Updated
on 24/12/2021
1. The
Portrait of a Lady (Khushwant Singh)
Short &
Essay Type Q-Ans.
*Q. 1 Why was it hard for the author to believe that his grandmother was once
young and pretty?*
Ans. It was hard for author to believe that his grandmother was
once young and pretty as when he opened his eyes he saw his grandmother old, so
terribly old that one could not grow older. Her skin was a criss cross of
wrinkles spread all over her face. Therefore it was beyond the expectations of
author to believe that his grandmother had been pretty once.
*Q. 2 The grandmother was a kind-hearted woman. Give examples in
support of your answer.*
Ans. The grandmother was very kind hearted lady. She would feed stale
chapattis to the village dogs everyday while leaving her grandson to school. In
the city, she feeds the sparrows with breadcrumbs. All this show that she was a
kind-hearted woman.
*Q. 3 What was the happiest moment of the day for the
grandmother?*
Ans. The happiest moment of the day for the grandmother in the
city was to feed the sparrows. Hundreds of little birds collected round her.
While feeding, the sparrows used to sit on her legs and on her shoulder.
Feeding the sparrows was 'the happiest half-hour of the day for her'.
*Q. 4 Why did grandmother always accompany the author to his
school?*
Ans. The grandmother always accompany the author to the school as
she had deep love and affection for her grandson. Another reason was that the
school was attached to the temple so she sat inside the temple reading
scriptures when the author studied there and they came back together when
school was over.
*Q. 5 Draw a comparison between village school education and city
school education.*
Ans. The village school education was quite different from the
city school education. In the village school students were taught the alphabet
and the morning prayer and there was teaching about the God and the scriptures.
But in the city the students were taught Western science, English and music
lessons. There was no religious education.
*Q. 6 Why did the sparrows in ‘The Portrait of a Lady’ not pick
the bread crumbs on the last day?*
Ans. In the last day, when grandmother died. The author's
mother threw some crumbs of bread to them. They took no notice of them.
They didn't pick those bread crumbs because they were very sad over the old
lady's death. As soon as the grandmother's corpse was carried off, they flew
away quietly.
*2.
We’re not afraid to die … If We Can All Be Together (Gordon Cook and Alan
East)*
*1. What was the
purpose of the writer’s voyage?*
Ans.
The narrator's purpose of making
the voyage in 1976 was to
duplicate the round-the-world voyage, just like Captain James Cook did
around 200 years ago. He designed a boat for this purpose, its name was
‘wavewalker.
*2. Who is the
narrator of the story? What did they decide to do?*
Ans.
We are not Afraid to Die Written
by Gordan Cook and Alan East, the story is about a 37 year old
businessman who is the narrator of the story. He has a wife named Mary
and two children, Jonathan, aged 6 and Suzanne, aged 7. The narrator
planned to go on a round-the-world sea voyage on the same
pattern as Captain James Cook had done 200 years earlier.
*3. What
preparations did they make for their voyage?*
Ans.
For the voyage, they made a
boat named ‘wavewalker’. It was 23 meter long and its weight was 30 ton.
They tested it several times in the harsh conditions to make sure for its
journey. Also, the narrator and his wife prepared themselves mentally and
physically so that they can undergo such a voyage.
*4. What happy
news did the narrator’s son give him? How they were saved?*
Ans.
Jon declared that they were “not
afraid of dying if they could all die together.” The children were really
excited when they sighted the island in Amsterdam. Now the narrator was not an
ordinary father but “the best daddy in the whole world—and the best captain.”
*5. Why did they take on two crewmen with them at Cape
Town?*
Ans. Before heading East from Cape Town, they
took two crewmen who were experienced seamen. They were Larry Vigil, an
American and Herb Seigler, a Swiss. The narrator took this step because he knew
that they would require help to tackle one of the world’s roughest seas – the
southern Indian Ocean.
*6. How was the weather on the morning of 2nd January?*
Ans. On New Year’s Day, the weather saw no
improvement and was bad. On 2nd January, it got even worse. The waves were
gigantic. They were sailing with only a small storm jib but still were going
pretty fast. As the ship rose to the top of each wave they could see the
endless, enormous sea rolling towards them. The wind seemed to be howling.
3. Discovery Tut: The Saga Continues (A.R. Williams)
Short Type Q-Ans.
