Class 10 English

A Letter to God Extract Based Questions

B Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the North
East huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man
went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.
1. What could be seen approaching in the North-east?
A. A huge flock of birds could be seen approaching in the North-east.
B. Thick clouds of dust storm could be seen in the North-east.
C. Huge mountains of clouds filled with water could be seen in the North-east.
D. Thunder, lightning and a comet could be seen approaching in the North-east.
Ans B. Thick clouds of dust storm could be seen in the North-east.
2. Why did Lencho go out?
A. to have a look at his crop.
B. to quickly take the clothes hanging outside on the cloth stand inside to avoid them from getting
wet.
C. to feel the pleasure of rain on his body.
D. to take his animals under the shade as it was raining heavily.
Ans C. to feel the pleasure of rain on his body.
3. Which one of the following is not a synonym of predicted?
A. examine
B. foresee
C. speculate
D. None of these
Ans A. examine
4. What had Lencho predicted?
A. it was going to be a beautiful and windy day.
B. huge mountains of cloud would approach.
C. it would rain that day.
D. it would rain while he would be having his food
Ans C. it would rain that day.

C Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single
hope: help from God. Don’t be upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies
of hunger.
1. Which hope is mentioned here?
A. The help from God.
B. The help from his wife.
C. The help from his friends.
D. The help from his children.
Ans A. The help from God.

2. Who said, “Don’t be upset…”?

A. These words were spoken by Lencho.
B. These words were spoken by the postmaster.
C. These words were spoken by a postman.
D. None of the above
Ans A. These words were spoken by Lencho.

3. What loss had they suffered?

A. They had suffered the loss of their crop.
B. They had suffered the loss of their money.
C. They had suffered the loss of their land.
D. They had suffered the loss of their ancestral wealth.
Ans B. They had suffered the loss of their money.

4. Who was Lencho?

A. He was a hard working man.
B. He was a very nice and soft spoken person.
C. He was a postmaster.
D. He was the owner of a huge land area in the village.
Ans A. He was a hard working man.

D Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flower, draped in a curtain of
rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began
to fall. These truly did resemble new silver coins. The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to
collect the frozen pearls.

1. Why was Lencho looking satisfied?

A. he had earned good money after selling his crop.
B. he had received help from God.
C. he had received help from post office employees.
D. he was hopeful of a good harvest.
Ans D. he was hopeful of a good harvest.

2. What was draped in a curtain of rain?

A. strong wind
B. new silver coins
C. frozen pearls which were very large hailstones.
D. field of ripe corn.
Ans D. field of ripe corn.

3. How did the weather change?

A. The rain suddenly stopped.
B. The big drops of rain suddenly changed into very large hailstones.
C. It rained heavily after the cloudburst.
D. It rained heavily but at the same time a bright sun was shining.
Ans B. The big drops of rain suddenly changed into very large hailstones.

4. Which literary device is used in the phrase ‘ran out to collect frozen pearls’?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Imagery
Ans B. Metaphor

E Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow :
All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had
been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man,
working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at
daybreak, he began to write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the mail. It
was nothing less than a letter to God.

1. What kind of a man was Lencho?

A. hardworking
B. lazy
C. stubborn
D. economic
Ans A. hardworking

2. Why did he write a letter?

A. because he wanted to check his writing skills.
B. because he wanted help from God.
C. because he wanted to go to meet his family.
D. because he wanted to go abroad.
Ans B because he wanted help from God.

3. What do you mean by ‘an ox of a man’?

A. It means a hard working man.
B It means acting as an ox.
C. It means he behaves like an animal.
D. None of these
Ans A It means a hard working man.

4. Why did he visit the town?

A. to meet his friend.
B. to post the letter to God.
C. to buy vegetables.
D. for shopping
Ans B. to post the letter to God.

F Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow :
When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the
envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to
open it. It said, “God of the money that asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest,
since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees
are a bunch of crooks, Lencho”.

1. How did Lencho paste the stamp?

A. He took glue from the post office window.
B. He licked it and pasted it.
C. He asked someone to paste it.
D. None of these
Ans B. He licked it and pasted it.

2. What happened to the letter after reaching into the mailbox?

A. The postmaster opened the letter and read it.
B. It was collected by the other post-office employees.
C. It was given back to Lencho.
D. It was misplaced.
Ans A. The postmaster opened the letter and read it.

3. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘attached’?

A. Envelope
B. Affixed
C. Crooks
D. Employees
Ans B Affixed
4. Whom did Lencho call ‘bunch of crooks’ and why?
A. His neighbours as they took his money.
B. His friends as they grabbed his money.
C. Post office employees as he got less money than he had asked for.
D. None of these
Ans C. Post office employees as he got less money than he had asked for.

G. It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the
north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The
man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body, and when
he returned he exclaimed, ‘‘These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big
drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.’
1 Which of the following statement can be inferred from the extract –
a. The clouds were stuck to the mountains
b. The clouds were as big as mountains
c. The clouds were dark like mountains
d. The clouds and the mountains were approaching
A. b
2 State true or false –
It was raining coins
A.False
3 Why does Lencho say that the big rain drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives?
A. He says that the big drops are ten cent coins and the smaller ones are fives because the raindrops
will ensure a better crop of corn. A better crop will fetch him more money. So, he equates the
raindrops with coins of money.
Q1. What are the raindrops compared to and why? (CBSE 2011)
Ans: Raindrops are compared to new coins-ten-cent and five cent pieces. It is because they promised
a good harvest and as such good money.
Q2. How was Lencho sure that it was going to rain?
Ans: Lencho knew his fields intimately and he could predict the weather by looking at the sky. His
experienced eyes saw clouds and he predicted rain.
Q3. What promised a good harvest?
Ans: Lencho felt that the field of ripe corn dotted with flowers always promised a good harvest. That
is why he was anticipating a good harvest.
Q4. How did Lencho’s prediction about rain come true?
Ans: Lencho had looked towards the north east and remarked that they would get some water. His
prediction came true when it started raining in the evening.
Q5. Why did Lencho go out?
Ans: Lencho was eagerly awaiting for the rain which could be good for his crops. So he went out to
have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body.
Q6. How did Lencho regard his field? Why?
Ans: When it started raining Lencho regarded his field with satisfaction. He was happy to see his crop
draped in a curtain of rain. He hoped to reap a good harvest.
Q7. “It’s really getting bad now.” What was getting bad and how?
Ans: Lencho was happy when it started raining. But the rain and the weather were getting bad. A
strong wind was blowing and hailstones were falling.
Q8. Why was Lencho’s soul filled with sorrow?
Ans: The hail and hailstones rained on the valley for an hour and it had left the field totally covered
with snow. The crop was completely destroyed. It made Lencho’s soul filled with sorrow.
Q9. Why was the family not really upset?
OR
People get support from family and friends during bad times. How does Lencho’s family behave
after the harvest is ruined? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans: Though Lencho’s family was facing ruin, yet they were not really upset it was because having
immense faith in God, they were confident that God would help them.
Q10. Why did the postmaster send a reply to Lencho’s first letter addressed to God?
Ans: The postmaster was a generous and amiable man. He was impressed by Lencho’s firm faith in
God. To sustain that faith, the postmaster sent a reply to Lencho.
Q11. Why was Lencho angry when he received the letter?
Ans: The postmaster could raise only 70 pesos which he sent to Lencho, supposedly from God.
Lencho was angry to find 30 pesos less than the amount he asked for. He was angry because he
thought the post office employees had kept 30 pesos sent to him by God.
Q12. How was Lencho helped?
Ans: The postmaster, a kind-hearted and generous man, read Lencho’s letter addressed to God To
sustain his; faith, the postmaster raised money from friends and colleagues and sent it to Lencho, in
the name of God.
Q13. Do you think the post office employees were ‘a bunch of crooks’?
OR
Explain the qualities of the post office employees. (CBSE SQP 2018-19)
OR
Why would you not agree with Lencho calling them a ‘a bunch of crooks’? (CBSE SQP 2018-
19)
Ans: No, they were kind, generous and helpful persons. The postmaster contributed a part of his
salary and motivated his friends and colleagues for a charitable cause. So they were not a bunch of
crooks.
Q14. How would you describe Lencho?
Ans: Lencho was a simple, naive and hard-working farmer. He was not only energetic, he had full
faith in God also. He became a victim of natural calamity, before God helped him indirectly.
Q15. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like new coins?
Ans: Lencho said that the raindrops were like new coins. It was because the raindrops could cause a
good harvest that his field needed most. Thus he would get a rich crop Further the raindrops had a
brightness like new coins.
Q16. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?
Ans: The rain changed into heavy hailstone. In no time the whole valley was covered with hailstones.
His fields. became white as if covered with salt. His com was totally destroyed.

Q17. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?

Ans: When the hail stopped, Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness: He was very much troubled. His
crop was totally destroyed. He said, “The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no com. We
will all go hungry.”
Q18. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?
OR
Lencho did not bother exploring any other means to resolve his situation but just turned to
God. Do you feel that his approach was justified? Why/Why not? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans: Lencho had deep faith in God. He believed that God would help them all. No one would die of
hunger as He sees everything. Lencho decided to write a letter to God.
Q19. Who read the letter?
Ans: The postman and the postmaster read the letter.
Q20. What did the postmaster do then?
Ans: The postmaster burst into laughter on seeing the deep faith of Lencho in God. He collected
money from his employees. He even gave part of his salary. He put all the money in an envelope
addressed to Lencho and wrote a letter containing a single word “God”.
Q21. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Ans: Lencho was not at all surprised to find a letter with money in it because he had immense faith in
God.
Q22. What made him angry?
Ans: Lencho was angry at counting the money since it was less than the amount he had asked for. He
had deep faith that God could neither make a mistake nor could deny what was requested.
Q23. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter “God”?
Ans: The postmaster was a very generous fellow, in order not to shake Lencho’s faith in God, he
collected money. and sent it to Lencho. The postmaster signed the letter “God”, lest Lencho should
think that the money had not been sent by God.
Q24. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/why not?
Ans: Lencho was a simple-minded person. He had firm faith in God. So he did not try to find out who
had sent the money. He was of the view that the money was sent by God and none else could do such
an act.
Q25. Name the author of the lesson ‘A Letter to God’.
Ans: The author of the lesson ‘A Letter to God’ is G.L. Fuentes.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. What was Lencho’s pride and possession?
Ans: Lencho lived in the solitary house on the crest of a low hill in the valley From here, he could
survey and see the river and his pride, the field of ripe com dotted with flowers. These always
promised a good harvest.
Their only wish was a downpour and Lencho, who knew his fields intimately, predicted rain. His
prediction turned true when it started raining during dinner. He went out to feel the rain and surveyed
with satisfaction, his crop draped in a curtain of rain. He regarded rain drops as new silver coins.

Q2. Bring out Lencho’s immense faith in God.

OR
Lencho had faith in God but lacked faith in humanity. Elaborate with reference to ‘A Letter to
God’. (CBSE SQP 2019-20)
OR
Describe Lencho’s qualities in light of his faith in God. Do you have faith in God like Lencho?
Was Lencho’s reaction towards post office employees right? (CBSE 2015)
Ans: Lencho wanted some rain for his crop. The ripe com stood proud in the field and promised a
good harvest. Rain came, as he predicted but turned to hail and ruined his crop. Lencho’s heart was
filled with sorrow. But he did not lose heart. He had firm belief in God.
He wrote a letter to God, asking him to send 100 pesos so that he could sow his field again. He
dropped the letter in the mail. The postmaster read the letter addressed to God and to preserve
theman’s faith in God he raised 70 pesos and sent them to Lencho. Lencho could not believe that God
had made a mistake. He wrote again asking God to send the rest of the money, but not through mail.
He believed that the post office employees were a bunch of crooks.
Q3. How was Lencho’s crop destroyed? How did he ask God for help?
OR
How did the hailstones affect Lencho’s field? What was Lencho’s only hope?
Ans: Being a farmer, Lencho was completely dependent upon the crops of his field. Once a heavy
downpour occurred. Along with rain large hailstones also started falling. As a result the field turned
white as if it had been covered with salt all over. His annual crop was completely destroyed.
Even there was not a single flower left on the plants in the entire village there was no one to help him
in the lurch. Being a firm believer in God, he turned to the Almighty for the help. He wrote a letter
requesting him to send 100 pesos so that he might sow his fields again till the next crop comes. He
had a belief that God would certainly help him with the money.
Q4. “I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter”, in the light of this statement,
describe Lencho’s character.
Ans: As soon as the postmaster received and read the letter written by Lencho to God, he expressed
his feelings In the words by referring to Lencho’s faith in God. Lencho, the writer of the letter, was a
simple farmer. He had a firm belief in God Once, when his crop was destroyed by hailstones, he
turned to God for help.
He wrote a letter believing that God would not leave them to die of hunger and starvation. When he
received a packet full of money, he was not the least surprised. Being simple in mind and generous by
soul, he never knew that some generous soul had sent him the money in the name of God.
Q5. As the postmaster, write how you felt when Lencho accused you and your men of stealing
money. Comment.
Ans: I was shocked and discouraged at the first sight when grabbed the letter of complaint from
Lencho in which he accused me and my employees of stealing money, could not expect such kind of a
treatment Although had involved every man in my office in that generous work, yet Lencho regarded
us as a bunch of crooks
This man proved very ungrateful. was so downcast that I decided not to send the rest of the money if
did, he would be convinced that we had already cheated him in the name of God. We should let him
suffer and face the situation boldly. I pray to God to have pity on him.
Q6. Why did Lencho write a letter to God?
Ans: Lencho was a hardworking, simple farmer. He had sown a field of com and was waiting for
rains: His joy knew no bounds when it started raining. He expected a good harvest. But his joy turned
to sorrow when rain gave way to hail. After an hour, the field of golden corn was covered with snow.
The crop was totally destroyed and Lencho faced ruin. The year seemed bad without any food. This
simple, god-fearing man had immense faith in the Almighty. He wrote a letter to God asking for 100
pesos to sow his field again.
Q7. What did the postmaster need to answer the letter? How did he collect it? How did Lencho
react to the help?
OR
How did post office employees help Lencho? How did Lencho react to their help?
OR
The people at the post-office contribute to put together whatever they can manage, for Lencho.
What do you think was the main reason behind their help? Would you have done the same if
you were one of the employees? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans: The postmaster needed something more than ink and paper to answer the letter. He needed 100
pesos. He gave up a part of his salary and asked all other employees to help. Even friends were made
to contribute for a charity cause. Thus, he managed to collect 70 pesos. Lencho wasn’t surprised to
receive the letter. But he was angry to receive 70 pesos instead of 100. He didn’t doubt God, such was
his confidence. So he wrote another letter to God asking him to send the rest of the money. He warned
him not to send it through the post office because those people were a bunch of crooks.
Q8. How do you think the postmaster felt when he received Lencho’s second letter? What do
you think he did?
Ans: The postmaster must have felt shocked and let-down. The contentment, which he had felt when
Lencho had taken the letter, would have been replaced by consternation. All his generosity and desire
to maintain Lencho’s faith had been wasted.
Yet, I believe, he must also have been amused at Lencho’s unshakeable faith in God: He must have
made greater effort to collect the rest of the money. He would have sent a letter along with the money,
saying that the postal employees were not a bunch of crooks.
Q9. If you had been Lencho, and this incident would have happened with you, what would have
you done? Describe your feelings in simple words
OR
We are faced with difficult situations at some points of time in life. God’s help comes to our
rescue then. But God helps those who help themselves. Comment.
Ans: If I had been Lencho and this incident would have happened with me, the way of solving my
problem would have been different. I am quite familiar with the realities of the world. know that God
cannot receive any letter by the post and neither can God help me directly. “God only helps those who
help themselves.” I would have tried to search for another work for some time so that I could survive
and feed my family. Then I would have tried to save some amount to sow my field again.
Q10. Think about the statement- “Faith can move mountains. Do you think that this feeling had
been in Lencho’s mind and so he could have been able to write a letter to God? Throw light on
his feelings.
Ans: Without any doubt, can say that this statement has a great importance. This statement can give a
great strength to anyone who is about to fall deep down in earth, reason may be different. According
to me, this is true that Lencho has deep faith in God. Because of his faith in God, he wrote a letter to
God. When he got seventy pesos, once again he wrote a letter to God to get the remaining amount. So
we can say that his feelings for God were very powerful.
Q11. The reader may also be impressed with Lencho’s faith as the postmaster was. Can we see
such an example in the present time? If you were in place of postmaster what would have you
done?
Ans: Yes, it is quite obvious that the reader may get impressed to see Lencho’s faith in God because it
is rare. It is also possible that the thoughts might be different. Now the time is very fast and no one
has such simple and pure feelings. It is very difficult to find such an example at present. The example
of the postmaster is also very rare. Now even our close relatives do not help us in our need.
If I were in place of postmaster, I would have helped Lencho. But my pattern would have been
different! would have called Lencho and handed over the amount to him and would try to make him
realise that God does not help us directly and “God helps only those who help themselves.
Q12. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the
situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic
situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected?)
Ans: Lencho has thought that the rest of the money has been taken by the post office employees. He
believed that God could not send him less money than what he had asked for. Here one can find the
irony that the money has been collected and paid by the post-office employees. He does not believe in
them. He calls them a bunch of crooks” He thinks that thirty pesos have been kept by the post office
employees. He has no idea that even the amount of seventy pesos has been sent by them.
An irony is an amusing or a strange situation because we find it quite opposite in nature from what we
duly expect. Here the post office employees collect and send money to Lencho. He calls them a group
of cheats and not receiving the full amount.

