MH SET Paper 2 Mock Test - 6 (English) - MAHA TET MCQ

The correct answer is Leo Tolstoy. Key Points

• "The Three Questions" is a short story by author Leo Tolstoy.
• It is a parable which tells the story of a king who is in search of answers to three philosophical questions in life. 
• The moral of the story is to live in the present moment, rather than grumbling about the past and being anxious about tomorrow.

          Hence, 'option 1' is the correct answer.​ Additional Information

• Leo Tolstoy was a 19th century Russian writer known for his famous novels and short stories.

The correct answer is 'J.L. Austin.'

 Key Points

• J.L. Austin, a British philosopher (1911–1960), is renowned for his work on the philosophy of language.
• In "How to Do Things with Words" (1962), Austin introduces the concept of performative utterances, where saying something is not just describing a state of affairs but performing an action.
• He distinguishes between constative (descriptive) and performative (action-oriented) uses of language.
• Examples of performative utterances include promises, vows, or declarations that bring about a change in the external world.
• Austin's work laid the foundation for speech act theory, influencing subsequent developments in philosophy of language.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. Ludwig Wittgenstein is a significant figure in analytical philosophy but not the author of "How to Do Things with Words."
• Option 3 is incorrect. John Searle, influenced by Austin, expanded on speech act theory but did not write "How to Do Things with Words."
• Option 4 is incorrect. Noam Chomsky is a linguist and cognitive scientist known for his work on generative grammar, not speech act theory.

The correct answer is 'A spirit-child (abiku)'.

Key Points

• "The Famished Road" is a novel by Nigerian author Ben Okri, recognized for its magical realism.
• The protagonist, Azaro, is an abiku, a spirit-child who exists between the living and the spiritual worlds, according to Yoruba mythology.
• Azaro's role in the novel involves navigating the challenges of the physical world while being tempted by the lure of the spiritual realm, which promises peace and tranquility.
• His experiences reflect the struggles and complexities of life in a Nigerian slum, blending the harsh realities with the fantastical elements of African folklore.
• Azaro's unique perspective as an abiku allows the reader to explore themes of poverty, political corruption, and the endurance of the human spirit through the lens of mystical realism.
• His character brings to light the continual cycle of life and death, and the impact of choices that bridge worlds and realities.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• A mischievous ghost, a fearless soldier, and a cunning magician do not accurately describe Azaro's nature or role in the novel. These options reflect different archetypes unrelated to the specific themes and narrative structure of "The Famished Road".

• Martin Chuzzlewit is one of the picaresque novels by Charles Dickens. It was originally published in serial form between 1842 and 1844 and thought to be the best work by Dickens. He had visited United States in 1842 and wished to portray it in one of his works.

• As the initial sales of the novel in monthly publication was disappointing so Dickens changed the plot to send the title character to America. Although it was written by Dickens as a satire but taken by some as an attack on America. Dickens also attacks the institution of slavery in the United States effectively.

The correct answer is 'To test the feasibility of a research project'.

 Key Points

• A pilot study is a small-scale study that is conducted before a larger research project is undertaken.
• The purpose of a pilot study is to test the feasibility of the research project.
• This involves testing the research methods, instruments, and procedures to ensure that they are appropriate and effective.
• A pilot study can also help to identify any potential problems with the research project and to make necessary adjustments.

The passage is from “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” (1916) is the first novel by Irish writer James Joyce. It is a story of Stephen Dedalus, a boy growing up in Ireland at the conclusion of the nineteenth century. He gradually decides to drop all his social, familial, and religious inhibitions to live a life devoted to the art of writing.

The correct answer is 'Augustan Age, Neo-Classical Age, Victorian Age, Modern Age'.

