The Medicine Bag Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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The Medicine Bag Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 10 The Medicine Bag

The Medicine Bag Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Explain the vision quest of Grandpa’s father.
Answer:
Grandpa’s father in his early manhood made a vision quest to find a spirit guide for his life. At that time the great Teton Sioux were first made to stay on reservation. There was a strong need for guidance from Wakantanka, the Great Spirit. Many of the young men were filled with despair and hatred. They thought it was quite hopeless to search for a vision when the glorious life was gone and only the hatred confined them at the Reservation.

Grandpa’s father held to the old ways carefully prepared for his quest with a purifying sweat bath and then he went alone to a high butte top to fast and pray. After three days he received his sacred dream-in which he found, after long searching, the white man’s iron.

He did not understand his vision of finding something belonging to the white people-as they were their enemy. When he came down from the butle to cleanse himself at the stream below, he found the remains of a campfire and the broken shell of an iron kettle.

This was a sign which reinforced his dream. He took a piece of iron for his medicine bag from elk skin years before to prepare for his quest. When he narrated his dreams to the old wise man of his society, they gave him the name “Iron Shell”. Iron Shell kept the piece of iron with him at all times and believed it gave him protection from the evils of those unhappy days.

Question 2.
Narrate the short story “The Medicine Bag”.
Answer:
In the short story written by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve “The Medicine Bag” the author narrates the tale of Martin, a bi-racial lad of fourteen. Martin used to live with his parents and his young sister Cheryl. His life was interrupted when his Lakota Grandpa comes to visit them at Iowa. Grandpa tells the story of his culture and life as an Native American, but Martin was afraid that his grandfather might not live up to the expectation of his friends.

However, his friends are deeply appreciative of his grandfather. The old man felt that his ends was near, so he gave Martin “the medicine bag” as a parting gift to remember his family culture. In the end, Martin visited the Iowa sanctury to commemorate his Grandpa-Joe Iron Shell and his medicine bag. The dangers of judging one own family, culture and those around us are explored in the story.

In “The Medicine Bag” the remarkable events during Grandpa’s visit enlightened Martin of the importance of family culture and the acceptance of others. The story clearly brings out the conflict between tradition and modernity. It silently gives message to the youth that we should alway comprehend and give respect to our traditional culture and heritage. We should never disregard them.

The Medicine Bag Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe Grandpa when he came to visit Martin?
Answer:
Martin Grandpa-Joe Iron Shell came to visit Martin at Iowa from South Dakota. Grandpa wasn’t tall and stately like TV IndiAnswer:His hairs were grey string like which hung on his neck. When he visited Martin he was drapped in brown leather suit. He wore a big black hat which had a dropping feather in its crown. He carried an old tin suit case tied shut with rope.

Question 2.
Describe the things Martin got from his Grandpa during one of his visits.
Answer:
Martin Sioux Grandpa often presented the children new moccasins made by him, small round flat raw hide drum decorated with a painting of a warrior riding a horse. He also taught Martin Sioux chant to sing and Martin enjoyed beating the drum with leathered covered stick that had a feather on the end.

Question 3.
What happened when narrotor’s friends met Grandpa?
Answer:
Grandpa treated Martin’s friends as his own grand children and also offered them lemonade. He narrated how he killed the dear from which his vest was made. Martin’s friend were moved by the genial behaviour of the Grandpa and Martin too felt proud about him.

Question 4.
What does Grandpa say about the money he has saved?
Answer:
Grandpa had saved a hundred dollar, which he carried in his old scuffed cowboy, boots for his funeral cost. He wanted to part the money to buy groceries as he never wanted to be a burden on Martin’s family.

Question 5.
What did Grandpa carry in the leather pouch around his neck?
Answer:
The leather pouch which the Grandpa carried contained a broken shell off the iron kettle, a pebble from the butte and a piece of the sacred sage.

Question 6.
How did Martin feel when Grandpa told that he was to handover the medicine bag to him?
Answer:
Martin on realising the ancestral cultural and heritage felt proud when his Grandpa told that he was going to handover the medicine bag to him. In great pride Martin closed his eyes and wished his Grandpa to slip it over his head. But his Grandpa placed to on Martin’s right hand and closed it. He advised him to wear the medicine bag on the Reservation only with sacred sage replaced in it.

The Medicine Bag Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Martin who lived in the city did not know the reality about the Indians because ……..
Answer:
his ideas about Indians were based on shows shown in television and other media about native American lifestyle only.

Question 2.
Martin never showed his Grandpa’s picture to his friends because
Answer:
he had depicted impressive picture of their Grandpa to his friends, which did not match with reality.

Question 3.
Martin thought that his friends would have laughed at Grandpa’s picture because
Answer:
his Grandpa wasn’t tall and stately like TV Indians. His hairs wasn’t in braids but hung in stringy grey strand on his neck and he was old. He didn’t live in a tepee but in the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota.

Question 4.
Martin says “I was so ashamed and embarrased I could have died” because
Answer:
his Grandpa visited their house suddenly and all his impressive features about his Grandpa which he narrated to his friend will crash with the reality. So Martin felt ashamed and embarrased.

Question 5.
Martin did not allow his friends to come to his residence during his Grandpa’s stay because
Answer:
he felt to be rediculed and laughed by his friend for his Grandpa. He feared embarrassment.

Question 6.
Martin learned to beat the drum with leather covered stick because
Answer:
his Grandpa taught him real Sioux chart to sing and beat the drums with stick that had feathers at the end.

Question 7.
Grandpa’s shoes fit him very tight because
Answer:
it was the scuffed old cowberg boots stuffed with money.

Question 8.
Grandpa had saved one hundred dollar because
Answer:
he saved that money for his funeral. He was ready to part the money to buy groceeries for Martin’s family because he does not want to be their burden.

Question 9.
Martin’s Dad felt sorry because
Answer:
he had never thought of bringing Grandpa to Iowa to spend summer with them.

Question 10.
Grandpa came to meet Martin because
Answer:
he wanted to handover “the medicine bag” to the male child, to carry forward his ancestral relies after his death.

The Medicine Bag Story MCQs

Question 1.
Who wrote the short story “The Medicine Bag”?
a. Dafeadio Hearn
b. Ken Liu
c. Roald Dahi
d. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve
Answer:
d. Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve

Question 2.
Who is the narrator of the story?
a. Martin
b.Grandpa
c. Iron Shell
d. Cheryl
Answer:
a. Martin

Question 3.
The narrator and his family lives in:
a. Iowa
b. Italy
c. Dakota
d. India
Answer:
a. Iowa

Question 4.
On one of his visits Grandpa gave Martin:
a. moccasins
b. a horse
c. a golden ball
d. a decorated drum
Answer:
a. moccasins

Question 5.
Martin had not shown Grandpa’s picture to their friends because….
a. they were ashamed of him
b. the glorious tales told about him did not match him
c. they did not have any picture of their Grandpa
d. Mom had asked the children not to show the picture to anyone.
Answer:
b. the glorious tales told about him did not match him

Question 6.
When Grandpa came to visit Martin’s family Martin
a. was very happy
b. could not recognize him
c. felt ashamed and emparrased
d. went out to tell his friends
Answer:
c. felt ashamed and emparrased

Question 7.
Grandpa carried with him
a. tin suit-case
b. a big ball
c. a gold chain
d. a beautiful toy for Martin’s sister.
Answer:
a. tin suit-case

Question 8.
What was Grandpa’s name:
a. Martin
b. Iron Shell
c. Joe Iron Shell
d. None of the above
Answer:
c. Joe Iron Shell

Question 9.
How old was Martin’s sister?
a. ten years old
b. fourteen years old
c. six years old
d. nine years old
Answer:
d. nine years old

Question 10.
With what name Grandpa greeted Cheryl?
a. Takoza
b. Virginia
c. Sweet Cheryl
d. Wicincala
Answer:
d. Wicincala

Question 11.
Martin picked up Grandpa’s suit case and
a. asked him to go black
b. told him to hide somewhere
c. guided him to take him home
d. informed his mother about Grandpa’s visit
Answer:
c. guided him to take him home

Question 12.
Grandpa had save the money:
a. to buy sweets for the children
b. for Martin’s education
c. to donate
d. for his own funeral
Answer:
d. for his own funeral

Question 13.
What kind of boots did the Grandpa wear?
a. heavy boots
b. black boots
c. scuffed old cowboy boots
d. spiked boots.
Answer:
a. heavy boots

Question 14.
How old was Martin’s Grandpa?
a. eighty-six years
b. ninety years
c. eighty years
d. ninety-six years
Answer:
a. eighty-six years

Question 15.
He could chant well in what language?
a. Hebrew
b. Hindi
c. Chinese
d. Sioux Native Language
Answer:
d. Sioux Native Language

Question 16.
Martin’s Dad felt sorry as:
a. he had not gone to receive the old man
b. he had not recognised Grandpa
c. he had not helped the old man
d. he had not thought of bringing Grandpa with them
Answer:
d. he had not thought of bringing Grandpa with them

Question 17.
The medicine bag was actually:
a. a suitcase
b. a dirty leather pouch
c. an iron shell
d. None of the above
Answer:
b. a dirty leather pouch

Question 18.
The old man said that it was time for Martin to have the medicine bag
a. he wanted to pass on the bag to the male child
b. as Martin was ready to keep it
c. because grandpa thought that he was going to die
d. both (a) and (c)
Answer:
d. both (a) and (c)

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Indigo Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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Indigo Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 9 Indigo

Indigo Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Satyajit Ray’s short story, “Indigo” is out and out a supernatural story. Do you agree? Give reasons in support of your answer.
Answer:
Supernatural stories or fictions normally concern itself with the matters of god, the soul, archangels and resurrection. Subgenres include horror fiction, gothic, ghost stories, supernatural thrillers and other macabre stories in the horror genre. But the primary essence of a supernatural story is to create an atmosphere of uncanny, ominous world where ‘’fair is foul, and foul is fair.” Besides, the reader must be mentally ready to suspend their disbelief.

Ray’s “Indigo” is necessarily a supernatural story in all respect. The rain soaked, frog croaking night, the old dilapidated Dak bungalow, the old chowkidar, the spooky big room with only a charpoy- all create in reader a readiness for a mystery and omen. Aniruddha, the central character in the story and the only occupant of the Dak Bungalow at that night, slowly observed changes in the dimly lit room. His wrist watch was gone and so was his torch from under the pillow.

He jumped out of the charpoy and looked under it. His suitcase too, was gone. He wondered because no thief could come in as the door was neatly bolted. While undoing the bolt, he suddenly noticed that his hands had become white. He found to his utter surprise that his erstwhile vest was replaced by a long-sleeved silk shirt. His surprise knew no bounds when he shouted from the veranda, ’’Chowkidar”, and the voice and the accent were unmistakably that of an Englishman.

In the distance, was a building with a high chimney-reminiscent of an Indigo processing unit, that added to the eerie of the situation. The surroundings were unusually quiet. The dimly lit lantern had actually made the room darker but now Aniruddha could clearly see through the darkness.

He could see clearly that his charpoy was replaced by a costly cot covered with mosquito net. The pillow had a border with frills. The table and chair had lost their aged look. Instead of a lantern, there stood a kerosene lamp with an ornate shade. There were other paraphernalia which he had not brought with him.

Aniruddha was terrified now and went to bathroom to look at his reflection in the mirror. All he found there was a nineteenth century Englishman with a sallow complexion, blond hair and light eyes from which shone a strange mixture of hardness and suffering. The spirit of the Englishman had possessed Aniruddha. It was the Englishman who moved, spoke and acted in the body and mind of Aniruddha, who was in his full senses but was helpless.

Then the ghost of the Englishman came to the writing desk and made Aniruddha write some confessions. How malaria, played havoc in his life, how his ill reputation barred him to go back to England etc. Then he drew out a revolver from the drawer, called ‘’Rex”, his pet hound, and shot him. He also shot at the right ear with the same revolver. Aniruddha fainted and that signified that the ghost had left him. Thus, the story is perfectly supernatural only.

Question 2.
What were the “snags” for Aniruddha from the start of his journey till Dumka?
Answer:
To start with Aniruddha’s father’s old friend uncle Mohit suddenly turned up when Aniruddha was ready to set out from home. Then came Bholababu, Aniruddha’s ground-floor neighbor, whose advice for an additional driver for this long journey, was to be heeded to. The first thirty miles of journey through dinghy towns took out from him the fun of driving.

Close to Panagarh military camp, one of his car’s rear tyres became flat. He brought out the jack from the boot of the car and replaced the flat tyre. It was half past two of the day and Aniruddha was back to his driving seat. Seeing a patch of blue-black clouds in the western sky, he doubted about the impending strike of a norwester, but he couldn’t help it anyway.

So, he drank some hot tea from the flask, and concentrated on driving faster. Before he could cross Ilambazar, the violent norwester pounced on his car and it seemed that the shafts of lightning were sure to make the car its mark in no time.

Somehow Aniruddha passed Suri and was on way to Massanjore when another tyre of the car gave in. By the time, the cloud, had burst out and were raining in all their might. The wiper was moving but it hardly cleared the frontal view. Looked liked the world was enveloped in a dusky wrapper whereas the April sun still should be in the sky. After waiting there for quarter of an hour, Aniruddha found that no other vehicle had passed by that road. He must have mistaken to keep up the right road.

Then suddenly there blew a horn from behind. It was a truck. Aniruddha got down from his car and found that his car stood swerved in the middle of the road and that had blocked the way of the truck. Aniruddha, the truck driver and his helper came out in the drizzling street and struggled hard to push the car at a side of the road. The truck left and Aniruddha went back to his car.

Minutes later, Aniruddha found the mild gleam of a lantern light and following it, he arrived at an old, dilapidated Dak bungalow where the main story began. We, however, do not know whether or not Aniruddha reached his destination after what happened at the Dak bungalow. These were the “snags” for Aniruddha from the start of his journey to Dumka.

Indigo Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What information does Aniruddha Bose share with readers in the beginning?
Answer:
Introducing himself to the reader, the main character Aniruddha Bose, a bachelor of twenty-nine, informs the reader that he works for an advertising agency He resides in a flat at Sardar Shankar Road in Calcutta. He possess an Ambassador car. He takes infacy in writing which gets published in various magazines. Recently he is reading a lot about the 19th century “Indigo” plantation in Bihar and Bengal. This research work has made him quite expert.

Question 2.
Why did Aniruddha Bose consider himself an expert on indigo plantation.
Answer:
Aniruddha Bose, a bachelor of twenty-nine is considering himself an expert on indigo plantation because he is reading a lot and making research on the events related with the 19th century indigo plantation in Bihar and Bengal under the British era.

