Keeping quiet class 12 important questions and answers

Class 12 english keeping quiet summary. Class 12 english keeping quiet ncert solutions.

Extract Based Questions (4 Marks) Question.1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death(Compartment 2014 Modified) (a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines? (b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for
once? (c) What is the‘sadness’that the poet refers to in the poem? (d) How can a huge silence do good to us?

Answer. (a) ‘We’ refers to the human beings, who are always thinking about their own progress and advancement. (b) The poet wants us to ‘do nothing’ for once so that our mind can be at peace and we are able to introspect and analyse our own actions. (c) The poet refers to the ‘sadness’ which arises due to the fact that people fail to understand
themselves. They have no time to introspect about their actions and their consequences. (d) A huge silence can do good to us because we are able to achieve peace in this silence. It helps us in analysing ourselves and our actions, interrupting the sadness of threatening ourselves with death. Question.2.Read the extracts given below and answer the
questions that follow. Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive Now I’ll count upto twelve and you keep quiet and I will go. (a) What does the Earth teach us? (b) What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve? (c) What is the significance of ’keeping quiet’? (All India 2013; Modified) (d)
What is always alive, even when everything seems to be dead? or (a) What does the Earth teach us? (b) Why does the poet countupto twelve? (c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve?(Delhi 2008 Modified) (d) How does the Earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness? Answer. (a) The Earth teaches us how new life springs from
dead remains, and how there is life under apparent stillness. (b) The poet wants to achieve peace by counting upto twelve. He wants us to introspect in a moment of silence. (c) Keeping quiet doesn’t mean just not speaking.
It means that we should avoid all activities which hurt nature and, in turn, hurt us. (d) The Earth is always alive, even when everything else seems to be dead. There is always some activity going on in nature beneath its apparent stillness. or Answer. (a) The Earth teaches us how new life springs from dead remains. It gives us lessons about sustaining
and resurrecting life. (b) The poet is initiating an exercise in meditation. When he counts upto twelve, the meditator puts away all digressions and experiences bliss. He wants all meditators to experience that bliss. (c) Keeping quiet will help us introspect, reflect and experience silence and peace. This will in turn help us find solutions to our problems.
(d) Though the Earth appears still, there are so many changes that keep occurring beneath its surface. A seed that seems dead germinates under the Earth and a new life springs from it. Question.3.Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one
second, arid not move our arms so much. (a) Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?
(b) What does he want us to do for one second? (c) What does he mean by “not move our arms”?

(Delhi 2012; Modified) (d) How can this moment of stillness help us? Answer. (a) The poet wants us to keep quiet in the hope that the moment of tranquillity might help us in finding the answers to our problems. (b) The poet wants us to be silent and motionless for one second. (c) The poet means that we should be in a state of total stillness with no
physical activity at all. (d) This moment of stillness can provide us physical and mental rest, during which our mind will be at peace. We can analyse our actions and their consequences and avoid rash or thoughtless behaviour. Question.4. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. It would be an exotic moment without rush,
without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.

(a) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines? (b) Why would it be called an exotic moment? (c) How would we feel at tliat moment? (Foreign 2011; Modified) (d) Name the poem and the poet. Answer. (a) It will be an ecstatic moment of tranquillity without rush or running of engines. (b) It would be called an exotic moment because it
will be an instance of universal peace and brotherhood. In that moment, all of us would initiate introspection through meditation and the whole world will be enveloped in quietness. (c) We would feel very strange at that moment, because at that time everyone will have a feeling of oneness with their fellow human beings. It will be a new feeling
altogether. (d) The poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’, and the poet is Pablo Neruda. Question.5. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Now we will count to twelve, and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the Earth, let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much. (a) How long
does the poet want to stay still? (b) What does he hope to achieve by keeping quiet? (c) What does the poet mean by “not move our arms so much”? (All India 2009; Modified) (d) Why does the poet suggest us not to sp,eak in any language? Answer. (a) The poet exhorts each one of us to count to twelve and then be quiet, silent and motionless for a
brief moment. (b) He hopes to achieve and realise the value of quiet introspection.

In this silence, we shall feel that all are together and will experience a strange feeling of togetherness. (c) By this, he means that we should not make any physical movement, as physical activity will stop dr interrupt our introspection. (d) The poet wants us to simply be silent for a moment and utilise that time to understand ourselves as well as others.
