SSC English Seen Comprehension Unit 10

Safiuddin Sarker Academy and College, Gazipur

Read the passage carefully, then answer the questions below (1 & 2):

Pritilata Waddedar was born in Chattogram on 5 May 1911. She was a meritorious student at Dr. Khastagir Government Girls' School in Chattogram and Eden College, Dhaka. She graduated in Philosophy with distinction from Bethune College in Kolkata. In her college days, Pritilata was an activist in the anti-British movement. All through her life, she dreamt of two things: a society without gender discrimination, and her motherland free from British colonial rule. So, she decided to fight against the British rule. Soon after, Pritilata became the head teacher of Nandankanon Aparna Charan School in Chattogram. Gradually she involved herself in Surja Sen's armed resistance movement. Surja Sen was a famous anti-British movement organizer and revolutionary activist in Chattogram area at that time. In 1932, Surja Sen planned an attack on the Pahartali European Club. The club was well-known for its notorious sign at its entrance: Dogs and Indians not allowed. Surja Sen assigned Pritilata to lead a team of 10-12 men to attack the club. The raid was successful but Pritilata, dressed as a man, failed to get out of the club. She committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide to avoid arrest. She proved that women can work like men. She also proved that women too needed to be prepared to sacrifice their lives for freedom from the British colonial rule. Her dream finally came true. The British rule came to an end in 1947 though she couldn't see it during her lifetime. [Unit-10, Lesson-3]

1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives:

a) The word 'meritorious' refers to —.

i) dull

ii) bright

iii) blunt

iv) martyr

b) When was Pritilata an activist?

i) after student life

ii) in service life

iii) in retired life

iv) during student life

c) Which statement is true about Pritilata?

i) She was a patriot.

ii) She was a spy.

iii) She was ignorant.

iv) She was a philosopher.

d) Pritilata had — to the European Club.

i) adoration

ii) reverence

iii) abhorrence

iv) respect

e) The raid of the European Club was —.

i) fruitful

ii) postponed

iii) rejected

iv) ignored

f) 'Avoid' can be replaced by —.

i) infringe

ii) violate

iii) daunt

iv) escape

g) British colonial rule did not — Surja Sen as well as Pritilata.

i) amuse

ii) annoy

iii) disgust

iv) grudge

2. Answer the following questions:

a) What sort of student was Pritilata Waddedar?

b) What did she dream of all through her life?

c) Who was Surja Sen?

d) Why was the Pahartali European Club well-known to all?

e) What can be learnt from the story of Pritilata Waddedar?

Savar Cantonment Public School & College, Dhaka

3. Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word of your own, based on the information from the text. 1´5=5

Pritilata was not only a talented (a) — but also a brave warrior. She (b) — philosophy in Bethune College in Kolkata. She took teaching as a (c) —. She was a (d) — of a society free from gender discrimination, and her motherland free from British colonial rule. To fulfill her dream, she took decision to fight against the British rule. She sacrificed her life to (e) — her dream true.

Savar Cantonment Public School & College, Dhaka

Barishal Cadet College, Barishal

Read the following passage and answer the questions 1 and 2:

Zahir Raihan was one of the most talented filmmakers in Bangladesh. He was born on 19 August 1935 in the village Majupur in Feni district. He was an active worker of the Language Movement. He was one of the ten students to go out in a procession on 21 February 1952 despite a ban on such activities imposed by the authorities. As a result, he and many others were arrested and taken to prison. Zahir was also present at the historical meeting of Amtala on 21 February 1952. He also took part in the mass movement in 1969. In 1971, he joined the Liberation War.

All through his life, Zahir Raihan dreamt of a democratic society, a society that will ensure freedom of speech and will. He had many dreams about our film industry too. He made a legendary film 'Jibon Theke Neya' based on the Language Movement of 1952. It was a revolt against the autocratic government. The family presented in that film was a miniature East Pakistan ruled by an autocrat who had to go to prison for her conspiracy. During the Liberation War, this film was shown outside Bangladesh. Celebrated filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak appreciated the film. Zahir gave all the money to the Freedom Fighters’ trust that he get from his film shows. Besides, his great documentary on Pakistani atrocities, 'Stop Genocide', helped create world sentiment in favour of our liberation war.

On 30 December 1971, someone informed Zahir about an address somewhere at Mirpur, where he might find his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser. Shahidullah was captured and killed by the Pakistani army and the local collaborators during the last days of the war. Accordingly, Zahir left home to get his brother back but he never returned. Zahir’s dream was fulfilled. He could see the inception of a free independent Bangladesh though he did not get back his brother. And it’s a pity that this dreamer was missing at such a time when his dream came true. [Unit-10, Lesson-4]

1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives: 1×7=7

a) The film "Jibon Theke Neya" stood for ––.

i) genocide

ii) independence

iii) revolution

iv) democracy

b) Zahir Raihan was –– informed about his missing brother.

i) mistakenly ii) unexpectedly iii) elaborately iv) anonymously

c) The one who didn't work on the review of "Jibon Theke Neya" was ––.

i) Satyajit Ray

ii) Mrinal Sen

iii) Ritwik Ghatak

iv) Zahir Raihan

d) The legendary film based on the language movement revealed the revolt against a/an — administration.

i) democratic

ii) imperialist

iii) atrocious

iv) non-violent

e) Which one of the following doesn't get hindrance in a democratic society?

i) freedom of speech

ii) movement

iii) imperialism

iv) atrocities

f) It was after the — that the news regarding Shahidullah Kaiser was received by his brother.

i) Liberation War

ii) Independence Day

iii) Mass Movement

iv) Victory Day

g) What does the phrase 'Local Collaborator' mean?

i) local eminent person

ii) local authority

iii) local spies

iv) both (i) & (ii)

2. Answer the following questions: 2×5=10

a) How did Zahir Raihan secure the world's support in favour of Bangladesh during the Liberation War?

b) How did Zahir Raihan contribute to the Language Movement?

c) Which type of government was present in the then East Pakistan?

d) What was the dream of this dreamer that came true after his missing?

e) Who was responsible for the eternal departure of his brother?

Engineering University Girls' School and College, Dhaka

3. Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text: 1´5=5

Zahir Raihan is a great son of our country. He was basically a (a) — film maker. He also wrote a number of novels. Besides, he was an (b) — worker in organizing the Language Movement that ultimately (c) — to the War of Liberation. He was a dreamer of independence. He played a very important role. He made a documentary film on the (d) —. He did all these noble things to have an (e) — and democratic country.