THE VEDANSH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, INDORE

QUESTION BANK WITH ANSWERS

GRADE XI
TEACHER- SANTOSHI KSHETRI

CHAPTER 1 THE PORTRAIT OF THE LADY

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

She hobbled about the house in spotless white with one hand resting on her waist to balance her
stoop and the other telling the beads of her rosary. Her silver locks were scattered untidily over her
pale, puckered face, and her lips constantly moved in inaudible prayer. Yes, she was beautiful.
She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity breathing
peace and contentment.

i) What does the narrator mean by ‘Silver locks’?

a) Lock and Key b) Grey Hair c) Attire of Silver colour d) None of these

ii) Which figure of speech has been used in ‘Pale puckered face’?
a) Simile b) Metaphor c) Alliteration d) Zeugma

iii) What does the word ‘Hobble’ mean?

a) Walk quickly b) Limp c) Rush d) Hasten

ANSWERS: i) b) Grey Hair ii) c) Alliteration iii) b) Limp

Q.2 The grandmother has been portrayed as a very religious lady. What details in the story
create this impression?
Ans. The author recalls his grandmother as a very religious woman. He remembers her hobbling
about the house, telling the beads of her rosary. He recalls her morning prayers and her reading
scriptures inside the temple. The author recounts how, during the last few days, she spent all her
time praying.

Q.3 Why was the grandmother so disturbed when the narrator started going to the city
School?
Ans. The grandmother was a religious lady who loved to read scriptures and tell the beads of the
rosary. When her grandson told her about the subjects being taught at school. She felt offended
and reacted strangely. According to her music was a monopoly of harlots and beggars.

Q.4 How did the sparrows express their sorrow when the author's grandmother died?
Ans. Author's grandmother was very fond of feeding sparrows with beads crumbs. When the
grandmother died, the sparrows did not take notice of bread crumbs and flew away without eating
them. In this way, they expressed their sorrow at her death.

Q.5 How did the author's grandmother behave just before her death?
Ans. The author's grandmother had got a fair enough idea about her upcoming death. Therefore,
she decided not to waste even a single second while talking to her relatives but reciting the
prayers and telling the beads of her rosary. She gave a clear signal to her family that she was no
longer interested in talking to them.

Q.6 What was the turning point in the author's and the grandmother's relationship?
Ans. The author had to be sent to a big city for education. This was the turning point in his and the
grandmother's relationship. The author began to receive education in a English medium school.
The grandmother could not assist him with his assignment and therefore, became withdrawn. She
began to feel lonely and fed sparrows in her past time.
Q.7 It really pained the grandmother that the schools did not teach anything about God and
the scriptures. Should moral education be taught in schools? What do you think?
Ans. Our present education system has miserably failed to uplift the students’ moral, ethical and
spiritual values. We require religion and morality to keep men as civilized human beings. We are
raising the standard of living but not the standard of life. Performance of duty, consideration for
fellow men and compassion has taken a back seat. The crisis of character looms large. Our lofty
civilization is becoming hollow because it lacks high values and character. Value education is the
need of the hour. Morals are a set of principles which teach us the difference between right and
wrong. Morality is religion in practice. Social evils prevail and their roots are due to lack of moral
and spiritual education. Morals train man to be good and propagate goodness. if we do not impart
moral education at the primary level, we will have a whole new generation of misguided youth. If a
section of this misguided youth indulges in loot, arson, robbery and if they do nothing for their
family or country; then we have only ourselves to blame. To inculcate discipline and values in the
children of today, the older generation has to guide them by setting an example before them.

POEM 1 A PHOTOGRAPH

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

“Some twenty – thirty— years later She’d laugh at the snapshot.

“See Betty And Dolly,” she’d say, “and look how they
Dressed us for the beach. “The sea holiday
Was her past, mine is her laughter.
Both wry With the laboured ease of loss.

i) Who is ‘she’ here?

a) poet b) poet’s mother c) mother’s cousin d) poet’s friend

ii) Who are Betty and Dolly?

a) cousins of mother b) friends of poet c) neighbours of poet d) parents of mother

iii) Name the poetic device in ‘the laboured ease of loss’.

a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Oxymoron d) Personification

ANSWERS: i) b) poet’s mother ii) a) cousins of mother iii) c) Oxymoron

Q.2 The sea ‘appears to have changed less’ in comparison to the three girls who enjoyed
the sea holiday. Comment.
Answer: The poet compares the mortal nature of human beings with the eternal nature of the sea
or natural objects. With the passage of time, the poet’s mother died but the vast sea has remained
as it was since the photograph was taken.

Q.3 What impression do you form about the poet’s mother?

Answer: The poet’s mother was very pretty at the age of twelve. She enjoyed the sea holiday. This
is indicated by the happiness that she gets in middle age after looking at her childhood
photograph.

Q.4 The sea ‘appears to have changed less’ in comparison to the three girls who enjoyed
the sea holiday. Comment.
Answer: The poet compares the mortal nature of human beings with the eternal nature of the sea
or natural objects. With the passage of time, the poet’s mother died but the vast sea has remained
as it was since the photograph was taken.

Q.5 Why does the poet feel nostalgic?

Answer: The poet sees an old photograph of her mother in which she was standing on the beach
with her two cousins — Dolly and Betty. They were enjoying themselves. The photograph
captured her mother’s sweet and smiling face. At that time, she was around twelve years old. The
poet remembers how her mother used to laugh whenever she looked at that old photograph. But
time has passed and now the poet has been left only with the memories of her mother. Thus, she
feels nostalgic

Q.6 Comment on the tone of the poem.

Answer: The tone of the poem is that of sadness. Shirley Toulson looks at an old photograph of
her mother and is sadly reminded of her mother who is no more. She mentions about death of her
mother indirectly only, but this photograph has made her speechless and silent.

Q.7 The poet has paid a tribute to her mother. Similar instances can be seen in ‘The Portrait
of a Lady’. This made you think that writing about a loved one is much better than building
their statues or drawing their portraits. Comment.
Answer: Many writers have paid tributes to their loved ones through beautiful writing. Khushwant
Singh gave an adorable description about his grandmother through his story. Shirley Toulson
remembered her mother through her heart-touching poem. In my opinion, writing about a loved
one is much better than building their statues or drawing their portraits. One can never tell the true
personality of a person just by looking at their sculptures or portraits. One can never know about
the amazing time someone has spent with them. That magic can only be created by words. Words
stand the passage of time, whereas sculptures or portraits may get damaged by it. Hence, words
are the best way by which anyone can pay a tribute to one’s loved ones.

CHAPTER 2 WE’RE NOT AFRAID TO DIE… IF WE CAN ALL BE TOGETHER

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

At dawn on January 2, the waves were gigantic. We were sailing with only a small storm jib and
were still making eight knots. As the ship rose to the top of each wave we could see endless
enormous seas rolling towards us, and the screaming of the wind and spray was painful to the
ears. To slow the boat down, we dropped the storm jib and lashed a heavy mooring rope in a loop
across the stern. Then we double-lashed everything, went through our life-raft drill, attached
lifelines, donned oilskins and life jackets — and waited.

i) Pick out the synonym of ‘Gigantic’ from the following.

a) Huge b) Large c) Mammoth d) All of these

ii) What does the word ‘Knot’ symbolise?

a) Unit of Speed b) Unit of Weight c) Unit of Distance d) None of these

iii) Why did they drop the storm jib?

a) To slow down the speed of boat b) To slow down their speed
c) To slow down their performance d) All of these

ANSWERS : i) (d) All of these ii) (a) Unit of Speed iii) (a) To slow down the speed of boat

Q.2 What preparations did the narrator and his wife make for their round-the-world sea
voyage?
Answer: The narrator and his wife wanted to ‘duplicate’ the round-the-world voyage made 200
years ago by Captain James Cook. They had been making meticulous preparations for the last 16
years. First of all, they got a boat especially designed and professionally built for this purpose.
They tested it for months in the roughest weather. They spent all their leisure time in strengthening
their seafaring skills in British waters. They were both mentally and physically prepared to
undertake their exceptionally long and challenging sea voyage.
Q.3 What were the first indications of the ‘impending disaster ‘that ultimately struck them
on January 2?
Answer: The first indication of the impending disaster came at about 6 pm on January 2. An
ominous silence prevailed all around. The wind dropped. The sky immediately grew dark. Then
came a growing roar. A huge vertical wave, almost twice the height of the other waves, came
roaring towards the ship. These were the indications of the coming disaster.

