Friday, March 11, 2022

Practice Questions - Non Finite Verbs ( Gerunds, Infinitives, Participle)

Before starting I would like to advise you to check out this post where we explain non finite verbs in detail with examples by clicking here.

Q.I. Identify the gerunds in the following sentences identify the theFill up the blanks with infinitives:-

1. Mohan wants to ____ (swim) in the river.
Answer: Mohan wants to swim in the river.

2. Let him ___ (go) now.
Answer: Let him go now.

3. We saw him  ____ (arrive) at the party.
Answer: Let him go now.

4. Rita was too tired to ___ (walk).
Answer: Rita was too tired to walk.

5. He refused to ____ (help) me.
Answer: He refused to help me.

Q.II. Identify the gerunds in the following sentences:-

1. Swimming in the ocean is not easy.
Answer: Swimming

2. I delayed telling her the bad news.
Answer: Telling.

3. Let's go shopping.
Answer: Shopping

4. The pilot said that flying above the clouds is an experience.
Answer: Flying

5. He avoided doing his maths homework.
Answer: Doing

6. Writing is an exchange of ideas.
Answer: Writing

7. Running is fun.
Answer: Running

8. Swimming in the ocean is scary.
Answer: Swimming

9. She is afraid of flying.
Answer: Flying

10. Her love for gardening is well known.
Answer: Gardening

11. Baking is the profession of a baker.
Answer: Baking

12. I love reading.
Answer: Reading

13. Peter likes photographing animals.
Answer: Photographing

14. He was playing in the park.
Answer: Playing

15. The baby is crying.
Answer: Crying

Q.III. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of participle.

1. I found my brother ___ (drink) water.
Answer: I found my brother drinking water.

2. I reported the matter of my ___ (loose) book.
Answer: I reported the matter of my lost book.

3. She gave an ___ (amuse) performance.
Answer: She gave an amusing performance.

4. I was surprised to see so many (fall) trees.
Answer: I was surprised to see so many trees.

5. The student looked for a ___ (tore) page of his book.
Answer: The student looked for a torn page of his book.

6. The ___ (loose) team was consoled by the principal.
Answer: The lost team was consoled by the principal.

7. When she saw a snake the ___ (alarm) girl shouted.
Answer: When she saw a snake, the alarmed girl shouted.

8. I was glad to hear the ___ (chirp) birds song.
Answer: I was glad to hear the chirping bird's song.

9. After the accident the ___ (shake) boy was taken to the hospital.
Answer: After the accident the the shaken boy was taken to the hospital.

10. Do you enjoy ___ (watch) plays?
Answer: Do you enjoy watching plays?

Non - Finite Verbs (Gerunds, Infinitives, Participle) - Explanation with Examples.

Verb: A word that shows that some work has been done.
Example: Eat, drink, play, etc.

These are of two types:-
1. Finite Verbs: Verbs that represent a tense, change according to the subject, and have different froms according to the tense.
Example: Buy - bought
Teach - taught
Like - liked

2. Non - Finite Verbs: Verbs that represent no tense, they don't change according to the number or the person of the subject. 
Examples: -
She likes to eat ice cream.
They liked to eat ice cream.

He wants to go now.
They wanted to go.

Note: In a sentence there is a main verb and a non finite verb.
Without the main verb, the sentence remains meaningless . But without a non finite verb the sentence can be made.

For example: Tom saw him steal a pen.
Non finite verb: Steal.

Non finite verbs are of three types:-
1. Infinitives 
2. Gerunds
3. Participle

Infinitives:-
An infinitive is the base form of a verb. We use infinity words to join sentences.
Example: cut, put, go, come ,see, etc.

Infinitives are of two types:-
(i) Bare infinitives
(ii) To infinitives 

(i) Bare infinitives:-
It a verb that consists of infinitive without the word to.
For example: I saw her sleep.( Here, sleep is the bare infinitive and saw Is the finite verb.)

Conditions where bare infinitives are used:-
With auxiliary verbs or modals.
Example: He may come today. ( Here, come is the bare infinitive and may is a model.)

• With transitive verbs to show sense of perception.
Example: I heard him go upstairs.

• Used in phrases having had/would in them.
Example: You had better complete your work.

(ii) To infinitives:-
Generally functions as a noun or a complement in the sentence.
Example: to operate this machine insert a coin in the slot.

• It is used after verbs such as hope, want, agree and able.
Example: My brother wanted to become a pilot.

• It is used after nouns or adjectives.
Example: the management asked the principal to decide the date.

2. Gerunds:-
Gerund is a word that ends in -ing and functions as a noun. Since a gerund functions as a noun, it occupies the same position in a sentence that a noun usually does - subject, object or after a preposition.

Examples:-
The batting let down the team.(subject of a tense)
The other team is known for its fantastic bowling. (Object of a sentence)
Some were blamed for bad fielding.( Object of a preposition)

3. Participles:-
A participle is a form of a verb that can function both as a verb and as an adjective most commonly what is the poles and in -ing or -ed.
Example: The smiling baby caught my finger.

Participles are of two types:-
1. Present participle
2. Past participle

1. Present participle:-
They work as an adjective.
They are placed before a noun.
They also end in -ing.
They are also called adjectival verbs.

Examples:-
Everyone likes a smiling baby.
I want to read the interesting story.

2. Past participle:-
• Past participles are the third form of the verbs.
• They describe a noun.
• They also describe a finished or completed task.
Examples:-
The broken window panes were replaced.
The lost child was sent home.

Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Unseen Passage (Comprehension) with Solved Practice Questions

Introduction

• Comprehension means to understand the text fully using one's intellect. A comprehension passage is a text used for testing the reader's ability to comprehend (understand) the meaning implied by the text and the theme of that particular passage. 
• Questions based on a passage generally appear in chronological relationship to the passage. Usually, the first questions has the answer in the earlier paragraphs and so on, but if the answers are inferential, then the matter might have to be collected from various paragraphs and should be familiar with the entire passage.

Tips to know:-
How to read a passage for comprehension:

Following are a few guidelines that should be followed while attempting to comprehend  unfamiliar passage:

1. Read silently. Do not read aloud.

2. Read the entire sentence together to make out the sense or meaning.

3. Read the passage thoroughly to determine the main idea before you look at the questions.

4. Don't panic about the words you do not understand.

5. Try to make out the meaning of the word you don't understand in context to the passage.

6. Go through the questions carefully and read that part which contains the answer again.

7.Answer must be relevant and to the point.

