Lesson 5..

Our Casuarina Tree

Very Short Answer Type Questions . . QJ. T'I'lie 1giant wears the scarf. Ans. e uge tree keeps up its glory
and di . 0.2. The water-lilies spring, link snow enmgxsszyd. '

Ans. The white coloured tiny lily flowers appear like congealed snow. Q3. Dirge-like murmur. . . .

Ans. It signifies that the tree shares sad moments of the poetess. 0.4. Sea breaking on a shingle beach.

Ans. It signifies that the tree is also in deep griefover the sad demise of the poets brother: 95. Earth lay
tranced in a dreamless sWoon. , , ' . ' Ans. The earth is in a state of magic spell quite unaffected by the
dreams of human beings.

8. Short Answer Type Questions : 0.1. How is the creeper climbing up the tree?

AnsII'he tess describes the trees in a very realistic manner. The tree is compared with a python Winding
mundpfned round. Orrits rugged trunk there are deep sears up to the summit. .

Q2. How does the giant-tree Wear thescarf? ' '.

AnaThe giant-tree is standing in the house garden of the poetess. It stands like a giant. It grows very high
up in the sky. Its branches appear to be like scarfs at the top sitting in a gallant way. With its scarfs t. e
poet means to say that it keeps up its dignity and high position because no other tree is as high as this
one.

0.3. Who exhales a dirge~like murmur and for what reason?

Ans.The poetess personitws the big tree. She says that the tree was very much attached wj happenings in
her f amily. When the poetess loses her brother and sister, she feels the tree in a long mo dirge like
murmur. The tree seems to share her sorrow.
0.4. How does the poetess propose to sanctify her association with the tree and why?

Ans.lh" poetess proposes to sanctify her association with the tree by composing songs in its honour She
wants to write sacred verses for it. The tree has become a very important part of her life. She feels
hersel closely associated and attached with the tree for it has been a beloved to her brother and sister
who are 11.: more.

0.5. How does the poetess bless the tree?

Ans.The poetess feels sad when she thinks that the tree would die one day. It would be a great loss to
her and also for a number of other creatures who were comforted under its shade. So, she makes a wish
for its long life. She wishes that her Verses may change the destiny of the tree, though she knows that it
is a faint hope. No one can change the cycle of nature, still she hopes for the long life of the tree.

C. Long Answer Type Questions

Q.1. How does the poetess compare the creeper to a huge python? What characteristic of the tree has
been highlighted by it?

Ans.0ur Casuarina Tree is a fine specimen of an ode in which the poetess highlights a tree and her
emotional attachment with it. Humanising the tree the poetess bestows all sorts of magnificence and
grandeur to the tree. She compares it with a python-a big species of snake known for its huge size and
dazzling Spotted body. She says that the tree bears all similarities of the python. A creeper grows around
its trunk, making deep scars over it and goes to its summit. It seems to be embracing the sky.

Q2. What does the poetess see when she opens her casement at dawn?

Ans.The poetess describes the tree very minutely. The tree is magnificent and gives comfort to a lot of
living beings. The poetess Whenever in the dawn opens her casement she feels great delight to see the
tree cool and restive. During winter she usually finds a gray baboon sitting like a statue alone at the top
of the

tree. It watches the sunrise with great concentration. In the lower boughs she finds little creatures
leaping and playing While far and near the songs of the cuckoos make a welcome note for the rising day.

(2.3. For what reasons is the Casuarina tree dear to the poetess? (MP. 2011)

Ans.The Casuarina tree is dear to the poetess for many reasons. The first is its magnificence. It is tall and
grand to look at. It is dazzling like a python. Its generosity is unique. It gives something to all-shade, cool
breeze, and repose. One feels relaxed here.

The other reason is that the poetess has spent all her childhood under its shade. She has played there
with her brother and sister who are no more alive. So, the tree is an integral part of her life for creatina

memories of her life. Q.4. The poem is an Ode inform and elegy in spirit and tone. Explain with
illustrations.

Ans.0ur Casuarina Tree is a poem which highlights the trees contribution in the life of the poetessi It is
an effort of the poetess to immortalise the tree through her verses. The tree is an inevitable part of he!
life. So, she is all respectful and highly dedicated to the tree which is more than her life. On the other
hand, the poetess also remembers her brother and sister who died at a very early life. Here the poetess
laments their death and also makes the tree feel and mourn it. She also talks about death, which is sure
to come. Thus, thif poem is an ode in form but an elegy in spirit.

