Thursday 28 July 2022

Panchlight by Phanishwar Nath Renu-Questions-Answers

 Questions & answers on Panch-light

Long Answer-type Questions (150-200 Words each)

Q1. What image of the rural society do you get from the story ‘Panchlight’?

Ans. Panchlight presents a true picture of the rural society with local culture and traditions in the Bihar state of India. We come to know several characters in this story. They behave in their typical manner. Their reactions to the common situations of rural life are quite funny and interesting. They are quite natural in their behaviour.

We find that the village society is divided into several castes. So there are eight Panchayats or ‘Tolis’ for each caste or community in the village. We also find that each community is very sensitive to its honour. Presently, the Mahto Toli does not have its own ‘dury’ and a ‘Panchlight’. So they think of themselves as inferior to other communities of the village. For this, they collect money and bring a ‘Pachlight’ from a nearby city.

Even in dealing with Godhan, it becomes clear that the village people sacrifice small honour for a greater one. No one knew how to light the Panchlight. Only Gordhan knew it. But Gordhan was ostracized by them. He was not allowed to mix up with the people of the Mahto Community. The people of the rival communities were making fun of them. Finally, Godhan was called and he saved their  honour.

We also find that the village people feel very excited when any small or big function takes place. When the Panchlight was brought, all were excited to see and touch it. A small ‘puja’ was arranged before lighting the Panchlight. It shows their deep faith in gods and goddesses.

Usually, people in villages do things in a hurry and without a good plan. When it was time to light the light, first they forgot to bring the petrol. And then they could not find as to who was able to light it properly. Even music programmes were also arranged at such occasions.

 2. How did the Panchlight prove to be a boon for Godhan?

Ans. In fact, the Panchlight proved to be a boon (blessing) for Godhan. He was ostracised (ousted) by the Panchayat of the Mahto community. There were several reasons for it. He belonged to another village. He was in the habit of singing filmy romantic songs. Munni’s mother had also complained to the Panchayat against Godhan. The Panchayat members wanted to teach him a lesson. So they fined him ten rupees to pay. When he did not pay up the money, they forced the villagers to ostracise him. He was not allowed to talk to anyone and mingle socially with them. He was also not allowed to smoke from their hukkas.

But the situation changed for Mahto Toli when no one knew how to light the Panchlight. The people of the rival communities were making fun of them. They had to forgive Godhan for his faults to save their honour. Godhan, in the beginning, was hesitant. But, soon, he got ready to light the Panchlight. The Chief was so happy that he made Godhan sit near him. Gulari Kaki also invited him to eat dinner at her house. Godhan was very happy to see Munni. Thus, the arrival of the Panchlight was a blessing for Godhan.

Q3. Is ‘Panchlight’, Renu creates a narrative of rural society that remains valid even today, though the symbols have changed. Discuss.

Ans.

Q4. Describe the excitement generated by the arrival of a Panchlight in the Mahto Toli.

Ans. The narrator tells us about a village where there are eight ‘Panchayats’. Each ‘Panchayat’ belongs to a particular community and it is called ‘Toli’ by the local people of that area. Each Panchayat except Mahto Toli has its own’dury’, ‘jajim’, and mats. But Mahto Toli didn’t have a ‘Panchlight’, which is called a ‘petromax’ lamp and now they have purchased it at the occasion of ‘Ramnauvmi’ fair’ with the money that was collected from the fines and penalties over the past fifteen months. The writer describes beautifully how the arrival of the ‘Panchlight’ generated excitement in the village.

The ‘orderly’ is carrying the Panchlight on his head. He is being followed by the Chief, the secretary, and other members. All the villages suspended their activities and rushed to see the Panchlight the moment they heard ‘Come on, come on. Hurry! Our Panchalight has come!’

The chief of the Panchayat told his wife to cool down, take bath and get ready for ‘puja’. The head of the neighbourhood troupe of singers was also very happy. So he warned them and also advises them to give a better performance in the light of Panchlight. He told them sternly to touch the correct notes by their fingers. Gulri Kaki began to hum. Little boys and girls started shouting and crying in uncontrollable excitement. They were all talking about the Panchlight.

