Find the Content and Exercises with Solution
Lesson Objectives
The objectives of this lesson are to enhance students’ reading comprehension and critical thinking through the analysis of a nonfiction text about pearl diving before the 20th century. Students will identify key ideas, extract specific information, and answer both multiple choice and short answer questions to reinforce understanding. Vocabulary development will be supported through the identification and explanation of challenging words from the passage. Students will also practice contextual language use through fill-in-the-blank exercises and apply morphological skills by using appropriate prefixes and suffixes. Additionally, they will demonstrate their ability to transfer information by completing a structured table summarizing the actions and significance of historical figures and groups related to pearls. Overall, the lesson aims to build integrated language skills—reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing—while engaging students with a meaningful historical topic.
Read the text and answer the following questions.
Before the beginning of the 20th century, pearls were obtained from pearl oysters. These oysters were collected from the bottom of the ocean, lake or river.
To get enough pearl oysters, free-divers were often forced to descend to a depth of more than 100 feet in one breath. Because of the difficulty of diving, pearls at that time were of different quality as well as very rare.
In Asia some pearl oysters could be found on shoals at a depth of 5-7 feet from the surface. At times the divers had to go 40 feet or even up to 125 feet deep to find enough pearl oysters. These deep dives were extremely hazardous to the divers.
In some fishing villages along the coast of Japan, there are amazing groups of women known as 'Ama divers'. These women worked and are still working as Ama. The word 'Ama' means 'women of the sea or sea women'. They are independent divers. They make their living by diving. They can dive to the depth of the sea up to 25 metres. And they dive without using oxygen tanks or other breathing equipment.
The Ama divers rely on their own skills and breathing techniques. They use that skill and technique to push themselves down to the bottom of the sea and back to the surface again. They can hold their breath for up to two minutes. Careful watching, lung capacity and hunter instincts are the special qualities of Ama divers.
However, some of these young villagers are now going to the city in search of other jobs. The remaining Ama divers are now aged between 50 and 60. But there are still some who continue to dive even in their 70s. If the young people do not take up Ama diving, soon this profession will die out.
Vocabulary List
| Word | Word | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl | Oysters | Free-divers |
| Descend | Hazardous | Shoals |
| Independent | Breathing | Technique |
| Lung capacity | Instincts | Profession |
Multiple Choice Questions
- What was the main challenge faced by free-divers collecting pearl oysters before the 20th century?
- a) Lack of oxygen tanks
- b) Diving to depths of more than 100 feet in one breath
- c) Difficulty locating pearl oysters in shallow waters
- d) Hostile sea creatures
- How deep could Ama divers dive without using any breathing equipment?
- c) Up to 25 metres
- a) Up to 10 metres
- b) Up to 50 metres
- d) Up to 125 feet
- Which of the following is NOT listed as a special quality of Ama divers?
- a) Careful watching
- b) Lung capacity
- c) Hunter instincts
- d) Use of oxygen tanks
- Why were pearls of different quality before the 20th century?
- a) Because of the varying water temperatures
- b) Because of difficulty in diving and collecting oysters
- c) Because oysters produced pearls of different colors
- d) Because of artificial pearl farming
- What is the meaning of the word 'Ama'?
- a) Women of the land
- b) Sea women or women of the sea
- c) Pearl divers
- d) Skilled swimmers
- What is the main reason the profession of Ama divers is at risk of dying out?
- a) Lack of interest from young villagers
- b) Pollution of the seas
- c) Government restrictions on diving
- d) Technological advances in pearl farming
- What special technique do Ama divers use to dive effectively without breathing equipment?
- a) Use of artificial breathing devices
- c) Team diving with support from boats
- d) Use of compressed air tanks
- b) Reliance on their own skills and breathing techniques
Short Questions
- Where were pearl oysters collected from before the 20th century?
- What depths did free-divers sometimes have to descend to in order to gather enough pearl oysters?
- Why were pearls rare and of varying quality in the past?
- What is the meaning of the word "Ama" and who are Ama divers?
- How do Ama divers manage to dive without breathing equipment?
- What special qualities help Ama divers succeed in their diving profession?
- Why is the profession of Ama divers at risk of disappearing?
Fill in the Blanks
Before the 20th century, pearls were obtained from __________ oysters collected from the bottom of the ocean, lake, or river. To get enough pearl oysters, free-divers had to __________ to depths sometimes exceeding 100 feet in one breath. These deep dives were extremely __________ and made pearl collection difficult. In Japan, the __________ divers, known as Ama, can dive up to 25 __________ without using oxygen tanks. Ama divers rely on their own __________ and breathing __________ to hold their breath for up to two minutes. However, many young villagers are leaving, putting this __________ at risk of dying out.
Suffix and Prefix Exercise
The pearl is a __________ (nature) gem that has been __________ (value) for thousands of years. Its __________ (shine) beauty makes it a symbol of __________ (pure) and elegance. Many people show great __________ (admire) for pearls. Cleopatra’s act was a __________ (nation) expression of pride. In ancient Rome, pearls were signs of __________ (wealth) and __________ (power) status.
Complete the Table
Complete the following table with the information given in the passage.
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | discovered pearls | (i) while searching for food at the sea shore |
| Cleopatra | (ii) dissolved a pearl and drank it | to show love and respect for her nation |
| The ancient Egyptians | (iii) were buried with pearls | to express the value of pearls |
| The Greeks | associated pearls | (iv) with beauty, wealth, and social status |
| Brave knights | (v) wore pearls | for good luck in battles |
Answers
Word Details
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl (Noun) | A hard, round object produced within the shell of certain oysters, valued as a gem | Bengali: মুক্তা | IPA: /pɜːrl/ | The necklace was decorated with shining pearls from the ocean. |
| Oysters (Noun) | A type of shellfish from which pearls are formed | Bengali: শামুক | IPA: /ˈɔɪstər/ | Pearls are naturally formed inside oysters. |
| Free-divers (Noun) | People who dive underwater without breathing equipment | Bengali: স্বতঃস্ফূর্ত ডাইভার | IPA: /friːˈdaɪvər/ | Free-divers often hold their breath for a long time while diving. |
| Descend (Verb) | To move or go downwards | Bengali: নামা | IPA: /dɪˈsend/ | The divers descend deep into the ocean to collect oysters. |
| Hazardous (Adjective) | Dangerous or risky | Bengali: বিপজ্জনক | IPA: /ˈhæzərdəs/ | Deep diving is a hazardous activity for many divers. |
| Shoals (Noun) | A shallow place in a body of water | Bengali: ছোট্ট গভীরতা বা তলদেশ | IPA: /ʃoʊl/ | The pearl oysters were found on shoals near the coast. |
| Independent (Adjective) | Not depending on others; self-reliant | Bengali: স্বাধীন | IPA: /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ | Ama divers are independent and rely on their own skills. |
| Breathing (Noun) | The process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs | Bengali: শ্বাস-প্রশ্বাস | IPA: /ˈbriːðɪŋ/ | Breathing techniques help Ama divers hold their breath longer. |
| Technique (Noun) | A way of carrying out a particular task | Bengali: কৌশল | IPA: /tɛkˈniːk/ | The divers mastered special techniques to dive safely. |
| Lung capacity (Noun) | The amount of air the lungs can hold | Bengali: ফুসফুসের ধারণ ক্ষমতা | IPA: /lʌŋ kəˈpæsɪti/ | Good lung capacity allows Ama divers to stay underwater longer. |
| Instincts (Noun) | Natural tendencies or abilities that do not require learning | Bengali: প্রবৃত্তি | IPA: /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ | Ama divers rely on their hunter instincts to find oysters. |
| Profession (Noun) | A paid occupation requiring skill and training | Bengali: পেশা | IPA: /prəˈfɛʃən/ | If the younger generation stops diving, the profession may die out. |
Multiple Choice Questions
- What was the main challenge faced by free-divers collecting pearl oysters before the 20th century?
- a) Lack of oxygen tanks
- b) Diving to depths of more than 100 feet in one breath ✅
- c) Difficulty locating pearl oysters in shallow waters
- d) Hostile sea creatures
- How deep could Ama divers dive without using any breathing equipment?
