Daffodil International University

Faculty of Science & Information Technology

Department of CSE
Final Examination, Summer 2019
Course Title: Writing & Comprehension, Course Code: ENG 123
Course Teacher(s): Md. Rafiz Uddin (MRU)
Time: 2 hours Total Marks: 40

Section-A (Reading) 25 Marks

Reading Passage 1
Universities in Britain
A) Today in Britain there are 124 state universities, but only one private university - the University of Buckingham.
Before the 19th century there were only six universities: Oxford. Cambridge, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and St
Andrews. Universities were usually linked to the Church and were established between the 13th and 15th centuries.
They often have good reputations, beautiful old buildings, traditions and usually offer a wide range of courses.
B) A number of universities were established in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a result of the industrial
revolution and they began training highly skilled people for industry. These universities were generally established
in major industrial centres such as Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle and other big cities. Sometimes called
modern or civic universities, these universities have the advantage of well-established libraries, academic
specialities and accommodation that is close to campus. These universities are often able to provide accommodation
for all first year students.
C) A number of new universities were established in the 1960s when children born after World War 2 entered the
higher education system. The government decided to expand higher education to educate these students. The
advantage of these universities is that they are well planned and most of the living and teaching facilities are on
campus.
D) Before 1992, higher education in the UK was split into polytechnics and universities. The polytechnics provided
skilled people for the industries situated in their region - they focused on vocational and professional subjects. For
many years, polytechnics didn't have the same influence as universities. However, by 1992, educational standards in
polytechnics were as good as universities and many became universities. Many of these universities also offer
diploma courses.
E) These universities are made of several smaller colleges which come together to form a single university under a
senate committee. There are only seven of these institutions in the UK - London University, Oxford and Cambridge
are examples. Specialist colleges offer a range of courses in one discipline - for example agriculture, music, design
or medicine. Some of these colleges may only offer- postgraduate programmes. These colleges are usually small,
with a limited number of students.
F) Universities have different locations. The older universities often have teaching facilities and student
accommodation situated close together. Students in these usually socialise in a particular part of the city and there is
a strong sense of community despite being in a large city. Some city campuses are situated on the outskirts of the
city. These very often have the space to provide sports facilities and accommodation. They are also close enough to
the city for students to enjoy city life. Some universities, notably Oxford and Cambridge, have a collegiate structure
- that is, students are members of colleges within the university. These colleges are the centre of social life and
academic life. Academic staffs usually live at the college, and students and staff enjoy easy relationships.

Questions 1-6 11
Answer the questions below with words taken from the Reading Passage.
1) What is the total number of universities in Britain at present? 1
 2) Why were several universities established during the 19th and 20th centuries? 2
3) What did the government decide to do in the 1960s? 2
4) What qualification do many former polytechnics provide? 2
5) How do the students of old universities develop a strong sense of community? 2
6) What are the colleges of collegiate structure universities the centre of? 2

Questions 7-12 6
Classify the following descriptions as referring to

OU (old universities)

CU (civic universities)
NU (new universities)
FP (former polytechnics)
UC (university colleges)

NB You may use any answer more than once.

7) have accommodation and educational facilities on campus.

8) provide various courses on a single subject.

9) have lecturers and students living in the same place.

10) were linked to religious institutions.

11) were built in growing cities.

12) offer diploma courses.

Reading Passage 2
The Muscles in Our Body
Our human body is made up of many muscles. All these muscles work together to help you move. They form the
muscle system. 650 muscles are wrapped around your bones. They basically cover the bones like a blanket. Muscles
are fastened to the bones by tough bands. These bands are called tendons. You can see your tendons when you
wiggle your finger. Moving your fingers back and forth makes your tendons move.
These muscles around the bone must be told when to move. They are controlled by your thinking. If you want to
walk, talk or smile, you send a message to the brain. Your brain picks up the message. It receives it and processes it.
Then it sends out an electrical signal through the nerves. The nerves make connections until the signal reaches the
proper muscle. This signal tells a muscle what it has to do. The muscle simply does exactly what the brain tells it to
do. When you jump, hundreds of muscles work to help you do that.
Muscles work by contracting. They shorten and pull the bone to move the body. They always pull and never push.
Muscles work in pairs. One muscle pulls, while the other relaxes. Then they switch around. For instance, when you
move your forearm, you use one pair of muscles. The muscles on the inside of your arm is the biceps. It contracts to
make you bend your arm. The muscle on the outside is the triceps. It relaxes when you bend your arm. If you want
to straighten your arm, the muscles switch roles. The biceps relaxes, whereas the triceps contracts. The biceps and
triceps are long and thread-like. The longest muscle, the sartorius, helps you cross your legs. The shortest muscle is
in your ear.
However, you cannot control all your muscles. Some muscles work without you thinking about them. This is the
case with your heart muscle. Heart muscles are stripped and oval in shape. They are extremely powerful and pump
your heart. This pumping motion gets the blood moving through your body. As well, the stomach muscle mixes food
around in your stomach. Then it pushes the food through your intestines and into the blood system. Stomach
muscles are short and have pointed ends.
Muscles work all the time. They even work when you are fast asleep. They keep your body firm and strong.
Therefore, it is important to be in good shape. You need to stay healthy so that your muscles can remain powerful
too. One thing that muscles need is good food. Muscles develop when they have protein. Milk, eggs, red meat, fish
and beans are rich in protein. A healthy diet includes these food types. Muscles also need to be exercised to remain
firm and toned. Regular exercise makes your muscles bigger, strengthens your heart and lungs and makes you more
flexible. Good ways to exercise our walking, swimming, cycling, dancing or playing soccer. These activities
improve your stamina. If you have good stamina, you can keep going for a long time without getting tired.

Questions 13-18 6
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
13. What is the topic word of paragraph 1?
A. Muscles
B. The muscle system
C. Bones
D. Tendons
14. In what order do the following happen?
A. Processed message, nerve connection, electric signal, execution
B. Execution, electric signal, nerve connection, processed message
C. Execution, nerve connection, electric signal, processed message
D. Processed message, electric signal, nerve connection, execution
15. Choose the right word below to fill in the blank.
“Muscles work by _____."
A. Shorten
B. Squeezing
C. Pushing
D. Relaxing
16. What happens after the biceps contracts?
A. The triceps contracts.
B. The arm straightens.
C. The arm bends.
D. The muscles switch around.
17. What is true about the heart muscle?
A. It is the most powerful muscle in the whole body.
B. It helps you move food into the blood.
C. It looks different than other muscles.
D. It is controlled by your brain.

18. What does the author think about regular swimming?

A. It is better than walking or dancing.
B. It is not as good as playing soccer.
C. It makes you stronger and more flexible.
D. It helps you to keep going for a long time without getting tired.

Questions 18-19 2
Choose TWO letters, A-D.
Write the correct letters.
What are the two things muscles need to stay strong?
A. Protein
B. A lot of food
C. Good exercise
D. A lot of sleep

Section-B (Writing) 15 Marks

Question 1: 10

It is generally believed that the Internet is an excellent means of communication but some people suggest that it
may not be the best place to find information.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Write at least 250 words.

Question 2: Fill in the blanks with following linking words. 5

Therefore, because, but, whether, and

The methods of reading usually differ in accordance with the contents of books, a) –––––all books should be read
with equal seriousness. Amusement is not the main objective of reading b) –––––– a good book, c) ––––– it is a
novel or a biography or a drama, always deals with some aspect of knowledge d) –––– helps us to know life better.
It is e) ––––– said that books are the best teachers.