Mohammed Suleman

  Time and Time again by A K Ramanujan Answer the following questions in 15-20 words each: (a) Why is the city termed ‘old’? Answer: The city is termed ‘old’ ironically. ‘Old’ here stands for prejudices, inequality, discrimination, hatred, and enmity etc. City here refers the whole society.   (b) “Between the pieces of a back street quarrel” What do you understand by “back street quarrel”? Answer: ‘Back street quarrel’ refers to quarrel among people over petty issues. People quarrel over children’s   play, religious issues, adjustment problems with neighbours, traffic jams and minor accidents etc. (c) Explain –“The perennial feuds and seasonal alliance”. Answer: India is pestered with the frequent incidents of communal violences. It seems on the surface that people are living together with harmony but the poet observes that these alliances are temporary and the feuds are permanent. (d) How do you interpret “Knocked out clock work”? Answer: “Knocked out...

  A Walk through the Fire by A D Smith   Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each: Q1.What was the narrator’s profession and where was he posted when he witnessed the entertainment show? Answer: The narrator was a soldier in the British Army. When he witnessed the entertainment show at that time he was posted at a Sapper Camp at Begampet in Hyderabad State. Q2. Where did the narrator eat a nice meal one evening and how did he feel after eating? Answer: The narrator had a nice meal at a Chinese restaurant at Secunderabad. While driving back to the camp after eating the meal, he was at peace with the world. Q3. Where and in what condition did the narrator meet the old man while driving back to the army camp in the evening? Answer: While driving back to the army camp in the evening, the narrator met an elderly Indian at a point of the road where it was divided into a fork. The old man was lying quite still as if dead with his face covered with blood....

  Does Culture Matter? By E. M. Forster   Answer the following questions in 15-20 words each: 1. What was the speciality of Richard Terry? Answer: Richard Terry was the organist of West Minister Cathedral. The music presented by him and his peers is the reality. 2. What kind of civilisation is described by Sinclair Lewis in his novel ‘Babbit’? Answer: Sinclair Lewis in his novel ‘Babbit’ describes a civilisation which had no tradition and could consequently only work, or amuse itself with rubbish; it had heard of the past, but lacked the power to enjoy it or understand. 3. What did Dante write about the inscription on the gates of Hell? Answer:   Dante wrote about the inscription on the gates of Hell that they were made by the power, wisdom and love of God. 4. Why does Forster say that cultivated people are like ‘a drop of ink in the ocean’? Answer: Cultivated people are like ‘a drop of ink in the ocean’ because they mix easily and even genially with o...

  The Rattrap by Selma Lagerlof Once there was a peddler who sold rattraps with a little thievery on the side to make both ends meet. He had no worldly possession and even any relatives. One day he got amused to think of the world as a rattrap and all the material possessions as bait as the world, he felt was never kind to him. Moreover, he prided himself in the fact that he was out of it. He takes shelter at a crofter’s cottage. The crofter welcomed him, gave him dinner, shared his pipe, played cards with him and also confided in him about his income of 30 kroners and showed him where he had put it. Next morning, the Peddler steals the money and takes the back roads to keep away from people and gets lost in the jungle at night. While he wanders in the forest he realizes that he has also got caught in the rattrap and that the money was the bait. Finally, he reaches Ramsjo Ironworks, where he takes shelter for the night. The blacksmith and his assistant ignore him but thei...

  The Argumentative Indian Answer the following questions in 15-20 words each: 1. Who was Krishna Menon and how long did he deliver his speech at the UN? Answer: Krishna Menon was India’s Defence Minister and led the Indian delegation to the UN. He delivered an unprecedented 9 hour long speech defending India’s stand on Kashmir. 2. Name the foreign commentators who endorsed Krishna’s moral position. Answer: Christopher Isherwood and T.S.Eliot are two foreign commentators who endorsed Krishna’s moral position. 3. Can we achieve immortality through wealth, according to Yajnavalkya? Answer: No, immortality can be achieved through wealth, according to Yajnavalkya. He clearly declared that if we have excessive wealth, our life will be like the life of rich people but there is no scope of immortality by it. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each: 1. Discuss the topic of debate between Arjuna and Krishna in the Bhagwad Gita? Answer: The famous Bhagwad Gita ...

  The Last Lesson by Alphonse Daudet Franz is scared of going to school as his French teacher M. Hamel had announced a test on participles which he had not learnt. Although, Franz wants day out of the school and enjoy beauty of nature- the bright sunshine, the birds chirping in the woods, but eventually decides to go to the school. On the way, he passes through the Town Hall and notices a huge crowd around the Notice board. He does not stop as Bulletin board served all bad news, lost battles, the drafts and orders of the commanding officers. He sees Prussian soldiers drilling but resists. On reaching the school, he notices that everything was as quiet as a Sunday morning. He is not scolded by the teacher. Franz observes that the teacher is dressed in a ceremonial uniform which he wears on prize ceremonies and inspection day only. He is surprised to the villagers occupying the last benches- old Hauser, former mayor and postmaster were also there. M. Hamel announced the notice whic...