XAT Poem RC Quiz 4: Brief Encounters
Final practice quiz with 5 short poems and 10 questions. Test your speed and comprehension under timed conditions. Includes complete answer key and trap analysis for all questions.
📋 How to Take This Quiz
- 1 Read the poem carefully — Each poem appears before its questions. Spend 60-90 seconds understanding the theme and tone before answering.
- 2 Select your answer — Click on your chosen option. It will highlight in pink. You can change your selection before moving to the next question.
- 3 Navigate with arrows — Use Previous/Next buttons to move between questions. Submit on the last question to see your score.
- 4 Review explanations — After submission, each question shows the correct answer, why it’s right, and trap analysis for wrong options.
🧠 Use the 3-Step Method While Solving
🎯 Start the Quiz
Answer all 10 questions, then review your trap analysis
🎯 Quiz Complete!
The Mask
We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes—
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.
The “mask” in the poem primarily represents:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: The mask “hides our cheeks,” we smile with “torn and bleeding hearts”—the contrast between external presentation and internal reality is explicit. The mask is metaphorical.
(A) Literal reading trap — Takes “mask” as physical object
(C) Literal reading trap — Cultural face coverings not implied
(D) Partial truth trap — It’s deception of others, not self
The phrase “This debt we pay to human guile” suggests that:
✓ Correct! Option A is the answer.
Why A is correct: A “debt” is something owed. We “pay” it to “human guile”—to the social expectation of deception. It’s not a choice but a requirement of navigating society.
(B) Overreach trap — No punishment is mentioned
(C) Literal reading trap — Takes “debt” as financial
(D) Outside knowledge trap — Advice about guileful people isn’t offered
The sandcastle’s response to the tide suggests that:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: The sandcastle “doesn’t weep” because “It was never meant to keep.” Understanding and accepting transience from the start prevents grief. The lesson is about expectation, not resilience.
(A) Literal reading trap — The sandcastle does fall; it just doesn’t grieve
(C) Literal reading trap — Practical beach advice isn’t the point
(D) Opposite trap — The poem presents impermanence as natural, not cruel
The tone of the poem is best described as:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: No weeping, no struggle against the tide. The word “learns” suggests wisdom gained, not loss suffered. The tone is peaceful, even instructive.
(A) Opposite trap — No sorrow is expressed
(C) Opposite trap — No anger or defiance—acceptance instead
(D) Opposite trap — The poem counsels against anxiety
The speaker refuses to wash the cup because:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: The cup is “the last remaining link.” The lipstick is “fading,” and the speaker isn’t “ready” for that erasure. Washing would actively destroy the connection.
(A) Tone mismatch trap — The poem is clearly about grief, not laziness
(C) Outside knowledge trap — Cup’s fragility not mentioned
(D) Overreach trap — The poem suggests the person won’t return (lipstick is “fading”)
The phrase “That small erasure of the line” refers to:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: “Line” refers to the lipstick line on the rim, mentioned in the previous stanza. But “erasure of the line” also suggests the line of connection between speaker and the absent person.
(A) Literal reading trap — No poem-writing mentioned
(C) Literal reading trap — No written message described
(D) Overreach trap — Nothing suggests mental instability
The central realization of the poem is that:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: The gate “wasn’t locked”—the barrier existed only because the speaker assumed it did. The struggle was against a phantom obstacle.
(A) Opposite trap — The poem suggests locks weren’t needed
(C) Opposite trap — The persistence was wasted, not rewarded
(D) Outside knowledge trap — Patience vs. action isn’t the theme
The tone of the final line is best described as:
✓ Correct! Option C is the answer.
Why C is correct: “I learned too late” signals regret. The realization that the gate was “just closed, and waiting” is ironic—all that pushing was unnecessary. But the tone is reflective, not angry.
(A) Opposite trap — There’s no triumph; time was wasted
(B) Tone intensity trap — Rueful, not bitter
(D) Tone mismatch — The speaker is clear about what happened
The poem suggests that the expert’s knowledge is:
✓ Correct! Option B is the answer.
Why B is correct: The poem doesn’t mock the expert’s learning—he “traveled far” intellectually. But for “this moment,” knowledge is “not useful.” It’s situational insufficiency, not total rejection.
(A) Overreach trap — “Not useful” for this moment ≠ completely useless
(C) Opposite trap — The daughter’s response is validated
(D) Outside knowledge trap — Teaching methods aren’t discussed
The daughter’s response, “How beautiful,” functions in the poem as:
✓ Correct! Option C is the answer.
