SHORT STORY (2007)

“He heard the words whispered in anguish ‘Is evil then triumphant?’ And holding the dead knight in his arms he
saw that beside the bright armour of the youth his own, besmirched by the long quest looked black in the darkness
of the forest.”
SET I

Question 1a. [1x5=5]

Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits the
given question and write it in the space provided.

1. Who is the author of the story from which this extract has been taken?
A Alice Munro
B Anton Chekov
C Eric Nicol
D Mark Twain
2. The White Knight’s first bad deed while he was in pursuit of the Black
Knight was
A stealing a horse.
B betraying his love.
C killing another white knight.
D stealing buns from a bakeshop.
3. The main rhetoric used in the story is
A simile.
B allegory.
C metaphor.
D personification.
4. The knight thought he represented ‘goodness’ because he was
A wise.
B white.
C the champion of life.
D against the Black Knight.
5. Eventually the White Knight realized that
A good is always represented by white.
B it is alright to be bad sometimes.
C the good are always triumphant.
D it is difficult to define good and bad

Question 1b. [3x5=15]

Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided.

1. How does the White Knight justify his actions? Give three examples to prove your point.
2. Evil is represented by the Black Knight in this story. Do you think evil is to be necessarily represented by ‘black’?
(5)
3. “There was a turning point in the life of the White Knight”. Which one instance made the White Knight relize his
follies? Support your answer with reasons. (5)
SET II
Question 2. [10x2]

Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 150 words.

2a. “The White Knight killed the knight of gleaming whiteness”.

Can this action be justified? Give your reasons.
(10)
2b. What is the moral of the story “The White Knight”? How can you make use of it in your life? (10)
(2008)

“Many miles he rode the first day, without so much as a glimpse of the Black Knight. The second day
he rode even farther, still without sighting the ebony armour of mischief. Day after day he rode, deeper and
deeper into the forest of Life, searching the thicket and gully and even the tree tops. The Black Knight was nowhere
to be seen.”
SET I

Question Ia. [1x5=5]

Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits the
given question and write it in the space provided.

1. The White Knight lived

A in the middle of the forest of Life.
B on the out skirts of the forest of Life.
C in a little castle away from the forest of Life
D in a small castle on the edge of the forest of Life.
2. The White Knight rode a
A black horse.
B white horse.
C snow-white horse.
D cotton- white horse.
3. The White Knight stole some buns from the baker’s shop because he
A was away from the castle.
B was a failure in his mission.
C wanted to attract the black knight’s attention.
D had spent all his gold in the cause of his search.

4. The knight in the gleaming whiteness attacked the White Knight because
A he was wicked.
B the White Knight attacked him first.
C he mistook him to be the Black Knight.
D the White Knight had turned into a middle-aged naked thief.
5. The people started calling “The White Knight,” “the Good White Knight,” because
A his hair grew white.
B he wore a simple white coat.
C his beard grew long and white.
D he became a simple and wise man.
Question Ib. [3x5=15]

Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 60 words.

1. What kind of person in society does the White Knight represent? (5)
2. Why did the White Knight go in search of the Black Knight? (5)
3. What were the indications that proved the presence of the Black Knight in the
territory? (5)
SET II
Question 2. [2x10=20]

Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 150 words.

2a. Write your impression of the White Knight in the beginning of the story and how
these impression change at the end of the story. (10)
2b. What did the White Knight realize after he had slain the knight in the gleaming whiteness? (10)
(2009)
Safer to get rid of something one didn’t understand. The onlookers disappointed that this was all that was
going to happen, prepared to disperse. Just then one of the concessionaires, having broken through the throng
and come forward, made a proposal …
SET I

Question Ia. [1x5=5]

Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the response that best fits the given question and write it in
the space provided.
1. The writer of the story from which the above extract has been taken is
A Alice Munro.
B Eric Nicol.
C Mark Twain.
D Shinichi Hoshi.
2. Who suggested that the hole should be filled up?
A the scientist
B the young man
C the concessionaire
D the newspaper reporter
3. A concessionaire is a person who
A sells land.
B owns land.
C holds land.
D cultivates land.
4. What is evident from the story is that everything that went into the hole
A would all come back.
B had helped prevent pollution.
C had been gotten rid off forever.
D would change into nuclear waste
5. The most predominant feature of the story is that it is
A a Satire.
B an Irony.
C a story within a story.
D a Contemporary Fantasy and Satire.
Question Ib. [3x5=15]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 60 words.

