I hope you are doing well, and focusing on your studies. I received your letter last week, but did not have the time to write back. Things are really busy here in Congo. I am glad to know that you read up about this country. You’re right-Congo is a country in central Africa. It is rich in natural resources and its people are incredible. However, there are several regions in this country which face problems like political and ethnic conflict, often resulting in violent incidents. We try to maintain peace and security in those areas. We distribute food, water, and medicine to people, and sometimes even build houses for them. We also teach children in small schools.

Enough about the work I do here. Today, I’d like to tell you about an interesting young man I met here. His name is Ashar Santoso. He was born in Indonesia. When he was eight, he moved to Singapore with his parents and went to a Singaporean school. After a few years, he went to Denmark and completed his schooling there. For higher studies, he enrolled in a university in the US, and completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there. Since then, he has travelled to many other countries around the world.

আমি আশা করি তুমি ভালো আছো এবং পড়াশোনায় মনোযোগ দিচ্ছো। আমি গত সপ্তাহে তোমার চিঠি পেয়েছিলাম, কিন্তু উত্তর লিখতে সময় পাইনি। কঙ্গোতে এখানকার বিষয়গুলো সত্যিই খুব ব্যস্ততাপূর্ণ। আমি খুশি হয়েছি জেনে যে তুমি এই দেশটি সম্পর্কে পড়েছ। তুমি ঠিক বলেছ—কঙ্গো মধ্য আফ্রিকার একটি দেশ। এটি প্রাকৃতিক সম্পদে সমৃদ্ধ এবং এর মানুষগুলো অসাধারণ। তবে এই দেশের বেশ কিছু অঞ্চল রয়েছে যেগুলো রাজনৈতিক ও জাতিগত সংঘাতের মতো সমস্যার মুখোমুখি হয়, যার ফলশ্রুতিতে প্রায়ই সহিংস ঘটনা ঘটে। আমরা সেইসব অঞ্চলে শান্তি ও নিরাপত্তা বজায় রাখার চেষ্টা করি। আমরা মানুষের মধ্যে খাদ্য, পানি ও ওষুধ বিতরণ করি, এবং কখনও কখনও তাদের জন্য বাড়িও তৈরি করি। আমরা ছোট ছোট স্কুলে শিশুদের পড়াতেও শেখাই।

এখানে আমার কাজের কথা এতটুকুই। আজ আমি তোমাকে এখানে আমার পরিচিত এক আকর্ষণীয় যুবকের কথা বলব। তার নাম আশার সন্তোসো। তার জন্ম ইন্দোনেশিয়ায়। যখন তার বয়স আট বছর, তখন সে তার বাবা–মায়ের সাথে সিঙ্গাপুর চলে যায় এবং একটি সিঙ্গাপুরিয়ান স্কুলে পড়াশোনা করে। কয়েক বছর পর, সে ডেনমার্কে যায় এবং সেখানে তার স্কুলিং সম্পন্ন করে। উচ্চশিক্ষার জন্য, সে যুক্তরাষ্ট্রের একটি বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ে ভর্তি হয় এবং সেখানে স্নাতক ও স্নাতকোত্তর উভয় ডিগ্রিই সম্পন্ন করে। তারপর থেকে, সে বিশ্বের বিভিন্ন দেশে ভ্রমণ করেছে।

