Important Questions with Answers
110 board-pattern questions across 19 texts, each with a pointer on how to frame a full-marks answer.
First Flight supplies most of the Literature section — and the board returns to the same themes, characters and poetic devices every year. Start with these most-repeated questions across the prose and poems, then work through the full text-wise bank, each with a pointer on how to frame the answer.
Most frequently repeated
- 3 marksWhy did Lencho write a letter to God, and what does it reveal about his character?
A Letter to GodHow to answer: Frame around Lencho's hailstorm-ruined crop and his unshakeable faith that God would send a hundred pesos. Highlight his simplicity and deep belief, and how this sets up the post-office employees' kindness and the story's irony.
- 6 marksDiscuss how Mandela's understanding of freedom evolved, and what courage means in his view.
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to FreedomHow to answer: Trace his shift from personal/boyhood freedom to the wider freedom of his people, and link to the sacrifices of countless patriots. Define courage as the triumph over fear, not its absence, and note that both oppressor and oppressed need liberation.
- 3 marksHow does the narrator of 'The Black Aeroplane' overcome his crisis, and what role does the mysterious pilot play?
Two Stories about FlyingHow to answer: Cover the pilot lost in storm clouds with no fuel or instruments, the second plane that guided him to safety, and the unexplained identity of the helper. Connect to the theme of hope and unseen guidance in a moment of danger.
- 6 marksWhat does Anne Frank's diary reveal about her, and why did she treat the diary as a confidante?
From the Diary of Anne FrankHow to answer: Explain her loneliness despite being surrounded by people, her need to pour out true feelings to 'Kitty', and her honest, mature voice. Bring in the value of self-expression and her wit (the Mr Keesing episode).
- 6 marks"Coorg is a place of breathtaking natural beauty and brave, hospitable people." Justify with reference to 'Glimpses of India'.
Glimpses of IndiaHow to answer: Draw on the Coorg section: rainforests, coffee plantations, the Kaveri river, wildlife and adventure sports, plus the martial Kodavu people and the Greek/Arab origin legend. Support the claims of beauty, bravery and hospitality with specific details.
- 3 marksDescribe the difficulties Maxwell faced in transporting Mijbil from Iraq to England.
Mijbil the OtterHow to answer: Mention the airline requiring Mijbil to be boxed, the otter hurting himself and bleeding inside the box, the chaos on the plane, and the kind air-hostess who let Mij sit on Maxwell's lap. Show how the bond and Maxwell's care drove him through the trouble.
- 6 marksValli is a keen observer with a strong sense of self-respect and curiosity. Discuss her character.
Madam Rides the BusHow to answer: Use her careful saving of money, refusal of the conductor's and others' pity, her observant questions, and her sobering encounter with the dead cow. Show how the bus journey marks her growing maturity.
- 3 marksWhat is the significance of the parable of the mustard seed in 'The Sermon at Benares'?
The Sermon at BenaresHow to answer: Explain Kisa Gotami's search for a household untouched by death and her realisation that death is universal and inevitable. Connect to the Buddha's teaching that grief must be overcome through acceptance, bringing peace.
- 6 marksComment on the elements of humour and the role of Natalya in Chekhov's 'The Proposal'.
The ProposalHow to answer: Highlight the quarrels over Oxen Meadows and the dogs Guess and Squeezer that derail the proposal, plus Lomov's hypochondria. Show Natalya's quarrelsome yet eager nature and how the comedy mocks marriage based on property rather than love.
- 2 marksHow does a small, simple incident change the poet's mood in 'Dust of Snow'?
Dust of SnowHow to answer: Note that the crow shaking dust of snow from the hemlock tree lifts the poet from regret to a brighter mood. Mention nature's healing power and how the 'negative' crow and hemlock are turned into something positive.
- 3 marksIn 'Fire and Ice', what do fire and ice symbolise, and what is the poet's message about human emotions?
