Read the passage carefully and answer the questions following it:
Globalization has brought profound changes to the modern job market. Today, traditional certificate-based education alone is often not enough to secure a decent livelihood. The world now demands practical skills, technical expertise, and adaptability. Bangladesh, being a country with a vast population, has a unique opportunity. If we can properly train our large youth population, this demographic strength can be transformed into a productive workforce. However, a lack of technical training, inadequate vocational institutions, and poor resource allocation often act as major barriers. To overcome these challenges, both the government and educational sectors must prioritize skill-based learning, English proficiency, and information technology so that our youth can successfully compete in both local and global job markets.
Part A: Multiple Choice Questions (Marks: 5)
1. Choose the correct answer from the alternative options:
(a) What is the primary focus of the passage?
(i) The hazards of overpopulation
(ii) The necessity of a skilled workforce in a globalized world
(iii) The history of traditional education
(iv) The decline of academic institutions
(b) The phrase "certificate-based education" refers to —
(i) Education focused only on theoretical degrees without practical skills
(ii) Technical training certificates
(iii) International degrees
(iv) Online skill courses
(c) What does the word "demographic" relate to?
(i) Land structures
(ii) Population characteristics
(iii) Economic policies
(iv) Technological tools
(d) According to the text, what is essential alongside technical training for modern jobs?
(i) Agricultural experience
(ii) English proficiency and IT skills
(iii) Heavy machinery operation
(iv) Traditional certificate courses
(e) The word "transform" in the text means —
(i) To destroy
(ii) To convert or change thoroughly
(iii) To reduce
(iv) To stagnate
Part B: Open-Ended Questions (Marks: 5)
2. Answer the following questions based on your reading of the passage:
(a) Why is traditional education no longer sufficient in today’s job market?
Answer:
(b) How can Bangladesh turn its large population into an asset?
Answer: Bangladesh can turn its large population into an asset by providing proper technical training, expanding vocational institutions, and focusing on skill-based learning, English proficiency, and IT education for the youth.
Part C: Fill in the Blanks (Marks: 5)
3. Fill in the gaps with suitable words based on the context:
Modern globalization has created vast (a) ______ opportunities worldwide, but only the competent can grab them. Unfortunately, a major portion of our youth lags behind due to a lack of proper (b) ______ training. To build a prosperous nation, we must shift our focus from mere degree-based learning to (c) ______ resource development. Investing in our youth's (d) ______ skills will ensure economic (e) ______ for the country.
Answers:
(a) employment / job
(b) vocational / technical
(c) human
(d) practical / technical
(e) growth / stability
Part D: Paragraph Writing (Marks: 5)
4. Write a short paragraph on: "The Importance of Becoming a Skilled Workforce" (within 60-80 words).
Answer:
A skilled workforce is vital for the sustainable economic development of a country like Bangladesh. In the era of globalization, physical labor alone cannot ensure progress; technical knowledge, IT competency, and practical skills are indispensable. By converting our massive population into trained human resources, we can eliminate unemployment, boost remittances, and successfully face global economic challenges. Therefore, prioritizing vocational education is the need of the hour.
