মৌলিক ইংরেজি (Basic English) – 205201, ইসলামের ইতিহাস ও সংস্কৃতি – ফাজিল অনার্স ২য় বর্ষ পরীক্ষা ২০২০

ফাজিল (স্নাতক) সম্মান ২য় বর্ষ পরীক্ষা ২০২০
বিভাগ: ইসলামের ইতিহাস ও সংস্কৃতি
বিষয়: মৌলিক ইংরেজি (Basic English)
বিষয় কোড: 205201 | সময়: ৪ ঘণ্টা | পূর্ণমান: ৮০

২০২০ সালের ফাজিল (স্নাতক) সম্মান ২য় বর্ষের মৌলিক ইংরেজি (Basic English – 205201) পরীক্ষাটি মূলত শিক্ষার্থীদের প্রায়োগিক ব্যাকরণ দক্ষতা, বিশুদ্ধ অনুবাদ ক্ষমতা এবং লিখিত ইংরেজি প্রকাশের মান মূল্যায়নের জন্য প্রণীত হয়েছে। প্রশ্নপত্রটি তিনটি প্রধান খণ্ডে বিভক্ত: Part A (Grammar – ৪০ নম্বর), Part B (Translation – ১০ নম্বর) এবং Part C (Composition – ৩০ নম্বর)। নিচে শিক্ষার্থীদের সুবিধার্থে প্রতিটি প্রশ্নের প্রমিত ও পূর্ণাঙ্গ উত্তর উপস্থাপন করা হলো।

Part A: Grammar (40 Marks)

1. Identify Determiner, modifier, headword, participle, infinitive etc. from the given sentences:

(a) The little boy is crying.

Answer:
– Determiner: The (Definite Article)
– Pre-modifier: little (Adjective modifying the noun)
– Headword: boy (Noun, core subject of the noun phrase)

(b) Barking dogs seldom bite.

Answer:
– Participle: Barking (Present Participle functioning as an adjective modifying ‘dogs’)

(c) To tell a lie is a great sin.

Answer:
– Infinitive: To tell (Infinitive phrase functioning as the subject of the sentence)

(d) Walking in the morning is good for health.

Answer:
– Gerund: Walking (Verb+ing acting as a verbal noun and subject of the sentence)

(e) He has much money.

Answer:
– Determiner / Quantifier: much (Determiner indicating an uncountable quantity)

2. Fill in the blanks with the right form of verbs:

(a) If he comes, I (go).
Answer: If he comes, I will go / shall go.
Explanation: First conditional structure: If + Present Indefinite + Future Indefinite.

(b) The patient died after the doctor (come).
Answer: The patient died after the doctor had come.
Explanation: In past perfect sentences with ‘after’, the past perfect clause follows ‘after’ (Past Indefinite + after + Past Perfect).

(c) It is high time we (change) our bad habits.
Answer: It is high time we changed our bad habits.
Explanation: The phrase ‘It is high time / It is time’ followed by a subject requires the past subjunctive (Past Indefinite) form of the verb.

(d) Neither you nor he (be) present.
Answer: Neither you nor he was (or is) present.
Explanation: When two subjects are joined by ‘neither… nor’, the verb agrees with the closer subject (‘he’ takes a singular verb).

(e) He talks as if he (know) everything.
Answer: He talks as if he knew everything.
Explanation: After ‘as if’ or ‘as though’ preceded by Present Indefinite, unreal past takes Past Indefinite form (‘knew’).

(f) Walk fast lest you (miss) the train.
Answer: Walk fast lest you should miss (or might miss) the train.
Explanation: The conjunction ‘lest’ is followed by subject + should/might + base form of verb.

(g) I look forward to (hear) from you.
Answer: I look forward to hearing from you.
Explanation: Prepositional phrases like ‘look forward to’, ‘with a view to’, ‘accustomed to’ are followed by Gerund (verb + ing).

3. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions:

(a) He died — cholera.
Answer: of (He died of cholera. One dies of a disease).

(b) He is good — English.
Answer: at (He is good at English. ‘Good at’ indicates proficiency in a subject/skill).

(c) The man was accused — theft.
Answer: of (The man was accused of theft. ‘Accused of’ means charged with a crime).

(d) He abstains — smoking.
Answer: from (He abstains from smoking. ‘Abstain from’ means to refrain from something).

(e) We should abide — the law.
Answer: by (We should abide by the law. ‘Abide by’ means to conform or adhere to rules).

(f) I prefer milk — tea.
Answer: to (I prefer milk to tea. ‘Prefer’ takes the preposition ‘to’ for comparison).