About one hour before the sun set, people had already gathered at the Chief’s door to see the light. They all were shouting ‘Panchlight! Panchlight!’ People were anxiously waiting to see how the Panchlight would be lit.

Q4. In Panchlight, Renu creates a narrative of rural society that remains valid even today though the symbols have changed. Discuss.

Short Answer-type Qs (Textual)

Answer the following in about 50-70 words each:

Q1. Why was there a mood of celebration in the Mahto Toli?

Ans. There was a mood of celebration in the people of Mahto Toli. It was because a Panchlight was brought from the city. It was a matter of great pride and honor for them. Till then, they did not have a panchlight.  The other Tolis of the village had their own panchlights. It was brought on the occasion of Ramnaumi. About one hour before the sun set, people had already gathered at the Chief’s door to see the light. They all were shouting ‘Panchlight! Panchlight!’ People were anxiously waiting to see how the Panchlight would be lit

Q2. How did people react when the Panchlight could not be lighted?

Ans. The Panchlight was ready to be lit. But no one knew how to light it. All present there were in confusion as to what they should do. They did not want to call any person from other Tolis. They knew that they would make fun of them. The darkness started spreading. Sadness also started appearing on the people’s faces standing there. The Chief, the secretary and the orderly who were boasting about themselves were silent. They were facing the danger of losing their faces. The people of the Rajput Toli were making fun of them. Then Kaneli told them that Godhan knew how to light it. After a lot of hesitation, he was called. He lit the panchlight and saved the honor of the Mahto Toli.

Q3.Why was Godhan ostracised?

Ans. Godhan was ostracised for his faults. He belonged to another village. He was in the habit of singing filmy romantic songs. Munni’s mother had also complained to the Panchayat against Godhan. The Panchayat members wanted to teach him a lesson. So they fined him ten rupees to pay. When he did not pay up the money, they forced the villagers to ostracise him. He was not allowed to talk to anyone and mingle socially with them. He was also not allowed to smoke from their hukkas.

Q4.How did the Panchayat solve the issue of Godhan, who is ostracised in the community, lighting the Panchlight?

Ans. The situation changed for Mahto Toli when no one knew how to light the Panchlight. The people of the rival communities were making fun of them. They had to forgive Godhan for his faults to save their honour. Godhan, in the beginning, was hesitant. But, soon, he got ready to light the Panchlight. The Chief was so happy that he made Godhan sit near him. Gulari Kaki also invited him to eat dinner at her house. Godhan was very happy to see Munni. Thus, the arrival of the Panchlight was a blessing for Godhan.

Q5. How did the musicians behave that evening?

Ans. The head of the neighbourhood troupe of singers was also very happy. He told all the members of his troupe not to sing out-of-tune. They were going to sing in the panchlight. He tells them sternly to touch the correct notes by their fingers. For some time they also became sad. But when the panchlight was lit by Godhan, they were very happy. They started singing. They continued singing in great excitement. There were jubilant cries: ‘Victory to…Long Live…’ every leaf and twig on every plant and bush was trembling with happiness.

Q6. Describe the scene of the excitement when the villagers came to know that the Panchlight was being brought to the villlage?

Ans. Mahto Toli of the village purchased a panchlight at the occasion of ‘Ramnauvmi’ fair’. They bought it with the money that was collected from the fines and penalties over the past fifteen months. The writer describes beautifully how the arrival of the ‘Panchlight’ generated excitement in the village.

The ‘orderly’ is carrying the Panchlight on his head. He is being followed by the Chief, the secretary, and other members. All the villages suspended their activities and rushed to see the Panchlight the moment they heard ‘Come on, come on. Hurry! Our Panchalight has come!’

The chief of the Panchayat told his wife to cool down, take bath and get ready for ‘puja’. The head of the neighbourhood troupe of singers was also very happy. So he warned them and also advises them to give a better performance in the light of Panchlight. Gulri Kaki began to hum. Little boys and girls started shouting and crying in uncontrollable excitement. They were all talking about the Panchlight.

People were shouting ‘Panchlight! Panchlight!’ People were anxiously waiting to see how the Panchlight would be lit.

Q7.What did Godhan do to save the honor of the Mahto Toli?

