PSEB Class 12 Chapter 2 The March King Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book
PSEB Class 12 English The March King Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book Chapter 2 Return to Air? 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 2 The March King 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 2 The March King Textbook Questions
1. COMPREHENSION
Short Answer Type Questions:
Q1. What did Philip want to become when he was a child?
Ans. When Philip was a child, he wanted to become a musician after watching his father lead the United States Marine Band.
Q2. Why did Philip learn violin quickly?
Ans. Philip learned violin quickly because he was both talented and eager to learn. He enjoyed music more than his other subjects.
Q3. Why did Philip get into trouble on the day of the concert?
Ans. On the day of the concert, Philip played baseball, got tired and dirty, and came home to find no one there and no clean shirt to wear for the concert.
Q4. How did Philip manage to get a clean dress?
Ans. Philip rushed to his music teacher, Professor Esputa, who sent him to his house. His wife gave Philip a shirt that was too big, so she pinned it to fit him.
Q5. What made the concert a flop show for Philip?
Ans. During the concert, the pins holding Philip’s oversized shirt came off, and his shirt became loose. The audience laughed, and Philip got embarrassed, forgot the music, and ran off stage.
Q6. What did Philip take up after his failure on the concert stage?
Ans. After the concert failure, Philip told his father he wanted to become a baker instead of a musician. His father arranged for him to work in a bakery.
Q7. Why couldn’t Philip work at the bakery?
Ans. Philip found the bakery work tiring, boring, and difficult. After three exhausting days, he realized he did not enjoy it and declared he would rather die than be a baker.
Q8. Why did Philip’s father take him for a walk?
Ans. Philip’s father took him for a walk to the U.S. Marine Barracks and enrolled him as an apprentice in the Marine Band so he could continue learning music seriously.
Q9. How was Philip lured to work in a circus?
Ans. A circus band leader praised Philip’s violin skills and tempted him by offering money, fame, and travel. He advised Philip not to tell his father and secretly join the circus.
Q10. How was Philip a success as the leader of the Marine Band?
Ans. Philip became the official leader of the Marine Band, served five U.S. Presidents, and composed over 100 famous marches. He became world-famous and was known as “The March King.”
2. Long Answer Type Questions:
Q1. Write a brief character-sketch of John Philip Sousa.
Ans. John Philip Sousa, known as the March King, was a talented and passionate musician from a young age. He was deeply inspired by bands and loved music, especially the violin. Though he had moments of distraction and immaturity in childhood, like playing baseball on concert day or wanting to become a baker, his love for music never truly faded. With the gentle guidance of his father and teacher, he returned to music with full dedication. He worked hard and became a fine violinist by the age of thirteen. Later, he joined the United States Marine Band as an apprentice and eventually became its leader. He composed over a hundred marches and served as the bandmaster for five U.S. Presidents. His dedication, discipline, and natural musical talent helped him achieve worldwide fame as a composer and conductor.
Q2. What was Philip’s foolish act on the day of the concert? Write in detail.
Ans. On the day of the concert, Philip made a foolish decision by playing baseball instead of preparing for his important violin solo. He came home late, dirty, and tired. His mother was not home, and he had no clean shirt to wear. In a hurry, he went to his music teacher, Professor Esputa, whose wife gave him a large white shirt that didn’t fit. She pinned it to fit his size, but during the performance, the pins started to come off. The collar rose awkwardly around his head, the sleeves loosened, and the shirt slipped off his neck. The audience began to laugh. Embarrassed and upset, Philip forgot his performance and ran off the stage. The incident left him humiliated and taught him a lesson about responsibility and focus.
Q3. How did Mrs. Esputa help Philip?
Ans. Mrs. Esputa, the wife of Philip’s music teacher, helped him in a time of crisis. When Philip had no clean shirt to wear for his violin concert, she gave him one of her husband’s white shirts. However, the shirt was too large for Philip. Using her sewing skills, she quickly pinned the shirt at different points to make it fit him. Though the solution was temporary and didn’t work well during the performance, her efforts showed kindness and quick thinking. She helped Philip feel less anxious before the concert and tried her best to support him.
Q4. What is the theme of the chapter? Explain briefly.
