Once upon a time in Venice - The Merchant of Venice -Antonio had a close friend named Bassanio- Multiple Choice & Short Question for SSC English First Paper - English for Today
- Fakhruddin Babar
- Feb 4
- 22 min read
Passage -1
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
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 like to live a very luxurious life. He loved grandeur and style. He spent more money than his earning. 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. Portia, on the other hand, 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 sued to lend money with high interest. He would even send the debtor to prison if he failed to pay his debt. On the contrary, Antonio used to lend money to help those who need 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 then he has to 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 can 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 best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) — was a good and kind man.
(i) Bassanio (ii) Portia (iii) Antonio (iv) Shylock
(b) Antonio was — man.
(i) rich (ii) handsome
(iii) young (iv) ii + iii
(c) Shylock was a very — man.
(i) rich (ii) poor (iii) crooked (iv) miser
(d) Shylock would cut a — of flesh from Antonio’s body.
(i) kilogram (ii) bar (iii) piece (iv) pound
(e) Shylock made Antonio sign a — before giving him the money.
(i) bond (ii) paper (iii) oath (iv) stamp
(f) He wanted to visit Portia in a ― manner but he did not have any money.
(i) grand (ii) manner (iii) visit (iv) money
(g) So he decided to borrow the ― from a moneylender named Shylock.
(i) borrow (ii) named (iii) sum (iv) from
Extra Practices
(h) Shylock was a very crooked man. ― and Shylock hated each other.
(i) each (ii) Shylock (iii) crooked (iv) Antonio
(i) Shylock sued to lend money with high ―.
(i) high (ii) interest (iii) money (iv) lend
(j) He would even send the debtor to prison if he ― to pay his debt.
(i) failed (ii) debtor (iii) even (iv) pay
(k) Shylock agreed to lend him money but on one ―.
(i) money (ii) agreed (iii) but (iv) condition
(l) Shylock would cut a pound of flesh from any ― of Antonio’s body.
(i) body (ii) part (iii) pound (iv) cut
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
(a) Why was Bassanio short of money all the time?
(b) Why did Bassanio go to Antonio?
(c) Why did Antonio go to Shylock?
(d) Why did Shylock bring forward the bond?
(e) What could be written on the bond?
Passage -2
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
Bassanio went to Belmont to visit Portia grandly dressed, with many servants. Portia’s father had died lately. Before his death he had thought of an unusual plan to find a good husband for his daughter. He wanted a man to marry Portia for herself and not for her wealth. He had three caskets made, one of gold, one of silver and one of lead. One of the caskets had Portia’s portrait in it. The suitor, who would first choose the casket with the portrait would marry her. Many suitors went away when they heard about such a strange condition.
The first one to try was the prince of Morocco. He thought that silver and lead are poor metals. It is the casket made of precious metal that can hold the precious picture. So he chose the gold casket. But all he found was a picture of a skull with a message that said, “All that glitters is not gold.” The prince was very sad and went back home. Then came the prince of Spain. He looked at the silver casket for a long time. On it was written, “He who chooses me will get what he deserves.” The prince had a very high opinion about himself. He thought that he deserved the best. He therefore chose the silver casket and opened it. Inside the casket he found the picture of a blinking fool. He was very disappointed and offended. He immediately rode away.
Then it was Bassanio’s turn. He looked at the caskets for a long time. He thought, “ Appearances are often misleading. Bad men appear good and they hide their inner ugliness under fine clothes.” So he chose the plain looking lead casket. On opening the casket, he found the portrait of Portia inside.
Bassanio and Portia got married. There was great joy at Belmont and the newly married couple were spending their time happily.
But soon their happiness turned into sorrow by a piece of news. A messenger came with a letter from Antonio. The letter said, “ Dear friend Bassanio, all my ships have been lost at sea. I cannot pay the money I owe to Shylock. So I have to pay the penalty. Dear friend, come and see me if possible. I would like to see you once before I die.” Bassanio quickly left for Venice.
