Model Test 5 (Full): Class Eight (অষ্টম শ্রেণী) English 1st Paper

1. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives1 × 7 = 7

Read the passage and answer questions 1 & 2

Hakkonchandra village was situated to the east of Kaptai dam, in the Rangamati district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). A family in that village who belonged to the Boro Hambe clan had a son who was an ivory craftsman and was later recognized and appreciated as one of the very first craftsmen among the Jumma population in the CHT region. His niece is the mother whose story is given here. It is difficult to say exactly when she was born, but she thinks she is over eighty years old now. She is my grandmother and one of the eyewitnesses of the discussed episode in the history of CHT. Her family was relatively affluent. She had six siblings- three brothers and three sisters. Their family was well-respected in the neighborhood since their father was a schoolteacher. Sushama Chakma was not acquainted with paucity and poverty in the early years of her life. When the northern parts of CHT were submerged permanently due to Kaptai dam, not just the Chakma population but some Hajong, Marma and adi-Bangali residents who had lived for long among us also lost all their possessions. The wealthiest families became displaced people. They had to constantly move from one place to the other. About 50,000 Chakma, Hajong, and Tripuri people had to leave the country and migrate permanently. Like many others, she lost a secure life and her homeland with her relatives. Her husband had to leave his public service to live like a refugee. Her only possessions were memories of better times and the determination to survive. While moving from one location to another for resettlement in the reserve forest, they spent countless sleepless nights thinking about their uncertain future. Despite the constant struggle to find happiness in pain, the sun never shone for her family.

1. (a) Hakkonchandra village was located
   i. west of Kaptai Dam ii. south of Kaptai Dam iii. north of Kaptai Dam iv. east of Kaptai Dam
2. (b) Hakkonchandra village was situated in the district of
   i. Chattogram ii. Bandarban iii. Rangamati iv. Khagrachari
3. (c) In the story, the family belonged to
   i. Boro Hambe clan ii. Boro Hambe clan (duplicate) iii. Boko Hambe clan iv. Bora Hambe clan
4. (d) The occupation of the son in the family was
   i. schoolteacher ii. ivory craftsman iii. craftsman iv. fisherman
5. (e) What was the significance of the son's craftsmanship?
   i. he was the first craftsman in the Jumma population ii. he was the first craftsman in the Bora Hambe clan iii. he lost his skill for the Dam iv. he left craftsmanship for working in the Dam
6. (f) How old does the grandmother believe she is now?
   i. over sixty ii. over seventy iii. over eighty iv. over ninety
7. (g) The grandmother had
   i. five siblings ii. six siblings iii. seven siblings iv. eight siblings

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. (h) The father of the grandmother was
   i. an engineer ii. a doctor iii. a craftsman iv. a school teacher
2. (i) The economic status of the grandmother family was
   i. relatively affluent ii. poor iii. middle class iv. wealthy
3. (j) What happened to the northern part of CHT due to the Kaptai Dam?
   i. they became forest reserves ii. they went under water temporarily iii. they went under water permanently iv. they became tourist spots
4. (k) Which population lost their possessions due to the Kaptai Dam?
   i. Chakma and Marma population ii. Chakma, Hajong, Marma and adi-Bangali population iii. Marma and Hajong population iv. Chakma, Hajong and adi-Bangali population
5. (l) Because of the Dam, the number of people had to leave the country
   i. 25000 ii. 40000 iii. 50000 iv. 55000
6. (m) The grandmother husband had to give up
   i. public service ii. craftsmanship iii. teaching iv. uncertain future
7. (n) The grandmother's only possessions after displacement were
   i. hope and happiness ii. wealth and land iii. memories and will to survive iv. livestock and crops
8. (o) What was the emotional state of the grandmother's family after displacement?
   i. hopeful and happy ii. confident and settled iii. struggling and uncertain iv. relaxed and content

2. Answer the following questions2 × 5 = 10

Answer from the passage about Hakkonchandra village. Write 1–2 short sentences for each.

