Comprehension Exercise 13

The Process of Making Bakarkhani

Khaja Md. Harun-ur Rashid (ENG 046 06432)

Historical Background:

The history of Bakarkhani was found in the book of Nazir Hossain titled Kingbadantir Dhaka (Dhaka of Legends). During the reign of Siraj-Ud-Dawla, his General in Chittagong area named Aga Bakar, fell in love with a dancer of Arambag called Khani Begum. Another official Jainul Khan also had his eye on Khani Begum. So he tried to take her by force. Hearing that, Bakar went to rescue Khani Begum, and Jainul fled away. A rumor spread that Bakar killed Jainul. So both Aga Baker and Khani Begum were taken to the court of Murshid Quli Khan. Murshid Quli Khan sentenced him to death and put him in the tiger’s cage. Aga Baker anyhow succeeded in killing it and escaped. Then Jainul kidnapped Khani Begum but he killed her when they were about to be caught. After the death of Khani Begum, Aga Baker in loving memory of Khani Begum prepared a special bread named ‘Bakar-Khani’. 

Ingredients:

1.      Flour

2.      Ghee/Butter Oil

3.      Salt &

4.      Water.                     

Process:

Combine all the ingredients for the dough. Add more ghee and water if required. The dough should be soft and fluffy. Then roll the dough into oval shape of 18 to 20 inches long. 

Then apply more ghee and flour on the oval shaped dough. Then fold it into triangle shape as shown in the picture.

Then roll the dough and cut it into small pieces of 10 to 12 grams each. Then roll the dough into a disk of 1.5 to 2 inches. Make three scratches on the disk like the picture. 

Then put those on the Tandoor for baking. After baking, enjoy the Bakarkhani.

Bakarkhani is usually eaten as snack in Old Dhaka. It is more like biscuit. It is famous for its taste and quality. It is usually taken with tea or kebab. There are some variations of Bakarkhani: Plain Bakarkhani, Cheese Bakarkhani (filled with cheese), Sweet Bakarkhani (filled with sugar). It has been very popular since the Mughal age. Bakarkhani is a simple food like the heart of Old Dhaka dwellers. 

The author with the bakers

QUESTIONS

1.      What is the synonym of ‘rumor’?

a. Gossip

b. Real

c. Chitchat

d. Fact

2.      Which one of the following is the best alternative of ‘fled away’?

a. On the sly

b. Gone

c. Run fast

d. Present

3.      Where can we find the history of Bakarkhani?

a. Kingbadantir Dhaka

b. Chittagong

c. Arambag

d. Sonargoan

4.      What are the ingredients required to the making the traditional snack Bakarkhani?

5.      Why did Murshid Quli Khan sentence Aga Baker to death?

6.      What was the fate of Aga Bakar at last?

7.      How does the special bread BakarKhani relates to the story?

Question set prepared by Md. Najmul Islam (ENG 045 06293)

About the Author

Khaja Md. Harun-ur-Rashid is studying at Stamford University Bangladesh as a student of English Literature. He is from Dhaka. He passed SSC from Ahmed Bawany Academy and HSC from Birsrestha Munshi Abdur Rouf Rifles College. He likes music, travelling, watching movies, playing badminton and eating delicious dishes. He wants to be a singer. His favorite quote is “Never Stop Dreaming".

Comprehension Exercise 12

The Most Influential Person in My Life

Md. Najmul Islam (ENG 045 06293)

The person who influenced my life the most is my mother.

My mother is the most important person who always supported me and gave me good advice. My parents were divorced when I was five years old. So, my mother took care of me. She had to do a job to be able to afford all our expenses. My mother gave me all her love and tried to make our life better. Also she was always a good friend to me. My mother taught me to be kind and helpful to other people. Mother's suggestions helped me to make good friends and be successful in my life.

The most important event happened to me when I was six years old. I remember it very well. My mother took me to the beach. She asked me to wait for her on the coast until she swam back. I did not obey her and jumped into the water. When my mother came back to the coast, she did not find me. She cried for help but nobody heard her. Suddenly, she saw my bathing cap over the water and caught me. Thank God she saved my life!