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
(a) Bassanio went to — to visit Portia.
(i) Greece (ii) Italy (iii) Belmont (iv) Athens
(b) Portia’s father had died —.
(i) early (ii) before (iii) ago (iv) lately
(c) Portia’s father had — caskets.
(i) only one (ii) some (iii) many (iv) three
(d) The first trial was for the prince of —.
(i) Spain (ii) Morocco (iii) Bassanio (iv) none of them
(e) Bassanio choose the plain looking — casket.
(i) platinam (ii) gold (iii) silver (iv) lead
(f) The first one to try was the prince of ―.
(i) Morocco (ii) prince (iii) try (iv) was
(g) He thought that silver and lead are ― metals.
(i) silver (ii) lead (iii) poor (iv) metals
Extra Practices
(h) But all he found was a picture of a ― with a message that said,
(i) picture (ii) message (iii) found (iv) skull
(i) The prince was very sad and ― back home.
(i) back (ii) went (iii) prince (iv) sad
(j) He looked at the silver ― for a long time.
(i) casket (ii) long (iii) silver (iv) looked
(k) The prince had a very high ― about himself.
(i) high (ii) himself (iii) prince (iv) opinion
(l) He thought that he ― the best.
(i) best (ii) deserved (iii) thought (iv) wisdom
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
(a) How was Portia’s father’s plan?
(b) Why did many suitors go away?
(c) Who has the first trial to find the portrait out?
(d) What was mentioned in second casket?
(e) Finally who was selected Portia’s husband?
Extra Practices
(f) How did Bassanio go to Belmont?
(g) What did he think of his daughter?
(h) What did one of the caskets have?
(i) How were the newly married couple spending their time?
(j) What did he want?
(k) How many caskets did he have?
(l) Who went away?
(m) What happen to bad men?
(n) What happened to him?
Passage -3
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
Rosamond, a little girl about seven years old, was walking with her mother in the streets of London. As she passed along she looked in at the windows of several shops, and saw a great variety of different sorts of things. She wanted to stop to look at them and buy them all, without knowing their uses or even without knowing their names.
At first they stopped at a milliner’s shop. The windows of the shop were decorated with ribbons, lace and festoons of artificial flowers.
“Oh, Mamma, what beautiful roses! Won’t you buy some of them?”
“No, my dear.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want them. They are not real flowers.”
They went a little further and came to a jeweller’s shop. In it were a great many pretty, bright ornaments of little value, set beautifully behind the glass.
“Mamma, will you buy some of these?”
“Which of them, Rosamond?”
“Which? I don’t know which. Look at those earrings,
that necklace, those pendants! Any of them will do,
they are so pretty!”
“Yes, they are all pretty, but of what use would
they be to me?”
“I am sure, Mamma, you could find some use
if you only bought them first.”
“But I would rather find out the use first.”
Though a little disheartened, Rosamond kept on looking at the shops and persuaded her mother to buy this or that.
“Mamma, buckles are very useful things. Please buy some.”
“I have a pair of buckles. I don’t need any now.” So saying her mother walked on.
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
How many characters are there in the story?
i) one ii) two iii) three iv) none
Which one of the following is correct?
i) Rosamond was alone while walking in the streets
ii) She was acquainted with the names of the things she saw
iii) She had no knowledge about the uses of the things
iv) none of these.
Rosamond talked of— shops in the story.
i)two ii) three iii) four iv) five
The value of the ornaments was —-.
i) low ii) high iii) out of reach iv) free
Who stressed on the use of the things first?
i) Rosamond ii) Rosamond’s mother iii) both of them iv) none of them
Rosamond was about — years old.
(i) five (ii) fifteen (iii) seven (iv) seventeen
Rosamond wanted to buy things without knowing their —.
(i) value (ii) uses (iii) price (iv) advantages
Extra Practices
At first they stopped at a — shop.
(i) jewellery (ii) gift (iii) milliner’s (iv) variety
The windows were decorated with — flowers.
