Prabal Bhowmik Titu
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Seen Passage 1 SSC
Seen Passage 1 SSC
Exercise- 1
The Maldives
The Maldives
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
The Maldives is famous as a tourist destination because of its enjoyable weather, heavenly beaches and lagoons, luxurious holiday resorts and ththee peace-loving people. Being an island country, it enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year. The Maldives has been ranked as the best country brand for natural beauty.
The Maldives is well known for being the lowest country in the world. Unfortunately, this small country with idyllic natural beauty is under threat from rising sea levels due to global warming. Most of the country is just 1.5 meters above sea level with a highest point of 2.3 meters! Many predictions have been made with respect to the Maldives being swept away by the rising water level in the Indian Ocean. It was even seen during the tsunami of 2004, that many of the island's dry parts were flooded by waters shrinking the island. The government of the Maldives has begun to purchase land from nearby countries in case the islands go under water!
In order to highlight the threats of global warming to its low-lying islands, the government of the Maldives held a cabinet meeting underwater in 2009. That was the first ever cabinet meeting in the world that took place underwater. The meeting took place about 5 meters underwater, in a blue-green lagoon on a small island. While meeting, the cabinet signed a document calling on all nations to cut their carbon emissions.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) The tourists have a great _____ for visiting the Maldives.
i. devotion
ii. attraction
iii. destination
iv. attention
b) Which of the following words best describe the weather of the Maldives?
i. unpleasant
ii. tropical
iii. warm
iv. enjoyable
c) The Maldives is well recognized around the world for its ______ .
i. smallness as a country
ii. Multi-racial culture
iii. lowest land
iv. threat of global warming
d) During the tsunami of 2004, many parts of the country were ____ .
i. submerged
ii. dried
iii. uprooted
iv. eroded
e) The word ‘idyllic’ in the phrase ‘idyllic natural beauty’ means ____ .
i. ideal
ii. very beautiful
iii. very peaceful
iv. idol shaped
f) Global warming is a ____ to the Maldives.
i. threat
ii. victim
iii. dangerous
iv. warning
g) The Maldives is faced with the threat of ____ .
i. tsunami over and over again
ii. serious water pollution
iii. disappearing from the map
iv. extinction of its aquatic animals
Answer: a) ii. attraction b) iv. enjoyable c) iii. lowest land d) i. submerged e) iii. very peaceful f) i. threat g) iii. disappearing from the map
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Why is the Maldives a remarkable tourist spot?
b) Why is 2008 a significant year for the Maldives?
c) What may happen to the Maldives owing to global warming?
d) What happened to the Maldives during the tsunami of 2004?
e) Do you support the idea of having a cabinet meeting underwater? What could be the reason for holding such a strange meeting?
Exercise- 2
Internet Technology
Internet Technology
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
The advantages of the Internet technology have made a good number of websites to facilitate social relations among people around the world. These are known as social networking services or social networks. At present, Facebook is the most popular. Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are other frequently used social services. Social network services are web-based and hence, provide ways for the users to interact through the internet. These services make it possible to connect people sharing interests and activities across the borders and thus have made a lot for the users to feel that they really live in a global village.
Why are social networks expanding so fast? The Answer is simple. Most of the social services are cost-free. You can make use of them free, paying a very little to your Internet service provider. Secondly, you can make your personal profile public before the entire online community. It is like presenting yourself before the entire world. You can also look into other people's profile if you are interested. It is simple and easy. Thirdly, social networks allow users to upload pictures, multimedia contents and modify the profile. Some services like Facebook allow Users to update their profiles. Fourthly, networks allow users to post blog entries. User profiles have a section dedicated to comments from friends and other users. Finally, there are privacy protection measures too. A user himself or herself decides over the number of visitors, viewers and what information should be shared with others.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) The word ‘advantage’ in the first line refers to-
i. convenience
ii. inconvenience
iii. inappropriate
iv. uncertain
b) The utility of website is-
i. Abusing social network
ii. Creating social awareness
iii. Discouraging social relation
iv. Promoting universal brotherhood
c) Users accounts have _____ protection measures.
