Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anonymous
2. Journey by Night 8 12
Norah Burke
3. Hunger 12 16
Nasira Sharma
4. My Lost Dollar 16 19
Stephen Leacock
Munshi Premchand
O Henry
7. The Kabuliwala 27 30
Rabindranath Tagore
8. The Bet 31 36
Anton Chekhov
Ruskin Bond
ASSIGNMENTS
to write what they would like to be when they grew up. There
were forty students in the class. All the forty student raised their
(iii) According to the author, the students fidgeted and shifted in their
(iv) Ajit Basu was the first speaker. He spoke about his desire of
his idol.
(v) The next two speakers were Gayatri Chhabra and Sanjay Damle.
(a) She gave the students an assignment with which they could
(ii) No, he was not confident when he stood up to speak before the
entire class. This is evident from the fact that his hands shook
(iii) The other children spoke about becoming social workers, pilots,
Before joining the NSG, he served two tenures with his battalion
(v) When the speaker spoke about the life of Major Unnikrishnan,
III. (i) Vishnu Zende was an announcer with the Mumbai railways for
the platform from a different exit and thus saved their lives.
(iii) The scene outside the classroom was noisy with the chirping of
the birds, honking of cars and the younger childen enjoying their
recess. No, the students were not affected by it. They remained
(iv) The next hero Kabeer spoke about was Karambir Singh Kang,
evacuating the guests and his staff from the hotel. He continued
his duty even on being informed that his own wife and children
(v) This hero lost his wife and his children, as they died of suffocation
his entire family, Karambir Kang did not give up his duty and
not quit his job and remained at the Taj hotel and helped to
IV. (i) Hemant Karkare was the Chief of the Anti-Terrorism Squad. He
pursued the terrorists in a jeep, without caring for his own life.
Vijay Salaskar. The three lost their lives, when they were gunned
(iii) Hemant Karkare and his two comrades DIG Ashok Kamte and
before self and sacrificed their lives while fighting the terrorists.
(iv) The speaker had goose bumps on his arms whereas the students
religion. She saved Moshes life during the 2008 terrorist attacks
were above all social barriers. They proved by their action that
(iii) According to Kabeer, the only true religion in the world is love
and respect for all human beings. From his speech, Kabeer comes
their emotions and tears welled up in their eyes. Mrs. Baruah was
on the verge of crying but she hid her tears from her students
(v) Mrs. Baruah felt proud to see her students cherish the virtues
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) He refers to Sher Singh. He ran to get water, sticks and dung
for the fire to get hot water for his sick, younger brother.
(iii) Sher Singhs mother was worried to see her childs illness but
she did not react at all. This was because she had gone through
such ordeals many times when her other children had gradually
moved towards death.
It was fifty miles away from Sher Singhs village, Laldwani. The
(v) Sher Singh was shocked to know that his brother had to be
jungle people that hospital was the place for those who were
destined to die.
(vi) The boy suggested that he would call his father to take his
that it would be too late before his father would reach home. It
tells us that she was wise enough to judge the severity of her
II. (i) Bahadur the Brave was the title given to Sher Singh Bahadur.
or shoot them.
because
expedition.
(iv) Bahadur got scars on his body, when he was attacked by a tiger
while saving one of his comrades from the tiger. The tigers claws
tore open his flesh down his skull to the back of his shoulder
(vi) Bahadur was negligent of his duties towards his family. Most of
his family for days together that his other children could not
accidents.
III. (i) Kunwar Singh was Sher Singhs younger brother. He had to be
writhing in such a pain that Sher Singh could see death in his
eyes.
(iii) Sher Singhs mother being a hill woman knew about carrying
loads. She took one of her two saris to make a sling that could
(iv) The mother felt that Sher Singhs brother was too big to be
carried by Sher Singh all through the fifty miles to the hospital
hospital. The boy did not respond in any way and set off silently
from there.
(v) Sher Singhs family was not financially sound. According to the
extract, Sher Singhs mother had to look after the cattle and
work their land when his father used to be away in the jungle
(a) Sher Singh had to gather sticks from the forest for firewood.
