South Asia. True

b. The standards of payments via the QR codes were approved by EMVCo. True

c. All sorts of businesses are aided by the QR code payments. False

d. There are several models to the QR code payment service. True

e. In countries like Nepal, the QR code paying system is a complete fiasco. False

f. The QR codes payment service is not applicable to small business. False

B. Answer the following questions

a. How can one pay with QR codes paying system?

Ans 👉 One can pay with QR codes paying system either by presenting a QR code for scanning to the merchant, or by scanning the merchant’s QR code.

b. How did Tencent and Alibaba companies utilise the QR code services at the beginning?

Ans 👉 At the beginning, Tencent utilized QR code services in its social media WeChat for friending and Alibaba used it to facilitate Alipay payment services.

c. How do the QR code based payment services launched by Visa and Mastercard mitigate payment problems?

Ans 👉 They mitigate payment problems by linking QR code payments to debit and credit card accounts.

d. Why do we need a scheme operator to run the QR code based payment system?

Ans 👉 A scheme operator is needed for scheme branding at acceptance points, defining the scheme rules, and providing a mechanism for handling disputes and exceptions.

e. What basic requirements are needed to use the QR codes services?

Ans 👉 A suitable, secured scheme operator is required to use the QR code services.

f. How can security concerns related to payment via QR codes be addressed?

Ans 👉 Security concerns can be addressed by using merchant IDs, registration, and real-time notification of payment.

g. Who should be more careful: customer or the merchant in terms of payment issues? Why?

Ans 👉 A customer should be more careful because it is better to prevent fraud at the start rather than trying to correct it later by the merchant.

h. Do you think the QR code based payment can be a panacea for all sorts of payment problems? Why?

Ans 👉 Yes, because it is fast, secure, and easy to create, making payments more reliable and convenient.

Critical Thinking

a. Some business houses, shops and department stores in city areas have started to adopt QR code payment systems in Nepal, too. What should be done to make it more accessible? Discuss.

Ans 👉 The Covid-19 pandemic has boosted Scan and Pay services through QR code in Nepal. People concerned with hygiene support contactless payment. Providers like Fonepay, IMEPay, Khalti, QPay, and SmartQR encourage users. Challenges like lack of interoperability and infrastructure need to be addressed. Government and banks must prioritize digital payment promotion. Mass awareness campaigns, better internet access, and coordinated work among payment providers can make QR code payments more accessible.

b. The payments landscape is shifting from cash to digital mode. Digital payment brings ease and convenience to the consumer. Is it possible to apply such cashless methods in payments in Nepal? Discuss.

Ans 👉 It is possible but challenging. Nepal needs infrastructural and behavioral improvements. QR code payments can formalize informal sectors. Awareness campaigns and high-speed internet access can support growth. Cooperation among banks, service providers, and traders is essential. The ultimate goal should be a one-stop solution for accessing all e-payment services.

Writing

A. Punctuate the paragraph

Ans 👉 It was a cold, freezing day; it had been snowing all day in New York. Mr. Tim cooked, and I went outside to play in the snow. We had not seen much snow since we went skiing in Sweden last year. Mrs. Smith was right because she had said that we’d see snow. The next day, we had a really wonderful time there, didn’t we?

B. Write a news article about digital payment systems in Nepal

Digital Payment Systems in Nepal

Digital payment is gaining momentum due to social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The evolution of digital payment platforms and increasing consumers’ preference towards e-payment secures a bright future for online payment in Nepal.

What is Digital Payment?

Digital Payment is growing in popularity because it is convenient. In the era when businesses are shifting online, transactions should follow.

Major Use of Digital Payment System in Nepal

QR codes are used in departmental stores, small shops, and banks. Payments can be made via digital wallets using QR code scanners. Local vendors, supermarkets, and even vegetable markets now accept digital payments. A report by Nepal Rastra Bank shows that from mid-December 2020 to mid-January 2021, there were 372,176 digital transactions totaling Rs 1.245 billion. In the following month, transactions rose to 535,790 totaling Rs 1.712 billion, showing increasing use.

Future and Challenges

Switching fully to e-payment is a long process. PSOs like eSewa offer QR payment without additional fees. Awareness campaigns and infrastructural development like high-speed internet are necessary. Lack of interoperability is a major challenge for stability.

Conclusion

QR code payments can uplift Nepal’s digital economy. Government and central bank promotion is crucial. A one-stop solution for all e-payment services should be the ultimate goal.

Grammar

A. Identify question types

a. Do you like this country?

Ans 👉 Yes/No Question

b. Where is she from?

Ans 👉 Wh Question

c. How many eggs do we need for this cake?

Ans 👉 Wh Question

d. Whose children are playing in the yard?

Ans 👉 Wh Question

e. Does she like ice cream or sweets?

Ans 👉 Choice Question

f. She sent him an invitation, didn’t she?

Ans 👉 Tag Question

g. Could you tell me if the doctor is available?

Ans 👉 Indirect Question

h. Do you know how tall they are?

Ans 👉 Yes/No Question

B. Choose the correct words from the box

a. Is your friend a scientist?

Ans 👉 No, he’s an artist.

b. Does Naresh live in Kathmandu?

Ans 👉 No, he lives in Pokhara.

c. When did you get home?

Ans 👉 I got home yesterday.

d. What time do you get up?

Ans 👉 I get up at 6:00.

e. Did the children go to the park?

Ans 👉 Yes, they went there after school.

f. Are you going to school?

Ans 👉 No, I’m going home.

g. Can you speak Chinese?

Ans 👉 Just a little.

h. Where did you grow up?

Ans 👉 I grew up in Okhaldhunga.

C. Make wh-questions

a. Romeo loves Juliet.

Ans 👉 Whom does Romeo love?

b. My mother made a delicious bread yesterday.

Ans 👉 What did your mother make yesterday?

c. The music was composed by Narayan Gopal.

Ans 👉 Who composed the music?

d. I’m looking for a new book.

Ans 👉 What are you looking for?

e. They were talking about the new movie.

Ans 👉 What were they talking about?

f. She got the idea from a story.

Ans 👉 Where did she get the idea?

g. She always goes to school on foot.

Ans 👉 How does she go to school?

h. She sometimes goes to the cinema.

Ans 👉 How often does she go to the cinema?

i. They have been waiting for three years.

Ans 👉 How long have they been waiting for?

D. Change these indirect questions into direct ones

a. Could you tell me where the Market Street is?

Ans 👉 Where is Market Street?

b. I’m longing to know what time the bank opens.

Ans 👉 What time does the bank open?

c. Do you have any idea how he’s managed to get in shape so quickly?

Ans 👉 How has he managed to get in shape so quickly?

d. I’d like to know how much this motorcycle costs these days.

Ans 👉 How much does this motorcycle cost these days?

e. Did you notice if he had left the car in the park?

Ans 👉 Had he left the car in the park?

f. Have you found out if the train has left?

Ans 👉 Has the train left?

g. I was wondering if they speak English well.

Ans 👉 Could they speak English well?

h. Would you tell us how we can get to the post office from here?

Ans 👉 How can we get to the post office from here?

i. Do you remember if I locked the front door?

Ans 👉 Did I lock the front door?