Unit one : Attention, please

Prescribed by the National Curriculum & TextbooK Board

as a Textbook for Class Seven from the academic year 2013.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Class Seven

Writers
M S Hoque
Raihana Shams
Md. Zulfeqar Haider
Goutam Roy
Md Abdur Razzque
Rozina Parvin

Editor
Abdus Subhan

NATIONAL CURRICULUM & TEXTBOOK BOARD,

DHAKA

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Published by
National Curriculum & Textbook Board
69-70, Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka

[All right reserved by the publisher]

Trial Edition
First Publicatino : September 2012

Text Developement Coordinator

Mohammad Humayun Kabir

Computer Compose
Color Graphic
Cover
Sudarshan Bachar
Sujaul Abedeen
Illustration
Prohlad Karmaker
Design
National Curriculum & Textbook Board
For free distribution from academic year 2010 by The Government of Bangladesh
Printed by:

Unit one : Attention, please

Preface
The secondary curriculum has been revised in the light of National Education Poicy
2010, which emphasises learning English as an international language for
communicating locally and globally. The 'English For Today' textbooks have been
developed to help students attain competency in all four language skills, i.e.listening,
speaking, reading and writing.
The development ot cutrriculum, syllabud and textbook is a continuous process.
Incontinuation of it, this book has been developed and rationally evaluated by a group
of experts, which included curriculum specialists, subject specialists, teacher trainers
and classroom teachers. The contents and illustartions of this book have been
developed on order to suit the learners' age and cognitive level. In this book effective
communicative approach and techniques intehtrated with existing traditional methods
have been introduced. The book emphasizes practicing language skills through a
variery of meaningful and enjoyable activities.
The publication of teacher's guide id under process. The teacher's guide will help
teacher plan the lessons more effctively and teach students communicatively through
teacging learning activities.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the curriculum developers, writers, illustators and
coordinator who worked under tremendous time constraints. Without their sincerity,
commitment and hard work, it would not been possible for NCTB to develop the
English textbook 'English For Today', making it available to teacher and students all
over the country by January 2013. As the textbook was developed within a very
limited time, there is room for further development. Attmpts have been taken to make
the book error free as far as possible. Any condtuctiva suggestion for the
improvement of the textbook will be welcomed and incorporated in future editions.
I also sincerel thank all involved in the production and publication of this textbook. If
used properly, the textbook will no doubt facilitate learning English at the desired
level.
Professor Md. Mostafa Kamaluddin
Chairman
National Curriculum & Textbook Board
Dhaka

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Table of contents
Unit
Unit 1

Topic
Attention, please

Page
1-8

Unit 2

My Study Guide

9-14

Unit 3

15-23
24-40

Unit 5

What are frindes for?

People who make a
difference
Great Women to remember

Unit 6

Leisure

49-65

Unit 7

Games and sports

66-78

Unit 8

Likes and dislikes

79-89

Unit 9

Climate change

90-104

Unit 4

41-48

Unit one

Attention, please

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
follow instructions, commands, requests, announcements and act accordingly
use sounds, stress and intonation
ask and answer questions

Unit one : Attention, please

Lesson 1: In the classroom

A

Listen and say.

Teacher:
Students:
Teacher:
Students:
Teacher:
Students:
Teacher:
B

Good morning and welcome everybody.

Good morning, teacher.
Are you ready for the class?
Yes, teacher.
Have you got your new books?
Yes, teacher, we have.
Good! Please remember to bring your English book every day. And
speak English with me and with your classmates.

Read the conversation and act it out in pairs. Discuss this question with your
partner:
What does the teacher ask the students to do?

Now answer these questions.

1 Do you speak English with your teacher? If you do, when and how often?
2 Do you speak English with your friends and classmates? How often?
3 If you speak English outside the class, where do you speak it?
4 Do you watch any English programmes on TV? What programmes do you
watch?

Lesson 2: Outside school

A

Listen and read these short conversations.

1

Fahim
Tamim

: Can I borrow your pen, please?

: Yes, of course you can. Here you are.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

: Could you please help me with my maths?

: Sorry, I cant. Im not good at maths.
3
: Would you turn the television off? Im doing my
homework.
Brother
: Sorry, I didnt notice that. Please go on with
your studies.
Complete these dialogues, using suitable words.
1

Radif
Rahin
Sister

A: _________ you lend me your English book for a day?

B: Sorry, I _________. I need to read it tonight.

A: Could you give me Tk 50?

B: Sorry, I __________.I have only Tk 20 with me.

A: ____________ you give me your calculator, please?

B: Yes, ____________ . ____________.

A: _________ you get me a notebook and a ballpen from the stationers?

B: Yes. Of course, I ____________ .

A: Can you put my box in the car, please?

B: Yes,__________ . I will.

Make requests, using the prompts.

1 You want someone to help you with the washing.
2 You want someone to give you change for a one hundred taka note.
3 You want someone to wait a minute.
4 You want someone to carry your bag.
5 You want someone to call you a rickshaw.

Lesson 3 : In the house

Key words : mop (v), mop (n), detergent
A

Listen and read the dialogue.

Mother

: Reza, will you come

here, please?

Reza

: Yes, Mum.

Mother

: Look. The kitchen is

very untidy. I want to
make it neat and tidy.

Unit one : Attention, please

Would you give me a hand?

Reza

: Sure.

Mother

: Could you take the pots and plates from the table and put them in the
cupboard?

Reza

: OK.

Mother

: First Ill sweep the floor. Will you bring me a broom, please?

Reza

: Here it is.

Mother

: Thank you. Now Im going to mop the floor. Could you get me a mop
and bucket and some detergent?

Reza

: No problem. Here they are.

Mother

: Thanks, dear.

Reza

: Welcome.

Act out the dialogue.

Match the sentences in column A with suitable answers in column B. Some

answers in B may match more than one question.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

A
Would you read the shopping
list?
Will you go to the market,
please?
Will you buy me one litre of
cooking oil, please?
Would you buy me some rice?
Would you need some money?
Would you like some tea?
Will you switch on the TV,
please?
Would you tell her to watch TV
at 10 pm?

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)

B
Certainly, Ill do it.
Why? Rina is watching.
No, thanks. I have enough with
me.
Yes, Ill.
Sorry, I cant. Ive left my glasses
in the study.
Yes, Id love to.
What for?
OK. How much?

Now make a dialogue using the table and act it out.

D

Suppose your friends/relatives are coming to visit you. Write a dialogue

between you and your brother/ sister on making your room. You can use
words from the box.
take out

bring

push

move

hang (some pictures)

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Lesson 4: In the street

Key word : crossroads
A

Listen and read.

Asif

: Excuse me! Could you tell me the

way to the railway station, please?

Passer-by : Oh, its not very far. Go along this

street and youll come to a big
crossroads. Turn left. Go along about
two hundred metres, and you will see
a tall building. Go past and the
station is on the right.
Asif

: Go along---come to crossroads---turn left---go about two hundred metrestall building --station on the right. Thank you very much.

Passer-by : Its OK.

Note

B.

: Excuse me is a polite way of drawing somebodys attention.

Its OK: You can also say, Youre welcome.

Look at the map. Suppose you are now on Park Road and you want to go to
Mosque Road or Zila School. Ask your partner how you can go there. Start like
this:
S1:
S2 :

Excuse me. How can I go to Mosque Road?

Oh, its quite far ...................

Unit one : Attention, please

Work in pairs. Ask for and give directions for a place in your own upazila,
town or city.

Listen and practise saying these words.

station

building

crossroads

Lesson 5: At a bookshop
A

Look at the picture and answer these questions.

1 What is it?
2 Where can you find it?
3 Is there a bookshop near your house or school or in your upazila / town? Tell
about it.
4 Can you guess what the people in the picture are talking about?

Listen to the teacher / CD and answer the following questions.

Listening text: 1
1
2
3
4
5
6

What do you mean by in stock and out of stock?

Who are talking in this conversation?
Where is the conversation taking place?
How many books does the student want?
What books does he want to buy?
How much do the books cost?

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Work in pairs. One of you is a customer and the other is a shop assistant.
Make a dialogue saying the following sentences in the right order. Then write
the dialogue in your notebook and act it out.
Thanks
Hello. Can I help you?
Yes. An eraser too.
Fifteen taka, please.
Here you are.
Sure. anything else?
Here is the money.
How much?

Can I have a pencil?

Lesson 6: In a restaurant
A

Answer these questions.

1 Have you ever eaten in a restaurant?
2 If yes, where, when and who with?

Listen to the teacher / CD and answer the following questions.

Listening text: 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
C

How many people are sitting at the corner table?

How many menus does the waiter bring them?
Why does Tuhin ask for a menu?
What is the waiter ready for?
How many items of food have they ordered?
Who wants some chips? How many of them will eat ice-cream?
Why does Mr Khan like mineral waternot any soft drinks?

Work in pairs. Write a dialogue between a waiter and a customer in a

restaurant, giving and taking orders for the following food items. When you
finish writing, act out the dialogue.
rice, fish curry, dal, vegetables, fresh juice and mineral water

Unit one : Attention, please

Lesson 7: At a railway station

A. Listen to the teacher / CD for the announcement at a railway station and answer
the following questions.

Listening text: 3
Questions

Whats the announcement for?

Where is the train going?

What platform will the Subarna Express stand at?

Where can the passengers buy their tickets?

Why shouldnt a passenger travel by train without a ticket?

Where are the passengers asked to wait to get on the train?

What are the passengers asked to do to get to the platform?

Write a similar announcement for the passengers of a luxury bus at a bus

station. Give the passengers necessary instructions, including departure and
arrival times, place and time for lunch break, etc. in the announcement.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Unit 2

My study guide

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
look up words in a dictionary.
read and understand the table of content pages.

Unit Unit
one : 2Attention,
My studyplease
guide

10

Lesson 1: Find your word

A

Read the dialogue.

Teacher

: Students, do you have a dictionary?

Rupa

: Yes, miss, I have one.

Ananda

: I have one too.

Teacher

: Do you know how to look up a word in a dictionary?

Rupa

: Not really. It often takes a long time to find the meaning of a word
in a dictionary.

Teacher

: How about you, Ananda?

Ananda

: Same with me. I often get confused. So many words, so many

signs, ooh!

Teacher

: Its because you havent learned how to look up a word quickly in

a dictionary.

Rupa, Ananda

: How can we do it, teacher?

Teacher

: Ok, lets start with a page from a dictionary.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

11

Look at a dictionary page.

From Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary

Unit Unit
one : 2Attention,
My studyplease
guide

12

Make a list of the letters/words in bold. Answer the following questions.

a. What do you see at the top left corner of the dictionary page?
b. What is the first letter and word in the left hand corner?

Read the text about how the dictionary page has been written.
The teacher asks the class, Have you noticed that the words in bold are written
one after another? OK. Do you find any rule or system or order in arranging these
words?
Yes, teacher. The page starts with a single letter B and slowly words come
below this letter, Rupa said.
Thank you, Rupa. Youve got it! Let me write B and some of the words from this
page on the board. Then Ill show you how they are written one after another like
in the alphabet. Look at the board and ask me if it is clear or not. OK?

Arrange the following words in alphabetic order.

bet

bat

bag

book

batch

Look at the dictionary page again. Discuss in groups and find out the
following information about BA, baby and bachelor.
meanings of words (i.e. definitions)
spelling
examples of use/ example sentences
grammatical information (parts of speech, irregular verbs and plurals,
countable or uncountable nouns)
formal/informal
abbreviations

Lesson 2: Find your chapter

A

bait

Listen and read the dialogue.

Rupa :

So.. Ananda, we had a

helpful class on dictionary
didnt we?

Ananda:

Oh yes, very helpful. This is

why I like Mrs Baruas class.
She is one of my favourite teachers.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

13

Rupa:

She is! I also like her very much. And she is very organised. She knows
how to make us work in groups and pairs. So we are never bored.

Ananda:

By the way, Ive another problem. Do you understand the Table of

Contents at the beginning of a book?

Rupa:

Hmmmyes, Ive learnt it from my elder sister. I can try to explain it

to you, if you like.

Ananda:

So nice of you. I really need it.

Work in pairs. Discuss when and how you can help each other with anything
difficult in a lesson.

Read the text in the box below individually and work in pairs to answer the
questions that follow.

(taken from America 24/7)

Unit one
Unit: 2Attention,
My studyplease
guide

14

Questions
1. How many subjects / topics do you see here?
2. What do the numbers on the right-hand side mean?
3. Who do you think the people whose names are written after the subjects or
topics are?
4. What is each topic / subject called?
D

Fill in the gaps with appropriate words from the box.

read

and
of

books
book

are

topic
only

which

is

The text above is a table .... contents. It shows what

subjects..........there in a ..., journal, magazine or in a research paper. So
what is included in a book .shown in its table of contents. The table also
shows a reader what the .. are, who the writers are, and
..page a reader should open to a particular topic. Sometimes
in some ., topics are organised first in units .... then in
lessons. However, some books .. show the chapters.
E

Go to the text in the box at Section C and answer the following questions.
1

Who is the writer of America at Play?

