Flamingo (Poetry)

My Mother at Scan the QR Code and get instant

Sixty-Six access to Video Lecture of this Section

Fastrack REVISICN
The poetes is Master Card
Cochin.
travelling back in a car from her pare
Literary Devices Used
Simile: Asimile is the comparison between two different objects by
Her old mother also
accompanying to see her off at the airport.
The poetess notices that using the word 'like' or 'as'.

Her face has a dull, she was dozing with her mouth Examples: her face ashen like that of a corpse
colourless appearance and open.
corpse. reminds her of a
wan, pale as a late winter moon
Thought is very painful; realises she is now an Repetition: When a single word, phrase, line or sometimes even
be nearing death. old woman and could the whole stanza is repeated to create a musical effect or to
Turns to look at the racing green emphasise a point to attract the reader's attention or to impart
running out of their homes. trees outside; sees unity to a piece.
happy children
Awelcome change from the gloomy thoughts Example:I did was smile and smile and smile
Reaches the airport, after the that grip her. The repeated use of the word 'smile' indicates the long artificial,
again. security check looks at the mother fake smile of the poetess. She uses to hide her inner pain.
Sees her pale and ageing face; is Personification: When an inanimate thing orobject is personified,
the
reminded of the winter moon with
all vitality and brightness gone. it is called personification.
Feels pained at being reminded of a childhood Example: young trees sprinting
been scared of losing her mother fear - has always
when she was a child).
one day, (as she lost her
father Metaphor: Ametaphor is an implied simile i.e., when two things are
compared without using "like' or 'as'.
Does not want to show her
agony and fear to her mother now. Example: merry children spilling out of their homes.
Tells her that she would see
her soon and bids her good bye with a Images and Symbols: Words used in such
bright smile on her face. are a way as to rorm an
image of the scene.
Theme
The poem highlights the Examples: doze, open mouthed
complexities of human relationships. Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes-are
The poetess Kamala Das explores the
pain and agony of her aged
mother. She is forced by circumstance to leave her sick mother symbols of youth, vitality, life and growth.
alone, though she is deeply pained at the moment. This is the irony Late winter's moon-symbolises lack of energy and death.
of human relationships. The poem also brings tolight the fact that Special Feature of the Poem: The entire poem is composed ina
ageing is an inevitable process. No one can escape ageing, decay single sentence, punctuated only by commas which indicates that a
and ultimate end. single thought runs from the beginning to the end.