Vocabulary Table

1. The writer did not reply immediately because they were…
   a) travelling
   b) sick
   c) busy
   d) not interested
2. The letter was received…
   a) yesterday
   b) last month
   c) last week
   d) two days ago
3. Congo is located in…
   a) North Africa
   b) South Africa
   c) West Africa
   d) Central Africa
4. Congo is known for being rich in…
   a) technology
   b) natural resources
   c) ancient history
   d) population
5. The word “incredible” used to describe the people of Congo means they are…
   a) ordinary
   b) amazing
   c) wealthy
   d) uneducated
6. Some regions in Congo face problems related to…
   a) economic prosperity
   b) political and ethnic conflict
   c) technological advancement
   d) educational development
7. Violent incidents are often a result of…
   a) international support
   b) political and ethnic conflict
   c) economic growth
   d) educational programs
8. The work done by the writer’s organization aims to maintain…
   a) conflict
   b) peace and security
   c) strict rules
   d) political power
9. What is NOT distributed to the people by the organization?
   a) Food
   b) Water
   c) Medicine
   d) Cars
10. Besides distributing essentials, the organization sometimes builds…
    a) offices
    b) hospitals
    c) houses
    d) shopping malls
11. The organization also teaches children in…
    a) large universities
    b) small schools
    c) online platforms
    d) international colleges
12. The interesting young man mentioned is named…
    a) Ashar Santoso
    b) Ahmed Khan
    c) David Miller
    d) Carlos Silva
13. Ashar Santoso was born in…
    a) Singapore
    b) Denmark
    c) Indonesia
    d) Congo
14. Ashar moved to Singapore with his parents at the age of…
    a) five
    b) eight
    c) ten
    d) twelve
15. In Singapore, Ashar attended a…
    a) Danish school
    b) American school
    c) Singaporean school
    d) International school
16. After Singapore, Ashar moved to…
    a) the US
    b) Indonesia
    c) Denmark
    d) Congo
17. In Denmark, Ashar completed his…
    a) bachelor’s degree
    b) master’s degree
    c) schooling
    d) PhD
18. For his higher studies, Ashar went to a university in…
    a) Denmark
    b) Singapore
    c) Indonesia
    d) the US
19. Ashar completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in…
    a) Singapore
    b) Denmark
    c) the US
    d) Indonesia
20. Since finishing his studies, Ashar has…
    a) started a business
    b) travelled to many countries
    c) settled in Indonesia
    d) become a teacher
21. The primary purpose of the writer’s work in Congo is to help people affected by…
    a) natural disasters
    b) conflict
    c) unemployment
    d) famine
22. The tone of the letter can be described as…
    a) angry and frustrated
    b) informative and caring
    c) humorous and sarcastic
    d) formal and rigid
23. The word “maintain” in the passage is closest in meaning to…
    a) abandon
    b) preserve
    c) destroy
    d) create
24. The word “distribute” means to…
    a) gather together
    b) give out to several people
    c) sell for a profit
    d) use carefully
25. The phrase “read up about” suggests the recipient had… about Congo.
    a) written a book
    b) learned by reading
    c) watched a documentary
    d) heard stories
26. The word “higher studies” refers to…
    a) school-level education
    b) university or college education
    c) primary education
    d) vocational training
27. The word “enrolled” means…
    a) graduated from
    b) officially registered for
    c) taught at
    d) left
28. The antonym of “violent” is…
    a) peaceful
    b) harsh
    c) strong
    d) sudden
29. The synonym of “incredible” is…
    a) believable
    b) ordinary
    c) amazing
    d) terrible
30. The word “regions” means…
    a) entire countries
    b) specific areas within a country
    c) continents
    d) cities
31. The work in Congo involves teaching…
    a) only adults
    b) only university students
    c) children
    d) government officials
32. Ashar’s educational background is…
    a) limited to one country
    b) not mentioned
    c) diverse, spanning multiple countries
    d) focused only on Asia
33. The writer’s letter is mainly…
    a) a complaint about his work
    b) a story about his family
    c) an update and a story about someone he met
    d) a political analysis of Congo
34. The word “ethnic” relates to…
    a) political groups
    b) economic status
    c) racial or cultural groups
    d) educational background
35. The word “conflict” means a…
    a) serious disagreement or fight
    b) peaceful agreement
    c) business deal
    d) cultural festival
36. The phrase “resulting in” can be replaced by…
    a) leading to
    b) preventing
    c) ignoring
    d) helping
37. The word “security” is opposite to…
    a) safety
    b) danger
    c) protection
    d) stability
38. Ashar’s life story is an example of…
    a) a person who never left his hometown
    b) a person with an international experience
    c) a person who failed in his studies
    d) a person who hates travelling
39. The word “completed” is similar to…
    a) started
    b) finished
    c) failed
    d) continued
40. The main idea of the first paragraph is to describe…
    a) the writer’s personal life
    b) the situation in Congo and the work being done there
    c) the history of Africa
    d) the recipient’s studies
41. The main idea of the second paragraph is to introduce…
    a) the problems of Congo
    b) the story of Ashar Santoso
    c) the education system of the US
    d) the writer’s future plans
42. The word “since then” indicates a time…
    a) before an event
    b) after an event
    c) during an event
    d) unrelated to any event
43. The word “medicine” refers to…
    a) treatment for illness
    b) a type of food
    c) a form of entertainment
    d) a building material
44. The antonym of “rich” is…
    a) wealthy
    b) abundant
    c) poor
    d) full
45. The synonym of “glad” is…
    a) sad
    b) happy
    c) angry
    d) bored
46. The word “build” means to…
    a) destroy
    b) construct
    c) paint
    d) design
47. The word “went to” in “went to a Singaporean school” means…
    a) visited occasionally
    b) attended as a student
    c) taught at
    d) built
48. The phrase “enough about” is used to…
    a) introduce a new topic in detail
    b) emphasize the current topic
    c) signal a change of topic
    d) ask a question about the topic
49. The word “small” in “small schools” suggests the schools are…
    a) not large in size
    b) very famous
    c) located in cities
    d) poorly equipped
50. The letter is addressed to someone who is…
    a) a colleague in Congo
    b) a family member
    c) focusing on their studies
    d) a political leader

