Deep Water 81 (d) Choose the option that describes the equipment used by the author while learning to swim. 1. 2. 3. 4. (i) Option 1. (ii) Option 2. (iii) Option 3. (iv) Option 4. 2. I struck at the water as I went down, expending my strength as one in a nightmare fights an irresistible force. I had lost all my breath. My lungs ached, my head throbbed. I was getting dizzy. But I remembered the strategy — I would spring from the bottom of the pool and come like a cork to the surface. I would lie flat on the water, strike out with my arms, and thrash with my legs. Then I would get to the edge of the pool and be safe. (pg 26) (a) What was the ‘irresistible force’? (i) the sheet of water (ii) a very heavy load of water (iii) submerging water (iv) all of the above (b) ‘I had lost all my breath’ means that (i) I was going to die. (ii) I was experiencing death. (iii) I was at the threshold of death. (iv) all of the above (c) In ‘... come like a cork ...’ which figure of speech has been used? (i) metaphor (ii) alliteration (iii) simile (iv) imagery (d) What strategy did the narrator want to adopt to survive the death-like snare? (i) spring like a cork (ii) spring with full force from the bottom (iii) would lie flat (iv) none of the above 3. And then sheer, stark terror seized me, terror that knows no understanding, terror that knows no control, terror that no one can understand who has not experienced it. I was shrieking under water. I was paralysed under water — stiff, rigid with fear. Even the screams in my throat were frozen. Only my heart, and the pounding in my head, said that I was still alive. (pg 26)
82 English XII (a) What does this ‘terror’ symbolise? (i) It symbolises death. (ii) It symbolises moments before death. (iii) It is a passage to death. (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) When did the narrator experience such a fear? (i) He was dying. (ii) He was inching to death. (iii) He was inching to drowning. (iv) all of the above (c) What shows he WAS NOT yet dead? (i) pounding of his heart (ii) experiencing death (iii) experiencing pre-death moments (iv) none of the above (d) How did he feel under water? (i) shrieking (ii) rigid (iii) paralysed (iv) all of the above 4. But the jump made no difference. The water was still around me. I looked for ropes, ladders, water wings. Nothing but water. A mass of yellow water held me. Stark terror took an even deeper hold on me, like a great charge of electricity. I shook and trembled with fright. My arms wouldn’t move. My legs wouldn’t move. I tried to call for help, to call for mother. Nothing happened. (pg 26) (a) Which moment is the narrator talking of here in this passage? (i) about his second ‘drowning’ (ii) about his third ‘drowning’ (iii) when he is going to the bottom (iv) none of the above (b) Why did the narrator look for ropes, ladder? (i) to come out of the water (ii) to escape drowning (iii) to sideline the terror of drowning. (iv) all of the above (c) ‘... like a charge of electricity...’ which figure of speech has been used here? (i) metaphor (ii) synecdoche (iii) symbolism (iv) simile (d) ‘Nothing happened’ means that (i) no effort on the part of the narrator had a result. (ii) no help came. (iii) no one saved him. (iv) none of the above
Deep Water 83 5. Then all effort ceased. I relaxed. Even my legs felt limp; and a blackness swept over my brain. It wiped out fear; it wiped out terror. There was no more panic. It was quiet and peaceful. Nothing to be afraid of. This is nice... to be drowsy... to go to sleep... no need to jump... too tired to jump... it’s nice to be carried gently... to float along in space... tender arms around me... tender arms like Mother’s... now I must go to sleep... I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell. (pg 27) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below. Statement 1: The author tried his best to jump out of water. Statement 2: After a while, the author was not anxious in water. (i) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect. (ii) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause. (iii) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause. (iv) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes. (b) The ‘curtain (of life) fell’ corresponds to an aspect of (i) geometry. (ii) history. (iii) sports. (iv) drama. (c) The purpose of using ‘…’ in the above passage is to (i) show omission. (ii) indicate pauses. (iii) shorten a dialogue. (iv) replace an idea. (d) Which option indicates that the poet lost consciousness? (i) ‘It was quiet and peaceful.’ (ii) ‘I crossed to oblivion.’ (iii) ‘Tender arms like Mother’s.’ (iv) ‘It wiped out fear.’ 6. A few years later when I came to know the waters of the Cascades, I wanted to get into them. And whenever I did — whether I was wading the Tieton or Bumping River or bathing in Warm Lake of the Goat Rocks — the terror that had seized me in the pool would come back. It would take possession of me completely. My legs would become paralysed. Icy horror would grab my heart. (pg 27) (a) What for did the narrator want to get into the waters of the cascades? (i) to test his swimming (ii) to know if he had overcome his fear of swimming (iii) to overcome the fear of waters (iv) all of the above (b) What would come back to him? (i) fear of the waters (ii) terror of drowning (iii) fear of drowning (iv) none of the above
84 English XII (c) What was the result of the narrator’s action of swimming, wading etc? (i) the origin of terror (ii) the subconscious fear of water (iii) the naked terror involved (iv) none of the above (d) What would grab his heart? (i) icy waters (ii) icy horror (iii) fear of drowning (iv) all of the above 7. This handicap stayed with me as the years rolled by. In canoes on Maine lakes fishing for landlocked salmon, bass fishing in New Hampshire, trout fishing on the Deschutes and Metolius in Oregon, fishing for salmon on the Columbia, at Bumping Lake in the Cascades — wherever I went, the haunting fear of the water followed me. It ruined my fishing trips; deprived me of the joy of canoeing, boating, and swimming. (pgs 27-28) (a) ‘This handicap ...’ means (i) the narrator’s fear of water. (ii) the narrator’s feeling terrorised in being water. (iii) icy horror coupled with paralysing fear (of water). (iv) none of the above (b) What always followed the narrator? (i) being in fear (ii) being in a great terror (iii) fear of drowning (iv) haunting fear of the water (c) The fear of water ruined the narrator’s (i) fishing trips (ii) joys of canoeing (iii) boating, swimming, etc (iv) all of the above (d) Where did the terror seize the narrator? (i) in YMCA pool (ii) fishing in New Hampshire (iii) on the Columbia (iv) none of the above 8. This went on until July. But I was still not satisfied. I was not sure that all the terror had left. So I went to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire, dived off a dock at Triggs Island, and swam two miles across the lake to Stamp Act Island. I swam the crawl, breast stroke, side stroke, and back stroke. Only once did the terror return. When I was in the middle of the lake, I put my face under and saw nothing but bottomless water. The old sensation returned in miniature. I laughed and said, “Well, Mr Terror, what do you think you can do to me?” It fled and I swam on. (pgs 28-29) (a) ‘This went on until July.’ What is ‘this’ here? (i) fear of water (ii) fear of drowning (iii) terror terrorising the narrator (iv) all of the above
