(Extract Based Questions

I.Read the given passage and answer the questions [1 X 4 = 4]

N'Do you still know me?' I asked.

The woman looked at me searchingly. She had opened the door a chink.
I came closer and stood on the step. 'No, I don't know you.' 'I'm Mrs S's
daughter."
Q.1. What is the name of 'the woman'?
(A) Mrs. S
(B) Mrs. Dorling
(C) Mrs. Draker
(D) Mrs. Sen

Q.2. Around whose address the story evolves?

(A) The author
(B) Mrs. Dorling
(C) Mrs. Marconi
(D) Mrs. Draker

Q.3. What was the address of that woman?

(A) 26, Marconi Street
(B) 32, Dorling Street
(C) 46, Marconi Street
(D) 59, Dorling Street

Q.4. Who is the author of these lines?

(A) Marga Minco
(B) A. J. Cronin
(C) J. B. Priestley
(D) Patrick Pringle

II. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:
(1 x 4 =4]
"There is my daughter,' said my mother. She beckoned to me. The
woman nodded and picked up the suitcase under the coat-rack. She
wore a brown coat and a shapeless hat. 'Does she live far away?' I
asked, seeing the difficulty she had going out of the house with the
heavy case.
Q.1. From which story has this passage been taken
(A) The Address
(B) Mother's Day
(C) Birth
(D) None of these

Q.2. What was the woman carrying in the suitcase?

(A) Gold
(B) Silver
(C) Platinum
(D) Diamond

Q.3. Why didn't the narrator object to Mrs. Dorling's activities in time?
(A) She was silenced by her mother.
(B) She had came back to her home only during holidays.
(C) She was shy to confront others.
(D) She was indifferent about the activities of Mrs. Dorling.

Q.4. Where is the story set?

(A) Germany
(B) Russia
(C) Britain
(D) Holland

III. Read the given passage and answer the questions [1 X 4 = 4]

But gradually everything became more normal again. Bread was getting
to be a lighter colour, there was a bed you could sleep in un threatened,
a room with a view you were more used to glancing at each day. And
one day I noticed I was curious about all the possessions that must still
be at that address.

Q.1. What abnormal had happened in the past?

(A) Earthquake
(B) Flood(C) War
(D) Drought

Q.2. Which of these was included in 'the possessions' ?

(A) Cutlery
(B) Bicycle
(C) Cart
(D) Garage

Q.3. How had the narrator got that 'address'?

(A) From her house broker
(B) From her common friend
(C) From one of her relatives
(D) From her mother

Q.4. What had happened to the author's mother?

(A) Hospitalised
(B) Dead
(C) Arrested
(D) Mad

IV. Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow:

I rubbed it. My fingers grew warm from rubbing. I followed the lines of the
pattern. Somewhere on the edge there should be a burn mark that had
never been repaired. 'My mother'll be back soon,' said the girl. 'I've
already made tea for her. Will you have a cup?"
'Thank you."

Q.1. What was the author rubbing?

(A) Woollen cardigan
(B) Woollen table cloth
(C) Silver fork
(D) Cloth elastic

Q.2. How did the narrator discover for certain that 'iť’ was hers? [1x4=4]
(A) Because of its colour
(B) Because of the fabric used
(C) Because of a tea stain
(D) Because of a burnt edge

Q.3. In which room did the incident take place?

(A) Bed room
(B) Drawing room
(C) Dining room
(D) Living room

Q.4. When did the girl's mother return?

(A) Half an hour
(B) An hour
(C) Six hours
(D) Not given in the story

Short Answer Type Questions

Q. 1. Why did the narrator go to number 46, Marconi Street?

Ans. 46, Marconi Street was the address of the woman
who carried their valuables from their home for safety during war time.
So, the narrator went there to claim the belongings of her mother.

Q. 2. How does Mrs. Dorling react when the narrator said, "I am Mrs. S
daughter"?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling held her hand on the door as if she wanted to prevent
it from opening any further. Her face showed no sign of recognition. She
kept staring at the narrator without uttering a word.

Q. 3. 'Her face gave absolutely no sign of recognition.' Do you think the

woman didn't recognize the narrator, or she was merely pretending?
Give reasons for your answer.
Ans. Obviously, the woman was pretending that she didn't recognize the
narrator. As soon as she realized that she has been found out, she said,
"Have you come back? I thought that no one had come back."