Besides, language differences often lead to conflict, which the poet, perhaps, wants to avoid. Question.6.Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow. Fishermen ip.the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands. (a) What does the poet expect of the fishermen and why? (b) While
gathering salt, what will the man do?
(c) What do the hurt hands imply? (All India 2008;Modified) (d) How would man and nature benefit in this moment of silence? Answer. (a) In the exotic moment of silence and introspection, fishermen will become conscioi the fact that they are causing harm to the whales. The poet expects this because he feels that at this opportune moment all evil will
come to an end. (b) The man gathering salt will stop for a while at that quiet moment and look at his hurt hands. (c) ‘Hurt hands’ means that human beings are oblivious of the pain they are causing to themselves in the pursuit of amassing more and more comforts.
They have no time for themselves. (d) In this moment of silence, man will not harm nature, and both human beings and nature will get some time to attend to and recover from their wounds. Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks, 30-40 words) Question.1. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’? (Delhi 2014) Answer. The
poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an exotic moment, as such a tranquillity will initiate peace and brotherhood. There would be no movement, no talk, no activity and consequently, no violence. Question.2. What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? (All India 2014) or
What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem?
(All India 2011) Answer. The poet refers to the sadness which surrounds man due to not having any time for himself, the pain of not understanding what he or his fellow human beings want. He has no time for introspection; as a result, he is unable to analyse his own actions and understand its consequences. Question.3. Which images in the poem
‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence? (Compartment 2014) Answer.
The images of fishermen not harming the whales in the sea and wars leaving behind no survivors to celebrate the victory show that the poet condemns violence. The poet wants the warmongers to change their blood-stained clothes to clean ones. The poet’s refusal to have any association or dealing with death also shows that he is not in favour of any
form of violence.
Question.4. What symbol from nature does the poet use to prove that keeping quiet is not total inactivity?
(Foreign2014) Answer. The poet uses nature as a symbol to explain his idea that there can be life under apparent stillness. According to him, keeping quiet is not total inactivity. A seed may appear to be dead and inactive, but one day, the same seed may turn into a fruitful tree. Question.5. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our
attitude to life? (Compartment 2014) Answer. Keeping quiet and suspending all our activities for a brief moment will give us time to introspect and analyse our own actions. We will develop a new understanding of our surroundings and thus change our attitude to life. We will check our destructive ways and try to be more positive and constructive.
Question.6.What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars? (Delhi 2013) Answer. The poet has written about wars against humanity and nature. Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Wars do good to no one. Pablo
Neruda feels that such wars may bring victory, but there are no survivors. It means that there is heavy loss on both sides. Question.7. How can suspension of activities help? (All India 2012) Answer. The poet believes that suspension of activities will allow man to introspect, which can help them in analysing their own actions, and in solving many of
their problems based on caste, religion or nationality. It will help them develop a new understanding of their surroundings, and thus make them mend their destructive ways. Question.8. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death?
(Delhi 2011) Answer.
No, the poet clearly states that his asking for stillness should not be confused with total inactivity or death.
He perceives life to be a continuous process, where man’s activities should not lead to destruction of fellow human beings or nature, but should be channelised in a resourceful way. Question.9. According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from nature? (All India 2010) Answer.
Life under apparent stillness in attitude is the thing which man can learn from nature. The Earth is never in a state of total inactivity. Nature carries on its work even where there is stillness all around. Winter is associated with inactivity, but this is not actually true. Question.10.What will counting upto twelve and keeping quiet help us to achieve?
(Foreign 2009) Answer. The poet asks each one of us to count to twelve and then be quiet, silent and motionless. This quietness will create a moment of togetherness among all; a condition which is foremost for the survival of humanity, which is indeed an achievement. It will also give us One to analyse our actions and their consequences. Important
Questions for Class 12 English Class 12 English Keeping Quiet Important Questions Keeping Quiet is one of the most important topics in CBSE class 12 English. To score well in this chapter, students need to understand the topic better.
To help them effectively prepare for the exam, we have collated a few important questions on Keeping Quiet.The important questions from Class 12 English Keeping Quiet chapter include short answer questions. Students can go through these questions while preparing for their board exams. Getting well-versed with these important questions will
help them score good marks in the CBSE board exam.Short Answer Type Questions on Class 12 English Keeping Quiet (3-4 Marks)Question 1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (All India 2009) Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s
stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.How long does the poet want to stay still?What does he hope to achieve by keeping quiet?What does the poet mean by ‘not move our arms so much’?Answer: 1.
