The Sound of Music (Part I: Evelyn Glennie) and “The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan” (Part II)

The Sound of Music

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

(অতি চমুকৈ তলৰ প্ৰশ্নসমূহৰ উত্তৰ দিয়া)

1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
(ৰয়েল একাডেমী অফ্ মিউজিকলৈ যাঁওতে ইভলিনৰ বয়স কিমান আছিল?)
Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.
(ইভলিনৰ বয়স সোতৰ বছৰ আছিল যেতিয়া তাই ৰয়েল একাডেমী অফ্ মিউজিকলৈ গৈছিল।)

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2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
(তাইৰ বধিৰতা কেতিয়া লক্ষ্য কৰা হৈছিল? আৰু এই বধিৰতা কেতিয়া নিশ্চিত হ’ল?)
Her deafness was first noticed at eight years old and confirmed at eleven.
(তাইৰ বধিৰতা আঠ বছৰ বয়সত লক্ষ্য কৰা হৈছিল আৰু এঘাৰ বছৰত নিশ্চিত হৈছিল।)

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30-40 words).

(এই প্ৰশ্নবোৰৰ প্ৰতিটোৰ উত্তৰ এটা চমু অনুচ্ছেদত, ৩০-৪০ শব্দ)

1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
(তাইক সংগীত ক্ষেত্ৰত কোনে সহায় কৰিছিল? তাইক কেনেকৈ আৰু কি কথাৰ জৰিয়তে সাহস যোগাইছিল?)
Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn continue with music. He tuned two drums to different notes and told her to sense the sound through her body, not her ears, encouraging her to feel music differently.
(পাৰ্কাশনিষ্ট ৰন ফ’ৰ্বছে ইভলিনক সংগীতত সহায় কৰিছিল। তেওঁ দুটা ড্ৰাম বেলেগ নোটত টিউন কৰি তাইক কাণৰ পৰিৱৰ্তে শৰীৰেৰে শব্দ অনুভৱ কৰিবলৈ কৈছিল, সংগীতক নতুনভাৱে অনুভৱ কৰিবলৈ উৎসাহিত কৰিছিল।)

2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
(ইভলিনে কোন কোন ঠাইত আৰু কি কাৰণে অনুষ্ঠান প্ৰদৰ্শন কৰিছিল?)
Evelyn performs solo at international concerts, and gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She aims to spread love, peace, and inspiration to prisoners and the sick through her music.
(ইভলিনে আন্তৰ্জাতিক কনচাৰ্টত একক প্ৰদৰ্শন কৰে, আৰু কাৰাগাৰ আৰু হাস্পতালত বিনামূলীয়া অনুষ্ঠান কৰে। তাই সংগীতৰ জৰিয়তে কয়দী আৰু ৰোগীলৈ প্ৰেম, শান্তি আৰু প্ৰেৰণা বিয়পাব বিচাৰে।)

III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100-150 words).

(তলৰ প্ৰশ্নটিৰ উত্তৰ দুই বা তিনিটা পেৰেগ্ৰাফত লিখা, ১০০-১৫০ শব্দৰ ভিতৰত)

1. How did Evelyn hear music?
(ইভলিনে সংগীত কেনেকৈ শুনা পাইছিল?)
Evelyn Glennie, despite losing her hearing, mastered music through sheer determination. Percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her talent and encouraged her to feel music instead of hearing it with her ears. He tuned two drums to different notes, teaching her to sense higher tones above her waist and lower ones below, opening her mind and body to vibrations. This unique approach allowed her to perceive sound in a new way, turning her disability into a strength.
(ইভলিন গ্লেনি, শ্ৰৱণ শক্তি হেৰুৱাৰ পিছতো, দৃঢ়তাৰে সংগীতত পাৰদৰ্শিতা লাভ কৰিছিল। ৰন ফ’ৰ্বছে তাইৰ প্ৰতিভা দেখি কাণৰ পৰিৱৰ্তে অনুভৱৰ জৰিয়তে সংগীত শিকিবলৈ উৎসাহিত কৰিছিল। তেওঁ দুটা ড্ৰামৰ সুৰ স্থাপন কৰি তাইক উচ্চ সুৰ কঁকালৰ ওপৰত আৰু নিম্ন সুৰ তলত অনুভৱ কৰিবলৈ শিকাইছিল, যাৰ ফলত তাই শব্দক নতুনভাৱে উপলব্ধি কৰিছিল।)

