His First Flight

Introduction:

The story by “Liam O’ Flaherty” is about a young seagull that is afraid to fly for the first time. He believes that his wings would not support him. Despite his younger siblings flying fearlessly with much shorter wings, he could not gather enough courage to try. He was punished to stay hungry if he did not fly. His mother compelled him to fly by using food as a trap. The story tells us how we hesitate to take the first step in attempting something new. We should trust our abilities.  Fear is the root cause of failure.

Summary (in brief):

The story “His First Flight” by “Liam O’ Flaherty” is about a young seagull. He is afraid to fly. Even though his younger siblings have much shorter wings, they are flying fearlessly while he could not gather the courage to trust his own wings. He was sad as he saw his parents teaching and perfecting his siblings the art of flying. His parents scolded and taunted him for not even trying. Finally, they threaten him that he should be alone and hungry if he didn’t fly. The nest day, he was left alone on his ledge. He felt hungry and tried to get the attention of his family members. His mother noticed him. The young seagull cries out of hunger hoping his mother would feed him. He got excited as his mother came to him with some food. His mother used food as a tool to make him fly. He noticed that his mother had stopped mid-way. He was maddened at the sight of food as he was very hungry and took a dive at the fish. At last, he took his first flight. All the family members celebrate his victory by cheering and dancing around him. He also floated in the sea that he was once afraid of. Thus, he overcame his fear.

Summary (in detail):

The story is about a young seagull. Unlike his younger brothers and sisters, he is too afraid to fly. When the siblings went for flying for the first time, everyone succeeded except him, succeeded. He could not trust his wings. He got terrified by the vast sea and got convinced that he could never fly. As a result, he was ashamed and disheartened. His younger siblings managed to take their first flight despite their wings being shorter than his, but he could not get the courage though he tried desperately. He was scolded by his parents for not trying again but he was terrified of flying.

As he was alone on his ledge suffering from hunger, his parents were helping his siblings master the art of flying and diving to catch fish. His elder brother even caught his first fish. His parents taunted him for being a coward. The sun had now risen and he was feeling the heat more than ever because he was empty-stomach since the night before. He stepped out of his ledge and pretended to sleep on one leg to gain the attention of his family. Still, no one noticed him. His siblings were sleeping, his father was cleaning his feathers with his beak and his mother was standing on a hump of a plateau tearing a fish. She noticed him. The seagull got mad at the sight of the fish because he was very hungry. He cried in hunger to his mom while his mother screamed back angrily but he kept on crying. He screamed joyfully as his mother was flying towards him with the piece of fish. But she stopped short of him. Out of his excitement and hunger, he dived at the fish forgetting all about his fear of flying.

He plunged headlong downwards. He was shocked and afraid. But it only for a moment and soon, his feathers opened as he flew. He could feel the wind against his breast feathers, stomach and his wings. He could feel himself cutting through the air. He was not afraid anymore. He was just a bit nervous but then his mother accompanied him. The whole family screamed out of excitement, thus, celebrating his victory over fear.

Once he overcame his fear, he forgot that he was once afraid of it. He did all those things he once feared. He flew straight over the sea and could see the greenery and the mountains beneath him. He screamed out of joy as he enjoyed the victory. When he landed, his family landed along with him as a gesture that they were proud of. He was scared as his feet sank in the sea. He tried to fly off but he was too tired. As he calmed down, he started floating in the sea. His family was celebrating in excitement and offered him food as praise. Finally, he had conquered his fear and had made his first flight.

Theme:

The theme of the story “His first flight” is about courage and self-confidence. The story is about a seagull who is on its stage of learning how to fly. It also deals with the theme of how to overcome fears and move forward. The mother seagull seemed to be cruel but her intention was good. She wanted her son to overcome his fear of flying.

In this parable, the seagulls convey the message of self-confidence, motivation and self-reliance. The mother seagull motivates the young one enough to get him to learn flying. The baby seagull realizes the importance of belief and faith.

Vocabulary:

ledge = a narrow horizontal shelf projecting from a wall or (here) a cliff

fly (v1) – flew (v2) – flown (v3)

brink = end, edge

flap = (of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly.

expanse = a wide continuous area of something

bend (v1) – bent (v2) – bent (v3)

run (v1) – ran (v2) – run(v3)

sleep (v1) –slept (v2) – slept(v3)

muster = gather

plunge= jump or dive

desperate = feeling or showing a hopeless sense of a situation

shrilly =  with a high pitched and piercing voice or sound

upbraiding  = scolding

threaten = frighten, scare

starve = suffer or die or cause to suffer or die from hunger

for the life of (one) = despite one's best efforts [idiom]

