Model questions with multiple choice questions, short questions as well as summary and answers based on Unit One: Education and Life Lesson 1: The Parrot's Tale Part-2

Bangla meaning and model questions answer Unit One: Education and Life Lesson 1 The Parrot's Tale  The Parrot's Tale Rabindranath Tagore (Translated by Kaiser Haq for class eleven Bangladeshi students new curriculum 2025  (part-2)

5.

The King wished to see for himself at what an awesome pace the bird's schooling was going on. One day he turned up at the schoolroom with his friends, counselors and courtiers. At once the musicians at the gate struck up on their many wind and percussion instruments. The teachers shook their sacred tufts of hair as they loudly chanted mantras, and all the workmen, labourers, goldsmiths, scribes and their numerous cousins raised slogans in praise of the King.

A nephew commented, "Your Majesty can see how things are going on." "Astonishing!" replied the King, "the din isn't negligible."

"Not only the noise," said the nephew. "The meaning behind it isn't negligible either."

The King was pleased and walked out of the gate to mount his elephant when one of the fault-finders, who had been lurking behind the bushes, shouted, "Have you seen the bird, Your Majesty?"

The King was startled. He said, "There! I'd forgotten about it. We haven't seen the bird."

He went back and said to the teacher, "We must see the manner in which you conduct the lessons."

A demonstration followed. It pleased the King no end. The manner was so advanced that the bird was hardly visible. It seemed not at all necessary to see the bird. The King was satisfied that there was no flaw in the arrangements. Inside the cage there was neither any grain nor a drop of water. Only reams of texts were being torn and the pieces of paper thrust into the bird's mouth with the point of a quill. Not only had the singing stopped, there wasn't even scope for screeching. It was thrilling to watch.

This time, as the King mounted the elephant he ordered the officer entrusted with twisting the ears of mischief-makers to deal with the fault-finder.

6. Predictably, the bird weakened with every passing day, and lay half-dead. The tutors considered it a good sign. Still, out of innate bad habit it would look out at the morning light and flutter its wings in a reprehensible manner. In fact, on some days it would try to cut the wires of the cage with its feeble beak.

"What impudence!" the Inspector of Police commented.

Then the blacksmith arrived with his furnace, bellows and hammer and anvil. What thunderous hammering began then. A chain was fastened on the bird's foot and its wings were trimmed.

The King's brothers-in-law looked greatly annoyed as they shook their heads and said, "It's not just that the birds in this kingdom are stupid, they are also ungrateful."

Then the teachers, armed with quill in one hand and lance in the other, gave a memorable demonstration of teaching.

The blacksmith's trade flourished to such an extent that gold ornaments bedecked his wife's body, and the Police Inspector's alertness earned him a medal.

7. The bird died. When it died was not known. Thanks to the godforsaken detractors the rumour went round, "The bird is dead."

The King called his nephew and said." What is this I hear?"

"Your Majesty," the nephew replied, "the bird's education has been completed."

The King asked, "Does it hop?"

"God forbid," said the nephew.

"Does it still fly?"

"No."

"Does it still sing?"

"No."

"Does it screech if it isn't fed?"

"No."

"Bring it to me so that I can see it," said the King.

The bird came. Along with it came the Inspector, a guard, a cavalry officer. The King pressed the bird; it made no sound, not even a squeak. Only its stomach let out the rustling noise of dry pieces of paper.

Outside, the green shoots of early spring sighed in the southerly breeze, filling the sky above the budding forest trees with wistful melancholy

Word	Meaning (Bengali)	Part of Speech	Synonym	Antonym
Astonishing	আশ্চর্যজনক	Adjective	Amazing, Surprising	Ordinary, Unimpressive
Din	কোলাহল, শোরগোল	Noun	Noise, Commotion	Silence, Quiet
Demonstration	প্রদর্শন	Noun	Display, Exhibition	Concealment, Hiding
Flaw	ত্রুটি	Noun	Defect, Fault	Perfection, Excellence
Reprehensible	নিন্দনীয়	Adjective	Blameworthy, Shameful	Praiseworthy, Commendable
Impudence	ঔদ্ধত্য, স্পর্ধা	Noun	Rudeness, Insolence	Politeness, Humility
Flourished	উন্নতি লাভ করা	Verb	Thrived, Prospered	Declined, Withered
Wistful	উদাসীন, আকুল	Adjective	Melancholic, Yearning	Cheerful, Satisfied
Detractor	সমালোচক	Noun	Critic, Fault-finder	Supporter, Advocate
Sighed	দীর্ঘশ্বাস ফেলা	Verb	Exhaled, Breathed	Held breath
Reams	প্রচুর কাগজ	Noun	Bundle, Large quantity	Few, Scarcity
Feeble	দুর্বল	Adjective	Weak, Frail	Strong, Robust
Thrust	ঠেলা, ঢোকানো	Verb	Push, Insert	Pull, Withdraw
Rumour	গুজব	Noun	Gossip, Speculation	Fact, Truth

