Question

QI) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Oreme often wondered why there was not a special dispensation for doing away with the
necessity for work. His pleasure was to sit and do nothing but breathe, but his greater delight
was to sit in the company of a few choice companions. He worked faithfully, but at the time of
annual week's holiday, there was no holding him back.
One October morning he started out from St. Louis. He had laid his plans weeks
beforehand. He wanted to stay with Fedeaus. He was going to visit along Cane River. He
borrowed Pane's old gray mare. On reaching a store on the cross-roads, he learned that there
was no use heading for Fedeaus', as he had gone to town for a lengthy visit, and the house
was locked up. He turned away from the river, took a shortcut to a road that led between two
fields. He looked for old Aunt Tildy's cabin. He remembered that Aunt Tildy could cook an
excellent meal.
Aunt Tildy, an African-American woman dwelt in the usual log cabin of one room. She was
hobbling across the yard when Ozeme drew up before the gate. Her one hand was confined
in a sling and in the other she carried a tin pan, which she dropped noisly to the ground when
she recognised him.
The fields were white with cotton and everybody there seemed busy but Ozeme. Looking
at the fields, Ozeme asked her why she had not harvested the cotton crop.
She replied that since her grandson, Sandy had been ill and that she did not have money
to hire anybody, her crops were unattended in the fields.
"Well, I'm going to give Sandy a good dose of quinine tonight and I'm going to stay here
and see how that will work on him." In the morning Sandy's fever was somewhat abated.
Ozeme appeared before Aunt Tildy and asked her to give him cotton-basket and cotton sack.
"I knew it! chanted Aunt Tildy
"I knew the Lord would send somebody to help me out."
Ozeme had not picked cotton for many years, and he took to it a little awkwardly at first.
Later, his ten fingers became really nimble in clutching the cotton from its dry shell. Sandy was
not so well as he had promised to be, and Ozeme decided to stay that day and one more night.
On the third day it looked like rain, and Ozeme again took to the field, this time urging
Aunt Tildy to do what she might with her one sound hand. One night the rain did come.
Sandy whispered,
"Granny, the rain! and I have not picked that cotton yet.
Give me my pants - I got to go
"You lay where you are, that cotton has been put aside and cleaned and dried. Me and
" Ozeme drove away in the morning looking
the Lord and Mr Ozéme have picked that cotton.
quite as spick and span as the day he left home.
(a) Write the correct meaning (as used in the passage) :
(i) dispensation
(ii) hobbling
(iii) abated
(b) What had Ozeme planned to do during his holidays?
(c) Why did Ozeme not spend his vacation as intended?
(d) How did Aunt Tildy react on seeing Ozeme? How do you know it?
(f) How was the cotton harvested?
(g) How can you conclude that Aunt Tildy believed in divine providence?
(h) How did Ozeme spend his annual holiday?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) i. dispension - exemption from a rule or usual requirement.

ii. hobbling - to walk with difficulty because your feet or legs are hurt; limp.

iii. abated - to become less strong; to make something less strong.

b) He wanted to stay with Fedeaus. He was going to visit along Cane River. He borrowed Pane's old gray mare.

c) On reaching a store on the cross-roads, he learned that there was no use heading for Fedeaus', as he had gone to town for a lengthy visit, and the house

was locked up.

d) Aunt Tidly was happy to see Ozeme because he grew in front of her gate she would be happy to see him after a long time.

f)

g)

h) Ozeme spend his annual holiday with his aunt.

Hope it helps

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