FAZIL (DEGREE) HON’S FIRST YEAR EXAMINATION, 2021
Department: Al-Hadith and Islamic Studies
Subject: Basic English
Subject Code: 202105 | Time: 4 Hours | Full Marks: 80
২০২১ সালের ফাজিল (স্নাতক) সম্মান ১ম বর্ষের আল-হাদিস অ্যান্ড ইসলামিক স্টাডিজ বিভাগের আবশ্যিক ‘বেসিক ইংলিশ’ (Basic English – 202105) পরীক্ষাটির প্রশ্নপত্র মূলত তিনটি অংশে বিভক্ত ছিল: Part A – Grammar (Marks 40), Part B – Translation (Marks 10), এবং Part C – Composition (Marks 30)। নিচে পরীক্ষার্থীদের সর্বোচ্চ নম্বর প্রাপ্তি ও প্রস্তুতি নিশ্চিত করার লক্ষ্যে প্রতিটি প্রশ্নের নির্ভুল ও প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক সমাধান প্রদান করা হলো।
Part A — Grammar [Marks: 40]
1. Identify the determiners, headwords, modifiers, infinitive, appositives and phrases: [Marks: 5]
Given Sentence:
“Doing all his daily works, Mamun, a skilled engineer, intends to go to a cafe to take coffee with his colleagues discussing how to develop and to finish site construction rapidly.”
Grammatical Identification:
| Grammatical Item | Identified Element(s) from Sentence | Syntactic Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Determiners | all, his, a (in ‘a skilled engineer’, ‘a cafe’) | Words that specify and limit the reference of following nouns. |
| Headwords | Mamun (Subject), engineer (in appositive), cafe, coffee, colleagues, construction | The primary core nouns around which nominal groups and phrases are formed. |
| Modifiers | daily (pre-modifier of ‘works’), skilled (pre-modifier of ‘engineer’), rapidly (post-modifier adverb of ‘finish’) | Adjectives and adverbs that qualify or add descriptive details to nouns/verbs. |
| Infinitives | to go, to take, to develop, to finish | Base verbs preceded by ‘to’ functioning as verbal complements or adverbials of purpose. |
| Appositive | a skilled engineer | Noun phrase set off by commas that renames and identifies the subject ‘Mamun’. |
| Phrases | Participle phrase: “Doing all his daily works”, Prepositional phrases: “to a cafe”, “with his colleagues”, Participle clause: “discussing how to develop…” | Groups of related words without a finite predicate functioning as grammatical units. |
2. Re-write the following sentences using the right form of verbs (any five): [Marks: 1 × 5 = 5]
(পরীক্ষায় পাঁচটি চাওয়া হলেও শিক্ষার্থীদের সুবিধার্থে সকল বিকল্পের নির্ভুল সমাধান দেওয়া হলো):
- (a) Mamun got a job after he (pass).
Answer: Mamun got a job after he had passed.
(Rule: In sentences with ‘after’, the past perfect tense is used for the earlier action after the conjunction). - (b) If you invited me I (attend) the function.
Answer: If you invited me, I would attend the function.
(Rule: Second conditional: If + Past Indefinite -> Subject + would/could/might + base form of verb). - (c) He is fond of (listen) music.
Answer: He is fond of listening to music.
(Rule: Prepositions are followed by gerund [verb+ing], and ‘listen’ takes the preposition ‘to’). - (d) Would that he (be) a teacher.
Answer: Would that he were a teacher.
(Rule: ‘Would that’ expressing an unreal wish requires the subjunctive past ‘were’ regardless of person). - (e) Why he (look) so gloomy yesterday?
Answer: Why did he look so gloomy yesterday?
(Rule: Interrogative sentence in past tense with time indicator ‘yesterday’ requires ‘did + subject + base verb’). - (f) The boy saw the thief (run) away.
