After Twenty Years

After Twenty Years (Class VIII)

A.   Answer the questions.

1.    Describe the policeman on the beat.

Ans. The policeman moved up the street of his beat (area of duty) in a very impressive manner. It was his natural style. He was keeping his alert eyes at the people’s movements on the main road. His strong figure with a slight swagger (to walk in a very showy and proud manner) made him a fine picture of a guardian of peace. He also kept twirling (spinning) his staff (stick) in a very artistic way while doing his duty

2.    What did the man in the doorway tell him?

Ans. The man assured the cop that he was not going to do any illegal activity there. He was just waiting for a friend who had made a promise to meet him there after twenty years back.

3.    How did Bob describe Jimmy?

Ans. Bob said that Jimmy Wells was his best friend and the finest person in the world. Both of them were raised (brought up) in New York. They were like brothers and he was of eighteen and Jimmy was twenty years at that time.

4.    How did the patrolman know that Bob has been doing well?

Ans. Bob pulled out a handsome watch having the lid set with small diamonds. Then the patrolman came to know that Bob had been doing well

5.    When did Bob realize that the man he was talking to was not Jimmy Wells? How did he react?

Ans. While talking, both of them came near a drug store. They could watch each other’s face clearly in the light. Suddenly, Bob’s eyes noticed that the other man’s nose was totally different from the one that Jimmy had. Bob reacted angrily and drew his arm back from the other man’s grip.

B.   Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1.    ‘He was a kind of plodder. Though good fellow as he was.’

a.    Who said this and to whom?

Ans. Bob said these words to the policeman.

b.    What does he mean?

Ans. Bob meant to say that Jimmy was slow at work. He had no big ambition to go out of New York in search of big fortune.

c.     Is the speaker criticizing his friend?

Ans. It does not seem that he was criticizing his friend.

d.    What is the meaning of plodder?

Ans. One who works slowly and steadily but without imagination.

2.    ‘You’re not Jimmy Wells!’ he snapped. ‘Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man’s nose from a Roman to a pug.’

a.    Who is the speaker?

Ans. Bob is the speaker here.

b.    Who is the speaker addressing?

Ans. The speaker is addressing to that person who came in place of Jimmy Wells.

c.     Why does the speaker say this?

Ans. Bob says this because he had come to know that the other person was not Jimmy Wells, his old friend.