Dinajpur Board-2017 English First Paper

Dinajpur Board-2017                                               English First Paper

Part A : Reading Test (50 Marks)

Read the passage and answer the questions below.

Michael Madhusudan Dutt was a popular 19^th century Bengali poet and dramatist. He is considered the father of Bangla Sonnet. He was born in Sagordari on the bank of the Kopotaksha River, a village in Keshobpur Upazila under Jessore district. His father was Rajnaryan Dutt, a pleader in the Sudder court. His mother was Jahnabi Devi. From an early age, Madhusudan aspired to be an English man in form and manner. Though he was born in a sophisticated Hindu family, he took Christianity as a young man, much to the ire of his family, and adopted the first name Michael. In his childhood, he was recognized by his teachers as a precious child with a gift of literary talent. His early exposure to English education and European literature and his college inspired him to imitate the English in taste, manners and intellect. Since his adolescence he started believing that he was born on the wrong side of the planet, and that his society was unable to appreciate his intellect. He also believed that the west would be more receptive to his creative genius. Michael was an ardent follower of the famous English poet Lord Byron. So after adopting Christianity, he went to Europe and started composing poetry and drama almost entirely in English. Though he proved his higher level of intellectual ability, he failed to gain the right appreciation. With his utter frustration he composed a Sonnet in Bangla 'Kopotaksha Nad' which earned him huge reputation in Bangla. Gradually he could realize that his true identity lies here in his Bengal and he was a sojourner in Europe. Afterwards, he regretted his attraction for England and the Occident. He came to Bengal and devoted himself to Bangla literature from this period. He is the poet to write the first Bangla epic "Meghnad Badh Kabya". It is an exceptional work in Bangla literature. He died in Kolkata, India on 29 June, 1873.

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

(a)   Michael Madhusudan Dutt gained much ¾ as a poet and dramatist.

        (i) money                       (ii) vast wealth

        (iii) name and fame    (iv) detest

(b)   Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'considered' used in second sentence?

        (i) interpreted                (ii) admired

        (iii) recognized              (iv) appreciated

(c)   Which of the following describes Michael’s influence to other literature best?

        (i) He was born in a sophisticated Hindu family

        (ii)   He studied European literature at homeland and in Kolkata

        (iii) He was an extraordinary talented boy

        (iv) He was well versed in classical languages

(d)   He was born in a ¾ Hindu family.

        (i) normal                      (ii) traditional

        (iii) rigid                          (iv) needy

(e)   Kopotaksha River inspired him to write¾

        (i) English poetry          (ii) Sonnet  

        (iii) Drama                     (iv) Novel

(f)    "Meghnad Badh Kabya" is the ¾ epic in Bangla literature.

        (i) first                            (ii) second  

        (iii) third                         (iv) fourth  

(g)   What is the main purpose of the author of this passage?

(i)    To show the miserable condition of Michael Madhusudan Dutt

(ii)   To show the versatility of Michael Madhusudan Dutt

(iii)  To highlight a short autobiography of Michael Madhusudan Dutt

(iv)  To make people aware of the conservatism of the Hindu Community

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

(a)   When and where was Michael Madhusudan Dutt born?

(b)   What do you know about his family and parentage?

(c)   What was the belief of Michael from his adolescence?

(d)   What inspired him to imitate the English?

(e)   Why did he return to his native land and language?

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

Read the following passage carefully on the autobiography of Birsreshtho Munshi Abdur Rouf.

Munshi Abdur Rouf was a Lance Nayek in East Pakistan Rifles during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He was born on 1 May, 1943 at Salamotpur village under Boalmari Thana (Currently Madhukhali Thana) in Faridpur district. Rouf had to stop his education at his eighth grade. He joined the East Pakistan Rifles on 8 May, 1963. He had to increase his age three years in order to get the job. After the preliminary training at the EPR Camp at Chuadanga, Rouf went to West Pakistan to receive advance training. He was enlisted in the East Bengal Regiment on 8 May 1963 and was attached with a regular infantry unit during the war of liberation. Munshi Abdur Rouf embraced martyrdom on 18 April, 1971 at Kurighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts after causing extensive damage to Pakistan Army with his MG and forcing them to retreat. He was buried at Naniarchor Upazilla in Rangamati District. He was awarded Birsreshtho which is the highest recognition of bravery in Bangladesh.

4.     Now complete the table below with information from the above passage. Write only the answers serially.     1 ´ 5 = 5

Who/What	Event	When	Where
Munshi Abdur Rouf	was born	in 1943	(i) ......
He	joined	(ii) .....	the East Pakistan Rifles
He	enlisted	1963	(iii) .....
He	(iv) .....	1971	at Kurighat in Chittagong Hill Tracts
He	was buried	(v) ......	at Naniarchor Upazilla in Rangamati district

5.     From the reading of the above passage, fill in the blanks with suitable words.         1´5=5

        Munshi Abdur Rouf was a soldier of East Pakistan Rifles. He (a) ¾ in Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He was born at Salamotpur village in Faridpur district. He (b) ¾ up to grade-8. He was a member of East Bengal (c) ¾. He fought bravely to (d) ¾ Bangladesh and embraced martyrdom on 18 April, 1971. Before his death, he caused a heavy damage to Pakistan Army. He was awarded Birsreshtho, the highest recognition of bravery for his greatest (e) ¾ to the liberty of Bangladesh.

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

Column A	Column B
a.  Illiteracy retards	i.     in the morning.
b.  To eradicate illiteracy	ii.    the development programme of a country.
c.  The government is trying	iii.   attending school after their day’s work.
d.  An important role can be played	iv.  is a mammoth task.
e.  The aged people should play a great role by	v.   is an easy task.
	vi. by mass media.
	vii. to remove illiteracy.

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

(a)   He showed extraordinary credit in every examination of the school.

(b)   In 1953, he was appointed Chairman of Secondary Education Board.

(c)   He has a great contribution to the scientific research of Bangladesh.

(d)   At the age of six, he was admitted in a Furkania Madrasha and then in an English School.

(e)   Dr. Kudrat-E-Khuda was born in Birbhum District of West Bengal in 1900.

(f)    In 1925, he passed M.Sc. in Chemistry from Kolkata University and in 1929, he passed D.Sc. from Imperial College in England.

(g)   He died on 3^rd November, 1977.

(h)   His father Hazrat Shah Abdul Mukit was a pious man and his mother Fashiha Khatun was also a pious woman.

Part B : Writing Test

8.     Write a paragraph on 'A Railway Station' by answering the following questions. 10

(a)   What is a railway station?

(b)   What is the use of it?

(c)   What do the passengers do here?

(d)   How does the station look when a train arrives at and leaves a station?

(e)   What is the significance of a railway station?

9.     Read the beginning of a story. Write ten new sentences to complete the story. Give a suitable title to it.           10

        Once some mice were having a good time in the house of a rich man. They always roamed about crying and leaping even biting the children. The owner of the house brought a cat to drive them away. The mice fell in great problem. So they......

10.  The graph below shows 'The population growth rate in Bangladesh' from 2009 to 2014. Describe the graph in 150 words. You should highlight and summarize the information given in the chart.          10

Population growth rate in Bangladesh (%)

       

11.  Suppose, you are Akib/Akiba. Your younger brother, Abir, does not know the importance of physical exercise. Now, write a letter to him describing the importance of physical exercise.   10

12.  Suppose, you are Monir/Monira and your friend is Rahim/Rahima. You want to be a doctor but your friend wants to be a teacher. Now, write a dialogue between you and your friend about your aim in life.    10