4 Marks Questions
Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Now we will count to twelve:
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
a) What is the significance of the number ‘twelve’?
Answer : The significance of the number ‘twelve’ is that there are 12 hours in a clock and 12 months in a year.
b) Which two activities does the poet want us to stop?
Answer : The two activities that the poet wants us to stop are speaking in any language and moving our arms.
c) What does the poet mean by ‘let’s not speak in any language?
Answer : The poet means that nothing should be spoken in any language, so there are no disputes.
d) Describe the pun on the word, ‘arms’.
Answer : ‘Arms’ has two meanings – hands and weapons. So the poet wants us to be still, i.e., not moving our hands, and also not fight, i.e., not use any weapons.
Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
‘It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness’.
a) Which exotic moment is referred to in these lines?
Answer : The ‘exotic moment’ referred to in these lines is the moment when everyone keeps quiet and there is no movement.
b) Why would that moment be strange?
Answer : That moment would be strange because there will be rush or sound of engines and it will bring the whole of humanity together for the first time.
c) What does the poet advocate in the poem?
Answer : The poet advocates the need to introspect and think before you act in the poem.
d) What does the poet mean by the word, ‘engines’?
Answer : By the word ‘engines’, the poet means automobiles or machines.
Question 3 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.”
a) Who does ‘we’ refer to in the above lines?
Answer : ‘We’ refers to the human beings, who are always thinking about their own progress and advancement.
b) Why does the poet want us to ‘do nothing’ for once?
Answer : The poet wants us to ‘do nothing’ for once so that our mind can be at peace and we get some time to introspect and analyse our own actions.
c) What is the ‘sadness’ that the poet refers to in the poem?
Answer : The poet refers to the ‘sadness’ which arises due to the fact that people fail to understand themselves. They have no time to introspect about their actions and their consequences.
d) How can a huge silence do good to us ?
Answer : A huge silence can do good to us because we would be able to achieve peace in this silence. It would help us in analysing ourselves and our actions. This would interrupt the sadness of threatening ourselves with death.
Question 4 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive
Now I’ll count upto twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.
a) What does the Earth teach us?
Answer : The Earth teaches us how new life springs from dead remains, and how there is life under apparent stillness.
b) What does the poet mean to achieve?
Answer : The poet wants to achieve peace by counting upto twelve. He wants us to introspect in a moment of silence.
c) What is the significance of ‘keeping quiet’?
Answer : Keeping quiet doesn’t mean just not speaking. It means that we should avoid all activities which hurt nature and, in turn hurt us.
d) What is always alive, even when everything seems to be dead?
Answer : The Earth is always alive, even when everything else seems to be dead as there is always some activity going on in nature beneath its apparent stillness.
Question 5 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
a) Why does the poet want us to keep quiet?
Answer : The poet wants us to keep quiet in the hope that the moment of tranquility might help us in finding the answers to our problems.
b) What does he want us to do for one second?
Answer : The poet wants us to be silent and motionless for one second.
c) What does he mean by “not move our arms”?
Answer : By “not moving our arms” the poet means that we should be in a state of total stillness with no physical activity at all.
d) How can this moment of stillness help us?
Answer : This moment of stillness can provide us physical and mental rest, during which our mind will be at peace. We can analyse our actions and their consequences and avoid rash or thoughtless behaviour.
Question 6 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.
a) What will happen if there is no rush or running of engines?
Answer : It will be an ecstatic moment of tranquility when there is no rush or running of engines.
b) Why would it be called an exotic moment?
Answer : It would be called an exotic moment because it will be a moment of universal peace and brotherhood. In that moment, all of us would initiate introspection through meditation and the whole world will be enveloped in quietness.
c) How would we feel at the moment?
Answer : We would feel very strange at that moment, because at that time everyone will have a feeling of oneness with their fellow human beings. It will be a new feeling altogether.
d) Name the poem and the poet.
Answer : The poem is ‘Keeping Quiet’ and the poet is Pablo Neruda.
Question 7 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Now we will count to twelve,
and we will all keep still.
For once on the face of the Earth,
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
a) How long does the poet want to stay still?
Answer : The poet wants us to stay silent for a brief moment.
b) What does he hope to achieve by keeping quiet?
Answer : He hopes to achieve and realise the value of quiet introspection by keeping quiet.
c) What does the poet mean by ‘not move our arms so much’?
Answer : By this, he means that we should not make any physical movement, as physical activity will interrupt our introspection.
d) Why does the poet suggest us not to speak in any language?
