Past board exam questions
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
Describe the similarities that have been mentioned in the poem between the fog and a cat.
(Fog)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
Like a cat, the fog comes silently and stealthily, “on little cat feet”. It sits on silent haunches and looks over the harbour and city, just as a cat sits and surveys its surroundings. Both move without creating any disturbance and have a mysterious, unhurried presence before moving on.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
The poet says, “It sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches.” What do the words “silent haunches” mean, and how do they add to the poem’s mood ?
(Fog)
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – at least two value points; Expression 1)
“Silent haunches” refers to the way a cat sits quietly on its hind legs. The fog, like a cat, looms and hovers over the harbour and city silently and gently, without making any sound. The phrase adds a quiet, still and mysterious mood to the poem, suggesting the soft, stealthy arrival and departure of the fog.
CBSE 2026 board paper · 5 marks
Read the following extract and answer the questions :
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbour and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
(Fog)
(i) Examine the strategic use of imagery in the above lines. (1)
(ii) How does the poet portray the relationship between nature and the urban environment ? (2)
(iii) On the basis of the extract, select the correct option. (1)
The image of a cat moving “on little cat feet” evokes :
(A) softness
(B) roughness
(C) wilderness
(D) hardness
(iv) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from the brackets : (1)
In the given extract, the tone of the poet is __________ (playful and mysterious/cold and rough/pessimistic and aggressive).
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(i) (Any one) The fog is compared to a cat: it arrives silently ‘on little cat feet’, sits ‘on silent haunches’ looking over the harbour and city, and then moves on – creating a vivid picture of the fog quietly covering the city and harbour.
(ii) (Any two) Nature, in the form of the fog, quietly covers the city and the harbour; it seems to sit and silently observe the busy human world; it is soft and silent and harms no one; it is a powerful force that seems harmless, existing as a natural part of the urban scene before moving on.
(iii) (A) softness
(iv) playful and mysterious
CBSE 2026 board paper · 3 marks
What is the contribution of the extended metaphor in the poem “Fog” ?
(Answer in about 40-50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two points with textual evidence; Expression 1)
Sandburg compares the fog to a cat throughout the poem. The metaphor makes the fog seem mysterious and alive – it comes ‘on little cat feet’, ‘sits looking over harbour and city on silent haunches’ and then moves on. It humanises the fog, making it relatable, and suggests how nature silently pervades and is present everywhere.
CBSE 2024 compartment paper · 3 marks
According to the poet, in what respect is the fog similar to a cat ? Do you think the comparison made is appropriate ?
(Fog)
(Answer in 40 – 50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two–three relevant points; Organisation 1; ½ mark deducted for accuracy if there are more than two spelling / grammatical errors)
Like a cat, the fog comes silently and stealthily ‘on little cat feet’. It sits ‘on silent haunches’, looking over the harbour and the city, and then moves on, departing as quietly as it came. Yes, the comparison is appropriate: the fog’s silent, unpredictable arrival, its stillness and its sudden departure are exactly like a cat’s movements. (Due marks are given if the student argues ‘No’ with reasons.)
CBSE 2024 compartment paper · 3 marks
Interpret how nature is a living entity as characterized by Carl Sandburg in his poem.
(Fog)
(Answer in 40 – 50 words.)
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(Content 2 – any two–three relevant points; Organisation 1; ½ mark deducted for accuracy if there are more than two spelling / grammatical errors)
Sandburg presents the fog as a living creature. The whole poem is an extended metaphor comparing the fog to a cat: it comes ‘on little cat feet’, sits ‘on silent haunches’ looking over the harbour and city, and then moves on. The fog is given the ability to think, act and move purposefully, which makes it endearing and full of life. The poet shows that even the ordinary details of nature, which people take for granted, are mysterious and beautiful.
