The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle said, 'Man is by nature a social animal.' What he meant was that man, by instinct, seeks the company of others and establishes relationships, much like most animals of the wild, for companionship and for physical and emotional support. Unlike animals, however, man's relationships give meaning to his existence and inspire him to do well in education, in the workplace, or in a profession that he pursues.
Relationships are of different kinds. Some are familial and intimate, formed by blood and by marriage; some are social like the ones we have with friends and some are made in school where we form close bonds with classmates and teachers. Relationships can also be fostered in the workplace, which may quickly change from professional to social. There are relationships also between human beings and animals, between children and their toys that they cannot part with. All these relationships keep us close to each other and provide us with all kinds of support, love, and affection. A person who has no family feels the pain of loneliness and isolation. There is no one to laugh or cry with him/her. When we share our joy with someone, it simply redoubles, and when we suffer a loss and someone shares our sorrow, it lessens. Relationships are thus needed for our emotional health.
To build relationships, we need to have trust and respect for each other, and love where this is needed. We cannot be selfish and possessive if we want to establish an effective relationship. But quite often we see people quarreling and fighting with each other which only brings misery and loss to all.
(a) (iii) pursue
(b) (iv) company
(c) (iii) encourage
(d) (ii) intimacy
(e) (iii) Relationship
(f) (i) adjective
(g) (i) relationship
(h) (ii) suffering
(i) (iv) thinks deeply
(j) (ii) social touch
(a) According to the passage, human relationships give meaning to existence and inspire achievement in education and professional life, beyond companionship and support.
(b) Humans instinctively seek others’ company and establish relationships for companionship and support.
(c) Relationships provide love and support, increase shared happiness, lessen sorrow and maintain emotional health. They also encourage people to do well in life.
(d) Such a person feels loneliness and isolation, with no one to share laughter or sorrow.
(e) The passage describes familial and intimate, social, school and professional relationships, as well as relationships with animals and cherished objects.
| Box | Content |
|---|---|
| 1 | Enriching knowledge |
| 2 | Enabling us to function meaningfully |
| 3 | Allowing us to decide things rationally |
| 4 | Empowering us to make the right choices |
| 5 | Enabling us to think independently |
| 6 | Preparing us to become active members of the community |
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) become
(b) source
(c) varied
(d) channels
(e) even
(f) programmes
(g) distance
(h) run
(i) shown
(j) informative
(a) depends
(b) important
(c) disrupted
(d) easier
(e) inaccessible
(f) growth
(g) acquire
(h) Moreover
(i) promoted
(j) understanding
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentence | h | g | b | d | e | j | f | i | c | a |
Rini's Indomitable Desire
Rini was a student of class eight. Her parents could not afford to pay for her schooling. But she was determined to continue her study at any cost. She wanted to be a doctor at any cost. She wanted to reach her goal without taking any financial help from others. Finding no other way out, Rini got herself employed in a department store where she had to work from 3 pm to 8 pm. She continued her school studies and, after completing secondary education, entered a college. She studied heart and soul though she did not have adequate amount of time to spend for her study. Returning home from the store, she studied till midnight as she was nourishing a dream of becoming a doctor. She passed the HSC Examination securing GPA-5. Her parents became very happy to see their daughter's outstanding result. In the meantime, her father saved some money for his daughter's higher education. He sent his daughter to Dhaka with that money so that she could prepare herself by attending a medical coaching centre. At last, the girl succeeded in gaining admission to Dhaka Medical College. As soon as the news came to her parents, their joys knew no bounds. So, it is a proven fact that firm determination helps an individual reach his/her goal. Rini has become a shining example of what people with financial constraints can achieve.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
1 July 2025
Dear Nazim,
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to remind you about the English 1st Paper book I lent you a few weeks ago. As you know, my test examination is very near, and I need the book urgently for preparation. It is an important part of my study material, and without it, I’m finding it difficult to revise some topics properly. I would really appreciate it if you could return the book as soon as possible. If you are done with it, perhaps you could send it through someone or drop by my house whenever it’s convenient for you. I hope your studies are going well too. Looking forward to seeing you soon and best of luck with your preparation.
Take care and stay well.
Your loving friend,
Foysal