"Nobel Lecture" by Mother Teresa (1910-1997) : Sample Questions and Answers

MCQ : (1 mark each)
A. Complete each of the sentences which follow, choosing the correct answer from the alternatives given :

i) The greatest destroyer of peace, according to Mother Teresa, is
    a) abortion

    b) adoption

    c) hunger
    d) malnutrition.
Ans. (a)

SAQ : (1 mark each)

B. Answer the following questions, each in a complete sentence :
1. How does Mother Teresa begin her speech ?
Ans. Mother Teresa begins her speech by reciting the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi.

[To be continued...]

LIFE AT MOKAMEH GHAT by Jim Corbett(1875-1955): Sample Questions and Answers

1.       Answer any one of the following questions ( in about 50 words):  5x1=5

(i)                 Why was the crossing of the river ‘always a pleasure’ to Corbett ? (HS ’08)

Ans.      Corbett had to cross the Ganges often in performing his additional duty to manage the plying of the steamers between the two banks of the river. That was always a pleasure to him for two reasons. First, it allowed him time to rest his legs and have a quite smoke. Second, it gave him an opportunity of indulging in one of his hobbies, the study of human beings– their nature, culture, occupation, etc. through the passengers. (76 words)

(ii)               Describe the work that Corbett and his fellow workers had to do at Mokameh Ghat. (textbook)

Or, How did Jim Corbett and his team overcome the strenuous job at Mokameh Ghat ? (HS ’11)

Ans.      When Corbett was engaged in the contract of loading, unloading and transhipping, tons of goods had been piled up at Mokameh Ghat. They had to clear the backlog and to keep the traffic moving simultaneously.  At the beginning, they had to work tirelessly which earned them reputation. The work moved smoothly as their common object was a better living condition. To retain the reputation, others cheerfully performed the work of an absentee. (72 words)

(iii)             “I said I would try to satisfy his curiosity.” – Who said this and to whom? How did he satisfy the other person’s curiosity ? (textbook)

Ans.      Jim Corbett said this to Crosthwaite.

He satisfied the curiosity of Crosthwaite by recounting the lower deck passengers. There were three Brahmins and four Nepalese carrying the holy water of the Ganges. A Mohammedan dhoonia was sitting on the deck with a harp-like instrument beside him. Two Tibetan lamas were returning from a pilgrimage. The writer’s old friend was going to plough his field on the other bank. A Mohammedan tobacco merchant was going to Muzaffarpur.  (76 words)

(iv)              What is Corbett’s observation on labour unrest, strikes and communal disorders in modern day India ?

Or, What is Corbett’s suggestion about solving the problems of labour unrest, strikes, communal disorders in modern day India ?

Ans.      Corbett says that there was no strike, labour unrest or communal disorders in his time. People of all classes lived and worked together in perfect harmony with a spirit of cooperation. He feels that even today that is possible if the agitators and trouble makers, who provoke the poor to quarrel and fight among themselves, are eliminated by isolating them and if the interest of one is regarded as the interest of all. (73 words)

(v)                Describe the celebration of the Christmas Day at Mokameh Ghat.

Or, How did Corbett and his men observe the Christmas ?

Or, “There was however one day in the year that all of us looked forward to ...” – Describe, after the author, how the day mentioned above was observed. (HS ’09)

Ans.     Corbett’s workmen and the railway staff celebrated the Christmas Day in a festive mood. They decorated the office and its surroundings with red and green signal flags and strings of marigold and jasmine flowers. Everybody put on clean clothes. Corbett sat on a chair. Ram Saran garlanded him and delivered a long speech which was followed by a short speech by Corbett. Then sweets were distributed among the children. At last Corbett distributed a cash bonus to the staff and the labourers. (82 words)

(vi)              What does Jim Corbett say about the distribution of a cash bonus among his staff ? How did it help him in his work ? (HS ’10)

Ans.      Jim Corbett distributed eighty percent of his profit as bonus to Ram Saran, to the staff and to the labourers on Christmas Day. The bonus, though small, was greatly appreciated by them.

