Question

Read carefully the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

Mr Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love, for Mrs Bennet entered the breakfast room, and

congratulated both him and herself on the happy prospect of their nearer connection. Mr Collins received and returned these

felicitations with equal pleasure, and then proceeded to relate the particulars of their interview, with the result of which he had

every reason to be satisfied, since the refusal which his cousin had steadfastly given him would naturally flow from her bashful

modesty.

This information, however, startled Mrs Bennet; she would have been glad to be equally satisfied that her daughter had meant to

encourage him by protesting against his proposals, but she dared not to believe it, and could not help saying so.

‘But depend upon it, Mr Collins,’ she added, ‘that Lizzy shall be brought to reason. I will speak to her about it myself directly.

She is a very headstrong foolish girl, and does not know her own interest; but I will make her know it.’

‘Pardon me for interrupting you, Madam,’ cried Mr Collins; ‘but if she is really headstrong and foolish, I know not whether she

would altogether be a very desirable wife to a man in my situation, who naturally looks for happiness in the marriage state. If

therefore she actually persists in rejecting my proposals, perhaps it were better not to force her into accepting me, because if liable

to such defects of temper, she could not contribute much to my felicity.’

‘Sir , you quite misunderstand me,’ said Mrs Bennet, alarmed. ‘Lizzy is only headstrong in such matters as these. In everything

else she is as good natured a girl as ever lived. I will go directly to Mr bennet, and we shall very soon settle it with her, I am sure.’

She would not give him time to reply, but hurrying instantly to her husband, called out as she entered the library.

‘Oh! Mr Bennet, you are wanted immediately; we are all in an uproar. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr Collins, for she

vows she will not have him, and if you do not make haste he will change his mind and not have her.’

Mr Bennet raised his eyes from his book as she entered, and fixed them on her face with a calm unconcern.

‘I have not the pleasure of understanding you,’ said he when she had finished her speech. ‘Of what are you talking?’

‘of Mr Collins and Lizzy. Lizzy declares she will not have Mr Collins, and Mr Collins begins to say that he will not have Lizzy.’

‘And what am I to do on the occasion?- it seems a hopeless business.’

‘Speak to Lizzy about it yourself. Tell her that you insist upon her marrying him.’

‘Let her be called down. She shall hear my opinion.’

Mr Bennet rang the bell, and Miss Elizabeth was summoned to the library.

‘Come here, child,’ cried her father as she appeared. ‘I have sent for you on an affair of importance. I understand that Mr Collins

has made you an offer of marriage, is it true?’ Elizabeth replied that it was. ‘Very well and this offer of marriage you have

refused?’

‘I have, Sir.’

‘Very well. We now come to the point. Your mother insists upon your accepting it. Is it not so, Mrs Bennet?’

‘Yes, or I will never see her again.’

‘An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents - your mother will

never see you again if you do not marry Mr Collins, and I will never see you again if you do.’

Elizabeth could not but smile at such a conclusion of such a beginning; but Mrs Bennet, who had persuaded herself that her husband regarded the affair as she wished, was excessively disappointed
Question 1.

I. Use each of the following words as used in the passage in a sentence of your own construction so as to bring out its meaning

very clearly. Using the word in a context very similar to the passage will be penalised.

(i) Headstrong

(ii) Alarmed

(iii) Alternative

II. For each of the words given below write a sentence of at least 10 words, using the same word unchanged in form, but with a

different meaning from which it carries in the passage.

(i) State

(ii) Settle

(iii) Point

III. Explain in the context of the passage, in not more than two sentences of your own, the meaning of the following expressions

taken from the passage. Merely using phrases will not do.

(i) …….we are all in an uproar.

(ii) It seems a hopeless business.

Question - 2

Answer the following questions as briefly as possible in your own words:

(i) What in you opinion had taken place between Mr Collins and Elizabeth in the breakfast room?

(ii) What ‘unhappy alternative’ does Mr Bennet place before Elizabeth?

Question - 3

In not more than 100 words of your own (summary) write about Mr Collins’s character portrayed in this passage.​

Answer 1

Answer:

ans the following

1. Mr Collins was not left long to the silent contemplation of his successful love, for Mrs Bennet entered the breakfast room, and