CBSE Class 12 English Core Flamingo Book Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
Poets and Pancakes Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 12 English Core Chapter 6, “Poets and Pancakes”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
Then the poet spoke. He couldn’t have addressed a more dazed and silent audience – no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying. The whole thing lasted about an hour ; then the poet left and we all dispersed in utter bafflement – What are we doing? What is an English poet doing in a film studio which makes Tamil films for the simplest sort of people? People whose lives least afforded them the possibility of cultivating a taste for English poetry. The poet looked pretty baffled too, for he must have felt the sheer incongruity of his talk about the thrills and travails of an English poet. His visit remained an unexplained mystery.
(i) Choose the correct option :
The reason for the bewilderment of the audience is
(A) unknown identity of the visitor.
(B) that the speaker had not been introduced to them.
(C) the visit of an English poet to a Tamil film studio.
(D) that they did not understand English.
Ans. (C) the visit of an English poet to a Tamil film studio.
(ii) By ‘thrills and travails” the author refers to
(A) joy and happiness
(B) interest and aspiration
(C) excitement and pain
(D) shocks and surprises
Ans. (C) excitement and pain
(iii) Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line, “He could not have addressed a more dazed and silent audience”.
Ans. The audience was completely unengaged and bewildered, not understanding the relevance or content of the poet’s speech.
(iv) The failure of the speaker to connect with the audience with reference to the extract is his _______.
Ans. The failure of the speaker to connect with the audience with reference to the extract is his unfamiliarity with the audience’s background and context.
(v) What information in the extract reveals the fact that the people have no exposure other than to their own circle?
Ans. The audience’s bafflement at the poet’s talk and their lack of understanding of English poetry indicate their limited exposure beyond their local culture and interests.
(vi) State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
The audience were enthralled by the poet’s impressive speech.
Ans. FALSE
Q2. What does ‘The God That Failed’ refer to? [40-50 Words]
Ans. ‘The God That Failed’ was a compilation of six essays written by six eminent writers, namely, Andre Gide, Richard Wright, Ignazio Silone, Arthur Koestler, Louis Fischer and Stephen Spender. In each of the essays, the respective writers described «their journeys into Communism and their disillusioned return”.
Q3. How was there a great deal of national integration in the make-up department? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The make-up department at the studio had a diverse group of people from different regions and backgrounds working together. This interaction and collaboration fostered a sense of national unity and integration among the workers.
Q4. Stephen Spender’s visit to the Gemini Studios was viewed as an unexplained mystery by the Gemini family. How did Asokamitran solve this mystery years later? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Asokamitran solved the mystery by discovering Stephen Spender’s identity through a chance encounter with a book review in a periodical. He learned that Spender was a renowned poet and editor, explaining his visit to Gemini Studios.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
Then the poet spoke. He couldn’t have addressed a more dazed and silent audience — no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying. The whole thing lasted about an hour; then the poet left and we all dispersed in utter bafflement — what are we doing? What is an English poet doing in a film studio which makes Tamil films for the simplest sort of people? People whose lives least afforded them the possibility of cultivating a taste for English poetry? The poet looked pretty baffled too, for he too must have felt the sheer incongruity of his talk about the thrills and travails of an English poet. His visit remained an unexplained mystery.
(i) Choose the appropriate option with reference to the extract. The audience were dazed’ because
(a) they were not accustomed to listening to poetry.
(b) they had never before seen an Englishman.
(c) they failed to comprehend what the poet was speaking.
(d) they were already bored.
Ans. (c) they failed to comprehend what the poet was speaking.
(ii) Complete the sentence with reference to the extract :
The English poet was ____________ when he was addressing the dazed audience.
Ans. baffled
(iii) Where did the talk take place?
Choose the correct option.
(a) The Main Mall
(b) Story Writing Department
(c) Film studio
(d) Subbu’s office
Ans. (c) Film studio
(iv) The English poet’s visit is an ‘unexplained mystery’ because _____.
Ans. he was an English poet and the audience which watched Tamil films could not comprehend him.
(v) Complete the analogy with a word from the extract :
noisy : silent : : assembled : __________
Ans. dispersed
(vi) Explain the following phrase with reference to the extract :
The poet felt ‘the sheer incongruity of his talk’.
Ans. He could sense that his talk was not being understood by the audience.
Q2. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :
The make-up department was first headed by a Bengali who became too big for a studio and left. He was succeeded by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils. All this shows that there was a great deal of national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan began broadcasting programmes on national integration. This gang of nationally integrated make-up men could turn any decent-looking person into a hideous crimson hued monster with the help of truck-loads of pancake and a number of other locally made potions and lotions.
(i) How was there national integration long before A.I.R. and Doordarshan in the make-up department?
(a) The staff consisted of a Bengali, a Maharashtrian, a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and Tamils.
(b) They recited slogans of national integration.
(c) The staff studied make-up techniques of various states.
(d) Their clients were from various states.