Deep Water 85 (b) The narrator doubted about (i) if he was free of fear of water. (ii) if all the terror had left him. (iii) if he had shed the terror. (iv) none of the above. (c) Where did the narrator dive off? (i) a dock at Triggs Island (ii) Lake Wentworth (iii) Stamp Act Iceland (iv) none of the above (d) What did the narrator do when the terror had left him? (i) He felt relieved. (ii) He started swimming. (iii) He started enjoying swimming. (iv) (ii) and (iii) 9. Yet I had residual doubts. At my first opportunity I hurried west, went up the Tieton to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Meade Glacier, and camped in the high meadow by the side of Warm Lake. The next morning I stripped, dived into the lake, and swam across to the other shore and back — just as Doug Corpron used to do. I shouted with joy, and Gilbert Peak returned the echo. I had conquered my fear of water. (pg 29) (a) ‘... residual doubts.’ These ‘doubts’ were of the narrator’s (i) fear of water. (ii) aversion of swimming. (iii) fear of drowning. (iv) all of the above (b) ‘I shouted with joy’ means that (i) the narrator was free of the fear of water. (ii) he was now devoid of any worry. (iii) there was no danger around where he had camped. (iv) none of the above (c) What did the narrator do after diving in the lake? (i) He swam and swam. (ii) He crossed the lake several times. (iii) He swam across to the other shore and back. (iv) all of the above (d) What lesson did the author derive out of his misadventure? (i) One should conquer the fear of the fear. (ii) One should fear the fear itself only. (iii) One shouldn’t fear at all (iv) all of the above 10. The experience had a deep meaning for me, as only those who have known stark terror and conquered it can appreciate. In death there is peace. There is terror only in the fear of death, as Roosevelt knew when he said, “All we have
86 English XII to fear is fear itself.” Because I had experienced both the sensation of dying and the terror that fear of it can produce, the will to live somehow grew in intensity. (pg 29) (a) What is the precondition of conquering the terror? (i) One should experience it. (ii) One should undergo it. (iii) One should fight against it. (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) ‘In death there is peace.’ This means: (i) there is a great peace in death. (ii) there is no struggle in death. (iii) death brings peace. (iv) all of the above (c) ‘Fear is a negative feeling.’ So, one (i) should fight against it. (ii) should fear the fear itself. (iii) should oppose the fear with great force. (iv) all of the above (d) Where does terror live in? (i) It lives only in the death. (ii) It lives in the mind only. (iii) It lives in the fear of death. (iv) It lives in the subconscious. Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions Based on your understanding of the current chapter, answer the following questions: 1. The most appropriate justification for the title of the chapter ‘Deep Water’ is that (a) it’s about the dangerous depth of the swimming pool. (b) It reveals the author’s lack of surety about overcoming his fear of swimming. (c) it underlines the author’s fear of water and how he overcomes it. (d) it includes the methods of the author’s coach to overcome the fear of deep water.
Deep Water 87 2. Choose the quote that DOES NOT resonate with the central idea of the chapter. 1. 2. 3. 4. (a) Option 1. (b) Option 2. (c) Option 3. (d) Option 4. 3. ‘Samuel has a phobia of heights but is scared and can’t overcome it.’ Choose the option that displays an advice. 1. 2. 3. 4. Go to the swimming If I were you, I’d begin Unbelievable! What’s Fear is a major issue if pool and jump in small. Like spending the problem? I’ve you let it control you. it from the highest 10 mins. looking down done bungee jumping! I think it will take a diving board that you from my balcony, each It’s a piece of cake. firm grip on you if you see there. day, for a week. don’t address it soon. (a) Option 1. (b) Option 2. (c) Option 3. (d) Option 4. 4. ‘The chap that threw me in was saying, “But I was only fooling.’ Choose the option mentioning the personality traits of this ‘chap’. 1. persuasive 2. irresponsible 3. domineering 4. manipulative 5. callous (a) 1., 2., 4. (b) 2., 4., 5. (c) 2., 3., 5. (d) 1., 3., 5. 5. In ‘It had happened…’ what does ‘it’ mean? (a) a drowning accident (b) drowning in a swimming pool (c) a serious accident (d) a water boat accident 6. What character does the author show when he says that he didn’t like walking naked into the water? (a) self-confident (b) self-assuming (c) self-conscious and adamant (d) self-disciplined and protocol-conscious
88 English XII 7. When did the author have an aversion to the water? (a) When he was a kid. (b) When he was three or four years old. (c) When he was a toddler. (d) at the stage of four 8. How did the author feel when he as a kid was with his father at the beach in California and stood together in surf? (a) He was in distress. (b) terrorised at the overpowering force of the waves (c) bewildered (d) excited 9. ‘Those none feet were more like ninety.’ What are ‘nine feet’? (a) distance between the bottom and the surface of water in Y.M.C.A. swimming pool (b) nine feet water level at the Y.M.C.A. swimming pool (c) nine feet height of the pool (d) nine feet depth of water 10. When the author was nearly drowning, how did he feel? (a) He felt paralysed and rigid. (b) He felt choked. (c) He screamed. (d) all of the above 11. ‘The author went down into the water.’ What was his condition? (a) Sheer, stark terror seized him. (b) He was paralysed, stiff and rigid with fear. (c) His screams were frozen. (d) all of the above 12. When did the author feel great fear catching him like a great charge of electricity? (a) When he was in a drowning stage. (b) When he tried to jump from the water bottom. (c) When he looked for ropes, ladders, etc. (d) When he tried to call for help. 13. ‘The author sucked water instead of air when he was going down the third time.’ How did his brain work? (a) His brain stopped working. (b) He felt gripped by a super force. (c) Blackness swept over his brain. (d) He felt limped and his brain stopped working.
Deep Water 89 14. ‘I crossed to oblivion, and the curtain of life fell.’ It means that (a) he was very near to death. (b) he was crossing towards death. (c) he was dying due to drowning. (d) he was on line between life and death. 15. What shows that the author had been saved from drowning to death? (a) ‘…I was lying on my stomach beside the pool, vomiting.’ (b) ‘I crossed to oblivion...’ (c) ‘I felt vomiting.’ (d) ‘Be all right now.’ 16. How did the author feel whenever he went near the water? (a) Fear would return to him. (b) His legs would become paralysed. (c) Icy horror would grab his heart. (d) (b) and (c) 17. This fear of water deprived the author the pleasure of (a) diving. (b) boating, swimming. (c) canoeing. (d) (b) and (c) 18. Choose the statement that IS NOT TRUE with reference to Douglas. (a) Douglas’s fear kept him away from leisurely activities in water. (b) The fall in the pool at Y.M.C.A. taught Douglas a life lesson. (c) The fear of drowning was the source of Douglas’s anxiety and terror. (d) Douglas decided to practise relentlessly to overcome his fear. 19. The tag line in this chapter is Roosevelt’s statement, ‘All we have to fear is fear itself.’ What does it mean? (a) It means the fear of fear is the ultimate danger. (b) It means we should fight against fear. (c) Fear must conquer. (d) (a) to (c) 20. The ‘Deep Water’ is about the writer’s journey (a) of overcoming the fear of water. (b) of emerging victorious out of water. (c) of avoiding those things which one cannot do. (d) of trying, trying and trying until you succeed.
