Question 3 - Chapter 5 - The Tale of Melon City - Snapshot - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

He could not walk and could not see,

 So old (and therefore wise) was he

 — But in a quavering1 voice he said,

 ‘The culprit must be punished. 

Truly, the arch it was that banged 

The crown off, and it must be hanged’

(The tale of the Melon city)

Question (i)

Who is the 'he' in the first sentence of the extract?

1. The king
2. The chief of builders
3. The architect
4. The wise man

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(d) The wise man

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the 'he' in the first sentence of the extract. 🕵️‍♂️
• The first sentence of the extract tells us that he could not walk and could not see, so old (and therefore wise) was he. This means that he was someone who had a physical disability and a visual impairment, and who was very old and wise. 👴
• The previous part of the chapter tells us that the king asked for a wise man to be brought to him, and that an old man was carried to him on a litter. This means that he was someone who had a physical disability and a visual impairment, and who was very old and wise, and who was brought to the king as a wise man. 🧙‍♂️
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can conclude that the 'he' in the first sentence of the extract is the wise man. ✔️

Question (ii)

What does the phrase 'could not walk and could not see' imply about his physical condition?

1. He was disabled and blind
2. He was injured and sick
3. He was tired and sleepy
4. He was lazy and careless

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(a) He was disabled and blind

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer this question, we need to understand what the phrase 'could not walk and could not see' means and how it relates to his physical condition in the extract. 📚

• The word "could" means used to indicate possibility; or used to express doubt or surprise; or used to indicate annoyance because of something that has not been done; or used to ask for permission or make a request; or used to make a suggestion or offer; or used to indicate ability or capacity in the past; or used as the past tense of can (verb). It implies that we need to focus on the modal or auxiliary aspect of the verb. 🙋‍♂️
• The word "not" means used with an auxiliary verb or “be” to form the negative; or used in some constructions with other verbs; or expressing denial, refusal, or prohibition; or scarcely; hardly; or only; just; or used as a short substitute for a negative clause; or indicating contrast with what has been stated; or indicating sarcasm; or indicating surprise at (someone's) arrival. It implies that we need to focus on the negation or contradiction aspect of the word. 🙅‍♂️
• The word "walk" means move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once; or travel over (a route or area) on foot; or guide, accompany, or escort (someone) on foot; or take (a dog) out for exercise; or (of a ghost) appear and move about in visible form; or informal term for leave (verb); or an act of traveling on foot; especially for exercise or pleasure; or an unhurried rate of movement on foot; or an informal term for base on balls (noun). It implies that we need to focus on the action or motion aspect of the verb. 🚶‍♂️
• The word "and" means used to connect words of the same part of speech, clauses, or sentences that are to be taken jointly; also used to introduce an additional comment or interjection; also used after some verbs and before another verb to indicate intention, instead of “to”; also used instead of “to” after some verbs such as try, go etc.; also used after some adjectives expressing choice or contrast etc.; also used after some adverbs such as before, since etc.; also used after some nouns expressing time etc.; also used after some pronouns such as what etc.; also used after numbers expressing addition etc.; also used after fractions expressing multiplication etc.; also used after each when expressing multiplication etc.; also used after how when expressing degree etc.; also used after as when expressing comparison etc.; also used after both when expressing inclusion etc.; also used after either when expressing choice etc.; also used after neither when expressing exclusion etc.; also used after not only when expressing addition etc.; also used after whether when expressing choice etc.; also used after no matter when expressing indifference etc.; also used after so when expressing result etc.; also used after than when expressing comparison etc.; also used to introduce a question that is added to another question or statement; or a Boolean operator that gives the value one if and only if all the operands are one, and otherwise has a value of zero. It implies that we need to focus on the conjunction or connector aspect of the word. 🙌
• The word "see" means perceive with the eyes; discern visually; discern or deduce mentally after reflection or from information; understand; comprehend; experience or witness (an event or situation); meet (someone one knows) socially or by chance; consult (a specialist or professional); date regularly; have a sexual relationship with; watch (a film, television program, or performance); refer to (a passage, book, or author) for further information or evidence; imagine or visualize; foresee; predict; ensure; make sure; take care of; accompany (someone) part of the way to their destination; receive (a guest or visitor); have an interview with (someone), especially as part of one's job; regard in a specified way; consider; express sympathy with (someone) in their grief or disappointment; used as a polite formula in conversation, especially to fill a pause or change the subject. It implies that we need to focus on the perception or cognition aspect of the verb. 👀
• Therefore, the phrase 'could not walk and could not see' means had no ability or capacity in the past to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once; or travel over (a route or area) on foot etc., and had no ability or capacity in the past to perceive with the eyes; discern visually etc. 😞
• This implies something about his physical condition in the extract. It suggests that he had a physical disability that prevented him from walking normally or at all. It also suggests that he had a visual impairment that prevented him from seeing clearly or at all. 😢
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the phrase 'could not walk and could not see' implies that his physical condition was disabled and blind. ✔️

Question (iii)

Complete the sentence appropriately.

