S e e n C o m p r e h e n s i o n
Read the following passage and answer questions no 1 and 2 :
River gypsies are an ethnic group in Bangladesh. They are known as Bedey to local people. The gypsies gave their own lifestyle and culture. They live in groups and do not own any land. Therefore they live a nomadic life travelling from one place to another. These people roam across our rivers and water from May to December in small country boats. These people roam across our rivers and water from May to December in small country boats. These boats are their houses and these people are a part of our waters. In winter, many water bodies dry up. At that time they return to the mainland and live in make shift tarpaulin tents on open river bank. You can see men relaxing in the tents. Toddlers play with dogs or other pets in the dust. Women often idle away time by hair doing, picking of lice in twos or threes sitting a row. Throughout the monsoon they remain busy in fishing. They also dive for natural pearls in water. Sometimes they camp for a couple of weeks. Men catch snakes and entertain people with snake charming and sell herbal cures. Women go from door to door to sell bangles, cosmetics and other things. They also try to heat pains of old people often by sucking out blood from their body. Many villagers believe in the magical power of the gypsies. They can make an evil spirit leave someone’s boy body magic or special power.
1. Choose the best answer form the alternatives : 1 X 7=7
a. Tarpaulin can be replaced by ___
i) transformer ii) water-proof canvas iii) water bodies iv) tabasco
b. What is the meaning of the word ‘make-shift’?
i) Temporary ii) Mechanism iii) Permanent iv) Merchandise
c. The word ‘idle away’ in the passage means _____
i) waste ii) pass iii) misuse
iv) throw away
d. The gypsy women are _____
i) shy ii) conservative iii) active iv) lazy
e. The gypsies help the people by ____
i) picking off lice ii) occupying water bodies
iii) providing medical treatment
iv) bringing up children
f. The gypsies have no ___
i) language ii) religion iii) land possession iv) culture
g. They can do the evil spirit away with ___
i) herbal medicine ii) sucking blood iii) magic powers iv) other things
2. Answer the following questions from your reading of the above text. 2 X 4=8
a) Why do the gypsies live a nomadic life?
b) Which season do the gypsies like most? Why?
c) How is the winter season for the gypsies?
d) Do you think they should be given the facilities that we enjoy? Why?
3. Fill in the blanks with contextually appropriate words. 1 X 5=5
Before the beginning of the 20th century, Pearls were (a) ____ from pearl oysters. These oysters were collected from the (b) ____ of the ocean, lake or river. To get enough pearl oysters, free divers were often (c) ____ descend to the depth of more than 100 feet in one breath. Because of the difficulty of diving, (d) _____ were of different quality as well as very rare. In Asia, some pearl oysters (e) _____ found on shoals at a depth of 5-7 feet from the surface.
Answer
1. a. ii) water-proof canvas
b. i) temporary
c. ii) pass
d. iii) active
e. iii) providing medical treatment
f. iii) land possession
g. iii) magic powers.
2.
a) The gypsies live a nomadic life because they have no land of their own.
b) The gypsies like most the rainy season from May to December. In this season, they can roam across the rivers and travel from one place to another.
c) In winter season, the gypsies return to the main land and live in the temporary tents on open river banks. Men are seen relaxing in the tents whereas women often pass their time by hair doing or picking off lice sitting in a row.
d) Yes, I think the gypsies should be given the facilities that we enjoy. Because, as human being, they also have the right to get all those basic needs, opportunities like us.
3. a) collected
b) bottom
c) forced to
d) pearls
e) could be.
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