Q5. How has the Casuarina tree been personified in the poem?

AnsOur Casuarina Tree is a poem written to express the feeling of the poetesslt is not merely the
description of a tree but it is a tribute to the tree. The poetess presonifies the tree. She bestows all
humaI feelings to the tree. The generous attitude of the tree is great. The tree comforts all. It also shares
the joys ami sorrows of the human beings. The pOetess feels the tree shedding tears and lamenting at
the death of he{

brother and sister. The tree is also destined to die like human being. Thus, it has been personified. It is
noi unaffected from human curses.

Lesson 6. If the Well Goes Dry

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions (2.]. How much water does the human body contain? Ans. The
human body contains 71 per cent water. . 0.2. Since when has man been changing his relationship with
the earth drastically?

Ans. Man has been changing his relationship with the earth drastically Since the industria revolution. . .

Q 3, Where do we get freshwater hum?

. We get freshwater lmm the hill

0.4, What threat do rising sea levels pose to human population?

Ans. Rising sea lmcls pow a tlumt ol mow powerful and mum {rs-qm m tn u . l nods; Q.5. Where do
chemical pollutants come from?

Ans. Chemical pollutants tome tmm lmlmtrml vstuhlwlmwnts

(2.6. What threat do rising sea levels pose to human population?

3short Answer Time Questions

0.1. What drives the cold ocean stream from the poles towards the equator?

Ans. As the warm ocean water from the tropics mow-s northward, most of it evaporates a one; the way.
When it hits the cold polar winds between Greenland and it eland, the evaporation accelerates leaving
behind much salter sea water which grows denser and heavier, this rapidly cooling water sinks to the
bottom forming a deep current near the ocean floor. in the process, it transfers cold streams from the
poles back towards the equator.

Q.2. Write two ways in which global warming raises sea levels.

Ans. 1. Higher average temperatures result in the melting of glaciers, in ice being discharged into the
oceans from the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland, and in the thermal expansion of the volume of the
sea as its water warms.

2. In some coastal cities like Miami, the freshwater aquifer on which it relies for its drinking water
actually floats on salt water, so that rising seas would push the water table up-in some cases, to the
surface.

Q.3. How do the forests produce rain clouds?

Ans. Forests produce rain clouds partly because of evapotranspiration (Transpiration is the plant
equivalent of sweat, add to it the evaporation from surfaces like broad leaves). Immediately after the
rain falls on a rain forest, a fine mist begins. to float back into the sky. It increases both humidity in the
air and the odds of more rain just downwind.

QA. How do the forests attract rain?

Q.5. How do the forests produce rain clouds?

Ans. Forests produce rain clouds partly because of evapotranspiration (Transpiration is the plant
equivalent of sweat, add to it the evaporation from surfaces like broad leaves). Immediately after the
rain falls on a rain forest, a fine mist begins to float back into the sky. It increases both humidity in the air
and the odds of more rain just downwind. '

C. Long Answer Type Questions

(2.1. How does global warming affect the climate pattern? (M.P. 2011)

Ans. Global warming affects the: climate pattern of the earth in a very adverse mariner. The health of the
planet Earth depends on maintaining a complex balance of interrelated system. Global warming is
changing the way water is transferred fr om oceans to the land and precipitation accelerating the entire
cycle. In addition, the increased warmth also increases the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere
which magnifies the greenhouse effect and speeds the process still further. As the global warming heats
up the polar regions faster than the tropics it changes the way the earth achieves a balance between hot
and cold.

Q.2. How does rising sea-level threaten freshwater supply? ~

Ans. Global warming causes a rise in sea level in several ways. Higher average temperatures result in the
melting of glaciers, in ice being discharged into the oceans from the ice caps of Antarctica and Greenland
and in the thermal expansion of the volume of the sea as its water warms. The rising seas would push
the Water table up, in some cases to the surface. Warming oceans are also likely to cause the average
hurricane to be more powerful because the depth and warmth of the oceans top layer is the single most
important factor in determining the speed of a hufricanes winds. More powerful and more frequent
storms coming into the land from the ocean would, in turn, greatly exacerbate the damage from rising
sea levels. It would change the entire water cycle and cause great damage to our freshwater system.

