Unit _ 1.

SR

A Triumph of Surgery

1. The story, A Triumph of Surgery is a powerful example of the importance of saying "no". Explain.

ANS The story, "A Triumph of Surgery" is a powerful example of the importance of saying no when it
comes to making decisions that affect the health and well-being of others, whether it be for pets or for
people.

Mrs Pumphrey's love and indulgence for her dog, Tricki, leads to the dog becoming severely overweight
and unhealthy.

Despite Herriot's advice to put Tricki on a diet and exercise regimen, Mrs Pumphrey is unable to say 'no'
and abstain from overfeeding the dog - Tricki becomes seriously ill due to his weight and unhealthy
habits.

2. What do you think would happen to Tricki after he went back to Mrs Pumphrey?

ANS After he went back to Mrs Pumphrey, Tricki would be very happy. As a result, Mrs Pumphrey must
have taken good care of the dog by not overfeeding so that Tricki would stay as healthy as at the end of
the story.

3. According to a popular quote - Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.

In what way is this quote relevant to the events of the story?

ANS Strength gets accumulated after facing struggles in one's life. If the person does not face any
challenges in his life, he will remain weak forever. In the same way, when Mrs Pumphrey had to stay
away for a long time, she understood the true worth of Tricki and good health for him.

Long answers:

1. Imagine that one of [Link]’s partners can understand the language of dogs and listens to Tricki on
his last night with them.

(a) What might Tricki share about his experience?

(b) How would he evaluate it in comparison to his home experience?

ANS (a) I am sad to leave you people and go back to Mrs Pumphrey's house. It's not that I don't love her
1 really love her a lot and also care for her affection and care. But I miss the company which I got here.
There I keep lying on my couch and eating the delicacies that are provided to me. After going back, I will
long for my friends. I too want to run, play and exercise like them. This is the reason I'm unwilling to go
back to Mrs Pumphrey's house.

(b) I received great care here in the hospital. The first two days I missed the food that I got in my house.
But I actually, felt lighter on the third day. I loved joining my friends and their friendly barking, fighting
with them to share food and hunting rats at night. As you know food, good bedding and best care can
never replace the feeling of freedom that I experienced here in the hospital.

Unit 2 SR
The Thief’s story

[Link] does the thief say about the different reactions of the people when they are robbed?

ANS The thief says that the greedy man showed fear, the rich man showed anger and the poor man
showed acceptance. The greedy man is always in want of more money, so the thought of losing money
scares him. The rich man has worked hard to earn his money, and is naturally angry when it is stolen.
The poor man is used to being treated unfairly and has accepted loss as a part of his life.

②Why did Hari Singh smile in his most appealing way towards the end of the story?

ANS The thief was under tension that his master would be angry with him for stealing the money. But
Anil did not express any anger. He said that he would pay him regularly and would continue teaching
him full sentences. This made him tension free and he smiled without any effort. The smile indicated his
gratitude.

[Link] did Hari Singh justify to himself his stealing Anil's money?

ANS Hari Singh justified his action of robbing Anil by saying that he had robbed a person who was not
attentive. Also, he told himself that stealing was his habit and that regular practice of stealing had made
him rob Anil. He explained to himself that as Anıl had not paid him, therefore he could rob Anil.

4. Why do you think the narrator used to feel 'friends were more trouble than help?

What could have led him to believe this?

OR

In The Thief's Story', why did Hari believe that friends were more trouble than help?

ANS Hari Singh was a robber. If he and his friend went to rob something and one of them were caught,
he might reveal their secrets, in which case the whole gang would be handed over to police for robbery
Moreover, he did not want anybody to know about his secrets and whereabouts. So, he felt friends were
more trouble than help.

[Link] made Hari Singh come back to Anil?

