1.               Read the passage below and answer the questions following it. The Assembly has been called into session on the 25th of March. But the blood spilled on our streets has not yet dried. About the 10th of this month, I have told them : Mujibur Rahman won’t join the Round Table Conference because that would mean wading over the blood that has been shed.  Although you have called the Assembly into session, you’ll have to listen to my demands first. You’ll have to withdraw Martial Law. You’ll have to return all army personnel to their barracks. You’ll have to investigate the way our people have been murdered. And you’ll have to transfer power to the representatives of the people. It is only then that I’ll decide whether we will take our seats in the Assembly or not. I don’t want the Prime Minister’s office. We want the people of this country to have their rights. I want to state clearly that from this day Bangladesh’s courts, magistracies, government offices and educational institutions will be shut down indefinitely. So that the poor don’t have to suffer, so that my people don’t have to go through hardships, all other things will be exempted from the General Strike from tomorrow. Rickshaws, horse carriages, trains, and launches will be allowed to move. Only the Secretariat, the Supreme Court, the High Court, Judges’ Court, and semi-government organizations such as WAPDA will not be allowed to work. On the 28th employees will go and collect their salaries. If their salaries are not paid, if another bullet is fired, if my people are shot dead again, I request all of you : convert every house into a fort; confront the enemy with whatever you have. And even at the risk of your life, and even if I am not around to direct you, shut down all shops and make sure that traffic on all roads and ports are brought to a standstill. If need be, we will starve to death, but we’ll go down striving for our rights. To those in the armed forces I have this to say : you are my brothers; stay in your barracks and no one will bother you. But don’t try again to aim your bullets at our chests. You can’t suppress seventy million people forever. Since we have learned to sacrifice ourselves no one can suppress us any more.   A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 5 a)  What could be the closest meaning for ‘transfer power’ in the text? i. Hand over power ii. Conceal power iii. Grad power iv. Confine power b)  The word ‘withdraw’ in the text refers to — i. put in ii. remove iii. lay iv. Situate c)  ‘State’ in the text could be replaced by — i. condition ii. situation iii. shape iv. Utter d)  Sheikh Mujib asked — Martial Law. i. to withdraw ii. to enforce iii. to call for iv. to give up e)  The best synonym of ‘bother’ is — i. hassle ii. worry iii. disturb iv. Nuisance B. Answer the following questions. 10 a)  How do you evaluate the leadership quality of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujbur Rahman? b)  What, according to the text, is Martial Law? c)  Mention the things and institutions that will have under strike. d)  What did Sheikh Mujibur Rahman say to the members of the armed forces? e)  What does the expression ‘convert every house into a fort’ mean? Ans. to the ques . 1.A.  Ans. (a) (i) Hand over power (b) (ii) remove (c) (iv) utter (d) (i) to withdraw (e) (i) hassle. 1.B.  Ans. a)   Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a legendary leader. Firstly he was a good orator. His speech on 07 March is an example of it. After that he had a lot of political prudence. b)  Martial Law, according to text, is a situation in which the army governs a country. c)   General Ayub Khan imposed Martial Law to enslave us. d)   The Secretariat, the Supreme Court, the High Court, the Judge’s Court and semi-government organizations such as WAPDA will remain under strike. Rickshaws, horse carriages, trains and launches will also remain under hartal. e)   Sheikh Mujibur Rahman told to the members of the armed forces to return to the barracks. He also assured them that nobody would say them anything. f)   This statement is, in fact, a declaration of the war of independence. It indicates to take preparation of the war against the Pakistani rulers.     Bangla Translation ২৫শে মার্চ বিধানসভার অধিবেশন ডাকা হয়েছে। কিন্তু আমাদের রাস্তায় ঝরে পড়া রক্ত ​​এখনও শুকায়নি। এই মাসের ১০ তারিখে আমি তাদের বলেছি: মুজিবুর রহমান গোলটেবিল বৈঠকে যোগ দেবেন না কারণ এর অর্থ হবে ঝরে পড়া রক্তের উপর ভেসে যাওয়া। যদিও আপনারা বিধানসভার অধিবেশন ডাকছেন, তবুও আপনাদের প্রথমে আমার দাবি শুনতে হবে। আপনাদের সামরিক আইন প্রত্যাহার করতে হবে। আপনাদের সকল সেনা সদস্যকে তাদের ব্যারাকে ফিরিয়ে আনতে হবে। আমাদের জনগণকে কীভাবে হত্যা করা হয়েছে তা আপনাদের তদন্ত করতে হবে। এবং আপনাদের জনগণের প্রতিনিধিদের কাছে ক্ষমতা হস্তান্তর করতে হবে। এরপরই আমি সিদ্ধান্ত নেব যে আমরা বিধানসভায় আমাদের আসন গ্রহণ করব কি করব না। আমি প্রধানমন্ত্রীর কার্যালয় চাই না। আমরা চাই এই দেশের জনগণ তাদের অধিকার পাক। আমি স্পষ্ট করে বলতে চাই যে আজ থেকে বাংলাদেশের আদালত, ম্যাজিস্ট্রেট, সরকারি অফিস এবং শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠান অনির্দিষ্টকালের জন্য বন্ধ থাকবে। যাতে গরীবদের কষ্ট না করতে হয়, আমার জনগণ যাতে কষ্টের মধ্য দিয়ে যেতে না হয়, আগামীকাল থেকে সাধারণ ধর্মঘট থেকে অন্য সকল জিনিস বাদ দেওয়া হবে। রিকশা, ঘোড়ার গাড়ি, ট্রেন এবং লঞ্চ চলাচলের অনুমতি দেওয়া হবে। শুধুমাত্র সচিবালয়, সুপ্রিম কোর্ট, হাইকোর্ট, জজ কোর্ট এবং ওয়াপডার মতো আধা-সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলিকে কাজ করতে দেওয়া হবে না। ২৮ তারিখে কর্মচারীরা তাদের বেতন সংগ্রহ করতে যাবেন। যদি তাদের বেতন না দেওয়া হয়, যদি আরেকটি গুলি চালানো হয়, যদি আমার জনগণকে আবার গুলি করে হত্যা করা হয়, তাহলে আমি আপনাদের সকলকে অনুরোধ করছি: প্রতিটি ঘরকে দুর্গে পরিণত করুন; যা কিছু আছে তা দিয়ে শত্রুর মোকাবিলা করুন। এমনকি আপনার জীবনের ঝুঁকি নিয়েও, এমনকি যদি আমি আপনাকে নির্দেশ দেওয়ার জন্য আশেপাশে না থাকি, তবুও সমস্ত দোকানপাট বন্ধ করে দিন এবং নিশ্চিত করুন যে সমস্ত রাস্তা এবং বন্দরে যান চলাচল বন্ধ করে দেওয়া হয়। প্রয়োজনে, আমরা না খেয়ে মরবো, কিন্তু আমরা আমাদের অধিকারের জন্য সংগ্রাম করে যাব। সশস্ত্র বাহিনীর সদস্যদের উদ্দেশ্যে আমার এই কথা বলতে হবে: আপনারা আমার ভাই; আপনাদের ব্যারাকে থাকুন এবং কেউ আপনাদের বিরক্ত করবে না। কিন্তু আমাদের বুকে আবার গুলি ছুঁড়তে চেষ্টা করো না। সত্তর কোটি মানুষকে চিরতরে দমন করতে পারবে না। যেহেতু আমরা নিজেদের উৎসর্গ করতে শিখেছি, তাই আর কেউ আমাদের দমন করতে পারবে না। Ad Passage-2   1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. The Assembly has been called into session on the 25th of March. But the blood spilled on our streets has not yet dried. About the 10th of this month, I have told them: Mujibur Rahman won't join the Round Table Conference because that would mean wading over the blood that has been shed. Although you have called the Assembly into session, you'll have to listen to my demands first. You'll have to withdraw Martial Law. You'll have to return all army personnel to their barracks. You'll have to investigate the way our people have been murdered. And you'll have to transfer power to the representatives of the people. It is only then that I'll decide whether we will take our seats in the Assembly or not. I don't want the Prime Minister's office. We want the people of this country to have their rights. I want to state clearly that from this day Bangladesh's courts, magistracies, government offices and educational institutions will be shut down indefinitely. So that the poor don't have to suffer, so that my people don't have to go through hardships, all other things will be exempted from the General Strike from tomorrow. Rickshaws, horse carriages, trains, and launches will be allowed to move. Only the Secretariat, the Supreme Court, the High Court, Judges' Court, and semi-government organizations such as WAPDA will not be allowed to work. On the 28th employees will go and collect their salaries. If their salaries are not paid, if another bullet is fired, if my people are shot dead again, I request all of you: convert every house into a fort; confront the enemy with whatever you have. And even at the risk of your life, and even if I am not around to direct you, shut down all shops and make sure that traffic on all roads and ports are brought to a standstill. If need be, we will starve to death, but we'll go down striving for our rights. To those in the armed forces I have this to say: you are my brothers; stay in your barracks and no one will bother you. But don't try again to aim your bullets at our chests. You can't suppress seventy million people forever. Since we have learned to sacrifice ourselves no one can suppress us any more..........................  বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   .২৫ তারিখে অ্যাসেম্বলি কল করেছে। রক্তের দাগ শুকায় নাই। এ মাসের ১০ তারিখ সম্বন্ধে আমি তাদের বলেছি, ঐ শহীদের রক্তের উপর পাড়া দিয়ে আরটিসিতে মুজিবুর রহমান যোগদান করতে পারে না। অ্যাসেম্বলি কল করেছেন, আমার দাবি মানতে হবে। প্রথমে সামরিক আইন মার্শাল ল’ প্রত্যাহার করতে হবে। সমস্ত সামরিক বাহিনীর লোকদের ব্যারাকে ফেরত যেতে হবে। যেভাবে হত্যা করা হয়েছে, তার তদন্ত করতে হবে। আর জনগণের প্রতিনিধির হাতে ক্ষমতা হস্তান্তর করতে হবে। তারপর বিবেচনা করে দেখব, আমরা অ্যাসেম্বলিতে বসতে পারব কি পারব না। এর পূর্বে অ্যাসেম্বলিতে বসতে আমরা পারি না। আমি প্রধানমন্ত্রিত্ব চাই না। আমরা এ দেশের মানুষের অধিকার চাই। আমি পরিষ্কার অক্ষরে বলে দেবার চাই যে, আজ থেকে এই বাংলাদেশে কোর্ট-কাচারি, আদালত-ফৌজদারি, শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠান অনির্দিষ্টকালের জন্য বন্ধ থাকবে। গরিবের যাতে কষ্ট না হয়, যাতে আমার মানুষ কষ্ট না করে, সেজন্য সমস্ত অন্যান্য যে জিনিসগুলো আছে, সেগুলোর হরতাল কাল থেকে চলবে না। রিকশা, গরুর গাড়ি, রেল চলবে, লঞ্চ চলবে- শুধু সেক্রেটারিয়েট, সুপ্রিমকোর্ট, হাইকোর্ট, জজকোর্ট, সেমি-গভর্নমেন্ট দপ্তর, ওয়াপদা কোনো কিছু চলবে না। ২৮ তারিখে কর্মচারীরা গিয়ে বেতন নিয়ে আসবেন। এরপর যদি বেতন দেওয়া না হয়, আর যদি একটা গুলি চলে, আর যদি আমার লোককে হত্যা করা হয়- তোমাদের কাছে অনুরোধ রইল, প্রত্যেক ঘরে ঘরে দুর্গ গড়ে তোল। তোমাদের যা কিছু আছে, তাই নিয়ে শত্রুর মোকাবিলা করতে হবে এবং জীবনের তরে রাস্তাঘাট যা যা আছে সবকিছু- আমি যদি হুকুম দিবার নাও পারি, তোমরা বন্ধ করে দেবে। প্রয়োজনে আমরা না খেয়ে মরব, আমাদের অধিকার আদায়ের চেষ্টায় আত্মাহুতি দেব। তোমরা আমার ভাই, তোমরা ব্যারাকে থাকো, কেউ তোমাদের কিছু বলবে না। কিন্তু আর আমার বুকের উপর গুলি চালাবার চেষ্টা করো না। ৭ কোটি মানুষকে দাবায়ে রাখতে পারবা না। আমরা যখন মরতে শিখেছি, তখন কেউ আমাদের দাবাতে পারবে না।.............. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What is the closest meaning of the phrase 'wade over'?  (i) to walk with an effort through water (ii) to walk with an effort through mud  (iii) to walk with an effort through water or something else  (iv) to enter into an argument (b) What did Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman tell the Pakistani army not to do?  (i) stay in the barracks (ii) aim bullet at the people  (iii) parade on the streets (iv) all of the above (c) The word 'convert' means —.  (i) change (ii) remodel (iii) adapt (iv) opposite (d) Bangabandhu didn't want to join the Round Table Conference because of —.  (i) anger  (ii) election   (iii) killing mission of Pak army (iv) interrogation of murders (e) How many demands are mentioned in the text?  (i) four (ii) three (iii) six (iv) five (f) What does the word 'standstill' mean?  (i) stay (ii) rest (iii) blockage (iv) deadlock (g) What does the word 'spilled' refer to —.  (i) upset (ii) shed (iii) fell (iv) flow (h) Which of the following is true?  (i) Bangabandhu wanted power (ii) Pakistani rulers asked for demands  (iii) Bangabandhu asked for some demands  (iv) Pakistani government listened to Bangabandhu (i) The word 'hardship' means —.  (i) trail (ii) hard (iii) persuasion (iv) misery (j) Bangabandhu didn't want —.  (i) freedom  (ii) Prime Minister's office   (iii) emancipation  (iv) human rights (k) What does the phrase 'listen to' mean?  (i) attend (ii) give ear to (iii) hear (iv) notice (l) The closest meaning of 'withdraw' is —.  (i) take away (ii) depart (iii) repair (iv) drop out (m) What is the closest meaning of the word 'investigate'?  (i) consider (ii) probe (iii) examine (iv) search into (n) The word 'representative' refers to —.  (i) traveller (ii) deputy (iii) spokesperson (iv) proxy (o) The phrase 'shut down' means —.  (i) terminate (ii) close (iii) halt (iv) shut up (p) What does the word 'convert' mean?  (i) baptise (ii) turn (iii) save (iv) remodel (q) The word 'confront' means —.  (i) face (ii) address (iii) brave (iv) evade (r) The phrase 'go down' refers to —.  (i) drop (ii) sink (iii) collapse (iv) lose (s) The closest meaning of 'strive' is —.  (i) fight (ii) attempt (iii) effort (iv) compete (t) The word 'suppress' means —.  (i) subdue (ii) check (iii) silence (iv) stop Answer (A):  (a) (iii) to walk with an effort through water or something else (b) (ii) aim bullet at the people (c) (ii) remodel (d) (iii) killing mission of Pak army (e) (i) four (f) (iv) deadlock (g) (ii) shed (h) (iii) Bangabandhu asked for some demands (i) (iv) misery (j) (ii) Prime Minister's office (k) (ii) give ear to (l) (i) take away (m) (iv) search into (n) (iii) spokesperson (o) (ii) close (p) (iv) remodel (q) (i) face (r) (iii) collapse (s) (iv) compete (t) (i) subdue B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) Why didn't Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman want to join the Round Table conference? (b) What were the demands of Bangabandhu? (c) 'I don't want Prime Minister's office'. — explain it in 2/3 sentences. (d) What did Bangabandhu do so that the poor don't have to suffer? (e) "Convert every house into a fort, confront the enemy with whatever you have', Discuss the line in 2/3 sentences. (f) What did Bangabandhu say to the armed forces and why? (g) What directives did Bangabandhu give to the common people? (h) What directives did he give to the Pakistani army? (i) What is the elaborate form of WAPDA? (j) What were his last words to the armed forces? Answer (B):  (a) Pak army killed many innocent Bangalees on the streets of Bangladesh. In the meantime, the government told Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to join the Round Table conference. But he refused as there held no investigation for the murder of the innocent people. (b) There were four demands that Bangabandhu asked for. They were: returning all army personnel to their barracks, investigating the murder of the innocent people, withdrawal of Martial Law and transferring power to the people's representatives. (c) This sentence expresses the greatness of a great leader, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. From the beginning of the preliberation period to the end of liberation war Bangabandhu led the country people only for their own emancipation not for himself. This line expresses the love of Bangabandhu for his nation and his people. (d) Though Bangabandhu called for strike but thinking the poor people he declared that rickshaws, horse carriages, trains and launches will be allowed to move so that the people had not to suffer. (e) By this words Bangabandhu urged the Bangalees to raise themselves and defend their country from the enemy attack. He urged them to turn their houses into forts and fight with the enemy with whatever they had. (f) Bangabandhu addressed the armed forces as his brothers and told them to go back to their barracks. He told so because the people of Bengal started to raise and they would not be able to suppress seventy million people forever. (g) Bangabandhu gave the following directives to the common people: (i) convert every house into a fort, (ii) confront the enemy with whatever they have, (iii) shut down all shops and make sure that traffic on all roads and ports are brought to a standstill. (h) The directives he gave to the Pakistani army were: (i) withdraw Martial Law (ii) return all army personnel to their barracks (iii) investigate the way the people have been murdered. (i) The full meaning of WAPDA is Water And Power Development Authority. (j) The last words of his speech to the armed forces were, "since we have learned to sacrifice ourselves, no one can suppress us any more."

1. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it: Tertiary education in Bangladesh comprises two categories of institutions : degree awarding universities and colleges affiliated with the National University (NU). There were only 4 universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971. All of those universities were publicly financed autonomous entities. At present, there are 35 such universities. Private universities are a relatively new phenomenon in this country. In the early 1990s, the private sector came forward to establish universities. Since then the country has experienced a spectacular growth in private universities – mostly in and around Dhaka and couple of other large cities. At present, there are 79 private universities. The number of colleges providing tertiary level education is around 1,400. Most of them offer BA (pass) education of three year duration; only one – third of them offer B.A. (Honors) courses and some offer MA degrees as well. All of these colleges are affiliated with the National University. Accessibility to higher education Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to get university education and sufficient support from educational institutions. Increasing enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level puts pressure on higher educational institutions. But due to limited capacity, only a small number of students may be enrolled in universities. Thus, each year a large number of students are denied access to higher education. Also, due to poverty and increase in educational expenses, students of the lower middle class do not get easy access to higher education. Moreover, those who get places in the universities have limited access to avail all kinds of diversified educational facilities relating to their study fields. Only about 12 percent of graduates enter higher educational institutions. More than 80 Percent of these students are admitted to NU affiliated colleges. Others are absorbed by the public and private universities. In the last two decades, there has been a substantial rise in the number of students in private universities. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the number rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010. Public universities in Bangladesh Public Universities are the first choices of most students. The public universities offer a wide range of subjects in Science, Commerce, Liberal Arts, Humanities, Engineering and Technology, Law, Education and Medicine. Public universities attract the best minds to teaching although monetary compensation for teachers is anything but attractive. Library, laboratory, Internet and research facilities are much better there than anywhere else in the country. Seminars, symposiums, lectures, workshops, debates, and exhibitions are often held in these institutions and there is ample scope for national and international exposure for promising young knowledge seekers. Moreover, public universities offer residential and boarding facilities at low cost/subsidized rates. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 5 a) The word tertiary mentioned in the passage means. i. primary ii. Elemental iii. third stage iv. Rudimentary b) What does the expression, ‘Public universities are the first choice of most students.’ mean? i. Few students like public universities ii. Many students like public universities iii. Private universities are better than public universities iv. All the students like public universities c) The word affiliate mentioned in the passage means. i. involve ii. entangle iii. implicate iv. Associate d) How is the opportunity to get university education in our country? i. It is limited ii. It is sufficient iii. It is available iv. It is comprehensive e) The word comprise mentioned in the passage means. i. reduce ii. contain iii. deduct iv. conform. B. Answer the following questions. 10 a) What do you know about the institutions that are engaged in imparting tertiary education in Bangladesh? b) How many public universities were there in Bangladesh at the time of independence? How many are there at present? c) Describe the history of the development of private universities in Bangladesh in your own words. d) How many colleges are there in Bangladesh providing tertiary level education? What of they offer? e) What does the accessibility to higher education imply? Describe in brief. Ans. to the ques 1.A. Ans. (a) iii. third stage (b) ii. Many students like public universities (c) iv. associate (d) i. It is limited (e) ii. contain. 1.B. Ans. a) The institutions that are engaged in imparting tertiary education in Bangladesh at of two categories. One category comprises degree awarding universities and the other colleges affiliated with the National University (NU). b) There were only four public universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971. At present, there are 35 such universities in Bangladesh. c) In Bangladesh, private universities came into being in the early 1990s with the initiative from the private sectors. Since then there is a spectacular growth in private universities. At present, there are 79 private universities. d) There are about 1,400 colleges in Bangladesh providing tertiary level education. They offer BA (pass) education of three year duration, BA (Honors)p courses and MA degrees. e) Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to have university education and sufficient support from educational institutions.   Bangla Translation বাংলাদেশে উচ্চশিক্ষার দুটি শ্রেণির প্রতিষ্ঠান রয়েছে: ডিগ্রি প্রদানকারী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় এবং জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের (NU) অধিভুক্ত কলেজ। ১৯৭১ সালে স্বাধীনতার সময় বাংলাদেশে মাত্র ৪টি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ছিল। এই সমস্ত বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় সরকারি অর্থায়নে পরিচালিত স্বায়ত্তশাসিত প্রতিষ্ঠান ছিল। বর্তমানে, ৩৫টি এই ধরনের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় রয়েছে। বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলি এ দেশে তুলনামূলকভাবে নতুন ঘটনা। ১৯৯০-এর দশকের গোড়ার দিকে, বেসরকারি খাত বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠায় এগিয়ে আসে। তখন থেকে দেশে বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলির একটি অসাধারণ প্রবৃদ্ধি ঘটেছে - বেশিরভাগই ঢাকা এবং এর আশেপাশে এবং আরও কয়েকটি বড় শহরে। বর্তমানে, ৭৯টি বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় রয়েছে। উচ্চশিক্ষা প্রদানকারী কলেজের সংখ্যা প্রায় ১,৪০০। এদের বেশিরভাগই তিন বছর মেয়াদী বিএ (পাস) শিক্ষা প্রদান করে; এদের মধ্যে মাত্র এক-তৃতীয়াংশ বি.এ. (সম্মান) কোর্স প্রদান করে এবং কিছু এমএ ডিগ্রি প্রদান করে। এই সমস্ত কলেজ জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধিভুক্ত। উচ্চশিক্ষার অ্যাক্সেসযোগ্যতা উচ্চশিক্ষার অ্যাক্সেসযোগ্যতা বোঝায় যে শিক্ষার্থীরা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় শিক্ষা এবং শিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠান থেকে পর্যাপ্ত সহায়তা পাওয়ার সুযোগ পায়। মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চমাধ্যমিক স্তরে ভর্তি বৃদ্ধি উচ্চশিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানের উপর চাপ সৃষ্টি করে। কিন্তু সীমিত সক্ষমতার কারণে, খুব কম সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থীই বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতে ভর্তি হতে পারে। ফলে, প্রতি বছর বিপুল সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থী উচ্চশিক্ষার সুযোগ থেকে বঞ্চিত হয়। এছাড়াও, দারিদ্র্য এবং শিক্ষা ব্যয় বৃদ্ধির কারণে, নিম্ন মধ্যবিত্ত শ্রেণীর শিক্ষার্থীরা উচ্চশিক্ষায় সহজে প্রবেশাধিকার পায় না। তাছাড়া, যারা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতে স্থান পায় তাদের তাদের পড়াশোনার ক্ষেত্র সম্পর্কিত সকল ধরণের বৈচিত্র্যময় শিক্ষাগত সুযোগ-সুবিধা পাওয়ার সীমিত সুযোগ রয়েছে। স্নাতকদের মাত্র ১২ শতাংশ উচ্চশিক্ষা প্রতিষ্ঠানে প্রবেশ করে। এই শিক্ষার্থীদের ৮০ শতাংশেরও বেশি শিক্ষার্থী NU অধিভুক্ত কলেজগুলিতে ভর্তি হয়। অন্যরা সরকারি ও বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতে ভর্তি হয়। গত দুই দশকে, বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতে শিক্ষার্থীর সংখ্যা উল্লেখযোগ্যভাবে বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে। UGC-এর বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন ২০১০ অনুসারে, ২০০৫ সালে এই সংখ্যা ৮৮,৬৬৯ থেকে বেড়ে ২০১০ সালে ২,০০,৭৫২ হয়েছে। বাংলাদেশের পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলি বেশিরভাগ শিক্ষার্থীর প্রথম পছন্দ। পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলিতে বিজ্ঞান, বাণিজ্য, উদার শিল্প, মানবিক, প্রকৌশল ও প্রযুক্তি, আইন, শিক্ষা এবং চিকিৎসাবিদ্যার বিস্তৃত পরিসরের বিষয় অফার করা হয়। শিক্ষকদের জন্য আর্থিক বেতন আকর্ষণীয় হলেও পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলি সেরা মেধাবীদের শিক্ষকতায় আকৃষ্ট করে। দেশের অন্য যেকোনো স্থানের তুলনায় এখানে লাইব্রেরি, পরীক্ষাগার, ইন্টারনেট এবং গবেষণার সুযোগ-সুবিধা অনেক ভালো। এই প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলিতে প্রায়শই সেমিনার, সিম্পোজিয়াম, বক্তৃতা, কর্মশালা, বিতর্ক এবং প্রদর্শনী অনুষ্ঠিত হয় এবং প্রতিশ্রুতিশীল তরুণ জ্ঞান অন্বেষণকারীদের জন্য জাতীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে পরিচিতির যথেষ্ট সুযোগ রয়েছে। তাছাড়া, পাবলিক বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলি কম খরচে/ভর্তুকিযুক্ত হারে আবাসিক এবং বোর্ডিং সুবিধা প্রদান করে। Ad Passage-2 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Tertiary education in Bangladesh comprises two categories of institutions: degree awarding universities and college affiliated with the National University (NU). There were only 4 universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971. All of those universities were publicly financed autonomous entities. At present, there are 35 such universities. Private universities are a relatively new phenomenon in this country. In the early 1990s, the private sector came forward to establish universities. Since then the country has experienced a spectacular growth in private universities-mostly in and around Dhaka and couple of other large cities. At present, there are 79 private universities. The number of colleges providing tertiary level education is around 1,400. Most of them offer BA (pass) education of three year duration; only one-third of them offer B.A (Honors) courses and some offer MA degrees as well. All of these colleges are affiliated with the National University.  Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to get university education and sufficient support from educational institutions. Increasing enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level puts pressure on higher educational institutions. But due to limited capacity, only a small number of students may be enrolled in universities. Thus, each year a large number of students are denied access to higher education. Also, due to poverty and increase in educational expenses, students of the lower middle class do not get easy access to higher education. Moreover, those who get places in the universities have limited access to avail all kinds of diversified educational facilities relating to their study fields.  Only about 12 percent of graduates enter higher educational institutions. More than 80 percent of these students are admitted to NU affiliated colleges. Others are absorbed by the public and private universities. In the last two decades. there has been a substantial rise in the number of students in private universities. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the number rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010...................  বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   বাংলাদেশে তৃতীয় ধাপের পড়াশোনা দু’ধরনের প্রতিষ্ঠানের সমন্বয়ে অনুষ্ঠিত হয়: ডিগ্রীপ্রদানকারী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো এবং জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধিভুক্ত কলেজসমূহ। ১৯৭১ সালে স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধের সময় বাংলাদেশে মাত্র চারটি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ছিল। সেসব বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় স্বায়ত্তশাসিত এবং সরকার অর্থায়ন করেছেন। বর্তমানে এরকম ৩৫টি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় রয়েছে। বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলো এই দেশে তুলনামূলকভাবে এক নতুন ঘটনা। ১৯৯০ সালের শুরুর দিকে ব্যক্তিমালিকানাধীন খাতগুলো বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় প্রতিষ্ঠার জন্য এগিয়ে আসে। তখন থেকে দেশটি বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের দৃষ্টিনন্দন ক্রম-বৃদ্ধির অভিজ্ঞতা অর্জন করেছে- অধিকাংশ ঢাকার ভিতরে বা আশেপাশে অবস্থিত এবং দুএকটি অন্যান্য বড় শহরে অবস্থিত। বর্তমানে ৭৯টি বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় রয়েছে। তৃতীয় ধাপের পড়াশোনার ব্যবস্থা করছে এমন বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সংখ্যা ১৪০০। তাদের বেশির ভাগ তিন বছর মেয়াদী বিএ (পাস) ডিগ্রী প্রদান করে; এদের মধ্যে মাত্র এক-তৃতীয়াংশের মধ্যে বিএ (অনার্স) কোর্স আছে এবং এদের কিছু এম.এ ডিগ্রীও প্রদান করে। এসব কলেজ জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের অধিভুক্ত। উচ্চশিক্ষার দিকে অভিগম্যতা বলতে শিক্ষার্থীদের বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে শিক্ষার সুযোগ ও শিক্ষাপ্রতিষ্ঠান থেকে পর্যাপ্ত সহায়তা পাওয়াকে বুঝায়। মাধ্যমিক ও উচ্চ মাধ্যমিক পর্যায়ে তালিকাভুক্ত শিক্ষার্থীদের সংখ্যা বৃদ্ধি উচ্চশিক্ষার প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোতে চাপ সৃষ্টি করছে। কিন্তু সীমিত ধারণক্ষমতার কারণে খুব কম সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থী বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে তালিকাভুক্ত হতে পারে। এভাবেই, প্রতি বছর অনেক সংখ্যক শিক্ষার্থীরা উচ্চশিক্ষার সুযোগ থেকে বঞ্চিত হচ্ছে। দারিদ্র্য ও শিক্ষার ব্যয় বৃদ্ধির কারণেও নিæ মধ্যবিত্ত পরিবারের ছেলেমেয়েরা উচ্চশিক্ষার সহজ সুযোগ পায় না। অধিকন্তু যারা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে পড়ার সুযোগ পায়, তারা তাদের লেখাপড়ার বিষয়ের সাথে সম্পৃক্ত বিভিন্ন সুযোগ সুবিধা সীমিতরূপেই পায়।  শুধু ১২ শতাংশ স্নাতক উচ্চশিক্ষার প্রতিষ্ঠানে প্রবেশ করে। তাদের মধ্যে ৮০ শতাংশের বেশি শিক্ষার্থী জাতীয় বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় অধিভুক্ত কলেজগুলোতে ভর্তি হয়। অন্যরা সরকারি ও বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে নিয়োজিত থাকে। গত দুদশকে বেসরকারি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়গুলোতে শিক্ষার্থী সংখ্যা উল্লেখযোগ্য হারে বেড়েছে। ২০১০ সালে ইউজিসি এর বার্ষিক প্রতিবেদন অনুযায়ী ২০০৫ সালে এ সংখ্যা ৮৮,৬৬৯ থেকে বেড়ে ২০১০ সালে ২,০০,৭৫২ এ দাঁড়িয়েছে।.......... A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) The word 'comprise' refer to —.  (i) reject (ii) consist of (iii) exclude (iv) compass (b) What is the closest meaning of the phrase 'affiliated with'?  (i) connected (ii) linked (iii) associated with (iv) association (c) What is the closest meaning of the word 'phenomenon'?  (i) event (ii) normal (iii) wonderful (iv) phenomenal (d) "In the early 1990s, the private sector came forward to establish universities." What does the sentence mean?  (i) private universities started operating (ii) the idea of private university was introduced  (iii) popularity of private universities (iv) Government established private universities (e) The word 'tertiary' refers to —.  (i) education of secondary level (ii) education of university level  (iii) education of higher secondary level (iv) education of primary level (f) What percentage of students get opportunities for admission into tertiary education?  (i) 30% (ii) 40% (iii) 15% (iv) 12% (g) What is the elaboration of 'NU' in the passage?  (i) National Unity (ii) National Utility (iii) National University (iv) National Union (h) How many universities were there in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971?  (i) 10 (ii) 7 (iii) 4 (iv) 9 (i) According to the passage how many private universities are there in Bangladesh at present?  (i) 60 (ii) 58 (iii) 79 (iv) 89 (j) The establishment of private universities are a new —.  (i) invention (ii) achievement (iii) event (iv) technique (k) There were — universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971.  (i) four (ii) forty (iii) forty four (iv) none of these Answer (A): (a) (ii) consist of (b) (iii) associated with (c) (i) event (d) (ii) the idea of private university was introduced (e) (ii) education of university level (f) (iv) 12% (g) (iii) National University (h) (iii) 4 (i) (iii) 79 (j) (iii) event (k) (i) four B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What is meant by tertiary education? What percentage of students gets opportunities for admission into tertiary education? (b) What do you know about the opportunities of higher education in Bangladesh? (c) Why can't most of the students get admitted in Universities? (d) How many categories of higher educational institution are there in Bangladesh? What are they? (e) How many universities were there in Bangladesh at the time of independence war in 1971 and how were they financed? (f) Write about private universities of Bangladesh in 2/3 sentences. (g) What does accessibility to higher education mean? (h) Why are a large number of students deprived of higher education? (i) 'The number of private university should decrease but their quality should increase'- comment on this statement. (j) Do you think that Bangladeshi universities are playing vital role in case of imparting quality tertiary education? Answer (B): (a) Tertiary education means the third level or University level education. Only about 12% of students get opportunities for admission into tertiary education.  (b) Opportunities of higher education in Bangladesh are insufficient due to some limitation. Lack of enough accommodation in proportion to the demand hinders the majority of students' access to higher education. Moreover poverty and high expense also deprive the students of getting higher education.  (c) Most of the students can't get themselves admitted into Universities due to accommodation constraints, poverty and increasing educational expenses.  (d) There are two categories of higher educational institutions in Bangladesh. They are degree awarding universities and colleges under National University.   (e) There were only 4 universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence war in 1971 and all those universities were publicly financed autonomous entities.  (f) In the early 1990s the private sector came forward to establish universities. Since then private universities are working as a new phenomenon in Bangladesh. At present there are 79 private universities in our country but the quality of education is not satisfactory in most of them.  (g) Accessibility to higher education means the opportunity to get university education and sufficient support from educational institution.  (h) A large number of students are deprived of higher education because of limited seats in public universities, poverty and economic insolvency of the middle and lower middle class families to meet the increasing educational expenses in private universities.  (i) Private universities are a relatively new phenomenon in this country. Starting from the 1990s, the number has increased to 79 at present. According to the UGC Annual Report 2010, the private university students number is 2,00,752 but with great astonishment we see that those aren't playing vital role in case of innovation and productivity. Moreover, some private universities only tend to make money, not imparting quality education. As a result, we should increase the education environment there, not the number of universities only.  (j) I think that Bangladeshi universities are not playing vital role in case of imparting quality tertiary education. There were only 4 universities in Bangladesh at the time of independence in 1971. At present the number of both public and private universities has increased a lot. Moreover we have got National University. All these institutions provide tertiary education but with limited facility. Limited access to avail all kinds of diversified educational facilities relating to their study fields hampers the quality education for tertiary level.

1.            Read the following text and answer the questions A and B.   Manned Mission to Mars Putting men on Mars has been an idea in science fiction for quite a while. However, when man first walked on the Moon, walking on Mars suddenly seemed feasible. A manned mission to Mars would be a huge milestone in space exploration. It would allow a more in-depth study of the Red Planet, and many have argued that building a permanent base on Mars is much more practical than building one on the Moon. A mission to Mars would be similar to the Moon landings, but much more difficult. The trip is about a hundred times longer, and there are new problems such as the Martian weather, which must be considered. NASA currently has plans to have a man on Mars sometime in the 2030s, while the ESA plans to do so also around the same time. Russia has plans to launch a manned Mars mission by 2020.   Nanomedicine Nanotechnology has the potential to revolutionize several fields, but its greatest contribution may very well be in medicine. The applications of nanotechnology in medicine are literally endless. Molecules could be built to stick to and destroy cancer cells, and only cancer cells. Advanced drug delivery techniques could be used to deliver drugs to specific parts of the body and eliminate side effects. Microscopic robots could be used to perform ultra-delicate surgeries, to repair damaged tissues, or to hunt down and destroy certain cells, like cancer cells or bacteria. Nanomedicine is currently in its infancy, but it may prove to be the biggest breakthrough in modem medicine since the first vaccine.   Journey to the Centre of the Earth In the 19th century, it was generally thought that man would reach the center of the Earth long before he reached the Moon. This shows just how unpredictable technology can be. A journey to the center of the Earth is actually much more difficult than it sounds. The pressure at the center of the Earth is enormous because, quite literally, the entire weight of the world is on top of you. There is no known substance, not even carbon nanotubes, that can maintain its shape at such a great pressure. While the Earth's deep interior may offer vast amounts of energy, it may be quite a while before we can tap into it directly.   A.             Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. (a)  The word fiction mentioned in the passage means. (i)  reality (ii)  actuality (iii)  certainty (iv)  fantasy (b)  How would be a mission to Mars? (i)    Easy (ii)    Comfortable (iii)  Hard (iv)  Very hard (c)  The word while mentioned in the passage means. (i)  moment (ii)  occasion (iii)  long time (iv)  interval (d)  Why can Microscopic robots be used? (i)  To do ultra-delicate surgeries (ii)  To repair damaged tissues (iii)  To destroy particular cells (iv)  All of the above (e)  The word quite mentioned in the passage means. (i)  partially (ii)  completely (iii)  partly (iv)  fractionally B.              Answer the following questions. (a)  What was the event that made walking on Mars feasible? (b)  A manned Mission to Mars would be a huge milestone in space exploration. Explain. (c)  Why do you think that mission to Mars would be similar to the Moon landings but much more difficult? (d)  What is the current plan of NASA regarding the Mars? (e)  Describe the purpose for which advanced drug delivery techniques could be used   Answers 1.       A. (a) (iv) fantasy (b) (iv) Very hard (c) (i) moment (d) (iv) All of the above (e) (ii) completely   B. (a) Men's first walking on the moon was the event that made walking on Mars feasible. (b)  A manned mission to Mars would be a huge milestone in space exploration because it would allow a more in-depth study of the Red; Planet, and building a permanent base on Mars is much more practical than building one on the Moon. (c)  Mission to Mars would be similar to the Moon landings, but much more difficult because the trip is about a hundred times longer, and there are new problems such as the Martian weather. (d)  The current plan of NASA regarding the Mars is to have a man on Mars sometime in the 2030s. (e)  The purpose for which advanced drug delivery techniques could be used is to deliver drugs to specific parts of the body and eliminate side effects.     Bangla Translation মঙ্গলে মানবচালিত অভিযান মঙ্গলে মানুষ পাঠানোর ধারণাটি অনেক দিন ধরেই বিজ্ঞান কল্পকাহিনীতে প্রচলিত ছিল। তবে, যখন মানুষ প্রথম চাঁদে পা রেখেছিল, তখন হঠাৎ করেই মঙ্গলে হাঁটা সম্ভব বলে মনে হয়েছিল। মঙ্গলে মানবচালিত অভিযান মহাকাশ অনুসন্ধানের ক্ষেত্রে একটি বিশাল মাইলফলক হবে। এটি লাল গ্রহের আরও গভীর অধ্যয়নের সুযোগ করে দেবে এবং অনেকেই যুক্তি দিয়েছেন যে চাঁদে একটি স্থায়ী ঘাঁটি তৈরির চেয়ে মঙ্গলে স্থায়ী ঘাঁটি তৈরি করা অনেক বেশি বাস্তবসম্মত। মঙ্গলে একটি অভিযান চাঁদে অবতরণের মতোই হবে, তবে অনেক বেশি কঠিন। এই ভ্রমণ প্রায় একশ গুণ দীর্ঘ, এবং মঙ্গলগ্রহের আবহাওয়ার মতো নতুন সমস্যা রয়েছে, যা বিবেচনা করা উচিত। নাসা বর্তমানে ২০৩০-এর দশকের কোনও এক সময়ে মঙ্গলে একজন মানুষকে পাঠানোর পরিকল্পনা করছে, অন্যদিকে ESAও একই সময়ে এটি করার পরিকল্পনা করছে। রাশিয়া ২০২০ সালের মধ্যে একটি মানবচালিত মঙ্গল অভিযান শুরু করার পরিকল্পনা করছে। ন্যানোমেডিসিন ন্যানোটেকনোলজির বিভিন্ন ক্ষেত্রে বিপ্লব ঘটানোর সম্ভাবনা রয়েছে, তবে এর সবচেয়ে বড় অবদান চিকিৎসা ক্ষেত্রে হতে পারে। চিকিৎসায় ন্যানোটেকনোলজির প্রয়োগ আক্ষরিক অর্থেই অফুরন্ত। ক্যান্সার কোষ এবং শুধুমাত্র ক্যান্সার কোষের সাথে লেগে থাকার এবং ধ্বংস করার জন্য অণু তৈরি করা যেতে পারে। উন্নত ওষুধ সরবরাহ কৌশল ব্যবহার করে শরীরের নির্দিষ্ট অংশে ওষুধ সরবরাহ করা যেতে পারে এবং পার্শ্ব প্রতিক্রিয়া দূর করা যেতে পারে। অতি-সূক্ষ্ম অস্ত্রোপচার করতে, ক্ষতিগ্রস্ত টিস্যু মেরামত করতে, অথবা ক্যান্সার কোষ বা ব্যাকটেরিয়ার মতো নির্দিষ্ট কোষগুলিকে খুঁজে বের করতে এবং ধ্বংস করতে মাইক্রোস্কোপিক রোবট ব্যবহার করা যেতে পারে। ন্যানোমেডিসিন বর্তমানে তার প্রাথমিক পর্যায়ে রয়েছে, তবে এটি প্রথম টিকা আবিষ্কারের পর থেকে আধুনিক চিকিৎসায় সবচেয়ে বড় অগ্রগতি হতে পারে। পৃথিবীর কেন্দ্রে যাত্রা উনিশ শতকে, সাধারণত মনে করা হত যে মানুষ চাঁদে পৌঁছানোর অনেক আগেই পৃথিবীর কেন্দ্রে পৌঁছে যাবে। এটি দেখায় যে প্রযুক্তি কতটা অপ্রত্যাশিত হতে পারে। পৃথিবীর কেন্দ্রে যাত্রা আসলে যতটা শোনা যায় তার চেয়ে অনেক বেশি কঠিন। পৃথিবীর কেন্দ্রে চাপ বিশাল কারণ, আক্ষরিক অর্থেই, পৃথিবীর পুরো ওজন আপনার উপরে। এমন কোনও পদার্থ নেই, এমনকি কার্বন ন্যানোটিউবও নয়, যা এত বড় চাপে তার আকৃতি বজায় রাখতে পারে। যদিও পৃথিবীর গভীর অভ্যন্তরভাগ প্রচুর পরিমাণে শক্তি সরবরাহ করতে পারে, তবুও আমরা সরাসরি এটি ব্যবহার করতে বেশ কিছুটা সময় নিতে পারি। Ad Ad

1. Read the passage and answer the questions following it Mandela went on to play a prominent role on the world stage as an advocate of human dignity in the face of challenges ranging from political repression to AIDS. He formally left public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his adoring countrymen: 'Don’t call me. I’ll call you.' But he remained one of the world’s most revered public figures, combining celebrity sparkle with an unwavering message of freedom, respect and human rights. 'He is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are,' Nadine Gordimer, the South African writer and Nobel Laureate for literature, once remarked. The years Mandela spent behind bars made him the world's most  celebrated political prisoner and a leader of mythic stature for millions of black South Africans and other oppressed people far beyond his country's borders. Charged with capital offences in the 1963 Rivonia Trial, his statement from the dock was his political testimony.   A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives           5 a. What could be the closest meaning for 'mythic stature' in text? i. Legendary figure ii. Hulk giant iii. Fabulous hero iv. Infamous b.  The word 'revered' in the text refers to — i. well-regarded ii. depraved iii. tarnished iv. venerated c.  'Repression' in the text could be replaced by — i. suppression ii. botheration iii. modification iv. glorification d.  The range of actions of Mandela encompasses —. i. from cultural aggression to AIDS ii. From social word to cultural repression iii. from national to international problems iv. from political suppression to AIDS e.  The best synonym for 'sparkle' is — i. gloomy ii. shine iii. shimmering iv. insipid   B.  Answer the following questions 10 a. How do you differentiate Mandela from other political leaders? b.  How do you explain Mandela's lifelong struggle for humanity? c.  Why did Nadine Gordimer remark 'He Mandela. is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are?' d.  What does the expression 'Don't call me, I'll call you' mean? e.  Do you find any leadership quality in Mandela? If any, mention.   Ans. to the Ques A.   Ans.: a.i. Legendary figure, b. i. well-regarded, c. i. suppression d. iv. from political suppression to AIDS, e. ii. shine. B.  Ans.: a. Mandela was different from other political leaders. He had to pass a longer time in jail than almost all other leaders. He was firm to achieve his goals. b. He struggled all through his life. Mandela is the synonym of struggle. Throughout his life he struggled to establish the rights of the black people of South Africa. c.  'Nadine Gordimer's remark indicates that he Mandela. is a hero not only for the South Africans but also for the people of the whole globe. Through Nelson Mandela struggled for the black people of his country South Africa., it influenced the other oppressed people far beyond his country's borders. Thus, he became an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world. d.   The statement was delivered by Mandela when he left his public life at the age of 86. With this expression he meant that he was not leaving them totally. If it was needed, he would come forward for his black people. e.   Yes, I find a number of leadership qualities in Mandela. Firstly, he had the mentality to sacrifice himself for his beloved black people. The second quality is his firmness of character.     Bangla Translation রাজনৈতিক দমন-পীড়ন থেকে শুরু করে এইডস পর্যন্ত বিভিন্ন চ্যালেঞ্জের মুখে মানবিক মর্যাদার সমর্থক হিসেবে ম্যান্ডেলা বিশ্ব মঞ্চে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করেন। ২০০৪ সালের জুনে তাঁর ৮৬তম জন্মদিনের আগে তিনি আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে জনজীবন ত্যাগ করেন এবং তাঁর প্রিয় দেশবাসীকে বলেন: 'আমাকে ফোন করো না। আমি তোমাদের ফোন করব।' কিন্তু তিনি বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে সম্মানিত জনসাধারণের একজন ব্যক্তিত্ব হিসেবে রয়ে গেছেন, স্বাধীনতা, সম্মান এবং মানবাধিকারের এক অটল বার্তার সাথে সেলিব্রিটিদের উজ্জ্বলতা মিশ্রিত করেছেন। 'তিনি আমাদের সময়ের কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে, দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকায় আমাদের সময়ের এবং তোমাদের, তোমরা যেখানেই থাকো না কেন,' দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার লেখিকা এবং সাহিত্যে নোবেল বিজয়ী নাদিন গর্ডিমার একবার মন্তব্য করেছিলেন। কারাগারে কাটানো বছরগুলি ম্যান্ডেলাকে বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে বিখ্যাত রাজনৈতিক বন্দী এবং লক্ষ লক্ষ কৃষ্ণাঙ্গ দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকান এবং তার দেশের সীমানা ছাড়িয়ে অন্যান্য নিপীড়িত মানুষের জন্য পৌরাণিক মর্যাদার নেতা করে তুলেছিল। ১৯৬৩ সালের রিভোনিয়া ট্রায়ালে মৃত্যুদণ্ডের অভিযোগে অভিযুক্ত, কাঠগড়া থেকে তার বিবৃতি ছিল তার রাজনৈতিক সাক্ষ্য। Ad Passage-2 Part-I: Reading Test (60 Marks) 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela never lost his resolve to fight for his people's emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. His prestige and charisma helped him win the support of the world. "I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days," Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa's first black president in 1994, ......."The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come." "We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation." In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W. de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. Mandela went on to play a prominent role on the world stage as an advocate of human dignity in the face of challenges ranging from political repression to AIDS. He formally left public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his adoring countrymen: "Don't call me. I'll call you." But he remained one of the world's most revered public figures, combining celebrity sparkle with an unwavering message of freedom, respect and human rights. "He is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are," Nadine Gordimer, the South African writer and Nobel Laureate for Literature, once remarked. The years Mandela spent behind bars made him the world's most celebrated political prisoner and a leader of mythic stature for millions of black South Africans and other oppressed people far beyond his country's borders............................... A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What does 'justice' refer to in line 3? (i) impartiality (ii) corruption (iii) fair (iv) satisfy (b) Mandela shared the Nobel Peace Prize with —. (i) Nadine Gordimer (ii) Einstein (iii) F.W. de Klerk (iv) Rontgen (c) What is the closest meaning of the word 'advocate'? (i) proposition (ii) pleader (iii) helper (iv) hater (d) Mandela suffered imprisonment for -. (i) nearly 15 years (ii) nearly 20 years (iii) nearly 25 years (iv) nearly 30 years (e) "We have at last achieved our political emancipation."- What does it imply? (i) South Africa was freed (ii) Racial discrimination was abolished (iii) Mandela became the President of South Africa (iv) Mandela drove away the white minorities from South Africa (f) Nelson Mandela is a/ an — of peace and reconciliation. (i) embody (ii) maker (iii) thinker (iv) resolver (g) South Africa is a Black — country. (i) dominated (ii) free (iii) inhabited (iv) controlled (h) Mandela — himself from civil war to bring down apartheid. (i) avoided (ii) refrained (iii) escaped (iv) adopted (i) Nelson Mandela vowed to remove —. (i) white (ii) politicians (iii) discrimination (iv) oppresors (j) Which one of the following sentences is false? (i) Nelson Mandela is a peace maker (ii) Mandela won Nobel Prize after he became president (iii) Mandela was in prison for nearly 30 years (iv) Nadine Gordimer is a literary figure (k) South African white minority — the black majority. (i) was dominated by (ii) destroyed (iii) struggled against (iv) dominated (l) The word 'chasm' means —. (i) breach (ii) discipline (iii) loose (iv) gap (m) The word 'shackle' in the text refers to —. (i) hamper (ii) bond (iii) iron (iv) rope (n) What does the word 'reconciliation' mean? (i) forgive (ii) separation (iii) appeasement (iv) allow (o) The phrase 'bring down' in the text means —. (i) abolish (ii) bring something close (iii) fight with (iv) cancel (p) "We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation" — the line indicates —. (i) end of a political conflict (ii) victory of a election (iii) getting government power (iv) end of a long struggle for political rights (q) "We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation" What is meant by the 'political emancipation'? (a) Religious freedom (b) Geographical freedom (c) Economic and social freedom (d) Political freedom (r) The term "apartheid" means — (a) anxiety (b) partition (c) preparation (d) discrimination (s) The word "epicenter' in the text means — (a) majestic (b) accusation (c) reunion (d) focal point Answer (A): (a) (i) impartiality (b) (iii) F.W.de Klerk (c) (ii) pleader (d) (iv) nearly 30 years (e) (ii) Racial discrimination was abolished (f) (i) embody (g) (iii) inhabited (h) (ii) refrained (i) (iii) discrimination (j) (ii) Mandela won Nobel Prize after he became president (k) (iv) dominated (l) (iv) gap (m) (ii) bond (n) (iii) appeasement (o) (i) abolish (p) (iv) end of a long struggle for political rights (q) (iv) Political freedom (r) (iv) discrimination (s) (iv) focal point (t) (iv) all of the above answers (u) (iv) autocracy B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What is apartheid? Do you support it? Why/ Why not? (b) Which words by Mandela inspire you most? (c) Why was Mandela awarded Nobel Peace Prize? (d) What is democracy? How do the people of the democratic world remember Mandela? (e) What is the significance and importance of 1993, 1994 & 2004? (f) Who is Nelson Mandela? Why is he famous? (g) When did he become the first Black President of South Africa? What did he say in his inaugural speech as President? (h) What was Nelson Mandela's dream? For whom did he fight and how? (i) Why does the author say Nelson Mandela an icon of peace? (j) How many years was Mandela imprisoned? What was his determination? (k) What do you mean by the sentence "The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come"? (l) In which field did Mandela play a prominent role? (m) How did Mandela won the support of the world? (n) What does the sentence imply- "We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation"? Answer (B): (a) Apartheid is a political situation in which people of different races are separated. I don't support apartheid because apartheid destroys the unity and harmony of a society and brings out civil war. (b) Mandela's words that inspire me most are that "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve. But if need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." (c) Mandela was awarded Nobel Peace Prize for keeping peace in South Africa as well as in the whole world by fighting against apartheid. (d) Democracy is the belief in freedom and equality, between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves. The people of the democratic world remember Mandela with honour and respect. (e) The significance and importance of 1993, 1994 & 2004 is that in 1993 Nelson Mandela was awarded The Nobel Peace Prize, in 1994 Mandela became the first black President of South Africa and in 2004 Mandela left public life. (f) Nelson Mandela is the most celebrated and undisputed Black African leader. He is famous for his life long struggle against apartheid to free the black people from the racial discrimination of the white people. (g) He became the first Black President of South Africa in 1994. In his inaugural speech after accepting Presidency he said, "The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come. We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation." (h) Nelson Mandela's dream was to gain freedom for the Black Africans of South Africa and to achieve political emancipation for them. He fought for the Black South Africans to bring down racial discrimination by avoiding a civil war through a non-violent movement. (i) Throughout his life, Nelson Mandela struggled for the emancipation of black people. But during this time he was non-violent and avoided civil war. So the author says Nelson Mandela an icon of peace. (j) Mandela was imprisoned for nearly 30 years. His determination was to bring down apartheid and the emancipation of black people from the domination of white minority. (k) This sentence clarifies the bringing down of apartheid. Apartheid had created a big chasm between the black and the white in South Africa. But with the struggle of Mandela and his becoming President of South Africa there's created a bridge to unite the South Africans. (l) Mandela played a prominent role on the world stage as an advocate of human dignity in the face of challenges ranging from political repression to AIDS. (m) Mandela was imprisoned for nearly three decades. But undergoing such a suffering, he never lost his resolve to fight for his people's emancipation and to bring down apartheid. Thus for his sacrifice, patience and non-violent attitude, he won the support of the world. (n) The sentence indicates the successful end of a long struggle for achieving political rights of the black people of South Africa. 1.           Read the passage and answer the questions following it Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela never lost his resolve to fight for his people’s emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. His prestige and charisma helped him win the support of the world. ‘I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestation. I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days,’ Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994,… ‘The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come.’ ‘We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation.’ In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W, de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. A.  Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 5 a) What could be the closest meaning for ‘shackles of apartheid’ in the first paragraph? i. Tentacles of domination ii. Bondages of slavery iii. Manacles of racial discrimination iv. Chains of exploitation b)  The word ‘reconciliation’ in the first paragraph refers to i. memorization ii. recall iii. reuniting iv. Change c)  ‘Resolve’ in the second paragraph could be replaced by i. dissolve ii. determination iii. hesitation iv. Solution d) Mandela spent around years behind the bars. i. twenty ii. thirty iii. forty iv. Fifty e)  The best synonym of ‘chasm’ is i. exposition ii. rift iii. harmony iv. union. B.  Answer the following questions 10 a) What, according to text, is apartheid? b)  Mention three great achievements in Mandela's life. c)  Why did Mandela want to break the manacles of apartheid? d)  What does the expression ‘I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and I will do so until the end of my days’ mean? e)  Do you find any  similarity  between  Mandela  and  Sheikh  Mujibur  Rahman?  If  any,  mention. Ans. to the Ques. No. Set-1 1A. Ans.: a.       iii. Manacles of racial discrimination, b.  iii.  reuniting,  c.  ii.determination,  d.  ii.  thirty,  e.  ii.  rift,   1B. Ans.: a.  According to text apartheid means the racial segregation prevailing in South Africa. It means the domination of the white over the black people of South Africa. Nelson Mandela is famous for breaking the manacles of apartheid from South Africa. b.  Though Mandela had to suffer a lot, his achievements were noteworthy. His frist achievement was to break the manacles of apartheid. His second achievement was to become the first black president of South Africa. His third achievement was to win the Nobel Prize. c.  Mandela wanted to break the manacles of apartheid because this very evil practice was responsible for the racial bigotry in South Africa. The manacles of apartheid confined the black people of South Africa inside the four walls of oppression. d.   This very statement is the expression of Mandela's firm resolution to fight against racial bigotry. Mandela had an absolute abhorrence towards race discrimination. He fought against it and was ready to fight against till his last breath. e.   I see some similarities between Nelson Mandela and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought respective countries. Finally, Mandela fought against the white rulers of his country. In the same way, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought against the Pakistani rulers. Then both of them were undisputable a presidents in their respective countries. Finally, both of them were would famous leaders. Bangla Translation: বাংলা অনুবাদঃ  নেলসন ম্যান্ডেলা দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকাকে বর্ণবাদের শৃগুখল থেকে বহু-জাতিক গণতন্ত্রের দিকে পরিচালনা করেছেন, যিনি বিশ্ব জুড়ে শান্তি, মীমাংসা এবং ন্যায়ের পক্ষে সংগ্রামের প্রতীক হিসেবে পরিচিত। সংখ্যালঘু শ্বেতাঙ্গদের বিরুদ্ধে সংগ্রামের কারণে প্রায় তিন দশক কারারুদ্ধ থাকার পরও ম্যান্ডেলা কখনো তাঁর লোকজনের মুক্তির জন্য সংগ্রাম করার সিদ্ধান্ত থেকে বিচ্যুত হননি। তিনি গৃহযুদ্ধ এড়িয়ে বর্ণবাদ প্রথা বিলুপ্ত করার পক্ষে সংকল্পবদ্ধ ছিলেন। তাঁর সম্মান এবং নৈপূণ্য তাকে বিশ্বের সমর্থন জয় করতে সাহায্য করেছিল। “আমি জাতিগত বিভেদ এবং এর সমস্ত ইঙ্গিতসমূহকে ব্যাপকভাবে ঘৃণা করি। আমি আমার জীবনের সব সময় এর বিরুদ্ধে সংগ্রাম করেছি; আমি এখন সংগ্রাম করব এবং আমার জীবনের শেষ দিন পর্যন্ত তা করব,” ম্যান্ডেলা ১৯৯৪ সালে দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার প্রথম কৃষ্ণাঙ্গ রাষ্ট্রপতি হিসেবে তার বক্তৃতায় বলেছিলেন,...... “ক্ষত উপশম করার সময় এসেছে। যে গভীর ফাটল আমাদের বিভক্ত করে রেখেছে তা সংস্কার করার সময় এসেছে।” “অবশেষে, আমরা আমাদের রাজনৈতিক মুক্তি অর্জন করেছি।” ১৯৯৩ সালে ম্যান্ডেলা আফ্রিকান শ্বেতাঙ্গ নেতা এফ.ডব্লিউ.ডি. ক্লার্ক এর সাথে যৌথভাবে নোবেল শান্তি পুরস্কার লাভ করেন যিনি তাকে তিন বছর পূর্বে জেল থেকে মুক্ত করেন এবং বর্ণবাদ বৈষম্যের বিলুপ্তি ঘটাতে সাহায্য করেন। ম্যান্ডেলা পৃথিবীর মঞ্চে রাজনৈতিক নির্যাতন থেকে এইডস মোকাবিলার ক্ষেত্রে মানুষের মর্যাদা রক্ষার সমর্থক হিসাবে অগ্রণী ভূমিকা পালন করেছেন। তিনি আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে ২০০৪ সালে জুন মাসে ৮৬ তম জন্মবার্ষিকীর পূর্বে জনজীবন থেকে সরে দাঁড়ান, এবং তার দেশপ্রেমিক জনসাধারণের উদ্দেশ্যে বলেন: “আমাকে আহবান করো না। আমি তোমাদের আহবান করব।” কিন্তু তিনি বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে শ্রদ্ধাভাজন ব্যক্তিদের মধ্যে অন্যতম, যিনি স্বাধীনতা, শ্রদ্ধা এবং মানবাধিকারের বার্তা প্রেরণে খ্যাতিমান। দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার লেখক এবং সাহিত্যে নোবেল পুরস্কার বিজয়ী নাদিন গোর্ডিমার একদা মন্তব্য করেছিলেন, “তিনি অবস্থান করেন আমাদের সময়, আমাদের দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা এবং পৃথিবীর যেখানেই তুমি থাক না কেন তার কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে।” ম্যান্ডেলার কারাজীবন তাঁকে পৃথিবীর সবচেয়ে খ্যাতিমান রাজনৈতিক কারাবন্দীর মর্যাদা এনে দিয়েছে এবং দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার লক্ষ লক্ষ কৃষ্ণাঙ্গ আফ্রিকান এবং তাঁর দেশের বাইরের অন্যান্য নির্যাতিত লোকজন তাঁকে কিংবদন্তী হিসাবে মনে করে।.................. Passage-3   1.               Read the passage and answer the questions following it  : The years Mandela spent behind bars made him the world’s most celebrated political prisoner and a leader of mythic stature for millions of black South Africans and other oppressed people far beyond his country’s borders. Charged with capital offences in the 1963 Rivonia Trial, his statement from the dock was his political testimony. ‘During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people.’ I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. ‘I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities,’ he told the court. ‘It is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.’ Friends adored Mandela and fondly called him ‘Madiba’, the clan name by which he was known. People lauded his humanity, kindness and dignity. A.  Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 5         'Behind bars' refers to— i. at the back of the courts ii. in the prisons iii. under impediments iv. in small rooms a)  The word 'stature' stands for— i. intellectual or moral greatness ii. the height of something iii. physical structure iv. good reputation b) How did Mandela win the support of the world? i. By dint of magic ii. By virtue of imprisonment iii. With his personality and stature iv. With is honesty and simplicity c) '... it is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve.' What does it imply? i. Mandela’s belief in attaining his ideal ii. Mandela’s life is for ideology iii. Mandela’s sacrifice for democracy iv. All of the above answers d) The word 'advocate' in the text stands for— i. backer ii. supporter iii. uphold iv. recommend. B.  Answer the following questions 10 a) How do you differentiate the life Mandela from the life of other people? b) For what ideal do you think Mandela was ready to die? c)  Why did his friends call him ‘Madiba’? d) How do you explain a leader of mythic stature for millions of black South African and other oppressed people for behind his country's borders? e)  ‘The white are superior to the black.’ Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons. Ans. to the Ques. •     Ans.: a. ii. in the prisons b. i. intellectual or moral greatness c. iii. With his personality and stature d. iv. All of the above answers e. ii. supporter. •     Ans.: a)    Mandela was different from other people. Very few people have struggled like him. Very few people can be compared with him due to his sacrifice.   b)   I think that Mandela was ready to die to establish an oppression free democratic society. He wanted to establish such an ideal society where all people will live harmoniously and peacefully.   c)   Mandela was fondly called ‘Madiba’. It was his clan name by which people used to call him so out of love.   d)    I mean Mandela had a great fame all over the world. He was a legendary leader not only to the black people of South Africa but also to the oppressed people around the world.   e)   I don't agree with this statement. I think all are equal. So the white are not superior to the black. 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W. de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. Mandela went on to play a prominent role on the world stage as an advocate of human dignity in the face of challenges ranging from political repression to AIDS. He formally left public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his adoring countrymen: "Don't call me. I'll call you." But he remained one of the world's most revered public figures, combining celebrity sparkle with an unwavering message of freedom, respect and human rights. "He is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are," Nadine Gordimer, the South African writer and Nobel Laureate for Literature, once remarked. The years Mandela spent behind bars made him the world's most celebrated political prisoner and a leader of mythic stature for millions of black South Africans and other oppressed people far beyond his country's borders. Charged with capital offences in the 1963 Rivonia Trial, his statement from the dock was his political testimony. "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination." "I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities," he told the court. "It is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." Friends adored Mandela and fondly called him "Madiba," the clan name by which he was known. People lauded his humanity, kindness and dignity.  বাংলা অনুবাদঃ .............১৯৯৩ সালে ম্যান্ডেলা আফ্রিকান শ্বেতাঙ্গ নেতা এফ.ডব্লিউ.ডি. ক্লার্ক এর সাথে যৌথভাবে নোবেল শান্তি পুরস্কার লাভ করেন যিনি তাকে তিন বছর পূর্বে জেল থেকে মুক্ত করেন এবং বর্ণবাদ বৈষম্যের বিলুপ্তি ঘটাতে সাহায্য করেন। ম্যান্ডেলা পৃথিবীর মঞ্চে রাজনৈতিক নির্যাতন থেকে এইডস মোকাবিলার ক্ষেত্রে মানুষের মর্যাদা রক্ষার সমর্থক হিসাবে অগ্রণী ভূমিকা পালন করেছেন। তিনি আনুষ্ঠানিকভাবে ২০০৪ সালে জুন মাসে ৮৬ তম জন্মবার্ষিকীর পূর্বে জনজীবন থেকে সরে দাঁড়ান, এবং তার দেশপ্রেমিক জনসাধারণের উদ্দেশ্যে বলেন: “আমাকে আহবান করো না। আমি তোমাদের আহবান করব।” কিন্তু তিনি বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে শ্রদ্ধাভাজন ব্যক্তিদের মধ্যে অন্যতম, যিনি স্বাধীনতা, শ্রদ্ধা এবং মানবাধিকারের বার্তা প্রেরণে খ্যাতিমান।  দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার লেখক এবং সাহিত্যে নোবেল পুরস্কার বিজয়ী নাদিন গোর্ডিমার একদা মন্তব্য করেছিলেন, “তিনি অবস্থান করেন আমাদের সময়, আমাদের দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকা এবং পৃথিবীর যেখানেই তুমি থাক না কেন তার কেন্দ্রবিন্দুতে।” ম্যান্ডেলার কারাজীবন তাঁকে পৃথিবীর সবচেয়ে খ্যাতিমান রাজনৈতিক কারাবন্দীর মর্যাদা এনে দিয়েছে এবং দক্ষিণ আফ্রিকার লক্ষ লক্ষ কৃষ্ণাঙ্গ আফ্রিকান এবং তাঁর দেশের বাইরের অন্যান্য নির্যাতিত লোকজন তাঁকে কিংবদন্তী হিসাবে মনে করে। ১৯৬৩ সালে গুরুতর অপরাধের অভিযোগে তাঁকে রিভনিয়া ট্রায়ালে হাজির করা হয়, সেখানে কাঠগড়ায় দাঁড়িয়ে তিনি যে বক্তৃতা দেন তা রাজনৈতিক প্রশংসার দাবীদার। “আমার জীবনকাল আমি আফ্রিকান লোকদের এই সংগ্রামী জীবনের জন্য উৎসর্গ করেছি। আমি সংগ্রাম করেছি শ্বেতাঙ্গদের কর্তৃত্বের বিরুদ্ধে, আমি সংগ্রাম করেছি কৃষ্ণাঙ্গদের কর্তৃত্বের বিরুদ্ধে।” তিনি আদালতকে বলেন “আমি একটি গণতান্ত্রিক এবং মুক্ত সমাজের স্বপ্ন দেখেছি যেখানে সকল লোকজন একত্রে মিলেমিশে বাস করবে এবং সমভাবে সুবিধা ভোগ করবে।” “এটি একটি আদর্শ যা অর্জন করার জন্য আমি বেঁচে থাকার আশা করি। কিন্তু যদি প্রয়োজন হয়, এটি এমন আদর্শ যার জন্য আমি মরতেও প্রস্তুত।” বন্ধুরা ম্যান্ডেলাকে প্রশংসা করে এবং পছন্দ করে তাঁকে তাঁর ডাক নাম “মাদিবা” বলে ডাকে। লোকজন তাঁর মানবতা, দয়া এবং সম্মানকে প্রশংসা করে। A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) The word 'prominent' means —. (i) invisible (ii) outstanding (iii) simple (iv) courageous (b) The text is about —. (i) Mandela and his struggle (ii) Mandela's political career (iii) Mandela's peace loving attitude (iv) Mandela's activity (c) The word 'repression' means —. (i) activity (ii) justice (iii) control (iv) oppression (d) 'He formally left public life' indicates —. (i) Mandela's death (ii) Mandela's retirement from politics (iii) Mandela's retirement from the ministry (iv) Mandela's cessation of struggle (e) 'The word 'stature' refers to —. (i) structure (ii) ability (iii) size (iv) attitude (f) What is the closest meaning of the word 'negotiate'? (i) signify (ii) converse (iii) bargain (iv) broker (g) What does the word 'revered' mean? (i) respected (ii) hated (iii) highly respected (iv) pious (h) What does the phrase 'in harmony' mean? (i) unanimity (ii) conflict (iii) peace (iv) discord (i) What does the phrase 'charged with' mean? (i) demanded (ii) attacked (iii) blamed (iv) accused of (j) 'I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities.' - What does it mean? (i) a democratic and free society (ii) all people live together in harmony (iii) all people should have equal opportunities (iv) all of the above (k) According to Gordimer, Mandela is for —. (i) the Africans (ii) the blacks (iii) the deprived (iv) the whole world (l) Mandela inspired people — his country's borders. (i) across (ii) within (iii) inside (iv) around (m) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'testimony'? (i) clarification (ii) certificate (iii) evidence (iv) information (n) Mandela's fighting was against —. (i) white people (ii) black people (iii) white domination (iv) both white and black domination Answer (A): (a) (ii) outstanding (b) (i) Mandela and his struggle (c) (iv) oppression (d) (ii) Mandela's retirement from politics (e) (ii) ability (f) (ii) converse (g) (iii) highly respected (h) (i) unanimity (i) (iv) accused of (j) (iv) all of the above (k) (iv) the whole world (l) (i) across (m) (iii) evidence (n) (iv) both white and black domination B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) Who was Nadine Gordimer and what did he remark about Mandela? (b) What made Mandela the world's most revered and celebrated public figure? (c) How did friends adore Mandela? Why did people praise him? (d) What did he say in the court of Rivonia Trial? (e) What is the ideal that Mandela was talking about? (f) Who was F.W. de Klerk? What did he do? (g) How did Nelson Mandela become the world's most revered public figures? (h) "He is the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are."- What is the significance of this line. (i) What does the author mean to say "He formally left public life in 2004......."? (j) How will you evaluate Nadine Gordimer's remark about Mandela? Answer (B): (a) Nadine Gordimer was a South African writer and Nobel Laureate for Literature, who remarked, "Nelson Mandela is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are."  (b) Nelson Mandela's imprisoned life for nearly three decades and his non-violent attitude made him the world's most revered political prisoner and a celebrated public figure of mythic stature for millions of Black South Africans and other oppressed people far beyond his country's borders.  (c) Mandela's friends adored him and fondly called him by his clan name 'Madiba'. People praised him for his humanity, kindness, dignity and strong determination.  (d) Charged with capital offences in the 1963 Rivonia Trial, his statement from the dock bore his political testimony. He said, "During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination as well. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities."  (e) The ideal that Mandela was talking about is peace and harmony among the African people. He said, "It is an ideal I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die."  (f) F.W. de Klerk was a white African leader who freed Nelson Mandela from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. He also shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Mandela in 1993.  (g) Nelson Mandela through his sacrifice, patience and non-violent attitude brought down apartheid from South Africa and turned his country to a nation of multi-racial democracy. Thus he became the world's most revered public figures.  (h) By this line, its speaker Nadine Gordimer signifies that Nelson Mandela is not for a particular nation. He is for the whole world. He is an inspiration for those people of the world who are deprived of their rights, who are dominated and discriminated.  (i) By this line the author means to say that Nelson Mandela retired from his job of public service in 2004. It indicates that on this day he announced his retirement from his political life.  (j) Nadine Gordimer expressed the importance of Nelson Mandela in his remark. He meant to say that Nelson Mandela is not only for the South Africans but also for the people of the whole world.

1. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B. Kuakata, locally known as Sagar Kannya (Daughter of the Sea) is a rare scenic spot located on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh. Kuakata in Latachapli union under Kalapara Police Station of Patuakhali district is about 30 km in length and 6 km in breadth. It is 70 km from Patuakhali district headquarters and 320 km from Dhaka. An excellent combination of the picturesque natural beauty, sandy beaches, blue sky and the shimmering expanse of water of the Bay of Bengal and the evergreen forest makes Kuakata a much sought after tourist destination. The name Kuakata takes its origin from the story of ‘Kua’—or well—dug on the seashore by the early Rakhaine settlers for collecting drinking water. The Rakhaines had landed on Kuakata coast after being expelled from Arakan by the Mughals. Following the first well, it became a tradition to dig wells in the neighbourhood of Rakhaine homesteads for fresh water supply. Kuakata is one of the unique spots which allow a visitor to watch both the sunrise and the sunset from the beach. That perhaps makes Kuakata one of the world’s most attractive beaches. The long and wide beach at Kuakata has a typical natural setting. This sandy beach slopes gently into the Bay and bathing there is as pleasant as is swimming or diving. Kuakata is truly a virgin beach and a sanctuary for migratory winter birds. Fishing boats plying in the Bay of Bengal with colourful sails, surfing waves and the lines of coconut trees add to the vibrant colours of Kuakata. The indigenous culture of the Rakhaine community and hundred year old Buddhist temples indicate the age–old tradition and cultural heritage of this area. Kuakata is also a holy land for the Hindus and Buddhists. Each year thousands of devotees come here to attend the festivals Rash Purnima and Maghi Purnima. On these two days, pilgrims take holy bath and enjoy going to the traditional fairs.   A.   Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.                                 1×5= 5 a.       What does the word 'settler' in the passage mean? (i) gypsy         (ii) troveller    (iii) dweller     (iv) thriller b.       What does the word vibrant mean? (i) lively          (ii) lifeless      (iii) exciting    (iv) vigorous c.        What kind of parts of speech is the word pleasant? (i) noun          (ii) Adjective  (iii) Verb         (iv) Adverb d.       Where did the Rakhaines live earlier? (i) in kuakata (ii) in Patuakhali district (iii) in Arakan (iv) on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh e.       What was the purpose of digging wells? (i) to follow the first well     (ii) to follow the tradition (iii) to attend the festivals   (iv) to collect drinking water   B.  Answer the following questions.   2×5=10 a.       What is the most unique feature of Kuakata sea beach? b.       What are the attractive things of Kuakata sea beach? c.        What are the traditional events that take place in Kuakata? d.       Where does the name 'kuakata' come from? e.       Why did the Rakhaines dig wells?                       A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: a) What does the word 'settler' in the passage mean? (i) gypsy (ii) traveller (iii) dweller ✅ (iv) thriller b) What does the word 'vibrant' mean? (i) lively ✅ (ii) lifeless (iii) exciting (iv) vigorous c) What kind of parts of speech is the word 'pleasant'? (i) noun (ii) adjective ✅ (iii) verb (iv) adverb d) Where did the Rakhaines live earlier? (i) in Kuakata (ii) in Patuakhali district (iii) in Arakan ✅ (iv) on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh e) What was the purpose of digging wells? (i) to follow the first well (ii) to follow the tradition (iii) to attend the festivals (iv) to collect drinking water ✅ B. Answer the following questions: a) What is the most unique feature of Kuakata sea beach? The most unique feature of Kuakata sea beach is that visitors can watch both the sunrise and the sunset from the beach. This rare phenomenon makes Kuakata one of the most attractive and special beaches in the world. b) What are the attractive things of Kuakata sea beach? Kuakata sea beach has many attractions, including its long and wide sandy shores, beautiful blue sky, the shimmering Bay of Bengal, and lush green forests. The fishing boats with colorful sails, surfing waves, coconut trees, and migratory birds add to its charm. The unique Rakhaine culture and ancient Buddhist temples also make Kuakata an interesting place for visitors. c) What are the traditional events that take place in Kuakata? Kuakata hosts two major traditional festivals—Rash Purnima and Maghi Purnima. Thousands of Hindu and Buddhist devotees visit Kuakata during these festivals. They take holy baths in the sea and participate in traditional fairs, making these events vibrant and culturally significant. d) Where does the name 'Kuakata' come from? The name 'Kuakata' comes from the word 'Kua,' which means 'well.' The early Rakhaine settlers dug wells along the seashore to collect drinking water. Over time, this practice led to the place being named Kuakata. e) Why did the Rakhaines dig wells? The Rakhaines dug wells to collect fresh drinking water. When they first arrived in Kuakata after being expelled from Arakan, they needed a reliable water source. Digging wells became a common practice near their homes to ensure a steady supply of fresh water.                                                     Answer: Bangla Translation কুয়াকাটা, যা স্থানীয়ভাবে সাগর কন্যা (সমুদ্র কন্যা) নামে পরিচিত, বাংলাদেশের দক্ষিণতম প্রান্তে অবস্থিত একটি বিরল দর্শনীয় স্থান। পটুয়াখালী জেলার কলাপাড়া থানার লতাচাপলি ইউনিয়নের কুয়াকাটা প্রায় ৩০ কিলোমিটার দৈর্ঘ্য এবং ৬ কিলোমিটার প্রস্থে অবস্থিত। এটি পটুয়াখালী জেলা সদর থেকে ৭০ কিলোমিটার এবং ঢাকা থেকে ৩২০ কিলোমিটার দূরে অবস্থিত। মনোরম প্রাকৃতিক সৌন্দর্য, বালুকাময় সৈকত, নীল আকাশ এবং বঙ্গোপসাগরের জলের ঝলমলে বিস্তৃতি এবং চিরসবুজ বনের এক চমৎকার সমন্বয় কুয়াকাটাকে একটি জনপ্রিয় পর্যটন কেন্দ্র করে তুলেছে। কুয়াকাটা নামটির উৎপত্তি প্রাচীন রাখাইন বসতি স্থাপনকারীদের পানীয় জল সংগ্রহের জন্য সমুদ্র তীরে খনন করা 'কুয়া' - বা কূপের গল্প থেকে। মুঘলদের দ্বারা আরাকান থেকে বিতাড়িত হওয়ার পর রাখাইনরা কুয়াকাটা উপকূলে অবতরণ করেছিল। প্রথম কূপের পর, রাখাইনদের বসতিগুলির আশেপাশে মিষ্টি জল সরবরাহের জন্য কূপ খনন করা একটি ঐতিহ্যে পরিণত হয়েছিল। কুয়াকাটা এমন এক অনন্য স্থান যেখানে পর্যটকরা সমুদ্র সৈকত থেকে সূর্যোদয় এবং সূর্যাস্ত উভয়ই দেখতে পারেন। সম্ভবত এটিই কুয়াকাটাকে বিশ্বের সবচেয়ে আকর্ষণীয় সৈকতগুলির মধ্যে একটি করে তোলে। কুয়াকাটার দীর্ঘ এবং প্রশস্ত সৈকতের একটি সাধারণ প্রাকৃতিক পরিবেশ রয়েছে। এই বালুকাময় সৈকতটি উপসাগরে ধীরে ধীরে ঢালু হয়ে যায় এবং সেখানে স্নান করা সাঁতার কাটা বা ডাইভিংয়ের মতোই মনোরম। কুয়াকাটা সত্যিই একটি কুমারী সৈকত এবং পরিযায়ী শীতকালীন পাখিদের জন্য একটি অভয়ারণ্য। বঙ্গোপসাগরে রঙিন পাল, ঢেউয়ের উপর দিয়ে চলাচল এবং নারকেল গাছের সারি সহ মাছ ধরার নৌকা কুয়াকাটার প্রাণবন্ত রঙ যোগ করে। রাখাইন সম্প্রদায়ের আদিবাসী সংস্কৃতি এবং শত বছরের পুরনো বৌদ্ধ মন্দিরগুলি এই অঞ্চলের প্রাচীন ঐতিহ্য এবং সাংস্কৃতিক ঐতিহ্যের ইঙ্গিত দেয়। কুয়াকাটা হিন্দু ও বৌদ্ধদের জন্যও একটি পবিত্র ভূমি। প্রতি বছর হাজার হাজার ভক্ত রাস পূর্ণিমা এবং মাঘী পূর্ণিমা উৎসবে যোগ দিতে এখানে আসেন। এই দুই দিনে, তীর্থযাত্রীরা পবিত্র স্নান করেন এবং ঐতিহ্যবাহী মেলায় যেতে উপভোগ করেন। Ad Ad Passage-2 4. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B. 1. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B. Kuakata, locally known as Sagar Kannya (Daughter of the Sea) is a rare scenic spot located on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh. Kuakata in Latachapli union under Kalapara Police Station of Patuakhali district is about 30 km in length and 6 km in breadth. It is 70 km from Patuakhali district headquarters and 320 km from Dhaka. An excellent combination of the picturesque natural beauty, sandy beaches, blue sky and the shimmering expanse of water of the Bay of Bengal and the evergreen forest makes Kuakata a much sought after tourist destination. The name Kuakata takes its origin from the story of a ‘Kua’— or well— dug on the sea shore by the early Rakhaine settlers for collecting drinking water. The Rakhaines had landed on Kuakata coast after being expelled from Arakan by the Mughals. Following the first well, it became a tradition to dig wells in the neighbourhood of Rakhaine homesteads for fresh water supply. Kuakata is one of the unique spots which allow a visitor to watch both the sunrise and the sunset from the beach. That perhaps makes Kuakata one of the world’s most attractive beaches. The long and wide beach at Kuakata has a typical natural setting. This sandy beach slopes gently into the Bay and bathing there is as pleasant as is swimming or diving. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. (a) “Scenic spot” refers to ——. (i) a place having beautiful natural scenery (ii) a place decorated with flowers (iii) a place full of trees (iv) a place looking like a desert (b) The word “picturesque” stands for ——. (i) auditorally impressive (ii) mentally depressive (iii) visually charming (iv) physically attractive (c) Kuakata —— tourists from home and abroad. (i) distracts (ii) attracts (iii) retracts (iv) detracts (d) Drinking water was not —— in the neighbourhood of Kuakata. (i) inconvenient (ii) free (iii) unavailable (iv) available (e) “This sandy beach slopes gently into the Bay………….” —— What does it imply? (i) the beach inclines gradually into the sea (ii) the beach beats a retreat (iii) the beach moves away from the sea (iv) the beach gets through a test B. Answer the following questions. (a) How do you differentiate Kuakata from other beaches? (b) What features make Kuakata a tourist attraction? (c) Why is Kuakata a unique spot? (d) How did Kuakata come to be named? (e) “The long and wide beach that Kuakata has a typical natural setting.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons. Answer; A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. (a) “Scenic spot” refers to ——. (i) a place having beautiful natural scenery (b) The word “picturesque” stands for ——. (iii) visually charming (c) Kuakata —— tourists from home and abroad. (ii) attracts (d) Drinking water was not —— in the neighbourhood of Kuakata. (iv) available (e) “This sandy beach slopes gently into the Bay………….” —— What does it imply? (i) the beach inclines gradually into the sea B. Answer the following questions. (a) How do you differentiate Kuakata from other beaches? Kuakata is different from other beaches because it allows visitors to see both the sunrise and the sunset from the same place. Most beaches only offer one of these views, but Kuakata provides both, making it a unique destination. (b) What features make Kuakata a tourist attraction? Kuakata attracts tourists because of its beautiful natural scenery, long sandy beach, blue sky, and the Bay of Bengal's shimmering water. The surrounding evergreen forest and the peaceful environment also make it a popular destination for travelers. (c) Why is Kuakata a unique spot? Kuakata is a unique spot because it is one of the few beaches in the world where tourists can enjoy both sunrise and sunset. Its long and wide sandy beach, gentle slope into the Bay of Bengal, and pleasant swimming conditions make it even more special. (d) How did Kuakata come to be named? Kuakata got its name from the word "Kua," which means "well." The early Rakhaine settlers dug a well on the seashore to collect drinking water, and over time, the place became known as Kuakata. (e) “The long and wide beach that Kuakata has a typical natural setting.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons. I agree with this statement because Kuakata's beach has a natural beauty that includes a long stretch of sand, a gentle slope into the Bay of Bengal, and a peaceful environment. The combination of the blue sky, green forests, and calm waters makes it a perfect example of a naturally beautiful beach. Vocabulary from the Passage (English - Bangla Meaning) Scenic  - মনোরম (Beautiful, picturesque) Tip  - প্রান্ত (End, edge) District  - জেলা (Administrative region) Combination  - সংমিশ্রণ (Mixture, blend) Sought-after  - জনপ্রিয় (Highly desired) Expanse  - বিস্তৃতি (Wide area) Evergreen  - চিরসবুজ (Always green) Settler  - বসতি স্থাপনকারী (Dweller, colonist) Expelled  - বহিষ্কৃত (Forced out) Tradition  - ঐতিহ্য (Custom, heritage) Unique  - অনন্য (One of a kind) Slope  - ঢাল (Incline, gradient) Pleasant  - মনোরম (Enjoyable, delightful) Virgin  - অনাবিষ্কৃত (Untouched, pure) Sanctuary  - আশ্রয়স্থল (Safe place, refuge) Migratory  - পরিযায়ী (Moving from place to place) Surfing  - তরঙ্গরোধন (Riding waves) Indigenous  - আদিবাসী (Native, local) Heritage  - ঐতিহ্য (Legacy, inheritance) Pilgrim  - তীর্থযাত্রী (Religious traveler) Festival  - উৎসব (Celebration, event) Holy  - পবিত্র (Sacred, divine) Devotee  - ভক্ত (Follower, worshipper) Attend  - অংশগ্রহণ করা (Be present, participate) Traditional  - প্রথাগত (Cultural, customary) Coconut  - নারকেল (Tropical fruit) Vibrant  - উজ্জ্বল (Lively, colorful) Buddhist  - বৌদ্ধ (Related to Buddhism) Temple  - মন্দির (Place of worship) Shimmering  - ঝলমলে (Glowing, shining)

1.  Read the passage and answer the questions following it I stand before you today with a heart overflowing with grief. You are fully aware of the events that are going on and understand their import. We have been trying to do our best to cope with the situation. And yet, unfortunately, the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur are awash with the blood of our brothers. The people of Bengal now want to be free, the people of Bengal now want to live, and the people of Bengal now want their rights. What have we done that was wrong? After the elections, the people of Bangladesh voted as one for me, for the Awami League. We were to sit in the National Assembly, draft a constitution for ourselves there, and build our country; the people of this land would thereby get economic, political, and cultural freedom. But it is with regret that I have to report to you today that we have passed through twenty- three tragic years; Bengal’s history of those years is full of stories of torture inflicted on our people, of blood shed by them repeatedly. Twenty- three years of a history of men and women in agony! The history of Bengal is the history of a people who have repeatedly made their highways crimson with their blood in 1952; even though we were the victors in the elections of 1954 we could not form a government then. In 1958 Ayub Khan declared Martial Law to enslave us for the next ten years. In 1966 when we launched the six point movement our boys were shot dead on 7 June. When after the movement of 1969 Ayub Khan feel from power and Yahya Khan assumed the reins of the government he declared that he would give us a constitution and restore democracy; we listened to him then. A lot has happened since and elections have taken place.   A.  Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 5 a) What could be the closest meaning for 'cope with' in the first paragraph? i. To avoid something ii. To struggle for iii. To face and deal with iv. To come into contact b)  The word ‘grief’ in the first paragraph refers to—. i. sorrow ii. despair iii. melancholy iv. Gloom c)  'Constitution' in the second paragraph could be replace by— i. organization ii. charter iii. principles iv. Temperament d) Blood shedding was — affair in the history 23 years. i. a repeated ii. a rare iii. an everyday iv. a never happening e)  The best synonym of 'inflict' is—. i.                    impose ii. withhold iii. take iv. levy.   B.  Answer the following questions 10 a) What, according to text, is a constitution? b)  Mention three events of blood shedding in the history of Bengal. c)  Why did Ayub Khan fall from power? d)  What does the expression 'Bengal's history of those years is full of stories of tortures inflicted on our people, of bloodshed by them repeatedly' mean? e)Do you find any leadership quality of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in his speech? If any, mention.   Ans. to the Ques A.    Ans.: a. iii. to face and deal with b. i. sorrow c. ii. charter d. i. a repeated e. i. impose.   B.  Ans.: a.  According to the text, constitution means the rules to run a country. It is set of the highest rules of a country. b.  We, the Bangalis, gave blood many times. In 1952 we gave blood for our mother tongue. In 1966 our people blood. After the election of 1970 we also gave blood. c.   Ayub khan fell from power because of the political agitation. He imposed Martial Law which was opposed by us. Due to our movement against him, he was compelled to fall from power. d.  The expression means that from the very beginning of the birth of Pakistan our people gave blood. We were exploited by the Pakistani rulers. We were tortured by them. e. Yes, I find the great qualities of leadership in the speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. In his speech I find that he had the quality to inspire people. He also showed his political prudence in his speech.      Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ ভাইয়েরা আমার, আজ দুঃখ-ভারাক্রান্ত মন নিয়ে আপনাদের সামনে হাজির হয়েছি। আপনারা সবই জানেন এবং বোঝেন। আমরা আমাদের জীবন দিয়ে চেষ্টা করেছি। কিন্তু দুঃখের বিষয়, আজ ঢাকা, চট্টগ্রাম, খুলনা, রাজশাহী, রংপুরে আমার ভাইয়ের রক্তে রাজপথ রঞ্জিত হয়েছে। আজ বাংলার মানুষ মুক্তি চায়, বাংলার মানুষ বাঁচতে চায়, বাংলার মানুষ তার অধিকার চায়।  কী অন্যায় করেছিলাম আমরা? নির্বাচনের পর বাংলাদেশের মানুষ সম্পূর্ণভাবে আমাকে ও আওয়ামী লীগকে ভোট দেন। আমাদের ন্যাশনাল অ্যাসেম্বলি বসবে, আমরা সেখানে শাসনতন্ত্র তৈরি করব এবং এ দেশকে আমরা গড়ে তুলব; এ দেশের মানুষ অর্থনীতি, রাজনীতি ও সাংস্কৃতিক মুক্তি পাবে। কিন্তু দুঃখের বিষয়, আজ দুঃখের সাথে বলতে হয় ২৩ বছরের করুণ ইতিহাস বাংলার অত্যাচারের, বাংলার মানুষের রক্তের ইতিহাস। ২৩ বছরের ইতিহাস মুমূর্ষু নর-নারীর আর্তনাদের ইতিহাস।  বাংলার ইতিহাস এ দেশের মানুষের রক্ত দিয়ে রাজপথ রঞ্জিত করার ইতিহাস। ১৯৫২ সালে রক্ত দিয়েছি; ১৯৫৪ সালে নির্বাচনে জয়লাভ করেও আমরা গদিতে বসতে পারিনি। ১৯৫৮ সালে আইয়ুব খান মার্শাল ল’ জারি করে ১০ বছর পর্যন্ত আমাদের গোলাম করে রেখেছে। ১৯৬৬ সালের ছয় দফা আন্দোলনে ৭ই জুন আমার ছেলেদের গুলি করে হত্যা করা হয়েছে। ১৯৬৯ সালের আন্দোলনে আইয়ুব খানের পতন হওয়ার পরে যখন ইয়াহিয়া খান সাহেব সরকার নিলেন, তিনি বললেন দেশে শাসনতন্ত্র দেবেন, গণতন্ত্র দেবেন; আমরা মেনে নিলাম। তারপর অনেক ইতিহাস হয়ে গেল, নির্বাচন হলো।................... Ad Ad Passage-2 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. My brothers, I stand before you today with a heart overflowing with grief. You are fully aware of the events that are going on and understand their importance. We have been trying to do our best to cope with the situation. And yet, unfortunately, the streets of Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur are awash with the blood of our brothers. The people of Bengal now want to be free, the people of Bengal now want to live, and the people of Bengal now want their rights. What have we done that was wrong? After the elections, the people of Bangladesh voted as one for me, for the Awami League. We were to sit in the National Assembly, draft a constitution for ourselves there, and build our country; the people of this land would thereby get economic, political, and cultural freedom. But it is with regret that I have to report to you today that we have passed through twenty-three tragic years; Bengal's history of those years is full of stories of torture inflicted on our people, of blood shed by them repeatedly. Twenty-three years of a history of men and women in agony! The history of Bengal is the history of a people who have repeatedly made their highways crimson with their blood. We shed blood in 1952; even though we were the victors in the elections of 1954 we could not form a government then. In 1958 Ayub Khan declared Martial Law to enslave us for the next ten years. In 1966 when we launched the six point movement our boys were shot dead on 7 June. When after the movement of 1969 Ayub Khan fell from power and Yahya Khan assumed the reins of the government he declared that he would give us a constitution and restore democracy; we listened to him then. A lot was happened since and elections have taken place........ A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What is the closest meaning of the word 'grief'?  (i) agony (ii) happy (iii) worry (iv) disaster (b) What does the phrase 'cope with' mean?  (i) deal in (ii) deal out (iii) survive (iv) deal with (c) Bengal's history of twenty three years is full of —.  (i) oppression (ii) humiliation (iii) deprivation (iv) all of the above (d) What is the closest meaning of 'agony'?  (i) painful (ii) anguish (iii) miserable (iv) suffering (e) 'The people of Bengal now want to be free, the people of Bengal now want to live and the people of Bengal now want their rights.'- What does it mean?  (i) people want independence (ii) people want to survive  (iii) people want to have their rights (iv) all of the above (f) The text starts with "My brothers'. Here 'brothers' are —.  (i) Pak army (ii) People of Bengal (iii) People of Pakistan (iv) Pakistani rulers (g) Which is the closest meaning of the phrase "heart overflowing with grief"?  (i) heart filled with agony (ii) cheerful moment   (iii) heart full of joy  (iv) happiness (h) The word 'events' in the first line of the text refers to —.  (i) sports  (ii) language movement   (iii) liberation war  (iv) oppressive acts of Pakistani rulers (i) The word 'awash' means —.  (i) filled (ii) spotted (iii) painted (iv) scattered (j) Which one of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'crimson'?  (i) colour (ii) fade (iii) make (iv) wash (k) Which of the following is synonymous of the word 'unfortunately'?  (i) unluckily (ii) happily (iii) with sad (iv) hardly (l) What does the word 'torture' in the text refer to?  (i) martyrdom (ii) rack (iii) pain (iv) affliction (m) The word 'aware' means —.  (i) informed (ii) sharp (iii) sensitive (iv) mindful (n) What is the closest meaning of the word 'situation'?  (i) site (ii) locality (iii) seat (iv) state of affairs (o) The word 'draft' refers to —.  (i) sketch (ii) draw up (iii) design (iv) rough (p) The closest meaning of the word 'regret' is —.  (i) grieve (ii) shame (iii) remorse (iv) miss (q) The word 'inflict' means —.  (i) impose (ii) deal (iii) apply (iv) lay (r) What is the closest meaning of the word 'launch'?  (i) float (ii) open (iii) begin (iv) propel (s) What does the phrase 'fall from power' mean?  (i) descend (ii) rise (iii) give up (iv) pass (t) The word 'assume' refers to —.  (i) believe (ii) fancy (iii) adopt (iv) think (u) The closest meaning of 'restore' is —.  (i) remove (ii) fix (iii) recover (iv) revive (v) The word 'happen' means —.  (i) appear (ii) befall (iii) follow (iv) result Answer (A):  (a) (i) agony (b) (iv) deal with (c) (iv) all of the above (d) (ii) anguish (e) (iv) all of the above (f) (ii) People of Bengal (g) (i) heart filled with agony (h) (iv) oppressive acts of Pakistani rulers (i) (iii) painted (j) (i) colour (k) (i) unluckily (l) (iv) affliction (m) (i) informed (n) (iv) state of affairs (o) (ii) draw up (p) (iii) remorse (q) (i) impose (r) (iii) begin (s) (i) descend (t) (iii) adopt (u) (iv) revive (v) (ii) befall B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What is the reason of Bangabandhu's heart being overflowed with grief? (b) What events were going on mentioned in the passage? (c) How would the people of Bengal get economic, political and cultural freedom? (d) Discuss what happened in the following years.  1952, 1954, 1958, 1966 & 1969 (e) What happened after the election of 1954? (f) What characteristics of the people of Bengal do you find from the text? (g) Where and when did Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman deliver his historic speech? (h) What did he say about the will of the people of Bengal? (i) What did he say about the twenty three tragic years of Bengal? (j) What would the elected members have to do after the general election? (k) Give a short description of the history of Bengal as said by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. (l) Who is the speaker of this speech? When did he make this speech? (m) What, according to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, do the people of Bengal want? (n) When did Ayub Khan declare Martial Law and why? (o) What did Yahya Khan declare? (p) How did Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman address the people in his historic speech? Answer (B):  (a) The situation of the then East Pakistan is the reason of Bangabandhu's heart being overflowed with grief. During that period, the Pakistani rulers' tyranical acts cross the tolerance limit. For this reason, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman felt his heart overflowing with grief. (b) The events that were going on were very serious and pathetic. The streets of Bengal were crimson with blood of many peace loving people. The people of Bengal were devoid of their basic rights as well as political and cultural rights. (c) After the victory in the elections of 1954, the Pakistani rulers did not allow the people of Bengal to form government. If it happened then the people of Bengal would get economic, political and cultural freedom. (d) 1952: We shed blood for achieving the right of our mother tongue.   1954: Awami League won the election but could not form government.   1958: Ayub Khan declared Martial Law for next ten years.   1966: Six point movement was launched.   1969: The Mass movement of 1969 took place and Ayub Khan fell from power. (e) In 1954, though Awami League won the election but they could not form government. As a result the dream of the people of Bengal to sit in the National Assembly, draft a constitution, get political, economic and cultural freedom were shattered. (f) From the text it is clearly seen that the people of Bengal were peace loving. They had tremendous tolerance power. But there were other sides of their characters. They knew well how to revolt against tyranny and they were not to yield. (g) Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his historically significant speech at the then Race Course ground in Dhaka in the afternoon of 7 March, 1971. (h) About the will of the people, Bangabandhu said that the people of Bengal wanted to be free, wanted to live and wanted to gain their rights. (i) About the 23 tragic years of Bengal, Bangabandhu reported that Bengal's history of those years is full of stories of torture inflicted on the people and of repeated bloodshed. (j) After the general election, the elected members would have to sit in the National Assembly, draft a constitution for themselves (country) and build the country so that the people would get economic, political and cultural freedom. (k) As said by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the history of Bengal is the history of a people who have repeatedly made their highways crimson with their blood. They shed blood in 1952 for the establishment of Bangla as one of the state languages of the then Pakistan. Even after winning the 1954 election they were not allowed to form a government. Therefore, the history of Bengal is a history of humiliation, deprivation and oppression.

The Greed of the Mighty Rivers Read the following passage and answer the questions below: Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment.'. Her polythene roofed shelter looks like a cage. She is nearly 45 but looks more than her age. In front of her shelter, she is trying to make a fire to cook the day's only meal. Her weak hands tremble  as she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of de turmoil in her life.Not  long ago Meherjan had everything---------- a family, cultivable land and cattle. The erosion property. It finally claimed her last 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 s one left to live on with the loss and the pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered of her dreams and happiness. There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate with 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 more villages are threatened by the mighty of 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. 1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. (a) landed property means ------ (i) a rented price of land' (ii) a piece of land on the bank of a river (iii) property in the form a source of income to its owner (iv) property used only as an agricultural farm Answer: (a) (iii) property in the form of a source of income to its owner (b) The word 'harsh could be replaced by (i) indulgent (ii) soft (iii) hazy (iv) grim Answer: (b) (iv) grim (c) dancing of the flame means , (i) traditional form of folk dance (ii) a flame that makes people dance around it (iii) a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air (iv) a flame made by people to remember their pasts. Answer: (c) (iii) a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air (d) Meherjan is a/an — woman." (i), auspicious (ii) wretched (iii) well off (iv) solvent Answer: (d) (ii) wretched (e) The author's purpose behind writing the passage is (i) to focus on the misery of the people living close to big rivers (ii) to depict the mystery of the people living near the roaring rivers (iii) to show the reasons behind climate change (iv) to portray the life and living of flood affected people Answer: (e) (i) to focus on the misery of the people living close to big rivers (f) whispering wind means -- (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 Answer: (f) (ii) wind that blows with a hissing sound (g) roaring rivers means -- (i) rivers that flow strongly making wild sounds (ii) rivers having many rowing boats in them (iii) rivers that make people cry out! (iv) rivers that have noisy fishes Answer: (g) (i) rivers that flow strongly making wild sounds Extra Questions : (1) The dancing flames symbolizes ---- (i) ups and downs in Meher's life (ii) dancing waves of the Jamuna (iii) trembling hands of sickly Meheran (iv) Meher's mind dancing with romantic feelings Answer: (1) (i) ups and downs in Meher's life (2) Meherjan is now as (i) a well off woman (ii) a city dweller (iii) a destitute woman (iv) a happy woman Answer: (2) (iii) a destitute woman (3) According to statistics — people becomes shelter less every year due to river erosion. (i) one lac (ii) two lacs (iii) three lacs (iv) four lacs Answer: (3) (i) one lac (4) What does the passage convey to us? (i) Meherjan's pitiable condition or about by the hungry river Jamuna (ii) Pitiable condition of the people river erosion (iii) Miserable life of the beggars (iv) The condition of the poverty Answer: (4) (ii) Pitiable condition of the people due to river erosion (5) Meherjan's living place is – the Sun Town Protection Embankment. (i) close to (ii) far away from (iii) detached from (iv) situated on Answer: (5) (iv) situated on (6) The economic condition of Meherjan is -- (i) sound (ii) well--off (iii) very miserable (iv) solvent Answer: (6) (iii) very miserable (7) Her polythene roofed shelter seems like, (i) a nice house (ii) a cottage (iii) a cage of a bird (iv) an exceptional house Answer: (7) (iii) a cage of a bird (8) Meherjan is homeless because of (i) the erosion of Jamuna (ii) selling of her house (iii) destructions of her house (iv) flood Answer: (8) (iii) destructions of her house (9) The roof of her house is covered by (i) wood (ii) tin (iii) leaves (iv) polythene Answer: (9) (iv) polythene  (10) What does the expression "the turmoil in her life" in the 1st paragraph mean?  (i) The pleasure of her life (ii) The thunderstorm in her life (iii) The pangs and pains of her life (iv) The dreams of her life Answer: (10), (iii) The pangs and pains of her life (11) There is/are -- in Meherjan's family. (i) many members. (ii) a few members (iii) one members. (iv) some members Answer: (11) (iii) one member (12)— has made Meherjan's life miserable. (i) Old age (ii) Sickness (iii) Frustration (iv) River erosion Answer: (12) (iv) River erosion (13) Meherjan looks older than her actual as owing to (i) poverty and malnutrition (ii) prosperity and luxury (iii) unhappy conjugal life (iv) social malpractices Answer: (13) (i) poverty and malnutrition (14) Meher's weak hands are trembling because (i) she is frightened (ii) she is feeble (iii) she is tired (iv) she is exhausted Answer: (14) (ii) she is feeble (15) The word 'shatter' means -- (i) to destroy something (ii) to break something into pieces (iii) to erect something (iv) to complete something Answer: (15) (ii) to break something into pieces (16) 'Greedy Jamuna' is used here to describe the – claim of a consumer (ii) demand of a consumer (iii)supply of a consumer (iv) help of a consumer Answer: (16) (ii) demand of a consumer (17) Over the years means -- (i) eventually (ii) consequently (iii) over the passage of time (iv) slowly Answer: (17) (iii) over the passage of time (18) Finally claimed means —, (i) won (ii) gained (iii) demolished (iv) having right Answer: (18) (iii) demolished (19) There will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year means (i) people will come and visit her every year (ii) many people will be rendered homeless (iii) Meherjan will have her siblings beside her (iv) the population will be increased Answer: (19) (ii) many people will be rendered homeless (20) Once Meherjan was--, (i) solvent, (ii) insolvent (iii) poor (iv) impoverished Answer: (20) (i) solvent (21) Which has the closest meaning of 'erosion'? (i) breaking (ii) spoil (iii) damage (iv) wash away Answer: (21) (i) breaking (22) Meherjan is – years old. (i) below 40 (ii) below 45 (iii) below 50 (iv) above 50 Answer: (22) (ii) below 45 (23) Before the erosion of the river, she was — (i) poor (ii) frustrated (iii) unhappy (iv) joyful Answer: (23) (iv) joyful (24) The health of Meherjan is very — (i) strong (ii) feeble (iii) sound (iv) stout Answer: (24) (ii) feeble (25) She is living in her house -- now. (i) with her husband (ii) with her relatives (iii) with her family (iv) alone Answer: (25) (iv) alone 2. Answer the following questions. (a) What happened to Meherjan after the erosion of Jamuna? Answer: (a) The erosion of the mighty Jamuna has engulfed everything of Meherjan including her family, cultivable land and cattle and shattered her dreams of a happy life. Now she is living a miserable life loosing everything. (b) How can we protect ourselves from this very natural disaster? Answer: (b) We can protect ourselves from this very natural disaster by taking prompt actions to adapt ourselves to climate change (c) What message do you get from the passage? Describe it in 2/3 sentences. Answer: (c) The passage gives the message that river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. Bangladesh, being a riverine country, is likely to fall victim to river erosion unless we can adapt ourselves to climate change. (d) What is the cause of river erosion? Are we responsible too? Explain in 3--4 lines. Answer: (d) Climate change is the main cause of river erosion. River erosion occurs specially during the monsoon. We are also responsible. Because of our unwise activities, the climate is changing. (e) Who is Meherjan? Answer: (e) Meherjan is a typical homeless woman living in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection GD Embankment. Extra Questions : (1) What property did Meherjan lose due to rive erosion? Answer: (1) Meherjan lost everything which includes her house, cattle, cultivable land, vegetable garden, bamboo bush and her family as well. (2) What do you know about Meherjan's present condition? Answer: (2) At present Meherjan lives a lonely and desolate life in a polythene roofed slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment (3) Why is the phrase 'greedy Jamuna' used to describe the river? Answer: (3) The phrase 'greedy Jamuna' is used to describe the river because the Jamuna took away everything from the people like Meherjan living on the bank of the river Jamuna (4) What is the effect of climate change on our country Answer: (4) Climate change is a global issue. It has a very serious effect on our country too. Various kinds of natural disasters like flood, cyclone, river erosion etc. often visit our country as a result of climate change (5) How can you explain river erosion? Answer: (5) River erosion is one of the most dangerous natural calamities. It means the breaking of the bank of a river. It is mainly caused during the monsoon. (6) How is it possible to stop erosion? Answer: (6) It is possible to stop erosion by taking some effective measures. First of all people must be very careful about the environment. Embankments for the protection of the rivers must be built and preserved. (7) What do you know about the past life of Meherjan? Answer: (7) The past life of Meherjan was very joyous. She had everything to form a happy family. House, trees, cattle, cultivable land, vegetable garden, bamboo bush after all a f family belonged to her. (8) "The dancing of the flames reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life." Explain in 2 sentences. Answer: (8) The dancing of the flames reminds the sorrowful events that happened to Meherjan's life because of erosion of the river Jamuna. (9) What happens  to the villages near rivers during the monsoon? Describe in brief. Answer: (9) Bangladesh is a land of rivers. River erosion poses a great threat to the villages lying close to the rivers. River erosion takes a serious turn during the monsoon and harms people taking their living place and property. (10)Do you agree with the view that we should fake prompt actions to adapt to climate change? Give reasons for your answer. Answer: (10) Yes, I do agree. If we fail to adapt ourselves a se to climate change in our country, thousands of people living near the mighty rivers will be rendered homeless every year. I's (11) From your reading of the first paragraph describe why Meherjan looks more than her age. Answer:   (11) Meherjan has been very weak due to extreme poverty. Her weak hands tremble when she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire for cooking. So, Meherjan looks more than her age. (12) What reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her me Answer: (12) Meherjan makes fire for cooking but the wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing of the flames reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life. (13) What does Meherjan use to make fire to cooking her meals? Answer: (13) Meherjan uses fallen leaves and straw to make fire for cooking her meals.  (14)Why do you think her hands trembling? Answer: (14) Her hands are weak and trembling because of her physical weakness (15) What crushed Meher's dreams and happiness and how? Answer: (15) The erosion of the Jamuna consumed all of Meherjan's landed property including her shelter and crushed her dreams and happiness. (16) What has happened to the other members of her family? Answer:  (16) The other members of her family died of diseases caused by hunger and poverty. (17) Do you support the statement that river erosion has an inseparable relation to the global climate change? Show argument in favour of your answer. Answer: (17) Yes, I support the statement. River erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year. So, it can be said that river erosion has an inseparable relation to . the global climate change. Bangla Translation Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. মেহেরজান সিরাজগঞ্জ টাউন প্রোটেকশন এমব্যাংকমেন্টে একটি ঝুপড়ি বাড়িতে বাস করেন। Her polythene roofed shelter looks like a cage. তার পলিথিনে ছাওয়া আশ্রয়টি একটি খাঁচার মতো দেখাচ্ছে। She is nearly 45 but looks more than her age. তার বয়স প্রায় ৪৫ বছর, কিন্তু তিনি তার বয়সের চেয়ে বেশি বয়সী দেখাচ্ছেন। In front of her shelter, she is trying to make a fire to cook the day's only meal. তার আশ্রয়ের সামনে, তিনি দিনের একমাত্র খাবার রান্না করতে আগুন জ্বালানোর চেষ্টা করছেন। Her weak hands tremble as she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire. তার দুর্বল হাত কাঁপছে যখন তিনি আগুনে কিছু পড়া পাতা এবং তৃণ যোগ করছেন। The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. যমুনা নদী থেকে আসা মৃদু বাতাস আগুনকে অস্থির করে তোলে। The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life. নাচতে থাকা শিখাগুলি মেহেরজানকে তার জীবনের বিশৃঙ্খলা স্মরণ করিয়ে দেয়। Not long ago Meherjan had everything— a family, cultivable land, and cattle. একসময় মেহেরজানের কাছে সব কিছু ছিল— একটি পরিবার, চাষযোগ্য জমি এবং গবাদি পশু। The erosion property. It finally claimed her last shelter during the last monsoon. পানি ভাঙন। এটি শেষ মেঘলা মৌসুমে তার শেষ আশ্রয়টিও কেড়ে নিয়েছে। It took the river only a day to devour Meherjan's house, trees, vegetable garden, and the bamboo bush. নদীটি মেহেরজানের বাড়ি, গাছ, শাকসবজি বাগান এবং বাঁশ ঝাড় কেড়ে নিতে মাত্র একদিন সময় নিয়েছিল। She had a happy family once. তার একসময় একটি সুখী পরিবার ছিল। Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. বছরের পর বছর ধরে, সে তার স্বামী এবং পরিবারের সদস্যদের হারিয়েছে, যারা রোগে ভুগে মারা গেছেন, রোগগুলো ছিল অত্যন্ত তীব্র ক্ষুধা এবং দরিদ্রতা দ্বারা উত্পন্ন। Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain. এখন, সে একমাত্র বেঁচে আছে, যেটি তাকে ক্ষতি এবং যন্ত্রণার সঙ্গে বাঁচতে হচ্ছে। The greedy Jamuna has shattered all of her dreams and happiness. লোভী যমুনা তার সমস্ত স্বপ্ন এবং সুখ ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে। There are thousands of others waiting to share the same fate with Meherjan. আরও হাজার হাজার মানুষ আছেন যারা মেহেরজানের সঙ্গে একই দুঃখজনক পরিণতি ভাগ করতে প্রস্তুত। Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. বাংলাদেশ নদীর দেশ, যেখানে কিছু নদীর তীর মৌসুমি বৃষ্টির সময় প্লাবিত বা ভেঙে পড়ে। Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. নদী ভাঙন নদীর তীরবর্তী মানুষদের জন্য একটি কঠোর বাস্তবতা। During each monsoon, many more villages are threatened by the might of rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna. প্রতিটি মেঘলা মৌসুমে আরও অনেক গ্রাম যমুনা, পদ্মা এবং মেঘনার মতো নদীগুলির ক্ষমতার দ্বারা বিপন্ন হয়। It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. আনুমানিকভাবে, নদী ভাঙন প্রতি বছর বাংলাদেশে কমপক্ষে ১০০,০০০ মানুষকে গৃহহীন করে দেয়। In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. বাস্তবে, নদী ভাঙন হলো জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের কারণে সৃষ্ট প্রধান বিপদগুলির মধ্যে একটি। If we can't take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year. যদি আমরা জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের সঙ্গে মানিয়ে নিতে দ্রুত পদক্ষেপ নিতে না পারি, তবে প্রতি বছর আমাদের শহর ও গ্রামে আরও হাজার হাজার মেহেরজান থাকবে। Ad Ad Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.     Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. Her polythene roofed shelter looks like a cage. She is nearly 45 but looks more than her age. In front of her shelter, she is trying to make a fire to cook the day’s only meal. Her weak hands tremble as she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing of the flames reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life. Not long ago Meherjan had everything— a family, cultivable land and cattle. The erosion of the Jamuna consumed gradually all her landed property. It finally claimed her last shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to demolish 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 with Meherjan.  Bangladesh is a land of rivers that affect its people. Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. During each monsoon many more villages are threatened by the roaring of 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. 1.         Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7 a)         Meherjan’s dreams and happiness are ----- by the greedy river Jamuna. (i) destroyed            (ii) boosted                  (iii) flourished             (iv) mixed b)         Bangladesh is a land of -----. (i) forests                 (ii) rivers                      (iii) the poor                (iv) mosques c)         Every year river erosion makes people -----. (i) poor                    (ii) rich                        (iii) homeless               (iv) happy d)         Meherjan lives in a slum _ to Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. (i) belongs                (ii) belonging               (iii) situated                 (iv) closed e)         Due to river erosion in Bangladesh, each year about ----- people become homeless. (i) one lakh              (ii) one thousand          (iii) one million            (iv) ten thousand f)          Mejerjan looks aged because of -----. (i) maltreatment       (ii) deprivation             (iii) her age                  (iv) illness g)         People ----- near the river banks are the victims of river erosion. (i) living                   (ii) live                         (iii) stay                       (iv) migrating   Extra Practices h)         The greedy Jamuna took only ----- to demolish everything of Meherjan. (i) a week                 (ii) a day                      (iii) a month                 (iv) an hour i)          The shelter of Meherjan is ----- roofed. (i) wood                   (ii) polythene               (iii) tin                         (iv) iron and cement j)          The fire is made unsteady by the wind from the -----. (i) Padma                 (ii) Meghna                  (iii) Jamuna                 (iv) Buriganga k)         Meherjan lives in ——. (i) a town                 (ii) a village                  (iii) a slum                   (iv) a footpath l)          Her dreams and happiness are shattered by ——. (i)     Padma              (ii)    Meghna                (iii) Jamuna                 (iv)   Surma m)        Dancing of the flame means ——. (i)         a traditional form of folk dance (ii)        a flame that makes people dance around it (iii)       a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air (iv)       a flame made by people to remember their pasts n)         Each year about —— became homeless due to river erosion in Bangladesh. (i)         (i)     one lakh people                                    (ii)    ten thousand people (iii)   ten million people                                (iv)   one crore people o)         Landed property means ——. (i)     a rented piece of land                           (ii)    a piece of land on the bank of a river. (iii)   property in the form a source of income to its owner (iv)   property used only an agricultural farm p)         What does the dancing of the flames remind Meherjan? (i)     happiness         (ii)    sadness                (iii)   discipline             (iv)   turinoil in her life q)         Who did consume all her land property? (i)     the dancing of the flames                     (ii)    the whispering wind (iii)   the last monsoon                                  (iv)   the erosion of the Jamuna 2.Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10 a)         Where does Meherjan live? b)         What is river erosion? c)         What things did Meherjan have not long ago? d)         What makes her homeless? e)         How many people become homeless annually due to river erosion?   Extra Practices 1.         Why does she look more than her age? 2.         How does her shelter look like? 3.         What was she doing in front of her shelter? 4.         What does the dancing of the flames remind Meherjan? 5.         What should we do to save our Meherjans? 6.         What does happen in front of her slum? 1.         What had Meherjan had one day? 2.         How many people become homeless every year? 3.         Who has shattered Meherjan’s dreams and happiness? Answer: 1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. a) (i) destroyed b) (ii) rivers c) (iii) homeless d) (iii) situated e) (i) one lakh f) (ii) deprivation g) (i) living Extra Practices h) (ii) a day i) (ii) polythene j) (iii) Jamuna k) (iii) a slum l) (iii) Jamuna m) (iii) a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air n) (i) one lakh people o) (iii) property in the form of a source of income to its owner p) (iv) turmoil in her life q) (iv) the erosion of the Jamuna 2. Answer the following questions a) Where does Meherjan live? Meherjan lives in a small slum near the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. Her home is made of polythene sheets, and it looks like a small cage. b) What is river erosion? River erosion happens when a river slowly washes away land. Over time, houses, trees, and farms disappear into the water. It is a big problem in Bangladesh, making many people homeless every year. c) What things did Meherjan have not long ago? Meherjan once had a happy family, a house, cultivable land, and cattle. She lived peacefully and had everything she needed. d) What makes her homeless? The Jamuna River slowly took away her land and home. During the last monsoon, the river destroyed her last shelter, leaving her with nothing. e) How many people become homeless annually due to river erosion? Every year, about one lakh (100,000) people in Bangladesh lose their homes because of river erosion. It is one of the biggest problems caused by climate change. Extra Practices Why does she look more than her age? Meherjan looks older than her real age because she has suffered a lot. She has faced hunger, poverty, and sadness, which made her weak and tired. How does her shelter look like? Her shelter is very small and made of polythene sheets. It looks like a cage and is not strong enough to protect her from rain or storms. What was she doing in front of her shelter? She was trying to make a fire using dried leaves and straw. She needed the fire to cook the only meal she would have that day. What does the dancing of the flames remind Meherjan? The moving flames remind her of the troubles in her life. Just like the fire is unsteady because of the wind, her life is full of problems and struggles. What should we do to save our Meherjans? We should take quick action to stop river erosion by building embankments and planting more trees. The government should help poor people who lose their homes. What does happen in front of her slum? The wind from the Jamuna River makes her fire unsteady while she is trying to cook her meal. What had Meherjan had one day? Meherjan once had a family, land, a house, trees, and cattle. She lived a happy life before the river took everything away. How many people become homeless every year? Every year, one lakh (100,000) people in Bangladesh lose their homes because of river erosion. Who has shattered Meherjan’s dreams and happiness? The Jamuna River destroyed her home, land, and family, leaving her alone and hopeless. Lessons from English For Today Lesson 1: The Greed of the Mighty Rivers A Read the following text and answer the questions. Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the lire 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 wailing to share the same fate like Meheijan. 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 more 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, rivet- 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. Bangla Translation Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. মেহেরজান সিরাজগঞ্জ টাউন প্রোটেকশন বাঁধের একটি বস্তিতে বাস করেন। The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. যমুনা নদী থেকে আসা ফিসফিসে বাতাস আগুনকে অস্থির করে তোলে। The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life. নাচতে থাকা আগুনের শিখা মেহেরজানকে তার জীবনের অশান্তির কথা মনে করিয়ে দেয়। Not long ago Meherjan had everything— a family, arable land, and cattle. কিছুদিন আগেও মেহেরজানের সবকিছু ছিল—একটি পরিবার, চাষযোগ্য জমি এবং গবাদি পশু। The erosion of the Jamuna gradually consumed all her land property. যমুনার ভাঙনে ধীরে ধীরে তার সমস্ত জমি গ্রাস করে ফেলে। It finally claimed her only shelter during the last monsoon. সর্বশেষ বর্ষায় নদী তার একমাত্র আশ্রয়ও নিয়ে নিয়েছে। It took the river only a day to devour Meher’s house, trees, vegetable garden, and the bamboo bush. নদী মাত্র একদিনেই মেহেরজানের বাড়ি, গাছ, সবজির বাগান এবং বাঁশঝাড় ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে। She had a happy family once. এক সময় তার একটি সুখী পরিবার ছিল। Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. বছরের পর বছর ধরে, দারিদ্র্য ও অনাহারের কারণে হওয়া রোগে তিনি তার স্বামী ও পরিবারকে হারিয়েছেন। Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain. এখন, তিনি একা রয়ে গেছেন, কেবল ক্ষতি ও কষ্ট নিয়ে বেঁচে থাকার জন্য। The greedy Jamuna has shattered her dreams and happiness. লোভী যমুনা তার স্বপ্ন ও সুখ চূর্ণ করে দিয়েছে। There are thousands of others waiting to share the same fate like Meherjan. মেহেরজানের মতো একই পরিণতির জন্য অপেক্ষা করছে আরও হাজারো মানুষ। Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. বাংলাদেশ নদীমাতৃক দেশ, যার অনেক নদীর তীর বর্ষায় প্লাবিত বা ভেঙে যায়। Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. নদীর তীরবর্তী মানুষের জন্য নদী ভাঙন একটি কঠিন বাস্তবতা। During each monsoon, many more villages are threatened by the mighty rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna. প্রতিটি বর্ষায় যমুনা, পদ্মা ও মেঘনার মতো শক্তিশালী নদীগুলোর কারণে আরও অনেক গ্রাম হুমকির মুখে পড়ে। It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. প্রতিবছর বাংলাদেশে নদী ভাঙনে কমপক্ষে এক লাখ মানুষ গৃহহীন হয়ে পড়ে বলে ধারণা করা হয়। In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. প্রকৃতপক্ষে, নদী ভাঙন জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের কারণে সৃষ্ট প্রধান বিপদগুলোর মধ্যে একটি। 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. যদি আমরা জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের সাথে খাপ খাইয়ে নেওয়ার জন্য দ্রুত পদক্ষেপ না নিই, তাহলে প্রতি বছর আমাদের শহর ও গ্রামে আরও হাজার হাজার মেহেরজান তৈরি হবে। B For each phrase below choose the meaning that is closest to the meaning used in the text above. 1.      In paragraph 3 'mighty rivers' mean a rivers that have huge volumes of waler and very strong currents b rivers having many rowing boats in them c rivers that make people cry out d rivers that have strong banks 2.       landed properly a a rented piece of land b a piece of land on the bank of a river c property in the form of a source of income to its owner d property used only as an agricultural farm 3.       whispering wind a wind that blows from across the river b wind dial blows with a hissing sound c wind that helps someone make a fire d wind that blows in summer 4.       dancing flames a a traditional form of folk dance b flames dial make people dance around them c Hames that are made unstable by the blast of air d flames made by people to remember their past Answer: B. Choosing the closest meaning: In paragraph 3 'mighty rivers' meana. rivers that have huge volumes of water and very strong currents landed propertyc. property in the form of a source of income to its owner whispering windb. wind that blows with a hissing sound dancing flamesc. flames that are made unstable by the blast of air C Ask and answer the following questions in pairs. a What does Meherjan use to make fire for cooking her meals? b What property did Mehetjan lose due to river erosion? c         What do you know about Mehe-rjan’s family? d         In which season is river erosion most likely to occur? e Why is die phrase ‘greedy Jamuna’ used to describe die river? What greed do you notice in the description? C. Answers : a) What does Meherjan use to make fire for cooking her meals? → Meherjan uses fallen leaves and straw to make fire for cooking her meals. b) What property did Meherjan lose due to river erosion? → Meherjan lost her house, land, vegetable garden, trees, and bamboo bush because of river erosion. c) What do you know about Meherjan’s family? → Meherjan had a happy family before. But she lost her husband and family members because of diseases caused by poverty and hunger. Now, she is alone. d) In which season is river erosion most likely to occur? → River erosion happens mostly during the monsoon season when the rivers become full and strong. e) Why is the phrase ‘greedy Jamuna’ used to describe the river? What greed do you notice in the description? → The river is called "greedy Jamuna" because it keeps taking land, houses, and people’s belongings without giving anything back. The greed is shown in how the river destroys homes and makes people homeless every year. D Complete (he summary of Meherjan’s life with words/phrases from the box. Meheijan is a typical (1) ................................... woman who lives in a slum. She lost her shelter and properties (2)..................................... the erosion of the river Jamuna. She also lost her family. Her husband had died of diseases caused by poverty and (3)      Now, she is only a (4)............................................................ Like Meher jan there are many people who have become the (5) ................................. of river erosion. River erosion is still posing (6)......................................... to    the lives and properties of thousands of people. People living (7) .........................................  die rivers are the most likely victims of river erosion. Each year about (8)         people become homeless due to river erosion in Bangladesh. Meherjan’s life is just one (9)......................................... of    how climate change (10)................................ (he lives of thousands of people victims affects close to slum dweller homeless threats example due to shortage of food one lakh Meherjan is a typical (1) slum dweller  who lives in a slum. She lost her shelter and properties (2) due to  the erosion of the river Jamuna. She also lost her family. Her husband had died of diseases caused by poverty and (3) shortage of food . Now, she is only a (4) homeless . Like Meherjan, there are many people who have become the (5) victims  of river erosion. River erosion is still posing (6) threats  to the lives and properties of thousands of people. People living (7) close to  rivers are the most likely victims of river erosion. Each year about (8) one lakh  people become homeless due to river erosion in Bangladesh. Meherjan’s life is just one (9) example  of how climate change (10) affects  the lives of thousands of people. Ad

