SSC English First Paper
Cumilla Board 2019
Read the passage then answer the questions no.1 and 2:
21 February is observed as Shaheed Dibosh every throughout the country in remembrance of the rtyrs of language - movement of 1952. The memoration begins at the early hours of the day mourning songs that recall the supreme cacrifices of our language martyrs.
People wear black badges and go to the Shaheed minar in barefoot processions, singing mourning songs. They place wreaths at the Minar. Many of them visit the graves of the martyrs at Azimpur Sovevard and pray for them. They also attend various programmes organised in remembrance of mo language martyrs. The UNESCO on 17 November in 1999 proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day in recognition of the sacrifices of the martyrs for the rightful place of Bangla. The day is now annually observed worldwide to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.
(a) The word 'diversity' means -
(i) similarity
(ii) variety
(iii) likeness
(iv) comparison
(b) On 21 February, people go to the Shaheed Minar in procession singing –
(i) national anthem
(ii) mourning songs
(iii) bhatialee
(iv) patriotic songs
(c) Our language martyrs are those who —
(i) fought for Bengali language (ii) died for Bengali language (iii) led the Language Movement
(iv) fought for East Pakistan
(d) Who observe 'Shaheed Dibosh' every year?
(i) political persons
(ii) students
(iii) people of all ages
(iv) the intellectuals :
(e) The International Mother Language Day is being observed –
(i) only in our country
(ii) all over the world.
(iii) in Indian sub-continent
(iv) in western countries
(f) What do you mean by the word 'supreme' in the phrase 'supreme sacrifice'? (i) at any cost
(ii) highest
(iii) suicide
(iv) utter
(g) What is the purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) To highlight how 21 February is observed and its international recognition. (ii) To highlighten how the people go to the Shaheed Minar.
(iii) To portray how the freedom fighters lose their lives.
(iv) To state how the UNESCO approves Shaheed Dibosh.
2. Answer the following questions.
(a) Why is 21 February observed as 'Shaheed Dibosh'?
(b) Why do we go to the Shaheed Minar bare footed?
(c) What is your idea about the significance of wearing black badges on the Shaheed so Dibosh? Write in two sentences.
(d) What do you understand by the phrase "the rightful place of Bangla'?
(e) What is the importance of 'International Mother Language Day'?
3. Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text :
Today there are many jobs where you need English. This is because the world has become smaller. Vast distances are shortened by speedy transport. We can talk to a person thousands of kilometres away on the phone or the Internet. So, we can communicate with the whole world easily. English has made this communication easier. There are many countries in the world with many languages, but to communicate with them, you cannot use all the languages. So, you need a common language that you can use with more or less all the people in the world. English is that common language. English for us in Bangladesh is all the more important. As we have seen earlier, we are too many people in a small country. So if you learn English, you have the best opportunity to find a good job, both within and outside the country. And that is good news for. millions of our unemployed youths.
Globalization has made the world smaller and so it requires a (a) – language for international communication. The lingua franca of the world is (b) - English provides us with the (c) — to pursue a good job. Being a densely (d) — country, Bangaldesh is cursed with unemployment. Proficiency in English may help (e) – unemployment problem and bring economic development.
Read the passage on Gustave Eiffel and his Tower and answer the questions no. 4 and 5 :
Altaf Mahmud was a musician, cultural activist and martyred freedom fighter of Liberation War of Bangladesh. He was born on 23 December 1933. He was also a language activist of Language Movement and composer of 'Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano' – the famous song written by Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, a famous journalist. In 1950 he sang gonoshongit in many places to inspire the activists of the Language Movement. Along with his singing, Mahmud continued to support the movement. He tuned the song 'Amar Bhaier Rokte Rangano' in 1969, in Zahir Raihan's film 'Jibon Theke Neya'. Altaf Mahmud took part in the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. He created a secret camp inside his house for the freedom fighters. But as the secret revealed, Pakistan Army caught him on August 30, 1971. He was tortured by them. A lot of other guerrilla war fighters like Shafi Imam Rumi were also captured by the Pak army on that day. Along with most of them, he was lost ever since. His patriotic songs which were then broadcast at the "Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra" also inspired the war fighters at that time. In 1977, Altaf Mahmud was awarded the Ekushey Padak for his valuable contribution to Bengali culture and the War of Liberation.
4. Complete the table below with information from the above passage :
Altaf Mahmud | |||
Role | Musician, cultural activist and freedom fighter | ||
Life time | From 1933 to (i).................. | ||
Who/ What | Activities | Type of work / name | Time |
Altaf Mahmud | sang | (ii) ............. | 1950's |
(iii) .......... | was tuned | song | 1969 |
Altaf Mahmud | (iv) ........ | 1971 | |
Bangladesh Government | awarded him | Ekushey Padak | (v)…… |
5. Write a summary of the above passage in your own words.
6. Match the parts of sentences given in column A, B and C to write five complete sentences :
Column A | Column B | Column C |
Your friends cannot help | that makes us | in everyone |
It is love | loving you | you don't love other |
Love is divine | to love you | feel for others |
You cannot find others | it is a good evidence that | if you love them |
If you are not loved | which exists | unless you love them |
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