1.

The night at the hotel

-Seigfred Lenz
1 Why did Schwamm come to town?
A. Schwamm's son used to wave at the passengers going by train every
morning but nobody ever waved back. So he took it to heart and changed
his behavior . So Schwamm came to the town to take the early train the
next morning and wave back at his son.
2. What was the reason for the strange behaviour of Mr. Schwamm's son?
A. Every morning on his way to school, Schwamm's son had to wait at the
railway crossing for the early morning train to go by. The used to wave
at the passengers. But none of them ever waved back. This was the
reason for the boy’s strange behavior.
3. What did Schwamm’s son do in the mornings? How did he behave
in the evenings?
A. Every morning on the way to his school Schwamm’s son had to wait
at a railway crossing where he used to wave hands to the passengers go
by the train. Never had any body waved him back. So he took it to heart
and got worried. When he returned home from school he neither played
nor talked with anybody and used to break into tears. He also gave up
doing homework.
4. Why did Schwamm decide to spend the night at the hotel?
A. Schwamm wanted to make his son happy by taking the early train the
next day and waving back at him. He, therefore, came into town and
decided to spend the night at the hotel so that he could take the early
morning train the next day.
5. Was the stranger waiting for schwamm? Ho w do you know?
A. Since it was a double bed room the stranger might have been waiting for
someone to occupy the bed.
The stranger asked Schwamm no to fall over his crutches or run into his
suitcase which were put some where in the middle of the room.
6. Why was schwamm hesitant when he introduced himself to the
stranger?
A. Schwamm came to town on a strange reason and he didn’t know how the
stranger would react if he told him the reason. So Schwamm was hesitant
to introduce himself to the stranger.
7. Who do you think was the man who waved out to Schwamm’s son
from the train? Why do you think so?
A. The man who waved out to Schwamm’s son from the train was the
stranger who shared the bed with Schwamm.
Schwamm’s son said that a man had waved with a cane, perhaps
mistaken the crutch for a cane. So it must be the stranger who waved at
the boy.
 2.In celebration of being alive
- Christiaan Barnard

1. Why did Dr. Barnard find the suffering of children heart-breaking?

A. Dr. Barnard finds the suffering of children particularly heartbreaking
because they trust in doctors, believing that they would help them and
save them. Though the doctors fail to help they accept their fate and go
through mutilating surgery without any complaint.

2. Describe the accident in which Dr. Bernard and his wife were
involved. What happened to them?
A. One day Dr. Barnard and his wife were crossing a street after a happy
meal. A car knocked him into his wife. She was thrown out into the other
line where another car from the opposite direction struck her. He had
eleven broken ribs and a perforated lung and his wife had a badly
fractured shoulder.
3. How did Dr.Bernard react to the accident that he and his wife had?
A. The accident that Dr.Bernard met with let him think about the suffering
of the human beings. He was angry because there were patients waiting
for him to be operated on them. And his wife had to take care of her
young baby.
4. How does Dr.Bernard’s view of suffering differ from his father’s?
A. Dr.Bernard’s father believed that suffering of a person is God’s will and
that is the way God tests all. Suffering ennobles and makes him/her a
better person.
But Dr.Bernard did not agree with his father’s view. As a doctor he saw
nothing noble in a patient’s suffering.
5. What had made Dr. Barnard sensitive to the suffering of children?
A. The brother of Dr.Bernard who died several years ago with an abnormal
heart, made him sensitive to the suffering of children. He was moved by
seeing the half-eaten mouldy biscuit with two tiny tooth marks which
was kept as a memory by his father.
6. What is the lesson that Dr. Barnard learned from the two children ?
(or) What do you think is the lesson Dr. Christian Barnard learnt from
his two young patients?
A. Dr. Barnard learned from the two children/patients that the business of
living is the celebration of being alive. He further learned that 'what you
have left' is more important than 'what you have lost'.
 3.Circus cat alley cat
- Anita Desai

