HBSE Class 11 English Question Paper 2023 Answer Key

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HBSE Class 11 English Question Paper 2023 Answer Key 

(Reading Skills)
1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow by choosing correct options given :
Ride, work, ride, repeat. It’s a scientifically proven system that describes some unexpected benefits of cycling. In a recent study in the ‘Journal of clinical and Diagnostic Research’, scientists found that people scored higher on tests of memory, reasoning and planning after 30 minutes of spinning on a stationary bike than they did before they rode the bike. They also completed the tests faster after pedaling.
Exercise is like fertilizer for your brain. All those hours spent on exercising your muscles, create rich capillary beds not only in leg and hip muscles, but also in your brain. More blood vessels in your brain and muscles mean more oxygen and nutrients to help them work. When you pedal, you also force more nerve cells to fire. The result: you double or triple the production of these cells literally building your brain. You also release neurotransmitters (the messengers between your brain cells) so all those cells, new and old, can communicate with each other for better, faster functioning. That’s a pretty profound benefit to cyclists.
This kind of growth is especially important with each passing birthday, because as we age, our brains shrink and those connections weaken. Exercise restores and protects the brain cells. Neuroscientists say, “Adults who exercise display sharper memory skills, higher concentration levels more fluid thinking, and greater problem-solving ability than those who are sedentary.”
Cycling also elevates your mood, relieves anxiety, increases stress resistance, and even banishes the blues. “Exercise works in the same way as psychotherapy and antidepressants in the treatment of depression, may be better,” says Dr. Manjari. A recent study, analyzing 26 years of research, finds that even some exercise – as little as 20 to 30 minutes a day – can prevent depression over the long term.
Questions :
(i) In which tests did people score higher after spinning on a stationary bike ?
(A) Memory
(B) Reasoning
(C) Planning
(D) All of the above
Ans – (D) All of the above

(ii) What is like fertilizer for our brain ?
(A) Green manure
(B) Compost
(C) Exercise
(D) None of these
Ans – (C) Exercise

(iii) What creates rich capillary beds in our brain ?
(A) Reading
(B) Writing
(C) Speaking
(D) Exercising our muscles
Ans – (D) Exercising our muscles

(iv) What does adults display who exercise ?
(A) Sharper memory skills
(B) Higher concentration levels
(C) Greater problem-solving ability
(D) All of these
Ans – (D) All of these

(v) What relieves anxiety and elevates our mood ?
(A) Cycling
(B) Thinking
(C) Concentration
(D) None of these
Ans – (A) Cycling

OR

Stress is a body reaction to any demands or changes in its internal and external environment. Whenever there is a change in the external environment such as temperature, pollutants, humidity and working conditions, it leads to stress. In these days of competition, when a person makes up his mind to surpass what has been achieved by others, leading to an imbalance between demands and resources, it causes psycho-social stress. It is a part and parcel of everyday life.
Stress has a different meaning, depending on the stage of life you are in. The loss of a toy or a reprimand from the parents might create a stress shock in a child. An adolescent who fails an examination may feel as if everything has been lost and life has no further meaning. In an adult, the loss of his or her companion, job or professional failure may appear as if there were nothing more to be achieved.
Such signs appear in the attitude and behaviour of the individual as muscle tension in various parts of the body, palpitation and high blood pressure, indigestion and hyper-acidity. Ultimately, the result is self-destructive behaviour such as eating and drinking too much, smoking excessively or relying on tranquillisers. There are other signs of stress such as trembling, shaking, nervous blinking, dryness of throat and mouth and difficulty in swallowing.
A professional under stress behaves as if he were a perfectionist. It leads to depression, lethargy and weakness. Periodic mood shifts also indicate the stress status of the students, executives and professionals. A person under stress reacts in different ways and the common ones are flight or fight depending upon the nature of the stress and capabilities of the person. Responses can be elegantly chosen to cope with the stress so that stress does not damage the system and become distress. When a stress crosses the limit, peculiar to an individual, it lowers his performance capacity. Frequent crossings of the limit may result in chronic fatigue in which a person feels lethargic, disinterested and is not easily motivated to achieve anything. This may make the person mentally undecided, confused and accident prone as well.
Questions :
(i) What is body reaction to any demands in internal and external environment ?
(A) Pollutants
(B) Humidity
(C) Stress
(D) All of these
Ans – (C) Stress

