Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter-2: Nelson Mandela:Long Walk to Freedom with the concerned video

Summary of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Long Walk to Freedom is the autobiography of Nelson Mandela, who was the former South African President. This article is for Nelson Mandela Long Walk to Freedom Summary. This chapter is the extracts from the “Long Walk to Freedom” book. It includes the description of the inauguration ceremony and citations from his speech and about his journey to being a freedom fighter. It tells about the other countless people who fought for their freedom.   In South Africa, a brutal practice named “apartheid” was very popular in those days. It referred to the discrimination between people on the basis of their race and colour. It was one of the most brutal societies in which dark-skinned people were deprived of their basic rights. This lesson gives us an overview of the struggles of Mandela for making the society with no discrimination on the basis of their colour, caste, race, age or gender.

“A Long to Freedom”, by Nelson Mandela is all about the struggle of freedom of South-Africa. On May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela took a vow as the first black president of South Africa. And therefore it was becoming a new-born democratic country. Nelson Mandela took an oath as the first black president.

Many dignitaries from different countries had come to be part of the most significant day. In his speech, Mandela thanked all those dignitaries. Mandela assured his countrymen that his country would never  experience the same suppression of one by another. Democracy had been established in South Africa and as a result, a government of no discrimination was established.

The people of South Africa sang two National Anthems as a symbol of that day. Mandela recalled that the reason for this movement was that Black-skinned people were exploited by the White people. He said that this type of suppression of people of South Africa was the origin of many stars. People must learn to hate first, because if they hate then they can be taught to love, as love comes from the opposite circumstances. He also says that a brave man is not he who does not feel afraid but it is he who conquers it.

In life, a man has two major obligations. First, towards his family, to his parents, to his wife and to his children and second,  the obligation towards his country, people and the community. Everyone fulfils his duty as per his inclination and interest. But it was very tough to fulfil in a country like South Africa. When Mandela became an adult, he understood that his freedom was only an illusion. In fact, he was the slave of exploitation. He also understood that not only he was a slave but his other family members were also.

According to him, Freedom is also mandatory for those who were suppressing others in the past. They also have the right to have it because the snatcher of other’s freedom is a prisoner of the same. Thus, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. The oppressor too is not free.

Conclusion of Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

The brave man is not the one who does not feel afraid, but he is the one who conquers that fear. Mandela said that every man has his duties towards his country and community too.

Question-answers

Q1)Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did it signify the triumph of ?

A-A large number of international leaders attended the inauguration to show their support for the emancipation of the South African blacks after long years of fight against apartheid. It signified the triumph of tolerance over discrimination, justice over oppression and humanity over barbarity.

Q2)What does Mandela mean when he says he is “simply the sum of all those African patriots” who had gone before him ?

A-Mandela allows us a glimpse into his character formation as he reveals that he is built by the combination of courage, wisdom and generosity possessed by his African patriots who sacrificed their lives to see the light of freedom. He wants to pay tributes to his inspirations who with their efforts and struggles made the road to freedom easier for Mandela. Those heroes of yester years are the reason that Mandela could learn the true meaning of courage and win the support of the people of South Africa.

Q3)Would you agree that the “depths of oppression” create “heights of character”? How does Mandela illustrate this? Can you add your own examples to this argument?

A-Yes, I agree that the “ depths of oppression” create “heights of character”. Mandela vividly paints a picture of his countrymen suffering decades of humilation, brutality, oppression at the hands of the white supremacy which gave rise to brave, resilient , wise leaders of the likes of the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of their time. The cruelty and struggles encouraged his countrymen to stand up and risk their lives for their belief, their freedom. I believe that adversity shapes a man. To quote some popular examples are fine statesmen like Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Winston Churchill and so on.

Q4)How did Mandela’s understanding of freedom change with age and experience?

A-As a child, Mandela considered himself to be born free as long as he followed his father’s orders and lived by the rules of his clan. As a student, he craved for freedom which he considered important for himself like staying out at night, reading what it pleases him and so on. However, as young man in Johannesburg, he yearned for the freedom to lead a basic, dignified life. Slowly, he realized that not only his freedom was restricted but everyone in his community was barred from leading a normal, lawful life. That is when his hunger for his own freedom transformed into the greater hunger for the freedom of his people.

