The Greed of the Mighty Rivers
Read the following passage and answer the questions below:
Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment.'. Her polythene roofed shelter looks like a cage. She is nearly 45 but looks more than her age. In front of her shelter, she is trying to make a fire to cook the day's only meal. Her weak hands tremble as she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of de turmoil in her life.Not long ago Meherjan had everything---------- a family, cultivable land and cattle. The erosion property. It finally claimed her last shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to devour Meher's house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush. She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. Now, she is the only s one left to live on with the loss and the pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered of her dreams and happiness. There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate with Meherjan, Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. During each monsoon many more villages are threatened by the mighty of rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. If we can't take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands of more. Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.
(a) landed property means ------
(i) a rented price of land'
(ii) a piece of land on the bank of a river
(iii) property in the form a source of income to its owner
(iv) property used only as an agricultural farm
Answer: (a) (iii) property in the form of a source of income to its owner
(b) The word 'harsh could be replaced by
(i) indulgent
(ii) soft
(iii) hazy
(iv) grim
Answer: (b) (iv) grim
(c) dancing of the flame means ,
(i) traditional form of folk dance
(ii) a flame that makes people dance around it
(iii) a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air
(iv) a flame made by people to remember their pasts.
Answer: (c) (iii) a flame that is made unstable by the blast of air
(d) Meherjan is a/an — woman."
(i), auspicious
(ii) wretched
(iii) well off
(iv) solvent
Answer: (d) (ii) wretched
(e) The author's purpose behind writing the passage is
(i) to focus on the misery of the people living close to big rivers
(ii) to depict the mystery of the people living near the roaring rivers
(iii) to show the reasons behind climate change
(iv) to portray the life and living of flood affected people
Answer: (e) (i) to focus on the misery of the people living close to big rivers
(f) whispering wind means --
(i) wind that blows from across the river
(ii) wind that blows with a hissing sound,
(iii) wind that helps someone make a fire
(iv) wind that blows in summer
Answer: (f) (ii) wind that blows with a hissing sound
(g) roaring rivers means --
(i) rivers that flow strongly making wild sounds
(ii) rivers having many rowing boats in them
(iii) rivers that make people cry out!
(iv) rivers that have noisy fishes
Answer: (g) (i) rivers that flow strongly making wild sounds
Extra Questions :
(1) The dancing flames symbolizes ----
(i) ups and downs in Meher's life
(ii) dancing waves of the Jamuna
(iii) trembling hands of sickly Meheran
(iv) Meher's mind dancing with romantic feelings
Answer: (1) (i) ups and downs in Meher's life
(2) Meherjan is now as
(i) a well off woman
(ii) a city dweller
(iii) a destitute woman
(iv) a happy woman
Answer: (2) (iii) a destitute woman
(3) According to statistics — people becomes shelter less every year due to river erosion.
(i) one lac
(ii) two lacs
(iii) three lacs
(iv) four lacs
Answer: (3) (i) one lac
(4) What does the passage convey to us?
(i) Meherjan's pitiable condition or about by the hungry river Jamuna
(ii) Pitiable condition of the people river erosion
(iii) Miserable life of the beggars
(iv) The condition of the poverty
Answer: (4) (ii) Pitiable condition of the people due to river erosion
(5) Meherjan's living place is – the Sun Town Protection Embankment.
(i) close to
(ii) far away from
(iii) detached from
(iv) situated on
Answer: (5) (iv) situated on
(6) The economic condition of Meherjan is --
(i) sound
(ii) well--off
(iii) very miserable
(iv) solvent
Answer: (6) (iii) very miserable
(7) Her polythene roofed shelter seems like,
(i) a nice house
(ii) a cottage
(iii) a cage of a bird
(iv) an exceptional house
Answer: (7) (iii) a cage of a bird
(8) Meherjan is homeless because of
(i) the erosion of Jamuna
(ii) selling of her house
(iii) destructions of her house
(iv) flood
Answer: (8) (iii) destructions of her house
(9) The roof of her house is covered by
(i) wood
(ii) tin
(iii) leaves
(iv) polythene
Answer: (9) (iv) polythene
(10) What does the expression "the turmoil in her life" in the 1st paragraph mean?
