NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Snapshots Lesson 8 The Tale of Melon City Important Question Answers
Looking for The Tale of Melon City question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 11 English Snapshots Book Chapter 8? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 11 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 8: The Tale of Melon City now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- The Tale of Melon City Extract Based Questions
- The Tale of Melon City Multiple Choice Questions
- The Tale of Melon City Short Answer Questions
- The Tale of Melon City Long Answer questions
Class 11 English The Tale of Melon City Question Answers Lesson 8 – Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A.True, mused the King. By now the crowd,
Restless, was muttering aloud.
The King perceived their mood and trembled
And said to all who were assembled –
‘Let us postpone consideration
Of finer points like guilt. The nation
Wants a hanging. Hanged must be
Someone, and that immediately.’
The noose was set up somewhat high.
Each man was measured by and by.
1 What did the crowd want?
A) To hang the king
B) To hang the Architect
C) To hang the ministers
D) To hang someone
Ans. D) To hang someone
2 Who was to be hanged according to the royal decree?
A) One who built the arch
B) One who fits in the noose
C) One who provoked the crowd
D) One who made the crowd wait
Ans. B) One who fits in the noose
3 What does the word ‘Noose’ mean?
A) A loop formed in a rope.
B) A Huge pit
C) An open manhole
D) A ditch
Ans. A) A loop formed in a rope.
4 Which part of speech does the word ‘Aloud’ belong to?
A) Verb
B) Adjective
C) Pronoun
D) Adverb
Ans. D) Adverb
B. He could not walk and could not see,
So old (and therefore wise) was he-
But in a quavering voice he said,
‘The culprit must be punished.
Truly, the arch it was that banged
The crown is off, and it must be hanged’.
To the scaffold the arch was led When suddenly a Councillor said –
‘How can we hang so shamefully? What touched your head, Your Majesty?’
1 Who is ‘He’ in the first line?
A) The King
B) Architect
C) The wisest man of the town
D) Mason
Ans. C) The wisest man of the town
2 What did the oldest man advise?
A) To hang the king
B) To hang the mason
C) To hang the arch
D) To hang the subjects
Ans. C) To hang the arch
3 Who has been referred to as ‘Your Majesty’?
A) The King
B) Architect
C) The wisest man of the town
D) Mason
Ans. A) The King
4 What was ironic about the decision made by the wisest man?
A) Though wisest yet he gave the worst advice
B) Though wisest yet he gave the best advice
C) Though wisest yet he gave better advice
D) None of these
Ans. A) Though wisest yet he gave the worst advice
C. ‘I do ordain that you shall be
Hanged.’ Said the architect, ‘O King,
You have forgotten one small thing.
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to you.’
The King heard this. The King saw red.
In fact he nearly lost his head;
But being a just and placid King
He said, ‘This is a tricky thing.
1 What does the phrase ‘The King saw red’?
A) That he was looking at red objects
B) That he wanted a red-coloured gallow
C) That he got nervous and scared
D) That he wanted to cover his town with a red-coloured cloth.
Ans. C) That he got nervous and scared
2 What does the word ‘Amendments’ mean?
A) Changes
B) Corrections
C) Alterations
D) All of these
Ans. D) All of these
3 What does the word ‘Just’ mean?
A) Corrupt
B) Fearsome
C) Honest
D) Dishonest
Ans. C) Honest
4 To whom did the architect pass the blame?
A) Workmen
B) Architect
C) Chief of Builders
D) The King
Ans.D) The King
D. To the proceedings. Being just
(And placider now) he said, ‘I must
Have all the workmen hanged instead.’
The workmen looked surprised, and said,
‘O King, you do not realize
The bricks were made of the wrong size.’
‘Summon the masons!’ said the King.
The masons stood there quivering.
‘It was the architect…’, they said,
The architect was summoned.
