Worksheet Solutions: The Portrait of a Lady | English Class 11 PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The author of "The Portrait of a Lady" is ___________.
Ans: Khushwant Singh
The text mentions that the name of the writer is Khushwant Singh.

Q2: The author of the story remembers his ___________ as an eternally old woman.
Ans: Grandmother
The author recalls his grandmother as the central character of the story.

Q3: The grandmother had silver hair scattered messily on her ___________ face.
Ans: Wrinkled
The text describes the appearance of the grandmother and mentions that she had wrinkles on her face.

Q4: The grandmother used to walk around the house in ___________ clothes.
Ans: white
The text highlights the grandmother's attire, which was white clothes.

Q5: She spent a lot of time sitting beside her ___________ and reciting prayers.
Ans: spinning wheel
This sentence describes the grandmother's activities, including sitting beside her spinning wheel and praying.

Q6: The writer went abroad for further studies and his grandmother ___________ get disturbed.
Ans: did not get disturbed
The grandmother's reaction to the writer going abroad is mentioned, and she didn't get disturbed, meaning she was not upset.

Q7: Thousands of ___________ flew in and sat dispersed around her body to grieve her death.
Ans: sparrows
The text describes the sparrows gathering around the grandmother's body after her death.

Q8: The grandmother was not happy with the writer's education in the city because it didn't focus on ___________ and scriptures.
Ans: God
The text explains that the grandmother was unhappy with the city school because it lacked teachings related to God and scriptures.

Q9: The grandmother used to give stale chapattis to ___________ on their way back home.
Ans: street dogs
The text mentions the grandmother's action of giving stale chapattis to street dogs.

Q10: The writer's grandmother saw him off at the ___________ when he left for abroad.
Ans: airport
This sentence describes the grandmother's action of seeing the writer off at the airport.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: The writer's grandmother was not very pretty.
Reason: The writer compared her calm face with the winter landscape.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Ans: (b)
Both the assertion and reason are true. The writer describes his grandmother as not very pretty but constantly beautiful. However, the reason provided, the comparison to the winter landscape, does not directly explain why she was not very pretty. It's a subjective evaluation by the writer, and the reason doesn't clarify it.

Q2: Assertion: The writer's grandmother felt upset about the subjects he studied in the city.
Reason: She wanted the writer to focus on music lessons.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Ans: (a) Both assertion and reason are false.
Both the assertion and reason are true. The text mentions that the grandmother was upset that the city school didn't teach about God and scriptures and that the writer was given music lessons. The reason directly explains her upset feelings.

Q3: Assertion: The writer's grandmother could foresee her impending death.
Reason: She prayed and recited beads on her deathbed.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Ans: (a)
Both the assertion and reason are true. The text indicates that the grandmother could foresee her death, as she prayed and told beads on her deathbed. The reason provided directly supports this assertion.

Q4: Assertion: The sparrows sat dispersed around the grandmother's body.
Reason: The sparrows made noise when the grandmother's body was carried away.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Ans: (b)
Both the assertion and reason are true. The text mentions that sparrows sat dispersed around the grandmother's body. However, the reason does not directly explain why they sat dispersed. The reason suggests that the sparrows made noise when her body was carried away, which isn't explicitly stated in the text.

Q5: Assertion: The writer's relationship with his grandmother was broken when he went to the university.
Reason: The writer got a separate room in his house for his university studies.
(a) Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
(b) Both assertion and reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but the reason is false.
(d) Both assertion and reason are false.
Ans: (a)
Both the assertion and reason are true. The text indicates that the common link between the writer and his grandmother was broken when he went to the university. The reason provided directly explains why this link was broken, as the writer got a separate room for his university studies, which likely led to reduced interaction with his grandmother.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe the grandmother's appearance.
Ans: The grandmother is described as short, healthy, slightly bent, with silver hair scattered messily on her wrinkled face.

Q2: What kind of clothes did the grandmother wear?
Ans: The grandmother wore white clothes as mentioned in the text.

Q3: How did the grandmother spend her time in the village?
Ans: In the village, the grandmother engaged in activities like waking up the writer, organizing his breakfast, and reciting prayers.

Q4: How did the writer's relationship with his grandmother change when they moved to a city?
Ans: Their relationship changed because the writer attended a city school with subjects the grandmother couldn't understand, leading to a shift in their shared experiences.

