HSC - 2025 English 1st Paper Sylhet Board Questions with Answer

Set-02 

ENGLISH First Paper

[According to the Syllabus of 2025]

Subject Code: 107 Time: 3 hours Full marks: 100

[N.B. The figures in the right margin indicate full marks. Answer all the questions.]

Part I—Reading (Marks: 60)

1. Read the passage and answer the questions below:

The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Man is by nature a social animal.” What he meant was that man, by instinct, seeks the company of others and establishes relationships much like most animals of the wild, for companionship and for physical and emotional support. Unlike the animals, however, man's relationships give meaning to his existence and inspire him to do well in education, in the workplace or in a profession that he pursues.

Relationships are of different kinds. Some are familial and intimate, formed by blood and by marriage; some are social, like the ones we have with friends; and some are made in school where we form close bonds with classmates and teachers. Relationships can also be fostered in the workplace, which may quickly change from professional to social. There are relationships also between human beings and animals, and between children and their toys that they cannot part with.

All these relationships keep us close to each other and provide us all kinds of support, love and affection. A person who has no family feels the pain of loneliness and isolation. There is no one to laugh or cry with him/her. When we share our joy with someone, it simply redoubles and when we suffer a loss and someone shares our sorrow, it lessens. Relationships are thus needed for our emotional health.

To build relationships, we need to have trust and respect for each other, and love where this is needed. We cannot be selfish and possessive if we want to establish an effective relationship. But quite often we see people quarreling and fighting with each other which only brings misery and loss to all.

A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:  0.5×10=5

(a) The word ‘seek’ mentioned in the passage means—

(i) achieve (ii) find (iii) pursue (iv) obtain

(b) The wild animals also need—

(i) accommodation (ii) food (iii) job (iv) company

(c) The synonym of 'inspire' is—

(i) love (ii) expire (iii) encourage (iv) entertain

(d) What is the noun form of 'intimate' mentioned in the passage?

(i) intimation (ii) intimacy (iii) intimately (iv) intimater

(e) What does a man establish for companionship and support?

(i) Society (ii) Establishment (iii) Relationship (iv) Knowledge

(f) The word 'professional' mentioned in the passage is a/an —

(i) adjective (ii) adverb (iii) noun (iv) verb

(g) ‘Trust and respect' are the pre-conditions of—

(i) relationship (ii) education (iii) happiness (iv) society

(h) The word 'misery' can be replaced by—

(i) pleasure (ii) suffering (iii) violence (iv) impulse

(i) A philosopher is a person who—

(i) predicts something (ii) criticises something (iii) researches deeply (iv) thinks deeply

(j) Relationships keep us in —

(i) inimical touch (ii) social touch (iii) intimate touch (iv) familial touch

B. Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 

a. Differentiate man's relationships from those of other animals.

b. “Man is by nature a social animal."—Explain.

c. Describe the importance of relationship.

d. What happens to a person who has no family?

e. Name different types of relationships.

2. Read the following text and make a flow chart showing the functions of education. (One is done for you): 1×5=5

Education gives us knowledge and a set of abilities to function meaningfully in life, such as the ability to decide things rationally and make the right choices. As we learn how to read, write and do the basic operations of arithmetic, we gain a degree of self-confidence. We learn to think for ourselves and articulate our thoughts; we pick up skills to communicate with others and manage our affairs well. Education helps us think independently and make our own opinions. As we know more about the world, we appreciate the good things it offers us but also become critical of the deviations from the values it imparts and the rise of hatred or conflict that follows. The first thing education does is to give us an awareness about ourselves which leads to the development of our personality. As we begin school, we feel the need to belong to the class and make friends. We then expand our sense of belonging to include the school at large, our community and finally our country. Education thus prepares every child to become an active member of the community and work for its welfare.

1. Giving us knowledge → 2. → 3. → 4. → 5. → 6.

3. Write a summary of the following poem: 10

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

4. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. There are more words than needed. Make any grammatical changes if necessary: 0.5×10=5

even	distance	watch	informative	become
source	run	show	channels	vary
set	programmes

Export to Sheets

Television has (a) __________ the most common and widespread (b) __________ of entertainment of the present world. A wide range of programmes of (c) __________ interest is telecast on numerous (d) __________. Almost every middle class and (e) __________ working-class family has a television (f) __________ today. Television (g) __________ are not only enjoyable but also highly educative. For example, television is used for (h) __________ learning. Courses (i) __________ by the Open University are shown on BTV. Several channels like the Discovery and The National Geographic channels telecast highly (j) __________ programmes.

5. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: 1×10=10

Modern life (a) __________ much on transport. We can very well understand how (b) __________ transport is when it is (c) __________ by natural calamities or during socio-political crises. In fact, transport has made it (d) __________ for us to reach places previously (e) __________. It has also helped the (f) __________ of trade and commerce and to (g) __________ new knowledge and ideas. (h) __________, transport has (i) __________ friendship and (j) __________ among nations and people around the globe.

6. Rearrange the following sentences to make a coherent order: 1×10=10

(a) He showed it to his wife.

(b) The lands yielded him some crops.

(c) However, he picked it up and carried it home.

(d) With that, he supported his family.

(e) One day he was walking through the fields.

(f) While walking he came across a purse of gold.

(g) He had a few acres of land. (h) There lived a farmer in a village.

(i) He thought that it might have been dropped by a passer-by.

(j) He was thinking about how he could add to his income.

