Class 12 English Chapter 8 Going Places Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board Class 12th English Chapter 8 Going Places and select needs one.
Class 12 English Chapter 8 Going Places
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Going Places
Lesson – 8
PROSE
Page No – 79
| THINK AS YOU READ |
1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
Ans: Sophie and Jansie would soon pass out of their school. Only a few months were left. Jansie knew very well that both of them were earmarked for biscuit factories. Sophie had wild dreams about her career. Jansie was a realist.
2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Ans: Sophie wanted to open a boutique. It would be the most amazing shop that the city had ever seen. Alternatively, she would become an actress and have the boutique as a side business. She also thought of being a fashion designer.
Jansie cautions Sophie against having such goals, based on their lower-middle-class family background. Jansie is a more realistic and practical person in life and understands that huge dreams require large investments, which their working-class background cannot afford.
Page No – 81
| THINK AS YOU READ |
1. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
Ans: Sophie knew her father well and was aware that he would be furious if he found out about her meeting with the young Irish footballer, Danny Casey. To avoid his anger, she kept it a secret. However, when Geoff mentioned it to their father, his temper flared. He turned his head toward Sophie, his expression filled with disdain. Uncomfortable under his gaze, Sophie shifted uneasily in her seat at the table.
2. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans: Being fully aware of her father’s short temper, Sophie squirmed uncomfortably when Geoff revealed to him that she had met Danny Casey. She knew he would scold her for spreading what he believed to be false information. She also understood that no one would take her words seriously. Perhaps she hadn’t expected Geoff to share her secrets with others, including their own family.
3. Does her father believe her story?
Ans: No, Sophie’s father doesn’t believe her story. No doubt, he is crazy and a great fan of young Danny Casey. But when Geoff tells him that Sophie meet Danny Casey, his father turns his head to look at her. He ignores her totally. He thinks that this is another of her ‘wild story’.
4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?
Ans: Sophie envied her brother’s ability to connect with the outside world. She dreamed of accompanying him to those places one day, dressed in a yellow dress. In her imagination, the world would rise to welcome them.
5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?
Ans: Danny Casey was an Irish football player.
Page No – 85
| THINK AS YOU READ |
1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
Ans: Jansie had a keen interest in matters that didn’t concern her. She was curious about other people’s affairs and would spread news throughout the neighborhood. Because of this, Sophie didn’t want Jansie to know about her story with Danny. It might have also been due to a sense of rivalry and a desire to outshine her. Sophie was shocked to discover that Geoff had shared her story with Jansie.
2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
Ans: No, Sophie never actually met Danny Casey. She was deeply fascinated by the young Irish footballer and merely imagined his arrival. Sitting in the park, she waited for him, fully aware that he would never come. A wave of sadness washed over her, a heavy burden to bear. Lost in her dreamy world, she constantly envisioned meeting Casey.
3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
Ans: Sophie, her father, and her two brothers went to witness the United team play football. This was the only time she had the opportunity to see Danny Casey.
| UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT |
1. Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Ans: Sophie and Jansie are poles apart in tastes and temperament. Sophie has fantastic dreams and floats in a fairy land. She is an incurable escapist who won’t come out of her dreams. Jansie is down to earth-a realist. Sophie wants to do something sophisticated. Jansie knows that these things require a lot of money which their families do not possess. Jansie also knows that they were earmarked for the biscuit factory. She even advises Sophie to be sensible and practical. Sophie considers Jansie ‘nosey’ and does not want to confide in her.
2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
Ans: Sophie’s father has a plump face, often grimy and sweaty. He doesn’t appear to be a gentle or refined man. Sophie fears his rough and aggressive nature. A realist at heart, he dismisses his daughter’s wild stories. He is passionate about football and hopes that young Danny Casey will reach the level of Tom Finney. Wishing for the young player to stay focused, he even shouts instructions to him from the stands. When the Irish talent outplays the hesitant goalkeeper, Sophie’s father erupts with joy and pride. To celebrate the victory, he heads to the pub.
3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?
