Class 12 English Core Previous Year Question Paper (2023) with Solutions

CBSE Class 12 English Core Chapter-wise Previous Years Questions (2023) with Solution

Class 12 English Core Question Paper (2023) – Solved Question papers from previous years are very important for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams. It works as a treasure trove. It helps to prepare for the exam precisely. One of key benefits of solving question papers from past board exams is their ability to help identify commonly asked questions. These papers are highly beneficial study resources for students preparing for the upcoming class 12th board examinations. Here we have compiled chapter-wise questions asked in all the sets of CBSE Class 12 English Core question paper (2023).

Flamingo Book

Chapter 1 – The Last Lesson

Q1. What were Franz’s feelings as he set out for school and why? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Franz was terrified of getting reprimanded since M. Hamel would demand that he prepare his lesson on participles. in addition, the pleasant, sunny weather, the sound of birds, and the presence of Prussian soldier made him want to skip class.

Q2. Why was M. Hamel dressed in formal clothes in school? [40-50 Words]

Ans. M. Hamel was dressed in formal clothes in school because it was his last lesson before leaving Alsace. He wore his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt, and a little black silk cap, all embroidered. This attire was reserved for special occasions like inspections and prize days. M. Hamel’s formal dressing on this particular day symbolized the significance and solemnity of the occasion, marking the end of his forty years of faithful service as a teacher in Alsace.

Q3. When do the residents of Alsace realise how precious their language is to them? [40-50 Words]

Ans. When the people of Alsace learn that French will no longer be taught to them, they discover how important their native tongue is to them. Mr. Hamel explains to them that “when people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison.”

Q4. The last lesson reflects the flaws in human character that led to the sad plight of people in Alsace. Substantiate your answer with evidences from the text. [120-150 Words]

Ans. The text suggests the flaws in human character that contributed to the sad plight of the people in Alsace. M. Hamel, in his final lesson, points out the procrastination and neglect of learning among both the students and their parents. He mentions how everyone, including himself, had put off learning, thinking they had plenty of time. The teacher acknowledges his own role in diverting students from studies, such as sending them to water flowers or giving holidays for fishing.

Moreover, the mention of the old men of the village sitting in the back of the room with regretful expressions indicates a collective sense of remorse. Their failure to prioritize education and language learning contributed to the vulnerability of the community when faced with the imposition of German as the sole language of instruction. Overall, the text suggests that personal shortcomings, including procrastination and a lack of commitment to education, played a part in the cultural and linguistic crisis faced by the people of Alsace.

Also see:

The Last Lesson Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Last Lesson Summary, Explanation

The Last Lesson MCQs

The Last Lesson Character Sketches

Chapter 2 – Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

“I sometimes find a rupee, even a ten rupee note”, Saheb says, his eyes lighting up when you can find a silver coin in a heap of garbage, you don’t stop scrounging, for there is hope of finding more. It seems that for children, garbage has a meaning different from what it means to their parents. For the children it is wrapped in wonder, for the elders it is a means of survival.

One winter morning I see Saheb standing by the fenced gate of the neighbourhood club, watching two young men dressed in white, playing tennis. “I like the game”, he hums, content to watch it standing behind the fence. “I go inside when no one is around” he admits. “The gate keeper lets me use the swing.”

(i) Saheb found a rupee

(a) on the street

(b) in the garbage dump

(d) on the tennis court

Ans. (b) in the garbage dump

(ii) Which emotion of Saheb is revealed in the phrase ‘his eyes lighting up’?

(a) anxiety

(b) envy

(d) greed

Ans. (c) happiness

(iii) For the elders garbage is ____ and for children it is ________.

Ans. a means of survival, while for children, wrapped in wonder.

(iv) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to I and II given below :

Saheb watches the game from outside.
Saheb had lost the previous match.

(a) I is true but II is not

(b) II is true but I is not

(d) Both I and II are untrue

Ans. (a) I is true but II is not

(v) ‘Scrounging’ in the passage most nearly means.

(a) digging

(b) searching

(d) burying

Ans. (b) searching

(vi) ‘There is hope for finding more’. Explain with reference to the above extract.

Ans. Saheb says that he finds a rupee or even a ten-rupee note in the garbage sometimes, and when he does find something valuable, his eyes light up with happiness. He adds that even if he finds a silver coin, he doesn’t stop scrounging, because there is always hope of finding more.This implies that despite the fact that Saheb’s family relies on garbage to survive, he is able to find some joy and excitement in the activity of scrounging. The hope of finding more valuable items is what motivates him to continue searching through the garbage, and this hope gives him a sense of purpose and optimism even in difficult circumstances

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

And in dark hutments, next to lines of flames of flickering oil lamps, sit boys and girls with their fathers and mothers, welding pieces of coloured glass into circles of bangles. Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside. That is why they often end up losing their eyesight before they become adults.

(i) Complete the sentence with reference to the extract :

Their eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside because ____.

Ans. They regularly work in flickering dim lights, in dark hutments so they are more adjusted to the dark.

(ii) Which of the following would NOT be true?

(a) The hutments were shining and inviting.

(b) The children’s lives were as bleak as their surrounding.

(d) The boys and girls had got used to the dark.

Ans. (a) The hutments were shining and inviting.

(iii) The bangle workers lose their eyesight before they became adults because

(a) they already have poor eyesight.

(b) they work in dim light.

(d) they are malnourished.

Ans. (b) they work in dim light.

(iv) Which of the following most nearly means ‘adjusted’ in the context of the extract?

(a) conditioned

(b) favoured

(d) reconciled

Ans. (a) conditioned

(v) ‘Flickering oil lamps’ suggests _____.

Ans. The dim lights.

(vi) What is the antonym from the extract of the word ‘rarely’?

Ans. ‘often’

Question Answers

Q1. What vicious circle are the bangle-makers trapped in? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Middlemen and money lenders exploited the bangle makers. They would be beaten and imprisoned if they attempted to organise and form cooperative societies. They lacked leaders who could steer them in a different direction. They were forced to continue their hereditary occupation, which resulted in a lifetime of insufficient food and clothing.

Q2. Why can the bangle-makers not organise themselves into a cooperative? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The bangle-makers cannot organise themselves into a cooperative because they are burdened by the vicious cycle of poverty and exploitation. They lack the resources, education, and collective strength needed to fight the powerful forces that exploit them, including the middlemen and moneylenders.

Q3. The description of Seemapuri creates a very dismal picture. Explain. [40-50 Words]

Ans. Seemapuri is a garbage dump on the outskirts of Delhi. The writer says that it is miles away from the city to indicate that it is strikingly opposite to the city of Delhi in terms of amenities and infrastructure. The slum is occupied by Bangladeshi refugees who came there in 1971. It was then a wilderness devoid of sewage, drainage and running water till date. Thus, we see a dismal picture of the area.

Q4. Firozabad presents a strange paradox — the beauty of the glass bangles and the misery of the people who make bangles. Discuss. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Firozabad, known for its exquisite glass bangles, presents a stark paradox between the beauty of its products and the misery of the artisans who create them. The glass bangles of Firozabad are admired for their intricate designs and vibrant colors, symbolizing beauty and tradition. However, the lives of the bangle-makers are marked by extreme poverty, hazardous working conditions, and exploitation.

These artisans, including children, work in dimly lit, poorly ventilated workshops for meager wages. They are exposed to dangerous fumes and risk losing their eyesight and health. Despite their hard work, they remain trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation, unable to break free and improve their living conditions. The contrast between the sparkling bangles and the bleak reality of the bangle-makers’ lives underscores the social and economic injustices they face. This paradox highlights the need for social reforms and better working conditions to uplift the lives of these skilled but oppressed workers.

Q5. ‘Lost Spring’ and ‘Indigo’ bring out how the common man is a victim of exploitation. Explain. [120-150 Words]

Ans. It is common knowledge that claims made regarding inheritance or lineage cannot be contested. It is a known fact that we, as human beings, do not possess the capabilities necessary to successfully contest our own destinies.

In the novel “Lost Spring,” the families of children like Saheb-e-Alam and Mukesh are caught in an unbreakable cycle of social stigma, which manifests itself in the form of poverty and exploitation. They are compelled to obey and follow the powerful, and they are unable to organise themselves into cooperative organisations for their own advancement.

In the same manner, the low-income sharecroppers in ‘Indigo’ were denied their right to legal representation. At each and every turn, they were subjected to harassment at the hands of government personnel, and the police did not listen to their concerns. In many cases, the legal system is ruled by repressive laws that have the effect of dampening the spirit of the common man. They lack the bravery to speak out against what they perceive to be unjust transactions, and their legal battles result in a lack of clarity. Both ‘Lost Spring’ and ‘Indigo’ demonstrate how the average man is a victim of exploitation as a result of this.

Also see:

Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Summary, Explanation

Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood MCQs

Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Character Sketches

Chapter 3 – Deep Water

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

The next I remember I was lying on my stomach beside the pool, vomiting. The chap that threw me in was saying, “But I was only fooling.” Someone said, “The kid nearly died. Be all right now. Let’s carry him to the locker room.”

Several hours later, I walked home. I was weak and trembling. I shook and cried when I lay on my bed. I couldn’t eat that night. For days a haunting fear was in my heart. The slightest exertion upset me, making me wobbly in the knees and sick to my stomach.

I never went back to the pool. I feared water. I avoided it whenever I could.

(i) With reference to the extract, Douglas was vomiting because

(a) he had got severe food poisoning.

(b) he had just been rescued from nearly drowning in the pool.

(d) he had gone for a swim on an empty stomach.

Ans. (b) he had just been rescued from nearly drowning in the pool.

(ii) Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with its inference.

For days a haunting fear was in my heart.

Ans. For days a recurring fear was in my heart.

(iii) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below :

The boy did not know how to swim.

Il. The boy took a long time to recover from his fear.

(a) I can be inferred from the extract but II cannot.

(b) I cannot be inferred from the extract but II can.

(d) Both I and II are true.

Ans. (d) Both I and II are true.

