Class 12 English (Elective) Chapter 5 – One Centimetre Important Question Answers from Kaleidoscope Book Short Stories
Class 12 English (Elective) One Centimetre Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for CBSE Class 12 English (Elective) Short Stories Chapter 5 – One Centimetre? 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 5 – One Centimetre 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 and Extra Question Answers
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.
- One Centimetre NCERT Solutions
- One Centimetre Grammar Exercises
- One Centimetre Extra Question Answers
- One Centimetre Multiple Choice Questions
- One Centimetre Extract Based Questions
Related:
One Centimetre Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Stop and Think
1. What made Tao Ying decide whether to buy a ticket or not when she rode a bus alone?
Ans. When Tao Ying takes the bus by herself, she frequently chooses not to pay for her ticket as she thinks that even in her absence, the bus would continue to stop at each stop, and both a driver and a conductor would still need to be present, along with the same quantity of fuel being consumed. Moreover, she promptly buys a ticket upon boarding, whenever the bus conductor seems responsible, but if he appears relaxed and negligent, she would never consider paying, viewing it as a minor penalty for him and a small benefit for herself.
2. Why did she insist on buying tickets both for herself and her son that day?
Ans. Tao Ying bought the ticket for herself and her son as she knew that children pay more attention to rules and regulations than the adults. Without a ticket, Xiao Ye believes the journey doesn’t truly count. Moreover, for Xiao Ye getting a ticket became more about his pride as even the conductor believed that he was under one meter ten.
3. Did Tao Ying really intend to cheat at the temple?
Ans. Tao Ying didn’t cheat as she was following the rules and regulations cautiously, she read the rule that children who measure less than one meter ten are allowed to enter the temple without the ticket, but the measuring height worm designed on the wall wasn’t accurately drawn.
4. Why did Tao Ying change her intention to buy another ticket?
Ans. Tao Ying thought that if she bought the ticket that day, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself to her son. Moreover, she thought if she bought the ticket, her son would think that she was wrong and she won’t be able undo his misunderstanding.
5. Were the old lady’s scales a reliable measure of height and weight? What convoluted logic were her measurements based on?
Ans. No, the old lady’s scales were not reliable to measure height and weight. The old woman told Xiao Ye that her scales were designed to bring joy. She explains that her scales please people and make them happy, which leaves Tao Ying confused. Her scales are outdated and not particularly precise, and they make people appear lighter than they truly are. She has also modified them to make people appear taller, as it is trendy to be tall and slender. Her scales make them appear fit to themselves.
6. What was the conflict between the mother and son?
Ans. Xiao Ye doesn’t believe his mother anymore after the temple incident as he thought she didn’t want to buy a ticket for him. He told her he doesn’t want to get measured by her as he thought if she measured him, he would turn out to be shorter. He didn’t trust her anymore after the temple incident while she was right in her instance.
Understanding the Text
1. How did Tao Ying’s son influence the way she led her life?
Ans. She would always behave in a morally correct way following the rules and regulations laid by the concerning authorities. She would always buy the ticket when she was with Xiao Ye. She won’t eat the watermelon to the rind when she was with her son, only to be an ideal mother for him. She wanted to inculcate good manners in her son.
2. Pick out instances from the story to show that official rules are often arbitrary.
Ans. The scales used at the temple weren’t correct, still she was humiliated for it. She paid for her son’s ticket even though it was free. She was deliberately asked if she wanted to claim it later to which she declined, though the conductor should have let her claim it. The temple administrators knew they were wrong, and still wanted to put the blame on Tao Ying for it. Moreover, they came late to investigate the matter. Instead of apologizing for their behavior, they choose to solve the problem with money.
3. Tao Ying was very careful about spending money. What were her reasons for refusing the compensation offered by the temple officials?
Ans. The incident at the temple hurt her dignity and integrity in front of her son. Their compensation won’t be able to redress her hurt and the sourness her relationship has gone through with her son. Moreover, she would always have unhappy memories of that temple. She only wants her son to understand that his mother has done nothing wrong and wants him to trust her like he used to do.