(g) Divide the apples — two boys.
Answer: between (Divide the apples between two boys. ‘Between’ is used for two entities, whereas ‘among’ is used for more than two).

4. Change the voice of the following sentences:

(a) Who wrote the letter?
Answer: By whom was the letter written?

(b) Do the work.
Answer: Let the work be done.

(c) Honey tastes sweet.
Answer: Honey is sweet when it is tasted.

(d) He was elected captain by us.
Answer: We elected him captain.

(e) One should keep one’s promise.
Answer: A promise should be kept.

(f) Panic seized the writer.
Answer: The writer was seized with panic.

(g) I know him.
Answer: He is known to me.

5. Change the narration (Direct into Indirect Speech):

(a) He said to me, “What are you doing now?”
Answer: He asked me what I was doing then.

(b) The teacher said to the student, “Always speak the truth.”
Answer: The teacher advised the student to speak the truth always.

(c) He said, “Alas! I am undone.”
Answer: He exclaimed with sorrow that he was undone.

(d) Father said to his son, “May Allah bless you.”
Answer: Father prayed that Allah might bless his son.

(e) She said to me, “Did you see the match yesterday?”
Answer: She asked me if I had seen the match the previous day.

(f) He said, “The earth moves round the sun.”
Answer: He said that the earth moves round the sun. (Universal truth remains unchanged).

(g) I said to him, “Let us go out for a walk.”
Answer: I proposed to him that we should go out for a walk.

6. Make sentences with the following phrases and idioms:

(a) Apple of one’s eye: (নয়নের মণি / অতি প্রিয় পাত্র)
Sentence: The youngest daughter is the apple of her father’s eye.

(b) Black sheep: (কুলাঙ্গার)
Sentence: Every family has a black sheep who brings disrepute to the household.

(c) By hook or by crook: (যে কোনো উপায়ে / ছলে-বলে-কৌশলে)
Sentence: He determined to achieve success in the competitive examination by hook or by crook.

(d) In a nutshell: (সংক্ষেপে)
Sentence: The speaker explained the intricate historical event in a nutshell.

(e) Null and void: (বাতিল)
Sentence: The court declared the fraudulent agreement null and void.

(f) Red letter day: (স্মরণীয় বা গৌরবময় দিন)
Sentence: The 26th of March is a red letter day in the national history of Bangladesh.

(g) In the nick of time: (ঠিক মোক্ষম সময়ে)
Sentence: The firefighters arrived in the nick of time and rescued the trapped residents.

7. Complete the following sentences:

(a) If I had a lot of money, …
Answer: If I had a lot of money, I would establish a modern charitable hospital for the poor.

(b) As soon as the bell rang, …
Answer: As soon as the bell rang, the eager students entered their respective classrooms.

(c) Unless you work hard, …
Answer: Unless you work hard, you cannot achieve academic distinction or career success.

(d) 1971 is the year when …
Answer: 1971 is the year when Bangladesh achieved glorious independence after a bloody liberation war.

(e) It is a long time since …
Answer: It is a long time since we met each other in person.

(f) Scarcely had we reached the station when …
Answer: Scarcely had we reached the station when the passenger train blew its whistle and departed.

(g) Had I known his address, …
Answer: Had I known his address, I would have visited him during my vacation.

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable modal auxiliaries:

(a) You — obey your parents.
Answer: You must (or ought to) obey your parents.

(b) He — swim across the river when he was young.
Answer: He could swim across the river when he was young.

(c) — I come in, sir?
Answer: May I come in, sir?

(d) You — not worry about it.
Answer: You need not worry about it.

(e) We — love our country.
Answer: We should (or ought to) love our country.

(f) She — speak English fluently.
Answer: She can speak English fluently.

(g) It — rain today.
Answer: It may rain today.

Part B: Translation (10 Marks)

9. (a) Translate ‘Surah Al-Kawsar’ into English:

Text of Surah Al-Kawsar:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ (1) فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ (2) إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ (3)

English Rendering:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar (abundance of good, celestial river of immense blessings).
2. So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [unto Him alone].
3. Indeed, your enemy is the one who is cut off [from all future hope and remembrance].

