SSC Model:9

Part A : Reading Test (Marks 50)

Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.

Once upon a time in Venice, there was a very rich merchant named Antonio. He had many ships that sailed in the sea. His ships carried different types of merchandise to other countries. He sold those goods in foreign countries. He bought spices and other valuables with the money and sold them in Venice.

 Antonio was a good and kind man. He always helped the poor. The people of Venice loved him very much for his honesty and kindness.

Antonio had a close friend named Bassanio. He was a handsome young man and was born in a noble family. Bassanio liked to live a very luxurious life. He loved grandeur and style. He spent more money than his earnings. As a result, he was very often short of money. In such situations, Bassanio would go to his best friend Antonio for help. Antonio would, on the other hand, help him with cash.

It so happened that Bassanio fell in love with a wealthy lady named Portia. Portia was known not only for her beauty but also for her wisdom. She had softness towards Bassanio too. He wanted to visit Portia in a grand manner but he did not have any money. So he went to Antonio.

Bassanio said, “Dear friend Antonio, I am in great need of some money. I would like to visit Portia at Belmont, grandly dressed and with many servants. But I don’t have any money right now. Please help me to fulfill my intention.”

Antonio said, “This is not a problem, my friend. How much do you need?”

“Three thousand ducats (Venetian currency) will do.”

“I don’t have that much money with me now as all my ships have gone out in the sea with merchandise. But don’t worry, my friend, I’ll arrange three thousand ducats for you.”

So he decided to borrow the sum from a moneylender named Shylock. Shylock was a very crooked man. Antonio and Shylock hated each other. Shylock used to lend money with high interest. He would even send the debtor to prison if the later failed to pay his debt. On the contrary, Antonio used to lend money to help those who needed it and would not charge any interest.

Shylock agreed to lend him money but on one condition. If he failed to repay the money in three month’s time, he would pay a penalty. Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio’s body.

Antonio willingly agreed, thinking that his ships would soon return with all the rich merchandise and he could easily return the money to Shylock by selling them. Shylock made Antonio sign a bond before giving him the money. Antonio took the money and gave it to Bassanio.

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

(a)   Antonio and Bassanio were ¾

        (i) Close friends                   (ii) fierce enemies

        (iii) bosom friends               (iv) summer friends

(b)   Antonio signed the agreement ¾

        (i) willingly                            (ii) unwillingly

        (iii) conditionally                 (iv) thoughtlessly

(c)   'merchandise' means ¾.

        (i) things that are for sale

        (ii) things that merchants need

        (iii) things for advertisement

        (iv) goods of foreign countries

 (d) Bassanio wanted to appear before Portia ¾

        (i) in a poor dress                 (ii) in a grand manner

        (iii) poorly dressed              (iv) with many friends

(e)   Shylock lent Antonio the money ¾–.

        (i) without any condition   (ii) on a serious condition

        (iii) on some conditions     (iv) out of great love for him

 (f)   Which of the following has the closest meaning of the world 'merchant'?

        (i) Bayer                                (ii) Consumer

        (iii) Purchaser                       (iv) Businessman

(g)   Antonio had no money with him because¾

        (i) his business was dull

        (ii) he suffered loss in business

        (iii) his ships capsized in the sea

        (iv) his ships were in the sea with merchandise

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

(a)   Why did people of Venice love Antonio?

(b)   "lf he failed to repay the money in three months' time, them he has to pay a penalty." What does the writer want to mean by this sentence?

(c)   Do you think that Antonio was really worthy of getting love from people? Why/Why not?

(d)   What does "Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonio's body' indicate?

(e)   Do you support the attitude of Shylock to lend money with high interest? Why/ Why not? Explain in two or three sentences.

3.     Read the following text and fill in the each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text. 1´5=5

        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. As a result, he and many others were arrested and taken to prison. Zahir 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 dreamt for 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' based on the Language Movement of 1952. It was a revolt against the then autocratic Government. During the liberation war this film was shown outside Bangladesh. Critics like Satyajit Roy, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak appreciated this film. Zahir gave all his money to the Freedom Fighters’ trust that he got from his film shows. Besides his great documentary on Pakistani atrocities, Stop Genocide, helped create world sentiment in favour of our Liberation War.

        Zahir’s dream was fulfilled. And it’s a pity that this dreamer was missing at such a time when his dream came true.

        An active (a) ¾ of language movement, Zahir Raihan was born on 19 August, 1935 in Feni district. He also (b) ¾ part in mass movement and liberation war. He wanted to (c) ¾ freedom of speech. He was a (d) ¾ film maker. He (e) ¾ his life for the freedom of the country.

4.     Read the passage on Alessandro Volta. Complete the following table with information from the passage.   1´5=5

        Alessandro Volta was an Italian Physicist. He is known for the invention of the first battery in 1800. He was born in Como, Italy on February 18, 1745. In 1774, he became a professor of physics at the Royal School in Como. From 1776-1778, Volta studied the chemistry of gases. In November, 1777, he discovered methane in a lake, In 1779, he became a professor of experimental physics at the University of Pavia. In 1794, Volta married an aristocratic lady. In honour of his work, he was made a count by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801. In 1782, he travelled France and Germany. In 1815, the emperor of Austria made him the director of philosophical faculty of Padua. In 1819. he retired and settled in his native town where he died in March, 1827.

	About Alessandro Volta
Aims	Profounding his inventions to the readers
Life span	Born in 1745 and died in 1827 after (i) .... years of his retirement
	His events when and where occurred
Who/ What	Event	Year/ Time	Place/ Country	Work field	Contribution/ Achievement
Alessandro Volta	career	1774	Royal School, Como	Physics	(ii) ....
He	discovery	(iii) ....	in a lake		discovered methane
He	career	1779	(iv) ....	experimental Physics	became a professor
(v) ....	made Alessandro Volta	1815	Padua		director of Philosophical faculty

5.     Write summary of the above passage in your own words.            10          

6.     Match the parts of sentences given in column 'A' 'B' and 'C' to write five complete sentences.         1´5=5

Column A	Column B	Column C
a. Statistics show about 350 million people	i.    in the world's computers is in English	i.    for their staff.
b. English has now secured a place	ii. English usually helps them	ii.   organizations need employees who know English well.
c.  Since more than 80% of all the information	iii.  who provide English Language training	iii.  to get good jobs and better salaries
d. In fact, there are some companies	iv. speak English as a first language	iv. in more than 60 countries and of many international organizations
e. Besides, many believe now that	v. as an official or semi-official language	v.  and another 300 million use it as a second language.

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

(a)   During the time when he was the president of America, a Civil War took place over the question of slavery.

(b)   He rose from a humble origin.

(c)   As a man, he was simple and kind.

(d)   Lincoln was born in 1809.

(e)   It began in 1861 and continued for more than four years and Lincoln was in favour of the slaves.

(f)    Abraham Lincoln was among the greatest presidents of the United States of America.

(g)   There were many Negro slaves in America in those days.

(h)   Lincoln became great by dint of his own efforts and perseverance.

Part B : Writing Test (Marks 50)

8.     Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on 'A' Rickshaw puller".    10

(a)   Who is a rickshaw puller?

(b)   Where is he seen?

(c)   How long does he work everyday?

(d)   How tiresome is his job?

(e)   How does he behave with the passengers?

(f)    How much is his income?

(g)   What is his social status?

(h)   What happens in case of earning too little?

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

        In his boyhood, Hazrat Abdul Quadir Zilani (R) was going to Baghdad for education. On the eve of his departure from home, his mother said to him, "My son, never tell a lie and don't get frightened in danger." Baghdad was far away from his home. He began his journey in the company of a land of merchants. The way was infested with robbers and after five days.........

10.  Look at the following pie-chart. It shows the choice of profession by different educated youth in Bangladesh. Now, describe the pie-chart in about 150 words. You are advised to highlight and summarize the information given in the pie-chart.            10

11.  Suppose, your name is Nur Hossain. The annual prize-giving ceremony of your school was held yesterday. Now, write an email to your friend Rashed describing it.           10

12.  Suppose, you are Kamrul. Your friend Joy wants to know about the importance of 'Physical Exercise' write a dialogue between you and your friend about it.                  10