Class 12 English NCERT
30 Most Important Questions & Answers
Half Yearly Exam Paper 2026-27 | MP Board
Flamingo + Vistas | Mobile Friendly
๐ Flamingo – Prose
1Why was the last lesson so important for the people of Alsace? 3-4 Marks
The last lesson was important because an order from Berlin had come that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. It was the final French lesson. The villagers realised the value of their mother tongue only when they were about to lose it. M. Hamel’s emotional farewell and the presence of old people in the classroom showed their deep love and regret for not learning French earlier.
2Why did Franz feel sorry for not learning his lessons earlier? 2-3 Marks
Franz felt guilty because he had always preferred playing and avoiding school. When he realised it was the last French lesson, he regretted wasting time. He wished he had paid more attention to his lessons, especially the rules of participles, which he never learnt properly.
3How does ‘The Last Lesson’ highlight the importance of one’s mother tongue? 4-5 Marks
The story shows that language is closely linked to one’s identity and culture. When the order to teach only German came, the people of Alsace suddenly realised the value of French. M. Hamel said that when people are enslaved, as long as they hold on to their language, it is as if they have the key to their prison. The emotional atmosphere of the last lesson underlines how precious a mother tongue is.
4What does the phrase “Garbage to them is gold” mean in ‘Lost Spring’? 2-3 Marks
For the ragpickers of Seemapuri, garbage is a means of survival. They scavenge through heaps of waste to find items that can be sold. What others throw away becomes a source of income and sometimes even a means of finding unexpected valuables for these poor children and families.
5Describe the plight of the bangle makers of Firozabad. 4-5 Marks
The bangle makers of Firozabad live in extreme poverty and work in dingy, unhygienic conditions near hot furnaces. Children work from a young age, often losing their eyesight. They are trapped in a vicious circle of poverty, debt and middlemen. Despite making beautiful bangles, they themselves remain poor and are unable to organise or break free due to fear and lack of education.
6How did the incident at the YMCA pool affect Douglas? 3-4 Marks
A big boy threw Douglas into the deep end of the YMCA pool. He nearly drowned. The experience left him terrified of water. He developed a deep fear that haunted him for years. He avoided water and felt weak and trembling whenever he thought of swimming.
7Explain: “All we have to fear is fear itself.” How does it relate to Douglas? 3 Marks
This statement by Roosevelt means that fear itself is the greatest obstacle. Douglas realised that his fear of water was more dangerous than water itself. Once he confronted and overcame his fear through determined practice, he conquered it completely and became a confident swimmer.
8Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap? 2-3 Marks
The peddler believed that the world offered baits like riches, joys and shelter just as a rattrap offers cheese. Once people are tempted, they get trapped. His own experiences of poverty and rejection made him view the world cynically as a big rattrap.
9How did Edla Willmansson bring about a change in the peddler? 4-5 Marks
Edla treated the peddler with kindness, respect and dignity even after knowing he was not the Captain. Her genuine hospitality and trust touched his heart. On Christmas Eve he returned the stolen money with a rattrap as a gift and signed himself as Captain von Stahle, showing that kindness can transform a person.
10Why did Gandhiji decide to fight for the peasants of Champaran? 3-4 Marks
Gandhiji went to Champaran after hearing about the injustice faced by the indigo sharecroppers. The British landlords forced them to plant indigo on 15% of their land and take payment at fixed low rates. When synthetic indigo made the crop useless, the landlords demanded compensation. Gandhiji fought to free the peasants from fear and exploitation and to give them justice.
11What was the outcome of Gandhiji’s efforts in Champaran? 3 Marks
The landlords agreed to refund 25% of the money. More importantly, the peasants gained courage and realised their rights. Gandhiji also worked for their social upliftment by improving education, health and hygiene. Champaran became the first successful experiment of Satyagraha in India.
๐ Flamingo – Poetry
12What were the poet’s feelings while driving to the airport with her mother? (My Mother at Sixty-Six) 3 Marks
The poet felt a deep sense of pain and fear on seeing her aged mother’s pale and ashen face, which looked like a corpse. She was scared of losing her mother. To distract herself she looked at the young trees and merry children, symbols of life and energy, but the fear of separation remained.
13Explain the significance of ‘young trees’ and ‘merry children’ in the poem. 2-3 Marks
The young trees sprinting and merry children spilling out of their homes represent energy, youth and the continuity of life. They stand in contrast to the poet’s ageing mother and help the poet temporarily overcome her pain of impending separation.
14Why does the poet ask us to keep quiet? (Keeping Quiet) 3 Marks
Pablo Neruda asks us to keep quiet and still for a moment so that we can introspect. In the silence we will realise the futility of wars, violence and the rush of modern life. It will help create mutual understanding and peace among human beings and with nature.
15What is the ‘exotic moment’ that the poet refers to? 2 Marks
The exotic moment is the moment of complete silence when everyone stops speaking and moving. In that stillness there will be no engines, no wars, and people will feel a sudden strangeness of togetherness and peace.
