The children had now nowhere

The children had now nowhere to play. There were no gardens around and the roads were busy and crowded. After school they used to go round the high wall and talk about the beautiful garden inside. “How happy we were there!” they said to each other.

Q1 What do you think the children would do now?

Then came the spring. And all over the country there were flowers and there were birds. Only in the garden of the Giant it was still winter. Here no birds were singing and no flowers blossoming. There were only snow and frost and north wind in it.

“I cannot understand why the spring is so late in coming,” said the Giant. He was sitting at the window of his big castle and looking out at his cold, dry and lifeless garden. “I hope there will be a change in the weather.”

But neither spring nor summer came to his garden.

শিশুরা এখন আর কোথাও খেলতে পারত না। আশেপাশে কোনো বাগান ছিল না, আর রাস্তাগুলো ছিল ব্যস্ত ও ভিড়ে ভরা। স্কুল শেষে তারা উঁচু দেয়ালের চারপাশে ঘুরে বেড়াত এবং ভেতরের সুন্দর বাগানটির কথা বলত। “আমরা সেখানে কত সুখে ছিলাম!” তারা একে অপরকে বলত।

প্রশ্ন ১: তুমি কি মনে করো, এখন শিশুরা কী করবে?
(উত্তর: শিশুরা সম্ভবত বাগানের চারপাশে ঘুরবে, ভেতরের সুন্দর দিনের কথা মনে করবে এবং আবার সেখানে খেলতে চাবে।)

তারপর এল বসন্ত। সারা দেশে ফুল ফুটল, পাখিরা গান গাইতে লাগল। কিন্তু দৈত্যের বাগানে তখনও শীত ছিল। সেখানে কোনো পাখি গান গাইছিল না, কোনো ফুল ফুটছিল না। শুধুই ছিল তুষার, বরফ আর উত্তর দিকের ঠান্ডা হাওয়া।

“আমি বুঝতে পারছি না কেন বসন্ত আসতে এত দেরি হচ্ছে,” বলল দৈত্যটি। সে তার বড় দুর্গের জানালার পাশে বসে ঠান্ডা, শুকনো এবং প্রাণহীন বাগানটির দিকে তাকিয়ে ছিল। “আমি আশা করি আবহাওয়া বদলাবে।”
কিন্তু বসন্ত বা গ্রীষ্ম — কোনো ঋতুই তার বাগানে এল না।

Vocabulary Box: The Selfish Giant (Part 2)

Words/Phrases	Meaning	Synonyms	Antonym
Nowhere (adverb)	কোথাও	no place, not anywhere	everywhere, somewhere
Crowded (adjective)	জনাকীর্ণ	packed, congested	empty, deserted
Used to (phrase)	অভ্যস্ত ছিল	would, habitually did	unaccustomed to
Spring (noun)	বসন্ত	the season after winter	autumn, fall
All over (phrase)	সর্বত্র	everywhere, throughout	nowhere, in no place
Blossoming (verb)	ফুটছে	blooming, flowering	wilting, fading
Frost (noun)	তুষার	ice crystals, rime	thaw, heat
North wind (noun)	উত্তরার wind	a cold wind from the north	southerly breeze
Understand (verb)	বুঝতে	comprehend, grasp	misunderstand, confuse
Late (adjective)	বিলম্বিত	delayed, tardy	early, punctual
Castle (noun)	প্রাসাদ	palace, fortress	hut, shack
Lifeless (adjective)	প্রাণহীন	dead, barren	lively, vibrant
Hope (verb)	আশা করা	wish, desire	despair, doubt
Change (noun)	পরিবর্তন	alteration, shift	sameness, stagnation
Neither… nor (conjunction)	…ও না…ও না	not either… or	both… and

MCQs on “The Selfish Giant” (Part 2)

