Keeping Quiet class 12 MCQs CBSE term 1 exam

KEEPING QUIET

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. 

(A) For once on the face of the Earth

let’s not speak in any language,

let’s stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

(i) What’s the rhyme scheme used in the lines above?

(a) aabb 

(b) abab 

(c) abac 

(d) Free verse

(ii) Pablo Neruda wants everyone ‘to stop’

(a) so we can take a moment and go for a walk.

(b) so we connect with our inner selves.

(c) so we can rest well.

(d) so we can go on holiday.

(iii) The expression “...not move our arms so much.” significs that

(a) we should refrain from moving our hands.

(b) we should refrain from doing any activity and maintain our peace.

(c) we should never stop doing anything.

(d) we should always play all the time.

(iv) Pick the word that is not advocated in the poem, ‘Keeping Quiet’.

(a) Peace 

(b) Introspection

(c) Raging wars 

(d) Stability

(B) Fishermen in the cold sea

would not harm whales

and the man gathering salt

would look at his hurt hands.

(i) The fisherman in the above lines is symbolic of

(a) the hardships of the fishermen.

(b) the aquatic animals.

(c) the man’s selfish act of exploiting nature for his interests and greed.

(d) the beautiful forest.

(ii) If the fishermen will not harm the whales, then

(a) they will die peacefully.

(b) they will not be on the verge of extinction.

(c) they will enjoy themselves in the water.

(d) they will not do an evil deed.

(iii) The rhyme scheme of the above extract is

(a) aabb. 

(b) abab.

(c) free verse. 

(d) abbb.

(iv) Through the last line, the poet creates an image of

(a) an injured man. 

(b) a hospital.

(c) a new world. 

(d) man’s incessant sufferings.

(C) Perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

Perhaps the Earth can teach us

as when everything seems dead

and later proves to be alive.

Now I'll count up to twelve

and you keep quiet and I will go.

(i) The phrase ‘keep quiet’ signifies

(a) avoid the activities that harm nature.

(b) should not speak too much.

(c) not to interrupt anyone by questioning.

(d) do not over judge someone’s intelligence.

(ii) The expression ‘sadness of never understanding ourselves,’ evokes the feeling of

(a) fast-moving world and have no time to understand.

(b) sadness because of lack of knowledge of our needs.

(c) despair because of ignoring inner mental satisfaction.

(d) happiness to understand ourselves.

(iii) The rhyme scheme of the above extract is

(a) abcb 

(b) abac 

(c) aabb 

(d) blank verse

(iv) The literary device used by the poet in the following line is ‘Perhaps the Earth can teach us’

(a) personification 

(b) alliteration 

(c) simile 

(d) hyperbole

(D) Those who prepare green wars,

wars with gas, wars with fire,

victory with no survivors,

would put on clean clothes

and walk about with their brothers

in the shade, doing nothing.

(i) What does the poet signify through ‘green wars”?

(a) Wars between plants 

(b) Wars between the two countries

(c) Harms caused to nature 

(d) Wars between neighbours

(ii) The phrase ‘Victory with no survivors’ refers to

(a) a victory with everyone to celebrate. 

(b) a victory with no one left to celebrate.

(c) a victory celebrated by the countries. 

(d) a victory celebrated by the neighbours.

(iii) The poetic device used in the phrase, ‘clean clothes’ is

(a) pun. 

(b) alliteration.

(c) simile. 

(d) hyperbole.

(iv) Why does the poet want the people to do ‘nothing’?

(a) So that they can spend time with him

(b) So that they can help him write poems

(c) So that he can play with them.

(d) So that there can be a situation of peace all around

(E) What I want should not be confused

with total inactivity.

Life is what it is about;

I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded

about keeping our lives moving,

and for once could do nothing,

perhaps a huge silence

might interrupt this sadness

of never understanding ourselves

and of threatening ourselves with death.

(i) The poet remarks, *...and of threatening ourselves with death.’ What does he suggest through this line?

(a) Death of initiative 

(b) Effects of unchecked emotions

(c) Loss of touch with one’s inner self. 

(d) Societal pressure

(ii) In the above extract, the poet accuses the people of something. What is it?

(a) Just surviving and not living 

(b) Letting our inner child die

(c) Not listening to our hearts 

(d) Suffocating our talents

(iii) The poet remarks, “...huge silence might interrupt this sadness.” This is a/an

(a) symbolism. 

(b) allegory. 

(c) motif. 

(d) irony.

(iv) According to the poet, ‘...might interrupt this sadness’, what is the sadness about?

(a) Not understanding others 

(b) Not understanding ourselves

(c) Not living cordially 

(d) Not finding time for each other