(iv) Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer that the chap threw the boy into the pool just for fun (clue : a phrase)

Ans. But I was only fooling

(v) Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation as per the extract.

The slightest exertion upset the boy because ________.

Ans. The slightest exertion upset the boy because he had swallowed a lot of water and the fear had caused a lot of exertion.

(vi) Replace the underlined word with its synonym from the extract.

The boy felt unsteady in the knees.

Ans. wobbly

Question Answers

Q1. What handicap did Doughlas suffer from? How did he overcome that? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Douglas suffered from a handicap that was the fear of water. He had immense desire of swimming in natural waters but could not fulfil it due to the fear. He realized that he had to be determined to overcome the fear. Once he got determined, he hired a swimming instructor and learnt swimming. The fear would return at times but he would face it and see it vanish. Thus, with determination and perseverance, William overtook the fear.

Q2. Why did Douglas decide to go to the YMCA pool to learn swimming? [40-50

Words]

Ans. Douglas decided to go to the YMCA pool to learn swimming because it was considered safe, and he wanted to overcome his fear of water that had developed due to a traumatic experience in his childhood. The pool had instructors and was shallow at the edges, making it an ideal place to learn.

Q3. What were Douglas’s initial thoughts when he was pushed into the pool? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Douglas felt like he was going a long way down when he was pushed into the pool. Even before he got to the bottom, his lungs were about to burst. He used all of his strength to try to jump up to the surface, but he couldn’t quite make it and started to sink again.

Also see:

Deep Water Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Deep Water Summary, Explanation

Deep Water MCQs

Deep Water Character Sketches

Chapter 4 – The Rattrap

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

“I am thinking of this stranger here,” said Edla “He walks and walks the whole year long, and there is probably not a single place in the whole country where he is welcome and can feel at home. Wherever he turns he is chased away. Always he is afraid of being arrested and cross-examined. I should like to have him enjoy a day of peace with us here-just one in the whole year.”

(i) Complete the following sentence with the most appropriate option :

Edla wished the Pedlar to have a peaceful day because _________

(a) the Pedlar had worked for Edla.

(b) the Pedlar had not been released from jail.

(d) the Pedlar had always been looked with suspicion.

Ans. (d) the Pedlar had always been looked with suspicion.

(ii) Select the suitable word from the extract to complete analogy.

single : multiple :: abroad : _________

Ans. home

(iii) In the above extract, Edla comes across as

(a) conscientious

(b) pretentions

(d) selfless

Ans. (c) compassionate

(iv) Based on the above extract, choose the statement which is true.

(a) relationships are rattraps.

(b) money is important in the world.

(d) christmas is a time of charity

Ans. (c) criminal is not born but made

(v) In the context of the given extract, which day is referred to in the expression ‘just one in the whole year’?

Ans. (v) Christmas eve

(vi) What does the expression ‘he is cross examined’ suggest?

Ans. (vi) The expression ‘he is cross examined’ suggests that Peddlar and his identity have always been questioned because of suspicion.

Question Answers

Q1. Who was Edla Williamson? Why did she visit the forge at night? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Edla was the daughter of the owner of Ramjso Ironworks, the Ironmaster. She visited the forge on her father’s instructions. He wanted her to get the peddler home for Christmas. He had mistaken the peddler to be an old army comrade and wanted to share the Christmas cheer with him.

Q2. Explain the metaphor of the rattrap. [40-50 Words]

Ans. The peddler in “The Rattrap” compared the universe to a rattrap. He believed that the world entices people with prosperity, pleasures, and other material goods, just as a rattrap uses bait to entice rats. Once individuals succumb to these temptations, the world ensnares them like a rat in a rattrap.

Q3. What made the ironmaster invite the peddler to his house? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The ironmaster invited the peddler to his house because he mistook him for an old regimental comrade. He wanted to offer him shelter and assistance out of a sense of camaraderie and nostalgia.

Q4. Why was the peddler hesitant to accompany the ironmaster to the manor house? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The peddler had robbed the old crofter of his thirty crooner and was hiding from the police. He was reluctant in going to the Manor house with the ironmaster because he feared being recognized as the thief and being arrested.

Q5. Why did the iron master compare Edla to a parson? [40-50 Words]

Ans. He compares Edla to a parson because she has great power of persuasion just like the parson in a church. When Edla is able to convince her father to allow the stranger remain at the mansion and they share Christmas cheer with him, the father agrees reluctantly and says that Edla is good at persuasion.

Q6. Edla is a contrast to her father, the ironmaster. Explain. [120-150 Words]

Ans. In the story, the rattrap, there are various instances which indicate the differences between Edla and her father.

Ans. Edla is a mature girl. She realizes their responsibility towards the stranger whom they have got home to share Christmas cheer with. She persuades her father to allow the stranger to stay back till Christmas is over because they had forced him to come over. Her father is impusive and rash and wants to throw the stranger out when he realizes his mistaken identity but the wise Edla stops him. She remains patient and kind to the stranger whom they had got home.

Edla is observant, a look at the stranger’s face shows his fear and she realizes that either he has committed a theft or has escaped from the police. However, her father is not able to decipher this.

Also see:

The Rattrap Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Rattrap Summary, Explanation

The Rattrap MCQs

The Rattrap Character Sketches

Chapter 5 – Indigo

Q1. Describe the role of Raj Kumar Shukla in Indigo. [40-50 Words]

Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla played a crucial role in the Champaran episode related to the indigo cultivation issue. He was a sharecropper from Champaran who approached Gandhi during the 1916 Indian National Congress party convention. Shukla, representing the grievances of indigo sharecroppers, persistently requested Gandhi to visit Champaran and address the injustice of the landlord system. Shukla’s determination and continuous presence alongside Gandhi influenced him to eventually agree to visit Champaran. Shukla served as a catalyst in drawing Gandhi’s attention to the plight of the peasants, leading to Gandhi’s involvement in the Champaran struggle against the oppressive indigo plantation system.

Q2. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of twenty-five percent refund to the peasants? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Gandhi agreed to a settlement of twenty-five percent refund to the peasants in the Champaran indigo issue as a pragmatic compromise. When the British planters offered to refund only 25 percent of the money extorted from the sharecroppers, Gandhi surprisingly accepted the offer. Despite the expectations that he would demand full repayment, Gandhi prioritized the symbolic victory over the monetary amount. By accepting the 25 percent refund, he aimed to break the deadlock and emphasize the landlords’ obligation to surrender part of the money, thus diminishing their prestige. For Gandhi, the essence lay in establishing the principle that the landlords were accountable and that the peasants had rights and defenders.

Q3. What does Gandhi refer to as ‘conflict of duties’? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Gandhi refers to the ‘conflict of duties’ when he explains his refusal to obey the order to leave Champaran immediately. On one hand, he felt a duty not to set a bad example as a lawbreaker, and on the other hand, he was committed to rendering “humanitarian and national service” for the distressed peasants.

Gandhi believed that his disobedience was not a disregard for lawful authority but an obedience to the higher law of conscience, emphasizing the moral and ethical dimensions of his actions. This ‘conflict of duties’ highlights Gandhi’s philosophy of balancing legal obligations with a higher moral duty to serve humanity and fight against injustice.

Q4. Why is the Champaran episode considered as the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence? [120-150 Words]

Ans. The Champaran episode is considered the beginning of the Indian struggle for independence because it marked Mahatma Gandhi’s first organized act of civil disobedience against British rule in India.

In 1917, Gandhi, in response to the plight of indigo sharecroppers, led a nonviolent protest against oppressive British landlords in Champaran, Bihar. This was a pivotal moment as it demonstrated Gandhi’s method of nonviolent resistance and mass mobilization against unjust colonial policies.

The success of the Champaran movement showcased the power of nonviolent civil disobedience, inspiring subsequent movements against British rule. It laid the foundation for Gandhi’s philosophy of Satyagraha and provided a template for the larger independence struggle, setting a precedent for peaceful resistance against colonial oppression.

Q5. ‘Lost Spring’ and ‘Indigo’ bring out how the common man is a victim of exploitation. Explain. [120-150 Words]

Ans. It is common knowledge that claims made regarding inheritance or lineage cannot be contested. It is a known fact that we, as human beings, do not possess the capabilities necessary to successfully contest our own destinies.

Q6. “Civil disobedience had triumphed for the first time in modern India.” When and how did it happen? [120-150 Words]

Ans. The triumph of civil disobedience in modern India occurred during the Champaran episode. In 1917, when Gandhi was summoned to court for his refusal to leave Champaran and received a notice to quit the region, he disobeyed the order. Facing a potential legal battle, Gandhi declared his guilt and was prepared to face the consequences.

However, a spontaneous demonstration by thousands of peasants in support of Gandhi outside the courthouse created a situation where the authorities felt powerless without his cooperation. The officials requested a delay in the trial, and eventually, the Lieutenant-Governor ordered the case to be dropped. This marked the first instance of civil disobedience succeeding against the British authorities in modern India, establishing a precedent for future nonviolent resistance.

Also see:

Indigo Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Indigo Summary, Explanation

Indigo MCQs

Indigo Character Sketches

Chapter 6 – Poets and Pancakes

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

(A) 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.

(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

(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.

(B) 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.

(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

(d) monstrous; beautiful

Ans. (c) pleasant; ugly

(iv) The word ‘pancake’ in the extract most nearly means ___.

(a) brand name

(b) lemon cake

(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.

(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.

Question Answers

Q1. 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.

Also see:

Poets and Pancakes Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Poets and Pancakes Summary, Explanation

Poets and Pancakes MCQs

Poets and Pancakes Character Sketches

Chapter 7 – The Interview

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Others, usually celebrities who see themselves as its victims, might despise the interview as an unwarranted intrusion into their lives, or feel that it somehow diminishes them, just as in some primitive cultures it is believed that if one takes a photographic portrait of somebody then one is stealing that person’s soul. V.S. Naipaul ‘feels that some people are wounded by interviews and lose a part of themselves,’ Lewis Carroll, the creator of Alice in Wonderland, was said to have had ‘a just horror of the interviewer’ and he never consented to be interviewed.

