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TN State Board 12th English Model Question Paper 3
Time: 2 1/2 Hours
Maximum Marks: 90
General Instructions:
- The question paper comprises of four parts.
- You are to attempt all the sections in each part. An internal choice of questions is provided wherever applicable.
- All questions of Part I, II, III, and IV are to be attempted separately.
- Question numbers 1 to 20 in Part I are Multiple Choice Questions of one mark each. These are to be answered by writing the correct answer along with the corresponding option code.
- Part II has got two sections. The questions are of two marks each. Question numbers 21 to 26 in Section I and Question numbers 27 to 30 in Section II are to be answered in about one or two sentences each.
- Question numbers 31 to 40 in Part III are of three marks each and have been divided in three sections. These are to be answered as directed.
- Question numbers 41 and 47 in Part IV are of five marks each. These are to be answered as directed.
Part -1
I. Answer all the questions. [20 x 1= 20]
Choose the correct synonyms for the underlined words from the options given:
Question 1.
One is liable to put in too much milk.
(a) certain (b) responsible (c) eager (d) likely
Answer:
(b) responsible
Question 2.
Two children had given me a profound lesson.
(a) shallow (b) intense (c) modest (d) humble
Answer:
(b) intense
Question 3.
I cooked them over the fierce flames.
(a) benign (b) mild (c) ferocious (d) sublime
Answer:
(c) ferocious
Choose the correct antonyms for the underlined words from the options given:
Question 4.
I have liberty to be indifferent to you.
(a) disinterested (b) heedless (c) unconcerned
Answer:
(c) unconcerned
Question 5.
Liberties of all may be preserved.
(a) damaged (b) retained (c) conserved
Answer:
(a) damaged
Question 6.
This trolley was commandeered by an intrepid crew of two.
(a) adventurous (b) daring (c) bold (d) timid
Answer:
Question 7.
Choose the correct combination for the compound word ‘mind blowing’.
(a) Noun + Verb (b) Noun + Gerund (c) Gerund + Noun (d) Preposition + Noun
Answer:
(b) Noun + Gerund
Question 8.
Choose the correct expansion of IIM.
(a) Indian Institute of Minorities (b) Indian Institute of Managers (c) Indian Institute of Marine (d) Indian Institute of Management
Answer:
(d) Indian Institute of Management
Question 9.
Choose the meaning of the foreign word in the sentence:
Bhaskar was John’s Protege.
(a) villain (b) relative (c) disciple (d) superior
Answer:
(d) superior
Question 10.
Choose the right combination for the blended word Webinar.
(a) Web + Minar (b) Website + Seminar (c) Web + Portal (d) Web + Seminar
Answer:
(b) Website + Seminar
Question 11.
Choose the clipped word for ‘veterinarian’.
(a) vegan (b) vegin (c) vet (d) veteran
Answer:
(c) vet
Question 12.
Someone who makes animated films with a series of drawings on paper or on the computer is called ………………….. .
(a) infanticide (b) animator (c) parricide (d) fratricide
Answer:
(b) animator
Question 13.
Form a derivative by adding the right suffix to the word ‘hostile’.
(a) -eous (b) -ly (c) -y (d) -ity
Answer:
Question 14.
Fill in the blanks with a suitable relative pronoun. I remember a time radio shows were popular.
(a) when (b) where (c) which (d) whose
Answer:
(d) whose
Question 15.
Fill in the blanks with a suitable preposition. My friend has been living in UK ………………………… two years.
(a) since (b) in (c) for (d) at
Answer:
(a) since
Question 16.
Choose the correct question tag for the following statement. I shouldn’t have lost my temper, …………………………?
(a) shall I (b) should I (c) wouldn’t I (d) won’t I
Answer:
(c) wouldn’t I
Question 17.
Choose the suitable meaning or idiom found in the following sentence.
His arrogant behavior with others has left him ‘high and dry’.
(a) to be penniless (b) to be very sick (c) to be very famous (d) isolated
Answer:
(d) isolated
Question 18.
Substitute the underlined word with the appropriate polite alternative.
Joseph was half bald at 25.
(a) follicular challenged (b) hairless (c) hairy (d) glaring
Answer:
(a) follicular challenged
Question 19.
Choose the correct sentence pattern for the following sentence. What is important is what you have left.
(a) SVC (b) SVOCA (c) SVOAA (d) SVCA
Answer:
(a) SVC
Question 20.
