বেসিক ইংলিশ (Basic English) – 201105, আল-কুরআন অ্যান্ড ইসলামিক স্টাডিজ – ফাজিল অনার্স ১ম বর্ষ পরীক্ষা ২০২১

পরীক্ষা কোড: ২০১ | প্রশ্নপত্র কোড: ০০৫
FAZIL (HON’S) FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION, 2021
AL-QURAN AND ISLAMIC STUDIES
BASIC ENGLISH
Subject code: 201105
Time—4 hours | Full marks—80

[N.B : The figures in the right margin indicate full marks.]

Part A—Grammar

Marks—40

1. Identify the determiners, headwords, modifiers, infinitive, appositives and phrases: (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

Given Sentence:
“The popular search engine Google receives more than 8.5 billion searches a day which helps the explorers to achieve knowledge about different perspectives.”

Grammatical Identification & Detailed Analysis:

1. Determiners:
   • The (Definite article specifying “popular search engine”).
   • a (Indefinite article in “a day”).
   • the (Definite article specifying “explorers”).
2. Headwords:
   • engine (Headword of the subject noun phrase “The popular search engine”).
   • Google (Headword proper noun functioning in apposition).
   • searches (Headword noun of the direct object phrase).
   • explorers (Headword noun of the relative clause’s object).
   • knowledge (Headword noun of the infinitive’s object).
   • perspectives (Headword noun in the prepositional phrase).
3. Modifiers:
   • popular (Pre-modifying adjective qualifying “search engine”).
   • search (Noun adjunct modifying “engine”).
   • more than 8.5 billion (Quantifier phrase pre-modifying “searches”).
   • different (Adjective modifying “perspectives”).
4. Infinitive:
   • to achieve (To-infinitive functioning as an object complement or objective purpose).
5. Appositives:
   • Google (Noun in apposition identifying and renaming “The popular search engine”).
6. Phrases:
   • The popular search engine (Noun Phrase).
   • more than 8.5 billion searches (Noun Phrase).
   • a day (Adverbial Phrase of frequency).
   • to achieve knowledge about different perspectives (Infinitive Phrase).
   • about different perspectives (Prepositional Phrase).

2. Re-write the following sentences using the right form of verbs (any five): (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

1. (a) You (swim) now.
   Answer: You are swimming now.
   Rule: If an indicator of present continuous action like ‘now’, ‘at present’, or ‘at this moment’ is present, the verb takes the Present Continuous Tense.
2. (b) I (finish) the work before he came.
   Answer: I had finished the work before he came.
   Rule: In a complex sentence with ‘before’, the earlier past action takes the Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) while the subsequent action takes the Past Indefinite Tense.
3. (c) Would you mind (open) the door?
   Answer: Would you mind opening the door?
   Rule: After expressions like ‘would you mind’, ‘look forward to’, ‘with a view to’, or ‘cannot help’, the following verb takes the gerund form (verb + ing).
4. (d) I found the girl (read).
   Answer: I found the girl reading.
   Rule: Verbs of perception (find, see, hear, notice) followed by an object take a Present Participle (verb + ing) to indicate an ongoing action.
5. (e) I wish I (be) a child again.
   Answer: I wish I were a child again.
   Rule: After ‘I wish’ expressing an unreal or imaginary condition, the subjunctive past ‘were’ is used regardless of the person and number of the subject.
6. (f) If he had come, I (go).
   Answer: If he had come, I would have gone.
   Rule: In the third conditional clause (If + Past Perfect), the main clause structure must be: subject + would have / could have / might have + past participle.
7. (g) Five years (pass) since his father died.
   Answer: Five years have passed since his father died.
   Rule: When ‘since’ connects two clauses and the second clause is in the Past Indefinite Tense, the preceding clause takes the Present Perfect Tense.

3. Fill in the blanks of the following sentences with appropriate prepositions (any five): (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

1. (a) Write — me soon.
   Answer: Write to me soon.
   Explanation: The verb ‘write’ takes the preposition ‘to’ when indicating the recipient of a letter or message.
2. (b) What is your town famous —?
   Answer: What is your town famous for?
   Explanation: ‘Famous for’ is an appropriate prepositional collocation meaning renowned or celebrated because of a specific trait.
3. (c) He poured the tea — the mug.
   Answer: He poured the tea into the mug.
   Explanation: The preposition ‘into’ denotes motion directed toward the interior of an enclosed space or container.
4. (d) The new term begins — July 1st.
   Answer: The new term begins on July 1st.
   Explanation: The preposition ‘on’ is used before specific calendar dates and days of the week.
5. (e) They are called — different names.
   Answer: They are called by different names.
   Explanation: ‘Called by’ is used when referring to the name, designation, or title attributed to someone or something.
6. (f) Match the pictures — the names.
   Answer: Match the pictures with (or to) the names.
   Explanation: The verb ‘match’ pairs with ‘with’ or ‘to’ when setting things in corresponding pairs.
7. (g) This material is different — that.
   Answer: This material is different from that.
   Explanation: In formal standard English, the adjective ‘different’ takes the preposition ‘from’ to indicate contrast or distinction.

