Comprehension
… but soon put that thought away, and
looked out at Young
Trees sprinting, the merry children spilling
out of their homes, but after the airport’s security check,
standing a few yards away, I looked again at her, wan, pale
as a late winter’s moon and felt that old
familiar ache, my childhood’s fear,

(My Mother at Sixty-six)
Question: 1

Select the correct option. The impact of ‘merry children’ on poet’s mind .............

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The ‘merry children’ symbolize energy and vitality, contrasting with the poet’s feeling of sorrow and longing.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • caused anxiety
  • created a sense of longing
  • brought comfort
  • reminded her of her own childhood
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Observing children's joyful play evokes the poet's memories of her own unburdened youth, a stark juxtaposition to her present feelings of worry and powerlessness regarding her mother.
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Question: 2

The tone of the poet expressed in the above lines is .............

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The poet’s tone reflects the pain of impending separation and her helplessness in witnessing her mother’s frailty.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • sadness and helplessness
  • excitement and eagerness
  • appreciation and gratitude
  • anger and anxiety
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

The poet's somber tone conveys her sorrow over her mother's declining health and her powerlessness against the unyielding march of time.
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Question: 3

The words ‘wan, pale’ indicate the mother’s .............

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The comparison of the mother’s face to a ‘late winter’s moon’ signifies her declining health and vulnerability.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The poet's use of 'wan' and 'pale' to depict her mother's appearance conveys weakness, fragility, and impending death.
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Question: 4

Complete the following sentence appropriately.
{The poet looked at her mother again to .............}

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The poet looks at her mother again out of concern and to cherish the fleeting moments with her.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The poet's final glance at her mother before departing serves as a personal reassurance against the looming fear of separation.
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Question: 5

Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line ‘felt that old familiar ache’.

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The phrase ‘old familiar ache’ highlights the poet’s deep emotional connection with her mother and her fear of separation.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The phrase ‘old familiar ache’ signifies the poet's lifelong, recurring dread of maternal loss.
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Question: 6

‘put that thought away’. What is the intention of the poet that can be inferred from the above line?

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The poet attempts to focus on other things to cope with her overwhelming emotions.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The poet suppresses her intense fear and sadness to maintain a calm demeanor and concentrate on her final moments with her mother.
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