(to) skim = to move lightly just above a surface (here, the sea)

herring = a soft-finned sea fish

devour = eat quickly

cackle = laugh in a loud, harsh way

plateau = an area of fairly level high ground

taunt = provoke or challenge (someone) with insulting remarks

cowardice = lack of bravery

ascending = climbing up

pretend = behave so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not

doze = sleep lightly

preening = making an effort to maintain feathers

hump = a rounded raised mass of earth or land

scrapped = discard

madden = drive (someone or something) insane; make (someone) extremely annoyed

tear = pull (something) apart or to pieces with force

(to) whet  = to sharpen

derisively  = in a manner showing someone that she/he is stupid

plaintively = sadly, sorrowfully

uttered = make a sound with one’s voice

halted =  stopped

dive = plunge headfirst into water

monstrous = having the ugly or frightening appearance of a monster

terror = extreme fear

to last = to continue for a specified period of time

headlong = with the head foremost

soar = fly or rise high in the air

dizzy = an uncomfortable feeling of spinning around and losing one’s balance

swoop = (especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air

curveting = leaping like a horse

banking = flying with one wing higher than the other

to commend = entrust someone or something to

shriek = utter a high-pitched piercing sound

ridges = a long, narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed

caw = to make a cawing sound

amuse =  to find something funny

beckoning = calling

fright = fear

exhaust = feel very tired

Short Answer Questions and Answers:

1. Why was the young seagull alone on his ledge?

The young seagull was alone on his ledge as he was afraid to fly. His siblings and parents had flown and he was left behind.

2. Why he was unable to fly?

He was afraid that his small wings might not support him. He was afraid and wasn’t confident. So, he was unable to fly.

3. How many members were in his family, who were they?

There were six members in his family. They were his parents, his two brothers, his sister and himself.

4. What did his father and mother do when he failed to fly?

His parents scolded him and taunted him for his cowardice. They warned him that he had to stay alone and hungry on his ledge if he failed to fly.

5. Why did his parents raise a proud cackle?

His parents raised a proud cackle as his elder brother had successfully caught a herring all by himself.

6. Why did he pretend to fall asleep?

He was tired and hungry. He was sad and lonely. He wanted sympathy and support from his family. In order to get their attention, he pretended to fall asleep.

7. What were his family members doing?

His siblings were dozing. His father was preening his wings. His mother was standing on a hump, tearing a fish. Only his mother was looking at him.

8. What maddened him?

The sight of the food, the fish being torn by his mother maddened him as he was very hungry.

9. Why he uttered a joyful scream?

He uttered a joyful scream because he thought that his mother was coming to feed him with the fish she was tearing.

10. Did his mother give him food?

No. She didn’t. She wanted to make her son overcome his fear of flying. She used food as a bite to make him fly.

11. What happened when he dived at the fish?

He was terrified and his heart stopped. He heard nothing for a while and soon his wings spread.

12. Why he was no longer afraid?

He was no longer afraid as he was able to fly and he overcame his fear of flying.

13. Describe the sea as he saw beneath him?

The sea beneath him was vast and green with little ridges moving over it.

14. Why did he scream with fright when he landed on the sea?

He thought of standing on the surface of the sea. As he landed on the sea, his feet sank into the sea. He was afraid and tried to fly off, but couldn’t as he was tired and hungry. So, he screamed with fright.

15. Why did the family offer him scraps of dog-fish?

The family offered him scraps of dogfish as he made his first flight and conquered his fear. They praised him by offering him scraps of dogfish.

Textual Questions and Answers:

Q1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?

The young seagull was afraid to fly because he never flew. He thought that his wings would not be able to support him. The thought made him timid. Moreover, he was on a ledge, which was high above the sea.

I think that all birds are afraid when they fly for the first time. Every bird may not have the same degree of fear. I feel that some birds are more timid than other birds.
Yes. I think that a human baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps. In fact, even grown-up humans find it challenging to attempt something new.

Q2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull to finally fly?

The young seagull was alone and without food on his ledge for a long time. He was sad at his own inability to fly. He was not getting any attention from his family. He saw his mother tearing a fish. He too wanted to tear and scrap a fish like that. His hunger made him mad.

His hunger, his mother’s unwillingness to feed him compelled the young seagull finally to fly. In fact, this was what his mother wanted.

Q3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother threaten him and cajole him to fly?

A. Unlike his siblings, the young seagull could not gather enough courage to take his first flight. His parents weren’t happy as he was timid and not willing to take the risk. Therefore, his parents taunted him for being a coward. They even threatened him to let him starve if he did not try. They made him be alone on the ledge. They wanted him to learn how to hunt his own food. So, they threatened and cajoled him.

Q4. Have you ever had a similar experience, where your parents encouraged you to do something that you are too scared to try? (Discuss this in pairs or groups.)