Which chapter is written by Naomi Shihab Nye?

What is the page number for Sea to the Shinning Sea?

What does Robert Olen Butler write?

What is the chapter at page number 57, and who is the writer?

Work in pairs. Use your own English textbook. Ask and answer questions as
above to know about page numbers, topics, units and lessons.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

15

Unit Three

What are friends for?

Learning Outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

ask and answer questions

talk about familiar events

read and understand texts

write answers to questions

write short compositions

Unit one
: Attention,
please
Unit Three
: What
are friends
for

16

Lesson 1: Prize-giving day at school

Key words: eminent
A

outstanding

performance

Look at the picture and discuss the

following questions.
1. Who can you see in the picture?
2. What are they doing?

Read the text about a prize-giving

ceremony.
Farabi is Floras best friend. They live
in the same area. Also they are both in class 7. But they go to different schools.
It is a school holiday. Flora has come to visit Farabi. They are talking. Flora wants
to know about the prize-giving ceremony of Farabis school.
Yesterday was our school prize-giving day, Farabi says. On this occasion our
school auditorium and its dais were brightly decorated. Prizes were also neatly
displayed on a separate table on the dais. All the students were present at the
function. Among others, the guardians and some eminent persons of the locality
attended the function, Farabi continues. The principal of PN College was the
chief guest.
When did the function start? Flora asked.
Oh, it started on timejust at 4 pm, Farabi says. Our Headteacher first read
out the annual report. Then the Chief Guest gave a short speech. He highly praised
the overall performance of the school and its excellent JSC and SSC Exam results.
Then he gave away the prizes among the students for their outstanding activities.
Did you get any prize, Farabi? Flora enquires.
Yes, I did, Farabi replies. Ive got two prizes---one for regular attendance and
the other for good results in the last year-ending exams.

Match words with their meanings.

Words
visit
ceremony
eminent
praise
outstanding
display

Meanings
speak highly of something or somebody
extremely good
go to see a person or place
put something in a place where you can see it easily
function
people having lots of power and influence

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

17

Ask and answer in pairs. Make questions and then choose answers from this
table.
Questions
How

What
Who

the prize-giving function

held?
was
did

In the school auditorium.

the auditorium decorated?

read out the annual report.

the chief guest at the

function?

brightly.

the Head teacher do at the

beginning of the function?

Where

Answers
The principal of PN college.

Complete the passage with the verbs in the box. Give their correct forms.
be

sing

speak

stage

At the end of the prize-giving function there ______________ a cultural show.

The students______________________________________ songs, danced and
_________________ a one-act play. It was so good that everyone
__________________ highly of it.
F

Do you have a sports day at your school? First tell the class about it and then
write about it in your notebook.

Lesson 2: Floras first day at school (1)

Key words: recall
A

add

chat

Talk about the picture and read the story.

Unit one
: Attention,
please
Unit Three
: What
are friends
for

18

Next week Farabi comes to visit Flora in her house. They are having a chat.
Can you remember your first day at school, Flora? Farabi asks.
Oh, yes, I can, Flora says. I can recall exactly what happened. Would you like
to hear it?
Id love to, says Farabi. Please tell me.
Okay, says Flora. It was 2006. I was then 6 years old. One day my mother said,
Flora, youre going to start your school tomorrow.
I was very excited. I couldnt think of anything else. I was always thinking about
the school, the teachers and the students of our school. I couldnt even sleep well
that night.
The next morning my mother woke me up early in the morning. I had a bath and
put on my best clothes. Then I had breakfast and started for the school with my
mother.
The school was not very far from our home. So we walked all the way.
B

Say whether the following statements are true or false. If false, give the
correct information.
1
2
3
4
5

Farabi and Flora are talking at school.

Flora is talking about her school.
Flora first went to school at the age of 6.
Her mother dressed her in her best clothes.
Flora walked to school.

Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

Flora is a student. She is _________________ class 7. She can remember her
________________ day at school even today. She ______________ to school in
2006. Her mother _______________ her to school. The school was
_______________ a long way from their house. ________________ Flora
walked to school ______________ her mother.

Match the words with their meanings.

Words
chat
recall
exactly
excited

Meanings
precisely
feeling happiness
a friendly conversation
remember

Do you remember your first day at school? Write a short composition about
it answering the questions below.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

19

1 How old were you at that time?

2 What is the name of the school you went to?
3 What did you put on?
4 How did you feel before you started for the school?
5 Who did you go with?

Lesson 3: Floras first day at school (2)

Key words : intelligent stare nervous
A

Read the text to know more about Floras first day at school.
Flora continues her story.
It took us half an hour to reach the
school. I saw many students on the
school campus. Some were playing and
some were talking to each other. I
didnt know anyone. So I was a little
afraid.
My mother soon took me to the
Headteacher. He asked me a few questions and I answered them intelligently.
The Headteacher was very pleased. He put his hand on my shoulder and said,
Good! Youre a highly intelligent child.
You know a lot. Ill take you in my school. I hope youll be happy here.
I was admitted to class 1. The Headteacher was a very nice person. He called a
teacher and said to her, Ms Laila, this is Flora. She is a new student in class 1.
Take her to the class, please.
Ms Laila took me to the class. The class teacher welcomed me and gave me a seat.
All the students in the class were staring at me. I felt a bit nervous to see all the
new faces. But soon I became easy. I could make friends with two or three
students sitting close to me.
A new place is a new experience. So my first day at school is a new experience in
my life. I will remember the day as long as I live.

Unit one
: Attention,
please
Unit Three
: What
are friends
for

20

Choose the correct answer.

1 How long did it take Flora to reach the school?
a an hour
b half an hour
c less than half an hour
d one and a half hour
2 Flora was a little afraid when she reached the school campus because
a the campus was full of students.
b it was the first time she went there.
c all the people there were unknown.
d the school was a long way from home.
3

The Headteacher was pleased with Flora because she (Flora)

a looked very innocent.
b had a sweet voice.
c could answer the Headteachers questions.
d was very smart.

4 Who took Flora to the class after admission?

a a teacher
b a peon
c her mother
d the Head teacher
5 Flora felt nervous in the class because
a it was a new place.
b the class teacher was very strict.
c she did not know any student in the class.
d the class did not welcome her.
C

Make sentences from this table.

Floras mother
Ms Laila
The Headteacher
The students in the class
Flora

asked
made
stared
took

at Flora.
friends with few students.
her to the Headteacher.
Flora some questions.
her to the class.

How did you feel about the students and teachers on your first day at school?
If you remember any incident or anything interesting that happened on the
first day, tell the class about it and then write about it in short.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

21

Lesson 4: A sad day for Farabi

Key words : ruffled
A

insist

Discuss and answer these questions.

1 What will you do if your parents do not
want you to go on a picnic with your
friends?
2 What will you do if your friend leaves
you alone on the road in a dark night?

Read about what happened to Farabi

yesterday and answer the following
questions.
Farabi was sitting, bending his head down. He looked sad. His hair was untidy,
ruffled. It was clear he did not brush it at all.
What happened, Farabi? Are you okay? asked Flora.
Im so shocked, Flora. I dont want to talk, said Farabi.
But you have to. Any pain or hurt is like a load in the mind. If you tell or share it
with your parents or friends, it will be lighter. On the other hand, if you dont
share it, the load will become heavier and more painful. So please tell me whats
wrong, Flora insisted.
Farabi looked at Flora and said, One of my friends Harun is our school football
team leader. Yesterday he just dropped my name from the coming Interclass
Football Tournament. I wanted to know why, but he didnt even talk to me about
it.

Tick the best answer.

1 Which is the correct statement?
Farabi was
a standing up.
b looking down.
c looking happy.
2

Why was Farabi bending his head down? Because

a he was unhappy.
b it was his habbit.
c he had a headache.

Unit one
: Attention,
please
Unit Three
: What
are friends
for

22

3 His hair was ruffled.

Here ruffled means
a brushed and tidy.
b clear and smooth.
c not brushed or combed.
4 Farabi didnt want to talk to Flora, because
a something sad happened to him.
b he stopped talking to his friend.
c he was unwell and sick.
5 Please tell me whats wrong, Flora insisted.
Here insisted means
a scolded.
b demanded.
c shouted.
6 Your pain in the mind will be ____________ if you talk about it with your
friend.
a heavy
b less heavy
c more heavy
7 Which is the correct statement?
a Farabi was going to play in the Interclass Football Tournament.
b Farabi and Harun were not going to play in the Interclass Football
Tournament.
c Farabi and Harun used to play in the Interclass Football Tournament.

Lesson 5: The best friend

Key word : slap oasis quicksand
A

erase engrave

Read what Flora said to Farabi and then read the story.

Dont be sad, Farabi, and dont think seriously

about what your friend Harun did. ... I know a story
about friends. Listen.
Two friends were walking through a desert.
After a while they had a quarrel, and one friend
slapped the other in the face. The friend who got
slapped was hurt. But without saying anything he
wrote in the sand:

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

23

Today my best friend slapped me in the face.

They kept walking until they found an oasis. There they decided to take a bath. The one
who was slapped before got stuck in the quicksand and started going down, but his friend
saved him. After he was saved he wrote on a stone:
Today my best friend saved my life.
The friend who slapped and saved his best friend asked, After I hurt you, you wrote in
the sand and now you write on a stone . Why?
The other friend replied, When someone hurts us, we should write it down in the sand.
The wind can erase it away. But when someone does something good for us, we should
engrave it on stone, so no wind can erase it.
Do you know the moral of the story? Flora asked.
Farabi nodded and smiled, Yes, we should forget our hurts, but remember our good
deeds forever.
B

Match the words / phrases with their meanings.

Words / Phrases
1 hurt
2 oasis
3 quicksand
4 erase
5 engrave

Meanings
a an area in a desert where there are water,
plants, etc.
b remove something completely
c cut words or designs on stone or wood
d got physical pain when someone hits you or
you fall
e deep wet sand that works like a trap. If you
walk on it , you will sink into it.

Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question:

Why should we forgive those who hurt us?

Unit one : Attention, please

24

Unit Four

People who make a difference

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

ask and answer questions

participate in dialogues and conversations
talk about people, places and events
read and understand texts
recite, read and understand poems
write paragraphs and short compositions
read and write letters

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

25

Lesson 1: A teacher (1)

Key word :
A

Look at the pictures and discuss in groups what is happening in each picture.

1
B

trained

Listen to the teacher / CD about what Shahana says about herself and answer
the following questions.

Listening text: 4
Questions: Tick the best answer.
1

Ms Shahana Huda passed her SSC exams in

a 2000
b 2001
c 2002

She passed her HSC exams in

a 2001
b 2002
c 2003

She married
a before her HSC exams.
b after BA exams.
c while she was studying at college.

She got GPA 4 in her

a SSC exams.
b HSC exams.
c BA exams.

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She took a break of one year

a to train to become a teacher.
b to take care of her daughter.
c to take a BA degree.

Why did Shahanas husband want her to work in an office?

Because he thought
a teaching was not a job.
b teaching was less paid.
c people did not like teaching.

Discuss with your partner why Shahana wanted to be a teacher and write a
short composition about it.

Lesson 2: A teacher (2)

Key words : company vacant status respect
academic
A

admire

demonstrate

in-laws corridor
inspire

Read about Ms Shahana Huda.

Shahanas husband Mr Zamil Huda works in a company office. His firm has a
vacant position. On several days he told Shahana, I want you to apply for the
post. But Shahana said, Please dont insist. Im joining the local high school as
a teacher. What do you find in a teaching job, Shahana? I dont want you to do
it. Her in-laws were also on his side. Yet Shahana joined the school against the
will of the family.
Weeks, months went by. Every day Shahana helps with the household work.
Every day she works hard to prepare her lessons. Every day she goes to school,
teaches her students and helps both weak and bright ones. They often come to her
in the teachers room, in the corridor and even on the road, and talk to her about
any academic or personal problems.
Within a year Shahana becomes a very good teacher. Students give her salam
wherever they see her. Teachers, even the Headteacher, admire her. Parents and
other people in the community come to see her at home and at the school and pay
her great respect.
One day her husband said, Youve opened my eyes, Shahana. Teaching is more
than a job. I didnt know it. Congratulations!
Thank you, she smiled.
Tell me Shahana, how you could be such a great teacher! Zamil wanted to
know.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

27

I dont only teach my subject, I care for my students. I love them. I myself
demonstrate good behaviour and inspire them to be good. Thats all I do, replied
Shahana.
Match the words with their meanings.
Words
company
vacant

Meanings
a long narrow passage in a building
relatives by marriage especially husbands or
wifes family members
to show something by doing
connected with study, education
to encourage somebody to do something well
high rank or social position
business
empty (eg a seat not taken by anybody)
to show respect

status
in-laws
corridor
academic
admire
demonstrate
inspire
C

In groups or pairs, discuss and write what students, teachers and community
people do to Shahana.

Make a list of things that Shahana does as a teacher.