The word "culprit" means ____________.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The word "culprit" means a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed; or the cause of a problem or defect.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the word "culprit" means and how to complete the sentence appropriately. 📚
• The word "culprit" means a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed; or the cause of a problem or defect; or a person who is on trial or appearing before a judge; or an archaic term for guilty (adjective). It implies that we need to focus on the responsibility or accountability aspect of the word. 😳
• Therefore, to complete the sentence appropriately, we need to use a word or phrase that describes the responsibility or accountability aspect of something or someone that is culpable. 🙌
• The word or phrase that best describes the responsibility or accountability aspect of something or someone that is culpable is a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed; or the cause of a problem or defect. This word or phrase captures the idea that something or someone that is culpable is involved in or guilty of doing something wrong or harmful; or creates or contributes to a negative situation or outcome. 😔
• Therefore, based on this clue, we can complete the sentence appropriately by saying that the word "culprit" means a person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed; or the cause of a problem or defect. ✔️

Question (iv)

 Identify the line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that he was old and wise.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The line from the text that bears evidence to the fact that he was old and wise is "But in a quavering voice he said."

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the line from the text that supports the fact that he was old and wise. 🔎
• The word "evidence" means facts or information that indicate or prove something. It implies that we need to find a specific sentence or phrase from the text that shows or confirms something. 📝
• The word "fact" means something that is true or real. It implies that we need to find a line from the text that is based on reality and not on opinion or inference. 📌
• The fact that we need to support is that he was old and wise. This means that we need to find evidence that shows that he had lived for a long time and had gained much knowledge and experience. 🧓
• The line from the text that bears evidence to this fact is "But in a quavering voice he said." This line shows that he had lived for a long time and had gained much knowledge and experience. It shows that he had a quavering voice, which means shaking or trembling in speaking, typically through nervousness or emotion. This suggests that he was old and frail, as his voice was affected by his age and physical condition. It also shows that he said something, which means expressing something in words; stating something; uttering something etc. This suggests that he was wise and confident, as he spoke his mind and gave his opinion despite his situation and circumstance. 👏
• Therefore, based on this evidence, we can identify this line as the one that bears evidence to the fact that he was old and wise. ✔️

Question (v)

What does the term 'banged' indicate about the impact of the arch on the crown?

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The term 'banged' indicates that the impact of the arch on the crown was strong and loud.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to understand what the term 'banged' means and how it relates to the impact of the arch on the crown in the extract. 🔨
• The word "banged" means struck something with a loud noise; knocked over; damaged; injured; hit (someone); made (something) produce a loud noise by striking it; closed (a door) loudly; cut (hair) short across one's forehead; informal term for have sexual intercourse with (someone); informal term for inject oneself with (a drug); informal term for impress (someone); informal term for put (something) somewhere roughly; abruptly; carelessly etc.; informal term for imprison (someone); informal term for charge (someone) an excessive amount for something etc.; informal term for criticize (someone) severely etc.; informal term for be exactly right; informal term for be very good; excellent etc. It implies that we need to focus on the action or effect aspect of the verb. 💥
• Therefore, the term 'banged' means struck something with a loud noise; knocked over; damaged; injured etc. 🤕
• This indicates something about the impact of the arch on the crown in the extract. It suggests that the arch hit the crown with a lot of force and made a loud sound. It also suggests that the arch caused some damage or injury to the crown or the king's head. 😱
• Therefore, based on these clues, we can say that the term 'banged' indicates that the impact of the arch on the crown was strong and loud. ✔️

Question (vi)

 Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?

1. A Wise Man's Solution and Justice
2. A Wise Man's Confusion and Mistake
3. A Wise Man's Humor and Sarcasm
4. A Wise Man's Fear and Courage

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(c) A Wise Man's Humor and Sarcasm

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to identify the headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract. 🗞️
• The word "headline" means a short phrase or sentence that summarizes the main point or theme of a text. It implies that we need to find a concise and catchy way to express the essence or message of the extract. 📣
• The word "central idea" means the most important or essential thought or concept that a text conveys. It implies that we need to find the main purpose or intention of the extract. 🎯
• The central idea of the extract is that a wise man who could not walk and could not see said in a quavering voice that the culprit must be punished, and that it was the arch that banged the crown off, and it must be hanged. This means that we need to find a headline that captures this idea in a simple and effective way. 🙌
• The headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract is C. A Wise Man's Humor and Sarcasm. This headline summarizes the main point of the extract, which is that a wise man used humor and sarcasm to point out the absurdity and injustice of the king's actions and law. It also creates interest and curiosity in the reader, who would want to know more about how the wise man's words affect the king and what happens next. 🤩
•  Therefore, based on these clues, we can choose C. A Wise Man's Humor and Sarcasm as the headline that best suggests the central idea of the extract. ✔️