Reading Text & Bengali Meaning (Unit 1)
There was once a lad who wanted to be a sailor but his mother would not let him go to the sea.
উচ্চারণ: দেয়ার ওয়াজ ওয়ান্স আ ল্যাড হু ওয়ান্টেড টু বি আ সেইলর বাট হিজ মাদার উড নট লেট হিম গো টু দ্য সি।
বাংলা অর্থ: একসময় এক বালক ছিল যে নাবিক হতে চাইত, কিন্তু তার মা তাকে সমুদ্রে যেতে দিতেন না।
"Child, what do you know of sailing?" she would say. "You're a farmer's son, you know the turn of the seasons and the smell of the soil but you do not know the sea."
উচ্চারণ: "চাইল্ড, হোয়াট ডু ইউ নো অফ সেইলিং?" শি উড সে। "ইউ'আর আ ফার্মার'স সন, ইউ নো দ্য টার্ন অফ দ্য সিজনস অ্যান্ড দ্য স্মেল অফ দ্য সয়েল বাট ইউ ডু নট নো দ্য সি।"
বাংলা অর্থ: "বাছা, তুমি পাল তোলার (সমুদ্রযাত্রার) কী জানো?" তিনি বলতেন। "তুমি একজন কৃষকের ছেলে, তুমি ঋতুগুলোর পরিবর্তন এবং মাটির গন্ধ জানো, কিন্তু তুমি সমুদ্রকে চেনো না।"
Now the boy whose name was Jon, had always obeyed his mother. So he went about his farm work with a heavy heart but did not again mention the sea.
উচ্চারণ: নাও দ্য বয় হুজ নেম ওয়াজ জন, হ্যাড অলওয়েজ ওবেইড হিজ মাদার। সো হি ওয়েন্ট অ্যাবাউট হিজ ফার্ম ওয়ার্ক উইথ আ হেভি হার্ট বাট ডিড নট এগেইন মেনশন দ্য সি।
বাংলা অর্থ: এখন এই ছেলেটি, যার নাম ছিল জন, সে সবসময় তার মায়ের কথা মেনে চলত। তাই সে ভারাক্রান্ত হৃদয়ে তার খামারের কাজে ফিরে গেল, কিন্তু আর কখনো সমুদ্রের কথা মুখে আনল না।
One day, he had been walking behind the plough. He all but ran over a tiny green turtle on a clod of dirt.
উচ্চারণ: ওয়ান ডে, হি হ্যাড বিন ওয়াকিং বিহাইন্ড দ্য প্লাও। হি অল বাট রান ওভার আ টাইনি গ্রিন টার্টল অন আ ক্লড অফ ডার্ট।
বাংলা অর্থ: একদিন, সে লাঙলের পেছনে পেছনে হাঁটছিল। মাটির একটা ঢেলার ওপর থাকা একটা ছোট্ট সবুজ কচ্ছপকে সে প্রায় পিষেই ফেলছিল।
He picked the turtle up and set it on his head where he knew it would be safe.
উচ্চারণ: হি পিকড দ্য টার্টল আপ অ্যান্ড সেট ইট অন হিজ হেড হোয়্যার হি নিউ ইট উড বি সেফ।
বাংলা অর্থ: সে কচ্ছপটিকে তুলে নিল এবং নিজের মাথার ওপর রাখল, কারণ সে জানত সেখানে ওটা নিরাপদে থাকবে।
When he was done with ploughing, Jon plucked the turtle from his head. To his utter surprise he found that it had turned into a tiny green fairy man that stood upon his palm and bowed.
উচ্চারণ: হোয়েন হি ওয়াজ ডান উইথ প্লাওয়িং, জন প্লাকড দ্য টার্টল ফ্রম হিজ হেড। টু হিজ আটার সারপ্রাইজ হি ফাউন্ড দ্যাট ইট হ্যাড টার্নড ইনটু আ টাইনি গ্রিন ফেয়ারি ম্যান দ্যাট স্টুড আপন হিজ পাম অ্যান্ড বোড।
বাংলা অর্থ: যখন তার লাঙল চষার কাজ শেষ হলো, জন তার মাথা থেকে কচ্ছপটিকে নামাল। সে চরম অবাক হয়ে দেখল যে ওটা একটা ছোট্ট সবুজ ডানাওয়ালা পরী-মানুষে পরিণত হয়েছে, যে তার হাতের তালুতে দাঁড়িয়ে মাথা নত করে কুর্নিশ করল।
"I thank you for my life," he said. "Now ask your heart's desire and I shall grant it to you for saving me."