Her persistence refined this skill. While playing the xylophone, she felt sound travel through the sticks to her fingertips. Leaning against drums, she sensed resonances in her body, and on wooden floors, she removed her shoes to feel vibrations through her bare feet, even sensing music through her hair.
(তাইৰ অধ্যৱসায়ে এই দক্ষতাক পৰিশোধিত কৰিছিল। জাইলোফোন বজাওঁতে তাই শব্দ কাঠিৰ জৰিয়তে আঙুলিলৈ যোৱা অনুভৱ কৰিছিল। ড্ৰামৰ ওচৰত থাকি প্ৰতিধ্বনি শৰীৰত, আৰু কাঠৰ মজিয়াত খালি ভৰিৰে কম্পন, এনেকি চুলিৰ জৰিয়তেও সংগীত অনুভৱ কৰিছিল।)

PART-II

I. Tick the right answer.

(শুদ্ধ উত্তৰটোত চিন দিয়া)

1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
(ছেহনাই, পুংগীৰ শব্দ শুনিবলৈ শুৱলা নাছিল)
Answer: Pungi (পুংগী)

2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানৰ, এজন নাপিত, আলি বক্সে পুংগীক ছেহনাইলৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন কৰিছিল।)
Answer: A barber (এজন নাপিত)

3. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানৰ পৈতৃক পূৰ্বপুৰুষসকল নাপিত, পেছাদাৰী সংগীতজ্ঞ আছিল।)
Answer: Professional musicians (পেছাদাৰী সংগীতজ্ঞ)

4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানে আলি বক্স, পৈগাম্বৰ বক্স, ওস্তাদ ফৈয়াজ খানৰ পৰা ছেহনাই বজাবলৈ শিকিছিল।)
Answer: Ali Bux (আলি বক্স)

5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানৰ প্ৰথম বৈদেশিক যাত্ৰা আফগানিস্তান, ইউ.এছ.এ., কানাডালৈ আছিল।)
Answer: Afghanistan (আফগানিস্তান)

II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick in the correct column.

(তলত দিয়া বিষয়সমূহৰ প্ৰতি বিছমিল্লাহ খানৰ ধাৰণা যোগাত্মক, নঞাৰ্থক নে নিৰপেক্ষ আছিল বাছি উলিওৱা আৰু শুদ্ধ উত্তৰত চিন দিয়া।)

III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

(উত্তৰ দিয়া ৩০-৪০ টা শব্দৰ ভিতৰত)

1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
(ঔৰংগজেবে পুংগী বজোৱাত কিয় নিষেধাজ্ঞা জাৰি কৰিছিল?)
Aurangzeb banned the pungi in the royal residence because its shrill, unpleasant sound disturbed the peace and was deemed unfit for the court’s dignity.
(ঔৰংগজেবে পুংগী নিষিদ্ধ কৰিছিল কাৰণ ইয়াৰ তীক্ষ্ণ, অপ্ৰীতিকৰ শব্দই শান্তি ভংগ কৰিছিল আৰু ৰাজসভাৰ মৰ্যাদাৰ বাবে অযোগ্য আছিল।)

2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
(কেনেকৈ ছেহনাই পুংগীৰ পৰা পৃথক?)
The shehnai, longer and broader with holes, has a melodious tone, unlike the pungi’s shrill noise. It’s an improved, refined version of the pungi.
(ছেহনাই দীঘল, বহল, ফুটাযুক্ত আৰু মধুৰ সুৰৰ, পুংগীৰ তীক্ষ্ণ শব্দৰ বিপৰীতে। ই পুংগীৰ উন্নত সংস্কৰণ।)