4. Why was her final vindication important to Tao Ying?
Ans. Tao Ying’s final vindication was important for her to keep her dignity and integrity in front of her son, as he thought his mother didn’t want to buy tickets for him. Her son was more important to her than money. All she wanted for her son was to see that his mother hasn’t done anything wrong.
Talking about the Text
Discuss the following in pairs or in small groups
1. The way a child looks at the world is very different from that of an adult.
Ans. Tao Ying’s conversation with the old woman about her scales being flattering scales as it makes the people look long and lean, won’t be understood by the child. She could look through the old woman’s cleverness, which Xiao Ye wouldn’t. The cleverness behind the bus ticket conductor to make her buy the ticket and asking whether she would claim it, wouldn’t be understood by Xiao Ye. Moreover, her conversation with the temple official and her asking them to make her son understand that his mother did nothing wrong that day, shows that it was difficult for parents to make their children understand about certain things.
2. There is always a gap between what we really are and what we wish to appear to be to others.
Ans. Yes, Tao Ying wants to appear an ideal citizen of the country following rules and regulations in front of Xiao Ye, which she wasn’t in reality. She saves her money whenever given an opportunity, but in front of her child, she was an extravagant. She would always buy the ticket when she was with Xiao Ye, though alone she would buy the ticket only when the conductor was alert enough to notice. She won’t eat the watermelon to the rind when she is with her son, only to be an ideal mother for him. She wants to inculcate good manners in her son.
Appreciation
1. Comment on the significance of the first sentence of the story to its theme.
Ans. Tao Ying appears to be adhering to the rules and regulations of the concerned authorities, which she doesn’t follow when she is alone. She used to save money by not buying the ticket, as they would be using the same resources for others while traveling.
2. Would you describe the author’s portrayal of Tao Ying’s character in the story as sympathetic, critical or realistic?
Ans. Tao Ying was realistic as she faced her struggles by confronting the concerned authorities, rather than escaping from the responsibility as no action would be taken against them. She knew how to save money, whenever given an opportunity.
3. Identify the episodes that bring out the ambivalent attitude to ethics commonly seen in human life?
Ans. The conductor asked for the claim from the ticket she bought for her son Xiao Ye, though she could but asking that in front of her son makes it unethical for the conductor. The old woman’s scales might be flattering but unethical as they measure wrong.
4. How effectively does the narrative technique adopted in this story illustrate ‘unity of thought’?
Ans. Everyone is using an opportunity in accordance with their benefits. Their actions might not be correct but they are beneficial to them.
One Centimetre Grammar Exercises
Language Work
A . Figures of Speech
a. Simile
Notice the underlined phrases in the following sentences
(i) As the doors shut her jacket is caught, ballooning up like a tent behind her.
The comparison here is between the ballooning of the jacket and a tent made explicit by the use of the conjunction, ‘like’.
(ii) The white of the wall looks like a virgin canvas and Xiao Ye a painting filling up the space.
The comparison in (ii) is between the whiteness of the wall and a virgin canvas made explicit by the use of ‘like’. In the second ‘like’ is understood. Xiao Ye is like a painting…
Such explicit comparisons are called similes.
b. Metaphor
Sometimes comparisons are made by the application of words or phrases to a concept that they do not literally denote.
An example of this is
But in order to melt the ice in her son’s eyes, she must do something.
Here the ice stands for the coldness and distance in her son’s eyes and how she wishes to make him come closer to her.
The comparison of a mental attitude to ice is not explicitly emphasised but is understood. Similes and metaphors add to the richness of language and help to make the reader visualise more vividly the thoughts of the author.
TASK
Pick out examples of simile and metaphor from the story and state the two elements or concepts that are compared and the manner of comparison.
Ans. Simile
1. His hair looks ‘as fluffy as a bundle of straw’ is used to express the roughness of Xiao Ye’s hair.
2. Xiao Ye ‘face is raised up like a half-open blossom’ to show the eagerness to absorb everything around him, just like the flowers absorb the sunlight.
