CBSE Class 12 English Core Vistas Book Chapter 4 The Enemy Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
The Enemy Previous Year Questions with Answers – Question Answers from Previous years Board Exam Question papers provide valuable insights into how chapters are typically presented in exams. They are essential for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams, serving as a valuable resource.They can reveal the types of questions commonly asked and highlight the key concepts that require more attention. In this post, we have shared Previous Year Questions for Class 12 English Core Chapter 4, “The Enemy”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
“If I am able, are you?” Sadao asked.
“No,” Hana said, “But if you can do it alone…”
Sadao hesitated again. “The strange thing is,” that if the man were whole I could turn him over to the police without difficulty. I care nothing for him. He is my enemy. All Americans are my enemy. And he is only a common fellow. You see how foolish his face is. But since he is wounded …”
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The dilemma faced by the couple was _________.
Ans. whether to help the wounded American soldier, despite their personal and political conflicts.
(ii) What does Hana ask Dr. Sadao to do alone?
(A) Treat the wounded soldier
(B) Give him shelter in the outhouse
(C) Throw him back into the sea
(D) Hand him over to the authorities
Ans. (A) Treat the wounded soldier
(iii) Explain the expression : “if the man were whole”.
Ans. The expression means if the soldier were not injured, Dr. Sadao would have no moral or ethical conflict in turning him over to the authorities.
(iv) Dr. Sadao says, “All Americans are my enemy.” What character trait of Dr. Sadao does it reflect?
Ans. It reflects Dr. Sadao’s internal conflict and loyalty to his country, which is challenged by his compassion and medical ethics
Q2. Read the following extracts and answer the questions :
But at this moment the door opened and she looked out, a dark-blue woollen haori over her kimono. … He had met Hana in America, but he had waited to fall in love with her until he was sure she was Japanese. His father would never have received her unless she had been pure in her race.
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
Hana was attired in ____________.
Ans. a dark-blue woollen haori over her kimono.
(ii) With reference to the above, how will you describe Dr. Sadao as a son?
(A) indifferent
(B) obedient
(C) defiant
(D) practical
Ans. (B) obedient
(iii) What is ‘this moment’ all about?
It is a moment of :
(A) emotional turmoil.
(B) tranquility.
(C) agitation.
(D) conflict.
Ans. (A) emotional turmoil.
(iv) From the extract, what can you infer about Dr. Sadao and Hana’s relationship?
Ans. Dr. Sadao and Hana’s relationship is built on mutual respect and cultural values, as evidenced by Dr. Sadao’s decision to wait until he was sure Hana was Japanese before falling in love with her, respecting his father’s wishes.
Q3. What was the servants’ reaction to Sadao’s decision of treating the American soldier? [40-50 Words]
Ans. The servants reacted with fear and disapproval to Sadao’s decision to treat the American soldier. They were concerned about the repercussions and believed that helping the enemy was dangerous and unpatriotic.
Q4. ‘Don’t thank me too early’. Sadao said coldly. What inference is drawn about Sadao’s state of mind from the above line? [40-50 Words]
Ans. We can infer that although Sadao was treating the injured soldier at that moment, he could hand him over to the Japanese army once he recovered.
Q5. “I must get rid of this man for your sake”. Said Dr. Sadao.
How will you describe Dr. Sadao as a husband with reference to the above line? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Dr. Sadao is shown to be a considerate and protective husband. He is willing to take significant risks to ensure the safety and well-being of his wife, indicating his deep care and responsibility towards her.
Q6. ‘I must get rid of this man for your sake’.
How did Dr. Sadao act like a perfect husband? [40-50 Words]
Ans. Sadao was fulfilling his duty as a doctor even at the cost of being termed a traitor, however, when he saw that this was causing mental agony to his wife, he decided to get rid of the soldier as soon as possible. This shows his concern as a husband.
Q7. “I will have nothing to do with it,” Yumi said,
“I am a poor person and it is not my business.”
What inference can be drawn about the character of the speaker from the above expression? [40-50 Words]
Ans. These lines show that Yumi was poor and did not want to get into any trouble by washing an enemy soldier.
Q8. Dr. Sadao is disturbed and in a dilemma since he has decided to help the enemy soldier. Describe his conflict and the challenges faced in the form of a diary entry. [120-150 Words]
Ans. Dr. Sadao’s Diary Entry
[Date]
Today has been a day of great turmoil and moral conflict. I have taken a decision that weighs heavily on my conscience—helping the enemy soldier. As a doctor, my duty is to save lives, regardless of nationality. However, aiding an enemy could be seen as an act of treason.
