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Passage Narration Exercise for JSC SSC and HSC

Passage Narration Exercise for JSC SSC and HSC

Passage Narration is a vital grammar exercise in English language exams across JSC, SSC, and HSC levels. It tests a student’s ability to convert direct speech into indirect speech and vice versa, while maintaining correct tense, pronoun usage, and sentence structure.

This exercise typically presents a short passage containing dialogue or quoted speech. Students must rewrite the passage using proper narration rules, transforming it into a grammatically correct and logically coherent paragraph.

1. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“How old are you? once Buddha asked an old man. Two years.” was the humble reply. But, you look eighty! Buddha exclaimed. ‘Great saint’ just two years ago I came to Know what true love is.’ 

Answer:

 Once Buddha asked and old man how old he he was. The old man and replied that he was two years old. Buddha exclaimed with wonder saying that he looked but eighty. Calling Buddha great saint the old man replied that just two years ago he had come to know what true love was.

2. Change the narrative style of the following text.

The teacher said to the students, “Why are you making a noise? You should behave yourself and read attentively. You must obey your teachers.” The students said, ” We are sorry sir. We will read attentively.

Answer:

 The teacher asked the students why they were making a noise. He (t) suggested them to behave themselves and read attentively. He also told them that they (s) had to obey their teachers. Then the students said to the teacher politely that they were sorry. They also added that they would read attentively.


3. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“What is the strange outcry?” said Socrates. “I sent the woman away mainly in order that she might not offend in that way for I have heard that man should die in peace. Be quite and have patience.”

Answer:

 Socrates enquired what the strange outcry was. He added that he had sent the woman away mainly in order that she might not offend in that way for he had heard that man should die in peace. He advised them to be quiet and have patience.


4. Change the narrative style of the following text.

He said to me, “You had better go,” I told, “I’ll go there but shan’t wait.” Then he said, “If I were you, I would wait,” He continued, “We should do our duty.”

Answer:

 He told me that I had better go. I told him that I would go there but wouldn’t wait. Then he said that if he had been me, he would have waited. He continued that they should do their duty.


5. Change the narrative style at the following text.

“I came here yesterday from my village,” Raja said. “Why did you come here?” I said. “My mother sent me to you with this letter. “How is your mother? I have not seen her for a long time.

Answer:

 Raja told me that he had gone there the previous day from his village. I asked him why he had gone there. He answered me that his mother had sent him to me with that letter. Then I asked him how his mother was and added that I had not seen her for a long time.


6. Change the narrative style of the following text.

The teacher said to the boy, “Why are you disturbing the class in this way? Don’t you know that it is an important class? Get out of the room and don’t come back today.” “Excuse me sir,” said the boy. “I’II never disturb in the class,” he promised.

Answer:

 The teacher asked the boy why he was disturbing the class in that way. He also asked him if he didn’t know that it was an important class. He also ordered him to go out and not to come back that day. The boy pardoned to his sir and promised that he would never disturb in the class.


7. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Hold your tongue!” he muttered, glaring fiercely in their faces. “Have you not read the warning on the door?” “We pray for Allah’s Pardon” cried the dervishes. “Our lives are at your mercy.”

Answer:

 Glaring fiercely in their faces he muttered and told them to hold their tongues. He asked them if they had not read the warning on the door. The dervishes cried saying that they prayed for Allah’s Pardon. They again said that their lives were at his mercy.

Passage Narration Exercise

Passage narration for ssc 2021


8. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Aren’t you going to attend your English class, Neville?” Shahnima asked. “No, I’m going to the library to borrow books.” “Oh! then you’re going to borrow books during class hours,” she said.

Answer:

 Shahnima asked Neville whether he was not going to attend his English class. Neville replied in the negative, saying that he was going to the library to borrow books. Then Shahnima expressed her surprise wondering how he could be going to borrow books a during class hours.


9. Change the form of speech of the following passages.

“Don’t say a word to anyone,” said the cave-man. “Is it the thing that I wished for so long?” muttered the stranger. “Yes, you were a rich man and now you are going to be rich again,” expressed the man in the cave. “Thank you dear friend;  said the stranger delightfully. 

Answer:

 The cave-man told the stranger not to say a word to anyone. The stranger muttered the question whether it was the thing that the wished for so long. The man in the cave replied in the positive, saying that he (stranger) had been a rich man and now/then he was going to be rich again. Addressing him as friend, the stranger thanked him delightfully.