(i) The pleasure of her life
(ii) The thunderstorm in her life
(iii) The pangs and pains of her life
(iv) The dreams of her life
Answer: (10), (iii) The pangs and pains of her life
(11) There is/are -- in Meherjan's family.
(i) many members.
(ii) a few members
(iii) one members.
(iv) some members
Answer: (11) (iii) one member
(12)— has made Meherjan's life miserable.
(i) Old age
(ii) Sickness
(iii) Frustration
(iv) River erosion
Answer: (12) (iv) River erosion
(13) Meherjan looks older than her actual as owing to
(i) poverty and malnutrition
(ii) prosperity and luxury
(iii) unhappy conjugal life
(iv) social malpractices
Answer: (13) (i) poverty and malnutrition
(14) Meher's weak hands are trembling because
(i) she is frightened
(ii) she is feeble
(iii) she is tired
(iv) she is exhausted
Answer: (14) (ii) she is feeble
(15) The word 'shatter' means --
(i) to destroy something
(ii) to break something into pieces
(iii) to erect something
(iv) to complete something
Answer: (15) (ii) to break something into pieces
(16) 'Greedy Jamuna' is used here to describe
the –
claim of a consumer
(ii) demand of a consumer
(iii)supply of a consumer
(iv) help of a consumer
Answer: (16) (ii) demand of a consumer
(17) Over the years means --
(i) eventually
(ii) consequently
(iii) over the passage of time
(iv) slowly
Answer: (17) (iii) over the passage of time
(18) Finally claimed means —,
(i) won
(ii) gained
(iii) demolished
(iv) having right
Answer: (18) (iii) demolished
(19) There will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year means
(i) people will come and visit her every year
(ii) many people will be rendered homeless
(iii) Meherjan will have her siblings beside her
(iv) the population will be increased
Answer: (19) (ii) many people will be rendered homeless
(20) Once Meherjan was--,
(i) solvent,
(ii) insolvent
(iii) poor
(iv) impoverished
Answer: (20) (i) solvent
(21) Which has the closest meaning of 'erosion'?
(i) breaking
(ii) spoil
(iii) damage
(iv) wash away
Answer: (21) (i) breaking
(22) Meherjan is – years old.
(i) below 40
(ii) below 45
(iii) below 50
(iv) above 50
Answer: (22) (ii) below 45
(23) Before the erosion of the river, she was —
(i) poor
(ii) frustrated
(iii) unhappy
(iv) joyful
Answer: (23) (iv) joyful
(24) The health of Meherjan is very —
(i) strong
(ii) feeble
(iii) sound
(iv) stout
Answer: (24) (ii) feeble
(25) She is living in her house -- now.
(i) with her husband
(ii) with her relatives
(iii) with her family
(iv) alone
Answer: (25) (iv) alone
2. Answer the following questions.
(a) What happened to Meherjan after the erosion of Jamuna?
Answer: (a) The erosion of the mighty Jamuna has engulfed everything of Meherjan including her family, cultivable land and cattle and shattered her dreams of a happy life. Now she is living a miserable life loosing everything.
(b) How can we protect ourselves from this very natural disaster?
Answer: (b) We can protect ourselves from this very natural disaster by taking prompt actions to adapt ourselves to climate change
(c) What message do you get from the passage? Describe it in 2/3 sentences.
Answer: (c) The passage gives the message that river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. Bangladesh, being a riverine country, is likely to fall victim to river erosion unless we can adapt ourselves to climate change.
(d) What is the cause of river erosion? Are we responsible too? Explain in 3--4 lines.
Answer: (d) Climate change is the main cause of river erosion. River erosion occurs specially during the monsoon. We are also responsible. Because of our unwise activities, the climate is changing.
