Mohammed Suleman

  The Rocking-horse Winner by D.H. Lawrence Understanding The Text 1. What was the reason for young Paul’s restlessness at the beginning of the story? How did it find expression? Ans: Paul was restless because he kept hearing whispers in the house saying they needed more money. He tried to help by riding his rocking horse a lot, hoping it would tell him which horses would win races. 2. Why do you think Paul’s mother was not satisfied with the yearly birthday gift of 1,000 pounds for five years? Ans: Paul's mother wasn't happy with getting 1,000 pounds each year for her birthday because: (a) She was used to spending more money. (b) She owed money to people. (c) She always wanted more, no matter how much she had. 3. What was the reason for the anxiety of Paul’s mother as he grew older? Ans: Paul's mother got worried about him as he grew up because: (a) She saw that he was getting too excited about horse racing. (b) She thought his eyes looked strange. ...

My Three Passions by Bertrand Russell From the context of the passage, guess the meaning of the words and phrases in the box wayward course ocean of anguish  verge of despair   mystic miniature unfathomable abyss   apprehend reverberate     Ans: wayward course: An unpredictable or erratic path in life. ocean of anguish: A vast, overwhelming amount of emotional pain or suffering. verge of despair: The point just before completely losing hope. mystic miniature: A small-scale representation of something spiritual or profoundly meaningful. unfathomable abyss: An immeasurably deep or incomprehensible void. In the context, it refers to the terrifying emptiness or meaninglessness one might perceive in the universe without love. apprehend: To understand or grasp (an idea). reverberate: To echo or resound repeatedly. Understanding The Text 1.       Why does Russell call the three passions ...

  My Watch by Mark Twain Tick-tock goes the clock, but Twain's timepiece marches to its own drum. Join our hapless hero as he battles bonkers watchmakers, defiant gears, and the relentless passage of time itself!   Understanding the Text 1. What was the importance of the watch to the author? Answer: The watch was very important to the author. He believed it was infallible and imperishable, having run perfectly for 18 months. It seems the author has developed an emotional attachment for the watch. 2. What were the attempts made by the author to get his watch repaired? Answer: The author made following attempts to get his watch repaired: He took it to the chief jeweler, who adjusted the regulator. He took it to a watchmaker for cleaning, oiling, and regulating. He visited another watchmaker who said the barrel was "swelled." He went to a third watchmaker who repaired the "king-bolt." He took it to a fourth watchmaker who fixed the crystal and...

  A Pair of Mustachios by Mulk Raj Anand When whiskers become weapons and facial hair fuels feuds, you know you're in for a 'stache-tastic tale. Prepare for bristling egos and a hilariously hairy situation in colonial India!   Understanding the Text 1. What do you understand of the natures of Ramanand and Azam Khan from the episode described? Answer: Ramanand is shown as a clever and flexible businessman. When dealing with Khan Azam Khan's demands, he stays calm and uses his smartness to get what he wants without directly fighting. Azam Khan is shown as a proud and stubborn person who really values his heritage and the symbol of his status—the tiger mustache. His pride often makes him make unwise choices, like pawning his valuables to keep up his honour. 2.   Identify instances in the story that show the business acumen of Ramanand. Answer: BRamanand demonstrates his business acumen by tactfully addressing Khan Azam Khan’s demands regarding the mustache. Des...

 The Peacock by Sujata Bhatt  The poem describes a serene moment when a peacock appears. Its loud call captures attention, and then a flash of turquoise reveals its presence in a pipal tree. The peacock descends gracefully, its slender neck arched away from the observer. As it darts away, only the very end of its tail is visible. The narrator was told that to witness this magical sight, one must sit on the veranda and read a book with great concentration. When fully immersed in the book, a blue shadow falls over the reader. The wind changes direction, the hum of bees nearby ceases, and even the cat stirs. Something disrupts the reader’s attention, and if they look up in time, they might catch the peacock turning away. Its tail, with dark glowing eyes, is violet fringed with golden amber. Interestingly, it is the tail that blinks, even though the peacock’s eyes are always open. Page No: 108 Word Meanings Notice these words in the poem and guess their meaning from the contex...

  The Lament by Anton Chekhov   Understanding the Text 1. Comment on the indifference that meets Iona's attempts to share his grief with his fellow human beings. Answer: Iona Potapov is a cab-driver. His only son died this week. He wants to talk to people to share his emotions and grieve at his loss. However, the people whom he meets, whether the passengers or others, are not interested in listening to his story. Either the people are in hurry to go to their destination or are tired or busy. Thus, the fellow human beings show their indifference to his sorrow. Finally, he shares his grief with his horse. 2. What impression of the character of Iona do you get from this story? Answer: Iona, an old cabdriver, is engulfed in an overwhelming sorrow. This week his young son has just died, leaving him utterly heartbroken and desperate to share his anguish with anyone who might listen. The weight of his grief is unbearable, pressing down on him with a force that makes it imposs...