Answer : The poet wants us to simply be silent for a moment and utilise that time to understand ourselves as well as others. Besides, speaking can also lead to quarrels, which the poet, perhaps, wants to avoid.
Question 8 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
a) What does the poet expect of the fishermen and why?
Answer : In the exotic moment of silence and introspection, fishermen will become conscious of the fact that they are causing harm to the whales and would stop killing them.
b) While gathering salt, what will the man do?
Answer : The man gathering salt will stop for a while at the quiet moment and look at his hurt hands.
c) What do the hurt hands imply?
Answer : ‘Hurt hands’ means that human beings are forgetful of the pain they are causing to themselves in the pursuit of amassing more and more comforts.
d) How would man and nature benefit in this moment of silence?
Answer : In this moment of silence, man will not harm nature, and both human beings and nature will get some time to attend to their wounds and recover.
3 Marks Questions (30 – 40 Words)
Question 1 : How would keeping quiet affect life in and around the sea?
Answer : Keeping quiet would affect life in and around the sea in two ways. By keeping quiet, the fishermen will not kill whales for some time. Also, the salt gatherers will get some time to heal their hurt hands.
Question 2 : How is the Earth a source of life when all seems dead on it?
Answer : In the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ the Earth is a source of life because it is never in a state of total inactivity even when there is silence all around. Nature continues to work even when everything is still and silent.
Question 3 : How is the total inactivity on the Earth in the winter months full of life?
Answer : The poet has tried to bring out the fact that during winter months everything seems still and dead, but some activity goes on even then. For instance, a seed appears to be ‘dead’ but later on trees are born from such seeds.
Question 4 : “Life is what it is all about”; ……………How is keeping quiet related to life?
Answer : Keeping quiet is related to life as it helps one to introspect one’s actions. It , also gives one the much needed break from one’s busy schedules.
Question 5 : Why does one feel ‘a sudden strangeness’ on counting to twelve and keeping quiet?
Answer : One feels sudden strangeness on counting to twelve and keeping quiet as everything become quiet and still. This silence is unusual and strange as mankind has never experienced it before.
Question 6 : How will ‘keeping quiet’ protect our environment?
Answer : Keeping quiet and staying still would protect our environment as the fishermen would not catch whales and green wars would come to an end temporarily.
Question 7 : What does the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ teach us?
Answer : The poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ teaches us to take out some time from our busy schedules to introspect ourselves. It also teaches us to stop being self-centered and selfish and be happy by understanding ourselves.
Question 8 : Which symbol from nature does the poet invoke that there can be life under apparent stillness?
Answer : The poet uses the symbol of seed from nature to explain his idea that there can be life under apparent stillness. A seed may appear to be dead and inactive, but one day, the same seed may sprout and become a fruit bearing tree.
Question 9 : What will counting upto twelve and keeping still help us to achieve?
Answer : This activity would create a moment of togetherness among all; a condition which is foremost for the survival of humanity. It will also give us time to analyse our actions and their consequences.
Question 10 : Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer : The poet refers to the moment of stillness and quietness as an exotic moment. It would be an exotic moment, as such a tranquility will initiate peace and brotherhood and consequently, no violence.
Question 11 : What is the sadness that the poet refers to in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer : The poet refers to the sadness which surrounds man due to not having any time for himself, the pain of not understanding what he or what his fellow human beings want from him.
Question 12 : Which images in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’ show that the poet condemns violence?
Answer : The images of fishermen not harming the whales in the sea and wars leaving behind no survivors to celebrate the victory show that the poet condemns violence.
Question 13 : How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?
Answer : Keeping quiet and suspending all our activities for a brief moment will give us time to introspect and analyse our own actions. We will develop a new understanding of our surroundings and this would change our attitude to life.
Question 14 : What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem? What is Neruda’s attitude towards these wars?
Answer : Green wars, wars with poisonous gases and wars with fire are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem. Neruda feels that such wars may bring victory , but there would be no survivors left to celebrate the victory.
Question 15 : How can suspension of activities help?
Answer : The poet believes that suspension of activities will allow man to introspect, which in turn would help them in analysing their own actions, in solving many of their problems and in mending their destructive ways.
Question 16 : Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? Why/Why not?
Answer : No, the poet clearly states that his asking for stillness should not be confused with total inactivity or death as he perceives life to be a continuous process way.
Question 17 : According to the poet, what is it that human beings can learn from nature?
Answer : Life under apparent stillness is the thing which man can learn from nature. The Earth is never in a state of total inactivity. Nature carries on its work even where there is stillness all around.