Complete the passage with words from the box. A word can be used more
than one time.
help
peaceful

passengers

pilot

wants

want

aim

crash

useful

become

A father is talking to his daughter about her (1) ___________ in life. The girl (2)
____________ to be a pilot. But the father (3) _____________ her to (4)
____________ a doctor. He says that the job of a (5) ____________ is risky.
Often there may be a plane (6) ______________ that may kill all the (7)
___________ of the plane. So the father does not (8) ________________ her to be
a pilot. On the other hand, the life of a doctor is (9) _______________ . He/she
can (10) ____________ the suffering people and be a very (11) ___________
person in society.
F

Read the completed passage in E above. Ask and answer the following
questions in pairs.
Q:
A:
Q:
A:

What do you want to be?

I want to be a _______________ .
Why do you want to be a _______________?
Because I like it / my parents want me to be _______________.

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Lesson 3: Whose child is this?

A

Read the poem aloud and then recite it to the class.

Whose child is this?
Whose child is this? I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play.
Mine, said the parent with a tender smile.
Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair,
To tell him what he is to wear,
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should.
Whose child is this? I asked again,
As the door opened and someone came in
Mine, said the teacher with the same tender
smile.
Mine, to keep just for a little while,
To teach him how to be gentle and kind,
To train and direct his dear little mind,
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school.
Whose child is this? I ask once more,
Just as the little one entered the door.
Ours, said the parent and the teacher as they smiled,
And each took the hand of the little child.
Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever.
[Anonymous]
Note:
tender =
to bathe =
to train =
blessed =

kind; gentle; loving

to wash
to teach
noble

Read the poem silently and answer these questions:

1 Who asked the question, Whose child is this? in the poem?
2 How many times did he / she ask the question, Whose child is this?
3 Who answered the question in stanzas 1, 2, and 3?

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

29

Read the poem silently again and list the things or activities both the parent
and the teacher do individually and together. One is done for you.
What the parent does

What the teacher does

1. gives a bath
2.

1. teaches him how to

be kind
2.

3.

3.

What both the

parent and the
teacher do
1.

2.
3.
D

Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question:

Why do both parent and teacher smile and answer the question, Whose child is
this? by saying Mine and Ours?

Lesson 4: Fixed-price Shop

Key words : stationary
A

bargain

haggle

offer

Look at the shop and answer these questions.

1
2
3

What kinds of things do you find in the shop?

What are the students doing?
Who is the shopkeeper?

agree on

Unit one
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30

Read the text and answer the following questions.

Ms Shahana Huda is talking to the students about a new kind of shop.
Shahana:

Hridoy:
Shahana:

You can buy any stationery items here like pens, pencils,
notebooks, coloured paper, in fact everything you need, for writing
and drawing. You can also buy some food items like biscuits, buns,
bananas, bottles of mineral water and some other necessary things.
You can also buy your school uniform and other clothes. There are
a number of benefits of this shop.You dont have to bargain or
haggle with the shopkeeper over the prices of anything.
What is bargain or haggle, teacher?
Suppose you want to buy a shirt or a dress in a shop in the market.
You ask, How much is this? The shopkeeper says, 300 taka.
But in many cases, this price is more than the real price. So you
offer 200 taka or even less. The shopkeeper says, No, I cant sell it
for 200 taka. Then you offer 225 taka and he may still say, No,
itll be a loss for me.
This process of asking for and offering more and less money is
called bargaining or haggling. It goes on until you both (buyer
and seller) agree on a price, say 250 taka in this case. This price is
acceptable to both of you.

Sazia:
Shahana:
Questions
1
2
3
4

If there is no bargaining, how are we going to buy things?

You dont need to bargain. It will be a fixed-price shop?

Do you go shopping? Where is the shop?

What do you usually buy?
Do you bargain? Why do you do that?
Do you know about a Fixed-Price shop? Where is it? What does it
sell?

Lesson 5: Morality Shop

Key words : price tag
A

conscience

prick

Read the conversation to know more about the Morality Shop. Then answer
the following questions.

Shahana:

Today Im going to tell you about a new kind of shop, where there will be
no shopkeeper. The price of each item or thing will be written on a small

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

31

piece of paper. This price tag will be attached to the item or items. You will
pick an item you like, look at the price tag and put the money in the box kept
there. And the thing is now yours.
Sheela:

In that case, someone may take a thing and go away without paying.

Shahana:

Nobody will do it. If anybody does, it will be stealing.

Ratul:

Wholl see them stealing?

Shahana:

Conscience. Do you know what conscience is? OK. There is

something
in your mind called conscience. It tells you whether your actions are right or
wrong. Is stealing a right thing or a wrong thing?

Students:
Shahana:

Wrong thing.
Then your conscience will tell you, This is a wrong thing. You must not do
it. If you steal or do a bad thing, your conscience will prick you and trouble
you. And you will never have your peace of mind. So to be a good and
happy person, you should have a clear conscience.

Tick the best answer.

1

The students are confused. The underlined words mean they

a can think clearly.
b cannot understand.
c are unable to speak.

When you buy a thing from a Morality Shop, you

a. pay the money to the office.
b. pay the money later.
c. put the money in the shop.

A person with a clear conscience

a usually does the wrong thing.
b always gets confused.
c always does the right thing.

In groups or pairs, discuss and choose the best answer to this question. Then
say why you have chosen that answer.
Suppose you are alone in the school yard. Suddenly you find a hundred-taka note
lying on the ground. What will you do?
I will
a pick up the money and hand it to the Headteacher.
b pick up the money and quickly put it in my pocket.
c leave the note where it is lying.

Unit Four : People

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Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question.

1

Is it possible to open a morality shop in your school?

You may discuss the following points / issues:
Permission things / items
money / fund how to prevent stealing

Lesson 6: The homemaker (1)

A

Look at the pictures and discuss the following question in pairs.

Where do you think the family lives?

B
C

Ask and answer the question in pairs: What do you see in picture 1 / 2/ 3 / 4 /
5 / 6?
Read about the family.
Mrs Nazma and Mr Joynul Ali live in a small village with their daughters, Mitu
aged 7 and Nitu aged 5. Joynul is a carpenter. He is hired by the villagers to make
chairs, tables, pira (low stool) and other furniture. He is also asked to do small
repair work. But Joynul does not find work every day. He lives from hand to
mouth.
Nazma does all the work at home from morning to night, rain or shine. Sometimes
she sits with Mitu and Nitu, and teaches them Bangla and English alphabets and

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

33

some numbers. They do not go to school. Nazma could study only up to class 5.
Joynul is illiterate.
D

Make two lists of what Nazma and Joynul do in the table below.
List A (Nazma)

List B ( Joynul)

cooks
washes clothes
cleans ... .... ..
Continue .....

Continue ......

Match the phrases/words with their meanings.

Phrases / Words
live from hand to mouth

rain or shine
alphabet
illiterate
F

makes cots
... .... ..... .....
................

Meanings
all the letters in a language
a person who does not know how to read
and write
spend all the money you earn on basic
needs, eg, food and clothesyou cannot
save any money
in good or bad weather

First discuss in groups and then write an answer to this question:

What do you think is the reason why Mitu and Nitu do not go to school?

Lesson 7: The homemaker (2)

Key words : favour wildly gratitude
A

Read and try to find out why Nazma and Joynul are quarrelling.
One day Joynul looked for work in his village and in the next village. But his luck
did not favour him. He was angryangry with everybody. When he was back
home, Nazma failed to serve his meal. That made him shout at Nazma.
I had a severe headache and a fever, said Nazma.
Joynul was trembling in anger.

Unit Four : People

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The cooking is almost done. Wash your hands and feet. Ill bring the food soon,
she said.
Soon! It will take ages! Joynul shouted wildly.
What do you do the whole day at home? I work and earn money to run the
family. You cant even cook my meals in time!
I dont earn money, but I also run the family. I do all the work at home cooking,
cleaning, washing, husking, taking care of the children- everything, said
Nazma.Remember, you work for money and my work in the home can make the
family stick together and make it happy. So both types of work are equally
important.
Never before has Joynul thought about these things. He feels guilty. Never before
has he looked at Nazma with so much admiration and gratitude.
B

Read the text again and tick the best answer.

1

Joynul was angry with everybody because

a he was looking for work in his village and in the next village.
b he was hungry and Nazma could not cook food at the proper time.
c he did not find any work in his village and in the next village.
Joynul shouted loudly at Nazma because
a she could not give him food in time.
b she had a bad headache.
c she forgot to cook food in time.

It will take ages. The underlined words mean

a Nazma is suffering from old age.
b a very long time will be needed.
c Joynul is willing to wait long.

Who should run the family?

a Joynul
b Nazma
c Joynul and Nazma

What can make a family happy?

a money and housework
b work that Nazma does at home
c work that Joynul does to earn money

All members in a family should

a do their individual work separately.
b live together and support each other.
c earn and spend money equally.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

35

What do you think Joynul should do from now?

He should
a work harder to earn more money.
b not waste any time doing housework.
c help Nazma with her work when he can.
8
Why does Joynul finally look at Nazma with deep admiration and
gratitude?
Because
a he is not sorry for what he has done to Nazma.
b he has understood the value of sharing work in the family.
c Nazma is willing to do all the housework in the family.
Project work: Think of a family you know in your neighbourhood. Answer
the following questions and write a short composition about the family.
1
How many members are there in the family?
2
Get each members name, age and work.
3
Do the family members share each others work? Describe who shares
what, where and who with.

Lesson 8: Hridoy gets a letter from his cousin

A

Read the letter Hridoy gets from his cousin Riah.

Jonakipur High School
P. O. Jonakipur
Dist. Nilphamari
12 May 2013

Dear Hridoy
Thank you for your letter of 1st May. It gives us such an exciting piece of news! I cannot
still believe that there could be a shop without a shopkeeper. I told about it to my
relatives, friends, classmates and, of course, my teacher, Miss Nishat. Everybody was
surprised. Miss Nishat likes the idea so much that she immediately talked about it to our
Headteacher. We had already a meeting in our school with teachers and students. At the
beginning of the meeting, the Headteacher asked me to talk about the Morality Shop in
your school. At first I read out part of your letter and then I explained how such a shop in
your school is greatly helping youstudents, teachers and the community at large. The
Headteacher was quite positive about the usefulness of such a shop. He formed a
committee with Miss Nishat and two other teachers and some senior students to draw up
a plan for opening a morality shop in our school. Isnt it great? You will be glad to know
that I am on the committee too.
Im coming to see your Morality Shop with a friend of mine next weekend. See you then.
Give my regards to Aunt and Uncle.
All the best.
Riah
B
Imagine you are Hridoy. Write a reply to Riahs letter.

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Lesson 9: A friend of the poor

A

Have you ever visited any hospital or healthcare centre? If yes, fill in the
circles for a healthcare centre. One is done for you.
treatment

Healthcare
Centre

Listen to the teacher / CD and answer the following questions

Listening text: 5
1

Dr Mahmud Hasan was born in

a
a village.
b
Mymensingh town.
c
Dhaka.

What did Mr Hasan do during the Liberation War?

a
He took part in the battle.
b
He worked for the government.
c
He set up a hospital.

The sufferings of the poor people

a
made him work in a Red Crescent hospital.
b
changed his mind for working for the poor.
c
made him join the Liberation War.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

Dr Hasan went to his village

a
b
c

before he gave up his job.

after he gave up his job.
before the war finished.

Dr Hasan set up a healthcare centre

a
b
c

37

with the money of the villagers.

with government grants.
with his own money.

The health assistants give treatment to the sick people

a
b
c

in and outside the centre.

only in the doctors village.
only in the neighbouring villages.

Lesson 10: Waiting for a torch bearer

Key words: poverty torch responsibility

Look at the picture and guess what they are

talking about.

A TV reporter is interviewing Dr Mahmud

Hasan about his dream. Read the interview.
Reporter :

Why do you choose this

village for your work?

Dr Mahmud:

The people of my village do not get proper healthcare

support because of poverty. I have chosen the village to give
them a little healthcare support.

Reporter:

How much does a patient pay for the support?

Dr Mahmud:

They pay very little. And very poor people get free
treatment.

Reporter:
Dr Mahmud:
Reporter:

Isnt the work very hard?

Yes, it is. But I do it with pleasure.
What is your future plan for the centre?

Unit Four : People

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Dr Mahmud:

You see, Im getting old. So Im waiting for a torch bearer.

Many students get MBBS degree in the country every year.
Im waiting for one of them. He or shell take responsibility
for treatment of the poor in this area.

(Note: MBBS= Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)

C

Match the words with their meanings.

Words
take charge of
poverty
pleasure
responsibility

Ask and answer the questions.

1
2
3
4

Meanings
the feeling of happiness
have control over
duty
the situation of being poor

Is the healthcare support free to all?

Why is the doctor waiting for a torch bearer?
Who will be in charge of the centre?
Do you think the money he gets from the patients is enough to run the
centre? Why do you think so?

