Bihar Board Class 12th English (Rainbow Part 2 Prose) Chapter 9 The Earth) Solutions

1. Benjy was a

(a) an evil-minded person (b) a simple-minded person (c) an insane person (d) a short-tempered man

2. Benjy left school at the age of..... (a) Ten years (b) Sixteen years (c) Twenty years (d) Fourteen years

3. Johnson had in his possession.

(a) a house (b) a big farm (c) a poultry farm (d) a plough, a cart, tools, a bony brown mare

4. When Benjy was 21, his father handed him (a) a land (b) a factory (c) passbook (d) a big house

5. For many years Benjy’s father had been (a) a local preacher (b) a school teacher (c) a lawyer (d) a village-doctor

Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Very Short Type Questions and Answers

Question 1. What did Johnson do on.the doctor’s advice?

Question 2. What was Benjy’s performance in keeping hens?

Question 3. What did Johnson do with the money from the eggs?

Question 4. What did Johnson do with the pass-book?

Question 5. What was the difference between Beny’s hen and his parents Land?

Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Textual Questions and Answers

A. Work in small groups and discuss the following

Question 1. How is your family important to you?

Question 2. What are the responsibilities of the parents towards their children?

Question 3. What are the responsibilities of the children towards their parents?

B. 1.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied (a) A simple-minded person is ANd... eee (b) Johnson was more interested in............ (c) Johnson’s possessions included............. (d) Benjy’s simplicity second gradually to have become...........

B. 1.2. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements (i) Johnson was a hard-working man. (ii) Johnson was interested in preaching. (iii) Johnson had an insane son. (iv) Benjy hated his hens.

B.1.3. Answer the following questions briefly

Question. 1. Who is a tenant farmer?

Question 2. What did the doctor advise Benjy’s parents to ensure his mental growth?

Question 3. What did Benjy understand about a hen?

Question 4. What did Benjy understand about the business of hens?

B.2.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied (a) Benjy left school at the age of........... (b) By then Benjy had........... hens. (c) Benjy knew about segregating breeds of hens through.............. (d) Johnson believed that the earth designed and created by God would.......... (e) When Benjy was 21, his father handed him...........

B.2.2. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1. What silent belief did Benjy’s parents cherish about their lands?

Question 2. Why had their land not yielded much?

Question 3. How did Benjy’s parents feel when he silently put the passbook in his pocket?

Question 4. What had Benjy’s parents expected when they handed him the passbook?

Question 5. What did Benjy want to do with the money?

B.3.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied (a) The only difference between Benjy’s hens and his parents land was that (b) Benjy wanted to buy his parents’ land to (c) It was possible to gauge Benjy’s progress by (d) Benjy’s parents did not like Florence because

B.3.2. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1. Who had Johnson rented their land from?

Question 2. What information did Sanders give them that made them happy?

Question 3. Who was Florence?

Question 4. Why did Benjy want to marry Florence?

B.4.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of the unit you have just studied (a) When Benjy asked his parents to vacate the front bedroom, they (b) Benjy asked parents to go somewhere else because of him. (c) Benjy’s parents did not speak when their son drove them down into the town because

B. 4.2. Read the following sentences and write ‘T’ for true and ‘F’ for false statements (i) With the arrival of Florence as Benjy’s wife, the house was filled with happiness. (ii) Benjy and his wife lived in one part of the house and his parents in the other. (iii) Benjy paid utmost attention to his aging parents.

C.1. Bihar Board Class 12 English Book Long Answer Questions

Q.1. Did Benjy treat his parents justly? What would you do if you were Benjy?

Question 2. On how many occasions were Benjy’s parents disappointed with Benjy’s behavior? Describe each occasion briefly in your own words.

Question 3. ‘Looks are deceptive. How does this apply to Benjy?

Question 4. What is the role of Florence in this story? How did she affect Benjy’s life?

Question. 5 Johnson himself was responsible for his tragedy or troubles. Do you agree with this? Give reasons.

Question 6. How is a simple-minded man defined in the story? Do you agree with this definition?

Sketch the character of Johnson.

Johnson was a tenant farmer who owned a small four-acre plot along with basic farming tools and animals. However, he was more inclined towards talking than working hard on his land. He served as a local preacher and enjoyed speaking to people, whether at church, his field gate, or the roadside. He held a deep faith that God, as the creator of the earth, would also ensure its well-being and recovery from poverty. This faith made him somewhat content with his modest yields. His greatest weakness was his love for his son, Benjy. Believing Benjy was simple-minded, Johnson constantly helped and made sacrifices for him, forgiving his selfish acts repeatedly. Ultimately, Johnson's lack of diligence and blind faith led to his suffering. While we sympathize with his plight, there is also a sense that his choices contributed to his misfortune.

Sketch the character of Benjy.

