The Browning Version-Questions-Answers

 Question & Answers on ‘The Browning Version

 Short Answer-type Qs & Ans.

Q1. Does Frank seem to encourage Taplow's comment on Crocker-Harris?

Ans. Yes, Frank encourages Taplow to comment on Crocker Haris. He, very tactfully, asks him several questions about him in order to make Taplow comment about his teacher. He feels envious of Crocker Harris’ popularity also. He asks Taplow to repeat the mimicry of Crocker-Harris.
Q2.Why did Taplow go to Crocker Harris’s room?

Ans. Taplow had to stay in Mr. Crocker Harris’s room for extra time as punishment because he had missed a class due to ill health a week ago.

Q3. What was Taplow’s reply when asked by Frank about his future plans if he got favourable remove? What was Frank’s reaction to it?

Ans. Taplow tells him that he would like to opt for science. Franks seems to be sad at Taplow’s choice as he considers the latter (Taplow) a slacker (idler, loafer).

But Taplow tells the young teacher in a protesting manner that he is not a slacker and he is highly interested in science.

Q4. What justification did Taplow give to Frank in calling ‘Aeschylus’, a muck?

Ans. Taplow replies that he does not think that the play is ‘muck’. He also adds that it has a good story about a wife murdering her husband and all that. Taplow expresses his dislike for the way it is taught to the students and it has a lot of Greek words.

Q5. Why did Taplow not leave Mr. Crocker’s house when Frank told him to do so as his teacher was late in reaching home? What did Taplow say to Frank, the young teacher in this regard?

Ans. Taplow expressed his unwillingness to leave the place and also added that he could never think of disobeying Mr. Crocker Harris. He also wondered about the consequences of disobeying his teacher. He imagined that Mr. Harris would not hesitate to follow him to his home if ever he disobeyed him.

Q6.What did Tallow say about Mr. Crocker Harris lacking emotions?

Ans. Tallow said that Mr. Crocker Harris had no feelings. He said that he had shriveled (dried) up like a nut and seemed to dislike people who liked him and this was quite funny to find such masters who did not like to be admired.

Q7. What did Taplow say about the joke cracked by Crocker Harris in the class?

Ans. Taplow tells Frank that, one day, cracked a joke in the class at which no one except him laughed because none including Taplow understood the joke. But, to be polite to his teacher, Taplow laughed. In the heart of his heart, he also felt sorry for the joke.

Q8. What did Mr. Harris tell Taplow, seeing him laughing at the joke?

Ans. Mr. Harris appreciated Taplow’s progress in learning Latin. Then he asked Taplow to explain the whole joke to the students, who did not understand him.

Q9. Who is a sadist? Is Crocker Harris a sadist according to the definition given by Taplow for this term?

Ans. A sadist is a person who takes pleasure in causing pain or trouble to others. But this term does not suit Crocker Harris. He is a strict teacher, who does not like that the rules and regulations of school should be broken.

Q10. Who is Millie? What does she tell Tallow about Mr. Crocker Harris? Where does she send him?

Ans. Millie is Mr. Crocker Harris’s wife. She tells Taplow that Mr. Crocker is at the Bursar’s (accountant’s) office and it would take quite a long time. She also suggests Taplow indirectly to go and come back after forty-five minutes. To get an excuse for sending him, she tells him to bring some medicine for her husband.

Long Answer-type Qs.

Q1. Comment on the attitude shown by Taplow towards Crocker-Harris.

Ans. Taplow thinks very highly of his teacher, Mr. Crocker Hgarris. He calls him a different kind of teacher, who believes in strict discipline. He is never loose in his behavior with the students. He does not like that any of his students should miss his class. He has a very different way of punishing students. He keeps in his mind their betterment while punishing them. Taplow has been punished in such a way. He wanted to make his loss that was caused due to his absence from class. He does not disclose the result of exams to achieve cheap publicity from the students. Taplow thinks that he does not like buttering from students. He shrinks when he comes to know that someone likes him. He is not a sadist like some other teachers in school. In spite of his strictness, he is popular with students. That’s why the teachers like Frank envy him.

