PSEB Class 12 Chapter 1 Hassan’s Attendance Problem Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book
PSEB Class 12 English Hassan’s Attendance Problem Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book Chapter 1 Hassan’s Attendance Problem? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 1 Hassan’s Attendance Problem now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 1 Hassan’s Attendance Problem Textbook Questions
1. COMPREHENSION
1. What is the narrator’s profession?
Ans. The narrator is a Computer Science teacher who teaches students pursuing their Master’s in Computer Applications at a college in Bangalore.
2. Why was Hassan not noticed by the teacher in the class?
Ans. The teacher did not notice Hassan at first because he rarely attended class and was mostly absent, especially during the morning sessions that the teacher usually conducted.
3. Why would the narrator render attendance to Hassan every time?
Ans. The narrator would give Hassan attendance each time because of his polite behaviour, emotional pleading, and the narrator’s soft corner for bright students who, despite their irregularity, showed potential.
4. Why were Hassan’s parents called to school?
Ans. Hassan’s parents were called to school because the narrator was concerned about his constant absenteeism and hoped that parental intervention might help him become more regular and disciplined.
5. During which days would Hassan often show up in the class?
Ans. Hassan would often attend class only during exams or class tests, or when he faced an attendance shortage and needed to convince teachers.
6. What was Hassan’s mother’s plea to his father?
Ans. Hassan’s mother pleaded with his father to take responsibility and talk to Hassan “man to man,” saying that earning money wasn’t enough and that parenting required guidance and time too.
7. Why did the parent-teacher meeting end fruitlessly?
Ans. The meeting ended without any result because both parents blamed each other instead of addressing Hassan’s issue seriously, and no effective solution was decided upon.
8. Describe the physical appearance of Hassan when he met his teacher after several years.
Ans. When Hassan met his teacher years later, he was about thirty-five years old, plump, balding, and moderately dressed, holding a CD containing school software.
9. What had the narrator expected Hassan to become in his life?
Ans. The narrator had expected Hassan, being intelligent and capable, to achieve a high position in the software industry like his classmates.
10. How did Hassan study when he was in his college?
Ans. Hassan studied only before exams, guessed questions, skipped chapters, and passed with good marks, but without gaining real knowledge or consistent effort.
11. According to Hassan, who were “nerds”?
Ans. According to Hassan, “nerds” were those hardworking, sincere students whom he once mocked, but who later became successful and even millionaires.
12. Why did Hassan start living separately?
Ans. Hassan started living separately because his father, fed up with his irresponsible behaviour and quarrels, asked him to move out and live on his own.
13. What made Hassan feel optimistic as he left the narrator’s office?
Ans. The narrator’s kind encouragement and motivating words about self-improvement and willpower made Hassan feel hopeful and determined to try again in life.
Long Answer Type Questions:
1. Draw a brief character-sketch of Hassan.
Ans. Hassan is described as a very bright, smart, and nice student with great potential. He comes from an affluent family, is tall and handsome, and has a good memory. He is a talented and smart student, but he has no discipline and very little interest in school. He is habitually late, often missing class, and excuses himself whenever his teacher holds meetings to discuss student attendance. Hassan is nice and polite, and he generally manages to persuade his teacher to let him off the hook. His laziness and poor time management skills, as well as his disdain for school and life tasks, eventually led to his loss of professional opportunities and luck. In adulthood, he reflects on his past and feels regret, suggesting he has become aware of his shortcomings and is willing to engage in positive behaviour change.
2. What is the theme of the chapter “Hassan’s Attendance Problem”?
Ans. The chapter involves the themes of discipline, regret, lost potential and the power of habits. The chapter demonstrates that academic excellence doesn’t guarantee success because it is not coupled with honesty and persistence. The chapter contends that talent only matters if it is also accompanied by effort and responsible behaviour. Sudha Murthy builds Hassan’s story to illustrate that ignoring life’s lessons, parents’ counsel, and the guidance of teachers will lead to missing opportunities. The chapter serves as a lesson to students, demonstrating that true value comes from discipline, respecting elders, and utilising time before it’s over.