Benjy is the central character of the story. As a child, his appearance—thick fair hair and a constant smile—led his father to believe he was simple-headed. However, behind his innocent blue eyes lay a cunning and selfish nature. Benjy's sole interest was his hens. He recognized their commercial value and dedicated himself to learning everything about them, building coops and selling eggs. He evolved into a shrewd and successful businessman, expanding his land, modernizing his operations, and employing workers to supply eggs on a large scale. Emotionally detached, Benjy felt no affection, kindness, or gratitude. He viewed his parents' savings with cold calculation and later callously asked them to move out. His marriage to Florence was not based on love but on the practical consideration that she could assist in his business.

Your expectations of your parents/ guardians.

I expect my parents to provide me with good food, clothing, and a quality education. If I fall ill, I expect them to care for me and ensure I receive proper medical treatment. As I am growing into an adult, I expect a degree of freedom and trust, without being questioned excessively about my whereabouts. I should receive sufficient pocket money and be allowed to participate in trips and excursions with my friends. My parents should respect my choice of friends, regardless of gender. Furthermore, I should be permitted to have a mobile phone, and they should not interfere unnecessarily in my personal life.

Causes and effects of communication gap.

Hints:
Human beings are gifted with speech for communication. However, a communication gap occurs when the intended message is not properly understood by the receiver. This can be caused by preconceived notions, prejudices, or simply misinterpreting remarks. Sometimes, the choice of words or tone leads to confusion. The effects can be damaging, resulting in misunderstandings, broken friendships, and even prolonged hostilities between individuals or groups.

Write a short essay in about 150 words on ‘an ideal family’.

An ideal family is founded on the pillars of love, mutual respect, and self-sacrifice. In such a family, every member cares for the others and is willing to put their needs first. In the Indian context, the joint family has traditionally been seen as an ideal model. Here, generations live together, pooling resources and sharing responsibilities. Children are nurtured collectively, while elders are revered for their wisdom and experience. This system provides emotional and economic security, ensuring the elderly are cared for and family traditions are preserved. Guests are welcomed warmly, and resources are shared efficiently, avoiding waste. Ultimately, an ideal family is a supportive unit where individuals find happiness, security, and a sense of belonging through cooperation and shared values.

Write a paragraph in about 100 words on the ‘duties of children towards their parents’

Parents dedicate their lives to nurturing their children, and in return, children have certain duties towards them, especially in their old age. The foremost duty is to provide love, companionship, and emotional support, ensuring they never feel lonely or neglected. Children must ensure their parents have comfortable living conditions, nutritious food, and timely medical care. Respecting their wishes and seeking their guidance honors their lifelong experience. Parents do not demand much; their happiness often lies simply in seeing their children thrive and receiving genuine affection and attention from them. Fulfilling these duties is a fundamental expression of gratitude.

tremore – tremor
disapointment – disappointment
bussiness – business
cobsession – obsession
inormos – enormous
precupied – preoccupied
imobile – immobile
cronicle – chronicle

anxious : (i) worried (as in the lesson) (ii) eagerly wanting something
insane : (i) mentally deranged (as in the lesson) (ii) extremely foolish
concession : (i) the act of yielding (ii) a discount or special allowance
cunning : (i) crafty or sly (as in the lesson) (ii) skillful or ingenious
simple : (i) feeble-minded (as used for Benjy) (ii) easy to understand
interest : (i) a hobby or pursuit (ii) money paid for borrowing

suggest – suggestion
relate – relation
confess – confession
narrate – narration
create – creation
irrigate – irrigation
humiliate – humiliation
frustrate – frustration
cultivate – cultivation
violate – violation

Column-A                           Column-B
weak in mind – imbecile
a stalk of grain – stubble
stunned – stupefied
to separate – segregate
obstinate – stubborn

D. 4. Phrases
Ex. 1. Read the lesson carefully and find out the sentences in which the following phrases have been used. Then use these phrases in sentences of your own.

grow up: She aspired to grow up to become a renowned scientist.
come from: The finest silk fabrics come from this particular region.
cut off: The landslide cut off the remote village from all road access.
by the time: By the time we reached the station, the train had already departed.
take care of: It is our responsibility to take care of our elderly relatives.
for a long time: They had been planning this reunion for a long time.
look at: Please look at this diagram carefully to understand the process.

E. Grammar
Find at least ten conjunctions which have been used in the story and use them in sentences of your own:

after: He went to play after completing his homework.
until: Wait here until I return.
because: The match was canceled because of heavy rain.
if: If you study regularly, you will perform well.
as if: She acted as if she knew everything.
although: Although he was tired, he continued working.
as: As it was getting dark, we decided to head home.
so that: He saved money so that he could buy a new bicycle.
as well as: She is talented in music as well as painting.
but: He is small in height but very strong.