Read the passage, then answer the questions . 26 March, our Independence Day, is the biggest state festival. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day

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gunshots. 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 diplomats, political parties, social and cultural organisations, educational institutions and freedom fighters pay homage $\to the$ martyrs. People from all walks of life also go there in rallies and processions. There are several cultural programmes throughout the day, highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971. The country also witnesses a smartly spectacular parade of defence forces, border guards, police, ansars and the VDP (Village Defense Party) at the National Parade Ground near the National Parliament. In Bangabandhu Stadium school children, scouts and girl guides take part in various displays $\to entertain thousands of$ spectators. Educational institutions also organise their individual programmes. Sports meets and tournaments are also organised on the day, including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga. In the evening, all major public buildings are illuminated with colourful lights. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organizations hold cultural functions. Similar functions are also arranged in other places in the country. 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 programmes are held other than the parade? (e) Which leading organisations of our country organise cultural programmes on this day?

1.Read the passage, then answer the questions 2. Mainul Islam is a qualified farmer in Naogaon. Mr. Islam was very brilliant as a student. He took his higher education from Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh. After completing his higher education, Mainul came back home and started advanced farming. He has two other brothers who are graduates in different areas. The speciality of the Islam family is that they all are living in their village and all have fame in their own fields. His younger brother, who is a Rajshahi University graduate, is a science teacher in a local school. His youngest brother is a Social Science graduate and he too would like to start a local NGO to work for this area. When asked "What makes you decide to stay here in this village?", Mr. Islam smiled. He said, "Look, it's true that we could leave this village for a city life, I could be an officer or my brother could be a bureaucrat. But it didn't attract us. We are sons of this soil. Yes, we have education but does education prepare a person only to be an officer? Don't we have any obligation to the soil that has made us what we are?" He also added that every educated individual shouldn't be a job seeker. He continued that since his discipline was Agriculture, after his education he took the occupation of a farmer. In response to the question whether they have any frustrations to live in a village, he confirmed that they were very pleased with their life. He said, "I work in my own farm, stay with my family members, pass time with my old friends, and sleep at my own home. All these count a lot." Mr. Islam is right. Many people go to cities and forget or loosen their roots knowingly or unknowingly. Mr. Islam and his brothers are great they never forgot their roots. They not only stuck to their own roots, they have been torch bearers for others to be respectful of their own roots. Q. Answer the following questions: (a) What made Mainul Islam come back to his village? (b) "Every educated individual should not be a job seeker." - Do you agree? Why? (c) What is the speciality of the Islam family? (d) Why did Mainul become a farmer? (e) Why are the three brothers great?

2.Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text. Mother Teresa was moved by the sight of the sick and dying on the streets of Kolkata. She founded a home for the dying destitute and named it "Nirmal Hriday", meaning "Pure Heart". She and her fellow nuns gathered the dying people of the streets of Kolkata and brought them $\to this$ home. They were lovingly looked after and cared for. Since then men, women and children have been taken from the streets and carried $\to Nirmal$ Hriday. These unloved and uncared for people get an opportunity $\to die in an environment of kindness and$ love. In their last hours they get human and divine love, and can feel they are also children of God. Those who survive, the Missionaries of Charity try $\to find jobs for them or send them \to homes where they can live happily for some more years in a caring$ environment. Regarding commitment $\to$ family, Mother Teresa said, "May be in our own family, we have somebody, who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried, are we there? Are we willing $\to give until it hurts in order \to be with our$ families, or do we put our interest first? We must remember that love

3.Read the passage, then answer the questions 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 February 21, 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 will ensure freedom of speech and will. He had many dreams about our film industry too. He made a legendary film 'Jibon Theke $Neya^{\prime} based on the Language Movement of 1952. It was a protest against the autocratic government then ruling our$ country. The family portrayed in that film symbolically represented East Pakistan. The family was ruled by an autocrat who had $\to go \to the prison for her$ conspiracy. During the Liberation War this film was shown outside Bangladesh. Celebrated film makers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak appreciated this film. Zahir gave all the money the film made $\to the Freedom Fighters^{\prime}$ Trust. Besides, his great documentary on Pakistani atrocities, 'Stop $Genocide^{\prime}, helped create world sentiment in favour of our Liberation$ War. On 30 December 1971, someone informed Raihan about an address somewhere at Mirpur, where he might find his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who had gone missing from 14 December 1971. Kaiser was captured and killed by the Pakistani army and the local collaborators during the last days of the war. Accordingly, Zahir \left home \to get his brother back but he never returned. Zahir's dream was fulfilled. He could see the inception of a free 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. 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?