3. Draw a character-sketch of the narrator, Sudha Murthy.
Ans. Sudha Murthy, the narrator, is a compassionate, wise, and observant teacher who deeply cares for her students. She believes in discipline but is also empathetic, often forgiving Hassan’s mistakes despite repeated excuses. Her concern for students goes beyond academics, as she tries to guide them morally and personally. She takes time to speak to Hassan’s parents, reflecting her dedication. Even years later, she remembers her students fondly and continues to hope for their success. Her ability to inspire change and her emphasis on values and character make her a role model as a teacher and mentor.
4. How would Hassan apologise for his absence in the class?
Ans. Whenever there was a gap in Hassan’s attendance, the narrator would always find Hassan standing in front of them and pleading with him very sincerely. He would say, “Excuse me. From next semester onwards, I will take your class for sure.” Hassan would bring up some of the moral lessons we discussed in class, such as “To err is human, to forgive is divine,” to make the narrator soften. Hassan’s apologies were very humble and convincing; it was difficult for the narrator to stay angry. Although he made promises and pledges, he resided in that same cycle of absenteeism followed by emotional apologies.
5. Describe, in your own words, the narrator’s meeting with Hassan’s parents.
Ans. The narrator, worried about the lack of discipline in Hassan’s case, invited Hassan’s parents. She informed them of Hassan’s intelligence but lack of seriousness and regularity, possibly affecting his future. Hassan’s father, a busy man, shrugged at the reminder, thinking, perhaps, life would teach him. On the other hand, Hassan’s mother was very emotional and heartbroken, saying she was to blame for not guiding him. Then, the two parents started blaming each other, and the outcome of the appointment was futile, as many parents do not see how their children’s behaviours are the result of their parenting style.
II. VOCABULARY PRACTICE
1. Give one word for the following, selecting words from the list given in the box:
| nerd | lazy | affluent | moderate |
| ordinary | arrogant | famous |
1. One who is lethargic.
2. One who is born with a silver spoon in the mouth.
3. One who is proud and haughty.
4. One who is well-known.
5. One who is run-of-the-mill type; average.
6. One who is sensible and restrained.
7. One who is a bore.
Answers:
1. One who is lethargic. — lazy
2. One who is born with a silver spoon in the mouth. — affluent
3. One who is proud and haughty. — arrogant
4. One who is well-known. — famous
5. One who is run-of-the-mill type; average. — ordinary
6. One who is sensible and restrained. — moderate
7. One who is a bore. — nerd
2. Appearance-Based Words:
2. Look at the following sentences:
1. In the afternoon, a man of about thirty-five years, plump, with a bald head and moderately dressed was waiting for me in the office.
2. Now his face became a little pale.
The words like plump, bald and pale have been used for body, head and face for describing the appearance of a person.
The box below contains the words which describe the features of face, eyes, hair and dress of a person. List them under the appropriate headings. Some words can be used more than once.
| thin | oval | wavy |
| untidy | twinkling | closecropped |
| staring | dreamy | blue |
| formal | round | brown |
| neat | starry | curly |
| long |
| face | eyes | hair | dress |
(Classify the given words into categories)
Answer:
| Face | Eyes | Hair | Dress |
| thin | staring | wavy | formal |
| oval | dreamy | untidy | neat |
| round | twinkling | curly | |
| pale | blue | close-cropped | |
| brown | long | ||
| starry |
III. GRAMMAR EXERCISES
1. Change the Voice:
1. I like my teacher.
Ans. My teacher is liked by me.
2. Do manners reveal character?
Ans. Is character revealed by manners?
3. Columbus discovered America.
Ans. America was discovered by Columbus.
4. This man has cut down the trees.
Ans. The trees have been cut down by this man.
5. Hari did not open the door.
Ans. The door was not opened by Hari.
6. I will win him over.
Ans. He will be won over by me.
