Read the passage and answer the following questions

The act of thinking deeply and calmly about something in a state of heightened awareness is known as meditation. It is an approach to train up the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. Voltaire explains, "Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity".

From the ancient times, meditation has been a part of some religious traditions as a way of achieving the body's release from worldly cares, and creating inner harmony. Meditation in our time is practiced by people to reduce stress and tension and improve focus. There are trainers who help beginners with some exercise such as improved breathing and progressive relaxation. One of the most common approaches to meditation is concentration.

To develop concentration one needs to focus on a single point. Since focusing the mind is challenging, a beginner might meditate for only a few minutes and then work up to longer duration.

Meditation releases anxiety and brings a state of calmness. It increases the thinking ability of human brain so that people have a better control of their emotions. Those who practice meditation can work tirelessly for a longer period of time. Meditation helps improve blood circulation in the brain and other parts of the body. Finally, meditation improves creativity, self-awareness and tolerance.

(a) (iv) Relaxation

(b) (iv) mediation

(c) (iii) In the ancient period

(d) (ii) by degrees

(e) (ii) It helps all the organs of the body function properly

(f) (i) psychological

(g) (ii) apprentices

(h) (iii) To develop concentration

(i) (iv) Merging with the mob

(j) (i) Contemplation

(a) Meditation means thinking deeply and calmly about something in a heightened awareness. Voltaire explains meditation as the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity.

(b) Meditation has been a part of some religious traditions because it is a way of achieving the body's release from worldly cares and creating inner harmony.

(c) People practise meditation to reduce stress and tension and improve focus.

(d) We can develop concentration by focusing on a single point. At first, we can meditate for a few minutes and slowly increase the time.

(e) When we meditate, our mind becomes calm and focused. It helps reduce stress and brings a sense of peace and clarity.

Read the passage and answer the following questions

The Island of St. Martins is the only coral island in Bangladesh located in the north-eastern parts of the Bay of Bengal. The roughly flat island is only about 3.6 metres above the sea level. The entire island can be walked about in 3 hours. The island is known for its unique natural beauty with white sandy beaches fringed with coconut palms and a diverse marine life. Due to the expansion of unregulated tourism, the island is facing increasing erosion, contamination of surface and ground water, wildlife displacement, and loss of biodiversity. Other threats include cutting of sand dune vegetation for fuel-wood and hotel establishment; degradation of sand dune habitat; the harvesting of turtle eggs; indiscriminate exploitation of coral resources etc. To address this, the Government has declared some areas of the island as Ecologically Critical Area (ECA), prohibiting unauthorized constructions there.

Only coral Island in Bangladesh
A flat island
Having white sandy beaches
Having a diverse marine life
Fringed with coconut palms
Located in the north-eastern part of the Bay of Bengal

Read the passage and answer the following questions

We set out on the evening of July 21st. Food was scarce in the village. So Abdul packed a suitcase with two loaves and some tea and tins of milk cheese and jam. We travelled intermediate class in a cross-country train not uncomfortably crowded, through a country of shadowy loveliness. It was a moonlit night of broken soft clouds; the land was mostly under water, with paddy and cocopalms growing from it and a few raised carttracks and groups of cottages islanded among clumps of bushes, all reflected among shadows. Here and there was the red glow of a cookingfire or the lantern of a fisherman's boat in open water. At dawn we reached Sonaimuri, a small canal-side station among wide fields, from there we had eight more miles by country boat, some of it along the canal, some of it across the flooded paddy fields. I was looking forward to that tranquil water journey in the early morning, and tranquil it must have been, for I fell instantly asleep and knew no more till we reached the landing-ghat at Khorshed's father's house, in a blaze of sunlight. It turned out that his letter saying that he was bringing me was still on its way, but they rallied to the crisis and gathered round to make me welcome, though as none of them spoke any English they could only stare and laugh and offer me coconut juice.

The narrator and companions set out on the evening of July 21st, carrying food because it was scarce in the village. They travelled by train through a moonlit, flooded countryside and reached Sonaimuri at dawn. An eight-mile boat journey took them to Khorshed’s father’s house. Although the letter announcing their visit had not arrived and the hosts spoke no English, the family welcomed the visitors warmly and offered coconut juice.

(a) manners

(b) are

(c) accepted

(d) behave

(e) offended

(f) will realize

(g) keep up

(h) proper

(i) appreciate

(j) gentleperson

(a) worst

(b) Upper

(c) due

(d) fixed

(e) rising

(f) victims

(g) adjust

(h) control

(i) sales

(j) power

Order	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Sentence	iv	x	ii	v	ix	i	viii	iii	vi	vii

This pie chart illustrates the distribution of student interest in different subjects within a college. The chart breaks down the preferences of students across five distinct disciplines: Bengali, Biology, English, Physics, and Mathematics.

The subject with the highest student interest is Bengali, capturing 30% of the total student preference. Following closely are Biology and Physics, both of which are equally popular, each accounting for 20% of student interest. English and Mathematics share the lowest percentage of interest among the subjects presented, with each attracting 15% of the students.

In summary, the pie chart indicates that a significant portion of the college's students are interested in Bengali, while Biology and Physics also hold substantial appeal. English and Mathematics, however, appear to be less favored compared to the other subjects.

Honesty Brings Respect

Orpi is a student of Munshigonj Primary School. She is a student of class four. One day she found a money bag dropped by someone on her way to school. Orpi immediately picked it up. She looked around but couldn't see anyone who might have dropped it. The bag felt heavy, and she knew it contained a significant amount of money.

Instead of keeping it, Orpi decided to take the money bag to her school's headmaster. She explained what happened and handed over the bag. The headmaster praised Orpi for her honesty and announced the finding during the school assembly. Soon, a worried parent came forward to claim the bag, explaining that they had lost it on their way to school that morning. They were incredibly relieved and grateful to Orpi for her honesty. The headmaster also commended Orpi's integrity, setting a wonderful example for all the students.

Dhaka
6 September 2025
Dear Abid,
I hope this letter finds you in good spirits. I am extremely shocked to know that you have been hospitalised with dengue fever. I am showing my utmost sympathy for your sickness. You must not lose your mental strength. I hope you will follow your doctors’ advice and recover soon.
Wish you an early recovery.
Yours ever,
Topu