Kerala SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 4 (English) - KTET MCQ

The correct answer is 'The transience of human life'.

 Key Points

• Tennyson's "Break, Break, Break" is a meditation on the transience of human life and the inevitability of death.
• The speaker reflects on the death of his beloved and the realization that all things must eventually pass away.
• The poem is full of images of the sea, which is a symbol of the vastness and mystery of life and death.
• Tennyson's "Break, Break, Break" also explores the themes of grief and longing.
• The speaker's repeated use of the word "break" emphasizes the sense of fragmentation and loss.
• The poem is written in a simple, yet evocative style, which contributes to its emotional impact.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Additional Information

• The poem is also known for its use of assonance and alliteration, which create a sense of rhythm and flow. 

The correct answer is "Tzvetan Todorov".

Key Points

• Tzvetan Todorov coined the term "Narratology" which is the anglicisation of the French "narratologie".
• Its theoretical ancestors can be traced back to Aristotle (Poetics), but modern narratology is widely acknowledged to have begun with the Russian formalists, particularly Vladimir Propp (Morphology of the Folktale, 1928) and Mikhail Bakhtin's theories of heteroglossia, dialogism, and the chronotope, which were first presented in The Dialogic Imagination (1975).
• Narratology investigates the similarities and differences between narratives.
• Narratology, like structuralism and semiotics from which it sprang, is founded on the concept of a common literary language, or a universal pattern of codes that functions within the text of a work.
• Narratology is the study of narrative and narrative structure, as well as the effects they have on human perception.

Therefore, the correct answer is option 1.

Additional Information

• Ferdinand de Saussure was a linguist, semiotician, and philosopher from Switzerland. His insights established the groundwork for several important advancements in linguistics and semiotics in the twentieth century.
• Claude Levi-Strauss (1908-2009) was a French social anthropologist who pioneered the structural approach to social anthropology. A World on the Verge, Structural Anthropology, The Savage Mind, Anthropologu and Myth, and Look, Listen, Read were among his books.
• Louis Pierre Althusser was a Marxist philosopher who was born in Algeria. Althusser was a long-time member of the French Communist Party, and at times a harsh critic of it.

In book 11 of Paradise Lost, God sends Michael to banish Adam and Eve from paradise and tell them about the future of mankind. In Book 12 Michael told that they will have access to many signs of God’s presence and show Adam the visions of future of Mankind furthermore the coming of Christ as Redeemer of Mankind.

The foreknowledge of future consoles them and they take each other’s hands, and make their way through Eden.

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift is both a satire on human nature and a parody or the "travelers' tales" literary sub-genre, It is Swift's best known full-length work, and a classic of English literature. The reasons for the book's classic status is that it can be seen as many things to many different people. Broadly. the hook has three themes: I. a satirical view of the state of European government, and of petty differences between religions, 2. an inquiry into whether men are inherently corrupt or whether they become corrupted, 3 a restatement of older "anciente versus moderns" controversy previously addressed by Swift in The Battle of the Books. 

Each part is the reverse of the receding part - Gulliver is big/small/wise/ignorant, the countries are complex/simple/scientific/natural, forms of government are worse/better than England's. Gulliver's view between parts contrasts with its other coinciding part - Gulliver sees the tiny Lilliputians as being vicious and unscrupulous, and then the king of Brobdingnag sees Europe in exactly the same light. Gulliver sees the Laputians as unreasonable, and Gulliver's Houyhnhnm master sees humanity as equally so. No form of government is ideal-The simplistic Brobdingnagians enjoy public executions and have streets infested with beggars, the honest and upright Houyhnhnms who have no word for lying are happy to suppress the true nature of Gulliver as a Yahoo and are equally unconcerned about his reaction to being expelled. Specific individuals may be good even where the race is bad-Gulliver finds a friend in each of his travels and, despite Gulliver's rejection and horror toward all Yahoos, he is treated very well by the Portuguese captain, Dom Pedro, who returns him to England at the end of the novel.

The correct answer is 'Empiricist".

Key Points

• "An Essay Concerning Human Understanding" is a 1689 essay by the English philosopher John Locke. 
• John Locke proposed that the human mind is born as a clean slate, and it is sensory experiences that lead to the formation of ideas or knowledge. 
• Locke's essay was one of the first works to give a statement on Empiricism.
• Empiricism is the theory that believes that our sensory experience is the source of knowledge. 

Therefore, Option  2 is the correct answer. 

The correct answer is the year 1667.