The poet wants to count upto twelve and stay still during the time we are counting to twelve. 2. By keeping quiet the poet hopes that he will be able to live a fascinating moment and then realise the value of calm reflection and quiet introspection. The ! poet believes that by keeping quiet, we will be able to hear the voice of our conscience in these
moments of silence.
3.
Whenever man has used his arms he has caused undue harm to others. So the poet uses the phrase, ‘not to move our arms so much’ to emphasise the importance of physical inactivity to lessen destruction caused by man in the world.Question 2.
What is the exotic moment the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for? (Delhi 2009) Answer: Pablo Neruda wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet wishes the noise of engines and machines should cease and peace and
tranquility should prevail.Question 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2010) It would he an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.What does ‘TP’ refer to?Who is the poet speaking to?What would be the moment like?Answer: 1.
TP refers to that moment of silence and quietness when peace and calmness will prevail. 2. The poet is addressing mankind who has no time for quiet introspection in its over-hectic, busy life. 3. The moment would be exotic and unusual, a new experience in which mankind will experience a sense of bonding and togetherness with each other.Question
4. According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from Nature? (All India 2010) Answer: Earth can teach a lesson to mankind on the preservation and resurrection of life and how new life is believed to rise from the ashes of the dead remains. The Earth never attains total inactivity. Nature remains at work under apparent stillness and
keeps the Earth alive. Life never ceases on earth when everything appears to be dead only one thing remains alive and that is earth itself.Question 5. Why is Pablo Neruda against ‘total inactivity’?
(Comptt. Delhi 2010) Answer: Pablo Neruda is against ‘total inactivity’ because that would amount to death and he has no association with death. Life is a continuous and on-going process and so is all about being on the move. Life should not come to a standstill under any circumstance.Question 6. Which sadness is Pablo Neruda worried about in his
poem? (Comptt. All India 2010) Answer: The sadness that Pablo Neruda is worried about in his poem is the sadness of isolation that has made modern man its victim. This sadness has made man self-centered and uncaring to the needs of his fellowmen. He has sacrificed the needs of his emotional self in favour of materialism.Question 7. Do you think
the poet, Pablo Neruda advocates total inactivity and death?
Why/ Why not? (Delhi 2011) Answer: No, the poet Pablo Neruda does not advocate total inactivity and death. He wants to give mankind an opportunity of quiet introspection to know and realize how he has been harming himself and others. He makes it clear that stillness should not be confused with inactivity. Stillness means halting of harmful human
activities. He also wants mankind to understand that life is about sprouting out of seemingly dead surroundings.Question 8. What is the sadness that the poet, Pablo Neruda refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? (All India 2011) Answer: The sadness that Pablo Neruda is worried about in his poem is the sadness of isolation that has made modern man
its victim. This sadness has made man self-centered and uncaring to the needs of his fellowmen. He has sacrificed the needs of his emotional self in favour of materialism.Question 9. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’? Give reasons. (Comptt. Delhi 2011) Answer: No, the poet especially says that
keeping quiet should not be confused with total inactivity. He wants no association with death. He wants to keep quiet as this will prepare mankind for introspection and regeneration.Question 10. What is the exotic moment the poet Pablo Neruda wishes for?
(Comptt. All India 2011) Answer: Pablo Neruda wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet wishes the noise of engines and machines should cease and peace and tranquility should prevail.Question 11. Read the
extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2012) For once on the face of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?What does he want us to do for one second?What does he mean by ‘not move our arms’?Answer: 1. The poet wants
us to keep quiet because this moment of quietness will give us the time to meditate and introspect upon the kind of turmoil we have created on earth through our ill-actions. Too much activity and rush has only brought misfortunes to mankind, so it is better to be quiet and still. 2. The poet wants us to do nothing and remain inactive for one second. 3.
The phrase ‘not move our arms’ implies that no physical activity should be carried out for one second. Man has used his arms only to kill and destroy others. Therefore, let him not move his arms to harm others.Question 12. How can suspension of activities help? (All India 2012) Answer: Suspension of activities will give us time to introspect and
reflect on our follies. It will give us the much needed time to forget our differences, wither away our discriminations and enter into a world of peace.Question 13.
