Subject Code 107 & 108
B A F Shaheen College Dhaka Pre-Test Examination 2018
Class XII Subject : English
Time : 3 Hours Full Marks100
Part A : Reading Test ( 15 marks) 1. Read the passage below 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 postwar 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 labor 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, 283,063 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 Bangaldeshi 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.
However, the absence of a strong tie does not mean that the Bangladeshi community is completely detached from their homeland. In the era of globalization and social networking, like other diaspora communities, British Bangladeshis are also linked to their countries of origin by phone, mail, internet and television. By the virtue of technological advancement, communication of news is rapid and sustained, which gives migrant communities a sense of belonging to multiple homes. In particular, the first generation of migrants continues to regard Bangladesh as central to their identity.
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives : 15=5 a. What is the main purpose of the author in the passage?
i. to inform about the UK
ii. to inform about the Bangladeshi migration in the UK iii. to inform about Sylhet
iv. to inform about the Muslim Bangladeshis living in the UK b. The word ‘recruit’ stands for
i. to persuade someone to work for a company or organization ii. to correct someone
iii. to make something happen iv. to meet the requirement
c. What does the word ‘peasantry’ refer to?
i. businessmen ii. farmers iii. educated person iv. aristocrat d. The largest Bangladeshi population is in
i. Oldham ii. Luton iii. Birmingham iv. London e. Which one is not true?
i. Third generation Bangladeshis uphold their identity as Bangladeshi ii. Third generation Bangladeshis uphold their identity as Muslims iii. Third generation Bangladeshis ‘born and bred’ in Britain iv. Third generation Bangladeshis constitute half of the community
B. Answer the following questions : 15=5
a. What is migration?
b. How do Bangladeshi migrants in Britain connect to their country at this time?
c. Who migrated to Britain before the World War II and why?
d. How many Bangladeshis live in the UK and mostly where?
e. How do the second and the third generation Bangladeshis like to be treated?
2. Read the passage and complete the table below with the given information. 0.510=5 The ARPANET, the first Internet, was invented in 1969 and the public only had access to the worldwide web starting in 1992. Today, just 22 years later, the web has revolutionized the dissemination of information, created a new multi-trillion dollar economic phenomenon, played a role in revolutions, and has interconnected much of the globe. It has also made it possible for people all over the planet to reach out and touch someone.
A microchip is a set of electronic circuits on one small plate (chip) of semiconductor material, normally silicon. Microchips are used in virtually all electronic equipment today and have revolutionized the world of electronics. The forerunner to the microchip was invented back in 1959, but it didn’t really start to take off until the 1980s. Since then, incredible advances in microchips have made it possible for them to be cheaply and efficiently use for calculators, personal computers, pet identification, automatic teller machines, satellites, pacemakers, cell phones and microwave ovens amang many other products.
Who/What Event/Activity Where/Place When
(i) was invented (ii)
The public (iii) The World Wide Web (iv)
The web has revolutionized the dissemination of information
(v) (vi) has interconnected most
places
in the world (vii) used in virtually all
electronic equipment
today The forerunner
to the micro
(viii) in 1959
(ix) didn’t really start to take off (x)
Part-B : Vocabulary (25 Marks)
3. 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. 0.510=5
accelerate gain disastrous isolate explore
exist revolution come noble add
communication former successful globe rush
We have got many positive things during the last century. We have (a) tremendous advancement in the field of science. For example, man has (b) landed on the moon. He is going to (c) other planets. We have achieved (d) success in the field of information and technology. Now we can (e) to any part of the world in a second. The world has become a (f) village. No naiton is (g) from other countries. One country (h) to help other countries during the time of (i) .
Science has certainly (j) the process of globalization.
4. Fill in the blanks with appropriate word in each gap. 110=10 One very (a) change in our society is the presence of working women outside the home. Of course, it has to be (b) that women have always worked within the household but this commonly is not counted as ‘work’. It is unfortunate that women’s roles in agricultural societies have not been (c) either. Whether it is due to economic necessity or the urge to (d) an individual identity or both, nowadays many women are joining the outside workforce. They are (e) a wide range of professions. Moreover, both educated and uneducated women are (f) to work outside. All of them are trying to be self (g) . The life of a women has now become more (h) . Because they have to shoulder (i) roles also. Most of the women have to compete with men (j) .
5. Rearrange the following sentences to make a coherent order. 10 i. His friends and disciples could not bear the sight.
ii. The cup contained hemlock, a deadly poison.
iii. At last, the hour of departure had arrived and Socrates met his friends and disciples for the last time.
iv. They burst into tears and cried loudly like children.
v. He asked them to let him die in peace.
vi. At sunset, the Governor of the prison came.
vii. Then there came a man with a cup in hand.
viii. He argued with them about the immortality of the soul.
ix. He told them that the soul of man cannot die.
x. Socrates took the cup in his hand, said his prayer and drank the hemlock without any hesitation.
Part-C : Grammer (20 Marks)
6. Complete the text with suitable prepositions : 5
Parents have desire (a) bright future (b) their children. They are ready to do anything which may be congenial (c) the success (d) their children. Every success (e) their children make them happy and they become sanguine (f) their bright future. But then the children do not pay heed (g) the suggestions (h) their parents and fail to move forward as the parents want. Their entire hopes end (i) smoke. So, children must be cautious (j) it.
7. Change the narrative style by using direct speeches. 5 While shaking hand she advised me to follow her example. She also told me never to eat more than one thing for luncheon. I retorted that I would do better than that by eating nothing for dinner that night. Then jumping into a cab she cried gaily and said that I was a humorist.
8. Identify the unclear pronoun references in the following paragraph. Where necessary, rewrite the sentences so that all pronoun references are clear. 5 Terrorism is the most burning issue of the country. Our normal life has been threatened by this. Our country is now almost in the grip of the terrorists. They commit crimes in broad daylight. The businessmen are the worst victims of these.
They have to pay the lion’s share of their profit to the terrorists. The people of other professions also become victim of them very often. Our normal life has become intolerable because of it. We must punish the terrorists if we want progress and prosperity of the country. When all come forward to stop terrorism, this will be easily achieved.
9. Transform the sentences as directed. 15=5
a. Dowry hampers the harmony of the society. (passive)
b. This vicious tradition of the dark age must be stopped anyhow. (negative) c. This is one of the major problems of Bangladesh. (positive)
d. Punishment should be given to the greedy and cruel criminals. (active) e. It is a very heinous crime. (exclamatory)
Part-D : Writing Test (40 Marks)
10. Suppose, you are a reporter of a newspaper published from Dhaka. Now, you are asked to write a report on the devastating consequences of drug addiction in the
context of Bangladesh. 10
11. Read the beginning of the following story and complete it in your own way. Give a
title to it. 7
Once, there lived a king in an island. There were green trees everywhere in the island. Once, the king decided to build a magnificent palace in the island. So, he ordered his men to cut down all the trees...
12. Suppose, you are Monir/Monira living at Kachua, Chandpur and a student of Chandpur Govt. College. Your friend, Nazim/Nazma is a rural student living at Kaptai, Rangamati. He/She wants to know about the co-curricular activities of your college. Now, write a letter to your friend describing the co-curricular activities of
your college. 5
13. Write a short composition on “Students and Social Service.” 10
14. Write down the theme of the following poem. 8
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean rows will I have there, a hive for the honey bee And live alone in the bee loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow.
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimner, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings
I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the the deep heart’s core.