(i) Choose the appropriate option with reference to the given extract :

Most of the celebrities dislike being interviewed because

(a) it is sheer nonsense.

(b) nobody reveals his/her inner self.

(d) it is an unwanted intrusion into their lives.

Ans. (d) it is an unwanted intrusion into their lives.

(ii) Complete the analogy with a word from the extract:

light : darkness: : ______ : refused

Ans. consented

(iii) In primitive cultures being photographed implied

(a) announcing victory.

(b) soul has been stolen.

(d) becoming popular.

Ans. (b) soul has been stolen.

(iv) From the given extract, we know that _______ never agreed to be interviewed.

(a) Lewis Carroll

(b) V.S. Naipaul

(d) Charlie Sheen

Ans. (a) Lewis Carroll

(v) In the given extract, the word ‘diminish’ most nearly means

(a) deepens

(b) disappoints

(d) languishes

Ans. (c) lessens

(vi) In the given extract, the writer indicates that most people ______ interviews.

(a) celebrated

(b) read

(d) despised

Ans. (d) despised

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Rudyard Kipling expressed an even more condemnatory attitude towards the interviewer. His wife, Caroline, writes in her diary for 14 October, 1892 that their day was ‘wrecked by two reporters from Boston’. She reports her husband as saying to the reporters, “Why do I refuse to be interviewed? Because it is immoral ! It is a crime, just as much of a crime as an offence against my person, as an assault, and just as much merits punishment. It is cowardly and vile. No respectable man would ask it, much less give it.” Yet Kipling had himself perpetrated such an ‘assault’ on Mark Twain only a few years before. H.G. Wells in an interview in 1894 referred to the `interviewing ordeal’, but was a fairly frequent interviewee and forty years later found himself interviewing Joseph Stalin. (The Interview)

(i) Kipling viewed interviews with

(a) compassion.

(b) condemnation.

(d) gratitude.

Ans. (b) condemnation.

(ii) Kipling assaulted _________ with an interview.

(a) H.G. Wells

(b) Joseph Stalin

(d) Mark Twain

Ans. (a) H.G. Wells

(iii) Complete the analogy with a word from the extract :

attack : assault : : committed : ____________

Ans. permitted

(iv) The word ‘wrecked’ in the extract most nearly means

(a) ravaged.

(b) annihilated.

(d) ruined.

Ans. (d) ruined.

(v) Rudyard Kipling uses the phrase ‘it is a crime’ because he feels it is

(a) illegal.

(b) an offence against his person.

(d) a waste of time.

Ans. (b) an offence against his person.

(vi) Kipling violated his own observation on interviewing by _____________.

Ans. permitting himself to be interviewed.

(C) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Similarly, we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives. I call them interstices. Say you are coming over to my place. You are in the elevator and while you are coming up, I am waiting for you. This is an interstice, an empty space. I work in empty spaces. While waiting for your elevator to come up from the first to the third floor, I have already written an article !

(i) Umberto Eco, was

(a) a professor of semiotics, an author

(b) an interviewer, a novelist

(d) a publisher, an author

Ans. (a) a professor of semiotics, an author

(ii) Rationalise, to support the given statement :

Similarly, we have a lot of empty spaces in our lives.

Ans. Umberto Eco believes that there are empty spaces in our lives, just as there are in atoms and the world, and that we must use that time to create something constructive.

(iii) Rewrite the sentence by replacing the underlined phrase with its inference :

I call them interstices.

Ans. intervals

(iv) On the basis of the extract, study the two statements, I and II given below :

Umberto Eco works even in the spare time between activities.
Umberto Eco does not like to be interviewed.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I can be inferred from the extract, but II cannot

(b) I cannot be inferred from the extract, but II can

(d) II is the reason for I

Ans. (a) I can be inferred from the extract, but II cannot

(v) Replace the underlined word with its antonym from the extract.

Umberto Eco does not like to waste time. He writes an article while he is proceeding to the elevator.

Ans. waiting

(vi) Umberto Eco’s views on his manner of work are based on _______.

(a) facts

(b) an interview

(d) hypothesis

Ans. (b) an interview

Also see:

The Interview Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Interview Summary, Explanation

The Interview MCQs

The Interview Character Sketches

Chapter 8 – Going Places

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

“Or an actress. Now there’s real money in that. Yes, and I could may be have the boutique on the side. Actresses don’t work full time, do they? Anyway, that or a fashion designer. You know —something a bit sophisticated”. And she turned in through the open street door leaving Jansie standing in the rain. “If I ever come into money I’ll buy a boutique”. “Huh, if you ever come into money … if you ever come into money you’ll buy us a blessed decent house to live in, thank you very much.”

Sophie’s father was scooping shepherd’s pie into his mouth as hard as he could go, his plump face still grimy and sweat — marked from the day. “She thinks money grows on trees, don’t she Dad? Said little Derek, hanging on the back of his father’s chair.

Their mother sighed.

(i) Sophie wants to become an actress to

(a) become famous

(b) to earn money

(d) to compete with Jansie

Ans. (b) to earn money

(ii) Jansie wanted Sophie to spend her money on

(a) her marriage

(b) her career

(d) buying a house

Ans. (d) buying a house

(iii) Sophie is daydreaming about ____________.

Ans. becoming an actress or a fashion designer.

(iv) The phrase ‘money grows on trees’ indicates that Sophie ____________.

Ans. is over ambitious

(v) Sophie’s mother’s sigh is one of

(a) regret

(b) delight

(d) helplessness

Ans. (d) helplessness

(vi) From the extract Jansie comes across as a _____ person.

(a) practical

(b) dominating

(d) starstruck

Ans. (a) practical

Question Answers

Q1. Why did Sophie wish to delve more deeply in ‘her brother’s affections’? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Sophie wanted to know more about her brother’s feelings because he listened to her crazy stories and kept them to himself. She thought the world Geoff went to was interesting, and she was already imagining herself following him there on a horse. She was sure that everyone would be happy to see her.

Q2. Why did Sophie long for her brother’s affection? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Sophie’s brother Geoff remained silent and so, was mysterious to Sophie. There were areas of his life about which she knew nothing. She wanted to know all these mysteries of his, she wanted to accompany him and know about his affairs of which he did not speak.

Q4. Fantasising and unrealistic dreams sometimes lead to disappointment and disillusionment. Discuss this with reference to the story ‘Going Places’. [120-150 Words]

Ans. In the story “Going Places,” Sophie, the protagonist, is a daydreamer who fantasizes about a glamorous and successful life beyond her modest means. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer, an actress, or a manager, despite her family’s financial struggles and her limited opportunities. Sophie’s unrealistic dreams lead her to fabricate stories about meeting her idol, the footballer Danny Casey, which she shares with her friend and brother.

However, these fantasies only set her up for disappointment and disillusionment. When her dreams inevitably clash with reality, Sophie is left feeling disheartened and unfulfilled. Her escapist tendencies prevent her from appreciating the simple joys of her current life and from making realistic plans for her future. The story highlights the dangers of living in a world of fantasies and the importance of grounding one’s aspirations in reality to avoid the pain of unmet expectations.

Also see:

Going Places Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Going Places Summary, Explanation

Going Places MCQs

Going Places Character Sketches

Flamingo Book – Poems

Poem 1 – My Mother at Sixty Six

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

I saw my mother,

beside me,

doze, open mouthed, her face

ashen like that

of a corpse and realised with

pain

that she was as old as she

looked but soon

put that thought away, and

looked out at Young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

out of their homes,

(i) Identify the phrase that indicates youthful energy.

Ans. Young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

out of their homes,

(ii) Which thought is the poet trying to put away?

(a) missing the flight

(b) fear of losing her mother

(d) reaching Cochin

Ans. (b) fear of losing her mother

(iii) The poet’s mother is described as ‘open mouthed’ because _______.

(a) she is curious

(b) she is surprised

(d) she was dozing

Ans. (d) she was dozing

(iv) Complete the following analogy :

children spilling : metaphor : : _________ : personification

Ans. Trees sprinting

(v) The sight of the trees and the children helped the poet ________.

Ans. put the thought of her old, aging mother away

(vi) In the given extract, the phrase ‘realised with pain’ indicates the poet’s

(a) anxiety

(b) desperation

(d) ill-health

Ans. (a) anxiety

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Driving from my parent’s

home to Cochin last Friday

morning, I saw my mother,

beside me,

doze, open mouthed, her face

ashen like that

of a corpse, and realised with

pain

that she was as old as she

looked but soon

put that thought away, and

looked out at Young

Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling

out of their homes …….

(i) The poet’s mother looks

exhausted
healthy

III. rejuvenated

pale
relaxed

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) Only V

(b) I, III and V

(d) I and IV

Ans. (d) I and IV

(ii) The poet looks out of the car because ____________.

Ans. she wants to put the thought of her old, pale mother away

(iii) Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’.

(a) stars winked in the midnight sky

(b) a bitter sweet experience

(d) grey geese in the green field

Ans. (c) as cold as ice

(iv) The phrase ‘she realized with pain’ indicates the poet’s

(a) anxiety of missing the flight.

(b) fear of losing her mother.

(d) anxiety of taking her mother on the flight.

Ans. (b) fear of losing her mother.

(v) On the basis of the extract, study the two statements, I and II given below :

The poet was in a hurry to reach the airport.
The poet did not want to think about her mother growing old and infirm.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I is correct, but II is incorrect

(b) Both I and II are correct

(d) II is correct, but I is incorrect

Ans. (d) II is correct, but I is incorrect

(vi) What does the phrase ‘sprinting trees’ symbolize?

(a) youthfulness and forgetfulness

(b) vitality and youthfulness

(d) pallor and exuberance

Ans. (b) vitality and youthfulness

(C) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

but after airport’s

security check, standing a few yards

away, I looked again at her, Wan,

pale

as a late winter’s moon and felt that

old

familiar ache, my childhood’s fear

but all I said was, see you soon,

Amma,

All I did was smile and smile and

smile ……..

