THE VEDANSH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INDORE

QUESTION BANK WITH ANSWERS

GRADE XII
TEACHER- SANTOSHI KSHETRI

BOOK- FLAMINGO

Chapter 1 The Last Lesson

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

What a thunderclap these words were to me! Oh, the wretches; that was what they had put up at
the town-hall! My last French lesson! Why, I hardly knew how to write! I should never learn
anymore! I must stop there then! Oh, how sorry I was for not learning my lessons, for seeking
bird‘s eggs, or going sliding on the Saar! My books that had seemed such a nuisance a while ago,
so heavy to carry, my grammar, and my history of the saints, were old friends now that I couldn‘t
give up. And, M. Hamel, too; the idea that he was going away, that I should never see him again,
made me forget all about his ruler and how cranky he was.

(i) What were the startling and unexpected words to Franz?

(a) The order from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
(b) The transfer order of the French teacher M. Hamel.
(c) Order to recite the rules for participles.
(d) Order to take his seat before the lesson begins.

(ii) Franz expresses his __________ in not learning his mother tongue seriously.

(a) anger (b) elation (c) remorse (d) contentment

(iii) Franz‘s feelings and attitude towards his school and M. Hamel changed because-

(a) he began to realise the real worth of his school and the teacher.
(b) he was afraid of Prussian soldiers.
(c) the teacher explained everything with much patience.
(d) the village elders told him to do so.

(iv) Select the suitable option for the given statements.

(1) Franz forgets the irritable nature of M. Hamel.

(2) M. Hamel goes away from the school for good.

(a) (1) is true, but (2) is false (b) (2) is true, but (1) is false.
(c) (1) is the reason for (2) (d) (2) is the reason for (1)

(v) Who are called wretches?

(a) Students (b) Elderly villagers (c) Germans (d) People of France

(vi) Bulletin board at the town hall brought news about-

(a) the orders of the commanding officer (b) the lost battles

(c) the draft (d) All of the above

Q2 What was Franz expected to be prepared with for the school?

Ans. He was supposed to be prepared with participles because M Hamel would test them on it
unfortunately he didn’t know.

Q3 What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Ans. Usually the school reverberated with noise which could be heard out in the street. But it was
all quiet and still as if it was Sunday morning. His classmates were already in their places. M
Hamel’s ruler was no more rapping on the table.

Q4 What had been put upon the bulletin board? OR

What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Ans After losing Alsac and Loraine districts in the war, an order had come from Berlin to teach
only German in the schools there. That day M Hamel had put in his frilled shirt and special silk
cap, all embroidered. In the school all was quiet and still as if it was a Sunday morning. Old
Hauser, the former Mayor and the Postmaster were also present that day.

Q5 How did Franz’s feelings about M Hamel change?

Ans. His feelings changed when M Hamel gravely and gently announced that it was the last
lesson in French that he would give them. Franz suddenly felt sorry for not learning his French
lessons properly. His books were now his old friends. He forgot all about M Hamel’s ruler and how
cranky he was.

Q6 The people in this story suddenly realize how precious their language is to them. What
shows you this? Why does this happen?
Ans. When the order came from Berlin to teach only German in schools, the people realized how
precious their language was to them. The fact was that those who called themselves Frenchmen
could neither speak nor write it effectively. M Hamel praised French as the most beautiful, clearest
and logical language in the world. He said that for the enslaved people, their language was the key
to their prison. This shows people’s love for their culture, traditions and the nation. Pride in one’s
language reflects pride in one’s national spirit.
A mother tongue helps a person to express himself/herself most lucidly (clearly) and intimately.
The Romans imposed Latin language in all their territories which they had conquered in Europe.
Similarly, the Muslim invaders imposed Arabic and Persian in their Asian territories. In India also
Urdu language developed from the blend of Persian and Hindi.

Q7 Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” What could this
mean?
Ans. This sarcastic comment of Franz shows a Frenchman’s typical reaction to the imposition of
learning German, the language of the conquerors. Being deprived of learning of their mother
tongue would mean snapping off all bonds with their mother land. Teaching the pigeons to sing in
German indicated how far the Germans would go in their attempt of linguistic chauvinism (being
aggressive to make others believe that you / your language is better than others’).

Q.8 What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard before dismissing the last class?
What did they mean?
Ans. Before dismissing the last class, M. Hamel turned to the blackboard, and wrote the phrase,
‗Vive La France!‘ as large as he could. These words meant ‗Long live France‘. M Hamel‘s great
love for his country and his deep sense of patriotism are shown here.

Q.9 According to M. Hamel what were the reasons for the children not learning French?

Ans. According to M. Hamel, the students never learned French in time. They postponed it every
time. The parents were not anxious enough to have their children learn French. They preferred to
put them to work on a farm or at the mills so as to have a little more income. M. Hamel himself
found faulty for the poor performance of the children in their mother tongue. He had often sent
them to water his plants instead of learning their lessons. Whenever he wanted to go for fishing,
he gave them a holiday.

Q.10 What did M. Hamel say about the French language? What did he ask his people to do
and why?
Ans. In his last lesson, M Hamel told his students and the villagers that the French language was
the most beautiful language in the world—the clearest and the most logical. He asked them to
guard it amongst themselves and never forget it, because when a people were enslaved, as long
as they held fast to their language, it was as if they had the key to their prison.

Chapter 2 The Lost spring

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

This morning, Saheb is on his way to the milk booth. In his hand is a steel canister. I now work in a
tea stall down the road,‖ he says, pointing in the distance. I am paid 800 rupees and all my
meals.‖ Does he like the job? I ask. His face, I see, has lost the carefree look. The steel canister
seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulder. The bag was his.
The canister belongs to the man who owns the tea shop. Saheb is no longer his own master.

a) Where is Saheb working and how much is he paid?

Ans. Saheb is working in a tea stall and he is paid 800 rupees and all his meals.

b) Was he happy working in the tea stall? Why?

Ans. No, Saheb was not happy working in the tea stall. He is burdened by responsibilities and has
lost his freedom.

c) Explain ―The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag.
Ans. The bag was his own and there was none to dictate him, whereas the steel canister belonged
to his master. He has lost his free will and is burdened by the job at the tea stall.

d) Identify the literary device in the line ―The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic
bag.
Ans. Irony

Q.3 Was Saheb happy working at the tea stall?

Ans Saheb didn’t seem to be happy. He felt bound, choked and burdened. The burden of the steel
container was much heavier than his plastic rug – sack because the former belonged to the shop –
owner where as the sack was his own. So Saheb was no longer his own master.

Q.4 How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?
Ans Mukesh hails from a family of bangle makers in Firozabad. However, he has no inclination
towards his family tradition and profession. He insists on being his own master by becoming a
motor mechanic. He wants to break the strands of poverty, middle men and the law keepers.

Q.5 What forces conspire to keep the workers held up in the bangle industry of Firozabad
in poverty?
Ans The forces are the stigma of caste in which they are born, the vicious circle of the money
lenders (sahukars), the middlemen, the policemen, the keepers of law, the bureaucrats and the
politicians. They are all united in the sense of keeping these bangle makers in their ‘clutches’.

Q.6 Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangle industry.

Ans The bangle makers work very close to glass furnaces with a very high temperature. These
furnaces are usually dingy cells without light and proper ventilation. It is a compulsive torture which
often leads them to become totally or partially blind individuals.
Q.7 Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
Ans Child labour is a stigma in our country because nearly all industries employ child labour
illegally. In glass industry in Firozabad, about twenty thousand children work in adverse conditions.
At the age when they need good education and health care, they work forcefully in the clutches of
middlemen and industrialists. It is a compulsive torture which often leads them to become totally or
partially blind. Implementation of labour law stringently can eradicate this problem because where
there is a will, there is a way.

Q.8 how in your opinion can Mukesh realize his dreams?

Ans Most surprisingly, Mukesh appears to be an exception to not letting poverty kill his dreams –
to become a motor mechanic. He wants to drive a car one day and is determined. When Anees
Jung says that the garage is a long way from his home, Mukesh insistently says, “I will walk.” This
shows that soon he will realize his dream.

Q.9 Describe the irony in Saheb's name. After months of knowing, the narrator asks
Saheb's name.
Ans. He tells her that he is called " Saheb- e- Alam ―. It means' lord of the universe ' . It is quite
ironic that the Lord of the Universe ' is a young barefoot ragpicker who scrounges for gold in the
garbage dumps of Delhi.

Q.10 Why does the author make the statement ‗The steel canister seems heavier than the
plastic bag?‘
Ans. Saheb doesn‘t seem to be happy working at the tea stall. His face doesn‘t show the carefree
look of the old days though he is paid. He feels bound and burdened. For these reasons the
author says that ‗The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag.’

Chapter 3 Deep Water

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

Then all the efforts ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp: and a blackness swept over my
brain. It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful.
Nothing to be afraid of. This is nice to be drowsy…. To go to sleep….no need to jump…. Its nice to
be carried gently…..to float along in space…..tender arms around me…..tender arms like
mother‘s…..now I must go to sleep….

a) Why did he give up his efforts?

Ans: His early efforts all went in vain and now he was too exhausted to try again.

b) Why there was no more terror or panic?

Ans : He accepted his approaching death that wiped his terror and panic

c) What state was the author going through?

Ans: He was going through the unconscious state of mind?

d) Which word in the above lines mean same as ‗feeling sleepy‘?

Ans: Drowsy

Q.2 What was the Misadventure that happened at the YMCA pool?

Ans. William Douglas had decided to learn to swim at the YMCA pool for safety reasons. He had
begun to overcome the fear and the childhood aversion to water when the ‗misadventure‘
happened. That particular day he had reached the pool earlier than usual. He decided to wait for
others as he feared to go alone in the water. Then, came an eighteen year bully of a boy, who
without any warning picked him and tossed him into the deeper end. Douglas went at once to the
bottom in his sitting position itself. He was nearly drowned. This misadventure haunted him for
many years.

Q.3 What were the series of emotion and fear that Douglas experienced when he was
thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
Ans After being thrown into the pool, Douglas landed at the bottom of the pool in sitting position.
He was frightened but still not out of his wits. He summoned all his strength and made a big jump
pushing his legs to come to the surface.

Q.4 How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?
Ans Even after Douglas had become a good swimmer, his old terror would often return to him
whenever he was alone in the pool. In order to overcome it finally, he went to Lake Went worth at
Triggs island and swam for two miles to the Stamp island.
Q.5 How did Douglas overcome his fear of water? (Hydrophobia)
Ans The terror developed in the pool stayed with Douglas for years together. It ruined his fishing
trips, boating and swimming. In order to overcome it finally, he got an instructor to learn swimming
and practiced five days a week and an hour each day. All his movements were controlled by the
instructor through a rope and pulley mechanism. He overcame his old terror after three months.

Q.6 “All we have to fear is the fear itself,” says Roosevelt. Explain.
Ans In death, there is peace. But the fear of death carries along a terrifying terror for mankind.
This is the message of this lesson. In fact, fear is a psychological mechanism. Through practice
and determination, we can conquer it. Douglas did that successfully.

Q.7 Douglas says, “The instructor was finished, but I was not finished.” Explain.
Ans The instructor had made a swimmer out of Douglas successfully. So, his responsibility was
over. But Douglas wasn’t satisfied because the old terror often haunted him. So he continued his
efforts to become a perfect swimmer till he was satisfied.

Q.8 How did the instructor ‗build a swimmer‘ out of Douglas?

Ans: The instructor was an expert. He made him practice in a pool five days a week; an hour each
day.
a) He put a belt around him and a rope was attached to the belt which went through a pulley that
ran an overhead cable which was held by the instructor by the end. With this rope he went back
and forth in the pool. This went on for three months.
b) He then taught Douglas to put his face under water and exhale and then to raise his nose to
inhale
c) Next he held Douglas at the side of the pool and had him kick with his legs. Thus, bit by bit, he
built a swimmer out of Douglas. After seven months, the integrated and whole swimmer was put in
the pool to swim on his own.

