1. What effect did the approaching examinations have on Swaminathan's friends?
Answers
Answer:
A. Answer the following questions i about 60 words each:
Question 1.
What change did Swaminathan observe in his father’s behaviour towards him before the examination? (MP.Board 2011)
Answer:
It was the month of April, just two weeks before the annual exams. Swami’ father, quite naturally, now wanted that his son should devote more time to his studies and often rebuked him when he saw the boy wasting his time. Swami thought that his father was changing and growing more fussy and difficult every day. However, his words had some effect on his son when he warned him that if he failed, his juniors would become his classmates and his friends would become his seniors, and would no longer like to mix up with him.
Question 2.
What changes did Swaminathan find in his friend’s behaviour before the examination?
Answer:
At school, everybody seemed “to be overwhelmed by the thought of the examinations.” His friends hardly exchanged even a few words with him, they were so busy with their preparations.
Question 3.
What hints did the school clerk give to Mani? Was Mani satisfied with them?
Answer:
Somehow or the other, the boys were under the impression that the school clerk knew all about the question papers and he could help them a lot. So, one day, Main visited him with a gift of brinjals. The clerk was pleased, welcomed Mani, and talked a great deal about various matters. When he did not come to the point, Mani asked humuntly to tell him a few important questions. The clerk did not refuse but told him vaguely that it is good to prepare maps, to solve five problems every day for Maths, and as regards English, there is nothing to worry about if he has read all the lessons
Question 4.
Do you agree to what Mani did to succeed in the examination? Give reasons in support of your answer . (M.P Board 2015)
Answer:
I think what Mani did to know the questions from the school clerk was not good., When he knew that the clerk had the idea about the questions he went to meet him. He took a gift to impress him. Though the clerk did not say anything clearly, Mani thought it right and prepared accordingly It is not right for a good student, It is unjustified.
Question 5.
What Incidents did Swaminathan narrate to his grandmother? Why was she not
interested in them that day?
Answer:
Swan-ti, one day after coming back home from school, felt rather dull. His mother was not at home. Granny was not in talkative mood still, he began narrating the Incidents that happened in school that day. First, he said that a boy in first stabbed another out of enmity Next he said that the headmaster knocked his toe against the door post. He got his and his toe began bleeding heavily. He went limping about the school the whole day. He couldn’t take the Third Form and so they had to leave. Granny was not at all interested in them that day.
Question 6.
Why did Swaminathan find his brother more interesting as he grew up?
Answer:
When Swami came back home from school, he was feeling dull. He wanted to talk to his Granny who was not interested in his talks. So, he came near his baby brother’s cradle. In the beginning he was skeptical of his brother but as he grew he became more interesting for him. He was six months old now and was charming. I-le still made noises whenever he saw anybody, thrust his fists into his month, damped his round arms up to the elbow and vigorously kicked the air. He also displayed his bare red gums in a smile. Swami loved each of his activities. Swami was feeling more attached with him.
Question 7.
What thoughts crossed Swaminathan’s mind when he gazed at the maps in the atlas?
Answer:
As the time of examination was close Swami tried to concentrate on study. He sat at his table and took out his atlas. He opened the political map of Europe and sat gazing at it. It puzzled him how people managed to live in such a crooked country as Europe. He wondered what the shape of the people might be who lived in places where the outline narrowed as in a cape and how they managed to escape being strangled by the contour of their land. Then, he thought about the size and shape of the country He wondered how such foolish ideas came into their minds.
Question 9.
What did Swaminathafl’s father do when he saw the list?
Answer:
After preparing the list of the items for his examination, Swami wanted to show it to his father. When he approached his father, he became angry. He said that there is no need to buy anything as everything was available there. His father said that he had no clips and Swami didn’t need them. He asked what was the use of pad when there were benches in school, Then, he said that he didn’t need anything. They are useless. Swami felt awful at such a response from his father.
Explanation: