Question

Select the line/s that suggests the following :
The so-called victors of the wars are indifferent to the consequences of their actions.

• A. environmental conflict
• B. harmful destruction
• C. sustainable peace
• D. continuous deforestation
• A. Both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
• B. Both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
• C. The assertion is true, but the reason is false.
• D. The assertion is false, but the reason is true.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Here are the most telling lines from Robert Southey’s “After Blenheim” that show the so-called victors’ indifference—followed by why each line proves it: 

“‘Why, that I cannot tell,’ said he, / ‘But ’twas a famous victory.’”

What it shows: Old Kaspar admits he doesn’t know why the battle was fought—yet he instantly labels it a “famous victory.” The shrug (“I cannot tell”) plus the proud refrain reveals a learned, unthinking acceptance of war: glory matters; causes and consequences don’t.

“But things like that, you know, must be / At every famous victory.”

What it shows: “Things like that” (a vague, dismissive phrase for mass death and devastation) “must be” normal and inevitable. The line normalizes suffering as the price of fame, capturing the victor’s cold indifference to human cost.

“And everybody praised the Duke / Who this great fight did win.”

What it shows: Public praise is directed at the victor’s prestige (“the Duke”), not at the lives lost. The celebratory focus on the winner eclipses any moral reckoning—again signaling indifference to consequences.

Refrain repeated throughout: “—But ’twas a famous victory.”

What it shows (formally): The refrain is a rhetorical hammer. By repeatedly tagging horrors with the same triumphant tag, the poem mimics the victors’ mentality: fame > facts; reputation > responsibility. The repetition empties the phrase of meaning and exposes the callousness beneath the boast.

Why these lines prove indifference

Evasion + pride: Kaspar’s “I cannot tell” (ignorance) immediately followed by proud labeling (victory) shows a mindset that refuses to examine causes and consequences.

Normalization of harm: “Things like that… must be” recasts preventable suffering as natural and necessary.

Glory over grief: Praising “the Duke” centers prestige, not people.

Structural irony: The cheerful refrain after images of carnage creates a jarring contrast, highlighting how victors (and societies that celebrate them) minimize or ignore the aftermath.

Together, these lines and the refrain’s repetition portray a victor’s viewpoint that is complacent, incurious, and morally numb to the devastation their “famous victory” leaves behind.

Answer 2

The line "would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing" suggests that the so-called victors of the wars are indifferent to the consequences of their actions. Despite having caused harm, they remain unaffected and go about their lives as if nothing happened. This shows their detachment from the devastation caused by their actions.

Answer 3

The given extract from the poem "Keeping Quiet" by Pablo Neruda uses the imagery of "green wars" to depict conflicts that are destructive to the environment, such as wars that involve gas and fire. The phrase "green wars" in this context refers to environmental conflicts and harmful destruction. These concepts are opposed to the idea of "sustainable peace," which is harmonious and enduring. Thus, the imagery of 'green wars' in the extract does not represent "sustainable peace," as this would contradict the destructive imagery portrayed.

Let's break down the options:

• Environmental conflict: The extract refers to wars that harm the environment, aligning with this option.
• Harmful destruction: It references wars with gas and fire leading to destruction, matching this concept.
• Sustainable peace: This contrasts with the destructive nature of 'green wars,' indicating it is not represented by the imagery.
• Continuous deforestation: Although not directly mentioned, deforestation can be inferred as a form of environmental harm, aligning with the imagery.

Therefore, the correct answer is that 'green wars' do not represent sustainable peace.

Answer 4

The term "green wars" is a metaphor that refers to wars fought with environmental consequences such as deforestation, pollution, or the degradation of nature. It does not symbolize "sustainable peace," which would suggest a harmony with the environment. Therefore, the correct answer is (C) sustainable peace.

Answer 5

In the given sentence, the phrase 'clean clothes' does not merely mean clothes that are physically free from dust and dirt. It refers to garments that are neat, tidy, and freshly washed, and which are appropriate for the occasion or situation being talked about. 

