Class 12 English Previous Year: Short Questions with Answers - Memories of Childhood

Q. 1. What were the indignities that Zitkala-Sa had to suffer for being from a marginalized community? [SQP 2018-19]
Ans. Value Points:
- tossed around like a wooden puppet
- humiliated like a coward
- was treated like an animal and had none to comfort her
Detailed Answer: Zitkala Sa had to suffer many indignities on account of belonging to marginalised community. She had been stared at, she had been thrown here and there like a puppet, her blanket and moccasins had been taken from her, she had to wear tight fitting clothes and finally her hair was shingled. She felt she had lost her freedom. She wanted to go back to her mother.

Q. 2. Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama? [HOTS] [Delhi, Set-I, 2014]
OR
What did Bama’s brother want her to do ? Why ? [Comptt., Outside Delhi Set-II, 2017]
Ans. Value Points:
– wanted Bama to study hard and come first
– only through education she could overcome racial discrimination
Detailed Answer: When Bama appraised her brother about an incident, her brother told her that they were born in a community of ‘low caste’ people and so were not given any honour, dignity or respect. They could throw away these indignities if they study, make progress and become learned. These words had a deep and lasting impression on Bama and she started studying very hard and stood first in the class.

Q. 3. Why was Zitkala-Sa in tears on the first day in the land of apples?
Ans. Value Points: The new environment / cultural shock / unknown tongue / strict regimen unknown to her like eating by formula, squeaking shoes, news about cutting her hair.
Detailed Answer: Zitkala-Sa was in tears on the first day in the land of apples because her cloak had been taken away from her. She was further informed by her friend that they would cut her long, heavy hair. Zitkala-Sa resisted but her hair was forcefully cut and she felt insulted.

Q. 4. According to Zitkala-Sa, what does ‘eating by formula’ mean?
Ans. Value Points 
– not used to eating by formula (sat down when others stood up and vice versa)
– disturbed by noise and bedlam of languages
– Matron staring at her
– felt out of place / embarrassed
Detailed Answer: When Zitkala-Sa was admitted in the Carlisle Indian School, she faced a number of rules that the students had to follow. One of them was the manner of eating. There were three bells which were rung before the students were allowed to start eating. Being a natural being, Zitkala-Sa could not digest the meaning of these polished manners which were alien to her culture.

Q. 5. Why did Zitkala – Sa not want her hair to be cut short?
Ans. Value Points:
– Hair cut by enemies of unskilled captured warriors
– short hair worn by mourners
– shingled hair by cowards - indecent, undignified.
Detailed Answer: Zitkala–Sa did not want her hair to be cut short because her mother had told her that shingled hair was worn by unskilled warriors who were captured and short hair was worn by mourners. She felt indecent and undignified.

Q. 6. Why was the girl tied to a chair?
Ans. The girl was tied to a chair because she refused to accept their decision. They wanted to cut her long hair and she felt insulted because of this.

Q. 7. Mention any two reasons because of which it would take thirty minutes to an hour for Bama to reach home?
OR
How long would it take for Bama to walk home from school and why?
Ans. It would take Bama thirty minutes to an hour to reach home because she would watch all the fun and games that were going on the road. She would look at the shops and the bazaars. She would also look at the snake charmers and the monkey performing.

Q. 8. Why did Bama reach home late after school?
OR
What made Bama return home invariably late from school?
OR
What were the articles in the stalls and shops that fascinated Bama on her way back from school?
OR
Which activities of the people would Bama watch keenly in the bazaar?
Ans. Street plays or a puppet show or a stunt performance, arrival of political parties and their speeches through mikes, coffee clubs in bazaar, the chopping of onions or almonds being blown away by the winds, all these activities fascinated Bama on her way back from school.

Q. 9. What comic incident did Bama narrate to her brother? Why was he not amused?
Ans. Value Points:
— the manner in which the elderly man was walking holding the packet with a string, looking very funny
— her brother was not amused for he knew the harsh reality of caste discrimination faced by the people of his community
Detailed Answer: Bama told her brother about the incident of an elderly man who was walking holding the packet with a string which seemed to be very funny. Her brother was not amused for he knew the harsh reality of caste discrimination faced by the people of his community.

Q. 10. At the dining table, why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others started eating?
Ans. Value Points
– fixed procedure for breakfast
– first bell to pull the chairs
– at second bell all had to sit down
– at third bell, all started eating with forks and knives, she felt out of place started crying
Detailed Answer: Zitkala-Sa cried at the table because she was very embarrassed. She did not know the practices involved while eating. When the first bell was sounded everyone pulled their chairs. She did too. But while everyone was waiting for the second bell to ring in order to sit and start eating, she sat down on the first bell itself. This made her feel embarrassed and she started crying.

Q. 11. What is common between Zitkala Sa and Bama?
Ans. Value Points: Both women came from marginalised communities, victims of discrimination, protested against injustice, scarred by social injustice in early childhood, both became writers and used their education to fight against discrimination and injustice.
Detailed Answer: Zitkala Sa and Bama both came from marginalized communities. They both were the victims of discrimination and protested against social injustice which they both faced during their childhood. They both became writers and used their education to fight against discrimination and social injustice.

Q.12. How did Zitkala-Sa’s first day in the land of apples begin?
Ans. Value Points
– bitter cold day, snow covered ground
– large bell rang for breakfast
– annoying clatter of shoes disturbed peace
– constant clash of harsh noises and an undercurrent of many voices murmuring an unknown tongue
– marched into dining room– were given tight fitting clothes which Zitkala-Sa found immodest
Detailed Answer: Her first day in the land of apples was full of embarrassment and indignities. It was a bitter cold day and the ground was covered with snow. A large bell rang for breakfast and everybody moved towards the dining hall. The annoying clatter of shoes disturbed the place. Before entering the dining room, she was given tight fitting clothes which she found immodest. They took away the blanket wrapped around her and Zitkala-Sa felt embarrassed.

Q. 13. How could Bama rise above indignities?
Ans. Bama was deeply hurt by the untouchability rampant in her society and she rose above indignities by studying hard and standing first in her class. This made many people her friends.