Why C is correct: The daughter’s simple response is juxtaposed with the expert’s charts, courses, and calculations. Her directness reveals what his knowledge cannot access. She “had it right.”
(A) Opposite trap — Her response is presented as wiser, not ignorant
(B) Overreach trap — No criticism of astronomy as a profession
(D) Literal reading trap — She’s not asking for explanation
📖 About This XAT Poem Questions with Answers Quiz
This XAT poem questions with answers quiz is designed for speed practice. Unlike Quizzes 1-3 (which have 2 longer poems with 5 questions each), Quiz 4 features 5 short poems with 2 questions each—mimicking the rapid reading required in actual XAT.
What Makes Quiz 4 Different
Quiz 4: “Brief Encounters” tests your ability to:
- Read rapidly — Each poem is 4-8 lines; you have 2 minutes per poem
- Extract meaning quickly — No time for multiple re-reads; first impressions matter
- Handle variety — 5 different themes: social masks, impermanence, grief, self-imposed obstacles, knowledge vs. wonder
- Apply all trap knowledge — All 7 trap types appear across the 10 questions
Trap Types Distribution in Quiz 4
This quiz tests all trap types you’ve learned:
- Literal Reading Traps: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q6 — Short poems often use compressed metaphors
- Opposite Traps: Q3, Q4, Q7, Q9, Q10 — Quick reading can lead to meaning reversal
- Overreach Traps: Q2, Q5, Q6, Q9, Q10 — Don’t add meaning that isn’t there
- Tone Mismatch Traps: Q4, Q5, Q8 — Even short poems have distinct tones
Review our Trap Types Guide for detailed explanations.
Complete Quiz Series
Congratulations on reaching Quiz 4! Here’s your complete practice journey:
- Quiz 1: “The Weight of Time” — Foundation: irony and personification
- Quiz 2: “Nature’s Lessons” — Natural imagery and elliptical language
- Quiz 3: “Monuments & Memories” — Allusion, tone intensity, paradox
- Quiz 4 (This Page): “Brief Encounters” — Speed practice with 5 short poems
Access all quizzes from our XAT Poem RC Practice Hub.
After Completing Quiz 4
You’ve completed all 40 practice questions! For continued improvement: (1) Review the PYQ Analysis for actual XAT patterns, (2) Study the Time Management Guide for exam-day strategy, (3) Revisit any quiz where you scored below 7/10.
❓ FAQs: XAT Poem Questions with Answers
Common queries about XAT poem practice and this final quiz
Quiz 4: “Brief Encounters” features 5 short poems with 2 questions each: “The Mask” (social personas), “Impermanence” (accepting transience), “After You Left” (grief and memory), “The Unlocked Gate” (self-imposed obstacles), and “The Expert” (knowledge vs. wonder).
Quiz 4 is designed for speed practice. In the actual XAT, you’ll encounter short poems requiring quick comprehension. By practicing with 5 different 4-8 line poems in 10 minutes (2 minutes per poem), you build the rapid reading skills needed for exam day. This format tests whether you can extract meaning efficiently.
Quizzes 1-3: 2 longer poems, 5 questions each, 14 minutes, deep analysis. Quiz 4: 5 short poems, 2 questions each, 10 minutes, speed reading. Quiz 4 tests whether you can apply all the skills from earlier quizzes under time pressure with variety.
All 7 trap types appear: Literal Reading (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q6), Opposite (Q3, Q4, Q7, Q9, Q10), Overreach (Q2, Q5, Q6, Q9, Q10), Outside Knowledge (Q2, Q5, Q7, Q9), Tone Mismatch (Q4, Q5, Q8), Tone Intensity (Q8), and Partial Truth (Q1). See our Trap Types Guide for explanations.
For realistic practice, time yourself strictly. In XAT, you’ll have roughly 2-3 minutes per poem. If you finish early, that’s excellent. If you’re rushed, it reveals where you need work. After your timed attempt, review without time pressure to understand the trap analysis.
Congratulations! You’ve completed 40 practice questions. Next steps: (1) Review the PYQ Analysis for actual XAT patterns, (2) Retake any quiz where you scored below 7/10, (3) Study the Time Management Guide for exam-day strategy.
9-10: Excellent — You’re ready for XAT poem RC. 7-8: Good — Minor polish needed; review missed trap types. 5-6: Average — Speed may be compromising accuracy; practice Quizzes 1-3 again. Below 5: Needs work — Focus on strategy before attempting timed practice.
Yes, all XAT poem practice quizzes are available for PDF download from the XAT Poem RC Practice Hub. Each PDF includes poems, questions, answers, trap analysis, and the cumulative answer key for all 40 questions.