Going Places

11/22/23, 12:30 AM Going Places- Class 12 English Explanation, Summary, Difficult Words
Going Places
Passage – “When I leave,” Sophie said, coming home from school,
“I’m going to have a boutique.”
Jansie, linking arms with her along the street; looked doubtful.
“Takes money, Soaf, something like that.”
“I’ll find it,” Sophie said, staring far down the street.
“Take you a long time to save that much.”
“Well I’ll be a manager then — yes, of course — to begin with. Till I’ve got enough. But
anyway, I know just how it’s all going to look.”
“They wouldn’t make you manager straight off, Soaf.”
“I’ll be like Mary Quant,” Sophie said. “I’ll be a
natural.
They’ll see it from the start. I’ll have the most amazing shop this city’s ever seen.’”
Word Meaning:
Boutique: a small shop selling fashionable clothes
Explanation of the Above Passage – The story begins with a conversation between two
teenage girls Sophie and Jansie. Sophie lives in a world of imagination whereas Jansie is totally
opposite to her. Sophie imagines of owning a boutique one day, a place where she can sell
fashionable clothes. Jansie feels that it requires a lot of money to open up a boutique. She also
tells her that it will take her a long time to save that much amount. To this Sophie replies that
she will work as a Manager and when she will save enough money then will work on opening
up a boutique. She is interrupted by Jansie as she tells her that nobody will hire her straight up
to the managerial post. Sophie changes her plan and decides to be a fashion icon like Mary
Quant. She also adds that she will have the best boutique shop that no one has ever seen in the
city.
Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy. She
wished Sophie wouldn’t say these things.
Passage – When they reached Sophie’s street Jansie said, “It’s only a few months away
now, Soaf, you really should be sensible. They don’t pay well for shop work; you know
that, your dad would never allow it.”
“Or an actress. Now there’s real money in that. Yes, and I could maybe have the boutique
on the side. Actresses don’t work full time, do they? Anyway, that or a fashion designer,
you know — something a bit sophisticated”.
And she turned in through the open street door leaving Jansie standing in the rain.
“If ever I come into money I’ll buy a boutique.”
“Huh – if you ever come into money… if you ever come into money you’ll buy us a blessed
decent house to live in, thank you very much.”
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Word Meaning:
Earmarked: set aside, reserved

Melancholy: sad
Sophisticated: worldly, Cosmopolitan
Decent: adequate
Explanation of the Above Passage – Jansie is a realistic person. She knows that in reality they
are just workers at a Biscuit factory. On hearing Sophie’s thoughts, she becomes sad. When they
reach Sophie’s street, Jansie tries to explain the reality of their life. She tells her that they don’t
receive much at the factory where they work. She also tells her that her dad would not allow her
to leave the job. Sophie, on the other hand, is still lost in her dreams. She says that she can also
be an actress as it would earn her a lot of money. She also wants to run a side business of
boutique as she thinks that actresses don’t work full time. When they reach home, Sophie enters
into her house and turns the door. Jansie is left alone in the rain. Sophie is still murmuring the
same sentence that if she will get money, she will buy a boutique. Someone in the house teases
her that if she ever has money, she should buy a good house for her family.
Passage – Sophie’s father was scooping shepherd’s pie into his mouth as hard as he could
go, his plump face still grimy and sweat — marked from the day.
“She thinks money grows on trees, doesn’t she, Dad?’ said little Derek, hanging on the
back of his father’s chair.
Their mother sighed. Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the
incongruity of the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings. The delicate seeming
bow and the crooked back. The evening had already blacked in the windows and the small
room was steamy from the stove and cluttered with the heavy-breathing man in his vest at
the table and the dirty washing piled up in the corner. Sophie felt a tightening in her
throat. She went to look for her brother Geoff.
Word Meaning:
Scooping: here, eating

Grimy: dirty, soiled
Sighed: breathe out
Stooped: shoulder bent forward
Incongruity: inappropriate
Crooked: bent
Cluttered: untidy, litter
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Explanation of the Above Passage –
Sophie’s father was eating a shepherd’s pie. His face was unclean with dirt and sweat. Her
younger brother Derek, said to his father that Sophie thought that money grew on trees. He also
felt that she was not realistic. Her mother who was busy with her work took a deep breath.
Sophie noticed her working in the kitchen. Her mother had stooping shoulders that were bent
forward. She had tied an apron on her back which was bent and not in the right shape. Maybe
she looked so because of the heavy burden of work on her. It was turning dark and the house
was full of steam and the kitchen was messed up with litter.
Sophie felt uncomfortable so she went up to her brother Geoff.
Passage – He was kneeling on the floor in the next room tinkering with a part of his
motorcycle over some newspaper spread on the carpet. He was three years out of school,
an apprentice mechanic, traveling to his work each day to the far side of the city. He was
almost grown up now, and she suspected areas of his life about which she knew nothing,
about which he never spoke. He said little at all, ever, voluntarily. Words had to be prized
out of him like stones out of the ground. And she was jealous of his silence. When he
wasn’t speaking it was as though he was away somewhere, out there in the world in those
places she had never been. Whether they were only the outlying districts of the city, or
places beyond in the surrounding country — who knew? — they attained a special
fascination simply because they were unknown to her and remained out of her reach.
Word Meaning:
Kneeling: be in a position in which body is supported by knees.

