MCQ Questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 2 Fire and Ice
I. Read the following extracts and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow :
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice Is also great
And would suffice.
Question 1.
Choose the CORRECT statement about the given poem.
(A) Fire and ice are images — they help the readers visualise the power of nature over man.
(B) Fire and ice are symbols — not of natural disasters, but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of its own.
(C) Fire and ice are elements — not of Nature but man-made’and possess the ability to create havoc for mankind.
(D) Fire and ice are agents — they change the thinking of mankind from negative to positive and bring harmony.
Answer:
(B) Fire and ice are symbols — not of natural disasters, but of humanity’s ability to create disasters of its own.
Question 2.
Select the option that correctly classifies the connotations for fire and ice, as suggested in the poem.
(1) rage
(2) violence
(3) indifference
(4) hate
(5) greed
(A) Fire- 3,4; Ice-1,2,5
(B) Fire – 2,5; Ice -1,3,4
(C) Fire -1, 3, 5; Ice – 2,4
(D) Fire -1, 2, 4; Ice – 3, 5
Answer:
(D) Fire -1, 2, 4; Ice – 3, 5
Explanation:
In the poem, the ‘fire’ has been used as a symbol to denote aggressive emotions like rage (anger), violence and hate. The ‘ice’ has been used as a symbol to denote pacifying emotions like indifference and greed.
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Question 3.
The poem is a, put across by the poet.
(A) powerful warning
(B) heart-felt apology
(C) earnest appeal
(D) vengeful threat
Answer:
(A) powerful warning
Explanation:
The poet has warned in the poem that the world will end due to escalation of negative human emotions like greed, hate, violence, rage and indifference.
Question 4.
The poet uses the phrasal verb -hold with. Choose the option that DOES NOT indicate a valid phrasal verb.
(1) off (2) back
HOLD
(3) on (4) into
(A) Option 1
(B) Option 2
(C) Option 3
(D) Option 4
Answer:
(D) Option 4
Explanation:
The phrasal verb ‘hold off’ means fail to occur. The phrasal verb ‘hold back’ means to stop. The phrasal verb ‘hold on’ means to wait or to stop. There is no phrasal verb as ‘hold into’.
Question 5.
Pick the option that is NOT TRUE about the poet according to the extract. The poet
(A) is inclined to believe that the world would most likely end with fire.
(B) has heard divided opinions about the way the world would end in all likelihood.
(C) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
(D) declares the power of ice to be as destructive as that of fire.
Answer:
(C) preaches love and kindness to combat the spread of hate among all.
Explanation:
The poem is a warning that human negativity will bring an end of this world. The poet has never in the poem advocated or preached that we should overcome this negativity and spread love and kindness to prevent the earth from ending in either ice or fire.
II. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
to say that for destruction ice
Is also great.
Question 1.
The people of the world think that the world will end in
(A) fire and tsunami
(B) earthquake and cyclone
(C) melting of glaciers
(D) fire and ice
Answer:
(D) fire and ice
Explanation:
According to the poet, the people of the world think that earth will end in either fire (representing violence and hate) or ice (representing greed and indifference.
Question 2.
The poet’s opinion is that the world will end in…………..
(A) fire
(B) ice
(C) earthquake
(D) tsunami
Answer:
(A) fire
Explanation:
The poet is more inclined towards the view that the earth will end in fire, that is greed and violence. ‘
Question 3.
Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘endless greed’.
(A) favour
(B) desire
(C) perish
(D) destruction
Answer:
(B) desire
Explanation:
‘Favour’ means support/kindness/preference. ‘Desire’ means an endless want for something or the other. ‘Perish’ means end. ‘Destruction’ means causing irreparable damage.
Question 4.
Who is the poet of this poem?
(A) R. L. Stevenson
(B) Sarojini Naidu
(C) William Wordsworth
(D) Robert Frost
Answer:
(D) Robert Frost
Question 5.
The rhyme scheme of the given line is…………
(A) abab; abab
(B) abba; abbc
(C) abaa ; abab
(D) aabb; aabb
Answer:
(C) abaa ; abab
Explanation:
In the first four lines: the first, third and fourth lines rhyme (fire/desire/fire). In the next four | lines: the first and third lines rhyme (twice/ice) and the second and fourth lines rhyme (hate/great).
III. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
Question 1.
What can be the cause of world’s destruction as per these lines?
(A) Fire
(B) Ice
(C) Both (A) and (B)
(D) None of these
Answer:
(C) Both (A) and (B)
Explanation:
According to the poet, either fire (violence and hatred) or ice (greed and indifference) will be the cause of world’s destruction.
Question 2.
According to the poet, fire refers to……….
(A) violent desires
(B) passions all of these
(C) jealousy
(D) all of these
Answer:
(D) all of these
Explanation:
According to the poet, fire represent human emotions that develop burning sensation inside us. Such emotions are violence, passion, jealousy, hatred, etc.
Question 3.
What does ‘ice’ symbolise?
(A) Indifference
(B) Love
(C) Sympathy
(D) Passion
Answer:
(A) Indifference
Explanation:
According to the poet, the ‘ice’ symbolises indifference which is a cold emotion. Rest all options represent burning emotions or fire.
Question 4.
What message does the poet want to convey through this poem?
(A) Everything is transitory
(B) Life is unpredictable
(C) Death is inevitable
(D) Both (A) and (C)
Answer:
(D) Both (A) and (C)
Explanation:
Through the poem, the poet has given the message that end or destruction is inevitable. Only the mode of end may be undecided – fire or ice. Also, whether fire or ice every human emotions is a temporary or a transition phase and will change sooner or later.
Question 5.
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem?
(A) abaa
(B) aabb
(C) abca
(D) abba
Answer:
(A) abaa
IV. But if it had to perish twice
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice
Question 1.
What does ‘It’ here refer to?
(A) Fire
(B) Ice
(C) Earth
(D) World
Answer:
(D) World
Explanation:
The poet is talking about the destruction of the world which is inevitable but its cause is presently uncertain fire or ice.
Question 2.
The word ‘perish’ means.
(A) decay
(B) loose one’s life
(C) appear
(D) improve
Answer:
(A) decay
Explanation:
‘Loose one’s life’ means death. ‘Appear’ means come into sight. ‘Improve’ means becoming better. ‘Decay’ means slow and gradual decomposition resulting in an end of the thing (perish).
Question 3.
Here the rhyming scheme used by the poet is………..
(A) abcab
(B) ababc
(C) ababa
(D) aabbC
Answer:
(C) ababa
Explanation:
The first, third and fifth lines rhyme (twice/ice/suffice) while the second and fourth line rhyme (hate/great).
Question 4.
What does the poet want to convey through this poem?
(A) We should not be greedy.
(B) All humans should check their desires and hatred.
(C) We should restrain our desires and love fellow beings.
(D) Both (A) and (C)
Answer:
(C) We should restrain our desires and love fellow beings.
Explanation:
The poet warns the humankind to control their desires otherwise the world will be destroyed due to greed, hatred, violence, etc.
Question 5.
The word ‘suffice’ means ………
(A) sufficient
(B) insufficient
(C) unhappy
(D) courageous
Answer:
(A) sufficient