Weathers
This is the weather the cuckoo likes, And so do I; When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, And nestlings fly; And the little brown nightingale bills his best, And they sit outside at 'The Traveller's Rest', And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, And citizens dream of the south and west, And so do I.This is the weather the shepherd shuns, And so do I; When beeches drip in browns and duns, And thresh and ply; And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, And meadow rivulets overflow, And drops on gate bars hang in a row, And rooks in families homeward go, And so do I.
Pratap Malla was one of the most famous kings of Malla Dynasty. He constructed some magnificent and beautiful architectural structures around Kathmandu. The way he came to the throne is very interesting and controversial at the same time. He had the experience of administration even when his father was alive. When his father Laxmi Nara Singh's madness grew worse, he imprisoned his father and he himself ruled as a regent of his father in Kantipur.
He was an able administrator. Kantipur was highly developed during his reign. Trade with Lhasa (Tibet) was also going on well. By his tact he was making the kings of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur play against each other. Sometimes he sided with Bhaktapur and posed a threat to Lalitpur. On other occasions, he aligned with Lalitpur and fell upon Bhaktapur.
Pratap Malla was a religious-minded person. He built a beautiful temple at Guhyeshwari and fenced it. He renovated the temple of Pashupatinath and raised a pinnacle over it. At Swayambhu he built Pratappur, Kabeendrapur and many other temples and also set up a copper gilt 'Bajra'. He also renovated the temples of Basuki Bhimsen, Taleju and Degutale. With a view to warding off evils, he erected an image of Hanuman, the monkey god, by the side of his palace gate and called the palace Hanumandhoka. He erected the golden gate of the palace, set up an image of Nri Simha, Kal Bhairab and Vishwaroop at Layaku Bahi. Inside the palace, he also set up Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk. A pond was dug at Bhandarkhal and filled with water brought from Budhanilakantha. He installed an image of Narayan lying in the pond, an exact replica from Budhanilakantha Temple.
If NO: Pratap Malla did not do a right job because imprisoning one's own father is morally wrong and disrespectful, regardless of circumstances. He could have found a more humane solution.
WANTED
We, a prominent importer and distributor of Medical devices, are seeking dynamic candidates for the following posts.
1. Marketing Executive — 3 (Kathmandu and Outside)
Science/Commerce Graduate with good communication skills, having pleasant and smart personality and willing to work and travel extensively. Experience in similar products will be an added advantage.
2. Sales/Delivery — 2
At least a High School Graduate. The candidate should be smart and willing to work at odd hours.
3. Account Officer (Ladies) — 1
Master's in Accounting with good English language, excellent computer skill and willing to work independently. (Some experience will be preferred.)
Note: For posts 1 & 2 — Candidates having own bike will have added advantage.
Apply with CV and a recent photograph mentioning expected salary to info.mediaids@gmail.com by 25 March, 2025.
(Only short-listed candidates matching our criteria will be called for interview.)
ABC International Pvt. Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal
Health experts get tough on school lunches
It's lunchtime at Hall Memorial School in Connecticut, and 10-year-old Haley is making her way through the food line. Many of her friends are thrilled with the day's lunch selections: pizza and French fries and hot dogs. But Haley feels discouraged. "I use four or five napkins just trying to get the grease off the pizza," she says. "Where are the healthy options?"
Health experts are asking the same question. They say foods high in fat, salt and sugar should be banned from school lunch programs. This includes some items you might not suspect, like fruit punch, which is loaded with sugar, and macaroni and cheese, which is sky-high in fat and salt. "Children are already consuming too much junk food," says Jen Keller, a dietitian at the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine. "It's important to offer them only healthy items in school."
It's not that health experts want to deprive kids of foods they like best. They just want to help kids avoid many of the health problems that come with eating large quantities of unhealthful food. Today, 15 percent of children ages 6 to 11 are obese or seriously overweight. That's up from just 6.5 percent in the late 1970s. Poor diet and obesity can cause diseases like type-2 diabetes, which can lead to blindness and kidney problems. As of a few years ago, this disease was so rare in children that it was called "adult onset diabetes."