When I was nine years old I wanted to go to the cricket school. But my mother did not give me the permission and I was very upset. Later, on my birthday when all our family joined to celebrate my happy day, my mother presented the best gift in my life. She gave me the opportunity to go to the cricket school. I was very happy. Now I understand that my mother made big efforts to realize my dream of attending the cricket school.

One day our teachers organized a competition for all players at the cricket school. They decided to choose one person as the best player from all groups of players. My mother went to see my performance at the cricket school. I did very well and I won this competition. My mother was very proud of me.

I passed S.S.C from a government school when I was seventeen years old. After that I got myself admitted in a college for H.S.C. I was so sick at the time of H.S.C exam that I failed in the exam, but my mother told me, "failure is the pillar of success". Finally I could pass H.S.C. Then I got myself admitted in a university and finished four years of honors. Then I moved to the United States by winning the DV lottery. My mother stays in Bangladesh. I miss her very much. My mother came to visit me for two months. I am very sad because she is so far away from me. My mother has been most influential in my life. Before I make a serious decision, I always ask her opinion. My mother is my best friend. I love her very much. One day I believe that we will be together.

Answer the following questions.

1. What radical change happened in the author’s life?

2. What was his mother’s suggestion?

3. What is the synonym of ‘coast’?

a) revive

b) soil

c) shore

d) stump

4. When did the author’s parents get divorced?

a) in childhood

b) in youth

c) after failing in HSC exam

d) after getting DV lottery

5. Join the related words (Text Based).

Fail  ---  Cricket School

DV lottery  ---  Success

Dream  --- HSC

Inspiration  --- United States

6. What was the ‘best gift’ in the author’s life?

7. The most important event of author’s life is ___________ .

a) Getting DV lottery

b) Failure in HSC exam

c) Beach accident

d) Admission in cricket school

8. Mother decided to choose one person as the best player from the all groups of players.

(True or False. If False, Give the correct Answer.)

9. Is the author optimist or pessimist? Write your own opinion briefly.

Question set prepared by Khaja Md. Harun-ur Rashid (ENG 046 06432)

About the Author

Md. Najmul Islam’s parents are teachers. He was born in 1992 at Sundargonj upazila of Gaibandha district in Bangladesh. He passed S.S.C from Sundargonj Government Boys’ High School and H.S.C from Sundargonj D.W Degree College. Now he is studying in the English department at Stamford University Bangladesh. He is interested in listening to English news and watching English movie. He loves his country very much.

Comprehension Exercise 11

Humayun Ahmed

Fouzia Rahman Dipti (ENG 043 06161)

Books or novels or any kind of literary works not only give pleasure, but also produce inspiration, passion and lively things which can be used as a guide for human life. A novelist, who produces elements to be inspired, deals with the common people of Bangladesh by retaining all the elements of middle-class life through his creations, is successful.

The person who had been mesmerizing his readers and followers for 42 years was Humayun Ahmed. He was the best novelist of Bengali literature after Rabindranath Tagore. He became so much popular in his youth that he got the most prestigious ‘Ekushe Award’ at the age of 32. He was not only an author, but also a dramatist, screenwriter, playwright and filmmaker. He even wrote approximately 50 songs which are still so much popular among people of all age groups!

Humayun Ahmed was born on 13th November 1948. His father was a martyr freedom fighter in Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971. He was a brilliant student and got record marks in his Secondary School Certificate examination in 1965. He stood second in the merit list in Rajshahi Education Board. He passed his Higher Secondary Certificate examination from Dhaka College. Then he got admitted in the University of Dhaka. He earned his Graduation and Post-Graduation with First Class distinction. The meritorious Humayun joined the University of Dhaka as a Lecturer of Chemistry Department after he had completed his education. Later he earned his PhD degree in Polymer Chemistry from North Dakota State University. Then he came back to Bangladesh and resumed his teaching profession in the University of Dhaka.

