CBSE-Class XII English-Vistas The Enemy
Exam Practice
Short Answer Type Questions
(3 marks each)
Note: These questions must ideally be answered in your own words, words, in approximately 3040 words each.
1.
Who was Dr. Sadao Hoki? Where did he li ve?
2.
What kind of a man was Sadao’s father? How can you tell?
3.
Why did Sadao wait before falling in love with Hana? What does it tell you about him as a person?
4.
Describe the condition in which Sadao and Hana found the man? How did they establish his identity?
5.
What superstitious beliefs of the servants made them oppose Sadao' decision to harbour the injured man?
6.
Why could the General's plan of eli minating the prisoner not succeed?
7.
Should Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy?
8.
Sadao was duty bound to help the injured enemy soldier but what prompted his wife to assist him?
9.
Why was the soldier reluctant to leave th e shelter of the doctor’s home?
10.
Comment on the role of the General in this story.
11.
What was the reaction of Sadao’s servants to the enemy being treated there?
12.
How did Sadao intend to help the soldier and himself?
13.
Give two reasons why Sadao was not sent abroad with the troops?
14.
What made Sadao lose his sleep for three nights?
15.
Hana says, ‘Is that all?’ to the messenger from the palace? What made her say so? Why did the messenger react in the manner that he did?
Long Answer Type Questions
(6 marks each)
Note: i.
This list takes care of extrapolatory, value-based and global comprehension questions, as per the latest curriculum. ii. These questions must ideally be answered in your own words, in approximately 120150 words each. 1.
There are moments when one is at crossroads and has to make difficult choices. Discuss with reference to this story.
2.
Sadao used his skill as a doctor to keep an injured soldier alive and also to save his family. Comment.
3.
Write a short note on the General of the Army in this story.
4.
While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices?
5.
Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year? What are the similarities?
6.
Years after the war got over, the American soldier writes a letter to Dr. Sadao Hoki, expressing his gratitude to the couple. As the American soldier, write the letter.
7.
As Hana, write your diary entry after the servants have decided not to serve traitors and have left.
Value Points for Short Answer Type Questions
(3 marks)
Note: The 3 marks for these questions are split as follows: Content: 2 marks Expression & Accuracy: 1 mark
1.
Who was Dr. Sadao Hoki? Where did he live? Value Points
2.
famous surgeon and scientist of Japan lived in his ancestral low square stone house; set upon rocks, above a narrow beach in Japan
What kind of a man was Sadao’s father? How can you tell? Value Points
serious, cared for his only son
3.
keen to provide best education traditional: reflected from his room; no western furniture Sadao’s father wouldn’t have accepted Hana if not from pure race
Why did Sadao wait before falling in love with Hana? What does it tell you about him as a person? Value Points
4.
Sadao waited so that he could be certain that Hana was Japanese father wouldn’t have accepted her unless from pure race respected his father; was also sensible in matters related to feelings
Describe the condition in which Sadao and Hana found the man? How did they establish his identity? Value Points
5.
injured man flung by waves; couple watched him stagger towards land, then crawl and collapse when wet cap fell off; noticed blonde hair later saw a faded US Navy mark on battered cap that helped establish his identity
What superstitious beliefs of the servants made them oppose Sadao' decision to harbour the injured man? Value Points
6.
superstitions made the servants believe that Sadao mustn’t treat injured man destined to die: first shot, then rocks in the sea hurt him believed that sea will avenge itself by punishing Sadao for his interference
Why could the General's plan of eliminating the prisoner not succeed? Value Points
7.
General Takima completely obsessed with his health issues; personal interests made him ignore enemy’s presence in the country he forgot his promise to send assassins
Should Sadao be arrested on the charge of harbouring an enemy? Value Points
8.
no; should not be arrested, despite sheltering an enemy being a doctor, committed to saving life had taken General Takima into confidence on humanitarian grounds too, it Sadao was right
Sadao was duty bound to help the injured enemy soldier but what prompted his wife to assist him? Value Points
Hana assisted husband purely on humanitarian grounds respected Sadao; understood his moral predicament; servants deserted in moment of crisis behaved as a traditional wife; guided by husband’s values
9.
Why was the soldier reluctant to leave the shelter of the doctor’s home? Value Points
10.
soldier felt safe in Sadao’s home was initially afraid of being handed over to army; fear dispelled as couple took utmost care did not know how to reach a safe pl ace if he escaped
Comment on the role of the General in this story. Value Points
11.
General Takima portrayed as self-centred; bothered only about his own health did not deserve his post; was guilty of dereliction of duty under Sadao’s treatment: so he was not sent with troops or punished for harbouring an enemy promised help to Sadao; later rewarded Sadao for his silence on this issue
What was the reaction of Sadao’s servants to the enemy being treated there? Value Points
12.
servants refused to work for Sadao’s family; reason being−enemy housed there regarded Sadao and Hana traitors; believed that their stay in America made them unpatriotic and pro-American left Sadao’s service−believed loyalty to country above loyalty to masters
How did Sadao intend to help the soldier and himself? Value Points
13.