1. Describe the physical appearance of Anna.

A. Anna was a Malabar girl who had been born into the circus. She was
large and heavily built. She had very black bright eyes, a lot of wiry black
hair, and hefty shoulders. She had also a loud, sharp and authoritative
voice.
2. What had happened to Anna's baby ?
A. Anna’s baby had been taken away by her (Anna's) husband and his-
family. The circus had moved to Bombay and the child too must have
been taken with them.
3. Who found Anna and her child starving and begging on a Daryaganj
street? What did that person do?
A. Mrs. Bates found Anna and her child starving and begging on a
Daryaganj Street. She brought them home and made Anna, a Nanny for
her children. She gave food and clothes and tried to civilize her.
4. How did Anna happen to work for Mrs. Bates?
A. Anna, the trainer of big cats in circus, married an ambitious young man
who thought that a woman's place was her home. He took charge of the
wild animals. Anna was annoyed and left her husband. Mrs. Bates found
her begging in the streets and brought her as a Nanny to her children.
5. Describe some of the major changes in the children with the coming of
Anna.
A. The coming of Anna into the house made the children feel that they had
been shut in the cages. They stopped walking or running and started
prowling. Instead of hopping or skipping they sprang and leaped in fear.
They lost thier liberty to play or speak that they like but they would play
only those games ordered by Anna. We could find the change in voices
also.
6. Where do you think Anna went after she left Bates’ house? How do we
know this?
A. I think Anna went to her husband in search of her baby. We know this
because writer sees Anna after a few years in a circus.

