Last Minute Class 10th English Final Exam Preparation

In this post, I have provided two most important things related to class 10th English exam. The first thing is the present syllabus and the second is the 80 most important questions and answers from all chapters with key points. Learn them by heart and score good marks in the exam ” Best of Luck “

Class 10th English 2022-2023 Syllabus

Syllabus 2022-2023

BOOK: FIRST FLIGHT	Footprint without Print	Poems
Ch. 1: A Letter to God	Ch.1:A Triumph Of Surgery	P1: Dust Of Snow
Ch.2: Nelson Mandela : Long walk to freedom	Ch.2: The Thief’s Story	P2: Fire And Ice
Ch.3: Two Stories about Flying i) His First Flight ii) The Black Aeroplane.	Ch.3: The Midnight Visitor	P3: Tiger in the Zoo
Ch.4: From the Diary of Anne Frank	Ch.4: A Question of Trust	P4: How to tell Wild Animals
Ch.7: Glimpses of India	Ch.5: Footprints Without Feet	P5: The Ball Poem
Ch.8 : Mijbil the Otter	Ch.6: The making of a scientist	P6: Amanda
Ch.9: Madam Rides the Bus	Ch.7: The Necklace	P8: Trees
Ch10: The Sermon at Benaras	Ch.9 : Bholi	P9: Fog
Ch. 11: The Proposal	Ch. 10: The Book that saved the Earth	P10: Tale Of Custard the Dragon
		P11: For Anne Gregory

Deleted Syllabus: 

First Flight: PROSE: 

Ch 5: The Hundred Dresses – I 

Ch 6: The Hundred Dresses – II 

POEM: P7: Animal 

Footprints Without Feet: 

Ch8: The Hack Driver

Chapter 1. A LETTER TO GOD 

Key Points Last Minute Preparation for Class 10th English

CHAPTER 1: A LETTER TO GOD By G.L.Fuentes

1 Lencho was a farmer, his house was the only house in the valley and on top of a hill.

2 Lencho’s fields needed rain for a good harvest.

3 He looked expectantly at the sky and it did rain at last.

4 The drops of rain were like coins for him, which would help him reap a good harvest and earn some money for his family.

5 But his happiness was short-lived as very large hailstones began to fall after the rain and destroyed his crop.

6 There was a single hope -help from God, On the following Sunday, he wrote a letter to God.

 He needed a hundred pesos to sow his fields again and to live until the new crop come.

7 He wrote ‘To God ‘ on the envelope and put the letter into the mailbox.

8 The postman laughed heartily and took it to the postmaster, he laughed too but soon he became serious.

9 He decided to reply to the letter and help Lencho, as he did not want Lencho to lose faith in God.

10 Postmaster could collect seventy pesos only, from his employees and he himself also contributed a part of his salary.

11 He put the money in an envelope and posted it to Lencho.

12 Lencho was happy but not at all surprised when he received the money because he had an unbroken faith in God.

13 His happiness turned into anger as there were only seventy pesos instead of a hundred pesos.

14 Lencho could never believe that God could ever deceive him.

15 So, he wrote another letter to God reminding him that he received only 70 pesos sent by him

16 He asked God not to send the rest of the 30 pesos through the mail as the post office employees were a ‘ bunch 

of crooks.

Important Questions and Answers Of this Chapter

Q1.What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped? 

Ans. When the hail stopped, Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He was very much troubled. His com was totally destroyed. He said, “The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no com. We will all go hungry”.

Q2. Why did the postmaster send a reply to Lencho’s first letter addressed to God? 

Ans. The postmaster was a generous and amiable man. He was impressed by Lencho’s firm faith in God. To sustain that faith, the postmaster sent a reply to Lencho. 

Q3. What was Leneho’s pride and possession?

Ans. Lencho lived in a solitary house on the crest of a low hill in the valley. From here, he could survey and see the river and his pride, the field of ripe corn dotted with flowers. These always promised a good harvest. Their only wish was a downpour and Lencho, who knew his fields intimately, predicted rain. His prediction turned true when it started raining during dinner. He went out to feel the rain and surveyed with satisfaction, his crop draped in a curtain of rain. He regarded raindrops as a new silver coin.

Q4. Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like  Lencho? Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right?

Ans.: Lencho was a poor farmer who totally depended on the harvest to survive and fulfill the basic needs of his family. Once his crops were destroyed due to heavy rainfall and hailstones and he was afraid to think how his family would survive. He believed that God would help him in this plight. He had firm faith in God; he believed that God would not let him be hungry. Nowadays faith in God like Lencho is almost impossible and unseen. People are very much aware that nobody is willing to help others without any self-interest. Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees was not right or justified but it was just because of his innocence as he could not believe that God had done such a mistake. They were only the post office employees who had stolen money according to him. 

Q5. Lencho seemed to be an impulsive man who felt suddenly elated at the rainfall and later became sad to see the destruction that the rain had caused. Did he lack tolerance? Did he not have the courage to face the challenges of life? Elucidate it by discussing the values one must possess to face any type of situation. 

Ans. Lencho was a hardworking farmer. He had grown corn in his field and was anxiously hoping for a good rain. He was very happy to see the rain but he became despair at seeing the destroyed crop in his field by the storm. No doubt he had tolerance and the courage to face the challenges in his life. He had a very firm faith in God and after the destruction of his field, he was still hopeful that everything will be alright. Although Lencho was a very strong man and worked hard in his fields, but his firm faith in God made him write a letter to God. And the tolerance in him only kept him waiting for the reply. He asked for hundred pesos from God and was confident of receiving the amount. He accepted seventy pesos and again faced the situation by writing a second letter, demanding the rest of the thirty pesos. His faith in God was not shaken, he tackled the situation bravely. In the same way, we should face all situations courageously. We should be tolerant and never lose faith in God. 

Chapter 2. NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM 

NELSON MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 

Key Points Last Minute Preparation for Class 10th English

1 The inauguration ceremony of the first non-racial government was held in the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

2 Politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries attended the ceremony.

3 Nelson Mandela was then sworn in as the President of the Republic of South Africa.

4 For decades South Africa had been the seat of white supremacy. The blacks were considered outlaws.

5 Their victory over “apartheid” was a common victory for justice, peace, and freedom.

6 Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history.

7 The society based on racial discrimination was the harshest and the most inhuman society in the world.

8 The decades of oppression and exploitation of the blacks produced- heroes like Tambo, Sisulu, and others in South Africa.

9 Mandela learned the meaning of courage which does not mean the absence of fear rather it means victory over fear.

10 Every man has twin responsibilities/obligations – towards his family and for his people and country.

11 If any black tried to live like a free human being, he was punished and isolated from his family and community.

12 Mandela realized that not only he but his brothers and sisters were deprived of freedom.

13 His desire for the freedom and dignity of his people made him a rebel. He realized that freedom is indivisible.

Important Questions and Answers Of this Chapter

Q1. What is the meaning of courage to Mandela? 

Ans.: According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Mandela learned the true meaning of courage from his comrades in the struggle. 

Q2 .How did the desire for the freedom of his people change Nelson Mandela’s life? 

Ans. The desire for the freedom of his people totally animated Nelson Mandela’s life. He was transformed from a frightened young man to a bold one. The desire turned a law-abiding attorney into a criminal. A family-loving husband was turned into a man without a home, changed a life-loving man into a monk. Mandela was no more virtuous than self-sacrificing, but he could not even enjoy poor and limited freedom. He felt robbed when he came to know that his people were not free. He felt that the slavery of his people was slavery of his own. 

Q3 .What unintended effects were produced by decades of oppression? 

Ans. The decades of oppression made Nelson Mandela a strong person. He set out a goal to liberate the people of South Africa from continuing the bondage of poverty deprivation suffering and other discrimination. He decided to have freedom and justice for all. 

Q4. Describe the effect of the policy of apartheid on the people of South Africa. 

Ans.: The policy of apartheid could not be considered fortunate for the people of South Africa. It created distance and a deep wound in the country and the people. Many great men like Oliver Tamboo, Walter Sisulu, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fischer, etc were produced due to the brutality and oppression. They were men of great character. 

Q5. Describe the views of Mandela for the black people who fought and sacrificed their lives for the country’s political independence. 

Ans.: Mandela always said that political freedom was the result of the sacrifices of thousands of black people who fought for that. He said that it could not be repaid. He thought of himself as the sum of all of those African patriots. He regretted that he could not thank them. He cursed the policy of apartheid that wounded the people of his country, which would take centuries to heal. He also said that the oppression and brutality of the white people produced great freedom fighters like Oliver Tamboo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer, Sobukwe, and many more. They were men of courage, wisdom, and large-heartedness. They really suffered a lot for the political freedom of the country. 

Chapter 3. TWO STORIES ABOUT FLYING 

PART I : HIS FIRST FLIGHT

1 The author Liam O’flaherty displays the importance of family and friends in overcoming the fears in our life through the story of a young Seagull who was unable to take his first flight. 

2 A family of seagulls had mother, father, three sons and a daughter. 

3 The youngest son was fearful to take his first flight as he believed his small Wings would not support him, also he was afraid of the height of the Cliff from the Sea. 

