1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B.
A vast mangrove forest shared by Bangladesh and India that is home to possibly 500 Bengal tigers is being rapidly destroyed by erosion, rising sea levels and storm surges, according to a major study by researchers at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and others.
The Sundarbans forest took the brunt of super cyclone Sidr in 2007, but new satellite studies show that 71% of the forested coastline is retreating by as much as 200 meters a year. If erosion continues at this pace, already threatened tiger populations living in the forests will be put further at risk.
Natalie Pettorelli, one of the report's authors, said: "Coastline retreat is evident everywhere. A continuing rate of retreat would see these parts of the mangrove disappear within 50 years. On the Indian side of the Sundarbans, the island which extends most into the Bay of Bengal has receded by an average of 150 meters a year, with a maximum of just over 200 metres; this would see the disappearance of the island in about 20 years."
The Sundarbans is known for vanishing islands but the scientists said the current retreat of the mangrove forests on the southern coastline is not normal. "The causes for increasing coastline retreat, other than direct anthropogenic ones, include increased frequency of storm surges and other extreme natural events, rises in sea-level and increased salinity which increases the vulnerability of mangroves," said Pettorelli.
"Our results indicate a rapidly retreating coastline that cannot be accounted for by the regular dynamics of the Sundarbans. Degradation is happening fast, weakening this natural shield for India and Bangladesh."
"As human development thrives, and global temperature continues to rise, natural protection from tidal waves and cyclones is being degraded at alarming rates. This will inevitably lead to species loss in this richly biodiverse part of the world, if nothing is done to stop it."
"The Sundarbans is a critical tiger habitat; one of only a handful of remaining forests big enough to hold several hundred tigers. To lose the Sundarbans would be to move a step closer to the extinction of these majestic animals," said ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie.
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1☓5 = 5
(a) What does the word 'erosion' refer to?
(i) decay (ii) pollution (iii) pure (iv) impure
(b) The word 'extinction' means —.
(i) survival (ii) destruction (iii) uplift (iv) development
(c) What does the word 'retreat' in the text means?
(i) erosion (ii) advance (iii) forward (iv) preceding
(d) The number of Royal Bengal Tigers is —.
(i) increasing (ii) rising (iii) decreasing (iv) growing
(e) "To lose the Sundarbans would be to move a step closer to the extinction of these majestic animals." What does it imply?
(i) Royal Bengal Tigers will be lost with the destruction of the Sundarbans
(ii) Tigers will live safely if the Sundarbans is being destroyed
(iii) The number of tigers will increase
(iv) None of the above
(f) The Sundarbans is a —.
(i) rain forest (ii) swamp forest (iii) mangrove forest (iv) both (i) and (ii)
(g) Sidr was a —.
(i) tornado (ii) typhoon (iii) whirlwind (iv) all of the above
(h) Natalie Pettorelli is a —.
(i) tiger expert (ii) forest expert (iii) reporter (iv) both (ii) and (iii)
(i) What is the synonym of "majestic"?
(i) rare (ii) royal (iii) modest (iv) dowdy
(j) ZSL is the abbreviation of —.
(i) Zoological society of London (ii) Zoology society of London
(iii) Zoological school of London (iv) Zoology school of London
(k) 'If erosion continues at this pace —' in this line "pace" is used for —.
(i) motion (ii) movement (iii) rate (iv) custom
(l) "Salinity" means —.
(i) briny (ii) salt (iii) sea (iv) sweet
(m) Which word is synonymous to "extend"?
(i) continuation (ii) stretch (iii) proximity (iv) adjacent
(n) The word "anthropogenic" is closely related to —.
(i) human beings (ii) origin and development of human biengs
(iii) soil (iv) kinds of soil
(o) The name of the tiger expert is —.
(i) Sarah Pettorelli (ii) Sarah Christin (iii) Natalie Christie (iv) Sarah Christie
(p) The word "degradation" refers to —.
(i) deterioration (ii) wasting (iii) running (iv) spoiling
(q) In the Sundarbans there are approximately — Bengal Tigers.
(i) fifty hundred (ii) five hundred (iii) five thousand (iv) none of the above
(r) In the passage the word "brunt" means —.
(i) streets (ii) result (iii) collision (iv) impact
(s) The island mentioned in the passage can be disappeared in about —.
(i) 2 century (ii) 2 decades (iii) 20 decades (iv) none of the above
(t) Which is true about "biodiversity"?