(i) natural (ii) pink (iii) artifical (iv) plastic
— are very useful things.
(i) flowers (ii) jewellery (iii) ribbons (iv) buckles
Mamma, will you buy ―of these?
(i) some (ii) something (iii) flower (iv) bought
Which? I don’t know ―.
(i) use (ii) again (iii) which (iv) value
Yes, they are all pretty, but of ― use would they be to me?
(i) which (ii) had (iii) find (iv) what
I am sure, Mamma, you could― some use if you only bought them first.
(i) beautiful (ii) find (iii) pain (iv) bought
But I would rather find out the― first.
(i) use (ii) some (iii) which (iv) useful
Mamma, buckles are very ― things. Please buy some.
(i) going (ii) pretty (iii) flower (iv) useful
Who walking with her mother in the streets of London?
(i) Rosamond (ii) Jenni (iii) Rasna (iv) Mini
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
a) Where was Rosamond walking?
b) How was the milliner’s shop decorated?
c) How was the condition of the ornaments?
d) Why did not Rosamond’s mother buy anything?
e) What qualities do you find in Rosamond’s character?
Extra Practices
1. How was Rosamond?
2. Where were they walking?
3. Where did they stop first?
4. How was the milliner’s shop decorated?
5. What was seen in jeweller’s shop?
6. What did she want to do?
7. What did she see?
8. What did Rosamond keep on looking?
9. Where did they stop?
10. How were the windows of the shop decorated?
11. What did Rosamond say seeing the roses?
12. What did her mother say?
13. What did her mother say about the necklace?
Passage -4
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
This time Rosamond was really disappointed as her mother wanted nothing. However, while they were passing by a chemist’s shop, she saw some jars—blue, green, red, yellow and purple—and she seemed to have a fascination for a purple jar. But her mother answered as before, “Of what use would they be to me, Rosamond?”
Oh, Mamma, I would use it for a flower pot.’
“But you have a flower pot and the jar you are dying for buying is not a flower pot.”
“Yet, Mamma, I like it so much …!”
Then suddenly she cried, “Ouch! A stone, mamma, a stone has got in my shoe. It hurts!”
“Oh! How did it get there?”
“See, there’s a hole in my shoe, Mamma. In fact, my shoes are quite worn out. Would you be so good as to buy me another pair?”
“But, Rosamond, I haven’t got money enough to buy shoes, jars, jewellary, buckles and all that you wish to buy.”
Rosamond became sad again. Her mind flashed back to all those beautiful things she had seen that morning.
“But, Mamma, I like the purple jar very much. And now my foot hurts. Could you buy me only these two things — the jar and a pair of shoes, please?”
“No, Rosamond, you can buy only one thing. However, you may buy the other thing next month. And you have to decide which one you would like to buy now.’
“I need the shoes badly,” Rosamond began to argue with herself, but my heart is in that beautiful jar.”
Then looking at her shoes, she told her mother, “These shoes are not so bad, except for the hole in one. I think I can make them last till the end of the month, can’t I? Don’t you think so, Mamma?”
“I want you to think for yourself, dear.”
“Okay, if you please, I would like to have the purple jar.’
“Very well, you will have it.”
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
The phrase “dying for” used in the passage is used to mean —.
i) death for the jar ii) hatred for the jar
iii) distraction for the jar iv) desire for the jar
The purple jar was—.
i) a flower pot ii) not a flower pot iii) a chemical pot iv) a Jewellery pot
At first, Rosamond’s mother was against buying—.
i) nothing ii) the flower pot iii) anything iv) none of the above
Rosamond preferred buying the purple jar — a pair of shoe.
i) than i) from iii) to iv) over
Who made the final decision to buy the purple jar?
i) Rosamond ii) Her mother iii) both collectively iv). none of them
Rosamond preferred buying the purple jar — a pair of shoe.
i) than i) from iii) to iv) over
Who made the final decision to buy the purple jar?
i) Rosamond ii) Her mother iii) both collectively iv). none of them
1. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
a) What types of jars did Rosamond saw in the chemist’s shop?
b) How were Rosamond’s shoes?
c) What did Rosamond mean when she said “my heart is in that beautiful jar”?
d) What did Rosamond buy finally? On what argument?
e) What was Rosamond’s mother’s financial condition?
