Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life.
Not long ago Meherjan had everything- a family, arable land and cattle. The erosion of the Jamuna gradually consumed all her land property. It finally claimed her only shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to devour Meher's house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush. She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought to the family. Now, she is the only one left to live on with the loss and pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered her dreams and happiness.
There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate like Meherjan. Bangladesh is a land of rivers. Some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. Erosion is a harsh reality for the people living along the river banks. During each monsoon many more villages are threatened by the mighty rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna. It is estimated that river erosion makes at least 100,000 people homeless every year in Bangladesh. In fact, river erosion is one of the main dangers caused by climate change. If we can't take prompt actions to adapt to climate change, there will be thousands of more Meherjans in our towns and villages every year.
- Choose the best answer from the alternatives : 1 x 10 = 10
(a) Meherjan is living ------ in her makeshift house now.
(i) with her relatives (ii) with her husband (iii) with her family (iv) alone
(b) Before the erosion of river, she was ------.
(i) healthy (ii) wealthy (iii) unhappy (iv) sad
(c) What does the word 'demolish' mean?
(i) Build (ii) Preserve (iii) Destroy (iv) Support
(d) What is the dangerous result of climate change?
(i) Cruel hunger (ii) River erosion
(iii) Landed property (iv) The course of nature
(e) River erosion has -----.
(i) cruel impact on people (ii) benefits
(iii) natural advantages (iv) adverse effect on wildlife.
(f) Meherjan was homeless because of -----.
(i) the erosion of the Jamuna (ii) selling of the house
(iii) destruction of her house (iv) flood
(g) What is the main purpose of the author of the passage?
(i) To explain the importance of river. (ii) To describe the impact of monsoon.
(iii) To describe the effect of river erosion. (iv) To describe the fate of woman.
(h) What does the word 'roar' mean?
(i) Smile (ii) Cry
(iii) Moan (iv) To make loud deep harsh sound
(i) Which one is the true cause of river erosion?
(i) Monsoon (ii) Temperature rise (iii) Climate change (iv) River pollution
(j) The word 'Shattered' means -----.
(i) faced (ii) exterminated (iii) impoverished (iv) confronted
(b) (ii) wealthy
(c) (iii) Destroy
(d) (ii) River erosion
(e) (i) cruel impact on people
(f) (i) the erosion of the Jamuna
(g) (iii) To describe the effect of river erosion.
(h) (iv) To make loud deep harsh sound
(i) (iii) Climate change
(j) (ii) exterminated