Fill in the blank with a suitable phrasal verb.
When I …………………….. my own recipe, I find eleven outstanding points.
(a) get into (b) look out (c) put into (d) look through
Answer:
(d) look through
Part II
Section – 1
Read the following sets of poetic lines and answer any four from it. [4 x 2 = 8]
Question 21.
“What could they offer us for bait?
Our captain was brave and we were true…”
(a) What do you mean by bait?
(b) Why did the soldiers believe that they were invincible?
Answer:
(а) Bait means something intended to entice someone to do something usually dishonorable.
(b) The soldiers believed that they were invincible because their captain was brave and they were loyal.
Question 22.
“For your sakes, shall the tree be ever dear.
Blent with your images, it shall arise
In memory, till the hot tears blind mine eyes!”
(a) For whose sake will the trees be dear to the poet?
(b) Whose images bring out hot tears?
Answer:
(a) For the sake of three younger Dutts who died of Tuberculosis, the tree will be dear to Torn Dutt.
(b) The images of siblings who died due to TB bring out hot tears.
Question 23.
“All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.”
(a) How are the men and women of this world?
(b) Explain: ‘They have their exits and their entrances’.
Answer:
(a) The men and women of this world are just like players on the stage of life.
(b) They take birth and enter the world. They die and depart from the world.
Question 24.
“And this might stand him for the storms and serve him for humdrum monotony”
(a) What does the poet mean by storms?
(b) What can help the son overcome “the boring routine” in life?
Answer:
(a) The poet means life’s challenges by ‘storms’.
(b) One can overcome ‘the boring routine’ by keeping a strong steel/rock-like will power and face life boldly.
Question 25.
“…., for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die”
(a) What was Ulysses’ purpose in life?
(b) How long would his venture last?
Answer:
(a) Ulysses proposes to sail beyond sunset and baths. His goal is not death but is in death. He seeks life in death. Ordinary mortals can’t reach ‘Happy isles’ or baths while they are alive. Ulysses wants to find direct evidence of spiritual reality after death. He wants to venture into the unknown.
(b) His venture would last until he confronts his death.
Question 26.
“Full-galloping: nor bridle drew
Until he reached the mound.”
(a) Why was the rider in a hurry?
(b) Where did the soldier stop? Why?
Answer:
(a) The rider was carrying an urgent message to Napoleon Bonaparte.
(b) The soldier stopped at the mound. Napoleon Bonaparte was expecting news about the outcome of the battle at Ratisbon.
Section – 2
Answer any three of the following questions. [3 x 2 = 6]
Question 27.
Report the following dialogue:
Answer:
Silas : Dad, John is visiting us today.
Dad : Did you tell your mother about it?
Silas told his dad that John was visiting them that day. Dad asked Silas if he had told his mother about it.
Question 28.
He must carry out my orders. Otherwise he will be sacked, (combine using if)
Answer:
If he does not carry out my orders, he will be sacked.
Question 29.
Rewrite the sentence making an inversion in the conditional clause.
If it had not rained yesterday, we would have finished painting the walls.
Answer:
Had it not rained yesterday, we would have finished painting the walls.
Question 30.
He said that he was so disappointed that he would not try again. (Change the following into a simple sentence)
Answer:
He said that he was too disappointed to try it again.
Part-III
Section -1
Explain any two of the following with reference to the context. [2 x 3 = 6]
Question 31.
A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound No other tree could live.
Answer:
Reference: These words are from the poem, ‘Our Casuarina Tree” written by Torn Dutt.
Context: The poet says this while appreciating the strength of her Casuarina tree.
Explanation: The creeper saps the tree for its survival and growth. But the tree treats the creeper’s tight hold as a lover’s embrace. It ignores bite marks oflove.lt allows the creeper to lean on its trunk and live. The tree also grows stout and strong.
Question 32.
Is second childishness and mere oblivion
Answer:
Reference: These lines are from the poem, ‘All the world’s a stage’ written by William Shakespeare.
Context: The poet says this while man gets ready to leave this world (i.e.) the last stage of his life on this lonely planet.
Explanation: In this stage, man becomes totally forgetful. He loses his teeth, eyesight and taste. He loses all his senses of perception. Like a baby, he can’t do anything on his own. So, the poet calls this stage “second childhood” when the old man behaves in a childish manner.
Question 33.
