Amarnath by Sister Nivedita Text and Bengali Meaning | Class 11 Semester 1 WBBHSE

AMARNATH - by Sister Nivedita 

Whole Text and Proper Bengali Meaning 

The prose “Amarnath” by Sister Nivedita is an important text in the WBCHSC Class 11 Semester 1 English syllabus. Here, Sister Nivedita describes a journey to Amarnath with Swami Vivekananda and everything they saw during that time. This article provides the complete text along with a detailed and easy Bengali meaning, so that students can understand the lesson clearly. It will help Class 11 WBCHSE students prepare the chapter easily for exams and improve their understanding of the text.

SEE ALSO-

The Swami and Mother-Worship - Text and Bengali Meaning : Here

The Swami and Mother-Worship - MCQ type Questions : Here 

Amarnath MCQ - Here

TEXT :

It was in the course of an open-air meal in the Mogul Gardens at Achhabal, that the Swami suddenly announced that he would go to Amarnath with the pilgrims, and take his daughter with him. Within our little party, there was too much feeling of delighted congratulation, for any obstacle to be put in the way of the fortunate member. And aided thus, as well as by the State officer, in charge of the journey, preparations went forward for this unique experience.

তখন আছাবলের মোগল বাগানে খোলা আকাশের নিচে খাবার খাওয়া হচ্ছিলো, হঠাৎ স্বামীজি ঘোষণা করলেন যে তিনি তীর্থযাত্রীদের সঙ্গে অমরনাথ যাবেন এবং তাঁর কন্যাকেও সঙ্গে নিয়ে যাবেন (কন্যা বলতে ভগিনী নিবেদিতা, কারণ নিবেদিতা কে তিনি মানসকন্যা করেছিলেন)। আমাদের ছোট দলের মধ্যে আনন্দ ও অভিনন্দনের এত বেশি অনুভূতি ছিল যে, এই সৌভাগ্যবান সদস্যের পথে কোনো বাধা দেওয়ার প্রশ্নই ওঠেনি। এভাবেই, এবং যাত্রার দায়িত্বে থাকা রাজ্যের কর্মকর্তার সাহায্যে, এই অনন্য অভিজ্ঞতার জন্য প্রস্তুতি শুরু হয়ে গেল।

Kashmir seemed, in those weeks, to be full of pilgrims. We left Achhabal, and returned to our boats at Islamabad, for final arrangements, and everywhere we saw the march of gathering hosts. It was all very quiet and orderly and picturesque. Two or three thousand people would encamp in a field, and leave it before dawn, with no trace of their occupation, save the ashes of their cookingfires. They carried a bazaar with them, and at each halting place, the pitching of tents, and opening of shops, took place with incredible rapidity. Organisation appeared to be instinctive. A broad street would run through the middle of one part of the camp, and here one could buy dried fruits, milk, dahls, and rice. The tent of the Tehsildar,-with that of the Swami on one side, and my own on the other,-was generally placed near some advantageous spot for the lighting of the evening fire, and thus his neighbourhood tended to form a social centre.

সেই কয়েক সপ্তাহে মনে হচ্ছিল কাশ্মীর যেন তীর্থযাত্রীতে ভরে গেছে। শেষ প্রস্তুতি নেওয়ার জন্য আমরা আছাবল ছেড়ে ইসলামাবাদে আমাদের নৌকায় ফিরে এলাম, এবং চারদিকে আমরা তীর্থযাত্রীদের ক্রমবর্ধমান সমাবেশ দেখতে পেলাম। সবকিছুই ছিল খুব শান্ত, সুশৃঙ্খল এবং মনোরম। দুই-তিন হাজার মানুষ একটি মাঠে শিবির করত এবং ভোর হওয়ার আগেই চলে যেত, তাদের থাকার একমাত্র চিহ্ন থাকত শুধু রান্নার আগুনের ছাই। তারা নিজেদের সঙ্গে একটি চলমান বাজারও নিয়ে চলত। প্রতিটি বিশ্রামের স্থানে খুব দ্রুত তাবু খাটানো এবং দোকান বসানোর কাজ শুরু হয়ে যেত। মনে হতো এইসব গোছানো গোছানোর ব্যাপারটা যেন তাদের স্বভাবজাত। শিবিরের এক অংশের মাঝখান দিয়ে একটি চওড়া রাস্তা থাকত, আর সেখানে শুকনো ফল, দুধ, ডাল এবং চাল কেনা যেত। তহসিলদারের তাবু—এক পাশে স্বামীজির তাবু এবং অন্য পাশে আমার তাবু—সাধারণত এমন জায়গায় বসানো হতো যেখানে সন্ধ্যার আগুন জ্বালানো সুবিধাজনক। ফলে তাঁর (স্বামীজির) তাবুর আশপাশের জায়গাটি ধীরে ধীরে এক ধরনের সামাজিক মিলনকেন্দ্রে পরিণত হতো।

There were hundreds of monks, of all the orders, with their Gerrua tents, some no larger than a good-sized umbrella, and amongst these, the Swami's influence appeared to be magnetic. The more learned of them swarmed about him at every halting place, filling his tent, and remaining absorbed in conversation, throughout the hours of day light. The talk on their side, he told us afterwards had been all of Siva, and they had remonstrated with him seriously, when he had insisted, occasionally, on drawing their attention to the world about them. Even foreigners, they urged, were men. Why make such distinctions between Swadesh and bidesh? Nor could many of them understand the warmth of his love and sympathy for Mohammedanism. The same other-world-liness that made Swadesh and bidesh indistinguishable, also prevented these simple souls from formally conceiving of a unity, in which Hindu and Mohammedan were but rival elements. The soil of the Punjub, they argued, was drenched with the blood of those who had died for the faith. Here, at least, let him practise a narrow orthodoxy! In answer to this, as became one who was, in fact 'an anachronism of the future', the Swami made those practical concessions of the moment that were expressive of his love for the brethren, and drove his principles home to their minds with the greater force and vehemence. But, as he told the tale of his warm discussions, the foreign mind could not help, with some amusement, noting the paradox that the Tehsildar himself, and many officers and servants of the pilgrimage, had been Mussulmans, and that no one had dreamt of objecting to their entering the Cave with the Hindu worshippers, on the ultimate arrival at the shrine. The Tehsildar came afterwards, indeed, with a group of friends, begging formal acceptance by the Swami as disciples; and in this, no one seemed to find anything incongruous or surprising.

