SSC English First Paper | Unit: 4, Lesson 4 | Are We Aware? | The story of Lipi

A. Discuss in groups and suggest how we can control the high growth rate of our population. Check whether your suggestions include any of the following:

1. Raise awareness among the people, particularly in the rural areas, about the bad consequences of having more children in the family.

2. Stop child marriage.

B. Read the story of Lipi and answer the questions.

In the next class Ms Choudhury tells her students the story of Lipi. The year before last, Lipi, a 14-year old girl was in class 9 in a rural school in Rangpur. Lipi is the eldest of five children—three daughters and two sons. Their father is a day labourer working on other people’s land and mother is a homemaker and a part-time worker at other people’s homes. 

The parents, particularly the mother, found it real difficult to raise five children on the small income the father could earn. Perhaps that is why Lipi’s father wanted to marry her off. But Lipi was not ready to accept what her parents wanted to impose on her. She wanted to pursue her education. Her mother stood by her, though secret¬ly. When her father arranged her marriage with Tara Mia, the only son of a farmer in the same village, she became greatly upset. Tara Mia was a widower-il¬literate, but well off. His father had a few acres of arable land and was influential in the village. The marriage seemed to be inevitable.

Question 1

Discuss in groups and agree upon an answer to this question: What do you think Lipi should do? Why?

Lipi first talked with her classmates and then with the Headteacher, who was very sympathetic to her. He called a meeting of the teachers and students of the school. He also invited the school managing committee members and some respectable persons of the village to attend the meeting. The Headteacher explained in detail the serious consequences that would follow Lipi’s marriage. She would be having children from very early age-15 or 16. It would create constant health hazards to her. Her education would stop. On top of all, her marriage against her will might shatter her future dream. At one stage, Tara Mia’s father stood up and tried to argue, “You are all making mistakes. Lipi would be very happy if she got married with Tara Mia. She would have everything- money, clothes, home and status in the society. Why are you trying to deprive her of this opportunity?”

But no, the big majority, who attended the meeting, supported the Headteacher. Lipi’s marriage was called off. She is now studying at Carmichael College, Rangpur. 

Question 2

Make predictions. One is done for you.

If Lipi had married Tara Mia that time, …

a. she would have become a mother of one or two children.

b.

c.

d.

C. Fill in the blanks in the passage with will / would.

Ms Anjali Barua, a retired college teacher, is a widow who lives in her own flat in Dhaka. At this stage of her life, she wants to do something for the people of her village in Sherpur district. Her only daughter lives in Khulna with her husband and children. Right now she is in her village home. She is writing about her future plan in a diary.

“I don’t exactly know how I should go about my plan. But one thing I know for sure, I (1)——will need a lot of money for the work. If I had 5 million taka, I (2)——start an adult education centre. Then if I found an expert on adult education, I (3)——prepare learning materials for the people. If you ask him what the materials (4)—— look like, he (5)——be able to explain in details. I know if the people attended the classes at the centre, they (6)——learn how to read, write and count. I (7)——definitely give time to this project. But to carry out the project successfully I (8)—— have to live in the village almost permanently. Here is a problem. Who (9)——take care of my flat in Dhaka? If I had a good, reliable man, I (10)——make him caretaker of my flat. But where (11)——I find such a man?

D. Read the beginning of the story. Write ten new sentences to complete the story in a way you would like.