Presidency School

Grade IX Final Exam Question Bank ENGLISH LITERATURE

Prose-An angel in disguise
Extract-1
i) Which women is refered here? How did she die?
(i) The woman was mother of John, Kate and Maggie. She fell on a threshold while she was
drunk.
ii) What kind of relations did the woman have with others? Why do you think it was
so?
(ii) The woman did not have good relation with others. She was not liked by anyone in the
village due to her bad behaviour and habits. She had been despised, scoffed at, and angrily
denounced.
iii) What did the neighbours take to the old hut?
(iii) The neighbours took grave clothes for decent interment of the body and food for the
motherless starving children.
iv) What kind of living condition were the woman and her children subjected to?
(iv) The woman and her children were subjected to pathetic living conditions. They lived in
an old tumbled down hut. It was more than a place of shelter from summer & winter
cold. The woman did not even have decent clothes of her own to be used for her burial.
v) What was the prospective future of the children after the death of their mother?
(v) John the oldest boy was adopted by farmer Jones. Kate, a girl between ten and eleven
years was adopted by Mrs. Ellis. Maggie who had injured herself two years a go was
crippled for life and was not adopted by anyone.
Extract-2
i) Who was glanced at with pity? Why?
(i) Maggie was glanced at with pity. She was a boon like an angel but was not adopted by
anyone as she was disabled. Nobody wanted to take her as she was crippled for life.
ii) Give the meaning of:
a) Her wan and wasted form
a) Maggie, the youngest child of dead mother looked pale and thin.
b) Even knocked at them for entrance
b) Maggie's innocence and sadness attracted everyone to take her with them.
iii) Which incident made the child bed ridden?
(iii) Two years ago, Maggie had fallen from the window and had injured her spine which
made her bed ridden.
iv) Which shelter was suggested by one of the neighbour for the bed-ridden child ?
Why ?
(iv) It was suggested that Maggie should be taken to the poor-house because for her it
would be a blessed change where she will be kept clean, have healthy food, and be
doctored.
v) a ) What role does the child play in the life Joe Thompson?
a) Joe Thompson - Because of Maggie Joe Thompson dared to argue with his wife which he
usually didn't do.Later on Maggie filled his life with love, happiness and joy.
b) What role does the child play in the life of Jane Thompson?
b) Jane Thompson -The child proved to be an angel in disguise. Due to her the bitterness
which Mrs.Thompson had was gone. Maggie's nature , sweetness and gratitude brought a
change of heart in Mrs. Thompson and she whole-heartedly accepted maggie as her child.

Extract-3
i) Who are having a conversation in the above extract? What is the main topic of their
conversation?
(i) Joe Thompson and Blacksmith's wife were having conversation in in the above extract.
They were discussing that where Maggie should be sent after her mother had passed away.
ii) Why was Maggie’s effort to raise herself painful?
(ii) Maggie's effort to raise herself was painful because she was a crippled child as she had
injured her spine two years ago by falling from the window.
iii) What thought terrified Maggie? What did she exclaim to Mr Thompson?
(iii) The thought of being left all alone terrified Maggie. She cried out to Mr. Thomson to not
to leave her alone.
iv) Why do you think the man stood with a puzzled air? What did he do when he went
into the hovel?
(iv) He was puzzled because he did not know what to do. Neither did he want to leave
Maggie alone, nor did he wish to send her to the poor house. When he went into the hovel,
he supported Maggie and told her she would not be left there alone. He wrapped her with
his hands and bore her out into the air across the field.
v) What kind of man was Joe Thompson? How can you say so?
 (v) Mr. Thompson was rough and tough man. But unlike his external appearance he was a
kind hearted man. He was only one person in whole village who helped maggie and cared
for her.
Prose-Hearts and Hands
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
At Denver there was an influx of passengers into the coaches on the eastbound B. & M.
express. In one coach there sat a very pretty young woman dressed in elegant taste and
surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveler. Among the newcomers
were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and
manner; the other a ruffled, glum-faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The two
were handcuffed together.
As they passed down the aisle of the coach the only vacant seat offered was a reversed one
facing the attractive young woman. Here the linked couple seated themselves. The young
woman‟s glance fell upon them with a distant, swift disinterest; then with a lovely smile
brightening her countenance and a tender pink tingeing her rounded cheeks, she held out
a little gray-gloved hand. When she spoke her voice, full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaimed
that its owner was accustomed to speak and be heard.
“Well, Mr. Easton, if you will make me speak first, 1 suppose 1 must. Don‟t vou ever
recognize old friends when you meet them in the West?”
The younger man roused himself sharply at the sound of her voice, seemed to struggle with
a slight embarrassment which he threw off instantly, and then clasped her fingers with his
left hand.
“It‟s Miss Fairchild,” he said, with a smile. “I‟ll ask you to excuse the other hand; “it‟s
otherwise engaged just at present.”
He slightly r0aised his right hand, bound at the wrist by the shining “bracelet” to the left
one of his companion.
Question 1.
Describe the young woman in the coach.
Answer:
In one of the coaches there sat a young woman who was very pretty and dressed in elegant
taste and surrounded by all the luxurious comforts of an experienced traveller. When she
spoke her voice was full, sweet, and deliberate, proclaiming by its tone that its owner was
accustomed to speak and be heard.

