Read the following passage carefully and answer the given questions.
The B-lymphocytes produce an army of proteins in response to pathogens. Each antibody molecule has four peptide chains, two small called light chains and two longer called heavy chains. Virus-infected cells secrete proteins called interferons which protect non-infected cells from further viral infection. Symptoms of allergic reactions include sneezing, watery eyes, running nose and difficulty in breathing. The use of drugs like anti-histamine, adrenalin and steroids quickly reduce the symptoms of allergy. Lymphoid organs are the organs where origin and/or maturation and proliferation of lymphocytes occur. The primary lymphoid organs are bone marrow and thymus. After maturation the lymphocytes migrate to secondary lymphoid organs like spleen, lymph nodes, tonsils, Peyer’s patches of small intestine and appendix. Heroin commonly called smack is chemically diacetylmorphine which is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline compound. This is obtained by acetylation of morphine, which is extracted from the latex of poppy plant Papaver somniferum.
Which one of the following drug does not reduce the symptoms of allergy quickly?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Amphetamines
An allergy is an exaggerated response of the immune system to harmless substances (allergens) such as dust or pollen. Mast cells release histamine and serotonin, which cause sneezing, watery eyes, running nose and difficulty in breathing. The passage says that anti-histamine, adrenalin and steroids quickly reduce the symptoms of allergy.
Option (1) Anti-histamine — Reduces the symptoms of allergy quickly. It blocks the action of histamine, the main chemical behind the symptoms.
Option (2) Adrenaline — Reduces the symptoms of allergy quickly. It opens the airways and narrows the swollen blood vessels, so it is used in a severe allergic attack.
Option (3) Amphetamines — Does not reduce the symptoms of allergy. Amphetamines are stimulant drugs of abuse that act on the nervous system. They do nothing against an allergic reaction.
Option (4) Steroids — Reduces the symptoms of allergy quickly. Steroids suppress the inflammation caused by the immune response.
Note 1: The passage is taken from NCERT. NTA has put lines of the NCERT text together to make it. Most CUET (UG) questions come straight from NCERT, so study the book line by line, including figures and their titles.
Note 2: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 29-05-2025 (Slot 1).