Key Points

• In the 1667 version of Paradise Lost, the poem was divided into ten books. However, in the 1674 edition, the text was reorganized into twelve books.
• Paradise Lost is an epic poem that has 12 books, with more than 10,500 lines.
• Written in blank verse, telling the biblical tale of the Fall of Mankind.
• the moment when Adam and Eve were tempted by Satan to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.
• God banished them from the Garden of Eden forever.
• Paradice lost is written by John Milton.

Therefore the correct answer is Option 1.

Ghosts (Danish: Gengangere) is a play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was written in 1881 and first staged in 1882 in Chicago, Illinois, in a production by a Danish company on tour. Like many of Ibsen's plays, Ghosts is a scathing commentary on 19th-century morality. Because of its subject matter, which includes religion, venereal disease, incest, and euthanasia, it immediately generated strong controversy and negative criticism. Since then the play has fared better, and is considered a “great play” that historically holds a position of “immense importance”. Theater critic Maurice Valency wrote in 1963, "From the standpoint of modern tragedy Ghosts strikes off in a new direction. Regular tragedy dealt mainly with the unhappy consequences of breaking the moral code. Ghosts, on the contrary, deals with the consequences of not breaking it."

The correct answer is "W.H. Auden."

Key Points

• Leader of the Auden Group: W.H. Auden was a central figure in the group of poets known as the Auden Group or "Poets of the 1930s," who are recognized for their political engagement, social consciousness, and opposition to fascism.
• Engagement with Socio-Political Themes: Auden's poetry from this period is marked by its direct engagement with the social, political, and economic issues of the time, including the rise of fascism and the impact of the Great Depression.
• Style and Influence: His work was influential in shaping the style and direction of modern poetry, incorporating both traditional forms and modernist experimentation.
• Collaboration and Community: Auden was known for his collaboration with other poets and intellectuals of his time, contributing to a sense of community among like-minded artists and thinkers.
• Leaving a Legacy: Auden's influence extended beyond the 1930s, leaving a lasting impact on English literature and poetry.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• T.S. Eliot, though influential, was more associated with earlier modernist movements rather than the specific political engagement of the 1930s poets.
• Dylan Thomas, although active around the same time, is not typically classified with the Auden Group.
• Robert Frost, an American poet, was not part of this British-centered movement.
• Works by Ian McEwan

The Grammar-Translation method, also known as the classical method of Language Teaching, is one of the oldest or traditional methods of teaching English. In this method, the excessive importance given to accuracy and competence in written rather than oral language. The emphasis is mainly on translation of English words, phrases, and passages into and from the mother tongue of a learner.

It does not help in achieving fluency in target language as little or no attention is given to pronunciation. It never help the learner to achieve competency in appropriateness of language according to situation as there is no activities of using target language in real life situation in this method.

The correct answer is 'Multiple perspectives.'

 Key Points

• "Hayavadana" utilizes multiple perspectives to tell the story, offering diverse viewpoints on the characters and events.
• Karnad employs a narrative structure where different characters provide their subjective accounts of the same events.
• The use of multiple perspectives adds layers of complexity, allowing the audience to witness conflicting viewpoints.
• This technique mirrors the fragmented nature of identity explored in the play.
• It invites the audience to engage with the narrative actively and decipher the subjective truths of each character.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3.'

 Additional Information

• Stream of Consciousness: This narrative technique involves the continuous flow of thoughts and feelings from a character's mind, which is not the primary technique in "Hayavadana."
• Epistolary Structure: Involves storytelling through letters, which is not the dominant structure in "Hayavadana."
• Nonlinear Timeline: While the play may have non-linear elements, the primary focus is on multiple perspectives rather than a strictly non-linear timeline.

The History Man ( Malcolm Bradbury)

Volpone refers to his gold as "Thou" but that is not one of the options. Go back then to the opening when Volpone refers to his gold as "my saint" in the shrine.

The correct answer is 'Germanic languages.'