Tinkering: repairing
Apprentice: learner
Suspected: guess, think
Outlying: distant place
Fascination: captivation
Explanation of the Above Passage – Geoff was in the next room, sitting with bent knees, on
the carpet. He was repairing some part of his motorcycle. He was a trainee mechanic who had
left his school three years ago. He had to travel long distances in search of work. Sophie was
sometimes doubtful about his brother as he didn’t speak much about his life. Therefore, she
always imagined about the way of life her brother led. She was so jealous of his silence because
she wanted to know about the places that he used to visit. She thought that they could be some
distant places of the city or maybe some countryside. All these thoughts were so captivating
because they were far away from her reach.
Passage – Perhaps there were also people, exotic, interesting people of whom he never
spoke — it was possible, though he was quiet and didn’t make new friends easily. She
longed to know them. She wished she could be admitted more deeply into her brother’s
affections and that someday he might take her with him. Though their father forbade it and
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Geoff had never expressed an opinion, she knew he thought her too young. And she was
impatient. She was conscious of a vast world out there waiting for her and she knew
instinctively that she would feel as at home there as in the city which had always been her
home. It expectantly awaited her arrival. She saw herself riding there behind Geoff. He
wore new, shining black leathers and she a yellow dress with a kind of cape that flew out
behind. There was the sound of applause as the world rose to greet them.
Word Meaning:
Perhaps: maybe
Exotic: foreign, nonnative
Longed: wish
Affections: fondness, love
Forbade: ban, prohibit
Instinctively: without conscious thought
Cape: wrap, stole
Applause: clapping
Explanation of the Above Passage – Sophie imagined her brother’s personal life. She thought
that her brother never spoke about his life but maybe he knew some non-native people who
were very interesting. Though she knew that her brother didn’t have many friends, still she felt
that it was possible that he might have some special friends. So, sometimes she wished she
could become close to her brother so that he would take her out with him. She knew that her
father would never allow her to do so. Even her brother considered her not big enough to go
outside. But she was growing impatient and wanted to go outside as she believed that she
would be comfortable there just like in her own city. So, she imagined herself riding with
Geoff, he wearing a shiny black jacket and she wearing a beautiful yellow dress with a stole
flying
behind her as they would ride his motorcycle. She dreamt that people stood up to welcome her
by clapping when she rode with her brother.
Passage – He sat frowning at the oily component he cradled in his hands, as though it
were a small dumb animal and he was willing it to speak.
“I met Danny Casey,” Sophie said. He looked around abruptly. “Where?”
“In the arcade—funnily enough.” “It’s never true.”
“I did too.”
“You told Dad?”
She shook her head, chastened at his unawareness that he was always the first to share
her secrets. “I don’t believe it.”
“There I was looking at the clothes in Royce’s window when someone came and stood
beside me, and I looked around and who should it be but Danny Casey.”
“All right, what does he look like?”
“Oh come on, you know what he looks like.”
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“Close to, I mean.”
“Well — he has green eyes. Gentle eyes. And he’s not so tall as you’d think…” She
wondered if she should say about his teeth, but decided against it.
Word Meaning:
Frowning: annoyed
Component: part, piece
Cradled: hold
Abruptly: suddenly
Arcade: Gallery
Chastened: subdue, humble
Explanation of the Above Passage – Her brother looked annoyed at the oily part of the
motorcycle that he was handling. He was trying to make it work but all his attempts were
wasted. Sophie said that she met Danny Casey, a famous football player. Her brother suddenly
looked at her and asked her where she met him. She said that she was in a gallery when
she saw him. He didn’t believe her and asked if she told this to their father. She did not
approve of her brother’s question as she wanted to say that he must know that he is the one
with whom she shared her secrets. So, she began her story that she was at Royce’s boutique
and was
looking for some dresses when somebody came and stood behind her. She turned and found
him to be Danny Casey. Her brother asked her about his appearance. She told him that he
had green colured gentle eyes and was not as tall as she thought him to be.
Passage – Their father had washed when he came in and his face and arms were shiny
and pink and he smelled of soap. He switched on the television, tossed one of little Derek’s
shoes from his chair onto the sofa, and sat down with a grunt. “Sophie meet Danny Casey,”
Geoff said. Sophie wriggled where she was sitting at the table. Her father turned his head
on his thick neck to look at her. His expression was one of disdains.
“It’s true,” Geoff said. “I once knew a man who had known Tom Finney,” his father said
reverently to the television. “But that was a long time ago.” “You told us,” Geoff said.
Word Meaning:
Grunt: a low rough noise