8. Write complete sentences as answers.

9. Try to write the answers in your own words, but if required, they can be copied from the passage. 

10. Keep to the order in which the questions appear in the test paper.


I. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: Today we know about each and every part of the world. There is no land or sea that is not known to us. Man has explored every corner of the world and he knows all the ways and routes from anywhere to everywhere in the world. He can reach from one place to the other as safely, easily and quickly as he likes. He has maps to guide him and fastest means of transport to carry him.
But for ages, most of the world was unknown to man. To begin with, he lived in caves. Then he came out of caves and started making homes in little corners of forests or behind the hills. He was afraid of wild animals and also of the clouds and the winds. He offered prayers and sacrifices to gods who, he thought, controlled the clouds and the winds. But slowly, through long centuries, men began to explore what lay beyond their caves, hills and forests where they had their homes.
They went in their boats, first on the rivers and then across the seas. At first, they remained close to the shore and each new voyager went a little further than the previous one. To those early travellers, the earth seemed to be a vast, flat world. They feared what would happen if they reached the edge. They believed that if they sailed southward, the sea would become so hot and boiling that life would be impossible. Towards the north, they thought, it must be too cold for anything to live. Till only five hundred years ago, nearly all men believed this.
When some Portuguese explorers began to sail southward, their seamen revolted and refused to go further. They believed that the steaming waters of southern seas would boil them like potatoes.
When some clever men of those days said that the earth was not flat but a ball of sphere, people would laugh at them. 'How could there be people or trees on the other side of the world? they would say. Would men walk and trees grow upside down? And how could they stay on the other side? Surely they would fall off.'
On the basis of your understanding of the passage answer any 8 out of 10 of the following questions by choosing the correct option.
Q.1. we can travel as ___ as we like.
(A) safely
(B) easily
(C) quickly
(D) All the above

Q.2. The modern man can reach anywhere he likes with the help of 
(A) maps to guide him
(B) fastest means of transport
(C) Both (A) and (B) above
(D) Neither (A) nor (B)

Q. 3. After leaving the caves, man started making little homes
(A) in corners of forests 
(B) away from the forests
(C) on the tree tops
(D) above the hills

Q.4. Why would people not believe that the earth was not flat but round?
(A) If the earth were round, it would roll away like a ball.  
(B) If the earth were round, people and trees the other side would fall off.
(C) If the earth were round, water would not stay at one place.
(D) If the earth were round, it would look like the sun and the moon.

Q. 5. Voyager is a person:
(A) who makes sacrifices in order to please gods. 
(B) who goes about begging from place to place.
(C) who wants to explore new lands.
(D) making a long journey by sea.

Q. 6. What is the opposite of 'previous'?
(A) Last
(B) Next
(C) Immediate
(D) Simultaneous

Q. 7. Which word in the passage means 'rose in protest'?
(A) Revoke
(B) Revolt
(C) Refuse
(D) Fall off

Q. 8. The sacrifices were offered to gods by man because :
(A) most of the world was unknown to him.
(B) he was afraid of wild animals.
(C) he was afraid of the clouds and the winds.
(D) they controlled the clouds and the winds.

Q. 9. When some Portuguese explorers began to sail northward, their seamen revolted and refused to go further.
(A) True
(B) False
(C) Partially true
(D) Can't say

Q.10.Northern side was while southern side was
(A) hot, cold
(B) cold, hot
(C) steaming, freezing
(D) moderate, bearable

Answer key:-
1. D
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. D
9. B
10. B

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Adjective Clauses with Practice Questions

Clause: It is a group of words that has a subject and tense of its own.
These describe a noun or a pronoun.
For example: The design which I made was liked by everyone.
Adjective clause: Which I made.

Functions of an adjective clause in a sentence:-
It describes a noun or a pronoun.
It gives us further information about the noun or pronoun.
They begin with a 'WH' word or 'that'.
They are placed close to a noun or a pronoun.
They answer the question 'which one' or 'what kind of'
Example: The man who is standing in the corner is my uncle.
Clause: who is standing in the corner.

I. Pick out the adjective clauses in the following sentences:-

1. We will support the candidate who has a clean record.
Answer: Who has a clean record.

2. Mr. Singh is the officer whom you have to meet.
Answer: Whom you have to meet.

3. None of the medicines which the doctors gave worked on me.
Answer: Which the doctor gave.

4. There is nothing that is too hard.
Answer: That is too hard.

5. The car whose headlights were not working met with an accident.
Answer: Whose headlights were not working.

6. A child who is loved develops great confidence.
Answer: Who is loved.

7. Have you ever experienced a moment when you felt helpless.
Answer: When you felt helpless.

8. The monkey which was sitting on the tree suddenly attacked him.
Answer: Which was sitting on the tree.

9. All the dishes which were served were homemade.
Answer: Which were served.

10. The students who were taken to the factory returned very impressed 
Answer: Who were taken to see the factory.

11. I have read all the books which were written by Ruskin Bond.
Answer: which were written by Ruskin Bond.

12. The king who was ill decided to step down.
Answer: Who was ill.

13. We were impressed with the youn girl who sang beautifully.
Answer: Whi sang beautifully.

14. We should try to solve the problems which affect us the most.
Answer: Which affect us the most.

15. All students who are taking part in the annual function should assemble in the field.
Answer: Who are taking part in the annual function.

16. We no longer beleive the stories which she tells us.
Answer: Which she tells us.

17. This is the strangest animal that I have ever seen.
Answer: That I have ever seen.

18. Do you know the girl who wears glasses?
Answer: Who wears glasses.

19. The boy who is standing in the corner is my student.
Answer: Who is standing in the corner.

20. The dog that is living with the neighbours is very obedient.
Answer: That is living with the neighbours.


50 Practice questions of Direct and Indirect speech

50 Practice Questions of Direct and Indirect Speech
Before starting I would like to recommend you to check out our other post where we explain (in detail) about direct and indirect with examples, by clicking here: direct and indirect.


I. Convert the following questions into indirect speech:-

1. My friend said, " I am coming to your home"
Answer: My friend said that she was coming to my home.

2. The mother said," The baby is sleeping"
Answer: The mother said that the baby is sleeping.

3. My sister said, "I have read this book".
Answer: My sister said that she had read that book.

4. She said to me,"I will bake a cake."
Answer: She told me that she would bake a cake.

5. The waiter said to the customer, "We don't serve non-veg food."
Answer: The waiter told the customer that they didn't serve non-veg food.

6. Mr. Rajan said to his boss, "The peon is on leave today."
Answer: Mr. Rajan informed his boss that the peon was on leave that day.

7. She said to her friend, "This is the pen I have been looking for."
Answer: She told her friend that that was the pen she had been looking for.

8. Her father said, "The taxi driver charged me extra for being late."
Answer: Her father said that the taxi driver had charged him extra for being late.

9. The little boy said, "Granny you have so many grey hair."
Answer: The Little boy remarked to granny that she had so many grey hair.

10. You said to me, "I did not sleep last night and I cannot work well."
Answer: You told me that you had not slept the previous night and you could not work well.

11. My father said, "the Ganges is the longest river in our country."
Answer: My father said that the Ganges is the longest river in our country.

12. The speaker said, "A wise man always corrects his mistake."
Answer: The speaker said that a wise man always corrects his mistake.

13. My sister said to me, "how did you guess the correct answer?"
Answer: my sister asked me  how I had guessed the correct answer.

14. He said to his friend, "do you like my new bike?"
Answer: He asked his friend if he like his new bike.

15. Sneha said to Asha, "are you happy there?"
Answer: Sneha asked Asha if she was happy there.

16. Mr Singh said to Amit," do you have any relatives in the City?"
Answer: Mr Singh asked Amit if he had any relatives in that city.

17. He said to the principal,"did your school participate in the competition?"
Answer: He asked the principal if his school participated in the competition.

18. Amit said to his friend,"will you keep your promise?"
Answer: Amit asked his friend if he would keep his promise.

19. The boy said to his father,"please give me the keys of your car."
Answer: The boy pleaded to his father to give him the key of his car.

20. I said to her," I shall see you tomorrow."
Answer: I told her that I should see her the next day.

21. The teacher said to the students,"today it is clear, but will rain tomorrow."
Answer: The teacher told the students that that day was clear but it would rain the next day.