(i) Choose the correct option :

In the above extract the narrator feels

(a) satisfied

(b) fearful

(d) regretful

Ans. (b) fearful

(ii) Identify the word in the extract that means ‘colourless’.

Ans. pale

(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly :

She sang like a bird : Simile

All I did was smile and smile and smile : ____

Ans. Repetition

(iv) Read the following statement and choose the correct option :

(1) The poet had gone through the security check.

(2) She did not want to look at her mother.

(a) (1) is true, but (2) is false.

(b) (1) is false, but (2) is true.

(d) Both (1) and (2) are false.

Ans. (b) (1) is false, but (2) is true.

(v) What childhood fear is the poet referring to?

Ans. The poet Kamala Das in her poem ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’ is referring to fear of separation from her mother forever just as a child is always insecure of getting separated from her mother whenever she is not visible or nearby to him/her.

(vi) Fill the blank with appropriate words with reference to the extract :

Pale as a winter’s moon suggests _______.

Ans. Suggests the mother’s weak and withered face.

(D) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

I looked again at her, wan,

pale

as a late winter’s moon and felt that

old

familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

but all I said was, see you soon,

Amma,

all I did was smile and smile and

smile …

(i) The poem ‘My Mother at Sixty-Six’ captures the _____ of the narrator.

happiness

Il. fear

Ill. dismay

anxiety

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) Only lI (b) I and IV

Ans. (c) II and IV

(ii) Identify the phrase from the extract that suggests the following :

She was overwhelmed with emotion and could not speak much.

Ans. ‘but all I said was, see you soon, Amma’.

(iii) The word ‘wan’ in the given context most nearly means

(a) pale

(b) old

(d) anxious

Ans. (a) pale

(iv) Complete the following analogy correctly. Do not repeat from the example used.

Trees sprinting : personification : : ____ : simile

Ans. pale as a late winter’s moon

(v) On the basis of the extract, study the two statements, I and II given below :

The poet accepts the reality of her mother’s declining health and old age.
She is nostalgic about her childhood days spent with her mother.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I is true, but II is false

(b) Both I and II are true

(d) II cannot be inferred from the extract

Ans. (c) II is the reason for I

(vi) Explain the following statement with reference to the above extract :

All I did was smile and smile and smile.

Ans. The poetess hides her anxiety and worries about being separated from her mother beneath her hurt smile.

Question Answers

Q1. What is the significance of the word ‘but’ in ‘but all I said was see you soon, Amma? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The significance of the word “but” in the line “but all I said was see you soon, Amma?” from the poem “My Mother at Sixty-Six” by Kamala Das is to contrast the speaker’s actual thoughts and emotions with what she said out loud. The word “but” indicates a contrast, and suggests that the speaker’s thoughts and feelings were much more complex and emotional than what she said. The use of “but” suggests that the speaker is holding back her true feelings and emotions, and that there is an unspoken tension between her and her mother.

Q2. What are the feelings of the poet about her aged mother with reference to the poem ‘My Mother at Sixty Six’? [40-50 Words]

Ans. In the poem titled “My Mother at Sixty-Six,” the poet Kamala Das conveys a profound sense of love as well as concern for her mother, who is getting older. As her mother sleeps in the car, she is able to watch her mother’s weakness and fragility. This causes her to be overtaken with a sense of protectiveness and tenderness towards her mother, which she realises is a natural response to the inevitable process of ageing.

Also see:

My Mother at Sixty Six Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

My Mother at Sixty Six Summary, Explanation

My Mother at Sixty Six MCQs

My Mother at Sixty Six Character Sketches

Poem 2 – Keeping Quiet

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the Earth

let’s not speak in any language,

let’s stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,

we would all be together

in a sudden strangeness. (Keeping Quiet)

(i) Significance of counting up to twelve is

(a) it is time to start the race.

(b) it is symbolic of life.

(d) that time does not wait for anyone.

Ans. (c) it is a measure of time.

(ii) The word _________ in the extract means unusual and exciting.

Ans. exotic

(iii) Excessive activity would create an atmosphere of

(a) productivity.

(b) mechanisation.

(d) competition.

Ans. (c) confusion.

(iv) The poet would want to create all of the following EXCEPT

(a) a peaceful environment.

(b) a harmonious world.

(d) a world full of hustle and bustle.

Ans. (d) a world full of hustle and bustle.

(v) Complete the following analogy correctly:

face of the Earth : _________ : : sudden strangeness : alliteration

Ans. personification

(vi) On the basis of the extract, study the two statements, I and II given below:

People must keep silent at twelve everyday.
Introspection will lead to peaceful coexistence.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I is false, but II is true

(b) Both I and II are false

(d) I is true, but II is false

Ans. (d) I is true, but II is false

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

For once on the face of the Earth

let’s not speak in any language,

Let’s stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment

without rush, without engines,

we would all be together

(i) The poet counts up to twelve as a countdown to

(a) lift arms.

(b) speak in different languages.

(d) be without engines.

Ans. (c) stop all activities.

(ii) The poet appeals to the people that they should

keep quiet.
not move.

III. celebrate festivals.

not hibernate.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) Only II

(b) I and II

(d) I and IV

Ans. (b) I and II

(iii) Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in the third line of the extract :

(a) lightning danced across the sky

(b) greedy good doers

(d) fight like cats and dogs

Ans. (a) lightning danced across the sky

(iv) The benefits of ‘Keeping Quiet’ include

I harmony

non-violence

III. brotherhood

meditation

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I and II

(b) II and IV

(d) I, II, III and IV

Ans. (d) I, II, III and IV

(v) Complete the statement with reference to the extract :

The poet suggests we will all be together when ____.

Ans. there will be only silence, no rush, no movement and a mood of introspection.

(vi) The word ‘exotic’ in the extract most nearly means

(a) unique

(b) luxurious

(d) illusive

Ans. (a) unique

Question Answers

Q1. ‘There can be life under apparent stillness’. Explain. [40-50 Words]

Ans. In his poem ‘Keeping Quiet’, Pablo Neruda encourages us to stay still and quiet, even if just for a while. All destructive behaviours will cease, wars will terminate, and the misery of not understanding ourselves will be interrupted during these periods of inactivity. Even fishermen at sea will spare the whales, and the entire planet will come to life. The poem also encourages us to reconnect with nature and recover our inner identity, which will help us to be kind and respectful to one another. Even in apparent silence, Neruda reminds us, there remains the possibility of life.

Q2. What according to Pablo Neruda in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the lesson that we should learn from mother earth? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Mother Earth teaches us that there is life after death. At one time everything seems dead and later, gets alive again.

Also see:

Keeping Quiet Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Keeping Quiet Summary, Explanation

Keeping Quiet MCQs

Poem 3 – A Thing of Beauty

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

A thing of beauty is a joy forever

Its loveliness increases, it will never

pass into nothingness: but will keep

A bower quiet for us, and a sleep

Full of sweet dreams, and health and quiet

and breathing.

Therefore, on every morrow are we wreathing

A flowery band to bind us to the earth;

Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth

Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,

Of all the unhealthy and o’er darkened ways

Made for our searching.

(i) Keats defines beauty as

(a) transient

(b) eternal

(d) short lived

Ans. (b) eternal

(ii) ‘will keep a bower quiet for us’ means all of the following EXCEPT

(a) create a peaceful, shady place

(b) provide a shelter

(d) nature’s canopy

Ans. (c) will decrease noise pollution

(iii) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below :

Beautiful things uplift the soul.
Beauty is ever changing.

(a) 1 can be inferred from the extract but 2 cannot.

(b) 2 can be inferred from the extract but 1 cannot.

(d) both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred from the extract.

Ans. (a) 1 can be inferred from the extract but 2 cannot.

(iv) The things that cause unhappiness are

(1) lack of noble nature

(2) old tunes

(3) dull days

(4) calm mind

(5) a flowery band

(6) strong relationships

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) (1) and (2)

(b) (1) and (3)

(d) (3) and (6)

Ans. (b) (1) and (3)

(v) Complete the analogy. Do not repeat from used example :

flowery band : metaphor :: ___________: alliteration

Ans. we wreathing

(vi) According to the poet ‘every morrow’ we are ___________.

Ans. wreathing

Question Answers

Q1. Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression? Explain. [40-50 Words]

Ans. Things that are beautiful last for a long time. It will always be a part of our memories. The happiness they give us lasts forever and grows greater every time we think about them. When we remember beautiful things from the past, it “lifts the cloud from our dark spirits.”

Q2. In the poem “A Thing of Beauty”, how is grandeur connected with the mighty dead? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The tales of the mighty soldiers who sacrificed their lives while fighting the enemy are impressive and inspiring. Thus, the poet says that the tales of the mighty dead have gradeur.

Q3. ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and ‘A Thing of Beauty’, can be read together to show the permanence and everlasting impact of art and of things of beauty. Comment. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Both “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich and “A Thing of Beauty” by John Keats explore the idea of art and beauty being eternal and having a lasting impact on humanity. Aunt Jennifer uses needlepoint to make tigers that reflect the strength and freedom she lacks in her married life. The tigers will live on long after Aunt Jennifer has passed away, symbolising the enduring power of art. Similarly, Keats ‘A Thing of Beauty’ indicates that beauty is a source of joy that transcends the fleeting character of human existence.

These poems imply that beauty and art, whether in the shape of needlework or nature, have the ability to transcend human constraints and time, making a lasting impression on individuals and civilizations. Even after the creators have

passed away, art and beauty remain relevant and treasured for future generations. These poems remind us that art and beauty may create a sense of permanence and inspire future generations, rather than being fleeting pleasures.

Also see:

A Thing of Beauty Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

A Thing of Beauty Summary, Explanation

A Thing of Beauty MCQs

A Thing of Beauty Character Sketches

Poem 4 – A Roadside Stand

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,

A roadside stand too pathetically pled,

It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,

But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports

The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,

Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts

At having the landscape marred with the artless paint

Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong

(i) What is the tone of the poet in the extract?

