Please refer to Mothers Day Class 11 English Important Questions with solutions provided below. These questions and answers have been provided for Class 11 English based on the latest syllabus and examination guidelines issued by CBSE, NCERT, and KVS. Students should learn these problem solutions as it will help them to gain more marks in examinations. We have provided Important Questions for Class 11 English for all chapters in your book. These Board exam questions have been designed by expert teachers of Standard 11.
Class 11 English Important Questions Mothers Day
Short Answer Type Questions :
Question. What was wrong in Mrs. Annie Pearson’s family?
Answer: The members of the Annie’s family, George (her husband), Doris and Cyril (her children) were self-centred and took Annie for granted, whereas she took care of all their needs
without demanding anything. Annie tolerated their behaviour but she wanted her presence and work to be acknowledged by all family members.
Question. Mrs. Annie Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald are totally opposite to each other in their attitude. Show the difference in their personalities.
Answer: Mrs. Annie Pearson is submissive, soft-spoken and wears a worried look as she is being treated more like a slave than like a mother or wife.
Mrs Fitzgerald is well-versed in many arts, bold and strong in her opinion and knows how to make people behave properly.
Annie doesn’t want to hurt people but Mrs Fitzgerald is willing to take any step to discipline people, even if it hurts their feelings.
Question. Who is the first one to face themother’s ire and how?
Answer: Doris, Annie’s daughter, is the first one to face her ire (anger). She comes home and asks about her yellow dress.
Mrs. Fitzgerald, in the body of Annie, doesn’t even pay attention to her. Doris asks her about tea; Mrs. Fitzgerald replies that she should make it herself. She even ridicules her boyfriend and Doris starts crying at her unusual behaviour.
Question. What advice did Mrs. Fitzgerald give to Annie?
Answer: Mrs. Fitzgerald was very bold and dominating in nature; she knew how to control the family members. So, Mrs Fitzgerald felt that it was time for Annie to set her family right and teach them a lesson. Mrs. Fitzgerald advised her to put her foot down and be the ‘boss’ in her family.
Question. Who is Cyril? How does he behave with his mother?
Answer: Cyril is the son of Annie. He treats his mother with indifference. He wants that whatever he commands his mother to do must be done with utmost urgency. He lacks any concern for his mother and tries to show that he is a busy man by working eight hours a day.
Question. How does Annie plan to spend her weekends in future?
Answer: Annie informs her children that she would also work for only eight hours a day and take two days off every week on Saturday and Sunday. She said that on these days she would do some work only and that also will depend how she was treated and if they requested her to do the work.
Question. Do you agree that Doris and Cyril’s behaviour with their mother was extremely rude and unheard of?
Answer: Yes, Doris and Cyril were extremely rude to their mother.
We generally don’t see children speaking to their mother in such a rude manner. Their words ‘Is tea ready’ and ‘you are going to iron it for me’ are rude and demanding. This shows the children were extremely selfish, badly behaved and self-centred. They ordered their mother as if she was their servant.
Question. “Then let me do it.” What did Mrs Fitzgerald want to do?
Answer: Annie got miserable treatment at home. Her family treated her shabbily. But Annie couldn’t even raise her voice, let alone teach her family a lesson. Mrs Fitzgerald cared for her friend and wanted her to earn some respect. She suggested that if Annie couldn’t handle them then she would teach them a lesson by temporarily changing her behaviour.
Question. What change can be seen in Annie’s family in the end?
Answer: After being treated very rudely and roughly by Mrs. Fitzgerald, all the family members respond properly to Mrs. Annie Pearson’s smile and decide to stay back and spend time with her. They also responded properly to whatever she says.
Question. How was Annie responsible for her own fate?
Answer: To a certain level, Annie was herself responsible for her own fate. She was soft, loving and caring. Unfortunately her children and husband never acknowledged her role and failed to understand her worth. She wanted to correct them but could not do so due to fear of hurting their feelings.
Question. Who is George? How does he treat his wife?
Answer: George is Annie’s husband. He thinks too much of himself and makes his wife do whatever he commands. That is why he told her that he did not expect her to drink strong beer at that time of the evening and she should follow his instructions to stop drinking it. George has dominated his wife so far, so he did not expect this changed behaviour from her.
Question. Mention some remarkable changes in Mrs Annie Pearson’s behaviour that shocked both Doris and Cyril. What possible reasons for this change were thought of by her children?
