1.
How did M. Hamel say farewell to his students and the people of the town?
Ans :
M. Hamel bade farewell to his students in a very dignified and sad tone. He announced that this was their last French lesson as an order from Berlin had come that only German was to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. He urged the students and the people to keep their language alive and close to their heart.
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2.
Who did M. Hamel blame for the neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz?
Ans :
M. Hamel blamed both parents and children for neglecting the learning of their mother tongue. They always put off learning till the next day. He blamed parents for sending their children to earn money instead of school. He even blamed himself for sending his students to water his plants or to give them a holiday when he wanted to go fishing.
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3
What did Franz see when he passed the town hall?
Ans :
When Franz passed the town hall, he saw a large crowd around the bulletin-board. People had gathered in large numbers and they were all reading the bulletin-board. All the latest news relating to the battle between the French and the Prussians was put up on the bulletin-board. On that day the order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. This order was put up on the bulletin-board.
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4.
‘What a thunderclap these words were to me!’ What were the words that shocked and surprised the narrator?
Or
Why is the order from Berlin called a thunderclap by Franz?
Ans :
When Franz reached the school, he saw a strange stillness in the class. Then the teacher, M. Hamel, announced that it was their last lesson in French and the new German teacher will take the charge on the following day. These words of M. Hamel came as thunderclap to Franz since the announcement was unexpected and sudden for him.
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5.
What was unusual about M. Hamel’s dress on his last day in the school?
Ans :
M. Hamel was dressed in his formal dress which he used to wear only on inspection or prize giving days. He was in his beautiful green coat, frilled shirt and embroidered silk hat.
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6.
What words did M. Hamel write on the board before dismissing the last class? What did they mean?
Ans :
M. Hamel wrote Vive La France which means ‘Long Live France’. These words described his patriotic feelings and his deep-rooted love for his motherland and mother tongue.
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7.
What shows M. Hamel’s love for the French language?
Ans :
As a mark of his love for the French language, M. Hamel gave a tribute to his mother tongue in his last lesson. He called it ‘the most beautiful language’ in the world, the clearest and most logical. He appealed to the children and the people of the village to keep their mother tongue close to their heart.
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8.
Why was Franz not scolded for reaching the school late that day?
Ans :
Franz was not scolded that day because the scenario in the school had changed. M. Hamel spoke kindly to him and asked him to go to his seat. He blamed himself for not doing his duty faithfully and now there was the order from Berlin which had to be followed.
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9.
Who is Mukesh? What is his dream?
Ans :
Mukesh is a young boy from a poor family of Firozabad. His family is under heavy debt and is working in a bangle making factory for generations. But Mukesh is different and dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and driving a car.
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10.
Why could the bangle makers not organise themselves into a cooperative?
Ans :
The bangle makers could not organise themselves into a cooperative as they an exploited by the middlemen. They are not able to break the vicious circle which is created by the middlemen, sahukars, politicians, bureaucrats and policemen.
11. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family members?
Ans :
Though Mukesh belongs to a bangle maker family, he has his ambition to be a motor mechanic. He doesn’t want to be subjected to the exploitation of the middlemen. He wants to break the generations-old family tradition of bangle making.
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12.
In what sense is garbage gold to the ragpickers?
Or
What does garbage mean to the children of Seemapuri and to their parents?
Ans :
Garbage is gold to the ragpickers because in the garbage, they hope to get something useful for them, or some money, or some articles which can be sold at the junk shop to fetch them money. For the ragpickers, garbage is a means of their livelihood. For children of the ragpickers, garbage is wrapped in wonder. They find new things in the garbage every day.
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13.
How is Mukesh different from other bangle makers of Firozabad?
Or
Describe Mukesh as an ambitious person.
Ans :
Mukesh, a young boy of a bangle makers’ family in Firozabad, is diferent from others because he is ambitious and wants to break the generations-old traditions. He, unlike others, doesn’t want to make bangles. He wants to be a motor mechanic and drive a car.
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14
How was Saheb’s life at the tea stall?
Ans :
Saheb lost his freedom as a child at the tea stall. Though earning 
800 per month and two meals a day he was not happy. Now he was no more his own master. He had to obey his employer and had lost the carefree life that he had earlier.
800 per month and two meals a day he was not happy. Now he was no more his own master. He had to obey his employer and had lost the carefree life that he had earlier.
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15.
‘Seemapuri is on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it metaphorically.’ What does the author mean by this?
