26 March, our Independence Day passage
Read the passage and then answer the questions below (1—2):
26 March, our Independence Day, is the one of the most important state festival. The day is celebrated every year in the country with great enthusiasm and fervour. It is a national holiday. All offices, educational institutions, shops and factories remain closed on this day. The day begins with a 31 gun salute.
Early in the morning the President and
the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation place floral wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar. Then other leaders, political parties, diplomats, social and cultural organisations, educational institutions and freedom fighters
pay homage to the martyrs.
People from all walks of life also go there in rallies and processions. There are many cultural programmes throughout the day, highlighting the heroic struggle and sacrifice in 1971.
In Bangabandhu National Stadium, school children, scouts and girls guides take part in various displays to entertain thousands of spectators. Educational institutions also organise their individual programmes.
Sports meets and tournaments are also organised on the day, including the exciting boat race in the river Buriganga. In the evening, all major public buildings are illuminated with colourful lights. Bangla Academy, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and other socio-cultural organisations hold cultural functions. Similar functions are also arranged in other places in the country.
1. Choose the correct answer from the following alternatives:
(a) Our Independence Day is celebrated —.
(i) individually
(ii) worldwide
(iii) nationally✓
(iv) internationally
(b) On the day the --- pays homage to the martyrs first.
(i) Prime Minister
(ii) President✓
(iii) Speaker
(iv) Political leader
(c) The National Memorial located at Savar stands for ----.
(i) Mass Upsurge in 1969
(ii) Language Movement in 1952
(iii) Martyred heroes
(iv) War of Liberation in 1971
(d) Which of the following has the closest meaning of the word 'enthusiasm'?
(i) Entertainment
(ii) Reluctance
(iii) Eagerness✓
(iv) Unwillingness
(e) Independence Day is the day when ----.
(i) independence was announced✓
(ii) we got victory
(iii) our country became free
(iv) we secured freedom
(f) Which of the following best describes the similarity between Shilpakala Academy and Bangla Academy?
(i) institute
(ii) socio-cultural organization✓
(iii) university
(iv) cultural institute
(g) The word 'begin' is similar to ----.
(i) coming
(ii) opening
(iii) commence ✓
(iv) come
(h) What is the closest meaning for 'homage'?
(i) house
(ii) reverence✓
(iii) modesty
(iv) earnestness
(i) 26 March is a ---- festival day.
(i) religious
(ii) political
(iii) social
(iv) national✓
(j) What is the main purpose of the author of this passage?
(i) To highlight Bangalee culture
(ii) To highlight the significance of Victory Day
(iii) To highlight the celebration of 26 March✓
(iv) To highlight Bangladesh as an independent country
(K) The celebration of Independence Day starts with ____.
(i) processions
(ii) gun salute✓
(iii) placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum
(iv) parade by defence forces
(L) The National Mausoleum is situated ____.
(i) on Dhaka University campus
(ii) at Ramna Park
(iii) at Savar✓
(iv) near Dhaka Medical College
(M) On Independence Day various displays are held ____.
(i) at the National Parade Ground
(ii) in the streets
(iii) in the decorated vehicles
(iv) in Bangabandhu Stadium✓
(N) What does the expression "people from all walks of life" in the passage mean?
(i) All the ordinary people
(ii) All the rich people
(iii) All the poor people
(iv) All categories of people✓
(O) 'Illuminate' stands for ____.
(i) put out
(ii) light on✓
(iii) put on
(iv) put off
(P) What is the meaning for 'homage'?
(i) modesty
(ii) earnestness
(iii) respect✓
(iv) consecration
(Q) Various displays are arranged to ____ the spectators.
(i) sadden
(ii) irritate
(iii) annoy
(iv) amuse✓
(R) A diplomat is a person who ___.
(i) represents his/her own country✓
(ii) represents his/her own family in a foreign country
(iii) creates anarchy among the people of foreign countries
(iv) highlights their political and social interest to the world community
(S) "Freedom fighters pay homage to the martyrs" means that they ____.
(i) highlight the sacrifice of martyrs
(ii) praise highly of the martyrs
(iii) show due respect and gratitude to the martyrs✓
(iv) maintain silence of the programmes
(T) What is the main purpose of the author of the passage?
(i) To highlight the celebration of Independence Day✓
(ii) To show us the way of arranging programmes
(iii) To describe our tradition
(iv) To show our nationalism and Bangali culture
2. Answer the following questions:
(a) What does 26 March remind us?
(b) Why does the nation observe 26 March?
(c) What is the significance of 31 gunshots?
(d) What do the cultural programmes highlight?
(e) How do we pay homage to the martyrs?
(f) How do we become inspired from this passage?
(g) What does 26 March remind us?
(h) Who pay homage to the martyred freedom fighters?
(i) Why does the nation observe 26 March?
(j) How is the Independence Day observed?
(k) When and who place floral wreaths at the National Memorial on behalf of the nation?
(l) What is the significance of a 31 gun salute?
Answer to the question number 2
(a) 26 March reminds us the heroic sacrifice and struggle done by the freedom fighters for the liberation of our country.
(b) The nation observes 26 March every year as it is the biggest state festival of our nation when we began our war of independence. So, we observe this day with great respect.
(c) The significance of 31 gunshots is great on 26 March. It is a tradition to observe our Independence day to show respect to the brave freedom fighters of our country especially the martyrs.
(d) The cultural programmes highlight the heroic sacrifices and struggle of the freedom fighters.
(e) We pay homage to the martyrs through gunshots, parades, placing floral wreaths, arranging cultural programme etc.
(f) This passage inspired us to love our country as we got independence after a heroic sacrifice and struggle of our freedom fighters.
(g) 26 March reminds us the heroic sacrifice and struggle done by the freedom fighters for the liberation of our
country.
(h) The President and the Prime Minister on behalf of the nation followed by other leaders, political parties, diplomats, educational institution, social and cultural organizations freedom fighters and people of all walks of life pay homage to the martyred freedom fighters.
(i) The nation observes 26 March every year as it is the biggest state festival of our nation when we began our war of independence. So, we observe this day with great respect.
(j) The Independence day is a national holiday. It is the biggest state festival which is observed every year in our country with due respect and great enthusiasm.
(k) Early in the morning the President and the Prime Minister, on behalf of the nation place floral wreath at the National Mausoleum at Savar.
(l) The significance of 31 gun salute is great. It is a tradition to observe our independence. These are done to show respect to the brave freedom fighters of our country especially the martyrs.
