A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

Here we are providing A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
The city folk who drove through the countryside hardly paid any heed to the roadside stand or to the people who ran it. If at all they did, it was to complain, which lines bring this out? What was their complaint about?
Answer:
Lines which bring this are :
“The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead, or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts; At having the landscape marred with the artless paint; Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong…” Their complaint was that the wrongly made signs had spoiled the natural beauty.

Question 2.
What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand?
Answer:
The plea of roadside stand sellers was the ignorance by the vehicles.They pleaed that nobody stopped there to buy their products.

Question 3.
The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet uses to show their double standards.
Answer:
The words/phrases expressing their double standards are :

  • pitiful kin
  • mercifully gathered
  • they won’t have to think for themselves anymore.

Question 4.
What is the ‘Childish longing’ that the poet refers to? Why is it vain?
Answer:
‘Childish longing’ seems through the desire of the poor farmer who sits near the open window all day and prays for the stopping of any car.

Question 5.
Which lines tell us about the insufferable pain that the poet feels at the throught of the plight of the rural people?
Answer:
The lines about the insufferable pain that the poet feels are :
“Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear the thought of so much Childish longing in vain, the sadness that lurks near the open window there.” “I can’t help owning the great relief it would be to put these people at one stroke out of their pain.”

Question 6.
Where was a little new shed situated ?
Answer:
Out of the little old house in front at the edge of the road, was the place where ‘a little new shed’ was situated.

Question 7.
What is the demand of the roadside stand ?
Answer:
The roadside stand pleaded not for a dole of bread but demands for some of the money, some cash which supports cities from sinking and withering faint.

Question 8.
What attitude does the polished traffic show ?
Answer:
The polished traffic passes with a mind ahead and does of pay little bit attention towards the roadside stands.

Question 9.
What is sold by the roadside stand sellers ?
Answer:
They sell wild berries in wooden quarts and crook necked golden squash with silver warts.

Question 10.
What is the complaint of the poet ?
Answer:
The complaint of the poet is about the city’s money which he also wants to feel in hand and to expand their life’s standard.

Question 11.
What is in the news ?
Answer:
The news is about the settlement of the farmers mercifully near to the theatre and the store where they won’t have to think for themselves any-more.

Question 12.
What is the Childish longing of the poet ?
Answer:
The poet childishly longs for the betterment and growth of those unfortunate people but these desires and expectations would never be fulfilled by the greedy good-doers.

Question 13.
Why those cars are named as ‘selfish’ ?
Answer:
Cars (vehicles) continuously pass through that road but out of those thousand of cars, not a single stop there even to inquire about the prices of the products of the farmers.

Question 14.
Why do the cars stop there occasionally?
Answer:
Cars stop at roadside stand occasionally to ask about the route’s destination or for demanding the fuel (gas) for their vehicles.

Question 15.
How does the poet feel himself helpless?
Answer:
The poet finally concludes that he is totally helpless to remove the pain of the farmers. He can’t put those people out of their pain at one stroke.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of the poem.
Answer:
Poet, Robert Frost experienced the pain of the poor formers who established their little shedded stalls to sell various products grown or manufactured by them but the poet observed that out of thousands of the visitors and vehicles, nobody is interested in their offerings. On the other hand, the selfish travellers criticized their presentations and passed throughly proudly.

Poet is hurt by their behaviour and attitude and has a complaint for their survival as they too want to be the part of the flow of economy; presently mainly run by the city dwellers only. They too have the right to live comfortably like their ideals. But they are always used for the self motives of the greedy good-doers. They enforce their benefits over the poor farmers, misguide them and destroy their ancient

culture and way of living by lullying them. They just want to grasp their fields and houses. Poet is tired and finds his expectations failed, too much disappointed by the financial condition and struggle V of the distressed peasants who for whole day sit, pray and wait for the cars to stop at least to inquire or to buy but the self-centred egoistic persons use the empty place to turn their vehicles or sometimes stop to ask about the path or fuel.

Anger of farmers is natural, they reply and ask’ irritatingly for the common sense of the proudy persons. Poet realizes that no miracle can be seen and he is unable to console the poverty-stricken farmers and it’s impossible to extricate the villagers out of their pain at one stroke. He realizes, when finds himself sensible, that his call is futile, to help them and no one is ready to help them.

Question 2.
Have you ever stopped at a roadside stand ? What have you observed ?
Answer:
Yes, I’ve stopped at a roadside stand on a highway twice or thrice and found that the villagers have too much expectations from us, who pass from those roads. They work hard for whole day and whole family members of them sit there to sell fresh vegetables, fruits, juices and other products.

Very few of us actually purchase something but only use them for general queries like asking about road map, gas or petrol for our vehicles or many a times to use that broad empty space to turn our vehicles. I also observed that those farmers are pitiful and facing very miserable condition and fighting for their existence and survival.

Those merciful poor farmers should be helped and treated like the human beings and dwellers of cities. They should not be cheated and used for the introversion purposes. They also contribute to the growth and economy of the country as they grow crops for whole mankind.

A Roadside Stand Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

The little old house was out with a little new shed
In front at the edge of the road where the traffic sped,
A roadside stand that too pathetically pled,
It would not be fair to say for a dole of bread,
But for some of the money, the cash, whose flow supports
The flower of cities from sinking and withering faint.

