Read the extracts given below and attempt ANY ONE, by answering the questions that follow.
(A) But he’s locked in a concrete cell, His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage, Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night, The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars
i. The fact that the tiger is ‘stalking the length of his cage’ tells us that he is
a) restless.
b) reckless.
c) resilient.
d) reverent.
ii. What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanzas?
a) abcb; abcb
b) abcb; abcd
c) abcd; abcd
d) abcd; abcb
iii. These stanzas bring out the contrast between
a) zoos and cities.
b) strength and weakness.
c) freedom and captivity.
d) visitors and patrolling cars.
iv. What is the caged tiger NOT likely to say to the visitors?
a) “Stop staring”.
b) “Set me free”.
c) “Join me".
d) “Go away”.
v. The tiger’s ‘brilliant eyes’ reveal that he
a) hopes to be free and in the wild, someday.
b) is looked after well and is nourished and healthy.
c) enjoys staring at the bright stars each night.
d) is well-rested and hence, wide-awake.
OR
(B) 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’: An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down All his young days into the harbour where His ball went
i. The poet uses the ball as a symbol of theboy’s
a) sense of adventure.
b) carefree childhood days.
c) ability to bounce back.
d) extended family.
ii. The poet feels that there is no point consoling the boy as
a) it would give him false hope.
b) he might demand for a new ball.
c) it might distress him further.
d) whatever he has lost is irretrievable.
iii. The word ‘harbour’ DOES NOT have a meaning similar to
a) port.
b) pier.
c) dock.
d) cargo.
iv. ‘Merrily over — there it is in the water!’ The dash here is meant to convey
a) some familiar experience.
b) a feeling of excitement.
c) a sense of unexpected interruption.
d) some thoughtful moments.
v. The word that DOES NOT indicate a physical manifestation of sorrow in the boy, is
a) worthless.
b) shaking.
c) trembling.
d) rigid.