Yes. I had a similar experience. I was afraid of riding a cycle. I had a bitter experience when I tried to ride a cycle for the first time. I fell down and injured. So, I was terrified at the thought of riding a cycle. My parents did their best to encourage me.

Q5. In the case of a bird flying, it seems a natural act and a foregone conclusion that it should succeed. In the examples you have given in answer to the previous question, was your success guaranteed, or was it important for you to try, regardless of a possibility of failure?

The example given by me is about my fear of riding a cycle. No, my success is not guaranteed because it is not a biological or natural skill. Riding a cycle needs a sense of balance and coordination. Regardless of the possibility of failure, it was important for me to try as all my classmates and cousins were riding cycles. I had to prove myself to all of them that I too could do it.

Nelson Mandela – A Long Walk to Freedom

Nelson Mandela – A Long Walk to Freedom

Introduction:

‘Apartheid’ is a political system that separates people according to their race. Nelson Mandela and his African National Congress spent a lifetime fighting against apartheid.  Mandela had to spend thirty long years in prison. Finally, democratic elections were held in South Africa in 1994, and Mandela became the first black President of the new nation. Mr Mandela’s African National Congress also known as ANC party won 252 of the 400 seats in the elections. The inauguration ceremony took place in the amphitheatre of the Union Building in Pretoria. It was attended by politicians and dignitaries from more than 140 countries around the world. Nelson Mandela in his address said, “Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another.” Jubilant scenes on the streets of Pretoria followed the ceremony with blacks, and whites celebrating together. More than 100,000 South African men, women and children of all races sang and danced with joy.

Summary:

10th May was the day when Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black Head of State of South Africa. His anti-racist party came into power after years of struggle. Until then, the seat had always been occupied by white Presidents. Days before this event, many notable personalities started congratulating him for his victory. For the first time in the country’s history, so many international leaders came together for the inauguration ceremony. The ceremony took place in an open circular building made of sandstone consisting of Union buildings in Pretoria. Nelson Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenani. Mr de Klerk was the first person who took oath as second Deputy President followed by Thabo Mbeki who was sworn in as the first Deputy President of South Africa. Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first black President of South Africa. After Mr Mandela had taken his oath, South African jets displayed their military power. It also showed the loyalty of the military to democracy. This was followed by the playing of two national anthems. The whites’ sang ‘Nkosi Sikelel’ and the blacks sang ‘Die Stem’.

Nelson Mandela remembers the days when the whites had formed a system of racial dominance against the blacks. It was the basis of the harsh societies which is now overturned. He says that the policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound on his country and its people. Now the newly formed government recognizes the rights and freedom of all people. On the auspicious day Mr. Mandela regretted the loss of thousands of people and remembered their sacrifices they made. He thought of himself as the sum of all those African patriots who sacrificed their lives before him. He was pained that he couldn’t thank them. He recalled great freedom fighters like Oliver Tambos, Walter Sisulu, Chief Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo as the men of uncommon courage, wisdom and generosity. He said that the country is rich in minerals but its greatest wealth is its people.

Mr. Mandela believes that courageous is not the person who is fearless, but the person who has overcome fear. He also mentioned the two duties that every human has, one is towards his family and the other is towards his country and its people. He says that a civilized society should give to perform these two obligations. But it is not possible in an apartheid society. He says that his obligation towards his family was neglected as he was fighting for freedom. He became a man of people when he realized that the idea of freedom was an illusion for him and people like him. It was then he joined the African National Congress and fought for his rights till he became the first black President of the nation. According to him, the oppressor is as much a prisoner as the oppressed. As soon as the former robs the oppressed of their freedom he, himself gets robbed of his humanity.

Meanings of words and phrases:

besieged  =  surrounded by

dignitaries  =  people considered to be important because of high rank or office

inauguration  =  the beginning or introduction of a system, policy, or period

amphitheater =  a circular or oval area of ground around which rows of seats are arranged on a steep slope, for watching plays, sports, etc.

Podium  =  a raised area on which a person stands to speak to a large number of people, to conduct music, or to receive a prize in a sports competition.

