Prose: Father's Help
-by RK Narayan
What were the excuses given by Swami for not going to school ?
Answer: For not going to school, Swami first said that he had a headache. Then when his father scolded him to go to school, he said that he was already late and his teacher Samuel was a very angry man and he is especially angry with the boys who comes late at school.
How was the nature of Samuel as described Swami?
Answer: As described by Swami, Samuel was a very angry man who is especially angry with the boys who comes late in the school. He also said that they said even the headmaster is afraid of Samuel.
Why was Swami apathetic to Monday morning?
Answer: Swami was apathetic to Monday morning because he did not want to go to school after enjoying a relaxing Sunday.
Where should Swami have been at 9:30 and what was he doing then?
Answer: At 9:30, Swami should have been in the school prayer hall, but he was lying on the bench in his mother's room on the excuse of a headache.
How did Swami's parents react on hearing of his headache?
Answer: On hearing of his headache, Swami's mother generously suggested that Swami might stay at home. Whereas, his father did not buy his excuse of a headache and calling it a nonsense he ordered him to go to school.
Why did Swami change his tactics?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's help' by R.K. Narayan, Swami changed his tactics knowing how strict his father could be.
"It is your fault"- What was Swami's fault?
Answer: The line is taken from R.K. Narayan's story 'Father's Help'. It was Swami's fault that he had a headache on Monday - which he used as an excuse for not going to school.
Why was Swami afraid of Samuel?
Answer: Swami was afraid of Samuel as he was late for the day and Samuel gets angry with the boys who come late at class. Swami feared that Samuel would scold him if he said he had a headache.
Why was Swami unwilling to tell their headmaster about Samuel?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's help' by RK Narayan, Swami was unwilling to tell their headmaster about Samuel as they say even the headmaster is afraid of Samuel.
What reasons did Swami give to his father for not going to school?
Answer: For not going to school, Swami first gave the excuse of a headache. When his father forced him, he said he could not go to Samuel's class late because he would be scolded by him. He was an angry man and even the headmaster is afraid of him.
How does Swami introduce the character of his teacher Samuel to his father?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's help' by RK Narayan, Swami introduced the character of his teacher Samuel as he is a very angry man and he is especially angry with the boys who come late. He would scold Swami if he mentioned headache as his reason for coming late. He cannot complain about it to the headmaster as he is also afraid of him.
Within how much time Swami's father could compose the letter? Or What did Swami's father do during the time Swami got ready for his school?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's help' by RK Narayan, by the time Swami was ready to leave for school. Father had composed a long letter to the headmaster.
What did Swami hope?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's help' by RK Narayan, Swami hoped that mentioning the headmaster is afraid of his teacher Samuel made Father understand why he must avoid school for the day.
What change did he notice in his father's behaviour? OR What was the unexpected turn in Swami's father's behaviour?
Answer: Swami noticed that his father's behaviour took an unexpected turn. Instead of letting him stay at home, he proposed to send a letter with Swami to the headmaster.
What did father propose? OR What was father's instructions to Swami about the letter?
Ans: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, Father told Swami to give the letter to his headmaster and go to his class.
What did Swami ask his father apprehensively and how did his father react?
Ans: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, Swami apprehensively asked his father what he had written in the letter.
His father did not tell him and only ordered him to give the letter to his headmaster and go to his class.
What impressed Samuel?
Answer: Samuel was impressed with Swami's father as he sent Swami to school and said he should not miss school. He even said that they want more parents like his father.
Or
Samuel was impressed that Swami's father said Swami should not miss school. He also said that they want more parents like him.
"Oh, you poor man!" - Whom did Swami call 'poor man' and why?
Answer: Swami called Samuel 'poor man' after realizing he was kind and undeserving of the false complaint letter his father wrote, based on Swami's exaggerated lies.
How did Swami feel as he sat down?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, Swami felt sad as he sat down. He felt he had never met anyone as good as Samuel.
When did Samuel get most angry in the class?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, according to Swami, Samuel got most angry when he was inspecting home lessons.
How did Samuel appear on that day?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, that day, Samuel appeared very gentle.
Why did not Swami do his homework?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, Swami did not do his homework because of a headache.
When did the bell ring for the last period?
Answer: In the story, 'Father's Help' by RK Narayan, the bell rang for the last period at 4.30 pm.
What did Swami do when the bell rang for the last period?
Answer: When the bell rang for the last period, Swami picked up his books and ran to the headmaster's room to deliver the letter his father had composed.
What did father do with the letter?
Answer: When Swami came back home with the letter, his father snatched it and tore it up.
