CBSE Class 12 English HOTs Going Places Set 01

And afterwards you wait there alone in the arcade for a long while, standing where he stood, remembering the soft melodious voice, the shimmer of green eyes. No taller than you. No bolder than you. The prodigy. The innocent genius. The great Danny Casey. And she saw it all again, last Saturday - saw him ghost past the lumbering defenders, heard the fifty thousand catch their breath as he hovered momentarily over the ball, and then the explosion of sound as he struck it crisply into the goal, the sudden thunderous eruption of exultant approbation.

Question. Who is ‘the prodigy’ in the extract?
Answer: ‘The prodigy’ in the given extract is a young football player named Danny Casey.

Question. Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy: Glitter : Shimmer :: Sweet : ___________
Answer: Melodious

Question. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract. The given extract is significant because ___________ .
Answer: In this extract we explicitly come to know that Sophie had been imagining her meeting with Danny Casey. She had only seen Casey while watching the matches.

Question. Do you think Sophie would stop dreaming about Danny Casey?
Answer: No, I do not think that Sophie would stop dreaming of Danny Casey due to her intensified hero-worship, high imagination and her ritual to go watch the match played by Casey every week.

Question. Where did Sophie had to wait alone?
(a) Along the canal
(b) In the arcade
(c) At the Royce
(d) In the biscuit factory
Answer: (b) In the arcade

Question. Why did she hear the fifty thousand of people catching their breath?
(a) To have the glimpse of the shimmer of green eyes
(b) To listen to the melodious voice
(c) Due to hovering of Danny Casey momentarily on the ball
(d) Due to Sophie coming to the ground
Answer: (c) Due to hovering of Danny Casey momentarily on the ball

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. ‘Soaf, you really should be sensible!’ What does Jansie’s advice to her friend Sophie reveal about their friendship? 
Answer: Sophie aspires to grand endeavours like owning a boutique or pursuing careers in acting or fashion design, which demand significant resources and experience, neither of which she possesses. Jansie advises Sophie to control her aspirations, urging her to adopt a more practical approach and abandon her lofty dreams. This interaction reveals that despite their differences, their friendship is based on honesty and concern for one another’s well-being.

Question. ‘Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy’. What inference about Jansie’s character is drawn from the above line? 
Answer: The given lines tell us that Jansie is more realistic and practical in life. She knows that big ambitions cost heavy investments, something their working-class status could not afford. Their reality would be limited to the biscuit factory. Hence, she makes the given statement to Sophie.

Question. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff’s silence?
Answer: Sophie was jealous of the fact that Geoff never spoke much which made him a mystery. She always pondered over the areas of his life which he never talked about. His world remained a fascination for her. She felt that when he was not speaking, his mind was away at some unknown place and so, she was jealous of him.

Question. Did Geoff keep up his promise? How do you know?
Answer: Geoff didn’t keep his promise to Sophie. She told Geoff about her meeting with Danny Casey at the Royce’s and requested him not to tell anyone about it. However, Geoff told this to Frank who in turn told his sister, Jansie.

Question. Why do you think Sophie is attracted to Danny Casey?
Answer: Sophie is attracted to Danny Casey because of veracious reason. First, she idolises him because of his popularity, look and celebrity status. Second, somewhere Sophie finds that Danny’s status would help alleviate her poverty and help her realise her professional dreams.

Question. Why did Sophie dream of having a boutique after leaving school? 
Answer: Sophie dreamed of having a boutique after leaving school because she wanted an exciting and glamorous life beyond her modest background. She was ambitious and often indulged in fantasies about success and fame, imagining herself as a fashion entrepreneur despite having no concrete plans to achieve it.

Question. What thoughts came to Sophie’s mind as she sat by the canal?
Answer: Sophie was waiting for Danny Casey, sitting by the canal. In the beginning, she imagined him coming and even began to fantasise his actions and dialogues. However, after some time, when he did not turn up, reality hit her and she became sad. She thought that her family would never believe her. She also thought that Geoff would be disappointed.