Ans. The situation changed for Mahto Toli when no one knew how to light the Panchlight. The people of the rival communities were making fun of them. They had to forgive Godhan for his faults to save their honour. Godhan, in the beginning, was hesitant. But, soon, he got ready to light the Panchlight. The Chief was so happy that he made Godhan sit near him. Gulari Kaki also invited him to eat dinner at her house. Godhan was very happy to see Munni. Thus, the arrival of the Panchlight was a blessing for Godhan.

 

Very Short Qs & Ans. (Textual and Additional)

Answer the following questions using a word, a phrase, or one or two sentences each.

Q1. What is a Panchlight?

Ans. It is a kind of lamp that produces light with kerosene or spirit.

Q2. How did the Mahto Toli get the money to buy a Panchlight?

Ans. They got money by collecting a fine for fifteen months.

Q3.How much did the Panchlight cost?

Ans. Five cowries

Q4. Are a Panchlight and a lantern the same?

Ans. They are not the same.

Q5. Who lighted the Panchlight in the end?

Ans. Godhan

Q6. Who knew that Godhan could light the Panchlight?

Ans. Munri

Q7. What was the number of the Panchayats/ Tolis in the village?

Ans. Eight

Q8. How was the ten-rupee note that was left after buying the Panchlight utilised by the Panchayat?

Ans. They bought materials for ‘puja’.

Q9.What did the Rajput Toli say while making fun of the Mahto toli?

Ans. They said that the Mahto Toli should do five sit-ups by holding their ears in front of the panchlight.

Q10.What was the name of the grocer?

Ans. Rudal Shah

Q11. Whom did Munri reveal the secret that Godhan knew how to light the panchlight?

Ans. She revealed it to Kaneri.

Q12.What did Godhan use to light the panchlight?

Ans. coconut oil

Q13. Why did the Chief forgive Godhan?

Ans. It is because he saved the honor of his Toli.

Q14. Who invited Godhan to dinner?

Ans. Gulari Kaki

Q15. What did the Chief say to Godhasn after the panchlight was lit by him?

Ans He told him to sit near hiim.

Q16. Who persuaded Godhan to come and light the panchlight?

Ans. Gulari Kaki

Q17. When everything was ready, what problem arose all of a sudden?

Ans. No one knew how to light the panchlight.

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 24 July 2022

The Blind Dog-questions-Answers( by R. K. Narayana-)

                         The Blind Dog by R. K. Narayana:

                   Questions & Answers

Ex. 3. I. Short Answer-type Questions

Write short answers in almost five lines to each of the following questions:

Q1. What happened to the dog once it became the blind man’s companion?

Ans. The dog started sitting near the old beggar. The old blind beggar used to feed the dog. So it became his companion.

In the beginning, all was well. But the dog’s misery started when a ribbon vendor tied a string to it to help the blind man. After that, he held the string of the dog tightly. He started walking with the help of the dog by keeping the string in his hand. Thus more coins started falling into the bowl. It made the person greedier than before. He kept walking throughout the day. The dog’s freedom was lost. It became the old man’s slave now.

                                                   Or

The old blind beggar used to feed the dog. So it became his companion. It started sitting near him. In turn, the dog also started doing favours to the old man. It forced people to drop coins into his bowl. One day, a piece of ribbon attached with a string was tied around its neck. It helped the blind man a lot. Now the dog was not free to run away. It had to remain with him. Thus the dog had to become the old beggar’s slave.

Q2. How did the friendship between the dog and the blind man begin?

Ans. one day, the blind beggar was just about to begin eating his food. All of a sudden, he sensed that a dog was sitting near him. So he gave him a small portion of his food to the dog. It continued for some days more and the dog started remaining in the company of the blind man. Thus a friendship started growing between them.

Q3. How did the dog guard the blind man from the urchin?

Ans. On every Thursday, a mischievous boy would come there to sell a load of cucumber or plantain (a vegetable) on his head. He used to tease the beggar by calling him names and picking his coins stealthily. One day, the old man called the dog to save him. The boy tried to pick up coins from the bowl. But the dog noticed this and caught the boy’s wrist at once in its mouth. With a great difficulty, the boy freed his wrist and ran away to save himself from the dog.

Q4. Write the character sketch of the blind man.

