Questions in this chapter

3. Write a summary of the following text.

Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to get university education and sufficient support from educational institutions. Increasing enrollment 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.

Read the passage below and answer the questions 2 and 3:

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 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 likely to get exposed to drugs and alcohol causing irreparable damage to their health and life.

$\boxed{\mathbf{~2~}}$

Answer the following questions:

(a) Why are adolescent girls pulled out of school?

(b) What happens to a girl when she loses mobility?

(c) Who are more vulnerable to adolescent health problems-boys or girls? Why?

(d) What major problems do boys face during adolescence?

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~3~}}$

Read the passage again and then write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed below.

(a) usually (synonym) (b) illegal (antonym) (c) demand (synonym) (d) majority (antonym) (e) maternal (antonym) (f) mortality (antonym) (g) mobility (antonym) (h) curtail (antonym) (i) unemployed (antonym) (j) expose (antonym)

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 when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and lifestyles are shaped. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescence is the period which shapes the future of girls or boys 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 family and society. This inequality leads to widespread practice of child marriage, marginalisation 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 adolescents are married before the age of 15 and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Research finds the 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.

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~A~}}$

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:

a. What could be the closest meaning of 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

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~B~}}$

Answer the following questions:

(a) What do you mean by the term ‘adolescence”?

(b) Why is adolescence an important period of life?

(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?

2. Read the following text and make a low-chart showing the famous diasporas and the causes of diasporas (one is done for you):

The term diaspora is used to refer to the people who have left their homelands and settled in other parts of the world either because they were forced to do so or because they wanted to leave on their own. The world is increasingly used for such people as a collective group and/or a community. The world has seen many diasporas but scholars have been studying the phenomenon with great interest only in recent decades. Among the great diasporas of history is that the Jewish people who were forced to leave their lands in ancient times. The movement of Aryans from central Europe to the Indian sub-continent thousands of years ago is also a noteworthy diaspora although the causes of diaspora are unclear. In the twentieth century history the Palestinian diaspora has attracted a lot of attention and concern for world leaders because of the plight of Palestinians. There have been massive diasporas over the centuries, either because of war or because of the ravages of nature. But the chief reason why phenomenon of diaspora is attracting so much attention now is globalization.

$\boxed{i. Jewish~ diaspora }\rightarrow\boxed{ii} \rightarrow\boxed{iii} \rightarrow\boxed{iv} \rightarrow\boxed{v} \rightarrow\boxed{vi}$

2. Read the following text and make a flow chart showing the objectives of peace movement. (One is done for you):

A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war for all wars, minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation including ban of guns, and is often linked to the goal of achieving world peace. Means to achieve these ends include advocacy of pacifism, violent resistance, diplomacy, boycotts, demonstrations, peace camps; supporting anti-war political candidates and banning guns, creating open government, direct democracy, supporting people who expose war crimes conspiracies to create wars, and making laws. Different organizations involved in peace movements may have some diverse goals, but one common goal is the sustainability of peace, Peace movement is basically an all-encompassing ‘anti-war movement'. It is primarily characterized by a belief the human beings should not wage war on each other or engage in violent conflicts over language, race, natural resources, religion or ideology. It is believed that military power is not the equivalent of justice. The pare movement tends to oppose the proliferation of dangerous technologies and weapons of mass destruction, particular nuclear weapons and biological warfare. Moreover, many object to the ext of weapons including hand-held machine guns and grenades by leading economic nations to lesser developed nations.

$\boxed{1. Ending~ of~ a~ particular~ war }\rightarrow\boxed{2.} \rightarrow\boxed{3.} \rightarrow\boxed{4.} \rightarrow\boxed{5.} \rightarrow\boxed{6.}$

3. Write a summary of the following text.

As a child you must have been told to greet your elders and visitors to your home according to your culture and tradition. You must also have been taught to be polite in company and keep quiet while others, especially your elders, spoke. Possibly, you at times grudged such schooling. Possibly, at times you even protested such disciplining. Now, certainly you know that you can’t always behave the way you want specially in the presence of others. There are rules of behavior you have to follow in a company. We are social beings and have to consider the effect of our behaviour on others, even if we are at home and dealing with our family members.

