May Day or International Workers' Day is observed on May 1 all over the world today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight-hour workday. It is a public holiday in almost all the countries of the world. Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the US, the workers in mills and factories had been working a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day.

On May 1st in 1886, inspired by the trade unions, half of the workers at the McCormick Harvester Machine Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Two days later, a workers' rally was held near the McCormick Harvester Machine Company and about 6000 workers' joined it. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. They urged the workers to stand together, to go on with their struggle and not to give in to their bosses. At one point of the rally, some strike breakers started leaving the meeting place. The strikers went down the street to bring them back. Suddenly about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers. One striker was killed instantly, five or six others were seriously wounded and many others were injured.

The events of May 1, 1886 are a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives.

1.

Choose the best answer from alternatives.

(a) May Day signifies -----.
(i) the observance of holiday (ii) the rights of working class people
(iii) the aggressiveness of the working class people (iv) the movement of the workers

(b) May Day is observed -----.
(i) in America and Europe (ii) in Asia and America
(iii) all over the world (iv) all the countries of Africa continent

(c) The phrase 'Stand together' means -----.
(i) to stand straight (ii) to be united (iii) to raise hands together (iv) to be powerful

(d) Which of the following best describes the workers before May 1st?
(i) Benefited (ii) Privileged (iii) Solvent (iv) Deprived

(e) What is the synonym of the word 'inspire'?
(i) Struggle (ii) Movement (iii) Strike (iv) Motivate

(f) Whom does trade union represent?
(i) Farmers (ii) Teachers (iii) Workers (iv) Businessman

(g) What did the workers want to establish?
(i) An eight-hour workday (ii) A fourteen hour workday
(iii) Both (i) and (ii) (iv) To make 'May Day' a public holiday

উত্তর

(a) (ii) the rights of working class people
(b) (iii) all over the world
(c) (ii) to be united
(d) (iv) Deprived
(e) (iv) Motivate
(f) (iii) Workers
(g) (i) An eight-hour workday

2.

Answer the following questions.

(a) Why is May Day observed today?
(b) When and where a rally was held?
(c) What was the demand of the strikers?
(d) What do the events of May 1, 1886 remind?
(e) What did the labour leaders call the workers to do? How were they involved in a clash?

উত্তর

(a) May Day is observed today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of working people for establishing an eight-hour workday.

(b) A rally was held on May 3, 1886 near the McCormick Harvester Machine Company in Chicago.

(c) The demand of the strikers was to establish an eight-hour workday.

(d) The events of May 1, 1886 remind us that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out for better working conditions, better pay and better lives.

(e) The labour leaders called the workers to stand together, continue their struggle and not give in to their bosses. They were involved in a clash when the strikers went to bring back some strike breakers and about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers.

3.

Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text.

Water pollution can occur in oceans, rivers, lakes, ponds and underground reservoirs. As different water sources flow together, the pollution can spread easily and quickly. Causes of water pollution include:

increased sediment from soil
erosion
improper waste disposal and littering
leakage of soil pollution into water supplies
organic materials that decay in water supplies
In fact, polluting the land means polluting the water. Throwing away a toxic substance on the ground near a water source means it eventually reaches the body of water. As a result, the water is polluted. Industrial wastes must not be disposed in rivers or lakes. We need to be more careful about disposing household wastes too. Use of pesticides means that when it rains, chemicals used in the lawn or garden wash into the water bodies. Therefore, we must be aware of the dangers of using pesticides as they may pollute our rivers, canals and lakes.

Water is all (a) ----- us. Everything on the planet needs water to survive. It is really (b) ----- to our lives. But water is being (c) ----- in different ways. People do unwise work and pollute water. To save ourselves we must take (d) ----- to stop water pollution. All walks of people should be careful about the use of water. We should not waste water too. All water (e) ----- are in the threat of pollution or already polluted.

উত্তর

(a) around (b) essential (c) polluted (d) steps (e) sources

SAARC is a regional organization for mutual co-operation, friendship and development. The full form of SAARC is "South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation". At the initial stage, there were only seven developing nations to form the organization. Later, Afghanistan was included as one of its member countries. SAARC started its journey through holding its first conference in Dhaka on 8 December 1985. At present, the member countries of this organization are Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The secretariat of this organization is situated in the capital of Nepal. Its head is called Secretary General. There is a deep relationship between Bangladesh and SAARC. It was Bangladesh that took the first initiative to form SAARC. As the initiator of SAARC, Bangladesh has been playing a significant and strong role in its different activities. As one of the member countries it has also been making every effort to expand the trade among the member countries and to solve the regional conflicts and existing crises among the neighboring countries.

4.

Complete the table below with information from the passage.

Aim	Mutual co-operation
Time	Officially started (i) -----
Who/What	Event/Activity
Bangladesh	(ii) -----
Secretariat	situated
(iv) -----	included as the last member country
(v) -----	is trying to expand trade in South Asia

উত্তর

No.	Information
(i)	on 8 December 1985
(ii)	hosted the first SAARC conference
(iii)	in the capital of Nepal
(iv)	Afghanistan
(v)	Bangladesh

Dinajpur Board 2025

Unlock Dinajpur Board 2025