Question 2.
What is strange about the way the two men are travelling? Why do you suppose they are
like this?
Answer:
The two men who entered from Denver were an odd pair. One had a handsome presence
with a bold, frank countenance and manner; the other was a ruffled, glum-faced person,
heavily built and roughly dressed. And what was really strange about them was that they
were handcuffed together.
Question 3.
Why does the author call the two men as the „linked couple?‟
Answer:
The author addresses the two men as the linked coupe because they are handcuffed to
each other and so linked like a couple.
Question 4.
What was the reaction of the young women to them initially? Why did her manner change?
Answer:
Initially the young woman glanced at them with a distant and swift disinterest, but
then her manner changed when she recognised one of them as an old friend, Mr Easton.
Question 5.
Why was Mr Easton embarrassed when the young woman recognised him?
Answer:
Mr Easton was embarrassed because he was handcuffed and he felt she would not
appreciate seeing that he was in that condition.
DRAMA –The Merchant of Venice
Act 3 Scene 1
Passage – 1 (Act III, Sc.I, 32-42)

Question 1.
Where are Salarino and Shylock? Is there anyone else there?
Answer:
The scene is set in Venice. Salanio, Salarino and Shylock are engaged in conversation.
Question 2.
Who used this phrase „flesh and blood‟? Was it misunderstood by anyone?
Answer:
Shylock used this phrase to describe his daughter, Jessica. He was sorry to say that his
own flesh and blood rebelled. He was thus referring to Jessica‟s elopement. It is unbearable
for Shylock that his own daughter should run away with a Christian and show her
disregard for her father.
This remark was misunderstood or deliberately misinterpreted. Shylock uses the phrase
flesh and blood in the usual sense, that Jessica is his natural daughter. He refers to the
biological relationship between father and child. But Salanio/Salarino make fun of him,
asking him if his physical desires are roused even in hid old age.
Question 3.
Explain the comparisons made by Salarino between
(a) Jet and ivory,
(b) Red wine and rhenish
Answer:
Salarino is quick to point out that there is hardly any similarity between Shylock and his
daughter Jessica.
(a) If Jessica is ivory which is white and beautiful, Shylock is jet black and unattractive.
(b) Jessica is rehnish (white wine) while Shylock is red wine. There can be no confusion
between the two.
Question 4.
In what sense is Antonio a prodigal? Is he a bankrupt? Explain Shylock‟s views. Give your
comments.
Answer:
When Salarino talks about Antonio‟s losses, Shylock speaks impatiently. He had given a
loan of three thousand ducats against this man‟s security. Shylock calls Antonio a
bankrupt who has no money to spend. All he had has been lost.
The Shylock charges Antonio for being a prodigal. He has wasted his money thoughtlessly.
According to Shylock, Antonio has ruined himself by taking a loan for his extravagant
friend. This is a culpable prodigality. We may not, however, agree with Shylock in blaming a
self- sacrificing gentleman like Antonio.
Question 5.
Why is Antonio not seen at the Rialto?
Answer:
Now that Antonio is a bankrupt, with many debts and loans yet to be cleared, he does not
come to Rialto, the stock exchange. This remark of Shylock shows that of late Antonio had
stopped visiting Rialto where merchants generally gather to do business.
Question 6.
Shylock gives the warning, “let him look to his bond”. What are his reasons?
Answer:
Shylock gives the warning to be conveyed to Antonio to take care of his bond. He must
repay the money within the prescribed limit of time. Shylock complains that Antonio used
to call him a despicable money-lender charging high interest. He also used to lend money to
people without interest to show his Christian generosity.
Passage – 2 (Act II, Sc.VII, Lines 13-34)

Question 1.
Why does Morocco want some god to direct his judgement?
Answer:
Morocco wants his judgement to be directed by the some god so that he may be able to
choose the right casket and marry Portia.
Question 2.
What is his reaction to the inscription on the lead casket?
Answer:
He thinks that the lead casket is threatening him because it requires him to sacrifice his all
for its sake. He feels that a noble mind does not lower itself so much as to be attracted by
rubbish.
Question 3.
What is his reaction to the inscription on the silver,casket?
Answer:
The silver casket offers him as much as he deserves. He assesses his own value in an
impartial manner. He feels that he deserves enough but he also feels that it may not
include Portia.
Question 4.
How does Morocco explain his fear about not deserving Portia?
Answer:
Morocco explains his fear by saying that it would mean a weak under-estimation of himself.
Question 5.
What is Morocco‟s assessment of himself in regard to Portia?
Answer:
Morocco thinks that he deserves Portia because of his noble birth, his fortunes, his graces,
his fine breeding and because of his love for her.
Poem-After Blenheim
Read the lines given above and answer the questions that follow.
Question 1. Explain with reference to context.
Answer: These lines have been taken from the poem „After Blenheim‟ which is an antiwar
poem in the form of a ballad. Robert Southey wrote and published it in 1798. It centers on
the most famous battle in the War of the Spanish Succession. Their curiosity aroused, the
children ask him about the battle and why it was fought. The English routed the French, he
says, in what later generations would call a great and famous victory. However, Kaspar is at
a loss to explain the cause of the battle but he is complacent and says that everyone said
that it was a great victory and that is all that mattered to him.
Question 2. Quote the lines that show the children were curious about the battle and its
outcome?
Answer: The lines that show the curiosity of the children are:
“Now tell us what ’twas all about,”
Young Peterkin, he cries;
And little Wilhelmine looks up
With wonder-waiting eyes;
Question 3. Did the children wonder about the reason for the war?
Answer: The children asked Kasper as to why was the battle fought. They asked:
“Now tell us all about the war,
And what they fought each other for.”
Question 4. Name the two opposing sides. Who won?
Answer: The battle was fought between the English and French. The French were defeated.
Question 5. Why does Kasper repeat the line „twas a great victory?
Answer: Old Kasper continuously repeats this sentence as this is all he knows about the
war. Although it is constantly mentioned that it was a great victory this is not what the
poem is saying. Southey is using this phrase to emphasise the exact opposite, that it wasn‟t
a great victory.