PSEB Class 12 Chapter 4 The Gold Frame Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book (Section C)
PSEB Class 12 English The Gold Frame Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book (Section C) Chapter 4 The Gold Frame? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 4 The Gold Frame now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 4 The Gold Frame Textbook Questions
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
I Short Answer Type Questions:
1. Where was the ‘The Modern Frame Works’ situated?
Ans. ‘The Modern Frame Works’ was situated in a narrow gap between a drug store and a radio repair shop.
2. Who was the owner of ‘The Modern Frame Works’?
Ans. The owner of ‘The Modern Frame Works’ was Datta, a silent and hardworking man.
3. What were the walls of this shop covered with?
Ans. The walls of the shop were covered with pictures of gods, saints, national leaders, hockey players, children, wedding couples, Urdu calligraphy, and various other images.
4. What did the customer want?
Ans. The customer wanted to get a photograph of an old man framed, someone he deeply admired and revered.
5. What types of frames did Datta show to the customer?
Ans. Datta showed the customer a variety of frames such as, plain, decorative, floral, geometrical, thin, hefty, and others.
6. What did Datta do to help the customer make his choice?
Ans. Datta suggested a gold frame with a profusion of gold leaves and winding creepers, assuring the customer that it was German and imported to help him decide.
7. What price did Datta quote for the frame selected by his customer?
Ans. Datta quoted seventeen rupees for the frame, including the mount and glass.
8. What was Datta’s experience about his customers?
Ans. From experience, Datta knew that most customers never came on time. Some came too early, some too late, and some never returned to collect their framed pictures.
9. For whom did Datta make frames?
Ans. Datta made frames only for those customers who had visited him at least twice after placing the order, ensuring they would collect their work.
10. How did the photograph get damaged?
Ans. The photograph got damaged when Datta, in frustration while searching for his pencil, shook his dhoti, accidentally spilling a tin of white enamel paint on it.
11. How did he try to rescue the picture?
Ans. Datta tried to wipe the paint off the photograph, but in doing so, rubbed too hard, peeling off the surface and ruining the old man’s face and turban.
12. What solution did Datta finally come up with?
Ans. Datta decided to replace the damaged photograph with another similar-looking photograph from his collection of unclaimed pictures and framed it in the gold frame.
13. Why were the days that followed filled with suspense and anxiety?
Ans. Datta was anxious and fearful that the customer might discover his deceit when he came to collect the framed photograph.
14. What effect did the picture have on the customer?
Ans. The customer was initially impressed and delighted by the grandeur of the gold frame and gazed at it reverently.
15. What was the customer’s complaint regarding the frame?
Ans. The customer did not notice the changed photograph but complained that the mount was square instead of oval, as he had requested.
II Long Answer Type Questions:
1. What impression do you gather about Datta, the frame maker?
Ans. Datta was a quiet, hardworking, and perfectionist craftsman who took pride in his work. He disliked idle talk and preferred silence. Though honest and sincere, he became anxious and desperate when he accidentally damaged the photograph. His quick thinking and clever replacement showed that he was also resourceful and practical, though his action was morally questionable.
2. How did the author describe the shop owned by Datta?
Ans. The shop, ‘The Modern Frame Works,’ was a tiny, cluttered space fitted into a narrow gap between two larger shops. It was filled with cardboard pieces, wood, glass sheets, nails, glue bottles, and paint tins. Every inch of wall space was covered with a mixture of pictures, gods, saints, leaders, and common folk , thus creating a chaotic yet colorful atmosphere that matched Datta’s quiet, industrious personality.
3. What had Datta learnt from his long experience? How was his new customer different from the other ones?
Ans. From long experience, Datta had learnt that customers were rarely punctual, some came too early, some too late, and others never collected their pictures. However, the new customer was different because he was extremely devoted and emotional about the photograph, visiting Datta early and expressing deep reverence for the man in the picture. This intensity made Datta nervous and more careful with the order.
4. Datta found a solution to his problem. Did it really work for him? Justify your answer.
Ans. Yes, Datta’s solution worked well. Although he replaced the damaged photograph with another one, the customer did not notice the difference. Instead, he only complained about the shape of the mount being square instead of oval. This shows that Datta’s clever substitution saved him from trouble and proved his presence of mind, though it also revealed the irony of human perception, that is the customer revered the frame more than the true image itself.