Answer: The boy saw the thief running away. (or: run away)
(Rule: Verbs of perception like ‘see’ take present participle for ongoing action or bare infinitive for completed action). - (g) Each of the girls (give) a prize.
Answer: Each of the girls was given a prize. (or: is given)
(Rule: ‘Each of’ takes a singular verb, and passive voice is required since the girls received the prize).
3. Fill in the blanks of the following sentences with appropriate prepositions (any five): [Marks: 1 × 5 = 5]
- (a) A tree is known — its fruits.
Answer: A tree is known by its fruits. - (b) He is victim — his circumstances.
Answer: He is victim to / of his circumstances. - (c) He does not pay heed — his father’s words.
Answer: He does not pay heed to his father’s words. - (d) They waited — us at the station.
Answer: They waited for us at the station. - (e) Respond — the roll calls.
Answer: Respond to the roll calls. - (f) He supplied us — food.
Answer: He supplied us with food. - (g) Their family settled — the USA.
Answer: Their family settled in the USA.
4. Change the voice of the following sentences (any five): [Marks: 1 × 5 = 5]
- (a) We elected him President.
Passive: He was elected President by us. - (b) Don’t hate the poor.
Passive: Let not the poor be hated. - (c) Why did you do the work?
Passive: Why was the work done by you? - (d) Who will save you now?
Passive: By whom will you be saved now? - (e) I was shocked at his failure.
Active: His failure shocked me. - (f) We found him begging in the street.
Passive: He was found begging in the street by us. - (g) By whom has the plate been broken?
Active: Who has broken the plate?
5. Change the following direct speech into indirect speech (any five): [Marks: 1 × 5 = 5]
- (a) She said, “I have lost my purse.”
Indirect: She said that she had lost her purse. - (b) He asked me, “How much did you pay for this book?”
Indirect: He asked me how much I had paid for that book. - (c) The man said, “Can you show me the nearest hotel?”
Indirect: The man asked me if I could show him the nearest hotel. - (d) The teacher said to the students, “Do not tell a lie.”
Indirect: The teacher advised the students not to tell a lie. (or: The teacher forbade the students to tell a lie.) - (e) The officer said to the worker, “Leave the room at once.”
Indirect: The officer ordered the worker to leave the room at once. - (f) Sarif said to his classmates, “Friends listen to me.”
Indirect: Addressing his classmates as friends, Sarif requested them to listen to him. - (g) Father said to his son, “May Allah bless you.”
Indirect: Father prayed that Allah might bless his son.
6. Make sentences with the following phrases and idioms (any five): [Marks: 1 × 5 = 5]
- (a) Come round (to recover / আরোগ্য লাভ করা): We hope that the patient will come round very soon by the grace of Allah.
- (b) Call in question (to doubt / সন্দেহ বা প্রশ্নবিদ্ধ করা): His honesty and integrity cannot be called in question.
- (c) Rank and file (common members / সাধারণ কর্মী বা সৈনিক): The rank and file of the party worked hard to win the national election.
- (d) Head and ears (completely / আপাদমস্তক বা গভীরভাবে): He is over head and ears in debt due to reckless business ventures.
- (e) Maiden speech (first official speech / প্রথম বক্তৃতা): His maiden speech in the parliament impressed all the senior politicians.
- (f) Bill of fare (menu card / খাবার ও মূল্যের তালিকা): The waiter handed us the bill of fare as soon as we sat at the restaurant table.
- (g) Break the ice (to overcome initial awkwardness / নীরবতা ভেঙে আলাপ শুরু করা): Someone had to break the ice to start the important business negotiation.
7. Complete the following sentences using appropriate parts of speech: [Marks: 1 × 10 = 10]
- (a) Sincerity is the best way of achieving success.
- (b) ‘Tsunami’ is a Japanese word which means marine earthquake.
- (c) Air and water are two vital elements of the environment.
- (d) Pohela Baishakh is one of the greatest cultural festivals in Bangladesh.