7. What is the significance of the title “Circus Cat, Alley Cat”?

A. Circus-cat means a wild cat in a circus. Alley-cat is a domesticated cat
that lives in the houses. Anna was originally a cat trainer in a circus .she
was made an alley cat in Bates’ house. But the role of a circus-cat suited
her better than Alley cat. Hence the title of the lesson'Circus-cat, Alley-
cat'is apt.
 Mother Teresa
- Khushwant Singh
1. Describe a typical day of a sister of charity.
A. In Mother House, the day begins at 4.30 a.m. The nuns assemble and
pray and meditate for two hours. Then they get to work. Firstly they
wash all the dirty linen brought from the Homes for the Dying, Sishu
Bhavan, the slum schools, leprosaria etc. Then they have a quick
breakfast. Soon they go to their places of duty with supplies of powdered
milk and medicines. They return in the ' evening. They have an early
supper. Then they pray again and meditate and go to bed in their
dormitories by 10.00 p.m.
2. In what way was 10 September 1946 important in Mother Teresa’s?
life? (Or) What made Mother Teresa decide to give up teaching and
serve the poor?
A. On the 10th of Septmeber, 1946, which Mother described as “inspirational
day” and “day of decision” she received a call from Jesus Christ when
she was going to Darjeeling. She was asked to give up all and follow Him
to the slums to serve Him among the poorest of the poor. After receiving
intensive training in nursing she opened her first slum school in 1948.
Since then Mother dedicated her life to the poor and dying. Thus 10
September 1946 is important in Mother’s life.
3. How did Mother Teresa make the defences of the manager of the
biscuit factory crumble?
A. Mother Teresa first thanked the manager of the biscuit factory for the
generosity he had shown earlier. She, then, started speaking about his
own problems. She patiently listened to him and then asserted that she,
being poor, could beg, unlike the well-to-do people of the middle class.
Mother Teresa. Thus, crumbled his defences, made him expansive and
prompted him to help her organization further.
4. How does Mother Teresa describe the day she received "a special call
from Jesus Christ"?
A. On the 10th of September, 1946, Mother Teresa receives a call from
Jesus Christ asking her to give up ail and follow Him to the slums to
serve Him among the poorest of the poor. She describes it as
“inspiration day” and “the day of decision”.
5. The author tells Mother Teresa that there are too many poor people
and that she cannot possibly help them all. What was Mother Teresa’s
response? Do you think this is a good response Why do you think so?
A. In response to the author’s question, Mother admits that her service may
be a drop in the ocean but asserts that the ocean will be less because of
that missing drop. She says she is not concerns with the dimension of the
work but the work itself. She just wants to do her best for the poor and
needy.
6. What are the four vows; taken by the Missionaries of Charity?
A. The four vows taken by the Missionaries of Charity are:
i) Vow of poverty -
ii) Vow of chastity
iii) Vow of obedience
iv) Vow of whole-hearted free service to the poor. This special vow was
that of giving whole hearted free service to the poor. The significance of
this is that they cannot work for the rich; they cannot accept any money
for the work they do. Their service must be a free to service to the poor
only.
8. What dress do the sisters of charity wear? Is there is any special
significance? (Or) What is the dress that has been prescribed for the
Sisters of Charity? What are its qualities?
A. The dress that sisters of charity wear is a blue-bordered white sari that
costs less than one dollar which binds their forehead up to their
eyebrows and is pinned at different places to drape the rest of the body.
Small irons cross dangles on their left shoulder.
The significance of this dress is to hide any female charms since they
work with a group of people and the reason the saree being cheaper is
they work with poor people.
9. Why did Mother Teresa have special interest in the dying?
A. Mother Teresa says that her interest in the dying is due to a vocation, a
call. She says that nobody wants the dying, the diseased, the sick and the
crippled but she wants those whom nobody wants, no one loves or cares.
10. Many of Mother Teresa qualities are seen in the “begging mission”.
Describe two of them very briefly?
A. Mother Teresa called on the Manager of a biscuit factory. She patiently
heard the administrative problems of the manager. She was able to
convince the factory manager and get 40 large tins of biscuits. Thus she
was tactful and clever. She had patience and convincing nature.
11. How do the nuns treat the “terrible disease” that can never be
cured?
A. Being unwanted is the terrible disease that any human being may
experience. This disease can be cured only with willing hands to serve
and loving heart to love but not with any medicines.
 The case for the defence
- Graham Greene
1. Why does the author describe the Peckham murder trial as the
strangest murder trial ?
A. The accused had a pair of bulging bloodshot eyes that are
unforgettable.He was seen by four witnesses who identified him in the
court flawlessly. But the counsel for the defence proposed mistaken
identity. As a result the accused was acquitted for lack of evidence. So
the Peckham murder trial could aptly be called the strangest of the
murder trials.
2. Why was it difficult for the witness to forget the murderer?
A. The witnesses did not forget the murderer as they saw his face clearly in
the moonlight. He had a fear-striken face with bulging bloodshot eyes.
which unforgettable feature. So it was very difficult for the witness to
forget the murderer
3. Why did the witnesses not forget the murderer? What was his most
unforgettable feature?
A. The witnesses did not forget the murderer as they saw his face clearly in
the moonlight. He had a fear-striken face with bulging bloodshot eyes. It
was indeed his most unforgettable feature. So it was very difficult for the