3. Tao Ying thought that teaching kids to behave as a product of a refined environment is impossible and difficult like ‘shooting down aeroplanes with a small gun’.
Metaphor
1. The metaphor ‘brushing away topsoil to get to a firm foundation’ is used for reference of Xiao Ye unkempt hair. Tao Ying keeps on brushing his hair with hand to smooth down his unkempt hair.
2. The metaphor ‘an open fire’ refers to an oven. Tao Ying was a cook in a factory and she used to bake cakes, for that she used to be in front of the oven.
3. The metaphor ‘sun’ is used for Tao Ying, when Xiao Ye was waiting for her to fulfill her promise to buy him a ticket.
B. Pronunciation
Look at the word ‘object’
We can see that
(i) It is a two-syllable word: ob – ject
(ii) It can be used as both a noun and a verb.
Examples
(i) Place the ‘object on the table. (noun)
[Pronounce ob as in bob]
(ii) I ob’ject, your honour. (verb)
[Pronounce ob as in hub]
The stress and the way the word is pronounced change accordingly.
You will notice that, when used as a noun, the word carries the stress on the first syllable; when used as a verb, the stress is received on the second syllable.
Also, the way you pronounce the initial syllable would change.
TASK
The following words can be used as both a noun and a verb
| conduct | protest | permit |
| progress | desert |
- Where would the stress fall? Mark the stress when the word is used
(i) as a noun
(ii) as a verb
- Is there a change in the pronunciation of the first syllable? Form words that rhyme with the pronunciation of the first syllable, as in the example of ‘object’ given above.
Ans. (i) NOUN
| conduct | protest | permit |
| progress | desert |
(ii) VERB
| conduct | protest | permit |
| progress | desert |
There is a change in the pronunciation of the first syllable. The words that rhymes with the pronunciation of the first syllable are subject and abject.
CBSE Class 12 English (Elective) Chapter 5 – One Centimetre Extra Question and Answers
Answer the following questions.
Q1. Why didn’t Tao Ying pay for the ticket while riding alone?
Ans. When Tao Ying takes the bus by herself, she frequently chooses not to pay for her ticket as she thinks that even in her absence, the bus would continue to stop at each stop, and both a driver and a conductor would still need to be present, along with the same quantity of fuel being consumed. She was quite clever, as whenever the bus conductor seems responsible, she promptly buys a ticket upon boarding, but if he appears relaxed and negligent, she would never consider paying, viewing it as a minor penalty for him and a small benefit for herself.
Q2. What was Tao Ying worried about when she saw the temple administrators?
Ans. Tao Ying was busy with the laundry, her arms submerged in soap, when the representatives from the administrative office at the temple came to meet her. They told her that her letter had been sent to them by the local newspaper, and they had come to verify its contents. Tao Ying feels quite anxious and a bit downcast as her home was quite disorganized, and she hasn’t had the opportunity to clean it up. She wonders if they perceive her as lazy and might not trust her claims.
Q3. What did Tao Ying do after writing the letter to the local newspapers?
Ans. She waited for a long time. Tao Ying continues to read the newspapers daily, absorbing every article from front to back, including the tiny classified ads for videos. During this time, she listens to the radio, imagining the day when she’ll hear her own letter announced by one of those announcers. Afterward, she would head to the post office, just in case the temple’s administrative office responded to her letter with an apology for their mistake.
Q4. What did the old woman tell Tao Ying about her scales?
Ans. The old woman told Xiao Ye that her scales were designed to bring happiness. Her scales please people and make them happy, which leaves Tao Ying confused. She told Tao Ying that her scales are outdated and not particularly precise, and they make people appear lighter than they truly are. She has also modified them to make people appear taller, as it is trendy to be tall and slender. Her scales will make them appear fit. After hearing her explanation, Tao Ying thought that the old woman may be gentle, but she possessed a certain cleverness.
Q5. What do you understand about Tao Ying through the watermelon incident?
