Comprehension
Then the poet spoke. He couldn’t have addressed a more dazed and silent audience – no one knew what he was talking about and his accent defeated any attempt to understand what he was saying. The whole thing lasted about an hour; then the poet left and we all dispersed in utter bafflement – What are we doing? What is an English poet doing in a film studio which makes Tamil films for the simplest sort of people? People whose lives least afforded them the possibility of cultivating a taste for English poetry. The poet looked pretty baffled too, for he must have felt the sheer incongruity of his talk about the thrills and travails of an English poet. His visit remained an unexplained mystery.

(Poets and Pancakes)
Question: 1

Choose the correct option:
The reason for the bewilderment of the audience is .............

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The audience was confused because the setting was incongruous with the topic of the poet’s talk.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • unknown identity of the visitor.
  • that the speaker had not been introduced to them.
  • the visit of an English poet to a Tamil film studio.
  • that they did not understand English.
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Due to a language barrier, the audience could not understand the poet's speech. Consequently, his visit was confusing and unsuccessful in establishing a connection.
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Question: 2

By ‘thrills and travails’ the author refers to .............

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The phrase refers to the varied experiences, both positive and negative, that come with being an English poet.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
  • joy and happiness
  • interest and aspiration
  • excitement and pain
  • shocks and surprises
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The expression “thrills and travails” encapsulates the poet’s experiences and journey, encompassing both their exhilarating highs and their difficult lows.
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Question: 3

Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line, “He could not have addressed a more dazed and silent audience”.

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The audience’s lack of familiarity with English poetry and the poet’s style created a communication gap.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The poet's discourse failed to resonate with the audience's context and concerns, resulting in their bewilderment and disinterest.
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Question: 4

The failure of the speaker to connect with the audience with reference to the extract is his .............

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The poet’s talk was ill-suited to the cultural and linguistic background of the Tamil audience.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The speaker's presentation faltered due to their unawareness of the audience's limited familiarity with English poetry and their consequent difficulty in engaging with the discourse.
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Question: 5

What information in the extract reveals the fact that the people have no exposure other than to their own circle?

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The setting of a Tamil film studio and the audience’s confusion indicate their lack of exposure to foreign literature.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

A lack of familiarity with English poetry suggests the audience's restricted engagement with cultural aspects outside their immediate environment.
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Question: 6

State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
{The audience were enthralled by the poet’s impressive speech.}

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The audience was confused and uninterested, as they could neither understand nor relate to the poet’s speech.
Updated On: Jan 13, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

The audience remained unimpressed, displaying confusion and a lack of engagement stemming from their failure to grasp the poet's lexicon and cultural references.
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