Flamingo (Poetry)
1CHAPTER My Mother at Sixty-six Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow, selecting the most appropriate option from the given ones. 1. Driving from my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like that of a corpse and realized with pain that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought away… (pg 90) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) Choose the option that best applies to the given extract. (1) a conversation (2) an argument (3) a piece of advice (4) a strategy (5) a recollection (6) a suggestion (i) (1), (3) and (6) (ii) (2), (4) and (5) (iii) only (5) (iv) only (1) (b) Choose the book title that perfectly describes the condition of the poet’s mother. Title 1 Title 2 Title 3 Title 4 You’re Only Old Once! The Gift of Years Somewhere Towards The Book You Wish by Dr. Seuss by Joan Chittister the End Your Parents Had Read by Diana Athill by Philippa Perry (i) Title 1 (ii) Title 2 (iii) Title 3 (iv) Title 4 (c) Choose the option that applies correctly to the two statements given below. Assertion: The poet wards off the thought of her mother getting old quickly. Reason: The poet didn’t want to confront the inevitability of fate that was to dawn upon her mother. 93
94 English XII (i) Assertion can be inferred but the Reason cannot be inferred. (ii) Assertion cannot be inferred but the Reason can be inferred. (iii) Both Assertion and Reason can be inferred. (iv) Both Assertion and Reason cannot be inferred. (d) Choose the option that displays the same literary device as in the given lines of the extract. her face ashen like that of a corpse… (i) Just as I had I had this thought, she appeared and… (ii) My thoughts were as heavy as lead that evening when … (iii) I think like everyone else who… (iv) I like to think aloud when … Set II (a) What emotion did the poet experience when she saw her mother dozing by her side? (i) emotion of fear (ii) emotion of shock, fear etc (iii) emotion of imminent death (iv) emotion of fear, shock, tragedy (b) “her face ‘ashen like/that of a corpse’” implies that her mother (i) was at the threshold of death. (ii) was at the brink of slow death. (iii) was inching towards death. (iv) none of the above. (c) ‘but soon/put that thought away’ means that the poet (i) was a strong woman. (ii) had positive thinking. (iii) was unaware as to how to fight negative emotions. (iv) (i) and (ii) (d) “‘Something’ immortalises this poem.” What is it? (i) revelation of experiencing death (ii) concern about mother’s inching towards death (iii) life’s bitter truth (iv) all of the above 2. And looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes, but after the airport’s
My Mother at Sixty-six 95 security check, standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon and felt that old familiar ache… (pgs 90-91) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) What is the most likely reason the poet capitalised ‘Young Trees’? This was to (i) convey a clearer meaning. (ii) highlight the adj.-noun combination. (iii) enhance the contrast. (iv) draw a connection with the title. (b) Choose the option that appropriately describes the relationship between the two statements given below. Statement 1: The poet knows her mother has aged. Statement 2: The poet feels the pain of separation. (i) Beginning – Ending (ii) Cause – Effect (iii) Question – Answer (iv) Introduction – Conclusion (c) Choose the option that completes the sentence given below. Just as the brightness of the ‘winter’s moon’ is veiled behind the haze and mist, similarly, __________________. (i) the pain of separation has shaded mother’s expression. (ii) age has fogged mother’s youthful appearance. (iii) growing up has developed a seasoned maturity in the poet. (iv) memories warm the heart like the pale moon in winter. (d) Choose the correct option out of the ones given below. Simile Metaphor Metaphor Imagery Young the merry children old pale Trees sprinting spilling familiar ache as a late winter’s (2) moon (1) Imagery Personification Personification Simile Pale as a late all I did was smile the merry children Young Trees winter’s moon spilling sprinting (4) (3) (iv) Option (4) (i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) 3. but soon put that thought away, and looked out at Young
96 English XII Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes, (pgs 90-91) (a) What did the poet realise before ‘but’? (i) The poet realised that her mother would soon revive. (ii) The poet realised that her mother’s face looked pale and lifeless like a corpse and she felt wounded and sad. (iii) The poet felt happy that she would reunite with her mother in the future. (iv) The poet realised that her mother was going to depart. (b) What thought did the poet put away? (i) The poet put away the painful thought of her mother’s lifeless face and her old age. (ii) The poet put away the useless thought of her mother’s death as one is mortal. (iii) The poet put away the painful thought of her mother departure as one who meets has to depart. (iv) The poet put away the happy thought that her mother had lived pretty long. (c) Why are the young trees described as sprinting? (i) When the car is speeding forward, the trees appear moving out quickly. (ii) When the car is speeding down, the trees appear standing. (iii) When the car is stationary, the trees appear stationary too. (iv) When the car is running, the trees appear chasing you. (d) How do you know that the joyful scene DID NOT help her drive away ‘that thought’ from her mind? (i) Because she was sad to see the happy kids. (ii) Because the thought was constant. (iii) Because the inevitability of death disturbed her. (iv) Because soon afterwards, when she looked at her mother at the airport, the painful thought entered her mind again. 4. my childhood fear, but all I said was, see you soon, Amma, all I did was smile and smile and smile ... (pg 91) (a) What makes the poet look at her mother’s face again after the airport’s security check? (i) her concern for her mother’s health (ii) her continued chain of thoughts about her mother’s looks
My Mother at Sixty-six 97 (iii) her effort to see some more days in her mother’s life (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) ‘The poem is a beautiful commentary on life’s realities.’ It is (i) a long argument. (ii) a revelation of death. (iii) a threshold for all to go through. (iv) to make the readers aware of ageing and an inevitable end. (c) ‘my childhood fear,’ what does the poet want to say through it? (i) her childhood fear that one day she would be sans her mother (ii) her childhood thoughts about life and death (iii) her concern that everyone has to die (iv) none of the above (d) ‘smile and smile and smile ...’ is an example of (i) alliteration. (ii) repetition. (iii) assonance. (iv) consonance. Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions Based on your understanding of the current poem, answer the following questions: 1. “The phrase ‘old familiar ache’ has been used to refer to fear, in this extract.” This phrase can also be used to (a) compare physical pain with mental agony. (b) elicit someone’s unanswered queries. (c) substantiate reasons for aches and pains. (d) describe a longing one has been aware of. 2. The tone of the poet in the poem is primarily a combination of _________ and ________. (i) dauntlessness (ii) apprehension (iii) dejection (iv) disappointment (a) (i), (ii) (b) (ii), (iii) (c) (iii), (iv) (d) (i), (iv) 3. What did the poet notice in the world outside? (a) She noticed the young trees stuck in the soil. (b) She noticed the happy children running out of their homes. (c) She noticed the young trees racing past them and happy children running out of their homes. (d) She noticed the trees had been moving towards death like her mother. 4. How were the young trees sprinting? (a) As the car moved on, the young trees growing outside went past as if they were sprinting. (b) As the car moved on, trees also moved.
98 English XII (c) As the car stopped, trees also stopped. (d) As the car ran, trees also ran. 5. What did she see the children doing? (a) The happy children were playing in large numbers. (b) The happy children were moving out of their homes in large numbers. (c) The happy children were moving out of their homes in small groups. (d) The happy children were moving out of their homes in queues. 6. What did the poet do after the security check? (a) After the security check, the poet stood a few yards away and looked at her mother’s face again. (b) The poet consoled her heart that death is inevitable. (c) The poet hugged her mother. (d) The poet looked at her mother’s face closely. 7. Why did the poet compare her mother’s face to a late winter’s moon? (a) The pale and colourless mother’s face resembled the late winter’s moon as the late winter’s moon lacks brightness as well as strength. (b) The colourful mother’s face resembled the late winter’s moon as the late winter’s moon is bright and strong. (c) Both look dull. (d) Both are fascinating. 8. Why did the poet smile and smile? (a) She only smiled and smiled to reassure that they would meet soon. (b) She only smiled and smiled to hide her real feelings from her mother. (c) She only smiled and smiled to make her mother smile. (d) She only smiled and smiled to console herself. 9. What does the phrase, ‘familiar ache’ mean? (a) The phrase, ‘familiar ache’ means familiar pain. (b) The phrase, ‘familiar ache’ means the well-known and familiar pain the narrator had when she thought of ageing, death and decay. (c) The phrase, ‘familiar ache’ means pain arising out of sorrow. (d) The phrase, ‘familiar ache’ means the pain arising out of death and decay. 10. In the current poem, all that the poet did was ‘smile and smile and smile...’ Her smile is (a) sudden, in response to her mother’s. (b) meaningful and loaded with love. (c) accompanied with tears of farewell. (d) put on to cheer her mother.
