The Night Train at Deoli

1. The narrator was travelling from Delhi to-

1. Mussoorie
2. Dehra
3. Shimla
4. Deoli

2. The train would stop at Deoli for-

1. five minutes
2. ten minutes
3. fifteen minutes
4. half an hour

3. The girl at Deoli station was selling-

1. earthen pots
2. newspapers
3. cane baskets
4. tea and snacks

4. The girl had a shawl slung across her-

1. head
2. shoulder
3. waist
4. arm

5. The narrator felt an unexpected-

1. pity for the girl
2. anger at her poverty
3. thrill and tenderness
4. fear of the lonely place

6. The first time the narrator met the girl, he-

1. bought a basket from her
2. talked to her for a long time
3. only watched her from the window
4. gave her some money

7. The second time, the narrator got off the train and went to the-

1. station master’s office
2. book stall
3. tea-stall
4. platform end

8. What did the girl say when the narrator touched her fingers?

1. She pulled her hand away
2. She smiled
3. She said nothing but looked at him
4. She asked his name

9. Before the train left, the narrator promised the girl that-

1. he would write to her
2. he would send her a gift
3. he would come again
4. he would marry her

10. When the narrator returned to Deoli next time-

1. the girl was waiting for him
2. the girl had left the station
3. the girl was not there
4. the girl was selling flowers

11. The narrator was in college at the age of-

1. sixteen
2. seventeen
3. eighteen
4. nineteen

12. Deoli station was described as-

1. a busy and crowded junction
2. a small, lonely station with one platform
3. a beautiful station with many trees
4. a dark and frightening place

13. The girl’s eyes were described as-

1. bright and cheerful
2. sad and lonely
3. dark and searching
4. blue and dreamy

14. The narrator could not forget the girl’s-

1. voice and laughter
2. dress and shawl
3. face and her dark, troubled eyes
4. baskets

15. The narrator decided to break his journey at Deoli to-

1. explore the town
2. meet the station master
3. spend a day with the girl
4. rest for a while

16. The new girl selling baskets at Deoli had a different way of-

1. talking
2. walking
3. crying her wares
4. dressing

17. What did the station master tell the narrator about the girl?

1. That she got married
2. That she moved to another city
3. That he was not sure what happened to her
4. That she had stopped coming

18. The narrator never broke his journey at Deoli because-

1. he was afraid
2. he preferred not to spoil his memory of the girl
3. he did not have time
4. the train did not stop there anymore

19. The story is primarily about-

1. a train journey
2. the poverty in small towns
3. a brief, poignant encounter and a lasting memory
4. the life of a basket-seller

20. The narrator’s feelings for the girl can be described as-

1. pity
2. infatuation and sympathy
3. friendship
4. love at first sight

21. The tone of the story is-

1. humorous
2. adventurous
3. nostalgic and melancholic
4. suspenseful

22. The girl was barefoot, which suggests her-

1. simplicity
2. carelessness
3. poverty
4. love for nature

23. The narrator feels a strange connection with the girl because-

1. he knew her from before
2. she looked like someone he knew
3. he felt a sense of belonging with her, as if they knew each other for years
4. she asked for his help

24. The story highlights the theme of-

1. the certainty of life
2. the transient nature of human encounters
3. the importance of money
4. the joy of travelling

25. “I felt I had to do something.” This thought prompted the narrator to-

1. get off the train
2. buy a basket
3. write a poem
4. call out to the girl

26. The narrator’s grandmother lived in-

1. Delhi
2. Deoli
3. Dehra
4. A village near Deoli

27. What did the narrator do with the basket he bought?

1. He gave it to his grandmother
2. He kept it in his room for a long time
3. He threw it away
4. He gave it back to the girl

28. The author of “The Night Train at Deoli” is-

1. R. K. Narayan
2. Khushwant Singh
3. Ruskin Bond
4. Mulk Raj Anand

29. The narrator’s journey through Deoli always took place during-

1. the day
2. the afternoon
3. the evening
4. the night

30. The narrator bought a basket for-

1. a rupee
2. two rupees
3. fifty paise
4. five rupees

31. The girl’s grace and dignity shone through her-

1. expensive clothes
2. beautiful smile
3. poverty and shabby clothes
4. fluent English

32. The jungle near Deoli was full of which trees?

1. Pine
2. Oak
3. Sal
4. Teak

33. The memory of the girl remained with the narrator for-

1. a few days
2. a few months
3. a year
4. the rest of the journey and for a long time after

34. Why did the narrator feel a special sympathy for Deoli?

1. Because it was beautiful
2. Because it marked the beginning of the plains
3. Because it was a lonely place that nobody cared for
4. Because his grandmother lived there

35. The story ends on a note of-

1. happiness and fulfillment
2. sadness and regret
3. unresolved mystery and longing
4. anger and frustration

36. The narrator’s impulse to get off the train and see the girl is an example of-

1. his adventurous spirit
2. his boredom
3. a deep emotional connection
4. his rebellious nature

