Summary: Discover essential CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo important questions and answers. Crack the board exam by studying important topics from "Flamingo," a collection of prose and poetry that offers insights into life and human nature. Prepare efficiently for your English Core exam by using these important questions. 

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) English core paper for Class 12 is separated into sections, with "Flamingo" as a required reading. "Flamingo" is a prose and poetry compilation that delves into numerous aspects of life and human nature. Students should be familiar with the text and practise answering questions of all types in order to thrive in the board examination. We've collected a list of some of the most relevant questions from "Flamingo" to help students revise. 

CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Important Questions Chapter Wise  

CBSE Class 12 Chapter Wise English Flamingo Important Questions have been compiled by qualified teachers from the most recent editions of NCERT books in order to achieve high marks in board exams. We have provided Important Questions for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo. 

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Chapter 1: The Last Lesson 

• Q1. What was Charley's vision about Galesburg town?  
• A1. Charley thought that Galesburg was still a wonderful town. In that century in 1894, people used to sit in their lawns, having sufficient time to talk to each other, smoking cigars and women waving palm leaf fans on very long summer evenings. Overall, it was a peaceful and friendly place. 
• Q2. Why did Charley return from the third level? 
• A2. With the wings of imagination Charley returned to collect enough money to buy two tickets to Galesburg town for himself and his wife Louisa. The clerk did not accept the currency which Charley had so he went back to get the old currency. 
• Q3. Why do you think Charley withdrew nearly all the money he had from the bank to buy old-style currency?  
• A3. Charley had got his three hundred dollars out of the bank and got them changed into old-style currency so that he could go back to the third level and buy the tickets to Galesburg. 
• Q4. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife? 
• A4. No, Charley would never go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife because he would never find that third level again, possibly 

Read Also: How to Score Good Marks in CBSE Class 12 English 

Chapter 2: Lost Spring 

• Q1. In what sense is garbage gold to the ragpickers? 
• A1. For the ragpickers, garbage is equivalent to gold in that it provides them with a livelihood. Garbage provides them with their daily rations and a place to live. 
• Q2. What did garbage mean to the children of Seemapuri and to their parents?  
• A2. The author claims that garbage is gold to ragpickers because, to children, trash is a source of amazement. They anticipate receiving some cash, jewels, or both in it. They occasionally discover a rupee or even a ten-rupee note, if luck is on their side. Adults use garbage as a source of income.  
• Q3. What does the writer mean when she says, 'Saheb is no longer his own master?  
• A3. The author intended Saheb to be a carefree youngster who worked and still had time for himself when he was a ragpicker. Yet as soon as he began working at the tea shop, he lost his freedom because he was forced to work for a master and obey his commands. He could no longer act however he pleased. As a result, he was no longer his own master. 
• Q4. How was Mukesh's attitude to his situation different from that of his family? 
• A4. Mukesh was prepared to leave the family's history and vicious cycle of glassmakers. He followed his tender heart's desire to train as a mechanic. In order to obtain the training and abilities he needed, he willingly undertook the burden of walking a significant distance to the garage. He therefore had the courage to pursue his dream. 

Chapter 3: Deep Water 

• Q1. How did Douglas finally get rid of the fear he had of water? 
• A1. The terror that gripped Douglas as a result of his two mishaps with water was so intense that he sought professional help to overcome it. He hired a swimming instructor for six months of intensive training to ensure he overcame his fear of water, which he eventually did. 
• Q2. How did the incident at the YMCA pool affect Douglas? 
• A2. Douglas, a ten-year-old boy, was standing alone at the YMCA pool when a big bully of a boy picked him up and tossed him into the deep end, and he was instantly at the bottom. Even though he managed to escape with great difficulty, he could never return to the pool. He began to be afraid of and avoid water. When he was near water, a haunting terror gripped him. 
• Q3. What did Douglas experience as he went down to the bottom of the pool for the first time? 
• A3. When Douglas is pushed into the pool, he immediately sinks to the bottom. To him, the nine- foot-deep pool appears to be ninety feet deep. He has a strong feeling of unease and as if his lungs are about to burst. Despite feeling completely suffocated, he makes desperate attempts to survive. 
• Q4. What did Douglas learn from his experience at the YMCA pool? 
• A4. Douglas was deeply affected by his drowning experience at the YMCA pool. He became terrified and terrified of death. He had felt both the sensation of death and the terror that fear of death can cause. As a result, his desire to live grew stronger. He gradually overcame his fear of swimming and learned to swim. 

