The Portrait of a Lady — Class 11 MCQs with Answers
Class 11 CBSE English · Chapter 1
30 practice questions · 30 Medium · Updated
Practise the most important Class 11 CBSE English questions from Chapter 1, "The Portrait of a Lady". You get 3 timed quizzes made from 30 NCERT-based MCQs, with answers and explanations. The questions are split into 30 Medium. Warm up on the basics, then move on to the exam-level questions that set top scorers in CBSE Board exams apart.
To score well in "The Portrait of a Lady", focus on comprehension, grammar and writing skills. Each MCQ here is timed and uses exam-style marking (+4 correct, −1 wrong, 0 skipped). This trains you to stay accurate under time pressure, as real papers need. Every question has a short explanation, so a wrong answer becomes a quick lesson. It is the fastest way to fix gaps before a test.
Use this chapter for focused revision. Start with the Easy set to check your basics on The Portrait of a Lady, then move to Medium to practise applying them. Your accuracy, streaks and XP save automatically. This chapter also adds to your overall Class 11 English mastery score. 2 sample questions are solved in full below, with the answer and a worked explanation. Sign in free to start practising.
Key concepts: The Portrait of a Lady (Class 11 English)
Khushwant Singh's affectionate prose portrait of his grandmother, told in the first person. The essay traces their friendship through three widening separations — village closeness, city distance, university seclusion — and closes with a death mourned by sparrows rather than by people.
- The grandmother's appearance
- Short, fat and slightly bent, her face 'a criss-cross of wrinkles running from everywhere to everywhere', with silver locks over a pale, puckered face and lips always moving in prayer.
- Not pretty, but beautiful
- The narrator's key distinction: 'She could never have been pretty; but she was always beautiful.' Her beauty is the serenity of her presence, not her features.
- The winter-landscape image
- 'She was like the winter landscape in the mountains, an expanse of pure white serenity breathing peace and contentment' — a simile followed by a metaphor, both built on whiteness and calm.
- Village years
- She woke him, bathed and dressed him, carried his wooden slate, and walked him to the temple school. While the priest taught the alphabet, she sat inside reading the scriptures.
The Portrait of a Lady — important questions & MCQs with answers (Class 11 English)
2 solved questions from this chapter's difficulty levels, each with its answer and explanation. The other 28 are timed and scored when you sign in.
- Q1Medium
How does the narrator describe his grandmother's appearance?
A.Dark-haired and uprightB.Tall and slenderC.Young and sprightlyD.Short, fat and slightly bent✓ CorrectAnswer: D. Short, fat and slightly bent
Explanation: The narrator calls her 'short, fat and a little bent', with a face criss-crossed with wrinkles.
- Q2Medium
What was attached to the village school?
A.A libraryB.A playgroundC.A dispensaryD.A temple✓ CorrectAnswer: D. A temple
Explanation: The village school was attached to the temple; the children learnt while the priest taught.
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Start this chapter free →The Portrait of a Lady — FAQs
What are the key concepts in Class 11 English The Portrait of a Lady?+
Khushwant Singh's affectionate prose portrait of his grandmother, told in the first person. The essay traces their friendship through three widening separations — village closeness, city distance, university seclusion — and closes with a death mourned by sparrows rather than by people. Key ideas include The grandmother's appearance, Not pretty, but beautiful, The winter-landscape image, Village years.
What does Class 11 English Chapter 1 (The Portrait of a Lady) cover on XamBaaz?+
It has 30 NCERT-based MCQs on "The Portrait of a Lady": 30 Medium. Together they make 3 timed quizzes, and you never get the same set twice. Every question has an instant explanation. They help you prepare for CBSE Board exams.
Are these "The Portrait of a Lady" questions free to practise?+
Yes. Sign in with Google to practise "The Portrait of a Lady" free. Full unlimited access is ₹999/year on a launch offer until 1 December 2026. No chapter is charged separately.
How should I revise "The Portrait of a Lady" for the exam?+
Start with the Easy quiz to check your basics, then try Medium to practise applying them. There are 3 timed quizzes on this chapter, so you can come back for a fresh set instead of one you have seen. Read each explanation, retry the questions you miss, and track your accuracy until it stays high.
Are these "The Portrait of a Lady" MCQs available with answers?+
Yes. 2 sample questions are shown here in full, each with the correct option and a step-by-step "Why" explanation. Sign in free with Google to start practising, with instant scoring.
Is there negative marking in the "The Portrait of a Lady" quizzes?+
Yes. The timed quizzes use exam-style marking: +4 for a right answer, −1 for a wrong one and 0 for a skip. MHT-CET and CBSE board papers have no negative marking. Our mocks for those are scored their way.
What are the important questions from The Portrait of a Lady (Class 11 English)?+
The questions that matter most test The grandmother's appearance, Not pretty, but beautiful, The winter-landscape image, Village years. This page shows 2 solved important MCQs with answers and explanations; all 30 questions on the chapter are available as timed quizzes once you sign in.
Is there an online quiz for The Portrait of a Lady?+
Yes — Class 11 English The Portrait of a Lady has timed online quizzes at Medium levels, with instant scoring and a worked explanation on every question. The first quiz on the chapter is free.