English CBSE Class 11 NCERT Snapshot Chapter The Tale of Melon City –Extra Questions and Answers Extract Based Questions Short Answer Questions Long Answer Questions and Value Based Questions
THE TALE OF MELON CITY – Extra Questions
Extract Based Questions
EB 1
In the city of which I sing
There was a just and placid King.
The King proclaimed an arch should be
Constructed, that triumphally
Would span the major thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
(i) The king has been described as
(a) just
(b) royal
(c) placid
(d) both (a) and (c)
(ii) Which of the following was the purpose of arch
(a) a sign of victory
(b) span the major thoroughfare
(c) to reduce travel time
(d) to improve beauty of the city
(iii) Based on the extract, please classify following between fact and opinion
- the city was already a big city
- the king ordered that an arch should be constructed
- construction of arch would be a major event
- construction of arch would improve beauty of the city
(a) F – 1,2 and O -3,4
(b) F – 2,4 and O – 1,3
(c) F – 2,3 and O – 1,4
(d) F – 1,4 and O – 2,3
(iv) Which poetic device has been used in the first line of the extract?
(a) repetition
(b) alliteration
(c) metaphor
(d) simile
EB 2
The workmen went and built the thing.
They did so since he was the King.
The King rode down the thoroughfare
To edify spectators there.
Under the arch he lost his crown.
The arch was built too low.
(i) In the first line of extract what is referred by the word ‘thing’?
(a) king
(b) arch
(c) thoroughfare
(d) crown
(ii) What did the king loose?
(a) clown
(b) crows
(c) crown
(d) crowd
(iii) Which of the following is mentioned as reason of crown falling?
(a) the arch was too low
(b) the crown hit the arch
(c) none of (a) and (b)
(d) both (a) and (b)
(iv) Which poetic device has been used in the first line of the extract?
(a) alliteration
(b) repetition
(c) metaphor
(d) both (a) and (b)
EB 3
A frown Appeared upon his placid face.
The King said, ‘This is a disgrace.
The chief of builders will be hanged.’
The rope and gallows were arranged.
The chief of builders was led out.
He passed the King. He gave a shout,
‘O King, it was the workmen’s fault’
(i) ‘A frown Appeared upon his placid face.’ means that the king was
(a) happy
(b) annoyed
(c) anxious
(d) appealing
(ii) How did chief of builder escape from getting hanged?
(a) by shouting at the king
(b) by fighting the soldiers
(c) by blaming workmen
(d) by running away from the kingdom
(iii) An expression ‘This is a disgrace.’ has been used in the extract. Which of the following is not the correct replica of a similar expression?
(a) This is a pride
(b) This is a shame
(c) This is a humiliation
(d) This is an insult
(iv) What is the poetic device used in the sixth line of the extract?
(a) alliteration
(b) repetition
(c) metaphor
(d) both (a) and (b)
EB 4
‘Oh!’ said the King, and called a halt
To the proceedings. Being just
(And placider now) he said, ‘I must
Have all the workmen hanged instead.’
The workmen looked surprised, and said,
‘O King, you do not realise
The bricks were made of the wrong size.’
(i) Why did the king stop the proceedings?
(a) he did not want to hang anybody
(b) he did not want to hang any wrong person
(c) he did not want to make any one happy
(d) he did not believe in hanging
(ii) What was his new order?
(a) to hang the chief builder
(b) to hang workmen
(c) to hang the bricks
(d) to not to hang anybody
(iii) To whom did the workmen blame?
(a) king
(b) chief builder
(c) bricks
(d) brick makers
(iv) Based on the extract please classify following as fact and opinion
- I believe King could easily decide the wrong doer
- King halted the proceedings
- Workmen were surprised when they were blamed
- Workmen should have accepted their fault
(a) F – 1,2 and O – 3,4
(b) F – 2,3 and O- 1,4
(c) F – 2,4 and O- 1,3
(d) F – 1,3 and O- 2,4
EB 5
The architect was summoned.
‘Well, architect,’ said His Majesty.
‘I do ordain that you shall be
Hanged.’ Said the architect, ‘O King,
You have forgotten one small thing.
