The orphanage is high in the Carolina Mountains. I was there in autumn. I wanted quiet isolation to do some troublesome writing. I wanted mountain air to blow out the malaria from too long a time in the sub tropics. I was homesick too, for the flaming of maples in October, and for cornshocks and pumpkins and black-walnut trees. I found them all living in a cabin belonging to the orphanage, half a mile beyond the orphanage farm. When I took the cabin, I asked for a boy or man to come and chop wood for the fire place. I looked up from my typewriter one late afternoon, a little startled. A boy stood at the door and my pointer dog, my companion, was at his side and had not barked to warn me. The boy was probably twelve years old but undersized. He wore overalls and a torn shirt and was barefooted. He said, "I can chop some wood today." "You? But you're small." "Size don't matter chopping wood," he said. "Some of the big boys don't chop good. I've been chopping wood at the orphanage a long time." "Very well, there's the axe. Go ahead and see what you can do."
I went back to work closing the door. He began to chop. The blows were rhythmic and steady and shortly I had forgotten him, the sound no more of an interruption than a consistent rain. I suppose an hour and a half passed and I heard the boy's steps on the cabin stoop ............ The boy said, "I have to go to supper now." He said, "I can come again tomorrow." I said, "I'll pay you now for what you have done." thinking I should probably have to insist on an older boy. We went together back of the cabin. An astonishing amount of wood had been cut ......" But you've done as much as a man." I said, "This is a splendid pile."
(a) (ii) for doing some difficult writing
(b) (ii) required
(c) (iii) approximately
(d) (ii) melodious
(e) (ii) massive
(f) (iv) close to
(g) (iv) astonished
(h) (ii) astounding
(i) (i) undersized
(j) (ii) adverb
(a) The writer wanted quiet isolation for troublesome writing, mountain air after her time in the subtropics, and the autumn scenery she missed.
(b) The cabin belonged to the orphanage and stood half a mile beyond its farm in the Carolina Mountains. It provided the quiet isolation the writer wanted.
(c) Jerry chopped steadily and rhythmically, producing an astonishing amount of wood in about an hour and a half.
(d) A boy appeared unexpectedly at the door without her dog barking to warn her.
(e) Jerry meant that skill and experience, rather than physical size alone, determine how well someone can chop wood.
-
Got married at 15.
-
Joined a local empowerment group
-
Got tools to change cultural practices
-
Engaged in group activities
-
Got peer-to-peer support and life skills training
-
Understood the potentially harmful effects of early marriage
Dreams
-Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
(a) extended
(b) is
(c) at
(d) needs
(e) for
(f) have
(g) share
(h) in
(i) on
(j) were
(a) as
(b) regard
(c) business
(d) number
(e) technological
(f) modern
(g) global
(h) luxury
(i) reach
(j) create
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentence | g | e | j | i | c | h | d | f | b | a |
A cunning Fox and a Foolish Crow
Once a crow was sitting on the branch of a tree. It had a piece of meat in its beak. Suddenly a fox came there. The fox, seeing the meat, wished to have it. It thought of a plan to trick the crow. The cunning fox began to praise the crow, saying, "Oh, dear Crow, your voice is so melodious! I have heard tales of your beautiful singing. Would you grace me with a song?" The foolish crow, flattered by the fox's words, opened its beak to sing, and as it did, the piece of meat fell to the ground. The fox quickly snatched the meat and ran away, leaving the crow to regret its vanity.
Dhaka
1 July 2025
Dear Shafin,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to share with you all the exciting adventures I had during my summer vacation.
Firstly, I spent a week at the beach with my family. The weather was perfect, and we had a fantastic time swimming, building sandcastles, and enjoying long walks along the shore at sunset. It was so refreshing to take a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and just relax by the ocean. After our beach trip, I went on a camping adventure with a group of friends. We hiked through lush forests, set up our tents by a beautiful lake, and spent our days exploring the wilderness. We even roasted marshmallows over a campfire and shared stories under the stars—it was truly a memorable experience. In addition to outdoor activities, I also dedicated some time to pursuing my hobbies. I took a photography course and captured some stunning shots of nature during my travels. I also started learning how to cook new recipes and experimented with different cuisines, which was both fun and delicious! Of course, no summer vacation would be complete without spending quality time with loved ones. I caught up with old friends over coffee dates and enjoyed family barbecues in the backyard. These moments reminded me of the importance of cherishing the people who mean the most to me. Overall, my summer vacation was filled with laughter, adventure, and relaxation. I feel grateful for the experiences I had and the memories I made along the way. I can't wait to hear all about your summer adventures too!
Take care,
Roshni