The Luncheon RTC, Complete the Sentences and Broad Questions

 In this blog post, You will find all types of Q-A from ICSE class VII syllabus, "The Luncheon" by William Somerset Maugham including Reference to the context (RTC) questions, complete-the-sentence exercises, and broad questions. These detailed explanations and answers will help you understand the story's themes, humour, and twists, making your preparation smooth and effective. Whether you're looking for quick revisions or in-depth analysis, this post got you covered.

The Luncheon MCQ is HERE

The Luncheon Complete the Sentence Exercise:

The Luncheon MCQ : HERE

The Luncheon - RTC (Reference To The Context)

The Luncheon - Questions & Answers

The Luncheon - RTC ANSWERS:

MORE Questions and Answers:

What was the speciality of White Wine?

Ans: White Wine was a light, refreshing French white wine that was great for

digestion.

Why the narrator agreed on Foyot’s restaurant for luncheon? State two reasons.

Ans: Foyot's restaurant served food to French senators and the cost was beyond of reach of the narrator's money, but he was too young to have learned to say no to a woman. He also thought that a decent meal should not cost more than 15 gold Frances, which he can manage sacrificing his coffee.

What were the things ordered at the luncheon?

Ans: Salmon fish, caviar, mutton chop, White Wine, Champagne, huge asparagus,

coffee, and ice cream were among the items requested for the luncheon.

Why the woman called the narrator unwise for having meat?

Ans: The narrator made a mistake by eating meat for lunch because the woman didn't

believe in overloading the stomach, and heavy foods don't help with work.

What was the woman talking about during the dinner and what was going in the mind of the narrator then? 

Ans: During the dinner, the woman was discussing the many forms of art, literature, and music with the narrator. However, the narrator was worried about the bill.

How the asparagus look-like?

The asparagus appeared to be massive, luscious, and delicious.

How the narrator reacted to the bill and how it affected him?

Ans: When the bill arrived, the narrator paid it, only to discover that he only had

enough money for a very little tip. The woman's gaze briefly fell on the three francs he had left for the waiter, and he knew she would judge him harshly. However, he

had the entire month ahead of him when he walked out of the restaurant, and he

didn't have a single penny in his pocket.

How can the woman’s personality be described? 

Ans: She was imposing in her appearance rather than attractive. She was a woman of forty and gave him the impression of having more teeth, white and large and even than were necessary for any practical purpose. She was talkative and seemed inclined to talk to the author.

"Then a terrible thing happened" - What was the most terrible thing that happened at last?

Ans: The narrator expresses this emotion when the head waiter came with a basket of peaches. The narrator knew that the peaches would be quite expensive as they were not in season. 

 ‘I never eat anything for luncheon’. Explain the irony in this line.

Ans. The irony lies in the fact that the woman claims she never eats anything for luncheon and then proceeds to order a lavish meal, consisting of caviar, salmon, asparagus, fruit, coffee and ice cream,  completely contradicting her initial statement.

‘I was past caring now.’ In your view, explain why the narrator feels this way. 

Ans. The narrator feels this way because the initial shock of seeing the menu and realizing that the bill would be quite high had worn off. He had accepted his fate. 

Where did the narrator live twenty years ago? How was his financial condition like? What was his occupation or profession?

Twenty years ago, the narrator was living in Paris. He had a small apartment in the Latin quarters. His financial condition was not very good. He was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. 

He was writer by profession.

On seeing the menu, why the narrator got startled? How did the woman put his worried thoughts to rest?

On seeing the menu, the narrator was startled as the prices were great deal higher than he had anticipated. The woman put his worried thoughts to rest by saying that she never ate anything for luncheon.

What was the woman's excuse for ordering champagne? 

Ans: Her excuse for ordering champagne was that her doctor wouldn't have let her drink anything but champagne.

Why was the narrator panic-stricken while the asparagus was bring cooked?

Ans: The narrator was panic-stricken while the asparagus was bring cooked because the asparagus was very expensive and now, it was not a question how much money he would have leftover for the rest of the month, but whether he had enough money to pay the bill. It would be humiliating for the narrator to find himself short of money and borrowing it from the guest.

or 

The narrator was panic-stricken while the asparagus was bring cooked because the asparagus was very expensive and the woman had ordered a few quite expensive dishes already. So the narrator was not sure whether he had enough money to pay the bill. 

Why did the narrator order coffee for himself also?

Ans: The narrator ordered coffee for himself also because he was past caring then and he knew that after paying the bill, he would not be left with any money to afford even a single cup of coffee for the whole month.

How did the woman know the narrator? Why did she want to meet him?

