Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Chapter 2 Oliver Asks for More
Oliver Asks for More Comprehension Questions Answers
Read the extracts and answer the following questions:
Passage -1.
Among other buildings in a town in England, there was a house for poor people who had no money and nowhere to live. This was called the workhouse. Oliver Twist was born in a workhouse. His mother, a young woman, lay ill in bed. A doctor and an old woman stood by her side. She lifted her head from the pillow.
‘Let me see the child and die,’ she said.
‘Oh, you mustn’t talk about dying yet,’ said the doctor.
‘No, dear,’ said the old woman. ‘You are too young to die’.
The young woman shook her head and held out her hand towards the child.
The doctor put the child in her arms. She pressed her cold white lips to its face, and then fell back.
‘She is dead,’ said the doctor.
1. What was called the workhouse?
2. Where was Oliver born?
3. Who was Oliver’s mother?
4. Who stood by her side?
5. What did the mother say before death?
Answer:
1. In a town in England there was a house for poor people. This was called work house.
2. Oliver was born in the workhouse.
3. Oliver’s mother was a young woman who lay in bed.
4. A doctor and an old woman stood by the young lady.
5. Before death the mother requested to show her the child and she died.
Passage – 2.
The doctor put the child in her arms. She pressed her cold white lips to its face, and then fell back.
‘She is dead,’ said the doctor.
‘Yes, poor dear,’ said the old woman, as she took the child away from its dead mother. ‘Poor dear.’
‘She was a good-looking girl,’ said the doctor, as he put on his hat and gloves. ‘Where did she come from?’
‘She was brought here last night,’ said the old woman.
‘She was lying in the street. She had walked a long way and her shoes had holes in them. Nobody knows where she came from, or where she was going to.
1. Who was she?
2. How did she fall back?
3. What did the doctor tell about the mother.
4. What did the old man do?
5. When did she come there and how?
Answer:
1. She was a young ill woman who gave birth to Oliver.
2. The doctor put Oliver in her arms according to her request. She pressed her cold white lips to its face and then fell back to die.
3. The doctor after examining her body declared that she was dead.
4. The old woman took away the poor child from her mother to nurse.
5. She had walked a long way as her shoes had holes. Nobody knew from where she came and where she was going.
Passage – 3.
He went home to his dinner. The old woman sat down on a chair in front of the fire and began to dress the baby. She dressed him in the very old clothes used for babies who were born in the workhouse. The child was an orphan, born into a world which had no love or pity for him. No one was able to discover who the baby’s father was, or what his mother’s name was. Mr Bumble, an important officer in the town, invented a name for the baby. He chose the name Oliver Twist.
1. How did the woman dress the baby?
2. How was the child born?
3. Who was Mr. Bumble?
4. Who named the orphaned boy?
5. What did the old woman do when the doctor went for dinner?
Answer:
1. The old woman dressed the baby sitting down on a chair in front of the fire.
2. The child was born into a world which had no pity and love for him as he was an orphan.
3. Mr. Bumble was an important officer in the town.
4. Mr. Bumble named the orphaned boy as Oliver Twist.
5. The old woman sat down on a chair in front of a fire and dressed the baby with old clothes.
Passage – 4.
At the age of nine, Oliver was a pale, thin child. He and the other workhouse boys never had enough warm clothes or food. They were given only three meals of thin soup every day. On Sundays they had a small piece of bread. They were fed in a big hail. A large pot stood at one end of the room, and the soup was served by the master. Each boy had one small bowl of soup and no more. The bowls never needed washing, because the boys cleaned them with their spoons until they shone.
1. How was oliver when he was nine?
2. What was the condition of workhouse boys?
3. What did the boys get as food in the workhouse?
4. How was the food served?
5. What was the conditon of the bowls?
Answer:
1. At the age of nine Oliver was a pale thin child.
2. The workhouse boys were ill-treated. They never had enough warm clothes or food.
3. In the workhouse the boys got only three meals of thin soup daily. On sundays they used to get a small piece of bread.
4. The boys were fed in a big hall. A large pot was kept at one end of the room. Each boy had one small bowl of soup and no more.
5. The bowls were untidy. They never needed washing as the boys cleaned them with their spoons until they shone.
Passage-5.