Question 3.
Who was Pramode? Why did Aniruddha Bose went to visit Dwnka?
Answer:
Pramod was Aniruddha Bose’s friend and classmate. He was posted in Dumka in the Forest Department. Pramode invited Aniruddha to visit Dumka on 27th April and Aniruddha readily accepted it to escape from the noisy hectic city in to the open

Question 4.
What glitches did Aniruddha face on the day of her visit to Dumka?
Answer:
Aniruddha decided to start early but there were some glitches which prevented him from a good start. Uncle Mohit visited him after ten year. Aniruddha catered him with tea and light refreshments. His neighbour Bhola Babu stopped him and enquired about his visit. Satisfying them somehow, Aniruddha left Calcutta for Dumka around ten minutes past eleven.

Question 5.
Describe Aniruddha’s family background.
Answer:
Aniruddha Bose in his autobiography narrated that his father was a well-known physician who practiced at Monghyr – where he was born. His brother was five years older than him. His father died when Aniruddha was just sixteen. After his father’s death, they shifted to Calcutta and he studies at St. Xavier’s College for his bachelor degree. As he could speak English. Fluently, he easily got a job in an Advertising agency.

Question 6.
Why did the Sikh truck driver honked so loudly.
Answer:
On his way to Dumka, Aniruddha relaxad himself for a short while with his cigarette. He was oblivious of the fact that he had left his Ambassador right in the middle of the road and had blocked the road, for traffic to pass. The Sikh driver at first became annoyed and honked loudly for his clear exit. Later realising that Aniruddha’s tyre was flat, the driver and his helper helped Aniruddha to push his car on one side of the road.

Question 7.
What did Aniruddha decide when he realised that it was quite difficult to reach Dumka?
Answer:
When Aniruddha realised that it was difficult for him to reach Dumka that night, he decided to continue his journey until he seeks for himself a night shelter. Meanwhile, the rain turned into a drizzle. While continuing his journey he identified a rectangle of orange light and guessed out that it was a type of shelter for him and approached towards it.

Question 8.
Who was Sukhanram?
Answer:
Sukhanram was the caretaker of the old Dak Bungalow, of the indigo planters, where Aniruddha took his night refuge. He was a stocky, middle aged man with a thick moustache. He offered food and
shelter to Aniruddha

Question 9.
How did Anirud dha feel on getting transformed?
Answer:
Due to excessive journey and rain. Aniruddha took refuge in an old British Dak Bungalow on the night of 27th April. The Dak Bungalow belonged to the old British indigo planters. That night Aniruddha experience shocking change in him and he transformed into an English indigo tax collector. He was not in his self. He wrote letter dated 27th April,1868. He also lost his self control and shot Rex with his pistol. But the very next day Anirnddha awakes and find everything normal.

Question 10.
What kind of story is the ‘Indigo’
Answer:
Satyajit Ray’s short story ‘Indigo’ is a well knit gripping horror story where suspense plays a beautiful part. The story is narrated by the main character, Aniruddha Bose, who had to spend an unplanned night in an old bungalow wherein he has to encounter an almost paranormal phenomenon. He begins to doubt if anybody would believe his story of nightmares which took place of 27th April – the 100th death anniversary of one of the indigo tax lords.

Question 11.
What was the first snag at Aniruddha’s journey from Calcutta to Dumka?
Answer:
Uncle Mohit, Aniruddha’s father’s old friend paid a visit at the material hour after ten years. Aniniddha had to offer him tea and listen to his chit-chat for over an hour. That was the first snag.

Question 12.
What was the second snag?
Answer:
The second snag was Bholababu, Aniruddha’s ground floor neighbour who walked up with his four year old son Pintu in two. After knowing about his solo driving to Dumka, he expressed his concern and being assured that Aniruddha was a cautious driver, he left wishing good luck

Question 13.
Where did Aniruddha have a light meal?
Answer:
When Aniruddha was driving near Burdwan, he stopped his car by the station and had a light meal of toast, omelette and coffee. It was about half past 12.

Question 13.
when did Amruddha have his second tyre of the car flat?
Answer:
It was through a heavy shower of the norwester that Aniruddha was on his way to Massanjore when his second tyre became flat

Question 14.
Why did the truck blow its horn from behind when Aniruddha’s car had stopped on the road?
Answer:
When Aniruddha’s car stopped on the road having a flat tyre, it had swerved at an angle that blocked the road. The truck-driver wanted Aniruddha to remove his car at a side of the road. So, he blew his horn.

Question 15.
After the truck went away and Aniruddha resumed his seat in the car, he saw a rectangle orange light through the branches of tree. What was that?
Answer:
It was a small cottage with a corrugated tin roof under which there were a hurricane lantern and a charpoy.

Question 16.
Who was the “Stocky, middle-aged man”?
Answer:
He was Sukhanram, the chowkidar of the Dakbungalow.

Indigo Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Aniruddha was doing a bit of writing work also because ………….
Answer:
some of his stories were published in some magazines.

Question 2.
Aniruddha considered himself an expert on “Indigo plantation” because ………….
Answer:
For last few month he was reading a lot about the 19th century indigo plantation in Bihar and Bengal. He consider himself an expert from the knowledge he gained from such research.

Question 3.
Aniruddha and his mother had to shift to calcutta because
Answer:
his father, a well-known physician in Monghyr, the place where he was bom, died. After his father’s death he shifted from Monghyr to Calcutta with his mother.

Question 4.
Aniruddha got job in an Advertising Agency because ……..
Answer:
he could speak English fluently.

Question 5.
He had made several trips in his car bee mse ……..
Answer:
he had a strong desire to get away from the noisy hectic city in the open to breath in fresh air.

Question 6.
Aniruddha left for Dumka because ……..
Answer:
his friend and classmate Pramode, who was posted in Dumka in the Forest Department insisted him to visit Dumka.

Question 7.
Uncle Mohit could not be treated lightly because ……..
Answer:
he was Animddha’s father’s old friend who came after ten years to meet hitn. Aniruddha had to offer him tea and listen to his chat for over an hour.

Question 8.
Aniruddha watch turned muggy because ……..
Answer:
at Panagarh his car tyres went flat. He had a spare tyre and he set for the repair work. The work made him dripping with sweat and his watch turned muggy in the meanwhile.

Question 9.
Aniruddha recited Tagore’s poems to himself because ……..
Answer:
he wanted to blend his mood. He wanted to make his long drive enjoyable and relaxing.

Question 10.
The truck driving was honking again and again because ……..
Answer:
Aniruddha was relaxing with his cigarrette placing his car in the middle of the road and blocking the road and making it difficult for the truck to pass.

Indigo Story MCQs

Question 1.
Aniruddha is – years old
a. 35
b. 25
c. 45
d. 29
Answer:
d. 29

Question 2.
Aniruddha has been working in an ………..
a. Steel factory
b. Aluminum factory
c. Publishing house
d. Advertising agency
Answer:
d. Advertising agency

Question 3.
Aniruddha has a car ……….
a. Fiat
b. Maruti
c. Honda
d. Ambassador
Answer:
d. Ambassador

Question 4.
Besides job, Aniruddha works as …………
a. Freelance artist
b. Musician
c. Journalist
d. Writer
Answer:
d. Writer

Question 5.
Aniruddha read a lot about
a. Ian Fleming
b. Feluda
c. French Revolution
d. Indigo plantation
Answer:
d. Indigo plantation

Question 6.
“Golders green” is a – in England
a. Sugar cane factory
b. Gold extraction unit
c. Residential complex
d. Hospital
Answer:
d. Hospital

Question 7.
Aniruddha was – when his father died
a. 17
b. 18
c. 14
d. 13
Answer:
a. 17

Question 8.
“there was snag right at the start”. The snag was ……………
a. A flat tyre
b. A thief broke in
c. Uncle Mohit came in
d. The servant fainted
Answer:
c. Uncle Mohit came in

Question 9.
The second snag was …………
a. When a rain started.
b. When Bholababu came.
c. When he was allowed to leave Calcutta.
d. His bike collided.
Answer:
b. When Bholababu came.

Question 10.
The first tyre became flat when Aniruddha was closed to …………
a. Burdwan
b. Bankura
c. Panagarh
d. Barasat
Answer:
c. Panagarh

Question 11.
Predicament means-
a. An invitation
b. A dress
c. Difficulty
d. Journey
Answer:
c. Difficulty

Question 12.
FroJicsome means-
a. Lively and playful
b. Troublesome.
c. Dangerous.
Answer:
a. Lively and playful

Question 13.
The second tyre fell flat when Aniruddha was on his way to
a. Mussourie
b. Mathabhanga
c. Massanjore
d. Mashagram
Answer:
c. Massanjore

Question 14.
The driver of the truck was
a. A Bihari
b. A Haryanvi
c. A Sikh
d. A Marathi
Answer:
c. A Sikh

Question 15.
The name of the Chowkidar at the Dakbungalow was ……….
a. Tukaram
b. Bitthalrarn
c. Sukhanram
d. Hariram
Answer:
c. Sukhanram

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

There Will Come Soft Rains Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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There Will Come Soft Rains Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 8 There Will Come Soft Rains

There Will Come Soft Rains Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Vividly describe what happened when the dog entered the automated house.
Answer:
The Automated house had a very developed gadget to keep vigilance of the house. It never failed to interrogate anyone tiying to enter the house. It asked for password if anything approached such as foxes and cats, at it also shuts the window and draws the shade if a bird flies near the house. It has done so as if the house were paranoid.

Despite of all this vigils, a dog enters the house. It is because the house is used to its voice. Once huge and fleshy the dog has been reduced to skeleton due to starvation. The body was filled with sores, as exposed to radioactive rays of nuclear explosion. The condition of the dog clearly indicates that something catastrophic had happened to the occupants of the house.

The dog goes franatically from door to door of the house in search of its occupants. It fails to find anyone except the working gadgets-like the robotic clean mice running after him to clear the mud track created by the dog.

Later the dog begins to froth at the mouth and collapses and dies eventually. Delicately sensing decay, the house’s cleaning mice goes into the room to remove the dog. It dead body was deposited into the incinerator in the cellar.

Question 2.
Describe in detail how the automated house turned into ruins?
Answer:
In Ray Bradbury’s short science fiction “There Will Come Self Rains” we come to know about an automated house where all various technologically developed gadgets worked labouriously to provide human comfort and ease. The house was devoid of human existence, which was the result of nuclear explosion last night. The automated devices performed their daily routine.

Late in the night, a furious wind blew which knocked a tree in the kitchen window. The cleaning solvent kept near the window fell over the burning stove and a fire started to engulf the house. The automated house tried to save itself with fire extinguishers, but water ran out. Modem technology was pressed into service. Work and confusion went together.

There was confusion and pandemonium all around. Sarcastically the author explained that the colourful animals on the glowing walls of the nursery walls fled in panic, and the programmed device recited the poem “There Will Come Soft Rains”.

The huge fire burnt the house and its well equipped gadgets. The house could not with stand anymore and collapsed. Smoke poured from the rubble. One one wall stood alone with remnant voice declaring in a frightened and wierd tone the phrase “Today is August 5, 2026”. The voice reminds us the sad tale of the house and its inmates before the nuclear explosion.

There Will Come Soft Rains Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What kind of story is “There Will Come Soft Rains”?
Answer:
Ray Bradbury’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” is a science fiction. It narrates the story of an automatic lone house that stands intact and unaffected in a California city that has been annihilated by nuclear bomb. The main theme of the story is the horrors of nuclear war.

Ray Bradbury explores and reveals with grim ironies the effect of technological developments like the robotic mice and mechanical labour saving devices aimed at providing ease and Comfort to mankind. The tone of the story throughout is serious as the author warns us of the dangers of technology awaiting humans.

Question 2.
Which activities are performed by the gadgets in the automated house at seven o’clock?
Answer:
At seven o’clock the alarm cock gadgets “tich locked” and declared the time and requested the inmates of the house to get up. The clock ticked repeatedly as no one responded to stop it. At seven to nine it declared breakfast and engaged in its preparation.

Question 3.
Who were the occupants of the house?
Answer:
The entire McClellan family were the or upant of the house that comprised of Mr. and Mrs. McClellan and their two children-a boy and a girl. They also had a pet dog. The whole family perished in the nuclear explosion so nothing could be said clearly about their profession and activities.

Question 4.
Explain the cleaning devices in the house.
Answer:
The Automated house had beautiful cleaning devices attached to it. The gadgets were filled to clean the dishes and the house. As the house had all the appliances essential for the upkeep, robot mice, which had mice-like appearance, projected out at necessary times to clean up all the dust, mud particles in the house.

Question 5.
Whose photographs were affected in the catastrophe?
Answer:
In the nuclear explosion the west side of the house was charred. In a photography-probably Mrs. McClellan-a woman bend to pick flowers remained. There were five spots of paints-the man, the woman, the children, the ball-remained. The rest were a thin layer of charcool.

Question 6.
What happened to the pet dog of the house?
Answer:
The pet of the Mcclellan family appeared for a short while. The gadget allowed the dog sensing its voice and smell. It had sores on its body and was reduced to skeleton due to starvation. The poor beast was seriously been affected by radioactive rays. It appeared restless, later frothed and died.

Question 7.
How did the house catch fire?
Answer:
Later in the night, furious winds blew and knocked a tree in the kitchen window. It tipped over a cleaning solution, which fell over the stove. It started a fire which engulfed the whole house. The house tried to save itself with fire extinguishers but water ran out. Slowly the fire destroyed the whole house except a lone wall and a lone gadget.

There Will Come Soft Rains Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The dog is allowed to enter the house because ………….
Answer:
The front door gadgets recognised the dog voice and allowed him by opening the door.

Question 2.
There was no one in the because …..
Answer:
At night the whole city was ruined by nuclear explosion. Only the automated house existed among the ruins.

Question 3.
The beds were warmed at night because …..
Answer:
The gadgets were programmed to heat the beds of the inmates of the house at nine o’clock as the nights are cool in California.

Question 4.
The dirty dishes were dropped into a hot water because ……
Answer:
the gadget were programmed to clean then in a germ free manner and make them dry and shiny.

Question 5.
The robot mice came out because ……
Answer:
The mice was programmed to clean the automated house and make it dust free. It came out hurriedly to clean the mud track created by the wounded pet dog.

Question 6.
The house failed to save itself from the fire because …….
Answer:
The water supply was quite exhasted and due to scarcity of adequate water, the house failed to fight with the engulfing fire.

