NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 8 “Going Places” by A. R. Barton offer comprehensive, accurate, and easy-to-understand answers to all textbook questions. This detailed study guide covers Think as You Read, Understanding the Text, Talking About the Text, Working with Words, Noticing Form, and more. You can also read the complete Going Places Summary to master the chapter and score high in your board exams!
Going Places Class 12 Questions and Answers
Think as you read (page 77)
Q.1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
Ans. In the biscuit factory. The story says that Sophie and Jansie were both “earmarked for the biscuit factory”. It was the usual job for girls from working-class families like theirs.
Q.2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Ans.
- Sophie’s dreams: She wanted to own a boutique like Mary Quant, or to be a manager of a shop first, until she saved enough money. She also dreamt of being an actress (with the boutique “on the side”) or a fashion designer, “something a bit sophisticated”.
- Why Jansie discouraged her: Jansie was practical. She knew that a boutique needs a lot of money and that it would take Sophie a long time to save it. Shop work does not pay well, and Sophie’s father would never allow it. Jansie also knew they were both headed for the biscuit factory, so the dreams made her sad. She wanted Sophie to be sensible.
Think as you read (page 79)
Q.1. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
Ans. Sophie was uncomfortable and nervous. She had asked Geoff to keep the matter a secret, because her father would be angry if he thought she was telling “wild stories”. Her father was a harsh, sceptical man, so she feared his disbelief, his scolding and the trouble that would follow.
Q.2. Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?
Ans. Geoff pretends not to believe her and teases her (“It’s never true”, “the unlikeliest thing I ever heard”). But deep down he would like to believe her. Sophie says, “He don’t believe you, though he’d like to.” Later it is clear that he had kept her secret about the date and had not told Jansie about it, which shows that he did believe in her.
Q.3. Does her father believe her story?
Ans. No. He looks at her with disdain, calls it “another of your wild stories” and warns her that she will talk herself into trouble.
Q.4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?
Ans. She imagines herself riding behind Geoff on his motorcycle into the wide world out there. He wears new, shining black leathers and she wears a yellow dress with a cape that flies out behind her. The world rises to greet them with applause.
Q.5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?
Ans. Ireland. He was a young Irish player from the west of Ireland who played for the English club United.
Think as you read (page 83)
Q.1. Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?
Ans. She felt that it was a special secret between her and Geoff, and not something for “gawky”, nosey Jansie. Jansie would tell the whole neighbourhood, and the news would reach her father, who would make a “row”. Sophie was also afraid of what Jansie would say about the date with Danny, which Geoff had kept secret.
Q.2. Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?
Ans. No. She never actually met him. She imagined the whole meeting in her fantasy. The narration slips into the present tense (“He turns, reddening slightly”) and the second person (“you”) when she pictures it again, which shows that it was in her mind. He did not turn up at the canal, and she had only seen him play at the stadium.
Q.3. Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?
Ans. The only time she saw him in person was on the Saturday when she watched the United match with her father and Derek. She saw him from a distance when he scored the second goal.
Understanding the text
Q.1. Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Ans.
| Sophie | Jansie |
|---|---|
| She is a dreamer and imaginative. | She is practical and realistic. |
| She has big ambitions: a boutique, acting, fashion design. | She knows that they will probably work in the biscuit factory. |
| She is confident, even a bit proud (“I’ll be a natural”). | She is modest and doubtful, and tries to make Sophie sensible. |
| She wants to escape from her poor surroundings. | She accepts her situation, though it makes her sad. |
| She is secretive and keeps her fantasies to herself. | She is open, nosey and a gossip (“gawky Jansie”). |
| She is cold to Jansie at times and leaves her standing in the rain. | She is loyal and caring, and says “You can trust me, Soaf.” |
Q.2. How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
Ans. He is a hard-working but rough, short-tempered man. He comes home grimy and sweaty from work, and eats hurriedly and noisily. He is a pessimist and a “misery”, dismissive of his daughter’s stories, and sceptical about anything out of the ordinary. He is aggressive and threatens to punish her. He is not interested in his family’s feelings but only in his football and television. Yet he respects football heroes (he speaks “reverently” of Tom Finney), loves the game and goes with his children every Saturday. He is also a man tired by hard work and poverty.
Q.3. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?
Ans. Geoff was quiet, handsome and almost grown up. He had a motorcycle and worked far across the city, which gave him a mysterious life. Sophie was fascinated by his silence and by the unknown places he went to. She longed to be admitted to his affections and hoped that someday he would take her with him. To her, he symbolised freedom, adventure, escape from the cramped, poor home and the wide world beyond the city. He was also the one with whom she shared her secrets, and the one who might believe in her.
Q.4. What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?
Ans. Sophie belonged to a poor working-class family. The indicators are:
- Both she and Jansie are destined for the biscuit factory.
- Her father comes home grimy and sweaty and eats shepherd’s pie hurriedly.
- The home is small, cluttered and steamy, with dirty washing piled in the corner.
- Her mother has a stooped, crooked back from hard work.
- Geoff is an apprentice mechanic who travels far every day, and cannot afford good clothes (his jacket is “shiny and shapeless”).
- Her father drinks at the pub, and the family needs “a blessed decent house to live in”.
- Her dreams of a boutique seem out of reach, and the family’s response is that “money does not grow on trees”.
Talking about the text
(Pair discussion, so here are points you can use.)
1. Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.