9. (b) Translate the following Quranic Ayat into English:

Quranic Text:
لَّهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُ (سورة الحديد: 5)

English Rendering:
“To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and to Allah all matters and affairs return [for final judgment].” (Surah Al-Hadid: 5)

Part C: Composition (30 Marks)

10. Write a paragraph on “Tree Plantation”:

Tree Plantation

Tree plantation refers to the deliberate and systematic planting of saplings and trees across diverse terrains, homesteads, educational institutions, roadsides, and barren lands. Trees are our indispensable and faithful friends, playing a pivotal role in maintaining ecological equilibrium and sustaining biodiversity on our planet. They provide us with oxygen, the very essence of human and animal survival, while absorbing carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas responsible for global warming and climate change. Beyond atmospheric balance, trees supply essential fruits, nutritious vegetables, vital medicines, commercial timber, industrial firewood, and decorative shade. They serve as natural barriers against catastrophic natural disasters such as river erosion, soil degradation, destructive cyclones, flash floods, and tidal surges, especially in riparian countries like Bangladesh. In urban centers, trees reduce noise pollution, moderate extreme temperature spikes, and filter hazardous airborne particulate matter. Conversely, rampant deforestation and unplanned industrialization are turning verdant environments into ecological wastelands, precipitating desertification and irregular seasonal cycles. To forestall this looming ecological catastrophe, tree plantation must be transformed into a vigorous social and national movement. The rainy season, particularly June to August, presents the ideal period for mass plantation campaigns. Every responsible citizen, civil society organization, and academic institution must plant indigenous trees and conscientiously nurture them until maturity, ensuring a sustainable, green, and thriving world for generations to come.

11. Write an application to the Principal for permission to go on a study tour:

Date: 25 October 2020
To
The Principal,
Dhaka Model Fazil Degree Madrasah,
Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Subject: Application for permission and financial assistance to arrange a study tour.

Sir,
We, the students of the Fazil (Honours) 2nd Year, Department of Islamic History and Culture of your reputable institution, beg most respectfully to submit this application for your sympathetic consideration.

As advanced undergraduate students of history and cultural heritage, theoretical textbook study alone cannot provide a comprehensive perspective on historical architecture, archaeological relics, and administrative monuments. A practical on-site visit to historic places enables students to observe archaeological evidence firsthand, thereby deepening intellectual understanding and empirical research competence. We have collectively decided to organize a three-day historical study tour to Paharpur Buddhist Vihara (Naogaon), Mahasthangarh (Bogra), and the medieval Islamic sultanate ruins of Gaur (Chapai Nawabganj) during the forthcoming semester break.

Two respectable senior faculty members of our department have graciously agreed to accompany and guide our delegation. The total budget estimated for travel, lodging, and academic materials amounts to Tk. 65,000, of which we have contributed Tk. 40,000 from our student welfare subscriptions.

We, therefore, earnestly pray and hope that your honor would be kind enough to grant us permission to undertake this academic study tour and sanction a financial grant from the student co-curricular fund to meet the remaining expenditure.

Yours obediently,
The Students of Fazil Honours 2nd Year,
Department of Islamic History and Culture,
Dhaka Model Fazil Degree Madrasah.

12. Write a dialogue between two friends on the importance of reading newspaper:

A Dialogue Between Tahmid and Nabil on the Importance of Reading Newspaper

Tahmid: Good morning, Nabil! What are you reading so attentively this early morning?

Nabil: Good morning, Tahmid! I am reading the editorial and international news pages of “The Daily Star.”

Tahmid: That is remarkable. To be honest, I rarely find time to read daily newspapers because social media feeds provide immediate snippets of information.

Nabil: While social media offers instant headlines, it often lacks analytical depth, objectivity, and verified authenticity. A standard daily newspaper is a repository of structured knowledge. It mirrors the contemporary world, reflecting political governance, economic indices, scientific breakthroughs, artistic heritage, and global diplomacy.

Tahmid: Does it also assist undergraduate students in their academic preparations?

Nabil: Absolutely! For university students, reading newspapers expands vocabulary, sharpens grammatical comprehension, and enhances creative writing skills. Furthermore, in competitive examinations, civil services, and job interviews, questions on general knowledge and current international affairs are directly drawn from daily developments reported in reputed dailies.

Tahmid: I realize that newspapers also present diverse perspectives and expert commentary on national policy issues, which helps develop critical thinking.

Nabil: Precisely. Without reading newspapers, one remains intellectually isolated and unaware of major socioeconomic transformations occurring globally. It bridges our textbook knowledge with dynamic real-world events.

Tahmid: You have opened my eyes, Nabil. From today, I will cultivate the regular habit of reading at least one quality national daily every morning.

Nabil: That is a commendable decision, Tahmid. It will undoubtedly broaden your intellectual horizon and prepare you for future professional challenges.

Tahmid: Thank you so much for your enlightened guidance.

Nabil: You are most welcome, my friend!

সাধারণ জিজ্ঞাসা (FAQ)