Key Points

• English is part of the Germanic branch of the Indo-European language family, which underscores its roots and primary linguistic characteristics.
• The Germanic languages are divided into three groups: West Germanic, North Germanic, and East Germanic. English falls under the West Germanic category, along with German, Dutch, and several other languages.
• The initial form of English, known as Old English, emerged from the dialects of the Anglo-Saxon settlers in Britain, who originated from regions in what are now Denmark and northern Germany.
• Features that relate English to other Germanic languages include its basic syntax, certain elements of its morphology (such as strong and weak verbs), and a significant part of its core vocabulary.
• Despite the extensive influence from Norman French, Latin, and other languages due to historical events and societal changes, English retains its Germanic structure, particularly in its grammatical systems and syntactic patterns.
• The Germanic roots of English are evident in its most commonly used words and in the fundamental aspects of its grammar, reflecting the enduring influence of its Germanic origins on the language's development.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because Italic languages include Latin and its descendants, such as Italian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, not English.
• Option 2: Incorrect as Balto-Slavic languages comprise the Baltic and Slavic language families, unrelated to English's origins.
• Option 4: Incorrect because, although Celtic languages were spoken in Britain before the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, English does not primarily belong to the Celtic language group

John Dryden 19 August [O.S. 9 August] 1631 – 12 May  [O.S. 1 May] 1700) was an English poet, literary critic, translator, and playwright who was made England's first Poet Laureate in 1668.

He is seen as dominating the literary life of Restoration England to such a point that the period came to be known in literary circles as the Age of Dryden. Walter Scott called him "Glorious John".

The correct answer is "The Prelude"

Key Points

• "The Prelude" is a long autobiographical poem written by William Wordsworth, not Alexander Pope.
• Alexander Pope (1688-1744) was an English poet best known for his satirical and philosophical works during the 18th century.
• "The Rape of the Lock," "The Dunciad," and "An Essay on Criticism" are among Pope's major works.
• "The Rape of the Lock" satirizes the frivolous society of the time, "The Dunciad" targets dullness in literature, and "An Essay on Criticism" is a poetic essay offering literary criticism.

Therefore, the correct answer is "Option 4".

Additional Information

• Option 1: "The Rape of the Lock" is one of Alexander Pope's satirical masterpieces.
• Option 2: "The Dunciad" is a satirical work by Alexander Pope, focusing on the foolishness in literature.
• Option 3: "An Essay on Criticism" is a work by Alexander Pope providing literary criticism.

The correct answer is '(a) - (iii), (b) - (ii), (c) - (i), (d) - (iv)'.

Key Points

• One Hundred Years of Solitude is a landmark novel by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez, showcasing magical realism and telling the multi-generational story of the Buendía family.
• Crime and Punishment, written by Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, explores the psychological anguish of a young student who commits a murder.
• War and Peace is an epic novel by Leo Tolstoy that chronicles the French invasion of Russia and the impact of the Napoleonic era through the lens of five Russian aristocratic families.
• The Great Gatsby, authored by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a quintessential critique of the American Dream set in the Roaring Twenties, centering around the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby.
• Matching each novel with its correct author provides insight into the breadth and diversity of world literature.

Conclusion Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Options 1, 3, and 4 incorrectly match the novels with their authors, thus providing an inaccurate representation of literary history.

The correct answer is Dr Samuel Johnson.

Key Points

• Dr Samuel Johnson was an eighteenth-century essayist, critic, lexicographer, poet and writer.
• When he was not able to find much literary success he took up the task of dictionary writing.
• The dictionary took nine years to complete and it was finally published on 15 April 1755.
• It was not a regular dictionary we see today but it contains witty definitions.
• More than 40,000 words were defined with multiple meanings and literary quotations were also given.
• For example, he defined oats as
  • "A grain which in England is generally given to horses but in Scotland supports the people."

Therefore, from all the points given above, we can conclude that the publication of the English Dictionary is credited to Dr Samuel Johnson.

Additional Information Let's look at other options:

• Ben Jonson:
  • He was a Jacobean playwright known for his comedy of humour. Some of his famous works are Everyman in His Humour, Volpone, Alchemist, Isles of Dogs etc.
• Thomas More:
  • He is well-known for his work Utopia where he suggested a model for a new society. He first published it in Latin in 1516 and translated it into English in 1551.
• Caxton:
  • William Caxton was an English merchant and diplomat. He brought the printing press to England in 1476.

The correct answer is 'Elizabeth Bennet'.

Key Points

• Elizabeth Bennet's journey in the novel illustrates the value of understanding and overcoming initial prejudices and misconceptions, leading to a deeper connection and eventual marriage with Mr. Darcy, based on mutual respect and love.
• Her initial dislike and misunderstanding of Mr. Darcy's character are transformed as she learns more about his true nature, including his virtues and flaws, indicating the importance of understanding one's partner.
• Her evolving relationship with Mr. Darcy underscores the theme that deeper knowledge of each other's character, including defects, is crucial for a fulfilling relationship.
• The realizations Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy reach about their own and each other's characters highlight the growth and self-awareness required for a successful and happy marriage, directly challenging the quote's claim.
• Her experiences demonstrate that understanding and acceptance of each other's faults can strengthen a relationship, leading to genuine happiness in marriage.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'.

