Flamingo Poetry My Mother at Sixty-Six by Kamala Das Stanza-wise Explanation Stanza1 trees represented how fast we had flown by. The “Drivi . children represented youth, which was full of life Driving feo aay parara borg a kcocbin and energy. Both the young trees and the children last Friday morning, I saw my mother, beside esented a sharp contrast to the mother sitting mé, doze, open mouthed, her face ashen like beside her who was old and sutfering from il-heatt, that of a corpse” Explanation The poet had gone to visit her Stanza 3 parents’ home near Cochin. On Friday morning, “But after the airport's security check, She was returning. On her way to the airport, she standing a few yards away, I looked again at noticed her mother sleeping beside her in the car. her, wan, pale as a late winter’s moon” Her mouth was open. Her face was pale and lifeless, just like a dead body. It perhaps Explanation The young children and trees were expressed the pain she felt because of separation "able to divert her thoughts away. But after reaching from her daughter. the airport and passing through security check, the poet again looked at her mother, who was Stanza 2 sensed a3 ee yards away from her. Her mother “ Jised with pain that she was as old looked ull like a late winter's moon, oan ak ae cane Sa mt eaazonry boca of mist away and looked out at young Trees pete to. the merry children spilling outMultiple Choice Questions tract Based MCs yrection Read the extract given below and wer the following questions by choosing the orect option. 1. Driving ae my parent’s home to Cochin last Friday morning, I saw m: mother, beside me, doze, open Reason : The poet didn’t want to confront the inevitability of fate that was to dawn upon her mother. (a) Assertion can be inferred but the Reason cannot be inferred. (b) Assertion cannot be inferred but the Reason can be inferred. {c) Both Assertion and Reason can be mouthed, her face ashen like that inferred. of a corpse and realised with pain (d) Both Assertion and Reason cannot be that she was as old as she looked but inferred soon put that thought away... (iv) Choose the option that displays the same literary device as in the given (CBSE tion Bank. ge ae ai lines of the extract. her face (i) Choose the option that best applies to the given extract. l.aconyersation 2. an argument 3. apiece of advice 4. a strategy ashen like that of a corpse ... (a) Just as | had this thought, she appeared and... (b) My thoughts were as heavy as lead that evening when {c) I think like everyone else who. (d) | like to think aloud when ... 02. And looked out at Young Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling out of their homes, but afier the airport's security check, standing a few iy 5.arecollection _6. a suggestion (a) L3and6 (b) 2,4and5 (c) Only (3) Only? (ii) Choose the book title that perfectly describes the condition of the poet's mother. 1. Title 1 You're Only Old Dr. Seuss. i BAAS: 2. Title 2 The AG Once! by fe)104 (c) Atearful voice broke out, broken and soft : (d) | made the best of it, but | felt sleepy. 15. Which of the following does NOT ‘represent the contrast between the poet’s mother and the scene outside? (a) dulland energetic —_(b) youth and old age. (c) freedom and captivity (d) None of these 16. Read the statements given below. Choose the option that accurately describes the given statements. Statement 1 The poem is about subtelties of human relationships. Statement 2 The poet’s mother represent everyone in their old age. Statement 3 The poem talks about the acceptance of the natural order of death. (a) Statement lis true, Statement 2s false, Statement 3 cannot be inferred. (b) Statement 1 and 3 are false, Statement 2 cannot be inferred (c) Statement lis true, Statement 2and3 cannot be inferred, (d) Statement lis false, Statement 2 cannot be inferred, Statement 3is true. Choose the option that correctly categorises the given literary devices as per the given analogy. si CBSE New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term yy {a) personification; I look at her (b) transferred epithet; smile and smile and smijg (c) metaphor: smile and smile and smile (d) simile; Hook at her 18, Ifthe poet were to write or speak out the fear, then which one of the following would she most likely write/speak? a) No, can't leave her, when | know i may not be able to see her again. (b) Ineed to accept that | may not meet her again (c) She has grown old and nearing death. This may be the last time | am seeing her. (4) It hurts to realise that mother will not meet me again, when | am here in Cochin, 19. Which of the following correctly illustrates the poets feeling when she sees her mother? 