Question 7.
No one could enter the house because ……
Answer:
The automated house was fitted with developed sensors that kept vigil on any one’s entry-whether a lonely fox or a whining cats. It only allowed the known ones like the pet dog.

Question 8.
The mice were angry because ……
Answer:
The pet dog, moved into the house tracking mud. Seeing it robotics mice were quite angry as it had to pick up mud and it created lots of inconvenience.

Question 9.
The voice tells Mrs. McClellan that it will read out the poem on its own because ……
Answer:
The machine received no suggestions about the poems preferred by Mr. Macciellan-whose existence was ended by the nuclear explosion last night.

Question 10.
The fire continued to rage because ……
Answer:
The water supply exhausted and the water pump stopped working. There was no adequate water supply to cease the fire, so the fire continued to spread throughout the house.

There Will Come Soft Rains Story MCQs

Question 1.
The author of the story “There Will Come Soft Rains” is ……
a. H.GWells
b. Ray Bradbury
c. Stephen Leacock
d. Philip. K Dick
Answer:
b. Ray Bradbury

Question 2.
The poem with same title “There Will Come Soft Rains” is written by ……
a. Walt Whitman
b. John Keats
c. Sara Teasdale
d. William Shakespeare
Answer:
c. Sara Teasdale

Question 3.
The incident of the story took place on ……
a. August 4, 2026
b. August 6, 2023
c. August 13, 2013
d. August 5, 2025
Answer:
a. August 4, 2026

Question 4.
The alarm clock of the automatic house announces which time at the beginning of the story?
a. 6 o’clock
b. 5o’cloclc
c. 7o’clock
d. 8o’clock
Answer:
c. 7o’clock

Question 5.
What did the voice repeat about Tilita?
a. birthday
b. marriage anniversary
c. appoinment with doctors
d. baby shower
Answer:
b. marriage anniversary

Question 6.
The weather-box on the front door said quietly about ……
a. strong winds
b. the possibility of rain
c. the sunny day
d. the tempest
Answer:
b. the possibility of rain

Question 7.
At what time of the day was the house cleaned?
a. 9 o’clock
b. 9:15 a.m
c. 10 o’clock
d. 10:30 a.m
Answer:
b. 9:15 a.m

Question 8.
When did the garden sprinklers whirled up in golden founts, filling the soft air with scattering of brightness ……
a. Ten-fifteen
b. ten o’clock
c. 9:15 a.m
d. Two o’clock
Answer:
a. Ten-fifteen

Question 9.
What could be seen in the photograph of a woman?
a. painting a wall
b. picking flowers
c. washing dishes
d. washing clothes
Answer:
b. picking flowers

Question 10.
What came out from behind there rain?
a. the swallows
b. the store
c. the moon
d. the sun
Answer:
d. the sun

Question 11.
What happened to the dog that entered?
a. covered with sores
b. badly beaten
c. suffering from rabies
d. bleeding profusely
Answer:
a. covered with sores

Question 12.
Where was the incinerator lying?
a. on the porch
b. into the cellar
c. in the kitchen
d. in the backyard
Answer:
b. into the cellar

Question 13.
The incinerator was compared to ………
a. Pluto
b. evil Baal
c. Wise Solomon
d. furnace
Answer:
b. evil Baal

Question 14.
The pancakes were baked with ……
a. raisens and nuts
b. chocolate syrup
c. vanilla syrup
d. maple syrup
Answer:
d. maple syrup

Question 15.
When the dog went into the incinerators?
a. Two-fifteen
b. Twelve noon
c. Ten o’clock
d. ten fifteen
Answer:
a. Two-fifteen

Question 16.
What set the room ablaze?
a. cleaning solvent shattered over the stove
b. a match stick
c. cylinder blast
d. nuclear explosion
Answer:
a. cleaning solvent shattered over the stove

Question 17.
Which two artist and painter has been mentioned in the stry?
a. Van Gogh and Picassos
b. Rabindranath and Abanindranath
c. Picassos and Matisses
d. None of the above
Answer:
c. Picassos and Matisses

Question 18.
At the end of the story the electrical gadgets announced which date?
a. Today is August 5, 2026
b. Today is August 4, 2026
c. Today is April 20, 2023
d. Today is August 13, 2013
Answer:
a. Today is August 5, 2026

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Cookie Lady Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

by
The Cookie Lady Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 7 The Cookie Lady

The Cookie Lady Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe in detail how the lady felt the change in her when Bubber visited her for the last time?
Answer:
In Philip K. Dick story “The Cookie Lady” we get acquainted with Bernard Suie popularly known as Bubber. Bubber is a chubby, obese teenage lad who had irresistable cravings for cookies. He could do anything for a plate of cookies. He often visited Mrs.Drew, an old strange lady who resided in his locality.

Mrs. Drew used to bake cookies for him which the boy relished with cold milk. Mrs. Drew was quite aware of the lad’s taste and preference. When Bubber returned home from Mrs. Drews residence he always felt tired and exhausted. Seeing the boy’s health detoriation, his parents forbade the boy from visiting Mrs. Drew. But who can prevent his extreme craving for cookies? Bubber again visited Mrs. Drews residence and informed her about his last visit.

On hearing Bernard last visit, the lady gazed at him very closely. She told him to choose a book from her bookcase something by Trollope and read about. When Bernard was reading loudly she sat beside him and touched his arm. The lady could feeling the youngness of him, flowing between her fingers, through her arms. A pulsation vibrating youngness was so close to her. The feel of life made her dizzy. She closed her eyes, letting it move over her, filling her up. The change, the flow was coming over her, the warm rising feeling.

She was blooming again, filling with life, swelling into richness as she had in her thirties. Her arms were rounded and her nails were clear. Her hair transform, black heavy growth against her neck. All the wrinkles in her cheek has vanished and her skin was plain and soft. She smiled feeling her strong teeth, gum and red lips. Her voice was sensual and throaty.

Then she rose up and gave the last cookies to Bernard and hurrriedly went into her bedroom to relish her youth with bosom swelling and her flesh firm. Being elated she decided to take a fresh bath. Meanwhile, Bubber turned pale, exhausted and his skin was dull and dead white. He slowly transformed into strand of dry weeds blown by the wind.

Question 2.
Comment on the theme of the story “The Cookie Lady”
Answer:
In the short story “The Cookie Lady” the author Philip K. Dick create an atmosphere of horror, suspense, fear and abnormality using his pen. He focuses on the interpersonal relationship which can be interpreted as having good or bad influences on human being.

The author stressed on the theme that can be inferred that irresistable craving can prove disastrous and fatal as we find in the case of Bubber who failed to resist his temptation towards cookies baked to him by an old strange lady named Mrs. Drew. He was already obese and over-eating was unhealthy for him.

The author also stressed on the effect of over exploitation of the innocents by evil minded unethical, selfish people. Bubber used Mrs. Drew to satisfy his temptation for baked cookeis. Likewise, Mrs. Drew – as the name suggest sucks Bubber youth and vitality and exploits him to the extreme. She appear to be witch, capable of doing inhuman or even super human actions.

The author also focuses on the responsibility of the parents in guiding their children. Both parents failed to control irresistable desire of their son to relish cookies. The innocent boys falls into the trap of an unethical lady who under the pretext of providing him his favourite cookies filled with nuts and raisins, exploits his youngness and youth and sends him back – deprived of all his youth and energy.

The Cookie Lady Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why was Bernard teased by his friends? Where does he go?
Answer:
Bernard popularly known as Bubber was often mocked and teased by his friend Ernie Mill because they knew his irresistable greed for hot cookies. Bubber often visited Mrs. Drew’s house when the strange old lady baked cookies for him only.

Question 2.
Describe the house of the old strange lady?
Answer:
The old lady Mrs. Drew’s house was situated at the end of the street. The front of the house was overgrown with old dry weeds. The house itself looked like a gray, shabby, unpainted box. The porch steps were sagging. There was a weather beaten old rocking chair on the porch coverd with a tom piece of cloth hanging over it.

Question 3.
What tempted Rubber to the cookie lady?
Answer:
Bubber was tempted by the hot cookies filled with nuts and raisins, which was baked for him by the strange old lady, who lived in his neighbouhood. When Bubber visited her she served hots cookies with cold milk. Bubber devoured the cookies to his fill and carried the rest in his pocket. Bubber had irresistable craving for hot cookies.

Question 4.
Write a short note on Rubber’s parents.
Answer:
Bubber was the only obese teenage son of Ralf and May Surle. His parents felt upset and disturbed with their son for his frequent visit to Mrs. Drew house. Whenever he returned tired and exhausted his parent remained annoyed with him. They told him clearly not to visit the old strange Lady’s house anymore.

Parents have social responsibility in guiding one’s child. Bubber’s parents failed to either provide their son his favourite food or curb his cravings. The boy eventually fell into the trap of an unethical lady, who exploited his youth and deprived him his energy and vitality.

Question 5.
How did the lady feel the change in herself when Bubber visited her on his last visit.
Answer:
On his last visit, Bubber didn’t cany any books with him to read aloud to the lady. The lady gave him a book from her book case and ordered the boy to read. She went close to the boy. She felt something miraculous happening as she touched the boy’s arm.

The lady felt a pulsating vibrating youngness so close to her. A youthful transformation of new vigour and of rejuvenation, entered into her own self. She bloomed again filling with life and swelling into richness. Her wrinkles vanished, her muscles tightened, her hair transformed thick and black. She was young again with steady bosom swelling and protuding hips. She began to get throbs on touching her body parts.

Question 6
What kind of story is “The Cookie Lady”
Answer:
The story “The Cookie Lady” by Philip. K. Dick narrates in a gripping manner, a tale of horror. This story creates an atmosphere of horror, suspense fear and abnormality. It presents how Mrs. Drew like a witch sucks youthhood and vitality from a young teenage obese boy named Bubber by using her cookies as a bait. The lady regains her youth again whereas the boy transform into bundle of trash.

The Cookie Lady Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Mrs Drew kept the door open for Bubber because …………
Answer:
She knew the smell of baked cookies would fetch Bubber directly into her kitchen at any time, after his school.

Question 2.
On eating cookies Bubber’s ample sides bulged because …………
Answer:
Bubber was a chubby, obese teenage lad with irresistable craving for hot fresh baked cookies filled with nuts and raisins. Moreover, he devoured the cookies greedily.

Question 3.
Mrs Drew asked Bubber to stay and talk to her for a while because
Answer:
She could feel her inner transformation, where she could feel her wrikles disappearing, her muscles tightening and her hairs turning thick and black. When Bubber stopped she returned to her own self.

Question 4.
Bubber had been coming to Mrs. Drew because…………
Answer:
The obese child had irresistable greed for cookies and Mrs. Drew satisfied his greed by baking him cookies filled with nuts and raisins.

Question 5.
Ernie used to ask Bubber about his visit to old lady because …………
Answer:
He was friend of Bubber and knew about his friend’s craving for cookies. Ernie Mills often mocked him for his visit.

Question 6.
Mrs Drew underwent transformation when Bubber visited her because …………
Answer:
She possessed a power in her to draw or suck youthhood and vitality from chubby, obese teenager, Bubber.

Question 7.
Bubber’s mouth watered when he saw the lady drinking ice-cream soda because …………
Answer:
He was a obese teenage with irresistable craving for cookies and chocolates. Even the sight of other devouring ice-cream, chocolate tempted him to visit Mrs. Drew who baked cookies for him only.

Question 8.
Bubber stopped outside Me-Vane’s drugstore because …………
Answer:
He was looking speculatively at the comic book.

Question 9.
Rubber’s father forbade him to go to the old lady’s house because
Answer:
When Rubber returned he looked pale and exhausted. Cookies were restricted from his diet and his parents knew that Bubber could do anything for a plate of cookies. Moreover, his father disliked his frequent visit to the crazy old lady’s house

Question 10.
On his way back from Mrs. Drew’s house, Bubber felt tired, his head ached because
Answer:
Mrs. Drew has drawn from him all his youth and vitality and transformed herself into young lady of thirties. Exploited Bubber felt tired to return home as no more energy was left within him.

The Cookie Lady Story MCQs

Question 1.
Who is the author of the story “The Cookie Lady”
a. Ken Liu
b. Satyajit Ray
c. Mark Twain
d. Philip K. Dick
Answer:
d. Philip K. Dick

Question 2.
Bernard Surie was popularly called……..
a. Bubber
b. Baby
c. Barley
d. Rubber
Answer:
a. Bubber

Question 3.
Ernie Mill’s tone was……….
a. sad
b. mocking
c. friendly
d. happy
Answer:
b. mocking

Question 4.
Mrs. Drew lived in a ………….. house
a. old
b. big
c. haunted
d. shabby
Answer:
d. shabby

Question 5.
Mrs. Drew aiway baked ……………. for the young lad
a. cake
b. cookies
c. muffins
d. pastries
Answer:
b. cookies

Question 6.
Mrs. Drew was:
a. a young woman
b. charming and friendly
c. cynical
d. a very old woman
Answer:
d. a very old woman

Question 7.
Mrs Drew served Bubber cookies with
a. Chocolate syrup
b. cold milk
c. tea
d. coffee
Answer:
b. cold milk

Question 8.
What grew in front of Mrs. Drews house?
a. daffodils
b. old dry weeds
c. roses
d. none of the above answer
Answer:
b. old dry weeds

Question 9.
Bubber was carrying with him a book on:
a. poetry
b. chemistry
c. geography
d. general knowledge
Answer:
c. geography

Question 10.
The rocking chair was placed on the
a. porch
b. backyard
c. staircase
d. living room
Answer:
a. porch

Question 11.
Mrs Drew transformed into a woman of when she came dose to Bubber after his reading a book.
a. twenties
b. thirties
c. teen
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. thirties

Question 12.
The cookies were filled with
a. chocolate
b. nuts
c. raisins
d. nuts and raisins
Answer:
d. nuts and raisins

Question 13.
What did Bubber parents discussed after Bubber returned from Mrs. Drews house?
a. Bubber was turning cynical
b. Bubber is tired and exhausted
c. Bubber behaving abnormally
d. Bubber speaking against his parents
Answer:
b. Bubber is tired and exhausted

Question 14.
The kind of lad Bubber was:
a. thin
b. obese
c. cheerful
d. clever
Answer:
b. obese

Question 15.
Mrs. Drew listened to Bubber’s reading
a. silently
b. happily
c. contineously
d. no reaction
Answer:
a. silently

Question 16.
At the end Bubber transforms into:
a. a bundle of hay
b. crow
c. a bundle of trash
d. young lady
Answer:
c. a bundle of trash

Question 17.
Frequent visit to Mrs Drews house made Bubber:
a. tired and exhausted
b. indifferent
c. abnormal
d. happy
Answer:
a. tired and exhausted

Question 18.
Thestoryhasa touch in it
a. happy
b. horror
c. chill
d. lucid
Answer:
b. horror

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Thank You, Ma’am Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

by
Thank You, Ma’am Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 5 Thank You, Ma’am

Thank You, Ma’am Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe briefly why did Mrs. Jones take Roger to her home and not hand him over to the police?
Answer:
Mrs. Jones was a sturdy, strong, courageous woman who worked till late hours of night in the Beauty salon of a hotel. Naturally, she returned home at late hours risking the perils of Harlem streets at night. In one such night, she caught Roger, a frail, teenaged, petty purse-snatcher who could not flee from her tight grip.