How does stopping for a second help us, according to the poet, Pablo Neruda? (Comptt. Delhi 2012) Answer: According to Pablo Neruda, when we stop for a second we get an opportunity to introspect on our follies. During this moment we will forget our differences and experience a strength of togetherness which will give us a moment of bliss. By
indulging in such moments of inactivity, we will realise the harm we are causing to the world with our words and actions.Question 14. What is the exotic moment referred to in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’? What makes it exotic? (Comptt. All India 2012) Answer: When people sit still without speaking any language in quiet introspection, that moment,
according to the poet will be an exotic one because this moment will help us to experience a strength of togetherness and a strange relationship with which humanity will bind itself.Question 15. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2013) Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later
proves to be alive. Now I’ll count upto twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.What does the Earth teach us?What does the poet mean to achieve by counting upto twelve?What is the significance of ‘keeping quiet’?Answer: 1.
The Earth teaches us how to nurture life under apparent quietude and how to work silently.
It teaches us the importance of sometimes taking a break from all activities. 2.
The poet counts up to twelve in an attempt to remain calm and still. He wants to make mankind realise the futility of their mindless words and actions and encourage people to introspect for their own good. 3. By keeping quiet and calm man will realise his follies and refrain from harmful destructive activities. It will also help in creating a feeling of
natural understanding and introspection among human beings.Question 16. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2013) Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.What can Earth teach us?How can we achieve the state of ‘seems dead’?Give one example
of how the seeming to be dead things become alive.Answer: 1. The Earth can teach us a lesson in protection and resurrection of life. It teaches us that life and living never cease to exist. 2. The state of ‘seems dead’ symbolizes the doomsday when all life of earth will come to an end.
3. New life emerges from the dead remains like a seed gives life to a new plant.Question 17. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars? (All India 2013) Answer: The different wars Neruda mentions in the poem are green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire. Neruda feels that these
chemical and nuclear wars and the war that man wages against nature will lead him towards his doom.Question 18. Which sadness is Pablo Neruda referring to? (Comptt. Delhi 2013) Answer: The sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the sadness of never understanding oneself and nature. Human beings in a frenzy of
activities, have no time for introspection and thus threaten themselves with death or destruction. This darkens their ways with distress and wretchedness.Question 19. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt.
All India 2014) If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines?Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for once?What is the
‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?Answer: 1. We’ in the above lines refers to mankind. 2. The poet wants us to ‘do nothing’ for once because during this time of inactivity man will realize the strength of humanity and become aware of universal brotherhood wherein he will be able to give mankind a healing touch.
The poet wants that for once we should not single-mindedly focus on keeping our lives moving and do some introspection and spend our time in silence doing nothing. This way we can understand ourselves better and escape from the calls of death. 3. The ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem is the sadness of isolation that has made modern
man its victim. This sadness is the selfishness of the modern man due to which he has put his own life and the life of his fellowmen in danger.Let us look into some more important questions from Class 12 English Keeping Quiet.Question 20. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’? (Delhi 2014) Answer: Pablo Neruda
wishes for that exotic moment when mankind will be free from greed, cruelty and harmful actions. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused unpleasantness and troubles. The poet wishes the noise of engines and machines should cease and peace and tranquility should prevail.Question 21. What is the sadness the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping
Quiet’? (All India 2014) Answer: The sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the sadness of never understanding oneself and nature. Human beings in a frenzy of activities, have no time for introspection and thus threaten themselves with death or destruction. This darkens their ways with distress and wretchedness.Question 22.
How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life? (Comptt. Delhi 2015) Answer: According to Neruda, when people on earth think of keeping quiet for sometime, that will be an exotic moment when they will be able to forget their differences and a feeling of brotherhood will prevail among them.
Most of the evil thoughts disappear when man becomes silent for a while. By keeping quiet, man will realize his follies and refrain from harmful and destructive activities.Question 23. Which images in the poem, “Keeping Quiet” show that the poet condemns violence? (Comptt. All India 2015) Answer: The images in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’, which
show that the poet condemns violence are, that he is totally against alienation among communities, races and violence. The poet is against chemical and nuclear wars which leave no survivors. He wants to bring all the destructive activities to a standstill.Question 24. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi
2015) ‘ It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness.’Which exotic moment is referred to in these lines?Why would that moment be strange?What does the poet advocate in the poem?What does the poet mean by the word, ‘engines’?Answer: 1. The ‘exotic moment’ referred to in these
lines is that moment when everyone keeps quiet and there is no movement. 2. That moment would be strange because there will be no rush or engines and it will bring the whole of humanity together for the first time. 3. The poet advocates the need to introspect and think before you act in the poem. 4. By the word ‘engines’ the poet means
‘automobiles’ or ‘machines.’Question 25. What will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve? (Delhi 2015) Answer: Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us to introspect upon the kind of turmoil we have created in this world with our mind-less actions. This will be an exotic moment during which we will experience a sense of
bonding with one another. It will give us an opportunity to understand each other and save ourselves from death.Question 26. Which symbol from nature does the poet invoke that there can be life under apparent stillness? (Delhi 2015) Answer: The poet uses the Earth as a symbol from nature to convey that there can be life under apparent stillness.