37. The station master was busy filling-

1. his own water bottle
2. the forms for the train
3. the steam-engine’s water tank
4. the lamps with oil

38. The narrator’s final decision not to find out about the girl shows his desire to-

1. move on with his life
2. preserve the magic of the memory
3. avoid disappointment
4. both b and c

39. The story suggests that some things in life are-

1. best forgotten
2. always explainable
3. best left as sweet, unresolved mysteries
4. meant to cause pain

40. The narrator was travelling to Dehra for-

1. a business trip
2. his summer vacation
3. a wedding
4. his studies

41. The girl’s smile was-

1. sad and forced
2. gentle and open
3. mocking
4. shy

42. What was the narrator’s first thought when he didn’t see the girl?

1. That she might be sick
2. That he was on the wrong train
3. That she had moved away
4. That the station was closed

43. The phrase “the plains stretched out to the horizon” signifies-

1. the end of the hills
2. the vastness of the world
3. the beginning of a new chapter
4. the monotony of the journey

44. The narrator’s interaction with the girl is an example of-

1. a long friendship
2. a fleeting moment
3. a misunderstanding
4. a business transaction

45. The story can be seen as a metaphor for-

1. the journey of life
2. unfulfilled desires
3. the mystery of human connection
4. all of the above

46. The platform at Deoli was-

1. well-lit
2. crowded
3. dimly lit
4. completely dark

47. The narrator’s feeling for the girl was “something lost, something found”, meaning-

1. he lost his money and found a friend
2. he found a new hope but lost it again
3. he lost his way but found the station
4. he found a memory that he would always cherish

48. The story is told from the perspective of-

1. the girl
2. the station master
3. the narrator as a young boy
4. the narrator looking back as an adult

49. What made the narrator feel a connection with the lonely Deoli station?

1. Its natural beauty
2. The fact that it seemed to be a place untouched by the world
3. The friendly people
4. The delicious tea

50. The ultimate fate of the girl remains-

1. a sad story
2. a happy memory
3. an unsolved mystery
4. a lesson for the narrator

1. I was in college. I was eighteen. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. I was eighteen and in college.
2. When I was eighteen, I was in college.
3. Being eighteen, I was in college.
4. I was an eighteen-year-old college student.

2. The train stopped at Deoli. There was only one platform. (Join with ‘where’)

1. The train stopped at Deoli where there was only one platform.
2. The train stopped at Deoli and there was only one platform.
3. The train stopped at Deoli, a place with only one platform.
4. Deoli, where the train stopped, had only one platform.

3. I could not forget the girl’s face. I sat up awake for the rest of the journey. (Join with ‘as’)

1. I sat up awake for the rest of the journey and could not forget the girl’s face.
2. As I could not forget the girl’s face, I sat up awake for the rest of the journey.
3. Not forgetting the girl’s face, I sat up awake.
4. I could not forget her face, so I sat up awake.

4. She looked at me. Her eyes were searching and troubled. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. She looked at me with her searching and troubled eyes. (Simple)
2. She, whose eyes were searching and troubled, looked at me.
3. She looked at me and her eyes were searching.
4. Her eyes were searching when she looked at me.

5. I made enquiries. The girl was not there. (Join with ‘but’)

1. Though I made enquiries, the girl was not there.
2. I made enquiries but the girl was not there. (Compound)
3. I made enquiries, which found that the girl was not there.
4. This cannot be joined with ‘but’ to make a complex sentence.

6. A girl was selling baskets. (Change the voice)

1. Baskets were sold by a girl.
2. Baskets were being sold by a girl.
3. Baskets are sold by a girl.
4. Let baskets be sold by a girl.

7. I could not forget her face. (Change the voice)

1. Her face was not forgotten by me.
2. Her face cannot be forgotten by me.
3. Her face could not be forgotten by me.
4. Forgetting her face was not possible for me.

8. The guard blew his whistle. (Change the voice)

1. His whistle is blown by the guard.
2. His whistle was being blown by the guard.
3. His whistle has been blown by the guard.
4. His whistle was blown by the guard.

9. I will come again. (Change the voice)

1. This sentence cannot be changed into passive.
2. Coming again will be done by me.
3. Again I will be come.
4. It will be come again by me.

10. The station master said something. (Change the voice)

1. Something was said by the station master.
2. Something is said by the station master.
3. Something has been said by the station master.
4. Something was being said by the station master.

11. I was sorry ___ the girl.

1. to
2. of
3. with
4. for

12. The train drew slowly ___ the station.

1. in
2. into
3. at
4. on

13. She was waiting for me ___ the tea-stall.

1. on
2. at
3. in
4. beside

14. The memory of our meeting remained ___ me for a long time.

1. in
2. on
3. to
4. with

15. I looked ___ the window.

1. at
2. on
3. out of
4. in

16. No other basket was as fine as this one. (Change to Superlative Degree)

1. This basket was finer than any other basket.
2. This was the finest basket.
3. This basket was very fine.
4. This was one of the finest baskets.