Choose the correct option:

(a) optimistic

(b) resigned

(d) indifferent

Ans. (b) resigned

(ii) With reference to the given extract, what harm has been caused by the ‘artless paint’?

Ans. It has spoiled the natural beauty of the landscape.

(iii) The city is compared to ______.

(a) a landscape

(b) signs of N and S

(d) a dole of bread

Ans. (a) a landscape

(iv) Choose the correct option :

The roadside stand is

(a) at the edge of the road.

(b) marred with artless paint.

(d) well maintained.

Ans. (a) at the edge of the road.

(v) What type of expectations do the stand owners have from the city dwellers who come there?

Ans. They expect the city dwellers to stop at the shed, buy the produce kept on sale and give them money.

(vi) Complete the analogy with a word from the given extract.

donate : contribute : : dying : __________

Ans. sinking

(B) Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear

The thought of so much childish longing in vain,

The sadness that lurks near the open window there,

That waits all day in almost open prayer.

For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,

Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,

Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are,

(i) What is the sentiment expressed in the above extract?

(i) remorse

(ii) regret

(iii) empathy

(iv) disappointment

(v) guilt

Choose the correct appropriate option.

(a) (iii) and (iv)

(b) (ii) and (iii)

(d) (i) and (v)

Ans. (a) (iii) and (iv)

(ii) Identify the phrase in the extract that suggests ‘innocent desires’.

Ans. childish longing

(iii) The roadside stand owners pray for _____ .

(a) a relief from the heat

(b) free housing

(d) benefits from pollution

Ans. (c) cars stopping

(iv) Complete the following analogy correctly :

He fought like a lion : Simile :: selfish cars : _____

Ans. Personification

(v) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to (1) and (2) given below :

(1) The people who have put up the roadside stand keep waiting for customers.

(2) They become sad when someone turns up.

(a) (1) is true, but (2) is false.

(b) (1) is false, but (2) is true.

(d) Both (1) and (2) are false.

Ans. (a) (1) is true, but (2) is false

(vi) Fill the blank appropriately with reference to the extract.

‘Squeal of brakes’ implies ___________.

Ans. Stopping of cars

Question Answers

Q1. What was the expectation of the people who had set up the roadside stand? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The people who had set up the roadside stand expected to attract city dwellers who would stop by, buy their farm produce, and provide them with some financial support. They hoped to gain some economic relief from their struggling livelihoods.

Q2. Who does the poet accuse of having double standards in “The Roadside Stand”? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The politicians who are called ‘party in power’ have double standards. They promise the rural people a good life but they swarm over their lives, take benefits from them and soothe them out of their wits.

Q3. What does the expression ‘polished traffic’ refer to? What does it reveal about city people? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The expression ‘polished traffic’ refers to the the well groomed, rich city people travelling by the polished traffic. It tells that the city people are educated and rich.

Q4. A Roadside Stand is a social satire depicting the two contrasting worlds existing in society. Justify this statement with reference to the poem. [120-150 Words]

Ans. “A Roadside Stand” by Robert Frost is a social satire that portrays the two contrasting worlds that exist in society. The poet talks of the rural countryside, where there is a roadside stand selling farm produce like squash and wild berries. Two social classes of the rich and poor are highlighted in the poem.

The poem describes the wealthy people who stop at the stand. They are shown to be busy in themselves and look down upon the untidy sheds. They stop by the stand not to buy fruits and vegetables, but to show off their wealthy status by asking the directions or by asking if they sell gas. They at times, turn around their cars or complain that the untidy sheds spoil the landscape of the place.

The poor people are shown false promises by the politicans in power. These greedy people are like beasts of prey and fool the rural people to by soothing them out of their wits.

Through the contrast between the wealthy and the poor, the poem highlights the social and economic inequalities that exist in society. The wealthy are portrayed as shallow and self-centered, while the poor are portrayed as honest and hardworking.

Also see:

A Roadside Stand Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

A Roadside Stand Summary, Explanation

A Roadside Stand MCQs

Poem 5 – Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

(A) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,

Bright topaz denizens of a world of green,

They do not fear the men beneath the tree;

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.

The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band

Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

(i) Denizens of the world of green refer to _______.

(a) huntsmen

(b) Aunt Jennifer

(d) tigers

Ans. (d) tigers

(ii) Choose the option that displays the same poetic device as used in the second line of the extract.

(a) heart of stone

(b) trees sprouting

(d) white murder

Ans. (a) heart of stone

(iii) The men setting beneath the tree are ____.

Ans. The tired humans

(iv) What quality of uncle can be inferred through these lines?

(a) compassionate nature

(b) courageous

(d) dominating

Ans. (d) dominating

(v) The tigers in the extract are symbolic of

(a) creativity and courage

(b) confidence and gentleness

(d) aggression and starving

Ans. (a) creativity and courage

(vi) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across

(1) the screen

(2) the fields

(3) the embroidered tunic

(4) the cage

Which of the following is the most appropriate choice?

(a) (1) and (2)

(b) (2) and (4)

(d) (1) and (3)

Ans. (a) (1) and (2)

Question Answers

Q1. Why do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers not fear the men beneath the tree? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The men beneath the tree are so courageous and gentlemanly that Aunt Jennifer’s tigers have no reason to be afraid of them. Like the knights before them, they confidently wander the woods. They have learned to live in the wild without fear.

Q2. Why did Aunt Jennifer create tigers so different from her own character? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Aunt Jennifer created tigers so different from her own character because the tigers represented the freedom and strength she longed for but could not attain in her own oppressed and submissive life. The tigers symbolized her unfulfilled desires for power and independence.

Q3. ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and ‘A Thing of Beauty’, can be read together to show the permanence and everlasting impact of art and of things of beauty. Comment. [120-150 Words]

Also see:

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary, Explanation

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers MCQs

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Character Sketches

Vistas Book

Chapter 1 – The Third Level

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

To make sure, I walked over the newsboy and glanced at the stack of papers at his feet. It was The World and The World hasn’t been published for years. The lead story said something about President Cleveland. I’ve found that front page since, in the Public library files, and it was printed June 11, 1894.

I turned toward the ticket windows knowing that here — on the third level at Grand Central — I could buy tickets that would take Louisa and me anywhere in the United States we wanted to go. In the year 1894. And I wanted two tickets to Galesburg, Illinois.

(i) The newspaper that covered the lead story about President Cleveland was

(a) The Pioneer

(b) The New York Times

(d) The Times

Ans. (c) The World

(ii) The narrator wanted to buy tickets to __________.

Ans. Galesburg, Illinois

(iii) Which of the following in the extract most nearly means the opposite of ‘stare’?

(a) glance

(b) peek

(d) examine

Ans. (c) ignore

(iv) Charley wanted two tickets because he wanted to go with

(a) Sam

(b) Cleveland

(d) the Psychiatrist

Ans. (c) Louisa

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

941 Willard Street

Galesburg, Illinois

July 18, 1894

Charley

I got to wishing that you were right. Then I got to believing you were right. And, Charley, it’s true; I found the third level ! I’ve been here two weeks, and right now, down the street at the Daly’s, someone is playing a piano, and they’re all out on the front porch singing ‘Seeing Nelly Home’. And I’m invited over for lemonade. Come on back, Charley and Louisa. Keep looking till you find the third level ! It’s worth it, believe me !

The note is signed Sam.

(i) What was the feeling of Sam as conveyed in the letter? Choose the appropropriate option in the context of the extract.

(a) surprise

(b) doubt

(d) anger

Ans. (c) excitement

(ii) What was Sam Weiner’s reaction when Charley told him about the third level?

(a) dismissal

(b) acceptance

(d) puzzled

Ans. (b) acceptance

(iii) The phrase ‘Charley, it’s true’ in the context of the extract implies which of the given options?

Sam is relaxed
Charley had migrated with Louisa

III. The existence of the third level

Sam had met Charley’s grandfather

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I and II

(b) II and IV

(d) IV only

Ans. (c) I and III

(iv) Sam wrote the letter to Charley in order to _________.

Ans. motivate him to keep looking for the third level till he found it / confirm the existence of the third level / invite him to Galesburg

(C) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

The clerk figured the fare — he glanced at my fancy hat band, but he figured the fare — and I had enough for two coach tickets, one way. But when I counted out the money and looked up, the clerk was staring at me. He nodded at the bills. “That ain’t money, mister,” he said, “and if you’re trying to skin me, you won’t get very far,” and he glanced at the cash drawer, beside him. Of course the money was old-style bills half again as big as the money we use nowadays and different looking.

(i) Why did Charley ask for two tickets?

Ans. Charley asked for two tickets because he had decided to go to Galesburg in 1894’s time with his wife Louisa.

(ii) Complete the sentence by choosing the correct option :

When Charley offered money to the booking clerk, the latter stared at Charley because the booking clerk

(a) thought it wasn’t money .

(b) did not trust Charley.

(d) thought that Charley had given him less money.

Ans. (a) thought it wasn’t money.

(iii) Select the option that best describes Charley in this extract. He is

(a) a cheat

(b) gullible

(d) an escapist

Ans. (a) a cheat

(iv) ‘If you’re trying to skin me’ suggests ____________.

Ans. that the clerk thought about the protagonist ‘Charley’ to be a cheater and if he dared to cheat, he would be caught very soon.

Question Answers

Q1. What did Charley find in his collection of first day covers? [40-50 Words

Ans. Charley found a first-day cover one night when he was going through his stamp collection. There was an old letter with a stamp on it. The six-cent stamp was a dull brown colour and had a picture of President Garfield on it. On July 18, 1894, it was sent to his grandfather’s home in Galesburg. But instead of a blank sheet of paper, it had a letter from Sam to Charley. It told him to go back with Louisa to the third level and keep looking until he found it.

Q2. Why did Charley buy old-style currency? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Charley wanted to buy two old Galesburg tickets because he wanted to live there. It was a great place with big trees and frame homes. So, he spent all the money he had on old-style money. But he never went back to the third floor.