Ans :
Seemapuri is on the periphery of Delhi which is a metropolitan city and the Capital of India. The living conditions in Seemapuri are highly pathetic. This place is devoid of even basic facilities such as sewage drainage and running water. The houses are made of mud with roof of tin and tarpaulin. It is beyond imagination that such a place is part of a progressive and developed capital of the country.
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16.
‘Together they have imposed the baggage on the child that he cannot put down.’ Who do ‘they’ refer to? What is the ‘baggage’ and why can the child not get rid of it?
Ans :
‘They’ refers to the sahukars, middlemen, bureaucrats, politicians and policemen. Together all these forces have created a vicious circle for the bangle makers. The ‘baggage’ refers to the burden or the compulsion to work in the bangle factories. The child cannot refuse to work in these factories in hazardous conditions due to the heavy debt on his parents.
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17.
How did Douglas’ misadventure at the Y.M.C.A. pool affect his later life?
Ans :
Douglas’ misadventure at the Y.M.C.A. pool developed an aversion of water in him. He suffered from hydrophobia and could not swim. As a result, he was devoid of pleasures of swimming, rafting, fishing, canoeing and other water sports. This made him feel incomplete.
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18.
What factors led Douglas to decide in favour of Y.M.C.A. pool?
Ans :
When Douglas was three years old, he was swept over by sea waves at the California beach. Since then he developed an aversion to water. But he wanted to learn to swim. So he decided to learn to swim at a safer place. The Y.M.C.A. pool was the safest pool with two or three feet deep at the shallow end and nine feet at the deep side. It was very safe even for the beginners. Thus Douglas decided to learn to swim at the Y.M.C.A. pool.
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19.
Why did Douglas go to Lake Wentworth in New Hampshire? How did he make his terror flee?
Or
How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?
Or
How did Douglas make sure that he had conquered the old terror?
Ans :
After getting training from the instructor, Douglas, in pursuit of complete elimination of fear of water, decided to go to various waterbodies. Finally, he decided to go to go to Lake Wentworth to test himself for fear. He swam there without fear, which made him confident to believe that he had chased away all residual fears and terrors.
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20.
How did Douglas remove his residual doubts about his fear of water?
Or
“The instructor was finished. But I was not finished.” What does this refer to? Explain briefly.
Or
“The instructor was finished. But I was not finished.” What does this refer to? Explain briefly.
Ans :
The instructor worked with Douglas for seven months. Through rigorous training, the instructor made him get rid of his fear of water. But still some vestiges of fear used to haunt Douglas whenever he was alone in water. So he decided to go to the various waterbodies to overcome his fear of water and become confident.
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21.
What shocking experience did Douglas have at YMCA pool?
Ans :
Douglas had a shocking experience at the YMCA pool that affected him badly. As he was sitting on the side of the pool, a big bully of a boy, eighteen years of age, picked him up and threw him into the pool at the deep end thinking he knew swimming.
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22.
What sort of terror seized Douglas as he went down the water for a second time? How could he feel that he was still alive?
Ans :
When Douglas went down for a second time, panic seized him. His lungs ached, his head throbbed and he was terrified. He was shrieking and was paralysed under water. But he could realise that he was alive as he shook and trembled with fright. He didn’t give up and tried for a third time to save himself.
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23.
What was the immediate effect of Douglas’ experience of nearly drowning in the pool? And what was the long-term effect?
Ans :
The immediate effect was both physical and mental. Douglas was sick and could not eat that night and was weak at the knees. It took him many days to recover. The long-term effect was that he developed hydrophobia, i.e. a fear of water, and, as a result, he dreaded going near water to enjoy any water sport and fishing.
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24.
Why did Douglas want to overcome his fear of water?
Ans :
Douglas wanted to overcome his fear of water because this fear had become his handicap. The moment he entered water, his limbs would become paralysed and terror would grab him. This fear ruined all his fishing trips. He could not do canoeing, boating and swimming. So in order to enjoy his life completely, he decided to overcome his fear of water.
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25.
How did Douglas get rid of all the residual fear of water that he had?
Ans :
The instructor had built a swimmer out of Douglas, but still same vestiges of fear used to haunt him whenever he was alone in water. In order to get rid of all the residual fear, Douglas swam across various waterbodies. He went up to the Tieton to Conrad Meadows, up the Conrad Creek Trail to Meade Glacier and, finally, camped at Warm Lake.