Q.4 What are Mayday calls? Why was the ship getting no replies to its Mayday calls?
Answer: Mayday calls are distress signals sent through the radio by ships facing trouble in the
sea. They are made to get help from other ships passing nearby. The boat Wavewalker was not
getting replies to its Mayday calls because the boat had reached a remote part of the sea where
other ships did not go. Page 113 of 230

Q.5 What did Sue say when she was asked by her father about why she had not complained
about her grave injuries?
Answer: Sue had been injured badly when the wave had hit the ship. Her head had swollen
alarmingly. She had two black eyes and she had also showed to her parents a deep cut on her
arm. When asked why she had not complained about her injuries earlier, she replied that she had
not wanted to worry her parents when they were trying to save them all.

Q.6 “I didn’t want to worry you when you were trying to save us all.” What does this show
about the speaker?
Answer: This shows that she was very courageous. The speaker of these lines is the little girl,
Sue. She is just 7 years old. After the gigantic wave hit the ship, she was also hurt. Her head was
swollen when the narrator saw her in the cabin. However, she never mentioned the deep cut in her
arm because she didn’t want her father to worry about her when he was trying to save everybody
else.

Q.7 Highlight the tremendous courage and for bearance shown by the two children during
the struggle to keep the boat from sinking. What values do you learn from them?
Answer: The two children, Suzanne, and Jonathan, showed tremendous courage and forbearance
during the epic struggle put up by their parents and the crewmen to keep the boat from sinking.
Sue had been injured badly when the big wave hit the boat. Her head had swollen alarmingly, and
both her eyes were hind. She also had a deep cut on her arm. But she did not complain about her
injuries as she did not want to worry her parents when they were trying to save them. When the
author went to comfort the children, his son Jonathan, asked him if they were going to die. When
he was assured that they would survive, he told his father that they were not afraid of dying if they
could be together. Moreover, Sue had patience and power enough to even draw Page 114 of 230
the caricatures of her parents with a message of hope and gratitude to her parents. The children,
thus, exhibit extraordinary patience, courage, and tolerance. Q. 2 “We’re Not Afraid to Die” is a
saga of patience and bravery.

CHAPTER 3 DISCOVERING TUT: THE SAGA CONTINUES

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

He was just a teenager when he died. The last heir of a powerful family that had ruled Egypt and
its empire for centuries, he was laid to rest laden with gold and eventually forgotten. Since the
discovery of his tomb in 1922, the modern world has speculated about what happened to him, with
murder being the most extreme possibility. Now, leaving his tomb for the first time in almost 80
years.

i. Who died in his teenage?

a) Amenhotep b) Akhetaten c) Tutankhamun d) Smenkhkare
ii. What happened in 1922?
a) Mummy of King Tut was found. b) King Tut was buried under a grave.
c) CT scan was found from the tomb. d) King Tut became 80 years old.

iii. Tutankhamun was a --------------

a) Pharaoh b) Scientist c) Archaeologist d) God

ANSWERS: i) (a) Tutankhamun ii) (a) Mummy of King Tut was found. iii) (a) Pharaoh

Q.2 Describe King Tut and his family.

Answer: King Tut was the last ruler of a powerful family that ruled Egypt for centuries. He was
quite young when he sat on the throne. He ruled for about 9 years. King Tut died unexpectedly in
his early youth which gave rise to many doubts and speculations. He was laid to rest laden with
his possessions and forgotten. Amenhotep III, King Tut’s father or grandfather, ruled for almost 40
years. His son Amenhotep IV succeeded him and changed his name to Akhenaten, which meant
‘servant of the Aten’. He shifted his religious capital from the old city of Thebes to Akhetaten. He
further shocked the country by attacking Amun, a major God. Then a mysterious ruler
Smenkhkare ruled briefly. After him, Tutankhaten took the throne.

Q.3 What changes did King Tut bring out during his reign?
Answer: King Tut was named Tutankhaten at the time of his birth. On succeeding his father to the
Egyptian throne after Akhenaten, King Tut brought about a restoration of the old customs. First, he
changed his name to Tutankhamun in reverence of the old god Amun. Then he oversaw the
restoration and reopening of old temples, shrines, and idols.

Q.4 Why did King Tut’s mummy have to undergo a CT scan?

Answer: King Tut’s mummy had earned worldwide fame for the riches it was buried with.
Moreover, there arose a great controversy regarding the manner of his death and his age at the
time of death. As a result, King Tut’s body was CT. scanned to examine the medical mysteries
about his life and death.

Q.5 Why was Zahi Hawass worried? How did he get rid of his worry?
Answer: Zahi Hawass was Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities in 2005.
King Tut’s mummy was already in a bad condition after what Howard Carter did to it. Zahi Hawass
was scared of inflicting more damage to it when the first ever CT scan of King Tut’s mummy for an
accurate forensic reconstruction was arranged. When everything went as planned, he heaved a
sigh of relief.

Q.6 Do you think Howard Carter was absolutely wrong in cutting King Tut’s body into
pieces? Why?
Answer: Carter was absolutely wrong in cutting King Tut’s body into pieces. He damaged the
mummy to a great extent and destroyed the natural state of the mummy. Moreover, he did not use
scientific methods while excavating King Tut’s mummy, resulting in immense disfiguration of the
body. This prevented other scientific investigators from trying to find out the reasons for King Tut’s
death at an early age.

Q.7 Who was Tut? Why is his life as well as death wrapped in mystery?
Ans. Tut was a teenager when he ascended the throne. He was the last heir of a powerful royal
family. He was laid to rest 26 ft below the earth’s surface in a tomb. His mummy was discovered in
1922 by a British archaeologist, Howard Carter. He found a fabulous treasure in the tomb. The
casket in which Tut’s body was laid, was made of pure gold. Tut’s body was Xrayed and scanned
to find out Tut’s age at the time of death and how he died. His life remained as great a mystery as
his death. In 1968, the X-rays of the mummy showed a broken breastbone and some missing ribs.
Tut’s untimely death at a young age is still a matter of research. How he died—whether under
natural circumstances or unnatural ones—is still not confirmed.

Q.8 What problems did Howard Carter face with regard to Tut’s mummy? How did he solve
them?
Ans. Howard Carter, a British archaeologist, discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, after years of
searching. He found fabulous treasures in the tomb, even though it had been ransacked earlier.
The treasure consisted of a golden coffin, gold ornaments and even petty things of everyday need.
Carter found three coffins. In the first, he found the garlands of leaves and flowers. But when he
reached the mummy, he ran into trouble. The resins used to embalm Tut’s body had hardened.
The coffin was of solid gold. Neither human force nor the scorching sun could loosen the body. So
Carter used chisel and hammer to remove the resins. He had little choice. Tut’s Page 124 of 230
mummy also had to be removed part by part. Having taken out the gold coffin, the body parts were
reassembled, put in a wooden box and placed in the tomb again.

Q.9 How did science help collect information about King Tut’s mummy, his life and death in
mysterious circumstances?
Ans. King Tut’s mummy was first discovered in 1922 by Howard Carter. The embalmed of the boy
king was buried in the tomb along with lots of gold ornaments, sandals masks and coffin—all of
pure gold. His death was a big event. He was the last of powerful ruling family. But he died in
mysterious circumstances at an early age, just nine years after his coming to the throne. In 1968,
Tut’s body was X-rayed. The anatomy professor’ found Tut’s breastbone and front ribs missing.
But the researchers sought the help of advanced technology to solve the mystery. On January
2005, Tut’s head was pushed into a CT scanner. (The boy king had died 3,300 years ago) The
operation took less than three hours. The pharaoh was rested in peace again. The mystery has
not been resolved so far.