witness to forget the murderer.
4. Describe Mrs. Salmon's behaviour in the court when she was called in
as a witness. (Or) Why Mrs. Salmon was considered an ideal witness?
A. When Mrs. Salmon was called in as a witness, she spoke very firmly. She
narrated the facts in the court without any distortion or exaggeration. She
was the ideal witness with her expression of honesty, care and kindness.
5. Why was Mrs. Salmon so sure that the man in the dock was the
murderer?
A. Mrs. Salmon saw Adams, the man in the dock, on the steps of Mrs.
Parker’s house the night she was killed. She also saw him drop the
hammer – with which he had killed his victim – into the laurel bushes
She noticed his most unforgettable feature i.e., his bulging bloodshot
eyes. No one would forget them even in a hurry. So Mrs. Salmon was
quite sure that the man in the dock was the murderer.
6. Why was the accused in the Pekham murder case acquitted?
A. The defence lawyer presented the twin of Adams, pleading mistaken
identity and confusing the witness. None of four witnesses (particularly
Mrs. Salmon) was able to swear that the man she / he had seen was the
accused, and not his twin brother. So Adam's, the accused, was acquitted.
Since Adam's twin had an alibi that he was with his wife at the time of
the murder, he was acquitted.
7. What happened to one of the twin brothers in the end?
A. The case was over and Adam's was acquitted. The proud Adam twins
banged out of the main door. Suddenly one of the twins got pushed in
front of a bus and was killed. He gave a squeal as his skull was smashed
just as Mrs. Parkers had been. The day ended thus. The end was
extraordinary.
8. ‘That extraordinary day had an extraordinary end’. How was the end
extraordinary?
A. The case was over and Adams was acquitted. The proud Adam twins
banged out of the main door. Suddenly one of the twins got pushed in
front of a bus and was killed. He gave a squeal as his skull was smashed
just as Mrs. Parker’s had been. The day ended thus and the end was quite
extraordinary.
 Snapshot of a dog
- James Thurber
1. Describe Rax, briefly.
A. Rex was an American bull terrier. He had one brindle eye and a brindle
stocking on a hind leg. He was big and muscular and beautifully made.
He accomplished even extravagant tasks .
2. How was Rex's mettle tested?
A. The three masters wanted Rex to carry a ten-foot wooden rail through a
four-feet wide gate. They would throw a baseball as high as possible and
order him to catch it. They would let him go over high walls and fences.
3. “He had his philosophy about such things”. What was Rex’s
philosophy about chansing things?
A. Rex did not seem to see the idea of pursuing something you couldn’t
catch; or something you couldn’t do anything with even if you catch it.
This is the philosophy about chasing things.
4. How did Rex manage to bring in a 10-feet wooden rail into the yard?
A. The wooden rail was longer than the gate through which it was to
be brought in. Rex first caught it at the balance, lifted it, cleared off the
ground and moved with great confidence towards the gate. He got a few
jolts in the attempt. But he did not give up. He learnt that rail would be
brought in by dragging it holding on to one end.
5. Did Rex enjoy fighting? What words are used to describe his feelings
and expressions?
A. Yes, Rex enjoyed fighting. To describe his feelings and expressions,
words like "Rex's joy of battle, tranquil, his eyes closed in, pleasant, etc.,"
are used.
6. What kind of attempts were made to separate Rex and the nondescript
dog ?
A. The owner of the non-descriptive dog with which Rex had a fight threw
both the dogs ten feet away.
A motorman tried to pry Rex’s jaws open with a switch rod.
Somebody held a burning torch at his tail but of no use.
Finally the Oak Street Fire Department arrived to the spot and turned on
a powerful stream of water and it resulted in separation of dogs.
 Fire in the forest
- Norah Burke
1. What did the Forest Department people do when they saw the
smoke?(or) What did the forest department officials do to stop the fire?
A. The Forest Department people cleared the undergrowth and all the trees
and made a fire line. They lighted up the counter fire along the edge of
the next fire line. Then it met the oncoming forest fire. When the two fires
met, there would be nothing to burn. So both fires would be extiquished.
2. Why was the spotted deer lying away from the herd ? Why do you
think she had chosen that spot?
A. The spotted deer was lying away from the herd because she had recently
given birth to a fawn. She had chosen that spot because she could hide
her fawn there in the deep grass and also the light was warm and the
grass was cool.
3. How did the deer react when she first got the smell of danger?
A. When the deer got the smell of danger, she got to her feet and stood with
outstretched neck staring nervously upwind. It was a natural reaction
4. What was the danger that threatened the chital hind's baby? (Or)Why
was the chital hind so cruel to her baby? What did she do? (Or) how
did the hind and her baby try to escape from the fire?
A. The chital hind’s baby was a new-born. He was much too small to be
moved yet. Despite knowing it the mother nudged the baby to feet as
some danger was sensed by her. Having been seized by an anguish of
mortal danger the chital hind forced her baby on with rough bites,
nipping his soft flesh. But the baby did not know the fact of the acts of
mother and so he was afraid of her. Thus mother was the danger that
threatened the chital hind baby.
5. Why was the Chital hind so cruel to her baby ? What did she do ?
A. Having been seized by an anguish of mortal danger the chital hind
nudged the baby to feet, forced him on with rough bites, nipping his soft
flesh.
6. Give two reasons why the tiger didn’t eat the fawn?
A. The tiger didn’t eat the fawn because of the following reasons:
i) the chital hind faced the tiger with courage
ii) at the same moment a human voice sounded far off.
 Vinoba a portrait sketch
- Hallam Tenyson