Additional Information

• Lydia Bennet, option 1, experiences a rash marriage that underscores the perils of ignorance rather than promoting understanding.
• Jane Bennet, option 2, also undergoes relationship developments, but her storyline does not as directly counter the quote's notion as Elizabeth's does.
• Mr. Darcy, option 3, complements Elizabeth’s transformation but as a character does not individually symbolize the contradiction to the philosophy stated in the quote.

The correct answer is "The Child in Time."

Key Points

• Exploration of Childhood and Time: "The Child in Time" delves into the nature of childhood, loss, and the fluidity of time, all centered around a protagonist dealing with the loss of his child.
• Psychological Depth: The novel is notable for its psychological depth, exploring the impact of grief and the potential for regeneration and healing.
• Themes of Parenthood: It scrutinizes the roles and experiences of being a parent, alongside societal and personal expectations of this role.
• Innovative Narrative Techniques: McEwan employs innovative narrative techniques to explore the protagonist's psyche and the non-linear progression of time.
• Critical Acclaim: The novel received critical acclaim for its insightful portrayal of its themes and is considered one of McEwan's major works.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• "Atonement" is better known for its exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the complexities of truth.
• "Amsterdam," a sharp, compact narrative, focuses on morality and the complexities of modern life.
• "Saturday" centers around a day in the life of a neurosurgeon, exploring post-9/11 London.
• Works of Nissim Ezekiel

The correct answer is 'Plot'

Key Points

• Aristotle's "Poetics" prioritizes plot (mythos) as the soul of a tragedy.
• He argues that the sequence of events, or the structure of the story, is paramount for evoking the intended emotional responses of pity and fear.
• Aristotle believes that a well-constructed plot must have a beginning, middle, and an end, and exhibit unity of action.
• According to him, the plot should be complex, incorporating elements like reversal and recognition to deeply engage the audience.
• The potency of the tragedy is not solely dependent on the characters or their moral fiber but on the actions that result from their choices and the plot’s unfolding.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

• These lines have been given from one of “the best-known and best-loved poems in the English, Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”.
• The poet states that proud, ambitious, beautiful, grand or rich people should not make fun of the poor people in the churchyard because everyone waits for the unavoidable hour (death). Everybody whether famous or not, rich or poor, all of those paths lead only to the GRAVE.

The correct answer is 'The difference in the roads is negligible'.

Key Points

• Similarity in wear: Despite initially seeing one path as less traveled, the speaker notes that both paths have been worn about the same by travelers.
• Metaphor for life choices: This observation reflects on how, upon closer inspection, different life choices may lead to similar outcomes or experiences.
• Illusion of difference: The speaker's initial distinction between the paths may symbolize how people perceive their choices as vastly different when, in reality, those differences might be minor.
• Human perception and reality: The line speaks to the theme of perception versus reality in the decision-making process.
• Reflection and reconsideration: It suggests the speaker's process of reflecting and reconsidering the decision, highlighting the complexity of choice.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 is too literal and ignores the metaphorical implications of the lines.
• Option 2 is contradicted by the text which suggests both paths are equally worn.
• Option 4 is incorrect; the speaker only chooses one path, and the line is about perception rather than literal experience.

The correct answer is 'The exploration of intellectual and emotional dissonance.'

Key Points

• "Point Counter Point," published in 1928, is known for its rich character ensemble, through which Huxley explores a range of philosophical, scientific, and social ideas, reflecting the intellectual and emotional conflicts of the time.
• The novel employs a contrapuntal structure akin to a musical composition, where multiple characters' viewpoints and narratives intertwine, highlighting the dissonance between intellect and emotion, as well as between differing societal viewpoints.
• Characters such as Walter Bidlake, Marjorie Carling, and John Beavis are used to examine themes like the disconnection between love and physical desire, the search for spiritual meaning in a secular world, and the conflict between individual impulses and societal expectations.
• Huxley critically portrays the intellectual elite's discussions and debates as often disconnected from the emotional realities and hardships of the everyday lives of the working class.
• The book delves into the limitations of rational thought and the struggle for authentic human connection in a fragmented modern society.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect because the novel largely focuses on social and intellectual themes rather than the aesthetics of nature.
• Option 2, though Huxley explores the impact of science, the novel's primary theme is not centered on technology's societal impacts.
• Option 4 misinterprets the novel's focus, which is more on existential and philosophical debates than on the role of art.

