Memories of Childhood

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

SAL (2 marks)

1 "I felt like sinking to the floor," said Zitkala-Sa. When did she feel so and why? (2020) U

1. Why did Bama reach home late after school? (Delhi 2014)
2. Which words of her brother made a deep impression on Bama? (Delhi 2014) R

4 Why was Zitkala-Sa in tears on the first day in the land of apples? (Al 2014)

1. What is common between Zitkala-Sa and Bama? (Delhi 2014C)
2. Why did Zitkala-Sa resist the shingling of her hair? (AI 2014C)

SA II (3 marks)

1. What frantic efforts did Zitkala-Sa make to save her hair from being cut? (AI 2019)
2. At the dining table why did Zitkala-Sa begin to cry when others started eating? (AI 2016) R
3. How did Zitkala-Sa's first day in the land of apples begin? (Al 2016)
4. According to Zitkala-Sa what does 'eating by formula' mean? (AI 2016) U

SA III (4 marks)

1. When I was studying in the third class, I hadn't yet heard people speak openly of untouchability. But I had already seen, felt, experienced and been humiliated by what it is. I was walking home from school one day, an old bag hanging from my shoulder. It was actually possible to walk the distance in ten minutes. But usually it would take me from half an hour to an hour to dawdle along watching all the fun and games that were going on, all the entertaining novelties and oddities in the streets,

the shops and the bazaar. (2023)

1. The narrator was humiliated because _____.
2. The narrator 'dawdled along' as she _
3. enjoyed looking at the various sights
4. was getting late for school
5. she didn't like going home
6. she enjoyed haggling and shopping
7. On the basis of the extract choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below
8. The distance from school to home was very short.

She was feeling upset and so dawdling her way

home.

1. (I) can be inferred from the extract but (II) cannot
2. (11) can be inferred from the extract but (I) cannot
3. Both (I) and (II) cannot be inferred from the extract
4. Both (I) and (II) can be inferred from the extract
5. colourful trinkets

The word 'novelties' in the passage most nearly

means

1. wooden toys
2. unique and interesting items
3. expensive souvenirs

LAI (5 marks)

Bama and Zitkala-Sa, though victims of a system that

crushes their aspirations, are determined to break

out. Comment. (2023)

What activities did Bama witness on her way back

home from school? (Al 2014C)

LA II (6 marks)

1. How do Bama and her brother Annan differ in their approach to fight discrimination against the untouchables? (2019 C)
2. Why did Bama stroll in the market place instead of hurrying back home? Describe the sights she enjoyed seeing there. (Delhi 2019) R Cr
3. It may take a long time for oppression to be resisted, but the seeds of rebellion are sowed early in life. How did Zitkala-Sa face oppression as a child and how did she overcome it? (2018) Cr Ap
4. Untouchability is not only a crime, it is inhuman too. Why and how did Bama decide to fight against it? (Delhi 2017) Ap

'We too are Human Beings' highlights high caste-low

caste discrimination in society. How do low caste

people suffer on account of this? What advice is

given to Bama to overcome this problem?

(Foreign 2015) Ap

How did the scene she saw in the market place

change Bama's life? (Delhi 2015C)

CBSE Sample Questions

LAI (5 marks)

1. Both Bama and Zitkala Sa experienced the harsh reality of discrimination in their childhood, Instead of letting it pull them down, they both found a way to overcome it. You wish to include a cameo* of both in your upcoming blog post.

As a part of the research, compare and contrast the

experiences faced by the two and their response/s

to these experiences, in 120-150 words.

[Clue: Include the similarities and differences in the

discrimination they faced - their feelings - determination

to overcome - success)

'a short description that neatly encapsulates someone

or something (2022-23)

ANSWERS

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

It was her first day in school, Zitkala-Sa was marching into the dining room with other girls in a line. She tried to be conspicuous because she felt she was modestly dressed as her blanket has been removed from her shoulders hence she felt like sinking to the floor.

1. Bama spent time watching games and other entertaining sights, which came along the way. She

enjoyed herself looking at the shops and bazaar, at the novelties and oddities. All this made Bama reach home late after school.

1. After hearing from Bama what happened on her

way home. Bama's elder brother told her that although people do not get to decide the family they are born into, they can outwit the indignities inflicted upon them if they are well read and successful. This left a deep impression on her.

1. Zitkala-Sa felt quite uncomfortable at the dining

table. She was not used to eating by formula i.e., wait for the sound of the bell to commence eating. Moreover, the noise and the bedlam of languages and the Matron continuously staring at her, all of it disturbed her. Zitkala- Sa felt embarrassed and out of place. This is why she began to cry at the dining table when others started eating.

1. Both Zitkala-Sa and Bama came from marginalised

communities. In their childhood, both women had to face discrimination on the basis of race and caste respectively. Miffed by the social injustice since they were young, they protested against it. They both became writers when they grew up and used their education to fight against discrimination.

1. Zitkala-Sa resisted the shingling of her hair because

in her culture, long hair was valued. In her culture, it was only the warriors captured by the enemy, cowards and mourners who wore their hair shingled or short.

Zitkala-Sa tried all that she could do to save her hair

from being cut. When she heard that her hair was going

to be chopped off she ran upstairs into a room where the

windows were covered with dark coloured curtains. She

hid herself under a bed, but was caught. She cried and

resisted with all her might and kept shaking her head all

the while her hair was being cut. She lost spirit when she

heard the scissors snip off one of her thick braids.

Zitkala-Sa felt quite uncomfortable at the dining

table. She was not used to eating by formula i.e., wait for

the sound of the bell to commence eating. Moreover,

the noise and the bedlam of languages and the Matron

continuously staring at her, all of it disturbed her. Zitkala-

Sa felt embarrassed and out of place. This is why she began

to cry at the dining table when others started eating.

It was a bitter-cold day. The snow still covered the

ground. A large bell rang for breakfast. The peace of the

morning was disturbed by the annoying clatter of shoes,

constant clash of harsh noises and an undercurrent of

many voices murmuring in an unknown language.

On the very first day, in the city of apples, Zitkala-

Sa came across 'eating by formula', which was the fixed

procedure for breakfast. Once everyone was in the dining

room, the sound of the first bell indicated all pupils to pull

out their chairs. At the second bell, all had to sit down. At

the far end of the dining hall, a man said the prayer and the

pupils bowed their heads. Finally, at the sound of the third

bell, everyone started eating with forks and knives. This

made her feel out of place and overwhelmed her.

Bama and Zitkala-Sa are two women from socially

marginalized sections in two different parts of the world.

Zitkala-Sa is Native American who faces discrimination

by the European Staff. They decide to cut her long hair as

a means to oppress her since short hair were only worn

by mourners and cowards in her culture. Bama witnessed

discrimination due to caste system. Her brother told her

that being from lower castes is very disadvantageous

position. They were never given any honour, dignity or