Ans. The blind man was a greedy person. He was also ungrateful to the dog. He gave the dog just a little portion of his food. But he kept the dog engaged for himself all the time. He did not let the dog enjoy its freedom. He also used to treat the dog harshly. The old man’s greed for coins increased day after day. So the troubles of the dog increased. It had to walk with the old man for more time to reach different places. Thus the old blind beggar is not a good human being. He has no sympathy for animals.

Q5. How did the dog’s life change after the death of the old woman?

Ans. But after the death of the old woman, the dog’s life changed completely. He had to remain all the time with the old man. Now his movements were controlled by the old blind man. So the dog was unable to move to the places of his choice. Sometimes he saw other dogs and wanted to join them. As he tried to pull the string from the old man’s hand, it always received (got) a kick from him. Within a few days, the dog had to make a compromise with his changed circumstances (situation), in which he lost all his freedom.

 

                                          Video 1 of 3

Q6. Describe the life of the dog led after being set free from the blind man.

Ans. One day, a perfume seller took pity on the miserable condition of the dog. So he took a pair of scissors and cut the dog’s string. It made him free. The dog ran at his full speed. He visited his favourite places and did activities like smelling about the ditches, sitting in front of the butcher’s shop, the tea-stall and the bakery. He would throw himself upon other dogs in a playful mood. He would also run round and round the fountain in the market square barking. His eyes had a special sparkle (shine) of joy in his eyes while doing all these activities.

Q7. What is your opinion about the dog’s behaviour?

Ans. The dog’s behaviour has two aspects. It is normal before it was free and after it got freedom when his string was cut off by the perfume seller.

After the death of the old woman and when he was tied with a string, his behaviour was a forced one. It was hunger that forced the dog to remain in the company of the blind man.

In the beginning, it sat with the old man because he used to feed him.  Later, when he was tied to a string, then also he had to remain with the old man under compulsion. But after some time, the dog was set free as the string was cut by the perfume seller. He enjoyed freedom and went to the places of his choice. That was also his natural behaviour. The dog had to run from one place to the other for food. It was difficult for him to continue with that struggle because he had now another option of getting food from the old blind beggar. So he returns to his old master in the end. This was also the dog’s forced behaviour. He was compelled to accept the old man’s slavery due to the pangs of hunger.

Q8. Describe the irony contained in the very title of the story ‘The Blind Dog’.

Ans. The writer, R. K. Narayana has appropriately titled this story as ‘The Blind dog’. It is a great irony that the dog is not blind at all. He can see things quite clearly. It is the old man, who is blind and unable to see the physical world.

The dog joined the blind man’s company of his own choice because the old man gave him some food to eat. But after some time, a string was tied to the dog’s neck. It made his life miserable. The dog lost all his freedom. Previously, he was free. But now, he lost his freedom.

But when the dog was set free by the perfume seller, he regained his freedom.

But after some time, he again came back to his old master to lose his freedom once again. Herein lies the dog’s blindness. The dog accepted the blind man’s slavery and this is quite ironic.

 

II. Long Answer-type Questions

 

Q1. Describe the dog of the story. How did it become the blind beggar’s companion?

Ans. The dog’s story is very interesting and also full of some dramatic turns (changes). He was a mongrel (mixed breed) dog and was born in a street. He had spotty eyes and his hairy coat was of a white and dusty colour. He had a mutilated (cut) tail also.

He could be found taking rest in the hot afternoons under the culvert (a drainage pipe) at the eastern gate of the market. In the evenings, he would start his daily rounds in the surrounding streets to pick up food to satisfy his hunger. But during such wanderings, he had to engage himself in skirmishes (small fights). He would come back to his usual place before nightfall.

The narrator says that it continued for three years and the dog’s life changed when a blind beggar began to sit there in the marketplace. An old woman used to lead him up there in the early morning to make him sit there. She would again come up at midday with some foodstuff, collect his coins and take him home at night.

Gradually (slowly), the dog started sitting beside the blind beggar. He would eat food given to him and watch him receive alms from morning to evening.

In the course of time, the dog understood that it was mandatory for the passers-by to drop coins in front of the blind beggar. If the people didn’t drop a coin, the dog would chase them, tug at the end of their dress, and pull them back to the beggar to force them to drop a coin or so in the beggar’s bowl.

