Question 1:

MCQs

(i) What amazing thing happened in the poem, ‘Nine Gold Medals’?

(a) One runner was awarded nine gold medals.

(b) Each of the nine runners was awarded gold medals.

(c) All the gold medals were awarded to the nine runners.

(d) All the runners gave their gold medals to the fallen athlete.

Answer: (d) All the runners gave their gold medals to the fallen athlete.

(ii) What does Bassanio beg the court to do for Antonio's sake?

(a) Bend the rules.

(b) Throw Shylock out of the court.

(c) Ask for Bellario’s opinion.

(d) Offer Shylock twice the money.

Answer: (a) Bend the rules.

(iii) Which Greek musician had the power to move trees, stones, and streams with the power of his
music?

(a) Aeneas

(b) Orpheus

(c) Diomedes

(d) Pyramus

Answer: (b) Orpheus

(iv) Who was assigned the task of handing over Bassanio’s ring to Portia?

(a) Lorenzo

(b) Antonio

(c) Gratiano
(d) Launcelot

Answer: (c) Gratiano

(v) What information does Stephano bring to Lorenzo and Jessica?

(a) The return of Antonio’s ships.

(b) Arrival of Bassanio and Antonio.

(c) Arrival of the musicians.

(d) Arrival of Portia and Nerissa.

Answer: (d) Arrival of Portia and Nerissa.

(vi) Why did Jesse Owens kick disgustedly in the dirt?

(a) He was not allowed to take part in the event.

(b) He was displeased with Hitler’s Aryan-superiority theory.

(c) He was not able to qualify for his event.

(d) He did not like seeing Luz Long at the event.

Answer: (b) He was displeased with Hitler’s Aryan-superiority theory.

(vii) The narrative ‘My Greatest Olympic Prize’ is set in the summer of _.

a) 1932

b) 1934

c) 1936

d) 1946

Answer: (c) 1936

(viii) Which of the following descriptions of the sun was not given by Margot?

(a) A flower that blooms only for an hour.

(b) A yellow crayon.

(c) A penny.

(d) A fire in the stove.

Answer: (d) A fire in the stove.

(ix) Abou requests the angel to write his name as one who _ .

(a) loves the Lord.

(b) loves his fellowmen.

(c) loves his tribe.

(d) loves doing righteous things.

Answer: (b) loves his fellowmen.

(x) Why did the youngest athlete give out a cry of frustration and anguish?

(a) All the other athletes had completed their race.

(b) He did not hear the sound of the pistol.

(c) He was not awarded a gold medal.

(d) His dreams and efforts were dashed to the dirt.

Answer: (a) All the other athletes had completed their race.

(xi) Which premise is proven by the poem ‘Abou Ben Adhem’?

(a) Love thy God and pray daily.

(b) Sacrifice and fasting are the need of the hour.

(c) To be virtuous and think of oneself.

(d) Love thy neighbor as thyself.

Answer: (d) Love thy neighbor as thyself.

(xii) Who among Antonio's friends speaks harshest words for Shylock in the court?

(a) Salarino
(b) Gratiano

(c) Bassanio

(d) None of these

Answer: (b) Gratiano

(x

iii) What does Antonio want Bassanio to do after his death?

a) He wants him to write a suitable epitaph for his tomb.

b) He wants him to take revenge on Shylock.

c) He wants him to be loyal to all his friends.

d) He wants him to forget him.

Answer: (d) He wants him to forget him.

(xiv) The phrase 'bars of rage' refers to the.... of/on the black Americans.

(a) oppression

(b) suppression

(c) exploitation

(d) limitations and restrictions

Answer: (a) oppression

(xv) The theme of the story 'An Angel in Disguise' is:

a) God loves those who love and care for others.

b) Love is essential for human survival and happiness.

c) Do good and have good.

d) Love begets love.

Answer: (d) Love begets love.

(xvi) “.. her naked feet, which were red and blue with the cold'. Which literary device is used in this
line?

a) Auditory imagery

b) Olfactory imagery

c) Visual imagery

d) Tactile imagery

Answer: (d) Tactile imagery

Section B. Drama

(The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare -)

Question 2:

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Portia: The quality of mercy is not strain'd,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown;

His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. (Act IV - Sc. I)

1. On what occasion does Portia utter these words? What makes her beg for mercy from Shylock?

Answer: Portia utters these words during the trial scene in The Merchant of Venice. She begs for
mercy from Shylock because he insists on the enforcement of the bond that requires him to take a
pound of Antonio's flesh as repayment for the loan.

2. 'It is twice blest.' What does Portia mean to say?

Answer: Portia means to say that mercy benefits both the person who gives it and the person who
receives it. It brings blessings to both parties involved.

3. In what sense is mercy a divine quality?

Answer: Mercy is considered a divine quality because it is often associated with godly attributes. It is
seen as an act of compassion, forgiveness, and leniency, which are virtues associated with the divine.

4. How does Shylock turn down Portia's plea for mercy? What does he insist on?

Answer: Shylock turns down Portia's plea for mercy and insists on his right to claim a pound of
Antonio's flesh according to their bond. He argues that the law is on his side and demands justice
rather than mercy.

5. How does he later turn down three times the amount of the loan offered by Bassanio?

Answer: Shylock later turns down three times the amount of the loan offered by Bassanio because he
is driven by his desire for revenge and wants to exact his pound of flesh as stated in the bond. He
values the fulfillment of the bond more than any monetary compensation.

Question 3:

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Lorenzo: therefore the poet

Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods;

Since nought so stockish, hard and full of rage,

But music for the time doth change his nature

The man that hath no music in himself,

Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,

Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils;

The motions of his spirit are dull as night

And his affections dark as Erebus:

Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music.

1. Who is being addressed by Lorenzo? What has prompted him to dwell on the power of music?

Answer: Lorenzo is addressing the other characters present. He dwells on the power of music
prompted by the arrival of musicians who are about to perform.

2. What has the speaker told about the effect of music on wild horses?

Answer: The speaker, Lorenzo, tells that even wild horses can be tamed and their nature changed by
music. They become calm and less aggressive when exposed to the harmony of sweet sounds.

3. Who is the poet referred to here? What did he imagine?

Answer: The poet referred to here is not mentioned in the given extract. However, Lorenzo is
referring to a poet who imagined that Orpheus, a Greek musician, had the power to draw trees,
stones, and floods through the influence of his music.

4. What does the speaker think of a man who has no love for music?

Answer: The speaker believes that a man who has no love for music is untrustworthy and capable of
engaging in acts of treason, stratagems, and spoils. Such a person's spirit is dull, and his affections
are dark.

5. Who enters immediately after this speech? From where have they come?

Answer: The musicians enter immediately after this speech. They have come from outside and are
present to perform their music.