PREPARED BY FAISAL AHMED

M.A in English Language Teaching (JU),

BOARD Taqwa Computer & Spoken English Institute

QUESTION &
ANSWER-2018
HSC English Second Paper
 Taqwa Computer & Spoken English Institute, Conducted by Faisal Ahmed, Lecturer in English (PBADC)
য োগোয োগ:- পোাঁচরুখী (কযেযের সোমযে), আড়োইহোেোর, েোরোয়ণগঞ্জ। Mobile: 01521579760

HSC Examination 2018 [Dhaka Board; Dinajpur Board; Jashore Board; Sylhet Board]
Part A: Grammar (60 Marks)

1. Fill in the blanks in the following text with articles (a/an/the) as necessary. Some of the blanks may not require an
article. Put a cross (x) in those blanks.
Bangladesh is (a) — independent country. We won freedom on (b) — December 16, 1971. This freedom was won
as (c) — result of great sacrifice. (d) — great many people laid down their lives for (e) — freedom of the country.
(f) — man who loves his country is (g) — patriot. (h) — real patriot loves his country more than his life. Being
patriots, we all should try to make (i) — effort for the welfare and (j) — progress of our motherland
Answer: (a) an (b) x (c) a (d) A (e) the (0 The (g) a (h) A (i) an j) X
2. Complete the text with suitable prepositions.
Trees are very useful (a) — man. They are highly essential (b) — our existence. They protect the rich top soil (c) —
getting washed away (d) — rain water and floods. We can see trees being grown along the mountain slopes (e) —
the roadsides, (f) — the parks and gardens. They add beauty (g) — our lives. They provide us (h) — food, wood,
shade, shelter and so on. They take (i) — carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. So, we should take care (j) — trees.
Answer: (a) to /for (b) for (c) from (d) by (e) by (f) in (g) to (h) with (i) in j) of
3. Complete the sentences with suitable phrases/words given in the box… as if/ have to/ was born/ let alone/ would
rather/there/ had better/ what if/ as soon as/ it
(a) We — pay a visit to Cox’s Bazar than the Sundarbans. We have already visited the Sundarbans.
(b) The storm was raging violently. We got out — it abated.
(c) Fardin is always boastful of his uncles. He talks — they were the most powerful men in the country.
(d) My college is far away from our house. I — walk a long way to go to my college.
(e) Jasim Uddin is a rural poet. He — in 1903 in a village named Tambulkhana in Faridpur.
(f) — is very hot today. Load-shedding is aggravating the situation.
(g) Maruf cannot earn 50 marks — 80 marks. He is a student of average standard.
(h) — are many mango trees around our home. They give us very sweet mangoes.
(i) Faiaz seems to be weak. He — consult an experienced doctor.
(j) — we swim in the river? To swim in the river is a nice experience.
Answer: (a) would rather (b) as soon as (c) as if (d) have to (e) was born (f) It (g) let alone (h) There (i) had better
j) What if
4. Complete the sentences using suitable clauses/phrases.
(a) Industry is the —.
(b) A man cannot succeed in life —.
(c) — of the world are industrious.
(d) The man can maintain a sound health —.
(e) We should not like those persons —.

Taqwa Computer & Spoken English Institute, Conducted by Faisal Ahmed, Lecturer in English (PBADC)
য োগোয োগ:- পোাঁচরুখী (কযেযের সোমযে), আড়োইহোেোর, েোরোয়ণগঞ্জ। Mobile: 01521579760
(f) I always —.
(g) I know the story of an industrious person —.
(h) That man always inspires me —.
(i) I have a poor uncle. He could be rich —.
(j) He has become poor — of his idleness.
Answer: (a) Industry is the key to success.
(b) A man cannot succeed in life without being industrious.
(c)' Most of the living beings of the world are industrious.
(d) The man who is industrious can maintain a sound health.
(e) We should not like those persons who are lazy.
(f) I always try to work hard.
(g) I know the story of an industrious person who lived in our village.
(h) That man always inspires me to work hard.
(i) I have a poor uncle. He could be rich by working hard.
(j) He has become poor as a result of his idleness.
5. Read the text and fill in the gaps with the correct form of verbs as per subject and context. .
If all the children of Bangladesh (a) — (go) to school, the country (b) — (get) rid of the curse of illiteracy. To boost
up education, the government (c) — (spend) more money. Subsidies must (d) — (give) in the education sector.
Teachers (e) — (need) to (f) — (train) for good teaching. The poor students can (g) — (bring) under “Food for
Education” programme. We (h) — (take) care that no institution (i) — (close) down due to political clashes. All
concerned (j) — (be) conscious about it.
Answer: (a) go (b) will get (c) should (d) be given (e) need (fl be trained (g) be brought (h) should take (i) is
closed 0) should be
6. Read the text and change the sentences as directed.
(a) Very few insects are as busy as a bee (Comparative). (b) It is known as an industrious creature (Active). (c) It
flies from flower to flower and collects honey (Simple). (d) It stores honey in the hive (Passive). (e) In winter, it
remains idle but it works hard in spring (Complex). It leads a disciplined life.
Answer: (a) A bee is busier than most other insects.
(b) We know it as an industrious creature.
(c) Flying from flower to flower, it collects honey.
(d) Honey is stored by it in the hive.
(e) . Though it remains idle in winter, it works hard in spring.
7. Change the narrative style by using indirect speeches.
“How much do you want?” said the Mayor. “A thousand guilders,” said the Pied Piper. “All right,” said the Mayor.
“We’ll pay you a thousand guilders. When will you set to work?” “Now,” said the Pied Piper.
Answer: The Mayor asked the Pied Piper how much he wanted. The Pied Piper replied that he wanted a
thousand guilders. The Mayor accepted the proposal and said that they would pay him a thousand guilders. Then
he asked the piper when he would set to work. The Pied Piper replied that he would set to work then.
[Link] is a text with five unclear pronoun references. Rewrite the text making all the pronoun references clear.
Underline the areas where you make any changes.
There lived a man in a village which had a great attraction to English. He went to a teacher to learn English well
though he was dull-headed. He tried his best to teach him but the man learnt only three English words – yes, no and
very good. Though the man did not know the meaning of it, he used them frequently in his conversation. He did not
understand that a little learning is a dangerous thing and very soon he would be a victim of it.