উচ্চারণ: "আই থ্যাংক ইউ ফর মাই লাইফ," হি সেইড। "নাও আস্ক ইওর হার্ট'স ডিজায়ার অ্যান্ড আই শ্যাল গ্র্যান্ট ইট টু ইউ ফর সেভিং মি।"
বাংলা অর্থ: "আমার জীবন বাঁচানোর জন্য তোমাকে ধন্যবাদ," সে বলল। "এবার তোমার মনের ইচ্ছা চাও আর আমাকে বাঁচানোর জন্য আমি তা পূরণ করব।"
Jon bowed back but said nothing. Although his heart yearned to go out to the sea, he did not express his wish.
উচ্চারণ: জন বোড ব্যাক বাট সেইড নাথিং। অলদো হিজ হার্ট ইয়ার্নড টু গো আউট টু দ্য সি, হি ডিড নট এক্সপ্রেস হিজ উইশ।
বাংলা অর্থ: জনও মাথা নিচু করে কুর্নিশ জানাল, কিন্তু কিছুই বলল না। যদিও তার মন সমুদ্রে যাওয়ার জন্য আকুল ছিল, সে তার ইচ্ছার কথা প্রকাশ করল না।
The green fairy man could read a heart easily so he said, "I see you wish to go sailing." Jon's face answered for him.
উচ্চারণ: দ্য গ্রিন ফেয়ারি ম্যান কুড রিড আ হার্ট ইজিলি সো হি সেইড, "আই সি ইউ উইশ টু গো সেইলিং।" জন'স ফেস আনসারড ফর হিম।
বাংলা অর্থ: সবুজ পরী-মানুষটি সহজেই মনের কথা পড়তে পারত, তাই সে বলল, "আমি বুঝতে পারছি তুমি সমুদ্রযাত্রায় যেতে চাও।" জনের মুখাবয়বই এর উত্তর দিয়ে দিল।
"Since you put me on your head like a hat to keep me safe, I shall give you a different kind of cap in return, the kind sailors most desire. A cap full of wind. But there's one warning, no human hand will ever be able to take it off."
উচ্চারণ: "সিন্স ইউ পুট মি অন ইওর হেড লাইক আ হ্যাট টু কিপ মি সেফ, আই শ্যাল গিভ ইউ আ ডিফারেন্ট কাইন্ড অফ ক্যাপ ইন রিটার্ন, দ্য কাইন্ড সেইলরস মোস্ট ডিজায়ার। আ ক্যাপ ফুল অফ উইন্ড। বাট দেয়ার'স ওয়ান ওয়ার্নিং, নো হিউম্যান হ্যান্ড উইল এভার বি এবল টু টেক ইট অফ।"
বাংলা অর্থ: "যেহেতু তুমি আমাকে সুরক্ষিত রাখতে টুপির মতো মাথার ওপর রেখেছিলে, এর বদলে আমি তোমাকে অন্য ধরনের একটি টুপি দেব, ঠিক যেমনটা নাবিকেরা সবচেয়ে বেশি চায়। বাতাসে ভরা একটা টুপি। কিন্তু একটা সতর্কবাণী আছে, কোনো মানুষের হাত কখনোই এটি খুলতে পারবে না।"
Then with a blink, the fairy man disappeared leaving a striped cap behind. Young Jon put the cap on his head and ran home to tell his mother.
উচ্চারণ: দেন উইথ আ ব্লিংক, দ্য ফেয়ারি ম্যান ডিজঅ্যাপিয়ারড লিভিং আ স্ট্রাইপড ক্যাপ বিহাইন্ড। ইয়াং জন পুট দ্য ক্যাপ অন হিজ হেড অ্যান্ড রান হোম টু টেল হিজ মাদার।
বাংলা অর্থ: তারপর চোখের পলকেই, পরী-মানুষটি একটি ডোরাকাটা টুপি ফেলে রেখে অদৃশ্য হয়ে গেল। ছোট্ট জন টুপিটা মাথায় পরল এবং তার মাকে বলার জন্য দৌড়ে বাড়ি গেল।
Word Trove
| English Word | Meaning in English | Bengali Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| lad | boy | বালক / ছেলে |
| plough | a large farming tool to dig soil | লাঙল |
| clod | lump of earth | মাটির ঢেলা |
| yearned | had a strong desire | তীব্র আকাঙ্ক্ষা ছিল / আকুল ছিল |
| blink | open and shut the eyes quickly | চোখের পলক ফেলা |
| striped | having lines of different colours | ডোরাকাটা |
Activity Solutions
Activity 1 Tick the correct alternative:
(a) The lad wanted to be a (ii) sailor.
