RBSE Solutions Class 11 English Festoon Chapter 15 Reading Comprehension

RBSE Class 11 English Festoon Chapter 15 Textual Activities

Passage 1

What do you think of the man who eats a banana in front of a shop and gaily throws the skin on the road? He is a pest indeed but perhaps not quite a match for the man or woman who slips into your garden very early in the morning before your are awake. All the roses that you have tried so hard to produce are picked and put away in a basket in a trice. When you step into the garden to feast your eyes on your roses, they are just not there! The worst pest, however, is the man who lives next door and celebrates the marriage of his daughters once every two months till all the six girls are married off.

This monster hires loudspeakers which shriek away from very early in morning till late at night. At that volume music simply ceases to be music and becomes a shrill stream of noise that shatters your ear-drums and tears your nerves apart. Nobody who has been forced to endure this for a day will ever want another wedding to take place in the locality again.

Question 1. What can be the most suitable title of the passage?
(a) Social pests
(b) Nuisance makers
(c) Anti-social elements
(d) None
Answer: (a) Social pests
In simple words: The best name for this passage is "Social pests" because it talks about different kinds of annoying people in society. These people cause trouble for others, just like pests.

🎯 Exam Tip: When choosing a title, pick one that covers the main idea or theme of the entire passage, not just one part.

Question 2. What do the men who slip into your garden want the flowers for?
Answer: The men who sneak into the garden likely want the flowers to sell them or use them for themselves. They might also have some other purpose for taking them. This act shows a lack of respect for private property.
In simple words: The men who sneak into the garden probably want to sell the flowers or use them for themselves.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always infer reasons from the context of the passage if not directly stated, using words like "likely" or "probably".

Question 3. Who are the men that have been mentioned as social pests?
Answer: The men mentioned as social pests are the person who throws banana peels on the road, the one who steals roses, and the neighbor who plays loud music. These individuals disturb public peace and order in various ways.
In simple words: Social pests are the person who throws banana peels, the rose thief, and the loud music player.

🎯 Exam Tip: List all relevant examples from the passage when asked for categories or types of people/things.

Question 4. What does the man who has a number of daughters do?
Answer: The man with many daughters celebrates their weddings every two months by hiring loud loudspeakers. He continues doing this until all six of his daughters are married. This creates a lot of noise that bothers the neighbors.
In simple words: The man with many daughters uses loud loudspeakers every two months for his daughters' weddings.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing actions, be specific about what, when, and how, as mentioned in the passage.

Question 5. What does 'pest' mean?
Answer: A 'pest' means someone or something that is annoying or troublesome. In this passage, it refers to a person who causes irritation or inconvenience to others. Pests are typically unwelcome and can disrupt daily life.
In simple words: 'Pest' means an annoying person or thing that causes trouble.

🎯 Exam Tip: When defining a word from a passage, always provide the meaning that fits the context in which the word is used.

Question 6. What does the sentence, “but perhaps not quite a match for the man” communicate?
Answer: This sentence shows that the speaker believes the man mentioned later (the one with the loud loudspeakers) is worse than the man who throws banana peels. The word "but" highlights this contrast and indicates a stronger negative judgment for the second person. It implies a ranking of annoyance levels.
In simple words: The sentence means the man with loud music is worse than the banana-peel thrower. The word "but" shows this comparison.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to connecting words like "but," "however," or "although" as they often indicate a contrast or a shift in the author's opinion.

He wandered through the streets and asked a number of people, but could not find a room cheap enough for him. He sat down on a park bench to think of what he should do next. He was very tired and fell asleep on the bench. He woke up the next morning stiff in every limb - but he smiled when he realized that it was the cheapest night's lodging that he had ever had.

Question (i) Bansilal is a man of :
(a) Miserly nature
(b) Generous nature
(c) Only one incident has been mentioned, and we cannot say anything
(d) None
Answer: (a) Miserly nature
In simple words: Bansilal is a miserly person because he always tries to find the cheapest option, even if it means sleeping on a park bench. This shows he is very careful with his money.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for actions and choices a character makes in a story to understand their personality traits.

Question (ii) "But Bansilal waived him away". What does ‘waived' here mean?
(a) agreed
(b) disagreed
(c) refused to pay
(d) none
Answer: (c) refused to pay
In simple words: 'Waived him away' means Bansilal refused to pay someone or sent them away. He likely did not want to spend money.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand phrasal verbs by looking at the context in which they are used in the sentence.

Question (iii) How did Bansilal comfort himself in the morning:
(a) It was a good night's lodging
(b) It was the cheapest night's lodging
(c) It was the most comfortable night's lodging
(d) All the options
Answer: (b) It was the cheapest night's lodging
In simple words: Bansilal felt better because he realized that sleeping on the bench was the cheapest place he could stay. His main concern was saving money.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the character's primary motivation or thought process to answer questions about their feelings or actions.

Question (iv) He thought he would go to a choultry. What does 'choultry' mean?
(a) Dharamshala
(b) Birthplace
(c) Guesthouse
(d) Inn
Answer: (a) Dharamshala
In simple words: A 'choultry' is another word for a Dharamshala, which is a place where travelers can stay, often for free or at a very low cost. It serves as a public rest house.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for the meaning of a word, provide a common synonym or a simple explanation of what it is.

Question (v) What does 'stiff in every limb' refer to :
(a) Tired
(b) Exhausted
(c) Not comfortable
Answer: (c) Not comfortable
In simple words: 'Stiff in every limb' means his body felt sore and uncomfortable, especially after sleeping in an awkward position. This is a common feeling after sleeping badly.

