Class 12 Compulsory English War and Peace Notes

Working with words

A. Meaning of Underlined Words

• a. clamour: a loud and confused noise
• b. precariously: not securely
• c. scrutiny: examination
• d. absconded: hid somewhere secretly
• e. anglicized: characteristics of English
• f. platitudes: doubtful remarks (Note: contextually chosen from options)

B. Meanings of Words Borrowed from Hindi

• Veranda: A roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.
• Khaki: A strong cloth of wool or cotton, often used for military or other uniforms.
• Pashmina: A shawl made from fine-quality goat’s wool.
• Pajamas: Loose-fitting jacket and trousers for sleeping in.
• Pukka: Genuine, excellent.
• Pundit: An expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give their opinions to the public.
• Avatar: The incarnation of a deity, particularly Vishnu.
• Bangle: A rigid bracelet or anklet, especially one with no clasp.
• Cheetah: A large slender spotted cat found in Africa and parts of Asia.
• Guru: A Hindu or Sikh spiritual teacher.
• Jungle: An area of land overgrown with dense forest and tangled vegetation, typically in the tropics.
• Karma: Good or bad luck, viewed as resulting from one’s actions.
• Nirvana: Complete cessation of suffering; a blissful state attained through enlightenment.
• Shampoo: A liquid soap used for washing hair. (Note: derived from the Hindi word ‘chāmpo’, meaning to press or massage).
• Raita: An Indian side dish of yogurt containing chopped cucumber or other vegetables and spices.

C. Adding Suffixes (Retaining or Dropping ‘e’)

• a. change + -able / -ing / -ed / -less
  • changeable, changing, changed, changeless (Note: ‘e’ is kept for ‘changeable’ to preserve the soft /dʒ/ sound, kept for ‘changing’, and dropped for ‘changed’ and ‘changeless’).
• b. time + -ly / -ing / -ed / -less
  • timely, timing, timed, timeless
• c. notice + -able / -ing / -ed
  • noticeable, noticing, noticed
• d. praise + -worthy / -ing / -ed
  • praiseworthy, praising, praised
• e. home + -less / -ing / -ly
  • homeless, homing, homely

Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

• a. Why did Iqbal want to sleep in the afternoon?
  • Answer: Iqbal wanted to sleep in the afternoon because he had spent the night sitting on his bedroll in a crowded, noisy third-class compartment of the train.
• b. How did people react with each other in the train?
  • Answer: People reacted in a very loud, talkative, and argumentative way with each other inside the train compartment.
• c. Why did the book Iqbal was reading bring commotion in the compartment?
  • Answer: The book Iqbal was reading brought commotion because it was written in English, and the other travelers mistakenly perceived reading an English book as a sign of supreme wisdom, praiseworthiness, and high social prestige.
• d. Why did Iqbal have to give clarification with his personal details?
  • Answer: Iqbal had to clarify his personal details and background because the travelers in the train viewed him as an intellectual and elite person, prompting them to curiously press him for information about his life.
• e. Who was Meet Singh and what did he report to Iqbal?
  • Answer: Meet Singh was a priest of the local Gurdwara. He reported to Iqbal about the murder of a fellow villager, which was allegedly committed by a village dacoit named Jugga.
• f. How, according to Meet Singh, was Jugga Singh different from his forefathers?
  • Answer: According to Meet Singh, Jugga Singh was different from his forefathers because, while his ancestors were also dacoits, they never robbed or harmed their own village or its people; instead, they protected the villagers from outside criminals. In contrast, Jugga robbed and even murdered people from his own village.
• g. How does the author show contradiction in Meet Singh’s character?
  • Answer: The author shows contradiction in Meet Singh’s character by depicting how, despite being a religious priest of the Gurdwara, he was unfazed by Jugga’s brutal murder and was even willing to swear falsely on the holy Guru Granth Sahib to defend Jugga from the murder charge.
• h. Who was Hukum Chand and how did he succeed in his career?
  • Answer: Hukum Chand was the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (also known as the Deputy Sahib). He succeeded in his career by constantly pleasing his superiors (“Sahibs”) and securing regular promotions.

Critical Thinking

a. Iqbal is addressed as Babu Sahib by general folk simply because he knew English. Are Nepali people who can speak English taken with respect? Discuss the importance of learning English in the Nepali context.

Answer: Yes, Nepali people who are fluent in English are often treated with a distinct sense of respect and social privilege. In Nepal, English is frequently viewed as a language of the elite, closely tied to upper-class status, modern education, and high intelligence. Fluent English speakers are often presumed to be more competent, professional, and successful.

Learning English holds immense practical importance in the Nepali context. It acts as a gateway to global career opportunities, higher education abroad, international communication, and access to a vast world of digital information and technology. However, while linguistic proficiency is a valuable professional tool, using it as a benchmark for measuring a person’s moral character or inherent worth remains a social bias.

b. Do you agree with Iqbal’s comments on crime and punishment? In your view, what should the state, society, and individuals do for peace and order in social lives?