Why was the headmaster's room locked?
Answer: According to the peon, the headmaster had gone on a week's leave. So the headmaster's room was locked.
What was the effect of the letter father composed on Swami?
Answer: Swami started feeling guilty and conflicted about his accusations about his teacher Samuel in his excuse for skipping school that day.
Poem : Fable
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is a Fable? Why do you think, the poem was named Fable?
Ans: A fable is a short story with a moral often with animals as characters.
The poem has inhuman characters like squirrel and mountain and the conversation between both of them reveals a moral note. Both things support the format of a 'fable'.
What does the word 'prig' mean? Who is called 'prig' here by whom?
Answer: The word 'prig' means 'wise'.
In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the squirrel is called 'prig' by the mountain.
How does the mountain make fun of the squirrel?
Answer: The mountain is making fun of the squirrel by calling him ‘Little Prig’.
What is the name of the poem and who is the poet?
Answer: The name of the poem is Fable and the name of the poet is Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Who had a quarrel? Why?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the quarrel was between the mountain and the squirrel. / The mountain and the squirrel have a quarrel.
They had a quarrel because the mountain would tease the squirrel by calling him 'Little Prig'. This is because the mountain was proud of his size and always ridiculed /mocked small squirrel.What name is given to the squirrel by the mountain?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the mountain called the squirrel 'Little Prig' because the mountain was proud of his size and looked down on the squirrel's smallness.
What according to the squirrel, makes a year and a sphere?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', according to the squirrel, all sorts of things and weather should be taken together to make a year and a sphere. It means, regardless of size and nature, everything is necessary to create the world.
What does not the squirrel feel disgrace for?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the squirrel does not feel disgrace in occupying its place on the earth even though it was tiny.
What does the squirrel think about occupying his place?
Answer: The squirrel thinks it is no disgrace to occupy only a little place on the earth. No matter how small he is, everyone has different talents to offer and everything altogether makes a whole sphere.
What does the mountain boast of?
Ans: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the mountain boasts that the mountain is very bigger than the squirrel and it carries forests but the squirrel cannot.
How does the squirrel defend himself?
Ans: The squirrel defends himself saying that everyone has their own place and importance in nature regardless of size.
"And the former called the latter," - Who are referred to as 'the former' and 'the latter'?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the mountain is referred to as 'the former' and the squirrel is referred to as 'the latter'.
Who makes a pretty track?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', according to the squirrel, the mountain makes a pretty squirrel track.
Who cannot carry a forest?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the squirrel cannot carry a forest on its back like a mountain.
What can a squirrel do and the mountain can’t?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the squirrel can crack a nut but the mountain cannot do this.
What is the fact that the squirrel does not deny? / "all is well and wisely put" - explain.
Answer: The line is taken from Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable'. The line expresses that everything in this world regardless of its appearance has its own place and value. Nothing is unimportant as everything must be taken together to make a whole world.
What are the two qualities of the squirrel?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the two qualities of the squirrel are that the squirrel can crack nuts and he is spry.
What doesn't the squirrel deny? Why?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', the squirrel does not deny that the large mountain makes a very pretty squirrel track.
The squirrel does not deny it because the mountain is doubtless very big.
What are the things that make up a year?
Answer: In Ralph Waldo Emerson's poem 'Fable', according to the squirrel, all sorts of things and the weather must be taken together to make up a year.
How do talents differ? / In which aspect do the mountain and the squirrel differ? / What is the squirrel's opinion about the talent? / What is the opinion of the squirrel about itself and the mountain?
Answer: According to the squirrel, the mountain and the squirrel differ in their talents. The mountain who can carry a forest on its back, cannot even crack a nut, where the squirrel may be small but much sprier than the mountain. They have their own roles in the world.
What comparison did the poem show between the squirrel and the mountain?
Answer: In the poem ‘Fable’, the comparison between the squirrel and the mountain is that the mountain is very big in size and strong but it cannot move. The squirrel is smaller but it is sprier. Moreover, the squirrel can crack a nut whereas the mountain can carry forests on its back.
What moral does the 'Fable' convey?
Ans: The moral of the poem 'Fable' is that everything in this world regardless of its appearance has its own place and value. Nothing is unimportant as everything must be taken together to make a whole world.
Prose: Passing Away of Bapu
- Nayantara Sahgal.
How did people initially react after Gandhiji's death?
Ans: At first, the people were too stunned to speak and later they clamoured wildly, shouting and crying.
How did the people try to break into the house? Why?
Ans: The people jostled one another in a stampede to break into the house.
