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HSC 2024 (Dhaka Board)

ENGLISH FIRST PAPER

[According to the Syllabus of 2024]

Time: 3 hours

Full marks: 100

[N.B. The figures in the right margin indicate full marks. Answer all the questions.]

Part I: Reading Test

Marks: 60

1.Read the following passage and answer the questions A and B:

The success of Kalsindur girls reads like an epic. They started their journey with practically nothing. They didn't have any boots or jerseys to wear. Initially, they played wearing salwar and kamij. They also suffered from malnutrition. What made them win against all adversities then? What was the magic behind? Mohammad Mafiz Uddin was an assistant teacher at Kalsindur Government Free Primary School where Minati Rani Sheel was the head teacher. They observed the girls’ interest in football and decided to help. It was, however, not that easy. Girls play convinced football is still not a common picture in Bangladesh. Guardians were used as they to seeing girls helping mothers with household chores. A farmer, an auto-rickshaw driver, a tea-shop owner or housemaid mother couldn't be that ambitious either. But Minati Rani Sheel and Mohammad Mafiz Uddin persuaded them to allow their daughters to play. Being great motivators, the two teachers supported the girls in their effort to overcome the odds. They inspired them, created opportunities for them and took personal care of them. Soon the girls could prove themselves, shaking off their inhibition. Their success has also persuaded the villagers to come to their support.

When the girls moved to the nearby secondary school and college, they did not have their Minati Ma’am and Mafiz Uddin Sir with them, but soon another motherly person offered her helping hand-Mala Rani Sarkar, an Assistant Professor of History who was joined by one of her colleagues, Jual Mia. They agreed to coach the girls. Mr. Jalaluddin, who was then the head teacher of the school, also supported them. Gradually the local community, public representatives and the local administration came forward. Bangladesh Football Federation also gave special attention to them and finally another football magician, Golam Robbani Choton, the coach of the Bangladesh Woman's National Football Team, mentored these girls and helped them become complete professional footballers.

A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives: 0.5×10=5

(a) Mohammad Mafiz Uddin was a—

(i) organizer (ii) mentor (iii) promoter (iv) moderator

(b) What does the word 'Malnutrition' mean?

(i) Lack of deliciousness (ii) Lack of taste

(iii) Lack of balanced health (iv) Lack of food

(c) "Girls playing football is not a common picture." —What does it mean?

(i) Football is not a game for girls (ii) Football is not a good game

(iii) Football is restricted for girls (iv)Girls are not regular in playing football

(d) What is the meaning of the word ‘chores’?

(i) House works (ii) Jobs (iii) Forces (iv) Responsibilities

(e) What does the phrase ‘Shake off’ mean here?

(i) Throw (ii) To get rid of (iii) Avoid (iv) Move

(f) Secondary level of school means—

(i) six to eight (ii) six to ten (iii) six to twelve (iv) five to eight

(g) Public representatives are—

(i) non-government workers (ii) paid workers (iii) government workers (iv) elected persons

(h) The very word 'attention' is related to—

(i) physic (ii) mentality (iii) emotion (iv) consciousness

(i) Kalsindur is a—

(i) district (ii) thana (iii) sub-district (iv) village

(j) What is the opposite word of "inhibition"?

(i) Capacity (ii) Advantage (iii) Promotion (iv) Possibility

 

B. Answer the following questions: 3x5=15

(a) "The success of Kalsindur girls reads like an epic" —What does the line indicate?

(b) Who were the persons behind the magic of the success of the girls?

(C) Why were the guardians not interested in allowing the girls playing football?

(d) Who is Golam Rabbani Choton? What was his contribution for the girls?

(e) What inspiration do you get from the success of Kalsindur girls? Discuss.

 

2. Read the following passage and make a flow chart showing the names of junk foods (one is done for you): 1x5=5

Junk foods are processed foods consisting of high calories, but that is considered only as a broad umbrella. These foods are prepared in a way that they look appealing and are enjoyable, so you are chemically programmed to ask for more. According to Dr. Sunali Sharma, a Dietician & Nutritionist, "Commercial products including salted snack foods, chewing gum, candy, sugary deserts, fried fast food and sweetened carbonated beverages that have little or no nutritional value but are high in calories, salt and fats may be considered junk foods. Though not all fast foods are junk foods, a great number of them are. For instance, a salad may be fast food but is definitely not junk food. Some foods like burgers, pizzas, and tacos may alternate between junk and healthy categories depending on the ingredients, calories and process of manufacturing."

1.     Salted snack foods → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6

 

3. Write a summary of the following text: 10

Education gives us knowledge and a set of abilities to function meaningfully in life, such as the ability to decide things rationally and make the right choices. As we learn how to read, write and do the basic operations of arithmetic, we gain a degree of self-confidence. We learn to think for ourselves and articulate our thoughts; we pick up skills to communicate with others and manage our affairs well. Education helps us think independently and make our own opinions. As we know more about the world, we appreciate the good things it offers us but also become critical of the deviations from the values it imparts and the rise of hatred or conflict that follows.

The first thing education does is to give us an awareness about ourselves which leads to the development of our personality. As we being school, we feel the need to belong to the class and make friends. We then expand our sense of belonging to include the school at large, our community and finally our country. Education thus prepares every child to become an active member of the community and work for its welfare.

4. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. There are more words than needed. Make any grammatical change if necessary: 0.5x10=5

prosper	be	so	help	idealism	hence
immortal	positive	country	welfare	materialism	quality

Good citizens are (a)____ people who are possessing the (b)____ attitude about their society, community and (c)____ also. They never possess the quality of (d)____ deviated from the right path. They are always thinking about the (e)____ of their surroundings. They have all the good (f)____ that lead them to the path of (g)____ others. That is why good citizens ae loved by all. They are not thinking of their (h)____ prosperity. And, (i)____ they dedicate their lives for others which (j)____ them.

5. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words: 1x10=10

The development of communication in any (a)____ creates an impact on the development of the economy (b)____ the gross (c)____ product of any country. Bangladesh, in this sense, has become a (d)____ model all over the world. The present government has scheduled (e)____ and such projects recently (f)____ increase the lifestyle of the country people. We can (g)____ here some of such developments: The Padma Multipurpose Bridge, the (h)____ way, the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the river (i)____ and the Metro Rail in Dhaka City. The national and international business will be (j)____ by these kinds of communication development.

 

6. The following sentences are jumbled. Re-arrange them in a proper sequence: 1x10=10

(i) For this, he was awarded gold medal in all India.

(ii) Joynul Abedin was such a personality who enriched our culture.

(iii) The artist did not like the hard rules of school.

(iv) He died on 28 May, 1976 in Dhaka.

(v) Joynul Abedin was born at a village in Kishoregonj in 1914.

(vi) The great personality is a person who contributed for his country or the people.

(vii) He drew the pictures of the famine of the 2nd world war and got huge reputation.

(viii) His father Tamij Uddin was a police officer.

(ix) So, at the age of 15, he went to Kolkata and was admitted in a Government Art College.

(x) He was a great artist who owned name and fame for himself and his country.

Part II—Writing Test

Marks—40

7. The graph below shows the users’ condition of the social sites of mobile phone in internet for the last four years. Now, describe the graph highlighting the information given in the chart. 15

8. The following is the beginning of a story. Complete it in your own words: 15

Raihan is a student who has recently passed the HSC Exam obtaining unexpected marks. He was not attentive to his studies. Rather passed time idly and disobediently. But after his Test Exam….

9. Suppose, you are Jinia. Your younger sister Sonia reads in a school in Dhaka. Now, write a letter to her describing the advantages of learning English.