UGC NET Paper 2 English Mock Test - 10 - UGC NET MCQ

The correct answer is 'Both Options 1 and 2 are true.'

Key Points

• Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" (Statement 1): The novel indeed explores the challenges faced by the protagonist, Jude Fawley, in navigating societal expectations and moral constraints.
• Charles Dickens' "Bleak House" (Statement 2): "Bleak House" does, in fact, provide a scathing critique of the legal system in Victorian England, emphasizing its complexities and inefficiencies.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 3.'

Additional Information

• Option 1 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect as Statement 1 is true; it accurately reflects the theme of Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure."
• Option 2 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect as Statement 2 is true; "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens does critique the legal system in Victorian England.
• Option 4 (Incorrect): This option is incorrect as both statements are true, contradicting the assertion that both are false.

The correct answer is ‘It makes him more determined to win her back.’ 

Key Points

• Heathcliff's belief that Catherine loves him more than she loves Edgar Linton makes him more determined to win her back. 
• He is willing to do anything to achieve this goal, even if it means using underhanded or even violent tactics.
• He is also unwilling to compromise with Edgar Linton, as he believes that Edgar is unworthy of Catherine's love.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 1.’

The correct answer is Leo Tolstoy. 

Key Points

• "The Three Questions" is a short story by author Leo Tolstoy.
• It is a parable which tells the story of a king who is in search of answers to three philosophical questions in life. 
• The moral of the story is to live in the present moment, rather than grumbling about the past and being anxious about tomorrow.
  Hence, 'option 1' is the correct answer.​ 

Additional Information

• Leo Tolstoy was a 19th century Russian writer known for his famous novels and short stories.

The correct answer is He only wrote his prose in English.

Key Points

•  Francis Bacon(1561-1626) was the greatest of the Elizabethan prose writers.
• He wrote both in Latin and English, and of the two he considered his Latin works to be more important.
• Bacon's work is impersonal, objective, and orderly in thought and reflects a cool scientific detachment.
• His antithetical sentences have qualities of proverbial expressions.
• He is known for his Aphoristic style of writing.
• His best best-knowns are: Of Studies, Of Revenge, Of Death and others.

Therefore, the correct option is option 4.

Additional Information

• Francis Bacon was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1618 and created Baron Verulam.
• In 1621 he became Viscount St Albans.

The correct answer is 'They symbolize the passage of time and the speaker's inability to move on.'

Key Points

• The speaker describes the sun's print as "occasional" and the worry of wheels as "brisk brief," suggesting that these moments are fleeting and impermanent. 
• The speaker also mentions that the wheels are "along the street outside," which implies that they are moving forward while the speaker is stuck in the past.
• The contrast between the movement of the outside world and the speaker's own stasis highlights the speaker's sense of being trapped and unable to move on from their traumatic experience.
• The speaker does not explicitly express feelings of happiness, guilt, or shame in relation to the sun and wheels.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 2.

The correct answer is 'Suffering is always unique and personal to each individual.'

Key Points

• The speaker states that "suffering is exact," suggesting that it is unique and specific to each individual. 
• This is supported by the fact that the speaker's own suffering is described in vivid and personal detail.
• The speaker's use of the word "exact" implies that suffering is precise and cannot be generalized or compared to the suffering of others.
• The speaker does not suggest that suffering is always fair, just, predictable, or caused by external factors.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

The correct answer is ‘A, B, C, D, E.’

 Key Points

• The Tatler (A) was founded in 1709.
• The Spectator (B) was founded in 1711.
• The Rambler (C) was founded in 1750.
• The Idler (D) was founded in 1758.
• The Lounger (E) was founded in 1785.
• Literary journals are periodicals that publish literary works, such as poems, short stories, essays, and reviews.
• Literary journals play an important role in promoting new and emerging writers.
• Literary journals often reflect the changing literary and cultural trends of their time.

The correct answer is 'A, B, C, D, E'

 Key Point

• New Criticism became prominent in the 1930s and 1940s. It focused on close reading of the text itself, without considering external factors such as authorship or historical context. New Criticism emphasized the text's intrinsic value and its structural and literary devices.
• Structuralism emerged in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, drawing heavily from linguistics. It proposed that human culture could be understood by identifying and analyzing its underlying structures. Structuralism looks for the underlying meaning behind cultural phenomena and was influential in the development of other theories.
• Post-Structuralism, developing in the late 1960s and into the 1970s, evolved as a response to Structuralism. It questioned the idea of fixed structures and meanings, suggesting that meaning is always deferred and can never be fully pinned down. This theory argues against the rigid frameworks of Structuralism, proposing that interpretations can vary.
• Deconstruction, a form of criticism developed by Jacques Derrida in the late 20th century (mostly in the 1970s), often associated with Post-Structuralism, further explores the instability of meaning within texts. It deconstructs established structures and ideas, revealing contradictions and conflicts within texts themselves.
• New Historicism rose to prominence in the 1980s. It merges the literary analysis with historical context, proposing that literature and history are dynamically interrelated. New Historicism reconsiders texts within the context of their creation and reception historically.