1. Why did the children have nowhere to play?
   A) Because their school was closed
   B) Because the Giant built a wall
   C) Because there were no gardens around
   D) Because it was raining
2. What were the roads like?
   A) Empty and quiet
   B) Busy and crowded
   C) Clean and wide
   D) Narrow and peaceful
3. What did the children do after school?
   A) Played in the street
   B) Went home directly
   C) Walked around the high wall
   D) Climbed trees
4. What did the children talk about?
   A) Their lessons
   B) The beautiful garden inside
   C) The Giant’s castle
   D) Their toys
5. What did the children say to each other?
   A) “We should build a garden.”
   B) “How happy we were there!”
   C) “Let’s never go back.”
   D) “We can play anywhere.”
6. Who had the beautiful garden?
   A) The King
   B) The Giant
   C) The Farmer
   D) The Grandfather
7. What season came after that?
   A) Summer
   B) Autumn
   C) Spring
   D) Winter
8. What appeared all over the country in spring?
   A) Rain and snow
   B) Flowers and birds
   C) Storms and wind
   D) Ice and frost
9. Which place remained in winter during springtime?
   A) The park
   B) The forest
   C) The Giant’s garden
   D) The schoolyard
10. What was not found in the Giant’s garden?
    A) Birds and flowers
    B) Trees and grass
    C) Snow and frost
    D) The Giant himself
11. What covered the Giant’s garden?
    A) Rainwater
    B) Ice and snow
    C) Flowers and leaves
    D) Dust and sand
12. What was blowing in the garden?
    A) South wind
    B) North wind
    C) East wind
    D) Gentle breeze
13. What did the Giant say about spring?
    A) He enjoyed the winter more
    B) He was angry at the birds
    C) He could not understand why it was late
    D) He wanted more snow
14. Where was the Giant sitting?
    A) In his garden
    B) On his bed
    C) At the window of his big castle
    D) Near the wall
15. What was the Giant looking at?
    A) His children
    B) His cold, dry, and lifeless garden
    C) The street outside
    D) The forest nearby
16. How did the Giant describe his garden?
    A) Cold, dry, and lifeless
    B) Bright and colorful
    C) Warm and full of flowers
    D) Beautiful and happy
17. What did the Giant hope for?
    A) A change in the weather
    B) More snow
    C) More rain
    D) A visit from his friend
18. What seasons did not come to the garden?
    A) Winter and autumn
    B) Spring and summer
    C) Rainy and dry
    D) Summer and autumn
19. What made the garden lifeless?
    A) The snow and frost
    B) The Giant’s kindness
    C) The birds and flowers
    D) The children’s laughter
20. Who was responsible for the garden’s condition?
    A) The Giant
    B) The wind
    C) The birds
    D) The children
21. How did the children feel about the garden?
    A) Angry
    B) Sad
    C) Happy
    D) Bored
22. What was around the garden?
    A) A high wall
    B) A big river
    C) A field
    D) A forest
23. Why could the children not go inside?
    A) The gate was locked
    B) The Giant stopped them
    C) There was no path
    D) It was dangerous
24. What was written on the Giant’s wall?
    A) “Keep Off the Grass”
    B) “Trespassers Will Be Punished”
    C) “Welcome to My Garden”
    D) “No Entry”
25. What sound did the Giant not hear in his garden?
    A) Birds singing
    B) Wind blowing
    C) Bells ringing
    D) Trees moving
26. What did the Giant build to keep children out?
    A) A gate
    B) A big fence
    C) A high wall
    D) A house
27. What covered the garden during winter?
    A) Flowers
    B) Snow and frost
    C) Water
    D) Dust
28. What kind of wind was blowing in the garden?
    A) Hot wind
    B) North wind
    C) South wind
    D) Gentle wind
29. What did the children do outside the wall?
    A) Played games
    B) Talked about the garden
    C) Sang songs
    D) Built a house
30. What were the children missing?
    A) Their toys
    B) The garden and its beauty
    C) The birds
    D) Their school
31. Why did the Giant feel puzzled?
    A) Because spring didn’t come
    B) Because children were gone
    C) Because it was raining
    D) Because he was tired
32. What kind of place was the Giant’s castle?
    A) Small and dark
    B) Big and cold
    C) Warm and bright
    D) Simple and empty
33. What made the children happy before?
    A) Playing in the garden
    B) Visiting the Giant
    C) Going to school
    D) Walking on the road
34. What happened all over the country?
    A) People sang songs
    B) Flowers bloomed
    C) The north wind blew
    D) It rained heavily
35. What emotion did the children feel when they remembered the garden?
    A) Joy
    B) Regret
    C) Anger
    D) Fear
36. What kind of season was still in the Giant’s garden?
    A) Spring
    B) Summer
    C) Winter
    D) Autumn
37. What did the Giant hope for when he looked outside?
    A) That spring would come
    B) That the children would return
    C) That the snow would stay
    D) That birds would sing
38. What was missing in the Giant’s garden that appeared elsewhere?
    A) Music
    B) Life
    C) Flowers and birds
    D) Trees
39. What happened to the weather in the Giant’s garden?
    A) It became colder
    B) It became warmer
    C) It rained every day
    D) It was foggy
40. What is the main reason the Giant’s garden stayed cold?
    A) He built a wall
    B) He watered the plants
    C) He loved winter
    D) He was generous
41. What covered the ground of the Giant’s garden?
    A) Ice
    B) Sand
    C) Flowers
    D) Stones
42. What did the Giant expect to change?
    A) The color of the sky
    B) The season and weather
    C) The shape of the garden
    D) The height of the wall
43. How did the Giant’s garden feel compared to the rest of the country?
    A) Warmer
    B) Brighter
    C) Colder and lifeless
    D) More beautiful
44. What season came all over the country?
    A) Winter
    B) Summer
    C) Spring
    D) Autumn
45. What remained constant in the Giant’s garden?
    A) Snow and frost
    B) Flowers and birds
    C) Warm sunshine
    D) Green grass
46. Who enjoyed the coming of spring?
    A) The Giant
    B) The children
    C) The birds
    D) The whole country
47. Why couldn’t the children enjoy spring in the Giant’s garden?
    A) It was locked
    B) It was too hot
    C) It was too crowded
    D) It was full of people
48. What was the tone of the Giant when he spoke?
    A) Gentle
    B) Confused
    C) Angry
    D) Kind
49. What emotion best describes the Giant at this point?
    A) Proud
    B) Selfish
    C) Sad
    D) Curious
50. What theme does this part of the story show?
    A) Greed and loss
    B) Friendship and love
    C) Hard work and reward
    D) Adventure and courage