Q3. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape? Why / Why not? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Yes, I think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. Life in modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worries and stress. Man has to confront them all the time. The harsh realities of life make living quite unpleasant and even unbearable. So he wants to escape into a wishful world. Charley talks to his psychiatrist friend about the third level at the Grand Central Station. His friend calls it “a walking dream wish fulfilment”. Charley possesses an escapist tendency. Even his stamp collecting is a ‘temporary refuge from reality’.

Q4. What extraordinary experience did Charley have when he went to the Grand station? [40-50 Words]

Ans. When Charley finally arrived at Grand Central Station, he saw that the building had the appearance of a maze. At other times, the station gave the impression of expanding like a tree, with additional passageways and stairwells sprouting up like new roots. After he had entered the station the first time, he found that there was a third level.

Q5. What do you learn about Galesburg, Illinois during 1894 from the lesson ‘The Third Level’? [40-50 Words]

Ans. It was a peaceful place. Galesburg of 1894 was a wonderful town with big old frame houses, huge lawns and big trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. People sat in lawns, men smoked cigars and talked quietly, the women waved palm-leaf fans.

Q6. Why did the booking clerk refuse to accept the money offered by Charley? [40-50 Words]

Ans. He refused because Charley was paying him currency which was not in use in the year 1894. As Charley had travelled into the past, his currency was not useful there.

Q7. Describe briefly the Third Level. How did it differ from the Second Level? [120-150 Words]

Ans. The Third Level in Jack Finney’s story “The Third Level” is a mysterious and surreal place located at the Grand Central Station. Unlike the bustling, modern-day Second Level, the Third Level transports visitors to a bygone era. It is described as having old-fashioned architecture, dim gaslights, brass spittoons, and a general atmosphere reminiscent of the 1890s. The people there are dressed in vintage clothing, and the surroundings evoke a sense of nostalgia and tranquility.

The Third Level differs significantly from the Second Level in terms of its ambiance and the sense of escape it offers. While the Second Level is filled with the hustle and bustle of contemporary life, the Third Level provides a refuge from the pressures and complexities of the modern world. It represents a longing for a simpler, more peaceful time. The protagonist, Charley, discovers this level accidentally and perceives it as an escape from his stressful life. However, it is ultimately revealed to be a figment of his imagination, symbolizing his desire to retreat from reality.

Also see:

The Third Level Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Third Level Summary, Explanation

The Third Level MCQs

The Third Level Character Sketches

Chapter 2 – The Tiger King

Q1. Why did the shopkeeper sell the wooden tiger at a cheap price? [40-50 Words]

Ans. A builder who wasn’t very good had made the wooden tiger. It had a rough surface where little pieces of wood stuck up like quills. It only cost two and a quarter annas. But the shopkeeper was afraid that the king would punish him if he told the king about the low price. So he gave a very high price.

Q2. Did the Tiger King manage to kill the hundredth tiger? Why / Why not? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Tiger King shot at the tiger, but the bullet went in the wrong direction. The shot only made the tiger pass out, but he was still living. But the shooters didn’t want the king to know, so they killed the tiger.

Q3. In what way did the infant Tiger King surprise the astrologer? [40-50 Words]

Ans. When Tiger King was born, the royal astrologer said that the prince would grow up to be a great fighter, but that one day he would die, When ten-day-old Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur heard this, he said that everyone must die someday, and he didn’t need a prediction to know this. Then he asked how his father had died. Everyone, there was surprised to hear such wise words from a baby who was only ten days old.

Q4. Do you agree with the Tiger King’s statement? You may kill even a cow in self defence. [40-50 Words]

Ans. I disagree with the Tiger King’s statement. He thinks it’s not wrong to kill a tiger if it’s okay to kill a cow in self-defence. Mankind, on the other hand, has a long history of killing life on Earth, especially wildlife, because of their lack of care. So, we need to set up a way to take care of all living things on Earth.

Q5. What did the Maharaja and dewan do to avoid the danger of losing the throne? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Maharaja was in danger of losing the throne when he refused the British officer from shoting in his kingdom. To avoid this danger, he sent samples of expensive diamond rings to his wife.However, the officer’s wife kept all the fifty rings and the king was glad that by spending three lakh rupees, he had saved his throne.

Q6. What did the Maharaja do to realize his ambition of killing hundred tigers? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Maharaja had exhausted all hunting propects in his kingdom. To complete the count of killing a hundred tigers, he married into a kingdom which had a high tiger population.

Q7. Who was the Tiger King? How did he get the name Tiger King? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur was known as the Tiger King. He got this name because he was born in the hour of the Bull and so, he faced the danger of death from a tiger. The king was an infant when the astrologer predicted that the cause of his death would be a tiger, the infant gave a growl and warned the tigers to be aware of him. Thus, he was named as the Tiger King.

Q8. What message does the story “The Tiger King” give to the readers? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The story gives the message that one cannot escape fate. Even if one is powerful, one cannot control nature. The carelessness of the king made him overlook that the hundredth tiger was not killed. He got injured by the wooden tiger toy whci turned out to be the hundredth tiger, the cause of his death.

Q9. Which problem did the Maharaja face after killing seventy tigers when he had vowed to kill 100 tigers? [40-50 Words]

Ans. He had hunted all the tigers in his kingdom. Thus, he planned to marry into a kingdom that had a high tiger population.

Q10. Why did the Maharaja have to pay a bill of three lakh rupees to the British jewellers? [40-50 Words]

Ans. He wanted to save his throne which was at risk after he had refused permission to the British officer from hunting a tiger in his kingdom. Thus, he got a sample of diamond rings for the officer’s wife. She kept all of them and the Maharaja had to pay three lakh rupees bill to the jeweller.

Q11. What was the hidden agenda behind the Tiger King’s marriage with the princess in the neighbouring state? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Tiger King’s hidden agenda was behind his marriage was to complete the count of killing a hundred tigers because he had killed all the tigers in his kingdom.

Q12. What did the astrologers predict about the child when he was born? [40-50 words]

Ans. They predicted that he would die. As he was born in the hour of the bull, the tiger being an enemy of the bull, would be the cause of the Tiger King’s death.

Q13. What was the Maharaja’s mission? How did he resolve to overcome the obstacles in the fulfilment of his mission? [120-150 Words]

Ans. The astrologer’s prediction regarding the death of the Tiger King was that the king would be killed by a tiger. This prophecy deeply troubled the Tiger King, who then embarked on a mission to hunt and kill one hundred tigers in an attempt to defy his fate. He believed that by eliminating the tigers, he could avert the prophecy and secure his safety.

Despite the king’s efforts and precautions, the prophecy ultimately came true in an unexpected manner. After successfully killing ninety-nine tigers, the king’s men found a weak and old tiger to complete the tally of one hundred. The king killed this tiger, believing he had triumphed over the prophecy. However, the irony lay in the fact that the tiger was not actually killed by the king’s bullet but merely stunned. Later, a sliver from a toy tiger, which the king received as a gift for his son, pierced his finger, leading to an infection that ultimately caused his death. Thus, the astrologer’s prediction came true in a symbolic and ironic way, despite the king’s extensive precautions.

Also see:

The Tiger King Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Tiger King Summary, Explanation

The Tiger King MCQs

The Tiger King Character Sketches

Chapter 3 – Journey to the end of the Earth

Q1. Describe Gondwana. [40-50 Words]

Ans. Gondwana was a massive supercontinent that was located in the south and was composed entirely of plants and wildlife. There were no human inhabitants on this continent. Prior to around 650 million years ago, India and Antarctica were two different parts of the same landmass. This landmass gradually began to move away from one another, resulting in the formation of continents and seas.

Q2. What did Geoff Green switch over to? Why? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Geoff Green transitioned from teaching to leading educational expeditions to Antarctica. Celebrities and wealthy people wanted to visit Antarctica for entertainment, but high school students were more interested in learning and taking action. He did this to provide kids with the opportunity to learn about climate change and the necessity of environmental preservation.

Q3. What were the author’s initial emotions on setting foot in Antarctica? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The narrator’s first impressions on setting foot in Antarctica included a sense of awe at the vast, pristine landscape, the silence, and the extreme conditions. The sight of the untouched beauty and the realization of humanity’s insignificance in the face of nature’s grandeur left a profound impact on the narrator.

Q4. Why did Derry enter Mr. Lamb’s garden? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Because of his scarred face, Derry avoided other people and preferred to be in isolated areas. Because he believed that Mr. Lamb’s garden was deserted, he scaled a wall and entered the property. When he saw Mr. Lamb, he was taken aback and surprised.

Q5. What are the significant features of ‘Students on Ice Programme’? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The programme on the Shokaskiy takes students to Antarctica and provides educational opportunities to help develop understanding of and respect for the earth. The future generations of policy-makers are given a life-changing experience to sensitize them about the real effects of global warming.

Q6. What makes the author say, “The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica”? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Around six hundred and fifty million years ago there was a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent called Gondwana which was centered around the present-day Antarctica. Thus, it is a part of that history from where we have come.

Q7. What prevented the Shokalskiy from going further? What did the captain instruct the passenger to do? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The Russian vessel ‘Akademik Shokalskiy’ was on its way to Antarctica with a crew of 52 people to investigate and explore the history of humanity. They were getting close to the Antarctic Circle when the ship got stranded in a massive pile of ice. The ship’s captain ordered the passengers to disembark onto the icy ocean.

Q8. Why did Geoff Green include young students in his programme? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Young children were the future policy-makers. They were taken on a life-changing experience when they were ready to absorb, learn and act. When they saw the impact of global warming, they got sensitised towards it to a higher extent.

Q9. How has human civilization impacted our environment? Comment with reference to the lesson “Journey to the End of the Earth”. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Our environment has been significantly impacted by human civilization. The lecture examines how geological phenomena enable us to reconstruct human history. Despite having existed for only 12,000 years, humans have caused considerable harm to the environment. Climate and ecological imbalances have been caused by population growth, depletion of natural resources, carbon emissions, fossil fuels, and global warming. The author emphasises how humans’ attempts to dominate nature have had negative consequences.

