Read the following text and answer the questions 1-2.
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 begins with 31 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 diplomats, political
parties, social and cultural organisations, 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
witness a smartly dressed 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 organized 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
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1´7=7
(a) Which of the following has
the closest meaning of the word 'enthusiasm'?
(i)
Entertainment (ii)
Reluctance
(iii)
Eagerness (iv)
Unwillingness
(b) What does the expression 'freedom
fighters pay homage to the martyrs' in line 7 mean?
(i) The dying freedom fighters pay
homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of our country's
freedom.
(ii) The
existing freedom fighters show due respect to the martyrs along with other
personalities of various organizations.
(iii) The freedom
fighters are indifferent to show respect to the language martyrs.
(iv) The living freedom fighters never show reverence not
only to freedom fighters but also, to language martyrs.
(c) Which of the following best describes the celebration of our Independence
Day?
(i) It is
ignored to observe the day by people from all walks of life.
(ii) It is
observed every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour.
(iii) It is hardly celebrated by the people of Bangladesh
(iv) It is turned
down always in our country in order to be observed.
(d) Which of the following words
represents the exciting boat race on the occasion of Independence day?
(i)
Buriganga (ii)
Madhumati
(iii)
Ichhamati (iv)
Aeriailha
(e) Which of the following statement(s) is true?
(i) All classes of people celebrate
the Independence Day
(ii) The
President and the Prime Minister only celebrate the Independence Day
(iii) Only the freedom fighters
celebrate the Independence Day
(iv) Only school children celebrate
the Independence Day
(f) In paragraph 1, it is said, “It is a national holiday.” What do
you mean by this sentence?
(i) Only
government offices remain closed on the occasion of our Independence Day
(ii) All offices, educational institutions, shops and
factories remain closed on our Independence Day
(iii) Private organizations, and non-government educational institutions
don't remain open on this day
(iv) People don't
enjoy public holiday on the occasion of our Independence Day
(g) What is the purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) To
highlight how our Victory Day is celebrated
(ii) To
portray how our Shaheed Dibosh is observed
(iii) To highlight how our
Independence Day is celebrated
(iv) To
state how our Martyr Day is observed
2. Answer the following questions. 2´5=10
(a) From your reading of paragraph 2, write down
who show due respect to the martyrs on the occasion of our Independence Day?
(b) “The day
begins with 31 gunshots.” Who says this? Why does she/he say this? Explain in
2/3 sentences?
(c) Which organizations arrange cultural
functions on the occasion of our Independence Daly?
(d) Describe why the cultural programmes are
arranged on 26 March.
(e) “Do you support the attitude, “The country
also witnesses a smartly dressed parade?” Why/Why not? Explain in 2/3
sentences.
