English Core > Literature Class 12 > Flamingo Poetry

Read the following extracts and answer the questions: (A) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store. Where they won't have to think for themselves anymore, While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey, Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits, And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way. (A Roadside Stand)

(i) The expression 'It is in the news' suggests (1 mark) (A) it is good news for the roadside stand owners. (B) an important decision has been taken by the government. (C) the roadside stand owners have protested against the government. (D) that the news was not there in the newspaper. (ii) Read the Assertion and the Reason below, with reference to the given extract. Assertion: The poet complains that the rural people are exploited by the people in power. Reason: The rural people reposed blind faith in the false promises of the people in power. Choose the correct option regarding their relationship. (1 mark) (A) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true and the Reason is the correct explanation. (B) Both the Assertion and the Reason are true, but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion. (C) The Assertion is true, but the Reason is false. (D) The Assertion is false, but the Reason is true. (iii) Complete the following suitably: In the line 'that are calculated to soothe them out of their wits', the phrase 'soothe them out of their wit' refers to ________. (1 mark) (iv) Bring out the irony in the expression 'they won't have to think for themselves'. (1 mark) (v) Select the correct option from those given in brackets, to fill in the blank. The poet uses the expression 'greedy good-doers' to ________ (criticize / appreciate) the intention of the powerful people. (1 mark) (vi) Complete the following suitably. The tone of the poet in the above extract is ________. (1 mark)