1. Upset 2.Love 3. Sad 4. Regret 5. Anxious 6. Despairing (a) land3 (b)2 and 4 (c) 1and5 (a) 5and6 20. Kamala Das looked out of the car to drive away the painful thought. However, she saw an image that her pain, (b) heighteneaAn Elementary School Classroom in a Slum by Stephen Spender Stanza-wise Explanation Stanza 1 “far far from gusty waves these children’s faces. Like rootless weeds, the hair torn round their pal The tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper- seeming boy, with rat’s eyes. The stunted, unlucky heir Oftwisted bones, reciting a father’s gnarled disease, His lesson, from his desk. At back of the dim class / sad thoughts. The girl is perhaps physically and ‘mentally exhausted due to her poverty. The other students of the class are not in a better situation either. Just like the girl who is burdened with the problems in her life, there is a boy sitting in the class who is as thin as paper, undoubtedly because of malnutrition. He has big eyes like those of a rat. Yet another boy in the classroom has inherited his father's arthritis. Because of the disease, he has stunted growth and his bones are twisted He has inherited this disease from his father and recites his lesson from his desk in a mellow but weak voice. There is another sweet boy sitting at the back of the class. He is sitting there unnoticed, and eeCBSE New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) 1 ae Explanation in this stanza, the poet describes the dirty classroom. The walls of the classroom are pale and dirty, and give a rather unpleasant feeling. On the walls are displayed the names of people who have given donations. There is a picture of Shakespeare on the wall. The pictures of domes of big cities represent the quality of life in those cities. The early morning sky is shown as cloudless in another picture. There is also a picture of the beautiful Tyrolese valley, a region in the Austrian Alpine province, adomed with flowers. The world map which divides the world into countries, big and small, symbolically Gives the children the whole world, But all these pictures have no meaning to these impoverished children. The world depicted on these Walls is not the world of these children. Their world does not contain huge domes or prosperity or the Scenic beauty presented in the picture. Unfortunately, their world is painted with fog, the fog of hopelessness and hunger. Their future is grim and uncertain, and sealed with a dark and dull sky. The poet again says that their world is far away from the actual world of rivers and capes. These things are like stars in the sky, which they cannot touch. Stanza 3 “Surely, Shakespeare is wicked, the map a bad example, With ships and sun and love tempting them to steal— For lives that slyly turn in their cramped holes From fog to endless night? On their re and care only tempt them to eaiseaiive ‘dooy cannot have all these worlly things. They live in cramped holes~like hutments and there is no end to their misery. There is a perpetual state of gloom, hunger and despair. Their bodies look like garbage heaps. They are very skinny and their bones are peeping out of their skin. The state of poverty is intensified by the fact that the glasses which these children wear are cracked and look like broken pieces of a bottle, All of their life is being destroyed here in the slum. The slum is like a blot as big as doom on the maps of these children, i.e., the lives of these children, Stanza 4 “Unless, governor, inspector, visitor, This map becomes their window and these windows That shut upon their lives like catacombs, Break O break open till they break the town And show the children to green fields, and make their world Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues Run naked into books the white and green leaves open History theirs whose language is the sun,” Explanation These children will continue to suffer this hell unless government officials, like ‘governors, inspectors or educationists who visit ‘Such schools, come forward to help them. The post wants the civilised world to bridge th {Jap between them and the world of these ould offer tMultiple Choice Questions Extract Based MCQs pirection Read the extract given below and anseer the following questions by choosing the correct option. 01, Far far from gusty waves these children’s faces, Like rootless weeds, the hair torn around their pallor: The tall girl with her weighed-down head. The paper seeming boy, with rat’s eyes. The stunted, unlucky heir Of twisted bones, reciting a father’s gnarled disease. His lesson, from the desk. At back of the dim class. One unnoted, sweet and young. (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (i) The phrase ‘weighed-down head’ DOES NOT refer to being (a) burdened by poverty. (b) ashamed at her plight. (c) distressed due to di (d) dizzy with a headache (ii) Pick the option that matches the words / phrases with the literary (ii) Pick the option that enumerates the tone of the poet in this extract. 