non- racial  =  not influenced by a person s race

pledged  =  to make a serious or formal promise to give or do something

uphold  =  to defend or keep a principle or law

confer  =  to grant a title, degree, benefit, or right

outlaws  =  a person who has broken the law, especially one who remains at large or is a fugitive

rare  =  an event, situation, or condition not occurring very often

privilege  =  an advantage that only one person or group of people has, usually because of their position or because they are rich

distinguished  =  describe a respected and admired person

possession  =  the state of having, owning, or controlling something

dignity  =  valuable and worthy of respect

emancipation  =  the act of freeing a person from another person s control

bondage  =  the state of being another person s slave

deprivation  =  a situation in which one does not have things or conditions that are usually considered necessary for a good life

oppression  =  a situation in which people are governed in an unfair and cruel way and prevented from having opportunities and freedom

glorious  =  deserving great admiration, praise, and honour

reign  =  to be the king or queen of a country

awe  =  a feeling of great respect sometimes mixed with fear or surprise

spectacular  =  something beautiful in a dramatic and eye = catching way

array  =  an impressive display or range of a particular type of thing

precision  =  the quality of being exact

bedecked  =  to be decorated

unmindful  =  to not remember, notice, or be careful about something

chevron  =  a V = shaped mark, a V-shaped line or stripe

smoke trail  =  a line = shaped cloud produced by aircraft engine exhaust

despised  =  to feel a strong dislike for someone or something

overwhelmed  =  to have a strong emotional effect

erected  =  to create or establish

inhumane  =  cruel and causing suffering.

overturned  =  to abolish, invalidate, or reverse a previous system, decision, situation

wrought  =  cause something to happen

profound  =  very deep

brutality  =  cruel and violent treatment or behaviour

unintended  =  unplanned

comrades  =  friends or companions

resilience  =  the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties

defies  =  refuses to obey a person, decision, law, situation, etc

triumph  =  victory

grimmest  =  something harsh or formidable in manner or appearance

glimmer  =  a slight sign of something good or positive

reassure  =  comfort someone and stop them from worrying

extinguished  =  put an end to or destroy

obligations  =  duties or responsibilities

humane  =  compassionate or kind

inclinations  =  a feeling that you want to do a particular thing, or the fact that you prefer or are more likely to do a particular thing

isolated  =  having minimal contact or little in common with others

inevitably  =  certain to happen and unable to be avoided or prevented

twilight  =  a period of decline

secrecy  =  the condition of being hidden or concealed

rebellion  =  the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention

mealies  =  maize kernels or sweet corn

abided  =  to accept or act in accordance with a rule, decision, or recommendation

illusion  =  a false idea or belief

transitory  =  last for only a short time

yearned  =  to wish for something very strongly

curtailed  =  to stop something before it is finished

animated  =  full of interest and energy

attorney  =  a person who has the legal right to act for someone else

monk  =  a member of a group of religious men who do not marry and usually live together in a monastery

virtuous  =  having or showing high moral standards

prejudice  =  an unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge

narrow-mindedness  =  a limited outlook of a person who is unwilling to consider alternative ideas, perspectives or thoughts

Theme:

Nelson Mandela fought for the rights and freedom of the blacks in South Africa. In those days, slavery was rampant in Africa and they faced the harshest and the most inhumane conditions. To bring the people out of these conditions was not an easy task. Nelson Mandela and all the members of African National Congress gave up their families and spent years of rigorous imprisonment and torture. Freedom for South Africa did not happen overnight. The freedom that we Indians got from the British was an outcome of a very long struggle. We must cherish and preserve this freedom. As Nelson Mandela rightly said, ‘A man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred; he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.’

Short Answer Questions:

1. What is the meaning of ‘apartheid’?

2. What was the importance of 10-05-1994?

3. Who besieged Nelson Mandela?

4. What were the ceremonies?

5. Where did the ceremonies take place?

6. Who were sworn in before Mandela?

7. What was the pledge of Mandela?

8. Why it was a ‘newborn liberty’?

9. What was the extraordinary human disaster?

10. Why were they outlaws in their own country?

11. What do you mean by political emancipation?

12. What was the pledge of South Africans?

13. What are the meanings of ‘deprivation’ and ‘discrimination’?

14. What did Mandela mean by saying, ‘the sun will never set on so glorious a human achievement’?

15. What are the colors in the South African National Flag?

16. What are the old and new national anthems of South Africa?

17. What was the history that overwhelmed Nelson Mandela?

18. What can never be counted or repaid according to Mandela?

19. What created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa and its people?

20. What was another, unintended effect of decades of oppression and brutality?

21. Who were the men of extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity?

22. What is the greatest wealth of South Africa?

23. What did Mandela learn about courage from the comrades of struggle?

24. What is courage and who are brave men?

25. How Mandela had reasoned that people can be taught to love?

26. What was enough to reassure Mandela and keep him going?

27. What are everyman’s twin obligations according to Mandela?

28. Why was it difficult to fulfill the twin obligations in countries like South Africa?

29. How was Mandela born in terms of freedom?

30. How was the hunger for freedom developed in Nelson Mandela?

31. What animated Mandela’s life?

32. How was he transformed?

33. Why should be the oppressor liberated according to Mandela?

34. What is the meaning of ‘prejudice’?

35. What was transitory freedom?

Unit 2 of Words and Expressions 2

Vocabulary: (Page 22)

Precincts = boundaries
The precincts of places where the corona virus is detected are closed temporarily.
Comity of nations = association of nations
SARC is a comity of nations committed to the development of the region.
Unassailable = unable to be attacked, questioned, or defeated
The initiatives that the government has taken to curb the spread of the corona virus are unassailable.
Mutual cooperation = We can move forward for our betterment only through our mutual cooperation.