     The distribution of the bonus, mentioned as the real business of the day, generated a goodwill and willing co-operation among his staff and helped Corbett in his work for twenty one years without one single unpleasant incident, and without one single day’s stoppage of work. (77 words)

(vii)            “The idea originated with Ram Saran.” – What was the idea and how was it implemented ? (HS ’09)

Or, “One of my first undertakings, when I had ...” – What was the undertaking referred to ? How was it materialised ?

Ans.     The idea/undertaking was to start a school for the sons of Corbett’s workmen and the lower-paid railway staff.

       Corbett and Ram Saran rented a hut, appointed a teacher and started the school with twenty boys. Gradually the roll strength rose to two hundred, new buildings were erected and seven new teachers were appointed. The Govt. then upgraded it to the status of a Middle School. (65 words)

2.       Answer any two of the questions that follow (each in about 30 words):  3x2=6

(i)                 What was the first ‘snag’ that Ram Saran’s school faced and how was it solved ?

Or, How was the problem of ‘caste prejudices’ solved at Ram Saran’s school ? (HS ’07)

Or, “Caste prejudices were the first snag we ran up against ...”—Who were ‘we’ ? What are ‘caste prejudices’ ? (HS ’11)

Ans.      [Here ‘we’ refers to Corbett and Ram Saran.]

       The first snag that Ram Saran’s school faced was the caste prejudices for which the students of high-castes and low-castes could not sit together in the same hut. The teacher solved this problem by removing the sides of the hut as the students of all castes could sit in the same shed. (52 words)

(ii)               “My tan hid my blushes...”—Who says this ? What made him blush ? (textbook)

Ans.      Jim Corbett says this to Crosthwaite.

       He thought that the passengers did not know English. But a Mohammedan gentleman told him in perfect English that he was very much impressed by the writer’s description though he was a tobacco merchant and not a hide one. This remark of the man made Corbett blush. (53 words)

(iii)             “...the real business of the day started...”—What was the real business of the day ? Why is the business called the real business ?

Ans.     The ‘real business’ of the Christmas Day was the distribution of a cash bonus to Ram Saran, his staff and labourers by Jim Corbett from the eighty percent of his profit.

It is called the real business because it ensured heartfelt co-operation which enabled him to carry on his work smoothly for 21 years. (54 words)

RAJAM AND MANI by R. K. Narayan (1906 - 2001): Sample Questions and Answers

1.       Answer any one of the following questions ( in about 50 words):  5x1=5

(i)                 Why did Mani decide to bundle up Rajam and throw him into the river ?

Or, How did Rajam appear to be a new menace in Mani’s life ?

Or, “This Rajam was a rival to Mani.” – Explain in brief why Mani thought that Rajam was his rival. (HS ’08)

Ans.       Mani was the overlord of the class. But Rajam, a newcomer, treated him indifferently. If Mani jabbed, slapped or kicked him, he returned those promptly. Everybody was impressed by his courage and brilliance. He could speak English fluently. He was a regular seventy percenter. Moreover, he belonged to a rich family. Gradually, he seemed to be a new power in the class. It was a hard challenge for Mani. Thus, Rajam appeared to be a new menace in Mani’s life. Mani regarded him as a rival and decided to throw him into the river. (94 words)

(ii)               What made Mani decide not to kill Rajam ?

Ans.      Mani planned to kill his rival, Rajam first but changed his decision later. He had been sleeping alone in the room since the death of his grandfather. He, now, thought if he would kill Rajam, his spirit might scare him at night by pulling his hair. So, it would be better not to kill him, but to injure him brutally and leave him to his fate.  (66 words)

(iii)             How had Rajam impressed his classmates on his very first day at school ? (HS ’07) Or, “He had impressed the whole class” – Who was ‘he’ ? How did he impress the whole class ?

Ans.     ‘He’ was Rajam, the son of a Police Superintendent.

On the very first day, he came to school by a private car smartly wearing socks and shoes, knickers, a fur cap, a tie and a beautiful coat. He proved himself to be a very good student too. He had a good command over spoken English like a European. He impressed the whole class through his style, manners and academic performance. (70 words)

(iv)              Why did the teacher punish Swaminathan ? What punishment did Swaminathan get and how did he feel about it ? (HS ’10)

Ans.    The teacher asked Swaminathan why Lisbon was famous. He also asked him about the climate of India. But he gave wrong answers to both the questions. So the teacher punished him for his inattentiveness to the lesson.

The teacher ordered him to stand up on the bench as a punishment. Swaminathan felt glad that instead of caning he was given such apparently degrading but light punishment. (66 words) 

(v)               “Swaminathan felt at perfect peace with the world.” – Who was Swaminathan ? Why did he feel perfect peace with the world ?

Ans.      Swaminathan was a simple natured and peace-loving boy.

              He had a constant loyalty to Mani, his friend and guide. But Rajam’s supremacy in almost all respect also drew his attention. Yet he could not express his feeling lest Mani should be angry with him. He was very much scared at the rivalry and enmity between them. The prospect of bloodshed at the duel shattered his peace of mind. So when Rajam and Mani forgot their quarrel and became friends, he was very happy with a feeling of perfect peace of mind. (91 words)

2.       Answer any two of the questions that follow (each in about 30 words):  3x2=6

(i)                 “Only Sankar, ...had the courage to face him...” – Why could only sankar, and not his other classmates, have the courage to face Rajam ? (HS ’08)

Ans.       Rajam spoke English fine like a European. His classmates were afraid of speaking with him with their poor knowledge of English. Only Sankar, the genius of the class, had the capability to interact with him, though his English sounded halting and weak in comparison to Rajam’s. (46 words)

(ii)               Mention two ways in which Rajam impressed his classmates on his first day at school. (HS Sample Question)

Or, How did Rajam impress the whole class on the very first day ? (HS ’10)

Ans.       On the very first day, Rajam impressed his classmates in two ways. First, he was very smartly dressed, with socks and shoes, a fur cap, a tie, a coat and knickers, and came to school by a private car. Second, he had a good command over English like a European. (50 words)

(iii)             “You are a nasty little coward...” – Who said this and why ?

Or, Who was called a coward and why ?

Or, “ Did you bring the thing I wanted ?” – What “thing” did Mani ask for ? Why could Swaminathan not get the thing ? (HS ’12)

Ans.       Mani said this. / Swaminathan was called a coward.

Mani asked Swaminathan to bring lime pickles from his house. But he could not get it as his mother was present in the kitchen all the time. So Mani called him a coward. (42 words)

(iv)              “River Sarayu was the pride of Malgudi.” – What evidence does R. K. Narayan give us to show that people of Malgudi took pride in river Sarayu ? (HS ’09)

Ans.        The Municipal President would take any eminent visitor to the top of the Town Hall and show him the beauty of the river Sarayu in moonlight from there. This fact proves well that the people of Malgudi took pride in river Sarayu. (42 words)

(v)                “Swaminathan’s services were dispensed with.” – How were Swaminathan’s services dispensed with ?

Ans.     while Rajam and Mani were exchanging their views through Swaminathan, suddenly they got so excited that Swaminathan got no scope to reiterate their words; they went on shouting excitedly at his ears very fast. So, his sevices were dispensed with. (40 words)

(vi)              “Swaminathan paid no attention to the rest of the lesson.” – What did he do instead ?

Ans.      While standing on the bench, Swaminathan, instead of paying attention to the rest of the lesson, got busy in classifying the types of caps the students had put on. He noticed four red caps, twenty five Gandgi caps and ten fur caps. (42 words)

(vii)            “There were vague rumours ...” – About whom were these ‘rumours’ ? What / Why were the ‘rumours’ ?

Ans.        These ‘rumours’ were about Rajam.