4. Change the voice of the following sentences (any five): (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

1. (a) Industry brings success. (Active)
   Answer: Success is brought by industry. (Passive)
   Rule: Simple Present Tense passive voice structure: Object as Subject + am/is/are + past participle + by + Subject as Object.
2. (b) Flowers are used on different occasions. (Passive)
   Answer: People use flowers on different occasions. / We use flowers on different occasions. (Active)
   Rule: Passive without a mentioned agent is converted by introducing a logical subject such as ‘people’ or ‘we’.
3. (c) Don’t look down upon the poor. (Active)
   Answer: Let not the poor be looked down upon. (Passive)
   Rule: Imperative negative sentence starting with ‘Don’t’: Let not + Object + be + past participle + remaining preposition.
4. (d) Tourists from home and abroad visit Cox’s Bazar. (Active)
   Answer: Cox’s Bazar is visited by tourists from home and abroad. (Passive)
   Rule: Simple Present Active turned into Passive: Subject (Cox’s Bazar) + is + visited + by + agent.
5. (e) He was given a warm welcome. (Passive)
   Answer: They gave him a warm welcome. / People gave him a warm welcome. (Active)
   Rule: Simple Past Passive turned into Active using an indefinite agent ‘They’ or ‘People’ with the verb ‘gave’.
6. (f) Follow his instructions strictly. (Active)
   Answer: Let his instructions be followed strictly. (Passive)
   Rule: Imperative affirmative sentence: Let + Object + be + past participle + adverb.
7. (g) Who gave you this pen? (Active)
   Answer: By whom were you given this pen? / By whom was this pen given to you? (Passive)
   Rule: Interrogative ‘Who’ changes to ‘By whom’ + auxiliary verb (were/was) + subject + past participle.

5. Change the following direct speech into indirect speech (any five): (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

1. (a) Direct: Ahmed said to me, “Happy Eid ul-Adha!”
   Indirect: Ahmed wished me Happy Eid ul-Adha.
   Rule: For greeting expressions of goodwill, the reporting verb is changed to ‘wished’ followed by the object and the greeting phrase.
2. (b) Direct: He said to me, “May Allah recover you.”
   Indirect: He prayed that Allah might recover me.
   Rule: In optative sentences expressing prayer, reporting verb becomes ‘prayed’, connective ‘that’ is added, and ‘may’ changes to ‘might’.
3. (c) Direct: The Principal said to the students, “Do not tell a lie.”
   Indirect: The Principal advised the students not to tell a lie. (or: The Principal forbade the students to tell a lie.)
   Rule: In negative imperative sentences, the reporting verb changes to ‘advised’ with ‘not to’ + base verb, or ‘forbade’ with ‘to’ + base verb.
4. (d) Direct: “Shall we plant the trees, sir?” he said.
   Indirect: Addressing respectfully, he asked if they should plant the trees. (or: He respectfully suggested that they should plant the trees.)
   Rule: ‘Sir’ is rendered as ‘respectfully’, and ‘shall we’ in inquiries transforms into indirect question with ‘if/whether’ and subject pronoun ‘they’.
5. (e) Direct: He said, “Good bye, my friends!”
   Indirect: He bade his friends good bye.
   Rule: For farewell expressions like ‘good bye’, the reporting verb changes to ‘bade’ followed by the person addressed.
6. (f) Direct: Mamun said, “What a wonderful bird it is!”
   Indirect: Mamun exclaimed with wonder that it was a very wonderful bird.
   Rule: Exclamatory sentences change reporting verb to ‘exclaimed with joy/wonder’, linker ‘that’, and exclamatory word transforms into ‘very’.
7. (g) Direct: Kamal said to Jamal, “Congratulation.”
   Indirect: Kamal congratulated Jamal.
   Rule: Salutations of congratulation change the reporting verb directly into the transitive past verb ‘congratulated’.

6. Make sentences with the following phrases and idioms (any five): (Marks: 1 × 5 = 5)

1. (a) Pros and cons (ভালো-মন্দ / খুঁটিনাটি সকল দিক):
   Sentence: You should carefully consider the pros and cons of the business proposal before investing your money.
2. (b) Ups and downs (উত্থান-পতন):
   Sentence: Human life is full of ups and downs, so one should never lose hope during adversity.
3. (c) Bed of roses (পুষ্পশয্যা / নিষ্কণ্টক সুখের জীবন):
   Sentence: Life is not a bed of roses; rather it demands continuous struggle and perseverance.
4. (d) Crocodile tears (মায়াকান্না / কপট শোক):
   Sentence: Do not be deceived by his crocodile tears, for he has no genuine sympathy for you.
5. (e) Nip in the bud (অঙ্কুরেই বিনষ্ট করা):
   Sentence: Bad habits among children must be nipped in the bud before they turn into serious vices.
6. (f) Chicken-hearted (ভীরু / কাপুরুষ চিত্তের):
   Sentence: A chicken-hearted soldier can never display courage on the battlefield.
7. (g) Beyond dispute (সন্দেহের অতীত / অবিসংবাদিত):
   Sentence: His unyielding honesty, dedication, and integrity as an educator are beyond dispute.