1. In what ways, was Vinoba similar to Gandhiji ?(or) What does the
author say is common between Gandhi and Vinoba?
A. i) they both lived simple lives
ii) they loved humanity
iii) their lives are dedicated to humanity
iv) they sacrificed their comforts for the poor and oppressed.
v) they both are similar in their dressing.
vi) they both used non-violence as their weapon.
All the above were practiced by both Gandhiji and Vinoba in their lives.
2. What had made Vinoba come out of his retirement?
A. Vinoba was 57 when Gandhi was assassinated. Having been inspired by
the Mahatma, he came out of his retirement and served the poor but with
his own dignity, emphasis and methods. So it was Gandhi's assassination
that had made Vinoba come out of his -retirement.
3. Why did Vinoba refuse to attend the funeral of his mother?
A. Vinoba refused to attend his mother's funeral. He thought it was an act of
casteism. Vinoba disliked casteism and rituals.
4. There are two reasons why a landlord would give away a part of his
land. What are they? Which of them was acceptable to Vinoba?
A. The two reasons for which a land lord would give away a part of his land
are
1. His approach to the rich is in a spirit of loving conciliation.
2. He made landlords believe that they are blessed to give than receive
and the gift must spring from a change of heart.
Land given from a change of heart was acceptable to Vinoba.
5. Do you think Vinoba was a true disciple of Mahatma Gandhi? Why?
A. Vinoba lived the life of an ascetic. But he was different from other
ascetics. He resisted pride of poverty which was the subtlest temptation
of the saints. He goes on his own way calmly, never urging any one to
follow his way of life. Thus Vinoba was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi
but not a blind follower.
 The beautiful white horse
- Willim Saroyan
1. How did Aram justify the stealing of the horse?
A. It seemed to Aram that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same as
stealing something else, such as money. Further, it wouldn’t become
stealing since they hadn’t offered to sell the horse. Moreover, it wasn’t
stealing at all when one was crazy about horses as he and his cousin had
been. Aram, thus justified his cousin’s way of getting hold of a horse.