ANS Hari Singh came back to Anil because he remembered the good times he had spent with Anil. His
inner conscience stopped him from breaking Anil's trust. Hari Singh stole six hundred rupees while Anıl
was sleeping. He went to the railway station after stealing the money, but did not board the train. His
conscience pricked him for robbing a man like Anıl who had trusted him. He roamed around aimlessly
and remembered the good times he had spent with Anil. He felt lonely and sad at the thought of leaving
Anil. So, he immediately decided to go back to Anil. Hari Singh knew that one day he would be able to
earn more money by becoming a really big, clever and respected man which was much more than
stealing a few hundred rupees at that time So, he returned home, back to Anil.

6. Why did not Anil hand Hari Singh over to the police?

OR
According to you, why didn't Anil confront Hari about stealing his money?

ANS Anil was a very kind person. He knew that Hari Singh was not bad at heart. If he had handed over
him to the police, Hari Singh would have become a hardened criminal and his mind would be filled with
bitterness. So, Anil did not hand over Hari Singh to the police. Instead, he forgave him and gave him an
opportunity to reform himself.

7. Money can't make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement.

ANS The statement stands true in almost all aspects of life. Money may buy us all the luxuries and fulfil
our needs but it cannot buy us knowledge, civilised thinking, skills and abilities to achieve our dreams.
Education lays the platform for all to act upon our goals according to our abilities. Education enables us
to keep up with the fast-moving world. It opens the door to opportunities we do not know even exist.
Money, on the other hand, can assist us to a certain level. It can buy us a plan but education gives us the
knowledge of its execution. Just as in the story 'A Thief's Story', Hari Singh prioritised the chance of
being literate over a few hundred rupees, we must understand that education can help us to achieve
whatever we desire.

8. Analyse dilemma faced by Hari Singh at the station.

ANS When he reached the station, Hari Singh wanted to get onto the train and run away but then the
thought of the kindness shown by Anil and the thought that if he stays with Anil then he would become
literate and stopped him from running away.

9. 5. 'The Thief's Story is a journey of a thief from a thief to an honest man who values friendship and
other human values. Do you think Anil's selflessness and kind attitude that changed Hari? Give reasons.

[Diksha] [5]

ANS The chapter reveals Hari Singh's transformation from a thief into an honest man. Anil's selfless
friendship helped Hari to redeem himself. Hari Singh was able to understand human values like
friendship and trust. He robbed Anil but felt guilty as he thought that he had violated the trust that Anil
had reposed in him. He was not able to board the train and missed his chance to get away as he came to
value Anil's friendship. He knew that after discovering the theft Anil would not be sad about the loss of
money but about loss of trust

Long answers:

1. Education, love and sympathy can transform even a thief. How is it true in the case of Hari Singh?

[Board 2022 with Marking Scheme]

ANS For some people, deception is a way to lead life easily, ie, by changing names, by making excuses,
by making new ways of making money, etc. Anil was the most gullible person Hari Singh had ever met.
But he took undue advantage of his trust. He was a thief and couldn't be expected to be honest with
Anil. He came to Anil with a false identity. Anil had blind faith in human nature. He employed him just
out of sympathy and compassion for him. He trusted him and ignored his misdeed. He handed over all
the financial transactions without any verification. In a way, he gave him a chance to improve. Hari stole
money and then came back with a change of mind. Anil knew even this fact also but said nothing. It
made Hari Singh decide to leave the style of deception as a way of life. Living a simple and straight life
overpowered Hari's deceptive life. Finally, he opted for the simple life by educating himself and
becoming a clever, big and respectable man in future.

Unit 3 SR

The Midnight visitor

[Link] unintentionally saved Ausable's life. Briefly comment.

[Board QB 2021 with Marking Scheme)

ANS Henry was a waiter in the same hotel in which Ausable was living in. Henry, fortunately, knocked at
the door, when Ausable was convincing Max about an imaginary balcony. Assuming that it was police at
the door, Max desperately jumped through the window. Hence, Ausable was saved.

2. Fowler's day took a one-eighty degree turn by the end of the evening. Examine the statement with
reference to "The Midnight Visitor".

