Deep Water Important Questions Class 12 English

 3.  Deep Water (William Douglas)

Short Answer Type questions :

Q.1  Describe the writer’s experience when he was of three or four years.OR      Which incident created water aversion in the writer’s mind?

Ans. The writer’s father took him to the beach in California. Both of them were in seawater.  Then a wave knocked him down. It swept over the writer and buried him in water. His breath was broken. The incident created an aversion to water in the writer’s mind.

Q.2  What did the 18-years old boy do the writer and why?

Ans. The writer was afraid of going into the pool alone. So he was waiting for someone to come. Then a boy of eighteen came there. First, he made fun of the writer. He called him skinny. After that, he picked him up and threw him into deep water. He did it just out of fun.

Q.3  Why was the writer at first not much frightened when he was thrown into the pool?

Ans. The writer was hopeful to come to the surface very soon. While going down into the water, he made a plan. He would spring up as soon as his feet touched the bottom of the pool. So he was not frightened.

Q.4  How did the writer feel when he stopped all efforts to save himself?

Ans. The writer felt relaxed. Even his legs became inactive. He felt darkness in his brain. There was no fear and panic. All was quiet and peaceful. He felt drowsy. He was too tired to jump. Those were the moments of giving up all to God.

Q.5  What did the writer remember as he came to his senses after the misadventure at the pool?

Ans. He remembered that he was lying on his stomach. He was vomiting. The boy who had thrown him into the pool was also there. He was saying that he had done that only as fun. Another person was saying that the kid had nearly died.

Q.6  How was the writer affected by his misadventure at the pool?

Ans. It affected the writer badly. It created fear of water in his mind. After that, he never went to the pool. On that night, he reached home trembling. He could not eat that night. Thus the misadventure affected him physically and mentally.

Q.7  Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?

Ans. The writer wanted to bathe in the warm lakes and cascades or wade in Tieton or Bumping River. But the fear of water would paralysed his legs. His heart would freeze. Sometimes he wished to fishing, boating, and swimming. So the writer determined to get over his fear of water.

Q.8  How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?

Ans. First, he got training from an instructor. He taught him swimming piece by piece. He continued to practise swimming for four months. Then he swam two miles in Wentworth Lake. Fear of water came off and on. But he did not care for it. Finally, in the warm lake, he succeeded in overcoming the fear of water.

Q.9  How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?

Ans. After training of swimming, the writer wanted to make sure that he had conquered the old terror. For this, he practised swimming alone in the pool. Then he went to Wentworth Lake. He swam into it for two miles. Finally, he conquered the fear of water in the warm lake.

Q.10       The writer says, “The instructor was finished. But I was  not finished.” Why?

Ans. The writer’s instructor trained him in swimming. Then he said his job was finished. But the writer’s job was still unfinished. He was to finish his fear of water by practising swimming alone. That is the reason why the writer says “ ..... I was not finished.”

General Answer :

       The writer Douglas had a fear of water since childhood. But he had a strong desire for swimming. The swimming pool of Y.M.C.A was safe for swimming. He tried to swim into the pool three or four times. One day a misadventure happened. A boy of 18 threw him into deep water just for fun. He was nearly drowned. That incident created almost permanent fear in his mind. The terror for water became stranger in is mind. Whenever he put his feet into the water, the fear of water made him weak. But he wanted to conquer fear in order to enjoy swimming, bathing, fishing and boating. He got training in swimming. After that, he practised swimming for months alone. He swam alone in Wentworth Lake. He swam in the lake for two miles. Finally, he conquered fear in a warm lake.

Q.1  How did Douglas overcome /conquer his fear of water?

Q.2  How did the instructor make a swimmer out of Douglas?

Ans.       For Q.1 & Q. 2, see the answer above (General)

Q.3  How does Douglas describe the panic that gripped him as he almost drowned himself? What makes the description so vivid (clear)?

OR

       Narrate briefly the writer’s emotions and fears when he was thrown into the pool. What plans did he make to come to the surface ?

OR

       What was the misadventure’ of the Y.M.C.A. pool that the writer William Douglas speaks about?

Ans. The misadventure was that a grown-up boy picked up and threw him into the deep water of the pool. In the beginning, he was not so much afraid. He had a plan in his mind. As soon as his feet touched the bottom of the pool he would spring up and come to the surface. But he failed to do so. He felt weak. His legs and arms would not move. He became panicky. Twice he tried to come up, but in vain his effort proved.  He tried to cry; he tried to call his mother, but all was dark before his eyes. At last, his efforts stopped. He left everything to God. He became unconscious. When he came to his senses, he found himself lying on his stomach and he was vomiting Thus he nearly got drowned.

 

Lost Spring Important Questions Class 12 English

                                 2. Lost Spring

 Q1. Who was Saheb? What was his full name? What was the irony about his name?

  Ans. Saheb was a rag-picker. His full name was Saheb-e-Alam. It meant ‘the lord of the Universe’. But he did not know the meaning of his name. He was just a poor boy born of poor parents. He had to struggle for his livelihood. This was the irony of his name.

Q2. What promise had the writer made with Saheb one day? Why did she feel small in front of him?    

Ans. One day, the writer gave Saheb the offer to join her school when she opened it. She did not promise him seriously about opening a school.   But Saheb took it seriously. That’s why she felt belittled when he asked her if she had opened a school.

Q3. What was Saheb wearing one morning? Where did he get it one morning?

  Ans. One morning, Saheb was wearing tennis shoes. These shoes were discarded (thrown) by a rich parents’ son because one of them had a hole in it These shoes also show Saheb’s love for playing tennis.

 Q4.What are the hazards of working in the glass bangles industries of Firozabad?

  Ans. The glass bangles have to work in small rooms which have no ventilation for fresh air and light to come there. Their eyes are in danger while working in these dark places with the light of furnaces only.

  Q5.Why did the steel canister seem burdensome than the load of rags to Sahib, when he worked at a tea stall?

   Ans. Saheb had to work in a tea stall as a servant. He did not feel good while working there. He had to work under a boss. Previously he was the master of his work. Saheb lost all the previous joy and carefree manner. So fetching a canister seemed more burdensome than the load of rags on his shoulders. 

Q5.Why did the steel canister seem burdensome than the load of rags to Sahib, when he worked at a tea stall?

   Ans. Saheb had to work in a tea stall as a servant. He did not feel good while working there. Although he got Rs. 800/ for his work, he was not happy. He had to work under a boss. Previously he was the master of his work. Saheb lost all the previous joy and carefree manner. So fetching a canister seemed more burdensome than the load of rags on his shoulders. 

 

   Q6. Who is Savita? What is she doing? What does the writer wonder about her?

   Ans. Savita is a young girl, who is sitting near an elderly woman. She is in a pink dress and soldering pieces of glass.

   The writer wonders if she knows about the sanctity of bangles that she is helping in soldering them.

Q7. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realize his dream? How is his attitude different from his parents?

                               Or

   Is it possible for Mukesh to realize his dream? Justify your answer. 

Ans. The author Anees Jung notices a flicker of hope in the eyes of Mukesh. He talks of his dream to become a garage mechanic. He would walk a long distance on foot to fulfill his dream. He dares to break the lineage of the occupation of his father and forefathers.

Long answer Type Qs

   Q.2./11       How does Anees Jung describe the life of Seemapuri rag-pickers?

   Ans.     Seemapuri ragpickers live a life of hell. They cannot dream of living a normal life. They came from Bangladesh in 1971. Since then, they are living in Seemapuri. Their houses are of mud, with roofs of tin or tarpaulin. They have no basic facilities for sewage, drainage, and running water. They are about 10,000. They are all rag pickers. Garbage is a gold mine for them. Their children help them with rag-pickers. They are unable to go to school because of poverty. Food is more important to them than anything else. Garbage is the only source of their livelihood. As identity cards, they have only ration cards. They can buy grains with the help of them

  

Q.3/11   Describe the life of families engaged in making bangles in Ferozabad.

  Ans. Many families in Ferozabad are engaged in making bangles. These families have been doing this job for many years. They work near furnaces. They weld glass and make bangles. Women from different parts of India wear them. About 20,000 children work near these hot furnaces. They endanger their eyes while doing their work. The bangle-makers of Ferozabad are very poor. They are living as if they were living in hell. They live in inhuman conditions. The streets are very narrow and full of garbage. The walls and doors of their houses are in crumbling (about to fall) condition. Mukesh’s family also lives in the same area. They are the victims of middlemen, police, and politicians. They dare not break the line of their profession.

 

The Last Lesson Important Questions Class 12 English

 Most Important Qs-Ans: The Last Lesson

1. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?

   Ans. There was an unusual silence in school. M. Hamel was serious as it was his last lesson. Franz listened to his teacher patiently. The villagers also attended the class. Perhaps they wanted to pay respect to M. Hamel’s forty years of service to the school. Franz felt guilty for wasting his time in the past.

   2. As the teacher began to speak, ““My children, this is the last lesson…”, the words sounded like a thunderclap to Franz. Why?

   Ans. As the teacher’s words fell on Franz’s ears like a thunderclap. He was in a tizzy (in utter confusion) and could not understand what will become of him as he did not know his mother tongue properly.  He also came to understand why the people had gathered at the bulletin board.

3. What did the teacher say about the general tendency of people in general about tasks and what did he say about Franz’s parents and himself?

   Ans. The teacher said that people are in the habit of putting off things. They do not understand the value of present time and education. They are not serious about their children’s education. He also blamed himself for sending students to water the flower beds and on holiday.

4. What plans had Franz made to pass his day if he stayed away from school? Why did he change his plans?

Ans. Several thoughts came to his mind to pass the day if he stayed away from school. There was warm weather outside: birds were chirping at the edge of the woods and the Prussian soldiers were drilling in the open at the back of the saw-mill. But he wanted to attend his school that day.

 5. Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons? What does this tell us about the attitude of the Frenchmen?

 Ans. The statement shows a young boy’s perception ( view) about the Prussian soldiers. He thinks that they can force human beings to learn and speak German, but they cannot force the birds to learn German.     This shows how the Frenchmen loved their language and how they were worried about it.

6. What is a bulletin board? What is its importance for the people of Alsace and Lorraine?

  Ans. The latest information (almost bad news) like all lost battles, the drafts, and the orders of the commanding officer was put at the bulletin board. People used to read from there about the latest information. That day, they got the information that the French language would not be taught in schools in the districts of Alsace and Lorraine.

7. What had Franz thought about entering the classroom and why couldn’t he enter as planned?

Ans. Franz wanted to enter the classroom unnoticed by taking advantage of the usual noise and movements.

   But on that day, everything was so quiet and peaceful, so, he had to enter the classroom by opening the door. The class was already full. He felt blushed and frightened. 

 8.   Who were sitting on the back benches? Why had they come there in the classroom?

   Ans. The village elders were sitting at the back benches. Those were: old Mr. Hauser. There were some other people like the former mayor, the former postman, etc. All of them had come to attend M. Hamel’s last lesson on French and also to pay respect to him for his forty-year service in the school.

9. What did Mr. Franz say about the French language?

   Ans. He said that the French language was the most beautiful of all the languages. It was the clearest and the most logical language. He also advised the students and the people present there never to forget this language.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q1/11. Franz’s attitude towards school and M. Hamel changes when he comes to know about the takeover of his village by Prussian soldiers. Do you agree? Discuss with reference to ‘The Last Lesson’?

Ans. Yes, we agree that Franz’s attitude towards school and M. Hamel is totally changed. He feels guilty of being careless for his lessons and missing them by remaining away from school.

His attitude towards Mr. Hamel is also changed now. He used to think his teacher to be a crank, but now he has full respect for him. The books on grammar and history were burden for him, but now they are no more burdens for him.   On the last day, he listened to the lecture so attentively that he was able to understand everything. He also thinks that Mr. Hamel had never taught them the lesson so seriously before.    Thus we see that Franz undergoes changes in his attitude towards school and M. Hamel.

Q2. As Franz reached the school, what changes did he notice there as a result of the orders from Berlin?

Ans. Franz saw an unusual scene in the school. It looked as if it were a quiet Sunday morning. He had expected to see the movements of the students from one place to the other and their noise that could be heard out in the street. Sometimes it was the noise of opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison. Sometimes there was the sound of the teacher’s big ruler rapping or hitting on the table.   But that day, no such noise could be heard.

   Franz was really surprised to see the inside scene of the class room. He saw that his classmates were already in their places. M. Hamel, the teacher, was walking up and down in the class room. He had worn his special dress. Some village elders also were there sitting in the class room. All those things surprised Franz.