Taqwa Computer & Spoken English Institute, Conducted by Faisal Ahmed, Lecturer in English (PBADC)
য োগোয োগ:- পোাঁচরুখী (কযেযের সোমযে), আড়োইহোেোর, েোরোয়ণগঞ্জ। Mobile: 01521579760
Answer: In a village, there lived a man who had a great attraction to English. He went to a teacher in order to learn
English well though the man was dull headed. The teacher tried his best to teach him, but the man learnt only three
English words - 'yes', 'no', and 'very good'. Though the man did not know the meaning of those words, he used them
frequently in his conversation with others. He did not understand that 'a little learning is a dangerous thing' and
very soon he would be a victim of his little learning.
9. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces.
Television has become the most common and (a) — (pre-modify the noun) source of entertainment in the (b) —
(pre-modify the noun) world. A wide range of programs of (c) — (pre-modify the adjective) interest is telecast on
(d) — (use quantifier to pre-modify the noun) channels. Almost every middle class and even working class families
have a television set today. (e) — (use a noun-adjective to pre-modify the noun) programs are (f) — (pre-modify
adjective) entertaining. They can be (g) — (post-modify the adjective) educative too. Courses (h) — (post-modify
the noun) by the Open University are shown on BTV. (i) — (pre-modit, noun) channels like the Discovery Channel
and the National Geographic Channel telecast highly informative programs. However, watching TV has become (j)
— (use an article) addiction.
Answer: (a) popular (b) present/modern (c) various/ different (d) different/many (e)TV/television (f) really/very
(g) highly/very (h) conducted/offered (i) Some j) an
10. Use appropriate sentence connectors in the blank spaces of the following passage.
Many people think that money can do everything in life. (a) — it is a must for our life, it is not the thing that
necessarily brings happiness. (b) — it is absolutely a psychological matter. The person who is contented with what
he gets and (c) — he has is really happy. Money can do something with happiness (d) — it cannot give us
happiness. (e) —, we can see that the richest men of our society are not the happiest men. (f) — they lead a life
burdened with cares and anxieties (g) — pass sleepless nights. (h) — there are a large number of poor men (i) — are
happy and enjoy a sound sleep. (j) — money cannot ensure happiness.
Answer: (a) Though/Although (b) In fact (c) what (d) but (e) For example (fl Instead (g) and (h) On the other
hand (i) who 0) To conclude/So
11. Read the passage and then write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed below.
Books are the unique medium through which we contact mighty minds of ages. Books tell us about their feelings
what they said and what they did. Books are one of the greatest friends to us. They introduce us to the best
humanity. They are reliable records of the history. A book is a valuable living voice. We can know about the
thoughts and rituals of past men through books. We should read good books and avoid worthless ones. A good book
is a friend of loneliness and a nurse in ailment. We can find real happiness by reading good books.
(a) unique (antonym); (b) mighty (antonym); (c) humanity (synonym); (d) reliable (antonym); (e) valuable
(antonym); (f) ritual (synonym); (g) worthless (synonym); (h) loneliness (synonym); (i) ailment (synonym);
(f) happiness (antonym).
Answer: (a) common (b) weak/puny/feeble (c) humankind/ kindness (d) unreliable / undependable (e) valueless/
worthless (fl ceremonial /formal (g) insignificant/useless (h) isolation/ solitude (i) illness /sickness 0) sorrow/grief
12. There are ten errors in the use of punctuation marks in the following text. Rewrite the text correcting the errors.
One day while going to college I met an old man who had nothing of his own having seen me he began to cry but
could not as he was too weak to cry feeling a great pity for him I wanted to know about him what led him to this
miserable condition so I started asking him questions
Answer: One day, while going to college, I met an old man who had nothing of his own. Having seen me, he
began to cry but could not, as he was too weak to cry. Feeling a great pity for him, I wanted to know about him,
what led him to this miserable condition. So, I started asking him questions

Taqwa Computer & Spoken English Institute, Conducted by Faisal Ahmed, Lecturer in English (PBADC)
য োগোয োগ:- পোাঁচরুখী (কযেযের সোমযে), আড়োইহোেোর, েোরোয়ণগঞ্জ। Mobile: 01521579760