Govt.

Commerce College,Chattogram
Pre test Examinaion-2021
Class : XII
Subject : English
Part – A: Reading Test (30 marks)
1. Read the passage and answer the questions A and B.
Accessibility to higher education implies that students get the opportunity to get university education and sufficient
support from educational institutions. Increasing enrolment at the secondary and higher secondary level puts pressure
on higher educational institutions. But due to limited capacity, only a small number of students may be enrolled in
universities. Thus, each year a large number of students are denied access to higher education. Also, due to poverty
and increase in educational expenses, students of the lower middle class do not get easy access to higher education.
Moreover, those who get places in the universities have limited access to avail all kinds off diversified educational
facilities relating to their study fields.
Only about 12 percent of graduates enter higher educational institutions. More than 80 percent of these students are
admitted to NU affiliated colleges. Others are absorbed by the public and private universities. In the last two decades,
there has been a substantial rise in the number of students in private universities. According to the UGC Annual
Report 2010, the number rose from 88,669 in 2005 to 2,00,752 in 2010.
A. Choose the correct answer from the alternatives. 1X5=5
a. what does „imply‟ imply in the first sentence?
i) suggest ii) amplify iii) elucidate iv) clarify
b. “Access to higher education ” refers to---
i) the right to higher education.
ii) getting admitted into public and private institutions.
iii) enrolment in universities.
iv) getting higher education from the public and private universities.
c. What is the best synonym for the word „diversified‟?
i) changed ii) changing iii) ever-changing iv) varied
d. Others are — by the public and private universities.
i) fascinated ii) engaged iii) immersed iv) received
e. „Substantial‟ could best be replaced by ----.
i) considerable ii) full iii) generous iv) kind
B. Answer the following questions. 2X5=10
(a) What, according to the text, does accessibility to higher education mean?
(b) Do you find any pressure on higher educational institutions? If any, mention.
(c) How has there been a substantial rise in the number of students in private universities in the last two decades?
(d) What happens to those who do not get places in the universities?
(e) ―Access to higher education in Bangladesh is not satisfactory‖ –Explain.

2. Summarize the following text. 10

Conflict can be described as a disagreement among groups or individuals characterized by antagonism and hostility.
This is usually fueled by the opposition of one party to another in an attempt to reach an objective different from that of
the other party. The elements involved in the conflict have the varied sets of principles and values, thus allowing a
conflict to arise. Conflict can be defined in many ways but one of the simplest is that it pertains to the opposing ideas
and actions of different entities, resulting in an antagonistic state. Conflict is an inevitable part of life. All of us possess
our own opinions, ideas and sets of beliefs. We have our own ways of looking at things and we act according to what
we think is proper . Hence, we often find ourselves in conflict in different scenarios; it may involve other individuals,
groups of people, or a struggle within our own selves. Consequently, conflict influences our actions and decisions in one
way or another. Conflict comes naturally; the clashing of thoughts and ideas is a part of the human experience. It is true
that it can be destructive if left uncontrolled. However, it shouldn’t be seen as something that can only cause negative
things to transpire. It is a way to come up with more meaningful realizations that can certainly be helpful to the
individuals involved. Conflict can be seen as an opportunity for learning and understanding our differences. We can all
live harmoniously despite conflicts as long as we know how to responsibly manage these struggles.
 Govt. Commerce College,Chattogram
Pre test Examinaion-2021
Class : XII
Subject : English
3. Read the following text and fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box. There are more words than
needed. Make any grammatical change if necessary. 0.5X10=5

Rural Afflicted Appear Severely Causing Diseases

Environment Substances Different Suffer Fertilizers Appears
Many diseases are rising at an alarming rate which experts believe is due to increased pollution of the environment.
Some specialists believe that pollution (a) --- to be greater in urban areas. Although (b) --- societies too are (c) --- by
increased use of chemical (d) --- and insecticides. Nevertheless, today city people (e) --- to suffer from many more
diseases and (f) --- more (g) --- than country people. Now let us see how life in cities is (h) --- from that in the
country. Harmful (i) --- in water and air are (j) --- environment pollution.

