Extract Based Questions: Memories of Childhood | English Class 12 PDF Download

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:
But this eating by formula was not the hardest trial in that first day. Late in the morning, my friend Judewin gave me a terrible warning. Judewin knew a few words of English; and she had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting our long, heavy hair. Our mothers had taught us that only unskilled warriors who were captured had their hair shingled by the enemy. Among our people, short hair was worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards! We discussed our fate some moments, and when Judewin said, “We have to submit, because they are strong,” I rebelled
(Memories of childhood)

Question (i) What is the main problem that the narrator faces in the extract?
Ans: Answer as written by the student: The main problem that the narrator faces in the extract is that she is forced to cut her long hair, which is a symbol of her cultural identity and pride.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to identify and explain the problem that the narrator faces in the extract, based on her words and actions. Some evidence that shows that the narrator faces this problem are:

• She says that she was eating by formula, which shows that she was following a strict and unfamiliar routine at the boarding school.
• She says that Judewin gave her a terrible warning, which shows that she was about to face something worse than eating by formula.
• She says that the paleface woman talked about cutting their long, heavy hair, which shows that she was going to lose her natural and traditional hairstyle.
• She says that their mothers had taught them that only unskilled warriors, mourners, and cowards had their hair shingled, which shows that she valued her hair as a sign of her skill, joy, and courage.
• She says that she rebelled when Judewin said that they had to submit, which shows that she resisted and opposed this problem.

Question (ii) Why did Judewin say "We have to submit, because they are strong" in the extract?
(a) Because she was afraid of being punished
(b) Because she was loyal to the paleface woman
(c) Because she was indifferent to her hair
(d) Because she was realistic about their situation
Ans: Answer as written by the student: (d) Because she was realistic about their situation
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to look for evidence in the extract that supports one of the given options. The option that is supported by the extract is D. Because she was realistic about their situation. Some evidence that shows that Judewin said this because she was realistic about their situation are:

• She knew a few words of English, which shows that she was aware and informed of what was going on around her.
• She had overheard the paleface woman talk about cutting their hair, which shows that she knew what was going to happen to them and why.
• She gave a terrible warning to the narrator, which shows that she wanted to prepare her for the inevitable and unpleasant outcome.

Question (iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The extract belongs to the genre of _______________.
Ans: Answer as written by the student: The extract belongs to the genre of memoir.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre of a text is the category or type of literature that it belongs to, based on its form, style, content, and theme. To identify the genre of the extract, we need to look for clues that indicate its characteristics and features. Some clues that suggest that the extract belongs to the genre of memoir are:

• The use of first-person narration, which is a common feature of memoir texts.
• The focus on personal experiences and memories, such as being taken to a boarding school and losing her cultural identity, which are typical of memoir texts.
• The portrayal of historical events and contexts, such as the assimilation of Native American children in white schools, which create a sense of authenticity and relevance.

Question (iv) Give one reason why the extract can be called a moving introduction to the theme.
Ans: Answer as written by the student: One reason why the extract can be called a moving introduction to the theme is that it uses emotional language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Moving means arousing strong feelings of sympathy or sadness in someone. The theme of a text is the main idea or message that the author wants to convey through their work. To explain why the extract can be called a moving introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it uses emotional language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation. One example of how the extract does this is:

• It uses emotional language and imagery such as "terrible warning," "cutting our long, heavy hair," "unskilled warriors," "captured," "shingled," "mourners," "cowards," etc., which appeal to the feelings of fear, anger, shame, and sorrow.
• It conveys the narrator's feelings and situation such as being forced to change her appearance and identity against her will; being humiliated and dishonored by losing her hair; being oppressed and powerless by being in a boarding school; being rebellious and courageous by resisting submission.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:
I cried aloud, shaking my head all the while until I felt the cold blades of the scissors against my neck, and heard them gnaw off one of my thick braids. Then I lost my spirit. Since the day I was taken from my mother I had suffered extreme indignities. People had stared at me. I had been tossed about in the air like a wooden puppet. And now my long hair was shingled like a coward’s! In my anguish I moaned for my mother, but no one came to comfort me. Not a soul reasoned quietly with me, as my own mother used to do; for now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder.
(Memories of childhood)

Question (i) What is the main event that happens in the extract?
Ans: Answer as written by the student: The main event that happens in the extract is that the narrator's long hair is cut off by the paleface woman.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to identify and describe the main event that happens in the extract, based on the narrator's words and actions. Some evidence that shows that the main event that happens in the extract is that the narrator's long hair is cut off by the paleface woman are:

• She says that she felt the cold blades of the scissors against her neck, and heard them gnaw off one of her thick braids, which shows that she experienced the physical sensation and sound of her hair being cut.
• She says that her long hair was shingled like a coward's, which shows that she saw and compared the result of her hair being cut.
• She says that she lost her spirit, moaned for her mother, and suffered extreme indignities, which shows that she expressed and felt the emotional impact of her hair being cut.

Question (ii) Why did the narrator cry aloud and shake her head in the extract?
(a) Because she was happy and excited
(b) Because she was scared and nervous
(c) Because she was angry and defiant
(d) Because she was sad and depressed
Ans: Answer as written by the student: (c) Because she was angry and defiant
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to look for evidence in the extract that supports one of the given options. The option that is supported by the extract is C. Because she was angry and defiant. Some evidence that shows that the narrator cried aloud and shook her head because she was angry and defiant are:

• She says that she cried aloud, which shows that she made a loud and vocal protest against her hair being cut.
• She says that she shook her head all the while, which shows that she made a physical and nonverbal gesture of refusal or disagreement with her hair being cut.
• She says that she lost her spirit after her hair was shingled, which implies that she had a strong and determined spirit before her hair was cut.