4 The parents cajoled him and kept him hungry to let him learn a lesson. 

5 When the young Seagull couldn’t take the Hunger and heat anymore the mother Seagull brought a piece of fish near him. 

6 The young Seagull tried to grab the piece from his mother’s mouth. In doing so he reached the edge of the Cliff and fell from there as the mother Seagull moved away from the edge.

7 Initially fear hovered over him but soon he flapped his wings and soared and finally landed on the green sea taking his first flight. The whole family rejoiced and cackled.

Q1.What made the young seagull tired? 

Ans.: The young seagull was tired because he was weak with hunger and he made a successful attempt for his first flight. 

Q2. Why did the writer go to the Control center immediately? 

Ans.: The writer went to the Control center to ask about the black aeroplane so he could thank the pilot for saving his life. 

Q3. Why was the pilot happy to find his aeroplane behind another aeroplane in the black clouds? Why was he frightened again? 

Ans.: The pilot was happy to find his aeroplane behind another aeroplane in the black clouds because another pilot was helping him come out of the storm clouds. He felt frightened again because the fuel was not sufficient to reach the destination as it was only enough for the next five or ten minutes. 

Q4. How did the mother make the young seagull come out of his fear and teach him the art of flying? 

Ans. The young seagull was afraid of flying because he thought that his wings won’t support him and he would drown. When his family left him alone on the ledge, he felt alone and was very hungry. His mother knowingly tore a piece of fish near him and flew across to him with it. She came close to him but did not go nearer. Already maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish but fell into space. After some time his wings spread outwards and he began to fly. 

Q5. “Fear and lack of confidence stop one from learning new things.” Do you agree? How did these two traits of the young seagull make him a coward? How did he overcome these shortcomings? 

Ans. Yes, it is true that fear and lack of confidence stop one from learning new things as in the story; the young seagull lacked the value of courage and confidence in his character. He was too scared of flying. His family tried hard to make him fly but he refused to do so because of his fear of sinking in the seawater. They even scolded him for his cowardice. They tried to tempt him with food but he was not willing to learn to fly. Once he dived, his fear disappeared and he enjoyed his first flight. It is a fact that unless we try for something and overcome our fear, we can’t learn anything. Confidence and motivation are the two most important traits that make any learning possible. 

Chapter 4. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK 

1 Anne Frank was a 13-year-old Jewish girl who wrote a diary while her family was hiding in Amsterdam from the Naziz who were incurring atrocities during World War II. 

2 Anne wrote the diary to overcome loneliness in her life. She named it Kitty. 

3 She couldn’t confide in anyone and felt that paper has more patience. Also, she thought nobody would be interested in the diary as she was a small girl. 

4 Anne adored her father. She had an elder sister Margot and they lived in Frankfurt before they migrated to Holland for refuge. Her mother stayed behind with her grandmother. 

5 She had sweet memories of Mrs. Kuperus at Montessori School. Her grandmother fell ill in 1941 and died in 1942. This broke her. 

6 Anne considered teachers to be the most unpredictable creatures on earth. She had a good relationship with all teachers except Mr. Keesing who punished her several times for talking too much during the lessons. 

7 She wrote an essay on A Chatterbox as punishment, saying that talking was a student’s trait and she inherited it from her mother. Again as punishment, she wrote an essay on An Incorrigible Chatterbox. Then she wrote an essay on Quack Quack Quack said Mistress Chatterbox. 

8 Her friend Sanne helped her write it in verse. It said that father Duck beat the three ducklings as they quacked too much and made them deaf. 

9 Mr. Keesing took the joke in the right way and didn’t bother Anne for talking thereafter and didn’t give her any extra homework.

Q1. What tells you that Anne loved her grandmother? 

Ans. The fact that Anne spent some part of her childhood with her grandmother is self-sufficient to imply a connection between the two. Also, she explicitly mentioned in her diary that she misses her grandmother more than anyone is aware of is evident enough that she loved her grandmother. 

Q2. Anne called the 26th July a ‘tumultuous’ day. Explain the reasons behind it. (3 marks) 

Ans. Anne called the 26th of July a tumultuous day as it was full of tension and fright. The first warning siren was sent off in the morning. The siren alarmed again around 2 O’clock in the afternoon. Anne and her sister heard loud gunshots. After half an hour, the drone of engines faded and life became normal. The city was enveloped in thick fog. But after dinner time, there was another gunfire round and swarms of planes. Nobody was able to sleep that night because it repeated again at midnight. 

Q3. The diary of Anne Frank throws light on the teacher-student relationship, class atmosphere, and discipline Write a paragraph on the values of these aspects of school and how far these values are necessary for learning and life. (5 marks) 

Ans. “The Diary of Anne Frank” clearly describes the teacher-student relationship, class atmosphere, and discipline. Anne who talks a lot in class gets punished by Mr. Keesing her Maths teacher. He asks her to write essays as punishment which is learning in disguise because he wanted her to focus on their studies. He cannot be blamed for the punishment as he did for the development of Anne. The teacher-student relationship is very respectful and sacred. It is about discipline and classroom manners which are essential for every student as well as teacher, otherwise, both teaching and learning could hamper. This relationship is clearly shown in Mr. Keesing and Anne Frank’s actions as they both try to joke on each other but in a very humorous and healthy manner. So this healthy relationship is needed everywhere in the class for effective teaching and learning. 

CHAPTER 7. GLIMPSES OF INDIA 

A BAKER FROM GOA by Lucio Rodrigues

1 The Portuguese in Goa were lovers of bread.

2 Those eaters of bread have now gone but its makers still exist.

3 During the childhood days of the narrator, a baker used to be their friend, companion, and guide.

4 The baker came twice a day- once in the morning and again while returning home after finishing his selling.

5 The jingling thud of the baker’s bamboo woke up the sleeping children.

6 The loaves were delivered to the servants of the house.

7 The children would peep into the baker’s basket for the bread bangles.

8 The children would eat bread with hot tea.

9 The marriages were incomplete without the popular bol bread.

10 Bolinhas were a must during Christmas and all other festivals.

11 The bakers wore a particular knee-length frock known as kabai.

12 Baking was a profitable profession. Bakers had a plump physique testifying to this.

13 The bakers collected their bills at the end of the month

Q1. Comment on the significance of bread and a bread baker in a traditional Goan village. 

Ans. Bread is a permanent item of a Goan meal and the baker is an important member of the Goan community. This we can definitely say because bread is not only a part of their daily life but also of important occasions like Christmas, festivals, weddings, and engagements. These occasions are incomplete without a special preparation for each event, made from bread. Besides, sweet bread ‘bol’ is a special delicacy, served at festivals, and cakes and bolinhas are a special charm at Christmas. A baker’s furnace is therefore indispensable in a traditional Goan village. 

Q2. The people of Coorg have a tradition of courage and bravery. How has it been recognized in modem India? 

Ans. The people of Coorg are known for their high energy, courageous and adventurous sports like canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking, trekking, etc. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi. Even now Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license. 

Q3. What details do you gather about tea from the lesson, ‘Tea from Assam’? 

Ans. Tea was first drunk in China. Even the words ‘Chai’ and ‘Chini’ are from Chinese. It goes back to 2700 B.C. In the 16th century, tea came to Europe. There are unlimited tea fields in Assam. Unlike the other farm laborers, who might never carry the harvest on their backs, the tea pluckers, i.e., the groups of women were there hanging bamboo baskets on their backs. They pluck the newly grown fresh tea leaves from the plants and store them in their baskets. They also wear a plastic apron. 

Chapter 9. MADAM RIDES THE BUS 

1 The story is about an eight-year-old girl named Valliammai. She was very curious to know about things.

2 Her favourite pastime was to stand at the front doorway of her house and see what was happening in the street outside.

3 She would watch the bus that passed every hour from her village to the nearest town.

4 She developed a desire to ride the bus. This became her deepest desire.

5 Valli found out the details of the bus journey by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and regular bus users.

6 She came to know that the town was just six miles from her village and the fare for the bus journey was thirty paise one way. The trip took 45 minutes.

7 Valli planned her visit to the town. She saved sixty paise for the fare. Finally, one day she took the one o’clock bus to the town.

8 Valli was very happy to have got into the bus.

9 On the way to the town, Valli saw a cow running right in front of the bus. She clapped as the cow kept on running towards the bus despite the continuous honking by the driver.

10 Valli did not get off the bus when it reached the town. She also declined the offer of a cold drink by the conductor.

11 On the return journey, she saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside. This unpleasant sight made her very sad.

12 The bus reached the village at three forty. She ran straight to her home after getting off the bus. Her mother did not come to know about her journey.

Q1.In such a fast-moving world when we hear so many incidents happening with people, do you think Valli did right by not telling her mother about the bus journey? 

Ans. No, I don’t think that Valli did the right thing in traveling alone to the town without informing her mother. By doing this, she put herself in a vulnerable position as she could have easily been a victim of child abuse had she come in contact with the wrong people. In fact, she was lucky to return home safely. Children should always travel along with their parents or elders as they are easy targets for criminals. We hear a lot of instances of crime committed against children these days like kidnapping, child abuse, molestation, rape, etc. Valli could have expressed her desire of travelling on the bus to her mother. I am sure that her mother would have fulfilled her wish by taking her on a bus ride. 

