Class 12 English Important Questions with Answers

Class 12 English Important Questions

Class 12 English Important Questions will help students to get extra marks in their main examination. All the Class 12 English Important Questions given on this page are based on the latest exam pattern and syllabus of the CBSE Examination. The students appearing in the examination must refer to the Class 12 English Important Questions to pass CBSE Exam 2022 with flying colours. We have also given answers on this page so students can learn the art of answer writing to get full marks in the examination. Go through all the Class 12 English Important Questions and bookmark this page to get all the latest updates from the Central Board of Secondary Education.

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Class 12 English Important Questions: Reading Comprehension

Question 1.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi, All India 2010)

1. Today’s woman is a highly self-directed person, alive to the sense of her dignity and the importance of her functions in the private domestic domain and the public domain of the world of work. Women are rational in approach, careful in handling situations and want to do things as best as possible. The Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing in September 1995 had emphasized that no enduring solution of society’s most threatening social, economic and political problems could be found without the participation and empowerment of the women. The 1995 World Summit for Social Development had also emphasised the pivotal role of women in eradicating poverty and mending the social fabric.

2. The Constitution of India had conferred on women equal rights and opportunities political, social, educational and of employment with men. Because of oppressive traditions, superstitions, exploitation and corruption, a majority of women are not allowed to enjoy the rights and opportunities, bestowed on them. One of the major reasons for this state of affairs is the lack of literacy and awareness among women. Education is the main instrument through which we can narrow down the prevailing inequality and accelerate the process of economic and political change in the status of women.

3. The role of women in a society is very important. Women’s education is the key to a better life in the future. A recent World Bank study says that educating girls is not a charity, it is good economics and if developing nations are to eradicate poverty, they must educate the girls. The report says that the economic and social returns on investment in education of the girls considerably affect the human development index of the nation. Society would progress only if the status of women is respected and the presence of an educated woman in the family would ensure education of the family itself. Education and empowerment of women are closely related.

4. Women’s education has not received due care and attention from the planners and policymakers. The National Commission for Women has rightly pointed out that even after 50 years of independence, women continue to be treated as the single largest group of backward citizens of India. The role of women in overall development has not been fully understood nor has it been given its full weight in the struggle to eliminate poverty, hunger, injustice and inequality at the national level. Even when we are at the threshold of the 21st century, our society still discriminates against women in matters of their rights and privileges and prevents them from participating in the process of national and societal progress.

Various Committees and Commissions have been constituted before and after the independence to evaluate the progress in women’s education and to suggest ways and means to enhance the status of women. The female literacy rate has gone up in the 20th century from 0.6 per cent in 1901 to 39.29 per cent in 1991 but India still possesses the largest number of illiterate women in the world. The female literacy index for the year 1991 shows that there are eight States which fall below the national average. The most populous States of the country, UP, MP, Bihar and Rajasthan fall in the category of most backward States as far as female literacy is concerned.

5. The prevailing cultural norms of gender behaviour and the perceived domestic and reproductive roles of women tend to affect the education of girls. Negative attitude towards sending girls to schools, restrictions on their mobility, early marriage, poverty and illiteracy of parents affect the girl’s participation in education.

6. Women’s political empowerment got a big boost with the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993 which gave them 30 per cent reservation in Village Panchayats, Block Samities and Zila Parishads throughout the country. The National Commission for Women was also set up in 1992 to act as a lobby for women’s issues.

7. The educational system is the only institution which can counteract the deep foundations of inequality of sexes that are built in the minds of people through the socialization process. Education is the most important instrument of human resource development. Educational system should be used to revolutionize the traditional attitudes and inculcate new values of equality.

(a)
(i) Mention any two attributes of a modern woman. 2
(ii) Why are women’s participation and empowerment considered necessary? 2
(iii) Which factors adversely affect the education of girls? 2
(iv) What benefits did the women get with the enactment of the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993?
(v) By what process can we remove the sense of inequality of sexes from the minds of the people? 1
Answer:
(i) The modem woman of today is a highly self-dependent person alive to the sense of her dignity. She is rational in her approach and handles situations carefully.
(ii) At the Fourth World Conference of Women held in Beijing, it was emphasized that without women’s participation and empowerment no enduring solution to society’s most threatening social, economic and political problems could be found. Also women’s empowerment is extremely important in eradicating poverty and mending the social fabric.
(iii) The prevailing cultural norms of gender behaviour and the perceived domestic and reproductive roles of women tend to adversely affect the education of girls. Restrictions on the mobility of girls, early marriage of girls, poverty and illiteracy of parents affect the girl’s participation in education.

(iv) Women’s political empowerment got a major boost with the Panchayati Raj Act of 1993 which gave them 30 per cent reservation in Village Panchayats, Block Samities and Zila Parishads throughout the country.
(v) The sense of inequality of sexes can be removed from the minds of the people only through the process of education.

(b) Pick out words from the passage which mean the same as each of the following: 1×3=3
(i) cruel and unfair (para 2)
(ii) remove (para 3)
(iii) full of people (para 4)
Answer:
(i) oppressive
(ii) eradicate
(iii) populous

Question 2.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi, All India 2011)

1. For many years now the Governments have been promising the eradication of child labour in hazardous industries in India. But the truth is that despite all the rhetoric no Government so far has succeeded in eradicating this evil, nor has any been able to ensure compulsory primary education for every Indian child. Between 60 and 100 million children are still at work instead of going to school, and around 10 million are working in hazardous industries. India has the biggest child population of 380 million in the world; plus the largest number of children who are forced to earn a living.

2. We have many laws that ban child labour in hazardous industries. According to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act 1986, the employment of children below the age of 14 in hazardous occupations has been strictly banned. But each state has different rules regarding the minimum age of employment. This makes the implementation of these laws difficult.

3. Also, there is no ban on child labour in nonhazardous occupations. The act applies to the organised or factory sector and not the unorganized or informal sector where most children find employment as cleaners, servants, porters, waiters, among other forms of unskilled work. Thus, child labour continues because the implementation of the existing law is lax.

4. There are industries, which have a special demand for child labour because of their nimble fingers, high level of concentration and capacity to work hard at abysmally low wages. The carpet industry in U.P. and Kashmir employs children to make hand-knotted carpets. There are 80,000 child workers in Jammu & Kashmir alone. In Kashmir because of the political unrest, children are forced to work while many schools are shut. Industries like gem cutting and polishing, pottery and glass want to remain competitive by employing children.

5. The truth is that it is poverty which is pushing children into the brutish labour market. We have 260 million people below the poverty line in India, a large number of them are women. Poor and especially woman-headed families have no option but to push their little ones in this hard life in hostile conditions, with no human or labour rights.

6. There is a lobby which argues that there is nothing wrong with children working as long as the environment for work is conducive to learning new skills but studies have shown that the children are made to do boring, repetitive and tedious jobs and are not taught new skills as they grow older. In these hellholes like the sweet shops of the old, there is no hope.

7. Children working in hazardous industries are prone to debilitating diseases which can cripple them for life. By sitting in cramped, damp and unhygienic spaces, their limbs become deformed for life. Inside matchstick, fireworks and glass industries they are victims of bronchial diseases and T.B. Their mental and physical development is permanently impaired by long hours of work. Once trapped, they can’t get out of this vicious circle of poverty. They remain uneducated and powerless. Finally, in later years, they too are compelled to send their own children to work. Child labour perpetuates its own nightmare.

8. If at all the Government was serious about granting children their rights, an intensive effort ought to have been made to implement the Supreme Court’s Directive of 1997 which laid down punitive action against employers of child labour. Only compulsory primary education can eliminate child labour.