(b) Sher Singhs mother had only two saris and used one of
(c) They did not have the basic necessities of life like water,
(vi) Sher Singhs decision to take his brother alone to the hospital
tells us that he was not only a responsible boy but also selfless
IV. (i) It was a cobra. The creature was sunning itself on the jungle
path in the last of the daylight. When Sher Singh stepped close
to it, it contracted and rose with a hiss, spreading its hood.
(ii) On seeing the creature, Sher Singh was petrified and stood
had planned to pass through the jungle, cross two rivers and
cart or a truck.
(iv) The jungle presented many challenges to the boy in the form of
of prey to kill domestic animals and even human beings for food.
(v) The boy quickened his steps on the journey on seeing bear tracks
in the dust and thus, avoiding a possible encounter with the bear.
(vi) Sher Singh decided to take rest on a cliff above the river bed
V. (i) Sher Singh and Kunwar were on the cliff, when they heard the
jostle and squeal of elephants. Sher Singh was tired and his 11
(iii) Sher Singh chilled with fright because the old elephant, moving
his tusk to and fro came round towards him. He could not
(iv) Sher Singh earnestly prayed to God to avert the danger. It tells
us that Sher Singh was a brave boy who had firm belief in God.
(v) Immediately after being saved from the elephants, Sher Singh
VI. (i) Sher Singh had anticipated the river would be shallow and the
water would not be very cold as the snow-water would not have
entered the river by that time. However, when Sher Singh entered
thought. Further, there was the danger of his falling into the
(ii) The bridge at the second river was a kutcha, impermanent one.
It was made of rings of bamboo poles driven into the river bed
and tied round and were filled with stones to make the piers of
the bridge. The surface of the bridge was also made of bamboos
laid down horizontally and across and laced thick grass and
river gravel.
(iii) When Sher Singh reached the second river, his hopes were
melting of a big head of snow. The bridge over the river had
(iv) The breaking of the bridge made matters worse for the boy
because now the boy had to swim across the flooded river, with
(v) The boy crossed the second river by moving along the wreck
along the way. He made sure that his brother was not harmed
(vi) As Sher Singh and his brother entered the second river, the
river seized them and flattened them against the wreck of the
move holding on to the things he could get hold of. But the
flood water defeaned him and the timber banged and bruised
him. The water was too cold for him to keep his hold. So he
VII. (i) After crossing the river, Sher Singh took a lift, first in a bullock
(ii) People were surprised to hear his story when they came to know
that he has brought his sick brother to the hospital all alone
(iii) At the rail yards, Sher Singh got the work of loading coal. He
earned a few pence. With the money, he bought coarse atta
(flour), some mustard oil and chillies to cook a meal for himself.
(iv) Sher Singh put up in the hospital compound, where the relatives
(v) The doctor addressed Sher Singh as Sher Singh Bahadur. He did
all along to the hospital. Sher Singh replied that his father Sher
Singh Bahadur was not present there and that his name was
Sher Singh.
(vi) The doctor informed Sher Singh that his brother was out of
ASSIGNMENTS
(iv) Rizwan stopped the man to take his interview for the Kihaan
newspaper. He did not exchange any greetings with the man
(v) Rizwan neither greet the man nor ask him anything to build a
(ii) Chacha gets angry when Rizwan asks him where he lives because
(iii) The story only mentions Chachas father and his son. His father
was an old man, who used to work as labourer and did not earn
decent wages for a living. His son was a four-year old boy, who
used to play around in the village, chase dogs and would take
five.
by profession.
III. (i) Rizwan, the interviewer and Kasim, the interviewee are the
place.
in negative.
(iii) The second speaker, i.e., Kasim says that his father had told
(iv) The answer given by the second speaker reveals that during the
hardly earn enough to make both ends meet and therefore, many
(v) The second speakers son was a child of four years, who used
IV. (i) Rizwan wanted to tell the rag-seller that the government was
helping the poor farmers and that he could take loan from the
(iii) Kasim said that he did not want a better job because he was
satisfied with his lot and he had no faith in the promises made
(iv) The similar things, which happened with Kasim earlier included
the poor and the governments total apathy towards their poor
(vi) Kasim said that he could not meet Rizwan the next day in the
Rizwan that it was time for him to start his work and carrying
V. (i) The rag-seller simply walked away because he did not want to
of the government.15
(ii) Rizwan felt helpless when Kasim, the rag-seller, whom he was
submit interviews with five people along with their names and
addresses for the newspaper.