Key Points

• The Augustan Age, often included within the broader Neo-Classical Age, refers to the early part of the 18th century, specifically under the reign of Queen Anne and the early years of George I, roughly from 1700 to 1740. This period is marked by an emphasis on clarity, order, and elegance, inspired by classical models.
• The Neo-Classical Age follows the Restoration Era, which saw a revival of interest in classical antiquity and its principles, stretching from the late 17th century through the mid-18th century. It fundamentally embraced the same ideals as the Augustan Age but is often considered to extend up to the late 18th century, leading into the Romantic Age.
• The Victorian Age follows after the Romantic Period, beginning with the reign of Queen Victoria in 1837 and lasting until her death in 1901. It is characterized by a complex society, industrial advancements, moral strictness, and a flourishing of literature and arts influenced by both Romantic and realist characteristics.
• The Modern Age in literature is marked by a break from the conventional writing styles of the Victorian era, ushering in new forms of narrative such as stream of consciousness and multiple narratives. This period is generally considered to start around the early 20th century (circa 1910) and include the interwar period, up until the late 20th century.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Options 1 and 3 reverse the chronological order of these ages, mixing up the placement of the Victorian and the Neo-Classical/Augustan Ages.
• Option 4 places the Modern Age incorrectly before all other options, which contradicts the historical progression of English literature.

The correct answer is 'Mythologies" by Roland Barthes'.

Key Points

• "Mythologies" by Roland Barthes, first published in 1957, is a collection of essays that analyze the myths of mass culture.
• Barthes uses semiotics, the study of signs and symbols, to decode the popular culture's messages and meanings hidden in everyday objects, media, and cultural events.
• He examines a wide range of subjects, from wrestling, soap powders, and cars, to the iconography of the French bourgeoisie's lifestyle.
• Barthes argues that these "myths" naturalize cultural and historical values, ideologies, and assumptions, presenting them as if they are universal and timeless truths.
• His work is critical in understanding how meaning is constructed and disseminated in popular culture, making "Mythologies" a foundational text in cultural studies and semiotics.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• "Simulacra and Simulation" by Jean Baudrillard explores the relationship between reality, symbols, and society, but it doesn't focus on the dissection of everyday life mythologies as Barthes does.
• "The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception" by Adorno and Horkheimer critiques the mass media and its role in creating a passive, homogeneous public, which is different from Barthes's analysis of cultural myths.
• "Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste" by Pierre Bourdieu examines the dynamics of social taste and cultural consumption but does not focus specifically on the mythologies of everyday life.

T. S. Eliot is one of the major writers of 20th century. He wrote verse plays, poems and critical essays as well. He was born into nineteenth-century Bostonian Unitarianism family which had its distant roots in Calvinism. But with the time he found theology of Unitarianism, the provinciality of its culture and the parochialism of its moralism, dreadfully inadequate for the intellectual and spiritual life he yearns.

He was confirmed in the Church of England in 1927 also gave up his American citizenship and became a British subject in the same year. He became a warden of his parish church, London, and a life member of the Society of King Charles the Martyr.

He specifically identified as Anglo-Catholic, proclaiming himself “classicist in literature, royalist in politics, and anglo-catholic in religion. His faith became more widely known with the publication of “Ash Wednesday” in 1930, a poem showing the difficult search for truth and the discovery of a faith, faith in Christianity that will last.

The correct answer is 'Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari.'

 Key Points

• Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, in their collaborative work "A Thousand Plateaus" (1980), introduced the concept of "rhizome" as an alternative to hierarchical structures.
• The rhizomatic approach rejects linear and hierarchical thinking, proposing a networked, interconnected model for understanding literature, culture, and knowledge.
• According to Deleuze and Guattari, a rhizome is a non-hierarchical and non-linear structure that allows for multiple entry points and connections.
• This concept encourages a more open and flexible understanding of literature, breaking away from traditional, linear interpretations.
• The rhizomatic approach has been influential in poststructuralist thought, challenging fixed meanings and encouraging dynamic, multifaceted interpretations.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. Michel Foucault is known for his work on power, discipline, and discourse analysis.
• Option 2 is incorrect. Jacques Derrida is associated with deconstruction and the critique of binary oppositions.
• Option 3 is incorrect. Roland Barthes contributed to semiotics and structuralism, not the concept of "rhizome."

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 4'

Tradition and Individual Talent is a critical essay by T. S. Eliot, which focus on the relationship between the poet and the literary tradition. Eliot begins the essay by pointing out that the word ‘tradition’ is generally regarded as a derogatory word or word of censure in literary criticism. It is termed negatively, when a poet is praised.