9. Surely, if 380 million children are given a better life and elementary education, India’s human capital would be greatly enhanced. But that needs, as former President Abdul Kalam says, “a Second

(a)
(i) On which two counts has the Government not succeeded so far in respect of children? 2
(ii) What makes the implementation of child labour law difficult? 2
(iii) Why do industries prefer child labour?
(iv) What are the adverse effects of hazardous industries on children? Given any two. 2
(v) What does the Supreme Court’s Directive of 1997 provide? 1
Answer:
(i) In respect to children the Government has not yet succeeded in eradication of child labour in hazardous industries and ensuring compulsory primary education.
(ii) Implementation of child labour becomes difficult because each state has different rules regarding the minimum age of employment and there is no ban on child labour in the nonhazardous occupations.
(iii) Industries prefer child labour because children have a capacity to work hard, a high level of concentration and can be employed at low wages.
(iv) Children working in hazardous industries are prone to debilitating diseases which can cripple them for life. By sitting in cramped, damp and unhygienic spaces their limbs too become deformed for life. In matchstick, fireworks and glass industries, children become victims of bronchial diseases and T.B.
(v) The Supreme Court’s Directive of 1997 provides punitive action against employers of child labour.

(b) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
(i) risky/dangerous (para 1)
(ii) very unfriendly (para 5)
(iii) intended as punishment (para 8)
Answer:
(i) hazardous
(ii) hostile
(iii) punitive

Question 3.
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi, All India 2012)

1. While there is no denying that the world loves a winner, it is important that you recognize the signs, of stress in your behaviour and be healthy enough to enjoy your success. Stress can strike anytime, in a fashion that may leave you unaware of its presence in your life. While a certain amount of pressure is necessary for performance, it is important to be able to recognize your individual limit. For instance, there are some individuals who accept competition in a healthy fashion. There are others who collapse into weeping wrecks before an exam or on comparing marks sheets and finding that their friend has scored better.

2. Stress is a body reaction to any demands or changes in its internal and external environment. Whenever there is a change in the external environment such as temperature, pollutants, humidity and working conditions, it leads to stress. In these days of competition when a person makes up his mind to surpass what has been achieved by others, leading to an imbalance between demands and resources, it causes psychosocial stress. It is a part and parcel of everyday life.

3. Stress has a different meaning, depending on the stage of life you are in. The loss of a toy or a reprimand from the parents might create a stress shock in a child. An adolescent who fails an examination may feel as if everything has been lost and life has no further meaning. In an adult the loss of his or her companion, job or professional failure may appear as if there is nothing more to be achieved.

4. Such signs appear in the attitude and behaviour of the individual, as muscle tension in various parts of the body, palpitation and high blood pressure, indigestion and hyperacidity. Ultimately the result is self-destructive behaviour such as eating and drinking too much, smoking excessively, relying on tranquilisers. There are other signs of stress such as trembling, shaking, nervous blinking, dryness of throat and mouth and difficulty in swallowing.

5. The professional under stress behaves as if he is a perfectionist. It leads to depression, lethargy and weakness. Periodic mood shifts also indicate the stress status of the students, executives and professionals.

6. In a study sponsored by World Health Organization and carried out by Harvard School of Public Health, the global burden of diseases and injury indicated that stress diseases and accidents are going to be the major killers in 2020.

7. The heart disease and depression both stress diseases are going to rank first and second in 2020. Road traffic accidents are going to be the third-largest killers. These accidents are also an indicator of psychosocial stress in a fast-moving society. Other stress diseases like ulcers, hypertension and sleeplessness have assumed epidemic proportions in modern societies.

8. A person under stress reacts in different ways and the common ones are flight, fight and flee depending upon the nature of the stress and capabilities of the person. The three responses can be elegantly chosen to cope with the stress so that stress does not damage the system and become distressed.

9. When stress crosses the limit, peculiar to an individual, it lowers his performance capacity. Frequent crossings of the limit may result in chronic fatigue in which a person feels lethargic, disinterested and is not easily motivated to achieve anything. This may make the person mentally undecided, confused and accident-prone as well. Sudden exposure of unnerving stress may also result in a loss of memory. Diet, massage, food supplements, herbal medicines, hobbies, relaxation techniques and dance movements are excellent stress busters.

(a)
(i) What is stress? What factors lead to stress? 2
(ii) What are the signs by which a person can know that he is under stress? 2
(iii) What are the different diseases a person gets due to stress? 2
(iv) Give any two examples of stress busters. 1
(v) How does a person react under stress? 2
Answer:
(i) Stress is a body reaction to any demands or changes in its external and internal environment. A change in the external environments such as temperature, pollutants, humidity and working conditions lead to stress.
(ii) Certain signs appear in the attitude and behaviour of an individual under stress. These include muscle tension in various body parts, palpitation, high blood pressure, indigestion and hyperacidity. Other stress-related signs are trembling, shaking, nervous blinking, dryness of throat and mouth and difficulty in swallowing.
(iii) Heart disease and depression are the two major stress-related diseases. Other stress diseases include ulcers, hypertension and sleeplessness.
(iv) Herbal medicines and relaxation techniques are two examples of stress busters.
(v) A person under stress reacts in different ways, the most common ones being flight, fight and flee depending upon the nature of the stress and capabilities of a person.

(b) Which words in the above passage mean the same as the following?
(i) Fall down (para 1)
(ii) rebuke (para 3)
(iii) inactive (para 9)
Answer:
(i) collapse
(ii) reprimand
(iii) lethargic

Class 12 Term 2 English Important Questions: Letter Writing

Question 1.
SAF Public School, Chandigarh is planning to take a group of 40 senior students to Shimla on an excursion during the summer vacation. Mr. Mohan Das, the teacher-in-charge of ‘Excursions & Field Trips’, writes a letter to Tours & Travels, Chandigarh asking them to organize the tour. Write this letter giving details of preference such as dates of journey, transport, accommodation, etc. (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
SAF Public School
Chandigarh
18th April, 20xx
The Manager
jj Tours & Travels
Sector 40-C
Chandigarh

Subject: To organise an excursion to Shimla for 40 students

Sir
We are a group of 40 senior students and 5 teachers who are planning a five-day excursion to Shimla during our summer vacations. We would like your travel company to organise this trip for us. Our preferred dates for this trip are between the 20th and 30th of May. We would like to travel by the toy train to Shimla and rely upon your company’s expertise to book decent accommodation for us on a twin-sharing basis in a hotel on the main Mall Road. The cost of the trip should not exceed? 8,000 per student with boarding and lodging. I would appreciate a fast response from your end giving us the details and an itinerary for our trip.

Looking forward to your early response.

Yours sincerely
Mohan Das

Question 2.
You are Navneet of 65, P.H. Road, Mangalore. Recently you bought a mobile phone from ‘The Phone Point’, 83, Mount Road, Mangalore. The phone instrument developed a problem within a month of purchase. Write a letter to the dealer giving details of the nature of the problem and asking him/her to rectify the defect or replace the set. (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
65, P.H. Road
Mangalore
17th January, 20xx
The Phone Point
83, Mount Road
Mangalore

Subject: Rectify/Replace Defective Mobile Phone

Sir
I had purchased a mobile phone Nokia E-63 from your showroom vide Bill No. 4020 on 22nd December. I was using it to my satisfaction since I bought it but for the past few days I have noticed that I now need to charge my phone after every 4-5 hours, unlike earlier when I used to charge my phone after almost 24 hours. Despite the fact that I am using the phone for the same duration as before the battery life has reduced drastically. It is my request to you to rectify this defect with the battery, or replace the handset that comes with a one-year warranty. The Phone Point enjoys a good reputation and goodwill, so I expect you to look into the matter at the earliest so as to enable me to use my mobile phone as conveniently as I. was using it before.

