Class 12th Rainbow English Chapter 1 Solutions

A. Answer the following questions orally

Question 1.

What do you know about Gandhiji?

Answer:

I know Gandhiji as Bapu and as Mahatma. He is called Bapu because he was the father of the nation. He is called Mahatma because he was a great soul or saint. Gandhiji was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against the British rule. He adopted Satyagraha and nonviolence to achieve all his objectives. In the beginning Gandhiji worked in South Africa where he went to jail several times for protesting against the ill-treatment to Indians there. Gandhiji’s struggle was long, hard but peaceful. In 1942 Gandhiji-led Congress began the Quit India Movement which ultimately paved the way to India’s independence. The world has recognised the worth of his methods of Satyagraha and non-violence. He has been declared as the Man of Millennium.

Question 2.

What did Gandhi do for the farmers in Bihar?

Answer:

It was indigo-peasant’s problems that brought Gandhiji to Champaran in 1917. The British landlords owned large estates in Champaran. Indigo farming was profitable for them but irksome for their Indian peasants. The British landlords were exploiting the poor fanners who lived in constant fear of them. Gandhiji visited Champaran, studied their problems, and fought for their cause. He started a sort of non-violent movement. The farmers of Champaran rallied round him. Gandhi freed them from both exploitation and fear of the British rulers.

Question 3.
What do you understand by civilization and culture?

Answer:

Civilization is the state of development of a people. Their social, political, legal organisation are parts of their civilization. Culture is all the customs, beliefs and ways of living inherited by them. Civilization and culture, in fact, go hand in hand.

Question 4.

What do you holy scriptures tell us about universal human values?

Answer:

Our holy scriptures tell us about truth and sacrifice. They tell us that true happiness lies in spiritual persuits rather than in materialistic ones.

B. 1.1. Complete the following sentences on the basis of what you have studied

(a) India’s glory is that it

(b) The charge aganist India is that

(c) We dare not change what

(d) Our ancestors set a limit to our indulagences because

(e) Our forefathers did not invent machinery because

Answer:

(a) is immovable, (b) her people are uncivilized, ignorant and stolid, (c) we have tested and found hue on the anvil of experience, (d) more we indulge in our passions, the more lunbridled they become, (e) if we invented machinery, we would become slaves and lose our moral fibre.

B. 1.2. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1.
How is Indian civilization different from European civilization?

Answer:
European civilization is guided by the writings of Greece and Rome, which no longer exist in their former glory. But Indian civilization is steady. It follows the path that our forefathers tested on the anvil of experience and found true and durable. Indian civilization needs no external guide.

Question 2.
Why does Gandhiji say that ‘mind is a restless bird’? What makes the mind restless?

Answer:
Gandhiji says that mind is a restless bird because it is never satisfied. The more it gets the more it wants.

Question 3.
Why did out ancestors dissuade us from luxuries and pleasures? Did they do the right thing?

Answer:
Our ancestors dissuaded us from luxuries and pleasures because they do not lead to happiness. The more one indulges in them, the more dissatisfied one becomes. Our ancestors did the right thing because we find that even the rich people are unhappy, and many poor are happy. In fact happiness is a mental condition. It does not depend on wealth and possessions.

Question 4.
Why according to Gandhi, have we stuck with the same kind of plough as existed thousands of years ago? Should we do the same thing even today?

Answer:
According to Gandhiji we stuck to the plough that existed thousands of years ago because we did not want tp indulge in competition. We were content with our simple ways of life. Health and happiness come through the use of our hands and feet. But I don’t think it will be right to do the same thing today. We cannot feed our one billion population if we used the same old plough today. Besides, our very existence in the modem world would be almost impossible.

Question 5.
How did our ancestors view large cities? Why were they satisfied

Answer:
Our ancestors could foresee the vices that are bound to flourish in big cities. They knew that gangs of thieves and robbers, prostitution and other vices flourish in big cities, and the rich rob the poor. They were, therefore, satisfied with small villages.

Question 6.
How did our ancestors enjoy true’Home Rule’?
Answer:
Our ancestors followed their simple occupations and lived independently. Thus they enjoyed true Home Rule.

B. 2. Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1.

What, according to file author, is modem civilization?

Answer:According to Gandhiji modem civilization is the worship of materialism and violence and brutality.

Question 2.
What did the author convey to file countrymen about dealing with modem civilization?

Answer:
Gandhiji points out that the tendency of Indian civilization is to elevate the moral being, but that of the western civilization is to propagate immortality. He asked his countrymen to cling to their civilization, but shun the modem civilization at all costs.

Question 3.
What Is the disinguishing characteristic of modem civilization?

Answer:
According to Gandhiji indefinite multiplicity of human wants is the distinguishing characteristic of modem civilization.

Question 4.
The author perceived danger from modem civilization. How?

Answer:
Gandhiji believed that the inventions of modem civilization were too maddening to resist They could give. If they are not resisted, we would barter our permanent good for momentary leasure.