Q5)How did Mandela’s ‘hunger for freedom’ change his life ?

A-As Mandela grew into adulthood, it dawned upon him that his restricted freedom was common across his entire community. This ‘hunger for freedom’ that arose in Mandela for a basic, dignified life transformed him from a weak, immature youth to a bold man, from a family loving person to the man who sacrificed his every personal desire for the greater good of his people. He joined the African National Congress and his life was changed forever.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter-2: The Sound of Music with the concerned video

The Sound of Music Summary In English

I

Evelyn Glennie listens to

sound without hearing it

Little girl Evelyn at Royal Academy of Music

Rush hour crowds pushed for place on the underground train platform. A little girl of about seventeen was nervous for the coming train. It was her first day at the famous Royal Academy of Music in London. She was deaf. So she was facing a bigger challenge in life. Evelyn’s deafness detected Evelyn Glennie who was from Scotland. She lost her hearing gradually. Her mother saw it when Evelyn was eight years old. Evelyn hid this growing weakness from her friends and teachers. By eleven, her marks lessened. The headmistress told her mother to take her to a specialist. It was known that her hearing loss was due to gradual nerve damage. She was advised to wear a hearing aid.

How Evelyn ‘hears’

But Evelyn was determined to lead a normal life. She wanted to pursue her interest in music. One day she saw a girl playing xylophone. She too decided to play it. Ron Forbes recognised Evelyn’s talent in it. He told her to listen to it not through ears but sense it some other way. Evelyn said that suddenly she could feel the higher and lower drums differently. She could also sense certain notes in different parts of her body. She could open her mind and body to different sounds.

Evelyn’s height of success

She never looked back. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra. She had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in London by playing the xylophone. There she scored the highest in its history. She moved from orchestral work to solo performances. After her three-year course she had got most of the top awards.

Evelyn world’s most wanted multi percussionist

She is not proud of her achievements. She says that if one knows one’s goal, one can get it. She is now at the top. She is the world’s most wanted multi percussionist. She has mastery over 1,000 instruments.

Evelyn’s other interest

Without hearing she functions with ease. She speaks fluently with a Scottish lilt. She learnt French and mastered basic Japanese.

Evelyn’s ‘hearing’ the music

She says that music pours in through every part of her body. At times, she plays the xylophone. She can sense the sound passing in her fingertips. She feels the sound of the drums when she leans on them. She removes her shoes on a wooden platform. She does so to feel the vibrations in her body. 

How God blessed Evelyn

In 1991, she was awarded the Soloist of the Year Award. It is the most famous award of the Royal Philharmonic Society. Master percussionist James Blades says that God may have taken her hearing. But He has given her something extraordinary.

Evelyn as inspiration for the handicapped

Evelyn says that she is a workaholic. She has to work more harder than classical musicians. She gives regular concerts. She also gives free concepts in schools and hospitals. She gives priority to young musicians. Ann Richlin of the Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children says that Evelyn is a shining inspiration for deaf children.

Evelyn a source of pleasure also

Evelyn has brought percussion to the front of the orchestra. She is an inspiration to the handicapped. She has given great pleasure to millions.

II

The shehnai of bismillah khan

History of ‘shehnai’

Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi in the palace. The reason was that it had a sharp and unpleasant sound. A barber thought of improving it. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem. He made seven holes on its body. He played on it closing and opening some of these holes. It produced a sweet sound. He played it before the royalty. It needed a name. So it was named after the player. He was a ‘nai’ (barber). It was first played in the Shah’s chambers.

‘Shehnai’ and Bismillah Khan

The sound of the shehnai was considered auspicious. So it is played in temples and at weddings in north India. Earlier it was part of the traditional music groups. 

Ustad Bismillah Page No 20:

Question 1:

Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?

2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?

ANSWER:

1. Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London.

2. Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old and it was confirmed when she was eleven.

Page No 20:

Question 2:

Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30 – 40 words).

1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?

2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.

ANSWER:

1. Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn to continue with music.

He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. He asked her not to listen to them through her ears but to try and sense the sound in some other manner.

2. Evelyn, with a hectic international schedule, gives solo performances at regular concerts. Apart from these, she gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also accords high priority to classes for young musicians.

Page No 20:

Question 3:

Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100 – 150 words).