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. My name is Amerigo. I am 13 years old and I live on the street, alone. My mother, who is separated from my father, doesn't want me. She told me to go away ... Now she is married to another man. My father lives very far away. I want to go to him, but he won't take me either. I begged him to send me some money so that I could buy a bus ticket. I am still waiting. He hasn't answered.  The streets are now my home. Sometimes I find work. I used to collect trash and sell it to a vendor. I stopped doing that after I had a serious infection and a doctor told me to stay away from the trash dump. Once I worked for an ice cream shop owner and sold ice cream on the beach. But I got no money in return. The owner of the shop gave me something to eat, and let me sleep in his hut at night. The work was difficult and painful. The ice cream box is quite heavy when it is full. I had to walk for hours, offering my ice cream to whoever wanted to buy. There were days when I could not even sell one ice cream.  In a way, I am lucky because I am alive. My friends who work sorting rubbish in dumps often suffer from serious diseases. One of them was recently killed after he fell into a hole that opened up in the pile of trash. Many of us work for 10 to 12 hours, and get so little in return that we can't even buy food. Shoe-shining is very popular among the street kids. A few of my friends also work in factories and workshops. A boy I know lost one of his eyes after a piece of hot glass flew into his eye at the glass factory where he worked. The owner refused to pay for medical help and fired him. For me, like all other children on the street, it is very hard. I am always hungry, and I don't know where I will sleep the next night. I would like to live in my own home and sleep there in peace. The nights are very cold in the winter. You can die of cold in the street.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What is the meaning of the word 'separate'?  (i) waste (ii) divide (iii) serious (iv) busy (b) The word 'vendor' refers to —.  (i) dealer (ii) suffer (iii) friend (iv) relative (c) Amerigo's present residence is —.  (i) hill (ii) forest (iii) slum (iv) street (d) Which word describes the word 'refuse' best?  (i) accept (ii) decline (iii) serious (iv) important (e) The expression '... can die of cold...' in the context means —.  (i) may die because of cold weather (ii) may be sick because of cold weather  (iii) may get cold  (iv) may suffer from fever (f) The phrase 'far away' refers to —.  (i) field (ii) close (iii) afar (iv) nearby (g) Amerigo's parents are —.  (i) egocentric (ii) selfless (iii) benevolent (iv) self-centered (h) Where did Amerigo sell ice cream?  (i) sea shore (ii) sea beach (iii) coast (iv) all the above (i) Amerigo is a/ an —.  (i) adult  (ii) teenager (iii) child (iv) all of the above (j) What does the word 'fire' mean in the passage?  (i) flame (ii) force out from job (iii) fuel (iv) both (i) and (ii) (k) Amerigo begged money from his father for —.  (i) buying food (ii) arranging a shelter (iii) buying bus ticket (iv) all the above (l) Which statement is not true about Amerigo?  (i) a street urchin (ii) does odd jobs (iii) lives in streets (iv) works in a factory (m) What is more popular among the street kids?  (i) working in factories (ii) collecting trash (iii) shining-shoes (iv) selling ice-cream (n) The streets are considered as — to Amerigo.  (i) working place (ii) school (iii) home  (iv) workshop (o) The street children work almost —.  (i) half of the day (ii) two third of the day (iii) the whole day (iv) one third of the day (p) Which work causes infection?  (i) selling ice-cream (ii) collecting trash (iii) shoe-shining  (iv) working in factories (q) "I am always hungry, and I don't know where I will sleep the next night."— this statement refers to —.  (i) the uncertainty of Amerigo's life (ii) the certainty of Amerigo's life  (iii) the predictability of Amerigo's life (iv) none of the above (r) What did he get by selling ice-cream?  (i) money and food (ii) money and shelter (iii) food and shelter (iv) money, food and shelter (s) What do you understand by  "trash dump"?  (i) waste-yard (ii) garbage (iii) dung (iv) beach (t) The word "owner" refers to —.  (i) a person who owes (ii) a person who owns (iii) a person who buys (iv) all the above (u) "But I got no money in return'- here 'return' means —  (i) come back (ii) repeat (iii) result (iv) exchange (v) According to the passage the closest meaning of the word "peace" is —  (i) tranquility (ii) comfort (iii) rest (iv) trouble Answer (A): (a) (ii) divide (b) (i) dealer (c) (iv) street (d) (ii) decline (e) (i) may die because of cold weather (f) (iii) afar (g) (iv) self centered (h) (iv) all the above (i) (ii) teenager (j) (ii) force out from job (k) (iii) buying bus ticket (l) (iv) works in a factory (m) (iii) shining-shoes (n) (iii) home (o) (i) half of the day (p) (ii) collecting trash (q) (i) the uncertainty of Amerigo's life (r) (iii) food and shelter (s) (i) waste-yard (t) (ii) a person who owns (u) (iv) exchange (v) (ii) comfort B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What do you know about Amerigo? Describe in brief. (b) What was Amerigo's first job? What made him stop doing that job? (c) How was one of Amerigo's friends killed? (d) How many hours do the street children work for and how do they earn? (e) What does Amerigo desire now? Should he deserve such things? Why/ Why not? (f) Why does Amerigo live in street? (g) Why Amerigo's parents do not accept him? (h) How was he paid for selling ice-cream? (i) Who are street children? (j) What do the street children long for? (k) What are the popular jobs among the street children? (l) What is the reason behind Amerigo's sufferings? (m) "I am lucky because I am alive."- What do you understand by this statement? (n) Do the street children get hygienic atmosphere to live in? Write the reasons supporting your answer. (o) What can happen at the nights of winter? (p) Who is Amerigo and where does he live? (q) How was the condition of Amerigo's parents? (r) Why did Amerigo stop collecting trash? Answer (B): (a) What do you know about Amerigo? Describe in brief. Amerigo is a 13-year-old boy who lives on the street all alone. His mother does not want him, and his father also does not care for him. He has no home, no family, and no money. He does small jobs to survive, but life is very hard for him. He is always hungry and does not know where he will sleep at night. (b) What was Amerigo's first job? What made him stop doing that job? Amerigo’s first job was collecting trash and selling it to a vendor. He would go to the garbage dump, pick up useful things, and sell them. But one day, he got a serious infection, and a doctor told him that the garbage dump was very dangerous. So, he stopped doing that job. (c) How was one of Amerigo's friends killed? One of Amerigo’s friends was working in a big garbage dump. Suddenly, a hole opened in the trash, and he fell inside. He could not come out and died there. This shows that working in trash dumps is very dangerous for street children. (d) How many hours do the street children work for, and how do they earn? Street children work for 10 to 12 hours every day. They do different small jobs like collecting trash, shining shoes, or working in factories. But they get very little money, which is not even enough to buy food. (e) What does Amerigo desire now? Should he deserve such things? Why/ Why not? Amerigo wants a home where he can live peacefully. He wants to sleep in a warm place and eat proper food. Yes, he deserves these things because every child should have a safe home, food, and care. No child should live on the street and suffer like Amerigo. (f) Why does Amerigo live on the street? Amerigo lives on the street because his mother told him to leave. She married another man and does not want him. His father also lives far away and refuses to help him. With no home and no family, Amerigo has no choice but to live on the street. (g) Why do Amerigo's parents not accept him? Amerigo’s mother has remarried and does not want to take care of him. His father also refuses to accept him or send him money. Amerigo begged his father to help him buy a bus ticket to go to him, but his father never answered. (h) How was he paid for selling ice cream? When Amerigo sold ice cream, he did not get any money. Instead, the shop owner gave him some food and allowed him to sleep in his hut at night. The work was very hard because he had to carry a heavy box of ice cream and walk for hours, but sometimes, he could not even sell one ice cream. (i) Who are street children? Street children are kids who have no home and live on the streets. They do small jobs to survive, but they have no proper food, no safe place to sleep, and no family to care for them. (j) What do the street children long for? Street children want a better life. They wish to have a home, enough food, and a safe place to sleep. They do not want to live in fear, hunger, and cold every day. (k) What are the popular jobs among the street children? Many street children work as shoe shiners. Some also work in factories or collect trash to sell. But these jobs are dangerous, and they do not earn much money. (l) What is the reason behind Amerigo's sufferings? Amerigo suffers because his parents abandoned him. He has no home, no family, and no one to help him. He has to work hard every day just to survive. (m) "I am lucky because I am alive." - What do you understand by this statement? Amerigo says this because life on the street is very dangerous. Many street children die from accidents, hunger, diseases, or cold weather. He feels lucky just to be alive, even though his life is very hard. (n) Do the street children get a hygienic atmosphere to live in? Write the reasons supporting your answer. No , street children do not live in a clean and safe place. They live in dirty streets, garbage dumps, or abandoned buildings. They have no clean water, proper food, or medicine. This makes them sick and weak. (o) What can happen at the nights of winter? Winter nights are very cold, and street children have no warm clothes or blankets. If the cold is too strong, they can die because they have no way to protect themselves. (p) Who is Amerigo and where does he live? Amerigo is a 13-year-old boy who has no home. He lives on the street because his parents abandoned him. (q) How was the condition of Amerigo's parents? Amerigo’s mother has remarried and does not want him. His father lives far away and refuses to help him. Neither of them cares for him. (r) Why did Amerigo stop collecting trash? Amerigo stopped collecting trash because he got a serious infection. A doctor warned him that working in the garbage dump was dangerous, so he had to stop.                                               Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ  আমার নাম অ্যামেরিগো। আমার বয়স ১৩ বছর এবং আমি রাস্তায় একাকী বসবাস করি। আমার মা, যে আমার পিতা থেকে পৃথক থাকে, আমাকে চান না। তিনি আমাকে চলে যেতে বলেছিলেন..... এখন তিনি অন্য একজনকে বিয়ে করেছেন। আমার পিতা অনেক দূরে বাস করেন। আমি তার কাছে যেতে চাই, কিন্তু তিনি আমাকে নেবেন না। আমি কিছু টাকা পাঠানোর জন্য তাকে অনুরোধ করেছিলাম এজন্য যে আমি যাতে একটি বাস টিকিট কিনতে পারি। এখনও পর্যন্ত আমি অপেক্ষা করছি। তিনি কোনো উত্তর দেননি। রাস্তা-ই এখন আমার বাসা। মাঝে মাঝে আমি কাজ পাই। আমি আবর্জনা সংগ্রহ করি এবং এটি ব্রিকতোর কাছে বিক্রয় করি। আমার ভয়ানক একটি সংক্রমণ হওয়ায় একজন ডাক্তার আমাকে আবর্জনা স্তুপ থেকে দূরে থাকতে বলায় আমি এগুলো করা বন্ধ করেছিলাম। একদা আমি একটি আইসক্রীমের দোকান মালিকের হয়ে কাজ করতাম এবং সমুদ্রতীরে আইসক্রীম বিক্রি করতাম। কিন্তু বিনিময়ে আমি কোন টাকা পেতাম না। দোকানের মালিক আমাকে কিছু খেতে দিতেন এবং রাতে তার কুঁড়েঘরে ঘুমাতে দিতেন। কাজটি খুবই কঠিন এবং বেদনাদায়ক ছিল। আইসক্রীম বক্সটি খুবই ভারী হত যখন এটি পূর্ণ থাকত। যারা আইসক্রীম নিতে চাইতো তাদের দেওয়ার জন্য আমাকে ঘণ্টার পর ঘণ্টা হাটতে হত। এমনও দিন গেছে যেদিন আমি একটা আইসক্রীমও বিক্রি করতে পারতাম না।  এভাবে আমি ভাগ্যবান যে আমি বেঁচে আছি। আমার বন্ধুরা যারা আবর্জনা আলাদা করার কাজ করে তারা প্রায়ই মারাত্মক রোগে ভোগে। তাদের মধ্যে একজন কিছুদিন আগে একটি গর্তে পড়ে মারা গিয়েছিল যা ময়লার স্তুপে ভরা ছিল। আমাদের অনেকেই ১০ থেকে ১২ ঘন্টা কাজ করি এবং বিনিময়ে খুব কম মূল্য পাই যা দিয়ে আমরা এমনকি খাবারও কিনতে পারি না। পথশিশুদের জন্য জুতা পালিশ করা খুবই জনপ্রিয়। আমার কিছু বন্ধু কলকারখানা ও ওয়ার্কশপ-এ কাজ করে। তার কারখানায় এক টুকরা গরম কাচের টুকরা উড়ে এসে চোখে পড়ায় আমার পরিচিত এক ছেলে একটি চোখ হারিয়েছিল। মালিক তাকে কোনো চিকিৎসা সেবা দিতে অস্বীকার করে এবং চাকরি হতে বরখাস্ত করে। আমার মতো রাস্তার অন্যান্য শিশুদের জন্য এটি খুবই কঠিন কাজ। আমি সর্বদা ক্ষুধার্ত থাকি এবং আমি এটি জানি না যে পরবর্তী রাতে আমি কোথায় ঘুমাব। আমি আমার নিজের ঘরে থাকতে এবং শান্তিতে ঘুমাতে পছন্দ করতাম। শীতকালের রাত খুবই ঠান্ডা। তুমি ঠাণ্ডাতে রাস্তায় মারা যেতে পার। Ad Ad vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Street - রাস্তা Alone - একা Separated - বিচ্ছিন্ন Married - বিবাহিত Vendor - বিক্রেতা Trash - আবর্জনা Infection - সংক্রমণ Doctor - ডাক্তার Garbage - ময়লা Dangerous - বিপজ্জনক Owner - মালিক Ice cream - আইসক্রিম Heavy - ভারী Beach - সমুদ্র সৈকত Work - কাজ Lucky - ভাগ্যবান Alive - জীবিত Friends - বন্ধু Disease - রোগ Killed - নিহত Hole - গর্ত Pile - স্তূপ Rubbish - আবর্জনা Shoes - জুতা Factory - কারখানা Glass - কাঁচ Fire - আগুন Owner - মালিক Medical help - চিকিৎসা সহায়তা Fired - চাকরি হারানো Hungry - ক্ষুধার্ত Sleep - ঘুম Winter - শীতকাল Cold - ঠান্ডা Die - মারা যাওয়া Food - খাবার Home - ঘর Safe - নিরাপদ Suffer - কষ্ট পাওয়া Support - সহায়তা

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Water, water, every where, And all the boards did shrink; Water, water, every where,  Nor any drop to drink. Coleridge' poem, a ballad, narrates the harrowing sea-voyage of an old mariner who at one point of his journey didn't have any water to drink because of a curse. Cursed or not, we know how important drinking water is in our life. We know we cannot survive without it. In fact two-thirds of our body is made up of water. Not for nothing is it said that the other name of water is life. Is there a crisis in our time with regard to access to clean drinking water? The United Nations in a meeting on the eve of the new millennium identified the drinking water problem as one of the challenges for the future. But do we need to worry about the problem as ours is a land of rivers and we have plenty of rainfall? Besides, we have a sea in our backyard too. One of the sources of water in our country are the rivers. Rivers are everywhere in our life, literature, economy and culture. But are the rivers in good shape? Unfortunately, they are not. A few are already dead and several are going through the pangs of death. The river Buriganga is an example of a dying river. A report published in the Daily Sun describes what has happened to the river Buriganga and why. Its water is polluted and a perpetual stench fills the air around it. But that is not what it was like before. The report says that the river had a glorious past. Once it was a tributary of the mighty Ganges and flowed into the Bay of Bengal through the river Dhaleshwari. Gradually, it lost its link with the Ganges and got the name Buriganga. The Mughals marveled at the tide level of the Buriganga and founded their capital Jahangirnagar on its banks in 1610. The river supplied drinking water and supported trade and commerce. Jahangirnagar was renamed Dhaka which grew into a heavily populated city with a chronic shortage of space........................ A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What could be the closest meaning for 'ballad' in the first paragraph? [SB '17]  (i) epical poem  (ii) mock-epical song   (iii) parody  (iv) simple narrative poem (b) The word 'curse' in the first paragraph refers to —.  [SB '17]  (i) discharge  (ii) devilish act  (iii) divine decree of destruction (iv) angel's bounty (c) 'Survive' in the first paragraph could be best replaced by —.  [SB '17]  (i) exist (ii) attend (iii) appear (iv) revive (d) The old mariner had a very — sea-voyage. [SB '17]  (i) pleasant (ii) agonizing (iii) wonderful (iv) memorable (e) The best synonym of perpetual is —. [SB '17]  (i) continuous (ii) stable (iii) entire (iv) temporary (f) What does the word 'mariner' mean?  (i) sailor  (ii) tailor  (iii) pilot  (iv) bus driver  (g) The word 'harrowing' in the passage refers to —.  (i) bitter  (ii) enjoyable  (iii) awesome  (iv) attracting  (h) Once Buriganga flowed into the Bay of Bengal through —.  (i) Karnaphuli (ii) Tista (iii) Dhaleshwari (iv) Padma (i) Guess the meaning of the word 'perpetual' used in the passage —.  (i) eternal  (ii) temporary  (iii) transient  (iv) floating  (j) ".... the other name of water is life." What does it imply?  (i) life without water is impossible (ii) water is an unnecessary thing  (iii) water has no importance in life (iv) none of the above (k) Who is the writer of the four lines mentioned in the passage?  (i) Keats (ii) Coleridge (iii) Shelley (iv) Shakespeare (l) Ballad is close to —.  (i) verse (ii) prose (iii) epic (iv) sonnet (m) Water is mostly important for our —.  (i) economy (ii) literature (iii) life (iv) culture Answer (A): (a) (iv) simple narrative poem (b) (iii) divine decree of destruction (c) (i) exist (d) (ii) agonizing (e) (i) continuous (f) (i) sailor (g) (i) bitter (h) (iii) Dhaleshwari (i) (i) eternal (j) (i) life without water is impossible (k) (ii) Coleridge (l) (i) verse (m) (iii) life (n) (iii) Buriganga (o) (ii) slowly (p) (iv) early of the 17th century (q) (i) Bay of Bengal (r) (iii) live (s) (ii) a branch of a river (t) (i) powerful (u) (iv) slowly (v) (ii) amazed B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What, according to you, are the significance of water? [SB '17] (b) Why have the United Nations identified drinking water problem as a challenge? [SB '17] (c) Narrate the conditions of the rivers in Bangladesh in your own words. [SB '17] (d) What has been depicted in a report published in the Daily Sun? [SB '17] (e) Do you think the Buriganga river is dying? If so, why? [SB '17] (f) What do the four lines of the poem describe? (g) Why do we need water? (h) What does the passage deal with? (i) Describe the past condition of the river Buriganga. (j) What is your suggestion to save our rivers from pollution? Answer (B):  (a) The significance of water is immense. We cannot survive without water. It is said that the other name of water is life.  (b) The access of clean drinking water is a crisis in our time. That is why the United Nations identified drinking water problem as a challenge.   (c) The rivers of our country are in great danger. Most of the rivers are dying. A few are already dead. The water of the rivers is polluted.   (d) A report published in the Daily Sun has depicted the present condition of the river Buriganga. The report also published the reasons behind the vulnerable condition of the river.  (e) Yes, I think the Buriganga river is dying. It is because of the random discharging of wastes in it. Industrial wastes, human wastes and wastes from the water vehicle are discharging indiscriminately in the river Buriganga and thus the river is dying.  (f) The four lines of the poem describe the harrowing sea-voyage of an old mariner who at one point of his journey didn't have any water to drink because of a curse. The lines also indicate the importance of water in our life.   (g) We need water for various reasons. Basically two-thirds of our body is made up of water. It is a source of life. Our body and water are inter-related.  (h) The passage deals with the river Buriganga about its present condition, concerning with the glorious past as a source of water in our country, mentioning a part of S.T. Coleridge's poem.  (i) The river Buriganga had a glorious past. Once it was a tributary of the mighty Ganges and flowed into the Bay of Bengal through the river Dhaleshwari. Gradually, it lost its link with the Ganges and got the name Buriganga. The Mughals marveled at the tide level of the Buriganga and founded their capital Jahangirnagar on its banks in 1610.  (j) At first, we have to be sincere in our daily work. Discharge of industrial wastes into rivers has to be stopped and similarly alternative dumping zones need to be created. Besides, the polluted rivers are to be treated and dredged.    Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ পানি, পানি, সর্বত্র/ সব জায়গায়, এবং সবগুলো জাহাজ সঙ্কুচিত হয়েছিল; পানি, পানি, সর্বত্র/ সব জায়গায়, পান করার জন্য এক ফোঁটাও নয়। কলরিজ এর কবিতা, একটি গীতিকবিতা, যা এক বৃদ্ধ নাবিকের হৃদয় বিদারক সমুদ্রযাত্রার বর্ণনা দিচ্ছে যে অভিশাপের কারণে ভ্রমণের এক পর্যায়ে পান করার পানিও পায়নি। অভিশপ্ত হই বা নাই হই, আমরা জানি আমাদের জীবনে পানীয় জল কত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। আমরা জানি, আমরা এছাড়া বাঁচতে পারি না। প্রকৃতপক্ষে, আমাদের শরীরের দুই-তৃতীয়াংশ পানির সমন্বয়ে গঠিত। অকারণে বলা হয় না যে পানির অপর নাম জীবন। আমাদের সময়ে পরিষ্কার পানীয় প্রাপ্তির ব্যাপারে কোনো সংকট আছে কি? নতুন সহস্রাব্দের প্রাক্কালে জাতিসংঘ এক সভায় পানীয় জলের সমস্যা ভবিষ্যতের অন্যতম হুমকি হিসেবে চিহ্নিত করেছে। কিন্তু এ সমস্যার ব্যাপারে আমাদের কি দুশ্চিন্তা করা প্রয়োজন আছে যেহেতু আমাদের দেশটি নদীমাতৃক এবং আমাদের এখানে প্রচুর পরিমাণে বৃষ্টিপাত হয়? তাছাড়া, আমাদের পেছনের দিকে একটা সাগরও রয়েছে। আমাদের দেশের পানির অন্যতম উৎস হচ্ছে নদী। নদী আমাদের জীবন, সাহিত্য, অর্থনীতি এবং সংস্কৃতির সর্বত্রই বিরাজমান। কিন্তু নদীগুলো কি ভালো অবস্থায়/ আকৃতিতে আছে? দুর্ভাগ্যবশত তা নেই। কিছু নদী ইতোমধ্যে মৃত এবং অনেক নদী মৃত্যু যন্ত্রণার মধ্য দিয়ে চলছে। বুড়িগঙ্গা নদী একটা মৃত প্রায় নদীর উদাহরণ। ডেইলি সান পত্রিকায় প্রকাশিত এক প্রতিবেদনে বুড়িগঙ্গা নদীর এমন দশা কেন হয়েছে তার বর্ণনা দিয়েছে। এর পানি দূষিত এবং একটা অন্তহীন দুর্গন্ধে এর চারিদিকের বাতাসপূর্ণ। কিন্তু এটা আগে যেমন ছিল তার মত নয়। প্রতিবেদনে বলা হয়েছে যে নদীটির একটি গৌরবময় অতীত ছিল। একসময় এটা প্রমত্তা গঙ্গার শাখানদী ছিল এবং ধলেশ্বরী নদীর মাধ্যমে বঙ্গোপসাগরে প্রবাহিত হত। ধীরে ধীরে এটা গঙ্গানদীর সংগে সংযোগ হারিয়ে ফেলে এবং বুড়িগঙ্গা নাম ধারণ করে। মুঘলরা বুড়িগঙ্গার জোয়ার ভাটার উচ্চতায় বিস্মিত হতেন এবং ১৬১০ সালে তারা এর তীরে তাদের রাজধানী জাহাঙ্গীরনগর প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন। নদীটি পানীয় জল সরবরাহ এবং ব্যবসা বাণিজ্যে সহায়তা করত। জাহাঙ্গীরনগরের পুনঃনামকরণ ঢাকা করা হয়েছিল যা তীব্র স্থানাভাবে মারাত্মক জনবহুল নগরীতে পরিণত হয়েছে।.................... Ad Ad

1. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B: Adolescents constitute a nation’s core resource for national renewal and growth. Adolescence is a period in life when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and lifestyles are shaped. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), adolescence is the period which shapes the future of girls’ and boys’ lives. There are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh; 13.7 million of them are girls and 14.3 million boys. The situation of adolescent girls in Bangladesh is characterised by inequality and subordination within the family and society. This inequality leads to a widespread practice of child marriage, marginalisation or exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and a vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse. In Bangladesh, the legal age of marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. However, 33 percent of adolescent girls are married before the age of 15 and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Research finds that adolescents with higher level of education and from more affluent families tend to marry at a later age. Boys, however, become ready for marriage only after several years of adolescence and young adulthood. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: 1×5=5 (a) What could be the closest meaning for the word "constitute" in the first sentence?  (i)  take (ii)  form  (iii) add (iv)  make   (b) The phrase "take place" in the second sentence stands for __   (i)  occur (ii)  recur  (iii)  go to a place (iv)  all of them   (c) Adolescence is a __ period from childhood to adulthood.  (i)  transition (ii)  transitory  (iii) transitional (iv)  transient   (d) The synonym of ‘affluent’ is __  (i)  destitute (ii)  poor  (iii)  poverty (iv)  well off   (e) The word "economic" can be replaced by __  (i)  economy (ii)  economical (iii)  monetary (iv)  finance   Answer to the question No. 1.A (a) ii. form; (b) i. occur; (c) iii. transitional; (d) iv,. well off ; (e) iii. monetary.   B. Answer the following questions: 2×5=10 (a) How will you define adolescence?  (b) Why is adolescence important? (c) What do the adolescent girls in Bangladesh usually face? (d) What are the effects of female inequality in Bangladesh? (e) How do wealth and education influence a girl's marriage? Answer to the question No. 1.B a. Adolescence is the period of life in which a young person develops from a child to an adult. In this transition from childhood to adulthood, the personality of a person is developed by shaping his behaviour and lifestyle. b. Adolescence is the period of transition from childhood to adulthood, which forms the behavoiur and lifestyle of young people. According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the future of a young person's life is shaped during this period. Hence, adolescence could be termed as one of the most important periods in one's life. c. The adolescent girls in Bangladesh usually face inequality in the family and society, which leads to child marriage, marginalisation or exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and a vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse. d. Female inequality leads to exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and a vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse in Bangladesh. e. Adolescent girls from more affluent families generally get more educational opportunities. They are also not exposed to child marriage as much as an adolescent girl from a less affluent family.                                           Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   কিশোর-কিশোরীরা জাতীয় পুনর্নবীকরণ এবং বিকাশের জন্য একটি জাতির মূল সম্পদ। বয়ঃসন্ধিকাল হল জীবনের এমন একটি সময় যখন শৈশব থেকে প্রাপ্তবয়স্কতায় রূপান্তর ঘটে এবং আচরণ এবং জীবনধারা গড়ে ওঠে। বিশ্ব স্বাস্থ্য সংস্থার (WHO) মতে, বয়ঃসন্ধিকাল হল সেই সময় যা মেয়ে এবং ছেলেদের জীবনকে রূপ দেয়। বাংলাদেশে ২৮ মিলিয়ন কিশোর-কিশোরী রয়েছে; তাদের মধ্যে ১৩.৭ মিলিয়ন মেয়ে এবং ১৪.৩ মিলিয়ন ছেলে। বাংলাদেশে কিশোর-কিশোরীদের পরিস্থিতি পরিবার ও সমাজের মধ্যে বৈষম্য এবং অধীনতা দ্বারা চিহ্নিত। এই বৈষম্য বাল্যবিবাহ, প্রান্তিকীকরণ বা স্বাস্থ্য, শিক্ষা এবং অর্থনৈতিক সুযোগ থেকে বঞ্চিতকরণ এবং সহিংসতা ও যৌন নির্যাতনের ঝুঁকির ব্যাপক প্রচলনের দিকে পরিচালিত করে। বাংলাদেশে, বিয়ের আইনি বয়স মেয়েদের জন্য ১৮ এবং ছেলেদের জন্য ২১ বছর। তবে, ৩৩ শতাংশ কিশোরী মেয়েদের ১৫ বছর বয়সের আগে বিয়ে হয় এবং ৬০ শতাংশ ১৯ বছর বয়সের মধ্যে মা হয়। গবেষণায় দেখা গেছে যে উচ্চ শিক্ষার স্তর এবং আরও ধনী পরিবারের কিশোরীরা পরবর্তী বয়সে বিয়ে করার প্রবণতা পোষণ করে। তবে ছেলেরা কৈশোর এবং যৌবনের বেশ কয়েক বছর পরেই বিয়ের জন্য প্রস্তুত হয়। Ad Ad Passage-2 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Adolescents constitute a nation's core resource for national renewal and growth. Adolescence is a period in life when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and life styles are shaped. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), adolescence is the period which shapes the future of girls' and boys' lives. There are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh; 13.7 million of them are girls and 14.3 million boys. The situation of adolescent girls in Bangladesh is characterised by inequality and subordination within the family and society. This inequality leads to widespread practice of child marriage, marginalisation or exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse. In Bangladesh, the legal age of marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. However, 33 percent of adolescent girls are married before the age of 15 and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Research finds that adolescents with higher level of education and from more affluent families tend to marry at a later age. Boys, however, become ready for marriage only after several years of adolescence and young adulthood...................  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word "constitute"?  (i) add (ii) undo (iii) form (iv) remove (b) Adolescence is the period of — from childhood to adulthood.  (i) reduction  (ii) transition (iii) increase (iv) decay (c) The word "behaviour" refers to —.  (i) talks (ii) thoughts (iii) conduct (iv) belief (d) The closest meaning of the word "violence" is —.  (i) unrest (ii) peace (iii) procession (iv) protest (e) "— the legal age marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys"— what does the sentence mean?   (i) Boys and girls under 18 cannot get married (ii) Boys and girls under 18 can get married  (iii) Girls are married before the age of 15 (iv) Boys are married before the age of 18 (f) The word 'abuse' refers to —.  (i) insult (ii) misuse (iii) care (iv) torture (g) 'Legal' could be the best replaced by —.  (i) appropriate (ii) expected (iii) legitimate (iv) actual (h) Girls and boys under 18 and 21 cannot get —.  (i) job (ii) married (iii) money (iv) none of these (i) What is the best synonym of subordination?  (i) domination (ii) supremacy (iii) principality (iv) obedience (j) What is the meaning of the word 'characterized'?  (i) narrated (ii) mentioned (iii) categorized (iv) described (k) What is the meaning of the word 'inequality'?  (i) disparity (ii) alikeness (iii) impartiality (iv) parity (l) What is the meaning of the word 'research'?  (i) ignorance (ii) silliness (iii) inactivity (iv) experiment (m) What is the closest meaning of the word 'marginalize'?  (i) to treat someone who is exceptional (ii) to treat someone who is mad   (iii) to treat someone as if he is not important (iv) to treat someone who is bad (n) What is the doorway between childhood and adulthood?  (i) adolescence (ii) youth (iii) community (iv) family (o) Where do the girls feel weightless?  (i) in the school or college (ii) in the family  (iii) in the community  (iv) in the in-laws' house  (p) 'Dowry' stands for —?  (i) collection of girls for a marriage (ii) wedding gift given by the groom to the bride  (iii) wedding gift given by the groom to the bridegroom  (iv) the money or property demanded by the bridegroom from the bride's family Answer (A): (a) (iii) form (b) (ii) transition (c) (iii) conduct (d) (i) unrest (e) (i) Boys and girls under 18 cannot get married (f) (iv) torture (g) (iii) legitimate (h) (ii) married (i) (iv) obedience (j) (iii) categorized (k) (i) disparity (l) (iv) experiment (m) (iii) to treat someone as if he is not important (n) (i) adolescence (o) (iv) in the in-law's house (p) (iv) the money or property demanded by the bridegroom from the bride's family (q) (iii) inequality and subordination (r) (iv) anaemia (s) (i) death of the pregnant women (t) (i) multiplicity (u) (ii) maltreatment (v) (ii) banned B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What type of a period is adolescence in one's life? (b) What is the notion of WHO toward adolescence? (c) How many adolescents are there in Bangladesh? What is the proportion of their gender? (d) What is the legal age of marriage for Bangladeshi boys and girls? (e) Which adolescent girls tend to marry at a later age? (f) What are the reasons of inequality and subordination of adolescent girls in our family and society? (g) How do education play a vital role in a girl's life? (h) Why do the boys get married only after several years of adolescence? (i) Describe the conditions of in-laws' house of a girl in 2/3 sentences. (j) Describe the role of adolescence in a person's life in one sentence. (k) "Adolescents constitute a nation's core resource for national renewal and growth." Do you agree? Why/Why not? (l) Can you guess the reasons of inequality and subordination of adolescent girls in the family and society? (m) Describe the plight of adolescent girls in their in-laws' houses in 2/3 sentences. (n) Why are the adolescent girls at high risk in term of pregnancy and childbirth? Answer (B): (a) What type of a period is adolescence in one's life? Adolescence is the stage between childhood and adulthood when a person experiences physical, emotional, and mental changes. It is a time when people start to form their personality, habits, and future goals. During this period, young people learn to become independent and prepare for adult responsibilities. (b) What is the notion of WHO toward adolescence? The World Health Organization (WHO) believes that adolescence is a very important phase of life because it shapes the future of both boys and girls. The choices and experiences during this period affect their health, education, and career in adulthood. If adolescents receive proper guidance, education, and care, they can grow into responsible and successful individuals. (c) How many adolescents are there in Bangladesh? What is the proportion of their gender? In Bangladesh, there are 28 million adolescents. Among them, 13.7 million are girls, and 14.3 million are boys. This means boys slightly outnumber girls, but both groups make up a significant part of the country’s young population. (d) What is the legal age of marriage for Bangladeshi boys and girls? The legal marriage age in Bangladesh is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. This law is meant to protect young people from early marriage, which can lead to health risks, lack of education, and financial struggles. However, in many rural areas, child marriage still happens, especially among poor families. (e) Which adolescent girls tend to marry at a later age? Adolescent girls who come from educated and financially stable families tend to marry later. This is because education helps them understand their rights, and financial stability allows them to focus on their studies and career instead of marriage. Girls from wealthier families have more opportunities and are not forced to marry at a young age. (f) What are the reasons for inequality and subordination of adolescent girls in our family and society? Adolescent girls in Bangladesh often face inequality due to traditional beliefs, lack of education, and financial dependence. Some families believe that girls should stay at home and take care of household work instead of studying. Many girls are forced into early marriage, which limits their education and job opportunities. In some cases, violence and discrimination make their situation worse. (g) How does education play a vital role in a girl's life? Education is one of the most powerful tools for girls to achieve independence and a better future. When a girl is educated, she can: Get a good job and support herself financially. Avoid early marriage because she understands the importance of waiting. Make better health decisions for herself and her family. Gain confidence and respect in society. In short, education helps girls escape poverty and inequality. (h) Why do boys get married only after several years of adolescence? Boys usually marry later than girls because they are expected to complete their education, get a job, and become financially stable before marriage. In most societies, men are considered the main earners of the family, so they are given more time to prepare for these responsibilities. Unlike girls, boys do not face pressure to marry early. (i) Describe the conditions of in-laws' houses of a girl in 2-3 sentences. When a girl gets married, she often moves to her husband's family home. In many cases, she is expected to do housework, obey her in-laws, and have children. If her in-laws are kind and supportive, she may feel happy, but if they are strict or controlling, she may face problems like domestic violence and lack of freedom. Passage-3 vocabulary words  from the text with their Bangla meanings : Adolescents  - কিশোর-কিশোরী Constitute  - গঠন করা Core resource  - মূল সম্পদ Renewal  - পুনর্নবীকরণ Growth  - বৃদ্ধি Adolescence  - কৈশোর Transition  - পরিবর্তন Childhood  - শৈশব Adulthood  - প্রাপ্তবয়স্ক অবস্থা Behaviours  - আচরণ Lifestyles  - জীবনধারা World Health Organisation (WHO)  - বিশ্ব স্বাস্থ্য সংস্থা Future  - ভবিষ্যৎ Inequality  - অসমতা Subordination  - অধীনতা Family  - পরিবার Society  - সমাজ Child marriage  - বাল্যবিবাহ Marginalisation  - প্রান্তিককরণ Exclusion  - বর্জন Health  - স্বাস্থ্য Education  - শিক্ষা Economic opportunities  - অর্থনৈতিক সুযোগ Vulnerability  - দুর্বলতা Violence  - সহিংসতা Sexual abuse  - যৌন নির্যাতন Legal age  - আইনি বয়স Marriage  - বিবাহ Adolescent girls  - কিশোরী মেয়েরা Mothers  - মায়েরা Affluent  - ধনী Tend to  - প্রবণতা থাকা Later age  - পরবর্তী বয়স Young adulthood  - তরুণ প্রাপ্তবয়স্কতা Research  - গবেষণা Plight  - দুর্দশা In-laws' house  - শ্বশুরবাড়ি Risk  - ঝুঁকি Pregnancy  - গর্ভাবস্থা Childbirth  - সন্তান জন্মদান

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and of one's family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond one's control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection. I think my country has been able/not been able to comply with this because...... Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.  Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. I think my country has been able/not been able to comply with this because....   A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 1☓5 = 5 (a) Special care and assistance are needed at the period of —.   (i) motherhood and childhood (ii) motherhood and widowhood  (iii) childhood and livelihood (iv) youth and motherhood (b) What does the word 'fundamental' mean?   (i) advanced  (ii) hasten  (iii) furnished  (iv) basic  (c) Which one has the closest meaning of the word 'accessible'?  (i) available  (ii) remote  (iii) involved  (iv) slender  (d) The phrase 'comply with' means —.   (i) refused  (ii) agreed  (iii) differed  (iv) conflicted  (e) What does the word 'elementary' mean?  (i) original (ii) primary (iii) basic (iv) simple (f) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'standard'?  (i) staple (ii) unusual (iii) stamina (iv) grade (g) What does the word 'adequate' mean?  (i) insufficient (ii) sufficient (iii) inadequate (iv) adept (h) The word 'necessary' means —.  (i) essential (ii) valueless (iii) precious (iv) valuable (i) The word 'security' has the closest meaning to —.  (i) insecurity (ii) safety (iii) danger (iv) secret (j) The phrase 'in the event of unemployment' refers to —.  (i) the state of having a job (ii) the state of leaving a job  (iii) the state of without a job (iv) the state of searching a job (k) What does the word 'entitled' mean?  (i) rejected (ii) designated (iii) degraded  (iv) enabled (l) The word 'assistance' means —.  (i) add (ii) hindrance (iii) union (iv) help (m) The word 'wedlock' refers to —.  (i) the state of being married (ii) the state of widowhood  (iii) the state of before marriage (iv) the state of getting divorce (n) What does the word 'compulsory' mean?  (i) optional (ii) non-major (iii) mandatory (iv) persistent (o) The word 'available' means —.  (i) accessible (ii) inaccessible (iii) unusable (iv) rare (p) Higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of —.  (i) result  (ii) ability (iii) study (iv) talent (q) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'development'?  (i) degradation (ii) benefit (iii) betterment (iv) employment (r) The word 'tolerance' means —.  (i) intolerance (ii) patience (iii) enmity (iv) clearance (s) What does the word 'maintenance' mean?  (i) care (ii) carelessness (iii) take after (iv) curiosity (t) The word 'prior' has the closest meaning to —.  (i) later (ii) after (iii) earlier (iv) recent (u) In the elementary and fundamental stages education shall be —.  (i) tolerable (ii) general (iii) free (iv) accessible (v) What does the phrase 'beyond one's control' mean?   (i) to go out of one's control (ii) to lead something ahead   (iii) to emphasis to follow something   (iv) coming something under one's control   Answer (A): (a) (i) motherhood and childhood (b) (iv) basic (c) (i) available (d) (ii) agreed (e) (ii) primary (f) (iv) grade (g) (ii) sufficient (h) (i) essential (i) (ii) safety (j) (iii) the state of without a job (k) (ii) designated (l) (iv) help (m) (i) the state of being married (n) (iii) mandatory (o) (i) accessible (p) (iv) talent (q) (iii) betterment (r) (ii) patience (s) (i) care (t) (iii) earlier (u) (iii) free (v) (i) to go out of one's control B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What do you know about human rights? (b) What are the main human rights? (c) How are the children's rights treated? (d) What do you know about educational rights? (e) Does your country comply with human rights about education? If yes or no, discuss why? (f) What is said about motherhood and childhood in this passage? Describe it. (g) Why is education necessary for all? (h) What type of education shall be made generally available and equally accessible to all? How? (i) What do parents have to do regarding their children's education? (j) What is the Universal Declaration of Human rights? Answer (B): (a) What do you know about human rights? 👉 Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that every person in the world should have. These include the right to life, food, education, safety, and freedom of speech. (b) What are the main human rights? 👉 The main human rights include: The right to life and security The right to education The right to food, clothing, and shelter The right to medical care The right to work and fair wages Freedom of speech and religion (c) How are the children's rights treated? 👉 Children's rights include special care and protection. All children, whether born in or out of marriage, should be treated equally and given social protection. (d) What do you know about educational rights? 👉 Everyone has the right to education. Basic education should be free and compulsory. Higher education should be available to everyone based on merit. Education should develop human personality and promote peace, understanding, and respect among people. (e) Does your country comply with human rights about education? If yes or no, discuss why? 👉 (Your answer may vary based on your country.) Example: Yes, my country tries to provide free elementary education, but there are still some challenges. Many children in rural areas do not have access to good schools or proper facilities. (f) What is said about motherhood and childhood in this passage? Describe it. 👉 Motherhood and childhood should receive special care and support. All children, whether born inside or outside marriage, must be treated equally and given protection. (g) Why is education necessary for all? 👉 Education helps people develop their knowledge, skills, and character. It allows people to get better jobs, make good decisions, and understand their rights and responsibilities. Education also promotes peace and respect among different groups. (h) What type of education shall be made generally available and equally accessible to all? How? 👉 Technical and professional education should be available to all. Higher education should be given to people based on their merit. This means that students who work hard and have talent should get the chance to study further. (i) What do parents have to do regarding their children's education? 👉 Parents have the right to choose the type of education they want for their children. They should make sure their children go to school and get a good education. (j) What is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? 👉 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a document created by the United Nations in 1948. It lists the basic rights and freedoms that every person in the world should have, such as the right to life, education, and equality. (k) What is elementary education? Where is it used? 👉 Elementary education is basic education that includes primary school. It is the first stage of education and is usually taught to young children. It is used worldwide to give children the knowledge and skills they need for further learning. (l) Where is the right to security given according to human rights? 👉 The right to security is given in cases of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age, or any situation where a person cannot earn a living due to reasons beyond their control. (m) What is the function of education? 👉 The function of education is to help people grow and develop their abilities. It teaches people about their rights, helps them become responsible citizens, and promotes peace, tolerance, and friendship among different cultures and nations. (n) Why is this declaration made? 👉 This declaration is made to ensure that all people, no matter where they live, get equal rights and freedoms. It aims to create a fair and just world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.                                       Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   প্রত্যেকের নিজের এবং তার পরিবারের জন্য ভাল খাদ্য, বস্ত্র, বাসস্থান, চিকিৎসা সেবা ও প্রয়োজনীয় সমাজ সেবার জন্য মানসম্মত জীবন যাত্রার অধিকার আছে এবং বেকারত্ব, অসুস্থতা, পঙ্গুত্ব, বৈধব্য, বার্ধক্য কিংবা কারও নিয়ন্ত্রণের বাইরে চলে যাওয়া পরিস্থিতির জন্য জীবনযাত্রায় কিছুর অভাব হল নিরাপত্তা লাভের অধিকার। মাতৃত্ব ও শৈশবকাল বিশেষ যত্ন ও সহায়তার অধিকারের দাবিদার। বিবাহ বর্জিত বা বিবাহজাত যেভাবেই জন্মগ্রহণ করুক না কেন, প্রত্যেক শিশুই সমান সামাজিক নিরাপত্তা উপভোগ করবে। আমি মনে করি আমার দেশ এই বিষয়ে সমর্থ হয়েছে/ সমর্থ হয়নি কারণ........... প্রত্যেকেরই শিক্ষা লাভ করার অধিকার আছে। শিক্ষা অন্তত প্রাথমিক ও মৌলিক পর্যায় পর্যন্ত অবৈতনিক হওয়া উচিত। প্রাথমিক শিক্ষা বাধ্যতামূলক হওয়া উচিত। প্রযুক্তিগত ও বৃত্তিগত শিক্ষা হওয়া উচিত সার্বজনীন এবং উচ্চ শিক্ষা মেধার ভিত্তিতে অবশ্যই সবার কাছে সমানভাবে প্রবেশযোগ্য হওয়া উচিত। মানুষের ব্যক্তিত্বের পূর্ণ উন্নয়ন এবং মানবাধিকারের সম্মান বৃদ্ধিতে এবং মৌলিক স্বাধীনতায় শিক্ষা হওয়া উচিত নির্দেশনাস্বরূপ। এটি সকল জাতি, অথবা ধর্মীয় সম্প্রদায় গোষ্ঠীর ভেতর সমঝোতা, সহিষ্ণুতা ও বন্ধুত্ব বাড়াবে এবং শান্তি রক্ষার্থে জাতিসংঘের কার্যক্রমকে এগিয়ে নেবে। পিতামাতা তাদের সন্তানকে কী ধরনের পড়াশোনা করাবে তার ধারা/রূপ পছন্দ করার অধিকার তাদের আছে। আমি মনে করি ঐ বিষয়ে মত দিতে আমার দেশ সমর্থ হয়েছে/ হয়নি কারণ............. Ad Ad vocabulary words  from the text with their Bangla meanings : Right  - অধিকার Standard of living  - জীবনযাত্রার মান Adequate  - পর্যাপ্ত Health  - স্বাস্থ্য Well-being  - মঙ্গল Food  - খাদ্য Clothing  - পোশাক Housing  - বাসস্থান Medical care  - চিকিৎসা সেবা Social services  - সামাজিক সেবা Security  - নিরাপত্তা Unemployment  - বেকারত্ব Sickness  - অসুস্থতা Disability  - অক্ষমতা Widowhood  - বিধবাবস্থা Old age  - বার্ধক্য Livelihood  - জীবিকা Circumstances  - পরিস্থিতি Motherhood  - মাতৃত্ব Childhood  - শৈশব Entitled  - অধিকারের যোগ্য Assistance  - সহায়তা Protection  - সুরক্ষা Education  - শিক্ষা Compulsory  - বাধ্যতামূলক Technical education  - কারিগরি শিক্ষা Professional education  - পেশাগত শিক্ষা Higher education  - উচ্চ শিক্ষা Accessible  - প্রবেশযোগ্য Merit  - যোগ্যতা Development  - উন্নয়ন Human personality  - মানব ব্যক্তিত্ব Respect  - শ্রদ্ধা Fundamental freedoms  - মৌলিক স্বাধীনতা Understanding  - বোঝাপড়া Tolerance  - সহনশীলতা Friendship  - বন্ধুত্ব Nations  - জাতিসমূহ Declaration  - ঘোষণা Dignity  - মর্যাদা