Q.2 The people and surroundings are a great book to learn. Valli in the lesson ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of her character which help her to learn from her surroundings. 

Ans. Valli dreamt of riding on the bus. Her eagerness to fulfill her dream fired her curiosity. This curiousness led her to listen to the conversations of people going on the bus ride and asking discreet questions so that she could gather as much information as she can, regarding the bus journey. On the bus journey, Valli acted confidently and behaved maturely. She did not consider herself to be any less than an adult. She was focused on fulfilling her dream and did not get tempted to go outside the bus and explore the town when the bus reached the town. On the return journey, she learned about death when she came to terms with the dead cow. This made her aware of the fact that death is a part of life and should be accepted as it is a natural phenomenon. Thus, the bus journey made her learn a lot of things. 

Q3. Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age? 

Ans. In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. The same goes for Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by traveling on the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics that made her fulfill her dreams. Valli was a very confident and bold girl. She had knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realize the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience new things. 

Chapter 10. THE SERMON AT BENARES 

1 This lesson tells about the life of Gautam Buddha, who was born in a royal family as Siddhartha.

2 Once he saw a funeral procession and a monk begging for the alms.

3 These sights moved him a lot and he decided to become a monk and started moving in search of enlightenment.

4 He started meditation under a peepal tree and after seven days he got enlightenment and he became known as the Buddha ( the awakened or enlightened)

5 The Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares. Once a woman named Kisa Gotami asked the Buddha to give her medicine to bring her dead son to life.

6 The Buddha told her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died.

7 Kisa Gotami could not get the seeds as she did not find anyone who had not lost his family member.

8 She thought that she was really selfish in her grief. Death was common to all. Yet there lay a path. That led man to immortality if he surrendered all selfishness.

10 The Buddha told her that human life was brief and painful. All depart from life. 

11 He who is off the lamentation and grief shall have peace of mind. One who has overcome sorrow will be free from sorrow and be blessed.

Q1. How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was ‘selfish’ in her grief? Is it natural for people to be selfish at times? 

Answer: ‘Selfishness’ means when a person does something only for his own benefit or thinks only about him/herself. Kisa Gotami was selfish in wanting her dead son to be alive. It was a mother’s love that had blinded her. She was wrong in wanting that. She could not see the reality of life. It is perfectly natural for anyone to be selfish at times. When this desire becomes harmful to others or the demands become unrealistic, it is wrong. A little bit of selfishness is there in generally everyone and it is natural to be so. 

Q2. The Buddha said, ‘The world is afflicted with death and decay, and therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.’ Do you think the statement is appropriate even for today’s life? Write your views in the context of the above statement. 

Answer: ‘Sakyamuni’s’ first Sermon at Benares was to accept death as a fact, as a truth that cannot change Grieving and lamenting cannot lessen the pain or revive a dead one, but only make life more difficult. ‘Man is mortal’, is a harsh reality that is as steadfast as the various other natural phenomena. The cycle of birth and death is eternal and continues ceaselessly. Acceptance of this truth is important and in light of the transient nature of life, one must strive to do at least one good deed every day and live life to the fullest. 

Q3. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in her life. How does she behave in those circumstances? What lesson does a reader learn from the story of her life? Give any two points on how you would like to act in the midst of adverse circumstances. 

Answer: Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through grief in her life when her only son died. She went from house to house in search of medicine to cure him. She had become selfish in wanting her son back, but later she realized that man is immortal. The lesson we learn from her story is that peace of mind cannot be obtained by grieving. I would try to overcome my sorrow and accept the fact that human life is mortal when faced with such a situation. 

Chapter 11. THE PROPOSAL 

1 Lomov, Chubukov’s neighbor asks for Chubulov’s daughter, Natalya’s hand in marriage, Chubukov gets filled with excitement  2 Lomov is a 35 year- old gentleman who suffers from palpitations, gets upset very easily, and doesn’t sleep well. According to him, Natalya is average-looking and a good housekeeper. 

3 While talking about his property, Lomov somehow mentions Oxen Meadows which earlier was a disputed property but is now his. Natalya believes that Oxen Meadows belongs to her family. Both of them enter into a heated discussion.

4 Chubukov unintentionally reveals that Lomov had come up with a marriage proposal for Natalya which surprises Natalya and she immediately regrets sending him out.

5 When Lomov returns, they enter into another argument involving their dogs. Everyone gets hyper and Lomov finally falls due to his palpitations.

6 It is only when Lomov moves a little bit, they feed him some water and Chubukov forcefully hands over Natalya’s hands to him, gives his blessings, and asks them to kiss. 

7 Lomov, still not fully conscious doesn’t understand what is going on. When he finally comes to his senses, he expresses his excitement and kisses Natalya’s hands. 

8 Natalya, being childish as she is, once again, starts quarreling on another issue.

Q1. Anton Chekov used humour and exaggeration in the play to comment on courtship in his times. Illustrate with examples from the lesson, “The Proposal”. Also mention the values, you think, any healthy relationship requires. OR The principle ‘forgive and forget’ helps a lot is maintaining cordial relations with our neighbours. Do you think Chubukov conveys this message in the play “The Proposal’? 

Ans. Lomov and Natalya meet for a serious purpose, i.e., to talk about marriage that decides the progress of one’s life as a member of the conventionally established society. But the purpose of their meeting gets lost on two consecutive occasions because Lomov’s faith in the values of his society disrupts his approach to the topic of marriage. He learns that the girl and her father like him, but, instead of proposing to marry her and discussing how their marriage should be organised, he goes on to talk about properties, relations, family histories, and pets, draws them into an unnecessary argument, and antagonises both of them. Finally, Chubukov marries Lomov and Natasha by force before another problem crops up. Thus the play ends on a comic note, just because the couple gets together with their father to celebrate their marriage while the dispute over the pets is still continuing. For any healthy relationship, there should be mutual understanding and respect. Quarreling over trivial issues like dog cannot guarantee the longevity of a relationship. 

Q2. Is Natalaya really a lovesick cat as called by her father? If it is so, why does she quarrel with Lomov? 

Ans. Natalaya was a young unmarried girl of twenty-five years. She lived in the neighbourhood of Lomov, a young unmarried man. She was an excellent housekeeper and was not bad looking. She wanted love in her life. Her father called her a lovesick cat. Lomov said that she was well educated, but she did not seem to be so. She was very quarrelsome and abusive by nature. She began a bitter quarrel with Lomov over a piece of land that had little value. She said that those meadows were not much worth to her but she could not stand unfairness. But when she learned that Lomov had come to propose to her, she forgot all fairness and unfairness. She began to wail over the lost chance. She forced her father to call him back. But in no time, she started quarrelling with him again. It was on their dogs. Both claimed their respective dogs to be of a superior breed. 

Q3. Justify the title ‘The Proposal’. 

Ans. The title of the play ‘The Proposal’ is very appropriate. A young man, Lomov wants to propose Natalya for marriage. He goes to her house for the same. Being confused, he doesn’t propose at once. He beats about the bush. He speaks irrelevantly. As Natalya doesn’t know that he has come to propose to her, she thinks that he has come to claim oxen meadows as his own, she starts quarrelling. This results in one after another quarrel. After her father Chubukov reconciles; Natalya comes to know that he has come to propose to her. Then at once, she forgets the issue of fighting. Then the proposal is made and accepted. Finally, they get engaged. 

Q4. Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do not have. Describe the first fight between them. 

Ans. Lomov and Natalya were next-door neighbours. One day, Lomov came to Natalya to propose to her. Natalya, who didn’t know that he had come to propose to her, thought that he had come to claim Oxen Meadows as his own. When Chubukov, Natalya’s father, interfered with them and also pleaded that the Oxen Meadows were the property of Chubukov, the fight aggravated. For a few moments, Lomov’s real purpose was overshadowed by that issue and he continued the bias that meadows belonged to his aunt’s grandmother who gave them to the peasants of Chubukov’s grandfather on the condition that they would prepare bricks for her. So, how it could be considered Natalya’s property? Though both Lomov and Chubukov, Natalya’s father, were very rich landlords, they quarreled over a tiny piece of land, called, ‘Oxen Meadows’. But that was not the end of the quarrel. Natalya didn’t agree with Lomov’s explanation. Instead, she offered to make a present of it to Lomov who, in turn, rejected the suggestion. And the quarrel continued endlessly. The such first meeting of Lomov and Natalya had in itself seeds of things (quarrels over petty issues) to be expected in their married life. 

Q5. Give a character sketch of Lomov. 

Ans. Lomov was a funny man. Physically he was weak but financially he was sound. He was a rich bachelor who wanted to marry Natalya. He was not really in love with Natalya but wanted to marry her because he thought that she was a good housekeeper and beautiful. He said if he desired an ideal or real love, he would never get married. He felt that he was 35, and now he must lead a quiet and regular life. When he went to propose to her, he got diverted. Actually, Natalya thought that he had come to claim oxen meadows as his own, and a quarrel took place between them. One more time they quarreled over petty issues. Before finally proposing to her, he fainted and after that shouted a lot but finally succeeded to get acceptance. 