🎯 Exam Tip: Idiomatic expressions or phrases often have a meaning different from the individual words; try to understand the overall sense they convey.

Question (vii) "But he smiled when he realized.” What does 'smiled' mean?
(a) laughed very loudly
(b) felt happy
(c) felt a sense of consolation
(d) None
Answer: (c) felt a sense of consolation
In simple words: Bansilal smiled because he felt a sense of comfort or relief, knowing he had found the cheapest place to stay. He found peace in saving money.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between different shades of meaning for similar words; here, "consolation" implies relief in a difficult situation, more specific than just "happy."

Question (viii) “He was very tired and fell asleep on the bench.” Which word in the sentence tells you that Bansilal had not planned to sleep on the bench?
(a) fell asleep
(b) tired
(C) on the bench
(d) none
Answer: (a) fell asleep
In simple words: The phrase "fell asleep" shows that his sleep was unplanned and happened because of tiredness, not choice. He didn't intend to sleep there, it just happened.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for specific verbs or phrases that indicate an unintentional or spontaneous action.

Question (ix) Why did Bansilal think he would go to a choultry?
Answer: Bansilal considered going to a choultry because it was his first time in the city and he was unsure where else to go. A choultry would offer a cheap or free place to stay, which suited his miserly nature. He was new to the area and needed an affordable option.
In simple words: Bansilal thought about a choultry because he was new to the city and didn't know cheap places to stay.

🎯 Exam Tip: Combine multiple pieces of information from the passage (like "first visit" and "didn't know where to go") to form a complete answer.

Question (x) What did the Porter say to Bansilal?
Answer: The porter told Bansilal that if he gave him three rupees, the porter would take him to a choultry. This implies the porter was offering a service for a small fee. The porter was ready to help for a payment.
In simple words: The porter told Bansilal he would take him to a choultry if Bansilal paid him three rupees.

🎯 Exam Tip: When quoting direct speech, ensure accuracy and proper punctuation as presented in the source.

Question (xi) What did Bansilal do in the park?
Answer: Bansilal fell asleep on a bench in the park because he was very tired. When he woke up, his body felt stiff, but he smiled because he realized that sleeping on the bench was the cheapest lodging he had ever experienced. The park offered a free place to rest when he couldn't find an affordable room.
In simple words: Bansilal fell asleep on a park bench. He woke up sore but happy because it was the cheapest place he had ever stayed.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe a sequence of events clearly and include the character's reaction or feeling if it's part of the narrative.

Passage 4

The tendency is for people to consume ready-made food articles rather than to bother with cooking. In old fashioned England one starts the day with porridge which requires to be cooked daily. In America, on the other hand, there are various kinds of ready-made breakfast foods, soups, meat-dishes, fish, vegetables, cakes, sweets and fruits are obtained in tins all ready to be used without cooking. They are produced on a mass scale and sold so cheap that it is often more expensive to buy the raw material for them from the market and cook in the house. Besides, cooking means time and space for kitchen and washing. All this is avoided by the use of tinned foods. Such stale food cannot have the nutritive value of fresh food.

Question 1. What is the popular notion about poverty?
Answer: The common belief about poverty is that if people had a lot of money, they would be happy, cheerful, and enjoy life more. This idea suggests that money is the main key to happiness and a fulfilling life. However, this passage implies a different perspective.
In simple words: People often think that more money means more happiness and a better life.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the popular belief first, then add any contrasting information or nuances from the passage.

Question 2. Are the rich persons happier than the poor ones?
Answer: No, rich people are not necessarily happier than poor people, according to the writer. Although rich people have servants and governesses, the passage suggests that true happiness comes from things other than wealth. The author implies contentment isn't tied to riches.
In simple words: No, rich people are not happier than poor people, even though they have servants.

🎯 Exam Tip: Answer direct "yes/no" questions first, then provide supporting details from the passage.

Question 3. Why does the writer pity the rich man's boy?
Answer: The writer feels sorry for the rich man's son because he doesn't find much love and unity among his family members. He also suffers from social envies. The absence of these important connections makes the writer pity him. Money cannot buy true affection.
In simple words: The writer pities the rich boy because he lacks family love and faces social jealousies.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the emotional and social reasons given in the passage when explaining why a character is pitied.

Question 4. What are the blessings of honest poverty?
Answer: The benefits of honest poverty are a sweet, happy, and pure home environment. It is also free from social envies and jealousies. The family members show more love and unity for each other. Simple living often fosters stronger bonds.
In simple words: Honest poverty brings a sweet and pure home, freedom from jealousy, and more love among family members.

🎯 Exam Tip: List blessings or advantages clearly, using phrases that summarize the positive aspects mentioned in the text.

Question. Regarding Britishers and Americans, why do Americans prefer ready-made food, and what are the main drawbacks of ready-made food?
Answer:
1. The tendency is for people to eat ready-made food instead of cooking it themselves. This saves time and effort.
2. The Britishers used to prefer cooked food, like daily porridge. However, Americans prefer ready-made food.
3. Americans choose ready-made food because it is cheaper than cooking. It also saves time and kitchen space for cooking and washing dishes. This convenience is a major factor.
4. The main drawbacks of ready-made food are that it lacks the nutritional value of fresh food. It also removes the individual touch in cooking, and customers can easily become victims of greedy capitalists. Freshly prepared meals are generally healthier.
In simple words: Americans like ready-made food because it's cheaper and saves cooking time. But ready-made food is less nutritious than fresh food, removes personal cooking style, and can lead customers to be exploited by companies.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question has multiple parts, address each part separately and clearly within your answer to ensure full coverage.