Chapter: Avajon’s Problem page
📚 Vocabulary
English For Today Classes Nine and Ten
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
floating peoplemakeshift shackinhuman conditioncivilized societyhealth and hygienerural-to-urban migrationsocial problemrehabilitate displaced peopleassimilate into a new cultureclimate changeriver erosionrootless peopleagricultural landdiasporaculture shockhomesicknessidentity crisissocial acceptanceeconomic hardshiploose family tiesodd jobsincome taxprofessional trainingforget one’s roots
📃 Word Formation Rules
► root + less = rootless: শিকড়হীন
► home + sickness = homesickness: বাড়ির জন্য মন কেমন করা
► home + town = hometown: নিজ শহর বা গ্রাম
► make + shift = makeshift: অস্থায়ীভাবে তৈরি
► agriculture + al = agricultural: কৃষিসংক্রান্ত
► migrate + ion = migration: অভিবাসন বা স্থানান্তর
► displace + ment = displacement: বাস্তুচ্যুতি
► rehabilitate + ion = rehabilitation: পুনর্বাসন
► integrate + ion = integration: একীভবন
► accept + ance = acceptance: গ্রহণযোগ্যতা
► consequence is a noun; consequent is an adjective
► pollute is a verb; pollution is a noun; polluted is an adjective
► adapt is a verb; adaptation is a noun; adaptable is an adjective
► poverty is a noun; poor is an adjective; impoverish is a verb
► citizen is a noun; citizenship is a noun; civic is an adjective
1. Urban Poverty and Living Conditions (8 words)
footpath[/ˈfʊtpɑːθ/]noun
Meaning: পথচারীদের চলার রাস্তা
Alt: sidewalk
Example: Many floating people live beside the city footpaths.
Syn: sidewalk, pavementAnt: highway
💡 Exam tip: Footpath means a path beside a road for people to walk on.
floating[/ˈfləʊtɪŋ/]adj
Meaning: ভাসমান; স্থায়ী বাসস্থানহীন
Alt: moving without a fixed home
Example: The government should rehabilitate floating people.
Syn: homeless, rootlessAnt: settled, rooted
💡 Exam tip: In this lesson, floating people means people without permanent homes.
makeshift[/ˈmeɪkʃɪft/]adj
Meaning: অস্থায়ীভাবে তৈরি
Alt: temporary and poorly constructed
Example: The family lives in a makeshift shack.
Syn: temporary, improvisedAnt: permanent, durable
💡 Exam tip: Makeshift is commonly used before nouns such as shack, shelter, or arrangement.
shack[/ʃæk/]noun
Meaning: কুঁড়েঘর; ছোট জরাজীর্ণ ঘর
Alt: a roughly built shelter
Example: Several families share a small shack.
Syn: hut, shelterAnt: mansion, palace
💡 Exam tip: A shack is usually small, poor, and roughly constructed.
inhuman[/ɪnˈhjuːmən/]adj
Meaning: অমানবিক
Alt: cruel or unsuitable for human beings
Example: Nobody should live in such inhuman conditions.
Syn: cruel, brutalAnt: humane, kind
💡 Exam tip: The prefix in- changes human into its opposite: inhuman.
civilized[/ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/]adj
Meaning: সভ্য
Alt: socially and culturally developed
Example: A civilized society protects the poor and helpless.
Syn: cultured, developedAnt: uncivilized, barbaric
💡 Exam tip: Use civilized to describe an advanced and humane society.
pollute[/pəˈluːt/]verb
Meaning: দূষিত করা
Alt: to make air, water, or land dirty
Example: Open waste can pollute the environment.
Syn: contaminate, defileAnt: clean, purify
💡 Exam tip: Pollute is a verb; pollution is its noun form and polluted is its adjective form.
hygiene[/ˈhaɪdʒiːn/]noun
Meaning: স্বাস্থ্যবিধি
Alt: practices that preserve health and cleanliness
Example: Personal hygiene helps prevent many diseases.
Syn: cleanliness, sanitationAnt: dirtiness, uncleanliness
💡 Exam tip: Hygiene is an uncountable noun and is often used with personal or public.
2. Society and Social Problems (8 words)
concern[/kənˈsɜːn/]noun
Meaning: উদ্বেগ; চিন্তা
Alt: a feeling of worry about something
Example: Avajon understands Mithun’s concern about the homeless.
Syn: worry, anxietyAnt: indifference, carelessness
💡 Exam tip: Concern can be a noun or a verb; concerned is the common adjective form.
migration[/maɪˈɡreɪʃən/]noun
Meaning: অভিবাসন; স্থানান্তর
Alt: movement from one place to another
Example: Rural-to-urban migration creates pressure on cities.