You made certain amendments to
The plans when I showed them to you.’
(i) To whom does the phrase ‘His Majesty’ refer to?
(a) King
(b) Architect
(c) Mason
(d) None of the above
(ii) Who had made amendments in the plan?
(a) Architect
(b) Planner
(c) King
(d) Minister
(iii) Who had shown the plans to the king?
(a) Architect
(b) Planner
(c) Mason
(d) Workmen
(iv) What does the word ‘amendments’ mean in the above extract?
(a) Changes
(b) Multiplication
(c) Failures
(d) All the above
(v) The fifth and the sixth lines of the extract start with the same word ‘you’. This poetic device is known as
(a) Alliteration
(b) Repetition
(c) Oxymoron
(d) Anaphora
EB 6
The King heard this. The King saw red.
In fact he nearly lost his head;
But being a just and placid King
He said, ‘This is a tricky thing.
I need some counsel. Bring to me
The wisest man in this country.’
(i) Based on the extract please classify following as activity and emotions.
- The king heard this
- The king saw red
- He nearly lost his head
- Bring to me the wisest man
(a) A – 1,2 and E – 3,4
(b) A – 1,4 and E – 2,3
(c) A- 1,3 and E – 2,4
(d) A – 3,4 and E – 1,2
(ii) Why did king need a counsel?
(a) He was confused
(b) He was not able to decide
(c) He wanted to take advice
(d) All the above
(iii) Whom did the King wanted to meet?
(a) A tricky person
(b) The wisest man in the country
(c) The most stupid person
(d) A clever man
(iv) Which poetic device has been used in the first line of the extract?
(a) Alliteration
(b) Repetition
(c) Metaphor
(d) Oxymoron
EB 7
The wisest man was found and brought,
Nay, carried, to the Royal Court.
He could not walk and could not see,
So old (and therefore wise) was he —
But in a quavering voice he said,
‘The culprit must be punished.
Truly, the arch it was that banged
The crown off, and it must be hanged’.
(i) Which of the following has not be narrated about the old man?
- He was found
- He was carried
- He could not laugh
- He could not walk
- He had sharp eyes
- He could not see
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 5
(c) 4 and 6
(d) 2 and 4
(ii) To whom did the wise man advise to hang?
(a) The king
(b) The crown
(c) The arch
(d) None of the above
(iii) An expression ‘The culprit must be punished.’ has been used in the extract. Which of the following is not the correct use of ‘must be’?
(a) The brave must be respected
(b) The honest must be appreciated.
(c) The thief must be freed
(d) The innocent must be protected
(iv) Why was the old person considered wise?
(a) He was the quickest
(b) He was the oldest
(c) He was the youngest
(d) He was the strongest
(v) Which poetic device has been used in the third line of the extract
(a) Alliteration
(b) Anaphora
(c) Simile
(d) Repetition
EB 8
‘Thank Goodness we found someone,’ said
The Ministers, ‘for if instead
We had not, the unruly town
Might well have turned against the Crown.’
‘Long live the King!’ the Ministers said.
‘Long live the King! The King is dead.’
(i) To whom does the word ‘we’ refer to in the above extract?
(a) The king
(b) The subject
(c) The ministers
(d) None of the above
(ii) What would have if someone was not hanged?
(a) The people would have become happy
(b) The people would have become sad
(c) The people would have revolted against the king
(d) The ministers would have lost their job
(iii) The last two lines being with the same letters. What is the poetic device used?
(a) Anaphora
(b) Alliteration
(c) Repetition
(d) Oxymoron
(iv) Based on the extract please classify following as fact and opinion.
- The minister were happy that someone was hanged
- The ministers should have acted wisely
- The ministered feared that people might have revolted
- The king should have avoided his death
(a) F – 1,2 and O – 3,4
(b) F – 1,3 and O – 2,4
(c) F- 2,4 and O- 1,3
(d) F -2,3 and O – 1,4
EB 9
They pondered the dilemma; then,
Being practical-minded men,
Sent out the heralds to proclaim
(In His [former] Majesty’s name):
‘The next to pass the City Gate
Will choose the ruler of our state,
As is our custom. This will be
Enforced with due ceremony.’