One day Oliver and his friends decided that one boy would walk up to the master after supper and ask for more soup. Oliver was chosen. In the evening, the boys sat down at the tables. The master stood by the pot, and the soup was served. It disappeared quickly. The boys whispered and made signs to Oliver. He stood up from the table and went to the master, with his bowl and spoon in his hands.
1. What did Oliver and his friends decide?
2. Who was chosen to say the master?
3. Why did the food vanish quickly?
4. How did Oliver go to the master?
5. What did Oliver say to the master?
Answer:
1. Oliver and his friends decided to ask the master for more soup.
2. Oliver was chosen to say the master for more soup.
3. The food vanished quickly as the boys were very hungry.
4. Oliver went to the master with his bowl and spoon in his hand.
5. Oliver requested his master to give him some more soup.
Passage – 6.
The master was a fat, healthy man,but he went very pale. He looked with surprise at the small boy.
‘What?’ said the master at last in a quiet voice.
‘Please, sir,,’ repeated Oliver, T want some more.’
The master hit Oliver with his spoon, then seized him and cried for help. Mr Bumble rushed into the room, and the master told him what Oliver had said.
‘He asked for more?’ Mr Bumble cried. T cannot believe it. One day they will hang the boy.’
He took Oliver away and shut him in a dark room. The next morning a notice appeared on the workhouse gate. Five pounds were offered to anybody who would take Oliver Twist.
1. How was the master?
2. Why the master was pale?
3. What type of treatment did Oliver get?
4. What punishment did Oliver get?
5. What was the post morning notice?
Answer:
1. The master was a fat healthy man. But he went very pale and surprised at the request of the small boy.
2. The master heard the request of Oliver. He became pale after the request as there was no soup at all.
3. Oliver was taken away from there and he was shut in a dark room.
4. The punishment was confinement in a dark separate room for a week.
5. The post morning notice announced that five pounds would be offered to anybody who would take Oliver Twist.
Passage-7.
Oliver was a prisoner in that cold, dark room for a whole week. Every morning he was taken outside to wash, and Mr. Bumble beat him with a stick. Then he was taken into the large hall where the boys had their soup. Mr Bumble beat him in front of everybody. He cried all day. When night came he tried to sleep, but he was cold, lonely and frightened. But one day, outside the high workhouse gate, Mr Bumble met Mr Sowerberry. Mr Sowerberry was a tall, thin man who wore black clothes and made coffins. Many of his coffins were for the poor people who died in the workhouse.
1. What treatment did Oliver get?
2. How was Oliver at the night of confinement?
3. Who was Sowerberry?
4. How did Sowerberry dress?
5. What was the profession of Sowerberry?
Answer:
1. Every morning Oliver was taken out to wash and Mr. Bumble beat him with a stick.
2. In the nights of confinement Oliver tried to sleep but he was cold, lonely and frightened.
3. Mr. Sowerberry was tall and thin man. He met Mr. Bumble in the workhouse gate.
4. Mr. Sowerberry wore black clothes.
5. Mr. Sowerberry was coffin maker for the poor who died in the workhouse.
Oliver Asks for More About the Story
Charles Dickens is regarded as one of the greatest novelist of the victorian era. He was an English writer and social critic. Charles Dickens was born on 7th February, 1812 in Landport, Portsmouth United Kingdom. At the age of only 12 years he had to leave school as his father was in prison. At first he worked in a shoe factory. He started his writing Career When he was working as an office boy.
At the age of 24 years he wrote his first novel. He got worldwide fame through his novels like Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, Bleak House, David Copperfield and A Tale of two cities. He was the creator of immortal characters like Oliver Twist, Micawber and Pecksniff. He has written 15 novels.This famous novelist passed away on 9th June, 1870 at Gods Hill Palace, United Kingdom.
Oliver Asks for More About the Author
Source : The story ‘Oliver Asks for More’ is an extract from the novel ‘Oliver Twist’ of Charles Dickens.
Story : In the workhouse orphan Oliver and his companions were ill-treated and starved. Oliver was brought to a Children’s home where he had to face almost starvation. The story clearly pointed out the ill-treatment with the poor orphaned kids in the orphanage. They were given insufficient food and they suffered from slow starvation. Even they were not allowed to ask for more food. Oliver was punished as he asked for more food.