- (e) Good manners are largely a matter of habit.
- (f) A wide range of programmes is telecast on numerous channels.
- (g) The poor people are not always sincere.
- (h) Trees give us shade and oxygen.
- (i) Women are no longer confined within the four walls of their home.
- (j) Unfortunately we can’t enjoy the uninterrupted supply of electricity.
Part B — Translation [Marks: 10]
8. Translate from the Holy Quran:
(a) Translate the Sura ‘Al-Asr’ into English: [Marks: 5]
«بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ – وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ 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.”
- “By time,” (or: By the declining day / By the passage of time,)
- “Indeed, mankind is in loss,”
- “Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.”
(b) Translate the Ayats into English (Surah Al-Kawthar): [Marks: 5]
«إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ﴿١﴾ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴿٢﴾ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ ﴿٣﴾»
English Translation:
- “Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar (abundance of all goodness).”
- “So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone].”
- “Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off [from all goodness and posterity].”
Part C — Composition [Marks: 30]
9. Write a paragraph on ‘Metro Rail’. [Marks: 10]
Metro Rail: A New Era of Urban Transport in Bangladesh
Metro Rail is a modern, rapid transit system that represents a historic breakthrough in the urban infrastructure and public transportation of Bangladesh. Inaugurated partially in December 2022 and expanded progressively across Dhaka, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Line-6) connects Uttara to Motijheel, serving as the lifeline for thousands of commuters daily. Dhaka, one of the most densely populated megacities in the world, has long been plagued by unbearable traffic congestion, which caused massive economic losses, wastage of productive working hours, and severe environmental pollution. The introduction of the fully electric, elevated, and automated Metro Rail has radically transformed this landscape. Commuters who previously required two to three hours to travel across the capital can now cover the distance in less than forty minutes in air-conditioned, noise-free comfort. Furthermore, the Metro Rail contributes significantly to environmental sustainability by reducing fossil fuel emissions and carbon footprint. With modern automated ticketing systems, smart rapid passes, dedicated coaches for women, and wheelchair accessibility for persons with special needs, Dhaka Metro Rail stands as a shining symbol of modern, smart, and progressive Bangladesh. Continued expansion of the Metro network to other routes will further boost productivity and enhance the overall quality of urban life.
10. Write an application to the Principal of your Madrasah seeking permission to hold a cultural function in your madrasah. [Marks: 10]
25 October 2021
The Principal
Darul Rashad Model Kamil Madrasah
Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Subject: Application for permission to organize an Islamic cultural function.
Respected Sir,
We, the students of your esteemed institution, beg most respectfully to bring to your kind notice that our madrasah has a glorious tradition of fostering both academic excellence and co-curricular pursuits. To celebrate the rich heritage of Islamic culture, moral values, and creative talents among the students, we earnestly wish to organize an Annual Islamic Cultural Function in our madrasah auditorium in the coming week.
The proposed event will include recitation from the Holy Quran, Qirat competition, Islamic calligraphy exhibition, Hamd-Naat performance, and speeches on Islamic history and contemporary values. A committee composed of senior teachers has already agreed to supervise the program and ensure complete discipline, solemnity, and decorum throughout the proceedings.
We, therefore, fervently pray and hope that your honour would be benevolent enough to grant us permission and sanction a modest allocation from the madrasah cultural fund to make the function a resounding success.
Yours obediently,
The Students of Darul Rashad Model Kamil Madrasah
Dhaka
11. Write a dialogue between you and your friend on the importance of tree plantation. [Marks: 10]
A Dialogue on the Importance of Tree Plantation
Myself: Assalamu Alaikum, Hasan! How are you doing today?
Hasan: Wa Alaikumus Salaam! I am doing well, but I was just reading an alarming report on global warming and deforestation.
Myself: That is indeed one of the greatest ecological crises facing our planet. Indiscriminate cutting down of trees is destroying our ecological balance rapidly.