In such cases, it is normally witnessed that the criminal is handed over to the police. If the criminal is a teen-aged, the police usually send him to a court for juvenile justice or worse, to a Borstal school.

But once Mrs. Jones had a close look at the dusty, hungry face of Roger, her motherhood got the better of a typical civilian and much to the curious looks of the bystanders, she dragged Roger to her home, which is a boarding house. She had his face washed; hair combed and busied herself in cooking some supper for her and for Roger. Roger had enough opportunity to dash out of the house through the open door, but like a mother’s child, he sat on th bedstead and waited for supper.

Mrs. Jones’ hitherto bolted motherly love now was open. She confessed that she also wanted things in her youth she didn’t get. But she didn’t steal money for that to buy those. She also confided that she did a thing or two wrong, but that was not the right way. Mrs. Jones could understand that Roger was still like a wild willow and not a hardened criminal.

But in case he was handed over to police, he would be a professional criminal in no time. The human bondage between a mother and a son outlived the discernment, non-challance of the civilized society. Mrs. Jones gave ten dollars to Roger to buy a pair of blue suede shoes and bade him good bye with warning that he must not ever steal.

Actually Mrs. Jones purpose was to transform Roger and reinvent in him a young boy as pure as ever. Roger never expected that someday, somebody would care for him to wash his face, comb his hair and ask if he was hungry. At home, he had no warm heart waiting eagerly for his safe return.

Life for him was to be led either by tricking or by force. At every step, he had to be afraid of the law-keepers. To earn ten dollars by way of honest labour was an absurd dream for him. Pitted against poverty and distrust, he never learnt to trust in the human qualities of love and care. But Mrs. Jones turned the table. She shattered all his convictions against mankind.

Her motherly treatment to a petty purse snatcher, hovering along the streets of Harlem for easy prey, dug out the innocent boy in Roger. When one is down, it is not necessary to tread on his head. But if people like Mrs. Jones give him a hand-up, he might rise again shaking off the label of a criminal and return to the normal stream of human life. Thus, Roger’s transformation was complete.

Question 2.
‘Shoes come by devilish like that will burn your feet”. Who said this? To whom did she say this and why?
Answer:
Mrs. Luella Bates Washington, a Beauty salon worker at one of the Harlem hotels, meant exclusively for women, said this. She said this to Roger, a juvenile criminal, whose juvenile crimes were not keeping with his age. Roger, a teen-aged urchin, roving around Harlem streets for easy prey, tried to snatch Mr. Jones’ purse. Being a strong woman, she caught him firmly when the strap of her purse snapped and the boy fell on the pavement as he failed to keep balance on his feet.

Mrs. Jones made the boy stoop down and pick her purse up. She asked if the boy was not ashamed of his action. The boy replied in the affirmative and begged to be forgiven. By then, she had a closer look at the boy’s dirty face. He was fourteen or fifteen and grew up wildly- with no human love and care. He wore tennis shoes and blue jeans and suddenly, although Mrs. Jones had earlier kicked him hard at his posterior for his crime, dawned on him with a motherly compassion. She asked further if he was hungry.

The boy, eager to be free from the grip of Mrs. Jones, replied in the negative and prayed to let him go. Still, when the boy struggled to be released from Mrs. Jones’s grip, he was given a solid jerk and that brought him in front of her and then with a wrestler’s twist on the boy, she continued to drag him to her home, which was a boarding house.

Once inside the house, Mrs. Jones got to know that his name was Roger and she let him go free pointing to the wash-basin. She realized that the boy had grown up among negligence, poverty, filth and unholy association. His growth was not supported by love and care. He just grew up like those unwanted weeds. She came to know that Roger had nobody at his home. He was a destitute.

She made him wash his face, comb his hair and then he sat on a bedstead while Mrs. Jones disappeared behind a curtain to cook supper for both. Roger could dash out through the front door as there was nobody to stop him. But as a weed grows up faster than those of the planted trees, Roger got the magical touch of motherly love and care in Mrs. Jones’s behaviour and that worked like a miracle in the mind of a juvenile criminal. So, he could not move.

Mrs. Jones admitted later that she also committed some errors in her youth, but she did not want to bring it to light. Much like Roger, she didn’t get many things in her prime youth. What she didn’t say was that she didn’t go out stealing from people to get money to buy things.

After supper, she gave ten dollars to Roger to buy a pair of blue suede shoes and advised him not to steal again. That was because something obtained by way of evil means would ultimately lead one to miseries and this was what she meant by the phrase under quotation.

Thank You, Ma’am Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
What happened to Mrs. Jones on a night when she was returning home on foot?
Answer:
A juvenile criminal of about fourteen in fifteen years tried to snatch her purse.

Question 2.
Why didn’t Mrs. Jones hand over Roger to the police?
Answer:
Having a close look at the dusty, frail and hungry face, Mrs. Jones took pity on Roger and didn’t hand him over to the police.

Question 3.
How did Roger become a juvenile criminal?
Answer:
Roger was a destitute and grew up like an unwanted weed. Poverty and hunger made him desperate to own things by foul meAnswer:Thus he became a juvenile criminal.

Question 4.
How did Mrs. Jones drag Roger to her home?
Answer:
Mrs. Jones was dragging Roger to her home. But when Roger struggled to free himself from Mrs. Jones’ grip, Mrs. Jones gave him a jerk and brought him in her front. Then, in a wrestler’s style, tightened her hand around Roger’s neck and dragged him straight to her home.

Question 5.
What did Mrs. Jones and Roger eat in their supper?
Answer:
They ate some lima beans, ham and cocoa and then a cake.

Question 6.
Did Mrs. Jones commit some error in her prime youth?
Answer:
Yes, Mrs. Jones committed some errors in her prime youth.

Question 7.
Did Mrs. Jones get everything she wanted in her youth?
Answer:
No, Mrs. Jones didn’t get everything she wanted in her youth.

Question 8.
Why did Roger volunteer to go to the store?
Answer:
That was because Roger was moved by Mrs. Jones motherly love and wanted to do something for her out of gratitude.

Question 9.
What was Mrs. Jones parting advice to Roger?
Answer:
Anything owned by foul means, would bring nothing but miseries in life. Roger must give up stealing.

Question 10.
Why couldn’t Roger say anything else but ‘’Thank you” to Mrs. Jones?
Answer:
Roger, a juvenile criminal and a destitute, had never tasted motherly love and care. And when he got this from Mrs. Jones, his voice was almost choked with emotion. He wanted to say so many things at a time. But his emotion only gave way to a mere “Thank you.”

Thank You, Ma’am Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The woman’s bag was heavy because —
Answer:
It was loaded with several things of her daily needs.

Question 2.
The boy fell down on the.ground because —
Answer:
The bag was too heavy for the boy to snatchs and run away with it, so he fell on the ground, unable to maintain his balance.

Question 3.
Mrs Jones kiched the boy because —
Answer:
The boy tried to snatch the huge bag which he was carrying on her shoulders at night. Then she took hold of the frail boy.

Question 4.
Mrs. Jones bent down because —
Answer:
she had to pick the bag and also grasp the boy who tried to snatch her bag and run away with it.

Question 5.
The boy attempted the theft because —
Answer:
He was tempted by a desire to have blue suede shoes.

Question 6.
The boy could not set himself free because —
Answer:
The woman was quite heavy and well-built and she caught the boy by his shirt. The frail boy failed to free himself.

Question 7.
Mrs. Lucila Bates Washington. Jones dragged the boy to her house —
Answer:
Because the boy looked weak and untidy. The heavy lady wanted to wash and clean the young lad.

Question 8.
The boy did not run away with the woman purse, when there was on opportunity for him to do so because —
Answer:
The boy lacked the strength to take away the heavy purse, he lost his balance while snatching the heavy purse and fell down due to its weight.

Question 9.
The boy behaved like an obedient student because —
Answer:
The frail boy was caught by the heavy lady while snatching her bag. He was so frightened and weak that the strong woman made him behave the way she wanted.

Question 10.
Roger looked quite shabby
Answer:
Because he wore dirty clothes and his face was also dirty. It prompts Mr. Jones to wash his face.

Question 11.
The woman asked the boy to go to the sink because —
Answer:
she wanted to tidy the boy. With motherly heart she instructed the boy to wait near the sink until the water was warm for him to wash. She offered the boy a clean towel.

Question 12.
The boy knew that the woman was not alone in that boarding house because —
Answer:
He could hear other roomer laughing and talking in the large house. Some of their doors were open too.

Question 13.
Roger dried his face again because —
Answer:
He had no notion what to do next. The door was open which tempted him to run away from the grasp of the woman but he didn’t.

Question 14.
The woman did not ask the boy any question about his family and life because —
Answer:
She does not want to embarrass Roger by asking questions about his family, parents and life.

Question 15.
Mr. Jones got up and went behind the screen because —
Answer:
She heated some lima beans and ham she had in the ice-box, made cocoa to feed the young frail snatcher.

Question 16.
The lady did not send Roger to the store for milk because —
Answer:
She was going to make cocoa out of his canned milk which she already had in her small kitchen.

Question 17.
After finishing the food why did the lady got up because —
Answer:
She wanted to give Roger ten dollar to buy himself some blue suede shoe and warned him not to steal or shatch from any body.

Question 18.
There was a continuous conversation between Mr. Jones and Roger because —
Answer:
Mrs Jones treated Roger like her son and shared her life events with the boy.

Question 19.
The boy could not say “Thank you, Ma’am” because
Answer:
The transformed boy desired to thank the lady from the core of his heart but had to go without saying thanks as she had closed the doors already

Question 20.
Mrs. Jones deserve great respect because —
Answer:
She helped the boy to transform without any motive and does not even let him show his gratefulness towards her. She is an ideal character who can bring change in society.

Thank You, Ma’am Story MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Roger couldn’t run away with Mrs. Jones’ purse as ………..
a. The purse was too heavy
b. People caught him
c. Mrs. Jones caught him
d. He was injured
Answer:
c. Mrs. Jones caught him

Question 2.
Roger wanted to steal Mrs. Jones’ purse as ………..
a. He wanted some money to buy a lunch
b. He wanted to gamble with the money
c. He wanted to have his bus fare
d. He wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes
Answer:
d. He wanted to buy a pair of blue suede shoes

Question 3.
Mrs. Jones didn’t hand over the boy to the police because ………..
a. It would be troublesome
b. The Police Station was far away
c. The bystanders resisted
d. Mrs. Jones took pity on him
Answer:
d. Mrs. Jones took pity on him

Question 4.
Mrs. Jones took the boy to her home which was a ………..
a. Cottage
b. Shanty
c. Boarding House
d. Palace
Answer:
c. Boarding House

Question 5.
“Half Nelson” means
a. Strangulate
b. A wrestling trick
c. Nelson’s son
d. A kind of food
Answer:
b. A wrestling trick

Question 6.
The first thing that Roger did at Mrs. Jones’ house was
a. Take bath
b. Drink some tea
c. Clean the floors
d. Wash his face
Answer:
d. Wash his face

Question 7.
The door was open, nut still Roger didn’t run away because ………..
a. He was afraid to get caught
b. His legs were tied
c. He was tired
d. Mrs. Jones’ motherly love cast a spell on him
Answer:
d. Mrs. Jones’ motherly love cast a spell on him

Question 8.
By saying, “I have sine things too.” Mrs. Jones meant that
a. She did some great things
b. She was good in sports
c. She committed some mistakes
d. She performed well in her school
Answer:
c. She committed some mistakes

Question 9.
“So you need somebody to go to the store,” asked the boy. The boy said so because …………..
a. He wanted to flee
b. He wanted to do something for Mrs. Jones
c. He wanted to get some money
d. He wanted to steal from the store
Answer:
b. He wanted to do something for Mrs. Jones

Question 10.
“Eat some more – ”she said ……………
a. dear
b. Lad
c. Father
d. Son
Answer:
d. Son

Question 11.
Mrs. Jones gave – dollars to Roger
a. 15
b. 12
c. 14
d. 10
Answer:
d. 10

Question 12.
“Shoes come by devilish like that will – your feet”.
a. Soothe
b. Blister
c. Burn
d. Comfort
Answer:
c. Burn

Question 13.
“Do not make the mistake of – on to my pocket book”
a. Sticking
b. Latching
c. Snatching
d. Hatching
Answer:
b. Latching

Question 14.
“Thank you, Ma’am” is a story that tells about the – of a juvenile criminal.
a. Transportation
b. Elevation
c. Transformation
d. Deportation
Answer:
c. Transformation

Question 15.
“He barely managed to say,” – ”before she shut the door”
a. Good Bye
b. Good Night
c. Good Morning
d. Thank You
Answer:
d. Thank You

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

by
The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 4 The Great Automatic Grammatizator

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe after Roald Dahl why “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” was made and how did it work?
Answer:
Adolf Knipe: Adolf Knipe was a technocrat by profession and was exceedingly creative. He designed and made a Computing Machine that could calculate and do all mathematics in a jiffy. But his penchant for literary art was almost an obsession.

He thought himself a litterateur and then realized that neither the editors and nor the readership understood anything like literature since none of his contributions saw the light of the day in one of the periodicals.

His talent and aggression, coupled with tenacity and enterprise to emulate and even excel over the established authors, propelled him to devise a machine with memory-stacked with vocabulary, English Grammatical rules and usages, human sentiment, passion, emotion, style and all those elements that were pre-requisites for literary writing that included stories, novels etc.

The machine had different gears, levers, switches, press-buttons, and pedals and so on. It was reminiscent of the cockpit of a Second World War Fighter Plane (Dahl was once a Fighter Plane Pilot). A press on a switch here, and a press on the pedal there, would print out a particular form of literary art like story, novel etc. The quality of such machine-printed matters would be as good as the stuff that was printed in the standard magazines.

