26 March, our Independence Day …………….. other places in the country. [Din. B. 2024 & 2020; D. B. 2023; Syl. B. 2023, 2020 & 2019; B. B. 2020; J. B. 2019]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—3; Lesson—5(B)]
26 March, our Independence Day, is one of the most important state festivals. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day begins with a 31 gun salute.
Early in the morning the President and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation place floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar. Then other leaders, political parties, diplomats, social and cultural organisations, educational institutions and freedom fighters pay homage to the martyrs. People from all walks of life also go there in rallies and processions. There are many cultural programmes throughout the day, highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971.
In Bangabandhu National Stadium, school children, scouts and girl guides take part in various displays to entertain thousands of spectators. Educational institutions also organise their individual programmes. Sports meets and tournaments are also organised on the day, including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga.
In the evening, all major public buildings are illuminated with colourful lights. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organisations hold cultural functions. Similar functions are also arranged in other places in the country.
[Dinajpur Board—2024 & 2020; Dhaka Board—2023; Sylhet Board—2023, 2020 & 2019; Barishal Board—2020; Jashore Board—2019]
Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Very few festivals are as —— as Independence Day. [Din. B. 2024]
(i) more significant (ii) most significant
(iii) significant (iv) insignificant
(b) On 26th March, people of all walks of life pay tribute to the ——. [Din. B. 2024]
(i) martyrs of Language Movement (ii) martyrs of Mass Movement
(iii) martyrs of Liberation War (iv) martyred intellectuals
(c) A person watching an event is called ——. [Din. B. 2024]
(i) spectator (ii) stranger (iii) emigrant (iv) participant
(d) Different culturals programmes of Independence Day are observed to ——. [Din. B. 2024]
(i) spread cultural values around the country
(ii) display different cultural activities
(iii) encourage people to participate in rallies
(iv) focus on the valiant struggle and sacrifice of Liberation War
(e) The phrase ‘public holiday’ means ——. [Din. B. 2024]
(i) public day (ii) workers holiday
(iii) holiday of the public (iv) national holiday
(f) Our Independence Day is celebrated ——. [D. B. 2023]
(i) individually (ii) worldwide (iii) nationally (iv) internationally
(g) On the day the —— pays homage to the martyrs first. [D. B. 2023]
(i) Prime Minister (ii) President (iii) Speaker (iv) Political leader
(h) The National Memorial located at Savar stands for ——. [D. B. 2023]
(i) Mass Upsurge in 1969 (ii) Language Movement in 1952
(iii) Martyred heroes (iv) War of Liberation in 1971
(i) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘enthusiasm’? [D. B. 2023]
(i) entertainment (ii) reluctance (iii) eagerness (iv) unwillingness
(j) Independence Day is the day when ——. [D. B. 2023]
(i) independence was announced (ii) we got victory
(iii) our country became free (iv) we secured freedom
Extra Questions
(k) Our biggest state festival is ——. [J. B. 2019]
(i) Shaheed Dibosh (ii) May Day (iii) Independence Day (iv) Pahela Boishakh
(l) Various displays are arranged to —— the spectators. [Din. B. 2024; Syl. B. 2023; B. B. 2020; J. B. 2019]
(i) sadden (ii) irritate (iii) annoy (iv) amuse
(m) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘fervour’ in line 2? [B. B. 2020]
(i) intense celebration (ii) passionate feeling
(iii) colourful programmes (iv) indifferent feeling
(n) The celebration of Independence Day is considered ——. [Syl. B. 2020; B. B. 2020]
(i) a national holiday (ii) the biggest state festival
(iii) a cultural unity (iv) a political outcome
(o) Which of the following best describes the similarity between Shilpakala Academy and Bangla Academy? [D. B. 2023]
(i) institute (ii) socio-cultural organization
(iii) university (iv) cultural institute
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) What is the significance of our Independence Day? [Din. B. 2024; J. B. 2019]
(b) How do we pay homage to the martyrs? [Din. B. 2024; D. B. 2023]
(c) What are the main features of the day? [Din. B. 2024; Syl. B. 2019]
(d) Who entertain thousands of spectators in Bangabandhu National Stadium? [Din. B. 2024]
(e) How do you celebrate the Independence Day in your school? [Din. B. 2024]
Extra Questions
(f) What does 26 March remind us? [D. B. 2023; Syl. B. 2023]
(g) Why does the nation observe 26 March? [D. B. 2023; Syl. B. 2023]
(h) What is the significance of 31 gun salute? [D. B. 2023; B. B. 2023]
(i) What do the cultural programmes highlight? [D. B. 2023]
(j) How do we become inspired from this passage? [Syl. B. 2023; Din. B. 2020]
The Internet technology has helped ………… should be shared with others. [D. B. 2024; J. B. 2024; Syl. B. 2024; C. B. 2020; R. B. 2019]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1-2).
The Internet technology has helped design a large number of websites to facilitate social relations among people around the world. These are known as social networking services or social networks or social media. At present, Facebook is the most popular social media site. Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are other frequently used social services. Social network services are web-based and hence, provide ways for the users to interact through the Internet. These services make it possible to connect people sharing interests and activities across the borders and thus have made the users feel that they really live in a global village.
Why are social networks expanding so fast? The answer is simple. Most of the social services are cost-free. You can make use of them free, paying a very little to your Internet service provider. Secondly, you can make your personal profile public before the entire online community. It is like presenting yourself before the entire world. You can also look into other people’s profile if you are interested. It is simple and easy. Thirdly, social networks allow users to upload pictures, multimedia contents and modify the profile. Some services like Facebook allow users to update their profiles. Fourthly, networks allow users to post blog entries. User profiles have a section dedicated to comments from friends and other users. Finally, there are privacy protection measures too. A user himself or herself decides over the number of visitors/viewers, and what information should be shared with others.
[Dhaka Board-2024; Jashore Board-2024; Sylhet Board-2024; Cumilla Board-2020; Rajshahi Board-2019]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) The Internet technology has —— a large number of websites to facilitate social relations among people around the world. [D. B. 2024]
(i) defined (ii) regained (iii) destroyed (iv) designed
(b) The term ‘Social Networks’ refers to ——. [D. B. 2024]
(i) socialization (ii) networking (iii) media for communicating with others (iv) Facebook
(c) In the text, the word ‘frequently’ stands for ——. [D. B. 2024; C. B. 2020]
(i) recurrently (ii) freely (iii) rarely (iv) hardly
(d) The passage highlights the significance of ——. [D. B. 2024; J. B. 2024; R. B. 2019]
(i) electronic media (ii) information technology
(iii) social networking services (iv) communication technology
(e) The social networking services work through ——. [D. B. 2024]
(i) computer (ii) Facebook (iii) email (iv) Internet
(f) The social networking services are on the ——. [D. B. 2024]
(i) decline (ii) rise (iii) wane (iv) decrease
(g) There is also assurance of —— protection on using social networks. [D. B. 2024]
(i) community (ii) privacy (iii) measurement (iv) society
(h) Social network services are ——. [J. B. 2024]
(i) family-based (ii) web-based (iii) relation-based (iv) individual-based
(i) —— are sharing interests through Internet. [J. B. 2024; R. B. 2019]
(i) Only students (ii) People of the world
(iii) Only the rich people (iv) A privileged few
(j) What does the expression “They really live in a global village” mean? [J. B. 2024]
(i) All people of the world live in village. (ii) Village people have every facility of the world.
(iii) None lives in cities. (iv) Internet and social media have brought the world closer.
