NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Essay Chapter 5

NCERT solutions for Class 11 English Chapter What is a Good Book? – complete answers & explanations

The chapter What is a Good Book? in Class 11 English introduces students to the powerful ideas of John Ruskin about reading and literature. It explains the difference between temporary reading material and true books that carry lasting knowledge and wisdom. The chapter highlights how good books are not just for entertainment but for deep learning and personal growth. It also encourages students to develop careful reading habits and understand the true meaning behind words. These NCERT solutions provide clear and reliable NCERT-aligned answers to help students understand the chapter better and prepare confidently for exams. Download the worksheet and practice alongside solutions for better clarity. Book a free trial now to get expert guidance and improve reading and comprehension skills.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

1. The difference between books of the hour and true books with lasting value. 
2. The idea that true books are written for permanence, not just communication. 
3. The importance of reading works by great thinkers and leaders. 
4. The concept of the “company of the Dead” and learning from great authors. 
5. The qualities a reader must develop to understand meaningful literature. 
6. The effort and patience required to understand a good book deeply. 
7. The comparison between reading and mining for valuable knowledge. 
8. The role of accuracy in understanding words and meanings. 
9. The importance of careful reading, word by word and letter by letter. 
10. The difference between educated and uneducated reading habits. 
11. The value of choosing the right books for intellectual growth. 
12. How language and diction affect communication and meaning.

How to use these NCERT solutions?

1. Begin by reading each question carefully from the worksheet. 
2. Try answering on your own before checking the solutions. 
3. Compare your answers with the given ones to identify mistakes. 
4. Follow the exact order of questions as given in the worksheet. 
5. Focus on understanding the ideas rather than memorising blindly. 
6. Use the answers to learn how to structure your responses properly. 
7. Parents and teachers can guide students by discussing answers together. 
8. Practice writing answers clearly and with proper explanation. 
9. Revisit difficult questions and revise regularly. 
10. Use these solutions as a guide for exam preparation and revision.

Important tips & tricks for students

1. Understand the difference between simple reading and deep reading. 
2. Focus on the author’s ideas rather than your own interpretation first. 
3. Pay attention to key terms like permanence, accuracy, and meaning. 
4. Avoid writing vague or incomplete answers in exams. 
5. Practice explaining answers in a clear and logical way. 
6. Read slowly and carefully to understand complex ideas. 
7. Do not skip difficult passages; try to understand them step by step. 
8. Revise important concepts like accuracy in language and reading habits. 
9. Maintain clarity in writing and avoid grammatical errors. 
10. Always recheck your answers for completeness and correctness.

NCERT solutions – complete answer key

UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT

1. What, according to Ruskin, are the limitations of the good book of the hour? 
The good book of the hour is simply the useful or pleasant talk of some person, printed for the reader. These books are useful and pleasant but they are not true books. They are like letters or newspapers and are meant for temporary use. They should not take the place of true books because they are not written for permanence.

2. What are the criteria that Ruskin feels that readers should fulfil to make themselves fit for the company of the Dead. 
The reader must love the authors and show a true desire to be taught by them. The reader must try to understand the author’s meaning and not look for his own ideas in the text. The reader must rise to the level of the author’s thoughts and be ready to work hard to understand them.

3. Why does Ruskin feel that reading the work of a good author is a painstaking task? 
Ruskin compares reading to mining for gold. The reader must work hard with care, wit and learning to understand the author’s meaning. The words are like rocks and the meaning is like metal that needs to be extracted. It requires patience, effort and deep thinking.

4. What is the emphasis placed by Ruskin on accuracy? 
Ruskin emphasises that accuracy in reading is very important. One must understand words clearly, syllable by syllable and letter by letter. The difference between an educated and an uneducated person lies in this accuracy. Knowing the exact meaning of words is more important than just reading many books.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

Discuss in pairs

1. Ruskin’s insistence on looking intensely at words, and assuring oneself of meaning, syllable by syllable—nay, letter by letter. 
Answers may vary.

2. Choice of diction is very crucial to the communication of meaning. 
Answers may vary.

APPRECIATION

1. The text is an excerpt from Sesame and Lilies which consists of two essays, primarily, written for delivery as public lectures in 1864. Identify the features that fit the speech mode. Notice the sentence patterns. 
Answers may vary.

2. The lecture was delivered in 1864. What are the shifts in style and diction that make the language different from the way it is used today? 
Answers may vary.

LANGUAGE WORK

1. Many sentences and paragraphs in the excerpt begin with the word ‘And’. To what extent does this contribute to the rhetorical style of the lecture? 
Answers may vary.

2. Study each of the following sentences and notice the balance between its parts. Pick out other sentences in the text that reflect this kind of balance 

a. It is right that a false Latin quantity should excite a smile in the House of Commons; but it is wrong that a false English meaning should not excite a frown there. 
Answers may vary.

b. Let the accent of words be watched, by all means, but let the meaning be watched more closely still, and fewer will do the work. 
Answers may vary.

Why NCERT solutions help students?

NCERT solutions help students develop a strong understanding of concepts and improve their answer-writing skills. They provide clear and reliable NCERT-aligned answers, helping students learn the correct approach for exams. These solutions also build confidence and make revision easier.

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