NCERT Solutions for class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 8

Going Places

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THINK AS YOU READ

Q1.Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?

Ans: Sophie and Jansie would soon pass out of their school. Only a few months were left. Jansie
knew very well that both of them were earmarked for the biscuit factory. Sophie had wild dreams
about her career. Jansie was a realist. She knew that they did not pay well for shop work and
Sophie’s father would not allow her to work there.

Q2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her
from having such dreams?

Ans: Sophie wanted to open a boutique. It would be the most amazing shop that the city had ever
seen. Alternatively, she would become an actress and have the boutique as a side business. She also
thought of being a fashion designer. Jansie had her feet firmly planted on the ground. She wanted
Sophie to be sensible and drop all her utopian plans because all of them required much money and
experience.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1.Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?

Ans: Sophie knew her father well. He would be angry if he knew of her meeting with the young Irish
footballer, Danny Casey. She didn’t tell him. When Geoff told his father about it, he became angry.
He turned Ms head to look at her with disdain. Sophie wriggled where she was sitting at the table.

Q2.Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?

Ans: No, Geoff doesn’t believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey. First, he
looks around in disbelief and says, “It can’t be true”. Again he says, “I don’t believe it.” Sophie then
narrates how Danny Casey came and stood beside her. Geoff asks her, “What does he look like?” So,
he doesn’t seem to be convinced that Sophie met Danny Casey.

Q3. Does her father believe her story?

Ans: No, Sophie’s father does not believe her story. When Geoff tells him that Sophie met Danny
Casey, his father looked at Sophie with disdain. He ignores her totally. He thinks that it is yet
another ‘wild story’. He begins to talk about Tom Finny, another great football player.

Q4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?

Ans: Geoff was always the first to share her secrets. So, she told him about meeting Danny Casey.
She also told him about her plan to meet him next week. She suspected areas of his life about which
she knew nothing. She longed to know them. She wished that someday he might take her with him.
She saw herself riding there behind Geoff.
 NCERT Solutions for class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 8

Going Places

Q5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?

Ans: Danny Casey played for Ireland.

THINK AS YOU READ

Q1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

Ans: Jansie was very interested in things that did not concern her. She wanted to know other
people’s affairs. She would spread the news in the whole neighbourhood. So, Sophie didn’t want
Jansie to know about her story with Danny. It may also be mutual rivalry and one-up manship on her
part. Sophie was startled to learn that Geoff had told Jansie about her story with Danny.

Q2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey? [Delhi 2014]

Ans: No, Sophie did not really meet Danny Casey. She was very fascinated by the young Irish
footballer. She imagined his coming. She sat in the park, waiting for Casey and knowing that he
would not come. She felt sad. Sadness was a hard burden to carry. She was always lost in a dreamy
world where she imagined Casey meeting her.

Q3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?

Ans: The only occasion when Sophie got to see Danny Casey in person was when the family went to
watch United on Saturday. Sophie, her father and little Derek went down near the goal. Geoff went
with his mates higher up. United won two-nil. Her idol Casey drove in the second goal. She saw the
Irish genius going round two big defenders on the edge of the penalty area. He beat the hesitant
goalkeeper from a dozen yards. Sophie glowed with pride. She was very happy.

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

Q1. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them
that show up in the story?

Ans: Sophie and Jansie are poles apart in tastes and temperament. Sophie has fantastic dreams and
floats in a fairyland. She is an incurable escapist who won’t come out of her dreams. Jansie is down
to earth—a realist. Sophie wants to do something sophisticated. Jansie knows that these things
require a lot of money which their families do not possess. Jansie also knows that they were
earmarked for the biscuit factory. She even advises Sophie to be sensible and practical. Sophie
considers Jansie ‘nosey’ and does not want to confide in her.
 NCERT Solutions for class 12 Flamingo English Chapter 8

Going Places

Q2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Ans: Sophie’s father has a plumpy face looking grimy and sweaty. He doesn’t seem to be a soft or
sophisticated man. Sophie fears his aggressive manliness. He is a realist and does not believe in his
daughter’s wild stories. He loves watching football. He hopes young Casey will be as good as Tom
Finney. He wishes that the young footballer keeps away from all distractions. He shouts instructions
to Casey at the playground. When the Irish genius beats the hesitant goal keeper, Sophie’s father
screams with joy and pride. He goes to a pub to celebrate the victory.

Q3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her
perspective, what did he symbolise?

Ans: Geoff is the only person who listens to Sophie’s fantasies and long cherished dreams. Her
father is too bossy and aggressive. He hates Sophie’s fantastic stories. Even little Derek – makes fun
of her growing rich. Her classmate Jansie is ‘nosey’ and can’t be trusted with a secret. Only Geoff
can be trusted to keep all the secrets of Sophie to himself.
From her perspective, Geoff symbolises an elder brother who has grown up and visited places
unknown to her. She wished that someday her brother might take her to those places. He is
sympathetic and cautions her by telling her that Casey might have strings of girls. He warns her that
he would never show up again. He speaks softly so as not to break the heart of the young dreamer.

Q4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her
family’s financial status?

Ans: Sophie belongs to a lower middle class family. She is an escapist and has wild dreams. She
dreams of things she can’t have in real life. Jansie tells her that boutique needs a lot of money.
Sophie knows that the family doesn’t have money. She says, “If ever I came into money, I’ll buy a
boutique.” Even little Derek understands her unrealistic nature.
Geoffs occupation reflects their socio-economic background. He is an apprentice mechanic. He
travels to his work each day to the far side of the city. His jacket is shapeless. Her father lacks
sophistication. He is a heavy breathing man. He sits in his vest at the table. He grunts and tosses one
of little Derek’s shoes from his chair on to the sofa. There is stove in the same room where dirty
washing is piled in a comer. Sophie’s father goes to pub on his bicycle. All these indicators confirm
their lower middle-class family background.