Revision of Literature

FIRST FLIGHT
PROSE
Qs 1
Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. When the storm
had passed, he stood in the middle of the field and said
to his sons, “A plague of locusts would have left more
than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will
have no corn.”
(a) What made Lencho so dejected and depressed?
(b) With whom did he share his sorrow?
(c) Why did he compare the hailstones with a plague of
locusts?
(d) Did Lencho and his family go hungry that year?
Q2.
It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had
predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the North-
East huge mountains of clouds could be seen
approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man
went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure
of feeling the rain on his body. [CBSE 2012]
(a) What could be seen approaching in the North-East?
(b) Why did Lencho go out?
(c) Give an antonym of the word Big.
(d) Which word in the passage is a synonym of
‘forecast’?
Q3.
“That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.” All
through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope:
the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been
instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s
conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like
an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to
write. [CBSE 2014]
(a) What was Lencho’s only hope?
(b) How did Lencho work in the field?
(c) Find the exact word of similar meaning ‘moral
sense’ given in the passage.
(d) Explain ‘an ox of a man’.
Q4.
When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp
which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a
blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the
mailbox the postmaster went to open it. It said: “God: Of
the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached
me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But
don’t send it to me through the mail because the post
office employees are a ‘bunch of crooks’.
Lencho.”[CBSE 2016]
(a) What did Lencho do with the stamp?
(b) What did the postmaster do when the letter fell into
the mailbox and why?
(c) Find out the word which has the similar meaning as
‘attached’ used in the passage.
(d) Which word in the passage denotes a dishonest
person?

Q5 Who was Lencho? What were his main

problems? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q6What did Lencho compare the raindrops to and

why?[CBSE 2011] 2

Q7 “Humanity still exists”, this is what we get to know

after reading A letter to God’ in which firm faith in God
of a poor farmer and helpfulness of the post office
employees are aptly depicted thought. Write a
paragraph on the values in it, in about 80-100 words.
Give the paragraph a suitable title. [CBSE 2012] 8

Q8 Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in

God. Do you have faith in God like Lencho? Was
Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees
right? [CBSE 2015] 8

Q9
He was no longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he
flapped his wings once and he soared upwards. “Ga,
ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother swooped
past him, her wings making a loud noise. He answered
her with another scream. Then his father flew over him
screaming. He saw his two brothers and his sister
flying around him curving and banking and soaring and
diving. [CBSE 2016]
(a) What was the seagull afraid of earlier?
(b) What did the young seagull’s mother do?
(c) Find out the word from the passage that means the
same as ‘fly high in the air’.
(d) Find out from the passage a word that means ‘to
take a sudden turn downwards’.

Q10 How did the young seagull and his family celebrate
his first flight? [CBSE 2016] 2

Q11Why did the writer follow the pilot of another

aeroplane? [CBSE 2016] 2

Q12 How did the writer get out of the storm in the night
to land safely? [CBSE 2016] 8

Q13 Describe Anne’s love for her

grandmother. [CBSE2016] 2

Q14 “From the diary of Anne Frank’ throws light on

teacher-student relationship, class atmosphere and
discipline. Write a paragraph oh the values of these
aspects of school and how far these values are
necessary for learning and life. [CBSE 2016] 8

Q15
But on Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie, who sat down in
front with other children who got good marks and who
didn’t track in a whole lot of mud, did notice that Wanda
wasn’t there. Peggy was the most popular girl in school.
She was pretty, she had many pretty clothes and her
hair was curly. Maddie was her closest friend. The
reason Peggy and Maddie noticed Wanda’s absence
was because Wanda had made them late to
school. [CBSE 2012]
(a) What kind of a girl Peggy was?
(b) How did Peggy and Maddie turn up late for school?
(c) Find a word that means the opposite of ‘presence ’.
(d) Who noticed Wanda’s absence in the class?

Q16.
Goodness! Wasn’t there anything she could do? If only
she could tell Wanda she hadn’t meant to hurt her
feelings. She turned around and stole a glance at
Peggy, but Peggy did not look up. She seemed to be
studying hard. Well, whether Peggy felt badly or not,
she, Maddie, had to do something. She had to find
Wanda Petronski. Maybe she had not yet moved
away. [CBSE 2014]
(a) Who does ‘she’ refer in the passage?
(b) Why does Maddie want to find Wanda desperately?
(c) What does Maddie decide to do?
(d) Find out the synonym of ‘look’ used in the passage.

