Summary of Going Places
The story "Going Places" begins with two teenage girls, Sophie and Jansie, discussing their future plans. Sophie shares her desire to become a boutique owner, manager, actress, and ultimately a fashion designer, all in pursuit of something "sophisticated". However, Jansie is unimpressed with Sophie's fanciful ideas, as they had previously agreed to start a biscuit factory. Sophie leaves Jansie standing in the rain and enters her dreary home, where she observes her family's cramped living conditions and feels a tightness in her throat. She seeks solace in the company of her older brother Geoff, who works as an apprentice mechanic and has seen more of the world than she has. Sophie daydreams of riding on the back of Geoff's motorcycle to a fantastical place while wearing a yellow dress and a flowing cape.
Sophie tells Geoff about meeting Danny Casey, a young and talented football player. Geoff initially doubts her, but their father confirms that Danny is a real player. Sophie tells Geoff about her upcoming date with Danny, but Geoff remains skeptical. When Danny scores a goal in a football match that the family attends, Sophie feels proud. However, when Danny doesn't show up for their date, Sophie feels dejected and begins to blur the lines between reality and fantasy. She walks home alone and replays her "interaction" with Danny in great detail.
Going Places Question and Answers
Q1- Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
ANSWER:
Although Sophie and Jansie were friends, they were complete opposites. Sophie was constantly lost in her dreams, yearning for a life of opulence and sophistication. She envisioned owning a boutique or becoming a famous actress, all while accumulating immense wealth and prestige. Conversely, Jansie was a realist who recognized the limitations of their impoverished background and their current work in a small factory. She refrained from indulging in fanciful daydreams like Sophie and instead attempted to impart the harsh reality that fulfilling such aspirations requires substantial funds that their modest factory income could not provide.
Q2- How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
ANSWER:
Sophie's father is an overweight and forceful individual whose rage terrifies her. Although he does not believe in her fanciful tales, he admonishes her to avoid concocting such stories, as they could lead to complications. Despite this, he cares deeply for his daughter. He is an avid football enthusiast, and every Saturday, he takes his children to the stadium to watch their favorite team, 'United,' play. He also hopes that Danny Casey will achieve the same success as Finney and relishes his team's victories by frequenting the local pub.
Q3- Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?
ANSWER:
Geoff was a reserved individual who shared little about himself. Sophie found herself drawn to him, as she believed he frequented secretive locations filled with fascinating people. In an effort to earn his affection and gain an opportunity to accompany him to this elusive place, Sophie envisioned donning a stunning yellow dress and being warmly welcomed by the crowds. Despite her yearning for the vibrant and joyous life Geoff seemingly led, Sophie was unable to attain it.
Q4- What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
ANSWER:
Sophie came from a lower middle-class background, residing in a compact house with her family. Upon returning from school, she felt uneasy due to the steam and the disorderly appearance of her home. Her mother was hunched over from the toil of her chores, while her father worked as a labourer and her elder brother as a mechanic. Sophie also held a job in a biscuit factory to assist her family, further highlighting their lower middle-class status.
MCQs of Going Places - Flamingo - Class XII - English
1. Which of the following statements describes A. R. Barton?
A) A contemporary author
B) Author of the book "Going Places"
C) Resides in Zurich and writes in English
D) All of the above.
2. What is the main theme explored by Barton in the story?
A) Theme of children's happiness
B) Theme of adolescent fantasies and hero worship
C) Theme of elderly people's happiness
D) Theme of individual happiness
3. What is the sub-theme of the story?
A) Relationships - family and friends
B) Friendship
C) Family members
D) Adolescents
4. What is the significance of the subject discussed in the lesson?
A) It provides guidance on how to deal with friends
B) It provides guidance on how to behave smartly
C) It is immediately relevant to the lives of school leavers
D) It provides guidance on how to behave with the elderly
5. What literary devices are used in the lesson?
A) Metaphorical expressions and slang
B) Similes
C) Irony
D) None
6. What is the meaning of the word "chuffed"?
A) Meaning delighted or very pleased
B) Meaning not happy
C) Meaning frustrated
D) None
7. What is the meaning of the words "nosey" and "gawky"?
A) "Nosey" meaning inquisitive and "gawky" meaning awkward, ungainly.
B) Noisy and beautiful
C) Noisy and useful
D) Noisy and gainful
8. Around whom does the story "Going Places" revolve?
A) A fat boy
B) An old couple
C) A teenage girl Sophie, her family and friends
D) None
9. What kind of girl is Sophie?
A) A happy-go-lucky kind
B) Realistic
C) A daydreamer
D) A naughty child
10. What is Sophie in reality?
A) A dreamer
B) A fighter
C) A worker at a biscuit factory
D) None
11. What does Sophie dream about?
A) Becoming an actor
B) Becoming a manager
C) Becoming a sophisticated person
D) Becoming rich and sophisticated
12. What is the turning point in the story?
A) When she fights with her brother.
B) When her father gets angry.
C) When her brother reveals her story.
D) When she thinks of meeting Danny Casey, a famous football player.
