THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT PAGE 8
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30 – 40 words).
1. How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
Answer: There are four characters in the narrative: Jerome (the author), Harris, George and Montmorency, the dog.
2. Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer: Jerome volunteered to do the packing because he was of the belief that packing was one of those many things that he knew more about than any other person living.
3. How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer: George and Harris accepted Jerome’s suggestion with a readiness that was strange. While Harris cocked his legs on the table, George spread his legs over the easy-chair. Jerome did not like their reaction as he wanted to boss the job and that Harris and George should do trivial tasks under his directions.
4. What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer: Jerome intended to boss the job while offering to pack. He wanted Harris and George to work under his directions.
5.
What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he
waited till then to ask?
Answer: Harris asked Jerome if he had put the boots in. I think he waited until then to ask to see what Jerome’s response would be.
6. What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer: The horrible idea that occurred to Jerome a little later was a question, the question of whether he had packed his toothbrush.
7. Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer: Jerome finally found his toothbrush inside one boot.
8. Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer: Jerome had to reopen the packed bag as he had to find out where his toothbrush was.
9. What did George and
Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer: George and Harris offered to pack evidently to show Jerome how to do it.
10. While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(iii) They squashed a
tomato.
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(v) They stepped on a banana.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vii) They stepped on things.
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(x) They were very good
at packing.
Answer:
(i) They started with breaking a cup. - True
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(iii) They squashed a tomato. - True
(iv) They trod on the butter. - True
(v) They stepped on a banana.
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them. - True
(vii) They stepped on things. - True
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(x) They were very good at packing.
II. What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer: Montmorency’s ambition in life, according to Jerome, was being sworn at after having got into someone’s way. I feel Montmorency is an active dog that yearns for compassion although it does seem to share a cordial relationship with Jerome.
III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words)
1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
Answer: I am of the opinion that of the three people, Jerome is the best packer. He knows very well the art of arranging things although he does tend to forget a couple of things while packing. He does not remember where he had put his toothbrush. He looks for his spectacles as well.
Both George and Harris, on the other hand, are pathetic at packing. They trod on things, find it difficult to find what they want and even place pies at the bottom, foolishly putting heavy articles on top and not realising that the pies would be smashed. They also upset salt over everything, causing disorderliness.
2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
Answer: Montmorency did not really contribute to the packing but did all he could to disrupt the work that was being done. Jerome emphasises that Montmorency's ambition in life was to get sworn at. The author stresses that Montmorency would feel his day wasted if he did squirm in anywhere, making people go mad.
What would cause trouble was the dog's coming and sitting over things right at the time when they were about to be packed. Also, he would believe that George and Harris were in fact looking for his nose when they reached out their hand for something.
Furthermore, the dog would not only disturb the teaspoons by putting his leg into the jam but also behave as if lemons were rats. He even ended up 'killing' three lemons only to later be beaten with a frying pan. His contribution was, of course, priceless.
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Answer: Yes, I find the story very funny. There are many humorous elements in the story. Some of them are:
(i) Harris’ asking Jerome to put the boots in after he had finished
packing.
(ii) The author’s rummaging through the bag to find his toothbrush.
(iii)
The dog behaving as if lemons were rats and going to the extent of killing
lemons.
(iv) George and Harris treading on things.
(v) George and Harris’ finding it difficult to find what they want and place pies at the bottom, foolishly putting heavy articles on top and not realising that the pies would be smashed.
THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE PAGE
9
I. Match the words/phrases in Column A with their
meanings in Column B.
|
A |
B |
|
Slaving |
(i) a quarrel or an
argument |
|
Chaos |
(ii) remove something
from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
|
Rummage |
(iii) strange,
mysterious, difficult to explain |
|
Scrape out |
(iv) finish
successfully, achieve |
|
Stumble over, tumble
into |
(v) search for
something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
|
Accomplish |
(vi) complete
confusion and disorder |
|
Uncanny |
(vii) fall, or step
awkwardly while walking |
|
(to have or get into)
a row |
(viii) working hard |
Answer:
|
A |
B |
|
Slaving |
(viii) working hard |
|
Chaos |
(vi) complete confusion and disorder |
|
Rummage |
(v) search for something by moving things
around hurriedly or carelessly |
|
Scrape out |
(ii) remove something from inside another
thing using a sharp tool |
|
Stumble over, tumble into |
(vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
|
Accomplish |
(iv) finish successfully, achieve |
|
Uncanny |
(iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to
explain |
|
(to have or get into) a row |
(i) a quarrel or an argument |
II. Use suitable words or phrases from Column A above to
complete the paragraph given below.