i. virus
ii. identity
iii. personal secrecy
iv. network
d) The word ‘content’ stands for-
i. conversation
ii. agreement
iii. a rehearsal
iv. The things that are contained in something
e) A lot of websites help-
i. to worsen social relations among the world people
ii. to dissuade the world people
iii. to develop social relations among the global people
iv. to spread terrorism only in the world
f) This passage highlights the importance of-
i. electronic media
ii. information technology
iii. social networking services
iv. completing education
g) _____ are sharing interacts through internet.
i. only students
ii. people of the world
iii. only the rich people
iv. a privileged few
Answer: a) i. convenience b) iv. Promoting universal brotherhood c) iii. personal secrecy d) iv. The things that are contained in something e) iii. to develop social relations among the global people f) iii. social networking services g) ii. people of the world
2. Answer the following questions.
a) What do you mean by social networks?
b) How can a user take privacy protection measures?
c) Where can you make your personal profile?
d) Do you support the idea that a good number of websites facilitate social relations among people around the world? Why or why not? Explain in two or three sentences.
e) Write the merits and demerits of Facebook.
Exercise- 3
Meherjan
Meherjan
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
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 all her landed property gradually. It finally claimed her only 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 like 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 action to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.
Question Set- 1
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) What does the expression ‘The turmoil in her life’ in the 1st paragraph mean?
i. The pleasure of life
ii. The thunderstorm in her life
iii. The pangs and pains of her life
iv. The dreams of her life
b) What are the rivers mentioned in the passage?
i. The Jamuna
ii. The Padma
iii. The Meghna
iv. All the above
c) Once Meherjan was-
i. solvent
ii. insolvent
iii. poor
iv. impoverished
d) Meherjan was homeless because of-
i. the erosion of the Jamuna
ii. selling of her house
iii. destruction of her house
iv. flood
e) What is the main purpose of the author of the passage?
i. To explain the importance of river
ii. To describe the impact of monsoon
iii. To describe the effect of river erosion
iv. To describe the fate of a woman
f) She is living _____ in her makeshift house now.
i. with her relative
ii. alone
iii. with her husband
iv. with her family
g) Dancing of the flame means-
i. a traditional form of folk dance
ii. a flame that makes people dance around it
iii. instability of flame
iv. a flame made by people to remember that their past
Answer: a) iii. The pangs and pains of her life b) iv. All the above c) i. solvent d) i. the erosion of the Jamuna e) ii. To describe the impact of monsoon f) ii. alone g) iii. instability of flame
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Why does Meherjan look more than her age?
b) Where does she live and how does her living place look like?
c) When are many more villagers threatened by the roaring rivers?
d) What happens then?
e) How can we reduce the increasing number of shelter less people affected by river erosion?
Question Set- 2
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) Meherjan tries to make fire to-
i. warm herself
ii. cook day’s meal
iii. make tea
iv. make night’s meal
b) Before the erosion of the river, she was-
i. wealthy
ii. healthy
iii. unhappy
iv. joyful
c) _____ has made Meherjan’s life miserable.
i. Old age
ii. Sickness
iii. River erosion
iv. Frustration
d) How old is Meherjan?
i. Below 40
ii. Below 45
iii. Below 50
iv. Above 50
e) What does the word ‘demolish’ mean?
i. Build
ii. Preserve
iii. Destroy
iv. Support
f) What is the dangerous result of climate change?
i. Cruel hunger
ii. River erosion
iii. Land property
iv. The curse of nature
g) Meherjan’s hands are trembling because-
i. she is frightened
ii. She is feeble
iii. She is tired
iv. She is exhausted
Answer: a) ii. cook day’s meal b) iv. joyful c) iii. River erosion d) iii. Below 50 e) iii. Destroy f) iv. The curse of nature g) ii. She is feeble
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Where does Meherjan live?
b) What happened to her after the erosion of Jamuna?
c) Describe Meherjan’s residence?
d) What property did Meherjan lose due to river erosion?
e) What crushed Meherjan’s dream and happiness, and how?
Exercise- 4
26 March
26 March
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
26 March, our Independence Day, is the biggest state festival. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervor. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day begins with a 31 gun salute. Early in the morning the President and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation, place floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar. Then other leaders, political parties, diplomats, social and cultural organizations, educational institutions and freedom fighters pay homage to the martyrs. People from all walks of life also go there in rallies and processions. There are many cultural programs throughout the day highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971.
