HSC Model question First paper

Model Question 1

Unit 1, lesson 1

Part-I: Reading Test (Marks 60)

Read the story and answer the following questions:

The parrot's Tale

by Robindranath Tagore

Once upon a time there lived a bird. It was unlettered. It sang but couldn't recite a word of scripture. It hopped and it flew but lacked all sense of manners.

The King said, "Such a bird is of no use. Yet it devours fruit from the forest, bringing down the profits of fruiterers in the royal market."

He summoned the Minister and commanded, "Educate the bird!"

The task of educating the bird fell on the King's nephews, his sisters' sons.

The learned men of the court deliberated long. They pondered the reasons behind the ignorance of the creature in question. The conclusion: the bird's nest made of straw and twigs could not hold much knowledge. Therefore, the first thing needed was a proper cage.

The royal scholars received handsome fees and happily went home

A goldsmith set to work on a gilded cage. It turned out to be of such exquisite workmanship that people from far and near crowded round for a look. Some said, "This is education par excellence." Others said, "Even if it learns nothing, it has got the cage. What a lucky bird."

The goldsmith was delighted to get a bagful of money as reward and went home at once.

A teacher came to give lessons to the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and declared, "This isn't a matter of just a few texts."

One of the royal nephews sent for scribes. They made multiple copies of various texts until there was a veritable mountain. "Bravo!" exclaimed those who saw it, "There is no room for any more knowledge."

་་

The scribes loaded their wages onto bullocks and merrily headed home. They would never again want for anything. The nephews were constantly busy looking after the expensive cage. Repairs were always under way. Anyone who saw the endless dusting, wiping and polishing had to agree that there was "marked improvement"

A large maintainence crew was needed, and more personnel to supervise them. They all got handsome monthly salaries, which they saved in their wooden chests. Even their cousins came to live with them in cushioned comfort. The world is short of many things but not detractors. They said, "The cage looks better no doubt, but has anyone taken notice of the bird?"

This was reported to the King. He said to a nephew, "What's this I hear?"

"Your Majesty," replied the nephew, "If you wish to hear the truth summon the goldsmiths, the scholars, the scribes, the maintenance crew and their supervisors. Those who haven't got a share of the royal bounty are resorting to slander."

Everything became clear to the King and he rewarded his nephew with a gold chain.

1. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:

(a) The bird did not have any -

(i) knowledge (ii) education (iii) sense (iv) power

(b) "Such a bird is of no use." What does the statement express?

(i) The bird is useful. (ii) The bird is foolish. (iii) The bird is good for nothing. (iv) The bird is illiterate.

(i) dismiss (ii) break up (iii) beckon

(iv) call

(d) The phrase 'far and near' means -:

(i) beside (ii) upwards (iii) downwards

(iv) everywhere

(e) How was the cage of the bird?

(i) Fine (ii) Dull (iii) Interesting (iv) Ugly

(f) The bird was -

(i) educated (ii) illiterate (iii) wise (iv) fool

(g) 'Scripture' denotes

(i) fundamental teachings of religion

(ii) fundamental teachings of society

(iii) fundamental teachings of policy

(iv) fundamental teachings of education

(h) The bird did not have any -

(i) house (ii) rest (iii) nest (iv) manners

(i) What is the opposite meaning of the phrase 'bring down'?

(i) hold up (ii) hold on (iii) hold by (iv) hold of

(j) The word 'fruiterer' is related to fruit-

(i) eater (ii) damager (iii) buyer (iv) seller

(k) Who got the responsibility of educating the bird?

(i) The King (ii) The ministers (iii) The King's nephews (iv) The Minister's nephew

(l) Bird's nest is made of-

(i) straw (ii) twig (iii) straw and twig (iv) taste

(m) Why did the scholars get fees?

(i) For good advice (ii) For good food

(iii) For good bird (iv) For ignorance

(n) Who went home happily?

(i) The nephews of king (ii) The Minister (iii) The Royal Scholars (iv) All present in the court

(o) The word 'lack' is connected to-

(i) luck (ii) deficiency

(iii) many (iv) less

(p) The word 'unlettered' means

(i) illiterate (ii) literate

(iii) made of letters (iv) of letters

(q) The word 'recite' is associated with-.

(i) tell (ii) say

(iii) recur (iv) provide

(r) The word deliberate is a/an

(i) verb (ii) adjective

(iii) noun (iv) i and ii

(s) The word 'devour' is linked with -.

(i) swallow (ii) eat

(iii) drink (iv) punch

(t) The word 'ponder' denotes to-

(i) wait (ii) drive (iii) lead (iv) think

(u) The word 'twig' stands for-

(i) leaf (ii) branch (iii) tree (iv) wood

(v) The word 'gilded' stands for-

(i) silvered (ii) coppered (iii) bronzed (iv) golden

(w) The word 'exquisite' means—.

(i) fine (ii) ugly (iii) dull (iv) expert

(x) The word 'scribe' implies--

(i) reader (ii) painter (iii) listener (iv) writer

(y) What is the opposite word of 'veritable'?

(i) right (ii) actual (iii) correct (iv) false

(z) The word 'expensive' implies -. (i) cheap (ii) empty

(iii) costly (iv) good

(za) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'unletterd'

(i) simple (ii) uninformed

(iii) untrained (iv) under nourished

(zb) The word 'devour' in the second paragraph means

(i) destroy (ii) consume

(iii) demolish (iv) catch

(zc) Which of the following statement(s) is not true about the King?

(i) The King was a wise man. (ii) The King was a wealthy man. (iii) The King spent a lot of money to educate the bird. (iv) The King had rewarded his nephew with a gold chain.

B. Answer the following questions: 2 x 5 = 10

(a) How was the bird according to the first para?

(b) Whom did the king summon and why?

(d) Evaluate the work of goldsmith. Why was he delighted?

(e) What do you mean by scribe and his function according to the story?

(f) What did the king say about the bird?

(g) Who were given monthly salaries? Where did they keep them?

(h) From the reading of the text, how would you define the character of the King?

(i) Why did the King want to educate the bird? Answer in 2/3 sentences.

(j) What made the royal scholars happy?

2. Based on your reading of the passage write short notes in each of the boxes in the flow chart showing the characteristics of the bird. (No. 1 has been done for you)

1.couldn't read or write

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3. Summarize the text below. 1 x 10 = 10

A teacher came to give lessons to the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and declared, "This isn't a matter of just a mountain. "Bravo!" exclaimed those who saw it, "There is no room for any more knowledge." One of the royal nephews sent for scribes. They made multiple copies of various texts until there was a veritable

The scribes loaded their wages onto bullocks and merrily headed home. They would never again want for The nephews were constantly busy looking after the expensive cage. Repairs were always under way. Anyone A large maintainence crew was needed, and more personnel to supervise them. They all got handsome monthly salaries, which they saved in their wooden chests. Even their cousins came to live with them in cushioned

comfort.

The world is short of many things but not detractors. They said, "The cage looks better no doubt, but has anyone

taken notice of the bird?"

This was reported to the King. He said to a nephew, "What's this I hear?"

resorting to slander."

Everything became clear to the King and he rewarded his nephew with a gold chain.

The goldsmith was delighted to get a bagful of money as reward and went home at once.

A teacher came to give lessons to the bird. He took a pinch of snuff and declared, "This isn't a matter of just a few texts."

The scribes loaded their wages onto bullocks and merrily headed home. They would never again want for anything

The nephews were constantly busy looking after the expensive cage. Repairs were always under way. Anyone who saw the endless dusting, wiping and polishing had to agree that there was "marked improvement".

A large maintenance crew was needed, and more personnel to supervise them. They all got handsome monthly salaries, which they saved in their wooden chests. Even their cousins came to live with them in cushioned comfort.

Bound each to each by natural piety. [Unit-10; Lesson-5(A)] Read the following text and fill in the blanks with suitable word from the box. There are more words

than needed. Make any grammatical change if necessary:

provide worship

interesting

season

importance. doing

enthusiast habitat

factors extinction

0.5 × 10=5 calm change

requiring ecology Bird-watching has been a favourite pastime for many nature-lovers. In the past, some birds (a)- as messengers of the gods. Bird-watching these days (b) for the fun of finding out more about our feathered friends. In recent years, birds have become the barometers of (c) changes around us. Bird-watchers have made (d) contributions towards (e) — information about which birds have vanished from which areas or become (f) altogether. They even are trying to find out the (g) which are having bad effects on their (h) - Bird- watching (i) - a lot of perseverance and might cover days, months through summer of winter, heat or rain to observe (j) habits of birds.

5. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word in each gap:

1 x 10=10

Most of the Bangladeshis (a) that our motherland (b) in the active earthquake zone. Experts are alarmed by the recurrence of the (c) in the recent years. But they do not give any direct answer to the question (d) the (e) of the building in Dhaka city. As there is every (f) of earthquakes in Bangladesh, experts (g) - for taking adequate precautionary (h) to reduce the losses. RAJUK opines that an earthquake (i)- code should be (j) to avoid natural disaster.

6. The following sentences are jumbled. Rearrange them in proper sequence:

(a) The first friend climbed up a tree.

(b) Suddenly a bear came there.

(d) The latter could not climb up a tree.

(e) They were talking about their love for each other.

(f) He did not find any way.

(g) The bear smelt his ears, nose and face.

(h) He lay down on the ground and feigned dead.

(i) Then the bear went away.

(j) He thought him to be dead.

building

Model Question

Read the passage and answer the questions 1 and 2.

Nelson Mandela guided South Africa from the shackles of apartheid to a multi-racial democracy, as an icon of peace and reconciliation who came to embody the struggle for justice around the world.

Imprisoned for nearly three decades for his fight against white minority rule, Mandela never lost his resolve to fight for his people’s emancipation. He was determined to bring down apartheid while avoiding a civil war. His prestige and charisma helped him win the support of the world.

“I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations. I have fought it all during my life; I will fight it now, and will do so until the end of my days, “Mandela said in his acceptance speech on becoming South Africa’s first black president in 1994, The time for the healing of the wounds has come. The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come.” “We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. ”

In 1993, Mandela was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor he shared with F.W. de Klerk, the white African leader who had freed him from prison three years earlier and negotiated the end of apartheid.

Mandela went on to play a prominent role on the world stage as an advocate of human dignity in the face of challenges ranging from political repression to AIDS.

He formally left public life in June 2004 before his 86th birthday, telling his adoring countrymen: “ Don't call me. I’ll call you.” But he remained one of the world’s most revered public figures, combining celebrity sparkle with an unwavering message of freedom, respect and human rights. “He is at the epicenter of our time, ours in South Africa, and yours, wherever you are,” Nadine Gordimer, the South African writer and Nobel Laureate for Literature, once remarked.

1. A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. .5×10 =5

i. The word ‘shackles’ refers to-

(a) Right (b) sorrow (c) tie (d) chains

ii. Mandela fought throughout his life for __________.

(a) human blood (b) water (c) justice (d) apartheid

iii. Mandela hated race discrimination------------------.

(a) slightly (b) profoundly (c) not at all (d) none

iv. The word ‘charisma’ means_________.

(a) attractiveness (b) depression (c) torment (d) all

v. ‘chasm’ means-

(a) aggression (b) ache (c) plain (d) breach

vi. Mandela was imprisoned for __________.

(a) struggling (b) fighting (c) rebelling (d) opposing

vii. The word ‘manifestation’ suggests_________.

(a) look (b) form (c) presentation (d) set up

viii. F.W. de Klerk ______ Mandela come out of prison 3 years earlier.

(a) helped (b) help (c) hinder (d) hindered

ix. Mandela was awarded Nobel prize for _____________.

