The NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 6 – On Science Fiction are provided here to help students study and prepare for their exams. The solutions are created by subject matter experts having vast experience in the academic field to help students score good marks in the subject. NCERT Solutions that are provided here will help you in getting acquainted with a wide variety of questions and, thus, develop writing skills. From the exam point of view, the solutions are solved in a simple and structured manner, and students can secure an excellent score by practising the questions from the textbook.
Chapter 6 – On Science Fiction provides solutions to questions related to each and every topic present in this chapter. Students are advised to refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English as it is the best reference material, which helps in boosting their confidence level to achieve high marks in their exams. Students can download the solution module for free from the links provided.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Elective Book: Kaleidoscope Non-Fiction Chapter 6 – On Science Fiction
Understanding the Text
1. What makes for the distinction between the various genres of fiction—‘a sports story’, ‘a Western story’, ‘a jungle story’ and science fiction?
Answer. In this article, the author has identified different types of novels: sports history, westerns, jungle history, and science fiction. He elaborates that “science fiction is a considerable literary world because science fiction is its essence, not its content, but its background.” The author accurately lists the characteristics of each type of novel, thus showing their differences. The story “must have some competitive activities, usually sports”. A ‘western story’ revolves around the nomadic life of American western cowboys in the second half of the 19th century. The jungle story includes the dangers associated with tropical forests and deserts. Science fiction has parts of interstellar travel and alien creatures. The author continues to argue that when another type of content is placed in a social context that is significantly different from ours, it becomes science fiction.
2. How does Asimov establish that John Campbell was wrong in his opinion that it is not possible for a science fiction mystery to be fair to a reader in the same way as a classical mystery is?
Answer. Asimov established that John Campbell was wrong that a science fiction mystery can’t be fair to a reader in the same way as a classic mystery is. He said that John misinterpreted science fiction and imagined it was impossible to write a science fiction mystery in a moment of failure. He provides the example of a classic mystery of Sherlock Holmes, where the detective was given exceptional capabilities of sight to traverse the plot. Yet, it remained fair to the readers. He argues that if such stories were appropriate in classic mysteries, then using the latest scientific findings that the reader is unaware of can be used by the author in penning down a science fiction mystery. They do not need to adhere to the rules of classic mystery, and still, it would be fair to the readers.
3. What are the pitfalls that the writer of science fiction mystery must guard against?
Answer. Writing a scientific mystery has its extraordinary pitfalls and difficulties. In writing a science-fiction mystery, the writer must be aware of his content and rationalise how to modify or conclude that science topic. John Campbell thought writing science fiction is difficult but not impossible. Ideally, it is possible to adhere to the game’s rules in science fiction mysteries as in ordinary ones.
Talking about the Text
Discuss in small groups.
1. Imagination and fantasy help human beings to speculate upon the possible explanations for the complexity and unpredictability of the phenomena in the universe.
Answer. In this chapter, Isaac Asimov tries to reveal the importance of science fiction. Science does not promise that any scientific process can control everything in the universe. Science does not guarantee absolute truth, nor does it believe that such a thing exists. The author believes that fantasy and imagination play an essential role in achieving possible results for a person. Imagination guides us in experiments and tests and helps us explain previously unexplainable phenomena. And the unpredictability of cosmic phenomena because these things do not exist, and no one can accept them.
2. The difference that science and technology have made to everyday life today was visualised in science fiction fifty years ago.
Answer. Fifty years ago, science fiction connected modern science with science. Fifty years ago, science was considered unusual, unimaginable, and sometimes associated with the energy of superstition. But in this generation, science and technology have become part of life. It has grown significantly and represents a clear vision for everyone. The modern contribution of science to our lives was visualised in science fiction novels centuries ago. For example, the crystal ball that allows us to gaze into the future or the magic shells that help us hear human whisperings from a distance are nothing but modern-day inventions like televisions and mobile phones. The magic carpet or wing horse is the image of a modern aeroplane or jet plane. So, the science and technology surrounding us today have been presented and exhibited to the public decades ago through science fiction.
Appreciation
1. Discuss the author’s attitude towards the pre-scientific imagination and the tone he adopts while talking about it.
Answer. The author’s attitude towards the pre-scientific imagination and the tone he adopts while talking about it can be summarised as follows:
- Isaac Asimov talks about the time when science did not hold much predominance in human society. Science fiction is the creation of the last two centuries. It cannot be seen as the future unless and until people get the idea that science and technology produce the future. The author’s tone towards pre-scientific imagination is sceptical in the beginning since he talks about magic, flying carpets, and winged horses.
- A notion prevailed that the universe is full of superstitious things and beliefs in mythical creatures, and some energy or superhuman was the leader of the universe.
- No one could get that idea until the rate of scientific change became significant enough to be noticed by people over the course of their lifetimes.
2. Observe how the paragraph, as a form, has been used in the essay. Some paragraphs consist of just one sentence. What purpose do you think the author had in putting them in this Manner?