Q6. Descibe the incidents of humour in the play, ’The Proposal’ 

Ans. Dear friends, today I would like to address those students who make fun of the students who are weak, ugly, or poor. I have come to know that some of us make fun of girls who are not good-looking. We should all remember that if someone is poor or ugly, it is not his/her fault. We are what God has made us. We should not go for outer beauty. We should recognise the inner qualities of a person and appreciate them. One may be ugly in appearance but one’s creativity and intelligence may be beyond expectation. We should not insult anybody just because one is poor or ugly. We have no right to show disrespect to someone and humiliate him/her. I hope from now onwards we all are friends and will show respect to all. The tendency of making fun of the weak, ugly, or poor should be given up right now. Let us be good human beings. 

POETRY SECTION POEM 1. 

DUST OF SNOW 

1 On a winter day the poet was standing under the snow-covered hemlock tree which is poisonous.

2 A crow sat and shook the branch of the tree and the dust of snow fell on the poet.

3 However, this simple small beautiful act of nature had a very comforting and relaxing effect on him where earlier his mood was sad gloomy and despairing.

4 The falling of the snow made him realise that the whole day has not been wasted. 

5 Theme –Nature healing and helping with negative human emotions. Hope is one of the themes in this poem. Lastly, the poem gives the message that small natural incidents in life can change our attitude from negative 

to positive.

 Poetic Devices- Alliteration-‘saved some’ sound of ‘s’ ‘Has given my heart ‘ sound of ‘ha’

 Rhyme scheme- abab

Q1. Simple moment proves to be very significant and saves rest of the day of poet from being wasted. Explain on the basis of the poem ‘Dust of Snow”. 

Ans. ‘Dust of Snow’ is a beautiful poem written by Robert Frost. This poem conveys that even a simple moment has a large significance. The poet mentioned crow and hemlock tree in this poem. Crow signifies his depressive and sorrowful mood and the hemlock tree is a poisonous tree. Both these signify that the poet was not in a good mood and so he describes the dark, depressive and bitter side of nature to present his similar mood. The poet says that once he was in a sad, depressive mood and was sitting under a hemlock tree. A crow, sitting on the same tree, shook off the dust of snow, small particles of snow that remained on the surface after the snowfall, on the poet. This simple action changed the poet’s mood. He realised that he had just wasted a part of his day repenting and being lost in sorrow. But the change in his mood made him realise that he should utilize the rest of the day for some useful activity. His sorrow was washed away by the light shower of the dust of snow. His spirit was revived and he got ready to utilize the rest of the day. 

Q2. The poet was sad and depressed. But one comical incident lifts his spirits. He is full of joy and happiness again. Based on your reading of the poem, write a paragraph on the topic – Happiness is relative. 

Ans-No one is always happy. It is just a passing phase of one’s life. It varies from time to time and from place to place. It depends on certain people who you are close to. There are times when we are extremely happy or sorrowful. In most circumstances, our happiness is decided by certain moments in our life. Some light moments can really enliven our mood. The actions of our friends can make us happy or sometimes sorrowful. We must also realize that on every cloud there is a silver lining. This means that every sorrowful moment is followed by a period of joy and happiness. 

Q3. What do the crow and hemlock represent – joy or sorrow? What does the dust of snow that the crow shakes off a hemlock tree stand for? 

Ans. Both crow and the hemlock tree represent sorrow. Frost has used both the negative creatures (crow and the hemlock tree) as the carriers of positivism and strength that transformed his day for the better. By not using birds like sparrow and nightingale and trees like maple, oak or pine, the poet has tried to break down all the preconceived notions we have about certain agents of nature. He has tried to make us understand that we see the world not as how it is, but as how we want to see it. Thus, the crow sitting and a hemlock tree together made his day better. The dust of snow stands for joy. 

POEM 2. FIRE AND ICE 

1 The poet felt that the world of ours would come to an end, but he was not sure how.

 He came to the conclusion on the basis of what people said regarding the ending of the world.

2 Two highly contrasting but powerful elements of nature-fire and ice would end the world.

3 In the 1st stanza, the poet agreed with those who believed that the fire would cause the end of the world. Fire stands for strong, unlimited, uncontrolled desires of humans (of greed, power, and money) which would end 

the world.

4 The 2nd element ice stands for -is hatred, indifference, cold reasoning, and intolerance which would end the world.

5 The poet himself had experienced enough hate born out of desire. If the world survived after being destroyed by unlimited desire, it would be destroyed the 2nd time by hatred, indifference, and intolerance.

5 Theme – the theme of the poem is the old age question, of whether the world would end in fire or ice. The opinion is divided; some think the natural element of fire would destroy the world. Some think ice would destroy the world.

6 Rhyme scheme – abaa, bcbcb

 Assonance- the long sound of ‘O’ in ‘I hold with those who favour fire ‘

 Alliteration- the sound of ‘f ‘ in ‘I hold with those who favour fire ‘

 Imagery- ‘some say the world will end in fire ‘ ‘To say that for destruction ice, is also great ‘

 Symbolism – FIRE symbolises the strong, unlimited, uncontrolled human desire for greed, power, etc

 ICE symbolises hatred, indifference, cold reasoning, and intolerance.

 Anaphora – ‘some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice.’

 Personification- Fire and Ice have been personified

 Enjambment – ‘From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favour fire .’

Q1. Today’s world is conflict-ridden. People fight over various issues and there is no peace in the world. Explain/Describe based on your reading of the poem ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’. 

Ans.: Hatred is a predominant issue in today’s world. Neighbour hates his neighbour, brother hates his brother. None is willing to forgive each other or tolerate each other. As a result of the hatred, we live in a very fragmented world. If hatred continues to rule our lives and world, nothing will remain intact. All our achievements will perish and the world will come to an end. If we have to save the world we need to learn how to forget and forgive. For this, we need to have an enormous amount of love and compassion and be willing to tolerate the differences and learn to get along with each other. 

Q2. What do ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?

 Ans.: Fire’ stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty, and greed. Ice is symbolic of hatred, coldness, rigidity, insensitivity and intolerance. The general opinion regarding the world is that the world will end in fire and some say in ice. Both reasons contrast each other and one is equally opposed to the other. People who favour fire believe that it will be the heat and passion which will end the world. On the other side, some people think that it will be the ice that will freeze the world. 

Q3. There are many ideas about how the world will ‘end’. Do you think the world will end some day? Have you ever thought what would happen if the sun got so hot that it ‘burst’, or grew colder and colder? 

Ans.: There are many ideas about how the world will end. Robert Frost points out that two destructive forces—Fire and Ice, that may cause an end to the world. Yes, everything is subjected to an end. The world would come to an end someday. The cause may be a war or natural calamity. The sun is the main source of energy. It is life on earth. If the sun got so hot that it “burst’ or grew colder and colder life on the earth would come to an end. 

POEM 3. A TIGER IN THE ZOO 

1 The poet has depicted the mental condition of a caged tiger and compared the life of a tiger in the zoo and in its Natural Habitat.

2 The tiger is enraged and stalks inside the cage. 

3 The tiger gets fed up with visitors during the day and the noise of patrolling cars during the night. 

4 He hopefully looks at the bright stars with these bright eyes yearning for freedom. 

5 In his Natural Habitat the tiger is Fearless and lurks to hunt his prey. 

6 In his natural habitat he snarls and terrorizes the people baring his white fangs. 

 Freedom is life.

 Metaphor: pads of velvet 

 Personification: ‘he’ used for Tiger

 Repetition: velvet quiet, quiet rage, brilliant eyes, brilliant stars 

 Alliteration: behind bars 

 Rhyme Scheme: abcb in first, second, third and fifth stanzas.

Q1. “Freedom is a birth right. It is the most beautiful gift of god. It is valuable for all human beings as well as for creatures,” Discuss with reference to the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”. 

Ans. Freedom is the most beautiful gift of god. Freedom is a birthright, without freedom all is in vain. Since the man has come on his earth, he tries to enslave the weaker sections for his own selfishness. If a bird lives in a golden cage, it cannot become happy. It loves to fly freely in the open sky. In the same way, if a man lives in a prison and gets everything, he cannot feel happiness. But if a man lives freely, he will be happy even in poor conditions. In this poem, we find the descriptions of two tigers; one is in a cage and the second is in an open field/forest. There is a great contrast between their behaviours. 

Q2. Human beings use animals for entertainment, for their selfish ends and for recreation. What are your views about exploitation of animals? Describe with reference to the poem ‘A tiger in the zoo’. 

Ans. Human beings use animals, small or big, for their selfish ends. Animals are killed, poached and captured for commercial benefits. Humans have encroached upon their space and sheltered them in zoos which is truly inhuman. In the poem ‘ a tiger in the zoo ’; the poet has shown the plight of a tiger. He is captured and confined to a small cage he is frustrated, angry and restless. He longs for freedom. Confinement brings bondage and bondage is cruelty. Every day we see many animals suffering due to human callousness. Monkeys are captured and made to dance on roads, elephants are changed and forced to lift heavy loads. Many animals are sheltered in Zoos for the entertainment of human beings. They are kept in poor conditions. They are treated inhumanly. We should learn to respect nature and its inhabitants. After all, these animals too share the earth with us. 

