The most important chapters in Flamingo for Class 12 CBSE English 2020

CBSE Class 12 English Board Exam 2020: Important Questions & Answers from Flamingo Book (All Prose  Chapters)

CBSE Class 12th English Core exam is scheduled for 27 February, 2020. All the scholars are within the last stage of revision. If you're appearing for English Core Exam check this list of chapter wise important questions and answers created to form your eleventh hour revision hassle and stress-free.

Chapter 1 : The Last Lesson

Ques 1 Who did M. Hamel blame when Franz was unable to answer an issue on French participles?

Ans: M. Hamel blames:

- people of Alsace for postponing learning . ·
- parents who preferred to send their children to figure in fields and mills rather than sending them to high school . ·
- himself for not fulfilling his duty as an educator sincerely - by sending the youngsters to water the plants within the garden & declaring a vacation whenever he wanted to travel for fish

Ques 2 “We‟ve all an excellent deal to reproach ourselves with” said M.Hamel. ask the context and explain what he wanted to convey to his students

Ans: -M. Hamel said it to Franz when he felt embarrassed at not having the ability to answer - he consoles Franz by saying everyone in Alsace is to be blamed for them not learning their mother tongue/parents ,teacher and youngsters all are to be blamed /Alsace puts off learning for tomorrow

Ques 3 Why did Hauser and therefore the other villagers come to attend the last lesson?

Ans: They wanted to precise their repentance for his or her casual approach to their own schooling

- They wanted to thank M. Hamel for his 40 years of dedicated service • They wanted to point out reference to their country which was not theirs

Ques 4 How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and faculty change ?

Ans: Franz shocked to find out about the last lesson in French; not felt Hamel was cranky and strict-developed a fondness; developed fondness for college books, considered them as old friends; became attentive, regretted not studying attentively within the past

Ques 5 what's the effect of the order from Berlin on the people especially Hamel as described in, ‘The Last Lesson’ ?

Ans: on children (Franz)

-- didn't find the teacher cranky

-- gave complete attention to the lesson

-- understood the lesson clearly

on M.Hamel

- wore his special dress to the category to point out reference to his language

- felt guilty for having being casual in his attitude to teaching

(giving holidays when he wanted to try to to fishing/ asking children to water his garden)

- taught the lesson very patiently

- wrote Vive-la-France on the board

Chapter 2 : Lost spring

Ques 1 Why does Anees Jung say that the bangle makers are caught during a vicious web?

Ans: The bangle makers are caught during a vicious web because they ·

- are compelled by family and traditions to follow an equivalent lineage as their forefathers that too at an early age. ·

- are exploited at the hands of the Sahukars, middlemen, policemen, law makers, bureaucrats and politicians ·

- toil day and night, but are notpaid appropriate wages ·

- cannot form cooperatives for his or her betterment. ·

- cannot dare to dream

Ques 2 Mukesh isn't just like the others. His „dreams loom sort of a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad‟. Justify the statement within the light of contrast within the mindsets of Mukesh and therefore the people of Firozabad.

Ans: -Firozabad- dominated by bangle industry, most families engaged in making bangles, work around furnaces, physically and mentally hazardous but noone dares to try to to anything

- Mukesh - aspires to be a mechanic, unlike his peers, dares to dream, determined to steer to a garage and learn to drive, his passion would help him break free from tradition and achieve his goal

Ques 3 Do the poor have the proper to dream? Why then does the author call Mukesh's dream 'a mirage'?

Ans: Everyone has the proper to dream-even Mukesh in spite of the challenges of his life • But his dream is sort of a mirage

Mukesh belonged to marginalized family
disliked the profession of bangle making
wanted to become a motor mechanic
he lives in such poor conditions that it's impossible for him to find out to drive a car
Bound by the tradition family of working within the bangle industry
working for years in those bangle making mills will make him blind.
Not equipped to interrupt out of the vicious circle of politicians middlemen etc
so the dream is compared to a mirage/hallucination
Ques 4 What makes Mukesh different from other boys of his age ?