Ans. The central theme of the chapter is that one should follow a career based on their natural talent and interest. It highlights the importance of discipline, self-discovery, and proper guidance. Philip’s journey from confusion to clarity teaches that failure is a part of growth. The story also explores how parental support and mentorship help young people make the right choices. Ultimately, the chapter shows that success comes through passion, effort, and persistence.
Q5. Describe Philip’s experience at the bakery.
Ans. When Philip told his father he wanted to become a baker instead of a musician, Mr. Sousa agreed and arranged for him to work at a bakery. At first, Philip found it exciting. He was amazed by how quickly the bakers worked and enjoyed watching them. But soon, the hard work tired him. He had to help with bread delivery early in the morning, go to school, and then return to the bakery in the evening. On the third night, he even fell asleep while rocking the baker’s baby. The mother scolded him for ignoring the crying baby. By the third day, Philip was completely exhausted and admitted to his father that he never wanted to be a baker again.
Q6. How did Philip eventually become a famous music composer?
Ans. Philip returned to music after realizing his dislike for baking. With the support of his father and teacher, he studied hard and became a skilled violinist by the age of thirteen. Later, when a circus man offered him a job, his father cleverly enrolled him in the United States Marine Band as an apprentice, knowing it would discipline him and shape his career. Over time, Philip grew into a brilliant composer and conductor. He became the leader of the U.S. Marine Band, served under five Presidents, and wrote more than a hundred marches, including the famous Washington Post March. His hard work, dedication, and passion earned him the title “The March King.”
II Vocabulary Practice
1. There are some words given below. Put them in the correct columns in the table given below:
| Weigh | Own | Anxious | Eager | Love |
| Hate | Control | Belong | Keep | Length |
| Believe | Like | Prefer | Consider | Regret |
Ans:
| Perception | Strong feeling/emotion | Possession | Measurement |
| Believe | Love | Own | Weigh |
| Like | Hate | Belong | Length |
| Prefer | Anxious | Keep | |
| Consider | Eager | Control | |
| Regret |
2. Fill up the blanks with the words written below:
| Smiled | Dissuade | Silent | Drop |
| Nimble | Experienced | Down |
a) Philip jumped up and down and cried in excitement.
b) The company wanted an……. worker whereas Tom was a novice.
c) The noise made the old man restless, he asked everyone to be…….
d) The professor scowled when he saw that Philip…….on his own foolishness.
e) Her….fingers pinned enough tucks in his shirt to make him feel less awkward.
f) The conjurer asked his assistant to raise the platform on the ….. of his handkerchief.
g) I tried to……….him from giving up his job, but his brother had already convinced him that it was the right decision.
Ans.
a) down
b) Experienced
c) silent
d) smiled
e) nimble
f) drop
g) dissuade
III Grammar Exercises
1. Change the Narration
1. He said to me, “I do not believe you.”
Ans. He told me that he did not believe me.
2. Rama said to Arjun, “Go away.”
Ans. Rama ordered Arjun to go away.
3. He said to me, “What are you doing?”
Ans. He asked me what I was doing.
4. The Prince said, “It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening.”
Ans. The Prince said that it gave him great pleasure to be there that evening.
5. He said, “I shall go as soon as possible.”
Ans. He said that he would go as soon as possible.
6. He said to him, “Is not your name Ahmed?”
Ans. He asked him if his name was not Ahmed.
7. “Sit down, boys,” said the teacher.
Ans. The teacher told the boys to sit down.
8. Alice said, “How clever I am!”
Ans. Alice exclaimed that she was very clever.
9. The teacher said to him, “Do not read so fast.”
Ans. The teacher advised him not to read so fast.
10. Abdul said that he had seen that picture.
Ans. Abdul said, “I have seen this picture.”
2. Do as Directed
1. This mango is fit………..(eat).
(Fill up the blank with an Infinitive)
Ans. This mango is fit to eat
2. ………..(err) is human.
(Fill up the blank with an Infinitive)
Ans. To err is human
3. i. She visits the poor.
ii. She is anxious to relieve them of their sufferings. (Combine into a single sentence)
Ans. She visits the poor and is anxious to relieve them of their sufferings
4. ……(hear) a noise, I turned round (Fill up the blank with a Participle)
Ans. Hearing a noise, I turned round
5. I saw the storm……………..pproach).
(Fill up the blank with a Participle)
Ans. I saw the storm approaching
6. Combine the following sentences into a single sentence:
i. The hunter took up his gun.
ii. He wanted to shoot the lion.