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. A vast mangrove forest shared by Bangladesh and India that is home to possibly 500 Bengal tigers is being rapidly destroyed by erosion, rising sea levels and storm surges, according to a major study by researchers at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and others. The Sundarbans forest took the brunt of super cyclone Sidr in 2007, but new satellite studies show that 71% of the forested coastline is retreating by as much as 200 meters a year. If erosion continues at this pace, already threatened tiger populations living in the forests will be put further at risk. Natalie Pettorelli, one of the report's authors, said: "Coastline retreat is evident everywhere. A continuing rate of retreat would see these parts of the mangrove disappear within 50 years. On the Indian side of the Sundarbans, the island which extends most into the Bay of Bengal has receded by an average of 150 meters a year, with a maximum of just over 200 metres; this would see the disappearance of the island in about 20 years." The Sundarbans is known for vanishing islands but the scientists said the current retreat of the mangrove forests on the southern coastline is not normal. "The causes for increasing coastline retreat, other than direct anthropogenic ones, include increased frequency of storm surges and other extreme natural events, rises in sea-level and increased salinity which increases the vulnerability of mangroves," said Pettorelli. "Our results indicate a rapidly retreating coastline that cannot be accounted for by the regular dynamics of the Sundarbans. Degradation is happening fast, weakening this natural shield for India and Bangladesh."  "As human development thrives, and global temperature continues to rise, natural protection from tidal waves and cyclones is being degraded at alarming rates. This will inevitably lead to species loss in this richly biodiverse part of the world, if nothing is done to stop it."  "The Sundarbans is a critical tiger habitat; one of only a handful of remaining forests big enough to hold several hundred tigers. To lose the Sundarbans would be to move a step closer to the extinction of these majestic animals," said ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) What does the word 'erosion' refer to?  (i) decay  (ii) pollution  (iii) pure  (iv) impure  (b) The word 'extinction' means —.  (i) survival  (ii) destruction  (iii) uplift  (iv) development  (c) What does the word 'retreat' in the text means?  (i) erosion (ii) advance  (iii) forward  (iv) preceding  (d) The number of Royal Bengal Tigers is —.  (i) increasing (ii) rising (iii) decreasing (iv) growing (e) "To lose the Sundarbans would be to move a step closer to the extinction of these majestic animals." What does it imply?  (i) Royal Bengal Tigers will be lost with the destruction of the Sundarbans  (ii) Tigers will live safely if the Sundarbans is being destroyed  (iii) The number of tigers will increase  (iv) None of the above (f) The Sundarbans is a —.  (i) rain forest (ii) swamp forest (iii) mangrove forest (iv) both (i) and (ii) (g) Sidr was a —.  (i) tornado (ii) typhoon (iii) whirlwind (iv) all of the above (h) Natalie Pettorelli is a —.  (i) tiger expert (ii) forest expert (iii) reporter (iv) both (ii) and (iii) (i) What is the synonym of "majestic"?  (i) rare (ii) royal (iii) modest (iv) dowdy (j) ZSL is the abbreviation of —.  (i) Zoological society of London (ii) Zoology society of London   (iii) Zoological school of London (iv) Zoology school of London (k) 'If erosion continues at this pace —' in this line "pace" is used for —.  (i) motion (ii) movement (iii) rate (iv) custom (l) "Salinity" means —.  (i) briny (ii) salt (iii) sea (iv) sweet (m) Which word is synonymous to "extend"?  (i) continuation (ii) stretch (iii) proximity (iv) adjacent (n) The word "anthropogenic" is closely related to —.  (i) human beings  (ii) origin and development of human biengs  (iii) soil  (iv) kinds of soil (o) The name of the tiger expert is —.  (i) Sarah Pettorelli (ii) Sarah Christin (iii) Natalie Christie (iv) Sarah Christie (p) The word "degradation" refers to —.  (i) deterioration (ii) wasting (iii) running (iv) spoiling (q) In the Sundarbans there are approximately — Bengal Tigers.  (i) fifty hundred (ii) five hundred (iii) five thousand (iv) none of the above (r) In the passage the word "brunt" means —.  (i) streets (ii) result (iii) collision (iv) impact (s) The island mentioned in the passage can be disappeared in about —.  (i) 2 century (ii) 2 decades (iii) 20 decades (iv) none of the above (t) Which is true about "biodiversity"?  (i) existence of many different kinds of plants in an environment  (ii) existence of many different kinds of animals in an environment  (iii) existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment  (iv) none of the above (u) The word 'rapid' means —.  (i) swift (ii) gradual (iii) sluggish (iv) slow  (v) In the passage "habitat" refers to —.  (i) meeting place (ii) birthplace (iii) dwelling place (iv) room (w) What does the word 'extreme' mean?  (i) insignificant  (ii) ultimate  (iii) silly  (iv) trivial  (x) The word 'evident' means —.  (i) clear  (ii) unclear  (iii) unaware   (iv) unbound  (y) The cyclone Sidr happened in —.  (i) 2003 (ii) 2005   (iii) 2007    (iv) 2009 (z) What does the word 'vast' refer to?  (i) enormous  (ii) little  (iii) less  (iv) few  Answer (A): (a) (i) decay (b) (ii) destruction (c) (i) erosion (d) (iii) decreasing (e) (i) Royal Bengal Tigers will be lost with the destruction of the Sundarbans (f) (iii) mangrove forest (g) (iii) Whirlwind (h) (iii) reporter (i) (ii) royal (j) (i) Zoological Society of London (k) (iii) rate (l) (i) briny (m) (ii) stretch (n) (ii) origin and development of human beings (o) (iv) Sarah Christie (p) (i) deterioration (q) (ii) five hundred (r) (iv) impact (s) (ii) 2 decades (t) (iii) existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment (u) (i) swift (v) (iii) dwelling place (w) (ii) ultimate (x) (i) clear (y) (iii) 2007 (z) (i) enormous (aa) (ii) The Sundarbans is retreating rapidly B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What happened to the Sundarbans in 2007?  (b) How many territories does the Sundarbans consist of and what are they?  (c) What will happen if we lose the Sundarbans? (d) What is the view of ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie? Write in your own words. (e) What is ZSL? (f) Why is the Sundarbans so significant? (g) What is not normal according to the scientists? (h) Why is coastline retreat increasing? (i) What is the step which brings closer to the extinction of Bengal tigers? (j) Why is Sarah Christie concerned? (k) When will the island be disappeared? (l) What is the Sundarbans famous for? (m) What is the view of Natalie Pettorelli on Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans? (n) What is happening to the Sundarbans according to the study of ZSL? (o) What do researchers forecast about the Sundarbans? (p) What will lead to species loss in the Sundarbans? Answer (B): (a) What happened to the Sundarbans in 2007? In 2007, the Sundarbans was badly affected by Super Cyclone Sidr. The cyclone caused serious damage to the forest, affecting the land, trees, and wildlife. (b) How many territories does the Sundarbans consist of and what are they? The Sundarbans is divided between two countries: Bangladesh and India. Both countries share this large mangrove forest. (c) What will happen if we lose the Sundarbans? If the Sundarbans disappears, it will have serious consequences. Bengal tigers will lose their habitat, and their population may decrease rapidly, pushing them closer to extinction. Additionally, the Sundarbans protects Bangladesh and India from cyclones and tidal waves, so without it, these natural disasters will become even more dangerous. (d) What is the view of ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie? Write in your own words. Sarah Christie believes that the Sundarbans is one of the last safe places for Bengal tigers. If it is destroyed, tigers will lose their home, and their chances of survival will become very low. She thinks losing the Sundarbans will bring tigers one step closer to extinction. (e) What is ZSL? ZSL stands for the Zoological Society of London. It is an organization that works on wildlife conservation and research to protect animals and their natural habitats. (f) Why is the Sundarbans so significant? The Sundarbans is very important for several reasons: It is home to Bengal tigers and many other wildlife species. It acts as a natural barrier against strong storms and cyclones, protecting the people of Bangladesh and India. It helps maintain the balance of nature by supporting a rich ecosystem. (g) What is not normal according to the scientists? Scientists say that the speed at which the coastline of the Sundarbans is disappearing is not normal. Some islands are shrinking quickly, and the forest is being lost much faster than before. This is due to climate change and human activities, making the situation worse than usual. (h) Why is coastline retreat increasing? The coastline is retreating (moving back) more quickly because of: Rising sea levels due to climate change. Frequent storms and cyclones, which cause more erosion. Increased salt levels in the water, which weakens mangrove trees. Human activities, such as cutting down trees and damaging the environment. (i) What is the step which brings closer to the extinction of Bengal tigers? The destruction of the Sundarbans is making it harder for Bengal tigers to survive. Since they need forests to live and hunt, losing the Sundarbans will push them closer to extinction. (j) Why is Sarah Christie concerned? Sarah Christie is worried because the Sundarbans is one of the last large forests where Bengal tigers can live safely. If the forest disappears, there will not be enough space for tigers, and their population will decrease. She fears that this could lead to the complete extinction of Bengal tigers. (k) When will the island disappear? According to scientists, an island on the Indian side of the Sundarbans is disappearing quickly. If the current rate of erosion continues, the island will completely vanish in about 20 years. (l) What is the Sundarbans famous for? The Sundarbans is famous for: Being the largest mangrove forest in the world. Having a large population of Bengal tigers. Its disappearing islands, as some parts of the forest are shrinking due to erosion. (m) What is the view of Natalie Pettorelli on Bangladesh’s part of the Sundarbans? Natalie Pettorelli says that the Bangladeshi coastline is retreating very fast. She points out that 71% of the forested coastline is disappearing, and if this continues, large parts of the forest will be lost in 50 years. (n) What is happening to the Sundarbans according to the study of ZSL? The ZSL study shows that the Sundarbans is being destroyed quickly. Erosion, rising sea levels, and frequent storms are damaging the forest, making it harder for animals and plants to survive. (o) What do researchers forecast about the Sundarbans? Researchers predict that if the current rate of destruction continues, large areas of the Sundarbans will disappear in the near future. This will be dangerous for both wildlife and humans living in the region. (p) What will lead to species loss in the Sundarbans? Species loss in the Sundarbans will happen because of: Global warming, which is causing the sea levels to rise. Deforestation and human activities, which are destroying animal habitats. Frequent cyclones and storms, which damage the forest. Increased salt levels in water, which makes it harder for plants and animals to survive.                                         Answer: Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   লন্ডনের জুলজিক্যাল সোসাইটিতে গবেষকদের এক প্রধান গবেষণা অনুসারে বাংলাদেশ ও ভারত কর্তৃক ভাগাভাগি করা এক বিস্তীর্ণ উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনাঞ্চল সম্ভাব্য ৫০০ বেঙ্গল টাইগারের বাসস্থান যা ক্ষয়সাধন, সমুদ্রের উচ্চতাবৃদ্ধি এবং প্রবল ঝড়ের দ্বারা দ্রুত ধ্বংস হয়ে যাচ্ছে।  সুন্দরবনের বনাঞ্চল ২০০৭ সালের অতিমাত্রায় ঘুর্ণিঝড় সিডরের আক্রমণের প্রধান ধকল সামলিয়েছিল, কিন্তু নতুন উপগ্রহ গবেষণায় দেখা যায় যে বনাঞ্চলের উপকূল রেখার ৭১% প্রতি বছর প্রায় ২০০ মিটার পিছিয়ে যাচ্ছে। যদি এই বেগবান ক্ষয়সাধন চলতে থাকে তাহলে বনাঞ্চলে বসবাসরত ইতোমধ্যে বিপন্ন বাঘ সংখ্যা আরও বিপদের সম্মুখীন হবে। প্রতিবেদন লেখকদের অন্যতম নাটালি পেটোরেল্লী বলেন, “উপকূল রেখার ক্ষয়সাধন সর্বত্রই সুস্পষ্ট। পশ্চাদপসরণের এই অবিরাম গতির ফলে ৫০ বছরের মধ্যে উপকূলীয় বনাঞ্চলের এই অংশগুলো বিলীন হয়ে যাবে। সুন্দরবনের ভারতীয় অংশে দ্বীপটি যার অধিকাংশ বঙ্গোপসাগরের মধ্যে বিস্তৃত তা বছরের গড়ে ১৫০ মিটার এবং সর্বোচ্চ ২০০ মিটারের অধিক কমে গেছে; এর ফলে প্রায় বিশ বছরে দ্বীপটি অদৃশ্য হয়ে যেতে পারে।” সুন্দরবন অপসৃয়মান/ অদৃশ্য দ্বীপগুলোর জন্য পরিচিত কিন্তু বিজ্ঞানীগণ বলেন যে দক্ষিণের উপকূল রেখার উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনাঞ্চলের চলতি পশ্চাদপসরণ স্বাভাবিক নয়। পেটোরেল্লী বলেন, “সরাসরি মানবসম্পর্কিত ছাড়া বর্ধিত উপকূল রেখার পশ্চাদপসরণের কারণগুলোর মধ্যে ঝড়-জলোচ্ছাসের বর্ধিত পুন:পুন: সংঘটন, অন্যান্য চরমমাত্রায় প্রাকৃতিক ঘটনা, সাগরের উচ্চতা বৃদ্ধি এবং বর্ধিত লবণাক্ততা অন্তর্ভুক্ত যা উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনভূমির জন্য ঝুঁকি বাড়ায়।” “আমাদের ফলাফলে দেখা যায় সুন্দরবনের নিয়মিত গতিময়তা দ্বারা দ্রুত ক্ষীয়মান উপকূল রেখার ব্যাখ্যা করা যায় না। ভারত ও বাংলাদেশের জন্য এই প্রাকৃতিক ঢালকে দূর্বল করে ভাঙন দ্রুত সংঘটিত হচ্ছে।” “যেহেতু মানব উন্নয়ন সমৃদ্ধি লাভ করে এবং বৈশ্বিক উষ্ণতা বেড়েই চলেছে তাই জলোচ্ছ্বাস এবং ঘূর্ণিঝড় হতে প্রাকৃতিক সংরক্ষণ ভয়ঙ্কর হারে হ্রাস পাচ্ছে। যদি এটা বন্ধ করার জন্য কিছু করা না হয় তাহলে এটা বিশ্বের এই সমৃদ্ধ প্রাণ বৈচিত্র্যের প্রজাতি ক্ষতির কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়াবে।” “সুন্দরবন হচ্ছে সংকটপূর্ণ বাঘের বাসস্থান/আস্তানা; এটা কেবলমাত্র অবশিষ্ট মুষ্টিমেয় বনগুলোর একটি যা কয়েক শত বাঘ ধারণ করার মত বড়। সুন্দরবন হারানো হবে এ সমস্ত রাজকীয় প্রাণির ধ্বংসের দিকে এক পা এগিয়ে যাওয়া” বলেছেন জেড্এস্ এল্ বাঘ বিশেষজ্ঞ সারাহ ক্রিষ্টি। Ad Ad vocabulary words  from the text with their Bangla meanings : Vast  – বিস্তৃত Mangrove  – সুন্দরবনের মত লবণাক্ত বন Shared  – ভাগ করা Erosion  – ক্ষয় Rising  – বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে Sea levels  – সমুদ্রের স্তর Storm surges  – ঝড়ের ঢেউ Major  – প্রধান Researchers  – গবেষকরা Brunt  – প্রধান আঘাত Super cyclone  – অতিপ্রলয়ঙ্কর ঘূর্ণিঝড় Satellite  – উপগ্রহ Coastline  – উপকূলরেখা Retreating  – পশ্চাদপসরণ করছে Threatened  – বিপন্ন Habitat  – আবাসস্থল Report  – প্রতিবেদন Evident  – স্পষ্ট Disappear  – অদৃশ্য হয়ে যাওয়া Receded  – সরে গেছে Island  – দ্বীপ Anthropogenic  – মানবসৃষ্ট Frequency  – ঘনঘন হওয়া Extreme  – চরম Salinity  – লবণাক্ততা Vulnerability  – দুর্বলতা Degradation  – অবনতি Natural shield  – প্রাকৃতিক প্রতিরক্ষা Human development  – মানব উন্নয়ন Alarming  – ভয়ংকর Tidal waves  – জোয়ার ঢেউ Cyclones  – ঘূর্ণিঝড় Biodiverse  – জীববৈচিত্র্যপূর্ণ Majestic  – মহিমান্বিত Extinction  – বিলুপ্তি Consequence  – পরিণতি Critical  – অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ Protection  – সুরক্ষা Forecast  – পূর্বাভাস Species loss  – প্রাণীর প্রজাতি হারানো

Read the text and answer the questions that follow: The Story of Shilpi Shilpi was only 15 years old when she married Rashid in 2008. Marrying off daughters at an early age is a standard practice for many families living in rural Bangladesh. After her wedding, Shilpi joined a local empowerment group that provides adolescent girls with the tools needed to gradually change cultural practices, particularly those pertaining to early marriage and pregnancy. The group’s activities include discussions on how to most effectively change behavior related to reproductive health as well as one-on-one counselling. It also offers peer-to-peer support and life skills training that help adolescents say no to early marriage. The empowerment group is one of more than 10,000 groups supported by some local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working all over Bangladesh. These NGOs work through Canada’s Adolescent Reproductive Health Project which also aims to increase access to quality health services for adolescents. During one of the group sessions, Shilpi came to understand the potentially harmful effects of early marriage and pregnancy. While maternal mortality in Bangladesh has declined by more than 50 percent since 2001, the rate remains high with 173 maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in 2017—dropping from 322 in 2001. Girls who get pregnant are at risk of serious health complications. These include dangerous hemorrhage and fistula, a painful internal injury caused by obstructed childbirth that commonly leads to serious maternal morbidities and social exclusion. When Shilpi heard about those risks, she invited her husband, Rashid, to discuss pregnancy with a counsellor. After hearing about the risks, Rashid agreed to delay having children for five years despite pressures from his parents and neighbors to produce an offspring. Together, the couple met with a female health care provider who informed them about the various family planning options available. Shilpi’s mother-in-law and neighbors continued to pressurize the newlyweds. Deeply rooted cultural practices and traditions caused a rift between Shilpi and Rashid and their extended family, some of whose members insulted and criticized the couple. Unable to convince their close relatives of the risks, Shilpi and Rashid returned to the counsellor. They took the help of a parent peer who had been trained to speak to other parents about adolescent issues. Shilpi’s mother-in-law and neighbors eventually came to understand the harmful effects of early pregnancy on mother and child. After that, the village no longer pressurized the couple; their parents and neighbors began to support them and speak out against early marriage and pregnancy. MCQs on the text about The Story of Shilpi: 1. What does “empowerment” mean in the context of the text? A) Restriction B) Enabling individuals to take control C) Isolation D) Disempowerment  Answer: B) Enabling individuals to take control 2. What is the meaning of “counselling”? A) Providing entertainment B) Offering guidance or advice C) Conducting a survey D) Giving medical treatment  Answer: B) Offering guidance or advice 3. What does “reproductive health” refer to? A) Health related to childhood B) Health related to reproductive system and sexual health C) General health care D) Health for elderly people  Answer: B) Health related to reproductive system and sexual health 4. What does “morbidities” mean? A) Healthy conditions B) Illnesses or diseases C) Fun activities D) Economic benefits  Answer: B) Illnesses or diseases 5. What does “hemorrhage” refer to? A) Infection B) Excessive bleeding C) Recovery D) Minor injury  Answer: B) Excessive bleeding 6. What does “obstructed” mean in this context? A) Clear B) Blocked or hindered C) Enhanced D) Supported  Answer: B) Blocked or hindered 7. What does “pressurize” mean? A) To support B) To create pressure to conform or comply C) To relax D) To encourage independence  Answer: B) To create pressure to conform or comply 8. What does “criticism” refer to? A) Praise B) Disapproval or finding faults C) Encouragement D) Neutral feedback  Answer: B) Disapproval or finding faults 9. What does “adolescent” mean? A) A toddler B) A young adult or teenager C) An elderly person D) A middle-aged individual  Answer: B) A young adult or teenager 10. What does “cultural practices” refer to? A) Laws B) Traditions and customs of a community C) Economic policies D) Medical practices  Answer: B) Traditions and customs of a community 11. What is the meaning of “options” in this context? A) Choices or alternatives B) Restrictions C) Requirements D) Obligations  Answer: A) Choices or alternatives 12. What does “social exclusion” refer to? A) Inclusion in community activities B) Being left out of social groups C) Social support D) Positive interactions  Answer: B) Being left out of social groups 13. What does “understanding” mean in this context? A) Misinterpretation B) Comprehension or awareness C) Ignorance D) Confusion  Answer: B) Comprehension or awareness 14. What does “tradition” refer to? A) A new trend B) A long-established custom or belief C) A temporary practice D) A modern idea  Answer: B) A long-established custom or belief 15. What does “support” mean in the context of family and community? A) To hinder B) To provide assistance or encouragement C) To criticize D) To ignore  Answer: B) To provide assistance or encouragement     Short Answer Questions:   1. What was Shilpi's age when she got married? Shilpi was only 15 years old when she married Rashid in 2008. It is common for many families in rural Bangladesh to marry off their daughters at a young age. 2. Why do many families in rural Bangladesh marry off daughters at an early age? In rural Bangladesh, marrying off daughters at an early age is a traditional practice. Families often believe that it is better for girls to get married early rather than wait until they are older. 3. What did Shilpi do after her wedding? After her wedding, Shilpi joined a local empowerment group. This group helps young girls understand how to change cultural practices, especially those related to early marriage and pregnancy. 4. What is the main goal of the empowerment group? The main goal of the empowerment group is to help adolescent girls understand the risks of early marriage and pregnancy. The group provides education, counseling, and life skills to help them make better choices. 5. How did the empowerment group help Shilpi? The empowerment group helped Shilpi by teaching her about the dangers of early marriage and pregnancy. She also learned how to resist the pressure to get pregnant early and how to speak to others about these issues. 6. What is maternal mortality and how has it changed in Bangladesh? Maternal mortality refers to the death of mothers during or after childbirth. In Bangladesh, maternal mortality has decreased by over 50% since 2001. However, the rate is still high, with 173 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in 2017. 7. What health risks do girls face when they get pregnant early? Girls who get pregnant early face serious health risks such as dangerous bleeding and fistula. Fistula is a painful injury caused by difficult childbirth, which can lead to long-term health problems and social exclusion. 8. What decision did Shilpi and Rashid make after hearing about the risks? After learning about the risks of early pregnancy, Shilpi and Rashid decided to delay having children for five years. Even though their families and neighbors pressured them, they agreed to wait and discussed family planning options with a healthcare provider. 9. How did Shilpi and Rashid handle pressure from their families? Shilpi and Rashid faced pressure from their families, especially from Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbors. Despite this, they kept talking to a counselor and eventually got support from a parent peer, which helped change the attitude of their relatives. 10. What happened after Shilpi and Rashid's relatives understood the risks? After Shilpi and Rashid's relatives understood the harmful effects of early pregnancy, they stopped pressuring the couple. Instead, they started supporting them and even spoke out against early marriage and pregnancy in the community.                                 Answer: Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   ২০০৮ সালে শিল্পী যখন রশিদকে বিয়ে করে তখন তার বয়স ছিল মাত্র ১৫ বছর। মেয়েদের অল্প বয়সে বিয়ে দেয়া বাংলাদেশের প্রত্যন্ত অঞ্চলের বসবাসকারী অনেক পরিবারের স্বাভাবিক প্রথা। বিয়ের পরে শিল্পী একটি স্থানীয় ক্ষমতায়ন দলে যোগ দেয় যেটা কিশোরী মেয়েদের সাংস্কৃতিক রেওয়াজগুলো বিশেষ করে বাল্য বিবাহ ও গর্ভধারণের সাথে সম্পর্কিত সেসব প্রথাগুলোকে ধীরে ধীরে পরিবর্তন করার হাতিয়ার প্রদান করে। দলটির কার্যক্রমের মধ্যে রয়েছে প্রজনন স্বাস্থ্যের সাথে সম্পর্কিত আচরণকে কীভাবে সবচেয়ে কার্যকরভাবে পরিবর্তন করা যায় সে বিষয়ে আলোচনা ও সেই সাথে সবাইকে এককভাবে পরামর্শ দেওয়া। এটা তথ্য কেন্দ্র সহায়তা ও জীবন দক্ষতার প্রশিক্ষণও দেয় যা কিশোরীদের বাল্য বিবাহে প্রতিবাদ জানাতে সাহায্য করে। এই ক্ষমতায়ন দলটি হলো সারা বাংলাদেশ কর্মরত কিছু স্থানীয়/দেশীয় এনজিও সমর্থিত দশ হাজারেরও বেশি দলের একটি। এসব এনজিওগুলো কানাডার কিশোর-কিশোরীদের প্ৰজনন স্বাস্থ্য প্রকল্পের অধীনে কাজ করে যেটার লক্ষ্য হচ্ছে কিশোর-কিশোরীদের জন্য মানসম্মত স্বাস্থ্য সেবার সুযোগও বাড়ানো। একটি গ্রুপ সেশনে শিল্পী বাল্যবিবাহ ও গর্ভধারণের সম্ভাব্য ক্ষতিকর প্রভাবগুলো সম্পর্কে জানতে পেরেছিল। যদিও ২০০১ সাল হতে বাংলাদেশ মাতৃ মৃত্যুর হার ৫০ শতাংশের বেশি কমেছে, তবুও মৃত্যুর হার এখনও বেশি যা ২০০১ সালে ৩২২ থেকে কমে ২০১৭ সালে প্রতি এক লাখ বাচ্চা প্রসবে মাতৃ মৃত্যুর হার ১৭৩ হয়েছে। যেসব মেয়েরা গর্ভবতী হয়। তারা মারাত্মক স্বাস্থ্য জটিলতার ঝুঁকিতে থাকে। এসবের মধ্যে রয়েছে বিপজ্জনক রক্তক্ষরণ এবং ফিস্টুলা/ভগন্দর রোগ যা বাধাপ্রাপ্ত বাচ্চা প্রসবের দ্বারা সৃষ্ট যন্ত্রণাদায়ক অভ্যন্তরীণ ক্ষত, যা মারাত্মক মাতৃ অসুস্থতা ও সামাজিক বাধাগ্রস্ততার দিকে সাধারণত ধাবিত করে। যখন শিল্পী ঐসব ঝুঁকির বিষয়ে শুনল, সে তার স্বামী রশিদ কে একজন পরামর্শদাতার সাথে গর্ভধারণ বিষয়ে আলোচনার জন্য নিয়ে গেল। ঝুঁকি সম্পর্কে শোনার পর তার পরিবার ও প্রতিবেশীদের পক্ষ থেকে বাচ্চা নেওয়ার চাপ সত্ত্বেও রশিদ আরও ৫ বছর সন্তান নিতে বিলম্ব করতে সম্মত হলো। এই দম্পতি একত্রে একজন মহিলা স্বাস্থ্য সেবা প্রদানকারীর সাথে সাক্ষাৎ করে, যিনি তাদেরকে সহজলভ্য বিভিন্ন ধরনের পরিবার পরিকল্পনা পদ্ধতি সম্পর্কে তথ্য প্রদান করেন। শিল্পীর শাশুড়ি ও প্রতিবেশীরা নব দম্পতিকে অবিরাম চাপ দিতে থাকল। বদ্ধমূল সাংস্কৃতিক প্রথা ও ঐতিহ্য শিল্পী ও রশিদ এবং তাদের পরিবারের অন্যদের মধ্যে দূরত্বের সৃষ্টি করে, যাদের কেউ চ কেউ এই দম্পতিকে অপমান 13 সমালোচনা করত। ঝুঁকি সম্পর্কে নিকট আত্মীয়দের বোঝাতে ব্যর্থ হয়ে, শিল্পী ও রশিদ পরামর্শদাতার নিকট ফিরে যায় । তারা একজন পিতামাতার সমকক্ষ ব্যক্তির সাহায্য নিয়েছিল যিনি বয়ঃসন্ধিকালের বিষয় নিয়ে অন্যান্য পিতামাতাদের সাথে কথা বলতে প্রশিক্ষিত। শিল্পীর শাশুড়ি ও প্রতিবেশীরা অবশেষে মা ও শিশুর ওপর অপরিণত গর্ভধারণের ক্ষতিকর প্রভাব সম্পর্কে বুঝতে পারেন । এরপর থেকে গ্রামবাসী এই দম্পতিকে আর চাপ দেয়নি; তাদের মা-বাবা ও প্রতিবেশীরা তাদেরকে সমর্থন করা এবং বাল্যবিবাহ ও গর্ভধারণের বিরুদ্ধে কথা বলা শুরু করেছিল। Ad vocabulary words with their Bangla meanings from the given text: Marrying off  - বিয়ে দেয়া Daughters  - মেয়ে Standard  - সাধারণ Practice  - অভ্যাস Families  - পরিবার Rural  - গ্রামীণ Wedding  - বিয়ে Empowerment  - ক্ষমতায়ন Adolescent  - কিশোর-কিশোরী Tools  - সরঞ্জাম Gradually  - ধীরে ধীরে Cultural  - সাংস্কৃতিক Practices  - প্রথা Pertaining  - সম্পর্কিত Pregnancy  - গর্ভধারণ Activities  - কার্যক্রম Discussions  - আলোচনা Effectively  - কার্যকরীভাবে Behaviour  - আচরণ Reproductive health  - প্রজনন স্বাস্থ্য Counselling  - পরামর্শ Peer-to-peer  - সহপাঠী থেকে সহপাঠী Support  - সহায়তা Life skills  - জীবন দক্ষতা Training  - প্রশিক্ষণ Adolescents  - কিশোর-কিশোরী Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)  - অ-সরকারি প্রতিষ্ঠান Access  - প্রবেশ Health services  - স্বাস্থ্য সেবা Maternal mortality  - মাতৃ মৃত্যু Declined  - হ্রাস পেয়েছে Rate  - হার Deaths  - মৃত্যুর সংখ্যা Hemorrhage  - রক্তপাত Fistula  - ফিস্টুলা Internal injury  - অভ্যন্তরীণ ক্ষত Obstructed childbirth  - বাধাপ্রাপ্ত প্রসব Morbidities  - অসুস্থতা Social exclusion  - সামাজিক বিচ্ছিন্নতা Risks  - ঝুঁকি Invited  - আমন্ত্রণ জানানো Discuss  - আলোচনা করা Agree  - সম্মত হওয়া Delay  - বিলম্ব করা Pressures  - চাপ Offspring  - সন্তান Health care provider  - স্বাস্থ্য সেবা প্রদানকারী Family planning  - পরিবার পরিকল্পনা Criticized  - সমালোচনা করা Support  - সমর্থন Ad Passage-2 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Shilpi was only 15 years old when she married Rashid in 2008. Marrying off daughters at an early age is a standard practice for many families living in rural Bangladesh. After her wedding, Shilpi joined a local empowerment group that provides adolescent girls with the tools needed to gradually change cultural practices, particularly those pertaining to early marriage and pregnancy. The group's activities include discussions on how to most effectively change behaviour related to reproductive health as well as one-on-one counselling. It also offers peer-to-peer support and life skills training that help adolescents say no to early marriage. The empowerment group is one of more than 10,000 groups supported by some local Non Government Organizations (NGOs) working all over Bangladesh. These NGOs work through Canada's Adolescent Reproductive Health Project which also aims to increase access to quality health services for adolescents. During one of the group sessions, Shilpi came to understand the potentially harmful effects of early marriage and pregnancy. While maternal mortality in Bangladesh has declined by nearly 40 percent since 2001, the rate remains high with 194 maternal deaths per 1,00,000, live births in 2010- dropping from 322 in 2001 with a projected decrease to 143 by 2015. Girls who get pregnant are at risk of serious health complications. These include dangerous hemorrhage and fistula, a painful internal injury caused by obstructed childbirth that commonly leads to serious maternal morbidities and social exclusion. When Shilpi heard about those risks, she invited her husband, Rashid, to discuss pregnancy with a counsellor. After hearing about the risks, Rashid agreed to delay having children for five years despite pressures from his parents and neighbours to produce an offspring. Together, the couple met with a female health care provider, who informed them about the various family planning options available. Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbours continued to pressurize the newlyweds. Deeply rooted cultural practices and traditions caused a rift between Shilpi and Rashid and their extended family, some of whose members insulted and criticized the couple. Unable to convince their close relatives of the risks, Shilpi and Rashid returned to the counsellor. They took the help of a parent peer who has been trained to speak to other parents about adolescent issues. Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbours eventually came to understand the harmful effects of early pregnancy on mother and child. Today, the village no longer pressurizes the couple; their parents and neighbours now support them and speak out against early marriage and pregnancy.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) The word "standard" refers to —.  (i) good (ii) over-estimated (iii) bad (iv) accepted (b) The closest meaning of the word "wedding" is —.  (i) birthday (ii) marriage (iii) funeral (iv) marriage anniversary (c) Most of the families living in the — marry off their daughters at  an early age.   (i) town  (ii) city (iii) village (iv) slums  (d) The word "pressurize" means —.  (i) request (ii) force (iii) ask (iv) order (e) "Shilpi was only 15 years old when she married Rashid in 2008"— What does it indicate?  (i) Shilpi was married off early (ii) Shilpi was married off at an exact  (iii) Shilpi was 15 in 2008 (iv) None of the above (f) What is the meaning of the word 'empowerment' used in the text?  (i) refusal (ii) veto (iii) blessing  (iv) authorization (g) The word 'adolescent' means —.  (i) mature (ii) juvenile (iii) support (iv) boyish (h) The word 'reproductive' in the text refers to —.  (i) generative (ii) birth (iii) production (iv) destroy (i) 'peer to peer' means —.  (i) one end to another (ii) everyone (iii) mutual (iv) social (j) What is the meaning of the word 'potentially'?  (i) ability (ii) possibility (iii) capability (iv) talent (k) The phrase 'health complication' means —.  (i) health related complexity (ii) health issues  (iii) dieting  (iv) health security (l) The word 'morbidity' refers to —.  (i) animation (ii) lively (iii) depression (iv) death (m) Shilpi decided to have children after reaching —.  (i) 15 years (ii) 25 years (iii) 20 years (iv) 26 years (n) What is the meaning of the word 'counsellor'?  (i) representative (ii) advisor (iii) conductor (iv) thinker (o) The phrase 'parent peer' means —.  (i) parents like arbitrator (ii) make someone understand  (iii) a counselor  (iv) a guide for parents (p) Shilpi's in-laws at last understand —.  (i) harmful effects of immature pregnancy (ii) harmful effects of pregnancy  (iii) effects of being pregnant (iv) late pregnancy (q) The word 'eventually' in the text means —.  (i) finally (ii) in the beginning (iii) all on a sudden (iv) carefully (r) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'access'?  (i) outlet (ii) approach (iii) exit (iv) skill (s) What is the most acceptable meaning of "adolescent"?  (i) old (ii) child (iii) adult (iv) teenager (t) Shilpi joined a — empowerment group after her marriage.  (i) national (ii) local (iii) international (iv) tribal (u) What does the word 'return' mean?  (i) come again (ii) go again (iii) come back (iv) come twice (v) The word "offspring" refers to —.  (i) child (ii) beginning of spring (iii) end of spring (iv) family (w) Fistula is —.  (i) internal injury (ii) external injury (iii) food poisoning (iv) a simple disease (x) The closest meaning of the word 'rift' is —.  (i) prick (ii) bloom (iii) tear (iv) cleft Answer (A): (a) (iv) accepted (b) (ii) marriage (c) (iii) village (d) (ii) force (e) (i) Shilpi was married off early (f) (iv) authorization (g) (ii) juvenile (h) (i) generative (i) (iii) mutual (j) (ii) possibility (k) (i) health related complexity (l) (iii) depression (m) (iii) 20 years (n) (ii) advisor (o) (i) parents like arbitrator (p) (i) harmful effects of immature pregnancy (q) (i) finally (r) (ii) approach (s) (iv) teenager (t) (ii) local (u) (iii) come back (v) (i) child (w) (i) internal injury (x) (iv) cleft B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) "Marrying off daughters at an early age is a standard practice for many families living in rural Bangladesh"- explain it in 2/3 sentences. (b) How does the local empowerment group most effectively change behaviour related to reproductive health? (c) What did Shilpi come to understand and how? (d) What are the activities of the local empowerment group? (e) What do you know about the NGOs? (f) Write about maternal mortality. (g) What is fistula? (h) What is the outlook of the villagers in the story now? (i) What is the standard practice for girls' marriage in rural Bangladesh? (j) What health complications do the pregnant girls have? (k) What are the past and present notions of Shilpi's in-laws' about early marriage and pregnancy? (l) When did Rashid decide to delay having children for five years? (m) What happened to the relationship between the couple and her relatives and neighbours? (n) What is the reason behind the disease- 'Hemorrhage' for women? (o) Why did Shilpi and Rashid return to the counsellor? Answer (B):  (a) Bangladesh has a long tradition of marrying off daughters at an early age. This happens mostly in rural areas. It is a very common phenomenon in villages.  (b) The local empowerment group most effectively changes behaviour related to reproductive health by counseling and offering peer-to-peer support to the adolescent girls.  (c) Shilpi came to understand the potentially harmful effects of early marriage and pregnancy. She did so by joining a local empowerment group that provides adolescent girls with the knowledge of health risks of early marriage and pregnancy.  (d) The group discusses on changing behaviour most effectively related to reproductive health as well as one-on-one counselling. It also offers peer-to-peer support and life skills training that encourages adolescents say no to early marriage.  (e) The NGOs work through some foreign health project that aims to increase access to quality health services for adolescents. They also do other welfare tasks.  (f) In Bangladesh, maternal mortality has declined by nearly 40 percent since 2001. The rate is high with 194 deaths per 1,00,000, live births in 2010 dropping from 322 in 2001 with a projected decrease to 143 by 2015.  (g) Fistula is a disease of painful internal injury caused by obstructed childbirth that usually leads to serious maternal morbidities and social exclusion.  (h) Now, the condition has changed in villages. The villagers no longer force the couple to have children at an early age, rather they speak out against early marriage and pregnancy.  (i) Marrying off girls at an early age is the standard practice in rural Bangladesh.  (j) Pregnant girls have serious health complication. These include dangerous hemorrhage and fistula.  (k) Shilpi's in-laws were strongly in favour of early marriage and pregnancy in the past. Later the couple succeeded to change their mindset and they are now deadly against early marriage and childbirth.  (l) Shilpi inspired Rashid to go to discuss about pregnancy with a counsellor who told him about the health risks of an adolescent mother. Hearing all these, she decided to delay having children for five years.  (m) The couple's decision to delay having children made a rift between them and her relatives and neighbours. But later the elders changed their mindset and the relationship turned normal again.  (n) Hemorrhage is a serious disease of internal injury which is usually associated with food habits and life style. But for women, it has been seen that girls who get pregnant at their early age go through obstructed child-birth and this leads them to the serious internal injury of hemorrhage.  (o) Shilpi's mother-in-law and neighbours continued to pressurize the newly weds for child. Unable to convince their close relatives of the risks, Shilpi and Rashid returned to the counselor.   বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   ২০০৮ সালে রশিদকে বিয়ে করার সময় শিল্পীর বয়স ছিল মাত্র ১৫ বছর। গ্রাম বাংলায় বসবাসকারী বহু পরিবারের জন্য কম বয়সে মেয়ে বিয়ে দেওয়া একটি নিয়মিত অভ্যাস হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। বিয়ের পর শিল্পী একটি স্থানীয় ক্ষমতায়ন গ্রুপে যোগদান করেন যা সাংস্কৃতিক রীতিনীতি, বিশেষ করে যেগুলো বাল্যবিবাহ ও অকালে গর্ভধারণের সাথে সম্পৃক্ত, সেগুলো ক্রমান্বয়ে পরিবর্তন করতে কিশোরীদের প্রয়োজনীয় জিনিসের যোগান দেয়। এ গ্রুপের কার্যাবলির মধ্যে রয়েছে, প্রজননগত স্বাস্থ্য ও এককভাবে পরামর্শদানের সাথে সম্পৃক্ত আচরণ কীভাবে সবচেয়ে কার্যকরভাবে পরিবর্তন করা যায় তার উপর আলোচনা। এটি পারস্পরিক সমর্থন ও বাস্তব জীবনে দক্ষতা বৃদ্ধিরও প্রশিক্ষণ দেয় যা কিশোর-কিশোরীদের বাল্য-বিবাহকে ‘না’ বলতে সাহায্য করে। ক্ষমতায়ন গ্র–পটি ১০,০০০ এর চেয়ে বেশি সংখ্যক গ্রুপের একটি যেগুলো সারা বাংলাদেশে কাজ করা কিছু স্থানীয় বেসরকারি উন্নয়ন সংস্থা (এনজিও) দ্বারা সমর্থিত। এসব এনজিও কানাডার Adolescent Reproductive Health Project এর মাধ্যমে কাজ করে যার আরও একটি লক্ষ্য হচ্ছে কিশোর-কিশোরীদের মানসম্মত স্বাস্থ্য সেবা দান। দলীয় আলোচনার একটিতে শিল্পী বাল্য-বিবাহ ও অকালে গর্ভধারণের সম্ভাব্য ক্ষতিকর প্রভাব অনুধাবনে সক্ষম হলেন। যখন বাংলাদেশে মাতৃ-মৃত্যুহার ২০০১ সাল থেকে প্রায় ৪০ শতাংশ কমে এসেছে, ২০১০ সালে প্রতি ১,০০,০০০টি জীবিত শিশুর ভেতর ১৯৪টি নিয়ে মাতৃ-মৃত্যুহার এখনও উচ্চই আছে, ২০০১ সালের ৩২২ থেকে নেমে ২০১৫ সালে পরিকল্পনা অনুযায়ী যা ১৪৩ এ হ্রাস পেয়েছে। গর্ভবতী মেয়েরা মারাত্মক স্বাস্থ্যগত জটিলতার ঝুঁকিতে আছে। এগুলোর মধ্যে আছে ভয়াবহ রক্তক্ষরণ ও ফিস্টুলা, যা সন্তান জন্ম প্রতিরোধ থেকে সৃষ্ট শরীরের ভেতরের এক ব্যথাপূর্ণ আহতাবস্থা যা সাধারণভাবে মারাত্মক মাতৃমৃত্যু ও সামাজিক বিচ্ছিন্নতার দিকে চালিত করে। যখন শিল্পী এসব ঝুঁকির কথা শুনলেন, তিনি তার স্বামী রশিদকে একজন পরামর্শকের সাথে গর্ভধারণ নিয়ে কথা বলতে বললেন। ঝুঁকিগুলোর কথা শোনার পর সন্তান নিতে পরিবার ও প্রতিবেশীদের চাপ সত্ত্বেও রশিদ সন্তান নিতে পাঁচ বছর দেরি করতে সম্মত হলেন। একসাথে সে দম্পতি এক নারী স্বাস্থ্য সেবা দানকারী প্রতিষ্ঠানে গেলেন, যারা তাদের বিভিন্ন সহজলভ্য পরিবার পরিকল্পনা নীতির কথা বললেন। শিল্পীর শাশুড়ি ও প্রতিবেশীরা নববিবাহিত দম্পতিকে চাপ প্রয়োগ অব্যাহত রাখলেন। গভীরভাবে প্রোথিত সাংস্কৃতিক কার্যকলাপ ও ঐতিহ্য শিল্পী ও রশিদ ও তাদের সম্পস্রারিত পরিবারের মধ্যে ব্যবধান সৃষ্টি করল, যাদের ভেতর কয়েকজন সদস্য দম্পতিকে অপমান ও সমালোচনা করল। নিকটাত্মীয়দের এসব ঝুঁকি সম্পর্কে বোঝাতে ব্যর্থ/ অসমর্থ হয়ে শিল্পী ও রশিদ পরামর্শকের কাছে ফিরে গেলেন। তারা মা-বাবার সমতুল্য একজনের সহায়তা নিলেন যিনি অন্যের মা-বাবাদের বয়ঃসন্ধিকালের বিভিন্ন বিষয় সম্পর্কে বলতে প্রশিক্ষণপ্রাপ্ত। শিল্পীর শাশুড়ি ও প্রতিবেশীরা অবশেষে মা ও শিশুর ওপর অকালে গর্ভধারণের ক্ষতিকর প্রভাব বুঝতে পারলেন। এখন আর গ্রামবাসীরা ঐ দম্পতির ওপর চাপ সৃষ্টি করে না; তাদের মা-বাবা ও প্রতিবেশীরা এখন তাদের সমর্থন করেন এবং বাল্য-বিবাহ ও অকালে গর্ভধারণের বিরুদ্ধে উচ্চ কণ্ঠে কথা বলেন।

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: Behula is a legendary folk heroine and one of the main characters of Manasamangal, a medieval epic. She was the daughter of Sayven of Ujaninagar. Lakhindar was the youngest son of Chand Saodagar of Champaknagar. Behula grew up to be a beautiful and intelligent woman and was married to Lakhindar. Chand Saodagar, a devotee of Shiva, had boasted that he was cleverer and stronger than Manasa, the snake goddess. He built an iron chamber for Lakhindar, believing it to be impregnable. However, on the wedding night of Behula and Lakhindar, Manasa sent a snake to kill Lakhindar. The snake made itself as fine as a strand of hair and, entering the chamber through a minute hole, bit Lakhindar. Behula refused to accept her husband’s death. She placed her husband’s corpse on a banana raft and set out on a hazardous journey towards the abode of the gods. Despite all the dangers and temptations, she encountered, Behula continued her journey and finally succeeded in reaching the abode of the gods. She pleaded for her husband’s life and promised Manasa that Chand Saodagar would worship her. Moved by Behula’s love for her husband, Manasa not only restored Lakhindar but also his brothers whom she had killed earlier. Behula returned home with her husband and brothers-in-law, and Chand Saodagar finally bowed before the might of Manasa. Lakhindar and Behula then returned to their heavenly abode as Aniruddha and Usa.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: a.Who is Behula? i. A queen ii. A legendary folk heroine iii. A goddess iv. A priestess b. What is Manasamangal? i. A kingdom ii. A temple iii. A medieval epic iv. A festival c. Who was Behula’s father? i. Chand Saodagar ii. Manasa iii. Sayven iv. Lakhindar d. Where was Sayven from? i. Champaknagar ii. Ujaninagar iii. Heavens iv. Earth e. Who was Lakhindar? i. A king ii. A prince iii. The youngest son of Chand Saodagar iv. A warrior f. What relation did Lakhindar have to Chand Saodagar? i. Son ii. Brother iii. Cousin iv. Friend g. To whom was Behula married? i. Sayven ii. Aniruddha iii. Chand Saodagar iv. Lakhindar h. Who did Chand Saodagar worship? i. Vishnu ii. Shiva iii. Brahma iv. Manasa i. What did Chand Saodagar claim about himself? i. He was richer than anyone ii. He was cleverer and stronger than Manasa iii. He was the best warrior iv. He was the most devout worshipper of Shiva j. What did Chand Saodagar build for Lakhindar? B. Answer the following questions: a. Who is Behula? b. What is the title of the medieval epic that features Behula? c. Who is Behula’s father and where is he from? d. Who is Lakhindar’s father and where is he from? e. What characteristics did Behula grow up to have? f. Whom did Behula marry? g. Which god did Chand Saodagar devote himself to? h. What did Chand Saodagar boast about? i. What did Chand Saodagar build for Lakhindar and why? j. How did Manasa send a snake to kill Lakhindar?                                     Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: a. Who is Behula?ii. A legendary folk heroine b. What is Manasamangal?iii. A medieval epic c. Who was Behula’s father?iii. Sayven d. Where was Sayven from?ii. Ujaninagar e. Who was Lakhindar?iii. The youngest son of Chand Saodagar f. What relation did Lakhindar have to Chand Saodagar?i. Son g. To whom was Behula married?iv. Lakhindar h. Who did Chand Saodagar worship?ii. Shiva i. What did Chand Saodagar claim about himself?ii. He was cleverer and stronger than Manasa j. What did Chand Saodagar build for Lakhindar?An iron chamber B. Answer the following questions: a. Who is Behula? Behula is a legendary folk heroine from the medieval epic Manasamangal . She is known for her devotion, bravery, and love for her husband, Lakhindar. She is admired for her determination and willingness to go through hardships to bring her husband back to life. b. What is the title of the medieval epic that features Behula? The medieval epic that features Behula is called Manasamangal . It tells the story of Behula’s journey and her unwavering faith in saving her husband. c. Who is Behula’s father and where is he from? Behula’s father is Sayven, and he is from Ujaninagar. He was an important figure in the story as Behula was raised under his care before she married Lakhindar. d. Who is Lakhindar’s father and where is he from? Lakhindar’s father is Chand Saodagar, and he is from Champaknagar. He was a wealthy merchant and a devoted follower of Lord Shiva. e. What characteristics did Behula grow up to have? Behula grew up to be a beautiful and intelligent woman. She was also courageous, devoted, and determined, which was evident in her journey to bring her husband back to life. f. Whom did Behula marry? Behula married Lakhindar, who was the youngest son of Chand Saodagar. Their marriage became a crucial part of the story when Lakhindar was bitten by a snake on their wedding night. g. Which god did Chand Saodagar devote himself to? Chand Saodagar devoted himself to Lord Shiva. He was a staunch worshipper and refused to worship Manasa, the snake goddess, which led to conflicts in the story. h. What did Chand Saodagar boast about? Chand Saodagar boasted that he was cleverer and stronger than Manasa, the snake goddess. His arrogance angered Manasa, and she sought revenge by targeting his son, Lakhindar. i. What did Chand Saodagar build for Lakhindar and why? Chand Saodagar built an iron chamber for Lakhindar. He believed that the chamber was impregnable and would protect his son from any harm, especially from snakes sent by Manasa. j. How did Manasa send a snake to kill Lakhindar? Manasa sent a snake that made itself as fine as a strand of hair. The snake entered the iron chamber through a minute hole and bit Lakhindar, leading to his death. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   বেভুলা হলেন একজন কিংবদন্তি সম্পন্ন লোকগাথার নায়িকা এবং মনসামঙ্গল এর প্রধান চরিত্রদের একজন। তিনি জানিনগরের সয়ভেনের কন্যা ছিলেন। লখিন্দর হলেন চম্পকনগরের চাঁদ সওদাগরের কনিষ্ঠ পুত্র। ভুলা বড় হয়ে এক সুন্দরী এবং বুদ্ধিমতী মহিলা হয়ে ওঠেন এবং লখিন্দরের সাথে বিবাহিত হন। চাঁদ সওদাগর, যিনি শিবের উপাসক ছিলেন, গর্ব করেছিলেন যে তিনি মনসা, সাপের দেবী, থেকেও চালাক এবং শক্তিশালী। তিনি লখিন্দরের জন্য একটি লোহার কক্ষ তৈরিকরেছিলেন, বিশ্বাস করে যে এটি অপ্রবেশযোগ্য। তবে, ভুলা এবং লখিন্দরের বিয়ের রাতে, মনসা একটি সাপ পাঠিয়ে লখিন্দরকে হত্যা করেন। সাপটি চুলের মতো সূক্ষ্ম হয়ে কক্ষে প্রবেশ করে এবং লখিন্দরকে দংশন করে। ভুলা তার স্বামীর মৃত্যু মেনে নিতে অস্বীকার করেন। তিনি তার স্বামীর মৃতদেহ একটি কলার ভেলায় রেখে দেবতাদের আবাসস্থলের দিকে বিপজ্জনক যাত্রা শুরু করেন। সমস্ত বিপদ এবং প্রলোভন সত্ত্বেও, ভুলা তার যাত্রা অব্যাহত রাখেন এবং শেষ পর্যন্ত দেবতাদের আবাসস্থলে পৌঁছাতে সফল হন। তিনি তার স্বামীর জীবনের জন্য আবেদন করেন এবং মনসাকে প্রতিশ্রুতি দেন যে চাঁদ সওদাগর তাকে পূজা করবেন। ভুলার স্বামীর প্রতি ভালোবাসায় মুগ্ধ হয়ে, মনসা কেবল লখিন্দরকেই নয়, তার আগেই যেসব ভাইদের হত্যা করেছিলেন তাদেরও পুনরুজ্জীবিত করেন। ভুলা তার স্বামী এবং ভাইদের সঙ্গে বাড়ি ফিরে আসেন এবং চাঁদ সওদাগর শেষ পর্যন্ত মনসার শক্তির সামনে মাথানত করেন। লখিন্দর এবং ভুলা পরে অনিরুদ্ধ এবং উষা হিসেবে তাদের স্বর্গীয় আবাসে ফিরে যান। Ad vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Legendary  - কিংবদন্তি Folk  - লোককথা Heroine  - নায়িকা Medieval  - মধ্যযুগীয় Epic  - মহাকাব্য Daughter  - কন্যা Youngest  - সবচেয়ে ছোট Devotee  - ভক্ত Cleverer  - আরো বুদ্ধিমান Stronger  - আরো শক্তিশালী Boasted  - গর্বিত হওয়া Impregnable  - অপ্রতিরোধ্য Wedding  - বিয়ে Strand  - সুতার মতো Hair  - চুল Hazardous  - বিপদজনক Journey  - যাত্রা Dangers  - বিপদ Temptations  - প্রলোভন Encountered  - সম্মুখীন হওয়া Pleaded  - প্রার্থনা করা Restored  - পুনঃস্থাপন Brothers-in-law  - শ্বশুরবাবা Bow  - মাথা নত করা Might  - শক্তি Abode  - বাসস্থান Faith  - বিশ্বাস Determination  - সংকল্প Revenge  - প্রতিশোধ Unwavering  - অটল Ad Passage-2 1.           Read the passage and answer the questions following it Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela never lost his resolve to fight for his people’s emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. His prestige and charisma helped him win the support of the world. ‘I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestation. I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days,’ Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994,… ‘The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come.’ ‘We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation.’ In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W, de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. A.  Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 5 a) What could be the closest meaning for ‘shackles of apartheid’ in the first paragraph? i. Tentacles of domination ii. Bondages of slavery iii. Manacles of racial discrimination iv. Chains of exploitation b)  The word ‘reconciliation’ in the first paragraph refers to i. memorization ii. recall iii. reuniting iv. Change c)  ‘Resolve’ in the second paragraph could be replaced by i. dissolve ii. determination iii. hesitation iv. Solution d) Mandela spent around years behind the bars. i. twenty ii. thirty iii. forty iv. Fifty e)  The best synonym of ‘chasm’ is i. exposition ii. rift iii. harmony iv. union. B.  Answer the following questions 10 a) What, according to text, is apartheid? b)  Mention three great achievements in Mandela's life. c)  Why did Mandela want to break the manacles of apartheid? d)  What does the expression ‘I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and I will do so until the end of my days’ mean? e)  Do you find any  similarity  between  Mandela  and  Sheikh  Mujibur  Rahman?  If  any,  mention. Ans. to the Ques. No. Set-1 1A. Ans.: a.       iii. Manacles of racial discrimination, b.  iii.  reuniting,  c.  ii.determination,  d.  ii.  thirty,  e.  ii.  rift,   1B. Ans.: a.  According to text apartheid means the racial segregation prevailing in South Africa. It means the domination of the white over the black people of South Africa. Nelson Mandela is famous for breaking the manacles of apartheid from South Africa. b.  Though Mandela had to suffer a lot, his achievements were noteworthy. His frist achievement was to break the manacles of apartheid. His second achievement was to become the first black president of South Africa. His third achievement was to win the Nobel Prize. c.  Mandela wanted to break the manacles of apartheid because this very evil practice was responsible for the racial bigotry in South Africa. The manacles of apartheid confined the black people of South Africa inside the four walls of oppression. d.   This very statement is the expression of Mandela's firm resolution to fight against racial bigotry. Mandela had an absolute abhorrence towards race discrimination. He fought against it and was ready to fight against till his last breath. e.   I see some similarities between Nelson Mandela and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought respective countries. Finally, Mandela fought against the white rulers of his country. In the same way, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought against the Pakistani rulers. Then both of them were undisputable a presidents in their respective countries. Finally, both of them were would famous leaders. Passage-3   3. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it.   Beauty is easy to appreciate but difficult to define. As we look around, we discover beauty in pleasurable objects and sights – in nature, in the laughter of children, in the kindness of strangers. But asked to define, we run into difficulties. Does beauty have an independent objective identity? Is it universal, or is it dependent on our sense perceptions? Does it lie in the eye of the beholder? -we ask ourselves. A further difficulty arises when beauty manifests itself not only by its presence, but by its absence as well, as when we are repulsed by ugliness and desire beauty. But then ugliness has as much a place in our lives as beauty, or may be more-as when there is widespread hunger and injustice in a society. Philosophers  have told us that beauty is an important part of life, but isn’t ugliness a part of life too? And if art has beauty as an important ingredient, can it confine itself only to a projection of beauty? Can art ignore what is not beautiful? Poets and artists have provided an answer by incorporating both into their work. In doing so, they have often tied beauty to truth and justice, so that what is not beautiful assumes a tolerable proportion as something that represents some truth about life. John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote in his celebrated ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ by which he means that truth, even if it’s not pleasant, becomes beautiful at a higher level. Similarly, what is beautiful forever remains true. Another meaning, in the context of the Grecian Urn-an art object-is that truth is a condition of art. Poetry in every language celebrates beauty and truth. So does art. Here are two poems from two different times that present some enduring ideas about beauty and truth. The poems are by Lord Byron (1788-1824), an English poet of the Romantic tradition, and Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), an American poet who wrote about the human scene, love and death.   A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1´5=5 (a)     Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word “pleasurable”? (i) dissatisfaction   (ii) pain             (iii) offend         (iv) delightful (b)     What is the closest meaning of the word “incorporate”? (i) embody (ii) corporation (iii) incorporeal (iv) intangible (c)     ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ is written by ——-. (i) Lord Byron         (ii) John Keats (iii) Wordsworth (iv) PB Shelly (d)                  What does the word ‘tolerable’ mean? (i) not so good                    (ii) bad              (iii) moderately good    (iv) tolerant (e)     Lord Byron is a ——– poet? (i)     Revolutionary (ii) Romantic (iii) Classical (iv) Modern   Answer the following questions. 2´5=10 (a)     How can we discover beauty in our surroundings? (b)     How much place does ugliness have in our life? (c)     What is the name of the poet of “Ode and a Grecian Urn”? (d)     Do you get any definition of beauty from the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’? (e)     What was Byron’s intention?

1. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it. Lalon Shah (1774-1890) is best known as an icon of the Baul tradition in Bengal, although he was also a philosopher, thinker and social reformer. He preached religious tolerance and rejected social differences based on class, caste and creed. He also believed that a search for truth should begin with the body, which reflects the mystery of creation. Although Lalon’s songs are admired for the profound philosophical and mystical insights they offer, he did not receive any formal education. Not much is known about his early life. A popular story about him- which many believe to be true — is that while on a pilgrimage to a holy place, Lalon, who was born a Hindu, contracted smallpox and was abandoned by his companions. A Muslim fakir, SirajSain, picked him up and took him to his own house where he nursed him back to health. When Lalon returned home, his family refused to take him in as he had lived in a Muslim household. So Lalon returned to SirajSain and took up a life of devotion and asceticism under his guidance. After the death of Sainji, Lalon set up an akhrah or monastery in Chheuriya near Kushtia. It soon attracted admirers and mystics in search of salvation who became initiated into Baul asceticism and became his disciples. As Lalon began writing and composing songs, which his disciples sang with the accompaniment of ektara or dotara, his fame spread to faraway places. Rabindranath Tagore and KaziNazrul Islam were among those who admired him and were influenced by his shahajiya philosophy (the attainment of the self through the simple truths that reside in one’s own body and soul-not outside – which can be reached through sadhana or meditation). Many of his disciples also became famous for their songs. They included KangalHarinathMajumder, Pagla Kanai and Dudu Shah.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as? i. A philosopher ii. A thinker iii. An icon of the Baul tradition iv. A social reformer b. What did Lalon Shah preach? i. Religious intolerance ii. Religious tolerance iii. Social differences based on caste iv. Social differences based on class c. What did Lalon Shah reject? i. Social differences based on gender ii. Social differences based on age iii. Social differences based on class, caste, and creed iv. Social differences based on wealth d. Where did Lalon Shah believe the search for truth should begin? i. With the mind ii. With the body iii. With the soul iv. With nature e. What reflects the mystery of creation according to Lalon Shah? i. The mind ii. The soul iii. The universe iv. The body f. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education? i. He received a traditional education ii. He did not receive any formal education iii. He studied abroad iv. He was self-taught g. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life? i. He was born into a wealthy family ii. He received formal education iii. Not much is known iv. He traveled extensively h. What disease did Lalon Shah contract during his pilgrimage? i. Malaria ii. Smallpox iii. Cholera iv. Tuberculosis i. Who nursed Lalon Shah back to health? i. A Hindu priest ii. His companions iii. A Muslim fakir, SirajSain iv. His family j. Why did Lalon Shah’s family refuse to take him back? i. He had converted to another religion ii. He had lived in a Muslim household iii. He had abandoned them iv. He was still sick B. Answer the following questions. a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as? b. What other roles did Lalon Shah play besides being an icon of the Baul tradition? c. What did Lalon Shah preach regarding religion? d. What social differences did Lalon Shah reject? e. What did Lalon Shah believe should be the starting point for a search for truth? f. Why is Lalon Shah’s body significant in his philosophy? g. What is the general perception of Lalon’s songs? h. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education? i. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life? j. What popular story is associated with Lalon Shah’s pilgrimage?                           Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as?iii. An icon of the Baul tradition b. What did Lalon Shah preach?ii. Religious tolerance c. What did Lalon Shah reject?iii. Social differences based on class, caste, and creed d. Where did Lalon Shah believe the search for truth should begin?ii. With the body e. What reflects the mystery of creation according to Lalon Shah?iv. The body f. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education?ii. He did not receive any formal education g. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life?iii. Not much is known h. What disease did Lalon Shah contract during his pilgrimage?ii. Smallpox i. Who nursed Lalon Shah back to health?iii. A Muslim fakir, Siraj Sain j. Why did Lalon Shah’s family refuse to take him back?ii. He had lived in a Muslim household B. Answer the following questions a. Who is Lalon Shah best known as? Lalon Shah is best known as an important figure in the Baul tradition of Bengal. The Bauls are a group of spiritual singers and musicians who follow a unique way of life, focusing on simplicity, devotion, and inner truth. Lalon became famous for his songs, which express deep philosophical and spiritual ideas. Many people admire him for his wisdom and the messages in his songs. b. What other roles did Lalon Shah play besides being an icon of the Baul tradition? In addition to being a famous Baul singer and poet, Lalon Shah was also a philosopher, a deep thinker, and a social reformer. He believed in equality and wanted to remove divisions in society based on religion, caste, and class. His teachings encouraged people to focus on kindness and humanity instead of external differences. As a philosopher, he explored spiritual ideas, and as a reformer, he worked to bring people together through love and understanding. c. What did Lalon Shah preach regarding religion? Lalon Shah preached religious tolerance, which means he believed that people should respect all religions and not fight over differences. He taught that true spirituality comes from within a person, not from following strict religious rules. He believed that love, humanity, and self-realization were more important than religious identities. His songs and teachings encourage people to live peacefully, accepting and respecting others regardless of their religion. d. What social differences did Lalon Shah reject? Lalon Shah rejected social differences based on class, caste, and creed. In his time, society was divided into different groups, with some people treated as superior and others as inferior. Lalon did not accept these divisions and believed that all human beings were equal. He wanted a world where people were not judged by their birth or religion but by their character and actions. His songs and teachings spread this message of unity and equality. e. What did Lalon Shah believe should be the starting point for a search for truth? Lalon Shah believed that the search for truth should begin with the human body. He thought that the human body holds the secrets of creation and self-realization. Instead of looking for truth in religious books or external rituals, he encouraged people to look within themselves to find the real meaning of life. According to him, understanding oneself is the first step toward spiritual wisdom. f. Why is Lalon Shah’s body significant in his philosophy? Lalon Shah believed that the human body is a reflection of the mystery of creation. He thought that the truth of life and spirituality could be discovered by understanding one’s own body and soul. In his philosophy, the body is like a temple where wisdom and divine knowledge can be found. He rejected the idea that people need religious ceremonies to connect with God and instead taught that self-awareness and personal experience are more important. g. What is the general perception of Lalon’s songs? Lalon’s songs are highly respected because they contain deep spiritual and philosophical meanings. People admire them not only for their beautiful melodies but also for their powerful messages about love, humanity, and equality. His songs encourage self-reflection and inspire people to think about life in a different way. Many great poets and thinkers, such as Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, were influenced by Lalon’s songs. Even today, his music continues to inspire people. h. What is known about Lalon Shah’s formal education? Lalon Shah did not receive any formal education. Unlike many famous poets and philosophers, he did not study in schools or learn from books. Instead, his knowledge and wisdom came from his personal experiences, deep thinking, and spiritual practice. Despite not having formal education, he created songs and poems that are full of deep meaning and powerful messages, showing that true wisdom does not always come from schools but from understanding life. i. What is known about Lalon Shah’s early life? Not much is known about Lalon Shah’s early life. There are very few records about where he was born or how he grew up. Some people believe that he was born into a Hindu family, but there is no clear proof. The lack of information about his early years makes his life even more mysterious. What is certain is that he later became a great spiritual leader and influenced many people through his teachings and music. j. What popular story is associated with Lalon Shah’s pilgrimage? A popular story about Lalon Shah says that he once went on a pilgrimage to a holy place, but during the journey, he became very sick with smallpox. His companions left him behind because they did not want to take care of him. A kind Muslim fakir named Siraj Sain found him and took him to his house. Siraj Sain nursed Lalon back to health. However, when Lalon tried to return to his family, they refused to accept him because he had lived in a Muslim household. After being rejected by his family, Lalon returned to Siraj Sain and began a new life as a spiritual seeker. Later, he became a great Baul saint and philosopher. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   লালন শাহ (১৭৭৪–১৮৯০) প্রধানত বাংলার বাউল ধারার প্রতীক হিসেবে পরিচিত, তবে তিনি ছিলেন একজন দার্শনিক, চিন্তাবিদ এবং সমাজ সংস্কারকও। তিনি ধর্মীয় সহনশীলতা প্রচার করতেন এবং শ্রেণী, জাত এবং বিশ্বাসের ভিত্তিতে সামাজিক পার্থক্য প্রত্যাখ্যান করতেন। তিনি বিশ্বাস করতেন যে সত্যের সন্ধান শরীর থেকেই শুরু হওয়া উচিত, যা সৃষ্টির রহস্য প্রতিফলিত করে। যদিও লালনের গানগুলি গভীর দার্শনিক এবং আধ্যাত্মিক অন্তর্দৃষ্টির জন্য প্রশংসিত হয়, তিনি কোন প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা লাভ করেননি। তার প্রারম্ভিক জীবন সম্পর্কে বেশি কিছু জানা যায় না। তার সম্পর্কে একটি জনপ্রিয় গল্প, যা অনেকে সত্য বলে মনে করেন, তা হলো যে পবিত্র স্থানে তীর্থযাত্রা করার সময়, হিন্দু জন্মগ্রহণকারী লালন গুটিবসন্তে আক্রান্ত হন এবং তার সঙ্গীরা তাকে পরিত্যাগ করে। এক মুসলিম ফকির, সিরাজ সাঁই, তাকে তুলে নিয়ে নিজের বাড়িতে নিয়ে যান এবং তাকে সুস্থ করে তোলেন। যখন লালন বাড়ি ফিরলেন, তখন পরিবার তাকে গ্রহণ করতে অস্বীকার করল কারণ তিনি একটি মুসলিম পরিবারের সাথে বসবাস করেছিলেন। তাই লালন সিরাজ সাঁইয়ের কাছে ফিরে যান এবং তার নির্দেশনায় ভক্তি ও সন্ন্যাসের জীবন গ্রহণ করেন। সাঁইজির মৃত্যুর পর, লালন কুষ্টিয়ার কাছে ছেউড়িয়াতে একটি আখড়া স্থাপন করেন। এটি শীঘ্রই ভক্ত এবং মুক্তির সন্ধানকারী Mystics-দের আকর্ষণ করে যারা বাউল সন্ন্যাসে দীক্ষিত হন এবং তার শিষ্য হন। যখন লালন গান লেখা এবং সুর করা শুরু করেন, যা তার শিষ্যরা একতারা বাদোতারার সঙ্গতে গাইতেন, তখন তার খ্যাতি দূর–দূরান্তে ছড়িয়ে পড়ে। রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর এবং কাজী নজরুল ইসলাম তার মধ্যে ছিলেন যারা তাকে প্রশংসা করতেন এবং তার সহজিয়া দর্শনে প্রভাবিত হয়েছিলেন (স্ব–অর্জন সহজ সত্যগুলির মাধ্যমে যা নিজের শরীর এবং আত্মায় বিদ্যমান – বাইরের নয় – যা সাধনা বা ধ্যানের মাধ্যমে পৌঁছানো যায়)। তার অনেক শিষ্যও তাদের গানের জন্য বিখ্যাত হন। তাদের মধ্যে ছিলেন কাঙ্গাল হরিনাথ মজুমদার, পাগলা কানাই এবং দদু শাহ। Ad Vocabulary words  from the text along with their Bangla meanings : General Vocabulary Icon  - প্রতীক Tradition  - ঐতিহ্য Philosopher  - দার্শনিক Thinker  - চিন্তাবিদ Social reformer  - সমাজ সংস্কারক Preach  - প্রচার করা Tolerance  - সহনশীলতা Reject  - প্রত্যাখ্যান করা Caste  - বর্ণ Creed  - ধর্মবিশ্বাস Spiritual & Philosophical Terms Mystery  - রহস্য Creation  - সৃষ্টিকর্ম Profound  - গভীর Insight  - অন্তর্দৃষ্টি Devotion  - ভক্তি Asceticism  - তপস্যা Salvation  - মুক্তি Meditation  - ধ্যান Self-realization  - আত্মসচেতনতা Spirituality  - আধ্যাত্মিকতা Education & Learning Formal education  - প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা Wisdom  - জ্ঞান Self-taught  - আত্মশিক্ষিত Knowledge  - জ্ঞান Experience  - অভিজ্ঞতা Philosophy  - দর্শন Teachings  - শিক্ষা Understanding  - বোঝাপড়া Truth  - সত্য Realization  - উপলব্ধি Life Events & Story Pilgrimage  - তীর্থযাত্রা Companion  - সহযাত্রী Contract (a disease)  - সংক্রমিত হওয়া Smallpox  - গুটি বসন্ত Abandon  - পরিত্যাগ করা Nurse (back to health)  - সেবা করে সুস্থ করা Household  - পরিবার বা গৃহস্থালি Refuse  - অস্বীকার করা Shelter  - আশ্রয় Guidance  - দিকনির্দেশনা Music & Influence Monastery  - আশ্রম Disciples  - শিষ্যরা Accompaniment  - সঙ্গত Fame  - খ্যাতি Influence  - প্রভাব Philosophical songs  - দার্শনিক গান Composition  - সঙ্গীত রচনা Respect  - সম্মান Legacy  - উত্তরাধিকার Wisdom through songs  - গানের মাধ্যমে জ্ঞান Ad

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: According to some myths and legends, GaziPir was a Muslim saint who is said to have spread Islam in the parts of Bengal close to the Sundarbans.He was credited with many miracles. For example, he could supposedly calm dangerous and make them docile. He is usually depicted in paats or scroll paintings riding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger, a snake in his hand, but in apparent danger. According to some stories, he also fought crocodiles who threatened the people of a region full of canals and creeks, indeed, a kind of watery jungle bordering the Bay of Bengal. Because of his alert and vigilant presence, all predatory animals were said to have been kept within bounds. It was also believed that he enabled villagers to live close to forests and jungles and cultivate their lands. Consequently, people of these regions would pray to him for protection. The story of GaziPir has been preserved in folk literature as well as art and has been performed in indigenous theatre. In fact, some Gazirpaat scrolls are part of the collection of the British Museum. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1X5=5 a. Who was Gazi Pir according to myths and legends? i) A Hindu deity ii) A Buddhist monk iii) A Muslim saint iv) A Christian missionary b. Where did Gazi Pir spread Islam according to the legends? i) Northern India ii) The Sundarbans region of Bengal iii) Western Pakistan iv) Southern Bangladesh c. What was Gazi Pir credited with? i) Building temples ii) Writing holy texts iii) Performing miracles iv) Leading armies d. What ability was Gazi Pir said to possess regarding dangerous animals? i) He could train them for hunting ii) He could calm and make them docile iii) He could transform into them iv) He could communicate with them e. How is Gazi Pir usually depicted in scroll paintings? i) Meditating under a tree ii) Riding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger iii) Standing by a river iv) Sitting on a throne f. What animal is often shown with Gazi Pir in his hand in the paintings? i) A bird ii) A lizard iii) A snake iv) A fish g. What kind of danger is Gazi Pir depicted in, according to the paintings? i) Apparent danger ii) No danger iii) A flood iv) A fire h. According to some stories, who did Gazi Pir fight? i) Tigers ii) Elephants iii) Crocodiles iv) Wolves i. Why did Gazi Pir fight crocodiles, according to the legends? i) To protect his village ii) To gather food iii) To show his strength iv) To threaten the people j. What type of region is described where Gazi Pir fought the crocodiles? i) Mountainous ii) Dry desert iii) Full of canals and creeks iv) Urban city B. Answer the following questions 2X5=10 (a) What was the specialty of Gazi Pir? (b)How is usually Gazi Pir depicted? And why? (c) How did Gazi Pir help the local people? (d) How can you know about Gazi Pir more? (e) “People of these regions would pray to him for protection” – what do you understand by this statement? (f) What kind of extraordinary power did Gazi Pir have? (g) What was Gazi Pir famous for? (h) Why did people seek help from Gazi Pir? (i) What was the belief of the people about Gazi Pir? (j) What are the different art forms in which the myth of GaziPir is kept alive?                       Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. a. Who was Gazi Pir according to myths and legends? → iii) A Muslim saint b. Where did Gazi Pir spread Islam according to the legends? → ii) The Sundarbans region of Bengal c. What was Gazi Pir credited with? → iii) Performing miracles d. What ability was Gazi Pir said to possess regarding dangerous animals? → ii) He could calm and make them docile e. How is Gazi Pir usually depicted in scroll paintings? → ii) Riding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger f. What animal is often shown with Gazi Pir in his hand in the paintings? → iii) A snake g. What kind of danger is Gazi Pir depicted in, according to the paintings? → i) Apparent danger h. According to some stories, who did Gazi Pir fight? → iii) Crocodiles i. Why did Gazi Pir fight crocodiles, according to the legends? → i) To protect his village j. What type of region is described where Gazi Pir fought the crocodiles? → iii) Full of canals and creeks B. Answer the following questions (a) What was the specialty of Gazi Pir? Gazi Pir was believed to have supernatural powers . He could calm wild animals , protect people from danger, and perform miracles . (b) How is Gazi Pir usually depicted? And why? He is usually shown riding a fierce Bengal tiger  and holding a snake  in his hand. This symbolizes his power over dangerous animals  and his ability to protect people . (c) How did Gazi Pir help the local people? Gazi Pir protected the people from wild animals like tigers and crocodiles . He also helped them live near forests and cultivate their lands  safely. (d) How can you know about Gazi Pir more? We can learn more about Gazi Pir from folk literature, scroll paintings (paats), and indigenous theatre performances . Some of his stories are even preserved in the British Museum . (e) “People of these regions would pray to him for protection” – what do you understand by this statement? It means that people believed in his supernatural powers  and asked for his help  to protect them from wild animals and other dangers . (f) What kind of extraordinary power did Gazi Pir have? He had the power to tame wild animals , fight crocodiles , and keep dangerous creatures under control . (g) What was Gazi Pir famous for? He was famous for his miracles, bravery, and ability to protect people  from wild animals. (h) Why did people seek help from Gazi Pir? People sought his help because they believed he could protect them from wild animals  and make their lands safe for farming . (i) What was the belief of the people about Gazi Pir? People believed that he had supernatural abilities  to control animals, fight dangers, and bring safety to their villages . (j) What are the different art forms in which the myth of Gazi Pir is kept alive? The myth of Gazi Pir is preserved through folk literature, scroll paintings (paats), and indigenous theatre performances . Some of his stories are also displayed in the British Museum . Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   কিছু পুরাণ এবং কিংবদন্তি অনুযায়ী, গাজী পীর ছিলেন একজন মুসলিম সাধক, যিনি সুন্দরবনের নিকটবর্তী বঙ্গ অঞ্চলে ইসলাম প্রচার করেছিলেন। তাকে অনেক অলৌকিক কাজের জন্য কৃতিত্ব দেওয়া হয়েছে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, তিনি বিপজ্জনক প্রাণীদের শান্ত করতে এবং তাদের অনুগত করতে পারতেন। সাধারণত, তাকে পাটবা স্ক্রোল চিত্রকলায় একটি ভয়ঙ্কর চেহারার বাঘের পিঠে চড়ে, হাতে সাপ নিয়ে, কিন্তু স্পষ্টতই বিপদের মধ্যে প্রদর্শিত করা হয়। কিছু গল্প অনুযায়ী, তিনি কুমিরদের সাথেও লড়াই করেছিলেন যারা খাল এবং খাড়িতে পূর্ণ একটি অঞ্চলের মানুষের জন্য হুমকি ছিল। প্রকৃতপক্ষে, এটি বঙ্গোপসাগরের সন্নিকটে একটি জলময় জঙ্গল। তার সজাগ এবং সতর্ক উপস্থিতির কারণে, সকল শিকারি প্রাণীকে সীমার মধ্যে রাখা হতো। এছাড়াও, তিনি গ্রামবাসীদের বনের কাছাকাছি বসবাস করতে এবং তাদের জমি চাষ করতে সক্ষম করেছিলেন বলে বিশ্বাস করা হতো। ফলস্বরূপ, এই অঞ্চলের মানুষ তার কাছে সুরক্ষার জন্য প্রার্থনা করতো। গাজী পীরের গল্প লোকসাহিত্য এবং শিল্পে সংরক্ষিত হয়েছে এবং এটি দেশীয় থিয়েটারে অভিনয় করা হয়েছে। প্রকৃতপক্ষে, কিছু গাজীর পাট স্ক্রোল ব্রিটিশ মিউজিয়ামের সংগ্রহের অংশ। Ad vocabulary words from the text along with their Bangla meanings: Myth  - কল্পকাহিনি / পুরাণ Legend  - গল্প / কিংবদন্তি Saint  - সন্ত / পীর Spread  - প্রচার করা / বিস্তার করা Miracle  - অলৌকিক ঘটনা Supposedly  - অনুমান করা হয় / কথিতভাবে Calm  - শান্ত করা Docile  - অনুগত / সহজে নিয়ন্ত্রণযোগ্য Depict  - অঙ্কন করা / বর্ণনা করা Scroll painting  - পটচিত্র Fierce-looking  - ভয়ঙ্কর চেহারার Apparent  - প্রকাশ্য / স্পষ্ট Threaten  - ভয় দেখানো / হুমকি দেওয়া Vigilant  - সতর্ক / সজাগ Predatory  - শিকারি / লুটেরা Bounds  - সীমা / নিয়ন্ত্রণ Enable  - সক্ষম করা Cultivate  - চাষ করা Protection  - রক্ষা / নিরাপত্তা Preserve  - সংরক্ষণ করা Indigenous  - স্থানীয় / আদিবাসী Theatre  - নাট্যশালা / মঞ্চনাটক Collection  - সংগ্রহ / সংকলন Bay  - উপসাগর Canal  - খাল / নালা Creek  - নদীর শাখা / ছোট জলধারা Extraordinary  - অসাধারণ / ব্যতিক্রমী Supernatural  - অতিপ্রাকৃত / অলৌকিক Bravery  - সাহস / বীরত্ব Folk literature  - লোকসাহিত্য Ad

Once there was a bird. It was an utterly foolish bird. It sang songs, but did not read the scriptures. It flew, it jumped, but did not have the faintest sense of etiquette. The King said, “Such birds! They are of no use at all. They only eat the fruits in the orchards and the royal fruit-market runs a deficit.” He called the minister, and commanded, “Educate it.” The King’s nephew was given the responsibility of educating the bird. The scholars held long discussions, the subject being – “What is the reason behind the foolishness of this creature?” The conclusion was: much learning could not be stored in the tiny nest that the bird could make with just chips and twigs. So, first of all, it was necessary to build a good cage for it. The scholars got amply rewarded and went home merrily. The goldsmith started building the cage. The cage turned out to be so exquisite that everyone under the sun rushed to see it. Some said, “Education indeed!” Others said, “Education or no education, at least the bird has got the cage! What a lucky bird!” The goldsmith got a bagful of rewards. He set out for home cheerfully. The pundit came to teach the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and said, “A few books won’t do.” The nephew summoned the scribes. They copied from the books and copied from those copies and made an enormous mound of such things. Whoever saw it, said, “Bravo! Learning is going to overflow!” The scribes got cartfuls of rewards. At once they rushed home. None of their descendants faced any poverty ever since. The nephew was always busy, doing endless number of things regarding the surveillance of the precious cage. Repairs were quite frequent. Apart from that, there was the washing and the cleaning and the polishing of the cage. Everyone admitted, “Sure signs of improvement.” Many people were employed and to supervise them, many more people were employed. Each of them got a handful of coins every month and filled their chests with them. They, their brothers, sisters and cousins began to live in great luxury and happiness. 1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: Marks 0.5×10=5 a. What does the word ‘exquisite’ mean?(i) ugly (ii) beautiful (iii) large (iv) strange b. What does the word ‘scholars’ refer to in the passage?(i) writers (ii) thinkers (iii) learners (iv) preachers c. What does the word ‘surveillance’ mean?(i) observation (ii) cleaning (iii) repairing (iv) education d. What does the phrase ‘filled their chests’ imply?(i) became rich (ii) stored books (iii) had cages (iv) learned a lot e. Why did the King want the bird to be educated?(i) It sang well. (ii) It was foolish.(iii) It made no sense. (iv) It destroyed fruit orchards. f. Who was given the responsibility of educating the bird?(i) The King (ii) The minister(iii) The King’s nephew (iv) The goldsmith g. What was the conclusion of the scholars about the bird’s foolishness?(i) It didn’t read scriptures.(ii) Its nest was too small for learning.(iii) It ate too much fruit.(iv) It didn’t sing well. h. Who built the cage for the bird?(i) The King (ii) The goldsmith(iii) The minister (iv) The pundit i. What did the pundit say was necessary for the bird’s education?(i) A large cage (ii) Many books(iii) Polishing the cage (iv) Copies of books j. Why were so many people employed in relation to the cage?(i) To take care of the bird’s education.(ii) To make the bird fly better.(iii) To maintain and improve the cage.(iv) To create scriptures. B. Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 a. Why did the King decide the bird needed to be educated? b. What was the initial conclusion of the scholars about the bird’s foolishness? c. Who was responsible for implementing the King’s command to educate the bird? d. How did the scholars justify building a cage for the bird? e. What did the goldsmith contribute to the bird’s education process? f. What does the King’s attitude toward the bird reveal about his priorities? g. Why do you think the King focused on the bird’s lack of etiquette instead of its natural abilities? h. Who benefited the most from the process of educating the bird? i. How did the King’s nephew approach his responsibility of educating the bird? j. What does the nephew’s focus on the cage tell us about his understanding of education?                           Answer: Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   একবার একটি পাখি ছিল। সেটি ছিল একেবারেই নির্বোধ পাখি। গান গাইত, কিন্তু শাস্ত্র পড়ত না। উড়ত, লাফাত, কিন্তু শিষ্টাচারের সামান্যতম ধারণাটুকুও তার ছিল না। রাজা বললেন, “এই ধরনের পাখি! এগুলো কোনো কাজের নয়। এগুলো শুধু বাগানের ফল খায় আর রাজকীয় ফলের বাজারে ঘাটতি দেখা দেয়।” তিনি মন্ত্রীকে ডেকে বললেন, “এটাকে শিক্ষিত কর।” রাজপুত্রকে পাখিটিকে শিক্ষিত করার দায়িত্ব দেওয়া হলো। পণ্ডিতেরা দীর্ঘ আলোচনা করলেন, যার বিষয়বস্তু ছিল – “এই জীবটির নির্বুদ্ধিতার কারণ কী?” উপসংহার দাঁড়াল: যেহেতু পাখিটি ছোট ছোট কাঠি আর খড়কুটো দিয়ে যে বাসা বানায়, তাতে বেশি শিক্ষা ধরে না। তাই, প্রথমেই একটি ভালো খাঁচা তৈরি করা অত্যাবশ্যক। পণ্ডিতেরা প্রচুর পুরস্কার পেলেন এবং আনন্দে বাড়ি ফিরে গেলেন। স্বর্ণকার খাঁচা বানাতে শুরু করলেন। খাঁচাটি এতই অসাধারণ হলো যে, পৃথিবীর সবাই তা দেখতে ছুটে এল। কেউ বলল, “এটাই শিক্ষা!” কেউ বলল, “শিক্ষা হোক বা না হোক, অন্তত পাখির একটা খাঁচা হয়েছে! কী ভাগ্যবান পাখি!” স্বর্ণকার একটি থলিভর্তি পুরস্কার পেলেন। তিনি আনন্দে বাড়ি ফিরে গেলেন। পণ্ডিত পাখিটিকে পড়াতে এলেন। তিনি এক চিমটি জর্দা নিলেন এবং বললেন, “কিছু বই যথেষ্ট নয়।” রাজপুত্র লেখকদের ডেকে পাঠালেন। তারা বই থেকে নকল করল, আবার সেই নকল থেকে আরও নকল করল এবং এরকম প্রচুর বইয়ের স্তূপ তৈরি হলো। যারা দেখল, তারা বলল, “বাহ! শিক্ষার ঢল নামবে!” লেখকেরা গাড়িভর্তি পুরস্কার পেল। তারা তৎক্ষণাৎ বাড়ি ফিরে গেল। তাদের কোনো বংশধর আর কখনো দারিদ্র্যের মুখ দেখেনি। রাজপুত্র সবসময় ব্যস্ত থাকতেন, খাঁচার দেখভালের অসংখ্য কাজ নিয়ে। মেরামত প্রায়ই করা হতো। এছাড়া খাঁচা ধোয়া, পরিষ্কার করা এবং পালিশ করার কাজও চলত। সবাই স্বীকার করল, “উন্নতির নিশ্চিত লক্ষণ।” অনেক লোক কাজ পেল, আর তাদের তদারকি করার জন্য আরও অনেক লোক কাজ পেল। তাদের প্রত্যেকে প্রতি মাসে একমুঠো কয়েন পেত এবং নিজেদের সিন্দুক ভরিয়ে নিত। তারা, তাদের ভাই–বোন এবং আত্মীয়স্বজন বিলাসিতা ও সুখের সঙ্গে জীবনযাপন শুরু করল Ad Ad

Brojen Das: On Conquering the English Channel I could hear very faint voices as if coming from the other side of the world. The time was about 4:00 in the morning and the date September 22, 1961. I was feeling tired and exhausted and was encountering stiff opposition from the strong tide. I looked towards my accompanying motorboat carrying my manager Quazi Mohammad Ali, skipper Len Hutchinson and the official observer, Mr. J. U. Wood. They were all pointing towards the Kent shore. As I looked up, I could see flashes. I realized I was very close to the shore. I asked what the time was and how far I had still to go. They told me that if I put the last ounce of energy into my swimming, I would set a new world record for France to England swim. This electrified me. The goal for which I had been striving for the past four years could be mine. The aim, which goaded me to swim the Channel six times, each time risking my life and reputation, was so close. Yet it could be far… Treachery of Weather The Channel, with its cold biting water, the winds, the waves and the tides does not make things easier. The unpredictable weather changes for the worse after a swimmer jumps in. It has never, to my knowledge, changed for the better for anyone yet… Apart from stamina and practice of long distance swimming, one must have the grit, determination and courage to subdue the Channel. Weather and ill luck have conspired and joined hands many a time to defeat Channel swimmers. They had defeated me no less than five times…. The final shot On the morning of 9 September 1961, after finishing my swim, I had gone to bed. The BBC-TV cameramen filmed me in my bed. Although very tired after swimming for 11 hours and 48 minutes, I could not fall asleep. The thought that I had once again failed my country, friends and fans was disturbing me. After only four hours sleep the following night, I decided to try again for the sixth time…I had fixed the tentative date for September 20. On that day I took the ferry to Calais. Sea Sick I get sea-sick in the ferry and also during swimming if there are breakers or waves. This sea-sickness was the main cause of my failure to set a world record on September 8/9 or even in 1960. The night rest at the Cap Gris Nez hotel did me immense good. I felt on top of the world. The weather on September 21 was near perfect. I jumped into the water within 12 days of my 5th swim, a record in itself, after saying a little prayer, asking God to give me good weather all through and to crown me with success. Nearly the whole of Cap Gris Nez village had turned out to wish me luck and see me enter the water for the sixth time…. Plunge And After Once in water, you get oblivious of time, distance or direction. The only thought which kept me worried, was that I must make it and that I must get good weather all the way. The second half of the swim is always very difficult. And if even little waves develop, it saps the ebbing energy of the swimmer all the more. Taking a lesson from my previous swims I kept my speed at a steady pace for I knew I would need every ounce of my energy towards the close…. I felt hungry and famished and shouted for my manager. In reply, I was told that I could not afford to waste 10 minutes in having the feed! If I have to break the record, I must swim on with all my might. But I refused…I am sorry now for it. For if I had gone on, I might have finished the whole swim in less than 10 hours and 15 minutes creating a new world record from both sides…. Last Efforts After the feed I really got my teeth into the strokes…. I was squeezing my body for the last drop of energy I could get out of it…. and edged on inch by inch. The people in the motorboat were cheering me. I saw the flash on the Kent shore very clearly. I realized I was very close. I could see the record, like the proverbial carrot, dangling before my swollen eyes…. I kept pulling myself on … a little more, just a little more… the momentum was building up- then I felt rocks, sharp and craggy… Then a big rock appeared before me. And that was it….the shore it was…the time: 4.35 a.m. GMT: I had broken the world record by 15 minutes. I thanked God for fulfilling my life’s ambition. Then I remembered my parents. I had not failed my country. Multiple-Choice Questions Based on the Text: a. What time did Brojen Das realize he was close to the Kent shore? (i) 4:00 p.m. (ii) 3:30 a.m. (iii) 4:00 a.m. (iv) 5:00 a.m. b. Who accompanied Brojen Das in the motorboat? (i) His coach and a journalist (ii) His manager, skipper, and official observer(iii) Local villagers and friends (iv) His parents and supporters c. What motivated Brojen Das to put in his last ounce of energy? (i) A personal challenge (ii) Breaking a world record(iii) Proving his endurance (iv) Overcoming the tide d. What does the term “treachery of weather” imply? (i) The weather always improves (ii) The weather remains unpredictable(iii) The weather helps swimmers (iv) The weather is always calm e. Why did Brojen Das fail on September 8/9? (i) Due to strong opposition from tides (ii) Because of sea-sickness(iii) Lack of stamina (iv) Poor weather f. What was Brojen Das’s primary aim? (i) To win an Olympic medal (ii) To set a world record for channel swimming(iii) To inspire local swimmers (iv) To represent his country g. How long did Brojen Das swim on September 9, 1961? (i) 10 hours and 20 minutes (ii) 11 hours and 48 minutes(iii) 12 hours exactly (iv) 13 hours and 5 minutes h. What was the villagers’ reaction at Cap Gris Nez? (i) They wished him ill luck (ii) They prayed for him(iii) They came to watch him swim (iv) Both (ii) and (iii) i. What caused Brojen Das to be sea-sick? (i) The cold water (ii) Rough waves or breakers(iii) Lack of food (iv) Long swimming hours j. What lesson did Brojen Das apply from his previous swims? (i) Avoiding the strong tides (ii) Swimming at a steady pace(iii) Reducing breaks during the swim (iv) Avoiding high waves Descriptive Questions Based on the Text: a. Why was Brojen Das encountering stiff opposition from the tide? b. What did the people in the motorboat point towards, and what did Brojen realize? c. Why did Brojen Das feel motivated to give his last ounce of energy during the swim? d. How did Brojen Das prepare himself mentally before jumping into the water for his sixth attempt?  e. What qualities does Brojen Das mention are necessary to subdue the Channel? f. Why is the Channel described as treacherous in terms of weather? g. What happened during Brojen Das’s swim on September 8/9 that caused him to fail? h. Why did Brojen Das decide to attempt the swim again within 12 days of his fifth attempt? i. What was the reaction of the villagers of Cap Gris Nez as Brojen Das prepared for his swim? j. How did Brojen Das deal with hunger during the swim? Why did he regret his decision later?                         Answer: Multiple-Choice Questions Based on the Text: a. What time did Brojen Das realize he was close to the Kent shore? (ii) 3:30 a.m. b. Who accompanied Brojen Das in the motorboat? (ii) His manager, skipper, and official observer c. What motivated Brojen Das to put in his last ounce of energy? (ii) Breaking a world record d. What does the term “treachery of weather” imply? (ii) The weather remains unpredictable e. Why did Brojen Das fail on September 8/9? (ii) Because of sea-sickness f. What was Brojen Das’s primary aim? (ii) To set a world record for channel swimming g. How long did Brojen Das swim on September 9, 1961? (ii) 11 hours and 48 minutes h. What was the villagers’ reaction at Cap Gris Nez? (iv) Both (ii) and (iii) i. What caused Brojen Das to be sea-sick? (ii) Rough waves or breakers j. What lesson did Brojen Das apply from his previous swims? (ii) Swimming at a steady pace Descriptive Questions Based on the Text: a. Why was Brojen Das encountering stiff opposition from the tide? Brojen Das was encountering stiff opposition from the tide due to the strong currents in the Channel, which made swimming difficult and drained his energy as he struggled against the powerful tide. b. What did the people in the motorboat point towards, and what did Brojen realize? The people in the motorboat pointed towards the Kent shore. Brojen realized that he was very close to the shore and could soon reach his goal, which energized him to push harder. c. Why did Brojen Das feel motivated to give his last ounce of energy during the swim? Brojen Das was motivated to give his last ounce of energy because he was very close to breaking the world record for the France to England swim. He had been striving for this achievement for four years, and the thought of achieving his goal electrified him. d. How did Brojen Das prepare himself mentally before jumping into the water for his sixth attempt? Before his sixth attempt, Brojen Das prepared himself mentally by praying to God for good weather and success. He was also encouraged by the support and well-wishes from the people of Cap Gris Nez, who had gathered to see him off. e. What qualities does Brojen Das mention are necessary to subdue the Channel? Brojen Das mentions that apart from stamina and long-distance swimming practice, one must have grit, determination, and courage to subdue the Channel. These qualities are crucial to overcoming the tough conditions in the water. f. Why is the Channel described as treacherous in terms of weather? The Channel is described as treacherous in terms of weather because it is unpredictable. The weather often worsens after a swimmer enters the water, creating additional challenges for those attempting to swim across. g. What happened during Brojen Das’s swim on September 8/9 that caused him to fail? Brojen Das failed on September 8/9 due to sea-sickness, which significantly affected his performance and made it impossible for him to break the world record. h. Why did Brojen Das decide to attempt the swim again within 12 days of his fifth attempt? Brojen Das decided to attempt the swim again within 12 days because he had recovered physically and mentally after his previous failure. He was determined to succeed and set a world record, and the weather conditions seemed perfect for another attempt. i. What was the reaction of the villagers of Cap Gris Nez as Brojen Das prepared for his swim? The villagers of Cap Gris Nez wished Brojen Das good luck and came out to see him enter the water for his sixth attempt. Their support and encouragement boosted his morale. j. How did Brojen Das deal with hunger during the swim? Why did he regret his decision later? Brojen Das felt hungry during the swim but was told not to waste time by eating. He decided not to have the feed, believing it would slow him down and prevent him from breaking the record. He later regretted this decision because he thought that had he eaten, he might have finished the swim faster and set a new world record. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   আমি খুব ক্ষীণ স্বর শুনতে পাচ্ছিলাম, যেন পৃথিবীর অন্য প্রান্ত থেকে আসছে। সময় ছিল সকাল ৪টা এবং তারিখ ২২ সেপ্টেম্বর, ১৯৬১। আমি ক্লান্ত ও অবসন্ন অনুভব করছিলাম এবং প্রবল স্রোতের মুখোমুখি হচ্ছিলাম। আমি আমার সাথে থাকা মোটরবোটের দিকে তাকালাম, যেখানে আমার ম্যানেজার কাজী মোহাম্মদ আলী, স্কিপার লেন হাচিনসন এবং অফিসিয়াল পর্যবেক্ষক, জনাব জে ইউ উড ছিলেন। তারা সবাই কেন্ট উপকূলের দিকে নির্দেশ করছিলেন। আমি উপরে তাকালাম এবং আলো ঝলকানি দেখতে পেলাম। বুঝতে পারলাম আমি উপকূলের খুব কাছে। আমি সময় এবং কতটা পথ বাকি জানতে চাইলাম। তারা বললো, যদি আমি শেষ শক্তিটুকু দিয়ে সাঁতার কাটতে পারি, তাহলে ফ্রান্স থেকে ইংল্যান্ডের সাঁতারে নতুন বিশ্ব রেকর্ড গড়তে পারবো। এটি আমাকে বিদ্যুতায়িত করলো। সেই লক্ষ্য, যার জন্য আমি গত চার বছর ধরে চেষ্টা করছিলাম, আমার খুব কাছে ছিল। সেই লক্ষ্য, যা আমাকে চ্যানেল ছয়বার সাঁতার কাটতে উদ্বুদ্ধ করেছিল, জীবনের ঝুঁকি এবং সম্মানের মুখোমুখি হয়ে, এত কাছাকাছি ছিল। তবুও তা দূরেও হতে পারতো… আবহাওয়ার বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা চ্যানেল তার ঠান্ডা কামড়ানো জল, বাতাস, ঢেউ এবং স্রোতের কারণে সহজতর করে না। সাঁতারু ঝাঁপ দেওয়ার পর আবহাওয়া খারাপের দিকে পরিবর্তিত হয়। যতদূর জানি, এটি কখনো কারও জন্য ভালোর দিকে পরিবর্তিত হয়নি… দীর্ঘ দূরত্ব সাঁতারের জন্য সহ্যশক্তি এবং অভ্যাসের পাশাপাশি, চ্যানেলকে জয় করার জন্য ধৈর্য, সংকল্প এবং সাহসের প্রয়োজন। আবহাওয়া এবং দুর্ভাগ্য অনেক সময় একত্রিত হয়ে চ্যানেল সাঁতারুদের পরাজিত করেছে। এটি আমাকে পাঁচবার পরাজিত করেছে… শেষ প্রচেষ্টা ৯ সেপ্টেম্বর ১৯৬১ সকালে সাঁতার শেষ করার পর আমি বিছানায় গিয়েছিলাম। বিউবিসি–টিভি ক্যামেরাম্যানরা আমাকে বিছানায় শুয়ে চিত্রায়িত করেছিল। ১১ ঘন্টা এবং ৪৮ মিনিট সাঁতারের পর খুব ক্লান্ত থাকলেও আমি ঘুমোতে পারছিলাম না। আবারও আমার দেশ, বন্ধু এবং ভক্তদের হতাশ করার চিন্তা আমাকে বিরক্ত করছিল। পরের রাত মাত্র চার ঘণ্টা ঘুমানোর পর আমি আবার ষষ্ঠবার চেষ্টা করার সিদ্ধান্ত নিলাম… আমি সেপ্টেম্বর ২০ তারিখে প্রাথমিক তারিখ নির্ধারণ করেছিলাম। সেই দিন আমি ফেরিতে ক্যালাইস গিয়েছিলাম। সমুদ্র রোগ ফেরিতে এবং সাঁতারের সময় যদি ঢেউ বা বড় তরঙ্গ থাকে, আমি সমুদ্র রোগে আক্রান্ত হই। এটি ছিল আমার বিশ্ব রেকর্ড গড়ার ব্যর্থতার প্রধান কারণ। কিন্তু ক্যালাইসের ক্যাপ গ্রিস নেজ হোটেলে এক রাতের বিশ্রাম আমাকে অনেক ভালো করেছিল। আমি বিশ্ব জয় করার মতো অনুভব করছিলাম। সেপ্টেম্বর ২১ তারিখে আবহাওয়া প্রায় নিখুঁত ছিল। আমি ষষ্ঠবারের জন্য পানিতে ঝাঁপ দিলাম ৫ম সাঁতার থেকে মাত্র ১২ দিনের ব্যবধানে, এটি নিজেই একটি রেকর্ড। আমি একটি ছোট প্রার্থনা করেছিলাম, ঈশ্বর যেন আমাকে সাফল্য দেন। পুরো ক্যাপ গ্রিস নেজ গ্রাম আমাকে শুভকামনা জানাতে এবং পানিতে নামতে দেখতে এসেছিল… ডুব এবং পরবর্তী পানিতে নামার পর সময়, দূরত্ব বা দিকের প্রতি আপনি উদাসীন হয়ে যান। শুধু একটি চিন্তা আমাকে উদ্বিগ্ন রেখেছিল, আমি সফল হতে চাই এবং পুরো সাঁতারের সময় ভালো আবহাওয়া চাই। সাঁতারের দ্বিতীয় অর্ধাংশ সবসময় খুব কঠিন। এবং যদি সামান্য ঢেউও তৈরি হয়, এটি সাঁতারুর শক্তি আরও হ্রাস করে। পূর্ববর্তী সাঁতার থেকে শিক্ষা নিয়ে, আমি আমার গতি স্থির রেখেছিলাম, কারণ আমি জানতাম শেষ সময়ে প্রতিটি শক্তি প্রয়োজন হবে… শেষ প্রচেষ্টা খাবারের জন্য চিৎকার করলাম। কিন্তু আমার ম্যানেজার জানালেন, ১০ মিনিট নষ্ট করার সময় নেই যদি আমি রেকর্ড ভাঙতে চাই। আমি জোর দিয়েই খাবার নিলাম… এখন এর জন্য আমি দুঃখিত। কারণ, যদি আমি চালিয়ে যেতাম, আমি ১০ ঘণ্টা এবং ১৫ মিনিটের কম সময়ে সাঁতার শেষ করতে পারতাম, উভয় দিক থেকে নতুন বিশ্ব রেকর্ড তৈরি করতাম… শেষ মুহূর্ত খাবার পর আমি আমার স্ট্রোকগুলোতে আরও শক্তি দিলাম… শরীরের শেষ শক্তি ব্যবহার করে এগিয়ে চললাম। মোটরবোটের লোকেরা আমাকে উৎসাহ দিচ্ছিল। কেন্ট উপকূলে আলোর ঝলকানি স্পষ্ট দেখতে পেলাম। আমি রেকর্ডকে অনুভব করতে পারলাম, যেন এটি আমার চোখের সামনে ঝুলে আছে… আমি নিজেকে টেনে নিয়ে চললাম… একটু একটু করে… তারপর পাথর অনুভব করলাম, ধারালো এবং কাঁটা। তারপরে একটি বড় পাথর আমার সামনে দেখা দিল। আর সেটিই ছিল… উপকূল। সময় ছিল: ৪:৩৫ এএম জিএমটি: আমি ১৫ মিনিটে বিশ্ব রেকর্ড ভেঙেছি। আমি ঈশ্বরকে ধন্যবাদ জানালাম আমার জীবনের লক্ষ্য পূরণের জন্য। এরপর আমার বাবা–মায়ের কথা মনে পড়ল। আমি আমার দেশকে হতাশ করিনি। Ad vocabulary words from the text "Brojen Das: On Conquering the English Channel" with their Bangla meanings: Faint - দুর্বল, অস্পষ্ট Exhausted - ক্লান্ত, নিঃশক্ত Encounters - মোকাবেলা, সম্মুখীন হওয়া Opposition - প্রতিরোধ, বিরোধিতা Tide - জোয়ার, ভাটা Accompanying - সহায়ক, সঙ্গে থাকা Skipper - নাবিক, স্কিপার Observer - পর্যবেক্ষক Flashes - চমক, আলোকঝলক Electrified - উত্তেজিত, রোমাঞ্চিত Goaded - উত্তেজিত করা, উত্সাহিত করা Risking - ঝুঁকি নেওয়া Treachery - বিশ্বাসঘাতকতা, প্রতারণা Biting - তীব্র, কটন Unpredictable - অপ্রত্যাশিত, অনিশ্চিত Stamina - সহনশীলতা, দম Grit - সংকল্প, দৃঢ়তা Determination - সংকল্প, সিদ্ধান্ত Subdue - দমন করা, নষ্ট করা Conspired - ষড়যন্ত্র করা Defeated - পরাজিত, হেরে যাওয়া Tentative - অনিশ্চিত, প্রস্তাবিত Ferry - ফেরি, নৌকা Sea-sick - সমুদ্রে নৌভ্রমণজনিত অস্থিরতা Breakers - বড় ঢেউ Immense - বিশাল, অসীম On top of the world - অত্যন্ত সুখী, উল্লাসিত Jumped into - ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়া Oblivious - অজ্ঞ, মনোযোগহীন Ebbing - কমে যাওয়া, সরে যাওয়া Famished - প্রচন্ড ক্ষুধিত Refused - অস্বীকার করা Regret - অনুতপ্ত হওয়া, আফসোস করা Momentum - গতি, প্রগতি Edged on - অগ্রসর হওয়া, সামনের দিকে এগোনো Swollen - ফুলে ওঠা, স্ফীত Carrot - গাজর, আকর্ষণীয় কিছু (এখানে, "প্রলোভন" বোঝায়) Teeth into - কঠিনভাবে কাজ শুরু করা Squeezing - চেপে ধরা, টিপে বের করা Craggy - পাথুরে, ক্ষতবিক্ষত Ad

The orphanage is high in the Carolina mountains. I was there in the autumn. I wanted quiet, isolation, to do some troublesome writing. I wanted mountain air to blow out the malaria from too long a time in the subtropics. I was homesick too, for the flaming of maples in October, and for corn shocks and pumpkins and black-walnut trees…. I found them all living in a cabin that belonged to the orphanage, half a mile beyond the orphanage farm. When I took the cabin, I asked for a boy or man to come and chop wood for the fireplace…. I looked up from my typewriter one late afternoon, a little startled. A boy stood at the door and my pointer dog, my companion, was at his side and had not barked to warn me. The boy was probably twelve years old, but undersized. He wore overalls and a torn shirt, and was barefooted. He said, “I can chop some wood today.” …..”You? But you’re small.” “Size don’t matter, chopping wood,” he said. “Some of the big boys don’t chop good. I’ve been chopping wood at the orphanage a long time.” “Very well. There’s the ax. Go ahead and see what you can do.” I went back to work, closing the door…. He began to chop. The blows were rhythmic and steady, and shortly I had forgotten him, the sound no more of an interruption than a consistent rain. I suppose an hour and a half passed and I heard the boy’s steps on the cabin stoop…. The boy said, “I have to go to supper now,” he said. “I can come again tomorrow.” I said, “I’ll pay you now for what you’ve done,” thinking I should probably have to insist on an older boy…. We went together back of the cabin. An astonishing amount of solid wood had been cut…. “But you’ve done as much as a man,” I said. “This is a splendid pile.” I looked at him, actually, for the first time. His hair was the color of the corn shocks and his eyes, very direct, were like the mountain sky when rain is pending gray, with a shadowing of that miraculous blue…. I gave him a quarter. “You may come tomorrow afternoon,” I said, “and thank you very much.” He looked at me, and at the coin, and seemed to want to speak, but could not, and turned away….. At daylight I was half wakened by the sound of chopping. Again it was so even in texture that I went back to sleep. When I left my bed in the cool morning, the boy had come and gone, and a stack of kindling was neat against the cabin wall. He came after school in the afternoon and worked until time to return to the orphanage. His name was Jerry…. he had been at the orphanage since he was four. I could picture him at four, with the same grave gray-blue eyes and the same independence? No, the word that comes to me is “integrity”…. It is bedded on courage, but it is more than brave. It is honest, but it is more than honesty. The ax handle broke one day. Jerry said the woodshop at the orphanage would repair it. I brought money to pay for the job and he refused it. “I’ll pay for it,” he said. “I broke it. I brought the ax down careless.” “But no one hits accurately every time,” I told him. “The fault was in the wood of the handle. I’ll see the man from whom I bought it.” A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. a. Why did the author decide to stay in the Carolina mountains? (i) To find peace and solitude for writing (ii) To visit an orphanage (iii) To explore mountain trails (iv) To escape from city life b. What was the condition of the author’s health when he arrived in the mountains? (i) He was completely healthy (ii) He had malaria (iii) He had a cold (iv) He was recovering from an injury c. How did the author describe his feeling towards October? (i) He disliked the cold weather (ii) He was homesick for October landscapes (iii) He preferred the summer heat (iv) He had no particular feelings d. What did the author request from the orphanage upon taking the cabin? (i) Food supplies (ii) Medical help (iii) Someone to chop wood (iv) A guide e. How did the author’s dog react to the boy’s arrival? (i) The dog barked loudly (ii) The dog was silent (iii) The dog ran away (iv) The dog attacked the boy f. How did the boy prove his competence to the author? (i) By chopping wood effectively (ii) By fixing the cabin door (iii) By cooking a meal (iv) By taking care of the dog g. What was the author’s initial impression of the boy’s ability to chop wood? (i) He was confident in the boy’s skills (ii) He doubted the boy’s abilities (iii) He ignored the boy (iv) He was sure the boy would fail h. How did the boy respond to the author’s offer of payment? (i) He accepted eagerly (ii) He hesitated but accepted (iii) He refused the money (iv) He demanded more money i. What did the author notice about the boy’s eyes? (i) They were dull and lifeless (ii) They were dark and mysterious (iii) They were gray-blue and direct (iv) They were green and sparkling j. How often did the boy come to chop wood for the author? (i) Once a week (ii) Every morning (iii) Twice a week (iv) Every afternoon after school Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 Why did the author choose to stay in the mountains? What was the author’s main goal during his stay in the cabin? When did the author first notice the boy standing at the door? Who accompanied the boy to the cabin but did not bark to warn the author? What did the boy offer to do for the author? Why was the author initially surprised by the boy’s offer to chop wood? How did the author describe the boy’s eyes? What was the boy wearing when he first appeared at the cabin? Where did the boy say he had learned to chop wood? What was the author’s reaction after seeing the amount of wood the boy chopped?                         Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: a. Why did the author decide to stay in the Carolina mountains? (i) To find peace and solitude for writing b. What was the condition of the author’s health when he arrived in the mountains? (ii) He had malaria c. How did the author describe his feeling towards October? (ii) He was homesick for October landscapes d. What did the author request from the orphanage upon taking the cabin? (iii) Someone to chop wood e. How did the author’s dog react to the boy’s arrival? (ii) The dog was silent f. How did the boy prove his competence to the author? (i) By chopping wood effectively g. What was the author’s initial impression of the boy’s ability to chop wood? (ii) He doubted the boy’s abilities h. How did the boy respond to the author’s offer of payment? (iii) He refused the money i. What did the author notice about the boy’s eyes? (iii) They were gray-blue and direct j. How often did the boy come to chop wood for the author? (iv) Every afternoon after school Answer the following questions: 1. Why did the author choose to stay in the mountains? The author chose to stay in the mountains to find peace and solitude, which he needed for his writing. He also wanted the fresh mountain air to help recover from malaria caused by his prolonged stay in the subtropics. 2. What was the author’s main goal during his stay in the cabin? The author’s main goal was to do some troublesome writing in a quiet and isolated environment. He hoped that the peaceful surroundings would help him focus and be productive. 3. When did the author first notice the boy standing at the door? The author first noticed the boy standing at the door one late afternoon when he looked up from his typewriter, a little startled. 4. Who accompanied the boy to the cabin but did not bark to warn the author? The boy was accompanied by the author’s pointer dog, who did not bark to warn him of the boy’s arrival. 5. What did the boy offer to do for the author? The boy offered to chop wood for the author, which the author had requested when he took the cabin. 6. Why was the author initially surprised by the boy’s offer to chop wood? The author was initially surprised by the boy’s offer to chop wood because the boy seemed small and was likely too young to handle such a task. 7. How did the author describe the boy’s eyes? The author described the boy’s eyes as gray-blue and direct, like the mountain sky when rain is pending, with a shadowing of miraculous blue. 8. What was the boy wearing when he first appeared at the cabin? When the boy first appeared at the cabin, he was wearing overalls, a torn shirt, and was barefooted. 9. Where did the boy say he had learned to chop wood? The boy said he had been chopping wood at the orphanage for a long time, indicating that he had learned it there. 10. What was the author’s reaction after seeing the amount of wood the boy chopped? The author was impressed and said that the boy had done as much work as a man, calling the pile of wood a splendid one. He was astonished at the amount of wood the boy had chopped. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   ক্যারোলিনা পাহাড়ের উপরে অনাথাশ্রমটি অবস্থিত। আমি সেখানে শরতের সময় ছিলাম। আমি নীরবতা, নিঃসঙ্গতা এবং কিছু সমস্যাযুক্ত লেখার জন্য শান্ত পরিবেশ চেয়েছিলাম। দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে উপক্রান্তীয় অঞ্চলে থাকার কারণে আমি যে ম্যালেরিয়ায় আক্রান্ত হয়েছিলাম, তা পরিত্রাণ পেতে পাহাড়ের হাওয়া চেয়েছিলাম। আমি অক্টোবরে ম্যাপল গাছের শিখা, ভুট্টার ঝুড়ি এবং কালো আখরোট গাছের জন্যও শিহরিত ছিলাম। আমি এই সবকিছুই অনাথাশ্রমের অর্ধ মাইল দূরে একটি কেবিনে খুঁজে পেয়েছিলাম। যখন আমি কেবিনটি নিলাম, আমি একটি ছেলে বা লোককে চেয়েছিলাম যে আসবে এবং চুল্লির জন্য কাঠ কাটবে। এক বিকেলের শেষের দিকে আমি টাইপরাইটার থেকে চোখ তুলে তাকালাম, একটু বিস্মিত। একটি ছেলে দরজার কাছে দাঁড়িয়ে ছিল এবং আমার শিকারি কুকুর, আমার সঙ্গী, তার পাশে ছিল এবং আমাকে সতর্ক করার জন্য চেঁচায়নি। ছেলেটি সম্ভবত বারো বছর বয়সী, কিন্তু আকারে ছোট। সে ওভারঅল এবং ছেঁড়া শার্ট পরেছিল এবং খালি পায়ে ছিল। সে বলল, “আমি আজ কিছু কাঠ কাটা করতে পারি।” …..”তুমি? কিন্তু তুমি ছোট।” “কাঠ কাটা করতে আকার কোনো ব্যাপার না,” সে বলল। “কিছু বড় ছেলেরা ভালো কাঠ কাটে না। আমি অনেক দিন ধরে অনাথাশ্রমে কাঠ কেটে আসছি।” “ঠিক আছে। এখানে কুঠার আছে। এগিয়ে যাও এবং দেখাও তুমি কী করতে পারো।” আমি দরজা বন্ধ করে আবার কাজে ফিরে গেলাম। সে কাটা শুরু করল। আঘাতগুলি ছিল ছন্দময় এবং স্থির, এবং আমি অল্প সময়ের মধ্যেই তাকে ভুলে গিয়েছিলাম, শব্দটি ধারাবাহিক বৃষ্টির মতো আর কোনো বাধা সৃষ্টি করছিল না। আমি মনে করি দেড় ঘণ্টা কেটে গেছে এবং আমি কেবিনের সোপানে ছেলের পদক্ষেপ শুনলাম।…ছেলেটি বলল, “এখন আমার রাতের খাবার খেতে যেতে হবে,” সে বলল। “আমি আবার আগামীকাল আসতে পারি।” আমি বললাম, “আমি এখনই তোমাকে তোমার কাজের জন্য অর্থ প্রদান করব,” ভাবছিলাম হয়তো আমাকে কোনো বড় ছেলেকে জোর করে আনতে হবে…. আমরা একসাথে কেবিনের পেছনে গিয়েছিলাম। বিশাল পরিমাণে শক্ত কাঠ কাটা হয়েছে…. “কিন্তু তুমি একজন মানুষের মতোই কাজ করেছ,” আমি বললাম। “এটি একটি চমৎকার স্তূপ।” আমি প্রথমবারের মতো তাকে ভালোভাবে দেখলাম। তার চুল ছিল ভুট্টার শকের রঙের মতো এবং তার চোখ, খুব সরাসরি, ছিল পাহাড়ের আকাশের মতো যখন বৃষ্টি আসছে, ধূসর, সেই অলৌকিক নীলের ছায়া নিয়ে…. আমি তাকে একটি কোয়ার্টার দিলাম। “তুমি আগামীকাল বিকেলে আসতে পারো,” আমি বললাম, “এবং অনেক ধন্যবাদ।” সে আমাকে এবং মুদ্রাটির দিকে তাকাল, এবং কথা বলতে চাইল, কিন্তু পারল না, এবং ঘুরে চলে গেল… দিনের আলোতে আমি কাঠ কাটার শব্দে অর্ধেক জেগে উঠেছিলাম। এটি এতটাই মসৃণ ছিল যে আমি আবার ঘুমাতে চলে গেলাম। শীতল সকালে যখন আমি বিছানা ছেড়েছিলাম, তখন ছেলেটি এসে চলে গেছে, এবং কেবিনের দেয়ালের পাশে কাঠের স্তূপ ছিল। সে বিকেলে স্কুলের পর আসে এবং অনাথাশ্রমে ফিরে যাওয়ার সময় পর্যন্ত কাজ করত। তার নাম ছিল জেরি।… সে চার বছর বয়স থেকে অনাথাশ্রমে ছিল। আমি তাকে চার বছর বয়সে কল্পনা করতে পারি, একই গুরুতর ধূসর–নীল চোখ এবং একই স্বাধীনতা? না, আমার কাছে আসা শব্দটি হল “অখণ্ডতা“…. এটি সাহসের উপর ভিত্তি করে, কিন্তু এটি সাহসের চেয়েও বেশি। এটি সৎ, কিন্তু এটি সততার চেয়েও বেশি। একদিন কুঠারের হাতল ভেঙে গেল। জেরি বলল অনাথাশ্রমের কাঠের দোকান এটি মেরামত করবে। আমি কাজের জন্য টাকা আনলাম এবং সে তা গ্রহণ করতে অস্বীকার করল। “আমি এর জন্য অর্থ প্রদান করব,” সে বলল। “আমি এটি ভেঙে ফেলেছি। আমি কুঠারটি অসাবধানীভাবে নামিয়েছিলাম।” “কিন্তু সবাই প্রতিবার সঠিকভাবে আঘাত করতে পারে না,” আমি তাকে বললাম। “দোষটি ছিল হাতলের কাঠে। আমি এটি কিনেছিলাম এমন লোকটির সাথে কথা বলব।” vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Orphanage  - এতিমখানা Carolina  - ক্যারোলিনা (a place name) Mountains  - পর্বত Autumn  - শরৎ Isolation  - একাকীত্ব Troublesome  - কষ্টকর Writing  - লেখা Malaria  - ম্যালেরিয়া Subtropics  - উপক্রান্তীয় Homesick  - ঘরের জন্য মন কেমন করা Flaming  - জ্বলন্ত Maples  - ম্যাপল গাছ October  - অক্টোবর Corn shocks  - মক্কা গাছের ঝোপ Pumpkins  - কুমড়ো Black-walnut  - কালো আখরোট Living  - বাস করা Cabin  - কুটির Belonged  - принадлежать, 属于 Chop  - কাটা Wood  - কাঠ Fireplace  - চুল্লি Pointer dog  - পয়েন্টার কুকুর Companion  - সঙ্গী Startled  - চমকে ওঠা Undersized  - আকারে ছোট Overalls  - পোশাকের অংশ (শরীরের উপরের সুট) Torn  - ফাটা Barefooted  - পাদুকাহীন Rhythmic  - ছন্দবদ্ধ Steady  - স্থির Interruption  - বিঘ্নিত হওয়া Supper  - রাতের খাবার Coin  - মুদ্রা Neat  - পরিপাটি Astonishing  - আশ্চর্যজনক Splendid  - চমৎকার Actually  - আসলে Grave  - গম্ভীর Independence  - স্বাধীনতা Integrity  - সততা Bedded  - বিছানো Courage  - সাহস Honest  - সৎ Accurately  - সঠিকভাবে Careless  - অসাবধান Fault  - ভুল Woodshop  - কাঠের দোকান Repair  - মেরামত Refused  - অস্বীকার করা Hesitated  - দ্বিধা করা Refused  - প্রত্যাখ্যান করা Offer  - প্রস্তাব Eagerly  - আগ্রহের সাথে Chopping  - কাটা Ax  - কুঠারি Blows  - আঘাত Consistent  - ধারাবাহিক Boy  - ছেলে Eyes  - চোখ Direct  - সরাসরি Mountain sky  - পর্বত আকাশ Pending  - অমীমাংসিত Gray  - ধূসর Shadowing  - ছায়া ফেলানো Miraculous  - অলৌকিক Quarter  - এক চতুর্থাংশ (মুদ্রার অংশ) School  - বিদ্যালয় Work  - কাজ Afternoon  - অপরাহ্ণ Independent  - স্বাধীন Chopping wood  - কাঠ কাটা Honesty  - সততা Fallen  - পতিত Careless  - অযত্ন Blown  - উড়ানো Boyhood  - ছেলেবেলা Piles  - স্তূপ Silently  - চুপচাপ Eager  - আগ্রহী Ad Ad

Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: Education aims to bring about positive changes in our behavior. It helps us try to change our lives as well as the society we live in. Education that does not illuminate our minds or does not inspire us to work for the community is not complete at all. Education is not all about getting grades or receiving certificates – we use education to make life better. We are expected to apply the knowledge, skills and values that we learn in a classroom in our engagement with the world that lies outside. And we can do so in many different ways. Let’s have a look at how education works. Learners’ civic engagement is highly appreciated all over the world. Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life (the public life of the citizens as contrasted with private or personal life) of the community using knowledge, skills, values and motivation. Civic engagement promotes the quality of life in a community by contributing to the improvement of health and wellbeing of the people. Civically engaged individuals recognize themselves as members of a larger social community and are concerned about civic issues. They consider themselves responsible citizens who take action or raise their voices against injustice, discrimination and other forms of social ills. In civic engagement, issues of public concern are crucial. Civic engagement includes individual or group activities to protect public interests and change the way the community values itself. For example, if you are protesting against any unjust decision of the local municipality such as raising taxes or an act that might work against people’s interests, you are civically engaged and your action is considered a civic engagement. This protest can be done in different ways such as organizing rallies, collecting signatures, making human chains, writing petitions, etc. You can also help control traffic in front of a school, help children to cross the roads, work in a team to clean a park or a sea beach. You can also give some services to elderly people. These are all examples of civic engagement as what you do directly affects the community. When civic engagement is a part of an academic programmed, and the learners’ engagement is assessed following a scale, then it is called service learning. It involves the application of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and then making a complete plan of action i.e. preparing a budget, starting the process of implementation, involving people and activating operational strategies. When civic engagement 1S spontaneous but irregular and not a part of any academic programmed, it is considered volunteerism. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. What is the primary goal of education? (i) To improve grades (ii) To bring about positive changes in behavior (iii) To compete with others (iv) To accumulate certificates What does the text emphasize about incomplete education? (i) It focuses on theoretical knowledge (ii) It fails to inspire community service (iii) It is based on outdated methods (iv) It is too expensive What does education aim to illuminate? (i) The body (ii) The surroundings (iii) The mind (iv) The curriculum How can knowledge be applied outside the classroom? (i) By completing assignments (ii) By engaging with community issues (iii) By attending lectures (iv) By memorizing facts What is the meaning of civic engagement? (i) Private life activities (ii) Making a difference in community life (iii) Individual success (iv) Political activism only What promotes the quality of life in a community? (i) Academic achievements (ii) Civic engagement (iii) Financial stability (iv) Technological advancements What do civically engaged individuals identify as? (i) Passive observers (ii) Members of a larger social community (iii) Isolated citizens (iv) Private individuals What do civically engaged individuals often fight against? (i) Public events (ii) Social ills (iii) Economic changes (iv) Technological progress What is a key component of civic engagement? (i) Ignoring public issues (ii) Protecting public interests (iii) Accumulating wealth (iv) Avoiding societal involvement What activity is NOT an example of civic engagement? (i) Helping children cross roads (ii) Cleaning a park (iii) Writing a personal diary (iv) Organizing a protest How can one raise awareness about an unjust municipal decision? (i) By staying silent (ii) By organizing rallies (iii) By ignoring the issue (iv) By moving to another city What is service learning? (i) Volunteering sporadically (ii) Integrating civic engagement into academics (iii) Private tutoring (iv) Passive classroom activities What differentiates service learning from volunteerism? (i) Service learning is spontaneous (ii) Volunteerism is part of academics (iii) Service learning involves assessment (iv) Volunteerism is structured and planned Which is an example of civic engagement? (i) Watching television (ii) Signing a petition (iii) Shopping for personal items (iv) Hosting a private party What is a key step in implementing a civic engagement action plan? (i) Ignoring public input (ii) Preparing a budget (iii) Avoiding teamwork (iv) Keeping plans confidential B. Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 a. What is the main purpose of education according to the text? b. Why is education that fails to inspire community work considered incomplete? c. How does education contribute to societal change? d. What are the key attributes of civic engagement as mentioned in the text? e. How does civic engagement improve the quality of life in a community? f. Why is it important for civically engaged individuals to consider themselves part of a larger social community? g. What distinguishes public life from private life in the context of civic engagement? h. How do civically engaged individuals address issues like injustice or discrimination? i. What role does knowledge and motivation play in civic engagement? j. What kinds of activities are considered examples of civic engagement? k. Why is raising awareness about public issues crucial in civic engagement? l. How can protesting against an unjust municipal decision be a form of civic engagement? m.What are some methods mentioned for organizing civic protests? n. How do acts like cleaning a park or assisting elderly people contribute to civic engagement?                           Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. What is the primary goal of education? (ii) To bring about positive changes in behavior What does the text emphasize about incomplete education? (ii) It fails to inspire community service What does education aim to illuminate? (iii) The mind How can knowledge be applied outside the classroom? (ii) By engaging with community issues What is the meaning of civic engagement? (ii) Making a difference in community life What promotes the quality of life in a community? (ii) Civic engagement What do civically engaged individuals identify as? (ii) Members of a larger social community What do civically engaged individuals often fight against? (ii) Social ills What is a key component of civic engagement? (ii) Protecting public interests What activity is NOT an example of civic engagement? (iii) Writing a personal diary How can one raise awareness about an unjust municipal decision? (ii) By organizing rallies What is service learning? (ii) Integrating civic engagement into academics What differentiates service learning from volunteerism? (iii) Service learning involves assessment Which is an example of civic engagement? (ii) Signing a petition What is a key step in implementing a civic engagement action plan? (ii) Preparing a budget B. Answer the following questions: What is the main purpose of education according to the text? The main purpose of education, according to the text, is to bring about positive changes in our behavior, both in our personal lives and in the society we live in. Why is education that fails to inspire community work considered incomplete? Education that does not inspire us to work for the community or does not illuminate our minds is considered incomplete because it fails to help individuals make a positive contribution to society. How does education contribute to societal change? Education helps individuals apply the knowledge, skills, and values they learn to engage with the world and bring about societal change through their actions and involvement in community matters. What are the key attributes of civic engagement as mentioned in the text? Key attributes of civic engagement include working to make a difference in the community using knowledge, skills, values, and motivation, as well as addressing public concerns and fighting against social ills. How does civic engagement improve the quality of life in a community? Civic engagement improves the quality of life by contributing to the betterment of health and well-being, fostering a sense of community involvement, and encouraging actions that enhance public interests. Why is it important for civically engaged individuals to consider themselves part of a larger social community? It is important for civically engaged individuals to see themselves as part of a larger social community because it helps them stay concerned about civic issues and take responsibility for addressing social challenges like injustice and discrimination. What distinguishes public life from private life in the context of civic engagement? In the context of civic engagement, public life refers to the activities and issues that affect the broader community, while private life refers to personal or individual matters that do not directly influence others. How do civically engaged individuals address issues like injustice or discrimination? Civically engaged individuals address issues like injustice or discrimination by taking action, raising their voices, or organizing protests to demand change and raise awareness about these issues. What role does knowledge and motivation play in civic engagement? Knowledge and motivation play a crucial role in civic engagement by providing the foundation for individuals to understand social issues, take meaningful actions, and motivate others to participate in community improvement. What kinds of activities are considered examples of civic engagement? Activities such as organizing protests, helping children cross roads, cleaning parks, assisting elderly people, and controlling traffic are considered examples of civic engagement. Why is raising awareness about public issues crucial in civic engagement? Raising awareness about public issues is crucial in civic engagement because it helps people understand the importance of addressing community concerns and motivates them to take action for positive change. How can protesting against an unjust municipal decision be a form of civic engagement? Protesting against an unjust municipal decision is a form of civic engagement because it involves actively challenging a decision that negatively affects the community and working to bring about a change for the betterment of the public. What are some methods mentioned for organizing civic protests? Some methods mentioned for organizing civic protests include organizing rallies, collecting signatures, making human chains, and writing petitions. How do acts like cleaning a park or assisting elderly people contribute to civic engagement? Acts like cleaning a park or assisting elderly people contribute to civic engagement by directly benefiting the community, improving public spaces, and fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the well-being of others. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   শিক্ষার লক্ষ্য হলো আমাদের আচরণে ইতিবাচক পরিবর্তন আনয়ন করা। এটি আমাদের জীবন এবং আমরা যে সমাজে বসবাস করি তা পরিবর্তনে সাহায্য করে। যে শিক্ষা আমাদের মনকে আলোকিত করে না অথবা আমাদের সমাজের জন্য কাজ করতে উদ্বুদ্ধ করে না তা কখনোই পূর্ণাঙ্গ শিক্ষা হতে পারে না। শিক্ষা শুধু গ্রেড এবং সার্টিফিকেট অর্জনই নয়, আমরা জীবনকে উন্নত করতে শিক্ষা ব্যবহার করি। আমাদের কাছে প্রত্যাশা করা হয় যে, শ্রেণিকক্ষে শেখা জ্ঞান, দক্ষতা ও মূল্যবোধগুলোকে আমরা বাইরের জগতের সাথে সম্পৃক্ততার ক্ষেত্রে প্রয়োগ করবো এবং এটি আমরা বিভিন্ন উপায়ে করতে পারি । চলো দেখি শিক্ষা কীভাবে কাজ করে । বিশ্বজুড়েই শিক্ষার্থীদের নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তি ব্যাপকভাবে সমাদৃত হয়। নাগরিক সম্পৃক্ততার অর্থ হলো, ঐ সম্প্রদায়ের নাগরিক জীবনে জ্ঞান, দক্ষতা, মূল্যবোধ এবং অনুপ্রেরণা ব্যবহার করে ঐ সমাজের পরিবর্তন সাধন করা (নাগরিকের জনজীবন থেকে তার ব্যক্তিগত জীবন আলাদা)। নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তি মানুষের কল্যাণ এবং স্বাস্থ্যের উন্নতিতে অবদান রাখার মাধ্যমে ঐ সমাজের মানুষের জীবনমান উন্নয়ন করে। পৌর বিষয়ে সম্পৃক্ত ব্যক্তিগণ বৃহত্তর সামাজিক গোষ্ঠীর সদস্য বলে নিজেদের চিহ্নিত করে এবং তারা নাগরিক বিষয়াদি নিয়ে সচেতন থাকে। তারা নিজেদেরকে অবিচার, বৈষম্য এবং অন্যান্য সামাজিক ব্যাধির বিরুদ্ধে আওয়াজ তোলা অথবা ব্যবস্থা গ্রহণকারী দায়িত্বশীল নাগরিক মনে করে থাকে । নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তির ক্ষেত্রে, জন সচেতনতার বিষয়সমূহ খুব গুরুত্বপূর্ণ। ব্যক্তিগত অথবা দলগত কার্যক্রমের মাধ্যমে জনস্বার্থ সুরক্ষা করা এবং সমাজ নিজেকে মূল্যায়নের পদ্ধতিতে পরিবর্তন সাধন প্রভৃতি নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তির অন্তর্ভুক্ত। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, তুমি যদি স্থানীয় পৌরসভার অন্যায় কোনো সিদ্ধান্ত যেমন: কর বৃদ্ধি অথবা কোনো আইন যা জনস্বার্থ বিরোধী ইত্যাদির বিরুদ্ধে। প্রতিবাদ করো তখন তুমি নগরীয়তায় সম্পৃক্ত এবং তোমার কাজকে নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তি হিসেবে গণ্য করা হয়। প্রতিবাদ বিভিন্ন উপায়ে করা যায়, যেমন: জনসভার আয়োজন স্বাক্ষর গ্রহণ, মানব বন্ধন, আবেদন লেখা ইত্যাদির মাধ্যমে । এছাড়াও তুমি স্কুলের সামনে ট্রাফিক নিয়ন্ত্রণের মাধ্যমে, বাচ্চাদের রাস্তা পার করতে সাহায্য করে, দলগতভাবে পার্ক অথবা সমুদ্র সৈকত পরিষ্কারের কাজ করতে পারো। তাছাড়া তুমি বৃদ্ধ মানুষদেরও নানা সেবা প্রদান করতে পারো। এসবই নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তির উদাহরণ কারণ তুমি যা করো তা সমাজে সরাসরি প্রভাব ফেলে। নাগরিক প্রবৃত্তি যখন প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা কার্যক্রমের অন্তর্ভুক্ত করা হয় এবং শিক্ষার্থীর অংশগ্রহণকে একটি মাপকাঠির মাধ্যমে মূল্যায়ন করা হয় তখন তাকে ‘সেবা শিক্ষা’ বলা হয়। শ্রেণিকক্ষে শেখানো জ্ঞান এবং দক্ষতার প্রয়োগ এবং এরপর একটি পূর্ণাঙ্গ কর্ম পরিকল্পনা তৈরি, যেমন– বাজেট তৈরি করা, তা বাস্তবায়নের প্রক্রিয়া শুরু করা, মানুষকে এ কাজে সম্পৃক্ত করা এবং প্রয়োগসংক্রান্ত কৌশল সক্রিয় করা প্রভৃতি এর অন্তর্ভুক্ত। যখন নাগরিক সম্পৃক্ততা স্বতঃস্ফূর্ত কিন্তু অনিয়মিত এবং যা প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষা কার্যক্রম কর্মসূচির অংশ নয়, তখন তাকে ‘স্বেচ্ছাসেবিতা’ হিসেবে গণ্য করা হয় । Ad Ad vocabulary words from the text along with their Bangla translations: Education  – শিক্ষা Positive  – ইতিবাচক Changes  – পরিবর্তন Behavior  – আচরণ Society  – সমাজ Illuminate  – আলোকিত করা Inspire  – অনুপ্রাণিত করা Community  – কমিউনিটি Grades  – গ্রেড Certificates  – সার্টিফিকেট Engage  – যুক্ত হওয়া World  – বিশ্ব Civic  – নাগরিক Engagement  – সম্পৃক্ততা Public  – জনগণ Life  – জীবন Motivation  – উদ্দীপনা Promotes  – প্রচার করা Quality  – গুণগত মান Health  – স্বাস্থ্য Wellbeing  – মঙ্গল Recognize  – চিহ্নিত করা Members  – সদস্য Concerned  – উদ্বিগ্ন Responsible  – দায়িত্বশীল Action  – পদক্ষেপ Injustice  – অবিচার Discrimination  – বৈষম্য Social ills  – সামাজিক অসুবিধা Issues  – বিষয় Activities  – কার্যক্রম Protesting  – প্রতিবাদ করা Rallies  – র‌্যালি Signatures  – স্বাক্ষর Petitions  – আবেদনপত্র Control  – নিয়ন্ত্রণ Traffic  – ট্রাফিক Elderly  – বয়স্ক Volunteerism  – স্বেচ্ছাসেবকতা Assessment  – মূল্যায়ন

Dreams have fascinated philosophers 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: Dreams have fascinated philosophers for thousands of years, but only recently have dreams been subjected to empirical research and scientific study. Chances are that you’ve often found yourself puzzling over the content of a dream, or perhaps you’ve wondered why you dream at all.  First, let’s start by answering a basic question : What is a dream? A dream can include any of the images, thoughts and emotions that are experienced during sleep. Dreams can be extraordinarily vivid or very vague; filled with joyful emotions or frightening images, focused and understandable or unclear and confusing.  Why do we dream? What purpose do dreams serve? While many theories have been proposed about the reason and function of dreams, no consensus has emerged. Considering the time, we spend in a dreaming state, the fact that researchers do not yet understand the purpose of dreams may seem baffling. However, it is important to consider that science is still unravelling the exact purpose and function of sleep itself. Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being. Next, let’s learn more about some of the most prominent dream theories. Consistent with the psychoanalytic perspective, Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams suggests that dreams are a representation of subconscious desires, thoughts and motivations. According to Freud, people are driven by aggressive and sexual instincts that are repressed from conscious awareness. While these thoughts are not consciously expressed, they find their way into our awareness via dreams. In his famous book, The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud wrote that dreams are “….. disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes.” A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1. What is the primary focus of the text? (i) The scientific study of dreams (ii) The interpretation of dreams in culture(iii) The historical fascination with dreams (iv) The philosophical debates about dreams Answer: (i) The scientific study of dreams 2. How long have dreams fascinated philosophers? (i) Decades (ii) Centuries(iii) Thousands of years (iv) Hundreds of days Answer: (iii) Thousands of years 3. What is the basic question addressed in the text? (i) Why do we dream? (ii) How do dreams affect our lives?(iii) What is a dream? (iv) Are dreams real? Answer: (iii) What is a dream? 4. What can dreams include? (i) Only emotions (ii) Images, thoughts, and emotions(iii) Vivid images only (iv) Random memories Answer: (ii) Images, thoughts, and emotions 5. How are dreams described in the text? (i) Always vivid and clear (ii) Always frightening(iii) Vivid or vague, joyful or frightening (iv) Only focused and understandable Answer: (iii) Vivid or vague, joyful or frightening 6. Why is the purpose of dreams still unknown? (i) Scientists have stopped researching dreams (ii) Sleep itself is not fully understood(iii) Dreams are too complex to analyze (iv) No one is interested in dreams Answer: (ii) Sleep itself is not fully understood 7. What does Freud’s theory suggest about dreams? (i) They serve no real purpose (ii) They represent subconscious desires(iii) They are random brain activity (iv) They predict the future Answer: (ii) They represent subconscious desires 8. What are people driven by, according to Freud? (i) Curiosity and imagination (ii) Love and compassion(iii) Aggressive and sexual instincts (iv) Rational thoughts and emotions Answer: (iii) Aggressive and sexual instincts 9. What does Freud consider dreams to be? (i) Simple reflections of daily life (ii) Disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes(iii) Randomly generated stories (iv) Purely emotional experiences Answer: (ii) Disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes 10. Which of Freud’s works is mentioned in the text? (i) Beyond the Pleasure Principle (ii) Civilization and Its Discontents(iii) The Interpretation of Dreams (iv) Dreams and Desires Answer: (iii) The Interpretation of Dreams 11. How are vivid dreams described? (i) Always joyful (ii) Understandable and focused(iii) Filled with frightening images (iv) Clear and intense experiences Answer: (iv) Clear and intense experiences 12. What might unclear and confusing dreams indicate? (i) Mental well-being (ii) Subconscious processing(iii) Physical exhaustion (iv) Lack of sleep Answer: (ii) Subconscious processing 13. What do some researchers believe about dreams? (i) They are entirely purposeless (ii) They predict future events(iii) They are essential to well-being (iv) They replace memories Answer: (iii) They are essential to well-being 14. Why do some find it baffling that dreams’ purpose is unknown? (i) Dreams are easy to study (ii) People spend significant time dreaming(iii) Everyone has the same type of dreams (iv) Dreams directly affect reality Answer: (ii) People spend significant time dreaming 15. According to the text, what emotion might be associated with dreams? (i) Joyful (ii) Frightening (iii) Both joyful and frightening (iv) Confusion only Answer: (iii) Both joyful and frightening 16. What do dreams reveal according to Freud’s theory? (i) Logical decision-making processes (ii) Repressed wishes and desires(iii) Surface-level thoughts (iv) Physical health Answer: (ii) Repressed wishes and desires 17. Which area is still unraveling, according to the text? (i) The biological structure of the brain (ii) The purpose and function of sleep(iii) Methods of dream recording (iv) Techniques for lucid dreaming Answer: (ii) The purpose and function of sleep 18. Which instinct is NOT mentioned by Freud? (i) Aggressive (ii) Sexual(iii) Creative (iv) Both aggressive and sexual Answer: (iii) Creative 19. How does Freud describe subconscious desires? (i) Easily noticeable (ii) Repressed from conscious awareness(iii) Always positive in nature (iv) Consciously controlled Answer: (ii) Repressed from conscious awareness 20. What is one of the key purposes some researchers believe dreams serve? (i) Entertainment during sleep (ii) Emotional and mental well-being(iii) Physical relaxation only (iv) Improved memory recall Answer: (ii) Emotional and mental well-being B. Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 a. What is a dream according to the text? b. What elements can dreams include? c. What emotions are commonly associated with dreams? d. Why is it surprising that the purpose of dreams is still unknown? e. What is the significance of studying the purpose and function of sleep? f. What types of images might appear in dreams? g. How are vivid dreams different from vague dreams? h. What range of emotions can be experienced in dreams? i. What does the text say about the clarity of dreams? j. What are some common characteristics of confusing dreams? Answer: a. What is a dream according to the text? A dream, according to the text, is any combination of images, thoughts, and emotions that a person experiences while asleep. Dreams can encompass a wide variety of mental phenomena that occur during the sleep cycle and can be either clear or vague in nature, depending on the person and the dream itself. b. What elements can dreams include? Dreams can include a variety of elements such as images, which could be visual representations or scenes; thoughts, which might represent ideas, memories, or abstract concepts; and emotions, which can range from happiness or excitement to fear or sadness. These elements together form the content of a dream that a person experiences while sleeping. c. What emotions are commonly associated with dreams? Dreams can evoke a wide range of emotions. Some dreams are associated with joyful emotions, such as feelings of happiness, excitement, or relief, while others may involve frightening or distressing emotions, like fear, anxiety, or confusion. The emotional tone of a dream can greatly influence the dreamer's perception and interpretation of the dream. d. Why is it surprising that the purpose of dreams is still unknown? It is surprising that the purpose of dreams is still unknown because people spend a considerable amount of time in a dreaming state, and dreaming is such a fundamental part of the human experience. Despite this, researchers have not yet been able to reach a consensus on why we dream or what purpose dreams serve, which can seem baffling given how much time and effort has been dedicated to studying sleep and dreams. e. What is the significance of studying the purpose and function of sleep? Studying the purpose and function of sleep is significant because sleep plays a crucial role in our overall mental, emotional, and physical health. Understanding sleep and its different stages, including the dreaming phase, may provide insights into the restorative processes of the body and brain. The study of sleep could potentially reveal why dreams are a part of it and how they might contribute to our psychological well-being. f. What types of images might appear in dreams? Dreams can include a wide range of images, from highly vivid and detailed representations of real-world objects, people, or scenes, to very vague and abstract images that are unclear and difficult to comprehend. The clarity and nature of these images can vary greatly between different dreams and individuals. g. How are vivid dreams different from vague dreams? Vivid dreams are those that are extraordinarily clear and detailed, where the dreamer can easily recall the images, emotions, and events. These dreams can feel very real and are often memorable. On the other hand, vague dreams are unclear and sometimes difficult to understand. The images or thoughts in these dreams may be blurry or disjointed, making it hard for the dreamer to remember or make sense of the dream. h. What range of emotions can be experienced in dreams? Dreams can evoke a wide range of emotions, from intense joy and excitement to deep fear, sadness, or anxiety. The emotions experienced in dreams often reflect the content of the dream and can be as complex as those felt during waking hours. Dreamers might experience happiness in a positive scenario or fear and distress when facing nightmares or unsettling dreams. i. What does the text say about the clarity of dreams? The text states that dreams can vary significantly in terms of clarity. Some dreams are focused and understandable, meaning the dreamer can follow the events and comprehend the meanings or messages within the dream. In contrast, other dreams can be unclear and confusing, with disjointed or vague elements that make it difficult for the dreamer to interpret or even remember what happened. j. What are some common characteristics of confusing dreams? Confusing dreams often have characteristics such as unclear or fragmented imagery, disjointed storylines, and a sense of disorientation. These dreams may lack a logical flow, making it hard for the dreamer to understand or make sense of what is happening. The emotions in these dreams might also be mixed or conflicting, adding to the confusion and leaving the dreamer with a sense of uncertainty upon waking.                         Answer: Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   স্বপ্ন হাজার বছর ধরে দার্শনিকদের আকর্ষণ করেছে, তবে সম্প্রতি স্বপ্নকে পরীক্ষামূলক গবেষণা এবং বৈজ্ঞানিক অধ্যয়নের বিষয় হিসেবে বিবেচনা করা হয়েছে। সম্ভবত, আপনি প্রায়ই কোনো স্বপ্নের বিষয়বস্তু নিয়ে চিন্তিত হয়েছেন, অথবা আপনি হয়তো ভেবেছেন কেন আমরা স্বপ্ন দেখি। প্রথমে, আসুন একটি মৌলিক প্রশ্নের উত্তর দিয়ে শুরু করি: স্বপ্ন কী? একটি স্বপ্নে যে কোনো ছবি, চিন্তা এবং অনুভূতির অন্তর্ভুক্তি থাকতে পারে যা ঘুমানোর সময় অভিজ্ঞতা করা হয়। স্বপ্ন হতে পারে অত্যন্ত স্পষ্ট বা খুবই অস্পষ্ট; আনন্দময় অনুভূতিতে পরিপূর্ণ বা ভীতিকর ছবিতে পূর্ণ, কেন্দ্রীভূত এবং বোধগম্য বা অস্পষ্ট এবং বিভ্রান্তিকর। কেন আমরা স্বপ্ন দেখি? স্বপ্নের উদ্দেশ্য কী? যদিও স্বপ্ন দেখার কারণ এবং কার্যকারিতা নিয়ে অনেক তত্ত্ব প্রস্তাব করা হয়েছে, তবে কোনো ঐকমত্যে পৌঁছানো যায়নি। আমরা স্বপ্ন দেখার অবস্থায় যে সময় কাটাই তা বিবেচনা করলে, গবেষকরা এখনও স্বপ্নের উদ্দেশ্য বুঝতে না পারাটা হতবুদ্ধিকর বলে মনে হতে পারে। তবে, এটি বিবেচনা করা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ যে বিজ্ঞান এখনও ঘুমের সঠিক উদ্দেশ্য এবং কার্যকারিতা উন্মোচনের চেষ্টা করছে।কিছু গবেষক মনে করেন যে স্বপ্নের কোনো বাস্তব উদ্দেশ্য নেই, আবার অন্যরা বিশ্বাস করেন যে স্বপ্ন দেখা মানসিক, আবেগগত এবং শারীরিক মঙ্গলতার জন্য অত্যাবশ্যক। এরপর, আসুন কিছু উল্লেখযোগ্য স্বপ্ন তত্ত্ব সম্পর্কে আরও জানি। মনস্তাত্ত্বিক দৃষ্টিভঙ্গির সাথে সঙ্গতিপূর্ণ, সিগমুন্ড ফ্রয়েডের স্বপ্ন তত্ত্ব নির্দেশ করে যে স্বপ্ন হলো অবচেতন ইচ্ছা, চিন্তা এবং প্রেরণার প্রতিফলন। ফ্রয়েডের মতে, মানুষ আক্রমণাত্মক এবং যৌন প্রবৃত্তি দ্বারা চালিত হয় যা সচেতনভাবে দমন করা হয়। এই চিন্তাগুলো সচেতনভাবে প্রকাশিত না হলেও, সেগুলো স্বপ্নের মাধ্যমে আমাদের চেতনায় প্রবেশ করে। তার বিখ্যাত বই The Interpretation of Dreams –এ ফ্রয়েড লিখেছেন যে স্বপ্ন হলো “…. দমনকৃত ইচ্ছার ছদ্মরূপ পূরণ।“ Ad 1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. Dreams have fascinated philosophers for thousands of years, but only recently have dreams been subjected to empirical research and scientific study. Chances are that you've often found yourself puzzling over the content of a dream, or perhaps you've wondered why you dream at all. First, let's start by answering a basic question: What is a dream? A dream can include any of the images, thoughts and emotions that are experienced during sleep. Dreams can be extraordinarily vivid or very vague; filled with joyful emotions or frightening images; focused and understandable or unclear and confusing. Why do we dream? What purpose do dreams serve? While many theories have been proposed, no consensus has emerged. Considering the time we spend in a dreaming state, the fact that researchers do not yet understand the purpose of dreams may seem baffling. However, it is important to consider that science is still unraveling the exact purpose and function of sleep itself. Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being. Next, let's learn more about some of the most prominent dream theories.  Consistent with the psychoanalytic perspective, Sigmund Freud's theory of dreams suggests that dreams are a representation of unconscious desires, thoughts and motivations. According to Freud, people are driven by aggressive and sexual instincts that are repressed from conscious awareness. While these thoughts are not consciously expressed, they find their way into our awareness via dreams. In his famous book "The Interpretation of Dreams", Freud wrote that dreams are '.... disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes'. Freud's theory contributed to the popularity of dream interpretation. Following his paths many theorists came up with their own ideas about dreams. The following are just a few of them: ► Some researchers suggest that dreams are a subjective interpretation of signals generated by the brain during sleep. Dreams are not meaningless. Instead, during dreams the cognitive elements in our brain produce new ideas. ► One theory suggests that dreams are the result of our brains trying to interpret external stimuli during sleep. For example, the sound of the radio may be incorporated into the content of a dream. ► Another theory uses a computer metaphor on account for dreams. According to this theory, dreams serve to 'clean up' clutter from the mind, much like clean-up operations in a computer, refreshing the mind to prepare for the next day. ► Yet another model proposes that dreams function as a form of psychotherapy. In this theory, the dreamer is able to make connections between different thoughts and emotions in a safe environment.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) Which of the following has the closest meaning the word 'fascinate'?  (i) bore (ii) delight (iii) famish (iv) repel (b) The word 'nightmare' in the context refers to —.  (i) bad dream (ii) day-dream (iii) imagination (iv) romantic dream (c) "The Interpretation of Dreams" is written by —.  (i) Charles Darwin   (ii) Sigmund Freud   (iii) Karl Marx  (iv) Leo Tolstoy  (d) The word 'meaningless' in the passage has the closest meaning to —.  (i) fruitful (ii) fruitless (iii) significant (iv) important (e) Dreams serve to 'clean up' clutter from the mind. What does it imply?  (i) dreams refresh the mind (ii) dreams remove mental agony   (iii) dreams deal with mental problem (iv) dreams remain in the mind (f) Which of the following is the closest meaning of the word 'empirical'?  (i) impractical (ii) practical (iii) theoretical (iv) illogical (g) What does the word 'research' mean?  (i) search (ii) look for (iii) study  (iv) revision (h) The word 'puzzling' means —.  (i) perplexing (ii) straightforward (iii) wise (iv) enlightening (i) The word 'thought' means —.  (i) objection (ii) opposition (iii) supporter (iv) opinion (j) Dreams can be — vivid or very vague.  (i) exceptionally (ii) usually (iii) ordinarily (iv) normally (k) What does the word 'vivid' mean?  (i) lifeless (ii) colourless (iii) colourful (iv) unrealistic (l) The word 'vague' means —.  (i) definite (ii) unclear (iii) clear (iv) solid (m) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'essential'?  (i) necessary (ii) unnecessary (iii) valueless (iv) inessential (n) What does the word 'prominent' mean?  (i) ordinary (ii) notable (iii) known (iv) infamous (o) The word 'perspective' means —.  (i) viewpoint (ii) personal (iii) cognitive (iv) pervasive (p) Dreams are a — of unconscious desires, thoughts and motivations.  (i) present (ii) gift (iii) depiction (iv) depression (q) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'unconscious'?  (i) aware (ii) insensible (iii) subconscious (iv) sensible (r) What is the synonym of the word 'desire'?  (i) expectation (ii) exception (iii) excursion (iv) demand (s) The word 'interpret' means —.  (i) to interrupt (ii) to clarify (iii) to confess (iv) to concentrate (t) The word 'cognitive' refers to a —.  (i) mental process of understanding (ii) process of entertainment  (iii) process of keeping good health (iv) process of developing thoughts (u) The word 'clutter' refers to —.  (i) confusion (ii) relaxation (iii) tension (iv) action (v) The word 'function' in the passage has the closest meaning to —.  (i) operate (ii) behave (iii) go (iv) perform (w) Which of the following is the closest word of 'consensus'?  (i) decision (ii) discussion (iii) permition (iv) emotion (x) Dreams function as a form of — .  (i) radiotherapy  (ii) psychotherapy  (iii) physiotherapy  (iv) brain therapy  (y) The word 'aggressive' in the passage has the closest meaning to —.  (i) offensive (ii) submissive (iii) friendly (iv) timid (z) 'puzzling over the content of dream'— what does it imply?  (i) thinking deeply about the subject of dream   (ii) thinking deeply about the condition of dream   (iii) thinking deeply about the satisfaction of dream  (iv) thinking lightly about the subject of dream Answer (A): (a) (ii) delight (b) (i) bad dream (c) (ii) Sigmund Freud (d) (ii) fruitless (e) (i) dreams refresh the mind (f) (ii) practical (g) (iii) study (h) (i) perplexing (i) (iv) opinion (j) (i) exceptionally (k) (iii) colourful (l) (ii) unclear (m) (i) necessary (n) (ii) notable (o) (i) viewpoint (p) (iii) depiction (q) (ii) insensible (r) (i) expectation (s) (ii) to clarify (t) (i) mental process of understanding (u) (i) confusion (v) (iv) perform (w) (i) decision (x) (ii) psychotherapy (y) (i) offensive (z) (i) thinking deeply about the subject of dream B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What do you know about a dream? (b) Why do we dream? (c) What purpose do dreams serve according to the researchers? (d) Is a dream real or unreal? Give reasons for your answer.  (e) Who is a dreamer? Do you like a dreamer? Why/ why not? (f) Who have been fascinated by dreams for thousands of years? What is the recent progress regarding dreams? (g) Who is the writer of "The Interpretation of Dreams"? What did the writer write about dreams in this book? (h) How did Freud's theory contribute to the popularity of dream interpretation? (i) "The sound of the radio may be incorporated into the content of a dream." What is the theory of this example? (j) Explain the theory of dreams that says "dreams are not meaningless" in 2/3 sentences. (k) What purpose do dreams serve? Describe in 2/3 sentences. (l) Is there any relation between dream and action? (m) Why does a theory use a computer metaphor to account for dreams? Answer (B):  (a) A dream is a series of images, events and feelings that happen in our mind while we are in sleep. Dream can be vivid or vague. Sometimes it is joyful and sometimes frightening.  (b) We dream for our mental, emotional and physical well-being. Though some researchers think that dreams serve no real purpose.  (c) According to some researchers, dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.  (d) A dream is unreal. It is a state of mind or a situation in which things do not seem oral or part of normal life.  (e) A person who dreams is a dreamer. No, I do not like a dreamer. Because a dreamer has ideas or plans that are not practical or realistic. He does not pay attention to what is happening around him. Moreover, he does not always remember his dreams.  (f) The philosophers have been fascinated by dreams for thousands of years. The recent progress regarding dreams is that dreams have been subjected to empirical research and scientific study.  (g) Sigmund Freud is the writer of "The Interpretation of Dreams". In this book he wrote that dreams are '....... disguised fulfillments of repressed wishes'.  (h) Freud's theory had a great contribution to the popularity of dream interpretation. Many theorists followed his paths and they came up with their own ideas about dreams.  (i) The theory of the given example is that dreams are the result of our brains trying to interpret external stimuli during sleep.  (j) The theory of dreams that says 'dreams are not meaningless' describes the dreams as a subjective interpretation of signals generated by the brain during sleep. During dreams the cognitive elements in our brain produce new ideas.   (k) According to some researchers' suggestion, there is no real purpose of dream. But the other researchers believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.  (l) Yes, I think there is a relation between dream and action. People dream first and then they take action according to their dream to fulfill their dream.  (m) A theory uses a computer metaphor to account for dreams because according to this theory, dreams serve to 'clean up' clutter from the mind, much like clean-up operation in a computer, refreshing the mind to prepare for the next day. Ad vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Fascinated  - মুগ্ধ Philosophers  - দার্শনিকরা Empirical  - অভিজ্ঞতামূলক Puzzling  - বিভ্রান্তিকর Content  - বিষয়বস্তু Vivid  - স্পষ্ট, উজ্জ্বল Vague  - অস্পষ্ট Joyful  - আনন্দময় Frightening  - ভীতিপূর্ণ Focused  - মনোযোগী Unclear  - অস্পষ্ট Confusing  - বিভ্রান্তিকর Purpose  - উদ্দেশ্য Consensus  - ঐক্যমত Baffling  - বিভ্রান্তিকর Unraveling  - উদঘাটন করা Function  - কার্যকারিতা Instincts  - প্রবৃত্তি Repressed  - দমন করা Awareness  - সচেতনতা Disguised  - ছদ্মবেশী Fulfillments  - পূর্ণতা Desires  - ইচ্ছা Subconscious  - অবচেতন Motivations  - প্রেরণা Interpretation  - ব্যাখ্যা Driven  - পরিচালিত Expression  - অভিব্যক্তি Psychoanalytic  - মনোবিশ্লেষণী Theory  - তত্ত্ব Aggressive  - আক্রমণাত্মক Sexual  - যৌন Repressed  - দমন করা Awareness  - সচেতনতা Vividly  - স্পষ্টভাবে Involuntary  - অনিচ্ছাকৃত Memory  - স্মৃতি Recollection  - স্মরণ Reflects  - প্রতিফলিত করা Dreaming  - স্বপ্ন দেখা

One of the historical landmarks of Sonargaon is the ancient city of Panam (also known as Painam) or Panam Nagar, which was developed to the south of the old city to provide residential quarters to Lire governors after the Moghuls conquered Sonargaon in 1611. But some historians believe the city’s history is much older and that the Moghuls developed Panam Nagar and built highways and bridges to connect it with Sonargaon. Three such bridges still exist. There are also three artificial canals that were dug up for easy communication and protection of the city. Panam Nagar became a prosperous trading post under die British rule. The East India Company made it a centre of muslin  trade. At the peak of the trade about 1400 families of weavers lived in and around the city. If you visit Panam Nagar today, you will see old buildings lining both sides of a 600 meter road, ending at Panam Bazar. The brick buildings were built by Hindu traders in the early 19th to early 20th century. No one lives in these buildings now as the place is considered a heritage site. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) What was Panam Nagar developed for after the Mughals conquered Sonargaon? a) A marketplace b) A residential area for governors c) A military base d) A religious site Answer: b) A residential area for governors When did the Mughals conquer Sonargaon? a) 1500 b) 1550 c) 1611 d) 1757 Answer: c) 1611 What did the Mughals build to connect Panam Nagar with Sonargaon? a) Forts b) Canals c) Highways and bridges d) Temples Answer: c) Highways and bridges How many bridges from the Mughal period still exist in Panam Nagar? a) One b) Two c) Three d) Four Answer: c) Three Why were artificial canals dug in Panam Nagar? a) For irrigation b) For easy communication and protection c) For religious purposes d) To drain excess water Answer: b) For easy communication and protection Under British rule, Panam Nagar became a center for what trade? a) Spices b) Cotton c) Muslin d) Silk Answer: c) Muslin Approximately how many weaving families lived around Panam Nagar at the peak of the muslin trade? a) 500 b) 1000 c) 1400 d) 2000 Answer: c) 1400 What is the length of the road lined with old buildings in Panam Nagar? a) 400 meters b) 500 meters c) 600 meters d) 700 meters Answer: c) 600 meters Who built the brick buildings in Panam Nagar? a) Mughal emperors b) British officials c) Hindu traders d) East India Company Answer: c) Hindu traders What is the current status of Panam Nagar? a) It is a residential area b) It is a heritage site c) It is a government office d) It is a commercial center Answer: b) It is a heritage site Short Answer Questions with Elaborate Answers Why was Panam Nagar developed, and who used it? Answer:  Panam Nagar was developed as a residential area for the Mughal governors after the conquest of Sonargaon in 1611. However, some historians believe the city's history predates Mughal rule. The Mughals expanded the area and built highways and bridges to connect it with Sonargaon, making it a well-structured settlement. What role did Panam Nagar play during British rule? Answer:  During British rule, Panam Nagar became a major center for muslin trade. The East India Company played a crucial role in establishing it as a prosperous trading post. Around 1400 families of weavers lived in and around the city, producing high-quality muslin fabric that was exported to different parts of the world. How did the Mughals enhance the infrastructure of Panam Nagar? Answer:  The Mughals enhanced Panam Nagar by constructing highways and bridges to connect it with Sonargaon. They also dug three artificial canals, which facilitated easy transportation and provided security by acting as a protective barrier against potential threats. Who were the primary builders of the brick buildings in Panam Nagar, and when were they built? Answer:  The brick buildings in Panam Nagar were primarily built by Hindu traders between the early 19th and early 20th centuries. These buildings were used for commercial and residential purposes, showcasing the architectural style of that period. Why was muslin trade significant in Panam Nagar? Answer:  The muslin trade was significant because it brought economic prosperity to Panam Nagar. The region became famous for its fine muslin fabric, which was highly valued in European and other international markets. The British East India Company utilized Panam Nagar as a key trading hub for muslin exports. What evidence of Mughal construction still exists in Panam Nagar today?Answer:  Today, three Mughal-era bridges still exist in Panam Nagar. These bridges were part of the infrastructure developed by the Mughals to improve connectivity between Panam Nagar and Sonargaon. They serve as historical landmarks reflecting the engineering and planning of that era. What makes Panam Nagar an important heritage site today? Answer:  Panam Nagar is an important heritage site because it preserves historical structures from the Mughal and British periods. The old brick buildings, bridges, and canals provide insight into the architectural, economic, and social history of the region. Although no one lives there today, it remains a significant cultural and historical landmark. Why are the buildings in Panam Nagar abandoned today? Answer:  The buildings in Panam Nagar are abandoned because the area has been declared a heritage site. Due to its historical significance, the site is preserved for tourism and academic study rather than residential use. The old structures remain as reminders of the region's past prosperity. What is the significance of the 600-meter road in Panam Nagar? Answer:  The 600-meter road in Panam Nagar is significant because it is lined with old brick buildings on both sides, leading to Panam Bazar. This road represents the heart of the historic city, reflecting the commercial and residential layout established by Hindu traders in the 19th and 20th centuries. How did the artificial canals benefit Panam Nagar? Answer:  The artificial canals in Panam Nagar were dug for dual purposes: transportation and security. They facilitated the easy movement of goods and people while also acting as defensive barriers to protect the city from external threats. These canals played a crucial role in the city's development and trade activities. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   সোনারগাঁওয়ের ঐতিহাসিক নিদর্শনগুলির মধ্যে একটি হল প্রাচীন পানাম শহর (যা পাইনাম নামেও পরিচিত) বা পানাম নগর, যা ১৬১১ সালে মোঘলরা সোনারগাঁও জয় করার পর লির গভর্নরদের আবাসিক আবাসনের জন্য পুরাতন শহরের দক্ষিণে গড়ে তোলা হয়েছিল। তবে কিছু ঐতিহাসিক বিশ্বাস করেন যে শহরের ইতিহাস অনেক পুরনো এবং মোঘলরা পানাম নগর গড়ে তুলেছিল এবং সোনারগাঁওয়ের সাথে সংযোগ স্থাপনের জন্য মহাসড়ক এবং সেতু নির্মাণ করেছিল। এরকম তিনটি সেতু এখনও বিদ্যমান। শহরের সহজ যোগাযোগ এবং সুরক্ষার জন্য তিনটি কৃত্রিম খালও খনন করা হয়েছিল। ব্রিটিশ শাসনামলে পানাম নগর একটি সমৃদ্ধ বাণিজ্যকেন্দ্রে পরিণত হয়েছিল। ইস্ট ইন্ডিয়া কোম্পানি এটিকে মসলিন বাণিজ্যের কেন্দ্র করে তোলে। বাণিজ্যের শীর্ষে থাকাকালীন প্রায় ১৪০০ তাঁতি পরিবার শহরে এবং তার আশেপাশে বাস করত। আপনি যদি আজ পানাম নগর পরিদর্শন করেন, তাহলে আপনি ৬০০ মিটার দীর্ঘ রাস্তার উভয় পাশে পুরানো ভবন দেখতে পাবেন, যা পানাম বাজারে শেষ হবে। ইটের ভবনগুলি ১৯ শতকের গোড়ার দিকে থেকে ২০ শতকের গোড়ার দিকে হিন্দু ব্যবসায়ীরা তৈরি করেছিলেন। এই জায়গাটি ঐতিহ্যবাহী স্থান হিসেবে বিবেচিত হওয়ায় এখন এই ভবনগুলিতে কেউ বাস করে না। Ad General Vocabulary Landmark  – গুরুত্বপূর্ণ স্থাপনা Ancient  – প্রাচীন Prosperous  – সমৃদ্ধশালী Heritage  – ঐতিহ্য Abandoned  – পরিত্যক্ত Architecture  – স্থাপত্য Preserve  – সংরক্ষণ করা Conquer  – জয় করা Trade  – বাণিজ্য Artificial  – কৃত্রিম Historical and Cultural Terms Mughal  – মোগল Governor  – গভর্নর / শাসক Weaver  – তাঁতী Muslin  – মসলিন কাপড় Bazaar  – বাজার Dynasty  – রাজবংশ Colonial  – উপনিবেশিক Settlement  – বসতি Canal  – খাল / কৃত্রিম জলপথ Ruin  – ধ্বংসাবশেষ Structural and Environmental Terms Bridge  – সেতু Roadway  – পথ / রাস্তা Brick  – ইট Fortification  – দুর্গীকরণ Mansion  – প্রাসাদ / বিশাল ভবন Gateway  – প্রবেশদ্বার Residence  – বাসস্থান Protection  – সুরক্ষা Expansion  – সম্প্রসারণ Tourism  – পর্যটন 4o Ad