1. Why were the villagers worried about the nuclear waste going into the hole? Give
two reasons. (5)
2. What suggestion would you have made on the discovery of the hole? Explain why. (5)
3. Given a chance to cast your opinion on the bargain with the concessionaires over
the ‘hole’, what would you have bargained for? Why? (5)

SET II
Question 2. [2x10=20]

Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 150 words.

2a. Explain with examples how the story brings out the truth of the proverb, ‘as you sow, so shall you reap’. (10)
2b. The ‘construction worker’ in the story can be used as a symbol to represent the present generation in our own context?
Justify giving two reasons. (10)
(2010)
“ … For once they didn’t starve a genius to death and then put into other pockets the rewards he should have himself
…”
SET I

Question 1a. [1x5=5]

Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or
response that best fits the given question and write it in the space provided.
1. The narrator of the story within the story is
A Carl.
B Millet.
C Smith.
D Theophile Magnan.
2. The work by Millet which fetched the highest price was
A Angelus.
B his portrait.
C Skeleton Sketches
D Fragments of Studies.
3. Theophile Magnan’s real name is
A Carl.
B Claude.
C Millet.
D Smith.
4. As per Carl’s plan, one of the four friends would be elected to die because
A they wanted to earn fame.
B they wanted to earn money.
C their house was too small for four people.
D talent was given recognition posthumously.
5. The story can best be called
A a fantasy.
B an allegory.
C a classic realistic fiction.
D a modern realistic fiction.
Question 1b. [3x5=15]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in
about 60 words.
1. This story employs dual plots. Explain two advantages of this technique. (5)
2. Imagine you are Claude. Briefly narrate how you went about selling Millet’s work during the six weeks of the plan

period. (5)

3. Do you think the plan carried out by the four painters is ethical? Justify your response. (5)

SET II
Question 2. [10x2]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in
about 150 words
.2a. What is a satire? Bring out any two evidences of satire from the story and explain what they satirize. (10)
2b. ‘That many a great artist has never been acknowledged until after he was starved and dead.’ Does this statement still hold true
in the present day context? Give any two points with appropriate examples to support your response. (10)
(2011)
I didn’t want to take the case now but I could not think how to get out of it, what lie to tell. I’ll give it away, I
thought, I won’t ever play with it. I would let my little brother pull it apart.

SET I

Question 1a. [1x5=5]

Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct answer or response that best fits the given
question and write it in the space provided.
1. The writer of the story from which this extract has been taken is
A Alice Munro.
B Eric Nicol.
C Mark Twain.
D Shinichi Hoshi.
2. Which of the following could be the most important reason that compels the speaker to “get out of it”?
A To avoid the atmosphere the speaker is in.
B To avoid the listener due to her jealousy.
C To please the little brother at home.
D To avoid the future consequences

3. The speaker may be judged as being

A selfish.
B unkind.
C cowardly.
D fraudulent.
4. Which of the following is a predominant feature of the story?
A It is a satire.
B It is a fictional story.
C It is told in flashback technique.
D It is a contemporary realistic story.
5. Which of the following best describes the problem the speaker faces?
A apathy
B enmity
C jealousy
D internal conflict
Question 1b. [3x5=15]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 60 words.

1. Explain any two incidents which reveal the protagonist’s character. (5)
2. The setting is important to the plot of this story. Illustrate any two elements of the setting which contribute to the plot of the
story. (5)
3. Miss Darling is instrumental in making the protagonist’s social life colourful. Mention two points to support this
statement. (5)
SET II
Question 2. [10x2]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 150 words.
2a. The most prominent quality of the protagonist is maturity. Justify the statement with reference to the story. (10)
2b. What is the most important value you can learn from this story? How would you apply such a value in real life? (10)
 (2012)
Some were sparkling white. These had just started hunting that day and irritated the White
Knight by innocently asking directions to the nearest Black Knight.

