CBSE Class 12 English Core Chapter-wise Previous Years Questions (2020) with Solution
Class 12 English Core Question Paper (2020) – Solved Question papers from previous years are very important for preparing for the CBSE Board Exams. It works as a treasure trove. It helps to prepare for the exam precisely. One of key benefits of solving question papers from past board exams is their ability to help identify commonly asked questions. These papers are highly beneficial study resources for students preparing for the upcoming class 12th board examinations. Here we have compiled chapter-wise questions asked in all the sets of CBSE Class 12 English Core question paper (2020).
Flamingo Book
Chapter 1 – The Last Lesson
Q1. What was the mood in the classroom when M. Hamel gave his last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. The entire classroom was silent when M.Hamet began his final lecture, every single student was quiet and paying attention to Mr. Hamel’s words, even everyone was sitting quietly in their own seat without making a fuss. Everyone was there that day and Mr. Hamel was completely absorbed in his thoughts.
Q2. What was the importance of the bulletin-board near the town hall? [30-40 words]
Ans. All the important news was put up on this bulletin board. News of lost battles, the draft, the order of the commanding officer – all the bad news came from there.
Q3. Why was the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz? [30-40 words]
Ans. It was a shock for the young boy because now he could no longer learn french language.
Q4. Why did M. Hamel blame the parents for their children’s poor performance at school? [30-40 words]
Ans. He blamed the parents for sending the kids to earn money instead of sending them to school. They put them at work in farms and mills so that the family could earn extra money.
Q5. Why did the narrator want to skip school on the day of the last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. He was scared of the teacher because he did not know the topic of Participles which the teacher had ordered them to prepare. Thus, he wanted to skip school and spend the day outside.
Q6. How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher say about it? [30-40 words]
Ans. Mother tongue is a key to freedom from slavery. M Hamel says that one must remain attached to one’s mother tongue to remain free from oppression.
Q7. Why was there a crowd in front of the bulletin-board? [30-40 words]
Ans. There was a crowd in front of the bulletin board because a news had been put up. It announced that as Prussia had annexed the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine, German instead of French would be taught in the schools there.
Q8. Why did the elders of the village attend the last lesson? [30-40 words]
Ans. The elders of the village attended the class that day as a mark of respect towards M Hamel who had taught there for forty years.
Q9. Educating children is the responsibility of society. Justify the statement in view of ‘The Last Lesson’. [120-150 words]
Ans. Children are the future of a nation and so, educating them is the responsibility of the society to ensure a better, brighter future. In the story, ‘The Last Lesson’ we see that the enemy country targets the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. After defeating France, Prussia annexed the districts of Alsace and Lorraine and replaced French subject with German in the schools there. They targeted school children to weaken the future of France. When the students would grow up, they would feel alienated from their motherland France and would gradually get inclined towards Germany. Thus, this plan of Prussians shows that children are the future of a nation and thus, their education has to be ensured by the society.
Also see:
The Last Lesson Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Last Lesson Summary, Explanation
The Last Lesson Character Sketches
Chapter 2 – Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood
Q1. What change occurs in Saheb’s life? Is it a change for the better or worse? [30-40 words]
Ans. Saheb now has a steady source of income. He is paid 800 rupees every day and receives all of his meals. As a result, food is not an issue. However, the casual expression on his face has vanished. The steel canister he’s holding suddenly feels like a burden. He is no longer in charge of himself. He would have to work longer shifts. He is depressed by his inability to undertake things on his own initiative.
Q2. How bad were the living conditions in which Mukesh and his family survived? [30-40 words]
Ans. They lived in utter poverty. Stinking lanes choked with garbage led to the house with a wobbly door. Humans and animals co-existed and it was a half-built shack. The walls were damaged and the entire family – Mukesh, his brothers, their wives and the parents lived in a small single room.
Q3. How was Saheb’s life at the tea-stall? [30-40 words]
Ans. Shahid got a job at a tea stall where he earned eight hundred rupees a month and got daily meals as well. However, he had lost the freedom that he had enjoyed while rag picking.
Q4. For Saheb, how was work at the tea stall different from rag picking? [30-40 words]
Ans. At the tea stall, Saheb worked for the owner of the stall. He was no longer his own master and lost the carefree look. The job assured a monthly pay and daily meals but took away his freedom.
Q5. Mention any two difficulties faced by the bangle sellers of Firozabad. [30-40 words]
Ans. The bangle-makers of Firozabad have to work in unhealthy conditions which harm their health permanently. They do not earn much and are forced into a vicious cycle of poverty controlled by the moneylenders, police and politicians. They do not dare think of following any other profession due to the fear of these powerful people.
Q6. What explanation did the children offer the writer for not wearing footwear? Did she agree to it? [30-40 words]
Ans. They gave various reasons – one said that his mother did not get the chappals down from the shelf and the other said that even if she did get them, the boy would have thrown them off.
Q7. Life of the bangle makers of Firozabad shows the grinding state of poverty and traditions that condemn thousands of people to live a life of misery. Elaborate. [120-150 words]
Ans. Through the story of the bangle-makers of Ferozabad, the author expresses her concern over their exploitation in the hazardous job of bangle-making. Extreme poverty, hard work and dismal working conditions result in the loss of the childhood of children who are in this profession. The working conditions of all bangle-makers are pathetic and miserable. They work in high temperature, badly lit and poorly ventilated glass furnaces due to which child workers especially are at risk of losing their eyesight at an early age and get prone to other health hazards. The stinking lanes of Ferozabad are choked with garbage and humans and animals live together in these hovels. There is no development or progress in their lives with the passage of time. They have no choice but to work in these inhuman conditions. Mind-numbing toil kills their dreams and hopes. The vicious circle of moneylenders and politiocans does not allow them to form co-operatives or take up alternate professions. They are condemned to live and die in squalor, subjected to a life of poverty and perpetual exploitation.
Also see:
Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Summary, Explanation
Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood MCQs
Lost Spring Stories of Stolen Childhood Character Sketches
Chapter 3 – Deep Water
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
This went on until July. But I was still not satisfied. I was not sure that all the terror had left. So I went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. I swam the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. Only once did the terror return. When I was in the middle of the lake, I put my face under and saw nothing but bottomless water. The old sensation returned in miniature.
(i) Name the chapter and its writer.
Ans. Deep Water is the title of the chapter, and William Douglas is the author.
(ii) Why was the writer still not satisfied?
