Explanation: To read small letters, a convex lens (converging lens) with a short focal length such as 5 cm is used as a magnifying glass. It produces an enlarged, upright, and virtual image of the object, making tiny text appear bigger and clearer to the eye.

Graphite is used in pencils. It is a soft form of carbon that leaves a dark mark on paper due to its layered structure, where carbon atoms are arranged in sheets that slide easily over each other. Though commonly called “lead,” pencils actually contain graphite mixed with clay to adjust hardness.

• Silicon: Used in electronics, not pencils.
• Charcoal: Used in art drawing but not regular pencils.
• Phosphorous: Used in safety matches and fertilizers, not pencils.

Explanation: Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) is secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress, fear, anger, or excitement. It prepares the body for “fight or flight” by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, and by dilating the air passages to supply more oxygen. Because it helps the body respond instantly to emergencies, it is called the “emergency hormone.”

Explanation: The disease AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) is caused by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). HIV attacks the body’s immune system, specifically the CD4 or T-helper cells, weakening the body’s ability to fight infections and diseases. It spreads through unprotected sexual contact, sharing of infected needles, transfusion of contaminated blood, or from an infected mother to her child during birth or breastfeeding. There is no permanent cure, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) helps control the virus and prolong life.

Explanation: A lens is generally made of flint glass, which contains lead oxide. Flint glass has a higher refractive index than ordinary glass, allowing it to bend light more effectively. This property makes it ideal for manufacturing optical instruments such as lenses and prisms.

Explanation: Penicillin was discovered accidentally by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he observed that a fungal mold, Penicillium notatum, inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus bacteria in his culture plates. Penicillin became the first antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and saved millions of lives during World War II. Later, scientists like Howard Florey and Ernst Boris Chain developed methods for its large-scale production.

Hepatitis is a disease that primarily affects the liver. It is characterized by inflammation of the liver tissues and can be caused by viral infections (such as Hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses), excessive alcohol consumption, toxins, or autoimmune conditions. Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), fatigue, nausea, and abdominal pain. Severe or chronic hepatitis can lead to liver failure or cirrhosis if left untreated.

Other options (for context)

• Pancreas: Affected by diseases like pancreatitis or diabetes, not hepatitis.
• Spleen: Involved in blood filtration and immunity, not affected by hepatitis.
• Small intestine: Responsible for digestion and absorption of food, not linked to hepatitis.

Explanation: A heavy stone appears lighter when immersed in water because of the upward pressure or buoyant force exerted by the water. This phenomenon is explained by Archimedes’ Principle, which states that a body immersed in a fluid experiences an upward force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by it. The greater the volume of the object submerged, the greater the buoyant force acting on it. Hence, the stone seems lighter in water, even though its actual mass remains the same.