Question 2 - Chapter 5 - The Tale of Melon City - Snapshot - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

O King, you do not realise

 The bricks were made of the wrong size.’

 ‘Summon the masons!’ said the King. 

The masons stood there quivering.

 ‘It was the architect...’, they said, 

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

(The tale of the Melon city)

Question (i)

What is the name of the small thing that the king had forgotten?

1. The arch
2. The crown
3. The law
4. The size

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(c) The law

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to identify the name of the small thing that the king had forgotten in the extract. 🕵️‍♂️
• The last sentence of the extract tells us that the architect said to the king, "You have forgotten one small thing." This means that there was something that the king did not remember or consider that was important or relevant. 🤔
• The previous part of the chapter tells us that the law of the land was that whoever passed under the arch and lost his crown would be hanged. This means that there was a rule or principle that governed the actions or behavior of the people in the city. ⚖️
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can conclude that the name of the small thing that the king had forgotten was the law. ✔️

Question (ii)

What does the phrase 'stood there quivering' imply about the masons' emotion?

1. They were excited and eager
2. They were scared and nervous
3. They were angry and defiant
4. They were bored and indifferent

Answer:

-lock-

Answer as written by the student:

(b) They were scared and nervous

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the phrase 'stood there quivering' means and how it relates to the masons' emotion in the extract. 📚
• The word "stood" means be in or rise to an upright position, typically supported by one's feet; or remain or be situated in a specified position; or adopt a particular attitude towards a situation or issue; or put forward for consideration or attention; or endure or tolerate a situation; or be at a specified level on (a scale) or compare with (a norm). It implies that we need to focus on the posture or position of something or someone. 🚶‍♂️
• The word "there" means in, at, or to that place or position; or used when pointing or gesturing to indicate a place; or used to indicate one's role in a particular situation; or used to indicate an approximate amount; or used to emphasize something; or used to comfort someone; or used in expressions indicating annoyance at something. It implies that we need to focus on the location or situation of something or someone. 👉
• The word "quivering" means tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion; or cause (something) to tremble; or vary slightly from a fixed point, position, or direction; or feel an emotion so strongly as to be visibly shaken by it; or speak in a trembling voice; or archaic term for shiver (verb). It implies that we need to focus on the movement or expression of something or someone. 🥶
• Therefore, the phrase 'stood there quivering' means remained or were situated in a specified place or position and trembled or shook with a slight rapid motion; or felt an emotion so strongly as to be visibly shaken by it; or spoke in a trembling voice. 😰
• This implies something about the masons' emotion in the extract. It suggests that they were feeling a strong emotion that made them tremble or shake slightly and visibly. It also suggests that they were feeling an emotion that was negative or unpleasant, such as fear, anxiety, coldness etc. 😱
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the phrase 'stood there quivering' implies that the masons' emotion was scared and nervous. ✔️

Question (iii)

Complete the sentence appropriately.

The word "ordain" means ____________.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The word "ordain" means order or decree; or make someone a priest or minister.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the word "ordain" means and how to complete the sentence appropriately. 📚
• The word "ordain" means order or decree something officially; or make someone a priest or minister; or confer holy orders on someone; or (of God, fate, or destiny) prescribe or determine something. It implies that we need to focus on the action or authority of something or someone. 🙏
• Therefore, to complete the sentence appropriately, we need to use a word or phrase that describes the action or authority of something or someone that ordains. 🙌
• The word or phrase that best describes the action or authority of something or someone that ordains is order or decree; or make someone a priest or minister. This word or phrase captures the idea that something or someone that ordains is commanding or instructing something officially; or conferring a religious status or function on someone. 📜
• Therefore, based on this clue, we can complete the sentence appropriately by saying that the word "ordain" means order or decree; or make someone a priest or minister. ✔️

Question (iv)

Identify the line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the king was blaming others for his own fault.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the king was blaming others for his own fault is "The King said, ‘This is a disgrace. The chief of builders will be hanged.’"

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the line from the text that supports the fact that the king was blaming others for his own fault. 🔎
• The word "evidence" means facts or information that indicate or prove something. It implies that we need to find a specific sentence or phrase from the text that shows or confirms something. 📝
• The word "fact" means something that is true or real. It implies that we need to find a line from the text that is based on reality and not on opinion or inference. 📌
• The fact that we need to support is that the king was blaming others for his own fault. This means that we need to find evidence that shows that he was accusing or holding someone else responsible for something that he did wrong or failed to do right. 😠
• The line from the text that bears evidence to this fact is "The King said, ‘This is a disgrace. The chief of builders will be hanged.’" This line shows that he was accusing or holding someone else responsible for something that he did wrong or failed to do right. It shows that he blamed and punished the chief of builders for losing his crown under the arch, even though it was his own fault for ordering to build an arch too low. It also shows that he did not admit his mistake or apologize for it, but rather acted as if he was innocent and righteous. 😡
• Therefore, based on this evidence, we can identify this line as the one that bears evidence to the fact that the king was blaming others for his own fault. ✔️

Question (v)

What does the term 'summoned' indicate about the king's authority?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The term 'summoned' indicates that the king's authority was high and powerful.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the term 'summoned' means and how it relates to the king's authority in the extract. 📞
• The word "summoned" means authoritatively or urgently call on someone to be present; especially as a defendant or witness in a law court; or order someone to do something; especially with urgency; or call people to attend a meeting; especially an official one; or rouse (someone) from sleep; awaken; arouse (a feeling) in someone; evoke (a spirit) by incantation; conjure up etc. It implies that we need to focus on the command or request of something or someone. 🗣️
• Therefore, the term 'summoned' means authoritatively or urgently called on someone to be present; especially as a defendant or witness in a law court; ordered someone to do something; especially with urgency; called people to attend a meeting; especially an official one; roused (someone) from sleep; awakened; aroused (a feeling) in someone; evoked (a spirit) by incantation; conjured up etc. 🙋‍♂️
• This indicates something about the king's authority in the extract. It suggests that he had the power or right to give orders or make decisions that others had to obey or follow. It also suggests that he had the influence or respect to make others do what he wanted or needed. 👑
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the term 'summoned' indicates that the king's authority was high and powerful. ✔️

Question (vi)

Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?

1. A King's Ignorance and Arrogance
2. A King's Curiosity and Intelligence
3. A King's Forgiveness and Kindness
4. A King's Humor and Wit

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) A King's Ignorance and Arrogance

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract. 🗞️
• The word "headline" means a short phrase or sentence that summarizes the main point or theme of a text. It implies that we need to find a concise and catchy way to express the essence or message of the extract. 📣
• The word "central idea" means the most important or essential thought or concept that a text conveys. It implies that we need to find the main purpose or intention of the extract. 🎯
• The central idea of the extract is that a king who blames and orders to hang the chief of builders for losing his crown under an arch forgets a small thing, which is the law of the land. This means that we need to find a headline that captures this idea in a simple and effective way. 🙌
• The headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract is A. A King's Ignorance and Arrogance. This headline summarizes the main point of the extract, which is that a king shows ignorance and arrogance by blaming and punishing others for his own mistake and forgetting his own law. It also creates interest and curiosity in the reader, who would want to know more about what happens next and how the story ends. 🤩
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can choose A. A King's Ignorance and Arrogance as the headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract. ✔️

-endlock-