| মাধ্যম | অসমীয়া (Assamese) |
|---|---|
| বিষয় | English |
| পাঠৰ নাম | Kathmandu |
| শ্ৰেণী | IX |
| পাঠ্যক্ৰম | ছেবা (SEBA) |
Kathmandu
I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases.
(এই প্ৰশ্নবোৰৰ উত্তৰ এটা বা দুটা শব্দত অথবা চুটি বাক্যত লিখা।)
1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu.
(কাঠমাণ্ডুত লিখকে দৰ্শন কৰা দুটা মন্দিৰৰ নাম লিখা।)
Pashupatinath, Boudhanath
(পশুপতিনাথ, বৌদ্ধনাথ)
2. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola.” What does “all this” refer to?
(লিখকে কৈছে, “এই সকলোবোৰ মই ক’কা-ক’লাৰে ধুই পেলালোঁ।” “এই সকলোবোৰে” কি বুজাইছে?)
Corn, marzipan
(মাকৈ, মাৰ্জিপান)
3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
(বিক্ৰম শেঠে শংকুপনৰ কুইলৰ সৈতে কি তুলনা কৰে?)
Flutes
(বাঁহী)
4. Name five kinds of flutes.
(পাঁচ প্ৰকাৰৰ বাঁহীৰ নাম লিখা।)
Reed neh, recorder, shakuhachi, bansuri, Chinese flutes
(ৰীড নেহ, ৰেকৰ্ডাৰ, শাকুহাচি, বাঁশৰী, চীনা বাঁহী)
II. Answer each question in a short paragraph.
(চুটি স্তৱকত উত্তৰ লিখা।)
1. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers?
(লিখকে বাঁহী বিক্ৰেতা আৰু বাকী বেপাৰীবোৰৰ মাজত কি পাৰ্থক্য দেখা পাইছিল?)
The author notes that unlike other hawkers who shout to attract customers, the flute seller plays his flutes gently, selling casually as if it’s secondary to his music-making.
(লিখকে লক্ষ্য কৰিছে যে আন বেপাৰীৰ দৰে চিঞৰি গ্ৰাহকক আকৰ্ষণ নকৰি, বাঁহী বিক্ৰেতাই লাহে লাহে বাঁহী বজায়, বিক্ৰীটো যেন তাৰ সংগীতৰ তুলনাত গৌণ।)
2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
(পশুপতিনাথত কলিযুগৰ শেষৰ বিষয়ে কি বিশ্বাস আছে?)
At Pashupatinath, it’s believed that when a small shrine on the Bagmati River fully emerges, the goddess inside will escape, ending the evil Kaliyug era.
(পশুপতিনাথত বিশ্বাস যে বাগমতী নদীত থকা এটা সৰু মন্দিৰ সম্পূৰ্ণৰূপে ওলাই আহিলে, ভিতৰৰ দেবী পলাই যাব আৰু কলিযুগৰ অশুভ সময় শেষ হ’ব।)
3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of:
(কবিয়ে বহুতো ছবি তথা চিহ্নৰ উল্লেখ কৰিছে। প্ৰত্যেকৰে তিনিটা উদাহৰণ দিয়া।)
i. The atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ outside the temple of Pashupatinath
(পশুপতিনাথ মন্দিৰৰ বাহিৰত হুলস্থুলীয়া পৰিৱেশ)
- Priests and devotees elbow each other to reach the front.
- Monkeys fight and chase one another around the temple.
- A corpse burns on the riverbank amid the chaos.
(পুৰোহিত আৰু ভক্তই আগলৈ যাবলৈ একে আনক কান্ধৰে ঠেলে। বান্দৰবোৰে মন্দিৰৰ চাৰিওফালে কাজিয়া কৰি খেদে। নদীৰ কাষত লাশ জ্বলি থাকে বিশৃংখলতাৰ মাজত।)
ii. The things he sees
(তেওঁ দেখা পোৱা বস্তুবোৰ)
- A Nepalese princess everyone bows to.
- Shops with felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewelry.
- A flute seller with flutes on a pole.
(নেপালী ৰাজকুমাৰীক সকলোৱে প্ৰণাম কৰে। দোকানত বেগ, তিব্বতী ছাপ আৰু ৰূপৰ গহনা। বাঁহী বিক্ৰেতাৰ খুঁটাত বাঁহী।)
iii. The sounds he hears
(তেওঁ শুনা শব্দবোৰ)
- Film songs blaring from radios.
- Car horns and bicycle bells ringing.
- The flute seller playing different tunes.
(ৰেডিঅ’ৰ পৰা চিনেমাৰ গানৰ শব্দ। গাড়ীৰ হৰ্ণ আৰু চাইকেলৰ ঘণ্টাৰ আওয়াজ। বাঁহী বিক্ৰেতাই বিভিন্ন সুৰ বজোৱা।)
III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100-150 words each.
(প্ৰশ্নসমূহৰ উত্তৰ ১০০ৰ পৰা ১৫০ শব্দৰ ভিতৰত দিয়া।)
1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhanath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.