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Chapter 4: The Rattrap 

• Q1. Why did the peddler think that the world was a rattrap? 
• A1. The peddler was a very poor man who made his living by selling rat traps he fashioned out of materials he obtained by begging. As a result, his thoughts were constantly preoccupied with rat traps. One day, he had the sudden realization that the entire world was a giant rattrap. He believed that the world's shelter, food, clothing, riches, and joys were all traps set to entrap man, just as a rattrap offered cheese or meat to entrap rats. Everything came to an end as soon as one was trapped. 
• Q2. Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated owner of the cottage?  
• A2. The peddler knocked on the roadside cottage for shelter for the night. The cottage's owner was a crofter who lived alone in it. He considered the peddler to be welcome company and treated him warmly. He not only gave him a place to stay for the night, but also fed him and played cards with him. 
• Q3. What was the content of the letter written by the peddler to Edla? 
• A3. The peddler had written that he wanted to be nice to Edla because she had treated him like a captain. He didn't want a thief to embarrass her at Christmas. He had asked for the return of the crofter's money, which he had stolen. He went on to say that the rattrap was a Christmas present from a rat who would have been caught in the world's rattrap if he hadn't been promoted to captain, which motivated him to change his ways. 
• Q4. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler? 
• A4. The crofter was depressed. He lived in his cottage alone, without a wife, child, or other companion. He was overjoyed to have the peddler's company because he suffered from severe loneliness. That explains his chattiness and friendliness with the peddler. 

Chapter 5: Indigo 

• Q1. Why did Gandhiji feel that taking the Champaran case to court was useless? 
• A1. When Gandhiji learned about the plight of the peasant groups in Champaran from his discussions with lawyers, he concluded that the poor peasants were so crushed and terrified that the law courts were useless in their case. Going to court cost the sharecroppers a lot of money in legal fees. What was really needed was to free them from their fear. 
• Q2. How did the Champaran peasants react when they heard that a Mahatma had come to help them? (Compartment 2014)  
• A2. When the Champaran peasants learned that a Mahatma had arrived to assist them, a large crowd gathered in Motihari. Thousands of peasants demonstrated outside the courthouse where Gandhiji was scheduled to appear. The crowd was so unruly that the officials felt powerless, and Gandhiji himself assisted the authorities in keeping the crowd under control. 
• Q3. Why did Gandhiji object to CF Andrews' stay in Champaran? 
• A3. CF Andrews, an English pacifist, was a devoted Gandhiji follower. The lawyers believed that Andrews, as an Englishman, could be of great assistance to them in their battle of Champaran. Gandhiji, on the other hand, was opposed because he believed that enlisting the assistance of an Englishman demonstrated weakness. Their cause was just, and they needed to win by relying on themselves. This would enable them to be self-sufficient. 
• Q4. Why do you think Gandhi considered the Champaran episode to be a turning point in his life? 
• A4. The Champaran incident began as an attempt to relieve the suffering of poor peasants. It was ultimately a watershed moment in Gandhiji's life because it was a loud proclamation that made the British realize Gandhiji could not be ordered around in his own country. It instilled in the masses the courage to question British authority and laid the groundwork for non-cooperation as a new tool for fighting the British tooth and nail. 

