Chapter: Events and Festivals
đ Vocabulary
English For Today Classes Nine and Ten
â Most Important Exam Words
mythgoddessformalannounceobservecelebratesacrificecommemorateindustrialrevolutiontrade unionstrikerallyexploitwoundedmemorablemartyrtributedeclaredefyclimaxmomentumprovokecommemorationmourningwreathproclaimdiversitymultilingualismexpatriaterecognitionindependencefervoursalutemausoleumhomagespectatorilluminatedisplaysignificanceirrespectivefestivityaspirationadornrenownedcarnivalcontemporary
đ Word Formation Rules
âē observe â observation â observant: āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž â āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻˇāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ â āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻļā§āĻ˛
âē celebrate â celebration â celebratory: āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž â āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ â āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨āĻŽā§āĻ˛āĻ
âē commemorate â commemoration â commemorative: āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖ āĻāĻ°āĻž â āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨ â āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ°āĻ
âē sacrifice â sacrificial: āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ â āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻāĻŽā§āĻ˛āĻ
âē industrial â industry â industrialise: āĻļāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒāĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ â āĻļāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒ â āĻļāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒāĻžā§āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
âē exploit â exploitation â exploitative: āĻļā§āĻˇāĻŖ āĻāĻ°āĻž â āĻļā§āĻˇāĻŖ â āĻļā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻŽā§āĻ˛āĻ
âē independence â independent â independently: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž â āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨ â āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨āĻāĻžāĻŦā§
âē recognition â recognise â recognisable: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ â āĻ¸ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻž â āĻā§āĻ¨āĻž āĻ¯āĻžā§ āĻāĻŽāĻ¨
âē diversity â diverse â diversify: āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯ â āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻŽā§ â āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯ āĻāĻ¨āĻž
âē significance â significant â significantly: āĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦ â āĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖ â āĻāĻ˛ā§āĻ˛ā§āĻāĻ¯ā§āĻā§āĻ¯āĻāĻžāĻŦā§
âē adorn â adornment: āĻ¸āĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž â āĻ
āĻ˛āĻāĻāĻ°āĻŖ
âē renowned â renown: āĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤āĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ â āĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤āĻŋ
1. Mother's Day (8 words)
myth[/mÉĒθ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻŖāĻāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ
Alt: āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻā§āĻ¨ āĻāĻŋāĻāĻŦāĻĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻ˛ā§āĻĒāĻāĻžāĻšāĻŋāĻ¨āĻŋ
Example: According to Greek myth, Rhea was the mother of the gods.
Syn: legend, taleAnt: fact
đĄ Exam tip: Remember the phrase 'according to ancient Greek myths'.
goddess[/ËÉĄÉdes/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĻā§āĻŦā§
Alt: āĻ¨āĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻĻā§āĻŦāĻ¤āĻž
Example: Rhea was regarded as the mother of the gods.
Syn: deityAnt: mortal
đĄ Exam tip: The masculine form is 'god'.
formal[/ËfÉËmÉl/]adjectiveeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻ°āĻŋāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ¤
Example: Mother's Day became a formal holiday in the USA.
Syn: official, ceremonialAnt: informal
đĄ Exam tip: Use 'formal holiday' in questions about Mother's Day.
announce[/ÉËnaĘns/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻž āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ¸āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻ¸āĻžāĻ§āĻžāĻ°āĻŖāĻā§ āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻāĻŦāĻ° āĻāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ¨ā§
Example: The president announced the holiday in 1914.
Syn: declare, proclaimAnt: conceal
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: announcement.
observe[/ÉbËzÉËv/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: People observe Mother's Day with love and respect.
Syn: celebrate, commemorateAnt: ignore
đĄ Exam tip: 'Observe a day' means 'āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž', not only 'āĻĻā§āĻāĻž'.
celebrate[/ËselÉĒbreÉĒt/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: Children celebrate Mother's Day by giving gifts to their mothers.
Syn: observe, rejoiceAnt: mourn
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: celebration.
sacrifice[/ËsÃĻkrÉĒfaÉĒs/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻŽāĻšā§ āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ¯ā§ āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¸āĻ°ā§āĻāĻ¨
Example: A mother makes many sacrifices for her children.