Q.3. Describe the effects of deforestation on the ecu-system. (MP. 2012)

Ans. Mdespread of deforestation is a great concern for the future of human life. The destruction of a
forest can affect the hydrological cycle (the natural water distribution system) in a given area. More
water is stored in the forests of the earth especially the tropical rain forests than in its lakes. Forests
themselves

.roduce rain clouds partly because of evapotranspiration. Immediately after the rain falls on a rain forest,
a e mist begins to float back into the sky. It increases both the humidity in the air and the odds of more
rain

ll

just downwind. Forests also attract rain by producin gases called terpenes and small amounts of a
COmPOun i

called dimethylsulfide which float into the atmosp ere as a gas, the tiny grains around which dimples
rainwater form. The deforestation would cause damage to ecosystem as it would cease these
Contributionbth: forests and thereby that of the rain amidst.

0.4. Describe the effects of population growth on the global water system. (MP. 2010

Ans. Population growth is one of the major factors which threatens the existence of human mg
Population is growing at a very rapid speed but resources are limited. Naturally the pressure of
populating is becoming rave on the resources. As a result resources are exhausted, because the speed of
the ability 0 nature to re ill or recharge its resources is much slower in comparison to the speed of
growth of h

Eppulation. Hence resources are sinking. We are cutting forests and digging the earth and this is all n
vitation to our own doom.

Wesson 7. A Prayer of My Daughter

A. Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. What do the words 'the future years had come symbolize in the poem? '

Ans. The expression the future ears had come symbolises Yeatss imagination about the coming days
and the present situation that had begun to prevail in the world. The poet says that the future years 1.e.,
the years of violence and bloodshed and frenzy have alread creeped in. These future years are seen by
Yeatss ima ination as emerging out of the murderous (treac erous) innocence of the sea.

Q.2. hat is the poets opinion about 'overmu'ch beauty? Does he want his daughter to 132515525 015;

Ans. The oet wishes that his daughter be granted beauty and yet not beauty to make a strangers eye 3

distraught. He oesnt want overmuch beauty for his dau hter for he thinks it disturbs and distracts
others. Women who are beautiful, begin to take it as an end in itse f. Such women forget their natural
kindness and are unable to resgond to the advance of even the sincere lovers. In fact, here the poet had
in his mind the beauty of Maud onne, his girl friend, who rejected his proposal for marriage.

(2.3. What is meant by the line, May she become a flourishing hidden treef? Explain.
Ans. This line reveals the poets pleading that the soul of his daughter should flourish and reach
selffulfilment like a flourishing tree. The tree symbolises inner life as well as a constancy in place and life
rooted in tradition. The poet considers such a life to be a happ one and for this reason he wishes that his
daughters life should be rooted in one lace and tradition as welif

Q4. What are the evi effects of hatred in mind?

Ans. The poet considers that hatred is the worst kind of all evils. It brings ill luck. It is the greatest flaw in
ones character. It makes one stubborn and vain. Through this expression the poet refers to the
weaknesses

AMAA

of Maud Gonne who was led to act foolishly due to her strongly held opinions. All her ood upbringiitlg l
1.

proved to be useless. She ruined her happiness in life. The poet, therefore, wants her daug ter to avoi

0.5. Explain the symbol 'Horn 0 lenty. (M13, 2010 Ans. The poet's reference to the Horn of Plen
indicates a mytholo ical symbol. The horn of a oat is represented as overflowing with flowers, fruit an
corn. Thus, it symbo ises plenty and rOSperi