22. Ram said, "it rained heavily last night."
Answer: Ram said that it had rained heavily the previous night.

23. He said, "eyes are the reflection of mind."
Answer: He said that eyes are the reflection of mind.

24. The doctor said, "it may take you three months to recover."
Answer: The doctor said that it might take me three months to recover.

25. He said, "I rise at 5:00 a.m. daily."
Answer: He said that he rises at 5 a.m. daily.

26. Allen said to James, "I did not lose your book."
Answer: Allen told James that he had not lost his book.

27. I said to Rita let us play a game of chess to pass the time.
Answer: I suggested to Rita that we should play a game of chess to pass the time.

28. Shilpi said, "mother let me join the school trip to Mysore."
Answer: Shilpi requested her mother to allow her to join the school trip to Mysore.

29. He said to his father let me take your car for a few hours.
Answer: He requested his father to allow him to take his car for a few hours.

30. He said, "may God grant peace to the departed soul!"
Answer: He prayed that God might grant peace to the departed soul.

31. She said to her friend, "good morning! how do you do?"
Answer: she wished her friend good morning and asked how she was doing.

32. My mother said to me, "Happy Birthday dear!"
Answer: My mother lovingly wished me happy birthday.

33. The old man said to me, "may you live long my son!"
Answer: The old man lovingly wished me that I might live long.

34. One of the spectators said, "what super goal!"
Answer: One of the spectators explained that what a superb goal it was.

35. I said to my teacher, "I am sorry for this mistake."
Answer: I apologized to my teacher that i was sorry for that mistake.

36. Priya said to Rita, "were you present at the meeting?"
Answer: Priya asked Rita if she was present at the meeting.

37. The doctor said to me, " did you take the medicine regularly?"
Answer: The doctor asked me if I had taken the medicine regularly.

38. She said to me, " let us go and watch a movie tonight."
Answer: She suggested me that we should go and watch a movie that night.

39. He said, "my sister has been crying since morning."
Answer: He said that his sister has been crying since the morning.

40. Ram said to his classmate, "please lend me your book."
Answer: Ram requested his classmate to lend him his book.

41. She said to me, "let's go shopping."
Answer: She suggested me that we should go shopping.

42. Manoj said, "I am reading a mystery novel."
Answer: Manoj said that he was reading a mystery novel.

43. Nitin said, "I think Delhi is colder than Pune."
Answer: Nitin thought that Delhi was colder than Pune.

44. Amisha said, " let me help you with the arrangements."
Answer: Amisha offered to help him with the arrangements.

45. Sandeep asked Ashraf, "what are you doing this evening?"
Answer: Sandeep asked Ashraf what he was doing that evening.

46. Shyama said, "the weather is great and we are having a good time."
Answer: Shyama said that the weather was great and they were having a good time.

47. I asked a shopkeeper, "could you help me find this address?"
Answer: I asked the shopkeeper if he could help me find that address.

48. Lucy said, "I went to meet Jhon yesterday."
Answer: Lucy said that she had gone to meet Jhon the day before."

49. Josh said, "I will get late for school today."
Answer: Josh said that he would get late for school that day.

50. Rebecca said, "that's a good idea."
Answer: Rebecca remarked that that was a good idea.



Monday, March 7, 2022

Reported speech(direct and indirect speech).

Direct speech: It is the exact words of the speaker and is written within inverted commas.
Example: The teacher said,'I teach English.'

Indirect speech: It is used to report or reuse the words of the speaker.
Example: The teacher said that she taught English.

Things that undergo change:-
1. The tense of the reported speech in the corresponding past tense.
2. Pronouns change according to the subject. They turn into passive pronoun.
3. Things that are close to us are denoted as far away.

Now - Then
This - That
Here - There
Today - That day
Tomorrow - The next day
Yesterday - The previous day

Change of tenses
* The tense of the reported speech changes into past tense when the reporting verb is in the past tense.
Simple present --> simple past 
Present continuous --> past continuous
Present perfect --> past perfect
Present perfect continuous --> past perfect continuous
Simple past -- > past perfect
Past continuous --> past perfect continuous
Past perfect --> past perfect
Past perfect continuous --> past perfect continuous.
Simple future --> simple past
Future continuous --> past continuous (would, should)
Future perfect --> past perfect
Future perfect continuous --> past perfect continuous.
Exceptions to the rule about tense:-
If the reported speech expresses a universal truth, a scientific, mathematical, geographicalor habitual fact than the tense of the reported speech remains same.
Example: The teacher said to the students,"If you expose an iron plate to oxygen, it rusts.
Indirect: The teacher told the students that if they expose an iron plate to oxygen, it rusts.

Change of verb:-


Is, am ,are --> was, were
Did --> had done
Had --> had
Will, shall --> would, should
Can --> could
May --> might
Might --> might
Was --> had

Verbs that can be used as reporting verbs in place of 'said':-
Reply
Remark
Inform
Add
Remind
Explain
Answer
Suggest

Example: The shopkeeper said to Mr Patel," This shirt may not fit you."
Indirect: The shopkeeper suggested Mr. Patel that that shirt might not fit him.

Changing of interrogative sentences:-
Rule 1: The reported verb 'said' changes to asked/ enquired of/ demanded of/ wanted to know.
Rule 2: The question form changes to statement form
Rule 3: If the questions sentence begins with an auxiliary verb in the sentence becomes with 'if'/'weather' form.
Rule 4: when the reported speech begins with a 'WH' question we skip 'that'.
Example: The teacher said to James,"Which question have you not understood?"
Indirect: the teacher asked James which question he had not understood.

Creative sentences beginning with auxiliary verb:-
1. Manager said to Mr Vasu," are you willing to work here?"
Indirect: the manager as Mr Vasu if he was willing to work there.

Change in Imperative (command, order, advise or request) sentences.
•The reported verb changes into commanded, ordered , advised, told, requested, begged or urged.
Verb of direct speech is changed into first form of the verb.
Sentences that begin with do not change into 'not to' + verb first form.

Sentence:  The clerk said to the manager please allow me to go home early today."
Indirect: The clerk requested to the manager to allow him to go home early that day.

Conversion of imperative sentences beginning with 'let'.
Let sentences making proposal:-
Direct: I said to my friend, "let us take a room in the hotel as it is easy to reach on time."
Indirect: I suggested to my friend that we should take a room in the hotel as that was easy to reach on time.

Let in the sense of allow:-
Direct: the clerk said to the manager," sir let me go home a little early for my mother is unwell.
Indirect: The clerk requested to the manager to allow him to go home a little early for his mother was unwell.

Conversion of exclamatory sentences and wishes (optative sentences):-
In exclamatory sentences the speech is changed into statement sentences.
The reporting verb changes into exclaimed with joy and sorrow,  anger etc. to convey the tone of sentence.
Optative sentences change into Wished, prayed, desired.
The conjunction 'that' is used.
The interjections are removed and their sense is conveyed with adverbs.
Example: Mr Jain said, "Hurrah! my son has again won scholar badge."
Indirect: Mr Jain exclaimed with joy that his son had again won the scholar badge.


Sunday, March 6, 2022

50+ Practice questions of active and passive voice

Before starting I would like to advise you to check out our post where we explain active and passive voice in detail by clicking here.