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26.
Explain how Douglas felt when he was thrown into the pool. What plan did he make to come to the surface?
Ans :
When Douglas was thrown into the pool, he got frightened and a sense of panic gripped him. But still he was not out of his wits. He thought of a strategy to save himself. He decided that as his feet hit the bottom of the pool, he would make a big jump and come to the surface. He would lie flat on it and paddle to the edge of the pool.
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27.
Douglas fully realised the truth of Roosevelt’s statement, “All we have to fear is fear itself.” How did this realization help him brush aside his fear and become an expert swimmer?
Ans :
Fear is a paralysing emotion. It restricts all kinds of efforts, creativity and all kinds of ventures that one thinks of achieving. But with grit, determination and hardwork, fear can be conquered. William Douglas proved this. He chased away his fear of water by first psychoanalysing it and then treating it in a systematic manner. After his misadventure at Y.M.C.A. pool, Douglas developed hydrophobia. In spite of that, he hired a professional trainer and learnt swimming step by step. Due to his strong willpower and rigorous practice, Douglas was made a swimmer by the trainer. But even now Douglas was not satisfied and set a higher benchmark for his perfection and devised various tests and situations to defeat the fear in all forms. Ultimately, Douglas was able to overpower his fear of water and became an expert swimmer.
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28.
Who was the owner of Ramsjö ironmill? Why did he visit the mill at night?
Or
Who was the owner of the ironworks and what sort of person was he?
Ans :
The owner of the Ramsjö iron mill was a prominent ironmaster who wanted to ship out good iron to the market. He was very hardworking and supervised his work day and night.
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29.
What was the content of the letter written to Edla by the peddler?
Or
What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla?
Or
What were the contents of the package left by the peddler as a Christmas gift for Edla?
Ans :
The peddler left behind a packet for Edla. The packet contained a rattrap—a gift for Edla on Christmas. There was a letter and thirty kronor. In his letter, he had thanked Edla for her kindness and hospitality and repented his wrongdoing of stealing old crofter’s money and requested her to return the same to the rightful owner.
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30.
Why did Edla plead with her father not to send the vagabond away?
Ans :
Edla was a kind-hearted lady. When she came to know the reality of the peddler, she showed her sympathy for him. She knew that he had no home or family. There was no place in the world where he was welcome. Due to her tender and kind nature, she pleaded with her father not to send the stranger away and allow him to stay at home for Christmas.
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31.
Why did the peddler knock on the cottage by the roadside? How was he treated by the owner of the cottage?
Ans :
The peddler walked on the road the whole day. He was hungry and felt cold. The night was about to fall and he wanted to take shelter at some place to spend the night. That’s why he knocked on the cottage by the roadside. The crofter, who was the owner of the cottage, treated him with warmth, gave him food and shelter and treated him well.
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32.
Who was the peddler? What was the thought that took hold of his fancy?
Ans :
The peddler was a poor vagabond who used to make rattraps to earn his living. One day while making the rattrap, a thought struck him that this world is a rattrap for all the people. Food, clothes and luxuries and comforts work as a bait like cheese and pork.
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33.
What were the precautions that the peddler took to remain undetected as a thief?
Ans :
In order to remain undetected as a thief, the peddler left the highway and took the route of the forest. He lost his way in the forest and after some time realised that he was moving around the same point. Moreover, when at the Ramsjö Ironworks, he was invited by the ironmaster to his home, he declined the invitation due to the fear of being caught.
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34.
Why was the peddler surprised when he knocked at the door of the cottage?
Ans :
The peddler was surprised when he knocked on the door of the cottage and received a warm welcome there. He was not refused shelter. Moreover, he was offered warmth and hospitality. The crofter gave him food and tobacco. He played ‘mjölis’ with him and showed him the thirty kronor that he had earned.
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35.
Why did the blacksmith at Ramsjö Ironworks not pay any attention to the peddler?
Ans :
The blacksmith at Ramsjö Ironworks did not pay any attention to the peddler because it was a routine thing for him. Many vagabonds used to come there attracted by the light in order to warm themselves at the forge.
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36.
What was the peddler’s explanation to the ironmaster for withholding his true identify? How did he manage to convince the ironmaster not to bring in the law to sort out the matter?
Or
How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Or
How did the peddler defend himself against not having revealed his true identity?