Wriggled: twist, turn
Disdain: scorn, disrespect
Reverently: with deep respect
Explanation of the Above Passage – While both brother and sister were in their conversation,
their father entered the room. He looked clean and shiny as he had taken a bath. He switched
on his television and sat on his chair after shifting Derek’s shoe from his chair to the sofa. As he
sat in his chair, Geoff told him that Sophie had met Danny Casey. On hearing this he turned
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towards Sophie. He looked at her scornfully because he couldn’t believe her. Geoff clarified it
to be true. The father then told them that he once knew a man who had known Tom Finney a
long
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time ago. Tom Finney was a legendary footballer. He took his name with great respect. Geoff
agreed their father had told him this earlier.
Passage – “Casey might be that good someday.”

“Better than that even. He’s the best.”
“If he keeps his head on his shoulders. If they look after him properly. A lot of distractions
for a youngster in the game these days.”
“He’ll be all right. He’s with the best team in the
country.” “He’s very young yet.”
“He’s older than I am.”
“Too young really for the first team.”
“You can’t argue with that sort of
ability.”
“He’s going to buy a shop,” Sophie said from the table.
Her father grimaced. “Where’d you hear that?”
“He told me so.”
He muttered something inaudible and dragged himself round in his chair. “This another of
your wild stories?”
“She met him in the arcade,” Geoff said, and told him how it had been.
“One of these days you’re going to talk yourself into a load of trouble,” her father said
aggressively.
“Geoff knows it’s true, don’t you Geoff?”
“He don’t believe you-though he’d like to.”
Word Meaning:
Distractions: diversion, disturbance

Grimaced: angry
Inaudible: unheard
Explanation of the Above Passage – They were discussing football players. Father said that he
thought that one day Casey might become as good as Finney. Someone among Geoff and
Sophie replied that Casey was better as he was very talented, but their father did not agree. He
said that he was very young and as there were so many diversions for a young footballer, he
might work hard. Geoff did not agree and said that he was with the best team and the best
player too. Meanwhile, Sophie told them that Casey was going to buy a new shop. Her father
looked at her angrily and asked her where did she get to know this. He doubted it to be one of
her imagination. Her brother interrupted and said that she met him. Her father warned her that
such things could lead her to trouble. She then tried to justify herself by saying that Geoff knew
this and trusted her. Her father replied that he did not believe her although he wanted to.
Passage – The table lamp cast an amber glow across her brother’s bedroom wall, and
across the large poster of United’s first team squad and the row of coloured photographs
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beneath, three of them of the young Irish prodigy, Casey.
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“Promise you’ll tell no-one?” Sophie

said. “Nothing to tell is there?”
“Promise, Geoff — Dad’d murder me.”
“Only if he thought it was true.”
“Please, Geoff.”
“Christ, Sophie, you’re still at school. Casey must have strings of
girls.” “No he doesn’t.”
“How could you know that?” he jeered.
“He told me, that’s how.”
“As if anyone would tell a girl something like that.”
“Yes he did. He isn’t like that. He’s… quiet.”
“Not as quiet as all that — apparently.”
“It was nothing like that, Geoff — it was me spoke first. When I saw who it was, I said,
“Excuse me, but aren’t you Danny Casey?” And he looked sort of surprised. And he said,
“Yes, that’s right.” And I knew it must be him because he had the accent, you know, like
when they interviewed him on the television. So I asked him for an autograph for little
Derek, but neither of us had any paper or a pen. So then we just talked a bit. About the
clothes in Royce’s window. He seemed lonely. After all, it’s a long way from the west of
Ireland. And then, just as he was going, he said, if I would care to meet him next week he
would give me an autograph then. Of course,
I said I would.”
“As if he’d ever show up.”
“You do believe me now, don’t you?”
He dragged his jacket, which was shiny and shapeless, from the back of the chair and
pushed his arms into it. She wished he paid more attention to his appearance. Wished he
cared more about clothes. He was tall with a strong dark face. Handsome, she thought.
“It’s the unlikeliest thing I ever heard,” he said.
Word Meaning:
Prodigy: a young person with exceptional qualities