Chapter 6: Poets and Pancakes 

• Q1. What kind of effect does Asokamitran's style of writing have on the reader? 
• A1. His works are distinguished by their simplicity and clarity of thought, and they are based on his professional and personal experiences. The majority of his stories are about middle-class people. As a result, he was able to touch the hearts and minds of countless readers both at home and abroad. His skill and imagination as a creative writer have led several generations of Tamil readers to a greater understanding of their plight in today's world and, ultimately, a reflective assertion of their own humanity. 
• Q2. Discuss the significance of the make-up room in the chapter, 'Poets and Pancakes'.  
• A2. A Bengali was the head of the make-up studio at first, but he outgrew Gemini Studios and moved on to better opportunities. Ans was in charge after him. A Maharashtrian led the charge, with help from a Dharwar Kannadiga, an Andhra, a Madras Indian Christian, an Anglo-Burmese, and the usual local Tamils. The fact that people from various cultures collaborated promotes the post- independence national integration scenario. It demonstrates how people came together. 
• Q3. Why was the Moral Re-armament Army welcomed at the Gemini Studios?  
• A3. The Moral Re-armament Army was a sort of anti-International Communist movement. Mr. Vasan, the CEO of Gemini Studios, literally played right into their hands. People at Gemini Studios were opposed to communism. So the Moral Re-armament Army couldn't have asked for a better host in India than the Gemini Studios, which welcomed them with open arms. 
• Q4. What does Asokamitran's narrative in Poets and Pancakes demonstrate about Subbu? 
• A4. In "Poets and Pancakes," Asokamitran's narrative delves into the character of Subbu, a young writer working for a magazine in Chennai. The story depicts Subbu's struggles with creative expression and the pressures of the literary establishment through his experiences. Subbu is portrayed in the story as a talented but insecure writer who frequently clashes with the conservative and commercially-driven ethos of his magazine. The story reveals the complexity of Subbu's character and the conflicting motivations that drive him through his encounters with other writers and editors. 

Chapter 7: The Interview 

• Q1. Other than celebrities, what do some people think about an interview?  
• A1. Other than celebrities, mostly common persons think that an interview is the only and best source of truth. It, according to them, is an art. 
• Q2. How can we say that Umberto Eco had a wide range of writing? 
• A2. Umberto Eco had an expertise in semiotics and other than this he started to write fiction. Literary fiction, academic texts, essays, children's books, newspaper articles etc. So his versatility in writing can be easily understood. 
• Q3. What made The Name of the Rose' a highly successful novel? 
• A3. According to Umberto Eco, the most possible reason for the success of the novel was a mstery and actually nobody could predict the exact reason for it. 
• Q4. What is Umberto Eco's theory of interstices? 
• A4. Umberto Eco says that if we eliminate the empty spaces from the universe, then the universe would become as big as his fist. He stresses the importance of the empty spaces of time. 

Read more: CBSE Class 12 English Writing Formats

Chapter 8: Going Places 

• Q1. Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from having dreams? 
• A1. Jansie and Sophie both belonged to low middle class families. They did not have any means to fulfil their ambitions and dreams Jansie had calmly accepted her fate. But Sophie was a very ambitious girl. She had very unrealistic dreams and fantasies. Jansie knew that her friend had to meet disappointment in the end. Therefore she discouraged Sophie from having dreams. 
• Q2. What did Sophie think of doing after her school? 
• A2. Sophie was a highly ambitious girl. First she decided to open a boutique, then she thought of becoming a manager to start with. She also thought of becoming an actress. 
• Q3 Why didn't Sophie want Jansie to know about her meeting with Danny? 
• A3. Sophie thought if Jansie came to know about her meeting with Danny, she would tell everyone. Then thousands of people would come to her house and it would make her father very angry. She thought that her father could then possibly murder her. 
• Q4. Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from entertaining thoughts about the sports star Danny Casey? 
• A4. Jansie knew her friend Sophie well. She knew that Sophie's meeting with Danny Casey was just her imagination. She wanted Sophie to be practical. She thought such thoughts would create troubles for Sophie Therefore she discouraged Sophie from entertaining thoughts about the sports- star Danny Casey. 

Read more: CBSE English Important Questions

Poem 1: My Mother at Sixty-Six 

• Q1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the narrator feels? 
• A1. The emotional pain and anguish the narrator feels is the realization that her mother is old, frail and pale as a corpse. 
• Q2. Why are the young trees described as 'sprinting?  
• A2. While driving to the airport, the poet looks at the young trees sprinting to distract herself from thoughts of her aging mother. The trees sprinting represents the rapidly passing years of human life from childhood to old age. This image of activity and strength contrasts with that of her elderly and frail mother. In contrast to her mother's impending death, the young trees represent life. 
• Q3. Why has the mother been compared to 'late winter's moon?  
• A3. The poet's mother's vitality and radiance have begun to fade as she ages. The poet compares her mother to a "late winter's moon" to indicate her impending death. Winter, as the year's final season, is associated with lifelessness and dormancy. A winter's moon is also pale white in color, resembling her mother, who, having lost all her strength, appears wan' and 'pale' to the poet. 
• Q4. What do the parting words of the narrator and her smile signify? 
• A4. The parting words "goodbye Amma" are used by the narrator to reassure the mother and to increase the narrator's own optimism. She accepts the reality of her mother's imminent death, but continues to keep smiling and happy. It requires a lot of effort and that is why the poet uses poetic repetition to emphasize it. She tries to hide her fear with a smile on her face. 

