04. In the Kingdom of Fools – Summary

Introduction

“In the Kingdom of Fools” is a humorous folktale that tells the story of a strange kingdom where the king and his minister make foolish decisions, turning day into night and night into day. The tale explores how their silly rules lead to chaos, showing the dangers of foolishness and the power of wisdom. 

This story is a Kannada folktale, retold by A.K. Ramanujan in his book Folk Tales from India. A.K. Ramanujan was a renowned Indian poet, scholar, and folklorist. He collected and translated folktales from various Indian languages, preserving the rich oral traditions of India. 

Key Points of the Story

  • The king and his minister make an odd rule in the Kingdom of Fools—day becomes night, and night becomes day, and everyone must follow this schedule.
  • A guru and his disciple visit the kingdom. The guru senses danger and leaves quickly, but the disciple stays, attracted by the cheap food and low prices.
  • A thief dies when a wall collapses on him during a robbery. The blame shifts from one person to another, including a merchant, a bricklayer, a dancer, a goldsmith, and the merchant’s father.
  • The disciple is chosen for execution because he has gained weight and fits the stake. He regrets staying in the kingdom and ignoring his guru’s advice.
  • The guru returns to save his disciple. He tricks the king and minister into believing they will be reborn as rulers if they are executed first, leading to their downfall.
  • After the king and minister’s death, the people make the guru and disciple the new leaders. They bring wisdom and fairness to the kingdom.

Detailed Summary

Once upon a time, there was a strange kingdom where the king and his minister were foolish. They decided to run their kingdom differently from others. They ordered that people should work at night and sleep during the day. Anyone who disobeyed would be punished with death. The people, afraid of punishment, followed these odd rules.

One day, a wise guru and his disciple came to this kingdom. They were surprised to see no one around during the day. Even the animals slept. At night, the city came alive. When they went to buy food, they discovered that everything cost the same—just one dudduThe disciple was thrilled because food was so cheap, but the guru warned him that living among fools was risky. Despite the guru’s advice to leave, the disciple decided to stay and enjoy the cheap food. The guru left, saying, “You’ll regret this decision.”

Time passed, and the disciple grew fat from eating too much. One day, a thief broke into a merchant’s house, but the weak wall collapsed and killed him. The thief’s brother complained to the king, blaming the merchant for the poor wall. The king decided to deliver justice in his own foolish way. The blame passed from the merchant to the bricklayer who built the wall, then to a dancing girl who distracted the bricklayer, and finally to a goldsmith who delayed the girl, forcing her to walk by the bricklayer. Eventually, the blame returned to the merchant whose father had commissioned the jewellery long ago.

The king decided the merchant must be punished but found him too thin for the execution stake. He ordered his servants to find a fat man instead. The disciple, now plump, was chosen. Realizing his life was in danger, he prayed to his guru for help. The guru, with his wisdom and magical powers, returned to save him.

Try yourself:

What led to the downfall of the king and his minister in the Kingdom of Fools?

  • A.The king and minister were overthrown by a rebellion.
  • B.The guru and disciple challenged them to a duel.
  • C.The king and minister believed they would be reborn as rulers if they were executed first.
  • D.The people of the kingdom refused to follow their foolish rules.

View Solution

The guru devised a clever plan. He told the king that whoever was executed first on the stake would be reborn as the king in their next life, and the second would become the minister. The greedy king and minister, eager to retain their positions, decided to take the guru and disciple’s places. That night, the foolish king and minister were executed.

The people were left without rulers and begged the guru and his disciple to govern them. The guru agreed on the condition that the strange laws would be abolished. From then on, the kingdom returned to normal, with people working during the day and sleeping at night. Prices were no longer absurd, and the guru and his disciple ruled wisely.

Theme & Message

Theme 

The story highlights the contrast between wisdom and foolishness, showing how foolish leaders can create chaos. It also emphasizes the importance of good sense and logical decisions in governance.

Message 

  1. Wisdom wins over foolishness: The guru’s cleverness saves the day, proving that smart thinking can solve even the toughest problems.
  2. Foolishness is dangerous: Living among fools is risky because their actions are unpredictable and harmful.
  3. Leaders need logic: Good rulers make fair and sensible decisions to ensure justice and stability.
  4. Greed leads to trouble: The king and minister’s greed for power causes their downfall.
  5. Be practical and adapt: The guru’s ability to adapt and bring change shows the value of flexibility in life.

Difficult Words

  1. Accuse – To say that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
  2. Bailiff – A law officer who ensures that court decisions are followed.
  3. Bricklayer – Someone whose job is to build things with bricks.
  4. Burglar – A person who illegally enters buildings to steal things.
  5. Clamour – To demand something loudly.
  6. Compensate – To give someone something, usually money, for loss or damage.
  7. Complicate – To make something more difficult to understand or deal with.
  8. Criminal – A person who has done something against the law.
  9. Decisively – Doing something in a way that shows confidence and clear choices.
  10. Decree – An official order by someone in power.
  11. Delight – A strong feeling of happiness.
  12. Distracted – Not able to pay attention because you’re thinking of something else.
  13. Execution – The act of killing someone as a legal punishment.
  14. Fragile – Easily broken or damaged.
  15. Goldsmith – A person who makes things out of gold.
  16. Guilty – Having done something wrong or illegal.
  17. Highness – A title used for someone of royal rank.
  18. Impaling – To stick a sharp object through something.
  19. Impatient – Not willing to wait for something or someone.
  20. Injustice – When things aren’t fair or just.

03. Iswaran the Storyteller – Summary

Key Points of the Story 

  • R. K. Laxman‘s “Iswaran the Storyteller” focuses on Mahendra, a junior supervisor at a company that hires out supervisors for different construction sites, along with his cook, Iswaran, who travels with him. Mahendra’s storytelling is significantly shaped by the Tamil writers he admires.
  • Through Iswaran’s stories, Mahendra’s understanding of reality and fiction starts to blur. Iswaran shares exciting tales, such as subduing a wild elephant with a small stick and encountering a female ghost on a full-moon night. At first, Mahendra doubts the existence of ghosts, but his beliefs begin to change after he hears strange noises outside his window one evening.
  • Feeling unsettled, he turns to Iswaran, who supports his fears about the place being haunted. Mahendra quickly rushes to his office to resign, determined to leave the haunted location the very next day!

R.K. Laxman

Detailed Summary 

The story revolves around Mahendra, a young junior supervisor working for a company that provides supervisors for construction sites like factories, bridges, and dams. Mahendra’s job requires him to frequently move to different job sites as directed by his head office. As a bachelor with simple needs, he is adaptable to various challenging conditions at these locations. However, Mahendra has one valuable asset—his cook and companion, Iswaran.

Iswaran not only cooks for Mahendra but also takes care of household chores, such as washing clothes and engaging in late-night conversations. He is a talented storyteller, spinning tales on various subjects. His stories often include suspense and surprise, making him a source of entertainment for Mahendra, who enjoys listening to him.

What makes Iswaran unique is his extraordinary ability to find fresh vegetables and ingredients in remote areas with no shops nearby. He consistently prepares delicious meals for Mahendra, leaving him both impressed and satisfied. One day, Iswaran asks, “Can I make something special for dinner tonight, sir? Today is an auspicious day, and we prepare various delicacies to honour our ancestors.”

Try yourself:What is Iswaran’s special ability in the story?

  • A.Cooking sweets
  • B.Reading books
  • C.Telling jokes
  • D.Telling entertaining and dramatic stories

View Solution

Mahendra enjoys the special dinner, but Iswaran takes this opportunity to introduce a supernatural element to the story. He reveals that the area where their factory is located was once a burial ground, stating, “I knew on the first day when I saw a human skull on the path. I still come across many skulls and bones.” Iswaran claims to have encountered ghosts, including a particularly terrifying one—“an ugly creature with matted hair and a shrivelled face, like a skeleton holding a foetus.” Sceptical, Mahendra dismisses these stories as mere imagination and advises Iswaran to seek medical help. However, these tales leave Mahendra feeling uneasy, and he begins to avoid looking out of his window during full moons, fearing he might see the ghost. One fateful night, Mahendra is awakened by a strange moan near his window.

Initially, he thinks it is a cat but soon realises the sound is more unsettling. Gathering his courage, he looks out and sees a dark figure holding a bundle in the moonlight. Overwhelmed by fear, Mahendra retreats to his bed, convinced it is a figment of his imagination. The next morning, Iswaran greets Mahendra with his lunch and bag, casually mentioning that he heard the moaning from Mahendra’s room. Iswaran gleefully reveals that Mahendra had seen the female ghost with a foetus the previous night. Terrified and shaken, Mahendra rushes to his office and submits his resignation, deciding to leave the haunted place the very next day!

Theme/Message 

Theme

  • The story looks at the theme of storytelling, showing how Iswaran’s engaging tales influence Mahendra’s views on ghosts. This ultimately leads to Mahendra’s fear affecting how well he does his job.
  • It also points out Mahendra’s belief that ghosts are just imagined, cautioning against letting superstitions guide our choices.

Message

  • The story indicates that letting our fears take over can disrupt our lives, as seen with Mahendra, whose work suffers because of his fear of ghosts.
  • Iswaran’s captivating storytelling encourages Mahendra to face his beliefs, especially after a frightening experience that makes him reconsider the existence of ghosts.

Difficult Words

  1. Supervisor: A person responsible for overseeing and managing the work of others.
  2. Construction: The process of building or making something, typically related to buildings, bridges, and other structures.
  3. Circuit house: A government guest house or rest house used for travellers or government officials.
  4. Makeshift: A temporary and often improvised solution or substitute.
  5. Canvas tent: A tent made of canvas, a heavy-duty fabric, typically used for camping or temporary shelter.
  6. Anecdotes: Short, interesting, and often amusing stories about real incidents or people.
  7. Conjure: To bring something into existence as if by magic or to make something appear.
  8. Depredations: Acts of plundering or causing damage and destruction.
  9. Mahout: An elephant rider or trainer.
  10. Paralysis: A loss of the ability to move or feel a part of the body, often due to injury or illness.
  11. Supernatural: Beyond what is natural or explainable by the laws of nature; related to the mystical or occult.
  12. Figment: Something invented or imagined, typically a product of one’s mind.
  13. Unease: A feeling of discomfort, anxiety, or restlessness.
  14. Auto-suggestion: A psychological phenomenon where a person suggests something to themselves, often unconsciously, leading to behavioural changes.
  15. Subconscious: The part of the mind that contains thoughts, feelings, or memories not currently in conscious awareness.
  16. Ghastly: Extremely frightening, horrifying, or unpleasant.
  17. Foetus: An unborn or developing offspring of a mammal in the womb.
  18. Resolution: A firm decision or determination to do something or achieve a goal.

02. The Adventures of Toto – Summary

Key Points of the Story 

  • Grandfather’s New Pet: The writer’s grandfather, an animal enthusiast, acquired a mischievous monkey named Toto from a Tonga driver for five rupees. Since the grandmother disapproved of animals, Toto was kept hidden.
  • Toto’s Misbehaviour at Home: Toto was always causing trouble by tearing things apart. Whenever one of the aunts came close, he would grab her dress and rip it, which made Grandfather laugh but upset the rest of the family.
  • Toto’s Train Journey: On a train journey to Saharanpur, Toto poked his head out of the bag and smiled at the ticket-collector. The surprised man quickly decided to treat Toto as a dog and charged an extra fare.
  • Conflict with Other Animals: Even though they tried to make Toto get along with other pets, he often misbehaved, like almost boiling himself in a kettle and stealing food during meals.
  • Return to the Tonga Driver: Grandfather realised they couldn’t afford the constant damage to dishes, clothes, and curtains. So, he found the Tonga driver and sold Toto back for just three rupees.

Detailed Summary

The narrator’s grandfather loved animals and once bought a red baby monkey, Toto, from a tonga driver for five rupees. The tonga driver kept Toto tied to a feeding trough. Toto had a special tail, which acted like a third hand, allowing him to hang from branches and grab things out of reach. Grandfather wanted to add Toto to his personal zoo, but the narrator’s grandmother, who disliked animals, would not be pleased. They decided to keep Toto a secret from her until she was in a good mood.

Since the grandmother didn’t approve of Toto, they hid him at first. Toto was kept in a small closet in the narrator’s bedroom but soon showed his destructive tendencies by tearing the wallpaper and shredding the narrator’s school blazer. Despite his mischief, Grandfather found Toto’s cleverness amusing.

After the closet incident, Toto was moved to a large cage in the servants’ quarters, where other pets were kept, including a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, and occasionally, the narrator’s pet goat. However, Toto’s mischievous behaviour disturbed the other animals, preventing them from resting at night. Soon, Grandfather took Toto along on a trip to Saharanpur.

Grandfather put Toto in a black canvas kit bag for the journey to keep him from causing trouble. However, Toto poked his head out, startling the ticket collector, who mistakenly identified Toto as a dog; thus, a fare of three rupees was paid.

After the trip, Toto was placed in the stable with Nana, the family’s female donkey. On the first night, Toto bit Nana’s ears, causing tension between them. Nevertheless, the family accepted Toto’s presence. He even created a bath-time routine, carefully checking the water temperature before jumping in and then rushing to the kitchen fire to dry off.

One day, Toto nearly boiled himself alive by jumping into a kettle of water heating for tea. Fortunately, Grandmother found him just in time. Toto’s destructive behaviour continued—he damaged many household items and once threw food and dishes when caught eating the family’s lunch. In one instance, Toto climbed a tree and refused to come down until he finished eating, eventually throwing the empty dish down and chattering with joy when it shattered into pieces.

The family’s patience with Toto’s constant mischief wore thin. Grandfather ultimately decided that keeping Toto was too troublesome and sold him back to the same tonga driver for three rupees, realising that Toto could not be tamed.

Theme/Message

Theme

  • The chapter highlights the importance of caring for pets and the effort needed to take care of them. Although the narrator’s grandfather tried to include Toto in their family, the naughty monkey had trouble getting along with other animals and caused chaos during their travels.
  • Toto’s troublesome behaviour resulted in damage to the home, specifically the walls, which had been decorated with special paper chosen by Grandfather, now revealed as bare brick and plaster. This made it hard for the family to maintain discipline. The story also shows the challenges of human-animal relationships, indicating that some wild animals are not easily tamed. Despite the grandfather’s patience, Toto’s destructive actions ultimately led to his return to the tonga driver, reminding us to respect nature and the natural behaviour of wildlife.

Message

  • The story teaches us to love and respect animals. When the grandfather sees the monkey with a tonga driver, he wants to provide it with a comfortable life in his zoo, so he buys it as a pet. 
  • However, as a wild animal, the monkey causes trouble, leading the grandfather to realise that it would be happier with the tonga driver. Despite the challenges, the grandfather treats Toto with care and affection, conveying a message about the importance of animal rights and welfare.

Difficult Words

  • feeding-trough: a container containing food for the animals
  • pickled: preserved in vinegar or brine
  • wicked: could create mischief
  • scooping: picking
  • fussed: feeling concerned
  • wrenched: pull out with force
  • shreds: pieces torn apart
  • tame: not dangerous
  • turnstile: exit gate
  • poked: stand out and be visible
  • taken aback: shocked
  • in vain: without success
  • quadruped: any four-footed animal
  • prodded: push with a finger
  • triumphant: successful
  • halter: strap or rope for tying the animal
  • haunches: one of the back legs of a four-legged animal
  • hauled: pull out with force
  • to spite grandmother: to intentionally annoy or upset her

01. The Lost Child – Summary

Key Points of the Story 

  • “The Lost Child” narrates the tale of a child who gets separated from his parents at a fair. Despite being enticed by various attractions like sweets and toys, his primary desire is to be reunited with his parents. He experiences fear and desperation upon realising he’s lost. 
  • A compassionate stranger offers him treats and distractions, but the child’s only wish is to find his family. This story reflects the innocence and dependence of children on their parents for security and happiness. 
  • Mulk Raj Anand‘s narrative underscores the profound bond between children and their caregivers. Through the child’s unwavering longing for his parents, the story emphasises the emotional connection that supersedes material desires.

Detailed Summary In the story, it was springtime, and a child went with his parents to a fair. He was really happy and excited about it. Along the way, he saw toys in the shops and wanted one. His father looked sternly at him, but his mother distracted him by pointing out a beautiful mustard field. The child went into the field to catch dragonflies. When his mother called him, he returned to his parents briefly but soon got distracted by insects on the path.

As they walked, they reached a place where a sweet-seller was selling treats, and the child wanted a ‘burfi’, but he knew his parents wouldn’t buy it. He also saw a flower-seller and colourful balloons, but he knew his parents wouldn’t get them for him. There was a snake-charmer playing a flute, but his parents had forbidden him from listening to such music. Later, he spotted a roundabout in full swing and asked his parents if he could ride it, but they were gone.

Panicked, he cried and ran around, not knowing where to go. He went to a temple crying for his parents, and a man in the crowd heard him and picked him up. The man tried to cheer him up by taking him to the roundabout, the snake-charmer, the balloon-seller, the flower-seller, and the sweet-shop, tried to comfort him with various attractions, but the child only wanted his parents. 

He lost interest in everything he had wanted before and just wanted to be with his parents. The story teaches us that a child can’t be happy without their parents.

Theme/Message

Theme 

  • The story explores what happens when a lost child yearns for his parents, realising their true importance as he searches desperately for them. Initially, the child is fascinated by many things at the fair and desires to have them all. 
  • However, parents often can’t fulfil these wishes due to financial constraints or concerns for the child’s well-being.  As a result, this might upset the child. 
  • But when separated from his parents, the child comprehends their value and feels a deep longing for them, crying out for their presence above all else.

Message 

  • The story emphasises how children love their parents unconditionally, as seen when a lost child is satisfied with his father’s actions, understanding that his dad won’t give in to his every desire. However, he regrets his decision to stray when he becomes scared and longs for his parents, forgetting about the attractions at the fair. This highlights the importance of parents in our lives.
  • In childhood, we desire many things we encounter daily, but often fail to appreciate the true value of our parents, taking them for granted. It’s only when they’re absent that we realise their significance and yearn for their presence. This realisation dawns on the child when he gets lost at the fair. Despite being tempted by various things, he only desires his parents’ company, showing the depth of parental love.

Try yourself:

What does the lost child realize when he is separated from his parents?

  • A.He understands the importance of his parents.
  • B.He values the fair attractions.
  • C.He wants to play more games.
  • D.He feels happy being alone.

View SolutionWord Meanings

  1. lanes = narrow roads 
  2. alleys = narrow passages 
  3. emerged = to come out of place 
  4. gaily = cheerfully or brightly
  5. clad = dressed 
  6. brimming = to be so full of a liquid 
  7. Lagged behind = to go too slowly 
  8. fascinated = attracted 
  9. lingering = to stay for a time 
  10. receding = to move backwards 
  11. suppress = to put an end to by force 
  12. tyrant = cruel ruler 
  13. tender = have a tender heart 
  14. bustling = moving here and there
  15. gaudy = too bright 
  16. flapping = to swing
  17. abreast = side by side 
  18. teeming = full of 
  19. grove = a group of trees
  20. whirlpool = a place in a river or the sea where strong currents are moving in circles
  21. repelled = pushed away
  22. Murmured = a low sound
  23. overwhelming = very great
  24. possess = to have 
  25. farther = more distant in  space 
  26. shrieked = to give a sudden shout 
  27. dizzy = unable to balance 

09. The Beggar – Worksheet

Q.1. Sergei’s anger had vanished and he now began to feel a little sorry and ashamed of himself for having set a spoiled, drunken, perhaps sick man to work at menial labour in the cold. An hour later Olga came in and announced that the wood had all been chopped.

(i) Why was Sergei angry in the first place?
(ii) What job had Sergei given to the beggar?
(iii) Who was Olga?
(iv) What is the irony in the above lines?

Q.2. What reasons does Lushkoff give to Sergei for telling lies?

Q.3. What job did Sergei assign to Lushkoff that changed his life?

Q.4. Describe Lushkoff’s first attempt to work at Sergei’s.

Q.5. Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he justified in saying this?

Q.6. “KIND sir, have pity; turn your attention to a poor, hungry man! For three days I have had nothing to eat; I haven’t five copecks for a lodging, I swear it before God. For eight years I was a village schoolteacher and then I lost my place through intrigues. I fell a victim to calumny. It is a year now since I have had anything to do.”

(i) Who is the speaker in the above lines?
(ii) What does the speaker try to do in the above lines?
(iii) Does the speaker get the help that he asks for? Why?
(iv) Pick out the word from the extract which means the same as ‘defamation’.

Q.7. “I wouldn’t refuse to do that, but in these days even skilled wood-cutters find themselves sitting without bread.” – What does this say about Lushkoff?

Q.8. “Here’s for your pains. I see you are sober and have no objection to work.” Why did Sergei say this to Lushkoff?

Q.9. What advice does Sergei give Lushkoff after hearing his reasons for begging?

Q.10. Give a pen-portrait of Olga (Sergei’s cook) in about 100-150 words.

The solutions of the worksheet “Worksheet Solutions: The Beggar

08. A House is not a Home – Worksheet

Q.1. My first year of high school felt awkward. After leaving junior high at the head of my class with all the seniority the upper grade levels could afford me, it felt strange starting over as a freshman. The school was twice as big as my old school, and to make matters worse, my closest friends were sent to a different high school. I felt very isolated. I missed my old teachers so much that I would go back and visit them.

(i) Why was the narrator feeling awkward?
(ii) Why did the narrator feel strange?
(iii) Why was the author sent to a new school?
(iv) How would his old teachers encourage him?

Q.2. What did the author and his mother do on seeing the fire?

Q.3. The author felt isolated and sad in his new school. Why?

Q.4. How did his old teachers encourage and advice the narrator?

Q.5. Describe the reaction of the author and his mother on seeing the fire?

Q.6. My mother. then ran out of the house carrying a small metal box full of important documents. She dropped the case on the lawn and, in a crazed state, ran back into the house. I knew what she was after. My father had died when I was young, and I was certain that she was not going to let his pictures and letters go up in flames. They were the only things that she had to remember him by. Still I screamed at her, “Mom! No!”

(i) What happened to the author’s house?
(ii) Why did the author love his cat so much?
(iii) Why did his mother run out of the house?
(ivWhat things did she want to save from the fire?

Q.7. Why did his mother rush back to the house?

Q.8. What did the author notice when he was sitting in the dining room?

Q.9. What did the author get from his new schoolmates?

Q.10. How did the author’s friends help him in rebuilding his life?

The solutions of the worksheet “Worksheet Solutions: A House is not a Home

07. The Last Leaf – Worksheet

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1: What illness did Johnsy have?
A) Tuberculosis
B) Pneumonia
C) Influenza
D) Malaria

Q2: What did Sue bring into Johnsy’s room to distract her?
A) A guitar
B) A drawing-board
C) A television
D) A book 

Q3: Who lived on the ground floor in the story?
A) The doctor
B) Behrman
C) Johnsy
D) Sue 

Q4: What was Behrman’s lifelong dream?
A) To travel the world
B) To become a doctor
C) To paint a masterpiece
D) To write a book 

Q5: What did Behrman paint on the night the last leaf fell?
A) A portrait
B) A landscape
C) The last leaf on the creeper
D) A self-portrait 

Fill in the Blanks Q1: Sue brought Johnsy a bowl of __________.

Q2: Johnsy thought she would die when the __________ leaf fell.

Q3: Behrman’s masterpiece was the painting of the __________ leaf.

Q4: Johnsy realized that it was a sin to want to __________.

Q5: Sue gave Johnsy lots of hot __________ and a mirror.

True or False

Q1: Johnsy had influenza.

Q2: Sue talked about clothes and fashions to distract Johnsy.

Q3: Behrman was a musician.

Q4: Johnsy wanted to see the last leaf fall before it got dark.

Q5: The doctor was not confident that Johnsy would recover.

Very  Short Answer Questions

Q1: Why does Johnsy keep counting the leaves?

Q2: What did Sue do to distract Johnsy?

Q3: Who painted the last leaf on the ivy creeper?

Q4: What change in Johnsy does the doctor notice after the last leaf doesn’t fall?

Q5: What happened to Behrman after he painted the last leaf?

The solutions of the worksheet “Worksheet Solutions: The Last Leaf

06. Weathering the Storm in Ersama – Worksheet

Q.1. “For the next two days, Prashant sat huddled with his friend’s family in the open on the rooftops. They froze in the cold and incessant rain; the rain water washed away Prashant’s tears. The only thought that flashed through his mind was whether his family had survived the fury of the super cyclone. Was he to be bereaved once again?

(i) What had Prashant done for the next two days?
(ii) What happened to Prashant and his friend’s family?
(iii) What washed away Prashant’s tears?
(iv) What was the only thought that flashed through Prashant’s mind?

Q.2. What happened when Prashant had gone to spend a day with his friend?

Q.3. How did Prashant and his friend’s family take refuge during the cyclone?

Q.4. What made Prashant move after two days?

Q.5. What did Prashant decide after looking at the weird situation of the town?

Q.6. “ On 27october 1999, seven years after his mother’s death, Prashant had gone to the block headquarters of Ersama, a small town in coastal Orissa, some eighteen kilometers from his village, to spend the day with a friend. In the evening, a dark and menacing storm quickly gathered. Winds beat against the houses with a speed and fury that Prashant had never witnessed before.

(i) When did Prashant go to the block headquarters of Ersama?
(ii) Why did Prashant go to Ersama?
(iii) How far was the town from his village?
(iv) What happened in the evening?

Q.7. Describe the furious storm.

Q.8. What thought flashed through Prashant’s mind?

Q.9. What scenes Prashant had to witness as he waded through the waters?

Q.10. “Adversities bring out the heroes”. Describe Prashant’s character with reference to the chapter. What values make an efficient and popular leader?

You can access the solutions to this worksheet here.

05. The Happy Prince – Worksheet

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1: Who came to live with the Prince in the story, The Happy Prince?
(a) 
A sparrow
(b) A stork
(c) A swallow
(d) A swan

Q2: What did the swallow notice while flying over the city?
(a) Many waste things
(b) Many poor people
(c) Many people and their plight
(d) The plight of the poor and greed of the rich

Q3: Who noticed the dull state of the Prince’s statue in the story, The Happy Prince?
(a) 
The Art Professor
(b) The Town Clerk
(c) The Town Councillor
(d) The Mayor

Q4: What did the Prince tell the swallow to give to the seamstress In the story, The Happy Prince?
(a) 
The ruby of his sword’s hilt
(b) The thin leaves of gold from his body
(c) The lead from his heart
(d) The sapphire eyes of his

Q5: The colour of the lips of the writer was red like ________.
(a)
 Cherry
(b) Rose
(c) Apple
(d) Pomegranate

Q6: What was the profession of the woman who was sitting in her cottage with prickled hands?
(a)
 Charwoman
(b) Cake-making
(c) Seamstress
(d) None of these

Q7: What moved Swallow’s heart?
(a) 
Happy Prince
(b) Happy Prince’s kindness
(c) All of these
(d) Happy Prince’s assets

Q8: The little swallow got the ________ bedroom.
(a) 
diamond
(b) silver
(c) muddy
(d) gold

Q9: Shining sapphire stones were placed in the ________ of the happy prince.
(a)
 nose
(b) forehead
(c) sword
(d) eyes

Q10: What was the Prince gilded over with In the story, The Happy Prince?
(a)
 Thin leaves of silver
(b) Thin leaves of copper
(c) Thin leaves of lead
(d) Thin leaves of gold

Very Short AnswerQuestions

Q1: Describe the statue of the Happy Prince.
Q2: Did the swallow belong to the city? How can you tell? Where was it going?
Q3: Where did the bird decide to stay for the night? Why?
Q4: Why did the swallow agree to deliver the ruby even though he wanted to join his friends in Egypt?
Q5: What were the things that the swallow saw on his journey to deliver the ruby?
Short Answer Questions

Q 1: Why did the bird think he had a ‘golden bedroom’?
Q 2: Why was the bird not able to sleep peacefully that first night?
Q3: Why was the statue of the Happy Prince weeping?
Q4: Why did the swallow delay his departure for the second time?
Q5: What did the Prince expect the young playwright to do with the sapphire? Did the swallow willingly agree to the Prince’s request?

Long Answer Questions

Q1: What are the two most precious things that the Angels find in the city?
Q2: Comment on the title of the story. Was the prince really happy?
Q3: Why is the frost called a ‘dreadfully hard frost’?
Q4: Why did the courtiers call the prince the ‘Happy Prince’? Was he really happy? What does he see all around him?
Q5: How do the councillors and Mayor react on seeing the broken statue?

The solutions of the worksheet “Worksheet Solutions: The Happy Prince

04. In the Kingdom of Fools – Worksheet

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1: In the Kingdom of Fools, who were considered fools?

  1. The guru and his disciple
  2. The king and the minister
  3. The rich merchant and the goldsmith
  4. The thief and his brother

Q2: Why did the guru and his disciple decide to leave the Kingdom of Fools?

  1. They were afraid of the king
  2. They were not getting enough to eat
  3. They realized it was a kingdom of fools
  4. They missed their hometown

Q3: What did the guru and his disciple eat every day?

  1. Bananas and ghee
  2. Rice and wheat
  3. Fruits and vegetables
  4. Meat and bread

Q4: Why did the thief break into the rich merchant’s house?

  1. To find food
  2. To seek revenge
  3. To steal valuables
  4. By mistake

Q5: Who was ultimately executed on the stake in the story?

  1. The rich merchant
  2. The guru and his disciple
  3. The goldsmith
  4. The king and his minister

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: The people in the Kingdom of Fools obeyed the king and minister due to fear of __________.

Q2: The disciple stayed in the kingdom because he enjoyed having good and __________ food.

Q3: The thief broke into the rich merchant’s house and got killed when a wall __________ on him.

Q4: The dancing girl’s distraction led to the poor bricklayer building a __________ wall.

Q5: The guru and his disciple were executed on the stake meant for __________.

True or False

Q1: The people in the Kingdom of Fools were awake during the day.

Q2: The guru and his disciple decided to stay in the kingdom due to fear of the king.

Q3: The rich merchant was held responsible for the thief’s death due to a collapsing wall.

Q4: The goldsmith was hiding in the king’s palace when accused of wrongdoing.

Q5: The rich merchant’s father was ultimately found guilty of the crimes.

Match the FollowingColumn AColumn B1. The guru and his disciplea. Ultimately executed on the stake 2. The rich merchantb. Accused of murder3. The goldsmithc. Distracted the bricklayer 4. The dancing girld. Built a weak wall 5. The king and his ministere. Obeyed the king and minister 

The solutions of the worksheet “Worksheet Solutions: In the Kingdom of Fools