Strings: here, group
Jeered: tease someone
Apparently: seemingly, evidently
Dragged: pull
Unlikeliest: unexpected, doubtful
Explanation of the Above Passage – Geoff’s room was full of pictures of footballers. There was
a picture of Casey also who has been described as a young Irish man with exceptional qualities.
Sophie told her brother another secret of her but on a condition that he would not tell this to
their dad. His brother did not want to believe her but listened to her because of her undue
stress. She then told him that when she met him, it was she who started the conversation by
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asking him whether he was Danny Casey. She also asked for an autograph for little Derek but
as both of them didn’t have any pen or paper, he promised to give it in their next meeting. Her
brother did not believe this as he was doubtful of what she was saying. So, he picked up his
jacket and left. Sophie wondered if her brother did not care about his looks much though he
should be doing so because he was tall and handsome.
Passage – On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to watch United. Sophie and her
father and little Derek went down near the goal — Geoff, as always, went with his mates
higher up. United won two-nil and Casey drove in the second goal, a blend of innocence
and Irish genius, going around the two big defenders on the edge of the penalty area, with
her father screaming for him to pass, and beating the hesitant goalkeeper from a dozen
yards. Sophie glowed with pride. Afterwards Geoff was ecstatic.
“I wish he was an Englishman,” someone said on the bus. “Ireland’ll win the World Cup,”
little Derek told his mother when Sophie brought him home. Her father was gone to the
pub to celebrate.
Word Meaning:
Pilgrimage: religious journey, but here their devotion towards football match
Mates: friends
Hesitant: undecided
Ecstatic: joyful excitement
Explanation of the Above Passage – On Saturday Sophie, her father and two brothers went
to see the football match of their favorite team- United. It was a regular thing for them because
they were all huge fans of football. Sophie, Derek and her father stayed near the goal and Geoff
went up higher with his friends to see the match. Team United won the match with a score of 2
and nil. The second goal was made by Casey and he did it with such perfection. Everyone was
happy, Sophie was so happy that she glowed and Geoff was so excited.
Sophie’s father went to the pub after the match and so she brought her brother Derek back
home. Derek told his mother that this time Ireland would win the world cup.
Passage – “What’s this you’ve been telling?” Jansie said, next week.
“About what?”
“Your Geoff told our Frank you met Danny Casey.”
This wasn’t an inquisition, just Jansie being nosey. But Sophie was startled.
“Oh, that.”
Jansie frowned, sensing she was covering. “Yes — that.”
“Well-yes, I did.”
“You never did?” Jansie exclaimed.
Sophie glared at the ground. Damn that Geoff, this was a Geoff thing not a Jansie thing. It
was meant to be something special just between them. Something secret. It wasn’t a Jansie
kind of thing at all. Tell gawky Jansie something like that and the whole neighbourhood
would get to know it. Damn that Geoff, was nothing sacred?
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Inquisition: questioning
Word Meaning:
Nosey: curious
Startled: sudden shock
Frowned: angry
Glared: stare angrily
Gawky: graceless
Explanation of the Above Passage – Sophie was inquired by Jansie as to what was she telling
everywhere. Sophie surprisingly asked her the reason for asking her this question. She then told
her that her brother Geoff told Jansie’s Brother, Frank that Sophie had met Danny Casey. Sophie
got angry because she had never thought that her brother would disclose her secret. She was
worried because Jansie had the habit of sharing secrets with the whole neighborhood which she
didn’t want to happen. Sophie got angry with Geoff’s behavior.
Passage – “It’s a secret — meant to be.”

“I’ll keep a secret, Soaf, you know that.”
“I wasn’t going to tell anyone. There’ll be a right old row if my dad gets to hear about it.”
Jansie blinked. “A row? I’d have thought he’d be chuffed as anything.”
She realised then that Jansie didn’t know about the date bit — Geoff hadn’t told about that.
She breathed more easily. So Geoff hadn’t let her down after all. He believed in her after
all. After all some things might be sacred.
“It was just a little thing really. I asked him for an autograph, but we hadn’t any paper or a
pen so it was no good.” How much had Geoff said?
“Jesus, I wish I’d have been there.”
“Of course, my dad didn’t want to believe it. You know what a misery he is. But the last
thing I need is queues of people round our house asking him, “What’s all this about Danny
Casey?” He’d murder me. And you know how my mum gets when there’s a row.”
Jansie said, hushed, “You can trust me, Soaf, you know that.”
Word Meaning:
Row: here, so much noise

