Class 12 - English Question bank
(December 2022)with solution
with%20solution%20-%20Section%20B.jpg "Pragati Educare")
Section B
Read the extract and answer the questions
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Extract 1
"The kind of preparedness the workers want is reorganization and reconstruction of their whole life, such as has never been attempted by statesmen or governments. The Germans found out years ago that they could not raise good soldiers in the slums, so they abolished the slums. They saw to it that all the people had at least a few of the essentials of civilization: decent lodging, clean streets, wholesome if scanty food, proper medical care, and proper safeguards for the workers in their occupations."
- Question 1: What kind of preparedness is expected for the workers?
Answer: Reorganization and reconstruction of their entire life is expected for the workers.
- Question 2: Why did the Germans abolish the slums?
Answer: The Germans abolished the slums because they realized they could not raise good soldiers in such conditions.
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Extract 2
"We are not free unless the men who frame and execute the laws represent the interests of the lives of the people and no other interest. The ballot does not make a free man out of a wage slave. There has never existed a truly free and democratic nation in the world. From time immemorial, men have followed with blind loyalty the strong men who had the power of money and of armies."
- Question 1: When can men be called free?
Answer: Men can be called free when the laws represent the interests of the people’s lives and no other interest.
- Question 2: Is there any democratic country totally free in the world?
Answer: No, according to the passage, there has never existed a truly free and democratic nation in the world.
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Extract 3
"On a cold and stormy night, Mr. White and his son, Herbert, were playing chess in their living room of Villa while Mrs. White was sitting by the fire, knitting and talking to them occasionally. They were expecting a guest named Sergeant Morris, who was a family friend and had been posted in India and was back after completing his tenure."
- Question 1: What were Mr. White and his son doing?
Answer: Mr. White and his son were playing chess.
- Question 2: Who was Sergeant Morris?
Answer: Sergeant Morris was a family friend who had been posted in India and had returned after completing his tenure.
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Extract 4
"Sergeant showed them a dried monkey’s paw which has a spell put on it. Morris said, 'An old Fakir put a spell on it and now it is a talisman. He was a very holy man and he wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that to interfere with fate only caused deep sadness. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could have three wishes each from it.' 'It would bring a disaster,' continued Sergeant, 'It has caused enough trouble already,' and threw the paw upon the fire."
- Question 1: How did the spell on the paw work?
Answer: The spell allowed three separate men to have three wishes each.
- Question 2: What warning did Morris give?
Answer: Morris warned that interfering with fate using the paw could bring disaster.
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Extract 5
"After the guest left, Mr. White held the paw in his hand and said, 'I wish for 200 pounds.' 'It moved,' he cried, glancing with disgust at the object on the floor. 'As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.' The next morning, a gentleman knocked on the door, 'I come from Maw and Meggins, your son’s employer.'"
- Question 1: What was the first wish of Mr. White?
Answer: Mr. White’s first wish was for 200 pounds.
- Question 2: What happened to the paw when Mr. White asked for his first wish?
Answer: The paw twisted in Mr. White’s hand like a snake.
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Extract 6
"The sound of knocking stopped at once, though its echoes could be heard within the house. Suddenly there were sounds of cracks and thunder. The house started collapsing. The roof, walls, and staircase started falling down. They rushed towards the ground and sighed in disappointment and then ran towards the main gate of the villa. Outside, the street lamp was spreading its light over a calm and empty road. The spell of the Monkey's paw had worked."
- Question 1: Why did Mr. & Mrs. White rush towards the ground?
Answer: They rushed towards the ground because the house was collapsing.
- Question 2: What did they realize at last?
Answer: They realized that the spell of the Monkey's paw had worked.
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Extract 7
"During the Civil War, Truth bought gifts for the soldiers with money raised from her lectures and helped fugitive slaves find work and housing. After the war, she continued her tirade for the Lord and against racial injustice, even when old age and ill health restricted her activities to the confines of a Battle Creek, Michigan, Sanatorium. She died there on November 26, 1883."
- Question 1: On which topics did she deliver her speech?
Answer: She spoke against racial injustice and for the Lord.
- Question 2: Which sentence shows that Truth was generous by heart?
Answer: "Truth bought gifts for the soldiers with money raised from her lectures."
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Extract 8
"About the age of 9, she was auctioned off to an Englishman named John Nealy. The Nealys understood very little of her Dutch jargon and, as a result, she was often brutally punished for no real reason. Eventually, Nealy sold her to a fisherman who owned a tavern in Kingston, NY. Here she acquired the idiomatic expressions which came to mark her speech."
