NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 8: Going Places

Chapter at a glance

Think as you read

Question C1

Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?

Answer

In the biscuit factory. Jansie knew “they were both earmarked for the biscuit factory”.

In the biscuit factory.

Question C2

What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?

Answer

Sophie dreamed of: 1. owning a boutique (“I’ll have the most amazing shop this city’s ever seen”), or being its manager first; 2. becoming an actress (“there’s real money in that”), with the boutique on the side; 3. becoming a fashion designer — “something a bit sophisticated”.

Jansie discourages her because she is realistic: a boutique “takes money” and it would take a long time to save that much; they wouldn’t make her a manager straight off; shop work doesn’t pay well and Sophie’s father would never allow it. Both girls belonged to poor families and were destined for the biscuit factory, so Jansie wanted her to “be sensible”.

A boutique owner (or manager), an actress or a fashion designer. Jansie, being practical, knew these needed money they did not have, that shop work paid badly and Sophie’s father would not allow it, and that both were destined for the biscuit factory — so she urged Sophie to be sensible.

Question C3

Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?

Answer

Sophie wriggled with discomfort and nervousness. She had told the story only to Geoff, her confidant, and did not want her father to know. Her father was short-tempered and never believed her “wild stories”; she feared his disdain, anger and scolding — she later says “Dad’d murder me”. Moreover, the story was not true, so she feared being exposed.

She felt uneasy and nervous: the story was meant for Geoff alone, and she feared her short-tempered father’s disbelief and anger (and perhaps exposure of her fantasy).

Question C4

Does Geoff believe what Sophie says about her meeting with Danny Casey?

Answer

No. He says “It’s never true”, “I don’t believe it”, “As if he’d ever show up” and “It’s the unlikeliest thing I ever heard”. Her father remarks, “He don’t believe you — though he’d like to.” Geoff, a Casey fan himself, may wish it were true, but he does not really believe it.

No. He calls it “the unlikeliest thing I ever heard”; as the father says, he doesn’t believe her, though he would like to.

Question C5

Does her father believe her story?

Answer

No. His expression is “one of disdain”; he asks, “This another of your wild stories?” and warns her aggressively, “One of these days you’re going to talk yourself into a load of trouble.”

No. He looks at her with disdain, calls it another of her “wild stories” and warns that she will talk herself into trouble.

Question C6

How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?

Answer

Sophie imagines a vast world waiting for her. She sees herself riding there behind Geoff on his motorcycle — he in new, shining black leathers, she in a yellow dress with a cape flying out behind — while “there was the sound of applause as the world rose to greet them”. She longs to be admitted into his secret world and hopes that someday he will take her with him.

She imagines riding behind Geoff on his motorcycle into the wide world — he in shining black leathers, she in a yellow dress with a flying cape — as the world rises to applaud them.

Question C7

Which country did Danny Casey play for?

Answer

Danny Casey was Irish — “the young Irish prodigy” from the west of Ireland — and played for Ireland (at club level for United). Little Derek says, “Ireland’ll win the World Cup.”

Ireland (he was the young Irish prodigy playing for the club United).

Question C8

Why didn’t Sophie want Jansie to know about her story with Danny?

Answer

1. It was a Geoff thing, not a Jansie thing — meant to be something special and secret just between Sophie and her brother.
2. Jansie was “gawky” and nosey; if told, “the whole neighbourhood would get to know it”.
3. Then there would be “a right old row” with her father, and people would come asking about Danny Casey.
4. Also, the story was a fantasy; the more people knew, the more likely it would be exposed.

It was a secret meant only for Geoff; nosey Jansie would spread it through the whole neighbourhood, which would cause a row with her father — and it might expose her fantasy.

Question C9

Did Sophie really meet Danny Casey?

Answer

No. The meeting was a figment of her imagination. Her waiting by the canal shows that Danny never came; the scene in the arcade is described in the imagined present tense and second person (“He turns, reddening slightly”, “His eyes are on the same level as your own”), showing that she was picturing it. Her details also keep changing (she wonders whether to mention his teeth). It was adolescent fantasy and hero worship.

No. It was her fantasy — the arcade meeting is told as an imagined scene, and Danny never came to the canal.

Question C10

Which was the only occasion when she got to see Danny Casey in person?

Answer

On Saturday at the football match, when she, her father and little Derek went on their “weekly pilgrimage” to watch United. Casey scored the second goal in United’s 2–0 win, going round two big defenders, and Sophie “glowed with pride”. She saw him only from the stands.

At the Saturday football match, when she watched him play for United (from the stands) and score the second goal.

Understanding the text

Question U1

Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?