Tell him too much money has killed men and left them dead years before burial:
Answer:
Reference: These lines are from the poem, ‘A Father to his Son” written by Carl August Sandburg.
Context: The poet says these words while dwelling on the evil effects of amassing wealth beyond basic needs.
Explanation: Oliver Goldsmith says, “Where wealth accumulates, man decays.” The poet says that a man who amasses wealth against ethical principles is spiritually dead. The wealth earned should benefit a large number of people and not the individual who initiated the wealth.
Section – 2
Answer any two of the following questions in about 30 words. [2 x 3 = 6]
Question 34.
What are the author’s views on China tea?
Answer:
China tea has virtues which are not to be despised. It is economic. One can drink it without milk. But there is not much stimulation in it. One does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking it.
Question 35.
Why does Dr. Barnard describe the blind boy as a ‘walking horror’?
Answer:
At the time of the grand prix, the boy was a walking horror. His face was disfigured. A long flap of skin was hanging from the side of his neck to his body. As the wound healed around his neck, his lower jaw became gripped in a mass of fibrous tissue. The only way he could open his mouth was to raise his head.
Question 36.
How would ‘liberty’ cause universal chaos?
Answer:
When liberty is used without accommodating the interests of others, it results in universal chaos. Everybody would be getting in everybody else’s way. Nobody would get anywhere. Individual liberty would become a social anarchy.
Section – 3
Answer any three of the following questions in about 30 words. [3 x 3 = 9]
Question 37.
Study the pie chart given and answer the questions that follow.
Expenditure of the State Government Public Welfare
(a) Which is the sector for which the State Government spends the most?
(b) What is the percent of expenditure made by the State Government on Public Welfare?
(c) What is the percent of expenditure made by the State Government on Transport?
Answer:
(a) The State Government spends for Education the most.
(b) Eighteen percent of the expenditure by the state government is on public welfare.
(c) Thirty percent of the expenditure by the state government is on transport.
Question 38.
Write a dialogue of minimum 3 exchanges between a reporter and an entrepreneur.
Answer:
Reporter: How did you become the owner of such a large chain of grocery stores?
Brown : I couldn’t read nor write and being an uneducated person I lost my job.
Reporter: What do you mean by saying that the reason is because you could not read or write?
Brown : Yes because of that, I had to leave my job as the vicar of St. Peter’s church.
Reporter: Why did you leave your job as vic’ar of St. Peter’s church?
Brown : I was sent away by the Priest as I couldn’t read nor write as the Vicar.
Question 39.
Describe the process of recycling waste materials.
Answer:
The first step is to collect the materials that can be recycled such as Aluminum cans, Car Bumpers, Newspapers and paper towels, Motor oil, Nails, Trash bags, Egg cartons and Laundry detergent bottles.
Once the items have been collected the next step is to find a secondary use of the material. Recycled material is used in many manufacturing processes and many companies have found very innovative uses for the materials.
The next step in the process is to purchase goods made from recycled materials. When in the grocery store check out the labelling and often you will see where the product is made with a percentage of post-consumer products.
Question 40.
Complete the proverbs using the word given below.
(a) One man’s meat is another man’s ………………… (prison, poison, gift)
(b) People who live in glass houses should not throw ………………… (water, fruits, stones)
(c) Every cloud has a silver ………………… (lining, finish, colour)
Answer:
(a) poison (b) stones (c) lining
Part – IV
Answer the following questions: [7 x 5 = 35]
Answer in a paragraph in about 150 words.
Question 41.
Describe the ‘Grand Prix’ at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
Answer:
The author describes the event as “the Grand Prix of Cape Town’s Red Cross Childrens’ Hospital”. A nurse had left a breakfast trolley unattended. Very soon this trolley was commandeered by a daring crew of two, a driver and a mechanic. The mechanic provided motor power by galloping along behind the trolley head down. While the driver, seated on the lower deck held on with one hand and steered it by scrapping his foot on the floor. The choice of roles was easy because the mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm. It was better than Indianapolis 500 car race. Patients shouted and cheered the boys. There was a grand finale of scattered plates and silverware before the nurse and ward sister took control of the situation.
[OR]
How did Hillary and Tenzing prepare themselves before they set off to the summit?
Answer:
They started up their cookers and drank lots of lemon juice and sugar. Then they took sardines and biscuits. Hillary cleaned the ice off the oxygen sets. He rechecked and tested them. He had removed his boots which had become wet the day before. They were now frozen solid. It would be very challenging to start climbing ice-cold Himalayas with such wet and chilling boots. So, he cooked them over the fierce flame of Primus and managed to soften them up.