Sadao helped ‘enemy’ soldier in boat, with food, water and flashlight instructed him to row to nearby island; wait for Korean fishing boat; provided other necessary precautions thus saved enemy soldier as well as himself
Give two reasons why Sadao was not sent abroad with the troops? Value Points
14.
Sadao not sent abroad with troops; working on a medical discovery during war ti me General Takima under his treatment, possibility he might need an operation; hence the decision
What made Sadao lose his sleep for three nights? Value Points
15.
General promised to send assassins to Sadao’s house, at night, to kill enemy weighed heavy on Sadao’s conscience but found no other option tense and alert at slightest sound; spent three sleepless nights
Hana says, ‘Is that all?’ to the messenger from the palace? What made her say so? Why did the messenger react in the manner that he did? Value Points
Hana feared their servants talked about enemy’s presence; assumed messenger came for that reason
made that statement out of relief messenger regarded General’s suffering Hana’s reaction
to be substantial reason; hence alarmed at
Value Points for Long Answer Type Questions
(6 marks)
Note: The 6 marks for these questions are split as follows: Content: 4 marks Expression & Accuracy: 2 marks
1.
There are moments when one is at crossroads and has to make difficult choices. Discuss with reference to this story. Value Points
2.
story deals with Sadao’s predicament; injured American soldier washed ashore; to nurse him back to health or let him die Dr. Sadao Hoki couldn’t let him die; against medical ethi cs couple under immense mental pressure; treachery to give asylum to enemy took General’s help; the former forgot about Sadao’s crisis Sadao helped enemy soldier escape; the best under the circumstances; didn’t betray his country and also didn’t let the injured soldier die
Sadao used his skill as a doctor to keep an injured soldier alive and also to save his family. Comment. Value Points
3.
Sadao’s dilemma−duty as doctor and that of a citizen could get into serious trouble for harbouring enemy Sadao, a famous doctor, treating General Takima shares his predicament with the officer; was aware that General wouldn’t let him be executed for selfish reasons General promises Sadao to get the enemy eliminated; forgot his promise to Sadao Sadao helps prisoner escape once he recovers used his medical skill and saved the soldier and his family
Write a short note on the General of the Army in this story. Value Points
General Takima portrayed as extremely self-centred; his ailment, not country ’s security his priority Sadao not sent with troops because General under his treatment willingly overlooked the fact: Sadao housed an enemy; could not afford to let Sadao to be executed, for selfish reasons; willing to get the enemy killed but forgot it; was not in the least patriotic not conscientious towards his duty as army general; ignored presence of enemy in the country covers his laxity and guilt by promising to reward Sadao for his silence guilty of dereliction of duty; not worthy of the post he held
4.
While hatred against a member of the enemy race is justifiable, especially during wartime, what makes a human being rise above narrow prejudices? Value Points
5.
the couple hard core Japanese; steeped in patriotism; Sadao regards Japanese a superior race; despite that mindset humanitarian concerns take precedence; could not let a human being bleed to death society, nations comprise human beings; human beings’ welfare must take precedence over other considerations prevalent belief that the entire enemy race to be uniformly hated, defies logic and tenets of humanity; General of Japanese army more detestable than injured American war believed to dehumanise but places conscientious people like Sadao and his wife in a moral dilemma the couple’s compassion, sense of righteousness and duty as a doctor transcends all petty prejudices; save the young soldier all men essentially good; mob consciousness turns them evil and uncaring this innate goodness makes man rise above narrow mindedness and selfishness
Does the story remind you of ‘Birth’ by A.J. Cronin that you read in Snapshots last year? What are the similarities? Value Points
6.
two stories similar; protagonists doctors who honour medical ethics to save life ‘The Enemy’ a story about a Japanese surgeon; saves an American POW despite risks involved; operates on him and helps him escape Sadao realises that the enemy soldier had a bullet wound; temporarily in a dilemma but the doctor in him surfaces and takes charge of the situation ‘Birth’ also about upholding Hippocratic oath; protagonist, Andrew Manson believed that his profession not a business meant to fill practitioners’ coffers; doctor duty bound to reduce human suffering Manson seeks satisfaction in saving a mother and child both stories underline the prime tenet of medical ethics: a doctor’s prime duty is towards the patient in his care
Years after the war got over, the American soldier writes a letter to Dr. Sadao Hoki, expressing his gratitude to the couple. As the American soldier, write the letter. Value Points
7.
introduces himself; reminds him of the incident when he was found on the shore and taken home expresses infinite gratitude; indebted for life; today married and settled; would not have been possible if the doctor couple had not helped invites doctor couple to accept his hospitality and stay with them in America
As Hana, write your diary entry after the servants have decided not to serve traitors and have left. Value Points
understand the servants’ stand: loyalty to country above loyalty to master unsettled, will require to handle more chores along with nursing an injured soldier extremely afraid: the servants would leak their secret of housing an enemy soldier; the consequences of their act could get the entire family in trouble determined to assist your husband; a noble cause
pray for the best; letting the soldier die would be a sin