Life went on smoothly for the dog till the old woman, who used to bring food for the blind beggar, lived. After that, the dog’s life became miserable.

                          Video 2 of 3

 

Q2. What happens to the blind man and the dog at the end of the story?

Ans. At the end of the story, the dog returns to his master, the blind beggar. The dog had become dependent on him for food and shelter. He willingly accepted the old man’s slavery. So we may guess that he would never leave the blind beggar.

It means that prosperity would again come in the old man’s life. He would do the same type of behaviour with the dog as it was done before. The old man would push the dog with his stick and force him to move forward. More coins would fall into his bowl. He would again start giving money to people on interest. Thus the condition of the dog would be the same. Food again forced the dog to fall in a virtual hell created by the old man.

 

Q3. How did the life of the blind beggar change when the dog was tied to a string?

Ans. In a way, a turning point came in the life of both, the blind man and the dog too when the tiger (the dog) was tied to a string.

The blind man started moving from one place to the other with the help of the dog.

He used to have his staff (stick) in one hand and the ribbon in the other while moving from one place to the other.

He moved down the ‘choultry’ (an inn, a resting place) street. He stepped wherever he heard some voice or sensed people’s presence. Then he would spread his hand for alms. He went to all the common places like shops, schools, hospitals, hostels, etc.

The dog protected (saved) him from falling into pits or stamping against the stone steps. People started helping him by giving him coins. Children also used to gather around him and give him things to eat.

As time passed, the desire to collect more money grew in the blind man’s mind. So he thought taking rest was just a waste of opportunities of collecting money.

 

                       Video 3 of 3

 

Friday 22 July 2022

The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse-Lecture 1 -English for Class XI-...

The Canterville Ghost: Question & Answers on Incidents Chapter 1

 The Canterville Ghost: Question & Answers on Incidents

Chapter 1

Q1. Why did Mr. Hiran B. Otis purchase the Canterville Chase from Lord Canterville even if he was told beforehand about the truth of the haunted house?

Ans. Lord Canterville told every thing which he knew about the Canterville Chase to Mr. Hiran B. Otis. But he was adamant (firm) on purchansing the villa. He told Lord Canterville that he belonged to a modern country, America. So he did not believe in ghosts. Rather he suggested to him to value the ghost while valuing all the furniture of the house. He also told Lord Canterville that if there had been such a thing as a ghost in Europe, they would allow them to live in their public museums or keep them on roads for shows.

Q2. What truth about the Canterville Chase was revealed to Mr. Otis by Lord Canterville?

Ans. Lord Canterville told Mr. Otis that the members of his family had not cared to live in the palace since his granddaughter, the Duchess of Bolton was frightened into a fit, from which she never really recovered. He also explained that she was frightened by two skeleton hands that were placed on her shoulders as she was dressing for dinner. Lord Canterville further told Mr. Otis that the ghost was seen by several living members of his family. He also added that a cleric (priest, member of the clergy) of the parish (the area that comes under a priest), the Rev. Augustus Dampier had seen the ghost.

He continued saying that his own wife Lady Canterville often got disturbed in her sleep as some noise would come mysteriously (in a strange manner) from the corridor and the library. He also informed him it always made its appearance before the death of any of his family members.

Q3. Give a brief introduction to each member of Mr. Otis's family.

Ans. Mrs. Otis had been a celebrated New York Belle /bel/  (a beautiful and attractive woman). She was still a very beautiful, middle-aged woman, with fine eyes, and a great profile (the outline of a person’s face seen from a side). Her full name is Lucretia  R. Tappan. She had a marvelous (extremely good) figure and very vibrant (lively, energetic, animated) spirits. In fact, in many ways, she was quite English.

   Her eldest son was named Washington by his parents out of patriotic feelings. He was a fair-haired, good-looking young man. He had qualified himself for American Diplomacy. He was also known as a famous dancer in London. Altogether he was a very sensible person.

   Mr. Otis had a daughter, whose name was Miss. Virginia E Otis. She was a little girl of fifteen, who was a lover of freedom. She had blue eyes and she was also a wonderful athlete.

Q4. What did Mrs. Umney, the maidservant tell Mr. Otis's family about the blood stain that was found on the floor of the library?