Ans. The writer was nevertheless unsatisfied since he still felt a sliver of worry now and then.
- He had a near-death experience that left a lasting impression on his psyche.
- As a result, he was motivated to overcome his phobia, and even after the trainer had completed his training, he was unsatisfied.
(iii) What did ‘he’ do to satisfy himself?
Ans. To satisfy himself, he did the following:
- After the trainer had done training him, he went swimming alone.
- He travelled to New Hampshire’s Lake Wentworth.
- Eventually, he overcame his fear by swimming across Warm Lake.
(iv) Which ‘old sensation’ did he experience?
Ans. He felt like he was drowning when he had the “old sensation.”
- He went to a California beach with his father when he was a toddler and was pushed down by heavy surf. He was terrified as a result of the encounter.
- When he was around ten or eleven years old, he was likewise thrown into the YMCA pool by a gang of youngsters. He was terrified because he couldn’t get to the surface.
- He was terrified of water after these two experiences.
Question Answers
Q1. Explain Roosevelt’s observation, ‘‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’’ [30-40 words]
Ans. He observed that fear only exists in the mind while actually, there is nothing to be afraid of.
Q2. How did William Douglas’s fear of water start? [30-40 words]
Ans. When he was three or four years of age, his father took him to a beach in California. They stood in the surf and William stuck onto his dad. Still, he got knocked down and was swept over by the water. This created terror in him.
Q3. How did the swimming instructor build a swimmer out of Douglas? [120-150 words]
Ans. The instructor worked hard to buid a swimmer out of Douglas. He recognised Douglas’ deathly fear of water and practiced with him five days a week for an hour each day. He devised a novel method of teaching him to swim. He fastened a rope to Douglas’ belt, which passed through a pulley that ran over an overhead cable. He made Douglas move back and forth in the pool while holding the end of the rope in his hand, without causing him much fear. Douglas was taught how to exhale underwater and inhale by raising his nose.
This exercise was repeated several times, and they swam across the pool week after week. Douglas wa then taught to kick with his legs by the instructor. His legs did not work first, but he was eventually able to control and command them. Finally, his instructor transformed him into a near-perfect swimmer.
Q4. How did Douglas develop a fear of water? [120-150 words]
Ans. Since the age of three or four, when Douglas accompanied his father to the beach in California, he realized his fear of water. He would get frightened by the power of the waves which threw him, swept over him and buried him in the water.
It was just when he had started feeling comfortable in the pool in YMCA that an incident took place. A big boy picked up the author and threw him in the pool at the deep end. He got water in the mouth and sank to the bottom of the pool. He got suffocated due to lack of air, could not scream for help, moved his arms in desperation but all his efforts failed. He sucked water and then suddenly, all the efforts stopped. He felt relaxed, peaceful, fearless and sleepy as he drifted away to death.
Q5. How did Douglas develop an aversion to water? How did he overcome his fear of water? [120-150 words]
Ans. Since the age of three or four, when Douglas accompanied his father to the beach in Californis, he realized his fear of water. He would get frightened by the power of the waves which threw him, swept over him and buried him in the water.
It was just when he had started feeling comfortable in the pool in YMCA that an incident took place. A big boy picked up the author and threw him in the pool at the deep end. He got water in the mouth and sank to the bottom of the pool. He got suffocated due to lack of air, could not scream for help, moved his arms in desperation but all his efforts failed. He sucked water and then suddenly, all the efforts stopped. He felt relaxed, peaceful, fearless and sleepy as he drifted away to death.
His desire to swim in the waters motivated him to learn swimming and get rid of the fear. He hired an instructor who turned Douglas into a fine swimmer.
Also see:
Deep Water Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Deep Water Summary, Explanation
Chapter 4 – The Rattrap
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
But just as he laid his head on the ground, he heard a sound – a hard regular thumping. There was no doubt as to what that was. He raised himself. “Those are the hammer strokes from an iron mill”, he thought.
(i) Who is he?
Ans. The peddler
(ii) Where was ‘he’ at that moment?
Ans. in the forest
(iii) Why did he lay his head on the ground?
Ans. he thought his end had come
(iv) Did he feel comfortable on hearing the thumping sound? Why?
Ans. yes, the sound indicated that there was a mill nearby where he could seek shelter.
Question Answers
Q1. Why did the ironmaster invite the peddler to his house? [30-40 words]
Ans. The ironmaster mistook the peddler for an old army comrade and invited him home to feed him and improve his condition. He wanted to take his regimental comrade home.
Q2. How was the peddler welcomed in the iron mill? [30-40 words]
Ans. The peddler was cordially greeted at the crofter’s cottage. The world had never been kind to the peddler before. Everywhere he went, he was given the cold shoulder. As a result, he was pleased to be received warmly by the crofter.
Q3. Why did the peddler leave a Christmas gift for Edla? [30-40 words]
Ans. Edla’s selfless kindness brought a change in the peddler’s heart due to which he left a gift for her. He wanted to live upto the expected level of an Army Captain as she had addressed him.
Q4. How did the Crofter entertain the peddler? [30-40 words]
Ans. The old crofter welcomed the peddler, shared porridge and tobacco with him. He played Mjolis card game with the stranger and let him sleep there for the night. He also shared his secrets with the peddler.
Q5. Why did the Crofter repose confidence in the peddler? How did the peddler feel after betraying the crofter? [120-150 words]
Ans. The Crofter was an old lonely man. He was glad to get company, someone to talk to. So, he welcomed the stranger into his house. He shared porridge and tobacco with him, shared the warmth of the fireplace, enjoyed the company by playing card game ‘mjolis’ with him and even shared his secrets. He boasted about the cow that he owned whose milk had fetched him thirty Kronor from the dairy.
In order to make the stranger believe him, the Crofter even showed him the pouch in which he had kept the money. Perhaps he wanted to boast about owning such a bossy cow which gave milk for the creamery everyday.
The peddler breached the Crofter’s trust by stealing the money. Initially, he was pleased with his smartness, however, on realizing that he could get into danger, he diverted into the woods. There, he got lost and realized that he had been walking round in the same path. The peddler now thought that he had been tempted by the bait, the money and was now trapped in an impenetrable prison.
Q6. What are the instances in the story (The Rattrap) that show that the character of the ironmaster is different from that of his daughter in many ways? [120-150 words]
Ans. Edla is a mature girl. She realizes their responsibility towards the stranger whom they have got home to share Christmas cheer with. She persuades her father to allow the stranger to stay back till Christmas is over because they had forced him to come over. Her father is impusive and rash and wants to throw the stranger out when he realizes his mistaken identity but the wise Edla stops him. She remains patient and kind to the stranger whom they had got home.