I am torn between my professional oath and my loyalty to my country. The fear of being discovered and the potential consequences for my family add to my distress. Yet, I could not turn a blind eye to a wounded human being in need of care. This dilemma tests my ethical boundaries and challenges my principles.
I hope that my decision to save this man, driven by compassion and humanity, will not bring harm to my loved ones or me. Only time will reveal the outcome of this challenging situation.
Dr. Sadao
Q9. After having escaped from Japan with the help of Dr. Sadao, Tom (the prisoner of war) writes an article highlighting how Sadao’s actions demonstrated the importance of humanity and living in harmony.
You may begin like this :
Humanity is a value that binds us together …… [120-150 Words]
Ans. Humanity is a value that binds us together, transcending borders and conflicts. My experience in Japan, where I was saved by Dr. Sadao, is a testament to the power of compassion and human connection.
Dr. Sadao, a Japanese surgeon, found me, an American prisoner of war, washed ashore near his home. Despite the risk to his own life and his family’s safety, he chose to treat me. His actions were guided by his oath as a doctor and his intrinsic sense of humanity, not by the politics of war.
Through his selfless act, Dr. Sadao demonstrated that empathy and kindness can overcome hatred and prejudice. He saw me not as an enemy, but as a human being in need of help. This profound act of mercy saved my life and restored my faith in humanity.
Living in harmony requires us to look beyond differences and to treat each other with compassion and respect. Dr. Sadao’s courage and moral integrity remind us that even in the darkest times, our shared humanity can light the way to a better, more peaceful world. His story is a powerful reminder that true heroism lies in our ability to uphold the values of compassion and harmony, even in the face of great adversity.
Thank you.
Q10. “that if the man were whole I could turn him over to the Police ….. . But since he is wounded”
The above statement clearly displays Dr. Sadao’s commitment to his profession and compassion. Write an article in appreciation of Dr. Sadao’s professional ethics and his ability to rise above prejudices. You may begin like this.
Dr. Sadao proved himself to be a man with great humanitarian values ……… [120-150 Words]
Ans. Dr. Sadao proved himself to be a man with great humanitarian values. Once when he was in a dilemma to save an injured man or to let the enemy to die, he fulfilled his duty as a doctor and saved the injured man’s life. He planned to turn him over to the police once he recovered. He even discussed the matter with the General who proposed to get the soldier assasinated. Finally, we see that Sadao is not able to keep the soldier any longer and when the General does not send the killers, he aids the soldier into an escape. He provides all amenities to the soldier and directs him to catch the Korean ships from the island. Thus, Dr Sadao completes his duty as a doctor.
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. 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.
(c) the General wanted to express his admiration.
(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
(c) Her infirmity
(d) Her sadness
Ans. (b) Her fear
(iv) Complete the analogy correctly with a word from the extract.
asleep : awake : : rejuvenated : _________
Ans. exhausted
Q2. 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.
Q3. 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.
Q4. 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.
Q5. 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.
Q6. 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.
Q7. 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.
Q8. 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.
Questions from the Chapter in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. Why did Hana feel scared when a messenger in official uniform visited their house? [30-40 words]
Ans. Hana felt guilty that they had harboured an enemy soldier. So, when she saw a messenger in official uniform, she got scared that they would be arrested.
Q2. Why does Hana believe that the American prisoner is a ‘menace, living or dead’? [30-40 words]
Ans. Because Tom was an American soldier and Japan was at war with America at the time, Hana believes the American prisoner was a ‘threat, living or dead.” As a result, assisting him would be considered assisting the enemy, which was a felony.
Q3. Was it fear or a feeling of patriotism which prompted the servants to leave Dr. Sadao’s residence? [30-40 words]
Ans. The servants had been working in Dr Sadao’s house for the past forty years. When they came to know that he had harboured an enemy soldier, they left the employment because they were patriots and did not want to serve an enemy. They even feared being caught by the police if found giving shelter to an enemy.
Q4. What efforts did Dr. Sadao and Hana make to save the American soldier? [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao decided to operate upon the enemy soldier to save his life. Hana cleaned the soldier with hot water for the operation. She gave him anesthetic. Dr sadao removed the bullet by operating upon him.
Q5. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent to the battlefield? [30-40 words]
Ans. The General was ill and required Dr Sadao’s treatment. So he did not send him to the battlefield.
