Question 4 - Chapter 5 - The Tale of Melon City - Snapshot - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

‘Long live the King!’ the Ministers said.

 ‘Long live the King! The King is dead.’

 They pondered the dilemma; then,

 Being practical-minded men, 

Sent out the heralds to proclaim

 (In His [former] Majesty’s name):

(The tale of the Melon city)

Question (i)

What is the name of the dilemma that the ministers faced?

1. The king's death
2. The king's crown
3. The king's successor
4. The king's law

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(c) The king's successor

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the name of the dilemma that the ministers faced in the extract. 🕵️‍♂️
• The first sentence of the extract tells us that they said "Long live the King! The King is dead." This means that they faced a contradiction or paradox between their wish and their reality; they wanted the king to live long but he was already dead. 😕
• The second sentence of the extract tells us that they pondered the dilemma; then, being practical-minded men, sent out heralds to proclaim something in his name. This means that they faced a problem or difficulty that required a decision or action; they had to announce something about the king and his kingdom after his death. 🤔
• 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; and that the king was hanged under his own law after losing his crown under the arch. This means that they faced a situation or circumstance that was ironic or unjust; they had to follow a law that was made by the king but killed him. 😮
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can conclude that the name of the dilemma that the ministers faced was the king's successor. This was the problem or difficulty that required a decision or action; they had to announce who would rule after the king's death. ✔️

Question (ii)

What does the phrase 'practical-minded men' imply about the ministers' attitude?

1. They were realistic and sensible
2. They were idealistic and creative
3. They were pessimistic and cynical
4. They were optimistic and enthusiastic

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) They were realistic and sensible

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the phrase 'practical-minded men' means and how it relates to the ministers' attitude in the extract. 📚
• The word "practical" means of or concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas; or sensible and realistic in their approach to a situation or problem; or likely to succeed or be effective in real circumstances; feasible; or (of an idea, plan, or method) likely to be effective or successful in practice; workable; or (of a person) skilled at manual tasks; handy; or (of knowledge) acquired by doing rather than studying; empirical etc. It implies that we need to focus on the action or result aspect of the word. 🛠️
• The word "minded" means having a particular interest in or liking for something; inclined to think in a particular way; having a specified kind of mind etc. It implies that we need to focus on the interest or preference aspect of the word. 🧠
• The word "men" means adult human males; human beings in general; people; workers; staff etc. It implies that we need to focus on the gender or group aspect of the word. 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦
• Therefore, the phrase 'practical-minded men' means adult human males who have a particular interest in or liking for being concerned with the actual doing or use of something rather than with theory and ideas; or being sensible and realistic in their approach to a situation or problem etc. 🙋‍♂️
• This implies something about their attitude in the extract. It suggests that they had a way of thinking or feeling about things that was based on facts and logic rather than on emotions and imagination. It also suggests that they had a way of dealing with things that was efficient and effective rather than complicated and risky. 😎
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the phrase 'practical-minded men' implies that their attitude was realistic and sensible. ✔️

Question (iii)

Complete the sentence appropriately.

The word "heralds" means ____________.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The word "heralds" means official messengers bringing news; or signs that something is about to happen.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the word "heralds" means and how to complete the sentence appropriately. 📚
•  The word "heralds" means official messengers bringing news; or signs that something is about to happen; or a person or thing viewed as a sign that something is about to happen; or an official formerly charged with making royal proclamations and bearing messages of state between sovereigns; or a person who announces important news; or an official employed to oversee state ceremonial, precedence, and the use of armorial bearings etc. It implies that we need to focus on the communication or indication aspect of the word. 📢
•  Therefore, to complete the sentence appropriately, we need to use a word or phrase that describes the communication or indication aspect of something or someone that is heraldic. 🙌
•  The word or phrase that best describes the communication or indication aspect of something or someone that is heraldic is official messengers bringing news; or signs that something is about to happen. This word or phrase captures the idea that something or someone that is heraldic is conveying or announcing information or events; or predicting or foreshadowing something that will occur. 🗣️
• Therefore, based on this clue, we can complete the sentence appropriately by saying that the word "heralds" means official messengers bringing news; or signs that something is about to happen. ✔️

Question (iv)

Identify the line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the king was hanged.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that the king was hanged is "Long live the King! The King is dead."