Ans: Geoff is the only one who listens to Sophie’s fantasies and long-cherished dreams. Her father is too strict and aggressive, dismissing her stories as nonsense. Even little Derek mocks her dreams of becoming rich. Her classmate Jansie is overly curious and untrustworthy when it comes to keeping secrets. Only Geoff can be relied upon to keep Sophie’s secrets safe.
To Sophie, Geoff represents an older brother who has matured and explored places beyond her reach. She dreams that one day he might take her to those distant places. He is understanding yet cautious, warning her that Casey might have many admirers and may never return. Speaking gently, he tries not to shatter the dreams of his hopeful younger sister.
4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
Ans: Sophie comes from a lower-middle-class background and lives in a small house with her parents and two brothers, Derek and Geoff. After school, she returns home to an atmosphere filled with stove steam, making her feel suffocated, while the sight of dirty dishes piled in a corner disgusts her. Her mother’s back is stooped from years of managing household chores and responsibilities alone. Her father is a hard-working laborer, and her elder brother, Geoff, is an apprentice mechanic in a garage far from home. The family expects Sophie to start working immediately after finishing school. These circumstances highlight the financial struggles of Sophie’s family.
| TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT |
Discuss in pairs.
1. Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.
Ans: Sophie was a dreamer who often wove stories for herself and others. Perhaps she used her fantasies as an escape from the harsh realities of her daily life. Her supposed meeting with Danny Casey was merely a fabricated tale to capture her brother’s attention. Over time, she became so immersed in her own imagination that she started believing in it. When Danny Casey failed to show up for their second ‘meeting,’ she felt the sting of disappointment. Yet, no matter how painful or disheartening her fantasy was, she refused to accept reality. Her dreams and disappointments existed only in her imagination.
2. It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?
Ans: Teenagers have boundless enthusiasm and ambitions. They have sweet dreams and go on fantasising. It is natural for them to do so. Every youth is a dreamer. Every great scientist or writer has a dream. Without something to aspire for one can’t strive to achieve that goal.
Advantages: When based on realistic goals and the world around them, fantasizing can serve as a driving force for ambition and success. Striving for higher career aspirations and working diligently can lead to promising prospects, boosting confidence and determination. In challenging times, it fosters positivity and optimism. Additionally, for creative individuals, imagination is a valuable talent that enhances innovation and originality.
Disadvantages: However, excessive fantasizing can create a disconnect between dreams and reality. The realization of the gap between one’s aspirations and actual abilities can be disheartening. Failure to achieve unrealistic goals may result in disappointment, depression, or even severe emotional distress. Moreover, for many, excessive daydreaming becomes an unproductive habit, leading to a waste of time rather than meaningful progress.
| WORKING WITH WORDS |
Notice the following expressions. The highlighted words are not used in a literal sense. Explain what they mean.
1. Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground.
Ans: This means that getting Geoff to speak was very difficult, just like extracting stones from the ground requires effort. It suggests that he was reserved or unwilling to talk freely.
2. Sophie felt a tightening in her throat.
Ans: This phrase conveys an emotional reaction, such as nervousness, anxiety, or disappointment. It suggests that Sophie was feeling overwhelmed, possibly on the verge of tears.
3. If he keeps his head on his shoulders.
Ans: This means staying sensible, level-headed, and focused. It implies that if Danny Casey remains calm and makes wise decisions, he will be successful.
4. On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to the United.
Ans: The word “pilgrimage” is used metaphorically to suggest that visiting the football match at United (likely referring to Manchester United) was a ritual or a deeply significant event for them, similar to a religious journey.
5. She saw… him ghost past the lumbering defenders.
Ans: The word “ghost” here means moving swiftly and almost invisibly, as if gliding effortlessly. It describes how Danny Casey skillfully and gracefully passed through the slow, heavy defenders.
| NOTICING FORM |
Notice the highlighted words in the following sentences.
1. ‘‘When I leave’’, Sophie said, coming home from school, ‘‘I’m going to have a boutique.’’