The correct answer is 'Language influences thought.'

Key Points

• The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis suggests that the language we speak can influence and shape the way we think.
• It posits that language is not merely a tool for expressing existing thoughts but also a factor that shapes and constrains our cognitive processes.
• The hypothesis highlights the idea that different languages may lead speakers to perceive and interpret the world differently.
• It consists of two versions: the strong version (language determines thought) and the weak version (language influences thought).
• Research has shown that language can influence cognitive processes, including perception, memory, and problem-solving.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1.'

 Additional Information

• Option 2: While related, the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis primarily emphasizes language influencing thought rather than the reverse.
• Option 3: The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis challenges the idea of complete independence between language and thought.
• Option 4: This contradicts the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis, which suggests a correlation between language and thought.

The correct answer is '1 - B, 2 - C, 3 - A, 4 - D.'

Key Points

• Judith Butler's "Gender Trouble" is a key text in gender studies. It challenges traditional notions of gender and argues for a performative understanding of gender identity.
• Thomas Pynchon is associated with "The Crying of Lot 49," a novel known for its complex narrative and themes of paranoia and conspiracy.
• Michel Foucault's "The Order of Things" explores the history of several sciences, including natural history, linguistics, and economics.
• Julia Kristeva's "Powers of Horror" presents her theory of abjection, discussing the human reaction to the threatened breakdown in meaning caused by the loss of the distinction between subject and object or between self and other.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 1.

The correct answer is 'A spy'.

Key Points

• Aphra Behn, before her writing career took off, had served King Charles II as a spy in Antwerp during the Anglo-Dutch War.
• While her spy mission was not particularly successful (and led to a stint in debtors' prison), this part of her life has added an aura of intrigue and adventure to her reputation.
• There's no historical evidence to suggest that Behn was a diplomat, an actress, or a painter.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

The correct answer is "Sea Voyage".

Key Points

• "We are not Afraid to Die...If We are all Together"  written by Gordan Cook and Alan East, the story is about a 37-year-old businessman who is the narrator of the story.
• The story tells about the extreme bravery and skill exhibited by Gordon Cook. Gordon Cook's family and crewmen are in a war with water and the waves for existence.
• In the month of July in the year 1976, the writer, his wife Mary, his son Jonathan and his daughter Suzanne set sail from Plymouth, in England to duplicate the round-the-world journey made 200 years ago by Captain James Cook.
• The title of the story is taken from the dialogue of the son Johnathan, from the story.

Therefore the correct answer is option 1.

The correct answer is Both 3 and 1Key Points

• An Apology for the Life of Mrs Shamela Andrews by Henry Fielding is an insightful and highly effective parody of Samuel Richardson’s popular epistolary novel Pamela (1740).
• Shamela was published on 2 April 1741, less than five months after the first edition of Pamela had appeared and three weeks after the third edition was released. Fielding’s well-timed text was highly topical, a factor which contributed significantly to its success.
• Fielding is no longer concerned with the genuineness or falsity of Pamela’s sexual morality, and what is more, the parodic motive has receded drastically.  
• The plot begins with a direct link to Richardson’s novel: Pamela has married Mr. B, and Fielding has endowed her with a brother, Joseph Andrews, who is in the service of Mr. Booby’s uncle, Sir Thomas Booby.
• Sir Thomas’s wife occupies a role analogous to that of Mr. B. in Pamela, as she soon sets about trying to seduce the attractive Andrews. 

Therefore, Option 4 is the correct answer.

 Additional Information

• Henry Fielding – novelist, playwright and magistrate – was an active and influential public figure in the early 18th century.
• Running short of funds, Fielding turned to writing, as did his sister, the novelist Sarah Fielding.
• His earliest theatrical writings so sharply satirised Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole that they were said to have catalysed the passage of the Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737, 
• Samuel Richardson is remembered today as one of the most important innovators of the novel form – and yet he did not publish his first novel until he was 51.
• Only once he was an established printer did Richardson turn his attention to literary innovation.
• His first began work on a collection of conduct letters, offering stylistic tips on how to give form to ideas and sentiments.

The correct answer is 'J.L. Austin.'