Extract BASED QUESTIONS

Directions: Read the extracts given below and answer the questions (c) How does the poet describe her mother?
that follow by choosing the best option. ) She was young and smart.
L Driving from my parent's home to Cochin last Friday Gi) She was beautiful.
morning,I saw my mother, beside me, doze, open mouthed, (i) She looked old and sick.
her face ashen like that of a corpse and realised with pain (iv) None of the above
that she was as old as she looked but soon put that thought
(d) Who does 'she' refer to in the second last line of the
away stanza?
(a) Where was the poet coming from? Where was she
) Poet Kamala Das
going? (i) Poet's mother
) Delhi
i) Madras
(i) The lady at the airport security check
From her parent's home iv) None of the above
ii)
(iv) Cochin
Ans. (a) (i) (b) (Gi); () (Gi);: () (i).
2. and looked but soon put that thought away and looked out
(b) Where was the poet's mother?
at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children
) At Cochin airport i) In Madras spilling out of
ii) In the car At her home
(iv) their homes,
 84 MASTERMND CHAPTERWISE QUESTION BANK
(a) What was the poet looking' and what did she notice? look at her mother again?
() Why did the poet something to him.
) Her mother was talking to herself. She wanted to say
(i) Her mother was reading a book.
() her good bye.
1) She wanted to wave
herself about the well-beino
(ii) Her mother was dozing off. () She wanted to reassure eing
(iv) None of the above of her mother.
(b) What thought did the poet try to drive away? (v) None of the above
) The thought of having a fight with her mother used in this stanza.
(d) Name the figure of speech (i) Simile
i) The thought of her children () Metaphor
(i) The thought of losing her mother (in) Personification (iv) None of these
(iv) None of the above Ans.(a) (i): (b) (i): (¢) (n): (d) (iv).
(c) Why did the poet start "looking out'? What does this 4. and felt that old
gesture suggest? familiar ache my childhood's
fear
) She wanted to have a look outside. but all I said was, see you soon,
Amma,
(i) She wanted to enjoy the outward view. all I did was smile and smile and smile.
ii) She wanted to divert her mind. feel?
(a) What familiar ache' does the poet
(iv) None of the above mother
Havinga fight with her
()
(d) What did the poet see from the window of the car?
) A Long line of shops
(i) Losing her mother
i) Mother's illness and old age
(i) Factories with chimneys None of the above
Gii) Farmers working in their farms (iv)
(b) What could've been the poet's childhood fear?
(iv) Running trees and merry children () Loss of her childhood toys
Ans.(a) (Gi): (b) (i): (G) (Gi).: (G) (iv).
3. but after the airport's
(i) Loss of her old friends
(i) Loss of her mother
security check standing a few yards (iv) None of the above
away,I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter's moon (c) Why didn't the poet share her thoughts with her
(a) Where was the poet standing? mother?
() Outside the airport ) She didn't want to share her secret.
(i) She had no faith on her mother.
(i) At Cochin airport
(ii) By the side of her mother (ii) She didn't want to hurt her mother.
(iv) None of the above (v) None of the above
(b) Whom does 'her' refer to? (d) Do you find any figure of speech used in the last line?
(i) The poet Name it.
(i) Poet's mother (6) Personification (i) Metaphor
(ii) The girl on reception counter (ii) Aliteration (iv) Simile
iv) The security check officer Ans. (a) (Gi): (6) (im): () (Gi): (d)
(Gi)
Multiple CHOICE QUESTIONS
Q1 Who is the poet of this poem? Q6. Whose house the poet was leaving?
a. John Keats b. Rudyard Kipling a. Her friend's house
c.William Wordsworth d. Kamala Das b. In-law's house
Ans. (d) Kamala Das c. Her husband's house
02. What is her work known for? d. Her parents' house
a. For its originality, versatility and flavour of the soil Ans. (d) Her parents house
b. For its popularity
C. For its style Q7. What was the mother's mood?
d. For the expressions used a. Sad b. Happy
Ans. (a) For its originality, versatility and flavour of the soil C. Excited d. None of these
03. What was the day when Kamala Das was going? Ans. (a) Sad
a. Monday b. Wednesday Q8. What did the poet see outside the window?
C. Thursday d. Friday a. Large buildings
Ans. (d) Friday
b. Factories with smoke
4. Name the vehicle she was going by: rising from chimneys
a. motorcycle rickshaw
c.Youngtrees
d. None of the above
C. auto rickshaw car
Ans. (d) car Ans. (c) Young trees
Q5. Who was accompanying herto the airport? Q9. How far was the poet standing away from her mother?
a. Her father b. Her mother a. A few miles b. A few kilometres
C.Herdaughter d. None of these C. A few yards d. A few metres
Ans. (6) Her mother Ans. (c) Afew yards
 85
English Core Class 12 | Term-1|
a10, What is the kind
of pain and ache that the
a. Losing her mother poet feels? Q21. Who lives at Cochin?
b. Heart attack a. Poet b. Her parents
c. Headache and b. d. None of then
c.Both a.
d. Children screaming at her Ans. (a) Poet
Ans. (a) LoSing her mother
;Q22. What does'ashen face'signify?
n1l. In which languages has kamala Das written stories and a. Colour of face
novels? b. Face is covered with ash
a. English and Tamil c. Pale and lifeless face of poet's mother
b. English and Hindi
C. English and Urdu d. d. To show ugly face
Ans. (d) English and Malayalam English and Malayalam Pale and lifeless face of poet's mother
Ans. (c)
n12. Name the poetic devices used in the Q23. What doesthe poet notice outside the car?
a. Metaphor poem. a. Sprinting trees and running children
b. Simile
C. Aliteration d. All of these b. Schools and roads
Ans. (d) All of these Other vehicles
d. Many people on the road
013. What is the significance of the title My Mother at Sixty-Six?
a. Poet's fear of
losing her old mother Ans. (a) Sprinting trees and running children
b. Poet's fear of moving fast
024. What do the parting words"See you soon Amma"signify?
c. Poet's inability to express her a. Her carelessness
d. All of the above
feelings b. Her optimistic farewell full of cheerfulness
Ans. (a) Poet's fear of losing her old mother c. She bids goodbye like this
014. Which poetic device is used in Trees sprinting? d. She is in a hurry
a. Metaphor b. Simile Ans. (b) Her optimistic farewell full of cheerfulness
c. Alliteration d. Personification 25. What does the poet's smile signifyin the poem?
Ans. (d) Personification a. Her assurance to mother and helplessness inside
b. She has a responsibility
015. What is the distinctive feature of the poem?
C. She has to do her duty first
a. Its metaphors
b. Simile used
d. She is a loving daughter
C. Alliteration used (a) Her assurance to mother and helplessness inside
Ans.
d. Narrative style using a single sentence in a set of 14 lines Q26. What is the universality of the theme of the poem?
a. Death is a truth b. Life is a reality
Ans. (d) Narrative style using a single sentence in a set of 14 Lines
C.Everyone is happy d. To show old age
Q16. What does this narrative style ofthe poem signify? Ans. (a) Death is a truth
a. Differing thoughts looked at her mother?
b. Many thoughts
Q27. What worried the poet when she
b. Her broken arm
a. Her face
c. Contrasting thoughts C. Her loving words d. Her declining age
d. A single thread of thought mixed with harsh realities Ans. (d) Her declining age
realities
Ans. (d) A single thread of thought mixed with harsh Q28. Why did the poet look at her mother again?
Q17. What is the main idea of the poem? a. Because she was busy
b. Discolouration of skin
a. Painful old age b. Because she was going away
cCarelessness of a daughter d. Lack of strength C.Because she wanted to stay back
Ans. (a) Painful old age d. Because of fear and insecurity
Q18. What did the poet realize with pain? Ans. (d) Because of fear and insecurity
a. Her mother's appearance like a corpse Q 29. Why has the poet used the imagery of merry children spilling
b. She is inconsiderate out of their homes?
c.Oldage is pleasant a. To show hope
d. She has duties b. To show happiness
like a corpse C. To show youthfulness of her age
Ans. (a) Her mother's appearance
d. To show hope and happiness in children
019. What is the familiar ache? Ans. (d) To show hope and happiness in children
her mother
a. Her childhood fear of losing
Q30. Which rhyming scheme is used in the poem?
b. Her mother's weak health
a. Coupled rhyme b. Mono rhyme
c. Her duties d. Free verse
c. Alternate rhyme
d. Her helplessness
her mother Ans. (d) Free verse
Ans.(a) Her childhood fear of losing
20. What do the running trees signify? Q31 Quote an example of a simile used in the poem.
a. Familiar ache
a. Fast moving appearance b. Like that of a corpse
b. Speed of the moving car from childhood to old age C.Wanand pale
in human life
C.Fast moving change d. The merry children
d. None of the above old age Ans. (b) Like that of a corpse
from childhood to
in human life
ns. (c) Fast moving change
 86 MASTERMIND CHAPTERWISE QUESTION BANK
32. Quote an example of a metaphor used soon Amma'?
in the poem. 'see you
Q41. Why did the poet say short period.
a. As a late winter's
moon for a
a. She was going
b. Trees sprinting, the
merry children spilling out of their b. Just out of formality.
homes c. To comfort
her mother
C. Driving from
my parent's home above
d. None of the above d. None of the
mother.
Ans. (c) To comfort her
Ans. (D)Trees sprinting. the merry children
homes
spilling out of their 042. What does the narratve " the poem
Q33. Quote an highlight?
example of alliteration used in the poem. a. Poet's feelings
b. Poet's insecurities
a. Like ashen
C. poet's thoughts
d. poet's intertwining thoughts
b. Smile, smile and smile
c. Friday morning Ans. (d) poet'sintertwiningthoughts
around?
What does the poem revolve
d. None of the above Q43. b. Poet's love for her mother
a. Poet's fears
Ans. (d) None of the above d. All of these
c. Theme of old age
Q34. Quote an example of personification used in the poem. Ans. (d) All of these
a. Sprinting trees Q44. What question arises from the complexíity of the situation in
b. Home to Cochin
the poem?
C. Airport's security check
a. What to do in old age
d. All of the above
b. How to take care of one's skin
Ans. (a) Sprinting trees
C. How to drive
Q 35. Why does the poet feel scared? d. How to strike a balance between duties and
a. Because of her duties and commitments responsibilities
b. Because of her job Ans. (d) How to strike a balance between duties and

