Paul went to meet Kobita and her family the next day. He was in his blue trousers and a grey T-shirt. Kobita’s mother, Ms Shahana was a shy woman and she was reluctant to come in front of Paul. But Paul greeted her warmly in his newly learnt Bangla, “Kemon achen?”. Ms Shahana loved hearing a foreigner speak in Bangla. She welcomed Paul to her house. Kobita started talking to Paul. She wanted him to write something for her school magazine. As they were talking. Ms Shahana prepared quite a number of Bangladeshi dishes. She served him lunch at noon. Paul had plain rice, chicken curry, fish bhuna, dal and salad for lunch. He liked the tastes of all those delicious items except the dried fish bhorta. He is afraid of hot chillies. He also does not like eating fresh onions. So he skipped the mashed potato which had chopped fresh onions in it. But Paul became very fond of the dessert made of rice, gur, milk and coconut. He also enjoyed drinking tea made of fresh cow milk. Paul thanked Kobita and Ms Shahana for the lunch. In fact, he was tired of having vegetables and fried eggs for the last few weeks. He hates eating the same food for weeks. So he enjoyed the tastes of a variety of Bangladeshi dishes.
পরের দিন পল কবিতা ও তার পরিবারের সঙ্গে দেখা করতে গেল। সে নীল প্যান্ট ও ধূসর টি–শার্ট পরেছিল। কবিতার মা, মিসেস শাহানা, ছিলেন এক লাজুক মহিলা এবং তিনি পলের সামনে আসতে একটু দ্বিধা করছিলেন। কিন্তু পল নতুন শেখা বাংলায় তাকে আন্তরিকভাবে শুভেচ্ছা জানাল, “কেমন আছেন?” মিসেস শাহানা খুব খুশি হলেন একজন বিদেশিকে বাংলায় কথা বলতে শুনে। তিনি পলকে তাদের বাড়িতে স্বাগত জানালেন। কবিতা পলের সঙ্গে কথা বলা শুরু করল। সে চেয়েছিল পল তাদের স্কুল ম্যাগাজিনের জন্য কিছু লিখুক।
তারা কথা বলার সময়, মিসেস শাহানা অনেকগুলো বাংলাদেশি খাবার প্রস্তুত করলেন। তিনি দুপুরে পলকে দুপুরের খাবার পরিবেশন করলেন। পল ভাত, মুরগির কারি, মাছ ভুনা, ডাল এবং সালাদ খেল। সে সব সুস্বাদু খাবারের স্বাদ পছন্দ করল, শুধু শুকনো মাছের ভর্তা ছাড়া। সে ঝাল মরিচে ভয় পায়। তাছাড়া সে কাঁচা পেঁয়াজ খেতে পছন্দ করে না। তাই সে আলুভর্তা খায়নি, কারণ তাতে কাঁচা পেঁয়াজ কুচি ছিল। কিন্তু পল খুব পছন্দ করল একটি মিষ্টান্ন যা চাল, গুড়, দুধ ও নারকেল দিয়ে তৈরি ছিল। সে গরুর দুধ দিয়ে বানানো চাও খেয়ে খুব উপভোগ করল।
পল দুপুরের খাবারের জন্য কবিতা ও মিসেস শাহানাকে ধন্যবাদ জানাল। আসলে, সে গত কয়েক সপ্তাহ ধরে শুধু সবজি ও ভাজা ডিম খেতে খেতে বিরক্ত হয়ে গিয়েছিল। সে একই খাবার বারবার খেতে ঘৃণা করে। তাই সে নানা রকম বাংলাদেশি খাবারের স্বাদ পেয়ে খুব আনন্দ পেল।
Vocabulary Box: Paul’s Bangladeshi Lunch
Words/Phrases | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonym |
Reluctant (adjective) | অনিচ্ছুক | hesitant, unwilling | eager, willing |
Greeted (verb) | অভিবাদন জানাল | welcomed, saluted | ignored, snubbed |
Warmly (adverb) | আন্তরিকতার সাথে | cordially, kindly | coldly, unfriendly |
Prepared (verb) | প্রস্তুত করলেন | made, cooked | consumed, ate |
Dishes (noun) | খাবারের পদ | food items, courses | |
Served (verb) | পরিবেশন করলেন | offered, presented | received, took |
Delicious (adjective) | সুস্বাদু | tasty, delectable | tasteless, unpleasant |
Afraid (adjective) | ভীত | scared, fearful | unafraid, brave |
Skipped (verb) | বাদ দিলেন | omitted, avoided | included, ate |
Fond of (phrase) | খুব পছন্দ | keen on, liking | dislike, averse to |
Dessert (noun) | মিষ্টান্ন | sweet dish, pudding | appetizer, starter |
Thanked (verb) | ধন্যবাদ জানাল | expressed gratitude | blamed, criticized |
Tired of (phrase) | ক্লান্ত | weary, bored | enthusiastic, keen |
Hates (verb) | ঘৃণা করে | detests, loathes | loves, adores |
Variety (noun) | разнообразие | assortment, range | monotony, sameness |
Here are 50 multiple-choice questions based on the provided text, without answers.
