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 properly. 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 the 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.
(b) (iii) To describe the impact of river erosion
(c) (iv) River erosion
(d) (i) solvent
(e) (iii) devoured
(f) (iii) one
(g) (iii) shattered
(a) Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection Embankment. She lives there because river erosion has taken away her home and property.
(b) Before the erosion made her destitute, Meherjan had a family, arable land and cattle.
(c) Within a day, the river took away Meherjan's house, trees, vegetable garden and bamboo bush.
(d) People living near big rivers meet the same fate as Meherjan when river banks overflow or erode during the monsoon. Many villages are threatened by mighty rivers like the Jamuna, the Padma and the Meghna.
(e) We should take prompt actions to adapt to climate change because river erosion is one of its main dangers. Without quick action, thousands more people may become homeless like Meherjan every year.
(b) Jamuna
(c) bamboo bush
(d) diseases
(e) with
| No. | Answer |
|---|---|
| (i) | Ayrshire, Scotland |
| (ii) | London |
| (iii) | assisted in battlefield hospitals and observed people dying of infection |
| (iv) | a drug used to kill bacteria |
| (v) | 1955 |
(a) Drug leads a man to death.
(b) When there is no hope left for the young people, they get addicted to drug.
(c) The frequent taking of drugs damages brain.
(d) The effect of drug is very poisonous.
(e) Drug problem is acute in Bangladesh.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| e | d | f | c | h | a | b | g |
(a) The fisherman thought that Mary's golden hair looked beautiful and bright even after she was found dead by the sea.
(b) The poet uses the same questions again and again to express his deep confusion, frustration and search for the meaning of life.
(c) A book is called 'a magic box' because it can open a wonderful world of stories, knowledge, imagination and adventure to the reader.
(d) The two mothers are dissimilar because one is the poet's own mother and the other is her mother-in-law. They are different persons, but both are remembered with deep love and respect.
(e) The poet portrays time as an old gipsy traveller who keeps moving from place to place and never stops for anyone.
(f) By "The woods are lovely, dark and deep," the poet means that the woods are beautiful, mysterious and attractive in the quiet snowy evening.
(g) The poet stopped by the woods because he was charmed by their silent beauty, though it was dark and he was alone.
(h) In 'Solitude', "halls of pleasure" means places of joy, comfort and celebration where people gather when life is happy.
(a) Antonio's life was saved by Portia. Disguised as a lawyer, she proved that Shylock could take a pound of flesh but could not shed a drop of Antonio's blood.
(b) After choosing the gold casket, the prince of Morocco learned that outward show can be deceptive and that one should not judge things by appearance.
(c) The moral of "The Purple Jar" is that we should judge a thing by its usefulness, not merely by its attractive appearance.
(d) Rosamond thought the jar was purple because it was filled with purple liquid. She was deceived by its colour and did not examine it properly.
(e) Before the storm began in "The Wheel of Cyclone", the atmosphere was calm, heavy and unusual. The sky and air gave signs of a coming disaster.
(f) One Monday after supper, Ameen announces that he wants to leave his job and go back to his village.
(g) Mrs. Mallard whispered "free, free, free!" because she realised that her husband's death would give her personal freedom and an independent life.
(h) Mrs. Mallard's physical appearance suggested that she was young, fair and calm, but also thoughtful and emotionally sensitive.
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Motin is a poor farmer living in a village. His wife Dilara is an honest and pious woman. They have old parents and two school-going children living with them. So, they had to maintain the family with great difficulty. One day Dilara bought a lottery ticket and kept it in her bag. When the draw took place, she found that she had won the first prize of ten lakh taka.
At first, Dilara could hardly believe it. She showed the ticket to her husband. Motin was also surprised and happy. Their neighbours advised them to spend the money on a new house, land and ornaments. But Dilara said, "We should use this money wisely and honestly. Allah has given us a chance to change our life."
Motin agreed with his wife. They went to the lottery office and received the prize money legally. Then they repaid their old debts and admitted their children to a better school. They also repaired their small house and bought two cows so that the family could earn regularly.
One day Dilara found that the shopkeeper had returned five thousand taka extra by mistake. Motin wanted to keep silent, but Dilara immediately returned the money. The shopkeeper was moved by her honesty and blessed the family.
From then on, Motin and Dilara lived a modest but happy life. They understood that sudden money can bring comfort, but honesty brings real peace and honour.
Abir: Hello, Bablu. How are you?
Bablu: I am fine, Abir. What about you?
Abir: I am fine too. But I am worried about you.
Bablu: Why are you worried?
Abir: You were a good student, but now you are very inattentive to your studies. You spend too much time playing online games on your smartphone.
Bablu: I know, but online games are very entertaining.
Abir: Entertainment is necessary, but too much gaming wastes time and harms concentration. It can also affect your eyes, sleep and studies.
Bablu: You are right. But a smartphone has many good uses too.
Abir: Of course. We can use it for online classes, educational videos, dictionaries, news, communication and learning new skills.
Bablu: I also use it to collect notes and contact teachers sometimes.
Abir: That is good. But you should make a routine. Use the smartphone for study first, and play games only for a short time after finishing your lessons.
Bablu: I understand. I will reduce gaming and use my phone properly.
Abir: That is a wise decision. A smartphone is helpful when we control it, but harmful when it controls us.
Bablu: Thank you, Abir. I will be more careful from today.
Abir: You are welcome, my friend.