BHARATH VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)

Class X – English Notes - First Flight - 2.1 Tiger In The Zoo

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. What do you understand by `His strength behind bars’? What kind of a cage is he
locked in?

The tiger is wretched in its cage. His power is confined behind the bars. He was locked in a
small cage where he is devoid of freedom. He feels unhappy, frustrated, restless and angry.

2. Is it safe to allow tigers to live in their natural habitat these days?

Although it is ideal for tigers to live in the wild, today, it will mean certain death for them.
Fast diminishing jungles and danger posed by poachers have pushed tigers to the brink of
extinction, making their natural home unsafe.

3. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ has some obvious limitations, describe
them in contrast to its natural habitat.

The tiger in the zoo was confined to a small space. He was angry that he couldn’t be free to
move, hunt, do what he pleased and forced to be a showpiece. The bars of the cage
obstructed his view of the starry night. This was all unlike his natural habitat where he
hunted fiercely and slept fitfully.

4. What is the theme of the poem? (OR) What message does the poet want to convey
through the poem ‘Tiger in the Zoo’?

The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep the wild animals in small enclosures of the
zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel angry, helpless and unhappy and remember
their life and environment in the forest.

5. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage? What does it show?

I think the tiger was feeling restless and uneasy in that small cage. He seems to be
frustrated and helpless as he could not come out of the cage in the open and enjoy his
freedom. He did not want to be a mere showpiece and a source of entertainment for human
beings.

6. Describe the movement of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. (OR) What
difference do you find in the mood of a tiger when he is in a zoo and when he is in a
forest?

In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the tiger feels unhappy rather
frustrated, restless and angry. In the forest, he enjoys moving majestically wherever he
wants, terrorizes the villagers displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He is happy in the
forest, enjoying his liberty and surroundings, but not in the zoo.

7. What does the poet say about a tiger in his natural surroundings?

The poet says that the tiger should be in the jungle. It is his natural habitat. In the jungle,
he moves in the long grass near a water hole. He hides in the shadow to hunt the plump deer
for his food. If the tiger were in its natural habitat, he would have been terrorizing the
villagers at the jungle edge.

8. Where is the strength of the tiger and how does he treat the visitors?

The tiger is imprisoned in a cage. So, his strength is behind the bars. He paces to-and-fro
the length of the cage. Visitors come to his cage. But he ignores

those visitors. The tiger ignores visitors because he feels being a wild animal, he has no
affair with the human beings.

9. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

The tiger prowls around the houses of the villagers. He terrifies them by snarling at them.
Their houses are situated near the jungle. He terrifies the villagers by baring his fangs and
showing his long claws.

10. How does the tiger behave at night?

The tiger behaves as if it is resolved to its fate in captivity at the zoo. He hears the noise of
the patrolling cars at night and occasionally at the stars in the sky. As a nocturnal animal, the
tiger is the most receptive at night and its eyes shine brightly as if preparing to hunt.

11. How does the tiger walk in the cage?

The tiger at present is in the cage. He walks in the cage stalking. The tiger walks in the cage
proudly and quietly. He is quite angry due to his imprisonment. He can do nothing for his
freedom. He is helpless due to the iron bars of the cage. But his eyes express his anger at
having been imprisoned in a cage.

Answer the following question in 100-120 words:

1. Animals, big and small, are being used by humans for their selfish ends. What is
your opinion regarding the exploitation of animals? Mention some examples that you can
see a possible solution to this problem.

It is true that animals, big and small are being used by humans for their selfish ends. We use
them for our own benefits. Animals are killed, poached and captured for commercial
benefits. Humans have encroached on their space and sheltered them in zoos which is truly
inhuman. In the poem, the poet has shown the plight of a tiger. He is captured and confined
in a small cage. He is frustrated, angry and restless. It longs for freedom. Confinement
brings bondage and bondage is cruelty.

Every day we see many animals suffering due to humans. Monkeys are captured and made to
dance on roads, elephants are chained and forced to lift heavy loads. Many animals are
sheltered in zoos for the entertainment of human beings. They are kept in poor conditions.
They are treated inhumanly. We should learn to respect nature and its inhabitants. After all,
these animals too share the earth with us.

2. Some animals are becoming extinct; the tiger is one such animal. What do you think
could be the reason? Should this decrease in number be stopped? Why?

The primary threats to the survival of tigers are poaching and habitat loss due to intensive
development. The tigers are getting extinct. The tigers are on the list of endangered species
and the reason behind it is human interference. Humans hunt tigers for their commercial
benefits. The loss of habitats also leads to a reduction in prey animals, so the area can
support fewer tigers. Moreover, tigers are poached for trophies such as teeth and fur for
traditional medicines. The growing population clears the forest areas to make them
agricultural land for food. This creates a problem of the tiger’s habitat. Tigers are the
backbone of food web and forest, hence should be protected.

3. ‘And stares with his brilliant eyes, At the brilliant stars.’ We can no longer do that.
How do we feel about ‘the tigers in the zoo’? You can even imagine yourself in captivity.

(Or) When there is a natural habitat for tigers and other wild animals, is it justified
for humans to shift them from there to other locations? Give a reasonable answer to
justify it.