Edla is observant, a look at the stranger’s face shows his fear and she realizes that either he has committed a theft or has escaped from the police. However, her father is not able to decipher this.
Q7. Why did the peddler finally change his ways? [120-150 words]
Ans. Edla was selflessly kind towards the peddler. On the first glimpse of the peddler, she could identify that he had escaped the police or was hiding from it. Still, she gladly took him home and promised to share Christmas cheer with the vagabond. Edla was kind towards him and when the ironmaster realized the mistaken identity of the stranger whom he had mistaken to be an old army comrade, Edla insisted on keeping him home and fulfil the promise of sharing Christmas cheer with him. This selfless humanity changed the peddler. Edla did not want anything from the stranger, neither did she show him down or boast about herself. She just wanted him to sleep and eat for a few days because she knew that the homeless poor hungry wretch required just this.
Also see:
The Rattrap Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Rattrap Summary, Explanation
The Rattrap Character Sketches
Chapter 5 – Indigo
Q1. What was the contract between the sharecroppers of Champaran and their British landlords? [30-40 words]
Ans. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant three- twentieths or 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent. This was done by long-term contract.
Q2. How did the invention of German synthetic indigo affect the peasant-landlord relationship in Champaran? [30-40 words]
Ans.With the invention of the German synthetic indigo, the landlords no longer required the tenants to grow indigo on the land. However, they demanded a compensation from the peasants in order to relieve them from the contracts.
Q3. How was Gandhiji treated at Rajendra Prasad’s house? [30-40 words]
Ans. Rajendra Prasad was not at home when they reached. The servants knew Shukla, a poor peasant who visited their master to seek help for his lot. They allowed him to stay on the grounds and his companion, Gandhi ji who also seemed to be a fellow peasant. They were not allowed to draw water from the well fearing that they were untouchables and would pollute the entire well.
Q4. Why was Gandhiji against peasants going to courts for justice? [30-40 words]
Ans. Gandhi opined that the peasants were poor and lacked courage. They were in fear and so, the courts would not help them out. They needed to realize that they too had rights and they had support. This would give them courage and strength.
Q5. Why has Raj Kumar Shukla been described as being resolute? [30-40 words]
Ans. Raj Kumar Shukla was resolute because he kept on following Gandhiji till he accepted his request of visiting Champaran for the cause of the peasants. When Gandhiji asked him to meet him in Calcutta on such-and-such date, Shukla was already waiting there before Gandhiji’s arrival. Thus, he was determined to take him along to help the peasants of Champaran.
Q6. How did Civil Disobedience triumph at Motihari? [120-150 word]
Ans. Many farmers gathered outside the courtroom where Gandhiji had been summoned. The British felt challenged as a result of this. Champaran sharecroppers came barefoot to see Gandhiji. Lawyers from Muzzaffarpur also contacted him and were ready to court arrest in case they arrested Gandhiji. He explained that what he had done was nothing out of the ordinary. He’d simply informed the British that he couldn’t be ordered in his own country. The British got scared on seeing the huge numbers that had gathered in solidarity. Gandhiji attempted to create new free Indians capable of standing on their own.
This new realization gave courage and strength to the poor farmers and thus, marked the victory of Civil Disobedience.
Q7. How did the court scene at Motihari change the course of India’s struggle for freedom? [120-150 words]
Ans. The peasants in Champaran were terrified of the British government. The problem was caused by indigo and the landlords’ greed. They had forced the tenants to plant indigo on 15% of their land and hand over the entire harvest to the landlords. The landlords were ready to release the above condition when synthetic indigo arrived. They demanded compensation, unaware of the consequences, and the peasants agreed.When the peasants learned about synthetic indigo, they demanded their money back. Thugs were hired by the British to oppose them. Gandhiji realized that lawyers were unnecessary. He realized that releasing them from their fear would be difficult due to their lack of education.
He did, however, champion their cause with his tenacity. He soon became the leader of a nonviolent and Satyagraha movement. Many farmers gathered outside the courtroom where Gandhiji had been summoned. The British felt challenged as a result of this. Champaran sharecroppers came barefoot to see Gandhiji. Lawyers from Muzzaffarpur also contacted him. He explained that what he had done was nothing out of the ordinary. He’d simply informed the British that he couldn’t be ordered in his own country. Gandhiji attempted to create new free Indians capable of standing on their own.
This new realization provided him with a direction to lead the freedom struggle and thus proved to be a turning point in India’s struggle for independence.
Q8. How did the Champaran episode prove to be a turning point in Gandhiji’s life? [120-150 words]
Ans. The Champaran event had solved various problems faced by the poor peasants. They were relieved from the torture they had to face at the hands of the landlords. They gained courage and became fearless. Now the common man realized the power of non-violence.
Thousands of people had supported Gandhiji. He once said that what he did was an ordinary thing as he didn’t want the Britishers to order him in his own country. It was at this point that he decided to askt hem to leave India and thus, marked the start of Gandhiji’s involvement in India’s freedom struggle.
Q9. Gandhiji never contented himself with large political and economic solutions. What did he do for the cultural and social backwardness in the Champaran villages? [120-150 words]
Ans. I. Gandhiji_never satisfied himself with substantial political or economic solutions for the Champaran peasants, preferring instead to prioritise humanitarian and national duty. As the major goal of gaining peasant freedom, he desired self-sufficiency and self-reliance.
- Gandhiji advocated education as a solution to Champaran’s social and economic concerns. He appealed to many educators and teachers from various towns and locations to assist the peasants in becoming educated. He desired for everyone to be self-sufficient through becoming conscious and informed.
Gandhiji observed the Champaran villages’ cultural and social backwardness. He made a call for teachers in order to educate them. Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh, two of his new young students, as well as their wives, offered to help. More professors arrived from Bombay (Mumbai), Poona, and other far-flung corners of India. Mrs. Gandhi (Kasturba) and his youngest son Devdas also arrived from the Ashram. In six villages, primary schools were also established to educate youngsters. Kasturba instilled in the ashram the importance of personal hygiene and collective sanitation. Gandhiji sought medical help to improve his deteriorating health. He offered his services for free for six months.
