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Extract Questions
Q1. Now we will count to twelve [All India 2016]
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
Answer the following.
(a) The poet urges humanity to
remain silent for the duration of twelve counts. (True/False)
(b) By keeping still, we can
count till twelve, according to the poet. (True/False)
(c) The poet wants us not to
____________ in any language.
(d) We should not move our
____________ for one second.
Ans :
(a) True (b) False (c) speak (d)
arms
Q2. It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
Answer the following.
(a) It would be an exotic time
because no engines would rush around. (True/False)
(b) The poet envisages an exotic
moment of stillness which would be without ____________ .
(c) There would descend a sudden
____________ when we all get together.
(d) When there will be no engines
or rush, what kind of moment would that make?
Ans :
(a) True (b) rush (c) strangeness
(d) exotic
Q3.Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers…
Answer the following.
(a) Fighting a green war leads to
a victory with all survivors. (True/False)
(b) Wars using gas and fire as
weapons, are wars with no survivors. (True/False)
(c) Who would wear clean clothes
in case there was a silence on the war front?
(d) With whom would these
ex-warriors walk?
Ans :
(a) False (b) True (c) fighters
(d) brothers
Q4. ...perhaps a huge silence [Foreign 2016]
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with
death.
Answer the following.
(a) Silence will help us
understand ourselves. (True/False)
(b) Human beings are currently
threatening us with death. (True/False)
(c) What follows due to not
understanding one another?
(d) In a noisy world we do not
____________ ourselves.
Ans :
(a) True (b) True (c) sadness (d)
understand
Q5. Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
Answer the following.
(a) The poet is counting up to
twelve, so that we can hide from him. (True/False)
(b) The Earth teaches us to be
outwardly silent and inwardly productive. (True/False)
(c) By keeping quiet we may
appear outwardly to be ____________ .
(d) The ____________ can teach us
to be introspective
Ans : (a) False (b) True (c) dead
(d) Earth
Short Answer Questions ( 2 Marks)
Q1. Which symbol from nature does the poet invoke that there can be
life under apparent stillness?
Ans : The poet uses ‘Earth’ as a
symbol to invoke that there can be life after apparent stillness. The Earth
seems ‘still’ from outside but is alive and vibrant deep within. Similarly, our
silence can help us to maintain a harmonious life on Earth and stop
destruction.
Q2. How will keeping quiet protect our environment?
Ans : Keeping quiet refers to
stopping all activities for a moment and introspect. This will help us to
analyse the kind of deeds we are doing for our selfish purpose but which harm
nature. This moment will make us understand the fact that harmony with nature
is very essential for the survival of mankind.
Q3. What will possibly be the effect of ‘keeping quiet’?
Ans : Keeping quiet will result
in a mutual understanding among all human beings and understanding ourselves.
We will be able to understand the fact that the balance between nature and
human beings is essential for our existence on the Earth.
Q4. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping
Quiet’?
Ans : The poet refers to the
exotic moment when everyone would be silent and still and there would be no
noise or mad race. It will evoke an environment of peace and quietness with no
conflicts, quarrels, agreements or wars. This moment will bring a sense of
togetherness among all human beings.
Q5. Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet
condemns violence?
Ans : Pablo Naruda gives the
images of ‘green war’, ‘war with gas’ and ‘wars with fire’ and then associates
these wars with ‘victory with no survivors’. This is to emphasise the fact that
wars will bring an end to the entire human race. This shows that he condemns
violence.
Q6. What
are the different types of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s
attitude towards them?
Ans : Pablo Neruda has mentioned
‘green wars’, ‘wars with fire’ and ‘wars with gas’. The poet does not
appreciate the concept of war. He condemns it by saying that these wars will
result in victory with no survivors. So instead of these wars and conflicts we
must develop the concept of mutual understanding and co-existence.
Q7. How can suspension of activities help?
Ans : The suspension of
activities will help us to introspect. It will provide an insight into the mad
rush and selfish actions we indulge in. When we all are able to ponder and
analyse our own actions and attitude, we will develop mutual understanding and
realise the importance of co-existence.
Ans : The poet does not advocate
‘total inactivity’ because he has a firm belief in life. He wants everyone to
live a complete life, full of peace and contentment. He wants everyone to take
a break from the hectic schedule and introspect for a while to improve the
quality of life.
Q9. What will be the ultimate end of man if the present scenario of
wars and conflicts continues?
Ans :If the present scenario of
war and destruction continues, it will lead to total destruction of the
humanity. We all will perish and nobody will be left to celebrate the victory.
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