The country also witnesses a spectacular parade of defense forces, border guards, police, ansars and the VDP (Village Defense Party) at the National Parade Ground near the National Parliament. In National Stadium, school children, scouts and girl guides take part in various displays to entertain thousands of spectators. The educational institutions also organize their individual programs. Sports meets and tournaments are also organized on the day including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga. In the evening, all major public buildings are illuminated with colorful lights. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio cultural organizations hold cultural functions. Similar functions are also arranged in other places in the country.
Question Set- 1
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) Illuminate stands for-
i. pull out
ii. light
iii. put on
iv. put off
b) _____ hold cultural functions on 26 March?
i. British Council
ii. Bangla Academy and Shilpakala Academy
iii. Nazrul Academy
iv. Children Academy
c) Various displays are arranged to-
i. sadden
ii. irritate
iii. annoy
iv. amuse
d) What is the main purpose of the author of the passage?
i. To highlight the celebration of Independence Day
ii. To show us the way of arranging programs
iii. To describe our tradition
iv. To show our nationalism
e) ‘Enthusiasm’ means-
i. ambition
ii. celebration
iii. dedication
iv. zeal
f) 26 March is observed in-
i. a normal way
ii. a simple way
iii. a befitting manner
iv. an organized way
g) Our biggest state festival is-
i. Shaheed Dibos
ii. May Day
iii. Independence Day
iv. Pahela Boishakh
Answer: a) ii. light b) ii. Bangla Academy and Shilpakala Academy c) iv. amuse d) i. To highlight the celebration of Independence Day e) iv. zeal f) iii. a befitting manner g) iii. Independence Day
2. Answer the following questions.
a) What is the significance of our Independence Day?
b) How do we pay homage to the martyrs?
c) What do the cultural programs highlight?
d) Where is the parade held on 26 March? Who take part in the parade?
e) How do we become inspired from this passage?
Question Set- 2
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) How is the parade conducted on the Independence Day?
i. challenging
ii. enchanting
iii. risky
iv. competitive
b) How does the celebration of the Independence Day begin with?
i. a procession
ii. a gun salute
iii. placing floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum
iv. parade by the defense forces
c) What do the President and the Prime Minister do at the first hour of the day?
i. attend seminars with the freedom fighters
ii. highlight the heroic struggle of the martyrs
iii. pay homage to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum
iv. attend different cultural programs
d) “Freedom fighters pay homage to the martyrs” means that they-
i. highlight the sacrifice of the martyrs
ii. praise highly of the martyrs
iii. maintain silence
iv. show due respect and gratitude to the martyrs
e) Which of the following activities is done on the Independence Day?
i. organizing cultural programs by different persons only
ii. organizing debating programs only
iii. illuminating all the major public buildings
iv. arranging fairs only
f) What is the purpose of the author of writing the passage?
i. focus on the importance of the sacrifice of the martyrs
ii. show the importance of the freedom fighters
iii. highlight the significance of the day
iv. to show due respect and gratitude to the martyrs
g) Where is the national parade held on the Independence Day?
i. at the National Parade ground
ii. in a decorated hall
iii. on the streets
iv. in the National Stadium
Answer: a) ii. enchanting ii. a gun salute iii. pay homage to the martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum d) iv. show due respect and gratitude to the martyrs e) iii. illuminating all the major public buildings f) iii. highlight the significance of the day g) i. at the National Parade ground
2. Answer the following questions.
a) What are the main features of the day?
b) Why do people from all walks of life go to the National Mausoleum according to the text?
c) What are the most spectacular events of the day?
d) What kind of programs are held other than the parade?
e) Which leading organizations of our country organize cultural programs on this day?
Exercise- 5
21 February
21 February
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
21 February is observed as Shaheed Dibosh every year throughout the country in remembrance of the martyrs of language movement of 1952. The commemoration begins at the early hours of the day with mourning songs that recall the supreme sacrifices of our language martyrs.
People wear black badges and go to the Shaheed Minar in barefoot processions, singing mourning songs. They place wreaths at the Minar. Many of them visit the graves of the martyrs at Azimpur graveyard and pray for them. They also attend various programs organized in remembrance of the language martyrs. The UNESCO on 17 November in 1999 proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for the rightful place of Bangla. The day is now annually observed worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) The word ‘diversity’ means-
i. similarity
ii. variety
iii. likeness
iv. comparison
b) On 21 February, people go to the Shaheed Minar in procession singing-
i. national anthem
ii. mourning songs
iii. bhatialee
iv. patriotic songs
c) Our language martyrs are those who-
i. fought for Bengali language
ii. died for Bengali language
iii. lead the Language Movement
iv. fought for East Pakistan
d) Who observe ‘Shaheed Dibosh’ every year?
i. political persons
ii. students
iii. people of all ages
iv. the intellectuals
e) The International Mother Language Day is being observed-
i. only in our country
ii. all over the world
iii. in Indian Sub-Continent
iv. in western countries
f) What do you mean by the word ‘supreme’ in the phrase ‘supreme sacrifice’?
i. at any cost
ii. highest
iii. suicide
iv. utter
g) What is purpose of the author of this passage?
i. To highlight how 21 February is observed and its international recognition
ii. To highlight how the people go to Shaheed Minar
iii. To portray how the freedom fighters lose their lives
iv. To state how the UNESCO approves Shaheed Dibosh
Answer: a) ii. variety b) ii. mourning songs c) ii. died for Bengali language d) iii. people of all ages e) ii. all over the world f) ii. highest g) i. To highlight how 21 February is observed and its international recognition
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Why is 21 February observed as ‘Shaheed Dibosh’?
b) Why do we go to the Shaheed Minar bare footed?
c) What is your idea about the significance of wearing black badges on the Shaheed Dibosh? Write in two sentences.
d) What do you understand by the phrase ‘the rightful place of Bangla’?
e) What is the importance of ‘International Mother Language Day’?
Exercise- 6
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
Zahir Raihan was one of the most talented film makers in Bangladesh. He was born on 19 August 1935 in the village Majupur, in Feni district. He was an active worker of the Language Movement. He was one of the ten students to go out in a procession on 21 February 1952 despite a ban on such activities imposed by the authorities. As a result, he and many others were arrested and taken to prison. Raihan was also present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952. He also took part in the mass movement in 1969. In 1971, he joined the Liberation War. All through his life, Zahir Raihan dreamt of a democratic society, a society that would ensure freedom of speech. He had many dreams about our film industry too. He made a legendary film "Jibon Theke Neya" based on the Language Movement of 1952. It was a protest against the autocratic government then ruling our country. The family portrayed in that film symbolically represented East Pakistan. The family was ruled by an autocrat who had to go to prison for her conspiracy. During the liberation war, this film was shown outside Bangladesh. Celebrated film makers like Satyajit Roy, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak appreciated the film. Raihan gave all the money, the film made, to the Freedom Fighters' Trust. Besides, his great documentary on Pakistant atrocities, “Stop Genocide”, helped create world sentiment in favor of our liberation war. On 30 December 1971, someone informed Raihan about an address somewhere at Mirpur where he might find his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who had gone missing from 14 December 1971. Kaiser was captured and killed by the Pakistani army and the local collaborators during the last days of the war. Accordingly, Raihan left home to get his brother back but he never returned. Zahir Raihan's dream was fulfilled. He could see the inception of an independent Bangladesh though he did not get back his brother. And it's a pity that this dreamer could not live to see his dream come true.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) Which of the following word describes Zahir best?
i. brilliant
ii. polite
iii. energetic
iv. revolutionary
b) “Stop Genocide” was a-
i. novel
ii. film
iii. documentary
iv. drama
c) In the passage the word ‘inception’ means-
i. end
ii. finish
iii. beginning
iv. conclusion
d) What is the main theme of the passage?
i. About Zahir’s last day
ii. About Zahir’s activities
iii. About Zahir’s life
iv. About Zahir’s contribution
e) Zahir Raihan _____ in Liberation War.
i. took part
ii. fled away
iii. escaped
iv. avoided
f) The film “Jibon Theke Neya” is a symbol of-
i. barbarism
ii. autocracy
iii. revolt against autocratic government
iv. brutalism
g) Jibon Theke Neya is based on-
i. the mass movement
ii. the freedom fight
iii. the Liberation War
iv. the Language Movement
Answer: a) iv. revolutionary b) iii. documentary c) iii. beginning d) iv. About Zahir’s contribution e) i. took part f) iii. revolt against autocratic government g) iv. the Language Movement
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Who is Zahir Raihan?
b) Why did Zahir leave home?
c) Who was Shahidullah Kaiser? What happened to him?
d) What was the effect of “Stop Genocide”?
e) Where did Zahir contribute to all his earning?
Exercise- 7
Ameen is Seventeen
Ameen is Seventeen
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
Ameen is seventeen when the war breaks out. One Monday, after supper, he announces he will go to war. Sonabhan shrieks in surprise. You want to leave me alone?
It won't take long, Ma, he assures her. I'll be back soon after the training.
That night Sonabhan cannot sleep.
After sun-up, she opens the duck coop. The flock streams out, stretches and quacks around her for their morning meal. She takes longer than usual. She mixes water with rice husks in an earthen bowl and puts it down. They gobble it up in five minutes and head for the pond.
Ameen has let out the chickens by then. He lifts his 12-week-old cockerel, Moti, and sits on the veranda. During his breakfast he doesn't strike up any conversation. Having noticed Sonabhan's puffy eyes, he knows not to mention last night's subject. He casts his glance to the side, down at the cockerel eating rice in silence.
Today is haat bar, market day. Sonabhan has arranged the things Ameen will take to the bazaar to sell. Two dozen eggs, a sheaf of areca nuts, a bottle gourd. The bazaar is about a mile away.
Ameen wears his short-sleeved floral shirt over his lungi. He whistles as he looks into the cloudy mirror to comb his hair. Placing the rattan basket on his head before setting off, he hollers: I'm off, Ma.
Sonabhan watches him go along the bank of the little river. For the first time it occurs to her that Ameen has grown up. He has reached the height of his dead father, has his long neck and straight shoulders.
In that moment, Sonabhan realizes it's not the war, it's the fighting that Ameen is fascinated with. Like his dead father, he is crazy about bullfighting, cockfighting and boat racing. The same stubbornness flows in his blood. Once he decides on something, nothing can stop him.
Her little son! Now a man. Even up to his fifteenth birthday barely a day passed without neighbors appearing with a slew of complaints. Sometimes one or two turned up from other villages. They peeked into the house and asked, Does Ameen live here?
Sonabhan would sigh. What did he do?
Your son stole my date juice! Emptied the juice pots hanging on the date trees! Sonabhan would sigh again. Then ask the visitor to pardon him. She hated saying that she'd raised her son alone. If she could spare them, she would bring half a dozen eggs and hand them to the visitor: Please take these for your children.
At night, Sonabhan climbs out of her bed, clutches the hurricane lamp and tiptoes into Ameen's room. She stands by his bed, looks at her sleeping son. He snores like his father. He has her light skin and button nose. She touches his cheek. His broad forehead. She suppresses a desire to lie beside him. Like the old days, when she slept cuddling her baby.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) “Ameen is seventeen when the war breaks out.” What is the meaning of the phrase ‘break out’ here?
i. to start
ii. to finish
iii. to break
iv. to destroy
b) Ameen has assured her mother that the war will last for -
i. a long period of time
ii. a short period of time
iii. some years
iv. some months
c) “Sonabhan shrieks in surprise.” Here, the word ‘shriek’ means-
i. yell
ii. sigh
iii. whisper
iv. murmur
d) Why can’t the mother sleep that night?
i. because of her son’s decision to join the war
ii. because of a lot of complaints against him
iii. because of her son’s unwillingness to live with her
iv. because of thinking about her dead husband
e) “The same stubbornness flows in his blood.” Here, ‘stubbornness’ best means-
i. fragility
ii. tenacity
iii. flexibility
iv. harmony
f) “Sometimes one or two turned up from other villages.’ Here, the phrase ‘turn up’ implies-
i. run off
ii. manage
iii. leave
iv. appear
g) Ameen’s mother gets _____ to hear the announcement of Ameen.
i. perplexed
ii. stunned
iii. frightened
iv. furious
Answer: a) i. to start b) ii. a short period of time c) i. yell d) i. because of her son’s decision to join the war e) ii. tenacity f) iv. appear g) ii. stunned
2. Answer the following questions.
a) How does the writer describe Ameen during the period of war?
b) What makes Ameen’s mother stunned?
c) How has the author intensified motherly feeling in the text?
d) From the reading of the text, describe how the human world is inter-related with that of birds or animals.
e) What does Sonahbhan realize regarding her son’s decision to join the war?