10. Change the form of speech of the following passages.

A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage. “Look at my brilliant colours.” said she, “and see how much finer they are than your poor feathers.” “I am not denying,” replied the Crane, “that yours are far gayer than mine: but when it comes to flying, I can soar into the clouds, whereas you are confined to the earth like any dunghill cock.”

Answer:

 A Peacock taunted a Crane with the dullness of her plumage and told him to look at her brilliant colours. She also told him to see how much finer they were than his poor feathers. The Crane replied that he was not denying that hers were far gayer than his : but when it went to flying, he could soar into the cloud, whereas she was confined to the earth like any dunghill cock.


11. Change the narrative style of the following text.

The teacher said to the students, “Do you know that your examinations will be starting next week? You will have to work hard if you want to get through with good marks. Cheer up! Do not waste your time and start doing your revision work immediately. May God reward your hard work with a great success!”

Answer:

 The teacher asked the students if/ whether they knew that their examination would be starting the next/ following week. He added that they would have to work hard if they wanted to get through with good marks. He also motivated them passionately to cheer up and advised them not to waste their time and to start doing their revision work immediately. After that, he (t) wished that God might reward their hard work with a great success.


12. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Good morning, can I help you?” said the Manager. “Yes, I was told to come over here to get a parking sticker. Is this the right place?” said the lady. “Yes, it is. What’s the registration number of your car?” said the manager.

Answer:

 Bidding good morning the manager asked the lady whether he could help her. She replied in the affirmative and added that she had been told to come over there to get a parking sticker. She asked him whether that was the right place. Then the manager replied in the affirmative and added that it was. He further asked her what the registration number of her car was.


13. Rewrite the following in the reported speech.

My father looked at me in anger and said to me, “Where have you been so long and why are you wasting your time?” After a moment he said “will you not appear in the final examination?” I said, “I went to my friend’s house to borrow an essential book, but he was not at home. So I had to wait for him.”

Answer: My father looked at me in anger and asked me where I had been so long and why I was wasting my time. After a moment he further asked me if I would not appear in the final examination. I told my father that I had gone to my friend’s house to borrow an essential book, but he had not been at home, so I had to wait for him.

14. Change the narrative style of the following text.


“Will you not go to school today, Mamun?” “No it’s raining cats and dogs. All the roads have gone under knee-deep water.” “Let’s finish reading the last part of Harry Potter. Today is the most suitable day for reading,” said Rana.

Answer: Rana asked Mamun if he (M) would not go to school that day. Mamun replied in the negative and said that it was raining cats and dogs. He (M) further said that all the roads had gone under knee-deep water: Afterwards, Rana proposed that they should finish reading the last part of Harry Potter. He (R) also added that that day was the most suitable day for reading.

15. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Go to school, will you ?” “No, mom, I will not. I am ill”. “How strange! You played all the morning, “said his mother to Shafik.

Answer: Mother ordered Shafik to go to school. She again asked him whether he would go or not. Shafik replied in the negative and told his mother that he would not. He mentioned that he was ill. Then mother was surprised and pointed out that he had played all the morning.


16. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 The daughter said to her father, “Please, come back home soon. Perhaps you have forgotten that today is my birthday.” Father said, “No, I have not forgotten at all.” “Today I am not going to office.’ The daughter said, “Where are you going?” Father said, “I’m going to buy a gift and a birthday cake to celebrate’ your birthday ceremony.” Jumping into a delight the daughter said, ‘Then I shall invite my most bosom friends.”


Answer:

 The daughter requested her father to kindly go back home soon and said that perhaps he had forgotten that that day was her birthday. Father replied in the negative and said that he had not forgotten at all and further added that that day he was not going to office. The daughter asked where he was going. Father replied that he was going to buy a gift and birthday cake to celebrate her birthday ceremony. Jumping into a delight, the daughter said that then she would invite her most bosom friends.


17. Change the narrative style of the following text.
A hawker said, “Will you buy any paper? I have all types of Newspapers and Magazines. Please take one from me.” “I buy books but now I need a weekly. Don’t you have any Weekly Magazine?” said Sushmita.

Answer: A hawker asked Sushmita if she would buy any paper and said that he had all types of Newspapers and Magazines and requested her to take one from him. Sushmita said that she bought books but then she needed a weekly. Sushmita asked the hawker if he did not have any weekly magazine.


18. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 “You look a little bit like my mother,” he said, “especially in the dark by the fire.” “But you were only four Jerry, when you came here. You have remembered how she looked all these years?” “My mother lives in Manville,” he said.

Answer:

 Jerry told me that I looked a little bit like his mother especially in the dark by the fire. I told him that he had been only four when he had gone there. Being surprised I asked him if he had remembered how she had looked all those years. He replied that his mother lived in Manville.


19. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 

“Where did you go yesterday?” said Lipi. “I went to Chittagong to see my mother,” said Mina. “She has been suffering from high blood pressure.” “Is she sound now?” said Lipi.” “No,” said Mina.

Answer:

 Lipi asked Mina where she had gone the previous day. Mina replied that she had gone to Chittagong to see her mother. She added that she (her mother) had been suffering from high blood pressure. Lipi asked Mina if she was sound then. Mina replied in the negative.


Passage narration practice


20. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 

“Where are you going?” said the merchant. “I was coming to see you.” “What do you want?” “To earn my bread by the labour of my hands.” “Do you really want work?” said the merchant. “Yes, if you have any”. “Then follow me and carry a box from a shop to my house.” “I do not see how I can do that,” said the youth.

Answer:

 The merchant asked the youth where he was going. The youth replied that he was going to see him. The merchant asked the youth what he wanted. The merchant again asked the youth if he really wanted work. The youth replied in the affirmative and said that he would really want work if he had any. Then the merchant ordered the youth to follow him and to carry a box from a shop to his house. The youth said that he did not see how he could do that.


21. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 

“Have you killed the rates?” said the Mayor. “Yes, I have, said the piper. “Give me the promised money.” “How funny!” said the Mayor, ‘We cannot give you so much money. Take only fifty.’

Answer:

 The Mayor asked the piper if he (p) had killed the rates. The Piper replied in the affirmative that he had. Then he (P) told the Mayor to give him (P) the promised money. The Mayor exclaimed in wonder that it was very funny. He added that they could not give him (P) so much money and told him to take only fifty.


22. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 “Where is my son?” said the grocer. “A crow carried your son away” said the fruit seller. “You liar. How can a crow carry away such a big boy?” “Just the same way as mice can eat away the balance and weights.”

Answer:

 The grocer asked the fruit seller where his son was. The fruit seller replied that a crow had carried away his son. The grocer called him a liar and asked him how a crow could carry away such a big boy. The fruit seller replied that it happened just in the same way as mice could eat away the balance and weights.


23. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“I came here yesterday from my village,” he said. “Why did you come?” I asked. “My mother sent me to you with this letter.” “How is your mother? I have not seen her for a long time. I hope she is quite well.”

Answer: He said to me that he had gone there the previous day from his village. I asked him why he had gone. He replied that his mother had sent him to me with that letter. I asked him how his mother was and told him that I had not seen her for a long time and I hoped that she was quite well.

24. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Great king of the genies,” called the monster. “I will never disobey you.” Hearing those words, the fisherman became very brave and said, “Tell me why you were locked up in the vase?” The giant angrily looked at the fisherman and said, “Speak to me politely or I shall kill you.” “Why should you kill me?” asked the fisherman.

Answer:

 The monster called the great king of the genies and said that he would never again disobey him (G). Hearing those words, the fishermen became brave and told the monster to tell him (f) why he (M) had been locked up in the vase. Then the giant angrily looked at him and told the fishermen to speak to him (M) more politely, otherwise, he (M) would kill him (F). The fisherman asked why he would kill him.


25. Change the narrative style of the following text.

 “I’ll pay for it,” he said. “I broke it, I brought the exe down careless.” “But no one hits accurately every time, Jerry. Moreover, the fault was in the wood of the handle. I’ll see the man who I have bought it from,” I told him.

Answer:

 Jerry said that he would pay for it and added that he had broken it, he had brought the exe down careless. Expressing dissatisfaction I told Jerry that no one hit accurately every time. Moreover, the fault had been in the wood of the handle. I told him that I would see the man who I had bought it from.


26. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Have you cut your hair off?” asked Jim. “Cut it off and sold it,” Said Della. “Don’t you like me just as well, anyhow? I’m me without my hair, aren’t I ?”