Change the following sentences from active to passive:-

1. All the prize winners were given a toffee.
Answer: A toffee was given to all the prize winners.

2. A choreographer arranges dance movements.
Answer: Dance movements are arranged by a choreographer.

3. We keep the restaurant open till midnight.
Answer: The restaurant is kept open till midnight.

4. These books contain a lot of useful information.
Answer: a lot of useful information is contained in these books.

5. Children leave all kinds of things in school.
Answer: all kinds of things are left in the school by children.

6. The river water flooded the village.
Answer: the village was flooded by the river water.

7. My lawyer gave me the details of the case.
Answer: the details of the case were given to me by my lawyer.

8. We will bring out a special edition of the school magazine.
Answer: A special edition of the school magazine will be brought out by us.

9. The government will soon announce a new policy.
Answer: a new policy will be soon announced by the government.

10. A famous person is sponsoring the poor children.
Answer: the poor children are being in sponsored by a famous person.

11. School is adding a video section to our library.
Answer: a video section is being added to our library by the school.

12. The children were enjoying the magic show.
Answer: the magic show was being enjoyed by the children.

13. A dog was guarding the main gate.
Answer: the main gate was being guarded by a dog.

14. A machine has made this bread.
Answer: this bread has been made by a machine.

15. We have requested our teacher to announce the monitor.
Answer: our teacher has been requested to announce the monitor.

16. We must expect All creatures in this world.
Answer: All creatures must be respected in this world.

17. I can speak English.
Answer: English can be spoken by me.

18. He might suffer a loss.
Answer: a loss might be suffered by him.

19. Kindly enter my name in the list.
Answer: you are requested to enter my name in the list.

20. What did you see?
Answer: what was seen by you?

21. How much money do you want?
Answer: how much money is needed by you.

22. Why are you teasing the dog?
Answer: why is the dog being teased by you?

23. Who broke the glass?
Answer: by whom was the glass broken?

24. Do they teach French in your school?
Answer: is French taught in your school?

25. How many friends supported you?
Answer: by how many friends were you supported.

26. Did you see the result of the contest?
Answer: what's the result of the contest seen by you?

27. Will they serve food?
Answer: Will food be served(by them)?

28. When will they announce the result?
Answer: When will the result be announced?

29. Is he still reading the book?
Answer: Is the book still being read by him?

30. Where are you importing the material from?
Answer: where is the material being imported from?

31. Please give me a glass of water.
Answer: you are requested to give me a glass of water.

32. Never speak ill of others.
Answer: you are advised never to speak ill of others.

33. Do not pluck flowers from here.
Answer: you are advised not to pluck flowers from here.

34. Who has designed this robot?
Answer: by whom has this robot been designed?

35. Where had she hidden the document?
Answer: where had the document been hidden by her?

36. Leave the dog alone.
Answer: you are ordered to leave the dog alone.

37. How will they have settled the dispute?
Answer: how will the dispute have been settled by them?

38. Was someone calling your name?
Answer: was your name being called?

39. The flood water submerged the village.
Answer: the village was submerged by flood water.

40. Why was your father not accompanying you?
Answer: why were you not being accompanied by your Father.

41. We will have repaired the car by 2:00 p.m.
Answer: the car will have been repaired by 2:00 p.m.

42. Somebody I had informed the police about the fraud.
Answer: the police had been informed about the fraud.

43. Can we postpone the meeting?
Answer: Can the meeting be postponed by us?

44. Do they regularly inspect the factories?
Answer: are the factories regularly inspected by them?

45. The authorities are giving a facelift to the monument.
Answer: a facelift is being given to the monument by the the authorities.

46. Take your seat 15 minutes before the program.
Answer: you are advised to take your seat 15 minutes before the program.

47. Do not park your car in the no parking zone.
Answer: you are ordered not to park your car in the no parking zone.

48. Had you received the information on time?
Answer: had the information been received on time by you?

49. Will this campaign produce good result?
Answer: will good result be produced by this campaign?

50. I am ordering pizza.
Answer: a pizza is being ordered by me.

51. All his friends laughed at him.
Answer: He was laughed at by all his friends.

52. They made him king.
Answer: He was made King.

53. One should keep one's promises.
Answer: Promises should be kept.

54. Someone has picked my pocket.
Answer: My pocket has been picked.

55. He handed her a cheque.
Answer: A cheque was handed to her/she was handed a cheque.

Active and Passive Voice Easy Explanation with Examples for CBSE Board

Active vs. Passive Voice

Active Voice: In the Active Voice, the verb is directly related to the subject, which is the doer of the action. The focus is on the subject.

Example: She is reading a book.

Passive Voice: In the Passive Voice, the verb is related to the receiver of the action, and the focus is on the action itself. Sometimes the performer of the action (the agent) is not identified, which is known as a 'Short Passive'.

Example: The plants are watered by her every day.

Uses of the Passive Voice

  1. When the action is more important than the subject (the doer).

    Active: I made a mistake.

    Passive: A mistake was made.

    (Here, the focus is on the mistake, not on who made it.)

  2. When the subject is unknown or obvious.

    Active: Someone left a phone in the hall.

    Passive: A phone was left in the hall.

Rules for Changing Active to Passive Voice

  1. The verb must be transitive (a verb that takes an object).
  2. The subject and object switch places.
  3. The main verb is changed to its third form (past participle). For example, play → played.
  4. An appropriate helping verb (e.g., is, am, are, was, been) is added according to the tense.
  5. Pronouns change their form (e.g., I becomes me, she becomes her).
  6. The preposition 'by' is usually added before the new object (the original subject).

Tense Changes in Active to Passive Voice

Note: There is no passive form for Present Perfect Continuous, Past Perfect Continuous, Future Continuous, and Future Perfect Continuous tenses.

Tense Active Voice Example Passive Voice Example
Simple Present I bake a cake. A cake is baked by me.
Present Continuous I am baking a cake. A cake is being baked by me.
Present Perfect I have baked a cake. A cake has been baked by me.
Simple Past The principal introduced the chief guest. The chief guest was introduced by the principal.
Past Continuous The principal was introducing the chief guest. The chief guest was being introduced by the principal.
Past Perfect The principal had introduced the chief guest. The chief guest had been introduced by the principal.
Simple Future The chief minister will inaugurate the new building. The new building will be inaugurated by the chief minister.
Future Perfect The chief minister will have inaugurated the new building. The new building will have been inaugurated by the chief minister.

Sentences with Verbs Followed by Prepositions

The preposition remains attached to the verb in the passive form.

Active: Mr. Singh looks after the firm.

Passive: The firm is looked after by Mr. Singh.

Active: My mother looks after the whole household.

Passive: The whole household is looked after by my mother.

Sentences with Two Objects

Either object can become the subject of the passive sentence.

Active: John sent him a letter.

Passive 1: A letter was sent to him by John.

Passive 2: He was sent a letter by John.

Active: I shall tell you an interesting story.

Passive 1: An interesting story will be told to you by me.

Passive 2: You will be told an interesting story by me.

Sentences Where 'by' is Not Used

Prepositions other than 'by' (such as 'to', 'with', 'in') are used with certain verbs.

Active: She knows you well.

Passive: You are well known to her.

Active: The bottle contains ink.

Passive: Ink is contained in this bottle.

Active: I cannot please her.

Passive: She cannot be pleased with me.

The agent with 'by' is also omitted when the subject is unknown or understood (e.g., someone, the management, the school).

Active: Someone switched off the light.

Passive: The light was switched off.

Active: You must do your duty.

Passive: Your duty must be done.

Sentences with Modals

The structure is: Modal + be + Past Participle.

Active: I can speak English.

Passive: English can be spoken by me.

Active: You must obey your parents.