(i) existence of many different kinds of plants in an environment
(ii) existence of many different kinds of animals in an environment
(iii) existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment
(iv) none of the above
(u) The word 'rapid' means —.
(i) swift (ii) gradual (iii) sluggish (iv) slow
(v) In the passage "habitat" refers to —.
(i) meeting place (ii) birthplace (iii) dwelling place (iv) room
(w) What does the word 'extreme' mean?
(i) insignificant (ii) ultimate (iii) silly (iv) trivial
(x) The word 'evident' means —.
(i) clear (ii) unclear (iii) unaware (iv) unbound
(y) The cyclone Sidr happened in —.
(i) 2003 (ii) 2005 (iii) 2007 (iv) 2009
(z) What does the word 'vast' refer to?
(i) enormous (ii) little (iii) less (iv) few
Answer (A):
(a) (i) decay (b) (ii) destruction (c) (i) erosion (d) (iii) decreasing (e) (i) Royal Bengal Tigers will be lost with the destruction of the Sundarbans (f) (iii) mangrove forest (g) (iii) Whirlwind (h) (iii) reporter (i) (ii) royal (j) (i) Zoological Society of London (k) (iii) rate (l) (i) briny (m) (ii) stretch (n) (ii) origin and development of human beings (o) (iv) Sarah Christie (p) (i) deterioration (q) (ii) five hundred (r) (iv) impact (s) (ii) 2 decades (t) (iii) existence of many different kinds of plants and animals in an environment (u) (i) swift (v) (iii) dwelling place (w) (ii) ultimate (x) (i) clear (y) (iii) 2007 (z) (i) enormous (aa) (ii) The Sundarbans is retreating rapidly
B. Answer the following questions. 2☓5 = 10
(a) What happened to the Sundarbans in 2007?
(b) How many territories does the Sundarbans consist of and what are they?
(c) What will happen if we lose the Sundarbans?
(d) What is the view of ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie? Write in your own words.
(e) What is ZSL?
(f) Why is the Sundarbans so significant?
(g) What is not normal according to the scientists?
(h) Why is coastline retreat increasing?
(i) What is the step which brings closer to the extinction of Bengal tigers?
(j) Why is Sarah Christie concerned?
(k) When will the island be disappeared?
(l) What is the Sundarbans famous for?
(m) What is the view of Natalie Pettorelli on Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans?
(n) What is happening to the Sundarbans according to the study of ZSL?
(o) What do researchers forecast about the Sundarbans?
(p) What will lead to species loss in the Sundarbans?
Answer (B):
(a) What happened to the Sundarbans in 2007?
In 2007, the Sundarbans was badly affected by Super Cyclone Sidr. The cyclone caused serious damage to the forest, affecting the land, trees, and wildlife.
(b) How many territories does the Sundarbans consist of and what are they?
The Sundarbans is divided between two countries: Bangladesh and India. Both countries share this large mangrove forest.
(c) What will happen if we lose the Sundarbans?
If the Sundarbans disappears, it will have serious consequences. Bengal tigers will lose their habitat, and their population may decrease rapidly, pushing them closer to extinction. Additionally, the Sundarbans protects Bangladesh and India from cyclones and tidal waves, so without it, these natural disasters will become even more dangerous.
(d) What is the view of ZSL tiger expert Sarah Christie? Write in your own words.
Sarah Christie believes that the Sundarbans is one of the last safe places for Bengal tigers. If it is destroyed, tigers will lose their home, and their chances of survival will become very low. She thinks losing the Sundarbans will bring tigers one step closer to extinction.
(e) What is ZSL?
ZSL stands for the Zoological Society of London. It is an organization that works on wildlife conservation and research to protect animals and their natural habitats.
(f) Why is the Sundarbans so significant?
The Sundarbans is very important for several reasons:
It is home to Bengal tigers and many other wildlife species.
It acts as a natural barrier against strong storms and cyclones, protecting the people of Bangladesh and India.
It helps maintain the balance of nature by supporting a rich ecosystem.
(g) What is not normal according to the scientists?
Scientists say that the speed at which the coastline of the Sundarbans is disappearing is not normal. Some islands are shrinking quickly, and the forest is being lost much faster than before. This is due to climate change and human activities, making the situation worse than usual.
(h) Why is coastline retreat increasing?