We have two terms to describe our social behaviour-‘etiquette’ and ‘manners.’ ‘Etiquette’ is a French word and it means the rules of correct behaviour in society. The word ‘manners’ means the behaviour that is considered to be polite in a particular society or culture. Manners can be good or bad. For example, it is a bad manner to speak with food in one’s mouth. No one likes a bad-mannered person. Remember that etiquette and manners vary from culture to culture and from society to society.

We learn etiquette and manners from our parents, families and various institutions, such as schools, colleges or professional bodies. There are rules of behaviour for all kinds of social occasions and it is important to learn them and practise them in everyday life.

3. Summarize the following text.

The term diaspora’ is used to refer to people who have left their homelands and settled in other parts of the world, either because they were forced to do so or because they wanted to leave on their own. The word is increasingly used for such people as a collective group or a community. The world has seen many diasporas but scholars have been studying the phenomenon with great interest only in recent decades. Among the great diasporas of history is that of the Jewish people, who were forced to leave their lands in ancient times. The movement of Aryans from Central Europe to the Indian sub-continent thousands of years ago is also a noteworthy diaspora, although the causes of this diaspora are unclear. In twentieth century history, the Palestinian diaspora has attracted a lot of attention and has been a cause of concern for world leaders because of the plight of Palestinians. There have been massive diasporas in Africa, too, over the centuries, either because of war or because of the ravages of nature. But the chief reason why the phenomenon of diaspora is attracting so much attention now is globalization.

2. Read the following text and make a flow-chart showing role and activities of Gazipir. (One is done for you)

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 animals 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 no 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. Some Gazi paat scrolls are part of the collection of the British Museum.

$\boxed{1. Making~ dangerous~ animals~ docile }\rightarrow\boxed{2.} \rightarrow\boxed{3.} \rightarrow\boxed{4.} \rightarrow\boxed{5.} \rightarrow\boxed{6.}$

1. Read the passage below and answer the questions following it.

When you are in the driving seat of a car, you have the steering and the horn in your hands, the brake and accelerator under your feet, eyes open looking ahead, left and right. The same can be said about a motorcycle rider, with some modifications. These are all very visible. But, behind all, there is something that keeps working unseen. And that is the Central Processing Unit (CPU), your brain. CPUs are artificially intelligent machines that are programmed to do specific jobs under fixed conditions and judgements. But the human brain is intelligent by nature. It is the most sophisticated machine that is able to operate on ever-changing conditions and standards of judgement. As conditions in the traffic keep invariably changing, this virtue of sophistication of your brain must be at work when you are driving. The difference between traffic in the roads and highways and racing circuit must not be blurring inside you. Never imagine yourself to be a Michael Schumacher driving an F-1 at 300 mph. leave no room for fantasy. You must always be ready to encounter unexpected behaviour from any vehicle or pedestrian. ‘Keep your cool’ is easy to advice but difficult to maintain. Still you must always restrain yourself because, at the end of the day, you don’t want to be regarded as a killer. Now you see, the last thing that differentiates you from a computer is your conscience.

$\boxed{\mathbf{~A~}}$

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.

a. What could be the closest meaning for "modification"?

(i) To chance

(ii) To make less extreme

(iii) Adjust

(iv) An alteration or adjustment to something

$\\$

b. The word "sophisticated" refers to----

(i) unrefined

(ii) advancement

(iii) gorgeous

(iv) uncomplicated

$\\$

c. Invariably could be best replaced by-----

(i) regular

(ii) alterable

(iii) inconsistent

(iv) always

$\\$

d. The human brain is called ‘Central Processing Unit (CPU) because-----

(i) it is the central part of the body

(ii) it performs all important activities

(iii) it is the centre of all activities

(iv) it is the central part of mind

$\\$

e. The best synonym of "encounter" is------

(i) battle

(ii) meeting

(iii) face

(iv) clash

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~B~}}$

Answer the following questions:----

(a) What kind of skill does car driving require?

