In this post, we’ll learn about Knowing Our Parents, which is a topic from Chapter 9, English Subject, Class 7.
Important Vocabularies For This Lesson
- Biography – জীবনী
- Chronologically – কালানুক্রমে
- Remarkable – উল্লেখযোগ্য
- Anatomy – শারীরবিদ্যা
- Various – বিভিন্ন
- Genocide – গণহত্যা
- Contribution – অবদান
- Shed – চালা
- Advice – উপদেশ
- Identity – পরিচয়
9.1 | Let’s know our friends!
In pairs/groups discuss what and how you will tell your life story in front of the class. Then, write a short text about it. Later, share it with the whole class.
Ans:
My Life Story
My life from the beginning was full of fun, as I grew up living with my family and neighbors. I was born at National Hospital during the year 2010, I got so much care and love from everyone as I was the first child of my parents.
Although I wanted to be a pilot, I never wished to go to school. One day, I discovered that I was admitted in a school. Gradually, I learned how to read and write. However, I did not like to study before my home tutor, Miss Tina started teaching me. She made the study interesting to me. I had many good friends both in my school and in neighborhood. Sometimes, we do fight over silly matters. Earlier, my house was right next to a train station. So, the place had always been noisy. When the train passed by, it shook the house and scared all the animals. Actually, it was not a residential area.
Hence, we eventually moved to our current house. It is a quiet and calm place which is suitable for living. I still remember the day when my father bought a new computer. It was the most memorable day of my life. A funny incident happened that day. I was so fascinated and ran to my dad to see the computer. After setting it up, my dad sat down to show me how to draw in a computer. Being excited I said, “Wait dad, let me bring my pencil and color box.” Then my dad stopped me right on the moment when I was just about to write on the computer screen with my color pencil. That was so silly!
Initially, I used to play video games on it. Then, I learnt doing painting and simple photo editing in it. This amazing device bought a great change in my life. Following that, my interest took a turn towards computer engineering. Now, my ultimate goal is to learn everything about this magical device.
9.3 | True or false activity:
Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False sentences. If false write the correct information.
Ans:
a) False.Correct ans. We use narrative texts to tell our own stories as well as of others.
b) True
c) True
d) False.Correct ans. We use past tense to tell our past events.
e) True.
9.4 | Now, read your text on “My Life story” once again and ask and answer the following questions in pairs/groups. Then, check your answers with other pairs/groups:
Ans:
- It is a narrative text.
- In “My Life Story” I have found five elements of a narrative text. They are having three main parts, use of past tense, written in first person and third person perspective, maintaining chronological order of the events, having some characters and dialogue.
- The elements of a narrative text found in “My Life Story” are described below-
- We can see that the text has three parts. For example
The beginning– My life from —— of my parents.
The middle– Although I wanted —– was so silly!
The ending– Initially I used —— magical device.
- I was born at National Hospital during the year 2010.” The line is written in past tense. Most of the sentences in the text are in past tense although some are written in present tense based on the necessity of description of the events.
- The expressions- I grew up….; I was the first child….; I wanted….; I learned….; I had many good…..; I still remember….; I was just……. I used to……; I learnt doing……; my interest took…… my ultimate goal is…… etc. shows that the text is mainly written in first person perspective.
- The text started with the description of childhood. Then it moved towards school life, different events of life, and aim in life. So, it is clear that the entire text has been written in chronological order.
- We can see that the text has some characters like the author, mother, father, and teacher. It also contains dialogue like- Being excited I said, “Wait dad, let me bring my pencil and color box.”
9.5 | It’s time to read the life story of the three remarkable women in the world. Another way we can say we will read the story of the three remarkable women’s life written by somebody else.
Ans: Definition of Biography :
A biography is simply the story of a real person’s life. It can be about a person who is still alive, someone who lived centuries ago, someone who is globally famous, an unsung hero forgotten by history, or even a unique group of people.
Read the three biographies given below. Then, in pairs/groups match the words and phrases in column A with their meanings in column B. Then, discuss their meanings in the text. One is done for you.