1. (a) Where was Hakonchandra village located?
2. (b) What clan did the family in Hakkonchandra village belong to?
3. (c) What was the occupation of the son from the Boro Hambe clan?
4. (d) Who is the person whose story is being shared in the text?
5. (e) What was the grandmother's economic status during her early years?

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

1. (f) What impact did the construction of the Kaptai Dam have on the northern parts of CHT?
2. (g) Which populations were affected by the submersion caused by the Kaptai Dam?
3. (h) What happened to the grandmother's husband after the displacement?
4. (i) What were the grandmother's only possessions after displacement?
5. (j) What challenges did the family face during resettlement?

3. Fill in each gap with a suitable word1 × 5 = 5

Read the passage and answer questions 3 & 4

"This is your teacher today. He's going to show you all sorts of things." With that the headmaster introduced a new teacher. Totto-chan took a good look at him. In the first place, he wasn't dressed like a teacher at all. He wore a short striped cotton work jacket over his undershirt, and instead of a necktie, he had a towel hanging around his neck. As for his trousers, they were of indigo-dyed cotton with narrow legs, and were full of patches. Instead of shoes, he wore workmen's thick two-toed, rubber-soled socks, while on his head was a rather dilapidated straw hat. The children were all assembled by the pond at Kuhonbutsu Temple. As she stared at the teacher, Totto-chan thought she had seen him before. "Where!" she wondered. His kindly face was sun burnt and full of wrinkles. Even the slender pipe dangling from a black cord around his waist that served as a belt looked familiar. She suddenly remembered! "Aren't you the farmer who works in the field by the stream!" she asked him, delighted. "That's right," said the "teacher, with a toothy smile, wrinkling up his face. "You pass my place every time you go for yer walks to Kuhonbutsu! That's my field. That one over there full o' mustard blossoms." "Wow! So you're going to be our teacher today," cried the children excitedly. "Naw!" said the man, waving his hand in front of his face. "I ain't no teacher! I'm just a farmer. Your headmaster just asked me to do it, that's all." "Oh yes, he is. He's your farming teacher," said the headmaster, standing beside him. "He very kindly agreed to teach you how to plant a field. It's like having a baker teach you how to make bread. Now then," he said to the farmer, "tell the children what to do, and let's get started." At an ordinary elementary school, anyone who taught the children anything would probably have to have teaching qualifications, but Mr. Kobayashi didn't worry about things like that. He thought it important for children to learn by actually seeing things done. "Let's begin then," said the farming teacher. The place where they were assembled was besides the Kuhonbutsu pond and it was a particularly quiet section-a pleasant place, where the pond was shaded by trees. The headmaster had already had part of a railroad car put there for storing the children's farming implements, such as spades and hoes. The half-car had a peaceful look, neatly placed as it was right in the middle of the plot they were going to cultivate.

Type one word in each gap.

At Kuhonbutsu Temple, a farmer teaches Totto-Chan and her classmates about (a) ____ . Dressed in simple work clothes, the farmer, (b) ____ for his mustard field, guides the children in planting. Unlike conventional schools, Totto-Chan's headmaster values practical (c) ____ and allows the farmer to teach without (d) ____ qualifications. Tools are stored in a converted railroad car near the peaceful pond, creating a serene learning (e) ____ .

4. Write the synonym or antonym as directed1 × 5 = 5

(a) sort (synonym): ____ (b) striped (antonym): ____ (c) narrow (synonym): ____ (d) dilapidated (antonym): ____ (e) assemble (antonym): ____

5. Complete the table with information from the passage1 × 5 = 5

Read the passage and answer questions 5, 6 & 7

Ferdousi, the great poet, had a very set hand. He informed the Sultan of writing something remarkable. Then he began to write The Shahnama' in honour of Sultan Mahmud. The Sultan promised to pay him a piece of gold coin for each verse, but when the epic was finished, it was found to contain sixty thousand verses. When the epic was taken to him the Sultan now offered Ferdousi only sixty thousand pieces of silver coins instead of gold coins. The poet refused to accept. The Sultan repenting sent him sixty thousand pieces of gold coins but his messengers arrived too late. When they reached the poet's house, they met the dead body being carried out for burial. Then, the messengers came back to the palace. They reported to the Sultan. The Sultan sat grave. He did not tell anything to anybody. Last of all he called his courtiers and asked them to accompany him. The Sultan went there. He expressed his deep shock for the departed poet.