Ans. The hunter took up his gun to shoot the lion
7. …………(hunt) deer is not allowed in this area.
(Fill up the blank with a Gerund)
Ans. Hunting deer is not allowed in this area
8. Children lov………….. (make) mud castles.
(Fill up the blank with a Gerund)
Ans. Children love making mud castles
3. Change the Voice
1. Does she know you?
Ans. Are you known to her?
2. Will you post the letter?
Ans. Will the letter be posted by you?
3. She has done her duty.
Ans. Her duty has been done by her.
4. Avoid bad company.
Ans. Let bad company be avoided.
5. Are you expecting him today?
Ans. Is he expected by you today?
6. I cannot lift this heavy box.
Ans. This heavy box cannot be lifted by me.
7. May I see your book?
Ans. May your book be seen by me?
8. You are wasting your time.
Ans. Your time is being wasted by you.
9. When will she have finished her work?
Ans. When will her work be finished by her?
10. Why do you not call in the doctor?
(Hint: Why is ……)
Ans. Why is the doctor not called in by you?
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 6 Return to Air Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A
John Philip Sousa stood on the corner with his mother, watching a parade pass by. The United States Marine Band was rapidly coming closer to where they stood. Philip jumped up and down and cried excitedly, “Look, Mama, there’s Papa now!”
Marching along in the brass section, Mr. Sousa looked very handsome. He winked as he went by. Philip grinned back.
Q1. Why was Philip excited when he was standing with his mother during the parade?
Ans. Philip was excited to see his father, Mr. Sousa, marching in the United States Marine Band during the parade.
Q2. Who was marching in the brass section of the United States Marine Band?
A. Philip
B. Mr. Sousa
C. A soldier
D. Philip’s mother
Ans. B. Mr. Sousa
Q3. How did Mr. Sousa react when he saw Philip during the parade?
Ans. Mr. Sousa winked at Philip as he marched by in the parade.
Q4. Philip jumped up and down and ______ excitedly, “Look, Mama, there’s ______ now!”
Ans. Cried, Papa
Q5. Mr. Sousa smiled at Philip during the parade (True / False).
Ans. False
B
Puzzled by the silence of the household, Philip ran into the kitchen. On the table he found some sandwiches and a note from his mother. She had been called away suddenly by the illness of a friend. She would not be back until late evening.
Philip looked at the clock. He would have to hurry to get to the concert on time. He washed, gobbled a sandwich, and ran to his room to dress
Q1. Why did Philip’s mother leave the house suddenly?
Ans. Philip’s mother left the house suddenly because a friend of hers had fallen ill and needed her help.
Q2. What did Philip do after reading the note from his mother?
A. Went to play baseball
B. Slept in his room
C. Washed, ate a sandwich, and got dressed
D. Went to search for her
Ans. C. Washed, ate a sandwich, and got dressed
Q3. What did Philip find on the kitchen table?
Ans. He found some sandwiches and a note from his mother.
Q4. Philip gobbled a ______ and ran to his room to ______.
Ans. sandwich, dress
Q5. Philip’s mother would return home before the concert (True / False).
Ans. False
C
Suddenly Philip realized that he ought to tell his music teacher, Professor Esputa, at once. He ran over to the school and gasped out his story.
At first the professor scowled with concern. But then he said, “That’s all right. Run to my house. Tell my wife to give you one of my shirts.
Mrs. Esputa quickly fetched one of her husband’s white shirts. But when Philip put it on, she began to exclaim, “Oh, dear! Gracious!” The shirt was so large that Philip was almost lost in it.
Hastily Mrs. Esputa found a box of pins. In a twinkling, her nimble fingers pinned enough tucks in the shirt to make it fit Philip. They both heaved a big sigh of relief when the job was finished. Then, free from anxiety, Philip hurried back to the school
Q1. Why did Philip run to tell his music teacher, Professor Esputa, his story?