The coastline is retreating (moving back) more quickly because of:
Rising sea levels due to climate change.
Frequent storms and cyclones, which cause more erosion.
Increased salt levels in the water, which weakens mangrove trees.
Human activities, such as cutting down trees and damaging the environment.
(i) What is the step which brings closer to the extinction of Bengal tigers?
The destruction of the Sundarbans is making it harder for Bengal tigers to survive. Since they need forests to live and hunt, losing the Sundarbans will push them closer to extinction.
(j) Why is Sarah Christie concerned?
Sarah Christie is worried because the Sundarbans is one of the last large forests where Bengal tigers can live safely. If the forest disappears, there will not be enough space for tigers, and their population will decrease. She fears that this could lead to the complete extinction of Bengal tigers.
(k) When will the island disappear?
According to scientists, an island on the Indian side of the Sundarbans is disappearing quickly. If the current rate of erosion continues, the island will completely vanish in about 20 years.
(l) What is the Sundarbans famous for?
The Sundarbans is famous for:
Being the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Having a large population of Bengal tigers.
Its disappearing islands, as some parts of the forest are shrinking due to erosion.
(m) What is the view of Natalie Pettorelli on Bangladesh’s part of the Sundarbans?
Natalie Pettorelli says that the Bangladeshi coastline is retreating very fast. She points out that 71% of the forested coastline is disappearing, and if this continues, large parts of the forest will be lost in 50 years.
(n) What is happening to the Sundarbans according to the study of ZSL?
The ZSL study shows that the Sundarbans is being destroyed quickly. Erosion, rising sea levels, and frequent storms are damaging the forest, making it harder for animals and plants to survive.
(o) What do researchers forecast about the Sundarbans?
Researchers predict that if the current rate of destruction continues, large areas of the Sundarbans will disappear in the near future. This will be dangerous for both wildlife and humans living in the region.
(p) What will lead to species loss in the Sundarbans?
Species loss in the Sundarbans will happen because of:
Global warming, which is causing the sea levels to rise.
Deforestation and human activities, which are destroying animal habitats.
Frequent cyclones and storms, which damage the forest.
Increased salt levels in water, which makes it harder for plants and animals to survive.
Answer:
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদঃ
লন্ডনের জুলজিক্যাল সোসাইটিতে গবেষকদের এক প্রধান গবেষণা অনুসারে বাংলাদেশ ও ভারত কর্তৃক ভাগাভাগি করা এক বিস্তীর্ণ উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনাঞ্চল সম্ভাব্য ৫০০ বেঙ্গল টাইগারের বাসস্থান যা ক্ষয়সাধন, সমুদ্রের উচ্চতাবৃদ্ধি এবং প্রবল ঝড়ের দ্বারা দ্রুত ধ্বংস হয়ে যাচ্ছে।