[Board QB 2021 with Marking Scheme]

Fowler was, initially, disappointed to meet Ausable as he found him a fat and boring man. But Fowler's
day took a one-eighty degree turn by the end of the evening, as he was much surprised by the tactful
nature of Ausable. He cooked up a story about the balcony and the police. Ausable also got the intruder,
Max, killed without firing a shot. Hence, it proved to be a thrilling episode.

3. "Stereotypes are often misleading". Elaborate on the given quote in the context of "The Midnight
Visitor".

ANS Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent. He did not seem to be as smart, active,
movable aggressive and romantic as we read in the book or see in films. He was very fat and sloppy. The
Crack of pistols, wine and dark-eyed beauties had nothing to do with Ausable. Hence, stereotypes are
often misleading.

4. Max, who said: "I will get it back tonight". Was he successful?

ANS Max was an overconfident and proud spy. His pride blinded him, and he thought that wielding a
gun would give him a further edge over Ausable but he was unsuccessful. Ausable outwitted him
without lifting a finger. Max, in fact, jumped to his own death by taking Ausable's words at face value.
Thus, one learns that one should not be proud and must pay attention to the minutest details before
trusting others.

Long answers:

[Link] various elements of Robert Arthur's writing style work together to create a sense of tension,
uncertainty and suspense, well-suited to the mystery and suspense genre of the story, The Midnight
Visitor'. Comment, with reference to any one element.
ANS The author employs various elements of writing style to create a sense of tension, uncertainty, and
suspense, well-suited to the story's mystery and suspense genre.

Skilful use of language to create tension - Throughout the story, he employs short, punchy sentences
that create a sense of urgency and a feeling that events are unfolding quickly and unpredictably. This
helps to build momentum and keep the reader engaged, while also conveying a sense of unease and
urgency.

Use of dialogue - The conversation between Ausable and Max is filled with half-truths and mystification,
which creates a sense of ambiguity and heightens the story's sense of mystery. The reader is left
wondering about Max's true motives and intentions, which adds to the sense of uncertainty and tension
in the story.

Pacing and plot development - contribute to the story's sense of suspense, as the author carefully builds
the tension throughout the story, gradually revealing new information and plot twists that keep the
reader guessing and on edge.

2. Ausable was a successful secret agent. What qualities can be attributed to him? Give some examples.
[Diksha] [5]

ANS Ausable is an unusual kind of secret agent. Generally, secret agents that are described in detective
books and shown in films, are very smart and gun-friendly. Wine and dark-eyed beauties are associated
with them. However, Ausable doesn't present such a romantic picture. He is very fat and sloppy. He lives
in a small room on the sixth floor. Fowler is disappointed after meeting Ausable. They say that
appearances are often deceptive. This is quite true in the case of Ausable. Physically, he may be fat but
mentally he is very agile and quick-witted. He knows all the tricks of his trade. He is very quick to react
and can cook up stories that may fit all kinds of situations. He convinces even the crafty Max that there
is a balcony below the window of his room. This is a well-thought-out trap and Max unwittingly falls into
it. Then he cooks up the story of the police. He again succeeds in convincing Max that the loud knockings
at the door are that of the police. He tells Max that he himself has sought the protection of the police as
he has an important report concerning some new missiles with him. In this way, he gets rid of his rival
and enemy Max who jumps out of the window only to cry for the last time in his life.

3. What information did Ausable give about the imaginary balcony? Why did he do so?

ANS Ausable created a detailed description of how his room was part of a bigger apartment and how the
next room had a direct connection with a balcony. His statement that somebody else had also broken
into his office through that balcony made it a convincing story. Ausable did this to fool Max into thinking
that a balcony existed just outside the window, as he knew that soon the waiter bringing the drinks he
had ordered would be knocking at the door, which may prompt Max to jump into the imaginary balcony
to hide and when the waiter knocked at the door, Ausable again befooled Max by saying that it was the
police who wanted to come inside to provide him protection. Max wanted to run away to avoid the
police and jumps to his death into that non-existent balcony.