2. What sort of a man was John Byro?

A. John Byro was a pious farmer. He was quite simple and values the
values. He was fond of coffee and cigarette. He lost his horse and,
therefore, was worried. Despite finding the horse with Mourad and
Aram he simply said that it might be a twin of his stolen horse. he was
such a good man who respected the dignity of the Khosrove family.

3. Who was John Byro ? What had happened to his horse?

A. John Byro was a pious farmer. His horse was stolen by Mourad a month
ago who was crazy about horse riding. Moreover he belonged to a tribe
famous for their honesty.

4. How did Uncle Khosrove react to the news that John Byro's horse had
been stolen?
A. John Byro told Khosrove that his horse had been stolen a month before.
Then Khosrove reacted angrily. He became very irritated and shouted
that one should not cry over a horse.

5. How did John Byro, the owner of the horse, react when he saw Mourad
and Aram with the horse ?
A. Inspite of seeing his white horse with Mourad and Aram John Byro could
neither suspect nor accuse them since they belong to a honest family. He
said that a suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart. He
said that perhaps the horse could be the twin of his horse.

6. What are the three things Aram could do about the horse?
A. i) Aram could see the horse ii) He could smell it. iii) He could also
here it breathing.

7. Did Mourad love animals? What was he doing when Arm met him
under the peach three?
A. Yes, Mourad loved animals, When Aram met him under the peach tree,
he was trying to repair the hurt wing of a bird which could not fly. He
was also talking to it with love and affection.
 Knowledge and wisdom
- Bertrand Russel
1. What are the factors that contribute to wisdom, according to Russell?
(or) What are the five factors that contribute to wisdom?(or) How many
factors that contribute to wisdom ? List them.
A. There are five factors which contribute to wisdom.
They are: 1) Sense of proportion.
2) Certain awareness of ends of human life.
3) Choice of ends to be pursued.
4) Emancipation from personal prejudice.
5) Emancipation from the tyranny of the. here and the
now.
2. Why does Bertrand Russell say that Abraham Lincoln fought a war
without departing from wisdom?(or) In what way did the war
conducted by Lincoln differ from other wars?
A. Bertrand Russell says “the smallest degree of force combined with the
greatest degree of under standing” could be used to check the evil. When
Lincoln conducted the war, most of the Americans in the North were
against the abolition of slavery. This war aimed at the attainment of
freedom to the Negroes without any harm to the opponent while other
wars aimed at destroying the enemy. Thus the war differ from other
wars.
3. What does the increase in knowledge result in?
A. The increase in knowledge increases our capacity of realizing our
purposes, and therefore increases our capacity for evil, if our purposes
are unwise. If knowledge continues to increase wisdom should also
increase simultaneously.
 On killing a tree
- Gieve Patel

1. How does the poet describe the uprooting of a tree?

A. Neither a simple stroke of a knife nor hacking and chopping could kill a
tree. So the root of the tree should be pulled out of the earth. It should,
then, be roped; tied and snapped out. So it should be pulled out entirely
from the earth cover. This, according to the poet, is the complete process
of uprooting a tree.
2. Why does the poet talk about “Killing” a tree?(or)
Why does the poet describe the killing of a tree in such graphic
detail?(or)
What is the poet’s attitude to trees?
A. Gieve Patel is sympathetic towards trees and treats them as living
organisms. He says trees also feel pain. The are no less to human being.
So he uses the work killing for tree which normally used to living beings
such as humans and animals. He means that trees should not be cut
down. He describes the killing of a tree in such graphic detail as to
awaken sympathy to trees.
3. What is the secret source of the tree’s strength? Why is the source of the
three the most sensitive?
A. The strength of the tree lies in its roots. They give strength to the tree. So
they are ‘the source’ strength. It is the most sensitive because it has been
hidden inside the earth for years, unexposed to light.
 The gallows
- Edward Thomas

1. What did the keeper do to the weasel, the crow and the magpie?
A. Despite it being the duty of the keeper to protect fauna he shot the
weasel, the crow, and the magpie dead and hung them on the branch of
a' dead oak tree.
2. What was the fate of the weasel, the crow and the magpie?
A. The weasel, the crow and the magpie were shot dead by the keeper and
hung on a dead oak tree. They had neither pleasure nor pain. They were
just hanging in snow, rain and the sun with enormous leisure.
3. What did the keeper do the weasel? Why do you think he did so?
A. The keeper shot the weasel and hung him up on a dead oak tree. He did
so because the weasel lives on the tree with his family and, therefore, was
a nuisance to other birds.
4. Of all the birds and beasts the keeper had shot, only three are specially
mentioned. What does each of them represent?
A. The weasel is a fierce, rather than cruel animal. The crow is a cunning
and mischievous bird and a thief. The magpie is a noisy bird often steals
bright objects and carries them to its nest.
5. Who do you think was more cruel – the weasel that killed smaller
animals or the keeper who killed the weasel? Why?
A. The keeper was crueler than the weasel. He had not only deprived of the
weasel of his legitimate feast but also killed him. Instead of killing he
could have driven it out.
6. Why does the keeper hang the dead creatures from the tree?
A. Instead of protecting animals keeper kills them and hangs them to the
tree. The reason behind is perhaps to scare the other animals and birds.
 The snake
- D.H. Lawrence

1. How does the poet behave when he sees the snake at the water
through?
A. 1. The Poet sees the snake and notices that he has come to water through
much ahead of him.
2. He shows hospitality and treats the snake as his guest.
3. He, therefore, allows him to drink first.

2. What does the poet do to the snake? How does he feel after it?
A. The poet first treats the snake as his guest and allows it to drink water
first. But finding the snake going back into its hole, he takes a log and
throws it at the snake. The poet regrets his haste and mean act.