7. The old man takes the snuff.
Ans. The snuff is taken by the old man.
8. A cruel boy killed the bird.
Ans. The bird was killed by a cruel boy.
9. I had never seen a zoo before.
Ans A zoo had never been seen by me before.
10. Will she have written a letter?
Ans. Will a letter have been written by her?
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable Determiners:
1. How…………(much/many) money do you want?
2. All…..(an, the) books are lying at sixes and sevens.
3. He lost………….the few, a few) friends he had.
4. There………….(little, the little) milk in the jug.
5. I have………(much, many) work to do.
6. ………..(Several, Much) people paid homage to the departed leader.
7. ……..(These/ That) grapes are sweet and juicy.
8. He related……….(the, an) interesting story.
9. Kanta is…………, the) taller of them both.
10. Both…… (his, him) sons are very intelligent.
Answers:
1. How much money do you want?
2. All the books are lying at sixes and sevens.
3. He lost the few friends he had.
4. There is little milk in the jug.
5. I have a lot of work to do.
6. Several people paid homage to the departed leader.
7. These grapes are sweet and juicy.
8. He related an interesting story.
9. Kanta is the taller of them both.
10. Both his sons are very intelligent.
3. Do as Directed
1. It is never too late to mend. (Remove too)
Ans. It is never so late that it cannot be mended.
2. I am as strong as he. (Change the degree of comparison)
Ans. He is not stronger than I am.
3. She could not prove her innocence. (Transform into a Complex sentence)
Ans. She failed to prove that she was innocent.
4. I sold my lame horse. (Transform into a Complex sentence)
Ans. I sold the horse which was lame.
5. He was victimized by the travel agents. (Use the Noun form of the italicized word)
Ans. He was the victim of the travel agents.
6. i. I know this.
ii. English is easy to learn. (combine)
Ans. I know that English is easy to learn.
7. Can a day be turned into night? (Change into the Negative form)
Ans. A day cannot be turned into night.
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 6 Return to Air Extra Question and Answers Extract-Based Questions
A.
“Once in a while Hassan would turn up, particularly if there was a class test or during examinations. I met him more often for attendance shortage meetings. He would beg for attendance in such a manner that it was very difficult for me to say ‘no’.”
1. When would Hassan usually come to class?
Ans: During class tests or examinations.
2. What type of meetings did the narrator have with Hassan regularly?
Ans: Attendance deficiency meetings.
3. What did Hassan’s behaviour look like when asking for attendance?
A. Rude
B. Emotional and apologetic
C. Indifferent
D. Aggressive
Ans: B. Emotional and apologetic
4. Why was the narrator unable to say ‘no’ to Hassan?
Ans: Because it was hard to stay firm during his emotional request.
5. What does this extract imply about the narrator?
Ans: That the narrator was a kind-hearted person, and had empathy.
B.
“Madam, you know I was very irregular in college. The same habit continued even after my graduation. I would get up late and was very lazy… I always laughed at those people who were hard workers. I used to make fun of them and called them ‘nerds’.”
1. What trait did Hassan hold on to while working?
Ans: Laziness and inconsistency.
2. What did Hassan call diligent people?
A. Geniuses
B. Bookworms
C. Nerds
D. Robots
Ans: C. Nerds
3. How did Hassan view the disciplined people at college?
Ans: He made fun of them and did not respect their seriousness.
4. What difficulties did Hassan face as a result of these habits?
Ans: He struggled professionally and was not able to be successful in any job.
5. What tone did the speaker convey in this section?
Ans: Regretful and introspective.
C.
“Now his face became a little pale. ‘Madam, I am selling this software which is useful in teaching Maths, Physics and Chemistry…’”
1. What product was Hassan selling?
Ans: Educational software for Maths, Physics, and Chemistry.
2. Why did Hasan look pale?
A. He was sick
B. He was nervous or ashamed
C. He was angry
D. He was tired
Ans: B. He was nervous or ashamed
3. How did the narrator feel when seeing Hassan again?
Ans: Surprised and reminiscent.