c.Because of her children responsibilities

d. Because of her mother's deteriorating health Q45. How is the imagery of 'young trees and merry children' a
Ans. (d) Because of her mother's deteriorating health contrast to the mother?
a. Mother is old in comparison to the trees and children
Q 36. Why does the poet feel parted, upset and sad?
b. Mother is like ash while the trees are green and children
a. Because of her fears
are happy
b. Because she was getting late
C. Like spring and autumn season
c. Fear of missing her flight
d. Mother's health-hopelessness and trees and merry
d. Because of her duty towards mother and her own needs children - youthfulness and hope
Ans. (d) Because of her duty towards mother and her own Ans. (d) Mother's health-hopelessness and trees and merry
needs
children youthfulness and hope
Q37. Why did the poet smile' while leaving?
046. What does the expression smile,smile and smile signify?
a. She was very happy
a. Poet was going home and was elated
b. To cover her pain, she smiled.
b. Poet was happy
c.Because her mother was also smiling
C. Poet was hopeless
d. None of the above d. Poet's desperate efforts to hide her fears
Ans. (b) To cover her pain, she smiled.
Ans. (d) Poet's desperate efforts to hide her fears
38. What is the tone of the poem towards the end?
a. Sad
47. What was the expression of the
poet's face while parting
from her mother?
b. Hopeless
a. Satirical b. Funny
C. Cheerful
c.Sad d. Smiling
d. Resignation with acceptance
Ans. (d) Smiling
Ans. (c) Cheerful
Q39. What did the poet say while leaving? 48. What was the poet's childhood fear?
a. Takecare Amma b. Eat well Amma a.
Parting from her husband
b. Parting from her friends
C. See you soon Amma d. None of these
Ans. () See you soon Amma c.Partingfrom her siblings
d. Losing her mother
Q40. What did she do while leaving?
Ans. (d) Losing her mother
a. Waved to mother
b. Blew a flying kiss to mother Q49. What pangs did she feel when she looked at her mother?
a. Pangs of headache
. Smiled to mother b. Pangs of stomachache
d. All of the above c.Pangs of knee pain d. Pangs of heartache
Ans. () Smiled to mother Ans. (d) Pangs of heartache
AnElementary School Classroom in aSlum
Fastrack REVISICN
Master Card children of the
Dortrayal of an elementary school attitude of the government and the capitalists. The
the basic needs of
Aren there are hardly like the classroom in slum-the chil-
a slum who are undernourished, are deprived of
carefree, fun
children of an elementary school. loving and enthusiastic life and education.
The poet Stephen Spender makes a frantic appeal to the educated and afflu-
pictures joyless, pale children who are ent sections of society to better the lot of the slum children whose
down by many burdens and lead a
too unhealthy and bogged only panacea is education. Condemned as they are to a life-long
They suffer from miserable life. poverty, ignominy, want and dirt, these children must be provided
genetic disorders and stunted
Imagery of despair and disease. growth. opportunities to experience the beauty and joy of life and learning.

End of the stanza-shift From bleak Literary Devices Used

even in this bleak world. picture to a little spark of hope
simile
A young and sweet boy at least has a dream Like Rootless Weeds: The use of this expression suggests
to be away from this
dull classroom and play games like a that the children lack proper nutrition like the unwanted
squirrel.
The poet is cynical of the way donations are grass.
slum children. 'bestowed' upon the Like Bottle Bits on Stones: The comparison describes the
shattered glasses of the spectacles that some slum children
Their social and economic reality is far
world of beautiful valleys and civilisation.removed
from the utopian have to wear. Another interpretation can be that the
slum children sitting on the slag heap look like the bits of
Their future is dark and dismal-no change is glasses shattered against a stone. Likewise their hopes and
physical, social or intellectual state. brought about in their
aspirations also lie shattered and neglected.
So all the donations can be called >Slums as Big as Doom: Slums where life is worse than death
a mere farce or a fraud perpetu
ated by the capitalists is like a living hell
They don't really mean to bring any transformation in the lives of
Like Catacombs: The slum children live in the dark and dingy
the underprivileged. slums which resemble the cemeteries called catacombs (the
The poet here reinforces what he has said earlier-he graves), windows of the rooms are like lids of catacombs.
is cynical Pun: Pun is a fiqure of speech which
about the tactics used by the capitalists. exploits
the different possiDE
meanings of a word.
The world of Shakespeare and maps showing foreign lands-not rel-
evant to the underprivileged people of the slum. slums as Big as Doom: The poet has referred toa 'civilised
dome
hiding all cities. When he compares the slums as big as doom, he
They are doomed to live in uncertainty and ignorance. They are des means the picture of the slum be as big as the 'dome' which sounds
tined to struggle in a restricted existence. like 'doom' which means death or hell.
The world presented to them by the capitalists only tends to
tempt Metaphor
them and build illusionary dreams.
Rat's Eyes: The metaphor suggests the comparison of the
Here the poet appeals to the people in power to take some meas-
boy's eyes with those of a rat. He is as timid as a rat searching
ures for the improvement of slum children. for food.
Otherwise a meeting wil breakout. Tree Room: The hiding place of the squirrel-a hollow in a tree
Slum children should be exposed to the green fields, blue sky and which, for the boy, is a place for fun and is in sharp contrast to
the golden sand of the sea beaches. the dull classroom.
They should be given opportunity to read books of knowledge so Future's Painted with a Fog: The metaphor of fog
suggests
that to dispel the darkness of ignorance from their lives. that as fog blurs the vision during winter due to lack of sun,
Theme the slum also blurs the future of the children living in it.
The poem centres around the miserable plight ofthe children of Lead Sky: The sky is usually blue but the sky for the slum
an elementary school classroom which is located in a slum. The gap dwellers is of lead colour due to the lack of sunlight, which is
between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' is widening with apathetic suggestive of hopelessness of the slum children.

