In Nissim Ezekiel‘s poem, “Night of the Scorpion,” a captivating story unfolds as a scorpion🦂 bites the narrator’s mother during a rainy night. The peasants assemble, offering prayers and rituals with hopes of healing and spiritual cleansing. The poem depicts a blend of traditional beliefs and rational efforts by the father to counter the venom of the scorpion. The mother’s strength and the father’s practical actions create a poignant moment. These 20 multiple-choice questions explore different facets of the poem, examining cultural elements, family dynamics, and the interplay between tradition and reason within Nissim Ezekiel‘s narrative.
Here are the 20 Multiple-choice Questions on NIGHT OF THE SCORPION by Nissim Ezekiel :-
1. What drove the scorpion to seek shelter in the described incident?
a) Moonlight
b) Rain
c) Sunshine
d) Wind
Answer: b) Rain
2. How did the endless rain contribute to the atmosphere during the scorpion incident?
a) It intensified the scorpion’s venom
b) It provided relief to the villagers
c) It added to the chaos and confusion
d) It had no impact on the situation
Answer: c) It added to the chaos and confusion
3. How did the peasants attempt to ward off the Evil One after the scorpion sting?
a) Singing
b) Buzzing the name of God
c) Dancing
d) Lighting bonfires
Answer: b) Buzzing the name of God
4. What did the peasants use to search for the scorpion in the dark room?
a) Swords
b) Flashlights
c) Candles and lanterns
d) Magnifying glasses
Answer: c) Candles and lanterns
5. What did the scorpion’s shadow look like on the sun-baked walls?
a) Butterfly
b) Giant scorpion
c) Snake
d) Dragon
Answer: b) Giant scorpion
6. What did the peasants do when they couldn’t find the scorpion?
a) Celebrated
b) Cursed
c) Clicked their tongues
d) Prayed
Answer: c) Clicked their tongues
7. How long did the rain last before the scorpion incident occurred?
a) 5 hours
b) 10 hours
c) 24 hours
d) 48 hours
Answer: b) 10 hours
8. In the end, what was the mother’s response to the scorpion incident?
a) Expressing anger
b) Thanking the holy man
c) Expressing gratitude
d) Blaming the villagers
Answer: c) Expressing gratitude
9. What effect did the rain have on the scorpion’s behavior?
a) Calmed it down
b) Made it aggressive
c) Forced it to seek shelter
d) Attracted other scorpions
Answer: c) Forced it to seek shelter
10. How did the peasants react when they found the scorpion was not in the dark room?
a) Celebrated
b) Sighed in relief
c) Clicked their tongues
d) Started a bonfire
Answer: c) Clicked their tongues
11. What did the villagers hope for as the scorpion’s poison spread through the mother’s blood?
a) Healing
b) Increased suffering
c) Enlightenment
d) Revenge
Answer: a) Healing
12. What wish did the villagers express for the person stung by the scorpion regarding their past sins?
a) May they multiply
b) May they be forgotten
c) May they burn away
d) May they increase
Answer: c) May they burn away
13. How did the villagers hope the suffering of the person stung by the scorpion would affect their future births?
a) Increase misfortunes
b) Decrease suffering
c) Multiply their sins
d) Bring enlightenment
Answer: b) Decrease suffering
14. What did the villagers wish for concerning the balance of good and evil in the unreal world?
a) Increase the sum of evil
b) Diminish the sum of good
c) Maintain the balance
d) Ignore the balance
Answer: b) Diminish the sum of good
15. What were the villagers’ hopes for the effect of the poison on the person’s desires and ambitions?
a) Intensify desires
b) Purify desires
c) Ignore ambitions
d) Increase ambition
Answer: b) Purify desires
16. How did the mother’s demeanor affect those sitting around her during the scorpion incident?
a) Fearful
b) Anxious
c) Peaceful
d) Angry
Answer: c) Peaceful
17. What did the father, a sceptic and rationalist, attempt to use in countering the scorpion’s poison?
a) Magic spells
b) Curses and blessings
c) Scientific methods
d) Prayer beads
Answer: c) Scientific methods
18. What drastic measure did the father take to counter the scorpion’s poison?
a) Burning herbs
b) Pouring paraffin and igniting it
c) Consulting a doctor
d) Offering sacrifices
Answer: b) Pouring paraffin and igniting it
19. How did the holy man attempt to tame the scorpion’s poison?
a) Offering sacrifices
b) Scientific methods
c) An incantation
d) Igniting a fire
Answer: c) An incantation
20. How did the mother feel about the scorpion’s choice to sting her rather than her children?
a) Angry
b) Indifferent
c) Grateful
d) Vengeful
Answer: c) Grateful