Oliver Asks for More Brief Summary
In an unidentified place in a work house a child was born. He lost his mother when the infant was struggling for survival. At that time a doctor and an old woman stood by. The mother faintly murmured when she heard the sound of the child’s voice by saying, Let me see the child and die. Both the wishes of the mother were granted as the doctor put the baby in her amrs. She kept her white cold lips to his face and died.
In reply to the doctor’s question the woman informed him that in the previous night she was brought there. She was lying in the street. Nobody knew from where she came there. The doctor looked at the girl’s left hand and said, The usual story, she has no ring on her finger. The doctor went away. The old woman dressed the infant with old clothes for babies.
No one was able to find out the parentage of the baby. Mr. Bumble, an important officer of the town named the baby Oliver Twist. When Oliver was nine years old he was a pale thin child. In the work house the boys were given only three meals of thin soup daily. On Sundays they got a piece of bread. In a big hall the boys were fed. One day Oliver and his companions planned that they would ask the master for more soup.
One day during soup serving it vanished quickly. Oliver asked his master for more soup. The master became pale hearing the question. Oliver repeated the question. The master cried for help. Mr Bumble came running into the room. He was told about the happening. He could not believe the incident. He took Oliver away and shut him in a dark room.
Oliver was sentenced to confinement immediately. A notice was pasted in the gate in the next morning that the home would offer five pounds to anyone who would accept Oliver as an apprentice in his work place. One day Mr. Bumble met Mr. Sowerberry. He asked him if anybody wanted a boy with five pounds. With this raising his stick he pointed out to the notice pasted in the gate.
Glossary:
1. Lifted — raised
2. Discover — find
3. Shook — moved
4. Disappeared — vanished
5. Orphan — a person who lost his parents
6. Warm — hot
7. Coffins — boxes for the dead bodies.
8. Supper — meal before bed time.
9. Whispered — talked in low tone.
10. Pointed — indicated.
11. Explained — described.
12. Pot — Container
13. Decided — took decision
14. Rushed — came running.
Theme : The story ‘Oliver Asks for More’ deals with the painful life of Oliver and the Cruel treatment that he received in the orphanage. The main theme of the story is that the small children who need love and care should not be neglected and beaten. They are forced to go through a hard life which they are unable to endure.
From the story we know that Oilver and other boys of the workhouse are tortured mercilessly. They all are ill-fed and beaten for no reason at all. Even they are kept in a dark room. Actually they are compelled to die in starvation gradually. Dickens pointed out the miserable condition of the workhouse children and he wanted to draw our attention and expected that we should treat them with sympathy. It is actually a social crime.
Plot : The story ‘Oliver Asks for more’ is taken from the novel Oliver Twist by charles Dickens. Two incidents are described in the short story. Actually this is an episode The story centres round the incident of the life of Oliver Twist at the workhouse. In the workhouse where Oliver used to stay gave only three meagre meals of thin soup daily.
One day it was decided that Oliver would ask for more soup from the master so, he asks for more. The master was at a loss. On the repeated request of Oliver the master called Mr. Bumble. He informed him of the incident. Oliver was beaten cruelly and he was shut up in a dark room.
Oliver Asks for More Characters
Oliver Twist :
The entire short story deals with the character of Oliver Twist. He was an orphan. He was born in a workhouse where poor homeless. people lived. His mother died soon after his birth. His parentage was unknown to everyday. Mr. Bumble gave him the name Oliver Twist.
When Oliver was nine years old he was a pale thin Child. He never got sufficient food and worm clothes to protect his body from cold. He was given three meals of thin soup there. On Sundays he got a small piece of bread.
The workhouse boarders decided to ask for more soup one day. Oliver was chosen to place the demand. The master was shaken hearing the demand of Oliver. Due to his protest he was shut in a cold dark room. He was beaten regularly. For a week he stayed as a prisoner in the cold dark room. Daily he is beaten with a stick in front of everybody when he is taken outside. At night he tries to sleep but he feels frightened and lonely.
Setting :
In London in a workhouse the story is set. The author treats the setting with awful subtlety. He did not mention the town or state and the date when the action of the story took place. We, the readers come to know that the events occur in a workhouse which is common to every localities.