(b) Mother told the lad that he knew the smell of the (i) soil.
(c) Jon put the turtle on his (ii) head.
(d) The fairy man wanted to know Jon's (iii) heart's desire.
(b) Mother told the lad that he knew the smell of the (i) soil.
(c) Jon put the turtle on his (ii) head.
(d) The fairy man wanted to know Jon's (iii) heart's desire.
Activity 2 Rearrange the following sentences in the correct order and put the numbers in the given boxes:
1. Jon met the tiny green turtle. (2)
2. Mother said that Jon was a farmer's son. (1)
3. The turtle changed to the tiny green fairy man. (4)
4. Jon plucked the turtle from his head. (3)
5. Jon did not express his wish. (6)
6. The fairy man bowed. (5)
2. Mother said that Jon was a farmer's son. (1)
3. The turtle changed to the tiny green fairy man. (4)
4. Jon plucked the turtle from his head. (3)
5. Jon did not express his wish. (6)
6. The fairy man bowed. (5)
Activity 3 Answer the following question:
Why do you think Jon thought that the turtle would be safe on his head?
Answer: Jon was walking behind the plough. He thought that if the turtle remained on the clod of dirt, it might easily be crushed and killed under the heavy plough. So, he put the turtle on his head to keep it completely safe from harm.
Answer: Jon was walking behind the plough. He thought that if the turtle remained on the clod of dirt, it might easily be crushed and killed under the heavy plough. So, he put the turtle on his head to keep it completely safe from harm.
Activity 4 Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a) The cap that sailors most desire is a cap full of wind.
(b) Seeing a ship anchored near the shore Jon requested the captain to take him along.
(c) By twisting the cap, Jon could summon the east wind and the west wind.
(d) Jon desired to see the land because he had not set foot on land for a year and a day.
(b) Seeing a ship anchored near the shore Jon requested the captain to take him along.
(c) By twisting the cap, Jon could summon the east wind and the west wind.
(d) Jon desired to see the land because he had not set foot on land for a year and a day.
Activity 5 Answer the following questions:
(a) Why did the fairy man offer Jon the wind cap?
Answer: The fairy man offered Jon the wind cap in return for saving his life. The fairy man could read hearts easily and he knew that Jon's heart deeply yearned to go out to the sea.
(b) What was the condition that was associated with the wind cap?
Answer: The strict condition associated with the magic wind cap was that no human hand would ever be able to take it off from Jon's head.
(c) Why did Jon become popular with the sailors?
Answer: Jon became very popular with the sailors because he could control the weather. By twisting his cap, he could call up the favourable winds that the sailors urgently needed for sailing the ship.
Answer: The fairy man offered Jon the wind cap in return for saving his life. The fairy man could read hearts easily and he knew that Jon's heart deeply yearned to go out to the sea.
(b) What was the condition that was associated with the wind cap?
Answer: The strict condition associated with the magic wind cap was that no human hand would ever be able to take it off from Jon's head.
(c) Why did Jon become popular with the sailors?
Answer: Jon became very popular with the sailors because he could control the weather. By twisting his cap, he could call up the favourable winds that the sailors urgently needed for sailing the ship.
Activity 6 Write 'T' for true and 'F' for false statements. Provide supporting statements:
(a) Jon never dreamt about the land.
F
Supporting Statement: "Jon could not stop dreaming of the land."
(b) The squall was called up because Jon was sleeping.
F
Supporting Statement: "The squall was called up because Jon twisted the cap in his dream."
(c) The captain was angry with Jon.
T
Supporting Statement: "The captain was angry and he grabbed him by the tail of his striped cap."
(d) Jon did not return the wind cap to the fairy man.
F
Supporting Statement: "He placed the wind cap under a stone where he knew the fairy man would find it."
Activity 7 Answer the following questions:
(a) Why did the sailors try to rip off the cap from Jon's head?
Answer: While sleeping, Jon twisted the cap in his dream which accidentally summoned a fierce squall. The sudden storm tore the sails and snapped the spars. To stop the storm and save the ship, the frightened sailors tried to rip off the cap from Jon's head.
(b) How did Jon divide his time between land and sea?