(i) Who is the author of the poem through which above extract has been taken?
(a) Kushwant Singh
(b) Kamla Das
(c) Amitav Ghosh
(d) Vikram Seth
(ii) By whose name the order to find the new ruler was issued?
(a) The ministers
(b) The living king
(c) The dead king
(d) The wise old man
(iii) Who would choose the new ruler?
(a) The next person to become ministers
(b) The next person to enter the city
(c) The next person to go out of the city
(d) The next person to enforce the ceremony
(iv) The ministers did not conduct which of the following activity
(a) Pondered over the dilemma
(b) Sent out heralds
(c) Decided to throne the new king as per ceremony
(d) Declared themselves to be practical minded persons
Short Answer Questions (30-40 words)
SA 1. Why did the King say ‘this is a disgrace’? What was his first order?
Answer: The king was riding to see the newly constructed arch. Height of the arch was low. It touched his crown and the crown fell down. Then the King said ‘ this is a disgrace’.
He ordered to hang the chief of builders.
SA 2. To whom did various people pass on the blame of the arch being of low height?
Answer: Chief of builders passed on the blame to workmen, workmen to masons, and masons to the architect. The architect passed on the blame to the King. He said that the King had made some changes in the design.
SA 3. Why did the King order to call the wisest person of the city.?
Answer: The architect passed on the blame to the King saying that the King had made changes in the design. Now the King was in trouble.
To overcome this tricky situation, he ordered to call the wisest person for consultation.
SA 4. What was the advice of the old man? Why did he give that advice?
Answer: The old wise man advised to hang the arch.
He said the culprit must be hanged. It was the arch that had thrown down the crown. Hence it should be hanged.
SA 5. Who objected to the hanging of the arch? What was the reason for their objection?
Answer: The ministers objected to hanging of the arch.
They said that by touching the head of the King, the arch had blessed the King. Therefore it cannot be hanged. Someone or something that has blessed the King, cannot be hanged.
SA 6. What was the custom to select the new ruler? Who selected the new king? Who was selected as new king?
Answer: According to custom the first person to reach the City Gate would select the new king.
A fool reached the gate first so he selected the new king. His answer to every question was ‘melon’. Thus a melon was selected the new king of the city.
SA 7. Explain the irony when ministers are addressed as ‘practical minded men’?
Answer: ‘Practical minded’ means having wisdom to correctly handle a situation.
The ministers allowed hanging of King. They said “Long live the King” after his death. They allowed a fool to select new King and crowned melon as the new king.
Thus ministers did not act as wise people.
SA 8. Why people of the city were not concerned when a melon was crowned their king?
Answer: The people of the city wanted to live in peace to enjoy their freedom. They did not have any other concern about their own life.
Thus it did not bother them when a melon became new king.
SA 9. Among the people mentioned in the poem, who in your opinion was the most stupid person? Give reason.
Answer: In my opinion the old wise person was the most stupid person. Though he was regarded as wise person he advised a non-living thing like arch to be hanged.
SA 10. What do you understand by ‘The principles of laissez faire ‘? How was it established in the poem?
Answer: The principle of laissez faire means unwillingness to involve in matters of others or influence activities of other. It also means to accept whatever is happening.
The people were not bothered about what was happening to the king or the kingdom. Thus the principle was established.
Long Answer Questions (30-40 words)
LA 1. Justify the title of the poem ‘A Tale of Melon City’.
Answer: In this poem melon represents the foolish people, their foolish behaviour and aloofness of general public.
The king got an arch constructed. While passing under the arch his crown falls down. He wants to punish the person responsible for building a low height arch.
Several people shift blame to others. King accepts every argument which represents foolishness of the king. Finally the blame is transferred to the King.
To resolve the tricky situation a wise person is selected on the basis of age who orders the arch to be hanged. Ministers raised objections and a noose was set up. One whose height was suitable to the noose was to be hanged. Finally the king was hanged
A foolish person was allowed to select new king . He selected a melon. And melon was crowned the new king.
Thus the poem is full of instances of foolishness. Hence the title is justified.
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