Important Questions Chapter 9 English Rainbow Part 2 Class 12 Bihar Board बिहार बोर्ड

Medium Questions with Answers

1. What was Benjy’s relationship with his hens?

Answers : Benjy saw his hens as his sole responsibility and possession. They gave him a sense of purpose and success in life. For him, the hens were everything, much like the land was for his parents.

2. How did Benjy’s parents treat him during his childhood?

Answers : Benjy’s parents were overly kind and protective because of his simplicity. They saved money for him and gave him responsibilities to help him grow. Their excessive care, however, made Benjy selfish and ungrateful.

3. How did Benjy use his savings?

Answers : Benjy used his savings to buy a plot of land next to their rented land. This decision showed his growing independence and desire to secure his future. It also marked his first step into adulthood.

4. What did Benjy’s parents expect when they gave him the passbook?

Answers : They hoped for gratitude or an offer to share the money, but Benjy silently took the passbook. This hurt them deeply, but they forgave him because they thought he was too simple to understand.

5. How did Benjy expand his poultry business?

Answers : Benjy segregated hen breeds, built better coops, and improved hygiene. His focus on efficiency helped him increase production and earn more money. Over time, he became a successful poultry farmer.

6. What role did Florence play in Benjy’s life?

Answers : Florence became Benjy’s wife and helped him with the hens. Although she was simple-minded, her presence caused tension with Benjy’s parents. She symbolized a shift in Benjy’s priorities.

7. How did Benjy’s parents feel about Florence?

Answers : They disliked Florence, believing she was unfit for Benjy. Her arrival created divisions in the house and worsened their relationship with Benjy. They felt alienated by her presence.

8. Why did Benjy’s parents leave their home?

Answers : Benjy forced them to leave, saying he owned the house and wanted it for himself and Florence. They felt heartbroken and betrayed but left because they had no choice.

9. How did Benjy’s father’s laziness affect their lives?

Answers : Johnson relied on faith instead of hard work, which led to poor land productivity. His failure to act left them without savings or ownership of the land. This contributed to their eventual displacement.

10. Why was the land important to the Johnsons?

Answers : The land symbolized their livelihood and identity, but they never owned it. Losing the land highlighted their vulnerability and dependence on others. It was central to their struggles and eventual downfall.

11. How does Benjy’s simplicity turn into cunning?

Answers : Benjy starts as simple-minded, but as he grows successful, he becomes selfish and manipulative. He uses his simplicity to excuse his actions, like forcing his parents to leave. His success hides his growing cunning.

12. What emotions did Benjy’s parents feel at the end?

Answers : Benjy’s parents felt heartbreak, betrayal, and confusion when he forced them to leave. They realized they had misjudged his simplicity, but they still made allowances for him. Their sacrifices left them with nothing.

Long Questions with Answers

1. What role does the land play in the story?

Answers : The land is central to the Johnsons’ lives, representing their livelihood and dreams. However, their lack of ownership leaves them powerless when it is sold. Benjy, in contrast, owns his hens and later the land, showing his growing independence. The land highlights the family’s struggles and shifting dynamics.

2. How did Benjy’s parents sacrifice for him?

Answers : Benjy’s parents saved money from egg sales for his future, gave him land for his hens, and forgave his selfishness because of his simplicity. They moved to smaller rooms after he married and eventually left the house entirely. Their sacrifices showed their love but also their helplessness.

3. How does Florence create tension in the family?

Answers : Florence’s arrival divides the family, as Benjy’s parents dislike her and feel she’s unworthy. She becomes the center of conflict, with separate meals and living spaces in the house. Florence represents a shift in Benjy’s priorities, leading to his parents’ alienation.

4. What does Benjy’s success as a poultry farmer reveal about him?

Answers : Benjy’s success shows his ability to focus and work hard, but it also reveals his selfishness and cunning. He expands his business while neglecting his parents, prioritizing his hens and property over family bonds. His simplicity becomes a tool for manipulation.

5. Why did Benjy force his parents out of the house?

Answers : Benjy claimed the house as his own after buying the property and wanted it for himself and Florence. He showed no concern for his parents’ future, revealing his lack of emotional understanding. His decision reflected his self-centered attitude.

6. What role does faith play in the story?

Answers : Johnson’s faith in God replaces hard work, leading to poor land productivity and eventual loss. His reliance on Providence contrasts with Benjy’s practical actions. The story critiques blind faith when it replaces responsibility.

7. How does the story depict Benjy’s transformation?

Answers : Benjy starts as a simple-minded man dependent on his parents but becomes a successful farmer. Over time, his simplicity turns into selfishness and cunning. His transformation alienates his parents and highlights the family’s fractured relationships.

8. What is the message of the story “The Earth” ?

Answers : The story explores themes of selfishness, family sacrifice, and the consequences of misplaced priorities. It shows how blind faith and indulgence can lead to betrayal and loss. It warns against neglecting hard work and mutual respect in family relationships.