4. This chapter reveals that presence of mind and intelligence are more powerful than a gun. Give
reasons?
ANS Ausable is not such a character about whom we read in detective stories and books. He is not like
heroes of James Bond films but is an exception. Fowler is disappointed after meeting Ausable who is fat
and sloppy and lives in a room which is rather small and that too on the sixth floor. But appearances are
generally deceptive (A and Ausable proves that presence of mind, intelligence are more powerful than a
gun. Presence of mind and intelligence are the twin assets. His sharp reaction, particularly to a
dangerous situation, is very quick and thorough. When he finds crafty Max in the room with a pistol in
his hand, he at once understands the purpose (D of his visit. The rival secret agent who has come to take
away the important report that concerns some new missiles must be outwitted and defeated in his own
game. Ausable cooks up the stories of the balcony and the police so convincingly that May falls into his
agent who has come to take away the important report that concerns with some new missiles must be
outwitted and defeated in his own game. Ausable cooks up the stories of the balcony and the police so
convincingly that Max falls into his trap. While there is no balcony below the window of his room, the
knockings at the door are not of the police but of his waiter. The confused and unnerved Max jumps out
of the window in desperation. Thus, through his presence of mind and intelligence, Ausable proves
himself more powerful than a gun.

5.. " "Appearance is deceptive sometimes". Justify this statement with reference to" "The Midnight
Visitor".

ANS It is true that sometimes we fail to identify the real talent of a man due to his appearance. But, a
book could not be judged by its cover. Fowler was young and romantic. He faced danger in his work. So,
he wanted to meet Ausable for some adventure story. But when he met Ausable in a French hotel in a
damp corridor, Fowler felt disappointed. But Ausable proved himself after reaching his room. A man
named Max was found inside Ausable's room with a gun in his hand. Ausable used his espionage quality.
He told Max about a balcony next to the window and police at the door in a realistic tone. Max believed
him and jumped through the window and died. Thus, Ausable proved appearance may be deceptive.

Unit 4 SR

A Question of Trust

1. "Society must be protected from men like you". Comment on the irony of the given quote.

ANS The words "Society must be protected from men like you" are spoken by the young lady in red and
are ironical because she herself was a thief. She duped Horace Danby, robbed the house and walked
away with the jewellery is kept in the safe.

2. "The most successful people work smart, not hard" Justify the quote with reference to "A Question of
Trust".

ANS The quote 'The most successful people work smart, not hard' is apt for the woman who duped
Horace Danby as not even once could Horace make out that she was not the wife of the house owner.
The woman threatened to hand him over to the police and made him break the safe. Meanwhile, she
kept standing away smoking a cigarette and watching him do all work. There was no trace or fingerprint
of that lady in the house. She framed a story of forgetting the numbers and Horace fell into her trap.
Horace opened the safe gave her the jewels and went away. Thus, without working hard, she got all the
jewels, with her smartness.
3. How did Danby prepare for the robbery at Shotover Grange?

ANS Danby always planned his robberies meticulously. He prepared for the robbery at Shot over Grange
by studying the house, the electric wiring, paths and garden. He knew that the family normally lived in
the city and knew about the movement of the servants, who had gone out that afternoon. He had kept
his tools ready, packed in a bag.

2. Give the character sketch of the lady.

ANS The lady in red was very confident and alluring. She managed to deceive Horace Danby very easily
by claiming herself to be the lady of the house. She pretended herself to be the wife of the owner. She
was very shrewd and witty. She acted in a very confident and in a very authoritative tone and that
Horace believed that she was the owner very intelligently she made Horace open the safe with the
gloves which proved him to be the actual thief.

Long answers:

1. Class 10

3 Horace was not a typical thief. What values would you like to inculcate in him to transform him? Write
in about 80-100 words.