(k) Internet increases ——. [J. B. 2024]
(i) relative relation (ii) family relation (iii) social relation (iv) human relation
(l) The word ‘protection’ means ——. [J. B. 2024]
(i) adapt (ii) guard (iii) alter (iv) adjust
(m) The word ‘viewer’ refers to ——. [J. B. 2024; Syl. B. 2024; C. B. 2020]
(i) listener (ii) diplomate (iii) spectator (iv) vision
(n) The Internet technology has —— the process of creating social networks. [Syl. B. 2024]
(i) slowed (ii) diverted (iii) accelerated (iv) stopped
(o) The word ‘interact’ refers to ——. [Syl. B. 2024]
(i) communicate (ii) Internet (iii) tools (iv) spread
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) What is social networking service? [D. B. 2024]
(b) How are the social networks making a global community? [D. B. 2024]
(c) How does social network work? [D. B. 2024; J. B. 2024]
(d) “It is simple and easy.”— Explain the statement in 2/3 sentences. [D. B. 2024; C. B. 2020]
(e) Why are social networks spreading rapidly? [D. B. 2024; J. B. 2024; Syl. B. 2024; C. B. 2020]
Extra Questions
(f) Write down the names of some social media sites. [J. B. 2024]
(g) How is it possible for the social networks to provide ways for the users to interact through the internet? [J. B. 2024]
(h) When do the users feel that they really live in a global village? [J. B. 2024]
(i) Why do people use social networks? [Syl. B. 2024]
(j) How can we share our interests and activities? [Syl. B. 2024]
Meherjan lives in a slum on ………….. our towns and villages every year. [R. B. 2024; J. B. 2023; B. B. 2022; Din. B. 2019; Ctg.B 2019]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—5; Lesson—1(A)]
Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajganj Town Protection Embankment. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life. Not long ago Meherjan had everything — a family, arable land and cattle. The erosion of the Jamuna gradually consumed all her land property. It finally claimed her only shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to devour Meher’s house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush. She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered her dreams and happiness.
There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate like Meherjan. Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. During each monsoon many villages are threatened by the mighty rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. If we can’t take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.
[Rajshahi Board—2024; Jashore Board—2023; Barishal Board—2022; Dinajpur Board—2019; Chattogram Board—2019]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Meher’s life was very happy before ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) the liberation (ii) the destruction of the river Jamuna (iii) the victory (iv) the independence
(b) ‘Greedy Jamuna’ is used here to describe the ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) cruelty of nature (ii) demand of a consumer (iii) supply of a consumer (iv) help of a consumer
(c) Meherjan is a victim of ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) drought (ii) famine (iii) river erosion (iv) cyclone
(d) The word ‘turmoil’ indicates ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) agitation (ii) reduction (iii) constant (iv) rigid
(e) The word ‘shatter’ means ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) to destroy something (ii) to break something into pieces (iii) to erect something (iv) to complete something
(f) The phrase ‘whispering wind’ means ——. [R. B. 2024]
(i) wind that blows from across the river (ii) wind that blows with a hissing sound
(iii) wind that helps someone make a fire (iv) wind that blows in summer
(g) What is the main purpose of the author of the passage? [R. B. 2024; J. B. 2023]
(i) to explain the importance of river (ii) to describe the impact of monsoon
(iii) to describe the effect of river erosion (iv) to describe the fate of a woman
Extra Questions
(h) Meherjan is living —— in her makeshift house now. [J. B. 2023]
(i) with her relatives (ii) with her husband (iii) with her family (iv) alone
(i) Before the erosion of river, she was ——. [J. B. 2023]
(i) healthy (ii) wealthy (iii) unhappy (iv) sad
(j) Once Meherjan was ——. [Din. B. 2019]
(i) solvent (ii) insolvent (iii) poor (iv) impoverished
(k) ‘Dancing of the flame’ means ——. [Din. B. 2019]
(i) a traditional form of folk dance (ii) a flame that makes people dance around it
(iii) instability of flame (iv) a flame made by people to remember their past
(l) What does the expression ‘the turmoil in her life’ in the 1st paragraph mean? [Din. B. 2019]
(i) the pleasures of life (ii) the thunderstorm in her life
(iii) the pangs and pains of her life (iv) the dreams of her life
(m) What are the rivers mentioned in the passage? [Din. B. 2019]
(i) the Jamuna (ii) the Padma (iii) the Meghna (iv) all mentioned in (i), (ii) & (iii)
(n) —— has made Meherjan’s life miserable. [Ctg. B. 2019]
(i) Old age (ii) Sickness (iii) River erosion (iv) Frustration
(o) What does the word ‘demolish’ mean? [J. B. 2023]
(i) build (ii) preserve (iii) destroy (iv) support
‘Heritage’ is what we inherit …………… architectural beauties of Bangladesh. [M. B. 2020, J. B. 2020, Ctg. B. 2020]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1-2). [Unit-8; Lesson-1(B)]
‘Heritage’ is what we inherit from the past, live with in the present and then pass on to our children or future generation. Our unique source of life and inspiration is our cultural and natural heritage. When we speak of ‘World Heritage’, it indicates places and sites that we inherited from the past and pass on to the future generation of the entire world.
The ‘Shat Gambuj Mosque’ in Bagerhat is such a heritage. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Originally, the historic Mosque City was known as ‘Khalifatabad’. It is situated at the outskirts of Bagerhat town- not very far from the dense mangrove forest of the Sundarbans. Khalifatabad was a Muslim colony. It was founded by the Turkish general, a saint warrior Ulugh Khan in the 15th century. The infrastructure of the city reveals significant technical skills in many mosques as well as early Islamic monuments. Baked bricks were used for the construction of the buildings. The planning of the city was distinctly dominated by the tradition of Islamic architecture and the decorations were a combination of Mughal and Turkish architecture.
Khan Jahan built a network of roads, bridges, public buildings and reservoirs to make the city habitable. There are about 360 mosques in the city. Among them the most remarkable is the multi-domed Shat Gambuj Mosque. The mosque is unique in the sense that it has 60 pillars that support the roof, with 77 low height domes. The 4 towers at 4 corners have smaller domes at the top as well. The vast prayer hall has 11 arched doorways on the east and 7 each on the north and south for light and ventilation. It has 7 aisles running along the length of the mosque and 11 deep curves between the slender stone columns. These columns support the curving arches created by the domes. The thickness of the arches is 6 feet and have slightly narrowing hollow and round wall.
The west wall in the interior has 11 ‘mihrabs’ (niche in mosque pointing towards Makkah). These mihrabs are decorated with stonework and terracotta. The floor of the mosque is made of brick.
Besides being used as a prayer hall, Khan Jahan used the mosque as his court too. Today, it is one of the greatest tourist attractions and one of the best architectural beauties of Bangladesh.