3CHAPTER Keeping Quiet Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow, selecting the most appropriate option from the given ones. 1. For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much. It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness. (Stanzas I & II) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) The poet uses the word ‘let’s’ to _________ (i) initiate a conversation between the poet and the readers. (ii) invite readers as part of the poem’s larger call to humanity. (iii) welcome readers into the world of the poem and its subject. (iv) address readers as fellow members of the human race. (b) “Margaret Atwood said, ‘Language divides us into fragments, I wanted to be whole.’” Choose the option that correctly comments on the relationship between Margaret Atwood’s words and the line from the above extract – ‘let’s not speak in any language’. (i) Atwood endorses Neruda’s call to not speak in any language. (ii) Atwood justifies Neruda’s request to not engage in any speaking. (iii) Atwood undermines Neruda’s intent to stop and not speak in any language. (iv) Atwood surrenders to Neruda’s desire for silence and not speak in any language. (c) Why do you think the poet employs words like ‘exotic’ and ‘strangeness’? (i) to highlight the importance of everyone being together suddenly for once 113
114 English XII (ii) to emphasise the frenetic activity and chaos that usually envelops human life (iii) to indicate the unfamiliarity of a sudden moment without rush or without engine (iv) To direct us towards keeping quiet and how we would all be together in that silence (d) Choose the option that correctly matches the idioms given in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Column A Column B 1. On the face of the earth A. in existence 2. What on earth B. to do all possible to accomplish something 3. Move heaven and earth C. to express surprise or shock 4. The salt of the earth D. to be good and worthy (i) 1. – A.; 2. – D.; 3. – C.; 4. – B. (ii) 1. – A.; 2. – C.; 3. – B.; 4. – D. (iii) 1. – B.; 2. – A.; 3. – D.; 4. – C. (iv) 1. – D.; 2. – B.; 3. – C.; 4. – A. 1a. Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still for once on the face of the earth, let’s not speak in any language; let’s stop for a second, and not move our arms so much. (Stanza I) (a) Why does the poet ask us to count twelve? (i) Because there are only twelve hour signs on the clock to measure hours. (ii) Because one dozen means twelve. (iii) Because we cannot count more than twelve. (iv) Because it takes time to count more than twelve. (b) Why does he ask us to keep still? (i) Because too much rush and activity has only brought fortunes to mankind. (ii) Because too much rush and activity has made life chaotic. (iii) Because too much rush and activity has garlanded us with many a conquest. (iv) As too much rush and activity has brought only misfortunes to mankind, so it is better to be quiet and still. (c) “‘Let’s not speak in any language,’ says Neruda.” Why? A. The people of the world need excuses to fight among themselves. B. Let them keep quiet and not speak in any language.
Keeping Quiet 115 C. They may not indulge in reasoning, disputes and quarrels among themselves. D. Variation in languages causes fights. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) D. (iv) A. to C. (d) What SHOULD we NOT do for a second? A. The poet advises us to cease all activities. B. Man has used arms only to kill and destroy others. C. Therefore, let them not move their arms so much as to harm others. D. Human activities deteriorate the environment. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) D. (iv) A. to C. Set II (a) How long does the poet want us to stay still? (i) The poet wants us to keep still till he counts twelve. (ii) The poet wants us to keep still for twelve hours. (iii) The poet wants us to keep still for twelve minutes. (iv) The poet wants us to keep still for twelve seconds. (b) Why does he ask us to keep still and NOT use any language? A. People of this world use unnecessary debates and disputes. B. The poet urges them to stop speaking in any language. C. Languages are too complex to be understood. D. Tough languages irritate the listener. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. and B. (c) What does the poet mean by ‘not move our arms so much’? (i) Because men have moved their arms only to harm others, so, they shouldn’t move their arms so much. (ii) Arms create fights. (iii) Arms create wars. (iv) Arms create both. (d) Tick the CORRECT answer regarding the rhyme scheme of the current extract. (i) The extract has no rhyme scheme. (ii) The poem is written in open verse. (iii) abcdef is the rhyme scheme. (iv) (i) and (ii) 2. It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness. (Stanza II)
116 English XII (a) What kind of moment will it be? (i) It will be a very enticing and beautiful moment. (ii) It will be a very miserable moment. (iii) It will be a very terrifying moment. (iv) It will be a very ruinous moment. (b) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines? (i) Life will be halted. (ii) Science and technology will not develop. (iii) There will be peace all around. (iv) People will be idle. (c) How would all of us feel at that time? (i) All of us will enjoy the sudden strangeness and unusualness of that moment. (ii) All of us will enjoy the sudden peace of that moment. (iii) All of us will enjoy the rare peace of that moment. (iv) All of us will enjoy the unexpected peace of that moment. (d) What does ‘mad rush’ signify? (i) mad rush of existence and survival (ii) silence pervading all around (iii) mad fighting among the people (iv) mad rush of competitions and successes 3. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands. (Stanza III) (a) ‘Fishermen catching whales’ is symbolic of (i) survival of the fittest. (ii) existential phenomenon. (iii) normal life activity of the fishermen. (iv) causing harm to marine life. (b) The poet appeals to the fishermen (i) to catch more and more whales. (ii) to not harm whales. (iii) to not catch whales. (iv) to change their activity.
Keeping Quiet 117 (c) ‘Gathering salt’ results in (i) pain of survival. (ii) injured hands. (iii) disastrous activity. (iv) decision to change the activity. (d) ‘his hurt hands’ is an example of (i) alliteration. (ii) repetition. (iii) assonance. (iv) metaphor. 4. Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing. (Stanza IV) (a) The poet highlights (i) the devastating consequences of wars. (ii) the kinds of wars. (iii) the difference between wars. (iv) how these wars are fought. (b) Victory is precious only when (i) it can be celebrated. (ii) it cannot be celebrated. (iii) it lies silent with the blood all around. (iv) it asks if all those who wanted to win are dead. (c) The poet _________ war. (i) condemns (ii) appreciates (iii) encourages (iv) favours (d) What is the significance of ‘put on clean clothes’? (i) The warmongers will clear themselves from their sins and the stigma of waging wars. (ii) The warmongers have clean character. (iii) They fought the war of evil and devil. (iv) They replaced their blood-spattered clothes with the white ones.