Q.10 In 1922 Tut’s tomb was discovered. Much of the treasure buried in the tomb had
already been plundered. The materialistic attitude of a man does not allow even the dead to
sleep in peace. Will there be any end to this attitude? Discuss.
Ans. For a handful of gold, man can go to any extent. Tut’s mummy was buried deep in the desert
with a lot of gold and other things believing that the dead Pharaoh would need those things in the
afterlife. It was a matter of faith. When Tut’s tomb was discovered, much of the treasure had
already been looted. The thieves did it being driven by the mad force of materialism. Materialistic
attitude attaches no importance to beliefs, religious sentiments and social rites and rituals. But
when Carter finally succeeded in discovering Tut’s tomb, he found the richest royal collection—all
made of solid gold—in the tomb. Even the coffin was made of gold. In order to remove Tut from
his coffin, Carter had to cut the body from its joints. So, man doesn’t allow even the dead to sleep
in peace.

POEM 2 THE LABURNUM TOP

Till the goldfinch comes, with a twitching chirrup

A suddenness, a startlement, at a branch end.
Then sleek as a lizard, and alert, and abrupt,
She enters the thickness, and a machine starts up
Of chitterings, and a tremor of wings, and trillings.

i) What does the poet mean by ‘Twitching Chirrup’?

a) Loud noise made by the bird b) Sudden noise made by the bird
c) Slow noise made by the bird d) All of these

ii) Which poetic device has been used in ‘Sleek as a lizard’?

a) Metaphor b) Alliteration c) Simile d) Analogy

iii) What is the reaction of goldfinch’s younger ones on former’s arrival?

a) They get nervous b) They get offended c) They get furious d) They get super-excited

ANSWERS: i) b) Sudden noise made by the bird ii) c) Simile iii) d) They get super-excited

Q.2‘She launches away, towards the infinite’. Explain the given line.
Answer: ‘She’ stands for the goldfinch whose arrival on the tree has suddenly transformed it into a
noisy place. After having fed her young ones and having made the tree active and full of life, the
goldfinch flies away towards the infinitely vast sky.

Q.3 Why has the poem been named ‘The Laburnum Top’?
Answer: The poem has been named ‘The Laburnum Top’ because the top of the tree has been
described in detail by the poet and the second part is a vivid description of the transformation that
the tree undergoes. The entire scenario revolves around the tree.

Q.4 To what is the movement of the goldfinch compared? What is the basis for the
comparison?
Answer: The goldfinch’s movement is compared to that of a lizard. The basis of the comparison is
the sleek, abrupt, and alert movements of a lizard. The same kinds of movements are observed
when the goldfinch arrives on the laburnum tree.

Q.5 What does the phrase ‘her barred face identity mask’ means?
Answer: This is an example of the poetic device – transferred epithet. The laburnum tree has
flowers that fall like bars and when the bird sits behind the flowers the shadow on her face looks
like she is wearing a mask that has bars on it. So, barred – is actually an adjective for the flowers
and has been transferred from there and applied to the bird.

Q.6 ‘It is the engine of her family; she strokes it full.’ Explain the significance of these lines.
Answer: The goldfinch has been called the engine of her family. Just as the engine starts up the
machine, her arrival in the nest has suddenly started up the silent machine i.e. the young ones
have started chittering and making noise. The expression 'She stokes it full' means that she has
fed the young ones who now have the energy to become active and make noise.

Q.7 The arrival of the goldfinch on the Laburnum top brings about a change in the poem.
How do you interpret this change? Is change good or bad in life?
Answer: At the start of the poem, the top of the Laburnum tree in the poem is silent and still. There
is hardly any activity on it as the sunlight falls on it on a September afternoon. However, with the
arrival of the goldfinch, it suddenly becomes a place of feverish activity. The silence of the place is
broken by the twittering and chirruping of the chicks and the goldfinch. I think that the change
brought about by the arrival of the goldfinch on the Laburnum top is good, as it breaks the
monotony. The tree becomes alive and lively with the movement of the goldfinch and the
twitterings and chirrupings of the chicks. Change can be good or bad in life depending on a
situation. However, the fact is that change is the only constant in life. So, even if a change is bad,
we have to accept it and move on in life.

CHAPTER 4 LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUL

Q.1. What wonderful tale is told about the Chinese painter Wu Daozi?
Ans. The Chinese painter Wu Daozi was engaged by the Emperor to decorate his palace walls with
landscape paintings. It was painter's last painting. He hid his work behind a screen which only the emperor
could see and admire it. But the painter got into a cave. The gate closed before the king could enter it. All
the painting also disappeared along with their maker.
Q.2. What does Chinese story about Emperor and Wu Daozi illustrate?
Ans. The story deals with the magic of art and skill of the artist. He created wonderful landscapes on the
palace walls. The emperor admired only the outer looks of the work. It also conveys that the emperor could
only rule over his territory, and not understand the spirit of art. Only the artist known the way within. He
alone can enter the spirit of the universe.

Q.3. Explain the terms "illusionistic likeness", 'figurative painting' and 'delicate realism'.
Ans. The word illusionistic means creating a sort of false expression. European art tries to create illusion of
actual view. 'Figurative' also has something to do with figure or actual shape of a thing. The word 'delicate'
means fine. Art reproduces not exact view of reality, but only a resemblance of it.

Q.4. What is the unique feature of horizontal scroll? How can it be appreciated?
Ans. The unique feature of Chinese horizontal scroll is that it does not give us an integrated view of scene.
There is gap between one picture and another. It leaves scope for the viewer to use his mind and
imagination. The landscape is not realistic but an inner one.

Q.5. Which story from Flanders, Europe, is most representative of Western painting?
Ans. The story is about a famous painter who would not draw the eyes of a dragon he had painted. He had a
fear that with eyes, the dragon would fly out of painting.

Q.6. What is Shanshui? How does it express the concept of word 'landscape'?
Ans. Shanshui is a concept about the mystery and origin of the universe. The landscape literally means
'mountain water'. There two elements are like two poles, the source of energy. The mountain is vertical and
male, the water is horizontal and female. There are also called yan and yin. They are complementary. Their
interaction keeps the world going.

Q.7. What is the third element, represented by the 'Middle Void' in Chinese landscape?
Ans. The masculine energy of Yang and female energy of Yin are in complete without each other. But their
interaction takes place in the 'Middle Void', or blank space left in a Chinese landscape nothing can happen
without the combination of both aspects of energy.

Q.8. How does the author contrast the Chinese View of Art with the Western concept of painting?
Which one do you find easy to understand and admire.
Ans. A Chinese landscape does n't stick to reality. It leaves enough scope for the viewer to use imagination.
The painting can be looked from any angle and any view point. The scroll on which the artist paints has
white, blank spaces left over. It gives freedom to the viewer to travel up and down. It captures the essence of
inner life. A European or Western painting, on the other hand, is realistic. The painter wants us to look at it
as he had seen it. From a particular angle it creates an illusion of delicate realism. The story of quinten, in
15th century, illustrates the point clearly. He entered a painter's studio and painted a fly on artist's blank
convenes. The artist mistook it for a real fly and tried to drive it away. That story is representative of
Western painting.

Q.9. What is Nek Chand's unique achievement and gift to the world? How did he get international
recognition?
Ans. The India born and altogether untrained artist Nek Chand developed concept of ‘outsider art’. He
created a Paradise using waste material at Chandigarh. He cut the rocky place and created his dream. This
drew attention of the world. His art is of an untrained visionary. Because such artists have received no
formal training, but sometimes such artists show remarkable talent and insight. Nek Chand's creation is
known as the 'Rock Garden'. The Swiss Commission organized a European exhibition in 2005 on Nek
Chand's works of art. It was shown in various other European countries. Thus, he got international
recognition
POEM 3 THE VOICE OF THE RAIN

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

Eternal I rise impalpable out of the land and the bottomless sea,
Upward to heaven, whence, vaguely form’d, altogether changed, and yet the same,

i) What does the use of word ‘eternal’ indicate here?