[Mymensingh Board-2020; Jashore Board-2020; Chattogram Board-2020]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Which of the following describes Khan Jahan Ali best? [M. B. 2020]
(i) saint warrior (ii) ruler (iii) philanthropist (iv) pious
(b) The original name of the city of the ‘Shat Gambuj Mosque’ is _____. [J. B. 2020]
(i) Bagerhat (ii) the Sundarbans (iii) Khalifatabad (iv) Khulna
(c) A Muslim colony founded near the sea-coast in Bagerhat town was a ___ place. [J. B. 2020]
(i) barbarous (ii) desolate (iii) crowded (iv) welcoming
(d) The word ‘originally’ refers to ___. [J. B. 2020]
(i) gradually (ii) ultimately (iii) eventually (iv) initially
(e) The mosque was established by a person who was ___. [Ctg. B. 2020]
(i) an Indian general (ii) an Arabian general (iii) a Turkish general (iv) a Turkish saint general
(f) Which of the following has made the Shat Gambuj Mosque the most significant? [J. B. 2020]
(i) its Turkish design (ii) its being a World Heritage Site (iii) its combination of Turkish and Mughal architecture
(iv) its being an ancient mosque
(g) The main purpose of the author of this passage is ___. [M. B. 2020]
(i) to show the heroism of Khan Jahan Ali (ii) to show the infrastructure of Bagerhat district
(iii) to represent Shat Gambuj Mosque built by Khan Jahan Ali (iv) to introduce Khan Jahan Ali to the readers
(h) The decoration of the mosque represents the mixture of ___. [Ctg. B. 2020]
(i) Islamic and Mughal architecture (ii) Mughal and Arabic architecture
(iii) Mughal and Turkish architecture (iv) Turkish and Arabic architecture
(i) The word ‘outskirts’ in the text can be replaced by ——. [M. B. 2020]
(i) suburb (ii) centre (iii) corner (iv) outside
(j) What is the antonym of the word ‘reveal’? [M. B. 2020]
(i) disclose (ii) display (iii) conceal (iv) recall
(k) How many gambujes are there in the mosque in total? [M. B. 2020]
(i) 60 (ii) less than 70 (iii) more than 70 (iv) more than 80
(l) What has made the mosque unique? [Ctg. B. 2020]
(i) 60 pillars with 77 low height domes (ii) 11 arched doorways and 4 towers
(iii) 60 pillars and 14 doorways on the north and the south (iv) 11 arched doorways and 7 aisles
(m) The word ‘habitable’ in the context means ——. [J. B. 2020]
(i) livelihood (ii) fit for human habitation (iii) live on (iv) habituated
(n) When was the Shat Gambuj Mosque declared as the World Heritage Site? [Ctg. B. 2020]
(i) in 1885 (ii) in 1985 (iii) in 1987 (iv) in 1888
(o) The synonym of the word ‘unique’ is ——. [Ctg. B. 2020]
(i) incomparable (ii) inseparable (iii) remarkable (iv) supportable
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) What do you mean by ‘World Heritage’? [M. B. 2020; J. B. 2020]
(b) What does the infrastructure of the city reveal? [M. B. 2020; J. B. 2020; Ctg. B. 2020]
(c) “The vast prayer hall served different purposes.” —Explain it in 2/3 sentences. [J. B. 2020]
(d) What is a ‘mihrab’? Describe it in 2/3 sentences. [M. B. 2020]
(e) What did Khan Jahan do to make the city liveable? [Ctg. B. 2020]
Extra Questions
(f) What makes the mosque ‘unique’? [M. B. 2020]
(g) How was the mosque used? [M. B. 2020]
(h) Why is the Shat Gambuj Mosque one of the greatest tourist attractions? [J. B. 2020]
(i) What does heritage refer to? [Ctg. B. 2020]
(j) How are the mihrabs of the mosque decorated? [Ctg. B. 2020]
Mother Teresa was moved by …………. saintly smile, lives on in our mind. [Ctg. B. 2023; M. B. 2022; R. B. 2020]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—7; Lesson—6(B)]
Mother Teresa was moved by the sight of the sick and dying on the streets of Kolkata. She founded a home for the dying destitute and named it ‘Nirmal Hriday’, meaning ‘Pure Heart’. She and her fellow nuns brought the dying people off the streets of Kolkata to this home. They were lovingly looked after and cared for. Since then many men, women and children have been taken from the streets and carried to Nirmal Hriday. These unloved and uncared-for people get an opportunity to die in an environment of kindness and love. In their last hours, they get human and divine love, and can feel they are also children of God. The Missionaries of Charity try to find jobs for those who survive, or send them to homes where they can live happily for some more years in a caring environment. Regarding commitment to family, Mother Teresa said, “May be in our own family, we have somebody who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried. Are we there? Are we willing to give until it hurts in order to be with our families, or do we put our interests first? We must remember that love begins at home and we must also remember that future of humanity passes through the family.”
Mother Teresa’s work has been recognised throughout the world and she received a number of awards. These include the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), the Nehru Prize for Promotion of International Peace & Understanding (1972), the Balzan Prize (1978), the Nobel Peace Prize (1979) and the Bharat Ratna (1980).
Mother Teresa died at the age of 87, on 5 September 1997. The world salutes her for her love and compassion for humanity. She has taught us how to extend our hand towards those who need our love and support irrespective of creed, caste and religion. The picture of Mother Teresa, draped in a white and blue-bordered sari, with a wrinkled face, ever soft eyes and a saintly smile, lives on in our mind.
[Chattogram Board—2023; Mymensingh Board—2022; Rajshahi Board—2020]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Mother Teresa showed —— to the unloved and uncared for people. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) great love (ii) little love (iii) hatred (iv) no sympathy
(b) The streets of Kolkata are trodden by ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) Mother Teresa (ii) her fellow sisters (iii) the dying people (iv) both i and ii
(c) What did Mother Teresa teach us? [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) She taught us crime. (ii) She taught us humanity. (iii) She taught us cruelty. (iv) She taught us English.
(d) She got Nobel Prize for peace in ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) 1971 (ii) 1972 (iii) 1978 (iv) 1979
(e) Mother Teresa was recognized ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) in our country only (ii) throughout the world (iii) in India only (iv) in Asian continent only
(f) What were the uncared people given? [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) an environment of peaceful death (ii) full medicine (iii) job opportunity (iv) an opportunity to get jobs
(g) Teresa founded ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) Nirmal Hriday (ii) Niramoy Centre (iii) Niribili Kendra (iv) Rest House
■ Extra Questions
(h) Mother Teresa used to wear ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) sari (ii) shirt (iii) coat (iv) veil
(i) Mother Teresa won the Nobel Prize for ——. [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) humanity (ii) charity (iii) peace (iv) rehabilitation
(j) What does the phrase ‘Missionaries of Charity’ mean? [Ctg. B. 2023]
(i) the donating preachers (ii) the preachers (iii) the donors (iv) all the answers are correct
(k) Teresa served the ill-fated people with ——. [R. B. 2020]
(i) hatred (ii) no love (iii) human and divine love (iv) self-interest
(l) ‘Nirmal Hriday’ is a home for ——. [R. B. 2020]
(i) the sick (ii) drama (iii) the dying destitute (iv) the artists
(m) What did Teresa and her fellow nuns do? [R. B. 2020]
(i) gathered the dying people (ii) brought them to Nirmal Hriday (iii) looked after them (iv) all mentioned in (i), (ii) and (iii)
(n) She got the Balzan Prize in ——. [R. B. 2020]
(i) 1975 (ii) 1976 (iii) 1977 (iv) 1978
(o) —— moved Mother Teresa. [M. B. 2022]
(i) The condition of working people on the streets (ii) The condition of dying people in her home
(iii) The condition of ailing people on the streets (iv) The condition of sick people in the world
May Day or International Workers’ Day ……….. better pay and better lives. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022 & 2020]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—3; Lesson—2]
May Day or International Workers’ Day is observed on May 1 all over the world today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight-hour workday. It is a public holiday in almost all the countries of the world.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the US, the workers in mills and factories had been working a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day.
On May 1st in 1886, inspired by the trade unions, half of the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Two days later, a workers’ rally was held near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and about 6000 workers joined it. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. They urged the workers to stand together to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses. At one point of the rally, some strikebreakers started leaving the meeting place. The strikers went down the street to bring them back. Suddenly about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers. One striker was killed instantly, five or six others were seriously wounded and many others were injured.
The events of May 1, 1886 are a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives. [Cumilla Board—2024; Dhaka Board—2022 & 2020]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) The word ‘commemorate’ used in the passage means ——. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
(i) display (ii) disguise (iii) remember (iv) reunion
(b) The prevailing work-hour of the workers had been very ——. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
(i) tolerable (ii) short (iii) lengthy (iv) respectable
(c) Where is May Day observed toady? [C. B. 2024]
(i) all over the world (ii) in Bangladesh (iii) in Europe (iv) in the USA
(d) The policemen attacked the strikers on ——. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2020]
(i) May 1, 1886 (ii) May 2, 1886 (iii) May 3, 1886 (iv) May 4, 1886
(e) Whom does trade union represent? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
(i) farmers (ii) teachers (iii) workers (iv) businessmen
(f) In the rally, the labour leaders inspired the workers ——. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
(i) to follow their bosses (ii) to honour their bosses
(iii) not to surrender to their bosses (iv) not to disobey their bosses
(g) Clubs and revolvers were used upon ——. [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2020]
(i) trade union leaders (ii) policemen
(iii) owner of the factory (iv) strikers
Extra Questions
(h) To stop exploitation workers should not ——. [D. B. 2020]
(i) express their opinion in public (ii) rule out any unfair condition by their bosses
(iii) speak meekly (iv) think of their privilege
(i) “And not to give in to their bosses.” —— What does ‘give in’ mean here? [D. B. 2020]
(i) dominate (ii) refuse (iii) agree to continue their struggle (iv) agree to stop their struggle
(j) During the Industrial Revolution, the workers in mills and factories had a/an ——. [D. B. 2022]
(i) favourable environment (ii) satisfactory environment (iii) accordant environment (iv) adverse environment
(k) Why is May 1st observed?