Question 5.
What does author prefer to materialism?

Answer:
The author prefers spiritualism to materialism.

Question 6.
What does our civilization depend on ?

Answer:
Our civilization depends not on multiplying our demands; but on restricting them.

Question 7.
What is civilization in the real sense of the term?

Answer:
In the real sense of the term, civilization means deliberate, voluntary restriction of wants.

C.I. Bihar English Book Long Answers Questions

Question 1. 

“I believe that the civilization that India has evolved shouldn’t be beaten in the world.” What does this mean according to the author?

Answer: 

Gandhiji praises Indian civilization for its solid and eternal values. He contrasts it with other civilizations that have either disappeared or changed over time, such as Egypt, Greece, Rome and Japan. He argues that Indians are smart and proud to keep their perfect and lasting culture. I agree with him and also think that Indian civilization is adaptable to new ideas and strong to overcome difficulties. For example, it has absorbed influences from various religions and faced invasions and colonialism. That is the beauty and merit of Indian civilization, which has survived and thrived for ages.

Question 2.

‘We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets the more it wants, and still remains lesson, unsatisfied.’ Pick out other metaphors used in the How do these metaphors help Gandhiji in persuading the readers?

Answer: 

Gandhiji used metaphors skillfully to make his language more persuasive and clear. He compared the human mind to a restless bird, the civilization to a solid piece on the anvil, and hope to a sheet anchor. He also warned us of big cities as snares, alerting us to the dangers of urbanization and materialism. These powerful metaphors helped us to understand and accept his revolutionary ideas. Gandhiji’s literary skill was remarkable. He expressed deep truths through creative comparisons that touched people across cultures and generations, leaving a lasting impact on humanity’s search for truth and justice.

Question3.

‘A man is not necessarily happy because he is rich, or unhappy because he is poor. The rich are often seen to be unhappy, the poor to be happy.’ What, according to Gandhi, holds key to real happiness? How does Gandhi define ‘happiness’?

Answer:

According to Gandhiji, happiness is a state of mind. Wealth and luxuries do not make a man happy. The wealthy are not always happy and the poor are not always unhappy. Luxuries and comforts often become a burden and cause physical and mental pain. People who work enjoy better health and happiness than those who are slaves to machines and others. By multiplying our desires we become less and less happy. That is why our ancestors put a limit on our indulgence. Self-restraint is the key to happiness.

Question 4.

Why did our ancestors feel satisfied with small villages? Did they do the right thing? Will it be wise today to follow our ancestors in this connection ? Give your own view.

Answer:

Our ancestors felt satisfied with small villages because they had a sense of community and belonging. They lived in harmony with nature and did not have much desire for material things. They did the right thing for their time and context, but it may not be possible or wise to follow them today. Today, we live in a globalized and interconnected world, where we need to cooperate and communicate with people from different cultures and backgrounds. We also face many challenges and opportunities that require innovation and adaptation. We can learn from our ancestors, but we cannot go back to their way of life.

Question 5.

Discuss the negative features of western civilization.

Answer:

The western civilization focuses on material progress and physical inventions, but ignores the spiritual aspect of life. This leads to a culture of greed and consumption, which damages the earth and its environment. The earth faces many problems, such as pollution, global warming, and loss of biodiversity, because of the western civilization’s values. The future of mankind is bleak, unless we change our lifestyle and mindset.

Question 6.

What is the essential difference between the Indian eivilization and the western civilization? How is our civilization supperior to the western civilization?

Answer:

The Indian civilization values the soul and the spirit, while the western civilization seeks endless pleasure and comfort. The Indian civilization limits indulgence and discovers eternal bliss, while the western civilization ignores the soul and finds no happiness. The Indian civilization is superior because it elevates the mind and the spirit, while the western civilization is burdensome and unsatisfying.

Question 7.

‘A certain degree of physical harmony and comfort is necessary but above a certain level it becomes a hindrance instead of help.’ Elaborate.

Answer:

Humans are composed of both body and soul, and that the soul is more important than the body. However, the soul cannot accomplish anything without the body, which needs to be strong and healthy. The body also needs some degree of comfort to function well, but not too much that it becomes addicted to pleasures and passions. The text suggests that there should be a balance between physical and moral well-being, and that excess indulgence will harm both the self and society.

C. 2. Group Discussion

Discuss the following in groups or pairs;

Question 1.

‘Truth and non-violence have been the biggest weapons of mankind.

Answer:

Violent wars killed millions and achieved nothing, but peaceful leaders like Buddha, Christ and Gandhiji won empires and hearts without harming anyone, using truth and love or non-violence.

Question 2.

High thinking cannot go alongside high living.

Answer:

The text argues that people who think deeply and discover ultimate truth prefer simple living over luxury, as luxury is meaningless and distracting. It gives examples of the Buddha and Tolstoy, who renounced their worldly possessions and enriched the world with their wisdom. It also states that no wealthy man has ever made great contribution to human thought, and that all the best literature, thought and philosophy came from people who led simple lives.