Earth teaches us that despite a dreary stillness, nature continues to work and everything comes to life again.Question 27. ‘Life is what it is all about;…’ How is keeping quiet related to life? (All India 2015) Answer: The poet advocates keeping quiet and inactivity but he does not want these to be confused with death. Life is an ongoing and continuous
process, so it should not come to a standstill under any circumstances. People pursue their goals single-mindedly and their lives keep on moving.Question 28. Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet? (All India 2015) Answer: One feels ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet because
this is an exotic moment which builds a sudden and strange feeling of universal brotherhood. This feeling of togetherness and brotherhood is rather new and inexplicable.Question 29. How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment? (All India 2015) Answer: When we keep quiet and refrain from activity, we will not indulge in chemical and nuclear
wars that cause total destruction by releasing toxic gases in the environment. These will destroy all greenery and life on earth making it a dead planet.Question 30. What does the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’ teach us? (Comptt. All India 2015) Answer: The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ emphasises the need for quiet introspection and creating a feeling of mutual
understanding among human beings. It conveys to us the poet’s philosophy of an exotic moment of silence which will be an antidote to violence, hatred and war.Question 31. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (All India 2016) Noiv we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the Earth let’s
not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much.What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’?Which two activities does the poet want us to stop?What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’?Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’.Answer: 1. The number ‘twelve’ signifies the twelve divisions in the
clock (measure of time). 2. The poet wants the fishermen to stop gathering salt from the sea and he also wants the chemical and nuclear wars to stop. 3. The poet means we should be silent and introspect and enter into a world which is quiet and peaceful.
4. The word ‘arms’ means not only our own human arms but also refers to the arms and ammunition that are used to harm others.Question 32. What does the poet want us to do in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’? (Comptt. Delhi 2016) Answer: The poet wants us to keep quiet and still and not move our arms and legs too much in the poem, Keeping Quiet.
This will give us the time to introspect over our actions and also help to create a feeling of mutual understanding among human beings.Question 33. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2016) ‘Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive’.Name the poem
and the poet.What does the earth teach us?When do things seem to be dead?Write the antonym of ‘teach’.Answer: 1.
The poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ by Pablo Neruda. 2. The earth teaches us to continue doing constructive work quietly and the positive results will be evident at a later stage. 3. Things seem to be dead during the winter season. 4. The antonym for ‘teach’ is ‘learn’.Question 34. How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty? (Delhi 2017) Answer: The ‘mighty
dead’ can be things of beauty because of their glorious deeds and achievements. Their achievements make their lives extraordinary so they continue to be a source of inspiration for others.Also Read: Evans Tries an O-level Important Questions Class 12 EnglishQuestion 35. How would keeping quiet affect life in and around the sea? (All India 2017)
Answer: Fishermen who are responsible for endangering marine life would get a chance to realize that they are harming the whales who are on the verge of extinction. Men who gather salt from the sea would also get a chance to reflect on the pain they are causing to their hands.Question 36. How is total inactivity on the Earth in the winter months
full of life? (All India 2017) Answer: In the winter months when there appears to be total inactivity on the Earth, life never ceases on it. The Earth teaches us that despite a dreary stillness, nature remains at work and keeps the Earth alive and new life rises from the ashes of the dead remains.Question 37. Why does Pablo Neruda want us to count till
twelve and keep still? (Comptt. Delhi 2017) Answer: Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us to introspect upon the kind of turmoil we have created in this world with our mind-less actions. This will be an exotic moment during which we will experience a sense of bonding with one another. It will give us an opportunity to understand each
other and save ourselves from death.Question 38. What will keeping still help us achieve? (Comptt. Delhi 2017) Answer: Counting up to twelve and keeping still will help us to introspect upon the kind of turmoil we have created in this world with our mind-less actions.