Extract BASED QUESTIONS

Of twisted bones, reciting a father's
Directions: Read the extracts given belowand answer the questions gnarled disease,
His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class
that follow by choosing the best option.
One unnoted, sweet and young. His eyes live in a dream,
1 Far far from gusty waves these children's faces.
Of squirrel's game, in tree room, other than this.
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor:
(a) What does the poet compare the children's faces to?
The tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper
() Rats (i) Broken glass
seeming boy, with rat's eyes. The stunted, unlucky heir
(i) Rootless weeds (iv) None of these
 88 MASTERMIND CHAPTERwISE QUESTION BANK
bones and spectacles oe
by of
(b) How has the poet described the children's hair? Wear skins peeped through
() Well combed (i) Well cut steel stones.
bottle bits on
(ii) Unkempt (iv) None of these With mended glass, like slum.
are foggy
(c) Name the literary device in 'Paper seeming boy with All of their time
and space
doom.
rat's eyes. with slums as big as
So blot their maps wicked?
described a s
() Simile (i) Metaphor Shakespeare
(a) Why is
(ii) Oxymorn (iv) None of these
He is cruel to
the poor
(d) Who is 'reciting his lesson from his desk?
() l i t e r a t u r e show
a false picture to the
(i) His works of
school.
) The one unnoted elementary
people of
(i) The tall girl Shakespeare is a
liar
(ii)
(ii) The one with twisted bones Shakespeare is a cheat.

(iv) None of the above (iv)

a bad example?
Ans. (a) Gi): (b) (i): (c) Gi): (c) Gii). (b) Why is map
geography as their subject.
Children don't have
) match their world.
2. On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare's head, The pictures on map don't
(i)
Cloudless at dawn, civilised dome riding all cities. The map is illusionary.
(ii)
Belled, flowery, Tyrolese valley. Open-handed map (iv) Both (i) and (i)
Awarding the world its world. And yet, for these
() Pick the right meaning of'Slyly.
Children, these windows, not this map, their world, (i) Cunningly
) Lovingly None of these
Where all their future's painted with a fog, (ii) Forcefully (iv)
A narrow street sealed in with a lead sky in meaning to Put on' from the
(d) Find a word similar
Far far from rivers, capes, and stars of words. stanza above.
(a) What is meant by 'sour cream walls? (i) Steal
() Tempt
() Walls which are painted cream (iv) Wear
(ii) Turn
i) Walls which look bright Ans. (a) (i): (b) (iv): (c) (i): (d) (iv).
Gii) Walls which look unpleasant
(iv) None of the above 4. Unless, governor, inspector, visitor,
and these windowss
This map becomes their window
(b) What does 'Shakespeare's head' refer to? That shut upon their lives like catacombs,
() Head of Shakespearean school of literature
Break O break open till they break the
town
(i) The hairless head of Shakespeare and make their world
And show the children to green fields,
(ii) Picture of Shakespeare
Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues
(iv) None of the above
Run naked into books the white and green leaves open
(c) Explain awarding the world its world.
() The world awards its people for their contribution. History theirs whose language is the sun.
(ii) Award giving ceremony on world level (a) Name the poem from which this stanza has been taken.
(ii) Showing the picture of the world to the people of the ) Keeping quiet
world. (i) Aunt Jennifer's tigers
(iv) None of the above (ii) A thing of beauty
(d) Explain 'future's painted with fog (iv) An elementary school classroom in a slum
() There is no sunshine (b) Name the poet.
(i) They live in fog () Kamala Das (i) Stephen spender
(ii) Their future is uncertain (ii) Peblo Neruda (iv) John Keats
(iv) None of the above (c) Name the literary device used in like catacombs
Ans. (a) (Gil): (b) (i): (c) (i); () (i). (i) Metaphor (i) Simile
3. Surely, Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example, (ii) Personification (iv) None of these
With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal- (d) Who will show them green fields?
For lives that slyly turn in their cramped holes ) Teachers (i) Parents
From fog to endless night? On their slag heap, these (ii) People in power (iv) All of these
children Ans.(a) (iv): (b) (i): (c) (i): (d) (ii).