Fill in the gaps with the right form of verbs given in the box. You can use a
word more than once.
give

choose

do

is

get

help

I want to __________ the poor people. I will ____________ it to ____________

healthcare support to the poor. They do not ____________ treatment because of
poverty. So my dream ____________ to be a doctor. To _________ the poor
people, I will ___________ my village to work.
F

Project work: Find a person in your area who is different from others in
giving service to the society. Talk to her / him and prepare a short biography
of the person.

Lesson 11: A hospital window

Key words : vivid overlook view skyline in detail
A

Read aloud the story about a hospital window and think about the questions.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

39

Two sick men were given the same room in a hospital. One man could sit up in his
bed for about an hour. His bed was next to the rooms only window. The other
man spent all his time lying on his bed opposite the window. The men talked for
hours almost every day. They talked about their wives and children, their homes,
their jobs and almost about everything.
\
Q1 Can you guess why they talk about all these things?
E
very afternoon the man in the bed by the window would sit up and talked to his
roommate about all the things he could see outside the window.
The man on the other bed eagerly waited for this speaking and listening time. His
friends vivid descriptions of passing things seen through the window inspired
him to live.
Q2

Can you guess what the man near the window talked about to his
friend?

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans play on the
water, while children float their paper boats. A wonderful view of the skyline can
be seen in the distance.
The man by the window told his friend all this in detail. The listener would close
his eyes and see everything in his minds eye.

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Q3 What would the listener feel and do if one day his friend could not sit up
and talk?
Days and weeks passed. One morning the doctor came to the room on his daily
round. He found the lifeless body of the man by the window. He died peacefully
in his sleep. The doctor made all the arrangements to take the body away.
The sad friend wanted to move to the empty bed next to the window. The doctor
allowed him.
On his new bed the man painfully propped himself up. He was very excited. He
slowly looked through the window to see the real world outside. What did he see?

Q4 Can you guess what he saw?

The window just faced a blank wall. He asked the doctor, Doctor, I see nothing
but a blank wall. How could my friend described so many wonderful things
outside the window?
The doctor replied, Did he? The man was completely blind !
B

Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question:

Why did the blind man describe all those wonderful things outside the window?

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

41

Unit Five

Great women to remember

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
ask and answer questions
talk about people
read and understand texts
write answers to questions
write short paragraphs and compositions

: Attention,
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Unit Five : Unit
Greatone
women
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42

Lesson 1: Begum Rokeya (1)

A

Look at the picture and ask and answer these

questions.
1

Who is the woman?

2.

What do you know about her?

Read about Begum Rokeya.

Begum Rokeya was a famous writer and a social worker.
She lived in undivided Bengal in the early 20th century.
She believed that women should have the same rights and
opportunities as men have in the society. So she fought for
their cause throughout her life.
Begum Rokeya was born in a village called Pairabondh, Rangpur in 1880. Her
father Jahiruddin Muhammad Abu Ali Haider Saber was an educated landlord.
Rokeya was married to Khan Bahadur Sakhawat Hussain in 1896. Her husband
was the Deputy Magistrate of Bhagalpur, now a district in the Indian state of
Bihar. He was very cooperative, and always encouraged Rokeya to go on with her
activities.
Many upper class Muslims of Bengal at that time learnt Arabic and Persian as
medium of education and communication. But Rokeya had great love for her
mother tongue. She learnt Bangla and English from her eldest brother Ibrahim.

Tick the correct answer.

Begum Rokeya fought for

a democracy.
b independence.
c womens rights.
2 Rokeya was born in
a a village.
b a town.
c a slum.
3 Rokeya loved
a English.
b Bangla.
c Urdu.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

43

4 Shakhawat Hossains mother tongue was

a Persian.
b Bangla.
c Urdu.
5 Bhagalpur is a district in
a Bangladesh.
b West Bengal.
c Bihar.
D

Complete the following chart with information from the text. One is done for
you.
Begum Rokeya
occupation
born in
Writer and
social worker

married in

family

language

Answer these questions.

1
What was Begum Rokeyas belief?
2
What did she fight for?
3
What kind of family did she come from?
4
Why did many upper class Muslims learn Arabic and Persian at
that time?
5
Why did Rokeya learn Bangla and English?

Lesson 2: Begum Rokeya (2)

A

Read these questions first. Then listen to the teacher / CD and answer the
questions.
1

What did Begum Rokeya do to make people remember her her husband?

Do you know what kind of books she wrote?

Listening text: 5
B

Listen again and tick the best answer.

1

Sakhawat Hossain died in

a 1902.
b 1909.
c 1932.

one
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44

Begum Rokeya set up a girls high school in

a Kolkata.
b Bhagalpur.
c Pairabandh.

Begum Rokeya set up this school in memory of her

a husband.
b father.
c mother.

There was a dispute in her husbands family. Here dispute means

that the members
a were of the same opinion.
b had different opinions.
c did not like each other.

Sakhawat Hossain Memorial Girls school is

a a private school.
b Government school.
c a Muslim school.

Begum Rokeya wrote

a short stories and poems.
b novels and poems.
c novels and short stories.

Answer the following questions.

1

What did Begum Rokeys do for female education?

Why did she move Sakhawat Memorial Girls High School to

What are some of her important writings?

Lesson 3: Helen Keller (1)

Key words : humanitarian

disabled

plantation

Talk about the picture.

1
Who is the woman in the picture?
2
What is she famous for?

Read about Helen Keller.

Helen Keller is a great humanitarian. She deeply cared
for the people who were sick and injured. These
disabled people could not use a part of their body.

inventor

Kolkata?

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

45

Helen worked for these disabled people all through her life.
Helen Keller was born in 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Her father was Captain
Arthur Keller and mother Katherine Adams Keller. Her family was not rich and its
main source of income was cotton plantation.
Helen was quite healthy when she was born. But in 1882 she had a high fever and
she became blind, deaf and dumb. At that time her father was a newspaper editor.
He saw Alexander Graham Bell about Helen. Bell, the inventor of telephone, was
working with deaf children at that time. Later Bell met Helen and her parents. He
suggested Perkins School for the Blind in Boston for Helen.
Captain Arthur went to the director of the school Michael Anaganos. Mr
Anaganos sent one of his best students called Annie Sullivan to help Helen in
1887. Annie greatly helped Helen to communicate.
C

Match the words with their meanings.

Words
humanitarian
disabled
plantation
inventor
D

True or false? If false, give the correct answer.

1
2
3
4
5

Meanings
a large area of land where crops like sugar, banana, etc. are grown
a person who has discovered something
making peoples sufferings less and improving their living
conditions
unable to use a part of the body easily or completely because of
illness, injury, etc.

Helen always helped the suffering people.

She came from a rich family.
She was born blind, deaf and dumb.
Alexander Graham Bell was both an inventor and a social worker.
Annie Sullivan was a good teacher of Helen Keller.

Choose the best answer.

1

Helen Keller worked for

a womens right.
b disabled people.
c poor people.
Alexander Graham Bell invented
a the mobile phone.
b the internet.
c the telephone.
Bell also worked for the people who could not
a see.
b hear.
c speak.

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Lesson 4: Helen Keller (2)

Key words :

communication

skills

interpret

Read the questions. Then read the text and answer the questions.
1

Where is the Horace Mann School?

Where did Helen receive her BA degree?

Helen Keller started her formal Education in 1890. She began to take classes at
the Horace Mann School for the deaf in Boston. From 1894 to 1896, she attended
the Wright Humason School for the deaf in New York City. There she worked to
improve her communication skills and studied regular academic subjects. Helen
gradually made up her mind to attend college. In 1896 she attended the Cambridge
School for Young Ladies, Massachusetts. Later, she was admitted to Redcliffe
College. Here she learnt reading through a special technique called Braille. She
also learnt here how to type. Annie Sullivan was always with her for help. She sat
by her in the class and interpreted lectures and texts.
In 1904, Helen received a BA degree with honours from that college. Helen Keller
spent the rest of her life trying to make it easier for disabled people to learn.
Helen Keller died on June 1, 1968, a few weeks short of her 88th birthday.
B

Answer these questions.

1

How long did she study at the Wright Humason School?

How did Annie help Helen with her studies at Redcliffe

college?
When did Helen graduate?
How did Helen become famous?

3
4
C

Tick the best answer.

1

The Horace Mann School is for

a the blind.
b the deaf.
c the dumb.

Who always helped Helen to learn?

a Ms Katherine
b Mr bell
c Ms Sullivan

At Redcliffe College Helen mastered her

a reading skills.
b speaking skills.
c listening skills.

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47

Helen died
a in her early age.
b in her middle age.
c in her old age.

Helen worked for improving her communication skills.....

Here the underlined words mean
a
expressing ideas and feelings.
b
sending information through telephone, radio, etc.
c
developing road and air transport.

Which sentence gives the correct information according to the text?

a
Anne taught Helen at Redcliffe College.
b
Anne explained lectures and texts in the class.
c
Anne was not allowed to enter the class.

Lesson 5: Two women

Read the previous lessons (1 4) on Begum Rokeya

complete the table with information from the texts.
Begum Rokeya
1880
1 born in
Bengali (at that time Indian)
2 nationality
rich familyfather zaminder
3 family
(landlord)married to an upper
class man
4 physical condition
self educated, learnt Bangla and
5 education
English from brother
to establish womens rights in
6 aim in life
society
7 achievements
8 death

1932

and Helen Keller, and

Helen Keller
American
not richsource of
income cotton plantation
blind, deaf and dumb

to help disabled people

to learn
a number of books and
articles
1868

one
: Attention,
please
Unit Five :Unit
Great
women
to remember

48

Now read the completed chart and write one or two sentences for each of the
8 points in the chart. Look at the examples.
Point 1:

Begum Rokeys was born in 1880. Helen Keller was also born in
1880.

Point5:

Begum Rokeya was self educated and learnt Bangla and English
from her brother. But Helen Keller got formal education from
school and college.

Notice:

In 1, also is used when the same information is used.

In 5, but is used when different pieces of information are used.

C

Use the information / facts about Florence Nightingale and write a

composition about her.
Born---1820, Florence, Italy
Parentsrichfather landlord
Studied nursing at Nurses Training
Institute, Germany
First job---in a London hospital
Went to Turkey with a group of 38 nurses
to work for the sick British soldiers during
the Crimean War (185356)
Worked day and night to help the wounded
soldiers
Returned to Englandthe Lady with the
Lampfamous in nursing
Set up Nightingale School for nurses in London
Died 13 August 1910

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49

Unit Six

Leisure

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
ask and answer questions
read and enjoy poems
talk about people, places and events
read and understand texts

write paragraphs and short compositions

Unit one :Unit

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Six : Leisure

50

Lesson 1: A day in Zishans life

A

Read about Zishans daily routine.

6:30 am

: wake up

7:00 am

: breakfast

8:30 am3:00 pm

: school

4:00 pm5.00 pm

: snack and free time

5.00 pm6.00

: study with maths /

science teacher

6:15 pm7:15 pm

: study with English /

social science teacher

7:30 pm8:30 pm

: homework

8:30 pm

: supper

9:00 pm10:00 pm

: TV

10:30 pm

: go to bed

On Friday Zishan does not go to school. But he studies one hour with his religious
teacher. He also studies his school subjects by himself. Often he goes to visit his
relatives with his parents.
B

Discuss in groups or pairs and answer these questions.

1 How much time does Zishan spend on his studies?
(hints: too much / too little / the right amount of time)
2 Why do you think he spends too much / too little / the right amount of time on
his studies?
3 Why do you think Zishan studies on Fridays?

Look at Zishans daily routine again and give your opinion about this
statement, All work and no play will make Zishan a dull boy.

Make your own daily routine. Show in it your free time and the activities you
do in that time.

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Lesson 2: Leisure
Key words:

stare

streams

A Read aloud and recite the poem.

Leisure
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad day light,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

A poor life this is if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.
[William Henry Davies]
B

Make a list of the beautiful things the

poet talks about in the poem.

Read the poem, discuss in groups / pairs and write answers to these
questions:
1 Why does the poet think that we have no time to stand and stare?
2 Do you think people often do not have time to enjoy the beauty of nature? Give
reasons.

Suppose you are walking along a path through a wood. There are beautiful
trees and flowers on either side of the path. What would you like to do?

Unit one :Unit

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52

Lesson 3: What are they doing?

Key words : glued to upload download messages
A

Work in groups. Look at the pictures and talk about what the boys and girls
are doing.

Now read the paragraphs and match them with the pictures.
1 Young children play this game on the ground. The ground was marked by a set
of joined squares. Each child throws a stone into a square then hops (jumps on
one leg) and jumps along the empty squares to pick up the stone again. They
play this game in turn.
2 Some children are often glued to Computers. They often upload their pictures
or messages on to the facebook. They can also download pictures and
messages.
3 Children often watch football matches of both national and international teams
on TV.
4 Children often play football in the school playground.

Note: glued to
upload
download
C

: giving all your attention to something

: transfer information, data to a computer system
: copy data, information, etc from one computer
system to another or to a disk

Discuss in pairs and answer this question orally:

Which activities mainly take place in cities and which activities mainly take place
in villages? Also say which activity or activities can take place both in cities and
villages.

