SSC English First Paper | Unit Ten | Lesson: 3 | Dreams | They had dreams 1

A. Shanta was chatting with one of her foreign friends Jenny. Read the dialogue and tell what the subject of their conversation is.

Jenny  : Shanta, what's your dream for the future?

Shanta : To be a good human being first and then work for my country-no matter whether I become a social worker, an artist, or a professional.

Jenny  : Wow!I really appreciate your thought! By the way, Shanta, does anyone inspire you in your dreams?

Shanta : Certainly. I'm always influenced by the great personalities in our country and abroad. Whenever I read the biography of great people, I try to understand how their dreams could help them to be what they have been.

Jenny  : Would you please tell me about some of your favourite dreamers?

Sbanta : Sure! Read the following texts to know  about   some dreamers in my country. They are my icons as well.

B. Read the text

Pritilata Waddedar was born in Chittagong on 5 May 1911. She was a meritorious student at Dr Khastagir Government Girls' School in Chittagong and Eden College, Dhaka. She graduated in philosophy with distinction from Bethune College in Kolkata. In her college days, Pritilata was an activist in the anti-British movement All through hex life, she dreamt of two things: a society without gender discrimination, and her motherland free from British colonial rule.

So abe decided to fight against the British rule. Soon after, Pritilata became the head teacher of Nandankanon Apama Charan School in Chittagong. Gradually she involved herself in Surja Sen's armed resistance movement. Surja Sen was a famous anti-British movement ofgmn^er revolutionary activist in Chittagong area at that time. In 1932, Surja Sen planned an attack on the Pahartali Euro¬pean Club. Die club was well-known for its notori¬ous sign at its entrance: Dogs and Indians not allowed. 

Pritilata European Club

Surja Sen assigned Pritilata to lead a team of 10-12 men to attack the Club. The raid waa successful but Pritilata, dressed as a man, foiled to get out of the Club. She committed suicide by taking potassium cyanide to avoid anest She proved that women can work like men. She also proved that women too needed to be prepared to sacrifice their lives for freedom from the British colonial rule. Her dream finally came true. Die British rule came to an end in 1947 though she couldn't see it during her lifetime.

C. Read the words in Column A and match them with the meanings in Column B.

Column A	Column B
graduated	a member of a certain social or political group
activist	fight
movement	took a university degree
gender discrimination	rule by a powerful country over a weaker county
colonial rule	battle
combat	inequality between male and female
gradually	slowly
resistance	give responsibilities
notorious	activities
assign	dishonourable

D. Now answer the questions.

1 Where did Pritilata fight?

2 When did she fight?

3 Why did she fight?

4 What was Pritilata's profession?

5 What do you learn from Pritilata's life?

E. Now make questions from the substitution table and match the answers. One is done for you.

If you want to read the next lesson of this unit please click the link below:

Lesson: 4 | They had dreams 2