Answer:

 Jim asked Della if she had cut her hair off. Della replied that she had cut it off and sold it. She then asked Jim if he didn’t like her just as well, anyhow. She also told him that she was her without her hair. He again asked Jim if she was not.


27. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Porter, you may go,” said the mistress of the house laughing, “You have gained your freedom.” “By Allah,” he replied, “I will not leave this house until I have heard the stories of my companions.”


Answer:

 The mistress of the house told the porter laughing that he might go. She also added that he had gained his freedom. Swearing by Allah, the porter replied that he would not leave that house until he had heard the stories of his companions.


28. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“Follow my example” she said, as we shook hands “and never eat more than one thing for luncheon.” “I’ll do better than that” I said, “I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight”

Answer:

 As we shook hands she advised me to follow her example and never to eat more than one thing for luncheon. I said that I would do better than that and added that I would eat nothing for dinner that night.


29. Change the narrative style by using reported speeches.

Once a student said to his  teacher, “How can I  make a good result in the examination, Sir?” “You must read  attentively from today,” replied the teacher. “How excellent your advice is! Thank you. Sir,” said the student. “May you succeed in the SSC Exam!”

Answer:

 Once a student politely asked his teacher how he (S) could make a good result in  the examination. The teacher replied that he (S) must have read attentively from that day. The  student thanked his teacher and politely said that his (T) advice was very excellent. Then the teacher wished that he (S) might succeed in the SSC examination.

30. Change the narrative style by using reported speeches.

Joseph said to James, ‘“I can tell you what strikes me as the most useful machine in the world.’” James replied, “Can you Joseph? I should like to hear of it. What is it used for?”

Answer:

 Joseph told James that he could tell him (James) what struck him (Joseph) as the most useful machine in the world. James asked him if he (Joseph) could and added that he should like to hear of that. He again asked what it was used for.

31. Change the narrative style of the following text.

“What do you know about Rohingya?” said the teacher.
“We know little about them. Please tell us something,” said the students.
“Let’s discuss about this tribe today,” said he. 
“O.K, sir. That will be very fine,” said the students.
“May God save them from this danger,” said the teacher.
Answer: The teacher asked the students what they knew about Rohingya. The students replied that they knew little about them and requested him to tell them something. He suggested that they (S) should discuss about the tribe that day. The students said respectfully that it was okay and added that that would be very fine. The teacher prayed that God might save them from the danger.

32. Change the narrative style of the following text.

The professor began the class with an intriguing question, “Has anyone here come across information about the ancient civilization of Atlantis?” Curiosity sparked among the students, and one of them raised their hand, saying, “We’ve heard fragments, but it’s a bit unclear. Could you provide more insight?” Smiling, the professor replied, “Certainly. Our lecture today is entirely dedicated to unraveling the mysteries of Atlantis.” Excitement filled the room as another student added, “That sounds fascinating, professor. We’re genuinely eager to delve into it.” The professor nodded and concluded, “May our shared quest for knowledge lead us to uncover the secrets of this enigmatic civilization.”

Answer:

 The professor kicked off the class with an intriguing question about the ancient civilization of Atlantis, sparking curiosity among the students. One student, having heard fragments but seeking clarity, raised their hand, prompting the professor to explain that the day’s lecture would focus entirely on unraveling the mysteries of Atlantis. Excitement filled the room as another student expressed genuine eagerness to delve into the topic. The professor, smiling, nodded and concluded with a hopeful remark about their collective quest for knowledge leading them to uncover the secrets of this enigmatic civilization.

33. Change the narrative style of the following text

.

Sabrina said to Al-amin, “Happy birthday to you. You are looking very smart.” “Thanks for your 
appreciation,” said Al-amin. “Where is Mona? Won’t she come?” “Sorry, she has gone to hospital with her mother.” she replied. “But why,” he asked. “She fell on the road and lost sense,” said Sabrina. “Let’s go to the hospital,” said Al-Amin.

Answer:

 Sabrina wished Al-amin happy birthday to him. She told him that he was looking very smart. Alam thanked for her appreciation. Al-amin asked her where Mona was. He also asked her if she wouldn’t come. She apologized him that she had gone to hospital with her mother. He asked her why she had gone to to hospital. Sabrina replied that she felt on the road and lost sense. Al-amin proposed to her that they should go to hospital.

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