4.Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text. As human beings, we have ability $\to bring about a great change in our$ social, national and international life. But we cannot change everything. For examples, we can neither change the sun's radiation nor the earth's orbit around the sun. But we can control the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases and its effect on the atmosphere. It is a matter of great sorrow that only during the last hundred years the carbon dioxide concentration has been raised alarmingly in the atmosphere and we humans can be held responsible for this. Carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is increasing due $\to burning of fossil$ fuels. Since the 19th century, industrial activities and the number of industries have been increased. So, for energy combustion of coal increased. Natural gas and oil are also burnt for different purposes. Thus, we are generating more and more greenhouse gases world wind. Question: So, it is our duty $\to stop cutting down trees$ indiscriminately. We should also inspire the general mass $\to plant more and more thes \to our existence on$ earth. There are several reasons why the carbon dioxide concentration has been (a) ____ in the atmosphere. Our mills and factories burn coal, mineral oil, natural gas etc. With a view \to (b) ____ energy, we also burn these materials \to (c) ____ our everyday needs. But for our own safety, we have \to encourage (d) ____. Otherwise our existence on earth will be at (e) ____. encourage (d) - Otherwise our existence on ent - our everyday needs. But for our own safety, we have $\to$

5.Read the passage carefully and then 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 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 bought 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 rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 1,00,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. Infact, 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. Answer the following questions. (a) Where does Meherjan live? (b) What happened to her after the erosion of the 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?

6.Read the passage, then answer the questions . 26 March, our Independence Day, is the biggest state festival. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day

7.Read the passage and then answer the questions below 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 land 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 rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 1,00,000 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. 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 villages threatened by the roaring rivers? (d) What happens then? (e) How can we reduce the increasing number of shelterless people affected by river erosion ?

8.Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text. responsibility is a duty or an obligation $\to do$ something. It is also a duty or obligation not $\to do$ something. For example, our $\to$ do's are casting our votes if we are 18 or over, maintaining discipline in all spheres of life, helping our trouble-riden neighbours and relatives, completing our lessons in time, keeping our environment clean etc. Again, our not $\to$ do's include keeping bad company, causing harm $\to$ anybody, hurting anybody, practising dishonesty or injustice, doing anything subversive of law, evading taxes etc. The responsibilities of the government are so provide for the citizens the basic necessities of life, \to protect the fundamental \right of the citizens, $\to ensure freedom of$ speech, $\to ensure equality of all before law$ etc. Question: It is unbelievable that a nation consists of people having (a) _____ thoughts and ideas, a single religious (b) _____ or a single language. People belong \to different caste and (c) _____. So it is the responsibility of each and every citizen \to (d) _____ respect \to others thoughts, faiths, customs way of life and so forth. He/She is expected \to do what he/she should do and (e) _____from doing what he/she should not do.

9.Read the passage, then answer the following questions 2. The advantages of the Internet technology have made a good number of websites to emerge 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.

10.Read the text, then answer the questions 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

11.Read the passage carefully and answer the questions no.B The Maldives is famous as a tourist destination because of its enjoyable weather, heavenly beaches and lagoons, luxurious holiday resorts and the 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 beach, rest and relaxation in 2008. In the same year, it was also ranked second 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 the threat from rising sea levels due to global warming. Most of the country is just 1.5 metres above sea level with a highest point of 2.3 metres! Many predictions have been made with respect to 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 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 metres underwater, in a blue-green lagoon on a small island. While underwater, the cabinet signed a document calling on all nations to cut their carbon emissions. 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 under water? What could be the reason for holding such a strange meeting?

12.Read the passage and answer questions: Humans can neither change the sun's radiation nor the earth's orbit around the sun. But they can control the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases and its effect on the atmosphere. Only during the last hundred years the carbon dioxide concentration has been raised alarmingly in the atmosphere and we humans can be held responsible for this. The main cause of the increase in carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere is the burning of fossil fuels. Since the \end{of}the 19th century, industrial activities increased rapidly giving rise $\to many$ factories. These factories required energy, which was produced through the combustion of coal. Besides coal, other sources of energy, such as mineral oil and natural gas were also burned $\to heat our$ houses, run cars and airplanes or $\to produce$ electricity. Nowadays, about 85 million barrels of crude oil are burned daily. Every time a fossil raw material is burned, it releases carbon dioxide into the air. Therefore, it is clear that more and more greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide are being generated worldwide by humans. Moreover, we are also strengthening the greenhouse effect by deforestation, which means cutting down trees) Every year enormous areas of forests are destroyed by people $\to obtain wood and \to clear regions for mining and \to create$ pasture. This loss of the forest causes dual problems. Trees that are burned up release large volumes of carbon dioxide gas into the air. On the other hand, as (forests, absorb a lot of carbon dioxide from the air and deliver oxygen instead, we also destroy an important storehouse of carbon dioxide when we clear forests. Read the above passage again and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information in the passage: Each time a kind of non-renewable (a) ____ is burned \to run vehicles or heat our (b) ____ . The atmosphere receives more (c) ____ gas. This gas slowly stores in the air and traps more heat (d) ____ the earth. Over time, this process weakens the natural (e) ____ that helps $\to protect the earth from dangerous climate$ change.