*1. When did King Tut die? Where was his body buried?*
Ans. King Tut died more than 3300 years ago. His body was put
into a golden coffin and buried in the ‘Valley of the Kings’ in Egypt. King Tut
died when he was only a teenager.
*2. The King changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Why?*
Ans. One of the previous rulers had banned the worship of God
Amun. But when Tut became the king, he revived his worship. He changed his name
to Tutankhamun as it means ‘living image of Amun’.
*3. Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures. Why?*
Ans. In the ancient Egypt it was believed that the brilliance of
gold would help in a dead man’s resurrection. Therefore, Tut’s body was buried
along with a number of gilded treasures.
*4. When was a CT scan performed on Tut’s mummy?*
Ans. Tut’s death was a mystery. So scientist decided to perform
a CT scan on his mummy to know the mystery of his death. They took out his body
on 5th January, 2005 for a CT scan.
*5. Why has King Tut’s body been subjected to repeated
scrutiny?*
Ans. King Tut died when he was only a teenager. His death was a
mystery. So his mummy has been subjected to repeat scrutiny in order to know
the mystery of his death.
*6. What were the results of the CT scan?*
Ans. The technicians got astonishing images by CT scan. These
images were put on a computer screen. Neck vertebrae appeared clearly. Other
images revealed a hand, several views of the ribs and part of the skull.
4.
Landscape of the Soul (Nathalie Trouveroy)
Short Type
Q-Ans.
1. Describe the Chinese view of art.
Ans. The Chinese view of art is related
to inner life and spirit. E.g., Wu Dazoi's painting, which was
commissioned by the emperor Xuanzong, While the emperor could only see its
outer brilliance, the artist entered his painting and disappeared along with
his painting. In Chinese art a person may enter it from any point and travel in
its beauties.
2. Describe the
European view of art.
Ans.
The European view of art is to create illusionistic. In 15th
century a blacksmith had fallen in love with a painter's daughter: The father
would not give his consent. Quinten painted a real fly on canvas. It was so
real that the painter tried to swat it.
3. Who had
commissioned Wu Daozi’s painting? What does the painting show?
Ans.
The
Chinese Emperor commissioned
the painter Wu Daozi, to decorate the palace walls with landscape paintings. The
painter made a beautiful painting showing forests, mountains, clouds,
waterfalls, men and birds.
4. What happened
to the painter and his painting?
Ans.
The painter made a beautiful
painting showing forests, mountains, clouds, waterfalls, men and birds. There
was a cave at the foot of the mountain in the painting. The painter clapped his
hands and the mouth of the cave opened. As painter went inside the cave, the entrance
closed and painting vanished from the wall.
5. What does the
story of Wu Daozi teach us?
Ans.
The story of Wu Daozi teaches us a lesson that an Emperor may rule the world
but only the artist knows the inner world. That is way the painter was able to
enter the cave, but not the emperor.
6. Who was
Quinten Metsys? Whom did he want to marry?
Ans.
Quentin Metsys was the Belgian painter born in
1466. He was also the founder of the Antwerp school. He fell in love with
the daughter of a famous painter. But the father did not want to accept a
blacksmith as his son-in-law.
7. Who mooted
the notion of ‘art brut’? What does it mean?
Ans.
Art Brut (raw art) or Outsider
Art, is the term coined by French artist
Jean Dubuffet in 1940. To refer to art made by individuals working
outside of the established cultural mainstream. The best example of outsider
art is ‘Rock Garden’ created by Nek Chand in Chandigarh (India).
5. The
Ailing Planet: The Green Movement’s Role (Nani Palkhivala)
Short Type
Q-Ans.
1. What is meant
by sustainable development? When did this concept become popular?
Ans.
Sustainable development is the
development which uses the
resources to meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the
need of the future generation. This concept became popular in this
new era because nowadays the resources are depleted for ones private use only
not for any public use.
2. What are the
principal biological systems of the earth? How are they useful to us?
Ans.
The earth has four principal
biological systems. These are: fisheries,
forests, grasslands and croplands. They form the basis of the world's
economic system. They supply us food and raw materials for industry.
3. Why have
several species of wildlife become extinct?
Ans. Several species of wildlife have become
extinct and the number of animals is rapidly decreasing due to cutting of
trees and hunting the animals.
4. Why is
development called the best contraceptive?
Ans.
