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