प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
Class - 12
English Elective
1. Freedom - G.B. Shaw
Q1. Point out the difference between the slavery of man to
Nature and the unnatural slavery of man to Man.
Ans-
Man's slavery to nature is joyful. We feel great pleasure in fulfilling our
natural needs. It is pleasant to eat, drink and sleep. But the slavery of man
to man is unnatural. It is hateful both physically and spiritually. It leads to
class war between the rich and the poor, the slaves and their masters, the
workers and the capitalists. Obviously, there cannot be any peace in society
unless this class war ends.
Q 2. What are the ways in which people are subjected to greater
control in the personal spheres than in the wider political sphere?
Ans-
According to Shaw, there are two spheres of working of man. But mostly people
are controlled in their personal sphere. In the personal zone, people can work
as per their own choice and requirements. They cast their vote for their own
class. They have a lot of time to do their work. This is because common people
are not interested in representing the political sphere. But in the political
sphere people are not so free. Common people are generally neglected in the
wider political sphere. Apart from that, people are fond of living in a safe
zone. So they hesitate entering the political zone. They have their own work
which they prefer to do. So people tend to be controlled more in the personal
sphere than in the political sphere.
Q3. List the common misconceptions about 'freedom' that Shaw
tries to debunk.
Ans-
Shaw wants to debunk many false notions about freedom. The major misconception
about freedom that Shaw points out is that the people of England don't know
what freedom is, and they never enjoyed real freedom yet they are misleading
themselves without the knowledge of the real meaning of freedom. He says that
in a civilized society we are bound to follow rules, laws and pay taxes. For
this purpose, man works hard to earn his livelihood and they are so indulged in
their work that they forget even to take rest. This is why they don't even know
what freedom is.
They
merely consider it leisure. This misleading conception does not let them enjoy
freedom and they keep on roaring for more leisure and more money for their all
honest labour. They also think that freedom is enjoyed only by the people who
belong to master class not to the slave class.
Q4. Why, according to Krishnamurti, are the concepts. of freedom
and discipline contradictory to one another?
Ans-
According to Krishnamurthy, the concepts of freedom and discipline are
contradictory to each other because (i) Discipline is the cultivation of
resistance to
something
which is understood as wrong. It requires understanding what is wrong and what
is right. However freedom gives free hand to act as one's liking. Krishnamurthi
inquires whether a man can ever be free as long as he lives in a prison.
(ii)
Discipline is imposed by others while freedom. comes from within.
(iii)
Freedom is a state to think and to inquire so that one begins to find out for
oneself while imitating others is discipline.
Q 5. How does the process of inquiry lead to true freedom?
Ans-
It is a fact that we have a long series of questions that we want to know
about. But we do not care to get the answer for each and every question, while
the process of inquiry leads us to real freedom because when we want to ask
some questions, we'll have to think about it deeply. We'll have to peep into
the soul of the questions. This process creates our sensitivity. It requires
our alertness and perceptions. A constant inquiry enables us to think about
what is right and what is wrong. It enables us to think about true freedom.
Thus, the constant inquiry leads us to true freedom.
Q 6. What are the links between natural jobs, labour and
slavery?
Ans-
According to Shaw, human beings need a lot of things to continue life and life
processes on earth. For survival, human beings need things to eat and drink,
wash, dress and undress. Thus, this regular work is our natural job but these
natural jobs can not be completed without human labour because we need many
things everyday like food to eat, clothes to cover our body, bed to sleep,
fireplaces and many other such things. All these things are produced by human
labour. But when a human being employs labourer for the production of these
things, gradually, he makes them slave. Thus, natural jobs, labour and slavery
are inter-related.
Q7. What ought to be the object of all governments, and what do
we actually find it to be?
Ans-
Shaw says that the object of all honest government should be to prevent the
unnatural slavery of man to man. But he regretfully observes that the actual
motive of all governments is just the opposite. The government simply enforces
the slavery of man to man and calls it freedom. They also regulate the norms of
slavery and try to keep the greed of the master class within bounds. This does
not leave the repressed class any fear because they have to choose between one
master and the other.
Q 8. What causes the master class to be more deluded than the
enslaved classes?
Ans-
According to G.B. Shaw the master class are trained in nursery and public
schools then in universities that it is freedom to get they works done by
others like wage- slaves and employees. The master class uses them for mending
and washing the clothes, carrying their parcels and so on. The master class are
told that they are fine fellows and superior to the common man. Thus, the
master class shift their slavery from nature to people whom he thinks as
slaves. So the master class is more deluded than the enslaved classes.
Q9. According to Aristotle, what are the conditions to be
fulfilled for the common people to accept law and order, and government, and
all that they imply?