3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
(পৰম্পৰাগতভাৱে ছেহনাই ক’ত বজোৱা হৈছিল? বিছমিল্লাহ খানে কেনেকৈ পৰিৱৰ্তন আনিছিল?)
Traditionally, the shehnai was played at temples and weddings as an auspicious instrument. Bismillah Khan elevated it to classical stages and mainstream music.
(পৰম্পৰাগতভাৱে ছেহনাই মন্দিৰ আৰু বিয়াত বজোৱা হৈছিল। বিছমিল্লাহ খানে ইয়াক শাস্ত্ৰীয় মঞ্চ আৰু মূলধাৰাৰ সংগীতলৈ আনিছিল।)

4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানে কেতিয়া আৰু কেনেকৈ আটাইতকৈ ডাঙৰ সুযোগ লাভ কৰিছিল?)
In 1938, Bismillah Khan got his break when All India Radio opened in Lucknow, and he played the shehnai on air, gaining widespread recognition.
(১৯৩৮ত, লক্ষ্ণৌত অল ইণ্ডিয়া ৰেডিঅ’ খুলিলে, তেওঁ ছেহনাই বজাই প্ৰথমবাৰৰ বাবে স্বীকৃতি লাভ কৰিছিল।)

5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
(১৯৪৭ চনৰ ১৫ আগষ্টত বিছমিল্লাহ খানে ক’ত ছেহনাই বজাইছিল? এই ঘটনা কিয় ঐতিহাসিক হৈ পৰিছিল?)
He played at the Red Fort on 15 August 1947. It was historic as it marked India’s independence, with him greeting the nation musically.
(তেওঁ ৰেড ফ’ৰ্টত বজাইছিল। ই ঐতিহাসিক আছিল কাৰণ ই ভাৰতৰ স্বাধীনতাৰ চিহ্ন আছিল।)

6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
(আমেৰিকাত ছেহনাই স্কুল স্থাপন কৰিবলৈ কিয় বিছমিল্লাহ খানে অমান্তি হৈছিল?)
He refused because he loved India, especially Banaras and the Ganga, and couldn’t leave their inspiration for a foreign land.
(তেওঁ অমান্তি হৈছিল কাৰণ তেওঁ ভাৰত, বিশেষকৈ বেনাৰস আৰু গংগাক ভাল পাইছিল আৰু বিদেশলৈ যাব নিবিচাৰিছিল।)

7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras.
(বিছমিল্লাহ খানৰ ভাৰত তথা বেনাৰসৰ প্ৰতি থকা ভালপোৱা প্ৰকাশ পোৱা দুটা ঘটনা উল্লেখ কৰা।)
He refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. and rejected moving to Pakistan during partition, saying he’d never leave Banaras.
(তেওঁ আমেৰিকাত স্কুল খোলাৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ আৰু দেশভাগৰ সময়ত পাকিস্তানলৈ যোৱাৰ প্ৰস্তাৱ নাকচ কৰি বেনাৰস নেৰোৱাৰ কথা কৈছিল।)

Thinking about Language

(ভাষাৰ কথা ভাবো আহা)

I. Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb. Try to answer the questions in brackets.

(তলত দিয়া বাক্যবিলাক সম্পূৰ্ণ কৰা। বন্ধনীৰ ভিতৰত থকা প্ৰশ্নবোৰৰ উত্তৰ দিয়া।)

1. The school sports team hopes _ (What does it hope to do?)
(বিদ্যালয়ৰ খেলৰ দলটোৱে আশা কৰে _ তেওঁলোকে কি আশা কৰিছিল?)
The school sports team hopes to win the championship.
(বিদ্যালয়ৰ খেলৰ দলটোৱে চেম্পিয়নশ্বিপ জিকাৰ আশা কৰিছিল।)