Questions

(a) Why was the new shed put up by the villagers ?
(b) Why the word ‘pathetically1 was used ?
(c) What would not be fair and why ?
(d) How cash supports the cities ?
Answers
(a) The new shed was put up by the villagers to earn some money by selling their products.
(b) Word ‘pathetically’ was used to show the miserable and pitiful condition of the farmers.
(c) To say for a ‘dole of bread’ would not be fair because those farmers have their self-respect and they do not need begging.
(d) Cash escapes the cities from sinking and withering faint.

Stanza 2

The polished traffic passed with a mind ahead,
Or if ever aside a moment, then out of sorts
At having the landscape marred with the artless paint
Of signs that with N turned wrong and sturned wrong
Offered for sale wild berries in wooden quarts,
Or crook-necked golden squash with silver warts,
Or beauty rest in a beautiful mountain scene,

Questions
(a) What does ‘the polished traffic’ mean ?
(b) How the landscape was marred ?
(c) What was sold there at roadside stands ?
(d) What is meant by ‘out of sorts’ ?
Answers
(a) The polished traffic means the glossy, dexterous and proudy traffic.
(b) The landscape was marred with the artless paint of signs that with N turned wrong and S turned wrong.
(c) Wild berries in wooden quarts and crook-necked golden squash with silver warts are sold there.
(d) ‘Out of sorts’ means complaining, bad-tempered or unhappy.

Stanza 3

You have the money, but if you want to be mean,
Why keep your money (his crossly) and go along.
The hurt to the scenery wouldn’t be my complaint
So much as the trusting sorrow of what is unsaid :
Here far from the city we make our roadside stand
And ask for some city money to feel in hand
To try if it will not make our being expand,
And give us the life of the moving-pictures’ promise
That the party in power is said to be keeping from us.

Questions
(a) How are the city dwellers proved to be mean ?
(b) Where have they made their roadside stands ?
(c) Why do the farmers need some city money to feel in hand ?
(d) What is the promise of the ruling party ?
Answers
(a) City dwellers have enough money but they go along without spending it.
(b) ‘They have made their roadside stands far from the city.
(c) The farmers need some city money to feel in hand to make their being expand and to live life like their ideals/heroes.
(d) The party in power promises to give them a comfortable and luxury life without worry and economic problem.

Stanza 4

It is in the news that all these pitiful kin
Are to be bought out and mercifully gathered in
To live in villages, next to the theatre and the store,
Where they won’t have to think for themselves any more,
While greedy good-doers, beneficent beasts of prey,
Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits
That are calculated to soothe them out of their wits,
And by teaching them how to sleep they sleep all day,
Destroy their sleeping at night the ancient way.

Questions
(a) What is in the news?
(b) What, according to the greedy good-doers, is the benefit of the farmers?
(c) ‘Swarm over their lives enforcing benefits’, explain.
(d) How their sleeping would be destroyed?
Answers
(a) It is in the news that all these pitiful kin are to be brought out and gathered mercifully, these farmers would be settled in the villages near the theatre and the store.
(b) The farmers won’t have to think for themselves any-more.
(c) Aborie mentioned line means : Capturing the lives of the farmers by enforcing their own benefits; using them for purposes.
(d) By teaching them how to sleep, their ancient way of sleeping would be destroyed.

Stanza 5

Sometimes I feel myself I can hardly bear
The thought of so much childish longing in vain,
The sadness that lurks near the open window there,
That waits all day in almost open prayer
For the squeal of brakes, the sound of a stopping car,
Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass
In using the yard to back and turn around;
And another to ask the way to where it was bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas
They couldn’t (this crossly); thy had none, didn’t it seel

Questions
(a) What can be hardly borne by the poet?
(b) What do they wait for?
(c) How cars are selfish?
(d) What is the reply of the farmers at last?
Answers
(a) The poet can hardly bear the thought of so much childish longing in vain: expectations that would never be fulfilled.
(b) They (farmers) wait for the squeal Of brakes, the sound of a stopping car; actually they wait for the real customers.
(c) Cars are said to be selfish because nobody stops there to buy anything but to inquire only or to plow up the grass by turning their heavy vehicles.
(d) The farmers angrily reply that they have nothing as per their demand, do they not see whatever they are selling.

Stanza 6

No, in country money, the country scale of gain,
The requisite lift of spirit has never been found,
Or so the voice of the country seems to complain,
I can’t help owning the great relief it would be
To put these people at one stroke out of their pain.
And then next day as I come back into the sane,
I wondor how I should like you to come to me
And offer to put me gently out of my pain.

Questions
(a) What is not found in country money?
(b) Who complains and why?
(c) How poet finds himself helpless?
(d) Why was poet wondeored?
Answers
(a) The requisite lift of spirit is never found in country money, at the country scale of gain.
(b) The voice (villagers) of the country complains because no relief is given to them from the government or greedy good-doers.
(c) The poet finds himself helpless as he is unable to put those people out of their pain at one stroke.
(d) The poet was wondeored because he was expecting them to come to him and put him gently out of his pain.

 

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

Here we are providing A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo, Extra Questions for Class 12 English was designed by subject expert teachers.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Important Questions Class 12 English Flamingo

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer Type

Question 1.
List Hie things of beauty mentioned in the poem.
Answer:
The sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead are some of the things of beauty mentioned in the poem.

Question 2.
List the things that cause suffering and pain.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But without the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 3.
What does the line, ‘Therefore, are we wreathing a flowery band to bind us to earth’ suggest to you?
Answer:
There is so much disappointment and sadness on this earth. There is lack of noble souls. But we are still living on this earth. The poet says that our existence on the earth is possible only due to some things of beauty.