Ans: - Mukesh ambitious

-- not curious about bangle making

-- wants to become a motor mechanic

- - dreams of driving a car
Ques 5 Describe the irony in Saheb’s name.

Ans. full name: Saheb-e-Alam means lord of the universe but actually a rag picker, belongs to a family of migrants from Bangladesh , forced into labour from childhood thanks to poverty

Chapter 3 : Deep Water

Question 1 How did the near drowning experience at the pool affect Douglas?

Ans: • Felt weak and trembling as he walked back home

Shook and cried as he lay on the bed • Couldn’t eat that night
Haunting fear gripped him for days • Slightest exertion tired him
Knees felt wobbly
Felt sick within the stomach
suffered from hydrophobia for years
Ques 2 The childhood experience of terror of Douglas made him stronger and more determined. Elucidate the above statement supporting it with evidences from the text.

Ans: - Experience at California beach developed an aversion of water in Douglas

- Misadventure at YMCA pool due to a eighteen year old, developed fear and terror of water in him

- Swallowed water, legs paralyzed, head throbbed, felt terror that knew no understanding - couldn't go need water for years

- But, gathered courage again, as was bereft of canoeing, fishing, swimming - Hired a teacher and learnt swimming - Terror returned whenever he put his head in water but didn't hand over

- After learning from instructor, tested himself alone in pool, then visited fresh waters to try to to away with residual doubts

- Fought together with his terror during determinedly and strength

Ques 3 Mention any two long-term consequences of the drowning incident for Douglas.

Ans: - suffered fear of water

- couldn't enjoy canoeing, fishing, swimming

Ques 4 Which first incident in Douglas’ childhood filled him with fear of the water ?

Ans: - Douglas three or four years old

- - stood with father on Californian beach

- - waves knocked him down

- - buried in water

- - breath gone, frightened

Ques 5 what's your impression of Douglas’s swimming instructor ?

Ans: Douglas’ instructor

-- very patient

-- an expert-swimmer and teacher

-- uses scientific approach

-- ready to instil confidence in Douglas

Chapter 4 : The Rattrap

Ques 1 What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla?

Ans: The peddler had written that ·

- since Edla had treated him sort of a captain, he wanted to be nice to her reciprocally . ·

- didn't want her to be embarrassed at Christmas by a thief. ·

- had requested her to return back the crofter’s money that he had stolen - the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who would are caught within the world’s rattrap, if he had not been raised to the status of captain, which motivated him to reform himself.

Ques 2 Why was Edla happy to ascertain the gift left by the peddler?

Ans: -it showed that Edla‟s trust wasn't broken by peddler

-her goodness had paid off and peddler had transformed

-she won't need to suffer criticism for trying to assist a thief

Ques 3 Edla's empathetic and compassionate behaviour changed the lifetime of the rat trap seller .Do you think that an act of kindness can change an individual's view of the world?

Ans: The peddler had been living a despicable lifetime of poverty, despair and frustration

he repaid the crofter’s hospitality by stealing his earnings
he repaid the ironmaster’s invitation to the manor by giving a bit of his mind when the latter talked of taking the interest the sheriff. • the meeting with the ironmaster’s daughter was a turning point in his life.
the kindness , the priority and therefore the understanding that she showed him touched the core of his heart and transformed his way of thinking.
the ironmaster’s daughter understood that he needed security and succor • she convinced her father to permit him to remain on in their house to share the Christmas cheer.
Ques 4 How did Edla persuade her father to let the pedlar stay in their home till Christmas ?

Ans: Walks the entire year long/ chades away/ no home that creates him feel welcome/afraid of being arrested/wants him to enjoy a minimum of at some point of peace/morally they ought to not shy away a person's whom they need invited for Christmas and promised Christmas cheer

Ques 5 Did the peddler expect the type of hospitality that he received from the crofter?

Ans: No,as he was greeted by ‘sour’ and unfriendly faces whenever he knocked on doors.

Chapter 5 : Indigo

Ques 1 How did Gandhi uplift the peasants of Champaran?

Ans: Got them economic relief from the landlords/ taught them courage and gave them freedom from fear/ provided solutions for his or her cultural and social backwardness/improved personal cleanliness,community sanitation and health condition.

Ques 2 How did Gandhiji achieve getting justice for the Indigo sharecroppers?

Ans: Gandhiji stayed at Muzaffarpur where he met the lawyers and concluded that fighting through courts wasn't getting to solve the matter of the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. ·

- He declared that the important relief for them was to be free from fear. With this intention, he arrived in Champaran and contacted the Secretary of British Landlord’s association. The Secretary refused to supply him any information. ·

- After this, Gandhiji met the Commissioner of the Tirhut division who served a notice on him to right away leave Tirhut. Gandhiji accepted the notice by signing it and wrote thereon that he wouldn't obey the order. - He was even willing to court arrest for the explanation for the peasants. · - After four rounds of talks with the Governor, a politician commission of inquiry was appointed during which Gandhiji was made the only representative of the peasants. ·

- Through this commission Gandhiji succeeded in getting 25% of the compensation award for the poor sharecroppers from British landowners. - The peasants realised that that they had rights and defenders. They learnt courage

Ques 3 When Gandhi got the entire hearted support of the lawyers, he said, „The battle of Champaran is won‟. What was the essence behind his statement?

Ans: -Gandhi made lawyers realise their duty towards the peasants

-it would be shameful desertion on their part if they left the peasants if Gandhi was arrested

-lawyers understood, approached Gandhi and said they might accompany him to jail

-getting support of educated Indians like lawyers, Gandhi gained confidence that now they might win against British

Ques 4 What qualities of Gandhiji as a politician and social reformer are revealed within the chapter, ‘Indigo’ ?

Ans: Gandhiji –

as a politician

-- sympathetic-agreed to fight for indigo farmers

- - courageous refused to furnish bail

- - inspirational-changed the minds of the lawyers and motivated them to figure for the peasants

- - realistic-agreed to the settlement of 25 percent from British landowners

as a social reformer

-- visionary-realised the condition of peasants needed upliftment

- - brought workers including a number of his circle of relatives members, doctors and teachers to show and lookout of the health of the villagers

Ques 5 Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?

Ans: Because even after being told about the prior engagements of Gandhi at Cawnpore and other parts across the country, he continues to accompany Gandhi everywhere

Chapter 6 : Poets and Pancakes

Ques 1 Author has used gentle and subtle humour to means human foibles and idiosyncrasies within the lesson ' Poets and Pancakes'. Elucidate.

Ans: Exposes Robert Clive’s ambitions and his restless nature. ·

- Office boy’s boasting and bragging about his talent is brought out. · Legal adviser is understood because the opposite. ·

- Use of pancake –ostensibly to hide the pores. ·

- Team of makeup artists is mentioned as ‘gang of nationally integrated structure men' who could turn any decent looking person into a hideous crimson hued monster. ·

- Strict hierarchy. ·

- Commenting on Subbu’s exposure to affluent situations. He ridicules his virtue- the virtue of being a Brahmin. His inefficiency is acknowledged subtly with a comment ' he always had work for somebody' . The rapidity with which Subbu offered his Boss alternatives when he got stuck up is extremely amusing.

- Pokes fun at the ignorance of all the people .People didn't know who was Stephen Spenders and why had he arrived.

Ques 2 Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.

Ans: - a multi-disciplinarian

- provide solutions to problems

- could remain cheerful all the time

- was an actor, a poet and a novelist.

Ques 3 What made the lawyer stand out from the others at Gemini Studios?

Ans: - wore pants and a tie and sometimes a coat whereas everyone wore similar khadi dhoti

Ques 4 Who was The Boss of Gemini Studios?

Ans: Mr. S.S. Vasan

Ques 5 Who was English visitor to the studio?

Ans: Spender who was the editor of The Encounter, a British Periodical, and a famous English poet, essayist and novelist of the 20 th century.

Chapter 7 : The Interview

Ques 1 How does Eco find the time to write down so much?

Ans: consistent with Eco

-like the universe has empty spaces, our lives too, have tons of empty spaces or ‘interstices

- he features a few moments to spare in between two different tasks, rather than wasting them, he uses the time to write down .

Ques 2 does one think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.

Ans: Yes, as he

- readily answers every question

- doesn't seem apprehensive about sharing his secrets

Ques 3 What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?

Ans: Eco’s style is personalised and playful, and within the sort of a narrative.

Ques 4 Did Umberto Eco consider himself a novelist first or a tutorial scholar?

Ans: Eco considered himself a tutorial scholar first then a novelist.

- wrote more scholarly articles as compared to novels

- ttended academic conferences and not meetings of Pen Clubs

- he was a university professor who wrote novels on Sundays

Ques 5 what's the rationale for the large success of the novel, The Name of the Rose?

Ans: consistent with Eco

- the success behind The Name of the Rose may be a mystery

- Perhaps the time in history when it had been written has proved favourable for its success.

According to Mukund

- the novel’s setting within the medieval past may need contributed to its success

Chapter 8 : Going Places

Ques 1 In what way was Sophie's admiration and fantasizing at odds together with her socio-economic background? Was she justified in dreaming the 'impossible'?

Ans: Sophie’s ambition and dreams are unrealistic

wants to start out a boutique • to earn money by becoming a manager, an actress or maybe a dressmaker
she belongs to weak socio-economic background • doesn’t have decent house • will need to add a biscuit factory • yet dreams of a glamorous life
fantasizes about her hero who is an Irish player Danny Casey
dreams of meeting him
Ques 2 Maintaining a balance between one’s fantasies and therefore the world is that the key to the survival . Give your opinion on Sophie’s character within the light of the above statement.

Ans: Sohpie's world

Sophie the protagonist- an adolescent belongs to the poor socio economic background • she doesn’t own an honest house.
her brother Geoff is an apprentice mechanic
her father worked hard for a living
her mother had a crooked back thanks to the house-hold burden
both her parents also as her brother lacked sophistication
she is earmarked for working during a biscuit factory
Sohpie's fantasies

Sophie lives during a world of her own
she wants to start out a boutique
she wants to earn money by becoming a manager, an actress or maybe a dressmaker
'areas of Geoff’s life’ which are unknown to her hold a special fascination for her
she fantasizes and goes to places in her imagination • she is keen on admiration and fantasizing
her hero is an Irish player Danny Casey
dreams of meeting him and taking his autograph
is such a lot hooked in to meeting him
starts believing her imaginations as real
she crosses the border of normalcy when she tells her family that she actually met him which he wants to require her on a date • nobody believes her
then she actually goes to the place and literally waits for him to seem • feels disappointed
she still believes that she had met him
Ques 3 Unrealistic dreams often cause an excellent deal of unhappiness. Justify the statement on the idea of the story „Going Places‟

Ans: -Sophie belongs to lower bourgeoisie but dreams of opening a boutique, become an actress or fashion designer; no support actually father expecting her to shop for an honest house for the family when she gets some money -also fantasizes of meeting the football sensation, Danny Casey -She has started living her dreams and possesses disconnected with the truth

-this causes her great disappointment and sorrow in life-when Danny didn't come to satisfy her near the canal, Sophie was heartbroken and worried about how she would convince Geoff about Danny

-sadness was hard burden to hold

Ques 4 In what way was Sophie's admiration and fantasizing at odds together with her socio-economic background? Was she justified in dreaming the 'impossible'?

Ans: • Sophie’s ambition and dreams are unrealistic

wants to start out a boutique
to earn money by becoming a manager, an actress or maybe a dressmaker • she belongs to weak socio-economic background
doesn’t have decent house
will need to add a biscuit factory
yet dreams of a glamorous life
fantasizes about her hero who is an Irish player Danny Casey
dreams of meeting him
Ques 5 How are Jansie and Sophie different from one another ?

Ans: Jansie:

- practical, right down to earth, realistic, accepting of her economic status

Sophie:

- impractical, romantic, lives during a dream world, attracted by the glamorous world , imaginative- creates an entire story about Danny Casey; deep longing to vary her circumstances