(Or) The tiger in the poem is feeling miserable in a concrete cell. Does it not amount to
cruelty? Express your opinion about keeping wild animals in zoos. Is there any lesson for
humans?

The tiger in the poem is wretched in its cage. It longs for freedom. It may be well looked
after, but the fact of the matter is that unless one is free, one is not alive. Confinement
brings bondage, and bondage is cruelty. One may argue that at least this way they all will not
be killed and become extinct. However, taking away one’s freedom to keep one alive actually
kills the desire to live anyhow. Even humans throughout the world oppose the chains of
slavery and oppression. Then how could other living creatures be different. Humans have
encroached on their space, and sheltering them in zoos is truly inhuman. Humans must learn
to respect nature, for humans exist only due to nature.

*****
 BHARATH VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)

CLASS X – ENGLISH NOTES – FF 4.

A QUESTION OF TRUST

1. How did Horace know all the details of the house?

Horace had been studying the house for the past two weeks. Moreover, a magazine article
had described this house, giving a plan of all the rooms and a picture of the room. There
were also the details of the safe hidden behind the safe.

2. Though Horace planned everything meticulously, why did he fail?

Though Horace planned everything meticulously, he failed because of the smart lady. She
posed herself to be the owner of the house and convinced him to open the shelf as she did
not have the password for the shelf. Horace got trapped in her plot.

3. How did the flowers cause him trouble?

Horace Danby was allergic to flowers, especially during pollen season. When he was near
flowers, he would sneeze. The only cure for it was to stay away from the flowers.

4. What was Horace Danby’s hobby? How did he manage to fulfil his hobby?

Horace’s only hobby was to read expensive and rare books. He used to rob a safe every year
in order to arrange money for his hobby. He used to get those books from an agent.

5. How did the lady spoil his plan?

The lady posed as the owner of the house in front of Horace. Horace got scared and believed
her. She asked him to open the safe as she had forgotten the password. Horace opened the
safe and handed the jewels to her. Hence, Horace’s plan of robbing the safe was spoiled.

6. Why did the lady report to the police though she promised that she would not report
to the police? (Or) How did the lady deceive Horace?

The lady was very clever and shrewd. She promised Horace that she would not report to the
police if he would help her in getting the jewels from the safe. Horace broke the safe and
helped her. But she didn’t keep her promise as she was also a thief and did not want to get
into trouble.

7. How did Horace enter Shotover Grange?

Horace had seen the housekeeper hang the key in the hook outside the kitchen door. He
came out from behind the garden wall. He put on his gloves, took the key and opened the
door of the kitchen and entered Shotover Grange.

8. Who is the real culprit in this story, the lady or Horace? How did he/she manage to
rob the safe without leaving a single fingerprint?

In this story, the real culprit is the young lady. She managed to trick Horace for breaking
the safe for her. She did not even touch the safe herself. She managed to get all the jewels.
She had to do no physical exercise for this. Thus, she managed to rob the safe without
leaving a single fingerprint.

9. What do you think is the meaning of the phrase ‘honour among thieves’?

The phrase ‘honour among thieves’ means that thieves have their code of conduct. One thief
is honest to the other thief. They never betray one another.

10. Which of the two lacked honour?

Among the two the young lady lacked honour. She came face to face with a thief, still, she
tricked ‘him. But Horace did not know that she was a thief. She got all the jewels. She went
free but poor Horace was arrested. It was against the professional ethics.

11. Describe Horace Danby.

Horace Danby was a good and respectable citizen. He was about fifty years old, but he was
unmarried. He was a locksmith. He was very successful in his business. He was usually very
well and healthy except for the attacks of hay-fever. But he was not completely honest.

12. How did Horace Danby manage to get rare and expensive books?

Horace Danby loved rare and expensive books. He bought them secretly through an agent.
But for this, he had to rob a safe every year because he had not enough money to buy these
books. That is how he managed to get these rare and expensive books.

13. What did the young lady ask Horace to do for her?

The young lady told Horace that she had come there to take the jewels from the safe. She
said that she had to wear them that night at a party. She made an excuse of forgetting the
number to open the safe. So, she compelled Horace to break open the safe for her if not
that she would tell the police everything about him.

14. What story did Horace tell the police when he was arrested?

He told the police that he had not stolen any jewels. He said that he broke open the safe for
the young wife of the owner of the house. But the wife was herself an old lady of about sixty
with grey-hair. So, none believed his story.

15. Describe how Horace Danby planned his work?

Horace Danby studied the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks. He studied its rooms, its
electric wiring, its paths and its garden. He was sure that the family was in London. The two
servants had gone to the movies and they would not come back before four hours. He came
out from behind the garden wall and entered the house.

16. He was a very successful thief. What went wrong when he attempted to rob
Shotover Grange?

Danby was a very successful thief. He always used gloves while breaking a safe. He never left
any fingerprints behind. This time when he started his work, he felt a little tickle in his nose.
It was because of a big flower pot kept on the table. He was repeatedly sneezing. He was
allergic to pollen.