As Rajam was quite smart and adept in English like a European, some rumours were spread out from the school that he had come from some English boys’ school in Madras. (36 words)

NATURE by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Sample Questions and Answers

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

   1.  Answer the following questions(each in about 50 words): 5 marks each

       (i) Show how Longfellow compares Nature to a loving mother in the poem Nature. Or, how does Longfellow bring out the similarity between a mother and nature in the poem Nature ? Or, how does the poet compare human beings to children and Nature to a loving but firm mother ? Or, why is Nature compared to a ‘fond mother’? (HS-2008) Or, How does Nature lead us to the unknown world ? Or, How, according to Longfellow, does Nature gradually lead us towards death ? Or, How does Nature prepare us for the ultimate rest ?

Ans.   The poet, Longfellow compares Nature to a fond but firm mother and the child to human beings. When the day is over, the loving mother takes her tired child from the playthings and leads him to bed for rest and sleep. Likewise, Nature takes away our so-called valuable possessions in our old age and prepares us with her loving touch for the other world for final rest. (67 words)

(ii)               “So Nature deals with us.”- How does Nature deals with us ? (HS-09)

Ans.     Nature deals with us exactly in the same way as an affectionate mother deals with her child. When the day is over ..................for final rest. [from BQ No. i]

(iii)             Bring out the significance of the title of the poem “Nature”.

Ans.    Longfellow has personified Nature in his poem. He has compared Nature to a ..............for final rest. Hence, Nature reflects the central theme of the poem. So the title “Nature” is appropriate. [from BQ No. i]

(iv)            How does the poet bring out the child’s unwillingness to go to bed ? Or, What, according to Longfellow, are the feelings of the child being led away to bed ? Or, Describe the child’s reaction as he is led by his mother to bed at the end of the day.

Ans.     The child is not at all willing to leave his scattered toys and go to bed when his loving mother takes him to bed for rest at the end of the day. He walks with his mother reluctantly but gazes at the toys fixedly. Though his mother promises him more splendid toys in their stead, he is not assured. He wishes to continue his play more with the old ones. (70 words)

(v)               Why does Nature take away our playthings ? (HS-2011)

Ans.    Our playthings are worldly possessions after which we run throughout the life. Nature gradually takes these away one by one when we grow old. In this process Nature weakens our senses which keep us attached to worldly attractions. Thus Nature prepares us and tenderly leads us along the right pathway to the ultimate rest that lies beyond death. (58 words)

      2.      Answer the following questions ( each in about 30 words ) :     3 marks each

(i)           How does the little child in Longfellow’s “Nature” behave, when his mother draws him away from play at the end of the day ? (HS-2007)

Ans.     The child is reluctant to leave his scattered toys and go to bed. He walks with his mother but gazes at the toys fixedly. Though his mother promises him more splendid toys in their stead, he is not assured. He wishes to continue his play. (45 words)

(ii)          Why does the child in the poem “Nature” go to bed ‘half willing’ and ‘half reluctant’ ?(HS-2008)

Ans.    The phrase ‘half willing, half reluctant’ denotes the child’s mental condition when the mother leads him to bed for rest. He is half willing as he feels tired and sleepy. He is half reluctant as he does not wish to leave his play. (43 words)

(iii)       “Which though more splendid, may not please him more.” – What is referred to as ‘which’ ? Why may it not ‘please him more’ ?

Ans.     The promised playthings to the child by his mother are referred to here as ‘which’.

            The promised playthings may not please the child more because he has a deep affection to his present toys. He cannot give up his attraction and affection for them. (44 words)

(iv)      “Nor wholly reassured and comforted” – Why is the child not wholly ‘reassured’ and ‘comforted’ ?

Ans.     When the mother promises her child to offer him more splendid toys in place of the broken ones, he is not wholly assured and comforted as he has a deep affection to his present toys. He cannot give up his attraction and affection for them. (45 words)

(v)               What does the poet mean by ‘our playthings’ in the poem “Nature” ?

