JSC Model Test 2017
English 1st Paper
Full Marks: 100 Time: 2:30 Hours
Reading Text (Seen Passage)
Read the following passage and answer the questions 1, 2 and 3
Communication of ideas is at the centre of civilization. It needs written records. Most of our records in the modern age are on paper. Though writing was invented very early, paper is a more modern invention.
For long in history, people transferred ideas through speaking and listening. Then there came the art of writing. But to record thoughts in writing was difficult. Writing material was not available. People used surface of stone, metal, wood, bark, leaves, etc. for writing. Those things were not easy to carry. Then for ages, people looked for easy writing materials. Finally, Paper was invented in China in 105 AD. Before paper age, knowledge was very restricted. Can you think of that time? There were very few books in the world. Maybe, they were written on stone or on heavy wood plunks or on metal sheets. Suppose, one page was a heavy stone block. So think of a hundred page book! In our age, you can carry the entire world of knowledge in digital form in your laptop bag. You can even carry a huge volume of paper encyclopedia. But who could produce and carry tons of heavy stone books and documents in those paperless days? In fact, paper has made publication and the spread of knowledge and information easy. So you can see how paper has changed our life.
Guess the meaning of the following words and choose the correct meaning closest to the text. 1×5=5
a) difficult
i) smooth ii) tough iii) easy iv) gloomy
b) record
i) account ii) chart iii) document iv) scarcity
c) heavy
i) bulky ii) glow iii) thin iv) tough
d) spread
i) shrink ii) folding iii) enlarge iv) break
e) change
i) alteration ii) same iii) similar iv) combat
2. Answer the following questions. 2×5=10
a) What is at the center of civilization?
b) Where was paper first invented and when?
c) How did people transfer ideas before writing was invented?
d) When was knowledge very restricted?
e) Why was knowledge very restricted before paper age?
3. Summarize the text in section A in your own words (around 85 words) 10
Read the following text carefully and answer questions 4 and 5
John Milton is the greatest poet after Shakespeare. John Milton was born in London in Bread Street on the 9th December, 1608. He received early education at home under private tutors and was then admitted to St. Paul’s school, perhaps in 1620. At school he studied Latin and Greek beside his subject. In 1625 he matriculated at Christ’s College Cambridge. He obtained B.A. Degree in 1629 and his M.A. in 1632 at the same university. Early in 1628 he wrote the earliest of his English poems “On the death of a Fair Infant.” His great poem in English was “On the death of Christ’s Nativity” was probably written in the long vacation of 1631. After taking his M.A. degree, Milton went to stay at his father’s country house at Horton. In 1637 his mother died and he set out on the continental tour of Europe in 1638. In April of this year he reached Italy. While in Naples, he received the news of civil war (1642-1646) breaking out in England. So he returned to England in 1639. In 1649 I was executed and Milton wrote his political tract Tenure of kings and Magistrates in which he supported the execution of the deposed king. The second period of his life began from (1641-1654). In 1643, Milton went into the country, met Mary Powell and married her. In 1652 he became blind.
4. Complete the following table with the information given in the passage. 1×5=5
| Who/what | Event/Activity | Year | What/Where |
| John Milton | was born | 1608 | (i) ———– |
| He | matriculated | (ii) ——— | Christ’s College Cambridge |
| He | set out a tour | 1638 | (iii) ———- |
| He | married | (iv)——— | |
| (v) ———- | publication | 1631 |
5. Read the passage again and write True or False beside the following statement. 1×5=5
a) The Civil War broke out in England in 1646.
b) Milton wrote his political tract Tenure of Kings and Magistrates
in 1649.
c) He became blind before marriage.
d) His father’s country house was at Horton.
e) He was the poet of 16th
6. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word. 1×5=5
Alfred Nobel was a scientist. He was a (a) —–. He (b) —– his education in Russia. Dynamite was (c) —– by him. For the (d) —– of Dynamite he earned a huge sum of money. After his (e) ——, he left behind a fabulous sum of money.
7. Rearrange the following sentences in correct order. 10
a) He did not die a natural death.
b) He was born in 459 B.C. in Athens.
c) He would stop passers-by at different places in the street and asked them simple questions.
d) Socrates was the wisest philosopher and teacher of his time.
e) His mission was to spread knowledge among the people.
f) He wanted to educate people.
g) He was killed by the rulers of Athens.
h) He lived in Athens in Greece.
i) Athens was the home of sculpture.
J) Socrates would often go out in the streets of Athens.
8. Fill in the gaps using clues from the boxes. There are more words than necessary. 0.5×10=5
| most | eating | sound | grow | eat | soundness |
| have | grow | is | having | available | is |
People (a) —– up physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and morally. It (b) —– important to (c) —– up in a balanced way. We must be healthy in a balanced way. People say, ‘Health (d) —– wealth’ Health is soundness of mind as well as (e) —– of body. A healthy man or woman has a (f) —– body as well as a sound mind. Without (g) —– the one it is very hard to (h) —– the other. To build up your health and to maintain it you are to do certain things. For your physical health you have to (i) —– proper food. Without (j) —– proper food, you cannot remain healthy.
9. The phrases in column A are the beginnings of some sentences. The phrases in column B are the endings. Match the phrases in column A with the phrases in column B to make complete sentences.
1×5=5
| Column A | Column B |
| a) People do not eat the same food | i) on its geographical position, climate and soil. |
| b) It varies from | ii) a lot of vegetables and fruits. |
| c) The eating habits of the people of a country depend | iii) place to place. |
| d) People in the tropical countries eat | iv) are taro roots, breadfruit and seafood. |
| e) The chief foods of the people of Hawaii and Polynesia | v) all over the world. |
Section B (Writing)
10. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about “Your Preparation for the Coming Examination.” 10
11. Answer the following questions to write a paragraph on “Load Shedding”. 10
a) What is Load Shedding? b) What are the main reasons of load shedding? c) What are the bad effects of load shedding? d) How can we control it?
12. Read the beginning of the story. Write new ten sentences to complete the story. Give a title of it. 10
Sheikh Saadi was a great poet in Iran. He used to lead a very simple life. Once on his way to the court of the king of Iran, he took shelter in a nobleman’s house for a night. He was then in very simple dressed ————————-
13. Suppose your best friend, Joy/Joya has made an excellent result in the JSC Examination. Now write a letter to your friend congratulating him/her on the brilliant success in the examination.
10
Prepared by: Mahbub Alam
Lecturer of English
Examiner (Dhaka Board)
https://www.facebook.com/mmuraddu