Q9. What was the incident that nearly killed Douglas and developed in him a strong
aversion to water?
Ans. Douglas was about four or five years old when he visited a beach in California with his father.
While standing in the surf the waves knocked him down and swept over him. The overpowering
force of the waves frightened him and he developed a fear of water. When he was ten or eleven
years old, he decided to learn to swim at the YMCA pool for safety reasons. He had just begun to
feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened. One day, as he was sitting all alone at
the edge of the pool, a well-built bully tossed him into the deeper end of the pool. He was almost
killed. This near death experience instilled a deep fear of water in him. The misadventure
aggravated his fear and developed in him a strong aversion to water He avoided water whenever
he could. Whenever he tried to get into water the terror that seized him in the pool would take
possession of him. His legs would become paralysed and icy horror would grab his heart. The
handicap stayed with him as the years rolled by and deprived him of the water related activities.
Finally, he decided to overcome his fear by hiring an instructor to learn to swim.

Q.10 Describe the efforts made by Douglas to save himself from drowning in the YMCA
pool?
Ans: Douglas had decided to learn to swim in the YMCA pool for safety reasons. He had begun to
enjoy himself in water when the ‗misadventure‘ happened. One day he reached the pool when no
one else was there, he was too timid to get into the pool alone. He sat at the edge of the pool to
wait for others when a big bruiser of a boy, without any warning, picked him up and tossed into the
deep end of the pool. Douglas landed in the water in a sitting position, swallowed water, and went
at once to the bottom. He was shocked and frightened but not too frightened to be out of wits. On
his way down he planned that when his feet hit the bottom, he would make a big jump, come to
the surface, lie flat on it and paddle to the edge of the pool. But his way down seemed a long
journey, the nine feet seemed more than ninety and before he reached the bottom his lungs were
ready to burst. When his feet hit the bottom he mustered all his strength and made a jump that he
thought was a great spring and imagined himself bob to the surface like a cork. Instead, he came
up slowly. He opened his eyes only to find dirty yellow water around him, he grew panicky, he tried
to yell for help but no sound came out, he felt suffocating he tried to reach for ropes, ladder, water
wings but his hands clutched only water. Before his mouth could come out to the surface he was
pulled down by a great force of water. He tried to bring his legs up, but they hung as dead weights,
paralysed and rigid. He tried to make a big jump for the second time but his efforts failed. When he
started down a third time he was too exhausted to try to save himself. He accepted his
approaching death which wiped out his fear, he felt peaceful and found himself losing
consciousness. When he regained his consciousness he found himself lying beside the pool,
vomiting. This near drowning experience deeply affected him and the terror of water haunted him
for years.

Chapter 4 The Rattrap

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

The old man was just as generous with his confidences as with his porridge and tobacco. The
guest was informed at once that in his days of prosperity his host had been a crofter at Ramsjo
Ironworks and had worked on the land. Now that he was no longer able to do day labour, it was
his cow which supported him. Yes, that bossy was extraordinary. She could give milk for the
creamery every day, and last month he had received all of thirty kronor in payment.

1. Who was the old man? How did he welcome the guest?
2. Who is the guest referred to in this passage?
3. How did the crofter sustain himself financially?
4. Find the word from the passage which means very unusual or remarkable.‘
Answer
1. The old man was a crofter. He lived alone in a wayside cottage. He welcomed the guest with
porridge and tobacco.
2. The Rattrap seller is the guest referred to here.
3. The crofter had a cow. He sold the milk to a creamery. Thus, he supported himself financially.
4. Extraordinary

Q.2 From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rat trap? Why as he
amused with this idea?
Ans. One day while on his errand for selling rattraps, the peddler fell into a line of interesting
thoughts that the whole world would, with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big
rat trap. The riches and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing were nothing but a bait for human
beings.
Q.3 Why did the crofter show 30 kroners to the peddler?
Ans. The crofter deliberately took out thirty kroner bills in front of the peddler. Then he stuffed
them back into the pouch and hung it at the window frame. Perhaps, he had set it as a bait to test
the integrity of the peddler.

Q.4 When did the ironmaster realize his mistake? What did the peddler say in his defense
when it was clear that he was not the person the ironmaster had thought him to be?
Ans. When the ironmaster saw the peddler In broad daylight after he had had his haircut, shave
and bath, he realized that he was totally mistaken. He was not his old Captain friend. The peddler
also did not make any attempt to dissimulate and said, “I never pretended to be anything but a
poor trader, and I pleaded and begged to be allowed to stay in the forge. But you only insisted.
Still, no harm has been done. At worst, I can put on my rags again and go away.”

Q.5 Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? Why did the peddler sign
himself as Captain Von Stahle?
Ans. Edla felt happy because she had received a Christmas gift after a long gap. However, she
also felt sorry for him, for his miserable life. The peddler signed himself as Captain Von Stahle
because at the ironmaster’s manor house, he was all the time honoured as a Captain. Perhaps,
that elevated his soul far above petty temptations. He was moved and transformed by Edla’s
kindness and hospitality.

Q.6 What made the peddler finally change his ways?

Ans. The peddler was originally a rattrap seller – a vagabond. In the initial stage, he believed that
the whole world, with its lands, seas, cities and villages was nothing but a big rattrap. The riches
and joys, shelter and food, heat and clothing were the bait for human beings. But after stealing
thirty kroners from the crofter’s cottage, he himself felt being trapped in a rattrap. Subsequently,
when he was honoured like a Captain at the ironmaster’s manor house, his soul was elevated
above petty temptations. He was moved and transformed by Edla’s kindness and hospitality. It
also shattered his misconception about the world being a rattrap.

Q.7 How does the metaphor of the rattrap serve to highlight the human predicament?
Ans. In this story, Selma Lagerlof has used the metaphor of rattrap very effectively. In the initial
stage, the rattrap seller believed that the whole world, with its land, seas, cities and villages was
nothing but a big rattrap. The riches and joys, shelter and food and heat and clothing were the bait
for human beings. Temptation is the most difficult and natural human predicament. After stealing
thirty kroners from the crofter’s cottage and, subsequently, being honoured as a captain at the
ironmaster’s manor house, the transformation that he underwent, proves the fact that he would
have been trapped into life’s vicious circle, had he not raised himself above petty worldly
temptations.
Q.8 Why did the peddler have to resort to both begging and petty thievery?
Ans. He was a vagabond who earned his living by selling small rattraps made of iron wires. He got
the material by begging at stores or big farms. Still, sometimes, he would take to petty thievery
because he was not able to make his both ends meet.

Q.9 How was he welcomed by the crofter?

Ans. One dark evening, the peddler was looking for an overnight shelter. Suddenly he sighted a
little grey cottage by the roadside. He knocked and expected ‘sour faces’ to welcome him. But
quite surprisingly, he got the hospitality of an old and lonely crofter. The peddler got supper as well
as shelter. In turn, the crofter got someone to share his loneliness.

Q 10 How did the peddler prove false to his host – he old crofter?
Ans. Even after getting the warm hospitality of the crofter, the peddler stabbed him at his back.
The three ten kroner notes which the crofter had counted and stuffed back into the pouch in front
of the peddler, proved a bait for him. The vagabond couldn’t resist his temptation to steal the
money and escaped, proving himself false to his host.
Chapter 5 Indigo

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow.

The news of Gandhi's advent and of the nature of his mission spread quickly through Muzzafarpur
and to Champaran. Sharecropper's from Champaran began arriving in large numbers on foot and
by conveyance to see their champion. Muzzafarpur lawyers called on Gandhi to brief him. They
frequently represented peasant groups in court, they told him about their cases and reported the
size of their fee.

1) What was the nature of Gandhi's mission as mentioned in the passage?

a) To teach self-dependence b) To start a movement

c)To help the poor peasants d) To chide the lawyers Ans) To help the poor peasants

2) Of the four meanings of 'Champion', select the option that matches in meaning with its
usage in the extract;
a) Vigorous advocator b) Hero c)Popular Leader d)Number one title holder

Ans) a) Vigorous advocator

3)What does ' their cases' refer to in the context?

a) Their professional history b) cases against British authorities

c) cases against tyrannical landlords d)Their work for the upliftment of peasants

Ans) c) cases against tyrannical landlords

4) Select the terms that can be associated with the following phrases:

i) Spread quickly through Muzzafarpur

a) Gandhiji's popularity b) The extent of exploitation
c)Belief in Gandhi d) seriousness of the issue
Ans) a) Gandhiji's popularity

ii) Reported the size of their fee

a) Pride in their capability b) Arrogance and selfishness
c) Self-belief d) Lawyers Greed
Ans) d) lawyers Greed

5) Select the option that lists the feelings and attitudes of the sharecroppers towards
Gandhi?
1.Hope 2.courage 3.Accountability 4.Leadership 5.Fear

a)1&2 b)2&4 c)3&5 d)1&4 d) 1&4

Ans. Hope and leadership.

Q.2 At Motihari, why was the government baffled? What did Gandhiji prove by that?
Ans When Gandhi was ordered by the commissioner to leave Tirhut, he informed him in writing
that he would disobey the order. So, he was summoned to appear in the court the next day. Next
morning found the town of Motihari black with peasants. The government was baffled. The officers
felt helpless to control the crowd. But Gandhi was polite, friendly, yet firm. He helped them
regulate the crowd. Thus, he proved that though the might of the British was dreaded, it could be
challenged by the Indians under the leadership of Gandhiji.

Q.3 Gandhi was involved in ‘a conflict of duties.’ What did he decide in the end. Why?
Ans The conflict of duty was that Gandhi didn’t want to set a bad example by breaking the law. On
the other hand, he would never give up the cause of the poor share croppers of Champaran. So,
hearing his ‘voice of conscience’, he decided to disobey the order.

Q.4 “Civil Disobedience had triumphed the first time in India.” Justify.
Ans The commissioner asked Gandhiji to leave Champaran (Tirhut) by an official order. Gandhi
did respect the lawful authority, but his inner “conflict of duties” and “voice of conscience”
compelled him to disobey the order. Next morning found the town of Motihari black with peasants.
The government was baffled with the helpless officers before the crowd. Ultimately, Gandhi was
released without bail. This had happened the first time in the British rule. So, civil disobedience
had triumphed first time in India.

Q.5 How did Gandhi teach us a lesson in self – reliance? Why did he refuse help from C. F.
Andrews?
Ans During Gandhi’s farewell to the Fiji Islands, he outrightly rejected the suggestion for C. F.
Andrews staying in Champaran and helping his followers to fight against the landlords. Actually,
he intended the Indians to be free and independent on their own. He didn’t want them to take any
help from any Britisher in their struggle for freedom. Thus, he taught a lesson in self – reliance.

Q.6 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?

Ans. Rajkumar Shukla followed Gandhiji everywhere until Gandhiji agreed to accompany him to
Champaran. This was because Gandhiji was impressed by his tenacity.

Q.7 What was the average Indian's attitude in smaller localities towards advocates of home
rule?
Ans. The average Indian was afraid to show sympathy for advocates of home rule. He feared the
consequences.

Q.8 Why did Gandhiji tell the court that he was involved in a 'conflict of duties'?
Ans. He meant that he must not set a bad example by breaking the law, by refusing to comply with
the eviction order, at the same time he must also render humanitarian and National service for
which he had come to Champaran.

Q.9.Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25% refund to the farmers?

Ans. According to Gandhi the amount of refund was less important than the fact that the English
landlords had been obliged to surrender part of their money and with it part of their prestige.

Q.10.Why do you think that the Champaran episode was a turning point in Indian struggle
for Independence?
Ans. It was the first successful Civil Disobedience Movement. It began as an ordinary attempt to
free the poor peasants from injustice and exploitation. It wiped out fear of the Britishers. Gandhiji
declared to the British that they cannot order him about in his own country and they were
outsiders.

Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow.

The lawyer was also officially known as the legal adviser, but everybody referred to him as the
opposite. An extremely talented actress, who was also extremely temperamental, once blew over
on the sets. While everyone stood stunned, the lawyer quietly switched on the recording
equipment. When the actress paused for breath, the lawyer said to her, ―One minute, please,‖
and played back the recording. There was nothing incriminating or unmentionably foul about the
actress‘s tirade against the producer. But when she heardher voice again through the sound
equipment, she was struck dumb.

i) How was the lawyer referred at Gemini Studios?

A. Opposite B. Professional C. Legal D. None of the above
Ans: Opposite

ii) What happened to the actress on the set?

A. She was very happy and started hugging everyone
B. She got happy after her voice was recorded
C. She got angry
D. All the above
Ans: She got angry

iii) Who recorded the actress‘ voice?

A. Asokamitran B. Mr. Vasan C. Lawyer D. Subbu
Ans: Lawyer

iv) What happened when the actress heard her voice again?
A. She got dumbstruck B. She got speechless
C. She got shocked D. All the above
Ans: All the above

v) There was nothing incriminating or unmentionably foul about the actress‘s tirade against
the producer. What does tirade means?
A. Long angry speech B. Short angry speech
C. Long happy speech D. Short happy speech
Ans: Long angry specch

Q.2 What is the example of national integration that the author refers to?
Ans The make up department of Gemini Studios presented a good example of national integration
as it attracted people from all the states of India. First it was headed by a Bengali and succeeded
by a Mahrashtrian, assisted by a Dharwar Kannadiga from Andhra Pradesh, a Madras Indian
Christian, an Anglo Burmese and the usual local Tamils.

Q.3 Who was Subu’s Principal? Subbu is described as a many sided genius. List four of his
special abilities.
Ans Mr Vasan was Subbu’s boss. He was truly loyal towards him and his company. Being many –
sided genius, Subbu’s special abilities were:
a. He was himself an amazing actor.
b. He was a good poet and story writer.
c. He had a knack (natural ability) for directing films.
d. He was a charitable man.

Q.4 Why was the Moral Rearmament Army welcomed at the studio?
Ans Frank Buckman’s Moral Rearmament Army comprised over two hundred people from twenty
different nationalities. It was a kind of counter movement to international communism. People at
Gemini studios, including their boss Mr Vasan, had a natural aversion to communism. So the
Moral Rearmament Army would not have found a better host than the Gemini Studios.

Q.5 Name one example to show that Gemini Studios was influenced by the plays staged by
MRA?
Ans The MRA staged two plays, ‘Jotham Valley’ and ‘The Forgotten Factor’ in a highly
professional manner. The message was simple but the set and costumes were first rate. These
plays were seen over and over again by Gemini family. They left a deep impression and they
copied those sets and costumes for years together.

Q.6 Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as an unexplained mystery?

Ans Stephen Spender’s flop visit to the Gemini Studios remained an unexplained mystery till the
end. No one exactly knew him or his purpose of visit. Since they had no taste for English Poetry,
no body could make out what he was saying or why he had come there.

Q.7 Why is the visit of Englishman referred to us as unexplained mystery?

Ans. The visit of the Englishman raised many queries and doubts in the minds of those who were
working in Gemini Studios. The Englishman's name was unfamiliar and his credentials too were
not confirmed. none could understand his speech so everyone wondered why he had come to a
film studio that made Tamil films for simple people who had no interest in English poetry.

Q.8 Did Asokamitran consider Kothamangalam Subbu an immensely talented person?

Ans. Subbu at Gemini studios, looked cheerful at all times, was tailor- made for films, could tell the
producer of four different ways of doing a scene, if the producer was not satisfied Subbu would
come up with fourteen more alternatives, was a poet, was an amazing actor, though in subsidiary
role, performed better than the main actors, had a genuine love for people, a very charitable man.

Q.9 What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?
Ans. The make-up room of Gemini Studios looked like a hair cutting salon. It had around half a
dozen mirrors with incandescent lights at all angles around them. The artists would feel the heat
coming from these lights. Thus, the writer uses the term ‘fiery misery’ to denote the uncomfortable
situation of those subjected to make-up.

Q.10 Did the people at Gemini Studio have any particular political affiliations?
Ans. Most of the people in Gemini studios were followers Gandhiji and wore Khadi. Beyond this
they did not have particular political affirmations. However, they were all against communism.

Chapter 7 The Interview

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

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- It was his horror of being lionized which
made him thus repel would be acquaintances, interviewers and the persistent petitioners for his
autograph and he would afterwards relate the stories of his success in silencing such people with
much satisfaction and amusement.

I. Choose the most appropriate option that resonates LewisCarroll‘s opinion about
interviews:
i. Frightening ii. Satisfying iii. Pleasing iv. Appalling
a. ii and iii b. i and iv c. I and ii d. iii and iv

II. Which of the following statements CAN be related to the opinion of interviews as
expressed in the above extract:
a. Interview is a source of truth and, in its practice an art.
b. Interview is a satisfying and amusing mode of journalism.
c. A repulsive and horrifying experience
d. A supremely serviceable medium of communication

III. What does the word lionized mean?

a. To show disrespect b. To give a lot of public attention and approval
c. To dishonour d. To treat with contempt

IV. Why did Lewis Carroll never consent to be interviewed?

a. He disliked interviews. b. He did not consider interview as a medium of communication
c. Had horror of the interviewer. d. Considered interviews as thumbprints on his windpipe

Answers- I a II c III IV c

Q.2 What are some positive views on interview?

Ans Interviews are a supreme serviceable medium of communication for getting information and
impressions of our contemporaries and celebrities. They have their drawbacks too. However, the
interviewer holds a position of great power and confidence.
Q.3 Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Ans They do so because to them it is an “unwarranted intrusion into their lives.” V S Naipaul feels
that some people are ‘wounded and lose a part of themselves’ by interviews. Rudyard Kipling
condemned interviews and called them immoral. Louis Carrol hated being interviewed. H G Wells
compared interviews to “thumbprints on his wind pipe”.
Q.4 How does Eco find time to write so much?
Ans. Mukund, the interviewer, referred to the point put forth by David Lodge, the famous English
novelist as to how could Eco do so many things at a time. Eco modestly shared his secret that he
worked through the interstice, that is, the empty spaces in our lives. For example, while waiting
for Mukund to come up from the first to the third floor by the elevator, he would have already
written (outlined / thought) an article! He also asserted that by practice, anyone could do that.
Q.5 Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or an academic scholar?
OR
Why did Eco say that he was a professor who wrote novels on Sunndays?
Ans Eco’s main was to write academic and non – fictional writings. He wrote more than forty
works of non – fiction against only five novels. He clearly states that he started writing novels ‘by
accident’, because that day he had nothing to do. Novels probably satisfied his taste for narration.
He never went to pen clubs etc. but always participated in academic conferences.

Q.6 What is the reason for the huge success of the novel ‘The Name of the Rose’
OR
‘The Name of the Rose’ is a very serious novel, yet it enjoyed a mass audience. Justify.
Ans Despite being a serious novel, ‘The Name of the Rose’ was a great success for it sold about
fifteen million copies. It is a detective yarn at one level. It also delves into metaphysics, theology
and medieval history. The success of this novel disillusioned the journalists and publishers who
believed that the masses only enjoyed the trash! However, he honestly believed that the success
of ‘The Name of the Rose’ was a mystery. Still the main reason was that perhaps it was timely
published. Had it been published ten years earlier or later, its success would have been
unpredictable.

Q.7 Why do most celebrities hate being interviewed?

Ans. Most celebrities hate being interviewed as they consider themselves as victims of interviews.
For them, interviews are an unwarranted intrusion into their lives and feel that it somehow
diminishes them.

Q.8 What do you infer from the expression ―thumbprints on his windpipe?
Ans. Saul Bellow, the American writer opined interviews as ‗thumbprints on his windpipe‘. He
considers interviews as a strangulating experience. It suggests that interviews are suffocating and
painful and he detested it.
Q.9 Why does Denis Brian believe that interviewer holds a position of unprecedented
power and influence?
Ans. Denis Brian believes that almost everything of moment reaches us through one man asking
questions of another. So, interviewer holds a position of unprecedented power and influence. It
highlights the utilitarian aspect of interview.

Q.10 How does Eco find time to write so much and do many things?
Ans. Two factors explain how Eco was able to write so much. According to Eco, the life of every
person has a lot of empty spaces that he calls as interstices. Eco did most of his writing during
these free intervals. Eco also explains that people wondered that he had written so much on
various subjects. He pursued same philosophical and ethical interests in his academic works,
novels and in his books for children. Same interests-peace, non-violence, etc were pursued in all
his works. It saves his time and he could write prolifically in a short period of time.

Chapter 8 Going Places

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to watch United. Sophie and her father and little
Derek went down near the goal — Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up. United won
two-nil and Casey drove in the second goal, a blend of innocence and Irish genius, going round
the two big defenders on the edge of the penalty area, with her father screaming for him to pass,
and beating the hesitant goalkeeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride. Afterwards
Geoff was ecstatic.

i) Their visit to the match was like a ‘weekly pilgrimage’ refers to

a) strong bond as a family. b) love for a fixed routine.
c) similar feelings of devotion. d) excitement for the match.
Answer- d)

ii) Based on the following statements, choose the correct option:

Assertion: ―Geoff, as always, went with his mates higher up.
Reason 1: Geoff was not very close to his family and lived in his own world.
Reason 2: Geoff was rude and indifferent towards everyone around him and didn‘t care about
anyone at all.
a) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both can be inferred from the assertion.
b) Reason 1 can be inferred but Reason 2 cannot be inferred from the assertion.
c) Reason 1 cannot be inferred but Reason 2 can be inferred.
d) Reason 1 and Reason 2 both cannot be inferred.
Answer- b)

iii) ‘Sophie glowed with pride.’ Her pride is the result of-
a) belonging to a region where everyone thought of Danny as a hero.
b) watching her father cheer and support Danny.
c) The information she gathered from her brother, about Danny.
d) being an avid fan and her sense of closeness with Danny.
Answer- d)

iv) Ecstatic in this context means-

a) extremely happy b) sad c) amazed d) invigorated
Answer- a

Q.2 What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her
from having such dreams?
Ans. Sophie always lived in her fancy. She dreamed to own the most amazing boutique in that
town. She also fancied being an actress or fashion designer. In contrast, Jansie was very
practical. So, she always discouraged Sophie against day dreaming and drop all her utopian
plans.

Q.3 Does Geoff believe what Sophie tells him about her meeting with Daney Casey? Why?
Ans. When Sophie told Geoff about her meeting with Daney Casey, he didn’t saying ‘It’s never
true”. When Sophie told him how Daney Casey came and stood beside her in the arcade, Geoff
asked, “What does he look like?” When Sophie exclaimed, “Oh come on, you know what he looks
like,” he was convinced that it was all her fancy. He also knew that a star footballer like Daney
Casey would never be so easily accessible.

Q.4 How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fancy of her future?
Ans. Geoff was reserve by nature. He spoke very little and Sophie often felt jealous and doubtful
of his silence. He knew his sister well and never shared her wild fancies. He was an apprentice
mechanic. She wished she could share some secrets of his life. So, she fancied riding behind
Geoff and the sound of applause as the world rose to greet them.

Q.5 Did Sophie really meet Daney Casey?

Ans. No, Sophie didn’t really meet Daney Casey. She had seen him in person only during football
matches at the local stadium. But, she was so much fascinated by that green – eyed young Irish
footballer. She often fancied meeting him. However, when she returned to reality, she felt sad and
disappointed.