2. We all want __ (What do we all want to do?)
(আমি সকলোৱে চাওঁ _ সকলোৱে জীৱনত কি বিচাৰে?)
We all want to succeed in our chosen paths.
(আমি সকলোৱে নিজৰ বাছি লোৱা পথত সফল হ’ব বিচাৰোঁ।)

3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother (What did they advise her to do?)
(তেওঁলোকে বধিৰ শিশুৰ মাকক উপদেশ দিছিল। তেওঁলোকে কি কৰিবলৈ কৈছিল?)
They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother to seek specialist help.
(তেওঁলোকে বধিৰ শিশুৰ মাকক বিশেষজ্ঞৰ সহায় ল’বলৈ উপদেশ দিছিল।)

4. The authorities permitted us to _ (What did the authorities permit us to do?)
(কৰ্তৃপক্ষই আমাক _ অনুমতি দিছিল। তেওঁলোকে কি কৰিবলৈ দিছিল?)
The authorities permitted us to organize the event.
(কৰ্তৃপক্ষই আমাক অনুষ্ঠান আয়োজন কৰিবলৈ অনুমতি দিছিল।)

5. A musician decided to __ (What did the musician decide to do?)
(এজন সংগীতজ্ঞই সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছিল। তেওঁ কি কৰিবলৈ স্থিৰ কৰিছিল?)
A musician decided to teach underprivileged children.
(এজন সংগীতজ্ঞই অসহায় শিশুসকলক শিকোৱাৰ সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছিল।)

II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down.

(বিছমিল্লাহ খান পাঠটিৰ পৰা তলৰ সংজ্ঞাসমূহৰ বাবে উপযুক্ত শব্দবোৰ বাছি উলিওৱা।)

1. The home of royal people (ৰাজ পৰিয়ালৰ সদস্য থকা ভৱন)
Answer: Royal residence (ৰাজভৱন) [Para 1]

2. The state of being alone (অকলশৰীয়া থকা)
Answer: Solitude (একান্ত) [Para 6]

3. A part which is absolutely necessary (অত্যন্ত প্ৰয়োজনীয় অংশ)
Answer: Indispensable (অপৰিহাৰ্য) [Para 6]

4. To do something not done before (আগতে নকৰা কিবা এটা কৰিবলৈ)
Answer: Invent (আৱিষ্কাৰ কৰা) [Para 2]

5. Without much effort (কোনো ধৰণৰ প্ৰয়াস নকৰা)
Answer: Effortlessly (অনায়াসে) [Para 5]

6. Quickly and in large quantities _ and _ (খৰতকৈ আৰু বেছিকৈ লাভ কৰা পৰিমাণ)
Answer: Thick and fast (ঘন আৰু দ্ৰুত) [Para 8]

III. Tick the right answer.

1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).
Answer: Lives again

2. When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started).
Answer: Stopped

3. When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).
Answer: Interesting

4. When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).
Answer: Find it good and useful

5. When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).
Answer: For the second time

6. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).
Answer: No longer upsetting

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. How old was Evelyn Glennie when she joined the Royal Academy of Music?
A) Fifteen
B) Sixteen
C) Seventeen
D) Eighteen
Answer: C) Seventeen
Explanation: Evelyn was seventeen when she enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music.

2. At what age was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed?
A) Six
B) Eight
C) Ten
D) Eleven
Answer: B) Eight
Explanation: Her deafness was first observed when she was eight years old.

3. Who encouraged Evelyn to feel music through her body?
A) Her mother
B) Ron Forbes
C) Ustad Faiyaaz Khan
D) A teacher at school
Answer: B) Ron Forbes
Explanation: Percussionist Ron Forbes taught her to sense music differently using her body.

4. Where did Evelyn perform free concerts?
A) Schools and colleges
B) Prisons and hospitals
C) Temples and weddings
D) Radio stations
Answer: B) Prisons and hospitals
Explanation: She gave free performances in prisons and hospitals to inspire others.