Passage -5
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
Rosamond and her mother were going back to the chemist’s shop. As they were walking, Rosamond had to stop once again to take another stone out of the broken shoe, and she often limped with pain.
When they got back to the shop, Rosamond’s mother asked her to carefully examine the jar before she bought it. But Rosamond was so excited that she bought it even without looking at what was inside the jar.
Happily she came back home with her mother. Then Rosamond quickly brought some flowers from the garden and was going to put them into the jar. But as soon as she took the top off, she saw something dark inside, which gave off an unpleasant smell.
“What is it, Mamma? I didn’t want this black thing and the terrible smell.”
“Nor did I, my dear.”
“But what shall I do with it?”
“That I can’t tell.”
“Okay, Mamma, I must pour it out and fill the jar with fresh water.”
Then she made the jar empty. But to her great disappointment, she found that it was no longer a purple jar — it was a plain white glass jar. With its coloured water gone, the jar did no longer look beautiful.
Rosamond cried with tears of disappointment in her eyes. She was to cry more for her folly. Every day her shoes grew worse and worse, and she could neither run, dance, jump, nor go shopping with her mother.
Thus Rosamond suffered for a whole month and learned a lesson the hard way. She hoped that she would be wiser in future.
adapted from The Purple Jar by Maria Edgeworth
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
Rosamond was — excited to look at the jar while buying.
i) so ii) that iii) too iv) very
Rosamond finally decided to buy —-.
i) the ornament ii) buckle iii) the purple jar iv) a pair of shoes
An unpleasant smell came out of the jar.
stink ii) scent iii) perfume iv) liquid ..
With its coloured water gone, the jar did no longer look beautiful. Look at the underlined word. What parts of speech is it?
i) noun ii) verb iii) adjective iv) adverb
Rosamond could neither run, dance, jump, nor go shopping.
Look at the sentence above. What does it imply?
i) Rosamond was happy to run, dance, jump, and go shopping.
ii) Rosamond could run, dance, jump but she could not go shopping.
iii) Rosamond could not run, dance, jump, go shopping
iv) none of them
Rosamond had to stop once again to take another — out.
(i) piece of brick (ii) stone (iii) metal (iv) sand
Her mother told her to carefully — the jar.
(i) test (ii) saw (iii) examine (iv) choose
Extra Practices
Rosamond quickly — some flower from the garden.
(i) plucked (ii) took (iii) brought (iv) bought
As soon as she took the top off, she saw something — inside.
(i) liquid (ii) as water (iii) dark (iv) like juice
She hoped that she would be — in future.
(i) meritorious (ii) wiser (iii) bright (iv) brilliant
Thus Rosamond ― for a whole month and learned a lesson the hard way.
(i) suffered (ii) gone (iii) quickly (iv) careful
“Okay, Mamma, I must― it out and fill the jar with fresh water.”
(i) must (ii) fresh (iii) pour (iv) fill
Then she made the jar ―.
(i) eyes (ii) jar (iii) made (iv) empty
With its coloured water ―, the jar did no longer look beautiful.
(i) longer (ii) gone (iii) want (iv) water
Rosamond cried with ― of disappointment in her eyes.
(i) tears (ii) eyes (iii) longer (iv) Antonio
She was to cry ― for her folly.
(i) countries (ii) suffer (iii) rich (iv) more
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
a) What was the problem with Rosamond?
b) Why did Rosamond choose the purple jar instead of a pair of shoes?
c) How did the shoes trouble Rosamond?
d) What do you think the purple jar was?
e) What lesson did Rosamond learn?