Part 2—Guided Writing (Marks: 40)

7. The graph below shows ‘The number of people living below the poverty line from 1995 to 2010.” Describe the graph highlighting the information given in the graph. 15 

8. The following is the beginning of a story. Complete it in your own words:  15 

Rini was a student of class eight. Her parents could not afford to pay for her schooling. But she was determined to continue her study at any cost. So, she......

9. Suppose your friend has borrowed one of your important books. Your test examination is knocking at the door. So, you need the book badly. Now write a letter to your friend asking him to return the book.  10

Answer Key: English First Paper

(Set-02)

Part I—Reading Test

1. A. Multiple Choice Questions

(a) — (ii) find

(b) — (iv) company

(c) — (iii) encourage

(d) — (ii) intimacy

(e) — (iii) Relationship

(f) — (i) adjective

(g) — (i) relationship

(h) — (ii) suffering

(i) — (iv) thinks deeply

(j) — (iii) intimate touch

1. B. Short Answer Questions

a. While both humans and animals instinctively seek companionship for physical and emotional support, man's relationships are unique because they give meaning to his existence. These connections inspire a person to excel in education, work, and professional pursuits, a quality not attributed to the relationships of animals.

b. The statement, originally by the Greek philosopher Aristotle, means that it's a fundamental human instinct to seek the company of others. Humans naturally establish relationships for companionship and to receive and provide physical and emotional support, much like animals in the wild.

c. Relationships are crucial for human well-being for several reasons. They are necessary for our emotional health by providing a network for support, love, and affection. Furthermore, relationships allow us to share our experiences; sharing joy with someone can double the happiness, while sharing sorrow can lessen the pain. Ultimately, human connections give meaning to our existence and inspire us to achieve our goals.

d. According to the text, a person who does not have a family feels the pain of loneliness and isolation. They lack someone to share their joys and sorrows with, meaning there is no one to laugh or cry with them.

e. The text describes several kinds of relationships, including familial and intimate ones formed by blood and marriage, social connections with friends, and academic bonds with classmates and teachers. Relationships are also fostered in the workplace, between humans and animals, and even between children and their cherished toys.

2. Flow Chart

Giving us knowledge → 2. Giving a set of abilities to function meaningfully → 3. Helping us to decide things rationally → 4. Gaining self-confidence → 5. Helping us think independently → 6. Preparing us to be active members of the community.

3. Summary of "Dreams" by Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes's poem "Dreams" conveys the vital importance of holding onto one's dreams. The poet uses two powerful metaphors to describe the bleakness of a life without them. First, a life devoid of dreams is compared to a "broken-winged bird that cannot fly," symbolizing helplessness and unfulfilled potential. Second, it is likened to a "barren field frozen with snow," representing an existence that is empty, unproductive, and without hope or vitality. The central message is that dreams are essential for a life to be meaningful and complete.

4. Fill in the Blanks (with box)

(a) become

(b) source

(c) varied

(d) channels

(e) even

(f) set

(g) programmes

(h) distance

(i) run

(j) informative

5. Fill in the Blanks (without box)

(a) depends

(b) important

(c) disrupted

(d) possible

(e) inaccessible

(f) growth

(g) spread

(h) Moreover

(i) has promoted

(j) understanding

6. Rearrange Sentences

The correct order is: (h) → (g) → (b) → (d) → (j) → (e) → (f) → (i) → (c) → (a)

Part 2—Guided Writing

7. Graph Description

The line graph illustrates the change in the percentage of people living below the poverty line over a 15-year period, from 1995 to 2010.

The graph clearly shows a consistent and significant downward trend in the poverty rate. In 1995, the rate of poverty was at its peak in the period, standing at 48%. Over the next five years, it saw a notable decline, dropping to 40% by the year 2000. This trend of reduction continued steadily. By 2005, the poverty rate had decreased further to 31%. The period ended with the lowest recorded poverty rate in 2010, when the percentage of people living below the poverty line fell to just 25%.

In conclusion, the graph demonstrates a successful and continuous effort in poverty alleviation, with the rate being nearly halved over the 15 years.

8. Story Completion

Rini was a student of class eight. Her parents could not afford to pay for her schooling. But she was determined to continue her study at any cost. So, she decided to find a way to earn money herself.

After her school hours, Rini started offering tutoring services to the younger children in her neighborhood. She was a good student and explained the lessons very well. Soon, more and more parents wanted to send their children to her. She would teach for three hours every evening and then do her own studies late into the night. It was very difficult, but she never gave up. She managed to save enough money from her earnings to pay her school fees and buy her books. Her determination and hard work impressed her headmaster. He shared her story with a local educational trust, which then granted her a full scholarship for her higher studies. Rini proved that with determination and hard work, any obstacle can be overcome.

9. Letter to a Friend

15/B, Block-C, Halishahar,

Chattogram.

23 July 2025

My dear [Friend's Name],

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to you today for a special reason. I hope you remember that you borrowed my 'Advanced English Grammar' book about a month ago.

My test examination is starting next week, and I am in urgent need of that book for my final revision. It contains some important notes that I made which will be very helpful for my preparation. It would be a great help if you could return it to me as soon as possible. If you are busy, please let me know, and I can come over to your place this weekend to collect it.

I hope you are not minding my request. How is your exam preparation going? Let's catch up soon after the exams are over.

Wishing you all the best.

Yours ever,

[Your Name]