Kasturba counselled the women on how to get rid of their filthy clothing. Gandhiji taught people self-reliance and liberation from British fear during his long stay in Champaran, As a result, he prepared the way for India’s independence.
Also see:
Indigo Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Chapter 6 – Poets and Pancakes
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
He could’nt have addressed a more dazed and silent audience – no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying.
(i) Identify the chapter. Who is ‘he’?
Ans. The chapter is Poets and Pancakes and ‘he’ refers to the poet, Stephen Spender.
(ii) What was ‘he’ in real life?
Ans. A Poet
(iii) How did the audience react to his speech?
Ans. They were confused
(iv) Why was his speech not a success?
Ans. Due to language barrier
Question Answers
Q1. What were the positive qualities of Subbu that the writer admired? [30-40 words]
Ans. Subbu, as a man of many qualities, had the ability to look cheerful at all times, was an excellent actor who could portray his roles in several ways, was an accomplished poet, and loved anyone he met.
He gave Gemini Studis a new meaning and direction as well as the art of filmmaking, by channeling all of his energy and creativity into the company’s benefit. Furthermore, almost everyone admired him for his noble and charitable nature.
Q2. What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people of Gemini Studio? [30-40 words]
Ans. Most of the 600 odd people at Gemini Studios were Tamil speakers. The Englishman was addressing them in his own language-English. He had a peculiar accent. Hence, there was a lack of Communication between the Englishman and the people at who could not follow what he was saying.
Q3. How was the make-up room in the Gemini Studios a fine example of national integration? [30-40 words]
Ans. The makeup department of the Gemini Studio comprised of people from different parts of the country. This is referred to as an example of national integration.
At first, a Bengali was the head of the make-up studio but then he outgrew Gemini Studios and left it for better opportunities. After him, it was supervised by a Maharashtrian who was assisted by a Dharwa Kannadiga, an Andhra, A Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese and the usual local Tamils. The fact that people from different cultures worked together puts forward the post-independence national integration scenario. It shows that people were united way before All India Radio and Doordarshan raised the concept.
Q4. What remarkable activities took place in the make-up room of Gemini Studios? [120-150 words]
Ans. The Gemini Studios were located in Chennai, on the second floor of a structure that was once thought to be Robert Clive’s stables. There were numerous departments, such as the make-up department, the tale department, and so on. Films were made as a result of a collaborative effort involving over 600 persons. The make-up room was big and gave the appearance of a hair salon. Around a half-dozen enormous mirrors, there were incandescent lights shining from all angles. The light emitted a great deal of heat. As a result, the make-up artists had a difficult time working in the scorching heat and blinding glare. The department purchased truckloads of pancakes, a type of make-up that was used to paint the athletes’ faces.
The chief of the make-up department provided make-up to the main actors and actresses. For the second hero and heroine, his senior assistant did the same. The comedian’s junior assistant did the same, and so on. The office boy was for the players who performed in front of the audience. Any decent-looking kid or girl might be transformed into an ugly monster by these team of make-up artists. It was a necessary wing that followed a tight hierarchy.
Q5. Why was Kothamangalam Subbu considered No. 2 in Gemini Studios? [120-150 words]
Ans. Kothamangalam Subbu succeeded in securing the place closest to The Boss by means of flattery. He was not brilliant but a rather cheerful person and exceedingly loyal to The Boss. He offered solutions whenever. The Boss was in a fix. Thus, the other employees considered him No.2 in Gemini Studios.
Also, his multitalented personality made him a go-to person who cloud fit into various roles.
Also see:
Poets and Pancakes Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Poets and Pancakes Summary, Explanation
Poets and Pancakes Character Sketches
Chapter 7 – The Interview
Q1. What does Umberto Eco mean by the concept of ‘Interstices’ in our lives? [30-40 words]
Ans. Eco is a University professor who attends academic conferences all through the week. He finds so much time to write by utilizing the empty spaces that we all have in our lives, just like the structure of atoms and the Universe. He terms these empty spaces as ‘interstices’. If he is waiting for someone coming to his house via the escalator, he would use that free time to write an essay rather than sit idle and wait. Therefore, he considers himself a scholar who writes novels on Sundays. He calls this utilization of interstices as time management.
Q2. What are some of the positive views on interviews? [30-40 words]
Ans. Interview, in the 130 years of its existence, has become an inherent part of journalism. It is a useful means of communication that is, at times, considered to be an art, serving as a source of truth. Denis Brian has stated that in today’s world we get to know “our contemporaries” through their interviews.
Q3. Why did Rudyard Kipling dislike being interviewed? Give two reasons. [30-40 words]
Ans. He felt that being interviewed was immoral. It was a crime against his person like assault and deserved similar punishment.
Q4. What impressions do you form of Umberto Eco as a scholar and writer on the basis of your study of ‘The Interview’? [120-150 words]
Ans. Umberto Eco, a university professor at the University of Bologna in Italy, is an academician and a famous novelist. He, through various interviews, discloses his secret of success in life and never hates the interviewers. He has his taste in various fields of writings as academic texts. fiction and nonfiction, literary fiction essays, children’s books, newspaper articles etc.
He always wanted to be called an academician not a novelist. He used to participate in academic conferences, on the other hand, he avoided the meetings of writers and Pen Club Members. He has written forty scholarly works and five novels. He used to denote time for writing novels on only Sundays. He discovered a magical trick of working in interstices.
He used to use even the seconds of his time. He captured the empty spaces for writing notes or any content. He had an expertise in Semiotics, the study of signs. He never became a slave of pride as he openly admitted that his novel ‘The Name of the Rose’ got success accidently and the time was in his favour. He didn’t have any celebrity attitude though his novel was bought by more than 10 million readers.
Q5. Was Umberto Eco a novelist or an academic scholar? Give a reasoned answer. [120-150 words]
Ans.Umberto Eco wrote novels and was an academician as well but according to him, he was an academic scholar first. He wrote novels on Sundays, as a hobby. He attended academic conferences and not meetings of Pen clubs. Thus, he visualized himself as an academic scholar to whom novel writing happened by chance.
Also see:
The Interview Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Interview Summary, Explanation
The Interview Character Sketches
Chapter 8 – Going Places
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow each of them :
(a) There was a wooden bench beneath a solitary elm where lovers sometimes came. She sat down to wait. It was the perfect place, she had always thought so, for a meeting of this kind.
(i) Who is ‘she’?
Ans. Sophie
(ii) Who was she waiting for?