Syn: movement, relocationAnt: settlement, stability
💡 Exam tip: Migration may be seasonal, internal, or international.
urban[/ˈɜːbən/]adj
Meaning: শহুরে
Alt: related to a city or town
Example: Urban areas often attract people from villages.
Syn: city-based, municipalAnt: rural, village-based
💡 Exam tip: Urban is the adjective of city; its opposite is rural.
burden[/ˈbɜːdən/]noun
Meaning: বোঝা; ভার
Alt: a heavy responsibility or difficulty
Example: A huge population can become a burden on city services.
Syn: load, responsibilityAnt: benefit, relief
💡 Exam tip: Burden may refer to a physical load or a social and financial responsibility.
rehabilitate[/ˌriːəˈbɪlɪteɪt/]verb
Meaning: পুনর্বাসন করা
Alt: to restore to a normal or useful life
Example: The authorities should rehabilitate displaced families.
Syn: restore, resettleAnt: neglect, abandon
💡 Exam tip: Rehabilitation is the noun form; resettle is a close synonym in this context.
assimilate[/əˈsɪməleɪt/]verb
Meaning: মিশে যাওয়া; আত্মীকরণ করা
Alt: to become part of a new culture or group
Example: Migrants may find it difficult to assimilate into urban culture.
Syn: integrate, adaptAnt: separate, isolate
💡 Exam tip: Use assimilate with into when referring to joining a culture or society.
discrepancy[/dɪˈskrepənsi/]noun
Meaning: বৈষম্য; অমিল
Alt: a difference or lack of equality
Example: Social discrepancies often force poor people to migrate.
Syn: inequality, differenceAnt: equality, agreement
💡 Exam tip: In this chapter, social discrepancies means inequalities in society.
poverty[/ˈpɒvəti/]noun
Meaning: দারিদ্র্য
Alt: the condition of being very poor
Example: Poverty is one of the major causes of migration.
Syn: indigence, hardshipAnt: wealth, prosperity
💡 Exam tip: Poverty is uncountable; poor is its adjective and impoverish is its verb.
3. Displacement and Environmental Causes (8 words)
rootless[/ˈruːtləs/]adj
Meaning: শিকড়হীন; নিজভূমি থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন
Alt: without a settled home or cultural connection
Example: Displaced people often feel rootless in a new city.
Syn: homeless, displacedAnt: rooted, settled
💡 Exam tip: Rootless is formed by adding -less to root.
climate[/ˈklaɪmət/]noun
Meaning: জলবায়ু
Alt: the usual weather conditions of a place
Example: Climate change can force families to leave their homes.
Syn: weather pattern, atmosphere
💡 Exam tip: Climate means long-term weather conditions, while weather means short-term conditions.
erosion[/ɪˈrəʊʒən/]noun
Meaning: ভাঙন; ক্ষয়
Alt: the gradual destruction of land by water or wind
Example: River erosion has destroyed many villages.
Syn: wearing away, degradationAnt: construction, building
💡 Exam tip: River erosion is a frequent cause of displacement in Bangladesh.
displace[/dɪˈspleɪs/]verb
Meaning: বাস্তুচ্যুত করা
Alt: to force someone to leave a home or place
Example: Floods displace thousands of people every year.
Syn: evict, removeAnt: settle, accommodate
💡 Exam tip: Displaced is often used as an adjective before people or families.
refugee[/ˌrefjuˈdʒiː/]noun
Meaning: শরণার্থী
Alt: a person forced to leave home for safety
Example: After losing his land, Mojnu Mia considers himself a refugee.
Syn: exile, displaced personAnt: resident, native
💡 Exam tip: A refugee leaves home because of danger, disaster, conflict, or persecution.
agricultural[/ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl/]adj
Meaning: কৃষিসংক্রান্ত
Alt: related to farming
Example: River erosion destroyed Mojnu Mia’s agricultural land.
Syn: farming, cultivation-relatedAnt: industrial, urban
💡 Exam tip: Agriculture is the noun; agricultural is the adjective.
disaster[/dɪˈzɑːstə/]noun
Meaning: দুর্যোগ; বিপর্যয়
Alt: a sudden event causing great damage
Example: Natural disasters often make poor families homeless.
Syn: catastrophe, calamityAnt: blessing, success
💡 Exam tip: Floods, cyclones, and river erosion can be environmental disasters.
displaced[/dɪˈspleɪst/]adj
Meaning: বাস্তুচ্যুত
Alt: forced to leave one’s usual home
Example: Displaced families need shelter and employment.
