Keeping Quiet Class 12 MCQ Quiz – Test Your Understanding!

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with
their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity. (Keeping Quiet)

Based on the extract, select the correct option with reference to (1) and (2).

1. Not every win is a triumph.
2. Self-reflection is crucial to evolution.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing. (poem - Keeping Quiet)

What does the imagery of ‘walking about with their brothers in the shade’ primarily represent?

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Pick the option that DOES NOT complete the given sentence suitably, as per the extract.

Threatening ourselves with death __________

What statement does Neruda make about wars?

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with
their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.
What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity. (Keeping Quiet)

Which of these uses the same poetic device as used in the third line of the extract?

For once on the face of the Earth
let’s not speak in any language,
let’s stop for one second,
and not move our arms so much.
It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines,
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Why do you think the poet employs words like “exotic” and “strangeness”?

Which of these is NOT a theme in the poem 'Keeping Quiet'?

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

What do you think is the mood of the poet in the above extract?

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

Look at the images given below. Choose the image to which the above extract can be seen as an appropriate response.

Based on the extract, which of these best describes the poet?

1. prudent
2. spiritual
3. visionary
4. methodical

Choose the option that correctly matches the idioms given in Column A with their meanings in Column B

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.

What might the “huge silence” signify?

“What I want should not be confused with total inactivity.”

Choose the option that draws the most accurate parallel.

keeping quiet: total inactivity = ______ : ______

“Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.” Why does the poet wish to go at the end of the poem?

In ‘Keeping Quiet’ the poet does not want the reader to confuse his advice for _____ with total inactivity.