Discursive Passage Worksheet Solutions: Deleterious Effects of Drugs | Class 11 English Grammar PDF Download

Read the following passage carefully:

1. “Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician,” says Matthew Prior, a celebrated pharmacologist, while talking about the deleterious effects of drugs in his book, “The Remedy Worse Than the Disease”. There is no dearth of patients dying of misguided treatment.
2. disorder bound to disappear in a short duration.
3. In this era of drugs we must familiarise ourselves with the term “Iatrogenic disease (physician caused ailment)”. When a physician administers medicines without a complete understanding of the patient’s condition, drugs play havoc. A person may become the victim of a worse disease or even lose his life.
4. With Analgin, for instance, special precautions should be taken in case of pregnancy, bronchial asthma, renal and hepatitic dysfunctions and blood-related disorders. It has been banned in several countries, including the USA and Sweden, because of its unexpected and negative effects that lead one even to death through an anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic shock is a process that leads to a severe fall in the blood pressure, bronchoconstriction, the swelling of blood and lymph vessels and sometimes death because of the loss of fluid in these vessels. Anaphylaxis usually occurs suddenly, in minutes after the administration of a drug. The well-known drug, penicillin, and many other drugs, may cause anaphylaxis.
5. The term “side-effects” is a part of an ailing layman’s vocabulary but adverse drug reactions are known only to a more aware and literate patient.
6. Ciprofloxacin, when given for an ear-infection, may cause vertigo and amoxycillin, while fighting a throat infection, may hurt the stomach. Similarly, while chemotherapy given for cancer may lead to indigestion and hair fall, steroids administered continuously may lead to obesity and diabetes.
7. Drugs are meant to eliminate disease. In the quest for avoiding the misery of sickness, man has invented medicines that may themselves cause diseases. The illness caused by a drug may be short-term or long-term. Side effects are short-term and predictable. The unpredictable and bizarre reactions are termed as adverse reactions. A variety of drugs cure many ills but are also known to cause irregular heart beat and even sudden death.
8. A strong sense of responsibility on the physician’s part and an attitude of extreme caution on the patient’s part can substantially help in covering at least some of the risks of medicines, if not all. There are many factors that help a doctor in his choice and use of the drug. The medical history of a patient, age, sex, personality, environment and education contribute in deciding the course of treatment. The very old and the very young are likely to suffer as their bodies are less tolerant. Older children may sometimes be more tolerant than the adults. The elderly tend to respond better to standard drug dosage. But the lower body size, slow blood flow to vital organs, decreasing metabolic capacity and tendency to multiple physical problems contribute to adverse reactions.

A. Answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option:

Q.1. Analgin and penicillin must be used carefully because______
(a) these may cause suffocation
(b) they may create bruises
(c) some patients complain of leg cramps
(d) these may cause anaphylaxis

Ans: (d)
Explanation: The passage states that Analgin has unexpected and negative effects that can lead to death through an anaphylactic shock. Penicillin is also mentioned as a drug that can cause anaphylaxis.

Q.2. Man has invented drugs to eliminate______
(a) diseases
(b) side effects
(c) death
(d) casualties

Ans: (a)
Explanation: According to the passage, drugs have been invented to eliminate diseases.

Q.3. The word ‘dysfunction’ in para 4 means______
(a) disorder of brain
(b) indigestion
(c) bad temper
(d) not working properly

Ans: (d)
Explanation: The word 'dysfunction' refers to something not working properly or experiencing a malfunction.

Q.4. An “Iatrogenic disease” is an ailment caused by______
(a) infection in the hospital ward
(b) overdose of anaesthetic
(c) the wrong administration of drugs by a physician
(d) self-medication and buying drugs over the counter

Ans: (c)
Explanation: According to the passage, an "Iatrogenic disease" refers to a physician-caused ailment, specifically caused by the wrong administration of drugs by a physician.

Q.5. An adverse drug reaction is an illness caused by______
(a) secondary effects of a drug
(b) a drug having unpredictable and strange effects on a patient
(c) a drug having predictable and unpleasant disorders
(d) the use of drugs taken after their date of expiry

Ans: (b)
Explanation: The passage mentions that adverse drug reactions refer to unpredictable and bizarre reactions caused by drugs.

Q.6. Elderly people are prone to adverse drug reactions because they have______
(a) larger body size
(b) multiple emotional problems
(c) slow blood flow to vital organs
(d) stagnant metabolic capacity

Ans: (c)

Explanation: According to the passage, elderly people are prone to adverse drug reactions due to factors like slow blood flow to vital organs, decreasing metabolic capacity, and multiple physical problems.

B. Answer the following questions in brief:

Q.7. Why are elderly people prone to adverse drug reaction?

Elderly people are more prone to adverse drug reactions due to factors such as slower blood flow to vital organs, lower body size, decreasing metabolic capacity, and the presence of multiple physical problems.

Q.8. Why has man invented medicines?

Man has invented medicines to eliminate diseases and alleviate the misery caused by sickness.

Q.9. What is an adverse drug reaction?

An adverse drug reaction refers to an illness or negative response caused by the use of a drug, which may have unpredictable and strange effects on a patient.

Q.10. What are the factors that help a doctor in his choice and use of drugs?

The factors that help a doctor in their choice and use of drugs include the patient's medical history, age, sex, personality, environment, and education. These factors contribute to deciding the appropriate course of treatment.

Q.11. Find words from the passage which are similar in meaning.
(a) Not working properly (para 4)
(b) Considerably (para 8)

(a) Dysfunction: In the context of the sentence, "Not working properly," the word "dysfunction" can be used as a synonym to convey the same meaning. It suggests that something is not functioning as it should or is experiencing a malfunction. "Dysfunction" emphasizes the presence of a problem or flaw in the functioning of the subject.
(b) Substantially: The term "considerably" in paragraph 8 can be replaced with "substantially" to convey a similar meaning. Both words indicate a significant or noteworthy amount or degree. By using "substantially," the writer emphasizes that there has been a substantial or considerable change or impact, underscoring the significance of the situation or event being described.