অষ্টম শ্রেণি (মাধ্যমিক) - English for Today - NCTB BOOK

After we have studied this unit, we will be able to

  • read and understand content pages in books
  • look up words in a dictionary
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A. Look at the table and talk about it in groups.

Contents

To the Instructor                                     vii

To the Student                                        xiii

Acknowledgmeata                                xv

 

Unit 1 Animals


1.                            The Kiwi                                                                                                       3

2 .                          The Camel                                                                                                  6

3.                           The Polar Bear                                                                                            11

4.                           The Hippopotamus                                                                                   16

5.                           The Dolphin                                                                                                 21 

                              Word Study                                                                                                 26

                              Extension Activities                                                                                    29

                              • GW. Video Activity: Dolphins in Honduras                                          29

                              • Activity Page                                                                                             31

                              • Dictionary Page                                                                                        32

 

Unit 2 How? Why?


                              Context Clues                                                                                               34

1.                            Why Are Elevators Important?                                                                  36

2.                           Why Is the Sea Salty?                                                                                  41

3.                           How Can a Plant Kill?                                                                                  46

4.                           The Hippopotamus                                                                                     52

5.                           How Do Hearing-Impaired People Talk?                                                57

                              Word Study                                                                                                    62

                              Extension Activities                                                                                       65

                              • GW. Video Activity: A New Kind of Tourism in Brazil                            65

                              • Activity Page                                                                                                67

                              • Dictionary Page                                                                                           68

 

Unit 3 Plants


                              Context Clues                                                                                                     70

1.                            The Date Palm                                                                                                    72

2                            The Water Hyacinth                                                                                          77

3.                            Rice                                                                                                                      82

4.                            Oranges                                                                                                              87

 

B. Now, answer the questions below.

  1. Is the table familiar to you?
  2. Where do you find it?
  3. What is the table about?
  4. What is this table called?

 

C. Read the text and discuss it in groups. Then find answers to the following questions.

You get a new book in hand. You see the title of the book and you want to read it. But does the title only give you enough information about what the book is all about?

You also find the book divided into a few parts. Suppose you want to read a certain part of the book. Certainly you will not like to waste time looking for it in the whole book.

  1. How do you know which page to look for it? What do you
  2. Do you think the table in A can help you? How?

 

D. Look at the table of contents in Section A. Then ask and answer the questions below.

  1. What are the topics at page numbers vii, xiii, xv?
  2. If you want to read about the Hippopotamus, what unit and page numbers should you go to?
  3. What is the content at page number 65?
  4. What page does the unit 2 start at and where does it end?
  5. What page does the unit 2 start at and where does it end?

 

E. Open the table of contents page of your English Textbook. Work in pairs and find out the answers to the following questions.

  1. What is the title of the page?
  2. What are the column heads?
  3. Which page numbers contain the topics?
  4. Which topic starts in page 44?
  5. How many units are there?
  6. How many page numbers are there in the book?

 

F. Now, give information about the following.

     Name/title of the table of contents page:
     Names of column heads:
     Numbers of units:
     Total number of pages:
     Title of the first unit:
     Page number where the first unit starts:
     Title of the last unit:
     Position of the page numbers:
     Position of the chapter titles:
     Others, if any:

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A. Look at the questions and the text and talk about them in groups.

  1. Have you come across this type of text before?
  2. Do you know what the text is about?
  3. What do you know about a dictionary?
  4. What do you find in a dictionary? 2023

 

fit 0 /fit/ verb, adj., noun
verb (fit-ting, fit-ted, fit ted) (NAME usually fit-ting, fit, fit except in the passive)
 RIGHT SIZE/TYPE 1 (not used in the progressive tenses) to be the right shape and size for sb/sth: [V] I tried the dress on but it didn't fit. o That jacket fits well. o a close-fitting dress [VN] I can't find clothes to fit me. o The key doesn't fit the lock. 2 [V, usually + odv./prep.] to be of the right size, type or number to go somewhere: I'd like to have a desk in the room but it won't fit. o All the kids will fit in the back of the car. 3 [VN] [often passive] sb (for sth) to put clothes on sb and make them the right size and shape:

PUT STH SOMEWHERE 4 [VN] to put or fix sth some They fitted a smoke alarm to the ceiling. The rooms were all fitted with smoke alarms. 5 [+adv/prep.] to put or join sth in the right place: [V] The glass fits on top of the jug to form a lid. How do these two parts fit together? o [VN] We fitted together the pieces of the puzzle..
- AGREE/MATCH 6 (not used in the progressive tenses) to agree with, match or be suitable for sth; to make sth do this: [V] Something doesn't quite fit here. His pictures don't fit into any category. [VN] The facts certainly fit your theory. The punishment ought to fit the crime. We should fit the punishment to the crime.
> MAKE SUITABLE 7 sb/sth (for sth) (especially BrE) to make sb/sth suitable for a particular job: [VN, VN to inf] His experience fitted him perfectly for the job. His experi- ence fitted him to do the job..

