Q. 1. What was the problem with Tricki? How did Mr. Herriot cure it?
Ans : Mrs. Pumphrey had a small pet dog named Tricki. She pampered him by giving chocolates, cakes, juice, eggs, wine etc. She thought that he was suffering from mal-nutrition and needed more energy. But she didn’t give him any exercise. So Tricki became extremely fat like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. He stopped eating .His eyes became red and rheumy. He was brought to the hospital for treatment. Every one in the family was in tears. Mrs. Pumphrey started wailing. It was really a sad, pathetic and tearful party. Dr. Herriot gave no medicine. He simply cut his diet and gave more exercises. Within a fortnight Tricki became normal and healthy. He became a muscled, flexible and normal dog. It leapt in the lap of his mistress. Mr. Pumphrey was very happy to see him and thanked gratefully to Dr. Herriot. She called it a ‘Triumph of Surgery’.
Q. 2. Who was Anil? Why was Hari Singh grateful to Anil?
Ans : Hari Singh was a fifteen-year-old seasoned thief. He was homeless, friendless and also illiterate. He used to change his name and place after robbing. He met Anil, a writer of magazine at a wrestling match. He requested to keep him a servant. Anil kept him as his cook. But he prepared hopeless and horrible food. Anil then taught him how to cook. He even taught him reading and writing. One day he sold his books to a publisher and brought a bundle of notes. He put it under his mattress. At night Hari Singh stole the money and went to the station. But his conscience pricked him. He could not betray such a trusting person, who was trying to make him a respectable and educated gentleman. Hari Singh returned back to Anil. He restored the money under the mattress. Anil had detected what Hari Singh had done. But he did not say anything. He changed the heart of Hari Singh with his trust, compassion and willingness.
Q. 3. How did Ausable get rid of Max?
Ans : Fowler, a young romantic writer went to meet a secret agent Ausable. But he was surprised to see him, as he did not match the description of a secret agent. Ausable was waiting for an important document regarding missile for which many people had risked their lives. As they entered Ausable’s room Fowler was scared to see a man holding a pistol in his hand. He wanted to grab those important documents. Ausable sensed the danger but remained calm. He used his presence of mind and framed a story of balcony which Max believed to be true. After some time there was a knock at the door. Ausable again befooled Max saying that the police cam e to protect him. Hearing this Max jumped through the supposed balcony and screamed once. He met his end because there was no balcony at all. Now Fowler realized that Ausable was a perfect and intelligent secret agent.
Q. 4. Horace Danby was a good and respectable but not completely honest. Discuss.
Ans : Horace Danby was a good and respectable but not completely honest. By profession he was a lock maker. He used to rob a safe every year to buy rare and expensive books. His latest target was the safe at Shot Over Grange. He made thorough preparation for his venture. He collected information about the family, servant, entry points and electric paths. But he had hard luck this time. His hay fever made him sneeze. It attracted a young lady downstairs who was also a burglar. She was confident, commanding and had a good convincing tactics. She pretended to be the mistress of the house. She tricked Horace into submitting to her will. She first made him open the safe without wearing gloves and then reported against him to the police. Horace was arrested. After that he became angry at the mention of the phrase ‘the honour among thieves’ because the young lady broke the ethics among the thieves.
Q. 5. Griffin was rather a lawless and eccentric scientist. Explain with reference to the story ‘Foot Prints without Feet’.
Ans : Griffin was an eccentric and lawless scientist. He had discovered a rare drug that could make human body invisible but as solid as a sheet of glass. His landlord did not like him and tried to eject him. So he decided to take revenge on him. He set fire to the landlord’s house. Removing clothes he drank the drug and became invisible. It was the time of cold and he was without clothes. He had to pass the night in a London Store. He stole goods and money from the shop without paying. He also hit the shopkeeper and stole his money. From there he went to a village called Iping and stayed in an inn. He stole the clergyman’s money and threatened his wife by throwing the chair on her. A constable named Jaffer was called. Griffin took off his bandages, his glasses and his hat. He became a head less man now. People were horrified. He even hit the policeman to unconsciousness. He got free and ran away.
Q. 6. Richar Ebright had all the ingredients required in the making of a scientist. Discuss.
Ans : Richar Ebright was a solitary child who had great interest for catching butterflies in his child hood. His mother gave him unending encouragement and got him a children’s book called “The Travels of Monarch X’. This book changed his life. It was about butterflies, rocks, fossils, and coins. She took him on trips and provided him telescopes, microscopes, cameras and mounting materials. After many experiment and projects he could not get prizes as his projects were not on real experiments. He could collect twenty-five varieties of butterflies. And later on he lost interest in tagging butterflies. But with the guidance of Dr. Urquhart he started doing more complex experiments on the butterflies one after another. He took part in various science fairs and won prizes. He found new facts like the purpose of gold spots on pupa. Finally he set the theory of cell life. He could prove how a cell can read the blue print of its DNA. He proved himself as an excellent scientist. He had certain qualities that went into the making of a scientist. He had a first –rate mind, curiosity to learn about things, will to win for the right reasons.