(a) It indicates the continual process of rain
(b) It indicates the continual process of nature
(c) It indicates the discontinuous process of rain
(d) It indicates the discontinuous process of nature

Answer: (a) It indicates the continual process of rain

ii) From where does ‘I’ rise and where does it go?
(a) It rises in the form of droplets and goes to the sea
(b) It rises in the form of clouds and goes to the sky
(c) It rises in the form of water vapour and goes to the land
(d) It rises in the form of water vapour and goes to the sky

Answer: (d) It rises in the form of water vapour and goes to the sky

iii) Which word in the extract means the same as “in a way that is uncertain, indefinite or
unclear?”
(a) Eternal (b) Impalpable (c) Vaguely (d) Bottomless

Answer: (c) Vaguely

Q.2 Why does the poet get surprised when he gets an answer from the rain?
Answer: The poet gets surprised when he gets an answer from the rain, as it is inanimate and
cannot speak. In this poem, to the poet’s and reader’s amazement, the rain gives a reply which
has been translated by the poet for the readers.

Q.3 What answer does the rain give back to the poet?
Answer: The rain answers to the poet’s question by telling him that it is the Poem of Earth and is
involved in a continuing process of going up and coming down.

Q.4 How does the rain justify its claim ‘I am the Poem of Earth’?
Answer: The rain calls itself the Poem of the Earth because the poem rendered by the poet has
the task of bringing joy, happiness, life to its readers. Similarly when the rain falls down over Earth,
a rhythm or music is created. That’s why the rain calls itself the Poem of Earth.

Q.5 How does the rain become the voice of Earth?

Answer: In the poem, ‘The Voice of the Rain’, the poet describes how the rain falls on Earth. He
also asks a question to the rain ‘about it. He calls the showers of the rain as ‘Poem of Earth’ as the
rain gives a new lease of life to ‘the scorched and parched Earth and falls on Earth in a rhythmic
manner. Actually, it is the voice of Earth as the slowly falling showers produce a very soft music
and Earth finds its expression only through the showers falling on it.

Q.6 Why do you think the poet says the phrase ‘reck’d or unreck’d’?
Answer:The words have been poetically drafted. Reck’d and unreck’d stand for reckoned and
unreckoned. The words literally mean cared and uncared for respectively. The poet says these
words to emphasise the fact that when it falls on the Earth, we sometimes take notice of it or
sometimes completely ignore it. But even if it is left uncared for, it completes its destiny and
returns to absorbed where it started from.

Q.7 Rain is an eternal process benefiting mankind. Contrast it with human life which is
short lived on this Earth. Should we disturb these eternal elements of nature?
Answer: The poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’ beautifully shows the continued process of rain which
sounds like music to human ears, as it fulfills our needs. It is an ever going process which sustains
human life and provides us with food, pure air and green cover. On the other hand, human lives
are mortal. We come on this Earth for a short period and then
depart without leaving any mark on this planet. Moreover human beings, for their greed and
selfish motives, indulge in destructive activities which may disturb these eternal processes of
nature. We must learn a lesson from nature. If we want peaceful co-existence, we need not disturb
the balance of nature, otherwise the whole of humanity will be in danger. We must learn a lesson
from such eternal processes and do something good for humanity at large.

POEM 4 CHILDHOOD

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

When did my childhood go?

Was it the time I realised that adults were not all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!

Question 1. Who is ‘my’ in the above lines?

(a) ‘my’ refers to the poet, Markus Natten
(b) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s childhood
(c) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s friend
(d) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s father

Answer: (a) ‘my’ refers to the poet, Markus Natten

Question 2. Why is ‘I’ confused?

(a) Because ‘I’ do not seem to understand when he lost his childhood
(b) Because ‘I’ could not search heaven and hell in geography
(c) Because T is getting a lot of negative thoughts
(d) Because T has lost his mind

Answer: (a) Because ‘I’ do not seem to understand when he lost his childhood

Question 3. Explain “But did not act so lovingly”.

(a) It means that children talk about love but their actions are not loving
(b) It means that adults talk about love but their actions are not loving
(c) It means that adults talk about love and their actions reflect the same
(d) It means that children talk about love and their actions reflect the same Answer: (b) It means
that adults talk about love but their actions are not loving

Q.2 What is the poet’s feeling towards the childhood?

Ans. The poet regards childhood as a period of heavenly innocence. A child sincerely feels that
there is god above. He is free from all earthly evils. He believes that there is really a Heaven and a
Hell. He is truly religious in his soul. A child knows no hypocrisy. He always means what he says.
There is no difference between his thoughts and actions. A child is free from any sense of ego. He
does not think himself to be different from or superior to others. In short, childhood is a state of
heavenly innocence and purity of heart.

Q.3 What according to the poem, is involved in the process of growing up?
Ans. As a person grows up, he becomes a rationalist, an egoist and a hypocrite. He accepts
nothing that is not logical. He loses faith in God. He does not believe in Hell or Heaven. He
becomes very conscious of his self. He wants to follow his own desires and ideas. He becomes an
egoist. He talks of love and preaches of love, but is not so loving in his actions. In short, he loses
all his innocence of his childhood.

Q.4 How does the poet repent on his loss of childhood?

Ans. He expresses concern over his childhood’s disappearance. Childhood cannot be regained. It
keeps our life aloof from the world of hypocrisy, bitter reality and materialism. He misses his
childhood after growing up & tries to find out when & where did his childhood go!

Q.5 The poet has asked two questions one is about the time and other is about the place.
Why has he used these questions?
Ans. He has used these two questions to interpret the time and place of way of going his
childhood away. “When” points out the process of being rational at a particular time and “where”
states the place where the innocent world of childhood resides.

Q.6 What does the Hell and heaven stand for?

Ans. It stands for the world of imagination that fascinates only small children. These are nothing
but the product of our imaginative mind that helps the person to escape from reality.

Q.7 Write an article in about 120-150 words about childhood and the process of growing up.
Ans: When I was a child the world seemed to be a place of joy and happiness to me. There was
nothing worth worrying about. Whenever I cried, somebody consoled me. When I did not like to sit
alone, I was always in somebody’s arms. My mother always looked after me. These are Page 147
of 230 my most cherished memories and I believe that looking at a child playing and enjoying
childhood makes me somewhat nostalgic. Childhood is free from cares. There are no duties or
responsibilities on the shoulders of a child. A child only eats, drinks, sleeps and plays. Thus, a
child lives in the bliss of ignorance and innocence. As we grow in age, worries about studies,
choice of profession, shouldering responsibilities etc keep haunting us. Tensions, stress and
worries become a part of adult life and the individual forgets to live a carefree life.

CHAPTER 5 THE BROWINING VERSION

Q.1. Why did Crocker-Harris not disclose the results like the other teachers?
Ans. It was a rule that results would be announced by the headmaster alone. The other teachers
didn't care for this rule. But Gocker-Harris was a man of principles. He never disclosed the results
like the other teachers.

Q.2. Who was Millie? What did she tell Taplow?

Ans. Millie was Mr., Crocker’s wife. She total Taplow that her husband was at the Bursar's's. It
could take him a lot of time. Thus she told him indirectly that he could go and play.

Q.3. Why doesn't Taplow agree with Frank in calling Cracker a "Sadist"?
Ans. Frank calls cracker a radist because he gets after his students. But Taplow says after he
understands he meaning of the word 'sadist' that cracker was much more than that. He was a
feelingness person who was like a shrivelled-up nut. He hated to be liked and behaved in a
strange manner with his students.
Q.4. Where did Taplow meet Frank?
Ans. Taplow had been asked to do some extra work by Mr. Cracker Harris. He was waiting for the
teacher in the school. Frank also came there and met Taplow.

Q.5. What is Taplow's attitude towards Mr. Crocker Harris?

Ans. Taplow is respectful towards Mr. Crocker Harris and likes him even though he is afraid of
him, and dare not cut the extra work even on the last day of the term.

Q.6. What do you gather about Mr. Frank from the play?
Ans. Mr. Frank is a young science teacher. He does n't like the subject the teaches. He also
admits that he tells the results to the students before it is officially announced by the head master.
He feels envious of cracker Harris because Taplow likes him.