Yours sincerely
Navneet

Question 3.
Read the advertisement given below and write a letter applying for the job. Also give your detailed resume to be sent along with the letter. You are Praveen Kumar of 95 HAL Colony, Bengaluru. (Delhi 2009)

Situations VacantWanted Post Graduate Teacher in English to teach Senior Secondary Classes in a reputed school in Bengaluru. Candidates should have a minimum of three years of teaching experience. Apply to Box No. 178, C/o ‘The Deccan Herald’, Bengaluru 500 015.

Answer:
95, HAL Colony
M.G. Road
Bengaluru
11th june, 20xx
The Advertiser
Box No. 178
C/ o The Deccan Herald
Bengaluru 500 015

Subject: Application for the Post of P.G. Teacher in English

Sir
This is in response to your advertisement in ‘The Deccan Herald’ dated 9thune, 20xx for the post of PGT in English for your institution. I wish to apply for the same.

Attached herewith is my brief resume and I would be too happy if I am considered for the above-mentioned post in your school.

Yours sincerely
Praveen Kumar

If my particulars suit your requirement, I will be happy to come for a personal interview as per your schedule.
Praveen Kumar

Question 4.
You are jolly of Class XII. You are interested in pursuing a course in visual communication. You have seen an advertisement issued by the National Institute of Communication, Pune, offering courses in Media and Communication. Write a letter to the Director seeking information about their courses, fee structure, placement opportunities, etc. (All India 2009)
Answer:
D-4020 ABC Lane
XYZ City
14th April, 20xx
The Director
National Institute of Communication
Pune

Subject: Seeking information about the Course in Visual Communication

Sir
This is in response to your advertisement in ‘The Daily’ dated 12th April, 20xx regarding courses offered by your institute in Media and Communication. I have just appeared for my class XII examination and am interested in pursuing a course in Visual Communication. As very little information is available about this course, I would be extremely grateful if you could send me detailed information about it so as to enable me to move on to the next step and try to seek admission in your reputed institute. Please forward the following details at the earliest:

1. Procedure for Admission
2. Duration of the Course
3. Eligibility Criteria
4. Course fee (instalment for each term)
5. Placement opportunities available after course completion
6. Any other relevant information related to this course

I am extremely keen to join the above- mentioned course and would be obliged if you mail me a Prospectus for the same in the self- addressed stamped envelope enclosed herewith.

Awaiting your early response.

Yours sincerely
jolly

Class 12 English Important Questions: Report Writing

Question 1.
You are Sweety/Suresh of L.M. Jain School, Ajmer. As Secretary of your School Co-curricular Activities Club, you visited a slum area in your city where the people suffered a great loss of life and property in a massive fire. The students of your school rendered their services and material help to the victims. Write a report in 100-125 words for your school magazine. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Students Service To Victims Of Fire
By: Sweety
L.M. Jain School

14th February, 20xx. A major slum area in Vilas Nagar was gutted by a massive fire on 10th February, 20xx. The fire whose exact cause is still not very clear caused extensive damage to life and property. Ten persons lost their lives, many were injured and about two hundred people were rendered homeless. Our school joined and relief to the victims. The students of our school got together and collected food packets, old clothes, medicines, utensils, etc. to be distributed to these homeless and helpless people. Ten students and three teachers personally visited this slum area to ensure proper and fair distribution of the items that had been collected and thus provided some relief to these unfortunate people in their time of crisis and misery.

Question 2.
Recently your school held a Seminar on Conservation of Water as a part of World Water Day celebrations. As the School Pupil Leader of Maryland School, Gurgaon, write a report in 100-125 words for a local daily. Sign as Pritham/Preeti. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Seminar On Water Conservation
By: Preeti
Maryland School,

Gurgaon 16th March, 20xx, Gurgaon: Our school organised a seminar on ‘Water Conservation’ as part of the World Water Day Celebrations on 13th August, 20xx. The main aim of this seminar was to remind us all about the need to save the government and the non-governmental organisations in providing help water as it is a precious source imperative for our survival.

distinguished environmentalists and eminent personalities were our guest speakers and they reiterated the need not only of conserving water but also spoke at length on how to conserve water by stressing upon the fact that each drop of water is precious. Dr. Yashraj, an eminent environmentalist, suggested rain-water harvesting as one of the best ways to conserve water.

Using visual aids to highlight his discourse, he suggested that to ensure availability of water for the future generations the withdrawal of fresh water from an ecosystem should not exceed its natural replacement rate. The seminar concluded on the note that water conservation is the most cost-effective, environmentally sound way to reduce our demand for water and so each one of us must do our bit towards improving water management to enhance optimum use of water.

Question 3.
Your school organised an exhibition-cum-sale of the items prepared under Work Experience Certificate by your school students. There was an overwhelming response from the public. Prepare a report in 100-125 words for a local daily. You are the Coordinator, S.U.P.W. activities, Nita School, Gurgaon. (All India 2010)
Answer:

An Exhibition-Cum-Sale
By: ABC, Coordinator, SUPW Activities
Nita School, Gurgaon

3rd Aug. 20xx, Gurgaon. Our school organised an exhibition-cum-sale of items prepared under Work Experience by our students on the 31st of July in the school lawns. It was heartening to see the overwhelming response our endeavour got from not only the parents but also from the general public who showed a lot of interest in the items made by the students. A wide array of items such as candles, greeting cards, jewellery boxes, wooden handicrafts had been prepared by talented students.

The students were really encouraged by the positive feedback they got from everyone present. Our principal too was personally present there all the time interacting with everyone. He appreciated the students’ hard work and creativity and announced that the money collected from the sale of items would be donated to an old-age home in the vicinity of our school. Our principal also decided that such initiatives would be taken up by our school more frequently to motivate the creative students and to help a noble cause.

Question 4.
Your state government has banned the use of plastic bags. Your are Amarjeet, a reporter of The National Herald. Write a report in 100-125 words on how the ban is being ignored and what damage the indiscriminate use of plastic bags in causing to the environment. (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Environment Unfriendly Polybags
By: Amarjeet, Staff Reporter
The National Herald

In the year 2002 the government had banned the production and use of plastic bags in our country. But unfortunately, these are now being widely used again everywhere. Not only are we using a huge number of polybags daily but we are also discarding them in our drains uncaring about the fact that they will block the flow of drain water. Polybags are also a threat to our environment. They cause pollution, kill wildlife and are responsible for using up the natural resources of the earth. They are one of the main factors that litter the landscape. If burnt, they will infuse the surrounding air with toxic fumes.

The main problem of plastic bags is that they are non-biodegradable. The decomposition of plastic takes around a thousand years, so with the plastic rubbish produced each day it is likely that this problem will never be solved. While the government works out ways to lessen the impact of polybags on the environment each one of us too should shoulder some responsibility for this problem that ultimately harms us all.

Question 5.
You are Ramesh/Rani, Sports Secretary, Government Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh. Last Monday an inter-school twenty-over cricket match was played on your school ground. Write a report in 100-125 words on the match. (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:

Inter-School Twenty
Over Cricket Match
Ramesh, Sports Secretary,

Govt. Senior Secondary School, Chandigarh 17th January, 20xx. Last Monday an inter-school twenty over cricket match played in our school grounds between Kendriya Vidyalaya, Sector-4 and Central School, Sector-37. It was one of the most thrilling match that we all had seen as the winner was decided only after the last ball of the match had been bowled. Kendriya Vidyalaya won the toss and chose to bat. They set a target of 130 runs in twenty overs for the opposition team who beat them in the last ball of the match by hitting a boundary which took their score to 131 runs. Central School had to make ten runs in the last two balls in order to win. Their star batsman ABC scored a six followed by a fantastic boundary to take his team to victory. It was a great match with a nail-biting finish and all the spectators present there thoroughly enjoyed watching it.