(i) to remember the people who worked long hours
(ii) to honour the historic struggle of working people
(iii) to remind the workers that they have to work hard
(iv) to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives
(l) May Day events occurred in the —— century. [D. B. 2020]
(i) 17th (ii) 18th (iii) 19th (iv) 20th
(m) ‘Historical’ means ——. [D. B. 2020]
(i) traditional (ii) primitive (iii) inception (iv) historic
(n) The workers’ demand was to —— work time. [D. B. 2020]
(i) sustain (ii) assign (iii) reduce (iv) upgrade
(o) What is the purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) to portray the brutality and atrocity of the owners of mills and factories
(ii) to state the short history of May Day and the significance of it
(iii) to highlight the violent roles of about 200 policemen
(iv) to heighten the kind and sympathetic roles of some of strikebreakers
2. Answer the following questions 2×5=10
(a) What does May Day commemorate? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2020]
(b) When and where did the historic events of May 1st take place? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
(c) Which demand did the workers struggle for? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2020]
(d) What happened when the policemen attacked the strikers? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2020]
(e) What inspired the workers joining the protest? [C. B. 2024; D. B. 2022]
Extra Questions
(f) Why is May Day or International Workers’ Day observed now? [D. B. 2022]
(g) How did the policemen behave with the workers during their protest? [D. B. 2022]
(h) Which activities did the workers do against the authorities? [D. B. 2020]
(i) Why is the event of May 1, 1886 a reminder for the workers? [D. B. 2020]
(j) “No demand is fulfilled without struggle.” — Explain.
Countries of the world rely heavily …………….. used as energy source too. [B. B. 2024; Ctg. B. 2022]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—11; Lesson—2(B)]
Countries of the world rely heavily on petroleum, coal and natural gas for their energy sources. There are two major types of energy sources: renewable and non-renewable. Hydrocarbon or fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy. Reliance on them poses real big problems. First, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas, etc. are finite energy resources and the world eventually will run out of them. Secondly, they will become too expensive in the coming decades and too damaging to the environment. Thirdly, fossil fuels have direct polluting impacts on earth’s environment causing global warming. In contrast, renewable energy sources such as, wind and solar energy are constantly and naturally replenished and never run out.
Most renewable energy comes either directly or indirectly from the sun. Sunlight or solar energy can be used for heating and lighting homes, for generating electricity and for other commercial and industrial uses.
The sun’s heat drives the wind and this wind energy can be captured with wind turbines to produce electricity. Then the wind and the sun’s heat cause water to evaporate. When the water vapour turns into rain or snow and flows downhill into rivers or streams, its energy can be captured as hydroelectric energy.
Along with the rain and snow, sunlight causes plants to grow. Plants produce biomass which again can be turned into fuels such as fire wood, alcohol, etc. identified as bioenergy.
Scientists have identified hydrogen as another form of renewable energy source. It is the most abundant element in nature. But it does not exist separately as a gas. It is always combined with other elements, such as with oxygen to make water. Hydrogen, separated from another element, can be burned as a fuel to produce electricity.
Our Earth’s interior contains molten rocks which gives off extreme heat. This heat inside the Earth produces steam and hot water which can be used as geothermal energy to produce electricity for heating homes, etc.
Ocean energy comes from several sources. Ocean’s force of tide and wave can be used to produce energy. The surface of the ocean gets more heat from the sun than the ocean depths. This temperature difference can be used as energy source too. [Barishal Board—2024; Chattogram Board—2022]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) The main types of energy sources are ——. [B. B. 2024]
(i) natural and nuclear (ii) renewable and non-renewable
(iii) non-renewable, renewable and fossil (iv) natural and man-made
(b) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘extreme’? [B. B. 2024]
(i) minimum (ii) medium (iii) external (iv) immense
(c) We should use renewable energy because it ——. [B. B. 2024]
(i) never runs out (ii) finite (iii) is insufficient (iv) can be damaging
(d) What can be trapped as geothermal energy? [B. B. 2024]
(i) steam and river (ii) river and hot water
(iii) steam and hot water (iv) sunlight and wind
(e) Which of the following gases can be burnt to produce electricity? [B. B. 2024]
(i) Carbon dioxide (ii) Hydrogen (iii) Nitrogen (iv) Oxygen
(f) The word ‘rely’ refers to —— in the passage. [B. B. 2024]
(i) depend (ii) separate (iii) assist (iv) unite
(g) Consumption of fossil fuels ——. [B. B. 2024]
(i) protects the environment (ii) damages the environment
(iii) creates no problem for us (iv) is unlikely to lead us towards a crisis
Extra Questions
(h) What will not eventually run out? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(i) oil (ii) fossil fuels (iii) solar power (iv) petroleum
(i) Hydrogen and Oxygen help to form ——. [Ctg. B. 2022]
(i) fuel (ii) oil (iii) ice (iv) gas
(j) Which energy is not related with the sunlight? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(i) geothermal energy (ii) wind energy
(iii) hydroelectric energy (iv) ocean energy
(k) Which is not a renewable energy? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(i) wind energy (ii) solar energy (iii) fossil energy (iv) geothermal energy
(l) Consumption of fossil fuels ——.
(i) is favourable for our happy life in the world
(ii) is causing irreparable damage to our environment
(iii) does not create any problem for us
(iv) is not likely to lead us towards a crisis
(m) Renewable energy can be ——.
(i) damaging (ii) destructive (iii) harmful (iv) filled again
(n) What is the message of the text?
(i) to show the destruction of non-renewable energy sources
(ii) to put up eco-friendly character of natural oil and gas
(iii) to present positive sides of fossil fuel
(iv) to create awareness about using renewable energy sources
(o) Countries of the world depend heavily on —— energy.
(i) renewable (ii) non-renewable (iii) solar (iv) wind
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) Why will fossil fuels such as oil, coal, gas, etc. run out? [B. B. 2024]
(b) What are the positive aspects of renewable energy? [B. B. 2024]
(c) How does Hydrogen exist in nature? [B. B. 2024]
(d) What is bioenergy? Where do we get it from? [B. B. 2024]
(e) “Reliance on them poses real big problems.”— How? Explain it in 2/3 sentences. [B. B. 2024]
Extra Questions
(f) What is a renewable energy? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(g) Why is a renewable energy more advantageous than a non-renewable energy? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(h) Why is electric energy necessary for us? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(i) How can the ocean be a source of energy? [Ctg. B. 2022]
(j) Do you support the idea that we should use renewable energy as alternative to fossil fuels in order to save the environment? Why/Why not? Explain in 2/3 sentences.
Humans can neither change the ……. carbon dioxide when we clear forests. [Din. B. 2022; J. B. 2022]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—5; Lesson—3(A)]
Humans can neither change the sun’s radiation nor the earth’s orbit around the sun. But they can control the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases and its effect on the atmosphere. Only during the last hundred years the carbon dioxide concentration has been raised alarmingly in the atmosphere and we humans can be held responsible for this.
The main cause of the increase in carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels. Since the end of the 19th century, industrial activities increased rapidly giving rise to many factories. These factories required energy, which was produced through the combustion of coal. Besides coal, other sources of energy such as mineral oil and natural gas were also burned to heat our houses, run cars and airplanes or to produce electricity. Nowadays, about 85 million barrels of crude oil are burned daily. Every time a fossil raw material is burned, it releases carbon dioxide into the air.
Therefore, it is clear that more and more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are being generated worldwide by humans. Moreover, we are also strengthening the greenhouse effect by deforestation, which means cutting down trees. Every year enormous areas of forests are destroyed by people to obtain wood and to clear regions for mining and to create pasture. This loss of the forest causes dual problems. Trees that are burned up release large volumes of carbon dioxide gas into the air. On the other hand, as forests absorb a lot of carbon dioxide from the air and deliver oxygen instead, we also destroy an important storehouse of carbon dioxide when we clear forests.