Extra Practices
1. Where did they go back?
2. Why did Rosamond stop once again?
3. Why did she limp often?
4. How was inside the jar?
5. What didn’t Rosamond want?
6. Where were they going to?
7. Why did Rosamond stop?
8. What did Rosamond ask her mother?
9. Why was Rosamond so excited?
10. What happened to her shoes?
Passage -6
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
When Bassanio reached Venice, Antonio was already in the court of justice. They were waiting for the trial to begin. The Duke entered the courtroom, took his seat and the trial began. The Duke requested Shylock to be merciful and not to claim his pound of flesh. But Shylock would not listen to him. Bassanio offered him twice the amount of money that Shylock lent Antonio but Shylock did not accept it. He said, “ I claim my pound of flesh. The law is on my side. Antonio must pay the penalty written in the bond.”
The Duke was extremely sorry that he could do nothing g to help Antonio. The law was on Shylock’s side and the law must be abided. The Duke feared that though the wisest lawyer in Venice was coming to speak in defense of Antonio, even he would not be able to save the merchant. Soon a young clerk entered the courtroom with a letter from the wise lawyer. The lawyer was ill and would not be able to come to the court. He requested the Duke to let his young friend, Doctor Balthazar, defend Antonio. The Duke gave his permission, and Doctor Balthazar entered the courtroom. He looked very young, and the Duke doubted if the wisdom of the young lawyer could save Antonio. This young lawyer was no other than Portia in disguise and the young clerk was her friend, who was also in disguise.
Portia begged Shylock to be merciful and told him how God bestows mercy to those who are merciful themselves.
“ Mercy” Portia said, “ brings a blessing to him who shows it and to him who receives it. All of us pray to God for mercy. But God will only have mercy on us if we have mercy on others.”
Shylock paid no heed to Portia. All he wanted was his pound of flesh.
Portia asked, “ Can’t Antonio pay the debt?”
Bassanio cried, “ Yes, he can pay it, and even more. … Even I can pay ten times the sum my friend borrowed from Shylock.
“ Won’t you take the money, Shylock?” Portia asked.
“ No, I demand the lawful penalty. Give me my pound of flesh.”
“ Let me see the bond Shylock”, said Portia.
Shylock handed the bond to her. She read it with great attention and then said, “ You are right Shylock. The law is on your side. You can claim the flesh. But I would request you one more time to accept the sum Bassanio is offering you, and let me tear up the bond.” But Shylock would not give up his claim. Portia then turned towards Antonio and said, “ Get ready Antonio for Shylock to cut his pound of flesh. The law gives it to him.”
Shylock was filled with joy on hearing what Portia said. He began to praise Portia in disguise, for her wisdom and righteousness. He cried out, “Oh noble judge! Oh excellent young man, you are a second Daniel, who has come to this earth.”
Portia urged Shylock to cut the pound of flesh he demanded. Delighted, Shylock walked towards Antonio with a knife in hand. He told Antonio to uncover his chest. But as he was about to cut Antonio’s flesh, Portia stopped him. She cried out, “ Wait Shylock! Never forget – there is no mention of blood in the bond. Therefore, you cannot shed a single drop of blood while you cut your pound of flesh; or else you pay the penalty. And the penalty is, the state will take your property from you. You lose everything that you have now, Shylock.”
Shylock understood it was not possible for him to cut a pound of flesh without shedding blood. He was defeated by the wise lawyer. He hung his head and without another word left the courtroom. Thus Antonio’s life was saved.
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
Where was Antonio in Venice?
i) In free area ii) In trial room iii) In police van iv) In Shylock’s house
What are they waiting for?
i) Trial ii) Duke iii) Court iv) Antonio
Shylock was asked to be mercuui merciful to —.
Bassanio ii. Antonio iii. The Duke iv. Balthazar
Who did wish to help Antonio?
Shylock ii. The Duke iii. God iv. People of Venice
For whom was Portia in disguise?
i Antonio ii. Clerk iii. The Duke iv. Bassanio
Whom did Shylock hand the bond to?