Ans :
The peddler said that he had never pretended to be someone other than a tramp. Moreover, he had refused to come to Ironmaster’s house and wanted to stay in the forge. When the ironmaster threatened to call the sheriff, the tramp used his theory of rattrap. He said that if the ironmaster would treat him this way, he would also suffer a similar fate.
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37.
What was the sentiment that urged Edla Willmansson to keep the peddler in their house despite knowing who he really was?
Ans :
Edla was a kind woman. She could realise how difficult a life the tramp must be living with no home or family. It was Christmas and she didn’t want to miss the opportunity to celebrate the spirit of Christmas, i.e. to be benevolent and do charity. So she thought of keeping the peddler at home to give him some comfort and happiness on the Christmas day.
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38.
What was the sentiment expressed by the tramp in the letter that he left for Edla? Why had he signed himself as Captain von Stahle?
Ans :
In his letter to Edla, the tramp had expressed his gratitude to her for treating him with dignity and respect. Her love and respect had brought out the goodness in him and saved him from being caught in the rattrap of the world. He requested her to return the money to its rightful owner. He signed the letter as Captain von Stahle as he had been raised to the status of a captain and had his dignity restored by Edla.
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39.
How were Shukla and Gandhiji received in Rajendra Prasad’s house?
Ans :
When Shukla and Gandhiji reached Rajendra Prasad’s house, the latter was out of town. The servants knew Shukla as a poor peasant who always used to pester their master. They thought Gandhiji to be a peasant. They both were treated as peasants and were made to sit on the floor and were not allowed to draw water from the well.
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40.
How did Gandhiji begin his mission in Champaran?
Ans :
After reaching Champaran, first of all, Gandhiji collected all the facts and information. He visited the secretary of the British Landlords Association, but could not get any information. He also called on the British Official Commissioner of Tirhut division, but could not get any positive response. So, finally, he proceeded to Motihari, the capital of Champaran.
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41.
Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being resolute?
Ans :
Rajkumar Shukla was a poor, illiterate peasant from Champaran. When he came to know that Gandhi was in Lucknow, he decided to meet him and ask him to help the poor sharecroppers of Champaran. He requested Gandhi to come to Champaran but Gandhi was not free. He had appointments in Cawnpore and in other parts of India. Shukla followed him everywhere and even to his Ashram at Ahmedabad and urged him to fix a date. Finally Gandhi had to agree to visit Champaran. This clearly shows that Shukla was resolute.
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42.
Why did Gandhiji oppose when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran and help the peasants?
Or
Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
Or
Why was Gandhiji opposed to C.F. Andrews helping him in Champaran?
Ans :
Gandhiji opposed when his friend Andrews offered to stay in Champaran to help the peasants because he wanted the people of Champaran to be self-reliant. He wanted them not to depend on others to win their battle but build up their self-confidence. He did not want the support of an Englishman as a prop for his cause.
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43.
Why did Gandhi tell the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of duties’?
Ans :
Gandhiji told the court that he was involved in a ‘conflict of duties’. On the one hand, he did not want to be a lawbreaker but, on the other hand, couldn’t ignore his humanitarian and national service as demanded by his conscience. He told the court that finally he had decided to listen to the voice of his conscience and help the poor peasants of Champaran.
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44.
“The battle of Champaran is won.” When and why did Gandhiji utter these words?
Ans :
The eminent lawyers from the nearby areas came to help Gandhiji. They decided to go back in case Gandhiji was arrested. At this Gandhiji made them to realise their duty towards the peasants. They realised that it would be shameful for them to leave these peasants at a time when a stranger was ready even to go to jail for them. So they all approached Gandhiji and said that they would accompany him to jail. At this point, Gandhiji said, “The battle of Champaran is won.”
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45.
What was the condition of sharecroppers at the time that Gandhiji arrived at Champaran?
Ans :
Sharecroppers were in a miserable condition when Gandhi arrived at Champaran. They were supposed to grow indigo on 15% of their land and give it as rent to the landlords. But with the invention of the synthetic indigo, landlords had obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from 15% agreement and cheated them.
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46.
What did Gandhiji do for social and cultural upliftment of the people of Champaran?
Ans :
Gandhiji was not content with the large political or economic solution. He wanted to do something for the social and cultural backwardness of Champaran. He appealed to teachers and his disciples Mahadev Desai and Narhari Parikh came with their wives, primary schools were opened in six villages. His son and wife Kasturba also joined him. He arranged for a volunteer doctor and his wife took care of personal hygiene and cleanliness.
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