(iv) The task of interviewing people for the newspaper was made
had to give the interviews of five people with their names and
addresses.
(v) Rizwans father had died two years ago and his mother was
ill. His two younger brothers had dropped out of school due to
did not have a permanent job. If he did not get a job, his family
VI. (i) Rizwan was thinking of his unending problems at home which
included the sickness of his mother and his two younger brothers
in the newspaper only with the name and the address of the
interviewee.
the office that day only. But he did not greet Kasim when he
of a reporter.
(iii) Before submitting the interview at the newspaper office, Rizwan
(iv) When Rizwan came out of the newspaper office, he had the
and consequently, would have the work for at least the next day.
following:
He lived in the city and used to sell rags to those who could
not afford to buy new clothes. Kasim did not have any home
labourers but could not earn enough to make both ends meet.
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) Todd is a Major in the army and the narrators friend, who had
borrowed a dollar from the narrator a year ago. Todd and the
frequently and the issue of the borrowed dollar does not make
(ii) Todd borrowed a dollar from the narrator to pay his taxi fare
because he did not have any change with him. One year had
(iii) Todd has failed to return the loan because of forgetfulness. This
his friend, Todd, but also the exact date on which he had lent
the dollar. But, the borrower, i.e., the narrators friend, Todd
back the dollar his friend has borrowed. This is because a year
has already passed since his friend has borrowed the dollar. He
II. (i) Todd was away for three weeks to Hamilton, Bermuda. He wrote
(ii) The narrator went to the railway station to receive Todd because
he felt that his friend, Todd might feel happy to see him waiting
for him on the station after being away for three weeks. This
shows that the narrator values friendship and does things that
(iii) Todd and the narrator were close friends. They liked each others
and remained in touch with each other. There existed trust and
(iv) The University Club of Montreal, where Todd and the narrator
suggested that they should take a taxi because that might remind
his friend of the dollar he had borrowed from him a year ago
(v) The narrator and his friend, Todd talked about the latters trip
III. (i) Major Todds trip to Bermuda is being referred to in the extract.
(ii) The extract tells us that Todd is a forgetfull and careless man
for he forgets the dollar he had borrowed from his friend as well
(iii) (a) It means that the narrator does not have any negative feelings
back the dollar he had borrowed from the him a year ago.
change occurs in his behaviour with his friend Tood who had
(iv) The narrators borrowers have forgotten to pay back the money
points to the painful fact that the lenders remember the money
IV. (i) In the first sentence of the extract, them refers to the people
to whom the narrator owes some money and has forgotten to
pay back.
say that while he is alive, he may not pay back the money he
(ii) The narrators act of writing down names in the alphabetic order
(iii) The narrator feels that it is not necessary to pay back the money
lent over a bridge table or for drinking soda water. The narrator
project.
(v) The title of the story My Lost Dollar is quite appropriate because:
(a) the entire story revolves around a particular dollar that the
for ever.
(b) the observations that the narrator makes in the story like he
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) Alagu and Jumman were close childhood friends. They used
(ii) The secret of their mutual trust and confidence was their mutual
up a deed.
(iv) Alagus father believed that a teachers blessings are necessary for
spent his time serving his teacher by keeping his hookah fresh
much education.
(v) Alagu was respected in the village for his wealth, whereas
II. (i) The old lady was Jummans maternal aunt and Jumman was
her nephew. There was an agreement between the two that the
(ii) Before the deed was signed, the old ladys every wish used to
and considerate of all her needs. After the deed was registered,
(iii) The nephews wifes name was Kariman. She illtreated the old
lady and continuously nagged and insulted her. She never served
the old lady her meals without uttering remarks full of bitterness
and insult.
(iv) The old lady patiently bore all the insults and daily humilation
(v) Her newphew reacted indifferently to her demands and said that
the money did not grow on trees and taunted her that she had
(vi) The old lady threatened her nephew that if he would not fulfill
her demands, she would take her case before the panchayat.