 Q2. What do you gather about Crocker-Harris from the play?

Ans. Crocker Haris is a strict teacher, who believes that rules and regulations in school must be followed by everyone. He does not believe in favouritism. He does not disclose the result of exams to students in advance time. He is not a sadist, who feels happy by putting others in difficulties and troubles. He loves his duty and cares for his students. He tries to make up for the loss caused by any means. He has a different way of punishing students. On his last day, he called Taplow so that the loss caused by his absence from the class could be made up. He has control over his emotions and so he is never swayed by them while deciding about the students’ results or in other situations also. In fact, he is an ideal teacher From Taplow’s point of view.

Q3. Describe Taplow’s character as shown in the one-act play.

Ans. Taplow is a boy of sixteen who studies in the lower fifth grade. He wants to study science. But Agamemnon seems to be boring for him. He is a disciplined student, who obeys the rules and regulations of the school. He is obedient to his teacher Mr. Harris Crocker also. He accepts the punishment given to him by his teacher positively. He knows that he is punished by his teacher for missing class for one day. He does not consider it as punishment, rather he thinks it is extra work given to him by his teacher. Another teacher, Frank tries to make him against Mr. Harris Croaker. But Tapow respects and defends his teacher. He waits for him patiently even though his teacher is late for ten minutes. Thus Taplow is a well-disciplined student as shown in the one-act play.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           

Evans Tries O-Level -Qs-Ans-by Collin Dexter

Evans Tries O-Level by Collin Dexter 

(A)Short Answer-type Questions & Answers Part One: Most Important Qs

Q1. What kind of a person was Evans?

Ans. Evans was a ‘Kleptomaniac’ by birth. He had to go to jail for three times for the crime of theft. He was called ‘Evans the break’ for the skill of escaping. He was a pleasant boy, having no record of violence against anyone.

Q2. Do you think Evan's statement, ‘I may surprise everybody,” has some special significance?

Ans. His statement has a special significance. It had double meaning. The surface meaning is that he could surprise all by his performance in exam. But he wanted to surprise all by escaping from the jail.

Q3.Why did Evans drape (wrap) a blanket round his shoulder? What did Stephens think about it?

Ans. Evans was taking advantage of that to wear the dress of a parson (priest). Therefore he had covered himself with a blanket to hide his activity. Stephens thought that he was having a blanket due to cold inside the cell.

Q4.. In spite of strict vigilance, how did Evans’ friend manage to give the material for disguise in the cell?

Ans. Evans’ friend had worn two dresses of a parson. He also brought extra spectacles with him. During the intervals provided by Stephens while peeping in, MacLeery and Ivans did what they wanted. It was all done according to Evans’ master-plan.

Q5. Who were the two visitors Evans received in the morning of the day of his exam?

Ans. The visitors were not outsiders, but the officers of the prison’s D-wing. The names of the officers were, Mr. Jackson and Mr. Stephens. The latter was recently recruited.

Q6. Why did the Governor instruct Jackson to search McLeery?

Ans. The Governor of the prison did not want to take any risk. Evans had already escaped from jail three times. So he instructed Jackson also to check even McLeery lest he should be a party with Evans.

Q7. Why was Evans called ‘Evans the break’?

Ans. Evans was called ‘Evans the break’ because he was a mastermind in breaking the tight security of the jails. He had escaped from prison three times before. So the governor and other officers of the jail were under fear.

 

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

Q1.What were the precautions taken for the smooth conduct of the examination?

Ans. The governor did not want that Evans could bring disgrace to Oxford Prison by escaping for the fourth time. So he was personally monitoring all security arrangements. He had deployed police personnel near the Recreational Block. The cell was also scrutinized for every possibility of providing advantage to Evans. His nail‐scissors, nail‐file and razor were taken away from him. Even McLeery along with his suitcase was checked. Even Stephens was made to sit outside the gate of the cell. He was peeping through the peep-hole every now and then. The Governor also kept listening through his phone the conversation that took place inside the cell. In this way, all precautions were taken in view to conduct Evans’ exam smoothly.