Passive: Your parents must be obeyed by you.

Note: The modal verb (can, must, should, might, etc.) does not change when converting the sentence to passive voice.

Interrogative (Question) Sentences

  1. WH- Questions: Questions starting with 'who', 'what', 'where', etc. 'Who' changes to 'By whom'.

    Active: Who teaches you English?

    Passive: By whom are you taught English?

  2. Yes/No Questions: Questions starting with an auxiliary verb (is, do, have, etc.). The passive question also starts with an auxiliary verb.

    Active: Does the shopkeeper sell eggs?

    Passive: Are eggs sold by the shopkeeper?

Imperative (Command/Request/Advice) Sentences

These sentences are often changed using the structure: You are [ordered/requested/advised] to...

Command (Active): Lock all the doors.

Passive: You are ordered to lock all the doors.

Advice (Active): Speak the truth.

Passive: You are advised to speak the truth.

Request (Active): Please help me arrange these books.

Passive: You are requested to help me arrange these books.

In negative imperative sentences, 'do not' changes to 'not to'. For example, "Do not touch it" becomes "You are warned not to touch it."

Click Here for 50+ Practice Questions

Indigo by Louis Fischer: Class 12 Chapter Summary, Q&A, MCQs & More

Indigo by Louis Fischer

Indigo by Louis Fischer is an inspiring chapter in Class 12 Flamingo that highlights Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership during the Champaran movement. It shows how truth, non-violence, and courage helped poor peasants fight against injustice.

Indigo by Luis Fischer Complete Guide

Summary of Indigo by Louis Fischer

The chapter Indigo recounts Mahatma Gandhi’s first active involvement in the Indian freedom struggle during the Champaran movement of 1917. It begins with Rajkumar Shukla, a poor but determined sharecropper, who persuaded Gandhi to visit Champaran in Bihar. The British landlords forced peasants to grow indigo on 15% of their land and surrender the harvest as rent. Later, with synthetic indigo coming from Germany, they demanded compensation to release tenants from the system. Gandhi investigated the matter, despite resistance from British officials, and encouraged peasants to shed fear. His calm defiance and support from lawyers and ordinary villagers forced the authorities to set up an inquiry commission. The planters eventually agreed to refund part of the money. More importantly, peasants gained courage and self-respect. Gandhi also initiated social reforms in Champaran such as education, health, and hygiene. The episode marked a turning-point in Gandhi’s life and showed how non-violence, truth, and self-reliance could challenge colonial power.


Explanation of Indigo by Louis Fischer

At the Congress session in Lucknow (1916), Gandhi was approached by Rajkumar Shukla, a poor but determined sharecropper from Champaran. He requested Gandhi to visit his district to look into the peasants’ problems. Shukla’s persistence impressed Gandhi, and finally, he agreed.

On the way, Gandhi stayed at Rajendra Prasad’s house in Patna, where he was mistaken for a poor peasant. Then he proceeded to Muzzafarpur, staying with Professor Malkani, who courageously hosted him despite being a government servant. This reflected how people began to trust Gandhi and his mission.

Champaran farmers were forced under a long-term system to grow indigo on 15% of their land and surrender it to landlords. When synthetic indigo was discovered, landlords demanded compensation to release tenants from the agreement. Many peasants, being illiterate, signed unfair agreements.

Gandhi began investigating farmers’ complaints despite opposition from British officials. When ordered to leave Champaran, he refused, declaring that he was obeying the “voice of conscience.” His trial in Motihari drew thousands of peasants, marking the first victory of civil disobedience in India.

Initially hesitant, the local lawyers were inspired by Gandhi’s willingness to go to prison for the peasants. They pledged to support him, showing unity among the educated and poor alike. This boosted the morale of Champaran peasants.

The Lieutenant-Governor set up a commission with Gandhi as the peasants’ representative. After much discussion, landlords agreed to refund 25% of the money they had wrongfully taken. Gandhi accepted, explaining that the real success lay not in money but in restoring peasants’ courage and dignity.

Gandhi extended his work beyond legal issues. He started schools, promoted cleanliness, and improved healthcare with the help of volunteers like Kasturba Gandhi, Mahadev Desai, and Narhari Parikh. This reflected Gandhi’s holistic approach to reform.

When English pacifist C.F. Andrews offered help, Gandhi refused, urging Indians to rely on themselves instead of seeking foreign support. This was a practical lesson in self-reliance and strength of spirit.

The Champaran episode became a turning point in Gandhi’s life. It was not just a protest against injustice but a blend of politics with social reform. Gandhi taught Indians to overcome fear, rely on truth, and fight injustice through non-violence.


Word Meaning of Indigo by Louis Fischer

Key vocabulary from the chapter Indigo and their meanings.
Word/Phrase Meaning
Emaciated Very thin and weak, usually due to hunger or illness
Resolute Determined and firm
Tenacity The quality of being very persistent
Sharecropper A farmer who works on another person’s land and gives part of the crop as rent
Yeoman A small farmer who owns or rents land
Harbour (a man) To shelter or give protection to someone
Fee Payment made to lawyers or professionals
Bully To threaten, frighten, or force someone into submission
Summons An official order to appear in court
Conflict of duties A situation where two responsibilities clash
Civil disobedience Refusal to obey certain laws as a peaceful protest
Triumphed Achieved victory or success
Deposition A formal written statement used in legal matters
Deadlock A situation where no progress can be made because of disagreement
Irksome Annoying or troublesome
Coated tongue A medical sign where the tongue has a white or yellow layer
Self-reliance Depending on one’s own abilities rather than others
Oppressed Kept down by unjust treatment
Prestige Respect and admiration given by others
Pacifist A person who believes in peace and opposes war or violence
Prop (seek a prop) Something that gives support, especially when one feels weak
Alleviate To make suffering less severe
Conscience A person’s inner sense of right and wrong

Question and Answer of Indigo by Louis Fischer

Think as you Read I

Q1a. Strike out what is not true in the following.
Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) a delegate.
(iv) a landlord.

Answer: He was a sharecropper. (Strike out politician, delegate, and landlord.)
Type: Very Short Answer

Q1b. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.

Answer: He was poor and illiterate. (Physically strong is not true.)
Type: Very Short Answer

Q2. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Answer: Shukla followed Gandhi everywhere until he agreed to visit Champaran. His persistence and determination to seek justice for sharecroppers made him resolute.
Type: Short Answer

Q3. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?

Answer: The servants saw Gandhi in simple clothes and with Shukla, a poor farmer. Mistaking him for another ordinary villager, they even denied him access to water.
Type: Short Answer


Think as you Read II

Q1. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.

Answer: Gandhi first went to Patna to meet Rajendra Prasad, then to Muzzafarpur where he stayed with Professor Malkani, and finally reached Champaran.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. What did the peasants pay the British landlords as rent? What did the British now want instead and why? What would be the impact of synthetic indigo on the prices of natural indigo?

Answer: The peasants paid rent by growing indigo on 15% of their land. With the discovery of synthetic indigo in Germany, landlords wanted cash compensation for releasing them from this system. Synthetic indigo reduced the value and demand for natural indigo.
Type: Long Answer


Think as you Read III

Q1. The events in this part of the text illustrate Gandhi’s method of working. Can you identify some instances of this method and link them to his ideas of satyagraha and non-violence?