No, the old ladys threat did not affect him in anyway. This was
III. (i) The old woman was Jummans maternal aunt, who used to live
with Jumman and his family. She went from villager to villager
her case to the panchayat, if her demands were not fulfilled and
(iii) Most of the villagers offered their verbal sympathy to her. Some
of them cursed the hard times which had brought the old woman
(iv) At last, the old woman approached Jummans friend, Alagu. She
up in the panchayat.
(v) Alagu agreed to attend the panchayat as per the old ladys
request but asked her to excuse him from being part of the
IV. (i) The old lady, who has called the panchayat to take up her case
and his wife. She was not served any meal without abuses being
hurled on her. She was denied the basic necessities of life like
(iii) The speaker demanded that justice should be done to her. If she
(v) The panchayat held under a tree after the sun set, presented
with each other. Yet in another corner, the village dogs had
Jummans aunt nominated him because she was sure that Alagu
will not kill his conscience for the sake of his friendship with
Jumman.
(iii) Jumman did not propose anybodys name as nominee for the
(iv) Alagu told the old lady about his friendship with Jumman and
as the head-panch. The old lady replied that she was well aware
of Alagus friendship with Jumman and she also knew that
Alagu wont kill his conscience for the sake of his friendship
with Jumman.
Jumman and telling him that although they had earlier helped
panch, both Jumman and his aunt, were equal in his eyes.
said that he had been carrying all his obligations towards his
aunt like a son would be doing for his mother. He accepted the
fact that there had been occasional quarrels between his aunt
(iii) Jumman was wondering how his friend, Alagu, who was talking
and he had thought that he would favour him, rather than his
aunt.
(iv) The panchayats verdict was that Jumman had to pay a monthly
(v) The villagers were full of praise for Alagu for his sense of fairness
and justice. They said that Alagu had separated truth from
(vi) The verdict spoiled the relationship that existed between Jumman
and Alagu. The two friends avoided seeing each other, and if
his way.
VII. (i) Alagu purchased the pair of bullocks a year ago from the
remained the envy and the rage of the whole village for months
together.
(ii) The death of one of the bullocks further strained the already
his bullock.
(iii) Alagu sold the other bullock to Samjhu Sahu, a cart driver. The
that Samjhu Sahu, the buyer would pay the price in a months
time.
(iv) The bullock led a miserable life at his new master, Samjhu Sahus
the town without any rest and full feed. Consequently, the bullock
on him.
Alagu should be paid the full price of the bullock, or whether there
(v) Jumman pronounced the verdict that Samjhu had to pay the
bought the cattle, it was in good health and the ox died of slow
Sahus greed to earn more profit that made him overwork his
ox, without giving the animal rest and proper food. The verdict
once again brought the two friends close to each other. Alagu
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) The first speaker in the extract is the doctor, who has come to
(ii) The little lady is a reference for Johnsy. She is suffering from
pneumonia.
(iii) The little lady has only one in ten chances of recovery. This
is because she has lost her will to live and therefore, even the
(iv) To the first speakers last question in the extract, Sue replied
that a man is not worth thinking and Johnsy does not have a
man on her mind. Johnsy does not consider men worth giving
attention. This shows that she does not have a positive attitude
towards men.
(v) The little lady actually has all the negative thoughts regarding
her death on her mind. She believes that when the last ivy leaf
falls from the vine, her life too will come to an end.
(vi) The first speaker, i.e., the doctor assured Sue that if she would
be able to make Johnsy ask one question about the latest winter
II. (i) Johnsy and Sue are two young artists, who share an apartment.
(ii) The two girls common tastes and interests in art, chicory salad
(iii) Johnsy was looking outside the window to watch the leaves
falling from an ivy vine on the wall of the opposite brick house.
She was counting the number of the leaves falling from the ivy
vine.
(v) Johnsy had taken strange fancy to the falling ivy leaves from
the vine. She believed that with the fall of the last ivy leaf from
(vi) She told Johnsy that her chances of recovery were ten to one.
III. (i) The first speaker here is Johnsy. She is waiting for the last
leaf to fall from the vine and also her impending death.
(ii) Johnsy told Sue to tell her when the last leaf from ivy vine
would fall because she wanted to see the last leaf fall.
beard curls down from his head and makes him look like a
in the last forty years of his career, he has not painted anything
extraordinary.
young artists, who could not afford a professional for the purpose.
affection, for he was a striving artist like the two girls. Further,
IV. (i) When Behrman came to know about Johnsys strange fancy
concerning the last leaf, he became quite angry and expressed
such a strange fancy concerning the last leaf and her own death.