, e poet while using this s bol makes a wish that his daughter should be granted with beauty ut she s ould
A

not follow the ath of eautiful ladies like Helen Venus or Maud Gonne who out of their foolish thought or
pride spoiled eir beauty and were doomed to their misfortune. For them even the Horn of Plenty proved

to be bad. B. Lon Answer e estions 6.1. Why ijsythegidet so much worried about the future of his new-
born daugther? Ans. The poem Prayer for My Daughter, is a personal poem of W.B. Yeats. It reflects the
gloom of the poet and his fear of a stormy future. As this poem was written after the First World War, it
reflects the post war frustration. This poem, written soon after the birth of 1118 first daughter Annie,
can be cleaer comprehended with the back round of Yeatss poem The Second Coming; wrltten a month
before the but}1 of his daughter. In The Secong Coming, the oet had a vision sug esting t e end of the
Christian era (an age of piety and rituals) and the advent of a new arbaric age. Besides e bloodshed in
Ireland, consequent upon the Easter Rebellion of 1916 and the outbreak of Irish Civil War accompanied
by World War I had alread

filled the poet's mind with gloom forbodings. The painful moments of the failures of his love affair W1 B
Maud Gonne were also in his min . So, the oet is scared of the safety of his daughter 5 future and prays
for her safe future by providin her a shield o potection. , Q-ZIn the oem A ayerfor My Daughter nature
in both its aspects-wild and joyous-serves 35 a 81 background. Exp ain and illustrate. 1 k . . Ans. The
poem A Prayer for My Daughter, is a typical poem of W.B. Yeats. The poet, in order to re???1 13 115
1933 clearly 585 all kinds of images. It appears to be quite simple but the cat has enriched it With cert:
W 3883 The Violence 0f nature--i:hunderous innocence of the sea-is symbolic of the Violence of man
whJ1 14

3 calculated and inexorable. The poet gives many examples of great beauties like Helen who represent5

d Gonna, Venus and their beau which roved to be disa from for them. There are m mm also. The wind
and tree imagteyis to be Found throughout. First, the stormy wind W212i $355.3me ham ofrplenty is
transformed into a windy instrument. and Gonne has taken 'old bellows full of angry wind'~ e a reading
laurel tree, which stands for tradition and customs, is mentioned twice. The intellectual patted of aud
Gonne brings its own punishment and the innocence and courtesy can, however, serve as a Mugs or
shelter against every 'windy uarter or 'bellows burst. All these symbols give great significance ,0 the
thoughts expressed in he poem. e may be tempted to say that the poem contains 'rich stores in a

his room'. 11 0.3. What virtues does the net want his daughter to be blessed with?

Ans. Out of his gloom an fear about an unsafe future the poet prays for the safety of his new-born
daughter. He thinks that only some inner virtues will give comfort to his daughter. Those Virtues would
make her strong. However, he has not prayed for any Christian virtues for his daughter. He has only
Wished {or certain abstract qualities like innocence, freedom, kindness and gladness. He has not
mentioned how dime qualities can be built up. The ideas that he offers, appear theoretical. How such
ideas can be realised in an age of democracy and com etition, is a question in which he does not
concern. much. The poet has expressed his faith in tra ition and ceremon but in a world of changing
values, 'It' may be very difficult to preserve them under the stream 0 modern civilization. The poet is
rather idealistic and has not addressed himself to the challenges which the world is facing today.

9.4. What sort of beau does the poet solicit for his daughter? What did Helen and Venus meet With for
being excessively beauti l? . .

. Ans. As the poet is very much concerned about his daughters future, he Wishes to promde her all sorts
of Virtues which work as protective shield for her. He rays that his daughter may be granted beauty but
not so much of it that it disturbs and distracts others. omen, who are beautiful, ' to take it as an end in
itself. Such women, forget their natural kindness and are unable to respond to 2 advance of even the
sincere lovers. Thus, they ultimately fail to find a suitable life partner. The reference obviously is to Maud
Gonne, who was very beautiful and who had rejected Yeatss proposal of marriage to marry MacBride, a
worthless person.

Referrin to the le ends, he says that Helen, the dau ter of Zeus and Leda, was a very beautiful woman.
She e oped with rince Paris of Troy, which resulte in the destruction of Troy. A te (Venus), too, who rose
out of the spray, married Hephaestus, the lame ironman. Maud Gonne too d married very foolishly a
worthless person as Mor Bride and was not happy with him. It seems certain that beautiful women
eatdsomething special which make them proud foolish, and miserable, thus becoming the cause of their
un om .

Qg.5. Ex lain the Legend of Helen and Paris.