Q3. Some animals are becoming extinct; the tiger is one such animal. What do you think could be the reason? Should this trend of its decreasing population be stopped? Why? 

Ans. The primary threats to the survival of tigers are poaching and Habitat loss due to intensive development. The tigers are getting extinct. They are on the list of endangered species and the reason behind it is human interference. Human beings hunt tigers for their commercial benefits. The loss of habitats also leads to a reduction in Prey animals so the area can support fewer tigers. Moreover, tigers are poached for trophies such as teeth and fur and for traditional medicines. The growing human population clears the forest area to convert them into agricultural land for food. This creates a problem for the tigers’ habitat. Tigers are the backbone of the food web and forests hence should be protected. 

POEM 4. THE BALL POEM 

1 The poet has described the grief of a boy who lost his ball and sensed that worldly possessions can’t be there forever. 

2 You need to learn the epistemology of loss. 

 Even after losing your most priced possessions, you have to learn to stand up, be strong and get on with life to survive. 

3 In the poem the boy lost his ball in the harbour and wept as he had sweet memories clinging to it.

4 He could buy a new ball but it was not worth anything as he couldn’t buy the memories associated with his old ball.

5 He realised his responsibility and understood that in the world you will lose your loved ones and possessions but no one will buy them back for you. 

6 The boy then learned the epistemology of loss and to strongly stand up and survive in life bearing the pain of the loss.

 Style: blank verse

 Symbolism: ball symbolises the priced possessions, things and people 

 Repetition: balls balls 

 Alliteration: use of sound ‘b’

 Personification: a ball is merrily bouncing 

 Anaphora: use of repeated words in two or more lines 

what is the boy… what… what, merrily bouncing, merrily over

Q1. “One should learn to accept and let go and not stick to something that we cannot have”. Elaborate the idea with reference to the poem ‘The ball poem’. 

Ans. It is important for everyone to experience to accept the loss and be bold and get on with life. Staying strong is the only way to survive. One should understand that the past is gone and will never come back. Sometimes loss helps us in growing up and we are able to face hardships. We also learn to accept and let go and not stick to something which we cannot have. In the poem, a little boy lost his only proud possession, i.e. his ball. He is learning what is like to experience grief when he loses a much-beloved possession- his ball. He was deeply grieved due to the loss. The poet too feels that it is of no use to purchase another ball. He must feel responsible for the loss. The poet makes the boy understand about his responsibilities as the loss is immaterial. Money is external as it cannot buy memories, nor can it replace the things that we love, the things that really matter. 

Q2. “You learn more from losing than you do from winning” Justify this sentence with reference to the poem ‘The ball poem’. 

Ans. Everyone experiences a loss at some point in one’s life. It might be the loss of a beloved, a parent or a close relative, or even a pet. Humans have a tendency of getting attached to things and the loss of things or people close to hearts causes grievance. But one must not let that pull us down. Loss is an essential and significant experience in one’s life. And one must learn to deal with it and move on. If we keep thinking about it or grieve over that loss, we can never come out of it. It will only affect us psychologically and can have severe consequences. Brooding over a loss will never help in bringing things back to normal. Loss is inevitable sometimes. Once a loss occurs, one must grieve, but only for a short while. Thereafter one must get over it and move on in life. 

Q3. How is the lost ball, the metaphor of the lost childhood of the boy? Elaborate.?

Ans. The boy has a ball. Perhaps he has been keeping it for a long time. He must have developed a lot of attachment to the ball. Suddenly while he is playing, the ball bounces down the street. And after a few bounces, it falls down into the harbor. It is lost forever. The boy stands there shocked and fixed to the ground. He constantly goes on staring at the spot where his ball fell down in the water. Outwardly the loss seems to be quite small. The boy seems to be making a fuss over the loss. A new ball can be easily bought on a dime. The Metaphor of the lost ball is beautifully linked with a sweet childhood. No amount of money can buy the ball back that has been lost forever. Similarly, no worldly wealth can buy back the lost childhood. 

POEM 5. AMANDA

 

1 This poem depicts the state of a little girl’s mind who is constantly instructed about do’s and don’ts by her elders.

2 She is told not to hunch her shoulders and to sit up straight. She is told to finish her homework and tidy her room.

3 She is forbidden from eating the chocolate that she has. 

4 But all the time, the little girl Amanda keeps dreaming of a life of freedom in the open. She dreams of mermaids in the sea, of roaming barefoot in the dusty street, and of the golden-haired Rapunzel who lived alone in a high tower. 

5 She takes no note of what is being said to her. 

6 Then she is rebuked for being moody and sulking all the time. 

7 Every child feels that he/she is controlled and instructed not to do one thing or another. 

8 Children have certain habits. Their parents teach them to mend those habits. These are for their benefit. 

9 Children have these habits because they want freedom. They want to feel comfortable at home. 

10 Amanda is a small girl and has certain unwanted habits. 

11 She is politely asked to mend those habits. But she seems to live in her own world as she is moody.

12 The poem is in a conversational tone.

 Alliteration: Stop that slouching and sit up straight, I thought I told you to clean your shoes, Stop that 

sulking at once, Amanda!

 Allusion: Mermaid – To be free and contained in their own. (Taken from fairy tales) Rapunzel. Who lived 

happily alone on a tower for a long time. (Part of a German fairy tale)

 Metaphors: Orphan – Who don’t have nagging parents above their head as Amanda’s., Languid, emerald 

sea – languid and emerald type qualities are assigned to sea. Silence is golden. Freedom is sweet

 Rhyme Scheme: aaba ccc aada eee aafa ggg aaha

Q1.‘Living with one’s head in the air’ is what Amanda epitomizes. Justify with examples from the poem. 

Ans. Instead of paying attention to the diktat of not biting her nails and sitting upright, Amanda daydreams about an emerald sea where she is the sole mermaid. Pensively, Amanda imagines herself a neglected urchin-cum-orphan, patterning soft dust with unshod feet. Instead of hearing the warnings about not eating the chocolate as it will bring on the acne, and listen attentively, Amanda imagines she is Rapunzel, with long tresses. 

Q2- How does Amanda tackle the nagging nature of her parents? Explain with examples from the poem. What values does it portray about Amanda? 

Ans: Amanda is a small girl who is termed moody for her careless behaviour. But it is very surprising to know that this is her defence mechanism to shield against her nagging parents. Amanda is getting instructions from her parents, which becomes too much to handle for the small girl. She is told not to eat her nails and sit in a proper position. Amanda’s response to it is her work of imagination where she is a mermaid drifting effortlessly by the languid river. 

Q3- Amanda wants to be Rapunzel but she does not want to let her hair down. Does this show her solidarity or obstinate nature? 

Ans: Amanda wants to be Rapunzel because she knew that in the story, there was no staircase to enter the tower. It was only possible with the help of Rapunzel’s long hair that she would let down to help others to climb. Amanda feels that life in the tower will be very calm and nice and also makes it a point to never let her hair down for anyone as she doesn’t want to get disturbed by visitors. This shows her solidarity. 

POEM 7. THE TALE OF CUSTARD THE DRAGON 

1 The tale of custard the dragon is a ballad. It is a humorous poem about a cowardly dragon named custard. 

2 Custard is a pet of Belinda, a little girl who lives in a little white house with her pets. 

3 She had a black kitten named ink, a grey mouse named blink, a yellow dog mustard, and a cowardly dragon custard.

4 The poet says that all of them are very brave except the dragon. Others were described as brave and are compared with animals like bear, tiger or lion but the dragon is very timid.

5 The poet describes the dragon as having big sharp teeth and spikes on top, mouth like a fireplace, nose like a chimney and toes sharp as daggers. 

6 But one night they are surprised by the entry of a pirate in the house who had pistols in both hands, was holding a dagger (sharp knife) in his teeth, had a black beard and one wooden leg. 

7 All of them get frightened and start hiding here and there. But to everyone’s surprise, the dragon not only tackles him but also swallowed him up. 

8 As all of them are saved by custard, Belinda hugged him, Mustard licked him and Ink and Blink danced around him.

9 Again they start saying that they are braver and could have handled the situation in a much better way. 

10 Here the poet has tried to say that sometimes a timid person is an actual hero in the toughest situations of life.

11 Rhyming Scheme and imagery/tone: The rhyming scheme of stanza 1-12 is aabb and the rhyming scheme of stanza-13 is aabbcc. The imagery shows lots of action and commotion. The tone is humorous and mocking. 

Poetic Devices

 Simile: Mouth like fireplace, -Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears, -Snorting like an engine

 Alliteration:- and he held in his teeth, -Beard was black

 Repetition: -Suddenly, suddenly they heard, -She cried Help! Help!

 Oxymoron: Use of two words with opposite meaning” pet dragon”

 Poetic License: The spellings have been changed to create a musical effect. (Realio, trulio, winda)

 Onomatopoeia: Usage of sound words to create a dramatic effect. (giggled, wreck, meowch)

 Transferred epithet: When an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another.

Q1. The dragon, custard was considered a coward. The humble dragon proved his bravery in adversity. Analyse that certain qualities like bravery and courage are situational and spontaneous. Express your views with reference to the poem. 