C. 3. Composition

Write a paragraph in about 100 words on each of the following :
(a) The real dignity of man lies not in what he has but in what he is. 

Answer:

Many people believe that they would gain greater respect in society
if they had more wealth. But they find it is a fallacy, because wealth comes in a thousand ways, and most of the ways are not respectable. Wealth can come through inheritance, through winning a jackpot, through smuggling, cheating, robbing and many other immoral and illegal ways. All these ways hardly make a man great. But people of character and wisdom are truly respected. India has a long tradition of respecting saints and sanyasins. Even the richest men bow to them. It is only character and integrity that make a man great.

(b) The crown and glory of life is character.

Answer: 

Character is what gives man inner glow. Wealth and possession do not make a man great. In the hour of crisis, it is not wealth that can give man courage, but its character that helps a man to face misfortunes with fortitude. Wealth and possession make a man appear to shine as the rays of the sun falling on window panes. But when the sun sets, there can be a glow only if there is light within. Similarly a man may appear to be great when he has wealth. His true worth is seen when he loses wealth. Indeed character does not make only a man great, but a nation becomes great if there are men and women of strong character.

D. WORD STUDY

D.1. Dictionary use
Ex. 1. Correct the spellings of the following words
Answer:
disuaded — dissuaded
ocupation — occupation
votries — votaries
imorality — immorality
unadulterated — unadultrated
matarialism — materialism
beleif — belief
madning — maddening ‘
engrev — engrave
harmoney — harmony

Ex. 2. Lookup a dictionary and write two meanings of the following
words— the one in which it is used in the lesson and the other which is more common.
Answer:
reason:
(i) faculty of rational argument
(ii) a cause or motive
thinking:
(i) opinion or judgment
(ii) the process of thought
wants:
(i) deficiency
(ii) desire; need
ruin:
(i) downfall; destruction
(ii) a destroyed or fallen building
copy:
(i) an imitation
(ii) a single specimen of something

D. 2. Word-formation

Read carefully the following sentence taken from the lesson.
Each followed his own occupation.
In the above sentence the word ‘occupation’, which is an abstract noun, is derived from the verb ‘occupy’. Now derive abstract nouns from the verbs given below and use them (abstract n.ouns) in sentences of your own.

convert – conversion
perform – performance
defin – definition
please – pleasure
educate – education
observe – observation

Sentence –
conversion: Please tell me the formula of conversion of Fahrenheit temperature into Centigrade temperature.
performance: Sunita’s performance on the stage was greatly appreciated,
definition: What was Gandhiji’s definition of Satyagraha?
pleasure: It was a pleasure to hear classical music,
education: Education should be accessible to all.
observation: Newton had a keen power of observation.

D. 3. Word-meaning

Ex. 1. Find from the lesson words the meanings of which have been given in column A. The last part of each word is given in column B.

Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with suitable words (gerunds) from the given list living thinking writing bartering maddening
(i) Pragya’s is not very legible.
(ii) The police could not control the crowd.
(iii) We are in danger of away the permanent good for a momentary pleasure.
(iv) Gandhi always believed in simple
(v) Amandeep’s was quite logical.
Answer:
(i) writing, (ii) maddening, (iii) bartering, (iv) living, (v) thinking.

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:
satisfy with, be sujited to, believe in, cling to, in vain
Answer:
satisfy with: We are unhappy because we are not satisfied with what we have.
be suited to: The climate of Bihar is not suited to growing apples.
believe in: I believe in God.
Cling to Let’s not cling to outdated customs
in vain: He tried hi vain to persuade him to give up smoking.

E. Grammar

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences given below by using the appropriate forms of the verbs given in brackets :
(a) Indian civilization has……..it alive till now. (keep)
(b) I see here ancient India still……….. (live)
(c) We have………… many things from western literature, (borrow)
(d) We have been………… west since long, (copy)
(e) Arya did…………. so, (speak)
(f) Nehru had…………. so many letters to his daughter from jail, (write)
Answer:
(a) kept, (b) living, (c) borrowed, (d) copying, (e) speak, (f) written.

Ex. 2 Study the following sentence from the lesson
We notice that the mind is a restless bird, the more it gets the more it wants. Mark the use of double comparative in the above sentence. Form ten sentences of your own choice on this pattern.
Answer:

1. The higher we go, the cooler it is.
2. The harder he worked, the better he grew.
3. The more you spend, the less you have.
4. The louder she cried, the hoarser she became.
5. The more she earns, the more she spends.
6. The longer we waited, the darker it became.
7. The higher the sun rises, the hotter it becdome.
8. The more he ate, the fatter he became.
9. The farther he walked, more desperate he became.
10. The harder you work, the better you achieve.
11. The more he earned, the less he spent.

F. Activity

Students may do it themselves.