118 English XII Set II (a) What is the poet’s appeal to the warmongers? (i) to give up thinking about wars and enjoy the beauty of nature lying quietly in the shade of trees (ii) to discourage war (iii) to promote peace and friendship (iv) to be friends with everyone (b) What are ‘green wars’? (i) that are waged to destroy the biological resources and vegetation of an area (ii) that are waged to destroy the enemy (iii) that are waged to destroy the roots of the enemy nation (iv) that are waged to destroy the enemy with acid rain (c) It is rather ironical that those who caused destruction (i) by waging different wars will succeed in justifying their evil designs. (ii) will make friends. (iii) will promote peace. (iv) will love one another. (d) Mention the significance of keeping quiet. A. Keeping quiet is very significant. B. Indecent haste and verbal wars lead only to quarrels and disputes. C. Keeping quiet brings idleness. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. and B. 5. What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death. (Stanza V) (a) ‘The poet is reluctant to be something.’ What is that? (i) The poet is reluctant to be confused with advocating total inactivity. (ii) The poet is reluctant to be confused with advocating total activity. (iii) The poet is reluctant to be confused with advocating total lethargy. (iv) The poet is reluctant to be confused with advocating total silence. (b) Explain ‘I want no truck with death.’ A. Total inactivity brings death. B. The poet has no association with death.
Keeping Quiet 119 C. Hence, he is not advocating death. D. Total inactivity brings total destruction. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. to C. (c) What is life about? (i) Life can never be brought to a standstill under any circumstances or situation. (ii) Life is an on-going process and it has to move on like a river. (iii) Life is about getting and losing. (iv) (i) and (ii) (d) What is the gist of the extract? (i) We should not act physically but we must introspect. (ii) We should act physically. (iii) We should not act at all either physically or mentally. (iv) We should indulge in useful activities. 6. If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. (Stanza VI) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) Look at the images given below. Choose the image to which the above extract can be seen as an appropriate response. (1) (2) (3) (4) (i) Option (1) (ii) Option (2) (iii) Option (3) (iv) Option (4) (b) What do you think is the mood of the poet in the above extract? (i) gloomy, cynical (ii) reflective, inspired (iii) introspective, aware (iv) critical, demotivated
120 English XII (c) Pick the option that DOES NOT complete the given sentence suitably, as per the extract. Threatening ourselves with death _________ (i) feeds on the fear of death. (ii) challenges finiteness of life. (iii) keeps us rushing through life. (iv) makes us restless and impatient. (d) What might the ‘huge silence’ signify? (i) melancholy (ii) understanding (iii) discomfort (iv) flexibility Set II (a) What is meant by ‘single-minded’? (i) Man is single-minded about his own improvement and progress. (ii) He is so concentrated on achieving his targets that he ignores the pros and cons of thoughtless development. (iii) He is single-minded about himself and his family, not thinking of his country and countrymen. (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) Explain ‘sadness of never understanding ourselves…’ (i) Man has put his emotional requirements at stake for attaining materialistic success. (ii) Man does not concentrate on attaining his inner mental satisfaction. (iii) The result is happiness and success. (iv) (i) and (ii) (c) How has mankind threatened itself with death? (i) The race for more weapons and the dream to overpower and dominate over more and more areas and nations is what has threatened mankind with death. (ii) The race for more weapons and the dream to overpower and dominate over more and more areas and nations is what has brought him success. (iii) The race for more weapons and the dream to overpower and dominate over more and more areas and nations is what has strengthened him globally. (iv) The race for more weapons and the dream to overpower and dominate over more and more areas and nations is what has made him progressive. (d) Explain ‘keeping our life moving,…’ (i) making progress without a second thought
Keeping Quiet 121 (ii) making progress with a plan (iii) making progress speedily (iv) making progress, progress and progress Set III (a) What WERE we NOT focusing on? A. It would have been better if we had not been focusing all the time on keeping our lives moving. B. We should have given ourselves rest sometime. C. We were right not to focus on keeping unmoving. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. and B. (b) When can a ‘huge silence’ do us good? (i) When we are threatening ourselves with death, a long silence can do us a lot of good. (ii) When we are threatening ourselves with life, a long silence cannot do us any good. (iii) Silence can do no good to us as silence means lack of communication. (iv) Silence can do no good to us as silence means no exchange of thoughts. (c) The poet is of the view that (i) success is necessary but to some extent. (ii) success is totally unnecessary. (iii) sometimes success leads to isolation and misery. (iv) success is useless if we don’t understand ourselves. (d) The poet promotes (i) moving life. (ii) continuous advancement. (iii) emotional needs. (iv) anything to be sacrificed for material success. 7. Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive. Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go. (Stanza VII) (a) What can the earth teach us? (i) The Earth can teach us a lesson to mankind how to live on it. (ii) The Earth can tell us that it is the only planet where life is possible. (iii) The Earth can tell us how to use resources and save them. (iv) The Earth can tell us how to revive the resources which have exhausted.
122 English XII (b) What lives alive when everything seems dead? (i) Only the Earth lives alive when everything else appears to be dead. (ii) Only the soul lives alive when everything else appears to be dead. (iii) Only the works live alive when everything else appears to be dead. (iv) Only the name lives alive when everything else appears to be dead. (c) What does the poet ask us while he counts up to twelve? (i) The poet asks us to keep quiet while he is counting up to twelve. (ii) The poet asks us to count with him while he is counting up to twelve. (iii) The poet asks us to count silently while he is counting up to twelve. (iv) The poet asks us to raise our voice while he is counting up to twelve. (d) What will keeping quiet help us achieve? A. Keeping quiet will help us in creating a feeling of mutual understanding and introspection among human beings. B. It will keep us away from harmful ‘activities’. C. Keeping quiet will never help us achieve anything precious. (i) A. (ii) C. (iii) A. and C. (iv) A. and B. Set II (a) What does the Earth teach us? (i) The Earth teaches us that there is always life under apparent stillness. (ii) Total ‘inactivity’ should not be confused with death. (iii) The Earth teaches us not to fight mutually. (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) Why does the poet count up to twelve? (i) Because the twelve figures on the watch represent the movement of time. (ii) Because the twelve figures on the watch represent no movement of time. (iii) Because the twelve figures on the watch represent a long movement of time. (iv) Because the twelve figures on the watch represent a short movement of time. (c) Give an example of what now seems to be dead but later on becomes alive. (i) Wars can’t destroy humanity. (ii) It will survive all wars rising from its ashes. (iii) Whatever seems to be dead is always dead. (iv) (i) and (ii)
Keeping Quiet 123 (d) What is the poetic device used in the first line? (i) metaphor (ii) simile (iii) assonance (iv) personification Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions Based on your understanding of the current poem, answer the following questions: 1. Read the statements given below carefully. Choose the option that best describes these statements, with reference to the poem. Statement I – The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ calls for change as much in the individual as human society at large. Statement II – The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ implies that individual change will lead to bigger societal change. Statement III – Neruda believes that when people come together as a community, they will be able to bring a transformation in each person. (a) Statements I is True, Statement II is False, and Statement III cannot be inferred. (b) Statement I and II cannot be inferred, Statement III is True. (c) Statement I is True, Statements II and III cannot be inferred. (d) Statement I cannot be inferred, Statement II cannot be inferred, Statement III is False. 2. ‘What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.’ Choose the option that draws the most accurate parallel. keeping quiet: total inactivity = _________: _________ (a) reflection and death (b) silence and chaos (c) stagnation and introspection (d) mindfulness and fear 3. What statement does Neruda make about wars? (a) Wars are of varied kinds – internal, green wars, wars with gas, with fire etc. (b) Wars are wasteful and cause irrecoverable loss and damage to property and life. (c) Wars never yield any winners, and the loss is far greater than what can be measured. (d) Wars are unavoidable in the enduring struggle for human dignity and power. 4. ‘Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.’ Why does the poet wish to go at the end of the poem? (a) The poet does not believe people will be quiet. (b) The poet has already invested enough time. (c) The poet will move on and seek to inspire others. (d) The poet is marking the end of the poem by leaving.