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53

Work in groups. Here is a list of childrens activities. Which of them are freetime or leisure activities and which are not? Why are they so?
reading for exams
listening to music
visiting relatives on weekends
attending music lessons
reading story books
going to movies occasionally
helping parents with housework
going on a picnic with family or friends
walking in the park on holidays
Write answers to these questions.
1

What free-time / leisure activities do you do?

Where and who do you do your leisure activity /activities with?

Why do you like or dislike to do your free-time activities?

Are there any problems / difficulties in doing your leisure activities?

If any, describe them.

Lesson 4: Travelling by train (1)

A

Ask and answer these questions.

1 Have you ever travelled by train?
2 If you have, when, where, who with and why did you go?

Listen to the teacher / CD and answer the following questions.

Listening text: 7
Tick the best answer.
1 The school is closed for
a winter.
b summer.
c autumn.
2 Julie is Zishans _______ sister.
a older
b younger
c counsin

Unit one :Unit

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54

3 Zishan and Julie have finished their ____________ exams.

a annual
b first-terminal
c second terminal
4

Zishan and Julie chat online. This means they talk to their
friends
a on the internet.
b on the telephone.
c in the classroom.

5 Zishan and Julie are getting bored. The underlined words mean
a

making friends.

b becoming angry
c feeling tired.
6 Zishan and Julie are getting bored because
a they are staying in the house.
b they are staying inside their closed room.
c

they are busy talking to their friends.

7 What was the wonderful surprise to Zishan and Julie?

a Their second term exams were over.
b They were going to see their grandparents.
c
C

They did not like to go to the village.

Write a paragraph about what you will do after your first / second terminal
exams are over.

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55

Lesson 5: Travelling by Train (2)

Key words : departure empty print out
A

Ask and answer this question:

Have you ever looked through the window from a running train? If you have,
what did you see?

Read about a train journey.

Zishan, Julie and their parents Mr and Mrs Arif Khan got into a 1st class
compartment at Kamalapur Railway Station. It was Dewanganj-bound Tista
Express. The train left at 8 oclock. Zishan saw that the departure time on the big
time table at the station was 7:30. However the train was running quite fast. The
children sat by the window beside their parents. The compartment was half empty.
Yesterday Julie downloaded a beautiful poem on a train journey by Robert Louis
Stevenson. She took a printout of the poem. She was looking out and saw the
passing things. Then she took out the poem and began to read.
Questions
1 Were all the seats in the compartment taken?
2 Where did Zishan sit?
3 Where was the train going?
4 Did the train leave Kamalapur Station late or on time?
5 Where did Julie get the poem from?
6 What was Julie doing from her seat?

Unit one :Unit

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56

Lesson 6: From a Railway Carriage

Key words : hedge
tramp
A

ditch
stringing

charge

wink

lump

glimpse

Listen, read aloud and recite the poem.

From a Railway Carriage
Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle
All through the meadows the horses and cattle:
All of the sights of the hill and the plain
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again, in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by.
Here is child who clambers and scrambles,
All by himself and gathering brambles;
Here is a tramp who stands and gazes;
And here is the green for stringing daisies!
Here is a cart runaway in the road
Lumping along with man and load;
And here is a mill, and there is a river:
Each a glimpse and gone forever!
[Robert Louis Stevenson]

bramble

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57

Read the poem silently and match the words with their meanings.
Words

Meanings

hedge

attack or rush

ditch

a signal made quickly by closing and opening an eye

charge

hanging

wink

a prickly bush

stringing

a row of bushes or small trees

lump

a look at something for a very short time

bramble

a canal or drain

tramp

move heavily along

glimpse

a homeless and jobless person

Make a list of things that you can see passing quickly by a

running train.

Make a list the words and phrases that tell us about how fast the train is
running. Examples: faster than fairies, charging along etc.

Listen and read the first two lines with stress.

Faster than fairies, faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;

How fast can you say?

The rain in Spain stays in the plains.

Unit one :Unit

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please
Six : Leisure

58

Lesson 7: Under the full moon

Key words : relaxed laugh ones head off
A

Answer these questions.

1 Can you see the full moon from your house or yard?
2 Discuss in pairs or groups and answer this question:
What activities of the moon are noticed in the following stanza?
Slowly silently, now the moon
Walks the night in her silver shoon;
This way, and that, she peers and sees
Silver fruit upon silver trees.
[Walter de la Mare]

Note: shoon = shoes

peer = to look closely at something
B

Read the passage silently.

It was Zishans grandparents house in the village. The night sky was clear. The
full moon was shining brightly. All the family members had delicious supper and
sat in the yard. Zishans cousins, Jahid and Shima, were very excited. They are the
same age. They were also studying at a village school. Their grandparents gladly
joined them. They were sitting on a bamboo mat. Everybody felt relaxed. They
were talking, laughing and joking. The childrens voices were the loudest. Jahid
described how he played for his school in the Upazila Inter-School Tournament.
What sports do you take part in, Zishan? asked Jahid. Zishan could not answer.
There was no playground in his school and around his house. Shima also told
them how she won the first prize for 100 metre sprint in her school annual sports.
She sang a beautiful Bhawaiya. Everybody clapped their hands in delight.
Julies aunt Mrs Jahanara Khan told some funny jokes that made them laugh their
head off. The family gathering went on far into the night.

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59

Tick the best answer.

1 What made Jahid and Shima excited?
a the shining of the full moon
b meeting with their cousins
c sitting on the mats
d

delicious supper

2 Everybody was feeling relaxed. This means everybody was

a
b
c
d

wearing nice clothes

talking and enjoying themselves
having no work to do
sitting under the full moon

3 Zishan could not reply to Jahids question, What sports do you

take part in? because
a
b
c
d
4

he does not like sports.

his school does not organize any sports.
sports are not part of examinations.
his parents dont like sports.

Julies aunts funny jokes made everybody laugh their head off. Here laugh
their head off means laughing
a slowly.
b moving their heads.
c loudly.
d with a headache.

Listen and say these words.

witch

ditch

each

lunch

touch

much

Discuss in groups. Write a paragraph about leisure activities at your school

and home. Also write who helps you with these activities. If you cannot do
any of these activities, write why.

Unit one :Unit

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60

Lesson 8: The Selfish Giant (1)

Key words : selfish
A

giant gruff

trespasser

Look at the picture. Answer these questions.

Who do you think these people are?
1 Where can they be?
2 Can you guess what they are doing?

Read the story silently.

Shimas grandfather was telling the story of the Selfish Giant in the family
gathering. Grandma refused to go to bed. She forgot her back pain.

The Selfish Giant

It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass
stood beautiful flowers. Also there were fruit trees around the garden.
One day the Giant came back. He went to see his friend in a distant land and
stayed with them for seven years. When he arrived he saw children playing in his
garden.
What are you doing here? cried the Giant in a very gruff voice. The children ran
away.
Every afternoon the children came back from school and used to go and play in
the Giants garden.

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61

My own garden is my own garden, said the Giant. Anyone can understand
that. And I will allow nobody to play in it. So he built a high wall all round the
garden and put up a notice board.

TRESPASSERS WILL BE PUNISHED

C

Discuss in groups and answer this question:

How do you know that the giant is selfish?

Have you ever seen any garden or park? Where is it? Describe it using the
following clues:
how big
trees---flowers and fruits
play corner
any other attractions
Note: trespasser: a person who enters somebodys land without
their permission
gruff
: harsh; unfriendly

Lesson 9: The Selfish Giant (2)

Key word: castle
A

Continue reading the story.

The children had now nowhere to play.
There were no gardens around and the
roads were busy and crowded. After
school they used to go round the high
wall and talk about the beautiful
garden inside. How happy we were
there!, they said to each other.

Unit one :Unit

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62

Q 1 What do you think the children would do now?

Then came the spring. And all over the country
there were flowers and there were birds. Only in
the garden of the Giant it was still winter. Here
there were no birds singing, no flowers
blossoming. There were only snow and frost and
north wind in it.
I cannot understand why the spring is so late in
coming, said the Giant. He was sitting at the
window of his big castle and looking out at his cold, dry, lifeless garden. I hope
there will be a change in the weather.
But neither spring nor summer came to his garden.
B

Discuss in groups and write an answer to this question:

What happens in a garden in winter?

Suppose you are one of the children who were not allowed to play in the
Giants garden. In this situation:
1 What would you like to tell the Giant?
2 What do you think the Giant would tell you?

Lesson 10: The Selfish Giant (3)

Key words : perfume sight
A

Continue reading the story.

One morning the Giant was lying
awake in bed when he heard some
lovely music. It was so sweet to
his ears that he thought it must be
the Kings musicians passing by.
But in fact it was only a little bird
singing outside his window. Then
the north wind stopped and a
delicious perfume came to him

twitter

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

63

through the open window. I believe the spring has come at last, said the Giant.
He jumped out of bed and looked out. What did he see?
He saw the most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children
crept in and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree there was a
little child. And the trees were so delighted to have the children back again that
they covered themselves with blossoms. They were waving their arms gently
above the childrens heads. The birds were flying about and twittering
delightfully. The flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing.
But only in one corner of the garden it was still winter. There under a tree a little
boy was standing alone crying. He was so small that he could not reach up to the
branches of the tree. The poor tree was still covered with snow, and the north
wind was blowing above it.
B

Match the words with their meanings.

Words

Meanings

1 awake

a) sweet smell

2 perfume

b) sing in a delightful voice

3 sight

c) not sleeping

4 twitter

d) things / objects that you see

Discuss in groups or pairs and answer these questions.

1 Why was the little bird singing outside the window of the Giants
castle?
2 What happened to the garden when the spring came at last?
3 Why did one corner of the garden still have winter? What happened there?

Unit one :Unit

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Six : Leisure

64

Lesson11: The Selfish Giant (4)

Key words : frightened stretch out knock down fling

Continue reading the story.

The Giant felt sorry as he looked out. How selfish I have been! he said to
himself. Now I know why the spring would not come here.
So he quickly went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were
so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became winter again. Only the
little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he did not see the Giant
coming. The giant quietly came behind him, took him gently in his hands and put
him up into the tree. And the tree at once broke into blossom, and the birds came
and sang on it. The little boy stretched out his two arms, flung them round the
Giants neck and kissed him.
The other children saw this. They saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer.
So they came running back. And with them came the spring.
Its your garden now, little children, said the Giant. Then he took a great axe
and knocked the wall down. And the people passing by found the Giant playing
with the children in the most beautiful garden in the country.
[adapted from Oscar Wild]

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65

Answer these questions.

1 Why did the Giant feel sorry?
2 When did the garden become winter again?
3 Why didnt the little boy run away?
4 What happened when the Giant put the little boy up into the tree?
5 Why did the other children think that the Giant was no longer
wicked?
6 What happened when the children came back into the garden?
7 Why was the Giants garden the most beautiful garden in the country?

Fill in the blanks with the right form of the verbs given in the box.

fling, smile, sit, stretch out, frighten, feel sorry

Yesterday I met a six-foot man in the lift of our office. I was a little ________ .
But he _________ a hand and said hello. I too _________ mine and we shook
hands. Then he __________ and went towards the managers office, _______
open the door and _________ on the managers chair. He was our new manager. I
went inside and said, Forgive me, Sir. I didnt know. I really ________ .
D

Work in groups. Tell the story.

Discuss in groups and write the moral of the story.

Unit one : Attention, please

66

Unit Seven

Games and Sports

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
listen, read, understand and enjoy stories, and other text materials
ask and answer questions
participate in short dialogues and conversations on familiar topics
write short paragraphs, informal letters
write answers to questions

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

67

Lesson 1: Tales of two players (1)

Key words : striker coach

half six school compound

talk show

quiz

Look at the pictures. What are they about?

Read the text. Write the day below each picture.

Every Thursday afternoon Ashish Biswash plays football. He is a striker. He plays
for the local Friends Club. Do you want to know what else he does on other days?
This is what Ashish says: Friday and Saturday are my weekends. On Friday, I
go to my village home. Going home is really a wonderful experience.
My mother waits for me there. In the afternoon, I go cycling with my friends.
Sometimes I go for a long walk. Next day I get up a little late. In the afternoon I
play kabadi. In fact, I was a kabadi player during my school days.

Unit
one :: Game
Attention,
please
Unit
Seven
and Sports

68

From Sunday to Thursday I go to the club at 7 oclock in the morning. Its the
time for our regular practice. So I have to get up by 6 oclock. Usually on
Monday afternoon, the team doctor sees all the players. On Tuesday our coach
shows us videos of important matches. We learn a lot from them. On Thursdays
when we practise, our team manager watches our performance and keeps a record
of that. Then he selects the team for the day. In the afternoon I go to the club at 1
oclock. I spend some time with my teammates. At 4 oclock our match begins.
We regularly play with other local teams.
C

Use the pictures in A. Describe Ashish Biswashs week.

Example:
He plays kabadi on Saturday afternoon.

Answer the following questions

1 Whats your favourite sport?
2 Whats your favourite team?
3 Who is the captain?
4 Who is your favourite player?
5 How often do you go to the stadium and watch sports programmes?