Answer to Q. 2 on Page. 24
Obviously, the is used most. Because he tells us about several definite things or particular things. It is used more than 70 times whereas a is used less than 20 times.

Editing Rules - Subject and Verb Agreement

Editing Rules

Editing / Spotting Errors / Correcting Sentences

Rule No: 1

Subject-Verb Agreement:

Singular Subject takes a Singular Verbs

Plural Subject takes Plural Verb

Rule No: 2

Two Singular Verbs with “or”, “either”, “neither”, “nor” take a Singular Verb.

Rule No: 3

Two Singular Verbs with “and” take a Plural Verb.

Rule No: 4

Sentences with “either…or” and “neither…nor” the Verb can be either Singular or Plural depending upon the noun which is near to it. The Verb follows the noun which is close to it.

Rule No: 5

Singular Subject with “along with”, “as well as” and like expressions take Singular Verb.

Rule No: 6

Distance, Passage of time, and sum of money take Singular Verb.

Important Rules - Editing
Rule No: 1 Subject-Verb Agreement: Singular Subject takes a Singular Verbs Plural Subject takes Plural Verb	Rule No: 2 Two Singular Verbs with “or”, “either”, “neither”, “nor” take a Singular Verb.	Rule No: 3 Two Singular Verbs with “and” take a Plural Verb.
Rule No: 4 Sentences with “either…or” and “neither…nor” the Verb can be either Singular or Plural depending upon the noun which is near to it. The Verb follows the noun which is close to it.	Rule No: 5 Singular Subject with “along with”, “as well as” and like expressions take Singular Verb.	Rule No: 6 Distance/ Passage of time/ sum of money take Singular Verb.

A Triumph of Surgery

A Triumph of Surgery

Introduction:

‘A Triumph of Surgery’ is the story of a woman who loved her pet dog so much that she nearly killed it by overfeeding. A doctor, who knew where the problem lay, takes the nearly dead dog to his clinic for surgery and the dog recovers amazingly after the ‘surgery!’ What surgery did the doctor do? Did he really do any surgery at all?

About the author:

James Herriot, also known as Alf Wight, was an English veterinary surgeon and writer. He is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories. In 1969, James Herriot wrote ‘If Only They Could Talk’. It was the first of the famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. His books are often described as animal stories, obviously because they are about the life of a country veterinarian.

Summary

This story is about Tricki, a small dog who is over-pampered by his mistress Mrs Pumphrey. She overfed him to the extent that made Tricki look like a bloated sausage. She gave him food, rich in fats. She gave him cream cakes and biscuits, cod-liver oil and Horlicks and even wine. This made Tricki, greedy, fat and lazy. He became uninterested in things. He kept lying all day on the carpet. Moreover, he had some bouts of vomiting. So, Mrs. Pumphrey thought that he was seriously ill. She called Mr James Herriot who was a vet surgeon.

Mr Herriot knew that Tricki was suffering because of overeating. He had already made his plans. He said that Tricki must be admitted in the hospital for a fortnight. This suggestion made Mrs Pumphrey very sad. She thought that Tricki could not live even a single day without seeing his mistress. But Mr Herriot wrapped him in a blanket, took him out of the house and put him in his car.

When Herriot reached his home, the household dogs surrounded him. They sniffed Tricki and showed no interest in him. Till two days Herriot did not give him anything to eat. But, he gave him a lot of water to drink. Then the doctor started giving him some light food. He gave him no medicine. After two days Tricki had started taking interest in his surroundings.

He started mixing up with other dogs. He became a member of the gang. At home, he had almost no exercise but at the surgery, he had a lot of exercises and fun. The controlled diet and activities made him active. But, Mrs Pumphrey remained anxious about Tricki’s health. Every time she called, the doctor told her that Tricki was getting better. This made her think that he had gone through some surgery. So daily, she sent two dozen fresh eggs, wine, and brandy for him so that he might recover soon. But the doctor did not give those to Tricki because he really did not need this type of diet. The doctor and his partners enjoyed the eggs, wine, and brandy themselves. After a fortnight Mrs Pumphrey came to collect Tricki. When the doctor brought Tricki out, he immediately jumped into Mrs Pumphrey’s arms. She was surprised to see this. She said that it was a ‘Victory of Surgery.’