Fire and IceHow to answer: Identify fire as desire/greed and ice as hatred/indifference, both capable of destroying the world. Explain that uncontrolled human passions are as dangerous as cold hatred, and the poem urges restraint.
- 6 marksContrast the life of the tiger in the zoo with its life in its natural habitat in 'A Tiger in the Zoo'.
A Tiger in the ZooHow to answer: Set the caged tiger's helplessness and quiet rage against its free, majestic prowling in the jungle and at the village edge. Bring out the theme of captivity versus freedom and the cruelty of confining wild creatures.
- 3 marksHow does the poet use humour and wordplay in 'How to Tell Wild Animals'?
How to Tell Wild AnimalsHow to answer: Point to the comic, dangerous 'tips' for recognising the lion, tiger, leopard and bear, where the speaker would be attacked before identifying them. Note the puns, exaggeration and absurd tone as the source of humour.
- 3 marksWhat deeper meaning does the poet convey through the loss of the ball in 'The Ball Poem'?
The Ball PoemHow to answer: Explain that the lost ball symbolises loss and the boy learning the harsh truth of growing up and responsibility. Stress that no money can buy back what is gone and one must learn to stand up after loss.
- 6 marksHow is Amanda portrayed as a victim of constant nagging, and what does she long for?
Amanda!How to answer: Show the relentless adult instructions contrasted with Amanda's daydreams of being a mermaid, an orphan, or Rapunzel free in her tower. Discuss her craving for freedom and the poem's message against over-controlling children.
Chapter-wise question bank
A Letter to GodNelson Mandela: Long Walk to FreedomTwo Stories about FlyingFrom the Diary of Anne FrankGlimpses of IndiaMijbil the OtterMadam Rides the BusThe Sermon at BenaresThe ProposalDust of SnowFire and IceA Tiger in the ZooHow to Tell Wild AnimalsThe Ball PoemAmanda!The TreesFogThe Tale of Custard the DragonFor Anne Gregory
A Letter to God
- 3 marksWhy did Lencho write a letter to God?
How to answer: State that hail destroyed his crop, his family faced hunger, and his faith convinced him only God could help; mention the exact request of a hundred pesos.
- 6 marksLencho's faith in God remained unshaken even after he received less money. Discuss.
How to answer: Trace his faith from writing the letter, to his calm on receiving money, to blaming the staff — show faith was never doubted, only humans were.
- 2 marksWhy was Lencho not surprised on seeing the money?
How to answer: Because his faith was total — he had fully expected God to answer; surprise would have implied doubt.
- 3 marksBring out the irony in 'A Letter to God'.
How to answer: Contrast Lencho calling his helpers 'a bunch of crooks' while trusting an unseen God; define situational irony using this example.
- 3 marksWhat kind of a person do you think the postmaster was?
How to answer: Describe him as kind, generous and good-humoured; he respected Lencho's faith and acted to keep it alive rather than mock it.
Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
- 6 marksWhat did the inauguration ceremony mean to Mandela and to South Africa?
How to answer: Link the personal moment to the national one — the birth of a free, democratic, non-racial society and the death of apartheid; mention the world leaders present.
- 3 marksHow does Mandela explain his idea of courage?
How to answer: Use his definition: brave men feel fear but conquer it; cite the example of his comrades who stood firm despite torture.
- 3 marksAccording to Mandela, what does true freedom mean?
How to answer: Explain that the oppressor and the oppressed both lose their humanity; freedom must release both from the chains of prejudice and hatred.
- 3 marksWhat were the two obligations Mandela speaks of, and why could he not fulfil them?
How to answer: Name the obligation to family and the obligation to people/country; explain that serving his people made a normal family life impossible under apartheid.
- 6 marksHow did Mandela's hunger for freedom change the course of his life?
How to answer: Trace the shift from wanting personal freedom to wanting freedom for all; show how this turned a law-abiding man into a bold, frightened, then fearless leader.
Two Stories about Flying
- 6 marksHow did the young seagull finally make his first flight?