As a result of development income rises education spreads and health
improves. It means more enlightened population which understand the
value of small families. Thus the development is called the best contraceptive.
5. How are the
earth’s principal biological systems being depleted?
Ans.
The earth’s principal biological
systems are being depleted by excessive use. Over fishing is quite common.
Forests are being cut to obtain firewood for cooking. Grasslands are turning
into barren wastelands and croplands are deteriorating.
6. What does the
writer say about the green movement?
Ans.
The Green Movement aims at creating a holistic and ecological view of
the world. It makes people conscious of stopping further degradation and
deterioration of nature and its resources. It started in 1972.
7. Who has been termed as 'the world's
most dangerous animal?
Ans. Man is the most dangerous animal in
the world. In the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, there is a cage with the notice,
"The World's most dangerous animal." Inside the cage there is no
animal, but only a mirror where you see yourself. It is only man who is making
the environment polluted.
6. The
Browning Version (Terence Rattigan)
Short Type
Q-Ans.
1. Why has
Taplow come to the school in the evening?
Ans. Taplow went
to school on the last day
of school because he was absent from school for few days because he was ill. Taplow had to stay back in
school for extra work so that he could get his remove. This was under the
orders of Mr. Crocker-Harris who was a strict teacher.
2.
What is Taplow’s reaction when Frank suggests that he can go home?
Ans.
Taplow is really shocked at this
suggestion. He reacts strongly and
says that he couldn't cut Mr. Crocker-Harris. It has never been done
during his stay there.
3. Why did
Crocker Harris give extra work to Taplow?
Ans. Crocker Harris gave extra work to Taplow because he was absent few days in the last week
due to illness. Mr. Crocker Harris was a strict teacher. So he gave extra work
to Taplow.
4. How did Frank
encourage Taplow to make fun of Mr. Crocker-Harris?
Ans.
Frank feels jealous of Crocker. So
he encourages Taplow to say things
against Crocker and mock at him.
5. Why did Frank
feel jealous of Croker?
Ans.
Frank, a teacher, is jealous of Mr.
Crocker Harris because
of his influence over students. Mr. Crocker Harris was a strict teacher and all
of his students were scared of him and they follow his orders.
6. Who was
Millie? What did she tell Taplow?
Ans.
Millie was Crocker-Harris's wife.
She told Taplow that he
should go home since Crocker-Harris had not come. When he did not like
that suggestion, she told him that he should take a 15 minute break and then
return to see if Crocker-Harris had arrived.
7. Where did
Millie send Taplow? What was her chief purpose behind that?
Ans.
Millie
sent Taplow to get a prescription from a
chemists' shop. She did not want him to get bored of waiting for her husband
Mr. Crocker Harris.
8.
Silk Road (Nick Middleton)
Short Type
Q-Ans.
1. Why has this
article been titled ‘Silk Road’.
Ans.
The road was named Silk Road because of the silk trade with China by this
route. In the chapter the author travels to Mount Kailash, exploring the
Himalayan belt in Tibet. Since the author explored this region, so the chapter
is titled as Silk Road.
2. Who was
Lhamo? What gift did she give to the author?
Ans.
Lhamo was a Tibetan woman. She gave the
author a long sleeve sheepskin
coat. It was a farewell gift to the author. She gifted the coat as it
would help him rescue the cold weather.
3. What was the
importance of the Silk Road in ancient times?
Ans.
The Silk Road was an ancient trade
route that linked the Western world with the Middle East and Asia. It was a major route for trade between the Roman
Empire and China and later between medieval European kingdoms and China.
4. How does the
writer describes the town of Hor?
Ans.
Hor was a small town on the main east-west highway that
followed the old trade route from Lhasa to Kashmir. The town was on the shore
of Lake Mansarovar. But the author does not feel impressed by it. He found Hor
a grim, miserable place.
5. Why was the
author disappointed with Darchen?
Ans.
The author was disappointed with
Darchen because he had some health
problems as cold. He was not able to breathe well and his nasal was
blockage during the night. The place was dirty and punctuated by heaps of
garbage and refuse.
6. What was the
purpose of the author’s journey of Mount Kailash?
Ans.
The purpose of the author's
journey to Mount Kailash and the Mansarovar Lake was to complete the Kora, which was a
sacred religious ritual according to Hindu and Buddhist tradition.