HSC English 1st Paper Final Model Test 2018

                     HSC Final Model Test – 2018, English 1^st Paper

Time: 70 Minutes                                                             Full Marks: 60

                                 Part-A: Marks-60

1. Read the text and answer the following questions A and B.

One of the sources of water in our country are the rivers. Rivers are everywhere in our life, literature, economy and culture. But are the rivers in good shape? Unfortunately, they are not. A few are already dead and several are going through the pangs of death. The river Buriganga is an example of a dying river. A report published in the Daily Sun describes what has happened to the river Buriganga and why. It’s water is polluted and a perpetual stench fills the air around it. But that is not what it was like before. The report says that the river had a glorious past.

Once it was a tributary of the mighty Ganges and flowed into the Bay of Bengal through the river Dhaleshwari. Gradually, it lost its link with the Ganges and got the name Buriganga. The Mughals marveled at the tide level of the Buriganga and founded their capital Jahangirnagar on its banks in 1610. The river supplied drinking water and supported trade and commerce. Jahangirnagar was renamed Dhaka which grew into a heavily populated city with a chronic shortage of space. The city paid back the bounty of the river by sucking life out of it! According to newspaper report, the Buriganga is dying because of pollution. Huge quantities of toxic chemicals and wastes from mills and factories, hospitals and clinics and households and other establishments are dumped into the river every day. The city of Dhaka discharges about 4500 tons of solid waste every day and most of it is directly released into the Buriganga.

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

a) ‘Pangs of death’ refers to ——.

i) place of death ii) joys of living  iii) comforts of living   iv) verge of life

b) Buriganga amazed the Mughals ———-.

i) in 16^th century ii) in early 17^th century  iii) at the first decade of 17^th century  iv) in-between 16^th and 17^th century

c) At present ‘the life line of Dhaka’ is a source of———.

i) fresh air ii) pure water  iii) unbearable odour  iv) unpolluted air

d) Which one of the following statements is false? ————.

i) Rivers play a vital role in our life   ii) The sources of water are preserved well     iii) water pollution threatens life  iv) Humans are responsible for water pollution

e) The best way to save the river is ———.

i) introducing strict law ii) involving all concerned people iii) punishing polluters    iv) cleaning the river

b) Answer the following questions.                  1×5=05

a) How do rivers contribute to our life?

b) What is the present state of Buriganga?

c) In which way did the citizens express their gratitude towards the river?

d) Which era marked the glory of this river?

e) How do we feed the river every day?

2. Read the following text and make a flow chart showing the specialty of Gazi Pir. (No. 1 has been done for you)                                      2×5=10

According to some myths and legends, Gazi Pir was a Muslim saint who is said to have spread Islam in the parts of Bengal close to the Sunderbans. He was credited with many miracles. For example, he could supposedly calm dangerous animals and make them docile. He is usually depicted in paats or scroll paintings riding a fierce-looking Bengal tiger, a snake in his hand, but in no apparent danger. According to some stories, he also fought crocodiles who threatened the people of a region full of canals and creeks, indeed, a kind of watery jungle bordering the Bay of Bengal. Because of his alert and vigilant presence, all predatory animals were said to have been kept within bounds. It was also believed that he enabled villagers to live close to forests and jungles and cultivate their lands. Consequently, people of these regions would pray to him for protection. The story of Gazi Pir has been preserved in folk literature as well as art and has been performed in indigenous theatre. In fact, some Gazir paat scrolls are part of the collection of the British Museum.

 3. Write a summary of the following text.                                                          10

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 stop 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 but 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 not even sell one ice cream. In a way, I am lucky because I am alive. My friends who work sorting rubbish in dump often suffer from serious diseases. One of them was recently killed after he fell into a hole that opened up in the pile of trash. Many of us work for 10 to 12 hours, and get so little in return that we can’t even buy food.

4. 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.                       0.5×10=05

All species are very important for maintaining ecological balance. If one is lost, the whole natural environment gets (a) —-. We should therefore, (b) —- our wildlife to protect the environment from being (c) —-. Many countries are now taking action to protect their (d) —- wildlife. Mankind must develop a (e) —- for wild creatures and must ensure that they will not (f) —-. (g) —- wild creatures means destroying ourselves. It is high time we (h) —- them. Love for animals (i) —- love for (j) —-

5. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word in each gap.         1×10=10                                           Money is power and can do much good and evil. It gives (a) —– and delight. It (b) —– do everything. A person without (c) —– is a person to be pitied. Nobody pays (d) —— respect to him. His friends do not (e) —– him. He has to dependent on the (f) —– of others. In order to (g) —– money, he does a lot of jobs. It is a must (h) —– our life. But it does not necessarily (i) —– happiness. Happiness is absolutely a (j) —– matter.

6. Rearrange the following sentences to make coherent order.   1×10=10

a) Sa’di replied, “My dress deserves this food.”

b) He set out for the emperor’s palace in ordinary dress.

c) On the way, he took shelter in a courtier’s house but the courtier and his men did not show much honour and hospitality to him.

d) The courtier understood his fault and begged the poet’s pardon.

e) Once he was invited to the emperor’s palace.

f) On his way back home, Sa’di again took shelter in the same courtier’s house putting on gorgeous dress.

g) The courtier received him cordially and entertained him with rich and delicious foods.

h) Sheikh Sa’di great Persian poet was simple in his way of life.

i) Now, Sa’di began to put his food in the pockets of his dress.

j) Being surprised, they asked, “Why are you putting in your dress?”

                        Directed by

Mahbub Murad (Lecturer in English)

HSC Examiner (Dhaka Board)

Writer and Editor: Naba Puthighar Publication

Founder: Online Educare.com

Cell: 01761519111, fb/mmuraddu