Welcome to BD JOBZ PREPARATION, your trusted guide for academic and career success in Bangladesh! If you’re preparing for the HSC Exam, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’re diving into the English (Compulsory) 2nd Paper of Dhaka Board-HSC 2024—a crucial part of the HSC curriculum for Classes Eleven and Twelve. From grammar rules to narrative style, modifiers to connectors, this paper tests both your language skills and critical thinking. Let’s explore the questions and answers in detail so you can step into the exam hall with confidence and clarity!
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Dhaka Board-2024
English (Compulsory) 2nd Paper
Full Marks: 100
Total Time: 3 Hours
Part A – Grammar: 60 Marks
1. Fill in the blanks with a suitable preposition: (5)
We learn etiquette and manners (a) ___ our parents and various institutions such as schools, colleges, or professional bodies. There are rules (b) ___ behaviour © ___ all kinds (d) ___ social occasions and it is important to learn them and practise them (e) ___ everyday life. The manners that are correct (f) ___ a wedding reception will not do (g) ___ a debating club. Therefore, we have to be careful (h) ___ etiquette and manners. We know how important it is to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ (i) ___ everyday life. A few more polite expressions such (j) ___ ‘Pardon me’, ‘Excuse me’, and ‘May I’ are bound to make your day smooth and pleasant.
Answer: (a) from; (b) of; (c) for; (d) of; (e) in; (f) in; (g) in; (h) about; (i) in; (j) as.
2. Complete the sentences with suitable phrases/words given in the box: (5)
| What does…look like | What if | Would rather | What’s it like | Had better |
| Was born | Let alone | As if | As soon as | Have to |
- Sumi talks too much. It is __she were a mad.
- Can anyone tell me ___ and elephant ___? I have never seen an elephant.
- I am eagerly waiting for your reply. Please answer me ___ you can
- ___ swimming in a river? I am so excited.
- A helmet should be used while driving a motorbike. ___ you were in a bike and met a serious accident?
- It is a secret matter. We ___ not discuss this in public.
- Socrates who was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock, ___ in 469 BC.
- I ___ take an auto bike than go to college on foot. The exam is about to start.
- Sometimes, we ___ accept something unwillingly for the sake of peace.
- I can hardly walk, ___ run a race.
Answer: (a) as if; (b) what does … look like; (c) as soon as; (d) what’s it like; (e) what if; (f) had better; (g) was born; (h) would rather; (i) have to; (j) let alone.
3. Complete the following sentences with suitable clauses/phrases: (10)
- Trees are essential for our existence. So, ___.
- The rats are now thinking, “Who will bell the cat?” Finally, they realize it is easy to say ___.
- Wait until ___. You should not go out alone.
- Love is divine. You can’t find others to love you unless ___.
- Punctuality is a great virtue. So try __.
- The patient was so serious and we were looking for a doctor. Alas! The patient had died before ___.
- Sharing is ___. So, teach your children how to share.
- Everybody must be conscious of health because ___.
- The train will start at 10 am. ‘Now, it is 09:55 am. So, walk fast lest ___.
- Corruption is a hindrance to national development. It is high time ___.
Answer:
(a) So, we should plant more trees.
(b) Finally, they realize it is easy to say but difficult to do.
(c) Wait until someone comes to accompany you.
(d) You can’t find others to love you unless you treat others with kindness and respect.
(e) So, try to cultivate this habit/to be punctual.
(f) Alas! The patient had died before the doctor arrived.
(g) Sharing is a good habit.
(h) Everybody must be conscious of health because health is wealth.
(i) So, walk fast lest you should miss the train.
(j) It is high time we took proper initiatives to eradicate corruption from our country.
4. Read the following text and fill in the gaps with the correct form of verbs as per subject and context: (7)
Once upon a time, there (a) ___ (be) a king who was very fond of (b) ___ (know) his future from the astrologers. A famous astrologer © ___ (stop) at his capital on his way to home. The king called on him to (d) ___ (know) about the future and the astrologer (e) ___ (tell) him something unpleasant. At this the king (f) ___ (get) furious and (g) ___ (condemn) him to death saying, “Men like you (h) ___ (live) to spoil the peace of the world.” But another thought (i) ___ (cross) his mind before the astrologer (j) __ (send) for execution. “How long will you (k) ___ (live)?” asked the king. With ready wit, the astrologer said, “The stars (l) ___ (declare) that I shall die only a week before your majesty, so goodbye.” (m) ___ (hear) this, the king turned pale like a dead man and shouted, “Drive this wretch away, let him (n) ___ (come) here again.”
Answer: (a) was; (b) knowing; (c) stopped; (d) know; (e) told; (f) got; (g) condemned; (h) should not live; (i) had crossed; (j) was sent; (k) live; (l) declare; (m) Hearing; (n) not come.
5. Change the form of narrative style by using indirect speech: (7)
“Oh, my Lord! Please do not kill the child,” cried the woman, “Let her have the child.” The king said, “Now everything is clear to me.” Pointing to the woman, the king again said to the servant, “Give her the child. She is the real mother.”