Question 6.
A major bus mishap which left several people seriously injured took place at Nicholas Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai. Luckily no life was lost. Collect the information from the eyewitnesses and send a report in 100-125 words to ‘The Nungambakkam Times’. You are Vinod/Vinodhini, a reporter. (Delhi 2011)
Answer:

Bus Mishap
Vinod, Staff Reporter

The Nungambakkam Times 14th February, 20xx: A major bus mishap took place at Nicholas Road in Nungambakkam, Chennai yesterday at about 10 a.m. It resulted in serious injuries to almost twelve of the twenty-five passengers who were on board the bus. Luckily though, there was no loss of life. An eyewitness accounts how the high speeding bus overturned when it took a sharp turn in an attempt to avert a collision with a truck that was coming in the wrong direction.

The authorities have arrested the truck driver for his negligence. The bus driver could not be taken into custody for overspeeding as he is admitted in hospital with grievous injuries. The state government has announced a compensation of? 25,000 for those seriously injured and ‘10,000 for those whose injurious are not very serious. A state-level inquiry has also been ordered into the mishap.

Question 7.
You are Poorva/Partha, Cultural Secretary of your school, D.B. Senior Secondary School, Ambur. A week-long Music and Dance festival was organised by your school. Write a report in 100-125 words for your school magazine. Invent the details. (All India 2011)
Answer:

Music And Dance Fiesta
Poorva, Cultural Secretary
D.B. Senior Secondary School, Ambur

26th August, 20xx: Our school organised a week-long Music and Dance festival, which commenced on the 18th of August and ended on the 26th of August, in which 15 schools of our town participated. It was a great music and dance extravaganza which saw a wide variety of Indian classical music and folklore and western music and dance forms. During this week-long festival, many competitions and programmes were organised in our school and these were graced by illustrious musicians and reputed dancers. On the concluding day of this festival, a two-hour-long programme displaying a unique fusion of classical and western dance and music was put up. This was a treat and delight for all music and dance lovers and was also the highlight of our festival. Seeing the huge success of this fiesta our principal assured us that attempts would be made to organise it on a regular basis.

Question 8.
You visited a Job Fair organised by Ability Foundation at Chennai recently. You were impressed to see that nearly 55 companies from various sectors such as information technology, telecommunication, electronics etc. offered jobs to the final year students of colleges. As a reporter of ‘The Deccan Times’, Chennai, prepare a report in 100-125 words. You are Peeyush/Priya. (All India 2011)
Answer:

Great Job Opportunities
For Young Students
Priya, Staff Reporter,
The Deccan Times

14th April, 20xx: The Ability Forum organised a Job Fair in Chennai for final year students of colleges. The fair witnessed an overwhelming response from job seekers and companies from across the region. The two-day event saw 55 companies from various sectors, such as information technology, telecommunication, electronics, etc. offering jobs to these students. It was really a great incentive for these fresh graduates to be offered jobs literally ‘on a platter’. Over 500 job seekers walked into seek well-paying jobs with the most renowned companies. This is surely going to motivate other undergraduates to attend this fair every year. Such employment fairs should be organised as these provide an ideal platform for students who are on the lookout for jobs after having completed their graduate-level education.

Question 9.
You witnessed a programme performed by differently-abled persons on Zee TV. You were very much impressed by their performance and were emotionally touched. Highlighting their talent, the reaction of the judges to their performance etc., prepare a report in 100-125 words for your school magazine. You are Gopal/Gopi, Student Editor of the magazine. (All India 2011)
Answer:

A Special Programme On Zee Tv
Gopi, Student Editor

On the occasion of Independence Day, Zee TV organized a special programme in which differently-abled persons performed in front of a live audience and were also watched by millions of people across the globe. They displayed their talent in the fields of music and dance. Their performances left the judges, the audience and the viewers enthralled. I am sure it also touched the hearts of many.

An outstanding sequence, in which wheelchair-bound boys and girls performed ‘Bharatnatyam’, left the audience spellbound and got a standing ovation from the judges.

It was most touching to see these children performing with such perfection despite their handicaps and their zest and enthusiasm added an extra touch to their performance. I strongly feel more such shows should be telecast so that more disabled children get an opportunity to showcase their talent. This will give them self-confidence that in spite of their disabilities they too are very much a part of our society.

Question 10.
You are Pulkil/Prema, a staff reporter of The Times of India. You have been asked to cover an incident of daylight robbery on the outskirts of Delhi when the inmates were present in the house. Write a report in 100-125 words. (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:

Daylight Robbery
Prema, Staff Reporter
Tire Times of India

17th August, 20xx, Delhi: A daring, daylight robbery has set fear and anxiety in the minds of the residents of Najafgarh, that lies on the outskirts of Delhi. Four armed robbers entered the house of a retired IAS official in broad daylight at about 4 p.m. The official himself was present in the house along with his wife, daughter-in-law and two-year-old grandson. Though the robbers did not harm the inmates, they locked them up in a store-room before escaping with? 75,000 cash and gold jewellery worth about? 3 lakhs. This incident evoked a lot of resentment among the residents of the area who complained about a total security lapse in their colony. The police have registered a complaint of robbery and on the basis of the appearance of the robbers given by the inmates a search has been launched to apprehend all the four.

Class 12 English Important Questions: The Rattrap

Question 1.
Why did the peddler sign himself as Captain von Stahle? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Edla Willmansson had been rather nice to the peddler and had treated him with the honour that was due to a Captain. The peddler, through this mistaken identity, got an opportunity to raise himself and get above the petty temptations of the world. So he signed himself as Captain von Stahle.

Question 2.
Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap? (All India 2009)
Answer:
The peddler considered the whole world as a big rattrap, its sole purpose being to set baits for people. The joys and riches of this world are nothing but tempting baits and anyone who is tempted by them was captured by the rattrap which completely closed in on him.

Question 3.
Why was Edla happy to see the gift left by the peddler? (All India 2010)
Answer:
Edla was happy to see the gift left by the peddler as he had respected her faith in him. Edla had retained him in her house even after knowing his real identity and he, in turn, had shown her that the guest she had honoured was as honourable as the Captain. The latent goodness of his heart had been awakened and he had been able to overcome the bait of the rattrap.

Question 4.
Which act of the crofter surprised the peddler? Why? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
The peddler was always shunned away wherever he went. No one treated him with kindness and so he had lost all hope of being shown any kind of warmth. But when he approached the crofter’s roadside cottage he was surprised by the latter’s warm welcome and generous hospitality.

Question 5.
How was the peddler treated at the crofter’s cottage? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
At the crofter’s cottage the peddler was welcomed warmly and received generous hospitality. The crofter was an old and lonely man and the prospect of getting the peddler’s company overjoyed him. So he poured all his warmth and friendly courtesy on the peddler.

Question 6.
Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
The crofter was lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion. Since he suffered from acute loneliness he was extremely happy when he got the peddler’s company. That is why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler.

Question 7.
Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage? (All India 2011)
Answer:
At the crofter’s cottage the peddler was welcomed warmly and received generous hospitality. The crofter was an old and lonely man and the prospect of getting the peddler’s company overjoyed him. So he poured all his warmth and friendly courtesy on the peddler.

