Read the extract and answer the following questions- 

Extract:

It was a hot summer night; about ten o’clock. I had my meal at the restaurant and returned to my room. I heard a noise from above as I opened the door. The sound was a familiar one. One could say that the rats and I shared the room. I took out my box of matches and lighted the kerosene lamp on the table. The house was not electrified; it was a small rented room. I had just set up medical practice and my earnings were meagre. I had about sixty rupees in my suitcase. Along with some shirts and dhotis, I also possessed one solitary black coat which I was then wearing. 

(The Snake and the Mirror)

The Snake and the Mirror - Extract Based Question - Teachoo.png

Question (i)

What time of the day and season of the year is the extract set in?

  • (a) Morning, winter
  • (b) Afternoon, spring
  • (c) Evening, autumn
  • (d) Night, summer

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(d) Night, summer

Step-by-step explanation:

  •  To answer this question, we need to recall the first sentence of the extract: " It was a hot summer night; about ten o’clock. "
  •  The sentence tells us the time of day and season of the year when the extract takes place, which is night and summer respectively.🌙
  •  Therefore, the correct option is D. Night, summer.👏

Question (ii)

 What was the source of light in the narrator's room? Answer in one word.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Lamp

Step-by-step explanation:

  •  To answer this question, we need to recall the fourth sentence of the extract: " I took out my box of matches and lighted the kerosene lamp on the table. "
  •  The sentence tells us what the narrator used to illuminate his room, which was a kerosene lamp.💡
  •  Therefore, the answer is lamp.👍

Question (iii)

 Why did the narrator have only one black coat? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The narrator had only one black coat because he was a newly set up doctor and his earnings were meagre. He could not afford to buy more clothes or coats.

Step-by-step explanation:

  •  To answer this question, we need to infer the reason why the narrator had only one black coat from the extract.
  •  The extract tells us that the narrator was a doctor who had just started his medical practice and that he had only sixty rupees in his suitcase along with some shirts and dhotis.😕
  •  This suggests that the narrator was poor and had limited resources to spend on his clothing or appearance.😢
  •  Therefore, the answer is The narrator had only one black coat because he was a newly set up doctor and his earnings were meagre. He could not afford to buy more clothes or coats.😮

Question (iv)

 What is the profession of the narrator?

  • (a) Teacher
  • (b) Lawyer
  • (c) Doctor
  • (d) Journalist

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(c) Doctor

Step-by-step explanation:

  •  To answer this question, we need to recall the fifth sentence of the extract: " I had just set up medical practice and my earnings were meagre. "
  •  The sentence tells us what the profession of the narrator was, which was a doctor.👨‍⚕️
  •  Therefore, the correct option is C. Doctor.👏
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Maninder Singh's photo - Co-founder, Teachoo

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Maninder Singh

CA Maninder Singh is a Chartered Accountant for the past 14 years and a teacher from the past 18 years. He teaches Science, Economics, Accounting and English at Teachoo