Chuffed: cheerful
Misery: discomfort
Hushed: quiet
Explanation of the Above Passage – Sophie explained to Jansie that this was her secret and
she didn’t want to share it because then people would line up outside their house and ask about
this. Her dad would kill her on this. Jansie got surprised to hear this, she said that she thought
that her father would be happy to hear this. But Sophie told her that it was not so and the
continuous noise of the neighbours could disturb her mother too. She realized that Jansie was
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not aware of each and everything so she felt happy that her brother did keep some part as a
secret. She then told her that she had met him and asked for an autograph but couldn’t get it
because of lack of pen and paper. She even tells Jansie that her dad did not believe her. Jansie
promised her to keep her secret.
Passage – After dark she walked by the canal, along a sheltered path lighted only by the
glare of the lamps from the wharf across the water, and the unceasing drone of the city
was mu½ed and distant. It was a place she had often played in when she was a child.
There was a wooden bench beneath a solitary elm where lovers sometimes came. She sat
down to wait. It was the perfect place, she had always thought so, for a meeting of this
kind. For those who wished not to be observed. She knew he would approve. For some
while, waiting, she imagined his coming. She watched along the canal, seeing him come
out of the shadows, imagining her own consequent excitement. Not until sometime had
elapsed did she begin balancing against this the idea of his not coming.
Word Meaning:
Canal: waterway
Wharf: dock
Muffed: messed up
Solitary elm: single tree (elm is a tall tree)
Elapsed: pass, go by
Explanation of the Above Passage – After it was dark, Sophie went through a sheltered path
along a waterway. It was far away from the noisy city. She used to play here as a child. She sat
on a wooden bench which was under a long elm tree. According to her it was the perfect place
for lovers to meet. She sat there and started waiting for Casey. She got lost in her imagination of
Casey coming to meet her. After a while she realized that he was not coming and it was just her
imagination.
Passage – Here I sit, she said to herself, wishing Danny would come, wishing he would
come and sensing the time passing.
I feel the pangs of doubt stirring inside me. I watch for him but still there is no sign of him. I
remember Geoff saying he would never come, and how none of them believed me when I
told them. I wonder what will I do, what can I tell them now if he doesn’t come? But we
know how it was, Danny and me — that’s the main thing. How can you help what people
choose to believe? But all the same, it makes me despondent, this knowing I’ll never be
able to show them they’re wrong to doubt me. She waited, measuring in this way the
changes taking place in her. Resignation was no sudden thing.
Word Meaning:
Pangs: sharp pain