Q.7. What subjects does Taplow want to opt for? Why?

Ans. Taplow feels if his grades are good, he would opt for science. He feels science is more
interesting than the study of classics.

Q.8. How does Taplow react to Millie's arrival?

Ans. Taplow is nervous. He is unable to control his emotions and whispers to Frank if he thinks
she has heard their conversation. Taplow feels that if she tells Mr. Crocker Harris, he would lost
his form.

CHPATER 7 THE ADVENTURE

Q.1 How was Bakhar‟s account of the Battle of Panipat different from what was written in
other history books?
Ans: In all historical texts, the Maratha army was said to have lost the battle because Vishwasrao
was injured by a bullet, which destroyed the army's spirit. However, the professor's copy of the
Bakhar had something different written on it. It was mentioned that Vishwasrao nearly escaped the
bullet as it brushed by his ear.

Q.2 Why did professor Gangadhar go inside the Forbes building?

Ans: The professor entered the Forbes building to meet with his son Vinaya. He was astounded to
see that his son's name was neither on the phone list or in the personnel directory. He had not
expected his son's existence to be so hazy.

Q.3 What points did Rajendra make while explaining the mystery of reality?
Ans: The phrase "absence of determination in quantum theory" translates as "we generally
experience reality directly with our senses." However, what we see is not the complete picture.
Using an electron as an example, we may demonstrate this. When fired from a source, it can go in
any direction, defying all physical laws.” Rajendra Prasad states that the professor has
transitioned from one universe he is familiar with to another that may or may not exist. One can
make observations, but one can also assume that alternate realities exist.

Q.4 What was the strange reality that Professor Gaitonde saw as he stepped out of the
station?
Ans: As Professor Gaitonde came out of the station, he saw an impressive building. The letters on
it revealed that it was the East India headquarters of the East India Company. He was shocked as
it was supposed to have had stopped operating soon after the events of 1857 but here it was
flourishing.

Q.5 What was the effect of the victory of the Peshwas on the East India Company?
Ans:The East India Company was alarmed when the new Maratha ruler, Vishwasrao, and his
brother, Madhavrao, expanded their influence all over India. The Company was limited to pockets
of influence near Bombay, Calcutta and Madras. However, in the nineteenth century the Marathas
were aware of the importance of the technological age starting in Europe. Hence when they set up
their own centres for science and technology, the East India Company saw another chance to
extend its influence, it offered support and experts. But they were accepted only to make the local
centres self-sufficient. Long Answer

Q.6 How did Rajendra explain Professor Gaitonde’s experience by linking it to ‘the lack of
determinism in quantum theory’?
Answer: Rajendra felt that reality might not be unique as has been found from experiments on
atoms and their constituent particles. The behaviour of these systems cannot be predicted
definitively even if all the physical. laws governing those systems are known. The course taken by
an electron fired from a source cannot be asserted. This is the theory of the lack of determinism in
the quantum theory. Similarly, in one world the electron is found here, in another it is over there. In
yet another world it could be in a completely different location. Once the observer finds where it is,
we know which world we are talking about. But all those alternative worlds could exist just the
same. The electron could be orbiting in any of a large number of specified states. These states
may be used to identify the world. In state no. 1 we have the electron in a state of higher energy.
Instate no. 2 it is in a state of lower energy. It could make a jump from high to low energy and send
out a pulse of radiation. Or a pulse of radiation could knock it out of state no. 2 into state no.

CHAPTER 8 SILK ROAD

Question 1. How does the author recount his experience at the Darchen Medical College?
Answer: The doctor at the Darchen Medical College did not wear the traditional white coat of a
doctor. He observed the author and diagnosed his problem as the effect of cold and high altitude.
He gave him brown powders and pellets to be taken with hot water. The author benefitted with this
treatment.

Question 2. Where is the town of Hor situated? Describe the town.

Answer: Hor is located on the eastwest highway when one travels from Lhasa to Kashmir. It is a
grim desolate place littered with accumulated refuse. There is no vegetation in this town. It is
located on the shore of Lake Mansarovar. On the whole, it has badly painted concrete buildings.

Question 3. What have you learnt about the Tibetan mastiff from the essay?
Answer: After reading the essay, we found that Tibetan mastiffs are too violent and ferocious with
big heads. They are black in colour with their red collars. They attack like bullets fired from guns.
They possess massive jaws. Their bark is furious. These mastiffs are so fearless that they can
also attack cars and jeeps.

Question 4. Why was the narrator relieved on meeting Norbu?

Answer: The narrator was quite relieved on meeting Norbu firstly because he was all alone at
Darchen. He found a companion in Norbu. He could speak English fluently. He was educated. He
didn’t believe in doing Kora on foot in the conventional manner. Both of them decided to hire yaks.
In every aspect, Norbu appeared to be an ideal companion for the narrator.

Q.5 Why does the narrator think that the snow was dangerous yet beautiful?
Ans: Silk Road by Nick Middleton is a thorough account of the author’s visit to Mount Kailash.
Tsetan on his way reviewed snow on the path by stomping on it. The snow was not deep enough
but they feared the car would turn over in case they slipped and so they flung a handful of dirt
across the frozen surface to cover this risk. After that, they were able to drive without any trouble.
A few minutes later, they stopped at one more obstruction. This time they determined to drive
about the snow. However, the risks did not weaken the attractive beauty of the place. In the valley,
they saw mountains that were covered with snow, and the river was wide but mostly jammed with
ice, and sparkling in the sunshine.
POEM 5 FATHER TO SON

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

The seed I spent or sown it where

The land is his and none of mine?
We speak like strangers, there’s no sign
Of understanding in the air
This child is built to my design
Yet what he loves I cannot share.

1. Why does the father feel that the seed was sown in the land that was not his?
a) Because the son does not share any of the physical features of his father
b) Because the son shares the physical features of his father
c) Because the son does not share any of the behavioural characteristics of his father
d) Because the son shares some of the behavioural characteristics of his father

2. What is wrong between father and son?

(a) Father and son do no| resemble each other
(b) Father and son have a dispute related to their property
(c) Father likes his son but the son likes his mother
(d) Father and son behave like strangers and do not share any common likes or dislikes

Answer: (d) Father and son behave like strangers and do not share any common likes or dislikes

3. “Built to my design” means

(a) that his son does not look like him
(b) that his son looks like him as far as physical features are concerned
(c) that his son wears the same brand of clothes that he does
(d) that his son wears clothes designed by him

Answer: (b) that his son looks like him as far as physical features are concerned

Question 2. Why doesn’t the father know anything about his son though they have lived in
the same house?
Answer: The father-son relationship is actually non-functional. The father doesn’t understand the
aspirations, longings arid cravings of the son. They do not communicate with each other and
behave like strangers. Therefore, the father doesn’t know anything about his son.

Question 2.What does the poet mean by ‘Silence surrounds us?’

Answer: The father feels helpless as he has no dialogue with his son. They don’t understand each
other and they are living like strangers to each other in spite of their living under the same roof for
years. Their outlook and temperament are so different that they remain separated from each other.
They have a communication gap along with the generation gap, which causes the silence.

Question 3. The father is ready to have his prodigal son return. What inference can you
draw from this?
Answer: Prodigal means wastefully extravagant. Here the reference is to the story in the Bible in
which a father gives his inheritance to his sons. The younger brother leaves, wastes his fortune
and returns to his father’s home. Still the father is ready to take him back and forgive him. In the
poem, the father also wants to forgive him so that they live peacefully together again.
Question 4. The root cause of the generation gap presented in the poem lies in the fact that
it is only the father talking to his son rather than hearing or understanding him. Explain.
Answer: One of the reasons of the generation gap is absence of understanding and
communication. Here in this poem we hear only the father’s point of view. We do not hear anything
from the son’s side. The root cause of the generation gap has been lack of sharing of interests or
not paying attention to the child’s, emotional needs, when he is growing up. The child should be
allowed to express his opinions freely and adults should not behave like dictators.

Question 5. What do the words ‘an empty hand’ signify?