His machine worked out successfully and then his techno-commercial acumen led him to open up an Agency. His Agency solicited Agreements with the renowned authors to lend their names to his Agency. The Agency would machine-print literary contributions to different renowned magazines in their names and earn their bit.

Of course, the name lenders were to be handsomely rewarded. After the renowned authors rejected his witty proposal outright, he opted for the mediocre, not- so-renowned and the exhausted authors, and they readily accepted the proposal. Needless to say that Knipe created a monopolistic machine-controlled literary culture and himself became nouveau riche. Knipe’s character and the character of the gizmo are well-defined.

Question 2.
Critically analyze Roald Dahl’s “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” as a satirical story.
Answer:
Roald Dahl’s “The Great Automatic Gammatizator” impregnates within it a general apprehension of the writers of the ‘50s and even the ‘60s that the advent of computers was akin to the advent of artificial intelligence. In a relevant manner therefore, he satirizes in the story a machine complete with almost a memory bank- stacked with vocabulary, plot, English Grammatical rules; and all those elements that are needed to write in one of the forms of literary art.

Knipe, a technocrat as well as a failed aspirant in the field of literary art, invents such a machine that can, with a press on a switch here and another press on a pedal there, print all kinds of literary art like stories, novels and so on. His techno-commercial acumen propels him to sell the idea to the not-so renowned and the exhausted authors to lend their names to his Agency which would publish literary contributions in their names in different periodicals and pay them handsomely and they wouldn’t have to write a single line any where.

Knipe was successful because his targeted people needed money, and himself became a nouveau riche by way of his innovative monopolistic financial strategy. Dahl hasn’t spared the editors of famous magazines or periodicals. Knipe curses on the very word, “Editor” and says to Mr. Bohlen, when his literary contributions are compared with those that are usually published in renowned magazines; his seems to be much better. Well, it was his conviction.

Dahl always dealt with the bizarre, fanciful and the impractical. His description of the machine is reminiscent of the cockpit of a Second World War fighter plane, one of which he once flew. The mutual distaste between Mr. Bohlen and Mr. Knipe has produced some humerous soliloquies; especially when they talk about their appearances and that of course, brings some comic relief.

Like a host of people in those days, Dahl misunderstood the difference of rationale between a computer and an artificial, self propelling intelligence. In case of a computer, it’s a “Garbage in, Garbage out” syndrome. It will give its output according to the quality of the input. It can’t THINK! It can neither monitor or sensor whatever it is fed with! It works algorithmically, and can’t breach out its given limit. It is preprogrammed.

But the noetic quality of human mind or artificial intelligence cannot be used in a machine as an input simply because nobody can fathom the bottomless depth of human mind and its variations. Dahl wrote many short stories, novels and even the script of the James Bond movie,” You only live twice”.

Unfortunately, he never remembered the Shakespearian adage, “Brevity is the soul of wit “. Whereas the ideal canvass of a short story is necessarily short, his stories are unusually long, the crux of which is just minuscule. However, his satire of the literary world in general is well avowedly clear.

Question 3.
How does Knipe explain his project as a profit earning venture to Mr. Bohlen?
Answer:
Mr Knipe was a succesful technocrat with a zeal to excel and emulate over the writers in demand, designed and created an automatic machine with extra ordinary memory storage capacity and loaded with English grammar; vocabulary, human emotions, passions and styles of renowned authors in the literary circle. Mr. Knipe shared this plan with John Behlen in his office. At first, Mr. Behlen rejected the idea thinking it to be absurd. Knipe disclosed Mr. Bohlen that in literary world he was a failure, as none of his kuterart wire were ever, published.

Mr. Bolhen felt relieved that Mr. Knipe was not a good writer. Then Mr. Knipe explained that he has programmed a new machine to produce storied of high demand among literary world. He established the point that his published work would earn a lot of money also.

He convinced Mr. Bolhen that the machine had the potential to earn then a lot of profit as the magazines handsomely pay the published authors for their literary work. Knipe suggested that they would be able to fabricate writers by setting up their own literary agency where they would involve writers to write for their agency only and they would offer then low payment Mr. Knipe alos offered Mr. Bohlen to put his name on some of their writing Mr. Bolhen felt happy imagining himself as a remerkable, renowned writer. Greedy Mr. Bolhen after that agreed upon Knipe’s proposal and ordered him to develop his new machine. Through this long process Mr. Knipe’s profit earning cature become successful.

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe Adolf knipe in short?
Answer:
Adolf knipe is the central character of the story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” He is a young engineer and a genius in his field of work.

Question 2.
Why do you think the title “The Great Automatic Grammatizagor” appears unique and strange at the first sight?
Answer:
The story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator” progresses with the plot where a young engineer invented an automatic story and novel producing device. This machines ferms the centre of the story. The automatic nature of the machine with developed functions on the principles of the grammar of the English language and adolf knipe becoming great and successful, marks the relevance of the title.

Question 3.
What does John Bolen tells knipe in the begining of the story?
Answer:
In the beginning of the story, Mr. John Behlen, the head of the firm of electrical engineers appreciates knipe, a young engineer, for his contribution in developing an automatic computing engine.

Question 4.
What was Mr. John Bohlen’s suggestion to knipe in at the beginning of the story?
Answer:
When John Bohlen’s words of praise and acknowledgement failed to please knipe and moreover he notices the dirty dress of the boy with have falling on his faces he suggested him to have holiday for a week and to take rest and have proper enjoyment.

Question 5.
Why was knipe not satisfied at r. Bohlen’s suggestions?
Answer:
Knipe expresses his discontent that John Bohlen could not understand the reason of his disturbed mind. Knipe thought that his superior believed that he had some problem due to some woman in his life. Knipe started plotting to take revenge from his greatest enemies.

Question 6.
What ideas attracts Knipe?
Answer:
Mr Adolph knipe, a talented technocrat was attracted by the idea, he could utilise electrical computing machine for literary purpose. He decides to feed several words and sentences into the machine and the write a story through it.

Question 7.
“Dont get too ambitions, my boy” Who said these words and on what context?
Answer:
Mr Bohlen uttered the avove sentence for his subordinate Mr. Adolph Knipe, when Knipe conviness Bohlen that the machine has the potential to earn them a lot of profit as the magazines handsomely pay the published author for their contribution. He also added that they can fabricate writers by setting up their own literary agency.

Question8.
What is the central thrust of the story “The Great Automatic Grammatizator”?
Answer:
The central thrust of the story is the criticism of unscruplous ways in which books are selected for publication. It is a sattire on the approach of the editors of the magazines who select and evaluate literature. The time at which the story was written the author was highly influenced by the market forces that ignored quality and ren for quantity.

Question 9.
Discuss the way Knipe convinces Bohlen to accept his proposal
Answer:
Knipe shared his plan with John Bohlen in his office. Bohlen rejects the idea informing him that no one will accept a machine that write stories. Knipe then tells his incharge that he is quite unhappy with Bohlen’s job and wanted to be a writer.

Knipe also informs that he has written five hundred six stories, though all of them were rejected by publisher. This statement made Bohlen feel that Knipe was not a good writer. Knipe stresses on the point that published works earns a lot of money also. He then convinces Bohlen that the machine has the potential to earn a lot of profit.

Question 10.
What suggestions were put forward by Knipe for setting the literary agency?
Answer:
Knipe suggested Mr. Bohlen that they would fagricate writers by setting up their own literary agency. They would ask the writers to write for the agency. They would pay them low and then would publish their creative ideas in different journals getting a much higher price. Knipe also offered Bohlen to put his none on some of their writings. Greedy Bohlen accepts Knipe’s proposal and ordered him to develop the new machine.

Question 11.
State briefly how the machine worked in the beginning
Answer:
It took Knipe and Mr. Bohlen six months to complete the machine. Both were nervous when they were about to produce their first story with the help of the machine. By just pressing few buttons they were able to generate stories, articles etc enough to declare oneself a versatile writer.

Question 12.
Why Mr. Bohlen became impatient when the machine started its work?
Answer:
In the beginning, the machine was quite noisy and produced strange series of letters, but no story at all. When they tried to generate a writing for the Digest it failed to give proper result and there were no spaces between words. Seeing this type of functionality of the machine Mr. Bohlen became impatient and angry.

Question 13.
How the new machine produced intellectual novels?
Answer:
Mr. Knipe upgraded the machine by adding certain special keys/buttons. One his to preselect elements like tensions, paths, surprise to produce a desired effect in a novel. Knipe added another control to include passion as an important element of a novel and created half a dozen more novels for their literary agency publication.

Question 14.
Why the female romance novelist agreed to sign the contract?
Answer:
The female romance novelist agreed to sign the contract as she realized that the machine generated better novels than her own.

Question 15.
What is the central theme of this story?
Answer:
The central theme deals with commercialization of the literary art through automation to create a monopolistic capitalism. In other words, the story deals with the possibility of replacing human creativity by way of automation and probable profitability of the monopolistic capitalism.

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Adolf Knipe did not like MnBohlen’s face because
a. He had a tiny mouth
b. He had purple lips
c. His lips were narrow
d. His lower lips moved when he talked
Answer:
(all correct)

Question 2.
Mr. Bohhlen didn’t like Adolph Knipe’s face because
a. He has a drooping appearance
b. He had an untidy appearance
c. His hair fell all over his face
d. He had a long, horse-like face
Answer:
(all correct)

Question 3.
Knipe was not interested in his technical work because
a. His boss behaved rudely
b. He had less salary
c. He had to work over-time
d. He always preferred to be a writer
Answer:
d. He always preferred to be a writer

Question 4.
Knipe didn’t like the magazine because
a. They didn’t print his stories
b. Quality of printing was bad
c. They printed sloppy, boring stuff
d. The magazine was costly
Answer:
c. They printed sloppy, boring stuff

Question 5.
“The Great Automatic Grammatizator” was invented because
a. English Grammar needed correction
b. It would have an artificial intelligence
c. The machine would create a monopolistic trading in literary circle
d. It would make Knipe famous
Answer:
c. The machine would create a monopolistic trading in literary circle

Question 6.
Mr. Bohlen was attracted to Knipe’s proposal because
a. It would make him famous
b. The members of his Club will appreciate him more
c. It would fetch big money
d. He will have more opportunity as an entrepreneur
Answer:
c. It would fetch big money

Question 7.
Mr. Knipe considered the forms of literary art as products because
a.The Publication houses purchased those against money
b. The authors wrote as per the will of the publisher and got paid
c. The authors wrote as per the taste of the readers to get paid
d. The magazines published advertisements against payments
Answer:
a.The Publication houses purchased those against money

Question 8.
The machine and its operation looked more like the cockpit of a Fighter Plane because
a. It had dials, pedals, switches
b. It was a restricted area for commoners
c. The author, erstwhile being a Fighter Plane Pilot,has subconsciously portrayed the machine befitting to his experience
d. It made tremendous sound
Answer:
c. The author, erstwhile being a Fighter Plane Pilot, has subconsciously portrayed the machine befitting to his experience

Question 9.
Knipe failed to convince the topmost writer to j sign the agreement because ……………
a. He did not have time
b. He did not give an appointment to Knipe
c. He thought Knipe was a lunatic
d. He thought Knipe was a confidence trickster
Answer:
c. He thought Knipe was a lunatic

Question 10.
Knipe was successful in signing most of the mediocre and the exhausted literary contributors I because
a. They grew old
b. Their hands trembled while writing
c. They were busy on other businesses
d. They were more interested in a guaranteed income without doing almost anything
Answer:
d. They were more interested in a guaranteed income without doing almost anything

The Great Automatic Grammatizator Story MCQs

Question 1.
In spite of Knipe’s detestable looks, Mr. Bohien valued him for his ……………….
a. Writing skill
b. Drawing skill
c. Technical skill
d. Commercial skill
Answer:
c. Technical skill

Question 2.
Mr. Bohien looked at the long ……. face of the younger man
a. Gleeful
b. Curious
c. Passionate
d. Melancholy
Answer:
d. Melancholy

Question 3.
Adolph Knipe went home by to his two room apartment
a. Train
b. Car
c. Bus
d. Tram
Answer:
c. Bus

Question 4.
Whenever a Youngman gets depressed, everybody thinks it’s a ……..
a. Job
b. Tension
c. Woman
d. Fear
Answer:
c. Woman

Question 5.
A machine cannot have a …………..
a. Face
b. Mouth
c. Brain
d. Hands
Answer:
c. Brain

Question 6.
He’s just as ……… and ……….. as ever
a. Bad, ungrateful
b. Ugly, Untidy
c. Smooth, Careful
d. Spooky, Fearful
Answer:
b. Ugly, Untidy

Question 7.
Mr. Bohlen was — to see him back
a. Displeased
b. Distressed
c. Pleased
d. Glad
Answer:
c. Pleased

Question 8.
“All I know sir, I have the —”
a. Flair
b. Will
c. Urge
d. Plan
Answer:
c. Urge

Question 9.
And stories-well-they’re just another—
a. Product
b. Material
c. Concept
d. Thing
Answer:
a. Product

Question 10.
“I still think its — Knipe”
a. Wise
b. Impracticable
c. Prudent
d. Profitable
Answer:
b. Impracticable

Question 11.
“I don’t like it, Knipe, to me, that — of trickery”
a. Sounds
b. Looks
c. Appears
d. Smacks
Answer:
d. Smacks

Question 12.
The man listened politely, decided he was dealing with a —
A. Genius
b. Lunatic
c. Franchisee
d. Representative
Answer:
b. Lunatic

Question 13.
The second writer on the list, when he saw Knipe was serious, actually — him with a large —
a. Invited, welcome
b. Welcomed, wreathe
c. Chased, stick
d. Attacked, metal paperweight
Answer:
d. Attacked, metal paperweight

Question 14.
He had persuaded something like — percent of the writers
a. 75
b. 70
c. 80
d. Eighty five
Answer:
b. 70

Question 15.
Give us strength, Oh Lord, to let our children —
a. Rejoice
b. Play
c. Grow
d. Starve
Answer:
d. Starve

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

The Paper Menagerie Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

by
The Paper Menagerie Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 3 The Paper Menagerie

The Paper Menagerie Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
What is the main conflict in “The Paper Menagerie”?
Answer:
Ken Liu’s short story, “The Paper Menagerie” is the crux of what a famous author once said, ‘East is east, and west is west; the twain shall never meet.” In the story, Jack’s mother, a Chinese woman has embedded in her heart the sedate, slow moving life of Sigulu, a village in China, the peaceful days of peasantry, the magical origami, the Chinese New Year when she made red paper dragons-zooming across the sky, the beautiful landscape and so on.