Despondent: disheartened
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Resignation: departure, leaving
Explanation of the Above Passage – Many thoughts came to Sophie’s mind. She waited for
Danny to come but he didn’t come to meet her. She felt a deep pain inside her. She thought that
people didn’t believe her story. If Danny came, she could tell them that she was not lying. Again
she thought that it is not an easy thing to make everyone believe oneself. As so many thoughts
were coming to her mind she felt like many changes were taking place inside her. All this was
very painful and she wanted to leave now.
Passage – Now I have become sad, she thought. And it is a hard burden to carry, this
sadness. Sitting here waiting and knowing he will not come I can see the future and how I
will have to live with this burden. They of course will doubt me, as they always doubted
me, but I will have to hold up my head remembering how it was. Already I envisage the
slow walk home and Geoff’s disappointed face when I tell him, “He didn’t come, that
Danny.” And then he’ll fly out and slam the door. “But we know how it was,” I shall tell
myself, “Danny and me.” It is a hard thing, this sadness. She climbed the crumbling steps to
the street. Outside the pub she passed her father’s bicycle propped against the wall, and
was glad. He would not be there when she got home.
Word Meaning:
Envisage: predict
Crumbling: broken
Explanation of the Above Passage – Sophie became sad. She felt it to be very tough to
bear the burden that Danny didn’t come to meet her. She had been waiting for him, though she
knew that he would never come. She was also worried about how people would doubt her
and
disbelieve on what she said. She also thought that Geoff would beat hard against the door on
knowing that Danny didn’t come to meet her. So she’s quite sad now. As she was walking back to
her home, she saw her father’s bicycle in front of the pub. She felt happy that she would not
have to face her father on reaching home.
Passage – “Excuse me, but aren’t you Danny Casey?” Coming through the arcade she
pictured him again outside Royce’s.
He turns, reddening slightly. “Yes, that’s right.”
“I watch you every week, with my dad and my brothers. We think you’re great.”
“Oh, well now — that’s very nice.”
“I wonder — would you mind signing an autograph?”
His eyes are on the same level as your own. His nose is freckled and turns upwards slightly,
and when he smiles he does so shyly, exposing teeth with gaps between. His eyes are
green, and when he looks straight at you they seem to shimmer. They seem gentle, almost
afraid. Like a gazelle’s. And you look away. You let his eyes run over you a little.
And then you come back to find them, slightly breathless.
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Word Meaning:
Reddening: blush
Freckled: pale/brown spot on skin
Exposing: uncover
Gazelle: An Asian-African antelope
Explanation of the Above Passage – While Sophie was returning to her home, she
passed through the Royce’s boutique. She again imagined meeting Danny Casey. She again
tried to
initiate a talk with him by asking him if he was Danny Casey and also asked for an autograph
Passage – And he says, “I don’t seem to have a pen at all.” You realise you haven’t either.
“My brothers will be very sorry,” you say.
And afterwards you wait there alone in the arcade for a long while, standing where he
stood, remembering the soft melodious voice, the shimmer of green eyes. No taller than
you. No bolder than you. The prodigy. The innocent genius. The great Danny Casey.
And she saw it all again, last Saturday — saw him ghost past the lumbering defenders,
heard the fifty thousand catch their breath as he hovered momentarily over the ball, and
then the explosion of sound as he struck it crisply into the goal, the sudden thunderous
eruption of exultant approbation.
Word Meaning:
Melodious: musical
Lumbering: moving in awkward way
Hovered: fly
Momentarily: briefly
Thunderous: so strong like thunder of cloud
Eruption: explosion
Exultant: overjoyed
Approbation: Approval, acceptance
Explanation of the Above Passage – When she asked for an autograph, they both realized
that none of them had a pen or paper. She felt sad for her brothers. When Casey left, she kept
standing there thinking of his sweet voice, green eyes, innocence and his geniuses. Then her
imagination took her to the football match she had watched with her family last Saturday. She
imagined of Danny Casey striking the goal in such a heroic way that she felt an explosion on the
football ground. She felt so overjoyed with the winning of the united team and with the heroic
performance of Danny Casey, her hero.
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11/22/23, 12:43 AM Class 12 English Flamingo book Chapter 8 Going Places MCQs
Q1- Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them
that show up in the story?
A1-Sophie and Jansie were totally opposite of each other though they were friends. Sophie was always lost in
her dreams. She wanted to lead a life full of luxury and sophistication.
She dreamt of owning a boutique, be like Mary Quaint or an actress and wanted to
become rich and famous. On the other hand, Jansie was a girl who had a realistic approach towards life. She
knew that they came from a poor family and were working in a small factory. Therefore, she did not involve
herself in daydreams like Sophie. Rather she tried to teach her that such dreams required a lot of money and
a meager salary from the factory was not enough to fulfill such dreams.
Q2- How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
A2-Sophie’s father is a plump and aggressive person. Sophie fears his anger. He doesn’t believe in the wild
stories of his daughter but as a caring father, he reminds her not to make such stories as this could lead
her to trouble. He is a football fan because he visits the football ground with his kids, every Saturday, to
watch his favorite team ‘United’ play the match. He also wishes Danny Casey to become like Finney and
enjoys the winning of his team by visiting the pub.
Q3- Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what
did he symbolise?
A3- Geoff was an introvert type of person and so he spoke less about himself. This made Sophie like him as
she thought that he visited some secret places that were full of
interesting people. So, she tried to win his affection in order to get a chance to ride with him to that special
place where she would visit by wearing a beautiful yellow dress. She also imagined of being welcomed by the
crowd there. Sophie wanted to live that beautiful life which was full of colours and happiness that Geoff lived
but she could not.
Q4- What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s
financial status?
A4- Sophie belonged to a lower middle class family. She lived in a small house with her family. When she
returned home from school, she felt uncomfortable because of the steam and the untidy look of her house.
Her mother was stooping because of the burden of the work she did. Her father was a labourer and her
elder brother was a mechanic. She also worked in a biscuit factory in order to support her family. Such
things indicated that Sophie belonged to a lower middle class family.
https://www.successcds.net/cce-cbse/class-xii/english/mcq/chapter-8-going-places.html
15/
MCQ
Q1- Who is A. R. Barton?
A) A modern writer
B) author of Going Places
C) lives in Zurich and writes in English
D) All these
Q2- What theme does Barton explore in this story?
A) theme of children’s happiness

B) theme of adolescent fantasising and hero worship
C) theme of elderly people’s happiness
D) theme of individual happiness
Q3- What is the sub theme of the story?
A) Relationships- family and friends

B) friends
C) family members
D) adolescents
Q4- What is the significance of the subject discussed in the lesson?