Nelson Mandela
1 . Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
The policy of Apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. All of us will
spend many years, if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. But the decades of
oppression and brutality had another, unintended effect and that was that it produced Oliver Tambos,
Walter Sisulus, Chief Luthulis, etc., men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that
their like may never be known again.
1. Whom does ‘my’ refer to in the passage?
A. Chief Luthulis
B. Nelson Mandela
C. Oliver Tambos
D. Walter Sisulus
Ans B. Nelson Mandela
2. Who were the people of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity?
A. Oliver Tambos
B. Walter Sisulus
C. Chief Luthulis
D. All of them
Ans D. All of them
3. From the passage, find one word which means ‘a period of ten years’.
A. apartheid
B. profound
C. unintended
D. decades
Ans D. decades
4. What created a lasting wound in Nelson’s country?
A. Unintended effect
B. Policy of apartheid
C. Oppression
D. Brutality
Ans B. Policy of apartheid
B Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
Tenth May dawned bright and clear. For the past few days, had been pleasantly besieged by
dignitaries and world leaders who were coming to pay their respects before the Inauguration. The
inauguration would be the largest gathering ever of international leaders on South African soil. The
ceremonies took place in the lovely sandstone amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in
Pretoria. For decades this had been the seat of white supremacy, and now it was the site of a rainbow
gathering of different colours and nations for the installation of South Africa’s first democratic, non-
racial government.
1. When was the installation day of South Africa’s first democratic, non-racial government?
A. 10th June
B. 10th August
C. 10th April
D. 10th May
Ans D. 10th May
2. Which ceremony is referred to in the paragraph?
A. Prize distribution
B. Installation
C. Inauguration
D. Republic Day
Ans C. Inauguration
3. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘Placement of person in office with ceremony’?
A. installation
B. inauguration
C. gathering
D. None
Ans A. installation
4. Where did the ceremonies take place?
A. Open ground
B. President house
C. Sandstone amphitheatre
Ans C. Sandstone amphitheatre
C Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his
religion.
People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes
more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the grimmest times in prison, when my
comrades and were pushed to our limits, I would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards,
perhaps just for a second, but it was enough to reassure me and keep me going. Man’s goodness is a
flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
1. What comes more naturally to the human heart than any other emotion?
A. hate
B. anxiety
C. love
D. anger
Ans C. love
2. According to Mandela, Man’s ________ is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
A. goodness
B. kindness
C. smartness
D. understanding
Ans A. goodness
3. Trace a word from the passage that means “Severe”.
A. comrades
B. humanity
C. grimmest
D. extinguished
Ans C. grimmest
4. In the passage, man’s goodness is compared to what?
A. hate
B. grimmest
C. humanity
D. flame
Ans D. flame
D Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression to create such heights of character. My country is rich
in the minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil, but have always known that its greatest wealth is its
people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
1. Whose country is referred to here?|
A. Nelson Mandela
B. George Washington
C. Mahatma Gandhi
D. Martin Luther King
Ans A. Nelson Mandela
2. What is a country’s greatest wealth?
A. its economy
B. its infrastructure
C. its people
D. its resources
Ans C. its people
3. The minerals and gems are compared to whom?
A. Diamonds
B. Wealth
C. Resources
D. People
Ans D. People
4. Mention the synonym of ‘Valuable stones’ in the passage?
A. Minerals
B. Diamonds
C. Gems
D. Soil
Ans C. Gems
E Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
“We have at last, achieved our political emancipation”. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our
people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other
discrimination.
1. Who is the speaker?
A. Sisulus
B. Chief Luthulis
C. Oliver Tambos
D. Nelson Mandela
Ans D. Nelson Mandela
2. What have they at last achieved?
A. political recognition
B.political name
C. political emancipation
D. political fame
Ans C. political emancipation
3. Trace a word from the passage that means “a formal promise”.
A. pledge
B. promise
C. swear
D. agree
Ans A. pledge
4. Where is the pledge taken by Nelson Mandela?
A. United States of America
B. South Africa
C. Africa
D. United Kingdom
Ans B. South Africa
F Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
In life, every man has twin obligations- obligations to his family, to his parents, to his wife and
children; and he has an obligation to his people, his community, his country. In a civil and humane
society, each man is able to fulfil those obligations according to his own inclinations and abilities.
But in a country like South Africa, it was almost impossible for a man of my birth and colour to fulfil
both of those obligations. In South Africa, a man of colour who attempted to live as a human being
was punished and isolated.
1. What are the obligations that every man has in his life?
A. nature and his family.
B. family and friends.
C. his family and his country.
D. God and his family.
Ans B. family and friends.

2. Why was it impossible for a coloured man to discharge his obligations in South Africa?
A. he would be punished and isolated.
B. he would face many obstacles.
C. he would be killed.
D. his family members would be killed.
Ans A. he would be punished and isolated.
3. What does it mean by the phrase ‘a man of my birth’?
A. a person who is born in a royal family.
B. that the person was born in an educated family.
C. that the person was born in an uneducated family.
D. that the person was born in a poor and humble family.
Ans D. that the person was born in a poor and humble family.
4. What is the adjective form of ‘punished’?
A. punish
B. punishing
C. his family and his country
D. punishment
Ans D. punishment
G Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:
We, who were outlaws not so long ago, have today been given the rare privilege to be host to the
nations of the world on our town soil. We thank all our distinguished international guests for having
come to take possession with the people of our country of what is, after all, a common victory for
justice, for peace, for human dignity. We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We
pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation,
suffering, gender and other discrimination.
1. What does the phrase ‘rare privilege’ mean here?
A. the opportunity of winning the first Olympic gold medal.
B. the rare privilege to host the nations of the world.
C.the rare privilege where a black person become the president of South Africa.
D. the rare privilege to meet the important leaders of the world.
Ans B. the rare privilege to host the nations of the world.
2. Why does Mandela thank the gathering?
A. for helping him become the president of South Africa.
B. for gracing the occasion to celebrate his country’s victory of justice, peace and human dignity.
C.for voting for him in the elections and helping him win the elections.
D. for helping him in taking his country towards the path of progress.
Ans B. for gracing the occasion to celebrate his country’s victory of justice, peace and human dignity.
3. What have the people of this country achieved?
A. Happiness, joy and prosperity.
B. wisdom, good luck and richness of culture.
C. a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.
D. success in educational, economic and political field.
Ans B. wisdom, good luck and richness of culture.
4. Give a word similar in meaning to ‘a special right’ from the passage.
A. Deprivation
B. Discrimination
C. bondage
D. privilege
Ans D. privilege
H A few moments later we all lifted our eyes in awe as a spectacular array of South African jets,
helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union Buildings. It was not only a
display of pinpoint precision and military force, but a demonstration of the military’s loyalty to
democracy, to a new government that had been freely and fairly elected. Only moments before, the
highest generals of the South African defence force and police, their chests bedecked with ribbons and
medals from days gone by, saluted me and pledged their loyalty. I was not unmindful of the fact that
not so many years before they would not have saluted but arrested me. Finally a chevron of Impala
jets left a smoke trail of the black, red, green, blue and gold of the new South African flag.
1 Choose a word from the extract which is a synonym of “accurate”
Ans. Pinpoint / precision
2 Choose a word from the extract which is a synonym of “decorated”
Ans. Bedecked
3 Which of the following images best represents “chevron”?

Ans. C
4. Why did the Impala jets leave a smoke trail of black, red, green, blue and gold colours?
Ans. They left a smoke of these colours because these are the colours of the South African flag.
I The day was symbolised for me by the playing of our two national anthems, and the vision of whites
singing ‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ and blacks singing ‘Die Stem’, the old anthem of the Republic.
Although that day neither group knew the lyrics of the anthem they once despised, they would soon
know the words by heart.
1 Which of the following statement can be inferred from the extract –
a.‘Nkosi Sikelel –iAfrika’ was the anthem of the blacks
b.‘Die Stem’ was the old anthem established by the whites
c.Both a and b
d.None of these
Ans. c
2 Why does Mandela say that the two groups did not know the lyrics of the anthem they once
despised but they would soon know the words by heart?
Ans. Earlier, the blacks and whites were enemies, so, they despised the anthem of the other. However,
that day, the first democratic government was formad and apartheid was abolished. So, now they
would know the anthems of the other race and would gradually learn the words by heart.

Q1. What did Mandela realise?