Question 8.
What made the peddler finally change his ways? (All India 2011)
Answer:
The peddler was touched by Edla’s kind treatment. She treated him like a Captain in spite of knowing his real identity. This awakened the latent goodness of his heart because he wanted to show Edla he was worthy of the honour she had given him. So he finally changed his ways.

Question 9.
Why did the peddler keep to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage? How did he feel? (All India 2011)
Answer:
The peddler discards the public highway and keeps to the woods after leaving the crofter’s cottage because he wants to avoid being caught with the thirty kronors that he had stolen from the crofter’s house. He walks through mazes of forest paths but lands nowhere. When he realizes he has been trapped he feels extremely tired and sinks to the ground in despair.

Question 10.
Did the stranger agree to go to the ironmaster’s house? Why or why not? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Initially the stranger declined the ironmaster’s invitation. He had the stolen thirty kronors on him and thought it was like going into the lion’s den. But then he accepted the ironmaster’s invitation because Edla’s sympathy and compassion allayed his fears and her friendly manner made him to have confidence in her.

Question 11.
Why did the peddler decline the invitation of the ironmaster? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
The peddler declined the ironmaster’s invitation because he had the stolen thirty kronors on him. He feared that he would be caught there for stealing the crofter’s money. For the peddler going to the manor house of the ironmaster would be like throwing himself voluntarily into the lion’s den.

Question 12.
Why was the crofter so friendly and talkative with the peddler? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
The crofter was lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion. Since he suffered from acute loneliness he was extremely happy when he got the peddler’s company. That is why he was so talkative and friendly with the peddler:

Question 13.
Who was the owner of Ramsjo iron mills?
Why did he visit the mills at night? (All India 2012)
Answer:
The ironmaster was the owner of the Ramsjo iron mills. He was very particular about the quality of his products. So he made nightly rounds of inspection to his mill to inspect the quality control.

Question 14.
How did the ironmaster react on seeing the stranger lying close to the furnace? (All India 2012)
Answer:
When the iron master saw the stranger lying close to the furnace he walked up to him and looked him over carefully. Mistaking him for an old acquaintance, a comrade from his regiment, he got very excited and invited him to come to his cottage.

Question 15.
Why didn’t the stranger tell the ironmaster that he was not Nils Olof? (All India)
Answer:
When the ironmaster mistakes the stranger for Captain Nils Olof, an old regimental comrade, the stranger decides not to correct him as hopes to get a couple of kronors from the ironmaster. So he does not want to undeceive him all at once.

Question 16.
Why was the crofter happy when the peddler knocked on his door? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
The crofter was very lonely. He lived alone in his cottage without a wife, a child or any companion. Since he was suffering from acute loneliness he felt very happy when the peddler knocked on his door. He treated the peddler in the most kind and hospitable manner.

Question 17.
How was the crofter ‘generous with his confidences’ when he spoke to the peddler? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
The crofter was generous not just with his porridge and tobacco but also with his confidences with the peddler. He informed the peddler that he had been a crofter but now his cow supported him. She would give milk for the creamery every day, and last month he had even received thirty kronors as payment.

Question 18.
What did the peddler do to keep his body and soul together? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
The peddler made and sold rattraps but his business was not really profitable so he had to resort to both begging and petty thievery to keep his body and soul together.

Question 19.
Why did the peddler derive pleasure from his idea of the world as a rattrap? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
The world had never been kind to the peddler so it gave him unwanted joy to think ill of it by considering it as a rattrap. It became his cherished pastime to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and of others who were still circling around the bait in the rattrap.

Question 20.
Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away? (All India 2014)
Answer:
Edla pleaded with her father not to send the vagabond away as it was Christmas eve and she wanted to keep the spirit of Christmas alive. She wanted to provide the vagabond with a day of comfort and solace. She justified that they had invited him against his will and since he was lonely she wanted to do something special for him on Christmas eve.

Class 12 English Important Questions: Indigo

Question 1.
Why did Gandhiji agree to the planters’ offer of a 25 percent refund to the farmers? (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
Gandhiji had asked the indigo planters for a 50 percent refund to the farmers but they offered only 25 percent. Gandhiji still agreed to their offer because for him the amount of the refund was of less importance. More important was the fact that the planters had been forced to surrender part of their rights. So he agreed to their settlement.

Question 2.
How was Gandhiji able to influence the lawyers at Champaran? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Gandhiji chided the lawyers for over-charging the poor peasants. When the peasants were so poor and crushed, it was inhuman to charge heavy fees from them. Gandhiji’s selfless service and devotion to the cause of the peasants put the lawyers to shame.

Question 3.
How did Gandhiji help the peasants of Champaran? (All India 2009)
Answer:
At Champaran, the British landlords forced all the tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holding with indigo and then surrender the entire harvest as rent. This increased the misery of the poor tenants. But when synthetic indigo was developed and indigo plantation was no longer profitable, the landlords obtained fresh agreements from sharecroppers to pay them compensation for releasing them from the 15% arrangement. Gandhiji came in at this time and through non-violent civil disobedience he forced the landlords to refund 25 per cent of the compensation money to the peasants.

Question 4.
Why did the servants think Gandhiji to be another peasant? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
In Patna, Rajkumar Shukla led Gandhiji to the house of Rajendra Prasad who was a lawyer. The servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant of Champaran who often came to Rajendra Prasad’s house and pestered him to take up the cause of the indigo sharecroppers of Champaran. Since a simple-clad Gandhiji accompanied Shukla the servants mistook him to be another peasant.

Question 5.
Why did Gandhiji agree to the planters’ offer of a 25% refund to the farmers? (Comptt. All India 2011 )
Answer:
Gandhiji had asked the indigo planters for a 50 percent refund to the farmers but they offered only 25 percent. Gandhiji still agreed to their offer because for him the amount of the refund was of less importance. More important was the fact that the planters had been forced to surrender part of their rights. So he agreed to their settlement.

Question 6.
How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in Rajendra Prasad’s house? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
In Patna Shukla led Gandhiji to the house of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town but his servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who pestered Rajendra Prasad (their master) to help the indigo sharecroppers. So he was allowed to stay there with his companion. But Gandhiji was not permitted to draw water from the well lest he be an untouchable and some drops of water from his bucket pollute the entire source.

Question 7.
What made Gandhiji demand 50% refund from the British landlords? (Comptt. Delhi)
Answer:
Gandhiji demanded 50% refund from the British landlords in the form of repayment of money which the landlords had illegally and deceitfully extorted from the poor sharecroppers.

Question 8.
Why did Gandhiji accept 25 percent compensation? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
Gandhiji had asked the indigo planters for a 50 percent refund to the farmers but they offered only 25 percent. Gandhiji still agreed to their offer because for him the amount of the refund was of less importance. More important was the fact that the planters had been forced to surrender part of their rights. So he agreed to their settlement.

Question 9.
While at Champaran how did Gandhiji keep a long distance watch on his ashram? (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
During his long stay in Champaran, Gandhiji kept a long distance watch on his Ashram. He sent regular instructions by mail and asked for financial accounts. He even wrote to the residents that it was time to fill in the old latrine trenches and dig new ones.

Question 10.
“The battle of Champaran is won.” When and why did Gandhiji exclaim this? (Comptt. AI 2012)
Answer:
When several prominent lawyers told Gandhiji that they were ready to follow him to jail, Gandhiji exclaimed, “The battle of Champaran is toon”. Gandhiji made this statement because he had been able to shake the lawyers out of their stupor and they were ready to support Gandhiji.