They were also conscious of the probabilityof braving snow storms during the ascent. They fortified their clothing with wind proof and also pulled three pairs of gloves silk, woollen, and windproof on to their hands. At 6.30 am they crawled out of their tent into the snow. They hoisted their 30 lb. of oxygen gear on their backs. Connecting their oxygen masks they turned on the valves to bring life-giving oxygen into their lungs. Taking a few deep breaths, they got ready to go.
Question 42.
How does nature communicate with the Toru Dutt?
Answer:
Like Wordsworth, Toru Dutt is also a great lover of nature. She has also had mystical experiences in communion with nature. The emotional bonding between herself and the giant Casuarina tree is beyond reason. When she is away on the shores of Italy and France, she could distinctly hear the dirge-like murmer of her beloved tree who obviously missed her. She could perceive it as the tree’s lament and eerie speech expressing its anguish over the long spells of her absence.
Ordinary human eyes will fail to perceive the distinct communication of the Casuarina tree. But through the eyes of faith, similar to William Wordsworth’s inward eye in the poem ‘Daffodils’ it is possible. She was able to vividly see in her inner vision the sublime form of the Casuarina tree. The surprising thing is that she was able to see the tree in its prime in her own “loved native clime.”
[OR]
What is Ulysses’ clarion call to his sailors? How does he inspire them?
Answer:
In the third part of the poem, Ulysses makes a clarion call to his hearty compatriots (i.e.) mariners. They have been with him both during ‘thick and thin’ or thunders or sunshine. They had frolicsome time fighting along with Ulysses against great warriors and Gods in the past. Ulysses does not want to live in memory of glory. He believes they need not waste away their precious time in nostalgic memories just recounting their escapades to younger generation. He is conscious of the impending death in old age. But he tells it is not “too late to seek a newer world”.
The many “voices of the ocean” call out to the mariners to resume voyage. He does not want his compatriots to miss even an hour which could provide them novel experiences in their voyage. He persuades his compatriots to gather at the port as the sails are already puffing up welcoming them all. Their life would be one of fulfillment only when they venture out into the unknown on the seas. He uses an emotional bait to his mariners.
He highlights the probable outcome of their voyage. They might reach the “Happy Isles” (i.e.) great paradise and meet Achilles, their war hero. No matter how much strength they have, they still have some “strength of will” left to strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Question 43.
Write a paragraph of about 150 words by developing the following hints:
Children reaction – touch of sunlight – tan themselves – teacher warns – take off jackets – jungle in the Venus – colour of stones – ran among trees – hide and seek – breathed off the fresh air – blessed sea of soundlessness – savoured everything – mirth for one hour.
Answer:
Children get really excited. They want to see the touch of sunlight on all form of life in the planet. They want to tan themselves in the new found warmth of the Sun. Children persist that they be allowed to go out to the Sun. The teacher allows them with a warning that they must be back in two hours. They start running and turning their faces up to the sky and feeling the Sun on their cheeks like a warm iron. They take off their jackets to allow the Sun to bum their arms.
They gladly shouted “Oh, its better than Sun lamps. Children stood in the great jungle in the Venus. The jungle was in the colour of stones as they had not seen the Sun for years. The children lay out laughing on the jungle mattresses and heard it sigh and squeak under them resilient and alive. They ran among the trees, they slipped and fell and pushed one another.
They played hide and seek. But most of them squinted at the sun until tears ran down their faces. They put their hands up to the yellowness and the amazing blueness, they breathed off the fresh air and listened to the silence in a blessed sea of soundlessness. They looked at everything and savoured everything. Like animals escaped from their caves, they ran shouting in circles. Their mirth continued for one hour.
[OR]
Lord Weston – judge – pompous and vain – secretary Roger – displeasure over Roger’s request – piece of paper – warning – legal punishments – 15th of March – fair judgement – unperturbed by threat – precautionary measures – assassination attempt – a gardener – Weston’s absent-mindedness.
Answer:
‘Remember Caesar’ is a light hearted comedy. The name Caesar is the name of a tragic hero Julius Caesar in one of the plays of William Shakespeare. Weston gives an appointment to Mr. Caesar to discuss rose tree planting work in his garden. Just to remind him of the proffered appointment, he scribbles two words “Remember Caesar” and keeps that scrap
of paper in his coat pocket and has forgotten about it. On seeing that note, Lord Weston is shocked. Roger, the assistant of the judge elevates him to the level of a tragic hero.
