Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
Prepared as he was for many shocks, Professor Gaitonde had not expected this. The East India Company had been wound up shortly after the events of 1857 — at least, that is what history books said. Yet, here it was, not only alive but flourishing. So, history had taken a different turn, perhaps before 1857. How and when had it happened? He had to find out.
(The Adventure)
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Question (i)
What was the event of 1857 that the extract refers to?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The event of 1857 that the extract refers to was the Indian Rebellion or the First War of Independence against British rule.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer:
- To answer this question, we need to use our knowledge of Indian history and the context of the extract.
- Indian history tells us that the event of 1857 was a major uprising of Indian soldiers and civilians against British rule. It was sparked by the introduction of new rifle cartridges that were greased with animal fat, which offended the religious sentiments of Hindu and Muslim soldiers. It was also fueled by discontent over political, economic, and social oppression by the British.
- The context of the extract tells us that Professor Gaitonde is a historian who has accidentally travelled back in time from 1977 to 1857 due to a solar eclipse. He finds himself in a different India that is still under British rule and has not yet witnessed the rebellion or its aftermath.
- Therefore, we can infer that the event of 1857 that the extract refers to was the Indian Rebellion or the First War of Independence against British rule.
Question (ii)
What does the word "wound up" mean in the context of the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The word "wound up" means closed down in the context of the extract.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🗜️
- To answer this question, we need to use our knowledge of vocabulary and synonyms.
- Vocabulary tells us that the word "wound up" has more than one meaning depending on how it is used. It can mean wrapped up, closed down, spun around, stirred up, or tense and nervous.
- Synonyms are words that have similar meanings to other words. For example, big and large are synonyms. We can use synonyms to replace words in a sentence without changing its meaning.
- The context of the extract tells us that Professor Gaitonde is surprised to see that the East India Company is still operating in 1857. He knows that according to history books, it had been closed down shortly after the rebellion. Therefore, he uses the word "wound up" to mean closed down in this sentence.
- We can check if this meaning is correct by replacing "wound up" with a synonym such as "shut down" or "dissolved". The sentence would still make sense and convey the same idea.
Question (iii)
How does Professor Gaitonde know that history had taken a different turn?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
Professor Gaitonde knows that history had taken a different turn because he sees that the East India Company is still alive and flourishing in 1857, whereas it should have been closed down after the rebellion according to history books.
A step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📚
- To answer this question, we need to understand the theme and plot of the story.
- The theme of the story is adventure and time travel. Professor Gaitonde is a historian who accidentally travels back in time from 1977 to 1857 due to a solar eclipse. He finds himself in a different India that is still under British rule and has not yet witnessed the rebellion or its aftermath.
- The plot of the story follows Professor Gaitonde's journey as he tries to find his way back to his own time and place. He meets Rajendra Deshpande, who is a journalist and a freedom fighter, on a train from Delhi to Calcutta. Rajendra Deshpande helps him with money and clothes and tells him about his plans to overthrow British rule.
- Therefore, we can infer that Professor Gaitonde knows that history had taken a different turn because he sees that the East India Company is still alive and flourishing in 1857, whereas it should have been closed down after the rebellion according to history books. He realizes that something has changed in the course of history and he wants to find out what it is.
Question (iv)
How does the author create a sense of suspense and curiosity in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The author creates a sense of suspense and curiosity in the extract by using rhetorical questions, contrast, and foreshadowing.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🔎
- To answer this question, we need to analyse how the author uses language and literary devices to create a sense of suspense and curiosity in the extract.
- Suspense is a literary device that makes readers feel anxious or excited about what will happen next . Curiosity is a literary device that makes readers feel interested or eager to learn more about something.
- The author uses rhetorical questions, contrast, and foreshadowing to create a sense of suspense and curiosity in the extract. For example:
- Rhetorical questions: The author uses rhetorical questions such as "How and when had it happened?" and "He had to find out". These are questions that do not expect an answer but are used to emphasize a point or to provoke thought. They create a sense of suspense and curiosity by making readers wonder about the answers and the implications of the questions.
- Contrast : The author uses contrast such as "The East India Company had been wound up shortly after the events of 1857 — at least, that is what history books said. Yet, here it was, not only alive but flourishing". Contrast is a literary device that shows how two or more things are different or opposite. It can be used to highlight differences in characters, settings, themes, or moods. It creates a sense of suspense and curiosity by making readers notice the discrepancy between what is expected and what is observed.
- Foreshadowing: The author uses foreshadowing such as "So, history had taken a different turn, perhaps before 1857". Foreshadowing is a literary device that gives hints or clues about what will happen later in the story. It can be used to build anticipation or tension in the plot. It creates a sense of suspense and curiosity by making readers speculate about the cause and effect of the change in history.