Answer: The remarkable changes in Mrs Annie Pearson’s behaviour that shocked both her children were l She was smoking (which she had never done before her family) and playing cards with herself, both unusual.
l She had not carried out any of the work she normally did, like making tea for the family and ironing their clothes.
l The children thought that either she had hit her head so badly that it affected her brain or that she had gone mad.
Question. How did Mrs. Fitzgerald utilise her husband’s posting in the East?
Answer: Mrs. Fitzgerald’s husband was posted in the East (meaning the British colonies in Asia) for twelve years. She utilised her time there by learning fortune-telling and how to use magic spells to exchange personalities. She used this knowledge in temporarily exchanging her strong personality with the weak personality of Mrs. Annie Pearson to help her resolve her problems with her family.
Question. Describe George’s attitude towards his wife. How is he taught a lesson by Mrs. Fitzgerald?
Answer: George’s male ego suffers a jolt when he comes to know that his wife has not kept tea ready for him. Whether he needs it or not, she should have kept his tea ready like an obedient servant. He is always at the club at night and spends little time with his wife. After exchanging her personality with Annie, Mrs. Fitzgerald, ridicules him saying that he has become a standing joke for the people at the club.
Question. Who is Doris? How does Doris treat her mother?
Answer: Doris is Annie’s spoilt daughter. She is a pretty girl in her early twenties. She makes her mother run after her all the time. She expects her mother to do all tasks that she asks her to do without questioning her. She thinks nothing of her mother.
Question. George was angry that there was no tea even though he didn’t want any. What does this reflect about his character?
Answer: George came home and said that he wouldn’t be having tea.
However, his wife rudely replied that she didn’t bother to prepare any in the first place. He got agitated even though he didn’t want to drink tea. This shows that he is overbearing and self-centred, besides expecting his wife to behave like his servant.
Long Answer Type Questions :
Question. Today a woman shoulders all the responsibilities at home as well as outside, but she is still exploited.
Write your views on the ‘Need for Woman Empowerment’.
Answer: Today’s woman shoulders all the responsibilities at home as well as outside as she is educated, responsible and can take independent decisions. But still the subject of empowerment ofwomen is a burning issue all over theworld, especially India.
Inequality between men and women and discrimination against women have been age old issues. But women are still exploited, as men refuse to accept the rising status of women.
They try to find ways to insult women and degrade them.
People still think of women as a means of entertainment and not as an individual who should be respected. Increasing rapes in the country are an indication of men’s poor thinking about women.
Laws are there to protect women. But unless men are taught by their mothers to respect the women in their lives, woman empowerment seems a distant dream.
Question. The play, ‘Mother’s Day’ is a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the mother in the family. Express your relationship with your mother.
Answer: The play very humorously and interestingly depicts the status of the mother in a family. Through the character of Mrs. Annie Pearson, the play very subtly depicts the plight of women, especially the housewives.
Playing of magic, exchange of personalities and the shocking behaviour of Mrs. Annie Pearson’s family members are all humorous as well as satirical.
My relations with my mother are very healthy and friendly.
We are more like friends and enjoy each other’s company.
I try to help my mother in the kitchen as well as in other household work. I realise that my mother keeps busy the whole day taking care of everyone’s needs. I try to help her as much as I can and really appreciate her selfless efforts without demanding anything. I respect my mother and have much regard for her.
Question. Mother is the axis around which the family revolves. Mother should always be respected. Elaborate.
Answer: A mother has been expected to contribute her whole life caring for her family. A mother is someone who holds a family together, because it is up to her to provide the love,
care, attention and support needed. She is a good listener, problem solver and guide, as well as being always available for her children.
Unfortunately, so many times a mother’s love is not reciprocated the way it should have been. Some children do not recognise the importance of what their mother is doing for them. They do not take into account the sacrifices she makes so that her children could be reared in the best possible way.
As children grow up they want to be totally independent and consider mother’s concern for them an interference, not wanting to be checked at any point of time. Some children are so self-centred that they even insult their mother, which is totally unacceptable. A mother demands respect and at any cost it should be given by her family members in return for what a mother does for them.
Extract Based Questions :
Question. Read the extract to attempt questions that follow.
‘‘Mrs. Pearson [Coolly] Can’t remember. But I doubt it.
