CBSE Important Questions for Class 11 English Hornbill The Adventure - 2025-26

A. Very Short Answer Questions: (1 Marks)

1. Word-Meaning 

i. Triumphant 

ii. Astute 

iii. Sacrilege 

iv. Rout 

Ans:

 i. Victorious 

ii. Crafty 

iii. Spoiling a holy place 

iv. Defeat 

2. In which train did the professor travel? 

Ans: The professor took the Jijamata Express between Pune and Bombay.

3. What was the first stop during his journey? 

Ans: The first stop was the city of Lonavala, which arrived in 40 minutes.

4. Who was Khan-Sahib? 

Ans: Khan-Sahib was a fellow traveler on the professor's train ride to Bombay.

5. What does Khan Sahib answer when the professor asked him how he would go to Peshawar? 

Ans: Khan Sahib informed the professor that he would take the Frontier Mail out of Central instead of the Victoria Terminus.

B. Short Answer Questions: (2 Marks)

1. Why did professor Gangadhar go inside the Forbes building? 

Ans: The professor entered the Forbes building to meet with his son Vinaya. He was astounded to see that his son's name was neither on the phone list or in the personnel directory. He had not expected his son's existence to be so hazy.

2. Who was Professor Gaitonde? What did he plan in Bombay?

Ans: Professor Gaitonde, also known as Gangadharpant, was a historian who published five books on the subject. His investigation was ongoing. Meanwhile, on his way to Bombay, he decided to visit a large library and peruse historical books to learn about the current condition of events.

3. What things were the professor looked for in the history books? 

Ans: The professor was interested in learning how the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat. He discovered a hint to his answer in the historical books known as Bakhars. The explanation stated that Vishwarao narrowly avoided being hit by a bullet, which motivated the Maratha Army to battle fearlessly. 

4. What was the reason behind the professor canceling his thousandth address? 

Ans: The professor informed the Panipat seminar organizers that he would be unable to meet his pledge due to an incident at the Azad Maidan in which the mob refused to listen to him and threw eggs and tomatoes at him.

5. In the Town Hall Library, in volume five of the history book related to India, what was the precise point where history had taken a different turn? 

Ans: The page that chronicled the Battle of Panipat was the precise point in history where history had taken a different direction. According to the book, the Marathas defeated Abdali, led by Sadashivrao and young Vishwasrao. After being soundly defeated, Abdali was forced to return to Kabul.

C. Short Answer Questions: (3 Marks)

1. How was Bakhar‟s account of the Battle of Panipat different from what was written in other history books? 

Ans: In all historical texts, the Maratha army was said to have lost the battle because Vishwasrao was injured by a bullet, which destroyed the army's spirit. However, the professor's copy of the Bakhar had something different written on it. It was mentioned that Vishwasrao nearly escaped the bullet as it brushed by his ear.

2. What points did Rajendra make while explaining the mystery of reality? 

Ans: The phrase "absence of determination in quantum theory" translates as "we generally experience reality directly with our senses." However, what we see is not the complete picture. Using an electron as an example, we may demonstrate this. When fired from a source, it can go in any direction, defying all physical laws.” Rajendra Prasad states that the professor has transitioned from one universe he is familiar with to another that may or may not exist. One can make observations, but one can also assume that alternate realities exist.

3. What experience did professor Gaintonde have when he reached a small station Sarhad? 

Ans: It was Gandhadhar's or Professor Gaitonde's first visit to the new Bombay. All of the blue carriages in the city were emblazoned with the words "Greater Bombay Metropolitan Railway" and a miniature "Union Jack." An Anglo-Indian was inspecting the passengers' train permits and felt as if he had entered British territory.

4. What did the professor experience at the meeting in Azad Maidan? 

Ans: When the professor arrived at Azad Maidan, a lecture was in progress, and a presidential chair was vacant, which he quietly occupied. The audience objected to him sitting on the chair since it was symbolic, and they complained. And as soon as the professor began to address the audience, he was physically removed from the dais.

5. What does “Adventure” mean for Jayant Narlikar? 

Ans: Professor Gangadhar Pant's adventure was neither genuine nor physical. His occupation was that of a historian. He pondered what may have happened if the Marathas had lost the Battle of Panipat. When he was asleep for two days, he visited the new Bombay and had a painful experience on Azad Maidan.