In this way the author proclaims that he is going to deal with topics of general import. Willingly he keeps the immediate setting vague to the readers. His goal is to draw attention on the workhouse and the activities therein. In the workhouses, the boys are ill-treated and they are compelled to live on partly starvation.
Title :
The title of the story ‘Oliver Asks for More’ is just and appropriate. Oliver and his companions in the workhouse never had enough food and warm clothes. Daily they got three meals with thin soup. The boys themselves cleaned the bowls with their spoons so, the bowls were not properly cleaned. Each boy received one bowl of soup only.
One day Oliver and his companions decided that they would ask the master for more soup. Oliver was chosen to raise the question to the master. In the evening the soup was taken when it was served. Oliver taking his bowl went to the master and asked for more soup.
The master was amazed and went pale. He called Mr. Bumble. He was very angry. He shut Oliver in a dark room. In this way it is clear that the story revolves round Oliver’s asking for more soup and the punishment that he received. So, the title is apt and justified.
Style :
In this short story Charles Dickens has adhered to the traditional technique of story telling. The starting of a novel is always important. The author faces the problem of setting down the opening words in the first chapter. Here the method is chosen to regulate the overall organization of the book.
Time management is one of the elements of technique which draws the attention of the readers. The passage of time can be seen through chronological events. This can be done through dramatic presentation or narrative summary. Sometimes the writer resorts to bare statement.
In this story Dickens describes the brief account of Oliver’s birth and thereafter the statement starts — ‘Oliver is nine years old’. Thus, the reader is not made aware of the passing time.
Oliver Asks for More Critical Appreciation
The story Oliver Asks for More deals with the story of an orphan, named Oliver. He is brought up to children’s home. The young boys who lived in the orphanage were treated with inhuman cruelty. The board members were of the thought that they should be starved quickly outside or inside the workhouse.
If anyone asks for more he is beaten mercilessly. The story shows how the contemporary society ill-treated poor orphaned kids. At that age the children should be treated with love and care. But they are harshly treated and cruelly exploited. Here the author used the irony with devastating effect. If we compare with thin Oliver we see the master was fat and healthy.
Oliver Asks for More Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Read the questions given below and tick the correct answer:
Question 1.
Oliver Twist was born in a ………….
a. park
b. clinic
c. workhouse
d. a deserted building
Answer:
c. workhouse.
Question 2.
The name Oliver Twist was given by ………….
a. Swabble
b. Bumble
c. Unwin
d. an old woman of workhouse
Answer:
b. Bumble.
Question 3.
Mr. Sowerberry made………….
a. Coffins
b. shoes
c. utensils
d. buildings
Answer:
b. coffins.
Question 4.
Oliver remained prisoner for………….
a. a week
b. six months
c. five days
d. 24 hours
Answer:
a. a week.
Question 5.
Oliver asked for more soup and the master reacted with ………….
a. pleasure
b. surprise
c. shout
d. started beating
Answer:
d. started beating.
Question 6.
The taker of Oliver Twist would get ………….
a. ten
b. five
c. one
d. four pounds
Answer:
b. five
Question 7.
The soup disappeared soon because ………….
a. it was not enough
b. it was tasty
c. boys were hungry
d. all of the above
Answer:
c. boys were hungry.
Question 8.
The bowls never needed washing because ………….
a. they were made of glass
b. made of bone china
c. the boys cleaned them with spoons
d. all of the above
Answer:
c. the boys cleaned them with spoons.
Question 9.
Oliver’s mother pressed her cold lips to his face and ………….
a. smiled
b. cried
c. died
d. slept
Answer:
c. died.
Question 10.
The Master was ………….
a. fat
b. fat and healthy
c. thin
d. Pale
Answer:
b. fat and healthy.
Question 11.
The child was an orphan. The child was ………….
a. Bumble
b. Oliver
c. doctor
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. Oliver.
Question 12.
The master hit Oliver with a ………….
a. spoon
b. bowl
c. stick
d. none of the above
Answer:
a. spoon.
Question 13.
Mr. Sowerberry was ………….
a. tall
b. tall and thin
c. fat
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. tall and thin.
Question 14.
The taker of Oliver was offered ………….
a. 10
b. 12
c. 15
d. 5 pounds.
Answer:
d. 5 pounds.
Question 15.
The girl who gave birth to Oliver was ………….
a. married
b. unmarried
c. widow
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. unmarried.