Part-B: Grammar (30 marks)

4. Fill in the gaps with appropriate prepositions. 0.5X10=5

Good paragraph results (a) --- good planning. Think (b) --- a general area you are interested (c) --- perhaps it has
something to do (d) --- history or another branch (e) --- social studies or science. May be you have an interest (f) ---
rock music, a particular sport or cooking. You may want to brainstorm (g) --- some (h) --- your classmates to
generate ideas. When you have decided (i) --- a topic that you would like to write about and share, write it now
(j) --- the paper.

5. Identify the unclear pronoun references in the following passage. Where necessary, rewrite the sentences so
that all pronoun references are clear. 1X5=5
Questions are set to access your ability to make a passage and answer the questions on the basis of what is stated in
it. One needs to read it so that you can identify the main idea of the passage. If the learners are not clear of the main
idea, it will be difficult for them to answer the questions. It is because most of them are based on the main idea.

6. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces. 0.5X10=5
One about noon, I was walking (a) — (post-modify the verb) on the sea shore. I made a (b) — (use intensifier to pre-
modify the adjective) strange discovery. I was alarmed (c) — (use infinitive to post modify the adjective) the print of
a man’s barefoot on the sand. As it was a (d) — (pre-modify the noun) and clean beach, it was very clear. I stood
there (e) — (pre-modify the verb) and observed it neatly. I couldn’t understand anything. I was (f) – (pre-modify the
adjective with an intensifier) frightened. I climbed up a hill (g) — (post modify the verb with an infinitive) further.
(h) — (pre-modify the verb with a participle phrase) the hill, I started for home. On my way home, I stopped every
two or three steps (i) — (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) behind me. That night, I couldn’t sleep (j) — (post-
modify the verb).

7. Complete the passage using suitable connectors: 0.5X10=5

Gulliver was born in England. He wanted to be a sailor from his boyhood. (a) —, his father didn’t want that. Gulliver
should go to sea. (b) — his father wanted to be a lawyer. (c) —, Gulliver didn’t like the idea at all. (d) —, he left for
the sea one day. (e) — he took the job of a cabin boy in a ship. (f) — he boarded in a commercial ship heading to
France. (g) — the ship was wrecked but he somehow managed to swim ashore. After swimming a long distance, he
was deadly tired. (h) — he slept a deep sleep. When he woke up, he saw many tiny creatures. (i) — they were the
human beings smaller than Gulliver himself. The tiny creatures tied him up to the ground with rope, (j) — he was
unable to move.
 Govt. Commerce College,Chattogram
Pre test Examinaion-2021
Class : XII
Subject : English

8. Read the text and fill in the gaps with correct form of verbs as per subject and context. 0.5X10=5
Thomson and Martinet’s Classic Intermediate Grammar (a) — (consider) to be the most useful book for students. It
is popular because it (b) — (deal) thoroughly with the topics which students (c) — (find) most difficult. A Practical
English Grammar has (d) — (revise) in 4th edition. The text (e) — (rewrite) in many places with a view to (f) —
(bring) it up to date. Some materials (g) — (rearrange) to make it simpler for the readers. There (h) — (be) fresh or
further treatment of many subjects. A few index (i) — (contain) many more entries now (j) — (include) references to
every important structural words.
9. Read the text and change the sentences as directed. 1X5=5
(a) The bill came and I paid it. (Simple) (b) Her eyes rested on the three francs I left for the waiter. (Compound)
(c) I knew that she thought me mean.(Change the voice) I walked out of the restaurant. (d) I had the whole month
before me and not a penny in my pocket. (Complex) (e) But before coming here, I had at least 80 francs.
(Comparative degree)

Part c : Writing Test (40 marks)

10. Suppose, you are a staff reporter of a national English daily. Now, write a report on the indiscriminate use of
life-threatening chemicals in food and its fatal consequences. 10

11. Write a short composition (within 200-250 words) on “The problem and prospects of Bangladesh as a
Developing Country”. 14

12. The graph below shows the kind of movies that are liked by some of yours classmates. Describe the graph in at
least 150 words: 10

13. Write down the theme of the following poem. (Not more than 50 words) 6
I sit on one of the dives Circulate over the bright
On fifty-second street And darkened lands of the earth,
Uncertain and afraid Obsessing our private livers;
As the clever hopes expire. The unmentionable odour of death
Of a low dishonest decade: Offends the September night.
Waves of anger and fear