1. apprehensive 2. compassionate 3.resentful 4. thoughtful 5. disillusioned 6. woeful (a) 2,4and6 (b) 1,4and5 (0) 3,5and6 (d) 1, 3and6 {iv) The ‘gusty waves’, most likely, indicate {a) survival and struggle. (b) verve end brightness. (c) drudgery and duliness. (d) animation and alertness. 02. “On sour cream walls, donations. Shakespeare’s head, Goudie at dawn, civilised dome ri Balled toe Ty Tyrolese valley. Open-handed eer eerie (@) What does the expression “sour creams wall’s” denote? (a) Poverty of these children (b) Glessroom peerermeinsiedtern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) 108 eahenaceneneennenganntanss COSE NOW LOPS aed (iv) Which of the following lines clearly depicts the concept of class disparities? (a) Civilised dome riding all cities (b) Awarding the world its world (c} Shakespeare's head (d) Open handed map 03. This map becomes their windows and these windows That shut upon their lives like aot) meets] catacombs, ees Break O break open till they break the Prien tal town yi And show the children to green fields, =) ayittt and make their world Run azure on gold sands, and let their tongues Run naked into books the white and green leaves open History theirs whose language is the Sun. (CBSE Question Bank 2021) The children should be | 2: (a) Option 1 (b) Option 2 (c) Option 3 (d) Option 4 (iv) On the basis of the extract, pick the opinion that is closest to that of the poet. (i) Pick the option that is NOT TRUE Given free time to play in according to this extract. the fields to develop their (a) The children should be allowed to read ptucmatltagL books and form their opinions. (b) Education without breaking the shackles of poverty, is meaningless. The children must be given {c) The policy makers show the reality of freedom to experience the the real world to the children. (d) The children see the world of and misery through t!rae (gsE New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) cos Based on Complete Poem (1. Based on the poem, choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below. Statement 1 The poet is in anguish at the plight of the children in nested is sympathetic towards them. Statement 2 The poet presents an exaggerated version of the struggles of the slum children, to garner sympathy. (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (a} Statement 1is true but Statement 2 is faise. {b) Statement lis false but Statement. is true. (c} Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true. {d) Both Statement 1and Statement 2 cannot be inferred. (2. Pick the quote that highlights the contrasting image portrayed in the poem. (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (a) The worst form of inequality s to try and make unequal things equal.’ (0) ‘An imbalance between the rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.’ 7 {c) We must work together to distribution of wealth, 0 109 3. gusty waves 4, run azure on gold sands 5. mended glass 6. squirrel’s game 7. language is the sun (a) 2,4and7 (b) 1, 3and5 (c) 3,4and6 (d) 1, 2and& ‘A child in the slum experiencing the dreary life would have the least access to (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (a) shelter {b) information (c) water (d) education Choose the correct option with respect to the statements given below: Statement 1 The poet gives a videographic view of the classroom located in the slum. Statement 2 The panoramic view ‘embodies the act of emancipation of the poverty stricken. {a) Statement 1.can be inferred from the poem but Statement 2 cannot be.ish Core Class 12th (erm pk oa a chee PE Se Stanza5 “Whaat I want should not be confused with total inactivity. y Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.” Explanation The poet makes a clarification that though he is advocating the need for silence, his advice should not be confused with total inactivity. He does not want any association with death. He says that life is meant to be lived. Stanza 6 “If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.” Explanation The poet further advises that people should stop being self-centred and seffish. For one moment they should not think of keeping their lives moving, meeting their ends or fulfiling their duties. from such ilence, which will arise ra rate tre ae ae Ha ort introspect and overcome their Sadness of failing to understand themselves. themselves with have been threatening Ean ‘heir activities. This moment of silence yi five them time to understand themselves better. “Perhaps the Earth can teach us as when everything seem and later proves to be alive. Now I'll count up to twelve 4 and you keep quiet and I will go. Explanation The poet feels that the Earth can enlighten us and guide us in this process of keeping quiet. He wants us to observe that there ig some activity under apparent stillness; for instance, a seed appears to be ‘dead’, but huge fruit-bearing trees are ‘born’ from such seeds lying ‘dead’ here and there. Finally, the poet thinks that he has said what he intended to. Now he wants us to keep quiet while he is counting to twelve, after which he will leave. Multiple Choice Questions Extract Based MCOs Directions Read the extract given below and answer the following questions by choosing the correct option. 