Ans. Danny Casey
(iii) Why did lovers like this place for their meetings?
Ans. It was solitary
(iv) What was special about this meeting?
Ans. It was a romantic date
(b) Here I sit, she said to herself, wishing Danny would come, wishing he would come and sensing the time passing, I feel the pangs of doubt stirring inside me. I watch for him but still there is no sign of him. I remember Geoff saying he would never come, and how none of them believed me when I told them.
(i) Who is ‘she’? Who is ‘he’?
Ans. Sophie and Danny Casey
(ii) Why did ‘she’ doubt that ‘he’ would not come?
Ans. He was a famous footballer and would be occupied somewhere else.
(iii) When did ‘she’ realise that ‘he’ would not come?
Ans. After some time passed, she realised that he would not come.
(iv) Which word in the passage is opposite in meaning to the word ‘certainty’?
Ans. doubt
Question Answers
Q1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her meeting with Danny Casey? [30-40 words]
Ans. Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know this because it was something special which she wanted to share with Geoff only. She feared that Jansie would not keep the secret to herself.
Q2. Why is Jansie so critical of Sophie? [30-40 words]
Ans. Jansie is practical and finds Sophie’s plans to be unrealistic. Thus, she is critical and tries to make Sophie realize the reality.
Q3. Why is Sophie attracted to Danny Casey? [30-40 words]
Ans. All the men in Sophie’s family – her dad and brothers are football fans. Every Saturday, the family goes on a trip to watch their favourite team – United play. Danny Casey is a star player of the United and they all adore him. She is attracted towards his appearance too – a blend of innocence and Irish genius.
Q4. What was Sophie’s first choice of job after completing her school? How did she hope to succeed in her aim? [30-40 words]
Ans. Her first choice was to own a boutique like Mary Quant. She would find the money needed for it.
Also see:
Going Places Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Going Places Summary, Explanation
Going Places Character Sketches
Flamingo Book – Poems
Poem 1 – My Mother at Sixty Six
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
Driving from my parent’s
home to Cochin last Friday
morning, I saw my mother,
beside me,
doze, open mouthed, her face
ashen like that
Of a corpse and realised with
pain
that she was as old as she
looked … … … …
(i) Where was the poet driving to? Who was sitting beside her?
Ans. Cochin, her mother
(ii) What did the poet notice about her mother?
Ans. Her face looked was the colour of ash and it looked like a corpse
(iii) Which thought made the poet feel painful?
Ans. The thought of losing her mother
(iv) Name the figure of speech used in the expression : ‘her face ashen like that of a corpse’
Ans. Simile
Question Answers
Q1. What were the poet’s feelings on her way to the airport? [30-40 words]
Ans. The poet felt pain and fear of losing her aging mother to death.
Q2. Why has the poet mentioned ‘merry children spilling out of their homes’ in the poem? [30-40 words]
Ans. The scene outside the car of merry children spilling out of their homes was contrast to the scene inside the car. She mentions it to create a juxtaposition between the scenes inside and outside the car.
Q3. How does the poet describe her mother in the poem, ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’? [30-40 words]
Ans. Her mother is described as ancient and pallid by the poet. The mother looked almost like a corpse as she drifted off alongside daughter, her face colourless and devoid of the passion of life.
Also see:
My Mother at Sixty Six Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
My Mother at Sixty Six Summary, Explanation
My Mother at Sixty Six Character Sketches
Poem 2 – Keeping Quiet
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
Ans. The poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’, and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(ii) What does the poet hope to achieve by keeping still?
Ans. He aspires to acquire and appreciate peaceful introspection. We will feel as if we are all together in this silence and will have a peculiar sense of belonging.
(iii) What does he want us to do for one second?
Ans. For one second, the poet asks us to be silent and immobile.
(iv) Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’.
Ans. Human upper limbs and military weapons.
Question Answers
Q1. What can the Earth teach us? [30-40 words]
Ans. The Earth teaches us about life after death, the temporal nature of beings.
Q2. How will ‘Keeping Quiet’ protect our environment? [30-40 words]
Ans. By keeping quiet we will introspect and look into the activities that we do and their results. This will help us make better decisions for future acts.
Q3. How can suspension of activities help in making life better? [30-40 words]
Ans. Suspension of activities will give us free time to think and introspect. Thus, we will realize the harmful activities that we engage in and will stop them.
Also see:
Keeping Quiet Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Keeping Quiet Summary, Explanation
Poem 3 – A Thing of Beauty
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.
(i) Which two things of beauty are mentioned in these lines?
Ans. Lovely tales, mighty dead
(ii) Why are the ‘lovely tales’ called an endless fountain?
Ans. They inspire us and so, are an endless fountain of an immortal drink bestowed from the heaven above.
(iii) Where is this fountain situated?
Ans. In the heaven
(iv) Explain : ‘grandeur of the dooms’.
Ans. The term “grandeur of the dooms” refers to the glory and magnificence that the dead are entitled to on the Doom Day following their death.
Also see:
A Thing of Beauty Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
A Thing of Beauty Summary, Explanation
Poem 4 – A Roadside Stand
Read the extracts given below and briefly answer the questions that follow each.
Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car.
(i) Why does the poet call this desire childish?
Ans. The desire is childish because the rural folk are innocent. Despite the city cars not stopping by the stand, they still put up the stand and keep on waiting for them.
(ii) Why is there sadness among people?
Ans. They are sad because the cars that pass by, do not stop at the stand.
(iii) Why do these people pray for a car to stop?
Ans. They pray for a car to stop by and buy some farm produce so that they also gey some city money in hand.
(iv) What does the word ‘squeal’ mean?
Ans. Squeal is a sudden jerk sound caused by sudden brake of the car.
Question Answers
Q1. What are the probable causes of the passing cars to stop near the roadside stand? [30-40 words]
Ans. They stop by the stand to ask directions, to reverse the car, to ask if they sell gas, to ask the prices of the goods on sale and to complain about the ugly shed which spoils the landscape.
Also see:
A Roadside Stand Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
A Roadside Stand Summary, Explanation
Poem 5 – Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow :
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
(i) Who is the aunt afraid of?
Ans. her husband
(ii) What do the tigers represent here?
Ans. They represent fearlessness and freedom
(iii) How has Mrs.Jennifer failed in her aim?
Ans. She has failed to live a fearless life
(iv) Name the figure of speech used in the second line.
Ans. Pun is used in the word ‘ringed’ which means the wedding ring on the aunt’s finger and surrounded by the ordeals of martial obligations.