Ans: Mandela realised that there was no freedom in South Africa for anyone who looked like him. He
realized that his boyhood freedom was an illusion and he was not free to fulfil his obligations towards
his family and his people.
Q2. Why was Mandela pained?
Ans: Mandela was pained when he thought about all the courageous men who had struggled and
fought for this day. They were not present on the occasion but it was their effort which had gained
freedom for the people.
Q3. What ideals did Mandela set out for the future of South Africa in his speech?
Ans: Mandela set out ideals for the future of South Africa because he had deep feelings for his
country and countrymen. He pledged to liberate all the people from poverty, deprivation and
discrimination.
Q4. How according to Mandela had apartheid policy affected South Africa?
Ans: Apartheid policy had affected South Africa deeply. It had created a deep and lasting wound in
the country and its people. It will take a long time to heal this wound.
Q5. What did Mandela think about the oppressor and the oppressed?
Ans: Mandela thought about the oppressor and the oppressed that both are robbed equally. A mail
who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. In the same way, if his freedom is
taken away, they both are without freedom. So both of them must be liberated.
Q6. What, according to Mandela, is true-freedom?
Ans: According to Mandela, true freedom means freedom not to be obstructed in leading a lawful life.
Q7. How did hunger for freedom change Mandela’s life?
Ans: In the beginning of his life, Mandela was not aware about freedom Later, Mandela found that his
freedom had been taken away from him. As a student, he wanted freedom only for himself but slowly
his own freedom became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. This changed him
completely.
Q8. What are the ‘twin obligations’ referred to by Nelson Mandela?
OR
Nelson Mandela speaks of ‘twin obligations’. Elucidate. (CBSE SQP 2019-20)
Ans: According to Nelson Mandela, every man has two obligations in life. The first obligation is to
his family, to his parents, wife and children. Secondly, he has an obligation to his country, people, and
community.
Q9. Could a man, according to Mandela, fulfil these twin obligations in a country like South
Africa?
Ans: No, these twin obligations could not be fulfilled by a man, in a country like South Africa,
according to Mandela it was because a man of dark colour who attempted just to live as a human
being was punished and isolated in the country.
Q10. What is the meaning of courage to Mandela?
OR
Who, according to Nelson Mandela, is a courageous man? (CBSE SQP 2020-21)
OR
Mandela feels that courage is triumph over fear. How would you define courage in this context?
(CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans: According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph over it. The brave man
is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Mandela learned the true meaning of
courage from his comrades in the struggle.
Q11. What was unique in the inauguration ceremony?
Ans: The inauguration ceremony took place in the amphitheatre formed by the Union Buildings in
Pretoria. For decades, this had been the seat of white supremacy. Now it was the oath taking
ceremony day for South Africa’s first democratic, non racial government. It was really a unique
occasion.
Q12. Describe the inauguration ceremony in simple words?
Ans: It was the day of 10th May, 1994. The first democratic/non-racial government was to be
installed. Dignitaries from different countries participated in the ceremony South African men women
and children of all races were present there.
Q13. What promises did Mandela make to his people in the gath-taking speech?
Ans: In the oath-taking speech, Mandela promised that the country shall not again experience the
oppression of one by another.
Q14. What did Mandela say about the future of the country in his speech?
Ans: In his speech, Nelson Mandela said. “I see a bright future for the country. Now no one will
experience oppression by another, it will make much progress. All people shall be free to do what
they like.
Q15. How did South African jets, helicopters and troops demonstrate?
Ans: It was a very special day for all South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in
perfect formation. They flew over the Linion Buildings. It was a show of the military’s loyalty to the
country and its democracy.
Q16. What did the generals and police officers do on that day?
Ans: The generals and police officers were also there. They were in their uniform. They had ribbons
and medals: on their chests. They saluted Mandela with great respect. Mandela was the first black
President of South Africa Although many years ago, they might have arrested him.
Q17. What were the two anthems sung on the day of the oath-taking ceremony?
Ans: On the day of the oath taking ceremony, the two anthems were sung: Nkosi Sikelel–Afrika was
for the whites and Die steny was for the blacks. Die stem was the old anthem of the country.
Q18. Whose names were particularly taken by Mandela in the inauguration ceremony?
Ans: In the inauguration ceremony, Mandela announced the names of Oliver Tamboo, Walter Sisulus,
Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Bram Fisher and Robert Sobukwes. These men were of extraordinary
courage and wisdom.
Q19. Describe Mandela’s life journey from a prisoner to the first black President of South
Africa.
Ans: Nelson Mandela did a life-long struggle against the racial discrimination in South Africa. He
had to spend many years of his life as a prisoner in the jail. At last the first democratic elections were
held in South Africa His party won 252 seats out of 400 and he became the first black President of
South Africa.
Q20. What is the greatest wealth of a nation in Mandela’s opinion?
OR
Mandela says that his country’s greatest wealth is its people and not the purest diamonds.
Justify his statement. (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans: In Mandela’s opinion, the greatest wealth of a nation is not minerals and gems but its good and
honest people.
Q21. What difficulties did Mandela face in his life?
Ans: Mandela had to face many difficulties in his life: He had to leave his house to fulfil his duty to
his people. In the prison, he was treated very badly.
Q22. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans: It was an occasion of installing the first democratic non-racial government which was formed by
both the whites and the blacks. Both had their different anthems In order to give equal honour and
recognition both the national anthems were sung.
Q23. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that
are made of sandstone?
Ans: The ceremonies took place in the Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria. Hawa Mahal in
Jaipur and Fatehpur Sikri are the buildings in India made of sandstone.
Q24. Can you say how 10 May is an autumn day in South Africa?
Ans: Tenth May, being an autumn day, in South Africa has a symbolic meaning. In the season of
autumn, all the old leaves fall from the tree and give birth to new ones in the same way, old racial
government had given way to the new anti-racial democratic government in South Africa. It was the
beginning of a new era.
Q25. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions an extraordinary human disaster. What
does he mean by this? What is the glorious human achievement” he speaks of at the end?
Ans: At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions an extraordinary human disaster: it was the
policy of apartheid in South Africa. People were the victims of racial discrimination. Now they have
achieved freedom. They will never be oppressed. It was the end of the most inhuman system of the
government. He calls it a glorious human achievement.
Q26. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans: Nelson Mandela sets out many ideals for the future of South Africa. He says that all the people
will be free from poverty, deprivation and discrimination. They will never experience oppression by
others.
Q27. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans: They obey their masters. They acted under the orders of the whites so far. Today they had
shown their loyalty to democracy. Earlier they arrested Mandela. Today they showed their loyalty to
him by saluting him. There was a change in the system. The newly elected non-racial democratic
government had changed their (military generals) attitude. Now they were not the servants of the
whites. They were now in the service of their own people.
Q28. What does Mandela mean when he says “he is simply the sum of all those African
patriots” who had gone before him?
Ans: Mandela’s hunger for freedom forced him to join the African National Congress to eradicate the
system of apartheid. Before him thousands of the patriots had sacrificed their lives. Mandela does not
take the entire credit. He calls himself simply the sum of all those African patriots who had laid the
path towards the achievement of success He continued the movement started by them. He was only a
part of that movement.
Q29. Based on your reading of the lesson, what can you infer about Mandela as a father and as
a leader? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans. Mandela was a devoted parent. He wanted to give his family everything. Also, he was a superb
leader. He felt for every citizen of his country. He therefore sacrificed his family in order to advance
the cause of his countrymen’s liberation.
Q30. If you were in Mandela’s position, would you have given preference to your family or your
country? Why? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)
Ans. Family matters just as much as one’s nation. I’d have made an effort to strike a balance between
the two. I don’t believe that leaving one’s family is a noble deed.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Discuss the scene of the inauguration ceremony? Who took the oath in the ceremony? Why
is the inauguration called a historic occasion for South Africa?
Ans: It was the bright and clear day of 10th May, 1994. The inauguration ceremony took place in the
Union Buildings amphitheatre in Pretoria. The most famous world leaders and representatives
gathered there. The generals and police officers were also there. They had medals and ribbons on their
chests. South African jets, helicopters and troop carriers roared in perfect formation over the Union
Buildings. First of all Mr. de Klerk, then Thabo Mbeki and then Nelson Mandela took the oath.
The inauguration can be called a historic occasion for South Africa as on this day the first democratic
government was installed. At the end of more than three centuries of the white rule Nelson Mandela
became the first Black President of South Africa.
Q2. What were Mandela’s opinions about the first and last decades of the twentieth century?
Why does he say on the day of the inauguration that he was overwhelmed with a sense of
history?
Ans: On the day of the inauguration, the speaker’s mind went back to history. He remembered the
first decade, when the whites ruled over South Africa and they made a discrimination against the
blacks. They built a system of racial discrimination against the blacks. Their behaviour was full of
cruelty. They meted out inhuman treatment to the blacks.
But now in the last decade of this century, this cruel system was overturned. Now a new system
replaced it. It was the first democratic government of South Africa. Now there will be no
discrimination on the basis of colour. On the day of the inauguration Mandela was overwhelmed with
a sense of history because in the first decade of the twentieth century and before his own birth , the
white skinned peoples of south-Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial
domination against the dark skinned peoples of their own land. But now in the last decade of the
twentieth century, and his own eighth decade as a man, that system had been overturned forever and
replaced by one that recognised the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of
their skin.
Q3. What does Mandela think about the patriots? Can they be repaid?
Ans: Nelson Mandela thinks that freedom and democratic government have all come only due to the
great sacrifices of thousands of patriots. They were those men who did not care about their lives and
died for their people and country. They can’t be repaid. He thinks of himself as the sum of all those
who had sacrificed their lives. Now he regrets that he was not able to thank them. According to
Mandela, the policy of apartheid greatly wounded the people. It was hard to recover. It would take
much time. These great patriots were Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Luthuli, Dadoo, Fischer,
Sobukwe, etc.
Q4. What ideas does Mandela have about courage, love and hate?
Ans: According to Mandela, he learnt the meaning of courage from his comrades. They struggled
very hard for the freedom of the country. They did not care for their lives. They sacrificed everything
for their people and country. They did not break before the brutality of the oppressors. They showed
their full strength So Mandela learned courage from them. To him, courage means not the absence of
fear but the victory over it. The brave man is one who conquers fear. No man is born hating another
man due to colour or religion. Love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate. According to
Mandela, both the oppressor and the oppressed are the prisoners of hatred. No one can become happy
after taking away another’s freedom.
Q5. What ideas did we get about freedom, the oppressor and the oppressed from this lesson?
How did Nelson Mandela get hunger for freedom?
Ans: According to Mandela, both the oppressor and the oppressed need freedom. Not only the
oppressed are without freedom, but also the oppressor. He is the prisoner of hatred, only his level of
thinking encourages him to snatch others freedom. It is all due to his narrow mindedness. It is an
obvious idea that the oppressed have no freedom Nelson Mandela had hunger for freedom, when he
knew that his freedom had been snatched. His idea for freedom was an illusion. He saw that his
brothers and sisters were without freedom. His hunger for freedom encouraged him to join the African
National Congress.
Q6. What differences came in Mandela’s opinion about the meaning of freedom, when he was a
little boy and when he became young?
Ans: There were many differences in Mandela’s opinion about the meaning of freedom, when he was
a little boy and when he became young. While he was a little boy, the meaning of freedom was to run
in the fields and to swim in the streams.
When he became young, he realized that his freedom was an illusion. When he was a child, he
measured freedom only on limited parameters such as, roasting meals, riding on the backs of slow
moving bull as a little child, reading whatever he wanted and staying up late at night as a teenager, but
later on, he realized that he was being selfish. He came to know that he and everybody who looked
like him were not free and their freedom was being curtailed, they were facing discrimination and
brutality by the whites. It was then that he realized that his boyhood freedom was just an illusion and
that he had to fight for the collective freedom of his community and his country.
Now he had realised that not only his freedom, but also others’ freedom had been seized. So he felt a
hunger for freedom now. He wanted all the people of his country to live with self-respect. They must
do what they liked
Q7. What are two obligations that Mandela described in this lesson? What was the reason that
he was not able to fulfil those obligations?
OR
Nelson Mandela described twin obligations for a man. Do you agree with these obligations? Do
you think that every person should fulfil these obligations in real life?
OR
Nelson Mandela speaks of ‘twin obligations’. Elucidate. (CBSE SQP 2020-21)
Ans: In the lesson, Mandela described two obligations that everyone had to perform. One obligation
is for the family, children and wife and second obligation is for the country and community But due to
apartheid policy in South Africa, Mandela was not able to fulfil his obligation. Although men could
fulfil these obligations according to their capacities and abilities. But in South Africa it was
impossible for the blacks. When Mandela tried to fulfil them for his family, he was cut off from his
family. He was forced to live the life of separation. When he tried to serve his country, he was put into
prison. Thus, Mandela was not able to fulfil his obligations.

Q8. Create a questionnaire of two most important questions that you would have liked to ask
Nelson Mandela during an interview. Give your reasons for choosing those questions.
Ans. 1. How did you get involved in the fight for freedom?
2. Did you feel bad about leaving your family behind to serve your nation?
I want to know the thought that hit Mandela and gave him tremendous strength, therefore I’m asking
these questions. Also, I believe that leaving his family was a bad choice.
Q9. India is a country of unity in diversity-there are different languages, traditions, dresses,
castes and cultures. Do you find any sort of discrimination in India?
Ans: India is a very big country. It has different languages, traditions, dresses, castes and cultures.
Even then India has unity in diversity. Its Constitution gives equality to every citizen. There is no
place for colour prejudice in it. In India everyone has a right to get education, to appear in
competitions and to live at any place. There is no discrimination among Indians on the basis of caste,
creed and colour. Indians can live in any state and they can marry in any caste. There is no colour
discrimination in India.
Q10. How did Mandela’s hunger for freedom change his life?
Ans: Nelson Mandela was not born with a hunger to be free. With time and experience he discovered
that boyhood freedom was only an illusion. He found that as a young mem his freedom had already
been taken away from him. His people and community were denied the fundamental right of living a
dignified life.
This made him hungry for freedom. He joined the African National Congress. This desire for freedom
transformed him from a frightened young man into a bold one, a law-abiding person to a criminal, a
family- loving person to a man without a home. This desire forced a life-loving man to live the life of
a monk.
Q11. “One was not born with a hunger to be free.” What was the result of his hunger for
freedom?
Ans: When Nelson Mandela was a young boy, he didn’t know anything about freedom. His hunger
for freedom began when he saw his people being punished under the policy of apartheid. It was clear
to him that his boyhood freedom was just an illusion. Then he had come to know that he and his
countrymen had no freedom.
They could not say anything freely, Now Mandela’s hunger for freedom had increased. Although, as a
student, he wanted freedom only for himself but after growing up, he started to think maturely about
freedom. He saw that in South Africa everybody’s freedom was curtailed. Thus the result of his
hunger for freedom was the freedom of the country.
Q12. What does courage mean to Mandela? How did he learn the meaning of courage? What do
you get about courage, love and hate from this chapter?
Ans: In this chapter, Nelson Mandela says that he learnt the meaning of courage from the comrades.
They were freedom fighters. They did not care about their lives: He had seen those people who had
sacrificed their life for the country.
He learnt that courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph over it. In other words, the brave man
is one who conquers fear. In Mandela’s opinion, no man is born to hate another man on the basis of
 skin, colour or religion: Love comes more naturally to the human heart than from its opposite Both
the oppressor and the oppressed are the prisoners of hatred. They take away each other’s freedom.
Q13. Why did such a large number of international leaders attend the inauguration? What did
it signify the triumph of?
Ans: A large number of international leaders attended the Installation ceremony of the first
democratic non-racial government in South Africa. By being a part of the inauguration, international
leaders showed a gesture of solidarity and support to the idea of the end of apartheid in South Africa.
It was a common victory for justice, for peace and for human dignity. The international community
supported the cause of South Africa.
They had come to witness the formation of the first ever democratic. non-racial government in South
Africa, after almost three centuries of the white skinned rule. It signified the triumph of humanity and
democracy against oppression, fear and discrimination. Both the oppressor and the oppressed were
liberated.
Q14. 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?
Ans: Yes, it is true that the depths of oppression create heights of character. Nelson Mandela
illustrated this argument by giving examples of some people of extraordinary courage and wisdom.
This period of struggle to end apartheid produced people like Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus,
Bram Fischers and so on in the soil of South Africa. Nelson Mandela himself was a product of the
same conditions. The hunger for freedom changed his life.
The history of India is full of such characters. Mangal Pandey, Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad,
Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai and so on were the people of extraordinary courage produced by
the depth of oppression in India.
Q15. Nelson Mandela was the hero of South Africa’s freedom movement. Comment.
Ans: Nelson Mandela was a true hero of South Africa’s freedom movement. His conscience
encouraged him to demand a respectful and unique life for all. His soul cleared him about the twin
obligations for everyone. He was always determined to fulfil them. He performed his obligations for
his family as well as for his community. Although he was prevented from doing so, he did not stop
and got discouraged.
He became homeless. In spite of all these difficulties he could not change his decision. He had a soul
power to challenge the racial system of the white. He did not care about the apartheid policy and
announced that this policy had created a lasting wound in the country. He fought against it. At last he
got success. He became the first black President of South Africa.
Dust of Snow Extract-based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct
option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
1. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
1. Where was the crow?
Ans. The crow was on a hemlock tree.
2. What did it shake on the poet?
Ans. It shook dust of snow on the poet.
3. What is the rhyme scheme of the stanza?
Ans. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB
4. Who is the poet?
Ans. Robert Frost is the poet of the poem “Dust of Snow”
5. What is the poet’s state of mind?
Ans. The poet was in a sad, depressive and hopeless mood that time.
2. Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
1. What does the word ‘rued’ mean?
Ans. The word ‘rued’ means held in regret.
2. How did the crow change the poet’s mood?
Ans. The crow changed the poet’s mood by shaking down the dust of snow from a hemlock tree.
3. What figure of speech has been used in the line ‘And saved some part’?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Alliteration
D. Repetition
Ans. C Alliteration
4. What did the poet think of that day?
Ans. The poet earlier thought that he had wasted that day, but later his spirit was revived
3. The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
1. Before the incident, the poet was __________
A. Excited
B. Happy
C. Sad
D. not mentioned
Ans. C
2. Which word in the extract indicates his initial mood?
A. shook
B. dust
C. heart
D. rued
Ans. D
3. What does the change of mood indicate?
Ans. It indicates that a crow and a hemlock tree can be good and auspicious.

Q1. Rationalise what you think the poet was probably doing when the dust of snow fell on him?
[CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. The poet was in a depressed mood with a thought that the day had been quite gloomy and was a
waste for him. When the dust of snow fell on the poet, he might probably be standing under or passing
through the hemlock tree.

Q2. What does the presence of a hemlock tree tell you about the setting of the poem?
Ans. The Hemlock tree is often related to some bad omens. Here, the presence of the hemlock tree
tells us that the poet has used it to symbolize his depressed and negative mood.

Q3. The dusting of snow on account of the crow helped to make the poet’s day better. How do
you think the crow’s droppings might have impacted the poet?
Ans. The dust of snow removed all the laziness of the poet. It saved the whole day of the poet. The
crow’s droppings might have ruined the poet’s mood from bad to worse.

Q4. ‘Dust of Snow’ is one of Frost’s most loved poems. Elaborate why you think this is so.
Ans. ‘Dust of snow’ is a beautiful poem written by Robert Frost. It depicts a simple moment, but it is
of great significance. The poet is depressed and has lost all hope. He is sitting under a hemlock tree. A
small incident changes his sad mood. The poem teaches us that one should never be desperate and
hopeless.
Q5. The poem evokes a sense of black and white. Justify. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans.. In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, we see two set of indicators. The Hemlock tree and the crow are
indicators of sorrow which are symbolised by black colour. On the other hand, the snow indicates a
fresh start and is white in colour.
Similarly, the poet’s initial mood of regret and unhappiness is depicted by black while his final mood
of joy is indicated by white color.
Thus, we see that the poem creates a sense of black and white as it displays opposite things and
emotions.

Q6. The crow and hemlock are usually used as negative references in literature. How is this
different in this poem?
Ans. The crow is a symbol of ill omen and the hemlock tree is a poisonous one. However, the poet
has used them beautifully to portray the fact that inauspicious things too can bring joy and happiness.

Q7. Imagine that Frost is of present day and has been invited to write for an e-zine – “Teen
Talk”. He chooses to draw upon his experience with the crow and the dusting of snow to share
his thoughts on ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. As Frost, express your thoughts for the e-zine.
Ans. ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. We should never leave confidence in difficult times because it
will lead us to better days. A dark cloud is a kind of difficulty, misfortune and worst times in life. The
silver lining is a hope for progress and an opportunity to go ahead in life.
Similarly, in the poem, the poet is in a depressed and hopeless mood. He feels that the whole day has
been wasted. But fortunately, it is not so. The falling of the dust of snow on him bring a sudden
change in his mood. He realizes that all is not lost. The change of landscape has changed his mood.
Cheerfulness had replaced the feeling of regret. Hence, the falling dust of snow proved to be a silver
lining on the cloud of gloom.

Q8. As a crow you feel highly insulted by the incorrect perception humans have about your
species. Imagine yourself to be a crow and write your opinion about this prejudice. Make an
appeal for breaking stereotypes. [CBSE Question Bank 2021]
Ans. As per human perceptions the word ‘crow’ is often related to ‘bad omens’ and
‘inauspiciousness’. This stereotype thinking towards our species is illogical and heart-breaking. I feel
hopeless that without even having any valid evidence to it, people refer to us as being ‘ominous’.
Perhaps because we are ‘black’, people consider us inauspicious and doves are considered ‘good
omen’ maybe because they are ‘white’. This ruthless prejudice makes me emotionally hurt. I want to
break this stereotype for all my fellow crows too in the same way my friend did by changing a
person’s mood and making him happy. I hope that one day,judgmental humans will realize that what
they think of us is completely wrong.

Q9. A simple moment proves to be very significant and saves the rest of the day of the poet from
being wasted. Explain on the basis of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’. [CBSE 2018]
Ans. The poet, Robert Frost tries to convey that even simple and ordinary incidents have great
significance in our life. Nothing is good or bad. It is only our thinking that makes it so. Best things in
life are free of cost. Life is full of problems and obstacles. We should try to solve them rather than to
sit and regret. Sometimes even the unimportant things change the meaning of life. A simple action of
a crow, who shook off the dust of snow on the poet, taught him a great lesson. The poet realised that
he had wasted his day in repenting rather than doing some useful activity. He understood how to take
adverse season in stride and work for a better life.