The critics always focus on those-aspects of the work which are ‘individual’ and original rather than the relationship of a poem or a work to the works of dead poets and artists. In the words of Eliot: In English writing, we seldom speak of tradition, though we occasionally apply its name in deploring its absence…. . Certainly the word is not likely to appear in our appreciations of living or dead writers.

• Discourse, as defined by Foucault, refers to: ways of constituting knowledge, together with the social practices, forms of subjectivity and power relations which inhere in such knowledges and relations between them. Discourses are more than ways of thinking and producing meaning.

• They constitute the ‘nature’ of the body, unconscious and conscious mind and emotional life of the subjects they seek to govern (Weedon, 1987, p. 108). according to Foucault, discourse is a framework that constructs knowledge and assemblage of text what it is possible to talk about and what is not and enables some mode of thought and denies or severely constrain certain others.

Mount Helicon is a mountain in the region of Thespiai in Boeotia, Greece, celebrated in Greek mythology. With an altitude of 1,749 metres (5,738 ft), it is located approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth. Some researchers[who?] maintain that Helicon was also the Greek name of mount Rocca Salvatesta in Sicily as a river started from it was called also Helikon

The correct answer is 'Every Man in His Humour — The Alchemist — Volpone — Bartholomew Fair'.

Key Points

• Every Man in His Humour was first performed in 1598, marking one of Jonson's earliest successes and establishing him as a significant playwright.
• Volpone came later, with its first performance in 1606, elaborately depicting the greed and hypocrisy of society through its lead character.
• The Alchemist, performed in 1610, continues Jonson's critique of society, focusing on deception, greed, and the quest for wealth.
• Bartholomew Fair, first performed in 1614, provides a vibrant depiction of London life through its setting in the annual fair at Smithfield.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Options 1, 3, and 4 incorrectly sequence the plays, not adhering to their historical premieres.

A Woman Killed with Kindness is a tragic play written by Thomas Heywood. The play was first published in 1607 and has been considered Heywood’s masterpiece. The play revolves around the life of a married couple, Master Frankford and his wife Anne.

John Marston is a British poet, playwright and satirist of the period both Elizabethan and Jacobean. He is known for his famous works Antonio’s Revenge and Westward Ho! .

Thomas Middleton was a British playwright and poet of the Jacobean Period. He stands with Fletcher and Jonson, among the best playwrights of the age.

John Fletcher is a popular Jacobean playwright and widely known for writing in collaboration with Francis Beaumont and Philip Massinger.

The correct answer is 'Walt Whitman.'

 Key Points

• Walt Whitman, an American poet (1819–1892), is associated with transcendentalism and is best known for his collection "Leaves of Grass."
• "Song of Myself" is a prominent poem within "Leaves of Grass," celebrating individualism, the human spirit, and the interconnectedness of all living things.
• Whitman's poetry reflects a belief in the inherent goodness of people and a connection to nature and the universe.
• His free verse style and exploration of democratic ideals have had a profound influence on American poetry.
• Whitman's work is often considered a cornerstone of American literary and poetic tradition.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

 Additional Information

• Option 2 is incorrect. Emily Dickinson is known for her unique style and concise, often enigmatic poems.
• Option 3 is incorrect. Robert Frost is a renowned American poet known for his rural and nature-themed poetry.
• Option 4 is incorrect. Langston Hughes was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance and is known for his contributions to African American literature.

The Commonwealth was the period from 1649- 1660, a time when England and Wales, along with Ireland and Scotland, were ruled as a republic. This happened after the end of the Second English Civil war and the trial and execution of Charles I. Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan leader, took over, who was succeeded by his son Richard Cromwell, who ruled

England till 1660. In this period Puritanism became unpopular and the people realized that Britain needed Monarchy. The influence of the Renaissance on literature and art also died by the end of this period.

Some of the important writers and their works are as follows:

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), who wrote Leviathan (1651); Jeremy Taylor (1613- 67); Vaughan (1621-95); Andrew Marvell (1621-78).

The Neo- Classical period – This period persisted between 1660 and 1798. This time period can be broken down into three parts: The Restoration period, the Augustan period, and the Age of Johnson. The writers of this period tried to imitate the style of the Greeks and the Romans.