Humayun had started to write in his student life. His first publication was a novel named Nondito Noroke in 1973 which gave him huge popularity. He could manage to earn the love of millions of middle-class people of Bangladesh. He retained his popularity among all by writing about magic realism, social life, nature’s mystery etc. His genres were novel, short play, drama, screenplay, autobiography, column etc. His autobiographies touched millions of people’s hearts.  His most notable novels are Shongkhonil Karagar, Josna O Jononir Golpo, Lilaboti, Moddhanno, Badshah Namdar, Matal Hawa etc.  He wrote over 200 fiction and non-fiction books, all of which were bestsellers in Bangladesh. It is actually difficult to choose a particular one from his creation, because he had a golden hand. He got success from each of his literary creations. He became the literary and cultural legend of Bangladesh. Sunil Ganguly described him as the most popular writer in the Bengali language for a century and according to him, Humayun was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chatarjee. This popular writer also had written many science fictions in his life. He is the first writer of Bangladesh who wrote science fiction.

In mid 1990s he left the faculty job to devote all his time to writing and film production. He gave a new shape to television drama of Bangladesh. His famous dramas are Ei shob din-Ratri, Bohubrihi, Kothao Keu Nei etc. He became more popular after these telecasts. His famous films are Aguner Poroshmoni, Srabon Megher Din, Ghetu Putro Komola etc. Most of his films also got National Film Awards in different categories. He got many awards in his living days such as ‘Ekushe Podok’, ‘Bangla Academy Podok’, ‘National Film Awards’ etc. Ghetuputra Komola was selected as the Bangladeshi entry for the Best Foreign Language Film for Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.

In his personal life he had two spouses, 3 daughters and 3 sons. His brother Dr. Zafar Iqbal is also a famous science fiction writer of Bangladesh.

In 2011, Humayun had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He died on 19 July 2012 at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. He was buried in ‘Nuhash Palli’. He had the capabilities to spread his dreams among all. He was a true legend of Bengali Literature.

Finally to recognize his works we can quote what Times of India wrote about him, ‘Humayun was a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture whose contribution single-handedly shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka without any war or revolution.’

(Source: Internet)

1. Multiple-choice questions:

a. What is the synonym of the word ‘retaining’?

    (i) Renouncing

    (ii) Giving up

    (iii) Holding

    (iv) Abandoning

b. What do literary works produce?

    (i) Hindrance

    (ii) Depression

    (iii) Discouragement

    (iv) Inspiration

c. From which university did Humayun Ahmed earn PHD degree?

    (i) University of Dhaka

    (ii) Rajshahi University

    (iii) North Dakota State University

    (iv) South University

d. Why did he leave the faculty job?

    (i) To devote all his time to writing and film production

    (ii) To become more popular

    (iii) To spend time with family and friends

    (iv) To go abroad and complete his PHD degree

e. Which one is the famous drama by Humayun Ahmed?

    (i) Ghetu Putro Komola

    (ii) Kothao Keu Nei

    (iii) Aguner Poroshmoni

    (iv) Srabon Megher Din

2. True or false?

a.       Books or novels can be used as a guide for human life.

b.      Humayun Ahmed became so much popular after his middle age.

c.       His first novel Nondito Noroke failed to bring popularity for him.

d.      According to Sunil Ganguly, Humayun was even more popular than Sarat Chandra Chatarjee.

e.       Humayun Ahmed is the person who shifted the capital of Bengali literature from Kolkata to Dhaka without any war or revolution.

3. Fill in the blanks.

Humayun Ahmed was the best novelist of Bengali literature. He gained a very prestigious (a) ____________ at his early age. He earned his Graduation and Post-Graduation with (b) ___________ distinction from the University of Dhaka. Later he gained his PhD degree in (c) ___________Chemistry from North Dakota State University. Humayun Ahmed left his faculty job only for his (d) _________ and film production. He had the (e) _______ to spread his dreams among all.

