read the passage given below and answer the following. Harry and Annie lived a mile from town, but they went there to school everyday. It was a
pleasant walk down the lane and through the meadow by the pond. I hardly know
whether they liked it better in summer or winter. They used to pretend that they were
travellers exploring a new country and would scatter leaves on the road so that they
might find their way back again. When the ice was thick and firm, they walked across
the pond. But their mother did not like to have them do this unless someone was with
them. Don't go across the pond today, children , she said as she kissed them and bade
them good bye. One morning It is beginning to thaw. "All right, mother," said Harry, not
very good-naturedly because he was very fond of running and sliding on the Ice. When
they came to the pond, the ice looked hard and safe.
" There", said he to his sister. "I knew it hadn't thawed any. Mother is always afraid we
will drown. Come along, we will have a good sliding. The school bell will not ring for an
hour at least. But you promised mother, said Annie. No I didn't I only said; All right and it
is all right. I didn't say anything, so I can do as I like said Annie.
So they stopped on the ice, and started to go across the pond. They had not gone far
before the ice gave way, and they fell into the water. A man who was at work near the
shore heard the screams of the children and plunged into the water to save them. Harry
managed to get to the shore without any help, but poor Annie was nearly drowned
before the man could reach her. Harry went home almost frozen and told his mother
how disobedient he had been. He remembered the lesson learned that day as long as he
lived.
1. Explain Harry's and Annie's walk to school?
2. What did the mother tell Harry and Annie before they went to school one day?
3. Why did the mother tell Harry and Annie not to cross the road?
4. Did Harry and Annie abide by their mother's wedding?
5. What did Harry and Annie do while going to school after their mother's warning?
6. What had happened when they stepped on the ice?
7. Who saved Harry and Annie's life when they fell into the water?
8. What had happened when they slipped into water?
Answers
1) Harry and Annie had a pleasant walk to school through the meadow by the pond.
2) Mother told Harry and Annie to not walk across the frozen pond unless they has someone with them.
3) Mother told them to not cross the frozen pond as the snow was beginning to thaw.
4) Annie tried to tell Harry that he promised mother but Harry did not listen to his mother's warning.
5) Harry and Annie crossed the pond even after their mother's warning.
6) As the snow was thawing, the ice under Harry and Annie's feet gave way and they fell in the water.
7) A man working near the shore saved Annie and Harry from the pond.
8) Harry managed to get to shore without help but Annie needed the man to save her and both were almost frozen.
The answers are as follows:
1. Harry and Annie had to walk to the town every day to school. They had a pleasant walk down the lane and through the meadow by the pond. They pretended that they were travelers exploring a new country. They would scatter leaves on the road to find their way back home.
2. Harry and Annie's mother told them not to go across the pond one day.
3. In winter, the pond became a thick and firm piece of ice. Harry and Annie walked across the pond to their school. But one day, the ice began to thaw. Their mother told them not to walk over the pond because she was scared that the ice might break and the children would drown.
4. No, Harry and Annie did not abide by their mother's warning. They went across the pond.
5. After mother's warning, Harry and Annie went to the pond and saw that the ice looked firm. Though Annie reminded Harry of the warning, he persuaded her to go across the pond.
6. Annie and Harry could not go far when the ice gave away. Both of them fell into the water.
7. A man was working near the shore. He heard the screams and came to save Annie and Harry.
8. As they slipped into the water, Harry managed to reach the shore without any help. However, poor Annie was almost drowned before the man could reach her. They were both frozen, and Harry learned his lesson that day.