CBSE Class 10 First Flight Book Chapter 9 The Proposal Question Answers from previous years question papers (2019-2024)
The Proposal 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 10 English Chapter 9, “The Proposal”.
Questions which came in 2024 Board Exam
Q1. “Oh, what a burden, Lord, to be the father of a grown-up daughter!”
Explain what this line conveys about Chubukov as a father. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The line indicates that a father faces challenges while fulfilling his responsibility towards a grown-up daughter. Chubukov has to perform his parental duty but his daughter has a mind of her own. So, this clash makes him feel burdened.
Q2. What argument do Lomov and Natalya give over the superiority of their dogs, Guess and Squeezer? [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. Lomov and Natalya argue vehemently over their dogs, Guess and Squeezer. Lomov insists that Squeezer is superior, praising his pedigree and hunting abilities, while Natalya defends Guess, asserting his superiority in hunting and dismisses Squeezer’s qualities. Their argument escalates into a larger conflict, reflecting their competitive nature and underlying tensions, symbolizing their complex relationship dynamics and the trivialities that can disrupt human connections.
Q3. Lomov and Natalya trade charges against each other about the ownership of Meadows. Explain. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. Both of them claim the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. Lomov claims that his aunt’s grandmother had given the meadows for free use to Natalya’s father’s grandfather in return for making bricks for her. They used it for forty years and got used to regard them as their own. Natalya refutes the claim and says that her grandfather and great grandfather had claimed that their land extended up to Burnt marsh which meant that Oxen Meadows were theirs.
Q4. Justify the title of the play ‘The Proposal’ with reference to the characters and plot. [2024, 40-50 words]
Ans. The title of the play ‘The Proposal’ is very appropriate. A young man, Lomov wants to propose Natalya for marriage. He goes to her house for the same. Being confused, he doesn’t propose at once. He beats about the bush. He speaks irrelevantly. As Natalya doesn’t know that he has come to propose her, she thinks that he has come to claim oxen meadows as his own and she starts quarrelling. This results in a series of fights between both of them. After her father Chubukov reconciles; Natalya comes to know that Lomov has come to propose to her. Then at once she forgets the issue of fighting. Then the proposal is made and accepted. Finally, they get engaged.
Q5. Based on your understanding of the Play, ‘The Proposal’, what do you think of relationships?
Prepare a speech draft on relationships based on Natalya’s and Anne Frank’s characters.
You may begin this way.
Good morning everyone.
Relationships are the bond between two people based on mutual likes, understanding, need or love. I’d like to discuss relationships as portrayed in the two texts ……..
You may end this way
To conclude, I’d like to say that ….. .
Thank you,
(Reference : The Proposal & from the Diary of Anne Frank) [2024, 100-120 words]
Ans. Good morning everyone.
Relationships are the bond between two people based on mutual likes, understanding, need or love. I’d like to discuss relationships as portrayed in the two texts The Proposal and From the Diary of Anne Frank.
In The Proposal, we see the two characters of Natalya and Lomov who are grown up individuals but lack maturity. They enter into arguments on trivial matters and overlook the solemn relationship that they are about to enter into. This reflects their england pride which does not allow them to show affection towards each other. Thus, both of them try to show the other low.
On the other hand, Anne Frank is a young girl who shows maturity through her diary entries. We get to know about the bond that she shares with her family. She has great attachment with her grandmother and did not even celebrate her birthday due to the grandmother’s illness. During the war, the family faces separation and a lot of trouble but they have the strength to support each other.
To conclude, I’d like to say that relationships have to be maintained through understanding and affection. Mutual love and respect are the pillars of an everlasting relationship. Creating everlasting bonds is essential because a family is the biggest treasure.
Thank you
Questions from the Chapter in 2023 Board Exams
Q1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions:
Lomov : But you can see from the documents, honoured Natalya Stepanovna. Oxen Meadows, its true were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody knows they are mine. There’s nothing to argue about. You see my aunts grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father’s grandfather, in return for which they were to make bricks for her. The peasants belonging to your father’s grandfather had the free use of Meadows for forty years, and had got into the habit of regarding them as their own, when it happened that ……………….