HEALTHY 1(for sth) (to do sth) healthy and strong, especially because you do regular physical exercise: Top athletes have to be very fit. (BrE) He won't be fit to play in the match on Saturday. o She tries to keep fit by jogging every day. (BrE) He's had a bad cold and isn't fit enough for work yet. I feel really fighting fit (= very healthy and full of energy). The government aims to make British industry leaner and fitter (= employing fewer people and with lower COSES).-see also KEEP-FIT OPP UNFIT note at WELL vocabulary notes on page R18
SUITABLE 2 for sb/sth | to do sth suitable; of the right quality; with the right qualities or skills: The food was not fit for human consumption. It was a meal fit for a king (= of very good quality). o Your car isn't fit to be on the road! The children seem to think I'm only fit for cook- ing and washing! He's so angry he's in no fit state to see anyone. (formal) This is not a fit place for you to live OPP UNFIT

READY 3 to do sth (BrE, informal) ready or likely to do sth extreme: They worked until they were fit to drop (= so tired that they were likely to fall down). I've eaten so much I'm fit to burst. She was laughing fit to burst (= very much).

TOM (as) fit as a fiddle (informal) in very good physical condition see/think 'fit to do sth) (formal) to consider it right or acceptable to do sth; to decide or choose to do sth: You must do as you think fit (= but I don't agree with your decision). The newspaper did not see fit to publish my letter (= and I criticize it for that).-more at SURVIVAL

noun
> ILLNESS 1 [C] a sudden attack of an illness, such as EPI- LEPSY, in which sb becomes unconscious and their body may make violent movements SYN CONVULSION: to have an epileptic fito Her fits are now controlled by drugs. OF COUGHING/LAUGHTER 2 [C] a sudden short period of coughing or of laughing, that you cannot control SYN BOUT: a fit of coughing He had us all in fits (of laughter) with his jokes.

OF STRONG FEELING 3 [C] a short period of very strong feeling: to act in a fit of anger/rage/temper/pique-see also HISSY FIT 

OF CLOTHING 4 [C,U] (often with an adjective) the way that sth, especially a piece of clothing, fits: a good/. bad/close/perfect fit

MATCH 5 [C] (between A and B) the way that two things match each other or are suitable for each other: We need to work out the best fit between the staff required and the staff available.
IDM by/in fits and 'starts frequently starting and stop- ping again; not continuously: Because of other commitments I can only write my book in fits and starts. have/throw a 'fit (informal) to be very shocked, upset or angry: Your mother would have a fit if she knew you'd been drinking!

fit-ful /fit/ adj. happening only for short periods; not continuous or regular: a fitful night's sleep fit-fully /'fit- fali/ adv.: to sleep fitfully
fit-ment /'fitment/ noun (usually pl.] (BrE, technical) a piece of furniture or equipment, especially one that is made for and fixed in a particular place
fitness/fitnes/ noun [U] 1 the state of being physically healthy and strong: a magazine on health and fitness o a fitness instructor/class/testo a high level of physical fit- ness 2 for sth/to do sth the state of being suitable or good enough for sth: He convinced us of his fitness for the
task. o There were doubts about her fitness to hold office. fitness centre (BrE) (NAME 'fitness center) noun a place where people go to do physical exercise in order to stay or become healthy and fit

furniture) built to be fixed into a particular space SYN BUILT-IN: fitted wardrobes/cupboards 2 [only be fore noun] (especially BrE) (of a room) with matching cup- boards and other furniture built for the space and fixed in place: a fitted kitchen/bedroom 3 [only before noun) (of clothes) made to follow the shape of the body: a fitted jacket OPP LOOSE 4~for/to sth |~to do sth (especially BrE) suitable; with the right qualities and skills: She was well fitted to the role of tragic heroine. 5 with sth hav- ing sth as equipment: Insurance costs will be reduced for houses fitted with window locks.
fitted carpet noun (BrE) a carpet that is cut and fixed to cover the floor of a room completely-see also WwALL-TO- WALL CARPET
fitter /'fita(r)/ noun 1 a person whose job is to put to- gether or repair equipment: a gas fitter 2 a person whose job is to cut and fit clothes or carpets, etc.

fit-ting /fit/ adj., noun

adj. 1 (formal) suitable or right for the occasion SYN APPROPRIATE: The award was a fitting tribute to her years of devoted work.

                        o It is fitting that the new centre for European studies should be in a university that teaches. every European language. 2 fitting (in adjectives) hav- ing a particular FIT:

noun 1 [usually pl.] a small part on a piece of equipment or furniture: light fittings o a pine cupboard with brass fit- tings 2 (usually pi.] (BrE) items in a house such as a cook- er, lights or shelves that are usually fixed but that you can take with you when you move to a new house-compare FIXTURE 3 an occasion when you try on a piece of cloth- ing that is being made for you to see if it fits

 

B. Look at the dictionary page in Lesson 3 and answer the following questions. Then read the text below.

   Do you use a dictionary?