Ans. e poet w ' e'prayin. for good virtues of lifefor his daughter presents some instances from mytholo
and also from his real 1 e experience. He refers to the legend of Helen and Prince Pan's. Helen was the
dau alter of Zeus and Leda. She was extraordinarily beautiful. She out of her arrogance eloped with
Prince aris of Troy. This elopement brought the destruction of Troy. Her life too was med.

The Beggar

A. V Short Answer Type Questions grad. Why did Skvortsov look askance at the beggar?
Ans. Skvortsov looked askance at the beggar because he had doubts about him. Q.2. Why did the beggar
confess that he led?

Ans. Because the narrator threatened him to hand him over to the police. Q.3. Why was Skvortsov ang
with the beggar? Ans. Because the beggar was eggmg 1n the name of a schoolmaster to earn more
Sympathy from

People. . ~ (2.4. What made the men With the vans lau h at the beggar?

Ans. The men with the vans laughed at the e gar for his idleness, feebleness d . . Q.5. Why did Olga shed
tears over the be ar% an ragged coat

8 Ans. Because she wanted to bring about a change in the beggars soul. Q.6. Why did Skvortsov look as
ance at the beggar?

Ans. Skvortsov looked askance at the beggar because he had doubts about him.

3Short Answer Type Questions Q1. Why was Lushkov, the beggar compelled to beg? , Ans. Lushkov was
a beggar. When he approached Skvortsov for hel he was caught in an unexpected romahon. He told
Skvortsorv that he was hungry. He had not tasted foo for three days. He had not five~ Peck piece for a
night 5 lodging. He added to that he was once a schoolmaster in a village and had lost his 39$ because
of a conspiracy. He wanted to convince the writer with his plea that he was a Victim of false $88. He said
that he was out of place for a year now he had been offered a post in the Kaluga provmce. WEI) he had
no means for the journey. Hence he was begging for help.

Q.2. Why did the beggar get a merciless scolding? (Mp, 2012)

Ans. The beggar while begging approached Skvortsov, the narrator. He began to explain his hel lessness
and tried to convince him for hel . However, the narrator recollected his memory and remembere that
was the man who just a day back was egging in the name of an expelled student. This time he was
begging in the name of a schoolmaster. He was using the name of a schoolmaster and a student in order
to attract more sympathy from people. He was trying to blackmail eople emotionally. It made the
narrator angry and he scolded him mercilessly and also threatened to han him over the police.

Q3. How did the beggar defend his act of begging?

Ans. In the course of his begging, when Lushkov asked Skvortsov for help he was caught in a wrong box
this time. Skvortsov was angry for his begging in the name of a student and a schoolmaster. He scolded
him and threatened to send him to jail. Lushkov tried to convince him with his plea but Skvortsov did not
agree. Finally when Skvortsov asked him why did he not find a job or do labour, Lushkov defended
himself b saying that begging was the.best option for him. He said that he couldnt get manual work. He
was too 0 d for being a shopman for trade was to be learnt from the very beginning. He couldnt get a
job of house porter for he was not of that class. He also could not get any job in factory, for doing any
work one must be skilled but he knew nothing. So, he very suitably chose begging.

: Lesson 9 After Apple-Picking

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions . (2.1. Why does the poet say that he is done with apple-picking?
Ans. Because he has spent sleepless nights. Q.2. What meaning is conveyed through the expression,
instep arch keep the ache? Ans. While picking up apples, the poet's curved part of foot began aching.
Q3. What does the poet see in his dreams? Ans. The poet sees magnified apples appearing and
disappearing in his dreams. QA. What helps the poet in balancing his weight on the ladder-round?

Ans. The instep arch helps the poet balancing his weight on the ladder-round. Q5. What is the meaning
of fleck of russet?

Ans. It means a very small area of reddish brown colour of apples.

B. Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Why cant the poet rub strangeness from his sight? ,
Ans. The poet is overtired of apple-picking still there are a lot to pick. He has gone sleepless for many
nights. He is drowsing off the essence of the apples. Whatever he saw from the pane of his Window, the
fact is far more different. So, he is amazed.

Q.2. What is implied by the phrase, just some human sleep?

Ans. Here, the expression 'just for human sleep implies that human being is to have a little rest after
working for a certain period continuously. It is this need of his body system which refreshes to enable
him to work again with energy. So, he works in the day and sleeps at night. Here as he is overtired he
wishes just for

human sleep. (23. What does the repeated reference to sleep in the poem imply?