(b) What is meant by ‘eyes open looking ahead, left and right’?

(c) Why is human brand called the most sophisticated machine?

(d) How do CPUs and brand differ?

(e) Do you support the idea that conscience is our best guide on the roads? Why? Why not?

3. Summarize the following text.

Universities should never be made into mechanical organizations for collecting and distributing knowledge. Through them the people should offer their intellectual hospitality, their wealth of mind to others, and earn their proud right in return to receive gifts from the rest of the world. But in the whole length and breadth of India there is not a single university established in the modern time where a foreign or an Indian student can properly be acquainted with the best products of the Indian mind. For that we have to cross the sea, and knock at the doors of France and Germany. Educational institutions in our country are India’s alms-bowl of knowledge; they lower our intellectual self-respect; they encourage us to make a foolish display of decorations composed of borrowed feathers.

2. Read the following text and make a flow chart showing the goal of peace movement. (No. 1 has been done for you)

A peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war (or all wars), minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, including ban of guns and is often linked to the goal of achieving world peace. Means to achieve these ends include advocacy of pacifism, non-violent resistance, diplomacy, boycotts, demonstrations, peace camps; supporting anti-war political candidates and banning guns, creating open government, direct democracy; supporting people who expose war-crimes or conspiracies to create wars and making laws. Different organizations involved in peace movements may have some diverse goals but one common goal is sustainability of peace. Peace movement is basically an all-encompassing “anti-war movement”. It is primarily characterized by a belief that human beings should not wage war on each other or engage in violent conflicts over language, race, natural resources, religion or ideology. It is believed that military power is not the equivalent of justice. The peace movement tends to oppose the proliferation of dangerous technologies and weapons of mass destruction, in particular, nuclear weapons and biological warfare. Moreover, many object to the export of weapons including hand-held machine guns and grenades by leading economic nations to lesser developed nations.

$\boxed{1. End ~of~ wars}\rightarrow\boxed{2. } \rightarrow\boxed{3.} \rightarrow\boxed{4.} \rightarrow\boxed{5.} \rightarrow\boxed{6.}$

1. Read the following text and answer the questions A and B.

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.

$\boxed{\mathbf{~A~}}$

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.

a. The word ‘appreciate’ means :–---

(i) praise

(ii) choose

(iii) select

(iv) like

$\\$

b. The word “repulsed” stands for----

(i) disguised

(ii) ignored

(iii) attracted

(iv) regarded

$\\$

c. Beauty also prevails in------

(i) truth

(ii) pleasurable objects

(iii) ugliness

(iv) beautification

$\\$

d. The best synonym of “beholder” is-----

(i) runner

(ii) sender

(iii) watcher

(iv) stopper

$\\$

e. We face difficulties –---

(i) when we go through any poem

(ii) when we are told to define beauty

(iii) when we appreciate beauty

(iv) when we are told to define truth

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~B~}}$

Answer the following questions.

(a) When do we run into difficulties?

(b) Is ugliness a part of life? If so, how?

(c) What has John Keats written in “Ode on a Grecian Urn”?

(d) When does “ugliness” occupy a place in our life?

(e) How do poets and artists provide answer about the questions on how to define beauty?

3. Write a summary of the following text.

Bangladesh is blessed with huge inland open water resources. It has numerous river canals, beels, lakes, and vast areas of floodplains. Hakaluki haor is one of the major wetlands of Bangladesh. With a land area of 18,386 hectares, it supports a rich biodiversity and provides direct and indirect livelihood benefits to nearly 190,000 people. This haor was declared an Ecologically Critical Area in April 1999 by the government of Bangladesh.

