Read the text and answer the following questions.

River gypsies are an ethnic group of people in Bangladesh. They are known as bedey to local people. The gypsies have their own lifestyle and culture. They live in groups and do not own any land. Therefore, they live a nomadic life. travelling from one place to another. These people roam across our rivers and waters from May to December in small country boats. These boats are their houses and these people are a part of our waters. In winter, many water bodies dry up. At that time they return to the mainland and live in make-shift tarpaulin tents on open river banks. You can see their men relaxing in the tents. Toddlers play with dogs or other pets in the dust. Women often idle away time by picking off lice in twos or threes sitting in a row.

Throughout the monsoon, they remain busy with fishing. They also dive for natural pearls in waters. Sometimes, they camp for a couple of weeks. Men catch snakes and entertain people with snake charming and sell herbal cures. Women go from door to door to selling bangles, cosmetics and other things. They also try to heal pains of old people by sucking out blood from their body.

Many villagers believe in the magical power of the gypsies. They can make an evil spirit leave someone’s body by magic or special powers.

নদী–যাযাবররা বাংলাদেশের একটি নৃতাত্ত্বিক গোষ্ঠী। স্থানীয় মানুষের কাছে তারা ‘বেদে‘ নামে পরিচিত। যাযাবরদের নিজস্ব জীবনধারা ও সংস্কৃতি রয়েছে। তারা দলবদ্ধভাবে বসবাস করে এবং কোন জমির মালিক নয়। তাই তারা যাযাবরের মতো জীবনযাপন করে, এক স্থান থেকে অন্য স্থানে ভ্রমণ করে। এই লোকেরা মে থেকে ডিসেম্বর মাস পর্যন্ত ছোট ছোট দেশি নৌকায় আমাদের নদী ও জলাভূমিতে ঘুরে বেড়ায়। এই নৌকাগুলোই তাদের বাড়ি এবং এই মানুষগুলো আমাদের জলাভূমিরই একটি অংশ। শীতকালে অনেক জলাধার শুকিয়ে যায়। সেই সময় তারা মূল ভূখণ্ডে ফিরে আসে এবং নদীর খোলা পাড়ে অস্থায়ী ত্রিপালের তাবুতে বসবাস করে। আপনি তাদের পুরুষদের তাবুতে আরাম করতে দেখতে পারেন। হাঁটতে শেখা শিশুরা ধুলোয় কুকুর বা অন্যান্য পোষা প্রাণীর সাথে খেলে। মহিলারা প্রায়শই দুই বা তিনজন করে সারি বসে উকুন বেছে সময় কাটায়।

বর্ষাকাল জুড়ে তারা মাছ ধরা নিয়ে ব্যস্ত থাকে। তারা জলে ডুব দিয়ে প্রাকৃতিক মুক্তোও সংগ্রহ করে। কখনও কখনও তারা দুই–এক সপ্তাহের জন্য শিবির স্থাপন করে। পুরুষেরা সাপ ধরে, সাপুড়ে বাজি দেখিয়ে মানুষকে মনোরঞ্জন করে এবং ভেষজ ঔষধ বিক্রি করে। মহিলারা দরজায় দরজায় চুড়ি, প্রসাধনী ও অন্যান্য জিনিস বিক্রি করতে যায়। তারা বয়স্ক মানুষের দেহ থেকে রক্ত চুষে বের করে তাদের ব্যথা সারানোরও চেষ্টা করে।

অনেক গ্রামবাসী যাযাবরদের জাদুকরী ক্ষমতায় বিশ্বাস করে। তারা জাদু বা বিশেষ শক্তি দ্বারা কোনও ব্যক্তির দেহ থেকে দুষ্ট আত্মাকে তাড়িয়ে দিতে পারে।