How to answer: Describe his fear and isolation, the family's encouragement, his hunger, and the mother offering fish — then the accidental dive that became his first flight.
- 3 marksWhy was the young seagull afraid to fly, and what does this teach us?
How to answer: Explain his fear of the wide sea and falling; link to the lesson that fear is often greater than the actual risk.
- 3 marksWho do you think helped the narrator reach the runway safely in 'The Black Aeroplane'?
How to answer: Present it as an open mystery — a guardian, a strange pilot, or his own courage; support the view with the tower's report of no other plane.
- 3 marksDescribe the narrator's experience inside the storm cloud.
How to answer: Mention the darkness, failed compass and instruments, low fuel, fear, and the relief when the black aeroplane appeared.
- 6 marksCompare how fear is overcome in the two stories.
How to answer: Contrast the seagull's inner fear conquered by himself with the pilot's outer danger overcome with mysterious help; note both end in safety.
From the Diary of Anne Frank
- 3 marksWhy did Anne Frank feel the need to keep a diary?
How to answer: Explain her sense of loneliness — she had family and friends but no true confidante; paper would listen patiently, so she made the diary her friend Kitty.
- 6 marksHow did Anne deal with Mr Keesing's punishment essays?
How to answer: Describe the three essays, her reasoned arguments defending talking, and the witty poem that finally won him over and changed his attitude.
- 3 marksWhat kind of girl was Anne? Support with examples.
How to answer: Highlight her honesty, humour, intelligence and talkativeness; use the diary's frankness and the essay episode as evidence.
- 3 marksWhy does Anne provide a short sketch of her life before starting the actual diary entries?
How to answer: Because she feels Kitty, as a new 'friend', must know her background first to understand her properly.
- 2 marksHow did Mr Keesing change towards Anne by the end of the lesson?
How to answer: State that her humorous poem made him laugh; he stopped objecting to her talking and even joined in the joke.
Glimpses of India
- 6 marksDescribe the importance of the baker in old Goan society.
How to answer: Cover his daily visits and jingle, the special breads for festivals and ceremonies, his respected status, and the nostalgia for the Portuguese era.
- 6 marksWhat makes Coorg a unique and attractive place?
How to answer: Bring in its natural beauty (hills, Kaveri, forests, wildlife), the brave hospitable people and their legendary origins, and the adventure tourism it offers.
- 3 marksWhat are the two stories about the discovery of tea?
How to answer: Briefly narrate the Chinese legend of the emperor's boiling water and the Indian legend of Bodhidharma; present both as folklore, not fact.
- 3 marksHow does the narrator remember the baker of his childhood?
How to answer: Focus on fond, nostalgic detail — the morning bamboo jingle, the friendly figure, fresh loaves, and bakers as a still-surviving, prosperous-looking community.
- 3 marksWhat did Rajvir tell Pranjol about tea during their journey?
How to answer: Mention the origin legends and historical facts he shared, and his enthusiasm contrasted with Pranjol, who lived there and was less excited.
Mijbil the Otter
- 6 marksHow did Mijbil become a pet, and how did the author get attached to him?
How to answer: Describe the choice of an otter, the friend's help in Iraq, Mijbil's early shyness, then his playfulness and the growing bond of trust.
- 3 marksDescribe Mijbil's playful nature with examples.
How to answer: Use the bathroom water games, the marble and ball games, and his habit of arranging objects neatly as supporting details.
- 6 marksWhat problems did the author face while taking Mijbil to England?
How to answer: Explain the airline's box rule, Mijbil's panic and injury inside the box, and how the air-hostess kindly let him sit on the author's lap.
- 3 marksHow did the airline rules create difficulty, and how was it resolved?
How to answer: Mention the requirement to pack the otter in a box; resolution comes through the understanding air-hostess allowing Mijbil out.
- 3 marksWhat does the story tell us about the bond between humans and animals?
How to answer: Show that the relationship was full of trust, affection and comedy; the otter behaved almost like a devoted family member.