Scientists warn that the continued depletion of the ozone layer will threaten the lives of marine and avian species. Additionally, it will affect the global carbon cycle. Burning fossil fuels has resulted in a global blanket of carbon dioxide, which raises the average global temperature. Antarctica’s icebergs dissolving is evidence of this phenomenon.

In conclusion, the activities of humanity have caused environmental problems. Scientists warn of the repercussions of our actions, such as the impact on fauna and the carbon cycle.

Q10. How can a visit to Antarctica be an enlightening experience? Elaborate. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Antarctica is the major land mass that formed Gondwana. Thus, it is a part of Earth’s Geological history. There one can visualize and experience the changes in climate and formations due to global warming. It has never sustained human population. One can study how little changes in the environment can lead to big repercussions. One gets to realize the truth of the parable – take care of the little things in life, and the big things will fall into place.

On visiting Antarctica, one can study the earth’s past, present and future. It holds in the ice-cores, half-million-year-old carbon records. Antarctica has a simple ecosystem and lack of biodiversity thus, it shows us how small changes can lead to big consequences.

Also see:

Journey to the End of the Earth Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Journey to the End of the Earth Summary, Explanation

Journey to the End of the Earth MCQs

Journey to the End of the Earth Character Sketches

Chapter 4 – The Enemy

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

“You are to come to the palace,” the man said. “The old General is in pain again.”

“Oh,” Hana breathed, “Is that all? ”

“All? ” the messenger exclaimed. “Is it not enough? “

“Indeed it is,” she replied, “I am very sorry.”

When Sadao came to say goodbye, she was in the kitchen, but doing nothing. The children were asleep and she sat merely resting for a moment, more exhausted from her fright than from work. (The Enemy)

(i) Seeing the messenger, Hana was apprehensive of ________.

Ans. Seeing the messenger, Hana was apprehensive of the possible repercussions and the reason for the summons.

(ii) The summons for Dr. Sadao were because

(a) the servants had reported.

(b) there was a medical emergency.

(d) the prisoner of war had escaped.

Ans. (b) there was a medical emergency.

(iii) Which of the following summarizes Hana’s reason for resting momentarily?

(a) Her physical exhaustion

(b) Her fear

(d) Her sadness

Ans. (b) Her fear

(iv) Complete the analogy correctly with a word from the extract.

asleep : awake : : rejuvenated : _________

Ans. exhausted

Question Answers

Q1. What impression do you form of Dr. Sadao’s father from the story“The Enemy”? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Dr. Sadao comes across as a dedicated and skilled doctor who upholds his ethical duty to save lives, regardless of the patient’s identity. As a citizen, he is conflicted between his loyalty to his country and his professional responsibilities, ultimately choosing humanity over patriotism.

Q2. What dilemma did Dr. Sadao face about the wounded American soldier? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Dr Sadao was in a dilemma when he found a wounded enemy soldier at the shore near his house. As a doctor, he was duty-bound to save the life of the injured man. However, as a patriot, he was supposed to handover the enemy soldier to the police.

Q3. What risk did Dr. Sadao run in harbouring the enemy American soldier in his house? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Dr Sadao was at a risk of being termed a traitor. The servants had left the family. The doctor’s children could have an ill-fate, being called the kids of a traitor.

Q4. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad with the troops? [40-50 Words]

Ans. The General required Dr Sadao’s services and so, he did not send him with the army troops.

Q5. Dr. Sadao emerges as a saviour of humanity. Substantiate your answer with evidence from the text. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Dr Sadao is a saviour of humanity. He risks being termed a traitor, faces the wrath of the servants but fulfils his duty as a doctor. When the man is fit, he plans and executes his escape to the nearby island. He also provides the man with all necessities and guidance in case of any problem. At times, it gets very difficult to create a balance between two duties that are juxtaposed to each other. Here, Sadao had two duties, one of being a doctor and second of being a patriot. He fulfilled the first duty by saving the injured soldier, treating him and making him healthy. He fulfilled the second duty by informing the general and seeking his help in getting him assasinated. When the general does not fulfil the promise of sending the killers, Sadao aids the man in escaping the country.

Q6. After seeing off the enemy soldier, Dr. Sadao must have felt relieved.

He was able to uphold the oath that he had taken as a doctor. Dr. Sadao made an entry into his daily diary explaining the dilemma faced by him and how he resolved it.

Imagine yourself to be Dr. Sadao and express his thoughts.

(You may begin like this :

I was able to uphold the oath that I had taken as a doctor…) [120-150 Words]

Ans. 20 March 2022

Dear Diary,

I was able to uphold the oath that I had taken as a doctor. It is my responsibility to save people’s lives, regardless of their nationality. When Tom, the prisoner of war, was discovered wounded, I was in a condition of tremendous struggle. Turning him over to the cops would have meant putting him in the jaws of death. Ultimately, the duty of a doctor triumphed over the tight confines of conflict and hatred.

The thought of working for a white person infuriated my subordinates. Hana, my wife, cleansed the wound while I made the decision to operate on Tom. I was aware of the danger of harbouring an enemy, yet I refused to abandon my sacred responsibility to avert death.

I was relieved to finally tell him to leave the house once he was no longer in anger.

Q7. Dr. Sadao is torn between his duty as a doctor and his responsibility as a patriotic citizen. Elaborate. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Dr. Sadao and his wife, Hana, were conflicted upon learning that the wounded prisoner of war was an American, as they knew that sheltering him could result in their imprisonment. However, if they turned him over to the police, the injured man would perish without a doubt. Dr. Sadao’s duty as a physician ultimately trumped all other trivial considerations, and he decided to operate on Tom despite the servants’ opposition to servicing a white man. Hana obediently assisted her spouse in administering anaesthesia to the patient, if necessary. The dying individual was able to be saved by Dr. Sadao. As a loyal patriot, he nonetheless informed the General about the prisoner. Dr. Sadao accepted the General’s choice without hesitation.

The story of Dr. Sadao shows that it’s not always easy to do the right thing. People sometimes have to choose between their own values and their duties to their country or their job. In this situation, Dr. Sadao decided to put his job as a doctor ahead of his love for his country.

Also see:

The Enemy Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

The Enemy Summary, Explanation

The Enemy MCQs

The Enemy Character Sketches

Chapter 5 – On the face of it

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Deny : What do you do all day?

Mr. Lamb : Sit in the sun. Read books, Ah, you thought it was an empty house, but inside, it’s full. Books and other things.

Full. Deny : But there aren’t any curtains at the windows.

Mr. Lamb : I’m not fond of curtains, shutting things out, shutting things in. I like the light and the darkness, and the windows open, to hear the wind.

(i) The description of the house indicates that Mr. Lamb ___________.

Ans. loves nature

(ii) The expression ‘does not like shutting things out, shutting things in’ suggests Mr. Lamb’s

(a) welcoming nature.

(b) poverty-stricken existence.

(d) confused state of mind.

Ans. (a) welcoming nature.

(iii) Mr. Lamb spends his time ___________.

reading books
cooking meals

III. shutting things out

enjoying beauties of nature

Which of the following options are appropriate?

(a) I and IV

(b) II, III and IV

(d) I and III

Ans. (a) I and IV

(iv) On the basis of the extract, study the two statements, I and II given below :

Mr. Lamb liked meeting people.
Mr. Lamb accepted life as it came.

Choose the most appropriate option :

(a) I can be inferred from the extract, but II cannot.

(b) II can be inferred from the extract, but I cannot.

(d) Neither I nor II can be inferred from the extract.

Ans. (c) Both I and II can be inferred from the extract.

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Mr. Lamb : Look, boy, look … what do you see?

Deny : Just … grass and stuff. Weeds

Mr. Lamb : Some call them weeds. If you like, then … a weed garden, that. There’s fruit and there are flowers, and trees and herbs. All sorts. But over there … weeds. I grow weeds there. Why is one green, growing plant called a weed and another ‘flower’? Where’s the difference? It’s all life … growing. Same as you and me.

Deny : We’re not the same.

(i) In the above extract, what best summarizes Mr. Lamb’s attitude towards growing weeds?

(a) a celebration of life

(b) an acceptance of his poverty

(d) an example of his gardening skills

Ans. (a) a celebration of life

(ii) Which of the following best describes Derry’s tone when he says “We’re not the same”?

(a) bitter

(b) confused

(d) snobbish

Ans. (b) confused

(iii) Mr. Lamb brings out the contrast between flowers and weeds in order to

(a) explain weeds are important in a garden.

(b) demonstrate that weeds have medicinal values.

(d) illustrate that there should be no distinction.

Ans. (d) illustrate that there should be no distinction.

(iv) What word from the above extract most nearly means the opposite of ‘difference’?

Ans. ‘specific’

(C) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

Mr.Lamb : Well that needn’t stop you, you needn’t mind.

Derry : It’d stop them. They’d mind me. When they saw me here. They look at my face and run.

Mr.Lamb : They might. They might not. You’d have to take the risk. So would they.

Derry : No, you would, you might have me and lose all your other friends, because nobody wants to stay near me if they can help it.

Mr. Lamb : I’ve not moved.

Derry : No…….

Mr. Lamb : When I go down the street, the kids shout ‘Lamey-Lamb’. But they still come into the Garden, into my house; it’s a game. They’re not afraid of me. Why should they be? Because I’m not afraid of them, that’s why not.’

(i) The kids tease Mr. Lamb but still come into his garden. Why?

Ans. (i)The kids tease Mr. Lamb but still come into his garden because they loved him and were not afraid of him. They knew that Mr. Lamb won’t mind even if they tease him by calling ‘Lamey-Lamb’.

(ii) Choose the best option that describes Mr. Lamb.

(a) headstrong (b) pessimist

Ans. (d) positive

(iii) Choose the correct option with reference to the extract :

What makes Derry tell Mr. Lamb that if he comes, others would stop coming?