- When did Paul go to meet Kobita and her family?
a) The same day
b) The next day
c) The previous week
d) That evening - What was the color of Paul’s trousers?
a) Grey
b) Black
c) Blue
d) Brown - What was Paul wearing on his upper body?
a) A blue shirt
b) A grey T-shirt
c) A formal coat
d) A sweatshirt - What is Kobita’s mother’s name?
a) Ms. Sheela
b) Ms. Shahana
c) Ms. Sabina
d) Ms. Sultana - How is Ms. Shahana described?
a) As a confident woman
b) As a talkative woman
c) As a shy woman
d) As a strict woman - How did Paul greet Ms. Shahana?
a) With a handshake
b) With a gift
c) Warmly in his newly learnt Bangla
d) In English - What did Paul say in Bangla to greet Kobita’s mother?
a) Shuvo Shakal
b) Kemon achen?
c) Tumi kemon acho?
d) Apni kemon achen? - How did Ms. Shahana feel about hearing a foreigner speak Bangla?
a) She was amused
b) She was indifferent
c) She loved it
d) She was confused - What did Kobita want Paul to do for her school magazine?
a) Draw a picture
b) Write something
c) Give a speech
d) Take photographs - Who prepared the Bangladeshi dishes for Paul?
a) Kobita
b) Paul himself
c) Ms. Shahana
d) A servant - When was lunch served to Paul?
a) In the morning
b) In the evening
c) At noon
d) At night - Which of the following dishes did Paul NOT have for lunch?
a) Plain rice
b) Pizza
c) Chicken curry
d) Fish bhuna - What is “dal” as mentioned in the text?
a) A type of bread
b) A type of meat
c) A lentil soup
d) A dessert - Which item did Paul NOT like due to its taste?
a) Chicken curry
b) The dried fish bhorta
c) Plain rice
d) Fish bhuna - Why was Paul afraid of the dried fish bhorta?
a) It was too salty
b) It smelled bad
c) It had hot chillies
d) It was too spicy - What food item does Paul generally not like to eat?
a) Potatoes
b) Fresh onions
c) Coconut
d) Rice - Why did Paul skip the mashed potato?
a) It had hot chillies
b) It had dried fish
c) It had chopped fresh onions
d) He was full - What was the dessert made of?
a) Flour, sugar, and milk
b) Rice, gur, milk, and coconut
c) Semolina, milk, and nuts
d) Lentils and sugar - What is “gur” most likely to be?
a) A type of flour
b) Jaggery or molasses
c) A spice
d) A fruit - What did Paul enjoy drinking?
a) Coffee
b) Lemonade
c) Tea made of fresh cow milk
d) Mango juice - How did Paul show his appreciation for the lunch?
a) He paid them money
b) He invited them to his house
c) He thanked Kobita and Ms. Shahana
d) He promised to cook for them - Why was Paul tired for the last few weeks?
a) He was sick
b) He was traveling
c) He was having vegetables and fried eggs
d) He was working too hard - What does Paul hate doing for weeks?
a) Meeting new people
b) Eating the same food
c) Speaking Bangla
d) Wearing the same clothes - What did he enjoy about the lunch at Kobita’s house?