Question 11.
Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Cham-paran case to the court was useless? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Gandhiji felt taking the Champaran case to the court was useless as taking such cases to the courts did little good. Where the peasants are so crushed and fear-stricken, law courts prove useless. The real relief for these peasants was to be free from fear.

Question 12.
What made the Lieutenant Governor drop the case against Gandhiji? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
The Lieutenant Governor was forced to drop the case against Gandhiji because the lawyers had told Gandhiji that they would follow him into jail. So the Lieutenant Governor wrote to the Magistrate ordering him to drop the case against Gandhiji.

Question 13.
How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them? (Comptt. All India 2014)
Answer:
As the news of Gandhiji’s advent and the nature of his mission spread, the peasants began arriving on foot and by conveyance to get a glimpse of their champion. The lawyers, who had represented the peasant groups in court, also came to brief Gandhiji.

Question 15.
How did Rajkumar Shukla establish that he was resolute? (All India 2015)
Answer:
Rajkumar Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit Champaran to take up the cause of the poor sharecroppers who were being exploited by the English landlords but Gandhiji said he had appointments in various parts of India. Shukla started following Gandhiji everywhere the latter went and for weeks he never left Gandhiji’s side thus establishing his resoluteness.

Question 16.
How was Gandhi treated at Rajendra Prasad’s house? (All India 2015)
Answer:
In Patna Shukla led Gandhiji to the house of a lawyer, Rajendra Prasad. He was out of town but his servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who pestered Rajendra Prasad (their master) to help the indigo sharecroppers. So he was allowed to stay there with his companion. But Gandhiji was not permitted to draw water from the well lest he be an untouchable and some drops of water from his bucket pollute the entire source.

Question 17.
What were the terms of the indigo contract between the British landlords and the Indian peasants? (All India 2015)
Answer:
The arable land in the Champaran district was divided into estates which were owned by Englishmen and worked by Indian tenants. The chief commercial crop was indigo. The landlords compelled all tenants to plant 15 per cent of their holdings with indigo and surrender the entire indigo harvest as rent.

Question 18.
Why is Raj Kumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’? (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Shukla wanted Gandhiji to visit Champaran to take up the cause of the sharecroppers but Gandhiji said he had appointments in Cawnpore and other parts of India. Shukla did not leave Gandhiji’s side for weeks begging him to fix a date for Champaran. Gandhiji was impressed by his determination and resoluteness and Shukla finally managed to convince Gandhiji to accompany him to Champaran.

Question 19.
Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Though Gandhiji’s lawyer friends thought it would be a good idea for C.F.Andrews to stay in Champaran and help them, Gandhiji vehemently opposed it. He said that if they had an Englishman on their side it would show the weakness of their heart. They should not attempt to seek a prop in Andrews just because he happened to be an Englishman. Gandhiji wanted Indians to be self-reliant.

Question 20.
Why did Gandhiji agree to a settlement of mere 25 percent? (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Gandhiji had asked the indigo planters for a 50 percent refund to the farmers but they offered only 25 percent. Gandhiji still agreed to their offer because for him the amount of the refund was of less importance. More important was the fact that the planters had been forced to surrender part of their rights. So he agreed to their settlement.

Class 12 English Important Questions: A Thing Of Beauty

Question 1.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2000)
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching:

1. What are the flowery bands that bind us to the earth?
2. What message do the above lines convey?

Answer:
1. The flowery band that binds us to earth is beauty in one shape or the other. It removes all sufferings and sorrow that covers our mind and spirit. There is disappointment and dejection all around but the presence of some objects of beauty removes this sadness from our hearts.
2. There are many things that bring us troubles and sufferings. The message conveyed in these lines is that the natural beauty of objects around us takes away the suffering from our sorrowful hearts.
Some beautiful shape or any object of beauty removes the pall of gloom from our mind and spirit.

Question 2.
According to Keats, what makes man love life in spite of all its problems and miseries? (All India 2000)
Answer:
In spite of all the problems and miseries that make man’s life gloomy and cause him suffering and pain, he does not cease to love life because a thing of beauty removes all the sadness that covers his spirit. The beautiful things of nature make life sweet and happy.

Question 3.
What image does Keats use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Keats uses the image of a perennial fountain that constantly pours forth bounties on the earth in the form of an immortal drink from the heavens into our hearts. The beauty of the sun, the moon, the trees, the daffodils and clear rivers are reflections of the beautiful bounties God has blessed us with.

Question 4.
What makes human beings love life inspite of troubles and sufferings? (All India 2010)
Answer:
It is the occasional phases of joy and happiness that make life beautiful and make human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings. Natural beauty in its various forms, like the clear rivers, the gurgling brooks and forest vegetation, motivates us to live life and moves away the pall from our dark spirits.

Question 5.
Mention any two ‘things of beauty’ that Keats has described in his poem. How do they make us joyful? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
According to Keats every small or big thing of nature is a thing of beauty and a source of pleasure. The sun, the moon, the trees and daffodil flowers are all things of beauty. So are the small streams with clear water, mass of ferns and the blooming musk roses.

Question 6.
Mention any two things which, according to Keats, give us pain and suffering. (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
According to Keats man suffers from pain and suffering due to the inhuman dearth of noble natures on earth and due to the inhuman and hostile attitude that makes our days sad and darkens our ways with distress and wretchedness.

Question 7.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness; but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet
breathing

1. List any tivo things of beauty mentioned above.
2. What does the phrase, ‘pass into nothingness’ mean?
3. What are the effects of beautiful things on man’s spirit?

Answer:
1. The things of beauty mentioned above include a quiet bower, peaceful sleep and quiet breathing.
2. The phrase ‘pass into nothingness’ means it will never cease to exist but will continue to have a lasting impression.

3. Beautiful things leave a lasting impression on man’s spirit. They give him great joy and happiness and also help him to gain inner peace and calm.

Question 8.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2011)
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching:

1. What are the flowery bands that bind us to the earth?
2. What message do the above lines convey?

Answer:
1. The flowery band that binds us to earth is beauty in one shape or the other. It removes all sufferings and sorrow that covers our mind and spirit. There is disappointment and dejection all around but the presence of some objects of beauty removes this sadness from our hearts.
2. There are many things that bring us troubles and sufferings. The message conveyed in these lines is that the natural beauty of objects around us takes away the suffering from our sorrowful hearts.

Some beautiful shape or any object of beauty removes the pall of gloom from our mind and spirit.

Question 9.
Why and how is grandeur associated with the mighty dead? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Grandeur is associated with the mighty dead because of their grand deeds and achieve-ments. Their achievements make their lives extraordinary. Therefore, the grandeur of the mighty dead is a thing of beauty that is a source of inspiration for other.

Question 10.
What is the message of the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’? (All India 2011)
Answer:
John Keats was a worshipper of beauty and he saw it as an everlasting source of joy and happiness. Through his poem he conveys that a thing of beauty removes the pall of sadness and sorrow and gives us joy and pleasure. The beauty of a thing goes on increasing and never passes into nothingness.

Question 11.
How is a thing of beauty a joy forever? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
A thing of beauty is a joy forever because it gives us eternal and everlasting happiness and leaves such an impact in our mind that we are able to relive the wonderful feeling we get from it each time we think about it. It never fades into nothingness, in fact its loveliness increases with each passing moment.

Question 12.
Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’? (All India 2012)
Answer:
Grandeur is associated with the mighty dead because of their grand deeds and achieve-ments. Their achievements make their lives extraordinary. Therefore, the grandeur of the mighty dead is a thing of beauty that is a source of inspiration for other.