(ii) What causes psycho-social stress ?
(A) Imbalance between demands and resources
(B) Temperature
(C) Balance between demands and resources
(D) All of these
Ans – (A) Imbalance between demands and resources

(iii) When does adolescent feel as if everything has been lost and life has no further meaning ?
(A) Loss of companion
(B) Loss of youth
(C) Fails an examination
(D) None of these
Ans – (C) Fails an examination

(iv) Who behaves as if he were a perfectionist ?
(A) a child
(B) a professional
(C) an adult
(D) All of these
Ans – (B) a professional

(v) What lowers ones performance capacity ?
(A) When stress crosses the limit
(B) Peculiar to an individual
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) None of these
Ans – (A) When stress crosses the limit

2. Read the following passage carefully and make notes on it. Supply a suitable title also :
The topic of thought is one area of Psychology and many observers have considered this aspect in connection with robots and computers; some of the old worries about artificial intelligence were closely linked to the question of whether computers could think. The first massive electronic computers capable of rapid computation and little or no creative activity, were soon dubbed ‘electronic brains. A reaction to this terminology quickly followed. To put them in their place, computers were called ‘High-speed idiots’, an effort to protect human vanity. But not everyone realized the implications of high-speed idiot tag. It has not been pointed out often enough that even the human idiot is one of the most intelligent life forms on earth. If the early computers were even that intelligent, it was a remarkable state of affairs.
One consequence of speculation about the possibility of computer thought was that we were forced to examine with new care the idea of thought in general. It soon becomes clear that we were not sure what we meant by such terms as thought and thinking. We tend to assume that human beings think, some more than others, though we often call people thoughtless or unthinking. Dreams cause a problem, partly because they usually happen outside our control. They are obviously some type of mental experience, but are they a type of thinking? And the question of non-human life forms adds further problems. Many of us would maintain that some of the higher animals – dogs, cats, apes and so on are capable of at least basic thought, but what about fish and insects? It is certainly true that the higher mammals show complex brain. activity, when tested with the appropriate equipment. If thinking is demonstrated by evident electrical activity in the brain, then many animal species are capable of thought. Once we have formulated clear ideas on what thought in biological creatures is, it will be easier to discuss the thought in artifacts. And what is true of thought is also true of many other mental processes. One of the immense benefits of Artificial Intelligence research is that we are being forced to scrutinize with new vigour, the working of human mind.
It is already clear that machines have superior mental abilities to many life forms. No fern or oak tree can play chess as well as even the simplest digital computer nor can frogs weld car bodies as well as robots. The three-fingered mechanical manipulator is cleverer in some ways than the three-toed sloth. It seems that, viewed in terms of intellect, the computer should be set above plants and most animals. Only the higher animals can, it seems, compete with computers with regard to intellect and even then with diminishing success.
Ans –
Title : The Implications of Artificial Intelligence on Thought and Intelligence or The Implications of Computer Thought and the Definition of Thinking
Notes :
– Observers have linked the topic of thought in Psychology to robots and computers
– Early computers were called ‘High-speed idiots’ to protect human vanity
– The idea of thought in general was examined with new care due to speculation about computer thought
– There is confusion about what is meant by terms such as thought and thinking
– Dreams and non-human life forms add further problems to defining thought
– Higher mammals show complex brain activity and may be capable of thought
– Scrutinizing the working of the human mind is a benefit of Artificial Intelligence research
– Machines have superior mental abilities to many life forms, setting the computer above plants and most animals in terms of intellect.