Syn: homeless, uprootedAnt: settled, established
💡 Exam tip: Displaced is the past participle of displace and commonly functions as an adjective.
4. Identity, Culture and Belonging (8 words)
identity[/aɪˈdentəti/]noun
Meaning: পরিচয়
Alt: the characteristics that define a person or group
Example: Language and culture are important parts of identity.
Syn: individuality, personalityAnt: anonymity, unknownness
💡 Exam tip: Identity crisis means uncertainty about one’s role or sense of self.
culture[/ˈkʌltʃə/]noun
Meaning: সংস্কৃতি
Alt: the customs, beliefs, and way of life of a group
Example: Migrants may struggle to adjust to a new culture.
Syn: tradition, civilization
💡 Exam tip: Culture is usually uncountable when referring to a general way of life.
tradition[/trəˈdɪʃən/]noun
Meaning: ঐতিহ্য; প্রথা
Alt: a custom passed from one generation to another
Example: People living abroad may miss their traditions.
Syn: custom, heritageAnt: modernity, innovation
💡 Exam tip: Traditional is the adjective form of tradition.
hometown[/ˈhəʊmtaʊn/]noun
Meaning: নিজ শহর বা গ্রাম
Alt: the place where someone was born or grew up
Example: Diaspora communities often remember their hometowns.
Syn: native place, birthplaceAnt: foreign land
💡 Exam tip: Hometown is a compound noun formed from home and town.
diaspora[/daɪˈæspərə/]noun
Meaning: দেশের বাইরে ছড়িয়ে থাকা জনগোষ্ঠী
Alt: the scattering of people away from their homeland
Example: The Bangladeshi diaspora lives in many countries.
Syn: dispersion, scatteringAnt: repatriation, return
💡 Exam tip: Diaspora refers both to the scattering of people and the community living abroad.
homesickness[/ˈhəʊmsɪknəs/]noun
Meaning: বাড়ির জন্য মন কেমন করা
Alt: sadness caused by being away from home
Example: Many immigrants suffer from homesickness during their first years abroad.
Syn: nostalgia, longingAnt: contentment, satisfaction
💡 Exam tip: Homesick is the adjective; homesickness is the noun.
integrate[/ˈɪntɪɡreɪt/]verb
Meaning: একীভূত হওয়া; মিশে যাওয়া
Alt: to combine with or become part of a group
Example: Newcomers need time to integrate into society.
Syn: unite, assimilateAnt: separate, exclude
💡 Exam tip: Integrate is often followed by into when referring to society or culture.
belong[/bɪˈlɒŋ/]verb
Meaning: অন্তর্ভুক্ত বা আপন মনে হওয়া
Alt: to feel accepted as a member of a group
Example: Everyone needs to belong to a supportive community.
Syn: fit in, be connectedAnt: alienate, exclude
💡 Exam tip: The common structure is belong to, not belong with.
5. Migration, Expatriation and Work (8 words)
immigrant[/ˈɪmɪɡrənt/]noun
Meaning: অভিবাসী
Alt: a person who settles in another country
Example: Fazlur Rahman became an immigrant in the UK.
Syn: migrant, settlerAnt: emigrant, native
💡 Exam tip: An immigrant enters a country; an emigrant leaves a country.
expatriate[/ˌekspætriət/]noun
Meaning: প্রবাসী
Alt: a person living outside their own country
Example: The expatriate misses his family and culture.
Syn: emigrant, foreignerAnt: native, citizen
💡 Exam tip: Expatriate is often shortened to expat in informal English.
professional[/prəˈfeʃənəl/]adj
Meaning: পেশাগত; দক্ষ
Alt: related to a trained occupation
Example: He received professional training in the UK.
Syn: occupational, expertAnt: amateur, unskilled
💡 Exam tip: Profession is the noun, professional is the adjective or noun.
odd[/ɒd/]adj
Meaning: খণ্ডকালীন বা ছোটখাটো
Alt: irregular or occasional, especially in odd jobs
Example: He did all kinds of odd jobs at first.
Syn: casual, irregularAnt: regular, permanent
💡 Exam tip: Odd jobs means small, temporary, or miscellaneous jobs.
income[/ˈɪnkʌm/]noun
Meaning: আয়
Alt: money received regularly from work or investment
Example: He now earns a good amount of income.
Syn: earnings, revenueAnt: expenditure, loss
💡 Exam tip: Income is money received; expenditure is money spent.
tax[/tæks/]noun
Meaning: কর
Alt: money paid to the government
Example: Responsible citizens pay their income tax.