(iii) The strange fancy which has filled Johnsys mind was that she
would die the very moment the last ivy leaf on the vine would fall.
for Sue and Johnsy and was concerned for their well-being. This
shows that Behrman was a noble soul, whose heart was full of
gentle feelings.
V. (i) It refers to the last leaf on the ivy vine. It plays an important
role in the story with regard to Johnys strange fancy that with
the falling of the last leaf from the vine, she would die.
(ii) Johnsy was sure that it, i.e., the last leaf would fall during
the night because she had been continuously sitting near her
window and watching the leaves fall from the vine. Hearing the
wind, she was sure that even the last leaf would fall at night.
of the ivy vine and her own life suggests that Johnsy had a
(iv) Sues dialogue in the extract tells us that she has developed a
about Johnsys welfare. She is hinting that she may not be able
to bear the loss of losing Johnsy.
(v) Johnsy did not answer Sues last question in the extract.
(ii) The speaker, i.e., Sue addressed the listener, i.e., Johnsy as
(iii) Mr. Behrman was an old artist, who used to live in the apartment
beneath Sue and Johnsy. The speaker got the news of Behrmans
(iv) Mr. Behrman was out in the heavy rain at night, with a ladder,
across the brick wall where the ivy vine went in order to paint
(v) The things found on the morning of the first day of Mr. Behrmans
(vi) Mr. Behrman risked his life by going out in the pouring rain
and painting the last ivy leaf on the wall, after the original leaf
has fallen. On seeing that the last leaf, with the falling of which
she had associated her death, Johnsy got the hope and the will
to live and was finally cured of her illness. But in the process
of saving Johnsys life, old Behrman got drenched in the rain,
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) The father in the extract is the narrator and the daughter is
with questions.
(ii) The two fathers in the story are the narrator and Rahamat,
(iii) The most important traits of the daughters character are that
she is talkative and always questioning. Her father says that her
silent.
(iv) The father had started writing the seventeenth chapter of his
novel, the moment his daughter, Mini, entered the room. The
(v) The main theme of the story, The Kabuliwala is human relationships
II. (i) The narrator is the speaker here. He was startled to see Mini
was scared of the Kabuliwala. She had the unknown fear that the
(ii) The Kabuliwala was a pedlar, who used to bring dry fruits and
other goods from his country, Afghanistan and sell them in India.
wear a turban on his head and carry a bag over his shoulder
(iii) The first meeting between Mini and the Kabuliwala happened
when she called him to her house. But when the Kabuliwala
came, she got frightened and ran inside. She came only when
her father called her out. She stood nervously, pressing her
bag. When the Kabuliwala offered her some raisins and apricots
from his bag, she refused to take them and clung closer to her
(iv) Mini overcame her fear of Kabuliwala when her father called
her from inside the house to meet the Kabuliwala. Minis fear of
when the Kabuliwala took out some dry fruits from his bag and
(v) The narrator paid half-a-rupee coin to the Kabuliwala for the
almonds and raisins he gave to Mini as gifts. The Kabuliwala
(vi) When Kabuliwala gave the money paid by Minis father to Mini,
Minis mother got annoyed that her daughter had accepted the
III. (i) Minis mothers fear that the world was full of thieves, bandits,
(ii) The lady is not able to overcome the fear because she has been
Since, the Kabuliwala was a huge and tall man, she feared that
from a stranger, i.e., the Kabuliwala. She had the fear that the
(v) The pointed questions that the lady asked the narrator included
(vi) The narrator had to agree to the doubts of his wife because her
doubts were not impossible. No, he did not succeed in allaying
IV. (i) The dishonest man was the narrators neighbour, who had bought
for the shawl, the man denied having bought the shawl.
(v) It was the end of the winter season. The weather was freezing
daughters wedding.
(ii) There was lot of hustle and bustle in the house because of the
of the house and the ringing of the chandeliers being put in the
verandah filled the air. The wedding music was beig played in
the house since dawn and there was festivity in the house and
vigour. The usual bag he carried on his shoulder was also missing.