(Grammar)
3. Attempt any twelve of the following :
(a) Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs given in brackets :
(i) ………… (see) this picture several times.
Ans – Have seen

(ii) He ………… (receive) your message yesterday.
Ans – received

(iii) If you run fast, you ……….. (win) the race.
Ans – will win

(b) Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners given in brackets :
(i) ……….. (A/An/The) best essay will get a prize.
Ans – The

(ii) I have invited ……….. (some/any) friends to the party.
Ans – some

(iii) ………… (A little/Little/The little) knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Ans – A little

(c) Fill in the blanks with suitable modal :
(i) ………… that I were a bird !
Ans – Would

(ii) He ran fast so that he …………. catch the bus.
Ans – might

(iii) We ………… practise virtue.
Ans – should

(d) Change the following sentences into passive voice :
(i) Whom do you want ?
Ans – Who is wanted by you ?

(ii) Kindly show me your new watch.
Ans – You are requested to show me your watch.

(iii) His behaviour surprised me.
Ans – I was surprised at his behaviour.

(e) Combine these two sentences into a complex sentence containing a noun clause :
(i) I said something. I am sorry for it.
Ans – I am sorry for what I said.

(ii) I was wrong. The teacher told me this.
Ans – The teacher told me that I was wrong.

(iii) He will improve. This is our hope.
Ans – We hope that he will improve.

(f) Name the parts of speech of underlined word in the following sentences :
(i) He came just when the guests were about to leave.
Ans – Adverb

(ii) They are intelligent enough to answer it.
Ans – Adjective

(iii) Hurrah ! We have won the match.
Ans – Interjection

4. The Principal of your school has invited the Inspector of Police (Traffic) to deliver a lecture on ‘Road Safety’ in the school. Draft a notice informing the students to assemble in the school auditorium.
Ans –

MODEL SANSKRITI SCHOOL CHARKHI DADRI
LECTURE ON ROAD SAFETY
NOTICE

25 Jan, 20xx

Dear Students,
We are pleased to inform you that the Inspector of Police (Traffic) has been invited by the Principal to deliver a lecture on ‘Road Safety’ in our school. The lecture aims to educate and raise awareness among students about the importance of road safety.
All students are requested to assemble in the school auditorium on 27 Jan 20xx at 08:15. The lecture will commence at 08:30 and will last for approximately an hour. Attendance is mandatory for all students.
We urge all students to take this opportunity to learn and understand the importance of road safety, as it is a crucial life skill that will benefit you throughout your life.
Thank you

Yours sincerely,
Bhawna
Class XI

 

OR

Read the given telephone conversation between Nisha and Neetu. Neetu is about to leave home and will not be able to meet Vicky. She leaves a message for him. Write that message.
Nisha : Hello ! Is that Neetu ?
Neetu : Ya ! Speaking.
Nisha : It is Nisha here. You know, Neetu, that ‘Trade Fair’ is going on in Pragati Maidan. I am visiting it today. You should bring Vicky with you.
Neetu : But he is not at home. I am sure that he will be with us because he desired so earlier.
Nisha : Then it is done. Please wait for me at platform No.1 on railway station Jaipur till 11:00 a.m. we shall leave together.
Neetu : Okay. It shall be all right. We shall reach in time.
Nisha : All right. Bye till then.
Neetu : Bye.
Ans –

Neetu’s message for Vicky : Hey Vicky, I won’t be able to meet you today as I am going to the Trade Fair with Nisha. She will be waiting for us at platform No. 1 on the railway station in Jaipur till 11:00 a.m. Let’s catch up some other time. Bye!

 

5. Write a paragraph on one of the following :
(i) Afforestation : The Need of the Hour
(ii) Good Manners
(iii) Work is Worship
(iv) My Aim in Life
Ans – Do Self.