This will be an exotic moment during which we will experience a sense of bonding with one another. It will give us an opportunity to understand each other and save ourselves from death.Question 39. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India) ‘It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we
would all be together in a sudden strangeness.’What would be an exotic moment?Why would it be exotic?What would be the result of all being together?Explain: ‘Sudden strangeness’.Answer: 1. The exotic moment would be that time when silence, peace and calmness will prevail. 2. It would be exotic because we will not be in a rush so it will give us
time for quiet introspection, to reflect upon the futility of our mindless actions. 3. The result of being together would result in a new experience in which man will get a chance to have a sense of bonding and togetherness with each other. 4. ‘Sudden strangeness’ is a strange and unusual feeling of universal brotherhood.
Here we are providing Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers. Keeping Quiet Questions And Answers Class 12 Flamingo English Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type Question 1. What will
counting up to twelve and keeping still help us achieve ?
Answer: Counting upto twelve and keeping still gives us time to introspect ourselves. In this way, we can recuperate our energy and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal.
Question 2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death ? Answer: No, the poet does not advocate total inactivity and death. He only wants us to keep quiet for a few seconds and suspend all our activities for a few seconds. In this way we can introspect our¬selves and restart our activities with fresh energy and zeal. Question 3. What is
the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer: When people don’t introspect themselves they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises. The poet wants that people should overcome this sadness by introspecting themselves. Question 4. What symbol from Nature does the poet invoke to say that there can be life under apparent stillness ? Answer: In this poem, the poet uses the
symbol of the earth to say that there can be life under apparent stillness. He says that the earth appears to be dead in the winter season. But when the spring season comes it becomes alive with all its new plants.
It never takes rest.
Question 5. How would keeping quiet affect the life in and around the sea ? Answer: It will affect the life in and around the sea in two ways. The fishermen will stop fishing for some time. It will help the number of the fish to recuperate. The man gathering salt will get some time to see his hurt hands get healed. Question 6. ‘Life is what at is about;How
is keeping quiet related to life ? Answer: Keeping quiet is related to life not death. The poet says that by keeping quiet we get some time to introspect ourselves. Keeping quiet helps us to recuperate our energy. In this way we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy. Question 7. Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve
and keeping quiet ?
Answer: When we keep quiet for some time and suspend all our activities for some time, we feel a sort of strangeness. The reason is that we are always surrounded by the noise of machines, etc. When there is no sound, we feel a sort of strangeness. Question 8. How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment ? Answer: Keeping quiet helps us to stop
wars.
In this way it helps to prevent destruction of environment due to wars. Also, it prevents deforestation. In this way, we can say that keeping quiet is the only way to prevent our environment from all types of pollution. Question 9. What does the poet want us to tell ?
Answer: The poet wants us to tell that by keeping quiet and remaining still for few moments, we will be able to do our work in a more effective way.
We can analyse our past actions and not repeat our past, mistakes. Question 10. What does the poet mean by saying ‘victory with no survivors’ ? Answer: According to the poet the wars cause a lot of destruction. A lot of people die from both the sides. Therefore, no one can claim that their side has won, since the so called victor also has to face a lot of
causalities. Question 11. What are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem ? Or What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars? Answer: The poet says that there are green wars. He means t to say that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and
poisonous gases. The wars bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet wants that all these wars should be stopped.
These wars bring nothing but destruction. Question 12. How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ? Answer: We think that earth is dead as it remains still. But many changes are taking place under the surface of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a new life springs from it. Keeping
Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type Question 1. Write in brief the summary of the poem. Answer: The poet wants everyone to count up to twelve in their mind. He wants every one of us to be calm and still. The poet wants that one should not talk in any language. He means to say that every person of the world should be quiet for
few seconds. There would not be any rush. There would not be the jarring sounds of machines. The poet wants that the fishermen should not hunt whales in the sea. He also wants that the persons who gather salt should suspend their activities for a few seconds. The poet says that the people who destroy forests also wage a war against their own
coming generations. There are wars with fire, chemical weapons and poisonous gases. The was bring so much destruction that no side could be called victorious. The poet knows that the soldiers have to follow the orders. He implores them to leave the army and instead of uniforms wear clean clothes. They should walk with their civilian brothers and
suspend their all war-related activities and walk idly under the shade. The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. But he says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds, they can understand the true purpose of life.
