The Best Christmas Present in the World

Answers to the questions given in the Reading section of the page no. 64 of New Pathways Literature Reader textbook for Class 8

1. Why does the writer feel that it was wrong of him to open the black tin box?

The writer feels that it was wrong of him to open the black tin box because opening. looking and reading personal letters of someone is intrusive and not good-mannered.

2. What job did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have written they were not soldiers?

Hans Wolf was a cello player an orchestra and Jim Macpherson was a school teacher.

3. Do you think Jim MacPherson came back from the war? How do you know this?

No. I do not think that Jim MacPherson came back from the war. When the author met Connie, she was still waiting for the return of Jim. She thought that the author was Jim.

4. Why did the writer feel so guilty that he could not sleep that night?

The writer realized that the letter was very important and valuable to Mrs. Macpherson. He felt so guilty that he could not sleep that night as he had read the personal letter without permission. He wanted to give the letter to the owner as soon as possible.

5. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it ‘the best Christmas present in the world’?

On Christmas day, the narrator went to visit her to deliver the letter. She thought that the narrator was Jim, her husband. According to her, the return of her husband is a Christmas present. It is the best Christmas present in the world because she had been waiting for him for a long time.

6. If you were in the narrator’s position, would you have told Connie that she was mistaken and that you were not her Jim? Why/Why not?

No. I would not have told Connie that she was mistaken. I knew that she had no family and no visitors at the nursing home. I also knew that she was very old and muddle-headed. I would not have the heart of taking away her happiness by telling the truth.