6. You are Avni, the Head Girl of Class XI. On behalf of the students of Class XI, write an application to the Principal requesting him to arrange for an Educational Trip.
Ans –

The Principal,
ABC School Badhra
Charkhi Dadri

Respected Sir,
I am writing this application on behalf of the students of Class XI to request you to arrange for an educational trip. We believe that educational trips are an essential part of our learning experience, and they provide us with a better understanding of the subjects we study in class.
We request you to arrange for a trip to a place that is educational and informative. This trip will help us gain practical knowledge and enhance our learning experience. We would like to visit a place that is related to our curriculum, such as a museum, historical site, or science center.
We assure you that we will be responsible during the trip and follow all the rules and regulations set by the school. We understand that organizing such a trip requires a lot of effort and resources, but we believe that it will be a valuable investment in our education.
We hope that you will consider our request and arrange for an educational trip soon. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
Avni
Head Girl, Class XI

 

OR

You are Ajay/Sonam. Your younger brother, Arun, needs your advice for the preparation of his Secondary School Examination. Write a letter to him giving some tips in brief.
Ans –

19, Prem Nagar
Charkhi Dadri

Dear Arun,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I understand that you are preparing for your Secondary School Examination, and I am happy to help you with some tips to perform well in the exams.
Firstly, make a study schedule and stick to it. Divide your time equally among all the subjects, and give more time to the ones you find difficult.
Secondly, practice solving previous year’s question papers. It will give you an idea of the exam pattern and help you understand the types of questions asked.
Thirdly, take breaks between your study sessions. It will help you relax and refresh your mind.
Fourthly, revise regularly. Make notes of important points and revise them frequently.
Lastly, stay positive and confident. Believe in yourself and your abilities.
I am sure if you follow these tips, you will do well in your exams. All the best for your preparations.
Yours lovingly,
Ajay/Sonam

 

[A : Prose (Main Reader – Hornbill)]
7. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
By morning on January 3, the pumps had the water level sufficiently under control for us to take two hours’ rest in rotation. But we still had a tremendous leak somewhere below the waterline and, on checking, I found that nearly all the boat’s main rib frames were smashed down to the keel. In fact, there was nothing holding up a whole section of the starboard hull except a few cup board partitions.
We had survived for 15 hours since the wave hit, but Wavewalker wouldn’t hold together long enough for us to reach Australia. I checked our charts and calculated that there were two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the east. One of them, Ile Amsterdam, was a French scientific base. Our only hope was to reach these pinpricks in the vast ocean. But unless the wind and seas abated so we could hoist sail, our chances would be slim indeed.
Questions :
(i) Name the chapter and its author.
Ans : Chapter – We Are Not Afraid To Die… If We Can All Be Together, Author – Gordon Cook and Alan East

(ii) What was the name of the boat in which the narrator and his family were travelling ?
Ans – The Wavewalker

(iii) What did the narrator calculate after checking his charts ?
Ans – Narrator calculated that there were two small islands a few hundred kilometres to the east.

(iv) What happened to the boat ?
Ans – The boat’s main rib frames were smashed down to the keel.

(v) Would the boat be able to reach Australia in that condition?
Ans – No

OR

Taplow : Well, I’m not so sure, sir. That would be true of the ordinary masters, all right. They just wouldn’t dare not to give a chap a remove after his taking extra work. But those sort of rules don’t apply to the Crock Mr Crocker – Harris. I asked him yesterday outright if he’d – given me a remove and do you know what he said, sir ?
Frank : No. What ?
Taplow : (Imitating a very gentle, rather throaty voice) “My dear Taplow, I have given you exactly what you deserve. No less; and certainly no more.” Do you know sir, I think he may have marked me down, rather than up, for taking extra work. I mean, the man’s hardly human. (He breaks off quickly) Sorry, sir. Have I gone too far?
Questions :
(i) What do ordinary masters dare not to do ?
Ans – Ordinary masters wouldn’t to give a student his result after taking extra work.

(ii) Who is Mr. Crocker-Harris ?
Ans – He is a middle-aged senior teacher.

(iii) What kind of voice did Crocker-Harris have ?
Ans – Crocker-Harris has a very gentle and rather throaty voice.