17. What advice did the lady give Horace regarding his hay fever? Was she really
interested in his health?

The lady told Horace that he could get rid of the disease if he found out which plant had
given him the disease. She advised him that he should see a doctor. Actually, she was not
interested in his health. She was just trying to be friendly and sympathetic.

18. How could his arrest have helped her?

If Horace Danby was arrested for the robbery of jewels at Shotover Grange, then she could
be safe. She got the jewels but Horace broke the safe for her. Thus, his arrest could have
helped her by making her tension-free.

19. Did Horace get the jewels from the Grange safe? If not, why did the police arrest
him?

No, Horace did not get the jewels from the Grange safe. But he broke open the safe for the
wife of the owner of the house without gloves. But in reality, that lady was a burglar. Thus,
there were Horace’s fingerprints all over the room. So, the police arrested him for stealing
the jewels from the Grange safe.

Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each:

1. Horace Danby represents such people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfil their
wishes. Write in about 100-120 words, what values you would like such people to imbibe
to reform themselves?

Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was about fifty years respectable citizen
but had a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get
them, he used to rob a safe every year. Every year he planned carefully just to get what he
wanted. Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got trapped in a plot
by a thief like himself. People should imbibe good values. They should learn that hard work is
the only key to success. I think such people should imbibe the values of honesty,
responsibility, hard work, dedication, self-confidence in order to reform themselves.

2. Horace Danby was a respectable man but he could not be called loyal. What do you
think could be the reasons for leading a respectable man like him on the path of
thievery? Did he feel lack of sense of freedom? Was it not in his nature to accept the
differences among people regarding their social status? Discuss the values he should
have possessed in 100-120 words.

Horace Danby’s habits were not typical of a thief. He was fond of books was a respectable
man but his passion for books lead him to thievery. He used to steal only once a year, never
stealing more than his needs. He stole only to buy rare books for he loved rare and expensive
books. Moreover, Danby used to rob only rich people. It was his nature to accept the
differences among people regarding their social status. He was aware that people with high
socio-background can help him fulfil his desire. He found such people easy to rob.
3. Horace promised the young lady that he would follow the path of honesty if she
would not hand him over to the police but he could not keep his promise for more than
days. Did he lack reconciliation? Was it not in his nature to keep his promise? Did he
lack the courage to fulfil his needs through an honest living? Discuss the values he
needed to imbibe in 100-120 words.

The lady manipulated the whole situation as well as Horace and very skilfully got the jewels
without even touching anything. She talked high things like protecting the society from
culprits like Horace. Horace promised her that he would follow the path of honesty. He
helped her in getting the jewels by breaking the safe without wearing gloves. But after two
days, police caught him for stealing the jewels. He could not convince them that he had not
taken the jewels and had helped the owner’s wife. The condition provoked him to break his
promise. Although he honestly felt that he would not rob any more he could not do so as he
had no other choice left.

4. Horace stated that he robbed only those who had a lot of money. Was he really a
threat to the society? Did he lack the qualities of a good citizen? Discuss the values he
needs to imbibe to lead a path of righteousness in 100-120 words.

I don’t think Horace was a threat to the society. He never threatened anyone and rather
stole for a very good reason. He used to rob a safe every year to pursue his hobby of getting
rare and expensive books to read. He was not a professional thief. Moreover, he never
harmed anyone. He was considered a good and honest citizen by everyone. He was about fifty
years old and unmarried. He had all the qualities of a good citizen. He was not a criminal or a
typical thief. He did so only to fulfil his need. He was an honest and good man. He believed in
the lady’s story and gave away all the jewels to her. If he had been a criminal, he would have
killed the lady or would never have handed the jewels to her.

5. Horace Danby requested the lady to forget what she saw. Was Horace afraid of
being caught? Did he lack the courage to accept his crime publicly? Explain the values
one must imbibe to accept one’s mistake in 100-120 words.

Yes, Horace Danby was afraid of being caught. He lacked the courage to accept his crime
publicly. He was not a professional criminal or thief. He was considered a good and honest
man by everyone. He was about fifty years old and unmarried. His house was looked after by
a housekeeper. He used to rob only one safe every year to pursue his habit of getting rare
and expensive books to read. He used to rob only those who were rich. He had a good
reputation in the society and hence did not want anyone to know about his crimes. Although
he helped the lady, was caught by the police for the crime he did not commit. He learnt from
his mistake.

6.” Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him.” Why did
Horace feel so? Did he consider the young lady compassionate towards him? Did he find
her free from biases? Discuss the values Horace should have in understanding the
person in 100-120 words.

Horace was a fifty-year-old man who used to rob only to buy rare and expensive books. This
time he decided to rob Shotover Grange. But as soon as he entered the room, a young lady
appeared. She posed to be the lady of the house. She was very confident in herself that she
talked about high ideals like protecting the society from robbers like Horace Danby. Then
she tried to be polite and nice to him. On hearing her, Horace felt that he had a hope of
escaping. He found her a bit compassionate towards him. He was amused at Horace. She
acted in quite a subtle manner and showed her sympathy and admiration towards a simple and
honest man. He could not judge her face. She made Horace promise that he would never
commit the crime again. Horace lacked the cleverness and shrewdness and hence later got
arrested for stealing the jewels which he did not steal.

*****
 BHARATH VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)
CLASS X – ENGLISH – FOOT PRINTS 9.
BHOLI – NOTES

I. Answer the questions in about 30 – 40 words:

1.” God cannot be everywhere, so he created Mothers”. Do you think Bholi’s mother
complies with this statement? Give at least three reasons supporting your answer.
Bholi’s mother does not comply with this statement because
(i) Bholi’s mother never took care of her - neither in childhood or in young age
(ii) She was not concerned even about her studies or clothing.
(iii) She did not bother about Bholi’s groom, whether he was an aged person or a greedy
one, whether he will honour her daughter or keep her as a slave in his house.
2. What were the two steps taken by Ramlal to persuade Bishamber to marry Bholi?
Ramlal persuaded Bishamber to marry Bholi by placing his turban - his honour - at
Bishamber’s feet and by giving him the dowry of five thousand rupees.
3. Describe Bholi’s feelings when her teacher assured to make her the most learned
in her village.
Bholi was sent to school because the Tehsildar compelled Ramlal to send his daughters to
school that may prove Ramlal a role model for others. Bholi was a slow learner and
stammered while speaking and all the children in the school made fun of her. But her
teacher encouraged her and made all efforts to make her the most learned in her village.
She was impressed by her soft and soothing voice. She felt comfortable and stopped
stammering. Then she was full of confidence and learned all the lessons taught by her
teacher.
4. Give two points to demonstrate that Bholi’s wedding was a grand one.
Bholi’s marriage was fixed with Bishamber who had a big shop, his own house and several
thousands in the bank. It was a grand marriage. A brass-band playing a popular tune from
an Indian film headed the procession. Secondly, the bridegroom was riding on a decorated
horse. He came there with a big party of friends and relatives which looked like a
procession.
5. What two actions did Bholi take to stop her marriage to Bishamber?
Bholi’s marriage was going to take place with Bishamber who himself was forty-five or
fifty years old. He also limped and had grown-up children from his first wife. Even then
he demanded 5000 rupees as dowry. Bholi stopped the marriage by throwing away the
garland in the fire. She threw away the veil and asked her father to take back the money
and refused to marry Bishamber.
6. How did Bholi console her father in the end?
Bholi told her father that even if she did not get married, she would take care of her
parents in their old age. She also said that she would teach in the same school where she
had learnt so much.
7. Draw a conclusion as to why Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her
masterpiece.
Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece, when she realised how her
soothing words, education, and motivation gave confidence to Bholi to face the world and
transformed her from a girl who was unsure about herself and a backward child, to a bold
and confident girl.
8. What did the Tehsildar suggest to Ramlal?
The Tehsildar had come to the village to open the first primary school for girls. He told
Ramlal that as a revenue official, he is the representative of the government in the
village, and so should set an example for the villagers by sending his daughters to school.
9. Everyone’s first day at school is generally filled with fun, joy and happiness. How
was Bholi’s first day at school?
The teacher gave her a book having colourful pictures of animals. With every picture was
a word in big black letters. The teacher told her that she would be able to read that book
in a month. Then she would give her a bigger book. She liked the book very much. Thus,
she enjoyed her first day in school.
10. How was Bholi different from the other children at home?
When Bholi was 10 months old, she fell from a cot. This damaged a part of her brain and
affected her intelligence. She became a slow learner, a retarded child. So, she was called
Bholi’, a simpleton. When she was two years old, she had an attack of smallpox that left
pockmarks on her face and she looked ugly. All other siblings - her brothers and sisters -
were normal.
11. What idea do you form of Ramlal’s personality?
Ramlal was the revenue officer of the village. He was a prosperous farmer and had seven
children. He was orthodox. He did not believe in the ideology of sending girls to school as
it would be difficult to find a good match for them. He wanted to get rid of Bholi as she
was ugly and not intelligent.
II. Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:
1. Although Bholi never got the deserved love, care and acceptance from her family,
she is ready to reciprocate like all daughters in Indian society. Discuss the
character of Bholi in the light of the above-mentioned statement.
Bholi was the fourth daughter of Ramlal. She got her brain damaged when she was only
ten months old. At the age of two, she had an attack of smallpox which left permanent
pockmarks on her body. She stammered while speaking. Thus, she was a neglected child in
her family. Nobody took care of her. Nobody loved her. Nobody had any expectation from
her. Her parents called her a dumb cow and treated her so. The old dresses of her sister
were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. New clothes had never
been made for Bholi. No one oiled her hairs nor tried to teach her anything. Luckily, she
was sent to school and her teacher changed her life entirely. Then she became a learned
girl. When her parents decided to get her married to Bishamber, a fifty years old lame,
greedy person, she did not speak a word and agreed silently for the sake of her parents.
She did not
even protest. Later, when Bishamber insulted her parents and demanded 5000 rupees,
she refused to marry him and declared that she will never marry anyone and will always
serve her parents in their old age. Thus in spite of being a neglected child, Bholi acted
like all daughters in Indian societies.
2. Bholi challenged the dowry seeker. She used to be a meek girl. What changed
her attitude towards life?
Bholi used to be a meek girl. She had pockmarks on her body. Her brain got damaged
when she was just ten months. She was also a slow learner. She could not speak till she
was five. Later on, she started stammering while speaking. She was sent to school just
for formality. Her parents were not serious about her studies. But her teacher changed
her life. She encouraged her to speak properly and to learn more and more in school.
Then she knew what is good or what is bad. She could differentiate between right and
wrong. Education totally changed her personality. Even then she behaved like an obedient
girl and agreed to marry Bishamber - fifty years old, lame married man. But she could not
stand his demand for a dowry. She refused to fulfil Bishamber’s demand of five thousand
rupees and denied to marry him. Thus education changed her attitude towards her life.
3. ’And in her smiling eyes was the light of deep satisfaction that an artist feels
when he is contemplating the completion of his masterpiece.’ Imagine you are Bholi’s
teacher. You are overwhelmed with a sense of satisfaction to see the conversion of
Bholi to `Sulekha’. Express your feelings in the form of a diary entry.
26th August, 2019
Monday
10.30 p.m.
Today I felt very much satisfied as I was successful in changing Bholi to Sulekha. As her
name signifies, Bholi was really a simple girl. I cannot forget her first entry in my class. A
frightened, confused and a simple girl, was her first appearance. She used to stammer
while speaking. But my words of affection filled her with confidence. She overcame
stammering and became a confident, determined girl. She was determined to learn
everything silently. In her family, nobody noticed the changes that took place in her
personality and got her engaged to a fifty-year-old lame married man with grown-up
children. She kept the honour of her parents and agreed to that marriage. But she could
not stand his demand for a dowry. She threw away her garland into the fire and asked
her father to take back the money. She raised her voice against dowry. She asked the
ladies of the village why girls should be treated like dumb cows. This was the change I
always wanted to see in her personality. Today, I feel I have completed my masterpiece
without any error. Today, she signified her real name Sulekha.
4. Demanding dowry is an evil practice. Describe how Bholi, a dumb girl fought
against this evil.
Bholi was considered a dumb cow. She was sent to school just to obey the orders of the
village Tehsildar. Her teacher played an important role in changing her life from Bholi to
Sulekha. Now she became a confident, educated girl but nobody noticed any change in her
personality because she was no one for her family. She got engaged with a fifty years old
lame married man for which she agreed silently. But when he demanded five thousand
rupees as dowry, Bholi at once stood up against it. She refused to marry him. She gave
her consent for a mismatched marriage but she did not support dowry system. She called
Bishamber a mean, greedy and contemptible coward. She was no more a dumb driven cow.
She set an example for the society and became the role model for all the girls.
5. Who was Bishamber? Why did Bholi’s parents accept his marriage proposal?
Bishamber Nath was a well-to-do grocer of the same age as Bholi’s father. He was a
widower who had a house of his own and a big bank balance. To marry off his daughter to
Bishamber was a dream for Ramlal, who, after an initial hesitation, was overjoyed to
accept his proposal for marriage. Moreover, Bishamber did not demand dowry.
For Ramlal, Bholi was the fourth daughter. Her pock-marked face, her slowness in
understanding things, and her stammering were real problems, for Ramlal in marrying her
off. However, Bishamber Nath was not aware of these ‘flaws’ of Bholi. So when he
proposed to Ramlal, he readily accepted fearing that if he rejected the proposal Bholi
would remain unmarried all her life. She would then be a burden on her parents. Thus,
Ramlal felt lucky to have a groom like Bishamber Nath for his daughter.
6. It was a twist of fate that Bholi’s future was made better.’ Rate the above
statement with reference to how Bholi was sent to school and educated.
Bholi was a weak, timid person. She was an ignored child. Her parents treated her like a
burden. She was neglected, ill-treated and considered a dumb cow by her family. She was
sent, to school, her parents thought she would not be able to get a match with her slow
brain and pock-marked ugly face. This was a twist of fate for her.
At school, she luckily got a motivating and encouraging teacher who instilled in her traits
of self-confidence, self-respect and courage. To relieve her parents from worry, she
agreed to marry a lame, widower with grown-up children.
At the time of garlanding, the widower, Bishmabar Nath noticed pock-marks on Bholi’s
face. He demanded Rs. 5000 as dowry. Her father pleaded to lessen the amount but he
stuck to his demand. This aroused Bholi’s self-respect and she refused, in front of all, to
marry such a greedy, mean and heartless fellow. She decided to become a school teacher
and serve her parents in their old age.
Her school teacher changed her future and made it better. She transformed a timid,
dumb cow into a bold, courageous, confident and self-respecting person.