Ans:
| Column A (word/phrase) | Column B (meaning) | Meaning in the text |
| Marie Curie | ||
| Hand in hand | Experiment that is not finished | Marie and Pierre Curie are closely connected by family. They did research together and loved each. other. |
| Radioactive material | Intensive/ huge research | Marie and her husband did research on a material that releases radiation. |
| Incomplete research | The energy comes from radium (a chemical) | After her husband’s death, Marie took up the research that was not finished. |
| Rapid studies | Something that releases radiation | Marie developed X-ray machines and mobile radiography, after going through intensive research |
| Radium radiation | Closely connected | The noble woman died an unnatural death because of the effects of the energy coming from radium. |
| Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib | ||
| Work selflessly | To make others known//carry messages | Many women in the world works for other people, not for themseleves. They don’t even expect anything in return. |
| Masterfully handled | A democratic political movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) (উনসত্তরের গণঅভ্যুথান) | Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib did her works with confidence when Sheikh Mujib was in jail. |
| Conveyed | Surrounded with armed forces to capture it | During her visits to jail to meet Bangabandhu, she used to carry the messages from him. Then she informed those to the Awami League and the Chhatra League. |
| Mass uprising | Expert to do work with great confidence | Bangamata played a strong role in a democratic political movement in East Pakistan named Mass uprising. |
| Strong-willed | Someone who works for other people, not for himself/herself | Sheikh Hasina stated that her mother was very determined in performing political activities. |
| A real guerrilla | Determined to do something | Bangamata’s wise steps to pass the news to the leaders and activists prove that she was also fighting as part of an unofficial Bangladeshi army, against the official Pakistani army. |
| Besieged Dhaka city | Someone who fights as part of an unofficial army, usually against an official army | When the war broke out, the Mujib family had to hide in Dhaka city which was surrounded with armed forces to capture it. |
| Jahanara Imam | ||
| Another identity | A place where animals are killed for their meat | Apart from being a teacher, Jahanara Imam is also known as the mother of Shafi Imam Rumi. |
| Gave up | People or organisations worked for Pakistan | Rumi could not take the chance of studying abroad because he joined the liberation war. |
| Slaughterhouse | Another quality of someone | Jahanara Imam somehow got the news of a place in Rayerbazar where animals are killed for their meat. |
| Seek justice | To surrender | She had formed a committee with 101 Bangladeshi activists to ensure the right and just decision for the genocide that took place in the war. |
| Pakistani allied | To want/pursue what is right and just | Until her last breath, Jahanara Imam continually raised her voice against the people and organizations that worked for Pakistan. |
9.6 | Read the biographies again in pairs/groups. And complete the following chart with the necessary information from the text. Then compare your answers in pairs/groups. One is done for you.
Ans:
| Marie Curie | Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib | Jahanara Imam | |
| 1. What were their professions? | A scientist | A housewife | A teacher and the founder of “Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee” |
| 2. What are their best two qualities? | meritoriousdetermined | strong-willedbrave | courageousselflessness |
| 3. For whom did they work? | She worked to improve the medicine field. She invented the treatment for cancer. | She worked and helped her husband in running the political works uninterruptedly to free from Pakistani rulers. | She formed committee to seek justice for the genocide carried out during the Bangladesh liberation war. |
| 4. What are the two similarities among them? | They all were selflessThey made great contribution to the world through their noble activities. | ||
| 5. Why do people remember them? | Marie curie is remembered for her research amd discovery of radium amd her huge contribution to finding treatment for cancer. | Bangamata will remain in the heart of Bangalee nation and will be remembered forever for her great sacrifices, patriotism and love for the people. | People remember her because she inspired the entire nation to unite in the efforts to bring those war criminals of the Bangladesh Liberation War to trial. |
9.7 | Read the three biographies again and in pairs/groups, identify which elements of a narrative text you have found in the texts. Then write them in the given table with an example. One is done for you.
Ans:
| Elements of a narrative text | Text on Marie Curie | Text on Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib | Text on Jahanara Imam |
| 1) Has three parts (a beginning, a middle and an end) | Yes, it has divided into three parts. The beginning introduces her, the middle gives more information about her and the ending talks about her death. | Yes, it has been divided into three parts. The beginning gives her introduction, the middle gives information about her family management in Bangabandhu’s absence, and the ending highlights her political involvement and death. | Yes, it has three main parts. The starting point gives her brief introduction, then the middle part gives description about how she lost her son; the ending portrays how she developed herself as an political activist. |
| 2) Written in the past tense | Yes. All the sentences in the text are in the past tense. | Yes, except the dialogues, all the sentences are in the past tense. | Except the dialogues, lines from her diary, general description, and some facts, all the events are described in the past tense. |
| 3) Used third or first person | Third person. The entire text is written in third person perspective | Third person. Except for the dialogues, all the sentences are written using third person. | It is written mostly in first-person perspective. |
| 4) Has characters and dialogues | It has characters; for example Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, Irene Currie, Eve Curie. But the text does not have any dialogue. | It has both characters. and dialogue. For instance- Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, etc. | It has both characters and dialogue. For example- Jahanara Imam, Shafi Imam Rumi (her son), Sharif (her husband), etc. |
| 5) The events are described chronologically | Yes. All the events are described one by one based on the time they took place. The biography at The first describes how she began her research journey and continued a healthy family life. Then gradually it portrayed her achievements and moved towards her death. So, it is clear that the events are described chronologically. | Yes. The text at first gave a description of her marital life and her contribution in her family. Then it showed how she handled both the family and political issues in Bangabandhu’s absence. Then it moved towards the time of her death. So, it is evident that the incidents in the text are described in the order they happened. | Yes. The text unfolds her identity at the beginning. Then it shows how she lost her son and at last it describes her journey towards political activism and being vocal against injustice. |
9.8 | Marie Curie, Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnessa Mujib, and Jahanara Imam are the three great women who worked selflessly for their country and the world. But, in our lives, we have also great people like them who are working endlessly for us.