সুন্দরবনের বনাঞ্চল ২০০৭ সালের অতিমাত্রায় ঘুর্ণিঝড় সিডরের আক্রমণের প্রধান ধকল সামলিয়েছিল, কিন্তু নতুন উপগ্রহ গবেষণায় দেখা যায় যে বনাঞ্চলের উপকূল রেখার ৭১% প্রতি বছর প্রায় ২০০ মিটার পিছিয়ে যাচ্ছে। যদি এই বেগবান ক্ষয়সাধন চলতে থাকে তাহলে বনাঞ্চলে বসবাসরত ইতোমধ্যে বিপন্ন বাঘ সংখ্যা আরও বিপদের সম্মুখীন হবে।
প্রতিবেদন লেখকদের অন্যতম নাটালি পেটোরেল্লী বলেন, “উপকূল রেখার ক্ষয়সাধন সর্বত্রই সুস্পষ্ট। পশ্চাদপসরণের এই অবিরাম গতির ফলে ৫০ বছরের মধ্যে উপকূলীয় বনাঞ্চলের এই অংশগুলো বিলীন হয়ে যাবে। সুন্দরবনের ভারতীয় অংশে দ্বীপটি যার অধিকাংশ বঙ্গোপসাগরের মধ্যে বিস্তৃত তা বছরের গড়ে ১৫০ মিটার এবং সর্বোচ্চ ২০০ মিটারের অধিক কমে গেছে; এর ফলে প্রায় বিশ বছরে দ্বীপটি অদৃশ্য হয়ে যেতে পারে।”
সুন্দরবন অপসৃয়মান/ অদৃশ্য দ্বীপগুলোর জন্য পরিচিত কিন্তু বিজ্ঞানীগণ বলেন যে দক্ষিণের উপকূল রেখার উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনাঞ্চলের চলতি পশ্চাদপসরণ স্বাভাবিক নয়। পেটোরেল্লী বলেন, “সরাসরি মানবসম্পর্কিত ছাড়া বর্ধিত উপকূল রেখার পশ্চাদপসরণের কারণগুলোর মধ্যে ঝড়-জলোচ্ছাসের বর্ধিত পুন:পুন: সংঘটন, অন্যান্য চরমমাত্রায় প্রাকৃতিক ঘটনা, সাগরের উচ্চতা বৃদ্ধি এবং বর্ধিত লবণাক্ততা অন্তর্ভুক্ত যা উষ্ণমন্ডলীয় বনভূমির জন্য ঝুঁকি বাড়ায়।”
“আমাদের ফলাফলে দেখা যায় সুন্দরবনের নিয়মিত গতিময়তা দ্বারা দ্রুত ক্ষীয়মান উপকূল রেখার ব্যাখ্যা করা যায় না। ভারত ও বাংলাদেশের জন্য এই প্রাকৃতিক ঢালকে দূর্বল করে ভাঙন দ্রুত সংঘটিত হচ্ছে।”
“যেহেতু মানব উন্নয়ন সমৃদ্ধি লাভ করে এবং বৈশ্বিক উষ্ণতা বেড়েই চলেছে তাই জলোচ্ছ্বাস এবং ঘূর্ণিঝড় হতে প্রাকৃতিক সংরক্ষণ ভয়ঙ্কর হারে হ্রাস পাচ্ছে। যদি এটা বন্ধ করার জন্য কিছু করা না হয় তাহলে এটা বিশ্বের এই সমৃদ্ধ প্রাণ বৈচিত্র্যের প্রজাতি ক্ষতির কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়াবে।”
“সুন্দরবন হচ্ছে সংকটপূর্ণ বাঘের বাসস্থান/আস্তানা; এটা কেবলমাত্র অবশিষ্ট মুষ্টিমেয় বনগুলোর একটি যা কয়েক শত বাঘ ধারণ করার মত বড়। সুন্দরবন হারানো হবে এ সমস্ত রাজকীয় প্রাণির ধ্বংসের দিকে এক পা এগিয়ে যাওয়া” বলেছেন জেড্এস্ এল্ বাঘ বিশেষজ্ঞ সারাহ ক্রিষ্টি।
Ad
Ad
vocabulary words from the text with their Bangla meanings:
Vast – বিস্তৃত
Mangrove – সুন্দরবনের মত লবণাক্ত বন
Shared – ভাগ করা
Erosion – ক্ষয়
Rising – বৃদ্ধি পাচ্ছে
Sea levels – সমুদ্রের স্তর
Storm surges – ঝড়ের ঢেউ
Major – প্রধান
Researchers – গবেষকরা
Brunt – প্রধান আঘাত
Super cyclone – অতিপ্রলয়ঙ্কর ঘূর্ণিঝড়
Satellite – উপগ্রহ
Coastline – উপকূলরেখা
Retreating – পশ্চাদপসরণ করছে
Threatened – বিপন্ন
Habitat – আবাসস্থল
Report – প্রতিবেদন
Evident – স্পষ্ট
Disappear – অদৃশ্য হয়ে যাওয়া
Receded – সরে গেছে
Island – দ্বীপ
Anthropogenic – মানবসৃষ্ট
Frequency – ঘনঘন হওয়া
Extreme – চরম
Salinity – লবণাক্ততা
Vulnerability – দুর্বলতা
Degradation – অবনতি
Natural shield – প্রাকৃতিক প্রতিরক্ষা
Human development – মানব উন্নয়ন
Alarming – ভয়ংকর
Tidal waves – জোয়ার ঢেউ
Cyclones – ঘূর্ণিঝড়
Biodiverse – জীববৈচিত্র্যপূর্ণ
Majestic – মহিমান্বিত
Extinction – বিলুপ্তি
Consequence – পরিণতি
Critical – অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ
Protection – সুরক্ষা
Forecast – পূর্বাভাস
Species loss – প্রাণীর প্রজাতি হারানো
Comments