Q10. In the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’, how does the poet’s mood get changed? [CBSE 2018]
Ans. In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ when the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it
falls on the poet. The poet was then standing or sitting under the tree with melancholy mood. The
magical effect of this fall of powdery snow and its feel changed his mood from one of dejection to one
of joy and acceptance of positive thinking. All this made him realise the importance of the rest of day
which now appeared to have been saved from getting spoiled.
Q11. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with reference to the poem, ‘Dust
of Snow’ ?
Ans. The underlying message for us with reference to the poem ‘Dust of Snow’ is that we should
always be optimistic towards life. In the grave hours of depression, the smallest act of nature can lead
to a drastic positive change.

Q12. How has the poet observed ‘nature’ in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?
Ans. The poet has observed nature as a positive medium of change for him. The poet had been in a
pensive mood in the poem. But when a crow shakes snow dust off, it changes his mood. Nature gave
him the inspiration to behave in a positive manner.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in. Do you agree or
disagree with the reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’? Express your views.
Ans. I wholeheartedly concur that having a positive outlook can make the world a better place to live.
In his poem “Dust of Snow,” Robert Frost describes how the actions of a crow turned a terrible day
into a brighter one. The poet’s mood changed as a result of an incident that seemed unrelated. To
embrace the light amidst the darkness is one lesson that can be taken from the poet. The poet sees the
colour of joy despite the fact that the crow, the hemlock, and the snow are all dismal pictures. The
simple pleasures of life is yet another lesson. They enable one to consistently find the good in every
circumstance.

Q2. Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive responses. Analyse this
with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to bring out the inherent valuable lessons.
Ans. Whatever the circumstances in life, they cause us to react in both positive and negative ways.
The poet of the poem “Dust of Snow” , Robert Frost was in a depressed frame of mind. His sour
mood turned more optimistic as a crow shook down the “dust of snow” on him. The poet may have
become enraged with the crow had he not already been in a depressed or foul mood.
Snow dust turns out to be a catalyst for improvement for him. He felt a certain amount of happiness
from the incident, and it helped him temporarily forget his misery. So, it becomes clear that one
should focus on the good aspects of events rather than their negative ones because doing so might
have a significant impact on how events turn out.

Q3. The poet has succeeded in giving valuable information in a light-hearted manner. What
creates the desired effect? Highlight its importance in present-day life.
Ans. Frost has successfully conveyed an important idea—that occasionally, seemingly insignificant
things can have a major impact—by using straightforward language. The desired effect is produced by
using simple, straightforward language along with distinctive visual images and succinct wording.
Even the surroundings around him reflect the poet’s sadness. The raucous, ominous crow, the deadly
hemlock, and the surrounding freezing snow are all gloomy scenes. But, despite all the bad, some of
the poet’s regretful thoughts are also shaken off when the crow scatters snow dust over him. The
poem encourages us to find enjoyment in the simple things in today’s world, while we’re all living in
stressful environments.
Fire and Ice Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct
option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.

1. Who is the poet of these lines?

Ans. Robert Frost
2. What is the poet’s opinion about the world?
Ans. According to the poet, the world will end in fire.
3. What is the contradictory opinion of the public?
Ans. The contradictory opinion of the public is the debate whether the world will end in fire or ice.
4. How are ice and fire similar to each other though they have contradictory traits?
Ans. Both ice and fire are similar in the sense that both of them would destroy everything in the
world.
B. But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
1. What does ‘it’ refer to in the first line?
Ans. ‘It’ refers to the world.
2. What do you mean by ‘perish’?
Ans. Perish means to die or to be destroyed.
3. What does ice stand for?
Ans. Ice stands for coldness.
4. What would be the cause of destruction?
Ans. Ice or fire would be the cause of destruction.
C. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
1. Select a synonym of “enough”
Ans.Suffice
2. When the poet says that for destruction ice is also great, can we infer that he likes ice?
Ans. The poet says that ice is great for destruction but it does not mean that he likes it. He wants to
say that it is equally powerful as desire.
3. What does “hold with” mean?
a.to approve of
b.to clasp firmly
c.to put aside
d.to think over
Ans. a

Q1. According to the poet, what do ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ symbolise? [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. According to the poet ‘ice’ symbolizes hatred, coldness and rigidity and these human cold
emotions and lack of love are destructive enough to remove the warmth of fire and destroy the world.
Fire symbolises unlimited wishes and desires of human beings like violent feelings of anger, cruelty,
brutality, etc., that might end the world.

Q2. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Ans. The poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is short but encompasses the entire humanity in its targeted message.
The metaphor of ‘Fire and Ice’ are used very effectively to solidly convey a clear message to the
readers. The poem acts like a moral-mirror for readers to assess their own standing in the world. ‘Fire’
stands for our uncontrolled passions which are disastrous for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning
devoid of human love will bring insensitivity. Both the aspect of human thinking and resulting
behaviour embedded with desire and hatred will lead to the end of this world and it may also happen
more than once.

Q3. The tone of the speaker contrasts with the seriousness of the subject matter. Justify. [CBSE
QB, 2020-21]
Ans. ‘Fire and Ice’ is a symbolic poem by Robert Frost with a message to reveal the gravity of the
violent and cold human emotions. These emotions, if not controlled, may lead to destruction of the
world. The poet wants to make humanity believe that everything will end one day as a result of human
misdeed. His aim is aphorism-brevity for Frost truth remains ambiguous as to how specific the world
is going to end. That’s why the tone contrasts with the seriousness of the subject matter with people
favouring both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’.

Q4. Evaluate the line- Some say the world will end in fire/Some say in ice- in the context of
volcanic eruptions, forest fires, meteor collisions, melting ice caps etc. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. In the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ the poet considers the age-old question of whether the world will end
in fire or in ice. The threat of global warming may lead to severe volcanic eruptions and forest fires
that may end the world or there might be a meteor collision, the melting of ice caps or glaciers etc,
that may also end the world.
So, either option is enough to achieve its purpose sufficiently may be in storm of volcanic eruptions,
forest fires or melting ice caps.
Q5. Fire and Ice projects a pessimistic outlook. Comment. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. According to me, ‘Fire and Ice’ projects a realistic outlook rather than a pessimistic one. The
poet brings forth the view that the world will soon end. It can be either by fire or ice. He mentions that
he has tasted everything in life after World War I. So, it would soon end either with greed or
indifference.

Q6. What does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion regarding the world?
[Board Term-I, 2016-17]
Ans. Fire stands for fury, desire, lust, anger, avarice, cruelty and greed. Ice is symbolic of hatred,
coldness, rigidity, insensitivity and intolerance. The general opinion regarding the world is that the
world will end in fire and some say ice. Both the two reasons contrast each other and one equally
opposite to each other. People who favour fire believe that it will be the heat and passion which will
end the world. On the other hand, some people think that it will be the ice which will freeze the world.

Q7. To say that for destruction, ice is also great for the poet, what does ice stand for? How is it
sufficient to bring destruction? [CBSE 2014]
Ans. Ice stands for the cold feelings of humans such as indifference, hatred, greed, jealousy, apathy,
lack of love, cold-heartedness, etc. Although the poet states that he believes fire would bring an end to
the world, he also states that if the world has to end twice, then ice or the cold feelings of people are
also great to end the world.
Q8. How will the world end? Support your answer with a scientific explanation. [CBSE 2014]
Ans. According to some people, the world will end in fire. The core of the earth will get extremely
heated up due to the increasing global warming. It may lead to severe natural calamities like volcanic
eruptions, earthquakes, uncontrollable forest fires and tsunamis that may end the world. However,
some people believe that the world may end in ice. As a result of the melting ice caps or glaciers,
there would rise an ice age that would freeze all the living things on the earth to death. All the ice and
snow from the mountains will melt down to the plains one day and thus, will shrink the world.

Q9. Explain the symbols used in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ by Frost.
Ans. Frost represents ‘fire’ as human desires and lust for things. It symbolises all the uncontrolled
materialistic greed that humans have and their actions to achieve their goals create conflict and
destruction. However, ‘ice’ is a symbol of cold feelings. It symbolises hatred, indifference and
coldness of heart with the same effects as the ‘fire’ element.
Q10. How can Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ be read as an extended metaphor?
Ans. Frost’s poem ‘Fire and Ice’ is certainly an extended metaphor. The metaphor of ‘Fire and Ice’ is
used very effectively to solidly convey a clear message to the readers. The poem acts like a moral-
mirror for readers to assess their own standing in the world. Fire metaphorically represents and refers
to violent human emotions like anger, cruelty, brutality, etc., while the term ice refers to cold human
feelings such as hatred, jealousy, indifference, etc., that might destroy the world. The poet has used
both fire and ice as great metaphors to imply that both of the destructive forces are powerful enough
to bring doom to the world. These metaphors convey that violent and cruel human emotions are a
threat to the world.

Q11. Explain why the poet personally holds the conviction that the world will primarily end in
fire? (SQP 22)
Ans. We can surely say that the poet holds the conviction that the world will end in fire. The poet
asserts that he agrees with those who believe that this world will end in fire. This is due to the fact that
he has witnessed the impact that unrestrained and endless aspirations and desires have on people’s
lives. He discovers that the fire’s nature is comparable to that of mankind’s wicked impulses.
Long Answer

Q1. “Fire and Ice” was first published in 1920. Briefly explain how WW I might have influenced
the theme of the poem. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. WW I was fought between 1914 and 1918. The poem was published two years after the war and
so, there is the possibility that the war may have impacted the theme of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. The
destruction and violence and rage seen during WW I is reflected in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’ with the
two different scenarios represented by the elements of the poem’s title. Robert Frost must have seen
the destruction of the world that was the outcome of the uncontrolled rage of people and thus believes
fire to be the world-ender. Ironically, he also adds that ice representing the ‘ hate world ‘also’ be
‘great’ to bring the end of the world. Here the poet uses his own experiences of worldly life and its
mundane truth to add a second stanza devoted to the world-ending effect of ice i.e. hatred and
indifference in the hearts of people.

Q2. Most of your classmates, like Frost, feel that man’s greed and rage or hate, would lead the
world to its destruction. You feel that the ‘fire and ice’ in Mankind can be addressed to create a
harmonious world. Write a speech, for your classmates, expressing your beliefs with respect to
the poem. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. A very good morning, to each and every one present in this room. Today I’m here to express my
beliefs with respect to the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. Dear friends, I strongly believe that ‘Fire and Ice’ in
Mankind can be addressed to create a harmonious world. We, humans, are swaying between two
extremes ‘Fire and Ice’. Sometimes we are torn by our unbridled fire of passions, desires, lusts,
longings and fury. This further results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All
such extremes can lead to conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they can help in bringing an early
end of the world. Humanity can redeem itself and possibly save or delay the end of the world by
giving up such extremes of thinking and behaviour. So let us keep burning the fire of patriotism,
solidarity and sensitivity and put ice on indifference and rigidity to create a harmonious world around
us.

Q3.It is a Hobson’s Choice that the poet faces in the poem ‘Fire and Ice’. Illustrate this thought,
with the help of examples from the poem.
Ans. The poem describes a fiery end to the planet, which represents human greed and selfishness.
Some believe that the ice, which represents hatred, will bring about the end. Because both options
would ultimately lead to catastrophe, humanity is thus faced with a decision that really isn’t a choice
at all. As all options equally contribute to personal damage, the decisions are demonstrated on a
personal level.
To underscore the significance of his message that there are no alternatives, the poet presents the
options in a concise and terse manner. The poem’s central theme of destruction brought on by greed
and hatred, which is exemplified by the saying Hobson’s Choice, gives the poem a deep and dark
undercurrent.

Q4. Today’s world is conflict ridden. People fight over various issues and there is no peace in
the world. Explain/Describe based on your reading of the poem ‘Fire’ and ‘Ice’.
Ans. In today’s world, hatred is a major problem. Brother despises his brother, and neighbour
despises his neighbour. Nobody wants to put up with or forgive anyone else. We live in a terribly
divided world as a result of the hostility. Nothing will be left untouched if hatred continues to control
our lives and the globe. All of our accomplishments will be lost, and the planet will end. We must
develop the capacity to forgive and forget if we are to save the earth. For this, we need a tremendous
amount of love and compassion, as well as the ability to put up with one another’s differences and
learn to get along.
A Tiger in the Zoo- Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct
option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. He stalks in his vivid stripes,
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
i) Why could the tiger walk only a few steps?
Ans. The tiger could walk only a few steps because he was locked in a very small cage.
ii) How does the tiger move in the cage?
Ans. The tiger moves very slowly and quietly in a threatening way.
iii) What are the two qualities of the animal under reference?
Ans. The tiger has vivid stripes on his body and soft velvet pads.
iv) Why is he in quiet rage? [CBSE 2014]
Ans. He is in quiet rage as he is locked and his freedom has been curtailed. Thus, he is unable to show
his anger and ferocity.
B. He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
i) who is “he”?
A. “He” is the tiger. Tiger has been personified in the poem.
ii) Select a synonym of “chubby”
A. Plump
iii) Why should ‘he’ lurk and slide?
A. He lurks and hides to hide from the prey. He waits for the right moment to attack it.
iv) Why do deer pass to reach the water hole?
A. Deer go to the water hole to quench thirst.
v) The scene in this stanza is of a _______
a. Zoo
b. Forest
c. Museum
d. can’t say
A. b
C. He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
i) Why should ‘he’ do all the activities mentioned in this stanza?
A. A tiger does all these activities as a part of its natural behaviour.
ii) Choose a synonym of ‘showing’
A. Baring
iii) Fangs means ______
A. moustache
B. teeth
C. claws
D. paws
A. B
D. But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
i) According to the stanza, the cell is made of ______
a. Cement
b. Concrete
c. Stone
d. can’t say
A. b
ii) What does the line “His strength behind bars” mean?
A. It means that the tiger cannot use its power and attack people because it is locked in a cell.
iii) Choose a synonym of “walking”
A. Stalking
iv) Why does “he” ignore the visitors?
A. He ignores the visitors because he cannot be his true natural self. He cannot scare or attack them
because he is locked in the cell.

E. He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass,
Near the water hole,
Where plump deer pass.
i) Who is ‘He’ here?
Ans. ‘He’ refers to the tiger.
ii) Where should he be lurking?
Ans. He should be lurking in the shadows in the forest.
iii) Where should he be sliding?
Ans. The tiger should be sliding through the long grass in the forest.
iv) Who would pass through the water hole?
Ans. A plump deer would pass through the water hole.
F. He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
i) What does the poet try to suggest through these lines?
Ans. The poet is trying to suggest that the tiger should be allowed to live in his natural habitat.
ii) How does the tiger scare the people?
Ans. The tiger scares the people by growling at them and showing his teeth and claws.
iii) Why does ‘he’ snarl?
Ans. ‘He’ snarls to show his anger and helplessness.
iv) How does ‘he’ show his presence?
Ans. ‘He’ shows his presence by baring his white teeth and claws.

G. But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
i) What does the phrase ‘his strength behind the bar’ suggest?
Ans. It means that he is helpless as he is locked in a cage.
ii) Why does the tiger ignore the visitors?
Ans. The tiger ignores the visitors because he considers them devoid of feelings as none of them tries
to help him out of the prison.
iii) What is the tiger doing in the cage?
Ans. The tiger is moving slowly and quietly along the length of the cage.
iv) What does the expression ‘stalking the length of the cage’ imply?
Ans. It implies walking to and fro in helplessness.
H. He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares With his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
i) What kind of voices does the tiger hear?
Ans. The tiger hears the voice coming from the patrolling cars at night.
ii) Where does the tiger look at in the night?
Ans. The tiger looks at the brilliant stars shining in the sky at night.
iii) What do you mean by ‘patrolling’?
Ans. ‘Patrolling’ means to go around an area at regular times to check that it is safe.
iv) What is the effect of the repeated use of the word ‘brilliant’?
Ans. The repeated use of brilliant shows the contrast. The brilliant stars are free while the brilliant
eyes are inside the cage.