Q.6 Does Sophie have means to fulfill her dreams? Why does Jansie say “soaf, you really
should be sensible”? OR
Jansie is Sophie’s classmate and friend but does not entertain any ‘wild dreams’ like her.
Why?
Ans. Sophie and Jansie are classmates and friends but the similarity ends there. Sophie is a day
dreamer; Jansie is practical and worldly – wise. She knew that Sophie would need a lot of money
and experience to materialize her dream to become an actress or a fashion designer or owning a
boutique. Since she had neither money nor experience, Jansie advised her to be sensible, realistic
and practical.

Q.7 Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her
perspective, what did he symbolize?
Ans. Sophie believed that in her family Geoff was the only person who could give a patient
listening to her ‘wild fancies’. So, she often shared her secrets with him. However, he spoke very
little. So, she would often feel jealous of his silence. But Geoff was a bit sensible also. When she
disclosed her meeting with Daney Casey, he cautioned her against him in his own way so that she
would not feel hurt.

Q.8 What socio – economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indications
about her family’s financial status?
Ans. Sophie was an escapist. She often dreamed of things that she couldn’t get in real life. For
example, she wanted to become an actress or a fashion designer or own her own boutique. One
day Derek, her younger brother mocked at her saying, “She thinks money grows on trees…..” Her
low socio – economic background is also reflected by Geoff’s occupation who was an apprentice
mechanic in a garage. Her father lacks sophistication. They don’t own a car and have no servant
at home. These factors indicate her low socio – economic background.

Q.9 Why did Sophie choose to walk by the canal? What did she do there?
Ans. The canal was far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There, Sophie walked along a
sheltered path. Her childhood memories were also attached to that place. There was a wooden
bench under a solitary elm tree. It was a lovers’ paradise. She felt that she could dream of her
hero Daney Casey there undisturbed.

Q.10 Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?

Ans. No, Sophie did not actually meet Danny Casey. Although, she did go and sit on a wooden
bench near the canal, yet in her heart, she knew that she was only imagining things. She imagined
him coming, and then imagined her own consequent excitement at his arrival.

Poem 1 My Mother at Sixty Six

Q.1 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

….. I looked again at her Wan,pale as late winter‘s moon And felt that old familiar ache, My
childhood fear, But all I said was, see you soon, Amma

a) What was the childhood fear that troubled the poet?

i) The fear of losing her mother ii) The fear of being alone
iii) The fear of ageing of her mother iv) Her mother‘s pale face

b) What do the parting words suggest?

i) assuring her mother that she will be young and energetic
ii) Consoling her mother about her future prospects
iii) Assuring her mother that they will meet again
iv) both i) and ii)

c) Which figure of speech has been used in ―smile and smile and smile
i) simile ii) metaphor iii) alliteration iv) Repitition

d) What do you understand by―familiar ache

i) Fear of losing her mother ii) Fear of getting separated
iii) Childhood fear of losing her mother iv) All of the above

Q.2 What kind of pain and ache the poet feels?

Ans. The poet feels the pain of separation and memories of her childhood fear.

Q.3 Why has the poet brought the image of merry children spilling out of their home?
Ans. This image is an effort to switch over from her agony to comfort.

Q.4 Why has the mother been compared to late winter’s moon?
Ans. The mother was ageing and she was towards the autumn of her life. As a result, she had
grown physically as well as emotionally broken and looked pale.

Q.5 What do the parting words of the poet and her smile signify?
Ans. They signify her deliberate attempt to forget her pain of separation and her sense of
insecurity whether the next time she would be able to meet her mother safe / alive.

Poem 2 An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum

Q.1 “Far far from……………

Of squirrel’s game……”
Describe the appearance of the children according to the given lines.
Ans. The children’s faces look pale due to malnutrition. Their unkempt and uncombed hair look
like rootless weeds.
Q. 2 Explain ‘weighed – down head’ and ‘unlucky heir’.
Ans. A tall girl sits in the classroom with her weighed down head because of the burden of
misfortunes and malnutrition. Unlucky heir is another lean and thin boy who has inherited a
disease of twisted bones from his parents (father). He is reciting how his father developed that
knotty disease.

Q.3 What the boy sitting at the back is dreaming about?

Ans. The sweet young boy sitting at the back is dreaming of squirrel’s game which is playing on a
tree ouside. Basically, he dreams about many things outside other than his dim and unpleasant
classroom.

Q.4 “On sour cream walls……….

Far from rivers……………..” What is displayed on the classroom wall?
Ans. The list of donors and a picture of Shakespear’s head are displayed on the sour creamy
classroom walls.

Q.5 Explain “Awarding the world its world.”

Ans. Actually, the world belongs to the rich and influential people. The conquerors and dictators
often draw the world map according to their whims and fancies.

Q.6 Why is the display inappropriate for the children?

Ans. Basically, the world of the rich, civilized domes, bells and flowers is not the world of these
children. They actually live in narrow lanes with a foggy future sealed in with a lead sky.

Q.7 “Surely Shakespeare………………………….

So blot their maps …………………………..” Why is Shakespeare wicked and the maps a
bad example for them?
Ans. Shakespeare and his works have no significance for these children. The world map does not
concern them because it does not include their world of narrow lanes and holes.

Q.8 How does the map tempt them and why?

Ans. The map lures them with beautiful things like ships, sun and love. The children are naturally
tempted towards them because they are devoid of those pleasures.

Q.9 Describe the living conditions of these children.

Ans. They live like rats in their foggy, dark and unhygienic small homes of a dirty slum area.

Q.10 “Unless governor …………………

History is theirs…………………” How can ‘this map’ become ‘their window’?
Ans The government must open all opportunities like playgrounds, libraries etc as well as other
facilities for these deprived children so that they can also learn to dream and enjoy life at par with
the rich children.

Poem 3. Keeping Quiet

Q.1 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

It would be an exotic moment without rush,

without engines we would all be together in a sudden strangeness….

a) Which is the moment mentioned here?

Ans. The moment when all the world keeps still and silent.
b) What will unify humanity according to the poet?
Ans- The whole humanity shall be unified by silence

c) What is the poetic device used here?

Ans. Oxymoron. Two opposing words- together and strangeness, are used together.

Q.2 Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death? Why?
Ans. The poet basically advocates cessation of hostile and harmful activities in respect of nature
and otherwise on the earth. He clearly states that stillness should not be confused with total
inactivity because it brings death and destruction.

Q.3 What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Ans. The ‘sadness’ referred to here is man’s sadness created out of his own thinking and actions.
Man is the author of all his disasters. He thinks so much, discovers and invents so many things,
but he often fails to understand himself. His rush and hurry and rash thinking constantly troubles
him with the pain of death and destruction.

Q.4 Why does the poet ask us to count up to 12?

Ans. The twelve digits in a clock signify one complete cycle of time. So he suggests us to observe
peace and silence for that duration and then experience the miraculous change on the earth.

Q.5 “Let’s not speak in any language.” Explain.

Ans. The poet urges mankind to forget all linguistic differences and barriers for at least twelve
hours. Let them not indulge in unnecessary reasoning, disputes and status consciousness.

Q.6 Explain, “Victory with no survivors.”

Ans. The poet makes fun of warmongers. After a war is over, even the winner remains a loser.
He warns us to stop all kinds of warfare, otherwise it will be a victory with no survivors to
celebrate it.

Q.7 Explain, “I want no truck with death.”

Ans. Total inactivity brings the stillness of death. However, the poet does not want any
association with death, particularly due to ‘total inactivity’.

Q.8 What have we not been focusing on?

Ans. Unfortunately, we have been so much occupied in keeping our lives moving that even once
we have not thought about keeping quiet. So it would be much fruitful and sensible if we give
ourselves rest for some time and realize the power of silence.

Q.9 When can a huge silence do us good? How?

Ans. Stress and fear of death continuously threaten mankind and bring sadness to them. In such
a situation, a huge silence can do us a lot of good.

Q.10 What can earth teach us?

Ans. The earth teaches us the lesson to continue living silently despite all odds and ends.
Poem 4 A Thing of Beauty

1. Read the given extract to attempt questions that follow:

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: yes, in spite of all,

i) Based on the poem, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements
given below:
Statement 1: The earth without the beautiful things is a place full of despair and unpleasantness.
Statement 2: The ornate band created by human beings; ushers hope in their lives.
a) Statement 1 is true but Statement 2 is false.
b) Statement 1 is false but Statement 2 is true.
c) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 can be inferred.
d) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 cannot be inferred.

ii) In which of the following options can the underlined words be replaced with
‘despondence’?
a) The man paced about the room showing restlessness.
b) A chat with a close friend can take away our blues.
c) I was in jitters, seeing the boy trapped in the trench.
d) Being dogged is what led him to negotiate the challenges

iii) Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing A flowery band to bind us to the earth –
We tie ourselves to the Earth with _____.
a) life b) band of flowers c) gloom d) beautiful things

iv) Why do we need to tie ourselves to the Earth?

a) Earth is a beautiful place b) Earth is a Spiteful place
c) Earth is a busy place d) Earth is a bountiful place

v) ‘inhuman dearth’ shows that there is:

a) lack of beauty. b) lack of energy.
c) lack or shortage of human beings with good values. d) lack of resources.

vi) Which of the following phrases have the poetic device expressed in leaping lizard?
a) inhuman dearth b) gloomy days c) over darkened ways d) noble natures
1. What do we wreath ourselves with?
2. Why does the poet refer to the ‗spite of despondence‖?
3. What does ―made for our searching ―mean?
4. What, according to the poet happens ‗in spite of all‖?
5. Why are our days gloomy?

Q.2 Describe bad and evil things that we possess.

Ans. We suffer from disappointment. We lack noble qualities and often practice unhealthy and
evil ways.

Q.3 Explain “The grandeur of the dooms.”

Ans. It refers to the magnificence that we proudly associate with our mighty forefathers in respect
of their bravery and the ruins of the palaces.
Q.4 Explain “Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to
the earth.”
Ans John Keats is a sensuous poet. He believes that the link of man with the nature is constant
and unbroken. Each day, we create a flowery band which keeps us attached to the beauty of this
earth.

Q.5 What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings?
Ans Nature’s beauty brings love and happiness to human life in spite of troubles and sufferinngs.
The beauty of nature always works as a shock-absorber and healer for mankind.

Q.6 What image does the poet use to describe the beautiul bounty of the earth/nature?
Ans Keats says that the bounty of the earth is like an endless fountain of immortal drink (nectar)
pouring perpetually from the heaven into our hearts through nature.

Q.7 How is a thing of beauty a joy forever?

Ans Keats is a great romantic and sensuous poet, who firmly believed that nature’s beauty is a
constant source of happiness and pleasure. It is never devalued. It never passes into
nothingness.

Q.8 How is the pall of despondence moved away from our dark spirits?
Ans As a matter of fact, man’s miseries and pains are his own creation through his unkind
actions. However, a thing of beauty works wonders and provides strong hope to mankind.

Poem 5 A Roadside Stand

Q.1 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

The little old house was out with a little new shed In front at the edge of the road where the traffic
sped, A roadside stand that too pathetically pled, It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flowsupports The flower of cities from sinking and
withering faint.

i) Where was the new shed put up?

ii) What was its purpose?
iii) Why does the poet use the word ‗pathetic‘?
iv) Explain: ‗too pathetically pled‘
v) Who are referred to as ‗the flower of cities‘?
vi) Identify the figure of speech used in ‗pathetically pled‘.

Answer: i) A little house on one of the sides of the road was extended and a shed, a road side
stand. was added to it by the owner of the house.
ii) It was set up to attract the passersby to buy things from them so that they could earn some
extra money.
iii) By using the word ‗pathetic‘ the poet emphasizes on the fact that the condition of the shed
owner was pitiful and as such it was a pitiable sight.
iv) By putting up the shed the owner was desperately pleading to the rich city folks to stop by at
his roadside stand and buy things from there so that they could earn some extra money.
v) The flower of the cities‘ here refers to the rich and wealthy city-dwellers who can afford the best
things.
vi) Personification – the stand has been given the human quality of pleading.

MCQ

i) The new shed had been put up by-

A] The roadside B] In front of the house C] The window D. All the above

ii) The purpose behind the stand fails because

A] The city people don‘t have the seeing eye. B] No one stops their car.
C] The farmer is asking for a dole of bread. D] Both A and B

iii) The word ‗pathetic‘ has been used by the poet to highlight
A] The badly put up shed B] To highlight the ignorance of the farmer
C] To make the reader understand the penury of the farmer D] None of the above

iv) The poetic device used in ‗pled‘ is

A] Personification B] Alliteration C] Metaphor D] Both A and B

v) From the quoted lines pick out the words that bring out the farmers desperation
A] The little old house was out with a little new shed B] Pathetically pled
C] Pled for some city money D] both C and B

vi) Identify the poetic device in ‗the flower of the cities‘

A] Oxymoron B] Metaphor C] Personification D] Transferred epithet

Ans. 1- D 2- D 3- C 4-A 5-B 6- B

Q.2 What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Ans The folk pathetically pleaded the passers – by to pause there for a while and purchase
something, so that they could earn some money.

Q.3 What was the complaint of the city folk about?

Ans Their complaint was that the artless and clumsy point on the roadside stand had spoiled the
whole landscape. Even the ‘N’ and ‘S’ signs were turned wrong which irritated them. It ecomes
clear from the following lines:
I At having the landscape marred with the artless paint.
II Of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.

Q.4 What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it in ‘vain’?
Ans The endless wait of the roadside stand owner for prospective customers is like ‘childish
longing’ to the poet. Though they keep the windows open to attract them, yet no one turns up. So,
they become sad. Their waiting to hear the squeal of brakes goes in ‘ vain’.

Q.5 How does the poet feel at the thought of the plight of the rural poor?
Ans The poet feels an insufferable pain for the poor rural people. Robert Frost explains it with
pitiless clarity and with the deepest sympathy and humanity through the following lines:
I I can’t help owning the great relief it would be.
II To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.

Q.6 Explain “Too pathetically pled.”

Ans It means that the roadside stand almost begged the passers – by to pause and buy
something in the most humble way.

Q7 ‘The thought of so much childish longing in vain’.

Explain ‘childish longing’.
Ans It refers to their endless wait for the prospective customers who would never turn up.

Q.8 Explain ‘greedy good – doers’ and ‘beneficent beasts of prey’.

Ans These are satirical expressions for politicians and policy makers who have continuously
oppressed the rural poor through the ages.

Q.9 Why will these people not have to think for themselves anymore?
Ans This is because the greedy good – doers and the beneficent beasts of prey will grip and
control their lives most unfortunately.

Q.10 Why didn‘t the ‘polished traffic’ stop at the roadside stand?
Ans. The ‘polished traffic’ conveniently overlook the roadside stand and do not stop there as their
mind is focused only on their destination. They are caught up in their thoughts and have no heart
nor mind to spare for the poor farmer. Moreover, they were so self centric that they were angry
with the farmer for having spoiled the scenic beauty of the country side with his crude roadside
stand.

Poem 6 Aunt Jenifer’s Tiger

Q.1 Read the extracts and answer the questions that follow:

Aunt Jennifer's finger 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.

a) Identify the figure of speech in ‘fingers fluttering’. What does the expression suggest?
Value point: Fig of Speech – Alliteration. It suggests Aunt‘s physical tiredness. It also implies her
fear of her husband.
b) What has caused this condition?
Value Point: Her troubled marriage and domination by her husband has caused this condition.
c) What does the weight of the ‗band‘ symbolize?
Value point: Band symbolizes oppression by her husband – burdened by marital responsibilities –
feels subjugated.
d) Describe the irony in the third line
Value point: The wedding band is a symbol of conjugal happiness but for Aunt Jennifer, it has
become a burden.
e) What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?
Value point: working on an embroidery panel creating tigers.
f) Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
Value point: she is weak, afraid and has lost confidence in herself

Q.2 Why do you think aunt Jenifer’s hand are ‘fluttering through the wool’ in the poem?
Why does she find the needle so hard to pull?
Ans While weaving tigers in the panel, aunt Jenifer’s hands are fluttering through the wool
because the bitter and unpleasant experiences of her married life had a heavy toll upon her
physically as well as psychologically. So she finds pulling the needle so hard.
Q.3 What is suggested by ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans Through this image of ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’, Adrienne Rich symbolizes
the bitter and unpleasant experiences of her married life which had a heavy toll upon her
physically as well as psychologically. A wedding band represents the unbreakable bond of
marriage. But here, Aunt Jennifer seems to drag its weight alone and oppressed.
Q.4 What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by. Why is it significant that the
poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’?
Ans The ordeals are the bitter and unpleasant experiences of her married life which left her
physically as well as psychologically broken. The word ‘ringed’ means the vicious grip of her bitter
married life still hanging on to her. Ring conventionally means the engagement or wedding ring
symbolising the sacred bond of marriage.
Q.5 How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is too terrified to openly resist the oppression that she is victim of. She
expresses her bitterness and anger against male dominance silently through her art. She creates
tigers on her tapestry; animals that are symbolic of bravery, fearlessness and strength. Besides,
she portrays these tigers as creatures unafraid of the men around them. The tigers she creates
are wild and free from any kind of bondage.

Q.6 Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own
character? What might the poet be suggesting through this difference?
Ans Aunt Jennifer and her created animals (tiger) stand in stark contrast to each other. She is
timid, crushed and oppressed. The tigers are ‘prancing’ in ‘sleek chivalric certainty’. They
symbolize strength, being ferocious and beautiful. Through this difference, the poet suggests that
the massive weight of the wedding band tolls heavily upon her physically as well as
psychologically. The ordeals she has suffered during her married life have literally crushed her.
So her anger and frustration is reflected through her art.

Q.7 What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tiger when she is dead?
Ans Adrienne Rich advocates John Keats’ philosophy of “ a thing of beauty is a joy forever “. So
aunt Jennifer’s tigers will remain alive even after her death. The tiger in the panel made by her will
go on prancing, proud and unafraid.

Q.8 Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer? Why?

Ans We naturally sympathize with aunt Jennifer. She suffered many ordeals and hardships
during her married life. The poet (speaker) has an equally sympathetic attitude towards her. She
elaborates her feelings using various symbols and images.

BOOK- VISTAS

Chapter 1 The Third Level

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases
like roots. There’s probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city
right now, on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And may be —
because for so many people through the years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape
— maybe that’s how the tunnel I got into... But I never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea.

i) Identify the figure of speech used that conveys the growing/developing nature of the Grand
Central station?
A. Metaphor B. simile C. synecdoche D. transferred epithet

ii) Why does the writer talk about the tunnels to Times Square and Central Park?
A. To tell us that these two places are in New York.
B. Both these places are accessible
C. These are exits of Grand Central
D. Grand Central is ever growing

iii) The development of the station seems to be inconspicuous. How do we know?

A. Growing like branches of tree
B. Can accommodate any number of passengers
C. New tunnels are being developed without causing disturbance
D. a third level to the station is added

iv) What is it that Charley did not disclose to his friend?

A. Grand Central is an exit B. Grand Central has many exits
C. Many people enter Grand Central D. None of the above

v) Why didn‘t Charley disclose ‗that idea‟ to his psychiatrist?

A. Psychiatrist wouldn‘t maintain its secrecy
B. Psychiatrist wouldn‘t believe him
C. Psychiatrist would want to visit the third level
D. Psychiatrist would convey to the presidents of railroads

Answer Key
i) B ii) D iii) C iv) A v) B

Q.2 What does the third level refer to?

Ans In ‘The Third Level’ fantasy and reality have been beautifully interwoven by Jack Finney. The
third level is Charley’s fancy, a medium of escape for him. Confronting harsh realities like
insecurity, fear, war, worries and stress throughout one’s life, one often feels dejected and wants
to escape into a wishful world. Charley also did the same.

Q.3 Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?
Ans It was the third level on the Grand Central Station- an exit, a way of escape for Charley. He
wandered into the fanciful world of 1894, full of fancy and romance with wooden gates, derby hats,
beards, side burns and fancy moustaches.

Q.4 ‘The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.’ What are the ways
in which we attempt to overcome them?
Ans Yes, the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. War threatens human
existence. Worry and stress keep us crushed. Therefore, we often attempt to overcome them
through dreaming and wishful thinking. In this story, Charley is sad, unhappy and dejected. So he
just wants to escape wandering into the third level. It is his sheer fancy, a world of romance with
wooden gates, derby hats, beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches.

Q.5 Do you see an intersection of time & space in the story?

Ans Through beautiful interweaving of fantasy and reality, Jack Finney presents a perfect
intersection of time and space in this story. The story constantly moves between the past and the
present. The protagonist(main hero) named Charley is 31 years old living in New York. It is a
modern world full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. Normally People like Charley can’t
cope up with the harsh realities of modern life. So they just want to escape into a world of dreams
and wishful thinking. The third level at the Grand Central Station becomes a safe and convenient
medium of escape for Charley. He escapes into the world of 1894, full of fancy and romance with
wooden gates, derby hats, flickering gaslights, beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches. Even his
stamp collecting is a temporary refuge from reality.

Q.6 What did the narrator see unusual at the third level?
Ans He saw many unusual things there. There were a few ticket windows and train gates. There
was a wooden information booth made in old style. Dim gas lights flickered all around. Men wore
derby hats, four-buttoned suits with beards, sideburns and fancy moustaches.

Q.7 What did Sam’s letter signify to Charley?

Ans Sam wrote a letter to Charley on 18 July, 1894. He confirmed the existence of the third level.
He claimed having been there for two weeks. It was a romantic world with people playing a piano
and others singing ‘Seeing Nelly Home’ a popular contemporary tune. He exorted Charley to keep
looking till he found the third level again. Actually, he assumed so as a part of Charley’s treatment.
Chapter 2 The Tiger King

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

The Maharaja‘s anxiety reached a fever pitch when there remained just one tiger to achieve his
tally of a hundred. He had this one thought during the day and the same dream at night. By this
time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-Iaw‘s kingdom. It became impossible to locate
tigers anywhere. Yet only one more was needed. If he could kill just that one single beast, the
Maharaja would have no fears left. He could give up tiger hunting altogether.

i) Which of the following does not imply the same meaning as implied by ‘fever pitch’ in the
extract?
a. Extreme impatience b. Extreme excitement
c. Extreme fever d. Extreme Magnitude

ii) By this time the tiger farms had run dry even in his father-in-Iaw‘s kingdom. Which of the
following sentences carry the same meaning as conveyed by this sentence?
a. Now tigers in his father in law‘s kingdom had no water to drink.
b. Now tigers in his father in law‘s kingdom were living in dry land.
c. Now tigers in his father in law‘s kingdom did not want to bathe.
d. Now his father in law‘s kingdom did not have any tiger.

iii) Which of the following words as used in the extract imply ‘forever’?
a. Tally b. Altogether c. Even d. single

iv) How many more tigers did the maharaja want to kill?
a. Ninety nine b. Hundred c. One d. None of these

v) Which of the following options is correct in respect to the statements given below?
Statement 1: By killing tigers the maharaja wanted to be without fear.
Statement 2: maharaja wanted to stop hunting the tigers.
a. Statement 1 can be inferred and statement 2 cannot be inferred.
b. Statement 2 can be inferred and statement 1 cannot be inferred.
c. Both statements are false.
d. Both statements can be inferred.

ANSWER KEY 1. b 2. d 3. b 4. c 5. d

Q.2 The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. Discuss the dramatic irony in the
story.
Ans. The Maharaja of Pratiandpuram tried to defy and belie the prediction made by the Royal
astrologer that the hundredth tiger would prove fatal to him and cause his death. The arrogant king
took the challenge and banned tiger hunting in the state by anyone except the king himself. The
defaulter’s wealth and property would be confiscated. The dramatic irony follows after the killing of
the hundredth tiger by the king. Actually, it wasn’t killed by him but one of his assistant’s bullet
later as the king’s bullet had missed the mark! Ironically, it was the wooden toy – tiger which
caused his death due to infection in his right arm from one of its slivers.

Q.3 What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the
willfulness of human beings?
Ans. In this story, there are indirect hints showing the author’s hidden sympathy towards wild
animals. He highlights the extinction of the most beautiful animal of prey due to indiscriminate
killings. After its extinction in his own state, the Maharaja decided to marry the princes of a state
having a large number of tigers to complete his century killing. Ironically, the hundredth tiger
eluded him. Ultimately a wooden toy – tiger caused his death due to infection in his right arm from
one of its slivers.

Q.4 We need a new system for the age of ecology – a system which is embedded in the
care of all the people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.
Ans. The Earth’s environment has undergone a continuous mass – scale degradation. Human
beings have become unconcerned towards nature, environment and the wild life. Our survival in
future certainly depends on a concrete new system of ecology. Our mountain ranges are the
origins of most of our great rivers. This lifeline has almost grown bare due to deforestation. As a
result, the glaciers are shrinking and global warming has gripped the entire earth. The water able
has also shrunk to an unbelievable level. Many rare species of plants, herbs, animals and birds
have become extinct. We need to evolve a concrete eco – system to protect the environment and
life before it becomes extinct. Let us rise before it is too late!

Q.5 How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge upon the tiger king?
Ans. According to the Royal prediction, the hundredth tiger would cause the king’s death. The
king’s bullet had missed its mark and it was actually killed by one of his assistants. Later, the king
bought a wooden toy – tiger as a birthday gift for his son. Ultimately, the same tiger caused his
death due to infection in his right arm from one of its slivers.

Q.6 How was at one time the Maharaja in danger of losing his throne?
Ans. A high ranking British officer visited Pratibandpuram one day. He was very fond of hunting
tigers and being photographed with them. But the Maharaja refused him permission. It was a big
threat for losing his kingdom itself because India was under the British rule during those days.

Q.7 How did the Maharaja manage to retain his kingdom?

Ans. When the high ranking British officer was refused permission for hunting in the jungles of
Pratibandpuram, he felt highly annoyed and embarrassed. In order to please him, the Maharaja
ordered for samples of expensive diamond rings from a famous jeweler in Calcutta. He sent the
whole lot of fifty rings to the officer’s lady for selecting a few. Instead, she kept the whole lot. As a
result, the Maharaja suffered a loss(penalty!) of rupees three lacs. However, he was able to retain
his kingdom. Ironically, in his opinion, it wasn’t a bad deal.

Chapter 3 Journey to the End of the Earth

Q.1 What was Akademic Shokalskiy? Where was it headed and why?
Ans. Akademic Shokalskiy was a Russian research vessel which was heading towards Antarctica,
the coldest, driest, windiest continent in the world to become a part of Geoff Green's 'Students on
Ice' programme.

Q.2 Describe the author's emotions when she first set foot on Antarctica.
Ans. Tishani Doshi's initial reaction was relief as she had travelled for over hundred hours. This
was followed by wonder at Antarctica's white landscape and uninterrupted blue horizon, its In
2006 Tishani Doshi began her journey, with a group of students to Antarctica – the coldest, driest,
and windiest continent in the world. She boarded a Russian research ship – ‘The Akademik
Shokalskiy’ for a program called’ Students On Ice’. Antarctica is the best place to observe the
effects of climate change as it is comparatively untouched by humans and you can see the ice
shelves collapsing in front of you. The whole lesson is about the writer’s learnings and
observations from Antarctica. It is high time that we realize the impact and consequences of
climate change. immensity, isolation and at how there could have been a time when India and
Antarctica could have been a part of the same landmass.

Q.3 How is present day Antarctica different from Gondwana?

Ans. Gondwana was a giant amalgamated southern supercontinent. The climate was much
warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. Gondwana thrived for about 500 million years.
Subsequently, when dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of mammals happened, the landmass
separated into countries, shaping the globe as we know it today. Q.4 Why does the author say that
to visit Antarctica is to be a part of history?
Ans. It is only when you visit Antarctica that you realise all that can happen in a million years.
where we have come from and where we could possibly be heading. We understand the
significance of Cordilleran folds, pre-Cambrian granite shields, ozone and carbon, evolution and
extinction.

Q.4 How do geographical phenomenon help us to know about the history of mankind?
Ans The study of geographical phenomenon certainly helps to know about the history of human
kind. In this passage, we learn that Gondwana, a giant southern super - continent did exist six
hundred and fifty million years ago with much warmer climate. It had a huge variety of flora and
fauna. After five hundred million years, Gondwana broke to separate into countries as they exist
today. The study reveals that this happened around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out
and the age of mammals had just begun.

Q.5 ‘The world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica.’ How is the study of this region
useful to us ?
Ans It is quite true that the world’s geological history is trapped in Antarctica. It is the coldest,
driest and windiest continent in the world. In this passage, we learn that Gondwana, a giant
southern super - continent did exist six hundred and fifty million years ago with much warmer
climate. After five hundred million years ago, Gondwana broke to separate into countries as they
exist today. After that Indian plate was pushed northwards and drifted to join North America
opening up the Drake Passage. It created a cold and circumpolar current keeping Antarctica frigid
and desolate. It now stores ninety percent of the earth’s total ice volumes.

Q.6 ‘Take care of the small things and the big things will take care of themselves.’ What is
the relevance of this statement in the context of the Antarctica environment?
Ans This metaphorical expression is the message of the lesson. Antarctica has a simple eco –
system and lacks bio – diversity. Its study reveals the fact how little changes in the environment
can have big repercussions. The study of the microscopic micro – phytoplankton is quite
interesting. However, further depletion of the ozone layer will affect the life on earth as a whole.
These are small but important things. If they are taken care of, big things will automatically fall into
place. If we make sincere efforts to protect the ozone layer, the problem of global warming will be
controlled making a better place to live.

Q.7 Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and
future?
Ans Visiting Antarctica is like going back into the history of the earth. In this passage, we learn
that Gondwana, a giant southern super continent did exist six hundred and fifty million years ago
with much warmer climate. It had a huge variety of flora and fauna. After five hundred million years
ago, Gondwana broke into separate countries as they exist today. Dinosaurs became extinct. The
age of mammals began. Antarctica now stores ninety percent of the earth’s total ice volumes.
There are neither trees nor life. We lose all earthly sense of perspective and time there. Antarctica
clearly poses a future threat to mankind. It pronounces the message that if we make sincere
efforts to protect the ozone layer, the problem of global warming will e controlled making the earth
a better place to live.

Q.8 What was the first impression of the narrator on facing Antarctica?
Ans His first encounter with Antarctica made the narrator feel relieved. He had reached there after
a journey of over one hundred hours. Its immense white landscape with endless blue horizon
dazzled his eyes. All in all, it created a deep sense of wonder and mystery.
Q.9 How does one lose all earthly sense of perspective and time in Antarctica?
Ans Antarctica stores ninety percent of the earth’s total ice volumes. There are neither trees nor
life. The visual scale ranges from the microscopic to the mighty. As a result, we lose all earthly
sense of perspective and time there.

Chapter 4 The Enemy

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

Sadao had taken this into his mind as he did everything his father said, his father who never joked
or played with him but who spent infinite pains upon him who was his only son. Sadao knew that
his education was his father‘s chief concern. For this reason he had been sent at twenty two to
America to learn all that could be learned of surgery and medicine.

i) What all can be inferred from the passage given above?

a. Sadao‘s father was a very serious man.
b. His father as very credulous.
c. He had concern for his son.
d. Both a and c

ii) Choose the correct alternative from the following options for assertion
(A) and reason (R). Assertion (A): Sadao did everything his father said.
Reason (R) : He had been sent at twenty two to America.

a. Both (A) and (R) are true .But(R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
b. (A) is true but (R)is false.
c. (A) is false but (R) is true.
d. Cannot be inferred.

iii) Sadao respected his father in every aspect. This statement is…..
a. Partially true b. True c. Cannot be inferred d. Partially false
III. A.d B.a C.b.

Q.2 There are moments in life when we have to make hard choices between our roles as
private individuals and as citizens with a sense of national loyalty. Discuss.
Ans. Yes, at times, we do find ourselves caught in a conflict between our role as a private
individual and as a citizen. With regard to the American prisoner of war, Dr Sadao Hoki also
confronted a similar situation. When he found him washed ashore in a dying state at his doorstep,
he was in a state of dilemma whether he should save his life as a doctor or hand him over to the
army? Subsequently, the oath he had taken as a doctor overpowers him and he decides to save
the soldier despite facing a lot of troubles himself. During the process, he recalls all the unpleasant
experiences he suffered with the white people in America while completing his studies in medicine,
but he ignores them. Even all his servants desert them. Still, he performs the surgery on the
soldier for a bullet, helped by his wife and finally helps him in escaping to freedom.

Q.3 Dr Sadao was compelled by his duty as a doctor to help the enemy soldier. What made
Hana, his wife, sympathetic to him in the face of open defiance from the domestic staff?
Ans. As a doctor, Sadao Hoki was compelled by his duty to save a dying man. Whether he was a
friend or a foe didn’t matter. When the couple encountered dying Tom, they were in a fix.
However, Hana was a kind-hearted lady. She naturally felt quite sympathetic towards Tom, though
he was their enemy being an American soldier. She faced an open defiance from her servants, but
she was not provoked. She played her role of a dutiful wife helping Dr Sadao in successfully
operating Tom for a bullet.
Q.4 What explains the attitude of the General in the matter of the enemy soldier? Was it
human consideration, lack of national loyalty, dereliction of duty or simply self-absorption?
Ans. Generally, Japanese are known for their extreme loyalty and patriotism. However, the
negligence of the General in Tom’s matter appears to be dubious and difficult to explain. Despite
being famous as ‘ruthless General’, he delayed action in case of the American war prisoner. He
didn’t send his private assassins to kill him at Dr Sadao’s residence. Dr Sadao was his consultant
surgeon and he knew that he would not stand one more attack of his illness. Perhaps, his personal
consideration outweighed all other consideration for Dr Sadao. For sheltering an enemy at hoe, Dr
Sadao was most likely to get a severe punishment like death sentencement or life-imprisonment.
So, keeping his future treatment from Dr Sadao in mind, the old General compromised with his
loyalty, patriotism and national security. He definitely seems to be guilty of dereliction of his duty.

Q.5 While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during
wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices? OR
Do you think Dr Sadao’s solution to the problem was the best possible one in the
circumstances?
Ans. It is said that everything is fair in love and war. Being a Japanese, Dr Sadao naturally felt
hatred against the American soldier. His long stay in America had exposed him to Americans’
racial prejudices. Still, above all, he was a doctor who had to be far above such petty prejudices.
He could never let his patient die easily even if he was his enemy! So, his ultimate solution to the
problem was the best one in the given circumstances. Though giving shelter to an enemy was an
anti-national activity, yet by operating upon him and saving his life was his prime duty as a doctor.
Handing him over to the police would certainly mean death for him! Finally, he helped him escape
using his private boat after waiting for three nights for the General’s private assassins to kill him.
Even when he had been called by the General, the discussion concluded with a subtle mutual
agreement and understanding in terms of no action between them!

Q.6 Why did the servants refuse to stay in Dr Sadao’s house? How did the couple face the
situation?
Ans. The servants were frightened when they learnt about the American soldier in the house.
They revolted. They felt that the white man must die because he was their enemy. Yumi, the maid,
refused to wash him. Finally, one day, they left the house. Dr Sadao and Hana let them go and
continued nursing the wounded American.
Q7. “If all Japs were like you there wouldn’t have been a war” said Tom. Justify.
Ans. Dr Sadao didn’t hand over Tom to the police. Instead, he gave him shelter, operated him for
his bullet injury and saved him. This touched the American soldier’s heart. Thus he rightly and
overwhelmingly said that if all the Japanese were like Dr Sadao, there wouldn’t have been a war
between America and Japan.

