2. Write about the character sketch of Dr. Dunbar and Matron.??? class 7 Gulmohar book chapter home thickness
Answers
Answer:
Key terms: -
1. appendicitis- a condition in which the appendix – a small
organ attached to the intestine – becomes infected and
has to be removed through operation.
2. spellbound- fascinated
3. Solomon- an ancient king known for his wisdom
4. staggering- walking with difficulty
5. pathetically- in a way that would make people pity him
6. prodding- poking or pushing with a pointed object
7. ruptured- broken or burst
8. inflammation- a painful swelling caused by an infectionA. Understanding the text
Q1. Why did the speaker think that he may sound silly? How
did he argue that he was not silly?
ANS- The speaker thought that he might sound silly for
thinking that as a nine-year old he could make a number of
grown-ups believe that he had appendicitis when he did not
and thus get sent home from school. He argued that he was,
in fact, not silly, by explaining that not long before one of his
sisters had actually had appendicitis, and he had observed
closely how she behaved – how she hurt on the lower right
side of her tummy, kept being sick and ran a temperature.
So he knew exactly how to pretend to be ill so that he would
be believed.
Q2. How did the speaker and his sisters react to the event of
an operation in side their home?
ANS- The speaker and his sisters were very excited about the
event of an operation inside their home. They lurked in the
corridor outside the nursery while the operation was going
on. They stood fascinated outside the nursery door, listening
to the soft murmurs that could be heard from inside. They
could smell the ether through the crack under the door and
imagined what the patient might be looking like.Q3. Who are the adults in the story? How did the speaker, as
a child, feel towards them? why do you think he felt that
way?
ANS- The adults in this story are the speaker’s Nanny, the
school doctor, the speaker’s mother and Dr Dunbar. The
speaker, as a child, admired Nanny as being very wise, and
believed everything she told him. This could be because she
had a ready reply for every question. He was rather afraid of
the school Matron. It could be because she was rather stern
with him. He loved his mother and wanted to go home to
her. He also admired Dr Dunbar greatly because Dr Dunbar
was a skilful doctor as well as a wise and kind person. He
listened to his advice and was grateful to Dr Dunbar for
helping him.
Q4. Dr Dunbar taught the speaker a lesson but he also helped
him. How did he do that?
ANS- Dr Dunbar taught the speaker a lesson by pointing out
that life is tough and the sooner he learned to cope with it,
the better it would be for him. He explained why the speaker
needed to face his homesickness. At the same time, he was
kind, understanding and sympathetic. He told the school that
the speaker had to stay at home for few days so that the
speaker’s plan was not a complete failure and he did get to
spend some time with his family.B. Read these lines and answer
the questions.
1. “For years after that, I used to get nervous whenever I
found a toothbrush bristle on my tongue”
(a) Why did the speaker get nervous finding a
toothbrush bristle on his tongue?
ANS- The speaker had asked his Nanny what causes
an attack of appendicitis and she had said that if
loose toothbrush bristles were swallowed, then
they get stuck in the appendix and turn it rotten.
That is why he would get nervous if he found a
loose toothbrush bristle on his tongue.
(b) What can you understand about the speaker’s
attitude to his Nanny from this statement, which
are other words support your answer?
ANS- From this statement it is clear that the
speaker had great faith in his Nanny’s wisdom. He
believed whatever she told him. The other words
that show his attitude towards his Nanny are
‘Nanny, who in my eyes was filled with more
wisdom than Solomon...’
2. I entered the room clutching my stomach on the right –
hand side and staggering pathetically.
(a) Which room is being referred to?
ANS- The Matron’s room in the speaker’s school is
being referred to here.(b) Why was the speaker clutching his stomach on the
right-hand side?
ANS- The speaker was pretending to have an attack
of appendicitis.
(c) Why was he ‘staggering pathetically’?
ANS- The speaker was staggering pathetically
because he was pretending to be in great pain. He
was putting on an act of being very ill-so ill that he
could not eat or walk properly.
Answer: Dr Dunbar is a skilled doctor who Roald was sent to when he pretended to have appendicitis. I think Dr Dunbar is a kind and understanding person because when he found out Roald was faking being ill, instead of shouting and getting angry with him he spoke to him and gave him advise.
A matron is the woman who takes care of the students in the boarding school just like their mothers would expect the one in St.peters hates the student and is wicked to them. The Matron was a grumpy and cruel woman who was supposed to take care of the St.Perters students but because she despised them she was harsh and mean to them and loved getting them into trouble. In the chapter she harasses and torments many students and gets them into trouble with the head master.