*****
 BHARATH VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)

CLASS X – ENGLISH NOTES - FOOT PRINTS 3.

THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR

I. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. What made the story of the balcony so convincing?

Ausable showed his annoyance for the nuisance created by the balcony. He said that this was
the second time that someone had got into his room through it. He also said that the balcony
was not his but belonged to the next apartment and earlier his room used to be a part of a
large unit.

2. How did Max go out of Ausable’s room to save himself from the police?

Max was very nervous to find the police at the door. He went out of the window saying that
he would wait in the balcony. He warned Ausable to send the police away or he would shoot
him. Max did not confirm the balcony and stepped out of the window and died.

3. How did Ausable kill Max without using a weapon?

Ausable was an intelligent spy. When he found Max waiting for him in his room, he made a
story of a balcony under his window. He convinced Max about the balcony. And thus, when
someone knocked at the door, Max fearing it to be the police, jumped out of the window and
died.

4. How and why did Max come inside Ausable’s room?

Max entered Ausable’s room to take a ‘report’ regarding some new missiles, which he was
sure, would reach Ausable. It was the report that was to be delivered to Ausable that night.
He did so by using a passkey to enter in Ausable’s absence.

5. How was Ausable different from the other secret agents?

Ausable, unlike other secret agents, was very fat with an accent of German. Fowler was
expecting a smart and active agent having messages slipped into his hand by a dark beauty.
Whereas, Ausable received a telephone call making an appointment in his room.

6. Why was Ausable confident that Max would never return?

Max believed Ausable’s story about the balcony to be true and stepped out. Ausable had
invented a very convincing story, and knew that what awaited Max was a drop from the sixth
floor. Hence, he was confident that Max would never return.

7. How did Ausable befool Max about the balcony?

Ausable was a very intelligent spy agent. When he found Max waiting for him in his room, he
immediately thought of the plan. He told Max that there is a balcony from where people
enter his room that Max must have also entered from there. Max got convinced about the
story and hence when someone knocked at the door, he ran towards the balcony to hide and
died.

8. Why did Fowler come to meet Ausable? Was he able to achieve his target?

Fowler was a young and romantic writer. He had come to see Ausable and know about the life
of a secret agent. Fowler was fascinated by him and thought of him as mysterious and
romantic. He was not able to achieve his target as Ausable was a very fat and boring man.

9. Why did so many people risk their lives?

Ausable had received a paper which had certain important information about new missiles.
The paper was so important that several men and women had risked their lives to get it.

10. What was someone expected to bring to Ausable’s room?

Someone was expected to bring a paper containing important information to Ausable’s room.
It was a report about some new missiles. Many men and women had risked their lives to grab
this paper.

11. Who was in Ausable’s room? What was in his hand?

Max was another secret agent who was waiting in Ausable’s room with a small automatic
pistol in his hand. He had come to get hold of the report about some new missiles that was
about to reach Ausable.

12. What did the secret agent tell Max when he heard the knock?

He told Max that it would be the police. He said that he had called the police for the
protection of such an important paper that he was going to receive that night. He wanted to
have extra protection for the report.

13. Did Ausable know that it was the waiter who had knocked at the door?

Yes, Ausable knew that the man knocking at the door was the waiter. He had ordered him to
bring a bottle of wine. And he knew that the waiter must have come with the drinks.

14. Was there a balcony outside the window? Give instances from the text in support
of your answer.

No, actually there was not a balcony outside the window. Ausable had falsely told Max about
the balcony. When Max dropped himself to the balcony, he screamed. He fell down to the
ground from the sixth floor. In the end, Ausable told Fowler, “No, he won’t return.”

15. Did Fowler find this episode, thrilling or disappointing? Give reasons for your
answer.

Fowler found this episode very thrilling. He was much surprised by the tactful nature of
Ausable. He cooked-up a story about the balcony and the police. He got the intruder, Max,
killed without firing a shot.

16. How did Ausable behave to see Max in his room?

To see Max in his room, Ausable remained cool and silent. He was not afraid of Max. He
seemed to be angry with the management of the hotel regarding the balcony below the
window of his room.

17. Describe Ausable.

Ausable was a secret agent. He was a fat and sloppy fellow. He was not a romantic figure. He
had come to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. He could speak French and German
passably. He had a style of his own in the American language.

18. Fowler said that Max would soon come back from the balcony. What happened to
Max after he jumped out of the window?

At last, the crafty Max was trapped in. He was outwitted by the cleverer secret agent
Ausable. Ausable, the quick-witted secret agent, made Max believe that there was a balcony
below his windowsill. He also made him believe that the knockings at the door were made by
the police. The confused, panicked and unnerved Max jumped out of the window. He cried
only for once. That was the end of the crafty rival secret agent and Ausable got rid of him
forever.

II. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN ABOUT 100-120 WORDS:

1. With reference to `The Midnight Visitor’, do you think the presence of mind should
be developed and to what advantage? Elaborate highlighting the values possessed by
Ausable. (OR) Presence of mind and intelligence are more powerful than a gun. How far
is it true in the case of Ausable, the secret agent?

Max lay in wait for Ausable to steal the important papers from him. As Fowler observed,
apart from the pointed gun, he didn’t look very menacing. Even this proved useless for him as
Ausable outwitted him with his presence of mind and intelligence. Ausable cleverly found out
how Max had entered the room and created an extremely believable story about a non-
existent balcony. He kept calm, and, hearing the waiter knock, declared it to be the police.
Max, in an attempt to hide, fell to his death. Thus, Ausable got rid of Max without moving a
muscle.

2. Pride before a fall befits Max, who said: “I will get it back tonight.” Was he
successful? What lesson can be learnt from this?