Q5: What subjects did the writer study at the city school?
Ans: The writer studied subjects like English, Physics, mathematics, and others at the city school.

Q6: How did the grandmother react to the change in the writer's education?
Ans: The grandmother was not happy with the change in education but did not voice her dissatisfaction.

Q7: What happened when the writer went to a university?
Ans: The writer got a separate room, and his relationship with his grandmother underwent a significant change.

Q8: How did the grandmother spend her time after the writer left for abroad?
Ans: The grandmother spent her time sitting beside her spinning wheel and reciting prayers, and she also fed sparrows in the afternoon.

Q9: What did the writer think when he saw his grandmother at the airport?
Ans: The writer thought it might be his last meeting with his grandmother when he saw her at the airport before going abroad.

Q10: How did the sparrows react to the grandmother's death?
Ans: Thousands of sparrows flew in and sat around her body to grieve her death. They left silently when her body was carried away for the last rites.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe the writer's grandmother's appearance and her daily activities.
Ans: 

• The grandmother was described as short, healthy, slightly bent.
• She had silver hair scattered messily on her wrinkled face.
• She wore white clothes and walked with one hand resting on her waist.
• Her daily activities included waking up the writer, organizing his breakfast, and reciting prayers.

Q2: How did the writer's relationship with his grandmother change when they moved to a city, and why?
Ans: 

• The relationship changed as the writer attended a city school with subjects his grandmother couldn't understand.
• The city school focused on subjects like English, Physics, and mathematics, unlike the village school that emphasized teachings about God and scriptures.

Q3: Explain the grandmother's reaction to the writer's education at the city school.
Ans: 

• The writer was deeply affected by his grandmother's death, as he thought it might be their last meeting at the airport.
• He witnessed her celebration upon his return, only to find her getting ill the next day.
• Her peaceful passing and the gathering of sparrows left a profound emotional impact on him.

Q4: How did the writer's grandmother spend her time after he left for the university?
Ans: 

• The move to a city school and the writer's university education were key turning points.
• In the city, the writer studied subjects his grandmother couldn't understand, and when he went to a university, they had less interaction due to his separate room.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Explore the evolving relationship between the writer and his grandmother from their time in the village to the writer's university years.
Ans: 

• In the village, the writer had a close and affectionate relationship with his grandmother.
• She played a central role in his daily life, waking him up, organizing breakfast, and instilling religious values.
• However, when they moved to the city, the writer's education diverged from her values, causing a change in their relationship.
• The writer's university education further distanced them, as he got a separate room and the common link between them broke.

Q2: Discuss the significance of the sparrows in the story and how they symbolize the grandmother's life and passing.
Ans: 

• The sparrows symbolize the grandmother's life and her connection to nature.
• They gathered around her when she passed away, signifying the peaceful and natural transition from life to death.
• Their presence and departure without noise reflect the beauty and serenity of her passing.

Q3: How did the writer's grandmother influence his upbringing and education? What values did she instill in him?
Ans: 

• The grandmother had a significant influence on the writer's upbringing, instilling religious values and morals.
• She emphasized teachings about God and scriptures in his early education.
• Her influence shaped the writer's character and his deep respect and love for her.

Q4: Explain the emotional impact of the grandmother's death on the writer and how it reflects the bond they shared throughout their lives.
Ans: 

• The grandmother's death deeply impacted the writer emotionally, as he thought it might be their last meeting.
• Her celebration upon his return and her subsequent illness heightened the emotional intensity.
• The sparrows' gathering and silent departure symbolize the strong bond they shared, connecting her life, passing, and the writer's grief.

Passage Based Questions

She had always been short and fat and slightly bent. Her face was a criss-cross of wrinkles running from everywhere to everywhere. No, we were certain she had always been as we had known her. Old, so terribly old that she could not have grown older, and had stayed at the same age for twenty years. She could never have been pretty; but she was always beautiful. She hobbled about the house in spotless white with one hand resting on her waist to balance her stoop and the other telling the beads of her rosary. Her silver locks were scattered untidily over her pale, puckered face, and her lips constantly moved in inaudible prayer. Yes, she was beautiful. She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity breathing peace and contentment.
Q1: What does the author mean by saying she was "always beautiful"?
A. She looked young and pretty
B. Her inner qualities made her beautiful
C. She was famous for her looks
D. She was always well-dressed
Ans: B. Her inner qualities made her beautiful
The author emphasizes that despite not being traditionally pretty, her beauty comes from her character and presence.