Here are the answers to the 50 MCQs from the passage:

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

Here are 30 WH questions based on the passage you provided:

1. Who had nowhere to play now?
2. Why did the children have nowhere to play?
3. What were the roads like around the children’s area?
4. What did the children do after school?
5. What did the children talk about while going around the wall?
6. How did the children feel about the garden?
7. What season came after the children had nowhere to play?
8. What happened to the country when spring came?
9. Where were flowers and birds appearing?
10. Which garden was still in winter?
11. What was missing in the Giant’s garden during spring?
12. What covered the Giant’s garden in winter?
13. Which wind was blowing in the Giant’s garden?
14. Why did the Giant feel confused about the season?
15. Where was the Giant sitting when he looked out?
16. How did the Giant describe his garden?
17. What did the Giant hope for?
18. Did spring or summer come to the Giant’s garden?
19. Why did the Giant think spring was late?
20. How did the Giant feel about the lifeless garden?
21. What do you think caused the garden to remain in winter?
22. What were the children likely missing without the garden?
23. How did the children remember the garden?
24. What effect did the wall have on the children’s ability to enter the garden?
25. How did the busy roads affect the children?
26. What natural signs showed that spring had come elsewhere?
27. Why were birds and flowers absent in the Giant’s garden?
28. How did the Giant react to the contrast between his garden and the rest of the country?
29. What could the Giant do to bring spring to his garden?
30. How does the passage show the connection between happiness and the arrival of spring?

Here are 2-sentence answers to the 30 WH questions based on the passage:

1. The children had nowhere to play now. They felt sad and disappointed.
2. The children had nowhere to play because there were no gardens around. The roads were busy and crowded.
3. The roads around the children’s area were busy and crowded. This made it unsafe for them to play outside.
4. After school, the children used to go round the high wall. They enjoyed talking about the beautiful garden inside.
5. The children talked about the beautiful garden inside the wall. They remembered how happy they felt there.
6. The children felt happy and nostalgic about the garden. They missed playing there.
7. Spring came after the children had nowhere to play. The season brought flowers and birds to other places.
8. When spring came, the country was full of flowers and birds. Nature appeared lively and beautiful everywhere.
9. Flowers and birds appeared all over the country. They were signs that spring had arrived.
10. The Giant’s garden was still in winter. It remained cold and lifeless.
11. Birds were not singing and flowers were not blossoming in the Giant’s garden. The garden had only snow and frost.
12. The Giant’s garden was covered with snow and frost. The north wind made it cold and harsh.
13. The north wind was blowing in the Giant’s garden. It kept the garden in winter.
14. The Giant felt confused because spring had come elsewhere but not in his garden. He could not understand why it was delayed.
15. The Giant was sitting at the window of his big castle. He looked out at his cold and dry garden.
16. The Giant described his garden as cold, dry, and lifeless. He was disappointed to see it so bleak.
17. The Giant hoped for a change in the weather. He wished spring would finally come to his garden.
18. Neither spring nor summer came to the Giant’s garden. It remained frozen and empty.
19. The Giant thought spring was late because he did not understand why it had not reached his garden. He was puzzled by the delay.
20. The Giant felt sad and helpless about his lifeless garden. He longed to see it full of life again.
21. The garden likely remained in winter because the children were not allowed to play there. The Giant’s selfishness kept it lifeless.
22. Without the garden, the children missed playing and enjoying nature. They felt confined and unhappy.
23. The children remembered the garden fondly. They often talked about how happy they were there.
24. The high wall prevented the children from entering the garden. It kept them away and caused the garden to remain empty.
25. The busy roads made it unsafe for the children to play outside. This added to their frustration.
26. The presence of flowers and singing birds showed that spring had come elsewhere. Nature was full of life in other areas.
27. Birds and flowers were absent in the Giant’s garden because it was still under winter. The cold and north wind kept them away.
28. The Giant felt puzzled and sad when he saw the contrast between his garden and the rest of the country. He wished his garden could be lively too.
29. The Giant could bring spring to his garden by allowing children to play there. Their happiness would restore life and blossoms.
30. The passage shows that happiness and the presence of children bring spring and life to the garden. Joy and play are connected to the arrival of spring.