Q17.
At last Maddie sat up in bed and pressed her forehead
tight in her hands and really thought. This was the
hardest thinking she had ever done. After a long, long
time, she reached an important conclusion.
She was never going to stand by and say nothing again.
If she ever heard anybody picking on someone because
they were funny looking or because they had strange
names, she’d speak up. Even if it meant losing Peggy’s
friendship. She had no way of making things right with
Wanda, but from now on she would never make
anybody else that unhappy again. [CBSE2015]
(a) What decision did Maddie take after a long time?
(b) Why was it difficult to Maddie to make things right
with Wanda?
(c) Find out the word which means the summing up of
an argument.
(d) What could be the result of Maddie’s changed
attitude after Wanda’s incident?

Q18
Weeks went by and still Wanda did not answer. Peggy
had begun to forget the whole business, and Maddie
put herself to sleep at night making speeches about
Wanda, defending her from great crowds of girls who
were trying to tease her with, “How many dresses have
you got?” And before Wanda could press her lips
together in a tight line, the way she did before
answering, Maddie would cry out, “Stop!” Then
everybody would feel ashamed the way she used to
feel. Now it was Christmas time and there was snow on
the ground. Christmas bells and a small tree decorated
the classroom. On the last day of school before the
holidays, the teacher showed the class a letter she had
received that morning. [CBSE 2011]
(a) What happened at night with Maddie when she
thought of Wanda?
(b) What did the teacher show the class on the last day
of school before the holidays?
(c) Find out the word which means ‘made something
more attractive’.
(d) Did Wanda reply to the letter of Maddie and Peggy?

Q19 What do you think about Wanda’s-action of not

coming to school anymore? [CBSE 2016] 2

Q20 How did Peggy and Maddie try to amend for their
behavior towards Wanda? [CBSE 2 015] 2

Q21 What impression do you form of Wanda Petronski

on the basis of reading the lesson ‘The Hundred
Dresses’? [CBSE 2012]

Q22 Why was there no reply of the letter written to

Wanda by the girls? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q23 You are ‘Wanda’. You are deeply hurt by the

behaviour of your classmates. Express your feelings in
the form of a diary entry. [CBSE 2014] 8
Q24 “The Hundred Dresses – II” gives out a moral
lesson of what a man should be like as Wanda displays
herself in the given situation. Wanda by her behaviour
towards Peggy and Maddie shows her exalted
character as is seen in her letter. How far would you
agree with her and justify such a behaviour in all
persons as essential? Write a paragraph on such an
aspect. [CBSE 2015] 8

Poem

Q25 [CBSE 2014]

Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
(a) What is the poet’s opinion of the world in these
lines? (b) What is the poet’s opinion about the world?
(c) What is the contradictory opinion of public?
(d) How are ice and fire similar to each other though
they have contradictory traits? [CBSE 2011]

Q26
But if it had to perish twice I think I know enough of hate
/ To say that for destruction ice is also great and would
suffice.
(a) What does ‘it’ refers to in the first line?
(b) What do you mean by ‘perish’?
(c) What does ice stand for?
(d) What would be the cause of destruction? [CBSE
2015]

Q27 Write down the two different views about the end
of the world? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q28 Briefly write about the ideas about how the world
will end. [CBSE2016] 2
Q29 To say that for destruction ice is also great for the
poet, what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to
bring destruction? [ CBSE 2014] 2

Q30 Which age old question does the poem Fire and ice
revolve around? [CBSE 2013] 2

Q31 Discuss how extreme behaviour can hasten the

end of the world with respect to ‘Fire and Ice’. [CBSE
2013] 8

Q32 How will the world end? Support your answer with
scientific explanation. [CBSE 2014] 8

Q33
Or if some time when roaming round, A noble wild beast
greets you,
With black stripes on a yellow ground, Just notice if he
eats you.
This simple rule may help you learn The Bengal Tiger to
discern.
(a) How can you recognise a Tiger?
(b) Why does the poet call him a noble animal? [CBSE
2015]
(c) How is Bengal Tiger different from the other
animals?
(d) What does the word ‘ground’ means here?

Q34
Though to distinguish beasts of prey A novice might
nonplus,
The crocodile you always may
Tell from the Hyena thus:
Hyenas come with merry smiles;
But if they weep they’re Crocodiles.
(a) Between which animals would it be difficult to
differentiate? [ CBSE 2011]
(b) How does a Hyena differ from a Crocodile?
(c) Quote a saying famous for Crocodile.
(d) Where does a novice may get confused?
Q35
The true Chameleon is small,
A lizard sort of things;
He hasn’t any ears at all,
And not a single wing.
If there is nothing on the tree,
‘Tis the Chameleon you see.
(a) What does a Chameleon look like? [CBSE 2012]
(b) Describe any two characteristics of a Chameleon.
(c) Give an antonym of ‘small’.
(d) Where can a chameleon be found?

