1. Fill in the blanks in the following texts with articles (a/an/the) as necessary. Some of the blanks may not require an article. Put a cross (×) in those blanks.
1. There was once (a) — farmer who had lazy sons. On his deathbed he told them that there was (b) — treasure buried in (c) — vineyard. He encouraged them to search for it after he had passed away. The sons thought that there must be a box of gold and jewels buried in (d) — ground and so they dug up every (e) — inch of the vineyard trying to find (f) — treasure spot! After many days of searching, they never found (g) — spot where many treasures were hidden. However, all of their (h) — digging effectively cultivated the ground in (i) — vineyard. Soon the grapevines produced such abundant fruit that (j) — lazy sons grew wealthy, unwittingly, from their own hard work!
2. That was (a) — last day of our conference. (b) — oncologists from around the world had been invited there in New York. Oncologists are doctors who specialize in treating (c) — cancer. Unfortunately, reaching there I had (d) — cold and (e) — cold is pretty bad. I had also (f) — sore throat and (g) — sore throat made it hard to talk let alone deliver my speech in (h) — conference. I was (i) — only speaker there representing (j) — Asia.
3. Drug addiction is now (a) — global problem. It has spread its poisonous claw all over (b) — world. Frustration is (c) — main cause of drug addiction. Drugs bear a terrible effect on human (d) — body. It kills a man little by little. No physician can stop (e) — changes that take place in the organs of (f) — addict. The skin of the addictÕs begins to change its (g) — colour. Drugs damage (h) — brain and all internal functions of human body. Our young generation must be aware of (i) — bad effect of (j) — drugs.
4. (a) — migration of birds is (b) — regular phenomenon. There is no certain explanation of the reason of birdÕs migration. With (c) — advent of cold weather, birds start migrating. Some experts think there is (d) — relationship between (e) — change in (f) — climate and (g) — breeding instinct of the birds. There is an idea that (h) — birds start their migration and put (i) — end exactly the same day each year. But it is (j) — wrong idea.
5. Water is one of (a) — vital elements of nature. But (b) — most of us do not realize the importance of water. They waste water recklessly. Water is (c) — ubiquitous in our life. We see (d) — presence of water from (e) — womb to tomb. As Bangladesh is (f) — agricultural country, our farmers need water during (g) — dry season. The (h) — scarcity, of water causes them (i) — lot of troubles. So, dredging of rivers is (j) — dire need of the time.
6. Ayub Bachchu was (a) — Bangladeshi legendary musician. As a founder member of (b) — band Love Runs Blind (LRB) he was (c) — singer, (d) — lyricist and a composer. He loved to experiment with his (e) — creative abilities and his songs like Sei Tumi, Ferari Mon were bound to get (f) — crowd rocking. Born in Chattogram he started his music career there with (g) — band Feelings in 1978. From 1980 to 1990 he was (h) — member of SoulsÕ as a leading guitarist, and finally in 1991 he formed his own band LRB. 18 October, 2018 marked (i) — end of (j) — legend.
7. (a) — healthy body is (b) — one that is fit and works well. Disease and injury prevent the normal working of (c) — body. While it is not always possible to prevent (d) — illness, the chances of developing a disease is reduced by adopting (e) — healthy lifestyle. If a person becomes ill, a doctor has to work out exactly what (f) — problem is. Then he decides on (g) — suitable course of treatment. This might include drugs, surgery or other means to return the person to (h) — full health. As part of making a diagnosis, (i) — doctor asks his patient about the symptoms and the patientÕs medical history. Next, the doctor looks for (j) — signs to help identify the illness.
8. A village (a) — fair is (b) — annual affair in rural Bangladesh. It is held on (c) — occasion of some religious festivals or some local important events. It is (d) — occasion for show, sale of various goods and entertainment. (e) — village fair generally sits on (f) — bank of a river or (g) — big canal or under an old banyan tree. Some fair also sits in (h) — open field or in (i) — market place or in the yard of (j) — temple or by the side of a big road.
9. Once upon a time, (a) — aristocratic man had (b) — useful person for cooking. The cook was not (c) — honest man but he had (d) — intelligence. One day, he ate up a leg of a duck which he had roasted for his master. While eating, (e) — master asked about the missing leg. The cook gave quite (f) — interesting answer. He said that it was (g) — one-legged duck. To convince the master, the cook showed him (h) — example of some Ôone-leggedÕ ducks standing with one leg at the yard. The master clapped his hands and (i) — ducks ran away everyone drawing out its hidden leg. The master looked at the cook. Now, he gave (j) — unique and a very witty reply.

Answer
1. (a) a; (b) ×; (c) the; (d) the; (e) ×; (f) the; (g) a; (h) ×; (i) the; (j) the.
2. (a) the; (b) ×; (c) ×; (d) a; (e) the; (f) a; (g) the; (h) the; (i) the; (j) ×.
3. (a) a; (b) the; (c) the; (d) ×; (e) the; (f) an; (g) ×; (h) ×; (i) the; (j) ×.
4. (a) ×/The; (b) a; (c) the; (d) a; (e) a; (f) the; (g) the; (h) ×; (i) an; (j) a.
5. (a) the; (b) ×; (c) ×; (d) the; (e) the; (f) an; (g) the; (h) ×; (i) a; (j) the.
6. (a) a; (b) the; (c) a; (d) a; (e) ×; (f) the; (g) the; (h) a; (i) the; (j) a.
7. (a) A; (b) the; (c) the; (d) ×; (e) a; (f) the; (g) a; (h) ×; (i) the; (j) the.
8. (a) ×; (b) an; (c) the; (d) an; (e) A; (f) the; (g) a; (h) an; (i) a; (j) a.
9. (a) an; (b) a; (c) an; (d) ×; (e) the; (f) an; (g) a; (h) an; (i) the; (j) a.