Vocabulary Box: The River Gypsies of Bangladesh

MCQs on River Gypsies

1. River gypsies are an ethnic group of people in _____.
   a) India
   b) Nepal
   c) Bangladesh
   d) Sri Lanka
2. What are river gypsies called by local people?
   a) Santal
   b) Bedey
   c) Garo
   d) Marma
3. River gypsies have their own _____.
   a) Land
   b) Lifestyle and culture
   c) Factories
   d) Villages
4. River gypsies live in _____.
   a) Large houses
   b) Groups
   c) Cities
   d) Palaces
5. River gypsies do not own any _____.
   a) Boats
   b) Land
   c) Pets
   d) Nets
6. Because they do not own land, they live a _____.
   a) Settled life
   b) Rich life
   c) Nomadic life
   d) Lonely life
7. The gypsies travel from one place to another by _____.
   a) Train
   b) Bicycle
   c) Boat
   d) Cart
8. They roam across rivers and waters from _____.
   a) May to December
   b) January to June
   c) July to April
   d) March to September
9. Their small country boats serve as their _____.
   a) Markets
   b) Boats only
   c) Houses
   d) Factories
10. River gypsies are a part of _____.
    a) The land
    b) Our waters
    c) Our cities
    d) The forests
11. Many water bodies dry up during _____.
    a) Summer
    b) Rainy season
    c) Winter
    d) Spring
12. In winter, gypsies return to the _____.
    a) Hills
    b) Sea
    c) Mainland
    d) Villages
13. Where do gypsies live in winter?
    a) Stone houses
    b) Tarpaulin tents
    c) Mud huts
    d) Bamboo houses
14. The tents are set up on _____.
    a) Mountain slopes
    b) Forest clearings
    c) River banks
    d) Open fields
15. Who can be seen relaxing in the tents?
    a) Women
    b) Men
    c) Children
    d) Strangers
16. What do toddlers play with?
    a) Toys
    b) Dogs or pets
    c) Birds
    d) Snakes
17. What do women often do while sitting in rows?
    a) Cook food
    b) Pick off lice
    c) Make crafts
    d) Wash clothes
18. During the monsoon, river gypsies remain busy with _____.
    a) Farming
    b) Fishing
    c) Gardening
    d) Teaching
19. What do they dive for in the waters?
    a) Shells
    b) Stones
    c) Natural pearls
    d) Fishes only
20. Sometimes river gypsies camp for a couple of _____.
    a) Days
    b) Weeks
    c) Hours
    d) Months
21. What do men catch for entertaining people?
    a) Birds
    b) Fish
    c) Snakes
    d) Dogs
22. What kind of entertainment do gypsy men provide?
    a) Dance shows
    b) Snake charming
    c) Singing
    d) Sports
23. Apart from snake charming, men also sell _____.
    a) Fruits
    b) Herbal cures
    c) Clothes
    d) Vegetables
24. What items do women sell door to door?
    a) Furniture
    b) Bangles and cosmetics
    c) Toys
    d) Fruits
25. Who tries to heal the pains of old people?
    a) Men
    b) Children
    c) Women
    d) Toddlers
26. How do gypsy women heal pains?
    a) By prayers
    b) By giving medicine
    c) By sucking out blood
    d) By massage
27. Many villagers believe in the gypsies’ _____.
    a) Honesty
    b) Magical power
    c) Wealth
    d) Farming
28. What can the gypsies make an evil spirit do?
    a) Dance
    b) Leave someone’s body
    c) Attack people
    d) Hide in water
29. By what do they make evil spirits leave bodies?
    a) Medicine
    b) Magic or special powers
    c) Water
    d) Fire
30. What season do gypsies spend fishing?
    a) Winter
    b) Summer
    c) Monsoon
    d) Autumn
31. What is the local name of river gypsies?
    a) Bedey
    b) Rohingya
    c) Chakma
    d) Garo
32. Why do river gypsies live a nomadic life?
    a) They love moving
    b) They dislike farming
    c) They do not own land
    d) They want to travel
33. In which type of boats do they live?
    a) Wooden ships
    b) Small country boats
    c) Steamers
    d) Canoes
34. When water bodies dry up, where do they move?
    a) Hills
    b) Mainland
    c) Forests
    d) Sea
35. How do women pass time in groups?
    a) Cooking food
    b) Singing
    c) Picking off lice
    d) Sewing
36. Who goes from house to house selling items?
    a) Men
    b) Women
    c) Children
    d) Elderly
37. What do women sell apart from bangles?
    a) Fruits
    b) Cosmetics
    c) Furniture
    d) Cloth
38. Who entertains villagers with snakes?
    a) Toddlers
    b) Men
    c) Women
    d) Elderly
39. Which natural treasure do they collect by diving?
    a) Gold
    b) Pearls
    c) Silver
    d) Corals
40. What kind of tents do they use on land?
    a) Bamboo tents
    b) Canvas tents
    c) Tarpaulin tents
    d) Plastic tents
41. What do toddlers usually play in?
    a) The dust
    b) Water
    c) Forests
    d) Classrooms
42. When do river gypsies travel across waters?
    a) January to March
    b) May to December
    c) June to August
    d) February to October
43. What are their boats mainly used as?
    a) Shops
    b) Houses
    c) Storage rooms
    d) Factories
44. How long do they sometimes camp?
    a) Days
    b) Weeks
    c) Years
    d) Months
45. What do villagers believe the gypsies can cure?
    a) Crops
    b) Evil spirits
    c) Animals
    d) Fire
46. Why do villagers believe in gypsies?
    a) Their songs
    b) Their magic
    c) Their farming
    d) Their fishing
47. What season makes them return to land?
    a) Summer
    b) Winter
    c) Spring
    d) Monsoon
48. How do men earn money in villages?
    a) Farming
    b) Snake charming
    c) Teaching
    d) Working in mills
49. What belief makes gypsies popular among villagers?
    a) Their honesty
    b) Their magical powers
    c) Their wealth
    d) Their music
50. What kind of life do river gypsies generally lead?