(iv) The narrator could not recognise him first because his looks had
have his long hair, his old vigour and the bag on his shoulder.
(v) Rahamat had come from jail after being released from there. The
narrator was little annoyed with the Kabuliwala and asked him
to come some other day. He did not like his visit to the house
(vi) Rahamat was little hurt by the indifferent attitude of the narrator
(iii) The Kabuliwala requested the speaker to hand over the grapes
and raisins, which he has brought for Mini, to her. The speaker
longing for his daughter and that the Kabuliwala saw a reflection
of his own daughter in Mini.
(iv) The Kabuliwala was shocked when Mini finally appeared before
(v) On seeing Mini, it dawned on the Kabuliwala that his own little
Mini. She would not be the same girl, whom he had left behind,
eight years ago and would have to know her all over again.
that he could go back to his own country and meet his daughter.
(vii) Both the narrator and the Kabuliwala are doting fathers to their
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) The old banker hosted the party. The people who attended the
(ii) Capital punishment was the topic of discussion at the party. Life
punishment.
(iii) The majority of guests at the party were against giving death
(iv) The hosts view was that capital punishment was more moral than
a man slowly.
(v) According to the young lawyer, both capital punishment and life
completely.
not proven.
Against: (a) All humans have the right to life, liberty and the
II. (i) The bet stipulated that if the lawyer would remain in solitary
accepting it, the lawyer would lose his freedom and the best
years of his life in confinement, just for the sake of getting two
million roubles.
(ii) It tells us that the banker was a mean and heartless fellow, who
sought to ruin the youth and the life of the lawyer by setting
(iii) The lawyer accepted the bet as a challenge and for the sake of
(iv) The banker warned the lawyer to think again about it because
felt sorry for the lawyer because the latter would ruin his life
(v) The banker questioned himself about the object of the bet, the
good involved in lawyers losing fifteen years of his life and his
throwing away two million roubles and whether the bet can prove
roubles on a bet.
(vi) The banker cursed the bet he undertook fifteen years ago
The lawyer, on the other hand, decided to forfeit the bet he had
(vii) The bet between the lawyer and the banker was unreasonable
of a man for fifteen long years, just to prove which of the two
III. (i) In the second year of his confinement, the prisoner did not
play any music and no piano was heard. This was because he
(ii) In the second year the prisoner asked for classics to read,
up reading books.
take wine because he believed that wine excites the desires and
(v) The prisoner used to tear up all that he had written at night,
IV. (i) The first them in the first line of the extract refers to the people
letter to the banker. The prisoner wanted them to read the letter
different languages.
different languages, but their feelings and thoughts are the same.
(iv) The prisoner wanted the banker to fire a shot in the garden if
(ii) The old man described the bet as cursed because by following
to pay two million roubles to the lawyer. The banker clutched his
head, cursed the bet and the lawyer for the miserable condition
in which he was.
(iii) The old man wished the prisoner to have died. He wished so
(iv) The prisoner would take the money from the banker and use it
(v) The old man said that he would look at the prisoner with
stipulated in the bet, the old man would be reduced to the state
of a pauper, whereas the prisoner would regain his freedom,
This shows that the banker was a jealous and selfish man, who
(vi) The old man decided to unlock the garden house door, kill the
VI. (i) Fifteen years of solitary confinement in the prison, made the
(ii) The banker was in a state of despair when he broke the seals off
left for the final accounting of the stipulated fifteen years of the
bet and he would have to pay two million roubles to the prisoner.
(iv) The banker expected to hear the footsteps of the prisoner because
he thought that the latter would rush towards the door and give
(v) The banker finally decided to enter the lodge in his garden,
where the lawyer has been in captivity for the last fifteen years.
and put to an end the bet and the issue of paying two million
(vi) The banker thought that the prisoner would be dreaming about
landed himself for his greed for money. He staked his liberty
and youth for fifteen years in return for two million roubles.
VII. (i) The watchman of the lodge informed the banker about the
(ii) The prisoner renounced the two million roubles because fifteen
do so because his tears and emotions kept him awake for hours.
(iv) The banker kept the note in the safe to avoid the arousal of
(v) At the end of the story, the prisoner realised the worthlessness
became remorseful for his inhuman bet and felt great contempt
for himself.