Answer: The words ‘empty hand’ signify that both the father arid the son want to forgive each other
and extend a hand of friendship to each other, but neither of them is willing to be the first one to do
so. This means that although they are longing to forgive each other, their egos are coming in the
way so that none of them wants to be the first one to do so. Long question

SNAPSHOTS

CHAPTER-1 THE SUMMER OF THE BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE

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

That afternoon John Byro came to our house in his surrey and showed my mother the horse that
had been stolen and returned. I do not know what to think, he said. The horse is stronger than
ever. Better-tempered, too. I thank God. My uncle Khosrove, who was in the parlour, became
irritated and shouted, Quiet, man, quiet. Your horse has been returned. Pay no attention to it.

1. Who is John Byro?

a. farmer b. a rich man c. a member of the tribe d. none of these

2. Who had stolen the horse?

a. Uncle Khosrove b. Aram and Mourad c. John Byrod. Mourad

3. What was the famous utterance of Uncle Khosrove?

a. Pay no attention to them. b. Pay all attention to it. c. Pay no attention to me d. Pay no attention
to it.

Q.2 To which tribe did Mourad and Aram belong? Which traits of the tribe are highlighted in
the story ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’?
Answer: Mourad and Aram belonged to the Garoghlanian tribe. The Garoghlanians were
extremely poor but they were known for honesty for centuries. They were proud first, honest next
and believed in doing the right deeds. No one of their tribe would ever steal. Everyone trusted
them.

Q.3 What are the unique traits of the Garoghlanian tribe?

Answer: The unique traits of the Garoghlanian tribe were that they were extremely poor but still
they were 1 famous for their honesty for centuries. They were proud as well as honest; they
believed in doing the right deeds. No one ofb their tribe would ever steal. They were trustworthy.

Q.4 Why did Aram find it hard to believe that Mourad had stolen the horse?
Answer: Though Mourad was too poor to buy a horse, Aram found it difficult to believe that he had
stolen it. This was because Mourad came from a family that firmly upheld honesty as their special
trait and were proud of it.

Q.5 Why was Aram delighted and frightened at the same time when he saw his cousin
Mourad on a beautiful white horse?
Answer: Aram was delighted because of the beautiful white horse. He wanted to ride. He was
delighted and frightened by ‘the pious stillness and humour’ in Mourad and the horse. This means
that he was frightened because Mourad was on a horse which he could never have bought.

Q.6 How can we say that Aram and Mourad were very fond of riding?
Answer: Page 181 of 230 Mourad brought a horse which did not belong to him. Though he knew
that their tribe was well- known for honesty, but he could not help stealing John Byro’s horse for
riding. They enjoyed riding at 4:00 a.m. when it was still dark. They used to race the horse across
fields, vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches and country roads. Thus we can say that Aram and
Mourad were very fond of riding. Long-answer questions

Q.7 Write a brief note on the Garoghlanian family as perceived by the narrator.
Answer: The Garoghlanian family was poor. In fact, the whole tribe was poverty-stricken. But the
family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. Nobody could understand
where they ever got money enough to feed them, not even the old men of the family. Most
importantly, they had been famous for their honesty for around eleven centuries, even when they
had been one of the wealthiest families in the world. They were proud, honest, and believed in
values such as right and wrong. None of them would take advantage of anybody in the world, let
alone steal. The streak of ‘madness’ shared by the narrator’s Uncle Khosrove and cousin Mourad
had been there in their tribe, from the beginning, unpredictable and unrestrained.

CHAPTER 2 THE ADDRESS

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

The girl put cups ready on the tea-table. She had a broad back. Just like her mother. She poured
tea from a white pot. All it had was a gold border on the lid, I remembered. She opened a box and
took some spoons out. ‘That’s a nice box.’ I heard my own voice. It was a strange voice. As
though each sound was different in this room.

1. The girl is
a. the daughter of Mrs. S b. the daughter of Mrs. Dorling c. Cousin of the narrator d. none

2. What did the narrator remember?

a. that the tea pot was hers b. that the things no longer belonged to her
c. what she had forgotten d. all of the above

3. Why was each sound different?

a. because of the strange and different atmosphere b. due to different languages
c. because of the mixed feelings d. none

Question.2 Where had the narrator come? Why was she back?
Answer: The narrator is a Dutch Jew, who had to leave Holland during the Second World War.
She had left along with her mother for safety. Now she was back to where her past ‘things’ lay.
She wanted to see and touch her belongings in order to relive those memories.

Question 3. Whom did the narrator desire to meet in Holland? Why?

Answer: The narrator was told by her mother to remember ‘Number 46 Marconi Street’, where
Mrs. Dorling lived; she had insisted on keeping their things safely till the war was over. After the
war, the narrator was curious about their possessions that were still at that address and she went
to meet Mrs. Dorling.

Question 4. What kind of a welcome did the narrator get from Mrs. Dorling?
Answer: Mrs. Dorling was cold and indifferent and evidently displeased to see the author. In fact,
she tried to prevent her from entering by blocking her entrance. Later, she said it was not
convenient for her to talk to the narrator at that point of time and refused to meet her.

Question 5. When did the narrator first learn about the existence of Mrs. Dorling?
Answer: The narrator recalled the time when she was home during the first half of the War. She
had noticed that various things were missing. Her mother then told her about Mrs. Dorling, an old
acquaintance who renewed their contact, and came regularly, each time, carrying away some of
their things.

Question 6. What was the narrator’s mother’s opinion about Mrs. Dorling?
Answer: The narrator’s mother considered Mrs. Dorling a very benevolent lady, who strived to
‘save’ their ‘nice things’ by carrying some of them away, each time she visited. The narrator’s
mother was unable to see through the lady who wished to cheat her out of her valuables, instead
she felt grateful to Mrs. Dorling. Long-answer Questions Question 1. Describe the narrator’s first
post-War meeting with Mrs. Dorling. Answer: When the narrator knocked at Mrs. Dorling’s door
and introduced herself as Mrs. S’s daughter, Mrs. Dorling showed no sign of recognition. She held
the door in a way making clear that the narrator was not welcome. For some time, she stared
quietly at the narrator at which she felt that it was not the person that she had been looking for.
When Mrs. Dorling let her in, the narrator noticed her wearing her mother’s green knitted cardigan.
The lady saw her looking at the cardigan and hid herself partially behind the door. When the
narrator mentioned her mother, she said that she had thought that none of the people who had left
had come back. The lady expressed regret at her inability to do anything for her but the narrator
insisted on talking to her having come all the way for it.

CHAPTER 3 RANGA’S MARRIAGE

Q.1 Why was Hosahalli famous?

Ans. The village Hosahalli was famous for mangoes which were extremely sour and huge leaves
of a creaper to serve meals.

Q.2 Who was Ranga? Why was he sent to Bangalore?

Ans. Ranga was the son of the village accountant Rama Rao. He sent Ranga to Bangalore to
study.

Q.3 Why were the villagers disappointed on seeing Rangappa?

Ans. The villagers had anticipated that he would be a changed from after going to Bangalore. But
they were disappointed when they saw that he was not changed. Even his Janewara was intact.
He was the same person with the same features.

Q.4 Who was Ratna? why did Ranga decide to marry her?
Ans. Ratna was Rama Rao’s niece, who come to stay with him after the death of her parents.
Ranga was so impressed by her melodious voice that he decided to marry her.