Multiple CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q1 Who has written the poem An Elementary School Classroom 2. What theme did the poet concentrate on in the poem?
a. Themes of social
in a Slum ? injustice and class inequalities
b. Theme of children and their
a. Rudyard Kipling b.Wordsworth C. Theme of insecurities happiness
c. Kamlanath d. Stephen Spender d. None of the above
Ans. (d) Stephen Spender Ans. (a) Themes of social injustice and class inequalities
 English Core Class 12 Term-1| 89
Q3. Where is the elementary school located? 14. What do the faces of children in the slum areas reflect?
a. Near the sea b. In the middle of the
C. In a slum area
city a. Happiness
d. None of these
b. Their aspirations
Ans. (c) In a slum area
c. Their energy
Q4. How does the poet describe the children? d. Sadness and lack of enthusiasm
a. Cute b. Well dressed Ans. (d) Sadness and lack of enthusiasm
c.Uncombedhair d. Innocent
Q15. Why is Shakespeare called wicked?
Ans.() Uncombed hair
a. He cheated the people.
Q5. What does the poet portray in the poem? b. He misguided the innocent people.
a. Young minds
C. He doesn't show the true picture of the slum dweller's ife.
b. Playfulness of the children
d. None of the above
.Questions of children Ans. (c) He doesn't show the true picture of the slum dwellers ife.
d. The plight of young children in the slums
Ans. (d) The plight of young children in the slums Q16. Why is the map referred to as a bad example?
Q6. What does the poet compare in the poem? a. It shows the darker side of the world.
a. The young and old b. It is meaningless for the children of elementary school
b. Generation gaps c. It is difficult for school children to understand.
C.Old age and childhood d. None of the above
d. Rich (haves) and poor children (have nots) Ans. (b) It is meaningless for the children of elementary school
Ans. (d) Rich (haves) and poor children (have nots) Q17. What is ironical about the wall hangings and donations in
07. Why is the colour of walls 'Sour cream'? the classroom?
a. School remained shut for long time. a. Set up in very clean environment
b. Walls have not been painted for a long time. b. Completely opposite to the needs of the children in the
c. The classroom has less ventilation. classroomn
d. None of the above c. Set up in happy environment
d. Set up in gloomy set up
Ans. (b) Wals have not been painted for a long time.
Ans. (b) Completely opposite to the needs of the children in the
Q8. What kind oflife do the children living in slums have? classroom
a. Full of love
Q18. What is the Tree Room in the poem?
b. Full of care and warmth A tree shaped room
c. Hopeless and full of struggle b. A room on a tree where squirrels play
d. All of the above C.A room on a tree where rats play
Ans.(c) Hopeless and full of struggle d. A room on a tree where pigeons play
Q9. What does the poet compare the colour of walls with? Ans. (b) A room on a tree where squirrels play
a. Rotten fruits b. Stale chapatis Q19. The tall girl with her head weighed down means The girl:
c. Rotten vegetables d Sour cream (NCERT)
a. is ill and exhausted
Ans. (b) Sour cream
b. has her head bent with shame
Q10. What are the poetic devices used in the poem? c. has untidy hair
a. Alliteration and simile d. None of the above
b. Metaphor and imagery Ans. (a) is ill and exhausted
c.Synecdoche, and irony
Q 20. How is the tall girl described?
d. All of the above
a. She is carrying a load on her head.
Ans. (d) All of the above
b. Her head is bowed down due to poverty.
Q. The paper-seeming boy with rat's eyes means. The boy is: c.She is slim andtall
(NCERT) d. None of the above
a. sly and secretive b. thin, hungry and weak Ans. (b) Her head is bowed down due to poverty.
cunpleasant looking d. None ofthese
Q21. The children's faces are compared to rootless weeds This
Ans. (b) thin, hungry and weak
means they: (NCERT)
Q12. What do the words "Their future is painted with fog" convey? a. are insecure b. are ill-fed
a. No love and care b. No warmth C. are wasters d. None of these
c. No hard work d. No hope of improvement Ans. (a) are insecure
Ans. (d) No hope of improvement skins
Q22. What does the poet mean by "These children wear
Q13. His eyes live in a dream, A squirrel's game, in the tree room peeped through by bones?
other than this means. The boy is: (NCERT) a. These children are the victims of malnutrition.
a. bull of hope in the future
b. They are very thin.
b. mentally ill
C. distracted from the lesson
c. They are very strong physically
d. None of the above
d. None of the above
Ans. (a) bull of hope in the future Ans. (a) These children are the victims of malnutrition.
 90 MASTERMND CHAPTERWISE QUESTION BANK
23. What do Catacombs signify? 31. What kind of look do
the faces and hair of the children give
a. Relevance of the map hanging on the wall of the classroom faces
a. Rich and beautiful
b. Confinement to the slums, the maps being irrelevant b. Bright, neat faces
c. Importance of the school C. Healthy appearances
and undone hair
d. Death d. Pale faces, scattered
Ans. (b) Confinement to the slums, the maps being irrelevant and undone hair
Ans. (d) Pale faces, scattered
2 4 . Why is the boy sitting at the back of the classroom, different Q32. His eyes live in a dream - what is nE e d

from others? a. Watching a movie

a. His eyes live in a dream b. Going abroad

b. He is innocent c.Eating ice cream
with games and open spaces
C. He is unnoted d. Dream of better times
with games and open spaces
d. He is young Ans. (d) Dream of better times
back of the dim class?
Ans. (a) His eyes live in a dream 0 33. Who was sitting at the
Q 25. The stunted, unlucky heir of twisted bones means a. A girl
b. An old man
The boy:
C. A teacher
a. has an inherited disability
d. A young boy
b. was short and bony
Ans. (d) A young boy
c. Both a. and b. has he inherited?
Q34. Who is the unlucky heir and what
d. none of the above from his mother
a. A fat boy, has inherited obesity
Ans. (a) has an inherited disability stunted growth from his
b. A short. thin boy. has inherited
Q 26. Why are the pictures and maps meaningless? family
a. They are fake and show a false thing C. An intelligent boy. has inherited intelligence
b. They are old and have faded away d. Thin boy with rat's eyes, has inherited a deformed body
c. They show vastness which is opposite to the world and from his father
Ans. (d) Thin boy with rat's eyes, has inherited a deformed body
needs of the children in the classroom
d. All of the above from his father
Ans. (c) They show vastness which is opposite to the world and: Q35. What isthe stunted boy reciting?
needs of the children in the classroom a. A happy song from his seat
b. A religious song in a group
Q 27. How can powerful people help the poor children?
C.A sad song from the front of the class
a. By fighting with the government
d. A lesson from his desk
b. By fighting with the powerful
Ans. (d) A lesson from his desk
C. By bridging gaps of inequalities and injustice
Q36. What does the colour of the classroom walls point out?
d. By fighting with the rich
a. Happy and poor state
Ans. () By bridging gaps of inequalities and injustice
b. Happy and rich state
Q 28. What does the poem describe? c. Poor condition of the slum
a. A classroom in a slum area d. None of the above
b. Social setup of India Ans. () Poor condition of the slum
c. Different mindsets
Q37. What does the expression 'Open handed map "show?
d. Beauty of the surroundings a. Power of the poor
Ans. (a) A classroom in a slum area b. The poor cannot access the world
29. "Far far from gusty waves these children's faces. c. The poor are powerless
Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pallor": what do d. Maps are open to a, they reveal everything
these words express? Ans. (d) Maps are open to all, they reveal everything
a. Poor state of the classroom Q38. 'Awarding the world its world' what do these words express
b. Poor plight of children's homes a. The world is ours
c. Poor plight of teachers b. The world is yours
d. Poor plight of the slum children c. The world belong to the
poor
Ans. (d) Poor plight of the slum children d. The world belongs to the rich
g30. What is the meaning of "The paper seeming boy, with rat ; Ans. (d) The world belongs to the rich
eyes? Q 39. In what sense are the slum children different?
a. Rich people a. Their 1Q
b. Rich children b. Their wisdom
their influence c. Their dresses
. Powerful people and
d. Because of no access to
d. Weak and malnutritioned boy hope and openness of the worla
Ans. (d) Because of no access to
Ans. (d) Weak and malnutritioned boy hope and openness of the world
 Term-1| 91
nWhat kind of future do the slum
040.
English Core Class 12
children have? the poem depict?
a. Very hopeful 46. What do the 'governor, Inspector, visitorin
c.Clear like water b.Bright
d. a. Higher officlals
Ans. (d) Hopeless and uncertainHopeless and uncertain b. Government officlals