Ans:
Yes, they are our parents. They brought us in the world and since then they have been working endlessly for our betterment.
9.9 | Work in pairs/groups. Discuss your parents’ contribution to your family. Then write a short biography of your father or mother.
Ans: Discussion on parents’ contribution to family:
S1: Hey! You know what, I had a special day yesterday.
S2: Why so?
S1: Because it was my father’s birthday! He is my real-life hero!
S2: Hmm…that’s true. Every parent plays a vital role in his children’s life. My father bears all the expenses of our family and he does all these very happily. I have never seen him to be annoyed for his responsibilities. On the other hand, my mom is no less than he in performing her duties on time and so perfectly
S1: Same here. No matter what, they try to ensure our happiness and comfort. Look, my father works at office and then after coming back home, he helps my mom, Isn’t that so cute?
S2: Yeah, it is! My father also does cleaning on weekends. He even teaches me the difficult subjects in the evening. I do believe that they are the pillars of support, guidance, and love.
S1: Whenever I or my sister become sick, it makes my parents so worried. They can’t see us in trouble. Actually, parenting takes action long before a child’s birth and goes on until the end of life.
S2: I think, there is nobody like them who can shape and mold a child’s behavior and development. They make the family a small institution of learning morality and other behavioral traits.
S1: I wonder how they do everything for us so unconditionally! They do the things for us even before asking for those.
S2: Yeah, they prioritize us above everything and everyone.
Biography :
Biography of My Mother
My mother, whose name is Lipi, was born after 13 years of our liberation war and hence she is now nearly 40. She lives a quiet life in the middle of city crowd. She raised three children by her own. She is a very simple woman who passed only HSC but she succeeded in raising all of her children in good health. It always pleases me to think that, in its own way, her life represents a victorious one. Her life has by no means been entirely happy, at least in her early years. My father died in 2004.1 am certain that it must have required enormous patience on my mother’s part to manage everything all alone by herself.
When I was a child, our home was at the edge of the bay in the southern part. My mother did her share of the work like working and earning for us. Laboring in such a way would be difficult for an ordinary city housewife of today to imagine. Even now I can picture her, a little woman, in the dead of winter getting up before the dawn and working away until late in the evening, not even stopping to rest when she had caught a cold.
One thing in particular I admire about my mother is the fact that in spite of having three children, she has always been completely fair in her treatment of us. She showed fairness and impartiality in all her works. Since I was the weakest and most sickly among all, I naturally got her care most and caused her worry the most. Whenever I come back from school, I like the way she always says, “I’ll bet you had a hard day!” In that one sentence which she would repeat over and over, I could sense the boundless tenderness of a mother’s love.
She is a sweet woman who never puts on airs of any kind, her whole happiness lay in seeing her children grow up in good health, and she is always willing to do any amount of work to achieve that goal. That’s the kind of mother she is and I can’t imagine any other kind.
Biography of My Father
Father is such a person who keeps working selflessly for us without expecting anything. My father has always been my biggest support. This great personality was born in his village home in 1980. He was raised in a conservative Muslim family by his parents and grandparents. Sometimes he had to work on farms on several occasions. He had been a meritorious student since his childhood. He passed his SSC and HSC exam securing the first position in the combined result of all the boards.
After that, he came to Dhaka for higher studies. He worked his way through his university studies and earned an engineering degree from BUET. Since then, he became the pride for his family and village. The next year, he started running his own IT Farm. Then after a year, he married my mother. According to my mother, dad was hysterically happy upon being father for the first time. At the time he saw me first, his eyes were full of tears. Moreover, he has always been the biggest support of my mother. He helps my mother in household chores as well. He does such works very happily. He always says- “Look dear, no work is small or big. We should not even differentiate between boys and girls. Working for our home and family is our duty.”
Whenever we go to our village, I get to notice the immense love and respect of villagers for my father. He has always helped the poor people with his best. I am quite glad that I have got my best friend in form of my father. He has taught me to win. He has taught me to be honest. He tries to improve every single day for the sake of giving a better life to his family. I recall him cautioning us again and again never to tell lies or do anything to cause trouble to other people.
He is a warrior I would say. He is undoubtedly a teacher of humanity and a preacher of kindness. He is the best and the most hardworking person I have ever witnessed in my life.