- Question 1: Why did Nealy brutally punish her?
Answer: Nealy brutally punished her because he did not understand her Dutch jargon.
- Question 2: To whom did Nealy sell her?
Answer: Nealy sold her to a fisherman who owned a tavern in Kingston, NY.
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Extract 9
"To be free is to be intelligent, but intelligence does not come into being by just wishing to be free; it comes into being only when you begin to understand your whole environment, the social, religious, parental, and traditional influences that are continually closing in on you. But to understand the various influences—the influence of your parent, of your government, or society, of the culture to which you belong, of your beliefs, your gods, and superstitions."
- Question 1: When do we become intelligent?
Answer: We become intelligent when we understand our entire environment, including social and traditional influences.
- Question 2: What are the hurdles in our way to attaining freedom?
Answer: Parental, social, religious, and traditional influences are the hurdles in attaining freedom.
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Extract 10
"After all, examinations are for that purpose; to give you a position, to make you somebody. Titles, position, and knowledge encourage you to be something."
- Question 1: How can we get a position?
Answer: We can get a position through examinations.
- Question 2: What encourages us to be something?
Answer: Titles, position, and knowledge encourage us to be something.
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Extract 11
"I would like to discuss with you the problem of freedom. It is a very complex problem, needing deep study and understanding. We hear much talk about freedom, religious freedom, and the freedom to do what one would like to do. Volumes have been written on all this by scholars. But I think we can approach it very simply and directly, and perhaps that will bring us to a real solution."
- Question 1: What does the author want to talk about?
Answer: The author wants to talk about the problem of freedom.
- Question 2: Why is the problem of freedom complex?
Answer: The problem of freedom is complex as it requires deep study and understanding.
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2. Write a Short Note Focusing on the Questions Provided
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1: J. Krishnamurthy’s View on Freedom
J. Krishnamurthy viewed freedom as a complex issue requiring in-depth understanding. He believed that to be truly free, one must possess intelligence, which arises from comprehending and transcending social, religious, and traditional influences that surround us. According to Krishnamurthy, true freedom is achieved by breaking free from these external controls, unlike what is typically encouraged by our education system, which often focuses on titles, positions, and knowledge rather than fostering independence of thought. He argued that the real function of education should be to cultivate this true sense of freedom and intelligence, allowing individuals to become aware of their environment. In his view, real freedom exists in recognizing and overcoming these societal influences to lead an authentic, liberated life.
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2: Sojourner Truth and Her Life Struggle
Sojourner Truth was a renowned African-American abolitionist and women’s rights advocate who was born into slavery in New York. Throughout her childhood, she endured severe hardships, including being sold and subjected to harsh labor. Following the Emancipation Act, she began speaking publicly, fighting tirelessly for African American rights and women’s equality. During the Civil War, she raised funds for soldiers and helped fugitive slaves find work and housing, demonstrating her dedication to both racial and gender justice. Truth also spoke out against gender-based discrimination and demanded fair treatment as a woman. Her life’s work reflected her commitment to justice and equality, and her legacy continued until her death on November 26, 1883.
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3: Magic of the Monkey’s Paw
The story of the Monkey’s Paw revolves around Mr. White, who acquires the mystical talisman from Sergeant Morris, a family friend returning from India. Sergeant Morris explained that the paw had been cursed by a holy man, making it capable of granting three wishes, though each wish would come at a cost, as it was dangerous to interfere with fate. Despite the warning, Mr. White’s first wish was for 200 pounds, which was later granted tragically. The paw twisted in his hand, signifying its dark power. Following this, he made a second wish to bring his son, Herbert, back to life. However, fearing the consequences, his final wish was to reverse the second, preventing further suffering. The story reveals the dark consequences of tampering with fate and underscores the theme of unintended outcomes.
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4: Helen Keller’s Views on the Rights of Workers
Helen Keller, known for her advocacy on behalf of people with disabilities, also addressed the rights of workers in her speeches. She spoke passionately about the struggles faced by laborers and urged workers to unite and assert their rights against exploitation. In her view, the selfishness of the ruling classes contrasted with the hard work and dedication of the laboring poor, whom she saw as the most unselfish members of society. She criticized the masters who often treated workers as tools rather than humans. Keller believed workers deserved protection and security for themselves and their families and wanted guarantees of fair treatment. In her speeches, she called on workers to speak out and take a stand, emphasizing that unity and resistance were essential for achieving justice and better working conditions.
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