<p><strong>Read the passage. Then answer the questions below.</strong></p> <p>26 March, our Independence Day, is the biggest state festival. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day begins with a 31 gun salute.</p> <p>Early in the morning the President and the Prime Minister on behalf of the nation place floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar. Then other leaders, political parties, diplomats, social and cultural organisations, educational institutions and freedom fighters pay homage to the martyrs. People from all walks of life also go there with rallies and processions. There are many cultural programmes throughout the day, highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971.</p> <p>The country also witnesses a spectacular parade of defence forces, border guards, police, ansars and the VDP (Village Defence Party) at the National Parade Ground near the National Parliament. In Bangabandhu National Stadium, school children, scouts and girl guides take part in various displays to entertain thousands of spectators. Educational institutions also organise their individual programmes. Sports meets and tournaments are also organised on the day, including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga.</p> <p>In the evening, all major public buildings are illuminated with colourful lights. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organisations hold cultural functions. Similar functions are also arranged in other places in the country.</p> <p> </p> <p>1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives.                                         1Í7=7</p> <p>(a)     Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word ‘homage’ used in the passage in line-6?</p> <p>          i. distinction         </p> <p>          ii. flower     </p> <p>          iii. dishonour       </p> <p>          iv. reverence</p> <p>(b)     —— holds cultural functions.</p> <p>          i. British Council  </p> <p>          ii. Bangla Academy</p> <p>          iii. Shilpakala Academy          </p> <p>          iv. Children Academy</p> <p>(c)     26 March is observed in ——.</p> <p>          i. a normal way   </p> <p>          ii. a simple way</p> <p>          iii. a befitting manner    </p> <p>          iv. an organised way</p> <p>(d)     On this day tribute is paid to the ——.</p> <p>          i. language martyrs      </p> <p>          ii. war martyrs</p> <p>          iii. freedom fighters      </p> <p>           iv. martyred intellectuals</p> <p>(e)     What does the phrase ‘heroic struggle’ mean?</p> <p>          i. miserable struggle               </p> <p>          ii. highly courageous struggle</p> <p>          iii. timid effort       </p> <p>          iv. typical struggle</p> <p>(f)      On Independence Day the National Parade is held——</p> <p>          i. at the National Park   </p> <p>          ii. at Army Stadium</p> <p>          iii. at Dhaka Stadium              </p> <p>          iv. at the National Parade Ground</p> <p>(g)     The Independence Day is regarded as——</p> <p>          i. the religious holiday</p> <p>          ii. the national weekend</p> <p>          iii. the public holiday</p> <p>          iv. the constitutional weekend</p> <p> </p> <p>2. Answer the following questions.       </p> <p>2Í5= 10</p> <p>(a) Why is 26 March celebrated across the country every year?</p> <p>(b) How do we pay homage to the martyrs?</p> <p>(c) Explain the reason of building National Mausoleum.</p> <p>(d) What is the biggest state festival in our country?</p> <p>(e) What does 26 March remind us?</p> <p> </p> <p>3. Read the following text and fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text.                                      </p> <p>1Í5 = 5</p> <p>Our population is increasing day by day. The scarcity of food will be a serious problem. Though our agricultural production has increased, the rate of increase cannot keep pace with population growth. This is because our land is fixed while population is increasing rapidly. Housing problem adds much to the food problem. Families are growing larger and breaking into small families. Each family needs a separate house. Agricultural fields are being divided. Houses, mills and factories occupy a large portion of our land. If population grows at the present rate, a day will come when many people will not find any land to build a house.</p> <p>The passage highlights the (a) —— of population growth. In agriculture, we have some (b) —— but it is obviously a (c) —— to sustain the development. Day by day it is getting more challenging as our (d) —— land is gradually being (e) —— by mills and factories.</p> <p> </p> <p>Answer</p> <p> </p> <p>1.       (a) iv. reverence</p> <p>          (b) ii. Bangla Academy</p> <p>          (c) iii. a befitting manner</p> <p>          (d) ii. war martyrs</p> <p>          (e) highly courageous struggle</p> <p>          (f) iv. at the National Parade Ground</p> <p>          (g) iii. the public holiday</p> <p> </p> <p>2.       (a) 26 March is celebrated across the country every year because it is our independence day.</p> <p>          (b) We place floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar. Several cultural programmes are held highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971. The educational institutions also organize programmes.</p> <p>          (c) The reason of building national memorial is to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices the freedom fighters did, and pay homage to them.</p> <p>          (d) 26 March, our Independence Day, is the biggest state festival in our country.</p> <p>          (e) 26 March, the Independence Day, reminds us of the heroic struggle and sacrifice of the freedom fighters in 1971. It also reminds us of our great protest against the brutal attack of the Pakistani rulers.</p> <p> </p> <p>3.       (a) impact/ effect</p> <p>          (b) achievements</p> <p>          (c) little</p> <p>          (d) agricultural</p> <p>          (e) occupied.</p>