Answer: Addressing the king as her Lord, the woman requested him not to kill the child. She also requested him to let her (the another woman) have the child. Hearing this, the king said that everything was clear to him then. Pointing to the woman, the king ordered the servant to give her the child and added that she was the real mother.
6. Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces: (5)
Once there lived a (a) ___ (pre-modify the noun) fox in a jungle. One day, while he was walking (b) __ (post-modify the verb with a preposition phrase), he fell into a trap and lost his tail. He felt very unhappy and sad. But the fox was © ___ (pre-modify the adjective) cunning too. He hit upon a plan and invited all the foxes (d) ___ (use an infinitive phrase). When all the foxes arrived, the fox, (e) ___ (use an appositive), said, “My dear friends, I have discovered a new thing. It is that (f) ___ (use a possessive to pre-modify the noun) tails are quite useless. They look(g) ___ (pre-modify the adjective) ugly and dirty too. So, we all should cut off our tails, shouldn’t we?” Most of them agreed with the cunning fox (h) ___ (post-modify the verb with an infinitive) their tails. But an old and (i) ___ (pre-modify the noun) fox said to the cunning fox, “My friend, your plan is nice but evil. Actually you want to cut off our tails because you have lost (j) __ (pre-modify the noun with a determiner) tail of your own.”
Answer: (a) clever/cunning; (b) through the jungle; (c) very; (d) to come to a meeting in the jungle; (e) the convenor of the meeting; (f) our; (g) very/quite; (h) to cut off/to sever; (i) wise; (j) the.
7. Use appropriate sentence connectors in the blank spaces of the following passage: (7)
Teaching is a noble profession. (a) ___ to be a teacher, one must possess some noble qualities too. (b) ___, he should be a student. © ___ teaching is related to knowledge, he can’t acquire knowledge (d) ___ he is a student. (e) ___ a teacher thinks (f) ___ he knows everything, he can’t be a good teacher. (g) ___ thirst for knowledge is the second best quality of a teacher. (h) ___, a teacher should be a psychologist. Different students have different ways of learning. (i) ___ the teacher needs to teach his students by studying their psychology. Fourthly a teacher should have good delivery power. (j) ___ his voice should be clear (k) ___ artistic. (l) ___ a teacher should be an actor (m) ___ he needs to behave according to the classroom situation. And (n) ___, a teacher must be a good human being.
Answer: (a) Hence/That is/Accordingly; (b) Firstly; (c) As/Since; (d) unless; (e) if; (f) thaft; (g) Secondly; (h) Thirdly; (i) So/Therefore; (j) For instance/Additinally; (k) and; (l) Fifthly/Moreover; (m) because/as; (n) finally/above all.
8. Read the passage below and write the antonym or synonym of the words as directed: (7)
All of us know what a dream is. Generally, we dream during our sleep. Dreams may appear to be short or long lasting. Sometimes we say, I dreamt for the whole night! But do we really dream for the whole night? Some dreams are sweet or romantic, and some are horrible. When we dream something extremely bad, we call it a nightmare.
All (Antonym); (b) Dream (Synonym); © Generally (Antonym); (d) Appear (Antonym); (e) Sleep (Antonym); (f) Short (Synony): (g) Long (Synonym); (h) Sometimes (Antonym); (i) Night (Synonym); (j) Really (Synonym); (k) Romantic (Antonym); (l) Horrible (Synonym); (m) Extremely (Synonym): (n) Nightmare (Antonym).
Answer: (a) None; (b)Fantasy; (c) Rarely/Unusually/Sometimes; (d) Disappear; (e) Consciouness/Wakefulness; (f) Brief/Momentary/Fleeting; (g) Lengthy/Extended; (h) Often/Frequently; (i) Bedtime/Nightime; (j) Actually; (k) Unromantinc; (l) Awful/Horrifying/Shocking; (m) Severely/Terribly/Very; (n) Sweet dream/Fantasy.
9. There are fourteen errors in the use of punctuation in the following text. Re-write the text correcting the errors. Use capital letters if necessary. (7)
Sumi said to Rumi what will you do after hsc exam ill take preparation for varsity admission whats about you said rumi
Answer: Sumi said to Rumi, “What will you do after the HSC Exam?” “I’ll take preparation for varsity admission. What’s about you?” said Rumi.
Part B – Guided Writing: 40 Marks
10. Suppose, you are a student of Govt. Women’s College. Now, write an application to your Principal to establish An English Language Club in the College. (10)
11. Write a descriptive paragraph on “Pahela Baishakh.” (15)
12. Write a paragraph on “Village Life and City Life” – based on the similarities and dissimilarities you find. (15)
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The English (Compulsory) 2nd Paper of Dhaka Board-HSC 2024 covers a wide range of essential grammar topics and practical language applications that every student must master. With the right preparation and understanding, you can easily tackle each section and secure excellent marks. At BD JOBZ PREPARATION, we are committed to bringing you accurate, well-explained solutions and study resources to make your academic journey smoother. Stay connected with us for more updates, suggestions, and expert insights on all things HSC and beyond. Best of luck with your exams—keep learning, keep growing!