But once settled in the USA, she felt a fish out of water. She was alienated from American English, their food, culture and their interaction with neighbors. The slow, simple life was gone forever. Jack, her only son, was happy and proud with his mother’s magical origami in which she could instill life into her inanimate paper crafts.

But, soon he discovered that his mother’s creations were inferior when compared with American toys. He failed to realize the loving motherly touch of his mother at every paper toy she created. A great, impulsive metamorphosis transformed his character and he started dreaming of an “all-American pursuit of happiness.”

The inevitable rift in relationship between the son and the mother grew wider. At Jack’s insistence, his father implored upon the mother to speak and cook American. She tried to comply at her best, but failed in most cases.

For Jack, his distaste for everything Chinese became so apparent that he even detested the looks of the pathetic stature of his mother. He had already suffered from an inferiority complex before his American neighbours for his mongoloid appearance. Now he wanted to be an American in mind and soul. His mother had completely paled into insignificance for him.

His mother was suffering from cancer, a terminal illness. For long, she had been refusing medical treatment and by then, she had shrunk herself into her little oriental world of thoughts, she was romancing with her past as she had failed to reconcile with her present.

As a son, Jack should have been sympathetic with his mother and understood her. But he was in “a rat race for success in America. America has shoved in him a passion for American life which is all but consumerism and pace. That irresistible pace did not allow him time to think of his ailing mother. He hardly found time for her.

Jack grew up to be a young man and had Susan, his girlfriend. His father then sold the house and moved elsewhere, thus alienating himself from his son. Perhaps, Jack had become a believer in a nuclear family of his own with none but himself and his girlfriend. Once Susan found the paper animals in the shoe box in the dark attic and commented, “your mum was an amazing artist”. Unfortunately, it never dawned to Jack that his mother could be such an amazing artist of origami who could instill life in paper creations.

After two years after his mother’s death, Jack discovered Laohu, the paper dog still alive, who jumped into Jack’s lap. Jack found something written on the plain side of the paper dog something written in Chinese script. Unable to decipher, he took it to a Chinese interpreter who read out the contents. It was his mother’s pitiful biography smeared with love for her son in every line. Immediately, the conflict between a career hungry son and his mother was gone with the wind. These are the conflicts that are present in the short story.

Question 2.
What do the paper animals and other creations symbolize?
Answer:
The origami with paper was almost magical. Jack’s mother instilled life into these objects. This origami was a speciality at Sigulu, her village in China from where she had mastered the art. This creation of paper animals and birds helped her remember the slow, peaceful, sedate life of the peasantry of her pastoral life at Sigulu. She along with her friends made paper birds to chase grasshoppers away from the fields, and paper tigers to keep away the mice.

For Chinese New year, she and her friends made red paper dragons and would wonder at the sight of all those little dragons Zooming across the sky overhead, holding up strings of exploding firecrackers to scare away all the bad memories of the past year.

The paper creations also symbolize the adage, “Be happy with a little, with more, you would crave for more and there’s no end to it.” This is an oriental philosophy much opposite to the western. Relocated in the U.S., she felt a fish out of water with no friendly neighbours to interact, no language to exchange mind and nowhere to go.

Jack then, a little boy, became her playmate in playing with her paper creations. She made LAOHU, a hyppo, cranes and so on to please herself and her son. She also made a goat and deer. Such creations gave her immense pleasure and satisfaction as the little girl within her had her soul roaming at the fields of Sigulu.

The paper creations also stood as the oriental representative against the western toys and their lure. When her son, lured by American toys and life, developed distaste for everything Chinese, she stopped making those. Finally, she wrote her rueful biography in Laohu, the paper tiger in expectation to convey her message to her son after her death. Thus in many ways her, origami is significant in the story.

Question 3.
What is the irony in The Paper Menagerie?
Answer:
A Mongoloid or a Negroid is indubitably an unwelcome entity in a Caucasian country. But has there been an opposite example ever? I doubt. In “The Paper Menagerie”, Jack, the little Chinese- American with slit eyes, flat nose, yellowish skin and with other Mongoloid features is subjected to taunt and ridicule among American classmates. He asks his father, “Do I have a chink face?”. His father tried to console him by replying in the negative. His mother was scared. Jack’s ire turned to his mother.

He developed a hatred and loathed everything about his mother. He detested her looks, her Chinese language, her Chinese cooking, her magical origami and all that were related to her. He never bothered to know about the genealogy of his ancestral lineage. An American’s dislike for a Mongoloid or a Negroid is understood. But when a Chinese son hates his Chinese mother, it is not to be understood.

Ironically, Jack held his mother responsible for his Mongoloid looks for which he was being taunted by his American classmates. He implored upon his mother to speak and cook American. His mother, an already shrunk woman in scare, learnt to cook American food but failed to speak American language. Jack, an ungrateful, selfish boy in the pursuit of American happiness, forgot that it was his mother who showed him the first sun, lulled him asleep, consoled him at his rueful hours, nursed him when he was sick and tried her best to be a good mother.

The rift between the mother and the son widened. Even when his mother was terminally ill at the hospital, Jack had hardly any time for her, as his head was crammed with the dreams of American good life. Ironically, while keeping the paper creations, in Menagerie, Jack was unaware that he became himself a captive in the Menagerie of American dreams.

Ironically again, Jack reconciled with his mother only after her death, when he came to know about the pitiful story of her life written in Chinese scripts on the paper tiger, Laohu. These are the ironies in the short story.

The Paper Menagerie Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Comment upon Jack’s mother’s art of making paper managerie?
Answer:
Origami was a speciality at Sigulu, China from where Jack’s mother originated. She used to instill life into those paper objects. This creation of paper animals and birds helped her remember the slow, peaceful sedate life of the peasontry of her pastoral life at Sigulu. She made “LAOHU” a hyppo, cranes and so on to please herself and her son. Such creation gave her immense pleasure and satisfaction. The paper creations also stood as the oriental representatives against the Western toys and their lure.

Question 2.
What made Jack almost stop talking to his mother.
Answer:
Jack was the son of a Chinese mother and Americal father. His mother failed to utter English words. She faced racial and linguistic prejudices at home and in the society also. When Jack also faced the same racial discrimination and bullying, his attitude towards his mother changed. He almost stopped talking with her. His attitude didn’t even change on seeing his ailing mother in the hospital, before her death.

Question 3.
What problem did Jack face in America?
Answer:
Jack was a child of Chinese mother and American father. In America he was humiliated in unary ways. His mother could not speak English and so he felt ashamed. Moreover, Jack developed his choice for American toys and their ways of life.

The magical “origami” of his mother was a matter of distaste and so was the Chinese language. Both he and his father implored upon the mother to cook and speak American. She tried her level best but failed. Jack was disconcerted because by then, he had been caught in the Menagerie of American Dreams.

Question 4.
Why did the natives bully him?
Answer:
Jack was bullied by the natives because his mother, being a Chinese could not speak English fluently. Moreover his mother’s paper “origami” turned shabby towards American toys used by the native children of America.

Question 5.
Who was Susan?
Answer:
Susan was Jack’s only girlfriend. She play an important role in the story as she found the paper animals in the shoebox in the dark attic and realised and commented before Jack that his mother was “an amazing artist.” She involved again in Jack to thinks about his forgotten mother.

Question 6.
How was Jack affected by the letter written to him by his mother after her death?
Answer:
Jack was unable to decipher his mother’s letter as it was written in Chinese. The bi-racial man took it to a Chinese interpreter who read out the content before him. It was his mother’s pitiful biography smeared with love for her son in every line. The letter changed Jack’s attitude towards his death mother.

Question 7.
Comment in short the ending of the story?
Answer:
The ending of the story comes when Jack’s mother dies of cancer. Jack, after his mother’s death finds her letter addressed to him. This letter through flashback technique reveals the life journey of Jack’s mother. The letter after being decephered changed Jack’s attitude and views about his Chinese mother.

Question 8.
What could be considered as most unforgivable offence in Jack’s life?
Answer:
Jack’s discernment for his ailing mother is almost on unforgivable offence. In his run for career, he forgets his mother’s pathetic condition at the hospital. This is quite an example of a selfish, ungrateful young man forgetful about his responsibilities towards his family.

Question 9.
What is ‘Qingming’?
Answer:
‘Qingming’ was the Chinese festival for the dead. Jack’s mother used to write letter on Qingming to her dead parents in China, telling them the good news about the past year of her life in America.

Question 10.
Write few lines on ‘Jack’s mother’
Answer:
Jack mother was a Chinese lady who belonged to a poor family in 1950. Her parents taught her the art of making paper animals. When she grew up she became a victim of human trafficking and was sold as a domestic servant in Hong Kong. She signed up for the introduction service and ultimately met her husband- Jack’s father. At first she felt extremely lonely but Jack’s birth brought happiness into her life.

Question 11.
Which origami animal did Jack like the most?
Answer:
liked lauhu, the paper tiger the most as it could move and make sounds.

Question 12.
How did Jack’s parents meet?
Answer:
Jack’s mother, then 16 years old, was a captive with a girl trafficker in Hong-Kong. He put her name in a catalogue for the Chinese-American prospective husbands to buy from his stock against handsome payment. Jack’s father liked her by the photograph and bought her. Thus they mate.

Question 13.
How did Jack feel about his Chinese heritage?
Answer:
Jack detested his Chinese looks and heritage as his classmates mocked at him for his Mongoloid features.

Question 14.
What ethnicities is JACK?
Answer:
Jack is a Mongoloid.

Question 15.
What language did Jack’s mom write the letter in?
Answer:
Jack’s mom wrote the letter in Chinese scripts.

Question 16.
Where did Jack put the shoe box filled with origami?
Answer:
Jack put the shoebox of paper animals in the attic.

Question 17.
Who tells Jack the Lauhu is trash?
Answer:
Mark, one of the neighborhood boys called Lauhu trash.

Question 18.
What is the origami made out of?
Answer:
The origami was made of paper and Jack’s mother’s breath.

Question 19.
What Is Qinming?
Answer:
The Qing ming festival is known as tomb-sweeping day when due respect is shown to the dead by the Han Chinese of Mainland China.

Question 20.
What was Jack’s mother younger life like?
Answer:
Jack’s mother was like a free bird in her younger life. She was from Sigulu where from she mastered the art of origami and knew how to instill life into her paper creations. She made paper birds to chase grasshoppers away from the fields, and paper tiger to keep away the mice. For Chinese New year, she and her friends made red paper dragons which zoomed across the sky overhead, holding up strings of exploding firecrackers to scare away all the bad memories of the past year.

The Paper Menagerie Story Logic Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
Jack’s mother made the paper animals because
Answer:
She wanted to distract her son from sad mood with her efficient art of ‘origamy’. Those paper animals make Jack cheerful

Question 2.
Mom breathed into her paper animals because
Answer:
The paper animals turned real and moved and Jack’s mood would swing from sadness to cheerfulness. Jack used to play with those live moving paper creatures.

Question 3.
Sometimes the animals got into trouble because
Answer:
Because the animated paper water buffalo jumped into dish of soy sauce on the table at dinner. The sauce softened the legs and the paper animal collapsed on the table. After sun drying, the running figure walked around with a limp

Question 4.
Mom made a new shark for Jack, this time out of tinfoil because.
Answer:
Jack’s mom wanted the animal to swim in his sink filled with water and let her child enjoy the swimming shark. It took time to turn soggy and translucent.

Question 5.
Jack stopped talking to his mother because
Answer:
His Chinese mother could not speak English like his American father and his community people. At teenage he felt humiliated. He also faced racial discrimination and fullying which completely changed his attitude towards his mother.

Question 6.
Jack packed the paper menageries in shoe box because ……..
Answer:
If constant bullying from his friends regarding his mother and her art of origamy, he felt humiliated and kept all his childhood favourite animals shut in a shoebox, to escape himself for such discrimination.

Question 7.
Even in the hospital where his mother was dying Jack was thinking of his job because……
Answer:
constant bullying and cacial discrimination turned his attitude against his mother so much, that he hatred his mother. He felt oshamed of his mother and became self-centred boy.

Question 8.
Jack’s father aged rapidly after his mother’s death because ……
Answer:
He missed his beautiful, artistic Chinese wife who took lot of care of him silently. Even he felt her bonless inside the house after she paned away and ultimately he sold the house also.

Question 9.
Susan remarked that Jak’s mother was an amazing artist because
Answer:
she discovered Jack’s mother beautiful paperwork origin and she herself decorated the house with them remarking Jack’s mother “an amazing artist”.

Question 10.
Jack felt ashamed of himself when he heard about his mother’s life because
Answer:
He throughout his life failed to realise his mother and her unending love towoards him. He always posed negative attitude towards his mother.

The Paper Menagerie Story MCQs

Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Which word best describes Jack attitude toward his mom in The Paper Menagerie?
a. Accepting
b. Fascinated
c. Resentful
d. Afraid
Answer:
c. Resentful

Question 2.
When Jack feels that he does not fit in he owns only origami animals instead of toys. His dad ………….
a. Buys him Star wars toys
b. Tells him to respect his mom’s culture
c. Rebukes him
d. Buys him a rugby bal
Answer:
a. Buys him Star wars toys

Question 3.
Jack was born in the year of the-
a. Goat
b. Deer
c. Tiger
d. Pig
Answer:
c. Tiger

Question 4.
What was the first origami made by Jack’s mother?
a. Turtle
b. Tiger
c. Crane
d. Monkey
Answer:
b. Tiger

Question 5.
Jack’s mother still loved him despite the hatred that she saw come from him as he got older.
a. True
b. False
Answer:
a. True

Question 6.
Origami in the story has in it a meaning that connotes ……….
a. A meaning for creation of life.
b. It is used in the story as a way for the mother to live on.
c. Because Origami is cool.
d. It is a past time for the mother.
Answer:
a. A meaning for creation of life.

Question 7.
What is a Menagerie?
a. A strange animal
b. A collection of animals
c. paper
d. Origami
Answer:
b. A collection of animals

Question 8.
The narrator of the story is …………
a. The father
b. The mother
c. The son
d. The author
Answer:
c. The son

Question 9.
The setting of the story is set in …………
a. China.
b. Connecticut.
c. Hong-Kong.
d. California.
Answer:
b. Connecticut.

Question 10.
The title takes its name from ……….
a. The wrapping paper the mother saved.
b. The box in the attic.
c. The origami his mother did.
d. The box of origami animals his mother made.
Answer:
d. The box of origami animals his mother made.

