Wangari Maatha ||Textbook page 81, 82, 83 & 84 || Class eleven and twelve || Unit Four: History Lesson Two Great Women || English first paper ||Line by line Bangla meaning, word meaning in Bangla meaning, short questions, text questions and answer and summary ||





Wangari Maatha ||Textbook page 81, 82, 83 & 84 || Class eleven and twelve || Unit Four: History Lesson Two Great Women || English first paper ||Line by line Bangla meaning, word meaning in Bangla meaning, short questions, text questions and answer  and summary || 













Wangari Maatha


A. Warm up


Looking at the woman in the picture, what comes to your mind? Describe her in about 150 words. Focus on her smile and eyes. 

Answer Question No. A

Wangari Maathai's smile in this image radiates warmth, resilience, and an undeniable sense of joy. Her expression is open and inviting, exuding confidence and strength. The gentle curve of her lips suggests both kindness and determination, a reflection of her lifelong dedication to environmental and social justice. Her eyes, bright and full of life, seem to hold deep wisdom and an unshakable belief in the power of change. There is a quiet strength in her gaze, as if she has faced challenges yet remains unwavering in her mission. The combination of her glowing smile and expressive eyes captures her essence as a leader and visionary, someone who inspires hope and courage. The black-and-white tone of the photograph further highlights her striking features, emphasizing the depth of her character. This image beautifully encapsulates her spirit—a woman who fought tirelessly for a better world while carrying warmth and resilience in her expression.




B. Learn about the contribution of a great woman to our environment

"We have a special responsibility to the ecosystem of this planet. In making sure that other species survive we will be ensuring the survival of our own."

The first African woman and first environmentalist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) received that honour in 2004 as the founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights.

Maathai introduced the idea of planting trees with the people and developed it into a broad-based, grassroots organization designed to conserve the environment and improve women's quality of life. In 1986 the Green Belt Movement established a Pan African Green Belt Network and has introduced over 40 individuals from other African countries to its approach.

The Movement set both short and long-term objectives. The overall aim has been to create public awareness of the need to protect the environment through tree planting and sustainable management. More specifically, it has initiatives to promote and protect biodiversity, to protect the soil, to create jobs especially in the rural areas, to give women a positive image in the community and to assert their leadership qualities. It promotes food security and assists people to make the link between environmental degradation and many of the problems they face, including poverty and livelihood insecurity.

Over its first 20 years, many of the Movement's objectives have been achieved. Environmental awareness has been greatly increased in the world, and many women's groups have sold millions of seedlings to the Movement, using the income to meet immediate domestic needs such as education of their children or investing it in other income-generating ventures. Tree planting has become an honourable activity and many people have adopted it.

In later years Maathai's own work had focused on the human rights situation in Kenya. Standing up for a democratic, multi-ethnic Kenya, she was subjected to defamation, persecution, detention and physical attacks.

Maathai received numerous awards and honorary degrees. Time Magazine identified her as one of 100 most influential people in the world in 2005, and Forbes Magazine as one of 100 most powerful women in the world. In 2007 she was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights, in 2010 the Lions Humanitarian Award and the International Freedom Award.

She died from cancer in 2011, but her legacy continues in many projects worldwide, such as in 'Plant for the Planet: The Billion Tree Campaign.


Here are some difficult words from the passage along with their meanings in Bengali, synonyms, and antonyms:

Word Meaning (বাংলা) Synonym (সমার্থক শব্দ) Antonym (বিপরীত শব্দ)
Responsibility দায়িত্ব Duty, Obligation Irresponsibility, Neglect
Ecosystem পরিবেশগত ব্যবস্থা Environment, Habitat -
Survival বেঁচে থাকা Existence, Continuation Extinction, Demise
Environmentalist পরিবেশবিদ Conservationist, Ecologist Polluter, Destroyer
Dedicated নিবেদিত Committed, Devoted Uncommitted, Indifferent
Grassroots তৃণমূল Base-level, Fundamental Elite, Upper-class
Conserve সংরক্ষণ করা Preserve, Protect Destroy, Waste
Biodiversity জীববৈচিত্র্য Biological variety, Ecosystem diversity Monoculture
Sustainable টেকসই Endurable, Renewable Unsustainable, Temporary
Degradation অবনতি Deterioration, Decline Improvement, Enhancement
Livelihood জীবিকা Employment, Subsistence Unemployment, Poverty
Persecution নির্যাতন Oppression, Harassment Protection, Freedom
Detention আটক Confinement, Imprisonment Release, Freedom
Democratic গণতান্ত্রিক Representative, Egalitarian Autocratic, Dictatorial
Defamation মানহানি Slander, Vilification Praise, Compliment
Physical attack শারীরিক আক্রমণ Assault, Violence Protection, Defense
Awareness সচেতনতা Consciousness, Realization Ignorance, Unawareness
Assert দাবি করা Declare, State Deny, Reject
Initiative উদ্যোগ Plan, Strategy Inactivity, Laziness
Objective লক্ষ্য Goal, Aim Subjective, Random
Conservation সংরক্ষণ Protection, Preservation Destruction, Neglect
Honourable সম্মানজনক Respectable, Noble Dishonourable, Disgraceful
Promote উন্নীত করা Encourage, Advance Demote, Degrade
Introduce পরিচয় করানো Present, Launch Remove, Withdraw
Recognition স্বীকৃতি Acknowledgment, Appreciation Disregard, Ignorance
Empowerment ক্ষমতায়ন Strengthening, Enablement Disempowerment, Weakness
Prestigious মর্যাদাপূর্ণ Reputable, Distinguished Unimportant, Unknown
Oppression নিপীড়ন Tyranny, Suppression Freedom, Liberation
Demise মৃত্যু, পতন Death, End Birth, Beginning
Confinement বন্দিত্ব Restriction, Imprisonment Freedom, Liberty
Legacy উত্তরাধিকার Heritage, Inheritance Loss, Ruin
Influential প্রভাবশালী Powerful, Dominant Insignificant, Weak
Venture উদ্যোগ Enterprise, Undertaking Idleness, Inactivity
Recognition স্বীকৃতি Acknowledgment, Fame Neglect, Disregard
Poverty দারিদ্র্য Destitution, Impoverishment Wealth, Prosperity

Here is the line-by-line Bangla meaning of the passage:

1. "We have a special responsibility to the ecosystem of this planet. In making sure that other species survive we will be ensuring the survival of our own."
আমাদের এই গ্রহের পরিবেশগত ব্যবস্থার প্রতি একটি বিশেষ দায়িত্ব রয়েছে। অন্য প্রজাতির বেঁচে থাকার বিষয়টি নিশ্চিত করার মাধ্যমে আমরা আমাদের নিজেদের অস্তিত্বও নিশ্চিত করব।

2. "The first African woman and first environmentalist awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) received that honour in 2004 as the founder of the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, a nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees, environmental conservation, and women's rights."
প্রথম আফ্রিকান নারী এবং প্রথম পরিবেশবিদ হিসেবে নোবেল শান্তি পুরস্কারপ্রাপ্ত ওয়াঙ্গারি মাথাই (১৯৪০-২০১১) ২০০৪ সালে এই সম্মাননা লাভ করেন কেনিয়ার গ্রিন বেল্ট মুভমেন্টের প্রতিষ্ঠাতা হিসেবে। এটি একটি অলাভজনক সংস্থা যা গাছ লাগানো, পরিবেশ সংরক্ষণ এবং নারীদের অধিকার রক্ষার জন্য কাজ করে।

3. "Maathai introduced the idea of planting trees with the people and developed it into a broad-based, grassroots organization designed to conserve the environment and improve women's quality of life."
মাথাই সাধারণ মানুষের সাথে গাছ লাগানোর ধারণা প্রচলন করেন এবং এটিকে একটি বিস্তৃত, তৃণমূল পর্যায়ের সংস্থায় পরিণত করেন, যার উদ্দেশ্য ছিল পরিবেশ সংরক্ষণ এবং নারীদের জীবনমান উন্নয়ন।

4. "In 1986 the Green Belt Movement established a Pan African Green Belt Network and has introduced over 40 individuals from other African countries to its approach."
১৯৮৬ সালে গ্রিন বেল্ট মুভমেন্ট একটি প্যান-আফ্রিকান গ্রিন বেল্ট নেটওয়ার্ক প্রতিষ্ঠা করে এবং অন্যান্য আফ্রিকান দেশের ৪০ জনের বেশি ব্যক্তিকে তাদের পদ্ধতির সাথে পরিচয় করিয়ে দেয়।

5. "The Movement set both short and long-term objectives."
এই আন্দোলন স্বল্প এবং দীর্ঘমেয়াদী উভয় ধরনের লক্ষ্য নির্ধারণ করে।

6. "The overall aim has been to create public awareness of the need to protect the environment through tree planting and sustainable management."
এর প্রধান লক্ষ্য ছিল গাছ লাগানো এবং টেকসই ব্যবস্থাপনার মাধ্যমে পরিবেশ রক্ষার জন্য জনগণের মধ্যে সচেতনতা সৃষ্টি করা।