(a) Mr. Lamb would not let others come.

(b) They would be repulsed by Derry.

(d) Derry would flare up.

Ans. (b) They would be repulsed by Derry.

(iv) What does Mr. Lamb mean by ‘They might, they might not’?

Ans. Mr. Lamb means that it’s not necessary that if the people or the children will look at Derry’s face; they would mind coming close to him. It might be that they run away, or they might not run away. Mr. Lamb wants Derry to think optimistically and not be pessimistic.

(D) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow :

You think …. ‘Here’s a boy.’ You look at me … and then you see my face and you think. ‘That’s bad. That’s a terrible thing. That’s the ugliest thing I ever saw.’ You think, ‘Poor boy.’ But I’m not. Not poor. Underneath, you are afraid. Anybody would be. I am. When I look in the mirror, and see it, I’m afraid of me.

(i) Who is the speaker and who is he speaking to?

(a) Derry; His mother

(b) Derry; Mr. Lamb

(d) Mother; Mr. Lamb

Ans. (b) Derry; Mr. Lamb

(ii) According to the speaker, what do people feel about him?

(a) People are empathetic towards him.

(b) People are repulsed by his appearance.

(d) People are unhappy at his association with his neighbours.

Ans. (a) People are empathetic towards him.

(iii) Complete the following statement with reference to the extract :

When I look in the mirror, and see it, I’m afraid of me _________.

Ans. because it reminds me of my ugliness and makes me feel depressed and scared.

(iv) Explain the following statement with reference to the given extract :

You think, ‘Poor boy.’ But I’m not.

Ans. Mr. Lamb, according to Derry, will pity him like everyone else, but he will also be afraid of him.

Question Answers

Q1. How does Mr. Lamb try to put Derek at ease when he entered Mr. Lamb’s garden? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Mr. Lamb attempted to put Derek at ease with his reassuring and kind words when Derek entered his garden. Mr. Lamb realised that his presence in the garden had alarmed Derry. He informed Derry that he did not object to visitors entering his garden, so Derry had nothing to fear.

Q2. Why does Derry enter Mr. Lamb’s garden? [40-50 Words]

Q3. Derek wants to go back to Mr. Lamb’s house against his mother’s will. What does this tell you about Mr. Lamb? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Derek wants to go back to Mr. Lamb’s house, even though his mother doesn’t want him to. This is because Mr. Lamb has taught Derek a new way to look at life. He has given Derry hope that he can get over his disability by having a positive view of life. Derry likes what he teaches and what he tells him, so he goes back to Mr. Lamb.

Q4. What were the apprehensions of Derry’s mother about his visit to Mr. Lamb? [40-50 Words]

Ans. She tells Derry that she had been warned to stay away from him. Although they had been there recently, she had heard things about him.

Q5. What gave Derry the courage to go back to Mr. Lamb’s house despite his mother’s refusal? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Mr. Lamb’s encouraging words and acceptance for Derry’s burnt face gave him confidence. Now the boy felt that he could do whatever he wanted to. He wanted to think and decide on his goal and this gave him the courage to go back despite the mother’s refusal.

Q6. How does Mr. Lamb react when children call him Lamey-Lamb? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Mr Lamb accepts that he has a tin leg. He does not fear the children nor does he fright them.

Q7. Why does Derry not like being with people? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Derry dislikes being with people because of the manner in which they react on seeing his burnt face. They feel pity for him or get scared of him. Even his mother does not love him truly.

Q8. Why was Derry startled as soon as he entered the garden? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Derry had entered the garden thinking that it was empty. However, Mr Lamb’s voice startled him. He felt guilty of intruding into a private territory.

Q9. Mr. Lamb stands as a symbol of optimism and hope. Support your answer with examples from the text. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Yes, Mr Lamb is truly a symbol of optimism and hope. He lives alone, lost a leg in the war, but still, he lives a fulfilling life. He welcomes everyone into his garden, he reads books, grows apples, rears honey bees and makes jelly and toffee. He even shares these with the visitors. When children call him ‘Lamey Lamb’ he remains unaffected because he accepts the fact that he has a tin leg which cause a limp while walking. He is not scared of the children and does not scare them either. He does not differentiate between a weed and a flower. For him both represent life.

When he comes across the dejected young boy, Derry, he instils positivism and confidence in him. Mr Lamb motivates Derry to get over the burnt face and realize that he has been blessed with a healthy body, a working brain, eyes, ears and tongue. He can do whatever he desires. Mr Lamb’s words are full of optimism, they are so powerful, that they young lad becomes lively and starts realizing his capabilities. Thus, we see the transformative power of Mr Lamb’s words.

Also see:

On the Face of It Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

On the Face of It Summary, Explanation

On the Face of It MCQs

On the Face of It Character Sketches

Chapter 6 – Memories of Childhood (Part I)

Q1. What did Judewin tell the narrator? What was the effect? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Judewin told Zitkala-Sa, the narrator, that she overheard a white woman suggesting that Zitkala’s long hair will be cut. The narrator, Zitkala-Sa, became scared and apprehensive about her fate as a result of Judewin’s warning. She was especially concerned about having her hair chopped, which was an important part of her identity.

Q2. How did Zitkala-Sa try to save her long hair? [40-50 Words]

Ans. When Zitkala-Sa heard that her hair was going to be cut, she ran away to a big room with three white beds and curtains. She got under a bed and hid in a dark spot. Even though she was called, she wouldn’t come out. Even though Zitkala-Sa cried and tried to stop her mother and the other women from cutting her hair, they did it anyway.

Q3. What warning did Judewin give to Zitkala-Sa? [40-50 Words]

Ans. Judewin knew a few words of English and had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting their long, heavy hair. Judewin shared this warning with Zitkala-Sa because in their custom, only unskilled warriors who had been captured, mourners and cowards wore shingled hair.

Q4. What does Zitkala-Sa mean by “eating by formula”? [40-50 Words]

Ans. By ‘eating by formula,’ Zitkala-Sa refers to the rigid and mechanical way in which she was forced to eat at the boarding school. The prescribed rules and lack of freedom in their daily routines made the act of eating feel unnatural and devoid of any personal choice or cultural significance.

Q5. Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa were from marginalised communities. They challenged the system to bring dignity into their lives. Justify. [120-150 Words]

Ans. Due to their backgrounds in underprivileged communities, Zitkala-Sa and Bama experienced social discrimination. As a Native American, Zitkala-Sa experienced humiliation and thought her independence had been taken from her. She had been ogled, tossed around like a puppet, had her blanket and moccasins removed from her, had to wear form-fitting clothing, and had ultimately had her hair sheared. Bama, a member of a Dalit community, experienced similar pain upon witnessing the humiliation they had to go through.

They each experienced many obstacles, yet they never gave up on their aspirations. Instead, they worked tirelessly to attain their objectives and make a positive impact on the world. As a result, they became role models who demonstrated that even those from marginalised communities could overcome adversity and achieve success. Their childhood experiences demonstrate the importance of having self-esteem and standing up for what we believe in, even in the face of adversity and opposition.

Also see:

Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Summary, Explanation

Memories of Childhood (Part 1) MCQs

Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Character Sketches

Chapter 6 – Memories of childhood (Part II)

(A) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

When I was studying in the third class, I hadn’t yet heard people speak openly of untouchability. But I had already seen, felt, experienced and been humiliated by what it is.

I was walking home from school one day, an old bag hanging from my shoulder. It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes. But usually it would take me from half an hour to an hour to dawdle along watching all the fun and games that were going on, all the entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets, the shops and the bazaar.

(i) The narrator was humiliated because

Ans. The narrator was humiliated because they were teased, called names, and physically assaulted by a group of children from a higher caste while walking home from school. The humiliation was due to their lower caste status, which was stigmatized in the society.

(ii) The narrator ‘dawdled along’ as she _____.

(a) enjoyed looking at the various sights

(b) was getting late for school

(d) she enjoyed haggling and shopping

Ans. (a) enjoyed looking at the various sights

(iii) On the basis of the extract, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below :

(I) The distance from school to home was very short.

(II) She was feeling upset and so dawdling her way home.

(a) (I) can be inferred from the extract but (II) cannot

(b) (II) can be inferred from the extract but (I) cannot

(d) Both (I) and (II) can be inferred from the extract

Ans. (c) Both (I) and (II) cannot be inferred from the extract

(iv) The word ‘novelties’ in the passage most nearly means

(a) colourful trinkets

(b) wooden toys

(d) expensive souvenirs

Ans. (c) unique and interesting items

(B) Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:

“Because we are born into this community, we are never given any honour or dignity or respect; we are stripped of all that. But if we study and make progress, we can throw away these indignities. So study with care, learn all you can. If you are always ahead in your lessons, people will come to you of their own accord and attach themselves to you. Work hard and learn.”

i) Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to?

(a) Appa; Bama

(b) Bama; Amma

(d) Annan; Bama

Ans. (d) Annan; Bama

(ii) Select the option that best describes the speaker in the above extract :

marginalized
practical

III. idealistic

curious
aggressive

Select the most appropriate option :

(a) I and II

(b) III and IV

(d) IV and V

Ans. (a) I and II

(iii) Complete the following statement with reference to the community :

The treatment meted out to the community was _____________.

Ans. devoid of honour, dignity or respect.

(iv) Which of the following summarizes the author’s opinion about study?

(a) Childhood should be spent in experiential learning.

(b) Studying is better than playing.

(d) Studying leads to social reforms and progress.

Ans. (d) Studying leads to social reforms and progress.

Question Answers

Q1. Both Bama and Zitkala-Sa were from marginalised communities. They challenged the system to bring dignity into their lives. Justify. [120-150 Words]

Also see:

Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions

Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Summary, Explanation

Memories of Childhood (Part 2) MCQs

Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Character Sketches

Class 12 English Core Previous Year Question Paper (2023) with Solutions

CBSE Class 12 English Core Chapter-wise Previous Years Questions (2023) with Solution

Flamingo Book

Flamingo Book – Poems

Vistas Book

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