Behula is a legendary folk heroine and one of the main characters of Manasamangal; a medieval epic. She was the daughter of Sayven of Ujaninagar. Lakhindar was the youngest son of Chand Saudagar of Champaknagar. Behula grew up to be a beautiful and intelligent woman and was married to Lakhindar. Chand Saudagar, a devotee of Shiva, had boasted that he was cleverer and stronger than Manasa, the snake goddess. He built an iron chamber for Lakhindar, believing it to be impregnable. However, on the wedding night of Behula and Lakhindar, Manasa sent a snake to kill Lakhindar. The snake made itself as fine as a strand of hair and, entering the chamber through a minute hole, bit Lakhindar.
Behula refused to accept her husband's death. She placed her husband's corpse on a banana raft and set out on a hazardous journey towards the abode of the gods. Despite all the dangers and temptations she encountered, Behula continued her journey and finally succeeded in reaching the abode of the gods. She pleaded for her husband's life and promised Manasa that Chand Saudagar would worship her. Moved by Behula's love for her husband, Manasa not only restored Lakhindar but also his brothers whom she had killed earlier.
Behula returned home with her husband and brothers-in-law, and Chand Saudagar finally bowed before the might of Manasa. Lakhindar and Behula then returned to their heavenly abode as Aniruddha and Usa.
(a) (iii) A medieval epic
(b) (iii) mythical
(c) (i) inaccessible
(d) (ii) To save Lakhindar
(e) (iv) On a raft
(a) Yes, Behula is a legendary character. She is a famous folk heroine and one of the main characters of Manasamangal, a medieval epic.
(b) Behula placed her husband’s dead body on a banana raft and started a dangerous journey towards the abode of the gods. Finally, she reached there and pleaded for her husband’s life. She also promised Manasa that Chand Saudagar would worship her. Thus, Manasa restored Lakhindar’s life.
(c) Manasa was angry with Chand Saudagar because he was a devotee of Shiva and had boasted that he was cleverer and stronger than Manasa, the snake goddess.
(d) The ultimate destination of Behula and Lakhindar was their heavenly abode. After Lakhindar’s life was restored and Chand Saudagar bowed before Manasa, Behula and Lakhindar returned to heaven as Aniruddha and Usa.
(e) Manasa accepted Behula’s prayer because she was moved by Behula’s deep love, devotion and sacrifice for her husband. Behula also promised that Chand Saudagar would worship Manasa.
Spending may make us happy or unhappy depending on how and why we spend. When we spend money on things that we need and within our limit, it is good. When it becomes a compulsive behaviour, it makes life stressful. Unnecessary spending or spending beyond one's means has some bad effects. For one thing, it may lead to financial ruin or debt, and for another, it may create unhappiness within families. People who overspend are never satisfied with what they have. They always rush for brands, fashion items, designer clothes, etc. Over a period of time it becomes an addiction which may eventually create psychological problems.
| Box | Bad effect |
|---|---|
| 1 | Making life stressful |
| 2 | Leading to financial ruin or debt |
| 3 | Creating unhappiness within families |
| 4 | Being dissatisfied with one’s possessions |
| 5 | Becoming an addiction |
| 6 | Causing psychological problems |
In seconds, a Palestinian rocket launcher was erected in the area and in less than one second the Israeli planes started bombing it. People began running in all directions and the ambulances came. People started falling dead....... others were injured. I was in shock, and people in the street started telling me: "Thank God, You're safe."
Anyway, I went back home without the loaf of bread. And my mum yelled at me but still today, she doesn't know why I didn't bring the bread.
(b) cultures
(c) associated
(d) due to
(e) cocoon
(f) butterfly
(g) wings
(h) connected
(i) beauty
(j) symbols
(b) essential
(c) polluted
(d) smoke
(e) types
(f) healthy
(g) reduce
(h) impossible
(i) reduce
(j) awareness
| Order | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sentence | e | b | i | d | j | a | h | c | g | f |
A Drop of Success
Shakil, a university graduate from the department of Food and Nutrition, returned to his village due to his failure to get a suitable job. Frustrated, he was sitting under a tree one day when he noticed the fall of date juice drop by drop into the jar. Suddenly a new idea came to his mind and he thought of processing date juice.
He knew that date juice was very popular in the village during winter, but most people sold it only as raw juice or made molasses in the traditional way. As he had studied Food and Nutrition, he understood that the juice could be preserved and processed hygienically. He thought of producing date juice syrup, molasses, candy and packaged natural drinks.
At first, the villagers laughed at him. They said, “You are a university graduate. Why are you doing this small work?” Shakil did not lose heart. He collected some fresh date juice from local farmers and started experimenting at home. He cleaned the jars properly, boiled the juice at the right temperature and packed the products in small bottles. He named his product “Village Gold”.
Then he took some samples to the local market. At first, only a few people bought them. But soon they liked the taste and quality. The demand increased day by day. Shakil also used social media to promote his products. He posted pictures and videos of his hygienic production process. Many customers from nearby towns started placing orders.
After a few months, Shakil trained some unemployed young people of his village and gave them work in his small factory. The farmers also benefited because they could sell their date juice at a fair price. Gradually, his small business became a successful enterprise.
One day, a newspaper published a report about Shakil’s success. The same people who had once laughed at him now praised him. Shakil realised that no work is small if it is done with honesty, knowledge and dedication.
Thus, a drop of date juice changed Shakil’s life. His frustration turned into success, and he became an inspiration for the unemployed youth of his village.
Subject: Congratulations on winning first prize in the National Debate Competition
Dear Tomal,
I am very happy to know that you have won the first prize in the National Debate Competition-2025. Please accept my heartiest congratulations on your brilliant achievement.
Your success has made all of us proud. I know you worked very hard for this competition. Your confidence, clear pronunciation, strong arguments and excellent presentation helped you win this great honour. You truly deserve this prize.
I believe this achievement will inspire you to do even better in the future. May you continue to bring more success and glory to yourself, your family and your institution.
Once again, congratulations on your outstanding success.
Your loving friend,
Rakib
The data show the percentage of supporters of five different games in a country. Cricket has the largest share, attracting 40% of the supporters. Football comes second with 30%, while badminton ranks third at 20%. Thus, cricket leads football by ten percentage points and has twice as many supporters as badminton. Together, cricket and football account for 70% of all supporters shown.
Chess and golf have the smallest shares, with 5% each. Their combined share is 10%, which is half the share of badminton and one quarter of that of cricket. Badminton is therefore supported by four times as many people as either chess or golf.
Overall, the figures reveal a clear preference for cricket, followed by football and badminton. These three games together represent 90% of the supporters, whereas chess and golf make up the remaining 10%. Cricket is the most popular of the five games presented.
Say unto brethren when they see me dead,
And weep for me, lamenting me in sadness :
Think ye I am this corpse ye are to bury?
I swear by God, this dead one is not I.
I in the spirit am, and this my body
My dwelling was my garment for a time.
I am a treasure: hidden I was beneath
This talisman of dust, wherein I suffered.
I am a pearl; a shell imprisoned me,
But leaving it, all trials I have left.
I am a bird, and this was once my cage;
But I have flown, leaving it as a token.
I praise God who hath set me free, and made
For me a dwelling in the heavenly heights.
Ere now I was a dead man in your midst,
But I have come to life, and doffed my shroud.