7. Complete the following sentences with appropriate parts of speech: (Marks: 1 × 10 = 10)

1. (a) The bridge was constructed long ago. It — yesterday.
   Answer: It collapsed (or: fell) yesterday. [Verb]
2. (b) Sazia opened the door —. She tiptoed into the room.
   Answer: Sazia opened the door quietly (or: gently / softly). [Adverb]
3. (c) Today is a holiday. I — TV at the moment.
   Answer: I am watching TV at the moment. [Verb Phrase]
4. (d) I’m quite happy to walk. You — drive me home.
   Answer: You needn’t (or: don’t have to) drive me home. [Modal Auxiliary / Verb]
5. (e) I saw the minister in a — mood. He is honest.
   Answer: I saw the minister in a cheerful (or: pleasant / thoughtful) mood. He is honest. [Adjective]
6. (f) Weather is very hot. Hasn’t the classroom got — central cooling system?
   Answer: Hasn’t the classroom got a (or: any) central cooling system? [Article / Determiner]
7. (g) The boy was very —. He won the first prize.
   Answer: The boy was very brilliant (or: talented / diligent). He won the first prize. [Adjective]
8. (h) Give — a glass of water. I am thirsty.
   Answer: Give me a glass of water. I am thirsty. [Objective Pronoun]
9. (i) A good — listens carefully to his teacher. He imitates his pronunciation.
   Answer: A good student (or: learner) listens carefully to his teacher. He imitates his pronunciation. [Noun]
10. (j) I knew a man — lived in a village. It was not very far from the city.
    Answer: I knew a man who lived in a village. It was not very far from the city. [Relative Pronoun]

Part B—Translation

Marks—10

8. Translate from the Holy Quran: (Marks: 5 × 2 = 10)

(a) Translate the Sura ‘Al-Asr’ into English: (5)

Original Arabic Text:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾

English Translation:
“In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. By time,
2. Indeed, mankind is in loss,
3. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”

Word-for-Word Vocabulary & Grammatical Exegesis:

• وَالْعَصْرِ (Wal-‘Asr): By the fleeting passage of time / By the afternoon era (Divine oath highlighting the supreme value of human lifespan).
• إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ (Innal-Insāna): Verily, all of humanity / mankind without exception.
• لَفِي خُسْرٍ (Lafī khusr): Is certainly submerged in utter loss, ruin, and spiritual bankruptcy.
• إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (Illalladhīna āmanū): Save those who hold firm faith and authentic Islamic belief.
• وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ (Wa ‘amilus-ṣāliḥāt): And perform righteous, virtuous deeds according to the divine commandments.
• وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ (Wa tawāṣaw bil-ḥaqq): And mutually counsel, exhort, and encourage one another to adhere to truth and justice.
• وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ (Wa tawāṣaw biṣ-ṣabr): And mutually exhort one another to persevere with steadfast patience and fortitude.

(b) Translate the Ayats into English: (5)

Original Arabic Text:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ لَيْلًا مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ

English Translation:
“Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing.” (Surah Al-Isra, 17:1)

Word-for-Word Vocabulary & Theological Context:

• سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي (Subḥānalladhī): Glory be to Him / Exalted and free from all imperfection is He Who.
• أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِ (Asrā bi-‘abdihi): Transported His devoted servant [Prophet Muhammad ﷺ] by night both in body and soul.
• لَيْلًا (Laylan): By night (indicating a portion of the night).
• مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ (Minal-Masjidil-Ḥarām): From the Sacred Mosque in Makkah.
• إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ الْأَقْصَى (Ilal-Masjidil-Aqṣā): To the Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis).
• الَّذِي بَارَكْنَا حَوْلَهُ (Alladhī bāraknā ḥawlahu): The vicinity whereof We have blessed with spiritual abundance, prophets, and fertile physical provisions.
• لِنُرِيَهُ مِنْ آيَاتِنَا (Linuriyahu min āyātinā): In order that We might show him some of Our greatest cosmic signs and divine realities.
• إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ (Innahu Huwas-Samī’ul-Baṣīr): Verily, He alone is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.