Question 11.
Jack’s father was married to his mother through ……….
a. Negations
b. Auction
c. Love marriage
Answer:
b. Auction

Question 12.
Jack asked his dad if he had a “Chink” face. Chink means ……….
a. Mongoloid face
b. Negroid face
c. Caucasian face.
Answer:
a. Mongoloid face

Question 13.
American pursuit of happiness indicates ……….
a. Search for gold.
b. Buying American toys,
c. Obtaining American jobs
Answer:
c. Obtaining American jobs

Question 14.
To be paper menagerie has a conflict between ……….
a. The son and the mother.
b. The son and the father.
c. Hong-Kong and China.
d. The orient and the west
Answer:
d. The orient and the west

Question 15.
Qing ming is a day for………………
a. Holding a party.
b. Final day of a football match.
c. Jack’s getting a job.
d. To pay homage to the dead.
Answer:
d. To pay homage to the dead.

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Advice to Youth Story Questions and Answers & MCQs

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Advice to Youth Story Questions and Answers

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions Chapter 2 Advice to Youth

Advice to Youth Story Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
What is Mark Twain’s message in “Advice to Youth”?
Answer:
In his “Advice to youth’ Mark Twain, in his inimitable satirical manner, sends the primary message to younger generation to be pragmatic to the demand of the situation and act accordingly. In his typical paradoxical sentences with levity, he teaches to be respectful and non-violent towards the older generations while at the same time he suggests to guarding one’s own honour even with violence.

He shows the might of articulated lies, while at the same time confesses that truth is the mightiest and shall prevail. He points at the hypocrisies of the parents and advises their words to be respectful only when such parents are around. This means that the parents were also not so obedient in their prime youth to their parents. His advice about the protocol of using unloaded guns arouse in the reader a sense of naughty mirth and fun considering the reactions of the living targets of such blank fires.

He mocks at the old adage of the utility of early-rising and suggests to keep a singing bird instead to wake up the late sleeper as late as 9:30 am because nothing in the world is expected to change by then. He also suggests to read some good books and the list includes “The Innocents Abroad’, his own. Thus we see in him a typical American sneering at the Old world order and advising the newer generation to follow a rational path.

Question 2.
Discuss Mark Twain’s “Advice to youth” as a satirical essay.
Answer:
Albert says that Mark Twain, “A humourist, aiming to please the masses, his strokes are bold and broad, and the humour ranges from farce to bitter satire. Always he writes with his eye on the object, and his best works are firmly grounded in reality.”

His object in his essay, ‘’Advice to youth” is to ridicule the old order of morality and expose their hypocrisy to the younger generation. In doing so, he makes satire his main weapon and through several paradoxes, he proves his point and thus his essay becomes a successful in the genre of satirical literature.

When he advises the younger generation to obey their parents in their presence, he is obvious that the younger generation may take the liberty to be disobedient in their absence. Like Edwardian guardians of England, the American parents also thought that they knew better than their children and so Mark Twain tried to break that conviction.

On one hand, he advises the youth to be respectful to seniors and on the other, he contradicts by saying that they must be earnest in protecting their honour even by hitting such seniors with bricks whenever the seniors offend them intentionally. His paradox is clear when he further advises that the youth must seek forgiveness from such seniors if they offended unintentionally.

His advice to keep and train a singing bird to sing at 9:30 Am to wake up a late sleeper is a mockery and a sarcasm of the old adage, ‘’Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.,” because the world would not changed within such a short time.

About lying, he advocates for articulated, gilt- edged lies which, without however, surpassing the truth, might live for a long lease of time for some material purpose. This is an excellent example of irony.
Then there is his advice for maintaining the protocol for using guns especially when it is fired blank at a living target, taking day lights out of him, while giving the shooter all the ‘’Huzza” for his life.

His advice for the youth to read some good books including “The innocents abroad” is a pointer to the youth to redeem from the apparent mundane finalities of the old order is more didactic than satirical because in his own book, we see a typical American turning on the Old world the skeptical eye of the new and thus this essay has become satirical-almost philistine but vivid and amusing genre of satirical literature.

Advice to Youth Story Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why has the author to give an advice to the youth?
Answer:
The author in his essay had addressed the young people because they are standing at the crucial point of their life. Mark Twain expected to share his wisdom in order to give them guidance to start their new life.

Question 2.
What did Mark Twain believes the young people to be?
Answer:
Mark Twain believes that the young people are like clay and they can acquire habits, values and characteristics which will go a long way in their entire life.

Question 3.
As per Mark Twain what are “the virtued” important for future life of a young man?
Answer:
Mark Twain underlines the importance of various virtues which are very important for their future. Qualities like obedience to parents, punctuality, respect for seniors and other and avoidance from gun and ammunition can make the modern people happy and successful.

Question 4.
What are the author’s idea on telling a lie?
Answer:
Mark Twain wants the young people to be very careful about lying. Once one is caught one can never regain the same old status. He calls lying “an art”. The young people should be “temperate” in the use of this “great art”.

Question 5.
What does the essay “Advice to Youth” focus on?
Answer:
The essay “Advice to Youth” by Mark Twain focuses that young people should be aware of the basic but indispensable virtues which can make them successful in life. The virtues of obedience to parents, punctuality, respect for superiors and avoidance of arm and ammunitions can make the life of young people happy and successful.

Question 6.
What are author’s views an handling firearms?
Answer:
Mark Twain warns the young people to handle firearms carefully. These weapons in the hands of the untrained and careless people can bring more havoc than caused in war. The youths have to be careful about old rusty weapons also.

Question 7.
Which books are recommended by the author for the young people to read?
Answer:
Mark Twain advises the young people to read good books. He calls books as “great” inestimable and unspeakable means of improvement. He strongly recommends Robertson’s Sermon, Baxter’s Saint’s Rest, Innocents Abroad and other books of this kind.

Question 8.
What are the three requirements in youth that makes them perfect?
Answer:
Patience, diligence and painstaking attention to details are the main requirements to make the students perfect. These qualities are the foundation for “future eminence”.

Question 9.
How do Mark Twain concludes his essay?
Answer:
Mark Twain concludes his essay in a sarcastic way. He hopes that the young people will treasure up his instructions. They should build their personalities and characters following his advice.

Question 10.
How young people will show their respect to their superiors?
Answer:
The young people should be respectful to their superiors. Strangers also deserve respect. If someone hurts or insult, do not react instaneously. If the offence is unintertional the young people should be frank and make a true confession. In this age, charity and kindliness, belligerent attitude is unwanted and unwarranted.

Question 11
Who is the target audience?
Answer:
The new generation American youth is the target audience.

Question 12
Why is obeying, in Mark Twain’s opinion, is the best policy?
Answer:
Twain believed that obeying is the best policy since the parents would make the children act as per the advice of the parents whether the children liked it or not.

Question 13
What superstitions do the parents have according to Twain?
Answer:
The superstitions or rather the conviction the parents have, is that they know better than their children.

Question 14
How does Twain advice the youth to avoid violence?
Answer:
Twain advises the youth to avoid violence by actually enforcing it upon someone, and then regretting it and apologizing for it in such an uncivil way. He concludes his advice by forbidding to retaliate in a violent way. This should be left to the mad man of the world.

Question 15.
Why is lying bad according to Twain?
Answer:
Lying is bad according to Twain because one may get caught if one is not good at lying. Once somebody is caught, one’s reputation shall be gone forever.

Question 16
How is lying a great art according to Twain?
Answer:
Lying is a “great art” if one can manipulate others into believing what one wants to make them believe. The art of lying is composed of careful planning, that will last for a long time.

Question 17
What is Twain’s advice to youth about lying?
Answer:
The youth should learn the art of lying at an early age in order to practice and live a life full of beautifully crafted lies and enjoy the benefits of lying.

Question 18
Twain provides an anecdote about firearms. Is this funny or not?
Answer:
To make a blank fire to an elderly lady may give pleasure to the shooter while at the same time, the barrel of the gun takes the daylight away from the eyes of the human target. It’s all “Huzza” for the shooter and all scare for the target. This brings out the paradox of the anecdote.

Question 19
Why shouldn’t the youth handle firearms, according to Twain?
Answer:
Youth is normally temperamental and therefore must observe caution in handling guns. A gun is a killing instrument and hence any neglect in handling guns may result into loss of life, in case a loaded gun is fired at a man under the misconception of the gun not being loaded, it is sure to take a life. That is why Twain forbids the youth to handle guns.

Question 20
What is the result of building one’s character, according to Twain?
Answer:
The result of building one’s character is to act according to the demand of the situation which will identify one with other matured ones.

Advice to Youth Story Logic-Based Questions

Complete the following sentences by providing a REASON for each:

Question 1.
The young people should obey their parents because……
Answer:
Obedience to parents is a virtue and they should make most of their knowledge and experience the parents in their future life.

Question 2.
If a person offends the young people, their reaction should vary because……
Answer:
The offense is uninteational and young person should frankly confess. Belligerent attitude is unwanted and unwarranted.

Question 3.
The young people “should avaoid violence” because….
Answer:
untrained and careless use of weapons in young hands can cause have a distraction in their life and young people can ruin themselves.

Question 4.
“…… a lark is really the best thing to get up” because ….
Answer:
More young people will sleep more disciplined they will become. Their mind worst engross into bad activities.

Question 5.
The author advises the youngsters to be very careful about lying because….
Answer:
The author feels lying to be “an great art”. The young people should be temperate” in the use of this “great art”

Question 6.
There are certain qualities which can make the students perfect because
Answer:
These are the foundation for “futureeminence”.

Question 7.
The author advises the young people to read good books because…
Answer:
He feels that books are “great, inestimable and unspeakable means of improvement.

Question 8.
“Never handle fire arms carelessly” because…
Answer:
these weapons in the hands of the untrained and careless people can bring more havoc than caused in words.

Question 9.
The author recommends Robertson’s “Sermons”, Baxter’s “Saint’s Rest”, “The Innocents Abroads” and other books of this kind because….
Answer:
These books have great, inestimable and unspeakable means of improvement for the young people.

Advice to Youth Story MCQs

Question 1.
Based on the first paragraph; what audience is Mark Twain probably writing to?
a. School-age youth.
b. Teachers and other adults
c. Politicians
d. Writers.
Answer:
a. School-age youth.

Question 2.
Twain said he should tell students something ‘’Didactic” about education and youth. ‘’Didactic” probably means
a. Conversation between two or more persons.
b. Intended for instruction or teaching a moral lesson.
c. A special variety of language based on geographical origin.
d. Any of a number of extinct flying reptiles from the Jurassic or cretaceous periods.
Answer:
b. Intended for instruction or teaching a moral lesson.

Question 3.
By using archaic term like ‘’beseechingly”, Twain’s word choices help establish an elevated and highly educated style of speaking. He is using good- to appeal to his educated audience.
a. Tone
b. Diction
c. Pathos
d. Epithet.
Answer:
b. Diction

Question 4.
If someone offends you, what would you do?
a. Hit him or her with a brick.
b. Politely walk away after excusing yourself.
c. Punch him or her.
d. Tell the person that he or she offended you and carry on the conversation.
Answer:
a. Hit him or her with a brick.

Question 5.
Which of the following is the most dangerous
a. An unloaded, rusty old firearms.
b. A loaded and new firearm
c. Juggling knives
d. Playing with fire
Answer:
a. An unloaded, rusty old firearms.

Question 6.
Should you obey your parents?
a. Only when your parents are present.
b. Never
c. Most of the time.
d. All the time.
Answer:
a. Only when your parents are present.

Question 7.
Is it okay to lie?
a. Definitely not
b. Yes, only if you have perfected the art of lying though
c. Obviously it’s okay
d. Only to spare someone’s feelings
Answer:
b. Yes, only if you have perfected the art of lying though

Question 8.
What type of essay is Advice to youth by Mark Twain?
a. Familiar
b. True narrative
c. expository
d. I don’t care
Answer:
a. Familiar

Question 9.
What is the thesis?
a. “A truth is not hard to kill, but a lie well told is immortal.”
b. Most parents think they know better than you do, and you can generally make more by humoring that superstition than you can by acting or your own better judgment.”
c. Ah jeez I’m stumped
d. “I have found there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than do travel with them.”
Answer:
b. Most parents think they know better than you do, and you can generally make more by humoring that superstition than you can by acting or your own better judgment.”

Question 10.
What is the theme?
a. Follow your common sense-you don’t need someone “important” to tell you what’s right and what isn’t.
b. Should your female companion with unloaded firearms.
c. Always obey your parents.
d. Never lie.
Answer:
a. Follow your common sense-you don’t need someone “important” to tell you what’s right and what isn’t.

Question 11.
What is a satirical essay?
a. An essay containing sarcasm
b. An essay containing many metaphors.
c. An essay containing many hyperboles.
d. An essay for young audiences.
Answer:
a. An essay containing sarcasm

Question 12.
What audience does Advice to youth mostly appeal to?
a. Parents
b. grandpa
c. Grandpas
d. young children.
Answer:
d. young children.

Question 13.
What audience does the essay Advice to youth indirectly appeals to?
a. Youth
b. Parents.
c. College students
d. Household pets
Answer:
d. Household pets

Question 14.
In paragraph 2, Twain said students should be”Humouring” their parents because it makes parents more likely to agree to things. Was it the likely definition of humour as it is used here?
a. A comic or absurd quality causing amusement.
b. A temporary mood or frame of mind
c. One of the four bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile.
d. To comply with someone’s mood in order to make content or more agreeable.
Answer:
d. To comply with someone’s mood in order to make content or more agreeable.