Asn. While taking tea in the sitting room, a blood stain on the floor was noticed. Mrs. Otis wanted it to be removed immediately. The housekeeper told Mrs. Otis that it was the blood of Lady-Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered on that very spot by her own husband, Sir Simon de Canterville in 1575.” After nine years, Sir Simon disappeared suddenly under mysterious circumstances. His body could not be recovered.

After nine years, Sir Simon disappeared suddenly under mysterious circumstances. His body could not be recovered.

5. What was Washingon Otis’ reaction to the blood stain found on the library floor? What did he do to remove it?

Ans. Washington Otis called it a non-sense and remarked that those blood stains could be easily cleaned by ‘Pinkerton’s Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent.’ Before the terrified housekeeper could interfere, Washington Otis had knelt down on his knees and started rubbing the floor with a small stick that looked like a black cosmetic. After a few minutes, the blood stain was completely removed from the floor. After removing the blood stain, Washington Otis stood triumphant (winner) and looking at his admiring family said that he already knew that Pinkerton would remove it easily.

But no sooner did he say this than a terrible flash of lightning lit up the dark room. It was so fearful that all of them were stunned and Mrs. Umney got fainted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 20 July 2022

The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur

  3. The Midnight Visitor by Robert Arthur (notes prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Q1. How is Ausable different from other secret agents?

Ans. Ausable is very fat. He looks like an ordinary person. Normally secret agents have a very smart look. They carry a pistol. Ausable does not carry any pistol. Thus he looks different from other secret agents.

Q2. Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day? 

Ans. Fowler is a writer. He wants some exciting material to write a story on the life of secret agents. He had his first thrill of the day. He found another person with a pistol in Ausable’s room.

Q3. How has Max got into Ausable’s room?

Ans. Max got into Ausable’s room through the door. He used a pass key to open the door.

Q4. Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable? Why was he disappointed?

Ans. Fowler wanted to meet Ausable. He had a plan to write a story on the life of a secret agent. He had expected Ausable to be a mysterious type of person, having a pistol with him. But he found him fat and ordinary person. So Fowler was disappointed.             

Q5. How was the episode of meeting Max a thrilling experience to Fowler?

Ans. It must have been a very thrilling experience for Fowler. As the door was opened, Max was waiting in front of them with a gun in his hands. He threatened to kill both of them.

Q6. Write a few sentences about Max.

Ans. Max was another secret agent. He was a long and thin person. The features on his face showed that he was as cunning as a fox. He had a gun with him. He had come to Ausable’s room to snatch the report on missiles.

Q7. What did Ausable say about the balcony to Max?

Ans. First, he showed some anger. Then he said that it was for the second time that a person entered his room through the balcony. He called the balcony a nuisance (that creates trouble). He would raise the issue with the management.

Q8. What did Ausable say to Max when there was a knocking at the door? Who was there in reality? Why did Ausable tell a lie to Max?

Ans. There was a knocking at the door. It alerted Max. He asked Ausable as to who could be there. Ausable told Max that it was the police. But it was Henry, the waiter. Ausable told a lie to befool Max.

Q9. How did Ausable get rid of Max?

Ans. Max thought that there was a balcony just below the window. Then there was a knock at the door. Ausable told him that it could be the police. So Max jumped out of the window to wait at the balcony. He fell down and died because there was no balcony.

Q10. What was the paper about which Ausable told Fowler while entering the room? 

Ans. Ausable told Fowler that it was a very important paper regarding missiles. Several men and women had risked their lives for getting it. He also said that it might affect the course of history.

Q11. Who was Henry? What important role did he play in the story?

Ans. Henry was a waiter. Ausable had ordered some drinks. He had come to deliver them. But he played very important role. He helped Ausable in getting rid of Max.

Long Answer-type Qs &Ans. (Notes prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Q1. Describe how Ausable outwitted Max.

Ans. Ausable was to receive an important paper. So he was to wait for it in a room in a French hotel. But as he opened the door, he found another secret agent, Max, standing in front of him with a revolver. Ausable was stunned (very much surprised). He, at once, made up a story. First, he told Max that there was a balcony just below the window of his room. Then he told another lie to him. He said that the knocking was done by the police. In a panic, Max jumped out of the window to stand and wait there at the balcony. But there was no balcony. So he killed himself.