Ans-
G.B. Shaw very humorously and mockingly quotes Aristotle. The great
philosopher, Aristotle says that such conditions should be developed so that
the common man may accept law and order, and government. It is true that slave
class follows the master class so the people of master class should be well
dressed and decorated. They should create an impression in the minds of slave
class that they have a god-like appearance. They should pretend to be very rich
and superior to slave class. They should speak a refined language to impress
them. They should get services only at one ringing bell. Everything including
their travel, coaches, horses should be luxurious. All these things will
impress the common man and they will work according to the master class.
Q 10. How can reasonable laws, impartially administered,
contribute to one's freedom?
Ans-
Undoubtedly, reasonable laws impartially administered contribute to our freedom
a lot. It happens through political weapons of vote. To take advantage of the
vote, it is necessary that we should exercise our vote with utmost honesty. We
should choose the best candidate without keeping in our mind caste, creed or
religion. If they face any difficulty, they collectively can raise their voice.
Thus, we can save ourselves from the clutches of master class. We shall be
free. And then, we can do our tasks according to our wishes.. Administration
should also implement the laws impartially.
Q 11. What are the ways in which individual freedom gets
restricted?
Ans-
According to Shaw there are a lot of ways in which
individual
freedom gets restricted. First of all, man is a slave to his own bodily desires
and needs. Secondly he becomes a slave to the fancies of employers to whom he
has to remain obedient in order to feed himself and his family. Thirdly, he is
slave to his landlord. Fourthly, the Government of his country which extracts
income tax from him. Then by the education given to him by the government
institution. Finally his independence is mocked at through the flawed
institution of voting and democracy
Q 12. Why do most people find it easier to conform, imitate, and
follow a self-appointed guru?
Ans-
J. Krishnamurti is a modern writer. He does not believe in the customs and
traditions. He wants people to adopt something new. He wants people not to
follow others. Instead, they should frame their own rules. We should not accept
the traditions otherwise we conform and start to imitate others. The writer
regrets that there are so many people who never try to find out something new
within them. No doubt, it is a hard way to achieve. To get something new, we
need dedication, perception and constant inquiry. But we choose a simple way
when we choose someone, our leader, teacher or Guru. In doing so, people don't
want to work hard, instead they want their work to be done by others so that
they may lead a carefree life.
Q 13. What is the inward struggle that the author refers to?
Ans-
The author J. Krishnamurthi says that discipline and freedom are contradictory.
Our intelligence demands that we should break away from tradition and live on
our own: but we are enclosed by our parents' ideas of what we should do and
what we should not do. We want to do something but our parents and teachers say
'Don't. So there is an inward struggle going on. Thus, the inward struggle is
caused by discipline.
Q 14. What is the theme of freedom?
Ans-
Shaw in his essay, 'On Freedom' looks at how the government and employers
enslave those under them. for their own benefit. Shaw examines how we have
certain things we need such as food, clothing, shelter and sleep but he wonders
why we work eight to fourteen hours a day to achieve this. He states that in
nature it is not so, animals such as bees enjoy the direct fruits of their
labour, unless man intervenes. He wonders why man cannot enjoy the benefit of
his own work
Q 15. Why does Shaw think that no man is perfectly free?
Ans-
Shaw is an eminent writer and dramatist. He thinks that
it
is impossible that a man can be perfectly free. The reason behind this is that
human beings sleep for one third of their lifetime, wash, dress and undress,
they spend a couple of hours eating and drinking and a lot of time travelling
from one place to another. They are slaves to their natural requirement for
half of the day which they cannot shirk. Thus, they can never be perfectly
free.
Q 16. What is your opinion about the statement that all the
social and governmental regulations aim at regulating man's slavery?
Ans-
In my opinion the object of Governments should be to make man free from
slavery. But the actual motive of all the governments is just the opposite. The
government regulates the laws and call it to be freedom but the fact is that it
is enforced slavery of man to man. The slave class is not free at all as the
government regulates the norms of slavery so man has to choose between this or
that master.
Q 17. What are the views of G.B. Shaw regarding the right to
vote?
Ans-
Shaw has a very critical opinion about voting. He considers that the
governments only deceive the people with this weapon. The people think that
they govern the country by choosing the Government or the representatives
through their vote but the fact is that they have to choose one of the rich
candidates who is divorced from the sorrows and sufferings of the common
people. Thus, people are not free at all to do whatever they like, though it
happens in the name of vote.
Q 18. What does Shaw say about the freedom achievement of some
people in the middle ages?
Ans-
Shaw mocks at attaining the freedom of some people in ancient times. He makes
fun of countries like America and England that if they were attacked they would
protect themselves. When they got victory, they called it the glorious triumph
of patriotism. Shaw says in a mocking way, the victory of Waterloo and
Trafalgar, the changing of Germany, Austrian, Russian and Ottoman empires into
republics, the signing of Magna Carta, defeat of Spanish Armada was the
attaining of freedom.
Q 19. What does Shaw say about the retirement and writing hours
of people?