The Stuart period – It lasted from 1603 to 1714, during the dynasty of the House of Stuart. The period ended with the death of Queen Anne and the accession of King George I from the German House of Hanover.

The Jacobean period – Stretching from 1567-1625, The Jacobean era refers to a period in English and Scottish history when King James I (1603-1625) reigned. The Jacobean era comes after the Elizabethan era and precedes the Caroline era. This period was relatively free of conflicts and wars (as compared to the Elizabethan Age), something that allowed prosperity in Arts and Literature.

The correct answer is 'Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.' (Option 2).

Key Points

• Theatre of the Absurd incorporates dialogue that often seems nonsensical, reflecting the playwrights' perceptions of the absurdity of the human condition. This use of language underscores the overall theme that life is irrational.
• Absurdist playwrights, such as Samuel Beckett and Eugène Ionesco, frequently employed illogical situations, disjointed conversations, and meaningless actions to represent the futility of mankind's attempt to find purpose.
• The dialogue and scenarios often evoke a sense of confusion and alienation among characters and audiences alike, aligning with the Absurdists' view that human effort to impose meaning on life is inherently flawed.
• The focus on miscommunication and the failure of language to convey meaningful human connections highlights the existential theme of isolation and the impossibility of true understanding between individuals.
• Though the absurdity of human life, as depicted in these plays, aligns with existentialist thought, the specific use of language as a tool of miscommunication serves to illustrate rather than explain this philosophy.

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

Additional Information

• In option 1, while both statements are true, the reason is not a direct explanation of the assertion but rather a broader philosophical context.
• Options 3 and 4 are incorrect because both statements are true in the context of Theatre of the Absurd.

The correct answer is 'French'.

Key Points

• After the Norman Conquest in 1066, French became the dominant language in the courts, in legal proceedings, and in literature.
• French was the native language of the new rulers, the Normans, who were originally from Normandy, a region in France. As a result, it became the language of the aristocracy and the educated classes.
• Latin continued to be used in the church and in scholarly contexts, but the use of Old English decreased significantly.
• Middle English, which was significantly influenced by French, would not become the dominant language until later.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 3.

The correct answer is 'Long John Silver.'

 Key Points

• Long John Silver is a central character in "Treasure Island," a classic adventure novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1883.
• Silver is the ship's cook and one of the primary antagonists. His complex character is known for his charm, cunning, and ability to manipulate situations.
• He is associated with the pirate crew and plays a significant role in the search for Captain Flint's buried treasure.
• Long John Silver's moral ambiguity and shifting allegiances add depth to the novel's exploration of themes such as greed, loyalty, and the consequences of pursuing wealth.
• "Treasure Island" is a seminal work in the pirate adventure genre and has influenced countless subsequent works in literature and popular culture.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. Captain Hook is a character from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan," not Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island."
• Option 3 is incorrect. Captain Nemo is a character from Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," not "Treasure Island."
• Option 4 is incorrect. Ishmael is the narrator of Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick," not a character in "Treasure Island."

The mariner killed the Albatross as he thought it to be the reason for the wind to die, although the other sailors thought that the bird was associated with good luck.

The correct answer is 'Melancholic and reflective'.

Key Points

• Reflective mood: The poem is pervaded by a sense of reflection, looking back on a choice made long ago.
• Sense of melancholy: There's a subtle sense of melancholy or pensiveness, especially as the speaker anticipates that the choice made has had a significant impact on their life.
• Themes of life and choices: It delves into the complex emotions and thoughts surrounding life's irreversible choices and the paths not taken.
• Narrative perspective: The use of the first person and the future tense in reflecting on the past adds to the introspective and somewhat somber tone.
• Ambiguity: The poem leaves open the interpretation of whether the speaker regrets the choice or simply acknowledges its impact, contributing to a reflective tone.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1 underestimates the complexity and bittersweet nature of the tone.
• Option 3 is too buoyant and fails to capture the poem's nuanced introspection.
• Option 4 misses the personal and introspective nature of the poem's tone.

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.

