(a) (iii) Wealthy
(b) (i) puberty
(c) (iii) 2.8 crore
(d) (i) disparity
(e) (i) noun
(f) (iii) later age
(g) (iii) For national renewal and growth.
(h) (iv) comprise
(i) (ii) in adolescence
(j) (i) regeneration
(a) WHO says that adolescence is the period which shapes the future of people's lives whether they are girls or boys.
(b) There are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh, of which 13.7 million are girls and 14.3 million boys.
(c) The condition of adolescent girls in Bangladesh is that they are facing inequality, and sub-ordination within the family and society.
(d) According to the passage, the legal age of marriage for boys is 21 and for girls it is 18.
(e) The boys, in fact, become ready for marriage after several years of adolescence and young adulthood and not before that
First, let’s start by answering a basic question: What is a dream? A dream can include any of the images, thoughts and emotions that are experienced during sleep. Dreams can be extraordinarily vivid or very vague; filled with joyful emotions or frightening images; focused and understandable or unclear and confusing. Why do we dream? What purpose do dreams serve? While many theories have been proposed about the reason and function of dreams, no consensus has emerged. Considering the time we spend in a dreaming state, the fact that researchers do not yet understand the purpose of dreams may seem baffling. However, it is important to consider that science is still unraveling the exact purpose and function of sleep itself. Some researchers suggest that dreams serve no real purpose, while others believe that dreaming is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.
| Box | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | Images during sleep |
| 2 | Extraordinarily vivid or very vague |
| 3 | Filled with joyful emotions or frightening images |
| 4 | Focused and understandable or unclear and confusing |
| 5 | Serving no real purpose, according to some researchers |
| 6 | Essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being, according to others |
Education aims to bring about positive changes in our behaviour. It helps us try to change our lives as well as the society we live in. Education that does not illuminate our minds or does not inspire us to work for the community is not complete at all. Education is not all about getting grades or receiving certificates we use education to make life better. We are expected to apply the knowledge, skills and values that we learn in a classroom in our engagement with the world that lies outside. And we can do so in many different ways. Let's have a look at how education works.
Learners' civic engagement is highly appreciated all over the world. Civic engagement means working to make a difference in the civic life (the public life of the citizens as contrasted with private or personal life) of the community using knowledge, skills, values and motivation. Civic engagement promotes the quality of life in a community by contributing to the improvement of health and wellbeing of the people.
Civically engaged individuals recognize themselves as members of a larger social community and are concerned about civic issues. They consider themselves responsible citizens who take action or raise their voices against injustice, discrimination and other forms of social ills.
In civic engagement, issues of public concern are crucial. Civic engagement includes individual or group activities to protect public interests and change the way the community values itself. For example, if you are protesting against any unjust decision of the local municipality such as raising taxes or an act that might work against people's interest, you are civically engaged and your action is considered a civic engagement. This protest can be done in different ways such as organizing rallies, collecting signatures, making human chains, writing petitions etc. You can also help control traffic in front of a school, help children to cross the roads, work in a team to clean a park or a sea beach. You can also give some service to elderly people. These are all examples of civic engagement as what you do directly affects the community.
(a) ability
(b) developing
(c) acquisition
(d) mother
(e) fact
(f) using
(g) communication
(h) natural
(i) aware
(j) spontaneously
a. habit
b. used
c. foods
d. contain
e. junk
f. vitamins
g. risk
h. diseases
i. lead
j. careful
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentence | f | b | h | j | e | g | i | c | a | d |
The data show the printed figures for phone users from 2017 to 2023, measured in crore. Overall, the number rises substantially during the period. It increases from 1.5 crore in 2017 to 6.5 crore in 2023, a gain of five crore. The final figure is more than four times the starting figure.
In 2018, the number reaches 3.0 crore, exactly double the figure for 2017. It then rises by half a crore to 3.5 crore in 2019 and by a further one crore to 4.5 crore in 2020. The printed label for 2021 is also 4.5 crore. However, its bar is drawn higher than the 2020 bar, so the label and bar height conflict. Without clarification, the 2021 figure cannot be treated as certain.
The printed figures reach 6.0 crore in 2022 and 6.5 crore in 2023. The lowest stated number is therefore in 2017 and the highest is in 2023. Although the overall rise is clear, the source inconsistency limits a precise year-by-year interpretation. The data do not provide reasons for the changes.
The Ant and the Dove
Once an ant was very thirsty. He went to a river bank to drink water. When he began to drink water, a wave suddenly swelled and swept him off his tiny feet. He struggled desperately against the current, his small legs flailing in the churning water. Just as he thought all was lost, a kind-hearted dove, perched on a branch overlooking the river, noticed his plight. Feeling pity for the struggling ant, the dove quickly plucked a large leaf from the tree and dropped it into the water near him. The ant, with his last ounce of strength, managed to scramble onto the leaf. He held on tightly as the makeshift raft floated gently towards the bank. Once safely on dry land, the ant looked up at the dove and, though he couldn't speak, he conveyed his profound gratitude through a silent, thankful gesture. From that day forward, the ant never forgot the dove's kindness, and he vowed to repay the favour if ever the opportunity arose.
A few days later, the ant saw a hunter aiming at the dove. Remembering her help, he hurried towards the hunter and bit his foot. The hunter cried out and missed his shot. Alarmed by the noise, the dove flew away safely. Both creatures had now helped each other in danger. Their friendship showed that even the smallest creature could return a kindness.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
18 December 2025
Dear Tania,
I hope you are well. You asked how we celebrated Victory Day at our college. I am happy to tell you about the programme.
On 16 December, we decorated the college premises with flags and colourful banners. The programme began with the hoisting of the national flag and the singing of the national anthem. We observed a minute of silence to honour those who sacrificed their lives in the Liberation War.
Our teachers and students then took part in a discussion on the importance of Victory Day. They recalled the achievement of victory on 16 December 1971 and spoke about our responsibility to build a peaceful and just country. A cultural programme followed, featuring patriotic songs, poetry recitations and a short play.
The celebration filled us with pride and gratitude. It also reminded us to respect the sacrifices behind our freedom. Please write soon. Give my best regards to your parents.
Yours ever,
Asfia