Syn: devotion, self-denialAnt: selfishness
đĄ Exam tip: The verb is also 'sacrifice'.
flank[/flÃĻÅk/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻļāĻ°ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻļ
Alt: āĻĻā§āĻšā§āĻ° āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻļā§āĻŦāĻĻā§āĻļ
Example: The mother was holding the child on her flank.
Syn: sideAnt: centre
đĄ Exam tip: Learn the expression 'on one's flank'.
2. May Day and Workers' Rights (8 words)
commemorate[/kÉËmemÉreÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖ āĻāĻāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: May Day commemorates the struggle of working people.
Syn: remember, honourAnt: forget
đĄ Exam tip: Often followed by a historical event or person.
industrial[/ÉĒnËdĘstriÉl/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: āĻļāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒāĻ¸āĻāĻā§āĻ°āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻ°āĻāĻžāĻ¨āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻļāĻŋāĻ˛ā§āĻĒā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤
Example: The Industrial Revolution changed the lives of workers.
Syn: manufacturing, mechanicalAnt: agricultural
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: industry.
revolution[/ËrevÉËluËĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒā§āĻ˛āĻŦ
Alt: āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ āĻ āĻāĻāĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ¤āĻ¨
Example: The Industrial Revolution introduced machines into factories.
Syn: uprising, transformationAnt: stability
đĄ Exam tip: Capitalise it in 'Industrial Revolution'.
trade union[/ËtreÉĒd ËjuËniÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻ¸āĻāĻ
Alt: āĻļā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŋāĻāĻĻā§āĻ° āĻ
āĻ§āĻŋāĻāĻžāĻ° āĻ°āĻā§āĻˇāĻžāĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻ¸āĻāĻāĻ āĻ¨
Example: The trade union demanded an eight-hour workday.
Syn: labour union, workers' organisationAnt: employer
đĄ Exam tip: A trade union represents workers.
strike[/straÉĒk/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ§āĻ°ā§āĻŽāĻāĻ
Alt: āĻĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋ āĻāĻĻāĻžā§ā§āĻ° āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻ¨ā§āĻ§ āĻ°āĻžāĻāĻž
Example: The workers went on strike for an eight-hour workday.
Syn: walkout, protestAnt: work
đĄ Exam tip: Use the phrase 'go on strike'.
rally[/ËrÃĻli/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻŦā§āĻļ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĻāĻžāĻŦāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ¯ā§ āĻā§ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ¨āĻ¸āĻāĻž
Example: About six thousand workers joined the rally.
Syn: meeting, demonstrationAnt: dispersal
đĄ Exam tip: 'Hold a rally' is a useful collocation.
exploit[/ÉĒkËsplÉÉĒt/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻˇāĻŖ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻ¯āĻžā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ°āĻ āĻļā§āĻ°āĻŽ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻ˛āĻ¤āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ§āĻž āĻ¨ā§āĻā§āĻž
Example: Poor workers are often exploited by powerful employers.
Syn: oppress, take advantage ofAnt: protect
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: exploitation.
wounded[/ËwuËndÉĒd/]adjectiveeasy
Meaning: āĻāĻšāĻ¤
Alt: āĻāĻāĻžāĻ¤āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻžāĻĒā§āĻ¤
Example: Several workers were seriously wounded in the attack.
Syn: injured, hurtAnt: unhurt
đĄ Exam tip: Verb form: wound; past form: wounded.
3. Language Movement and Mother Language Day (8 words)
memorable[/ËmemÉrÉbÉl/]adjectiveeasy
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖā§ā§
Alt: āĻ¯āĻž āĻŽāĻ¨ā§ āĻ°āĻžāĻāĻžāĻ° āĻŽāĻ¤ā§
Example: Twenty-one February is a memorable day in our history.
Syn: unforgettable, notableAnt: forgettable
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: memory or memorability.
martyr[/ËmÉËtÉr/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻļāĻšā§āĻĻ
Alt: āĻ¨ā§āĻ¯āĻžā§āĻ¸āĻā§āĻāĻ¤ āĻāĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļā§āĻ° āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ āĻā§āĻŦāĻ¨āĻĻāĻžāĻ¨āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: We pay tribute to the language martyrs.
Syn: hero, sacrificial victimAnt: coward
đĄ Exam tip: Plural form: martyrs.
tribute[/ËtrÉĒbjuËt/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ°āĻĻā§āĻ§āĻžāĻā§āĻāĻ˛āĻŋ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻļāĻāĻ¸āĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻļā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻ
Example: We pay tribute to the martyrs on 21 February.