1 What was the problem with the bricks?
A) Made small
B) Made Large
C) Made Tiny
D) None of these
Ans. A) Made small
2 What does the word ‘Quivering’ mean?
A) The act of vibrating due to fear
B) The act of vibrating due to cold
C) The act of vibrating due to lack of confidence
D) The act of vibrating due to sudden love
Ans. A) The act of vibrating due to fear
3 What does the word ‘Summon’ mean?
A) Call someone officially
B) Call someone unofficially
C) Call someone privately
D) Hit someone
Ans. A) Call someone officially
4 To whom did the masons pass the blame?
A) Workmen
B) Architect
C) Chief of Builders
D) Himself
Ans. B) Architect
E. Well, architect,’ said His Majesty.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low. A frown
Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, ‘This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be hanged.
The rope and gallows were arranged.
The chief of builders was led out.
He passed the King. He gave a shout,
‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’
‘Oh!’ said the King, and called a halt
1 What happened when the king was going to edify the spectators?
A) He had a tussle with his ministers
B) His car’s wheel got punctured
C) His head collided with his chariot
D) His head collided with an arch
Ans. D) His head collided with an arch
2 Whom did the king order to punish initially?
A) Workmen
B) Architect
C) Chief of Builders
D) Himself
Ans. C) Chief of Builders
3 What does the word ‘Gallows’ mean?
A) Wooden frame
B) Steel frame
C) Iron frame
D) Golden frame
Ans. A) Wooden frame
4 To whom did the chief of builders pass the blame?
A) Workmen
B) Architect
C) Chief of Builders
D) Himself
Ans. A) Workmen
Class 11 English Snapshots The Tale of Melon City Lesson 8 Multiple Choice Questions
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a person is asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available options. An MCQ presents a question along with several possible answers.
Q1 According to the architect, who made the amendments?
A. The King
B. The chief of the builders
C. He himself
D. The masons
Ans. A. The King
Q2. Listening about his own hanging, who did the King call for?
A. The oldest man in the country
B. The wisest man in the country
C. The wisest minister in his administration
D. All the people
Ans. B. The wisest man in the country
Q3 Who according to the counsel was the culprit that was brought before the King?
A. The King
B. The crown
C. The arch
D. The chief of the builders
Ans. C. The arch
Q4 Why was it shameful to hang the arch’?
A. Because it was innocent
B. Because it was non-living
C. Because it was newly built
D. Because it had touched the King’s head
Ans. D. Because it had touched the King’s head
Q5 After all the considerations and discussions, the crowd was getting _______.
A. restless
B. amused
C. horrified
D. bored
Ans. A. restless
Q6 What was the public demand that the King sought to fulfill?
A. They wanted no one to be hanged
B. They wanted a hanging
C. They wanted the arch to be demolished
D. The wanted a new king
Ans. B. They wanted a hanging
Q7 How was the public demand fulfilled?
A. By voting
B. By the King’s discretion
C. By measuring height one by one
D. By the councilors’ decision
Ans. C. By measuring height one by one
Q8 Finally, who was tall enough to reach the noose?
A. The chief of the builders
B. The architect
C. Someone from the crowd
D. The King
Ans. D. The King
Q9 Who was to choose the next King?
A. The next to pass the City Gate
B. The Ministers
C. The public
D. The heir of the deceased King would be the king by rule
Ans. A. The next to pass the City Gate
Q10 Who passed the City Gate?
A. An old wise man
B. An idiot
C. A beggar
D. A child
Ans. B. An idiot
Q11 Who was chosen as the new King?
A. A minister
B. A horse
C. A melon
D. A sword
Ans.C. A melon
Q12 Why did the idiot reply the way he did?
A. Because he liked melons
B. Because he rode horses
C. Because he knew how to use sword
D. Because he grew melons
Ans. A. Because he liked melons
Q13 What sort of perception does the public hold for their chosen King after so many years?
A. They don’t like him
B. They are enraged
C. They like him very much
D. They have no problem whatsoever
Ans. D. They have no problem whatsoever
Q14 What is most important to the public of the state?