Multiple Choice Questions and answers 

1. Why did the King visit the schoolroom?
   a) To punish the teachers
   b) To check on the bird's progress
   c) To listen to the musicians
   d) To distribute gifts
   Answer: b) To check on the bird's progress

2. What was the reaction of the King's entourage when he arrived at the schoolroom?
   a) They started cheering and singing praises
   b) They ignored him
   c) They complained about the bird
   d) They began their lessons
   Answer: a) They started cheering and singing praises

3. What did the King find astonishing during his visit?
   a) The beauty of the bird
   b) The noise and the spectacle of the schooling
   c) The bird's intelligence
   d) The lavish decorations of the schoolroom
   Answer: b) The noise and the spectacle of the schooling

4. What did the King forget to do initially during his visit?
   a) Meet the teachers
   b) See the bird
   c) Reward the tutors
   d) Visit the musicians
   Answer: b) See the bird

5. What was the method of teaching the bird?
   a) Feeding it grains
   b) Reciting mantras
   c) Forcing paper into its mouth
   d) Singing to it
   Answer: c) Forcing paper into its mouth

6. What did the bird lack inside its cage?
   a) Food and water
   b) Paper and quills
   c) Teachers and students
   d) Freedom to move
   Answer: a) Food and water

7. How did the tutors interpret the bird’s weakness?
   a) As a sign of illness
   b) As progress in education
   c) As a lack of discipline
   d) As a natural occurrence
   Answer: b) As progress in education

8. What did the bird try to do despite its weakness?
   a) Sing songs
   b) Escape the cage
   c) Peck at its teachers
   d) Dance for the King
   Answer: b) Escape the cage

9. Who trimmed the bird’s wings and chained its feet?
   a) The King
   b) The teachers
   c) The blacksmith
   d) The Police Inspector
   Answer: c) The blacksmith

10. What did the King’s brothers-in-law think of the bird?
    a) It was clever but ungrateful
    b) It was stupid and ungrateful
    c) It was intelligent and brave
    d) It was loyal but slow to learn
    Answer: b) It was stupid and ungrateful

11. What was the reaction of the King to the teaching demonstration?
    a) He was unimpressed
    b) He was thrilled
    c) He was indifferent
    d) He criticized it
    Answer: b) He was thrilled

12. What sound did the bird make after its education was complete?
    a) A melodious song
    b) A screech
    c) No sound at all
    d) The rustling of paper in its stomach
    Answer: d) The rustling of paper in its stomach

13. What was the eventual fate of the bird?
    a) It became a scholar
    b) It escaped its cage
    c) It died
    d) It was set free by the King
    Answer: c) It died

14. What did the King believe about the bird’s silence?
    a) It showed complete discipline
    b) It indicated rebellion
    c) It was a sign of illness
    d) It proved the bird was educated
    Answer: d) It proved the bird was educated

15. What flourished as a result of the bird's treatment?
    a) The education system
    b) The blacksmith’s trade
    c) The bird's health
    d) The court’s reputation
    Answer: b) The blacksmith’s trade

16. What message did the King’s nephew give about the bird's condition?
    a) The bird’s education was complete
    b) The bird needed more training
    c) The bird had failed its lessons
    d) The bird was a disappointment
    Answer: a) The bird’s education was complete

17. What were the early signs of spring in the story?
    a) The King's celebration
    b) Budding forest trees and southerly breeze
    c) The songs of the bird
    d) The arrival of new students
    Answer: b) Budding forest trees and southerly breeze

18. Why did the King call the bird after hearing rumors?
    a) To free it
    b) To confirm it was still alive
    c) To reward it
    d) To reprimand it
    Answer: b) To confirm it was still alive

19. What was the symbolic significance of the bird in the story?
    a) Creativity and freedom
    b) Oppression and mismanagement
    c) Education and growth
    d) Wealth and luxury
    Answer: b) Oppression and mismanagement

20. What emotion does the ending evoke with the description of spring?
    a) Joy
    b) Hope
    c) Melancholy
    d) Triumph
    Answer: c) Melancholy

21. What is the author criticizing in this story?
    a) The monarchy
    b) The education system
    c) The use of force
    d) The value of tradition
    Answer: b) The education system

22. How is the blacksmith’s wealth portrayed in the story?
    a) As a reward for his hard work
    b) As a byproduct of unnecessary cruelty
    c) As a symbol of progress
    d) As a sign of corruption
    Answer: b) As a byproduct of unnecessary cruelty