Hakaluki Haor is bounded by the Kushiara river as well as a part of the Sonai-Bardal river to the north, by the Fenchuganj-Kulaura railway to the west and to the south, and by the Kulaura-Beanibazar road to the east. The haor falls under two administrative districts, Maulvibazar and Sylhet. Some 190,000 people live in the area surrounding the haor.

Hakaluki Haor is an important source of fisheries resources for Bangladesh. Kalibaus, Boal, Rui, Ghagot, Pabda and Chapila are the main fish species found here. From the Kushiara there are frequent upstream movement of fish towards the beels and tributaries of Hakaluki. The beels in Hakaluki haor provide winter shelter for the mother fisheries. In early monsoon these mother fisheries produce millions of fries for the entire downstream fishing communities. Floodplains are also an important source of fisheries resources within the area. However, many of the beels have lost their capacity to provide shelter for mother fisheries because of sand deposits from upstream rivers and canals, use of complete dewatering technique for fishing and lack of aquatic plants to provide feed and shelter for parent fish.

2. Read the following text and make a flow chart showing the causes and aspects of conflict. (One is done for you)

Conflict can be described as a disagreement among groups or individuals characterized by antagonism and hostility. This is usually fueled by the opposition of one party to another in an attempt to reach an objective different from that of the other party. The elements involved in the conflict have varied sets of principles and values, thus allowing a conflict to arise. Conflict can be defined in many ways but one of the simplest is that it pertains to the opposing ideas and actions of different entities, resulting in an antagonistic state. Conflict is an inevitable part of life. All of us possess our own opinions, ideas and sets of beliefs. We have our own ways of looking at things and we act according to what we think is proper. Hence, we often find ourselves in conflict in different scenarios; it may involve other individuals, groups of people, or a struggle within our ownselves. Consequently, conflict influences our actions and decisions in one way or another.

$\boxed{1.Disagreement~ among~ groups~ or~ individuals}\rightarrow\boxed{2.} \rightarrow\boxed{3.} \rightarrow\boxed{4.} \rightarrow\boxed{5.} \rightarrow\boxed{6.}$

2. Read the following text and make a flow-chart showing the specialties of Gazi Pir (One is done for you)

According to some myths and legends, Gazi Pir 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 animals 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 no 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 Gazi Pir has been preserved in folk literature as well as art and has been performed in indigenous theatre. In fact, some Gazi paat scrolls are part of the collection of the British Museum.

Being credited the miracles----2---3---4----5---6

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B :––

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 strench fills the air around it. But that is not what it was like before.

The report says that the river has a glorious past. Once it was a tributary of the mighty Ganges and flowed into the Bay of Bengal through the river Dhaleswari. 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.

The city paid back the bounty of the river by sucking life out of it! According to newspaper report, the Buriganga is dying because of pollution. Huge quantities of toxic chemicals and wastes from mills and factories, hospitals and clinics and households and other establishments are dumped into the river everyday. The city of Dhaka discharges about 4500 tons of solid waste everyday and most of it is directly released into the Buriganga. According to the department of the Environment (DoE) 20,000 tons of tannery waste, including some highly toxic materials are released into the river everyday. Experts identified nine industrial areas in and around the capital city as the primary sources of river pollution: Tongi, Tejgaon, Hazaribagh, Tarabo, Narayanganj, Savar, Gazipur, Dhaka Export Processing Zone and Ghorashal.

$\boxed{\mathbf{~A~}}$

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:–

a. The word ‘tributary’ refers to —

(i) fountain

(ii) territory

(iii) stream

(iv) kingdom

$\\$

b The Buriganga water fills the air with —

(i) aroma

(ii) fragrance

(iii) stink

(iv) scent

$\\$

c. — founded their capital on the bank of the Buriganga.

(i) The British

(ii) The Mughals

(iii) The Indians

(iv) The Bangladeshi

$\\$

d. Which of the following statement is false?