A) it tells how to deal with friends
B) it tells how to behave smartly
C) immediate relevance to the life of school leavers
D) it tells how to behave with elderly
16/
Q5- What are the literary devices used in the lesson?
A) metaphorical expressions and slangs

B) similes
C) irony
D) none
Q6- what is the meaning of the word “chuffed”?
A) meaning delighted or very pleased

B) meaning not happy
C) meaning frustated
D) none
Q7- what is the meaning of the words :“nosey”, “gawky”?
A) “nosey”, meaning inquisitive and “gawky”, meaning awkward, ungainly.

B) noisy and beautiful
C) noisy and useful
D) noisy and gainful
Q8- The story Going Places revolve around whom?
A) a fat boy
B) an old couple
C) a teenage girl Sophie, her family and friends
D) none
Q9- What kind of girl is Sophie ?
17/
18/
A) a happy go lucky kind

B) a realistic
C) Day dreamer
D) a naughty child
Q10- What is Sophie in reality?
A) a dreamer
B) a fighter
C) a worker at Biscuit factory
D) none
Q11- What does Sophie dream about?
A) Becoming an actor
B) becoming a manager
C) a sophisticated person
D) becoming rich and sophisticated
Q12- What is the turning point in the story?
A) when she fights with her brother.

B) when her father gets angry.
C) when her brorher reveals her story.
D) when she thinks of meeting Danny Casey- a famous football player
Q13- What story she make up in front of her brother?
A) She will become an actress

B) she will become a manager
C) she will be a famous beautician
D) Casey will come to meet her.
Q14 Who are Sophie and Jansie?
19/
A) teenagers who are friends and classmates

B) neighbourers
C) colleagues
D) actors
Q15- Explain – Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground.
A) ii was difficult to speak to him

B) it was difficult to locate him in a shop
C) it was difficult to locate him in factory
D) it was difficult to get information out of him
Q16- Where is Sophie lost?
A) in her imagination
B) in her dreams
C) in her words
D) in her imagination and dream of owning a boutique shop to become a famous
fashion designer
Q17 What does Jansie tell Sophie?
A) talk unrealistic
B) be wise
C) be practical
D) be sensible and not to dream big
Q18- Why does Jansie discourage Sophie to dream big?
A) because it requires a lot of money

B) because it is not practical
C) because it is unrealistic
D) all these
20/
Q19- What was Sophie’s reply to Jansie?
A) That she will go door to door to collect money

B) She will open a boutique
C) she will open an office
D) she will become an actress or a manager to realize her dream.
Q20- Why does she want to be an actress?
A) to earn money
B) to be famous
C) to be a fashiondesigner
D) to earn a lot of money and open a boutique to be famous fashion designer.
Q21- Why is Jansie not able to support Sophie’s view?
A) because he is a happy go lucky man

B) because his imagination is poor
C) because he is unable to believe
D) because he is a realistic and believes in practicality
Q22- Why does Sophie feel choked in the house?
A) because of stove’s steam and dirtydishes

B) because of foul smell
C) because of smoke
D) because of no air
Q23- Who is Sophie’s elder brother?
A) Geoffe – a trainee mechanic

B) Jansie
C) Dany Casey
D) none
Q24- Explain- On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to the United
21/
A) repairing stove
B) repairing a car
C) repairing a cooler
D) went to the United dutifully with a lot of devotion
Q25- What secret did Sophie share with her brother?
A) She met Mary Quaint a famous fashion designer

B) She met Prime Minister
C) She met Christopher
D) She met Danny Casy a famous footballer
Q26- When does Sophie and her family go to watch the football match?
A) Sunday morning
B) Sunday evening
C) Sunday afternoon
D) Saturday
Q27- Which game are Sophie and her family fans of ?
A) cricket
B) Badminton
C) volleyball
D) football
Q28- Why did their favourite team win the match?
A) Because they played well

B) they were united
C) they planned well
D) because of the goal made by Casey
Q29- Who is Sophie’s younger brother?
A) Geoffe – a trainee mechanic

B) Casey
C) Frank
D) Derek
Q30- What does Jansie ask Sophie?
A) about Danny Casey

B) about Mary Quaint
22/
C) about her dream

D) the reality behind her meeting with Danny Casey
Q31- Why does Sophie get angry with her brother?
A) Because he revealed her secret to Jansie’s brother

