Question

Read the given extract and answer the questions:

Some say the world will end in fire some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire  I hold with those who favour fire,  (Stanza 1) But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction ice Is also great And would suffice. (Fire and Ice)

1. Complete the following suitably: 1
   According to Robert Frost, fire refers to ______.
2. Why does the poet believe both fire and ice can destroy the world equally? 2
3. Fill the blank with one word: 1
   In the line “But if it has to perish twice”, ‘it’ refers to the ______. 
4. Select the option with same rhyme scheme as lines in Stanza 1: 1
   1. They are all gone away,
      The House is shut and still,
      There is nothing more to say.
   2. Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
      Life is but an empty dream!
      For the soul is dead that slumbers.
   3. The dog chased the ball down the lane,
      He ran with such incredible speed,
      His tail was a blur, a joyful glee.
   4. The Sun is high,
      The clouds drift past,
      In the blue sky which is so vast.

Answer 1

1. According to Robert Frost, fire refers to desires.
2. Because he sees both strong human feelings as capable of destroying the world: fire stands for desire/passion (which can consume and destroy) and ice stands for hate/coldness/indifference (which can also destroy). He says he has “tasted” desire and “knows enough of hate,” so either would “suffice” for destruction.
3. In the line “But if it has to perish twice”, ‘it’ refers to the world.
4. The Sun is high,
   The clouds drift past,
   In the blue sky which is so vast.