[Dinajpur Board—2022; Jashore Board—2022]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Who are mainly responsible for greenhouse effect? [J. B. 2022]
(i) wild animals (ii) plants (iii) humans (iv) acquatic life
(b) Which of the period describes the beginning of the rapid industrialization? [Din. B. 2022]
(i) the start of the 19th century (ii) the end of the 18th century
(iii) the start of the 18th century (iv) the end of the 19th century
(c) What are the fossil fuels mentioned in the passage? [Din. B. 2022]
(i) coal (ii) mineral oil (iii) natural gas (iv) all the above
(d) Cutting down trees is called ——. [J. B. 2022]
(i) afforestation (ii) industrialisation (iii) glorification (iv) deforestation
(e) Greenhouse effect is strengthened by ——. [J. B. 2022]
(i) planting trees (ii) afforestation
(iii) erosion of soil (iv) destruction of forests
(f) Trees transport —— into the air. [Din. B. 2022]
(i) nitrogen (ii) oxygen (iii) hydrogen (iv) all
(g) The word ‘combustion’ mentioned in the passage means ——. [Din. B. 2022]
(i) kindling (ii) burning (iii) consummation (iv) flame
Extra Questions
(h) Trees absorb ——. [J. B. 2022]
(i) carbon dioxide (ii) oxygen (iii) methane (iv) hydrogen
(i) Natural gas is a kind of ——. [J. B. 2022]
(i) fossil fuel (ii) toxic substance (iii) harmful gas (iv) crude oil
(j) The word ‘instead’ mentioned in the passage means ——. [Din. B. 2022]
(i) option (ii) choice (iii) as an alternative (iv) preference
(k) The greenhouse effect is —— by deforestation.
(i) created (ii) affected (iii) accelerated (iv) reduced
(l) Deforestation is caused ——.
(i) by human being (ii) by nature (iii) automatically (iv) wild animals
(m) Carbon dioxide is a/an —— of greenhouse effect.
(i) result (ii) example (iii) reason (iv) consequence
(n) The main theme of the passage is to ——.
(i) show how humans are responsible for greenhouse effect
(ii) show the importance of tree plantation
(iii) show the result of deforestation
(iv) show how fossil fuels are being used
(o) People destroy forest in order to ——.
(i) produce wood (ii) make fire
(iii) create pasture (iv) release carbon dioxide
Michael Madhusudan Dutt, …………………… epic Meghnad Badh Kabya. [M. B. 2024; Din. B. 2023]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—12; Lesson—3(A)]
Michael Madhusudan Dutt, popularly known as Madhusudan, was a celebrated 19th century Bangalee poet and dramatist. He was born in Sagordari on the bank of the Kopotaksho River, a village in Keshabpur Upazila under Jashore district.
From an early age, Dutt aspired to be an Englishman in form and manner. Though he was born into a sophisticated Hindu family, he converted to Christianity as a young man, much to the ire of his family, and adopted the first name Michael. In his childhood, he was recognized by his teachers as a precious child with a gift of literary talent. His early exposure to English education and European literature at home and his college inspired him to imitate the English in taste, manners and intellect.
Since his adolescence he started believing that he was born on the wrong side of the planet, and that his society was unable to appreciate his talent. He also believed that the West would be more receptive to his creative genius.
Madhusudan was an ardent follower of the famous English poet Lord Byron. So after adopting Christianity, he went to Europe and started composing poems and plays in English. They showed his higher level of intellectual ability. However, he failed to gain the right appreciation. To his utter frustration he found that he was not esteemed as a native writer of English literature. Out of his frustration, he composed a sonnet in Bangla “Kopotaksho Nad” which earned him huge reputation in Bangla. Gradually he could realize that his true identity lay in Bengal and he was a sojourner in Europe. Afterwards he regretted his fascination for England and the West. He came back to Bengal and devoted himself to Bangla literature from this period. He has written the first Bangla epic Meghnad Badh Kabya.
[Mymensingh Board—2024; Dinajpur Board—2023]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Michael Madhusudan Dutt was frustrated because of his ——. [M. B. 2024]
(i) being appreciated
(ii) failure to gain right appreciation from the Bangalees
(iii) receiving right honour
(iv) not being evaluated properly by the West
(b) His teachers appreciated his literary talents in ——. [M. B. 2024]
(i) school (ii) college (iii) youth (iv) childhood
(c) —— attracted Michael in his college life. [M. B. 2024]
(i) English literature (ii) Western novels
(iii) European culture (iv) English taste, manners and intellect
(d) —— indicates Michael’s higher level of intellectual ability best. [M. B. 2024]
(i) His humanitarian work (ii) His adopting Christianity
(iii) His literary work (iv) His teacher’s appreciation
(e) ‘A precious child with a gift of literary talent,’ Here the expression means a child ——.[M. B. 2024]
(i) devoid of literary talent (ii) with outstanding literary talent
(iii) with literary zeal (iv) without literary talent
(f) ‘He converted to Christianity as a young man, much to the ire of his family.’ Here the word ‘ire’ means ——. [M. B. 2024; Din. B. 2023]
(i) desire (ii) consent (iii) anger (iv) passion
(g) The main purpose of the author of this passage is ——. [M. B. 2024]
(i) to sketch Michael’s life
(ii) to show Michael’s migration
(iii) to state Michael’s literary talent
(iv) to highlight Michael’s conversion to Christianity
■ Extra Questions
(h) “Kopotaksha Nad” is a ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) poem (ii) sonnet (iii) story (iv) epic
(i) The word ‘aspire’ means ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) deprive (ii) frustrate (iii) wish (iv) appeal
(j) The word ‘adopt’ means ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) to reject something new (ii) to deny something new (iii) to fall something (iv) to accept something new
(k) What type of talent did the teachers recognise in Madhusudan? [Din. B. 2023]
(i) artistic (ii) literary (iii) mathematical (iv) musical
(l) His days in Europe were full of ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) hope (ii) fun (iii) appreciation (iv) hardship
(m) When did Madhusudan start to believe that his birth was not in the right place? [Din. B. 2023]
(i) since his childhood (ii) since his teenage (iii) since his middle age (iv) after his youth
(n) The word ‘ardent’ means ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) showing strong feelings (ii) closely fit (iii) comparable (iv) unhappy
(o) The name of the first Bangla epic is ——. [Din. B. 2023]
(i) Kopotaksha Nad (ii) Gitanjali (iii) Meghnad Bodh Kabya (iv) Gitobitan
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) Who was Michael Madhusudan Dutt? [M. B. 2024]
(b) What was the ambition of Michael in early age? [M. B. 2024]
(c) Why did Michael start writing in Bangla? [M. B. 2024]
(d) When did Michael compose Kopotaksho Nad? [M. B. 2024]
(e) Why did Michael realise himself as a sojourner in Europe? [M. B. 2024]
Extra Questions
(f) In what manner did Madhusudan want to grow himself? [Din. B. 2023]
(g) Which religion did Madhusudan practice in his middle age? [Din. B. 2023]
(h) Why did his college inspire him to imitate the English in taste, manners and intellect? [Din. B. 2023]
(i) Which sectors of English literature reflected his intellectual ability? [Din. B. 2023]
(j) What did Madhusudan realise after coming back to Bengal? [Din. B. 2023]
Mainul Islam is a qualified …………………… to be respectful of their roots. [C. B. 2023; SSC Exam. 2018]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—12; Lesson—2(D)]
Mainul Islam is a qualified farmer in Naogaon. Mr Islam was very brilliant as a student. He took his higher education from Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. He then came back home and started advanced farming. He has two other brothers who are graduates in different disciplines. The specialty of the Islam family is that they all are living in their village and all are renowned in their own fields. Mr. Islam’s younger brother, who is a Rajshahi University graduate, is a science teacher in a local school. His youngest brother is a social science graduate who likes to start a local NGO to work for this area. When asked “What makes you decide to stay here in this village?” Mr Islam smiled and said, “Look, it’s true that we could leave this village for city life. I could be a banker or my brothers could be bureaucrats. But it didn’t attract us. We are sons of this soil. Yes, we have education but does education prepare a person only to be an officer? Don’t we have any obligation to the soil that has made us what we are?” He also added that not every educated individual should be a job seeker. He added that since his discipline was agriculture, after his education he took the occupation of a farmer. In response to a question whether they had any frustration living in a village, he confirmed that they were indeed very pleased with their life. He said, “I work in my own farm, stay with my family members, pass time with my old friends, and sleep at my own home. All these count a lot.”
