English exam questions

1. Section D
(20 marks)
(Time Suggested : 35 minutes)
32 Read the poem below and answer the questions that follow.
The Charge of the Light Brigade
(an extract)
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward,
All in the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
“Forward, the Light Brigade!
Charge for the guns!” he said.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred
“Forward, the Light Brigade!”
Was there a man dismayed?
Not though the soldier knew
Someone had blundered.
Theirs not to make reply,
Theirs not to reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.
Into the valley of Death
Rode the six hundred.
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volleyed and thundered;
Stormed at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
1. In stanza 1, how many soldiers were in the Light Brigade?
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2. 2. In stanza 2, which word in the poem means distressed?
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3. Why do you think the soldiers follow the command blindly?
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4. Why were the soldiers told to ‘Charge for the guns’?
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5. In stanza 3, which phrase indicates that the soldiers were not afraid of facing death?
(1mark)
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6. In stanza 1, which phrase indicates the place where all the soldiers supposed to ride into?.
(1 mark)
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7. Many soldiers die during wars. Do you think it is worth the sacrifice of lives? Give your
opinion. ( 2marks)
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8. Is war necessary in present times? Give a reason for your answer.
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___________________________________________________________________(2 marks)