04 What attracts the slum children? c.Political people

d. Powerful and influential people
a. The animals
Ans. (d) Powerful and infuentlal people
b. The movies lives in the
047. What have the windows done to the children's
c. Ice cream
beautiful things like ship, Sun
d. All poem?
a. Shut the doors
An6. (d) All beautiful things like b.Blockedthe passage
ship, Sun
What do the words' From fog to endless c.Clocked the sunlight
d. Have shut the children inside and blocked their growth
a. Bright light outside night' mean?
b. Bright future Ans. (d) Have shut the children inside and blocked their growth
c. Hopelessness 48. What other freedom the poet wants the slum children to
d. Dark and uncertain future of enjoy?
slum children from birth to
death a. Freedom of roaming
b. Freedom to spend money
Ans. (d) Dark and uncertain future of slum children from birth to C. Freedom to eat
death
d. Freedom of knowledge.wisdom and expression
43. Mention any two images used to explain the plight of the
Ans. (d) Freedom of knowledgewisdom and expression
slum children. the last line of
Q49. What is the symbolic significance of 'Sun' in
a. Open handed map
the poem?
b.From his desk a. Sunlight
c.Belled.flowery b. Light of knowledge through education
d. Foggy sums and bottle bits on stones c. Prosperity
Ans.(d) FoggV slums and bottle bits on stones d. None of the above
44. What blots the maps of the slum children? Ans. (6) Light of knowledge through education
a. Garbage Q50. What does the expression 'BreakO break open'suggest?
b. Blockage a. Barriers on the road
c. Stones in the streets b. Barriers of garbage heap
d. Dirty slums C. Barriers of dirty environment must be broken
Ans. (d) Dirty slums d. None of the above
045. What does the poet show through expressions 'so blot their Ans. (c) Barriers of dirty environment must be broken
maps with slums as big as doom? Q51. What does the poetwant?
a. His clot the street a. To send the children out of the slums
b. Enjoy the maps b. To send the children to America
C. Big maps c. To send the children to open fields
d. The slums spell doom for the poor d. To send the children to a beach
Ans. (d) The slums spell doom for the poor Ans. (a) To send the children out of the slums

Keeping Quiet
Fastrack REVISICN
Master Card Provide opportunity to people to absolve themselves from
to their the guilt of kiling so many.
The poet is addressing his fellow brethren and appeals
their mad rush for more Memory Pocket
reasoning, asking them to pause for awhile
Appease their conscience by wearing clean clothes
and more.
He requests them to keep quiet for a while: (metaphorically)
N o t use any language to communicate. Generate a feeling of brotherhood.
to draw attention. The poet clarifies that what he desires should not be
Not use any form of gestures
in the quietness. The moment confused with cowardice.
Share a of togetherness
sense
On the contrary he issues an ultimatum to warring agencies.
of quietness will give time for introspection.
from the human He is not ready to exchange anything with death.
Bring respite to the flora and fauna
If people can stop being obsessed with victory, conquering more
onslaught.
Give time to humans to assess their damage. and more.
92 MASTERMIND CHAPTERWISE QUESTION BANK
May be we will learn to understand ourselves better. to life and environment. Pablo Neruda emphasises the
May be we will be able to break that blanket of need of introspection through silence. Silence, he believes
sadness that
clouds our perspective.
creates an exotic moment, where one gets close to oneself
May be we will stop being a threat to ourselves. where one realises the evils of wars, a feeling of universal
May be we will learn from this earth that one can brotherhood prevails. The poem is an exercise for meditation
start
afresh-that life can spring from death. in complete stillness and silence when man can break the
Nature can Teach Lesson barriers of discrimination, hatred, violence and create an
The earth seems to be dead atmosphere of togetherness and selfjudgement.
during winters.
I n fact it is preparing for new life
which becomes apparent on Literary Devices Used
the on set of spring season.
Man while Alliteration: Alliteration is a figure of speech when one letter is
observing silence seems to be dead-but he is repeated in a single phrase or a sentence to create rhythm in the
introspecting and after he comes out of the introspection he
poem.
turns out to be a new human with a
totally changed approach
towards life. Examples:
We will
Theme
In the midst of
We would
growing materialism, man has become
Sudden strangeness
machine, without emotions, without
feelings. In the mad His hurt hands
pursuit of his selfish goals, he is causing irreparable
damage Wars with