Ans. Tao Ying, in her son’s presence, ensures not to bite too close to the rind, even though she doesn’t believe there’s much difference between the flesh and the skin, in fact the sweetness fades as one approaches the green part, but to her every section of the melon is equally refreshing. Moreover, the skin of a melon is thought to have a cooling effect and is often used for medicinal purposes. Tao Ying wants to inculcate good habits in Xiao Ye as eating the watermelon to the rind would make one look below standard.
Class 12 One Centimetre Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. Why wouldn’t Tao Ying pay to casual and careless bus drivers and conductors?
A. She was poor
B. Their rude behavior
C. She didn’t carry money with her
D. She considered it as a small punishment for them and a little saving for herself.
Ans. D. She considered it as a small punishment for them and a little saving for herself.
Q2. What did Tao Ying used to do for a living?
A. A Cook in the canteen of a factory
B. Factory guard
C. Caretaker
D. Homemaker
Ans. A. A Cook in the canteen of a factory
Q3. What was the name of Tao Ying’s son?
A. The Writer
B. Xiao Ye
C. Anonymous
D. Lao Chiang
Ans. B. Xiao Ye
Q4. What is Tao Ying careful about?
A. Her self respect
B. Her nails
C. Money in her purse
D. Her reputation
Ans. C. Money in her purse
Q5. What was the cost of the bus ticket?
A. Ten cents
B. Five cents
C. Two cents
D. Twenty cents
Ans. D. Twenty cents
Q6. Why did Tao Ying buy two tickets for bus ride?
A. For the pride and self esteem of Xiao Ye
B. Her ticket was torned
C. She was taken as a fraudster
D. She was guilty
Ans. A. For the pride and self esteem of Xiao Ye
Q7. Where was Tao Ying taking Xiao Ye?
A. Home
B. Her office
C. Temple
D. Dinner
Ans. C. Temple
Q8.Who gave Tao Ying a ticket to the temple?
A. Xiao Ye
B. Lao Chiang
C. She bought it herself
D. Her Husband
Ans. B. Lao Chiang
Q9. Who helped Tao Ying in writing the letter?
A. Xiao Ye
B. Her Husband
C. Lao Chiang
D. Writer
Ans. D. Writer
Q10. Who visited Tao Ying at her home?
A. Writer
B. Lao Chiang
C. Her Husband
D. Temple’s Administrative officials
Ans. D. Temple’s Administrative officials
Q11. What concerns Tao Ying about Xiao Ye’s body?
A. His walk
B. His weight
C. His soft spot on his head
D. His naughty behavior
Ans. C. His soft spot on his head
Q12. What was the name of the magazine brought by Lao Chiang?
A. Big Reference
B. Political Reference
C. No Reference
D. Small Reference
Ans. A. Big Reference
Q13. What was the Big Reference magazine about?
A. Sports
B. Baking
C. Politics
D. Entertainment
Ans. C. Politics
Q14. Where was the International Standard Ruler?
A. England
B. America
C. China
D. Paris
Ans. D. Paris
Q15. Who forwarded the letter to the temple administrators?
A. Her husband
B. Local newspaper
C. She wrote to them
D. Writer
Ans. B. Local newspaper
Q16. What did she give the writer as an appreciation of his gesture?
A. Pen
B. Burnt cake
C. Money
D. A cake with extra sugar and sesame
Ans. D. A cake with extra sugar and sesame
Q17. Why did the young guard mention that the International Standard Ruler is in Paris?
A. Just for fun
B. To snub her with his knowledge
C. He was asking her questions
D. To state facts
Ans. B. To snub her with his knowledge
Q18. How long did Tao Ying waited after writing the letter to the local newspaper?
A. Ten days
B. One month and nine days
C. One year
D. Two months
Ans. B. One month and nine days
Q19. Why did the measuring tape turn into a poisonous viper?
A. She was tired of height system in her country
B. It soured her relationship with her son
C. She can’t use it to measure her son
D. She kept on hearing about it
Ans. B. It soured her relationship with her son
Q20. Why does Xiao Ye not want to get measured by Tao Ying?