Character Sketch:

Mrs. Pumphrey:

Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady, who had a small, dog named Tricki as a pet. Though she loved her pet dearly, she was being foolishly indulgent. She would pamper the dog by giving him chocolates, cakes, juice, eggs and wine. But, little did she know that the dog needed exercise too. And obviously, when Tricki fell sick due to all the overeating and lack of exercise, she became anxious and sad. Though, Mrs. Pumphrey was silly, she was tender-hearted. She cried bitterly when Tricki was taken to the hospital. She packed all of Tricki’s belongings to be taken to the hospital. She even sent eggs, wine and brandy to the hospital thinking that all of those would help Tricki recover from the surgery. She was happy and grateful to Dr. Harriot for making Tricki healthy. She went to the extent of calling it a Triumph of Surgery . So we can say that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich, foolishly indulgent, ignorant, anxious, silly, tenderhearted, and a grateful person. 

Tricki, the dog:

Tricki was well aware of the fact that his mistress loves him dearly. But, sadly enough he gives in to the greed developed due to all the food given to him. Thus he becomes sick. At the hospital, he is well taken care of by Dr. Herriot and his staff. There, Tricki gels with all the other dogs. With a proper diet and a lot of exercise, he once again becomes fit and fine. At the end when Mrs. Pumphrey comes to collect him, he leaps from the arms of Dr. Herriot into his mistress’ lap. Thus, we see that Tricki is a lovable and faithful dog.

 Dr. Herriot:

Dr. Herriot was a duty-bound veterinary doctor. He used to visit Mrs Pumphrey’s house for the regular check-ups of her dog, Tricki. Dr Herriot was quite worried about the dog’s health as he knew that the dog was over-fed by his owner. He advised Mrs Pumphrey to keep him off the rich diet and give him a lot of exercise. But she didn’t bother. Hence, in order to improve Trick’s health, he decided to take him away from Mrs Pumphrey. He told her that the dog needed surgery. He made a Tricky cut down his diet and made him do certain exercises which improved his health. Although he knew Mrs Pumphrey was very rich and much attached to the dog, he did not take any advantage of it. He just performed his duties and eventually returned the dog to its rightful owner.  

The theme of the story:

The story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’ has much significance in our life as well. Not only adults but also children tend to put on weight and grow ill due to their parents’ over-protective nature. Many children become overweight and spoilt just because the parents try to meet every demand and fail to give them proper exercise for their body and mind. The story focuses on people who have disposable money with no avenues to spend. They probably don’t inculcate a pastime or a hobby. Obviously, they easily get bored and hence indulge in silly behaviours. These actions do more harm than good to the objective of affection. Loving and being affectionate towards a child or a pet is not wrong. But, not to the extent that they lose out on their basic understanding between the good and the bad. And, as far as pets are concerned, they are not objects to be shown around. They are real living creatures. As much as they need love and affection, they need a proper diet and a healthy lifestyle to survive well.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 1)

1. Why is Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Mrs. Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he is unwell. He has refused to eat food and had bouts of vomiting. She feels that he is suffering from a serious health issue such as malnutrition.

2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

Mrs. Pumphrey starts giving him extra snacks like malt, cod-liver oil, and Horlicks, apart from his main meals, to improve his condition. She also continues to satisfy his sweet tooth with cream cakes and chocolates. She does not give him any exercise, considering his listlessness as well. She is not wise in doing so because overfeeding Tricki is worsening his condition instead of improving it. It has made him very fat and lazy.

3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

 ‘I’ refers to the narrator, Mr. James Herriot, a veterinary doctor.

Read and Find Out (Answers to the questions given on Page 3)

4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. We can say so because the narrator seems fascinated by how lavishly Mrs. Pumphrey spends on the well-being and maintenance of her pet. He is unusually surprised by the enriching items she sends for Tricki, as he cannot afford them for himself.

5. How does he treat the dog?

James Herriot treats Tricki just like he would treat an overweight and lazy dog, which Tricki is. He cuts down his food intake and keeps him under strict observation for the initial days at the hospital. He gradually increases Tricki’s food and sets him free for physical activities to improve his health.

6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?

Mr. Herriot is tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest because of the good food and wine he is enjoying in Tricki’s name. He does not want to lose the luxurious inflow of fresh eggs, wine, and brandy.

7. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’?

Mrs. Pumphrey thinks that Tricki’s recovery is a triumph of surgery because his illness was severe. She was of the opinion that there were very few chances of Tricki to improve and that he needed immediate medical attention. Thus, his revival without any medicinal treatment was a great achievement, according to her.

A Letter to God

About the author:

Gregorio López Fuentes (1895-1966) was one of the most important chroniclers of the Mexican Revolution and its effects. His famous works are Campamento (1931; “Encampment”), Tierra (1932; “Earth”), Mi general! (1934; “My General!”), and El Indio (1935; “The Indian”).

