HSC English Second Paper

Rajshahi Board-2023

1.Complete the text with suitable prepositions:

But at last God took pity (a) _____ him. One day the sailor was watching the water-snakes swimming (b) _____ the ship. Their colours were so beautiful and he was filled (c) ____ such a strange wonder that he felt a great love (d) ____ them and blessed them (e) _____ his heart.

At once, the dead albatross fell (f) _____ his neck (g) _____ the sea. A gentle breeze began to blow (h) _____ the south and the old man fell (i) ____ a deep sleep. When he woke up, it was raining and he felt fresh again. Thus, the old man was relieved (j) ____ his sufferings.

(2) Complete the following sentences with suitable words/phrases given in the box:

it; there; has to; what’s…like; had better; what does – look like; was born; let alone; would rather; as soon as

(a) Rupa _____ take up the profession of teaching than be a nurse. She thinks teaching is a noble profession.

(b) Edmund Burke was an orator, writer and shrewd politician. He ____ in 1729 in England.

(c) He cannot teach in a high school, _____ in a university.

(d) _____ is difficult to regain lost health. So, we should always take care of our health.

(e) ____ flows a river beside our village. The river is useful to us in many ways.

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(f) Sarika is an examinee. She _____ study a lot to make a good result.

(g) _____ honesty _____ ? I think it to be a noble virtue.

(h) Rita is ill. We _____ go to see her. She will be happy to see us.

(i) The girls fell sick _____ they had foods. The foods were contaminated.

(j) _____ an elephant _____ ? I have never seen it before.

(3) Complete the sentences with suitable clauses and phrases:

(a) The martyrs laid down their lives in 1971. They did it so that _____.

(b) It’s too late. _____, we would not have missed the train.

(c) The poem is too difficult for _____.

(d) Danger comes where _____. So, we have to be careful in our life.

(e) She spoke as if _____ . She was actually a quack.

(f) The thief was afraid of police. He ran away lest _____ arrested.

(g) Despite _____, he helps his relatives.

(h) He took Logic _____ History. History seems to be difficult to him.

(i) If I had been hungry, _____ . But I am not hungry at all.

(j) Corruption is a curse. It is high time the government _____.

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(4) Read the text and fill in the gaps with correct forms of verbs as per subject and context:

If all the children (a) _____ (go) to school, the country (b) _____ (get) rid of the curse of illiteracy. To boost up education, the govt. (c) _____(spend) more money. Subsidies must (d) _____ (give) in the education sector. Teachers (e) _____ (need) to (f) _____ (train) for good teaching.

The poor students can (g) _____ (bring) under “Food for Education” programme. We (h) _____ (take) care that no institution (i) _____ (close) down due to political clashes. All concerned (j) ______ (be) conscious about it. If we cannot (k) ______ (keep) pace with the present world, we (l) _____ (lag) behind. For this we have to (m) _____ (ensure) education for all and set a bright prospect for (n) _____ (implement) all necessary steps.

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(5) Change the narrative style by using indirect speech:

“I can chop some wood today,” said Jerry “But I have a boy coming from the orphanage.” “I am the boy.” “You? But you are small.”

“Size does not matter, chopping wood,” said Jerry. “Some of the big boys don’t chop wood. I’ve been chopping wood for a long time,” said Jerry to the writer.

(6) Read the following text and use modifiers in the blanks as directed:

People around were just watching as the (a) ____ (pre-modify the noun) boy started (b) ____ (post-modify the verb) into the (c) _____ (pre-modify the noun) canal. Then the traffic constable came. (d) ____ (pre-modify the noun with a present participle) no time, he jumped into the canal. The (e) ____ (pre-modify the noun with an adjective) constable did not think of his (f) ____ (pre-modify the noun) life.

He was (g) ____ (use an intensifier to pre- modify the adjective) kind that he risked his life. People (h) ____ (post-modify the noun) by the canal praised him (i) ____ (post-modify the verb with an adverb). This type of person is a model (j) ____ (post-modify the noun).

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(7) Use appropriate sentence connectors in the blank spaces of the following text:

The greatness of a book depends (a) ____ on the acceptability among the readers. (b) ____ we read a book (c) ____ once, we can discover many things in it. (d) ____ basing on one reading, we cannot judge the standard of a book. (e) ____ a book is praised (f) ____ we have no doubt about the greatness of the book.

(g) ____ the first reading, we may not understand a book. But if it is read more than once, we will see (h) ____ it was read (i) ____ praised. So, the great books are those (j) ____ have passed the test of time. (k) the appeal of a great book doesn’t decrease. (l) _____ the greatness of the book is newly felt (m) ____ time passes. (n) ____ a great book is widely read and reread by people all over the world.

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(8) Read the passage and then write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed below:

He is optimistic of his success. He works hard and abides by his teachers’ guidelines. He understands that it is important to be diligent.

He does not rely on any one and believes that honesty and hard work can help one reach the peak of success. He harbours the faith that a laborious man is sure to shine.

(a) optimistic (antonym)
(b) success (antonym)
(c) hard (synonym)
(d) guidelines (synonym)
(e) understand (synonym)
(f) important (antonym)
(g) diligent (synonym)
(h) rely (synonym)
(i) honesty (antonym)
(j) help (antonym)
(k) peak (synonym)
(l) harbour (synonym)
(m) laborious (antonym)
(n) shine (synonym)

English-Board-Question HSC Rajshahi-2023

(9) There are fourteen errors is the use of punctuation marks in the following text. Rewrite the text correcting the errors:

Raja: What are you doing Rana?

Rana: I am reading a letter.

Raja: Letter? From whom?

Rana: It’s from my pen-friend. She’s an Australian. Her names Lucy.

Raja: How old is she?

Rana: Sixteen The same as us. She lives in Sydney.

Raja: Sydney what’s that?

Rana: Its a city in the south-east of Australia.

Raja: How do you know about it?

Rana: Lucy has sent me a picture of it.

Raja: Can you show me the picture?

Rana: Yes, here it is. You see, it looks very nice, doesn’t it?

(10) Suppose you are Shafayat. You want to get admitted into an English Language Course run by the British Council. Write an e-mail to the manager for detail.

(11) Write a paragraph on “Importance of Moral Values” in 200 Words.

(12) Write a paragraph on “Global Warming” in 200 words.