The Boy Who Broke the Bank డిగ్రీ ఇంగ్లీష్ మొదటి సంవత్సరం Q&A

The Boy Who Broke The Bank

Brief summary:

"The Boy Who Broke the Bank" is a short story by Ruskin Bond. It is about a boy who was working at a bank by sweeping up. The bank manager was way overdue in paying him for the job. Soon that bank collapsed and rumor had it that it was because of the unpaid boy. Because word got around that the boy didn't get paid, people assumed that the bank had no money. The people who dealt with the bank were worried about their money. This story is basically about how rumors and lack of communication can cause many problems and be destructive.

Question and Answers:

Q1. How did the story traveled from Mrs. Bhushan to the elderly gentleman who was getting a haircut? How did the facts of the news change as it traveled?

Mrs. Bhushan told the news to her husband, Mr. Bhushan who was talking to Kamal Kishore. Kamal Kishore, who owned a photographic shop, passed on the news to his neighbor, a barber. At the time the barber was giving a haircut to an elderly gentleman. The fact was that the bank did not pay the sweeper till 20^th of the current month. But as it travelled, the news coloured the facts in such a way that people thought that the bank was about to collapse.

Q2. What did the elderly gentleman do to ascertain the veracity of the news? What did he find out? What conclusion did he reach?

Hearing the news, the elderly gentleman ran across the road to a general merchant’s store and made a phone call to Seth Govindaram, the owner of the bank. He learned that the Seth was away to Kashmir on a pleasure trip. He concluded that the owner of the bank ran away from the town to escape as the bank was about to collapse. He informed the same to Dev Chand, the barber. Then he hurried to his home to get his cheque book to withdraw money from the bank.

Q3. How did the people react to the rumor of the imminent collapse of the bank? What did they tell each other? What new rumors started to spread?

The news of the bank’s imminent collapse spread in the town like a wildfire. At the general merchant’s shop, it circulated in customers. Soon everybody started talking about the news . A new rumor started to spread that the Seth had left the state. Some others said that he left the country.  Some people said that he was hiding somewhere in the town. Some even said that he had hanged himself to a tamarind tree.

Q4. Enumerate the steps taken by the bank manager to resolve the crisis.

As every customer of the bank started withdrawing money, the small bank had gone through all its ready cash reserves by noon. The bank manager was in a dilemma. He could not get any emergency funds immediately from another bank, which was some thirty miles away. Nor could he contact the owner of the bank, who was beyond his reach, on a house-boat in Kashmir. He tried in vain to convince the people that the bank had plenty of money. He urged them to come on the next day.

Q5. Describe the scene in front of the bank and the incidents that follow.

As people the rumor that the bank was about to collapse, they gathered in front of the bank in large numbers demanding the repayment of their deposits. By noon, the small bank had gone through all its ready cash reserves. The manager could neither get emergency funds nor contact the owner. He tried in vain to convince the people that the bank had plenty of money. He urged them to come on the next day. But customers demanded their cash on the spot. Several mischief makers joined the crowd. Somebody hurled a brick on the glass window and broke it. That was the end of the Pipalnagar Bank.

Plyaing the English Gentleman

PLAYING THE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN

Summary:

Playing the English Gentleman is an account of Gandhi’s efforts to mingle in English society. For being the English Gentleman, Gandhi does several things such as wearing all things like, he wears a new suit and also tries to learn dancing, violin, and elocution but all in vain. After some days he realized that he was a student and he ought to go on with his studies. This realization made him be aware of his studies. He stops trying to become the English Gentleman and begins to concentrate on his studies.

Questions and Answers:

Q1. What were the initial reasons because of which Gandhi took to vegetarianism?

In Playing the English Gentleman, Gandhi explained his love for vegetarianism. Gandhi read some books and vegetarianism and did experiments with his diet. Health was his principal consideration for taking up vegetarianism.  He was convinced that vegetarianism is healthy by reading books and doing experiments on vegetarianism.

Q2. Gandhi’s friend was worried about his vegetarianism. What were the reasons for his worry?

Gandhi’s friend was worried about his vegetarianism because of two important reasons. He thought that if Gandhi objected to eating meat, he would not grow strong. Eventually, Gandhi would become weak as he was eating only vegetarian food. His friend loved his so much that he wanted Gandhi to mingle in English society. He was sure that a man who did not eat meat could be an outcast in English society. He also worried that Gandhi would become a crank by reading books on vegetarianism.