Q.5 What was special about Rangappa? How did the villagers react to it?
Ans. Ten years ago, there were not many people in Hosahalli village who knew English.
Rangappa, the accountant's son enjoyed a unique distinction. He is the first one to be sent to
Bangalore to pursue his studies. This was considered an act of courage on the part of his father. It
was an important event in the village — a sort of first of its type. Naturally, Ranga's homecoming
was a great event. The crowds of villagers milled around his house to see whether he had
changed or not. People were quite excited because Ranga had returned home after studying
English at Bangalore. An old lady ran her hand over Ranga's chest. She looked into his eyes. She
was satisfied to find the sacred thread on his body. She felt happy that he had not lost his caste.
People disappeared from the scene, once they realised that Ranga had not undergone any
material change.
Q.6 Give a brief account of the narrator's two meetings with Ranga after the latter's return
from Bangalore. What opinion did he form about the young man?
Ans. When Ranga returned home after getting his education in Bangalore people collected round
his home to see him. The narrator was attracted by the crowd. He too went and stood in the
courtyard. Ranga came out smile on his face. After every one had gone, the narrator asked
Rangappa how he was. Ranga noticed him and came near him. He folded his hands and touched
narrator’s feet. He said that he was all right, with the narrator's blessings. The narrator blessed him
and wished that he might get married soon. They exchanged some polite friendly remarks. Then
the narrator left. That afternoon, when the narrator was resting, Ranga came to his house with a
couple of oranges in his hand. The narrator thought that Ranga was a generous, considerate
fellow. He was of the opinion that it would be fine to have him marry, settle down and be of service
to the society.

Q.7 What were Ranga's ideas about marriage? Do you find any change n them during the
course of the story?
Answer: Ranga was influenced by the English way of life in the matter of marriage. He was not in
favour of arranged marriages of the time where the brides we are quite young. He told the narrator
that he was not getting married just then. He gave two reasons. First, he must find the right girl.
She must be mature enough to understand his love-talk. Avery young girl might take his words
spoken in love as words spoken in anger. He gives examples of a thirty year old officer who
married a twenty-five year old lady and that of king Dushyanta falling in love with Shakuntla. The
second reason he gave was that one should marry a girl one loves. During the course of the story
we find a change in Ranga's ideas about marriage. Not only is he fascinated by Rama Rao's
eleven year old niece Ratna, he also marries her in the old traditional way of arranged marriages.

Q.8 What steps did the narrator take to get Ranga married to Ratna?
Ans. The narrator was intimate with Rama Rao's family. He knew that his niece Ratna would be a
suitable wife for Ranga. He proceeded systematically. First he created an opportunity where
Ranga might listen to Ratna's song and have a glimpse of her. He arranged this sudden encounter
of two strangers at his home. The reaction of two youngsters was on expected lines. Ranga felt
interested in her. Ratna felt shy, lowered her head and went to the other room. In order to test the
intensity of Ranga's feelings towards Ratna, the narrator said that she had been married a year
ago. Ranga looked crestfallen. Then the narrator tutored an astrologer and took Ranga to him.
Shastri, the astrologer, gave sufficient assurance that there was no hitch in his marriage to a girl
whose name was that of something found in the ocean. While returning from the Shastri's house,
they saw Ratna standing alone in her uncle's house. The narrator went in for a moment and
brought the news that Ratna was not married. After ascertaining Ranga's views, the marriage was
settled

Q.9 Comment on the title of the story 'Ranga's Marriage'.

Answer: The title of the story is quite appropriate and suggestive. It at once sums up the theme of
the story. The whole story has one central issue Ranga's marriage. It begins with Ranga's refusal
to marry just then and ends with his blissful married life. All the incidents contribute to the central
theme. The writer has presented the working of a young educated Indian's mind and heart. He is
easily influenced by the English way of life and customs. He wants to adopt them in his own life as
well. The narrator, who is his well-wisher takes deep interest in him and takes active steps to wean
Ranga away from the fantasy of love-marriage. By arousing his interest and fascination in a young
girl. Ratna, he makes Ranga agree to marry her. Thus Ranga's one condition for marriage is
fulfilled — he knows the girl and loves her. She does not fulfil the other condition of being a mature
girl in twenties — she is just eleven at that time.

Q.8 Write a brief note on the ending of the story 'Ranga's Marriage'.
Ans. The ending of the story is superb. Like all the tales of romance where the hero and heroine
are finally united, the caption "....and they lived happily ever after" is usually displayed. The writer
goes here one step further. He presents Ranga as a happily married husband, a proud father and
a good member of the joint family. He has a three year old son, a golden child, whom he had
named Shyam' after the narrator to express his love and gratitude to the elderly person. We also
learn that Ratna is about to deliver another child and Ranga's sister has come there with his
mother. They will not only look after household affairs but Ratna as well. The scene of a toddler
putting his arms round the legs of an elder and the latter kissing him on his cheek and placing a
ring on his tiny little finger as a birthday gift presents a lovely emotional scene full of tender
affection and love. What a happy ending.

CHAPTER 4 ALBERT EINSTEIN AT SCHOOL

Q.1. Why did Mr. Braun scold young Einstein?

Ans. Mr. Braun, the history teacher scolded young Einstein because he did not remember. the
dates of events in history. Further, the annoyed him by giving statements against education. He
told the teacher that learning the dates of historical events was meaningless.

Q.2. Why was Albert tense about this neighborhood?

Ans. Albert did not like the environment of his neighbourhood as the land lord often beat him wife.
The wife also beat children. There was a lot of violence in the neighbourhood. The landlady did not
let him play violin.

Q.3 What was the opinion of Mrs. Koch about Albert?

Ans. Mr. Koch appreciated Albert for him intelligence. He was impressed by his knowledge of
maths. He felt that Albert knew more than him in Maths. He gave him a glowing certificate in
Maths.

Q.4 What, according to Albert, would interest him in learning History?

Q.5 Why did Albert feel miserable “that day” when he left the school? 3. Why did Albert’s
landlady ask him to stop playing the music?

Q.6 What did Elsa think about the examination system?

Q.7 Albert told Yuri his desire to leave the school. What reasons did he give for this? 6.
What did the Maths teacher think about Albert? 7. Why did the head teacher decide to expel
Albert from the school?

Q.8 ‘Albert felt the medical certificate almost burning a hole in his pocket.’ Explain.

Q.9 What opinion do you form of Einstein’s nature from his conversation with the head
teacher?

Q.10 Why did Albert see no point in learning dates and facts from History books?

CHAPTER 5 MOTHER’S DAY

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

CYRIL: [briskly] Hello—Mum. Tea ready? MRS PEARSON: No. CYRIL: [moving to the table;
annoyed] Why not? MRS PEARSON: [coolly] I couldn’t bother. CYRIL: Feeling off-colour or
something? MRS PEARSON: Never felt better in my life. CYRIL: [aggressively] What’s the idea
then? MRS PEARSON: Just a change.
1. Why does Mrs. Pearson behave in an odd way?
a. she is fed up with the family members b. she is drunk c. Mrs. Fitzgerald’s spirit has entered her
body d. none

2. What change does Mrs. Pearson talk about?

a. change her habits b. change her mindset c. change her reaction d. all

3. ‘Off-colour’ means
a. slightly unwell b. annoyed c. upset d. depressed

Question 2. Who is Mrs Fitzgerald? What does she advise Mrs Pearson?
Answer: Mrs. Fitzgerald is Mrs. Pearson’s neighbour and friend. A fortune teller, who had learnt
the art from the East, she tells Mrs. Pearson that her fortune could turn either way. With effort and
counsel, the situation would swing in her favour. She advised her to assert herself as the boss of
the house.

Question 2. What was Mrs. Pearson’s reaction to Mrs. Fitzgerald’s advice?

Answer: Mrs. Pearson said that it would not be easy to put her family members in place as she
was very fond of them. She knew that they were thoughtless and selfish but felt, perhaps, they did
not mean to be so.

Question 3. What was Mrs Fitzgerald’s opinion of Mrs Pearson’s attitude?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald said that Mrs Pearson’s family was undoubtedly spoilt. She felt that it was
Mrs Pearson’s attitude that did them no good, tending to their needs, taking their orders, and
staying at home every night while they went out enjoying themselves.

Question 4. What does Mrs Fitzgerald offer to do for her?

Answer: Mrs Fitzgerald sensed that Mrs Pearson was far too gentle, submissive and generous to
tackle her family. Mrs Fitzgerald offered to make them realize the error of their ways not as Mrs
Fitzgerald but as Mrs Pearson. She offered to change their bodies and change back again.