1. How does Evelyn hear music?

ANSWER:

Evelyn does not hear music, she feels it. She senses the notes through different parts of her body. Initially, she was encouraged by percussionist Ron Forbes, who tuned two drums to different notes and asked her to sense the sound without using her ears. She realized that she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower drum from the waist down. This exercise helped Evelyn to open up her mind and body to sounds and vibrations.

Evelyn explains that when she plays the xylophone, she senses the sound flowing up the stick and into her fingertips. She leans against the drums, stands barefoot on a wooden platform so that she can feel the vibrations. She says how her whole body including her hair is sensitive to her music and its resonances.

Summary & Question-answers of the Chapter:2-A Gift of Chappals with the concerned video

A Gift of Chappals Summary In English

Mridu goes to Rukku Manni’s House.

Mridu is a young girl living with her grandmother Tapi and grandfather Thatha in Chennai. Mridu goes alongwith Tapi to her aunt Rukku Manni’s place one afternoon. There she meets her cousins Lalli, Ravi and Meena. Everyone at Rukku Manni’s house was glad to see Mridu. There was a thick bitter-berry bush in their backyard, Ravi took her beside that. There was small little kitten inside a torn football. The small creature was busy drinking milk that was kept inside a half-shell of a coconut.

The Kitten

Meena informed Mridu that they have found the kitten outside their house in the morning of that day. But they must keep it as a secret otherwise the grandmother will leave their house immediately. Ravi was upset that they were being taught to be kind towards animals, but when he was trying to do so,elders were screaming at them calling the kitten a dirty creature. His grandmother was suspicious while he was taking out milk for the kitten from kitchen. He had to drink more than half of the milk to make her believe that it was for him.

He also told Mridu that they have named the kitten as Mahendran. Mridu loved the name because it sounded real unlike those cute ones you keep for the kittens. Ravi further added that its complete name was Mahendravarma Pallava Poonai and M P Poonai in short.

He informed her he could make it from its fur as it was a fine breed cat, a close relative of lion family like the one that Pallava kings used in their emblem. To this Mridu giggled which instigated Ravi to prove his knowledge about the history further. On his school trip to Mahabalipuram he had seen statue of a lion and he firmly believed that it was the ancestor of that kitten. He proudly announced that his small kitten was the descendant of Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat. He reminded Mridu of cats being worshipped in ancient Egypt. He believed it to be a descendant of cat godess, Bastet.

The ‘Kreech’ Noise

Ravi was busy making all proud announcements about his kitten when a weird sound ‘Kreech…! came from the window. Mridu was shocked while Mahendran was frightened. Mahendran jumped with fear on a tray or red chillies kept under the Sun for drying. With the “kreeching noise continuing on the background, Mridu enquired what it was? Ravi informed her that it was Lalli learning to play the violin. Mridu peeped from the window and she found Lalli was holding the violin in an awkward position sitting a bit away from her music teacher who had his back towards the window.

The teacher was bald with a fringe of oiled black hair falling around his ears. There was gold chain round the neck and a ring on this hand. He had a big toe with which he was thumping the ground. He was playing the notes perfectly on the violin while Lalli was struggling hard. His tracks were filled with melody while Lalli continued missing the notes.

The Beggar

Children were having fun peeping from the window when Rukku Manni called Ravi to send the beggar away. She was fed up with the beggar coming to their place for a week now and wanted him to find another house. The beggar had made himself comfortable at the garden. He was leaning against the neem tree with his upper cloth spread under it. He was about to snooze when he heard Ravi asking him to leave. He was shocked to hear this and called for lady of the house. An irritated Rukku Manni told Ravi that there wasn’t anything left in the kitchen and asked the beggar not to come again.

Her voice was so loud that Ravi didn’t have to repeat her words to the beggar. The beggar told them that he would leave after taking rest for a while. It was too hot outside and there were blisters on his feet. The children were in pain after seeing this and started making plans to give him chappals.

The Gift

Mridu remembered seeing a pair of old grey chappal while she had entered Ravi’s house. She asked Ravi whom they belonged to. Ravi took the chappals and gave it to the beggar and asked him not to come again. The beggar went away wearing the chappals and blessing the children. It was the time for the music teacher to leave. He was looking for his chappals. He called Lalli and they looked everywhere, but didn’t find them. Lalli informed Rukku Manni about it. Rukku Manni questioned the children if they had seen anyone picking up the chappals.

Rukku Manni was really angry and Mridu couldn’t control anymore. She told her that they had given the music teacher’s chappals to the beggar. Rukku Manni went inside and brought Gopu mama’s new chappals and gave them to the music teacher. The teacher was happy getting the new chappals, but still pretended as though it was tough for him to accept them.

Rukku Manni-the Loving Mother

The teacher called Ravi a monkey, an incarnation of lord Hanuman, which seemed clear that Rukku Manni didn’t like. She wanted the teacher to leave immediately.

After he left, she called the children home and offered them some snacks. She thanked God for going itto office in chappals, but needed them after coming home immediately. She wondered what she would tell him giving a hint that she would take the blame on herself.

Page No 22:

Question 1:

What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?

Answer:

A kitten inside a torn football filled with sand was hidden behind a thick bitter-berry bush in the backyard. This was the secret that Meena shared with Mridu.

Question 2:

How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?

Answer:

Ravi got milk for the kitten from the kitchen. When his grandmother saw him holding the glass of milk, he told her that he was hungry. In order to avoid suspicion, he had to even drink most of the milk. When she asked for the tumbler, he told her that he would wash it himself. Then, he ran and poured the milk into a coconut shell. Before his grandmother could get really suspicious, he ran back to the kitchen, washed the tumbler and put it back.

Question 3:

Who does he say the kitten’s ancestors are? Do you believe him?

Answer:

Ravi said that one of the descendants of the Egyptian cat-goddess was a stowaway in a Pallava ship. The descendant of this cat was the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat, and their kitten had descended from the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat. His narrative concerning the genealogy of the kitten is unbelievable.

Question 4:

Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that

(i) he is merely trying to impress Mridu.

(ii) his knowledge of history is sound.

(iii) he has a rich imagination.

(iv) he is an intelligent child.

Which of these statements do you agree/disagree to?

Answer:

Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that he has a rich imagination.

Question 5:

What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?

Answer:

The noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran was an unusual sound, a ‘kreech’. This ‘kreeching’ was actually Lalli’s attempt at learning to play the violin.

Page No 28:

Question 1:

The music master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.

Answer:

‘The music-master’s notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody’. This sentence shows that the music-master was making lovely music.

Question 2:

Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer:

No, the beggar had  not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time. When the beggar arrived, she asked Ravi to send him away. The beggar, she said, had been coming to their house daily the week before. She said it was time he found another house to beg from.

Question 3:

“A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows.” What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni’s mood?

Answer:

A sharp V-shaped line between the eyebrows refers to a frown. This suggests that Rukku Manni was in an angry mood.

Page No 29:

Question 1:

Complete the following sentences.

(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to _____________________________

________________________________________________________________

(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran _____________________

_________________________________________________________________

(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli _____________________

_________________________________________________________________

(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household _____________________

_________________________________________________________________

(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if ___________________

__________________________________________________________________

Answer:

(i) Ravi compares Lalli’s playing the violin to derailing of a train of melody.

(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran tipped a few chillies over himself.

(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli stumbled behind him on her violin, which looked helpless and unhappy in her hands.

(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household were very generous and because of this, he had been able to keep his body and soul toget

Summary & Question-answers of The Poem:1-The Squirrel with the concerned video

The Squirrel Summary In English

The poet saw a squirrel sitting on a tree and eating nuts. Its tail was raised upwards with the tip pointing downwards. Thus the tail seemed to be making a question mark. It had a gray coat. It was so loose that the poet calls it an overcoat’. In order to eat a nut it was sitting straight. Squirrel is funny little animal that likes to play with human beings. If human beings ran round his tree, the squirrel wouldn’t be frightened. It would like to tease and play. To do so it would also run round the tree but from the opposite side.

Question 1:

Why does the poet say the squirrel “wore a question mark for tail”? Draw a squirrel, or find a picture of a squirrel sitting on the ground. How would you describe its tail?

Solution:

The poet said that the squirrel “wore a question mark for a tail” because its tail is twisted appearing like a question mark.

Question 2:

Do we usually say that an animal ‘wears’ a tail? What do we say?

(Think: Does an animal wear a coat? Consult a dictionary if you like, and find out how ‘wear’ is used in different ways.)

 

Solution:

We usually say that an animal ‘has’ a set of given characteristics rather than saying ‘wear’. The poet, however, uses the word ‘wear’ to indicate the external characteristics of the squirrel.

The dictionary meaning of ‘wear’ suggests some­thing of an outer covering, for instance clothes.

Question 3:

“He liked to tease and play”. Who is teasing whom? How?

Solution:

The poet liked to tease and play with the squirrel. Whenever the poet went a little close to the squirrel, the squirrel would run away in the other direction.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:

What is being compared to a gray overcoat?

Solution:

The squirrel’s body is being compared to a gray overcoat.

Question 2:

Discuss the posture of the squirrel as discussed in line 3 of the poem.

Solution:

The squirrel ‘sat up straight’ to eat a nut. Else, the squirrel usually sits and runs with a bended back.

 

Question 3:

What did the squirrel do if someone came too close to his tree?

Solution:

The squirrel would run away in the opposite direction if someone came too close to his tree.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1:

Having observed the squirrels around us, can we say that a squirrel is a fast paced animal?

Solution:

Yes, based on our observation of the squirrels around us, we can say that a squirrel is a fast paced animal. We rarely come across squirrels sitting still, except when they are biting into the nuts. Usually we see the squirrels running from one place to another with great energy.

Question 2:

What does the poem say about the poet’s choice of subject?

Solution:

The poem is a reflection of the poet’s desire to compose poetry on most mundane elements that we come across in our day to day surrounding. A squirrel is the most commonly found animal that we see around us. Yet, very few of us would have thought of it as a potent subject matter for a writer’s pen. The poet very simplistically discusses the various aspects of the squirrel, which each one of us must have observed closely.

 

Extract Based Questions

Directions: (Q. Nos. 1-6) Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

“He liked to tease and play,

And if we ran around his tree,

He went the other way.”

Question 1:

Give a synonym for ‘like’ in the context of the poem.

Solution:

Relish

Question 2:

Teasing is the poet’s way of…………………. with the squirrel.

Solution:

playing

Question 3:

Use the word, ‘run’ in a sentence of your own.

Solution:

It is a joy to see children running in various directions while playing in the garden.

 

Question 4:

Choose a befitting adjective to describe the nature of squirrel.

(a) Playful

(b) Scornful

(c) Introvert

(d) Jealous

Solution:

(a) Playful

Question 5:

Identify the ‘he’ in the first line.

(a) The poet

(b) The squirrel

(c) The onlooker

(d) The gardener

Solution:

(a) The poet

Question 6:

Who went the other way?

(a) The poet

(b) The squirrel

(c) The onlooker

(d) The gardener

Solution:

(b) The squirrel

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter:1-A Triumph of Surgery with the concerned video

Summary of the Chapter

Mr. Pumphrey was a rich and emotional lady who has a cute pet . It was a small dog. She named it Tricky. She loved him so much that she usually overfed him. Tricki had put on a lot of weight which made him slow and pathetic. When doctor James Herriot saw the fat dog like a bloated sausage, he was very shocked. He made a plan and told Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed treatment for a disease which was possible only in hospital.

The doctor knew that Mrs. Pumphrey would not be able to keep the dog on a proper diet. When the greedy dog went to the hospital he had to remain hungry if he was slow to approach for food. He was given food at fixed intervals. Soon he shed off a lot of his body weight and became quite active.

When Tricki was at home, he was pampered by Mrs. Pumphrey. He had a luxurious life when he was served with cream cake chocolate and horlicks. But when he came to the doctor he became all right. When Mrs. Pumphrey saw her active dog, she thanked the doctor and felt that it was a triumph of surgery.

Quick Revision Notes

• Tricki was a small dog. It was excessively loved by his mistress, Mrs. Pumphery.

• Tricki was greedy dog who loved food, but do no exercise. As a result he became fat

• Mrs. Pumphery believed that he became lazy due to suffering from malnutrition.

• She was a wealthy woman. She loved her dog so much.

• She also gave him some little foods between the meals to build him up, malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night. She gave him lot to eat but no exercise.

• Once he became ill & she was worried. She made a call to James Herriot who was a vet.

• James already had given suggestions regarding Tricki’s balanced diet. But she never followed it.

• He was a vet. He was shocked to see Tricki hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. He advised her to cut down on the sweet things.

• He expected call came within a few days & it happened. He was called by Mrs. Pumphery as Tricki refused to eat.

• He told her that Tricki need an immediate hospitalization for keeping under observation at his surgery for a fortnight.

• In the hospital, he gave him no food no medicine but plenty of water.

• Gradually, he mixed with other dogs & started playing with them.

• He had a lot of exercises & fun at the surgery.

• He was completely recovered & transformed into a hard muscled dog.

• James Herriot treated the dog without medicine or surgery.

• Mrs. Pumphrey was happy & filled with gratitude.

• She thanked Herriot & said it was a triumph of surgery.

A Triumph of Surgery

Page No 1:

Question 1:

Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey was worried and distraught because Tricki would not eat anything. It even refused its favourite dishes. It had bouts of vomiting. It spent all its time lying on the rug and panting. It did not want to go for walks or do anything.

Question 2:

What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

Answer:

She called the doctor to help Tricki. Yes, her decision was wise. The doctor suggested that Tricki should be hospitalised. She swooned and wailed, but let the dog go with the doctor. Ultimately, the doctor was successful in curing Tricki.

Question 3:

Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Answer:

In this story, ‘I’ refers to the veterinary surgeon, Mr Herriot.

Page No 3:

Question 1:

Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

Answer:

Though not clearly stated, there are instances in the story which suggest that the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphrey.

While the narrator is able to provide Tricki with a warm loose box as a bed, at Mrs Pumphrey’s house, Tricki has a day bed, a night bed, cushions, toys, rubber rings, a breakfast bowl, a lunch bowl, a supper bowl, a whole wardrobe of tweed coats and perhaps many more things.

When he arrives to take the dog with him, Mrs Pumphrey has her entire staff at her disposal to transfer all of Tricki’s belongings to the doctor’s car.

On hearing from the doctor about Tricki’s gradual recovery, Mrs Pumphrey sends along two dozen eggs at a time, along with bottles of wine and brandy—all in order to help in Tricki’s speedy recovery.

Finally, when she calls upon the narrator to take her recovered dog back home, she comes in a chauffer-driven “thirty feet of gleaming black metal” (an obvious reference to a limousine).

All these instances point to the fact that Mrs Pumphrey lived a luxurious life.

Question 2:

How does he treat the dog?

Answer:

The doctor gave Tricki no food, but plenty of water for two days. Slowly, the dog started showing interest in his surroundings and began mixing with the other dogs at the surgery. On the third day, the doctor saw Tricki licking the empty supper bowls of the other dogs. Next day, a separate bowl was kept for it and the doctor was pleased to note that Tricki had run to eat its food with enthusiasm. From that day onwards, its progress was rapid. It did not require medicinal treatment of any kind and recovered quite well at the end.

Question 3:

Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey had started bringing around eggs to build Tricki’s strength. Later, even bottles of wine and brandy began to arrive. The narrator and his partners started enjoying the eggs, wine and brandy meant for Tricki. According to the narrator, they were days of deep content for them—starting with the extra egg in the morning, then the midday wine, and finally finishing the day with brandy. This was the reason why the narrator was tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest.

Question 4:

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

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey thought that the dog’s recovery was “a triumph of surgery” because in two weeks, Tricki had recovered completely and had been transformed into a hard-muscled animal. When Tricki saw her, it leaped into her lap and licked her face. She was so excited that tears started rolling out of her eyes. She declared Tricki’s recovery as a triumph of surgery to express her happiness and gratitude towards the doctor.

Page No 6:

Question 1:

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

Answer:

The narrator is full of common sense. He was very concerned for Tricki when he saw its appearance. He immediately told Mrs Pumphrey to stop giving it food and sweets, and to take it out for daily walks. When she called him to describe Tricki’s deteriorating condition, 

Summary & Question-answers of the Chapter:1-The Lost Child with the concerned video

The Lost Child Summary 

It was the time of spring festival. There was great excitement in the atmosphere. The people could be seen busy going to the fair, all in a happy mood. Some walked, some rode on horses, others sat, being carried in bamboo and bullock carts. A child was also heading towards the fair along with his parents. He was very happy and excited. While his parents were going ahead with all their attention on reaching the fair, the child enjoyed the beauty of the nature with utmost curiosity.

The child’s joy reached its climax once he set his foot in the fair. His eyes got attracted to everything. The stalls of toys and sweets fascinated him too much. He wanted them but was well aware of his father’s harsh attitude.

His mother, however, tried to pacify him and divert his attention towards other things. The child was so busy in observing different things in the fair that he used to lag behind his parents every now and then. Every time he wanted something but was discouraged by his parents. As they moved forward, the child got demurred by the decorative items on the stalls. His mouth watered seeing sweets decorated with gold and silver leaves.

“I want burfi”, he slowly murmured. But he half knew as he begged that his plea would not be heeded. So without waiting for an answer, he moved on. Then he got attracted to a garland of Gulmohar but did not ask for it. Then he saw colorful balloons and was filled with an overwhelming desire to get them all. But he knew that his parents would say he was too old to play with balloons.

So he walked away. The child then saw a snake- charmer. He liked the music played by the charmer and wanted to stay for a while to listen to it but again he was discouraged by his parents. Then he saw a roundabout swing and wanted to get a ride on it. This time he could not resist himself and called for his parents. On getting no reply, he turned to look at his parents. But they were not there.

The panic-stricken child made frantic searches for his parents here and there but found them nowhere. Then he realised that he was lost and separated from his parents. He began to weep bitterly and tried to console him by offering many different things sold in the fair. He offered him sweets, balloons and garlands but the child refused them all.

Question-answers

Question 1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?

Answer 

The child sees a number of things which fascinate him on his way to the fair.

Firstly, he saw toys at a shop.  

Then he saw a flowering mustard field. 

In the fields, the child also saw dragon flies,butterflies fluttering their wings 

Then while walking on the footpath he was amazed by the insects and worms 

When he entered the grove he saw doves which were cooing 

As he neared the village with his parents, he saw huge crowds of people going to the fair

The child also came across sweetmeat seller selling sweets like burfi and gulabjamun and a little further he came across a flower seller who was selling a garland of gulmohar 

Walking ahead, he saw a man selling rainbow colour balloons 

He also saw a snake charmer who stood playing a flute to a snake 

Finally, before losing track of his parents he saw a roundabout swing.

The child keeps lagging behind his parents on the way and his mother and father have to constantly call him so that he doesn’t lag behind. This is because the child is fascinated by all the things he sees on his way. At times, he stops to be able to buy toys and at other times he stops to admire the beauty of the nature – collecting flowers, catching butterflies. 

Question 2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?

Answer 

The child wanted many things in fair. They are:

Toys and Balloons

Sweets from the sweetmeat seller

Garland of gulmohar

Watching the snake charmer play flute to a snake

A ride in the roundabout

The boy moved on without waiting for an answer because he knew that his request would be denied at each step.

Question 3. When does he realize that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?

Answer

He realises that he has lost his way when on reaching the roundabout; he stopped to observe it moving in full swing, with men, women and children enjoying themselves on it. Watching them intently he turned to his parents to ask for permission to go on the rounds but there was no reply from them. He turned to look for them but they were not there. He looked all around but there was no sign of them. A full, deep cry rose within his dry throat and with a sudden jerk of his body he ran from where he stood, crying out in real fear “Mother, Father.” Tears rolled down from his eyes, his flushed face was convulsed with fear. Panic-stricken, he ran from one side to the other, in all directions, knowing not where to go. His yellow turban came untied and his clothes became muddy.

Question 4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?

Answer 

The lost child loses interest in the things that he had wanted earlier because he was panic stricken on being separated from his parents. All he wanted was to be united with them. All the things that attracted him in the fair no longer appeal to him and now the only thing that matters is finding his parents.

Question 5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?

Answer 

In the end the parents, who continuously kept checking to see that he was with them right from the beginning of their journey may have suddenly realized that he was missing and come looking for the lost child. The kind and understanding man who tried to console the little boy by offering him various things at the fair may have also asked him for some description of his parents and helped him to be reunited with them.

Summary & Question-answers of the Chapter:1-The Tiny Teacher with the concerned video

The Tiny Teacher Summary In English

The story of an ant’s life is too remarkable to be true. An ant is the smallest and the wisest creature that we have seen.

Ants have comfortable homes. Each home has hundreds of little rooms and passages. In some of these rooms the queen ant lays eggs. Others are nurseries for the young ants. Workers have their reserved quarters. Some rooms serve as storehouses for food. Soldiers have separate barracks. Ants in a house never quarrel with each other.

Each ant does its share of work intelligently and bravely. So the ants lead a very peaceful life. We know so many other facts about ant’s life. People have kept ants as pets. They have watched their daily behaviour closely. An ant uses its feelers or antennae to talk to or to greet other ants. There are many kinds of ants. The commonest among them are the black or red ones.

The queen ant is the mother of the entire population of ants of a colony. It has a pair of wings. After its wedding flight, it gets rid of its wings. After that it does nothing but lays eggs. Eggs hatch and grubs come out. Grubs take two or three weeks to become cocoons. Cocoons take three more weeks to become perfect ants. Thus it takes five or six weeks for a grub to become a complete ant.

When the eggs become grubs, soldiers guard them. Worker ants carry the grubs about for airing, exercise and sunshine. New ants are trained for the jobs of workers like soldiers, builders, cleaners etc. After a few weeks’ training, small ants are ready to go out for work.

Creatures other than the ants also live in the anthill. These are beetles, lesser breed of ants and the greenfly. Some of them give pleasant smell to the ants; others give various juices, and some are just pets or playthings. The ants train greenfly to give honeydew. They milk it just as we milk the cow.

Man can learn many things from the ant, the “tiny teacher”. Hard work, sense of duty, discipline, cleanliness and care for the young ones are some of them. Above all an ant has firm loyalty to the land where it lives. Hard work is easy to see as each ant does its duty most regularly. Sense of duty and discipline are the most important qualities of an ant’s life. Hence the ants of a colony are never seen fight each other. All ants together take care of the young ones. Queen ant lays the eggs and soldiers guard the grubs. Workers feed and clean them. They also carry them about for airing, exercise and sunshine. New ants are taught by the old ones.

Question-answers

Comprehension Check

1. The story of an ant’s life sounds almost untrue.

The italicised phrase means

(i) highly exaggerated.

(ii) too remarkable to be true.

(iii) not based on facts.

Ans: (ii) too remarkable to be true.

2. Complete the following sentences.

(i) An ant is the smallest, …….

(ii) We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because…….

Ans: (i) An ant is the smallest, the commonest but the wisest insect. 

(ii) We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because people have kept ants as pets, and have watched their daily behaviour closely.

3. In what ways is an ant’s life peaceful?

Ans: An ant’s life is peaceful because they do their own work and never fight with other ants of the same group. They know sharing and contribution and do not interfere in the other’s work.

Page No: 5

Comprehension Check

1. How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?

Ans: It takes five to six weeks for a grub to become a complete ant.

2. Why do the worker ants carry the grubs about?

Ans: The worker ants carry them about daily for airing, exercise and sunshine.

3. What jobs are new ants trained for?

Ans: The jobs which the new ants are trained for are workers, soldiers, builders, cleaners, etc.

4. Name some other creatures that live in anthills.

Ans: Some other creatures that live in anthills are beetles, lesser breeds of ants, greenfly etc.

5. Mention three things we can learn from the ‘tiny teacher’. Give reasons for choosing these items.

Ans: We can learn team work as ants do their work by sharing and contribution without interference in the other’s work.

We can learn hard work as ants spend most of their time in doing their respective jobs without hesitation.

We can learn discipline as ants live a disciplined life and always follow the rules of their group and loyal towards it.

Exercise

Discuss the following topics in groups.

1. (i) What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets?

(ii) When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers?

Ans: These questions are supposed to be done in groups. Students have to do this by their own. If further demanded, our team will provide the solution.

Page No: 6

2. Complete the following poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.

Soldiers live in barracks

And birds in ————,

Much like a snake that rests

In a ————. No horse is able

To sleep except in a ————.

And a dog lives well,

Mind you, only in a ————.

To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,

You may have to climb an ————.

Hole, kennel, nests, anthill, stable

Ans: Soldiers live in barracks

And bird in nests,

Much like a snake that rests

In a hole. No horse is able

To sleep except in a stable.

And a dog lives well,

Mind you, only in a kennel.

To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,

You may have to climb an anthill.