 Key Points

• J.L. Austin, a British philosopher (1911–1960), is renowned for his work on the philosophy of language.
• In "How to Do Things with Words" (1962), Austin introduces the concept of performative utterances, where saying something is not just describing a state of affairs but performing an action.
• He distinguishes between constative (descriptive) and performative (action-oriented) uses of language.
• Examples of performative utterances include promises, vows, or declarations that bring about a change in the external world.
• Austin's work laid the foundation for speech act theory, influencing subsequent developments in philosophy of language.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

 Additional Information

• Option 1 is incorrect. Ludwig Wittgenstein is a significant figure in analytical philosophy but not the author of "How to Do Things with Words."
• Option 3 is incorrect. John Searle, influenced by Austin, expanded on speech act theory but did not write "How to Do Things with Words."
• Option 4 is incorrect. Noam Chomsky is a linguist and cognitive scientist known for his work on generative grammar, not speech act theory.

The correct answer is 'Grammar-Translation Method.'

Key Points 

• The Grammar-Translation Method is a traditional approach to language teaching that prioritizes explicit instruction in grammar rules and translation exercises.
• This method often involves rote memorization of vocabulary, followed by translation exercises from the target language to the native language.
• Grammar-Translation is based on the belief that a strong understanding of grammar and vocabulary is essential for language proficiency.
• The method is criticized for its lack of emphasis on communication skills and real-life language use.
• While not widely used in contemporary language teaching, it has historical significance as one of the early methods employed in English language instruction.

Therefore, the correct option is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information 

• Option 1 is incorrect. The Direct Method focuses on teaching in the target language without using the native language.
• Option 2 is incorrect. Audiolingual Method emphasizes oral skills and repetition to develop language habits.
• Option 4 is incorrect. Communicative Language Teaching prioritizes communication and interaction in language learning.

In book 11 of Paradise Lost, God sends Michael to banish Adam and Eve from paradise and tell them about the future of mankind. In Book 12 Michael told that they will have access to many signs of God’s presence and show Adam the visions of future of Mankind furthermore the coming of Christ as Redeemer of Mankind.

The foreknowledge of future consoles them and they take each other’s hands, and make their way through Eden.

The Jew of Malta is a tragic play created by Christopher Marlowe, the most celebrated dramatist of the Renaissance Period after Shakespeare. The play opens with a prologue in which Machiavel, a character based on Niccolo Machiavelli, introduces “the tragedy of a Jew, The Jew of Malta”.

He dismisses religion as a “childish toy” and disdains popular superstition. He further states that this man’s riches (Jew’s) were gained through close adherence to Machevill’s own recommended methods and also hopes from the readers to not to treat the Jew badly but to favor him.

Fourth edition (1779), title page for Vol II. Author, Fanny Burney. Illustrator, John Mortimer. Country, United Kingdom. Language, English. Genre, Novel. Publisher, Thomas Lowndes. Publication date. 1778. Pages, 455. Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World is a novel written by English .

The correct answer is 'The regulation of social bodies and populations'.

Key Points

• Definition of Biopower: Michel Foucault introduced the concept of biopower to describe the techniques and strategies by which human life processes are managed under regimes of authority over knowledge, power, and subjectivity.
• Control over Populations: Biopower focuses on the management of populations, including birth rates, mortality, health policies, and the regulation of diseases, emphasizing how power over life extends beyond the disciplinary control of individual bodies to entire populations.
• Normalization of Society: Through biopower, Foucault illustrates how regulatory mechanisms are used to normalize society, employing statistical means to segregate, categorize, and control populations.
• Link to Governmentality: Biopower is closely linked to Foucault's concept of governmentality, which explores the art of governing beyond merely political doctrine, involving a broad array of institutions, practices, and knowledge that aim at shaping, guiding, and managing the behavior of populations.
• Influence on Contemporary Issues: The concept of biopower is highly pertinent in contemporary discussions on public health, bioethics, and the regulation of bodies, providing a critical lens through which to view the intersection of power, knowledge, and life itself.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: While Judith Butler's work on gender performativity does involve the creation and control of gender identities, Foucault's concept of biopower is more broadly concerned with populations rather than gender specifically.
• Option 3: Foucault indeed explored the development of modern penal systems, particularly in "Discipline and Punish," but this is more directly related to his theories on discipline rather than biopower.
• Option 4: Although Foucault critiqued various societal structures, his concept of biopower is not specifically focused on the critique of capitalist economic systems.

The correct answer is 'The poem represents a complex interplay between the poet's internal emotional turmoil and the external socio-political climate of the time'.

