Question Bank — Ranga's Marriage

QUESTION BANK

Unit: Ranga’s Marriage (Prose)

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. Why did the narrator feel that Hosahalli was not mentioned in geography books?
   a) It was too small and unknown to English writers and Indian geographers
   b) It had no historical importance
   c) The villagers did not want it on the map
   d) The cartographers deliberately omitted it

2. What surprised the villagers most when Ranga returned from Bangalore?
   a) He spoke only in English
   b) He looked exactly the same as before
   c) He had cut off his janewara
   d) He refused to meet anyone

3. Ranga’s view on marriage was that one should marry
   a) any girl chosen by elders
   b) a girl one admires and who is mature
   c) the moment one turns twenty
   d) only after settling abroad

4. Assertion (A): The narrator decided to get Ranga married immediately after their first conversation.
   Reason (R): He believed Ranga would make a fine husband and be of service to society.
   a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   c) A is true but R is false.
   d) A is false but R is true.

5. The narrator compared Ranga’s disappointment when Ratna stopped singing to
   a) losing a ripe mango
   b) a lump of sugar melting in the mouth
   c) the sourness of a raw mango reaching the brahmarandhra
   d) a roasted brinjal

6. Assertion (A): Shastri’s astrological reading about Ranga proved “true”.
   Reason (R): Shastri had been carefully tutored by the narrator about what to say.
   a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   c) A is true but R is false.
   d) A is false but R is true.

7. The word “change” in the story is used to show
   a) the influence of English words in daily village life
   b) the economic condition of the villagers
   c) Ranga’s modern outlook
   d) the narrator’s ignorance of money matters

8. Ratna was
   a) the narrator’s daughter
   b) Rama Rao’s niece who could play the veena and harmonium
   c) Ranga’s cousin from Bangalore
   d) the Shastri’s daughter

9. Ranga finally admitted that the Shastri’s prediction was true because
   a) he had already decided to marry Ratna
   b) he genuinely believed in astrology
   c) he wanted to please the narrator
   d) he feared society’s opinion

10. The name given to Ranga and Ratna’s son shows
    a) their respect for the narrator
    b) their love for English customs
    c) their devotion to Lord Krishna
    d) their desire to follow tradition strictly

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“When you see this title, some of you may ask, ‘Ranga’s Marriage?’ Why not ‘Ranganatha Vivaha’ or ‘Ranganatha Vijaya?’ Well, yes. I know I could have used some other mouth-filling one like ‘Jagannatha Vijaya’ or ‘Girija Kalyana.’ But then, this is not about Jagannatha’s victory or Girija’s wedding. It’s about our own Ranga’s marriage…”

1. Who is the speaker?
2. Why does the speaker reject a grand title for the story?
3. Identify the literary device used in the reference to “Jagannatha Vijaya”.
4. What does this opening reveal about the narrator’s attitude towards his village?

Extract 2

“‘I am not going to get married now,’ he said. ‘Why not?’ ‘I need to find the right girl… If one gets married, it should be to a girl who is mature. Otherwise, one should remain a bachelor.’”

1. Who is “he” and to whom is he speaking?
2. What reason does the speaker give for not marrying immediately?
3. Name the figure of speech in “One a neem fruit, the other, a bittergourd.”
4. How does the narrator react to this statement?

Extract 3

“‘Ratna? The girl in Rama Rao’s house is Ratna. Tell me, is there any chance of our negotiations bearing fruit?’ ‘Definitely,’ he said, after thinking for some time.”

1. Who is the speaker of the first line and to whom is it addressed?
2. What is the context of this conversation?
3. Identify the literary device in “negotiations bearing fruit”.
4. How does Ranga’s expression change after this exchange?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. How did the villagers react when they saw that Ranga had not changed after his stay in Bangalore?
2. Why did the narrator feel that Ranga’s namaskara was different from that of present-day boys?
3. What arguments did Ranga give against arranged marriages?
4. How did the narrator arrange the first meeting between Ranga and Ratna?
5. What role did Shastri play in the narrator’s plan?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. Draw a character sketch of the narrator, highlighting his wit, resourcefulness and affection for Ranga. (100–120 words)
2. “The story shows both the charm and the comic manipulation involved in bringing about a marriage in a traditional Indian village.” Discuss with reference to the text. (100–120 words)

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. From the unit, pick out two examples each of (a) simile and (b) irony. Explain the effect of one example of each.
2. Imagine you are Ranga. Write a short diary entry (80–100 words) on the day you realised that Ratna was not married and that the narrator had planned everything for your happiness.