B) he doesn’t speak to her
C) because of his silence
D) none
Correct Answer: A
Q32- Where does Sophie visit to meet Casey in her imagination?
A) a football ground
B) in the match
C) in a hotel
D) a secret place near canal
Q33- Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind?
A) they all represent her imagination and nothing in reality

B) they represent her nature
C) they explain her personality
D) they tell us her future
Q34- What are the advantages and disadvantages of fantasising?
A) helps in dreaming big

B) helps in achieving big
C) develops creative imagination and disadvantage is that it makes people self
obsessed.
D) none of these
Q35- What kind of person is Sophie’s father ?
A) a kind hearted
B) a loving and caring
C) a hard core realistic
D) carefree
23/
Q36- Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than anyone else?
A) he keeps silent
B) because he keeps her secret
C) because she can confide in him
D) all these
Q37- What does Geoff’s silence symbolise in Sophie’s view?
A) distant places
B) his vague personality
C) his jovial nature
D) wandering of his mind to distant places
Q38- Which country did Danny play for?
A) Netherland
B) Newzealand
C) Switzerland
D) Ireland
Q39- Why does Sophie feel jealous of her brother?
A) because he keeps silent

B) because he is a mechanic
C) because he reveals his secret
D) because of inability to reach unknown areas of his mind
Q40- Why is Sophie attracted to Danny and does she meet him in reality?
A) Because he is a heroic footballer and she meets him in imagination only

B) because he earns well
C) because he plays football
D) because he is smart
24/
ANSWER KEY
1 D 11 D 21 D 31 A
2 B 12 D 22 A 32 D
3 A 13 D 23 A 33 A
4 C 14 A 24 D 34 C
5 A 15 D 25 D 35 C
6 A 16 D 26 D 36 D
7 A 17 D 27 D 37 D
8 C 18 D 28 D 38 D
9 C 19 D 29 D 39 D
10 C 20 D 30 D 40 A
25/

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11/22/23, 12:30 AM Going Places- Class 12 English Explanation, Summary, Difficult Words

Boutique: a small shop selling fashionable clothes

Earmarked: set aside, reserved

Scooping: here, eating

Explanation of the Above Passage –

Kneeling: be in a position in which body is supported by knees.

Grunt: a low rough noise

Passage – “Casey might be that good someday.”

Distractions: diversion, disturbance

“Promise you’ll tell no-one?” Sophie

Prodigy: a young person with exceptional qualities

Passage – “It’s a secret — meant to be.”

Row: here, so much noise

Pangs: sharp pain

Q2- What theme does Barton explore in this story?

A) theme of children’s happiness

Q3- What is the sub theme of the story?

A) Relationships- family and friends

Q4- What is the significance of the subject discussed in the lesson?

Q5- What are the literary devices used in the lesson?

A) metaphorical expressions and slangs

Q6- what is the meaning of the word “chuffed”?

A) meaning delighted or very pleased

Q7- what is the meaning of the words :“nosey”, “gawky”?

A) “nosey”, meaning inquisitive and “gawky”, meaning awkward, ungainly.

Q8- The story Going Places revolve around whom?

Q9- What kind of girl is Sophie ?

A) a happy go lucky kind

Q10- What is Sophie in reality?

Q11- What does Sophie dream about?

Q12- What is the turning point in the story?

A) when she fights with her brother.

Q13- What story she make up in front of her brother?

A) She will become an actress

Q14 Who are Sophie and Jansie?

A) teenagers who are friends and classmates

A) ii was difficult to speak to him

Q16- Where is Sophie lost?

Q17 What does Jansie tell Sophie?

Q18- Why does Jansie discourage Sophie to dream big?

A) because it requires a lot of money

Q19- What was Sophie’s reply to Jansie?

A) That she will go door to door to collect money

Q20- Why does she want to be an actress?

Q21- Why is Jansie not able to support Sophie’s view?

A) because he is a happy go lucky man

Q22- Why does Sophie feel choked in the house?

A) because of stove’s steam and dirtydishes

Q23- Who is Sophie’s elder brother?

A) Geoffe – a trainee mechanic

Q25- What secret did Sophie share with her brother?

A) She met Mary Quaint a famous fashion designer

Q27- Which game are Sophie and her family fans of ?

Q28- Why did their favourite team win the match?

A) Because they played well

Q29- Who is Sophie’s younger brother?

A) Geoffe – a trainee mechanic

Q30- What does Jansie ask Sophie?

A) about Danny Casey

C) about her dream

Q31- Why does Sophie get angry with her brother?

A) Because he revealed her secret to Jansie’s brother

Q32- Where does Sophie visit to meet Casey in her imagination?