Question 4.
What makes human beings love life in spite of troubles and sufferings ?
Answer:
On this earth, man’s life is full of depression and disappointment. There is general lack of truly noble people. The shroud of disappointment is spread over human souls. But a thing of beauty makes human beings love life in spite of trouble and sufferings.

Question 5.
Why is ‘grandeur’ associated with the ‘mighty dead’ ?
Answer:
‘Mighty dead’ are those people who sacrificed their lives for the sake of general good of mankind. Now they are lying in their graves. The poet says that on the day of judgement, they will be rewarded by God Himself for their noble deeds. It is this grandeur or dignity that is associated with ’mighty dead’.

Question 6.
Do we experience things of beauty only for short moments or do they make a lasting impression on us ?
Answer:
As the title of the poem suggests that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. The poet says that a thing of beauty leaves a lasting impression on our minds. It never passes into nothingness. Whenever we are sad or disappointed, it is a thing of beauty that gives us some sort of joy.

Question 7.
What image does the poet use to describe the beautiful bounty of the earth ?
Answer:
The poet says that there are a number of things that make the earth beautiful. These things are like a fountain of immortal drink which is pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Question 8.
Mention any four things of beauty that add joy to our life.
Answer:
The things of beauty that add joy to our life are the sun, the moon, the trees, daffodils, simple sheep, clear rills, the mid forest brake, musk roses and the mighty dead.

Question 9.
Mention any two things which cause pain and suffering.
Answer:
The things that cause suffering and pain are gloomy days. There is general depression among human beings. There is lack of noble nature. But for the beautiful things, our lives on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 10.
Which objects of nature does Keats mention as a thing of beauty ?
Answer:
The things of nature that Keats mentions as things of beauty are the sun, the moon, trees, simple sheep, flowers like daffodils, clear rills and musk roses.

Question 11.
What does a thing of beauty do for us ?
Answer:
It is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without things of beauty.

Question 12.
How do beautiful things help us to live life ?
Answer:
The poet says that there is so much pain and suffering on this earth. There is air of general disappointment. The poet says it is only because of things of beauty that we can live on this earth. Otherwise the life on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 13.
What does Keats consider an endless fountain of immortal drink and why does he call its drink immortal ?
Answer:
Keats considers all things of beauty,an endless fountain of immortality. The poet says that there is so much despondence and grief on this earth that but without a thing of beauty our stay on this earth would have become impossible.

Question 14.
According to Keats, what spreads the pall of despondence over our dark spirits ? How is it removed?
Answer:
Keats says that there is general grief on this earth. Man’s life is full of disappointment and sadness. It appears as if a shroud of disappointment is spread over our dark spirits. It is only some or the other things of beauty that removes this pall of despondence.

Question 15.
How can ‘mighty dead’ be things of beauty ?
Answer:
The ‘mighty dead’ are those people who lay their lives for the betterment of mankind. We read their stories and it gives us immense joy. The poet says that these mighty dead be rewarded by God Himself on the day of judgement.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Write in brief the summary of this poem.
Answer:
The poet says that it is some thing of beauty that provides joy forever. Then poet lists some things that are source of beauty. He says the sun, the moon, beautiful flowers, young trees and simple sheep are all things of beauty. The poet says that there is so much grief on this earth that the life would become impossible without any thing of beauty. It is something or the other thing of beauty that binds us to the earth.

Then the poet describes about the mighty dead of this earth. These people have laid down their lives for the sake of mankind. The poet says that they will get their due reward on the day of judgement. The poet compares the things of beauty with a fountain pouring out immortal drink from the brink of heaven.

Question 2.
Write in brief the central idea of the poem.
Answer:
In this poem, the poet says that a thing of beauty is a joy forever. He compares a thing of beauty with a bower, where we can enjoy sweet sleep. Then the poet mentions many things of beauty. He says that there is so much grief and sadness on this earth that we can sustain our life only because of the things of beauty.

He compares the things of beauty with ‘an endless fountain of immortal drink pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink’. In this way the poet underlines the fact that we should preserve and take care of the things of beauty. They are joy not for ourselves but also for our coming generations.

A Thing of Beauty Extra Questions and Answers Stanza For Comprehension

Stanza 1

Its loveliness increases, it will never
Pass into nothingness: but will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.

Questions
(a) Whose loveliness will keep on increasing ?
(b) Identify the phrase which says that ‘it is immortal’.
(c) What is a bower ?
(d) Why do we need sweet dreams, health and quiet breathing in our lives ?
Answers
(a) The loveliness of things of beauty will keep on increasing.
(b) The phrase that says it is immortal is … never passes into nothingness.
(c) It is a quiet and shady place.
(d) We need all these things so that we can enjoy the things of beauty.

Stanza 2

Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the flowery band that binds us to the earth ?
(c) What does the poet mean by ‘spite of despondence’ ?
(d) What message is conveyed through these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The flowery band here means things of beauty. It is only because of the things of beauty that we can continue to live on this earth.
(c) It means a lot of disappointment and sadness on the
earth.
(d) The message conveyed through these lines is that it is only because of things of beauty that we are able to live on this earth. Otherwise there is so much grief on this earth that it would have become impossible without things of beauty.