(iv) What did Crocker-Harris do ?
Ans – Crocker-Harris assigned extra work to Taplow.

(v) Who envies Crocker-Harris ?
Ans – Frank envies Crocker-Harris.

8. Answer in about 100 words :
Describe in brief the pen-picture of the narrator’s grandmother highlighting her noble qualities. (The Portrait of a Lady)
Ans – The narrator’s grandmother was quite old, approximately eighty years old. There were many wrinkles on her face. Her locks were silvery-grey. There were many appreciable qualities in Khushwant Singh’s grandmother. The qualities that impressed me the most were her spirituality and her love for animals. She was a strong woman who could adapt herself to any new challenging situation. May be she derived that strength from her devotion to God. She was so divinely dedicated to praying to God that she never left her rosary. At the end, when she felt she had omitted her duty to God, she decided to not to talk to anyone just because she wanted to be God during the last moments of her life. Her feeding the village dogs and then the sparrows show her love for animals. She found company in them. And sparrows reciprocated her love and care. They didn’t chirp at all; nor did they eat a single crumb at her death. She was really a saintly woman.

OR

Describe the narrator’s journey from Ravu to Hor and the problems he had to face on the journey. (Silk Road)
Ans – The author Nick Middleton started from Ravu early one morning. He was starting on his pilgrimage to Mount Kailash. On this occasion, a woman named Lhamo gave him a farewell present. It was a long-sleeved sheepskin coat. Such coats are worn by all the men in that area to protect themselves from cold. Nick Middleton started on his journey in a car that was being driven by Tsetan. There was one more person named Daniel with him. Tsetan took a shortcut to take the author almost directly towards Kailash. This shortcut took them across vast open plains with nothing except a few gazelles. Stony plains followed these pastures. There, the author saw herds of wild asses which Tsetan called Kyang. After these rocky plains, the hills were visible. Here, the author saw solitary Drokbas tending their flocks. Then, there were nomads’ dark tents. Almost all of these tents were guarded by Tibetan mastiffs. The snow-capped mountains now came into view. The ride became very bumpy. At one point, the car had to stop because there was ice on the track for about 15 metres. They threw some dust on the ice and then the car moved on. This happened at the height of 5210 metres. The author starts feeling uneasy due to height and pressure. At around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, they stop for lunch. Finally, they reach a small town ‘Hor’ in late afternoon.

9. Answer any five of the following in about 30 words each :
(i) Mention three reasons why the author’s grandmother was disturbed when he started going to the city school.
Ans – The author’s grandmother was unhappy after knowing that the things taught to him at school were related to western science and learning. Secondly, she did not believe such things that were taught at his new school. She was disturbed that there was no teaching about God and scriptures. Thirdly, she was unhappy with the idea of music lessons being given at school. She considered music suitable only for the people with low dignity. The disapproval of the grandmother was visible in her silence.

(ii) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as “Wacky”.
Ans – Akhenaten means the servant of the Aten i.e. the sun disc. He moved the religious capital from the old city of the Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten, also known now as Amarna. He destroyed all the images of Amun, a major God and closed all his temples. These deeds led Ray Jonson to call Akhenaten “Wacky”.

(iii) Who was Quinten Metsys ? Whom did he want to marry ?
Ans – Quinten Metsys was a master blacksmith. He fell in love with a painter’s daughter. The girl’s father would not accept a son-in-law in such a profession. So he was not allowed to marry the girl he loved.

(iv) What does the notice “The world’s most dangerous animal” at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia, signify?
Ans – The notice “The world’s most dangerous animals” at a cage in the zoo at Lusaka, Zambia signifies that man is solely responsible for all the deterioration in environment and depletion of natural resources. Thus man is the world’s most dangerous animal.

(v) What does Millie ask Taplow to do ?
Ans – Millie asks Taplow to run to the chemist and bring medicine according to the prescription.