A Traffic Jam
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter ____________________ at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by ___________ _________________over their right of way and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen _________________________ at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having ______________________ something.
Answer:
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter chaos at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by getting into a row over their right of way and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen slaving at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having accomplished something.
III. Look at the sentences below. Notice that the verbs
(italicised) are all in their bare form.
• Simple commands:
– Stand up!
– Put it here!
• Directions: (to reach
your home)
Board Bus No.121 and get
down at Sagar Restaurant. From there turn right and walk till you
reach a book shop. My home is just behind the shop.
• Dos and don’ts:
– Always get up for your elders.
– Don’t shout in class.
• Instructions for
making a fruit salad:
Ingredients
Oranges
– 2
Pineapple
– one large piece
Cherries
– 250 grams
Bananas – 2
Any other fruit you like
Wash
the
fruit. Cut them into small pieces. Mix them well. Add a
few drops of lime juice. Add sugar to taste. Now add some cream
(or ice cream if you wish to make fruit salad with ice cream.)
1. Now work in pairs. Give
(i) two commands to your partner.
(ii) two do’s and don’ts to a new student
in your class.
(iii) directions to get to each other’s houses.
(iv) instructions for moving the body in an exercise or a dance, or for cooking something.
Answer:
(i) Commands: Tell me
the answer.
Read good books.
(ii) Do’s: Take notes
when the teacher explains a concept.
Be polite to your teachers.
Don’ts: Don’t talk during sessions.
Don’t shout
(iii)
Board the Blue Line metro. Alight at the Sector 34 Metro Station. Exit through
Gate Number 3. Walk straight. You will find a gate opposite the Wedding Villa,
a marriage hall. Tell the watchman that you need to go to B-568.
Board the Magenta Line metro Get off at the Botanical Garden station. Board an auto after having exited through Gate Number 1. Ask the auto driver to drop you off at House Number 160 opposite St Mary's School.
(iv) Breath in, breath out. Sit in the lotus position. Close your eyes. Try to focus on the part lying between your eyebrows. Chant a mantra. And let your mind relax.
2. The
table below has some proverbs telling you what to do and what not to do. Fill
in the blanks and add a few more such proverbs to the table.
|
Positive |
Negative |
|
(i) Save for a rainy day. |
(i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
|
(ii) Make hay while the sun shines. |
(ii) Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
|
(iii) ________ before
you leap. |
(iii) ________ a mountain
out of a molehill. |
|
(iv) ________ and let
live. |
(iv) ________ all
your eggs in one basket. |
Answer:
|
Positive |
Negative |
|
(i) Save for a rainy day. |
(i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
|
(ii) Make hay while the sun shines. |
(ii) Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
|
(iii) Look before you leap. |
(iii) Don't make a mountain out of a
molehill. |
|
(iv) Live and let live. |
(iv) Don’t put all your eggs in one
basket. |
|
(v) Keep your mouth shut and your eyes
open. |
(v) Don’t bite off more than you can
chew. |
|
(vi) Cross the stream where it is
shallowest. |
(vi) Don’t blow your own trumpet. |
|
(vii) Hope for the best, prepare for the
worst. |
(vii) Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
WRITING PAGE 11
You have seen how Jerome, George and Harris mess up their packing, especially of the hamper. From their mistakes, you must have thought of some dos and don'ts for packing. Can you give some tips for packing by completing the paragraph below?
Answer: First pack all the heavy items, especially the ones you don’t need right away. Then remember to put in essential commodities such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, towels, and the like. Next, keep eatables at the top so they are easy to access. Now check whether you have everything neatly packed. Make a list of items that you will definitely need to use. Don’t forget to put in your boots, socks, and handkerchiefs. Finally, see if anything important has been left.
Poem: The
Duck and the Kangaroo by Edward
Lear
|
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