Answer: Gandhi refused to leave Champaran despite official orders, faced trial calmly, and encouraged peasants to shed fear. His actions—peaceful defiance, truth, and courage—reflected the principles of satyagraha and non-violence.
Type: Long Answer


Think as you Read IV

Q1. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?

Answer: For Gandhi, the refund symbolised the landlords’ loss of prestige. The exact amount mattered less; what mattered was that peasants realised their rights and gained courage.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?

Answer: The planters’ dominance weakened, peasants learned courage and self-respect, and within a few years indigo sharecropping ended. They gained social upliftment through education, health, and sanitation efforts led by Gandhi.
Type: Long Answer


Understanding the Text

Q1. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning-point in his life?

Answer: The Champaran struggle demonstrated the power of non-violent protest in India. It proved that ordinary peasants could challenge unjust authority, and it marked Gandhi’s entry as a leader in the national freedom struggle.
Type: Long Answer

Q2. How was Gandhi able to influence lawyers? Give instances.

Answer: The lawyers initially hesitated but seeing Gandhi ready to go to jail for peasants, they pledged to support him. They realised abandoning the cause would be shameful compared to Gandhi’s sacrifice.
Type: Short Answer

Q3. What was the attitude of the average Indian in smaller localities towards advocates of ‘home rule’?

Answer: Most Indians in smaller towns were afraid of supporting the freedom movement openly. They feared government action and avoided showing sympathy for nationalists.
Type: Short Answer

Q4. How do we know that ordinary people too contributed to the freedom movement?

Answer: Thousands of peasants gathered outside the Motihari court in support of Gandhi, showing courage despite fear of authorities. Their spontaneous participation revealed people’s role in India’s struggle.
Type: Short Answer


Talking about the Text

Q1. “Freedom from fear is more important than legal justice for the poor.” Do you think that the poor of India are free from fear after Independence?

Answer: Though legal rights exist, many poor still live in fear due to poverty, corruption, and social inequality. True freedom requires courage, awareness, and equal access to justice for all citizens.
Type: Long Answer

Q2. The qualities of a good leader.

Answer: A good leader is courageous, selfless, and empathetic. He inspires trust, stands firm on truth, and uplifts the weak. Gandhi embodied these traits by living simply and fighting for justice through non-violence.
Type: Long Answer


Working with Words

Q1. List the words used in the text that are related to legal procedures.

Answer: Deposition, summons, prosecutor, trial, commission, evidence, statement, judgment.
Type: Very Short Answer

Q2. List other words that you know that fall into this category.

Answer: Affidavit, verdict, litigation, defendant, plaintiff, testimony, appeal.
Type: Very Short Answer


Thinking about Language

Q1. Notice the sentences in the text which are in ‘direct speech’. Why does the author use quotations in his narration?

Answer: Quotations make the narration lively and authentic. They capture Gandhi’s exact words, reflecting his tone and spirit, thereby making the historical account engaging and credible.
Type: Short Answer

Q2. Notice the use or non-use of the comma in the following sentences.
(a) When I first visited Gandhi in 1942 at his ashram in Sevagram, he told me what happened in Champaran.
(b) He had not proceeded far when the police superintendent’s messenger overtook him.
(c) When the court reconvened, the judge said he would not deliver the judgment for several days.

Answer: A comma separates clauses when the subordinate clause comes first (as in a & c). No comma is needed when the main clause begins the sentence (as in b).
Type: Short Answer


Things to Do (Model Answer)

1. Issue Chosen: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984)

The Bhopal Gas Tragedy was one of the world’s worst industrial disasters. A poisonous gas leak from the Union Carbide factory killed thousands and affected the health of generations in Bhopal.

2. Facts of the Case

  • On the night of 2–3 December 1984, methyl isocyanate gas leaked from the pesticide plant.
  • Over 3,000 people died immediately; thousands more died later from related illnesses.
  • The gas caused respiratory problems, blindness, skin diseases, and birth defects.
  • The company was accused of negligence and poor safety standards.

3. Arguments

  • Against the Company: Union Carbide ignored safety measures and failed to protect workers and residents. Victims received inadequate compensation and medical support.
  • Against the Government: Authorities were slow to respond, and long-term rehabilitation was poorly managed.
  • For the Victims: They deserved justice, proper healthcare, environmental clean-up, and sufficient compensation.

4. Suggested Settlement

  • Higher compensation to victims and their families.
  • Free lifelong healthcare for survivors.
  • Strict laws to regulate industrial safety.
  • Holding multinational companies accountable for operations in developing nations.
  • Environmental restoration of the affected area.

MCQs on Indigo

Got it 👍 I’ll now present the 20 MCQs on Indigo by Louis Fischer with the answer key immediately after each question so students can check their responses instantly.


Detail-Based Questions

Q1. According to the passage, where did Gandhi first meet Rajkumar Shukla?

  1. Champaran
  2. Patna
  3. Lucknow Congress session
  4. Ahmedabad Ashram

Answer: c) Lucknow Congress session

Q2. What was the chief commercial crop in Champaran?

  1. Wheat
  2. Indigo
  3. Cotton
  4. Sugarcane

Answer: b) Indigo

Q3. According to the chapter, why did the servants at Rajendra Prasad’s house mistake Gandhi for a peasant?

  1. He wore simple clothes and came with Shukla
  2. He was carrying farming tools
  3. He spoke in Bhojpuri dialect
  4. He travelled barefoot from Champaran

Answer: a) He wore simple clothes and came with Shukla


Inference Questions

Q4. It can be inferred from Gandhi’s refusal to leave Champaran that he valued—

  1. Obedience to the British
  2. Money over principles
  3. Voice of conscience above orders
  4. Violence as a solution

Answer: c) Voice of conscience above orders

Q5. What is implied when Gandhi accepted a 25% refund instead of 50%?

  1. He was afraid of the landlords
  2. He believed money was less important than peasants’ courage
  3. He wanted to end the case quickly
  4. He supported the British landlords

Answer: b) He believed money was less important than peasants’ courage


Main Idea or Purpose Questions

Q6. What is the main idea of the Champaran episode?

  1. British kindness towards peasants
  2. Gandhi’s use of non-violence to fight injustice
  3. Farmers’ dependence on foreign help
  4. Landlords’ generosity in giving refunds

Answer: b) Gandhi’s use of non-violence to fight injustice

Q7. The author’s purpose in narrating this episode is to—

  1. Show Gandhi’s first success in civil disobedience
  2. Describe the beauty of Champaran
  3. Praise British legal system
  4. Emphasise the value of synthetic indigo

Answer: a) Show Gandhi’s first success in civil disobedience


Vocabulary in Context Questions

Q8. What does the word resolute (used for Shukla) mean in this context?

  1. Weak and hopeless
  2. Determined and firm
  3. Generous and kind
  4. Careless and lazy

Answer: b) Determined and firm

Q9. In the text, the phrase conflict of duties refers to Gandhi’s—

  1. Confusion between being a lawyer and politician
  2. Dilemma of respecting law versus serving humanity
  3. Disagreement with Rajkumar Shukla
  4. Problem in farming indigo

Answer: b) Dilemma of respecting law versus serving humanity


Author’s Tone or Attitude Questions

Q10. How does the author, Louis Fischer, seem to view Gandhi’s actions in Champaran?

  1. Critical and dismissive
  2. Neutral and detached
  3. Respectful and admiring
  4. Hostile and negative

Answer: c) Respectful and admiring

Q11. The author’s attitude towards Shukla can best be described as—

  1. Sympathetic to his persistence
  2. Mocking his ignorance
  3. Critical of his poverty
  4. Indifferent to his struggle

Answer: a) Sympathetic to his persistence


Sequence of Events Questions

Q12. What happened first in the sequence of events?