Ans. In this poem the poet gives his reflections on boredom and drudgery in the aftermath of the task of
picking apple. He has got overtired. He is feeling drowsy as he is sleepless. Again and again he talks of
'sleep for he needs it the most. Sleep is here used as a rejuvenating factor in a mans life.

C. Long Answer Type Questions Q]. Give the central Idea of the poem. (MP. 2009) Ans. After Apple-
Picking is a well-known poem on mans encounter with the natural world, probing dilemma of his
existence. Here the poet gives reflections on boredom and drudgery in the aftermath of the task of
picking apples. The overtired apple-picker fails to enjoy his life amid the pristine natural beauty. The
poem is trapped in the utilitarian ways of modern civilization. Its central theme is that modern
civilization marked by the culture of excessive work for increasing material gain leads to no end.

Q.2. Justify the title of the poem, After Apple-Picking.

Ans. After Apple-Picking is a suitable title for this poem. In this poem the poet gives his feelings for the
overstrained civilization and way of modern life. Through the work of apple-picking he explains his ideas,
Apple symbolises a fruit of high worth from every point of View. The poet has a bumper harvest of apple
and while picking it up gets overtired. Every situation reflects the poets View and all through apple.
0n Umbrella Morals

A. Short Answer Time Questions (2.1. How do people who pick things belonging to others satisfy their
cmmgr

Ans. P to who ick things belonging to others sdtistv their conscience am an apology to memselves
magpthey ha nt done it dehberatrly but by mistake Sometim. they? Ah! I was going past to return it. l
don't know how did it ha pcn. Such purple if not caught won't bother to feel sorry They don t say a word
of apology. They are umbne la conscience.

(2.2. What has the author to say about morals cumming books?

Ans. The author has a strong feeling for those who pick up other's thing. They do it do! beratc y in order
to satis their conscience. They don't feel shy if t are caught. They just say. It was a wrprhe how did it
happen?" author has the same feeling for those w 0 take two books from library and never bother to
retrun them. He advises usnever to trusteven our dearest friend He Wotan-n rel guns perplewho don't
return books.

Q3. Why does the author say that picking of other people's hat in unpardonable?

Ans. The author in this essay presents his views about those who pick mhers things They can take
anything. They take umbrellas, books and many other things. They don't spare even hats which symbo
mes one's prostige. They do it deliberame except in some rare cases when it happens accidently or
unkmiwmgly. The author finds it unpardonable. It is beyond the borderland of conscience where
dishonesty disaembles.

(2.4. What does the author mean by play hide and seek with our own conscience?
Ans. The author is very much annoyed with the peeple's habit ofcpicking up others things Usually they
do it deliberately. They know that they are picking up a better thing an leaving their own inferior thing.
dm't feel shy. They dont bother to return it back even if the owners name is written there. If caught
thev simply say 'Ah! I dont lcnow how did it happen? They show their ignorance but they feel happy in
this way. they play hide and seek with their own conscience.

(2.5. He is one of those people who have what I may call an umbrella conscience.

Ans. Through this line the author wants to expose the so-called civilised people who not only defame
society but also lose their morals. They are also tempted to get a good thing in exchange. 50, they do it.
It is umbrella conscience.

B. Long Answer Type Questions

Q.1. What does the author say about"umbrella conscience'? Mention some of its chief characteristics.

(MJ. 2012)

Ans. This essay is a satire on the modern culture where people have lost their morals. They do wrong but
dont accept it. They do wrong knowingly. They dont care for others trouble. The author gives many
examples. He says that such people take your umbrellas made of silk and leave their own cotton
umbrellas in exchange. They take your books and never return. They are not only ordinary people but
some religious and high protile people also do it. They also dont feel shy. They do it only to appease
their conscience. Sometimes, they may feel sorry and say to you that they were just going to return it but
that is not the fact. They only play hide and seek with their own conscience.

Q2. It is not enough to be found out by others; we refuse to be found out by ourselves." Discuss.

