Our Casuarina Tree

1. The creeper has wound itself around the Casuarina tree like a-

1. huge snake
2. huge Python
3. long rope
4. garland

2. The tree is described as “gallant” because-

1. it is very old
2. it stands tall and strong despite the creeper’s tight hold
3. it is decorated with flowers
4. it is in the poet’s garden

3. The “crimson clusters” refer to-

1. birds
2. insects
3. the creeper’s flowers
4. the tree’s leaves

4. What sits “statue-like alone” on the top-most bough of the tree?

1. A kokila
2. A grey baboon
3. An eagle
4. The poet

5. The “puny offspring” of the baboon are-

1. sleeping
2. crying
3. leaping and playing
4. eating flowers

6. The kokilas hail the day from-

1. the poet’s house
2. the top of the tree
3. near and far
4. a distant river

7. The Casuarina tree is dear to the poet’s soul mainly because-

1. of its magnificent appearance
2. it reminds her of her happy childhood with her siblings
3. it is a very rare tree
4. it provides shade

8. The “three sweet companions” the poet refers to are-

1. her friends
2. her parents and herself
3. her brother Abju and sister Aru
4. The poem does not specify their relation

9. The sound that the poet hears from the tree is a-

1. cheerful song
2. dirge-like murmur
3. loud crash
4. whisper

10. In distant lands, the poet has heard the tree’s lament on the shores of-

1. England and Scotland
2. America and Africa
3. France and Italy
4. India and Sri Lanka

11. The poet wants to “consecrate a lay” unto the tree’s honour. A “lay” is a-

1. wreath of flowers
2. memorial stone
3. song or poem
4. prayer

12. The poet wishes to save the tree from-

1. being cut down
2. a storm
3. Oblivion’s curse
4. old age

13. The poem is a/an-

1. sonnet
2. elegy
3. ode
4. lyrical poem with autobiographical elements

14. The “water-lilies” spring in the garden tank like-

1. stars at night
2. snow enmassed
3. white sheep
4. pearls

15. The “eerie speech” of the tree is its-

1. beautiful song
2. happy whisper
3. sad, mournful sound
4. angry roar

16. The poet compares the tree’s murmur to the sea breaking on a-

1. sandy beach
2. rocky coast
3. shingle-beach
4. river bank

17. The poet’s siblings are now sleeping in “blessed sleep”. This is a euphemism for-

1. deep slumber
2. childhood innocence
3. death
4. peaceful meditation

18. The poem blends the themes of-

1. nature and humanity
2. memory and mortality
3. love and loss
4. all of the above

19. The “form sublime” that rises before the poet’s inner vision is the form of-

1. her mother
2. God
3. the Casuarina tree
4. her lost siblings

20. According to the poet, what can defend the tree from “Death’s oblivion”?

1. Time
2. Nature
3. Memory
4. Love

21. The tree’s trunk is described as-

1. smooth and straight
2. slender and weak
3. rugged, indented deep with scars
4. covered in moss

22. The poetess Toru Dutt belonged to which literary period in India?

1. Modern Period
2. Pre-Independence Romantic Period
3. Post-Independence Period
4. Ancient Period

23. The ‘giant’ in the second line refers to the-

1. python
2. baboon
3. Casuarina tree
4. poet’s father

24. The baboon watches the sunrise, while on lower boughs his _______ play.

25. The overall mood of the poem shifts from _______ to _______.

1. joy, sadness
2. vivid description, nostalgic reflection
3. anger, acceptance
4. fear, courage

26. The Casuarina tree symbolizes-

1. only a plant
2. a strong and enduring link to the poet’s past
3. the harshness of nature
4. a place of worship

27. What time of the day is it when the baboon watches the sunrise?

1. Morning/Dawn
2. Noon
3. Evening
4. Night

28. “Hot tears” have bedewed the tree. These tears belong to-

1. the tree itself
2. the poet
3. her siblings
4. her mother

29. The phrase “happy prime” refers to the poet’s-

1. youthful and happy childhood
2. time in France
3. successful career
4. old age

30. What mingles with the tree’s lament?

1. The poet’s laughter
2. The children’s happy cries
3. The poet’s own memories of her siblings
4. The sound of the wind

31. The creeper’s embrace is described as something the tree could not-

1. enjoy
2. survive
3. live without
4. feel

32. The poem is written in a structure of-

1. four stanzas of 10 lines
2. five stanzas of 11 lines
3. three long stanzas
4. a series of couplets

33. The poet’s vision of the tree is “sublime”, meaning it is-

1. small and weak
2. of great and awe-inspiring beauty
3. frightening
4. ordinary