Q36 How can you identify the Asian lion and the Bengal
Tiger? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q37 How can you distinguish between a tiger and a

leopard? [CBSE 2011] 2

Q38 How does a leopard behave when he sees

someone? [CBSE 2016] 2

Q39 What is so weird about the Hyena and the

crocodile? [CBSE 2014] 2

Q40 ‘Humour is the best medicine for every ailment in

life’. Comment with reference to how to tell wild
animals. [CBSE 2013] 8

Q41
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball, What, what is
he to do? I saw it go Merrily bouncing, down the street,
and then Merrily over – there it is in the water! No use to
say – ‘O there are other balls’: [CBSE 2012]
(a) What has happened to the boy?
(b) Why does the poet say ‘No use to say – ‘O there are
other balls’?
(c) Which word means ‘happily’?
(d) Where did the ball go?
Q42
……………Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.
And no one buys a ball back. Money is external. [CBSE
2014]
(a) What does the boy understand?
(b) What does the word ‘balls’ signify?
(c) What is meant by the word ‘possessions’?
(d) What does “In a world of possessions mean?”

Q43 What does John Berryman want to convey through

his poem The Ball? [CBSE 2011] 2

Q44 Write the sum and substance of the poem “The Ball
Poem”. [CBSE 2016] 2

Q45 “Money is external”. What does the poet mean by

this expression? [CBSE 2014] 2

Q46 Why did the poet not offer the boy money to buy
another ball? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q47 Why is it important for everyone to experience loss

and to stand up after it? [CBSE2014] 8

Q48 Why does Amanda seem moody most of the

times? [CBSE 2016] 2

Q49 State the key points in the poem Amanda. What do

you learn from it? [CBSE2016] 8

Footprints without Feet

Q50
I tried to sound severe: “Now! Really mean this. If you
don’t cut his food right down and give him more
exercise he is going to be really ill. You must harden
your heart and keep him on a very strict diet”. [CBSE
2014]
(a) Why did the speaker try to sound severe?
(b)To whom was the advice given and why?
(c) Find the word in the extract which is a synonym of
the word ‘serious’.
(d) What is the antonym of ‘hardened’?

Q51
“Poor old lad”, I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I
think I know a cure for you”. [CBSE 2012]
(a) Why does the speaker say “poor old lad”.
(b) What cure did the speaker know?
(c) What is the meaning of ‘a kick’ in the extract?
(d) Write a synonym of ‘cure1.

Q52 What made James Herriot expect a call from Mrs

Pumphrey? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q53 Pen down incidences in support of values one

should inculcate from Mr James Herriot. [CBSE 2015] 8

Q54
Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out
of practice. [CBSE 2013]
(a) What ‘real work’ is the speaker talking about?
(b) Why does the speaker say ‘I’m out of practice’?
(c) Give a synonym of ‘practice’.
(d) What part of speech is the word ‘real’ in the extract?

Q55 When the train had gone, I found myself standing

alone on the deserted platform. I had no idea where to
spend the night. I had no friends. [CBSE 2014]
a) Why was the speaker standing alone on the
platform?
(b) Why did he not have any friends?
(c) Which word in the extract is an antonym of the
word ‘crowded’?
(d) What does ‘deserted’ mean?
Q56 What did Anil and Hari agree upon to be the mode
of payment? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q57 Did Hari like working for Anil? Give reasons in

support of your answer. [CBSE 2014] 2

Q58 State the events that took place on the night of the
theft. [CBSE 2016] 2

Q59
Had Anil really forgiven Hari Singh? Support your
answer with evidence. [CBSE 2012]

Q60 Money can’t make a man as much as education

can. Elucidate the statement. [CBSE 2013] 8

Q61
“You are disillusioned”, Ausable told him. “But take
cheer, my young friend. Presently you will see a paper,
a quite important paper for which several men and
women have risked their lives, come to me. Someday
soon that paper may well affect the course of history.
In that thought is drama, is there not?” [CBSE2015]
(a) Who is ‘my young friend’ in the above extract?
(b) What is the ‘important paper’ referred to here?
(c) Find a word from the passage that means the same
as ‘disappointed’.
(d) What is the opposite of ‘important’?