I. But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars (SQP 2021-22)
I). The fact that the tiger is ‘stalking the length of his cage’ tells us that he is
A. restless.
B. reckless.
C. resilient.
D. reverent.
Correct Answer: Option C
ii). What is the rhyme scheme of the given stanzas?
A. abcb; abcb
B. abcb; abcd
C. abcd; abcd
D. abcd; abcb
Correct Answer: Option A
iii). These stanzas bring out the contrast between
A. zoos and cities.
B. strength and weakness.
C. freedom and captivity.
D. visitors and patrolling cars.
Correct Answer: Option C
iv). What is the caged tiger NOT likely to say to the visitors?
A. “Stop staring”.
B. “Set me free”.
C. “Join me”.
D. “Go away”.
Correct Answer: Option C
v). The tiger’s ‘brilliant eyes’ reveal that he
A. hopes to be free and in the wild, someday.
B. is looked after well and is nourished and healthy.
C. enjoys staring at the bright stars each night.
D. is well-rested and hence, wide-awake.
Correct Answer: Option A

Q1. How does a tiger create terror for the villagers? [CBSE 2015]
Ans. The tiger terrorizes the villagers by barring his big white fangs and revealing his sharp claws. He
makes terrifying low snarls moving around the houses of the villagers that are situated at the edge of
the forest. His mighty presence and roars scare the villagers.

Q2. How does the tiger make his presence felt in the village? (CBSE 2015)
Ans. The tiger makes his presence felt in the village by snarling around the houses which are at the
edge of the forest. He tries to terrorise people by showing his white fangs and claws.

Q3. Why should the tiger snarl around the houses at the edge of the forest? [CBSE 2012]
Ans. The tiger should snarl around the houses at the edge of the forest in order to scare the villagers
so that they won’t disturb the peace of the mighty animal. Also, snarling is a natural characteristic of a
tiger.

Q4. Where should the tiger have been according to the poet? [CBSE 2014]
Ans. According to the poet, the tiger should have been in his natural habitat, i.e., a forest. He is a
mighty predator who survives by hunting his prey. He belongs to a place where he can freely move
about, frightening people by deadly growls.

Q5. It is said that an animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language. Explain with
reference to the tiger. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. We have heard that eyes speak and they speak the truth. It is visible in this poem also. The tiger
in the zoo conveyed both his anger and helplessness through his eyes. He shows his anger, hatred and
even defiance by walking about in rage in his cage. The tiger in the cage ignores all those who come
to the zoo to see him as entertainment. At night, he showed his helplessness by staring at the stars in
the sky.

Q6. The poet celebrates the strength of the tiger in this poem. Counter the statement. [CBSE
QB, 2020- 21]
Ans. The tiger mentions about the strength of the tiger but also counters by showing that it is caged
and not free. His strength is frustrated and becomes a funny stock as the mighty animal feels helpless
in the confinement. The tiger, unlike his forest life, has no freedom to move around and hunt in the
small zoo. On the other hand, the real natural life of the majestic tigers involves walking in the tall
grass and hunting the deer that pass near the water hole.

Q7. Do you think the tiger in the poem had lost its natural instinct due to captivity? Support
your response with evidence from the poem. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. As a Yes: I think the tiger in the poem had lost its natural instinct due to captivity. Although the
tiger was in terrific rage as he had been taken away from his natural habitat, he didn’t roar as he
would have done in the forest. Instead, he walked silently about the length of the cage. The zoo had
controlled the tiger’s natural display of emotions.
As a No: I don’t think so. The caged tiger walks in a proud manner. He walks quietly. But his eyes
show that he is very angry at having been imprisoned in a cage. All his activities prove that the tiger
in the poem had not lost its natural instinct due to captivity. He is still chivalric, confident and
graceful.

Q8. Why should the tiger snarl around houses at the edge of the forest?’ [CBSE 2012]
Ans. The tiger should snarl around houses at the edge of the forest because of the following reasons.
Firstly the villagers will not disturb the peace of the forest. Secondly, they will not kill the animals for
money or just for fun.
Q1. What do you think the tiger would say to you, as a visitor?
You may begin like this: Please stop staring. You have no idea……………………… (continue)
…………………. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans.. Are you here also just to entertain yourself at my helplessness due to captivity? If so, please
stop staring as if I am any object on display. You have no idea how suppressed and dejected I am
feeling at the moment and day and night. I’m trying to ignore each one of you as I consider you
humans to be devoid of feelings.
You humans have cruelly snatched away my freedom and thrown me up here in the cage just for your
entertainment and joy of watching which is at the cost of natural freedom. None had ever tried to help
me out to make me free from this cage which is too small for me to even stretch somewhat longer for
comfort.
I’m just fed up with this situation and the visitors like you. If you are not one of them then please do
some favour by making me free of this captivity and leave me in the jungle which is my real home.

Q2. Imagine the tiger writes a diary entry conveying how he feels helpless, angry and frustrated
in the concrete cell. He writes about his desire to be free. Write that diary entry. [CBSE QB,
2020-21]
You may begin like this:
15 October 2020, Thursday 9:00 pm
I feel so vulnerable and annoyed at my state. I don’t know if I can ever be a free denizen of the
forest.
Ans. 10th February, 2023, Thursday 9:00 P.M.
I feel so vulnerable and annoyed at my state. I don’t know if I can ever be a free denizen (resident as a
native) of the forest. We are known for being the most fearless and bravest animal of the jungle but
here I really feel horrible and frustrated to be inside the concrete cell with bars. I miss a lot my jungle
life where I can run, chase and prey on other animals and collect food for my family. I would feel like
going back to my heaven when released from forest life. It is my real green world where I can
perform my regular’s activities without any fear of being trapped. Living inside this cage seems to be
like hell, where I am void of freedom and happiness.
I hate the staring eyes of the visitors as they don’t empathise with my agony. I so eagerly hope for the
day when humans would realise my situation and would make me free for my natural life.
Bye dear diary

Q3. Imagine that Man has been accused by the tiger of cruelty in an animal court. What would
be the tiger’s two major accusations and how would Man defend them? Present your answer in
two paragraphs. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. The tiger’s two major accusations would be as follows:
The tiger is a denizen of the forest. He loves to roam around freely in his natural habitat-the jungle.
There, he is totally free with no restriction on his movements and activities but the humans make them
captives and put them behind the cages. Not only this, the humans also destroy their natural habitat to
satisfy their greed. Apart from this, the humans are also indulged in illegal killing of the tigers.
Man’s Defence:
We have not kept the tiger to deprive him of his natural habitat. We have done it to keep him under
utmost care. Keeping the tigers in the confined wall saves them from illegal poaching. At least this
way, they all will not be killed and become extinct. Tigers are fierce beings and hunt humans for food
and we humans kill them to make money. It is, too, part of the life cycle operative on both sides.

Q4. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ presents a contrasting image with the tiger in the
poem ‘How to Tell Wild Animals’. Compare and contrast the two tigers with reference to the
manner in which they have been presented in both poems. [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. The tiger in ‘A Tiger in the zoo’ is a pathetic animal when he is locked in a concrete cell in the
zoo. The mighty and ferocious animal is put behind the bars. There he stalks in ‘quiet rage’ the length
of his cage. He becomes just a piece of entertainment for visitors. But he ignores them. At night from
behind the bars, he keeps staring at the brilliant stars which only intensifies his loss of freedom. On
the contrary, the tiger in the poem, ‘How to tell wild animals’ is a very grand and impressive animal.
His hide is yellowish. There are black strips all over his body. He is very agile. The moment he
notices someone; he will simply eat away that creature at once. He is free, confident, graceful and
ferocious. He is ready to pounce upon its prey. He shows
no mercy and jumps at its prey at once. Thus, the former tiger is the example of confinement whereas
the latter suggests the main contrasting idea of freedom.
Q5. How does the poem point to the cruelty of animals in captivity? [CBSE QB, 2020-21]
Ans. No doubt that the poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep the wild animals in small
enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel anger, helpless and unhappy and
remember their life and environment in the forest.
Here, the tiger changed his natural self by controlling his natural instinctive fierce behaviour inside
the zoo. His freedom to growl, hunt and terrorize were snatched away from him. It touches hearts and
makes us empathise with the tiger when he is shown helpless watching stars at night and not even
being able to sleep due to the blaring sirens of patrolling cars. This shows the cruelty of man on the
animals by keeping them in captivity like animals in the zoo.

Q6. Freedom is such an essential virtue that is valued not only by human beings but also by
animals alike. Justify the statement with reference to the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’.
Ans. Freedom is an essential virtue valued by all. Not only humans but even the denizens of the forest
value it. No one knows it better than a caged tiger in a zoo. Animals, particularly the animals of the
wild, feel free only in their natural habitats. Looking at them in cages will be against natural justice.
The tiger roams around in the jungle hunting its prey at will. He rarely kills them for sport. He knows
how to ambush his prey. He also knows where he can find his favourite plump deer. The same tiger
feels depressed and low in spirits when he is put behind the bars. He stalks constantly the length of his
cage in his ‘quiet rage ‘. He sadly keeps staring at the stars in the open sky. This reminds him of his
loss of freedom and intensifies his grief.

Q7. Mijbil and the Tiger, both were looked after by humans. Assume they both meet each other
in the zoo and have a conversation about their lifestyle and feelings. Write this conversation as
per your understanding of Mijbil the Otter and A Tiger in the Zoo. [You may begin like this
Tiger: Thanks for visiting me, though I don’t usually like visitors. Mijbil: Oh? I would love
visitors, I think.] (SQP 2022-23)
Ans. Tiger: How can you feel secure when you are not near the jungles? Aren’t jungles where you
belong?
Mijbil: I don’t think I’d be able to survive on my own in the jungle because I’m not as huge and
intimidating as you. I could be easily harmed by any predator in the wild.

Tiger: Animals and humans can learn to coexist. Animals attack humans due to their absurd
behaviour, like throwing stones at us and other things. We will avoid them if they learn appropriate
behaviour.
Mijbil: I acknowledge your justification and express my regret for your situation. I hope one day all
creatures on Earth can learn to live together, but I also want you to be happy with your situation.
A Triumph of Surgery Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct
option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow :
The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed, favorite
cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. Realizing that my car
would never hold all the stuff, I started to drive away. As I moved off, Mrs Pumphrey, with a
despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window. I looked in the mirror before I
turned the corner of the drive; everybody was in tears. Out on the road, I glanced down at the
pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side. I patted the head and Tricki made a brave effort
to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I said. “You haven’t had a kick in you but I think I know a cure for
you.” (CBSE QB,2021)
1. What might the atmosphere of the household in the above extract signify?
A. Mrs Pumphrey’s status in society is reflected in Tricki’s lifestyle.
B. The staff’s love for Tricki, which matched that of Mrs. Pumphrey
C. The grand life of comforts and luxuries that Tricki enjoyed.
D. Mrs. Pumphrey’s indulgence and anxiety acted upon by the staff.
Ans : D. Mrs. Pumphrey’s indulgence and anxiety acted upon by the staff.
2. Given below are emoticons reflecting various expressions and reactions. Choose the option
that correctly describes the narrator’s mindset in the given extract.

A. Options (i) and (iii)

B. Options (ii) and (iv)
C. Options (iii) and (v)
D. Options (ii) and (v)
Ans: B. Options (ii) and (iv)
3. Given below are some well-known quotes shared by the staff to console Mrs. Pumphrey, after
Tricki’s departure. Choose the option that correctly identifies the quote that IS NOT
appropriate to the consolation offered.