4. Match sentences from the given box.

Set A	Set B
a. Humayun Ahmed was	a. University of Dhaka after passing from Dhaka college.
b. He got admitted in the	b. was shaped by Humayun Ahmed.
c. Nondito Noroke, which was published in 1973,	c. were best sellers in Bangladesh.
d. Televion drama of Bangladesh	d. brought popularity for him.
e. He wrote many fictions and non-fictions which	e. not only an author, but also a dramatist.

5. Answer the short questions.

a. When did Humayun Ahmed get the ‘Ekushe Award’?

b. What did he do after returning from the USA?

c. How did Humayun Ahmed have so much popularity among all class of people?

d. What was the reason of his agonizing death?

e. Why is Humayun Ahmed considered as a custodian of the Bangladeshi literary culture?

6. Write a summary based on the composition in five sentences.

Question set prepared by Cicilia Shoma Baroi (ENG 043 06168)

About the Author

Fouzia Rahman was born in Naogaon, Bangladesh. She is the younger daughter of her parents. She is a very brilliant student. She has completed SSC and HSC with GPA 5. She is currently studying B.A. (Hons) in English Literature at Stamford University Bangladesh. She is involved in many cultural forums of her university.

Fouzia loves traveling and she has traveled to almost every corner of her country. Her father was a government service holder and for his job they had to travel to many districts of Bangladesh. It put the seed of addiction about traveling in her. Besides, she loves to paint natural elements. She also has passion about wild photography. She is a very good dancer and got national prize in her childhood. In fact, she is an all-rounder having a colorful artistic life.

Comprehension Exercise 10

Shakib Al Hasan

Cicilia Shoma Baroi  (ENG 043 06168)

A middle-class boy holds number 1 position in the world of cricket which means a lot to all. It has always been a dream for all the lower-middle class people of Bangladesh. This boy always followed his dreams and made it true. Shakib Al Hasan was born on 24^th March in 1987, in Magura, Bangladesh. Shakib is a left handed batsman and slow-left-arm orthodox bowler. He had a dream to play for Bangladesh in international level. He worked hard and made his dream true after a 17-year battle when he was called up by Bangladesh U19 team. Then he started to play consistently well which is quite a unique thing for any Bangladeshi player. Shakib played 18 youth one day internationals, he scored 563 runs at an average of 35.18, and took 22 wickets at an average of 20.18. He made his debut in One Day International against Zimbabwe in 2006, scored an unbeaten 30, and took a wicket. Bangladesh adored having the promising all-rounder in him and he started to bloom after that consistently. He is unarguably the best cricketer that Bangladesh have ever had. It has been said numerous times by international cricket experts and news reporters that Shakib is the best player Bangladesh have ever produced. He got his test match debut against India in 2007. His consistent performances made him the best all rounder in world cricket. He got the captaincy of Bangladesh national cricket team in 2009 and led the team until 2011. He was successful as a captain. He has rare consistency which other players lack in international level. He made himself different than others. He holds his position till now. He is the most popular cricketer in Bangladesh and has become the poster boy of Bangladesh cricket. He won millions of heart all over the world. He is the first Bangladeshi player who played for English County team. He played successfully in English county cricket for Worcestershire. He created a great impact on young cricket lovers. He visited Chittagong last year and got huge ovation by a packed house gallery of Chittagong stadium. Even he could easily make the crowd come to a less important game in domestic level. He has earned 425000 USD in the year 2011. He was the highest paid cricketer in Bangladesh Premier league in 2012 and 2013. He also played for Kolkata Knight Riders in Indian Premier League and played successfully.

He has played 30 test matches, 129 ODIs and 26 T20I matches so far for Bangladesh in international level. In test matches, he has scored 1984 runs with a highest of 144 at an average of 36.07. He has scored 3688 runs with a highest score of unbeaten 134 at an average of 35.12 in ODIs. He also scored 528 runs with a high score of 84 against Pakistan in T20I. He took 106 wickets in test matches at an average of 32.79 and his career best spell was 7/36 against New Zealand. He took 161 wickets at an average of 29.37 in ODIs and also took 36 wickets in T20Is at an average of 19.81. This consistency made him the world’s best all rounder several times. Currently, he is holding the 2^nd position in both test and ODI formats. And he is also the 3^rd world’s best all rounder of T20I format.