They wanted to see Bapu one last time.
When did the people calm down?
Ans: The people calmed down when it was announced that they would be allowed to see Gandhiji before the funeral.
When does one whimper?
Ans: When one is faced with the shock of a loved one's death, one whimpers, thinking what would become of him now that Gandhiji had left him.
What was the question in the mind of the mourning people?
Ans: It was the question in the mind of the mourning people what would become of them now that Gandhiji had left them.
How did the people of India officially come to know of Gandhiji's death?
Ans: The people of India officially came to know of Gandhiji's death by listening to the broadcast.
How did the mourning people look and why are they compared to it?
Ans: The mourning people looked like lost children.
People called Gandhiji 'Bapu' and he was the 'Father of the Nation'. As the father of the Indians had died, the sad people were compared to the lost children.
How did the people who gathered around the Birla House react to Bapu's death?
Ans: Sad groups of men and women gathered around the Birla House but they did not make a sound. The silence was unnatural as if time stood still for those few minutes. Later they clamoured wildly, shouting and crying and tried to break into the house.
What happened after the day of Gandhiji's death?
Ans: Gandhiji's funeral was to take place the day after Gandhiji's death. Hours in advance, people lined the route to see the funeral procession of Gandhiji.
Who spoke on behalf of Bapu's followers?
Ans: Padmasi, Mrs Naidu's daughter, spoke on behalf of Bapu's followers.
Who was Padmasi?
Ans: Padmasi was Mrs Naidu's daughter.
How was Bapu's corpse carried in the procession?
Ans: In the procession, Bapu's corpse was carried in an open truck covered with flowers.
What was the reaction of the people when they saw Bapu's body?
Ans: The thousands of people silently watched the procession and wept, trying to touch Bapu's feet.
What does the walk signify?
Ans: Thousands people walked in Gandhiji's funeral procession, slowly, weeping knowing it will be the last time they would walk with Gandhiji. So their walk was agonizing and it was more than just a funeral procession of Bapu.
"It was an agonizing walk" - Elucidate.
Ans: The line is taken from 'Passing away of Bapu' written by Nayantara Sahgal. Thousand of people walked on Gandhiji's funeral procession, slowly, weeping knowing it will be the last time they would walk with Gandhiji.
What could not the people accept?
Ans: The people could not accept the fact that the man, aka Gandhiji, who had led them over many difficult paths, was never going to walk with them again.
Describe how Gandhiji's ashes were taken to Allahbad.
Ans: Gandhiji's ashes were taken to Allahabad in a special train decked with flowers. People in the train sang Bhajans. They did not cry anymore as they could feel Gandhiji's presence amid flowers and Bhajans. Millions of people gathered at every station.
Why was walking a better choice for the innocent Indians?
Ans: Walking was a better choice for the innocent Indians as it required no vehicle except one's own body and cost them nothing but his energy.
What did Padmasi propose and why?
Ans: Padmasi proposed that all the people in the procession would walk because it was the last time they shall be walking with Bapu.
"It was an agonizing walk" - Elucidate./ Why the walk was called agonizing?
Ans: The line is taken from 'Passing Away of Bapu's written by Nayantara Sahgal. The walk was called agonizing as the people in the procession were deeply saddened by the death of Gandhiji. They walked the procession as they could not believe their beloved leader will not walk with them anymore.
Describe the funeral procession of India's beloved leader.
Ans: India's beloved leader, Bapu's funeral procession took place the day after his death. In advance, thousands people lined the route of the funeral procession was to follow and they watched it silently. Gandhiji was laid on an open truck covered with flowers. The people wept, trying to touch Bapu's feet.
What did the authoress understand as she moved forward slowly?
Ans: As the procession moved forward, the authoress, understood she was not really in the midst of grieving people. This was even more than the funeral procession of India's beloved leader and carried a special meaning.
Why walking with Bapu had special meaning for the people?
Ans: The people had walked with Bapu over the rough and smooth of India's present history so walking with Bapu had a special meaning.
What are merits of walking?
Ans: Walking is a slow process, so one can think with clarity and look closely at all that is around them from small insects to the horizon in the distance.
How did Gandhiji treat and utilise the commonplace?
Ans: Gandhiji treated the common place as necessity and transformed it into a joyful effort.
How does the authoress describe the journey by the train with Gandhiji's ashes?
Or
Describe how Gandhiji's ashes were taken to Allahabad.
Ans: Gandhiji's ashes were taken to Allahabad by a special train, whose compartment was decked with flowers. Millions of people gathered in every station. People on the train sang Bhajans and they did not cry anymore as they could feel the presence of Gandhiji amid those flowers and songs.
