🌦️ Unit 1, Lesson 1: Sense of Self
Meherjan lives in a slum on the Sirajgonj Town Protection embankment. The whispering wind from the river Jamuna makes the fire unsteady. The dancing flames remind Meherjan of the turmoil in her life.
Not long ago Meherjan had everything—a family, arable land and cattle. The erosion of the Jamuna gradually consumed all her land property. It finally claimed her only shelter during the last monsoon. It took the river only a day to devour Meher’s house, trees, vegetable garden and the bamboo bush. She had a happy family once. Over the years, she lost her husband and her family to diseases that cruel hunger and poverty brought. Now, she is the only one left to live with the loss and pain. The greedy Jamuna has shattered her dreams and happiness.
There are thousand others waiting to share the same fate like Meherjan. Bangladesh is a land of rivers, some of whose banks overflow or erode during monsoon. harsh reality faces people living along river banks. During each monsoon many villages are threatened by the mighty rivers. It is estimated that river erosion makes many people homeless every year. If we can’t take prompt actions to adapt, there will be thousands more Meherjans every year.
Necessary Words and Phrases
| Word | Details | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| slum (Noun) |
IPA: /slʌm/ Bengali: বস্তি Meaning: a crowded area with poor housing and living conditions Synonyms: shanty town, ghetto |
Many families live in slums near riverbanks. |
| embankment (Noun) |
IPA: /ɪmˈbæŋk.mənt/ Bengali: বাঁধ Meaning: a raised structure built to prevent flooding Synonyms: levee, dike |
The embankment protects the town from floods. |
| unsteady (Adjective) |
IPA: /ʌnˈsted.i/ Bengali: অস্থির; টলমলে Meaning: not stable or firm Synonyms: unstable, shaky |
The candle flame became unsteady in the wind. |
| flames (Noun) |
IPA: /fleɪmz/ Bengali: শিখা Meaning: visible burning gases from fire Synonyms: blaze, fire |
The flames rose high during the fire. |
| turmoil (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈtɜː.mɔɪl/ Bengali: অশান্তি; মানসিক যন্ত্রণা Meaning: a state of great disturbance or confusion Synonyms: chaos, distress |
She lived in emotional turmoil after losing her home. |
| arable land (Noun) |
IPA: /ˈær.ə.bəl lænd/ Bengali: চাষযোগ্য জমি Meaning: land suitable for growing crops Synonyms: cultivable land, farmland |
River erosion destroyed her arable land. |
| erosion (Noun) |
IPA: /ɪˈrəʊ.ʒən/ Bengali: ভাঙন Meaning: gradual destruction of land by water or wind Synonyms: wearing away, degradation |
River erosion is a major problem in Bangladesh. |
| consumed (Verb) |
IPA: /kənˈsjuːmd/ Bengali: গ্রাস করেছে Meaning: completely destroyed or used up Synonyms: devoured, swallowed |
The river consumed all her land. |
| claimed (Verb) |
IPA: /kleɪmd/ Bengali: কেড়ে নিয়েছে Meaning: caused the loss of something Synonyms: took, seized |
The flood claimed her only shelter. |
| monsoon (Noun) |
IPA: /ˌmɒnˈsuːn/ Bengali: বর্ষা মৌসুম Meaning: a seasonal period of heavy rainfall Synonyms: rainy season |
River erosion increases during the monsoon. |
| devour (Verb) |
IPA: /dɪˈvaʊər/ Bengali: গ্রাস করা Meaning: to destroy or swallow completely Synonyms: consume, engulf |
The river devoured her house overnight. |
| shattered (Verb) |
IPA: /ˈʃæt.əd/ Bengali: চূর্ণবিচূর্ণ করেছে Meaning: destroyed hopes or dreams completely Synonyms: ruined, crushed |
The disaster shattered her dreams. |
| fate (Noun) |
IPA: /feɪt/ Bengali: পরিণতি Meaning: what happens to someone in the future Synonyms: destiny, fortune |
Many families share the same fate. |
| overflow (Verb) |
IPA: /ˌəʊ.vəˈfləʊ/ Bengali: উপচে পড়া Meaning: to flow over the edges Synonyms: flood, spill over |
The river may overflow during heavy rain. |
| erode (Verb) |
IPA: /ɪˈrəʊd/ Bengali: ক্ষয় হওয়া Meaning: to wear away gradually Synonyms: wear away, decay |
Riverbanks erode every year. |
| harsh reality (Noun Phrase) |
IPA: /hɑːʃ riˈælɪti/ Bengali: কঠিন বাস্তবতা Meaning: an unpleasant truth that must be accepted Synonyms: bitter truth |
Poverty is a harsh reality for many families. |
| mighty (Adjective) |
IPA: /ˈmaɪ.ti/ Bengali: শক্তিশালী Meaning: very powerful or strong Synonyms: powerful, strong |
The mighty rivers change the landscape. |
| estimated (Verb) |
IPA: /ˈes.tɪ.meɪ.tɪd/ Bengali: অনুমান করা হয়েছে Meaning: roughly calculated Synonyms: approximated, guessed |
The damage was estimated at millions of taka. |
| prompt (Adjective) |
IPA: /prɒmpt/ Bengali: দ্রুত Meaning: done without delay Synonyms: immediate, quick |
Prompt action can save lives. |
| adapt (Verb) |
IPA: /əˈdæpt/ Bengali: খাপ খাওয়ানো Meaning: to adjust to new conditions Synonyms: adjust, modify |
People must adapt to climate change. |
1. Multiple Choice Questions
- Where does Meherjan live according to the passage?
- In a brick-built house near the river
- In a slum on the Sirajganj Town Protection embankment
- In a village far from the Jamuna
- On a government-owned shelter
- What makes the fire unsteady in Meherjan’s shelter?
- Heavy rainfall
- Cold winter weather
- The whispering wind from the Jamuna
- Lack of firewood
- What do the dancing flames remind Meherjan of?
- Her childhood happiness
- Her future hopes
- Village festivals
- The turmoil in her life
- What possessions did Meherjan have in the past?
- A family, arable land, and cattle
- Gold and business property
- A large house in town
- A fishing boat and nets
- What gradually destroyed Meherjan’s land?
- Drought
- Earthquake
- River erosion of the Jamuna
- Deforestation
- When was Meherjan’s last shelter destroyed?
- During a cyclone
- During the last monsoon
- During winter floods
- During a drought season
- How long did it take the river to devour Meherjan’s house and land?
- Several months
- One year
- Only one day
- One week
- What caused the death of Meherjan’s family members?
- River accidents
- Natural disasters
- Diseases caused by hunger and poverty
- Old age
- What does the phrase “the greedy Jamuna” suggest?
- The river provides wealth
- The river relentlessly destroys lives and property
- The river supports agriculture
- The river is controlled by humans
- Who else faces a similar fate to Meherjan?
- Only city dwellers
- Thousands of people living along river banks
- Factory workers
- Only fishermen
- What mainly threatens villages during the monsoon in Bangladesh?
- Forest fires
- Cyclones from the sea
- Overflowing and eroding mighty rivers
- Extreme heat
- What does the passage warn may happen without prompt action?
- Rivers will dry up
- Thousands more people will become like Meherjan
- Villages will become cities
- Floods will completely stop