Question

1. I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand. Anil was

watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25 — a tall, lean fellow — and he looked easy-going,

kind and simple enough for my purpose.

“You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.

“What’s your name?”

“Hari Singh,” I lied. I took a new name every month. That kept me ahead of the police and my former employers. I didn’t

have much to say. Anil walked away. I followed casually.

I gave him my most appealing smile. “I want to work for you,” I said.

“But I can’t pay you.”

2. I thought that over for a minute. I asked, “Can you feed me?”

“Can you cook?”

“I can cook,” I lied again.

“If you can cook, then maybe I can feed you.”

He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil

gave it to a stray dog and told me to be off. Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he’d teach me to cook. He

also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers. It was

quite pleasant working for Anil. I made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the day’s supplies,

usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.

3. Anil made money by fits and starts. It seems he wrote for magazines — a queer way to make a living! One evening he

came home with a small bundle of notes, saying he had just sold a book to a publisher. At night, I saw him tuck the money

under the mattress. I had been working for Anil for almost a month and, apart from cheating on the shopping, had not done

anything in my line of work. He was the most trusting person I had ever met. And that is why it was so difficult to rob him.

Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself; I’m out of practice. And if I don’t take the money, he’ll only waste it on

his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.

(1) Who is the speaker? Who is he trying to flatter?

(2) What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?

(3) What does he get from Anil in return for his work?

(4) Did Hari like working for Anil? Give reasons in support of your answer.

(5) What ‘real work’ is the speaker talking about in the last paragraph?

(6) Why does the speaker say ‘I’m out of practice’?

(7) Find the antonym of:

(a) Criticism ___________ (fairly/flattery) (b) friends ___________ (enemies/thieves)

(8) Find the synonym of:

(a) relaxed ___________ (kind/easy-going) (b) alluring ___________ (appealing/terrible)

(9) Find the meaning of the idiom – ‘By fits and starts’ and use in a sentence.

(10) Have you met anyone like Hari Singh? Can you think and imagine the circumstances that can turn a fifteen-

year-old boy into a thief? Discuss with your partner over the phone and write.​

Answer 1

Answer:

anil is a speaker an he is trying to flatter

Answer 2

Answer:

1. Hari is the speaker. he is trying to flatter anil.
2. stealing,cheating,robbing.
3. food and a place to stay.
4. yes he did like working for anil as he was provided food and shelter and a little education in Anil's company.
5. real work refers to a job.
6. because he had not robbed any one for quite some time.
7. flattery,enemies.
8. easy going,appealing
9. in small amounts...he started off his business by fits and starts.
10. no I have not...but lack of attention on a child and growing up in an inappropriate environment can turn a fifteen year old in a thief.

HOPE THIS HELPS YOU.