Answer: Jon divided his time equally. He spent half the year living on a ship at sea, and the remaining half of the year living on the shore.
(c) Do you think Jon was rightly called Captain Turtle? Give reasons.
Answer: Yes, Jon was rightly called Captain Turtle. Just like a turtle is perfectly comfortable living both in water and on land, Jon also lived happily spending half his time sailing the sea and half his time farming on the land.
Answer: While sleeping, Jon twisted the cap in his dream which accidentally summoned a fierce squall. The sudden storm tore the sails and snapped the spars. To stop the storm and save the ship, the frightened sailors tried to rip off the cap from Jon's head.
(b) How did Jon divide his time between land and sea?
Answer: Jon divided his time equally. He spent half the year living on a ship at sea, and the remaining half of the year living on the shore.
(c) Do you think Jon was rightly called Captain Turtle? Give reasons.
Answer: Yes, Jon was rightly called Captain Turtle. Just like a turtle is perfectly comfortable living both in water and on land, Jon also lived happily spending half his time sailing the sea and half his time farming on the land.
Grammar & Writing Skills
Activity 8 (a) & (b) Grammar Note: Present Perfect Continuous vs Past Perfect Continuous
A verb that shows an action began in the past and is still continuing at the time of speaking is said to be in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense. (e.g., They have been travelling for ten hours.)
A verb that shows an action started in the past and continued up to a certain point of time in the past is said to be in the Past Perfect Continuous Tense. (e.g., She had been studying hard for the last eight years before she passed.)
Activity 8 (c) Fill in the blanks with either the Present Perfect Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous Tense:
(i) The rain had been pouring when I left home. (pour)
(ii) The engineers have been building the bridge for the past few months. (build)
(iii) The performers have been singing since evening. (sing)
(iv) At that time, Mr. Roy had been writing poems for one month. (write)
(ii) The engineers have been building the bridge for the past few months. (build)
(iii) The performers have been singing since evening. (sing)
(iv) At that time, Mr. Roy had been writing poems for one month. (write)
Activity 9 Replace the underlined words with their antonyms:
(a) Jon had always obeyed his mother.
Answer: Jon had always disobeyed his mother.
(b) Jon began his first ever sea voyage.
Answer: Jon ended / finished his first ever sea voyage.
(c) He became very popular with the sailors.
Answer: He became very unpopular with the sailors.
(d) In Jon's dream the seasons turned rapidly.
Answer: In Jon's dream the seasons turned slowly.
Answer: Jon had always disobeyed his mother.
(b) Jon began his first ever sea voyage.
Answer: Jon ended / finished his first ever sea voyage.
(c) He became very popular with the sailors.
Answer: He became very unpopular with the sailors.
(d) In Jon's dream the seasons turned rapidly.
Answer: In Jon's dream the seasons turned slowly.
Activity 10 (a) Imagine you are out on the open sea in a boat with waves rising all around you. Would you feel scared or excited? Write a paragraph in about eighty words describing your experience:
A Thrilling Sea Voyage
Once, I was out on the open sea in a small boat. Suddenly, the weather changed, and huge waves started rising all around me. The small boat tossed violently on the dark, raging water. At first, I felt deeply scared as the endless ocean looked terrifying and I thought the boat would sink. But soon, the fear turned into excitement. Fighting against the powerful waves and feeling the cool, salty wind on my face gave me a thrilling sense of adventure that I will never forget.
Activity 10 (b) Suppose you had wished to perform on stage for a long time. On the occasion of your school's annual function, you finally got a chance to do so. Write a letter to your friend describing how you felt:
Village + P.O - Memari,
Purba Bardhaman.
Date: 12 March, 2026
Dear Suman,
Hope you are keeping well. Today I am very happy and I must share this joy with you. You know that I have always dreamt of performing on stage. Finally, my wish came true yesterday!
On the occasion of our school's Annual Function, our teacher selected me to sing a solo Tagore song. Before going up on stage, I was extremely nervous and my hands were shaking. But as soon as I held the microphone and started singing, the fear vanished. When I finished my song, the whole hall burst into loud clapping. My parents and teachers praised me warmly. It was the best day of my life!
No more today. Convey my regards to your parents.
Your loving friend,
Rohan
To,
Suman Das
C/o: Bimal Das
14/2 Park Street,
Kolkata-700016.
Suman Das
C/o: Bimal Das
14/2 Park Street,
Kolkata-700016.
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