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CBSE | Class 11 | English
Explore 4 extract-based question sets designed to build reading comprehension and exam confidence.
Extract Questions
Passage with linked answers
Extract 1
Reading SetPassage
I sit in the top of the wood, my eyes closed. Inaction, no falsifying dream Between my hooked head and hooked feet: Or in sleep rehearse perfect kills and eat.
top
hooked
This phrase suggests that the hawk is completely grounded in reality and has no room for illusions or deception. Unlike humans who might dream of things that aren't real, the hawk's mind is focused only on the practical and physical act of survival.
The hawk uses its sleep as a time for mental practice. It 'rehearses' the act of killing and eating its prey perfectly. This shows that the bird's predatory nature is so deeply ingrained that even its subconscious is dedicated to the hunt and survival.
The word 'hooked' emphasizes the hawk's physical anatomy as a specialized predator. Both its beak and its claws are designed for grasping and tearing, highlighting that its entire physical form is built for violence. This reinforces the theme of the hawk as a killing machine.
Extract Questions
Passage with linked answers
Extract 2
Reading SetPassage
The convenience of the high trees! The air's buoyancy and the sun's ray Are of advantage to me; And the earth's face upward for my inspection.
convenience
upward
The hawk perceives natural elements like the trees, air, and sun as personal advantages created for its benefit. It does not see itself as a part of nature, but as the master for whom all these elements were designed to provide comfort and help.
The word 'inspection' implies that the hawk holds a position of authority and judgment over the world below. It looks down at the earth like a ruler checking his territory, deciding which creature will live or die based on its own specific needs.
The tone is one of supreme arrogance and self-centeredness. The hawk uses exclamation and assertive language to show that it feels entitled to everything in its environment. It believes the world is a stage set specifically for its own performance as a top predator.
Extract Questions
Passage with linked answers
Extract 3
Reading SetPassage
It took the whole of Creation To produce my foot, my each feather: Now I hold Creation in my foot. Or fly up, and revolve it all slowly-
Creation
revolve
Initially, the hawk acknowledges that 'Creation' worked to produce its physical form. However, it quickly claims that it now holds that same 'Creation' in its claws. This represents a total reversal of power where the bird sees itself as the master of its maker.
This action suggests that the hawk feels it has the power to control the entire world’s movement and existence. It views the planet as a small object that it can turn and inspect at its own pace, emphasizing its god-like sense of total dominance.
By mentioning each feather, the hawk points out the intricate detail and perfection of its design. It believes that every tiny part of its body is a result of nature's best efforts, further justifying its belief that it is the most important creature in existence.
Extract Questions
Passage with linked answers
Extract 4
Reading SetPassage
Nothing has changed since I began, My eye has permitted no change. I am going to keep things like this.
eye
like this
The hawk is claiming that its power and the natural order of its world are eternal. It suggests that since the moment it came into existence, it has remained the supreme ruler, and the cycle of predator and prey has stayed perfectly constant.
The hawk expresses its authority by stating that it 'permitted' no change. This suggests that change only happens if the hawk allows it. By asserting control over the very concept of change, the bird reinforces its image as an absolute and unstoppable dictator.
The final line is a powerful statement of intent. It shows the hawk's determination to maintain its dominance and the status quo forever. It leaves the reader with a chilling sense of a power that is both absolute and completely resistant to progress or mercy.