Poem 2: An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum 

• Q1. What change does the poet hope for in the lives of the slum children? 
• A1. Stephen Spender wishes to improve the lives of slum children. He wants the officials to assist these poor children in leaving their deplorable surroundings. He wishes that these children receive an education because education is the key to success and would help them succeed in life and leave the slums behind. 
• Q2. To whom does the poet in the poem, 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum' make an appeal? What is his appeal? 
• A2. The poet appeals to his readers, particularly the educated and well-off, to assist the poor children of the slum in getting out and away from their deplorable surroundings. His plea is that these children receive a good education since education is the key to their liberation. 
• Q3. What message does Stephen Spender convey through the poem, 'An Elementary School Classroom in a Slum? 
• A3. The poet wishes for the poor children's freedom from a life of hunger and misery. He wishes that the children receive high-quality education. They should be removed from their filthy surroundings and placed in the soothing embrace of nature. 
• Q4. The poet says, "And yet, for these children, these windows, not this map, their world." Which world do these children belong to? Which world is inaccessible to them? 
• A4. The children belong to a world of poverty and misery in the filthy slums. The rich's world, the world beyond the slum, with all of life's comforts and luxuries, is inaccessible to them. 

Poem 3: Keeping Quiet 

• Q1. Which is the exotic moment that the poet refers to in 'Keeping Quiet? 
• A1. Pablo Neruda longs for the exotic moment when humanity will be free of greed, cruelty, and harmful behavior. Unnecessary rush and noise have caused discomfort and issues. The poet wishes that the noise of engines and machines would stop and that peace and tranquility would reign. 
• Q2. What is the sadness the poet refers to in the poem 'Keeping Quiet?   
• A2: The poet's sadness in the poem 'Keeping Quiet is the sadness of never understanding oneself and nature. Humans are frequently involved in a frenzy of activities and have no time for introspection, threatening themselves with death or destruction as a result. This darkens their paths with distress and misery. 
• Q3. How, according to Neruda, can keeping quiet change our attitude to life?  
• A3: According to Neruda, when people on Earth consider remaining silent for a period of time, they will experience an exotic moment in which they will be able to forget their differences and a sense of camaraderie will prevail among them. When man goes silent for a while, most of his evil thoughts vanish. Man will realize his utter stupidity and refrain from harmful and destructive activities if he remains silent. 
• Q4. What does the poet ask the fisherman and the man collecting salt to do? What does he exactly want to convey by this?  
• A4: Pablo Neruda is opposed to all forms of violence. He addresses the fishermen and asks them not to harm the whales that live in the polar seas. He also requests that the person gathering salt at the seashore stop working and instead look at his hands, which are hurt and wounded as a result of overwork. 

Poem 4: A Thing of Beauty 

• Q1. Which objects of nature does Keats mention as sources of joy in his poem, 'A Thing of Beauty?  
• A1. Nature is a thing of beauty and pleasure in and of itself. The sun, the moon, old and young trees, daffodil flowers, small streams with clear water, fern masses, and the blooming of musk-roses are among them. All of them are works of art. They are constant sources of happiness and pleasure. 
• Q2. What are the things that cause miseries, sorrows and sufferings to man?  
• A2. All of man's ills are the result of his own actions. We are plagued by malice and distress because we lack human qualities, which renders us inhuman. Our lives become bleak. We foster unhealthy and evil behaviors. All of these things bring man misery, sorrow, and suffering. 
• Q3. How does a thing of beauty provide us shelter and comfort?   
• A3: John Keats was a master of sensuous imagery, which he describes in the poem by explaining how a thing of beauty provides us with shelter and comfort. Nature provides us with rare and beautiful things. It keeps the bower peaceful for us. A bower is a relaxing spot in the shade under a tree. A beautiful thing also gives us peace and security. We enjoy a good night's sleep that is full of sweet dreams, good health, and peaceful breathing. 
• Q4. Why and how is grandeur associated with the 'mighty dead? 
• A4. "The mighty dead" are people who have done brave and noble things. They live on in the stories and legends, which have now become a source of beauty for us. They will be rewarded with "grandeur" on doomsday or judgment day because of the noble life they have led. 