Stanza 3

Of all the unhealthy and o’er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is meant by ‘o’er darkened ways’ ?
(c) What does some shape of beauty do ?
(d) What idea is conveyed by these lines ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is ‘A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) The o’er darkened ways’ means the mysterious things that human beings fail to understand.
(c) It removes the shroud of sadness from our spirit.
(d) The poet means to say that only the things of beauty make our life possible on this earth.

Stanza 4

And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven’s brink.

Questions
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What have we imagined for the mighty dead ?
(c) Who are these mighty dead ?
(d) What lovely tales does the poet talk of ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poem is A Thing of Beauty’ and its poet is John Keats.
(b) We have imagined that mighty dead would get due reward of their deeds on the day of judgement.
(c) These mighty deads are those persons who have sacrificed their lives for the sake of mankind.
(d) The poet talks of the tales of the bravery of the mighty dead.

The Accidental Tourist Summary in English by Bill Bryson

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

The Accidental Tourist Summary in English by Bill Bryson

The Accidental Tourist by Bill Bryson About the Author

Bill Bryson (full name: William Maguire Bryson) is an Anglo-American author, based in the United Kingdom.

He is one of the most popular writers of non-fiction and has written books on travel, history and science, among others. Some of his most famous books include Notes from a Small Island, The Lost Continent and a Short History of Nearly Everything. Before becoming a full-fledged writer, Bryson worked as a journalist for The Times and The Independent. From 2005-2011 he served as Chancellor of Durham University. He was President of the Campaign to Protect Rural England for five years. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society. His clever crafting of witty, light-hearted sentences has made him a favourite with readers all over the world.

The Accidental Tourist Summary in English

At the outset, the author claims that he is not very good at living in the real world. He says that he finds it difficult to do the simplest things that other people seem to do with ease. For instance, whenever he stays at a hotel, he has to visit the hotel desk multiple times to remember what his room number is. He finds locating lavatories at cinema halls immensely difficult. He claims that he is easily confused.

The author narrates the story of his last family trip that took place during Easter. They were flying from Boston to England for a week. While at the Logan Airport in Boston, the author remembered that he had enrolled in the British Airways’ frequent flyer programme and that the card was in the bag he was carrying around his neck. This was the beginning of his troubles.

The zip of the bag was stuck; the author pulled at it harder and harder till suddenly the side of the bag flew open and its contents were strewn all over the floor. These included about a hundred pages of documents, his passport, English money, film and a 14-ounce tin of pipe tobacco. He was horrified at the thought of how expensive tobacco would be in England. He then noticed that he had cut his finger on the zip and it was now bleeding heavily. Being uncomfortable with bleeding in general, he felt it was justified to be hysterical since it was his blood that was shedding. He says that even his hair had become so confused and helpless that it went into panic mode. At this point, his wife looked at him with pure wonder: she found it hard to believe that he travelled to make a living.

The author says that mishaps of such kinds occur frequently when he travels. He recalls an incident on an aeroplane where he had bent to tie his shoelace at the exact moment that the person seated in front had reclined his seat—the author was stuck in the crash position and only managed to free himself by clawing at the leg of the passenger seated next to him.

He says that on another flight, he spilled a soft drink onto the lap of a lady seated next to him. When the flight attendant handed him another drink, he spilled that on the lady as well. He says that he still does not understand how it happened. All he remembers is that his arm had acted out of control—like a cheap prdp in a typical 1950s horror movie.

The author then narrates his worst travel experience. On one flight, the author was writing down important thoughts, and while doing so, he was absent-mindedly sucking on the end of his pen. He then spoke to an attractive young lady sitting beside him for about twenty minutes, after which he made his way to the restroom. There he saw that his pen had leaked and his mouth, chin, tongue, teeth and gums had been coloured navy blue and would remain so for several days.

The author confesses that it is his dream to be polished and sophisticated. Just for once, he wants to be able to rise up from a dinner table without upsetting everything on it; fold his coat properly while seating himself into a car and not close the door while half of it lies outside; and wear light-coloured trousers without staining it with things like ice cream, motor oil, etc. He says that now when he travels with his family on planes, his wife asks the children to remove the lids from boxes of food and warns them when he cuts pieces of meat. When he flies alone, he does not eat or drink at all. He simply sits still and quiet, sometimes on his hands to prevent them from going out of control and causing accidents. This method, according to him, is very effective in keeping his clothes clean.

Even though he flies 100,000 miles a year, the author never gets his frequent flyer miles. He finds this quite disheartening, especially when he sees people flying off to exotic places like Bali in first class, thanks to their flyer miles. This is because he mostly forgets to ask for it when he checks in; and even when he does, the airlines fail to record it. He has also frequently been told that he is not entitled to any flyer miles. For instance, on a flight to Australia, he had expected to gain a large number of frequent flyer miles. To his dismay, the clerk told him that since the card is in the name of a W. Bryson and the ticket was in the name of a B. Bryson, he was not entitled to gain any miles. He tried to explain that William and Bill have a very close relationship, as they are the same person, but the clerk dismissed him.

The author is resigned to the fact that perhaps he will not be flying off to Bali soon; but finds consolation in the thought that he could not survive such a long flight without food anyway.

The Accidental Tourist Title

The title suggests that the writer is a tourist, not by choice, but by accident. It is a pun on the word accident, as he has several accidents while travelling. In fact, this effectively captures the various misadventures that he has while travelling with his family. It also suggests that the anecdotes and events described are humorous and should be taken in a lighter vein.

The Accidental Tourist Setting

The story is set in modem times, and describes several places frequented by a modem traveller, such as airports, hotels and places of tourist interest.

The Accidental Tourist Theme

The story highlights the predicament of a modem traveller, the issues that he has to face in a bid to look smart and suave like the other people who travel along with him.

The Accidental Tourist Message

The message that we get from the anecdotes in this story, is to look at events in a lighthearted way. It suggests that we should not become too serious about any setbacks we may face. Throughout the chapter, the writer faces one disastrous situation after another, but none of it mins his trip, because he is able to view each situation with humour.

The Accidental Tourist Characters

The Writer: He appears to be a positive, funny, and self-deprecating man who does not mind highlighting his shortcomings. In fact, every instance that could have embarrassed other people has been shown in a humorous light. He has found humour in the most disastrous and frustrating situations. Even when he loses the chance to go to Bali when the airline refuses to give him air miles on a technical reason, he does not lose his temper. He does not take himself too seriously and readily accepts his clumsiness. He doesn’t try to hide any of the embarrassing accidents he has had, but honestly admits to them. His family also appears to have accepted him the way he is, and leamt to handle him along with his ‘accidents’.

The writer’s most endearing quality is how comfortable he is with his own self. Even though he talks about wanting to be suave and gentlemanly like other travellers, he is not too worried when he is unable to do so, in spite of his best efforts. He thus comes across as a clumsy, accident- prone, but good natured person.

The Accidental Tourist Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Bill Bryson says “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Answer:
He gives the example of returning to his hotel desk two or three times a day, asking what his room number was. He also talks about looking for a lavatory and ending up standing in an alley on the wrong side of a self¬locking door.

Question 2.
What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag gives way?
Answer:
The side of the bag flew open and everything inside it, like newspaper cuttings, other loose papers, a 14-ounce tin of pipe tobacco, magazines, passport, English money, film, etc, were scattered all over the place. He also injured his finger, which bled profusely.

Question 3.
What causes his finger to bleed? How does his wife react?
Answer:
His finger was cut on the zip when he was trying to open it. His wife looked at him with an expression of wonder and commented that she couldn’t believe that he did that for a living.

Question 4.
How does Bill Bryson end up in a ‘crash position’ in the aeroplane?
Answer:
This happened when he bent down to tie his shoelaces while seated in the plane, and the person in the seat ahead of him threw back his seat back in a full recline. As a result, Bill Bryson found himsglf doubled over and pinned helplessly in the ‘crash position’.

Question 5.
Why do the writer’s teeth and gums turn navy blue?
Answer:
This happens when the writer was penning down important thoughts in his notebook during a flight. He had been sucking thoughtfully on the end of his pen while doing so. He had not realised that in the process, his teeth and gums had turned navy blue because of the ink.

Question 6.
Bill Bryson ‘ached to be suave’. Is he successful in his mission?
Answer:
No, he is not suave in spite of his best efforts, because he always looks as though he has been through an earthquake when he rises from a dinner table. He can never get inside a car without having at least 14 inches of his coat hanging outside the door. He can never wear light coloured trousers without having chewing gum, ice cream, cough syrup, or motor oil stains on them.

Question 7.
Why do you think Bill Bryson’s wife says to the children, ‘Take the lids off the food for Daddy’?
Answer:
She says this because her husband is so accident-prone that she expects the food to go all over the place or some such accident to happen if he is allowed to open the lid himself. This is because of his earlier accidental incidents that always happen whenever he tries to perform simple actions, especially during flights.

Question 8.
What is the significance of the title?
Answer:
The title suggests that the writer is a tourist, not by choice, but by accident. It is a pun on the word accident, as he has several accidents while travelling. In fact, this effectively captures the various misadventures that he has while travelling with his family. It also suggests that the anecdotes and events described are humorous and should be taken in a lighter vein.

Question 9.
Why does the writer say ‘living in the real world’ is challenging for him?
Answer:
He says this because he has had several experiences of doing something wrong in instances where normal people have no problems. For instance, things like remembering his room number in an hotel, or finding the lavatory at a movie theatre.

Question 10.
Why did the writer feel the need to open his carry-on bag at Logan Airport?
Answer:
He wanted to open the bag to take out his frequent flyer card, which he had kept inside it.

A House is not a Home Summary in English by Zan Gaudioso

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A House is not a Home Summary in English by Zan Gaudioso

A House is not a Home by Zan Gaudioso About the Author

Zan Gaudioso is an author based in California. She has contributed stories to and edited the famous Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. These books consist of short stories that seek to comfort and inspire readers. Among these, her most notable contributions have been for the book, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III. Zan has also co-writered The Buddha Next Door: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Stories.

A House is not a Home Summary in English

This story relates the experiences of the writer after she joins a new high school. All her friends have gone to a different school and she feels very isolated among the new students and teachers. She often visits the teachers in her old school and they encourage her to participate in the activities at her new school. They assure her that in time she will grow to love her new school.

On a Sunday afternoon soon after, the writer is seated on the dining table, doing her homework. As it is a cold and windy day, there is a fire going in the fireplace. The writer’s red tabby cat is lying on top of her school papers. The reader is informed that the writer had rescued the cat when it was a kitten and since then they have had a close relationship. Suddenly, the writer smells something strange: she looks up to the ceiling sees that smoke is pouring in through its seams. It fills the room quickly and they run out of the house to find that the fire has engulfed the roof. While the writer runs to the neighbour’s house to call the fire department, her mother runs back into the house.