সেখানে সব ধরনের সম্প্রদায়ের শত শত সন্ন্যাসী ছিলেন। তাদের গেরুয়া রঙের তাবুগুলির মধ্যে অনেকগুলোই ছিল খুব ছোট, প্রায় বড় একটি ছাতার মতো। এই সব সন্ন্যাসীদের মধ্যে স্বামীজির প্রভাব ছিল যেন এক চুম্বকের মত আকর্ষণীয়। যেসব সন্ন্যাসী বেশি পণ্ডিত ছিলেন, তারা প্রতিটি বিশ্রামের জায়গায় স্বামীজির চারপাশে ভিড় জমাতেন। তারা তাঁর তাবুতে এসে দিনের আলো থাকা পর্যন্ত গভীর আলোচনায় মগ্ন থাকতেন। পরে স্বামীজি আমাদের বলেছিলেন যে তাদের আলোচনার বিষয় ছিল মূলত শিবকে নিয়ে। মাঝে মাঝে যখন স্বামীজি তাদের আশপাশের জগতের দিকে দৃষ্টি দিতে বলতেন, তখন তারা তা নিয়ে আপত্তি জানাতেন। তাদের মতে, বিদেশিরাও মানুষই। তাহলে স্বদেশ আর বিদেশের মধ্যে এত পার্থক্য কেন করা হবে? তাদের অনেকেই আবার মুসলমান ধর্মের প্রতি স্বামীজির গভীর ভালোবাসা ও সহানুভূতি বুঝতে পারতেন না। তাদের এই পার্থিব জগতের প্রতি উদাসীনতা এমন ছিল যে স্বদেশ ও বিদেশ তাদের কাছে একই মনে হতো। একই কারণে তারা ভাবতেই পারতেন না যে এমন এক ঐক্য থাকতে পারে, যেখানে হিন্দু ও মুসলমান কেবল ভিন্ন ভিন্ন উপাদান। তারা যুক্তি দিতেন যে পাঞ্জাবের মাটি ধর্মের জন্য প্রাণ দেওয়া মানুষের রক্তে ভিজে আছে। অন্তত এখানে যেন স্বামীজি কঠোর ধর্মীয় নিয়ম মেনে চলেন। এর উত্তরে স্বামীজি, যিনি আসলে ভবিষ্যতের এক অগ্রগামী মানুষ ছিলেন, পরিস্থিতি অনুযায়ী কিছু ব্যবহারিক সমঝোতা করতেন। এতে তাঁর সহযাত্রীদের প্রতি ভালোবাসা প্রকাশ পেত, কিন্তু একই সঙ্গে তিনি নিজের নীতিগুলিও তাদের কাছে দৃঢ়ভাবে তুলে ধরতেন। স্বামীজি যখন এই উষ্ণ আলোচনাগুলোর কথা বলতেন, তখন একজন বিদেশি হিসেবে আমার কাছে একটি বিষয় কিছুটা হাস্যকর মনে হয়েছিল। তীর্থযাত্রার তহসিলদার নিজে এবং অনেক কর্মকর্তা ও কর্মচারীই ছিলেন মুসলমান। অথচ কেউ কখনো আপত্তি করেনি যে তারা হিন্দু ভক্তদের সঙ্গে অমরনাথ গুহায় প্রবেশ করবে। পরে সেই তহসিলদারই কয়েকজন বন্ধুকে নিয়ে এসে স্বামীজির কাছে তাঁর শিষ্য হিসেবে গ্রহণ করার অনুরোধ করেন। আশ্চর্যের বিষয়, এতে কারও কাছে কোনো অসঙ্গতি বা বিস্ময়ের কিছু মনে হয়নি।

Leaving Islamabad, we caught up somewhere with the pilgrimage, and camped with it, for that night, at Pawan, a place famous for its holy springs. I can remember yet the brilliance of the lights reflected in the clear black waters of the tank that evening, and throngs of pilgrims proceeding in little groups from shrine to shrine.

ইসলামাবাদ ছেড়ে আমরা পথে কোথাও গিয়ে তীর্থযাত্রীদের দলের সঙ্গে মিলিত হলাম। সেই রাতে আমরা তাদের সঙ্গেই পাওয়ান নামে একটি স্থানে শিবির করলাম। জায়গাটি তার পবিত্র ঝরনাগুলির জন্য বিখ্যাত। এখনও আমার মনে আছে সেই সন্ধ্যায় ট্যাংকের স্বচ্ছ কালো জলে অসংখ্য আলোর ঝলকানি কী সুন্দরভাবে প্রতিফলিত হচ্ছিল। ছোট ছোট দলে তীর্থযাত্রীরা এক মন্দির থেকে আরেক মন্দিরে যাচ্ছিলেন।

At Pahlgam—the village of the shepherds–the camp halted for a day, to keep ekadasi. It was a beautiful little ravine floored, for the most part with sandy islands in the pebble-worn bed of a mountain stream. The slopes about it were dark with pine-trees, and over the mountain at its head was seen, at sunset, the moon not yet full. It was the scenery of Switzerland or Norway, at their gentlest and loveliest. Here we saw the last of human dwellings, a bridge, a farm house, with its ploughed fields, and a few saeter-huts. And here, on a grassy knoll, when the final march began, we left the rest of our party encamped.

পাহেলগাঁও—যার অর্থ রাখালদের গ্রাম—সেখানে একাদশী পালনের জন্য শিবির একদিনের জন্য থেমে ছিল। জায়গাটি ছিল একটি সুন্দর ছোট উপত্যকা। উপত্যকার মেঝে জুড়ে ছিল পাহাড়ি ঝরনার কাঁকরে-ভরা খাতের মধ্যে ছড়িয়ে থাকা বালুময় ছোট ছোট দ্বীপ। চারপাশের ঢালু পাহাড়গুলি ঘন পাইন গাছে ঢাকা ছিল। উপত্যকার মাথার ওপর পাহাড়ের পাশে সূর্যাস্তের সময় দেখা যাচ্ছিল প্রায় পূর্ণ হয়ে আসা চাঁদ। পুরো দৃশ্যটি ছিল সুইজারল্যান্ড বা নরওয়ের সবচেয়ে শান্ত ও মনোরম প্রাকৃতিক দৃশ্যের মতো। এখানেই আমরা মানুষের শেষ বসতি দেখেছিলাম—একটি সেতু, একটি খামারবাড়ি, যার পাশে চাষ করা জমি, আর কয়েকটি ছোট পাহাড়ি কুঁড়েঘর। এরপর যখন শেষ যাত্রা শুরু হলো, তখন একটি ঘাসে ঢাকা ছোট টিলায় আমরা আমাদের দলের বাকি সদস্যদের তাঁবুতে রেখে এগিয়ে গেলাম।

Through scenes of indescribable beauty, three thousand of us ascended the valleys that opened before us as we went. The first day we camped in a pine-wood; the next, we had passed the snow-line, and pitched our tents beside a frozen river. That night, the great camp-fire was made of juniper, and the next evening, at still greater heights, the servants had to wander many miles, in search of this scanty fuel. At last the regular pathway came to an end, and we had to scramble up and down, along goat-paths, on the face of steep declivities, till we reached the boulder-strewn gorge, in which the Cave of Amarnath was situated. As we ascended this, we had before us the snow-peaks covered with a white veil, newly fallen; and in the Cave itself, in a niche never reached by sunlight, shone the great ice-lingam, that must have seemed, to the awestruck peasants who first came upon it, like the waiting Presence of God.

অবর্ণনীয় সুন্দর দৃশ্যের মধ্য দিয়ে আমরা প্রায় তিন হাজার তীর্থযাত্রী একসঙ্গে সামনের উন্মুক্ত উপত্যকাগুলি দিয়ে উপরে উঠতে লাগলাম। প্রথম দিন আমরা একটি পাইন বনের মধ্যে তাঁবু ফেলেছিলাম। পরের দিন আমরা তুষাররেখা পার হয়ে একটি জমে যাওয়া নদীর পাশে তাঁবু খাটালাম। সেই রাতে বড় ক্যাম্পফায়ার জ্বালানো হয়েছিল জুনিপার কাঠ দিয়ে। আর তার পরের সন্ধ্যায়, আরও উঁচুতে উঠলে, অল্প এই জ্বালানি খুঁজতে চাকরদের অনেক দূর পর্যন্ত ঘুরে বেড়াতে হয়েছিল। অবশেষে চলার নিয়মিত পথ শেষ হয়ে গেল। তখন খাড়া পাহাড়ের ঢালে ছাগলের হাঁটাচলার সরু পথ ধরে উঠানামা করতে করতে আমরা এগোলাম, যতক্ষণ না পাথরে ভরা একটি গিরিখাতে পৌঁছালাম, যেখানে অমরনাথের গুহা অবস্থিত। সেখানে উঠতে উঠতে সামনে দেখা যাচ্ছিল সদ্য পড়া তুষারে ঢাকা সাদা শিখরগুলি। আর গুহার ভিতরে, এমন এক কোণে যেখানে কখনও সূর্যের আলো পৌঁছায় না, সেখানে জ্বলজ্বল করছিল সেই বিশাল বরফের শিবলিঙ্গ। প্রথম যে সাধারণ গ্রামবাসীরা এটি দেখে আশ্চর্য হয়েছিল, তাদের কাছে নিশ্চয়ই এটি ঈশ্বরের উপস্থিতির মতো মনে হয়েছিল।

The Swami had observed every rite of the pilgrimage, as he came along. He had told his beads, kept fasts, and bathed in the ice-cold waters of five streams in succession, crossing the river-gravels on our second day. And now, as he entered the Cave, it seemed to him, as if he saw Siva made visible before him. Amidst the buzzing, swarming noise of the pilgrim-crowd, and the overhead fluttering of the pigeons, he knelt and prostrated two or three times, unnoticed; and then, afraid lest emotion might overcome him, he rose and silently withdrew. He said afterwards that in these brief moments he had received from Siva the gift of Amar, —not to die, until he himself had willed it. In this way, possibly, was defeated or fulfilled that presentiment which had haunted him from childhood, that he would meet with death, in a Siva temple amongst the mountains.

স্বামীজি এই তীর্থযাত্রার সব নিয়ম মেনে চলেছিলেন। তিনি জপমালা জপ করেছিলেন, উপবাস রেখেছিলেন, এবং দ্বিতীয় দিনে নদীর পাথুরে তীর পার হওয়ার সময় পরপর পাঁচটি বরফঠান্ডা ঝরনায় স্নান করেছিলেন। আর এখন গুহায় প্রবেশ করার সময় তাঁর মনে হয়েছিল যেন তিনি শিবকে স্বচক্ষে দেখতে পাচ্ছেন। তীর্থযাত্রীদের ভিড়ের গুঞ্জন আর মাথার ওপর উড়তে থাকা পায়রার ডানার শব্দের মাঝেও তিনি নীরবে দু-তিনবার হাঁটু গেড়ে প্রণাম করলেন। তারপর আবেগে ভেসে যাওয়ার ভয়ে তিনি উঠে নিঃশব্দে বাইরে চলে এলেন। পরে তিনি বলেছিলেন, ওই অল্প সময়ের মধ্যেই তিনি শিবের কাছ থেকে ‘অমরত্বের বর’ পেয়েছেন—অর্থাৎ যতক্ষণ না তিনি নিজে ইচ্ছা করবেন, ততক্ষণ তাঁর মৃত্যু হবে না। হয়তো এভাবেই তাঁর ছোটবেলা থেকে মনে থাকা সেই অশুভ ইঙ্গিত —যে একদিন পাহাড়ের মধ্যে কোনো শিবমন্দিরে তাঁর মৃত্যু হবে, তার সমাপ্তি বা পরিবর্তন ঘটেছিল।

Outside the Cave, there was no Brahminic exploitation of the helpless people. Amarnath is remarkable for its simplicity and closeness to nature. But the pilgrimage culminates—on the great day of Rakhibandhan, and our wrists were tied with the red and yellow threads of that sacrament. Afterwards, we rested and had a meal, on some high boulders beside the stream, before returning to our tents.

গুহার বাইরে অসহায় মানুষের ওপর কোনো ব্রাহ্মণ্য শোষণ ছিল না। অমরনাথ তীর্থস্থানটি বিশেষভাবে উল্লেখযোগ্য ছিল তার আরম্ভরহীন সরলতা এবং প্রকৃতির খুব কাছাকাছি থাকার জন্য । আর এই তীর্থযাত্রার চূড়ান্ত মুহূর্ততে আসে রাখীবন্ধনের দিন। সেদিন আমাদের কবজিতে সেই পবিত্র অনুষ্ঠানের লাল-হলুদ সুতো বেঁধে দেওয়া হয়েছিল। এরপর আমরা একটু বিশ্রাম নিয়েছিলাম এবং ঝরনার ধারে উঁচু পাথরের ওপর বসে খাবার খেয়েছিলাম। তারপর আবার নিজেদের তাঁবুতে ফিরে গিয়েছিলাম।

The Swami was full of the place. He felt that he had never been to anything so beautiful. He sat long silent. Then he said dreamily, "I can well imagine how this Cave was first discovered. A party of shepherds, one summer day, must have lost their flocks, and wandered in here in search of them. Then, when they came home to the valleys, they told how they had suddenly come upon Mahadev!"

স্বামীজি এই স্থানটির সৌন্দর্যে গভীরভাবে মুগ্ধ হয়েছিলেন। তাঁর মনে হয়েছিল, তিনি এর আগে এত সুন্দর কিছু কখনও দেখেননি। তিনি অনেকক্ষণ নীরবে বসে রইলেন। তারপর স্বপ্নময় ভঙ্গিতে বললেন, “আমি সহজেই কল্পনা করতে পারি, এই গুহাটি প্রথম কীভাবে আবিষ্কৃত হয়েছিল। কোনো এক গ্রীষ্মের দিনে একদল রাখাল তাদের ভেড়ার পাল হারিয়ে ফেলেছিল এবং খুঁজতে খুঁজতে এখানে এসে পড়েছিল। তারপর যখন তারা উপত্যকায় ফিরে যায়, তখন তারা সবাইকে বলেছিল যে তারা হঠাৎ মহাদেবের দর্শন পেয়েছে।”

Of my Master himself, in any case, a like story was true. The purity and whiteness of the ice-pillar had startled and enwrapt him. The cavern had revealed itself to him as the secret of Kailas. And for the rest of his life, he cherished the memory of how he had entered a mountain-cave, and come face to face there with the Lord Himself.

আমার গুরুর কাছে, ঠিক তেমনই একটি ঘটনাই যেন সত্যি ছিল। বরফের স্তম্ভটির নির্মলতা ও শুভ্রতা তাঁকে বিস্মিত ও গভীরভাবে আবিষ্ট করেছিল। সেই গুহাটি তাঁর কাছে কৈলাসের রহস্য যেন উন্মোচন করেছিল। জীবনের বাকি সময় তিনি সেই স্মৃতিকে সযত্নে ধরে রেখেছিলেন—যে একদিন তিনি একটি পাহাড়ি গুহায় প্রবেশ করেছিলেন এবং সেখানে স্বয়ং মহাদেবের মুখোমুখি হয়েছিলেন।

An Astrologer’s Day by RK Narayan– MCQ, Class 11, Semester I, WBCHSE

 

An Astrologer's Day MCQ with answers Class 11 English First Semester WBBHSE

"An Astrologer's Day" Summary, text, Bengali meaning : LINK

"An Astrologer's Day" Grammar: LINK

RK Narayan's An Astrologer's Day MCQ :

1. The writer of the story ‘An Astrologer‘s Day’ is –

(a) Sister Nivedita

(a) R. K. Narayan

(c) Margaret Noble

(d) Mulk Raj Anand

2. Where does the astrologer set up his business?

(a) Temple courtyard

(b) Railway station

(c) Market Street under a tree

(d) Outside a police station

3. What kind of tree is mentioned at his workplace? Or under which tree does the astrologer sit to draw his customer?

(a) Banyan

(b) Tamarind

(c) Mango

(d) Peepal

4. The astrologer used to open his shop –

(a) at night

(b) at morning

(c) at noon

(d) at afternoon

5. The astrologer used to carry his professional equipment in a –

(a) bag

(b) box

(c) van

(d) basket

6. The time duration of the story ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ is

(a) midday to evening

(b) midday to nearly midnight

(c) midnight to midday

(d) midnight to morning

7. The astrologer represents the character trail of

(a) honesty

(b) hypocrisy

(c) fellow-feeling

(d) simplicity

8. Why does the astrologer work in the dark?

(a) He is a night owl

(b) To benefit from the poor lighting and mysterious atmosphere

(c) He has another job in the morning

(d) He is forbidden to work in daylight

9. What creates the mystical ambiance around him?

(a) Smoke and dim light

(b) Sacred mantras

(c) Musical instruments

(d) Scented candles

10. What does the astrologer carry with him?

(a) Books and lamps

(b) Tarot cards and coins

(c) Cowrie shells, charts, and religious items

(d) A telescope and compass

11. The path where he used to sit is always – / The path running through the town hall park remained –

(a) always lonely

(b) very crowded

(c) deserted

(d) less crowded

12. Among the professional equipment of the astrologer, there was a bundle of –

(a) square clothes pieces

(b) notebooks

(c) palmyra writing

(d) Cowries

13. The square piece of cloth contained –

(a) sacred ash

(b) indistinct charts

(c) writings

(d) cowrie shells

14. The forehead of the astrologer was –

(a) bare and empty

(b) covered with dust

(c) embellished with ash and vermilion

(d) wrapped in a piece of cloth

15. The clients of the astrologer were comforted by his –

(a) resplendent forehead

(b) professional equipment

(c) gleam in his eyes

(d) saffron coloured turban

16. The colour of the astrologer’s turban was –

(a) vermilion

(b) saffron

(c) white

(d) ashen

17. “He sat under the boughs of a spreading ______________tree.” – The right word to fill in the blank is –

(a) banyan

(b) mango

(c) acacia

(d) tamarind

18. How is the people’s attraction to the astrologer compared ? –

(a) Like ants to jaggery

(b) like bees to flowers

(c) like butterflies to flowers

(d) like mosquitoes to humans

19. The colour which never failed with the people was –

(a) white

(b) yellow

(c) green

(d) saffron

20. How was the path that ran through the town hall park lit by?

(a) shop lights

(b) municipality lights

(c) street lamps

(d) gaslights

21. The astrologer’s turban gives him an air of:

(a) Royalty

(b) Intelligence

(c) Wisdom

(d) Innocence

22. His forehead was resplendent with

(a) sacred ash and vermilion

(b) vermilion and chandan

(c) sacred ash and chandan

(d) sacred ash and saffron colour

23. The dark whiskers of the astrologer

(a) streamed down his cheeks

(b) streamed down his shoulder

(c) streamed down his eyes

(d) streamed down his nose

24. What, according to the author, crowned the affect of the astrologer’s appearance?

(a) Sacred ash on the forehead

(b) Vermilion on the forehead

(c) Searching look that attracted clients

(d) A saffron-coloured turban around his head

25. What is the astrologer’s real knowledge of astrology?

(a) He is highly trained

(b) He has read ancient texts

(c) He fakes it with intuition

(d) He learned from a guru

26. How does the astrologer read people effectively?

(a) Palmistry

(b) Astrological charts

(c) Observation and guessing

(d) Meditation

27. Why do people believe the astrologer?

(a) He is famous

(b) He looks convincing and says general truths

(c) He’s accurate

(d) He has a license

28. What role does the street setting play in the story?

(a) Adds religious significance

(b) Distracts from the plot

(c) Adds authenticity and chaos

(d) Shows peaceful life

29. The astrologer’s background is:

(a) Well educated

(b) Rural and mysterious

(c) From a priest family

(d) Known to all

30. What was the family profession of the astrologer?

(a) priesthood

(b) cultivation

(c) street-vendor

(d) astrologer

31. From the town of the astrologer, his own village was –

(a) in the north-east

(b) truly in the north

(c) in the north westerly direction

(d) exactly in the southern direction

32. The ‘professional equipment’ of the astrologer consists of

(a) a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic chart

(b) a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing

(c) a dozen of cowrie shells

(d) all of the above

33. The forehead of the astrologer looked

(a) dark

(b) resplendent

(c) shadowy

(d) none of the above

34. Astrologer’s eyes sparkled with a sharp, abnormal gleam because

(a) he used eyeliner

(b) of a continual searching look for customers

(c) street-light fell on his eyes

(d) none of the above

35. Attraction of the people towards the astrologer is similar to (or compared to) diff option, keep

(a) the attraction of the bees to cosmos or dahlia flowers

(b) attraction of insects to cosmos or dahlia stalks

(c) attraction of the bird to its nest

(d) attraction of the ants to food stuff

36. The place where the astrologer would sit and wait for his clients was located

(a) at the corner of the city centre

(b) on one side of the path running through the Town Hall Park

(c) adjoining to a village park

(d) none of the above

37. The astrologer took to understand the problem of his client –

(a) ten minutes

(b) one hour

(c) half an hour

(d) five minutes

38. The names ‘Bombay Ice Cream’, ‘Delhi Almond’ and ‘Raja’s Delicacy’ were given to –

(a) hardware

(b) fruits

(c) cheap clothes

(d) groundnut

39. The most loud among the shopkeepers was the –

(a) cloth seller

(b) groundnut seller

(c) magician

(d) astrologer

40. Who gave his ware a fancy name each day?

(a) Vendor of fried groundnut

(b) Food seller

(c) Seller of clothes

(d) Seller of chanachur

41. Who dallied before the astrologer?

(a) A few persons

(b) A considerable portion of this crowd

(c) A small part of the crowd

(d) A lot of people

42. Which light helped the astrologer transact his business?

(a) The light of a flare

(b) The light of a street lamp

(c) The light of an old cycle lamp

(d) The light of the park

43. The astrologer managed his business

(a) in the street light

(b) in the gaslights

(c) without his own light

(d) with his own light

44. According to R. K. Narayan, the astrologer was as much a stranger to the stars

(a) as were his innocent customers

(b) as were the other vendors

(c) as were his family members

(d) as were the residents of Malgudi

45. Whatever the astrologer said usually 

(a) pleased and astonished everyone

(b) annoyed his customers

(c) attracted the passerby

(d) failed to convince anybody

46. According to R. K. Narayan, the astrologer’s Income was

(a) as much an honest man’s labour as any other

(b) as much a dishonest man’s labour as any cheat

(c) less than an honest man’s income

(d) more than an honest man’s income

47. The astrologer was born and brought up

(a) in a farmer’s family

(b) in an astrologer’s family

(c) in an educated family

(d) in a fisherman’s family

48. If the astrologer had continued his Ille in the village, he would have carried on

(a) cultivating the land

(b) catching the fish

(c) an astrologer’s business

(d) teaching in a village pathshala

49. The present address of the astrologer Is

(a) a hundred mile away from his village home

(b) a couple of hundred miles away from his village home

(c) three hundred miles away from his village home

(d) four hundred miles away from his village home

50. As an astrologer he had a working analysis of

(a) mankind’s troubles

(b) mankind’s happy moments

(c) mankind’s progress

(d) mankind’s ambition

51. Long practice had

(a) sharpened the astrologer’s perception of human troubles

(b) sharpened the astrologers perception of human affection

(c) sharpened the astrologers perception of human entanglements

(d) sharpened the astrologers perception of human interests

52. For each question, the astrologer charged -

(a) five pies

(b) four pies

(c) three pies

(d) two pies

53. How much did the astrologer charge for his service?

(a) 3 paise for all questions

(b) 2 paise for each question

(c) 3 paise for each question

(d) 12 and half annas

54. What left the astrologer in darkness?

(a) The closing of medicine shops

(b) Rising of the cheap cloth-seller

(c) Rising of the nuts vendor

(d) Sudden load-shedding

55. What was a signal for the astrologer to bundle up the trade?

(a) blowing out the flair by the nut vendor

(b) blowing out the flair by medicine seller

(c) blowing out the flair by junk shop owner

(d) blowing out the flair by magicians

56. The nuts-vendor blew out his flare as

(a) he was tired of shouting his trade cry

(b) he wanted to go home

(c) much of his groundnut was sold

(d) the fuel of his flare exhausted

57. The blowing out of the flare by the nut vendor served as a signal to the –

(a) stranger

(b) astrologer

(c) other shopkeepers

(d) buyers

58. What is the astrologer’s business strategy?

(a) Detailed horoscopes

(b) Charging only the rich

(c) Saying what the client wants to hear

(d) Advertising his services

59. Which tool does he not actually use for astrology?

(a) Cowrie shells

(b) Palm reading

(c) Horoscopes

(d) Astrological software

60. The astrologer dresses in a way to:

(a) Attract police attention

(b) Look spiritual and wise

(c) Look modern

(d) Impress tourists

61. The author’s tone while describing the astrologer’s method is:

(a) Admiring

(b) Sarcastic and ironic

(c) Serious

(d) Angry

62. The early setting creates a sense of:

(a) Urgency

(b) Peace

(c) Suspense and deception

(d) Celebration

63. Who approaches the astrologer late in the evening?

(a) His friend

(b) A police officer

(c) Guru Nayak

(d) His old customer

64. How was Guru Nayak described initially?

(a) Polite and respectful

(b) Suspicious and aggressive

(c) Quiet and confused

(d) Nervous and hasty

65. The coin flung to the astrologer by Guru Nayak was –

(a) An anna

(b) Two anna

(c) A rupee

(d) two rupee

66. The stranger was smoking –

(a) cigarette

(b) bidi

(c) cheroot

(d) hookah

67. How did the astrologer recognize the stranger?

(a) by tubelight

(b) by matchlight

(c) by the light of cheroot

(d) by green shaft of light

68. The astrologer caught the sight of the stranger’s face in the light of –

(a) the flare

(b) cycle lamp

(c) candle

(d) match

69. What did Guru Nayak first demand?

(a) To know the future

(b) To have his palm read

(c) A refund

(d) A cigarette

70. The astrologer at first:

(a) Welcomes him

(b) Recognizes him immediately

(c) Is irritated

(d) Is surprised and tries to avoid him

71. What does Guru Nayak bet with the astrologer?

(a) One rupee

(b) Ten rupees

(c) A hundred rupees

(d) Five annas

72. Guru Nayak challenges the astrologer to:

(a) Predict his death

(b) Identify his name

(c) Tell him about his past and enemy

(d) Describe his village

73. What does the astrologer realize about Guru Nayak?

(a) He is a thief

(b) He is the man he once attacked

(c) He is a police officer

(d) He is his relative

74. Guru Nayak was stabbed and pushed into a –

(a) river

(b) tank

(c) hole

(d) well

75. What is the synonym for 'resplendent' as used in the text?

(a) Dull

(b) Bright/Shining

(c) Dirty

(d) Small

76. “You were left for dead.” Who said this?

(a) Guru Nayak

(b) astrologer

(c) Astrologer’s wife

(d) The nut vendor

77. “A knife has passed through you once.” Who said this and to whom?

(a) Guru Nayak to astrologer

(b) Astrologer to Guru Nayak

(c) astrologer to his wife

(d) astrologer’s wife to astrologer

78. Guru Nayak was stabbed in his –

(a) shoulder

(b) abdomen

(c) back

(d) chest

79. What does the astrologer tell Guru Nayak about the attacker?

(a) He is missing

(b) He has moved to Bombay

(c) He is dead

(d) He is in jail

80. What does Guru Nayak want to know?

(a) Whether his attacker is alive

(b) Whether his wife is faithful

(c) Whether he will win a case

(d) Whether he’ll find gold

81. What is Guru Nayak’s reaction knowing his assailant died in a vulgar way?

(a) He disbelieves astrologer 

(b) He becomes violent

(c) He is relieved

(d) He runs away

82. What does the astrologer advise Guru Nayak?

(a) To never travel southward

(b) To forget the past

(c) To pray to the gods

(d) To seek revenge elsewhere

83. Why does the astrologer give this advice?

(a) Out of kindness

(b) To protect himself

(c) As a spiritual duty

(d) For more money

84. What payment does the astrologer receive from Guru Nayak?

(a) 1 rupee

(b) 5 rupees

(c) 8 annas

(d) A handful of coins

85. What does the astrologer do immediately after Guru Nayak leaves?

(a) Closes shop and rushes home

(b) Cries

(c) Drinks tea

(d) Looks for more customers

86. When did the astrologer finally return home?

(a) at midnight

(b) nearly at midnight

(c) at dawn

(d) at late evening

87. What does the astrologer do with the earnings?

(a) Hides them

(b) Donates them

(c) Buys sweets

(d) Gives them to his wife

88. The astrologer actually belonged to a family of street –

(a) street vendors

(a) astrologers

(c) farmers

(d) medicine sellers

89. The astrologer left the village –

(a) as he liked city-life

(b) for his profession

(c) after planning for a long time

(d) all of a sudden

90. Seeing the face of the stranger, the astrologer felt very much –

(a) delighted

(b) angry

(c) uncomfortable

(d) afraid

91. What "colour scheme" did the astrologer use to attract people?

(a) A deep blue robe

(b) A saffron-coloured turban

(c) A white dhoti with a red border

(d) A black cloak with silver stars

92. The stranger threatened the astrologer that he would –

(a) beat him

(b) take him to the police

(c) take away all his money

(d) kill him

93. Guru Nayak is the name of the –

(a) stranger

(b) astrologer

(c) master of the astrologer

(d) astrologer’s wife

94. Which vendor sat next to the astrologer and created a "din" all day?–

(a) The medicine seller

(b) The fruit vendor

(c) The groundnut vendor

(d) The cloth auctioneer

95. How was the astrologer's workspace lit at night? –

(a) By a municipal street lamp

(b) By a professional gaslight he owned

(c) By a battery-operated torch

(d)  By the crackling flare from the nearby groundnut heap

96. When he heard that his assailant was already dead, Guru Nayak –

(a) expressed despair

(b) cried out in anger

(c) felt relieved

(d) thanked the astrologer

97. According to the astrologer, the attacker of Guru Nayak was killed –

(a) four years ago

(b) four months ago

(c) long ago

(d) a few months ago

98. Guru Nayak used to travel from home –

(a) for doing business

(b) to consult astrologers

(c) for meeting with his relatives

(d) to get at his attacker

99. The astrologer is a –

(a) foolish man

(b) simple man

(c) cunning man

(d) sad man

100. “It was a remarkable place in many ways.” Here ‘it’ refers to –

(a) the astrologer’s house

(b) the path running through town hall place

(c) Guru Nayak’s village

(d) the astrologer’s house

101. “He had left his village without any previous thought or plan.” In this fine ‘he’ refers to –

(a) the stranger

(b) the astrologer

(c) one of the astrologer’s client

(d) Guru Nayak

102. “Ah, tell me more.” The speaker here is –

(a) Guru Nayak

(b) the astrologer’s wife

(c) the astrologer

(d) none of these

103. “You know my name!” the other said, taken aback.” The name of the person is –

(a) Guru Nalak

(b) Guru Nayak

(c) Guru Nanak

(d) Guru Nayek

104. “You tried to kill.” Here ‘You’ refers to –

(a) Guru Nayak

(b) Guru Nayak’s friend

(c) the astrologer

(d) the astrologer’s friend

105. “I will prepare some nice staff for her.” The word ‘her’ here refers to the –

(a) astrologer’s wife

(b) astrologer’s mother

(c) astrologer’s daughter

(d) astrologer’s sister

106. “He died four months ago in a far-off town.” This was said about –

(a) Guru Nayak

(b) Guru Nayak’s friend

(c) Guru Nayak’s attacker

(d) Guru Nayak’s family member

107. Why did the stranger bare his chest ? –

(a) for the hot weather

(b) for the discomfort from heat

(c) to show his inner garment

(d) to show his scar

108. According to the astrologer, the stranger would meet the man who tried to kill him –

(a) in the next world

(b) in the next town

(c) in a far-off town

(d) in his village

109. What did the astrologer advise the stranger to rub on his forehead ? 

(a) Vermilion

(b) sacred ash

(c) sandal paste

(d) sacred earth

110. Who was waiting for the astrologer at the door ?

(a) his mother

(b) his wife

(c) his daughter

(d) none

111. The astrologer tried to kill once –

(a) his brother

(b) his wife

(c) Guru Nayak

(d) all of them

112. After his dinner, the astrologer sat –

(a) on a cot

(b) on the pyol

(c) on a string bed

(d) under the tamarind tree

113. Guru Nayak was searching for –

(a) his lost son

(b) his missing wife

(c) a thief

(d) the astrologer himself

114. The astrologer sensed the man standing before him lo be

(a) a client

(b) a thief

(c) a shadow

(d) a mischief-maker

115. The astrologer assured the stranger that what he would get

(a) ought to be good enough for his money

(b) ought to be something more than his money’s worth

(c) something equal to the value of his time and money

(d) none of the above

116. The pact between the astrologer and the stranger was accepted

(a) then and there

(b) after a hard bargain

(c) within a moment

(d) without argument

117. As the astrologer felt very uncomfortable

(a) he refused to accept the challenge

(b) he attempted to run away from the place

(c) he lit a cheroot

(d) he looked upset

118. When the astrologer made his preparations to bundle up

(a) the stranger demanded his money back

(b) the stranger requested him to go through his palm

(c) the stranger held the astrologer’s wrist and did not allow him to go

(d) the stranger did nothing

119. As the astrologer was forced lo accept the challenge

(a) his throat dried up

(b) he leapt up In joy

(c) he proceeded fearlessly

(d) he began to stammer

120. “After a good deal of haggling the other agreed.”. -Here the word ‘haggling’ means

(a) discussion

(b) prolonged bargaining

(c) ethical consideration

(d) nagging

121. The stranger was pushed into

(a) a pond in the village

(b) a well nearby in the field

(c) a river flowing through the town

(d) a tank in the village

122. The astrologer informed the stranger that the person he had been searching

(a) died four months ago in a far-off town

(b) died four months ago in a nearby town

(c) died four years ago in a far-off town

(d) died four days ago in a far-off town

123. The astrologer said that he knew

(a) only the name of the stranger

(b) only how he was stabbed and rescued

(c) only the person who stabbed Guru Nayak

(d) all about Guru Nayak

124. The astrologer advised Guru Nayak

(a) to take the next bus and be gone

(b) take the next train and be gone

(c) to stay in his house for the night

(d) not to travel at night

125. The astrologer predicted a great danger to Guru Nayak’s life

(a) if he would go from home

(b) if he would stay in the town

(c) if he would travel by train

(d) if he would travel by bus

126. The astrologer informed Guru Nayak that the person who had stabbed him? / How, according to the astrologer, did Guru Nayak’s assailant die ?

(a) was crushed under a lorry

(b) died of cholera

(c) was crushed under a train

(d) committed suicide

127. What is the antonym of 'impetuous'?

(a) Careful/Cautious

(b) Fast

(c) Angry

(d) Brave

128. The astrologer –

(a) was childless

(b) had a daughter

(c) had a son

(d) had many children

129. With ‘twelve and a half annas’ the astrologer’s wife decided to buy –

(a) jaggery and coconut

(b) the daughter’s dress

(c) her saree

(d) some sweets

130. The astrologer’s wife counted the money and found that it was –

(a) eight annas

(b) twelve annas

(c) twelve and a half annas

(d) more than a rupee

131. Hearing about the amount of money given by Guru Nayak, the astrologer was –

(a) angry

(b) happy

(c) overjoyed

(d) surprised

132. Counting the coins amounting twelve and a half annas

(a) the astrologer’s wife was surprised

(b) the astrologer’s wife was unhappy

(c) the astrologer’s wife was overjoyed

(d) the astrologer’s wife was not a bit excited

133. The astrologer’s income excited his wife

(a) to buy some jaggery and coconut tomorrow

(b) to buy some bangles and ribbon the next day

(c) to buy some grocery items the next day

(d) to buy some vegetables the next day

134. The child has been asking for

(a) sweets

(b) toys

(c) school dress

(d) a smartphone

135. “The swine has cheated me”—Who says this?

(a) The astrologer’s wife

(b) The astrologer

(c) The astrologer’s daughter

(d) Guru Nayak

136. What was the "signal" for the astrologer to pack up his things?

(a) The town clock striking midnight

(b) The groundnut vendor blowing out his flare

(c) The arrival of the police

(d) The street lights turning off

137. Seeing Guru Nayak alive, the astrologer came to the conclusion that

(a) he is a murderer

(b) he is no longer a murderer

(c) he will be jailed for his attempt to murder Guru Nayak

(d) he is still in danger as Guru Nayak is not dead

138. The client in ‘An Astrologer’s Day’ actually wanted

(a) to avenge himself

(b) to free himself from the charge of murder

(c) to find out his old friend

(d) to get back his lost property

139. The astrologer was reluctant to advise the client because

(a) he recognized his client

(b) his client forced him to advise

(c) his client’s behaviour was rude

(d) he was very much tired

140. That the astrologer accidentally meets the same person he Is trying to escape is

(a) an example of irony of words

(b) an example of irony of fate

(c) an example of verbal irony

(d) none of these

141. What the astrologer discloses about the name of client and his past is

(a) true

(b) false

(c) partly true

(d) false partly

142. The astrologer’s wife demanded an explanation because

(a) the astrologer looked tired

(b) the astrologer returned home rather early

(c) the astrologer was late in returning home

(d) the astrologer reached home without his bag

143. What shocking truth is revealed about the astrologer’s past?

(a) He was once a police officer

(b) He had tried to kill a man

(c) He was a real astrologer once

(d) He was a fugitive

144. Who was the man the astrologer once attacked?

(a) A childhood friend

(b) His own cousin

(c) Guru Nayak

(d) A police constable

145. What did the astrologer believe had happened to Guru Nayak?

(a) He had escaped

(b) He had died

(c) He had been imprisoned

(d) He had moved abroad

146. Why did the astrologer run away from his village?

(a) He hated farming

(b) He had debts

(c) He feared arrest for attempted murder

(d) He was heartbroken

147. How does the astrologer feel after realizing Guru Nayak is alive?

(a) Guilty

(b) Relieved

(c) Shocked

(d) Fearful

148. Why is the astrologer relieved?

(a) He knows he’s safe from being found out

(b) He is proud of his prediction

(c) He gets more money

(d) He can return to his village

149. What irony does the title “An Astrologer’s Day” reflect?

(a) He is not really an astrologer

(b) He meets someone from his past

(c) He earns more money than usual

(d) He is caught by police

150. What makes this day different from all others in the astrologer’s life?

(a) He is questioned by a client

(b) He comes face to face with his past

(c) He performs a real prediction

(d) He earns the most money

151. What does the astrologer confess to his wife?

(a) That he is a fraud

(b) That he once attacked a man who turned up that day

(c) That he wants to go home

(d) That he met an old friend

152. What does the story suggest about fate?

(a) It can be controlled

(b) It always catches up

(c) It’s unpredictable and ironic

(d) It’s predetermined

153. The surprise meeting shows that:

(a) One cannot escape the past

(b) Truth always comes out

(c) All astrologers are frauds

(d) Villains win in life

154. The story ends with:

(a) The astrologer arrested

(b) A confession and inner peace

(c) A warning to Guru Nayak

(d) The astrologer quitting his job

155. What items made up the astrologer’s "professional equipment"?

(a) A crystal ball and a deck of cards

(b) Incense sticks and a brass bell

(c) A telescope and a map of the stars

(d) Cowrie shells, a square cloth with charts, and palmyra writing

156. How did the astrologer’s "simple clients" interpret the sharp gleam in his eyes?

(a) As a sign of madness

(b) As a sign of greed

(c) As a prophetic light

(d) As a lack of sleep

157. To what does the author compare the way people were attracted to the astrologer?

(a) Ants to sugar

(b) Bees to cosmos or dahlia stalks

(c) Moths to a flame

(d) Travelers to an oasis

158. Where did the astrologer sit to conduct his business?

(a) Under the boughs of a spreading tamarind tree

(b) Inside a small temple

(c) At the main gate of the Town Hall

(d) In a rented shop with gaslights

159. What fancy names did the groundnut vendor give his ware?

(a) Bombay Ice-cream, Delhi Almond, and Raja’s Delicacy

(b) Royal Cashews and Palace Peas

(c) Sweet Nectar and Crunchy Gold

(d) Himalayan Walnuts and Southern Treats

160. What was the astrologer’s true knowledge of the stars?

(a) He was a master of Vedic astronomy.

(b) He was as much a stranger to the stars as his customers.

(c) He had studied astrology in a famous city.

(d) He could predict the exact movement of Saturn.

161. What would the astrologer have done if he had stayed in his village?

(a) Become a priest

(b) Opened a small grocery shop

(c) Tilled the land and carried on his forefathers' work

(d) Become a school teacher

162. Choose the correct spelling for the word meaning 'miscellaneous items' used in the story:

(a) Parapharnalia

(b) Paraphernalia

(c) Parephernalia

(d) Paraphenalia

163. What was the astrologer's "rule" about speaking?

(a) He spoke first to impress the client.

(b) He spoke only after receiving a rupee.

(c) He only spoke in whispers.

(d) He never spoke until the client had spoken for at least ten minutes.

164. What does the word 'vociferousness' mean in the context of the groundnut vendor?

(a) Quietness

(b) Loudness/Noisiness

(c) Sweetness

(d) Speed

165. What common human troubles did the astrologer analyze?

(a) Health and education

(b) Marriage, money, and the tangles of human ties

(c) Weather and crop yields

(d) Political events and war

166. Why did the "rough exterior" comment endear the astrologer to his clients?

(a) Because everyone likes to think they have a forbidding exterior.

(b) Because it made them feel handsome.

(c) Because it proved he was a real psychic.

(d) Because it made them feel safe.

167. What kind of light "strayed in" just before the stranger appeared?

(a) A red neon light

(b) A little shaft of green light

(c) A bright yellow beam

(d) A blue spark

168. How did the stranger react when the astrologer tried to start his usual "nature" talk?

(a) He started crying.

(b) He walked away immediately.

(c) He gave him a gold coin.

(d) He told him to stop and say something worthwhile.

169. What was the "pact" or challenge between the stranger and the astrologer?

(a) If the astrologer was wrong, he would give the stranger five rupees.

(b) They would have a wrestling match.

(c) If the stranger proved the astrologer was bluffing, the astrologer must pay interest.

(d) The astrologer had to predict the stranger's death date.

170. Why did the astrologer catch a glimpse of the stranger’s face?

(a) The stranger lit a cheroot with a match.

(b) The moon came out from behind a cloud.

(c) The groundnut vendor relit his flare.

(d) A car's headlights shone on him.

171. Why did the astrologer suddenly feel uncomfortable and try to return the anna?

(a) He recognized the stranger's face.

(b) He felt sick.

(c) He realized he had no more answers.

(d) He was afraid of the stranger's weapon.

172. What did the stranger want to know from the astrologer?

(a) If he would become rich.

(b) If his wife was faithful.

(c) If he would succeed in his present search.

(d) If he should move to a new town.

173. What specific injury did the astrologer say the stranger had suffered?

(a) A broken leg from a fall

(b) A scar from a fire

(c) A bullet wound in the shoulder

(d) A knife wound through the chest

174. Who saved the stranger from the well?

(a) The astrologer

(b) A village doctor

(c) A passer-by who peeped into the well

(d) His brother

175. Which direction did the astrologer tell Guru Nayak never to travel again?

(a) Northward

(b) Eastward

(c) Westward

(d) Southward

176. Why did the stranger look "gratified" at the end of the meeting?

(a) Because he found his missing money.

(b) Because he heard his enemy met a horrible death.

(c) Because the astrologer gave him a discount.

(d) Because he liked the taste of the sacred ash.

177. What was the "great load" that left the astrologer that night?

(a) He realized he hadn't actually killed a man.

(b) He finally paid off his debts.

(c) He decided to retire from astrology.

(d) He found his lost village home.

178. What is the ultimate irony of the story?

(a) The astrologer is actually a great scientist.

(b) The "murderer" ends up giving "life-saving" advice to his "victim."

(c) Guru Nayak becomes an astrologer too.

(d) The wife is the one who actually killed the man.

179. The astrologer's success was due to "study, practice, and ______."

(a) Magic spells

(b) Shrewd guesswork

(c) Holy spirits

(d) Ancient books

180. What was the "pyol" mentioned at the end of the story?

(a) A type of dessert

(b) A traditional bed

(c) A platform or porch outside a house

(d) A type of lamp

181. What did the astrologer do before sleeping?

(a) He counted his shells.

(b) He prayed to the stars.

(c) He yawned and stretched on the pyol.

(d) He practiced new charts.

182. How did the astrologer feel about the money Guru Nayak gave him?

(a) He felt it was a fair price.

(b) He felt cheated because Guru Nayak promised a rupee.

(c) He felt guilty for taking it.

(d) He was surprised it was so much.

183. What does the "green shaft of light" symbolize in the story?

(a) Nature’s beauty

(b) The approaching dawn

(c) The astrologer’s magical powers

(d) The moment of revelation and confrontation

184. The Town Hall Park is described as a "remarkable place" because of:

(a) Its beautiful flowers

(b) The surging crowd and variety of trades

(c) Its silence and peace

(d) The government meetings held there

185. Which of these was NOT a trade represented in the park?

(a) Medicine sellers

(b) Magicians

(c) Software engineers

(d) Sellers of stolen hardware

186. Why did the lack of municipal lighting suit the astrologer?

(a) He liked to work in the dark.

(b) It saved him from paying taxes.

(c) It created a bewildering criss-cross of shadows that masked his true identity.

(d) He had very sensitive eyes.

187. What did the astrologer do with the "sacred ash" he gave to Guru Nayak?

(a) He told him to eat it.

(b) He told him to rub it on his forehead.

(c) He told him to throw it in the river.

(d) He told him to keep it in a box.

188. What was the "cheroot" the stranger was smoking?

(a) A type of pipe

(b) A cigar

(c) A hand-rolled cigarette

(d) A piece of candy

189. How did the astrologer know Guru Nayak's name?

(a) He guessed it randomly.

(b) He knew him from their past in the village.

(c) The stranger’s wife told him.

(d) It was written on the stranger’s arm.

190. Why did Guru Nayak shake his head regretfully?

(a) Because he lost his money.

(b) Because he missed his home.

(c) Because his enemy escaped his hands

(d) Because the astrologer was late.

191. What character trait does the astrologer show by telling Guru Nayak to go home?

(a) Fear

(b) Self-preservation and cleverness

(c) Kindness

(d) Laziness