Extract Based Questions: The Tiger King | English Class 12 PDF Download

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
‘‘O wise prophets! It was I who spoke.’’ This time there were no grounds for doubt. It was the infant born just ten days ago who had enunciated the words so clearly. The chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed intently at the baby. ‘‘All those who are born will one day have to die. We don’t need your predictions to know that. There would be some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that death,’’ the royal infant uttered these words in his little squeaky voice.
(The Tiger King)

Question (i) What is the name of the royal infant who spoke in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The name of the royal infant who spoke in the extract is the Tiger King.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer this question, we need to recall the previous extract and the title of the story. In the previous extract, we learned that the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram was also known as the Tiger King. He was given this nickname because he was born under a star that made him a great warrior and hunter of tigers. He was also destined to die by a tiger. In this extract, we see that the royal infant who spoke to the astrologers was the same person as the Tiger King. He was born just ten days ago and he had a very long and complicated name that was shortened to the Tiger King. He also challenged the astrologers' predictions and asked them to tell him how he would die.

Question (ii) How do the astrologers react when they hear the infant speak?
(a) They are amazed and delighted
(b) They are scared and confused
(c) They are angry and offended
(d) They are amused and entertained
Answer: Answer as written by the student: (b) They are scared and confused
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to look at the clues in the extract that show how the astrologers feel and act when they hear the infant speak. We can also use our common sense and imagination to think about how we would react in a similar situation.
• The extract tells us that this was the second time that the infant spoke to them. The first time, they were not sure if it was him or someone else who spoke. But this time, there were no grounds for doubt. It was clearly the infant who had enunciated the words so clearly. This means that they were surprised and shocked by this unusual event. The extract also tells us that the chief astrologer took off his spectacles and gazed intently at the baby. This shows that he was trying to verify what he heard and saw with his own eyes. He was probably wondering how it was possible for a ten-day-old baby to speak so clearly and intelligently. He was also curious about what the baby had to say.
• The best option that matches these clues is B. They were scared and confused. This shows that they were afraid of something supernatural or unnatural happening, and they did not understand how or why it happened.

Question (iii)What literary device is used by the narrator when he describes the infant's voice as "little squeaky"?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The literary device used by the narrator when he describes the infant's voice as "little squeaky" is contrast.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what a literary device is and what contrast means. A literary device is a technique that a writer uses to create a special effect or convey a message in their writing. Contrast is a type of literary device that shows the difference between two things or people.
• The narrator uses contrast when he describes the infant's voice as "little squeaky." He does this to show how different his voice is from his words and actions. His voice is small and high-pitched, like a typical baby's voice. But his words and actions are clear and bold, like an adult's words and actions. He speaks to the astrologers with confidence and authority, and he questions their predictions with logic and reason.
• This contrast creates a humorous and ironic effect in the extract. It makes the reader laugh or smile at the absurdity of the situation, and it also makes the reader curious about how the infant became so smart and brave.

Question (iv) How does the infant challenge the astrologers' predictions in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The infant challenges the astrologers' predictions in the extract by stating a common fact and asking a specific question.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to analyze what the infant says and how he says it. We can also compare his words with the astrologers' words and see how they differ.
• The infant challenges the astrologers' predictions by stating a common fact and asking a specific question. He says "All those who are born will one day have to die. We don’t need your predictions to know that." This is a common fact that everyone knows and accepts. He implies that the astrologers' predictions are not very useful or accurate, because they only tell him something that he already knows. He also asks "There would be some sense in it if you could tell us the manner of that death." This is a specific question that he wants to know the answer to. He implies that the astrologers' predictions are not very helpful or relevant unless they can tell him how he will die.
• By saying these words, he challenges the astrologers' predictions and shows that he is not satisfied or impressed by them. He also shows that he is curious and intelligent, and that he wants to know more about his fate.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
Crown prince Jung Jung Bahadur grew taller and stronger day by day. No other miracle marked his childhood days apart from the event already described. The boy drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films — exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. When he came of age at twenty, the State, which had been with the Court of Wards until then, came into his hands
(The Tiger King)

Question (i) What was the only miracle that marked the childhood days of the crown prince?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The only miracle that marked the childhood days of the crown prince was that he spoke to the astrologers when he was just ten days old.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to recall the previous extract and the event that the narrator refers to. In the previous extract, we learned that the crown prince was born under a star that made him a great warrior and hunter of tigers, but also destined him to die by a tiger. He also spoke to the astrologers who predicted his fate when he was just ten days old. He asked them to tell him how he would die and challenged their predictions.
• In this extract, the narrator says that no other miracle marked his childhood days apart from the event already described. This means that the only miraculous thing that happened to him as a child was that he spoke to the astrologers when he was just ten days old. This was a very unusual and extraordinary event that showed his intelligence and courage.

Question (ii) What does the phrase "came of age" mean in the extract?
(a) Became an adult
(b) Became a king
(c) Became a warrior
(d) Became a hunter
Answer: Answer as written by the student: (a) Became an adult
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what the phrase "came of age" means and how it is used in different contexts. The phrase "came of age" can have different meanings depending on how it is used. It can mean reaching a certain age or stage of development when one is legally or socially recognized as an adult. It can also mean reaching a level of maturity or achievement in one's life or career.
• In this case, the phrase "came of age" is used to mean reaching a certain age when one is legally recognized as an adult. The narrator says that when he came of age at twenty, the State came into his hands. This means that when he turned twenty years old, he became eligible to rule his State and take charge of its affairs. He was no longer under the supervision or control of the Court of Wards, which was a British institution that managed the estates and affairs of minor princes in India.