7. "More specifically, it has initiatives to promote and protect biodiversity, to protect the soil, to create jobs especially in the rural areas, to give women a positive image in the community and to assert their leadership qualities."
বিশেষত, এই আন্দোলনের উদ্যোগ ছিল জীববৈচিত্র্য সংরক্ষণ ও উন্নয়ন, মাটির সুরক্ষা, বিশেষ করে গ্রামীণ এলাকায় কর্মসংস্থান সৃষ্টি, সমাজে নারীদের ইতিবাচক ভাবমূর্তি গঠন এবং তাদের নেতৃত্বের গুণাবলী জোরদার করা।

8. "It promotes food security and assists people to make the link between environmental degradation and many of the problems they face, including poverty and livelihood insecurity."
এটি খাদ্য নিরাপত্তা প্রচার করে এবং জনগণকে পরিবেশের অবনতি ও তারা যে সমস্যার সম্মুখীন হয়, যেমন দারিদ্র্য ও জীবিকার অনিশ্চয়তার মধ্যে সম্পর্ক বুঝতে সহায়তা করে।

9. "Over its first 20 years, many of the Movement's objectives have been achieved."
এর প্রথম ২০ বছরে আন্দোলনের অনেক লক্ষ্য অর্জিত হয়েছে।

10. "Environmental awareness has been greatly increased in the world, and many women's groups have sold millions of seedlings to the Movement, using the income to meet immediate domestic needs such as education of their children or investing it in other income-generating ventures."
বিশ্বব্যাপী পরিবেশগত সচেতনতা অনেক বৃদ্ধি পেয়েছে এবং অনেক নারীগোষ্ঠী আন্দোলনকে লক্ষ লক্ষ চারা গাছ বিক্রি করেছে, যার আয় তারা তাদের পরিবারের প্রয়োজন মেটাতে, যেমন সন্তানদের শিক্ষার জন্য বা অন্যান্য আয়ের উৎসে বিনিয়োগ করতে ব্যবহার করেছে।

11. "Tree planting has become an honourable activity and many people have adopted it."
গাছ লাগানো একটি সম্মানজনক কার্যক্রমে পরিণত হয়েছে এবং অনেক মানুষ এটি গ্রহণ করেছে।

12. "In later years Maathai's own work had focused on the human rights situation in Kenya."
পরবর্তী বছরগুলোতে মাথাইয়ের কাজ কেনিয়ার মানবাধিকার পরিস্থিতির উপর কেন্দ্রীভূত হয়।

13. "Standing up for a democratic, multi-ethnic Kenya, she was subjected to defamation, persecution, detention and physical attacks."
গণতান্ত্রিক, বহুজাতিক কেনিয়ার পক্ষে দাঁড়িয়ে তিনি অপবাদ, নির্যাতন, আটক এবং শারীরিক হামলার শিকার হন।

14. "Maathai received numerous awards and honorary degrees."
মাথাই অসংখ্য পুরস্কার এবং সম্মানসূচক ডিগ্রি অর্জন করেন।

15. "Time Magazine identified her as one of 100 most influential people in the world in 2005, and Forbes Magazine as one of 100 most powerful women in the world."
২০০৫ সালে টাইম ম্যাগাজিন তাকে বিশ্বের ১০০ জন প্রভাবশালী ব্যক্তির একজন হিসেবে এবং ফোর্বস ম্যাগাজিন তাকে বিশ্বের ১০০ জন সবচেয়ে ক্ষমতাশালী নারীর একজন হিসেবে স্বীকৃতি দেয়।

16. "In 2007 she was awarded the Nelson Mandela Award for Health and Human Rights, in 2010 the Lions Humanitarian Award and the International Freedom Award."
২০০৭ সালে তিনি স্বাস্থ্য ও মানবাধিকারের জন্য নেলসন ম্যান্ডেলা পুরস্কার, ২০১০ সালে লায়ন্স হিউম্যানিটারিয়ান অ্যাওয়ার্ড এবং ইন্টারন্যাশনাল ফ্রিডম অ্যাওয়ার্ড লাভ করেন।

17. "She died from cancer in 2011, but her legacy continues in many projects worldwide, such as in 'Plant for the Planet: The Billion Tree Campaign'."
তিনি ২০১১ সালে ক্যান্সারে মারা যান, তবে তার উত্তরাধিকার বিশ্বজুড়ে বিভিন্ন প্রকল্পের মাধ্যমে অব্যাহত রয়েছে, যেমন 'প্ল্যান্ট ফর দ্য প্ল্যানেট: দ্য বিলিয়ন ট্রি ক্যাম্পেইন'।



