Dhaka Board-2016, English First Paper

Dhaka Board-2016                                               English First Paper

Part A : Comprehension (Marks 50)

Read the passage 'A' and answer the questions no. 1, 2 and 3.   

December 16 is our victory day. On this day, we achieved our ultimate victory over Pakistani occupation forces. The day is celebrated throughout the country every year with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday in Bangladesh and is one of the biggest state festivals. On this day in 1971, the Pakistan army eastern command surrendered to the Indo-Bangladeshi Joint Force high command in Dhaka, ending the nine month long liberation war. The event of surrender took place at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka on December 16, 1971.The celebration of victory day has been continuing since 1972. Every year early in the morning, the President and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation, place wreaths of flowers at the National Memorial at Savar near Dhaka to pay homage and tribute to the millions of martyrs who laid down their lives for a free, sovereign and prosperous motherland. The day reminds us of the heroic sacrifices of our fallen sons for the noble cause and also inspires us to sacrifice ourselves for our beloved country. The rituals of the celebration gradually obtained a distinctive character with a number of similar elements like placing floral wreaths by the leader of the opposition, diplomats, political parties, socio-cultural organizations, freedom fighters and people from all walks of life. The victory day in Bangladesh is a joyous celebration in which popular cultural programes also play a great role. Electronic media broadcast documentaries, talk shows, dramas, movies and cultural programmes focussing the events of the war. Print media also publish special supplementary containing elements like experiences of the war veterans and their biographies, literacy pieces on freedom movement and paper clips of the then time. The main streets are decorated with national flags along with gorgeous illumination of important and noted buildings and structures. Different political parties and socio-cultural organizations undertake programmes to mark the day in a befitting manner.   

1.     Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1 ´ 7 = 7

(a)   What is the venue of the surrender of the Pakistan army?

        (i) Savar, Dhaka         

        (ii) Kolkata, India

        (iii) Ramna Race Course, Dhaka

        (iv) Tejgaon, Dhaka 

(b)   The word 'Commemorate' stands for ¾

        (i) a unity among people

        (ii) the struggle

        (iii) to show merriments

        (iv) preserve in memory by some celebration

(c)   How is the victory day celebrated? 

        (i) reluctantly                (ii) ardently

        (iii) frequently               (iv) negligently

(d)   The National Memorial represents ¾

        (i) honour and dignity of the people

        (ii) valiant struggle

        (iii) warning to oppressors

        (iv) nation's respect for the martyrs

(e)   Our victory day roads are adorned with ¾

        (i) national flags           (ii) red carpets

        (iii) banners                   (iv) flowers

(f)    The word 'achievement' has the closest meaning to ¾

        (i) improvement           (ii) accomplishment

        (iii) disappointment     (iv) embodiment

(g)   The martyred freedom fighters will always be ¾

        (i) ignored                      (ii) forgotten

        (iii) recollected              (iv) neglected 

2.     Answer the following questions.                 2 ´ 5 = 10

(a)   How do the people of our country observe the victory day?

(b)   Why did the martyrs sacrifice their lives in 1971?

(c)   What does the victory day remind the people of Bangladesh?

(d)   Where does the National Memorial of Bangladesh stand?

(e)   Is victory day the greatest achievement for us? If yes, why?

3.     Write a summary of the passage in not more than 90 to 100 words.            10

Read the passage 'B' carefully and answer question nos. 4 and 5.