Madam Rides the Bus
- 6 marksHow did Valli plan and save for her bus ride?
How to answer: Describe her fascination with the bus, her patient saving by giving up small pleasures, and how she learned the fare and timings by careful observation.
- 6 marksWhat kind of girl was Valli? Discuss her character.
How to answer: Highlight curiosity, determination, self-respect and maturity; use her secret planning, refusal of help, and reaction to the dead cow as evidence.
- 3 marksWhy did Valli refuse the help offered by the elderly woman and the conductor?
How to answer: Explain her pride and wish for independence; she wanted to enjoy the adventure entirely on her own terms.
- 3 marksHow did the sight of the dead cow affect Valli?
How to answer: Note that the same cow she had earlier found funny now lay dead; the contrast saddened her and dimmed her joy, hinting at the harsher side of life.
- 2 marksWhy did Valli decide not to get off the bus in town?
How to answer: Because her plan was only to experience the ride; with limited money and time she meant to go and return without leaving the bus.
The Sermon at Benares
- 6 marksHow did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth about death?
How to answer: Narrate her grief, the mustard-seed condition, her fruitless search, and her realisation that death visits every home — leading to acceptance and peace.
- 3 marksWhy did Kisa Gotami go from house to house, and what did she finally understand?
How to answer: She sought a cure, then mustard seeds from a death-free house; she finally grasped that death is common to all and grief is universal.
- 3 marksWhat changed Siddhartha's life and turned him into the Buddha?
How to answer: Cover his sheltered upbringing, the shock of seeing sickness, old age and death, his renunciation, and his enlightenment under the tree.
- 6 marksWhat is the central message of The Sermon at Benares?
How to answer: Explain that death is inescapable and universal; excessive grief only brings more pain, so wisdom lies in accepting mortality and finding peace.
- 2 marksWhy was Kisa Gotami unable to find any mustard seeds for the Buddha?
How to answer: Because the condition was impossible — there was no household that had never suffered a death.
The Proposal
- 3 marksWhat are the two issues over which Lomov and Natalya quarrel?
How to answer: Name the dispute over Oxen Meadows (the land) and the dispute over whose dog — Guess or Squeezer — is superior.
- 6 marksHow does Chekhov use humour to satirise the institution of marriage?
How to answer: Show that the proposal is driven by property and convenience, not love; the constant petty quarrels and the forced engagement mock such matches.
- 6 marksDescribe the character of Lomov.
How to answer: Cover his nervousness, hypochondria, eagerness to marry for practical reasons, and quarrelsome streak; use the land and dog arguments as evidence.
- 3 marksWhy does Chubukov hurry to join the couple's hands at the end?
How to answer: Because Lomov nearly faints and the quarrel threatens the match; Chubukov forces the engagement through before another fight can ruin it.
- 3 marksWas Lomov really sick, or do you think he imagined his illnesses?
How to answer: Present him as a hypochondriac who exaggerates symptoms; his palpitations flare up mainly when he is excited or arguing.
Dust of Snow
- 3 marksHow did a small incident change the poet's mood in 'Dust of Snow'?
How to answer: Describe the crow shaking snow onto him, then explain that it shifted him from regret to hope and saved part of his day.
- 3 marksWhy does Frost choose a crow and a hemlock tree, both usually seen as negative?
How to answer: Argue that the gloomy symbols heighten the surprise — joy arrives from an unexpected, ordinary source rather than a beautiful one.
- 2 marksWhat is the central message of 'Dust of Snow'?
How to answer: State that nature's smallest gestures can heal the mind and renew the human spirit.
- 3 marksIdentify and explain two poetic devices used in 'Dust of Snow'.
How to answer: Name imagery and symbolism; show briefly how the snow works as both a vivid picture and a symbol of change.
- 6 marksHow does the poet's attitude towards nature reflect the theme of the poem?
How to answer: Discuss how an unplanned natural moment becomes restorative, linking the negative symbols, the mood-shift and the message of renewal.