A. Their peace and liberty
B. How the state is ruled
C. Their wealth
D. Their involvement in state decisions
Ans. A. Their peace and liberty
Q15 What sort of principles seem to thrive in the state?
A. Democratic
B. Laissez faire
C. Authoritative
D. Communistic
Ans.B. Laissez faire
Q16 After reading “The Tale of the Melon City”, what opinion do you form of the King?
A. He was a just King
B. He was a rule abiding King
C. He was a foolish King
D. He was a wise King
Ans. C. He was a foolish King
Q17 Do you think that the King took his ‘notion of justice’ too far?
A. No, he did what a just King would do
B. Maybe
C. Yes, he lost his life in the process
D. Can not determine
Ans.C. Yes, he lost his life in the process
Q18 What impression do you form of the crowd of the state?
A. They were of no good
B. They were supportive of their King
C. They were indifferent who was throned
D. Both (A) and (C)
Ans.D. Both (A) and (C)
Q19 The ministers were foolish to ask an idiot about their next King. Do you agree?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Partially
D. Not clear from the poem
Ans. A. Yes
Q20 What is the genre of “The Tale of the Melon City”?
A. Thriller
B. Humorous
C. Ironical
D. Both (B) and (C)
Ans. D. Both (B) and (C)
Class 11 English The Tale of Melon City Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from Chapter 8 The Tale of Melon City for CBSE Class 11 exams for the coming session.
Q1.The king, in this poem, is just and placid. Why does he then lose his temper? Does he carry his notion of justice too far?
Answer. The king was known for his calm demeanor. But that was a complete lie. He quickly lost his cool. As a just judge, he ordered that the guilty person or thing be hanged. But he was a complete moron. He took his sense of justice too far. He had thus invited his own execution.
Q2. How did the chief of builders, the workmen and the masons save their lives?
Answer. The chief of builders assigned blame to the workers. To save their lives, the workers blamed the brick makers and masons. The architect was blamed by the masons for the low arch.
Q3. How did the architect turn the tables on the king himself?
Answer.The architect was brought before the king to face trial. However, he reminded the king of the king’s own changes to the building plan. The king became tense. He stated that he would consult the state’s wisest man on the matter.
Q4. Who on the old wise man’s advice was led to the gallows? Why had the proceeding been halted?
Answer. Because of his age, the old man was regarded as wise. He advised the king to hang the arch that had thrown the king’s crown off his head.
Q5.How did the king save his own skin when the architect turned the accusing finger at him?
Answer. The architect blamed the king for making erroneous changes to the original building plan. The king had been cornered. So he declared that he would seek the wisest man in the state for advice on that tricky issue.
Q6.How did circumstances lead to the execution of the king himself?
Answer. On the advice of the wise man, the king had the arch executed. However, the arch was defended by a counselor. The people, on the other hand, were agitated. They demanded action and the death penalty. So a noose was rigged to hang someone. Only the king was tall enough to fit through the noose. As a result, the king himself had to be hanged.
Q7.What opinion do you form about the king from the story?
Answer. This story exemplifies the folly of a supposedly calm and just ruler. The king went too far in his pursuit of justice. He not only lost his own life, but he also allowed another fool, a melon, to take the throne.
Q8.What custom was enforced to get a new ruler?
Answer.The state custom of selecting a new ruler was very amusing. The first person to pass through the city gates would be chosen as the ruler of the state. The passing idiot liked melons. Soon after his suggestion, a melon was installed on the throne.
Q9.Comment on the caliber of the king, his ministers, the people and the customs of the state.
Answer. All of the characters in the story are obstinate. The king was insane and stupid. The ministers blindly followed the old custom and installed a melon on the throne. The custom of selecting the ruler was ridiculous. The people in general were bad. Even if it was their own king, they demanded a hanging. They didn’t care who the king was as long as they could live in peace.