124 English XII 5. By keeping still we will achieve the level of (a) self-realisation. (b) meditation. (c) peace. (d) introspection. 6. Keeping quiet means for the poet (a) to realise the purpose of life. (b) to stop working. (c) to introspect. (d) to keep silent forever. 7. By quiet introspection, the poet (a) means total inactivity. (b) means full involvement with life. (c) does not mean total inactivity; instead he wants full involvement with life. (d) means total inactivity leading to silent death. 8. The current poem is a/an (a) anti-war poem. (b) war poem. (c) complete way of introspection. (d) instruction to stop bloodshed. 9. ‘his hurt hands’ is an example of (a) alliteration. (b) repetition. (c) simile. (d) metaphor. 10. ‘count to twelve and we will all keep still’ is an example of (a) antithesis. (b) assonance (c) imagery (d) metaphor. 11. ‘without rush, without engines’ is an example of (a) alliteration. (b) repetition. (c) simile. (d) metaphor. 12. ‘cold sea’ is an example of (a) antithesis. (b) assonance. (c) imagery. (d) metaphor. 13. ‘no truck with death’ is an example of (a) euphemism. (b) symbol. (c) imagery. (d) personification. 14. ‘count to twelve’ is an example of (a) euphemism. (b) symbol. (c) imagery. (d) personification. 15. ‘put on clean clothes’ and ‘in the shade’ are examples of (a) antithesis. (b) assonance. (c) imagery. (d) metaphor.
Vistas (Supplementary Reader)
1CHAPTER The Third Level Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow, selecting the most appropriate option from the given ones. 1. The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads will swear on a stack of timetables that there are only two. But I say there are three, because I’ve been on the third level of the Grand Central Station. Yes, I’ve taken the obvious step: I talked to a psychiatrist friend of mine, among others. I told him about the third level at Grand Central Station, and he said it was a waking dream wish fulfilment. He said I was unhappy. That made my wife kind of mad, but he explained that he meant the modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and all the rest of it, and that I just want to escape. Well, who doesn’t? Everybody I know wants to escape, but they don’t wander down into any third level at Grand Central Station. (pg 1) (a) Why does the author insist that there are three levels of the Grand Central Station? (i) Because he has actually visited it. (ii) Because he has got the proof of it. (iii) Because he shared this information with his friend. (iv) Because he already knows it. (b) ‘... it was a waking dream wish fulfilment’ means (i) dream being fulfilled. (ii) live dream getting fulfilled. (iii) fulfilment of a wish that is not real. (iv) hallucination getting a physical form. (c) The author’s friend traced the cause of his going to the third level as (i) an escape to a different world. (ii) drifting to a world of imagination. (iii) an escape from the harsh realities of life. (iv) his being unhappy due to existential problems. 127
128 English XII (d) There is a tendency of people surrounded by existential problems to A. be lost in their dream world. B. escape to greener environment. C. seek refuge in an imaginary world. D. to derive content. (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. to D. 2. I turned into Grand Central from Vanderbilt Avenue, and went down the steps to the first level, where you take trains like the Twentieth Century. Then I walked down another flight to the second level, where the suburban trains leave from, ducked into an arched doorway heading for the subway—and got lost. That’s easy to do. I’ve been in and out of Grand Central hundreds of times, but I’m always bumping into new doorways and stairs and corridors. Once I got into a tunnel about a mile long and came out in the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel. Another time I came up in an office building on Forty-sixth Street, three blocks away. (pg 2) (a) The author took the way to the first and the second levels to (a) meet his wife. (b) go home at the earliest. (c) escape from the state of unhappiness. (d) none of the above (b) When was the author lost? A. when he went to the second level B. when he ducked into the arched subway C. when he walked down to the second level D. when he met people at the third level (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. to C. (c) The most confusing situations were before the author in the form of (i) new doorways. (ii) different stairs and corridors. (iii) new subways. (iv) (i) and (ii) (d) What made the author end up his walk into the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel? (i) his taking a confusing pathway (ii) his entering into a new doorway (iii) his going into the tunnel (iv) (i) and (iii) 3. Sometimes I think Grand Central is growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots. There’s probably a long tunnel that nobody knows about feeling its way under the city right now, on its way to Times Square, and maybe another to Central Park. And maybe — because for so many people through the
The Third Level 129 years Grand Central has been an exit, a way of escape — maybe that’s how the tunnel I got into... But I never told my psychiatrist friend about that idea. (pgs 2-3) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) The above extract IS NOT an example of _________. (i) allegory (ii) analogy (iii) imagery (iv) metaphor (b) ‘Charley decided not to tell his psychiatrist friend about his idea.’ Choose the option that reflects the reaction Charley anticipated from his friend. (i) ‘That’s such a lovely comparison. Why don’t you become a writer, Charley?’ (ii) ‘Oh Charley. It is so sad to see your desperation to run away! So very sad.’ (iii) ‘Maybe that’s how you entered the third level. Who would have thought?!’ (iv) ‘You need help, my raving friend. You are way too invested in this crazy thought!’ (c) Look at the given image that lists some of the ways in which the symbolism of a tree is employed. Which of the following would represent an example as used by Charley in the above extract? (i) ‘Stay grounded’ as the train station is underground. (ii) ‘Connect with your roots’ as he desires to go back to his past. (iii) ‘Enjoy the view’ as the station leads to all tourist sights of the city. (iv) ‘Keep growing’ as the station keeps renovating and expanding. (d) The idiom ‘feeling its way’ implies _________ movement. (i) swift (ii) tentative (iii) circular (iv) disorganised 4. The corridor I was in began angling left and slanting downward and I thought that was wrong, but I kept on walking. All I could hear was the empty sound of my own footsteps and I didn’t pass a soul. Then I heard that sort of hollow roar ahead that means open space and people talking. The tunnel turned sharp left; I went down a short flight of stairs and came out on the third level at Grand Central Station. For just a moment I thought I was back on the second level, but I saw the room was smaller, there were fewer ticket windows and train gates, and the information booth in the centre was wood and old-looking. And the man in the booth wore a green eyeshade and long black sleeve protectors. (pg 3) (a) How does the author look at the growth of Grand Central? (i) like a tree (ii) like a tree with new branches
