Basic English

Daffodil International University Department of Agricultural Science Faculty of Agriculture Sciences Midterm Examination-Fall 2026 Course Code:0231-111 Course Title:Basic English Level and Term:1-1 Course Teacher Initials: AA, BMA Section:A,B,C,D Time: Total Marks: 25 "Splitting any answer is strictly prohibited" 1.Reading Interpret the following passage and answer the questions (1x10=10)[PLO3][CLO1][C2] A.Harvesting and threshing of the early-maturing Aman rice variety BRRI-75 officially began in Dinajpur on October 7, raising hopes among farmers that they can complete the harvest well before the traditional Nabanna season. The variety, developed through modern agricultural research, is being promoted because of its comparatively short growing period and promising yield. Agricultural researchers have been working to develop rice varieties that can help farmers increase production while making more efficient use of limited farmland. Unlike conventional Aman varieties, which often occupy agricultural land for a longer period, early-maturing varieties can create an opportunity for farmers to fit another crop into the same agricultural calendar. B.BRRI-75 was cultivated experimentally in Dinajpur last year, and the trial produced encouraging results. Following the successful trial, agricultural officials decided to expand its cultivation this year. A limited quantity of seeds was distributed among selected farmers in all 13 upazilas of the district. Dinajpur is one of Bangladesh's major rice-producing areas, and the introduction of early-maturing varieties is particularly relevant to farmers seeking to increase annual land productivity. This year, several areas of the district have been brought under early Aman cultivation. The first harvesting ceremony of BRRI-75 was held at Jharbari village in Birganj, where farmer Md Rashidul Islam began harvesting his crop. Harvesting also started on the same day at Prembazar village under Nijpara Union. C.According to agricultural officials, approximately 10.5 hectares of land in Birganj have been brought under early-maturing hybrid paddy cultivation this year. The varieties include BINA-17, BRRI-75 and BRRI-87. These varieties generally reach harvesting maturity within 110 to 112 days after planting and produce approximately 5.24 to 5.5 metric tonnes per hectare. Officials expect the harvesting and threshing of the early varieties to be completed within the following month. Although the yield itself is important, officials consider the shorter crop duration to be an equally significant advantage because it changes how farmers can plan the use of their land across different seasons. D.The early harvest is especially significant in relation to Bangladesh's traditional agricultural calendar. Nabanna, the country's traditional harvest festival, is generally associated with Agrahayan, but the early Aman crop in Birganj has already reached the harvesting stage in Ashwin. Once the rice is harvested, farmers can prepare the land for the winter Rabi season considerably earlier than they could with conventional Aman varieties. This additional time allows them to cultivate crops such as potato, mustard, maize and wheat. Consequently, land that traditionally supported two crops a year may potentially produce three crops, provided that farmers have suitable soil, resources and technical support. E.The success of early-maturing Aman cultivation therefore has implications beyond the performance of a single rice variety. By shortening the crop cycle, improved varieties can increase the frequency with which agricultural land is used and may provide farmers with additional opportunities for income generation. However, wider adoption will depend not only on access to suitable seeds but also on continued technical guidance, proper crop management and farmers' ability to coordinate successive planting and harvesting schedules. Agricultural officials believe that sustained assistance could help farmers expand the practice and use their farmland more efficiently. The experience in Dinajpur demonstrates how agricultural research can contribute to changes in traditional cropping patterns and create opportunities for greater land-use efficiency. Questions A. Write True, False, or Not Given (NG). (3×1=3) 1. BRRI-75 was first tested experimentally in Dinajpur before its cultivation was expanded. 2. Farmers in Dinajpur have completely replaced conventional Aman varieties with early-maturing varieties. 3. The passage states that early-maturing Aman varieties require less water than conventional varieties. B. Fill in the blanks with NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage. (3×1=3) 4. BRRI-75 showed ________ results during its experimental cultivation. 5. The early-maturing varieties generally reach harvesting maturity within ________ days after planting. 6. Farmers can use the additional time after harvesting Aman to cultivate ________ crops. C. Complete the flow chart. (4×1=4) Experimental cultivation of BRRI-75 in Dinajpur ↓ 7. __________________________________ ↓ 8. __________________________________ ↓ 9. __________________________________ ↓ 10. __________________________________ 2. Analyze and summarize paragraphs D and E from the above passage, providing a suitable title and highlighting the main ideas and supporting points. (1×3=3)[PLO3][CLO3][C4] 3. Grammar A. Apply the correct subject-verb agreement to complete the following sentences. (0.5×5=2.5) [CLO1][PLO1][C3] 1. Not only the farmers but also the agricultural extension officer ________ (be) concerned about the declining soil fertility. 2. The number of farmers adopting climate-smart agricultural practices ________ (increase) significantly over the last decade. 3. One of the major challenges faced by agricultural researchers ________ (be) the unpredictable effects of climate change. 4. Neither the quality of the seeds nor the farming techniques ________ (appear) sufficient to ensure a high yield. 5. A series of experiments on pest-resistant crops ________ (have) demonstrated promising results in recent years. B. Apply the correct form of the verbs given in brackets. (0.5×5=2.5) [CLO1][PLO1][C3] 1. By the time the agricultural officer arrived, the farmers ________ already ________ (complete) the transplantation of the rice seedlings. 2. If modern irrigation systems ________ (implement) on a larger scale, water efficiency would improve significantly. 3. The researcher reported that the new fertilizer ________ (increase) crop yield by nearly twenty percent during the previous season. 4. While the farmers ________ (harvest) the crops, a team of scientists was collecting data from the field. 5. Had the government provided adequate subsidies earlier, many small-scale farmers ________ (adopt) advanced farming technologies. 4. Write a paragraph on "The Role of Technology in Modern Agriculture" (1X7=7)[PLO1][CLO3][C6]