Natalya : No, it isn’t at all like that ! Both grandfather and great grandfather reckoned that their land extended to Burnt Marsh – which means Oxen Meadows were ours. I don’t see what there is to argue about, its simply silly. [2023]
(i) The subject of dispute was regarding
(a) free use of Meadows.
(b) making of bricks.
(c) peasants using Meadows.
(d) ownership of Meadows.
Ans. (d)
(ii) Find the word from the extract which means ‘continuance’ :
(a) dispute
(b) perpetuity
(c) belonging
(d) reckoned
Ans. (b)
(iii) Lomov’s aunt’s grandmother gave Oxen Meadows to Natalya’s father’s grandfather in lieu of ……….
Ans. Lomov’s aunt’s grandmother gave Oxen Meadows to Natalya’s father’s grandfather in lieu of the great-grandfather’s peasants constructing bricks for her.
(iv) According to Natalya why did Oxen Meadows belong to them?
Ans. Natalya claimed that they owned Oxen Meadows because her great-grandfather and her grandfather believed their land extended to Burnt Marsh, which contained Oxen Meadows.
(v) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only :
The peasants had free use of Meadows for ……………… years.
Ans. forty years
Q2. How did Chubukov react when Lomov asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage? [2023, 40-50 words]
Ans. Chubukov was first suspicious and thought that Lomov had come to ask for some money. But when he came to know the real reason he was overwhelmed with joy because he believed Lomov would be a profitable match for his daughter. So he embraced and kissed Lomov.
Q3. Forgiveness is the foundation of a cordial relationship. Do you agree? How is this message conveyed in the play “The Proposal’? [2023, 100-120 words]
Ans. Yes it is true that forgiveness is the foundation of all the cordial relationships in our society. Most of the time enmity is developed due to communication gap or misunderstanding. Lack of tolerance and mismanagement of anger lead to enmity. Whenever there is any disagreement or difference of opinion, one must sit together and sort out the issue amicably. One must forgive another. Anton Chekov has conveyed this message in the play ‘The Proposal’.
The Chubukovs and Lomovs are neighbours and have had several differences in the past. However, when they are about to enter into a new relationship, they drag the past differences and create bitterness in the present too. No one is less when it comes to argue on topics which do not bear any importance in their present lives. Topics such as the ownership of farms and superiority of dogs are trivial in comparison to the proposed wedding of Natalya with Ivan. However, both of them disrespect the other’s family and create unnecessary misunderstandings and lead to quarrel on petty issues. Forgiveness should be inculcated amongst the students in our schools through examples from real life and literature.
Questions which came in 2022 Board Exam
Q1. Write a brief character sketch of Lomov. [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. Lomov is a middle aged man of thirty five. He suffers from palpitations, cramps and benumbness of limbs. He is nervous and can’t speak and act like a calm and composed man. He comes to Natalya.s house with a proposal of marriage but soon forgets the real purpose of his visit. He picks up unnecessary quarrels over Oxen Meadows and on their respective dogs.
Q2. What was the objective of Lomov’s visit to Chubukov’s house? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. A wealthy landowner, Lomov, lived next door to Chubukov. He was a wealthy bachelor of 35 years looking to wed Natalya, Chubukov’s daughter. He thus arrived in the evening, nicely attired in a jacket and white gloves, to request Natalya’s hand.
Q3. Why did Chubukov misunderstand the purpose of Lomov’s visit? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. The intention of this play is to criticise the Russians’ excessive materialism. Because of Lomov’s formal dress, Chubukov misinterpreted the reason for his visit. Chubukov was led to believe that Lomov intended to borrow money when he too begged for assistance.
Q4. Why does Natalaya quarrel with Lomov? [2022, 30-40 words]
Ans. Natalya and Lomov are neighbours. Lomov approaches Natalya to make a wedding proposal. Natalya is unaware that he has come to ask her to marry him. She believes he came to lay claim to Oxen Meadows. She fights with Lomov over this specific topic. Then the two fight over the superiority of their dogs.
Q5. Write a brief character sketch of Natalya. [2022, 100-120 words]
Ans. Natalya is a young girl of twenty-five years. She is Lomov.s neighbour. Natalya is too smart for her age. She has a cunning mind and uses her presence of mind to go with the flow of situations and turn things in her benefits. She is a good house keeper and is not bad looking. She is still unmarried. Her father calls her a lovesick cat. She is educated but doesn’t seem so. Natalya is also very quarrelsome and abusive. She is ambitious too. When she learns Lomov had come to propose to her, she backtracks on her stand and agrees to Lomov.s argument.