Fire and Ice
- 3 marksWhat do 'fire' and 'ice' symbolise in the poem?
How to answer: Explain that fire represents desire, greed and passion, while ice represents hatred, coldness and indifference.
- 3 marksWhy does the poet say the world could end twice?
How to answer: Show that both desire (fire) and hatred (ice) are independently capable of destroying the world, so either could cause its end.
- 6 marksHow is 'Fire and Ice' a comment on human nature rather than the planet?
How to answer: Argue that Frost uses the end of the world as a metaphor for destructive human emotions; develop how desire and hatred ruin people and societies.
- 3 marksWhat is the tone of 'Fire and Ice' and how does it affect the poem?
How to answer: Identify the calm, conversational tone and explain how the understatement makes the warning more chilling.
- 2 marksWhich is more destructive according to the poet — fire or ice?
How to answer: Note that he leans towards fire/desire first, but treats ice/hatred as equally capable of destruction.
A Tiger in the Zoo
- 6 marksHow does the poet contrast the tiger in the cage with the tiger in the wild?
How to answer: Compare the helpless pacing in the cage with the free, powerful images of stalking prey and roaming the jungle; show how the contrast highlights captivity's cruelty.
- 3 marksWhat is the central message of 'A Tiger in the Zoo'?
How to answer: Explain that wild animals belong in their natural habitat and that caging them strips away their dignity and freedom.
- 2 marksHow does the tiger behave at night in the zoo?
How to answer: Describe him hearing the patrolling cars and staring at the stars, locked and ignored.
- 3 marksIdentify two poetic devices used in the poem and explain their effect.
How to answer: Choose from imagery and personification; show how each builds sympathy for the trapped tiger.
- 3 marksWhy is the tiger's silence and stillness more powerful than open violence?
How to answer: Argue that his quiet rage and controlled pacing express deep, suppressed anger and helplessness more movingly than action would.
How to Tell Wild Animals
- 6 marksHow does the poet create humour in 'How to Tell Wild Animals'?
How to answer: Discuss the absurd 'identification tips', the comic rhymes and exaggeration, and the irony that following the advice means being attacked.
- 3 marksWhy is the poet's method of identifying animals ironic?
How to answer: Explain that you only 'recognise' each animal once it is already attacking you, so the advice is useless and funny.
- 3 marksIdentify two poetic devices that add to the poem's humour.
How to answer: Name alliteration and hyperbole (or irony); show briefly how each builds the comic tone.
- 3 marksWhat is the tone of the poem and how is it achieved?
How to answer: Identify the playful, mocking tone created through wordplay, funny rhymes and exaggeration.
- 2 marksHow does the poet distinguish the leopard and the bear in a comic way?
How to answer: Note the leopard's repeated pounce and the bear's crushing hug as the absurd 'signs'.
The Ball Poem
- 3 marksWhy does the poet not offer the boy money to buy another ball?
How to answer: Explain that money cannot teach the lesson of loss; the boy must learn to cope with losing something he loved.
- 3 marksWhat does the ball symbolise in the poem?
How to answer: Show that the ball represents cherished possessions and the many losses everyone faces in life.
- 6 marksHow does the boy learn about loss and responsibility through this incident?
How to answer: Trace his grief over the ball, the poet's deliberate distance, and how the experience teaches him to accept loss and stand up again.
- 2 marksWhat is the central message of 'The Ball Poem'?
How to answer: State that loss is inevitable and that learning to face it is an essential part of growing up.
- 3 marksIdentify two poetic devices in the poem and explain their effect.
How to answer: Choose symbolism and imagery; show how the ball symbolises loss and how the imagery makes the boy's grief vivid.
Amanda!
- 3 marksWhy does Amanda keep slipping into daydreams?
How to answer: Explain that constant nagging makes her seek escape; her fantasies offer the freedom and peace she lacks.
- 6 marksWhat do Amanda's three daydreams reveal about her desires?
How to answer: Link the mermaid, orphan and Rapunzel images to her longing for freedom, solitude and a life without instructions; develop each briefly.
