DHAKA BOARD 2024

 

ENGLISH 2nd PAPER

 

[According to the Syllabus of 2024]

 

Time- 3 hours

Full marks-100

 

Part A – Grammar

 

Marks- 60

 

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

 

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable preposition: 0.5×10=5

 

We learn etiquette and manners (a)____ our parents and various institutions such as schools, colleges or professional bodies. There are rules (b)____ behavior (c)____ all kinds (d)____ social occasions and it is important to learn them and practice them (e)____ everyday life. The manners that are correct (f)____ a wedding reception will not do (g)____ a debating club. Therefore, we have to be careful (h)____ etiquette and manners. We know how important it is to say 'please' and 'thank you' (i)____ everyday life. A few more polite expressions such (j)____ 'Pardon me', 'Excuse me', ‘May I' are bound to make your day smooth and pleasant.

 

2. Complete the sentences with suitable phrases/words given in the box: 0.5x10=5

 

what does…look like	what it	would rather	what’s like	had better
was born	let alone	as if	as soon as	have to

 

(a) Sumi talks too much. It is ____ she were a mad.

 

(b) Can anyone tell me ____ an elephant ____ ? I have never seen an elephant.

 

(c) I am eagerly waiting for your reply. Please answer me _____ you can.

 

(d) ____ swimming in a river? I am so excited.

 

(e) Helmet should be used while driving a motorbike. ____ you were in a bike and met a serious accident?

 

(f) It is a secret matter. We ____ not discuss this in public.

 

(g) Socrates who was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock, ____ in 469 BC.

 

(h) I ____ take an auto bike than go to college on foot. The exam is about to start.

 

(i) Sometimes we____ accept something unwillingly for the sake of peace.

 

(j) I can hardly walk ____ run a race.

 

3. Complete the following sentences with suitable clauses/phrases: 1×10=10

 

(a) Trees are essential for our existence. So, ____.

 

(b) The rats are now thinking who will tie the bell on cat? Finally they realize it is easy to say____

 

(c) Wait until ____. You should not go out alone.

 

(d) Love is divine. You can't find others to love you unless ____.

 

(e) Punctuality is a great virtue. So try ____.

 

(f) The patient was so serious and we were looking for a doctor. Alas! The patient had died before ____.

 

(g) Sharing is ____. So, teach your children how to share.

 

(h) Everybody must be conscious of health because ____.

 

(i) The train will start at 10 am. Now it is 09:55 am. So, walk fast lest ____.

 

(j) Corruption is a hindrance to national development. It is high time ____

 

4. Read the following text and fill the gaps with correct form of verbs as per subject and context: 0.5×14=7

 

Once upon a time, there (a) ____ (be) a king who was very fond of (b) ____ (know) his future from the astrologers. A famous astrologer (c) ____ (stop) at his capital on his way to home. The king called on him to (d) ____ (know) about the future and the astrologer (e) ____ (tell) him something unpleasant. At this the king (f) ____ (get) furious and (g) ____ (condemn) him to death saying, "Men like you (h) ____ (live) to spoil the peace of the world." But another thought (i) ____ (cross) his mind before the astrologer (j) ____ (send) for execution. "How long will you (k) ____ (live)?" asked the king. With ready wit, the astrologer said, "The stars (l) ____ (declare) that I shall die only a week before your majesty, so goodbye." (m) ____ (hear) this, the king turned pale like a dead man and shouted, "Drive this wretch away, let him (n) ____ (come) here again."

 

5. Change the form of narrative style by using indirect speeches: 7

 

"Oh, my Lord! Please do not kill the child," cried the woman, "Let her have the child." The king said, "Now everything is clear to me." Pointing to the woman, the king again said to the servant, "Give her the child. She is the real mother."

 

6. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces: 0.5x10=5

 

Once there lived a (a) ____ (pre-modify the noun) fox in a jungle. One day, while he was walking (b) ____ (post modify the verb with a prepositional phrase), he fell into a trap and lost his tail. He felt very unhappy and sad. But the fox was (c) ____ (pre-modify the adjective) cunning too. He hit upon a plan and invited all the foxes (d) ____ (use an infinitive phrase). When all the foxes arrived, the fox, (e) ____ (use an appositive), said, "My dear friends, I have discovered a new thing. It is that (f) ____ (use a possessive to pre-modify the noun) tails are quite useless. They look (g) ____ (pre-modify the adjective) ugly and dirty too. So, we all should cut off our tails, shouldn't we?" Most of them agreed with the cunning fox (h) ____ (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) their tails. But an old and (i) ____ (pre-modify the noun) fox said to the cunning fox, "My friend, your plan is nice but evil. Actually you want to cut off our tails because you have lost (j) ____ (pre modify the noun with a determiner) tail of your own."

 

 

7. Use appropriate sentence connectors in the blank spaces of the following passage: 0.5×14=7

 

Teaching is a noble profession. (a) ____ to be a teacher, one must possess some noble qualities too. (b) ____, he should be a student. (c) ____ teaching is related to knowledge, he can't acquire knowledge (d) ____ he is a student. (e) ____ a teacher thinks (f) ____ he knows everything, he can't be a good teacher. (g) ____ thirst for knowledge is the second best a quality of a teacher. (h) ____, a teacher should be a psychologist. Different students have different ways of learning. (i) ____ the teacher needs to teach his students by studying their psychology. Fourthly a teacher should have good delivery power. (j) ____ his voice should be clear (k) ____ artistic. (l) ____ a teacher should be an actor (m) ____ he needs to behave according to the classroom situation. And (n) ____ , a teacher must be a good human being.

 

8. Read the passage below and write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed: 0.5x14=7

 

All (Antonym) of us know what a dream (Synonym) is. Generally (Antonym), we dream during our sleep (Antonym). Dreams may appear (Antonym) to be short (Synonym) or long (Synonym) lasting. Sometimes (Antonym) we say, I dreamt for the whole night (Synonym)! But do we really (Synonym) dream for the whole night? Some dreams are sweet or romantic (Antonym). Some are horrible (Synonym). When we dream something extremely (Synonym) bad, we call it a nightmare (Antonym).

 

9. There are fourteen errors in the use of punctuation in the following text. Re-write the text correcting the errors. Use capital letters if necessary. 0.5×14=7

 

Sumi said to Rumi what will you do after hsc exam ill take preparation for varsity admission whats about you said Rumi

 

 

Part B – Guided Writing

 

Marks 40

 

10. Suppose you are a student of Govt. Women's College. Now write an application to your Principal to establish an English Language Club in the college. 10

 

11. Write a descriptive paragraph on "Pahela Baishakh." 15

 

12. Write a paragraph on "Village Life and City Life"-based on the similarities and dissimilarities you find. 15