A. Option (i)
B. Option (ii)
C. Option (iii)
D. Option (iv)
Ans: D. Option (iv)
4. As the extract indicates, Mrs. Pumphrey indulged Tricki and bought him many things.
Choose the option that best describes the kinds of advertisement/s that seem likely to persuade
Mrs. Pumphrey to buy something for Tricki.
(i) Statistics Appeal – Such advertisements use facts and data to convince consumers to buy products.
(ii) Scarcity Appeal – Such advertisements create a feeling of exclusivity and are often used to
convince people to take advantage of a sale or limited period offer.
(iii) Personal Appeal – Such advertisements focus on evoking emotions to convince consumers and
often relate to family or other interpersonal interactions.
(iv) Fear Appeal – Such advertisements focus on inspiring some kind of fear to convince consumers
to take action in order to avoid certain negative or undesirable consequences.
A. Options (i), (ii) and (iv)
B. Options (iii) and (iv)
C. Options (i), (iii) and (iv)
D. Option (ii) only
Ans: B. Options (iii) and (iv)
5. The narrator describes Tricki as a “pathetic little animal”. The use of the word ‘pathetic’
indicates that the narrator
A. was very fond of Tricki.
B. thought Tricki was contemptible.
C. pitied Tricki’s condition.
D. believed Tricki’s health was deteriorating.
Ans: C. pitied Tricki’s condition.
B. He discovered the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He
became an accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy crew,
fighting like a tiger for his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old hen house at night. He had
never had such a time in his life. All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background,
ringing a dozen times a day for the latest bulletins. (CBSE QB,2021)
1. Read the following statements, each of which describes the gist of the given extract. Select the
option that captures the essence of the extract correctly.
Statement I – It highlights the kind of comforts and luxuries that Tricki was used to at home.
Statement II – It brings out a contrast between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s state of being.
Statement III – It reflects that Tricki was happier at the surgery, and loved being with other dogs.
Statement IV – It shows Tricki’s journey with his peers at the surgery, and documents his recovery.
A. Statements I and II
B. Statements III and IV
C. Statements I and III
D. Statements II and IV
Ans: D. Statements II and IV
2. What does the reference to Tricki as a “silky little object” signify?
A. Tricki was a very small and rather pampered dog.
B. Tricki was comfortably attired in fine silks and warm coats.
C. Unlike the other dogs, Tricki had lived in the lap of luxury with care and grooming.
D. The narrator’s mockery of Tricki’s life and treatment with Mrs. Pumphrey.
Ans: C. Unlike the other dogs, Tricki had lived in the lap of luxury with care and grooming.
3. Why does the narrator describe being “tramped on and squashed” as joys?
A. To suggest the irony about the strange ways of dogs.
B. To mention the simple pleasures of canine life.
C. To compare it to Tricki’s earlier play-time at the house.
D. To direct attention towards Tricki’s successful recovery.
Answer: B. To mention the simple pleasures of canine life.
4. “All the while, Mrs Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background”. Given below are
different types of pet parenting styles described in Country Living, an e-magazine.
Choose the option that best reflects the kind of pet owner Mrs. Pumphrey was.
1. Traffic Light pet owners have a healthy balance of rules and freedom and give clear and consistent
signals for ‘yes’ and ‘no’.
2. Entranced pet owners have the best intentions, but as soon as their pet locks eyes with them and
gives their command, they are at their pet’s beck and call.
3. The Goose pet owners go all-out in protecting their pet. They often limit their time away from their
pets, especially puppies.
4. The Baggage Handler pet owners love being close to their pets and going on adventures together.
They are always mindful of the pet’s comfort and security .
A. Option 1
B. Option 2
C. Option 3
D. Option 4
Ans: B. Option 2
5. Pick the option that reveals Tricki’s characteristics in the context of ‘fighting like a tiger for
his share at mealtimes and hunting rats in the old hen house at night.’
1) selfish
2) happy
3) greedy
4) confident
5) sturdy
6) cruel
A. 2, 4 and 5
B. Only 2
C. 1 and 5
D. 3, 4 and 6
Ans: A. 2, 4 and 5
C. They were days of deep content, starting well with the extra egg in the morning. improved and
sustained by the midday wine and finishing luxuriously round the fire with brandy. It was a
temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest, but I knew Mrs Pumphrey was suffering and after
a fortnight, felt compelled to phone and tell her that the little dog had recovered and was awaiting
collection.
1. Mr Herriot would start well with the
A. milk
B. brandy in the morning.
C. extra egg
D. sandwich
Ans: C. extra egg
2. It was a temptation to:
A. have fun with Mrs Pumphrey
B. to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest
C. to start the day with brandy
D. none of these
Answer: B. to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest
3. Mr Herriot felt compelled to:
A. play with Tricki
B. take Tricki along with him
C. tell Mrs. Pumphrey that the little dog has recovered
D. let Mrs. Pumphrey suffer
Ans: C. tell Mrs. Pumphrey that the little dog has recovered
4. Which of the following is not true?
A. These days were the days of deep content.
B. Mr Herriot did not know that Mrs Pumphrey was suffering
C. He would finish luxuriously round the fire with brandy.
D. It was a temptation to keep Tricki.
Ans: B. Mr Herriot did not know that Mrs Pumphrey was suffering
5. Which word means the same as ‘the desire to do something?
A. Temptation
B. Suffering
C. Permanent
D. Sustained
Ans: A. Temptation
D. Tears shone in her eyes. Her lips trembled. “Oh, Mr Herriot,” she cried, “how can I ever thank
you? This is a triumph of surgery!” trembled.
1. Her —————— trembled.
A. eyes
B. hands
C. lips
D. legs
Ans: C. lips
2. Why were tears in her eyes?
A. Because she was very happy
B. Because she was sentimental
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Ans: C. Both A and B
3. “This is a triumph of surgery!” Who said this?
A. Mrs Pumphrey
B. Mr Herriot
C. Maids
D. None of these
Ans: A. Mrs Pumphrey
4. For what was Mrs Pumphrey thanking?
A. For recovering Tricki
B. For making Tricki weak
C. For letting Tricki stay away
D. For giving Tricki only water
Ans: A. For recovering Tricki
5. Which word means the same as ‘great victory”?
A. Trembled
B. Shone
C. Triumph
D. Surgery
Ans: C. Triumph
E. Mrs Humphrey hastened to explain, “He was so listless, Mr. Herriot. He seemed to have no energy.
I thought he must be suffering from malnutrition, lots of little extras between meals to build him up,
some malt and of Hotlinks at night to make him sleep-nothing much really.”
A. Identify ‘he’ in the above extract.
Ans. ‘He’ is Tricky, the pet dog.
B. Why was he overfed?
Ans. He was overfed in order to give him some energy.
C. Who was Mr Herriot?
Ans. Mr Herriot was a veterinary surgeon.
D. Why did Mrs Humphrey seem Tricky suffering from malnutrition?
Ans. According to Mrs Humphrey, Tricky was very weak and seemed to have no energy.
A Triumph of Surgery
Q1. Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.
Ans: Dr. Herriot definitely knew his patients as well as their owners really well in “The Triumph of
Surgery”. It can be supported by an example wherein he saw Tricki in the market and was able to
correctly make out that she needed help. This depicted that Dr. Harriot was able to understand that
Tricki needed help and was probably in pain, just by glancing at her when in the market. Moreover,
despite knowing that Mrs. Pumphrey was at fault for Tricki’s condition; he never blamed or spoke
harsh words to her.
Q2. Describe the ‘parting scene’ between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s household.
Ans: During the ‘parting scene’ Mrs.Pumphrey is seen to be wailing. The whole staff is awakened.
We also see the maids rushing in and out to bring Tricki’s beds, bowls and other unnecessary things
that he is made to use to the doctor’s car. When the doctor drives away the whole household is seen in
tears bidding goodbye to their beloved dog.
Q3. Why was Dr. Herriot tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey, in her love for her dog, used to send a lot of things like wine, brandy, eggs
among other things for Tricki. However, due to her ill health these were not consumed by her and
instead were consumed by Dr. Herriot along with his partner. Thus, he was tempted to keep Tricki as
his permanent guest.
Q4. “You must harden your heart and help him on a strict diet.” Why does Mr. Herriot suggest
this to Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans: Throughout the story Dr. Herriot knew that the real and primary cause of Tricki’s problem and
illness was Mrs. Pumphrey’s overindulgence in feeding and pampering Tricki. Tricki’s only fault was
his greed for food. Thus, Dr. Harriot asked Mrs. Pumphrey to harden her heart and help him on a strict
diet, which later did not prove any helpful since Tricki’s health deteriorated further to the point that
Dr.Herriot had to hospitalize him.
Q5. Do you think Dr. Herriot was a clever, pragmatic and a sensible person? How?
Ans: Yes, I do believe that Dr. Herriot was a clever, pragmatic and a sensible individual. He was
sensible to understand Mrs. Pumphrey’s unconditional but destructive love for Tricki and Tricki’s
greed for food. He was pragmatic in the sense that he knew that it was difficult for Mrs. Pumphrey to
part with her dog and thus, suggested to hospitalize Tricki instead to save him.
Q6. Why did Tricki become an uninteresting object for other dogs at the surgery?
Ans: When Tricki first entered the surgery, he was hospitalized for a fortnight and was gasping for his
breath. Initially the dogs did surround him so as to see the new member in the surgery, but Tricki
looked down at the noisy dogs helplessly. He was motionless on the carpet. However, due to his
condition the dogs sniffed him and declared him as an uninteresting object and informed him.
Q7. How did the word ‘convalescing’ affect Tricki’s mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans:The moment Dr.Herriot announced that Tricki was ‘convalescing’ or recovering, his mistress
Mrs. Pumphrey was excited. Her excitement again turned into overindulgence when she started
sending eggs, wine and brandy to enrich Tricki’s blood.
Q8. What was the only fault of Tricki as diagnosed by Dr. Harriot?
Ans: According to Dr. Herriot the only fault of Tricki was his greed for food. Dr. Herriot knew that
Mrs. Pumphrey was completely at fault for Tricki’s overindulgence and pampering. She therefore
only created problems for him.He was never refused food, even when he did not feel hungry and this
overindulgence thus, made him obese and sick.
Q9. What special diet did Mrs. Pumphrey give to build Tricki up?
Ans: After discovering that Tricki was becoming listless, Mrs Pumphrey deduced by herself that
Tricki was suffering from malnutrition, due to his low energy levels. To build up his strength
Mrs.Pumphrey decided to give him special meals. The meals primarily included malt,cod liver oil,
and a bowl of Horlicks at night. In addition to this she also gave Tricki cakes and chocolates since she
just couldn’t refuse him.
Q10. How was Tricki accepted as the member of the gang and other dogs started enjoying his
company?
Ans: Once Tricki was out of danger and was under the care of Dr.Herriot, he then started taking
interest in his surroundings. It was on the third day that Joe the Greyhound along with other dogs of
the household surrounded him, rolled him over and inspected him to get familiar with him and his
scent. He then followed them to the garden and continued playing with the gang and was thereby,
accepted as a member of the gang.
Q1. Herriot enjoyed the lavish (costly) meals during Tricki’s stay but still, he felt compelled
(forced to do something) to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricki. Why did he
not keep Tricki for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey? Discuss the values
he possessed.
Ans:: It is true that Dr. Herriot enjoyed the lavish meals during Trickis’s stay that he got through Mrs.
Pumphrey. Tricki was an obese dog; the pet of Mrs. Pumphrey. Due to his weight he slowly became
listless, and seemed to have no energy and fell ill. It was at this point that Mrs. Pumphrey decided to
get the help of Dr. Herriot. Dr. Herriot decided to take Tricki to his surgery to prevent his health from
getting deteriorated further. He decided to keep an eye on him for two days and gave him no food and
just water to help him get better. It was on the third day that he started to show some interest in his
surroundings and tried mingling with other dogs in the surgery.
It was after Dr. Herriot informed Mrs. Pumphrey of the dog’s recovery that she started bringing him
eggs, wine and brandy among other things to improve Tricki’s blood. Herriot did enjoy Tricki’s stay
considering that fact that all the things send by Mrs. Pumphrey were consumed by him and his
partner, however he did not want to keep him for long as he felt concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey and he
did not want to separate them from each other.
Q2. The chapter shows the silly and negligent behavior of rich people like Mrs. Pumphrey who
may harm their near and dear ones by their extra caring nature. Tricki’s declining health was
the outcome of Mrs. Pumphrey’s over-caring nature. Do you think such people’s actions can
prove to be fatal for the health of their kind? What values would you suggest to such people to
emulate in themselves and why?
Ans:: It is indeed true that Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy woman who with her extra care and love for
her pet dog Tricki, neglected the health of him and led him to become obese and ill. Tricki; the dog
was pampered with all kinds of comforts that were not required for his survival. He had many coats
which were worn according to the weather, had different cushions to sit on and had various dishes to
eat. Extra meals were common for him, which included stuff like malt, cod-liver oil, and a bowl of
Horlicks. ALong with this, he was also given cakes and chocolates since Mrs. Pumphrey just could
not refuse him such things.
All these habits imbibed by Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki made him obese, lethargic, listless with no
energy to even walk around. Her actions thus proved to be fatal for his health. It is thus important that
we do not over care for individuals or our pets. Give our pets proper and healthy meals, take them for
walks, help them exercise so as to keep them in good health.
Q3. “He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or
night.” Herriot believed that Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he lack tolerance? What
values would you like Tricky to imbibe? Elucidate.
Ans: According to Dr. Herriot the only fault of Tricki was his greed for food. Dr. Herriot knew that
Mrs. Pumphrey was also partly at fault for Tricki’s overindulgence and pampering. She therefore only
created problems for him. He was never refused food, even when he did not feel hungry and this
overindulgence thus, made him obese and sick. Moreover, Tricki’s bad health made him concerned.
He had to immediately cut down on the dog’s diet and make sure that he exercised more. It is indeed
true that Tricki also lacked tolerance as his greed for food always won over.
Therefore, Tricki should have been less greedy and luxury-loving and should have behaved more like
a dog.
Q4. Herriot seems to be a duty-bound doctor who values others ’emotions’ than his personal
interests. Elucidate the above statement. Mention those values of Herriot which you would like
to emulate in yourself also and give reasons for the same.
Ans: Herriot was definitely a duty-bound doctor. This can be seen in instances such as when he used
to visit Mrs. Pumphrey’s house regularly for Tricki’s check-up. He was also a doctor who worried
immensely about his patient’s health, like his worry for Tricki’s health. Since he knew that the dog
was over cared for by his owner, he advised Mrs. Pumphrey to harden her heart and check his diet
strictly. However, when his health deteriorated further, he without any hesitation decided to take the
dog away from the owner and even lied to her by telling her that the dog needed surgery. Herriot then
cut down on Tricki’s diet, made him exercise more, eat healthy and let him mingle with other dogs.
He knew that Mrs. Pumphrey was rich and attached to Tricki and still he did not take any advantage
of it and just performed his duties as a veterinary doctor,therefore giving some values that one should
emulate in oneself.
Q5. Give a brief character-sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey.
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich and resourceful woman who had a large number of maids and
servants. She had a dog named Tricki who she over cared for and was passionately attached to. The
dog was pampered with all kinds of comforts that were not required for his survival. He had many
coats which were worn according to the weather, had different cushions to sit on and had various
dishes to eat. Extra meals were common for him, which included stuff like malt, cod-liver oil, and a
bowl of Horlicks. ALong with this, he was also given cakes and chocolates since Mrs. Pumphrey just
could not refuse him such things.
All these habits imbibed by Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki made him obese, lethargic, listless with no
energy to even walk around. Her actions thus proved to be fatal for his health. Her over caring nature
extende to such extent that she ignored Dr. Herriot’s advice about the dog’s strict diet, thus worsening
his health.
Mrs. Pumphrey can be described as an impractical but compassionate and caring person in the sense
that she definitely cared for Tricki by her way of showing her care was impractical and was harming
Tricki’s health.
Q6. Describe Tricki’s stay at Dr. James Herriot’s surgery, highlighting his behavior and his
rapid recovery.
Ans: Dr. Herriot discovered quite early on what Tricki’s real problem was. He knew that Tricki’s
only weakness was his craving for food. Therefore, he wanted Mrs. Pumfrey to feed Tricki a strict
diet and get plenty of exercise. Dr. Herriot ordered the dog to be taken to the hospital and observed for
two weeks. During surgery, Tricky looked down at the noisy dogs with dull eyes. He lay still on the
carpet.Other dogs ignored him as an uninteresting object. A bed was made in a warm box next to the
other dogs. For two days, Dr. Herriot has been watching over him. He gave him nothing to eat, but
gave him plenty of water. He gave Tricky no treatment.
Dr. Herriot’s hands-on treatment worked well. First, Tricki began to take an interest in his
surroundings. His appetite returned. He ran around the yard with the other dogs and joined in with the
friendly barking. After that, practicing Tricki became a lot of fun. His spoiled mistress gave him fresh
eggs, wine and liquor. Even Dr. Herriot wanted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest. However, Tricky
recovered fairly quickly and was handed over to his beloved. Mrs. Pumfrey gratefully thanked Dr.
Herriot calls his achievement a “Triumph of Surgery”.
Q7. Tricki was more than a dog. He was more like a spoilt child of an overindulgent mistress,
Mrs. Pumphrey. Comment.
Ans: It is true that Tricki was much more than a dog to Mrs. Pumphrey. In fact he was a pampered
child of hers. However, it is important to note that the only fault of Tricki throughout the story was his
greed for food. The dog was pampered with all kinds of comforts that were not required for his
survival. He had many coats which were worn according to the weather, had different cushions to sit
on and had various dishes to eat. Extra meals were common for him, which included stuff like malt,
cod-liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks. A Long with this, he was also given cakes and chocolates since
Mrs. Pumphrey just could not refuse him such things.
All these habits imbibed by Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki made him obese, lethargic, listless with no
energy to even walk around. Her actions thus proved to be fatal for his health. Her over caring nature
extended to such an extent that she ignored Dr. Herriot’s advice about the dog’s strict diet, thus
worsening his health. The dog became a victim of his mistress’s overindulgence and overfeeding.
However, with the help of Dr. Herriot’s recovery was rather fast with The doctor changing his diet,
making him exercise more, giving him plenty of water, etc to aid his recovery which worked well and
was fast.
Q8. Mrs. Pumphrey says, “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. Why did she say so? Did she know
what Tricki’s ailment was?
Ans: Tricki was in critical condition and refused to eat. He vomited several times which concerned
Mrs. Pumphrey about him. She contacted Dr. Herriot, a veterinary surgeon to help the dog. Tricki’s
disease was known to Dr. Herriot. He took the dog to the vet and denied Tricki food for two days,but
gave him plenty of water. He made sure that the dog mingled with other dogs in the surgery and got
enough exercise. Mrs. Pumphrey returned Tricki to Dr. Herriot’s surgery to find him completely
transformed. He’d been sluggish, listless, panting, gasping, energyless and flabby but he’d been
transformed into a lean, hard-muscled beast. “This is ‘A Triumph of Surgery,'” were the words
exclaimed by Mrs. Pumphrey was unaware of Tricki’s condition when she first saw him after his
transformation, making us believe that she had no idea how he had been cured.
Q9.Tricki was more a member of Mrs. Pumphrey’s family than a mere dog. Explain, giving an
example from the text.
Ans: Tricki was not just a mere dog or pet of Mrs. Pumphrey’s family was more than that and was
more like a member. The way in which Tricki was coddled and treated are some examples of this
statement. The dog was pampered with all kinds of comforts that were not required for his survival.
He had many coats which were worn according to the weather, had different cushions to sit on and
had various dishes to eat. Extra meals were common for him, which included stuff like malt, cod-liver
oil, and a bowl of Horlicks. ALong with this, he was also given cakes and chocolates since Mrs.
Pumphrey just could not refuse him such things.
All these habits imbibed by Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki made him obese, lethargic, listless with no
energy to even walk around. Her actions thus proved to be fatal for his health. Her over caring nature
extended to such an extent that she ignored Dr. Herriot’s advice about the dog’s strict diet, thus
worsening his health.
Q10. The foolish indulgence and pampering of the rich mistress, Mrs Pumphrey was the real
cause of Tricki’s miserable condition. Give a reasoned answer.
Ans: Beyond a certain point, indulgence and pampering are ineffective. Discipline is crucial for
everyone, including children and pets. The main reason Tricki was in such terrible shape was because
of his obscenely wealthy and resourceful mistress. To tend to Tricki’s needs, the entire staff and
maids were present. He always had a ready supply of his day bed, night bed, cushions, toys, rubber
rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, and dinner bowl. Dr. Herriot correctly concluded that Tricki’s only
mistake was his gluttony. Tricki became extremely bloated and listless from overindulging in
desserts, cakes, and chocolates. Mrs. Pumphrey could have prevented the current state of affairs if she
had sincerely followed Dr. Herriot’s instructions.
Tricki should follow a strict diet and get plenty of exercise, the doctor advised her. It was also
important for him to cut down on his sweets. However, the impractical mistress ignored Dr. Herriot’s
advice resulting in the worsening of Tricki’s health, with him losing his appetite, panting, gasping and
vomiting. The doctor changed his diet, made him exercise more, gave him plenty of water to aid his
recovery which worked well and was fast.
The Thief’s Story Extract Based Questions
Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct
option for each question by carefully reading the passage.
A. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25– a tall, lean fellow
– and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn’t had much luck of late
and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.
‘You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. (CBSE
QB,2021)
1. According to the extract, the narrator was talking to the young boy watching the wrestling
match because he
A. had been invited there by the wrestlers.
B. was supposed to meet someone there.
C. was looking for simple people to dupe.
D. loved wrestling and followed it very closely.
Ans. C. was looking for simple people to dupe.
2. ‘I hadn’t had much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn’t
A. ever conned people successfully.
B. been successful in duping people lately.
C. understood the consequences of thievery till date.
D. considered the role of fate in deceiving others.
Ans. B. been successful in duping people lately.
3.‘I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.’ Choose the option that DOES NOT
display what the statement means.
A. He wanted to win his trust.
B. He wanted him to share his thoughts without caution.
C. He wanted him to feel comfortable revealing more details about himself.
D. He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
Ans. D. He wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.
4. Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given characteristics
would NOT fit in with this description?
A. Compassionate
B. suave
C. uncomplicated
D. carefree
Ans. B. suave
5. Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends.”, choose the option that displays
the quote closest in meaning.
A. Imitation is the best form of flattery; people generally understand that my comedy is not intended
to hurt anybody
B. I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one’s identity is totally different.
C. Nothing is as great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you flatter all the company, you
please none; If you flatter only one or two, you offend the rest.
D. One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
Ans. D. One may define flattery as a base companionship which is most advantageous to the flatterer.
B. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made money by fits
and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He kept worrying about his next cheque, but as
soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It seems he wrote for magazines—a queer way to
make a living! (CBSE QB,2021)
1. Anil made money ‘by fits and starts’ means that he
A. deemed it fit to start investing money.
B. started earning money in the recent past.
C. received money intermittently.
D. put his money to use frequently.
Ans. C) received money intermittently.
2. The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a
A. salaried professional
B. freelancer
C. businessman
D. volunteer
Ans. B) freelancer
3. If borrow: :lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options below
A. give : : take
B. lose : : find
C. hop : : skip
D. buy : : sell
Ans. C) hop : : skip
4. The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a way that is viewed by most
people as
A. sensible
B. inappropriate.
C. charitable.
D. Aggressive
Ans. C) charitable.
5. Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose the option that synchronizes with
his thinking.
A. So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to that person is important as they could do with a
helping hand.
B. I better learn how to protect my money. I think I’m being looted.
C. I earn money with such tremendous effort. Where does it all go?
D. When I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. Right now, I will spend only on myself.
Ans. a) So what if I don’t have much money? Giving it to that person is important as they could do
with a helping hand.
C. “I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous, for it is much easier to steal something than to
return undetected”.
1. Who is the speaker of this line?
Ans. Hari, a young boy is the speaker of this line who is a thief
2. Why was the speaker feeling nervous?
Ans. Because he was keeping back the stolen money and feared getting caught.
3. Why was it difficult for the speaker to return the money?
Ans. He feared getting caught while keeping it back.
4. What is the view of Hari regarding theft?
Ans. It is much easier to steal something than to return undetected.
D. “I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met”.
1. Other than the freedom of moment, what else does the speaker feel happy about?
Ans. He was free to come and go when he pleased. Moreover, he was trusted by Anil.
2. What does the speaker mean by ‘most trusting person’?
Ans. Anil trusted him completely.
3. Who is the speaker speaking about?
Ans. Anil, Hari Singh’s master.
4. What character traits of the master does this line reveal?
Ans. Anil is a caring, kind-hearted, compassionate, understanding and trusting person.
E. He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But
the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to
be soft but I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.
1. What does ‘I’ refer to?
Ans. I’ refers to Hari Singh.
2. Where did Mil take him?
Ans. Anil took him to the room where he stayed, over Jumna sweet shop.
3. How did Anil react when Hari cooked a bad meal?
Ans. Anil gave the food to the stray dogs and asked Hari to leave.
4. How did Hari respond to his reaction?
Ans. Han kept on smiling appealingly.
Q1. How was Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ at the end different from similar smiles of his on
earlier occasions?
Ans. Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ had previously been fabricated. It was dripping with flattery.
But, in the end, his grin was genuine. It was organic and appealing.
Q2. Who is ‘I’ in this story? Why did he change his name every month?
Ans. In this story, ‘I’ is a 15-year-old boy thief. He frequently changed his name every month in order
to avoid being discovered by the police and his former employers. This time, he introduces himself as
Hari Singh.
Q3. Why did Hari Singh smile in his most appealing way?
Ans. Hari Singh prepared meals for Anil. He had no experience in the kitchen. Anil was unable to
consume it. He hurled it at a stray dog. He requested that the boy leave his home. But the boy refused
to leave him. So he smiled his most appealing smile.
Q4. Why was the thief grateful to Anil?
Ans. The thief was grateful to Anil because he gave him a job. Secondly, he promised to teach him to
read and write.
Q5. Why did he want to become an educated man?
Ans. He was an uneducated person. He made his living by stealing and cheating others. He thought if
he were educated there would be no limit to what he could achieve.
Q6. Who was the narrator or the boy thief, Hari Singh?
Ans. Hari Singh had been a thief. He was a seasoned, experienced, and successful thief even at the
age of fifteen. To avoid the police and his former employers, he used to change his name every
month. He was well-versed in all of his trade’s gimmicks. He knew how to steal money even when it
was hidden beneath the victim’s bed.
Q7. How and when did Hari Singh meet Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh met Anil during a wrestling match. He found Anil to be easygoing, kind, and simple
enough for his needs. Anil’s trusting personality could help him steal. As a result, he offered to work
for Anil. Anil didn’t have a steady income and couldn’t afford to pay him. Nonetheless, Hari Singh
took advantage of Anil’s generosity and forced him to stay in his home.
Q8. Anil couldn’t afford to pay Hari Singh. Why did he allow Hari Singh to stay with him?
Ans. Hari Singh volunteered to work for Anil. Anil didn’t have a steady income and couldn’t afford to
pay him on a regular basis. Hari Singh wished to take advantage of such a gentle and simple man as
Anil. He lied about knowing how to cook. Anil was compelled to let Hari Singh stay in his home.
Q9. Why was it so difficult for Hari Singh to rob a trusting and unsuspecting person like Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh, a fifteen-year-old thief, was a skilled and reasonably successful individual. Because
he could afford to be robbed, it was simple to rob him. However, it was very difficult to rob Anil, who
was reckless and unaware of his surroundings. Anil didn’t even know he had been taken advantage of.
That could eliminate all enjoyment from theft work.
Q10. Why did Had Singh justify himself to rob Anil?
Ans. Hari Singh undoubtedly possessed the wisdom and experience necessary to justify his actions.
He provided justification for the theft of Anil, a reckless and unaware individual. Hari Singh admitted
to himself that he had not practiced enough. He must steal. Anil would spend the money on his friends
if he didn’t take it. Additionally, Anil did not pay him.
Q11. Why did Hari Singh lie that he knew how to cook? Why did Anil have to throw the food
cooked by Hari to the stray dogs?
Ans. Anil was Hari Singh’s carefully selected, innocent, and unsuspecting target. Hari Singh
responded that he did know how to cook when Anil asked him that. He intentionally lied. He made
absolutely terrible food. It had to be given to the stray dogs by Anil.
Q12. How did Hari Singh feel working for Anil? Did Anil know that Hari Singh was making a
little money from purchases?
Ans. Hari Singh had a pleasant experience working for Anil. In the morning, he would prepare tea for
him. He would shop for the day’s supplies slowly. Hari typically made a profit of around one rupee
per day. Anil; complain about the theft. But because he couldn’t pay Had on a regular basis, he let
Him do it. It didn’t bother him.
Q13. How did Anil get that substantial money that he brought home in a bundle? How did it
tempt Hari Singh?
Ans. Anil didn’t have a steady income. He contributed to magazines. He brought a small pile of notes
home one day. A book had just been sold to a publisher by him. Hari observed Anil conceal the cash
beneath his bed’s mattress. Hari Singh made the decision to steal the sum because his master was
unaware of it.
Q14. How did Hari Singh steal the money that Anil got from selling his book to a publisher?
Ans. Hari Singh witnessed Anil concealing the money bundle beneath his bed’s mattress in person?
Hari Singh sneaked up to the bed while Anil was sleeping. Without making a sound, he took the
money out of the bundle by slipping his hand under the mattress. In his sleep, Anil turned to face him
on his side and sighed. Han Singh quickly left the room after becoming startled.
Q15. Describe Had Singh’s dilemma at the station. Why didn’t he jump into a compartment of
the Lucknow Express when he could?
Ans. Hari Singh didn’t stop at the ticket office when he got to the station because he hadn’t bought a
ticket before. Just now, the Lucknow Express was leaving. He might have gotten in one of the
carriages by himself. He just hesitated. He might not have made a final decision about this.
Q16. What did Hari Singh think when he was standing alone on the deserted platform?
Ans. The train had gone. Hari Singh was at a crossroads. On the empty platform, he was the only
person there. He didn’t know where to stay for the night. He didn’t know anyone. He also didn’t want
to stay in a hotel. The man he had robbed a few hours earlier was the only person he knew who might
be able to assist him.
Q17. What did Hari Singh do in the ‘maidan’ and how did the notes become damp?
Ans. Hari Singh arrived in the “maidan” from the station. He took a seat on a bench. It was chilly at
night in November. Hari Singh’s discomfort was made worse by the torrential rain. His pajamas and
shirt were stuck to his skin. He sat down in the clock tower’s shade. He felt his way to the notes. The
rain had made them damp.
Q18. How did Hari Singh forget about his education in the excitement of his theft? What did he
think about it in the end?
Ans. Anil taught Hari Singh to write his name. Additionally, he promised to instruct him in adding
numbers and writing complete sentences. He completely neglected his education in the excitement he
felt about the theft. However, common sense won out, and in the end, he realized that education could
earn him more respect and money.
Q19. Why didn’t Anil hand Had Singh over to the police even when he knew all about the theft?
Ans. Anil was not a fool, but he was careless and unaware. He was aware of the boy’s scheme to
steal money from everyday purchases. He also had complete knowledge of the 600 rupees theft. He
could have handed him over to the police in a heartbeat. He didn’t want to jeopardize Hari Singh’s
life, though. He wanted to provide the unfortunate boy with an education. As a result, he gave him a
note for fifty rupees and promised to pay him regularly. His lips and eyes did not reveal anything
about the theft.
Q20. Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Explain.(CBSE Sample Question Paper
2018)
Ans. Hari Singh is both a thief and a person. As a thief, he always manages to elude the police and
rob people. He first earns people’s trust and then waits for the right moment to take advantage of it by
robbing them. He began living with Anil with the intent of robbing him. However, while living with
him, he changes his mind, and his inner feelings force him to alter his plan. He abandoned the idea of
stealing and resolved to live his life as a normal human being. As a result, he did not steal this time
and was able to live a peaceful life.
Q21. Why did Hari Singh think that Anil’s job was queer?
Ans. Hari found Anil’s job to be queer because there was no steady income. As Anil was a writer, at
times he had to borrow and lend money while at other instances, he would earn cheques of big
amounts.
The Thief’s Story Long Answer