Q.8 Why did Dr Sadao help the American to escape? Was it an act of treachery?
Ans. Dr Sadao, like any other Japanese, didn’t like the white Americans. He gave shelter to a
wounded enemy, operated him for his bullet injury and subsequently arranged for his escape. But
he did all that as a doctor on humanitarian grounds, far above petty prejudices regarding race and
nationality. He would have definitely handed him over to the police if the American was healthy.
Human consideration outweighed all petty considerations in this case.

Chapter 5 Should Wizard Hit Mommy?

Q.1 How does Joe want the story to end? Why?

Ans. Jo is a little girl. Like all other children, her world is full of dreams, fancy and magic. There is
no place for ugliness and stink in it. Roger skunk is the hero of her father’s story and he could not
be ugly and stinky in her imagination. She sympathizes with him from the beginning of the story.
When Roger’s mother hits the wizard on his head with her umbrella to change him into a stinky
Roger again, Jo feels offended(angry) and calls her “the stupid mommy” who should be punished
by the wizard by hitting her on her head by his magic wand. So she wants the story to end in that
manner.

Q.2 Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother?
Ans Jack used to tell Jo a bed – time story every evening. Usually his stories ended with morals.
Initially, the wizard converted Roger into smelling like roses. But his mother insisted the wizard to
convert him into a stinky Roger again. For that she hit the wizard right over his head with her
umbrella. Jo wanted the story to end the other way. But Jack didn’t change the end of the story
because, otherwise, it would have been an insult to motherhood.

Q.3 Why is an adult’s perspective on life different from that of a child?

Ans The perspectives on life of an adult and a child have to be widely different from each other. A
child’s world is full of dreams, fancy and magic. There is no place for ugliness in it. Usually the
heroes of stories act as role models for children with no defeat, no negativity. So Jo can’t accept
Roger stinking. He is converted into rose – smelling Roger, but his mother gets him converted into
stinking Roger again. Jo then feels highly offended and insists that the story should end with the
wizard hitting “the stupid mommy” and not converting Roger into his original stink.
Jack is the father, an adult. He has faced the harsh realities and bindings of life. As a father it is
his moral duty to teach the child the right ways of life. He wants Jo to realize the fact that every
child, irrespective of his physical or mental features is the dearest soul to his/her mother. So the
wizard could never even think of touching Roger’s mother.

Q.4 What is the moral issue that the story raises?

Ans The basic moral issue raised by the story is racial discrimination. Nature has made Roger
Skunk smell very bad. For that reason, he has to undergo immense sufferings, though it is not his
fault. He is ignored and looked down upon by other creatures. They refuse to play with him. After
visiting the wizard, Roger smells like roses and is accepted by other creature to play with them.
But his mother hits the wizard on his head to get Roger smell bad again. She loves and hugs him
because now he smells like her own son. This is another moral of the story that we should not lose
our originality and identity.

Q.5 Describe Jack’s style of story telling.

Ans Jack’s stories were his own creation. While narrating a story, he could perfectly create the
desired effects by manipulating his voice, facial expressions and gestures. For example the old
wizard’s voice was one of his favourite effects.

Q.6 Why did Roger’s mother didn’t like her son smelling like roses?
Ans When Roger Skunk returned home, he was smelling like roses because of the magical effect
created on him by the wizard. But to his mother that fragrance was ‘awful’. Roger told her that all
the other little animals kept away from him because he smelled very bad to them. So he had
visited the wizard on the advice of the wise owl. But the mother became very angry. She didn’t
care for such things. So, she took him back to the wizard and made him smell like a skunk again.

Chapter 6 On the Face of it

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

And no one’ll kiss me, ever. Only my mother, and she kisses me on the other side of my face, and
I don’t like my mother to kiss me, she does it because she has to. Why should I like that? I don’t
care if nobody ever kisses me.”
i) Who is the speaker?
ii) Why does his mother kiss on the other side of his face?
iii) Why is he not happy when his mother kisses him?
Q.2 What is it that draws Derry towards Mr Lamb in spite of himself?
Ans. Derry was a young boy with a burnt face. Due to that he suffered from inferiority complex and
felt lonely and withdrawn. When he accidently met Mr lamb in his garden, he felt something in him
which drew him towards him. Despite having a tin leg, Mr Lamb was cheerful and social. Children
teased him by calling ‘Lamey-Lamb’. But he didn’t mind it. Derry decided to open up before him
because he found a patient listener in him who always tried to comfort others. So, he left a deep
impression on the young boy. He showed him the ways of the world and motivated him to move
ahead. He must stop caring about what others say about his face etc.

Q.3 How does Mr Lamb try to overcome his loneliness and disappointment?
Ans. Mr Lamb’s leg had been blown in a war. It was replaced by a tin leg. Still he was cheerful
and social and always tried to comfort others. Though he lived alone, yet he never showed signs
of loneliness or disappointment. He did that by opening his heart to others. He welcomed
everyone who came to him. He liked to talk with others and always looked forward to have
company. As a result, he had friends everywhere and was well known in the vicinity. Children
came to him for the apples, pears and toffees. He took interest in everything and everyone. He
lived mostly in the company of nature. Life meant a perpetual growth to him. This was his
philosophy of life. Thus he never got time to think about any negative aspect related with life.

Q.4 The actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment is often much less
than the sense of alienation felt by the person with disabilities. What kind of behaviour
such a person expects from others?
Ans. Actually, the sense of alienation comes from the people around you. Physical impairment
can be tolerated and even forgotten for a short while, but the sense of alienation is always
extremely painful. Generally, people’s reactions towards the disabled persons are never normal or
human. Either they are too soft or too harsh towards them. Both the extremes are often too
offending! Derry suffered from inferiority complex due to his burnt face. He felt that no one would
ever like or love him. He avoided people and preferred to be lonely and withdrawn. The story
highlights the fact that such people want more moral support than sympathy form the society.
When Derry got that from Mr Lamb, he naturally reposed his faith in him and opened up with him.

Q.5 “Both Derry and Mr Lamb suffer physical disabilities but their attitudes towards life and
people are totally different.” Elaborate.
Ans. One side of Derry’s face was accidently burnt by acid. As a result, he suffered from a terrible
sense of guilt, inferiority complex and alienation. He was always conscious that his face was ‘bad’,
‘terrible’ and ‘the ugliest thing’ and that the people were ‘afraid’ of him. He felt that no one would
ever like or love him. On the other hand, Mr Lamb never allowed his physical disability to come in
his way and always had a positive attitude towards life. Though children teased him by calling
“Lamey-Lamb” yet he ignored them and always welcomed everyone who came to him. He was full
of life and enjoyed the nature to his best. He liked the sun, reading books and growing apples,
weeds and flowers.

Q.6 Why did the boy enter Mr Lamb‘s garden?

Q.7 Why did Derry insist that he has to go?
Q.8 Why did the boy climb the garden wall?
Q.9 Why does Derry say that people are afraid of him?
Q.10 Mr Lamb has allowed weeds to grow in his garden. Why?
Chapter 7 Evans tries an O-level

Q.1 The Governor and his staff did heir best not to provide Evans a means of escape but
the wily Evans proved to be more than a match for them. It was he who had the last laugh.
Justify.
Ans. In spite of all precautions taken by the Jail authorities, Evans successfully escaped from the
prison. The Governor and his staff were outwitted by him. His O-Level examination was to be
conducted in his cell only. Senior officers Jackson and Stephens had checked Evan’s personally
as well his cell thoroughly. All suspicious items were also taken away. Still Evans could hide a
false beard, a pair of spectacles and some weapon with him! Actually he had a very strong gang
behind to support him to execute his plan of escape. He managed to hostage Mr Mc Leery, the
Parson and his invigilator in Broad Street. Instead, one of his men came to conduct the
examination. Later Evans impersonated Mc Leery and stayed injured in the cell to be rushed to a
hospital. Subsequently he escaped on the way!
Q.2 How did the Governor surprise Evans in the bedroom of the Golden Lion? Still how was
Evans able to have the last laugh proving that the Governor was “just another good-for-a-
giggle?”
Ans. Actually, the Governor realized quite late that he and his staff had been completely outwitted
by wily Evans. First, Mc Leery was not in the hospital. Latter he was found gagged and bound in
his study at Broad Street. Evans had impersonated Mc Leery with the help of one of his men and
stayed in the cell injured and to be rushed to a hospital. Subsequently, he escaped on the way!
The correction slip from the Examination Board gave a six-figure reference – 313/271 of Chipping
Norton. Using that clue, the Governor reached the Golden Lion hotel. When Evans entered his
room, he was encountered by the Governor and handcuffed. Till this point everything was in
favour of the Governor. But his last act of foolishness made him a laughing stock. Without
checking or identifying the authenticity of the police van or police officers, he handed over such a
nasty criminal to them. Again, they were ‘his’ men! As a result, Evans escaped from right under his
nose and that too in the most ‘dignified’ manner! Thus the Governor was reduced to ‘just another
good-for-a-giggle.”
Q.3. While we condemn the crime, we are sympathetic to the criminal. Is this the reason
why prison staff often develops a soft corner for those in custody?
Ans. Both, to condemn or sympathize, are inherent human qualities. The prison staff lives with
criminals day and night. So it is quite natural that they develop an unseen relationship with one
another. However, sometimes, hardcore criminals like Evans take undue advantage of it. He
knew well that ‘buried somewhere in Jackson, was a tiny core of compassion.’ So, when Jackson
asked Evans to take his hat off for inspection, Evans pleaded that the hat was a ‘kind of lucky
charm’ for him. Jackson casually let it go. And, there he made the biggest mistake because all the
make-up items were hidden under his hat! Evans used them to impersonate Mr Mc Leery, the
invigilator and escaped ultimately. Had Jackson insisted on taking his hat off, it would have been a
different story.

Q4. Do you agree that between crime and punishment it is mainly a battle of wits?
Ans. Truly, there is always a battle of wits between crime and punishment. When the law is
vigilant, crime is detected and punished. In this play, we have on one hand Stephens, Jackson
and the Governor as vigilant law-keepers and the wily Evans as a hardcore criminal on the other.
The former take all precautions to conduct an O-Level examination for Evans in his cell. After
escorting Mc Leery, the invigilator to the prison gate, when Stephens comes to confirm that things
are alright in Evans’ cell, he jumps to a silly conclusion that it is Mc Leery, injured by Evans, lying
in the chair. Nobody, including the Governor, tries to check the identity of the injured ‘Mc Leery’.
Hasty conjectures lead to one blunder after the other. Evans was called “Evans the Breaker” by
prison authorities as he had, earlier, escaped from the prison three times. This time also, he
outwitted them all and proved that the Governor was “just another god-for-a-giggle.”
Q5 Was Evans really interested in getting some sort of academic qualification?
Ans. No, it was his deliberate plan of escape assisted by his gang. The German teacher who
came for his tuition was the main character of the plan. (ELABORATE)

Q6. What was the correction slip? Why did Evans say later that it killed two little birds with
a single stone?
Ans. After the examination began, the Assistant Secretary of the Board informed the Governor
that there was a correction slip for the paper which they had forgotten to put in the sealed packet
for the question paper. Actually, it had all the details of Evans’ plan of escape. The duplicate ‘Mc
Leery’ made Evans make a note of it very carefully. It killed two birds with a single stone by telling
Evans the name of the hotel Golden Lion - his hide-out, and, his ultimate plan of escape if the first
one misfired. It also told him the exact time the examination had started for his reverse-counting!

Q7. What two strange things were noticed when Mc Leery stood at the prison gate with
Stephens?
Ans. When Stephens escorted Mc leery to the prison gate after the examination was over, he
noticed that Mc Leery’s Scottish accent “seemed broader than ever.” Secondly, his long black coat
was reaching almost to his knees, making him look slimmer than usual.

Chapter 8 Memories of Childhood

Q.1 Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

“A paleface woman, with white hair, came up after us. We were placed in a line of girls who were
marching into the dining room. These were Indian girls, in stiff shoes and closely clinging dresses.
The small girls wore sleeved aprons and shingled hair. As I walked noiselessly in my soft
moccasins, I felt like sinking to the floor, for my blanket had been stripped from my shoulders.‖

i) Who is the ―I‖ in these lines?

(a) Bama (b) Zitkala -Sa (c) Hana (d) Yumi

ii) How was the narrator feeling in her new school?

(a) Relieved (b) Uncomfortable (c) Ecstatic (d) Mesmerised

iii) What are moccasins?

(a) Soft leather shoes (b) Hard leather shoes
(c) Leather shoes with stiff soles (d) None of these

iv) Who had shingled hair?

(a) Asian girls (b) European girls (c) American Indian girls (d) None of these

Answers: (i) (b)Zitkala -Sa (ii)(b) Uncomfortable (iii) (a) Soft leather shoes (iv)(c)American Indian
Girls

Q.2 Why did the narrator feel sad and provoked after having seen the man with vadais?
Ans After telling her brother about the incidence, the narrator came to know why that elder carried
the packet of vadais with a string in a particular manner. She felt terribly sad and provoked
because she herself belonged to the same ‘low caste’. She felt embarrassed why people had to
bow low and slog for their masters. She also angrily felt like touching those vadais herself.

Q.3 What did Annan say about his community to the narrator?
Ans Annan told Bama that since they belonged to a ‘low caste’, they were deprived of the honour,
dignity, importance or respect. They could throw away those indignities only if they studied well
and made progress in life. Then the same people would come to them of their own accord.
Q.4 How was the narrator inspired by the words of her elder brother(Annan)?
Ans Annan advised Bama to study with care and be ahead of others in her lessons. Then alone
she would be able to throw away those indignities like dishonour, being ignored or disrespect at
the hands of the so called ‘high’ caste community. As a result, she worked hard ‘in a frenzy almost’
and always topped. Soon she made many friends.

Q.5 The two accounts that you read about in the passage are based in two distant cultures.
What is the commonality of theme found in both of them?
OR
Describe the main issues raised in both the autobiographical episodes in the lesson?
Ans Both the autobiographical episodes from the lives of Zitkala – Sa and Bama highlight the
plight of the marginalized communities. People from these communities mostly received
indignities, dishonour, negligence and disrespect.
The long hair of Zitkala – sa(Bonnin) were cut in an extremely undignified manner by tying her fast
in a chair. The ‘pale – faced woman’ often insulted her and other Indian girls.
In ‘We too are Human Beings’, Bama, a Tamil Dalit writer presents the struggle of a ‘low – caste’
girl in a subtle manner. She feels terribly sad, angry and provoked after realizing the indignities,
dishonour, disrespect and neglect suffered by her community. She counteracts it by studying very
hard and establishing herself as a well known writer later in her life.

Q.6 It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are
sowed early in life. Do you agree that injustice in any form cannot escape being noticed
even by children?
Ans In life, oppression and exploitation never go unnoticed or unchallenged. Inequalities in the
society give birth to the rebellion. Its seeds are always present in the exploited soul, often sown
early in life. Children may look innocent, may not react, but they have their own understanding of
the world and injustice in any form. In ‘The Cutting of My Long Hair’, Gertrude Bonnin, a little
native Indian girl, wants to maintain her identity by having long and thick hair as it is the tradition of
her community. When they are being shingled, she doesn’t submit but resists till she is
overpowered. Similarly, Bama, in ‘We too are Human Beings’, subtly narrates her first hand
experience of untouchability in India. ‘Low caste’ people are always disrespected, dishonoured
and neglected by the so called ‘High Caste’ people. However, inspired by the words of her brother,
Bama works hard and outshines others in her class, topping the merit list. The people then
recognize and honour her.

Q.7 Why was Bama first amused at the scene of the old man carrying a food packet by its
strings without touching it? Why was she filled with anger, dismay and revolt later?
Ans One day while returning home from her school, Bama saw an elder of her street coming from
the bazar. He was carrying a small packet by its string without touching it. She guessed it
contained vadais or green banana bhaji. At first she was quite amused at the sight. She also saw
the landlord arrogantly watching the working man from his threshing floor. At home she narrated
the incident to her brother. But he wasn’t amused. He told her the bitter truth that the landlord
belonged to a ‘High Caste’, and, the elderly man, like them, belonged to a ‘Low Caste’. If he
touched the packet, the food would be polluted and not accepted by the landlord. Then Bama was
filled with anger, dismay and revolt because she strongly felt that all human beings were equal.
Then her brother inspired her to study hard and establish herself in life. She did the same and
proved her worth to her family, society as well as the nation.

NOTICE

1. Water supply will be suspended for eight hours (10 am to 6 pm) on 6th of March for cleaning of the water
tank. Write a notice in about 50 words advising the residents to store water for a day. You are Karan
Kumar/Karuna Bajaj, Secretary, Janata Group Housing Society, Palam Vihar, Kurnool.
2.While walking in a park in your neighbourhood you found a small plastic bag containing some documents
and cash. Write a notice in about 50 words to be put on the park notice board asking the owner to identify
and collect it from you. You are Amar/Amrita 9399123456.
3.As Sports Secretary of G.D.G. Public School, Pune, draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your
school notice board informing the students about the sale of old sports goods of your school. You are
Rohini/Rohit.
4. You are Srinivas / Srinidhi of D.P. Public School, Nagpur. As Student Editor of your school magazine,
draft a notice in not more than 50 words for your school notice board inviting articles and sketches from
students of all classes.
5. You are Smitha/Sunil, Secretary AVM Housing Society. You are going to organize a blood donation
camp. Write a notice in not more than 50 words, urging the members of your society to come in large
numbers for this noble cause. Invent all the necessary details.

INVITATIONS
1. You are Ankit Verma. Your friend from Malaysia is in the hostel. Invite him to join Diwali Celebrations
with you at your residence.
2. You are Manoj. You are going on a picnic with a group of your classmates to Karna Lake, near Karnal.
Write an informal invitation to your friend Mohit to join you on that day.
3. Nikhil has come out successful in the I.I.T Entrance Examination. He has decided to have a party for his
friends. Write an invitation giving details of venue, time and date. Do not exceed 50 words.
4. You are Atul Gupta. You are opening a new branch of your business house NEW LIGHT
FURNISHINGS at C-32, Ansal Plaza, Delhi. Write an invitation to your uncle to attend the inauguration
ceremony and bless you.
5. You are Akshya / Aakriti. You have been invited to participate in a seminar on ‗Fundamental Rights of
Children‘, organized by the Lions Club of your distinct. Respond to the invitation confirming your
acceptance by writing a letter to the Secretary of the club.

6. You are Dr. Amit Gupta, an eminent educationist. You have been invited to preside over an Inter Zonal
Declamation competition by Nalini, the President of English Literary Club of Government Model Sr. Sec.
School, Sector-20, Chandigarh. Write a reply accepting the invitation.
7. You are the President, Literary Society of Sunshine International School. Draft an invitation to author, Ms
Manjul Bajaj requesting her to conduct a workshop on creative writing in your school. You are Romi/Rohit
of Zenith Public School.
8. Your school is planning to organise a talk on the ‘Importance of Promoting Art Education’ at all levels.
You plan to invite The Director, Delhi School of Art, as a Key Note Speaker. As CCA Coordinator of Vidya
Mandir Vidyalaya, draft an invite for the same giving all the necessary details.
9. You are Dr. Stanzin, a certified art therapist from Leh. You have been invited by G. D Public School,
Jammu, to conduct a seminar for students on ‘Art Therapy the Way Forward”. This seminar is to introduce
students to the usefulness of art in analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and
tone analysis, using appropriate format and fluency, appropriacy of style and tone dealing with personal and
social problems. Write your reply, in about 50 words accepting the invitation.
10. Sunrise Global School, Agra is going to organize a one-act play competition in the school auditorium.
You have decided to invite noted stage artiste, Nalini to grace the occasion. Draft a formal invitation for her
in about 50 words. You are Karuna/Karan Cultural Secretary.

ARTICLE
1. On the occasion of Earth Day, you participated in various eco-friendly campaigns initiated by your
school. Write an article in about 150-200 words for your school magazine giving details of these
campaigns and the impact on you. You are Shubhangi/ Deepak of Brightland Public School.

Suggested Value Points – Importance of Earth Day – Eco- friendly campaigns initiated by the school
– detailed description of the activities  motivation,  difficulties,  how they were overcome, 
sense of achievement, satisfaction – community outreach – impact on you
 2. They may have stood the test of time but there is a growing demand for the need to protect the
country‘s monuments. Write an article in about 150-200 words for your school magazine on how we
can conserve our built heritage. You are Akshay/ Akshita of Graham Public School, Indore.

Suggested Value Points – pride in our built heritage – condition of the monuments – suggestions and
remedial measures – any other relevant detail

3. As part of an Entrepreneurship project the commerce students of your school recently launched a
product called Oatlicious. They not only set up a company to produce the product but also designed
its advertising and marketing strategy. Write an article in about 150-200 words for your school
magazine giving details of the enterprise and its launch. You are Stephen/ Celine of Graham Public
School, Indore.
Suggested value points: – description of the product – advertising and marketing strategy – detailed
description of the activities – struggles faced and support received – response of the community

4. On the threshold of being a world super power, India does have a large young workforce but
unfortunately not many in this force are employable for want of necessary skills. Write in about 150-
200 words, an article for a newspaper on the topic'Skill Development is the need of the hour'. You
are Anita/Arnav.

Suggested value points:  Introduction- •mention briefly the status of the issue  Topic analysis •
discuss why Indian education fails to develop employability skills among youth. • describe how this
deficit affects Indian economy, industry, business and people  Conclusion • suggest what can be
done to develop these skills among the young people who are going to be the mainstay of the
workforce of the future

5. Taking selfies has become a rage and is a global phenomenon. It has cost us several lives and also
immortalised several moments. Write an article for a National Daily on the trend of taking selfies
and its impact on people. You are Aditi/ Aditya.

Suggested value points:  Introduction  mention briefly the problems associated with the selfie
culture and its ramifications- A great obsession  Topic analysis  Do not enjoy the moment or
nature  Too occupied posting it on social media  Take risks to click them  Conclusion  Need to
create awareness about the drawbacks  Teach responsible use of technology  Suggest positive use
of this technology

REPORT

1. You are Aniket/Ankita. You participated in a career counselling programme organized by Dream Careers.
You had the opportunity of listening to professionals from various fields like food technology, Biometric
Sciences, nanotechnology, media management etc. Write a report of the programme in 120-150 words

2. You are Tapan/Tripti, a student of H.P Public School. Students of two schools from Germany visited your
school as part of a cultural exchange programme. Students of your school put up a cultural show to welcome
them. Write a report in the programme for your school magazine in 120-150 words.

3. You are Radha/Ramesh. As part of E-learning promotion drive, your school was invited to visit .The New
Learning – E-learning‗, a prominent E-learning company. Write a report on the visit for your school
magazine in 120-150 words.

4. You are Asma, the Head girl of Queens Public School, Delhi. Recently your school hosted the Regional
level CBSE Quiz competition. Write a report of this event for your school newsletter in about 120-150
words. ENGLISH CORE (301) CLASS XII – 2022-23 78
5. You are Devesh/Devika. As an active member of the Health Club of your school, you had participated in
a first aid training camp organized by the Red Cross Society of Malviya Nagar. Write a report on the camp
and its activities for your school magazine in 120-150 words.