Q10.Why have the king’s ministers been described as practical-minded men? What is ironic about the description?
Answer. The ministers were eager to appoint a new ruler. When they followed the old custom, they lacked practical wisdom. They imprisoned a fool and demanded that he name the new ruler. What a cruel irony!
Class 11 The Tale of Melon City Long Answer Questions Lesson 8
Q1. Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in about 100 words. What message does it convey?
Answer. The king of that unnamed state was known for being just and level-headed. But, in reality, he was stupid, insane, and brainless. He once built an arch above a public road for the mental and moral improvement of onlookers. The low-built arch hit the king’s crown one day as he rode down that highway. The enraged king decided to hang the perpetrator. He summoned the builders, workers, masons, and architects to be punished. They all assigned blame to one another. The arch itself was to be hanged on the advice of the old wise man. However, it was saved by a counselor. However, someone had to be hanged. The king alone was tall enough to fit through the very high noose.
He was executed by hanging. According to tradition, whoever passed through the city gates first had the honor of naming the next king. A fool was the first person to pass through the gates that day, and he was asked to choose the king. He only said “Melon” in response to all of the questions, and the Melon was crowned. The general public had no say in the selection. They only desired to live in safety and liberty.
Q2. The king was just and placid. How did he carry his notion of justice a bit too far?
Answer. The king was well-known for being level-headed, fair, and just. He was, however, a fool with a shaky mind. He erroneously believed that the victory gate would improve the morale and mental health of the people. He lost his cool when his crown fell off his head beneath the low arch. He immediately ordered the execution of the builder, the workers, the masons, and the architect. He went a little too far in his quest for justice. He agreed to erect the arch. He finally ordered his own execution. The plot is both amusing and ironic.
Q3. How does a melon become the ruler of the state? Why are the people happy with him?
Answer. The king, who never used his own brain, relied on what others said. When the people demanded that someone be hanged, the king had to pay a high price for his folly. He was led to the gallows himself. The new ruler was to be chosen by the first person who passed through the city gates, according to state custom. That day, an idiot happened to pass by the gates and answered every question with “Melon.” And the ministers blindly followed tradition. They brought a melon, which they crowned as their new ruler. The people made no protests. They only desired to live in safety and liberty. They accepted the melon king who followed the policy of non-interference in whatever the people did.
Q4. Discuss ‘The Tale of Melon City’ as a humorous as well as an ironic poem with the help of examples from the poem.
Answer. The poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is both humorous and ironic. It is amusing that the arch was built to ‘edify’ people. The city’s oldest man was thought to be the wisest, which is both ironic and humorous. It was ordered that whoever fit the gallows should die, which was again amusing. The king was then hanged because the blame fell on him, which is both hilarious and unbelievable. The selection of a melon as the new king is extremely amusing. It is highly ironic that the death penalty can be imposed for such a minor offense. The King himself was unable to make a decision. The process of selecting the new king then adds to the humor and irony.
Finally, it is demonstrated that people lived happily under a king who did not govern. The entire poem is centered on amusement and laughter.
Q5. How did the city come to be named Melon City? Describe the events that led to its naming.
Answer. The king of a city had an arch built, but when it was finished, it was discovered to be too low. Because of its low height, the king lost his crown when riding under this arch.
The king ordered the execution of the chief builder, but the latter pointed out that it was someone else’s fault. This blame game continued until it was discovered that the king himself had to be executed by hanging by his own order. Following the execution of the king, the city was left without a king.The ministers agreed that the next man to pass through the city gates would be their king. As it turned out, the next man to pass was a moron. He proposed that a melon be crowned king. He said this because he adored melons. Ministers installed a melon on the throne. After this incident, the city cmae to be known as Melon city.
Q6. ‘The Tale of Melon City’ consists of a series of humorous incidents. Describe the events that led to the hanging of the king by his own order.