Q1. Anil plays a major role in the transformation of Hari Singh. Comment on the statement by
highlighting the values possessed by Anil which touched Hari’s heart and made him return to
his honest ways of earning his livelihood. Write in about 100-120 words.
Ans. Anil was a struggling writer who befriended Hari Singh. Hari Singh was an experienced, 15-
year-old thief. He found Anil an easy target to steal. Anil offered to stay with him and to teach how to
read and write. Gradually, Anil develops trust in Hari Singh. But Hari Singh was waiting for the right
opportunity to do what he was best at. After stealing money, he tried to go away forever but some
inner voice stopped him from doing so. He returned to Anil because he wanted to live a life of respect.
Anil did not show that he knew the incident and accepted Hari with open hands. Thus, a well-
intentioned person, Anil changed Hari Singh and brought him on the right path. The story shows that
trust and spirit to forgive someone can bring big changes in someone’s life.

Q2. Hari Singh didn’t confess that he robbed Anil. Did he lack the courage to do so or did he
really want to maintain his relationship with Anil at any cost? Explain the values Had needed to
imbibe in about 100-120 words.
Ans. Hari Singh was a 15-year-old adolescent. He had a talent for stealing. Anil was his next target
because he was a simple man and a struggling author. Had Singh moved in with Anil, who then began
instructing him in reading and writing? One day, Hari Singh had the chance to steal Anil’s money.
With the money in hand, he tried to disappear forever, but his inner “ice” stopped him. He went back
and left the cash where it was. He didn’t mention the incident to Anil when he started his regular work
the following morning. He lacked the courage to tell Anil the truth because he was still a teenager. He
did not want to betray Anil’s confidence. He desired to maintain the relationship with Anil, wanted to
get an education and become a respected man. So, he hid the incident from Anil.

Q3. “But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man was something else.” Hari finally
accepted the importance of education and honest living. What do you think about the role of
education in changing peeps,like Hari / Comment on it by highlighting the values one imbibes
through education.
Ans. Education can play a vital role in changing people like Hari Singh for good.Hari Singh was an
experienced thief of 15 years. He wanted to rob Anil who was a struggling writer. When he finally got
the opportunity to steal his money and run away his inner voice stopped him from breaking the trust
of a simple man who taught him to read and write. Hari Singh realized that through education he can
also lead a respected life with no fear of being caught. Through Education, one can have unlimited
opportunities to flourish. People like Hari Singh lead a life In isolation as they break people’s trust
and make money temporarily. Education provides one with stability and leads an individual on the
path of truth and rational thinking. Thus, education can play a crucial role in changing people like
Hari Singh.

Q4. Hari Singh believed that it was difficult to rob a man like Anil. Do you think that he really
appreciated kind people? Why do you think he found it difficult to cheat a man like Anil?
Discuss the values that stop a person from doing something wrong.
Ans. Hari did value good deeds, as the tale demonstrates. Anil stands out in the descriptions he gives
of various people. Maybe it was the first time someone had shown so much support for Hari. His
conscience kept niggling at him later as he was fleeing after robbing Anil. He was unable to betray the
benevolent Anil’s trust. Perhaps it was also the fact that Hari wasn’t a seasoned criminal. He had most
likely, and not voluntarily, turned into a thief. His inherent goodness and ability to recognize right
from wrong prevented him from committing more wrongdoing. These virtues also benefit others.

Q5. “I couldn’t cook his meals, run to the bazaar or learn to write whole sentences anymore.”
Hari Singh could not at once come up with the idea of working for Anil. Do you think he
accepted the joy of earning money by following the path of honesty? Explain the values
highlighted through Hari’s character in 100-120 words.
Ans. Anil struck Hari Singh as being straightforward, laid-back, kind, and simple to joke around with
when he first met him. He believed he would make a good target for a robbery. He made the offer to
work for him. When Anil said he couldn’t pay him, he responded by asking if he could feed him
instead. Anil retorted that he could work in his home if he knew how to cook. After staying there for a
month, he discovered Anil was the most challenging victim to rob because he was the most gullible.
Even though he once stole 600 rupees, he gave it back to Anil because he understood that an
education would be far more valuable in the long run than money. Hence, he accepted the joy of
earning money by following the path of honesty.