  1. Gandhi met Rajendra Prasad in Patna
  2. Gandhi met Rajkumar Shukla at Lucknow
  3. Gandhi appeared in Motihari court
  4. Gandhi visited Muzzafarpur

Answer: b) Gandhi met Rajkumar Shukla at Lucknow

Q13. What was the correct sequence of Gandhi’s journey?

  1. Lucknow → Muzzafarpur → Patna → Champaran
  2. Lucknow → Patna → Champaran → Ahmedabad
  3. Lucknow → Patna → Muzzafarpur → Champaran
  4. Lucknow → Ahmedabad → Patna → Champaran

Answer: c) Lucknow → Patna → Muzzafarpur → Champaran


Cause and Effect Questions

Q14. What caused the peasants to demand their money back from landlords?

  1. They realised Gandhi supported them
  2. They learned about synthetic indigo
  3. They received court orders
  4. The British government forced refunds

Answer: b) They learned about synthetic indigo

Q15. What effect did Gandhi’s trial at Motihari have on peasants?

  1. They lost faith in him
  2. They became more fearful
  3. They gained courage and unity
  4. They abandoned indigo farming immediately

Answer: c) They gained courage and unity


Comparison Questions

Q16. How did Gandhi’s approach differ from that of the lawyers in Champaran?

  1. Gandhi relied on fees, lawyers on truth
  2. Gandhi sought out-of-court settlement, lawyers preferred legal cases
  3. Gandhi avoided peasants, lawyers worked closely with them
  4. Gandhi demanded higher compensation, lawyers asked for less

Answer: b) Gandhi sought out-of-court settlement, lawyers preferred legal cases

Q17. How does Gandhi’s refusal of C.F. Andrews’ help compare to his guidance to Indian lawyers?

  1. He wanted both to depend on foreigners
  2. He wanted both to rely on themselves
  3. He distrusted lawyers but trusted Andrews
  4. He encouraged lawyers but dismissed Andrews

Answer: b) He wanted both to rely on themselves


Mixed Comprehension Questions

Q18. According to the chapter, what was Gandhi’s broader contribution in Champaran besides political struggle?

  1. He built roads and railways
  2. He promoted education, health, and sanitation
  3. He started factories for peasants
  4. He encouraged them to migrate abroad

Answer: b) He promoted education, health, and sanitation

Q19. What does the Champaran episode reveal about ordinary peasants?

  1. They lacked courage and unity
  2. They were indifferent to Gandhi
  3. They were capable of supporting a just cause despite fear
  4. They were dependent on British landlords

Answer: c) They were capable of supporting a just cause despite fear

Q20. What best describes the significance of the Champaran episode?

  1. It ended British rule in India immediately
  2. It was Gandhi’s first success in Indian civil disobedience
  3. It started the Quit India Movement
  4. It introduced synthetic indigo farming in Bihar

Answer: b) It was Gandhi’s first success in Indian civil disobedience

Thursday, March 3, 2022

MCQs - Class 12 - Flamingo - Chapter 4 - The Rattrap - by Selma Lagerlöf


Objective Questions (MCQs):-

1. What was the content of the package left for Edla by the peddler?
(A) A small rattrap with 30 kroner in it
(B) A small bangle 
(C) A necklace
(D) A diamond ring
 
2. How did the rattrap peddler spend most of his Christmas Eve? 
(A) He laughed the whole day round. 
(B) He sang Christmas Carols.
(C) He played games with Edla.
(D) He slept for long hours.

3. When the peddler was about to leave, ironmaster's daughter
(A) asked him to stay for that day only
(B) said that she wanted to go with him 
(C) told him not to mind what her father had said
(D) asked him to leave after 2 days

4. The ironmaster had mistaken identity of the rattrap peddler and thought him to be:
(A) an old regimental comrade. 
(B) an old servant
(C) an old employee.
(D) an old cousin of his wife.

5. Rattrap is a metaphor used for: 
(A) humans and their life.
(B) thieves and robbers.
(C) attractions and distractions.
(D) human greed and distractions.

6. Peddler signed himself as Captain von Stahle because: 
(A) he didn't want to hurt the iron master and his daughter.
(B) he forgot his name. 
(C) he wanted to meet Edla's expectations of him being an army man.
(D) he was the real Captain von Stahle.

7.  "Left to his own meditations", one day the peddler fell into "a line of thought, which really seemed to him entertaining". What does the peddler's conception of the world as a rattrap, signify about him?  
(A) The peddler had a lot of time on his hands, with nothing much to do.
(B) The peddler was a reflective man whosewisdom did not depend on his status.
(C) The peddler was a lonely vagrant trying to make sense of his fortunes.
(D) The peddler was a rattrap seller, and his work deeply inspired him.

8. "Yes, that was a fine fellow you let into the house," said her father. What light does the given line throw on the ironmaster as a father?
(A) The ironmaster was disapproving of Edla's decision to let the peddler stay.
(B) The ironmaster blamed his daughter for harbouring a criminal at home. 
(C) The ironmaster was being playful with Edla and supported her decisions.
(D) The ironmaster loved Edla but thought her to be too naive and idealistic.

9. Though the reader does not meet Captain von Stahle in person, they encounter the captain symbolically. How?
(A) The ironmaster misidentified the peddler as his old friend, the Captain and invites him home.
(B) The reader realizes the peddler is actually Captain von Stahle when he signs off the letter. 
(C) Edla attends to the peddler as respectfully, caringly and kindly, as she would have the Captain. 
(D) The peddler accepts the error of his ways, and displays the qualities expected of a Captain.

Answer key:-
1. (A) Explanation: He leaves a rattrap as a Christmas gift for Edla and encloses a letter of thanks and a note of confession in it. He leaves behind the stolen money to be restored to its rightful owner, the crofter, the redeeming himself from his dishonest ways.
2. (D)
3. (A)
4. (A)
5. (D)
6. (C)
7. (B)
8. (A)
9. (D)

Extract Based MCQs:-

I. Read the given passages and answer the questions that follow:
"Since you have been so nice to me all day long, as if I was a captain, I want to be nice to you, in return, as if I was a real captain-for I do not want you to be embarrassed at this Christmas season by a thief; but you i can give back the money to the old man on the roadside, who has the money pouch hanging on the window frame as a bait for poor wanderers:
The rattrap is a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in this world's rattrap if he had not been raised to captain, because in that way he got power to clear himself. "Written with friendship and high regard, Captain von Stahle."

1. Which of the following CANNOT be attributed to the peddler, according to the above extract?
(A) Indebtedness 
(B) Reform
(C) Self-pity
(D) Self-awareness

 2. Why did the peddler gift a rattrap as a Christmas present?
(A) It was all the peddler had that he could give away, and represented his turn to honesty. 
(B) It symbolized his successful escape from entrapment as he returned the stolen money.
(C) It served as a reminder for Edla to be wary of the dangerous temptations of the world. 
(D) It was a practical and convenient present that the lady of the house could effectively use.

