River
gypsies are an ethnic group in Bangladesh. They are known as bedey to local
people. The gypsies have their own lifestyle and culture. They live in groups
and do not own any land. Therefore, they live a nomadic life travelling from
one place to another. These people roam across our rivers and waters from May
to December in small country boats. These boats are their houses and these
people are a part of our waters. In winter, many water bodies dry up. At that
time they return to the mainland and live in make-shift tarpaulin tents on open
river banks. You can see their men relaxing in the tents. Toddlers play with
dogs or other pets in the dust. Women oft en idle away time by hair doing,
picking off lice in twos or threes sitting in a row. Throughout the monsoon,
they remain busy with fishing. They also dive for natural pearls in waters.
Sometimes, they camp for a couple of weeks. Men catch snakes and entertain
people with snake charming and sell herbal cures. Women go from door to door to
sell bangles, cosmetics and other things. They also try to heal pains of old
people often by sucking out blood from their body. Many villagers believe in
the magical power of the gypsies. They can an evil spirit leave someone’s body
by magic or special Powers.
1. Guess
the meaning of the following words and choose the correct meaning closest to
the text.1×7=7
a. known
(i) regarded (ii)
taken (iii)
outlandish (iv)
left
b. own
(i) contain (ii)
remain (iii) have (iv) carry
c. live
(i) lead (ii)
leave (iii) operate (iv) change
d. sprit
(i) pain (ii)
move (iii) speed (iv) soul
e. often
(i) contain (ii) remain (iii) have (iv)
always
f.
special
(i) regarded (ii)
exceptional (iii) outlandish (iv) left
g. tent
(i) cottage (ii)
house (iii) camp (iv) room
2. Answer
the following questions. 2×4=8
a)
Who
are river gypsies?
b)
Have
they gypsies their own lifestyle and culture? If yes, what are those?
c)
Where
do they roam?
d)
What
do river gypsy men do for a living?
3. Read the
passage carefully and fill in the gaps with appropriate words to make in a
meaningful one following. 1×5=5
Shamima’s
misery .a. ---------- the day she was married. Her husband was a greedy person
and he .b. -------- to abuse her verbally and physically. Within a few months
into her marriage she .c. ---------- to leave her husband Amirul Islam. Now
Shamima vows to work with women, who are ill-fated like her. She has 43 female
members in her .d. --------- working for her. She .e. ---------- the members
herself and then provides them with work.
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