(i) Buriganga is a river

(ii) Our rivers are not in good shape

(iii) Jahangirnagar was once called Dhaka

(iv) Water is being contaminated

$\\$

e. The best synonym of ‘toxic’ is —

(i) Poisonous

(ii) Hygienic

(iii) Healthy

(iv) Useful

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~B~}}$

Answer the following questions: (a) What do you think is the condition of the rivers of our country?

(b) What is the commercial value of the river Buriganga?

(c) Why is the Buriganga described as an example of a dying river? Give reasons for your answer.

(d) How is the Buriganga polluted?

(e) What did the Mughals marvel at? What was the outcome of it?

3. Summarize the following text

Anne Frank is perhaps the most well-known victim of the Nazi Holocast of World War II. Anne, born on 12 June, was given a diary at the age of 13, in which she chronicled her life from 1942 to 1944. During this time, Anne spent two years in hiding with her family in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam in a secret annex with four other Jews. Betrayed and discovered in 1944, Anne was sent to the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp where she died of typhus in 1945. Anne’s father, Otto frank, was the only occupant of the secret annex to survive the war. In 1947, he published Anne’s diary as The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne’s account of her internment, as well as her deep belief in humanity has become one of the world’s most widely read books.

2. Read the following text and make a flow-chart showing the specialties of Gazi Pir (One is done for you)

The time of adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which one experiences several key developments. Besides physical and sexual maturation, these experiences include movement toward social and economic independence, development of identity, the acquisition of skills needed to carry out adult relationships and roles and the capacity for abstract reasoning. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and potential, it is also a time of considerable risks during which social contexts exert powerful influences. Many adolescents face pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs and to initiate sexual relationships putting themselves at high risk for intentional and unintentional injuries, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many also experience a wide range of adjustment and mental health problems.

Physical and sexual maturation----2-----3-----4----5-----6

3. Summarize the following text

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 neighborhood 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.

1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B

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. It’s 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. The city paid back the bounty of the river by sucking life out of it! According to newspaper report, the Buriganga is dying because of pollution. Huge quantities of toxic chemicals and wastes from mills and factories, hospitals and clinics and households and other establishments are dumped into the river every day. The city of Dhaka discharges about 4500 tons of solid waste every day and most of it is directly released into the Buriganga. According to the Department of the Environment (DoE), 20.000 tons of tannery waste, including some highly toxic materials, are released into the river every day. Experts identified nine industrial areas in and around the capital city as the primary sources of river pollution: Tongi. Tejgaon, Hazaribagh, Tarabo, Narayanganj. Savar, Gazipur, Dhaka Export Processing Zone and Ghorashal. The river would need a monster’s stomach to digest all the wastes mentioned above. There is a limit up to which it can put up its cruel and thoughtless treatment. We the humans have successfully killed one of our rivers. There are other rivers in the country that are being subjected to similar thoughtless treatment. Unless we take care of our rivers there may come a time when we will cry ‘water, water 'and find it nowhere.

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~A~}}$

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.

(a) The word ‘tributary’ mentioned in the passage means.

(i) rivulet (ii) lake (iii) pond (iv) estuary

(b) The word ‘marvelled’ mentioned in the passage means.

(i) offended (ii) grief-stricken (iii) overwhelmed (iv) hurt

(c) The word ‘toxic’ mentioned in the passage means.

(i) tasty (ii) healthy (iii) moderate (iv) poisonous

(d) How did Dhaka city pay back the bounty of the river?

(i) By cleaning the river (ii) By polluting the river (iii) By purifying its water (iv) By making it glorious

(e) The word ‘Identified' in the passage means.

(i) excluded (ii) traced out (iii) carried out (iv) teased

$\\$

$\boxed{\mathbf{~B~}}$

Answer the following questions.

(a) According to the passage, what happened in the year 1610 ?

(b) What according to the experts, are the primary sources of river pollution in and around Dhaka city?

(c) What amount of solid waste is produced in Dhaka city and where does it go?

(d) What does DoE say?

(e) What may happen if we do not take care of our rivers?