Answer. A king commissioned the construction of an arch to ‘edify’ the people. The arch was low, and when the king passed beneath it, he lost his crown. The king ordered the chief of the builders’ execution, but the latter claimed it was the fault of the workers. The bricks were blamed by the workers because they were the wrong size. So the masons were summoned. They blamed the architect, but the architect claimed that the king had made some changes himself. At this point, the king sought the advice of the country’s wisest man. The oldest man alive was summoned, and he recommended that the arch be hanged.
The arch was not hanged because it had come into contact with His Majesty’s head. Because the nation desired a hanging, the king stated that whoever fit the gallows would be hanged. By chance, the king himself was the best fit and was executed.
Q7. What impression do you gather about the king from ‘The Tale of Melon City’?
Answer. The just and placid king appears quite ruthless when he becomes ‘placider’ and decides to hang all the laborers rather than the chief of builders. The frequent changes in his decision show his shaky mind and capricious nature. He is easily swayed by arguments and appears to be unstable. He appears to be concerned about public welfare and has an arch built across the thoroughfare to edify them. The clever architect easily outwits the whimsical king. In a fit of rage, the king loses his head. To save his skin, he seeks the counsel of the country’s wisest man. The king wishes to keep the public amused.
He is very perceptive and accurately predicts the mood of the masses. His lack of foresight is his undoing. The noose’s height only fits around his neck. He inadvertently becomes a victim of his own order. He wants to prevent a public uprising but pays for public entertainment with his blood. As a result, he is a dimwit with muddled reasoning abilities.
Q8. Comment on the ending of the poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’. What bearing does the ending have on the title of the poem?
Answer. The conclusion of ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is significant. It is directly related to the title. The poem’s conclusion reveals that the incidents occurred a long time ago. It challenges the state’s old custom of selecting their new ruler. When faced with a dilemma, the ministers chose the easy way out. The next person to pass through the City Gate was to name the king. It happened to be an idiot who answered every question with the standard “a melon.” As a result, the melon was crowned king, carried to the throne, and respectfully placed there.The people are not embarrassed that their king is a melon. They claim that if the king enjoys being a melon, that’s fine with them. They don’t mind him as long as he lets them have their peace, freedom, and free trade. Melon City, named after the king, is the capital city. Thus, the ending sheds light on the people’s selfish nature and their faith in old customs. It also clarifies the title.
Q9. How did the accused try to shift the blame on others? How far did they succeed?
Answer. The first person found guilty was the chief of builders. He shifted the blame to the laborers. The workers were taken aback, but they remained rational. They informed the king that he had forgotten that the bricks were the wrong size. The masons were summoned, stunned by their rational argument. They were terrified, but they blamed the architect, who was in charge of planning and erecting the arch. The architect was sentenced to death by the king. The astute architect reminded the king that he had overlooked one minor detail. When the former showed the latter the plans, he made some changes to them.
This clearly meant that he held the king responsible for the mishap. The king became very angry and lost” his capacity of clear judgment. He called it a tricky thing and sought the advice of the wisest man in the country. Thus each accused succeeded in shifting the blame on others.
Q10.“The poem mocks the process of fair trial and proper judgment.” How far do you agree with the statement?
Answer. The poem is a harsh indictment of the kings’ age-old practices of delivering justice by word of mouth. There was a time when the King’s word was considered divine, and anything he said became law. A just and peaceful king was expected to protect the innocent while punishing the bad. However, the trial process and the ever-changing judgements make a mockery of the entire process of fair trials and considered awards. This is evident from the statements of the accused, who attempt to save their lives by blaming others for their crimes. The King’s caprice and inability to see through the thin veil of their arguments make him a laughing stock rather than a dispenser of divine justice. Hence, we agree with the above statement.
Also See:
- The Tale of Melon City Explanation, Summary
- The Tale of Melon City MCQ Question Answers
- Class 11 English Question Answers
- Class 11 English Lesson Explanation
- Class 11 English Snapshots Book Lesson word meaning