4. What does this meeting suggest about Hassan’s professional situation?
Ans: He had not achieved the level of success expected of him.
5. How did Hassan use the narrator’s foundation to arrange a meeting?
Ans: He thought the foundation would be interested in his software.
D.
“But Hassan, it is possible to change your habits. There is nothing which is impossible. You only require will power… Excellence does not come by accident but by practice.”
1. Who is quoted as saying these words?
Ans: The narrator, Sudha Murthy.
2. What is needed for change according to the narrator?
A. Good friends
B. Supportive teachers
C. Will power
D. Lucky breaks
Ans: C. Will power
3. What does ‘Excellence does not come by accident’ mean?
Ans: Success is derived from sustained effort, not by accident.
4. What did the narrator attempt to do here?
Ans: Encourage Hassan to change and not give up.
5. What type of teacher does the extract show the narrator to be?
Ans: Supportive, motivational, and sympathetic.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Who is the author of “Hassan’s Attendance Problem”?
A. Ruskin Bond
B. Sudha Murthy
C. R.K. Narayan
D. Kiran Desai
Ans. B. Sudha Murthy
2. What was Hassan’s academic performance like?
A. He failed repeatedly
B. He barely passed
C. He always topped
D. He got a first class
Ans. D. He got a first class
3. Hassan was irregular because he:
A. Was ill
B. Slept late and partied
C. Worked part-time
D. Was afraid of exams
Ans. B. Slept late and partied
4. The narrator taught which subject?
A. Biology
B. History
C. Computer Science
D. Physics
Ans. C. Computer Science
5. What was Hassan’s appearance when he met his teacher years later?
A. Thin and well-dressed
B. Plump and bald
C. Weak and tired
D. Young and stylish
Ans. B. Plump and bald
6. Hassan visited the narrator to:
A. Seek a job
B. Invite her to an event
C. Sell educational software
D. Borrow money
Ans. C. Sell educational software
7. What would Hassan do before exams?
A. Prepare detailed notes
B. Attend all classes regularly
C. Cram and guess questions
D. Skip exams
Ans. C. Cram and guess questions
8. Why did the narrator eventually give Hassan attendance?
A. He bribed her
B. He blackmailed her
C. She pitied him
D. She forgot
Ans. C. She pitied him
9. The narrator taught at a college in:
A. Delhi
B. Pune
C. Hyderabad
D. Bangalore
Ans. D. Bangalore
10. Hassan’s father’s attitude was:
A. Strict
B. Supportive
C. Careless
D. Disciplinarian
Ans. C. Careless
11. How did Hassan’s mother feel about him?
A. Proud
B. Happy
C. Disappointed
D. Confident
Ans. C. Disappointed
12. What phrase would Hassan often use to emotionally convince his teacher?
A. “God bless you.”
B. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”
C. “I will do better.”
D. “You are my favourite teacher.”’
Ans. B. “To err is human, to forgive is divine.”
