TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS – MODEL CBSE BOARD ANSWERS

Q1. Why was Mathilde Loisel unhappy with her life?
Answer: Mathilde Loisel was unhappy because she believed she deserved a luxurious life. She was dissatisfied with her modest home, simple food, and lack of social status, which made her resent her reality.

Q2. Why did Mathilde borrow the necklace from Madame Forestier?
Answer: Mathilde borrowed the necklace to appear wealthy and elegant at the ball. Her pride and desire for admiration made her value appearance over prudence.

Q3. What was the result of losing the necklace?
Answer: To replace the necklace, the Loisels borrowed a large sum of money. Mathilde spent ten years in poverty and hard labour to repay the debt, losing her youth and beauty.

Q4. How does the ending reveal irony?
Answer: The ending reveals that the necklace was fake, while Mathilde suffered for ten years to replace it. This situational irony exposes the futility of her pride and obsession with appearances.

Q5. What message does the story convey? (8 marks)
Answer: The story conveys that vanity and pride can lead to lifelong suffering. True happiness lies in contentment and honesty rather than external show and social status.

WORKSHEET – THE NECKLACE (40 FULLY SOLVED QUESTIONS)

SECTION A: MCQs
1. Mathilde belonged to a: Middle-class family
2. Monsieur Loisel worked as a: Clerk
3. The invitation was for a: Ball
4. Necklace borrowed from: Madame Forestier
5. Necklace was lost after: The ball

SECTION B: ASSERTION–REASON
6. Assertion: Mathilde wanted luxury. Reason: She was content with simplicity. Ans: Assertion true, Reason false
7. Assertion: The ending is ironic. Reason: The necklace was fake. Ans: Both true, Reason correct

SECTION C: VERY SHORT ANSWER
8. Mathilde’s flaw: Vanity
9. Necklace material appeared to be: Diamond
10. Years of suffering: Ten
11. Outcome of debt: Poverty

SECTION D: SHORT ANSWER
12. Why did Mathilde dislike her home? Ans: She wanted luxury and status.
13. Why did Monsieur Loisel support her wish? Ans: He loved her and wanted her happiness.
14. Why did Mathilde not confess immediately? Ans: Out of pride and fear of humiliation.
15. How did poverty change Mathilde? Ans: She became hardened and aged.

SECTION E: LONG ANSWER
16. Describe Mathilde’s character. Ans: Ambitious, dissatisfied, prideful.
17. Analyse the theme of appearance vs reality. Ans: False appearances cause suffering.
18. Explain the role of irony. Ans: Fake necklace, real suffering.
19. How is the story a social criticism? Ans: Critiques class obsession.

SECTION F: EXTRACT-BASED
20. “She suffered incessantly.” What does this show? Ans: Consequences of pride
21. Tone of the story? Ans: Ironical

SECTION G: VALUE-BASED
22. Value Mathilde lacked: Contentment
23. Value shown by Loisel: Sacrifice

SECTION H: TRUE / FALSE
24. Mathilde enjoyed poverty. Ans: False
25. Madame Forestier knew the truth earlier. Ans: False

SECTION I: ONE-WORD ANSWERS
26. Theme: Vanity
27. Literary device: Irony

SECTION J: APPLICATION-BASED
28. Why should pride be controlled? Ans: It causes downfall.
29. Why is honesty important? Ans: It prevents suffering.

SECTION K: COMPETENCY-BASED
30. Why did Mathilde’s life collapse? Ans: Wrong choices.
31. What ruined her happiness? Ans: Desire for status.

SECTION L: REVISION
32. Central conflict? Ans: Pride vs reality
33. Resolution? Ans: Ironical revelation
34. Message? Ans: Contentment matters
35. Setting? Ans: France
36. Mathilde’s weakness? Ans: Vanity
37. Loisel’s strength? Ans: Devotion
38. Irony type? Ans: Situational
39. Mood? Ans: Tragic
40. Moral? Ans: Pride leads to ruin