Most schools do offer some healthful foods, but experts say that doesn't solve the problem. "Given a choice, most kids are going to choose junk over something healthy," says Pat Thorton, a psychologist who studies obesity in children. Thorton and other experts agree that schools and parents need to educate kids about making good food choices, both in and out of school.
Match the meanings in Column A with the correct words in Column B. One word does not have a match.
| Column A (Meaning) | Column B (Word) | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| i. Feeling or showing great excitement and pleasure | (a) obesity, (b) punch, (c) dietitian, (d) expert, (e) discouraged, (f) thrilled | |
| ii. Feeling less confident | — | |
| iii. A drink made by mixing water, fruit juice and spices | — | |
| iv. A person who advises people about healthy food habits | — | |
| v. The fact of being fat in an unhealthy way | — | (d) expert has no match |
Rules and Regulations of the Library
1. The library is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on all working days.
2. All visitors must switch off their mobile phones or keep them on silent mode before entering.
3. Silence must be maintained at all times. Talking loudly or making noise is strictly prohibited.
4. No littering is allowed. Please keep the library clean and tidy.
5. Students must issue books at the issue counter before borrowing them. Books must be returned on time.
6. Eating and drinking inside the library is not permitted.
Please cooperate with the library staff. Thank you for helping us maintain a peaceful study environment.
26 April, 2025
My own home,
Kathmandu
Dear [Friend's name],
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am delighted to inform you that my sister is getting married next month. I would like to cordially invite you and your whole family to attend the wedding ceremony and reception.
The wedding party will be full of joy and celebrations. Please come with your family's presence and bless the bride and bridegroom. We kindly request that you do not bring any gifts — your blessings and company are more than enough for us.
Kindly confirm your attendance at the earliest. (RSVP)
Yours lovingly,
[Your name]
Festivals and celebrations are important parts of our cultural and social life. They bring families and communities together and preserve our traditions. However, in our society, many people tend to spend money beyond their capacity simply to show off or maintain social prestige. Whether it is a wedding, a birthday party, or a religious festival, some families borrow money and fall into debt just to impress others. This trend is becoming increasingly harmful, especially for people of limited financial means.
In my opinion, spending beyond one's means for the sake of social status is unwise and unnecessary. Celebrations should be about joy, love and togetherness, not competition or display of wealth. We should promote the idea of simple, meaningful celebrations and encourage people to spend only within their budget. The government, schools and community leaders should also raise awareness about the negative effects of lavish spending so that people can celebrate festivals without financial burden.
Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Book details: The Alchemist is a world-famous novel written by Brazilian author Paulo Coelho, first published in 1988. It has been translated into more than 80 languages.
Main plot: The story follows Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd boy who dreams of finding a hidden treasure near the Egyptian pyramids. He travels from Spain to Africa and meets various people — a king, a crystal merchant, an Englishman and an alchemist — who guide him towards his "Personal Legend." The journey teaches him about following his dreams and listening to his heart.
Strengths: The novel is beautifully written and deeply inspiring. Its simple language makes it accessible to all readers. The philosophical message — that the universe helps those who follow their dreams — is timeless and uplifting.
Weaknesses: Some readers may find the plot too simple or the message overly idealistic. The story can feel repetitive in the middle section.
Recommendation: I strongly recommend The Alchemist to anyone who needs motivation and a fresh perspective on life. It is a short but life-changing read.
_____? (Add a correct question tag.)_____ (submit) my project work. (Use correct form of the verb 'submit'.)(a) the — "capital" is a specific, unique place → definite article "the".
(b) was — past tense, singular subject "one of them" → was.
(c) in — "in their new society/area" → preposition "in".
(d) started — simple past narration, no progressive context needed → started.
(e) wasn't it — positive statement "was formed" → negative tag "wasn't it".
(f) Although — contrast ("they were new, yet they persuaded...") → concession connective "Although".
(g) were bought — passive voice, past tense, plural subject "two pieces of land" → were bought.
(h) how they had — indirect question after "asked" → statement word order, backshifted past perfect → how they had.
(i) wouldn't have — third conditional (past perfect in if-clause) → wouldn't have + past participle.
(j) realize — "made + object + bare infinitive" → realize (no "to").