A. He has other things to do
B. He was bored of it
C. As he already measured himself twice
D. He believed he would be measured shorter
Ans. D. He believed he would be measured shorter
CBSE Class 12 English (Elective) Chapter One Centimetre Extract-Based Questions
Answer the following extract-based Questions
A. Today she is taking Xiao Ye to visit a big temple. He has never seen the Buddha before. Tao Ying is not a believer and she does not intend to ask him to kow-tow. That is superstition, she knows.
The tickets cost five dollars a piece—these days even temples are run like businesses. Tao Ying’s ticket was a gift from Lao Chiang, who worked at the meat counter. The ticket was valid for a month, and today was the last day. Lao Chiang was one of those people who seemed to know everybody. Occasionally he would produce a battered coverless month-old magazine and say: ‘Seen this before? This is called the Big Reference, not meant for the eyes of
the common people.’ Tao Ying had never seen anything like this before and wondered how such a small rag, smaller even than a regular newspaper, could be called a Big Reference. She asked Lao Chiang but he seemed confused. He said everybody called it that—perhaps if you were to take out the pages and laid them flat they would end up bigger than a normal newspaper. It seemed to make sense. Studying this publication written in large print, Tao Ying could see that it was full of speculation about the war in the Middle East. Foremost on everyone’s mind seemed to be whether the export of dates from Iraq to China would continue as it did in the sixties during the famine. In any case, Tao Ying was full of admiration for Lao Chiang. In return for her indiscriminate respect, Lao Chiang decided to reward her with a ticket for the temple. ‘Is there just the one?’ Tao asked, not without gratitude but with some uncertainty. ‘Forget your husband, take your son and open his eyes! Children under 110 centimeters do not need a ticket. If you don’t want to go, sell it at the door and you’ll earn enough to buy a couple of watermelons!’ Lao Chiang had always been a practical man.
1. Where was Tao Ying taking her son?
Ans. Tao Ying was taking her son to a big temple.
2. Does Tao Ying believe in God?
Ans. Tao Ying doesn’t believe in God and she didn’t plan to teach Xiao Ye to bow down. She believes it to be a superstition.
3. Who gave the temple tickets to Tao Ying?
Ans. Lao Chiang gave temple tickets to Tao Ying.
4. What did Lao Chiang tell Tao Ying when she confronted him about only one ticket?
Ans. Lao Chiang told her to forget about her husband and take her son to broaden his horizons. Children under 110 centimeters don’t need a ticket. If she doesn’t wish to go, she could sell it at the entrance, and she will make enough to buy a couple of watermelons.
5. Why is the magazine called Big Reference?
Ans. The Big Reference symbolises that the significance of things is not in its size but the power it holds within oneself. The magazine appears to be small and not for the ordinary people but holds a significant power as it discusses the political power dynamics in the society.
B. Tao Ying regains her calm.
‘What does it say?’
‘One metre ten, just so,’ the younger man answers.
‘This is not just so. There was a delay of one month and nine days before you came. A month ago he wasn’t this tall.’
The two officials look at each other. This is a statement they cannot refute.
They produce a five-dollar bill from a pocket. The note pokes out of an envelope. They have evidently come prepared. Before they left the temple, they must have checked the height of the earthworm, and realised it was not drawn accurately.
‘The other day you and your son were unable to enter. This is a small token to redress the situation.’ This time it is the elder of the two gentlemen who speaks. His demeanor is kind, so he must be the more senior of the two.
1. What was the height of Xiao Ye when they measured him?
Ans. Xiao Ye measured one metre ten.
2. How long did she wait after writing the letter?
Ans. They were one month and nine days late to measure Xiao Ye.
3. What does Tao Ying understand about the envelope?
Ans. She understood that the temple administrators had measured the earthworm on the temple wall and must have realised their mistake. If Tao Ying hadn’t outsmarted them, they would have told her that it was her mistake. Only after she counteracted them, they took out the envelope.
4. How did they redress the problem?
Ans. They give Tao Ying a five dollar bill as a small token to redress their problem.