5. How did Evelyn sense music while playing the xylophone?
A) Through her ears
B) Through her fingertips
C) Through her eyes
D) Through her shoes
Answer: B) Through her fingertips
Explanation: She felt the sound travel from the sticks to her fingertips.

6. What instrument did Aurangzeb ban in the royal residence?
A) Shehnai
B) Pungi
C) Drums
D) Flute
Answer: B) Pungi
Explanation: Aurangzeb banned the pungi due to its shrill, unpleasant sound.

7. Who is credited with transforming the pungi into the shehnai?
A) Bismillah Khan
B) Ali Bux
C) A barber
D) Paigambar Bux
Answer: C) A barber
Explanation: A barber in the royal court refined the pungi into the shehnai.

8. From whom did Bismillah Khan learn to play the shehnai?
A) His father
B) Ali Bux
C) Ustad Faiyaaz Khan
D) A barber
Answer: B) Ali Bux
Explanation: His uncle, Ali Bux, taught him the art of playing the shehnai.

9. Where did Bismillah Khan make his first trip abroad?
A) U.S.A.
B) Canada
C) Afghanistan
D) Pakistan
Answer: C) Afghanistan
Explanation: His first international performance was in Afghanistan.

10. What was Bismillah Khan’s profession inherited from his ancestors?
A) Barbers
B) Professional musicians
C) Teachers
D) Soldiers
Answer: B) Professional musicians
Explanation: His paternal ancestors were professional musicians.

11. Why did Evelyn remove her shoes while performing on wooden floors?
A) To hear better
B) To feel vibrations through her feet
C) For comfort
D) To dance
Answer: B) To feel vibrations through her feet
Explanation: She felt music’s vibrations through her bare feet on wooden surfaces.

12. What was the shehnai traditionally played for?
A) Funerals
B) Temples and weddings
C) Royal courts only
D) Radio broadcasts
Answer: B) Temples and weddings
Explanation: It was considered auspicious and played at these events.

13. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947?
A) Red Fort
B) Banaras
C) Lucknow
D) All India Radio
Answer: A) Red Fort
Explanation: He played at the Red Fort to mark India’s independence.

14. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a school in the U.S.A.?
A) He disliked teaching
B) He loved Banaras and the Ganga
C) He lacked funds
D) He didn’t speak English
Answer: B) He loved Banaras and the Ganga
Explanation: His deep attachment to India kept him from moving abroad.

15. What opportunity gave Bismillah Khan his big break in 1938?
A) A concert in Afghanistan
B) Playing on All India Radio
C) Performing at the Red Fort
D) A film soundtrack
Answer: B) Playing on All India Radio
Explanation: His radio performance in Lucknow brought him widespread fame.

16. How is the shehnai different from the pungi?
A) It is smaller
B) It has a harsher sound
C) It is longer and melodious
D) It has no holes
Answer: C) It is longer and melodious
Explanation: The shehnai is an improved, melodious version of the pungi.

17. What does Evelyn’s work in prisons and hospitals reflect?
A) Her love for fame
B) Her desire to inspire others
C) Her need for money
D) Her dislike of big stages
Answer: B) Her desire to inspire others
Explanation: She aimed to spread love and peace through her music.

18. What does “thick and fast” refer to in Bismillah Khan’s story?
A) His practice sessions
B) Awards and recognition
C) His travels
D) His students
Answer: B) Awards and recognition
Explanation: It describes the rapid and numerous honors he received.

19. What does “solitude” mean in the context of Bismillah Khan’s text?
A) Crowded places
B) Being alone
C) Playing music
D) Teaching children
Answer: B) Being alone
Explanation: It refers to the state of being alone, reflecting his personal moments.

20. How did Bismillah Khan feel about leaving Banaras and Dumraon?
A) Excited
B) Indifferent
C) Negative
D) Neutral
Answer: C) Negative
Explanation: He expressed strong reluctance to leave his beloved Banaras.