Comprehension

At last, around four in the afternoon, the poet (or the editor) arrived. He was a tall man, very English, very serious and of course very unknown to all of us. Battling with half a dozen pedestal fans on the shooting stage, The Boss read out a long speech. It was obvious that he too knew precious little about the poet (or the editor). The speech was all in the most general terms but here and there it was peppered with words like 'freedom' and 'democracy'. Then the poet spoke. He couldn't have addressed a more dazed and silent audience — no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying.

(Poets and Pancakes)

Question: 1

Give a brief description of the editor.

Show Hint

Look for adjectives that describe a person's appearance and demeanor. In this case, words like 'tall,' 'English,' and 'serious' help create a clear image of the editor.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Solution and Explanation

The editor is described as a tall, very English, and very serious man. He was an unknown figure to the audience, indicating that he was not familiar to the people present. His serious demeanor added to the formality of the situation, creating a sense of distance between him and the audience.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 2

The Boss's long speech and the visitor's serious demeanor indicate.........

Show Hint

When characters display formal or serious behavior, it often reflects a sense of distance or unfamiliarity with the situation.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Solution and Explanation

The Boss's long speech and the visitor's serious demeanor indicate a sense of formality and unfamiliarity. Both the Boss's general speech and the visitor's serious manner contributed to an air of professionalism or detachment, further underscoring the sense of unfamiliarity the audience felt towards the poet and the occasion.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 3

The poet addressed .........(a puzzled/an enthusiastic) audience.

Show Hint

Pay attention to words like 'dazed' or 'silent' to identify the mood or response of an audience. In this case, these words show that the audience was puzzled.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Solution and Explanation

The poet addressed a puzzled audience. The extract describes how the audience was dazed and silent, indicating that they were confused and unable to understand the poet's speech. This reaction reflects the audience's puzzled state.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 4

What, added as a last straw, made the poet's speech difficult to understand?

Show Hint

Sometimes, difficulties in communication are emphasized through descriptions of accents or speech patterns. In this case, the poet's accent made his speech even harder to follow.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Solution and Explanation

The poet's speech became even more difficult to understand due to his accent. The extract mentions that his accent defeated any attempt to comprehend what he was saying, making it a significant barrier to understanding his speech.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 5

Select the textual option that is closest to indicating a sense of unfamiliarity about the poet (or the editor).

Show Hint

Look for phrases that explicitly mention unfamiliarity or lack of recognition. In this case, 'very unknown' directly expresses this sense of unfamiliarity.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
  • He was a tall man, very English.
  • Battling with half a dozen pedestal fans on the shooting stage.
  • Very serious and of course very unknown to all of us.
  • The Boss read out a long speech.
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Option (C) "Very serious and of course very unknown to all of us" indicates the sense of unfamiliarity about the poet (or the editor). The phrase highlights that the poet was unknown to the audience, suggesting a sense of detachment or unfamiliarity with the people present.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Question: 6

Why was the speech by The Boss in 'most general terms'?

Show Hint

When a speech or statement is vague or general, it often indicates a lack of knowledge or understanding of the subject. Look for references to unfamiliarity or lack of detail.
Updated On: Jul 5, 2025
Hide Solution
collegedunia
Verified By Collegedunia

Solution and Explanation

The speech by The Boss was in 'most general terms' because he knew little about the poet or the situation. The extract indicates that the Boss was unfamiliar with the poet, so his speech was vague and general, using terms like 'freedom' and 'democracy' without addressing anything specific. This reflects his lack of knowledge about the poet and his work.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0

Top Questions on Poets and pancakes

View More Questions

Questions Asked in CBSE CLASS XII exam

View More Questions