Max was a spy who was overconfident and too proud. His pride blinded him, and he thought
that wielding a gun would give a further edge over the seemingly slow Ausable. However,
despite this apparent pride and confidence, Max was utterly unsuccessful. Ausable outwitted
him without lifting a finger. Max, in fact, jumped to his own death by taking Ausable’s words
at face value. Thus, one learns that one should not be proud and must pay attention to the
finer details before attempting to do anything.

3. At the beginning of the story, Fowler felt disappointed with Ausable. Do you think
Fowler had the same feeling towards the end of the story? Give reasons for your
answer.
At the beginning of the story, Fowler felt disappointed with Ausable because he did not look
like a secret agent of his imagination. He found him quite boring. He did not want to be with
him anymore. But when he found Max in his room with a gun, he was thrilled. He found that
Ausable was not at all perturbed. He cooked-up a story about the balcony outside his window.
When the waiter knocked at the door, Ausable told Max that it would be the police. He told
him that he had called the police for the security of that important paper. Hearing this, Max

jumped outside the window to the balcony. But there was no balcony. He fell down from the
sixth floor and died. Fowler was thrilled to see all this. So, towards the end of the story, he
was not disappointed with Ausable.

4. Write a character sketch of the secret Agent Ausable.

Ausable was a secret agent. He was a fat and sloppy fellow. In his appearance, he did not
seem to be a romantic figure. He came to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. He could
speak French and German passably. He had not lost the American accent. Ausable was a very
intelligent person. He had a great presence of mind. He did not lose heart in a difficult
situation when he faced a man with a pistol in his hand. He remained cool. He cooked-up a
story about the balcony. He made Max nervous by telling him about the police. He got Max
killed without any fighting or shooting. Fowler, who was disappointed to meet him at the
beginning of the story, was very much impressed with his intelligence and presence of mind
at the end of the story.

5. How did Ausable use ‘the knock’ at the door in his favour? What light does it throw
on his character?

Ausable was a secret agent. He was staying in a hotel. A guest named Fowler comes to meet
him. Ausable gives an order to the waiter for a bottle of wine and two glasses. When he
entered the room, he was surprised to see an intruder named Max in the room. That man had
a pistol in his hand. After some time, there was a knock at the door. Ausable knew that it
was the waiter but he told Max that it would be the police. He said that he himself had
called the police for the protection of the important report. Hearing this, Max jumped out of
the window on to the balcony. There was no balcony. He fell down and died. This episode
shows that Ausable had great presence of mind. He was a clever spy indeed.

6. Sometimes, appearances can be very deceptive. How does this statement prove with
this story?

Yes, it is true that sometimes we fail to identify the real personality of a person due to his
odd/simple appearance. So, it can be said that appearances can be deceptive. Fowler was
young and romantic. He was a writer of adventurous stories. Ausable was a secret agent - a
detective. He faces danger in his work. So, Fowler wanted to meet him for some adventurous
stories. But when he met Ausable in a French hotel with a damp corridor, Fowler felt
disappointed. But Ausable proved himself after reaching his room. A man named Max was
found inside Ausable’s room with a gun in his hand. Ausable at once proved that he possessed
the quality of a true detective. He told Max about a balcony next to the window, and police
at the door. Max believed him because Ausable’s way of talking was so real.

*****
 BHARATH VIDYA MANDIR SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL (CBSE)
CLASS X – ENGLISH – FOOTPRINTS 6.
THE MAKING OF A SCIENTIST - NOTES

Answer the following questions:

1. What project did Ebright submit in his eighth grade? What made him win?
For his eighth-grade project, he tried to find the cause of a viral disease that killed all
monarch caterpillars every few years. He thought it all happened because of a beetle and
tried raising caterpillars in the presence of beetles but he did not get any results. But he
went ahead and showed his experiments and trials and won a prize.
2. ’Richard was the focus of his mother’s attention.’ Compose a thesis on this.
Richard lost his father when he was in third grade. Then he became the whole life for his
mother. His mother was his only companion until he started school. After that she
brought home friends for him. His mother encouraged his interest in learning. She took
him on trips, bought him telescopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipment
that helped him in many other ways. She motivated him by buying the children’s book ‘The
travel of Monarch X’.
3. What made him straight A-grade student in school?
Ebright was a champion debater, public speaker, a good canoeist, and an all-around
outdoor person. He was an expert photographer of nature and scientific exhibits and had
won many prizes in science fairs at the county level. He proved a lot of things about
butterflies. He had already read the blue print of DNA. All these made him straight A-
grade student in school.
4. Comment on the role of Mr. Weiherer in Ebright’s life. (OR) Who were the
important people in Ebright’s life? Why?
Ebright’s mother who encouraged him as a child and Dr. Frederick A. Urquhart, who had
inspired him to study about butterflies, were quite important in Ebright’s life. Also,
Richard A. Weiherer, Ebright’s Social Studies teacher, opened Ebright’s mind to new
ideas and praised him for his handwork and indomitable spirit.
5. Why did Ebright lose interest in tagging butterflies?
Ebright lost interest in tagging butterflies because it was a tedious work that did not
provide much feedback. He was a little disappointed as only two of his tagged butterflies
had been recaptured. And they had been found not more than seventy-five miles from
where he lived.
6. Which project of Ebright won the first prize in the county science fair?
Ebright didn’t win anything at his first science fair, thereby realising that actual
experiments alone worked. Later, he started winning prizes. Ebright, as an excellent
science student, first built a device that showed that the tiny gold spots on a monarch
pupa were producing a hormone necessary for the butterfly’s full development. This
project won them first prize in the county science fair and third prize in zoology in the
International Science Fair.
7. What were the hobbies that Ebright develop when in kindergarten? Describe
Richard Ebright’s childhood. (OR) How did Ebright spend his time in Pennsylvania?
As a child, Ebright had a driving curiosity. He was interested in learning new things. He
was good in studies and earned top grades in the class. He also collected rocks, fossils
and coins. He also became a star-gazer and an eager astronomer. He started collecting
butterflies even while in kindergarten.
8. “Science shows a connection between structure and function.” Prove this with
reference to the spots Ebright saw on Monarch pupas.
Ebright grew cells from a monarch’s wing to show that cells could divide and develop into
a normal butterfly wing scales only if they were fed with the hormones from the gold
spots. Later, he identified the chemical structure of the hormone and found how cells can
read the blueprints of its DNA.
9. How can Ebright’s theory of cell life be a revolution in the medical field if it is
proved correct?
Ebright identified the chemical structure of the gold spot hormone and found how cells
can read the blueprint of its DNA. To further test his theory, he began doing
experiments. If it is proved correct, it will be a big step towards understanding the
process of life. It might lead to new ideas for preventing some types of cancer and
diseases.
10. What were the factors which contributed to making Ebright a scientist? (OR)
What are the essential qualities for becoming a scientist, according to Ebright’s
teacher?
Sharp brain, keen observance, first rate mind, driving curiosity, keen interest in the
subject and strong will to win for the right cause are some of the essentials for the
making of a scientist. He should not run after prizes, have a competitive spirit but not in
the bad sense.
11. Why did Richard Ebright tag a flock of butterflies? (OR) Why did Richard
Ebright start a project of tagging the butterflies? (OR) How did the book become a
turning point in Richard Ebright’s life?
Once Ebright’s mother bought him a book, ’The Travels of Monarch X’. At the end of the
book, the writer Dr. A. Urquhart had invited the readers to help him in the study of
butterfly migration by tagging them. So, he started tagging the butterflies. This became
a turning point in his life.
Answer the following questions in 120-150 words:
1.’Success is failure turned inside out’. Prove the above statement with instances
from the journey taken by Richard Ebright from losing at the science fair to winning
at the International Science Fair.
Success is the fruit of failure. It never comes straight but through failure. This can be
seen in the life of Richard Ebright. Although he earned top grades in school, on everyday
things, he was just like every other kid. He faced many failures in his life, but every
failure strengthened his will to succeed. When he was in the seventh grade, he
participated in the County Science Fair with his slides of frog
tissues. But he could not win a prize. This made him determined to win the prize and in his
eighth grade he participated again in the science fair with the experiment of a viral
disease in monarch caterpillars and won the prize. The very next year he participated
with his experiment of whether the Viceroy butterflies copy the Monarch butterflies to
save their life from the birds. And this project won Ebright, the third prize in overall
County Science Fair. His experiment regarding gold spots of Monarch pupa for which he
built a device that showed that the spots produced hormones necessary for the full
development of butterflies won the third prize in the International Science and
Engineering Fair. Next year, his advanced experiments on the Monarch pupa won him the
first place at the International Science Fair. Thus, for Richard Ebright, we can say that
success is failure turned inside out.
2. How did Richard Ebright become a scientist?
Richard Ebright had been a curious child even when he was in kindergarten. His curiosity
prompted him to collect rocks, fossils, coins, and butterflies. His mother’s encouragement
and his bright mind also contributed to making him a success. His mother got him all that
he needed to develop his scientific bent of mind. His response to Dr. Fredrick A.
Urquhart to collect butterflies for his research gave him an opportunity in his
endeavours. Then in the seventh grade, he got a hint of what real science is when he
entered a County Science Fair and lost. He realised that winners had tried to do real
experiments, not simply make a neat display. Thereafter, Ebright worked sincerely on
every science project he got every year in school. Then he stood first in a county fair
that gave him entry into the International Science and Engineering Fair where he won the
third place. He then went on to win the highest honours and graduated from Harvard. His
high school research into the purpose of the spots on a monarch pupa eventually led him
to his theory about cell life. Thus, he became a renowned scientist.
3. ”Richard Ebright was a successful scientist who gave a new theory of cells to the
scientific world.” Elucidate.
Ebright tried experiments on butterflies for a science fair. In his project, in the second
year of high school, he tried to explain the purpose of twelve tiny gold spots on a
Monarch pupa. He found out that those spots produced a hormone necessary for the full
development of a butterfly. He continued with his experiments even after graduation
using sophisticated instruments of the university. He discovered the chemical structure
of the hormone. He came across his new theory of cell life. It gave an answer to one of
the questions - “How a cell can read the blueprint of DNA”.

*****