Question 13.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings? (All India 2012)
Answer:
It is the occasional phases of joy and happiness that make life beautiful and make human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings. Natural beauty in its various forms, like the clear rivers, the gurgling brooks and forest vegetation, motivates us to live life and moves away the pall from our dark spirits.

Question 14.
Describe any three things of beauty mentioned in the poem, ‘A Thing of Beauty’. (All India 2012)
Answer:
The poet sees beauty in various natural things. He sees simple and scenic beauty in the image of the sun, the moon, the trees, the sheep, the green pastures and the clear water of the small streams. All these things of beauty are a constant source of joy for us.

Question 15.
Why does a thing of beauty never pass into nothingness? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
The joy provided by a thing of beauty is ever-lasting. It leaves an indelible imprint on our mind. Its loveliness never fades away and so it does not pass into nothingness. It increases manifold each time we think about it and thus we are forever able to relive the joyful experience.

Question 16.
Mention any two things of beauty that Keats talks of in his poem and explain how they influence us. (Comptt. All India 2012)
Answer:
The two things of beauty that influence us are the lushgreen surroundings of meadows and pastures that provide life to all living beings and the simple lambs and sheep that Keats envisions as the embodiments of serene and divine beauty.

Question 17.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2013)
A flowery band to bind us to the Earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching:

1. What are we doing everyday?
2. Which evil things do we possess and suffer from?
3. What are the circumstances that contribute towards making humans unhappy and disillusioned with life?

Answer:
1. Every day we are wreathing a flowery band which binds us to the earth and enables us to live life despite the dejection that surrounds us. We are looking for lovely things around us and establishing a close bond with the earth and nature.
2. We suffer from selfishness and self-centredness due to which there is dearth of noble souls on earth.
3. Man becomes unhappy and disillusioned because he suffers from pain and hopelessness at various junctures in life. Also the lack of nobility in human beings and gloomy days make him unhappy.

Question 18.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2013)
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth Of noble natures,

1. What is ‘morrow’?
2. Why do we need ‘a flowery band’?
3. What is inhuman in life?

Answer:
1. ‘Morrow’ means the next day.
2. Everyday we are wreathing a flowery band because it binds us to earth and makes us live our life despite the dejection that surrounds us.
3. Man’s self-centred nature and his inability to rise above pettiness is inhuman in life.

Question 19.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal? (All India 2013)
Answer:
Keats considers beauty, in all its forms, which is God’s greatest gift to man as an endless fountain of immortal drink. He calls it immortal because the beauty bestowed by God is everlasting and perennial and men can bask in its glory forever.

Question 20.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits? How is it removed? (All India 2013)
Answer:
According to Keats, suffering and pain caused by man’s malice and his evil ways spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits. Man lacks noble qualities and his hostile and inhuman nature makes the world gloomy. This can be removed by some shape of beauty that is a source of constant joy.

Class 12 English Important Questions: Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Question 1.
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Delhi 2009)
Answer:
The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity. Gallant and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance or obstruction.

Question 2.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2010)
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

1. How are aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
2. Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
3. Why are they not afraid of the men?

Answer:
1. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are described as powerful, strong and fearless.
2. The tigers are inhabitants of the dense green forests so they are described as dwellers of a world of green.
3. Their courage and fearlessness gives them a confidence due to which they are not afraid of men.

Question 4.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (All India 2010)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers in a panel out of wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing, proudly and fearlessly. To express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous tigers who will survive long after her death but her own longing for freedom will remain unfulfilled.

Question 5.
How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal? (All India 2010)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has created shining topaz yellow- coloured tigers who are denizens of a dense, green forest. They are fierce, unafraid and fearless and pace in ‘sleek’ and ‘chivalric’ certainty.

Question 6.
Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering through her wool? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She lives a life of total domination and constant fear. So she feels nervous and terrified that the hands shake and flutter through her wool as she sits down to knit.

Question 7.
Describe the contrast between Aunt Jennifer ‘ and her creation, the tigers. (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is totally victimised and suffers from oppression by her male counterpart. So she creates an alternate world of freedom in her art. The tigers she creates go on prancing menacingly, exhibiting their pride and fearlessness of any social group or gender conflicts.

Question 8.
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitude? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world. They live in the forests where they are free from constraints. ‘Chivalric’ means they are brave and fearless creatures. This helps us to understand that bravery and fearlessness are the basic nature of the tigers.

Question 9.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? (All India 2011)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have. The tigers were free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek, submissive and without any identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident tigers she had created.

Question 10.
What do the symbols, ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:
The ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for freedom. The ‘fingers’ are symbolic of the nervousness and fear experienced by Aunt Jennifer and the ‘ring’ symbolises a binding marriage that is full of oppression and curtails one’s freedom.

Question 11.
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer:
The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity. Gallant and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance or obstruction.

Question 12.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2012)
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

1. Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?
2. Why are They’ not afraid of men?

Answer:
1. ‘They’ refers to the tigers that Aunt Jennifer has knitted on the panel. They are prancing jerkily in the forest (across a screen).
2. The tigers are not afraid of men because they are gallant and fearless creatures who are undeterred by any obstacles or hindrances and thus are not afraid of the men.

Question 13.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 14.
How do the words, “denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt Jennifer’s tigers? (All India 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 15.
What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her unhappy married life. It is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had suppressed her and made her a nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that she had lost her identity.

Question 16.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers in a panel out of wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing, proudly and fearlessly. To express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous tigers who will survive long after her death but her own longing for freedom will remain unfulfilled.

Question 17.
What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband? (All India 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her unhappy married life. It is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had suppressed her and made her a nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that she had lost her identity.

Question 18.
Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’ tigers? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 19.
What is the meaning of the phrase, ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her fingers as she has been a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She has been so physically and mentally trapped for so many years that she lives in a perpetual state of mental fear which she has never been able to overcome.

Question 20.
What are the difficulties that aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her married life. She led a terrifying and oppressed life wherein she had never been free but a helpless victim of male chauvinism. Dominated and terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled for an existence within the deep conflicts of slavery.

Class 12 English Important Questions: Should Wizard Hit Mommy?

Question 1.
How did the wizard help Roger Skunk? (All India 2009)
Answer:
The wizard asked Roger Skunk what he wanted to smell like. Roger said he wanted to smell like roses. The wizard took his magic wand and chanted a spell and his whole house was full of the smell of roses. Roger also smelt of roses and in this way the wizard helped him by making him get rid of his bad smell.

Question 2.
How did Jo want the story of Roger Skunk to end? (All India 2009)
Answer:
In the original story Roger’s mommy hits the wizard on the head with an umbrella. So the wizard makes Roger smell bad again. Jo wants the story to end the other way round. She wants the wizard to hit on the head of ‘stupid’ mommy. She holds Roger’s ‘stupid’ mother responsible for making Roger smell bad again and so she wants her to be punished.

Question 3.
Why did Jo think Roger Skunk was better off with the new smell? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Jo thought Roger Skunk was much better off with the new smell because of which he had been able to find so many friends and played with them happily. For her Roger Skunk’s story should have ended on a happy note with his pleasant smell because of which he was accepted by the other creatures as their friend.

Question 4.
Why was Roger Skunk’s mummy angry with him? What did she finally tell him? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Roger Skunk’s mummy was angry with him because she did not like her son smelling of roses. Roger was a skunk and so he must smell like one. She did not care for the fact that all the other animals kept away from him because he smelled badly. She decided to take him back to that ‘awful’ wizard so that he could get back his old smell.

Question 5.
How did Jo want the wizard to behave when mommy Skunk approached him? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Jo does not approve of the idea that Skunk’s mother should hit the wizard on his head. She wants infact the wizard to spank stupid mommy when she approaches him as she does not let her son have a new and pleasant smell so that he could befriend the other creatures.