The poet wants that we should not be self-centred. The poet says that the people are rushing to complete their tasks. The poet says that by keeping quiet for a few seconds they can understand the true purpose of life. The poet says that the earth can provide us all type of guidance. He says that it appears dead and lifeless in winter. But when the
summer season comes everything again comes to life. Similarly, after taking a short pause we can restart our activities in a new way. Therefore, the poet asks the people to take a pause, count to twelve and walks out of the scene. Question 2. Write the central idea of the poem. Answer: In this poem, the poet tells us about the value of quiet
introspection. He wants us to keep quiet for twelve seconds and stop every movement of the body. He implores the fishermen not to harm the whales. He also wants the man gathering salt to stop his activities for a few minutes, since he has hurt his hands. The poet says that wars are useless. These wars leave no survivors. However the poet doesn’t
advocate total inactivity. He says that something that appears to be dead now later proves to be alive. Total inactivity is death, the poet just wants us to suspend our activities for a few seconds. Keeping Quiet Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension Stanza 1 Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face
of the Earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, And not move our arms so much. Questions (a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’ ? (b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop ? (c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language’ ? (d) Describe the pun on the word ‘arms’. Answers (a) There
are twelve hours on the face of the clock and also there are twelve months in a year. The poet also refers to the number twelve. He wants us to suspend our activities for twelve seconds. (b) The poet wants us to stop talking and moving our arms. (c) The poet wants us to give a universal message. He wants that all the people of the world irrespective of
their nationality should suspend their activities for a few seconds. Not to use any organ to communicate. (d) The poet has used the word arms for two purposes. He wants us to keep still for a few seconds and not move our arms. The second meaning of the word arms is weapons. The poet wants us to stop the use of arms against anyone. Stanza 2 It
would be an eicotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales.
and the man gathering salt would look at his hurt hands. Questions (a) Name the poem and the poet. (b) Which moment has been referred to here and how it will be significant ? (c) How would we feel during that moment ?
(d) What does the poet want from the fishermen ? Answers (a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda. (b) The moment of quiet introspection has been referred here. It is significant in the sense that it brings all of us together and we have a feeling of oneness. (c) We would feel all together and have a feeling
of sudden strangeness. (d) The poet wants that the fishermen should not kill whales for sometime. Stanza 3 Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers – in the shade, doing nothing.
Questions (a) Name the poem and the poet. (b) What does the poet mean by green wars ? (c) What types of wars does the poet mention ? (d) What does the poet want from the lovers of the war ?
Answers (a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda. (b) It means the war against the environment or defores-tation.
(c) The poet mentions green wars, wars with gas and wars with fire. (d) He wants them to wear clean clothes and walk lei-surely with their brothers. Stanza 4 What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death. Questions (a) Name the poem and the poet. (b) What should not be confused with
total inactivity ? (c) What does the poet mean by …. I want no truck with death ?
(d) What is the gist of this stanza ? Answers (a) The name of the poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the name of the poet is Pablo Neruda.
(b) Keeping quiet and remaining still should not be con-fused with total inactivity. (c) The poet wants to say that stillness and quietness is not death. He wants to restart his activities again after introspection of a few seconds. (d) In this stanza the poet says that quietness is not death. Rather it helps us to restart our activities in a fresh way. Stanza 5 If
we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. Questions (a) Whom does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines ? (b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing1 for once ? (c) What is the
‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem ? (d) How can a huge silence do good to us ? Answers (a) ‘We’ in this stanza refers to the human beings who are self-centred and who only think about themselves. (b) By doing nothing for once, we can have ample time to introspect ourselves and analyse our actions. (c) When people don’t introspect
themselves, they fail to understand themselves, then ‘sadness’ arises. (d) Huge silence helps in analysing ourselves. In this way, we can introspect ourselves.
Stanza 6 Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive. Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go. Questions (a) What does the earth teach us ? (b) Why does the poet count up to twelve ?
(c) What will keeping quiet help us achieve ? (d) How does the earth teach us that there is activity even in apparent stillness ? Answers (a) The earth teaches us that there is life in what we think that is dead.
(b) The poet wants to introspect by counting twelve. (c) Keeping quiet help us to recuperate our energy. In this way, we can start our activities with fresh zeal and energy. (d) We think that the earth is dead as it remains still But many changes are kept taking under the surface of the earth. A seed that seems dead germinates under the earth and a
new life springs from it. The earth always seems in motion.