Ans: The woman knew the narrator as a writer, she had read his books and was one of his readers. She was passing through Paris where the narrator lived. So, she expressed her wish to meet him at Foyot's restaurant. 

What did the narrator really mean when he said that he will not eat dinner that night?

Ans: The narrator's reason for not having dinner that night wasn't a lack of appetite but rather a financial one. The bill for the extravagant meal ordered by the woman in Foyot's left him barely enough money for a tip, and he felt he had to forget dinner to manage his limited fund.

The Luncheon MCQ is HERE

A few questions and the line quotes are may be missing from the particular text you are following from your book... It's on the publishers. Just skip the extra questions. Easy!

THANK YOU. HOPE THIS HELPS

On a Bicycle Summery, Line-by-Line Explanations & Question-Answer

Summary of "On a Bicycle" by Yevgeny Yevtushenko

The poem "On a Bicycle" by Yevgeny Yevtushenko is a vivid, energetic portrayal of a young rider's exhilarating experience on a bicycle. The poem captures the joy, freedom, and slight recklessness of youth, as well as the close bond the speaker shares with their bicycle. Through dynamic imagery and playful language, Yevtushenko evokes the thrill of the ride and the carefree spirit of the speaker.

Line-by-Line Explanation

Here's a line-by-line explanation of the poem "On a Bicycle" by Yevgeny Yevtushenko:

1. "Under the dawn I wake my two-wheel friend."

   - The poem begins with the speaker waking up early in the morning, just as dawn is breaking. The "two-wheel friend" refers to the bicycle, personified as a companion. This shows the close bond and affection the speaker has for the bicycle.

2. "Shouting in bed my mother says to me, 'Mind you don't clatter it going downstairs!'"

   - The speaker’s mother, still in bed, reminds him not to make noise while taking the bicycle downstairs. This adds a realistic touch, showing the daily routine and the mother's concern.

3. "I walk him down, he springing step to step:"

   - The speaker carefully takes the bicycle downstairs, with "springing step to step" suggesting a lively and energetic movement. The use of "him" continues the personification of the bicycle.

4. "Those tyres he has, If you pat him flat-handed he'll bounce your hand."

   - This line describes the tires of the bicycle, emphasizing their firmness and quality. The image of the tire bouncing back when patted reflects the readiness and responsiveness of the bicycle.

5. "I mount with an air and as light a pair of legs as you'll encounter,"

   - The speaker confidently mounts the bicycle, feeling light and free. The phrase "as light a pair of legs as you'll encounter" suggests the ease and agility with which the speaker rides.

6. "slow into Sunday ride out of the gates, roll along asphalt, press down on the pedals, speeding, fearless, ring, ring, ring."

   - The speaker starts a leisurely Sunday ride, leaving the gates of home and rolling along the road. The line captures the gradual acceleration and the carefree, fearless nature of the ride, punctuated by the joyful ringing of the bicycle bell.

7. "Flinging along my happiness my fever, incapable of breaking out of it,"

   - The speaker expresses the overwhelming joy and excitement of the ride. The word "fever" suggests an intense passion or energy that the speaker feels, which they are unable to escape.

8. "overtaking the lorries on the road taking each of them in a single swoop flying behind them through cut open space hanging on them uphill."

   - The speaker boldly overtakes trucks ("lorries") on the road, moving swiftly and effortlessly. "Cut open space" suggests the open road and the freedom it offers. The speaker even stays close behind the trucks while going uphill, perhaps using their momentum for an easier climb.

9. "Yes I know. It's dangerous. I enjoy it."

   - The speaker acknowledges the risks of riding so boldly, especially overtaking trucks, but admits that the thrill of the danger adds to the enjoyment.

10. "They hoot And lean out and yell out: 'We'll give you a hand on the hills; give you some speed; after that you tear along on your own.'"

   - The truck drivers honk ("hoot") and shout encouragement to the speaker, offering to help by letting the speaker ride in their slipstream ("give you some speed"). This camaraderie shows a sense of community and mutual support on the road.

11. "Careering full tilt, pelting along in a flurry of jokes."

   - The speaker continues to ride at full speed, enjoying the rush and the playful interaction with the truck drivers. The "flurry of jokes" suggests a light-hearted, carefree atmosphere.

12. "Turn a blind eye to my crazy career; it's the fashion."

   - The speaker acknowledges that their wild, reckless riding style might seem crazy to others, but brushes it off, implying that such behaviour is typical or fashionable among young riders.

13. "You can't tell me how terribly I ride. One day I'll learn how to ride."

   - The poem concludes with the speaker defiantly stating that no one can criticize their riding style. The final line, "One day I'll learn how to ride," is ironic, as the speaker is clearly skilled but perhaps hints at a deeper understanding or maturity that they will gain with time.