(a) literature (b) peace (c) economics (d) scientific invention

x. The word ‘epicenter’ refers to ______________.

(a) rood (b) rout (c) profound (d) pivot

B. Answer the following questions. 3×5=15 (a) What was Mandela’s mission?

(b) How did he achieve his goal?

(d) Why did he stand against white minority rule?

(e) What was he awarded the Nobel prize for?

2. Read the passage and complete the table below with the given information. 1×5 =05

The streets are now my home. Sometimes I find work. I used to collect trash and sell it to a vendor. I stopped doing that after I had a serious infection and a doctor told me to stay away from the trash dump. Once I worked for an ice cream shop owner and sold ice cream on the beach. But I got no money in return. The owner of the shop gave me something to eat, and let me sleep in his hut at night. The work was difficult and painful. The ice cream box is quite heavy when it is full. I had to walk for hours, offering my ice cream to whoever wanted to buy. There were days when I could even sell one ice cream.

1.Homeless

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3. Write a summary of the following text. 10

Education aims to bring about positive changes in our behavior. It helps us try to change our lives as well as the society we live in. Education that does not illuminate our minds or does not inspire us to work for the community is not complete at all. Education is not all about getting grades or receiving certificates- we use education to make life better. We are expected to apply the knowledge, skills and values that we learn in a classroom in our engagement with the world that lies outside. And we can do so in many different ways. Let's have a look at how education works.

Learner’ civic engagement is highly appreciated all over the world. Civic engagement means working to make a difference in.the civic life (the public life of the citizens as contrasted with private or personal life) of the community using knowledge, skills, values and motivation. Civic engagement promotes the quality of life in a community by contributing to the improvement of health and wellbeing of the people.

Civically engaged individuals recognize, themselves as members of a larger social community and are concerned about civic issues. They consider themselves responsible citizens who take action or raise their voices against injustice, discriminations and other forms of social ills.

4. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with suitable word from the box. There are more words than needed. 0.5×10=5

resources	potential	create	for	girls	likely
fail	have	returns	achievement	success	from

Investment in education (a) _____ girls increases the economic and social (b) _____of development investment in all other sectors. Educating girls contributes to (c) _____ wealth through its impact on economic development. Educated women have a higher income (d) _____. They are more (e) ______ to send both their boys and (f) _____ to school. It is important to realize that (g) _____ in girl’s education generally results (h) _____ an integrated approach to community development. Thus (i) _____ to educate girls results in a tremendous waste or potential human (j) _____.

5. Fill in the gaps with suitable words. 10×1=10

From the moment, we are born we cannot (a) _____alone. We are always in (b) _____ of assistance of (c) _____ others around us. We need clothes, which others (d) _____; houses, which others (e) _____ and food, which others (f) _____. We have to earn our livelihood by (g) _____ for others, while they get their livelihood by working for us. we need our parents to be our comforters, and to take (h) _____ of us. in body and (i) _____. As we grow up, we need the care of others; we cannot exist a day (j) _____ our fellowmen.

6. Rearrange the following sentences to make a coherent order. 10

(i) He is a rebel poet and our national poet.

(ii) He lost his father in his childhood.

(iii) So He drew the attention of the public.

(iv) He was called Dukhu Mia for his sorrow.

(v) Nazrul Islam was born on the 20th May,1899 in Burdwan.

(vi) As a result his mother fell in great financial problem.

(vii) You will have heard the name of Kazi Narul Islam.

(viii) He spent his early life in great hardship.

(ix) One day this Dukhu Mia became a great poet.

(x) He could sing, dance and compose verses even in his childhood.

PART-B

8. The graph below shows the choice of profession by educated youths in Bangladesh. Describe the graph in at least 80 words. You should highlight the information and report the main features given in the graph. 15

9. The following is the beginning of a story. Complete it in your own words. 15

Once there was a farmer in a village. He was very idle ----

10. Write an email to your younger brother telling him about the importance of outdoor games and sports. 10

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