a) The quantity of food
b) The tastes of a variety of Bangladeshi dishes
c) The expensive ingredients
d) The quick service - The main purpose of Paul’s visit was to…
a) Learn Bangla cooking
b) Meet Kobita’s father
c) Have lunch
d) Talk to Kobita, who had a request - Ms. Shahana was initially…
a) Angry to see Paul
b) Reluctant to come in front of Paul
c) Very talkative with Paul
d) Not at home - Paul’s greeting in Bangla had what effect on Ms. Shahana?
a) It made her laugh
b) It made her shy
c) It made her love hearing a foreigner speak Bangla
d) It made her correct his pronunciation - What was Kobita doing while her mother was cooking?
a) She was helping her mother
b) She was talking to Paul
c) She was setting the table
d) She was doing her homework - The text implies that Paul is…
a) Bangladeshi
b) A native Bangla speaker
c) A foreigner
d) Kobita’s classmate - Which food item was a problem for Paul because of fresh onions?
a) Salad
b) Dal
c) Mashed potato
d) Chicken curry - Paul liked all the dishes EXCEPT…
a) Chicken curry and dal
b) Dried fish bhorta and mashed potato
c) Fish bhuna and salad
d) Plain rice and dessert - What did Paul become very fond of?
a) The fish bhuna
b) The chicken curry
c) The dessert
d) The salad - The tea was special because it was made from…
a) Green tea leaves
b) Fresh cow milk
c) Lots of sugar
d) Spices - For Paul, the lunch at Kobita’s house was a…
a) Disappointing experience
b) Welcome change from his usual food
c) Very spicy affair
d) Formal event - What had Paul been eating for the last few weeks?
a) Only fast food
b) A variety of cuisines
c) Vegetables and fried eggs
d) Rice and curry - What emotion did Ms. Shahana feel initially towards Paul?
a) Excitement
b) Reluctance
c) Hostility
d) Curiosity - The phrase “hot chillies” refers to chillies that are…
a) High in temperature
b) Spicy
c) Freshly picked
d) Red in color - Paul skipped the mashed potato because of his…
a) Allergy
b) Preference
c) Diet plan
d) Religion - The dessert was a combination of…
a) Sweet and savory
b) Spicy and sour
c) Only dairy products
d) Fruits and nuts - What does “bhorta” typically refer to in Bangladeshi cuisine?
a) A fried item
b) A mashed or mashed and fried dish
c) A soup
d) A type of bread - How did Ms. Shahana react after Paul greeted her in Bangla?
a) She ignored him
b) She welcomed him to her house
c) She asked him to leave
d) She started speaking in English - Paul’s Bangla greeting shows that he is…
a) Fluent in Bangla
b) Making an effort to learn the language
c) Mocking the language
d) Confused about the culture - The lunch can be best described as…
a) A light snack
b) A grand feast
c) A simple meal
d) A non-vegetarian meal with multiple items - What was the main reason Paul enjoyed the lunch so much?
a) He was very hungry
b) It was free of cost
c) It was different from his repetitive meals
d) He loves Bangladeshi food - Which ingredient was common in the dessert and the tea?
a) Gur
b) Coconut
c) Rice
d) Milk - What did Paul not have to worry about in the chicken curry?
a) Hot chillies
b) Fresh onions
c) The taste
d) The price - The overall tone of Paul’s experience at Kobita’s house is…
a) Negative and critical
b) Positive and appreciative
c) Neutral and observant
d) Humorous and light-hearted - What does “reluctant” mean in the context of Ms. Shahana?
a) Eager
b) Hesitant or unwilling
c) Prepared
d) Confident - Paul’s fear of hot chillies made him avoid the…
a) Chicken curry
b) Dal
c) Dried fish bhorta
d) Salad - The text suggests that Paul’s diet before this visit was…
a) Very diverse
b) Monotonous and boring for him
c) Mostly desserts
d) Consisting only of meat
Here are the answers for the 50 multiple-choice questions:
- b
- c
- b
- b
- c
- c
- b
- c
- b
- c
- c
- b
- c
- b
- c
- b
- c
- b
- b
- c
- c
- c
- b
- b
- d
- b
- c
- b
- c
- c
- b
- c
- b
- b
- c
- b
- b
- b
- a
- b
- b
- b
- d
- c
- d
- c
- b
- b
- c
- b
Here are 30 WH questions based on the passage about Paul visiting Kobita’s family:
- Who did Paul go to meet the next day?