(vi) Who is Professor Gaitonde ? What is the subject of the lecture that he is going to deliver ?
Ans – Professor Gaitonde was a historian and he was invited in a seminar to speak on the Battle of Panipat.

(vii) Who was Norbu ?
Ans – He was a Tibetan and worked in Beijing at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

[B : Poetry (Main Reader – Hornbill)]
10. Read the stanza carefully and answer the questions that follow :
She stokes it full, then flirts out to a branch-end
Showing her barred face identity mask
Then with eerie delicate whistle – chirrup whisperings
She launches away, towards the infinite
And the laburnum subsides to empty.
Questions :
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
Ans : Poem – The Laburnum Top, Poet – Ted Hughes

(ii) Who does the word ‘she’ refer to in the first line ?
Ans – ‘She’ refers to the Goldfinch bird.

(iii) What does she do before flirting out ?
Ans – She feeds her young birds.

(iv) What does the bird show ?
Ans – The bird shows her barred blacked face identity mask.

(v) What happens to the tree when she flies away ?
Ans – The tree once again becomes empty.

OR

Where did my childhood go ?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Questions :
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
Ans : Poem – Childhood, Poet – Marcus Natten

(ii) Where does the poet think his childhood has gone ?
Ans – His childhood has gone to some forgotten place.

(iii) Where was that place hidden where the poet’s childhood went ?
Ans – The place was hidden in an infant’s face.

(iv) How did the poet feel about his lost childhood ?
Ans – The poet does not feel any regret or sense of loss on losing his childhood.

(v) Where does the poet think his childhood can be found ?
Ans – Childhood can only be found in the innocent face of an infant.

11. Answer any two of the following in about 30 words each :
(i) What has the camera captured in the poem ‘A Photograph’ ?
Ans – The camera has captured a happy moment from the childhood days of the poet’s mother. The photograph was taken when the poet’s mother (at the age of twelve or so) went to a beach holiday with two of her cousins, Betty and Dolly. The captured picture serves as a preserved memory both for the mother as well as the poet.

(ii) There is a parallel drawn between rain and music. Which words indicate this ? Explain the similarity between the two on the basis of the poem ‘The Voice of the Rain’.
Ans – In these lines, the poet draws similarities between rain and music observing that the life-cycle of rain and song are alike. Both are perpetual in nature. Moreover, the sound of the soft-falling rain is in itself a kind of music. The song issues from the heart of the poet and travels to reach others. It wanders and, whether heard and enjoyed or not, eventually returns to its creator with all due love. Similarly, rain originates from the earth, and after fulfilling its tasks, returns to its own origin only to spread beauty, purity and love.

(iii) Give the central idea of the poem, ‘Father to Son’.
Ans – The poem’s central idea is the generation gap, which occurs when communication between two generations breaks down due to a mutual lack of understanding, tolerance, and acceptance. The poem depicts a father’s internal conflict as his son grows up and develops his own interests, ideas, and perceptions. The dissatisfied father complains that despite living in the same house with his child for many years, he cannot understand him.

(Supplementary Reader – Snapshots)
12. Answer in about 100 words :
Give a character-sketch of the narrator’s cousin Mourad on the basis of the story, “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse.”
Ans – Mourad in the story, “The summer of the beautiful white horse” has an unruly temperament. He does things on impulse and fabricate justification for his deeds. He steals John Byro’s horse because he wants to enjoy riding it. But his justification is that he had just borrowed the horse and will return to its master eventually.
Aram, his young cousin admires him for his wild nature and his expertise in handling a horse. According to Mourad, he had ‘a way with the horse’. He at first doesn’t answer any of Aram’s questions clearly and Aram gets the idea that the horse was stolen. He is rather alarmed about Mourad’s deed because he knows that Mourad had inherited some of the mad nature of uncle Khosrove, whom no one can control. This mad nature is evident in the way he rides the horse over the vines. He hides the horse in an abandoned farm house. All these appear to be madness to Aram but his love of horse riding prevented him from opposing Mourad; in stead, he finds consolation in the fact that they have no intention of selling the horse and in that way it is just borrowing. In spite of his mad behaviour, Mourad is touched with john Byro’s unwavering trust in their tribe and just as he had taken the horse, he returns the horse to the farmer stealthily.