Ans. Custard’s humbleness won every reader’s heart as he showed true bravery and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets. Everyone boasted of their bravery but when they faced real danger, it was only Custard, who had the courage to face it. And he proved his bravery by not running away and facing the pirate and killing him. Qualities like bravery and courage can only be tested when someone is actually put in a dangerous situation. Therefore, these qualities are situational as becomes clear from Custard’s example. Custard looked for comfort all the time but this did not mean that he was a coward. 

Q2. ‘Bravery is spontaneous’ Explain with reference to the poem. 

Ans. Custard was truly brave and did not boast like Belinda and her other pets. Custard had the courage to face real danger, whereas everyone only boasted of their bravery. Custard faced the pirate and killed him, and he proved it by not running away. Bravery and courage are qualities that are, exhibited when someone actually faces a dangerous situation. Thus these qualities are spontaneous, taking the example of custard. 

Q3. Is there a hidden message that the poet is wishing to convey or do you think that entertainment is the sole purpose of writing this poem? 

Ans. The interpretation of the message in the poem may vary for different readers. The situation narrated underscores a basic truth that the real test of courage is during a crisis. The dragon though never put his strength on display but exhibited it in action when it was required to do so.

 BOOK: FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET 

Chapter 1. THE TRIUMPH OF SURGERY 

1 James Herriot stops his car and sees the poor health of Mrs. Pumphrey’s dog, Tricki.

2 He advises Mrs. Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet and make him exercise daily.

3 Mrs. Pumphrey continues to overfeed Tricki, which worsens his condition.

4 She calls Herriot for help on noticing Tricki’s deteriorating health.

5 Herriot decides to hospitalise Tricki for a fortnight to treat him.

6 Tricki’s hospitalisation left Mrs. Pumphrey and the helpers at home in tears.

7 Tricki was kept on a strict diet in the hospital. His diet was increased according to the improvements he showed.

8 Mrs. Pumphrey’s anxiousness about Tricki’s health went away on learning that Tricki was convalescing satisfactorily.

9 She started to send eggs, wine and brandy for Tricki to enrich his blood and improve his health.

10 These items were instead enjoyed by James Herriot and his partner.

11 Tricki was transformed from a weak fat dog to a hard-muscled and agile one.

12 James Herriot calls Mrs. Pumphrey to come and take Tricki home

Q1.This episode describes the silly behavior of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, Perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their action cause harm to others? 

Ans. Mrs. Pumphrey is worried and distraught because Tricki would not eat anything. He even is not ready to eat his favorite dishes. Tricki has bouts of vomiting and spends all his time lying on the rug and panting. Tricki does not even want to go for walks or do anything. 

Q2. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense? 

Ans. These sorts of people have enough disposable money but are ignorant about the results of their actions. They show their excessive love and affection without knowing its consequences to others. Undoubtedly, their intentions are good and don’t have any sort of ill will, these actions do more harm than good to the object of affection. 

Q3. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”? 

Ans. I think the narrator; a veterinary surgeon seems to be a practical and tactful person. He knows how to deal with people. He adjusts himself well to the circumstances. He immediately understands Tricki’s problem. Tricki doesn’t suffer from any sort of illness. The main cause of his illness is overfeeding. He takes the dog to his surgery. There the doctor keeps him on a water diet and makes him physically active and treats him without any medicine. The dog gets well under his supervision and the natural environment of surgery. 

Chapter 2. THE THIEF’S STORY 

1 Anil was a 25 years old writer but a very careless person. He was struggling to write to earn money to run his life. 

2 One day Anil befriends Hari. Anil promised Hari that he would teach him how to write, add numbers and how to cook tasty food. Now both were living together happily.

3 One day Hari saw Anil keeping a bundle of notes under the mattress. 

4 That night Hari stole the bundle of notes and ran away from there to the railway station to board a train to Lucknow. But, he missed it. Suddenly it started raining and Hari Singh was completely wet.

5 There was a conflict in his mind. He did not want to betray the faith of Anil. He felt guiltier as he had cheated an innocent person.

6 Hari Singh had a change of heart. He decided to return to Anil and keep the money under the pillow. 

7 The next morning, Anil offered Hari Singh Rs. 50 and told him he would now be paid regularly

8 He realized that the notes were still wet from the rain last night. Hari got to know that Anil had come to know about his misdeed but there was no sadness, anger or guilt in his mind.

9 Moral: Human values and relations are important in life and such values can change a person too.

10 The Thief by Ruskin Bond, is based on the theme of friendship, betrayal, aspirations, connection, trust, guilt, change, kindness, loyalty, revenge and honesty. 

Q1. Why, according to Hari Singh, is it easier to rob a greedy man than a careless person like Anil? 

Ans. Hari Singh has correlated theft with a sense of satisfaction; a thief gets pleasure when a person comes to know that he has been robbed. Hari Singh says that a greedy man can afford to be robbed too whereas a careless man at times may never come to know that he has lost something or he has been robbed. This carelessness, on the part of a person robbed, deprives a thief of the pleasure that he gets out of theft. 

Q2. Money can’t make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement. 

Ans. The statement stands true in almost all aspects of life. Money may buy us all the luxuries and fulfill our needs but it cannot buy us knowledge, civilized thinking, skills and abilities to achieve our dreams. Education lays the platform for all to act upon our goals according to our abilities. Education enables us to keep up with the fast-moving world. It opens the door to opportunities we do not know even exist. Money, on the other hand, can assist us to a certain level. It can buy us a plan but education gives us the knowledge of its execution. Just as in the story ‘A Thief s Story’, Hari Singh prioritized the chance of being literate over a few hundred rupees; we must understand that education can help us to achieve whatever we desire. 

Q3. Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Anil. Why did he return? On what values does this incidence put light on? 

Ans. Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil’s money. After the theft, he realised that he had robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back. He realised that he could not make tea, buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and forced him to return. Hari’s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a practical and positive attitude toward life. It is the awakening of Hari’s conscience and Anil’s love and care that reformed Hari’s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. The understanding nature of Anil and his care changed Hari’s thinking to mend his ways for good. 

Chapter 5. FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET 

1 The story is about a scientist named Griffin who discovered a rare drug that made him invisible. 

2 One day two boys noticed the footprints of someone (Griffin) and followed those until they became invisible.

3 First, Griffins entered a mall, wore some warm clothes and ate cold meat, and drank some coffee.

4 Later he went to a grocery store but in the morning when some of the store assistants had seen him, he quickly threw away all the clothes he was wearing and became invisible again. 

5 He then decided to steal clothes from a theatre company and stole bandages for his face, dark glasses, a false nose, and a hat for covering himself.

6 He then hit the shopkeeper and stole all his money. Soon he realized that London is too crowded to live like this, so he came to stay at an inn in the Iping village.

7 There he stole money from people and also hit the landlord and his wife Mrs. and Mr. Hall.

8 Then the village constable Mr. Jaffers was asked for help. Mr. Jaffers. The constable also found out that he would have to arrest a man who did not have a head. 

9 They were unable to catch Griffin as he removed all his clothes and became invisible. He even knocked out Jaffers as he tried to catch him.

Q1. If, somehow you discovered how to become invisible, how would you use that opportunity?

Ans. If I discovered how to become invisible, I would use this opportunity to punish all those people who cause trouble to others for their own selfish motives. I would catch them and hand them over to the police without letting them know that I was behind them. I will also help law-enforcing agencies when they conduct raids on criminal hideouts, as I will be able to move in the open without fear of being seen. This will help the people of the country to become more law-abiding citizens. 

Q2. Griffin was not a true scientist as he misused his scientific discovery. Illustrate this point by giving two incidents from the story. 

Ans. A true scientist is a law-abiding person. A scientist is also called a ‘natural philosopher’. Griffin was not a true scientist as he did not use his discovery of how to make himself invisible for good uses. He lost control of himself and behaved like a criminal. First, he set fire to his landlord’s house and ran away. Then he stole food without paying for it in a London store. Besides, he robbed the owner of a theatrical company and stole money from a clergyman’s desk. 

Q3. What impression do you form of Griffin after reading the lesson, “Footprint, without Feet”? 

Ans. Griffin was a brilliant scientist, as he discovered a drug due to which his body became transparent as a sheet of glass after swallowing it. This made him invisible. But he was a lawless person. Because of his misdeeds, he became a homeless wanderer without clothes and money. He was an introvert with a desire for solitude. He was always seeking adventure and fond of mysterious things. However, he was unscrupulous, as he robbed various people to finance his work, besides he got angry very quickly, which caused him to become a fugitive. 

Q4. “Griffin was rather a lawless person”. Comment on it. 

ANS. Griffin was not bothered if he had harmed anybody in the fulfillment of what he wanted. He set his landlord’s house on fire because the landlord had tried to make him leave. Then his robberies at the shop and later in the village indicate that he was a lawless person. When he encountered the landlady of the inn, he threw a chair at her and her husband. Lawless persons like Griffin never think about the safety and well-being of others. They are only concerned about themselves. 

Q5. How did the invisible man first become visible? 

Ans. The invisible man first became visible when he accidentally stepped into some mud and his footprints started becoming visible to two boys who followed him until his footprints fainted and became invisible again. He got rid of them and spent a night at a large London store where he wore some clothes and slept on a pile of quilts. The next morning, when he was still sleeping, the store assistants started coming in and saw him which was actually the first time he was seen. 

