Question

He would have gone on worrying and worrying in this way if an unexpected distraction had not arrived

in the form of a heavily loaded car bumping over the grassy bank, dodging between the coconut trees and

raising a cloud of dust in the narrow path before it came to a standstill in front of Mon Repos, the white

bungalow that stood empty most of the year. It was the de Silvas, the family that came from Bombay to

spend an occasional holiday in it and bring it suddenly to life for a few days. They had bought Mon Repos

a year ago from the Vakils who had been one of the first Bombay families to build holiday cottages on the

Thul beach. But they had grown too old and frail to come often and, after the house has stood empty for

several years, sold it to the de Silvas who were young and energetic and seemed heartily to enjoy life on

the beach. Whenever they came, life changed for the family and the little hut, too. Immediately there was

a hubbub, all kinds of excitement and expectations, and of course work to be done, employment to be

had and wages.

Hari, Bela and Kamal stood by their door under the frangipani tree, tense with excitement watching

and holding Pinto back as he barked at the unfamiliar sight of a car and stranger till his voice was quite

hoarse. There was a commotion in the marshy creek that separated the hut from the house, too - herons,

egrets, kingfishers and moorhens all flapping into the dense greenery of the pandanus, the casuarina and

the bhindi trees for shelter.

'Do you think they have come here for good?' Bela whispered.

'Hunh - who would live here if he had a house in Bombay?' Hari scoffed.

'But look how much luggage they've brought - it can't be just for a few days, 'Bella said, and it was true

that an unbelievable number of boxes and bags and baskets were being taken out of the car, out of the

boot and off the luggage carrier so that any one would have thought they had come to stay forever.

(a) Give the meaning of each of the following words as used in the passage. One word answers or short

phrases will be accepted. 3

(i) distraction

(ii) frail

(iii) commotion​

Answer 1

Explanation:

boot and off the luggage carrier so that any one would have thought they had come to stay forever.

Answer 2

distraction

frail

commotion