Question Answers
Q1. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. [30-40 words]
Ans. The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are bright in colour. They are jumping around in the forest. They are not afraid of the hunters who are standing under the tree.
Also see:
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary, Explanation
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Character Sketches
Vistas Book
Chapter 1 – The Third Level
Q1. Why did Jack agree to use Skunk as the hero of his story? [30-40 words]
Ans. The narrator Jack wishes to underline the notion that moms are always right and know what is best for their children with the storey “Roger Skunk.” Individuality and acceptance of what is natural, rather than social acceptance by peers, are important to Jack.
Q2. How did Charley ‘reach’ the third level of the Grand Central Station? [30-40 words]
Ans. Having worked late at the office Charley decided to take a train back home. So he came to Grand Central Station and from the second level he got lost while ducking into an arched doorway and found himself inside a tunnel. This tunnel took him to another light of stairs and he found himself on the third level of the station.
Q3. What would Sam have done in Galesburg for his living? Why? [30-40 words]
Ans. He would set up a nice Hay feed and grain business. He could not practice the profession of Psychologist back then because no one experienced such issues.
Q4. Describe briefly the scene at the third level of Grand Central as seen (or seemed to be seen) by Charley. [120-150 word]
Ans. One night Charley worked till late at the office. Then he was in a hurry to get back to his apartment. So he decided to take the subway from Grand Central. He went down the steps and came to the first level. Then he walked down to the second level from where the suburban trains left. He ducked into an arched doorway that headed to the subway. Then he got lost. Knowing that he was going wrong he continued to walk downward. The tunnel turned a sharp left and then taking a short flight of stairs he came out on the third level at the Grand Central Station. Here he saw many unusual things. There were very few ticket windows and train gates that were old-looking and made of wood. Dim gaslights flickered and men wore derby hats and four-button suits. It was a rather strange world of sideburns, beards and fancy moustaches.
Q5. Describe Charley’s experiences at the third level of the Grand Central Station. [120-150 words]
Ans. When Charley reached on the third level, there were fewer ticket windows. Light was dim. Rooms were smaller. Everyone in the station dressed like 1890s. A newsboy had copies of a newspaper (the world) that had not been published for years. It was a June 11, 1894 edition. Charley go toward the ticket window. He decided to buy two tickets for Galesburg. He wanted to go there with his wife. But then he found that only old style bills were accepted there. But Charley had new style dollars.
Q6. The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress. What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them? [120-150 words]
Ans. We can overcome the anxieties and insecurities bred by our inevitable existence in the modern world by getting involved in some practical and beneficial activities. Cultivating hobbies, spending time with family and friends, going on trips and excursions, pursuing meditation and exercises help us live a balanced and healthy life. reading good books is equivalent to having good friends with great insight. They not only enrich us with the vast store of knowledge but also help us to learn from other’s experience and stay rooted to some basic qualities of humanity. Joining hobby classes or gym, attending social events like birthdays and weddings, going for outdoor games, interacting meaningfully through social networking sites and writing diaries etc can also help us relieve our worries and stay focussed and disciplined in life. Simple activities like listening to music, playing with pets, an occasional dinner out, watching cinema or plays or going to places like parks etc can go a long way in helping us get rid of stress, boredom and insecurities.
Also see:
The Third Level Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Third Level Summary, Explanation
The Third Level Character Sketches
Chapter 2 – The Tiger King
Q1. When was the Tiger King in danger of losing his kingdom? [30-40 words]
Ans. When he refused the British official from shoting in his kingdom, he got in the danger of losing his kingdom.
Q2. Who killed the hundredth tiger? Why? [30-40 words]
Ans. The king went after shooting at the tiger but one of the hunters realized that the tiger had merely fainted. Fearing the anger of the king, he shot the tiger dead.
Q3. When did the ‘Tiger King’ decide to get married? [30-40 words]
Ans. The king had killed seventy tigers but the tiger population in his kingdom exhausted. Thus, he decided to get married into a kingdom which had a high tiger population and complete his target of killing a hundred tigers.
Q4. Why did the Tiger King decide to kill a hundred tigers? Describe the efforts he made to attain his target. [120-150 words]
Ans. He decided to kill a hundred tigers when he was an infant and the astrologer prophesied that he faced danger from the hundredth tiger in his life. He started killing tigers and when the tiger population in his kingdom exhausted, he married into a kingdom that had a high tiger population.
Q5. What was the prediction of the astrologers regarding the ultimate fate of the Tiger King? How did it come to be true? Describe with reference to the story. [120-150 words]
Ans. The astrologers predicted that as the tiger king was born in the hour of the Bull, he faced danger to life from a tiger. The hundredth tiger would be the cause of the king’s death. The infant tiger king warned all tigers and decided to kill a hundred tigers and prove the fallacy of the prediction.
After killing seventy tigers, the tiger population in his kingdom exhausted. He married into a kingdom that had a good number of tigers and continued to hunt more tigers. However, the hundredth tiger that the king shot was too old and had merely fainted. The king’s servant feared his wrath and thus, did not disclose this to the king and himself shot the tiger dead. However, the unaware king thought that he had completed the target of killing a hundred tigers and had proved the astrologers wrong.
Now he diverted his mind towards his son and to celebrate his birthday, bought a wooden toy tiger. While the father-son duo were playing with the toy tiger which was made crudely, a wooden shaving pricked the king which got infected and his arm had to be operated upon. During operation, the king succumbed and thus, died.
So, eventually, the hundredth tiger a wooden toy tiger caused the king’s death and thus, the prophesy was proved true.
Q6. Attempt a character sketch of the Tiger King. [120-150 words]
Ans. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, Sir Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, had many titles and sub-names. However, he was popular as the Tiger King. When he was born, the astrologers had predicted his death which would be caused by a tiger. But the baby had some miraculous quality in him. He was only ten days old, when he challenged the prediction of the astrologers and asked them the manner of his death. The Chief astrologers foretold that he was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies. Therefore his death would come from the Tiger.
The Crown Prince was brought up in an English environment. He grew up a tall, sturdy, brave and strong man. He become the king of his state at the age of twenty. He was determined to fulfill his pledge. So he issued a proclamation not to kill the tigers except by himself. Being a man of firm determination and self-respect, he denied permission to the British officer to hunt a tiger. In return, he had to pay a high price to retain his throne. In a duration of ten years, he killed seventy tigers and his forests became extinct. Then he married a princess whose father had a large forest cover full of tigers. There he killed more and reached ninety-nine tigers but the hundredth one merely fainted due to the shock of the bullet. His hunters came there and killed it. Thus the tiger king thought that he had fulfilled his vow. Thus it can be said that he was a brave, courageous king but lacked worldly wisdom.