Q2. Attempt a character sketch of Ausable.

Ans. Ausable was a typical secret agent. He did not look smart because he was fat. But he had the qualities of being a smart secret agent. He was a cool-minded person. He did not lose his wits when Max stood before him with a pistol. He, at once, made up a story. First, he told Max that there was a balcony just below the window of his room. Then he told another lie to him. He said that the knocking was done by the police. In a panic, Max jumped out of the window to stand and wait there at the balcony. But there was no balcony. Thus he proved himself a better secret agent. He outwitted Max.

Very Very short Qs & Ans.

1.      The writer of ‘ The Midnight Visitor’ is Robert Arthur

2.      The Midnight visitor was Max.

3.      Ausable was a secret agent.

4.      Max was also a secret agent

5.      Max got into Ausable’s room through the door by opening it a pass-key.

6.      A writer, Fowler, came to meet Ausable.

7.      Fowler was  ROMANTIC writer. He wanted to write a story on the life of secret agents.

8.      Ausable was staying in a French hotel in Paris.

9.      The paper was about missiles.

 

Sunday 17 July 2022

Words & Phrases Used in Deep Water by William Douglas

 Words & Phrases Used in Deep Water by William Douglas

1.         Treacherous: unfaithful, false: Yakima river was treacherous.

2.         Shallow: not deep: The pool was two or three feet deep at the shallow end.

3.         Skinny: thin: I hated to walk naked into it and show my skinny legs.

4.         Subdue: to tame, to put under control or check, restrain: But I subdued my pride and walked into the pool naked.

5.         Aversion: strong dislike, loathing, hatred: From the beginning, I had an aversion to the deep water of a pond or a river.

6.         Surf: waves, foam of the waves: My father and I stood in the surf.

7.         Aping (to ape): imitating, copying: I paddled water wings, watching the other boys and trying to learn by aping them with my new water wings.

8.         Misadventure: mishap, accident, calamity: I was just beginning to feel at ease in the water when the misadventure happened.

9.         Timid: coward, one who is afraid of something or somebody: I felt timid to enter the deep water of the pool.

10.      Bruiser: a strong and well-built boy who bullies others

11.      Specimen: sample

12.      Rippling: moving like waves

13.      Toss: to throw oneself in a carefree manner

14.      Summoned: gathered, mustered

15.      Bob: to move up and down

16.      Tinge: coloured spot  

17.      Clutch: to hold tightly

18.      yell (cry)

19.      flailed (moved energetically arms and legs)

20.      paralysed (unable to move) and rigid (stiff)

21.      irresistible (that is impossible to oppose) force

22.      ached (pained), my head throbbed (when you feel the nerves beating). 

23.      dizzy (when you feel as if everything is moving and you are unable to balance).

24.      stark (real) terror

25.      shrieking (crying)

26.      pounding (throbbing) in my head,

27.      grab (seize/grip)

28.      Stark (real but harsh)

29.      ceased (stopped).

30.      limp (handicapped)

31.      It wiped out (removed) fear

32.      drowsy (feeling as if in sleep)

33.      I crossed to oblivion (state of forgetfulness/unconsciousness), and the curtain of life fell.

34.      The slightest exertion upset me, making me wobbly (shaky/unsteady) in the knees

35.      I was wading (walking with effort) the Tieton or Bumping River

36.      the terror that had seized (overpowered) me in the pool would come back.

37.      In canoes (/kəˈnuːs/ small boats)

38.      New Hampshire (It is a state in New England, US),

39.      canoeing (the sport or activity of paddling a light, narrow boat.

40.      the tension began to slack (decrease)

41.      my face under water and exhale (breathe out), and to raise my nose and inhale (breathe in).

42.      Bit by bit I shed (get rid of) part of the panic

43.      Tiny vestiges (small parts) of the old terror would return

44.      Yet I had residual (/rɪˈzɪdʒ.u.əl/ remaining) doubts.

45.      stripped (undressed)

46.      Gilbert Peak (Gilbert Peak is the third highest peak in the U.S. state of Utah)

47.      the will to live somehow grew in intensity (depth).

48.      free to walk the trails (a path in the mountains)