SET I
Question Ia. [1x5=5]
Each question below is followed by four responses. Choose the correct response and write it in the space provided.
1. The White Knight lived in a
A white palace.
B village .C
castle.
D forest.
2. What was the White Knight‟s first misconduct?
A He stole buns from a bakeshop.
B He killed another White Knight.
C He ravished an innkeeper‟s daughter.
D He replaced his horse with another white horse.
3. In the above extract, some knights were described as “sparkling white” because they were
A the good white knights.
B irritating the White Knight.
C inexperienced in their quest.
D wearing lots of sparkling jewelries.
4. “The world at large”, has been symbolized in the story as forest of
A life.
B trees.
C birds.
D animals.
5. The given story is an example of
A contemporary realistic fiction.
B classical satire.
C allegory.
D fantasy.
Question 1b. [3x5=15]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 60 words.
1. Why does the protagonist feel that he is superior to the Black Knight? Give TWO reasons. (5)
2. If you were the White Knight, what would you have done to the innkeeper‟s daughter, after knowing that she loved you?
Support your answer with TWO points. (5)
3. “The White Knight took the right decision in returning to his castle at the end”. Do you agree? Give TWO justifications. (5)
SET II
Question 2. [2x10=20]
Read the following questions carefully and write your answers in the space provided in about 150 words.
a. Suggest ONE alternative each to solve the problems that the White Knight created along his journey after he finished his money.
What could he have done? (10)
b. “Is evil then triumphant?” Do you think this statement holds any truth in the present day context? Justify with at least FOUR
points. (10)
 (2013)
‘It’s a shame! Look at these canvases: stacks and stacks of as good pictures as anybody in Europe paints – I don’t care who
he is. Yes, and plenty of lounging strangers have said the same – or nearly that, anyway.’
‘But didn’t buy,’ Millet said.
‘No matter, they said it; and it’s true, too. Look at your Angelus there! Will anybody tell me?’

SET I
Question 1a. [1x5=5]
Direction: For each of the following questions there are four possible responses. Choose the correct response and write it in the
space provided.
1. The painting Angelus by Millet was sold for twenty two hundred francs in the end. How much
money was offered for it to Millet the first time?
A Five francs
B Sixteen francs
C Twenty two francs
D One hundred francs
2. The narrator retold the story about a little bird by Hans Anderson to show that
A appreciation is often given after it is too late.
B children are often careless about their responsibilities.
C most of the caged birds are kept without love and care.
D people usually spend a lot of money on funerals of their loved ones.
3. The statement, “ sunniest spirits that ever laughed at poverty and had a noble good time in all weathers”,
meant that the young artists

A had fun in all kinds of weather.

B had positive attitude towards life.
C always looked out for sunny days to enjoy.
D laughed at poverty because they knew not what poverty was.

4. ‘I wish somebody would come along and offer us a cabbage for it - you’d see!”

In context of the story, this line is an example of

A a pun.
B a satire.
C a symbol.
D an allusion.
5. The most important feature of this story is its
A dual plot.
B flash forward.
C foreshadowing.
D multiple characters
Question 1b. [5x3=15]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 60 words each.
a. Explain why Claude said, “everybody has struck – there is a league formed against us.” (5)
b. ‘A man is known by his or her work’. How true is this statement for the story? (5)
c. If you were Millet, would you agree to let others use your name for fame and money? Justify. (5)
SET II
Question 2. [10x2=20]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.
a. How was Millet similar to the song bird of Hans Anderson’s story? Explain with examples from the text. (10)
Do you think Smith was right in revealing the identity of Francois Millet to the narrator? Justify. (10)
 (2014)
Nobody answered; we faced Miss Darling, all respectful, self possessed, and bored with the unreality of her question. Then
Gladys said, “Myra can’t come out with us, Miss Darling. Myra has to look after her little brother!”
SET I
Question 1a. [5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four possible responses. Choose the
correct response and write it in the space provided.
1. The above extract is written by
A Eric Nicol.
B Mark Twain.
C Alice Munro.
D Shinichi Hoshi.
2. The TWO characteristics which best define the two Sayla children are
A timid and scared.
B unsocial and quite.
C unfriendly and timid.
D arrogant and unsocial.
3. Miss Darling wanted her class girls to be nice to Myra as
A she liked Myra very much.
B Myra is from a different community.
C Myra comes from a poor background.
D she noticed Myra being isolated by them.
4. The narrative technique used in the story is
A writer omniscient.
B dramatic monologue.
C first person narration.
D second person narration.
5. The type of descriptions of the characters in the story is
A heroic.
B farcical.
C realistic.
D mythical.
Question 1b. [15]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 60 words each.
1. Why did Helen walk with Myra to school one morning? Write TWO possible reasons. (5)
2. Would you have befriended Myra? Give TWO reasons to support your answer. (5)
3. Discuss Miss Darling as an example of a stereo type character. (5)
SET II
Question 2. [20]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.