ANS Horace was not a typical thief. He used to rob every year enough money to last for twelve months
to buy rare and expensive books which he loved to [Link], being an introvert, he didn't blurt about
his theft to anybody. Even then we can't call him a good human being. He is not completely honest.
Though, he didn't use his money in bad deeds but an act of stealing can't be justified by such excuses. To
transform him into a really good person, I'd like to inculcate the values of trust and courage in him. He'd
be taught to have trust in himself that there are some other ways also to fulfil his desire and he has that
ability to have access to those ways. He should have the courage to ask some faithful friends to help him
in getting the books that he wanted to read.I'll teach him the art of having belief in himself, i.e., by
ounce of hard work, he can do whatever he wants to do, that also in a fair and respectable manner so
that he should lead a respectable life.

Unit 5 SR

Footprints without feet

1. The neighbours suspected Griffin of burglary State why this was OR was not justified.

ANS The neighbours suspected Griffin of burglary. This was justified because Griffin had always told Mrs
Hall that he had no more ready cash and he was expecting a cheque to arrive at any moment but after
the burglary, he suddenly produced some ready cash which made the neighbours suspicious

[Link] do you think would have happened if Griffin was caught by Jaffers and the latter hadn't become
unconscious?

ANS If Griffin was caught by Jaffers and the latter hadn't became unconscious, the situation would have
been totally different. The cruelty and lawlessness of griffin, the scientist, would have come to an end,
and the people of Iping would have heaved a sigh of relief
3. If you were a friend of Griffin, what suggestion would you have given to him about how he could use
his talent and scientific acumen? Write one suggestion and the reason for giving it.

ANS If I was a friend of griffin, I would have suggested griffin to use his talent and scientific acumen in a
positive and constructive manner by helping the poor and the needy. I would have told him to indulge in
such archives which would be beneficial for society.

[Link] contribute to make the world a better place Griffin is an antithesis to this statement. Justify.

ANS There is no denying the fact that scientists contribute to make the world a better place but it was
not so in the case of Griffin. His unbridled ambition made him a cruel and heartless person. Whatever
they did, it made everything worse. He didn't show kindness or humanity towards anyone whether it
was his land lord the shopkeeper or the people living at Iping. He set the house of his landlord on fire,
and pushed a shopkeeper down the stairs by taking advantage of his invisibility None of his actions were
for the betterment of the humans. Thus, we can say that Griffin is an antithesis to this statement.

Long answers:

1. Did Griffin from "Footprints Without Feet" follow the saying 'with great power comes great
responsibility? Justify your answer in 120 words.

ANS No, Griffin did not follow the saying 'with great power comes great responsibility'. The saying
means that if one has the ability to do something, one should make sure to do it for the good of others.
Since Griffin did not think of anyone else except himself, this saying is not what he followed. After he
managed to make himself invisible, he did not use his powers of invisibility to do good. Instead, one of
the first things he did was to set fire to his landlord's house in an act of revenge. He did not think of
helping anyone with his newfound powers, instead, he harmed other people for his own gain.

He stole clothes and food for himself without feeling any remorse. He even attacked and robbed a
shopkeeper. When his money ran low once more, he again resorted to stealing and robbed a clergyman.

Unit 6 SR

The Making of a Scientist

[Link] how Ebright's mother played an important part in becoming him a scientist.

ANS Ebright's mother supported him in his education. She took him for excursions, purchased
telescopes, cameras and microscopes to help him pursue his hobbies. The 'Travels of Monarch X', a book
about monarch butterflies was another gift from her which encouraged Ebright to pursue his hobby.

2. How was 'The Travels of Monarch X' a turning point in Ebright's life?

ANS 'The Travels of Monarch X' was a turning point in Ebright's life as it fueled his interest in science and
research. It provided him with insights into the migration of butterflies, inspiring him to pursue scientific
investigations and explore nature deeply.

Long answers:

1. . How important is curiosity to scientific exploration and discovery? Justify your answer with examples
from the text "The Making of a Scientist"?
ANS Curiosity is extremely important to scientific exploration and discovery. It is curiosity that leads a
person to question things around them, which in turn could help them stumble onto new discoveries.