3. What are the poet’s views on ‘education’ in the poem snake?

A. According to the poet, true education should give people the power of
reasoning. It should enable them to decide which is wrong and harmful,
and which is not. In the poem, the poet’s education urged him to kill the
snake at once. But he despised it later and realized that he was at loss
wisdom.

4. What did the voice of education ask the poet to do? What is the
argument for killing a golden snake? Do you think the distinction is
rational?
A. The voice of his education asked the poet to kill the snake because the
golden snakes are highly poisonous whereas the black ones are not. I
don't think this distinction is rational since he considered the snake his
guest.
5. What does Lawrence mean when he speaks of ‘the voice of my
education’? What did it say to him?
A. “The voice of education” here means the knowledge that Lawrence had
acquired about the golden snakes through books. It said to him that
golden snakes are poisonous and black ones are not. So the poet tried to
kill the golden snake that came to his water trough to drink water.
6. What did the poet do as the snake was going into the hole?
A. When the snake finished drinking water and returning into the hole,
struck by horror, following the voice of education the poet threw a log on
it. Fortunately or unfortunately it was a miss. Then poet realized his
mistake.

7.. Why did the poet think of the albatross?

A. In Coleridge's poem “The Ancient Mariner”, a soldier killed an albatross
which brought him ill-luck. ‘Likewise, in the poem “Snake”, the poet
threw a log at the snake to kill which came to quench it’s thirst at his
water trough. The poet later feels ashamed of his mean act and his act
reminds him of this Ancient Mariner and the albatross.
 Upagupta
- Rabindranath Tagore
1. Two kinds of lives are depicted in the poem Upagupta. What are they?
A. In the poem ‘Upagupta’, two kinds of lives are depicted. One is dancing
girl who was only after bodily pleasures and worldly possessions. The
other is Upagupta who is quite opposite in living to the dancing girl. He
leads a life of simplicity and gave away all worldly possessions. He leads
a saint life.
2. What did the dancing girl ask the ascetic to do? Why do you think he
declined her invitation?
A. The dancing girl asked the ascetic to come to her house and sleep on her
bed. The ascetic declined since he gave up all his worldly possessions.

3. What happened as soon as the young ascetic had spoken his words?
A. When the young ascetic had spoken his words, the black night showed
his teeth in a flash of lightning and a storm growled. This trembled the
dancing girl.
4. What did Upagupta mean when he said to the young woman that he
would come to her when the time was ripe?
A. The dancing girl was proud of her youth and fond of worldly
possessions and pleasures. Upagupta was aware of what was to come to
her in future. He, therefore, promised her that when time was ripe i.e.,
when she was totally discarded and dying he would come in her aid.
5. “The time, at last, has come to visit you……” What time had come?
Who was the visitor?
A. The time for the ascetic to come to dancing girl to attend her in need had
come as it was promised by him some years ago. The visitor was
Upagupta.
 I’ll get one tomorrow
- Ogden Nash
1. Why did the poet decide to visit the barber?
A. The hair of the poet falls on his sides and irks and frets him. It climbs
round his ears like any ivy plant. It moves leisurely down his neck. It
tickles wherever it touches. Thus the poet felt much inconvenience. So he
decided to visit the barber.

2. What are the different ways in which the poet is troubled by his hair?
A. The poet was troubled by his long-grown hair. It troubled him climbing
like an ivy round his ears. It jumped playfully across his collar. It moved
irregularly down his neck; it also tripped him and trickled him. Thus it
caused him great irritation and inconvenience.

3. Why does the poet ask the barber to make him bald?
A. The poet had been averse to a haircut and dared not go to the barber. But
his long – grown hair had troubled him very much. So he reluctantly
decided to visit the barber but he wanted his visit to be the first and last.
So he asked the barber to make him bald so that he would look like a
hairless lizard for ever.
4. What kind of hair-cut does the poet want? What will he look like after
the hair-cut?
A. The poet wants a close hair-cut. He will look like a lizard after the hair-
cut.