THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR REVISION – LITERATURE 27.12.

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EXTRACT BASED QUESTION:
1. Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read.
Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where
Ausable had a room, Fowler felt let down. It was a small room, on the sixth
and top floor, and scarcely a setting for a romantic adventure. Ausable was,
for one thing, fat. Very fat. And then there was his accent. Though he spoke
French and German passably, he had never altogether lost the American
accent he had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. “You are
disappointed,” Ausable said wheezily over his shoulder.
i. “Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where
Ausable had a room…” Choose the correct option to replace the underlined
words.
a) expansive, abnormal c) damp; dingy
b) lighted; formal d) uncanny; smart
ii. What is special about Ausable’s language?
ANS: Though he spoke French and German passably, he had never altogether
lost the American accent he had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years
ago.
iii. It can be inferred from the extract that a secret agent is expected to be
1) fit. 2) compassionate. 3) apologetic. 4) suave. 5) violent.
a) Option 1, 3 & 5 b) Option 1 & 4
c) Option 2 ,4 & 5 d) Option 2 & 3
iv. The reason Fowler was disappointed by Ausable when he met him was that
Ausable
a) lived in a shady French hotel. b) was related to the cops.
c) didn’t have the personality of a spy. d) had a very strange accent.
v. Choose the option that lists the INCORRECT statements about the given
passage.
1. Fowler had no expectations at all from Ausable.
2. Fowler was elated when he met Ausable.
3. Ausable was living in France as a spy.
4. Ausable had acquired the French accent over twenty years ago.
a) 1, 2 b) 3, 4 c) 1, 3 d) 2, 4
THE MIDNIGHT VISITOR
VALUE BASED LONG ANSWER
1. Presence of mind and intelligence are more powerful than a gun. How far is
it true in the case of Ausable, the secret agent?
Ans:- In this story Ausable shows great presence of mind. Max lay in waiting
for Ausable to steal the important paper from him. As Fowler observed,
apart from the pointed gun he didn’t look very menacing. Even this proved
useless for him as Ausable outwitted him with his presence of mind and
intelligence. Ausable cleverly found out how Max had entered the room
and created an extremely believable story about a non-existent balcony. He
kept calm, and, hearing the waiter knock, declared it to be the police. He
made Max nervous by telling him about the police. Max, in an attempt to
hide, fell to his death. Thus, Ausable got rid of Max without moving a
muscle. Fowler who as disappointed to meet him at the beginning of the
story was very much impressed with his intelligence and presence of mind
at the end of the story.
COMPETENCE BASED LONG ANSWER
2. ‘Appearances can be deceptive’. Discuss this statement in reference to the
stories “The Midnight visitor” and “The question of trust”? Compare and
contrast and illustrate with examples.
Ans:- It is true that sometimes we fail to identify the real personality of a
man due to his different appearances. So, it can be said that appearances
can be deceptive. In the story ‘The Midnight visitor’ Fowler was young and
romantic. He was a writer of adventurous stories. Ausable was a secret
agent – a detective. He faces danger in his work. So, Fowler wanted to meet
him for some adventurous stories. But when he met Ausable in a French
hotel with a damp corridor, Fowler felt disappointed. But Ausable proved
himself after reaching his room. A man named Max was found inside
Ausable’s room with a gun in his hand. Ausable at once proves that he
possessed quality of a true detective. He told Max about a balcony next to
the window, and police at the door. Max believed him because Ausable’s
way of talking was real.
Where as in the story “A Question of Trust” Horace was made fool by the
young lady in red. She was looking kind and clever woman and pretended
to be the real owner the house and made Horace to open the safe. The lady
managed to make him belief that she was the lady of the house with her
subtle ways. She was dressed up like the lady of the house, her manner of
talking calmly, the way in which she petted the dog and her going to the
fireplace to straighten the ornaments there showed her familiarity with the
place. Because of all these things, Horace could not suspect that she was
not the lady of the house. He was nervous of getting caught. Quickly he
broke open the safe for her, as she promised to leave him, he left the place
without suspecting the lady. Later he was arrested only because of the lady.