Sophie’s boutique, her career as an actress, her ride with Geoff, and even her meeting with Danny Casey are imagined. She never actually met him, so the waiting by the canal, the sadness and the “resignation” are also created by her mind. She even imagines her disappointment before it happens. Her real life is poor and limited, so she builds a world of hope in her mind. The story shows how powerful imagination is, and also how it can protect a person from harsh reality or lead to disappointment.
2. It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?
Benefits:
- It gives hope, motivation and a goal to work for.
- It develops imagination and creativity.
- It gives comfort and an escape from hardship or stress.
- Big dreams can push a person to achieve more.
Disadvantages:
- It can distance a person from reality and cause disappointment.
- It may lead to wasted time if no effort is made.
- Hero worship can lead to false ideas about people.
- It can cause misunderstanding with family and friends, as in Sophie’s case (her father called them “wild stories”).
Conclusion: Dreaming is healthy if it is combined with hard work and a realistic view of life.
Working with words
Explain what the highlighted words mean (not used in a literal sense):
- “Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of the ground”: Geoff spoke very little, and it took great effort to make him speak, just as it is hard to pull stones out of the earth.
- “A tightening in her throat”: She felt a lump in her throat from sadness, pity and emotion, when she saw her tired mother and her poor home.
- “If he keeps his head on his shoulders”: If he stays sensible, calm and does not let success or fame spoil him.
- “They made their weekly pilgrimage to the United”: Their weekly visit to the stadium was like a holy journey, which shows the devotion of the fans to the football team.
- “Ghost past the lumbering defenders”: Casey moved past the slow, heavy defenders so quickly and smoothly that he seemed like a ghost, which they could not touch.
Noticing form
Analyse the examples (the present participle shows an action happening at the same time as the main action):
- “When I leave,” Sophie said, coming home from school… Main action: said. Simultaneous action: coming home.
- Jansie, linking arms with her along the street, looked doubtful. Main action: looked doubtful. Simultaneous: linking arms.
- “I’ll find it,” Sophie said, staring far down the street. Main action: said. Simultaneous: staring.
- Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory, became melancholy. Main action: became melancholy. The participle also gives the reason (because she knew).
- She turned in through the open street door, leaving Jansie standing in the rain. Main action: turned in. Simultaneous or resulting: leaving Jansie, who was standing in the rain.
Five other sentences from the story with present participles:
- “Jansie, linking arms…” (already used above.) New ones:
- “…little Derek, hanging on the back of his father’s chair.”
- “Their father… tossed one of Derek’s shoes…” (not a participle, so use these instead.)
- “He sat frowning at the oily component he cradled in his hands.”
- “…Sophie’s father was scooping shepherd’s pie into his mouth…” (This is a past continuous, so not used in this sense.)
- “He was kneeling on the floor… tinkering with a part of his motorcycle.”
- “She sat down, waiting…” In the text: “For some while, waiting, she imagined his coming.”
- “She watched along the canal, seeing him come out of the shadows, imagining her own consequent excitement.”
- “…remembering the soft melodious voice…” In the text: “standing where he stood, remembering the soft melodious voice.”
Use these five in your answer: hanging (Derek hanging on the chair), frowning (he sat frowning), tinkering (kneeling… tinkering), waiting (waiting, she imagined his coming) and remembering (standing where he stood, remembering…). In each, the participle shows an action going on at the same time as the main action.
Thinking about language
Make a list of ten other informal or colloquial words (like “chuffed”, “nosey”, “gawky”):
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cool | Excellent, fashionable |
| Pal / buddy / mate | Friend |
| Grub | Food |
| Fuss | Unnecessary excitement or trouble |
| Dude | A man, a guy |
| Wimp | A weak, timid person |
| Nerd | A person who is very studious or into technology |
| Hang out | Spend time together |
| Freak out | Panic or get very upset |
| Chill | Relax |
| Bunk (class) | Skip class |
| Goofy | Silly |
| Fab | Fabulous |
| Bonkers | Crazy |
(Any ten are enough.)
Writing
Think of a person you would like to have as your role-model. Write down the points to be discussed or questions to be asked if you were asked to interview that person on a television show.
Role model (sample): Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Interview points / questions:
- Sir, you came from a humble family in Rameswaram. What kept you determined in your childhood?
- Who influenced you most as a child and as a student?
- How did you face failures in your career, such as the SLV-3 failure?
- What was your experience of working on India’s missile and space programmes?
- You were a President who loved to interact with students. What message do you have for young people?
- Which book or person shaped your thinking?
- How should today’s youth balance dreams with hard work?
- What are your hopes for India in the future?
- What is your daily routine and secret of staying motivated?
- Finally, what is success according to you?
(You may choose any role model, such as a sportsperson, scientist, teacher or social worker, and frame questions about their childhood, struggles, achievements, values and advice for youth.)
Things to do
Look for other stories or movies where the theme of hero worship and fantasising about film or sports icons finds a place.
- Movies: Chak De! India, Dangal and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (young people inspired by sports heroes), Fan (a fan obsessed with a film star, who crosses the line into dangerous obsession), Taare Zameen Par (a child’s imagination and dreams), Hum Aapke Hain Koun?-style film fandom, and Dil Chahta Hai and 3 Idiots (youthful dreams and ambitions).
- Stories: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber (a man who lives in daydreams of heroism), Don Quixote (a man who imagines himself a knight), and R. K. Narayan’s school stories like Swami and Friends, in which boys admire cricket heroes.
- Real life: Children who copy the style of Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli or film stars and dream of becoming like them.
Common point: In all of these, ordinary people live through imagination or admire a hero to escape from or give meaning to their lives, and they learn to see the difference between dream and reality.