Mr Islam is right. Many people go to cities and forget or loosen their roots knowingly or unknowingly. Mr Islam and his brothers are great— they haven’t forgotten their roots. They have not only stuck to their own roots, they have been torchbearers for others to be respectful of their roots.
[Cumilla Board—2023; SSC Examination—2018]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Mainul started —— farming in his village. [C. B. 2023]
(i) traditional (ii) outdated (iii) conventional (iv) modern
(b) Which of the following words is the closest meaning of ‘qualified’? [C. B. 2023]
(i) potential (ii) powerful (iii) proficient (iv) palatial
(c) Where did Mainul Islam take his higher education from? [C. B. 2023]
(i) BUET (ii) BAUM (iii) DU (iv) RU
(d) “People forget their roots.” — What does ‘root’ mean here? [C. B. 2023]
(i) place of birth and its surroundings (ii) countryside
(iii) lower portions of trees (iv) world heritage
(e) Mainul Islam has a —— to the soil. [C. B. 2023]
(i) contract (ii) purpose (iii) objection (iv) debt
(f) We are ‘sons of the soil’ means ——. [C. B. 2023]
(i) they belong to the land (ii) they don’t want to be rootless
(iii) their root lies in the soil (iv) they are closely attached to their soil
(g) Which of the following best suits as a title of the above passage? [C. B. 2023]
(i) pull of roots (ii) commitment to the native land
(iii) respect to the soil (iv) gratefulness to the soil
Extra Questions
(h) Mr. Islam —— in the roots. [C. B. 2023]
(i) works (ii) studies (iii) trains (iv) believes
(i) Mr. Islam and his brothers had —— opportunity or quality to lead a city life. [C. B. 2023]
(i) few (ii) every (iii) improbable (iv) no
(j) What should the individual be? [C. B. 2023]
(i) should be job seeker (ii) should be employed
(iii) should be a doctor (iv) should be self-employed
(k) Mainul and his brothers are —— with their present life. [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) frustrated (ii) dissatisfied (iii) satisfied (iv) annoyed
(l) Which quality of Mainul describes him best in the passage? [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) He is a graduate. (ii) He is an educated farmer.
(iii) He does not like conventional jobs. (iv) He shows responsibility to his root.
(m) Mainul along with his brothers —— in a village. [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) live (ii) work (iii) studies (iv) lives
(n) Mainul’s younger brother graduated from ——. [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) Agricultural University (ii) Rajshahi University
(iii) Dhaka University (iv) Rajshahi College
(o) According to Mr. Islam, —— should not be the only motto of education. [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) acquisition of knowledge (ii) to be aware of responsibilities
(iii) job seeking (iv) fellow feeling
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) How may Mr. Mainul and his brothers be our model? [C. B. 2023]
(b) “Every educated individual should not be a job seeker.” — Do you agree? Why? [C. B. 2023]
(c) What helps Mr. Islam lead a pleasing life? [C. B. 2023]
(d) What made Mainul Islam come back to his village? [C. B. 2023]
(e) What is the specialty of the Islam family? [C. B. 2023]
Extra Questions
(f) “It’s true that we could leave this village for a city life.” — What does Mainul Islam want to mean by this? [C. B. 2023]
(g) Why did Mainul become a farmer? [SSC Exam. 2018]
(h) Why are the three brothers great? [SSC Exam. 2018]
(i) Do you think that Mainul’s family is right? Why?
(j) What kind of farmer is Mainul Islam?
21 February is observed as ……….. cultural diversity and multilingualism. [C. B. 2019]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—3; Lesson-4(B)]
21 February is observed as Shaheed Dibosh every year throughout the country in remembrance of the martyrs of Language Movement of 1952. The commemoration begins at the early hours of the day with morning songs that recall the supreme sacrifices of our language martyrs. People wear black badges and go to the Shaheed Minar in barefoot processions, singing mourning songs. They place wreaths at the Minar. Many of them visit the graves of the martyrs at Azimpur graveyard and pray for them. They also attend various programmes organized in remembrance of the language martyrs.
The UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) on 17 November in 1999 proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for the rightful place of Bangla. The day is now annually observed worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. [Cumilla Board—2019]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. [x7=7]
(a) Our language martyrs are those who ——. [C. B. 2019]
(i) fought for Bangla language (ii) died for Bangla language
(iii) led the Language Movement (iv) fought for East Pakistan
(b) Who observe Shaheed Dibosh’ every year? [C. B. 2019]
(i) political persons (ii) students (iii) people of all ages (iv) the intellectuals
(c) The International Mother Language Day is being observed ——. [C. B. 2019]
(i) only in our country (ii) all over the world
(iii) in the Indian subcontinent (iv) in western countries
(d) On 21 February, people go to the Shaheed Minar in procession singing ——. [C. B. 2019]
(i) the national anthem (ii) mourning songs
(iii) bhatiyali (iv) patriotic songs
(e) What is the purpose of the author of this passage? [C. B. 2019]
(i) to highlight how 21 February is observed and its international recognition
(ii) to highlight how the people go to the Shaheed Minar
(iii) to portray how the freedom fighters lost their lives
(iv) to state how the UNESCO approves Shaheed Dibosh
(f) What do you mean by the word ‘supreme’ in the phrase ‘supreme sacrifice’? [C. B. 2019]
(i) at any cost (ii) highest (iii) suicide (iv) utter
(g) The word ‘diversity’ means ——. [C. B. 2019]
(i) similarity (ii) variety (iii) likeness (iv) comparison
Extra Questions
(h) People go to the graveyard to pray for ——.
(i) the freedom fighters (ii) their parents
(iii) the martyrs of the Language Movement (iv) the workers
(i) We pay respect to the —— who sacrificed their lives on 21 February.
(i) soldiers (ii) martyrs (iii) farmers (iv) students
(j) Shaheed Dibosh begins with —— songs.
(i) mourning (ii) morning (iii) happy (iv) chorus
(k) The movement which took place in 1952 was ——.
(i) the independence movement (ii) the Language Movement
(iii) the right movement (iv) the democratic movement
(l) The word ‘worldwide’ refers to ——.
(i) permanently (ii) worldly (iii) globally (iv) temporarily
(m) What does ‘black badge’ symbolize?
(i) joy (ii) sadness (iii) disrespect (iv) courage
(n) People put —— at the Minar.
(i) black badges (ii) bunches of flowers (iii) sacrifices (iv) food
(o) Which of the following days is observed as the Shaheed Dibosh?
(i) 17 November (ii) 16 December (iii) 21 February (iv) 26 March
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) Why is 21 February observed as the ‘Shaheed Dibosh’? [C. B. 2019]
(b) Why do we go to the Shaheed Minar barefooted? [C. B. 2019]
(c) What is the importance of the ‘International Mother Language Day’? [C. B. 2019]
(d) What do you understand by the phrase ‘the rightful place of Bangla’? [C. B. 2019]
(e) What is your idea about the significance of wearing black badges on the Shaheed Dibosh?
Write in two sentences. [C. B. 2019]
Extra Questions
(f) How do people celebrate Shaheed Dibosh?
(g) “People place wreaths at the Minar.” — What do wreaths symbolize?
(h) Why do many organizations organize various programmes on 21 February?
(i) What do the mourning songs help us to recall?
(j) What does 21 February remind us of?
21 February is a memorable day …… movement of Bangladesh. [R. B. 2023]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—3; Lesson—3(B)]
21 February is a memorable day in our national history. We observe the day every year as International Mother Language Day. The day is a national holiday.
On this day, we pay tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives to establish Bangla as a state language in undivided Pakistan in 1952. The struggle to achieve our language rights is known as the Language Movement.