Syn: homage, respectAnt: insult
đĄ Exam tip: Use the phrase 'pay tribute to'.
declare[/dÉĒËkleÉr/]verbeasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻž āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻāĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ¨ā§
Example: Jinnah declared Urdu to be the only state language.
Syn: announce, proclaimAnt: withdraw
đĄ Exam tip: Passive form: 'was declared'.
defy[/dÉĒËfaÉĒ/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ
āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻĒāĻā§āĻˇā§āĻ° āĻāĻĻā§āĻļ āĻ¨āĻž āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻž
Example: The students defied the law and brought out a procession.
Syn: disobey, resistAnt: obey
đĄ Exam tip: Defy is followed by a law, order or authority.
climax[/ËklaÉĒmÃĻks/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻā§ā§āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ¯āĻžā§
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻāĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸āĻŦāĻā§ā§ā§ āĻāĻ¤ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻĒā§āĻ°ā§āĻŖ āĻŽā§āĻšā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤
Example: The Language Movement reached its climax in 1952.
Syn: peak, turning pointAnt: beginning
đĄ Exam tip: Remember 'reach its climax'.
momentum[/mÉËmentÉm/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ°āĻŽāĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻ
āĻā§āĻ°āĻāĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻļāĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: The protest gathered momentum day by day.
Syn: impetus, forceAnt: inertia
đĄ Exam tip: Common phrase: 'gather momentum'.
provoke[/prÉËvÉĘk/]verbhard
Meaning: āĻāĻ¸āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻž
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¤āĻŋāĻā§āĻ°āĻŋā§āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻ¤āĻŋāĻŦāĻžāĻĻ āĻ¸ā§āĻˇā§āĻāĻŋ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: The declaration provoked protests throughout the country.
Syn: incite, arouseAnt: calm
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: provocation.
4. International Mother Language Day Observance (8 words)
commemoration[/kÉËmemÉËreÉĒĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŽāĻ°āĻŖā§ āĻā§ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨
Example: The commemoration begins in the early hours of the day.
Syn: remembrance, memorialAnt: forgetfulness
đĄ Exam tip: Verb form: commemorate.
mourning[/ËmÉËnÉĒÅ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ
Alt: āĻŽā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻ°āĻŖā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻļ
Example: People sing mourning songs for the language martyrs.
Syn: grief, sorrowAnt: joy
đĄ Exam tip: 'Mourning songs' means āĻļā§āĻā§āĻ° āĻāĻžāĻ¨.
wreath[/riËθ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻˇā§āĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻ¤āĻŦāĻ
Alt: āĻŦā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ¤āĻžāĻāĻžāĻ° āĻĢā§āĻ˛ā§āĻ° āĻŽāĻžāĻ˛āĻž
Example: People place wreaths at the Shaheed Minar.
Syn: floral garland, bouquetAnt: none
đĄ Exam tip: Plural form: wreaths; pronunciation rhymes with 'teeth'.
proclaim[/prÉËkleÉĒm/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āĻˇāĻŖāĻž āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ¸āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻ°āĻŋāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻ¸āĻŋāĻĻā§āĻ§āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻāĻžāĻļ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: UNESCO proclaimed 21 February as International Mother Language Day.
Syn: declare, announceAnt: conceal
đĄ Exam tip: Proclaim is more formal than announce.
diversity[/daÉĒËvÉËsÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¯
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻ¨āĻžāĻ¨āĻžāĻ°āĻāĻŽā§āĻ° āĻāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: The day promotes linguistic and cultural diversity.
Syn: variety, multiformityAnt: uniformity
đĄ Exam tip: Adjective form: diverse.
multilingualism[/ËmĘltiËlÉĒÅÉĄwÉlÉĒzÉm/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻŦāĻšā§āĻāĻžāĻˇāĻŋāĻāĻ¤āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻāĻžāĻ§āĻŋāĻ āĻāĻžāĻˇāĻž āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻŦāĻšāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻ° āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĨāĻž
Example: International Mother Language Day promotes multilingualism.
Syn: polyglotismAnt: monolingualism
đĄ Exam tip: Break the word into multi + lingual + ism.
expatriate[/eksËpÃĻtriÉt/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸ā§
Alt: āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ āĻĻā§āĻļā§āĻ° āĻŦāĻžāĻāĻ°ā§ āĻŦāĻ¸āĻŦāĻžāĻ¸āĻāĻžāĻ°ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: Two Bangladeshi expatriates sent the proposal to the United Nations.