Extract BASED QUESTIONS

Directions: Read the extracts given below and answer the Those who prepare green wars,
questions that follow by choosing the best option.
wars with gas, wars with fire,
L For once on the face of the Earth victory with no survivors,
let's not speak in any language,
would put on clean clothes
let's stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much. and walk about with their brothers
It would be an exotic moment in the shade, doing nothing.
without rush, without engines, (a) What is suggested by 'fishermen would not harm the
we would all be together
whales?
in a sudden strangeness.
() The fishermen would not disturb the whales in water.
(a) Why does the poet for bid all of us to speak?
) To reduce noise pollution (i) The people will not destroy wild animals and nature.
(i) To save energy (ii)The fishermen will stop their business of
fishing
(ii) To observe silence to introspect (v) None of the above
(iv) None of the above (b) What do you understand by the man gathering salt
(b) What does the phrase on the face of the Earth' suggest? would look at his hurt hands'?
) The entire globe
6) People will have time for their personal well being
(i) On the outer surface of earth
(i) The salt gatherer will put medicine on his wounded
ii) In front of the earth
hands.
(iv) None of the above
i) The salt gatherer will gather salt with gloves on.
() Name the poet:
(v) None of the above
) Stephen Spender
Gi) Pablo Neruda (c) Explain 'green wars.
(Gi) John Keats () Warriors wear green clothes
(iv) Adrienne Rich (i) They hold green flags during war
(d) Name the poem: (ii) Deforestation destruction of forests plant life
() Keeping Quiet (iv) All of the above
) A Road Side Stand
(d) How can brotherhood be restored according to the
ii) An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum
(iv) None of the above poet?
Ans. (a) (ii): (6) 6): (c) (i); (d) 6). () By wearing clean clothes
2. Fishermen in the cold sea () By winning in the war
would not harm whales (i) By looking at the hurt hands
and the man gathering salt (v) By walking leisurely under the trees
would look at his hurt hands. Ans.(a) (i): (6) (): (¢) (i): (d) (iv)
 3.What I want should not be English Core Class 12 Term-1| 93
confused
with total inactivity.
() What will huge silence do in our lives according to the
poet?
Life is what it is about; 0) Reduce noise pollution
I want no truck with (i) Will revive our lost energy
death. (ii) will kill our sadnes
(a) What does the (v) All of the above
poet
() Fishers should want? (c) How can huge silence kill our sadness?
stop fishing.
(i) People should wear
(ii) People should clean clothes. )By introspecting and understanding ourselves while
being silent
(v) All of the abovekeep still and silent for a moment. () No one will fight with you
(tii) All will live like brothers peacefully
(b)What does the poet mean (v) None of the above
() Life is going to war by'life is what it is about?
(ii) Life is keeping still (i) Life is action (d)Pick word from
a the stanza above which has the
(v) None of these similar meaning as to stop the progress of something
()What does the poet mean when he for a short while.
with death? says'l want no truck )Threatening (i) Understanding
)The poet doesn't want (ii) Interrupt (iv) None of these
anyone die with truck accident.
(i) The poet doesn't associate Ans. (a) (i); (6) (Gi): (C) (0): ()(Gi).
ii) The poet doesn't want to seekeeping silent with death. 5. Perhaps the Earth can teach
(v) None of the above death of people. us as when everything seems dead
(d) What does the poet refuse? and later proves to be alive.
) The idea of total Now I'l count up to twelve
i) The idea of harminginactivity and you keep quiet and l will go.
the whales
(ii) The idea of salt (a) What lesson can earth teach us?
(v) All of the above gathering () To live in peace
Ans. (a) (Gi):
.(6) (i): () (i); (d) (). i) To love everyone
4. If we were not so ii) To survive amidst difficulties
about keeping our lives
single-minded (v) None of the above
and for once could do
moving, (b) During what time does everything seem dead on earth?
perhaps a huge silence
nothing, ) Autumn (i) Summer
might interrupt this sadness ii) Winter (v) Spring
of never understanding ourselves (c) When does everything prove to be alive on earth?
and of threatening ourselves with () Summer (i) Winter
death. (ii) Spring
(a) In which activity does the poet not approve to be single (iv) Monsoon
minded? (d) What does the poet asks us to do?
) In studying )To love everyone
(i) In playing (i) To stop ishing
(ii) In keeping our lives moving
ii) To stop cutting trees
(iv) None of the above (iv) To keep quiet for a moment to introspect
Ans. (a) (i): (6) Gi): () (i): (a) (iv).
Multiple CHOICE QUESTIONS
QL What does the title of the poem suggest?
a. Inactivity
04. What is poet's pen name?
. Noise
a. Neruda
c.Unhappiness d. Maintenance of silence
b. Pable
Ans. (d) Maintenance of silence
c. Pablo
2. What does the poem speak about? d. Pablo Neruda
a. The necessity to be happy Ans. (d) Pablo Neruda
b. The necessy to introspect, understand and nave reeungs Q5. What does the style of the poem
of brotherhood symbolise, that the poet used
.The to wrlte with?
necessity to work quietly
d. None of the above a. Desires
Ans. b. Happiness
(6) The necessity to introspect, understand and have feelings
of brotherhood c. Hope
3. What does counting upto 12 signify and how will it help? d. Desire and hope
a. Hours of the Ans. (d) Desire and hope
day
b. Months of a year Q6. What is the original language of the poem?
C. It will help to create peace and harmony a. English b. French
d. All of the above . .Pali d. Spanish
Ans. (d) All of the above Ans. (d) Spanish
 94 MASTER MIND CHAPTERWISE QUESTION BANK Qulet teach
us?
the poem Keeping
Q7. What is the essence or message ofthe poem? Q18. What does silence
a. Introspection and retrospection to be more peaceful and be a. How to maintain
noise
in harmony b. Not to make
creates noise
b. To prosper C. Speaking have feelings of brotherhond
thoughtful and
C. To be happier d. To be peaceful, have feelings of brotherhoor
thoughtful and
d. To reach out more people Ans. (d) To be peaceful.
ue?
Ans. (a) Introspection and retrospection to be more peaceful and qu9. Why is silencetreated as a
our soul
be in harmony a. helps to search our actions
It
Q8. What does the poet feel is needed to be at peace? b. Helps us to analyse find our true self
thoughtful and
C. Helps us to be
a. Meeting with people b.Talking with people d. All of the above
c. Interaction with people d. Soul searching
Ans. (d) Soul searching
Ans. (d) All of the above with total inactivity or death?
not be confused
Q9. According to the poetwhat creates barriers? 20. What should b. A statue
a. No movement
silence
a. Interactions b. Reactions d. Stillnes5 and
c. Talking people
c Fighting d. Languages Ans. (d) Stillness and silence actions?
Ans. (d) Languages antidote to violent
Q21. What can be a cure or an
Q 10. Why does the poet ask people not to speak? a. Speaking practice b.Wisewords
a. Because it creates noise C. Polished language d. Practice of silence
b. He doesn't like noise Ans. (d) Practice of silence
C. It makes things unpleasant poet speaks about?
Q2. What is the sadness in the poem thatthe
d. it creates barriers or obstacles in the fornm of of unthoughtfulness of the people
Because a. Violence because
misunderstanding amongst people b. Unnecessary movements
Ans. (d) Because it creates barriers or obstacles in the form of C. Speaking aloud
misunderstanding amongst people d. Fighting
of the people
Q1 What is the rhyming scheme used in the poem? Ans. (a) Violence because of unthoughtfulness
a. Enclosed rhyme b. Mono rhyme Q 23. What does the earth symbolise?
C. Sonnet d. Free verse
a. Perseverence and new beginning from seemingly stillness
Ans. (d) Free verse
b. Stillness
Q12. How is keeping quiet related to life and can change attitude? C. Greenery
a. It helps to think and search soul
d. Prosperity
b. Helps to scratch one's soul stillness
c.Helps to develop new thinking process
Ans. (a) Perseverence and new beginning from seemingly
seems to be dead
d. All of the above Q24. What is always alive even when everything
or still?
Ans. (d) All of the above
a. Mountains
Q13. How will keeping quiet protect our environment? b. Rivers
a. By creating peace and brotherhood feelings
C. Sun
b. No noise will be there
d. Earth and nature are always alive
C. People will not fight
d. None of the above Ans. (d) Earth and nature are always alive
Ans. (a) By creating peace and brotherhood feelings Q 25. Why does the poet request people to keep quiet?
a. To maintain silence
Q14. What is destroying the environment?
a. Unthoughtful actions b. To avoid noise
b. Violent actions c. To be friendly
C. Speaking without thinking d. In the hope of becoming more thoughtful and peaceful
d. All of the above Ans. (d) In the hope of becoming more thoughtful and peaceful
Ans. (d) All of the above Q26. What does the poetwant people to do for one second?
Q15. What does number 12 represent? a. To sing b. To close eyes
a. Hours of the day and months of a year C. To stand quietly d. To be silent and motionless
b. Earth Ans. (d) To be silent and motionless
c. Clock Q 27. How can the moments of no activity help people?
d. Cricket players
a. They will be healthy
Ans. (a) Hours of the day and months of a year
b. They will be happy
Q16. What does the poet want us to do till he counts upto twelve? c. They will work easily
a. To walk with brother b. To go for fishing
d. To relax and be more
b. To gather salt d. To keep quiet thoughtful
Ans. (d) To relax and be more thoughtful
Ans. (d) To keep quiet
Q28. What will happen if there are no engines and no crowd?
Q17. What does 'not move our arms so much'indicate? a. Noise will be lessened
a. Should not run fast
b. No crowd on roads
b. Should stop physical activities.
c. No traffic rush
. Should stop fishing
d. It will create a perfect and
d. Should stop wars. happy moment
physical activities. Ans. (d) It will create a perfect and
Ans. (b) Should stop happy moment
 EnglishCore Class 1
Which will beaan exotic moment?
When people will wear clean clothes
Q39. Who would put on clean clothes?
a. The school chldren
h. When people will stand
under the trees
anyting without doing8 b. The people with dirty clothes
Those who are Involved in wars
When universal silence will preval C.
d. None of the above
d. None of the above
Ans. () Those who are Iinvolved in wars
( )When versal silence will
Ans.