Q.4. How did the woman try to avoid the narrator?

Ans. First, the woman refused to recognize the narrator. When she
realized that she had been found out, she regretted that she couldn't do
anything for the narrator. Then she asked the narrator to come another
time. She gave the impression that there was someone in the house
whom she didn't want to disturb.

Q. 5. What are the two reasons did the narrator give to explain that she
was mistaken?
Ans. She thought that perhaps the woman was not Mrs. Dorling, she had
seen her only once, for a brief interval and that many years ago.
Secondly, it was probable that she had rung the wrong bell.

Q. 6. How was the narrator convinced that she had made no mistake
and had reached the right address?
Ans. When the woman who opened the door, gave no sign of
recognition, the narrator thought she was perhaps mistaken and had
rung the wrong bell. When she saw the woman wearing her mother's
green knitted cardigan, she was convinced that she had made no
mistake and reached the right address.

Q. 7. Who had given the narrator the address? When and under what
circumstances?

Ans. The narrator's mother had given her the address. Years ago during
the first half of the war, the narrator came home for a few days and found
various things missing in the rooms. Then, her mother told her about
Mrs. Dorling and gave her the address.

Q. 8. How do you know that there was someone in the house? What did
she ask? How did the woman respond?

Ans. When the narrator was still on the steps, someone stared at her
from the bay window. He/She asked what the visitor wanted. The woman
replied that it was nothing.

Q. 9. What did the narrator learn about Mrs. Dorling from her mother?
OR Who was Mrs. Dorling? What did the narrator's
mother tell her about the woman?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator's mother. The
latter had not seen her for several years. Then she suddenly turned up
and renewed their contact. Whenever she would leave that place she
took something from her table silver, antique plates etc.

Q. 10. What reason did Mrs. Dorling give for taking away the precious
belongings of narrator's mother?
Ans. Mrs. Dorling suggested to the narrator's mother that she should
store her belongings at a safer place. She wanted to save all her nice
things. She explained that they would lose everything if they had to leave
the place.

Q. 11. What did the narrator notice when she came back home for a few
days during war? What was her immediate reaction?
Ans. Years ago, during the first half of the war, the narrator went home
for a few days to see her mother. After staying there for a couple of days,
she noticed that something or other about the rooms had changed. She
missed various things. Then her mother told her about Mrs. Dorling. She
was an old acquaintance of her mother who had suddenly turned up
after many years.
days during war, she noticed that something or the other about the
rooms had changed. She was surprised to see that various things were
missing.

Q. 12. Did the narrator feel convinced about the views of her mother
regarding Mrs. Dorling? How do you know?
Ans. The narrator did not feel convinced about her mother’s concern for
Mrs. Dorling. The latter was keen on removing the precious possessions
of the narrator’s mother to her own house. It seems that the narrator did
not like Mrs. Dorling’s excessive interest in her mother’s belongings. It is
evident from the questions she puts to her mother.

Q. 13. Why didn't the narrator pay much attention to things around while
walking to the station?
Ans. While walking to the station the narrator didn't pay attention to
things around because she did not want to upset herself with the sight of
streets and houses which were full of memories of her former life.

Q. 14. Why did the narrator feel the urge to see her mother's
belongings?
Ans.The war was over. Gradually, things became normal again. One
day, the narrator felt an urge to see her mother's belongings which, she
thought, must be still at House Number 46 in Marconi Street. She
wanted to see those things and feel them.

Q.15 What did the narrator see as she followed the girl along the
passage?
Ans. As the narrator followed the girl along the passage, she saw an old
fashioned iron candle- holder hanging next to a mirror. It belonged to her
mother. They had never used it because it was more difficult to carry a
single candlestick.

Q. 16.Why was the narrator horrified when she entered the living room?
Ans.When the narrator entered the living room, she was horrified
because she felt as if she had been in a room she did not know. She
found herself in the midst of things she wanted to see again but which
distressed her in the strange atmosphere. She was oppressed to see
them arranged in a tasteless manner.