Syn: emigrant, overseas residentAnt: native
đĄ Exam tip: Often used with 'Bangladeshi'.
recognition[/ËrekÉÉĄËnÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦā§āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻŦāĻĻāĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻāĻ¨āĻ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦā§āĻāĻ°āĻŖ
Example: UNESCO acted in recognition of the martyrs' sacrifices.
Syn: acknowledgement, approvalAnt: denial
đĄ Exam tip: Phrase: 'in recognition of'.
5. Independence Day (8 words)
independence[/ËÉĒndÉĒËpendÉns/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻž
Alt: āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻ¨āĻŋā§āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻ°āĻŖ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻā§āĻ¤ āĻ
āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Bangladesh celebrates Independence Day on 26 March.
Syn: freedom, libertyAnt: dependence
đĄ Exam tip: Adjective form: independent.
fervour[/ËfÉËvÉr/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻĻā§āĻĻā§āĻĒāĻ¨āĻž
Alt: āĻ¤ā§āĻŦā§āĻ° āĻā§āĻ¸āĻžāĻš āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻŦā§āĻ
Example: People celebrate Independence Day with great enthusiasm and fervour.
Syn: enthusiasm, passionAnt: apathy
đĄ Exam tip: British spelling is 'fervour'; American spelling is 'fervor'.
salute[/sÉËluËt/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨āĻ¸ā§āĻāĻ āĻŦāĻ¨ā§āĻĻā§āĻāĻ§ā§āĻŦāĻ¨āĻŋ
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨āĻŋāĻ āĻĒāĻĻā§āĻ§āĻ¤āĻŋ
Example: The day begins with a thirty-one gun salute.
Syn: honour, ceremonyAnt: disrespect
đĄ Exam tip: Learn the phrase 'gun salute'.
mausoleum[/ËmÉËsÉËliËÉm/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻŋāĻ¸ā§āĻ§
Alt: āĻŽā§āĻ¤ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ° āĻ¸ā§āĻŽā§āĻ¤āĻŋāĻ¤ā§ āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ¸āĻŽāĻžāĻ§āĻŋ āĻāĻŦāĻ¨
Example: Leaders place wreaths at the National Mausoleum at Savar.
Syn: tomb, memorialAnt: none
đĄ Exam tip: National Mausoleum is located at Savar.
homage[/ËhÉmÉĒdĘ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻ°āĻĻā§āĻ§āĻž
Alt: āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨
Example: People pay homage to the martyrs of 1971.
Syn: tribute, respectAnt: disrespect
đĄ Exam tip: Phrase: 'pay homage to'.
spectator[/spekËteÉĒtÉr/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ
Alt: āĻ¯ā§ āĻŦā§āĻ¯āĻā§āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻ˛āĻž āĻĻā§āĻā§
Example: Thousands of spectators enjoyed the displays at the stadium.
Syn: observer, viewerAnt: participant
đĄ Exam tip: Do not confuse spectator with participant.
illuminate[/ÉĒËluËmÉĒneÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻ˛ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ˛ā§ āĻĻāĻŋā§ā§ āĻāĻā§āĻā§āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Example: Public buildings are illuminated with colourful lights in the evening.
Syn: light up, brightenAnt: darken
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: illumination.
display[/dÉĒËspleÉĒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨ā§
Alt: āĻĻāĻā§āĻˇāĻ¤āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§ āĻāĻĒāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāĻĒāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻā§ā§āĻāĻ¨
Example: School children take part in various displays.
Syn: exhibition, performanceAnt: concealment
đĄ Exam tip: As a verb, display means āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž.
6. Pahela Boishakh and Cultural Festivals (8 words)
significance[/sÉĒÉĄËnÉĒfÉĒkÉns/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āĻ°ā§āĻ¤ā§āĻŦ
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāĻ¨āĻžāĻ° āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻˇ āĻ¤āĻžā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ¯
Example: Pahela Boishakh has a special significance in Bangalee culture.
Syn: importance, meaningAnt: insignificance
đĄ Exam tip: Adjective form: significant.
irrespective[/ËÉĒrÉĒËspektÉĒv/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: āĻ¨āĻŋāĻ°ā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻļā§āĻˇā§
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĒāĻžāĻ°ā§āĻĨāĻā§āĻ¯ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āĻāĻ¨āĻž āĻ¨āĻž āĻāĻ°ā§
Example: People celebrate the festival irrespective of their religion.