Question 15.
Twain suggest students throw bricks at people because dynamite is for “the low and unrefined”. He is implying that people who throw bricks are – than those who throw dynamite.
a. Better fighters
b. Shorter
c. Of a higher class
d. People with deeper voices
Answer:
c. Of a higher class

Question 16.
Write the full name of ‘Mark Twain’
a. Ray Bradbury
b. Samuel Langhome Clemen
c. Langston Hughes
d. Roald Dahl
Answer:
b. Samuel Langhome Clemen

Question 17.
Mark Twain think about the young age
a. It is not a crucial point
b. It is crucial point
c. It is usually misguided
d. None of the above
Answer:
b. It is crucial point

Question 18.
Mark Twain Gave this advice
a. on his own
b. at press conference
c. he delivered this lecture
d. he addressed club members
Answer:
c. he delivered this lecture

Question 19.
Twain lay a great stress on the virtue of obedience to parents. He calls it
a. best policy in the long run
b. a wise step
c. a careful advice
d. guidance to start their life
Answer:
a. best policy in the long run

Question 20.
Baxter’s Saints Rest, The Innocents abroad and other books teach us…..?
a. charity and kindliness
b. right guidance
c. punctuality
d. moral values
Answer:
d. moral values

Question 21.
The young people should obey their parents
a. always
b. never
c. when they are present
d. when they love them
Answer:
c. when they are present

Question 22.
Mark Twain’s piece “Advice to youth” is an…….
a. essay
b. biography
c. autobiography
d. none of the above
Answer:
a. essay

Question 23.
Mark Twain Concludes the essay in which manner?
a. Sarcastic way
b. humourous manner
c. appropriate way
d. None of the above
Answer:
a. Sarcastic way

Question 24.
The author calls telling a lie:
a. a useless activity
b. dangerous
c. an art
d. a foolish activity
Answer:
c. an art

Question 25.
The firearms are many times handled by:
a. children
b. young people
d. careless people
d. None of the above
Answer:
b. young people

Question 26.
What makes a student perfect:
a. patience
b. guidance
c. painstaking attention
d. (a) and (c) are correct
Answer:
d. (a) and (c) are correct

Question 27.
Which are the “most deadly and unerring things”?
a. guns
b. heedless youth
c. old unloaded firearms
d. loaded firearms
Answer:
c. old unloaded firearms

Question 28.
The young people should avoid violence:
a. sometimes
b. as per the situation
c. if the opponent is weak
d. Always
Answer:
d. Always

Question 29.
The author says that the monument in Boston shows
a. a truth
b. a rare monument
c. a great achievement
d. a stolen discovery
Answer:
d. a stolen discovery

Question 30.
What has been the cause behind the innocent handling of firearms.
a. sorrow and suffering
b. superiority
c. negativity
d. None of the above
Answer:
a. sorrow and suffering

Question 31.
What Mark Twains considered as “Great Art”,
a. fine art
b. designing
c. lying as an art
d. none of the above
Answer:
c. lying as an art

Question 32.
Mark Twains major works are:
a. The prince and the Pauper
b. The Grace of God
c. The Legends of Luhe Skywalker
d. Ghare-Baire
Answer:
a. The prince and the Pauper

Question 33.
What types of books does the author recommended?
a. romantic
b. historical
c. novels
d. religious
Answer:
d. religious

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

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Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12

It’s our great pleasure in our part to present ISC The best guide to Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Workbook Answers for Class 11 & 12 makes an honest and thorough attempt to bring the context with easy paraphrasing Scene wise abridgment, Mcqs, Reasoning, Short type and long type of question and answers. The ISC Collection of Short Stories Workbook Answers analyses and tackles different and untraditional by following the latest syllabus and norms of I.S.C.

ISC Prism Workbook Solutions for Class 11 & 12

Prism A Collection of ISC Short Stories Summary for Class 11 & 12

What is a short story?

It is difficult to be candid about the length and definition of a short story. We have the examples of O’ Henry, the great American short story maestro, whose short story.” An Apology” runs for only 213 (Two hundred and thirteen) words whereas D.H. Lawrence’s “The Fox” (1923) is about 30,000 (Thirty thousand) words. We are, therefore, confronted with the question: “How long (or short) is a short story?”

And so far as the form is concerned a short story has to be so flexible and susceptible to so much variety that it is almost impossible to apply any strict shape, length, subject, or style to it. It may be concerned with a scene, an episode, an experience, an action, the exhibition of a character or characters, the day’s events, a meeting, a conversation, a fantasy, and almost every possible thing.’

We may, however, say that a short story is a genre of literary art where there is a common singularity of theme, action, and setting in a small canvas of expression and in most cases, a sudden and almost unexpected twist of eventuality in the end.

This, however, is a general perception.

Short stories have been experimented the world over and still, neither the authors nor the critics have found any rock-solid definition with which this particular form of literary art can be capsuled with.

This ISC Prism Workbook Solutions for Class 11 & 12 has been written in a simple language and lucid style to enrich with useful knowledge. The Prism ISC Short Stories Contents will be student-friendly and they would be able to grasp the context in an enthusiastic manner.

Death Be Not Proud Poem Questions and Answers & Summary

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Poem 10 Death Be Not Proud Questions and Answers

Death Be Not Proud Poem Summary, Questions and Answers

Death Be Not Proud Poem Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Attempt a critical appreciation of the poem Death Be Not Proud.
Or
Question 2.
Write a note on the theme of death in the poem Death Be Not Proud.
Or
Question 3.
How does Donne present death in his poem Death Be Not Proud? Discuss with close reference to the poem.
Answer:
First published in 1633, Donne’s Death Be Not Proud is included as sonnet No. 10 in the volume of Holy Sonnets: Divine Meditations. The poem presents death as an over hyped figure and inverts its archetype image of being dreadful to mankind.

Death’s life threatening nature is just a human fear since death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Donne’s vision of death is thus positive in the sense that it liberates our soul into eternity and finally has no control over it.

To begin with, from the very outset of the poem Donne snubs death for its pride of being a terrifying image always feared by humans. But death actually is not horrifying since people don’t die even when death seizes their corporal self. Death is like rest and sleep which are essential parts of human life. The relief we get in repose is similar to the relief ensured after we die.

Hence, virtuous people die early as they are fortunate to have their souls liberated from their bodies. Death liberates their souls to heaven where fearless life is ensured forever. Donne’s belief in eternity is established when he boldly claims, “nor yet canst thou kill me”. Such assertion establishes Donne’s belief that death has no power to corrupt the eternal soul.

The sestet Of the poem further debunks the belief that death is a victor. Death is condemned as a slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which are fatal to mankind. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain. Opium and magical spells are gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep.

Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when souls reach heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies. Then why is death puffed up with pride? The simple answer is human fear which elevates death as a monumental figure when it is. just without absolute power

Question 4.
Consider Death Be Not Proud as a metaphysical poem.
Answer:
The term ‘metaphysical’ was first applied by John Dryden to group together certain 17th century poets like Donne, Marvel, Vaughan and others who introduced an intellectual and colloquial tone in poetry. Metaphysical poets were brought into limelight by T.S. Eliot who attempts to find in their work a unification of thought and feeling and a fusing of reason with passion, in his The Metaphysical Poets (1921).

The chief characteristic features of metaphysical poetry are argumentative structure, dramatic and colloquial mode of utterance, acute realism as well as metaphysical wit. All these features dominant in Donne’s poetry contribute to the originality of his own. To begin with, the very opening line of the poem sets the argumentative structure of the poem. Donne snubs the overhyped image of death and continues arguing why death isn’t terrifying to mankind.

Death is like rest and sleep which are essential parts of human life. The relief we get in repose is similar to the relief ensured after we die. Virtuous people are thus, fortunate in the sense that they die early and their souls reach heaven where death has no control. Donne’s belief in eternity is established when he boldly claims that death can never “kill” him. Such assertion establishes Donne’s belief that death has no power to corrupt the eternal soul.

The sestet of the poem further debunks the belief that death is a victor. Death is condemned as a slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which are fatal to mankind. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain while people die. Opium and magical spells are thus, gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep.

Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when souls reach heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies.

Then why is death puffed up with pride? The argument raised in the poem is thus, logical and well answered. This is the essence of metaphysical poetry which Donne well establishes in his sonnet no 10 (Death Be Not Proud).

Death Be Not Proud Poem Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
How does the poet snub death in the sestet part of the poem?
Answer:
The sestet of the poem debunks the belief that death is a victor. Death is condemned as a slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which are fatal to mankind. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain while people die. Opium and magical spells are thus, gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep.

Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when souls reach heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies. Then why is death puffed up with pride? The argument raised in the poem is thus, answered at last.

Question 2.
How does Donne presents a negative image of death in his poem Death, be not Proud.
Answer:
From the very outset of the poem Donne snubs death for its pride of being a terrifying image, always feared by human Donne argues that death actually is not horrifying since people don’t die even when death seizes our corporal self. Death is like rest and sleep which are essential parts of human life. The relief we get in repose is similar to the relief ensured after we die. Death actually liberates our souls to heaven where fearless life is ensured forever.

Donne’s image of death is thus, nothing positive since he calls death as “slave” to slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which are fatal to mankind. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain. Narcotic drugs like Opium and magical spells are gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep.

Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when souls reach heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies. In this sense however, death is a loser, no matter how people overhype death because of their fear to die.

Death Be Not Proud Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Question 1.
What image of death is established in the poem Death Be Not Proud?
a. Philanthropic
b. innocent
c. proud
d. fatal
Answer:
c. proud

Question 2.
How do people fancy death?
a. 3s a friend to mankind
b. as enemy to mankind
c. as inevitable part of life
d. mighty and dreadful
Answer:
d. mighty and dreadful

Question 3.
death is like …………..
a. friend to mankind
b. rest and sleep
c. an enemy to mankind
d. a timid creature
Answer:
b. rest and sleep

Question 4.
Death has control over our …………..
a. body
b. soul
c. mind
d. health
Answer:
a. body

Question 5.
People who die early are …………..
a. poor
b. rich
c. criminals
d. virtuous
Answer:
d. virtuous

Question 6.
The tools of death are …………..
a. love and hate
b. poison, war, and sickness
c. hunger
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. poison, war, and sickness

Question 7.
Death slave to …………..
a. to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men
b. love and beauty
c. compassion and healthy living
d. naivety and purity
Answer:
a. to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men

Question 8.
What can make us sleep better than death?
a. love and care
b. good food and bed
c. poppy or magical charm
d. a comfortable room
Answer:
c. poppy or magical charm

Question 9.
What kind of sleep is ensured by death?
a. eternal sleep
b. short sleep
c. long sleep
d. disturbed sleep
Answer:
b. short sleep

Question 10.
How do we wake eternally after we die?
a. Death wakes us up in heaven
b. our souls reaches heaven where eternal life is ensured
c. we wake up once more after death leaves us
d. God wakes us up to enjoy eternal life
Answer:
b. our souls reaches heaven where eternal life is ensured

Death Be Not Proud Poem Summary

Death Be Not Proud Poem Introduction

First published in 1633, Donne’s Death Be Not Proud is included as sonnet No. 10 in the volume of Holy Sonnets: Divine Meditations. The poem presents death as an overhyped figure and inverts its archetype image of being dreadful to mankind. Death’s life threatening nature is just a human fear since death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife.

Donne’s vision of death is thus positive in the sense that it liberates our soul into eternity and finally has no control over it. The poem is written in the form of Pertrachan sonnet with definite octet and sestet division and follows the rhyme, abba abba cddcee.

Death Be Not Proud Poem Summary

Death be not Proud snubs the pride of death all because of its terrifying image. People fear death and they unnecessarily overhype death because of its life threatening nature.

But, death actually Is not horrifying since people don’t actually die even when death seizes their corporal self. In fact, death is like rest and sleep which are inevitable parts of human life. The relief we get in repose is similar to the relief ensured after we die.

Hence, virtuous people die early as they are fortunate to have their souls liberated from their bodies. Death liberates their souls to heaven where fearless life is ensured forever. Death is further snubbed by being fancied as a slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which can bring about one’s death. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain. Opium and magical spells are gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep.

Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when souls reach heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies.

Death Be Not Proud Poem Paraphrase

Lines 1 to 8 :

The pride of death seems inconsequential despite fancied as fearful being. Death has always remained an overhyped figure all because of its life threatening nature. But, death actually is not horrifying since people don’t actually die even when death seizes their corporal self. In fact, death is like rest and sleep which are essential parts of human life.

The relief we get in rest and sleep is similar to the relief ensured after death. Hence, virtuous people die early as they are fortunate to have their souls liberated from their bodies. Death liberates their souls to heaven where death has no control over anything. In this sense death cannot kill even the speaker.

Lines 9 to 14 :

Death is further snubbed by being fancied as a slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals which can bring about one’s death. The tools of death are poison, war and sickness which ensure severe pain.

Opium and magical spells are gentler than death’s blow as they induce painless sleep. Moreover, death can only ensure a mere sleep in between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Our souls reach heaven when we die. Death has no power over us when soul reaches heaven. We become independent of death and it is death which finally dies.

Death Be Not Proud Poem Annotations with Comments

Lines 1 to 8 :

Death : death here is personified as an arrogant figure feared by the people
be not proud : not to be arrogant for its life threatening
nature some : some people
thee : refers to death
though some. ……. thee : though some people fancy death as terrifying being
Mighty and dreadful : death is often overhyped as powerful and appalling figure since it take lives
Thou art ……. so : despite being fancied as an immensely powerful figure, death actually is not what we imagine
Those…poor death: those who have died are actually not dead in reality
Nor yet…kill me : nor can death kill the speaker completely
From rest and sleep: death here is compared to rest and sleep
Thy pictures: sleep is just a picture of death and vice versa
Overthrow : defeat
Pleasure…. from thee : people actually derive pleasure from death since death releases our souls from the prison of our bodies
much more must flow: If people derive relaxation from sleep which is but a picture of death, then death must be the source of greater comfort and rest
best men : virtuous men
with thee : with death
best men …… do go : virtuous men die earlier than common mass
bones : body
soul’s delivery : souls delivered to heaven after the death of our corporal self

Comments:

From rest and sleep..thy picture be: The speaker fancies death as the replica of rest and sleep. A person in sleep looks exactly like a corpse. Hence, death is just the picture of sleep and rest.

Much pleasure, then from thee: people actually derive pleasure from death since death ensures a comfortable sleep In between our earthly lives and the eternal afterlife. Moreover, since death releases our souls from the prison of our bodies, it is thus fancied as great source of pleasure.

our best men….. soul’s delivery : virtuous men die early which is a kind of bliss to them. Death releases their souls from the prison of their bodies and their souls reach heaven where death has no control over anything. Death thus, only has power over our corporal self.
Poison ………. dwell : since they can bring about one’s death Poison, war and sickness are the tools of death

Lines 9 to 14:

Thou : refers to death
Chance : accident
Desperate men : criminals
Slave to ….. desperate men: death is fancied as slave or agent of Fate, accident, power of kings and criminals
Poison ……… dwell : since they can bring about one’s death Poison, war and sickness are the tools of death.
Poppy : opium
Charms : magical charms
Better than thy stroke: ensure gentle sleep than death can offer
poppy, or ….. as well : induce better sleep more easily as well as in a gentle manner
why swell’st …. then : why shall death be proud then?
One short eternally : death can induce only a temporary sleep after which we shall live eternally in heaven
Death shall ………. more : death shall have no control over our souls once being liberated from our bodies. The soul will reach heaven and enjoy eternal life.
Death..shalt die : ultimately it is death which itself dies while our souls enjoy the eternal bliss of heaven.

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