Ans. (a) The staff consisted of a Bengali, a Maharashtrian, a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and Tamils.
(ii) Select a suitable word from the extract to complete the analogy :
front : rear : : ravishing : ______
Ans. hideous
(iii) Select the correct option to fill in the blanks :
The make-up artists could turn _______ looking people into ________ looking men and women.
(a) ordinary; pleasant
(b) ugly; good
(c) pleasant; ugly
(d) monstrous; beautiful
Ans. (c) pleasant; ugly
(iv) The word ‘pancake’ in the extract most nearly means ___.
(a) brand name
(b) lemon cake
(c) savoury
(d) preservative
Ans. (a) brand name
(v) Based on the above extract, choose the statement that is true for the make-up department.
(a) The make-up artists were welcomed by the actors.
(b) The make-up artists were poorly paid.
(c) The work done by the make-up artists was not appreciated.
(d) The department exhibited national integration.
Ans. (d) The department exhibited national integration.
(vi) Bring out the irony in the above given extract.
Ans. A make-up artist’s job is to make a person lovely, but in this case, the make-up man can convert any decent-looking individual into a terrible crimson-hued monster.
Q3. In the chapter ‘Poets and Pancakes’, the author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how it served to make the extract engaging. [120-150 Words]
Ans. The author makes use of humour to highlight the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of the characters but avoids making any overtly critical or insulting remarks about any of the characters. For instance, the author presents the make-up artists and the use of the pancakes in an innovative manner. Even the caricature of Subbu makes you laugh out loud. It is extremely funny to watch how he attempts to assist his principal by providing speedy solutions to the issues he is facing. Another illustration of this can be found in the episode of the legal adviser called “Accidentally Causes the End of an Actress’s Career.” The author has sprinkled some light humour throughout the text, and some examples of this include the office boy’s impatience, the author’s shallow praise of Gandhi, his dislike of communism, and the ‘mystery’
that surrounds Stephen Spender.
Questions from the Chapter in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
He could’nt have addressed a more dazed and silent audience – no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying.
(i) Identify the chapter. Who is ‘he’?
Ans. The chapter is Poets and Pancakes and ‘he’ refers to the poet, Stephen Spender.
(ii) What was ‘he’ in real life?
Ans. A Poet
(iii) How did the audience react to his speech?
Ans. They were confused
(iv) Why was his speech not a success?
Ans. Due to language barrier
Q2. What were the positive qualities of Subbu that the writer admired? [30-40 words]
Ans. Subbu, as a man of many qualities, had the ability to look cheerful at all times, was an excellent actor who could portray his roles in several ways, was an accomplished poet, and loved anyone he met.
He gave Gemini Studis a new meaning and direction as well as the art of filmmaking, by channeling all of his energy and creativity into the company’s benefit. Furthermore, almost everyone admired him for his noble and charitable nature.
Q3. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people of Gemini Studio? [30-40 words]
Ans. Most of the 600 odd people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman was addressing them in his own language-English. He had a peculiar accent. Hence, there was a lack of Communication between the Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.
Q4. How was the make-up room in the Gemini Studios a fine example of national integration? [30-40 words]
Ans. The makeup department of the Gemini Studio comprised of people from different parts of the country. This is referred to as an example of national integration.
At first, a Bengali was the head of the make-up studio but then he outgrew Gemini Studios and left it for better opportunities. After him, it was supervised by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwa Kannadiga, an Andhra, A Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils. The fact that people from different cultures worked together puts forward the post-independence national integration scenario. It shows that people were united way before All India Radio and Doordarshan raised the concept.
Q5. What remarkable activities took place in the make-up room of Gemini Studios? [120-150 words]
Ans. The Gemini Studios were located in Chennai, on the second floor of a structure that was once thought to be Robert Clive’s stables. There were numerous departments, such as the make-up department, the tale department, and so on. Films were made as a result of a collaborative effort involving over 600 persons. The make-up room was big and gave the appearance of a hair salon. Around a half-dozen enormous mirrors, there were incandescent lights shining from all angles. The light emitted a great deal of heat. As a result, the make-up artists had a difficult time working in the scorching heat and blinding glare. The department purchased truckloads of pancakes, a type of make-up that was used to paint the athletes’ faces.
The chief of the make-up department provided make-up to the main actors and actresses. For the second hero and heroine, his senior assistant did the same. The comedian’s junior assistant did the same, and so on. The office boy was for the players who performed in front of the audience. Any decent-looking kid or girl might be transformed into an ugly monster by these team of make-up artists. It was a necessary wing that followed a tight hierarchy.
Q6. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios? [120-150 words]
Ans. Kothamangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest to The Boss by means of flattery. He was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly loyal to The Boss. He offered solutions whenever. The Boss was in a fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.
Also, his multitalented personality made him a go-to person who cloud fit into various roles.
Also see:
Poets and Pancakes Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Poets and Pancakes Summary, Explanation
Poets and Pancakes Character Sketches