SSC Model:15

Part A : Reading Test (Marks 50)

Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions.

'Pahela Boishakh’ is the first day of Bangla new year. The day is a public holiday. This day has a special significance for us as it forms a part of Bangalee culture and tradition. People from all walks of life, irrespective of their ethnic identity or religious beliefs, celebrate the day with traditional festivities. On this day, the whole of Bangladesh is in a festive mood. The day inspires people to start life with renewed hopes and inspirations.

Every year the day is celebrated traditionally. People wake up early in the morning, have a bath and wear their traditional clothes. Women wear white sarees with red borders and adorn themselves with colourful churis and flowers, while men dress themselves with pajamas and punjabis. It is a day when people love eating traditional food. One of the most colourful events of the day is held in Dhaka. Early in the morning, people in hundreds and thousands pour in from all directions to attend the cultural function at Ramna Batamul organised by Chhyanata. The cultural programme begins just at sunrise and the renowned artists of the country take part in the programme that starts with the famous Tagore- song Esho-he-Boishakh, Esho Esho .......Artists also sing traditional folk songs and display classical dances with the rhythm of musical instruments.

People also come to join the colourful processions, the biggest carnival of the country, organised by the Fine Arts students of Dhaka University. The procession usually displays the traditional practices of Bangalee culture. The masks and wreaths worn by the people are so fascinating! Often they symbolise contemporary worries or happiness in the national life. It attracts an increasing number of foreign tourists every year.

The day is also observed all over the country. Different social and cultural organisations and educational institutions celebrate the day with their own cultural programmes.

On this day, newspapers bring out special supplements. There are also special programmes on the radio and television.

The celebration of Pahela Boishakh marks a day of cultural unity for the whole nation irrespective of caste and creed.

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

(a)   On this day both men and women dress themselves with ¾ clothes.

        (i) old                                     (ii) shabby

        (iii) colourful                        (iv) torn

 (b) The New Year Day's biggest festival is held in ¾.

        (i) Dhaka                              (ii) Chittagong

        (iii) Rajshahi                        (iv) Khulna

 (c)  The ¾ artists take part in the cultural function arranged by Chhyanata.

        (i) unknown                          (ii) infamous

        (iii) famous                          (iv) irreputable

 (d)  The leading organisation of the country celebrates the Bangla New year at ¾.

        (i) the premises of Bangla Academy

        (ii) Ramna batamul

        (iii) Jatiya Press Club

        (iv) Shilpakala Academy

 (e)  The leading artists of the country take part in the programme held by ¾ to celebrate the Bangla New year.

        (i) Chhyanata

        (ii) Bulbul Lalitkala Academy

        (iii) Bangladesh National Museum

        (iv) Bangla Academy

 (f)   Observe means ¾.

        (i) inaugurate                       (ii) keep

        (iii) rejoice                            (iv) celebrate

 (g)  Institutions means ¾.

        (i) farm                                  (ii) firm

        (iii) institute                          (iv) organization

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

(a)   What is the first day of Bangla New year?

(b)   What is the significance of Pahela Boishakh?

(c)   How do the people from all walks of life celebrate the day?

(d)   When do people wake up?

(e)   What do women wear?

3.     Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text.  5

        Bangladesh is now apparently in the grip of all sorts of pollution like air pollution, soil pollution and water pollution. The dwellers of the urban areas are the worst sufferers of such pollution. The indiscriminate industrialisation process in Bangladesh over the past decades has created significant environmental problems. We will now read about some of the most common types of environmental pollutions and ways of coping with them.

Air pollution

        Air pollution comes from a wide variety of sources. In Bangladesh poisonous exhaust from industrial plants, brick kilns, old or poorly-serviced vehicles and dust from roads and construction sites are some of the major sources of air pollution.

        We can reduce this type of pollution by making less use of motor vehicles and avoiding the use of vehicles older than 20 years. We may also use proper lubricants to lessen the level of emission and pollutants. We can encourage people to use Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) for fuelling their cars. The government may relocate hazardous industries like brick kilns to areas away from human habitations.