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: Art is generally understood as an expression of human imagination and creative skills in a range of activities including painting, drawing, sculpture and architecture. The aim of art is to evoke feelings and emotions that are considered aesthetic – that is, concerned with beauty but art also can be a form of social commentary. A painting of sunset over the sea glorifies nature, but one that shows a war ravaged town can convey a sense of anguish. Throughout the world people appreciate art for its power to affect them in creative ways. As the famous painter Pablo Picasso said, “the purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” Art in our country has a long history. It has been practiced in households in the form of pottery, nakshikantha or embroidered quilt, alpana or intricate, mostly floral designs in rice paste done on clay yards and shokher harhi or painted earthen pots (and their lids). These are examples of folk art. But there is another form of art which is called modern art, which owes its origin to the industrial revolution in Western Europe in the middle of-19th century and the changes it brought in technology, education, manufacturing and communication. Modern art rejected traditional art forms and began to create new types of artistic expression using styles, techniques, colours and materials that could adequately reflect the spirit of the time and the profound changes in human thought. The beginning of modern art practices in our country date from 1948, when the great artist Zainul Abedin (1914-1976), with the help of some colleagues set up an institute of art in Dhaka (now the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka). As it began to offer art education, the institute drew together a number of talented teachers and students who contributed to the development of modern art almost from scratch. But within a decade, artists were reflecting most recent trends and styles in their work such as expressionism and abstract expressionism- while maintaining a close contact with the traditions of folk art. Zainul had earned all-India fame for his Famine Sketches, a series of haunting sketches based on the Bengal famine of 1943 which took hundreds of thousands of lives. His watercolors, scroll paintings and drawings inspire our artists even today. The other prominent artists who had major contributions to the spectacular rise of our contemporary art include Qamrul Hassan, SM Sultan, Safiuddin Ahmed, Abdur Razzak, Qayyum Chowdhury, Murtaza Baseer, Aminul Islam, Syed Jahangir, Debdas Chakravarty, Novera Ahmed and Muhammad Kibria. The war of liberation and the independence of the country in 1971 inspired our artists to continue the efforts of the earlier artists to explore the limits of art and create new expressive modes. For the next four decades, art in our country saw many experimentations. Artists dealt with new ideas such as installation art and graphic art; and reshaped older, traditional art forms. If you visit any art gallery or art exhibition, you will find how our art reflects our changing realities in fascinating and insightful ways. Bangla Translation: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. What is the primary focus of the text? (i) The scientific study of dreams (ii) The interpretation of dreams in culture (iii) The historical fascination with dreams (iv) The philosophical debates about dreams What is art generally understood as? (i) A means of industrialization (ii) An expression of human imagination (iii) A form of literature (iv) A scientific endeavor According to the text, what is the primary goal of art? (i) To depict historical events (ii) To evoke feelings and emotions (iii) To create financial value (iv) To serve religious purposes What type of emotions can art evoke? (i) Only joy (ii) Joy and anger (iii) Aesthetic and creative emotions (iv) Both aesthetic and social emotions What is an example of art being a form of social commentary? (i) A painting of a sunset over the sea (ii) A sculpture of an animal (iii) A war-ravaged town’s painting (iv) Architectural blueprints What does Picasso suggest is the purpose of art? (i) To reflect society’s evolution (ii) To inspire daily routines (iii) To cleanse the soul of daily life’s burdens (iv) To glorify nature Which of the following is an example of folk art mentioned in the text? (i) Abstract painting (ii) Nakshikantha (iii) Installation art (iv) Expressionism Where did modern art originate? (i) South Asia (ii) Western Europe (iii) The United States (iv) Ancient Greece What historical event led to the rise of modern art? (i) The Industrial Revolution (ii) World War II (iii) The Renaissance (iv) The French Revolution How does modern art differ from traditional art? (i) It uses digital techniques exclusively (ii) It rejects traditional forms and explores new styles (iii) It glorifies only natural beauty (iv) It focuses solely on industrial themes When did modern art practices begin in Bangladesh? (i) 1971 (ii) 1948 (iii) 1914 (iv) 1965 Who was instrumental in founding the Institute of Art in Dhaka? (i) Pablo Picasso (ii) Zainul Abedin (iii) SM Sultan (iv) Abdur Razzak What inspired Zainul Abedin’s Famine Sketches? (i) The Bengal famine of 1943 (ii) The War of Liberation in 1971 (iii) The Industrial Revolution (iv) The French Revolution Which of the following art forms did Zainul Abedin master? (i) Abstract expressionism (ii) Scroll paintings and watercolors (iii) Graphic design (iv) Digital art What is significant about Zainul Abedin’s contribution to art? (i) He introduced installation art (ii) He blended folk art with modern styles (iii) He focused only on sculpture (iv) He established art museums internationally B. Answer the following questions: 3×5=15 a. What is art generally understood as b. Why is art considered an expression of human imagination? c. What is the primary aim of art according to the text? d. How can art evoke emotions? e. What is an example of art as a form of social commentary? f. What does a painting of a war-ravaged town convey? g. Why do people appreciate art around the world? h. What did Pablo Picasso say about the purpose of art? i. What are some examples of folk art mentioned in the text? j. How has art been practiced traditionally in Bangladesh?     Answer: A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. What is the primary focus of the text? (ii) The interpretation of dreams in culture What is art generally understood as? (ii) An expression of human imagination According to the text, what is the primary goal of art? (ii) To evoke feelings and emotions What type of emotions can art evoke? (iv) Both aesthetic and social emotions What is an example of art being a form of social commentary? (iii) A war-ravaged town’s painting What does Picasso suggest is the purpose of art? (iii) To cleanse the soul of daily life’s burdens Which of the following is an example of folk art mentioned in the text? (ii) Nakshikantha Where did modern art originate? (ii) Western Europe What historical event led to the rise of modern art? (i) The Industrial Revolution How does modern art differ from traditional art? (ii) It rejects traditional forms and explores new styles When did modern art practices begin in Bangladesh? (ii) 1948 Who was instrumental in founding the Institute of Art in Dhaka? (ii) Zainul Abedin What inspired Zainul Abedin’s Famine Sketches? (i) The Bengal famine of 1943 Which of the following art forms did Zainul Abedin master? (ii) Scroll paintings and watercolors What is significant about Zainul Abedin’s contribution to art? (ii) He blended folk art with modern styles B. Answer of the questions: a. What is art generally understood as? Art is generally understood as an expression of human imagination and creative skills in various forms, including painting, drawing, sculpture, and architecture. b. Why is art considered an expression of human imagination? Art is considered an expression of human imagination because it allows individuals to convey feelings, emotions, and ideas creatively, using various techniques and materials. c. What is the primary aim of art according to the text? The primary aim of art is to evoke feelings and emotions that are considered aesthetic, meaning they are related to beauty, although it can also serve as social commentary. d. How can art evoke emotions? Art can evoke emotions through its ability to depict scenes or convey messages that resonate deeply with the viewer, such as showing the beauty of nature or the anguish of war. e. What is an example of art as a form of social commentary? A painting of a war-ravaged town is an example of art as a form of social commentary, as it conveys a sense of anguish and reflects the harsh realities of war. f. What does a painting of a war-ravaged town convey? A painting of a war-ravaged town conveys a sense of anguish and can highlight the destructive impact of war on communities. g. Why do people appreciate art around the world? People appreciate art because of its power to affect them creatively, inspiring emotions and thoughts that reflect both beauty and societal issues. h. What did Pablo Picasso say about the purpose of art? Pablo Picasso said that the purpose of art is to wash the dust of daily life off our souls, implying that art helps cleanse the mind and provide a deeper, emotional connection to life. i. What are some examples of folk art mentioned in the text? Some examples of folk art mentioned in the text include pottery, nakshikantha (embroidered quilts), alpana (floral designs in rice paste), and shokher harhi (painted earthen pots). j. How has art been practiced traditionally in Bangladesh? Art in Bangladesh has been practiced traditionally through various forms of folk art such as pottery, embroidered quilts, and intricate designs in rice paste, often reflecting local culture and customs. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   শিল্পকে সাধারণত চিত্রকলা, অঙ্কন, ভাস্কর্য এবং স্থাপত্য সহ বিভিন্ন ক্রিয়াকলাপে মানুষের কল্পনা এবং সৃজনশীল দক্ষতার প্রকাশ হিসাবে বোঝা যায়। শিল্পের লক্ষ্য হল এমন অনুভূতি এবং আবেগকে জাগিয়ে তোলা যা নান্দনিক বলে বিবেচিত হয় - অর্থাৎ সৌন্দর্যের সাথে সম্পর্কিত কিন্তু শিল্প সামাজিক ভাষ্যের একটি রূপও হতে পারে। সমুদ্রের উপর সূর্যাস্তের একটি চিত্র প্রকৃতিকে মহিমান্বিত করে, কিন্তু যুদ্ধবিধ্বস্ত শহরকে দেখানো যন্ত্রণার অনুভূতি প্রকাশ করতে পারে। বিশ্বজুড়ে মানুষ শিল্পকে সৃজনশীল উপায়ে প্রভাবিত করার ক্ষমতার জন্য প্রশংসা করে। বিখ্যাত চিত্রশিল্পী পাবলো পিকাসো যেমন বলেছিলেন, "শিল্পের উদ্দেশ্য হল আমাদের আত্মা থেকে দৈনন্দিন জীবনের ধুলো ধুয়ে ফেলা।" আমাদের দেশে শিল্পের একটি দীর্ঘ ইতিহাস রয়েছে। এটি গৃহস্থালিতে মৃৎশিল্প, নকশিকাঁথা বা সূচিকর্ম করা লেপ, আল্পনা বা জটিল, বেশিরভাগ ফুলের নকশা যা মাটির উঠোন এবং শোখের হাড়িতে তৈরি চালের পেস্টে তৈরি করা হয় বা মাটির পাত্র (এবং তাদের ঢাকনা) আঁকা হয়। এগুলি লোকশিল্পের উদাহরণ। কিন্তু আধুনিক শিল্প নামে আরেকটি শিল্পের সূচনা, যা ঊনবিংশ শতাব্দীর মাঝামাঝি পশ্চিম ইউরোপে শিল্প বিপ্লব এবং এর ফলে প্রযুক্তি, শিক্ষা, উৎপাদন এবং যোগাযোগের ক্ষেত্রে যে পরিবর্তন এসেছিল তার ফলে। আধুনিক শিল্প ঐতিহ্যবাহী শিল্পকলাকে প্রত্যাখ্যান করে এবং সেই সময়ের চেতনা এবং মানুষের চিন্তাভাবনার গভীর পরিবর্তনগুলিকে যথাযথভাবে প্রতিফলিত করতে পারে এমন শৈলী, কৌশল, রঙ এবং উপকরণ ব্যবহার করে নতুন ধরণের শৈল্পিক প্রকাশ তৈরি করতে শুরু করে। আমাদের দেশে আধুনিক শিল্পচর্চার সূচনা ১৯৪৮ সালে, যখন মহান শিল্পী জয়নুল আবেদীন (১৯১৪-১৯৭৬), কিছু সহকর্মীর সহায়তায় ঢাকায় একটি শিল্প ইনস্টিটিউট (বর্তমানে চারুকলা অনুষদ, ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়) প্রতিষ্ঠা করেন। শিল্প শিক্ষা প্রদান শুরু করার সাথে সাথে, ইনস্টিটিউটটি বেশ কয়েকজন প্রতিভাবান শিক্ষক এবং ছাত্রকে একত্রিত করে যারা প্রায় শুরু থেকেই আধুনিক শিল্পের বিকাশে অবদান রেখেছিলেন। কিন্তু এক দশকের মধ্যে, শিল্পীরা তাদের কাজে সাম্প্রতিক প্রবণতা এবং শৈলী যেমন প্রকাশবাদ এবং বিমূর্ত প্রকাশবাদ প্রতিফলিত করতে শুরু করেছিলেন - লোকশিল্পের ঐতিহ্যের সাথে ঘনিষ্ঠ যোগাযোগ বজায় রেখে। ১৯৪৩ সালের বাংলার দুর্ভিক্ষের উপর ভিত্তি করে তৈরি "Famine Sketches" সিরিজের জন্য জয়নুল সর্বভারতীয় খ্যাতি অর্জন করেছিলেন, যা লক্ষ লক্ষ মানুষের প্রাণ কেড়ে নিয়েছিল। তার জলরঙ, স্ক্রোল পেইন্টিং এবং অঙ্কন আজও আমাদের শিল্পীদের অনুপ্রাণিত করে। আমাদের সমসাময়িক শিল্পের অসাধারণ উত্থানে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অবদান রাখা অন্যান্য বিশিষ্ট শিল্পীদের মধ্যে রয়েছেন কামরুল হাসান, এসএম সুলতান, সফিউদ্দিন আহমেদ, আব্দুর রাজ্জাক, কাইয়ুম চৌধুরী, মুর্তজা বশীর, আমিনুল ইসলাম, সৈয়দ জাহাঙ্গীর, দেবদাস চক্রবর্তী, নভেরা আহমেদ এবং মুহাম্মদ কিবরিয়া। ১৯৭১ সালের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ এবং দেশের স্বাধীনতা আমাদের শিল্পীদের শিল্পের সীমা অন্বেষণ এবং নতুন প্রকাশের ধরণ তৈরির জন্য পূর্ববর্তী শিল্পীদের প্রচেষ্টা অব্যাহত রাখতে অনুপ্রাণিত করেছিল। পরবর্তী চার দশক ধরে, আমাদের দেশের শিল্পে অনেক পরীক্ষা-নিরীক্ষা দেখা গেছে। শিল্পীরা ইনস্টলেশন আর্ট এবং গ্রাফিক আর্ট এর মতো নতুন ধারণা নিয়ে কাজ করেছেন; এবং পুরানো, ঐতিহ্যবাহী শিল্প রূপগুলিকে নতুন রূপ দিয়েছেন। আপনি যদি কোনও আর্ট গ্যালারি বা শিল্প প্রদর্শনীতে যান, তাহলে আপনি দেখতে পাবেন কীভাবে আমাদের শিল্প আমাদের পরিবর্তিত বাস্তবতাকে আকর্ষণীয় এবং অন্তর্দৃষ্টিপূর্ণ উপায়ে প্রতিফলিত করে। Ad words with their Bangla meanings: Abstract  - বিমূর্ত Admire  - প্রশংসা করা Adventure  - অভিযান Aesthetic  - নান্দনিক Artist  - শিল্পী Artwork  - শিল্পকর্ম Benevolent  - দয়ালু Brilliant  - চমত্কার Charming  - মোহনীয় Clarity  - পরিষ্কারতা Creativity  - সৃজনশীলতা Critical  - গুরুত্বপূর্ণ Cultural  - সাংস্কৃতিক Delicate  - সূক্ষ্ম Design  - নকশা Elegance  - শালীনতা Empathy  - সহানুভূতি Expressive  - প্রকাশমুখী Flexible  - নমনীয় Genius  - প্রতিভা Graceful  - মার্জিত Harmony  - সঙ্গতি Imagination  - কল্পনা Inspiration  - অনুপ্রেরণা Innovative  - নতুন ধারার Insightful  - অন্তর্দৃষ্টি পূর্ণ Intuition  - অনুভূতি Interpret  - ব্যাখ্যা করা Majestic  - আভিজ্ঞানপূর্ণ Metaphor  - রূপক Modern  - আধুনিক Motivation  - প্রেরণা Mysterious  - রহস্যময় Nostalgic  - নস্টালজিক Obvious  - স্পষ্ট Original  - মৌলিক Perception  - ধারণা Perspective  - দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি Philosophy  - দর্শন Portrait  - প্রতিকৃতি Realistic  - বাস্তবসম্মত Refined  - পরিশীলিত Revolutionary  - বিপ্লবী Serenity  - শান্তি Sculpture  - ভাস্কর্য Sophisticated  - উন্নত Symbolic  - প্রতীকী Technique  - কৌশল Texture  - আঁচ Traditional  - ঐতিহ্যবাহী Trendy  - ফ্যাশনেবল Unique  - অনন্য Vibrant  - প্রাণবন্ত Visionary  - ভবিষ্যদ্রষ্টা Vivid  - স্পষ্ট Whimsical  - অলীক Wondrous  - আশ্চর্যজনক Wisdom  - জ্ঞান Zenith  - শীর্ষ Zealous  - আগ্রহী Ad Passage-2 1.           Read the passage and answer the questions following it Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world. Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela never lost his resolve to fight for his people’s emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. His prestige and charisma helped him win the support of the world. ‘I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestation. I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days,’ Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994,… ‘The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come.’ ‘We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation.’ In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W, de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid. A.  Choose the correct answer from the alternatives 5 a) What could be the closest meaning for ‘shackles of apartheid’ in the first paragraph? i. Tentacles of domination ii. Bondages of slavery iii. Manacles of racial discrimination iv. Chains of exploitation b)  The word ‘reconciliation’ in the first paragraph refers to i. memorization ii. recall iii. reuniting iv. Change c)  ‘Resolve’ in the second paragraph could be replaced by i. dissolve ii. determination iii. hesitation iv. Solution d) Mandela spent around years behind the bars. i. twenty ii. thirty iii. forty iv. Fifty e)  The best synonym of ‘chasm’ is i. exposition ii. rift iii. harmony iv. union. B.  Answer the following questions 10 a) What, according to text, is apartheid? b)  Mention three great achievements in Mandela's life. c)  Why did Mandela want to break the manacles of apartheid? d)  What does the expression ‘I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and I will do so until the end of my days’ mean? e)  Do you find any  similarity  between  Mandela  and  Sheikh  Mujibur  Rahman?  If  any,  mention. Ans. to the Ques. No. Set-1 1A. Ans.: a.       iii. Manacles of racial discrimination, b.  iii.  reuniting,  c.  ii.determination,  d.  ii.  thirty,  e.  ii.  rift,   1B. Ans.: a.  According to text apartheid means the racial segregation prevailing in South Africa. It means the domination of the white over the black people of South Africa. Nelson Mandela is famous for breaking the manacles of apartheid from South Africa. b.  Though Mandela had to suffer a lot, his achievements were noteworthy. His frist achievement was to break the manacles of apartheid. His second achievement was to become the first black president of South Africa. His third achievement was to win the Nobel Prize. c.  Mandela wanted to break the manacles of apartheid because this very evil practice was responsible for the racial bigotry in South Africa. The manacles of apartheid confined the black people of South Africa inside the four walls of oppression. d.   This very statement is the expression of Mandela's firm resolution to fight against racial bigotry. Mandela had an absolute abhorrence towards race discrimination. He fought against it and was ready to fight against till his last breath. e.   I see some similarities between Nelson Mandela and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought respective countries. Finally, Mandela fought against the white rulers of his country. In the same way, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman fought against the Pakistani rulers. Then both of them were undisputable a presidents in their respective countries. Finally, both of them were would famous leaders. Passage-3   3. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it.   Beauty is easy to appreciate but difficult to define. As we look around, we discover beauty in pleasurable objects and sights – in nature, in the laughter of children, in the kindness of strangers. But asked to define, we run into difficulties. Does beauty have an independent objective identity? Is it universal, or is it dependent on our sense perceptions? Does it lie in the eye of the beholder? -we ask ourselves. A further difficulty arises when beauty manifests itself not only by its presence, but by its absence as well, as when we are repulsed by ugliness and desire beauty. But then ugliness has as much a place in our lives as beauty, or may be more-as when there is widespread hunger and injustice in a society. Philosophers  have told us that beauty is an important part of life, but isn’t ugliness a part of life too? And if art has beauty as an important ingredient, can it confine itself only to a projection of beauty? Can art ignore what is not beautiful? Poets and artists have provided an answer by incorporating both into their work. In doing so, they have often tied beauty to truth and justice, so that what is not beautiful assumes a tolerable proportion as something that represents some truth about life. John Keats, the romantic poet, wrote in his celebrated ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ ‘Beauty is truth, truth beauty,’ by which he means that truth, even if it’s not pleasant, becomes beautiful at a higher level. Similarly, what is beautiful forever remains true. Another meaning, in the context of the Grecian Urn-an art object-is that truth is a condition of art. Poetry in every language celebrates beauty and truth. So does art. Here are two poems from two different times that present some enduring ideas about beauty and truth. The poems are by Lord Byron (1788-1824), an English poet of the Romantic tradition, and Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), an American poet who wrote about the human scene, love and death.   A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1´5=5 (a)     Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word “pleasurable”? (i) dissatisfaction   (ii) pain             (iii) offend         (iv) delightful (b)     What is the closest meaning of the word “incorporate”? (i) embody (ii) corporation (iii) incorporeal (iv) intangible (c)     ‘Ode on a Grecian Urn’ is written by ——-. (i) Lord Byron         (ii) John Keats (iii) Wordsworth (iv) PB Shelly (d)                  What does the word ‘tolerable’ mean? (i) not so good                    (ii) bad              (iii) moderately good    (iv) tolerant (e)     Lord Byron is a ——– poet? (i)     Revolutionary (ii) Romantic (iii) Classical (iv) Modern   Answer the following questions. 2´5=10 (a)     How can we discover beauty in our surroundings? (b)     How much place does ugliness have in our life? (c)     What is the name of the poet of “Ode and a Grecian Urn”? (d)     Do you get any definition of beauty from the poem ‘She Walks in Beauty’? (e)     What was Byron’s intention?

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. The first peace movement appeared in 1815-1816. The first such movement in the United States was the New York Peace Society, founded in 1815 by the theologian David Low Dodge, and the Massachusetts Peace Society. It became an active organization, holding regular weekly meetings, and producing literature which was spread as far as Gibraltar and Malta, describing the horrors of war and advocating pacifism on Christian grounds. The London Peace Society (also known as the Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace) was formed in 1816 to promote permanent and universal peace by the philanthropist William Allen. In the 1840s, British women formed 'Olive Leaf Circles' groups of around 15 to 20 women, to discuss and promote pacifist ideas. The peace movement began to grow in influence by the mid- nineteenth century. The London Peace Society, under the initiative of American consul to Birmingham, Elihu Burritt, and the Reverened Henry Richard, convened the first International Peace Congress in London in 1843. The congress decided on two aims: the ideal of peaceable arbitration in the affairs of nations and the creation of an international institution to achieve that.  Afterwards, peace organizations were set up in many countries. The United Nations was founded with the primary objective to maintain peace and resolve inter-state conflicts in the world. Many treaties have been signed between many nations, a noteworthy one of which is the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Everyone wants peace and likes the principles of non-violence.  A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'influence'?  (i) effective  (ii) effect  (iii) inflation  (iv) fact  (b) What does the expression 'advocating pacifism' mean?    (i) supporting pacifism (ii) opposing pacifism  (iii) thinking of pacifism  (iv) hating pacifism  (c) The word 'convened' in the context has the closest meaning to —.  (i) to come together to play something  (ii) to come together for visiting a place   (iii) to come together for quarrelling (iv) to come together for a formal meeting  (d) The first peace movement was founded by theologian —.    (i) Kim Jone (ii) Jack Millar (iii) David Low Dodge (iv) Karlos Huper  (e) What does the phrase 'the horrors of war' mean?  (i) dreadfulness of war (ii) pre-moment of war  (iii) fear of war  (iv) post-situation of war  (f) The New York peace society was founded in —.  (i) 1814 (ii) 1815 (iii) 1816 (iv) 1817 (g) David Low Dodge was a/ an —.  (i) philanthropist (ii) pacifist (iii) social reformer (iv) theologian (h) The 'London Peace Society' was formed in —.  (i) 1814 (ii) 1815 (iii) 1816 (iv) 1817 (i) 'Olive Leaf Circles' was formed by — British women.  (i) 10 to 15 (ii) 15 to 20 (iii) 10 to 20 (iv) 15 to 25 (j) The 'London Peace Society' was formed by —.  (i) Elihu Burritt (ii) David Low Dodge (iii) Herry Richard (iv) William Allen (k) The first International Peace Congress was held in — in 1843.  (i) London  (ii) Birmingham (iii) Malta (iv) Gibraltar (l) The word 'Philanthropist' means —.  (i) angel (ii) donor (iii) humanitarian (iv) patron (m) The word 'active' means —.  (i) idle (ii) industrious (iii) lazy (iv) sluggish (n) The word 'noteworthy' means —.  (i) ordinary (ii) notice (iii) usual (iv) extraordinary (o) What does the word 'promote' mean?  (i) develop (ii) propose (iii) demote (iv) pronounce (p) The word 'horror' means —.  (i) hamper (ii) honour (iii) panic (iv) hatred (q) The word 'resolve' means —.  (i) retire (ii) resume (iii) restore (iv) settle Answer (A): (a) (ii) effect (b) (i) supporting pacifism (c) (iv) to come together for a formal meeting (d) (iii) David Low Dodge (e) (i) dreadfulness of war (f) (ii) 1815 (g) (iv) theologian (h) (iii) 1816 (i) (ii)15 to 20 (j) (iv) William Allen (k) (i) London (l) (iii) humanitarian (m) (ii) industrious (n) (iv) extraordinary (o) (i) develop (p) (iii) panic (q) (iv) settle B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What is the primary purpose of peace movement? When did the first peace movement appear? (b) Who founded the New York Peace Society? When? (c) When was the London Peace Society formed? Why? (d) What is the main purpose of the United Nations? Give an example of the activity of the United Nations. (e) Mention some of the peace movements described in the passage. (f) What do you know about the initial peace movements? (g) What is the first International Peace Congress? (h) What does the peace movement tend to? (i) What do you know about the Massachusetts Peace Society? (j) When and why was 'Olive Leaf Circles' formed? (k) Who was David Low Dodge? What did he found? (l) What is the other name of the London Peace Society? (m) Who convinced the first International Peace Congress? Answer (B): (a) The primary purpose of peace movement is sustainability of peace in the society. The first peace movement appeared in 1815-1816.   (b) An American theologian named David Low Dodge founded the New York Peace Society in 1815.  (c) The London Peace Society was formed in 1816. It was formed by the philanthropist William Allen to promote permanent and universal peace.   (d) The main purpose of the United Nation is to maintain peace and resolve inter-state conflicts in the world. An example of the activity of the United Nation is the non-prolification treaty among the countries all over the world.   (e) Some peace movements mentioned in the passage are the New York Peace Society, the Massachusetts Peace Society, the London Peace Society, Olive Leaf Circles etc.  (f) There appeared a good many peace movements after the initial peace movement that took place in 1815-1816. The New York Peace society founded by the theologian David Low Dodge in 1815 was the first such movement. Following it the Massachusetts Peace Society came into being. The London Peace Society was formed in 1816 to promote permanent and universal peace. In the 1840s a group of 15 to 20 British women formed 'Olive Leaf Circles' to discuss and promote pacifist ideas.  (g) The first International Peace Congress is a convention that was held to uphold peace for the first time. The convention was held in London by the London Peace Society. It was initiated by the American Consul to Birmingham, Elihu Burritt and the Reverened Aerry Richard.  (h) The peace movement tends to oppose the proliferation of dangerous technologies and weapons of mass destruction and particularly nuclear weapons and biological warfare.  (i) The Massachusetts Peace Society became an active organization, holding regular weekly meetings, producing literature and describing the horrors of war and advocating pacifism on Christian grounds.  (j) The 'Olive Leaf Circles' was formed in the 1840s by a group of 15 to 20 British women to discuss and promote pacifist ideas.  (k) David Low Dodge was a theologian. He founded the New York Peace Society in the United States in 1815.  (l) The other name of the London Peace Society is the society for the promotion of permanent and Universal Peace.  (m) The London Peace Society, under the initiative of American cousul to Birmingham, Elihu Burritt and the Reverened Henry. Richard convened the first International Peace Congress in London in 1843. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ  প্রথম শান্তি আন্দোলন দেখা যায় ১৮১৫-১৮১৬ সালে। যুক্তরাষ্ট্রে এই ধরনের প্রথম আন্দোলন ছিল New York Peace Society, যা ১৮১৫ সালে ধর্ম বিশেষজ্ঞ ডেভিড লোডজ এবং Massachusetts Peace Society  প্রতিষ্ঠা করে। খ্রিষ্টীয় ধর্মের ভিত্তিতে যুদ্ধের ভয়াবহতার বর্ণনা দিয়ে এবং শান্তিবাদের পক্ষ নিয়ে, নিয়মিত সাপ্তাহিক সভা আয়োজন করে এবং সাহিত্য চর্চার মাধ্যমে যা জিব্রাল্টার এবং মাল্টা পর্যন্ত বিস্তৃত হয়ে এটি একটি সক্রিয় সংস্থায় পরিণত হয়। স্থায়ী এবং বিশ্ব শান্তি প্রচার করতে ১৮১৬ সালে জনহিতৈষীকর উইলিয়াম অ্যালেন দ্বারা The London Peace Society (Society for the Promotion of Permanent and Universal Peace  নামে পরিচিত) গঠিত হয়। ১৮৪০ সালের দিকে, শান্তিবাদী ধারণার আলোচনা এবং প্রচার করতে ১৫ থেকে ২০ জন ব্রিটিশ মহিলার দল ''Olive Leaf Circles' গঠন করে। উনিশ শতকের মাঝামাঝি সময় থেকে শান্তি আন্দোলন প্রভাব বিস্তার করতে শুরু করে। The London Peace Society বার্মিংহামে আমেরিকান রাষ্ট্রদূত, ইলিহু বুরিট এবং যাজক হেনরি রিচার্ড ১৮৪০ সালে লণ্ডনে প্রথম আন্তর্জাতিক শান্তি মহাসভার আহবান করা হয়। কংগ্রেস দুইটি সিদ্ধান্তে উপনিত হয়: জাতিগত বিষয়সমূহে সংঘর্ষবিহীন মধ্যস্থতার আদর্শ এবং এটা অর্জন করতে একটি আন্তর্জাতিক সংস্থার সৃষ্টি। পরবর্তীকালে, অনেক দেশে শান্তি সংস্থা গঠন করা হয়। পৃথিবীতে শান্তি বজায় রাখতে এবং আন্তঃরাষ্ট্রীয় সংঘাত দমন করার প্রাথমিক উদ্দেশ্য নিয়ে জাতিসংঘ গঠন করা হয়। অনেক দেশের মধ্যে অনেক চুক্তি সাক্ষরিত হয়েছে। এর মধ্যে উল্লেখযোগ্য হচ্ছে পারমাণবিক হ্রাসকরণ চুক্তি। প্রত্যেকেই শান্তি চায় এবং অহিংসের মূলনীতি পছন্দ করে। Ad Ad

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B. .When a girl gets married, she usually drops out of school and begins full-time work in her in-laws' household. In the in-laws' house, she is marginalized. She becomes vulnerable to all forms of abuse, including dowry-related violence. In Bangladesh, it is still common for a bride's family to pay dowry, despite the practice being illegal. Dowry demands can also continue after the wedding. For an adolescent bride, even if her in-laws are supportive, there are greater health risks in terms of pregnancy and child birth. The majority of adolescent brides and their families are uninformed or insufficiently informed about reproductive health and contraception. The maternal mortality rate for adolescents is double the national rate. When adolescent girls are pulled out of school, either for marriage or work, they often lose their mobility, their friends and social status. The lack of mobility among adolescent girls also curtails their economic and non-formal educational opportunities. Moreover, they lack information about health issues. According to a study, only about three in five adolescents have even heard of HIV. It is also reported that more than 50 percent of adolescent girls are undernourished and suffer from anaemia. Adolescent fertility is also high in Bangladesh. The contribution of the adolescent fertility rate to the total fertility rate increased from 20.3% in 1993 to 24.4% in 2007. Moreover, neonatal mortality is another concern for younger mothers.  While the situation for adolescent boys is somewhat better, many are vulnerable and lack the power to make decisions about their own lives. Many boys who are unable to go to school, or are unemployed, remain unaware of social or health issues. They are at considerable risk of being drawn into criminal activities. They are also more likely to get exposed to drugs and alcohol. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5 (a) The word "married" refers to —.  (i) registered (ii) received (iii) wedded (iv) recognised (b) More than 50 percent of adolescent girls suffer from—.  (i) diarrhoea (ii) typhoid (iii) malnutrition  (iv) anaemia  (c) What does the word "uninformed" refer to?  (i) not being informed (ii) unknown (iii) unavailable (iv) inspired (d) The word 'status' means —.  (i) riches (ii) merit (iii)   education (iv) honour (e) " —, only about three in five adolescents have even heard of HIV"— what does the sentence mean?  (i) Adolescents are ignorant of HIV (ii) Adolescents are aware of HIV  (iii) Adolescents do not want to know about HIV (iv) Adolescents are afraid of HIV (f) In the passage 'common' refers to —.  (i) simple (ii) excessive (iii) usual (iv) shared (g) The phrase 'pull out' means —.  (i) remain (ii) take away (iii) go away (iv) stay (h) What is the meaning of the word 'wedding'?  (i) culture (ii) marriage (iii) tradition (iv) widow (i) What do you understand by 'maternal mortality'?  (i) death of the pregnant women (ii) death of the new born baby  (iii) marriages of the girls (iv) death of the sons (j) What is the synonym of the word 'majority'?  (i) multiplicity (ii) minority (iii) inferiority (iv) all of these (k) According to the passage, in the in-laws' house many girls fall a victim to —  (i) independence (ii) maltreatment (iii) comfort (iv) felicity (l) What is the closest meaning of the word 'mobility' in the passage?  (i) development (ii) prosperity (iii) uplift (iv) movement (m) What is the almost mandatory for a bride's family?  (i) To take care of the bridegroom family (ii) To pay dowry  (iii) To behave well with the bridegroom (iv) To educate the bridegroom (n) The practice of dowry should be —.  (i) stated (ii) banned (iii) improved (iv) increased (o) Which statement is true?  (i) Adolescents are safe in Bangladesh (ii) Dowry is not a curse in Bangladesh  (iii) Girls are deprived in the society (iv) Dowry is a legal practice (p) Girls have to terminate their study due to —.  (i) marriage (ii) cookery (iii) work (iv) i & iii (q) An adolescent girl has — risks.  (i) civil (ii) political (iii) health (iv) mental (r) The word 'maternal' is related to —.  (i) mortality (ii) motherhood (iii) marriage (iv) morbidity (s) What is anaemia?  (i) pollution (ii) germ (iii) forgetfulness (iv) disease (t) 'Neonatal mortality' means death during —.  (i) infancy (ii) childhood (iii) child-delivery (iv) adolescence (u) Anaemia indicates —.  (i) amnesia (ii) undernourishment (iii) psychiatric illness (iv) mortality (v) 'Contraception' means —.  (i) concentration (ii) compression (iii) pregnancy (iv) obstructing child-birth Answer (A): (a) (iii) wedded (b) (iv) anaemia (c) (i) not being informed (d) (iv) honour (e) (i) Adolescents are ignorant of HIV (f) (iii) usual (g) (ii) take away (h) (ii) marriage (i) (i) death of the pregnant women (j) (i) multiplicity (k) (ii) maltreatment (l) (iv) movement (m) (ii) To pay dowry (n) (ii) banned (o) (iii) Girls are deprived in the society (p) (iv) i & iii (q) (iii) health (r) (ii) motherhood (s) (iv) disease (t) (iii) child-delivery (u) (ii) undernourishment (v) (iv) obstructing child-birth B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10 (a) What has a girl to do in her in-laws' house after marriage? (b) How is the custom of dowry in Bangladesh? (c) What health risks the adolescent mothers face? (d) What do the adolescent girls lose after their marriage? (e) What risks do many boys have? (f) What is the condition of the illiterate unemployed boys? (g) In Bangladesh why is the maternal mortality rate for adolescent mothers so high? (h) What is the reproductive health service? (i) How are the adolescent girls treated in their in-laws' house? (j) Give two negative impact of early marriage of a girl. (k) What percentage of adolescent girls are undernourished? (l) What is a girl in Bangladesh vulnerable to? Answer (B):  (a) After marriage, usually a girl drops out of school and begins full-time work in in-laws' house. There she is marginalized, she becomes vulnerable to all forms of abuse and violence including those related to dowry.  (b) In Bangladesh, a bride's family has to pay dowry, although it is illegal. Dowry demands continue even after wedding. And the bride becomes victim of dowry-related violence.  (c) The adolescent mothers face health risks in case of pregnancy and child birth. They do not know much of reproductive health and contraception. The maternal mortality rate for adolescent mothers is also high.  (d) The adolescent girls lose their mobility, their friends and social status after marriage. They have to terminate their study. The lack of mobility curtails their economic and non-formal educational opportunities.  (e) Many boys, lacking the power to make decisions, are unemployed and unaware of social or health issues, and therefore are at risks of being drawn into criminal activities. They are also more likely to get addicted to drugs and alcohol.  (f) The illiterate unemployed boys do not know about right and wrong. Normally they are always unaware of their social and health issue. They are at a high risk to meet with drugs and alcohol and to criminal activities like violence, stealing, eve-teasing etc.  (g) The majority of the adolescent brides are uninformed about reproductive health and contraception. They are at high risk in termss of pregnancy and childbirth. That's why the maternal mortality rate for adolescent mothers is so high in Bangladesh.  (h) Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health. To maintain one's sexual and reproductive health, people need access to accurate, safe, effective, affordable services. This is called reproductive health service.  (i) Adolescent girls are marginalized in their in-laws' house. They fall victim to all forms of abuse, including dowry related violence. So they are at high risk in terms of pregnancy and childbirth.  (j) Because of early marriage, a girl drops out of schools, and becomes a victim of health risk in terms of pregnancy and childbirth.  (k) More than 50 percent of adolescent girls are undernourished.  (l) A girl in Bangladesh is vulnerable to all types of abuse including dowry-related violence. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ  .যখন একটি মেয়ে বিবাহ-বন্ধনে আবদ্ধ হয়, তখন সাধারণত তার স্কুল-জীবনের সমাপ্তি ঘটে এবং সে শ্বশুর-বাড়িতে পূর্ণকালীন দায়িত্ব পালন শুরু করে। শ্বশুর-বাড়িতে সে কোণঠাসা হয়ে পড়ে। সে যৌতুক নিয়ে নির্যাতনসহ সব ধরনের অত্যাচারের শিকার হয়। অবৈধ হওয়া সত্ত্বেও বাংলাদেশে এখনও সচরাচর কনের পরিবারকে যৌতুক দিতে হয়। বিয়ের পরও যৌতুকের দাবি চলতে পারে। এমনকি শ্বশুর-বাড়ির লোকেরা সমর্থন জুগিয়ে গেলেও গর্ভধারণ ও শিশুজন্মের সময় কিশোরীদের ব্যাপকতর স্বাস্থ্য ঝুঁকি রয়েছে। অধিকাংশ কিশোরী বধূ ও তাদের পরিবার প্রজননগত স্বাস্থ্য ও জন্ম-নিয়ন্ত্রণ সম্পর্কে হয় অজ্ঞ নয়তো অপর্যাপ্তরূপে জ্ঞাত। কিশোরীদের মাতৃত্বকালীন মৃত্যুহার জাতীয় হারের দ্বিগুণ। যখন বিয়ে কিংবা কাজের স্বার্থে কিশোরীদের স্কুল থেকে ছাড়িয়ে নেয়া হয়, তারা প্রায়ই চলাচলের স্বাধীনতা, তাদের বন্ধু-বান্ধব ও সামাজিক মর্যাদা হারায়। কিশোরীদের যাতায়াতের স্বাধীনতার স্বল্পতার কারণে তাদের অর্থনৈতিক ও অপ্রাতিষ্ঠানিক শিক্ষাপ্রাপ্তির সুযোগ কমে যায়। তদুপরি, তাদের স্বাস্থ্য বিষয়ক জ্ঞানের অভাব থাকে। একটি সমীক্ষা অনুযায়ী, প্রতি পাঁচ জন কিশোরীর মধ্যে মাত্র প্রায় তিন জন কেবল এইচআইভির নাম শুনেছে। এমন প্রতিবেদনও দেয়া হয় যে কিশোরীদের মধ্যে ৫০ শতাংশেরও বেশি অপুষ্টিতে ভুগে এবং রক্তশূন্যতায় আক্রান্ত হয়। বাংলাদেশে কিশোরীদের প্রজনন হারও উচ্চ মাত্রার। সামগ্রিক প্রজনন হারে কিশোরীদের প্রজনন হারের অবদান ১৯৯৩ সালে ২০.৩% থেকে ২০০৭ সালে ২৪.৪% এ উন্নীত হয়েছে। তার উপর, কিশোরী মায়েদের জন্য নবজাতক সন্তানের মৃত্যু আরেকটি দুশ্চিন্তার বিষয়। যখন কিশোর ছেলেদের অবস্থা কিছুটা ভালো, অনেকেই নমনীয় স্বভাবের এবং নিজেদের জীবন সম্পর্কে তাদের অনেকেরই সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়ার ক্ষমতা কম। অনেক ছেলে যারা স্কুলে যেতে অপারগ কিংবা অনিয়োগপ্রাপ্ত তারা সামাজিক কিংবা স্বাস্থ্যগত বিষয়ে অজ্ঞ থাকে। তাদের অপরাধমূলক কার্যে জড়িয়ে পড়ার ব্যাপক ঝুঁকি থাকে। তাদের মাদক ও পানাসক্ত হওয়ারও সম্ভাবনা বেশি থাকে। Ad Ad vocabulary words from the passage along with their Bangla translations: Married - বিবাহিত Drops out - বিদ্যালয় ছেড়ে দেয় Household - গৃহস্থালি Marginalized - প্রান্তিকীকৃত Vulnerable - অসহায় Abuse - নির্যাতন Dowry - দহেজ Violence - সহিংসতা Common - সাধারণ Family - পরিবার Demands - দাবি Adolescent - কিশোর-কিশোরী Supportive - সহায়ক Health risks - স্বাস্থ্যঝুঁকি Pregnancy - গর্ভাবস্থা Childbirth - প্রসব Majority - সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ Uninformed - অজ্ঞাত Insufficiently - অপ্রতুলভাবে Reproductive health - প্রজনন স্বাস্থ্য Contraception - গর্ভনিরোধ Maternal mortality - মাতৃমৃত্যু Double - দ্বিগুণ National rate - জাতীয় হার Pulled out - বের করা Mobility - গতিশীলতা Social status - সামাজিক মর্যাদা Economic - অর্থনৈতিক Non-formal education - অ-সরকারি শিক্ষা Health issues - স্বাস্থ্য সমস্যা HIV - এইচআইভি Undernourished - অপুষ্ট Anaemia - রক্তাল্পতা Fertility - প্রজননক্ষমতা Fertility rate - প্রজনন হার Contribution - অবদান Neonatal mortality - নবজাতক মৃত্যুহার Younger mothers - তরুণ মা Situation - পরিস্থিতি Boys - ছেলেরা Power - ক্ষমতা Decisions - সিদ্ধান্ত Unemployed - বেকার Unaware - অজ্ঞ Criminal activities - অপরাধমূলক কার্যকলাপ Exposed - উন্মুক্ত Drugs - মাদক Alcohol - মদ Risk - ঝুঁকি Reported - রিপোর্ট করা

Nishat Mazumder, a Bangladeshi woman in her early forties, is a sports icon. She comes of a modest background; her father is a businessman and her mother is a housewife. She is the second of four siblings. She is not very tall or well built, or does not have a charming princess look; but this apparently ordinary girl has three things that she can be proud of. These are: she has extraordinarily supportive parents who accepted her dreams as real; her father was a freedom fighter in the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971, and she scaled the highest peak in the world as the first Bangladeshi girl in 2012. Nishat’s life presents an inspirational story that the youth in Bangladesh needs to know. Nishat was born on 5 January 1981 in a village called Teori, which is situated in Ramganj upazila in Lakshmipur District. She completed her schooling from Bottomley Home Girls’ High School in 1997, and passed HSC from Shahid Anwar Girls’ College in 1999. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting from Dhaka City College, and currently works for Dhaka WASA as an accountant. She is also interested in different languages and cultures of the world, and has enrolled for her MA in Japan Studies at Dhaka University. For us, Nishat’s life comes across as especially significant because it tells us how the influence of one person can motivate someone to dream big. As the daughter of a freedom fighter, Nishat had to face many obstacles in her life, but her mother, her role model, gave her courage and determination to overcome them and pursue her dreams. Ashura Mazumder, Nishat’s mother, is a hardworking and understanding woman, who has been a pillar of support for her family in the direst of situations. Nishat learned from her mother how to keep mental strength in calamitous moments of life. Learning from her, Nishat began her dream of conquering mountains. Have you heard of Superman, and the Hollywood film showing his adventures? Christopher Reeve, the actor who played the role of Superman in the film said in a speech he gave at the Democratic National Convention in 1996 – “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” This has happened in Nishat’s life too. Though she had a long-cherished dream to be a mountaineer, it was not until 2003 that she could climb the 967 feet high Keokradong. The climbing event was organized on 29 May 2003 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay’s conquest of Mount Everest. Nishat had walked the streets of Dhaka with a 15 kg backpack for three consecutive days to make her body ready for the climb before the real expedition. Factors like chance, dedication, and creating opportunities are important for anyone’s success, but a sportsperson should also have discipline and perseverance to succeed. Institutional and professional training are also necessary. Nishat joined Bangladesh Mountaineering and Trekking Club (BMTC) in 2006, and completed a basic training course at Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling, India in 2007. After that, she scaled peaks in the Himalayan range one after another, joining several teams from Bangladesh. Today we have a mountain peak in the Himalayas, the Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak, so named because mountaineers from the two friendly countries jointly climbed it for the first time. Nishat’s team was led by M. A. Mohit, who has been on top of Everest and quite a few other peaks higher than 8000 meters. In Bangladesh, mountaineering is a new sport activity, and we are yet to develop a culture that will encourage a woman’s mountaineering activities. Nishat took the challenge, and she was supported by her parents. This is an expensive sport, and Nishat and other mountaineers could not have succeeded if several organizations did not help them. Nishat was ambassador of “Because I am a Girl” campaign of Plan International’s Bangladesh chapter in her expedition to Mount Everest in 2012. She wanted to leave a message for all people of Bangladesh that a girl can do anything a boy can do, and hence every girl should have support from her parents and society in every challenging activity. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1. What is the primary achievement of Nishat Mazumder mentioned in the text?(i) She became an actress.(ii) She scaled Mount Everest.(iii) She became a government official.(iv) She established a trekking club. 2. Where was Nishat Mazumder born?(i) Dhaka(ii) Teori village, Lakshmipur District(iii) Rangamati(iv) Ramganj town 3. What did Nishat’s parents provide that helped her achieve her dreams?(i) Financial wealth(ii) Extraordinary support and encouragement(iii) Professional training(iv) A mountaineering club 4. What educational qualifications does Nishat hold?(i) Only a master’s degree in mountaineering(ii) Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting(iii) Bachelor’s degree in Literature(iv) Diploma in Sports Science 5. How did Nishat prepare for her first climbing expedition?(i) By attending a climbing workshop(ii) By walking with a 15 kg backpack in Dhaka streets(iii) By practicing on local hills(iv) By taking yoga lessons 6. When did Nishat climb Keokradong, her first mountain?(i) 2003(ii) 1997(iii) 2012(iv) 2006 7. Which organization supported Nishat’s Mount Everest expedition?(i) Plan International’s Bangladesh Chapter(ii) The Himalayan Mountaineering Institute(iii) Dhaka WASA(iv) Bangladesh Mountaineering Federation 8. What message did Nishat aim to convey by climbing Mount Everest?(i) Bangladesh should invest in mountaineering.(ii) Girls can achieve as much as boys.(iii) Mountaineering is an adventurous sport.(iv) She wanted to showcase her skills globally. 9. What personal qualities does the text attribute to Nishat?(i) Intelligence and charm(ii) Dedication and perseverance(iii) Wealth and privilege(iv) Strength and athleticism 10. Who is Ashura Mazumder, and what role did she play in Nishat’s life?(i) Nishat’s coach(ii) Nishat’s mother and role model(iii) Nishat’s sister and climbing partner(iv) A famous mountaineer 11. What is the Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak?(i) A peak named to honor Nishat’s achievement(ii) A peak climbed jointly by mountaineers from Nepal and Bangladesh(iii) A mountain Nishat scaled alone(iv) A mountain in Dhaka 12. What training institute did Nishat attend in 2007?(i) Bangladesh Mountaineering and Trekking Club(ii) Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling(iii) Everest Climbing School, Nepal(iv) Dhaka Sports Institute 13. What did Nishat Mazumder represent during her Everest expedition?(i) Women’s rights and empowerment(ii) National pride of Bangladesh(iii) Global environmental awareness(iv) Friendship between nations 14. What challenge does the text highlight regarding mountaineering in Bangladesh?(i) It is expensive and lacks societal support for women.(ii) It is dominated by international climbers.(iii) It is an unrecognized sport.(iv) It requires foreign sponsorships. 15. What motivated Nishat to pursue mountaineering?(i) Her mother’s courage and inspiration(ii) Government support(iii) Peer pressure from friends(iv) A passion for traveling Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. What is the primary achievement of Nishat Mazumder mentioned in the text?(ii) She scaled Mount Everest. Where was Nishat Mazumder born?(ii) Teori village, Lakshmipur District. What did Nishat’s parents provide that helped her achieve her dreams?(ii) Extraordinary support and encouragement. What educational qualifications does Nishat hold?(ii) Bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accounting. How did Nishat prepare for her first climbing expedition?(ii) By walking with a 15 kg backpack in Dhaka streets. When did Nishat climb Keokradong, her first mountain?(i) 2003. Which organization supported Nishat’s Mount Everest expedition?(i) Plan International’s Bangladesh Chapter. What message did Nishat aim to convey by climbing Mount Everest?(ii) Girls can achieve as much as boys. What personal qualities does the text attribute to Nishat?(ii) Dedication and perseverance. Who is Ashura Mazumder, and what role did she play in Nishat’s life?(ii) Nishat’s mother and role model. What is the Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak?(ii) A peak climbed jointly by mountaineers from Nepal and Bangladesh. What training institute did Nishat attend in 2007?(ii) Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling. What did Nishat Mazumder represent during her Everest expedition?(i) Women’s rights and empowerment. What challenge does the text highlight regarding mountaineering in Bangladesh?(i) It is expensive and lacks societal support for women. What motivated Nishat to pursue mountaineering?(i) Her mother’s courage and inspiration. B. Answer the following questions:  1. Who is Nishat Mazumder, and why is she considered a sports icon in Bangladesh? 2. What are the three qualities that Nishat is proud of in her life? 3. Where was Nishat born, and how did her upbringing influence her journey? 4. What role did Nishat’s parents play in helping her achieve her dreams? 5. Why does the text describe Nishat’s life as an inspirational story for Bangladeshi youth? 6. How did Nishat’s father’s role as a freedom fighter shape her determination? 7. What qualities did Nishat inherit from her mother, Ashura Mazumder? 8. How does the quote from Christopher Reeve relate to Nishat’s journey? 9. What significant event in 2003 marked Nishat’s first step into mountaineering? 10. How did Nishat prepare herself physically for her first climbing expedition? 11. What was the purpose of the 2003 climbing event Nishat participated in? 12. What challenges did Nishat face as a woman in mountaineering in Bangladesh? 13. What institutional training did Nishat undergo to enhance her climbing skills? 14. How did the Bangladesh Mountaineering and Trekking Club contribute to Nishat’s success? 15. Why is the Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak significant in Nishat’s career?  Answer of the questions: Who is Nishat Mazumder, and why is she considered a sports icon in Bangladesh? Nishat Mazumder is the first Bangladeshi woman to climb Mount Everest. She is considered a sports icon in Bangladesh because of her groundbreaking achievement in mountaineering, which has inspired many young people, especially women, to pursue their dreams. What are the three qualities that Nishat is proud of in her life? Nishat Mazumder is proud of her determination, perseverance, and courage , which helped her overcome obstacles and achieve success in mountaineering. Where was Nishat born, and how did her upbringing influence her journey? Nishat was born in Teori village, Lakshmipur District, Bangladesh . Her parents provided strong encouragement and support, which helped her develop confidence and determination to achieve her goals despite societal challenges. What role did Nishat’s parents play in helping her achieve her dreams? Nishat’s parents played a crucial role by encouraging her dreams, supporting her ambitions, and instilling confidence in her . Their support helped her break societal barriers and pursue her passion for mountaineering. Why does the text describe Nishat’s life as an inspirational story for Bangladeshi youth? Nishat’s life is an inspiration because she proved that hard work and perseverance can lead to success , even in a challenging field like mountaineering, where women face societal and financial obstacles. How did Nishat’s father’s role as a freedom fighter shape her determination? Nishat’s father’s experience as a freedom fighter  inspired her with a sense of bravery, resilience, and the belief that determination can overcome any challenge. What qualities did Nishat inherit from her mother, Ashura Mazumder? Nishat inherited strength, courage, and perseverance  from her mother, who was her role model and biggest supporter in achieving her dreams. How does the quote from Christopher Reeve relate to Nishat’s journey? The quote emphasizes that true heroism comes from determination and the courage to face challenges , which perfectly describes Nishat’s journey in mountaineering. What significant event in 2003 marked Nishat’s first step into mountaineering? In 2003, Nishat climbed Keokradong , which was her first experience in mountaineering and marked the beginning of her journey toward scaling Everest. How did Nishat prepare herself physically for her first climbing expedition? She prepared by walking in Dhaka streets with a 15 kg backpack  to build endurance and strength for her climbing expeditions. What was the purpose of the 2003 climbing event Nishat participated in? The event aimed to train and introduce new climbers to mountaineering , helping them gain experience and skills. What challenges did Nishat face as a woman in mountaineering in Bangladesh? Nishat faced financial constraints, societal barriers, and lack of proper mountaineering facilities  in Bangladesh, which made her journey difficult. What institutional training did Nishat undergo to enhance her climbing skills? Nishat attended the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling in 2007 , where she received professional training in climbing techniques. How did the Bangladesh Mountaineering and Trekking Club contribute to Nishat’s success? The club provided guidance, mentorship, and opportunities  for Nishat to practice mountaineering and gain experience before her Everest expedition. Why is the Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak significant in Nishat’s career? The Nepal-Bangladesh Friendship Peak symbolizes collaboration between the two countries in mountaineering  and highlights Nishat’s achievement in international climbing expeditions. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   চল্লিশোর্ধ বাংলাদেশি নারী নিশাত মজুমদার একজন ক্রীড়া আইকন। তাঁর জন্ম একটি সুশীল পরিবারে; তাঁর বাবা একজন ব্যবসায়ী এবং মা গৃহিণী। চার ভাইবোনের মধ্যে তিনি দ্বিতীয়। তিনি তেমন লম্বা অথবা সুগঠিত নন, এমনকি নেই অসাধারণ রাজকুমারী সুলভ চেহারা; কিন্তু এই দৃশ্যত সাধারণ নারীর গর্ব করার মতো তিনটি বিষয় আছে। বিষয়গুলো হলো— তাঁর আছে অসাধারণ উৎসাহ প্রদানকারী বাবা-মা, যাঁরা তাঁর স্বপ্নকে আন্তরিকতার সাথে গ্রহণ করেছেন; তাঁর বাবা ছিলেন ১৯৭১ সালের মুক্তিযুদ্ধের একজন মুক্তিযোদ্ধা; এবং তিনি ২০১২ সালে প্রথম বাংলাদেশি নারী হিসেবে বিশ্বের সুউচ্চ চূড়ায় আরোহন করেন। নিশাতের জীবন বাংলাদেশের তরুণ-তরুণীদের জন্য অনুপ্রেরণামূলক গল্প পেশ করে, যা তাদের জানা জরুরি। নিশাত লক্ষ্মীপুর জেলার রামগঞ্জ উপজেলায় অবস্থিত তিওরি নামক গ্রামে ৫ জানুয়ারি ১৯৮১ সালে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। তিনি ১৯৯৭ সালে বটমলি হোম বালিকা উচ্চ বিদ্যালয় থেকে বিদ্যালয়ের পাঠ শেষ করেন এবং ১৯৯৯ সালে শহীদ আনোয়ার গার্লস কলেজ থেকে উচ্চমাধ্যমিক পাশ করেন। তিনি ঢাকা সিটি কলেজ থেকে হিসাববিজ্ঞান বিষয়ে স্নাতক এবং স্নাতকোত্তর ডিগ্রি অর্জন করেন এবং বর্তমানে তিনি ঢাকা ওয়াসাতে একজন হিসাবরক্ষক হিসেবে কর্মরত আছেন। তিনি বিশ্বের বিভিন্ন দেশের ভাষা এবং সংস্কৃতি নিয়েও ব্যাপক আগ্রহী এবং বর্তমানে ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের জাপান স্টাডিজ বিভাগে স্নাতকোত্তর অধ্যয়নরত। আশুরা মজুমদার, নিশাতের মা, একজন কর্মঠ এবং সহানুভূতিশীল নারী, যিনি তাঁদের পরিবারের সংকটময় অবস্থায় পরিবারের ভরসা ছিলেন। নিশাত তাঁর মায়ের কাছ থেকে শিখেছেন কীভাবে জীবনের কঠিন পরিস্থিতিতে মানসিক শক্তি ধরে রাখতে হয়। তাঁর মায়ের কাছ থেকে শিক্ষা নিয়ে, নিশাত পর্বত জয়ের স্বপ্ন দেখা শুরু করেন। তোমরা কি সুপারম্যান অথবা তার দুঃসাহসিক অভিযানপূর্ণ হলিউড সিনেমা সম্পর্কে শুনেছো? সুপারম্যানের ভূমিকায় অভিনয় করা ক্রিস্টোফার রিভ ১৯৯৬ সালে অনুষ্ঠিত ডেমোক্রেটিক ন্যাশনাল কনভেনশনে বলেন, “প্রথমদিকে আমাদের স্বপ্নগুলো অসম্ভব বলে মনে হয়, তারপর অবাস্তব মনে হয়, এবং যখন আমরা আমাদের ইচ্ছাশক্তি জাগিয়ে তুলি, তখন তা বাস্তব হয়ে যায়।” এডমন্ড হিলারি এবং তেনজিং নোরগেই-এর মাউন্ট এভারেস্ট বিজয়ের ৫০তম বার্ষিকী উপলক্ষে ২৯ মে ২০০৩ সালে পর্বতারোহণের আয়োজন করা হয়। নিশাত অভিযানের আগে তিন দিন ধরে ঢাকার রাস্তায় ১৫ কেজি ব্যাকপ্যাক নিয়ে হাঁটতেন, নিজেকে প্রস্তুত করতে। ২০০৬ সালে তিনি বাংলাদেশ মাউন্টেনিয়ারিং অ্যান্ড ট্রেকিং ক্লাবে যোগ দেন এবং ২০০৭ সালে দার্জিলিংয়ের হিমালয়ান মাউন্টেনিয়ারিং ইনস্টিটিউটে প্রশিক্ষণ গ্রহণ করেন। এরপর তিনি বাংলাদেশের বিভিন্ন অভিযানে অংশ নিয়ে একের পর এক হিমালয় শৃঙ্গ জয় করতে থাকেন। বর্তমানে হিমালয়ে আমাদের একটি পর্বতচূড়া আছে, নেপাল-বাংলাদেশ ফ্রেন্ডশিপ পিক। এটি দুই দেশের অভিযাত্রীরা প্রথমবার একসঙ্গে আরোহণ করায় এই নামকরণ করা হয়েছে। বাংলাদেশে পর্বতারোহণ এখনো নতুন খেলা, এবং নারীদের উৎসাহিত করার মতো পরিবেশ গড়ে ওঠেনি। নিশাত এই চ্যালেঞ্জ গ্রহণ করেছিলেন, এবং তাঁর বাবা-মা তাঁকে সমর্থন করেছিলেন। তিনি ২০১২ সালে "কারণ আমি একজন মেয়ে" ক্যাম্পেইনের প্রতিনিধি ছিলেন এবং বাংলাদেশে একটি বার্তা পৌঁছে দিতে চেয়েছিলেন—মেয়েরাও ছেলেদের মতো সবকিছু করতে পারে এবং তাই প্রত্যেক চ্যালেঞ্জিং কাজে তাদের সমর্থন করা উচিত। Ad Ad Icon - প্রতিমূর্তি Modest - বিনম্র Background - পটভূমি Businessman - ব্যবসায়ী Housewife - গৃহিণী Siblings - ভাইবোন Tall - লম্বা Well-built - সুগঠিত Charming - আকর্ষণীয় Princess - রাজকুমারী Apparently - প্রদর্শনযোগ্যভাবে Ordinary - সাধারণ Supportive - সহায়ক Parents - পিতা-মাতা Dreams - স্বপ্ন Freedom fighter - মুক্তিযোদ্ধা Liberation War - মুক্তিযুদ্ধ Scaled - আরোহণ করা Peak - শিখর Inspirational - অনুপ্রেরণামূলক Youth - যুবক Significant - গুরুত্বপূর্ণ Influence - প্রভাব Motivated - উত্সাহিত Obstacles - বাধা Courage - সাহস Determination - দৃঢ়সংকল্প Overcome - অতিক্রম করা Pursue - অনুসরণ করা Hardworking - পরিশ্রমী Understanding - বোঝাপড়া Pillar - স্তম্ভ Mental strength - মানসিক শক্তি Calamitous - বিপর্যয়কর Role model - আদর্শ Conquer - জয় করা Mountains - পর্বত Hollywood - হলিউড Actor - অভিনেতা Adventures - অভিযাত্রা Democratic - গণতান্ত্রিক Convention - সম্মেলন Impossible - অসম্ভব Improbable - অসম্ভাব্য Summon - আহ্বান করা Inevitable - অনিবার্য Cherished - প্রিয় Mountaineer - পর্বতারোহী Climb - আরোহণ Anniversary - বার্ষিকী Conquest - জয় Expedition - অভিযানে Discipline - শৃঙ্খলা Perseverance - অধ্যবসায় Success - সফলতা Professional - পেশাদার Institutional - প্রতিষ্ঠানিক Training - প্রশিক্ষণ Mountaineering - পর্বতারোহন Trekking - ট্রেকিং Club - ক্লাব Himalayan - হিমালয় Range - পরিসীমা Nepal - নেপাল Friendship - বন্ধুত্ব Team - দল Expedition - অভিযানে Everest - এভারেস্ট Challenge - চ্যালেঞ্জ Culture - সংস্কৃতি Encourage - উত্সাহিত করা Expensive - ব্যয়বহুল Organizations - প্রতিষ্ঠান Ambassador - রাষ্ট্রদূত Campaign - প্রচারণা Leave - ছেড়ে যাওয়া Message - বার্তা Society - সমাজ Help - সাহায্য Success - সফলতা Women - মহিলা Girl - মেয়ে Boy - ছেলে Support - সমর্থন Physical strength - শারীরিক শক্তি Courageous - সাহসী Dedication - উৎসর্গ Accomplishment - অর্জন Glory - গৌরব Recognition - স্বীকৃতি Determined - দৃঢ়সংকল্পিত Achievement - সাফল্য Determination - সংকল্প Awareness - সচেতনতা Empowerment - ক্ষমতায়ন Mountaineering club - পর্বতারোহন ক্লাব Safety - সুরক্ষা Exploration - অনুসন্ধান Challenge - চ্যালেঞ্জ Growth - বৃদ্ধি