Q2: How does the author's description of the old woman create a sense of serenity?
Ans: The author describes her as "an expanse of pure white serenity," which suggests calmness and tranquility. Her actions, like praying with beads and her tidy white clothes, enhance the peaceful atmosphere, making her seem nurturing and content.

Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The phrase "criss-cross of wrinkles" indicates that her face had many smooth _____________.(well-cared-for / weathered).
Ans: weathered

Q4: How does the author's use of contrasting descriptions help develop the old woman's character?
Ans: The author contrasts the old woman's physical traits, such as being short, fat, and wrinkled, with her inner beauty. While she may not fit conventional standards of beauty, her serene presence and spiritual nature make her truly beautiful. This duality deepens the reader's understanding of her character and emphasizes that beauty comes in many forms.

2. Read the given extracts and answer the following questions:
When I went up to University, I was given a room of my own. The common link of friendship was snapped. My grandmother accepted her seclusion with resignation. She rarely left her spinning-wheel to talk to anyone. From sunrise to sunset she sat by her wheel spinning and reciting prayers. Only in the afternoon she relaxed for a while to feed the sparrows. While she sat in the verandah breaking the bread into little bits, hundreds of little birds collected round her creating a veritable bedlam of chirrupings. Some came and perched on her legs, others on her shoulders. Some even sat on her head. She smiled but never shooed them away. It used to be the happiest halfhour of the day for her.
Q1:  What activity did the grandmother spend most of her time doing?
A. Cooking meals
B. Spinning and reciting prayers
C. Reading books
D. Gardening
Ans: B. Spinning and reciting prayers
The grandmother was described as sitting by her spinning-wheel and reciting prayers from sunrise to sunset.

Q2: How did the grandmother interact with the sparrows during their feeding time?
Ans: The grandmother would break bread into small bits for the sparrows. During this time, many little birds would gather around her, chirping happily. Some would even sit on her legs, shoulders, and head, but she smiled and never tried to shoo them away, enjoying this moment as the happiest part of her day.

Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The grandmother's acceptance of her seclusion showed her ______________(happiness / resignation).
Ans: resignation

Q4: How did the grandmother’s daily routine change after the narrator went to university?
Ans: After the narrator went to university, the grandmother experienced solitude, as the common link of friendship was lost. She accepted this loneliness with resignation and spent her time spinning and praying, rarely leaving her wheel to talk to anyone. Feeding the sparrows became a joyful part of her day, providing a moment of happiness amidst her isolation.

3. Read the given extracts and answer the following questions:
In the evening a change came over her. She did not pray. She collected the women of the neighbourhood, got an old drum and started to sing. For several hours she thumped the sagging skins of the dilapidated drum and sang of the home-coming of warriors. We had to persuade her to stop to avoid overstraining. That was the first time since I had known her that she did not pray. 
The next morning she was taken ill. It was a mild fever and the doctor told us that it would go. But my grandmother thought differently. She told us that her end was near. She said that, since only a few hours before the close of the last chapter of her life she had omitted to pray, she was not going to waste any more time talking to us. 
We protested. But she ignored our protests. She lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads. Even before we could suspect, her lips stopped moving and the rosary fell from her lifeless fingers. A peaceful pallor spread on her face and we knew that she was dead.

Q1: What activity did the grandmother engage in during the evening that was different from her usual routine?
A. She cooked dinner
B. She sang and played the drum
C. She read scriptures
D. She went for a walk
Ans: B. She sang and played the drum
The grandmother collected the women of the neighborhood, got an old drum, and sang songs, which was a departure from her usual routine of praying.

Q2: How did the grandmother perceive her illness the next morning?
Ans: The grandmother believed that her end was near. She felt that since she had not prayed the evening before, she did not want to waste time talking to anyone. This showed her deep connection to her faith and the significance she placed on prayer in her life.

Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The grandmother’s reaction to her illness indicated that she had a strong belief in ____________(faith / doubt) regarding her life and death.
Ans: faith

Q4: What happened to the grandmother shortly after she decided to stop talking and pray instead?
Ans: After the grandmother lay peacefully in bed praying and telling her beads, her lips eventually stopped moving, and the rosary fell from her fingers. A peaceful expression spread across her face, indicating she had passed away, and her family recognized that she was dead.