Seen Comprehension Unit 9

Model Question 1

Read the text and answer questions 1 and 2. 

Communication of ideas is at the centre of civilisation. 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 exchanged ideas through speaking and listening. Then there came the art of writing. But to record thoughts in writing was difficult. Writing materials were 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 the 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. [Unit 9; Lesson 6]

[Dinajpur Board-2018; Sylhet Board-2018; Milestone College, Dhaka]

1. Choose the correct answer to each question from the alternatives and write the corresponding number of the answers in your answer scripts:

a. The word 'communication' means . [DjB-2018]

• i) civilisation
• ii) realisation
• iii) contact
• iv) globalization

b. Before the invention of writing, people exchanged their ideas .   [SB-2018]

• i) through miming and dancing
• ii) through dancing and singing
• iii) through speaking and listening
• iv) through speaking, dancing and singing

c. What was difficult before the invention of paper? [DjB-2018]

• i) to express thoughts in writing
• ii) to exchange thoughts in writing 
• iii) to preserve thoughts in writing
• iv) to communicate thoughts in writing

d. The word 'restricted' in the text means . [DjB-2018]

• i) sufficient
• ii) unlimited
• iii) refined
• iv) confined

e. What do the words ‘for ages’ mean in the text?

• i) for three hundred years
• ii) from ancient time
• iii) from the beginning of the world
• iv) for a long period of time

f. Our life has been changed  by the invention of paper. [DjB 2018]

• i) gradually
• ii) greatly
• iii) slowly
• iv) by stages

g. The word 'entire' in the text refers to —.

• i) whole
• ii) slice
• iii) piece
• iv) part

 More Questions

1. The antonym of 'surface' is —.

• i) outside
• ii) exterior
• iii) top
• iv) core

2. Knowledge was very limited in . [DjB 2018]

• i) pre-paper age
• ii) paper age
• iii) post-paper age
• iv) modern age

3. The word 'idea' means ¾. 

• i) assumption
• ii) thought
• iii) manner
• iv) launch

4. What does the word ‘record’ mean in the passage?

• i) journal
• ii) document
• iii) report
• iv) register

5. Which one was an ancient writing material? [DjB-2018]

• i) metal sheet
• ii) paper
• iii) computer
• iv) laptop

6. Though writing was invented very early, paper is a more  invention. [DjB-2018]

• i) primitive
• ii) recent
• iii) ancient
• iv) greater

7. Writing was invented . [SB-2018]

• i) after the invention of paper
• ii) before the invention of paper
• iii) at the same time of the invention of paper
• iv) recently

8. Paper is an easy writing . 

• i) material
• ii) materials
• iii) used
• iv) usually

9. Before the paper age, writing was .

• i) difficult
• ii) dangerous
• iii) wrong
• iv) fantastic

10. Before the paper age, there were  books in the world.

• i) big
• ii) small
• iii) few
• iv) many

11. In the past, knowledge was very . [SB-2018]

• i) easy
• ii) open
• iii) limited
• iv) available

12. What is the third step of exchanging ideas? [SB-2018]

• i) reading
• ii) speaking
• iii) listening
• iv) writing

13. The  invented paper.

• i) Chinese
• ii) Americans
• iii) Japanese
• iv) Egyptians

14. Paper was invented in .

• i) 100 BC
• ii) 105 BC
• iii) 105 AD
• iv) 100 AD

15. Communication of ideas is  for civilisation.

• i) nonessential
• ii) cheap
• iii) hard
• iv) important

16. Written records are  for civilisation. 

• i) necessary
• ii) main aims
• iii) heavy
• iv) stone

17. Paper is  to keep records. 

• i) uses
• ii) use
• iii) used
• iv) usually

18. Once upon a time, stone or heavy wood plunks were used in . [SB-2018]

• i) building houses
• ii) writing purpose
• iii) building roads
• iv) making boats

19. The invention of paper has made our life . [SB-2018]

• i) difficult
• ii) easy
• iii) irresponsible
• iv) honest

20. For many years people were searching for .  [SB-2018]

• i) digital writing materials
• ii) digital messaging system
• iii) mobile communication system
• iv) easy writing materials

2. Answer the following questions from your reading of the text above.

a. What did people use for writing in the past?

b. Why did people look for easy writing materials? [SB-2018]

c.  Why was it difficult to record thoughts in writing in the past? [DjB-2018]

d. "Communication of ideas is at the centre of civilisation?" Do you support it? Explain why your answer is 'yes' or 'no'. [DjB 2018]

 More Questions

1. Why was knowledge very restricted in the pre-paper age? [SB-2018]

2. How has paper changed our life? Explain it clearly. [SB-2018]

3. Why was knowledge not easily available before the paper age?

4. Why did people need light writing material?

5. Who invented paper and when?

6. How can you carry the entire world of knowledge?

7. Where was paper invented and when?

8. How did people share ideas before the invention of writing? [DjB-2018]

9. What did people use for writing before the paper age? [DjB.-2018]

10. Why were there very few books in the world before the invention of paper? [SB-2018]