Question Bank — Keeping Quiet

NCERT Class 12 English · Chapter 17 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 12 English Chapter 17 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

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

  1. What does the poet mean by “count to twelve and we will all keep still”?
    (a) He wants everyone to sleep
    (b) He wants a moment of complete silence and stillness
    (c) He wants people to stop working forever
    (d) He wants to end all activity permanently

  2. The phrase “exotic moment” in the poem refers to:
    (a) A strange and unusual moment of silence
    (b) A moment of war
    (c) A festive celebration
    (d) A moment of intense activity

  3. Assertion (A): The poet does not want total inactivity or death.
    Reason (R): He believes life is about movement and activity.
    (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

  4. The “sadness” referred to in the poem is:
    (a) The sadness of war and destruction
    (b) The sadness of never understanding ourselves
    (c) The sadness of losing loved ones
    (d) The sadness of poverty

  5. Assertion (A): The Earth is used as a symbol of life under apparent stillness.
    Reason (R): Everything on Earth seems dead in winter but comes alive later.
    (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

  6. The fishermen and the salt-gatherer in the poem represent:
    (a) People who harm others and themselves through constant activity
    (b) People who enjoy their work
    (c) People who are already silent
    (d) People who are preparing for war

  7. “Victory with no survivors” refers to:
    (a) A peaceful victory
    (b) A war that destroys everyone
    (c) A sports victory
    (d) A victory in personal life

  8. The poet wants people to:
    (a) Stop all activity permanently
    (b) Pause for a moment of introspection and unity
    (c) Learn new languages
    (d) Build more engines

  9. The line “I will go” at the end suggests:
    (a) The poet wants to leave the scene quietly after making his point
    (b) The poet is angry
    (c) The poet wants others to follow him
    (d) The poet is ending the poem abruptly

  10. The poem advocates:
    (a) Complete silence and inactivity forever
    (b) A brief pause for reflection and mutual understanding
    (c) Stopping all progress
    (d) Living in isolation

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

Extract 1

“Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still.”

  1. Who is the speaker of these lines?
  2. What does “count to twelve” symbolise?
  3. Identify the literary device used in “keep still”.
  4. What effect does the poet hope to achieve through this moment?

Extract 2

“Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.”

  1. Who are “those who prepare green wars”?
  2. Explain the phrase “victory with no survivors”.
  3. Name the literary device used in “wars with gas, wars with fire”.
  4. What change in behaviour does the poet expect from these people?

Extract 3

“Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.”

  1. What lesson does the Earth teach according to the poet?
  2. What does “everything seems dead” refer to?
  3. Identify the literary device in the given lines.
  4. How does this symbol support the central idea of the poem?

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

  1. What does the poet mean by “an exotic moment without rush, without engines”?
  2. Why does the poet say “I want no truck with death”?
  3. How can a moment of silence help fishermen and salt-gatherers?
  4. What is the “sadness” that the poet refers to in the poem?
  5. Why does the poet ask us to count up to twelve and then keep quiet?

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

  1. “Keeping Quiet” is not a call for total inactivity but for introspection and peace. Justify this statement with reference to the poem.
  2. How does Pablo Neruda use symbols from nature to convey the central message of the poem “Keeping Quiet”?

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

  1. From the poem, pick out two examples of repetition and one example of alliteration. Explain the effect of each device briefly.
  2. Write a short paragraph (80–100 words) on “The Need for Silence in a Noisy World” inspired by the theme of the poem “Keeping Quiet”.
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Section A

  1. (b)
  2. (a)
  3. (a)
  4. (b)
  5. (a)
  6. (a)
  7. (b)
  8. (b)
  9. (a)
  10. (b)

Section B

Extract 1
1. The poet Pablo Neruda.
2. A short, definite period of silence and stillness.
3. Alliteration / Repetition.
4. To create unity and introspection among all human beings.

Extract 2
1. Warmongers and those who plan destructive wars.
2. A war that kills everyone, leaving no winner.
3. Repetition / Anaphora.
4. They would stop preparing for war and walk peacefully with others.

Extract 3
1. That life exists even under apparent stillness.
2. Winter when nature appears dead.
3. Simile / Symbolism.
4. It supports the idea that silence can lead to renewal and understanding.

Section C (Key points – 1 mark each for any three valid points)
1. A rare, unusual moment of peace free from noise and haste.
2. He wants life and activity, not death or complete stillness.
3. Fishermen would stop harming whales; salt-gatherer would rest his injured hands.
4. The sadness of never understanding ourselves and threatening each other with death.
5. To create a brief pause for reflection and mutual understanding.

Section D (Key content points)
1.
- Clarifies that he does not want total inactivity.
- Wants only a momentary pause for introspection.
- Fishermen, salt-gatherers and warmongers would all benefit.
- Earth symbol shows life under stillness.
- Message of peace and self-understanding.

    • Earth appears dead in winter but revives in spring.
    • Symbolises that silence can lead to renewal.
    • Supports idea that apparent stillness is not death.
    • Reinforces message of introspection without inactivity.

Section E

  1. Repetition: “wars with gas, wars with fire”; “count to twelve”. Effect: emphasis. Alliteration: “sudden strangeness”, “we would”. Effect: musical quality and emphasis.
  2. Paragraph: Should mention need for pause amid modern noise, link to introspection, peace, and self-understanding (format: topic sentence + 2–3 supporting points + concluding sentence).
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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.