The writer’s mother returns with a metal box that has important documents and then runs back in. The writer knows she has gone to collect pictures of her father who had passed away when she was young. She knows that the pictures are all that her mother has left of him. The writer tries to run into the house after her mother but is restrained by a fireman—by this time, the street is full of fire trucks. She tells him that her mother is in the house and he assures her that the other firemen have gone into the house to rescue her. He wraps her in a blanket and makes her sit in a car.

Soon enough, a fireman emerges with the writer’s mother. The writer is relieved and runs to her mother and hugs her. She feels that the happiness of that moment has washed over all the times she had argued with her mother and hated her.

It takes five hours to douse the fire and the house appears almost completely destroyed. At this time, the writer remembers her cat and realises that it is nowhere to be found. She becomes overwhelmed by the feeling of loss: of her old school, her friends, her old teachers, her home and now, her cat. Although she does not want to leave without knowing what happened to her cat, the firemen announce that it is not safe to go into the house. Thus, with just the clothes they are wearing and the blankets given by the firemen, the writer and her mother make their way to her grandparents’ house to spend the night.

The next day, the writer’s mother forces her to go to school. The writer does not want to go because she is very embarrassed: she is still wearing the dress she wore the day before and has had to borrow tennis shoes from her aunt. She has lost her books, her homework and her backpack in the fire. She feels very self-conscious because she knows that instead of blending in, this incident will cause her to stick out like a sore thumb. At school, she feels lost and completely out of place.

She goes to her old house after school and is pained to see that only the pictures and documents rescued by her mother have survived the fire. Once again she longs for her cat. However, there is no time for grief, as they need to find a new house and buy new clothes for school. Eventually, they rent an apartment near their old house. The writer visits her old house in the hope of finding her cat. She misses her cat terribly and remembers the time they had spent together.

The writer realises that everyone in her school has come to know of the fire. She feels embarrassed by the attention people give her. The next day, people gather around the writer and ask her to hurry up and head to gym class. She finds this strange but upon reaching the gym, she sees that a table has been set up and piled with school supplies, notebooks and clothes—all of it is for her. Strangers introduce themselves to her and even invite her to their homes. This heartfelt gesture touches her heart and she finally feels hopeful about her situation. At last, she makes new friends.

A month later, the writer is at the site of her old house with two of her new friends, watching her house being rebuilt. She realises that because of the fire incident, she was able to break through her insecurities and embrace the wonderful things and people around her. She realises that just like the house, her life too is being rebuilt.

At that moment, a woman comes to the writer, holding her lost cat. The writer jumps up with joy and takes the cat into her arms. She learns that her cat had been so scared by the fire that she ran over a mile away. Although the cat’s collar had the owner’s phone number on it, the phone had been destroyed in the fire. This kind woman took the cat in and also made the effort to locate its original owners.

When the writer sits with her friends and reflects on everything that has happened, she realises that the feelings of loss and tragedy that she had been struggling with have begun to diminish. Instead, she feels an immense sense of gratitude for all the blessings she has received: her life, her new friends, a stranger’s kindness and the purr of her cat. She feels that just like her cat, she has also found her way back.

A House is not a Home Title

The title of the chapter talks about the difference between a house and a home. A house is a physical structure. A home is a shelter, a place where people live together sharing their ups and downs, supporting each other and spreading love and cheer. Therefore, a home is much more than a house made of brick and mortar.

A House is not a Home Setting

The story is set in a small town in America, where the writer lived with her mother.

A House is not a Home Theme

The story traces the problems that one faces when an older way of living comes crashing down, forcing one to rebuild life from scratch. It examines how a seemingly tough situation can be turned into an advantageous one, with the right attitude.

A House is not a Home Message

The story highlights the importance of keeping an open mind and not being depressed by the problems and challenges that are an important part of life. It reiterates that every dark cloud has a silver lining.

A House is not a Home Characters

The writer: The writer appears to be a teenager, who has just graduated from junior high. In the beginning of the story, she appears to have been a normal teenager, who was rude to her mother and sometimes even hated her. She also appears to be emotional and finds it difficult to handle the shift to high school, away from the environment and people that she was used to. All her friends had gone to different high schools, and she felt very isolated and alone. She is very close to her pet cat, whom she had rescued as a kitten.

After the fire, she is initially very lost and sad, as she and her mother had just lost all their possessions and didn’t even have any clothes or a place to stay. She is very shaken and insecure. However, she soon matures and grows closer to her mother. The shock of almost losing her mother in the fire makes her realise how much she loves her and she stops taking her for granted. The kindness of her new classmates and teachers, who donate all kinds of necessities to help her overcome her losses from the fire, touches her and makes her feel accepted and secure. She becomes less judgmental and more accommodating of the changes that take place in her life.

The mother: Her character emerges not through direct descriptions, but through her actions during the course of the story. She is very caring, responsible, and brave, bringing up her daughter as a single parent after her husband died several years ago. She faces each challenge and problem that arises without complaining. She never gives up, but always tries to find a solution to the problem. She is very concerned about her daughter, and even borrows clothes so that she can go to school the next day. She rebuilds her home from the debris.

Even though her cards and identification papers are burnt, she does not hesitate to borrow money from her parents to make sure she can create a normal living situation for her daughter as quickly as possible. She is a caring and sensitive person, who loved her husband dearly even after he died. This is clear from the way she ran into the burning house to rescue his letters and pictures. She seems to have been a very remarkable woman who did not let life’s challenges knock her down.