Syn: regardless, regardless ofAnt: depending on
đĄ Exam tip: Usually followed by 'of'.
festivity[/feËstÉĒvÉti/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻ¸āĻŦ
Alt: āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻāĻ¨ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻĻāĻ¯āĻžāĻĒāĻ¨
Example: People celebrate Pahela Boishakh with traditional festivities.
Syn: celebration, rejoicingAnt: mourning
đĄ Exam tip: Plural form: festivities.
aspiration[/ËÃĻspÉËreÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻāĻžāĻā§āĻā§āĻˇāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¨āĻ¤āĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸āĻžāĻĢāĻ˛ā§āĻ¯ā§āĻ° āĻĒā§āĻ°āĻŦāĻ˛ āĻāĻā§āĻāĻž
Example: The new year inspires renewed hopes and aspirations.
Syn: ambition, desireAnt: indifference
đĄ Exam tip: Common pair: hopes and aspirations.
adorn[/ÉËdÉËn/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻāĻ°āĻž
Alt: āĻ¸ā§āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻ°ā§āĻ¯ āĻŦāĻžā§āĻžāĻ¨ā§āĻ° āĻāĻ¨ā§āĻ¯ āĻ¸āĻžāĻāĻžāĻ¨ā§
Example: Women adorn themselves with colourful flowers.
Syn: decorate, embellishAnt: strip
đĄ Exam tip: Adorn is commonly followed by 'with'.
renowned[/rÉĒËnaĘnd/]adjectiveeasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤āĻŋāĻŽāĻžāĻ¨
Alt: āĻ¸ā§āĻĒāĻ°āĻŋāĻāĻŋāĻ¤ āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻā§āĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤
Example: Renowned artists take part in the cultural programme.
Syn: famous, celebratedAnt: unknown
đĄ Exam tip: Use 'renowned for' to mention a reason for fame.
carnival[/ËkÉËnÉĒvÉl/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻŽā§āĻ˛āĻž
Alt: āĻā§āĻ¸āĻŦāĻŽā§āĻāĻ° āĻļā§āĻāĻžāĻ¯āĻžāĻ¤ā§āĻ°āĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻ¨āĻ¨ā§āĻĻ āĻ
āĻ¨ā§āĻˇā§āĻ āĻžāĻ¨
Example: The colourful procession is the biggest carnival in the country.
Syn: festival, pageantAnt: solemnity
đĄ Exam tip: A carnival is usually lively and colourful.
contemporary[/kÉnËtempÉrÉri/]adjectivehard
Meaning: āĻ¸āĻŽāĻ¸āĻžāĻŽā§āĻŋāĻ
Alt: āĻŦāĻ°ā§āĻ¤āĻŽāĻžāĻ¨ āĻ¸āĻŽā§ā§āĻ° āĻ¸āĻā§āĻā§ āĻ¸āĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻāĻŋāĻ¤
Example: The masks often symbolise contemporary worries.
Syn: modern, currentAnt: ancient
đĄ Exam tip: Noun form: contemporaneity; also means a person living at the same time.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ 'Observe a day' means āĻā§āĻ¨ā§ āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¨ āĻĒāĻžāĻ˛āĻ¨ āĻāĻ°āĻž, āĻāĻ° 'observe a person' means āĻāĻžāĻāĻā§ āĻ˛āĻā§āĻˇā§āĻ¯ āĻāĻ°āĻž.
âĸ May Day is observed on 1 May to commemorate the workers' struggle for an eight-hour workday.
âĸ Use 'pay tribute to' and 'pay homage to' before a person or group receiving respect.
âĸ Remember the timeline: 1948 Jinnah declared Urdu the only state language; 1952 Language Movement reached its climax; 1999 UNESCO proclaimed 21 February International Mother Language Day.
âĸ Use 'defy the law' to describe disobedience and 'gather momentum' to describe growing strength.
âĸ Independence Day is 26 March, and the National Mausoleum is at Savar.
âĸ Pahela Boishakh is the first day of the Bangla New Year and represents cultural unity.
âĸ For gap filling, check grammatical form: noun, verb, adjective or adverb.
âĸ Use linking words such as 'because', 'therefore', 'as a result', 'then' and 'finally' when writing answers in logical sequence.
âĸ In synonym questions, remember: tribute-homage, climax-peak, defy-disobey, diversity-variety and proclaim-declare.