CUET English 2025 English Set 3 (4 Questions)

In July 1973, Amitav Ghosh joined St. Stephen's College in Delhi. Like every…

CUET English 2025 · English · 4 questions

In July 1973, Amitav Ghosh joined St. Stephen's College in Delhi. Like every other freshman, he was nervous about the first few weeks, when one was 'ragged' - shorthand for being verbally harassed, harangued, interrogated, and intimidated - by seniors. Twenty-five years later, by now an established novelist, Amitav Ghosh wrote: The year I joined College, the word among us freshers was that the most terrifying ragger in College lived in Rudra Court, in L5. Terrifying because he wasn't the usual kind of bullying, bellowing senior. No, he was to them as the panther is to the elephant. He was bearded, and soft-spoken, so stealthy that you never sensed his presence until he had you square in his sights. Young Amitav was able to escape the clutches of this fearful senior for a fortnight. But then he 'was "nabbed while attempting to abscond" as the Indian Express used to say'. The 'legend of L5' caught hold of the fresher, and quizzed him about his interests. 'I like classical music,' answered Ghosh, nervously. 'You do?' said the legend and walked him into his room in Rudra North. The legend put a record on the turntable and began to play it. He asked Ghosh to identify the composer and composition. Beethoven's Emperor Concerto answered the fresher, correctly. Three or four more records were played and all except one accurately identified. At this, 'The legend stuck out his hand. "I'm Rukun Advani," he said. "Let's go down to Maurice Nagar and have a cup of tea."'

Question 1

What was the outcome of Amitav Ghosh's interaction with the "legend of L5"?

A. He was intimidated into learning about classical music.
B. He impressed the senior with his knowledge of classical music.
C. He was unable to answer any of the music-related questions.
D. He was forced to listen to classical music as a punishment.

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Question 2

What set the 'legend of L5' apart from typical raggers in St. Stephen's College?

A. He subjected freshers to rigorous academic quizzes instead of physical harassment.
B. He was known for psychological manipulation rather than open intimidation.
C. He relied on quiet precision rather than overt aggression to unsettle freshers.
D. He maintained an air of mystery, rarely interacting directly with freshers.

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Question 3

Why does the passage mention Beethoven's Emperor Concerto?

A. To illustrate that the senior used music to humiliate freshers.
B. To show that Amitav Ghosh had a background in Western classical music.
C. To emphasize that intellect and culture, rather than fear, shaped this form of ragging.
D. To demonstrate that the 'legend of L5', preferred classical music as a means of intimidation.

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Question 4

What aspect of ragging does the phrase "nabbed while attempting to abscond" humorously highlight?

A. It likens ragging to a criminal pursuit which freshers tried to avoid but were inevitably caught.
B. Ragging in elite institutions was so relentless that escape was futile.
C. The seniors used strategic timing to capture freshers when they least expected it.
D. The tendency of newspapers to exaggerate minor events.

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