Syn: levy, dutyAnt: refund, rebate
💡 Exam tip: Income tax is a tax charged on earnings.
citizen[/ˈsɪtɪzən/]noun
Meaning: নাগরিক
Alt: a legally recognized member of a country
Example: Fazlur Rahman is now a citizen of the UK.
Syn: national, residentAnt: foreigner, alien
💡 Exam tip: Citizen is a noun; civic and citizenship are related forms.
expatriation[/ekˌspætriˈeɪʃən/]noun
Meaning: প্রবাসে বসবাস
Alt: the act of living outside one’s native country
Example: Expatriation may create cultural and emotional challenges.
Syn: emigration, overseas settlementAnt: repatriation, return
💡 Exam tip: Expatriation is formed from expatriate with the suffix -ion.
6. Psychological and Social Consequences (8 words)
consequence[/ˈkɒnsɪkwens/]noun
Meaning: পরিণতি
Alt: a result of an action or situation
Example: Migration may have both positive and negative consequences.
Syn: result, effectAnt: cause, origin
💡 Exam tip: Consequence is usually followed by of when its cause is mentioned.
culture shock[/ˈkʌltʃə ʃɒk/]noun
Meaning: নতুন সংস্কৃতিতে মানিয়ে নেওয়ার ধাক্কা
Alt: confusion caused by unfamiliar customs and ways of life
Example: New immigrants often experience culture shock.
Syn: cultural disorientation, adaptation shockAnt: cultural comfort, familiarity
💡 Exam tip: Culture shock is a compound noun and is usually used without an article in general statements.
adapt[/əˈdæpt/]verb
Meaning: খাপ খাওয়ানো
Alt: to adjust to new conditions
Example: Migrants need time to adapt to urban life.
Syn: adjust, accommodateAnt: resist, reject
💡 Exam tip: Use adapt to, not adapt with, before a new situation.
mental[/ˈmentəl/]adj
Meaning: মানসিক
Alt: related to the mind
Example: Displacement can cause serious mental stress.
Syn: psychological, intellectualAnt: physical, bodily
💡 Exam tip: Mental is related to the mind; it is not the same as mad or insane.
conflict[/ˈkɒnflɪkt/]noun
Meaning: দ্বন্দ্ব; সংঘাত
Alt: a serious disagreement or struggle
Example: Migrants may face a conflict between two identities.
Syn: dispute, struggleAnt: harmony, agreement
💡 Exam tip: As a noun, conflict is pronounced CON-flict; as a verb, it is pronounced con-FLICT.
identity crisis[/aɪˈdentəti ˈkraɪsɪs/]noun
Meaning: পরিচয় সংকট
Alt: uncertainty about one’s identity or purpose
Example: Living between two cultures may create an identity crisis.
Syn: self-doubt, identity confusionAnt: self-confidence, self-awareness
💡 Exam tip: The plural form is identity crises.
hardship[/ˈhɑːdʃɪp/]noun
Meaning: দুর্ভোগ; কষ্ট
Alt: a condition of suffering or difficulty
Example: Economic hardship can push people to migrate.
Syn: suffering, difficultyAnt: comfort, ease
💡 Exam tip: Hardship is generally uncountable when used in a broad sense.
acceptance[/əkˈseptəns/]noun
Meaning: গ্রহণযোগ্যতা; স্বীকৃতি
Alt: the act of being welcomed or approved
Example: Lack of social acceptance may make immigrants feel isolated.
Syn: approval, recognitionAnt: rejection, exclusion
💡 Exam tip: Acceptance is the noun form of accept; acceptable is the adjective.
💡 Exam Tips
• Distinguish urban from rural: urban means city-related, while rural means village or countryside-related.
• Distinguish immigrant from emigrant: an immigrant enters a country, but an emigrant leaves a country.
• Use adapt to, assimilate into, integrate into, and belong to correctly in sentence completion.
• Remember that hygiene, poverty, migration, and income are generally used as uncountable nouns.
• For paragraph writing, explain the causes and effects of rural-to-urban migration with examples such as poverty, river erosion, and climate change.
• In a synonym question, rootless may be matched with homeless, while civilized may be matched with cultured or developed.
• In an antonym question, use settled for floating, rural for urban, wealth for poverty, and harmony for conflict.
• Use the phrase in spite of to show contrast, as in: In spite of hardship, people continue to work hard.
• For comprehension questions, remember that Avajon suggests forming a committee to teach floating people basic health and hygiene.
• A suitable summary should mention that migration may provide opportunities but can also cause culture shock, homesickness, identity crisis, and social isolation.
• In transformation exercises, remember that unable to assimilate means not able to become part of a new culture.
• Use displaced people or floating people according to context; displaced emphasizes forced movement, while floating emphasizes lack of permanent residence.