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 4 The Gold Frame Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A. “He was a silent, hard-working man. He gave only laconic answers to the questions his customers asked and strongly discouraged casual friends who tried to intrude on his zone of silence with their idle gossip. He was always seen sitting hunched up, surrounded by a confusion of cardboard pieces, bits of wood, glass sheets, boxes of nails, glue bottles, paint tins and other odds and ends that went in to putting a picture in a frame. In this medley a glass- cutter or a pencil stub was often lost and that was when he would uncoil from his posture and grope impatiently for it. Many times he had to stand up and shake his dhoti vigorously to dislodge the lost object. This operation rocked the whole shop, setting the pictures on the walls gently swinging. ”
Q1. Who is being described in this passage?
Ans. The passage describes Datta, the owner of “The Modern Frame Works,” who was a silent and diligent frame-maker.
Q2. How did Datta treat his customers and friends?
Ans. Datta was polite but brief with his customers and discouraged his friends from gossiping, as he preferred silence and concentration while working.
Q3. Describe the condition of Datta’s shop.
Ans. Datta’s shop was small and cluttered, filled with cardboard, wood, glass pieces, glue bottles, paint tins, and other framing materials.
Q4. What did Datta do when he lost small objects like a pencil or glass-cutter?
Ans. When Datta lost small tools, he would search impatiently, often shaking his dhoti to dislodge the missing object.
Q5. What happened when he shook his dhoti?
Ans. When Datta shook his dhoti, it rocked the whole shop, causing the pictures on the walls to swing gently.
B. “The customer was describing the greatness of the man; extravagant qualities of nobility, compassion and charity were being generously attributed to him in a voice that came close to the chanting of a holy scripture. ‘If this world had just a few more like him, believe me, it would certainly have been a different place. Of course, there are demons who may not agree with me. They are out to disgrace his name and destroy his memory. But he is God in my home!’ ‘What sort of a frame do you want?’ Datta interrupted. ‘Plain, wooden, lacquer, gold, plastic or just enamel painted?’ He waved a casual hand towards the pictures on the wall. The customer silently surveyed the various frames. After some time Datta heard him mumble, ‘I want the best…..’ I don’t have any second-rate stuff in my shop.’ Datta said. He was shown a number of samples: plain, decorative, floral, geometrical, thin, hefty and so forth. The customer was baffled by the variety. He examined the selection before him for a long time as if he was unsure of his judgment and was afraid of enshrining his saviour for ever in some ugly cheap frame.”
Q1. Who is the customer talking about in this passage?
Ans. The customer is talking about an old man in the photograph, whom he reveres and considers a great and godly person.
Q2. How does the customer describe the man in the photograph?
Ans. The customer describes him as a noble, compassionate, and charitable man and says he is like God in his home.
Q3. How does Datta respond to the customer’s emotional speech?
Ans. Datta responds to the customer’s emotional speech by interrupting him bluntly and asking about the type of frame he wants, showing his indifference to the man’s sentiments.
Q4. What types of frames does Datta show to the customer?
Ans. Datta shows him plain, decorative, floral, geometrical, thin, and heavy frames, offering a wide variety of choices.
Q5. Why was the customer baffled?
Ans. The customer was confused by the variety of frames and was afraid of choosing one that might look cheap or inappropriate for the man he worshipped.
C. “Ten days later the tall, rustic-looking man appeared and enquired, ‘Has the picture been framed? I was passing by and thought I could collect it if it was ready.’ Datta cast a sideways look at him and continued with his work. ‘I know I have come four days early,’ the customer grinned nervously. ‘Will it be ready by Tuesday?’ Datta merely nodded without shifting attention from a tiny nail which he, with precise rhythmic strokes, was driving into a frame, but sensed the man’s obsessive attachment” to the photograph. He told himself there would be trouble if he did not deliver the order on the promised date. Next morning he made that his first job, keeping aside all the others. The photograph was lying on a shelf among many others. He took it and carefully kept it on a wooden plank on the floor. Then he looked for the pencil stub for marking the measurements. As usual it was missing. He swept his hand all round him impatiently, scattering fragments of glass and wood.”
Q1. Who was the rustic-looking man?