Sher-E-Bangla is one of the most popular leaders of Bangladesh. He was born in 1873 at Chakhar in Barisal. His father Mohammad Wazed Ali was a famous lawyer. He passed the Entrance Examination and went to Calcutta for higher studies. At the age of 22 he passed the M.A and was placed in the first division. After two years, he obtained B.L. degree with distinction and joined the Bar. At the age of 33, he was appointed Deputy Magistrate. He resigned his post in 1912 due to difference of opinion with govt. In 1913, he became the member of Bengal Council. In 1915, he defeated Khaja Nazimuddin miserably in the election of Patuakhali. In 1918, he was made General Secretary of Indian Congress. In the same year he was made President of All India Muslim League. He was the Chief Minister of Bengal. In 1924, he established many educational institutions in Bengal as an Education Minister. He was the Mayor of Calcutta Corporation in 1935-36. In 1937, he was the first elected Prime Minister of Bengal. On 23^rd March 1940 he proposed his historical Pakistan resolution in Lahore Conference of Muslim League. He led the united front in the general election of East Pakistan until 1958. He died at the age of 89. People of Bangladesh remember him with gratitude.

4.     Fill in the blanks of the table below with the information from the passage 'B'.      1 ´ 5 = 5

Year	Event	Place
(i) .....	Sher-E-Bangla obtained M.A. degree
1915	He took part in an election	(ii) .....
1940	(iii) .....	Lahore Conference
(iv) .....	he obtained B.L. degree
(v) .....	He died

5.     From your reading of the above passage B fill in the blanks with suitable words. Use one word only in each blank.    1 ´ 5 = 5

        A number of great leaders were born in our country. Sher-E-Bangla was one of (a) ¾. He was the son of a famous pleader. After (b) ¾ his education, he served in different important (c) ¾ of the then government.  He performed his responsibility (d) ¾ a Mayor of Calcutta, Education Minister, Prime Minister and Governor. This great leader is also (e) ¾ for his historical Lahore resolution.

6.     Match the parts of the sentences given in column A and column B to write five complete sentences. There are more parts of sentences in column 'B' than required.       1 ´ 5 = 5

Column A	Column B
a.  Our Parliament House is one of the	i.     in the year of 1982.
b.  It was designed	ii.    from an architect named Louis I Kahn.
c.  The building is surrounded by	iii.   was held on February the same year.
d.  It was inaugurated	iv.  most spectacular buildings in the world.
e.  The first Parliamentary Session	v.   by a great American architect Louis I Kahn.
	vi.  an artificial lake called the crescent lake.
	vii. famous parliament house in the world.

7.     Put the following parts of the story in correct order to rewrite the whole story.      1 ´ 8 = 8

(a)   When asked, the youngest daughter said, 'Nothing'.

(b)   But first he wanted to know how much they loved him.

(c)   Being pleased, Lear gave each of them a third of his kingdom.

(d)   His eldest daughter declared, 'Sir, I love you more than I can say.'          

(e)   Long ago, there was a mighty old king of England named Lear who wanted to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. 

(f)    At first Lear asked his eldest daughter, 'How much do you love me?'

(g)   When asked, his second daughter said, 'My love for you shall never change.'

(h)   Lear was shocked and said, 'Nothing will come of nothing.'

Part B : Writing Test (Marks 50)

8.     Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on "Air Pollution." You should write about 250 words.               10

(a)   What is air pollution?                                              

(b)   How is air polluted?                                                 

(c)   What are the main reasons of air pollution?

(d)   What are the demerits of air pollution?               

(e)   How can we solve this problem?                           

9.     Read the beginning of a story. Write new ten sentences to complete the story.          10

        There was a shepherd. He kept a flock of sheep near a forest. It was not far from his village. One day he wanted to make fun with the villagers. So, he began to shout, "Wolf! Wolf! Help! Help!" The villagers heard ...............

10.  The graph shows yearly imports and exports (Billion Dollars) of a country. Describe the graph in 150 words. You should highlight and summarize the information given in the graph.      10

       

11.  Suppose, your name is Anik/Anika. The annual prize giving ceremony of your school was held yesterday. Now write an e-mail to your friend Upam/Upama describing it.               10

12.  Suppose, your friend Rana/Rina lives in a village and you Fardin/Fariha live in a town.     10

        Now, write a dialogue between you and your friend about the advantages and disadvantages of village life and city life.