Part C—Composition

Marks—30

9. Write a paragraph on ‘Load-Shedding’. (Marks: 10)

LOAD-SHEDDING

Load-shedding means the planned or unplanned suspension of electricity supply to a particular area for a certain period when the demand for electrical power exceeds the available generation capacity. It has become one of the most painful, acute, and persistent problems in our daily socio-economic life. The primary causes of load-shedding are insufficient generation of power, shortage of gas and fuel supply to power plants, technical defects, transmission loss, system loss, and unauthorized electric connections. The catastrophic effects of load-shedding are felt in every corner of national life. When electricity goes out, darkness descends, disrupting homes, offices, schools, and hospitals. Domestic life becomes miserable, especially during the sweltering heat of summer. The most pathetic victims of load-shedding are the students. When electricity fails at night, their study schedule is severely hampered, particularly during examinations. Critical medical operations and patient care in hospitals are dangerously disrupted when emergency generators fail. Furthermore, industrial production comes to a grinding standstill in mills, garment factories, and manufacturing units, causing monumental economic losses and damaging national exports. To solve this excruciating crisis, the government must adopt realistic, multi-dimensional, and far-sighted policies. New power stations should be set up, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power must be vigorously explored, system loss and corruption in the power distribution sector must be eradicated, and misuse of electricity must be curbed. Without uninterrupted power supply, no country can achieve sustainable socio-economic development and digital transformation.

10. Write an application to the Principal of your Madrasah to provide multimedia facilities for classroom. (Marks: 10)

Date: 26 October 2021

To,
The Principal,
Darunnajath Siddikia Kamil Madrasah,
Demra, Dhaka-1360.

Subject: Application for providing multimedia classroom facilities.

Sir,
We, the undergraduate students of Fazil (Honours) First Year in your esteemed institution, beg most respectfully to lay before you the following humble request for your sympathetic and favorable consideration.

In this modern digital era, visual and interactive teaching methodologies have revolutionized educational delivery worldwide. Although our madrasah has achieved outstanding academic laurels, our teaching-learning environment remains predominantly traditional, relying heavily on blackboard lectures. Courses such as Basic English, Applied Arabic, Islamic Studies, and ICT require audio-visual presentations, interactive grammatical demonstrations, and digitized Quranic recitation software to ensure profound comprehension. Without multimedia projectors, digital screens, and sound systems in our classrooms, our understanding of phonetic pronunciation, visual lectures, and global seminars remains severely constrained. The introduction of modern multimedia facilities will make lessons tremendously engaging, dynamic, and easy to grasp for every student.

We, therefore, earnestly pray and hope that your honor would be benevolent and progressive enough to install multimedia projector facilities in our honours classrooms at an early date and oblige thereby.

We remain,
Sir,
Your most obedient pupils,
The students of Fazil (Honours) First Year
Department of Al-Quran and Islamic Studies

11. Write a dialogue between you and your friend about the dangers of smoking. (Marks: 10)

A Dialogue Between Two Friends on the Harmful Effects of Smoking:

Characters: Rayhan (myself) and Fahim (my friend).

• Rayhan: As-salamu alaykum, Fahim! How are you doing today?
• Fahim: Wa alaykumus-salam, Rayhan! I am fine, thank you. But why do you look so concerned and serious?
• Rayhan: I am deeply troubled because yesterday I saw our classmate Tanvir smoking cigarettes behind the campus canteen.
• Fahim: Oh, that is indeed very shocking and alarming! Smoking is an extremely dangerous and lethal habit.
• Rayhan: Exactly! Tobacco smoke contains thousands of lethal chemicals, including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, and arsenic. Nicotine creates fierce psychological and physical addiction.
• Fahim: Absolutely. Regular smoking directly causes lung cancer, bronchitis, chronic asthma, cardiovascular disease, and severe heart attacks. It severely damages the respiratory tract.
• Rayhan: Not only that, smoking is also a colossal waste of hard-earned money. Young smokers often divert their meal or book allowances into purchasing cigarettes.
• Fahim: What is even worse is the danger of passive smoking. Non-smokers who inhale secondhand smoke in public vehicles or family rooms suffer almost the same devastating health risks as active smokers.
• Rayhan: You are completely right. Furthermore, Islam strictly prohibits anything that harms one’s physical body and squanders wealth without legitimate purpose. Our health is a sacred trust from Almighty Allah.
• Fahim: True. Many young individuals start smoking due to bad peer pressure, curiosity, or a false sense of smartness, and end up ruining their bright careers.
• Rayhan: We must meet Tanvir today, counsel him with empathy, explain these catastrophic consequences, and assist him in quitting smoking completely.
• Fahim: That is a noble plan. We should also arrange an anti-smoking awareness seminar in our madrasah. Thank you, Rayhan, for raising this vital issue.
• Rayhan: You are most welcome, Fahim. Let us take a firm vow: “Say No to Smoking, Say Yes to Life!”

সাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা (FAQ)