Here are the answers for the 50 MCQs:

1. c) busy
2. c) last week
3. d) Central Africa
4. b) natural resources
5. b) amazing
6. b) political and ethnic conflict
7. b) political and ethnic conflict
8. b) peace and security
9. d) Cars
10. c) houses
11. b) small schools
12. a) Ashar Santoso
13. c) Indonesia
14. b) eight
15. c) Singaporean school
16. c) Denmark
17. c) schooling
18. d) the US
19. c) the US
20. b) travelled to many countries
21. b) conflict
22. b) informative and caring
23. b) preserve
24. b) give out to several people
25. b) learned by reading
26. b) university or college education
27. b) officially registered for
28. a) peaceful
29. c) amazing
30. b) specific areas within a country
31. c) children
32. c) diverse, spanning multiple countries
33. c) an update and a story about someone he met
34. c) racial or cultural groups
35. a) serious disagreement or fight
36. a) leading to
37. b) danger
38. b) a person with an international experience
39. b) finished
40. b) the situation in Congo and the work being done there
41. b) the story of Ashar Santoso
42. b) after an event
43. a) treatment for illness
44. c) poor
45. b) happy
46. b) construct
47. b) attended as a student
48. c) signal a change of topic
49. a) not large in size
50. c) focusing on their studies

WH” Questions from the Passage

1. When did the writer receive the letter?
2. Why didn’t the writer reply immediately?
3. Where is the writer currently located?
4. What did the recipient read up about?
5. Where is Congo located?
6. What is Congo rich in?
7. How does the writer describe the people of Congo?
8. What kinds of problems do several regions in Congo face?
9. What results from the political and ethnic conflicts?
10. What does the writer’s organization try to maintain in those areas?
11. What three essential items does the organization distribute to people?
12. What does the organization sometimes build for people?
13. Whom does the organization teach in small schools?
14. Who is the interesting young man the writer met?
15. Where was Ashar Santoso born?
16. How old was Ashar when he moved to Singapore?
17. Whom did Ashar move to Singapore with?
18. What kind of school did Ashar go to in Singapore?
19. Which country did Ashar move to after Singapore?
20. What did Ashar complete in Denmark?
21. Which country did Ashar choose for his higher studies?
22. What did he enroll in at the university?
23. Which two degrees did he complete in the US?
24. What has Ashar done since finishing his studies?
25. How does the writer feel about receiving the recipient’s letter?
26. What is the general situation like for the writer in Congo?
27. What, according to the writer, is correct about the recipient’s knowledge of Congo?
28. What are the consequences of the conflicts in some regions?
29. What is the main goal of the organization’s work in conflict areas?
30. Besides distributing aid, what other activity does the organization do for children?
31. Why did the writer decide to stop talking about his work?
32. What specific information does the writer want to share in this letter?
33. What is Ashar Santoso’s nationality by birth?
34. What was Ashar’s reason for moving to Singapore?
35. What was the next stage of Ashar’s life after completing school in Denmark?
36. How would you describe the path of Ashar’s education?
37. What does Ashar’s travel history after his studies indicate about him?
38. How does the writer’s work directly help the community?
39. What challenges does the writer’s organization face in Congo?
40. What aspect of Ashar’s story does the writer find interesting enough to share?
41. How did the recipient confirm their understanding of Congo?
42. What specific resources make Congo rich?
43. What type of incidents are caused by the conflicts?
44. How does the organization contribute to the long-term well-being of people?
45. Where exactly does the organization conduct its teaching activities?
46. What transition does the writer make between the two paragraphs?
47. What details does the writer provide about Ashar’s early life?
48. What does Ashar’s educational journey show about his character?
49. How has Ashar’s life been different from staying in one place?
50. What is the overall purpose of the writer’s letter?

Answer of WH questions.

1. The writer received the letter last week. They did not have time to write back immediately because things were very busy.
2. The writer is located in Congo. The situation there is very busy.
3. The recipient read up about Congo. They were correct in understanding it is a country in central Africa.
4. Congo is located in central Africa. It is known for its rich natural resources.
5. The writer describes the people of Congo as incredible. The country itself is rich in natural resources.
6. Several regions face problems like political and ethnic conflict. These conflicts often result in violent incidents.
7. The political and ethnic conflicts result in violent incidents. The organization tries to maintain peace and security in those areas.
8. The organization distributes food, water, and medicine. They also sometimes build houses for the people.
9. The organization teaches children in small schools. This is part of their effort to help the community.
10. The interesting young man is named Ashar Santoso. He was born in Indonesia.
11. Ashar moved to Singapore when he was eight years old. He moved there with his parents.
12. In Singapore, he went to a Singaporean school. After a few years, he moved to Denmark.
13. In Denmark, he completed his schooling. For higher studies, he then went to a university in the US.
14. He enrolled in a university in the United States. There, he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
15. Since completing his studies, he has travelled to many countries around the world. His life has been very international.
16. The writer was glad to receive the recipient’s letter. They were also pleased that the recipient had read about Congo.
17. The recipient was correct that Congo is a country in central Africa. It is a nation rich in resources and has incredible people.
18. The consequences of the conflicts are violent incidents. The organization works to maintain peace and security as a response.
19. The main goal is to maintain peace and security. They achieve this by distributing aid and building infrastructure.
20. For children, the organization teaches in small schools. This provides education in affected areas.
21. The writer decided that was enough about his work. He wanted to share a story about an interesting person instead.
22. The writer wanted to share about a young man named Ashar Santoso. His life story involves living in many countries.
23. Ashar Santoso’s nationality by birth is Indonesian. He later moved to Singapore with his family.
24. He moved to Singapore with his parents when he was a child. The reason for the move is not specified.
25. The next stage after Denmark was higher studies in the US. He pursued both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees there.
26. The path of his education is very diverse and international. It spanned multiple countries across different continents.
27. His travel history indicates he is a well-travelled and global citizen. He has experienced many different cultures.
28. The organization helps the community by distributing essential supplies like food, water, and medicine. They also build houses and provide education.
29. The organization faces challenges like political and ethnic conflicts. These conflicts often lead to violence and instability.
30. The writer finds Ashar’s international background and travels interesting. It is a story worth sharing.
31. The recipient confirmed their understanding by reading up about the country. The writer acknowledged this was correct.
32. Congo is rich in natural resources. The people are also described as an incredible resource.
33. The conflicts cause violent incidents. This creates a challenging environment for the people living there.
34. The organization contributes to long-term well-being by building houses and teaching children. This goes beyond immediate aid distribution.
35. Teaching activities are conducted in small schools within the communities. These are likely set up for local children.
36. The writer transitions from talking about his work to sharing a personal story. He introduces Ashar Santoso as the new topic.
37. Details about his early life include his birth in Indonesia and moving to Singapore at age eight. He attended a local school in Singapore.
38. His educational journey shows he is adaptable and has pursued opportunities globally. It reflects a curious and determined character.
39. His life has been different through living and studying in multiple countries. This contrasts with a life spent in one place.
40. The overall purpose is to update the recipient and maintain their connection. It also serves to share an interesting story from the writer’s experience.
41. The writer was glad to know the recipient had read about Congo. This showed the recipient’s interest in the writer’s work and location.
42. Congo’s wealth comes from its abundant natural resources. These resources exist alongside a population of incredible people.
43. The conflicts in some regions result in violent incidents. These incidents create an environment of instability and fear.
44. The organization builds houses for people, providing long-term shelter. They also teach children, investing in the future of the community.
45. The teaching is conducted in small schools within the communities. These schools provide essential education to local children.
46. The writer transitions by stating, “Enough about the work I do here.” He then introduces the story of Ashar Santoso.
47. Details of Ashar’s early life include his birth in Indonesia. He moved to Singapore at the age of eight with his parents.
48. Ashar’s educational journey shows he is adaptable and globally oriented. It suggests a character that seeks diverse experiences.
49. Ashar’s life has been marked by movement across different countries and cultures. This contrasts sharply with a life spent entirely in one place.
50. The overall purpose of the letter is to provide an update and sustain the personal connection. It also shares a compelling story to engage the recipient.