MP Board Class 12th General English Supplementary Materials (Based on ‘Reading Time’ Section of Work Book)
Supplementary Materials Long Answer Type Questions:
Question 1.
Summarize the poem ‘Words’ in about 80 words. [2018]
Answer:
The poem classifies words into various categories. The poet says that some words are happy others are sad. There are bitter and sweet words. Some words are honest while others cheat. Some words are remembered others are forgotten. The classification represents not various categories of words but of people because words give expression to thoughts of people. Their thoughts, in turn, represent their personality and inner self. People appear to be bitter and sweet; open and sly; honest and dishonest; good and bad on account of words only.
Question 2.
Write the central idea of the poem “We are the Future”.
Answer:
The poem exhorts Indians to come together as a team and work together. The real power and strength lies in unity. As a team, they can accept every challenge and achieve every goal. The future is unknown and holds many difficulties but it is to be made, bright by Indians together. Thus, people should come from various parts of the country and build the nation.
Question 3.
Write a speech on the importance of English in everyday life. [2009]
Answer:
“The English language is an advanced and flexible language”, said Dr. Rajendra Prasad, our first President. Though it is irregular in grammar, spelling and pronunciation, it is one of the most effective means of expression. English has the richest vocabulary in the world. Every year almost ten thousand words are added to the English dictionary. Besides this, it is used in fields of study other than arts. Another thing about English is that it is used frequently in social intercourse. It is a key to scientific knowledge and learning.
Question 4.
Describe the importance of ‘The Gita’.
Answer:
The Gita is an aphoristic pertaining to a short clever saying which is intended to express a general truth] work. It is great religious poem. Gita is not a collection of do and don’ts. It has sung the praises of knowledge, but it is beyond mere intellect. Gita is considered to be one of the greatest books. So many wise men have written their interpretations of Gita. It has been translated in almost all languages of the world. It is beyond time.
Question 5.
How can one attain mastery in the art of meditation? [2012]
Answer:
One can attain mastery in the art of meditation by focussing on breathing. Since our breath is always with us, it can be done any time, any place. But the best is to settle down in a cool place that has dim light and relatively quiet. You must focus attention on your breathing. Observe your breath as it comes in and goes out. In this way, we can attain mastery in the art of meditation.
Question 6.
How is the Angel Canyon Falls compared to the Niagara Falls? [2013]
Answer:
The world’s highest waterfall is situated in Eastern Venezuela in South Africa. It is known as the Angel Falls. It hurtles down from a height of 960 m which is sixteen times more than the height of the famous Niagara Falls and provides r. truly breathtaking view.
Question 7.
How can you say that nature’s bounty is boundless? [2009, 10]
Answer:
We can say that nature’s bounty is boundless because there are millions of things that nature possesses. Even the simplest things which we take for granted are not really simple. Colorful, pretty flowers and various kinds of fruits are an example. There are thousands of other things in nature’s treasure trove. There are an entire range of high hills smoking fumes in the air for years together. An elephant’s trunk comprises of more than forty thousand muscles. The human body is a wonderful collection of so many organic and inorganic matters.
Question 8.
Summarize the poem ‘A Psalm of Life’. [2016]
Answer:
The poem ‘A Psalm of Life’ invokes people to treat life as real. The poet asks people not to waste life though it is short and will soon end up. But the soul is immortal. Life should be lived in a better way. People should make good use of time and fight against all odds. They should not follow others blindly. They should lead a noble and meaningftiTlife. They should work hard and wait patiently for God to reward.
Question 9.
Why does the author say, ‘Your heart is just as smart as the U. S. Army’? [2011,15]
Answer:
The U. S. Army is very smart. Our heart is just as smart as the U. S. Army. Our heart pumps enough blood through our body every day sufficient to fill a railway tank car. It exerts enough energy every twenty-four hours to shovel twenty tons of coal on to a platform three feet height. It does this incredible amount of work for fifty, seventy or maybe ninety years. So we say our heart is very smart.
Question 10.
What will help you to improve your English at the beginning? [2012]
Or
On what does the improvement of your English depend? [2010,11]
Answer:
In the beginning, to read a lot is essential. Read as many books you find, with the idea of listing and learning as many words as possible. Choose what is likely to interest you and be sure in advance that it is not too hard. You should not have to be constantly looking up new words here and there, but as a general policy, try to push ahead, guessing what words means from the context. It is extensive and not intensive reading that normally helps you to get interested in extra reading and thereby improve your English.
Question 11.
Write the central idea of the poem ‘Risks’. [2013, 16, 17]
Answer:
Man has various types of needs. Hard work is required to fulfill them. There are many obstacles in the path of fulfilling them. Nature also puts hinderances before man. However, these obstacles develop the ability in a man. Life is full of all kinds of risks. One will have to take risks to achieve them. One who cannot take risk, cannot gain anything. That is why it is rightly said, No risk, no gain.
Question 12.
In what categories does the author divide the books? [2014,18]
Answer:
The author divides the books into various categories. Some books are to be read in parts only, it is not essential to read them thoroughly. Some books are to be read without paying much attention they can be read, but not cursorily. There is still author type of books that are supposed to be read thoroughly or cover to cover. They demand due attention and concentration. They are to be fully absorbed. Lastly, there are some books which a person needs not read himself. He can either depute some other person to read them or rely on their extracts prepared by others. But this can be done only in the case of some less important books.
Question 13.
How can one reach Chitrakoot? Mention all the three ways? [2015]
Answer:
The following are the ways to reach Chitrakoot:
- By Air, The nearest airport is at Khajuraho, connected with Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi.
- By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Chitrakoot Dham on the Jhansi Manikpur mainline.
- By Road: Regular bus services connect Chitrakoot with Jhansi, Mahoba, Chitrakoot Dham, Harpalpur, Satna and Chhatarpur.
Supplementary Materials Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What makes ‘a team’ a whole? [2009, 16]
Answer:
When a team works together with co-operation it makes a team a whole. –
Question 2.
Which is the world’s highest waterfall? Where is it? [2009, 18]
Answer:
The world’s highest waterfall is Angel Falls. It is situated in Eastern Venezuela in South America.
Question 3.
What accounts for beauty in yourself? [2009, 13, 18]
Answer:
Good deeds and happy thoughts account for beauty in ourselves.
Question 4.
What are the things education is linked with? [2014]
Answer:
Education is linked with the economic, political, religious and other sub-systems.
Question 5.
What was Upcourt’s challenge to Tatas?
Answer:
Upcourt’s challenge was “If Tatas make steel rails to British specification, I will undertake to eat every pound of rail they make.”
Question 6.
What is the saying about values? [2017]
Answer:
It is said about values that they cannot be caught, they are taught.
Question 7.
How much does the heart work in a day?
Answer:
When beating at a moderate rate of seventy pulses per minute, the heart is actually working only nine hours out of the twenty-four hours.
Question 8.
What does the poet say about the Past and the Future? [2017]
Answer:
The poet says that one should not trust the Future however pleasant it is and bury the ugly past.
Question 9.
What did the truck driver say after checking the car? [2014]
Answer:
After checking the car, the truck driver said that he happened to be driving down the highway a few hours ago and saw the author helping a lady with her car troubles. He also added that what goes around comes around.
Question 10.
What is ‘Angel Canyon’? And what is the ‘Charan River’? [2009]
Answer:
The Angel Canyon is a large pool at the cliffs foot. Charan river is a tributary of the Caroni River.
Question 11.
What are the distilled books like? [2009, 16]
Answer:
Distilled books are like common distilled waters, flashy things.
Question 12.
Who will certainly preach Lord Krishna? [2017]
Answer:
People who extend the precious treasure of knowledge to his devotees will certainly reach Lord Krishna.
Question 13.
What did wooden always focus on? [2009]
Answer:
Wooden always focused on today.
Question 14.
What happens when you dream big? [2017]
Answer:
When you dream big, you pursue your dreams and change them into reality. ‘
Question 15.
What is the simplest form of meditation? [2009, 10, 12, 17]
Answer:
The simplest form of meditation is focussing on breathing.
Question 16.
What things in nature arouse your curiosity?
Answer:
The Etna Volcano Italy, the Bermuda Triangle, arouses our curiosity.
Question 17.
How does the author compare the crafty, simple and wise men? [2018]
Answer:
The author compares by saying that crafty, men condemn studies, simple men admire them and wise men use them.
Question 18.
Why is the Gita beyond the mere intellect?
Answer:
The Gita is beyond the mere intellect as it is essentially addressed to the heart and capable of being understood only by the heart.
Question 19.
Which are the two types of reading?
Answer:
They are extensive and intensive reading.
Question 20.
What do people do for their harvest?
Answer:
They dance for their harvest.
Question 21.
Why was Jamshedji prohibited from entering the Majestic hotel? [2010]
Answer:
Jamshedji was prohibited because he was an Indian.
Question 22.
Who took the kids into the restaurant? [2013]
Answer:
The truck driver took the kids into the restaurant.
Question 23.
What are the benefits of meditation? [2013, 14, 16]
Answer:
Calm mind, better retention, better health, focus, and concentration are the obvious benefits.
Question 24.
Why does the author say that the Gita is not for those who have no faith? [2013, 14]
Answer:
The author says this because the Gita is beyond the mere intellect. It is essentially addressed to the heart and capable of being understood by the heart.
Question 25.
What do you understand by do’s and don’ts? [2014]
Answer:
Do’s and don’ts are nothing but things permissible or unpermissible at a time or place; things lawful or unlawful for a person.
Question 26.
From what did wooden create the major portion of his coaching philosophy? [2014]
Answer:
Wooden created a major portion of his coaching and living philosophy from one thought [passed on to him by his father] : “Make each day your masterpiece.”
Question 27.
Which is considered the best place for meditation?[2015, 18]
Answer:
The best place for meditation is to settle down in a cool place that has dim light and is relatively quiet.
Question 28.
Does the heart work all the time? [2015]
Answer:
Most people have the idea that the heart is working all the time. As a matter of fact, there is a definite rest period after each contraction. In the aggregate, its rest periods total a full fifteen hours a day.
Question 29.
Why do we want to live in future? [2015]
Answer:
We want to live in future because we believe that the future is where our happiness lies.
Question 30.
What is idleness according to author? [2015]
Answer:
According to author to spend too much time in studies is idleness. It indicates that you are checking work.
Question 31.
Where is Chitrakoot situated? [2015,16,18]
Answer:
Chitrakoot nestles peacefully in the northern spurs of the Vindhyas, a place of tranquil forest glades and quiet rivers, and streams where calm and repose are all-pervading.
Question 32.
Why we must take risk? [2016]
Answer:
We must take risk to overcome obstacles. Obstacles develop ability in a man. Taking risk means achieving victory over them. One who cannot take risk, cannot gain anything. That is why it is rightly said—No risk, no gain.
Question 33.
What do understand by‘spiritual Guru’? [2016]
Answer:
A spiritual Guru is one who directs and helps others in making their minds calm.