Source:

1. https://rightlivelihood.org/the-change-makers/find-a-laureate/wangari-maathai/

2. Sharing the Earth.

Answer the following questions:

i. What is ecosystem? Can you make an assessment of the Bangladeshi ecosystem?

ii. What does the word 'multi-ethnic mean? Do you see multi-ethnicity in Bangladesh? If yes, where and how?

iii. Is biodiversity necessary for the environment? Why?

iv. Apply the words 'Broad-based' and 'grassroots' in separate sentences.

v. Why do you think that the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Wangari Maathai is justified?

vi. What do you understand by food security?

vii. Find six key words from the excerpt that may help understand what the text is about.


Answer of the above Questions 

i. What is an ecosystem? Can you make an assessment of the Bangladeshi ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a community of living organisms (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with their non-living environment (air, water, and soil) in a specific area. Ecosystems can be natural, like forests and rivers, or human-made, like agricultural lands and urban areas.

Assessment of the Bangladeshi Ecosystem:
Bangladesh has a diverse ecosystem that includes the Sundarbans mangrove forest, rivers, wetlands, hills, and agricultural lands. However, environmental degradation is a major concern due to deforestation, pollution, industrial waste, and climate change. Rising sea levels and frequent natural disasters like cyclones and floods pose a serious threat to biodiversity and human settlements. Conservation efforts are needed to protect the country’s rich natural resources.


ii. What does the word 'multi-ethnic' mean? Do you see multi-ethnicity in Bangladesh? If yes, where and how?

The word 'multi-ethnic' means consisting of or relating to different ethnic groups.

Multi-ethnicity in Bangladesh:
Yes, Bangladesh is a multi-ethnic country. While the majority population is Bengali, there are several indigenous ethnic communities such as the Chakma, Marma, Garo, Santal, Mro, and Manipuri. These communities primarily live in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet, and parts of northern Bangladesh. They have distinct languages, cultures, and traditions, contributing to the country's ethnic diversity.


iii. Is biodiversity necessary for the environment? Why?

Yes, biodiversity is essential for the environment because it helps maintain ecological balance and supports life in multiple ways:

  1. Ecosystem Stability: A diverse range of species helps ecosystems recover from disturbances such as floods or droughts.
  2. Food Chain Support: Different species depend on each other for survival, ensuring a balanced food chain.
  3. Climate Regulation: Forests, wetlands, and marine biodiversity help in absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating temperature.
  4. Economic Benefits: Many industries, including agriculture, fisheries, and medicine, rely on biodiversity for resources.
  5. Cultural and Recreational Value: Many species hold religious, cultural, and aesthetic importance for people worldwide.

Loss of biodiversity can lead to environmental disasters, food shortages, and loss of livelihoods.


iv. Apply the words 'Broad-based' and 'Grassroots' in separate sentences.

  • Broad-based: The government launched a broad-based initiative to improve healthcare services in rural areas.
  • Grassroots: The success of the environmental campaign depended on grassroots support from local communities.





v. Why do you think the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Wangari Maathai is justified?

The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Wangari Maathai is justified because her work in environmental conservation was directly linked to peace and sustainable development. She empowered women through the Green Belt Movement, promoted reforestation, and fought for democracy and human rights in Kenya. By addressing issues like deforestation, poverty, and gender inequality, she contributed to global peace and ecological sustainability. Her efforts inspired worldwide initiatives for environmental conservation, making her a deserving recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

vi. What do you understand by food security?

Food security refers to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of sufficient, safe, and nutritious food for all people at all times. It means that individuals have reliable access to food that meets their dietary needs for a healthy and active life. Food security depends on factors like agricultural productivity, stable markets, fair distribution, and climate resilience.

vii. Find six key words from the excerpt that may help understand what the text is about.

  1. Ecosystem
  2. Biodiversity
  3. Conservation
  4. Grassroots
  5. Women’s rights
  6. Sustainability











Answer Question No. C

Here is a table categorizing different parts of speech from the excerpt:

Nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs Pronouns Prepositions Conjunctions
responsibility making special greatly she in and
ecosystem ensuring first especially it with but
planet planting nonprofit later they to or
species developed broad-based more their for so
survival conserve grassroots highly her on as
woman improve immediate particularly over
environmentalist introduced rural worldwide through
organization promote honourable by
conservation protect influential at
rights create powerful from
awareness assists sustainable
democracy received democratic
persecution standing ethnic
defamation subjected many
legacy introduced multi-ethnic




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