Key Points

• "Dejection: An Ode" can be seen as embodying more than just a personal expression of sadness; it subtly reflects the anxieties and challenges of the broader socio-political climate during Coleridge's time, including reactions to the French Revolution and its aftermath, economic hardship, and the industrial revolution's early stages.
• The ode's exploration of dejection is intertwined with a sensitive awareness of the natural world, suggesting an environmental consciousness that transcends personal grief and points to a deeper disquiet about humanity's disconnect from nature amidst rapid societal changes.
• Coleridge's articulation of despair and alienation resonates with the disillusionment felt by many during a period of significant upheaval, serving as a poignant critique of his era's optimism about progress and the Enlightenment beliefs in reason and individualism.
• The poem’s structure and use of language act as vehicles for critiquing the era’s intellectual and philosophical ethos, subtly questioning the viability of Romantic idealism as a means to comprehend and navigate the complexities of human experience within a changing world.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information

• Celebrating the natural world's beauty (Option 1) is a theme in Coleridge's work but doesn't capture the depth of "Dejection: An Ode."
• A straightforward lament about unrequited love (Option 2) overlooks the poem's broader existential and socio-political reflections.
• Abstract exploration of poetic form (Option 4) undervalues the poem's engagement with personal and historical content.

The correct answer is 'Through the use of multiple languages and literary references'.

Key Points

• "The Waste Land" epitomizes the theme of fragmentation through its structure and content, notably via the eclectic use of several languages (English, German, French, Italian, Sanskrit, and more) and a multitude of references drawn from various literatures, cultures, and historical periods.
• This literary collage reflects the fragmented nature of modern existence and consciousness, illustrating the breakdown of social, cultural, and psychological coherence in the post-World War I era.
• The poem's allusions range from classical to contemporary sources, including but not limited to Greek mythology, Christian scripture, Eastern religions, and the works of Dante, Shakespeare, and Baudelaire. This mix of references serves to both enrich the text and underscore the theme of disconnection from a unified cultural heritage.
• The abrupt shifts between different speakers, locations, and time periods further reinforce the sense of fragmentation and dislocation, challenging readers to piece together meaning from the disparate elements.
• Eliot’s use of fragmentation not only reflects the chaotic state of modern society but also suggests the potential for reconnection and understanding through the active engagement of the reader in navigating the poem’s complexities.
• The formal construction of "The Waste Land" itself, divided into five distinct but interrelated sections, mirrors the fragmentation it depicts, suggesting both the disintegration and the possibility of synthesis or reconciliation.

Therefore, the correct answer is ‘Option 3.’

Additional Information

• A linear and cohesive narrative structure and focusing solely on modern urban life are contrary to the poem's exploration of fragmentation.
• Employing a single cultural reference point would simplify the poem’s complexity and depth, which is contrary to Eliot’s method of integrating diverse references to emphasize fragmentation

The correct answer is 'Bhasa'.

Key Points

• "Swapnavasavadattam" is an early Sanskrit drama attributed to Bhasa. It tells the story of king Udayana and his queen Vasavadatta.
• Kalidasa, another significant figure in ancient Indian literature, is known for his works like "Abhijnanasakuntalam" and "Meghadutam" but didn't write "Swapnavasavadattam".
• Shudraka is credited with the play "Mricchakatika", and Vishakhadatta is known for "Mudrarakshasa", neither of them wrote "Swapnavasavadattam".

Therefore, the correct answer is Option 2.

The correct answer is 'The inefficacy and cruelty of the workhouse system.'

Key Points

• Symbol of Institutional Failure: Mr. Bumble, as the workhouse beadle, represents the institutional failure of the workhouse system to provide for and protect the poor and vulnerable.
• Personal Gain over Duty: His character often prioritizes personal gain and authority over the needs and well-being of the workhouse inhabitants, illustrating the selfishness and corruption within the system.
• Cruelty and Indifference: Mr. Bumble’s actions and attitudes towards the workhouse children, including Oliver, highlight the cruelty and indifference that were prevalent in such institutions.
• Lack of Compassion: His lack of compassion and empathy for the poor reflects the broader societal attitudes of the time, which Dickens criticizes through his portrayal.
• Social Commentary: Through Mr. Bumble, Dickens provides sharp social commentary on the inadequacies of the Poor Law and the harsh realities faced by those in workhouses.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Mr. Bumble's depiction is far from one that showcases dedication and compassion.
• Option 3: While the legal system is critiqued in "Oliver Twist," Mr. Bumble’s character specifically targets the workhouse system's failures.
• Option 4: The aspirations of the lower class are explored in the novel, but Mr. Bumble primarily criticizes the workhouse system rather than this theme.