Answer:
a) Ameen is seventeen and ready to go to war. He is brave, restless, and full of determination. He is also fascinated by fighting, like his dead father.
b) Ameen’s mother, Sonabhan, is stunned when she realizes her son has grown up and wants to go to war. She feels shocked and sad because she does not want to lose him.
c) The author intensified motherly feeling in the text through her actions. She feeds the ducks, worries about Ameen, remembers his childhood, and watches him go with a heavy heart.
d) The human world is inter-related with that of birds or animals as humans and animals share a daily life together. Sonabhan feeds the ducks and Ameen cares for the cockerel, showing love and attention. Their lives are connected and affect each other.
e) Sonabhan realizes that Ameen is not really interested in the war itself. He is fascinated by fighting, like bullfighting, cockfighting, and boat racing, which runs in his family.
Exercise- 8
March 17, 1978
March 17, 1978
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
On the afternoon of March 17, 1978, the weather took an odd turn in north Delhi. Mid-march is usually a nice time of year in that part of India: the chill of winter is gone and the blazing heat of summer is yet to come; the sky is clear and monsoon is far away. But that day dark clouds appeared suddenly and there were squalls of rain. Then followed an even bigger surprise: a hailstorm.
I was then studying for an MA at Delhi University while also working as a part-time journalist. When the hailstorm broke, I was in a library. I had planned to stay late, but the unseasonal weather led to a change of mind and I decided to leave. I was on my way back to my room when, on an impulse, I changed direction and dropped in on a friend. But the weather continued to worsen as we were chatting, so after a few minutes, I decided to head straight back by a route that I rarely had occasion to take.
I had just passed a busy intersection called Maurice Nagar when I heard a rumbling sound somewhere above. Glancing over my shoulder I saw a gray, tube-like extrusion forming on the underside of a dark cloud: it grew rapidly as I watched, and then all of a sudden it turned and came whiplashing down to earth, heading in my direction.
Across the street lay a large administrative building. I sprinted over and headed toward what seemed to be an entrance. But the glass-fronted doors were shut, and a small crowd stood huddled outside, in the shelter of an overhang. There was no room for me there so I ran around to the front of the building. Spotting a small balcony, I jumped over the parapet and crouched on the floor.
The noise quickly rose to a frenzied pitch, and the wind began to tug fiercely at my clothes. Stealing a glance over the parapet, I saw, to my astonishment, that my surroundings had been darkened by a churning cloud or dust. In the dim glow that was shining down from above, I saw an extraordinary panoply of objects flying past-bicycles, scooters, lampposts, sheets of corrugated iron, even entire tea stalls. In that instant, gravity itself seemed to have been transformed into a wheel spinning upon the fingertip of some unknown power.
I buried my head in my arms and lay still. Moments later the noise died down and was replaced by an eerie silence. When at last I climbed out of the balcony, I was confronted by a scene of devastation such as I had never before beheld. Buses lay overturned, scooters sat perched on treetops, walls had been ripped out of buildings, exposing interiors in which ceiling fans had been twisted into tulip-like spirals. The place where I had first thought to take shelter, the glass-fronted doorway had been reduced to a jumble of jagged debris. The panes had shattered and many people had been wounded by the shards. I realized that I too would have been among the injured had I remained there. I walked away in a daze.
Long afterward, I am not sure exactly when or where I hunted down the Times of India's New Delhi edition of March 18, I still have the photocopies I made of it. "30 dead", says the banner headline, "700 Hurt As Cyclone Hits North Delhi."