Ans. The rustic-looking man was the customer who had brought the old man’s photograph to be framed.
Q2. What did the man ask Datta?
Ans. The man asked Datta whether his photograph had been framed and if he could collect it early.
Q3. What did Datta notice about the customer?
Ans. Datta noticed the customer’s deep emotional attachment to the photograph and sensed that it could cause trouble if he disappointed him.
Q4. What did Datta decide to do the next morning?
Ans. Datta decided to finish the customer’s work first the next morning, setting aside all other jobs.
Q5. What problem did Datta face while working?
Ans. While marking the measurements for the frame, Datta lost his pencil stub and searched impatiently, scattering bits of wood and glass.
D. “The customer seemed visibly struck by its grandeur and fell silent like one who had entered the inner sanctum of a temple. Datta held his breath and watched the man’s expression. With every second that passed he was losing his nerve and thought that in another moment he would betray the big hoax he had played. Suddenly he saw the customer straighten, the reverential look and benevolent expression vanished from his face. ‘What have you done?’ he demanded, indignantly. For Datta the moment seemed familiar for he had already gone through it a thousand times night and day since he splashed the white paint on the original photograph. Several times he had rehearsed his piece precisely for this occasion. But before he could open his mouth the customer shouted with tremendous authority in his bearing, ‘Now, don’t deny it! I clearly remember asking for a cut mount with an oval shape. This is square. Look!’”
Q1. Why was the customer struck silent when he saw the framed picture?
Ans. The customer was impressed by the grandeur of the gold frame and gazed at it as though he was in a holy place.
Q2. Why was Datta nervous at that moment?
Ans. Datta was nervous because he had replaced the damaged photograph with another one and feared the customer would discover the truth.
Q3. What question did the customer ask angrily?
Ans. The customer angrily asked, “What have you done?”, suspecting a mistake in the framing.
Q4. What was Datta expecting the customer to find fault with?
Ans. Datta feared that the customer would notice the photograph was not the original one and expose his deception.
Q5. What was the customer’s actual complaint?
Ans. The customer did not notice the changed photograph; he only complained that the mount was square instead of oval, as he had requested.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Q1. Who was the owner of “The Modern Frame Works”?
A. R.K. Laxman
B. Datta
C. The customer
D. Gopal
Ans. B. Datta
Q2. Where was “The Modern Frame Works” situated?
A. Between a drug store and a radio repair shop
B. Near a railway station
C. Next to a cinema hall
D. Behind a temple
Ans. A. Between a drug store and a radio repair shop
Q3. How did Datta look?
A. Fat and cheerful
B. Tall and muscular
C. Thin with a concave figure and silver-rimmed glasses
D. Short and round-faced
Ans. C. Thin with a concave figure and silver-rimmed glasses
Q4. What kind of person was Datta?
A. Talkative and lazy
B. Silent and hardworking
C. Proud and boastful
D. Careless and rude
Ans. B. Silent and hardworking
Q5. What were the walls of Datta’s shop covered with?
A. Posters of movies
B. Calendars
C. Pictures of gods, leaders, and common people
D. Advertisements
Ans. C. Pictures of gods, leaders, and common people
Q6. What did the customer want Datta to do?
A. Repair a broken frame
B. Frame a photograph of an old man
C. Sell him a painting
D. Make a wooden box
Ans. B. Frame a photograph of an old man
Q7. How did the customer describe the man in the photograph?
A. As his friend
B. As a film star
C. As a godly and noble man
D. As a sportsman
Ans. C. As a godly and noble man
Q8. What kind of frame did Datta recommend?
A. Plain wooden frame
B. Silver frame
C. German imported gold frame
D. Plastic frame
Ans. C. German imported gold frame
Q9. What was the total price Datta quoted for the frame, mount, and glass?
A. Ten rupees
B. Twelve rupees
C. Seventeen rupees
D. Twenty rupees
Ans. C. Seventeen rupees
Q10. Why did Datta think there might be trouble with this customer?
A. The customer was very demanding and emotional
B. The customer was rude
C. The customer didn’t pay
D. The customer wanted free service
Ans. A. The customer was very demanding and emotional
Q11. What caused the damage to the photograph?