Answer

Sophie is an imaginative, ambitious dreamer who lives in fantasies and is secretive; Jansie is practical, realistic, accepts that they will work in the biscuit factory, and is nosey and talkative.

Question U2

How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?

Answer

1. Hard-working labourer — comes home grimy and sweaty; poor and burdened with a family.
2. Rough and unrefined — eats noisily (“scooping shepherd’s pie into his mouth as hard as he could go”), sits in his vest, grunts, tosses Derek’s shoe aside.
3. Short-tempered and harsh — reacts with “disdain” and speaks “aggressively”; Sophie fears he would “murder” her.
4. Practical — wants a decent house rather than a boutique.
5. Passionate football fan — speaks “reverently” of a man who knew Tom Finney, goes on the weekly pilgrimage to watch United, screams during the match, celebrates in the pub.
6. Not a good communicator with his children; dismissive of Sophie’s dreams.

A poor, hard-working, rough-mannered labourer who is short-tempered, dismissive and aggressive towards Sophie’s “wild stories”, practical about money, and a passionate football fan who goes to the pub to celebrate.

Question U3

Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person? From her perspective, what did he symbolise?

Answer

Geoff was her confidant — “always the first to share her secrets”; she could tell him things she couldn’t tell her father or Jansie. He was older, travelled across the city to work as an apprentice mechanic, was quiet and mysterious (“Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of the ground”). She suspected areas of his life about which she knew nothing, and was “jealous of his silence”.

To her he symbolised freedom and the exciting, unknown outside world — the places and “exotic, interesting people” beyond her reach. She longed to be admitted more deeply into his affections and that he would one day take her with him into that world.

He was her confidant who shared her secrets, and his silence and travel made him mysterious. He symbolised freedom and the exciting unknown world beyond her drab home, which she longed to enter with him.

Question U4

What socio-economic background did Sophie belong to? What are the indicators of her family’s financial status?

Answer

Sophie belonged to a poor, working-class family. Indicators: 1. The girls were “earmarked for the biscuit factory”. 2. Her father wants money for “a blessed decent house to live in”. 3. Her father is a manual labourer, returning grimy and sweaty; he goes to work by bicycle. 4. The small, cluttered, steamy room; dirty washing piled in the corner; mother’s back stooped over the sink. 5. Geoff is an apprentice mechanic wearing a shiny, shapeless jacket. 6. Simple food (shepherd’s pie); the father’s entertainment is football and the pub.

A poor working-class family: the girls are destined for the biscuit factory, the father is a manual labourer who wants a decent house, the home is small, cluttered and steamy with washing piled up, the mother is stooped over the sink, and Geoff is an apprentice mechanic in a shabby jacket.

Talking about the text

Question T1

Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind.

Answer

Yes. Sophie’s dreams — the boutique, acting, fashion design, and above all the meeting and date with Danny Casey — are imaginary. Even her disappointment when Danny does not come is something she creates: she waits for someone who had never promised to come, and rehearses her sadness (“Now I have become sad… it is a hard burden to carry”). She then retreats again into the fantasy of the arcade meeting. Her emotions are real, but their cause exists only in her mind — a typical adolescent escape from a drab, poor life.

True: her ambitions and the meeting with Danny are imagined, and even her disappointment at the canal comes from a date that never existed; the feelings are real but are produced by her fantasies, an escape from her dull, poor life.

Question T2

It is natural for teenagers to have unrealistic dreams. What would you say are the benefits and disadvantages of such fantasising?

Answer

Benefits: dreams inspire ambition and creativity; give hope and a temporary escape from hardship; help teenagers explore identities and goals; role models can motivate hard work.

Disadvantages: losing touch with reality; disappointment and frustration when dreams fail (as with Sophie); neglect of studies and practical planning; telling lies or “wild stories” that cause trouble and loss of trust; unhealthy hero worship.

Dreams are useful when balanced with realism and effort.

Benefits: motivation, creativity, hope and escape from hardship. Disadvantages: detachment from reality, disappointment, neglect of practical goals, loss of credibility. Dreams help when balanced with realism and hard work.

Working with words

Question W1

Explain the non-literal meaning of the highlighted words: (a) Words had to be prized out of him like stones out of a ground. (b) Sophie felt a tightening in her throat. (c) If he keeps his head on his shoulders. (d) On Saturday they made their weekly pilgrimage to the United. (e) She saw… him ghost past the lumbering defenders.