The correct answer is '(a) - (i), (b) - (ii), (c) - (iii), (d) - (iv)'.

Key Points

• Chinua Achebe is celebrated for his depiction of the impacts of colonialism on Africa, notably in his novel "Things Fall Apart" and was Nigerian.
• Franz Kafka, although born in Prague, which was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now the Czech Republic), is often associated with German literature due to his language of writing but is labeled here under his geographical origins.
• Isabel Allende, one of the most widely-read Spanish-language authors, hails from Chile. Her works often delve into magical realism, similar to her literary predecessor Gabriel García Márquez.
• Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian novelist, explored human psychology in the context of the troubled political, social, and spiritual atmosphere of 19th-century Russia.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 1'.

Additional Information

• The geographical and cultural origins of each writer significantly influence their literary creations, adding diverse voices and perspectives to the global tapestry of literature.

The correct answer is 'It disregards the intricate structure and unity of the poem.'

Key Points

• Cleanth Brooks, a prominent figure in the New Criticism movement, argues against the simplification of poetry through paraphrase, highlighting how this practice can miss the inherent complexity of poetic works.
• He asserts that a poem's meaning cannot be divorced from its form; the structure, rhythm, imagery, and word choice all contribute to its overall significance and emotional impact.
• Paraphrasing a poem into prose, according to Brooks, strips it of its poetic qualities and unity, reducing a multifaceted work to a mere summary of its content.
• Brooks emphasizes the integral unity of form and content within poetry, arguing that the unique arrangement of words and the specific choices made by the poet are essential to the poem's meaning.
• He suggests that the act of paraphrasing fails to capture the nuances and subtleties that give a poem its depth and resonance, effectively flattening the rich texture of the original work.
• For Brooks, the beauty and power of poetry lie in its ability to convey complex ideas and emotions in an inseparable blend of content and form, a quality that paraphrasing inherently undermines.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Option 2'.

Additional Information

• Option 1: Incorrect because Brooks's argument centers not on the author's intention but on how paraphrasing fails to capture the poem's formal qualities.
• Option 3: Incorrect as Brooks does not limit his critique to aesthetic aspects; he focuses on the structural and interpretative aspects of poetry.
• Option 4: Incorrect because Brooks believes paraphrasing diminishes, rather than enhances, understanding by ignoring the poem's formal complexity.

The correct answer is "(a -iii), (b- iv), (c - i), (d - ii)".

Key Points

• Ars Poetica is a work of literary criticism by Horace. It is written in the form of a poem and explains the 'art of poetry', its form and styles.
• Of Dramatic Poesy (1688) is a critical essay by John Dryden that attempts to justify drama as a 'legitimate' form of poetry.
• Timber; or Discoveries is a work by Ben Jonson, published posthumously in 1641. The work deals with a wide range of themes like nature, wisdom and observations on dramatic theory.
• A Defense of Rhyme (1641) is a prose by Samuel Daniel.
• The work defends English verse form for not following the classical standard. The work is written in response to Thomas Campion's 'Observations in the Art of English Poesie' (1602).

Therefore, the correct answer is "option 2".

It is a play that deals with the theme of boredom, nothingness and inertia in life.

The Charge of the Light Brigade was a charge of British light cavalry led by Lord Cardigan against Russian forces during the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854 in the Crimean War. The events are best remembered as the subject of the poem ìThe Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Lamia is a narrative poem written by English poet John Keats which was published in 1820. The poem was written in 1819, during the famously productive period that produced his 1819 odes. It was composed soon after his "La belle dame sans merci" and his odes on Melancholy, on Indolence, to a Grecian Urn and to a Nightingale and just before "Ode to Autumn".

The poem tells how the god Hermes hears of a nymph who is more beautiful than all. Hermes, searching for the nymph, instead comes across Lamia, trapped in the form of a serpent. She reveals the previously invisible nymph to him and in return he restores her human form. She goes to seek a youth of Corinth, Lycius, while Hermes and his nymph depart together into the woods. The relationship between Lycius and Lamia, however, is destroyed when the sage Apollonius reveals Lamia's true identity at their wedding feast, whereupon she seemingly disappears and Lycius dies of grief.

It suggests that understanding of any text rely upon paradigm as well as pattern of reading. A reader receives a different perception toward the same text when situations and requirements got changed. Even the same reader discovers various interpretations of a single text when read it alone or in a class or group. Thus, our understanding of any text depends upon our needs, desires as well as on our prejudices.

Note: The assertion is one of the three crucial propositions in Kolodny’s “Dancing through the Minefield”