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B: In a traditional society like ours, little boys and girls are given separate sets of toys. While toys for boys include cars, guns or footballs, girls have to be satisfied with dolls (often Barbie dolls) and doll-houses or miniature cooking utensils. The underlying assumption is that boys are active and full of vigor, but girls are naïve and lack the intelligence or energy to match their male counterparts. This false assumption has been shattered plenty of times in the recent decades as girls began to show their power and women began competing with men in almost all areas of life. It has been conclusively proved wrong most recently by the girls of Kalsindur, a village in a remote area in Dhobaura upazila in Mymensingh district. The villagers are mostly low-income but hardworking people. Even a few years ago, there was no electricity in the village. But some girls have illuminated the village – both literally and metaphorically – with their belief in themselves and their skill in the game of football. The village has emerged now as a footballer factory and symbol of girl power. And in recognition of their success, the village was provided electricity by the government. Sabina Akhter, Sanjida Akhter (7th under 16 promising female player of Asia in 2014), Shiuli Azim, Mariya Manda (Captain, Under 15 Female Football Team 2017), Shamsunnahar senior (who scored the solitary goal against India which ensured SAFF Under 15 Women Championship on 2017), Shamshunnahar junior (Captain of Under 15 National Football Team 2019), Tahura Khatun (who scored 40 goals in international matches till 2021). Marzia Khatun, Mahmuda Khatun, Nazma Akhter, Sajeda Akhter, Rozina Khatun, Taniya Akhter, Rupa Akhter, Kalpana Akhter, Purnima Vaskar are names of some bright star in Bangladesh Women’s National Football Team. They all are from Kalsindur village. Their talent and determination have brought them to where they are now. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1. What societal assumption about boys and girls is challenged in the text? (i) Boys are more responsible than girls. (ii) Boys are active, and girls are naïve.(iii) Boys and girls are equally talented. (iv) Girls are more intelligent than boys. 2. What type of toys are traditionally given to boys, according to the text? (i) Dolls and cooking sets. (ii) Cars, guns, and footballs.(iii) Educational toys. (iv) Puzzles and board games. 3. Which village is recognized for producing talented female football players? (i) Kalsindur (ii) Dhobaura(iii) Mymensingh (iv) Savar 4. What was one of the reasons for the lack of development in Kalsindur? (i) Poor education system (ii) Lack of electricity(iii) No access to clean water (iv) Lack of healthcare facilities 5. How has Kalsindur village been metaphorically illuminated? (i) Through solar energy (ii) By the success of its female footballers(iii) By government initiatives (iv) By building new schools 6. What sport brought Kalsindur into the limelight? (i) Cricket (ii) Football (iii) Hockey (iv) Volleyball 7. What has the success of Kalsindur’s girls challenged? (i) Educational barriers (ii) Gender stereotypes(iii) Economic struggles (iv) Political systems 8. Who is Mariya Manda, as mentioned in the text? (i) A famous cricketer (ii) Captain of the Under-15 Women’s Football Team 2017(iii) A government official (iv) A motivational speaker 9. What major contribution did Shamsunnahar Senior make? (i) Leading the team to victory in the SAFF Championship (ii) Scoring the solitary goal against India(iii) Becoming a national coach (iv) Winning international awards 10. What recognition did Kalsindur village receive from the government? (i) Free education for all (ii) A new sports complex(iii) Electricity supply (iv) Scholarships for students 11. What does the success of Kalsindur’s girls symbolize? (i) Economic empowerment (ii) Gender equality(iii) Technological advancement (iv) Environmental sustainability 12. Which player was named one of Asia’s promising under-16 footballers in 2014? (i) Mariya Manda (ii) Sabina Akhter(iii) Sanjida Akhter (iv) Shamsunnahar Junior 13. What inspired the development of football in Kalsindur? (i) Government funding (ii) Natural talent and determination(iii) International coaches (iv) School sports programs 14. What is the role of Tahura Khatun in the football team? (i) Defender (ii) Goalkeeper(iii) Leading goal-scorer (iv) Coach 15. What is the main barrier Kalsindur overcame to achieve success? (i) Lack of natural talent (ii) Gender-based discrimination(iii) Political unrest (iv) Lack of motivation Correct answer from the alternatives. (ii) Boys are active, and girls are naïve. (ii) Cars, guns, and footballs. (i) Kalsindur (ii) Lack of electricity (ii) By the success of its female footballers (ii) Football (ii) Gender stereotypes (ii) Captain of the Under-15 Women’s Football Team 2017 (ii) Scoring the solitary goal against India (iii) Electricity supply (ii) Gender equality (iii) Sanjida Akhter (ii) Natural talent and determination (iii) Leading goal-scorer (ii) Gender-based discrimination B. Answer the following questions:  1. What types of toys are traditionally given to boys in the text? 2. What underlying assumption is made about girls and boys in traditional societies? 3. Why are girls traditionally given dolls and dollhouses as toys? 4. What false assumption about girls has been shattered in recent decades? 5. Which village in Bangladesh has become a symbol of girl power through football? 6. What were the living conditions in Kalsindur village a few years ago? 7. How did the government recognize the achievements of Kalsindur’s footballers? 8. Who is Mariya Manda, and why is she significant in the text? 9. How did Shamsunnahar Senior contribute to Bangladesh’s victory in the SAFF Under-15 Women Championship in 2017? 10. What is the primary reason behind the transformation of Kalsindur into a footballer-producing village? 11. Who is Sanjida Akhter, and what recognition did she receive in 2014? 12. What does the text imply about the potential of girls when given opportunities? 13. Why does the text refer to Kalsindur as a “footballer factory”? 14. What message does the success of Kalsindur’s girls send about gender equality? 15. How does the story of Kalsindur challenge traditional gender roles? Answer of the questions: What types of toys are traditionally given to boys in the text? According to the text, boys are traditionally given toys like cars, guns, and footballs. These toys encourage physical activity and competitiveness. What underlying assumption is made about girls and boys in traditional societies? Traditional societies assume that boys are active, strong, and full of energy, while girls are naïve, delicate, and lack intelligence or energy. Why are girls traditionally given dolls and dollhouses as toys? Girls are traditionally given dolls and dollhouses because society expects them to be caring, nurturing, and interested in household activities from a young age. What false assumption about girls has been shattered in recent decades? The assumption that girls are weak and incapable of competing with boys has been proven wrong as women have excelled in various fields, including sports. Which village in Bangladesh has become a symbol of girl power through football? Kalsindur, a village in Dhobaura upazila in Mymensingh district, has become a symbol of girl power due to the success of its female footballers. What were the living conditions in Kalsindur village a few years ago? A few years ago, Kalsindur had poor living conditions, including a lack of electricity. The villagers were mostly low-income but hardworking people. How did the government recognize the achievements of Kalsindur’s footballers? In recognition of their success, the government provided electricity to Kalsindur village. Who is Mariya Manda, and why is she significant in the text? Mariya Manda was the captain of the Under-15 Women’s Football Team in 2017. She is significant because she represents the success of Kalsindur’s female footballers. How did Shamsunnahar Senior contribute to Bangladesh’s victory in the SAFF Under-15 Women Championship in 2017? Shamsunnahar Senior scored the only goal against India, which secured Bangladesh’s victory in the SAFF Under-15 Women Championship in 2017. What is the primary reason behind the transformation of Kalsindur into a footballer-producing village? The transformation of Kalsindur into a footballer-producing village is due to the dedication, talent, and determination of the girls who pursued football despite societal barriers. Who is Sanjida Akhter, and what recognition did she receive in 2014? Sanjida Akhter was named the 7th most promising Under-16 female football player in Asia in 2014. What does the text imply about the potential of girls when given opportunities? The text implies that when girls are given the same opportunities as boys, they can excel and achieve great success in any field, including sports. Why does the text refer to Kalsindur as a “footballer factory”? The text refers to Kalsindur as a “footballer factory” because it has produced many talented female football players who have represented Bangladesh at national and international levels. What message does the success of Kalsindur’s girls send about gender equality? The success of Kalsindur’s girls proves that talent is not limited by gender and that women can achieve great things when given equal opportunities. How does the story of Kalsindur challenge traditional gender roles? The story of Kalsindur challenges traditional gender roles by proving that girls can excel in sports, which is often considered a male-dominated field, and break societal stereotypes. Bangla Translation বাংলা অনুবাদঃ   একটি প্রথাগত সমাজে, যেমন আমাদের, ছোট ছেলেমেয়েদের জন্য আলাদা ধরনের খেলনা প্রদান করা হয়। যেখানে ছেলেদের খেলনায় থাকে গাড়ি, বন্দুক বা ফুটবল, সেখানে মেয়েদের সন্তুষ্ট থাকতে হয় পুতুল (বার্বি পুতুল) ও পুতুলের ঘর বা ক্ষুদ্র রান্নার সামগ্রী দিয়ে। এর পেছনের ধারণাটি হলো যে ছেলেরা সক্রিয় এবং শক্তিশালী, কিন্তু মেয়েরা সরল এবং তাদের বুদ্ধি বা শক্তি ছেলেদের সমান নয়। এই ভুল ধারণা গত কয়েক দশকে অসংখ্যবার ভেঙে পড়েছে, কারণ মেয়েরা তাদের শক্তি প্রদর্শন করতে শুরু করেছে এবং নারীরা জীবনের প্রায় সব ক্ষেত্রে পুরুষদের সঙ্গে প্রতিযোগিতা করছে। এটি সর্বশেষ প্রমাণিত হয়েছে ময়মনসিংহ জেলার ধোবাউড়া উপজেলার একটি প্রত্যন্ত গ্রামের, কলসিন্দুরের মেয়েদের দ্বারা। গ্রামবাসীরা মূলত নিম্ন আয়ের, কিন্তু পরিশ্রমী মানুষ। কয়েক বছর আগেও গ্রামে বিদ্যুৎ ছিল না। তবে কিছু মেয়ে তাদের আত্মবিশ্বাস এবং ফুটবল খেলার দক্ষতা দিয়ে গ্রামকে আলোকিত করেছে – আক্ষরিক এবং রূপক অর্থে। এখন এই গ্রামটি ফুটবলারের কারখানা এবং নারী শক্তির প্রতীক হয়ে উঠেছে। তাদের সাফল্যের স্বীকৃতিস্বরূপ, সরকার গ্রামটিতে বিদ্যুৎ সরবরাহ করেছে। সাবিনা আখতার, সানজিদা আখতার (২০১৪ সালে এশিয়ার সপ্তম অনূর্ধ্ব–১৬ প্রতিশ্রুতিশীল মহিলা খেলোয়াড়), শিউলি আজিম, মারিয়া মান্দা (ক্যাপ্টেন, অনূর্ধ্ব–১৫ মহিলা ফুটবল দল ২০১৭), শামসুন্নাহার সিনিয়র (যিনি ভারতের বিপক্ষে একমাত্র গোলটি করে ২০১৭ সালের সাফ অনূর্ধ্ব–১৫ মহিলা চ্যাম্পিয়নশিপ নিশ্চিত করেছিলেন), শামসুন্নাহার জুনিয়র (২০১৯ সালে অনূর্ধ্ব–১৫ জাতীয় ফুটবল দলের অধিনায়ক), তাহুরা খাতুন (যিনি ২০২১ সাল পর্যন্ত আন্তর্জাতিক ম্যাচে ৪০টি গোল করেছেন)। এছাড়াও মার্জিয়া খাতুন, মাহমুদা খাতুন, নাজমা আখতার, সাজেদা আখতার, রোজিনা খাতুন, তানিয়া আখতার, রূপা আখতার, কল্যাণ আখতার, পূর্ণিমা ভাস্কর – এদের নাম বাংলাদেশের মহিলা জাতীয় ফুটবল দলের উজ্জ্বল তারকা হিসেবে চিহ্নিত। এরা সবাই কলসিন্দুর গ্রামের। তাদের প্রতিভা ও দৃঢ় সংকল্প তাদের আজকের অবস্থানে নিয়ে এসেছে। Ad vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Traditional  - প্রচলিত Society  - সমাজ Toys  - খেলনা Assumption  - অনুমান Vigor  - উদ্যম Naïve  - সহজ-সরল Intelligence  - বুদ্ধিমত্তা Counterparts  - প্রতিপক্ষ Shattered  - চূর্ণবিচূর্ণ Decades  - দশক Competing  - প্রতিযোগিতা করা Conclusively  - সিদ্ধান্তমূলকভাবে Proved  - প্রমাণিত Remote  - দূরবর্তী District  - জেলা Low-income  - নিম্ন আয়ের Hardworking  - পরিশ্রমী Electricity  - বিদ্যুৎ Illuminated  - আলোকিত Metaphorically  - রূপকভাবে Skill  - দক্ষতা Recognition  - স্বীকৃতি Success  - সাফল্য Government  - সরকার Achievement  - অর্জন Footballer  - ফুটবলার Symbol  - প্রতীক Determination  - দৃঢ় সংকল্প Transformation  - রূপান্তর Opportunities  - সুযোগ Excel  - দক্ষতা প্রদর্শন করা Represented  - প্রতিনিধিত্ব করা Barrier  - বাধা Potential  - সম্ভাবনা Stereotypes  - প্রচলিত ধারণা Encourage  - উৎসাহিত করা Recognition  - স্বীকৃতি Talented  - প্রতিভাবান Victory  - বিজয় Equality  - সমতা Ad

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise tire way we learn and teach. As a tool in the classroom. Al can provide students with personalised learning experiences, automate repetitive tasks and provide instant feedback. However, it also has its limitations. Let us explore the pros and cons of AI as a tool in the classroom, address the concern that AI could be a threat to teachers’ and instructors’ jobs and discuss the role of edtech companies in advancing this AT use case. Advantages of Al in the Classroom One of the main advantages I see of AI in the classroom is personalised learning. Al-powered educational tools can analyse data on student performance and provide tailored support to improve their grades. AI can also provide instant feedback. For example, Al-powered educational tools can provide students with immediate feedback on their work, allowing them to identify and correct mistakes quickly. Another advantage of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks. Il can grade assignments and quizzes, which can free up teachers' lime for other tasks, such as lesson planning and providing more one-on-one attention to students. There are already a few AI tools that support learning in classroom or workplace contexts. For example, Ahura is an AT-powered learning assisant that tracks learning habits by observing attention and engagement. Kncwton offers an adaptive learning platform that provides personalized learning experiences for students. Querium is an Al-powered tutor that provides students with step-by-step tutoring on math problems and builds personalized lesson plans. ALEKS is an Al-powered learning platform that provides individualized learning paths based on students' strengths and weaknesses. Carnegie Learning offers an Al-powered tutor that helps students improve their math skills by providing personalised learning based on their performance. There's also Smart Sparrow, which allows users to provide constructive feedback that is unique to each student. Finally, Gradescope is an Al-powered grading tool that automates the grading process, which can free up teachers' time and allow them to provide more individualised attention to students. There are already a few AI tools that support learning in classroom or workplace contexts. For example, Ahura is an Al-powered learning assisant that tracks learning habits by observing attention and engagement. Knewton offers an adaptive learning platform that provides personalized learning experiences for English For Today students. Querium is an Al-powered tutor that provides students with step-by-step tutoring on math problems and builds personalized lesson plans. ALEKS is an Al-powered learning platform that provides individualized learning paths based on students’ strengths and weaknesses. Carnegie Learning offers an AI-powered tutor that helps students improve their math skills by providing personalised learning based on their performance. There’s also Smart Sparrow, which allows users to provide constructive feedback that is unique to each student. Finally, Gradescope is an Al-powered grading tool that automates the grading process, which can free up teachers’ time and alle students. These are just a few examples of Al tools with applications in the classroom. It is important to note that these tools should not replace teachers but rather assist them in their work. Downsides and Challenges of AI in the Classroom Some teachers and instructors may see AI as a threat to their jobs, believing it will automate their tasks and make them redundant. But it is important to note that AI is not meant to replace teachers but rather to assist them in their work. Al is a tool and should be developed and used as such. There are also negatives to consider, one of which is the cost of developing and implementing Al-powered educational tools. This can be a significant barrier for schools and teachers who need more resources to invest in AI technology. There is also the lack of human interaction and emotional support that students receive when using Al-powered educational tools. While AI can provide personalized learning and instant feedback, it cannot replace the human and emotional support that students need to succeed, and relying too heavily on Al-powered educational tools may impact students negatively. Privacy concerns are also a limitation of AI in the classroom. AI-powered educational tools may collect and store sensitive personal data, which raises concerns about privacy and security. The Role of EdTech Companies Edtech companies play a crucial role in advancing the use of AI in the classroom and ensuring that it is used ethically and responsibly. To do so, they should consider the following: 1. Cost: The cost of developing and implementing AI-powered educational tools can be a significant barrier for schools and teachers. Edtech companies should work to make Al AI technology accessible to a broader range of schools and teachers and explore alternative funding options, such as grants or partnerships, to help offset the costs. 2. Human interaction: Al-powered educational tools cannot replace the human and emotional support that students need to succeed. Edtech companies should aim to develop AI tools that augment, rather than replace, the role of teachers and provide students with a well-rounded education that includes both personalized learning and human interaction. 3. Privacy and security: Privacy concerns are a significant limitation of AI in the classroom. Edtech companies must ensure that the sensitive personal data collected and stored by Al-powered educational tools are properly secured and that privacy is maintained. 4. Improved Al capabilities: Current AI-powered educational tools have limitations, such as a lack of creativity and originality and a limited understanding of context. Edtech companies should aim to improve Al capabilities and overcome these limitations to create more advanced, innovative and effective AI tools for the classroom. 5. Ethical considerations: Edtech companies should consider the ethical implications of Al technology in education and develop AI tools in a transparent, fair and responsible manner. They must also ensure that they develop and use AI tools in accordance with the laws and regulations governing data privacy, security and intellectual property. In conclusion, Al has the potential to be a valuable addition to the classroom. Still, edtech companies should develop AI tools with caution and in collaboration with teachers, educators and students to ensure that they are helpful, ethical and effective in meeting the needs of learners. I believe that AI could revolutionise the way we teach and learn. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: How can edtech companies improve accessibility? By creating high-cost tools ii. By offering grants or partnerships iii. By limiting features iv. By avoiding global markets What is one advantage of AI in the classroom? Increased distractions ii. Personalized learning experiences iii. Replacing teachers iv. Lack of interaction What does AI automate to save teachers’ time? Classroom decorations ii. Grading assignments iii. Writing textbooks iv. Organizing field trips What kind of feedback can AI provide? Slow feedback ii. Instant feedback iii. Delayed feedback iv. No feedback Which AI tool tracks learning habits? Querium ii. Ahura iii. ALEKS iv. Knewton Which AI platform provides step-by-step math tutoring? Smart Sparrow ii. Querium iii. Gradescope iv. Knewton What is ALEKS primarily used for? Creative writing ii. Individualized learning paths iii. Virtual tours iv. Class discussions What does Gradescope automate? Lesson planning ii. Grading iii. Attendance iv. Scheduling meetings Which AI tool focuses on adaptive learning for English students? Smart Sparrow ii. Ahura iii. Knewton iv. ALEKS What is a major concern regarding AI in education? Overqualified teachers ii. Privacy and security issues iii. High emotional intelligence iv. Lack of technological support Why is human interaction important in education? To improve AI capabilities ii. To provide emotional support iii. To increase the cost of tools iv. To enhance automation Which document outlines students’ human rights? Universal Declaration of Human Rights ii. AI Ethics Code iii. Teachers’ Code of Conduct iv. International AI Standards How does AI help students correct mistakes? By highlighting their names ii. By providing immediate feedback iii. By assigning tutors iv. By delaying results What is the main purpose of AI tools in education? Replacing teachers ii. Assisting teachers iii. Reducing class size iv. Automating all school functions What is an ethical consideration for edtech companies? Reducing teacher salaries ii. Securing sensitive personal data iii. Limiting access to technology iv. Encouraging teacher replacements A. Answer from the alternatives: How can edtech companies improve accessibility?ii. By offering grants or partnerships What is one advantage of AI in the classroom?ii. Personalized learning experiences What does AI automate to save teachers’ time?ii. Grading assignments What kind of feedback can AI provide?ii. Instant feedback Which AI tool tracks learning habits?ii. Ahura Which AI platform provides step-by-step math tutoring?ii. Querium What is ALEKS primarily used for?ii. Individualized learning paths What does Gradescope automate?ii. Grading Which AI tool focuses on adaptive learning for English students?iii. Knewton What is a major concern regarding AI in education?ii. Privacy and security issues Why is human interaction important in education?ii. To provide emotional support Which document outlines students’ human rights?i. Universal Declaration of Human Rights How does AI help students correct mistakes?ii. By providing immediate feedback What is the main purpose of AI tools in education?ii. Assisting teachers What is an ethical consideration for edtech companies?ii. Securing sensitive personal data B. Answer the following questions: What potential does AI have in the field of education? How does AI provide personalized learning in the classroom? What types of tasks can AI automate for teachers? Why is instant feedback important for students? Where can AI-powered tools be used in education? Who benefits from personalized learning paths created by AI? What is the role of edtech companies in advancing AI in education? How does AI help teachers focus on other tasks? Why do some educators see AI as a threat to their jobs? What are the limitations of AI in the classroom? What does Ahura track in students? B. Answer the following questions: What potential does AI have in the field of education? AI can change the way students learn and teachers teach. It can help students learn at their own speed, give quick feedback, and make learning more interesting. AI can also help teachers by doing simple tasks like grading papers. This gives teachers more time to help students. How does AI provide personalized learning in the classroom? AI looks at how well students are doing in their studies. It finds out what they are good at and where they need help. Then, it gives each student lessons and exercises that fit their needs. This helps students learn better and faster. What types of tasks can AI automate for teachers? AI can do many simple tasks for teachers, such as checking homework, grading exams, and taking attendance. It can also help teachers plan lessons. This saves teachers time, so they can focus on helping students learn better. Why is instant feedback important for students? Instant feedback helps students know if they made a mistake right away. This way, they can fix it quickly and understand the lesson better. It also helps them improve their skills faster and feel more confident in learning. Where can AI-powered tools be used in education? AI-powered tools can be used in schools, colleges, universities, and online classes. They can also be used for job training and learning new skills at work. AI makes learning easier and more effective in many places. Who benefits from personalized learning paths created by AI? Students benefit the most because they get lessons that match their learning level. Teachers also benefit because AI helps them understand what students need. Schools benefit too, as AI can make learning better for everyone. What is the role of edtech companies in advancing AI in education? Edtech companies create AI tools for learning. They make sure AI is helpful and safe for students and teachers. They also work to make AI tools easy to use and affordable so that more schools can use them. How does AI help teachers focus on other tasks? AI takes care of repetitive tasks like grading and checking homework. This gives teachers more time to talk to students, answer their questions, and create better lessons. It helps teachers focus on teaching instead of paperwork. Why do some educators see AI as a threat to their jobs? Some teachers worry that AI will take over their jobs because it can do tasks like grading and giving lessons. But AI is not meant to replace teachers. It is meant to help them by making their work easier and allowing them to give students more personal attention. What are the limitations of AI in the classroom? AI cannot replace teachers because it does not have human emotions. It cannot understand students' feelings or provide emotional support. AI also needs a lot of money and technology to work well, which some schools may not have. Privacy and security are also concerns because AI collects student data. What does Ahura track in students? Ahura tracks students' learning habits. It watches how focused and engaged they are during lessons. This helps teachers understand which students need more help and how to improve their learning experience. Bangla Translation কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা (AI) শিক্ষাদানের এবং শেখার পদ্ধতিতে বিপ্লব আনতে সক্ষম। শ্রেণীকক্ষে একটি টুল হিসেবে AI শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য ব্যক্তিগত শিক্ষার অভিজ্ঞতা প্রদান করতে পারে, পুনরাবৃত্তিমূলক কাজগুলি স্বয়ংক্রিয় করতে পারে এবং তাৎক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া দিতে পারে। তবে, এর কিছু সীমাবদ্ধতাও রয়েছে। আসুন, AI-এর শ্রেণীকক্ষের টুল হিসেবে সুবিধা এবং অসুবিধাগুলি বিশ্লেষণ করি, AI শিক্ষক ও প্রশিক্ষকদের চাকরির জন্য হুমকি হয়ে উঠতে পারে কি না তা নিয়ে উদ্বেগ আলোচনা করি এবং এই ক্ষেত্রে অগ্রগতি সাধনে এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলোর ভূমিকা নিয়ে কথা বলি। শ্রেণীকক্ষে AI-এর সুবিধাসমূহ AI-এর একটি প্রধান সুবিধা হলো ব্যক্তিগত শেখার সুযোগ। AI চালিত শিক্ষা টুলগুলো শিক্ষার্থীদের পারফরম্যান্সের তথ্য বিশ্লেষণ করে এবং তাদের গ্রেড উন্নত করার জন্য উপযুক্ত সহায়তা প্রদান করে। এছাড়া, AI তাৎক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া দিতে পারে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, AI চালিত শিক্ষা টুলগুলো শিক্ষার্থীদের কাজের উপর তাত্ক্ষণিক প্রতিক্রিয়া প্রদান করে, যার ফলে তারা দ্রুত ভুলগুলো শনাক্ত ও সংশোধন করতে পারে। AI পুনরাবৃত্তিমূলক কাজগুলোকেও স্বয়ংক্রিয় করতে সক্ষম, যেমন অ্যাসাইনমেন্ট বা কুইজের মূল্যায়ন, যা শিক্ষকদের সময় বাঁচাতে পারে এবং তাদের পাঠ পরিকল্পনা বা শিক্ষার্থীদের সাথে একান্ত মনোযোগ দেওয়ার জন্য বেশি সময় প্রদান করতে পারে। এরই মধ্যে কিছু AI টুল শেখার ক্ষেত্রে ব্যবহার করা হচ্ছে। উদাহরণস্বরূপ, Ahura  হলো একটি AI চালিত লার্নিং অ্যাসিস্ট্যান্ট যা মনোযোগ ও সম্পৃক্ততা পর্যবেক্ষণ করে শেখার অভ্যাস ট্র্যাক করে। Knewton  শিক্ষার্থীদের জন্য একটি অ্যাডাপ্টিভ লার্নিং প্ল্যাটফর্ম প্রদান করে। Querium  AI-চালিত টিউটর যা গণিত সমস্যাগুলোর ধাপে ধাপে সমাধান এবং ব্যক্তিগত পাঠ পরিকল্পনা তৈরি করে। এছাড়া, ALEKS , Carnegie Learning , এবং Gradescope –এর মতো টুলগুলো শ্রেণীকক্ষের কার্যক্রম সহজতর করে এবং শিক্ষকদের কাজের সহায়ক হয়। এইসব টুল শিক্ষককে প্রতিস্থাপন করার উদ্দেশ্যে নয়, বরং তাদের কাজ সহজতর করার জন্য তৈরি। শ্রেণীকক্ষে AI-এর চ্যালেঞ্জসমূহ কিছু শিক্ষক মনে করেন, AI তাদের কাজ প্রতিস্থাপন করবে এবং তাদের চাকরি হুমকির মুখে ফেলবে। তবে এটি বোঝা গুরুত্বপূর্ণ যে AI শিক্ষকদের কাজ প্রতিস্থাপন নয়, বরং তাদের সহায়তার জন্য একটি টুল। AI-এর আরেকটি চ্যালেঞ্জ হলো এই প্রযুক্তির উন্নয়ন ও বাস্তবায়নের উচ্চ খরচ। এছাড়াও, AI-চালিত টুলগুলোর মাধ্যমে শিক্ষার্থীরা মানবিক এবং আবেগগত সহায়তা থেকে বঞ্চিত হতে পারে, যা তাদের সাফল্যের জন্য অপরিহার্য। AI-এর উপর অতিরিক্ত নির্ভরতা শিক্ষার্থীদের নেতিবাচক প্রভাব ফেলতে পারে। গোপনীয়তা সম্পর্কিত উদ্বেগও একটি বড় চ্যালেঞ্জ। AI চালিত টুলগুলো প্রায়শই ব্যক্তিগত তথ্য সংগ্রহ করে, যা গোপনীয়তা ও নিরাপত্তার জন্য হুমকি হতে পারে। এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলোর ভূমিকা এডটেক কোম্পানিগুলো AI-এর সঠিক ব্যবহার নিশ্চিত করতে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালন করে। তাদের উচিত নিম্নলিখিত বিষয়গুলো বিবেচনা করা: খরচ:  AI প্রযুক্তি আরও বেশি বিদ্যালয় ও শিক্ষকদের কাছে সাশ্রয়ী করতে কাজ করা। মানবিক   মিথস্ক্রিয়া:  AI টুলগুলো এমনভাবে তৈরি করা উচিত যা শিক্ষকের ভূমিকা বৃদ্ধি করে, প্রতিস্থাপন নয়। গোপনীয়তা   ও   নিরাপত্তা:  AI টুলের মাধ্যমে সংগৃহীত ডেটা সুরক্ষিত এবং গোপনীয় রাখা। উন্নত AI ক্ষমতা:  বর্তমান AI টুলগুলোর সীমাবদ্ধতা, যেমন সৃজনশীলতার অভাব, কাটিয়ে আরও কার্যকর টুল তৈরি করা। নৈতিকতা:  AI প্রযুক্তির উন্নয়ন ও ব্যবহার স্বচ্ছ, ন্যায্য এবং দায়িত্বশীল হতে হবে। সর্বশেষে, AI শ্রেণীকক্ষে একটি মূল্যবান সংযোজন হতে পারে। তবে এটি শিক্ষার্থী, শিক্ষক এবং শিক্ষাবিদদের সঙ্গে একযোগে কাজ করে উন্নত, নৈতিক এবং কার্যকরী শিক্ষা সরঞ্জাম তৈরির মাধ্যমে বাস্তবায়িত হওয়া উচিত। AI শিক্ষাদানের এবং শেখার পদ্ধতিতে বিপ্লব আনতে পারে বলে আমি বিশ্বাস করি। Ad Ad vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings: Revolutionise  – বিপ্লব ঘটানো Potential  – সম্ভাবনা Personalised  – ব্যক্তিগতকৃত Experiences  – অভিজ্ঞতা Automate  – স্বয়ংক্রিয় করা Repetitive  – পুনরাবৃত্তিমূলক Instant  – তাত্ক্ষণিক Feedback  – প্রতিক্রিয়া Tailored  – উপযোগী করে তৈরি Assignments  – নির্ধারিত কাজ Quizzes  – ছোট পরীক্ষা Lesson planning  – পাঠ পরিকল্পনা Engagement  – সম্পৃক্ততা Adaptive  – মানিয়ে নেওয়ার ক্ষমতাসম্পন্ন Tutor  – গৃহশিক্ষক / প্রশিক্ষক Platform  – প্ল্যাটফর্ম / মঞ্চ Pathways  – পথসমূহ Constructive  – গঠনমূলক Human interaction  – মানবিক যোগাযোগ Emotional support  – মানসিক সহায়তা Barrier  – প্রতিবন্ধকতা Implementation  – বাস্তবায়ন Privacy  – গোপনীয়তা Security  – নিরাপত্তা Ethical  – নৈতিক Considerations  – বিবেচনাসমূহ Transparency  – স্বচ্ছতা Regulations  – বিধিবিধান Intellectual property  – বৌদ্ধিক সম্পত্তি Accessibility  – প্রবেশযোগ্যতা Alternative  – বিকল্প Collaboration  – সহযোগিতা Capabilities  – সক্ষমতা Innovation  – উদ্ভাবন Resources  – সম্পদ Evaluation  – মূল্যায়ন Educational tools  – শিক্ষামূলক সরঞ্জাম Facilitate  – সহজতর করা Enhance  – উন্নত করা Ethics  – নৈতিকতা

Cumilla Board 2019 English Second Paper Subject Code: 108 Time––3 hours; Full marks––100 [N. B. ––The figures in the right margin indicate full marks. Answer all the questions.] English (compulsory) second paper Part A: Grammar (6O Marks) 1. Fill in the blanks in the following text with articles (a/an/the) as necessary. Some of the may not require an article. Put a cross (X) in those blanks An honest man is true to his (a) — words. He does not deviate from (b) — path of honesty. He knows that true happiness consists in (c) — honesty. He does not fall victim to (d) — greed. He does not hanker after (e) — worldly property. (f) — honest man abstains him from corruption. He does not mix with (g) — corrupt people. He is (h) — man who tries to get pleasure from good deeds. (i) — greed for wealth does not touch him. People should follow the path of (j) — people of the society. 2. Complete the following text with suitable prepositions. Preposition connects all types (a) — objects together and support them make a better sense (b) — the readers. They help us to understand the relationship (c) — objects. (d) — example, the book and the table are (e) — the kitchen. This ensures you a basic understanding. If we add another preposition, it makes it even clearer. This book is (f) — top of the table (g) — the kitchen. We have a clear picture (h) — our mind (i) — their relationship of those two objects and their relationship (j) — each other. 3. Complete the sentences with suitable phrases/words given in the box. what does …… look like how to had to in order that it is high time what’s it like was born let alone unless lest (a)The child cannot walk—– run in the field. (b) Tareq Ahmed is a renowned teacher. He —– in 1960. (c) At present, the children do not know —– swim in water. (d) Parents —–work hard to take care of their children. (e) Rima studies hard —— GPA-5 should be missed. (f) Father, ——a ghost ——? (g) Tanisha went to college—— she could learn something, (h) ——people stopped corruption from society. (i) —— swimming in the river? For the first time, it seems new experience for all. (j) You will not succeed in life —— you work hard. 4. Complete the sentences using suitable clauses/phrases. (a) Samudra Haque is a great journalist. Do you know where——? (b) Unity is power. Unless you are united, you —— (c) Work carefully lest – —— (d) Shabbir Khan is a quack. He behaves as though —— (e) It is very cold. I have to put on warm clothes so that —— 6. Read the text and transform the sentences as directed Dowry is a curse for our society. It darkens the lives of many women. (a) Dowry hampers the peace of the society. (Make it Passive) (b) The brutal condition of the dark age must be stopped soon. (Make active) (c) This is one of the major problems of Bangladesh. (Make it Positive) (d) The dowry seekers are very greedy and demand money from bride’s father. (Make it Simple) (e) What an unworthy crime the dowry is! (Make it Assertive) 7. Change the narrative style by using indirect speeches. “Why are you loitering here and there now? Are you in trouble?” said the school teacher. “I am loitering because I have none to take care of me,” said the boy. The school teacher said, “Do you feel hungry?” “Yes, I am very hungry now,” said the boy. 8. Identify the unclear pronoun references in the following paragraph where necessary. Rewrite the sentences so that all pronoun references are clear. Women are nowadays as important as men in the society. She constitutes nearly half of the total population. No nation can make real progress keeping half of it in the dark. Without the improvement of the women’s status, it is not at all possible. Again, without education, women cannot be uplifted. So, proper education should be given to her so that they can work hand in hand with them in all development programmes. 9. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces. Newspaper plays a very (a) — (pre-modify the noun) role in modern civilization. It publishes news and views of home and abroad. Only (b) — (pre-modify the noun) knowledge is not enough in this competitive world. A newspaper helps a man (c) — (post-modify the verb with infinitive) his general knowledge. Besides academic books one should read newspapers (d) — (post modify the verb). Newspaper helps one (e) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) the facts the world. (f) — (pre-modify the verb with a participle phrase) regularly. One can be aware of everything. There are (g) — (pre-modify the noun) kinds of newspapers. One should select newspaper (h) — (post-modify the verb). One should choose the (i) — (pre-modify the noun) newspaper because many newspapers present news partially. Whatever the paper is, it (j) — (pre-modify the verb) helps a man. 10. Fill in the blanks with suitable linking words/sentence connectors. Unemployment is a great curse. (a) — all the countries of the world suffer from the curse. (b) — nowhere in the world, this problem is so acute as in our country. (c) — there are many reasons behind it. (d) — our country is industrially backward. (e) — our traditional education system is not service-oriented. (f) — our students and youths have false sense of dignity. (g) — run after jobs only. (h) — unemployment problem should be removed at any cost. (i) — education system should be changed. (j) — more mills and factories should be established. 11. Read the following passage and then write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed below. Modern education is somewhat different from that of the past. In method, it seeks to draw out improve the mind, to make it eager and curious. It depends more on observation than bookish knowledge. A mind that is intellectually alert, will learn from books. It develops the la talent of any individual. Teachers play a vital role in teaching the students. They aren’t instructors. Rather, they support and guide students so that the students can succeed in their way of life. (a) different (synonym); (b) seek (synonym); (c) eager (antonym); (d) observation (synonym) (e) mere (antonym); (f) alert (synonym); (g) latent (antonym); (h) instructor (synonym); (i) guide (antonym): (j) way (synonym). 12. There are ten mistakes in the use of punctuation marks in the following text. Rewrite the correcting the mistakes. Sajid : Hurrah weve won the match. Sifat : What match Sajid Sajid : The football match between your school team and ours school team. Sifat Oh my Almighty! How did it happen? Sajid We won by 3 goals to one (1). Sifat : I thought our team was better than yours. Saiid : The result shows who is better Sifat : Anyway, well do better next year. Sajid : Best of luck Sifat. Key Cumilla Board Part-A 1. (a) x (b) the (c) x (d) x (e) the (f) An (g) x (h) the (i) x j) the 2. (a) of (b) for (c) between (d) For (e) in (I) on (g) in (h) in (i) about (j) with 3. (a) let alone (b) was born (c) how to (d) had to (e) lest (f) what does look like (g) in order that (h) It is high time (i) What's it like (j) unless 4. (a) Samudra. Haque is a great journalist. Do you know where he lives? (b) Unity is power. Unless you are united, you will not be successful. (c) Work carefully lest you should fail to do your job. (d) Shabbir Khan is a quack. He behaves as though he were a doctor. (e) It is very cold. I have to put on warm clothes so that I can keep me warm. (fl Could you avoid mistakes while answering the questions? (g) A proverb goes that morning shows the day. (h) Democratic Govt. will provide its citizens with the freedom of expression. (i) Let us play in the field, shall we? j) The bee is one of the busiest insects. We should follow the lifestyle of bees. 5. .(a) Teaching (b) teaches (c) living (d) getting (e) enlighten (i) learn / are learning (g) instruct (h) knew (i) paying (j) should fail 6. (a) The peace of the society is hampered by dowry. (b) We must stop the brutal condition of the dark age soon. (c) Very few problems of Bangladesh are as major as it. (d) Because of being very greedy the dowry seekers demand money from bride's father. (e) The dowry is a very unworthy crime. 7. The schoolteacher asked the boy why he (B) was loitering here and there then. He (T) also asked him (B) if he (B) was in trouble. The boy replied that he (B) was loitering because he (B) had none to take care of him (B). The school teacher asked him (B) if he (B) felt hungry. The boy replied that he (B) was very hungry then. 8.Women are nowadays as important as men in society. They constitute nearly half of the total population. No nation can make real progress keeping half of its population in the dark. Without the improvement of the women's status, real progress is not at all possible. Again, without education, women cannot be uplifted. So, proper education should be given to them / women so that they can work hand in hand with men in all development programmes. 9. (a) vital/important/significant (b) bookish (c) to improve (d) regularly (e) to know (f) Reading newspapers (g) many / various different (h) carefully/ judiciously (i) right/impartial (j) always / definitely 10. (a) In fact At present (b) but (c) true that/ obviously (d) In the first place / firstly (e) Secondly Thirdly (g) So / As a result (h) But (i) For that j) In addition 11. (a) dissimilar (b) pursue (c) disinterested (d) experience / examination (e) huge/immense (f) watchful/vigilant (g) open/ exposed (h) teacher/trainer (i) misguide/ mislead (j) path / course 12. Sajid: Hurrah! We've won the match. Sifat: What match, Sajid? Sajid: The football match between your school team and our school team. Sifat: Oh, my Almighty! How did it happen? Sajid: We won by 3 goals to one (1). Sifat: I thought our team was better than yours. Sajid: The result shows who is better. Sifat: Anyway, we'll do better next year. Sajid: Best of luck! Sifat. Ad Ad

Sylhet Board 2019 English Second Paper Subject Code: 108 Time––3 hours; Full marks––100 [N. B. ––The figures in the right margin indicate full marks. Answer all the questions.] English (compulsory) second paper part A: Grammar (60 Marks) 1. Fill in the blanks in the following text with articles (a/an/the) as necessary. Some of the blanks may not require articles. Put a cross (x) in those blanks I have (a) — uncle who has just retired from (b) — army. He used to be (c) —FBI agent, and everybody says he has been an honest man all his life. As a child, I loved him for his stories. He once told me that he met (d) —one-eyed alien from (e) — space. (f) — alien did not need any oxygen. And it did not have (g) — nose. I now understand that it was (h) — hard story to believe. I am not sure he was telling me (h) —truth. May be he is not so (j) — honest, after all. 2. Complete the text with suitable prepositions. Luna’s cat was missing. So she started looking around (a) — it. She opened her closet and looked (b) — . Then she went to the bedroom crawling (c) — the floor to look (d) —the bed. The cat was not there. In fact, it was nowhere inside the house. Therefore, Luna decided to go (e) — to look for it. Just as she was (f) — to open the door, the door bell rang. It was her neighbour, Mrs. Haq. “Look Luna! Your cat is (g) — the sunshade!” said Mrs. Haq pointing (h) — a tall building opposite (i) — her house. Luna smiled and thanked her friendly neighbour, saying that (j) — her help she would not be able to find out her cat. 3. Complete the sentences with suitable words/phrases from the list. as if would rather blow one’s own trumpet as far as when it comes to it is about time feel like is used to needn’t have had better (a) “Can I smoke here?” “I — you didn’t. It’s a no smoking zone.” (b) This car is absolutely fine — the engine is concerned. (c) We rushed to the station lest we might miss the train. But the train was late and we had to wait for an hour. We — hurried. (d) It’s well past 10 and Diba is still in bed. — she got up. (e) Nishi is a nice girl. But — cooking, she is absolutely hopeless. (f) Lima has always lived alone. She — living alone. (g) Well, you don’t need to — . We know that you have some talent. (h) Look at that building! It looks — it were going to fall down! (i) I am very tired. I don’t — going out this evening. (j) “It’s getting late. I have to go now.” “You — not. It’s raining very hard.” 4. Complete the following sentences with suitable clauses/phrases. (a) “Do you know this man?” “Yes, I know him. — since he was a boy.” (b) What a lovely view that was! If I had had a camera, –. (c) I have never been suspicious of his honesty. I have always believed –. (d) It was very hot outside. Nobody actually wanted –. (e) The woman – was taken to hospital. (f) When my sister was young, she hid chocolate in impossible places. Once I found a bar –. (g) My grandfather has no interest in TV. He often talks about the old days –. (h) I am not a rich man. So, I never go to the shops –. (i) Don’t worry. We are going to be there right on time. I am driving –. (j) She never travels alone. She is – of travelling alone. 5. Read the text and fill in the gaps with the correct form of verbs in brackets. When I was a child I (a) — (be) afraid of the dark, and I (b) — (go) to sleep with a light on. Even then, I feared that monsters (c) — (climb) in through my bedroom window. Every sound I (d) — (hear) struck fear into me. Often, I ran away from the room and (e) — (sleep) on the floor at the foot of my parents’ bed. Now that I (f) — (be) almost twenty, I obviously do better than what I (g) — (do) as a child. However, I (h) — (be) still scared of bedtime. I hate (i) — (sleep) alone and I still keep a tiny night-light on. And before I go to bed, I double-check every door and every window to make sure that they (j) — (be) locked. 6. Transform the underlined parts of the following text as per direction. (a) “Beautiful Isn’t she?” Tanvir whispered. (Make it assertive) (b) Tania nodded in agreement, but she was extremely nervous. (Make it complex) (c) The tigress was now quite close to them. Make it interrogative) Tania’s heart was pounding, but Tanvir seemed oblivious to any danger. (d) He got closer to the animal and pressed the shutter button with a boyish grin in the face. (Make it simple) (e) And it suddenly occurred to Tania that her husband was the strongest man she had ever met. (Use the positive degree of the adjective) 7. Change the narrative style by using indirect speeches. “Why did you stop me? I didn’t do anything wrong, did I?” asked Riyad. “You were driving too fast,” said the traffic sergeant, giving him a glare, “Now, show me your driving license.” 8.Here is a text with five unclear pronoun references. Rewrite the text making all the pronoun references clear. Underline the areas where you make any changes. Robin hates people who are mean to animals. Last afternoon, as he was walking home from work he saw some boys throwing stones at an old lame dog. Immediately, he rushed to help the animal “Stop it!” he shouted as he ran towards the unruly boys, “Leave him alone!” Startled by the big man’s shouts, they ran away. One of them jeered at him while running away Robin, however, was totally unmoved by the jeering. He was happy that he could save it. Robin has always felt some affection for animals. Once he even went to the police station to complain about a neighbour who threw a cat out of the window. Instead of taking any action, they laughed at him advised him not to worry about such ‘petty’ matters. 9. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces A library is a (a) — (pre-modify the noun) of knowledge. The students (b) — (use a participle) to all classes visit it in their library periods. Our college library is housed in two rooms (c) — (pre-modify the noun) almirahs are placed in one room. The other room is the (d) — (use a participle to modify the noun) room where magazines, journals and newspapers are placed. There are about five thousand books in our library which are arranged (e) — (post-modify the verb). Any type of book can be traced in no time. The books cater to the needs and interests (f) — (use a prepositional phrase). There are two separate sections in the library. One of them reference books like (g) — (use nouns) etc. The other section contains books (h) — (prepositional phrase). Every student has a library (i) — (use a noun). The reading room is always crowded (j) — (post-modify the verb) in the afternoon. 10. Use appropriate sentence connectors in the blank spaces of the following passage. 5×10-5 Education is essential in our life. (a) —we are not properly educated, we cannot live an honourable life in society. It teaches us (b) — how to earn but also how to spend. (c) — it teaches (d) — to live in amity with others in society. (e) — we must get proper education, (f) — we should bear in mind (g) —education is not only what we learn at educational institutions but also (h) — we learn outside these institutions. (i) — education is a lifelong process. It begins just after our birth (j) — ends only in death. 11. Read the text and give the synonyms/antonyms of the underline words as per instruction given below the text. Rima is a good-looking young woman. Her large, dark eyes are beautiful. Her complexion is flawless, and she has got a lovely big smile. Her long, black hair is full and shiny. She is tall and slender, and her movement is graceful. And she always dresses stylishly. Everybody appreciates her beauty. But Rima worries that people do not notice her talents and hard work. She wants people to know that a woman can have beauty ambition. (a) good-looking (synonym); (b) dark (synonym): (c) flawless (synonym); (d) shiny (antonym) (e) slender (antonym); (f) graceful (synonym): (g) stylishly (antonym): (h) appreciate (antonym) (i) notice (antonym): (j) ambition (synonym). 12. There are ten errors in the use of punctuation marks in the following text. Rewrite the text correcting the errors. The traveller said to the peasant “Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn” The peasant said “Yes I can Do you want one in which you can spend the night” The traveller said, stay there I only want a meal” Follow me and I will take you to a nice one. Key Part-A 1. (a) an (b) the (c) an (d) a (e) the (f) The (g) a (h) a (i) the j) x 2 (a) for (b) in (c) on (d) under (e) outside (0 about (g) on (h) to (i) to W without 3. (a) would rather (b) as far as (c) needn't have (d) It is about time (e) when it comes to (f) is used to (g) blow your own trumpet (h) as if (i) feel like j) had better 4 (a) "Do you know this man?" "Yes, I know him. He has been known to me since he was a boy." (b) What a lovely view that was / If I had had a camera, I would have captured/photographed it. (c) I have never been suspicious of his honesty. I have always believed he is a thoroughly honest man. (d) It was very hot outside. Nobody actually wanted to play in such hot condition. (e) The woman who was hit by a bus was taken to hospital. When my sister was young, she hid chocolate in impossible places. Once I found a bar inside a flower vase, (g) My grandfather has no interest in TV. He often talks about the old days when there was no TV. (h) I am not a rich man. So I never go to the shops where costly products are sold. (i) Don't worry. We are going to be there right on time. I am driving as fast as I can. j) She never travels alone. She is very afraid of travelling alone. 5. (a) was (b) would go / used to go (c) would climb (d) would hear / heard (e) slept am (g) did (h) am (i) sleeping j) are 6. (a) "She is beautiful". (b) Though Tania nodded in agreement, she was extremely nervous. (c) Wasn't the tigress quite close to them now? (d) Getting closer to the animal, he pressed the shutter button with a boyish grin in the face. (e) No other man she had ever met was as strong as her husband. 7. Riyad asked the traffic sergeant why he M had stopped him (R). He (R) added that he (R) had not done anything wrong. Giving him a glare, the traffic sergeant told him (R) that he (R) had been driving too fast. Then he M told Riyad to show him his (R) driving license. 8. Robin hates people who are mean to animals. Last afternoon, as he was walking home from work, he saw some boys throwing stones at an old lame dog. Immediately, he rushed to help the animal. "Stop it"I He shouted as he ran towards the unruly boys, "Leave the dog alonel" Startled by the big man's shouts, the boys ran away. One of them jeered at Robin while running away. Robin, however, was totally unmoved by the jeering. He was happy that he could save the dog. Robin has always felt some affection for animals. Once he even went to the police station to complain about a neighbour who threw a cat out of the window. Instead of taking any action, the police laughed at him and advised him not to worry about such 'petty' matters. 9. (a) store house (b) attending/going (c) Some (d) reading (e) systematically (f) of the students and teachers (g) dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, atlas (h) of various interests (i) card j) heavily 10. (a) If (b) not only (c) Again/Moreover (d) how (e) Therefore (f) Besides (g) that (h) what (i) In fact j) and 11. (a) attractive/beautiful (b) black (c) perfect/ faultless (d) murky/dark (e) fat (f) elegant (g) simply (h) criticize / humiliate (i) overlook / neglect j) desire/drive 12. The traveller said to the peasant, "Can you tell me the way to the nearest inn?" The peasant said, "'Yes, I can. Do you want one in which you can spend the night?" The traveller said, "I don't wish to stay there. I only want a meal." "Follow me and I will take you to a nice one." Ad Ad

Dhaka Board English Second Paper Subject Code: 108 Time––3 hours; Full marks––100 [N. B. ––The figures in the right margin indicate full marks. Answer all the questions.] Part A: Grammar (Marks 60) 1. Fill in the blanks in the following text with articles (a/an/the) as necessary. Some of the blanks may not require an article. Put a cross (x) in those blanks : (a) — parliament house of Bangladesh is (b) — exquisitely designed building. In fact, it is (c) — wonder of modern architecture and technology. It is one of (d) — largest and most spectacular parliament buildings in (e) — world. It is (f) — highly expensive building. (g) — maintenance cost of the parliament house is about 50 million taka per year. An American architect (h) — Louis I Kahn designed this (i) — building. Everyday many (j) — visitor comes to visit the building. 2. Complete the text with suitable prepositions : Mr. Reza works (a) — a clerk in a local school. He is poor but honest. His honesty is known (b) — everyone in his locality. He often suffers (c) — hunger. He is deprived (d) — comfort and many other things. Nevertheless, he does not long (e) — wealth. He never hankers (f) — name and fame. He leads his life (g) — honest means. He is satisfied (h) — what he has. But sometimes he runs into debt and poverty is responsible (i) — this debt. However, he does not like to depend (j) — others. 3. Complete the sentences with suitable phrases/words given in the box : would you mind there it is high time would rather what does … look like as soon as was born as if unless have to (a) Your enemies are looking for you. — you left this place. (b) It is raining heavily. — closing the window? (c) Rifat often behaves — he were a prince. It becomes very difficult for me to tolerate him. (d) Humayon Ahmed was a teacher, author, dramatist and filmmaker. He — on 13 November 1948. (e) — you work hard, you will not make a good result. (f) I — resign my job than tolerate injustice. I have moral courage to raise voice against Injustice. (g) Son :— a satellite —? Father : I have heard of it but never got a chance to see it. (h) We informed the police — the incident took place. But the police didn’t arrive even after two hours. (i) Our society is full of bad persons. We — remain aware of them. (j) — is a hue and cry on the road. Something must have happened. 4. Complete the sentences using suitable clauses/phrases: (a) We are late. The class will start soon. Walk fast lest— (b) There goes a proverb that —. So, we must make proper use of time. (c) The condition of Mitu’s father was not well. If I knew his mobile number, — (d) Though Bangladesh is a small country, —. We are proud of our world heritage sites. (e) We are a free nation now. 1971 is the year when— (f) English is an international language. —you cannot get a good job. (g) I found a box in the room. The box was too heavy for— (h) I was really in a great danger. He came here with a view to — (i) I can’t recall his name. It is long since— (j) Time will decide everything. Do your best— 5. Read the text and fill in the gaps with correct form of verbs as per subject and context. Cricket is a popular game. Both the young and the old (a) — (get) pleasure from this game. In lact. cricket (b) — (call) the gentlemen’s game. It (c) — (entertain) us with politeness and discipline. A sense of brotherhood and fraternity (d) — (create) among the playing nations through it. At present cricket is the most popular game in Bangladesh. The English (e) — (play) it here in this subcontinent and since then it (f) — (become) an integral part of our entertainment. Our team (g) — (consist) of skilled players. They already (h) — (show) their performance in several matches. But it is a matter of sorrow that sometimes our players (i) — (play) so poorly that our countrymen (j) — (become) astonished. 6. Read the text and change the sentences as directed: You must have heard the name of Bayazid Bostami. (a) He was one of the greatest saints of Islam. (positive) One night he was learning his lessons. (b) At that time his mother asked him for a glass of water. (passive) (c) There was no drinking water in the house, so he went out to fetch it. (complex) (d) When he came back, he found his mother sleeping. (compound) Then he passed the whole night standing with a glass of water beside his mother. (e) He showed a great love and respect to his mother. (exclamatory) 7. Change the narrative style by using indirect speeches : “Where do you like to go, sir?” asked the ticket seller. “Cox’s Bazar,” replied the stranger. “How many tickets do you need?” “I will buy five tickets.” “Take these tickets. They will cost three thousand taka,” said the ticket seller. 8. Identify the unclear pronoun references in the following paragraph, where necessary. Re-write the sentences so that all pronoun references are clear: Autism is a physical disorder of the brain wig causes a lifelong developmental disability. Unfortunately, a number of boys and girls become victim of it after their birth. Children with autism vary widely in activities, abilities, behaviors etc. and the symptoms may appear differently in film. The sorrows and sufferings of the parents of those know no bounds. Though the autistic children are quite different in activities from the normal children, they should not be neglected. Rather, we have a great responsibility towards them. 9. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces: Arsenic is a (a) — (pre-modify the noun) substance. It is (b) — (use an intensifier to pre-modily the adjective) dangerous for human health. (c) — (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) substance is found in the water of the tubewell. There are (d) — (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun) villages in (e) — (use possessive to pre-modify the noun) country. Most of our (f) — (use a noun-adjective to pre-modify the noun) people drink tubewell water. As a result, many of them are suffering from arsenic problem. This problem is (g) — (pre-modify the verb) found in North Bengal. We should take proper measures (h) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive phrase). Government is trying to mark the tubewells having arsenie (i) — (use a participle to post modify the verb) red colour. People should be refrained from drinking water of (j) — (use demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) tubewells. Otherwise, they will suffer from arsenicosis. 10. Fill in the blanks with suitable linking words/sentence connectors: Trees are a vital part of our environment. (a) — they bear a great impact on the climate. (b) — We are not kind and careful about them. (c) — we destroy trees at random. (d) — one day the country will bear the consequence of greenhouse effect. (e) — ours is an agricultural country. Our economny depends on agriculture. (f) — trees play a vital role on our climate. (g) — Trees keep soil strong and protect it. (h) — trees save us from flood and many other natural calamities. (i) — trees provide us timber which is of great use specially in construction works and for making furniture (j) — trees are our best friends. 11. Read the following passage and then write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed below: After the flight of Yuri Gagarin, the first human being to travel to (a) outer space in 1961, the Soviet Union decided to send a woman in space (b) Proletarian Valentina Tereshkova was selected for this project from among more than four hundred applicants. Since the successful (c) launch of the spacecraft Vostok-5 on 14 June 1963. Tereshkova (d) began (e) preparing for her own fight. On 16 June 1963, she was dressed in space-suits and taken to the space shuttle launch pad by a bus. After completing her communication life support checks, she was scaled inside Vostok-5. Finishng a two-hour countdown, Vostok-5 launch (f) faultlessly. Although Tereshkova experience (g) nausea and physic (h) discomfort for much of the flight, she orbited the earth 48 times and spent almost three days in space. She also (i) maintained a fight log and took photographs of the horizon, which were (j) later used to identify aerosol layers within the atmosphere. (a)outer (antonym): (b) proletarian (synonym): (c) launch (synonym): (d) began (antonym): (e) prepare (synonym: (f) faultless (antonym): (g) nausea (synonym): (h) discomfort (antonym). (i) maintain (synonym): (j) later (antonym). 12. There are ten errors in the use of punctuation marks in the following text. Re-write the text correcting the errors: Student: Excuse me sir I want to discuss with you some grammatical problems. Teacher: What class are you in? Student: Sir I am in class XII am a newly admitted student here. Teacher: Okay, tell me your problems. Student: I want to understand the difference between a phrase and a clause. Teacher: Dont worry: ml help you understand the difference. Part B: Composition (Marks 40) 13. On behalf of the students of your class write an application to the Principal of your college for providing multimedia facilities in the classroom. 8  HSC Board Question English Second Paper 14. Suppose, you are a reporter of an English Daily. Now, write a report for your newspaper on food adulteration and its damning consequences. 8 15. Write a paragraph on ‘Environment Pollution’. Use about 150 words. 10  16. Internet is influencing both positively and negatively our young generation. Write a composition on the ‘Uses and Abuses of Internet’. Write at least 200 words but don’t exceed 250 words Key Solution To Dhaka Board-2019 English Second Paper Part-A 1. (a) The (b) an (c) a (d) the (e) the (f) a (g) The (h) x (i) x j) a 2.(a) as (b) to (c) from (d) of (e) for (f) after (g) by (h) with (i) for j) on/upon 3. (a) it is high time (b) Would you mind (c) as if (d) was born (e) Unless (f) would rather (g) What does'      look like (h) as soon as (i) have to j) there 4.(a) We are late. The class will start soon. Walk fast lest we should miss the class. (b)There goes a proverb that a stitch in time saves nine. So, we must make proper use of time. (c) The condition of Mitu's father was not well. If I knew his mobile number, I would inform her. (d) Though Bangladesh is a small country, it has a number of world heritage sites. We are proud of our world heritage sites. (e) We are a free nation now. 1971 is the year when we got our independence. (f) English is an international language. Without the knowledge of English, you cannot get a good job. (g) I found a box in the room. The box was too heavy for me to lift. (h) I was really in a great danger. He came here with a view to helping me. (i)  I can't recall his name. It is long since we met last. j) Time will decide everything. Do your best and wait for the result. 5.(a) get (b) is called (c) entertains (d) is created (e) played (f) has become (g) consists (h) have already shown (i) play j) become 6. (a) Very few saints of Islam were as great as he. (b) At that time he was asked for a glass of water by his mother. (c) Since/As there was no drinking water in the house, he went out to fetch it. (d) He came back and found his mother sleeping. (e) What a love and respect he showed to his mother! 7. The ticket seller asked the stranger respectfully where he (S) liked to go. The stranger replied that he (S) liked to go to Cox's Bazar. Then the ticket seller asked the stranger how many tickets he (S) needed. He (S) replied that he (S) would buy five tickets. The ticket seller told him (S) to take those tickets. He (T) added that they cost three thousand taka. 8. Autism is a physical disorder of the brain which causes a lifelong developmental disability. Unfortunately, a number of boys and girls become victim of autism after their birth. Children with autism vary widely in their activities, abilities, behaviors etc. and the symptoms may appear differently in them. The sorrows and sufferings of the parents of those children / the autistic children know no bounds. Though the autistic children are quite different in activities from the normal children, they should not be neglected. Rather, we have a great responsibility towards autistic children. 9.  (a) poisonous (b) very (c) This (d) many (e) our (f) village (g) largely (h) to get rid of this problem (i) using / painting j) these 10. (a) Therefore/ As a matter of fact (b) But (c) On the contrary /rather (d) as a result (e) As/Since (fl Needless to say / In fact (g) for example (h) Furthermore (i) Besides j) Above all / Truly speaking 11. (a) inner (b) working-class/common (c) introduction/ inauguration (d) get ready (e) ended (f) faulty (g) vomiting / sickness (h) comfort (i) sustain/retain/continue (j) earlier 12. Student : Excuse me, sir? I want to discuss with you some grammatical problems. , Teacher :What class are you in? Student :Sir, I am in class XI. I am a newly admitted student here. Teacher: Okay, tell me your problems. Student :I want to understand the difference between a phrase and a clause. Teacher :Don't worry! l I'll help you understand the difference. Ad Ad