Answer. Paragraphs that consist of just one sentence are:
1) “The goals of these ancient stories are the same as those of modern science fiction – they depict life as we don’t know it”.
2) “Science fiction is a literary universe of no mean size because science fiction is what it is, not through its content but its background”.
In the first paragraph, the author talks about ancient and modern science fiction. In the second paragraph, the author throws light on the science fiction background and its genres.
The author tries to put these paragraphs in one line to emphasise a strong plot by explaining what science fiction entails in different forms.
3. Mark the linkers used by the author to connect the point he makes in one paragraph with that in the next. For example, let me explain the difference that makes in the last line of para 1 of Section II. These are called discourse markers or discourse signalers.
Answer. Linkers used by the author to connect the point he makes in one paragraph with that in the next are:
1. “There must have been tales of the strange and different…. Let’s consider – The respect that people have…. manipulate that key.”
2. “Science fiction is a literary universe of no mean size because science fiction is what it is, not through its content but through its background: Let me explain the difference that makes.”
Language Work
Literary Allusions
Look up a literary dictionary or encyclopaedia or the internet to understand the references to the following mythical creatures.
Centaur Satyr Sphinx Harpy
Gryphon Gorgon Pegasus
Find out parallel creatures in Indian mythology.
Answer.
1) Centaur: Kinnaras (half-man half-horse)
2) Satyr: Half man half goat
3) Sphinx: Devdutt
4) Harpy: Garuda
5) Gryphon: Garuda same as Harpy
6) Gorgon: Kali
7) Pegasus: Kalki
TASK
1. Here are a few sentences with transitive verbs, adapted from the text. Identify the noun phrases that are the verbs’ objects, and underline them. Then turn these sentences into a passive form.
• He expected a sudden change of rules.
• Nothing prevents writers from using actual science.
• He revealed that he didn’t know the difference between the
element and the compound.
• He demonstrated that he couldn’t tell the difference between
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and reduced the plot to a
shambles.
• The writer must carefully explain to the reader all the boundary
conditions of the imaginary society.
Answer.
Passive: A sudden change of rules was expected by him.
Passive: The use of actual science by writers cannot be prevented by anything.
Passive: The difference between element and compound wasn’t revealed by him.
Passive: The difference between carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide wasn’t demonstrated by him.
Passive: All the boundary conditions of the imaginary society must be carefully explained to the reader by the writer.
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 6 – On Science Fiction
The chapter “On Science Fiction” is a Non-Fiction essay written by Russian-born American writer Isaac Asimov. In this article, Isaac Asimov emphasized that science fiction can only be based on the idea that today’s technology and science are different from the future and may even be more advanced. He also emphasized the power of science, pointing out that people fear and respect science because science can find a solution to the mysteries of the universe. The author also mentions that scientists can use the laws of nature to control and influence the forces of humankind and the environment. To learn more about the chapter details, students can quickly log in to BYJU’S website. Expert tutors have prepared the solutions keeping in mind the students’ grasping abilities. The solutions are explained in understandable language to help students grasp the concepts with ease. The NCERT solutions for Class 12 English are purely based on the latest CBSE syllabus. Students can cross-check the answers prepared by the experts and can understand effective ways of answering the questions.
Frequently Asked Questions on NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Elective Book: Kaleidoscope Non-Fiction Chapter 6
How does NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction Chapter 6 help in learning different concepts?
NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction Chapter 6 is created by our expert faculty team of members in an interactive manner to make it easy for the students to understand the concepts at ease. Students can refer to the PDF of solutions as a major study material to improve their speed in answering the textbook questions accurately. Students can download the solutions module for free by referring to NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English on BYJU’S website. Expert tutors have prepared the solutions in an easily understandable manner to help students understand the concepts.
What are the pitfalls that the writer of science fiction mystery must guard against in Chapter 6 of NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Non-Fiction?
Writing a scientific mystery has its extraordinary pitfalls and difficulties. In writing a science-fiction mystery, the writer must be aware of his content and rationalise how to modify or conclude that science topic. John Campbell thought writing science fiction was difficult but not impossible. Ideally, it is possible to adhere to the game’s rules in science fiction mysteries as in ordinary ones. The expert tutors having vast experience in the subject have explained and answered the solutions clearly based on the students’ abilities. The most accurate answers for the questions present in the NCERT textbooks are provided on BYJU’S website for easy access.
What are the benefits of referring to the NCERT Solutions of Class 12 English Non-Fiction Chapter 6 from BYJU’S website?
Students who solve the textbook questions referring to the NCERT Solutions of Class 12 English find it really helpful during the exams. The solutions are prepared by the experts in an interactive manner, which enables students to have a better understanding of the important concepts. The solutions help students to complete the syllabus on time and also focus on revision a couple of months prior to the exam. Through regular practice, students will be able to analyse the type of questions that would appear in the Class 12 exams. Students can easily download the solution PDF for free from the links given.
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