130 English XII (iii) like a tree with corridors and staircases like roots (iv) (i) and (ii) (b) What strange thing did the author face when he took the pathway? (i) the corridor getting a confusing aspect with noises (ii) different sounds (iii) empty sounds of footsteps (iv) men in strange dresses (c) Why were there no passengers or anything while the author was walking down the path? (i) He was in a tunnel. (ii) He was going to the third level which didn’t exist. (iii) He was in an imaginative world. (iv) He was escaping to his own world. (d) Where did the author end up after walking? (i) to the third level (ii) out of the tunnel (iii) in a world of imagination (iv) to the second level 5. Have you ever been there? It’s a wonderful town still, with big old frame houses, huge lawns, and tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets. And in 1894, summer evenings were twice as long, and people sat out on their lawns, the men smoking cigars and talking quietly, the women waving palm-leaf fans, with the fire-flies all around, in a peaceful world. To be back there with the First World War still twenty years off, and World War II over forty years in the future... I wanted two tickets for that. (pg 4) (NCERT Question Bank) (a) Who does ‘you’ refer to? (i) Charley’s psychiatrist, Sam Weiner (ii) Charley’s wife, Louisa (iii) the reader (iv) Nobody in particular, it is a figure of speech. (b) Choose the option that best describes the society represented in the above extract. (i) content, peace-loving (ii) leisurely, sentimental (iii) orthodox, upper class (iv) comfortable, ancient (c) Imagine that the city of Galesburg is hosting a series of conferences and workshops. In which of the following conferences or workshops are you least likely to find the description of Galesburg given in the above extract? (i) Gorgeous Galesburg: Archiving a Tourist Paradise (ii) Welcome to the Home You Deserve: Galesburg Realtors (iii) Re-imagining a Warless Future: Technology for Peace (iv) The Woman Question: The world of women at home
The Third Level 131 (d) ‘tremendous trees whose branches meet overhead and roof the streets’ IS NOT an example of 1. imagery. 2. metaphor. 3. alliteration. 4. anachronism. (i) Options 1. and 2. (ii) Options 1. and 3. (iii) Options 2. and 3. (iv) Options 2. and 4. 6. Louisa was pretty worried when I told her all this, and didn’t want me to look for the third level any more, and after a while I stopped; I went back to my stamps. But now we’re both looking, every weekend, because now we have proof that the third level is still there. My friend Sam Weiner disappeared! Nobody knew where, but I sort of suspected because Sam’s a city boy, and I used to tell him about Galesburg—I went to school there—and he always said he liked the sound of the place. And that’s where he is, all right. In 1894. (pg 5) (a) Why was the author unsuccessful in finding a way to the third level? (i) Because he had forgotten its path. (ii) Because it didn’t exist. (iii) Becuase it was not real. (iv) (ii) and (iii) (b) What made Louisa worried? (i) the well-being of the author (ii) author’s not getting to the third level (iii) author’s failure to go to the third level (iv) (ii) and (iii) (c) Why didn’t the author want to look for the third level? (i) Because he wasn’t successful. (ii) Because it didn’t exist. (iii) Because it was purely a figment of his imagination. (iv) (ii) and (iii) (d) What made the author’s friend Sam Weiner disappear? (i) to see the place Galesburg he always liked (ii) to see the past (iii) to explore the places historically (iv) none of the above 7. At the stamp and coin store I go to, I found out that Sam bought eight hundred dollars’ worth of old-style currency. That ought to set him up in a nice little hay, feed and grain business; he always said that’s what he really wished he could do, and he certainly can’t go back to his old business. Not in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1894. His old business? Why, Sam was my psychiatrist. (pg 6)
132 English XII (a) Why did Sam get the currency exchanged? (i) to visit Galesburg (ii) to settle in Galesburg (iii) to start a business of hay, feed and grain (iv) to spend time visiting the US (b) ‘.... his old business.’ What is Sam’s ‘old business’? (i) stamp collecting (ii) practising as a psychiatrist (iii) visiting places of interest (iv) visiting historical places (c) ‘The Third Level’ is actually a mixture of A. dream and reality. B. thrilling incidents. C. joys and sorrows D. fancy and imagination (i) A. (ii) B. (iii) C. (iv) A. and B. (d) ‘The Third Level’ enables one to (i) travel between different time zones (ii) travel beyond time and space (iii) escape from the harsh realities (iv) (i) and (ii) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions Based on your understanding of the current chapter, answer the following questions: 1. How would you describe Charley’s vision of his grandfather’s life and times? (a) wistful escapism (b) idealised sentimentality (c) nostalgic simplicity (d) dreamy perfection 2. “‘The Third Level’ refers to the third level at the Grand Central Station.” As a metaphor, which of the following WOULD NOT be an appropriate explanation of the title? (a) the convergence of reality and fantasy (b) the bridge between the past and the present (c) the oppressive monotony of modern life (d) the need for an alternate plane of understanding 3. How would you describe Charley? (a) confused, happy-go-lucky (b) escapist, adventurous (c) imaginative, nostalgic (d) friendly, responsible 4. Which of the following is a conclusion that can be drawn from the story? (a) Reality is indeed stranger than fiction. (b) With all its worries, modern life is not worth living.
The Third Level 133 (c) The past is undoubtedly better than the present. (d) Imagination might be the only great escape. 5. ‘The Third Level’ by Jack Finney is about the harsh realities of (a) war. (b) life. (c) death. (d) a period before war. 6. The current chapter is also about (a) modern day problems and how common man tends to escape reality by various means. (b) problems of the past and how common man tends to escape the memories of past by various means. (c) previous birth problems and how common man tends to search his identity in that birth. (d) modern day problems and how common man faces and fights them by various means. 7. The story is (a) psychological. (b) physical. (c) spiritual. (d) academic. 8. Grand Central Station has _________ (a) one level. (b) two levels. (c) three levels. (d) four levels. 9. What specific difference did Charley find at the ‘third level’ of Central Station? (a) Everything was peculiar which he had never seen. (b) Everything was old styled and smaller in size. (c) Everything was huge. (d) Everything was modern. 10. What for does the protagonist of the story use the third level? (a) He uses the third level to escape from the unpleasant life of New York to the pleasant life of Galesburg, Illinois. (b) He uses the third level to find mental peace. (c) He uses the third level to seek temporary refuge. (d) He uses the third level to be isolated. 11. The third level starts because (a) of Sam’s letter written on 18th July 1984. (b) of Charley’s desire to escape. (c) Charley wants to go to a lonely place. (d) Charley wants to desert his family. 12. This story shows the connection between (a) reality and fantasy. (b) dream and fulfilment. (c) time and space. (d) present and future.