(a) the entire story revolves around the bet between two peoplea
whereas the lawyer staked his freedom and his youth for
I. (i) Tembu is the twelve year old son of Baldeo, a khalasi at a small
night duty at the railway signal, had left for the duty as it was
the tunnel was clear of obstruction for the train to pass and to
The author has described the night as calm and still by portraying
(iii) It means that there was complete silence on a chilly, dark night
(iv) The station was said to be in name only because it was a small
shack where mail trains stopped only for a few seconds before
(v) Most of the trains slowed down near the station because there was
a sharp curve before the cutting which led to the tunnel and to
wait for the signal to make sure if it was free of all obstructions.
II. (i) Baldeos duties included
complete silence in the jungle with the only sounds heard being
(iii) The darkness of the night heightened the eeriness of the station
village on the outskirts of the forest, about three miles from the
(v) Baldeos financial condition was quite poor as his income from
the small rice fields was not enough to provide for his family.
III. (i) Before leaving for duty, Baldeo lit his lamp and closed the door
(ii) Baldeo thought whether the lamp on the signal post would still
be alighted. The path leading to his work place, i.e., the station,
was marked by dense jungle and hills which overhung the main
his hut and feel the warm comfort there instead of working out
(iii) The rock walls towering high above the rails reminded Baldeo of
heard that the tiger frequented the tunnel and was a maneater.
had never seen but had occasionally heard their sawing when
(iv) Baldeo had a small axe, whose head was made of pure steel,
was thin but ringing time like a bell. Though it looked fragile,
it was deadly when put to use. Baldeo could cut down a tree
to his forefathers and its axe-head had been made by his father
he went and did not part with it in return for a good amount
of money.
(v) Baldeo had excellent skill in using his axe. He could cut down
a tree with just three or four swift strokes using his axe, as
IV. (i) A cutting refers to a narrow open passage that is dug through
appeared threateningly.
(ii) Just five minutes before the arrival of the mail train, the signal
light was out and Baldeo would have to rush back to his hut
(iii) The signal light was out and the mail train was due in five
minutes and within five minutes Baldeo had to lit the lamp and
Baldeo hauled the lamp down by its chain, checked the oil in
the lamp and finding a little oil still remaining, lit the lamp and
put it back into position. In order to ensure that the line was
clear, Baldeo took his own lamp in his hand walked down the
(iv) Baldeo was out in the dark, chilling night at the railway signal.
He walked from his hut to the station, lighted the signal lamp 39
cold.
his duty even in the dead of night, extreme cold and amidst
of his bed to proceed toward the station, lit the signal lamp and
walking down the tunnel check for any obstruction in the line.
the roar of a tiger, his first thought was whether the tiger was
moving towards his hut, where his son was sleeping unprotected.
V. (i) The absence of usual jungle noises and the thump and rattle of
(ii) Baldeos main worry was whether the tiger was moving towards
his hut, where his son, Tembu was fast asleep, unprotected.
(iii) The tigers eyes have been described as shining green in the
light from the signal lamp. Baldeo thought that flight would be
(iv) As the tiger moved towards Baldeo, he stood with his back to
(v) Baldeo did not lose his calm and courage on seeing the tiger
stood there motionless, waiting for his prey. As the tiger pounced
on him, he hit it with his axe, wounded it and almost served its
leg. Unfortunately, his axe got struck in the tigers shoulder, the
tiger tore his body and put to an end the life of valiant Baldeo.
VI. (i) Baldeo was standing at the station with his back to the
years.
(ii) The tiger attacked Baldeo with its right paw. But Baldeo, who
the tigers paw. He hit his axe on the tigers shoulder. The tiger
hit the tiger on the shoulder and almost severed its leg. But
unfortunately, the axe got struck in the tigers bone and Baldeo
(iii) The overland mail entered the cutting with its engine puffing
The tiger was in agony because of his wounded leg and did not
notice the faint rumble on the earth caused by the moving train.
The overland mail entered the tunnel and the tiger saw it but
(iv) The title of the story is quite apt because the entire story revolves
through which the train used to pass and the deadly encounter
traffic signal.