Q62
“You can get onto it from the empty room two doors
down – and somebody did, last month. The
management promised to block it off. But they
haven’t.” [CBSE2012]
(a) Who is speaking these words to whom?
(b) What is ‘it’ in the above extract?
(c) Find a phrase in the passage that means the same
as ‘close it up’.
(d) The opposite of ’empty’ is………..
Q63 Describe Fowler’s reaction after entering
Ausable’s hotel room. [CBSE 2014] 2

Q64 Why did Max’s face turn black with anger? What
did he want Ausable to do? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q65 Why did Ausable frame the story of the

balcony? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q66 Who actually had knocked at the door of Ausable’s

room? Why did he come there? [CBSE 2010] 2

Q67 What information did Ausable give about the

imaginary balcony? Why did he do so? [CBSE 2013] 8 .

Q68 Ausable was a clever secret agent. Do you agree

with the statement? Justify your answer. [CBSE 2012] 8

Q69 Why did Max scream shrilly when he dropped to

the balcony? [CBSE 2011] 8

Q70 A small dog was lying in the kitchen. It stirred,

made a noise, and moved its tail in a friendly
way. [CBSE 2014]
(a) What is the name of the dog mentioned in the above
extract?
(b) In which house is the kitchen referred to located?
(c) Find a word from the passage that means the same
as ‘cordial’.
(d) What is the opposite of ‘friendly’?

Q71 Whom did Horace Danby see in the kitchen? How

did they greet each other? What tact did Horace apply
there? [CBSE 2013] 2

Q72 How did Danby prepare for the robbery at

Shotover Grange? [CBSE 2011] or How did Horace
Danby plan his robberies? [CBSE2012] 2
Q73 What was the passion of Horace Danby and how
did he satisfy it? [CBSE 2011] 2

Q74 Describe the safe at Shotover Grange. / Where

was the safe at Shotover Grange? What was there
inside it? What did Horace expect to get if he sold them
one by one? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q75 How did flowers hinder Horace in his work? [CBSE

2013] 2

Q76 Why was Horace Danby sure that his robbery at

Shotover Grange would be a successful one? [CBSE
2014] 2

Q77 What did Horace Danby wonder about for a

moment? What did he think and decide? [CBSE 2010] 2

Q78 Would you do something wrong (i.e. commit a

crime) if you thought that the ends justify the means?
Do you think that there are certain situations you can
be excused for acting dishonestly? [CBSE 2011] 8

Q79 Horace was a successful thief because he

carefully planned his robberies. Should we call him a
successful thief and still appreciate his work? Why or
why not? [CBSE 2013] 8

Q80
Suspicion grew even stronger when he suddenly
produced some ready cash, though he had admitted
not long before that he had no money. [CBSE 2014]
(a) Who is ‘he’ in the above extract?
(b) What was ‘he’ suspected for?
(c) Find a word / phrase from the extract that means
the same as ‘recently’.
(d) Give a synonym of ‘suddenly’.

Q81 Why did Griffin decide to slip into a big London

store? [CBSE 2011] 2
Q82 What did Griffin do in the shop of a theatrical
company? [CBSE 2012] 2

Q83 What did the Halls see in the scientist’s

room? [CBSE 2013] 2

Q84 How did the visible man become invisible? What

did he do then? [CBSE 2014] 2

Q85 Describe the landlord’s and his wife’s experience

with the strange scientist. [CBSE 2016] 8

Q86 If, somehow you discovered how to become

invisible, how would you use that opportunity? [CBSE
2015] 8

A long Walk to Freedom

Q87 What freedom meant to Mandela in

childhood? [CBSE 2015] 2

Q88What did Mandela think for oppressor and

oppressed? [CBSE 2011] 2

Q89 What did Mandela realize about his brothers and

sisters? [CBSE 2012]

Q90 Describe the value of freedom for the human

beings and how it is important for the growth of
civilization and humanism as described in the lesson
‘Nelson Mandela : Long Walk to Freedom’. [CBSE2014]
8

Q91
He hears the last voice at night, [C.B.S.E. March. 2017 (Set-B)]
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Questions :
(a) What sound does the tiger hear at night?
(b) How do his eyes look?
(c) At what does he look at night?
(d) Which word in the stanza means ‘looks intently’?
(e) Which are the rhyming words in this stanza?

Q92 How does the poet contrast the tiger in the cage
with the tiger in the forest? [C.B.S.E. 2017 (Set-A) 2
Q93 How does the tiger walk in the cage? [C.B.S.E. March,
2017 (Set-C)] 2