Hasan: Absolutely. Trees are not just ornamental plants; they are the true saviors of human civilization. Could you elaborate on why tree plantation is so vital?
Myself: Certainly! Trees supply the very oxygen we breathe and absorb carbon dioxide, which is the main greenhouse gas responsible for climate change. Without trees, the earth would turn into a scorching, barren desert.
Hasan: You are quite right. Trees also protect us from natural calamities like floods, cyclones, and river erosion by holding the soil firmly with their roots.
Myself: Not only that, trees provide us with fruits, timber, shade, and medicinal herbs. In Islam, planting a tree is considered an act of perpetual charity (Sadaqah Jariyah). The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that if a Muslim plants a tree and human beings, beasts, or birds eat from it, it will be recorded as charity for him.
Hasan: Subhanallah! That makes tree plantation a sacred moral duty as well as a civic responsibility.
Myself: Exactly. Therefore, we should not only plant trees in our homes and madrasah premises during the monsoon, but also inspire others to preserve our forests.
Hasan: Thank you so much for this inspiring discussion. I will plant five fruit saplings around my house this very weekend.
Myself: That is a wonderful decision! Have a great day.
Hasan: You too. Khuda Hafiz!
সাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা (FAQ)
১. ফাজিল ১ম বর্ষের বেসিক ইংলিশের মানবণ্টন কেমন?
পরীক্ষায় মোট ৮০ নম্বরের মধ্যে গ্রামারে ৪০ নম্বর, কুরআন ও সূরার অনুবাদের জন্য ১০ নম্বর এবং কম্পোজিশন অংশে ৩০ নম্বর বরাদ্দ থাকে।
২. ‘Would that’ যুক্ত বাক্যে ক্রিয়ার রূপ কী হয়?
‘Would that’ দ্বারা অসম্ভব বা অপূর্ণ ইচ্ছা প্রকাশ পেলে কর্তা বা subject যাই হোক না কেন, to be verb হিসেবে ‘were’ বসে।
৩. Appositive এবং Modifier-এর মধ্যে পার্থক্য কী?
Appositive হলো কোনো বিশেষ্য বা সর্বনামের পরিচয় স্পষ্ট করার জন্য তার পাশে বসা অপর একটি নামবাচক পদগুচ্ছ; আর Modifier হলো বিশেষ্য বা ক্রিয়ার বৈশিষ্ট্য বর্ণনাকারী বিশেষণ বা ক্রিয়া-বিশেষণ।
৪. সূরা আল-আছরের অনুবাদে মূল বার্তা কী?
কালের শপথ করে মানবজাতির সামগ্রিক ক্ষতির কথা ঘোষণা করা হয়েছে এবং সেই ক্ষতি থেকে মুক্তির ৪টি মৌলিক শর্ত (ঈমান, সৎকাজ, সত্যের উপদেশ ও ধৈর্যের উপদেশ) বর্ণনা করা হয়েছে।
৫. ইংরেজি অ্যাপ্লিকেশনে প্রাতিষ্ঠানিক রীতিনীতি কীভাবে রক্ষা করতে হয়?
সুনির্দিষ্ট তারিখ, প্রাপকের সঠিক পদবি, প্রতিষ্ঠানের নাম ও ঠিকানা, স্পষ্ট বিষয় এবং সুবিন্যস্ত ও বিনয়ী ভাষায় আবেদন সম্পন্ন করতে হয়।
৬. ডায়ালগ রচনার ক্ষেত্রে কী কী সতর্কতা অবলম্বন করা উচিত?
উভয় চরিত্রের মধ্যে স্বাভাবিক, সাবলীল ও ব্যাকরণগতভাবে শুদ্ধ কথোপকথন বজায় রাখতে হয় এবং কমপক্ষে ১০ থেকে ১২টি অর্থপূর্ণ বাক্য বিনিময় থাকতে হয়।