BAF Shaheen College Dhaka
Practice Half-Yearly Examination-2020 Class-IX (English Version)
Subject: English 1
stpaper (Subject Code-107)
Time: 3 Hours Full Marks: 100
Part-A: Reading Test (50 Marks)
Read the following text and then answer the questions below (1-2):May Day or International Workers’ Day is observed on May 1 all over the world today to commemorate the historical struggle and sacrifices of the working people to establish an eight- hour workday. It is a public holiday in almost all the countries of the world.
Since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe and the USA, the workers’ in mills and factories had been working a long shift, fourteen or even more hours a day.
On May 1st in 1886, inspired by trade unions, half of the workers at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company in Chicago went on strike demanding an eight-hour workday. Two days later, a workers’ rally was held near the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company and about 6000 workers joined it. The rally was addressed by the labour leaders. The urged the workers to stand together, to go on with their struggle and not to give into their bosses. At one point of the rally, strikebreakers started leaving the meeting place. The strikers went down the street to bring them back. Suddenly about 200 policemen attacked them with clubs and revolvers. One striker was killed instantly, five or six others were seriously wounded and many others were injured.
The events of May 1, 1886 are a reminder that workers will continue to be exploited until they stand up and speak out to gain better working conditions, better pay and better lives.
1. Choose the correct answer to each question from the alternatives. 1x7=7 (a) May Day is observed all over the world to __________________
(i) inspire workers to work sincerely (ii) ensure better future of the workers
(iii) to enhance workers’ pay (iv) commemorate the sacrifice of the workers at Chicago (b) What does the expression, ‘Industrial Revolution’ mean?
(i) Demands of the labourers (ii) Rights of the labourers
(iii) Revolution of the owners of the industries (iv) Expansion of mills and factories (c) The phrase ‘public holiday’ means _______
(i) workers’ holiday (ii) holiday of the public (iii) public day (iv) govt. holiday (d) The labourer leaders urged the workers to _________
(i) continue their struggle
(ii) stand together and continue their struggle
(iii) to have more patience before going on strike (iv) to negotiate with the authority of the company (e) The working people struggled _________.
(i) as a protest against long working hour (ii) to up lift their working environment (iii) for a break during working hours (iv) to form trade union
(f) Which one of the following is not true?
(i) Workers’ in mills and factories had to work for a long shift (ii) Working hours lasted for fourteen or even more hours (iii) The workers’ of Europe went on strike
(iv) Working class demanded an eight-hour workday
(g) What is the main theme of the passage?
(i) Exploitation of the workers (ii) Struggle and sacrifice of the workers (iii) Struggle and sacrifice of the workers (iv) All these
2. And answer the following questions. 5x2=10 (a) Why is May 1st called International Workers’ Day?
(b) What were the causes that led to the struggle?
(c) What do the events of May Day remind us?
(d) Do you support the idea that May Day is an inspiration for the workers across the world?
Give reasons for your answer.
(e) “The main theme of the passage is struggle and sacrifice against exploitation and deprivation”- Describe.
3. Read the following text and fill in the gaps with appropriate word based on the information of the text. 1x5=5
Yoga is a kind of a posture and breathing exercise. It brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peace of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety.
Traditional yoga puts emphasis on behavior, diet and meditation. But if you’re just looking for better stress management-and not an entire lifestyle change-yoga can still help. Yoga trainers gradually choose easier to complex activities for practitioners. However, all practitioners do not necessarily need the same kinds of practice.
The potential health benefits of yoga are numerous and may include: Stress reduction, Increased fitness, Management of chronic health conditions, Weight loss.
While you shouldn’t expect yoga to cure you or offer you relief 100 percent, it can help some health conditions when combined with standard treatment. And if you already enjoy good health, yoga can be an enjoyable supplement to your regular fitness routine.
Yoga is a relaxation technique in which a (a) _______ of breathing, exercising and meditation prevails in the right portion. It helps to increase the (b) ________ of the body as well as to bring a complete (c) ________ between mind and body. In the case of stress, (d) _______ yoga trainers depend on mediation. To achieve physical and emotional harmony, therefore, we cannot (e) ________ the great benefits of yoga.
4. Read the passage on Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. Complete the following table with the
information given in the passage. 1x5=5
Ishawar Chandra Vidyasagor was born to Thakurdas Bandyopadhyay and Bhagabati Devi at Birsingha village to Paschim Medinipur District, India on 26 September 1820. He was philosopher, literature, educator, translator, reformer and philanthropist. His quest for knowledge was so intense that he used to study under a street light as it was not possible for him to afford a gas lamp at home. He joined the Sanskrit College, Kolkata and studied there for twelve years and passed out of the college in 1841. In the year 1839, he successfully cleared his law examination. He joined Fort William College as head of the Sanskrit department in 1841.
In 1846, he left Fort William College and joined The Sanskrit College as ‘Assistant Secretary’.
In 1851, he became the principal of the college.
He was a very kind-hearted man. He was known for his charity and philosophy as ‘Daya-r- Sagor’. He introduced the practice of widow remarriages to the Hindu society. He contributed significantly to Bengali and Sanskrit Literature. His important works are Banglar Itihaas, Jeebancharit, Bodhadoy, Upakramanika, Bornoporichoy, Bidhaba bibaha Bishayak Prostab etc.
He died on 29 July 1891 in Kolkata. He received the title Vidyasagar for his excellent performance in Sanskrit and Philosophy.
Biography of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar Lifespan from 26 September 1820 to (i)______________
Who What Event/Activi
ty
Time/
When
Place/
Where
Position
Ishawar Chandra Vidyasagor
Professional life
joined (ii) _______ Fort William College
Head of the Sanskrit Department Ishawar Chandra
Vidyasagor
(iii)_______ joined in 1846 The Sanskrit College
(iv) _______
Ishawar Chandra Vidyasagor
Professional life
became 1851 (v) _______ the Principal
5. Write a summary of the above passage in your own words. 10 6. Match the parts of the sentences given in the column ‘A’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ to write 5 complete sentences. 1x5=5
Column A Column B Column C
(a) Time is the most valuable thing in the sense
(i) we must make the best use of time so that
(i) we can be successful and make our life glorious
(b) Always considering the value of time
(i) to make our life inglorious and
(ii) but lost time can never be regained
(c) In fact, proper use of time discipline and industry
(iii) every moment of our life so as to reach the goal of our life
(iii) and be blessed with happiness and prosperity (d) So, we must shake of
idleness and be serious in utilizing
(iv) that everything can be regained through hard labour
(iv) to be enlisted among the failures
(e) We must not waste our valuable time
(v) enable us to reach the peak of success and
(v) thus put us in line of great men in the world
7. Put the following parts of the story in correct order to rewrite the whole story. 1x8=8 (a) Suddenly, he stopped one of the guests.
(b) The marriage ceremony was over and the guests were going to the feast.
(c) He spoke as strange that the guests stood still and listened to the story.
(d) He saw people walking past him.
(e) The old man told him about his last journey on the sea.
(f) The old sailor sat on a stone outside the Church.
(g) He had a strange mad look in his eyes.
(h) ‘There was a ship’ the old sailor began.
Part-B: Writing test (50 Marks)
8. Write a paragraph on ‘The International Mother Language Day’ answering the following
questions. 10
(a) Which day is the International Mother Language Day?
(b) What happened on the day?
(c) Who embraced martyrdom and why?
(d) How is the day observed nationally and internationally?
(e) What is the significance of the day?
9. Read the beginning of the following story. Write then sentences to complete the story. 10 One day a crow became very thirsty. He flew from place to place in search of water. But it found no water. The crow did not lose hope………
10. The pie chart below shows the percentage of a family’s household income distributed into different categories. Describe the pie chart in 150 words. 10
11. Suppose you are Raihan/ Rehena living at Agrabad, Chattogram. You have a friend living at Dhanmondi, House No. A/45, Dhaka. Recently he/she has sent a nice gift for you as a birthday present. Now, write a letter to your friend thanking him/her for her birthday present. 10
12. Suppose, you are Akash and you have a friend named Nuhash. He is very weak. His physical health is not good at all. Now, write a dialogue between you and your friend about the importance of Physical exercise. 10
Food 22%
Transport 10%
Saving 15%
Clothes
15% Education Others 5% 28%
Power 5%
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr 5th Qtr 6th Qtr 7th Qtr