The seed of the Language Movement was sown on 21 March 1948 when Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Governor General of Pakistan, declared in a public meeting in Dhaka that Urdu would be the only state language of Pakistan. The declaration raised a storm of protest in the eastern part of the country. The protest continued non-stop, gathering momentum day by day. It turned into a movement and reached its climax in 1952. The government outlawed all sorts of public meetings and rallies to stop it. The students of Dhaka University defied the law and brought out a peaceful protest procession on 21 February 1952. When the procession reached near Dhaka Medical College, the police opened fire on the students, killing Salam, Rafiq, Barkat, Saifur and Jabbar. As a result, there were mass protests all over the country and the government had to declare Bangla as a state language. This kindled the sparks of independence movement of Bangladesh.
[Rajshahi Board—2023]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) The greatest outcome of the Language Movement ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) status of Bangla as a state language of Pakistan
(ii) independence of Bangladesh
(iii) International Mother Language Day
(iv) mass protest all over the country
(b) Salam and Barkat were the citizens of ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) Bangladesh (ii) Nepal (iii) India (iv) erstwhile Pakistan
(c) Pakistan government declared Bangla as a state language because they were ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) compelled to do that (ii) requested to do that
(iii) urged to do that (iv) advised to do that
(d) 21 February is a memorable day for all Bangladeshis because this is the day when ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) Urdu was declared as the only state language of Pakistan
(ii) we pay tribute to the martyrs to Liberation War
(iii) some great people laid down their lives to establish Bangla as a state language
(iv) students protested against Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s declaration
(e) The seed of the Language Movement was sown by ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) Salam (ii) martyrs (iii) Jinnah (iv) students
(f) Jinnah’s declaration raised a storm of protest ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) in Pakistan (ii) in the western part of Pakistan
(iii) in the eastern part of Pakistan (iv) in both the parts of the then Pakistan
(g) Our martyrs laid down their lives to ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) achieve independence of the country (ii) establish Bangla as a state language
(iii) earn name and fame (iv) to achieve people’s tribute
Extra Questions
(h) The climax of something is its ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) final stage (ii) downfall (iii) reward (iv) punishment
(i) The phrase ‘storm of protest’ means ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) mild protest (ii) strong protest (iii) moderate protest (iv) symbolic protest
(j) The gap between the beginning and the climax of the Language Movement ——. [R. B. 2023]
(i) 2 years (ii) 3 years (iii) 4 years (iv) 5 years
(k) 21 February is ——.
(i) Language Movement Day (ii) Mother Language Day
(iii) International Mother Language Day (iv) Language Day
(l) What is known as the Language Movement?
(i) the movement in 1948 for language (ii) the movement in 1971 for freedom
(iii) the movement in 1952 for language (iv) the movement in 1952 for freedom
(m) On 21 February we show honour to the ——.
(i) freedom fighters (ii) martyred freedom fighters
(iii) language martyrs (iv) martyred intellectuals
(n) What is the purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) to sketch the significance of International Mother Language Day
(ii) to portray the brutal characteristics of Mohammad Ali Jinnah
(iii) to state the importance of Independence Day
(iv) to highlight the brutal killing of the soldiers of the then East Pakistan
(o) Who brought out protest procession?
(i) dwellers of Dhaka city (ii) soldiers of the army
(iii) the people of East Pakistan (iv) the students of Dhaka University
It was late summer, 26 August 1910 ………………. in the slums of Kolkata. [Ctg. B. 2024]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—7; Lesson—4(A)]
It was late summer, 26 August 1910. A little girl was born to a rich Catholic merchants’ family of Albanian descent in a small town called Skopje, Macedonia. She was the youngest of the three siblings and was named Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Who could imagine at the time that this little girl would one day become the mother of humanity, loving and serving the poorest of the poor. Yes, we are talking about none other than Mother Teresa.
At the age of 12, she heard a voice from within that urged her to spread the love of Christ. She decided that she would be a missionary. At the age of 18, she left her parental home. She then joined an Irish community of nuns called the Sisters of Loreto, which had missions in India.
After a few months of training at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin, Mother Teresa came to India. On May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948, Mother Teresa taught geography and theology at St. Mary’s High School in Kolkata (then Calcutta). However, the widespread poverty in Kolkata had a deep impact on Mother Teresa and in 1948 she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent and devote herself to caring for the poorest of the poor in the slums of Kolkata.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) What does ‘mother of humanity’ refers to in the passage? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) a mother who takes a great care of her children
(ii) an affectionate mother
(iii) a mother who serves the poor like her own children
(iv) a mother who dislikes humanity
(b) From childhood, Mother Teresa desired to be a ——. [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) social worker (ii) missionary (iii) religious person (iv) political figure
(c) The voice within her urged her with a view to —— the love of Christ. [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) spread (ii) hinder (iii) hindering (iv) spreading
(d) ‘The Sisters of Loreto’ is an organization of Irish ——. [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) monks (ii) nuns (iii) clergymen (iv) priests
(e) ‘The poorest of the poor’ stands for the people who live ——. [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) above the poverty line (ii) with much poverty
(iii) under the poverty line (iv) in poor condition
(f) What shocked Mother Teresa most in Kolkata? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) discrimination (ii) less poverty (iii) extreme poverty (iv) food crisis
(g) What is the main theme of the passage? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(i) to spread Christianity (ii) to remove poverty
(iii) to spread education (iv) love for the distressed
Extra Questions
(h) Mother Teresa was a ——.
(i) Jew (ii) Muslim (iii) Christian (iv) Hindu
(i) What is the passage about?
(i) Sisters of Loreto (ii) Roman Catholicism
(iii) Mother Teresa (iv) the teachings of Jesus Christ
(j) The sufferings of the poorest people in Kolkata moved her ——.
(i) not much (ii) now and then (iii) tremendously (iv) to some extent
(k) The theme of the passage is ——.
(i) the biography of a celebrity (ii) the memoir of a celebrity
(iii) giving information about a celebrity (iv) a call for the humanitarian service
(l) What does ‘servant of humanity’ in the text mean?
(i) becoming a slave (ii) to work in other people’s house
(iii) to be oppressed by others (iv) to serve the needy
(m) Mother Teresa had —— humane feeling.
(i) an inborn (ii) no (iii) a little (iv) some
(n) She was born in a country of ——.
(i) America (ii) Africa (iii) Asia (iv) Europe
(o) Mother Teresa was an ardent follower of ——.
(i) Virgin Marry (ii) Jesus Christ (iii) her family (iv) both (i) & (ii)
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) Where did Mother Teresa come of? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(b) Why did Mother Teresa decide to be a missionary? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(c) How did she become the mother of humanity? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(d) What did Mother Teresa do in the first seventeen years in India? [Ctg. B. 2024]
(e) Why did she leave her parental home? [Ctg. B. 2024]
Extra Questions
(f) What do you mean by the phrase ‘the mother of humanity’?
(g) What factor had an impact on Teresa especially in India?
(h) Who was Mother Teresa?
(i) What would she teach at St. Mary’s High School in Kolkata?
(j) Why did Mother Teresa work in India?