Q. 17. "I was in a room I knew and did not know," says the narrator in the
story 'The Address'. What prompted her to make this observation?
Ans. The narrator found herself in the midst of things she was familiar
with and which she did not want to see again. However, she found them
in a strange atmosphere where everything was arranged in tasteless
way. The ugly furniture and the muggy smell created the feeling that she
didn't know the room.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q.1. How did the narrator come to know about Mrs. Dorling and the
address where she lived?
Ans. Years ago, during the first half of the war, the narrator went home
for a few days to see her mother. After staying there for a couple of days,
she noticed that something or other about the rooms had changed. She
missed various things. Then her mother told her about Mrs. Dorling. She
was an old acquaintance of her mother she had suddenly turned up after
many years. Now, she came regularly and took something home with her
everytime she came. She suggested that she could save her precious
belongings by storing them at her place. Mother told her address,
number 46, Marconi Street. The narrator asked her mother if she had
agreed with her that she should keep everything. Her mother did not like
that questioning. She thought it would be an insult to Mrs. Dorling. She
was worried about the risk, Mrs. Dorling faced carrying a full suitcase or
bag.

Q. 2. Describe narrator's first visit to Mrs. Dorling's house in Marconi

Street.
Ans. The narrator was sure that her mother's belongings must still be
preserved by Mrs. Dorling. One day, she felt an urge to see and touch
those objects. So, she went to Mrs. Dorling's house in Marconi Street.
She rang the bell. A women opened the door a chink and looked at her
searchingly. The narrator came closer and introduced herself that she
was Mrs. S's daughter. The woman kept staring at her in silence. There
was no sign of recognition on her face. The narrator thought perhaps
she had come to the wrong house. But she saw that the woman was
wearing her mother's green knitted cardigan. She knew at once that she
had made no mistake. She asked the woman whether she knew her
mother. The woman could not deny this. She said. "Have you come
back?" The narrator said that she had come there specially to talk to her
for a moment. The woman regretted that she could not do anything for
her. She asked the narrator to come some other time and cautiously
closed the door. The narrator realized that her visit was in vain. She
stood on the step for a while and then left the place.

Q.3. Describe the narrator's second visit to Mrs.Dorling's house.

Ans. The narrator's first visit to Mrs. Dorling's house was in vain. She
decided to try for a second time. This time a girl of about fifteen opened
the door to her. Her mother was not at home. The narrator said that she
would wait for her. Following the girl along the passage, the narrator saw
their old- fashioned iron candle-holder hanging next to a mirror. The girl
made her sit in the living room and went inside. The narrator was
horrified to find herself in a room she knew and did not know. She found
herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see again but
which oppressed her in the strange atmosphere. She dared not look
around her. The woollen table cloth, the cups, the white tea-pot, the
spoons, the pewter plate, everything was full of memories of her former
life. Suddenly the objects linked with her former life lost their value in
strange surroundings. They too appeared strange to her. She no longer
had the desire to possess them. She got up, walked to the door and left
the house.

Q.4. What did the narrator learn about Mrs. Dorling's from her mother?
The war was going on. The narrator visited home for a few days. She
immediately noticed that something about the rooms had changed.
Various things were missing. She looked at her mother questioningly.
Then her mother told her about Mrs. Dorling. The narrator had never
heard of that woman. Obviously, she was an old acquaintance of her
mother, whom she had not seen for years. Since then, she had been
coming to their house regularly. Every time she left the place she took
something with her. She took all the table silver cutlery set, then the
antique plates and several other precious things. She herself explained
that she wanted to save all their nice things because they would lose
everything in case they had to leave the house. The narrator's mother
never doubted her intention. She rather felt obliged to Mrs. Dorling for
taking all the trouble while carrying their things.

Q.5. Comment on the significance of the title of the story 'The Address."
Ans. The story has been aptly given the title, 'The Address. This title is
significant. The story moves around Mrs. Dorling's address : Number 46,
Marconi Street. Mrs. Dorling was an old acquaintance of the narrator's
mother. She had carried their valuables to her house for safety during
the war time. She said that she wanted to save all their nice things
because they would lose everything if they had to flee from the place.
The narrator's mother told her Mrs. Dorling's address.
The narrator had remembered the address. When the war was over and
things became almost normal, one day the narrator had an intense
longing to see and touch the objects which were linked with the
memories of her former life. She knew that all the things must still be
preserved by Mrs. Dorling. So, she went to number 46 in Marconi Street.
She was horrified to find in a room she knew and did not know. She
found herself in the midst of familiar things which she longed to see
again but which oppressed her in the strange atmosphere. Suddenly, the
objects lost their value in strange surroundings, they too appeared
strange to her. She realized that the address lost all its significance for
her and she wanted to forget it.