"I felt at sea." - Why did the authoress feel so?
Ans: The authoress felt at sea, as she could not see any destination and felt helpless. This is because, Bapu, the father of the Nation, was no more.
"I felt I had grown up within a magic circle" - What is meant by 'magic circle? How did the magic circle vanish?
Ans: 'Magic circle' is like a protective circle that was around the authoress created by Gandhiji and others, where she grew up without any trouble.
The 'magic circle' vanished with the passing away of Bapu leaving the authoress unprotected.
How did Bapu change the lives of millions of people?
Ans: Bapu brought millions of people out of indifference and awakened them to one another's suffering.
When was Gandhiji's ashes carried by a special train? And How?
Ans: Some days after the funeral, Gandhiji's ashes were carried by a special train to Allahabad.
Amid song and prayers, Gandhiji's ashes reached Allahabad.
How was the train compartment decorated? What did the people do on the train?
Ans: The train compartment was decorated with flowers.
People on the train sang Bhajans. They could not cry anymore because they could feel Gandhiji's presence amid the song and flowers.
Where were the ashes immersed? Where did Bapu's followers return after immersion?
Ans: The ashes were immersed in the Allahabad Ganges.
After immersion, Gandhiji's followers returned to Delhi.
What did the authoress feel after Bapu's death?
Ans: After Bapu's death, the authoress felt at sea, i.e. she felt helpless and unprotected.
What did the authoress consider herself to be a mere onlooker? Why?
Ans: The authoress, her sister and other young people like her had been merely onlookers. Because they had not directly walked with Gandhiji, gone to prison at his call or made any sacrifice for India.
Our Own True Family
- Ted Hughes
Who crept into the oakwood and why?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the poet crept into the oakwood.
He was looking for a stag.
What was inside the old woman's bag?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', there was poet's secret inside the woman's little bag.
Whom did the poet meet in the oakwood?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', in the oakwood, the poet met an old woman, who was all knobbly stick and rag.
Describe appearance of the old woman. / How was the old woman?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the old woman looked like a weak and ragged figure with a knobbly stick carrying a little bag while cackling eerily. Symbolically, she represents the neglected, decaying state of nature.
How are the trees tortured as described in the poem?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', it is described in the poem that the trees are chopped and torn up by humans, and they do not even bother about it.
or
How, according to the oak-trees, do men treat them?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', according to the oak-trees, men treat them very badly. They chop them and tear them up recklessly.
What did the old woman say to the poet?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the old woman said she had the poet's secret inside her little bag.
What happened when the old woman began to cackle? / When did the poet quake?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem ' My Own True Family', the poet started to quake when the old woman began to cackle saying she had the poet's secret inside her little bag.
What happened when she opened her little bag?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', when the old woman opened her little bag, the poet came twice awake and found himself surrounded by a staring tribe tied to a stake.
When did the poet come twice awake?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', when the old woman opened her little bag, the poet came twice awake.
"I came twice awake" - What does the line suggest?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the poet met an old woman in an oakwood who said she has the poet's secret inside her little bag and when she opened her little bag, the poet had a moral awakening.
What does the poem focus on?
Ans: The poem, 'My Own True Family' focuses on the forgotten connection between humans and trees, emphasising that trees are our true family. So, we should plant more trees and care for them.
What does 'the poet's search for the stag' symbolize?
Ans: The poet's search for the stag symbolizes a quest for wisdom or truth. In mythology, 'stag' often represents purity, mystery and spiritual insight. The poet's journey to the wood is not just physical but metaphorical - a search for deeper understanding.
What does the old woman 'all knobbly stick and rag' stand for?
Ans: The old woman's ragged appearance represents nature's hidden conscience. It also suggests she has been neglected or overlooked - much like nature and trees. She holds the poet's 'secret' of the forgotten bond with trees. Her role is to awaken the poet to this truth.
Whom is the poet surrounded by?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the poet is surrounded by the staring tribe which are oak trees.
How did the tribe introduce themselves?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the tribe, or the oak trees, introduced themselves as the poet's or rather mankind's true family.
What kind of promise was the poet asked to make? or “Unless you make a promise” – Who is asked to make a promise?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the poet was asked to make a promise to plant two oak trees whenever he saw an oak tree being felled.
How did the tribe threaten the poet?
Ans: The tribe threatened the poet saying if he refused to plant two trees when he sees one felled, black oak bark would wrinkle around him and root him to the wood, where he was born but never grew.
What was the dream of the poet beneath the boughs?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', The poet dreamt that the oak trees were like a staring tribe, accused him that trees were cut without any care and threatened that he must plant two trees for every one that is cut.
What could make the poet die?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', if the poet had not promised to plant two oak trees in place of every tree cut, he could have been killed.
What altered the poet?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the dream the poet had where he met the oak tribe beneath the bough, altered the poet.
or
It was a dream beneath the bough where the oak trees surrounded the poet and asked him to plant trees as they are humans' true family that altered the poet.
Who are referred to here by the expression "staring tribe"? What are the grievances of the 'staring tribe'?
Ans: Oak trees are referred to here as "staring tribe".
The grievances of the 'staring tribe' are that they are chopped down, torn up but the human beings do not show any concern.
What transformation did the poet undergo after his experience in the oakwood?
Ans: After his experience in the oakwood, the poet’s walk was like the walk of a human child but his heart was that of a tree.
What did the ‘staring tribe’ tell the narrator?
Ans: In Ted Hughes's poem 'My Own True Family', the staring tribe or the oak trees told the narrator that they are his true family. They also accused him of not caring when the trees were being cut down and threatened him to plant two trees when one is cut down.
Our Runway Kite
- by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Who lived in the island previously?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the narrator, Philippa, her brother, Claude and her father lived on the island previously.
What is a lighthouse?
Ans: A lighthouse is a tall tower with a bright light that helps guide ships safely at sea.
What is the name of the island?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the island is called "Big Half Moon Island".
Who are the present inhabitants of the island?
Ans: The present inhabitants of the island are the narrator Philippa, her brother Claude, Father, Aunt Esther, Dick and Mimi.
How did the narrator meet her aunt's family?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the narrator met her aunt's family on account of a kite.
Who is the keeper of the lighthouse?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the narrator's father was the keeper of the lighthouse.
How old are the narrator and Claude?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the narrator is eleven and cloud is twelve years old.
When does the narrator sail back to the island?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the narrator sailes back to the island when the spring comes.
Why did people pity the narrator and Claude when the time came for their return? / What was the funny part that the narrator mentioned about the people in the mainland?
Ans: At the time for the narrator and Claude's return, the people pitied them because they thought the narrator and Claude must be so lonesome in the island, with no other children near them.
What puzzled the narrator and Claude?
Ans: It puzzled the narrator and Claude that Father did not seem to have any relations except them, where everybody on the mainland had relations.
What would have been so jolly for the narrator and Claude?
Ans: The narrator and Claude thought it would be so jolly to have an uncle and aunt and some cousins.
Why were the narrator and Claude happy without any of the children from the mainland?
Ans: The narrator and Claude used to quarrel a good deal with the mainland children in winter. So, even though they would like to have someone play with them in the island, the felt perhaps it was just as well without any of them.
Why did the narrator and Claude wish that they had not asked Father about relations?
Ans: It always puzzled the narrator and Claude that Father did not seem to have any relation except them. So when they asked Father about it, he looked very sorrowful and said it was all his fault. So, they wished they had not asked Father about it.
When did the Big Half Moon look lovely?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the Big Half Moon looks lovely in summer.
What was the hobby of the narrator and Claude that summer? Who taught that to Claude?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, that summer, the hobby of the narrator and Claude was kite flying.
A boy from mainland taught Claude how to make kites.
How did the narrator and the narrator play with the kites?
Ans: The narrator and Claude made plenty of kites. With those Claude would go around to the other side of the island and they would play shipwrecked mariners signalling to each other with kites.
What were the full name of the narrator and Claude?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the full name of the narrator and Claude were Philippa Leete and Claude Leete.
How did Philippa and Claude decorate the kite?
Ans: Philippa and Claude pasted gold tinsel stars all over the kite to decorate the big kite covered with lovely red paper. They also wrote their name and address on it.
How was the hole made on the kite?
Ans: One day, when the narrator was bringing the kite from the house, without her knowledge, she tripped and fell over the rocks. Her elbow went clear through the kite making a big hole.
What happened when the kite soared up?
Ans: When the kite soared up in glorious wind, all at once, the kite snapped from its cord and had sailed away over to the mainland. Claude remained standing with a bit of cord in his hand.
When did Father receive a letter? Who wrote the letter to Father?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Father received a letter a month after the kite sailed away. Aunt Esther wrote a letter to Father.
How did Father react after reading the letter?
Ans: After Father finished reading the letter, he had looked like as if he had been crying.
Why did Father leave the house? What did Father find when he came back?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Father quarrelled with his brother and left the house.
After coming back, Father found that his brother had died and he could not find his sister.
Who was Aunt Esther? Where did she live?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Aunt Esther was Father's sister and mother of Dick and Mimi.
She lived hundreds of miles inland.
Where was the kite found? What was Aunt Esther's reaction seeing the letter?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the kite was found on the top of the tree.
Aunt Esther turned pale after seeing the letter because it was the very letter she once wrote to her brother. She wrote back to her brother, the father of the narrator and Claude.
What happened the next day?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the next day of Father receiving the letter, he went out and brought Aunt Esther, Dick and Mimi.
What did father finally do getting the letter?
Ans: After finishing the letter father’s eyes looked as if he had been crying he sat down beside and told the whole story to his children. Next day, he went and brought Aunt Esther and Dick and Mimi with him.
What story did father tell his son and daughter?
Ans: Father told his son and daughter about the whole story of his life. He had a brother and a sister. He had quarreled with his brother and left home. Years afterward, he felt sorry and when he went back, he found his brother had died and he couldn’t find his sister.
Why are Claude and Philippa happy now?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Claude and Philippa are happy because they have relations now as Aunt Esther, Dick and Mimi are staying with them.
Who found the Kite and where?
Ans: In the story 'Our Runway Kite' by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Dick and Mimi found the kite on a top of a tree in mainland.
How did Aunt Esther identify the letter and How they reunited?
Ans: When Dick and Mimi carried the kite patched with the old letter home, Aunt Esther noticed the letter which was once written by her to her brother. Moreover, there Philippa and Claude's names were written along with the lighthouse's address. The names were same as Aunt Esther's parents. This is how Aunt Esther found out about them and wrote a letter to Father. Next day Father brought Aunt Esther, Dick and Mimi to the island and they got reunited.
Sea Fever
- by John Masefield
Where does the poet resolve to go?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet resolves to go to the sea.
Why does the poet use the word "again" in the first line?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, in the first line, the poet uses the word "again" as he has been at the sea before and the word "again" suggests how he longed go to the sea repeatedly.
What kind of ship does the poet need to start his journey?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet wants a tall ship with white sail to start his journey.
Who will help the poet to steer his ship?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the star will help the poet to steer his ship.
What does the poet ask for his sea voyage?
Ans: The poet asks for a tall ship, a guiding star. He also wants the wind’s song, the white sail’s shaking, the grey mist on the face of the sea, the grey dawn breaking, a windy day with white clouds flying, the flung spray and the blown spume, and the cry of the sea-gulls.
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What does the poet require to go down to the sea?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet requires a star to be guided in the right direction and a tall ship.
When does the poet plan to start his journey?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet wants to start his journey at the time of the grey dawn breaking.
Along with a windy day what does the poet want during his sea voyage?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, along with the windy day during his sea voyage, the poet wants the white clouds flying and the flung spray, the blowing spume, and the cry of the sea-gulls. He also wants the song of the wind, the white sail’s shaking and a grey mist on the sea’s face.
How is the call of the running tide? / What may not be denied? / Why does the poet want to go to the sea again?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet said that the call of the running tide is so wild and clear that it cannot be denied or it is hard to resist.
What are a few attractions of the sea that call the poet to the sea?
Ans: The poet is attracted by the wheel’s kick, the wind’s song, the white sail’s shaking, white clouds flying and seagulls crying that call the poet to the sea.
What kind of day is suitable for the journey?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, according to the poet, a windy day with flying white cloud is suitable for the journey.
What kind of life does the poet want to lead?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet wants to lead a vagrant gypsy life which is free and adventurous that of wandering / vagabond gypse.
What is meant by 'fellow rover'? What does the poet ask for from a fellow-rover?
Ans: 'Fellow-rover' means co-sailor or accompanying sailor with whom one shares a journey.
In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet asks for a merry yarn or happy tale from the 'fellow-rover'.
What does the poet plan to do after the journey gets over?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, after the journey gets over, the poet plans to have a quiet sleep and a sweet dream.
What is meant by 'wheel's kick'?
Ans: 'Wheel's kick' means the ship's steering wheel's spinning movement, which also expresses the poet's desire and excitement for sea journey.
What kind of mood of the poet is revealed in the extracted part of the poem?
Ans: The mood of the poet was that of a wandering soul. The poet wants to go to the sea amid the wind’s song and a grey mist on the sea’s face while the grey dawn breaking.
What does the phrase 'vagrant gypsy life' mean?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the phrase 'vagrant gypsy life' means a life of wandering, freedom and adventure.
Why must the poet go down to the seas again?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet says that he must go down to the seas again because the call of the running tide is wide and clear and is hard to resist.
What is referred to as 'whetted knife' and what is the meaning of the comparison?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the cold wind passing through the sea is referred to as 'whetted knife'.
The poet's restless spirit or desire works like that of cold wind like a whetted knife, sharp and eager.
What else will the poet need to sail on the sea?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, to sail on the sea, aside from a tall ship with white sail and a guiding star, the poet needs the wheel's spinning, wind's song, grey mist on the sea's surface on the breaking of dawn. He also wants a windy day with flying white clouds, foaming sea and the cry of sea gulls and happy story from a co-sailor.
What kind of a day does the poet prefer for his journey to the sea?
Ans: For his journey to the sea, the poet prefers a windy day with the white clouds flying and flung spray, the blown spume and the sea-gulls crying.
When does the poet want to set out on his voyage?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the poet wants to start his voyage at the break of dawn when grey mist is still on the face of the sea.
Why did the speaker use the word 'lonely' to describe the sea and the sky?
Ans: The speaker used the word 'lonely' to describe the vastness of the sea and the sky as they spread as far as the eyes can see without many objects between. They look empty compared to the life on the land.
What is meant by 'the flung spray' and 'the blown spume'?
Ans: 'The flung spray' and 'the blown spume' refer to the sea water being thrown or blown into the air by the wind and waves. Spray refers to finer droplets while spume refers to foam or froth.
What kind of mood of the poet is revealed in the extracted part of the poem?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, the mood of the longing and yearning for the sea-adventure is revealed by the poet.
What is meant here by 'tall ship'?
Ans: In the poem 'Sea Fever' by John Masefield, 'tall ship' means a ship with tall masts and sails, but symbolizes the poet's desire for freedom and adventure and connection of the nature.
The Cat
- by Andrew Barton Paterson
What does a cat get out of life in comparison to a human being? What is most people's misconception about cats?
Ans: A cat gets a great deal more satisfaction in life in comparison to a human being.
Most people's misconception about cats is that they think cats are unintelligent animals fond of ease, cares little for anything but mice and milk.
Why does the cat watch a mouse-hole for an hour or two?
Ans: The cat watches a mouse-hole for an hour or two to keep himself from dying of boredom.
When should one watch the cat to see his real character?
Ans: Author Andrew Barton Paterson, in his story 'The Cat', says that to see a cat's real character, one should watch him at the shade of evening fall.
Who is called an acrobat?
Ans: An acrobat is one who entertains through difficult physical movements. Here, the author Author Andrew Barton called cat an acrobat.
What are the activities of the cat during the day?
Ans: During the day, the cat loafs about the house, takes thing easy and allows himself to be pestered by the attentions of the people in the house. Sometimes, he also watches a mouse hole for one or two hours to keep himself from dying of boredom.
How does the cat prevent himself from boredom?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that to keep himself from dying of boredom, sometime a cat watches a mouse hole for one or two hours.
Why does the cat appear at the tea time? Who suppose to get the best food?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that cat appears at tea time to get his share of food.
The guest at the table is supposes to get the best food.
When does the cat make an appearance? Why is the cat particularly civil to the guest?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that when the family sits for the afternoon tea.
The cat is particularly civil to the guest because the guest is likely to have the best of what is offered.
Why does the guest do instead of giving the cat something to eat?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that instead of giving something to eat, the guest stoops down and strokes the cat, saying 'poor pushy'.
How does the family take the cat's action against the guest?
Ans: When the cat firmly rakes the guest on the leg, the family becomes delighted and finds the cat's action towards the guest to be sweet and intelligent of the cat.
What does the guest wish to do after being raked? What does he do instead?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that after being raked by the cat, the guest wishes to kick the cat out of the window.
The guest with tears of rage and pain in his eyes, he affects to be very much amused, and sorts out a bit of fish from his plate and hands it down to the cat.
How does the cat receive the food? What does he do after that?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that the cat receives the food gingerly and retires to a safe distance from the guest to avoid being kicked by the guest.
What do the family members do after finishing tea?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that after finishing the tea, the family members gather around the fire.
Why does the cat have to be conscious?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that the cat has to be conscious for the cat has many enemies like dogs and small boys with stones.
Who are the enemies of the cat?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that the cat has many enemies like dogs and small boys with stones.
When does the cat go out of the room?
Ans: After finishing the tea, when the family members gather round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room.
How does the cat's movement become after he goes out of the room after the tea?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson comments that after the cat goes out of the room after the tea, his movements become lithe and pantherlike.
How does the cat test his muscles?
Ans: In the text "The Cat" by Andrew Barton Paterson the cat stretches himself a few times to test his muscles.
How does the cat give a call to his kindred? How do the kindred respond to the call of the cat?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson expresses that dropping his head near his paws, the cat sends across a call to his kindred.
After hearing the call of the cat, the kindred soon come like gliding graceful shadows.
Where do the cats go for sport when they grow old? Why are the backyards interesting to the cats?
Ans: When the cats go older, they go in for sports to the suburban backyards.
The backyards which are dull to us, are interesting to the cats because these are their hunting ground where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur's knights ever had.
What is said as a reproach against the cat?
Ans: It is always spoken as a reproach against cats that they are more fond of their home than of the people in it.
What kind of difficulty arises for the cat in a new land?
Ans: In the text "The Cat", the author Andrew Barton Paterson expresses that when exiled in a new land, the cat would have to learn a new geography.
What are the sports of the cat compared to and why?
Ans: The sports of a cat are compared to the gallant adventures of King Arthur's knights ever had.
It is because the dull backgrounds are hunting ground for the cat where they have many adventures.*
What does the cat like to do when the family moves?
Ans: When the family moves, the cat, if allowed, will stay at the old house and attach himself to the new tenants. He will give them the privilege of boarding him while he enjoys life in his own way.
'But the cat has really more character than most human beings' - How does the author justify the phrase?
Ans: In this phrase from 'The Cat' by Andrew Barton Paterson says that a cat has dynamic personality and dual life - a cat engages in vivid activity throughout a day and enjoys his life far more than a human.
The Snail
- by William Cowper
Where does the snail stick itself and how?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, the snail sticks itself to the grass, leaf, fruit or wall closely without fear of falling.
Why does the snail stick so close to anything?
Ans: The snail sticks close to anything because it is in its nature as if it grew there and it does not even fear falling.
When does the snail hide in his house? / What does the snail do at the time of danger? / Where does the snail hide at the time of danger?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, the snail hides in its shell-house when danger is imminent betides of storm or other harms besides the weather.
How does the snail react when someone touches its horns? / Why does the snail shrink into his house?
Ans: When someone touches its horns, the snail for its self-collecting power, shrinks into its house with much displeasure.
How does the snail react to outside danger?
Ans: The snail's self-collecting power is such that it shrinks into its shell with displeasure whenever there is any outside danger or its horns are touched slightly.
When does the snail feed faster?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, when the snail meets one of its kind, it feeds faster.
Where does the snail live? What kind of danger may the snail face?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, the snail lives in his shell.
The snail may face the danger of storm or weathering and other harm besides them.
What makes the snail displeased?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, slightest touch makes the snail displeased and it shrinks into its house or shell.
What does the snail react when someone touches him? / When does the snail shrink into his house?
Ans: When someone touches the snail, he shrinks into his house, which is his shell with much displeasure for his good self-collecting power.
Explain the meaning of the line “His Self-collecting pow’r is such, He shrinks into his house with much Displeasure.”
Ans: In the poem, "The snail" by William Cowper, the line means – the snail can enter its house with great displeasure if danger is imminent, the possibility of any harm from storms, weather, or the slightest touch of its horn.
How does the snail use its horns?
Ans: According to the poem, when the snail's horns are touched even at the slightest, he shrinks into its shell with displeasure.
What makes the snail well satisfied?
Ans: The snail is well satisfied to be its own whole treasure while dwelling alone, possessing no chattel except himself.
When one may be called "worse than blind"?
Ans: One may be called 'worse than blind' if the person seeks the snail. The person will be unable to find the snail but his shell as a snail hides himself in its shell.
When is the snail displeased?
Ans: In the poem 'The Snail' by William Cowper, the snail is displeased when its horns are touched even the slightest.
What is meant by 'self collecting power'?
Ans: 'Self collecting power' refers to the snail's ability to quickly withdraw into his shell for protection when touched or danger imminent.
Give two examples of the 'self-collecting' power of the snail.
Ans: The snail's 'self-collecting power' is shown when its horns are touched the slightest and when there is imminent danger.
What are the snail's feelings inside the house?
Ans: Inside the house, the snail feels secure as he hides in times of danger and satisfied with his isolated life.
What does the poet suggest about the snail’s attachment to its home? / What do you know about the house of the snail?
Ans: The poet suggests that the snail is strongly attached to the grass, leaves, fruit, or wall as if he grew there, house and all together. He lives alone and securely and without any chattels.
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