Eid is the main religious festival ………… makes them feel empty and lost. [M. B. 2023]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—12; Lesson—1(B)]
Eid is the main religious festival of the Muslims in Bangladesh. Eid means happiness. Everyone wants to share this happiness with near and dear ones. So most of the people, who are living outside their homes for different reasons have a strong desire to get back home during the Eid vacation. As a result, there is a mad rush to board buses, trains, or launches for going home. This often causes transport accidents that take away many lives. However, these cannot stop people from going home to meet their family, in-laws, or friends. What makes people rush for their homes in spite of serious hazards? This is nothing but people’s desire to return to the roots. Do human beings have roots like the trees? The answer is ‘yes’ but unlike the roots of the trees they are invisible, they lie in our minds. It’s these roots that make a bond between us and family members, in-laws, friends, neighbours or even between us and the land where we were born and grew up. In that sense our families, our land of birth, relatives, our culture, traditions, or surroundings are our roots. And wherever we stay, we feel the power of our roots. It’s our roots that develop our identity making us what we are. When we lose that bond, we become rootless. Human beings who do not have any roots are a non-entity. In other words, they do not have an identity. They don’t know where they are from, and/or where they are heading to. This often makes them feel empty and lost. [Mymensingh Board—2023]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) We should have —— between us and our dearest ones. [M. B. 2023]
(i) bondage (ii) bond (iii) knack (iv) communication
(b) People go home on Eid in order to —— happiness with their near and dear ones. [M. B. 2023]
(i) observe (ii) distribute (iii) share (iv) sharing
(c) Human roots grow in our ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) minds (ii) family (iii) society (iv) relation
(d) We get united to our relatives ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) as a traditional rule of our society (ii) for our strong invisible bond
(iii) as a social being (iv) for financial interest
(e) The phrase ‘near and dear ones’ means ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) known persons (ii) kith and kin (iii) close friends (iv) neighbours
(f) What does the phrase ‘a mad rush’ refer to in the passage? [M. B. 2023]
(i) a violent forward motion (ii) a sudden feeling of intense pleasure
(iii) a wild hurry to go somewhere (iv) a burst of activity
(g) What is the main purpose of the author of this text? [M. B. 2023]
(i) to criticize the home bound people
(ii) to describe the mad rush of people
(iii) to highlight the return to entity
(iv) to focus on the transport accidents occurred during the Eid
Extra Questions
(h) What should be the most suitable title of the passage? [M. B. 2023]
(i) Eid means happiness (ii) The pull of the roots
(iii) Eid is the biggest festival for us (iv) Developing our identity
(i) A man who has no family bond can be compared with a ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) vagabond (ii) easy-going (iii) traveller (iv) nomad
(j) Where we were born and grown up is our ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) neighbours (ii) origin (iii) living place (iv) local place
(k) If we lose our root, we have no ——. [M. B. 2023]
(i) identity (ii) relatives (iii) honour (iv) position
(l) Which of the following cannot stop people to meet their family during Eid?
(i) serious hazards (ii) financial problem
(iii) shortage of transport (iv) ceaseless rain
(m) Wherever we stay, our roots are continuously —— us.
(i) making (ii) developing (iii) pulling (iv) taking
(n) A —— person has no identity.
(i) valueless (ii) worthless (iii) rootless (iv) moneyless
(o) ‘And wherever we stay, we feel the power of our roots.’— What does the word ‘root’ is meant here?
(i) the source of something (ii) the lower part of something
(iii) the essential core (iv) a close relationship with our birthplace
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) What happens to transport during Eid vacation? [M. B. 2023]
(b) What is your idea about the significance of family and society in human life? [M. B. 2023]
(c) Why do people rush for homes during Eid vacation? [M. B. 2023]
(d) Do you think human beings have roots like trees? Explain. [M. B. 2023]
(e) Wherever we stay, we feel the power of our roots. — Explain in your words. [M. B. 2023]
Extra Questions
(f) What are the characteristics of the people having no roots? [M. B. 2023]
(g) When does a person feel vacant and lonely? Describe.
(h) What are roots? What will happen if we lose our roots?
(i) “This is the pull of the roots.” What does the writer want to mean by this sentence? Explain in 2/3 sentences.
(j) What is the difference between tree’s root and man’s roots?
Zahir Raihan was one of …………….. see his dream come true. [B. B. 2019]
Read the passage. Then answer the questions below (1—2). [Unit—10: Lesson—4(B)]
Zahir Raihan was one of the most talented film-makers in Bangladesh. He was born on 19 August 1935 in the village Majupur in Feni district. He was an active worker of the Language Movement. He was one of the ten students to go out in a procession on 21 February 1952 despite a ban on such activities imposed by the authorities. As a result, he and many others were arrested and taken to prison. Raihan was also present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February, 1952. He also took part in the mass movement in 1969. In 1971, he joined the Liberation War.
All through his life, Zahir Raihan dreamt of a democratic society, a society that would ensure freedom of speech. He had many dreams about our film industry too. He made a legendary film Jibon Theke Neya based on the Language Movement of 1952. It was a protest against the autocratic government then ruling our country. The family portrayed in that film symbolically represented East Pakistan. The family was ruled by an autocrat who had to go to prison for her conspiracy. During the Liberation War in 1971, this film was shown outside Bangladesh. Celebrated film-makers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak appreciated the film. Raihan gave all the money the film made to the Freedom Fighters’ Trust. Besides, his great documentary on Pakistani atrocities, Stop Genocide, helped create world sentiment in favour of our Liberation War.
On 30 December 1971, someone informed Raihan about an address somewhere at Mirpur, where he might find his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who had gone missing from 14 December 1971. Kaiser was captured and killed by the Pakistani Army and the local collaborators during the last days of the war. Accordingly, Raihan left home to get his brother back but he never returned.
Zahir Raihan’s dream was fulfilled. But it’s a pity that this dreamer could not live to see his dream come true. [Barisal Board—2019]
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Zahir Raihan —— in the Liberation War. [B. B. 2019]
(i) took part (ii) fled away (iii) escaped (iv) avoided
(b) The film ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ is a symbol of ——. [B. B. 2019]
(i) barbarism (ii) autocracy
(iii) revolt against autocratic government (iv) brutalism
(c) Which of the following words describes Zahir best? [B. B. 2019]
(i) brilliant (ii) polite (iii) energetic (iv) revolutionary
(d) ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ is based on ——. [B. B. 2019]
(i) the Mass movement (ii) the freedom fighters
(iii) the Liberation War (iv) the Language Movement
(e) ‘Stop Genocide’ was a ——. [B. B. 2019]
(i) novel (ii) film (iii) documentary (iv) drama
(f) What is the main theme of the passage? [B. B. 2019]
(i) about Zahir’s last day (ii) about Zahir’s activities
(iii) about Zahir’s life (iv) about Zahir’s contribution
(g) Zahir dreamt of a/an ——.
(i) autocratic society (ii) society full of malice, hatred and jealousy
(iii) democratic society (iv) undisciplined society
Extra Questions
(h) Zahir Raihan was one of the most talented Bangladeshi film-makers of ——.
(i) the 19th century (ii) the 20th century (iii) the 18th century (iv) the 17th century
(i) ‘Stop Genocide’ helped create ——.
(i) world sentiment in favour of our Liberation War
(ii) world sentiment against our Liberation War
(iii) world wrath protesting the Liberation War
(iv) world clash discouraging our Liberation War
(j) His film ‘Stop Genocide’ represented ——.
(i) cruelties of Pakistani rulers (ii) heroism of Bengali freedom fighters
(iii) real picture of Bengali society (iv) events of the Language Movement
(k) Zahir Raihan did not participate in ——.
(i) the Language Movement (ii) the Mass Movement
(iii) the Liberation War (iv) the World War
(l) Which one is the closest meaning of the word ‘autocrat’?
(i) liberal (ii) dictator (iii) democrat (iv) aristocrat
(m) ‘Jibon Theke Neya’ is a —— film.
(i) comedy (ii) symbolic (iii) romantic (iv) tragedy
(n) Zahir Raihan’s dream ——.
(i) remained unfulfilled (ii) got realized
(iii) came true to some extent (iv) was nipped in the bud
(o) Which one of the following doesn’t get hindrance in a democratic society?
(i) freedom of speech (ii) movement (iii) imperialism (iv) atrocities
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
(a) Who is Zahir Raihan? [B. B. 2019]
(b) What was the effect of ‘Stop Genocide’? [B. B. 2019]
(c) Where did Zahir contribute all his earning? [B. B. 2019]
(d) Why did Zahir leave home? [B. B. 2019]
(e) Who was Shahidullah Kaiser? What happened to him? [B. B. 2019]
Extra Questions
(f) What kind of a society did Raihan dream for? What did he do to achieve it?
(g) How does Jibon Theke Neya represent Pakistani autocracy?
(h) “Zahir Raihan’s dream came true.” How? Describe in 3/4 sentences.
(i) Write a short note on his short film ‘Jibon Theke Neya’?
(j) What do you think about the demise of Zahir Raihan?