1. Bring out the theme of cultural discrimination with TWO examples of incidents from the story. (10)
Do you think the birthday celebration helped to improve the relation between Myra and her class girls? Support your answer with TWO
evidences from the text. (10)
(2015)
I am the champion of virtue and honour and justice, and I must ride into the forest and slay the Black Knight, who is evil.

SET I
Question 1a. [5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four possible responses. Choose the best response and write it in the
space provided.
1. The lived in a little castle on the edge of the forest of life.

A Evil Knight Black

B Knight White Knight
C Sparkling Knight
D

2. The White Knight had to steal someone else’s white horse because his own horse
A had died during the journey.
B turned black during the quest.
C was stolen by the Black Knight.
D became lame and therefore, useless.
3. The White Knight was irritated by other white knights as they
A asked questions about the Black Knight.
B looked younger and stronger than him.
C kept mistaking him for Black Knight.
D appeared to be whiter than him.
4. The White Knight killed another white knight
A in an act of self-defense.
B with fearful intention.
C in a mutual combat.
D through deceit.
5. The White Knight thought that he would slay the Black Knight in a single combat, however this was easier
said than done. His initial attitude showed him to be
A a selfish man.
B a vicious man.
C an indecisive man.
D an overconfident man.
Question 1b. [15]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 60 words each only.

1. The White Knight represents good. Which TWO qualities of the knight would you adopt in your character? Explain.
2. Explain the role of the mirror in the story. State TWO events from the story in support of your answer.
3. Could the White Knight have avoided killing the knight who attacked him? Justify your stand with TWO reasons.
SET II
Question 2. [20]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.

1. Assuming yourself to be a close friend of the protagonist, write an informal letter to the inn keeper’s daughter explaining why
her love had to be rejected. (10)
2. 2. Comment on the motif of white and black colours in the story. (10)
(2016)
“Now we are ready- I to tell a curious history, and you to listen to it.

SET I
Question 1a. [5]
Direction: Each question below is followed by four possible responses. Choose the best response and write it in the
space provided.
1. “Which four?” “We four – for helped to carry his own coffin. In disguise, you know.
Disguised as a relative-distant relative.”
Who helped to carry his own coffin?
A Carl
B Millet
C Smith
D Claud
2. “Carl, privation has been too much for you.” The underlined word means
A defamation.
B rejection.
C hardship.
D torture.
3. The TWO actions that were integral to Carl’s plan were
A faking death and cheating people.
B paintings lots of picture and selling them.
C using an illustrious name and faking death.
D borrowing an illustrious name and selling it.
4. The following are the features of a “dual plot” used in the story EXCEPT
A the reader can read two stories at a time.
B the listener assumes the same role as the reader.
C it allows the narrator to speak directly to the reader.
D the narrator can be kept interested throughout the narration.
5. The areas of satire that one finds in the story are on

A art, society and fame.

B poverty, art and fame.
C greed, death and poverty.
D talent, greed and poverty.

Question 1b. [15]

Direction: Answer the following questions in about 60 words each.

1. Why do you think Carl’s friends did not accept his plan easily? Give TWO reasons.(5)
2. Comment on Carl’s TWO positive qualities. (5)
3. Suggest to Theophile Magnan on how he could get back his lost identity. (5)

SET II
Question 2. [20]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.
1. State how Carl’s plan can be used in real life to resolve poverty stricken situation. Explain with TWO examples from the story to
support your answer. (10)
2. Supposing you encountered the four painters in their struggling days and you felt sympathetic towards them. Later, you came to
know about their conduct. Would your feelings towards them still be the same? Justify your stand with TWO reasons.(10)
(2017)
The onlookers, disappointed that this was all that was going to happen, prepared to disperse. Just then one of the concessionaires,
having broken through the throng and come forward, made a proposal.