Q2. Describe the character-sketch of Evans.

Ans. Evans is the main character in this one-act play. His track-record as a criminal is clean. He has never been convicted for using violence. He was a

‘Kleptomaniac’ by birth. He had to go to jail for three times for the crime of thefts. He was called ‘Evans the break’ for the skill of escaping. He was a pleasant boy.

He kept cracking jokes with jail employees. He is friendly to all. He is a mastermind in making his plans and also in executing the He made a plan to pass an exam. He did all cleverly. He took help of his friends. He befooled the prison authorities and escaped for the fourth time also.

Q3. “I may surprise everybody” said Evans to his German teacher. Do you think he proved this statement right? Substantiate your answer. Ans. Evan is indeed a mastermind and he knew how to make perfect plans to escape from the jail. He has already escaped from jail for three times and now he has made a plan to escape it for the fourth time. He was a born kleptomaniac and for that he had to remain in jail. At this time he made a plan with the help of his loyal friends to befool the prison authorities. The invigilator who came in the guise of McLeery was one of his friends and he supplied him clothes of a priest, blood and other material. He also got the help of his friends to make fake calls to the governor, one from the board for a correction slip and the other from the magistrate court. When the governor was relishing his victory in a hotel’s room, Evans again fooled him. He escaped from the governor’s clutches for the fourth time. In this way, he gave surprise to all.

Q4.What precautions were taken by the prison authorities to check the possibility of Evans’ efforts to escape from the Oxford Prison?

Ans. James Evans was a born kleptomaniac. The prison officers used to call him ‘Evans the Break’ because he had escaped the prison three times already. The Governor did not want that Evans would disgrace the Oxford Prison that time. So he would see the arrangements for Evans’ security personally. He was searched for the possibility of having some sharp edged weapon. Mr. Jackson had also taken the nail scissors and the nail file out of it. The Governor was having some doubts about Evans. He thinks that it might be possible that Evans might take advantage of McLeery and get a chisel, a rope ladder, etc.

McLeery’s suitcase was also searched and his paper knife was kept in Jackson’s possession. The Governor was also keeping the telephone on the hold to listen to the conversation in the cell. Stephens also keeps on peeping into the cell through the peep hole. In spite of all the efforts, Evans bluffed the prison authorities and escaped from there for the fourth time.

On the Face of It-Qs-Ans- by Susan Hill {Vistas for Class XII)

  

Lesson 6: On the Face of It by Susan Hill {Vistas for Class XII)

A.                       Most Important Qs

Q1. How was Derry’s face burnt?

Ans. Acid had fallen on his face. It burnt one side of his face. It totally disfigured it and made it look ugly.

Q2. What does Mr. Lamb tell Derry about the real worth of a person?

Ans. Mr. Lamb tells Derry that physical appearance is not much important in life. The real worth of a person lies in his inner personality. It lies in his behaviour and in how much he follows human values in life.

Q3. How was Lamb disabled?

Ans. Mr. Lamb had lost his one leg in the war. It was blown off in a bomb blast. Now he has a tin leg. But he never feels handicapped.

Q4. Who is Mr. Lamb? How does Derry enter his garden?

Ans. Mr. Lamb is an old man. He lives in his garden. He has a tin leg. The kids of the street make fun of him by calling him ‘Lamey lamb’. Derry entered his garden by climbing the boundary wall of the garden.

Q.5. Why does Mr. Lamb leave his gate always open?

Ans. Mr. Lamb lives alone in his house which is in a garden. Nobody likes to enter there and talk to him. He wants people to come and converse with them. So he keeps the doors of his garden always open.

 Q. 6. Why does Mr. Lamb not have curtains at the windows of his house?

Ans. Mr. Lamb likes to meet people. He likes to hear the sound of the wind blowing and the birds chirping outside. So he does not have curtains at the windows of his house.

Q.7. What realization does come to Derry at the end of the play?

Ans. Derry is full of confidence at the end of the play. He has realized his own worth in this world. He does not want to give any importance to what people think about him. His only concern is what he thinks and believes about himself.