Summary

The main character of the story is Lencho, a dedicated farmer. He was expecting a decent harvest. But unfortunately, an untimely hailstorm destroyed his harvest totally. Lencho was very sad although he had a very strong faith in God. He was sure that God would definitely help him out of this adverse situation. He was an extremely simple and straightforward man. He composed a letter to God, in which he asks God to send him one hundred pesos. He then went to the post office and put the letter into the post box,

A postman collected the letter from the letterbox. Obviously, he was amused by reading the address on the envelop. He rushed to the postmaster and showed him the strange letter. The postmaster also chuckled in the same way when he saw the address of God. However, he didn’t want to shake the farmer’s faith in God. So, he read the letter. He decided to help him. As he could not spare 100 Pesos, he asked the employees of the post office to contribute to a good cause. He himself gave a part of his salary for the cause. But he was able to collect only a little more than half the money requested by Lencho. The postmaster put the money in an envelope and addressed it to Lechno. 

The following Sunday, Lencho visited the post office again to find out if there was any letter for him. The postman took out the letter and gave it to Lencho. Lencho was not at all surprised at seeing the money. But when he counted the money, he became angry. He thought that God could not have made the mistake. He took paper and ink and wrote another letter to God and put it into the letterbox.

After Lencho had gone, the contents of the letter were read. In this letter, Lencho had complained to God that he had received only seventy Pesos. This time he requested God to send him the rest of the money also. But he asked God not to send the money through the mail. He thought that the post-office employees were a bunch of crooks and that they had stolen the rest of the money.

Meanings of words and phrases

• crest - the top of a mountain or hill
• dotted - a place having objects scattered or placed in a random manner
• downpour - heavy rain
• intimately - in a way that involves detailed knowledge
• supper - a light informal evening meal
• predict - say or estimate that an event or action will happen in the future
• cent - a monetary unit in various countries
• draped - to be covered
• regarded - to consider or think of in a specified way
• hailstones - small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain
• resemble - look alike
• plague - an unusually large number of insects or animals infesting a place and causing damage
• locusts - large, tropical grasshoppers with strong powers of flight
• solitary - alone, lonely
• conscience - a person's moral sense of right and wrong
• pesos - the standard unit of money used in Argentina, Mexico, and some other countries
• amiable - goodhearted and kind
• correspondence - communication by exchanging letters
• evident - clearly seen or understood
• goodwill - friendly, helpful, or cooperative feelings or attitude
• deliberate - intentional
• resolution - determination
• obliged - legally or morally bound to do something
• contentment - a state of happiness or satisfaction
• deny - to refuse to give something requested or desired to someone
• affixed - to stick securely
• crook - a dishonest person  or a criminal

Character Sketches:

Lencho:

Lencho is a lonely, hardworking farmer. Lencho knew his fields well. He was as strong as an ox. Not only did he work like an animal in the fields, but he also knew how to write. Even when his crops are destroyed due to the hailstorm, he doesn’t lose hope and writes a letter to God. Such was his faith in God that when he sees the money in the mail, he is not even a bit surprised. Lencho is also naïve (lacking wisdom). He is innocent as he believed that God would send him the required money, just by asking. He is naïve when he believed that the people in the post office are crooks. Thus we see that although Lencho is a hardworking and god-loving man, his naivety got the better of him. 

The Postmaster:

The Postmaster comes across as a genuine man. He went out of his way to do an act of goodwill for a stranger. Though he broke out laughing as he received the letter, he is determined not to shake his faith in helping the man in need.  He gave away a part of his salary and collected money from his acquaintances so that he could help Lencho retain his faith in God. So, we see that the postmaster was an amiable and kind person.

The theme of the story:

G.L. Fuentes’ "A Letter to God", is a story of a farmer’s undeterred faith in God and his failing faith in humanity. From the very beginning, Lencho shows faith in nature. He was sure that it would rain and he would have a good harvest of corn. He writes a letter to God demanding a hundred pesos. Lencho’s faith in God takes a step further when he writes another letter in anger. He was sure that God would help him with the required money. He assumed that the remaining thirty pesos were taken away by the post office employees. And hence, he asked God not to send the money by mail.

It is rightly said that faith can move mountains. But it is important to know what we should put our faith in. The Almighty does help those in need by his own ways and means. It may be by the means of a random stranger or our teacher or our parents. We must thank each one of them for even the slightest that they may do for us.

Mijbil - The Otter

Gavin Maxwell-Naturalist

Mijbil - The Otter

Introduction

Otters are found in large numbers in the marshes near Basra, a town in Iraq. The narrator wanted to bring an Otter from Iraq to England and keep it as a pet. This lesson tells us about the author and his pet otter.