Question (iii)What literary device is used by the narrator when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The literary device used by the narrator when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract is anaphora.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what a literary device is and what anaphora means. A literary device is a technique that a writer uses to create a special effect or convey a message in their writing. Anaphora is a type of literary device that involves repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses.
• The narrator uses anaphora when he repeats the word "English" four times in the extract. He does this to emphasize how much the crown prince was influenced by British culture and education. He says that he drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, and saw nothing but English films. This shows that he had little exposure or connection to his own culture or language.

Question (iv) How does the narrator show the influence of British culture on the crown prince in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The narrator shows the influence of British culture on the crown prince in the extract by using contrast, irony, and sarcasm.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what contrast, irony, and sarcasm mean and how they are used by the narrator. Contrast is when a writer shows the difference between two things or people. Irony is when something is said or done that is opposite or different from what is expected or intended. Sarcasm is when something is said or done that mocks or ridicules someone or something.
• The narrator shows the influence of British culture on the crown prince by using contrast, irony, and sarcasm. He uses contrast when he compares the crown prince's upbringing and education with those of the other Indian princes. He says that he did exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. This shows that he was not unique or special, but rather followed a common pattern of being influenced by British culture and education.
• He uses irony when he says that the crown prince drank the milk of an English cow. This is ironic because cows are considered sacred in Hindu culture, which was the crown prince's own culture. But he drank the milk of a foreign cow, which showed his disregard or ignorance of his own culture.
• He uses sarcasm when he says that the crown prince saw nothing but English films. This is sarcastic because it suggests that he had no interest or curiosity in anything else besides English films. He missed out on the richness and diversity of his own culture and history.

Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract: The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja. A proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. The Maharaja vowed he would attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers. Initially the king seemed well set to realise his ambition. Not that he faced no dangers. There were times when the bullet missed its mark, the tiger leapt upon him and he fought the beast with his bare hands.
(The Tiger King)

Question (i) Why did the State ban tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The State banned tiger hunting by anyone except the Maharaja because he wanted to kill a hundred tigers to prove his astrologers wrong and fulfill his destiny.
Step-by-step explanation:

• In this extract, we see that the Maharaja was determined to kill a hundred tigers to prove his astrologers wrong and fulfill his destiny. He believed that if he killed a hundred tigers, he would be safe from any tiger attack and avoid his death. He also made it his priority and vowed to attend to all other matters only after killing the hundred tigers.
• To ensure that he had enough tigers to hunt and kill, he banned tiger hunting by anyone else in his State. He also issued a proclamation that threatened anyone who dared to harm a tiger with confiscation of their wealth and property. This shows how obsessed and ruthless he was with his goal of killing a hundred tigers.

Question (ii) What does the word "proclamation" mean in the extract?
(a) A public or official announcement
(b) A formal or authoritative order
(c) A statement or declaration of opinion
(d) A request or demand for action
Answer: Answer as written by the student: (b) A formal or authoritative order
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what the word "proclamation" means and how it is used in different contexts. The word "proclamation" can have different meanings depending on how it is used. It can mean a public or official announcement, as in "a proclamation of independence." It can mean a formal or authoritative order, as in "a proclamation banning smoking." It can mean a statement or declaration of opinion, as in "a proclamation of faith." Or it can mean a request or demand for action, as in "a proclamation for help."
• In this case, the word "proclamation" is used to mean a formal or authoritative order. The narrator says that a proclamation was issued to the effect that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. This means that the Maharaja gave an official order that forbade anyone from harming a tiger in any way, and warned them of the consequences if they did so. This shows that he had absolute power and authority over his State and its people.

Question (iii) What literary device is used by the narrator when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The literary device used by the narrator when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract is hyperbole.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what a literary device is and what hyperbole means. A literary device is a technique that a writer uses to create a special effect or convey a message in their writing. Hyperbole is a type of literary device that involves exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or humor.
• The narrator uses hyperbole when he says "so much as a stone" in the extract. He does this to emphasize how strict and severe the Maharaja's proclamation was. He says that if anyone dared to fling so much as a stone at a tiger, all his wealth and property would be confiscated. This means that even the slightest or smallest act of harming a tiger would result in a harsh punishment. This is an exaggeration, because throwing a stone at a tiger is not a very serious or harmful act, and confiscating someone's wealth and property is a very extreme or disproportionate measure.

Question (iv) How does the narrator show the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract?
Answer: Answer as written by the student: The narrator shows the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract by using contrast, repetition, and climax.
Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to know what contrast, repetition, and climax mean and how they are used by the narrator. Contrast is when a writer shows the difference between two things or people. Repetition is when a writer repeats a word or phrase for emphasis or effect. Climax is when a writer arranges events or ideas in order of increasing importance or intensity.
• The narrator shows the Maharaja's courage and skill in the extract by using contrast, repetition, and climax. He uses contrast when he compares the Maharaja's initial success and his later dangers. He says that initially the king seemed well set to realize his ambition, but then he adds that not that he faced no dangers. This shows that the Maharaja's task was not easy or simple, but rather risky and challenging.
• He uses repetition when he repeats the word "times" twice in the extract. He says that there were times when the bullet missed its mark, and there were times when the tiger leapt upon him. This shows that the Maharaja had many encounters and battles with tigers, and that he had to face different situations and difficulties.
• He uses climax when he arranges the events in order of increasing importance or intensity. He says that first the bullet missed its mark, then the tiger leapt upon him, and then he fought the beast with his bare hands. This shows that the Maharaja's situation became more and more dangerous and difficult, and that he had to use more and more courage and skill to overcome it.
• By using these techniques, the narrator shows that the Maharaja was a brave and skilled hunter who faced many dangers and difficulties, but always won against them.