Read the extract and answer the following questions.
Extract:
This was a blow, not totally unexpected. If he himself were dead in this world, what guarantee had he that his son would be alive? Indeed, he may not even have been born! He thanked the girl politely and came out. It was characteristic of him not to worry about where he would stay. His main concern was to make his way to the library of the Asiatic Society to solve the riddle of history. Grabbing a quick lunch at a restaurant, he made his way to the Town Hall.
(The Adventure)
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Question (i)
What was the blow that the extract refers to?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The blow that the extract refers to was the news that his son was not living in his house and had left no address.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 💥
- To answer this question, we need to read the extract carefully and look for clues that tell us what the blow was.
- The first sentence of the extract says, "This was a blow, not totally unexpected". This implies that something bad or disappointing had happened to the protagonist, but he had some idea that it might happen.
- The second sentence of the extract says, "If he himself were dead in this world, what guarantee had he that his son would be alive? Indeed, he may not even have been born!". This tells us that the protagonist is worried about his son's existence and well-being in this world.
- The third sentence of the extract says, "He thanked the girl politely and came out". This tells us that the protagonist had just talked to a girl who had given him some information about his son.
- Therefore, we can infer that the blow that the extract refers to was the news that his son was not living in his house and had left no address. The protagonist had gone to his house to look for his son, but he found out that he was dead in this world and that his son had moved away without leaving any trace.
Question (ii)
What does the word "riddle" mean in the context of the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The word "riddle" means a problem or mystery that is difficult to solve or explain 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 "riddle" has more than one meaning depending on how it is used. It can mean a question or statement that is deliberately puzzling or confusing, a problem or mystery that is difficult to solve or explain, a joke or a witty remark that is amusing or clever, or a rhyme or a verse that has hidden meanings or words.
- 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 the protagonist 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. He wants to go to the library of the Asiatic Society to solve the riddle of history. Therefore, he uses the word "riddle" to mean a problem or mystery that is difficult to solve or explain in this sentence.
- We can check if this meaning is correct by replacing "riddle" with a synonym such as "puzzle" or "enigma" . The sentence would still make sense and convey the same idea.
Question (iii)
How does the extract show that the protagonist is a curious and determined person?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The extract shows that the protagonist is a curious and determined person by describing his actions and thoughts after receiving the blow.
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🕵️
- To answer this question, we need to understand the character traits and motivations of the protagonist.
- Character traits are qualities or features that describe how a person behaves or thinks. For example, brave, honest, kind, etc. Motivations are reasons or goals that drive a person's actions or decisions. For example, fame, money, love, etc.
- The extract shows that the protagonist is a curious and determined person by describing his actions and thoughts after receiving the blow. For example:
- Actions: The extract says that he thanked the girl politely and came out. This shows that he is polite and respectful even in a difficult situation. It also says that he grabbed a quick lunch at a restaurant and made his way to the Town Hall. This shows that he is quick and focused on his mission. He does not waste time or get distracted by other things.
- Thoughts: The extract says that it was characteristic of him not to worry about where he would stay. His main concern was to make his way to the library of the Asiatic Society to solve the riddle of history. This shows that he is not afraid or anxious about his safety or comfort. His main concern is to find out what has changed in history and why. He is curious and eager to learn more about this world and its past.
Question (iv)
How does the author create a sense of urgency and conflict in the extract?
Answer:
Answer as written by the student:
The author creates a sense of urgency and conflict in the extract by using words such as "blow", "guarantee", "riddle", and "solve".
Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 🚨
- To answer this question, we need to analyse how the author uses language and word choice to create a sense of urgency and conflict in the extract.
- Urgency is a literary device that makes readers feel that something important or critical is happening or about to happen. Conflict is a literary device that shows how two or more forces are in opposition or disagreement. They can be used to create tension, suspense, or drama in the story.
- The author creates a sense of urgency and conflict in the extract by using words such as "blow", "guarantee", "riddle", and "solve". For example:
- Blow: The author uses the word "blow" to describe the news that the protagonist's son is not living in his house and has left no address. This word implies that something bad, sudden, or violent has happened to the protagonist. It creates a sense of urgency and conflict by making readers wonder how the protagonist will cope with this situation and what he will do next.
- Guarantee: The author uses the word "guarantee" to question the existence and well-being of the protagonist's son in this world. This word implies that there is no certainty or assurance about anything in this world. It creates a sense of urgency and conflict by making readers feel the doubt and fear that the protagonist has about his son's fate.
- Riddle: The author uses the word "riddle" to refer to the problem or mystery that is difficult to solve or explain in history. This word implies that there is something puzzling, confusing, or hidden in history that needs to be uncovered. It creates a sense of urgency and conflict by making readers curious and interested in what has changed in history and why.
- Solve: The author uses the word "solve" to express the protagonist's goal or motivation to find out what has changed in history and why. This word implies that there is a solution or an answer to the riddle of history that can be discovered. It creates a sense of urgency and conflict by making readers anticipate and expect what the protagonist will find out at the library of the Asiatic Society.