3. This communication includes:
(1) A promise 
(2) Regret
(3) An apology
(4) Shame

(A) Only 4
(B) Only 1
(C) 1 & 3
(D) 2 & 4

Answer key :-
1. C
2. A
3. C

II. ...it was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into. He tried, to be sure, to walk in a definite direction, but the paths twisted back and forth so strangely! He walked and walked without coming to the end of the wood and finally he realised that he had only been walking around in the same part of the forest All at once he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

1. How would you characterise the mood of the above extract?
(A) Mysterious, restful
(C) Thoughtful, whimsical
(B) Ominous, despairing
(D) Philosophical, anguished

2. By what bait had the peddler been fooled? (A) He had chosen to take the 'safe' forest route.
(B) He had decided to avoid the public highway.
(C) He had stolen money from the trusting crofter.
(D) He didn't realize the power of his rattrap analogy.

3. The consequence of his own turn' having come was that the peddler had : 
(A) got irreversibly lost in the thick, warped forest.
(B) been fooled and imprisoned in a hopeless prison.
(C) been walking around the same part of the forest.
(D) walked the whole forest without finding the end.

4. The above extract richly employs literary devices. Choose the option that correctly matches the instances/ examples in Column A with the literary devices in Column B:

Column A
1. The forest closed in upon the peddler like an impenetrable prison.
2. The big and confusing forest with its twisted paths, trunks, branches,  thickets and fallen logs.
3. The lost peddler was reminded of the world and the rattrap.
4. It was a big and confusing forest which he had gotten into.The peddler had been fooled and was trapped in the forest.

Column B
(i) Imagery
(ii) Allegory
(iii) Metaphor
(iv) Simile

(A) 1-(i) ; 2-(ii) ; 3-(iii) ; 4-(iv) 
(B) 1-(iv); 2-(i); 3-(iii); 4-(ii) 
(C) 1-(iii); 2-(iv); 3-(i); 4-(ii)
(D) 1-(ii); 2-(iii); 3-(iv); 4-(i)

Answer key:-
1. B
2. D
3. A
4. B

III. No one can imagine how sad and monotonous life can appear to such a vagabond, who plods along the road, left to his own meditations. But one day this man had fallen into a line of thought, which really seemed to him entertaining. 

1. Who is the vagabond here?
(A) Peddler 
(B) Blacksmith
(C) Ironmaster
(D) Ironmaster's daughter

 2. What kind of life was he leading?

OR

What kind of life did he lead?
(A) Happy and full of joy.
(B) Sad and monotonous.
(C) Nonchalant.
(D) Meditative.

3. What was the thought that struck him one day?

OR

What was the thought that struck his mind?
(A) One should fear the fear itself.
(B) Indigo is a must for today's world.
(C) The world is a rattrap.
(D) None of these

4. Pick up the word which has the same meaning as 'to walk with difficulty.
(A) Vagabond
(B) Plods
(C) Entertaining
(D) Monotonous

Answer key:-
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. B

IV. The world had, of course, never been very kind to him, so it gave him unwanted joy to think ill of it in this way. It became a cherished pastime of his, during many dreary plodding, to think of people he knew who had let themselves be caught in the dangerous snare and of others who were still circling around the bait.

1. Who is 'he' in the above extract?
(A) The ironmaster
(B) The Blacksmith
(C) The Peddler
(D) The Plodder

2. How did the world treat him?
(A) Cheerfully
(B) Kindly
(C) Seriously
(D) Unkindly

3. Which thought used to give him joy?
(A) To see people get trapped in the clutches of their memories.
(B) To see people get trapped in the emotions of their loved ones. 
(C) To see people get trapped in the social and cultural rituals.
(D) To see people get trapped in the bait of joys.

4. Find the word synonymous to 'a trap for catching birds or mammals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord'.
(A) Cherished
(B) Dreary
(C) Snare
(D) Bait

Answer key:-
1. C
2. D
3. D
4. C

V. The stranger must have seemed incredulous, for the old man got up and went to the window, took down a leather pouch which hung on a nail in the very window frame and picked out three wrinkled ten-kronor bills. These he held up before the eyes of his guest, nodding knowingly and then stuffed them back into the pouch.

1. Who was the 'old man' in the given lines?
(A) The peddler 
(B) The ironmaster
(C) The blacksmith
(D) The crofter

2. Why did the old man show the stranger ten kronor bills?
(A) He thought that the bills were fake.
(B) He suspected that his guest did not believe him.
(C) He was furious with the return of his hard work.
(D) He wanted to show-off to the guest.

3. Why had his own turn come?
(A) He had lost money in the forest.
(B) He had lost way in the forest.
(C) He had lost his luggage in the forest. 
(D) He had got the chance to earn fame and money.

4. How did he feel when he was trapped in the forest?
(A) Empowering cat 
(B) Barking hound
(C) Helpless mouse
(D) Slow moving turtle

Answer key:-
1. B
2. D
3. B
4. C

VI. All at once, he recalled his thoughts about the world and the rattrap. Now his own turn had come. He had let himself be fooled by a bait and had been caught. The whole forest, with its trunks and branches, its thickets and fallen logs, closed in upon him like an impenetrable prison from which he could never escape.

1. Who is 'He in the above lines?
(A) Crofter
(B) Peddler
(C) Ironmaster
(D) Blacksmith

2. What did he recall?
(A) The world is full of fake people.
(B) No one helps others in the time of need.
(C) East or West, Home is the Best.
(D) The world is a big rattrap.

3. Why had his own turn come?
(A) He had lost money in the forest.
(B) He had lost way in the forest. 
(C) He had lost his luggage in the forest.
(D) He had got the chance to earn fame and money.

4. How did he feel when he was trapped in the forest?
(A) Empowering cat
(B) Barking hound 
(C) Helpless mouse
(D) Slow moving turtle

Answer key:-

1. B
2. D
3. B
4. C

VII. The blacksmiths glanced only indifferently at the intruder. He looked the way people of his type usually did, with a long beard, dirty, ragged and with a bunch of rattraps dangling on his chest. He asked permission to stay and the master blacksmith nodded a haughty consent without honouring him with a single word.

1. Who is the intruder here?
(A) Rattrap peddler
(B) Ironmaster
(C) Edla  
(D) Crofter

2. How was he looking?
(A) Shabby
(B) Ragged 
(C) Long beard
(D) All of these

3. Where did he want to stay?
(A) Forge near the railway station. 
(B) Forge near the furnace.
(C) Ship ready to sail off.
(D) Blacksmiths' courtyard.

4. Which word in the passage is the antonym of 'disapproval?
(A) Indifferently
(B) Dangling 
(C) Permission
(D) Haughty

Answer key:-
1. A
2. D
3. B
4. C

VIII. Naturally, the first thing he saw was the tall ragamuffin who had eased his way so close to the furnace that steam rose from his wet rags. The ironmaster did not follow the example of the blacksmiths, who had hardly deigned to look at the stranger. He walked close up to him, looked him over very carefully, then tore off his slouch hat to get a better view of his face.

1. Who is 'He' in the above lines?
(A) Rattrap peddler 
(B) Crofter
(C) Ironmaster
(D) Blacksmith

2. Who is tall ragamuffin?
(A) Rattrap Peddler 
(B) Edla
(C) Ironmaster
(D) Crofter

3. How was the attitude of ironmaster different from that of blacksmiths?
(A) He did not ignore the person lying near the furnace.
(B) He gave food to the person. 
(C) He combed the hair of the person.
(D) None of these

4. Which word in the passage means 'to do something that one considers to be below one's dignity'? 
(A) Ragamuffin
(B) Deigned
(C) Tore
(D) Slouch

Answer key :-
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. B