৪৪তম বিসিএস লিখিত প্রশ্ন ইংরেজি

Subject Code: 003

Full Marks: 200

Time: 4 hours

Part A

Read the passage below and answer the question nos. 1-7 that follow:

'Digital detox' is a phrase that we hear more and more, instantly conjuring up loss of control, fear of addiction and imposed periods of 'cold turkey'. As parents, many of us are still beginners in this brave new digital world and rather than empowering our youth to blaze trails into the modern age, our suspicion of Snapchat and general fear of the unknown lead us to restrict or even reject these influences as we see them encroach further into our children's lives.

It's easy to see why the accessibility to technology can be a cause of concern. Bullies, predators and other nasties do exist in the cyber world, just as they do in the natural one. But while some try to combat the influence of social media and the demon 'screen time' on pupils (banning phones and switching off Wi-Fi are two solutions that have been tried), some have adopted a more 21st Century approach. They actively embrace technology as a force for good, incorporating technology in many aspects of their learning and well-being.

It's not just about gadgets and gizmos; digital is fast becoming the language of the age and one in which we must all be literate. Pupils can learn to code and use Swift Playgrounds, an incredibly powerful app which bring their ideas to life. It's the same platform which was used to create applications like Duolingo and Airbnb. In years 10 and 11, students gain experience with professional programming language C# and the new generation can get involved in a 'tech start-up' day.

What of the virtual world? No longer restricted to the realms of entertainment, the applications of VR are enormous, and schools can incorporate exciting technology into their lessons. Learning by doing is, after all, one of the most effective and neglected methods of learning. Just as an airline pilot will train in a simulator before being let loose with a plane full of passengers, VR allows access to global resources and immersive learning experiences with which to experiment, tackle problems, and take risks, in a virtual environment, free from fear. What a wonderful way to help students develop into curious, resilient, and resourceful adults!

A recent article in the Telegraph offered 'survival tips of parents on the technology battlefield'. The battlefield metaphor is a telling one. As parents we are right to worry about the screen time we allow our children and the teenage years can be fraught with the additional pressures of social media, but should blame be laid so squarely at the digital door?

The need to connect in social groups has existed since humans first walked the earth. Most of us want to be liked and to form friendships, and psychologists agree that this kind of affirmation is important for our mental health. Social media is just one of many channels through which we all do this and as adults, we must set a good example and equip young people with the information and skills to use technology responsibly. I believe that by teaching good practice and embedding key IT skills in the classroom, we can embrace technology as our friend here.

For the well-being of our students we should adopt a positive approach. We need to work with experts in psychological health to spearhead the use of an app-based digital toolkit that helps teachers and pupils to monitor and even restrain their emotions, developing positive habits of mind, improved social Wi-Fi and a shared language with which to better communicate both in the classroom and the wider world.

10. Translate the following passage into English:

বাংলা ও বাঙালি সংস্কৃতির উৎসে যদি আমরা যাই তাহলে দেখবো, বাংলা ভাষা প্রায় হাজার বছরের প্রাচীন। কিন্তু,

জাতিসত্তা হিসেবে বাঙালির বয়স কয়েক হাজার বছর। এখানে বিভিন্ন জাতি-উপজাতি আগমনের ফলে, নানা বর্ণ

ও জাতির মিশ্রণে বাঙালি একটি মিশ্র জাতিসত্তা হিসেবে বিকশিত হয়েছে। ককেশীয়, চাটচিন, অস্ট্রিক,

নিম্নোয়েড ইত্যাদি বিভিন্ন জাতিগোষ্ঠীর মিশ্রণেই বাঙালি জাতিসত্তা গড়ে উঠেছে এই সত্য। উভয় বঙ্গের বিভিন্ন

অঞ্চলে প্রাগৈতিহাসিক যুগ থেকেই মানুষের বসতি ও উপকরণ আবিষ্কৃত হয়েছে। এসবের বিশদ আলোচনায়

না গিয়ে ও বলা চলে যে যখন ইতিহাসের যবনিকা উন্মোচিত হলো সে সময়ও বিভিন্ন উপজাতি, উপজাতীর নামানুসারে বাংলায় বেশ কিছু জনপদের পরিচয় আমরা পাচ্ছি। যেমন কৌটিল্যের অর্থশাস্ত্রে পাচ্ছি, পুন্ড, বঙ্গ, কলিঙ্গ, গৌড়, হরিকেল ইত্যাদি নাম যেমন জনপদের, তেমনই বিভিন্ন কৌল বা উপজাতির। আজ এসব কৌমের আলাদা পরিচয় আর নেই। এরা সবাই এক হয়ে মিশে গিয়ে বাঙালি নাম নিয়েছে, বাঙালি হিসেবে পরিচিত হচ্ছে। বাংলা এদের সবার মুখের ভাষা।