23. What does the bird’s death symbolize?
    a) The loss of freedom and creativity
    b) The ultimate success of education
    c) The resilience of life
    d) The inevitability of change
    Answer: a) The loss of freedom and creativity

24. What role did the King’s nephew play in the story?
    a) He challenged the King
    b) He supported the flawed system
    c) He saved the bird
    d) He exposed the truth
    Answer: b) He supported the flawed system

25. What literary device is prominent in the story?
    a) Metaphor
    b) Simile
    c) Irony
    d) Hyperbole
    Answer: c) Irony

26. What does the rustling of paper in the bird’s stomach signify?
    a) The bird's knowledge
    b) The emptiness of forced education
    c) The bird’s resilience
    d) The King’s success
    Answer: b) The emptiness of forced education

27. Why is the King portrayed as satisfied throughout the process?
    a) He trusts his officials
    b) He values appearances over substance
    c) He doesn’t care about the bird
    d) He believes in strict discipline
    Answer: b) He values appearances over substance

28. What does the cage represent in the story?
    a) Safety
    b) Restriction and control
    c) A learning environment
    d) A royal gift
    Answer: b) Restriction and control

29. How do the teachers contribute to the bird’s plight?
    a) They show genuine concern
    b) They force harmful methods of education
    c) They encourage its creativity
    d) They release it secretly
    Answer: b) They force harmful methods of education

30. What is the overall tone of the story?
    a) Hopeful
    b) Satirical
    c) Joyful
    d) Nostalgic
    Answer: b) Satirical

Short questions and answers

1. What did the King wish to see for himself?
The King wished to see how well the bird's schooling was progressing. He wanted to personally inspect the system and its methods.

2. How did the people react when the King arrived at the school?
The musicians played instruments, the teachers chanted mantras, and workers and others raised slogans in praise of the King. It was a loud and grand display.

3. What was being fed to the bird during its "schooling"?
The bird was fed pieces of paper torn from reams of text. No grain or water was given to it.

4. How did the bird behave in its cage despite its treatment?
The bird attempted to look at the morning light, flutter its wings, and sometimes even tried to cut the wires of the cage with its beak.

5. What happened to the bird in the end?
The bird died, but its death was not immediately recognized. The rumor of its death eventually spread.

6. Why did the King not initially notice the bird's condition?
The King was distracted by the grand display and demonstrations, which were carefully orchestrated to show progress. This highlights how appearances can overshadow substance.

7. Why did the teachers consider the bird’s weakening a good sign?
They likely saw the bird's compliance and lack of resistance as proof of successful "education," ignoring its well-being. This suggests a flawed understanding of learning.

8. Why was the bird chained and its wings trimmed?
The bird's attempts to flutter and escape were seen as acts of rebellion. Chaining it symbolized control and suppression of its natural instincts.

9. How does the King's question about the bird hopping, flying, or singing reflect his priorities?
The King’s questions reflect a superficial concern for the bird's state but show he valued obedience and silence over freedom and vitality.

10. What is the irony in the King's satisfaction with the bird's education?
The irony is that the education destroyed the bird's essence—it could no longer sing, fly, or even live—yet the King deemed it a success.

11. What does the story teach about the dangers of rote learning?
The story illustrates that an education system focused only on force-feeding knowledge without nurturing creativity or well-being can harm its learners.

12. How does the bird symbolize the students in a rigid educational system?
The bird represents students whose individuality and natural talents are suppressed by a system that prioritizes conformity and rote methods over true learning.

13. What lessons can be drawn about leadership from the King’s actions?
The King’s failure to critically examine the system teaches leaders to look beyond appearances and ensure the welfare of those they are responsible for.

14. How does the story highlight the importance of compassion in education?
The bird’s suffering shows that education must be compassionate and holistic, addressing emotional and physical well-being, not just intellectual demands.

15. What role do the fault-finders play in the story, and what can we learn from them?
The fault-finders raise critical questions about the system's flaws. They show the importance of dissent and questioning authority in improving societal practices.

Summary of the passage 

Summary: The passage is a satirical tale about a King who commissions the education of a bird. The teachers prioritize pomp, rituals, and rigid methods over genuine learning, force-feeding the bird with meaningless texts while neglecting its basic needs. As the bird weakens and dies, officials justify their actions, claiming the bird's "education" is complete. The King remains blind to the tragedy, satisfied with hollow achievements.The story critiques authoritarian systems that prioritize appearance, conformity, and bureaucracy over compassion, individuality, and true learning, highlighting the destructive consequences of such oppressive practices.

For first model part-1

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