Q.8. Why does Derry tell Mr. Lamb that he is afraid of seeing himself in the mirror in the play, ‘On the Face of it’?

Ans. One side of Derry’s face is badly burnt as acid had fallen there. It looks very ugly to all and also to him. So he is afraid to see his face in the mirror.

          Some More Qs.

 Q.1. How does Mr. Lamb try to remove the baseless fears of Derry? Or How does Mr. Lamb try to convince Derry that the outer looks do not make any difference?

Ans. Mr. Lamb encourages Derry not to feel disappointed if his face looks too ugly. Derry has a burnt face. He has two hands, two legs, and a brain. He can achieve greatness in life with the help of his brain and tongue.

Q.2. What qualities of Mr. Lamb attracted Derry to him?

Ans. Mr. Lamb’s qualities attracted Derry very much. First, he does not feel scared and shocked to see Derry’s burnt face. Rather he talks to him lovingly and encourages him to face the world boldly.  He is different from others.

Q. 3. What did Derry’s mother think of Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Derry’s mother did not have a very good opinion of Mr. Lamb. She thought that he is a good-for-nothing fellow. His talks are meaningless. So she does like Derry to stay in Lamb’s garden anymore.

Q. 4. Why does Derry say that people are afraid of him?

Ans. He says that his burnt face seems to be uglier than anything else to the people when they look at him. They feel scared and shocked.

Q. 5. Why does Mr. Lamb not have curtains at the windows of his house?

Ans. Mr. Lamb loves the outside world very much. He does not want to shut the doors and windows of his house to his mind. He likes to hear the sound of the wind blowing and the birds chirping outside.

Q.6. What realization comes to Derry at the end of the play?

Ans. Derry is full of confidence at the end of the play. He has realized his own worth in this world. He does not want to give any importance to what people think about him. His only concern is to think about himself.

Q7. Why does Derry say that he does not like his mother to kiss him?

Ans. Derry says that his mother never kissed him on the burnt side of his face. He thinks that his mother does not love him. So she kisses him out of formality to please Derry.  So he says that he does not love his mother.

Essay-Type Qs.  

Q.1.How did Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry become a turning point in Derry’s life?      Or How did Mr. Lamb encourage and remove Derry’s doubts and fill his mind with courage and confidence?

Or a Character sketch of Derry

Ans. Derry did not like meeting people. He always thought that people did not like to talk to him. They avoided him. People showed sympathy only to console him. He had no faith in his mother also. But Mr. Lamb caused a great change in him. He started feeling that life is a glorious gift. Mr. Lamb tells him that he has one leg, but he has two legs. His burnt face should not be a hurdle in his life. People may stare at him once, twice, and thrice. But they would get fed up very soon. There is music in nature. At last, Derry’s thinking is changed.

Q2. Describe Mr. Lamb’s character.

Ans. Mr. Lamb is the owner of the garden. He has a tin leg. His real leg was destroyed in a bomb blast in war. He is very active. His thinking is positive. He does not feel disabled due to his tin leg. He likes to meet people. He does not keep the windows and doors of his house closed. He also keeps the main gate of his garden open. He welcomes people into his garden. He loves every creation of God. He loves the buzzing sound of the bees. It is music for him. Even weeds have importance to him. He is a true human being. He changes Derry's thinking about life. He makes Derry understand that life is a glorious gift. It should not go waste.

Q4. The lesson ‘On the Face of It’ is an apt depiction of the loneliness and sense of alienation experienced by people on account of a disability.

Ans. The lesson ‘On the Face of It’ raises the very important issue of loneliness and alienation faced by physically handicapped people. Mr. Lamb and Derry face the same type of problem in their life. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg. He wants to talk to people. People do come to meet him for once but never come back. Derry’s face has one burnt side. It looks very ugly and shocking to the people of his neighbourhood. That is why he lives alone in his house with his mother. One day, Derry meets Mr. Lamb in his garden. He encourages Derry so much that there comes a turning point in his life. He decides to face life boldly.