Read the text and answer questions

River gypsies in Bangladesh face various problems. First, Bangladesh is getting urbanised very rapidly. Gypsy people are losing their customors among the urban population. Hence, their income is threatened. Secondly, 24,000 kilometres of previous waterways has shrunk into only 6,000 kilometres in the country in dry seasons. Scientists believe that Bangladesh will be worst affected by global climate change. The unpredictable rain and drying out of rivers have made boat movement heavily restricted. Thirdly, many river gypsies are changing their lifestyle in the context of changed reality. They are thinking of living permanently on land. The authority feels that river gypsies need help to survive in the mainstream population. Therefore, the government is offering voting rights, permanent housing and bank-loan facilities. However, changes do not come overnight.

Traditionally, river gypsies are used to water life. They have inherited from their forefathers necessary life skills to survive in waters. They have no education and training to adapt to mainstream modern society. So the state feels the need to bring them under formal education network. But they have no permanent living place. Gypsy children are born and brought up on roaming boats. Therefore, they cannot go to conventional schools. And hence, mobile boat-schools are being established for gypsy children. Some voluntary organisations are running special schools on boats to educate river gypsy children in some areas.

• (2)

  Answer the following questions from your reading of the above text.
• (a) Where are gypsy children born and brought up?

  Ans
• (b) Who have come forward to educate gypsy children?

  Ans
• (c) Why can't the gypsy people come to the mainstream of population?

  Ans
• (d) Do you think the river gypsies are thinking of changing their lifestyle? Why?

  Ans
• (e) How does global climate change affect Bangladesh?

  Ans
• (f) What does the authority feel about gypsy people?

  Ans
• (g) What is the effect of global climate change in Bangladesh?

  Ans
• (h) Where are the gypsy children born and brought up?

  Ans
• (i) How do they learn the skills to survive in waters?

  Ans
• (j) What is mobile boat-school?

  Ans
• (k) Why is the income of gypsy people threatened?

  Ans
• (l) Why cannot gypsy children go to conventional school?

  Ans
• (m) What have made boat movement heavily restricted?

  Ans
• (n) What does rapid urbanisation in Bangladesh do to river gypsies?

  Ans
• (o) Why are many river gypsies thinking of changing their lifestyle?

  Ans
• (p) How are river gypsies at present?

  Ans
• (q) What are the main problems that river gypsies are facing?

  Ans
• (r) What is the effect of global climate change in Bangladesh?

  Ans
• (s) Why are many river gypsies thinking of changing their lifestyle?

  Ans
• (t) Why can't river gypsy children go to conventional schools?

  Ans
• (u) Who are running special schools for river gypsy children? Why?

  Ans

• (3)

  Fill in each gap with a suitable word based on the information of the text.

  Rivers gipsys in Bangladesh are on the verge of extinction. Their income is (a) _____ as their customers in urban areas has lessened. Besides, rivers are (b) _____ out in Bangladesh. Moreover, they are deprived of (c) ______ rights like education, voting etc. The government should do (d) ______ for them so that they can survive in the (e) ______ population.

  Ans

• (4)

  Write the synonym or antonym of the following words as directed.
• (a) rapidly (synonym)

  Ans
• (b) income (antonym)

  Ans
• (c) restricted (synonym)

  Ans
• (d) permanently (antonym)

  Ans
• (e) organization (synonym)

  Ans