A. Fire accident
B. Datta dropped it
C. A tin of white enamel paint spilled on it
D. It tore by itself
Ans. C. A tin of white enamel paint spilled on it
Q12. What did Datta do in an attempt to save the picture?
A. Washed it with water
B. Rubbed it with a cloth
C. Used a brush to clean it
D. Took it to another shop
Ans. B. Rubbed it with a cloth
Q13. What happened when Datta rubbed the photograph?
A. It became clean and bright
B. Half of the face and turban got peeled off
C. The paint dried quickly
D. The photo became clearer
Ans. B. Half of the face and turban got peeled off
Q14. What idea came to Datta’s mind after the damage?
A. To confess his mistake
B. To replace the damaged photo with a similar one
C. To destroy the evidence
D. To refund the customer’s money
Ans. B. To replace the damaged photo with a similar one
Q15. Where did Datta find the replacement photograph?
A. In a magazine
B. From a neighbour’s shop
C. In a box of unclaimed photos
D. From the customer’s file
Ans. C. In a box of unclaimed photos
Q16. How did the replaced photograph look?
A. Like a famous leader
B. Exactly like the old man’s photo
C. Slightly similar to the original old man’s picture
D. Very different from the original
Ans. C. Slightly similar to the original old man’s picture
Q17. What was Datta’s main feeling after framing the new picture?
A. Pride and nervousness
B. Anger and regret
C. Joy and excitement
D. Indifference
Ans. A. Pride and nervousness
Q18. What did the customer say when he saw the finished frame?
A. “This is not my photo.”
B. “You ruined it!”
C. “It looks beautiful.”
D. “The mount is square instead of oval.”
Ans. D. “The mount is square instead of oval.”
Q19. Did the customer recognize that the photograph had been changed?
A. Yes, immediately
B. No, he did not notice at all
C. He doubted but said nothing
D. He forgot how the old one looked
Ans. B. No, he did not notice at all
Q20. What is the main theme of the story “The Gold Frame”?
A. The difference between truth and appearance
B. The value of money
C. The love of art
D. The role of religion
Ans. A. The difference between truth and appearance
True or False
State whether the following are true or false–
1. Datta was the owner of The Golden Frame Works.
2. Datta’s shop was located between a drug store and a radio repair shop.
3. Datta was a careless and lazy man.
4. The customer brought a photograph of his father to be framed.
5. Datta suggested a German gold frame for the photograph.
6. The photograph was ruined when a tin of white enamel paint fell on it.
7. Datta replaced the ruined photograph with a similar one from unclaimed pictures.
8. The customer recognized that the photograph had been changed.
9. The customer complained that the mount was square instead of oval.
10. The story “The Gold Frame” is written by R.K. Laxman.
Answers-
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. True
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. Datta gave only __________ answers to his customers’ questions.
2. The customer spoke about the old man as if he were a __________.
3. Datta disliked people who tried to disturb his __________.
4. The customer said, “He is __________ in my home.”
5. Datta often lost small things like a glass-cutter or a __________.
6. The customer wanted the __________ frame for the photograph.
7. Datta worked with great care and __________.
8. The photograph was spoiled by a tin of __________ paint.
9. The customer came __________ days early to collect his framed picture.
10. When the customer finally saw the picture, he complained only about the __________.
Answers-
1. laconic
2. god
3. silence
4. God
5. pencil stub
6. best
7. precision
8. white enamel
9. four
10. shape of the mount
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. Who was Datta and what was his nature?
Ans. Datta was the owner of a small picture-framing shop called The Modern Frame Works, located between a drug store and a radio repair shop. He was a quiet, diligent, and serious craftsman who valued hard work and silence. Datta gave short, precise answers to his customers and disliked idle talk or gossip. His workspace reflected his dedication, it was cluttered with tools, nails, glass sheets, and paints. Though he appeared stern, he was sincere in his work. His perfectionist nature and attention to detail showed his commitment to quality, making him a true professional in his craft.
Q2. Describe Datta’s shop and its surroundings.
Ans. Datta’s shop, The Modern Frame Works, was a tiny space wedged between a drug store and a radio repair shop. The walls were crowded with colourful pictures of gods, saints, leaders, and ordinary people. The shop was full of tools and materials, cardboard pieces, wood, glass, glue bottles, nails, and paint tins, giving it a chaotic yet lively atmosphere. Despite its disorder, every item had a purpose. This clutter symbolized Datta’s hardworking and artistic life. His shop was not just a workplace but an extension of his personality, reflecting both his industrious nature and his devotion to craftsmanship.
