English CBSE Class 12 NCERT Flamingo Poem 3 Keeping Quiet Free Solution of Extra Questions and Answers – Extract Based Questions Short Answer Questions Long Answer Questions and Value Based Questions
KEEPING QUIET
(Extra Questions)
Extract based questions
EB 1. 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
1. Name the poem and the poet.
2. What will happen when nobody speaks in any language?
3. Why poet wants people to keep still and quiet?
4. What two activities poet wants us to stop?
EB 2. Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
1. What is meaning of phrase ‘green wars’?
2. What kinds of wars are mentioned in above extract.?
3. What kind of victory poet is talking about?
4. What poetic device is used in the second line of the extract?
5. What poetic device is used in the fourth line of the extract?
6. What should warmongers not do? What should they do?
EB 3. 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.
1. To whom is ‘we’ referred to?
2. What ‘sadness’ does the poet refer to?
3. The poet wants us to do nothing. Why?
4. What is the poetic device used in fourth line of the extract?
EB 4. Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.
1. What is the lesson we can learn from Earth?
2. What is alive when everything seems dead?
3. What is the poetic device used in the extract?
4. Which word in the extract is antonym of ‘alive’?
Short Answer Questions – 30 to 40 words
SA 1. In the poem “Keeping Quiet’ why does poet want us to keep still?
Answer: We shall remain calm if we keep still. This will give us time to introspect ourselves. We shall be away from daily running and hurry. Human beings will stop destruction of environment. There will be peace alround.
SA 2. Why does poet say ‘let’s not speak in any language’?
Answer: In this world many languages are spoken. The differences over language results into wars. Within the same language people sometimes speak bad language.
Poet urges us to not to indulge in such things. He says that let us speak through our hearts so that brotherhood prevails in the world.
SA 3. What does the poet ask the fisherman to do?
Answer: The poet requests fishermen not to harm whales living in cold water sea. He requests to take from nature only to the extent needed by human kind. They should not kill anyone for the sake of pleasure.
SA 4. What does the poet ask salt collecting men to do?
Answer: The poet asks them to look after themselves. They should not hurt their hands while working. They should protect themselves against any damage to themselves.
SA 5. What are the different kinds of wars mentioned in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer: Green war against the greenery and forests. Gas war represents emission of polluting gases in atmosphere. Wars of fire against global warming. He also talks about soldiers fighting for their nation that causes loss of life.
SA 6. How does poet distinguish ‘stillness’ with ‘total inactivity’?
Answer: ‘Total inactivity’ means there will not be any work or movement. This would require that we suspend all activities.
‘Stillness” means remaining calm. We should avoid running and hurry of every day. We should take from nature only to the extent required. We should have time for introspection and brotherhood should prevail.
SA 7. Why does poet feel that we should not be so single minded??
Answer: We are constantly in pursuit of worldly pleasure and comforts. Only motive is to keep our life moving. Poet wants us to slow down and have some time for introspection. We should respect our surroundings, fellow beings and other living beings.
SA 8. Under apparent stillness there is life. Please justify.
Answer: Stillness does not mean total inactivity. It means slowing down a bit and remaining calm. Poet gives example of earth. After one type of crop is cut we can sow another crop. As the season changes, different kinds of flowers and plants bloom. All this is done silently and with calmness.
SA 9. Justify the title of the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’.
Answer: Throughout the poem, poet has talked about the virtue of remaining calm. He has also explained that being calm would result into protection of environment. It will increase brotherhood among human kind. It will give us time for introspection.
Hence the title of the poem is justified.
SA 10. Which is the ‘exotic moment’ poet has talked about in the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’?
Answer: We all should become silent for some time. We shall not be speaking anything bad about anyone. We shall not be using force to hurt our fellow being. That moment will be of peace and silence. Poet has termed this as an exotic moment.
SA 11. How will a ‘huge silence’ interrupt the sadness of men?
Answer: Everybody is in a hurry in pursuit of his selfish desires. A ‘huge silence’ will slow down our activities a bit. This will give us time to introspect ourselves. There will be brotherhood among human beings. So man will become happy.
SA 12. How would keeping quiet affect life in and around sea?
Answer: Keeping quiet stresses that we should take from nature only to the extent needed. Thus fishermen will stop hunting for whales in cold sea. This will save fish and other sea creatures from being extinct. It will foster ecological balance.
SA 13. What is the ultimate expectation of the poet from all human beings?
Answer: The poet wants human beings to lead a life of slow pace. We should have time to introspect. Brotherhood should prevail throughout We should protect environment and our fellow beings. Lastly, we should remember that whatever be the present conditions, we can make a new beginning.
Long Answer Questions – 120 to 150 words
LA 1. What kind of imaginary and ideal world does the poet visualize?
Answer: The poet visualizes a world that does not have the language of dissent. People do not use their power to suppress or harm others. They care for each other and feel attached to each other.
People are conscious of environment. They conserve it. Pollution is greatly reduced. Humanity has understood that harming environment is same as harming themselves.
People do not hanker after materialistic gains. They take from nature to the extent needed thus the development is self-sustainable.
Our fast paced life and selfish attitude for comfort has made our life sad. Poet wants us to alter our life style to take us from sadness to happiness.
Poet wants us to believe that it is possible to change our ways. As new saplings can be planted on a barren piece of land, we too can adopt new ways of living.
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