(a) It was Ebright's curiosity that led him to collect items such as butterflies, fossils and coins. His desire
to explore and constantly learn served as the foundation for his future scientific pursuits.

(b) It was curiosity that led Ebright to investigate different aspects of butterflies for his school projects.
Since he was curious to understand the cause of the viral disease that killed monarch butterflies, that
was what he studied.

(c) While in high school, Ebright was curious about the purpose of the twelve gold spots found on a
monarch pupa. This drove him to conduct more research on the topic, which indirectly led to his new
theory on the life of cells.

[Link] will to win, for the right reasons, was a quality that Richard had. Do you think this quality alone
can help us accomplish great feats? Why/Why not?

ANS Yes, the will to achieve the impossible is a unique feature in only those individuals who like to do
something different for society. Richard Ebright was a bright student in his school days, who always
wanted to reach heights in his chosen field. Though many people through his journey of life helped him
to achieve this extraordinary feat; but it was his own strong will and determination to sail through this
hard journey all alone by himself. Not even once, did he lose his hope n himself and his spirits were
always alive to achieve ecognition and awards in his very own way.

Unit 7 SR

The Necklace.

[Link] is the twist at the end of the story "The Necklace'?

ANS Madame Loisel was shocked to know that the necklace that she and her husband had replaced with
an expensive necklace, and for which they had borrowed a huge amount of money was actually a low-
priced imitation necklace. It had taken ten years to pay off debt and had demanded hard work as well.

2. How does "The Necklace" teach a moral lesson on the importance of contentment?

ANS "The Necklace" teaches a powerful moral lesson on the importance of finding contentment in what
one already has.

(a) Matilda's desire for social status and material possessions led to her own downfall and a decade of
hardship.

(b) Had Matilda simply been grateful and content with all that she had, she could have avoided a lot of
pain

(c) The twist at the end of the story, which reveals the true value of the necklace, emphasises the
emptiness that lies in the pursuit of material wealth

3. Briefly state how Matilda invited 'a dreadful life of necessity' into her family
ANS Matilda was born in to a middle-class family but she was extremely self-indulgent and dreamt of a
life full of luxuries. She ignored the advice given by her husband to wear natural flowers. Instead
borrowed the necklace and lost it. Her downfall was caused by her unhappiness with whatever life
offered her In paying for the necklace, she invited a poor life of necessity and deprivation.

[Link] Loisel now knew the horrible life of necessity Do you think Madam Loisel accepted this change
willingly? Give two reasons in support of your answer.

ANS Yes, Madam Loisel came to know the horrible life of necessity because after losing the necklace
their life changed drastically. Matilda had to do all the household chores. She had to do away with her
maid and carry garbage to the street on her own. She had to wash the dishes and do all the shopping at
the market with a lot of haggling. Her husband also had to work hard. Though she found it hard to
accept the reality but in the end, she knew she had to do all this in order to re-pay the money they
borrowed.

Long answers:

1. reasons from the text to support your answer.

Board 2021 with Marking Scheme)

ANS No, I don't sympathise with Matilda. In fact, it was her ostentation and vanity which landed her in
trouble

It is very essential for a person to live a contented life. He should believe in simple living and high
thinking. Not everyone is born with a golden spoon in his mouth. With honesty and hard work, we can
always achieve our best. A person will never be happy if he keeps craving for what he doesn't have. In
this way, he may ruin even his present.