Q7. Describe the Tiger King as a completely self-centred person. [120-150 words]
Ans. The tiger king was a completely self-centred person who cared only about his own power and pleasure. He ruled his kingdom with an iron fist, exploiting the people and the resources for his own benefit. He had no regard for the welfare of his subjects, the environment, or the animals he hunted. He was obsessed with killing a hundred tigers to fulfill a prophecy, even though it endangered the species and violated the law. He was arrogant, cruel, and ruthless, and he met his end in a fitting way: by a toy tiger that pierced his heart.
Q8. What made the Maharaja sink in gloom? How was he helped to get over his gloom? [120-150 words]
Ans. The maharaja was in despair after killing 70 tigers since the tiger population in Pratibandapuram’s forests had vanished. There were no more tigers to be found, and the maharaja still needed to kill 30 more tigers to reach his goal of 100. When there was only one tiger left to be slain, Maharaja’s fear reached new heights. During the day, he pondered about the hundredth tiger, and at night, he dreamed about it. Even in his father-in-domain, though, tiger farms were depleted. Tigers become impossible to find in any location. The Maharaja would lose all dread if he could just kill that one lonely beast. Maharaja should be wary of the hundredth tiger, according to the late chief astrologer. The Maharaja was in a gloomy mood. Then came some good news. Sheep began to disappear from a hillside community in his own state on a regular basis. A tiger was undoubtedly at work. The peasants hurried to the Maharaja to inform him. The Maharaja announced that that village will be exempt from all taxes for three years. He immediately went on the hunt. The tiger, on the other hand, was not easily located. The Maharaja remained in the forest waiting for the tiger to appear.
Also see:
The Tiger King Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Tiger King Summary, Explanation
The Tiger King Character Sketches
Chapter 3 – Journey to the end of the Earth
Q1. What happened to Gondwana 650 million years ago? [30-40 words]
Ans. Gondwana was centred roughly around present-day Antarctica. Humans hadn’t arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.
Q2. How is Antarctica different from the place you live in? [30-40 words]
Ans. Antarctica is immense in size and absolutely isolated. 90 per cent of the Earth’s total ice volumes are stored here. The place is devoid of any human markers — no trees, billboards, buildings. One loses all earthly sense of perspective and time here. The visual scale ranges from the microscopic to the mighty: midges and mites to blue whales and icebergs as big as countries (the largest recorded was the size of Belgium). Days go on and on and on in surreal 24-hour austral summer light, and a ubiquitous silence, interrupted only by the occasional avalanche or calving ice sheet, consecrates the place.
Q3. How was Gondwana different from today’s world? Describe it. [30-40 words]
Ans. Gondwana was centred around the present-day Antarctica. Things were quite different then: humans hadn’t arrived on the global scene, and the climate was much warmer, hosting a huge variety of flora and fauna. For 500 million years Gondwana thrived, but around the time when the dinosaurs were wiped out and the age of the mammals got under way, the landmass was forced to separate into countries, shaping the globe much as we know it today.
Q4. What are phytoplankton? How are they important to our ecosystem? [120-150 words]
Ans. The microscopic phytoplankton are those grasses of the sea that nourish and sustain the entire Southern Ocean’s food chain. These single-celled plants use the Sun’s energy to assimilate carbon and synthesise organic compounds in that wondrous and most important of processes called photosynthesis. Scientists warn that a further depletion in the ozone layer will affect the activities of phytoplankton, which in turn will affect the lives of all the marine animals and birds of the region, and the global carbon cycle. In the parable of the phytoplankton, there is a great metaphor for existence: take care of the small things and the big things will fall into place.
Q4. Why is Antarctica the place to go to for the scientists today? [120-150 words]
OR
If we want to study and examine the Earth’s past, present and future, Antarctica is the place to go to. Comment. [120-150 words]
Ans. Since it has carbon records from half a million years ago preserved in its ice layers, Antarctica is currently the only place on earth that is in its purest and most natural state. Since it has never supported a human population, Antarctica is still considered to be relatively “pristine” in this regard. In order to comprehend the past, present, and future of Earth, one needs to travel to Antarctica.
Q5. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the ‘Students on Ice’ expedition? [120-150 words]
Ans. Geoff Green took the high school students to one end of the world, to provide them the opportunity to develop the respect and understanding for the earth. He wanted to make the future policy-makers to experience how difficult it would have been for the earth to sustain life by rising its temperature. He wanted them to understand that any interference in nature can cause drastic mishappenings in the future when the students see the ice shelves melting and collapsing, they can estimate the kind of environmental troubles ahead in their future.
Also see:
Journey to the End of the Earth Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Journey to the End of the Earth Summary, Explanation
Journey to the End of the Earth MCQs
Journey to the End of the Earth Character Sketches
Chapter 4 – The Enemy
Q1. Why did Hana feel scared when a messenger in official uniform visited their house? [30-40 words]
Ans. Hana felt guilty that thy had harboured an enemy soldier. So, when she saw a messenger in official uniform, she got scared that they would be arrested.
Q2. Why does Hana believe that the American prisoner is a ‘menace, living or dead’? [30-40 words]
Ans. Because Tom was an American soldier and Japan was at war with America at the time, Hana believes the American prisoner was a ‘threat, living or dead.” As a result, assisting him would be considered assisting the enemy, which was a felony.
Q3. Was it fear or a feeling of patriotism which prompted the servants to leave Dr. Sadao’s residence? [30-40 words]
Ans. The servants had been working in Dr Sadao’s house for the past forty years. When they came to know that he had harboured an enemy soldier, they left the employment because they were patriots and did not want to serve an enemy. They even feared being caught by the police if found giving shelter to an enemy.
Q4. What efforts did Dr. Sadao and Hana make to save the American soldier? [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao decided to operate upon the eney soldier to save his life. Hana cleaned the soldier with hot water for the operation. She gave him anesthetic. Dr sadao removed the bullet by operating upon him.
Q5. Why was Dr. Sadao not sent to the battlefield? [30-40 words]
Ans. The General was ill and required Dr Sadao’s treatment. So he did not send him to the battlefield.