Q6. “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself.” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. Hari
Singh believed that a little flattery can help in making friends. Did he lack love and empathy?
Was his attitude towards friendship acceptable or not? Explain the values one must have to win
over true friends in 100-120 words.
Ans. Hari Singh was a skilled burglar. He knew how to gain people’s confidence. Anil, a slim, lean
25-year-old man, was watching a wrestling match when he was spotted. He was a simple target for
him to rob. He began by joking with him that he reminded him of a wrestler. He then informed Anil
that he desired employment with him. He asked Anil if he could feed him in an effort to gain his trust
after Anil informed him that he was unable to pay him. According to him and even psychologically, a
person never gets mad when you give a compliment to them. Also, it is an easy way of starting a
conversation. However, later we can see that his views on friendship were also not good. He thought
that friendships are troublesome which tells that he might have had bad experiences earlier. Also, it
was Anil’s kindness and trust in Hari that changed his mind and made him return the stolen money
which shows that he lacked all these things in his life. However, his attitude towards friendship seems
to be the one in which people make friends for need and this is not the right attitude. Friendships are
above these low standards and provide support and positivity to survive.

Q7. Write a character sketch of the thief boy.

Ans. A boy of fifteen years old committed the theft. However, he has been portrayed in this tale as a
skilled and well-versed thief. He was very knowledgeable about how people behave. He was aware
that people who appeared straightforward could be easily robbed. He was aware that making friends
could benefit from a little flattery. To avoid the police and his former employers, he was cunning
enough to change his name. He had a natural ability to tell lies. He wanted to grow up to be a big man.
He took Anil’s 600 rupees from him. However, he did have a small amount of faith and goodness in
him. He felt that betraying Anil was wrong. Having the desire to become a big man, he knew that he
could realize his ambition only when he was educated. Thus, he was an interesting character.

Q8. Draw a character-sketch of Anil.

Or
Who was Anil? How did he treat Hari Singh and how did it influence Hari’s life?
Ans. Anil was a 25-year-old man. He was a tall, lanky man. He appeared friendly and laid-back. A
young boy greeted him. It was his intention to rob him. He judged him suitable for the job. The boy
informed him that he was interested in working for him. He claimed he could prepare the food. He
was hired by Anil. The boy made some extremely bad food. Although he initially told the boy to flee,
he later showed him how to cook and how to read and write. Anil worked irregular hours to make
money. He produced magazine articles. He received 600 rupees one day. The thief took the money
during the night and fled out in the rain. Later his heart changed and he decided to put the money back
under the mattress. Anil discovered all this. But he was so large-hearted that he said nothing to the
boy. Instead, he promised to pay him regularly.

Q9. How did Hari Singh rob Anil of his six-hundred rupees? What stopped him from rushing
away?
Or
What made the narrator steal Anil’s six hundred rupees? What did he do after that? Why did
he put the money back under the mattress?
Ans. The young burglar met Anil. He thought he was a laid-back individual. He made up his mind to
rob him. He promised to prepare food for him. His name is Hari Singh, he informed Anil. He was
assigned work by Anil. He instructed him in reading, writing, and cooking. Anil had no stable source
of income. He once brought a tiny bundle containing 600 rupees. When the boy was sound asleep, he
placed the bundle under his mattress. At 10:30 p.m., he quickly ran to the station to catch the
Lucknow Mail. The train had just left the station. However, something prevented him from launching
into the train car. Anil was being good and careless. He realized his folly and decided to go back to
Anil. So he went back and placed the money under the mattress.

Q10. Why did Hari Singh decide to return the stolen money? What light does it throw on his
character?
Ans. When Hari Singh arrived at the station after robbing the money, he was unable to board the
Lucknow Express even though he was able to do so with ease. He pondered Anil as he stood by
himself on the empty platform because he knew that when he learned about the theft, Anil would be
saddened by the broken trust. If only to read and write, he felt the need to return to Anil. He decided
to go back to Anil despite his intense anxiety. The thief enjoyed working for Anil and was grateful to
him greatly. Because Anil was the most dependable man he had ever met. His conscience had been
stirred by Anil’s assurance. He desired to mature into a good man. He could only become a good man
under Anil. He therefore made the decision to come back to Anil and return the money that he had
stolen.

Q11. What kind of a life was Hari Singh leading with Anil?
Ans. Singh was hired by Anil to serve as a house servant. It was his responsibility to make food and
tea for Anil. He was not a skilled chef. However, Anil taught him how to prepare meals. He went to
the market to purchase produce and other necessities. Working for Anil was enjoyable for the thief.
He had been promised that Anil would instruct him in reading and writing. The thief was appreciative
of Anil’s job offer and assurance that he would become an educated man. He was aware that his
potential would be unbounded once he could write with the sophistication of an educated man.

Q12. ‘The Thief’s Story’ is an in-depth study of the human mind. Discuss.
Ans. The human mind is an extremely intricate organ. There are various opposing viewpoints present.
Sometimes a man is unable to comprehend his own thoughts. The character of a young thief named
Hari Singh serves as Ruskin Bond’s vehicle for presenting the same idea in this story. The young man
begins to work for Anil. His main objective was to rob him. His affection is won by Anil’s
negligence. However, the youngster’s criminal nature prompts him to steal Anil’s money. He robs
him of his 600 rupees one day and flees to the train station. But he decides against getting on the train
after all. He decides to visit Anil again and give him his money back. Thus, this tale is a thorough
examination of the human mind.

Q13. Give a character-sketch of the thief, Hari Singh. Highlight the gradual changes that come
in him.
Ans. The Thief’s Story’s narrator is a thief. Despite being only fifteen years old, he has considerable
experience and success. Every month, he used to change his name. To avoid being detained by the
police, he took this action. He had numerous employers. He used to defraud them and then flee. He
identified himself as Had Singh this time. Hari Singh was a cunning burglar. He was skilled at making
fun of someone like Anil. He described Anil as a modest wrestler. He was a master at making up lies.
He made up for the fact that he could cook. He had good judgment about people and the
circumstances. He profited from Anil’s kindness by setting aside a rupee from the purchase of the
day’s groceries for him.
Hari Singh lost track of his passion for learning amid the heat and commotion. He was aware that
education would enable him to gain respect, notoriety, and wealth. He certainly violated Anil’s trust
by taking his money. He quickly realized he lacked friends and well-wishers. Anil, whom he had
robbed a few hours earlier, was the only person who knew and could assist him. In the end, Anil’s big
heart and passion for learning transformed him. He returned to Anil and returned the stolen funds to
their original location. Anil rewarded Hari Singh despite knowing everything. He handed him a note
for fifty rupees and pledged to make regular payments.
Q14. Did Anil know all about the theft? If so, why did he keep Had Singh again to work for
him?
Ans. Anil is a gentlemanly scholar. He has a big heart and is giving and forgiving. He is 25 years old
and is not yet married. He receives no consistent income. He produces magazine writing. He goes out
to celebrate after getting a check. Anil is a straightforward man who is always willing to assist
anyone, even a useless youngster like Hari Singh. He is aware that Had Singh lied about having
cooking skills. But he still lets him work for him. Anil is a young man who is progressive. He
appreciates the value of education because he is a writer. Had Singh is taught by him to write his
name. He assures him that he will teach him how to add numbers and write complete sentences.
Anil was fully aware of the theft. He was aware of how and when Had Singh had taken the money and
hidden it again under the bed. His eyes nor his lips made any indication of it. Had Singh been
someone he didn’t want to turn over to the police. He would have been mined. The thief was forced to
go back to such a kind and generous person. Anil, the reformer, gave the young burglar a fifty rupee
note as payment. Additionally, he promised to pay him on time.

Q15. How did Hari Singh come into contact with Anil? He breached Anil’s trust in him but why
did Anil not only forgive him but also promised to pay him regularly?
Ans. When Hari Singh first met Anil, he was still a thief. Although he was only fifteen, he had some
experience and had achieved some success. Hari enjoyed Anil’s humor and wished he would hire him.
Anil was unable to pay him because he had no steady source of income. He enquired as to Hari
Singh’s culinary skills. When asked if he knew it, Hari Singh lied. Anil told the boy he was
completely worthless and asked him to leave. However, the boy wouldn’t budge, so Anil kept him and
offered to teach him how to write sentences and add numbers.
Old habits, they say, are hard to break. Anil was, after all, a thief. From the purchases of the day’s
supplies, he earned one rupee each day. Anil gave him the door key because he trusted him. The
young burglar saw him stow the cash under the bed. The money was taken by Hari Singh, who then
left. There were 600 of them in the 1950s, he discovered after counting them. Anil was fully aware of
the theft. He even knew how Hari Singh had re-hidden the money under the mattress. Anil, a
reformer, however, won the day. The young burglar was not turned over to the police by him. He also
did not discipline him by terminating his employment. From a thief to a young man who has changed
his ways because of his love of learning.

Q16. Love, human sympathy and education can transform even a thief. How could Anil bring
such a change in Hari Singh?
Or
The chapter shows Hari Singh’s journey from a thief to an honest man who values friendship
and other human values. Do you think it was Anil’s selfless friendship that allowed Hari to
redeem himself? Give reasons in support of your answer in 100-120 words.
Ans. Man is a result of his environment and circumstances. Although only fifteen years old, Hari
Singh had a lot of experience and was a fairly successful player. He became a thief due to
circumstances. He was hired to work for Anil even though he was of no use to him. Old habits, they
say, are hard to break. A thief couldn’t stop stealing and cheating, after all. Each day, he earned one
rupee from the purchase of the necessary supplies. Anil was not a fool, though. He was fully aware of
the theft as well as everything else. But he was compassionate, kind, and brimming with human
understanding. He helped the poor boy learn how to write his name. Ile also agreed to add numbers
and construct sentences for him. The young thief was deeply affected by this and started realizing that
education could bring him respect and money.
Anil’s trust was betrayed by Hari Singh, but Anil was merciful and forgiving. Hari Singh neglected
his education while committing theft in the fervor and excitement. Then the true epiphany and
transformation happened. The young thief realized that the only man who could assist him was the
victim of his most recent robbery. The value of education, which could earn him respect and more
money than he could by stealing, became apparent to him at that point. He understood where he
needed to go. Anil, who had a big heart, promised to pay him on a regular basis and not only forgave
him but also gave him a fifty rupee note.
Q17. ‘He was the most trusting person I had ever met.’ Justify this statement of Hari Singh
about his benefactor, Anil. Did he breach Anil’s trust?
Ans. Hari Singh had a good understanding of Anil’s nature and character after their initial meeting.
He made up for the fact that he could cook. Anil nevertheless gave Hari a job. Hari Singh was an
accomplished and experienced player even at the young age of 15. He was proficient in all trade
secrets. From the purchases of the day’s supplies, he earned one rupee each day. Anil was aware of it
but didn’t care. Anil had a genuine capacity for trust. Hari was free to come and go as he pleased
because he had given him the key to the door. But “robbing him was so difficult.” A thieving man is
simple to rob. Robbing a careless and trustworthy man like Anil was challenging. He occasionally
didn’t even notice that he had been robbed. That took all the pleasure out of Hari Singh’s work.
Anil wasn’t a moron. He was fully aware of the theft’s details, including its timing and method of
execution. He made no indication with his lips or eyes that he had seen Hari re-hide the cash under the
bed. Trust grows on itself. The young thief eventually came to the conclusion that the only person
who could assist him was the man he had robbed earlier. Naturally, Anil was the most dependable
person Han Singh had ever met. and promised to pay Had on a regular basis in exchange for a fifty
rupee note while forgetting about Tut Chase’s growing breach of trust.

Q18. How did Hari Singh steal the money? Describe the circumstances that brought him back
to work for Hari Singh. What was the main motivating factor that forced him to take that
decision?
Ans. A publisher had purchased a book from Anil. He received a sizable payment in return. He tucked
the cash under his bed’s mattress, as seen by Hari Singh. The young burglar had previous experience.
He betrayed Anil’s confidence and took the money. He counted and came up with a total of 600 in the
50s. He understood that he could at least pretend to be a wealthy Arab for a week or two with that
amount of money.
Hari Singh made an unsuccessful attempt to flee with the money. In truth, he was battling with
himself. He purposely was late for the Lucknow Express. On a chilly night, he was sitting on a bench
contemplating himself. He reached a decision. He lacked any pals. The only individual who could
assist was Anil and he had robbed him a few hours earlier. Then came the realization of what Anil
was doing for him. He promised to give him an education. Hari Singh realized that education could
bring respect and money to him. In the heat and excitement of the theft, he had forgotten about the
education. Getting an education was the main motivating force that brought the boy-thief Hari Singh
back to Anil.

Q19. Describe the sequence of events that took place after Hari Singh stole the money. Evaluate
Hari Singh as a thief and as a human being.
Ans. Even at the age of fifteen, Hari Singh was an experienced burglar. He was proficient in all trade
secrets. He was a skilled thief who knew how to dupe his master into buying the day’s supplies for
one rupee each day. And he took 600 rupees from under the mattress, a seasoned burglar. He could
spend a week or two living like a wealthy Arab if he had that much money. He purposefully arrived at
the station but left before the Lucknow Express. He was having trouble with himself. On a chilly
November night, he arrived at the “maiden” while being soaked in the rain. He didn’t like to stay in
hotels and didn’t have any friends. He had a problem. Then good sense prevailed.

Q20. Hari Singh didn’t board the express and returned to Anil. Why did he return? On what
values does this incident put light on?
Ans. Hari Singh was a thief and he had stolen Anil’s money. After the theft, he realized that he had
robbed not only Anil but also himself of the chance of being literate and having a bright future. His
conscience pricked him to think what all he could have got had he not done this. It was difficult for
him to rob Anil but it was tougher for him not to back down. He realized that he could not make tea,
buy daily supplies and learn how to read and write then. His inner self did not agree to bypass this and
forced him to return. Hari’s return to Anil shows that despite indulging in criminal acts, he still had a
practical and positive attitude towards life. It is the awakening of Hari’s conscience and Anil’s love
and care that reformed Hari’s character. It teaches us that love alone can change a person. Anil’s
understanding of nature and care changed Hari’s thinking to mend his ways for good.

Q21. Hari Singh says- “He knew it but neither his lips nor his eyes showed anything.” Anil
successfully addressed the situation by not addressing it at all. Elaborate based on your reading
of The Thief’s Story. (CBSE Sample Question Paper 2020)
Answer. Hari Singh returns after feeling bad about stealing money from Anil. He puts the money
back where it belongs and goes to bed. He gets up late the next morning (because of his night
adventure). When he wakes up in the morning, Anil has already awakened and made some tea. He
offered some to Hari Singh. Then he took out a note and handed it to Hari Singh, telling him that he
would be paid on a regular basis by them. The note was still wet from the rain when he touched it.
This implies that Anil was aware that Hari Singh was a thief. He still showed no signs of rage or
disgust. This was his way of telling Hari Singh that he had forgiven him therefore, successfully
addressing the situation by not addressing it at all.

Q22. Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white. Analyse this
in detail, with reference to both the characters of The Thief’s Story. (CBSE Sample Question
Paper 2022)
Answer. Fiction writers frequently prefer grey characters to black and white characters because they
believe it makes the characters more complex, relatable, and realistic. Grey characters have both good
and bad qualities, and they are frequently portrayed as flawed and human. The characters in “The
Thief’s Story” can be seen as grey rather than black and white. The story’s thief, for example, is
portrayed as a flawed individual who has committed crimes, but he also has a human side and
struggles with his own moral dilemma. He is more than just a villain; he is a complex individual with
both good and bad traits.Similarly, the story’s other characters have both positive and negative traits,
making them multidimensional and relatable. The use of grey characters allows writers to explore
more complex themes and issues in their works, such as morality, justice, and the human condition,
by using grey characters. Grey characters also allow writers to create more nuanced and dynamic
plots because the reader is not limited by preconceived notions about the characters’ actions and
motivations. Finally, fiction writers believe that creating grey characters rather than black and white
characters makes their characters more complex, relatable, and realistic.
The use of grey characters allows writers to explore a wider range of themes and issues and creates a
more engaging and dynamic reading experience for the reader.