Question. What did Sophie imagine about her meeting with Danny Casey at the arcade?
Answer: Sophie imagined that she met the United football player, Danny Casey, at the Royce arcade. She asked him for an autograph but neither of them had a pen. Then, they began talking about the clothes in the shop. Casey promised to meet her again next week.

Question. The story is written in a manner that it makes it difficult to point out clearly if Sophie met Danny Casey or not. Suggest possible reasons for such writing.
Answer: The story is written in a manner that it makes it difficult to point out clearly if Sophie met Danny Casey or not. The reason behind is to highlight how intensely young children and teenagers start hero-worshipping their idols.

Question. Sophie flits from one dream to another. What trait of her character is brought out by this action?
Answer: Sophie was a dreamer who enjoyed creating her own fantasy world using her own imagination. She wanted to change her working class status by pursuing the ambition of a fashion designer or an actress. She also wanted to date a young football prodigy. This shows that Sophie was immature and lived in her own unrealistic world. She chose to ignore the reality of her economic background and lived in a fantasy world.

Question. “Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. She went to look for her brother Geoff.” In the light of this quote, discuss the relationship Sophie shared with Geoff.
Answer: The given sentence indicates that Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person in the world. She could open her heart to him. She knew that Geoff was the person who would share her dreams. Geoff spoke very little and his silence always troubled Sophie very much. But Geoff was always the first with whom she always shared her secrets. She had a strong faith in Geoff. Like every other sister she dreamt of riding behind her brother in their attractive dresses, to places where people would welcome and praise them. She wanted to be more affectionate with her brother. Sophie saw in her brother Geoff, her moral supporter. To Sophie, Geoff was bold, smart, tall, promising and helpful. He recognised and respected his younger sister’s emotions and aspirations well. She was certain that he would never let her down.

Question. Why did Sophie long for her brother’s affection?
Answer: Sophie longed for her brother’s affections because she was jealous of her brother’s silence and wanted him to confide in her. She thought he knew about things and had been to places she had never been to and this fascinated her. She longed to know more about these things from her brother and thus, craved for his affection, hoping that he would then take her to those places with him.

Question. In the story, ‘Going Places’, what do Sophie and Geoff’s reactions to the United match reveal about each of them? Answer in 40-50 words. 
Answer: Geoff watched the game and felt happiness that his favourite team had won the match. He watched the match as a fan. On the other hand, Sophie watched the match for her favourite player - Danny. The happiness and pride she felt was for Danny, not the team. The different loyalties and interests of the siblings are shown through their reactions to the match.

Question. ‘Going Places’ is an interplay between reality and the dream world. Elucidate. 
Answer: The story ‘Going Places’ is an interplay between reality and the dream world. It highlights the contrast between one’s aspiration and the harsh reality of life. Sophie’s dream of opening a boutique and becoming an actress is a mere dream, considering her family’s financial status. Her desire to escape her existence leads her to imagining her meeting Danny Casey, reflecting the negative effects of fantasising life.

Question. How does Sophie plan to get the kind of money she wanted for her boutique? 
Answer: Sophie dreams of opening a boutique but lacks the financial means. She imagines acquiring the money through unrealistic means, such as becoming a manager, an actress, or even a fashion designer, rather than taking practical steps to achieve her goal.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. “I can see the future and now I will have to live with this burden,” says Sophie. Discuss the statement in the light of the chapter ‘Going Places’.
Answer: Sophie always lived in a make-believe world of her own. It was probable that in the course of her wishful thinking she imagined that Danny Casey had promised her a date. Nobody in the family believed her. However, she went to her favourite haunt to meet Casey who did not show up. This made her realise that Geoff had been right. Still she was under the compulsion to insist that she had really met Danny Casey. She would never be able to tell about her family, “they’re wrong to doubt me”. She was filled with sadness because her life would not undergo the transformation she had imagined. The glamour of the exotic world she dreamt of was not within her reach. This was a burden that she found difficult to come to terms with and carry.