Answer

1. prized out — extracted with great effort; Geoff spoke very little, and getting him to talk was as hard as levering stones out of the ground.
2. tightening in her throat — a choking feeling caused by strong emotion (sadness and frustration at her family’s poverty).
3. keeps his head on his shoulders — remains sensible and level-headed, not carried away by fame and distractions.
4. pilgrimage — a regular visit made with religious devotion; going to watch United was almost a sacred ritual for the football-crazy family.
5. ghost past — move past swiftly, smoothly and silently like a ghost, almost unnoticed.

1. extracted with great difficulty; (b) a choking feeling from strong emotion; (c) stays sensible and balanced; (d) a devoted, ritual visit; (e) moved swiftly and silently past, like a ghost.

Noticing form

Question N1

Analyse the use of present participles in the given examples, and pick out five other sentences from the story in which present participles are used to show simultaneous action.

Answer

Analysis of the examples: 1. Sophie said (main action) while coming home from school. 2. Jansie looked doubtful while linking arms with her. 3. Sophie said while staring far down the street. 4. Jansie became melancholy, knowing they were earmarked for the biscuit factory. 5. She turned in through the door, leaving Jansie standing in the rain.

Five other sentences from the story: 1. “He was kneeling on the floor in the next room tinkering with a part of his motorcycle over some newspaper spread on the carpet.” 2. “‘She thinks money grows on trees, don’t she, Dad?’ said little Derek, hanging on the back of his father’s chair.” 3. “Jansie frowned, sensing she was covering.” 4. “Sophie watched her back stooped over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings.” / “She watched along the canal, seeing him come out of the shadows, imagining her own consequent excitement.” 5. “Here I sit, she said to herself, wishing Danny would come, wishing he would come and sensing the time passing.”

Also: “He was three years out of school, an apprentice mechanic, travelling to his work each day to the far side of the city.”

In each example the participle (coming, linking, staring, knowing, leaving) shows an action happening alongside the main verb. Other examples: “kneeling… tinkering with a part of his motorcycle”; “said little Derek, hanging on the back of his father’s chair”; “Jansie frowned, sensing she was covering”; “seeing him come out of the shadows, imagining her own consequent excitement”; “wishing Danny would come… sensing the time passing”.

Thinking about language

Question L1

“Chuffed”, “nosey” and “gawky” are used informally in colloquial speech. Make a list of ten other words of this kind.

Answer

E.g. cool, awesome, mate/buddy, broke, chill, kid, guy, nerd, grub, loo, gutted, wonky.

Writing

Question Wr1

Think of a person whom 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.

Answer

(Sample — role model: an Indian woman scientist-astronaut.)

Introduction: welcome; brief introduction of her achievements.

Questions: 1. Tell us about your childhood and family. Who inspired you? 2. When did you first decide to become a scientist/astronaut? 3. What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them? 4. How did you balance studies, training and personal life? 5. Describe the most memorable moment of your career. 6. How did you deal with failure and fear? 7. What role did your teachers and mentors play? 8. What do you think about opportunities for girls in science today? 9. What qualities should young people develop to succeed? 10. What are your future goals? 11. What message would you like to give to students watching this show?

Conclusion: thank the guest; summarise her message.

An interview plan: introduction of the role model; questions on childhood and inspiration, career choice, obstacles, memorable moments, handling failure, mentors, views on present opportunities, qualities needed for success, future plans and a message for young viewers; a closing thank-you.

Things to do

Question D1

Look for other stories or movies where this theme of hero worship and fantasising about film or sports icons finds a place.

Answer

• Fan (Hindi film, 2016) — Gaurav’s obsessive hero worship of superstar Aryan Khanna.
• Iqbal (2005) — a deaf-mute village boy idolises Kapil Dev and dreams of playing cricket for India.
• Bend It Like Beckham (2002) — Jess idolises footballer David Beckham and dreams of playing football.
• Guddi (1971) — a schoolgirl’s infatuation with film star Dharmendra, and how she learns the difference between screen image and reality.
• Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012) — a boy who worships Sachin Tendulkar.
• Fever Pitch (Nick Hornby) — a fan’s lifelong obsession with his football club.

These, like Going Places, show how young people idolise stars and dream of a different life, and how fantasy meets reality.

Examples: Guddi, Fan, Iqbal, Ferrari Ki Sawaari, Bend It Like Beckham, Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch — all deal with fans’ hero worship of film or sports icons and the gap between fantasy and reality.

Topic checklist

• ☒ Think as you read (C1–C10)
• ☒ Characters and background (U1–U4)
• ☒ Dreams and fantasising (T1–T2)
• ☒ Metaphorical expressions, present participles, colloquial words (W1, N1, L1)
• ☒ Interview plan and hero-worship stories (Wr1, D1)

Total questions answered: 21 of 21