Poem 5: A Roadside Stand 

• Q1. Why do the people who run the roadside stand wait for the squeal of brakes so eagerly? 
• A1. The "squealing of brakes" indicates that a vehicle has come to a halt at their roadside stand. It gives them hope that the city folk have stopped by to buy something from their roadside stand and that they will receive some city money. 
• Q2. Explain: "soothe them out of them wits" with reference to the poem The Roadside Stand". 
• A2: The powerful men approach the country folk, making false promises of better living conditions and a better life. These simple and innocent country folk are soothed and satisfied by their false claims. They fail to see through their crookedness and selfishness and end up falling in their trap. 
• Q3. Why does Robert Frost sympathize with the rural poor? 
• A3: Robert Frost is in excruciating pain over the plight of the rural poor, who are ignored and neglected by rich politicians. The government and the ruling party are unconcerned about their well-being. They dupe them by making false promises, which they then fully exploit for their own selfish gain, thus making Frost sympathize with the rural poor. 
• Q4. Who do these pitiful kin refer to? Why will they be mercifully gathered in? 
• A4: These pitiful kin are the villagers who have been evicted from their homes and lands. They will be mercifully gathered in villages near the theater and shops. 

Poem 6: Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers 

• Q1. What is suggested by the phrase, 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band? 
• A1. Her marriage is described by the wedding band. It is 'massive on her hand because the weight of her marital responsibilities has made her feel subjugated and unable to express herself freely. 
• Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference? 
• A2. Aunt Jennifer is designing tigers, which represent strength, fearlessness, and confidence. These are the characteristics that Aunt Jennifer lacks. Aunt Jennifer's suppressed desires to become bold, fearless and free from oppression are represented by these tigers. The poet wishes to imply that these qualities are required for women to fight their oppressors. 
• Q3. How are Aunt Jennifer's tigers different from her?  
• A3: Aunt Jennifer designed the tigers on the tapestry. They do, however, stand in stark contrast to their creator. Aunt is weak, meek, and submissive, and she is afraid to express her feelings openly, whereas the tigers are strong, fearless, and confident. They are fearless creatures who fear no one, not even men. 
• Q4. How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance? 
• A4. Aunt Jennifer is too afraid to openly oppose the oppression of which she is a victim. She uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are symbols of bravery, fearlessness, and strength. Her tigers are wild and free of any kind of enslavement. 

Read more: CBSE Elective Engish Syllabus

Preparation Tips to Score High in Class 12 English Flamingo Board Examination 

Students can find very crucial and simple tips to prepare for the CBSE English Flamingo Exam and score the highest marks compared to others. Below are a few preparation tips for securing better marks in the board examination and facing all type of competitive exams: 

• First and foremost, candidates should have complete knowledge of the English Flamingo subject as per CBSE class 12 english syllabus. 
• Kickstart your preparation by referring to the best study materials like NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo. 
• It covers unit-wise solved and unsolved questions and solutions to help students understand each and every topic. 
• Class 12 NCERT Solutions for English Flamingo is an excellent guide that helps students to find all solutions in a precise way. 
• Prepare the whole subject with the help of NCERT Textbooks and then go for other resources for extra practice. 
• Make revise notes while preparing the subject with NCERT Class 12 English Flamingo Solutions Pdf and use it for a quick revision. 

Read more: CBSE Class 12 English Tips and Tricks

Finally, studying the topic of CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo is critical for board exam success. Students can better understand the concepts of the book and improve their CBSE exam preparation by thoroughly examining these crucial questions and answers. 

It's not just about memorising; it's about delving deeper into the important topics discussed in "Flamingo." So dive into these questions, practise a lot, and go into your English Core exam with confidence and knowledge. Best wishes! 

Also read: CBSE Toppers Talk.