13. What did the narrator believe was more important than marks?
A. Discipline
B. Style
C. Popularity
D. Freedom
Ans. A. Discipline
14. Who said: “Old habits die hard”?
A. Hassan
B. His mother
C. His father
D. The narrator
Ans. A. Hassan
15. What job did Hassan finally settle for?
A. Software engineer
B. Government clerk
C. Salesperson for educational CDs
D. Journalist
Ans. C. Salesperson for educational CDs
16. The narrator refers to students as her:
A. Customers
B. Children
C. Friends
D. Employees
Ans. B. Children
17. What habit caused Hassan to fail in professional life?
A. Overspending
B. Laziness and late rising
C. Cheating
D. Poor communication
Ans. B. Laziness and late rising
18. How did Hassan justify his failure?
A. Poor luck
B. Harsh competition
C. Lack of skills and habits
D. Corruption in office
Ans. C. Lack of skills and habits
19. Hassan’s classmates became:
A. Artists
B. Software millionaires
C. Musicians
D. Social workers
Ans. B. Software millionaires
20. The narrator hoped to:
A. Teach him again
B. Help him financially
C. Meet him again as a successful man
D. Forget the incident
Ans. C. Meet him again as a successful man
True or False
Identify whether the following statements are true or false-
1. Hassan was an average student with low memory.
2. The narrator always taught afternoon classes.
3. Hassan would regularly come to class without fail.
4. Hassan used emotional lines to get attendance.
5. Hassan’s mother thought she had failed as a parent.
6. The narrator gave Hassan marks without exams.
7. Hassan became a successful software developer.
8. The narrator treated her students like her own children.
9. The parent-teacher meeting ended in success.
10. Hassan acknowledged his mistakes later in life.
Answers
1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. False
10. True
Fill in the blanks-
1. Hassan was a student of ______ Science.
2. The narrator had been teaching for ______ years.
3. Hassan had a habit of sleeping at ______ in the morning.
4. Hassan came from an ______ family.
5. Hassan contacted the narrator to sell _________
6. Hassan scored ______ class in exams.
7. The narrator called Hassan’s ______ to discuss his issues.
8. Hassan’s mother was in ______ during the meeting.
9. Hassan said old habits ______.
10. The narrator hoped to ______ into Hassan again.
Answers
1. Computer
2. Many
3. Six
4. Affluent
5. Educational software
6. First
7. Parents
8. Tears
9. Die hard
10. Bump
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
1. Who was Hassan, and how was his academic performance?
Ans: Hassan was a bright and intelligent student who had always got a first class in exams because he was very irregular in class. Because of his good memory, he was able to study shortly before exams and still do well.
2. Why did the narrator often forgive Hassan for his attendance issues?
Ans: The narrator was a soft-hearted educator. Even though she felt upset about Hassan’s habitual absence, her heart melted every time she saw his sweetly polite apologies and emotional pleas, particularly before tests when a lack of attendance could bar him from being on the test list.
3. What role did Hassan’s parents play in trying to reform him?
Ans: Hassan’s mom was worried and worked up; she felt unsure what to do about his habits. Hassan’s dad was concerned but was emotionally neutral; he believed that Hassan would learn through experience, and there were frequent disputes between them.
4. How did the narrator remember Hassan when he came to meet her later?
Ans: Many years later, when Hassan met the narrator, she identified him by the expression with which he opened the conversation; an expression the narrator often used in class. The narrator recalled him being the “perpetual latecomer” of her class, charming but irresponsible.
5. What kind of job was Hassan doing when he met the narrator again?
Ans: Hassan was working as a salesperson going door-to-door selling CD-ROMs of education software for high school students and teachers, a job that was far below the potential he once had as a student.
6. How did Hassan feel about his past actions?
Ans: Hassan indicated he regretted a lazy and careless lifestyle. He reported that poor habits from college continued into his work life, which led to many failures and dissatisfaction both in his personal life and work life.
7. What message does the narrator convey through Hassan’s story?
Ans: The narrator emphasises that discipline, responsibility, and doing well consistently are necessary for success over the long haul. It is not enough to be clever if you do not have enough willpower to create good habits and stick with them!
8. How did the narrator try to guide Hassan even after so many years?
Ans: The narrator encouraged Hassan and told him not to give up hope. She urged him to break his habits. She reminded him that excellence is hard work and that it’s never too late to start over, offering him a moment of second life.
9. What effect did Hassan’s story have on the narrator?
Ans: The narrator felt a mix of sympathy and concern. Though happy to see him again, she was saddened that such a promising student failed to reach his full potential due to his indiscipline and lack of seriousness.
10. What lesson can students learn from Hassan’s life?
Ans: Students learn that talent is not sufficient. The important elements to reach long-term success are regularity, discipline, and, most importantly, respect for time and guidance. They learn that neglect can result in regret and irreplaceable missed opportunities.