Q6. What other extraordinary things happen at the inn? 

Ans. The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the scientist’s door open. Usually, it is shut and locked and he becomes furious if anyone enters his room. The opportunity seems too good to be missed. They peep around the door, see nobody and decide to investigate. The bedclothes were cold, showing that the scientist must have been up for some time. All of a sudden Mrs. Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later the hat on the bedpost leaped up and dashed itself into her face. Then the bedroom chair became alive. Springing into the air it charged straight at her, legs foremost. As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them. Mrs. Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was convinced that the room was haunted by spirits and the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into the furniture. 

Q7. What curious episode occurs in the study? 

Ans. A clergyman and his wife were awakened by noises in the study very early in the morning. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn’t a sign of anybody. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing. 

Chapter 6. MAKING OF A SCIENTIST 

1 At the age of 22, Richard. H. Ebright excited the world of science with a new theory on cells

2 Richard’s scientific career started with butterflies, he collected butterflies when he was in Kindergarten.

3 His mother encouraged his interest in learning, took him on trips, and bought telescopes, microscopes, cameras, and other types of equipment.

4 His father died very young and his mother became his only companion and motivator.

5 By the time Richard was in the 2nd grade, he had collected 25 species of butterflies found around his hometown.

6 His mother gifted him a children’s book called The Travels of Monarch X.

7 The book described how Monarch butterflies migrated to Central America and opened the world of science for Richard Ebright.

8 Ebright raised a flock of butterflies in his basement. He sent tagged butterflies to Dr. Urquhart, the writer of the book.

9 In the 7th grade, he entered the County Science Fair and lost.

10 He wrote to Dr. Urquhart for new ideas and received many suggestions for experiments.

11 The next year, his science fair project was to test the theory that Viceroy butterflies copied Monarch butterflies. The project was placed 1st in the Zoology division and 3rd overall in the County Science Fair.

12 In his 2nd year in high school, Richard Ebright discovered an unknown insect hormone.

13 He and his friend showed that tiny gold spots on butterflies produced a hormone that was necessary for the butterfly’s full development.

14 This project won Ebright 1st place in the county fair and an entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair.

15 He grew cells from a monarch butterfly’s wing in culture, was able to identify the hormone’s chemical structure, and showed how the cell can ‘read’ the blueprint of its DNA.

16 Richard graduated from Harvard with the highest honours, 2nd in his class of 1,516.

17 His other interests-was a champion debater, a good canoeist, and an expert photographer.

18 Richard had a great admiration for his social studies teacher, Richard .A. Weiherer, who opened his mind to new ideas.

19 He was competitive but not in a bad sense. He wanted to be the best.

20 The Travels Monarch X opened the world of science to him and he never lost his scientific curiosity after that.

Q1. Obedience, interest, and love for subject can turn a child to become a great personality one day. Refer to the story of Ebright who was loved by his mother so much, fulfills his desire and becomes a great Scientist. Write about the statement expressing your views.

Ans. Richard H. Bright as a student was always curious to know, he was a determined child to perform better and the best. His devotion and constant encouragement from his mother and teachers turned him into a great scientist and later on a great personality. 

Q2. How did Ebright show the science that he would do amazing things when he would grow up imagine you are Ebright what would you do? 

Ans. Ebright was an excellent student he always wanted to learn. His mother’s love and encouragement helped him a lot. His curiosity and devotion to science made him do amazing things. I would also like him. 

Q3. A mother can make her child what he /she wishes to become in life keeping in mind the role of Ebright Mother. Explain. 

Ans. Ebright’s Mother was a devoted lady she always took great care of her son she developed his interest in learning she took him on trips and bought telescopes microscopes cameras and other materials by this way she helped her son. 

Chapter 7. NECKLACE 

1 Matilda, an ordinary woman, unhappy with her monotonous simple life, dreams of grandeur all the time.

2 M. Loisel, Matilda’s husband, is satisfied with what he has. He is also happy being a clerk.

3 Loisels get invited to a ball at the Minister of Public Instruction’s place.

4 Loisel thinks that his wife would be happy to know about the invitation to the ball.

5 Matilda is displeased and refused to go as she does not have a dress to wear to the ball.

6 Her husband offers to buy her a dress for four hundred francs.

7 Matilda buys a good dress but is still unhappy as she has no jewel to complement the beautiful dress.

8 Her husband suggests borrowing jewels from her friend, Mme Forestier.

9 Mme Forestier lends Matilda a diamond necklace.

10 Matilda becomes a celebrity at the ball party as everyone admires her beauty.

11 Unfortunately, the couple discovers the necklace is lost as they reach home.

12 M Loisel contacts the police, and cab offices, and advertises to award the finder of the necklace but to no avail. They decide to buy a new necklace to replace it.

13 M Loisel collects 18000 francs and they borrow eighteen thousand more to pay for the necklace.

14 The couple spends ten years to pay back the debt, working day and night, and suffering from dire poverty.

15 Ten years of poverty and misery render them old and weary.

16 M Loisel meets Mme Forestier one day and narrates the story of the necklace.

17 Mme Forestier informs her necklace was worth just five hundred Francs. The story focuses that one should be content and satisfied with their belongings and not crave expensive items that are not within their economical capabilities. Extreme desire for lavish items leads to unhappiness and loss of peace of mind.

Q1. Mrs Loisel led such a life which is inspirational for women as well as millions of people. What would you like to say about this statement? 

Ans. Mrs. Loisel was an extremely beautiful woman who was married to a clerk. She had her own way of leading a better life but fate was against her. She could not lead luxurious life still her husband made all possible efforts to make her happy. She had to do all the work of the family herself when they lost a necklace. 

Q2. Mr. Loisel proved himself a very good husband. He always tried to help and please his wife and tried to convince her in all possible manners. Discuss. 

Ans. When we read the story THE NECKLACE we come to know the qualities of Mr. Loisel who is the husband of Matilda. He earned not so much but proved a better companion for his wife. He always tried to convince her in all possible manners. 

Q3. Never be over-smart or overconfident; lead your life as you can. We should not try to compete with the higher people. Comment. 

Ans. One should live happily and not be sad. We must enjoy life as it’s very precious. There are people who are rich. Others may have cars, and big buildings still need to live as per our limitations. Our mistakes might bring suffering or pain. 

Q4. People should always live within their means. Aspirations have no limits but one should never forget the ground realities. Elaborate on the basis of the chapter-“The Necklace”. 

Ans. The chapter “The Necklace” brings out the fact beautifully that people should always try to live within their means. Our desires have no limits but we must see our circumstances and try to live within our means. If we fail to accept the situation or put a stop to our aspirations, we can certainly land ourselves in trouble. It is better that we accept life as it comes to us and not keep on cribbing about unhappy circumstances. As we read the story “The Necklace”, we find that Matilda is not at all happy about getting married to a clerk. She had wished her life to be luxurious. It is these aspirations and frustration of hers which puts her in trouble and spoil the rest of her life. She does not work for solutions but rather complicates the situation for her. It is very essential to understand the ground realities and live accordingly. If Matilda had not borrowed a diamond necklace for the party and kept it carefully, things would not have been so complicated for her. Moreover, she did not confess the truth to her friend. If she had done so, she would not have lived the life of a pauper for a long period of her life. 

Q5.The course of Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. Comment. 

Ans. It took a decade to pay back the money they borrowed to buy the necklace. And, it changed everything for them. They had to move to the poorest quarter of the city. With no maids or assistance, Matilda had to cook, clean, mend, sew and bargain with the grocer and butcher to save every sou( a French coin of low value) just for mere survival. The husband had to work in the evening and night to pay their debt. In this way, the course of Loisel’s life changed due to the necklace. 

Q6. Mme Loisel’s disposition invites her doom. Comment in the context of the text you have read. 

Ans. Mme Loisel belongs to a family of clerks. Her assistance is quite average. They live on a meager income, enough for basic needs but not to fulfill aspirations. She gets married to a clerk and is so caught up with her dreams of wealth and pleasure that she is out of touch with the truths of her real life. In order to keep up appearances and just to flatter her pride, she blows up 400 hundred francs on a gorgeous dress. And, not contended, she goes on borrowing a necklace from her friend. And, all of this is just to impress the wealthy and the rich with her beauty and glamour (even if on loan). No doubt, her pride is flattered, and her wish of fine dining, expensive dresses, and jewels satisfied but at a great price. Unfortunately, the necklace has been lost and the couple has to cough up their entire inheritance and borrow as well to replace it. Repayment of the debt eats away the next ten years of their youth. They live poor. All the household chores and care of a life of poverty visit them. Hence, her disposition invites her doom. 

Q7. Mme Forestier proved to be a true friend. Elucidate. 

Ans. Mme Forestier turns out to be an interesting character. She plays a vital role in the story. As a friend to Matilda, we find her to be really genuine as she helps Matilda in the hour of her need. When Mme Loisel Needs to borrow jewels, she turns to Mme Forestier. Madam Forestier does not refuse. Displaying her generosity she opens up the entire array of her jewels for Matilda to choose from. Also, She is considerate when Loisel delays the return of the necklace. Surprisingly, at the end of the story, she concludes the entire narrative. Without even a moment of delay and hesitation, she reveals to Matilda that her necklace was just a fake. She is not at all worried in light of the fact that she may have to return the necklace. It shows her honesty rather, she likes a true friend and feels bad for Matilda for her unnecessary suffering. We find her sympathizing with Mme Loisel. She is indeed a gem of a friend. 