- What was Paul wearing when he visited Kobita’s house?
- Who is Ms. Shahana?
- How did Ms. Shahana feel when Paul arrived?
- How did Paul greet Ms. Shahana?
- What language did Paul use to greet her?
- How did Ms. Shahana feel hearing Paul speak Bangla?
- Who welcomed Paul into the house?
- Who started talking to Paul first?
- What did Kobita want Paul to do for her?
- What was being prepared while Paul and Kobita were talking?
- Who prepared the Bangladeshi dishes?
- When was lunch served to Paul?
- What dishes did Paul have for lunch?
- Which food item did Paul not like?
- Why did Paul not eat the dried fish bhorta?
- Why did Paul skip the mashed potato?
- What dessert did Paul become fond of?
- What ingredients were in the dessert Paul liked?
- What drink did Paul enjoy with his lunch?
- Who did Paul thank after lunch?
- What kind of food had Paul been eating for the last few weeks?
- Why was Paul tired of his previous meals?
- What kind of foods does Paul dislike eating repeatedly?
- How did Paul feel about the variety of Bangladeshi dishes?
- What did Paul enjoy most about the lunch?
- Who cooked the lunch for Paul?
- Which part of the meal had fresh onions that Paul avoided?
- How did Paul react to spicy food?
- Why did Paul enjoy eating at Kobita’s house?
Answer
- Paul went to meet Kobita and her family the next day. He was excited to visit them and see his friend.
- He wore blue trousers and a grey T-shirt. His outfit was simple and comfortable for the visit.
- Ms. Shahana is Kobita’s mother. She is a shy woman who feels a little nervous around strangers.
- Ms. Shahana felt reluctant to come in front of Paul. She was not used to meeting foreigners.
- Paul greeted her warmly in Bangla. He said, “Kemon achen?” which made her feel happy and respected.
- He had recently learned to speak Bangla. Ms. Shahana loved hearing a foreigner speak her language.
- Ms. Shahana welcomed Paul into the house. She was pleased with his polite and friendly behaviour.
- Kobita started talking to Paul first. She wanted to involve him in her school magazine work.
- Kobita asked Paul to write something for her school magazine. She hoped he would help with her project.
- While they were talking, Ms. Shahana prepared several Bangladeshi dishes. The food smelled delicious and inviting.
- Ms. Shahana served Paul lunch at noon. She wanted him to enjoy traditional Bangladeshi meals.
- Paul had plain rice, chicken curry, fish bhuna, dal, and salad. He tried a little of everything on the table.
- He liked the taste of all the dishes except dried fish bhorta. The spiciness of the dish was too strong for him.
- Paul is afraid of hot chillies. He avoids foods that are very spicy.
- He also does not like eating fresh onions. Because of this, he skipped the mashed potato with chopped onions.
- Paul became very fond of the dessert made of rice, gur, milk, and coconut. It was sweet and delicious.
- He also enjoyed drinking tea made from fresh cow milk. The tea was smooth and tasty.
- Paul thanked Kobita and Ms. Shahana for the lunch. He appreciated their kindness and hospitality.
- He had been eating vegetables and fried eggs for the last few weeks. He was tired of the same simple food.
- Paul hates eating the same food for weeks. He prefers variety and different flavours in his meals.
- He enjoyed the tastes of a variety of Bangladeshi dishes. The food was new, exciting, and delicious for him.
- Paul appreciated the care and effort put into the meal. He felt happy and satisfied after eating.
- He tried all the dishes carefully. Even though he skipped some items, he enjoyed the overall experience.
- The dessert made a strong impression on him. Its sweetness and flavour were very appealing.
- Drinking fresh milk tea was refreshing for Paul. It complemented the meal perfectly.
- Paul felt very welcome in Kobita’s house. He enjoyed spending time with her and her family.
- He liked experiencing traditional Bangladeshi cuisine. The variety of dishes gave him a sense of the local culture.
- Paul’s visit was enjoyable and memorable. The hospitality and food made him feel special and happy.
- He learned to appreciate different tastes and flavours. The experience made his day very pleasant.
- Paul left the meal feeling grateful. He thanked everyone once again before saying goodbye.