have said this much because it is my wish that the principles which have guided me in the composition of these memoirs may be understood. I am aware that they will not please every reader; that is a success to which I cannot pretend. Some merit, however, may be allowed me on account of the labour I have undergone. It has neither been of a slight nor an agreeable kind. I made it a rule to read everything that has been written respecting Napoleon, and I have had to decipher many of his autographed documents, though no longer so familiar with his scrawl as formerly.
I say decipher, because a real cipher might often be much more readily understood than the handwriting of Napoleon. My own notes, too, which were often very hastily made, in the hand I wrote in my youth, have sometimes also much embarrassed me.
My long and intimate connection with Bonaparte from boyhood, my close relations with him when he was General, Consul and Emperor, enabled me to see and appreciate all that was projected and all that was done during that considerable and momentous period of time. I not only had the opportunity of being present at the conception and the execution of the extraordinary deeds of one of the ablest men nature ever formed, but, notwithstanding an almost unceasing application to business, I found means to employ the few moments of leisure which Bonaparte left at my disposal in making notes, collecting documents and in recording for history the facts respecting which the truth could otherwise with difficulty be ascertained; and more particularly in collecting those ideas, often profound, brilliant, and striking, but always remarkable, to which Bonaparte gave expression in the overflowing frankness of confidential intimacy. The knowledge that I possessed much important information has exposed me to many inquiries, and wherever I have resided since my retirement from public affairs, much of my time has been spent in replying to Questions. The wish to be acquainted with the most minute details of the life of a famous man is very natural; and the observation on my replies by those who heard them always was, “You should publish your memoirs!”
Questions
(a) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following Questions briefly.
(i) How does the author express his difficulties in writing Napoleon’s memoirs?
(ii) On what basis can we say that Napoleon’s handwriting was very difficult to read?
(iii) How does the author justify his statement that he could understand all that Napoleon actually achieved?
(iv) What method did the author employ to ensure that he could relate afterwards all that happened in Napoleon’s time?
(v) Why is the author pestered by people even after he has retired from public life?
(vi) Why do people want the author to publish his memoirs?
(b) On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the statements given below by choosing the most appropriate option.
(i) The author is embarrassed, as stated in paragraph 1, because
(a) Napoleon’s handwriting was unreadable
(b) the author’s handwriting was very poor in his youth
(c) he cannot please every reader
(d) None of these
(ii) The author was known to Napoleon Bonaparte since
(a) Bonaparte became General
(b) Bonaparte became Consul and Emperor
(c) birth
(d) boyhood
(iii) The phrase ‘on account of’ used in paragraph 1 means the same as
(a) as a consequence of
(b) under no circumstances
(c) makes up
(d) None of these
(iv) The word ‘scrawl’ used in paragraph 1 means the same as
(a) sayings
(b) method of working
(c) style of dress
(d) careless handwriting
(v) The word ‘conception’ used in paragraph 2 is the synonym of
(a) birth
(b) proposal
(c) death
(d) pregnancy
(vi) The word ‘profound’ used in paragraph 2 is the antonym of
(a) wise
(b) sincere
(c) superficial
(d) comical
Answers
Answer:
The author is embarrassed, as stated in paragraph 1, because
Concept Introduction: Literature is the most important thing in Grammar.
Explanation:
We have been Given: The following passages.
We have to Find: Questions
(a) On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following Questions briefly.
(i) How does the author express his difficulties in writing Napoleon’s memoirs?
(ii) On what basis can we say that Napoleon’s handwriting was very difficult to read?
(iii) How does the author justify his statement that he could understand all that Napoleon actually achieved?
(iv) What method did the author employ to ensure that he could relate afterwards all that happened in Napoleon’s time?
(v) Why is the author pestered by people even after he has retired from public life?
(vi) Why do people want the author to publish his memoirs?
(b) On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the statements given below by choosing the most appropriate option.
(i) The author is embarrassed, as stated in paragraph 1, because
(a) Napoleon’s handwriting was unreadable
(b) the author’s handwriting was very poor in his youth
(c) he cannot please every reader
(d) None of these
(ii) The author was known to Napoleon Bonaparte since
(a) Bonaparte became General
(b) Bonaparte became Consul and Emperor
(c) birth
(d) boyhood
(iii) The phrase ‘on account of’ used in paragraph 1 means the same as
(a) as a consequence of
(b) under no circumstances
(c) makes up
(d) None of these
(iv) The word ‘scrawl’ used in paragraph 1 means the same as
(a) sayings
(b) method of working
(c) style of dress
(d) careless handwriting
(v) The word ‘conception’ used in paragraph 2 is the synonym of
(a) birth
(b) proposal
(c) death
(d) pregnancy
(vi) The word ‘profound’ used in paragraph 2 is the antonym of
(a) wise
(b) sincere
(c) superficial
(d) comical
have said this much because it is my wish that the principles which have guided me in the composition of these memoirs may be understood. I am aware that they will not please every reader; that is a success to which I cannot pretend. Some merit, however, may be allowed me on account of the labour I have undergone. It has neither been of a slight nor an agreeable kind. I made it a rule to read everything that has been written respecting Napoleon, and I have had to decipher many of his autographed documents, though no longer so familiar with his scrawl as formerly. I say decipher, because a real cipher might often be much more readily understood than the handwriting of Napoleon. My own notes, too, which were often very hastily made, in the hand I wrote in my youth, have sometimes also much embarrassed me. My long and intimate connection with Bonaparte from boyhood, my close relations with him when he was General, Consul and Emperor, enabled me to see and appreciate all that was projected and all that was done during that considerable and momentous period of time. I not only had the opportunity of being present at the conception and the execution of the extraordinary deeds of one of the ablest men nature ever formed, but, notwithstanding an almost unceasing application to business, I found means to employ the few moments of leisure which Bonaparte left at my disposal in making notes, collecting documents and in recording for history the facts respecting which the truth could otherwise with difficulty be ascertained; and more particularly in collecting those ideas, often profound, brilliant, and striking, but always remarkable, to which Bonaparte gave expression in the overflowing frankness of confidential intimacy. The knowledge that I possessed much important information has exposed me to many inquiries, and wherever I have resided since my retirement from public affairs, much of my time has been spent in replying to Questions. The wish to be acquainted with the most minute details of the life of a famous man is very natural; and the observation on my replies by those who heard them always was, “You should publish your memoirs!”
Final Answer: have said this much because it is my wish that the principles which have guided me in the composition of these memoirs may be understood. I am aware that they will not please every reader; that is a success to which I cannot pretend. Some merit, however, may be allowed me on account of the labour I have undergone. It has neither been of a slight nor an agreeable kind. I made it a rule to read everything that has been written respecting Napoleon, and I have had to decipher many of his autographed documents, though no longer so familiar with his scrawl as formerly.
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