4 01. 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 (c) welcome readers into the world ofthe poem and its subject. (d) address readers as fellow members of the human race.Pc: 5) ae RO ale ee cee alent a ee ee ee ae (BSE. ‘New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) (d) Atwood surrenders to Neruda's desire for silence and not speak in any language. (ai) Why do you think the poet employs words like “exotic” and “strangeness”? (a) To highlight the importance of everyone being together suddenly for once. (b) To emphasise the frentic activity and chaos that usually envelops human life. 2 (c) To indicate the unfamiliarity of a sudden moment without rush or without engine. (d) To direct us towards keeping quiet and how we would all be together in that silence. (iv) Choose the option that correctly matches the idioms given in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Column A Column B ‘Onthe faceof (i) Inexistence the earth 2 What on earth (ii) To do all possible to accomplish something 3. Move heaven (ii) Toexpress 4 Thesalt of the (iv) To be good and earth worthy fa) 1-(i); 2-Civ); 3 ~(iiid 4 ~ (i) (b) 1 (i 2~Ciik 3 ~(ids 4 ~(v) Cc) 1-Ciik: 2~(i); 3~(ivke 4 Cit) (4) 1 Civ: 2 Cis 3 (ii 4=() (2 What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; Twant no truck with (i) About which referring to her (a) Keeping still means 115 (c) Stillness and keeping quiet for some time. does not mean end of everything. (d) All of the above (ii) What is life about according to the poet? (a) Living it gainfully (b) Living a hectic life with no time for anything else (c) Multiple activities to earn as much money as possible (d) Gainfully occupied with time to analyse and introspect (iii) Choose the book title that perfectly describes the purpose of the given lines. {a) Silence: The Power of Quiet in the world full of Noise by Thick Nhat Han. {b) Of chaos and clarity by Rubu Yari (c) Awareness, Clarity, Power by Jill's McDonald (d) The confusion by Neal Stephenson (iv) Explain : ‘No truck with death’. (a) Inactivity mean death (b) No association with death as life is to be lived fully (c) Stillness and inactivity for few minutes indifferent from death (d) Both(b)and{c) 03. If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing,116 CBSE New Pattern ~ y ase, ® @ (2) Option 1 (b) Option 2 (c) Option3 (d) Option 4 (ii) What do you think is the mood of the poet in the above extract? (a) Gloomy, cynical (b) Reflective, inspired (c) Introspective, aware (d) Critical, demotivated (iii) Pick the option that DOES NOT complete the given sentence suitably, as per the extract. Threatening ourselves with death (a) feeds on the fear of death {(b) challenges finiteness of lie. (c) keeps us rushing through life. (d) makes us restless and impatient (iv) What might the “huge silence” signify? (a) Melancholy (c) Discomfort MCQs Based on Complete Poem {b) Understanding (d) Flexibility English Core Class 12th (Term 1) {a} Statement lis True, Statement lis False, and Statement Ill cannot be inferred, (b) Statement | andl cannot be inferred, Statement Illis True. (c) Statement lis True, Statements I! and i cannot be inferred (a) Statement I cannot be inferred, Statement il cannot be inferred, Statement Il is False 02. In the given poem, the poet uses a conversational style to {a) teach an important lesson to mankind. (b) tell something important to mankind. (c) show intimate bonding to mankind, (d) get across his message to mankind. 03. ‘And we will all keep still.’ Choose the option that does not refer to ‘still’. 2. withal 4. assuage 6. serene 1. tranquil 3. subdue. 5. stagnant (a) 1,2and3 (b) 2, 4and5 (c) 1,5and6 (a) 3. 4and6ec ern le mr RT le aaa ae Fae iste Rs el, eee ua ana aaa a? oa cBsE New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) (6, Pick Phrases that portray ‘exotic moment in the poem. |. Fisherman would not harm whales. 2. Salt gatherers would not have hurt hands 3. Victory with no survivors 4. People would walk around with their brothers 5. T want no truck with death (a) 1,2and4 (b) 2, 3and5 (c) 1. 