NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 1 Freedom

This worksheet provides NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter Freedom from the Kaleidoscope book. The chapter explores the idea of freedom from social, political, economic, and philosophical perspectives. It helps students understand how systems of power, traditions, and economic conditions influence people’s lives and choices. This worksheet presents clear and accurate NCERT Solutions based strictly on the questions and activities provided, helping students review the chapter and understand the key ideas discussed in the text.

Chapter summary: stories, poems & themes

The chapter Freedom focuses on understanding the meaning of freedom in society and in individual life. The worksheet includes reflective sections such as Stop and Think, text-based understanding questions, discussion-based activities, and language exercises. Through these sections, students explore how economic systems, political structures, and social traditions affect human freedom. The worksheet also encourages students to think independently, analyse arguments presented by thinkers, and connect these ideas with their own understanding of society. Language activities such as grammar, rhetorical questions, and pronunciation tasks also help students improve their English skills while studying the theme of freedom.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

• Understanding the concept of freedom in political, social, and economic contexts 
• Reflecting on ideas presented by thinkers and writers about freedom 
• Developing reading comprehension through text-based questions 
• Practicing discussion and analytical thinking through activity sections 
• Learning grammar concepts related to sentence types 
• Identifying rhetorical questions used in persuasive writing 
• Understanding pronunciation patterns through vowel and consonant combinations 

How to use these NCERT solutions?

Students should first read the chapter carefully and try to answer the questions on their own before referring to the solutions. After completing the worksheet, they can compare their responses with the answers provided here to check their understanding. Parents and teachers can use these NCERT Solutions to guide students through the chapter’s ideas and help them discuss the themes more clearly. The solutions follow the same order and structure as the worksheet, which makes it easier for students to match each question with the correct answer and revise the chapter effectively.

Student tips & learning tricks

Students should read the chapter slowly and pay attention to the arguments presented about freedom and society. While answering questions, they should focus on understanding the ideas rather than memorising lines. It is helpful to relate the concepts in the chapter to real-life examples of freedom, responsibility, and social systems. In language activities, students should carefully observe sentence structures and pronunciation patterns. Taking time to understand how rhetorical questions are used can also improve reading and writing skills.

Why NCERT solutions are important?

NCERT Solutions help students understand the correct approach to answering questions as expected in NCERT-based examinations. They provide clarity on important concepts and guide students in presenting their answers clearly and accurately. Using NCERT-aligned solutions also helps students strengthen their understanding of the chapter and develop confidence while preparing for assessments and classroom discussions.

Complete answer key – NCERT solutions

Stop and Think

Explanation: This activity helps students pause while reading the text and think about the author’s ideas. It encourages deeper understanding of the arguments presented in the passage.

1. Natural jobs like eating, sleeping, travelling and maintaining life require labour. When people shift their labour onto others through force, fraud or social systems, it becomes slavery.

2. The object of all honest governments should be to prevent people from being exploited and forced into unnecessary labour. In reality, many governments protect the interests of the master class and maintain systems that continue people’s economic slavery.

Stop and Think

Explanation: This section asks students to reflect on how social systems and education influence people’s beliefs about freedom and power.

1. The master class is more deluded because their education and social conditioning teach them that the existing system is fair and that they deserve their privileged position.

2. According to Aristotle, people accept law, order and government when rulers appear superior, well-dressed, powerful, wealthy and impressive so that common people look up to them with admiration and obedience.

3. Reasonable laws, fairly applied, protect citizens from violence, robbery and disorder, thereby increasing their security and allowing them to live freely within society.

4. Individual freedom is restricted by natural needs, laws of the state, economic dependence on landlords and employers, and social and political systems that control people’s work, income and living conditions.

Stop and Think

Explanation: These questions help students understand Krishnamurti’s ideas about freedom, independent thinking and the influence of tradition.

1. Most people find it easier to conform, imitate and follow a guru because independent thinking requires constant inquiry, effort and alertness, which many people lack or avoid.

2. The inward struggle refers to the conflict between an individual’s own desire to think and act freely and the pressure of tradition, family expectations and social rules that demand conformity.