FOOTPRINTS WITHOUT FEET
EXTRACT BASED QUESTION:
1. "The two boys started in surprise at the fresh muddy imprints of a pair of
bare feet. hat was a barefooted man doing on the steps of a house in the
middle of London? And where was the man?As they gazed, a remarkable
sight met their eyes. A fresh foot mark appeared from nowhere! Further
footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and
progressing down the street. The boys followed, fascinated, until the
muddy impressions became fainter and fainter, and at last disappeared
altogether."
(i) The boys felt that the footprints were: ________
a. seen due to some magic trick. c. those of a mysterious man
b. of a man who was invisible d. of a man who was visible.
(ii) Choose the option that best describes how the boys were feeling based
on the extract.
(a) captivated, curious, puzzled (c) enchanted, repulsed, curious
(b) enchanted, curious, puzzled (d) repulsed, curious, captivated
(iii) Choose the correct option that is not related to ‘started’ as used in the
extract

(a) option (i) (b) option (ii) (c) option (iii) (d) option (iv)
(iv) Why were the boys surprised to see a barefooted man in London?
(a) Everybody in London moved around in shoes.
(b) It was pretty cold to move around bare feet.
(c) Only a person who was homeless and wandering would do so.
(d) It was an uncommon sight to see someone this way.
(v) Choose the option that lists the correct direction of the footprints on the
stair, as the boys noticed
 (a) option A (b) option B (c) option C (d) option D
VALUE BASED - LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. One must be a law-abiding citizen of the country. Griffin lacked this
attribute in his character. How did it make him an undesirable person?
How did lawlessness overshadow his greatness as a scientist?
ANS: One must be a law-abiding person. Those who do not follow rules
become a nuisance for society. Griffin was no doubt a brilliant scientist
but his lawlessness overshadowed his brilliance. He misused his
discovery and disturbed the peace of the society he belonged to.
He set his landlord's house on fire, robbed a storehouse, hit the
landlady and the shopkeeper, had a fight with the constable. All
these lawless activities of Griffin made him an undesirable person
in society. He used his invention for self-interest and for taking
revenge upon the people around him. He lacked professional
ethics and he was a failure as a scientist as well as a human being.
COMPETENCY -BASED QUESTIONS
How would you assess Griffin as a scientist and a human being? What qualities or
values would you suggest that make him a better person?
ANS: Griffin was an eccentric scientist who had discovered a rare drug which could
make him invisible. Griffin became invisible not for the welfare of the society, but to
satisfy his own ego and carry out satanic deeds. He was a brilliant scientist but not a
law-abiding person. He was a criminal scientist who had no respect for humanity.
He stole money for his own benefit. He was not a good human being. He was rude
to everyone. When everyone asked about his secret, he hit them and escaped
becoming invisible. I would like to suggest him to imbibe empathy, kindness,
helpfulness, honesty, generosity, social responsibility, etc., These values will make
him a better person. He should have used his discovery for the benefit of society
and his country.
THE TREES
EXTRACT BASED QUESTION:
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
1. Choose the option that lists the examples of exertion.
1. Neha had been up all-night keeping accounts and now she’s resting.
2. Swati was running for five miles non-stop last evening.
3. Hemant is watching his favourite show and having snacks.
4. Sachin helped a senior citizen board a flight in the morning.
a) 1, 2 b) 2, 3 c) 3, 4 d) 1, 4
2. What does the poetess compare the tree branches to?
(a) An old patient. (b) A newly discharged patient.
(c) A Doctor (d) None of the above
3. The poet uses the term ‘roots’ as a symbol of …………….. .
i. Bondage of freedom ii. Bounds of freedom
iii. Bonding of freedom iv. Bonds of freedom
4. The poet says that the roots are working all night ……………… .
i. To free themselves from the crests ii. To free themselves from the
cracks
iii. To free themselves from crazes iv. To free themselves from crass
5. The line ‘in the veranda floor’ suggests that the action is taking place in………….
i. In a forest ii. In a women’s gathering iii. In a house iv. In the outdoors
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. How does the poem ‘The Trees’ showcase the desire for freedom?