2and5 (4) Only 1and2 3 There is ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve in ‘Keeping Quiet’. With reference this statement, which of the following is incorrect? (a) People are always in a rush and thus, there is strangeness. {b) People cannot stop their work for silence. (c) Total inactivity resulting out of thisis strangeness. (d) Fraternising with people in this silence is strange. 8. Choose the correct option with respect to the two statements given below. Statement 1 Pablo Neruda focuses on all kinds of violence. Statement 2 He mentions that fisherman fish for whales resulting in violence against the environment, {a) Statement | can be inferred but Statement 2 cannot be inferred. (b) Statement 1 cannot be inferred but Statement 2 can be inferred. (c) Statement land inferred. a (3) Statement land Statement inferred. 9. How ‘Keeping Quiet’ is the man who works as ‘Salt; (2) He will get time to take hands. (>) He will not work as’salt (c) He will introspect does. () None of the above a17. 10. What does the expression ‘hurt hands’ imply? (a) Destruction that humans have caused to themselves. (b) Destruction caused to environment in pursuit of man’s selfish needs. {c) Both(a)and(b) (d) None of the above 11. What statement does Neruda make about wars? (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (a) Wars are of varied kinds-internal, green wars, wars with gas, with fire, etc (b) Wars are wasteful and cause irrecoverable Joss and damage to property and life (c) Wars never yield any winners, and the loss is far greater than what can be measured, (a) War are unavoidable in the enduring struggle for human dignity and power. 12. Explain the phrase: “Victory with No Survivors”. (a) Celebrating victory (b) Due to mass deaths no one is left to celebrate victory {c) Huge loss of human life {d) Huge loss of property 13, What does the expression “put on clean clothes” imply? (a) Leave the evil ways {b) To make peace with fellow human beings118 15. 16. (iii) Wars present a desolate picture as no man can live to enjoy life. (iv) The poet stands firmly against wars and in silence finds the seeds of fraternity. (a) Fact -(i) and (i); Opinion -(ii)and (iv) (b) Fact - i) and (i) ; Opinion -(i) and(iv) (c) Fact -i)and (it); Opinion ~(ii) andi) (4) Fact -(i)and\iv); Opinion -(i)and(ii) “What I want should not be confused with total inact ae (CBSE Question Bank 2021) Choose the option that draws the most accurate parallel. keeping quiet: total inactivit (a) reflection and death (b) silence and chaos {c) stagnation and introspection (q) mindfulness and fear “If we were not so single-minded... ” In the given line, single minded can imply 1. Materialistism 2. Greed 3. Selfish nature 4. Hypocritical 5. Religious 6. Caring (a) 1. 3and4 (b) 1, 2and3 (c) 4,5and6 (d) 1, 3and4 . Look at the given book covers. Pick the option that reflects the idea behind the line ‘perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death.’ CBSE New Pattern ~ English Core Class 12th (Term 1) (a) Option? (b) Option2 (c) Option 3 (4) Option 4 48. In the poem, ‘Earth’ is meant as a... (a) example (b) inspiration (c) revelation (a) Both(a)and(b) 19. “Now I'll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.” Why does the poet wish to go at the end of the poem? (CBSE Question Bank 2021) (a) The poet does not believe people will be quiet. (b) The poet has already invested enough time. (c) The poet will move on and seek to inspire others. (4) The poet is marking the end of the poem by leaving. 20. Choose the option that appropriately shows a quote which will be promoted by the poet. (a) The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear-Rumi (b) A fool is known by his speech and a wise ‘man by silence-Pythagorus. {c} Silence is only frightening to people whoBS ne OE SN lag 12 CTEM Dig eg sees 119 2, According to Neruda, a huge silence can do good to us. With reference to the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ which of the following is TRUE? (a) Silence leads to retrospection. (b) Silence means total inactivity. (c) Silence leads to sleep. (d) Death is the ultimate silence. 28, What can be said about the poet’s perception of life? ; (a) Itis about introspection. (b) itis about harmony. (c} 1tis about chaos and noise. (4) Itisa continuous evolution. 24. Look at the statements given below. Choose the option that correctly identifies which statements are facts and which are opinions. 1, Silence is the best way to introspect. 2. Introspection can only come when a person is willing to do so. 3. Nobody will be able to introspect in twelve seconds. 4. Introspection for Neruda is symbolic of peace and fraternity. (a) F-land 3, Q-2and4 (b) F-1and 4, 0-2 and3 (c) F-2and4, O-1and 3 (d) F-3 and 4, O-1and 2 ANSWERS Extract Based MCOs Extract 1 0% wW@ td wm Wo Extract 2 V0@ w@ td wm WO Extract 3 o®@ Mo wo ww MCQs Based on Complete Poem L@ 20 32@ 4@ 5 @ IL (@ 12) 13 @ 14 @ 15 @ 21. (@ 22. (a) 23. (a) 24.