Q6. Dr. Sadao and servants were only partly loyal to their country. Comment. [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao was a doctor first and his profession made him save the life of the enemy soldier who was lying on the seashore near his house. This made him only partly loyal to his country. The servants feared being caught by the police for sheltering an enemy soldier, thus they were also partly loyal to their country.
Q7. Why was Dr. Sadao not arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy? [30-40 words]
Ans. When the enemy soldier recovered, Dr Sadao discussed the entire episode with the General who promised him to send assassins to get him killed. The General needed Dr Sadao’s medical treatment and so, he would not get him arrested.
Q8. Why did Dr. Sadao and his wife treat the wounded enemy soldier? [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao treated the wounded enemy soldier because his duty as a doctor made him save a life. His wife helped him because the servants had refused to assist and he could not have done the task all by himself. Thus, Hana, being a dutiful wife, helped her husband.
2019 Exam Question and Answers from the Chapter
Q1. How did the writer indicate that Dr. Sadao’s father was a very traditional and conventional man? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. Dr. Sadao’s father was a very traditional and conventional man. He was a gentle and quiet person who never joked or played with his son. Sadao’s education was his chief concern. He bestowed infinite pains upon Sadao, who was his only son. He was strict but a caring and loving father. He considered arranged marriage the best and believed in the purity of race.
Q2. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent abroad with the troops during the war? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. The General was ill and required Dr Sadao’s treatment. So he did not send him to the battlefield.
Q3. How did Dr. Sadao and his wife face the situation after their servants left them? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao treated the wounded enemy soldier because his duty as a doctor made him save a life. His wife helped him because the servants had refused to assist and he could not have done the task all by himself. Thus, Hana, being a dutiful wife, helped her husband.
Q4. How did Dr. Sadao perform his duty as a patriotic Japanese? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao’s duty as a patriotic Japanese demanded that he should inform the police about the presence of the enemy soldier in his house. Accordingly, he told the General everything about the enemy soldier to perform his duty as a patriotic Japanese.
Q5. What was Hana’s role in Dr. Sadao’s life when he brought home an injured American soldier? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. When Dr. Sadao brought an injured American soldier to his home, Hana played a crucial role. On the humanitarian ground, she nursed the soldier herself when she got no cooperation from her maid. She did all the household work herself gracefully. She washed the soldier’s wound and fed him, which indicates her respect and obedience towards her husband. She did whatever Dr. Sadao asked her to do during the operation.
Q6. Why was the General apologetic when Sadao told him that the prisoner had escaped? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. The General believed that Sadao was indispensable to his life as none were as skilled as Dr. Sadao. When Sadao told him about the prisoner who had escaped, he was apologetic as he had forgotten about his promise of sending assassins to kill the enemy, that he made to Sadao, in his greed and selfish needs.
Q7. What dilemma did Sadao and his wife face when they saw the wounded American soldier? [30 – 40 words]
Ans.They were in a dilemma to save the life of an injured soldier or to leave the wounded enemy to die.
Q8. Apart from treating a fellow human being, for what other reason did Dr. Sadao decide to operate on the wounded American soldier? [30 – 40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao’s professional ethics as a doctor motivated him to treat the injured soldier.
Q9. Explain the reaction of Dr. Sadao’s servants when he decided to give shelter to an enemy in the house. [120 – 150 words]
Ans. The servants did not support the idea of sheltering an enemy soldier. They loved their country and moreover, feared being caught by the police. Yumi the governess flatly refused to wash the white man. Her face was stubborn and fierce with resistance. She left the Sadao’s household to protest their act of treating the man. Even the cook and the gardener who had been serving the Hoki’s from Sadao’s father’s time left the house as a mark of protest. They did not want to support a ‘traitor’.
Q10. ‘The Enemy’ portrays the victory of humanity in a moment of crisis. Illustrate this fact through the actions taken by Dr. Sadao for the enemy soldier. [120 – 150 words]
Ans. The efforts made by Dr. Sadao to save the American soldier who gets washed by the sea to his doorstep portray the victory of humanity in a moment of crisis. Dr. Sadao rises over narrow prejudices of race and country to help a human being in need. Being a doctor, his priority is to save a dying man even though he belongs to the enemy camp. Basic human goodness overpowers Dr. Sadao and he helps the wounded soldier first by operating on him and saving his life and thereafter by arranging his safe escape. As a doctor, his foremost duty was to save a dying man so he put aside all the other options and respected the ethics of his profession thereby justifying the victory of humanity when one is in a dilemma.
Also see:
The Enemy Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Enemy Summary, Explanation