1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B.
Migration from Bangladesh to Britain started in 1930s and was predominantly a Sylheti phenomenon. Men of this particular geographical area employed by the British ship companies first started the process of migration. These men were largely illiterate and belonged to the landless peasantry.
After the World War II, due to labor shortages, British government encouraged labor migration from its former colonies. The post-war British economy demanded cheap and plentiful labor, much of which was recruited from South Asia. Since Sylhet had already forged a strong link with the UK, most new labour was drawn from there. Sylhetis, based in the UK, helped each other to integrate into the new society by providing credit, arranging documents, and gradually spreading the network.
During the 1950s, the numbers increased dramatically. However, along with people from poorer backgrounds, a small number of urban upper and middle class Bangladeshis also migrated even before the World War II for higher education and settled in the UK.
According to the 2001 census, 2,83,063 Bangladeshis lived in the UK, which is 0.5 percent of the total population. In Britain, they are primarily concentrated in Greater London and the third generation of Bangladeshi population, those ‘born and bred’ in Britain, constitute half of the community.
The largest Bangladeshi population outside London is located in Oldham, and the others are scattered across Birmingham, Luton and Bradford. British Bangladeshis are predominantly Muslims. Studies reveal that the second and the third generation Bangladeshis seem to uphold their Muslim identity rather than their identity as Bangladeshis.
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives.
(a) What does the word ‘peasantry’ in the passage refer to?
(i) agricultural worker (ii) stout (iii) protester (iv) mentor
(b) “Born and bred” in the second paragraph refers to ——.
(i) where one forced to live
(ii) migrated people given chance to live
(iii) where one’s birth and childhood took place
(iv) ii & iii
(c) What does the word ‘integrate’ mean in the text?
(i) assimilate (ii) reveal (iii) scatter (iv) without doubt
(d) What is the correct verb of ‘colony’?
(i) colonize (ii) encolonize (iii) discolonize (iv) emcolonize
(e) What is the main idea of the passage?
(i) to highlight the bad effect of migration
(ii) to expose about how migrated people becomes a leading factor
(iii) to discuss about the Sylheti-migrated people only
(iv) to show the process of migration
B. Answer the following questions.
(a) When did migration start from Bangladesh? And why?
(b) Why did the British Government encourage labour migration?
(c) Which part of the states outside London belonged to Bangladeshi population?
(d) Why do the third generation Bangladeshis prefer Muslim to be identified rather than to be identified as Bangladeshi? Explain your opinion?
(e) What are the major contributions by Sylhetis to make a network among the migrated people?
3. Summarize the following text. [Unit–6; Lesson–1(2)]
A most important truth, which we are apt to forget, is that a teacher can never truly teach unless he is still learning himself. A lamp can never light another lamp unless it continues to burn its own flame. The teacher who has come to the end of his subject, who has no living traffic with his knowledge, but merely repeats his lessons to his students, can only load their minds; he cannot quicken them. Truth not only must inform but inspire. If the inspiration dies out, and the information only accumulates, then truth loses its infinity. The greater part of our learning in the school has been waste because, for most of our teacher, their subjects are like dead specimens of once living things, with which they have a learned acquaintance, but no communication of life and love.
5. Fill in the gaps using suitable words.
Kuakata is one of the (a) —— spots which allows a (b) —— to watch both the sunrise and the (c) —— from the beach. That perhaps makes Kuakata one of the (d) —— most attractive beaches. The long and (e) —— beach at Kuakata has a typical (f) —— setting. This sandy beach slops (g) —— into the Bay and bathing there is as (h) —— as is swimming or diving. Kuakata is (i) —— a virgin beach and a (j) —— for migratory winter birds.
6. Rearrange the following sentences to make a coherent order.
(a) When anyone came in, he quickly hid his pipe.
(b) So, the man brought some water and threw it over Raleigh.
(c) One day, he was not quick enough.
(d) Sir Walter Raleigh travelled widely, learnt to smoke and returned to England.
(e) A man came in and found clouds of smoke in the room.
(f) He used to smoke two pipes everyday secretly in his room.
(g) He thought Raleigh was burning.
(h) He also noticed that more smoke was coming from Raleigh’s mouth.
(i) After this smoke was not a secret.
(j) He ran out of the house and told everybody about it.
Part II : Writing (40 Marks)
7. Write a paragraph on ‘Folk Music’ in about 200 words on the basis of answers to the following questions.
(a) What is folk music?
(b) What are the components of folk music?
(c) Why is not folk music sophisticated?
(d) Who are the contributors of folk music in Bangladesh?
(e) What kind of role does folk music play in our social and cultural life?
8. The following is the beginning of a story. Complete it in your own words.
Long ago, there lived a hare in a forest. He could run fast. He would always take pride in his speed……………………..
11. Write down the theme of the following poem. [Unit–7; Lesson–5(2)]
“Don’t let him cut my hand off –-
The doctor, when he comes. Don’t let him, sister!”
So. But the hand was gone already.
The doctor put him in the dark of ether.
He lay and puffed his lips out with his breath.
And then the watcher at his pulse took fright.
No one believed. They listened at his heart.
Little-less-nothing! – and that ended it.
No more to build on there. And they, since they
Were not the one dead, turned to their affairs.