   Why and how often do you use a dictionary?

   How can a dictionary help you?

A dictionary is a collection of words. It lists the words of a language and gives necessary information about them. It tells us about the

a) spelling
b) pronunciation
c) meaning
d) word class

To make the meanings of words clear, example sentences are given in italics.
Example sentences show how words are used. It also gives the synonym/s and the antonym/s of a word.
We find words made by adding prefixes and suffixes to the root word. Parts of speech are also shown. A verb word is always given in the simple present tense. But the past form of a verb and the past participle are also shown.

 

C. Again read the text above. Then ask and answer the following questions.

  1. What information does a dictionary give us about a verb word?
  2. Why are the example sentences given?
  3. How are new words formed?
  4. Why are the synonyms and the antonyms given?
  5. What do we need a dictionary for?

 

D. Match the sentence parts in Column A with those in Column B.

Column AColumn B
A dictionary showsin its simple present tense.
Prefixes and suffixesabout the words of a language.
A verb word is always givenhelp to make new words.
Meanings of words are givenhow to pronounce a word.
A dictionary gives informationin a dictionary.
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A. Talk in groups about the text in Lesson 4 and about the questions below. Then read the text.

  1. Is there any connection between the alphabet and a dictionary?
  2. What do you understand by alphabetical order?

The words in a dictionary are presented in alphabetical order. It follows the alphabetical order of letters. It means words starting with the letter D will be before the words starting with the letter E. In the same way words starting with the letter F will come after the words starting with E.

Again the words starting with the same letter are also arranged one after another in alphabetical order in the dictionary. For example, the words 'dark', 'doctor' and 'deep' all start with the letter D. These words appear in the dictionary in the order of dark, deep and doctor.

To find the words with a letter, look at the words at the top of the page.

While doing the activities, use a dictionary or a dictionary page as much as you can.

 

B. Arrange the following words in alphabetical order.

entertainment, knowledge, culture, art, painting, thought, interest, heritage, yellow, future.

 

C. Work in pairs. Arrange the following words under the letter 'S' in alphabetical order as they appear in the dictionary.

                                                    single                      should                 system                sufficient

                                                    solar                        source                 steel                     Sweet

 

D. Find and write the words coming between the words 'tea' and 'technique' under the letter 't' in your dictionary.

 

E. Show in which order are the following words arranged in Lesson 3.

fit    fitted   fitful    fitness    fitting    fitter    fitment

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A. Look at the questions below and read the following text. Now discuss in pairs.

  1. What do you do when you want to know the meaning of a word?
  2. How can a dictionary help us?

A dictionary gives us the meaning/meanings of a word. Example sentences are given to show how the words are used. They also help to make the meaning clear. A word may have more than one meaning.

The word 'dry' (adj) has a number of meanings. Three of them are given here.

  1. not wet, not damp, not sticky: ‘The river becomes dry during the summer.’
  2. with very little rain: ‘I hope the weather remains dry during our picnic.’
  3. not interesting: ‘His speech was quite dry.’

Sometimes the synonyms and antonyms given with words help to understand the meanings of words.

 

B. Find at least two meanings for each of the following words from the dictionary page in Lesson 3. Do the activities in pairs. Use a dictionary. 

                                                  fit     fitness    fitter     fitting     fitted

Now, make your own example sentences using the two meaning of each word.

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A. Look at the questions. Ask and answer.

  • What is a synonym?
  • What is an antonym?
  • Do you know of any two words with the same or nearly the same meaning?
  • What about 'boring' and ‘dull’?
  • Do you know a word that means just the opposite of another word?
  • What about 'obey' and 'disobey' ?

 

B. Read the text and do the following activities in pairs.

A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as another word. There may be more than one synonyms for some of the words. Big and large, 'begin' and 'start' are synonyms.
An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word. 'Sorrow' and 'happiness', 'right' and 'wrong' are examples of antonyms.

 

C. Find the synonyms of the following words. Take help of the dictionary.

                                    idle     text     annoyed     result     goal     trip     valuable     return

 

D. Find the synonyms of the words in the dictionary page in Lesson 3.

                                                                  fit     fitted     fitting

Make sentences with the synonyms.

 

E. Find the antonyms of the words in the dictionary page in Lesson 3.

                                                                       fit     fitted

Make sentences with the antonyms.

 

F. From your dictionary find the antonyms of the following words.

                  profit      complete      strong      hard      different      sweet      fair      minor

 

G. Match a word in A with a synonym in B.

AB
noiseharm
boringsight
handyirritate
menddull
damageuseful
jealousrow
annoyenvious
viewfix

 

H. Fill in the boxes with the synonyms of the word 'happy'.

I. Match a word in A with its opposite in B.

AB
highaccept
loselight
refuselow
temporarysubtract
heavypermanent
addgain
minoroutdoor
indoormajor

 

J. Fill in the boxes with the opposites/ antonyms of the word 'happy'.

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