Why is the
preval
oment of sllence called 40. What symbol from nature doos the post
isepryha

03uBecause of the beautiful scenery around Exotic? keeping qulet is not total Inactivity?
a. Sun Soil
bd. Nature
b. Because of the gathering and rar
C. Earth
c.Because of large gathering Ans. (d) Nature and earth
d. Because of perfect peace and
(d) Because of perfect harmony 041. What does let's not speakin any language' suggrst
peace and harmony a, It wll increases nolse pollution
al.
031 What would everyone feel at that exotic moment? b. Languages are difficult to understand
a. Happy b. Content C. Global silence
c. Dancing d. Strange blissful oneness d. None of the above
Ans. (d) Strange blissful oneness Ans. (c) Global sllence
22, How long is the poet expecting everyone to stay still?
Q42. What type of victory' is referred to in the poen kreping
a. For 10 minutes b. For 12 minutes quiet'?
c.For15 minutes d. For 1 second till we count 12 a. Victory of one country over the other
Ans.(d) For 1 second till we count 12 b. Victory of making weapons
033. Why is the poet asking everyone not to speak any language?
C. Victory without survivors
a. To avoid noise d. None of the above
b. To avoid loud voices (C) Victorywithout survivors
Ans.
c. To avoid people with?

d. To avoid conflicts and

;Q43. What according to the poet'should not be confused

misunderstandings
Ans. (d) To avoid conflicts and misunderstandings
a. Keeping quiet with harming whales
b. Keeping quiet with hurting hands
g34. What is the poet expecting from fishermen? c. Keeping quiet with total inactivity
a. To find more fish d. None of the above
b. To go deeper into the sea Ans. () Keeping quiet with total inactivity
c. To think and stop harming the fish
Q44. Howwill'doing nothing' help man?
d. None of the above
a. He will have ample oftime at his disposa
Ans. (c) To think and stop harming the fish b. He may plan for a picnic with family
035. While gathering salt, what will happen to the man if he keep c. Huge silence will prevail for introspection
silent for a moment? d. None of the above
a. He will stop dropping it Ans. (c) Huge silence will prevail for introspection
b. He will look at the ground. 045. What 'sadness' is being referred to in the poe keeping
. He will walk carefully
quiet'?
d. He will think of the harm the salt is doing to his hands a. Sadness of losing the dear ones in war
Ans. (d) He will think of the harm the salt is doing to his hands b. Sadness of never understanding ourselve
036. What does hurt hand refer to? C. Sadness of losing in war
a. Growing needs of the man d. None of the above
b. Growing greed of man Ans. (b) Sadness of never understanding oursel
.Unfulfilled desires 46. Who according to the poet will teach us a lesson?
d. Growing insensitivity of man to pain a. Keeping quiet b. Green wars
Ans. (d) Growing insensitivity of man to pain c. Nature d. None of these
37. Howwill silence benefit the man and nature? Ans. (c) Nature
a. Both will be friends 047. What are the dlfferent kinds of wars mentioned in the
aep?
b. Man will know nature better a. War against humanity b. War against ntt
. Man will be healthy c War with gases and fire d. All of these
d. Man will stop hurting nature and both will heal themselves Ans. (d) All of these
Ans. (d) Man will stop hurting nature and both will heal themselves Q48. What can human beings learn from nature?
938. Which images in the poem show that the poet condemns or a. Beauty b. Keeping quiet
hate violence? C. To be happy d. Working witlh lng
a. Fisherman not harming whales Ans. (d) Working with silence
D. Wars leaving behind no survivors to celebrate Q49. How does the poet percelve life?
cPoet's refusal to deal with death a. As stillness b. As silence
d. All of the above C. A nolsy place d. Acontinuous eviHti1 te
Ans. (d) All of the above Ans. (d) A continuous evolution of nature