Portia ii. Balthazar iii. The Duke iv. Doctor
What was not in the bond?
Flesh ii. Blood iii. None iv. Pound of flesh
Extra Practices
Shylock was delighted because he —.
i) could get the money ii) could get flesh
iii) could win iv) could kill Antonio
Antonio’s life was saved by —.
Balthazar ii. Portia iii. The Duke iv. The Judge
Who was/were in disguise?
Portia and the clerk ii. Portia
iii. The clerk iv. The Duke
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
a) Who was Bassanio?
b) Where was Antonio?
c) Why was the Duke sorry?
d) Was Shylock a bad man?
e) Why did Portia take disguise?
Extra Practices
1. Who did Portia request to show mercy?
2. Who does God love?
3. How did Portia save Antonio’s life?
4. Why did Shylock not take the pound of flesh?
5. What was mentioned in the bond?
Answer:
Passage -1
1. a. (iii); b. (iv); c. (iii); d. (iv); e. (i); f. (i); g. (iii)
2. (a) Bassanio lived a luxurious life and spent more than his earning and so he was short of money.
(b) Bassanio went to Antonio for help to get money.
(c) Antonio went to Shylock to borrow money for Bassanio.
(d) Shylock bring the bond forward to be signed by Antonio.
(e) It could be written on the bond that Shylock would cut a pond of flesh from Antonio’s body if he failed to repay the money in three months.
Passage -2
1. a. (iii); b. (iv); c. (iv); d. (ii); e. (iv); f. (i); g. (iii);
2. (a) Portia’s father had an unusual plan to find a good husband for Portia by three caskets made of gold, silver and lead.
(b) Many suitors went away hearing about such a strange plan of Portia’s father.
(c) The first trial was for the prince of Morocco to find out the portrait of Portia.
(d) It was mentioned in the second casket that “He who chooses me will get what he deserves.”
(e) Finally Bassanio was selected as Portia’s husband.
Passage -3
1. (a)ii. two; (b) iii. she had no knowledge about the uses of the things; (c) ii. three; (d) i, low ; (e) ii. Rosamond’s mother; f. (iii); g. (ii);
2. a. Rosamond was walking along the roads in London.
The milliner’s shop was decorated with ribbons, lace and festoons of artificial flowers.
c. The ornaments were pretty and bright, but they were of little value.
Rosamond’s mother did not buy anything because either she did not them or she had them already. But the main reason might be shortage of money.
Rosamond is a very little girl of seven. She is innocent and curious about things, She abides by her mother though her mother refuses to buy anything she tells of.
Rosamond was a little girl of seven years old.
Passage -4
1. (a) iv. desire for the jar; (b) ii. not a flower pot; (c) iii. anything; (d) iii. to; (e) i. Rosamond.
2. A.
Rosamond saw blue, green, red, yellow and purple jars in the chemist’s shop.
Rosamond’s shoes were quite worn out and mere was a hole in of her shoes.
By saying these words, Rosamond meant that she wanted the purple jar whole-heartedly she liked the jar heart and soul.
Rosamond finally decided to buy the purple jar on the argument that her shoes were not so bad except for the hole in one.
Rosamond’s mother did not have much money. Her money could afford only one thing to be bought for Rosamond.
Passage -5
1. a. iii) too; b. iii) purple jar; c. i) stink; d. iii) adjective; e. iii) Rosamond could not run, dance, jump, go shopping.
2.a. Rosamond wanted to buy the thing which she saw.
She chose the purple jar instead of a pair of shoes because the jar charmed him much.
The shoes had a hole from which little stones could get to her feet and hurt her.
The purple jar was a chemist product. The people who study chemistry work with chemical and jar to do research.
Passage -6
1. a. ii) In trial room; b. i) Trial; c. ii) Antonio; d. ii) the Duke; e. ii) Antonio; f. i) Portia; g. ii) blood; h. ii) could get flesh; i.ii) Portia; j. i) Portia and the clerk.