Ans. Philip ran to tell Professor Esputa his story because he had no clean shirt to wear for the evening concert and needed help.
Q2. What did Mrs. Esputa do when she saw the shirt was too big for Philip?
A. She told him to leave it
B. She gave him another shirt
C. She stitched a new shirt
D. She pinned the shirt to fit him
Ans. D. She pinned the shirt to fit him
Q3. How did Philip feel after the shirt was adjusted to his size?
Ans. Philip felt relieved and free from anxiety after the shirt was properly pinned to fit him.
Q4. At first the professor ___________ with concern. But then he said, “That’s all right. Run to my _______. Tell my wife to give you one of my shirts.
Ans. Scowled, House
Q5. The professor’s wife helped Philip by sewing a new shirt (True / False).
Ans. False
D
With no sympathy for poor Philip, Mr. Esputa continued unreasonably, “No refreshments for you! You shouldn’t have spent the day playing ball. You should have been preparing for the important work of the evening. You ought to be ashamed!
Philip hung his head, sighed heavily, and trudged home. The incident left such an impression on him that he always remembered it. He never again tried to mix work and play.
But that was not the last time that he got himself into trouble with Mr. Esputa. One day when Philip was twelve, both he and his teacher were feeling tired and cross. They got into a heated argument over a trifle. As a result, Philip returned home convinced that he no longer wanted to take music lessons.
Q1. Why did Mr. Esputa scold Philip and deny him refreshments?
Ans. Mr. Esputa scolded Philip because he played baseball instead of preparing for his important violin performance and embarrassed himself during the concert.
Q2. What did Mr. Esputa deny Philip?
A. A Gift
B. Refreshment
C. A holiday
D. A music book
Ans. Refreshment
Q3. How did the incident at the concert affect Philip?
Ans. He realized he should not mix play and work.
Q4. Mr. Esputa said, “You ought to be ______!”
Ans. ashamed
Q5. Mr. Esputa praised Philip for his hard work at the concert (True / False).
Ans: False
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Who is the central character of the story “The March King”?
A. Mr. Esputa
B. Ed
C. John Philip Sousa
D. Charlie
Ans. C. John Philip Sousa
Q2. Philip’s father’s profession was______
A. Baker
B. Bandmaster
C. School teacher
D. Music professor
Ans. B. Bandmaster
Q3. Philip learned to play the ________
A. Piano
B. Violin
C. Flute
D. Trumpet
Ans. B. Violin
Q4. What mistake did Philip make before the school concert?
A. Forgot his violin
B. Slept too long
C. Played baseball
D. Went shopping
Ans. C. Played baseball
Q5. Philip got a shirt to wear for the concert from_________
A. His father
B. His friend Ed
C. Professor Esputa’s wife
D. Charlie the baker
Ans. C. Professor Esputa’s wife
Q6. Why did the audience laugh during Philip’s performance?
A. He fell down
B. He played wrong notes
C. His oversized shirt started to slip
D. He forgot to bring his violin
Ans. C. His oversized shirt started to slip
Q7. Philip felt __________ after the concert incident.
A. Happy
B. Proud
C. Embarrassed
D. Confident
Ans. C. Embarrassed
Q8. Philip wants to become a _________instead of a musician.
A. A doctor
B. A carpenter
C. A baker
D. A painter
Ans. C. A baker
Q9. What did Philip learn while working at the bakery?
A. Music is boring
B. Baking is easy
C. All jobs require hard work
D. He wanted to open a shop
Ans. C. All jobs require hard work
Q10. Philip worked at the bakery for _______ days before giving up?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Five
Ans. C. Three
Q11. Who tried to tempt Philip to join the circus?
A. Charlie the baker
B. Ed
C. A circus band leader
D. Mr. Esputa
Ans. C. A circus band leader
Q12. Philip dreamt about __________ when his father woke him up.
A. Joining the army
B. Becoming a doctor
C. Leading a circus band
D. Baking cakes
Ans. C. Leading a circus band
Q13. Mr. Sousa takes Philip to_________ after breakfast.
A. Music school
B. The bakery
C. Marine Barracks
D. The circus
Ans. C. Marine Barracks
Q14. What was Philip enlisted as, in the Marine Band?
