English 910 17 (PDF)

Prescribed by the National Curriculm & Textbook Board
as a Textbook from the academic session 2013

ENGLISH FOR TODAY
Classes 9-10

Writers
Raihana Shams
Md. Zulfeqar Haider
Goutam Roy
Surajit Roy Majumder
Md Abdur Razzaque
Naina Shahzadi

Editor
M S Hoque

NATIONAL CURRICULUM & TEXTBOOK BOARD, DHAKA

Published by
National Curriculum & Textbook Board
69-70, Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka
[All rights reserved by the publisher]
Trial Edition
First Publication : October 2012

Text Developement Coordinator
Mohammad Humayun Kabir

Computer Compose
Laser Scan Ltd.
Cover
Sudarshan Bachar
Sujaul Abedeen

Illustrations
Prohlad Karmaker

Design
National Curriculum & Textbook Board

For Free Distribution for academic year 2010 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Printed by :

Preface
The secondary curriculum has been revised in the light of National Education Policy
2010, which emphasises learning English as an intarntional language for
communicating locally and globally. The English For Today textbooks have been
developed to help students attain competency in all four language skills, i.e. listening,
speaking, reading and writing.
The development of curriculum, syllabus and textbook is a continuous process. In
continuation of it, this book has been developed and rationally evaluated by a group
of experts, which included curriculum specialists, subject specialists, teacher trainers
and classroom teachers. The contents and illustrations of this book have been
developed in order to suit the learners' age and cognitive level. The book emphasises
practising language skills through a variety of meaningful and enjoyable activities.
The publication of teacher's guide is under process. The teacher's guide will help
teachers plan lessons more effectively and teach students communicatively through
teaching learning activities.
My heartfelt gratitude goes to the curriculum developers, writers, illustrators and
coordinator who worked under tremendous time constraints. Without their sincerity,
commitment and hard work, it would not have been possible for NCTB to develop the
English textbook 'English For Today', making it available to teachers and students all
over the country by January 2013. As the textbook was developed within a very
limited time, there is room for further development. Attempts have been made to
make the book free from errors as far as possible. Any constructive suggestions for
the improvement of the textbook will be welcomed and incorporated in future
editions.
I also sincerely thank all involved in the production and publication of this textbook.
If this book is used properly, it will no doubt facilitate learning English at the desired
level.

Prof. Md. Mostafa Kamaluddin
Chairman
National Curriculum & Textbook Board
Dhaka

Content
Unit

Title

Page No.

Unit One

Good citizens

Unit Two

Pastime

15

Unit Three

Events and festivals

32

Unit Four

Are we aware?

47

Unit five

Climate change

65

Unit Six

Our neighbours

81

Unit Seven

People who stand out

103

Unit Eight

World heritage

124

Unit Nine

Unconventional jobs

136

Unit Ten

Dreams

146

Unit Eleven

Renewable energy

157

Unit Twelve

Roots

171

Unit Thirteen

Media and e-communications

186

Unit Fourteen

Pleasure and purpose

198

1

Unit One

Good citizens

Learning outcomes
After we have studied the unit, we will be able to
x narrate incidents.
x participate in discussions.
x listen and understand others.
x

describe something in writing.

English For Today

2

Lesson 1: Can you live alone?
A

Look at the pictures and discuss in pairs the following questions.
1 Can you live alone in a house?
2 Make a list of the problems you think you will have if you live alone in a
house, e.g. having accidents, cooking, etc.

Picture 1

B

Picture 2

Read the story and answer the questions that follow.

Long ago, a young man found life in the family in his village full of problems and
sufferings. Quarrels, ill-feelings, jealously, enmity - all were part of everyday life
there.
So he left his house and went to a jungle to live by himself. There he made a nice
little hut with wood, bamboo and reeds. “Ah, how happy I am here!” said the man to
himself.
But one day he found some mice in his hut. The little creatures soon made holes in
his blanket. So he brought a cat to kill the mice. The cat needed milk. So he brought a
cow. The cow needed grass and hay. So he brought a cowboy.

English For Today

3

The cowboy needed food. So he took a wife to cook meals. Then children were born
to them, and the man found himself again in a family.
So nobody can live alone, unless they are either angels or devils. People need food,
shelter, companions and cooperation. They need to help each other. And if they live
in a family or community, their need can be fulfilled. Hence living in society can
make people good and happy citizens.
C

(Books shut) What five things did the young man do in the jungle? Now
divide into groups of five. Tell the story to the groups sequentially.

D

Answer these questions. First discuss in pairs, then write the answers
individually.

E

1

Why did the young man leave his house?

2

Where did he make a hut? What did he make the hut with?

3

Was the man happy in his hut?

4

How did he find himself again in a family?

5

Where and how can a person be happy?

6

What is the moral of the story?

Look at the pictures (a---j). Read the following texts (1---10) and match
the pictures with the texts. Write the numbers of the texts next to a, b, c,
etc. The first one is done for you.



4

English For Today

a … …….

c …………..

e …………

g ………….

i ……………


b ………….

d ………….

f …………..

h ………….

j …………