সহকারী প্রধান শিক্ষক, ইংলিশ ভার্সন, মতিঝিল মডেল স্কুল অ্যান্ড কলেজ, ঢাকা

Time: 2 hours Full Marks: 50

Part A: Reading Test (30 Marks)

Read the passage. Then answer the question no. 1 and 2:

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 McComick Harvest Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight hour workday. Two days later, a workers’ rally was held near the McComic Harvest Compamy and about 6000 workers had 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. Just at this moment 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 were badly injured. The events of May 1, 1886 is 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 correct answer from the alternatives. 1×5=5

a. Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘commemorate’?

(i) forget

(ii) disrespect

(iii) dishonour

(iv) remember an event

b. Which of the following best describes the workers before May 1st?

(i) benefited (ii) privileged

(iii) solvent (iv) deprived

c. What does the phrase ‘give in’ in the 7th sentence mean?

(i) distribute (ii) surrender

(iii) complete (iv) give away

d. What does the expression ‘one striker was killed instantly’ mean?

(i) for instance, one striker died

(ii) one striker died in the hospital

(iii) one striker died on the spot

(iv) one striker died later on

e. Which of the following statement is true about the workers of McComic Harvest company?

(i) they were modest

(ii) they raised their voice against deprivation

(iii) they withstood everything

(iv) they were careless of everything

2. Answer the following questions. 2×4=8

a. Why is May 1st called International Workers Day?

b. Why did the police fire at the crowd?

c. What was the demand of the workers?

d. What happened after the firing?

Read the following text carefully and answer the question no. 3 and 4

Partha Pratim Majumder was born in 1954 in Pabna to a family of artists. He spent most of his early years in his ancestral home, one of the biggest house situated in a small locality known as Kalachandpara. At that time it was well-known for its cultural activities. There were festivals and various types of cultural shows round the year. His father, a photographer by profession was an art lover. He taught and inspired his son to appreciate different forms of art.

Majumder went to live with aunt in Chandernagar, 30 kilometres away from Kolkata in 1966. It was there that he first came across a mime artist named Jogesh Dutta. The way Dutta narrated stories without uttering a single word left Majumder spell bound. He took lesson on mime from Dutta in Jogesh Dutta mime academy in Kolkata from 1966 to 1972.

3. Fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information from the text. .5×10=5

Partha Pratim Majumder was born into a family of (a) ---Performers. His birthplace was full of (b) ---. His father was also (c) ---minded. His father (d) ---all he could for his son. In 1966, Majumder was (e) ---to Chandernagar (f) ---was 30 km away from Kolkata. There he (g) ---a mime artist Jogesh Dutta (h) ---name. He (i) ---Majumder mime. Majumder took formal lessons on mime while (j) ---in Kolkata from 1966 to 1972.

4. Match the parts of sentences given in column ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ to write four complete sentences. 1×4 = 4

Read the following text carefully and answer the question no. 5 and 6.

Zainul Abedin was born in Kishoreganj on 29 December, 1914. He spent most of his childhood near the scenic bank of the Brahmaputra River. The river and the open nature inspired him from his early life. The Brahmaputra later appeared in many of his paintings and remained a great source of inspiration throughout his career. As his tribute to the river Bhahmaputra, he drwe a series of water colour painting in this regard. This helped him earn Governor’s Gold Medal in All India Exhibition in 1938. This was the first time when he came under spotlight and this award gave Abedin the confidence to create his own visual style. Abedin got admitted to the government school of Art in Calcutta (Now Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, India). Here he learned European academic style for five years. Later he joined the faculty of the same school after his graduation. He was the first Muslim student to obtain ‘First class’ with distinction from the school. In 1951, Zainul went to London to study at Slade School of Art for two years.

5. Complete the table below with information from the passage. 0.5×6=3

6. Write a summary of the above passage in your own words.

Part-B: Writing Test (20 Mark)

7. Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on ‘Tree Plantation’. 8

(a) What do trees do for us?

(b) What will happen if there will be no trees?

(c) What is the effect of the loss of trees?

(d) What should we do to save mankind?

(e) How can we make the earth more green?

Suppose, you are Halim/Halima. You have a friend called Rahim/Rahima. Now, write an e-mail to your friend telling him/her about your plan after SSC Exam. 7

8. Suppose, you are Salam and your friend is Salma. Now, write a dialogue between you and your friend about the benefits of early rising. 5

Answers

Multiple choice:

(a) (iv) remember an event

(b) (iv) deprived

(c) (ii) surrender

(d) (iii) one striker died on the spot

(e) (ii) they raised their voice against deprivation

2. Open-ended:

(a) May 1st is called International Workers’ Day because on that day in 1886 the valiant workers laid down their lives to establish the rights of the workers.

(b) The police fired at the crowd to stop their movement.

(c) The demand of the workers was an eight-hour workday.

(d) After the firing, one striker was found dead, five or six others were seriously wounded. Consequently, the authority was bound to meet the demand of the workers.

3. Filling in the gaps without clues:

(a) cultural (b) festivals (c) cultural (d) did (e) sent (f) which (g) came across (h) by (i) taught (j) staying

4. Matching:

(a) Partha Pratim Majumder, a great mime artist was born in 1954 in Pabna.

(b) His father, a photographer by profession had a great love for art and so he inspired his son.

(c) Partha came across Jogesh Dutta, a mime artist in Chandernagar, 30 kilometer, away from Kolkata.

(d) Jogesh Dutta taught him on mime in his mime academy in Kolkata from 1966 to 1972.

5. Information transfer:

(a) Kishoreganj (ii) 29 December, 1914 (iii) Governor’s Gold Medal in All India Exhibition (iv) for five yers (v) ‘First class’ with distinction (vi) in 1951

6. Summarising:

Zainul Abedin was born in Kishoreganj in 1914. As he spent most of his childhood near the Brahmaputra river, its scenic bank and open nature inspired him throughout his career. His tribute to Brahmaputra in his painting earned him Governor’s Gold Medal in All India Exhibition. He got confidence and went to the Art School in Kolkata. There he learned European style and after graduation joined the school as a teacher. He was the first Muslim student to obtain First class with distinction.