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) The word ‘unseasonal’ most closely means in the passage.
i. Typical for the season
ii. A regular occurrence
iii. Occurring at an unusual time
iv. Expected during that time
b) How did the author feel after the storm?
i. happy and delightful
ii. confused and shocked
iii. angry and agitated
iv. exhausted and calm
c) What does the expression ‘hunted down’ in the passage mean?
i. Found something by searching for it
ii. Escaped from danger
iii. Hid from a threat
iv. Chased someone
d) What did the author hear after passing Maurice Nagar?
i. indication
ii. whispering
iii. rumor
iv. continuous sound of thunder
e) The phrase ‘gravity itself seemed to have been transformed’ suggests-
i. Gravity had become stronger
ii. Gravity had become weaker
iii. Gravity was working unusually
iv. Gravity was unaffected
f) The word ‘frenzied’ in the text means-
i. frantic
ii. calm
iii. controlled
iv. nervous
g) Why did the author change direction and visit a friend?
i. The weather was very dangerous
ii. The author wanted to talk to his friend
iii. The friend invited the author to visit
iv. The author was feeling impetuous
Answer: a) iii. Occurring at an unusual time b) ii. confused and shocked c) i. Found something by searching for it d) iv. continuous sound of thunder e) iii. Gravity was working unusually f) i. frantic g) iv. The author was feeling impetuous
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Why did the author decide to leave the library earlier than planned?
b) What was the author’s reaction when he saw the storm forming?
c) What happened when the author tried to enter the building for shelter?
d) How is mid-March typically described in terms of weather in North Delhi?
e) What did the author witness in the aftermath of the storm?
Exercise- 9
Protecting the Environment
Protecting the Environment
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
Everyone must play a part in protecting the environment. There are many things you can do on your own every day to help save the planet. Here are some suggestions.
Really, the best thing we can do for the planet is to use its resources properly. Our unplanned activities are mainly responsible for the environmental crisis. Here are some questions you can ask yourself before buying something, "Do I really need this?" or "Is there another product which would do the same thing but is more sustainable?" Or ask the question, "Will this last a long time?" Some other questions may be, "Do I know how this item was made, how it will be used and how it will be disposed of?"
What do you think of using your own ceramic cup or mug at your school or local club? It means there are no plastic cups to throw away. You can wash it and reuse it every day. Unfortunately, we are encouraged to buy a new "improved" item even if the one we have can be repaired or reused. When we buy things, we should buy those that are durable; we should use them properly, and have them repaired when necessary. If we practice this, many things will not only last a life-time, but also be passed on for future use. However, if something is truly unusable for its original purposes, try to be more creative and think of how else it might be used. When you're done with it, think of whether someone else might be able to use it. You can donate some of the things to the poor. You may also sell some of your used items through personal advertisements in a local newspaper or in social media.
Rather than throwing an item out when neither you nor anyone else can make use of it, have it recycled. And if recycling is not possible, it is better to send goods to a landfill or have them burned up. Find out what types of materials can be recycled in your area. Clean and sort the materials before putting them out in the bin. Recycling your drink and food cans means there will be less trash in a resource recovery facility or landfill. Moreover, a company can use the old cans to make new ones.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) The word ‘recovery’ refers to-
i. get back
ii. achieve
iii. getting
iv. find
b) We should try to be more creative and think of-
i. how else it might be used
ii. where it may be used
iii. how it was made
iv. when it is used
c) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘encouraged’?
i. disheartened
ii. discussed
iii. made interested
iv. barred
d) What is the purpose of reduce, reuse, recycle?
i. to buy best things
ii. to save the earth
iii. to use things properly
iv. to save the money and energy
e) If recycling is impossible-
i. we should donate it
ii. we should sell it
iii. we should preserve it
iv. we should send it to a landfill or burn-up
f) The word ‘sustainable’ here means-
i. temporary
ii. momentary
iii. permanent
iv. transitory
g) Who mostly create environmental crisis?
i. society
ii. buyers
iii. luxurious people
iv. consumers
Answer: a) i. get back b) i. how else it might be used c) iii. made interested d) ii. to save the earth e) iv. we should send it to a landfill or burn-up f) iii. permanent g) iv. consumers
2. Answer the following questions.
a) Whom does the author blame for the environmental crisis?
b) How many questions can you ask yourself before buying the things?
c) Why is it necessary to save our planet?
d) Do you think recycling can contribute to the development of our country? How?
e) What will be the effect of using durable items on environment?
