NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Kaliedoscope Short Stories Chapter 5

NCERT solutions for Class 12 English Short Stories Chapter 5 One Centimetre – complete answers & explanations

The chapter “One Centimetre” from Class 12 English Kaleidoscope is a thought-provoking short story that explores themes of honesty, dignity, parenting, and moral conflict. It follows Tao Ying, a mother who struggles between practical life decisions and maintaining a truthful image in front of her son. The story highlights how small situations can deeply affect relationships and self-respect. This chapter is important as it builds students’ understanding of human behaviour, values, and emotional conflicts. This blog provides clear and reliable NCERT solutions that help students learn the correct approach to answering questions. Download the worksheet and practice alongside solutions for better clarity. Book a free trial now to get expert guidance and strengthen your concepts.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

1. The theme of honesty versus practical survival in daily life  
2. Character analysis of Tao Ying and her son Xiao Ye  
3. Parent-child relationship and value education  
4. Emotional conflict between dignity and reality  
5. Social behaviour and public judgment  
6. The importance of self-image and respect  
7. Understanding moral dilemmas in simple situations  
8. Interpretation of narrative style and character thoughts  
9. Literary devices like similes and metaphors  
10. Language skills through figures of speech  
11. Pronunciation and stress patterns in words  
12. Development of critical thinking and analytical skills  

How to use these NCERT solutions?

1. Read the chapter carefully to understand the story and emotions  
2. Attempt all questions on your own before checking answers  
3. Use the solutions to compare and correct your responses  
4. Focus on how answers are structured clearly  
5. Revise important questions regularly  
6. Discuss answers with teachers or parents for better understanding  
7. Practice interpretation-based questions thoroughly  
8. Follow the exact order of the worksheet questions  
9. Use solutions as a guide, not for rote learning  
10. Improve writing skills by observing answer patterns  

Important tips & tricks for students

1. Understand the emotional perspective of the characters  
2. Focus on key themes like honesty and dignity  
3. Avoid writing general or vague answers  
4. Support answers with examples from the story  
5. Practice identifying literary devices  
6. Be careful while answering value-based questions  
7. Improve vocabulary through language exercises  
8. Pay attention to pronunciation rules  
9. Revise regularly for better retention  
10. Write clear and meaningful answers  

NCERT solutions – complete answer key

Stop and Think ( Page 73)

1. Tao Ying decided based on the conductor’s behaviour. If he appeared strict and responsible, she bought a ticket; if careless, she avoided paying to save money.

2. She wanted to set a good example for her son. She believed in maintaining dignity and honesty in front of him, even if it meant spending extra money.

Stop and Think (Page 81)

1. No, she did not intend to cheat. She genuinely believed her son was under the height limit and therefore did not need a ticket.

2. She realised that buying a ticket would make her appear dishonest in her son’s eyes. To protect her self-respect and her image as a truthful mother, she chose not to buy it.

Stop and Think (Page 82)

1. No, the scales were not reliable. The old woman deliberately adjusted them to show people as taller and slimmer to make them happy, following a misleading but comforting logic.

2. The conflict arose because Xiao Ye felt his mother was lying about his height to avoid buying a ticket. This broke his trust, while Tao Ying struggled to maintain her honesty and dignity.

Understanding the Text

1. Her son made her more conscious of her behaviour. She tried to act perfectly, honestly, and responsibly so that he would learn good values from her example.

2. The temple rule about height was applied rigidly despite measurement errors. The inaccurate marking line and the guard’s strictness show how rules can be unfair and inconsistently applied.

3. She refused because money could not restore her lost dignity or her son’s trust. Her main concern was emotional truth, not financial gain.

4. It was important because she wanted her son to know she was honest. Clearing her name helped rebuild trust and protect her image as a truthful mother.

Talking about the text

1. Children see things in simple terms of right and wrong, like Xiao Ye believing height determines truth. Adults, like Tao Ying, understand complexity, emotions, and social pressures. ( Answer may vary)

2. Tao Ying wants to appear perfect and honest, but she sometimes struggles with practical decisions. This gap shows the conflict between real life and ideal self-image. ( Answer may vary)

Appreciation

1. The first sentence introduces Tao Ying’s habit of avoiding tickets, highlighting the theme of moral conflict and practical survival.

2. It is realistic and sympathetic. She is shown as a flawed but caring mother dealing with real-life struggles.

3. Her decision not to buy tickets sometimes, the temple incident, and her later guilt show how people balance honesty with practical needs.

4. The story consistently focuses on Tao Ying’s thoughts and emotions, linking all events to her inner conflict, which creates unity.

Language Work

A. Figures of speech

Explanation:
This exercise helps identify similes and metaphors used to create vivid imagery and deeper meaning.

Simile 1:
“like a tent” → jacket compared to a tent  

Simile 2:
“like a virgin canvas” → wall compared to canvas  

Task:

Example 1:
“Father Neptune” → Hagberd is compared to Neptune, the Roman sea god.  
This shows his sailor background and strong personality.  

Example 2:
“deposed sea-god”  
Suggests that Hagberd was once powerful (a sailor) but is now reduced to a lonely, helpless man.  

Metaphor Example:
“heart begins to break” → emotional pain  

B. Pronounciation

Explanation:
This exercise shows how stress changes meaning when words are used as nouns or verbs.

Task Answers:

conduct  
Noun: 'conduct  
Verb: con'duct  

protest  
Noun: 'protest  
Verb: pro'test  

permit  
Noun: 'permit  
Verb: per'mit  

progress  
Noun: 'progress  
Verb: pro'gress  

desert  
Noun: 'desert  
Verb: de'sert  

Yes, pronunciation of first syllable changes (like ob in object).

Suggested Reading

Explanation:
This section encourages you to explore more stories from Chinese and Japanese literature to understand different cultural perspectives. While reading, focus on themes like human relationships, morality, and social behaviour. Try to connect these ideas with “One Centimetre” to deepen your understanding. This will also enhance your analytical and reading skills.

Why NCERT solutions help students?

NCERT solutions help students build strong exam preparation by offering clear answers and the correct way to present them. They improve understanding, boost confidence, and ensure alignment with NCERT patterns. Regular practice helps students perform better in exams.

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