34. The “unknown land” in the third stanza refers to-

1. France
2. Italy
3. The land of the dead
4. A fantasy world

35. The poem is a testament to the power of _______ to overcome time and death.

1. nature
2. memory and art
3. science
4. religion

36. The tree is personified as wearing a creeper like a-

1. crown
2. scarf
3. belt
4. necklace

37. The garden is “overflown” with the song of-

1. the baboon
2. the bees
3. one sweet bird
4. the kokilas

38. The word “hoar” means-

1. huge
2. green
3. greyish-white with age
4. dark

39. The memory of the tree brings to the poet’s eyes-

1. a happy twinkle
2. hot tears
3. a dreamy look
4. a tired expression

40. The poet hopes that her verse will make the tree “loved” like the trees of-

1. her garden
2. Borrowdale
3. France
4. heaven

41. The poet’s love for the tree is “blent with” the images of her-

1. parents
2. childhood friends
3. dead siblings
4. future dreams

42. The “casement” is-

1. a type of bird
2. the garden gate
3. a window that opens on hinges
4. the tree’s shadow

43. The phrase “trembling Hope” suggests that hope is-

1. strong and confident
2. fragile and uncertain
3. non-existent
4. deceptive

44. The poem is a fine example of Indian writing in-

1. Hindi
2. Bengali
3. Sanskrit
4. English

45. The “skeleton” in the poem refers to-

1. the tree’s bare branches
2. a ghost
3. the personification of Death
4. a frightening memory

46. The poet’s “inner vision” is her-

1. eyesight
2. dream
3. imagination or mind’s eye
4. conscience

47. The flowers of the creeper attract-

1. birds and bees
2. butterflies
3. children
4. snakes

48. The phrase “native clime” refers to the poet’s-

1. childhood home
2. birthplace climate or country
3. ancestral village
4. favourite season

49. What are the “sleepy cows” doing?

1. Sleeping in the shed
2. Wending to their pastures
3. Drinking water from the tank
4. Eating grass under the tree

50. The poem ultimately asserts the triumph of _______ over _______.

1. nature, man
2. love and art, death and oblivion
3. past, present
4. sadness, joy

1. A gray baboon sits statue-like alone. It watches the sunrise. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. A gray baboon sits statue-like alone and watches the sunrise.
2. A gray baboon, which sits statue-like alone, watches the sunrise.
3. Sitting statue-like alone, a gray baboon watches the sunrise.
4. A gray baboon watches the sunrise, sitting statue-like alone.

2. The giant wears the creeper as a scarf. The flowers are hung in crimson clusters. (Join with ‘whose’)

1. The giant wears the creeper whose flowers are hung in crimson clusters.
2. The giant wears the creeper and its flowers are hung in crimson clusters.
3. The giant, whose flowers are hung in crimson clusters, wears the creeper.
4. The flowers of the creeper are hung in crimson clusters which the giant wears.

3. The tree is dear. This is not because of its magnificence. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. The tree is dear, but not because of its magnificence.
2. Though the tree is magnificent, it is dear for other reasons.
3. It is not because of its magnificence that the tree is dear.
4. The magnificent tree is dear.

4. I see a sublime form. It is the form of the tree. (Join with a relative clause)

1. I see a sublime form which is the form of the tree.
2. I see a sublime form of the tree. (Simple)
3. The sublime form that I see is of the tree.
4. Both a and c are correct.

5. Love is strong. It can defend thee from oblivion. (Join into a complex sentence)

1. Love is so strong that it can defend thee from oblivion.
2. Love is strong and can defend thee from oblivion.
3. Love, which is strong, can defend thee from oblivion.
4. Both a and c are correct.

6. The giant wears the creeper as a scarf. (Change the voice)

1. The creeper is worn as a scarf by the giant.
2. A scarf is worn by the giant as a creeper.
3. The creeper was worn as a scarf by the giant.
4. Let the creeper be worn as a scarf.

7. I hear a dirge-like murmur. (Change the voice)

1. A dirge-like murmur was heard by me.
2. A dirge-like murmur is heard by me.
3. Let a dirge-like murmur be heard by me.
4. A dirge-like murmur has been heard by me.

8. We have played for years. (Change the voice)

1. Playing has been done by us for years.
2. This sentence cannot be changed into passive voice.
3. For years, we were played.
4. Let us play for years.

9. Let me rehearse the lay. (Change the voice)

1. Let the lay be rehearsed by me.
2. I should rehearse the lay.
3. The lay might be rehearsed by me.
4. Let the rehearsal of the lay be done.

10. Love can defend the tree. (Change the voice)

1. The tree is defended by love.
2. The tree could be defended by love.
3. The tree can be defended by love.
4. The tree was defended by love.

11. Flowers are gathered ___ its boughs.

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

12. The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed ___ the tank.

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

13. My casement is wide open ___ the day.

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

14. The lament is heard ___ the classic shore of France or Italy.

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

15. My days are done ___ the yews of Borrowdale.

1. like
2. as
3. with
4. under

16. No other tree could be as gallant as the Casuarina. (Change to Superlative Degree)

1. The Casuarina was more gallant than any other tree.
2. The Casuarina was a very gallant tree.
3. The Casuarina was one of the most gallant trees.
4. The Casuarina was the most gallant tree.