        Air is the most important element of human (a) ¾. It is polluted in many ways. The most serious air pollution (b) ¾ in big industrial areas where there are many mills and factories. Sometimes men in big industrial areas become so sick by (c) ¾ polluted air that they cannot be (d) ¾. So, proper measures and steps should be taken to (e) ¾ air pollution.

Unseen Passage : Marks- 15

4.     Read the passage on the history of Bangladesh in respect of the achievement of independence. Complete the table below with information from the passage.                1´5=5

        Bangladesh is now an independent country. It achieved independence in 1971 after passing a long way of struggle. Before 1947, the country had been a part of the Indian sub-continent under the British rule and had been suffering extremely being deprived of many advantages of life. Through a lot of struggle and movement the sub-continent got rid of British-exploitation. At the time of their departure, it was divided into two parts¾ India and Pakistan. And we in the name of East Pakistan came under the dominion of West Pakistan. But it was a matter of great regret that our suffering and exploitation did not diminish under the Pakistani rule, rather it was increasing gradually. In the face of our protest and struggle they were taking up new devices of exploitation. As a part of their intrigue against us, they wanted to impose Urdu upon us as a state language. However, through our united movement in 1952, we defended our mother tongue. This event inflamed in us the desire of being independent. With this end in view people of East Pakistan began to be united against them and rose in mass movement in 1969 and ultimately we achieved our long cherished independence in 1971 through a bloody war for nine months.

History of Bangladesh

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh were under British rule (i) ......
What/ Who	Event	Times/ Days	Place/ Situation
The sub-continent	(ii) ....	in 1947	India and Pakistan.
East Pakistan	under the rule of Pakistan	(iii) ....	the State of Pakistan.
East Pakistan	(iv) ....	in 1969	under Pakistani rule.
Bangladesh	independent	(v) ....	through a bloody war.

5.     Write a summary of the passage in no more than 90 to 100 words.           10

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.     1´5=5

Column A	Column B
a. William Somerset Maugham	i.    in the realm of literature.
b. 'The Luncheon' is a great creation	ii.   overwhelms the readers.
c.  His style of writing	iii.  had much formal education.
d. This great writer of English literature depicted men's mental condition	iv.  in an artistic way.
e.  Really he is one of the greatest writers	v.   defamed him.
	vi.  is a twinkling star in the midst of so many stars in English literature.
	vii. of this talented writer of English literature.

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

(a)   Hazrat Omar (R) became shocked and assured the woman of providing her with food.

(b)   She also explained that she was boiling water in a pot only to console her children.

(c)   He instantly went to the godown and carried a sack of food himself for that woman and her children to that cottage.

(d)   Hazrat Omar (R) used to go out to see the condition of his subjects with his own eyes at dead of night.

(e)   He asked the woman of that cottage about the cause of crying of her children.

(f)    One night he was passing by a cottage.

(g)   The woman explained that the children were crying for food as they were starving for two days.

(h)   He heard that children were crying.

Part B : Writing Test (Marks 50)

8.     Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on 'Load-Shedding' :       10

(a)   What does the term 'Load-shedding' mean?

(b)   What are the causes of load-shedding?

(c)   How does it hamper us?

(d)   How can this problem be solved?

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

        Once on a summer day a crow became very thirsty .....

10.  The graph below shows the percentage of the number of Internet users in towns and villages from 2010 to 2014. Describe the graph in about 150 words. You should highlight and summarize the information given in the graph :   10

        Internet Users in town and villages : 2010-2014

11.  Suppose, you are Arif/Arifa living at 3A, Tikatuli, Dhaka. Your cousin Sumon/ Sumona lives at 13/3, Ibrahimpur, Jessore. Now, write a letter to your cousin requesting him/her for staying a few days with you during the summer vacation.                                                                                          10

12.  Fahad is 16 years old and a student of your class. He is on good terms with you. Nowadays he is getting addicted to smoking. Now, write a dialogue between you and your friend about the bad effects of smoking.     10