SET I
Question 1a. [5]
Direction: For each question, there are four alternatives: A, B, C and D. Choose the correct alternative and circle it. DO NOT
circle more than ONE alternative. If there are more than one choice circled, NO score will be awarded.

1. “Lay off,” warned an old man.

What is the old man concerned about?
A the mysterious hole
B destruction by typhoon
C a curse could befall them
D being cheated by the city people
2. What do the villagers initially do with the hole?
A They call people from the media.
B They ask a scientist to examine it.
C They try to measure it by tying a rope with a weight.
D They cut down some trees and make a fence around it.
3. How does the scientist save his face as the crowd eagerly and curiously watch him?
A He knows he has to use a high powered bull horn.
B He arrives at the hole as soon as he hears about it.
C He turns up the equipment’s volume at its highest and waits.
D He gives no results of his work and says the hole has to be filled.
4. The loud campaign in the city about the hole made by the hole-tilling company
reflects the company’s
A unscrupulous nature of employees.
B method of spreading correct information.
C special relationship with the government.
D various solutions for cleaning up the city.

5. The pebble that is thrown into the hole in the very beginning falls down from the sky. This bizarre ending teaches a lesson
that can be stated by the following idiom:
A add insult to injury.
B action speak louder than words.
C bite off more than you can chew.
D what goes around comes around.
Question 1b. [15]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 60 words each only.
1. Draw a character sketch of the concessionaire. (5)
2. Can it be said that villagers are cheated by the city people? (5)
3. Imagine that you are the worker taking a break atop a new construction of a building. You hear a shout, “He-y, come on out!” but you
don’t see any person. Write a brief description of what happens to you during the next few hours. (5)

SET II
Question 2. [20]
Direction: Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.
1. Citing any THREE incidents from the story, explain how the hole becomes the source of humour. (10)
2. Is the story’s ending appropriate or confusing in conveying the message of the author about the environmental
abuse? (10)
(2018)
Through many months, under hot sun, over frosty paths, the White Knight pressed on his search, yet all the knights he met
in the forest were, like himself, fairly white. They were knights of varying shades of whiteness, depending on how long they,
too, had been hunting the Black Knight.

SET I
Question 1a [5]
For each of the following questions there are four responses: A, B, C & D. Choose the alphabet corresponding to your response
and CIRCLE it neatly. DO NOT circle more than ONE response. If there are more than one choice circled, NO score will be
awarded.
1. ‘Through many months, under hot sun, over frosty paths, the White Knight pressed on his search...’ Which type of
imagery is used in the line?
A tactile
B olfactory
C kinesthetic
D gustatory
2. The above extract conveys all the following EXCEPT that
A the White Knight had travelled for many months.
B other white knights were of different shades of white colour.
C white knights asked the White Knight about the Black Knight.
D other white knights were also on the hunt for the Black Knight.
3. The people started calling “The White Knight,” “the Good White Knight,” because
A his hair grew white.
B he wore a simple white coat.
C his beard grew long and bright.
D he became a simple and wise man.
4. The climax of the story is when the White Knight
A is forced to do bad deeds.
B kills the younger Knight.
C departs for his quest.
D leaves the forest.
5. The main rhetoric used in the story is
A simile.
B allegory.
C metaphor.
D personification.

Question 1b [15]
Answer the following questions in about 60 words each only.
1. Why were the knights in the forest “of varying shades of whiteness?” (5)
2. Why did the White Knight go in search of the Black Knight? (5)
3. Imagine you were the dying young white knight whose last words were, “Is evil the triumphant?” Describe the emotion that you are
going through upon your defeat. (5)
SET II
Question 2 [20]
Answer the following questions in about 150 words each.
1. Explain the features of a dynamic character by using the White Knight as an example. (10
2. Write down points/notes under each element of the given short story: (10)

The White knight

Setting:
Character:
Theme:
Plot: