English Core > Literature Class 12 > Vistas Prose

Read the following extracts and answer the questions: (A) When I heard this, I didn't want to laugh any more, and I felt terribly sad. How could they believe that it was disgusting if one of us held that package in his hands, even though the Vadai had been wrapped first in a banana leaf, and then parcelled in paper? I felt so provoked and angry that I wanted to touch those wretched Vadais myself straight away. Why should we have to fetch and carry for these people. I wondered. Such an important elder of ours goes meekly to the shops to fetch snacks and hands over reverently, bowing and shrinking, to this fellow who just sits there and stuffs them into his mouth. The thought of it infuriated me. (Memories of Childhood)

(i) 'I felt terribly sad'. The reason for the speaker's sadness is because it was an act of ________. (1 mark) (ii) Choose the correct option: 'The thought of it infuriated me' with reference to the above line, what do you think is the impact of the incident on the speaker? (1 mark) (A) The speaker was sympathetic and helpless. (B) The speaker was angry and condemning. (C) The speaker was excited to see the incident. (D) The speaker was very impressed and motivated. (iii) Complete the sentence suitably: 'I wanted to touch those wretched Vadais myself'. The above expression indicates the speaker's ________. (1 mark) (iv) Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank: The incident made the speaker realize that the discrimination was ________ (dehumanizing / elevating). (1 mark)