- 3 marksHow does the poem criticise over-strict parenting?
How to answer: Show that endless correction silences the child and pushes her to withdraw into imagination instead of responding.
- 3 marksIdentify two poetic devices used in the poem and explain their effect.
How to answer: Choose allusion and imagery; show how each conveys Amanda's wish to escape.
- 2 marksWhat is the significance of the title 'Amanda!'?
How to answer: Note that the exclamation captures the repeated, irritated calling that pressures the child.
The Trees
- 3 marksWhat do the trees and the house symbolise in the poem?
How to answer: Explain that the house stands for confinement and the trees/forest stand for freedom and the natural world reclaiming itself.
- 3 marksHow does the poet use personification to present the trees?
How to answer: Show how the trees strain, move and break out as if they were living beings determined to be free.
- 6 marksHow can 'The Trees' be read as a poem about freedom and the position of women?
How to answer: Develop the trees as a metaphor for the confined — especially women — escaping oppression and asserting independence.
- 2 marksWhat is the central message of the poem?
How to answer: State that nature and the spirit of freedom cannot be confined forever and will return to where they belong.
- 3 marksWhy is the night-time setting significant in the poem?
How to answer: Argue that the darkness gives the escape a quiet, gathering, almost secret strength before the break to freedom.
Fog
- 3 marksHow does Sandburg compare the fog to a cat?
How to answer: Explain the extended metaphor: the fog arrives on silent feet, sits and watches, then moves on, just like a cat.
- 2 marksWhat is the central idea of the poem 'Fog'?
How to answer: State that it captures the silent, brief and mysterious arrival and departure of fog through one fresh image.
- 6 marksWhy is the comparison of fog to a cat effective?
How to answer: Develop how a cat's silent movement, watchful stillness and sudden departure perfectly mirror the qualities of fog, making an abstract thing vivid.
- 3 marksIdentify the main poetic device in the poem and explain it.
How to answer: Name the extended metaphor and show how every line builds the single fog–cat comparison.
- 3 marksHow does the form of the poem suit its subject?
How to answer: Argue that the short, unrhymed free verse mirrors the brief, quiet presence of fog.
The Tale of Custard the Dragon
- 3 marksHow does Custard the dragon prove that he is not really a coward?
How to answer: Describe how, when the pirate attacks, Custard fights and gobbles him up while the 'brave' pets flee.
- 3 marksWhat is the central message of the poem?
How to answer: Explain that real courage is shown through action, and those who boast most are often the most cowardly.
- 6 marksHow does Ogden Nash create humour in the poem?
How to answer: Discuss the comic characters, the irony of the brave-talkers fleeing, the bouncy rhymes and exaggeration that make it funny.
- 3 marksHow is irony used in 'The Tale of Custard the Dragon'?
How to answer: Show that the animal mocked as a coward turns out to be the bravest, reversing everyone's expectations.
- 2 marksDescribe Belinda and her pets at the start of the poem.
How to answer: Note Belinda with her boastful kitten, mouse and dog, and Custard the dragon mocked as timid.
For Anne Gregory
- 3 marksWhat does the 'yellow hair' symbolise in the poem?
How to answer: Explain that the golden hair stands for outward, physical beauty that attracts people superficially.
- 3 marksWhy does the speaker say only God could love Anne for herself alone?
How to answer: Show that human love is drawn to appearance, so truly selfless, inner-directed love belongs to the divine.
- 6 marksHow does the poem contrast physical beauty with inner worth?
How to answer: Develop the speaker's view that men love her looks, Anne's wish to be loved for herself, and the conclusion about selfless love; link to the theme.
- 3 marksWhat does Anne Gregory propose, and how does the speaker respond?
How to answer: State that Anne offers to change her hair colour; the speaker replies that attraction to beauty cannot be avoided so easily.
- 2 marksWhat is the central message of 'For Anne Gregory'?
How to answer: Note that genuine love should value the inner self over outward appearance.