Q3. What kind of customer visited Datta’s shop one day?
Ans. One day, a tall, rustic-looking man came to Datta’s shop with a photograph of an elderly man. He seemed deeply emotional and reverent toward the person in the picture, speaking of him as if he were a divine figure. The customer described the man’s virtues with devotion, calling him noble, compassionate, and godlike. He wanted the photograph to be framed beautifully to preserve the man’s memory. His seriousness and emotional attachment made a deep impression on Datta, who sensed that any mistake in the job could cause serious trouble. The customer’s behaviour showcased deep faith and respect.
Q4. How did the customer describe the person in the photograph?
Ans. The customer described the person in the photograph with immense reverence and emotion. He called him a man of great nobility, compassion, and charity, saying that the world would be a better place if there were more like him. His tone resembled that of someone chanting a prayer. He even referred to the man as “God” in his home, showing the deep respect and devotion he felt for him. His words revealed not only his admiration but also his sense of personal loss. This intense emotion made Datta realize that framing the photograph required utmost care.
Q5. How was the photograph destroyed, and what did Datta do afterward?
Ans. While working on the photograph, Datta misplaced his pencil stub and shook his dhoti vigorously to find it. In doing so, he accidentally knocked over a tin of white enamel paint, which splashed directly onto the photograph. Panicked, he tried to wipe off the paint, but his rough attempts peeled away the face and turban of the old man, ruining the picture completely. Terrified of the customer’s reaction, Datta searched among unclaimed photographs and found one that resembled the original. He decided to frame that picture instead, hoping the customer would not notice the change.
Q6. What does Datta’s reaction to the accident reveal about his character?
Ans. Datta’s reaction to the accident reveals his human weakness, quick thinking, and fear of confrontation. Though he was usually sincere and hardworking, the fear of losing his reputation made him resort to deceit. His immediate panic showed his sense of responsibility, while his decision to replace the photograph reflected both desperation and intelligence. Datta’s actions expose the conflict between morality and survival. He knew he was being dishonest but also realized that admitting the mistake could ruin him. His character thus represents the ordinary man’s struggle between ethics and practicality in difficult situations.
Q7. What was the customer’s reaction when he saw the framed photograph?
Ans. When the customer saw the framed photograph, he was initially awestruck by its grandeur. He looked at it reverently, almost as if standing before a holy idol. Datta, nervous and anxious, watched his every expression, expecting anger or shock. After a moment, the customer’s expression changed, and he demanded, “What have you done?” Datta froze, thinking his deception had been discovered. However, to his relief, the customer only complained that the mount was square instead of oval.
Q8. What is the central theme of the story “The Gold Frame”?
Ans. The story “The Gold Frame” highlights the themes of irony, human imperfection, and the conflict between truth and survival. It reflects how ordinary people often compromise their honesty under pressure. Datta’s accidental mistake and subsequent deceit show how fear and practicality can override moral judgment. The story also explores human perception, and how the customer worshipped the photograph but failed to notice that it had changed.
Q9. What message does R.K. Laxman conveys this story?
Ans. R.K. Laxman conveys the message that human beings are flawed and often struggle between honesty and self-preservation. Through Datta’s experience, the story shows how fear and pressure can lead even an honest person to deception. It also highlights society’s tendency to value outward appearances more than inner truth. The customer’s inability to recognize the wrong photograph symbolizes superficial devotion and blind faith. Ultimately, Laxman uses humour and irony to remind readers that appearances can be deceptive, and truth is often hidden beneath layers of pretence and circumstance.
Q10. How does the story “The Gold Frame” use irony to create humour?
Ans. The story’s humour arises from its irony. Datta replaces the damaged photograph with another, fearing the customer will discover the fraud. However, when the customer finally inspects the frame, he completely overlooks the fact that it is a different picture. Instead, he complains only about the shape of the mount being square instead of oval. This twist creates dramatic irony, the reader knows the truth, but the character does not. Laxman uses this situation to humorously comment on human folly, showing how people often notice trivial details while missing what is truly important.