D.Long Answer Questions: (5 Marks)

1. Write in brief the journey of Gangadharpant by train from Pune to Bombay. 

Ans: Gangadharpant, also known as Professor Gaitonde, took the train from Pune to Bombay. He boarded the Jijamata Express, which made its first stop in Lonavala. He'd seen the ghat part before. And it came to a halt at Karjat before continuing at a faster pace than the train that passed through Kalyan. He made a list of things to do in Bombay. He was a professional historian who published five books of history. On the train, he intended to visit a large library and read history books to learn how the current condition of affairs came to be. He intended to travel to Pune to meet with Rajendra Deshpande. The train came to a halt beyond the long tunnel. Sarhad was the name of a minor station. An Anglo-Indian in uniform checked permissions on the train.

2. How Rajendra Deshpande applied the theory of catastrophic experience concerning the Battle of Panipat?

Ans: Gangadhar told Rajendra about his experience at the Azad Maidan meeting, which left him in a coma for two days due to an accident. As he returned to the world he was used to. He inquired of Rajendra as to where he had spent those days. He admitted that he was thinking about the catastrophic theory and how it might have altered the path of history immediately before the crash. Rajendra generated a page from his Bakhar to demonstrate that his mind was functioning normally. The page in question indicated that Vishwasrao did not avoid the bullet; rather, he was struck and killed by it. It was just different from what he had read in his history book. And he wanted to be well-versed in the details.

3. Describe the Professor‟s experience at Town Hall library. 

Ans: Professor Gaitonde paid a visit to Bombay's Town Hall Library. He searches for the five books of history he wrote. He realizes that there has been no change in history since Aurangzeb's death. However, there was a change in the last volume. So he flipped to the page where the alteration occurred. The Maratha Army had defeated Abdali in the Battle of Panipat. He reads that the gallant Maratha Army was headed up by the young Vishwasrao, and that since then, India has been at war. All of it was written by him. The East India Company's strength and plans were weakened as a result of the Maratha victory. Its influence was limited to the region of Bombay. The Peshwas required British assistance at their scientific and technology centers in the nineteenth century. They provided an opportunity for the corporation to grow its impact. Then came democracy. The professor couldn't help but draw parallels between the country he knew and what he was seeing around him.

4. What explanation did Rajendra give on the concept of reality with the example of the movement of an electron? 

Ans: When the Professor contacted Rajendra Deshpande, he attempted to explain the professor's experiences using two scientific theories. He felt that the Gangadhar went through a weird disastrous experience, which led him to assume that the moment Vishwas Rao was killed in the Battle of Panipat was a turning point in which the Marathas lost their morale and spirit to fight, causing the Maratha Army to lose the battle. Rajendra then applied the second reality hypothesis. He says that reality is not only what one perceives directly with one's senses, but that it can also take different forms. He referred to the “lack of determinism in quantum theory,” which explains why the electron may not move in accordance with scientific rules. It can be discovered in several locations, and each is actual, which occurs as a result of a transition. The professor felt the same way about the present and the prospects.

5. Write in gist about the lesson “The Adventure”. 

Ans: “The Adventure” is a narrative about a professor named Gangadharpant Gaitonde who appears to be in a weird and completely different universe. He takes the "Jijamata Express" train from Pune to Bombay. When he arrives in Bombay, though, he discovers that everything is considerably different from what he is used to. Surprisingly, he discovers that the East India Company was not disbanded during the events of 1857. It was still present and doing brisk business throughout the city. He chooses to conduct a historical fact-finding mission. During his study, he discovers the astounding revelation that the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat. In reality, Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde was involved in a car accident with a vehicle. As a result, he had remained unconscious for two days and his mind had wandered in a completely different universe away from reality and the actual historical facts that he knew or had studied.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the availability of important questions for CBSE Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 5 - "The Adventure" is a valuable resource for students preparing for their English examinations. These questions focus on key aspects of the chapter, including plot, character development, themes, and literary techniques. By practicing these important questions, students can deepen their understanding of the story, improve their analytical and interpretive skills, and enhance their overall preparation for the examinations. These questions provide a comprehensive approach to studying the chapter, enabling students to gain a better appreciation of the adventure genre and develop critical thinking abilities. The insights gained from engaging with these important questions contribute to a more thorough understanding and interpretation of the chapter - "The Adventure."

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