Question. Contrast Sophie’s real world with her fantasies. Or Sophie is caught between the world she lives in and the world she wants to live in. Elucidate. 
Answer: The story ‘Going Places’ is a journey into the dream world of the protagonist, a school girl named Sophie, who drifts from one dream to another. Sophie finds the reality of her life too harsh to accept. She belongs to a lower middle class family where nobody encourages her to dream of better prospects. Still, she dreams of owning the best boutique, becoming a manager in some store or at other times becoming an actress or a fashion designer.
In reality, the pitiable condition of her life does not let her venture into such sophisticated professions. However, in her dream world, she visits Royce’s arcade, meets Danny Casey - the sports icon, and even fixes up a date with him. It’s all in her mind but she considers it true and actually waits for him to show up at a specified spot and time. The flight of her imagination is such that it flits from one dream to another and from one place to the other.

Question. Imagine Sophie’s father finds out about Sophie’s going to the canal to meet Danny Casey which leads him to think that she has lied to everyone about the whole affair. He is infuriated and prohibits Sophie from going anywhere except to school. As Geoff, write a diary entry disapproving of your father’s punishment by citing your reasons for being sympathetic to Sophie. (You may begin this way) Monday, 2nd September, 1940 9 p.m. I cannot get myself to stand with father in his tirade against Sophie. Sure, she is not the most...
Answer: Monday, 2nd September, 1940 9 p.m.
Dear Diary,
I cannot get myself to stand with father in his tirade against Sophie. Sure, she is not the most incredulous and illogical girl. She is a typical teenager who is hero - worshipping Danny Casey. I understand that sometimes she goes overbroad but this does not mean we can stop her from living her life.
Dad’s decision of prohibiting her from going anywhere but school is not correct. I do not feel it is the way to deal with Sophie. I believe that it is just a stage that all of us face in our life. She will grow out of it and realise for herself how wrong she had been. There is no need to punish her like that. I have to talk to dad about it.
Geoff

Question. Imagine Sophie meets Danny Casey after several years. Write a dialogue exchange between them where Sophie explains what that meeting means to her. 
Answer: Sophie: Danny Casey. Am I dreaming? Ofcourse, I am.
Danny: No, you are not dreaming. It is indeed me.
Sophie: I am so sorry. I am surprised that such a successful player is standing in my boutique.
Danny: Why? Can’t I enjoy a normal life?
Sophie: Ofcourse, you can! To be honest, it is funny that some years back I would have been imagining meeting you and so on.
Danny: Oh really!
Sophie: Yes, Just like any other teenager I hero worshipped you. Not that I do not appreciate you now, but now its different. I know how to keep reality and dreams apart.
Danny: Good for you I guess.
Sophie: Anyways, do you like something in the boutique?
Danny: I am going to bring my mother here. The collection is good and her birthday is coming up. Help her with whatever she wants. It’s a request.
Sophie: Always. Don’t worry.
Danny: Thanks, Bye!

Question. How do the characters of Sophie from ‘Going Places’ and Subbu from ‘Poets and Pancakes’ compare and contrast in terms of their aspirations, constraints, and the pursuit of their dreams?
Answer: Each one of us has dreams and we all face different circumstances that hinder our dreams. We can state the same with reference to two characters from the stories that we have read- ‘Going Places’ and ‘Poets and Pancakes’.
Sophie in ‘Going Places’ dreams of owning a boutique or becoming a fashion designer. However, she faces financial limitations. Her family is poor and thus, her dreams seems to be unattainable until and unless Sophie remains determined to achieve her goals, showing persistence and creativity in her pursuits.
Subbu in ‘Poets and Pancakes’ aims to succeed in the film industry as a poet, actor and contributor to Gemini Studios. However, he faces challenges in the form of criticism for his perceived flattery, overshadowing of his literary achievements by his success in films. However, we see Subbu’s dedication to his craft and ability to adapt to various roles within Gemini Studios, which reflects his unwavering determination to work towards achieving his dream.
In both the cases, we see that while both Sophie and Subbu share aspirations for success in their respective fields, they encounter different constraints and demonstrate distinct approaches in pursuing their dreams.