Q3. Describe the episode at Holborn Restaurant.

Gandhi’s friend was determined to put a stop to his vegetarianism.  One day, Gandhi’s friend invited him to the theatre. Before going to the theatre they had to dine in a high-class restaurant. He thought Gandhi would not ask any questions in the palatial hotel. As the soup was served, Gandhi called the waiter to know whether it was vegetarian or not. Before the waiter could answer, his friend said that Gandhi was too clumsy for a decent society and allowed him to eat at some other restaurant.

 Q4. How did Gandhi change his style of dressing, and why?

Gandhi wanted to please his friend and assure him that he would no longer be clumsy and unsuitable for English society. He got new clothes at the Army and Navy Stores as his Bombay cut clothes were unsuitable. He bought a top hat for nineteen shillings. He also paid ten pounds for an evening suit made in Bond Street. He asked his brother to send him a watch with a gold chain. He learned the art of wear a tie and started spending time before a mirror to arrange his hair.

Q. Why did Gandhi decide to give up dancing classes? Was his decision justified?

Gandhi changed his style of dressing and started taking dance lessons, learning French and attended classes to learn French and elocution. He did all this to behave like an English gentleman. He found out that he could not achieve rhythmic motion and follow the piano. So, he wanted to learn violin to understand Western music. After some days he realized that he was a student and he ought to go on with his studies. His decision was justified as he stopped trying to become the English Gentleman and began to concentrate on his studies.

Q6. Explain the meaning of the like, ‘Mr. Bell rang the bell of alarm in my ear and I awoke.’

Gandhi changed his style of dressing and started taking dance lessons, learning French and attended classes to learn French and elocution. He did all this to behave like an English gentleman. He paid a preliminary fee of a guinea to a teacher to teach him elocution. The teacher suggested Gandhi buy Bell’s Standard Elocutionist as the textbook. As he began to read a speech of Pitt, he realized that he was a student and he ought to go on with his studies. Gandhi described the realization as ‘Mr. Bell rang the bell of alarm in my ear and awoke’.

Q7. What were the steps Gandhi took in a new direction after he had decided on concentration on his career?

As he began to read a speech of Pitt from Bell’s Standard Elocutionist, he realized that he was a student and he ought to go on with his studies. He should qualify himself to join the Inns of Court. He also realized that his character should make a gentleman of him. He wrote letters to his teachers to excuse him from further classes. He met his violin teacher personally and explained his position. She encouraged him in his determination to make a complete change.  He stopped trying to become the English Gentleman and began to concentrate on his studies.

Potrait of a Lady, డిగ్రీ మొదటి సంవత్సరం ప్రశ్నలూ, జవాబులు

Portrait of a Lady

Q1. Why the essay is called “Portrait of a Lady”?

In this story, Khushwant Singh describe s his grandmother. He tells us how he had spent his childhood with her in the village. He also describes the change that came in the relationship in the city. Ultimately, he describes the moving scene of her death. As he paints the picture of his grandmother vividly, the story is called as “Portrait of a Lady”.

Q2. What does Singh say about the beauty of his grandmother? What kind of beauty was hers?

Khushwant Singh says that his grandmother was tender, loving and deeply religious old lady.  She was so old that her face was wrinkled. It was difficult to believe she would ever been young and pretty. Her hair was white as snow. She had a little stoop in her back. She could be seeing reciting her rosary all the time.  The author says that “yet she was beautiful” and adds that "she was like the winter landscape in the mountains and expanse of pure white serenity breathing peace and contentment."

Q3. Why did the writer’s grandmother accompany him to school?

The writer’s grandmother accompanied his to school as Singh was the only child at that time, and his parents had gone to live in the city leaving him behind the village under the care of his grandmother. She would get him ready for school. She would also feed him with Chappathi. The School was attached with a temple. All the children sat in the verandah reciting alphabets while his grandmother is engaged reading holy scriptures. Finally in the evening, the author and the grandmother would walk back home feeding the dogs.

Q4. What was the turning point in the relationship of the grandmother and the grandson?

After a friendly relationship with his grandmother, the author went to city to join his parents. He had to adopt a new life. This was a turning point for the grandmother and the grandson. Both of them were made to settle down in the city. The author went to an English school but the grandmother never liked the way he was taught. Though Singh and his grandmother shared the same room, she was unable to help him. Apart from this, she was also disappointed that he was learning music, which she considered not suitable for gentlefolks.

Q5. Who were the grandmother’s friends in the absence of the writer?

In due course, Singh went up to a University. He was given a separate room in the house. This indeed snapped the common link of the relationship between the grandmother and the grandson.  The grandmother agreed the fact and adjusted her life accordingly. She used to spin the wheel from sunrise to sunset. Only during the afternoon she would relax by feeding the sparrows with little pieces of bread. They were her best friends and the sparrows also liked her company.

Q6. How did the grandmother react when the writer returned from studying abroad? What does this relation show of her character?

Singh went up abroad for higher studies for five years. He had a doubt in his mind that his grandmother may not survive or not until his return. His also taught that it might be the last physical contact between them when she came in the railway station to see him off. When he came back after five years, he was welcomed by his grandmother who was not grown a single day older. She celebrated the return of her grandson by collecting some women of neighbourhood and beating drum for several hours. The incident shows that she was tender, loving and deeply religious.

Q7. What kind of a relationship did the grandmother have with animals?

The grandmother had a special relationship animals like sparrows and dogs. When the author was going to school in his village, the grandmother would walk back home with him, feeding the dogs. When she came to city she would relax by feeding the sparrows with little pieces of bread in the afternoon. They were her best friends and the sparrows also liked her company. Singh says that his grandmother's happiest moments were with her sparrows.

Ode On Solitude - డిగ్రీ రెండవ సంవత్సరం - పాఠం - ప్రశ్నలు, జవాబులు

Ode of Solitude - Alexander Pope, (1688 – 1744)

Happy the man, whose wish and care

A few paternal acres bound,

Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,

 Whose flocks supply him with attire,

Whose trees in summer yield him shade,

In winter fire.

Blest, who can unconcern’dly find

Hours, days, and years slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind,

Quiet by day,

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,

Together mixed; sweet recreation;

And innocence, which most does please,

With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

Thus unlamented let me dye;

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lye.

Questions and Answers

1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.

a. What would be the possession of the speaker in the poem as given in the first stanza?

Ans.  A few paternal acres would be the possession of the speaker as given in the first stanza.

b. What are the self-sufficient facilities that the speaker will have in this native land?

Ans. Cattle to give milk, fields to provide bread, sheep to offer wool, trees to give shade in summer and fire in winter are the self-sufficient facilities that the speaker will have in the native land.

c. How can trees help him?

Ans. Trees can help him by offering him shade in summer and fire-wood in winter.

d. What are the assets that the speaker can rely on in his new situation?

Ans. The speaker can rely on the land for his food, cattle for his milk, sheep for his clothes and trees for share and fire in his new situation.

e. What are the qualities that would please him if he possessed them?

Ans. The health of body, peace of mind, sound sleep at night, work and recreation mixed in a balanced way are the qualities that would please the speaker if he possessed them.

2. Answer the following questions in about 50 words each.

a. What does the poet mean by ‘Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;/Thus unlamented let me dye…?

The poet means that he wants to live a solitary life. He wants to work in a few acres of paternal land. He wants to make bread from his own harvest. He wishes to tend cattle, sheep to fulfill his requirements of milk and clothes. He sums up his idea of simple and secluded life with these lines.

b. Explain the theme of solitude that the poet expands on in the poem.

The poet wants to lead a secluded and self-sufficient life by living in a few acres of ancestral land. He likes to live in his native place by tending cattle and farming. He wants to spend years softly in good physical health and mental peace.  He wants to die unnoticed and unlamented. This is the theme of solitude explained by the poet.

c. Comment on the opening and the closing lines of the poem.

The opening lines of the poem reveal the poet’s idea that the man who is contented to live in his ancestral land and breathe the native air is happy. The closing lines express the poet’s wish to leave this world unnoticed and unlamented. He wants to live an uneventful, secluded life.

d. Examine the poem as an introspective and self-revelatory one.

Ode to Solitude is written by Alexander Pope. In this poem the poet examines himself and reveals his ideas about leading a solitary life. The poem is both introspective and self-revelatory as it explains how the poet wants to lead a simple, rustic, and satisfactory life without leaving his native land.