Q6. Russian society emerges as an important character in the play, ‘The Proposal’. Support your answer giving instances. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. From the play, we get a glimpse of nineteenth-century upper-class Russian society. Firstly, we can observe that the society of the time placed great importance on wealth and social status. Lomov, the protagonist, is a wealthy landowner who is desperate to marry into a family of equal or greater social standing. This is evident when he states, “I am a large landowner, and I’m well off. And I need a wife, you know, to look after the house, and to be my companion when I’m bored.” Lomov’s desire to marry into a wealthy family is further emphasized when he tries to convince Natalya to accept his proposal by citing the financial benefits of their union.
Secondly, we can see that society was highly patriarchal, with women being expected to conform to certain ideals and expectations. Natalya is portrayed as a headstrong, independent woman who is not afraid to speak her mind. However, her behaviour is also restricted by societal norms and expectations. For example, her father insists that she marry Lomov, and while she initially resists, she ultimately gives in to his demands. Additionally, her behaviour towards Lomov is influenced by the expectation that she should be a demure and submissive wife, as she repeatedly tells him to “be quiet” and “stop shouting.”
In conclusion, “A Proposal” provides us with a window into the society of nineteenth-century upper-class Russia. Through the characters’ attitudes and behaviours, we can see that the society was highly focused on wealth and social status, patriarchal in its expectations of women, and characterized by a rigid class structure.
Q7. Natalya and her father Chubukov ‘turn around’ when Lomov puts his proposal in the open. As a reader briefly describe what you think of Natalaya and Chubukov from the play “The Proposal”. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. The Chubukovs are proud, short-tempered and opportunists. They look down upon their neighbours the Lomovs. Both of them speak abusive and taunting words in the argument with Lomov and try to get an upper hand. The daughter, Natalya enters into frequent arguments over trivial matters. Her father tries to be a good father and gets excited on getting a marriage proposal for his daughter. Earlier he had been detesting Lomov because he had a suspicion that the motive of Lomov’s visit was to seek money. On the contrary, he is instantly affectionate towards the suitor, Lomov when he comes to know that he is seeking Natalya’s hand in wedding. When Natalya comes to know about the wedding proposal, she screams to get Lomov back so that she can accept the offer and move forward with it. However, again she enters into an argument.
Q8. Write a character sketch of Lomov. [2022, 120 words]
Ans. Lomov was a young, unmarried man of thirty five. He was anxious to get married as he had already reached a critical age so he decided to propose to a girl in the neighbourhood. Lomov thought that she was a good housekeeper and was not bad looking. Further, she was unmarried. Lomov suffered from palpitations. He behaved as if he were eccentric. He was so eager to marry Natalya. But when he came to propose to her, he started quarrelling over trivial matters. He quarreled on issues like the ownership of Oxen Meadows and superiority of the pet dogs. He even abused Natalya and her father Chubukov while quarreling. He lacks self – confidence and keeps beating about the bush instead of starting matters clearly. He is childish, unintelligent and foolish who stubbornly keeps on arguing with the lady, who seems to be the only person he could marry.
Questions that appeared in 2020 Board Exams
Q1. The proposal of the marriage was forgotten amidst the arguments over petty things. Which right approach should have been followed by Lomov and Natalya? [2020, 100-150 words]
Ans. Lomov and Natalya behaved immaturely when they argued over petty things like ownership of Oxen Meadows and superiority of their respective dog. They overlooked the fact that they were there to enter into matrimony which was more important than the trivial issues. However, if they would have been sensible, they would have focused on the proposed marriage. They should have shown compassion and patience and focused on the positive outcome of the meeting.
2019 Exam Question and Answers from the chapter
Q1. How did Chubukov react when Lomov asked for the hand of his daughter in marriage? [2019, 30-40 words]
Ans. Chubukov was happy when Lomov proposed to marry his daughter Natalya. He hugs and kisses Lomov. He adds that he had been waiting for that day since a long time. He goes to call Natalya to meet Lomov.
Also see:
The Proposal Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Proposal Summary, Explanation
The Proposal Character Sketches