(e) Who is Meherjan?
Answer: (e) Meherjan is a typical homeless woman living in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection GD Embankment.
Extra Questions :
(1) What property did Meherjan lose due to rive erosion?
Answer: (1) Meherjan lost everything which includes her house, cattle, cultivable land, vegetable garden, bamboo bush and her family as well.
(2) What do you know about Meherjan's present condition?
Answer: (2) At present Meherjan lives a lonely and desolate life in a polythene roofed slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment
(3) Why is the phrase 'greedy Jamuna' used to describe the river?
Answer: (3) The phrase 'greedy Jamuna' is used to describe the river because the Jamuna took away everything from the people like Meherjan living on the bank of the river Jamuna
(4) What is the effect of climate change on our country
Answer: (4) Climate change is a global issue. It has a very serious effect on our country too. Various kinds of natural disasters like flood, cyclone, river erosion etc. often visit our country as a result of climate change
(5) How can you explain river erosion?
Answer: (5) River erosion is one of the most dangerous natural calamities. It means the breaking of the bank of a river. It is mainly caused during the monsoon.
(6) How is it possible to stop erosion?
Answer: (6) It is possible to stop erosion by taking some effective measures. First of all people must be very careful about the environment. Embankments for the protection of the rivers must be built and preserved.
(7) What do you know about the past life of Meherjan?
Answer: (7) The past life of Meherjan was very joyous. She had everything to form a happy family. House, trees, cattle, cultivable land, vegetable garden, bamboo bush after all a f family belonged to her.
(8) "The dancing of the flames reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life." Explain in 2 sentences.
Answer: (8) The dancing of the flames reminds the sorrowful events that happened to Meherjan's life because of erosion of the river Jamuna.
(9) What happens to the villages near rivers during the monsoon? Describe in brief.
Answer: (9) Bangladesh is a land of rivers. River erosion poses a great threat to the villages lying close to the rivers. River erosion takes a serious turn during the monsoon and harms people taking their living place and property.
(10)Do you agree with the view that we should fake prompt actions to adapt to climate change? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: (10) Yes, I do agree. If we fail to adapt ourselves a se to climate change in our country, thousands of people living near the mighty rivers will be rendered homeless every year. I's
(11) From your reading of the first paragraph describe why Meherjan looks more than her age.
Answer: (11) Meherjan has been very weak due to extreme poverty. Her weak hands tremble when she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire for cooking. So, Meherjan looks more than her age.
(12) What reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her me
Answer: (12) Meherjan makes fire for cooking but the wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing of the flames reminds Meherjan of the turmoil in her life.
(13) What does Meherjan use to make fire to cooking her meals?
Answer: (13) Meherjan uses fallen leaves and straw to make fire for cooking her meals.
(14)Why do you think her hands trembling?
Answer: (14) Her hands are weak and trembling because of her physical weakness
(15) What crushed Meher's dreams and happiness and how?
Answer: (15) The erosion of the Jamuna consumed all of Meherjan's landed property including her shelter and crushed her dreams and happiness.
(16) What has happened to the other members of her family?
Answer: (16) The other members of her family died of diseases caused by hunger and poverty.
(17) Do you support the statement that river erosion has an inseparable relation to the global climate change? Show argument in favour of your answer.
Answer: (17) Yes, I support the statement. River erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year. So, it can be said that river erosion has an inseparable relation to . the global climate change.
Bangla Translation
Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment.মেহেরজান সিরাজগঞ্জ টাউন প্রোটেকশন এমব্যাংকমেন্টে একটি ঝুপড়ি বাড়িতে বাস করেন।
Her polythene roofed shelter looks like a cage.তার পলিথিনে ছাওয়া আশ্রয়টি একটি খাঁচার মতো দেখাচ্ছে।
She is nearly 45 but looks more than her age.তার বয়স প্রায় ৪৫ বছর, কিন্তু তিনি তার বয়সের চেয়ে বেশি বয়সী দেখাচ্ছেন।
In front of her shelter, she is trying to make a fire to cook the day's only meal.তার আশ্রয়ের সামনে, তিনি দিনের একমাত্র খাবার রান্না করতে আগুন জ্বালানোর চেষ্টা করছেন।
Her weak hands tremble as she adds some fallen leaves and straw to the fire.তার দুর্বল হাত কাঁপছে যখন তিনি আগুনে কিছু পড়া পাতা এবং তৃণ যোগ করছেন।
The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady.যমুনা নদী থেকে আসা মৃদু বাতাস আগুনকে অস্থির করে তোলে।
The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life.নাচতে থাকা শিখাগুলি মেহেরজানকে তার জীবনের বিশৃঙ্খলা স্মরণ করিয়ে দেয়।
Not long ago Meherjan had everything— a family, cultivable land, and cattle.একসময় মেহেরজানের কাছে সব কিছু ছিল— একটি পরিবার, চাষযোগ্য জমি এবং গবাদি পশু।
The erosion property. It finally claimed her last shelter during the last monsoon.পানি ভাঙন। এটি শেষ মেঘলা মৌসুমে তার শেষ আশ্রয়টিও কেড়ে নিয়েছে।
It took the river only a day to devour Meherjan's house, trees, vegetable garden, and the bamboo bush.নদীটি মেহেরজানের বাড়ি, গাছ, শাকসবজি বাগান এবং বাঁশ ঝাড় কেড়ে নিতে মাত্র একদিন সময় নিয়েছিল।
She had a happy family once.তার একসময় একটি সুখী পরিবার ছিল।
Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family.বছরের পর বছর ধরে, সে তার স্বামী এবং পরিবারের সদস্যদের হারিয়েছে, যারা রোগে ভুগে মারা গেছেন, রোগগুলো ছিল অত্যন্ত তীব্র ক্ষুধা এবং দরিদ্রতা দ্বারা উত্পন্ন।
Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and the pain.এখন, সে একমাত্র বেঁচে আছে, যেটি তাকে ক্ষতি এবং যন্ত্রণার সঙ্গে বাঁচতে হচ্ছে।
The greedy Jamuna has shattered all of her dreams and happiness.লোভী যমুনা তার সমস্ত স্বপ্ন এবং সুখ ধ্বংস করে দিয়েছে।
There are thousands of others waiting to share the same fate with Meherjan.আরও হাজার হাজার মানুষ আছেন যারা মেহেরজানের সঙ্গে একই দুঃখজনক পরিণতি ভাগ করতে প্রস্তুত।
Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon.বাংলাদেশ নদীর দেশ, যেখানে কিছু নদীর তীর মৌসুমি বৃষ্টির সময় প্লাবিত বা ভেঙে পড়ে।
Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks.নদী ভাঙন নদীর তীরবর্তী মানুষদের জন্য একটি কঠোর বাস্তবতা।
During each monsoon, many more villages are threatened by the might of rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna.প্রতিটি মেঘলা মৌসুমে আরও অনেক গ্রাম যমুনা, পদ্মা এবং মেঘনার মতো নদীগুলির ক্ষমতার দ্বারা বিপন্ন হয়।
It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh.আনুমানিকভাবে, নদী ভাঙন প্রতি বছর বাংলাদেশে কমপক্ষে ১০০,০০০ মানুষকে গৃহহীন করে দেয়।
In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change.বাস্তবে, নদী ভাঙন হলো জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের কারণে সৃষ্ট প্রধান বিপদগুলির মধ্যে একটি।
If we can't take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.যদি আমরা জলবায়ু পরিবর্তনের সঙ্গে মানিয়ে নিতে দ্রুত পদক্ষেপ নিতে না পারি, তবে প্রতি বছর আমাদের শহর ও গ্রামে আরও হাজার হাজার মেহেরজান থাকবে।
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