Listen to the teacher / CD and answer the following

questions.
Questions

Who narrates the above story?

What is his dream?

Where does he live?

Why does he consider himself fortunate?

What is interesting in him?

Look at the chart. Listen to the teacher/CD again and

writethe time for each activity in the chart.

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69

Listening text: 8
Activity

Time

get up
go for jogging
have a shower
get dressed for school
go to school
come home
have some light food
finish study
go to bed

Does Arun do these things? Complete the sentences.

Example:
He gets up at 6 oclock. He doesnt practise on Fridays.

1.

He at four oclock. (get up)

2.

He ... go to school by bus. (go)

3.

He in the morning. (jog)

4.

He to be a national cricketer. (want)

5.

He every day. (practise)

6.

He his practice. (miss)

7.

He back home at 6 in the afternoon. (get)

8.

He little time watching TV. (spend)

9.

He until ten in the evening. (study)

10.

He Talk Shows. (watch)

What do you think about Aruns life? Do you like him? Why/ why not?

Unit
one :: Attention,
Unit
Seven
Game and please
Sports

70

Lesson 2: Tales of two players (2)

Key words : practise

weight lifter

opportunity

school compound

A
Read the text below aloud.
Ashish and Arun are two players. I know them for a long time. They are both very close
to my family. Ashish is from a village. Arun lives in a small town. Ashish plays football.
He doesnt play tennis. Arun practises cricket but he loves athletics as well. Arun goes to
a local school. He has opportunities to practise in his school compound. Arun practises in
his club field. Ashish has one brother. His name is Abir. He is a weight lifter. Arun has
no brother. He has a sister. Her name is Apala. She doesnt like cricket. She is a
swimmer.
B

1. Work in pairs. 2. Make questions for Asish, Apala, Arun, and Abir using
the table below. 3. Then ask and answer the questions. 4. Also ask thes
question to your partner. 5. Use the words in italics to complete the sentences.
you

she

they

..

he

do

..
..
..
..

does
live in a city?
play tennis?
like athletics?
go to school?

.
.
.

Change your partner. Ask and answer questions about his/her previous
partners sports habit and routine.
Example:
Does Emil play cricket?
Does he practise regularly?

Do you remember Ashish Biswash, the footballer in the previous lesson? Here
is an interview with him. Complete the questions. Use the verbs in the
brackets.
Interviewer

: Do you practise on Friday and Saturday?

Ashish

: No, I dont. Thats my weekend.

Interviewer

: What on Fridays? (do)

Ashish

: I go to my village home.

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Interviewer

: anyone there now? (live)

Ashish

: Yes, my mum lives there. She waits for me.

Interviewer

: What she do there? (do)

Ashish

: She is a social worker there.

Interviewer

: When. practice everyday? (start)

Ashish

: I start practising at 7 from Sunday to Thursday.

Interviewer

: How . your free time? (spend)

Ashish

: I play kabadi, go cycling, or take long walks with my

friends. Sometimes I chat with my mum.

Interviewer

: When back from your village? (come)

Ashish

: On Saturday evening.

Make a few more questions and answers for this interview. Work with a
partner. Act out the interview.

Choose a sports star. Make six questions to ask him/her. Use the words in the
box below. Then act out the interview with a partner.
How?

What?

When?

Where?

Do?

Why?

Make a personal fact file to tell about a day in your life. Answer the
questions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

What time do you get up?

What do you have for breakfast?
How do you get to school?
What games or sports do you play? Why?
Who is your favourite sports star?
When do you go home from school?
Do you go home at the same time everyday?
What is the first thing you do when you get back home?
How long do you watch television each day?
Whats your favourite programme?
How often do you go out with your friends?
Where do you go? What do you do together?
What time do you go to bed?
What is your dream for future?

Unit
one :: Attention,
Unit
Seven
Game and please
Sports

72

H Work in pairs. Ask and answer the above questions. Keep a record of your
partners answers and write a paragraph about him or her on the basis of your
record. Start like this ....
Moon (partners name) gets up at 7 oclock in the morning. Then she has
breakfast. She eats two pieces of chapati and a portion of vegetables. Sometimes
she eats a banana and drinks a glass of milk. She. .

Lesson 3: What games and sports do you like?

Key words: Aerobics
couch potato

frequency

a.

b.

e.

f.

yoga

jogging

once a week

middle-aged

kidding breaks
thrice a year

twice a month

c.

d.

g.

h.

Talk about these questions:

1 Do you know what games and sports these are?
2 Do males and females in our country enjoy any of these games and sports?
3 Do you enjoy any of these or other games and sports? Which one/s?
4 Which of the above sports are commonly practised by women in your locality?
Which ones are by men?

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

73

Work in pairs. Which of these activities are popular with the following age
groups? Tick () the activities. Then compare with your partner and make
sentences.
(There can be more than one activity for each group.)
children

teens

young
adults

middle-aged
people

older
people

aerobics
baseball
bicycling
football
swimming
tennis
yoga
jogging
Examples:
A: I think aerobics are popular with teens.
B: And with young adults too.
C

Pairwork. Take turns asking the questions in part A of the above exercise.
Give your own information while answering.

Listen to the statements and notice how the bold part of a word is
pronounced.
I hardly `ever go for a walk in the `morning.
I `often go `swimming on `Fridays.
I `seldom do `yoga.

Work in pairs. Take turns to say about your exercise habits using a word
given in Section D.

Lesson 4: Sports personalities

Key words :

stout attractive boring energetic middle aged manly entertaining

interesting smashing successful sober dependable unattractive slim
smart

Unit
one :: Attention,
Unit
Seven
Game and please
Sports

74

Look at the pictures. Who are they? What are these people
famous for?

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

4.

8.

Read the following words. Use them to describe each person above.

stout, attractive, energetic, strong, young, middle aged, old, manly, entertaining,
interesting, smashing, successful, great, sober, slim, smart

Some of the words in the box above have opposite meanings. Work in pairs
and write the opposite words against them. The first one is done for you.
stout slim

Read the text on the great Brazilian footballer, Pel.

Pel is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. In 1999,
he was voted Football Player of the Century by the IFFHS. IFFHS stands for
International Federation of Football History and Statistics. In 1999 the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) named Pel the "Athlete of the Century".
In his career he scored more than 1200 goals. Thus he has become the top scorer
of all time. In his own country - Brazil, Pel is a national hero. People call him
"The King of Football", "The King Pel" or simply "The King". He is the all-time

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

75

leading scorer of the Brazilian national team. He is the only footballer to be a part
of three World Cup-winning squads and the only player in the world to have three
World Cup winning medals.
E

True or false? If false, give the correct information.

1. In 1999 Pele was voted Football Player of the Century by IOC.
2. In the same year, Pele was honoured as the Athlete of the century.
3. He is one of the top scorers in the football world with more than one thousand
goals.
4. Pele is an international hero in his country.
5. He is one of the football players with three World Cup winning medals.

Now read about Maradona, another world-famous player, completing the

text with the right form of verbs given in the box.
prove play become

vote win be captain spend

Diego Armando Maradona was born in a poor family and his

childhood in a slum. However he . his football talent at the age of ten
only. Now he ................... considered the greatest football player of all time. He
. FIFA Player of the Century too. He ... in four FIFA World Cup
tournaments in 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994. In 1986, he
Argentina and... the World Cup. He . the tournament's
best player in 1986 and won the Golden Ball. His second goal with England in
1986 was.. the Goal of the century. In that match, he dribbled through
six English players to cross 60 metres (66 yards). He also .... the Golden
Ball at the FIFA under 20 World Cup in 1979. In 1990, Argentina .. the
runner up in the World Cup under his captaincy too. This is why Maradona
..........................a living legend not only in Argentina but also in the whole world.

Unit
one : Game
Attention,
Unit
Seven
and please
Sports

76

Lesson 5: Our golden boys and girls

Key words : amazing
A

individual

grab

dedicate

Read about our local football hero, Salauddin. Complete the text using
appropriate words.

Salahuddin was the most popular football player in our country during
the 70s and the mid-80s. He .... one of the most
successful and popular football players in Bangladesh. He was a
member of the Swadhin Bangla Football Team during the liberation
war. The team ... Funds to support our freedom fight.
Salahuddin is the first player from the country to play in the
professional league in Hong Kong. After independence, he Abahoni
Krira Chokra and .there most of his career. For eight years he regularly
.... for his club. He was the highest scorer for four consecutive
seasons. In 1984, at the peak of his form, Salahuddin to retire from
football. He also scored two goals in the last league match against Brothers Union. He
was the best player in that match too. Later Salahuddin . a football coach,
and manager of his favourite team Abahani Krira Chokro. Salahuddins name as a
football organizer is also remarkable. Salahuddin is an icon to our football lovers of all
ages.
B

Complete the questions about Salahuddin and then answer them. The first
one is done for you.

1. When was Salahuddin popular as a football

player?
2. Why . Swadhin Bangla Football Team
raise fund?
3. How many consecutive years .
Salahuddin score the highest goal?
4. When he retire from the professional
football?
5. What .. Salauddin do after his
retirement from football?
6. Other than Bangladesh, where.
Salahuddin go to play professional football?

During the 70s and the mid 80s.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

77

Write a letter/email to your friend to tell about our golden boy, Sakib Al
Hasan. Use the following cues. You can add few more information as well.

Magura
most celebrated
cricketer

amazing talent

7 wickets for 37 runs against

New Zealand, 2008

all rounder
2009, 2010, 2012: best
ODI all-rounder, ICC

2011: best all-rounder, Test

and ODI

Captain: 2010 ICC World Cup Cricket

Read and listen to the teacher/ CD. As you listen, fill in the gaps in the text
with the right words.

Listening text: 9

VOL 2020 NO 311DA 1589 | Dhaka, Wednesday February 3 2010.

Bangladeshi shooters clinched both the .... and .....
gold medals in the women's 10-metre Air Rifle .. of the 11th South
Asian Games on the opening day of the .. at the National Shooting
Complex in Gulshan Tuesday, reports UNB.
Bangladesh shooting team comprising
Sharmin Akhter Ratna, Syeda Sadia Sultana
and Tripti Dutta grabbed the team event's
gold medal . total 1191 out of
1200.
Sharmin
Akhter
Ratna
398, Syeda Sadia Sultana
scored 397 and Tripti Dutta scored 396 on
the way to win the team gold.
Sharmin Akhter Ratna also the individual gold medal of the same
event scoring 499.4 out of 500 - the best ever score by any Bangladeshi shooter.

Unit
one :: Attention,
Unit
Seven
Game and please
Sports

78

Her teammate Syeda Sadia Sultana earned silver medal scoring 498.3 in a keenly
contested
After winning the first shooting gold, Sharmin Akhter Ratna said, "I am very
much happy to . the gold. We proved our potential in shooting, now we
are looking for the Olympic gold.
Sadia said, "I am so happy. It gives me immense .. to bag the gold in the
Event. Now it is time to look .. With this success, both expect gold in
the upcoming Olympic Games. The two shooters . their medals to
their parents as well as the people of Bangladesh.
E

Suppose you are going to take an interview of the golden girls of Bangladesh.
What questions will you ask them?
1

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

79

Unit Eight

Likes and dislikes

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
take part in simple language games
read and understand texts and dialogues
listen to and understand conversations on familiar, everyday topics
ask and answer questions about like/dislike
complete guided and semi-guided writing tasks

Unit
one::Likes
Attention,
please
Unit
Eight
and dislikes

80

Lesson 1: I like folk songs

Key words : chess photography fish cutlet
adore (v)

to bloom (v)

classical music

folk song pop music

precious gem

Play this game in pairs. Take turns asking and answering questions. Ask and
answer as many questions as you can in five minutes to find similarities in
your and your partners likes. For each similar liking your pair will get one
point. Add up your points when the game is over. The pair having the highest
points is the winner. Use the following clue to play the game:
A: I like ice cream. And you?
B: I like ice cream too. (One point)
B: I like playing chess. And you?
A: I dont like playing chess. (No points)

Read the dialogue between A and B silently. Underline the words

express liking/disliking. Then act out the dialogue in pairs.

that

A: Hello. How are you doing?

B: Im OK. Ive just finished a course on photography.
A: Great! Did you like the course?
B: Yes, I loved the course so much! You know, I like photography a lot. How
about you? What sorts of things do you like?
A: I dont like photography but I like fishing. I went fishing to a
nearby village last week. Did you ever go fishing?
B: Errr. I like eating fish. I actually love fish cutlet. But I dont like to go fishing.
Its hard to wait for hours looking at the water!
A: Thats right. You need to have patience. I enjoy fishing. Its really exciting
when you catch a fish after hours of waiting. Would you like to come with me
next time?
B: Im not sure. But I would love to taste the fish cutlet.
A: Well. Ill certainly invite you to come to my place and enjoy fish cutlets with
me.
B: Thank you. Sounds great! Thanks!

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

81

Now read about Kobita, a class 7 student of Sundarpur village. What does
she tell about her likes/dislikes?