13 What story does Sophie make up in front of her brother?
A) She will become an actress
B) She will become a manager
C) She will be a famous beautician
D) Casey will come to meet her.
14. Who are Sophie and Jansie?
A) Teenagers who are friends and classmates
B) Neighbors
C) Colleagues
D) Actors
15. Explain the phrase "Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground."
A) It was difficult to speak to him
B) It was difficult to locate him in a shop
C) It was difficult to locate him in a factory
D) It was difficult to get information out of him
16. Where is Sophie lost?
A) In her imagination
B) In her dreams
C) In her words
D) In her imagination and dream of owning a boutique shop to become a famous fashion designer
17. What does Jansie tell Sophie?
A) Talk unrealistic
B) Be wise
C) Be practical
D) Be sensible and not to dream big
18. Why does Jansie discourage Sophie to dream big?
A) because it requires a lot of money
B) because it is not practical
C) because it is unrealistic
D) all these
19. What was Sophie’s reply to Jansie?
A) That she will go door to door to collect money
B) She will open a boutique
C) she will open an office
D) she will become an actress or a manager to realize her dream.
20. What is her reason for aspiring to be an actress?
A) to earn money
B) to gain fame
C) to become a fashion designer
D) to earn a lot of money and establish a boutique to become a famous fashion designer.
21. Why does Jansie disagree with Sophie's perspective?
A) because he has a carefree attitude
B) because he lacks imagination
C) because he is unable to believe
D) because he is practical and believes in realism.
22. Why does Sophie feel suffocated in the house?
A) because of the steam and dirty dishes from the stove
B) because of unpleasant odors
C) because of smoke
D) because of poor ventilation.
23. Who is Sophie's older brother?
A) Geoffe - a trainee mechanic
B) Jansie
C) Dany Casey
D) none
24. What did they do on Saturdays as a routine?
A) fix a stove
B) repair a car
C) fix a cooler
D) go to the United, with great devotion.
25. What secret did Sophie share with her brother?
A) She met Mary Quaint, a famous fashion designer
B) She met the Prime Minister
C) She met Christopher
D) She met Danny Casey, a famous footballer.
26. When does Sophie and her family go to watch the football match?
A) Sunday morning
B) Sunday evening
C) Sunday afternoon
D) Saturday
27. Which sport are Sophie and her family fans of?
A) cricket
B) badminton
C) volleyball
D) football
28. Why did their favorite team win the match?
A) Because they played well
B) because they were united
C) because they planned well
D) because Casey scored a goal.
29. Who is Sophie's younger brother?
A) Geoffe - a trainee mechanic
B) Casey
C) Frank
D) Derek
30. What did Jansie ask Sophie?
A) about Danny Casey
B) about Mary Quaint
C) about her dream
D) about the reality of her meeting with Danny Casey.
31. Why did Sophie become angry with her brother?
A) Because he revealed her secret to Jansie's brother
B) because he doesn't speak to her
C) because of his silence
D) none
32. Where does Sophie visit in her imagination to meet Casey?
A) a football ground
B) during the match
C) in a hotel
D) a secret place near the canal.
33. Are Sophie's dreams and disappointments solely in her mind?
A) they solely represent her imagination and not reality
B) they depict her personality
C) they explain her nature
D) they reveal her future.
34. What are the benefits and drawbacks of fantasizing?
A) helps in dreaming big
B) aids in achieving big
C) enhances creative imagination but the downside is that it can make people self-obsessed.
D) none of these
35. What type of person is Sophie's father?
A) kind-hearted
B) loving and caring
C) hardcore realistic
D) carefree
36. Why does Sophie favor her brother Geoff more than anyone else?
A) he remains quiet
B) because he keeps her secret
C) because she can confide in him
D) all of the above
37. What does Geoff’s silence symbolise in Sophie’s view?
A) distant places
B) his vague personality
C) his jovial nature
D) wandering of his mind to distant places
38. Which country did Danny play for?
A) Netherland
B) Newzealand
C) Switzerland
D) Ireland
39. Why does Sophie feel jealous of her brother?
A) because he keeps silent
B) because he is a mechanic
C) because he reveals his secret
D) because of inability to reach unknown areas of his mind
40. Why is Sophie attracted to Danny and does she meet him in reality?
A) Because he is a heroic footballer and she meets him in imagination only
B) because he earns well
C) because he plays football
D) because he is smart
ANSWER KEY
1 | D | 11 | D | 21 | D | 31 | A |
2 | B | 12 | D | 22 | A | 32 | D |
3 | A | 13 | D | 23 | A | 33 | A |
4 | C | 14 | A | 24 | D | 34 | C |
5 | A | 15 | D | 25 | D | 35 | C |
6 | A | 16 | D | 26 | D | 36 | D |
7 | A | 17 | D | 27 | D | 37 | D |
8 | C | 18 | D | 28 | D | 38 | D |
9 | C | 19 | D | 29 | D | 39 | D |
10 | C | 20 | D | 30 | D | 40 | A |