About the author

Gavin Maxwell was born on 15 July 1914. He was a naturalist and author. He is best known for his work with otters. In his book, ‘Ring of Bright Water’, he described how he brought an otter back from Iraq and raised it in Scotland. The book went on to sell over a million copies and was made into a film.

Summary

The author lived in a cottage in Camusfearna in Scotland. He had a pet dog Jonnie. When Jonnie died, he did not keep a dog again for some time. But life without a pet was lonely. So he decided to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog. His home in Scotland had much water around it. So it would be suitable for an otter.

The author happens to go to Iraq and he shared this idea with a friend who was travelling with him. His friend suggested that otters are found in the Tigris marshes of Iraq. The author had to wait in Basra for his mail. While he was waiting for his mail, an otter was brought to him by two Arabs in a sack.

The otter was a small dragon-like creature. It was covered with mud from head to tail. Under the mud, it had a soft velvet skin. It took the author many days to completely remove the mud from his body. He named the otter `Mijbil’. At first, Mijbil was neither hostile nor friendly. He was simply aloof and indifferent. On the first night, it slept on the floor. The next night, he slipped on the author’s bed and slept between his knees. Gradually, Mijbil started taking interest in its surroundings.

When Mijbil was taken to the bathroom, he enjoyed his bath. He went wild with joy in the water of the tub. The author knew that otters are fond of water. Soon the otter became habitual of being called as ‘Mij’. He followed the author when he called his name.

It spent most of its time playing with a rubber ball and marbles. He would throw the ball like a soccer player. His real play was when he lay on his back and played with small objects between his paws. He could throw the ball a flick of his neck. His favourite toys were marbles.

Eventually, it was time for the author to return to Camusfearna. He knew that the British Airline would not fly animals to London. So he had to book a flight to Paris in another airline and another to London. The airline advised that Mij should be packed in a box. To get him accustomed for the same, the author put Mij into it the box an hour before he started for the airport. When he returned after his meal he noticed blood trickling from the air holes. As he opened it, he found Mij troubled and covered with blood. Mij had torn the inner lining of the box. It was just ten minutes to the flight and the airport was five miles away. So the author put it back in the box and hurried to the airport.

The aircraft was waiting to take off. He rushed in. Inside the flight, he covered the place near his seat with newspapers. He gave the parcel of fish to the air hostess for the otter. She cooperated with the author and advised him to keep the pet on his knee. But soon Mij was out of the box. He disappeared and soon chaos followed in the plane. There were squawks and shrieks all around. The author found the otter beneath the legs of an Indian passenger. When he tried to catch the otter, his face got covered in curry. The air hostess assured him that she would find the otter. The author returned to his seat. After some time, the otter came to him and sat in his lap.

The otter and the author remained in London for nearly a month. Mijbil used to play for hours with toys, ping-pong balls, marbles, rubber fruit, etc. He would place the ball on the sloping top of the suitcase. Then he would hurry and catch it before the ball fell off the suitcase. The author used to take Mij out for exercise and walk. Mij developed certain habits on those walks. He went with the author like children playing, running and touching things in the streets.

In London, many people had not seen an otter. When they saw Mij, they would make guesses about what kind of an animal it was. The author faced a stream of questions filled with guesses. The people guessed that it could be a baby seal, a walrus, a hippo, a beaver, a bear cub, a leopard, etc. But nobody could guess that it was an otter.

Character Sketch

Mijbil, the Otter: Mijbil the Otter was an extremely lovable creature. He was intelligent too. It took him only a couple of days to get accustomed to the new surroundings with the author. Mijbil was intelligent enough to respond to the calls of the author. Also, he learnt how to turn on the water tap in the bathroom. Mijbil was extremely fond of water. He would splash. Plunge and roll about in any amount of water that he came across. The otter also comes across as a very sensitive creature. When the author leaves him inside a box, Mijbil is panic-stricken and in his attempt to escape from the box, he hurts himself grievously. His playful nature could be seen, when he escaped from the author’s lap and travelled all over the plane much to the surprise and fear of the other passengers. Thus, we see that Mijbil, the Otter was an extremely lovable and playful creature but also sensitive at times.

The theme of the story

The story clearly reflects the love that the author had for animals, especially, the otter. After having lost his pet dog, the author decides to keep an otter as a pet. Naturally, handling an otter or for that matter, any animal out of its habitat, is not an easy task. One has to be well aware of its habits, nature, food etc. Owning a pet is a lifetime of commitment involving considerable responsibility. The decision to acquire one, therefore, should be made by the whole family. Without full agreement by everyone, the pet could end up unwanted. Unfortunately, cute looking animals often suffer disadvantages, because people purchase them without consideration and the knowledge on how to take proper care of them. Hence, it is very important to read and research before adopting or buying a pet.