Tête-à-tête

I was a little surprised when I didn't get much mail this week. Then I remembered; it's exam season. Wow…never imagined I'd put the days of GCE behind me. Thanks to all those who managed to read the RS and send me their polls in spite of what I imagine must be a truckload of studies. Also, I'd like to wish all of those amongst my readers who are appearing for their O' and A' level examinations this summer.
Now I'd like to bring your attention back to the current polls:

"What changes would you like to see in the Rising Stars?" Write in and tell us what you like about your favourite magazine, what you don't, what's missing, and what needs to be missed. Who's your favourite author? What's your favourite column? What do you think about the layout? Now here's the fun part: if we like your ideas, we'll print your name in the RS! Here's your chance to decide the fate of the Rising Stars. Don't miss it!

Now, I'd like to leave you with some quick tips on dealing with the exam. I'm also going to include some general tips on how to make your studying more efficient, which you'll find useful, not only while preparing for your exams, but throughout student life. So here goes:

Pay attention in class. Listen to the teacher, even if s/he drones on like Prof. Binns, and be sure to look carefully at the notes and diagrams put on the board. Listening is half of learning. Even the last-minute advice from the tutor at your coaching centre counts.

While in class, keep your notes short and simple. Learn to make use of flow-charts, bullet points, and web diagrams. Don't go for word-for-word page-length notes. Use the class time to absorb the lessons, and ask as many questions as you need to have the subject clear in your head.

At home, translate the bullet-points into detailed notes. Feel free to be creative in the use of footnotes, contents, extra diagrams and colour-coded indexes. While you're preparing the notes, your brain is revising the lessons.

Read the completed notes carefully twice, to check for errors. You're done revising. Now close your books and go listen to some music or do something relaxing. Let the RAM in your head clear up while your main memory stores the information you've put into it.

Take it easy the night before the exam. If you must study, just read the notes once or twice. Remember to get plenty of sleep. Don't tax those precious grey cells.

Solve the question paper in groups. The adage 'the more the merrier' really works here. Choose a bunch of like-minded and trustworthy friends to help you solve the papers. You'll find that you'll all be covering double the ground in half the time.

Use flashcards. Anyone who's appeared for the SAT exams will know just how valuable this exam tool is when you need to remember definitions. Also works for Physics and Chemistry formulas.

Before the exam, drink a lot of water, finish all the bathroom business, and take a few deep breaths while the papers are being handed out. This helps you relax and focus better.

Well, those are all the exam secrets I'm going to share with you. Take care and best of luck!

Send your polls, opinions, and queries to thegirlnextdoor1@hotmail.com

By The Girl Next Door

Quiz

How honest are Bengalis?

Thought Bengalis were the dishonest type? Then take the quiz and see how honest you are yourself, because in the end of the day, you represent the Bengali bunch.
1.You get in a CNG and notice that someone has left a wallet with name, address and Tk 500 in it. Do you return the wallet to its owner with the money in it?
Yes
No
2.The shopkeeper returns more change then he should have after you have paid
for the vegetables. Do you return the extra money?
Yes
No
3.You find your best friend's boyfriend/girlfriend having lunch with someone
else, whereas he/she was supposed to be sick at home. Do you tell your friend about it?
Yes
No
4.In the exam hall you realise that you won't be able to answer question number
5, but the person next to you happens to be very smart. Do you try to take a quick glance at his paper?
Yes
No
5.Only you know that your best friend was completely responsible for starting the fight with someone else. Do you tell the truth to your teacher?
Yes
No
6.You hear that Mina got the lowest mark in the class. She happens to sit next to you when the teacher gives out the mark sheets. Do you constantly try to see what mark she got from the corner of your eye?
Yes
No
7.You are in a shopping mall and you see that someone is sneaking an item in their bag. Do you alert the security?
Yes
No
8.You get an A- for the class test. Do you get tempted and add a line to make it look like an A+?
Yes
No
9.Your friend offers you an illegal copy of an expensive computer software programme for free. Do you take it and install in it your computer?
Yes
No
10. Someone has lent you a beautiful pen and you promise to return it the next day.
Do you return it ever?
Yes
No
The result depends upon you. You should know which act is an honest act and which is not.

By Shayera Moula

He is the most powerful yet one of the dumbest person in the world. Given below are some outrageous quotes made in public by none other than George W Bush which makes you ponder can he be any dumber?

"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the
country."
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor,
and that one word is 'to be prepared'."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good
judgments in the future."
"The future will be better tomorrow."
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the
world."
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We
have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"Public speaking is very easy."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to
the polls."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not
occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our
children."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the
impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
‘It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."

By AES

Poems

Examin(ation) Fever

May I have your attention! (Please)
Oh! You examination;
You demand a lot of concentration;
From the younger generation.
Computer studies are all about binary equation;
Commerce is all about production;
Economics is nothing but industrialization;
Accounting is nothing but depreciation;
Chemistry is nothing but equation;
Biology is full of nutrition;
Physics is all about motion;
Math-A is full of reconstruction;
Math-B is full of complication;
Pure-math is all about differentiation;
Literature is all about explanation;
English language is nothing but comprehension;
Bangla is all about grammarisation;
History is all about date and year memorization;
Geography is nothing but exploration;
Art is all about exhibition.
So-
After the examination
Of General Certificate of Education;
We feel really frustration;
So can we cancel examination
By sending an application?
By Nishar Ahmed

Abnormal

I can't be normal
I must be mad
Cause, why am I laughing
Whenever I become sad.
Whatever is happening around me
It cannot be true
What are all the bindings?
That I cannot brake through.
What are all the reasons?
That makes me tell a lie
But look, I'm not embarrassed
Nor I feel shy.
What would be my future?
What would be my goal?
The only thing I want most
Not to be beaten by my soul.
By Md. Hasanuzzaman

L.O.L.

The way things are going, R.S. might soon become the National Toilet Paper of Bangladesh. So that you may have a cosy bathroom-read before putting it into its ultimate use, the wackos at the R.S. are always trying to come up with new ideas. Here's just one of them.

Starting from this week L.O.L. is newest naughty-kid of the Rising Stars. I'm your host freak_T and every week I'll be infesting this column with all sorts of jazzy humours, cool quotations and wacko one-liners.

You can also participate by sending all your corny stuffs at freak_T@hotmail.com. But make sure they're real good. Otherwise I'll mail back tons of virus.
Hope you enjoy the column.
Insincerely Yours,freak_T
Here's your L.O.L stuff for the day:

* Cool quotation of the day: "Gravitation can't be held responsible for people falling in love" Albert Einstein

* Ways to escape a bad date:
Wipe your nose on your date's sleeve. Twice.
Stare at your date's neck and grind your teeth audibly.
(If you're a guy) Whistle at any other guy who happens to pass by.
Drool.
Slide under the table taking your plate with yourself.
Feed your imaginary friends.