Hello, I am Kobita. I am a class 7 student of Sundarpur High School. I like listening to

music in my free time. I like folk songs but I dont
understand classical music that much. However, my
father likes classical music very much. But he doesnt like
pop music. He never watches pop musical programmes on
TV. He says he hates them because they dont appeal to
emotions. My favourite singer is Farida Parvin. I like her
songs very much. She has a wonderful voice. I also like
gardening. I have planted many flowers in my garden.
When the flowers are in full bloom, I love to watch them.
Im very happy about the flowers that I grow. I just adore
them!
D

Ask and answer the questions in pairs.

1 Why doesnt Kobita like classical music?
2 What does Kobitas father think about pop music?
3 Who is Kobitas favourite singer? Why does she like her so much?
4 What does Kobita think about her garden?
5 What does the sentenceI just adore them! mean?

Now make five sentences about what you adore, love, like, dont like and
hate.

Study the table below. In pairs use the table to ask and answer questions to
talk about your and your friends likes/dislikes.
I
like
Pepsi
foot ball
I
do not/ dont like
Bangla movies
fried rice
You
like
You

do not/ dont like

He/she/Raju

likes
does not/ doesnt like
like
do not/ dont like

They/ Girls

working in kitchen
going to cinema
watching cricket
reading stories

Unit
one: :Likes
Attention,
please
Unit
Eight
and dislikes

82

Lesson 2: Kobitas village

Key words : graceful

vocational

perform (v)
load shedding
A

theatre

borrow (v)
delicious

stage (v)

childrens classics

frequent
bitter

gourd

Make questions from the table. Then ask and answer them in pairs. Find how
many of you like/dislike each of these five things.
watching cricket on TV?
reading ghost stories?
Do you like

eating pineapples?
doing mathematics?
getting up early?

Read about Kobitas village. Then discuss in pairs what you like/dislike
about her village.
The name of Kobitas village is Sundarpur. It is a small village on the bank of the
river Kalini. The beautiful river flows through the village. There are one high
school, three primary schools and one vocational training centre in this village.
Kobita and her friends learn computer at this centre. There is a theatre club and a
small library too. Kobita can borrow books from the library. She borrows books
on history, poetry and childrens classics. The theatre club stages plays regularly.
Last month Kobita enjoyed the Mohua drama dance performed by the theatre
club. The village has a bazar on the river side. This is a very noisy and dirty place.
Kobita never goes to the bazar. The village roads are also narrow and dirty.
Although there is electricity in Sundarpur, the villagers experience frequent load
shedding in summer.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

83

Look at the food that Kobita usually eats at home. In pairs match the names
of the food items given below with the pictures.

2. .

4.

5.

6..

bitter gourd

fish fry

singara

egg fry

chapatti smashed potato

Now, discuss which of the foods above you like or dislike. Follow the example
below:
A: Do you like French fry?
B. Yes, I do. Its delicious!
A: Do you like dried fish?
B: No, I dont. I cant like its smell.

Lesson 3: Paul visits Sundarpur

Key words : volunteer
heavenly

arsenic poisoning
brook

stare (v)

hectic

pictorial harmony

green coconut

84

Unit
one: :Likes
Attention,
please
Unit
Eight
and dislikes

In pairs, tell your partner the names of four things- one thing you like, one
thing you dislike, one thing you love and one thing you hate. But dont tell
him/her which ones you like, dislike, love and hate. Your partner guesses
which one you like/dislike/love/hate. Follow the example given below.
A: mathematics, washing clothes, rain, dry fish
B: You like mathematics.
A. Youre right.
B: You love washing clothes.
A. Thats not right.
B: Then you love rain and hate washing clothes.
A: Yes.
B: And you dislike dry fish
A: No, I love it.

Paul is a young volunteer of an international NGO in Bangladesh. He visits

Sundarpur to talk to the villagers about arsenic poisoning. Read the passage
to know about his visit.
Paul went to Sundarpur High School to meet the teachers and students there. He
was warmly greeted by all. He quite enjoyed the green coconut drink that was
served on his arrival. He gave a short lecture to the students and explained how
they would fight against arsenic poisoning. Paul also answered the questions
asked by some students. He liked most of the questions. He also took some
pictures with the students. He always takes his camera with him. He loves
photography.
As he was taking leave, all the students followed him up to the school gate. The
teachers wanted to hire a rickshaw for him. He does not like riding rickshaws. In
fact, he hates the idea of sitting idle while another person is pulling the rickshaw.
So, he did not mind walking towards the local Union Council Office.

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1
2
3
4
5

What made Paul love Sundarpur village when he saw it first?

Did Paul like all the people he met on the street and in the bazar?
How was Paul entertained at the school on his arrival?
What did Paul talk about to the students of the school?
What does Paul think about riding a rickshaw?

Read the statements about Pauls likes/dislikes and replace

underlined parts of each sentence with a phrase given in the box.
1 Paul quite likes the green coconut drink.
2 He didnt mind walking along the village roads.
3 He loves taking pictures.
4 He hates sitting idly in a rickshaw.
really dislikes

did not dislike

enjoys

really likes

the

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

85

Write your likes and dislikes in the grid below. Then compare your
completed grid with a partner.
Things I really like

Things I like

Things I dislike

Things I really dislike

Lesson 4: Paul visits Kobitas house

Key words : sip (v)
dessert
A

baggy trousers
chopped

reluctant
skip (v)

magazine

dish

taste

In pairs, A thinks of something s/he really likes/dislikes and tells B about this
through miming. B tries to guess what A wants to tell. Take turns as B mimes
and A tries to guess.
For example: A may do the miming of picking a cup from the saucer, sipping
tea from the cup and then making an expression of disliking to show that he
really dislikes having the tea.

Read the following text about Pauls visit to Kobitas house and answer the
following questions.
Paul went to meet Kobita and her family the next day. He was in his blue trousers
and a grey T-shirt. Kobitas mother Ms Shahana was a shy woman and she was

Unit
one: :Likes
Attention,
please
Unit
Eight
and dislikes

86

reluctant to come to Paul. But Paul greeted her warmly in his newly learnt Bangla,
Kemon achen?. Ms Shahana loved hearing a foreigner speak Bangla. She
welcomed Paul to her house. Kobita started talking to Paul. She wanted him to
write something for her school magazine. As they were talking, Ms Shahana
prepared quite a number of Bangladeshi dishes. She served him lunch at noon.
Paul had plain rice, chicken curry, fish bhuna, dal and salad for lunch. He liked
the tastes of all those delicious items except the dried fish bhorta. He is afraid of
hot chilies. He also does not like eating fresh onions. So he skipped the smashed
potato which had chopped fresh onions in it. But Paul became very fond of the
dessert made of rice, gur, milk and coconut. He also enjoyed drinking tea made of
fresh cow milk. Paul thanked Kobita and Ms Shahana for the lunch. In fact, he
was tired of having vegetables and fried egg-fry for the last few weeks. He hates
eating the same food for weeks. So he enjoyed the tastes of a variety of
Bangladeshi dishes.
Questions
1. What did Ms. Shahana love about Paul as she saw him first?
2. Which two items of food did Paul skip while having lunch?
3. What item of food did Paul specially like?
4. What has Paul been eating for the last few weeks? Did he like eating them?
5. Why do you think Paul visited Kobitas house?
C

Read the expressions of liking and disliking taken from the passage in B.
First, complete the sentences. Then, arrange the sentences in order of liking
very much to disliking very much.
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)

Paul likes ..
He is fond of
He enjoys ..
He loves ..
He doesnt like ..
He is afraid of
He hates ..

Now write a true sentence about you with each expression and compare your
sentences with a partner.

Lesson 5: Paul and his family

Key words : shuffle (v)
around (v)

feed (v)
fly

rabbits
insects

sandwiches
bush

spider

relaxing

run

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

87

Write five sentences on one piece of paper describing what you really like,
dont really like etc but dont write your name. Your teacher will collect the
pieces of paper from all students. He will shuffle and give them back to you
all. When you have received the piece of paper written by some other student,
read it and guess who could be the writer.

Read the article that Paul has written for the school magazine of
Sundarpur High School.
Hi, there. Im Paul and you can see me in this picture feeding a rabbit in a park. I
am going to tell you about what my family and I like and dont like doing.
My family and I love going to the park at
the weekends. We like having picnics. My
sister and I love watching animals. My
mother likes making sandwiches for us but
my father hates cooking. My sister and I
love playing around in the park and feeding
the animals. My mother loves watching us
while we play. We can relax in a park
listening to the birds singing. We also like
watching the little rabbits running around.
We all like the park because we love being
outdoors and feeling free.
But sometimes my father gets angry with
us and does not allow us to go near the bush. He doesnt like his children going
too far, out of his sight. I dont like sitting on the grass and doing nothing for
hours. My sister is afraid of spiders. She hates them. Sometimes when we go too
far away, my mother calls us back. She tells my sister that she has seen some
spiders near the bush. Im not afraid of spiders. But I dont like flies. I just cant
bear with these little insects.

Fill in the table below against each thing/activity. Use the words likes/doesnt
like/loves/hates appropriately under each member of Pauls family. Two are
done for you.
Thing/activity
making sandwiches
cooking
watching animals
spiders
flies
sitting idley on grass
watching others play
watching animals

Paul

Sister

Mother
likes

Father
hates

88

Unit
one: :Likes
Attention,
please
Unit
Eight
and dislikes

Now write sentences using the table about people in Pauls family and your
family. The first two are done for you.
1. Paul likes watching animals. I like watching animals too.
2. His sister hates spiders but my sister does not hate them.
3. (Continue)

Use the clues to write questions and answers about likes/dislikes.

1. Mr. Jabbar works with computers.
Q: (like) Does Mr. Jabbar like working with computers?
A: (Yes, love) Yes, he loves working with computers.
2. Rabiul goes shopping at the weekend.
Q: (like) Does Robiul like going shopping at the weekend?
A: (No, hates) No, he hates going shopping at the weekend.
3. The students watch cricket.
Q: (like) .. ?
A: (Yes, like) .
4. Rezina goes to the doctor.
Q: (Like) .. ?
A: (No, not like) ..
5. Your sister watches films.
Q: (Like) .. ?
A: (Yes, love) .
6. We waste our time.
Q: (like) ?
A: (No, hate)
7. They donate money to the poor.
Q: (like) .?
A: (Yes, love) .

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

89

F
Look at the grid below. It shows the likes and dislikes of four people. First
tick the boxes to show your liking. Now write sentences about what you and the
people in the grid like and dont like. One is done for you.

Listen to music

Turja

Rubana

Study English

Draw pictures

Read story books

Roxana

Tumpa

You

1. Turja likes listening to music and reading story books but he doesnt like
studying maths or drawing pictures.
2. Rubana
3. Roxana
4. Tumpa .
5. I ...

Unit one : Attention, please

90

Unit Nine

Climate change

Learning outcomes
After we have studied this unit, we will be able to
read and understand texts
talk climate and environment
ask and answer questions
take part in role-plays and simulations

write short guided and semi-guided sentences and passages

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

91

Lesson 1: Mother Earth in crisis

Key words : uncomfortable
shift (v)

environment activist

temperature

idle

climb (v) crisis

all day long

survive (v)

climate

landscape

Read the text and the conversation.

Samina is in class 7 and Arif in class 6. They both felt very uncomfortable the
other day. It was just the beginning of March. And the day was very hot. In the
small town of Sherpur, summer had come with all its heat and warmth. Samina
and Arif had nothing much to do. While sitting idle on the veranda, they saw their
uncle Anwar coming to them. Anwar works in an NGO called Save the Earth.
Samina and Arif started talking with their uncle about weather and climate.
Anwar

: Children, why are you sitting idle here? You look very unhappy!

Sabina
Arif
Samina
Anwar

: Uncle, its so hot all day long.

: And there is no electricity. We cant use fans.
: We cant watch television either. Uncle, why is it so hot now?
: In fact, weve an early summer this year. Its been
happening for the last four or five years. Seasons are shifting.
: Whats shifting, Uncle?
: Summer usually starts from April. But this year it has
come in March. This moving from April to March is a shift or
change.
: Why do seasons shift, Uncle?
: Well! This is for climate change. And many things
arehappening on this earth due to climate change. For example,
seasons are shifting, temperatures are climbing, and sea levels are
rising. If things go on like this, our Mother Earth will be in
danger.
:Uncle, what will happen if the earth is in danger? How will we
survive on this earth?
:Well.. I am going to give you a booklet now. Please read it
and youll know more about climate change.

Arif
Anwar

Samina
Anwar

Samina
Anwar

Samina & Arif :Thank you, Uncle. We will certainly read it.

Unit
please
Unit one
Nine: Attention,
: Climate change

92

Choose the right answer.