He flatters the judge that his death could be a great loss to England as he was a great impartial judge. Mrs. Weston’s entry lightens up the whole drama and the tragedy transitions into a dark comedy. Lady Weston keeps hinting about earlier attempts when he was eating a game pie. When Weston says he has instructed Roger to barricade all doors, her immediate worry is about the grocery awaited. She asks if he was expecting both French and Dutch together in the attempt to assassinate. Lady Weston doesn’t want to send away the cook. She is practical.
She wants her to stay back to cook his pet dishes. Lady Weston brings a handful of candles to keep the room lit if Mr. Weston has to stay underground for a while. A velvet coat is construed as an infernal machine that could blow up the whole place is smothered with books inside a pail of water. The arrival of Mr. Caesar only sorts out the knot. The judge remembers to meet Mr. Caesar on 15th March.
Question 44.
Write a summary or Make notes of the following passage.
Answer:
When we survey our lives and efforts we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions and desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings. We notice that whole nature resembles that of the social animals. We eat food that others have produced, wear clothes that others have made, live in houses that others have built. The greater part of our knowledge and beliefs has been passed on to us by other people though the medium of a language which others have created. Without language and mental capacities, we would have been poor indeed comparable to higher animals.
We have, therefore, to admit that we owe our principal knowledge over the least to the fact of living in human society. The individual if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly imagine. The individual is what he is and has the significance that he has, not much in virtue of the individuality, but rather as a member of a great human community, which directs his material and spiritual existence from the cradle to grave.
Summary
No. of words given in the original passage: 192
No. of words to be written in the summary: 192/3 = 64 ± 5
Rough Draft
Being social animals, human beings have their actions and desires bound up with society. In matter of food clothes knowledge and belief they are interdependent with one another. We eat food that others have procedure Wear clothes that others have made, live in houses that others have built. They use language created by others. Without language their mental power would not grow.
We have to admit that we owe principal knowledge over the least to the fact of living in human society. The individual if left alone from birth would remain primitive. They are superior to beast, because they live in human society. An individual life left alone from birth would grow utterly beast like. So human society and not individuality guides man’s material and spiritual existence.
Fair Draft: Man is a Social Animal
Being social animals, human beings have their actions and desires bound up with society. In the matter of food, clothes, knowledge and belief we are interdependent. We eat food, wear clothes, live in houses that others have produced or made. We use language created by others. Without language, their mental power would not grow. An individual life left alone from birth would grow utterly beast-like. So human society and not individuality guides man’s material and spiritual existence.
No. of words in the summary: 77
[OR]
Notes
Title: Man is a Social Animal
Survey:
lives & efforts
our actions & desires – bound up
Practices:
Eat food – wear clothes – live in houses – made by others
Lang – learnt 4m others – for mental power
Status:
Indiv. if left alone – be primitive
The individual – much in virtue
member A human community – directs mat. & spiritual existence.
Abbreviations used: & – and; A – of; lang. – language; indiv. – individual; 4m – from; mat. – material
Question 45.
Write a letter to the manager of M/S Santiago and Co, placing an order for 25 high speed ceiling fans of different sizes. You, David/Delshya is the Finance Director of HCL company.
Answer:
From
Mr. David
Finance Head
HCL – Rajakilpakkam
Maduravoyal
26th March, 2020
To
Messrs. Santiago and Co.
3, Rutt Market
Chennai
Sir,
Reg: Supply of High Speed Ceiling Fans
Please send by road transport the following Pavlo High Speed Ceiling fans so as to reach us before 10th April, 2020 at the rates as mentioned I your catalogue – cum – price list for 2020-2021 with a trade discount of 15% on the total amount of the invoice. We would like to place on order the following:
- 10 Pavlo High Speed Ceiling fans 58 inches size
- 05 Pavlo High Speed Ceiling fans 48 inches size
- 10 Pavlo High Speed Ceiling fans 36 inches size
Please ensure that the packing is without any discrepancies. Kindly note that the goods with manufacturing defects or those damaged in transit will be returned at your cost. A cheque bearing number 324657 for Rs. 10,000/- dated 30th March, 2020 as advance payment is enclosed herewith. The balance amount will be paid within a fortnight after receipt of goods. Thanking you in advance for your delivery of goods without any delay.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. David – Finance Director
(for) HCL – Rajakilpakam
Address on the envelope:
To
Messrs. Santiago and Co.