Shakib is also a huge football fan, and his favorite team is Argentina in international level, and Barcelona in club football. His favorite football player is 4 time Ballon d’Or winner, Leonel Messi of Argentina.

On 12^th December, 2012 he got married with an American citizen named Shishir. They had a relationship for 3 years before their marriage. They met each other in England when Shakib was playing for an English club.

Shakib is a young, rich and successful cricketer of world cricket. He is an inspiration for all. He worked hard and followed his dream until he made them true. He came from a small town and was confident enough to make his dream true. Finally he made it true by his honesty, hard work and passion for this game. So anybody can get inspiration from Shakib’s life to be successful like him in any particular sector. Every success needs hard work and passion to get it, and Shakib has all these to be an important part of world cricket.

(Source: Internet)

Answer the following questions.

1. What does the word 'orthodox' mean?

2. Which quality do the Bangladeshi players usually don't have?

a) Good performance

b) Consistency

c) Confidence

d) Leadership

3. What do you understand by being an 'all -rounder ' in cricket?

4. When did Shakib meet Shishir?

5. In which form of cricket game does Shakib have his best average of batting?

6. Can Shakib hold onto his no 1 position at rankings of all forms? Why or why not?
7. Which one is false in the following statements?
a) Shakib is a fan of Messi.

b) Shakib played for Chennai Super Kings.

c) Shakib is a left handed batsman.

Question set prepared by Fouzia Rahman Dipti (ENG 043 06161)

About the Author

Cicilia Shoma Baroi is a student of Stamford University Bangladesh and doing her B.A. honors at the English Department. She passed H.S.C from Holy Cross College Dhaka. As a normal human being Cicilia loves travelling, reading, and other stuffs. But what she likes the most is to make friendship with everyone. Another most important thing about her is that she just loves smiling. Now a days she is trying go abroad for higher studies.

Comprehension Exercise 9

Rasel and His Mother

Md. Mehedi Hassan (ENG 043 06235)

Rasel is a six year old boy. He lives with his mother. He lost his father when he was five years old. He and his mother live through many difficulties. His mother is a maid servant of a house. She maintains her family by doing this work.

Rasel reads in class one. He goes to school everyday. His mother always motivates him to go to school regularly. She takes care of her child a lot. She goes to work at 6am and returns to house at 9pm. In this way, as a servant she has to work at a stretch. She has no rest. She has to work like a machine. She endures all types of hardships because of her son. She wants her son to be a great man in life. Her sufferings know no bound. She is ready to die for her son.

Today is Eid Day. Rasel is wearing a new dress. He is very happy today. His mother is also wearring a new dress. She has given Rasel 50 taka on Eid occasion. Few friends of Rasel have come to his house. They are really very happy to get together. Rasel’s mother is also very happy to see their happiness.

Rasel is now sixteen years old. He has achieved his Secondary School Certificate with GPA-5 from Science Group. He is very happy today. The joys of his mother know no bound. Her eyes are glittering with tears. She is so happy today. She does not understand what to do.

Rasel gets admitted into a college. His mother becomes very sick. She is too weak to walk. Rasel becomes very anxious about his mother. He calls a doctor. The Doctor declares that anytime she can leave the world. Rasel becomes thundered. He does not understand what to do in this circumstance. He recalls the almighty creator. He cries more and more. Few days later, his mother leaves the world.

Rasel becomes very lonely. His H.S.C exam approaches. He appears in the exam and again gets GPA-5. He takes decision to be a doctor in future. He wants to serve the poor people. Because his mother died for want of better treatment. So he tries his best to get chance at Dhaka Medical College and finally he gets chance there.

After completing his M.B.B.S he gets scholarship to do F.C.P.S in Canada. There he completes his F.C.P.S and comes back to the country. He is now a very talented and experienced doctor. He serves the poor people without money.