Question (iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The extract belongs to the genre of _______________.
Ans: Answer as written by the student: The extract belongs to the genre of memoir.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre of a text is the category or type of literature that it belongs to, based on its form, style, content, and theme. To identify the genre of the extract, we need to look for clues that indicate its characteristics and features. Some clues that suggest that the extract belongs to the genre of memoir are:

• The use of first-person narration, which is a common feature of memoir texts.
• The focus on personal experiences and memories, such as being taken to a boarding school and losing her cultural identity, which are typical of memoir texts.
• The portrayal of historical events and contexts, such as the assimilation of Native American children in white schools, which create a sense of authenticity and relevance.

Question (iv) Give one reason why the extract can be called a dramatic introduction to the theme.|
Ans: Answer as written by the student: One reason why the extract can be called a dramatic introduction to the theme is that it uses intense language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dramatic means exciting or impressive in a way that arouses strong emotions or reactions. The theme of a text is the main idea or message that the author wants to convey through their work. To explain why the extract can be called a dramatic introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it uses intense language and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation. One example of how the extract does this is:

• It uses intense language and imagery such as "cold blades," "gnaw off," "lost my spirit," "extreme indignities," "tossed about in the air like a wooden puppet," etc., which appeal to the feelings of pain, anger, shame, and sorrow.
• It conveys the narrator's feelings and situation such as being forced to change her appearance and identity against her will; being humiliated and dishonored by losing her hair; being oppressed and powerless by being in a boarding school; being isolated and comfortless by having no one to reason with her.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:
Even otherwise, there were the coffee clubs in the bazaar: the way each waiter cooled the coffee, lifting a tumbler high up and pouring its contents into a tumbler held in his other hand. Or the way some people sat in front of the shops chopping up onion, their eyes turned elsewhere so that they would not smart. Or the almond tree growing there and its fruit which was occasionally blown down by the wind. All these sights taken together would tether my legs and stop me from going home.
(Memories of childhood)

Question (i) What is the main setting of the extract?

Ans: Answer as written by the student: The main setting of the extract is the bazaar.
Step-by-step explanation:
The setting of a text is the time and place where the events and actions take place. To identify the main setting of the extract, we need to look for clues that indicate where and when the narrator is describing. Some clues that suggest that the main setting of the extract is the bazaar are:

• She says that there were coffee clubs in the bazaar, which shows that she was in a public and commercial area where people gathered and socialized.
• She says that some people sat in front of the shops chopping up onions, which shows that she was in a busy and lively area where people sold and bought goods.
• She says that there was an almond tree growing there and its fruit was occasionally blown down by the wind, which shows that she was in a natural and pleasant area where plants and animals existed.

Question (ii) Why did the narrator enjoy watching the coffee clubs in the bazaar in the extract?
(a) Because she liked drinking coffee
(b) Because she liked cooling coffee
(c) Because she liked lifting tumblers
(d) Because she liked seeing skills
Ans: Answer as written by the student: (d) Because she liked seeing skills
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to look for evidence in the extract that supports one of the given options. The option that is supported by the extract is D. Because she liked seeing skills. Some evidence that shows that the narrator enjoyed watching the coffee clubs in the bazaar because she liked seeing skills are:

• She says that she watched the way each waiter cooled the coffee, lifting a tumbler high up and pouring its contents into a tumbler held in his other hand, which shows that she was impressed and fascinated by their technique and ability.
• She does not mention any other reason for watching the coffee clubs, such as liking coffee, cooling coffee, or lifting tumblers, which implies that these were not her main motives or interests.

Question (iii) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The extract belongs to the genre of _______________.
Ans: Answer as written by the student: The extract belongs to the genre of memoir.
Step-by-step explanation:
The genre of a text is the category or type of literature that it belongs to, based on its form, style, content, and theme. To identify the genre of the extract, we need to look for clues that indicate its characteristics and features. Some clues that suggest that the extract belongs to the genre of memoir are:

• The use of first-person narration, which is a common feature of memoir texts.
• The focus on personal experiences and memories, such as walking home from school and watching various sights and scenes, which are typical of memoir texts.
• The portrayal of social events and contexts, such as the coffee clubs, the onion choppers, etc., which create a sense of vividness and detail.

Question (iv) Give one reason why the extract can be called a descriptive introduction to the theme.
Ans: Answer as written by the student: One reason why the extract can be called a descriptive introduction to the theme is that it uses sensory details and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Descriptive means giving a detailed account or picture of something or someone. The theme of a text is the main idea or message that the author wants to convey through their work. To explain why the extract can be called a descriptive introduction to the theme, we need to give an example of how it uses sensory details and imagery to convey the narrator's feelings and situation. One example of how the extract does this is:

• It uses sensory details and imagery such as "coffee clubs," "waiter," "tumbler," "onion," "eyes," "almond tree," "fruit," "wind," etc., which appeal to the senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound and create a vivid picture of what she sees along her way.
• It conveys her feelings and situation such as being happy and carefree while walking home from school; being amused and intrigued by what she sees along her way; being indifferent and rebellious to any rules or norms that might limit her enjoyment.