5. Was Tao Ying happy with the result?
Ans. No, the place will always have unhappy memories for her, no matter how her problem was redressed.
C. ‘My scales are here to make you happy! Don’t you want your son to grow tall? Every mother wants her sons to shoot up, but don’t forget when he is tall, that means you’ll be old! Mine are flattering scales,’ the old woman explains kindly, but Tao Ying remains baffled.
‘You see my scales are old and not very accurate and they make people seem lighter than they really are. I have also adjusted it to make them seem taller. These days it is fashionable to be long and lean—mine are fitness scales!’ The old woman might be kind, but she is not without cunning.
So that is the reason! Xiao Ye should have heard this speech! But he is a long way away and in any case would he have understood the convoluted logic?
Xiao Ye still looks suspicious, as if mother has turned into a big bad wolf, ready to eat him up. Later when they are back at home, Tao Ying takes out her own tape measure and insists on measuring him again.
‘I don’t want to! Everybody says I am tall enough except you. It’s because you don’t want to buy me a ticket, don’t think I don’t know. If you measure me I am bound to get shorter again. I don’t trust you! I don’t trust you!’
The yellow tape in Tao Ying’s hands has turned into a poisonous viper.
1. Who’s scales are referred to here?
Ans. The measuring scales belong to the Old woman behind the stall as Tao Ying and her son walked past the ice-cream stall.
2. How does her measuring scale make people happy?
Ans. Her measuring scales flatter people by measuring them as light and tall, her scales make one seem physically fit.
3. Why did Xiao Ye not want his mother to measure him?
Ans. He thought if his mother would measure him again he would measure shorter. He didn’t trust her anymore and thought that she didn’t want to buy the ticket for him.
4. Would Xiao Ye believe the conversation between the old woman and Tao Ying?
Ans. No, he wouldn’t be able to understand the complexity of their conversation. It’s the same problem she confronted the temple administrators with, to make her son understand that his mother wasn’t wrong.
5. What can you make out about the old woman’s character?
Ans. The Old woman was truthful and kind to Tao Ying as she told her the truth, but she was also cunning as to sell false measurements with her scales.
D. She hands over the tickets nonchalantly. The conductor asks: ‘Are you going to claim these back?’ ‘No.’ In fact Tao Ying ought to have kept the tickets so that the next time there is a picnic or an outing at work she could use her bicycle and then claim back the fare with the stubs. Both she and her husband are blue-collar workers, and any saving would have been a help. But Xiao Ye is a smart boy, and might well question her aloud, ‘Mama, can we claim back tickets even when we are on a private outing?’ In front of the child, she would never lie.
It is exhausting to follow rules dictated by parental guide-books all the time, but Tao Ying is determined to be the ideal mother and create a perfect example for her son to look up to. She needs to really concentrate—living this way is not unlike carrying an audience with you wherever you go. But her actions are full of love and tenderness. For instance, whenever she eats a watermelon in front of Xiao Ye, she would take care not to bite too close to the rind even though she doesn’t actually think there is much difference between the flesh and the skin. True, the sweetness gradually diminishes as you work your way through the red towards the green, but every part of the melon is equally refreshing. In any case the skin of a melon is supposed to have a beneficial cooling effect, and is often used as medicine.
1. Would Tao Ying have claimed the ticket if Xiao Ye wasn’t there?
Ans. Yes, she would have claimed the ticket whenever she was traveling by it next time.
2. Why did she bite the melon to the rind?
Ans. Tao Ying wants her son to learn good manners and eating the melon to the rind doesn’t look good, though it’s beneficial.
3. Why does Tao Ying behave differently in Xiao Ye’s presence?
Ans. Tao Ying wants to be an ideal mother and a perfect example for her son, Xiao Ye.
4. What was exhausting for Tao Ying?
Ans. It was exhausting for Tao Ying to follow the parental guide rule book to become an ideal role model for her son.
5. Was she an ideal mother for her son?
Ans. She wasn’t an ideal mother for her son as she slapped his head on the pretext of straightening his hair.