Cleanth Brooks outlines the use of reading poems through paradox as a method of critical interpretation in his essay “The Language of Paradox”,

• William Empson has given the theory of Ambiguity in his seminal work of criticism Seven Types of Ambiguity. The book discuss types of ambiguity that Empson finds in the poetry he criticizes.
• Mark Schorer, an American writer, critic gave the theory of “Technique as Discovery” published in 1947 and became a critical hallmark for its claim that fiction deserved the close scrutiny, attention, and consideration.
• Maud Bodkin was an English classical scholar, and literary critic. She is best known for her 1934 book Archetypal Patterns in Poetry.

The correct answer is 'Sensitivity'.

 Key Points

• Keats argues that the most important quality for a poet is sensitivity, or the ability to empathize with and understand other people and things.
• He believes that a poet must be able to "be in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason."
• Keats contrasts this with the "irritable reaching after fact and reason" that he sees in many of his contemporaries.
• He believes that a poet must be able to "be in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason."

The correct answer is 'Worldliness'.

 Key Points

• Arnold argues that "sweetness and light" are the two most important qualities for a truly civilized person.
• He defines "sweetness" as a kind of gentleness and kindness, and "light" as a kind of intelligence and knowledge.
• Arnold believes that these two qualities are essential for creating a harmonious and just society.
• Arnold argues that "sweetness and light" are the two most important qualities for a truly civilized person.

The correct answer is 'Anatomy of Melancholy'.

Key Points

• "Anatomy of Melancholy," written by Robert Burton, delves deeply into the causes, symptoms, and treatments of melancholy, making it a comprehensive study on the subject.
• The work is encyclopedic in scope, combining medicine, psychology, literature, and philosophy to explore how melancholy affects the human condition.
• Burton uses a pseudonym, Democritus Junior, to analyze melancholy from a scholarly perspective while reflecting on the impact of melancholy on human creativity and thought.
• The book is divided into three main sections: the first discusses the causes of melancholy, the second examines the symptoms, and the third offers cures, underscoring its thorough examination of the topic.
• Burton’s exploration goes beyond the medical, venturing into the philosophical and existential dimensions of melancholy, illustrating its pervasive influence on human life.
• By examining melancholy in such depth, Burton sheds light on the complexities of human emotions and the multifaceted nature of melancholy's impact on individuals.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• Option 2 ('Urn Burial') offers a meditation on mortality and the rites of burial, not focusing primarily on melancholy.
• Option 3 ('Religio Medici') explores the author's personal spirituality and philosophy, with less emphasis on melancholy.
• Option 4 ('None of the above') is incorrect as "Anatomy of Melancholy" directly addresses the question's focus.

Structural approach is based on structures which have been carefully selected and graded focus on mastery of phonological and grammatical structures rather than on the mastery of vocabulary. The approach doesn’t work on developing ‘communicative competence”, it may help in making correct sentences, but fails in helping the learner to make correct utterances” on the other side, Communicative approach focuses on the significance of language functions because the learner needs knowledge of both meaning and functions.

It insists that the grammatical rules and knowledge of the structures are useless unless they are applied to real-life situations. It lays emphasis on functional, communicative and social interactive activities.

The correct answer is 'Panopticism'.

Key Points

• In "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison" (1975), Michel Foucault introduces the theory of "Panopticism."
• Panopticism refers to a social theory named after the Panopticon, a type of institutional building and a system of control designed by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century.
• Foucault uses the concept of the Panopticon as a metaphor for modern disciplinary societies and their pervasive inclination to observe and normalize.
• The idea is that the possibility of constant observation induces a state in which individuals discipline themselves, without direct force or intervention.
• Foucault's examination extends beyond prisons, suggesting that panoptic mechanisms infiltrate various aspects of social life, including schools, hospitals, and workplaces, to regulate behavior and maintain order.
• Panopticism has become a fundamental concept in critical theory, cultural studies, and discussions around surveillance, power, and social control.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• "Dialogism," mainly associated with Mikhail Bakhtin, explores the relationship between texts and the cultural and historical contexts that shape them, not the focus of Foucault's "Discipline and Punish."
• "Rhizome Theory," associated with Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, depicts culture and knowledge as non-hierarchical and interconnected, unlike Foucault's examination of social control mechanisms.
• "Reader-Response Theory" focuses on the reader's role in creating the meaning of a text, which is distinct from the societal mechanisms of control discussed by Foucault.

( S)  is a view and (I)  is correct.