Matilda had the same craving for a life of luxury and wealth. She immersed herself in glamour when her
husband got an invitation to attend a ball

She didn't care for her loving middle-class husband, rather she was running after her fantasies. She
always thought beyond her limits. For the minister's party, she could have gone in her simple clothes,
but she insisted on buying new dress for four hundred francs, which her husband gave her. Then she
longed for jewellery, which she borrowed from her friend for the party She borrowed a diamond
necklace and lost it. To repay the diamond necklace to the friend, she had to sacrifice many years of her
life, as well as her husband's whole income. Both of them lived in utter poverty to repay for it. Matilda
lost all her charm and looked old and pale. Her ostentation and vanity had put her in trouble. It is better
to be satisfied with what one has. One should not believe in false show-offs.
Unit 8 SR

Bholi

Why did Bholi's teacher feel like an artist admiring her masterpiece? (Bholi)

[Board 2024 with Marking Scheme]

e er e t

s/

ANS Bholi's teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece because Bholi's transformation from a
shy, introverted girl to a confident, expressive one was akin to an artist's creation. The teacher's
guidance and efforts in nurturing Bholi's personality resulted in this remarkable change, akin to an artist
sculpting a masterpiece.

2 How does education play a transformative role in Bholi's life?

ANS Education plays a transformative role in Bholi's life.

It helps her gain confidence and self-esteem, enabling her to stand up for herself and challenge societal
norms.

Empowers her to break free from the chains of patriarchy and choose her own path. It also enables her
to recognise and resist oppression and inequality, making her an agent of change in her community.

Through education, Bholi becomes an embodiment of the transformative power of knowledge and its
ability to challenge and change societal norms..

[Link] was a neglected child. Explain.

ANS Bholi was quite a neglected child at home and this is evident from the text. No new clothes were
made for her and she was always passed on old dresses of her elder sisters. No one cared to bathe her
or oil her hair or even wash or mend her clothes. The neglect was probably due to the fact that she was
the youngest in a household of seven children. It might be that she failed to draw attention and affection
from her parents because of her disadvantageous looks or her physical setbacks. Her parents sent her to
school as they thought that there was little chance of her getting married.

4. Would you call Bholi's mother a kind and loving one. Give reasons.

[Diksha] [2]
ANS No, Bholi's mother was not at all kind and loving towards Bholi. She never took care of her, neither
in childhood nor at a young age. She was not concerned even about her studies or clothing. She did not
bother about Bholi's groom. Whether he was an aged person or a greedy one, whether he would honour
her daughter or keep her as a slave in his house.

Long answers:

[Link] play a crucial role in the upbringing of their Children. Critically examine the parents of Bholi
and Ebright, highlighting their impact on their children's lives.

ANS Parents play the most crucial role in a child's life. They are the child's first teacher, who provides
comfort and security, which has a direct impact on the development of the child's brain

Ebright's mother played the role of a friend, philosopher and guide. She fulfilled the vacuum created by
the death of his father. She tirelessly assisted him in his research on butterflies and provided everything
necessary to enhance his knowledge. It was only because of her that Ebright became a renowned
scientist.

Contrary to Ebright's mother, Bholi's parents detested her from the day of her birth on account of her
gender. Their insensitive behaviour proved detrimental to Bholi's physical, and mental development.
Bholi grew up to be a timid child who would stammer much to her parents' annoyance.

In a nutshell, love, care and guidance from parent makes a difference in shaping the child's future.

2. Dowry is negation of the girl's dignity. Discuss with reference to the story 'Bholi'.

ANS A girl is an individual in her own right and equal opportunities should be given to her in life. We can
help her become independent, strong and not a burdensome object who is given away with money as
compensation. Dowry negates the girl's dignity and self-respect. 'Bholi presents this in a dramatic
manner Bholi who was thought to be ugly and dumb by her parents and they willing to pay dowry for
her refuses to marry because of dowry. She announces that she is educated, assertive and capable of
taking care of herself and she would rather dedicate her life to the service of her parents teaching at
school. She gave her consent for a mismatched marriage but she did not support dowry. She called
Bishamber a mean, greedy and contemptible coward. She was no more a dumb driven cow. She set an
example for society and became a role model for all the girls. Education thus paves the way for
empowering thoughts, freedom of women giving equal rights in society. Dowry is not acceptable as it
affects the dignity of a girl. Parents should understand that girls have all the right to say 'no' to the
person who demands dowry to prove his masculinity.