A House is not a Home Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Why did the writer feel awkward during her first year of high school?
Answer:
She felt awkward because it was a new school, much bigger than her previous junior high school. It was strange starting as a freshman after enjoying the benefits of being the senior-most class in junior high. She also felt isolated as all her close friends had gone to different high schools and she did not know anyone there.

Question 2.
Why did she continue to visit her old school?
Answer:
She missed her teachers so much that she continued to visit them at her old school. Moreover, it was a familiar place where she had spent many happy years. She felt isolated in her new school without her friends.

Question 3.
What advice did her junior high teachers give her?
Answer:
They encouraged her to get involved with activities in her new school so that she could meet new people. They were confident that she would adjust in time and start loving the new school as well.

Question 4.
What was the psychology behind the teachers’ advice?
Answer:
The teachers wanted her to adjust to her new environment and not keep thinking about the past. It was time for her to move on and face the reality of her situation.

Question 5.
How do we know that her cat was very playful?
Answer:
We know this from the fact that she would swat at the writer’s pen from time to time in a playful maimer while she tried to complete her homework.

Question 6.
Why was the cat so attached to the writer?
Answer:
The writer had saved the cat when it had been a kitten and somehow it knew that the writer was responsible for the good life that it was presently enjoying.

Question 7.
What happened one Sunday afternoon?
Answer:
The writer’s house caught fire one Sunday, and it burnt down completely.

Question 8.
Why did the writer’s mother run back into the burning house?
Answer:
The writer’s father had died when she had been very young. Her mother ran back into the burning house to try to save her husband’s pictures and letters, which were all she had to remember him by.

Question 9.
Why was the writer held back by the fireman?
Answer:
She was held back by the fireman to stop her from following her mother into the burning house, as she could have lost her life.

Question 10.
How was the writer’s mother rescued from the burning house?
Answer:
The fire-fighters ran into the house and rescued the writer’s mother. She was given an oxygen mask to help her breathe normally again.

The Last Leaf Summary in English by O. Henry

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The Last Leaf Summary in English by O. Henry

The Last Leaf by O. Henry About the Author

O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter. He was an American short story writer, famous for his use of surprise endings. He worked in a number of professions in his lifetime: a pharmacist, a .draftsman, and a bank teller, among others. Throughout these phases, he contributed stories and articles to many newspapers and magazines. He founded The Rolling Stone—a humorous weekly. His stint as a columnist at the Houston Post led to a rise in his popularity. He spent three years in prison on charges of embezzlement.

After his release, he began the most prolific stage of his writing career: he wrote over 300 short stories and enjoyed great popularity among readers. Porter spent a lot of time talking to people and observing them. His stories are about the lives of ordinary people and are marked by his unique narrative style. Most of his stories are based in New York City and speak of his fascination with the place.

Author NameO. Henry
Born11 September 1862, Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
Died5 June 1910, New York, New York, United States
Full NameWilliam Sydney Porter
Short StoriesThe Gift of the Magi, The Last Leaf
The Last Leaf Summary by O. Henry
The Last Leaf Summary by O. Henry

The Last Leaf Summary in English

Autumn forms the background of this story about Sue and Johnsy, two young artists who share a flat on the third storey of an old house. It is the month of November and Johnsy is ill with pneumonia: she lies in bed all day, gazing out of the window. Sue is worried and calls a doctor for help. Even with medical treatment, there is no improvement in Johnsy’s condition.

One day, the doctor informs Sue that medicines can not help Johsny because the latter does not seem to want to live. Sue makes many attempts to divert Johnsy’s attention, but nothing works. Sue then brings her drawing board into Johnsy’s room and begins painting there.

She suddenly hears Johnsy whisper something. She rushes to Johnsy’s side and finds that Johnsy is counting backwards while gazing out of the window. Sue realises that Johnsy is observing an old ivy creeper outside her window that is shedding its leaves. Johnsy is counting its remaining leaves. Johnsy says that in just three days, the number of leaves have reduced from almost a hundred to just five. Johnsy is sure that when the tree sheds its last leaf, she will die.

Johnsy tells Sue that she wants to watch the last leaf fall. Sue says that she cannot draw the curtain because she needs the light to paint. But she asks Johnsy to not look out of the window. JoHnsy promises not to do so, but asks Sue to hurry so she can watch the last leaf fall and then die peacefully.

Sue goes to Behrman, a 60-year old artist who lives on the ground floor. His dream of painting a masterpiece is yet to be fulfilled. Sue shares her worries with him. She tells him that Johnsy has a high temperature and refuses to eat or drink anything. Behrman is puzzled at Johnsy’s behaviour and wants to see her. They go to Johsny’s room together and find her sleeping. Sue draws the curtains and they go to the next room. There is heavy rain and cold winds are blowing; they see that there is only a single leaf remaining on the ivy tree and it can fall at any moment. Behrman silently withdraws into his room.

The next day, Johnsy asks Sue to draw the curtains. Sue is happy to find that a single leaf remains on the tree, in spite of the wind and rain. Johnsy is surprised but is sure that the leaf will fall soon. She wakes up every hour or so to look out of the window, but finds the leaf clinging to the tree. It even withstands another storm that evening.