3, Rutt Market
Chennai
[OR]
Write a paragraph of 150 words on “Hazards Of Reckless Driving”.
Answer:
Hazards Of Reckless Driving
Careless driving is one of the leading causes of accidents. When a driver fails to drive with due. care, it can cause serious harm to others sharing the road. I had a bitter experience of such reckless driving last month while returning from GGHS School, which is just a kilometre away from my house. As I was returning home around 5.30 p.m., after Math coaching class, I heard some screaming behind me and hence just turned to see what the sound was about.
The very next second, I was knocked down by a speeding motorcycle. I had a hairline crack on my right ankle and bruises on my right arm. I was really lucky that I did not have major issues. However, I was in a state of severe shock for more than a week and I dreaded stepping out on the road. There should be severe actions taken against those who violate traffic rules.
Question 46.
Spot the errors and rewrite the sentences correctly.
(а) Neither Ravi nor Rani have failed.
(b) The Collection ‘Fragrant Flowers’ are quite interesting.
(c) The distance between Chennai to Trichy is more than 300 Kins.
(d) The scissors is missing.
(e) We are living at Chennai.
Answer:
(a) Neither Ravi nor Rani has failed.
(b) The Collection ‘Fragrant Flowers’ is quite interesting.
(c) The distance from Chennai to Trichy is more than 300 Kms.
(d) The scissors are missing.
(e) We are living in Chennai.
[OR]
Fill in the blanks correctly.
(a) My cat was crazily chasing a squirrel while I ………….. (red/read) a fairy ………….. (tale/tail) to my children.
(b) That looks delicious, and I am so hungry! ………….. I have some? (Use a modal in the given blank.)
(c) I have worked too long! I ………….. take a break! (use a semi-modal)
(d) They (go) to take a cruise next summer. (use a proper tense)
Answer:
(a) read/tále (b) May (c) need to (d) are going
Question 47.
Identify each of the following sentences with the fields given below;
(a) French actress Mary’s clothing was designed by her friend Yas for her next project.
(b) In the world’s largest open-air theatre, stories of Krishna and Kansa area magically retold,
(c) Technology develops machines that can substitute for humans and replicate human actions.
(d) A normal bulb uses almost 80% energy to create heat and only 20% for production of light.
(e) A tropical diet is based on fruits and vegetables, while a polar diet rely on meat and fish.
[Robotics; Cuisine; Movie; Electrodynamics; Entertainment]
Answer:
(а) Movie (b) Entertainment (c) Robotics (d) Electrodynamics (e) Cuisine
[OR]
Read the following passage and answer the questions in your own words.
Answer:
A long time ago there lived a monster called the sphinx. She had the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a big bird. Her eyes were so fierce that nobody dared to look at her face. The sphinx sat on a cliff outside the city of Thebes. When a man passed by her, she would ask him a riddle. The man had to give the right answer, or the sphinx would eat him up. The riddle was so difficult that no one could answer it.
Many men lost their lives and people were afraid to come out of their houses. Then one day a clever man wanted to answer the sphinx. His name was Oedipus and he was not afraid of the sphinx. The sphinx stopped and asked him a riddle “what walks on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon and on three legs in the evening?”
Oedipus said that it was easy, “you try and answer it!” roared the sphinx. Oedipus said, “The answer is man walks on four legs in his childhood, on two legs when grown up and on three legs during old age”. Hearing the right answer the sphinx was disappointed and very angry. She jumped off the cliff and ended her life.
Questions:
a. How did the sphinx look like?
b. What would the sphinx do if a man failed to give the right answer to her riddle?
c. Why was the sphinx angry?
d. What is the ‘third leg’ of man in his old age?
e. What is the most suitable title to the passage?
Answers:
(a) The sphinx looked like a monster with the head of a woman, the body of a lion and the wings of a big bird.
(b) The sphinx would eat up the man if he failed to give the right answer to her riddle.
(c) Hearing the right answer to her riddle from Oedipus, the sphinx was disappointed and very angry
(d) The third leg is invariably the walking stick the old man will be using in his old age.
(e) The title could be ‘Sphinxs’ Riddles’.