2. Jansie, linking arms with her along the street, looked doubtful.
3. ‘‘I’ll find it’’, Sophie said, staring far down the street.
4. Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy.
5. And she turned in through the open street door leaving Jansie standing in the rain.
– When we add ‘‘ing’’ to a verb we get the present participle form. The present participle form is generally used along with forms of ‘‘be’’, (is, was, are, were, am) to indicate the present continuous tense as in ‘‘Sophie was coming home from school.’’
– We can use the present participle by itself without the helping verb, when we wish to indicate that an action is happening at the same time as another.
– In example 1, Sophie ‘‘said’’ something. ‘‘Said’’, here, is the main action.
– What Sophie was doing while she was ‘‘saying’’ is indicated by ‘‘coming home from school’’. So we get the information of two actions happening at the same time. We convey the information in one sentence instead of two.
– Analyse the other examples in the same way.
– Pick out five other sentences from the story in which present participles are used in this sense.
Ans: The following are the explanations:
1. The key verb in this sentence is ‘looked. As a result, ‘linking’ is the present participle form of the verb ‘link,’ and it is not employed in the present tense. “Linking arms’ and ‘looking uncertain’ are the two actions mentioned.
2. ‘Said’ is the key verb. As a result, staring’ is the present participle form of the verb stare, and it is never employed in the present tense. ‘Said’ and staring are the two behaviors mentioned.
3. ‘Became’ is the key verb. As a result, ‘knowing’ is the present participle form of the verb ‘know, and it is not employed in the present continuous tense. ‘Knowing and ‘being gloomy’ are the two behaviors mentioned.
4. The main verb in this sentence is ‘turned. As a result, ‘leaving’ and standing are the present participle forms of the verbs ‘leave’ and stand, which are not used in the continuous tense, respectively.
Here are other examples of comparable sentences:
(i) He was tinkering with a part of his motorcycle on the floor of the next room, over some newspaper laid on the carpet.
(ii) She stood along the canal, watching him emerge from the darkness and anticipating her elation.
(iii) Jansie scowled as she realized she was being watched.
(iv) I’m experiencing doubt pangs inside of me.
(v) Nonetheless, knowing that I’ll never be able to prove them incorrect in their doubts makes me unhappy.
| THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE |
Notice these words in the story.
1. ‘‘chuffed’’, meaning delighted or very pleased.
2. ‘‘nosey’’, meaning inquisitive.
3.‘‘gawky’’, meaning awkward, ungainly.
These are words that are used in an informal way in colloquial speech. Make a list of ten other words of this kind.
Ans: (i) “Boutique”, meaning a shop selling fashionable clothes or expensive gifts.
(ii) “Dad”, meaning father.
(iii) “Scooping”, meaning picking up something with a spoon.
(iv) “Prized out”, meaning extract some information with difficulty or force.
(v) “Muttered”, meaning murmured.
(vi) “Pub”, meaning a place where one can drink.
(vii) “Jeered”, meaning taunted.
(viii) “Damn”, meaning ‘go to hell!’
(ix) “Ghost past”, meaning moved unseen and unheard.
(x) “Huh”, meaning an expression showing disagreement.
| WRITING |
– Think of a person who you would like to have as your role model.
– Write down the points to be discussed or questions to be asked, if you were asked to interview that person on a television show.
Ans: If I were to interview my role model on a television show, I would prepare the following points and questions to make the conversation engaging and insightful.
(i) What inspired you to pursue this career path?
(ii) Did you ever face failures? How did you overcome them?
(iii) Who was your biggest supporter or mentor in your journey?
(iv) What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned in life?
(v) How do you stay motivated during tough times?
(vi) What advice would you give to young people who look up to you?
(vii) What is one habit that you believe has contributed the most to your success?
(viii) How do you handle criticism and negativity?
(ix) If you could change one thing about your journey, what would it be?
(x) What are your future goals, and how do you plan to achieve them?
| THINGS TO DO |
Look for other stories or movies where this theme of hero worship and fantasising about film or sports icons finds a place.
Ans: Students do it yourself.
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