The context of such a sentence often implies that the person is being asked or reminded to wear clothes that are presentable and respectable. This could be because they are meeting someone important, attending a ceremony, or going out in public. The emphasis is on personal grooming and appearance as a sign of respect and good manners.

Therefore, in this context, 'clean clothes' refers to:
 

• Freshly washed garments.
• Clothes that are neat, tidy, and unsoiled.
• Attire suitable and proper for the occasion.

Final Completion:
"Would put on clean clothes?" 'Clean clothes' here refers to freshly washed, neat, and presentable garments suitable for the occasion.

Answer 6

'Clean clothes' here refers to the superficial or empty appearance of innocence or normalcy. It symbolizes the unaffected attitude of those who have caused destruction, as they dress themselves in a manner that hides the consequences of their actions. It suggests an attempt to maintain a clean and untroubled exterior despite their involvement in destructive acts.

Answer 7

Phrases like 'victory with no survivors' illustrate the irony in the situation where those claiming victory actually achieve nothing of true value. 

Reasoning:
- Irony refers to a contrast between appearance and reality, or between what is expected and what actually happens.
- Here, a "victory" normally implies success and gain, but "with no survivors" means nothing truly valuable was achieved, which contradicts the usual meaning of victory.
- Satire involves using humor, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize. The sentence is more about contradiction than ridicule, so irony is correct.

Answer 8

The correct word is "irony." The phrase 'victory with no survivors' suggests a situation where the supposed victory is hollow and meaningless, which is the essence of irony. Irony occurs when there is a stark contrast between expectations and reality. In this case, the expected result of victory is complete destruction, which undermines the idea of true success or achievement.

Answer 9

The question asks for the relationship between the assertion and the reason with reference to the provided context. Let's break it down:

Assertion: The poet criticizes the superficial actions of those involved in conflicts.

Reason: The actions described are meant to highlight the futility and destructiveness of wars.

The assertion states that the poet is critical of shallow, insincere behaviors in the context of conflict. The reason then says such actions are depicted to emphasize how pointless and harmful wars are. In the extract from "Keeping Quiet," the poet discusses "green wars" and the irony of achieving "victory with no survivors." This suggests a critical view of how futile and destructive wars are.

 

Assertion	Reason
True	True
The reason correctly explains the assertion as it elaborates on the critique of war through the depiction of its futility and destructiveness.

 

The option that correctly aligns with this reasoning is:

Both the assertion and the reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Answer 10

Both the assertion and the reason are true. The poet indeed criticizes the superficial actions of those involved in conflicts, as they do not reflect the true consequences of their destructive behavior. The reason, which suggests that the poet's actions are meant to highlight the futility and destructiveness of wars, is also true. These actions illustrate the emptiness of war, showing that the so-called victory is often hollow and destructive, which aligns with the poet's criticism. Therefore, the reason correctly explains the assertion.

Answer 11

Here’s the message I’d give to warmongers, drawn straight from the warning in After Blenheim:

Stop glorifying slaughter as “famous victory.” Fame doesn’t cleanse the blood or rebuild a burned village.

If you can’t say why a war is fought, you have no right to praise it. “I cannot tell… but ’twas a famous victory” is not wisdom—it’s moral laziness.

The innocent pay the price. Long after parades end, children still find bones in the fields; families live with grief you never count.

Calling suffering “inevitable” is an abdication of responsibility. “Things like that… must be” is how cruelty hides in plain sight.

Measure victory by lives saved, not enemies killed. Real courage is in preventing wars, healing wounds, and choosing restraint.

Remember the names of the dead, not just the dukes. Center human cost over reputation and rhetoric.

Choose accountability and diplomacy over bravado. Power without conscience breeds only more skulls in the soil.

In short: don’t dress devastation in grand words. If you truly seek honor, pursue the kind of “victory” that leaves no graves behind.

Answer 12

The message to the warmongers, based on the given extract, would be to reflect on the futility of war. The poem highlights the emptiness and destruction that comes with conflicts, where so-called victories are achieved at the cost of human lives and the environment. The warmongers should understand that true victory lies in peace, sustainability, and harmony, not in the annihilation of others. Therefore, they should seek peaceful resolutions and abandon the pursuit of senseless violence.