Ans. On Umbrella Morals is a satire on the moral degradation of modern people. The author through a
very common phenomena tries to capture a real view of our society. In life we lose our things, no doubt.
However, for the author losing an umbrella leads topull his thoughts and emotions towards serious
things like morals and conscience. He feels unhappy that many people forget to return books taken from
others or a library. They dont hesitate from picking other peoples hats as well. Here the point to think is
that they are not found out by others. They also don't feel shy or fear from their own conscience. The
inner self is dead and they refuse to be found out by their own self.

My Father Travels

A. Very Short Answer Type Questions Q.1. Who is the narrator in the poem? Ans. The poet himself is the
narrator in the poem. Q.2. Suburbs slide past his unseelng eyes. What is implied by 'unseeing eyes' in
this line? Ans. It implies that the father is in deep thought unaware of w at is passing through. Q3. What
does the poet mean by a word dropped from a long sentence? _ Ans. The poet means that the father
during travel was a part of the train but now he is detached from it.

DA V] unnuu... .

Q4. What does the father contemplate on in the toilet?

Ans. The father contemplates over the degradation of social values and relationships. Q.5. What does
the father dream of in sleep?

Ans. The father dreams of his ancestors, his grand children, and the modern civilization.

B. Short Answer Type Questions

Q.1. Why does father hurry on? Ans. The father in this poem re resents the old values. He travels alone in
the train a standing among the old aged daily assen ers with a fear 1 look and depressed lot of humanity.
He has a sense of attachment with

the family. He urries ack home to have some time with his family. He feels overburdened with the feeling
01 values that he represents. He is tired and secluded.
Q.2. Why does the father tremble at the sink? (MP. 2009, Ans. The father comes back home. He eats
stale cha atis and drinks weak tea. Nobod cares about his presence. He is alone in the house as no one
bothers for . He is ignored by his grandc 'ldren. Nobody

shares his woes. He goes to toilet in order to ease himself. It also symbolises a feeling of detachment
from the worldl burden of relationship. So, he trembles at the sink out of weakness.

Q.3. Why does the poet call the children sullen?

Ans. The poet calls the children sullen because they are different from the previous generation. They feel
differently and do accordingly. They do not bother for the old gaineration. They have their own wily of
living, They have no time to care or even look at their grand arents. ey lack affini and feeling. It is e trend
of mpf ern civilization. Moral values are vanishing fast. hildren are growing in isciplined. They are
becoming se -centred.

C. Long Answer Type Questions

Q.1. Give the central idea of the poem.

Ans. My Father Travels is a poem on the dehumanising growth of the modern civili-zation. It captures the
predicament of an aged man in this dehumanised urban world. He feels depressed at the crumbling
traditional value 5 stem and human relationshi s. The younger generation lacks sinceri and regard for
their old generation. ey dont bother to honour the traditional values and ways of life. ey imitate the fast
changin worldplittern where there is no place for the old and the aged, for them, the old is not gold but
stale and out ated. ' is the negative aspect of the modernisation.

(2.2. Comment on the mood in the poem.

Ans. The poem is written in a mood of deep concern for the changin world where we are losing our '
values. The poet is ensive. He through a father 3 travel, puts his ideas about ow the modernisation
affects us negatively. We are eing detached from old values, our tradition, and our ancestors. The new
generation has its own views and values. The old and the aged are ignored and overrated. They are
subjected to negligence. The poet grows so de ressed that he even thinks of the nomads. It means that
the present world is not even better than the noma 'c period.

.. .., _ . ,. -~ -_---~AwM-~e-:-:~:: A Lesson 12. Youth and the Tasks Ahead . A. Very Short Answer Type
Questions

Q.1. Which task is more onerous? .

Ans. The maintenance and strengthening of freedom is a more onerous task.

(2.2. Name the twin ideals on which our great nation is founded.

Ans. Secularism and democracy are the twin ideals on which our great nation is founded.

Q.3. How can corruption be eradicated?

Ans. The urge for national unity and progress can eradicate corruption.

Q.4. Out of the four dimensions mentioned in the text, which one distinguishes human beings fron
other living beings?

Ans. The spiritual dimension distinguishes human being from other living beings.

Q.5. How can the youths resist aggression?

Ans. The youth can resist aggression by strengthening our integrity.

Ans. The youths should form the vanguard in all activities for they have capacity to resist aggressron

Q7. How can the youths really be of effective service to the nation?