A. Singer
B. Dancer
C. Apprentice
D. Conductor
Ans. C. Apprentice
Q15. How many U.S. Presidents did Sousa serve as bandmaster?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
Ans. D. Five
Q16. John Philip Sousa earned the famous title called ___________
A. The Music Man
B. The Violin Wizard
C. The March King
D. The Symphony Star
Ans. C. The March King
Q17. Which famous march did Sousa compose for a newspaper event?
A. The New York Times March
B. The Washington Post March
C. The White House March
D. The Capital City March
Ans. B. The Washington Post March
Q18. __________ event was held to award the essay prize.
A. A cricket match
B. A music concert
C. A painting exhibition
D. A quiz contest
Ans. B. A music concert
Q19. Who were eagerly waiting in the trees to see the band?
A. Teachers
B. Policemen
C. Young boys
D. Band members
Ans. C. Young boys
Q20. Some children decide ___________ after watching the band perform.
A. To run away
B. To become soldiers
C. To become musicians
D. To write essays
Ans. C. To become musicians
True or False
Identify whether the following statements are true or false-
1. Philip Sousa wanted to become a musician after watching his father in a parade.
2. Philip never made any mistakes during his music career.
3. Philip played baseball just before an important music concert.
4. Philip had a perfect shirt ready for his concert performance.
5. The audience laughed at Philip during his violin performance.
6. Philip’s father forced him to continue music lessons after the concert failure.
7. Philip enjoyed working at the bakery and wanted to stay there.
8. A circus bandleader once offered Philip a job.
9. Mr. Sousa enrolled Philip into the Marine Band to help him stay focused.
10. John Philip Sousa later became known as the March King.
Ans.
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. False
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. John Philip Sousa stood with his ______, watching a parade pass by.
2. The United States Marine Band was led by Philip’s ______.
3. Philip loved bands and especially enjoyed learning to play the ______.
4. Philip played a game of ______ on the day of his concert.
5. Philip had no clean shirt because the ______ had not come back.
6. Philip’s music teacher’s name was Professor ______.
7. After his embarrassing concert performance, Philip wanted to become a ______.
8. Philip was enrolled as an ______ to study music in the Marine Band.
9. The man from the ______ offered Philip a job in his band.
10. John Philip Sousa later became famous as the ______ King.
Ans.
1. mother
2. father
3. violin
4. baseball
5. laundry
6. Esputa
7. baker
8. apprentice
9. circus
10. March
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. Who was John Philip Sousa and why was he called “The March King”?
Ans. John Philip Sousa was a famous American composer and bandleader, known for composing over a hundred marches, which earned him the title “The March King.”
Q2. What inspired young Philip to become a musician?
Ans. Watching the United States Marine Band, especially his father marching in it, filled Philip with joy and inspired him to become a musician.
Q3. What mistake did Philip make on the day of the concert?
Ans. Philip played baseball before the concert, got dirty and tired, and wore an oversized pinned shirt which came loose while performing.
Q4. How did Philip feel after his embarrassing concert performance?
Ans. Philip was deeply embarrassed, ran off the stage, and in his sadness, wished he were dead due to the laughter of the audience.
Q5. What did Philip want to become instead of a musician?
Ans. After a quarrel with his teacher, Philip told his father he no longer wanted to be a musician and wished to become a baker.
Q6. How did Mr. Sousa respond to Philip’s wish to become a baker?
Ans. Mr. Sousa supported him and arranged for him to work at a bakery, letting Philip experience the hard work involved in baking.
Q7. What lesson did Philip learn from working at the bakery?
Ans. Philip realized that bakery work was tiring and not suitable for him. He understood his true passion was music, not baking.
Q8. What happened when the circus man invited Philip to join his band?
Ans. Philip was tempted to join the circus but decided to tell his best friend, whose mother informed Philip’s parents about his plan.
Q9. What did Mr. Sousa do to stop Philip from running away?
Ans. Mr. Sousa enrolled Philip in the Marine Band as an apprentice, trusting his son’s sense of duty would prevent him from joining the circus.
Q10. How did Philip’s music career progress after returning to music?
Ans. Philip worked hard, became a fine violinist by thirteen, and later led the U.S. Marine Band, composing many famous marches like “The Washington Post.”