Now Rasel has everything but his mother. He remembers his mother who loved him more than anything in the world. Rasel cries like a child today for his mother who loved him the most. She is no more in this universe. Rasel laments a lot for his mother, but there is nothing he can do. Rasel intends to establish a hospital in the name of his mother so that poor people do not die without treatment.

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the synonym for ‘thundered’?

  a. standing still

  b. strange

  c. shocked

  d. curious

2. Which one of the following best describes the meaning of ‘lament’?

  a. to mourn for someone

  b. to remember something

  c. to love somebody

  d. to become anxious

3. With whom does Rasel live?

  a. parents

  b. mother

  c. relatives

  d. uncle

4. What kind of inspiration have you got from this text?

  a. fate is everything

  b. a person can do anything

  c. success depends on passion

  d. motivation comes from depression

5. What kind of decision does Rasel take after becoming a doctor?

Question set prepared by Ashraful Rony (ENG 045 06336)

The Author

Comprehension Exercise 8

Passion is Enough to Reach a Goal

Ashraful Rony (ENG 045 06336)

Kona was a bright young girl who lived in Faridpur. Once she worked in a super shop in Dhaka city to support her poor family. Her father was old and stayed in bed. She was the eldest among three sisters and a brother. Her salary was not adequate, but she could maintain a good life. She had to send money to her family every month. She was very serious at her work. Almost every month she got the award of the best worker. She got a promotion and on that very day, she heard that her father passed away. Quickly she returned to her own city. And to her shock after three days of her father’s death her mother became mentally ill. Then she had to stay in Faridpur to support her family. Eventually she lost her job.

Then she prepared herself to start a business in her city. And it was really tough for a woman to do this alone. But she was very much determined and passionate to do it. Then she collected some money by mortgaging some of their land. She decided to rent a shop and make handicrafts. She invested all the money into this business. Ultimately she took a shop and started to sell her hand-made products, but what she earned was spent for her mother’s treatment and for the education of her sisters and brother. Though she made good handicrafts, her sale was low. Because her shop was not situated in a good place of the city and she did not advertise. Then she realized that she had to advertise a lot and should take a shop in the central point of the city. But for that she needed more money.

One day she decided to go to Dhaka to borrow money from her superior of that super shop where she worked. Eventually she got the money, and when she started for Faridpur, on the way she had an accident. Then she found herself in a hospital without one of her hands. She became very frustrated. But she did not lose hope. Many of her relatives tried to get her married. But no one wanted to marry a handicapped girl. But Kona forgot everything; she decided to see the end of life. She again mortgaged her land and started the same business with the help of her sisters and brother. Now she took a shop in the central point of the city market and started advertising. She taught her sisters and brother how to make handicrafts, and she also worked with them. At one stage her handicrafts became popular for its unique style and longevity. Gradually many people came to her shop. Then they made their shop larger, hired some employees, and started delivering their handicrafts all over the country. She was able to treat her mother, and she became well. Thus after struggling with extreme passion Kona became successful. Now Kona has ninety outlets of her handicrafts all over Bangladesh, and she exports her handicrafts in many countries of the world. She gets many proposals for marriage from many rich, established persons.

Answer all the short questions.

1. Q. Why did Kona lose her job? Write it in your own words.

2. Q. What is the synonym of ‘to pass away’?

      a) To face danger

      b) To die

      c) To go away

      d) To flee away

3. Q. Why did Kona mortgage their land?

4. Q. When did Kona have an accident? Why?

5. Q. What is the appropriate synonym of ‘handicapped’?

      a) Lame

      b) Disabled

      c) Blind

      d) Deaf

6. Q. Why did Kona lose her hands?

7. Q. Why didn’t anyone agree to marry her?

8. Q. Why did the handcrafts become very popular?

9. Q. Do you agree with the title of this passage? Why or why not?

Question set prepared by Md. Mehedi Hassan (ENG 043 06235)

About the Author

Sheikh Md. Ashraful Alam Rony is a student of Stamford University Bangladesh. He is doing his major in English Literature. His home district is Faridpur. He completed SSC from Police Line’s High School, Faridpur and HSC from Govt. Yasin College, Faridpur. His hobby is listening to music, travelling, hosting programs, and playing cricket. He loves to observe people. He is very much passionate for getting success. His aim is to visit different countries and observe/meet different people.

Comprehension Exercise 7

Keep Promise & Go Ahead

Masudur Rahman (ENG 045 06315)

Every man dreams about what one wants to be. In this world men are different from each other in terms of shape, cast, religion, culture, language, thinking, country and so on. Like this there are also lots of variations about men’s dreams.

Especially young generation has strong dream. Moreover, people who come from poor or middle class family have strongest dream. They always dream that they must do something, for themselves, for their family and relatives, and above all for their country. Like many others Mahin comes from a middle class family. His father is a teacher in their village school. His father is an ideal person for him because he saw his father’s way of living from his childhood, specially his regularity about prayers, his idealism, his hard work from dawn to dusk, his positive thinking, his strength - everything gives him courage to face life. Mahin always thinks how a man can lead such a simple life!!! His realization is that in his father’s life there is no presence of critical things, no guilt, no shame, no over smartness, no high expectation, in a word no need. He is happy with what is needed to lead a simple life. How simple a thought!!!

Though Mahin cannot talk with his father regularly, he always thinks about his father, specially his way of life, and gather energy, strength from that, and promises himself to do something for his own self, for others especially for his father. From this inspiration he tries to do many things besides his student life. He surfs the net and many websites for part time job, and drops his C.V. He always dreams that one day he will do big things. He thinks that he does not want to be a famous man, but he wants to be a happy man, a simple man like his father.

One day he gets an interview call from a multinational company for a part time job. He feels so happy, but on the day before the interview, he realizes that he has only one formal shirt. Mahin becomes frustrated. His roommate asks him what has happened after seeing his poor condition. Mahin shares the situation with him, then he shares with others. Half an hour later a surprising thing happens with Mahin. One elder brother helps him by giving him a pair of trousers, and a younger roommate gives him formal shoes and socks. They encourage him in various ways and finally next day Mahin starts his journey towards that company. When he is in bus he keeps thinking about his surroundings and what will happen. When he arrives and gets down from the bus, he finds that his mobile phone is stolen. The pick-pocketing and the ensuing interview make him feel pathetic.

At last he comes out from the interview, walks on the footpath, and thinks himself, it’s life!! From his heart he thanks his roommate for help, he thanks his father for courage, and he also thanks the thief who has given him a lesson that carefulness is also a part and parcel of our life. He thinks that life is a combination of happiness, courage, help, inspiration, carefulness, hope, ups and downs, smoothness etc. Above all he thinks, “I have a dream, I have a promise, so I have to walk, I have to fulfill my desire.”

Really life is so strange because this is life. He walks and walks and utters repeatedly,

                                   “I am not defeated,

                                             Just lagging behind from the track of life,

                                                                                                 That’s all”

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the synonym of ‘ensuing’?

(a) Next

(b) Happening after something

(c) Upcoming

(d) Worry

2. Which one of the following best describes the meaning of ‘lagging’?

(a) Suffer

(b) Happy

(c) Move slowly

(d) Speed

3. Where does Mahin go?

(a) A market

(b) Home

(c) School

(d) A multinational company

4. Why does Mahin borrow a shirt?

(a) to face viva voce

(b) to meet with his friend

(c) to go festival

(d) to go village

5. What is going to happen to Mahin at the end?                                                                                      

6. Could Mahin avoid pick- pocketing? Why or why not?

Question set prepared by Imarot Hossain Rocky (ENG 045 06345)

About the Author

Masudur Rahman Masud is a student of English Department at Stamford University Bangladesh. He completed SSC and HSC from Mymensing. He likes to travel a lot and to watch horror movies. Specially he likes to disturb his friends all the time. His hobby is to observe people and their character. He wants to be a perfect man whom everyone likes and loves.