Ans: The poem, ‘The Trees’ could be interpreted as a poem of nature which
supports the freedom and liberation of trees from the clutches of humans. The poet
feels that human beings have snatched the freedom of trees by taking them into
their homes and growing them there. They are deprived of their natural setting –
the forest. However, they are now in the process of going back to the forest. The
poet portrays the struggles that the trees undergo to be free. The poet too seems to
be quite happy with their departure, though she does not mention it. The other
perspective is that the poem showcases the struggle that women undergo to break
the shackles of the patriarchal society. They are confined to the four walls of the
home and are made to believe that is their world. As women become enlightened,
they struggle to come out of the prison they are in and move out into the world.
They succeed in coming out. The struggles that the trees undergo can also be
interpreted as the struggles undertaken by the oppressed everywhere around
the world.
2.Nature has its own way of showing resentment against human acts that cause
destruction. Considering the pandemic situation and taking clues from the poem,
comment.
Ans: The poem ‘The Trees’ is based on the conflict between man and nature. Nature
has always been a great resource and provided man with everything that he needs.
However, the greed, the foolishness and arrogance of man has tested the patience
of nature. When things go beyond the control of nature, it shows its displeasure in
the form of floods, droughts and famines. The recent pandemic was also a warning
signal that if we do not pause and think, worse will follow. Human greed has led to
deforestation and the forests area has drastically reduced. Birds, animals and
insects suffer without the presence of trees. Many of the diseases man suffers of
these days is the result of the destruction of nature.
Any attempt by man to bring nature under his control is going to end in failure.
Uprooting trees from the forests and putting them indoors, in glasshouses is futile.
The trees are going to free themselves from the tyranny of human beings. They will
then return to their original homes, thereby setting right the ecological balance. The
poet has very clearly emphasised that any aspect of nature are comfortable in their
own habitat. The poet has portrayed trees as revolting beings. Therefore , human
beings need to stop destruction of trees in the name of development and progress.
GLIMPSES OF INDIA
EXTRACT BASED QUESTION:
1.B. “It was a single piece of long frock reaching down the knees. In our childhood
we saw bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were longer than full length……
half pants.”
i. Dress worn by bakers are called as …………….
a. Half pant b. Kabai c. Loose trousers d. Three fourth
ii. During Author’s childhood there were no bakers
a. Seemingly true b. Neither true nor false c. False d. True
iii. Even today when someone is dressed in half pant reaching down the knee we
say
a. He is dressed like a clown b. He is dressed like a king
c. He is dressed like a pader d. He is dressed like a dancer
iv. In “Glimpses of India” lesson, in the first part “Goa”, the author highlights
a. Shoe makers b. Book sellers c. Carpenters d. Bakers
 VALUE BASED QUESTIONS:
1. The Coorgis are the descendants of the Greeks or the Arabs and are still are able to
maintain their traditional practices. Do you agree that following these practices
today is important? Why or why not?
Answer:
After reading the text, I feel that it is important to follow the traditional practices, as
it has kept the tradition of Coorgis known to the people even today. If the people of
Coorg had not followed it their tradition would have perished and nobody would
have remembered themloday because of their culture and traditional practices.
According to the text, their traditions can be seen in the martial traditions, religious
rites and marriages. The Kodavus even wear the dress which resembles Arabs.
Traditional practices also play a very important role in maintaining values amongst
people and have an impact on shaping the behaviour of people.
2. Pen down a brief travelogue* entry, narrating any personal impression/s about
a visit to Coorg. Include your reflections about the differences between the place
where you live and the place you’ve visited.
(* A travelogue is a person’s account of a journey to another country or place. It can
either be a written report with many factual details or a narrative story about
personal impressions and experiences.) You may begin like this…
As I stepped into the land of evergreen forests, I was blown away by the pristine
beauty and ……………………………
ANS: As I stepped into the land of Evergreen Forest, I was blown away by the
Pristine beauty and lush greenery of Coorg. The invigorating coffee and spices
flavour keeps reminding you that you are in Coorg. At this moment I recalled how
the polluted air gives an indication when I enter my native place. I visited Coorg to
satisfy my urge for a natural adventure that is present in Delhi in a different form
altogether. Boarding and deboarding a crowded bus or train is an adventure in itself
in metropolitan cities. For the first time, after seeing the monks and the
monasteries I realised that the Tibetan culture is so pure and unique. Being a nature
lover, I understand the value of flora and fauna in maintaining the ecosystem that is
getting worse day by day in our city. I hope the Corona pandemic would make
people understand the importance of the conservation of the environment.
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