Question. ‘Their mother sighed. Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings.’ The prose selection, ‘Going Places’ includes this telling comment about Sophie’s mother. In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’, we are told that - ‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band, Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s Hand.’ Imagine a conversation between Sophie’s mother and Aunt Jennifer. Create this exchange with reference to the two extracts given above. You may begin the conversation like this ... Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?  
Answer: Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?
Aunt Jennifer: Yes, I do. They reflect what I have always wanted in life. My art is my means to express my deep-down desires and feelings.
Sophie’s mother: Oh, that is amazing! You are so lucky to have time to give to your art. I, on the other hand, don’t have any time for myself. In fact, I find the 24 hours of the day less to complete my daily chores. All my time is spent in taking care of my husband and my three children.
Aunt Jennifer: Don’t feel bad because my life is same as yours. My husband hates my embroidery and I don’t get to do it much often as I also have to take care of the daily needs of my husband and children. It is as if I do not have any other identity other than being a wife or a mother.
Sophie’s mother: You know what hurts more is the fact that our families don’t consider us important. We don’t have any say in the family matter and they even don’t take us out to enjoy anything that the rest of the family does. I'll give you an example- they all went to witness Danny Casey’s football match while I was to stay at home. No one even asked me if I wanted to go.
Aunt Jennifer: What is even worse is the fact that there is no likelihood of any change in our status. One statement against the servility that we do and we will be branded as immoral women.
Sophie’s mother: True!

Question. It is good to dream big, but one must have concrete plans and determination to turn dreams into reality. Comment with reference to ‘Going Places’.
Answer: It is true to say that it is good to dream big, but one must have concrete plans and determination to turn dreams into reality. Sophie was a dreamer who created her own fantasy world using her fertile imagination. She displayed her urge to transcend her status from a working class girl to a higher level of sophistication by pursuing her dream to become an actress, a fashion designer, a manager or a boutique owner. But she needed to have concrete plans, determination and perseverance to realise her dreams, instead of just fantasising about what she wanted to become. She should understand her reality that she is from a middle class working family.
Initially, she would face many difficulties because of her poor financial condition but after she starts working, she should save her earnings and try to improve her education so that she could take up better jobs. This requires her character to be determined and hard-working, instead of being just a daydreamer that she is now. Gradually, she can raise her status to the level when she would be able to attract successful people such as Danny Casey, the famous footballer.

Question. Every teenager has a hero/heroine to admire. So many times they become role models for them. What is wrong if Sophie fantasies about Danny Casey and is ambitious in life?
Answer: The statement that every teenager has a hero/heroine to admire is true. As teenagers, we all have role models or people who we idolise. Same is the case for Sophie a young teen girl from a middle class background. She had unrealistic dreams. She felt that she would become either a boutique owner, shop manager, actress or a fashion designer.
Like every young girl, Sophie also had a strong desire of knowing the unknown, seeing the unseen and even dating famous people like Danny Casey. So, she visited the perfect place for lovers and sat on the solitary wooden bench under the tree waiting for Danny but there was no sign of him.
This kind of fantasising is dangerous as it takes one away from reality. It can lead to depression among teenagers, as their life’s ambitions are not fulfilled. This is not to say that it is not wrong to be ambitious in life. However, being over-ambitious like Sophie leads to failure and frustration in life. Hence, one should set practical goals in one’s life.

Question. Mention two points that the story ‘Going Places’ teaches us about celebrity culture and worship. Answer in 100-120 words.  
Answer: The story ‘Going Places’ illustrates how imagination can impact reality.
Firstly, Sophie fantasises about meeting Danny Casey and ends up lying to herself, her family, and friends. This shows how celebrity worship can lead to dishonesty and obsession.
Secondly, Sophie’s belief in her fantasy leads her to an isolated place for a fake meeting with Casey, putting herself at risk of danger.
Imagination can make life more interesting, but it also has downsides. Being careless in real-life situations because of fantasies can lead to serious and lasting consequences. The story warns about the dangers of letting imagination take over reality.

Going Places