17. The girl was poorer than the narrator. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. The narrator was not so poor as the girl.
2. The girl was the poorest.
3. The narrator was rich.
4. The girl was very poor.

18. Her smile was one of the most gentle smiles I had ever seen. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. Her smile was more gentle than most other smiles.
2. No other smile was as gentle as hers.
3. Her smile was very gentle.
4. Very few smiles I had ever seen were as gentle as hers.

19. This was the most unexpected thrill. (Change to Comparative Degree)

1. This was a more unexpected thrill than any other.
2. No other thrill was as unexpected as this.
3. This was a very unexpected thrill.
4. This thrill was more unexpected.

20. Deoli was not as big as Dehra. (Change to Comparative Degree)

1. Dehra was bigger than Deoli.
2. Dehra was the biggest.
3. Deoli was smaller.
4. Deoli and Dehra were not equal in size.

21. She stood on the platform with grace. (Use the adjective form of ‘grace’)

1. She stood on the platform gracefully. (Adverb)
2. Her stance on the platform was graceful.
3. She was graceful on the platform.
4. Both b and c are correct.

22. The narrator felt an unexpected thrill. (Use the verb form of ‘thrill’)

1. The narrator was thrilled unexpectedly.
2. An unexpected feeling thrilled the narrator.
3. The narrator’s feeling was a thrill.
4. Both a and b are correct.

23. Her dark eyes were searching. (Use the verb form of ‘searching’)

1. Her dark eyes seemed to search for something.
2. Her dark eyes were in a search.
3. Her dark eyes searched.
4. Both a and c are correct.

24. Her poverty was obvious. (Use the adjective form of ‘poverty’)

1. She was obviously poor.
2. It was obvious that she was poor.
3. Her poor condition was obvious.
4. She was in a poor state.

25. I was conscious of her presence. (Use the noun form of ‘conscious’)

1. I had consciousness of her presence.
2. My consciousness felt her presence.
3. I consciously felt her presence.
4. Her presence entered my consciousness.

26. (Complex) The train stopped. I got off.

1. When the train stopped, I got off.
2. The train stopped and I got off.
3. Stopping, the train let me get off.
4. I got off after the train stopped.

27. (Voice) Do you want a basket?

1. Is a basket wanted by you?
2. Was a basket wanted by you?
3. Does a basket be wanted by you?
4. Let a basket be wanted by you.

28. (Preposition) He was looking ___ me intently.

1. on
2. to
3. at
4. for

29. (Degree) Her voice had the sweetest sound. (Change to Positive)

1. No other sound was as sweet as her voice.
2. Her voice was sweeter than any other sound.
3. Her voice was very sweet.
4. Very few sounds were as sweet as her voice.

30. (Parts of Speech) Her reply was simple. (Use the adverb form of ‘simple’)

1. She replied simply.
2. Her reply had simplicity.
3. She gave a simple reply.
4. Her reply was made simply.

31. (Complex) I must leave the train. I will miss the girl.

1. I must leave the train, otherwise I will miss the girl.
2. If I do not leave the train, I will miss the girl.
3. I must leave the train, so I will not miss the girl.
4. I will miss the girl without leaving the train.

32. (Voice) One should not break a promise.

1. A promise is not to be broken.
2. Let a promise not be broken.
3. A promise should not be broken.
4. Breaking a promise is not right.

33. (Preposition) I was filled ___ a strange tenderness.

1. of
2. in
3. by
4. with

34. (Degree) The new girl was not as graceful as the first one. (Change to Comparative)

1. The first one was more graceful than the new girl.
2. The new girl was less graceful.
3. The first one was the most graceful.
4. The new girl was not very graceful.

35. (Parts of Speech) I felt a sudden impulse. (Use the verb form of ‘impulse’)

1. I was impelled suddenly.
2. A sudden feeling impelled me.
3. I acted on a sudden impulse.
4. The suddenness impelled me.

36. (Complex) The station was deserted. I decided to wait.

1. The station was deserted, so I decided to wait.
2. Although the station was deserted, I decided to wait.
3. The deserted station made me wait.
4. I decided to wait in the deserted station.

37. (Voice) We will meet again.

1. Meeting again will be done by us.
2. We are to meet again.
3. This cannot be changed into passive voice.
4. Let us be met again.

38. (Preposition) The train moved out ___ the station.

1. from
2. of
3. away
4. off

39. (Degree) It was a very lonely place. (Change to Comparative)

1. It was a lonelier place than many others.
2. No other place was as lonely as it.
3. It was the loneliest place.
4. Cannot be changed without a clear object of comparison.

40. (Parts of Speech) Her dignity was remarkable. (Use the adverb form of ‘remarkable’)

1. She was remarkably dignified.
2. She had a remarkable dignity.
3. Her dignity remarked her character.
4. She was dignified remarkably.