17. The tree is dearer to me than my life. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. My life is not so dear to me as the tree.
2. The tree is the dearest.
3. My life is less dear.
4. The tree is very dear to me.

18. The kokila’s song is one of the sweetest songs. (Change to Comparative Degree)

1. The kokila’s song is sweeter than any other song.
2. Very few songs are as sweet as the kokila’s.
3. The kokila’s song is sweeter than most other songs.
4. The kokila’s song is a very sweet song.

19. This tree is the most beautiful of all. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. No other tree is as beautiful as this one.
2. This tree is more beautiful than any other.
3. This is a very beautiful tree.
4. Very few trees are as beautiful as this.

20. Love is stronger than Death. (Change to Positive Degree)

1. Death is not so strong as Love.
2. Love is the strongest.
3. Death is weak.
4. Love is very strong.

21. The tree is dear to my soul. (Use the noun form of ‘dear’)

1. The dearness of the tree is for my soul.
2. My soul feels the dearness of the tree.
3. The tree’s dearness touches my soul.
4. All of the above.

22. The baboon sits statue-like alone. (Use the noun form of ‘alone’)

1. The baboon sits in aloneness.
2. The baboon’s aloneness is like a statue.
3. The baboon sits in solitude.
4. Both a and c are plausible.

23. Her song was sweet. (Use the adverb form of ‘sweet’)

1. She sang sweetly.
2. Her song had sweetness.
3. She was a sweet singer.
4. Her singing was sweet.

24. It is not because of its magnificence. (Use the adjective form of ‘magnificence’)

1. It is not because it is magnificent.
2. Its magnificent nature is not the reason.
3. It is not magnificent.
4. Both a and b are correct.

25. I would consecrate a lay. (Use the noun form of ‘consecrate’)

1. I would make a consecration of a lay.
2. A lay’s consecration would be done by me.
3. The lay would be a consecration.
4. My lay would be an act of consecration.

26. (Complex) The tree is strong. No other tree could live.

1. The tree is so strong that no other tree could live (in the creeper’s embrace).
2. The tree is strong but no other tree could live.
3. The strong tree is the only one to live.
4. Being strong, the tree lived.

27. (Voice) One can see the sleepy cows.

1. The sleepy cows are seen.
2. The sleepy cows could be seen.
3. The sleepy cows can be seen.
4. Seeing the sleepy cows is possible.

28. (Preposition) The baboon sits ___ the top-most bough.

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

29. (Degree) The python is a very huge snake. (Change to Comparative)

1. The python is a huger snake.
2. The python is huger than many other snakes.
3. No other snake is as huge as the python.
4. Cannot be changed without a clear object of comparison.

30. (Parts of Speech) The tree is beautiful and vast. (Use the noun form of ‘beautiful’)

1. The beauty and vastness of the tree is known.
2. The tree has beauty and is vast.
3. The tree’s beauty is vast.
4. Both a and b are correct.

31. (Complex) I saw the tree in my happy prime. I was in my native clime.

1. I saw the tree in my happy prime when I was in my native clime.
2. I saw the tree in my happy prime and in my native clime.
3. Being in my native clime, I saw the tree in my happy prime.
4. I saw the tree in my happy prime in my native clime. (Simple)

32. (Voice) Let my verse rehearse thy beauty.

1. Let thy beauty be rehearsed by my verse.
2. Thy beauty should be rehearsed by my verse.
3. My verse may rehearse thy beauty.
4. Let the rehearsal of thy beauty be done.

33. (Preposition) The creeper climbs ___ its summit.

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

34. (Degree) Love is the strongest emotion. (Change to Positive)

1. No other emotion is as strong as Love.
2. Love is stronger than any other emotion.
3. Love is a very strong emotion.
4. Very few emotions are as strong as Love.

35. (Parts of Speech) A gray baboon sits alone. (Use the noun form of ‘sits’)

1. A gray baboon is in a sitting position.
2. A gray baboon takes a seat alone.
3. The sitting of a gray baboon is seen.
4. The seat of the gray baboon is alone.

36. (Complex) My inner vision rose. A sublime form rose before it.

1. When my inner vision rose, a sublime form rose before it.
2. My inner vision rose and a sublime form rose.
3. A sublime form rose before my rising inner vision.
4. Before my inner vision, a sublime form rose. (Simple)

37. (Voice) Do you see the baboon?

1. Is the baboon seen by you?
2. Was the baboon seen by you?
3. Does the baboon be seen by you?
4. Let the baboon be seen.

38. (Preposition) The garden is filled ___ one sweet song.

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

39. (Degree) Her companions were as sweet as her. (Change to Comparative)

1. She was not sweeter than her companions.
2. Her companions were the sweetest.
3. She was sweeter than her companions.
4. She and her companions were very sweet.

40. (Parts of Speech) The tree is strong. (Use the noun form of ‘strong’)

1. The tree has strength.
2. The strength of the tree is great.
3. The tree shows strength.
4. All of the above.