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.