Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
The Greek ships crossed the sea and touched the coast of Asia Minor near the city of Troy. The Greeks disembarked here and pitched their tents. They remained in this camp as long as they besieged the city. Much beyond the beach was a vast plain and further up was a high hill on which Troy stood. The city was strongly fortified against any attack from enemies; besides, the Trojans were sure of the landscape of the region.
Quite often they sailed forth against the Greeks but made sure that most of the fighting took place in the plain between the city and the sea. The Greeks on their part were prudent warriors. They made no attempt to take the city by storm but were content with skirmishes and single combats. After nine years of fighting in an alien land, the Greeks had little prospect as ever of recovering Helen from the Trojans. The Greek soldiers had become so restless that they were anxious to return to their families. Soon there fell a calamity which further aggravated the situation.
It came about in this way. The Greeks frequently raided the smaller towns and villages of Troy. In one of the raids, a fair maiden called Chryseis was captured together with her friend Briseis, and they were taken as slaves to the Greek camp. When the sharing out of slaves took place, Agamemnon chose Chryseis; and Briseis was given to Achilles.
Chryseis, who was chosen by Agamemnon, was the daughter of old Chryses, a priest of Apollo. The old man came to the Greek camp, knelt in tears before Agamemnon, offering a rich ransom for his daughter. The Greeks refused to grant his request and the priest departed with great sorrow. As he walked along the shore, he lifted his hands in prayer to Apollo and implored him to avenge the indignities which he had suffered at the Greek camp.
The great Apollo heeded to his prayer and sent a terrible pestilence amongst the Greeks. For nine days the cries of dying soldiers rent the air. So, the Greek princes held council together and called upon a seer to explain the reason for this plague.
"You have offended Apollo", said the seer, "because you have insulted his priest. The plague will last until you send back Chryseis to her father."
"Then let us not waste time," said Achilles. "Let us send her back without any delay."
Agamemnon became furious. "It is easy for you to say so," he retorted. "You yourself run no risk of losing your maiden. But I agree to your proposal on the following terms : Chryseis shall be returned to her father but you shall surrender Briseis to me to compensate me for my loss."
Answer the following questions :
(a) How did the Greeks besiege Troy ?
(b) What made the Greek soldiers restless and dissatisfied ?
(c) What happened during the raids ?
(d) What happened to the captives taken in the raid ?
Very Short Questions :
(a) What did Chryseis, father do to release his daughter ?
(b) Narrate what the priest of Apollo did when refused by Agamemnon ?
(c) What did Agamemnon do to compensate for his loss ?
(d) Find the word from the passage which means, "Fight against, Clash with."

Answer 1

I. (a) Greeks disembarked at Asia Minor near to the city of Troy and pitched their tents and remained there till they had besieged the city. They did not take the city by storm but instead they were content with skirmishes and single combats.
(b) After nine years of fighting in an alien land, the Greeks had little prospect as ever of recovering Helen from the Trojans. The Greek soldiers had become so restless that they were anxious to return to their families. Soon there fell a calamity which further aggravated the situation.
(c) During one of their raids, a fair maiden, called Chryseis and her friend Briseis were captured and taken as slaves to Greek camp.
(d) When the sharing out of slaves took place, the captives Chrysies was chosen by Agamemnon and Briseis was given to Achilles.
II. (a) Chryseis, father knelt in tears before Agamemnon and offered a rich ransom to release his daughter.
(b) When greeks refused his offer, the priest was very unhappy and lifted his hands in prayer to Apollo and implored him to avenge the indignities he suffered in the Greek camp.
(c) Agamemnon agreed to release Chryseis on a condition that Briseis would be given to him to compensate the loss.
(d) ‘Combat.

Answer 2

State what happened to the captives taken in the raid?