Q6. Dr. Sadao and servants were only partly loyal to their country. Comment. [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao was a doctor first and his profession made him save the life of the enemy soldier who was lying on the seashore near his house. This made him only partly loyal to his country. The servants feared being caught by the police for sheltering an enemy soldier, thus they were also partly loyal to their country.
Q7. Why was Dr. Sadao not arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy? [30-40 words]
Ans. When the enemy soldier recovered, Dr Sadao discussed the entire episode with the General who promised him to send assassins to get him killed. The General needed Dr Sadao’s medical treatment and so, he would not get him arrested.
Q8. Why did Dr. Sadao and his wife treat the wounded enemy soldier? [30-40 words]
Ans. Dr Sadao treated the wounded enemy soldier because his duty as a doctor made him save a life. His wife helped him because the servants had refused to assist and he could not have done the task all by himself. Thus, Hana, being a dutiful wife, helped her husband.
Also see:
The Enemy Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
The Enemy Summary, Explanation
Chapter 5 – On the Face of It
Q1. What is common between Derry and Mr. Lamb? [30-40 words]
Ans. Both Derry and Mr Lamb are physically disabled. While Mr Lamb lost a leg in the war and got a tin leg, Derry got half him face burnt with acid.
Q2. How has Mr. Lamb kept himself open to everyone? [30-40 words]
Ans. Mr Lamb kept the gate of the garden open to welcome everyone. He shared toffee and jelly with the visitors. He did not have curtains in his house because he did not like to shut things in and out.
Q3. Why does Mr. Lamb leave the gate of his house always open? [30-40 words]
Ans. Mr Lamb lived alone but in order to get rid of the loneliness, he welcomed strangers into his garden by keeping the gates open.
Q4. The play ‘On The Face of It’ depicts the unusual behaviour of the people towards the physically disabled which makes them feel lonely. Comment. [120-150 words]
Ans. In the play, the young boy named Derry and the old man named Mr Lamb suffer from physical disabilities. Derry got half his face burnt with acid which made him appear ugly. People disliked his appearance and even pitied Derry. Thus, Derry disliked being with people. Even his mother kissed on the other side of the face. She too disliked his appearance and just did that because she had to. Derry disliked it because he did not want pity from others. Thus, he did not like to be with anyone, he hated people. Mr. Lamb had lost his one leg in the war and had a tin leg. He lived alone but he desired company and so, welcomed everyone to his garden. He even shared homemade toffee and jelly with them. However, young buys laughed at him and called him names like ‘Lamey Lamb’ when he walked with a limp. Mr Lamb did not mind this but he did feel lonely and craved companionship.
Thus, we see that disabled people are lonely because the society excludes them.
Q5. How did Derry benefit from his interaction with Mr. Lamb? [120-150 words]
Ans. At the start of the story, we see Derry as a dejected boy who dislikes everyone because he is pitied upon. He is gloomy because half his face got burnt by acid. He cannot think beyond this disability.
Derry has a chance encounter with Mr Lamb when he enters the apparently empty garden. Mr Lamb enthuses positivism and confidence into Derry. He motivates Derry to listen to his heart and to look beyond the ugly face of his. Hatred can do more harm than a bottle of acid did to his face, it can burn him up from inside. He says that Derry has a fit and healthy body with which he can accomplish anything that he desires. Mr Lamb suggests Derry to listen to his inner voice and find his aim in life.
Derry heard such positive words for the first time and they changed his outlook towards life.
Q6. Mr. Lamb died just as soon as Derek was beginning to feel positive about life. Do you think that this would bring about a setback in his life? Give reasons for your answer. [120-150 words]
Ans. Mr Lamb was the source of inspiration for Derek. Derek who was full of gloom and hatred had just embarked on a journey of self-discovery. Surely Mr Lamb’s sudden death would once again throw Derek into the sadness and dejection. Derek wanted to listen to his heart and discover his goal in life but now, this would be next to impossible for him.
Perhaps during his moment of sadness, Derek would be reminded of Mr Lamb’s positive words and he would take a stand to set his life on the path shown by his friend.
Also see:
On the Face of It Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
On the Face of It Summary, Explanation
On the Face of It Character Sketches
Chapter 6 – Memories of childhood (Part 1)
Q1. “I felt like sinking to the floor”, said Zitkala-Sa. When did she feel so and why? [30-40 words]
Ans. Zitkala’s blanket had been stripped off her shoulders which made her feel like sinking to the floor. This happened on the first day of school.
Q2. ‘‘I felt like sinking to the floor’. Why did Zitkala-Sa say so? [30-40 words]
Ans. Zitkala-Sa spent her first day at school, and she “felt like sinking to the floor.” She was marching into the dining room in a line with the other students. Her sleek and silky moccasins made no noise as she walked. She noticed she was dressed differently after a while, since the blanket had been withdrawn from her shoulders. She was in a foul mood.
Q3. How did Zitkala – Sa feel when her hair was shingled? [30-40 words]
Ans. She cried aloud, shook her head to avoid her hair from being cut. When her hair was cut, she lost all her spirit. She felt like a coward and cried for her mother. She felt like she was an animal being driven by a herder.
Q4. Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother on which street he lived? [30-40 words]
Ans. The landlord’s man wanted to determine Bama’s brother’s caste. So, when he would know his address, he could identify the caste because people of certain castes lived in certain localities.
Q5. Describe the scene at the threshing floor observed by Bama on her way back from school. [30-40 words]
Ans. Bama observed an elder man of her community was carrying a packet of vadai from the string. He bowed to a landlord and handed the packet to him. The landlord opened the pack and started eating the vadais.
Q6. When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people of her community? [30-40 words]
Ans. Bama was in the third standard when she came to know about untouchability and the social discrimination faced by the people of her community.
Q7. What objects/activities in the marketplace attracted Bama on her way back from school? [30-40 words]
Ans. On the way back, she would see the performing monkey, snake, the cyclist, the huge bell at the Mariyata temple, the pongal offerings being cooked outside the temple, the dired fish stall by Gandhiji’s statue, the sweet stall, the stall of fried snacks, etc.
Also see:
Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Summary, Explanation
Memories of Childhood (Part 1) MCQs
Memories of Childhood (Part 1) Character Sketches
Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Important Questions, NCERT Solutions, Extra Questions
Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Summary, Explanation
Memories of Childhood (Part 2) MCQs
Memories of Childhood (Part 2) Character Sketches