(বৌদ্ধনাথ স্তূপ আৰু পশুপতিনাথ মন্দিৰৰ পৰিৱেশৰ তুলনামূলক অধ্যয়ন আগবঢ়োৱা।)
The Pashupatinath temple is chaotic, with a “febrile confusion” of priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists, monkeys, and dogs bustling around, creating noise and disorder. People push to reach the priests, and the riverbank hosts cremations amid the crowd. In contrast, the Baudhanath stupa exudes calm and stillness. Its vast white dome is surrounded by a quiet road with small Tibetan-owned shops, offering a peaceful retreat from Kathmandu’s busy streets. There are no crowds, making it a haven of serenity compared to Pashupatinath’s turmoil.
(পশুপতিনাথ মন্দিৰত বিশৃংখলতা, পুৰোহিত, বেপাৰী, ভক্ত, পৰ্যটক, বান্দৰ, কুকুৰৰ হুলস্থুলেৰে “উত্তেজিত বিভ্ৰান্তি”ৰ পৰিৱেশ। মানুহে পুৰোহিতৰ ওচৰ পাবলৈ ঠেলাঠেলি কৰে, নদীত শৱদাহ চলে। বৌদ্ধনাথ স্তূপত শান্তি, ডাঙৰ বগা গম্বুজৰ চাৰিওফালে নিৰৱ ৰাস্তা, তিব্বতী দোকানৰ সৈতে, কাঠমাণ্ডুৰ ব্যস্ততাৰ পৰা শান্তিৰ আশ্ৰয়।)
2. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
(লিখকে কিদৰে কাঠমাণ্ডুৰ ব্যস্ত পথৰ বৰ্ণনা কৰিছিল?)
The author describes Kathmandu’s busiest streets as vibrant and chaotic, filled with small shrines, fruit sellers, flute sellers, and hawkers offering postcards, cosmetics, chocolates, and Nepalese antiques. The air buzzes with film songs from radios, car horns, bicycle bells, and vendors shouting. Stray cows moo amid the bustle. He buys roasted corn-on-the-cob from a pavement brazier, washing it down with Coca-Cola and an orange drink, capturing the sensory overload of this lively, mercenary, and religious hub.
(লিখকে কাঠমাণ্ডুৰ ব্যস্ত ৰাস্তাক জীপাল আৰু বিশৃংখল বুলি বৰ্ণনা কৰে, সৰু মন্দিৰ, ফল বিক্ৰেতা, বাঁহী বিক্ৰেতা, পোষ্টকাৰ্ড, প্ৰসাধনী, চকলেট, নেপালী পুৰাতত্ত্বৰ বেপাৰীৰে ভৰা। ৰেডিঅ’ৰ গান, হৰ্ণ, ঘণ্টা, বেপাৰীৰ চিঞৰ, গৰুৰ শব্দ। তেওঁ পথৰ কাষত মাকৈ কিনি ক’কা-ক’লা আৰু কমলাৰ ৰসেৰে খায়।)
3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?
(“বাঁহীৰ শব্দই মানুহৰ মাজত বিভেদ নাইকিয়া কৰে।” লিখকে কিয় এনেকৈ কৈছিল?)
The author says this because he sees the flute as a universal instrument, present in cultures worldwide—reed neh, recorder, shakuhachi, bansuri, South American, and Chinese flutes—each with unique tones yet sharing a common essence. Hearing a flute transcends cultural, religious, or social divides, uniting humanity through the shared breath of life it evokes, reflecting a deep, collective connection.
(লিখকে এইদৰে কৈছে কাৰণ তেওঁ বাঁহীক বিশ্বজনীন যন্ত্ৰ বুলি ভাৱে—ৰীড নেহ, ৰেকৰ্ডাৰ, শাকুহাচি, বাঁশৰী, আমেৰিকান, চীনা বাঁহী—প্ৰত্যেকৰে সুৰ বেলেগ হ’লেও এক সাৰ্বজনীনতা আছে। বাঁহীৰ শব্দই সংস্কৃতি, ধৰ্মৰ সীমা অতিক্ৰম কৰি মানৱতাক জীৱনৰ শ্বাসৰ মাধ্যমত একত্ৰিত কৰে।)
Thinking About Language
Match the phrasal verbs in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| Column A | Sentence | Column B (Meaning) |
|---|---|---|
| Break out | A communal war broke out when the princess was abducted. | Start suddenly |
| Break off | The cockpit broke off from the plane during the crash. | Separate |
| Break down | The car broke down on the way and we were left stranded. | Stop working |
| Break away | The dacoit broke away from police as they took him to court. | Escape |
| Break up | The brothers broke up after the death of the father. | End a relationship |
| Break into | The thief broke into our house when we were away. | Enter forcibly |
Below are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the provided data from “Kathmandu” by Vikram Seth from Heaven Lake. Each question includes four options, with the correct answer marked and a brief explanation. These questions cover key details, descriptions, and themes from the text.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Section I: Short Answer-Based Questions
- Which two temples did Vikram Seth visit in Kathmandu?
a) Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath
b) Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
c) Boudhanath and Durbar
d) Swayambhunath and Durbar
Answer: b) Pashupatinath and Boudhanath
Explanation: The author explicitly names these two temples. - What does “all this” refer to in “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola”?
a) Flutes and music
b) Corn and marzipan
c) Postcards and antiques
d) Songs and bells
Answer: b) Corn and marzipan
Explanation: He mentions eating corn-on-the-cob and marzipan before drinking Coca-Cola. - What does Vikram Seth compare to a porcupine’s quills?
a) Shop signs
b) Temple spires
c) Flutes on a pole
d) Bicycle bells
Answer: c) Flutes on a pole
Explanation: The flutes sticking out from the seller’s pole resemble quills. - Which of these is NOT one of the flutes mentioned by the author?
a) Recorder
b) Shakuhachi
c) Bansuri
d) Guitar
Answer: d) Guitar
Explanation: Guitar is not a flute; the others are listed in the text. - Which flute is associated with South America in the text?
a) Reed neh
b) Shakuhachi
c) South American flute
d) Bansuri
Answer: c) South American flute
Explanation: The author specifically mentions this type.
Section II: Paragraph-Based Questions
- How does the flute seller differ from other hawkers?
a) He shouts louder
b) He plays flutes instead of shouting
c) He sells more items
d) He walks faster
Answer: b) He plays flutes instead of shouting
Explanation: Unlike noisy hawkers, he attracts buyers with music. - What belief is associated with the end of Kaliyug at Pashupatinath?
a) The river will dry up
b) A goddess will escape from a shrine
c) The temple will collapse
d) Monkeys will leave
Answer: b) A goddess will escape from a shrine
Explanation: The emerging shrine signals the goddess’s escape, ending Kaliyug. - What creates the “febrile confusion” outside Pashupatinath?
a) Quiet prayers
b) Crowds of priests and monkeys
c) Silent tourists
d) Empty streets
Answer: b) Crowds of priests and monkeys
Explanation: The bustle of people and animals causes the chaos. - What does the author see at Kathmandu’s busy streets?
a) Only temples
b) Shops with Tibetan prints
c) A silent market
d) No people
Answer: b) Shops with Tibetan prints
Explanation: He describes various shops, including those with Tibetan prints. - What sound does the author hear from the streets?
a) Bird chirping
b) Car horns
c) Temple chants
d) Wind blowing
Answer: b) Car horns
Explanation: Car horns are part of the street’s noisy atmosphere.
Section III: Detailed Answer-Based Questions
- How does the atmosphere at Pashupatinath differ from Boudhanath?
a) Both are equally noisy
b) Pashupatinath is chaotic, Boudhanath is calm
c) Boudhanath is chaotic, Pashupatinath is calm
d) Both are silent
Answer: b) Pashupatinath is chaotic, Boudhanath is calm
Explanation: Pashupatinath is bustling, while Boudhanath offers stillness. - What animals contribute to the chaos at Pashupatinath?
a) Birds
b) Monkeys and dogs
c) Cats
d) Cows only
Answer: b) Monkeys and dogs
Explanation: Monkeys fight and dogs add to the disorder. - What does the author buy on Kathmandu’s busiest streets?
a) A flute
b) Roasted corn-on-the-cob
c) Silver jewelry
d) Postcards
Answer: b) Roasted corn-on-the-cob
Explanation: He mentions buying and eating corn. - Why does the author find the flute universally appealing?
a) It’s loud
b) It connects all mankind through shared breath
c) It’s expensive
d) It’s rare
Answer: b) It connects all mankind through shared breath
Explanation: He links it to a common human experience across cultures. - What is a feature of Boudhanath’s surroundings?
a) Crowded priests
b) A quiet road with shops
c) Noisy hawkers
d) Burning corpses
Answer: b) A quiet road with shops
Explanation: The stupa is surrounded by a serene road with small shops.
Language and Imagery
- What does “febrile confusion” describe?
a) A peaceful scene
b) A hectic and chaotic atmosphere
c) A quiet prayer
d) A musical performance
Answer: b) A hectic and chaotic atmosphere
Explanation: It captures the frenzy at Pashupatinath. - Which phrasal verb means “start suddenly”?
a) Break off
b) Break out
c) Break down
d) Break up
Answer: b) Break out
Explanation: It fits the context of a sudden war starting. - What does the author hear from the flute seller?
a) Shouting
b) Different tunes
c) Silence
d) Prayers
Answer: b) Different tunes
Explanation: The seller plays various melodies. - Which item is NOT sold by hawkers in Kathmandu’s streets?
a) Cosmetics
b) Nepalese antiques
c) Cars
d) Chocolates
Answer: c) Cars
Explanation: Cars are not mentioned as hawker goods. - What unites mankind according to the author’s view on flutes?
a) Their cost
b) Their commonality across cultures
c) Their size
d) Their color
Answer: b) Their commonality across cultures
Explanation: The flute’s presence worldwide bridges human experience.
