Question

What does the phrase ‘an exotic moment’ in the extract signify ?

• A. surreal pause from mechanized human activity enabling reflection and unity.
• B. ceremonial halt wherein humans acknowledge traditional and ecological wisdom.
• C. spontaneous event where all human labour becomes obsolete.
• D. rare disruption of routine that highlights cultural diversity and isolation.
• A. despairing and cynical
• B. aggressive and accusatory
• C. meditative and hopeful
• D. humorous and sarcastic

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Read the phrase in its context:
The poet calls it ‘an exotic moment’ and adds ‘without rush, without engines’.
So the moment is strange and unusual because the hurry and the machines have stopped.

Step 2: Why option (A) is right:
A pause from mechanised activity lets people think and feel one with each other, which is what the poem asks for.
This matches ‘we would all be together’.

Step 3: Why the others are wrong:
(B) the extract has no ceremony or traditional wisdom. (C) human labour is only paused, it does not become obsolete. (D) the poem stresses togetherness, not cultural diversity or isolation.

Final Answer:
(A) surreal pause from mechanized human activity enabling reflection and unity.

Answer 2

Step 1: Look at the two words:
‘We’ includes every person, and ‘together’ means being united in one act.
The poet uses both words in ‘we would all be together’.

Step 2: Link with the poem:
The whole poem asks all of humanity to keep still at the same time.
So the words point to a shared human bond.

Final Answer:
The words ‘we’ and ‘together’ signify the unity of all human beings and their shared responsibility towards each other.

Answer 3

Step 1: Judge the poet's tone:
The poet calls the moment ‘exotic’ and imagines everyone together in it.
These are words of admiration, not blame.

Step 2: Choose the word:
‘Condemns’ means to criticise, which does not fit the warm picture of the extract.
‘Glorifies’ means to praise, which fits.

Final Answer:
glorifies

Answer 4

Step 1: Read the mood of the lines:
The poet quietly imagines a calm moment when people are together and harm to nature stops.
The voice is gentle and thoughtful.

Step 2: Match the tone:
Thoughtful reflection is ‘meditative’, and the wish for a better world is ‘hopeful’.
So option (C) fits.

Step 3: Reject the rest:
There is no despair, anger or humour in the extract, so (A), (B) and (D) are wrong.

Final Answer:
(C) meditative and hopeful

Answer 5

Step 1: Picture the image:
The man gathering salt looks at his hurt hands when everyone is still.
Hands get hurt through long, hard physical work.

Step 2: Read the symbol:
The hurt hands stand for the labour that people do without rest.
The pause lets him notice what the constant work has done to him.

Final Answer:
The phrase ‘hurt hands’ is a symbol of hard, relentless physical labour without a pause.

Answer 6

Step 1: Gather the ideas of the extract:
There is no rush, no engines, people are together, and whales are not harmed.
All of this follows from stopping and being still.

Step 2: State the message:
A short pause from our restless activity can bring unity and care for nature.
The poet asks us to introspect before we harm ourselves and the world.

Final Answer:
The poet conveys the importance of silence, stillness and introspection, which bring peace and unity and stop the mindless exploitation of nature.