Ans.      The poet means, by ‘our playthings’, the earthly possessions of man including vigour, youth and beauty, in which they remain deeply immersed in worldly life. Those are as trivial as toys, after the poet. (34 words)

THE MOON by Percy Bysshe Shelley: Sample Questions & Answers

1. Answer the following questions ( each in about 50 words ): 5 marks each

(i) Discuss The Moon as a nature myth. Or, Show how, in the poem The Moon, Shelley has created myth out of a natural phenomenon.

Ans. Myth is an imaginative mechanism to present a natural phenomenon as a living being. Shelley(1792-1822), renowned for his myth-making power, personifies the moon, a natural object in the poem The Moon.

In the first stanza, the moon appears to be a weak, pale lady. She is thin and white. She cannot think or move steadily. The second stanza depicts the moon as a maiden suffering from weariness. She is in desperate search of a worthy companion. (76 words)

(ii) How does Shelley personify the moon in the poem ? Or, describe how Shelley has personified natural phenomenon in the poem The Moon.

Ans. Shelley has personified the moon by imagining it to be a person in both the stanzas. In the first stanza, the moon .......................of a worthy companion. (from broad type question no.i) (61 words)

(iii) “The moon arose up in the murky east.” – How does Shelley describe the rising of the moon in his poem The Moon ? (H.S. ’07)

Ans. The moon rises in the gloomy eastern sky. Under the layer of thin clouds, it appears whitish and shapeless. It looks like a dying lady lean, pale and confused, with a soft transparent covering on the face. Like this lady tottering out of her bedroom led by the insane and bewildered thoughts of her weak brain, the dull moon rises in the sky. (63 words)

(iv) Describe how the moon is compared to a dying lady ?

Ans. Shelley has compared the moon to a dying lady in the first stanza of the poem. The moon rises in the gloomy ................... in the sky. (from broad type question no.iii ) (79 words)

(v) “And ever changing, like a joyless eye / That finds no object worth its constancy.” – Bring out the significance/meaning of the lines. Or, who has ‘a joyless eye’ and why ? (H.S. ’12)

Ans. Here the moon has been compared to the eyes of a depressed maiden who does not find anybody worthy of her love. The moon slowly changes its shape from a complete round to a semi-circular as it proceeds towards the new moon phase. Just as the eyes of a sad maiden droop, so also the moon loses its round figure and looks pale and drooping. (65 words)

2. Answer the following questions ( each in about 30 words ) : 3 marks each

(i) What is the moon compared to in the first section of Shelley’s poem ? (HS sample question) Or, how is the moon compared to ‘a dying lady’ ?

Ans. In the first section of Shelley’s poem, the moon is compared to ‘a dying lady’. She is thin and pale. She totters out of her bedroom. Her face is covered with a thin layer of gauze. She seems to suffer from memory loss. (43 words)

(ii) What does Shelley mean when he says that the moon is ‘wrapped in a gauzy veil’ ?

Ans. The term ‘gauzy veil’ means a thin transparent piece of cloth that is used to cover a woman’s face from the sun, dust etc. Here a thin layer of cloud floating over the face of the moon appears to be a gauzy veil to the poet. ( 46 words)

(iii) “Art thou pale for weariness ?” – What, according to the poet, is the cause of the moon’s weariness ? Or, What reasons are given by Shelley for the moon’s ‘weariness’ ?

Ans. The poet P. B. Shelley imagines that the moon labours hard in moving about lonely in the sky and gazing eagerly for hours on the earth in search of a worthy companion. This makes her look weary and pale. (39 words)

(iv) “And feeble wanderings of her fading brain” – What is meant by ‘fading brain’ ?

Ans. ‘Fading brain’ is a brain that is losing its power, particularly the power to memorize. The poet says this while comparing the moon to a dying lady. Old age and illness have made her brain inactive. She fails to remember anything. (42 words)

(v) What scientific truth is referred to when Shelley says about the moon ‘wandering companionless’ ?

Ans. P. B. Shelley says that the moon wanders companionless. This is based on the scientific fact that the moon is the only satellite of the earth, i.e. it has its origin from the earth. There is no other celestial body having the same origin. That is why the moon is said to be companionless. (54 words)