English For Today chapter 4: My Home District

My Home District

1.1 Look at the map of Bangladesh. Find your home district on the map. Connect the dots of your home district.

Figure

Labels: PANCHAGARH, THAKURGAON, NILPHAMARI, LALMONIRHAT, KURIGRAM, DINAJPUR, RANGPUR, GAIBANDHA, JOYPURHAT, SHERPUR, JAMALPUR, NETROKONA, SUNAMGANJ, SYLHET, NAOGAON, BOGURA, NAWABGANJ, RAJSHAHI, NATORE, SIRAJGANJ, TANGAIL, KISHOREGANJ, MYMENSHINGH, HABIGANJ, MOULVIBAZAR, PABNA, GAZIPUR, NARSHINGDI, B.BARIA, KUSHTIA, MEHERPUR, CHUADANGA, JHENAIDAH, MAGURA, MANIKGANJ, DHAKA, RAJBARI, FARIDPUR, MUNSHIGANJ, NARAIL, JASHORE, SHARIATPUR, CHANDPUR, CUMILLA, KHULNA, GOPALGANJ, MADARIPUR, BARISHAL, LAXMIPUR, NOAKHALI, FENI, SATKHIRA, PEROJPUR, JHALOKATI, BHOLA, PATUAKHALI, BARGUNA, BAGERHAT, KHAGRACHARI, RANGAMATI, CHATTOGRAM, BANDARBAN, COX'S BAZAR Description: A map of Bangladesh showing district locations and names, with dotted orange lines connecting the district points. A compass rose (N, S, E, W) is in the upper right.

1.2 Share your map with a friend. Ask and answer the following questions in pairs.

a) What is the name of your home district? b) What are some of your neighbouring districts? c) What do you like about your district?

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1.3 Read and act out.

Fatiha is a student of class five at Tomaltola Government Primary School in Kishoreganj. One day she asked her grandfather about the naming of her home district.

Fatiha: Hello, grandpa. Are you free to talk now? Grandfather: Yes, you can talk to me now. Fatiha: Could you tell me how our district was named Kishoreganj? Grandfather: Well, that's an interesting story. Fatiha: Please tell me, grandpa. I want to know. Grandfather: In the 6th century, there was a landlord known as Brojakishore Pramanik or Nandakishore Pramanik. He established a 'ganj' (business centre) on the bank of the Brahmaputra river. Most people believe that the name 'Kishoreganj' came from the two words 'Kishore' and 'ganj'. Fatiha: That's really interesting! Thanks for sharing the story. Grandfather: You are welcome. There are some books about Kishoreganj. These will help you know more about your home district. Fatiha: Oh, sure. I'll certainly read them and try to know more.

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1.4 Read the conversation in 1.3 again and discuss the following questions in pairs.

a) What does the word 'ganj' mean? b) How did Kishoreganj get its name? c) Find some more places in Bangladesh that end with 'ganj' from the map.

2.1 Read the article.

Fatiha has collected more information about Kishoreganj with help from her grandfather. She wants to share the information with others. She has written a small article on her home district.

My Home District

Figure

Labels: Tarail, Itna, Karimganj, Mithamoin, Kishoreganj, Nikli, Austagram, Katiadi, Bajitpur, kuliarchar, Bhairab Description: A map of Kishoreganj district with its upazilas shown in different colours and labelled by name. Kishoreganj is on the left, Itna is at the top, and Bhairab is at the bottom.

I am from Kishoreganj. This is one of the largest districts in Bangladesh. It is situated in the northeastern part of Bangladesh. It has 8 municipalities and 13 upazilas. The total area of Kishoreganj district is 2,688 square kilometres. Some rivers run through this district. They are the Old Brahmaputra, the Meghna, the Kaalni, the Suti and the Narasunda. The area of Kishoreganj municipality is about 10 square kilometres. The river Narasunda flows through the town.

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Figure: Sukumar Roy

Description: A painted portrait of a man with short, swept-back hair, wearing round-rimmed glasses, a jacket and a tie.

Figure: Upendrakishore Roy Chowdhury

Description: A painted portrait of a man with thick dark hair and a full beard, wearing a light-coloured collared shirt.

Figure: Zainul Abedin

Description: A painted portrait of an older man with grey hair and dark-rimmed glasses, wearing a light-coloured shirt.

This district has enriched the tradition of Bangla folk literature. Most of the lyrics of Maimansingha Gitika were composed in this land. The rivers, haors and green fields of this region set the scene for many popular folk tales and palas. Kishoreganj is the home to the first female poet of Bangla literature Chandrabati. Upendrakishore Roy and Sukumar Roy are popular for children's literature. They are also from this district. Famous painter Zainul Abedin comes from Kishoreganj, too.

Figure: Solakia, Eidgah

Description: A large crowd of people standing in rows for prayer in front of a red-brick wall with arched gateways and minarets. Tall trees spread their branches over the scene.

There are many tourist attractions in Kishoreganj. Solakia, the largest Eidgah of the country, is located in Kishoreganj Sadar.

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Figure: Shahidi Mosque

Description: The mosque is drawn with a large dome, minarets and a long arched building with rows of windows and arches in front.

Figure: The fort of Isha Khan

Description: The fort is drawn in brick, with arched openings and small windows, and trees growing beside it.

Figure: Shiva Temple

Description: The temple is drawn in brick with a tall pointed spire and decorated tiers, surrounded by trees.

The historical Shahidi Mosque, the Pagla Mosque and the Shiva Temple of Chandrabati are also located here. The fort of Isha Khan in Jangalbari and the Shah Mahmud Mosque in Egarosindur are also some historical places of my home district.

I feel proud that I was born in Kishoreganj.

2.2 Discuss the following statements in pairs. Write True/False in the blank.

a) Kishoreganj is in the northeastern part of Bangladesh. ______ b) Narasunda river flows through the district town. ______ c) Maimansingha Gitika is not a part of Bangla literature. ______ d) Sukumar Roy is a popular children's book writer. ______ e) Solakia is the only tourist attraction of Kishoreganj. ______

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2.3 Answer the following questions.

a) What is Solakia famous for? b) Where is the fort of Isha Khan located? c) Mention two tourist attractions of Kishoreganj. d) Name the first female poet of Bangla literature. e) Write three sentences about the natural beauty of Kishoreganj.

3.1 Language Focus: Use of Capital Letters

There are some rules to use capital letters.

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3.1.1 Use capital letters where necessary.

a) bangladesh is my motherland. b) have you ever been to rangamati? c) our class starts on sunday. d) zainul abedin was a great artist. e) we enjoy our winter in december and january.

3.2 Language Focus: Articles

A, an, and the are articles. We use them before nouns.

We use a and an to talk about one thing.

• We use a before words beginning with consonant sounds.

  a house a family a book

• We use an before words beginning with vowel sounds.

  an animal an egg an orange

• We use the for a special or known thing.

  the sun the school the sky

Examples:

a) I have a pet cat. b) He gave me an orange c) The cat is beautiful.

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3.2.1 Identify the sentences with incorrect articles. Then, write the sentences correctly in your exercise book.

a) He lives in an small village. b) We read an story about kindness. c) A Meghna is a big river. d) He is an teacher. e) I saw an lion and a elephant in the zoo.