- c) Up to 25 metres
- a) Up to 10 metres
- b) Up to 50 metres
- d) Up to 125 feet ✅
- Which of the following is NOT listed as a special quality of Ama divers?
- a) Careful watching
- b) Lung capacity
- c) Hunter instincts
- d) Use of oxygen tanks ✅
- Why were pearls of different quality before the 20th century?
- a) Because of the varying water temperatures
- b) Because of difficulty in diving and collecting oysters ✅
- c) Because oysters produced pearls of different colors
- d) Because of artificial pearl farming
- What is the meaning of the word 'Ama'?
- a) Women of the land
- b) Sea women or women of the sea ✅
- c) Pearl divers
- d) Skilled swimmers
- What is the main reason the profession of Ama divers is at risk of dying out?
- a) Lack of interest from young villagers ✅
- b) Pollution of the seas
- c) Government restrictions on diving
- d) Technological advances in pearl farming
- What special technique do Ama divers use to dive effectively without breathing equipment?
- a) Use of artificial breathing devices
- c) Team diving with support from boats
- d) Use of compressed air tanks
- b) Reliance on their own skills and breathing techniques ✅
Short Questions with Answers
-
Where were pearl oysters collected from before the 20th century?
Pearl oysters were collected from the bottom of the ocean, lakes, or rivers. -
What depths did free-divers sometimes have to descend to in order to gather enough pearl oysters?
Free-divers sometimes had to descend to depths of more than 100 feet, sometimes up to 125 feet. -
Why were pearls rare and of varying quality in the past?
Pearls were rare and of varying quality because diving to collect oysters was very difficult and dangerous. -
What is the meaning of the word "Ama" and who are Ama divers?
"Ama" means "women of the sea," and Ama divers are independent female divers who collect pearls without breathing equipment. -
How do Ama divers manage to dive without breathing equipment?
Ama divers rely on their own skills and breathing techniques to hold their breath and dive down to the sea bottom. -
What special qualities help Ama divers succeed in their diving profession?
Careful watching, lung capacity, and hunter instincts help Ama divers succeed. -
Why is the profession of Ama divers at risk of disappearing?
The profession is at risk because young villagers are moving to cities for other jobs, leaving fewer new Ama divers.
Fill in the Blanks - Answer Key
Before the 20th century, pearls were obtained from pearl oysters collected from the bottom of the ocean, lake, or river. To get enough pearl oysters, free-divers had to descend to depths sometimes exceeding 100 feet in one breath. These deep dives were extremely hazardous and made pearl collection difficult. In Japan, the Ama divers, known as Ama, can dive up to 25 metres without using oxygen tanks. Ama divers rely on their own skills and breathing techniques to hold their breath for up to two minutes. However, many young villagers are leaving, putting this profession at risk of dying out.
Suffix and Prefix Answer
The pearl is a natural gem that has been valued for thousands of years. Its shiny beauty makes it a symbol of purity and elegance. Many people show great admiration for pearls. Cleopatra’s act was a national expression of pride. In ancient Rome, pearls were signs of wealthy and powerful status.
Gap Filling Activity in Table
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| Humans | discovered pearls | while searching for food at the sea shore |
| Cleopatra | dissolved a pearl and drank it | to show love and respect for her nation |
| The ancient Egyptians | were buried with pearls | to express the value of pearls |
| The Greeks | associated pearls | with love and marriage |
| Brave knights | wore pearls | for good luck in battles |
📖 Key Features
- 📌 Format: Reading Text
- 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit Seven, Lesson 2: Ama Divers (Page 79)
- 📌 Cmposition Number: 1
- 📌 Clarity and Concise: Class VIII
- 📌 Visual Appeal:High Quality Graphics
- 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit Seven, Lesson 2: Ama Divers (Page 78) Fill in the Form
- 📌 Exercise: Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions, Fill-in-the-Blanks, suffix and prefix, information transfer, and 10 words with IPA transcription, word class, Bengali and English meanings, and example sentences
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