16Why is a thing of beauty a joy forever? (A Thing of Beauty) 3-4 Marks
According to John Keats, a thing of beauty gives us everlasting joy. Its loveliness increases with time and never passes into nothingness. It provides a quiet bower, sweet dreams and health, and removes the pall of sadness from our dark spirits.
17List the things of beauty mentioned by Keats. 2-3 Marks
The sun, the moon, trees old and young, daffodils, clear rills, musk-rose blooms, and the stories of the mighty dead are mentioned as things of beauty that give us joy and comfort.
18Why were the roadside stand owners disappointed? (A Roadside Stand) 3 Marks
The poor people who set up the roadside stand hoped that the city people would stop and buy their goods so that they could earn a little money. But the polished traffic only slowed down to complain about the scenery or ask for directions, never to buy anything. Their hopes remained unfulfilled.
๐ Vistas – Supplementary Reader
19What was the third level? Was it real or a medium of escape? 4-5 Marks
The third level at Grand Central Station was a place Charley claimed to have found that led to the year 1894. It represented a peaceful world free from modern-day worries like insecurity and war. Most critics believe it was a product of Charley’s imagination and a means of psychological escape from the stress of modern life.
20Why was the Maharaja known as the Tiger King? 2-3 Marks
The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram was predicted to be killed by a tiger. To prove the astrologer wrong he started hunting tigers and killed ninety-nine of them. He became famous as the Tiger King because of his obsession with killing tigers.
21How does the story ‘The Tiger King’ show the futility of pride and power? 4 Marks
Despite killing ninety-nine tigers and marrying for the sake of the hundredth tiger, the Maharaja was finally killed by a wooden toy tiger. The story ironically shows that no amount of power or pride can change fate. His arrogance and obsession ultimately led to his death in a trivial manner.
22What important lessons does the author learn during her journey to Antarctica? 4-5 Marks
Tishani Doshi realises how small and fragile human existence is in comparison to the vast ice sheets of Antarctica. She understands the impact of climate change and the importance of taking care of the environment. The visit teaches students about the interconnectedness of all life and the urgent need to protect the planet.
23Why did Dr. Sadao decide to save the American soldier? 3-4 Marks
Dr. Sadao was first and foremost a doctor. His professional ethics and human conscience did not allow him to let a wounded man die, even if he was an enemy. Although he was a loyal Japanese, his duty as a doctor overpowered his sense of patriotism at that moment.
24How did the American soldier finally escape? 2-3 Marks
Dr. Sadao helped the soldier escape by providing him with a boat, food, water and clothing. He instructed him to go to a nearby island and wait for a Korean fishing boat. The soldier left safely under the cover of darkness.
25Why did Mr. Lamb encourage Derry? (On the Face of It) 3-4 Marks
Mr. Lamb, who himself had a tin leg, understood Derry’s pain of being rejected because of his burnt face. He encouraged Derry to look at life positively, not to shut himself away, and to live fully. He taught him that beauty is not only physical and that one should not let others’ opinions define one’s life.
26What message does the play ‘On the Face of It’ convey? 3 Marks
The play conveys that physical disability or appearance should not become a barrier to living a full life. Acceptance, positive attitude and human company can help overcome loneliness and inferiority complex. Both Mr. Lamb and Derry teach us the value of looking beyond physical differences.
๐ Long Answer / Value-Based Questions
27Compare and contrast the lives of Saheb and Mukesh as depicted in ‘Lost Spring’. 5-6 Marks
Saheb is a ragpicker from Seemapuri who came from Dhaka in search of a better life. He is carefree but forced to work. Later he takes up a job at a tea stall and loses his freedom. Mukesh belongs to a family of bangle makers in Firozabad. He dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and is determined to break the family tradition. While Saheb is resigned to his fate, Mukesh shows a spark of hope and determination to change his life.
28How did Douglas overcome his fear of water? What lesson does it teach us? 5-6 Marks
After the near-drowning incident, Douglas hired an instructor who taught him swimming step by step. He practised for months until he gained complete confidence. He even swam alone in different lakes to test himself. The lesson is that fear can be conquered with determination, continuous effort and courage. Once fear is overcome, a person can achieve anything.
29Justify the title of the story ‘The Rattrap’. 5 Marks
The title is highly appropriate. The peddler compares the world to a rattrap that tempts people with baits. He himself gets tempted by the thirty kronor and falls into the trap. However, the kindness of Edla helps him come out of the metaphorical rattrap. The story shows that the world can trap us, but human goodness can also free us.
30What is the central idea of the poem ‘Keeping Quiet’? How is it relevant today? 5-6 Marks
The central idea is that a brief moment of silence and introspection can bring peace, understanding and harmony among human beings and with nature. In today’s world of wars, environmental destruction, stress and constant rush, the poem’s message is highly relevant. If people pause and reflect, many conflicts and problems can be resolved peacefully.
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