Find the Content and Exercises with Solution
Lesson Objectives
This lesson aims to develop students' reading comprehension and vocabulary skills through a real-life conversation between Jihan and a bedey woman. It encourages learners to understand the lifestyle, challenges, and cultural practices of the river gypsy community in Bangladesh. The lesson also fosters critical thinking and empathy by highlighting issues such as traditional healing, seasonal migration, and educational struggles. Students will analyze tone, extract specific information, and reflect on how marginalized communities adapt to modern changes.
In summer vacation last May, Sohan went to Lauhajang in Munshigonj to visit his maternal uncle. His elder cousin, Jihan studies sociology at Dhaka University. One afternoon, Jihan took Sohan to a bedey camp to know about their life. They talked to a middle aged bedey woman who was cooking in front of her tent. Read the conversation and do the following activity.
Conversation between Jihan and a Woman
Jihan:
Good afternoon. Can I ask you a few questions?
Woman:
Good afternoon. Umm... you see I’m busy cooking. I’ve to feed my son and then...
Jihan:
Well, I won’t take much time. Just a few questions if you please... How long have you been here in this camp?
Woman:
Four months. Since last January. And if it rains, we’re going to rivers again next month.
Jihan:
What do you do for a living?
Woman:
We catch fish. Our men are snake charmers and we heal toothache and joint pains of old people.
Jihan:
How do you heal people?
Woman:
With traditional herbs and healing art.
Jihan:
Well, if you don’t mind, how much do you earn?
Woman:
Not enough. About 3000 taka per month. Now many people don’t believe in our remedies. They go to doctors. So we go to remote villages.
Jihan:
What about your son? I guess he is already 5. Does he go to school?
Woman:
Not yet. But I’ve heard about mobile boat-schools in rivers. I’ll try to find one for my son.
Vocabulary List
| Word | Word | Word |
|---|---|---|
| Camp | Charmers | Toothache |
| Joint | Traditional | Herbs |
| Remedies | Remote | Healing |
| Mobile | Boat-schools | Villages |
Multiple Choice Questions
- What aspect of the river gypsies' life best illustrates their adaptation to seasonal environmental changes?
- c) Returning to mainland and living in tarpaulin tents during dry seasons
- a) Performing snake charming in winter
- b) Selling cosmetics to rural women
- d) Playing with pets on riverbanks
- Which of the following most accurately describes the economic activities of river gypsy women?
- a) Catching snakes and diving for pearls
- b) Selling herbal cures and performing magic
- c) Going door to door to sell bangles, cosmetics, and healing through folk methods ✅
- d) Entertaining people with dance and music
- Why does the woman mention that they now go to remote villages?
- a) Because rivers are flooded in the monsoon
- b) Because urban people don’t allow them to fish
- c) Because people in cities no longer trust their traditional remedies
- d) Because snake charming is banned in cities
- What can be inferred about the educational opportunities for the gypsies' children?
- a) Children are enrolled in boarding schools in towns
- c) Schooling is uncertain but possible through mobile boat-schools
- b) They get trained by their parents in healing and fishing
- d) All children must attend river-based online classes
- Which of the following best describes the tone of the woman’s responses throughout the conversation?
- c) Cooperative but weary, showing a sense of burden
- a) Defensive and dismissive
- b) Proud and boastful
- d) Angry and confrontational
Short Questions
- Who are referred to as "bedey" in Bangladesh?
- What kind of life do the river gypsies lead and why?
- How do river gypsies spend their time during the monsoon?
- Why does the woman mention that “if it rains, we’re going to rivers again next month”?
- Why is traditional healing no longer a reliable source of income for the river gypsies?
- What factors influence the educational decisions of the woman regarding her son?
- How does the woman’s response reflect her awareness of modern alternatives to folk medicine?
- Why does the community's livelihood depend heavily on mobility and adaptability?
- What does the conversation reveal about the socio-economic challenges faced by river gypsy families?
- In what ways does the woman balance her traditional role and modern aspirations for her child?
Answers
Word Details
| Word | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Camp (Noun) | A temporary shelter, often used by travelers or displaced people | Bengali: অস্থায়ী ঘাঁটি / শিবির | IPA: /kæmp/ | The woman said she had been living in the camp for four months. |
| Charmers (Noun) | People who attract or entertain others, often using special skills or tricks | Bengali: জাদুকর বা মোহিনী ব্যক্তিত্বধারী | IPA: /ˈtʃɑːrmərz/ | Her husband is one of the snake charmers in the community. |
| Toothache (Noun) | Pain in a tooth or teeth | Bengali: দাঁতের ব্যথা | IPA: /ˈtuːθ.eɪk/ | They heal people who suffer from toothache and joint pain. |
| Joint (Noun) | A part of the body where two bones meet | Bengali: সন্ধি (শরীরের অঙ্গ) | IPA: /dʒɔɪnt/ | The old people often complain of joint pains. |
| Traditional (Adjective) | Based on customs and ways of life handed down from the past | Bengali: প্রথাগত / প্রচলিত | IPA: /trəˈdɪʃənl/ | They use traditional healing methods to treat illnesses. |
| Herbs (Noun) | Plants used for flavor, medicine, or fragrance | Bengali: ভেষজ গাছ | IPA: /hɜːrbz/ or /hɝːbz/ | The woman heals people using traditional herbs. |
| Remedies (Noun) | Treatments or cures for illnesses or problems | Bengali: প্রতিকার / চিকিৎসা | IPA: /ˈrɛmədiz/ | People no longer believe in their herbal remedies. |
| Remote (Adjective) | Far away from cities or main towns | Bengali: দূরবর্তী | IPA: /rɪˈmoʊt/ | They travel to remote villages to offer their services. |
| Mobile (Adjective) | Able to move or be moved easily | Bengali: চলমান / মোবাইল | IPA: /ˈmoʊ.baɪl/ | The woman heard about mobile boat-schools for her son. |
| Boat-schools (Noun) | Floating schools on boats, often in river areas | Bengali: নৌকা-ভিত্তিক বিদ্যালয় | IPA: /boʊt skuːlz/ | She wants to send her son to a boat-school in the river area. |
Multiple Choice Questions
- What aspect of the river gypsies' life best illustrates their adaptation to seasonal environmental changes?
- c) Returning to mainland and living in tarpaulin tents during dry seasons ✅
- a) Performing snake charming in winter
- b) Selling cosmetics to rural women
- d) Playing with pets on riverbanks
- Which of the following most accurately describes the economic activities of river gypsy women?
- a) Catching snakes and diving for pearls
- b) Selling herbal cures and performing magic
- c) Going door to door to sell bangles, cosmetics, and healing through folk methods ✅
- d) Entertaining people with dance and music
- Why does the woman mention that they now go to remote villages?
- a) Because rivers are flooded in the monsoon
- b) Because urban people don’t allow them to fish
- c) Because people in cities no longer trust their traditional remedies ✅
- d) Because snake charming is banned in cities
- What can be inferred about the educational opportunities for the gypsies' children?
- a) Children are enrolled in boarding schools in towns
- c) Schooling is uncertain but possible through mobile boat-schools ✅
- b) They get trained by their parents in healing and fishing
- d) All children must attend river-based online classes
- Which of the following best describes the tone of the woman’s responses throughout the conversation?
- c) Cooperative but weary, showing a sense of burden ✅
- a) Defensive and dismissive
- b) Proud and boastful
- d) Angry and confrontational
Short Questions with Answers
-
Who are referred to as "bedey" in Bangladesh?
River gypsies are referred to as "bedey" by the local people in Bangladesh. -
What kind of life do the river gypsies lead and why?
They lead a nomadic life because they do not own any land and travel from one place to another by boat. -
How do river gypsies spend their time during the monsoon?
During the monsoon, they live on boats in rivers and resume their traditional livelihoods like fishing and healing. -
Why does the woman mention that “if it rains, we’re going to rivers again next month”?
She means that their movement depends on the season; in the rainy season, they shift back to living on the rivers. -
Why is traditional healing no longer a reliable source of income for the river gypsies?
Many people now prefer modern doctors over folk remedies, so fewer rely on the gypsies’ traditional healing. -
What factors influence the educational decisions of the woman regarding her son?
The availability of mobile boat-schools and her hope for a better future motivate her to consider schooling for her son. -
How does the woman’s response reflect her awareness of modern alternatives to folk medicine?
She acknowledges that people now visit doctors, implying her awareness of changing medical preferences in society. -
Why does the community's livelihood depend heavily on mobility and adaptability?
Their seasonal movement and reliance on various skills like fishing and healing require them to adapt constantly to survive. -
What does the conversation reveal about the socio-economic challenges faced by river gypsy families?
It reveals their struggle with poverty, low income, lack of education, and declining demand for traditional practices. -
In what ways does the woman balance her traditional role and modern aspirations for her child?
While she maintains her role in healing and fishing, she aspires to educate her child through a mobile boat-school.
Fill in the Blanks – Answer Key
River gypsies are an ethnic group of people in Bangladesh. They live a nomadic life because they do not own any land. From May to December, they travel by small country boats, which also serve as their houses. In the winter, when water bodies dry up, they return to the mainland and live in tarpaulin tents. During the monsoon, they are busy with fishing and diving for natural pearls. The men often charm snakes and sell herbal cures. The women go door to door selling bangles, cosmetics, and other items.
Fill in the Blanks - Answer Key
Thousands of years ago, the first pearl was probably discovered while human beings were searching for food at the sea shore. Throughout history, the pearl with its beauty has been highly valued. Pearls have been mentioned in religious texts and mythologies. The ancient Egyptians valued pearls so much that they were buried with them. Cleopatra dissolved a pearl in a glass and drank it. The Greeks saw pearls as a sign of wealth and social position. In ancient Rome, pearls showed great social status. Brave knights wore them for good luck in battles.
Suffix and Prefix Answer
River gypsies live a nomadic life and follow a unique cultural tradition. Their lifestyle is often seen as unusual by people who live in cities. They are landless and travel across rivers for most of the year. Some villagers believe their healing powers are magical, while others consider them untrustworthy and mysterious. The women’s role in trade and folk medicine shows their dependability and creativity.
Gap Filling Activity in Table
| Subject | Event/Action | What/Why |
|---|---|---|
| River gypsies | live in boats | (i) from May to December as part of their nomadic life |
| River gypsies | return to mainland | (ii) when water bodies dry up in winter |
| Women | (iii) sell bangles and herbal items | to earn a living and serve villagers |
| Men | perform snake charming | (iv) to entertain people and sell cures |
| Villagers | (v) believe in gypsies’ magical powers | to remove evil spirits from the body |
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 3: A Conversation between Jahin and a Woman (Page 81)
- 📌 Cmposition Number: 1
- 📌 Clarity and Concise: Class VIII
- 📌 Visual Appeal:High Quality Graphics
- 📌Content: Class VIII – Unit Seven, Lesson 3: A Conversation between Jahin and a Woman (Page 82) Fill in the Form
- 📌 Exercise: Multiple Choice Questions, Short Questions, and 10 words with IPA transcription, word class, Bengali and English meanings, and example sentences
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