Question 5. How did the two women react after their bodies were changed?
Answer: When Mrs Pearson looked down at herself in Mrs Fitzgerald’s body, she gave a scream
of fright. On the other hand, Mrs Fitzgerald was rather pleased and felt that the transition was so
neat that she did not even know that she had it in her. Long-answer Questions

Q.5 Compare and contrast the characters of Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson. Who do you
admire and why?
Ans. Mrs Fitzgerald and Mrs Pearson make an interesting study in contrast. Mrs Fitzgerald is
strong, aggressive, liberated and domineering. She lives life on her own terms. She smokes, plays
cards and drinks stout. She can challenge anybody. She even jumps up to slap George. She runs
down Doris’ choice. She takes Cyril to task for wasting time and money on dog races and ice
shows. Mrs Pearson, on the other hand, is weak minded and docile. She does not dare to
displease any member of her family. She agrees with the way suggested by Mrs Fitzgerald but
she is afraid of hurting the feelings of the members of her family. Mrs Fitzgerald has a domineering
personality while Mrs Pearson has pleasing looks and nature and she is rather nervous. We
certainly need more women like Mrs Fitzgerald, who can stand up for their rights.

CHAPTER 6 THE GHAT OF THE ONLY WORLD

Q.1. Who was Shahid?

Ans. Shahid was from Sringar, Kashmir. He studied in Delhi. He was an academician, a creative
writer and a very popular and leaned teacher of English literature. He settled in America. He was a
gregarious being. There was never an evening when there wasn’t a party in his living room. He
suffered from brain tumour.
Q.2. What promise did the writer make with Shahid? How did he fulfil it?
Ans. Writer promised Shahid to fulfil his wish to write something about live after his death. To fulfill
his wish the writer, Amitav, use to keep a record of all the conversations and meetings he had with
Shahid. This record helped him to fulfil his promise. (use the given notes to answer the following
questions)

1. When did Shahid talk about his approaching death for the first time? What had happened
to him?
2. How did Shahid want to be remembered after his death?

3. What promise did the writer make with Shahid? How did he fulfill it?

4. What was common between Shahid and the author?

5. Why did Shahid have a special passion for Kashmiri food in Pandit style?

6. Give two instances from the text to show that Shahid was gregarious by nature?

7. How did Shahid’s upbringing help him in developing a secular outlook?

8. How did author feel after Shahid’s death?

9. What different aspects of Shahid’s character do you gather from the Lesson “he Ghat of
the only World”?

10. What is mean by ‘diaspora’? What do you learn about Indian diaspora from the lesson
‘The ghat of the only world”?

11. Justify the title of the Lesson ‘The Ghat of the only World’?

CHAPTER 7 BIRTH

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

He hesitated, torn between his desire to attempt to resuscitate the child, and his obligation towards
the mother, who was herself in a desperate state. The dilemma was so urgent he did not solve it
consciously. Blindly, instinctively, he gave the child to the nurse and turned his attention to Susan
Morgan who now lay collapsed, almost pulseless, and not yet out of the ether, upon her side…

1. What was the dilemma?

a. to stay there or to leave b. to operate the mother or not
c. to revive the child or look after the mother d. to hope or give up

2. The doctor turned his attention to Susan…

a. knowingly b. unconsciously c. consciously d. none

3. The atmosphere that the extract creates is that of…

a. calmness b. hesitation and commotion c. disturbance d. all

Q.2 Why was Andrew so serious and overwrought that particular evening?
Ans. That evening Andrew was tense and serious. He had a disappointing evening with his
girlfriend Christine. Moreover, he had seen some painful incidents of husbands’ suffering at the
hands of their wives. He was short of sleep as well.
Q.3 Who was Joe Morgan? Why was he so tense, and waiting anxiously for Dr Andrew that
night?
Ans. Joe Morgan was in dire need of Dr Andrew’s help. His wife Susan was in labour. She was
going to deliver their first child after 20 years of marriage. Joe and Susan were keen to have the
child delivered safely. So he stood waiting anxiously for the doctor.

Q.3 That night proved unusual and it influenced Dr Andrew’s whole future in Blaenelly.
What miraculous thing happened that night?
Ans. Dr Andrew had first begun his medical practice in the mining town of Blaenelly. The
successful handling of Mrs Joe’s case proved a turning point in his life. It was no less than a
miracle that he had restored life in a stillborn child by dipping it in cold and warm water alternately.
Besides satisfaction, he earned name and fame.

Q.4 Why were Susan and her Old mother so tense that night?
Ans. Susan was about to deliver a baby after 20 years of marriage. It was natural for her and her
husband Joe to be tense. Susan’s old mother also stood beside her tense and hopeful.

Q.5. Susan’s mother was wise in experience. What hints did she give of her wisdom?
Ans. Susan’s mother was a tall, grey-haired woman of nearly seventy. From her personal
experience, she knew that the childbirth would take some time. She was wise enough to fear that
Dr Andrew might not wait for long. So she tried to make him stay on by offering him tea and sitting
beside him. Long-answer questions

Q.6 What was Andrew’s dilemma after the delivery? How did he solve the problem so
successfully?
Ans. The child was born at daybreak. Dr Andrew was filled with horror as he looked at the lifeless
baby. He had now two patients on his hand. Susan was fast losing her pulse. The baby was white,
lax and lifeless. Andrew was in a dilemma as to whom to give his attention first. Going by instinct,
he gave an injection to Susan and pulled her out of danger. Then he pulled out the child, with a
warm body but no breathing. He gave it an unusual treatment using cold and hot water and the
pressure of his hands. And there was a miracle. He thanked God when the child gave out a cry.

CHAPTER 8 THE TALE OF MELON CITY

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

A frown appeared upon his placid face. The king said, “This is a disgrace. The chief of builders will
be hanged.” The rope and gallows are arranged. The chief of builders was led out. He passed the
king. He gave a shout, ‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault.

1. First line means that the king was

a. happy b. annoyed c. anxious d. appealing

2. How did the chief of builders escape from getting hanged?

a. by shouting at the king b. by fighting the soldiers
c. by blaming workmen d. by running away

3. Find the word from above lines which mean – humiliation

a. frown b. disgrace c. placid d. both a and b

Q.2 Why does the king order an arch to be constructed over the public road?
Ans. The cool-headed king got an arch gate constructed over the public road. He hoped to
enlighten and uplift the onlookers morally.
Q.3 What annoyed the king as he rode down that thoroughfare?
Ans. As he rode down the road, his crown struck against the low-built arch. It was thrown off and
lost. This enraged the king.

Q.4 ‘This is a disgrace’, said the king. How did he react?

Ans. The low-built arch hit against the king’s crown which fell to the ground and was lost. The king
took it as an insult. He ordered the chief of builders to be hanged.

Q.5 The king, in this poem, is just and placid. Why does he then lose his temper? Does he
carry his notion of justice too far?
Ans. The king was known to be calm and cool-headed. But that was a blatant lie. He lost his
temper soon. Being just, he ordered the guilty person or thing to be hanged. But he was an utter
fool. He carried his notion of justice too far. In doing so he had invited his own hanging.

Q.6 How did the chief of builders, the workmen and the masons save their lives?
Ans. The chief of builders passed on the blame to the workmen. The workers in order to save their
lives blamed the brick makers and the masons. The masons put the blame on the architect for the
low arch.

Q.7 Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words . What message does it convey?
Ans. The king of that state was known to be just and cool-headed. But truly speaking, he was
foolish, crazy and brainless. Once he got constructed an arch above the public road for the mental
and moral improvement of the onlookers. One day as he rode down that highway, the low-built
arch hit the king’s crown. The angry king decided to hang the culprit. He summoned the builders,
the workers, the masons, the architect to undergo punishment. They all passed on the blame to
each other. On the old wise man’s advice, the arch itself was to be hanged. But a councillor saved
it. But somebody had to be hanged. The king alone was tall enough to fit the noose which was set
very high. He was hanged. As per the custom, whosoever passed the city gates first, had the
honour of naming the next king. That day a fool was the first person to pass by the gates and he
was asked to choose the king. He spoke only one-word “Melon” to all the questions and the Melon
was crowned. The common people had no say in the selection. They only wanted to live in peace
and liberty.