VII. (i) The wounded tiger failed to notice the train entering the cutting
and was trapped in the tunnel. The train passed through the
tunnel and the tiger was cut into half by the engine and its
(ii) Baldeos body was lying at the cutting. Baldeos son, Tembu
sat beside the body guarding it from wild animals. The relief
However, despite the great tragedy of losing his father and the
only earning member, Baldeos son, Tembu took over his fathers
that his fathers axe and blessings are with him. He was no
longer afraid of anything because his father had killed the most
ASSIGNMENTS
I. (i) The king said that he would cut off the queens head after the
his queen. The queen felt uneasy on hearing the kings decision
to cut off her head because she knew that the king would be
(ii) The king and queen had nine daughters. They were named after
the months of the year, because they were nine and the days of
the week were not sufficient to name then. The kings daughters
were first named after the four seasons, then the days of the
(iii) Princess September had a very sweet and charming nature, whereas
just one name, September, whereas her elder sisters names had
nightingale.
(iv) (a) The Kings liking for the parrots greeting, God Save the
(b) The Kings act of giving presents on his birthday shows that
(v) Although the king was fond of the queen, yet he decided to
have her head cut off. This shows that he was not emotionally
attached to her.
The queen was finally saved when she gave birth to sons only
II. (i) The parrots could only say God Save the King and Pretty Polly
(ii) The king did not mind hearing the phrase God Save the King
often but was tired of hearing the parrots repeating the phrase
Pretty Polly.
(iii) Princess Septembers parrot died in its golden cage. She was
full of grief on finding that her parrot had died and burst into
tears. She kept on crying and went to bed, without any supper.
III. (i) The little bird sang about the lake in the kings garden, the
reflection of the willow trees in the still water and the goldfish
She stopped crying, forgot her grief and that she had not taken
her supper.
(iii) The bird gave the Princess a bow as a part of its artistic good
artist.
(iv) The little bird offered to take the place of the Princess parrot
in her grief.
(v) The Princess was delighted to hear the nightingales offer and
(vi) Princess September and the bird became good friends. The
princess used to take good care of the bird, whereas the bird
And as a true friend, the bird did not mind her putting him in
IV. (i) They refer to the eight parrots that belonged to the eight
princesses. They used to say God Save the King and Pretty
(ii) The Princesses made this remark when the king said that he
him, his councillors said the same thing in seven different ways
had his own fixed principles and did not readily took the ideas
of his councillors.
of their sisters.
(v) The Princesses first offered to buy a lovely green and yellow
V. (i) The little bird had gone to visit his father-in-law. He returned
(ii) When the bird did not come in time the Princess thought whether
somebody else.
(iii) The Princess finally decided to put the bird in the cage because
she was concerned for his safety and did not want to lose him
(iv) The bird questioned the Princess as to why she has put him
in the cage. But when she answered that it was for his safety,
the bird did not mind her putting him in the cage as long as
(v) Princess September reasoned that to protect him from her mothers
prowling cats she had put him in the cage. The bird said that
he did not like living in the cage. But when the Princess told
him that it was for his safety, the bird seemed satisfied with
her reason because he thought that she would let her go out
in the morning.
VI. (i) No, the Princess was not aware of what was good for the bird.
She acted on the advice of her sisters and her own concern
for the safety of the bird, without realising the birds need for
(ii) The bird said that he could not sing without seeing the trees,
the lake and the green rice growing in the fields, since these
(iii) In order to satisfy the birds wish, Princess September took the
bird out in the open air to have him look at the trees, the lake
No, it did not help the bird to sing because he longed for freedom
her act of putting the bird in the cage because it was for his
good and safety only and that he would get used to the cage
(v) When the Princess woke up, she saw the nightingale lying at
the bottom of the cage, on his side, with his eyes closed and
(vi) On seeing the bird lying like a dead one, Princess September
opened the door and lifted the bird with her hand out of the
cage. She felt little relieved on finding that the bird was still
alive. She told the bird that she had put him in the cage for
his safety only but if that is harmfull for him, she would let
(vii) Princess Septembers act of freeing the bird gave a new lease of
life to him. He flew away but kept his promise and continued
Princess September kept the window of her room open all the time
for the bird to come and go. This allowed sunlight and fresh air
Cambodia.