Answer: Yes, Iqbal’s perspective highlights the complexities of crime, human behavior, and the failures of mechanical justice systems. Maintaining enduring peace and social order requires a collaborative framework involving individuals, society, and the state:

• Role of Individuals: Peace begins from within. Individuals must cultivate empathy, take personal responsibility for their actions, resolve conflicts peacefully, and refuse to foster hatred or prejudice.
• Role of Society: Communities must foster inclusive environments, bridge social divides, support vulnerable families, and reject peer pressure or cultures that romanticize violence or unlawful behavior.
• Role of the State: The state must ensure strict, fair, and transparent enforcement of the rule of law. It should focus on systemic reforms, poverty alleviation, equitable resource distribution, and rehabilitation programs to address the root causes of crime rather than merely punishing its symptoms.

Writing

A. Describing a Dishonest Acquaintance

During my early school days, I befriended someone who initially appeared kind, supportive, and trustworthy. We shared everything, and I trusted him with my most personal thoughts and secrets. Over time, however, I discovered that he was deeply dishonest. He would exploit my confidence, twist my words, and gossip about me behind my back with others. When I confronted the reality of his betrayal, I felt deeply hurt and disillusioned. Ultimately, I chose to forgive him for my own peace of mind, believing in the philosophy of “forgive, forget, and move on.” While I let go of the bitterness, I never forgot the valuable lesson he taught me about boundaries and selective trust.

B. Letter to a Friend About an Unforgettable Journey

Date: 2082-10-13

Location: Pokhara-7, Kaski

Dear Pratik,

Hope this letter finds you in the best of health and spirits. My heart fills with joy as I sit down to share with you my unforgettable bus journey to my hometown in Sankhuwasabha.

I traveled on Manakamana Yatayat (Bus No. 910), boarding at 5:30 AM on 10/10/2082 and reaching my destination safely by 6:30 PM the same day. The entire travel experience was breathtaking and deeply relaxing. Looking out the window, the rolling green hills, rushing waterfalls, and fresh mountain air filled me with excitement. The ticket price was quite reasonable, and the onboard atmosphere was remarkably warm. I managed to get a comfortable corner seat, and the passengers around me were so friendly that we spent hours playing cards and chatting, making the long hours fly by.

It was a comforting escape from everyday stress, and an experience everyone should have at least once. I am already planning another trip soon and will definitely invite you to join me. Take good care of yourself until then!

Much love,

Aayusha Sharma

Grammar

C. Fill in the gaps with the correct form of verbs (Past Simple / Past Continuous / Past Perfect)

It was Sunday afternoon. I was watching a cookery programme on TV when I realised how hungry I was. But of course, I was hungry; I hadn’t eaten anything since lunch, and I had run a race in the morning. “Biscuits!” I thought. My mother had given me a jar of delicious home-made biscuits.

I went into the kitchen, opened the fridge and poured some milk in a big glass. Then I looked for the kitchen chair, but it wasn’t there: somebody had taken it away. And there were no biscuits in the biscuit jar: somebody had eaten them all! I was sure I had put the jar there the previous day and I had eaten only one cookie. It was very strange.

A few minutes later, I was drinking my glass of milk when I heard a loud noise coming from the dining room. I went there quickly and I opened the door. I couldn’t believe my eyes. An enormous monkey was eating the biscuits excitedly on the kitchen chair.

D. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the mistakes:

• a. She played the flute and then she had sung in their choir.
  • Correction: She played the flute and then she sang in their choir. (Or: She had played the flute and then she sang…)
• b. I borrowed Rima’s car. Had you known about it?
  • Correction: I borrowed Rima’s car. Did you know about it?
• c. After the lesson had finished, we run out of school.
  • Correction: After the lesson had finished, we ran out of school.
• d. Had you be there? – Yes, the previous year.
  • Correction: Were you there? — Yes, the previous year. (Or: Had you been there? — Yes, I had been the previous year.)
• e. Did you liked my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
  • Correction: Did you like my article published in the Himalayan Times yesterday?
• f. I recognized him because I saw him before.
  • Correction: I recognized him because I had seen him before.
• g. I hadn’t gone out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
  • Correction: I didn’t go out because I hadn’t finished my homework.
• h. We had done nothing like this at that time.
  • Correction: We did nothing like this at that time.
• i. It was quite difficult. I had had no idea what to do.
  • Correction: It was quite difficult. I had no idea what to do.
• j. As far as I’d known, she had always had some pets.
  • Correction: As far as I knew, she had always had some pets.
• k. When I met Jim, he was already a soldier for three years.
  • Correction: When I met Jim, he had already been a soldier for three years.
• l. He had gone to the coffee because somebody had told him.
  • Correction: He went to the coffee shop because somebody had told him.