a) Modern
b) Settled
c) Nomadic
d) Isolated

Answer

1. c
2. b
3. b
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. c
8. a
9. c
10. b
11. c
12. c
13. b
14. c
15. b
16. b
17. b
18. b
19. c
20. b
21. c
22. b
23. b
24. b
25. c
26. c
27. b
28. b
29. b
30. c
31. a
32. c
33. b
34. b
35. c
36. b
37. b
38. b
39. b
40. c
41. a
42. b
43. b
44. b
45. b
46. b
47. b
48. b
49. b
50. c

Here are 50 WH questions based on the passage about River Gypsies:

1. Who are known as bedey to local people?
2. What are river gypsies in Bangladesh called?
3. Where do the gypsies live?
4. Why do the gypsies live a nomadic life?
5. How do river gypsies travel from one place to another?
6. When do gypsies roam across rivers and waters?
7. What do gypsies use as their houses?
8. Where do they return in winter?
9. What do they live in when water bodies dry up?
10. Who can be seen relaxing in the tents?
11. What do toddlers play with?
12. Where do toddlers play with pets?
13. What do women do to idle away their time?
14. How do women sit while picking lice?
15. When do the gypsies remain busy with fishing?
16. What do the gypsies dive for in waters?
17. How long do they sometimes camp?
18. What do men catch for entertainment?
19. How do men entertain people?
20. What do men sell besides entertaining people?
21. Who goes door to door selling bangles and cosmetics?
22. What things do women sell?
23. Where do women go to sell bangles and cosmetics?
24. What do women try to heal for old people?
25. How do women try to heal old people’s pain?
26. What do many villagers believe about the gypsies?
27. Whose body can gypsies free from an evil spirit?
28. How do gypsies make an evil spirit leave someone’s body?
29. What kind of lifestyle do river gypsies have?
30. What do the gypsies not own?
31. When do they set up tents on river banks?
32. What do men usually do in the tents?
33. What do children usually do near the tents?
34. How do women spend time in groups?
35. What natural thing do gypsies collect by diving?
36. What season keeps the gypsies busy with fishing?
37. What kind of shows do snake charmers perform?
38. What do gypsy men do with snakes?
39. What do villagers think about the magical powers of gypsies?
40. Who believes in the power of gypsies’ magic?
41. What kind of medicine do men sell?
42. How do gypsies earn during monsoon?
43. Where do gypsies camp for weeks?
44. What kinds of pets do toddlers play with?
45. How do gypsies move around during their travels?
46. What is the local name given to the river gypsies?
47. Why do gypsies not stay in one place permanently?
48. What do women do in pairs or groups?
49. How do old people sometimes get treated by gypsies?
50. What is the unique culture of the river gypsies based on?:

Answer

1. River gypsies are called bedey by local people. They are widely known across Bangladesh.
2. The river gypsies are often referred to as bedey. This is their popular local name.
3. They usually live in small groups. They do not own permanent houses.
4. Gypsies live a nomadic life because they have no land. This forces them to move frequently.
5. They travel from place to place in boats. These boats are their only shelters.
6. They roam across rivers and waters from May to December. This is their busiest season.
7. Small country boats serve as their houses. They live and sleep there.
8. In winter, water bodies dry up. At that time they move to the mainland.
9. They live in makeshift tarpaulin tents. These tents are set up on riverbanks.
10. Men are often seen relaxing in the tents. They spend much time resting there.
11. Toddlers play with dogs or other pets. They enjoy their childhood freely.
12. The children play on dusty grounds near the tents. They are usually accompanied by animals.
13. Women spend idle time picking lice. They do it to pass the hours.
14. They sit in rows or small groups. This is how they share the task.
15. During monsoon they remain busy with fishing. The rivers provide them with fish.
16. They dive into waters for natural pearls. This is another source of income.
17. Sometimes they camp for two weeks. They choose suitable riverbanks for this.
18. Men catch snakes as part of their culture. It is both a skill and an art.
19. They entertain people with snake charming. Crowds gather to watch them.
20. They also sell herbal medicines. These are believed to cure different illnesses.
21. Women move from house to house. They carry goods for sale.
22. They sell bangles, cosmetics, and other items. Villagers often buy from them.
23. The women visit villagers’ homes. They offer goods directly to customers.
24. They try to heal old people’s pains. This is done through traditional methods.
25. They suck out blood from the body. They believe it helps reduce pain.
26. Many villagers think gypsies have magical powers. They trust them for spiritual help.
27. The gypsies are believed to free bodies from evil spirits. This makes them respected in villages.
28. They use magic or special powers. This is said to drive out evil spirits.
29. River gypsies live a unique lifestyle. It is completely different from settled villagers.
30. They do not own land. This is why they keep moving.
31. In winter they set up tents. These are made on open riverbanks.
32. Men often rest inside the tents. This is their way of passing time.
33. Children spend time playing outside. They enjoy the company of pets.
34. Women often pick lice in groups. This is a common habit among them.
35. Gypsies collect pearls from rivers. They risk diving to get them.
36. Monsoon is their main working season. Fishing keeps them fully occupied.
37. Snake charmers perform shows. These attract villagers and passers-by.
38. Men handle snakes with skill. They use them for entertainment and income.
39. Villagers believe gypsies have powers. They think these powers are supernatural.
40. Many villagers respect their magic. They trust them for curing problems.
41. Men sell herbal cures. These are made from natural ingredients.
42. Fishing and pearl diving earn them money. Snake shows and medicine sales add more.
43. They sometimes stay on riverbanks. These temporary camps last for weeks.
44. Toddlers play with dogs. Sometimes they keep other pets too.
45. Boats carry them everywhere. They travel across rivers this way.
46. The local name of river gypsies is bedey. It is widely used in Bangladesh.
47. They cannot stay in one place. Their lifestyle forces them to move.
48. Women sit in twos or threes. They pick lice from each other’s hair.
49. Old villagers sometimes depend on gypsies for healing. They believe in their methods.
50. The culture of river gypsies is shaped by rivers. Their lives are tied to water.