The correct answer is 'Promoting active use of the target language in various contexts'.

Key Points

• Active use of the language in different contexts solidifies learning by emphasizing practical application, reinforcing lessons learned in the classroom.
• Engaging in diverse communication situations helps learners adapt to different tones, speeds, and styles of the language, improving comprehension and versatility.
• This strategy supports the integration of all language skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) holistically rather than in isolation.
• Promoting active usage encourages problem-solving and critical thinking in the target language, essential for fluency and advanced language proficiency.
• It supports the natural acquisition of the language through immersion-like experiences, mimicking how native speakers learn their first language.
• Psychological barriers to language learning, such as fear of making mistakes, are reduced as learners become more comfortable and confident in using the language.

R. P. Blackmur was an American literary critic whose criticism was influential among many modernist poets and the New Critics. The above piece has been extracted from an essay by the critic titled “A Critic’s Job of Work”. In the essay, Blackmur announces that criticism is the province of the “amateur” and is concerned with love and understanding rather than allegiance to a particular school or method.

In the given lines, Blackmur compares walking with criticism because he considers both to be “arts” of a similar kind that call for attention to detail and utmost care. He does not quite give the readers the equivalents of “Some paved walks and some form of rapid transport” in order to press his comparison.

“Great wits are sure to madness near allied, and thin partitions do their bounds divide.”

John Dryden, Absalom and Achitophel

The correct answer is 'Its capacity to generate an infinite number of sentences from a finite set of rules.'

Key Points

• Chomsky introduced the concept of generative grammar to explain how humans are able to comprehend and produce language. It fundamentally changed the understanding of linguistic structures and their acquisition.
• A core principle of generative grammar is the idea that a relatively small set of rules or principles can account for the ability to produce and understand an infinite array of sentences, including those that the speaker has never previously encountered.
• This concept supports the idea of a universal grammar underlying all human languages, suggesting an innate linguistic capability that is part of the human genetic endowment.
• Generative grammar is concerned with the underlying competence that allows for this creative aspect of language use rather than performance or the actual usage of language in specific instances.
• Chomsky's approach focuses on deep structures that govern sentence formation and surface structures that emerge from transformations applied to these deep structures, showing how complex sentences can be systematically analyzed and understood.
• The theory provides a powerful framework for understanding how language operates at a cognitive level, offering insights into the processes behind language acquisition and use.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because generative grammar is not primarily concerned with predicting language use in social contexts, focusing instead on innate linguistic structures.
• Option 2: Incorrect as it simplifies the concept, overlooking the generative aspect of producing limitless expressions, not just sentence structure analysis.
• Option 4: Incorrect because Chomsky's generative grammar is more concerned with the innate capacity for language rather than prescriptive rules of grammar in writing.

The correct answer is 'Dorian’s soul and the consequences of his actions'.

Key Points

• The portrait of Dorian Gray symbolizes the physical manifestation of Dorian’s inner moral decay and the consequences of his hedonistic and selfish pursuits.
• As Dorian engages in a life of excess and moral abandon, the portrait, rather than his own body, ages and becomes increasingly grotesque, reflecting the corruption of his soul.
• The contrast between Dorian's unchanging, youthful exterior and the portrait's degeneration emphasizes the disconnection between appearance and reality, a central theme of the novel.
• The portrait can be seen as a conscience that Dorian tries to hide and ignore, highlighting the consequences of living a life devoid of moral reflection.
• This symbol serves as a critique of the aesthetic movement's emphasis on beauty and sensual pleasure, exploring the potential dangers and moral costs of such a philosophy.

The Mistakes of a Night is the subtitle of She Stoops to Conquer, one of the best Restoration comedy by Anglo- Irish Playwright, Oliver Goldsmith. The play was first performed in London in 1773.

Primarily, the play was titled Mistakes of a Night, probably more suitable as all the events within the play take place in one long night. The title refers to the several mistakes committed by Marlow, the main character, throughout the play.

"Art for art's sake" is the usual English rendering of a French slogan from the early 19th century, "l'art pour l'art", and expresses a philosophy that the intrinsic value of art, and the only "true" art, is divorced from any didactic, moral, or utilitarian function. Such works are sometimes described as "autotelic", from the Greek autoteles, "complete in itself", a concept that has been expanded to embrace "inner-directed" or "self-motivated" human beings.