Exercise- 10
Graffiti
Graffiti
Read the passage. Then answer the questions no. 1 and 2
"Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable," writes the pseudonymous street artist Banksy-a sentiment that encapsulates the spirit of graffiti's defiance.
On 16 July 2024, Abu Sayeed, an unarmed organizer of the students' movement for quota reform at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was shot and killed by police as he stood with his arms stretched out, leaving his mother, Monowara Begum, shell-shocked and crying, "My son only wanted a job; if you don't want to give him a job, then don't-but why did you kill him?"
Since the 1960s, graffiti in Bangladesh has served as a powerful voice for resistance. In 1966, student activists spray-painted slogans like "Down with Ayub Khan" on walls, using graffiti as a covert means of protest against a repressive regime. When military forces approached, they shouted "chika! chika!" a word meaning mole or muskrat- pretending they were killing rodents to disguise their actions. This guerrilla tactic marked the beginning of graffiti as a tool of dissent in Bangladesh, and it played a crucial role in the Liberation War in 1971.
In recent times, graffiti has resurfaced as a powerful expression of dissent, particularly during the July uprising. Spray-painted messages-like "The country is nobody's father's"-invoked the legacy of past movements, echoing the iconic "Gonotontro Mukti Paak" (Let Democracy Be Free), famously written on the body of protester Noor Hossain during the Ershad regime. Each stroke of paint carried forward a history of defiance that has shaped Bangladesh's political landscape, drawing connections between past and present struggles for justice.
Graffiti's potency lies in its subversive, guerrilla nature. Unlike wall art, which is typically organized and sanctioned, graffiti thrives on immediacy, spontaneity, and the risk of persecution. Where wall art may take time and care, graffiti is often quick, requiring speed and anonymity due to the threat of detection. Its purpose is to challenge power, counter surveillance, and inscribe messages that are otherwise censored or suppressed.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
a) What does ‘pseudonymous’ mean?
i. famous for realistic portraits
ii. known for anonymous donations
iii. using a false or assumed name
iv. hidden from the public eye for legal reasons
b) Why did students spray-paint slogans like “Down with Ayub Khan” in 1966?
i. to demand jobs
ii. to protest the regime
iii. to celebrate democracy
iv. to support leaders
c) What does the phrase “The country is nobody’s father’s” convey?
i. The need for a strong leader
ii. A rejection of authoritarian rule
iii. A desire for unity among the people
iv. to support leaders
d) The use of the word “Chika! Chika!” by 1960s activists primarily served to-
i. signal the arrival of foreign journalists
ii. mock the Ayub Khan regime openly
iii. mask subversive activity under the guise of mundane action
iv. encourage collective singing to raise morale
e) Which of the following best differentiates ‘graffiti’ from ‘wall art’ according to the text?
i. Graffiti is government-approved; wall art is not
ii. Wall art prioritizes aesthetics, whereas graffiti prioritizes resistance
iii. Graffiti is methodical and slow; wall art is impulsive
iv. Wall art is anonymous; graffiti is signed
f) Which of the following best explains the symbolic significance of Abu Sayeed’s killing in the context of the text?
i. It marked the end of student politics in Rangpur
ii. It represented the state’s violent suppression of peaceful demands for employment
iii. It illustrated the government’s support for quota reform
iv. It highlighted the success of the July uprising
g) What is the best definition of “graffiti” as used in the passage?
i. art on walls
ii. illegal public art
iii. protest art
iv. building decoration
Answer: a) iii. using a false or assumed name b) ii. to protest the regime c) ii. A rejection of authoritarian rule d) iii. mask subversive activity under the guise of mundane action e) ii. Wall art prioritizes aesthetics, whereas graffiti prioritizes resistance f) ii. It represented the state’s violent suppression of peaceful demands for employment g) iii. protest art
2. Answer the following questions.
a) What do you understand by the saying, “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable”?
b) Who was Abu Sayeed and what happened to him on July 16, 2024?
c) Who is Banksy, and what is his view on art?
d) What is the main cause of the July 2024 protests in Bangladesh?
e) How did the mother of Abu Sayeed express her mental agony?
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