2. a. Bassanio was Antonio’s friend.
Antonio was in the court of justice.
The Duke was sorry because he could do nothing to help Antonio.
Yes, Shylock was a bad man. He wanted flesh of a human body which is of course bad.
Portia took disguise to help Antonio.
Bangla Translation
৯০তম বিজ্ঞান কংগ্রেসে এক বক্তৃতায় আন্তর্জাতিকভাবে খ্যাতিসম্পন্ন বিজ্ঞানী এবং ভারতের প্রাক্তন রাষ্ট্রপতি জনাব এপিজে আব্দুল কালাম মানবজাতির ভবিষ্যৎ জ্বালানি সংকটের একটি অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ দিক উল্লেখ করেছেন। তিনি উল্লেখ করেছেন যে কাঠ এবং জৈব পদার্থের যুগ প্রায় শেষ হয়ে এসেছে। তেল এবং প্রাকৃতিক গ্যাসের যুগ শীঘ্রই আগামী কয়েক দশকের মধ্যে শেষ হয়ে যাবে। বিশ্বের কয়লা মজুদের ব্যাপক পোড়ানো বিশ্বব্যাপী পরিবেশগত বিপর্যয়ের দিকে নিয়ে যেতে পারে কারণ কয়লা পোড়ানো বায়ুমণ্ডলে সর্বাধিক পরিমাণে কার্বন নির্গত করে। ১৯৮৬ সালে ইউক্রেনের (প্রাক্তন সোভিয়েত ইউনিয়ন) চেরনোবিল দুর্ঘটনা প্রকাশ করেছে যে পারমাণবিক শক্তিও সম্ভাব্য বিপজ্জনক হতে পারে। তাই কালামের মতে, মানবজাতির একমাত্র সমাধান হল ভবিষ্যতে সৌরশক্তির ব্যাপক ব্যবহার কারণ এর অন্যান্য ধরণের নবায়নযোগ্য শক্তির তুলনায় কিছু সুবিধা রয়েছে।
এখন কালাম কেন শক্তির বিষয়টিকে এত গুরুত্ব দিয়েছেন? ইতিহাস জুড়ে শক্তির উৎসগুলি সর্বদা পরিবর্তনের একটি প্রধান কারণ হয়ে দাঁড়িয়েছে। বিশ্বের পেট্রোলিয়াম ব্যবহার ১৯৩০ সালে বার্ষিক ৩ বিলিয়ন ব্যারেল থেকে বেড়ে আজ বার্ষিক ৫০ বিলিয়ন ব্যারেলে দাঁড়িয়েছে। আগামী একুশ শতকে বিশ্বের জনসংখ্যা প্রায় ৮ বিলিয়ন হবে বলে আশা করা হচ্ছে, যা আজকের তুলনায় ৩০ শতাংশ বেশি। উন্নয়নশীল দেশগুলি শিল্পোন্নত দেশগুলির তুলনায় তাদের অর্থনীতির প্রবৃদ্ধি প্রায় দ্বিগুণ দ্রুততর করবে। বৈশ্বিক অর্থনৈতিক প্রবৃদ্ধি প্রতি বছর ৩ শতাংশ হারে অব্যাহত থাকবে বলে আশা করা হচ্ছে। ফলস্বরূপ, বিশ্বব্যাপী জ্বালানির চাহিদা প্রতি বছর গড়ে প্রায় ১.৭ শতাংশ হারে বৃদ্ধি পাবে। এটি ২০৩০ সালের মধ্যে জ্বালানি খরচ ৫০ শতাংশ বৃদ্ধির ইঙ্গিত দেয়। যদি বিশ্বের দৈনিক পেট্রোলিয়াম ব্যবহার বর্তমানে ২২০ মিলিয়ন ব্যারেল হয়, তবে ততক্ষণে তা ৩৩৫ মিলিয়ন ব্যারেল পর্যন্ত বৃদ্ধি পাবে। হাইড্রো-কার্বন জ্বালানি সম্পদের বর্তমান মজুদ সীমিত এবং এটি বিশ্বের ভবিষ্যতের জ্বালানি চ্যালেঞ্জ মোকাবেলায় যথেষ্ট হবে না। এবং তাই, শীর্ষস্থানীয় শিল্পোন্নত দেশগুলি প্রধানত সবুজ বা পুনর্নবীকরণযোগ্য জ্বালানি উৎস হিসাবে পরিচিত বিকল্প জ্বালানি উৎসগুলি ব্যবহার করার উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে। কালামের বক্তৃতার মূল কথাটি একবিংশ শতাব্দীতে মানবজাতির উদ্বেগের ইঙ্গিত দেয়।
Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it.