Johnsy gazes at the leaf for a long time. She calls Sue and tells her that the last leaf has made her realise that she has been a bad person: for all the love and care that Sue has given her, she has not responded or willed herself to get better. The leaf has shown her that it is a sin to want to die. The two friends share a hug and Johnsy accepts the hot soup that Sue gives her. Johnsy combs her hair and smiles brightly. That afternoon, the doctor visits and says that since Johsny has found the will to live, she will recover soon. He also informs Sue that Behrman has pneumonia and has no hope of survival.

The next morning, Sue informs Johnsy that Behrman has died of pneumonia. He had been ill for two days. On the first day, the janitor found him on his bed, shivering and dressed in wet clothes and shoes. It seems that he had been out in the stormy night. A ladder and a lit lantern were found near his bed, along with green and yellow paints. Sue tells Johnsy to look out of the window at the last leaf: the leaf that does not flutter in the wind. She tells Johnsy that on the night the last leaf fell, Behrman painted this leaf — his masterpiece.

The Last Leaf Title

As the title suggests, the story revolves around the importance of a single leaf on a tree. The leaf is particularly important in saving the life of a girl, who had convinced herself that she would die the moment the last leaf fell off the tree. However, the leaf miraculously stays on the tree, giving the girl hope to survive. The title also refers to the fact that the leaf is the last artwork made by an out of work painter, which also becomes his masterpiece.

The Last Leaf Setting

The story is set in Greenwich Village, a neighbourhood of New York City in America, and most of the events take place against the backdrop of a storm, during autumn when trees shed their leaves.

The Last Leaf Theme

The story explores the idea of the impact of true art, and what makes a painting a true masterpiece. It also highlights the themes of selflessness and the supreme sacrifice of self to save the life of another human being. It also explores the loyalties of a true friendship, and the levels to which we can go to help a friend.

The Last Leaf Message

The story shares a message of the power of love and friendship. It reminds us that selflessness is the highest virtue one can attain.

The Last Leaf Characters

Sue: She was a very loyal and caring friend. She did everything she could to take care of Johnsy when she fell ill with pneumonia. She not only took care of Johnsy physically, but also helped by earning money by selling her paintings. She cooked and ensured that Johnsy received the best medical treatment.

Johnsy: She appears to have been a depressed and gloomy person, who is very self-absorbed. She did not have the will to fight against her illness, and did not respond to the doctor or to Sue’s care and concern. She was highly imaginative and superstitious, as she came to believe that her life was linked to the number of leaves on the creeper outside her window. She believed that she would die the day the last leaf of the creeper fell. It was because of this stubborn belief that Behrman, an older artist, lost his life when he went out in the storm to paint a leaf onto the creeper so that Johnsy would not realise that the last leaf had actually fallen.

Behrman: Behrman was a sixty year old painter whose only ambition was to paint a masterpiece. He lived in the same building as Sue and Johnsy, and sometimes acted as a model for their paintings. He was a talented artist, which is evident from his painting of the leaf on the wall. The painting was so realistic that everyone thought it was a real leaf, which saved Johnsy’s life. Johnsy had made up her mind that she would die of her illness the day the last leaf fell off the creeper. However, Behrman decided to help Sue, her friend, who was worried about the effect the falling of the last leaf would have on Johnsy. This shows how caring, selfless and concerned he was. He went out in the stormy and cold night to paint the leaf, and came back soaked to the skin, in no condition to even remove his wet clothes and shoes. He made the supreme sacrifice of his life to save the life of another human being.

The Last Leaf Summary Questions and Answers

Question 1.
Where did Sue and Johnsy stay? What was their profession?
Answer:
They lived in a small flat on the fourth storey of an old house. They were both artists.

Question 2.
Why was Sue worried when Johnsy fell ill?
Answer:
Sue was worried because Johnsy would lie on her bed without moving, and would just gaze out of her window all day. Even though the doctor came every day, there was no change in her condition.

Question 3.
What illness did Johnsy have? Who looked after her?
Answer:
Johnsy was suffering from pneumonia. Her friend Sue looked after her.

Question 4.
What worried the doctor?
Answer:
The doctor was worried because there was no improvement in Johnsy’s condition. He felt that Johnsy was not responding to treatment because she had made up her mind not to do so. He felt she had lost her will to live and hence the medicines were not going to be useful to her.

Question 5.
How did Sue try to revive Johnsy’s interest in life?
Answer:
Sue talked to her about clothes and fashions. Then she brought her drawing board into Johnsy’s room and started painting. She also whistled while painting, hoping to distracting Johnsy’s mind from her illness.

Question 6.
Why was Johnsy counting the leaves on the creeper outside her window?
Answer:
Johnsy had made up her mind that the day the last leaf fell off the creeper, she would die. So she was counting the leaves as they fell off the creeper.

Question 7.
Why did Sue go to Behrman?
Answer:
Sue went to Behrman because she had to paint an old miner and she wanted him as the model for the painting.

Question 8.
Who was Behrman?
Answer:
Behrman was a sixty year old painter whose only ambition was to paint a masterpiece. He lived in the same building as Sue and Johnsy, and sometimes acted as a model for their paintings.

Question 9.
What did Sue confide in Behrman?
Answer:
She told him about her worries about Johnsy, who refused to recover from her illness because of her belief that she was going to die the day the last leaf fell off the creeper outside her window.

Question 10.
What did Sue feel when she saw the last leaf on the creeper? Who was at the window with her?
Answer:
Sue felt extremely worried that the lead would fall off by the next morning, and if Johnsy saw that, she would not survive. Behrman, an old painter and her neighbour, was at the window with her.