Cyril [Moving to the table; protesting] Now—look.
When I asked you this morning, you promised. You said you’d have to look through ‘em first in case there was any mending.
Mrs. Pearson Yes — well now I’ve decided I don’t like mending.
Cyril That’s a nice way to talk — what would happen if we all talked like that?
Mrs. Pearson You all do talk like that. If there’s something at home you don’t want to do, you don’t do it. If it’s something at your work, you get the Union to bar it. Now all that’s happened is that I’ve joined the movement.
Cyril [staggered] I don’t get this, Mum. What’s going on?
Mrs. Pearson [laconic and sinister] Changes.’’
(i) How does Cyril react to his mother’s changed behaviour?
(ii) ‘That’s nice way to talk’. Explain the way of talking.
(iii) Does Cyril like ‘the way of talking’?
(iv) Why do you think is Mrs. Pearson acting so strangely?
(v) Mrs. Pearson says ‘I’ve joined the movement’. What does this mean?
Answer: (i) Cyril is not at all happy with his mother’s changed behaviour as she is not doing anything that he asks her to.
(ii) The way of talking referred to in the extract is cool and uncaring.
(iii) No, Cyril does not like the way her mother is talking as she is coolly refusing to do anything for him.
(iv) Mrs. Pearson is acting so strangely because she is actually Mrs. Fitzgerald in Mrs. Pearson’s body and she had taken a task to teach a lesson to the Pearson family.
(v) The statement by Mrs. Pearson means that she is also going to be as uncaring as her daughter, son and husband.
Question. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.
‘‘Mrs. Pearson [With spirit] It’s all right for you, Mrs Fitzgerald. After all, they aren’t your husband and children…
Mrs Fitzgerald [impressively] Now you listen to me. You admitted yourself you were spoiling ’em — and they didn’t appreciate you. Any apologies—any explanations—an’ you’ll be straight back where you were. I’m warning you, dear. Just give ’em a look —a tone of voice— now an’ again, to suggest you might be tough with ’em if you wanted to be— an’ it ought to work. Anyhow, we can test it.
Mrs. Pearson How?
Mrs. Fitzgerald Well, what is it you’d like ’em to do that they don’t do? Stop at home for once?
Mrs. Pearson Yes— and give me a hand with supper… Mrs. Fitzgerald Anything you’d like ’em to do —that
you enjoy whether they do or not?’’
(i) Why does Mrs. Fitzgerald ask Mrs. Pearson to not give any explanations?
(ii) What does Mrs. Pearson feel in the given extract?
(iii) How does Mrs. Fitzgerald want Mrs. Pearson to test the change?
(iv) Do you think the Pearson family would do as Mrs. Pearson says?
(v) ‘‘Just give ’em a look —a tone of voice—.’’ Explain.
Answer: (i) Mrs. Fitzgerald asks Mrs. Pearson to not give any explanations as she feel that it would ruin everything that she had done.
(ii) Mrs. Pearson feels sorry for her family in the given extract and does not feel that any change would come upon her family.
(iii) Mrs. Fitzgerald wants Mrs. Pearson to order her children and husband to do what she wants to do.
(iv) Yes, I think that the Pearson family would do as have Mrs. Pearson says because they have been scared by her unusual behaviour and fear what would happen if she continued with it.
(v) The given phrase has been uttered by Mrs. Fitzgerald wherein she tells Mrs. Pearson to be rough and angry at her family so that they learn to respect her.
Question. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.
‘‘No doubt about it at all. Who’s the better for being spoilt— grown man, lad or girl? Nobody. You think it does ’em good when you run after them all the time, take their orders as if you were the servant in the house, stay at home every night while they go out enjoying themselves? Never in all your life. It’s the ruin of them as well as you. Husbands, sons, daughters should be taking notice of wives an’ mothers, not giving ’em orders an’ treating ’em like dirt. An’ don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean, for I know more than you’ve told me.’’
(i) Who is speaking these lines and to whom?
(ii) What is the speaker talking about?
(iii) How will you characterise the Pearson family?
(iv) Do you think the speaker is happy with the listener?
(v) What does the speaker want Mrs. Pearson to do?
Answer: (i) Mrs. Fitzgerald is speaking these lines to Mrs. Pearson.
(ii) The speaker is talking about how Mrs. Pearson’s family is ill-treating her.
(iii) The Pearson family can be characterised as selfish and uncaring.
(iv) No, I don’t think that the speaker, Mrs. Fitzgerald, is happy with Mrs. Pearson, the listener, as she thinks that Mrs. Pearson is the one who is promoting her family’s ill-behaviour.
(v) The speaker wants Mrs. Pearson to stop attending to her family’s needs and let them know about their behaviour.
Extract Based MCQs :
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
‘‘[As she is about to rise, Mrs. Fitzgerald reaches out across the table and pulls her down.] Mrs. Fitzgerald Let ’em wait or look after themselves for once. This is where your foot goes down. Start now. [She lights a cigarette from the one she has just finished.]
Mrs. Pearson [Embarrassed] Mrs. Fitzgerald—I know you mean well—in fact, I agree with you— but I just can’t—and it’s no use you trying to make me. If I promise you I’d really have it out with them, I know I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise.
Mrs. Fitzgerald Then let me do it.
Mrs. Pearson [Flustered] Oh no—thank you very much, Mrs Fitzgerald—but that wouldn’t do at all.
It couldn’t possibly be somebody else— they’d resent it at once and wouldn’t listen— and really I couldn’t blame them. I know I ought to do it—but you see how it is? [She looks apologetically across the table, smiling rather miserably.]
Mrs. Fitzgerald [Coolly] You haven’t got the idea.’’
Question. What does Mrs. Fitzgerald mean by ‘let me do it’?
Select the option that explains it.
(a) She wants to confront Mrs. Pearson’s family
(b) She has an unusual solution to the problem
(c) It is unclear that she wants to help
(d) She wants to teach confrontational skills to Mrs. Pearson
Answer
B
Question. Why does Mrs. Fitzgerald’s idea embarrass Mrs.Pearson?
(a) Because she knows her family will disrespect her
(b) Because she knows that it would be useless
(c) Because she does not want anything to change
(d) Because she hadn’t expected such a solution
Answer
B
Question. What is the contrast in the personalities of the two women?
(a) Polite vs Assertive
(b) Gentle vs Sensible
(c) Scared vs Brave
(d) They have nothing to contrast
Answer
A
Question. Which of the following explains “This is where your foot goes down”?
(a) To physically fix your foot down to the floor
(b) To restraint yourself against a strong person
(c) To adopt a firm policy when faced with opposition or disobedience
(d) To give into what is expected
Answer
C
Question. Who are the women talking about in the passage above?
(a) About a neighbouring family
(b) About Mrs. Fitzgeralds’s family
(c) About a group of their friends
(d) About Mrs. Pearson’s family
Answer
D
2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.
‘‘Mrs. Pearson I might. Who d’you think?
Doris [Staring at her] Mum—what’s the matter with you?
Mrs. Pearson Don’t be silly.
Doris [Indignantly] It’s not me that’s being silly— and I must say it’s a bit much when I’ve been working hard all day and you can’t even bother to get my tea ready. Did you hear what I said about my yellow silk?
Mrs. Pearson No. Don’t you like it now? I never did.
Doris [Indignantly] Of course I like it. And I’m going to wear it tonight. So I want it ironed.
Mrs. Pearson Want it ironed? What d’you think it’s going to do—iron itself?’’
Question. Why is Doris consistently reacting ‘indignantly’ towards her mother Mrs. Pearson?
(a) The mother is not listening to her
(b) The mother is angry at her as well
(c) The mother is acting unusual
(d) All of the above
Answer
C
Question. Choose the words that describe Doris’s personality, on the basis of the passage.
I. Spoilt II. Independent
III. Bad tempered IV. Kind
(a) I and II
(b) I and III
(c) II and IV
(d) II and III
Answer
B
Question. What does the passage reflect upon the relationship between Doris and Mrs. Pearson?
(a) Doris only talks to her mother to get her work done
(b)Doris cherishes hermother and likes to spend time with her
(c) Doris uses her mother’s dresses to look better
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer
A
Question. Identify the tone in which Mrs. Pearson talks.
(a) Cool and incisive
(b) Flattering and apologetic
(c) Brave and strong
(d) Taunting and angry
Answer
A
Question. Mrs. Pearson is ………… Doris for getting over dependent on her.
(a) taunting
(b) scolding
(c) hinting
(d) comical
Answer
B