Ans-
Shaw is discussing the concept of freedom. He says that absolute freedom is
impossible. He wants his readers to decide whether they would like to work
eight hours everyday and retire with a full pension at the age of forty five
years or they would like to work only four hours a day and retire at the age of
seventy. But he wants people not to not reply to him. Rather they should
discuss it with their wives.
Q 20. What do you know about chattel slavery?"
Ans-
G.B. Shaw, being a renowned writer, had a deep knowledge of matters and a
concern for humanity. So he is bold enough to criticize any thing that he
thinks to be wrong. In this regard, he criticizes chattel slavery which means
that slaves were considered to be personal property of master class. Earlier
even women were regarded as personal property. The children of negro slaves
were regarded as personal property too. Thus, chattel slavery is applied for
Negro slavery.
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. Who wrote the essay 'Freedom'?
a. G.B. Shaw
b.
Virginia Woolf
c.
D.H. Lawrence
d.
Amartya Sen
2.When was G.B. Shaw born?
a. 1856
b.
1857
c.
1858
d.
1859
3. When did G.B. Shaw pass away?
a.
1949
b. 1950
c.
1951
d.
1952
4. What was G.B. Shaw?
a.
Novelist
b.
Dramatist
c.
Critic
d. All of the above
5. Which is/are the novel(s) of G.B. Shaw?
a.
Arms and the Man
b.
Candida
c.
Man and Superman
d. All of the above
6. What is the central idea of the essay 'Freedom'?
a. Freedom
b.
Slavery
c.
Happiness
d.
None of the above
7. "For half the day we are slaves to.......... which we
can not shirk." Fill in the blank.
a. Necessities
b.
Problems
c.
Happiness
d.
None of the above
8. Who has freedom according to the writer?
a.
Monarchs
b.
Slaves
c.
Wives
d. None of the above
9. Which jobs cannot be shirked by us?
a.
Professional
b.
Personal
c. Natural
d.
None of the above
10. "So beware! If you allow any person, or class of
persons, to get the upper hand of you, he will shift all that part of his
slavery to............" Fill in the blank.
a. Nature
b.
Society
c.
Government
d.
None of the above
11. What assures the voter that his vote has decided the
election as per the writer?
a.
Magazines
b.
Generals
c. Newspapers
d.
None of the above
12. Which types of slavery are mentioned in the essay 'Freedom'?
a.
Natural Slavery
b.
Unnatural Slavery
c. Both A and B
d.
None of the above
13. What is unnatural slavery?
a.
Slavery of man to Nature
b. Slavery of man to man
c.
Both A and B
d.
None of the above
14. Which class(es) prevent(s) us from realising our slavery?
a. The master class
b.
The servant class
c.
Both A and B
d.
None of the above
15. Who won freedom for us?
a. Our forefathers
b.
Our fathers
c.
Our mothers
d.
None of the above
16. Which famous writers are regarded as atheists and
libertines?
a.
Voltaire
b.
Karl Marx
c.
Lenin
d. All of the above
17. Which facts are mentioned in the essay 'Freedom'?
a.
Natural facts
b.
Historical facts
c. Both A and B
d.
None of the above
18. "In short, it is contended, you must make men ignorant
idolaters before they will become …….. workers and law-abiding citizens."
Fill in the blank.
a. Obedient
b.
Lazy
c.
Laborious
d.
peaceful
19. How many voters are common voters according to the writer?
a.
Six out of ten
b.
Seven out of ten
c.
Eight out of ten
d. Nine out of ten
20. What cannot be cultivated according to the writer?
a.
The sky
b.
The earth
c. Both A and B
d.
None of the above
21. For how many hours of the day Nature orders us to do certain
things?
a.
At least ten hours
b.
At least eleven hours
c. At least twelve hours
d.
At least thirteen hours
22. How many hours are left for working?
a.
Ten hours
b.
Eleven hours
c. Twelve hours
d.
Thirteen hours
23. Which laws restrict our freedom in a civilised society?
a. The laws of the land
b.
The laws of the labour
c.
The laws of the freedom
d.
All of the above
24. "Put money in thy purse." Who wrote this line?
a. Shakespeare
b.
G.B. Shaw
c.
Virginia Woolf
d.
D.H. Lawrence
25. I will, therefore, leave you with a conundrum to think over.
If you had your choice, would you work for eight hours a day and retire with a
full pension at forty-five, or would you rather work four hours a day and keep
on working until you are …..? Fill in the blank.
a.
Forty
b.
Sixty
c. Seventy
d. Eighty
JCERT/JAC English Elective प्रश्न बैंक - सह - उत्तर पुस्तक (Question Bank-Cum-Answer Book)
English Elective Contents
Short Stories | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
Poetry | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
7. | |
8. | |
Non-Fiction | |
1. | |
2. | |
3. | |
4. | |
5. | |
6. | |
Drama | |
1. | |
2. | |
Novel | |
1. | |
2. | |
