Answer Key

I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. 1. b
2. 2. b
3. 3. b
4. 4. d
5. 5. c
6. 6. b
7. 7. b
8. 8. c
9. 9. c
10. 10. b
11. 11. c
12. 12. b
13. 13. b
14. 14. c
15. 15. c
16. 16. c
17. 17. c

II. Fill in the Blanks

1. 1. needless
2. 2. leisure
3. 3. pitchers
4. 4. all
5. 5. right

III. Match the Following

1. 1. b
2. 2. c
3. 3. a
4. 4. e
5. 5. d

IV. Answer the Following Questions in One Sentence

1. 1. The man made little pieces of sculpture like men, women, castles, and quaint earthen things dotted with sea-shells.
2. 2. The man spent his Earth-life in useless work like making sculptures and painting.
3. 3. The common saying among men in Workers’ Paradise is, “God! We haven’t a moment to spare.”
4. 4. The girl’s hair was carelessly done, with inquisitive wisps peeping over her forehead.
5. 5. The girl was annoyed because she considered drawing pictures a waste of her precious time.
6. 6. The “Moving Finger” refers to fate or destiny.
7. 7. The girl initially offered to spare some work for the man to do.
8. 8. Work in Workers’ Paradise began to suffer as many active persons became idle, wasting time on useless things like painting and sculpture.

V. Answer the Following Questions in 2-3 Sentences

1. 1. The man entered Heaven not because of his useful work, but due to a mistake made by the aerial messenger who took charge of him after his death. It was an error in destiny’s writing.
2. 2. The man did not fit into Workers’ Paradise because he never believed in mere utility and had no useful work. He would lounge absently in the streets, jostle hurrying men, and lie in meadows, constantly getting in others’ way.
3. 3. The busy girl of Heaven was filled with pity for the idler, similar to how a princess would feel pity for a lonely beggar. She expressed concern by asking if he had no work.
4. 4. When the man completed the painting, the girl held up the pitcher and stared at it with puzzled eyes. She asked what the lines and colors meant and what their purpose was, indicating her confusion with something without utility.
5. 5. The elders became anxious because work in Workers’ Paradise began to suffer, and many active persons turned idle. The aerial messenger then confessed that he had brought a “wrong man” into paradise, attributing the change to him.
6. 6. The painted pitcher and colored ribbon introduced the girl to the concept of beauty and meaninglessness. She spent time admiring the pitcher, and later, tying the ribbon, causing her feet to be “less hurried” and her work to be left unfinished, signifying a shift in her priorities and an awakening of a new sense.
7. 7. The ending suggests that the “wrong man” introduced the concept of art, beauty, and leisure into a purely utilitarian society. His influence led to a transformation where even a busy girl chose to abandon the paradise of constant work for a life that valued meaninglessness and purpose-free creation, indicating that a balanced life is more fulfilling.

VI. Answer the Following Questions in 4-5 Sentences

1. 1. In Workers’ Paradise, the men constantly emphasize that “time is precious” and they “haven’t a moment to spare,” signifying a culture of relentless productivity where every minute must be utilized for useful work. They take pride in their busyness. In stark contrast, the man (artist) states, “I haven’t a moment to spare for work,” implying that his time is filled with creative pursuits that others deem useless. His attitude values leisure and aesthetic creation over mere utility.
2. 2. Before meeting the man, the bustling girl was a perfect inhabitant of Workers’ Paradise. Her movements were rapid and efficient, like “a skilled hand on the strings of a guitar,” symbolizing her dedication and precision in her tasks. Her hair was “carelessly done,” indicating that she had no time or inclination for anything beyond her work, showing her complete focus on utility and productivity.
3. 3. The girl’s attitude undergoes a profound transformation. Initially, she is annoyed by the man’s “useless” art, but slowly, the beauty of the painted pitcher and the colored ribbon awakens a new sense in her – a sense of appreciation for things without explicit purpose. This leads her to slow down and eventually choose to leave the utilitarian paradise with the artist. The credit should go to both: the idler-artist for introducing her to the realm of aesthetics, and the girl for her inherent open-mindedness and readiness to embrace a new perspective beyond mere utility.
4. 4. Rabindranath Tagore starkly contrasts ‘Aesthetics V/s Utility’ throughout the story. The inhabitants of Workers’ Paradise embody utility, valuing only productive work and efficiency, exemplified by the silent torrent and their constant sigh, “Time is precious.” The wrong man, however, represents aesthetics, creating art for no purpose other than beauty. His act of painting pictures on a pitcher and making colored ribbons has no utility, yet it slowly but profoundly influences the girl, making her realize that life is not just about usefulness, but also about beauty, leisure, and joy, which are essential for human fulfillment.

VII. Close Study / Contextual Questions

1. 1. “But the Moving Finger writes even in Heaven.”

   • a) “Moving Finger” here means fate or destiny. It refers to the idea that one’s destiny is already written and cannot be changed, even in a divine place like Heaven.
   • b) The figure of speech used is Personification, as “Moving Finger” (fate) is given the human action of “writing.”
   • c) The sentence means that even in a perfect place like Heaven, errors or unexpected events can occur due to predetermined destiny, as seen when the aerial messenger mistakenly brings the wrong man to Workers’ Paradise.

2. 2. “As a princess sees a lonely beggar and is filled with pity, so the busy girl of heaven was filled with pity.”

   • a) The man, the idler-artist, is compared to a lonely beggar.
   • b) The girl was filled with pity because the man seemed to have “no work in hand” and appeared to be idle and lost in a paradise where everyone was constantly busy and productive.
   • c) The girl offered to help him by sparing some work for him to do, suggesting she could give him some of her tasks to keep him busy.

3. 3. “When she set out for the torrent the next day, her hurrying feet were a little less hurried than before.”

   • a) The previous night, the girl had secretly examined the painted pitcher, turning it around and scanning it from all angles, realizing for the first time that she had seen something with “no meaning and no purpose at all.”
   • b) “Hurrying feet” suggests that the girl was always busy, efficient, and focused on her tasks, characteristic of the inhabitants of Workers’ Paradise.
   • c) Her feet became less hurried because a new sense, an appreciation for beauty and something without immediate utility, had awakened in her mind, causing her to slow down and reflect.

VIII. Grammar and Vocabulary

A) Antonyms:

1. 1. wasted (original word is ‘utilize’) -> The people utilize every minute of their life. Whereas the man wasted his time.
2. 2. idle
3. 3. seldom
4. 4. diffidence / lack of confidence
5. 5. worthy / valuable

B) Idioms and Phrases: (Example sentences)

1. 1. indulge in: After a long week, she decided to indulge in a relaxing bath and a good book.
2. 2. take charge of: The new manager decided to take charge of the project immediately.
3. 3. shake off: It took him a while to shake off the feeling of sadness after the movie.
4. 4. get the better of: Despite her efforts, her emotions seemed to get the better of her.
5. 5. set out for: Early in the morning, they set out for their hiking adventure.

IX. Unseen Passage

1. 1. Trees absorb carbon dioxide.
2. 2. Trees release oxygen, which is essential for breathing.
3. 3. Trees provide timber (or medicines, or food).
4. 4. Forests help regulate climate and prevent soil erosion.
5. 5. Protecting and planting trees is crucial for a sustainable future.