Ans. By equipping themselves with physical, intellectual, patriotic and spiritual dimensions the 3'0th can
be effective to the nation.

B. Short Answer Type Questions (2.1. Why does the author want our youths to be physically and
intellectually strong? _ Ans. Dr. Karan Singh, a great political thinker, puts his candid views about the
youths of our nation. Hf invokes thAt our YOUthS must be equipped with physical and intellectual
dimensions because building a gfea

democracy and defending it from predatory a grossors requires a youn generation that is hysically strong,
with muscles of iron and nerves of steel. They ( so need to be intellectual or we live in a high v
competitive age

of Science and technology. The rapidly changing nuclear age requires our youths to he intellectually
more alert and competent than their predecessors.

Q2. What should the youth do to become intellectually competent?

Ans. The author feels our youth must be equipped with intellm tual capabilities In order to compete with
the highly competitive age of science and technology. Moreover, the Challenges before them are greater
than mose of their predecessors. Hence they must obtain high academic abilities. [hose who go to
schools or colleges are the privileged elite for there are a lot in our country who dont even attain
primary education. 50, the students should not lose even a moment in false or disruptive pursuits but
strain every nerve to become atile and effxcrent in their respective fields of study.
Q3. What does the author mean by patriotism?

Ans. The author in his address to the youth explains his ideas about patriotism. It is one of the important
dimensions that a youth must acquire. By patriotism the author doesnt mean the routine meaning but
he means the deeper patriotism which transcend all pettiness and devotion and creates in our youth a
deep urge for national unity and pro ress. The author feels that this alone can eradicate corruption and
nepotism from our nation and galvanize e whole process of our economic development. '

(2.4. Why is it necessary for our youth to be spiritually strong? . ,

Ans. The author feels that for our youth it is necessary to equip themselves with spiritual dimension
which is the main faculty that distinguishes human beings from the myriad other forms of life.
Spiritualism leads to fearlessness and dynamism even at the crucial hours and overcomes all difficulties.
By spiritualism the author doesnt mean merely denominational religion but the thread of unity which
runs through all religions and from which they all ultimately derive power and sustenance.

C. Long Answer Type Questions .

Q1. What does the author expect from those Who belong to the post-independence era?

Ans. The author feels that we are'living in a crucial age. We have suffered a lot under the long servitude
and gained freedom after a long range of sacrifices. Now, our responsibilities are far more greater than
those of our predecessors. It is tougher to keep our independence safe. We have to build a great
democracy and defend it also. We have to be more alert and competent to face the challenges in every
sphere of life. We have to Spread knowledge, eradicate corruption, pettiness and nepotism. We have to
galvanize the whole process of economic development. The young generation has to bearlall these
responsibilities for they are the future of the nation. For this the author urges them to equip themselves
with qualities like physical fitness, intellectual traits, patriotic feeling and spiritualism. These all together
can give them confidence, courage and ability to face all challenges and help them make a great nation.

Q2. How, according to Dr. Karan Singh, can the youth repay their debt to society?
Ans. The lesson Youth and the Task Ahead, is a very thoughtful piece of invocation that the author
addresses to the youth of the nation. He says that the young generation, being the future of the nation,
is responsible for the all round development of it. The youths can render their services in many ways in
order to repay their debt to the nation. They can do their best to keep our country safe from the external
attacks. They can spread knowledge among those who fail to go to schools or colleges. They can help the
nation in eradicating corruption, pettiness, nepotism and all other diversities. They spread the message
of unity, peace and harmony. They can do everything for the welfare of the nation.

5 Lessor: 13.? On His Being Arrived at the Age of Twenty-three AVery Short Answer Type Questions , Q.1.
Why does the poet call time, the subtle thief of youth? Ans. Because time has taken aWay his twenty-
three years without notice. (2.2. But my late spring no bud or blossom sheweth. (a) What does 'spring
refer to? (b) How is it late? Ans. (a) Spring refers to maturity. (17) Because he has not seen bud or
blossom. Q3. All is, if I have grace to use it so, As ever in my Taskmasters eye. (a) What has grace been
spoken of in the above lines? (17) Who is the TasMaster? . Ans. (a) Grace is the extra time that the poet
wishes to have to compensate his loss. (17) God is the Taskmaster.