Complete the table with information from the passage.

6. Read the statements. Write (T) if true, (F) if false. If false, write the correct answer1 × 5 = 5

Choose True or False. If you choose False, the correct statement will be shown.

1. (a) Sultan Mahmud was a great poet.
   True (T) False (F)✓ Correct: Sultan Mahmud was a Sultan or King. Ferdousi was the great poet.
2. (b) Ferdousi wrote "The Shahnama".
   True (T) False (F)✓ This statement is True.
3. (c) The Sultan sat happily.
   True (T) False (F)✓ Correct: The Sultan sat grave.
4. (d) Ferdousi had a very set hand.
   True (T) False (F)✓ This statement is True.
5. (e) Ferdousi wrote the epic in honour of Sultan Mahmud.
   True (T) False (F)✓ This statement is True.

7. Summarize the above text in your own words10

Write 5–7 sentences summarizing the passage about Ferdousi and Sultan Mahmud.

8. Match the parts of sentences in columns A and B to make five complete sentences1 × 5 = 5

Choose the right part from Column B for each sentence in Column A.

• remain idle after completing their studies.
• in our country than jobs.
• secure a comfortable job in an office or bank.
• is a curse.
• of our young generation.

1. (a) Unemployment
2. (b) It weakens the body and mind
3. (c) We should change our notion to
4. (d) There are more people
5. (e) Many educated people

9. Rearrange the following sentences in correct order1 × 8 = 8

Type 1 to 8 beside each sentence to show its place in the story.

(a) After a couple of years, he left the school and studied at St. Paul's school till 1626. (b) Milton was a great poet after Shakespeare. (c) He became blind in 1652 but in the state of blindness he produced 'Paradise lost'. (d) He took his MA degree at the age of 24. (e) At the age of 7, he got himself admitted into Star Palace School in 1615. (f) In 1643, he met Mary Povel on an occasion and married her. (g) But he could not pay attention to his studies in this school. (h) In the succeeding year Milton entered Christ College in Cambridge.

10. Answer the following questions from the poems in your textbook (any 5 of 8)2 × 5 = 10

Answer any 5 of the 8 questions — the best five self-marks count. These questions are from your textbook poems, so please consult your textbook to verify your answers.

1. (a) Have you ever climbed a tree? If yes, what did you do it for? If not, why?
2. (b) In the poem "Green Escape" what elements of the city does the speaker turn away from?
3. (c) In the poem "Ode on Solitude" how does the man wish to live and die?
4. (d) In the poem "Something Told the Wild Geese" how do the orchards contribute to the poem's imagery?
5. (e) In the poem "A Little Plant" what does the little plant do after it hears the raindrops?
6. (f) In the poem "The field of the embroidered quilt" what is the woman doing throughout the night?
7. (g) In the poem "The Children's Song" what do the children promise to their motherland?
8. (h) What significance do the grey hairs in the mirror hold in Hason Raja's song?

11. Read the beginning of the story. Complete it and give a suitable title10

Beginning: Once there lived a poor farmer in a certain village. He supported his family with great hardship. One day he bought a goose. It was a magical goose because it used to lay a golden egg daily....

12. Write a paragraph on 'A Winter Morning' in 150 words10

Answer the questions: (a) What is winter? (b) How is a winter morning? (c) How do animals and people feel in a winter morning? (d) When do people get up? (e) What are the special foods of a winter morning? (f) How can one enjoy in a winter morning? (g) Why is it a curse to the poor?

13. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about your aim in life10

Suppose you are Jamil/Jamila and you have a friend named Saad/Sadia. Your friend is not aware of your aim in life. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about your aim in life.