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 hanged. 🔎
• 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 hanged. This means that we need to find evidence that shows that he was executed by suspending him by the neck from a gallows, scaffold, or other structure. 😵
• The line from the text that bears evidence to this fact is "Long live the King! The King is dead." This line shows that he was executed by suspending him by the neck from a gallows, scaffold, or other structure. It shows that he was dead, which means that he had ceased to live; he had lost his life. It also shows that he was hanged, which means that he was killed by hanging; he died by hanging. This is implied by the contrast and irony between saying "Long live the King!" and "The King is dead." It suggests that he died suddenly and unexpectedly, and in a way that contradicted his wish and status. 😱
• Therefore, based on this evidence, we can identify this line as the one that bears evidence to the fact that the king was hanged. ✔️

Question (v)

 What does the term 'proclaim' indicate about the ministers' intention?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The term 'proclaim' indicates that the ministers' intention was to announce something publicly or officially.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the term 'proclaim' means and how it relates to the ministers' intention in the extract. 📣
• The word "proclaim" means announce something publicly or officially; declare something one considers important with due emphasis; acknowledge (someone) as having a particular status; indicate clearly; show plainly etc. It implies that we need to focus on the declaration or expression aspect of the verb. 🗣️
• Therefore, the term 'proclaim' means announce something publicly or officially; declare something one considers important with due emphasis; acknowledge (someone) as having a particular status; indicate clearly; show plainly etc. 🙋‍♂️
• This indicates something about their intention in the extract. It suggests that they had a purpose or goal of making something known or recognized by others; especially by authority or formal means. It also suggests that they had a reason or motive of emphasizing something they considered important or relevant; especially for their own benefit or interest. 😎
•  Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the term 'proclaim' indicates that their intention was to announce something publicly or officially. ✔️

Question (vi)

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

1. The Death of a King and the Search for a Successor 
2. The Ministers’ Plan to Save the Kingdom from Chaos 
3. The Irony of a Royal Proclamation and a Practical Solution 
4. The Mystery of a King’s Disappearance and a Former Majesty

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The correct answer is (c) The irony of a royal proclamation and a practical solution.

. Step-by-step explanation of the answer:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what a headline is and what it should do. A headline is a short phrase that summarizes the main idea of a text or a news story. It should capture the reader's attention and interest, and give them a clear idea of what the text is about.
• We also need to understand what irony is and how it is used in literature. Irony is a figure of speech that involves a contrast or contradiction between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant. Irony can be used to create humor, sarcasm, criticism, or surprise in a text.
•  Now, let's look at the four options and see which one best captures the central idea of the extract. The central idea of the extract is that the king is dead and the ministers have to find a way to deal with the situation in a practical manner.
•  Option A, The death of a king and the search for a successor, is too vague and does not mention the irony or the practicality involved in the extract. It sounds like a generic news story that could apply to any kingdom.
•  Option B, The ministers' plan to save the kingdom from chaos, is too specific and does not mention the irony or the proclamation involved in the extract. It sounds like a biased report that favors the ministers' actions.
•  Option C, The irony of a royal proclamation and a practical solution, is the correct answer because it captures both the irony and the practicality involved in the extract. It shows how the ministers use a royal proclamation in the name of the dead king to find a practical solution for the succession problem. It also creates curiosity and interest in the reader by using the word "irony".
•  Option D, The mystery of a king's disappearance and a former majesty, is incorrect because it implies that the king's death is unknown or mysterious, which is not true in the extract. It also does not mention the irony or the practicality involved in the extract.
• Therefore, option C is the best headline for the extract.👏