Partha Pratim Majumder was born in 1954 in Pabna to a family of artistes. He spent most of his early years in his ancestral home, one of the biggest houses, situated in a small locality known as Kalachandpara. At that time Kalachandpara was well known for its cultural activities. There were festivals and various types of cultural shows round the year. Majumder’s father, a photographer by profession was an art lover. He taught and inspired his son to appreciate different forms of art.
Majumder went to live with his aunt in Chandernagar, 30 kilometres away from Kolkata in 1966. It was there that he first came across a mime artiste named Jogesh Dutta. The way Dutta narrated stories without uttering a single word, left Majumder spellbound. He took lessons on mime from Dutta in Jogesh Dutta’s mime academy in Kolkata from 1966 to 1972.
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives. 1×7=7
a) Majumder went to ----- live with his aunt.
(i) Chandpur (ii) Chanderhat (iii) Chandernagar (iv) Chunasughat
b) Majumder’s ----- was a photographer.
(i) father (ii) brother (iii) uncle (iv) cousin
c) The birth place of Partha Pratim is -----.
(i) Patna (ii) Pabna (iii) Paharpur (iv) Parbatipur
d) He was highly inspired by his -----.
(i) father (ii) mother (iii) sister (iv) brother
e) Chandernagar is ----- away from Kolkata.
(i) forty kms. (ii) thirty kms. (iii) thiry miles. (iv) fifty kms.
f) Majumder was born in -----.
(i) 1954 (ii) 1945 (iii) 1950 (iv) 1854
g) His father was born in -----.
(i) artist (ii) art lover (iii) honest man (iv) educationist
Extra Practices
h) ----- was well-known for its cultural activities.
(i) Kalyanpur (ii) Kalachandpara (iii) Khamarpara (iv) Kamarkhali
i) He went to Chandernagar in -----.
(i) 1996 (ii) 1966 (iii) 1954 (iv) 1960
j) Majumder took lessons on ----- from Dutta.
(i) mime (ii) sports (iii) photography (iv) drawing
Answer the following questions. 2×5 = 10
a) Why did Majumder go to Chandernagar?
b) Who inspired him to appreciate different forms of art?
c) Where did he take lessons on mime from Dutta?
d) What was Majumder’s father?
e) What made Majumder spellbound?
Extra Practices
1. When was Partha Pratim Majumder born?
2. Where did he spend most of his early years?
3. What was Kalachandpara well known for?
4. Where was Chandernagar?
5. Did Partha take lessons on mime?
1. a. ii) the land owner; b. iv) the Archeological Survey of India; c. iv) 1991; d. ii) Pre-liberation; e. ii) southern Asia. f. (iii); g. (i);
2. a. Paharpur is in Naogaon district of northern Bangladesh
The Department of Archaeology of Bangladesh brought the site under further excavation after independence.
Expeditions revealed the architectural site of a vast Buddhist monastery, the Somapura Mahavihara.
Somapura Mahavihara was built during 781-821 AD.
Cunningham found the ruins of a square tower to 22 feet side with projection in the middle of each side from the top of central hill.
Paharpur is situated in a village named ‘Paharpur’ in Naogaon district of northern Bangladesh.
Clay seals indicates that the site was built by the second Pala king.
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