134 English XII 13. The main theme of the story is (a) ‘anything can be possible’. (b) ‘nothing is possible’. (c) (a) or (b) (d) (a) and (b) 14. Charley’s passion for stamp collection as a hobby is a crucial _________ which tells us about his habits and personality. (a) simile (b) metaphor (c) alliteration (d) personification 15. The author A. promotes a bit of fanciful inspiration that is required in times of distress to make oneself feel safe and happy in a restricting and alien environment. B. criticises a bit of fancy that inspires one in times of distress to make oneself feel safe and happy in a restricting and alien environment. C. uses a bit of fanciful inspiration that is not required in times of distress to make oneself feel safe and happy in a restricting and alien environment, just to earn name and fame. (a) A. (b) B. (c) C. (d) B. and C 16. What made the ticket clerk stare at the author? (a) The author looked strange. (b) The author offered a different currency. (c) The clerk suspected him in his not giving him the right money. (d) (b) and (c) 17. “The author brings a mysterious end to the chapter by NOT replying ‘why Sam Weiner couldn’t go to Galesburg.’” What does it mean? (a) to add complexity to his theory of time and space (b) to leave to the reader to estimate as he or she likes (c) to leave everything to the reader to form an opinion (d) to make the third level a figment of imagination 18. What is the author’s standpoint about the presence of the third level? (a) The author acknowledges its presence. (b) The author feels that such a thing does not exist. (c) By saying that stamp collecting is also a way to escape, he opposes it. (d) The author rejects the theory of his psychiatrist friend that unhappy persons hallucinate through stamp collecting as a hobby. 19. ‘The Third Level’ is a story that weaves together a _________ journey of the narrator into past, present and moves towards future. (a) spiritual (b) psychological (c) physical (d) methodical 20. The narrator interweaves _________ in the most futuristic projection of time travel. (a) fantasy with the reality (b) present with the future (c) profit with the loss (d) day with the night
ANSWERS Reading Comprehension 1. Unseen Passage 1 1. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) (e) (i) (f) (iii) (g) (iii) (h) (ii) (i) (iv) (j) (i) (k) (iii) 2. (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) (e) (iv) (f ) (iii) (g) (i) (h) (iii) (i) (iii) (j) (iv) (k) (ii) 3. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) (e) (iv) (f ) (ii) (g) (i) (h) (iii) (i) (ii) (j) (ii) (k) (i) 4. (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) (e) (iv) (f) (i) (g) (iii) (h) (i) (i) (iv) ( j) (i) (k) (i) 5. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) ( f) (iii) (g) (iv) (h) (iii) (i) (iv) ( j) (iii) (k) (ii) 6. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (iv) (e) (i) (f ) (ii) (g) (i) (h) (iv) (i) (i) (j) (ii) (k) (ii) 7. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) (e) (iv) (f) (i) (g) (i) (h) (iii) (i) (i) (j) (iii) (k) (i) 8. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) (f) (iii) (g) (i) (h) (ii) (i) (iii) (j) (ii) (k) (ii) 9. (a) (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) (e) (iv) (f) (i) (g) (ii) (h) (iii) (i) (i) (j) (i) (k) (iv) 10. (a) (i) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (ii) (e) (i) (f) (i) (g) (iii) (h) (iv) (i) (i) (j) (iv) (k) (ii) 2. Unseen Passage 2 (Case Based Factual Passages) 1. (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) (f) (ii) (g) (i) (h) (i) (i) (iii) (j) (ii) (k) (i) 2. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) (e) (i) (f) (i) (g) (iii) (h) (iii) (i) (iii) (j) (i) (k) (iii) 147
148 English XII 3. (a) (ii) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) (e) (iv) (f) (iv) (g) (i) (h) (iv) (i) (iv) (j) (i) (k) (iii) 4. (a) (ii) (b) (iv) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) (e) (i) (f) (i) (g) (iii) (h) (iv) (i) (i) (j) (iv) (k) (ii) 5. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (ii) (e) (iii) (f) (ii) (g) (iii) (h) (iii) (i) (ii) (j) (ii) (k) (iii) 6. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) (e) (i) (f) (iv) (g) (ii) (h) (ii) (i) (iii) (j) (iv) (k) (iii) 7. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) (f) (i) (g) (i) (h) (i) (i) (i) (j) (ii) (k) (iv) 8. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (i) (e) (ii) (f) (ii) (g) (i) (h) (iv) (i) (iii) (j) (i) (k) (i) 9. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) (e) (iv) (f) (iii) (g) (ii) (h) (i) (i) (iii) (j) (i) (k) (iv) 10. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) (e) (ii) (f) (i) (g) (ii) (h) (ii) (i) (ii) (j) (ii) (k) (iii) Literature Flamingo (Prose) 1. The Last Lesson Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (ii) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 2. (a) (ii) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (iii) 3. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (iii) (d) (iii) 4. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 5. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) 6. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (i) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (a) 10. (b) 11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (d) 14. (c) 15. (a) 16. (a) 17. (a) 18. (a) 19. (a) 20. (d)
2. Lost Spring Answers 149 Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 6. (d) 12. (a) 1. (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 18. (a) 2. (a) (iii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 3. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 6. (d) 4. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (i) 12. (a) 5. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 6. (a) (iii) (b) (i) (c) (iv) (d) (iii) 7. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 8. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (a) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (a) 11. (c) 13. (d) 14. (b) 15. (c) 16. (d) 17. (d) 19. (a) 20. (a) 3. Deep Water Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (iv) 2. (a) (ii) (b) (iv) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) 3. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 4. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 5. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) 6. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) 7. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 8. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 9. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (iii) (d) (i) 10. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (b) 7. (b) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (d) 11. (d)
150 English XII 13. (c) 14. (c) 15. (a) 16. (d) 17. (d) 18. (d) 19. (d) 20. (a) Flamingo (Poetry) 1. My Mother at Sixty-six Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (iii) (b) (iii) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) Set II (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 2. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (iv) 3. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 4. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (ii) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (b) 10. (d) 2. An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (i) (d) (ii) Set II (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (ii) Set III (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (i) Set IV (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (i)
Answers 151 2. (a) (i) (b) (iii) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) Set II (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) Set III (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (i) Set IV (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (i) (d) (i) 2a. (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (iii) 3. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (iii) (d) (iv) Set II (a) (i) (b) (ii) (c) (i) (d) (i) Set III (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (i) (d) (i) 4. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (d) (ii) Set II (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (i) Set III (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (i) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (d) 10. (c) 11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (d) 14. (a) 15. (c)
152 English XII 3. Keeping Quiet Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (ii) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) 1a. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) Set II (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 2. (a) (i) (b) (iii) (c) (i) (d) (i) 3. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (i) 4. (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (i) Set II (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 5. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 6. (a) (iv) (b) (iii) (c) (ii) (d) (ii) Set II (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (i) Set III (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (iv) (d) (iii) 7. (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (iv) Set II (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (a) 10. (a) 11. (b) 12. (c) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (d)
Answers 153 Vistas (Supplementary Reader) 1. The Third Level Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 2. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) 3. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (ii) 4. (a) (iii) (b) (i) (c) (ii) (d) (i) 5. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (iv) 6. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 7. (a) (iii) (b) (ii) (c) (iv) (d) (iv) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (a) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (b) 10. (a) 11. (a) 12. (c) 13. (a) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (d) 19. (b) 20. (a) 2. The Enemy Extract Based Multiple Choice Questions 1. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) 2. (a) (iv) (b) (ii) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) 3. (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 4. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (i) (d) (iv) 5. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (iv) (d) (i) 6. (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (iv) (d) (iii) 7. (a) (iii) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (iii) 8. (a) (i) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (ii) 9. (a) (iv) (b) (i) (c) (i) (d) (i) 10. (a) (ii) (b) (iii) (c) (iv) (d) (ii) 11. (a) (iv) (b) (iv) (c) (ii) (d) (iii)
154 English XII 12. (a) (i) (b) (iv) (c) (iv) (d) (ii) Stand-alone Multiple Choice Questions 1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (b) 8. (a) 9. (a) 10. (a) 11. (c) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (b) 15. (b) 16. (b) 17. (a) 18. (b) 19. (c) 20. (a)
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