1 Which of these is an example of climate change?
a

a long day

a windy day

a hot summer day

a sunny day

2 What does climbing mean in the statement temperatures are climbing?

a

shifting

going up

being in crisis

surviving

3 If things go on like this. . In this sentence go on means

to go places

to change times

to walk fast

to continue

Anwar used the phrase our Mother Earth. He used the phrase

because
a

the earth gives birth to and takes care of us like a mother.

in some religions the earth is honoured as a mother.

the earth is mentioned as our mother by many scientists.

the earth is as peaceful as a mother.

5 How did Samina and Arif react to what Anwer said about climate change?
a

They showed no interest.

They became afraid of going out alone.

They wanted to know more about climate change.

They agreed to attend a lecture on climate change.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

93

C Now look at the six pictures that Samina and Arif saw in the booklet. All these
pictures are about the dangers caused by climate change. Choose a caption given in
the box to match each picture.

1.

2.

3. .

4.

5. .

6. ..

a Drought in north Bengal

b Wildlife at risk of extinction
c Stronger cyclone and tornados
d Rising sea-level at Coxs Bazar
e Flooding of rivers in monsoon
f Higher temperature

Unit
: Attention,
please
Unitone
Nine
: Climate change

94

Discuss this question in pairs.

Which of the above dangers are you afraid of most? Why?

Make a list of two other dangers of climate change that might occur in your
locality.

Lesson 2: The heating up of Earth!

Key words : heat up (v)
greenhouse
A

responsible

fuels

carbon dioxide

oil

coal

pollution

atmosphere

The passage is taken from the booklet Mr Anwar gave to Arif and Sabina.
Read the passage carefully.

The sun is getting hotter. It is also very old. It is about

4,500 million years old! The Earths climate has been
changing for all those years. But the climate is heating
up much faster now. Humans and their machines are
responsible for the rapid heating up of the Earth.
Almost all machines use fuels such as oil, gas or coal.
All of them produce pollution. Much of this pollution
contains a gas called carbon dioxide. It is this gas
which pollutes the atmosphere.
B

True or false. If false, give the correct information.

1) The Earths climate has been changing for 4,500 million years.
2) Only machines are responsible for the Earths getting hotter.
3) Coal is one kind of fuel.
4) Carbon dioxide gas pollutes the environment.
5) Now the sun is not as hot as it was ten years ago.

Look at the five sentences describing the process of heating up of the Earth.
Complete each sentence with a suitable word. The first one is done for you.
1) Humans uses

fuels

to run machines.
pollution.

2) Machines burn fuels and

3) Pollution contains

such as carbon dioxide.

4) Carbon dioxide makes the atmosphere

5) The climate is getting

.
rapidly now.

ENGLISH FOR TODAY

95

In pairs discusses which one of these activities warms up the atmosphere.

Explain why you think so.
1 riding a bicycle
2 riding a car
3 walking
4 rowing a country boat
5 riding a mechanised ferry boat

Lesson 3 : The greenhouse effect

Key words : trap (v)
escape (v)
A

freeze (v)
greenhouse

planet

roof

shine (v)

global warming

release (v)

Samina and Arif read about greenhouse effect in the booklet. Read the
passage to know what Samina and Arif have learnt so far.
A greenhouse is a house made of glass. It
has glass walls and a glass roof.
People
grow vegetables and flowers
and
other
plants in them. A
greenhouse stays warm
inside, even during winter. During the
daylight
hours, a greenhouse gets
warmer and warmer and stays pretty warm
at night too. This is because the heat
received from the sun is trapped inside the
greenhouse by the glass.
The Earth is also like a greenhouse. During the day Earths surface warms up in
the sunlight. At night, the surface cools, releasing the heat back into the air. But
some of the heat is trapped by gases like carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere. These gases, called
greenhouse gases, work like the glass walls and the
roof and keep the Earth warm. This is global warming
and it is making the Earth a dangerous planet.
Unfortunately, we are making the earth too hot. We
are using oil, gas and coal for running cars, buses,
trains, planes, power stations and so on. These fuels
have carbon in them. This carbon and other gases trap
the heat in the atmosphere and do not allow the earth
to cool down. As a result, the Earth gets hotter.

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In pairs, discuss the questions below and write answers to them.

1. What is a greenhouse and how does it work?
2. How is the earth's atmosphere similar to a greenhouse?
3. Recently, temperatures on Earth have been rising faster than normal. Why is
this?

Complete the following passage with the missing words given in the box. The
first one is done for you.
gases

carbon dioxide

fuels

machines

greenhouse

climate

heat

energy

Carbon dioxide, one of the (1) greenhouse gases, exists naturally in the atmosphere.
It is also produced when humans use fuels such as coal, oil and gas. Cars, (2)
and factories all burn ... for (3) ...,
to make a car move or to make a machine to generate electricity. This adds more (4)
.................... .................... to the atmosphere and makes a blanket of greenhouse
gases surrounding the Earth. This means that the (5) `from the sun
can not get back out into space. So, like a thick ` blanket keeps you warmer at
night, the thick blanket of (6) is warming the earth up and changing
our (7) .
D

Change the underlined words to talk about the increasing threats

warming. Follow the examples below.

of global

1 A: The sun is hot.

B: The sun is becoming hotter.
2 A: The effects of global warming will be bad.
B: The effects of global warming will be than what we can imagine.
3 A: The sun keeps the Earth warm during day time.
B: The greenhouse makes the Earth . .
4 A: The cyclones are powerful now.

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B: The cyclones will be .. in future.

5 A: Our environment is already polluted.
B: Carbon dioxide gas makes the environment . .
6 Summers come early due to season shift.
B: Summers may come . in future.

Lesson 4: What happens next?

Key words : extreme, warm (v)

overflow (v)

emission

disappear (v)

outcome

erosion

melt (v)

drought

low-lying

species

flood (v)

extinct (v)

ocean

Samina and Arif read another chapter of the booklet to know about the
possible dangers of global warming. Below is a summary of what they have
read. Read the passage silently.
What happens as a result of global warming? The ice on the Earths surface is
melting fast due to extreme heat. Oceans and seas are

warming too. All the ice

that melts will fill up the oceans and seas and they will overflow on land. Thus a
huge area of land will go under water. Some of the best land for growing food is
also the most low-lying. That means it will be flooded first. Even some big cities
like London, Kolkata and Bangkok will get flooded. That means thousands of
people will lose their houses and land and they will go hungry.
Moreover, as the earths climate warms up, the weather gets more violent. Storms
and cyclones will become more powerful. More areas will get drier and turn into
deserts. There will be heavier rains too. So there will be more floods and river
erosions.

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Look at the list of the outcomes (results or effects) of global warming. First,
rank the outcomes according to their seriousness. Then tell a partner which
of these may affect your life most seriously and why.
Polar bears and penguins will disappear.
Winters will be 10 degrees colder.
Africa will become hotter and have more droughts.
Cyclones and hurricanes will become more powerful.
Diseases like skin cancers will increase.
Many countries will have no drinking water.
Countries such as the Maldives, Holland and Bangladesh will disappear
under water.
Wars will start between countries fighting over water.

If the world becomes warmer, many species of birds and animals will
disappear or become extinct. How would your life change if these creatures
disappear? Write five sentences in your own words.

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Role play. Partner A plays the role of a person who loves Earth and partner
B plays the role of a car company dealer. First, read the role cards for both A
and B. When you are ready, play the roles.
Partner A The Earth lover
I believe that many species will disappear soon. If carbon dioxide
emissions are not controlled, many fishes and animals will quickly
become extinct. If we can not act now, it will be too late to save these
species. Warmer seas and rivers will be dangerous for humans. So I
believe that we must do something to save the environment now.
Partner B A car company dealer
I am angry with the Earth lover who tells us that the world will die. I
believe that millions of species have died over the years. Its natural. If
a certain area gets hot, fishes and animals will travel to a cooler part of
the world. I also believe that controlling carbon dioxide emissions will
harm industries. Motor industries provide incomes and food to
thousands of families.

Lesson 5: What happens in Bangladesh?

Key words : worrying
repetition
A

prolonged
crop

adverse
salinity

water logging

coastal displace

landslide

spell

deforestation

Samina and Arif are very upset to read about the effects of climate change.
They are more curious to know what will happen in Bangladesh. Read the
following text to know about this.
Bangladesh
is
already
experiencing
the
adverse
impacts of global warming and
climate change. Summers are
becoming hotter and the
monsoon is irregular. There are
untimely heavy rainfalls causing
water logging and landslides.
Among other impacts are
frequent floods, river erosion,
crop damage due to drought,
prolonged cold spells, salinity of
water in the coastal areas etc.

Unit one
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Nine: Attention,
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Climate change has already started bringing disasters to Bangladesh. We

remember the damage caused by the Aila in 2009. Climate change victims are
increasing in number every day. The number of families and villages that lose
their homes permanently to rivers every year is one of the highest in Bangladesh.
An increasing number of people are suffering damage or loss to their property and
some time life due to disasters caused by climate change. Following the climate
change, the river bank and coastal erosion are increasing at an alarming rate. It is
estimated that a 45 centimetres rise of sea-level will flood almost 10.9 percent of
our territory and will make 5.5 million people of our coastal regions homeless.
B

Tick the best answer.

1. One outcome of climate change in Bangladesh is
a

Summers are becoming shorter.

Summers are becoming hotter.

the monsoon is becoming irregular.

the cities are getting larger.

2. The cyclone that hit Bangladesh in 2009 is called

a

Hurricane.

Cidr.

Aila.

Nargis.

3. It is likely that 10.9 percent of Bangladesh will go under water if

the sea level rises to
a

40 centimetres.

45 centimeters.

35 centimetres.

50 centimetres.

4. The phrase coastal region means an area

a

with deep forests.

of dry lands.

with a huge population.

close to the sea.

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5. The phrase prolonged cold spells means

long duration of cold waves

long gap between two winters

longer nights during winter

delay in doing something due to cold

In small groups discuss these questions.

1) Which animals in Bangladesh are in danger of extinction? What do you think
we should do to protect these animals?
2) What problems do you think deforestation can cause in Bangladesh?

Write five slogans to make people aware of the problems of climate change.
Two are done for you.
1. Good environment is good health.
2. Air pollution causes health hazards.
3. ..
4. ..

Lesson 6: What can we do?

Key words : lifestyle air-conditioning dairy products
Rechargeable keep off (v) tackle
A

Samina and Arif now read about the things they can do to help stop global
warming. Read the passage to know about what we can do.
It is easy to understand now that the global warming and climate change is caused
by humans on earth. If we make least use of energy, the earth will be least
polluted. The golden rule is, Avoid machines as much as possible. If your family
has a car, use it less and walk to the shops. Walking and running are much more
fun than sitting in a car. You may use bicycles too. You can save energy by
changing your lifestyle. For example, you can often avoid the air-conditioning in
summer and use hand fans instead.

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You can also use solar energy. It is free and more environment friendly. You can
use energy-saving bulbs in your room. If you make a garden, you can grow much
of your own food. Did you know that if you eat fewer meat and dairy products,
you can reduce greenhouse gas output? You can also save the environment by
reducing, reusing and recycling the things you use. The most important idea is if
you don't buy so many things in the first place, you don't need to reuse or recycle
them.
You can also save energy by turning things off when you dont use them. People
often leave lights, heating, air-conditioning, computers, TVs and gas burners on
when they do not use them. Thus, they waste a lot of energy. Turning them off
saves money too!
So, you can tackle climate change and live comfortably. There is plenty you can do. If we
all work sensibly, we can save our lovely planet.

Match the sentence parts in A with those in B.

A

1. If I have shorter showers I will

a. will keep me warm in winter.

2. I can help keep cars off the road

b. the waste I make.

3. When I leave a room I can save

c. choose products with less packaging.

energy by
4. Putting on a jumper instead of the
heater
5. Plastic bags harm wildlife, instead I
can

d. plants that are good for

environment.
e. use rechargeable ones.
f. use bags made of jute or paper.
g. turning the light off.

6. I can dry my hair in the sun

h. help save water at home.

7. I can reduce, reuse, and recycle

i. by walking to school and shops.

8. In my garden, I should plant

j. without using a hair dryer.

9. When I am shopping, I should

10. Batteries are highly toxic, if I need
to use batteries I can

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ENGLISH FOR TODAY

The people below are taking care of their home and car, but they are doing
many things that can damage the environment, especially our water. Identify
the activities which you think may damage our environment.

Look at the list of Dos and Donts to keep the environment safe. Then make a
poster in groups on what you can/cant do to save the environment in your
city, town or village.
Dos

Donts

Walk to your school and shops.

Dont use cars if you can walk.

Dry your clothes and hair in sun.

Dont keep your lights and fans

Plant trees.

switched on all the times.

Use water from a bucket to wash

Dont

your things.

washing

Use jute or paper made bags for

plants.

shopping.

use

hose

cars

pipes

and

for

watering

Dont throw away your wastes

Use rechargeable batteries.

here and there.

Switch off your lights and fans

Dont use plastic bags.

when not in use.

Dont use electric dryers.

Dont cut down trees.

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Now write a few slogans for a poster using the following clues:
1. Dont throw your wastes
2. Do not use bags while shopping.
3. You can not use too much water for
4. People must use
5. (Continue)

The End

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