Understanding the Text

1. The slavery of man to Nature refers to unavoidable natural needs such as eating, sleeping and survival. These needs are natural and even pleasurable. The slavery of man to man is artificial and oppressive, where some people exploit others’ labour for their own benefit.

2. People are controlled more strongly in personal spheres through landlords, employers, traditions, social expectations and economic dependence, which dictate how they live, work, vote and behave.

3. Shaw challenges misconceptions such as:
- Freedom means doing whatever one wants.
- Voting in elections automatically makes citizens free.
- Political systems claiming liberty truly provide freedom.
- Economic systems benefiting the rich represent social progress.
- Workers have real freedom because they can choose between employers.

4. Krishnamurti says freedom and discipline contradict each other because discipline forces conformity and obedience, while freedom requires independent thinking, inquiry and discovery.

5. Inquiry leads to true freedom because questioning traditions, beliefs and authority allows individuals to discover truth for themselves and develop intelligence and independent thought.

Talking about the Text

Explanation: This section encourages students to discuss the ideas in the text and relate them to society, environment and personal values.

1. In many societies, people are reminded that they have the right to vote, but economic inequality, social pressure and political influence often limit real freedom and control over their lives.

2. The statement suggests that excessive exploitation of nature through technology and science may eventually cause environmental damage or natural consequences that limit human progress.

3. Respect for elders should involve valuing their experience and wisdom, but it should not prevent individuals from thinking independently or questioning ideas that may be outdated or unjust.

Appreciation

Explanation: This activity helps students analyse the writing style, examples and persuasive techniques used by the authors in the chapter.

1. Shaw treats freedom through political and economic analysis, using satire, arguments and historical references. Krishnamurti approaches freedom philosophically, focusing on inner awareness, intelligence and personal inquiry.

2. Section Example 1 
Main statement: Governments claim to give freedom through voting.

Examples:
- Citizens vote in elections.
- Two wealthy candidates compete for votes.
- Voting does not reduce labour hours or economic dependence.

Section Example 2 
Main statement: Nature forces humans to fulfil certain needs.

Examples:
- Humans must eat and drink.
- Humans must sleep.
- Humans must work to earn a living.

3. Yes, the use of personal pronouns like “we”, “you”, and “us” makes the discussion more direct and engaging. It helps readers feel personally involved in the ideas about freedom. Because of this style, readers can easily relate the authors’ thoughts to their own lives, their choices, and the way society influences their freedom and behaviour.

Language Work

A. Grammar: I. Sentence Types

1. There is no freedom 
(a) There is no freedom 
(b) If you are enclosed by self interest 
(c) Or by various walls of discipline 

2. When you see a servant carrying a heavy carpet 
(a) When you see a servant carrying a heavy carpet 
(b) Do you give him a helping hand 

3. Very young children will eat needles and matches eagerly 
(a) Very young children will eat needles and matches eagerly 
(b) But the diet is not a nourishing one 

4. We must sleep or go mad 
(a) We must sleep 
(b) Or go mad 
(c) But then sleep is so pleasant 
(d) That we have great difficulty in getting up in the morning 

5. Always call freedom by its old English name of leisure 
(a) Always call freedom by its old English name of leisure 
(b) And keep clamouring for more leisure and more money 
(c) To enjoy it in return for an honest share of work 

II. Rhetorical Questions – Task

Explanation: In this activity students identify rhetorical questions used by the writer to persuade readers and emphasise important ideas.

Examples from the text:

1. Do you have any feeling for them? 
2. Are you so frightened that you never pay attention to them? 
3. Do you feel you are much better than they? 
4. Don’t you want to help them? 
5. Are you actually so blinded that you do not know what is happening around you? 

B. Pronunciation – Task

Explanation: This activity helps students understand how vowel and consonant sounds combine to form syllables in words.

sleep – CCVVC 
thrift – CCVCCC 
snake – CCVVC 
task – CVCC 
smear – CCVVC 
facts – CVCCC 
sweet – CCVVC 
boasts – CVVCCC 
strain – CCVVC 
street – CCCVVC 
strangle – CCCVCCCV 
strengths – CCCVCCCC 

Suggested Reading

1. Candida by George Bernard Shaw 
2. Arms and the Man by George Bernard Shaw 
3. Life Ahead by J. Krishnamurti 

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