Short-answer literature questions, about 40-50 words each.

1. True or False: The poem suggests that many empty words can satisfy the heart. TRUE-FALSE
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How to answer: Compare the statement with the poem's main idea about empty words.
Statement True / False Why
The poem suggests that many empty words can satisfy the heart. False The poem says empty words leave only empty air and do not touch the heart.

Yeh statement false hai, kyunki poem kehti hai ki empty words dil ko satisfy nahi karte.

2. True or False: A few sincere words can give deeper joy than many empty words. TRUE-FALSE
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How to answer: Use the stanza that compares a little truly said with hosts of words.
Statement True / False Why
A few sincere words can give deeper joy than many empty words. True The poem says a little truly said can impart deeper joy than many words that only reach the head.

Yeh statement true hai, kyunki few sincere words zyada deep joy de sakte hain.

3. True or False: The image of fruitless plants shows that showy words may have no useful result. TRUE-FALSE
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How to answer: Connect the plant image to the poem's warning about showy words.
Statement True / False Why
The image of fruitless plants shows that showy words may have no useful result. True The poem compares showy words to plants full of blossom but unable to grow even one particle of fruit.

Yeh statement true hai, kyunki fruitless plants showy par useless words dikhate hain.

4. 1. Why does the poet compare words to ‘summer birds’?
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How to answer: Explain what summer birds do, link to empty words, name the simile.
Answer: Summer birds come for a short season and then fly away, leaving nothing behind. The poet compares empty words to them to show that such words do not last – they sound nice for a moment, then vanish, leaving only “empty air”. It is a simile .
5. 2. What is the difference between words that ‘reach the head’ and words that ‘touch the heart’?
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How to answer: Contrast mind and feelings; name the device.
Answer: Words that reach the head are only understood by the mind. Words that touch the heart move our feelings. The poet says many words may reach the head, but only sincere words touch the heart and give real joy. This is antithesis .
6. 3. Why does the poet call the heart ‘a pilgrim upon earth’?
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How to answer: Say life is a journey, the heart searches; name the metaphor.
Answer: The poet calls the heart a pilgrim because life is a long journey full of ups and downs. Like a traveller searching for peace, the heart keeps looking for true comfort but often finds words worthless. It is a metaphor .
7. 4. How does the last stanza use plant imagery to make its point?
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How to answer: Link showy, fruitless plants to empty, showy words.
Answer: The poet compares empty words to plants full of bright flowers that grow no fruit . Such plants look flashy but are useless. In the same way, showy words may sound impressive but give nothing of real value .
8. 5. What does ‘a little said, and truly said’ teach us?
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How to answer: Stress honesty over number; quality over quantity.
Answer: It teaches that a few honest words spoken from the heart give deeper joy than a flood of empty words. The poet values sincerity over number – quality of words matters more than quantity.
9. 6. What is the overall message of the poem ‘Words’?
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How to answer: State the contrast and end with the clear message.
Answer: The poem teaches that empty, showy words are worthless , like summer birds, weeds or fruitless plants. A few true, heartfelt words are far more precious. The message is: speak less, but speak sincerely and from the heart .
10. How does repetition of the word “words” strengthen the poem? SHORT-3
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How to answer: Mention repetition first, then explain its effect.
The repetition keeps the reader focused on the poem’s central idea: words can be empty or meaningful . By repeating the word, the poet makes us compare mere speech with true feeling .

Words baar-baar aata hai taaki main idea clear rahe.

11. How does the poet portray words as weak when they are not sincere? COM-1
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How to answer: Use two or three images from the poem.
The poet portrays empty words as weak and temporary . He compares them to summer birds , weeds and plants without fruit .

Poet empty words ko weak dikhata hai.

12. How does the poem juxtapose many empty words with a few true words? COM-3
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How to answer: Show the contrast between quantity and sincerity.
The poem places hosts of words against a little said, and truly said . This contrast shows that many words may reach only the head, while a few sincere words can touch the heart .

Poem bahut saare empty words ko few true words ke against rakhti hai.

13. Explain how the poet uses similes to show that empty words have little value. Q8-3
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How to answer: Quote or name one image, then link it to the message.
The poet compares empty words to summer birds and weeds . These similes show that such words either fly away or have little worth.

Similes se message clear hota hai: empty words ki value kam hai .

14. What does the image of the lonely home suggest about the need for sincere words? Q8-4
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How to answer: Link image to emotion.
The lonely home suggests sadness and emotional emptiness. A few sincere words can cheer such a place and bring warmth.

Lonely home sadness dikhata hai, jise true words cheer kar sakte hain.

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