Q8. The story “The Necklace” teaches us many lessons which form the crux of human values. Discuss. 

Ans. The story “The Necklace” teaches us many lessons which form the crux of human values. The very first thing it teaches us is the need to be content in life. Matilda, though born into a family of clerks and married to a petty clerk with the Board of Education, remains unhappy. She suffers from the feeling that she is born for all delicacies and luxuries, but has to live miserably in poverty. So, when she has to attend the office party with her husband, she asks him for money to get a new dress. Her husband sacrifices the money he has saved to buy a gun to get her the dress. Then also she is not content. She feels that she could look more beautiful with a jewel. She thus borrows a necklace from her friend, thinking that it is made of diamonds. At the party, she remains elegant, gracious, smiling, and absolutely happy. She was thus the prettiest of all. But this vanity is short-lived and is the beginning of all troubles in her life. She loses the necklace and she gets a new diamond necklace as its replacement by borrowing heavily. Subsequently, she is pushed to live in poverty as she slogs for ten years to save money to pay back the huge debt. Then the horrible reality frightens her. She realizes how her false pride has taken away her otherwise happy contended life. The story thus discusses the negative effects of pride and vanity and stresses the importance of being satisfied with what one has honesty, love, and sacrifice. 

Chapter 9. BHOLI 

1 The story is about a little girl named Sulekha who was called ‘Bholi’ for being a simpleton. 

2 Her father Ramlal was always worried about her as she stammered and had pockmarks on her face.

3 One day, at the request of the Tehsildar of their village Ramlal, agreed to send Bholi to school. 

4 In the school, Bholi met a teacher who was very kind and polite to her. She encouraged her to study and speak with confidence. This filled hope in Bholi.

5 Years passed and Bholi’s parents decided to marry her to a lame old man who was a widower but was rich and had not demanded any dowry. 

6 On the wedding day, the groom demanded a dowry of Rs.5000 as Bholi had pockmarks on her face.

7 Bholi could not bear all this and refused to marry a greedy old man. People accused her of being shameless. The marriage ceremony ended without Bholi getting married.

8 Her father was surrounded by grief as now no one would marry her and what would she do in future. 

9 To this, she replied that she would take care of her parents when they grew old and would teach in her school. Her teacher, who was quietly watching all this, felt proud of her decision.

10 The major theme of the story Bholi is the impact of family on children. Bholi is a little girl who fails to develop self-confidence because of her parent’s attitude toward her. The story hints at why family support and emotional security are essential for the proper development of a child. Also, disabled children must be given encouragement, love, and education like their normal counterparts.

Q1 “Dowry is a negation of a girl’s dignity” suggests some measures that can be adopted to eradicate this evil from our society. 

Ans- Dowry is one of the many social evils that are still deeply rooted in our society. It is the negation of a girl’s dignity. Bholi was rejected due to her looks by Bishamber. However, he was ready to marry her if he was given a considerable sum of money as a dowry. We should remove this evil from our society. Dowry should be neither given nor taken. Education is one tool that can help us in eradicating this evil practice. Stringent laws should be formulated against the dowry system. Moreover, parents should stop treating their daughters as burdens. As Bholi got confidence by getting an education, all other girls will also gain strength to fight this evil practice. Bholi not only rejects the marriage but also claims to work at the school. She became self-dependent in the end. 

Q2 “The teacher can change the life of any person through education” Justify this statement in the light of the story Bholi. 

Ans- The statement is fully justified in the light of the story Bholi. Bholi was a slow child from the beginning. Due to her childhood physical challenges, she looked different from other children. Her speech was not clear and she used to stammer. That is why; she was slower than other children. Even her parents called her dumb and witless but when she was sent to school, her teacher changed her life completely. Her teacher played a significant role in her life. Her teacher gave her confidence and encouragement to learn. Bholi became an educated and bold girl due to her teacher. She was able to take charge of her life and in the end, she even denied marrying the greedy fellow Bishamber. So we can say that it was the love, compassion, and sympathy of her teacher that transformed the life of Bholi. 

Q3. Bholi has multiple handicaps- she has pockmarks, she stammers. How can we change the social attitudes towards the differently abled? 

Ans- Bholi is physically challenged. She is a slow girl. She has pockmarks and also stammers. What difference does it make? She is a human being and she should also be treated and honored like other human beings. Disability of any kind is not an obstacle in one’s life. Helen Keller was blind but proved to be a successful writer in the end. Sudha Chandran is an example of an indomitable will who despite losing one leg became a dancer of world Fame. The social attitude towards these people should not be one of pity. They should be appreciated that in spite of one’s weaknesses, they are struggling hard to survive. Society will have to change its attitude towards differently-abled people. 

Q4. “Dowry is a negation of the girl’s dignity”. Discuss with reference to the story “Bholi”. 

Ans. A girl is an individual in her own right. Equal opportunities in life can help her become independent and strong. She is not a burdensome object to be given away with money as compensation. Thus, dowry negates the girl’s identity and self-respect. The story Bholi shows this in a dramatic manner. Bholi is thought to be ugly and dumb by her parents. So, they are willing to pay a dowry to an old man with a limp. So that he marries her. Bholi, on the other hand, refuses to marry that man. She is educated, assertive, and capable of taking care of herself. She dedicates her life to the service of her parents and teaching at school. So, in the same manner, a girl should behave when the situation is not praiseworthy or causes trouble to society and girls. Nowadays, girls are empowering their thoughts and freedom to speak because of education and equal rights in society. A social evil like dowry is not acceptable at any cost as it affects the dignity of a girl. And girls have all the right to say “No” to the person who demands it to prove his masculinity. 

Q5. Bholi chose a dignified life of service rather than surrendering herself to a greedy old man for the rest of her life. Education provides the required stimulus to overcome one’s personal barriers. Explain the role of education in shaping the life of a child with respect to the lesson “Bholi”. 

Ans. Gone are the days when girls’ education was considered an unacceptable right as they were not allowed to come out of their houses. But education is the Ans. to all social ills. Illiteracy and ignorance bring nothing but poverty, suffering, and misery. Bholi lacks confidence initially because of her disabilities. She is silent, timid, and weak in mind. Her ugliness and her stammer do not let her progress. She is afraid to speak as others make fun of her. School changes her life completely. It opens a new world of hope for her. Her teacher treats her with love and kindness. Her affection and support help Bholi to have faith in herself. She studies and grows into a young confident woman. She knows her rights and she asserts them as well. She refuses to marry a man who demands dowry. Thus, being educated changes the life of Bholi. Here, Bholi represents all the girls of society who take a stand for their rights and know what is right or what is wrong. This happens only due to the proper education of girls. If a girl is educated, she can change the society and nation. She is like the base of the family and imparts her knowledge and experience to her family and the next generation. So education is the right and it is a must for all girls. 

Q6. Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else”. These words of encouragement from the teacher highlight the change in social attitude and encouragement can help a child like Bholi to become confident and face the world bravely. Taking help from the lesson “Bholi” write how the social attitude towards Bholi made her an introvert. What should be done to help such children to face the world bravely? 

Ans. Bholi suffered a weak mind due to her accident (falling from her cot) during her infancy. She also started to stammer while speaking. Then she became ugly due to pockmarks on her face and body after contracting the smallpox disease. All these made her family and other children treat her badly, resulting in her becoming an introverted person. To help such children face the world bravely, we must treat them with love and affection and encourage them to join mainstream society. We must not mock their disabilities; instead, we must give them hope that they can be as good as the other children by motivating and uplifting them. As we know that every child is special and proper guidance and support can boost their morals and encourage them to do well in their lives. There are a lot of children like Bholi in our society who need the utmost care and affection from us. And we can help them to improve their lives and to excel in the future. 

Q7.The chapter “Bholi” highlights the discrimination against the girl child. Analyse. 

Ans. Nature does not discriminate, but society does. From time immemorial the world has discriminated against the girl child. The chapter, “Bholi” throws up many such instances. Ramlal’s son goes to school and college. His daughters are not educated but married off. Her mother does not think it necessary to take Bholi’s consent for her marriage. The groom is old and lame. Still, he demands dowry. Her father is ready to pay him also. It is the girl herself who raises her voice against this marriage. She is criticized and humiliated for standing up for her dignity. But she is firm and decides the course of her life. 

Q8. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her? 

Ans. Bholi agreed to an unequal match because she had heard her parents discussing the marriage proposal. They said that she was fortunate to get a bridegroom who was rich and was ready to marry her without taking a dowry. He was unaware of Bholi’s pock-marks and dumbness. She had heard her mother say that if they did not accept the proposal, Bholi might remain unmarried all her life. Later, Bholi refused the marriage because the bridegroom demanded five thousand rupees as dowry from her father. Moreover, it was unbearable for her to see her father pleading in front of him for the sake of his daughter and family’s honour. Her self-respect made her refuse from marrying a greedy coward.