OR

Narrate ‘The Tale of Melon City’ in your own words.
Ans – The poem ‘The Tale of Melon City’ is the story of a moody and whimsical king. He ordered an arch to be constructed. The arch was built too low. When the king was under it, his crown was banged off. The king became angry. He ordered that the chief of builders would be hanged for that disgrace. The chief of builders pleaded that it was workmen’s fault. The just king ordered the workmen to be hanged. But the workmen blamed the wrong size of the bricks for this mishap. Masons pleaded innocence and shifted the blame on the architect. The architect saved himself as he had already advised many amendments in the plan.
The king needed some counsel to solve this tricky issue. The wisest man in the kingdom counselled that the arch itself was guilty. As it banged the crown off it must itself be hanged. The arch was brought to the scaffold. But a counsellor urged the king not to do so. A thing that touched the royal head couldn’t be hanged. The people were watching the whole drama. They grew restless. They wanted someone to be hanged immediately. The king judged the mood of the public. He declared that someone would be hanged immediately. The noose was set up. Everyone was measured by and by. Only one man was so tall whose neck fitted in the noose. He was the king himself. His majesty was hanged by a Royal Decree.
The Ministers proclaimed that ‘the next to pass the City Gate’ would choose the new king. An idiot passed first by the City Gate. He declared that a melon would be the next king of the state. The melon was crowned as the next king with due respect and ceremony. It made no difference to the people. It didn’t matter if their king was a man or a melon.

13. Answer any two of the following in about 40 words each :
(i) What familiar things did the narrator find at Mrs. Dorling’s house ?
Ans – When the narrator went to Mrs. Dorling’s house, she noticed the Hannukah candle-holder that hung right next to the mirror. She also noticed cutlery set with golden border, the old table cloth with the burn mark and the pewter plates. She also noticed other furniture in the middle of which she stood.

(ii) How do Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald exchange their personalities in the play ‘Mother’s Day’ ?
Ans – Mrs Fitzgerald wants Mrs Pearson to let her set the members of her family right. Mrs Pearson replies that no one else can do it. The members of her family won’t allow any other to dictate them. Mrs Fitzgerald tells that they can exchange places. She looks like her and Mrs Pearson like Mrs Fitzgerald. It won’t last long and they can change back at will. Mrs Fitzgerald holds her hand and mutters: “Arshtatta dum Arshtatta”. In this way. they assume their bodies.

(iii) What last effort did Andrew make to revive the child in the chapter ‘Birth’ ?
Ans – Andrew continued rubbing the child with a rough towel. He pushed and released the baby’s chest until it began to breathe, indicating that it had a chance of survival.

(iv) How did the writer plan the meeting between Ranga and Ratna in the story ‘Ranga’s Marriage’ ?
Ans – The narrator arranged the meeting very systematically. First he called Ratna on the pretext of sending buttermilk through her. Then he asked her to sing a song. Meanwhile Ranga, whom he had sent for, reached the door.

14. Choose the most appropriate option from the questions given below (Do any three) :
(i) Who was Mrs. Dorling ?
(a) writer
(b) narrator
(c) her grandmother
(d) her mother’s old acquaintance
Ans – (d) her mother’s old acquaintance

(ii) Who was Ratna ?
(a) Narrator
(b) The narrator’s daughter
(c) Rama Rao’s niece
(d) Ranga’s sister
Ans – (c) Rama Rao’s niece

(iii) Who was Elsha ?
(a) Albert’s cousin
(b) Albert’s friend
(c) Albert’s classmate
(d) Albert’s teacher
Ans – (a) Albert’s cousin

(iv) Which city did Shahid belong to ?
(a) Ambala
(b) Shimla
(c) Srinagar
(d) Delhi
Ans – (c) Srinagar

 

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