Q. 6. What impression do you form of the narrator?

Ans. The narrator leaves a very favourable impression on us about her

emotional and intellectual qualities. We find her an intelligent but
devoted daughter. She loves and respects her mother, but does not
approve of her soft behaviour towards her acquaintance, Mrs. Dorling.
She puts a pointed question, which her mother thinks impolite.
The narrator has a keen power of observation. She notices during her
brief stay at home that various things are missing from the rooms. She
has a sharp power of judgment. She, at once, sizes up Mrs. Dorling of
her own identity and the later's relations with her mother reveal her
indomitable spirit. She visits 46, Marconi Street twice to see, touch and
remember her mother's belongings. She is a realist, who doesn't like to
remain tagged

Reading with Insight

Q.1. 'Have you come back?' said the woman. 'I thought that no one had
come back.' Does this statement give some clue about the story? If yes,
what is it?
Ans. Yes, the above said statement in question gives us a clue about the
story. It clearly proves that the lady, whom the young girl had paid a visit,
knew her already and didn't want to meet her. The given statement
shows that the two families knew each other. Some people had left their
homes due to the war many years ago. Those who had stayed back,
thought that the ones who had left would never come back. That is why
the woman feels surprised to see one of them back.

Q. 2. The story is divided into pre-War and post-War times. What

hardships do you think the girl underwent during these times?
Ans. The story, 'The Address, is distinctly divided into pre-war and
post-war times. There are clear indications of the hardship which the
narrator, a young girl, had to undergo during these times. The girl
belonged to a well-to-do family. They lived comfortably in their house.
They had a lot of valuable possessions. Then the war broke out. A
shrewd and cunning woman Mrs. Dorling, an old acquaintance of the
girl's mother, renewed their contact and started visiting their house. She
took away all their valuables, one after the other, under the pretext that
she wanted to save all their nice things in case they had to leave the
place to perhaps they had migrate to a place of safety. They must have
faced untold hardships also. Then the war got over. Things became
almost normal. Now, the girl was living all alone in a rented house. She
happened to know the address of Mrs. Dorling. She went to the address
in the hope that her mother's belongings might still be there. She found
Mrs. Dorling using her mother's things recklessly.Suddenly, she lost
interest in the things that had
to the past. Her resolution to forget the address and move on shows her
grit and forward looking nature. She has a progressive personality,
belonged to a connection that no longer existed. She decided to leave it
all behind and resolved to move on.

Q.3. Why did the narrator of the story want to forget the address?
Ans. The narrator of the story is a young girl, a victim of war. The war
had left her a desolate soul. But, the narrator appears to be a very
optimistic girl. She wanted to forget the address because there were
stored objects that were linked in her memory with the life of former
times which had now lost their value. Moreover, the narrator now lived in
a small rented room. She had no place to keep all those things.
Q. 4. 'The Address' is a story of human predicament that follows war.
Comment.
Ans. War brings death and destruction with it. It has a de-humanizing
effect on human beings. It kills the finer feelings of love and sympathy. It
makes mancruel and selfish.

Mrs. Dorling had carried narrator's valuable to her home for safety during
war time. She lived at 46, Marconi Street. The narrator's mother had
died during the war. The narrator went to the woman to claim her
mother's belongings. The woman pretended that she did not recognize
the narrator. She was surprised to see her come back.

Later, she realized that she was found out. Still she did not let the
narrator enter her house. The narrator found her own rooms changed.
Various of her things were missing. The narrator wanted to see and
touch her mother's valuables. They were linked in her memory with the
life of former times. She failed to get them back. They still remained in
strange surroundings with Mrs. Dorling. Mrs. Dorling's daughter behaved
properly but she could not restore her valuables. She wanted to forget
everything.