Unit 9 SR

The Book that saved the Earth

1. Why did Think-Tank send his crew on the Earth?

ANS Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars regarded the Earth as a mass of mud, and Earthlings as ugly, tiny-
headed creatures. He planned to invade Earth and expand his domain. He sent probe one to Earth to get
more information about the Earthlings.
Long answers:

1. Who was Omega? Why did she agree to eat the book?

ANS Omega is the captain of a spaceship that carried, Lieutenant Iota and Sergeant Oops to Earth from
Mars. On reaching Earth they took shelter in Canterville Public Library. But they were confused and were
trying to identify the objects (books) there. Lt. Iota had counted them, they were two thousand in
number He thought that library was a storage barn, whereas Sergeant Oops of thought them as hots.
Just then Omega thinks that perhaps the great and Mighty Think-Tank will give them the benefit of his
thought on the matter. After investigating, Think-Tank gives his opinion that the Earth's creatures are
always eating. It must be an edible item called sandwich. Sandwiches are the main staple of Earth diet.
He commands Omega to eat it just to confirm his opinion on books as sandwiches. And Omega obeys
Think-Tank's command and gulps it.

[Link] changes have taken place in the field of books since twentieth century?

ANS The twentieth century is often called the 'Era of the Books' which had brought a lot of significance
along with it. There were books about everything from ant eaters to Zulus. Books taught people how to,
when to, where to and why to. The books were illustrated, educated, punctuated and even decorated.
The books were supposed to be a mine of knowledge. And there were books on every topic. Then with
the advent and invention of computers and electronic media, books have been replaced with e-books
and they are completely vanishing. Our present generation has no time for reading books. In future,
they might be mistaken for even a sandwich or a strand. This lesson gives us a message that books are
always important, as they helped to save us even from a Martian attack.

Books are still a man's best companion. They are our trustworthy friends and always stand by us. They
have more patience than human beings. They can never desert us when we fall prey to bad times. They
are a constant source of happiness, strength and wisdom.

3. Justify the title of the play The Book That Saved the Earth

ANS A good title should reflect the theme, idea or the traits of a character It should revolve around any
of the above. The story or the play should be woven around any one of them. In the play The Book That
Saved the Earth', a book of nursery rhymes of 'Mother Goose is responsible for stopping the Martian
invasion on Earth.

Think-Tank, the ruler of Mars plans to invade Earth before lunch and sends probe one to get more
information about the Earthlings. They enter a library but can't figure out what items books are. They
take vitamins, increase their intelligence then read the rhymes from Mother Goose' Think-Tank
misinterprets the rhymes, and takes them as threats to him and Mars. Scared, he calls back Probe One,
drops the idea of invading and escapes with his subjects to Alpha Centauri, a hundred million miles away
from Mars. Thus, the book 'Mother Goose' was responsible for stopping the Martian invasion of Earth.
The title The Book That Saved the Earth', reflects the theme of the play, so it is an apt (appropriate) title.

4. Compare and contrast the characters of Noodle and Think-Tank.

ANS Noodle and Think-Tank are two contrasting characters. Think-Tank thinks he is 'Great and the
Mighty' and he orders and commands others. As a ruler of Mars, he has no intelligence as he considers
books to be sandwiches. The crew obeys him and he passes on other's ideas as his own. He was a
coward who simply boasts about his power. Noodle is one of the crew members of the invasion team
that came to invade Earth. He is known as Apprentice Noodle. He is the co-coordinator between Think-
Tank and the invasion team. He echoes Think-Tank in every manner. He is a very clever creature. He
knows that Think-Tank being commander-in-chief has to be obeyed. So, he keeps on praising Think-Tank
and also passing sarcastic remarks. It is only Noodles who think practically and differently about the
books which were considered as sandwiches to eat. But Think-Tank took over the idea as his own. But
Noodle is not sad at all. He is a blind and true follower of Think-Tank.