Question 6.
Why did Roger Skunk visit the owl? What did the owl advise him? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Roger Skunk visited the owl who was a wise creature to tell him about his pathetic problem and seek his advise on how he could solve it. The wise owl ruminates and advises the Skunk to consult the wizard who was sure to help him overcome his problem.

Question 7.
How did Roger Skunk pay the wizard? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
The wizard demands seven pennies as fee to make Roger Skunk smell like roses. Skunk has only four pennies. The wizard tells him how and where to find the rest of the three pennies. Roger follows the wizards instructions and finds the three pennies in the magic well and pays the wizard the full amount.

Question 8.
What part of the story did Jack himself enjoy the most and why? (Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Jack enjoyed narrating the part of the story where Roger goes to the Wizard’s house. He imitated the Wizard’s voice by scrunching up his face and somehow whining through his eyes. He felt being an old man suited him. He enjoyed the part where he mixed his own childhood humiliations and experiences with the narration of the story.

Question 9.
How does Jo want the story to end and why? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:
Jo is a child and her perspective is rather different from that of her father. She lives in an idealised world where beauty and love are the supreme rulers. So, she wants her father to change the end of the story. She wants that the wizard must take his magic wand and hit Roger’s mummy. Roger’s mother is evil for Jo as she made the wizard make Roger smell bad again. So, she feels the “stupid mommy” must be punished.

Question 10.
How did the Wizard help Roger Skunk? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
The wizard asked Roger Skunk what he wanted to smell like. Roger said he wanted to smell like roses. The wizard took his magic wand and chanted a spell and his whole house was full of the smell of roses. Now, Roger smelt of roses and in this way the wizard helped him by making him get rid of his bad smell.

Question 11.
How does Jo want the story to end? (All India 2012)
Answer:
A child’s perspective is different from an adult’s perspective. For Jo, Roger Skunk’s mother is wicked and stupid and she feels rather annoyed with her for making Roger smell bad again. She wanted a happy ending to the story and so she insists that her father should tell her the story where the wizard should hit mommy in the end.

Question 12.
Why did Roger Skunk go in search of the wizard? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Everybody made fun of Roger Skunk because he gave out a bad smell. He was upset about this so he met the old owl who advised him to go to the wizard, who would help him and give him a good smell.

Question 13.
What did Jo want the wizard to do when Mommy Skunk approached him? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Jo wanted that when Mommy Skunk approached the wizard he should take the magic wand and hit mommy over her head, instead of the mommy taking the umbrella and hitting the wizard over his head.

Question 14.
Why does Jo insist that her father should tell her the story with a different ending? (All India 2013)
Answer:
A child’s perspective is different from an adult’s perspective. For Jo, Roger Skunk’s mother is wicked and stupid and she feels rather annoyed with her for making Roger smell bad again. She wanted a happy ending to the story and so she insists that her father should tell her the story where the wizard i should hit mommy in the end.

Question 15.
The same situation can be viewed through two different perspectives. How does “Should Wizard Hit Mommy?” Establish this point through the views of Jack and Jo? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Adults are mature, experienced and have a practical approach. Their responses are tutored and their actions reflect their thoughts. But children are spontaneous with natural, untutored responses. Jo, a four-year old child, prefers to live in her world of dreams and fantasies. She would like to wreak vengeance on Skunk’s mother and is annoyed because her father refuses to accept her suggestion. The father has a mature perspective and so he views things beyond the ‘face-value’ and delves into the philosophical and moralistic aspect of the entire situation. The wizard, according to him, had interfered with nature and so deserved to be punished. Jo completely disagrees with her father. For her the baby Skunk was right and it made perfect sense if the wizard hit the ‘stupid’ mommy.

Question 16.
Why did Roger Skunk want to change? (Comptt. All India 2013)
Answer:
Roger Skunk smelled so bad that none of the other creatures in woodland would play with him. Whenever he went out to play all the other tiny animals would cry and run away and Roger would stand there all alone and cry. So he wanted to change.

Question 17.
How was the Skunk’s story different from the other stories narrated by Jack? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Jo had never opposed the ending of any other story narrated by Jack. She had never challenged her father’s authority and never interrupted his narration earlier. Through this story, Jack wanted to prove that parents always know what is right, but Jo entirely disapproved of the ending of the Skunk’s story.

Question 18.
Why did Roger Skunk go to see the old owl? (All India 2014)
Answer:
Roger Skunk was ignored by his friends because he smelled awful. None of the other little woodland creatures would play with him. So he went to the wise old owl to seek a solution for his problem so that he would be accepted by his friends.

Question 19.
How does Jo want the story to end? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer:
A child’s perspective is different from an adult’s perspective. For Jo, Roger Skunk’s mother is wicked and stupid and she feels rather annoyed with her for making Roger smell bad again. She wanted a happy ending to the story and so she insists that her father should tell her the story where the wizard should hit mommy in the end.

Question 20.
Why does Jack insist that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother? (Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Jack insisted that it was the wizard that was hit and not the mother because he wanted to prove a point to Jo that the little Skunk loved his mother more than he loved all the other little animals and his mother knew what was right for him.

Class 12 English Important Questions: On The Face Of It

Question 1.
What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Derry suffers from a terrible complex. But his meeting with Mr. Lamb is a turning point in his life. He gives confidence to Derry and encourages him to develop a positive attitude towards life. Derry’s life now has a new meaning and purpose and for this all the credit goes to Mr. Lamb’s motivation and words of encouragement.

Question 2.
What did Derry’s mother think of Mr. Lamb? (All India 2009)
Answer:
Derry’s mother did not think very highly of Mr. Lamb and claimed to have heard not really good things about him. She had been told and warned by people about Mr. Lamb and so she tells Derry not to go back to him. She also tried to hold him back but he does go back to Mr. Lamb.

Question 3.
What consolation did people give when they saw his acid burnt face? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer:
Derry’s face was burnt by acid on one side. When people saw Derry’s acid burnt face they tried to console him by telling him fairy tales. They said that it was not important what he looked like. Derry knew that people lied and showed sympathy only to comfort him and that he would not change and would continue to look like a ‘monstrous beast’.

Question 4.
Mr. Lamb told Derry the story of a man who hid himself in his room. Why did the man do so and with what result? (Comptt. All India 2010)
Answer:
Mr. Lamb told Derry the incident of a timid man who hid himself in his room and refused to come out lest he should meet some fatal accident. But, ironically, he died in his room itself because a picture hanging on the wall fell off it, landed on his head and killed him.

Question 5.
Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open? (All India 2011)
Answer:
Mr. Lamb always keeps his gate open because he does not mind strangers entering his house, He is an extremely social person and is ever ready to welcome anyone who enters his garden.

Question 6.
How does Mr. Lamb keep himself busy when it is a bit cool? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
When it gets a bit cool Mr. Lamb pulls down the ripe crab apples from the trees with the help of a ladder and a stick. He then makes jelly from them as that is a good time of the year to pick and make jelly out of orange and golden crab apples.

Question 7.
What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Lamb? (All India 2012)
Answer:
Derry thinks that the old man. Mr. Lamb, is peculiar and says peculiar things. Derry notices that although Mr. Lamb talks about his friends he has not seen anyone visiting the old man, who lives all by himself. Even when he asks Mr. Lamb to name his friends, Mr. Lamb fails to give him any name. Mr. Lamb refuses to admit his loneliness. Also he asks Derry questions he does not understand. There are no curtains at the windows in his house. He likes the light and darkness and hears the wind with the window open.

 

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