IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. How does Charley make his description of the third level very realistic?

Charley makes his description of the third level exceptionally realistic by providing intricate details that
draw comparisons to the second level of the Grand Central Station. He notes that the third level's rooms
are noticeably smaller, with fewer train gates and ticket windows. The information booth stands out with its
aged, wooden appearance.

Furthermore, Charley's observation of the people at the third level is incredibly detailed. He points out that
they were dressed in clothing typical of the nineteenth century, and many of the men had elegant facial
hair in the form of beards, sideburns, and stylish mustaches. To add to the realism, Charley purchases
tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, leaving the reader with a strong impression that he had indeed visited the
third level.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q2. Do you think that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?

Modern life is causing stress and anxiety for people, and Charley is no exception. To escape from the
difficulties of his life, he uses the third level as a way to leave reality behind and enter a world of
imagination. The third level is a product of Charley's own mind, allowing him to escape the worries and
stresses of daily life.

Q3. Why did Charley suspect that Sam had gone to Galesburg?

When Sam disappeared without notice and nobody knew where he was, Charley believed he might have
gone to Galesburg, given Sam's fondness for the city. Charley's suspicion was later confirmed when he
discovered an envelope that Sam's grandfather had mailed from Galesburg to Sam. Therefore, it was clear
that Sam had indeed traveled to Galesburg.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. Why, do you think, was the Maharaja in danger of losing his throne?

The Maharaja denied permission to a prominent British officer who wanted to go on a tiger hunt.
Subsequently, the officer sought to have his photograph taken with a tiger killed by the Maharaja, which
was also refused. The Maharaja's refusal to fulfill the senior British officer's requests twice could have
jeopardized his reign.

Q2. Why was the Maharaja so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger?

According to the chief astrologer's prediction, the Maharaja's demise would be caused by a tiger,
especially the hundredth one. Therefore, the Maharaja embarked on a tiger hunting expedition, hoping to
eliminate the hundredth tiger that could pose a threat to his life.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q3. How did the Tiger King become the victim of the hundredth tiger?

As a present for his son, the Tiger King offers a wooden tiger, which is crudely carved and covered in
splinters of wood. While handling the toy, the Maharaja gets a small sliver lodged in his right hand, which
he ignores. However, the injury worsens, eventually becoming infected with pus, and spreading throughout
his arm. Ultimately, the Tiger King falls victim to the hundredth tiger, succumbing to his injury and passing
away due to its effects.

Q4. The manner of his (The Tiger King’s) death is a matter of extraordinary interest.
Comment.

The Tiger King's demise is an exceedingly intriguing topic. In order to guarantee his long life, he made a
promise to eliminate one hundred tigers because the chief astrologer had predicted that a tiger would
cause his death. Eventually, while presenting a wooden tiger as a gift to his son, a tiny splinter pierces his
right hand, which he disregards, resulting in a severe injury that ultimately leads to his death. Therefore,
the hundredth tiger was responsible for the Tiger King's demise.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. How is Antarctica a crucial element in the debate on climate change?

Antarctica is a vital factor in the discourse surrounding climate change, being the only location on the planet
that has never supported a human population, thus remaining relatively unspoiled. Furthermore, it preserves
a carbon record dating back half a million years in its ice-caves. Given the current heated debates
surrounding climate change, the world's climate is rapidly changing. Antarctica, with its straightforward
ecosystem and lack of biodiversity, presents an optimal environment to investigate the impact of these
environmental changes. Any increase in Antarctica's temperature due to global warming would have
catastrophic consequences in other regions.

Q2. How was Antarctica a chilling prospect for a South Indian, Tishani Doshi?

Tishani Doshi, a South Indian who enjoys basking in the sun, is apprehensive about spending two weeks in
a location that stores 90% of the Earth's ice volume. The thought is not only chilling for her circulatory and
metabolic functions but also for her imagination.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q3. Why does Tishani Doshi call her trip to Antarctica a “Journey to the End of the Earth”?
What experience did she have during this expedition?

Tishani Doshi's trip to Antarctica was called the 'Journey to the End of the Earth'. It took her 100 hours to get there,
crossing nine time zones, six checkpoints, three water bodies, and many ecospheres. She was amazed by the
vastness and solitude of the region and found comfort in the wide, uninterrupted blue horizon. Antarctica provides a
unique opportunity for young students to learn about environmental changes and gain a new appreciation for our
planet. It's also an excellent place to study how even small changes in climate can have major consequences,
such as global warming and ozone depletion, which can impact the Antarctic region. Studying Antarctica will
provide insight into the past, present, and future of the Earth.

Q4. Why is Antarctica and its understanding important for the survival of the world?

Antarctica is important for the survival of our planet because it can tell us about the past when a supercontinent
called Gondwana existed, which was home to many plants and animals. This happened before humans existed.
After 500 million years, Gondwana separated into different countries, including Antarctica. Scientists can study the
Earth's past, present, and future by looking at the carbon records in Antarctica's ice-cores, which are more than
half a million years old.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. Why did the messenger come to Dr. Sadao? What did Hana think about it?

Dr. Sadao receives a message from a messenger in uniform, informing him that the old General is in pain
again. Hana is relieved to know that the messenger has only come to inform Dr. Sadao about the
General's health, as she had feared that the servants had told the police, who then sent the messenger in
uniform to their home.

Q2. Did Hana think the Japanese tortured their prisoners of war? Why?

Hana saw the deep red scars on the American soldier's neck and worried that he had been tortured by the
Japanese. She knew that it was common for the Japanese to torture their prisoners of war in brutal ways.

Q3. What forced Dr. Sadao to be impatient and irritable with his patient?

Hana had never witnessed a surgical operation before, and the sight of Dr. Sadao operating on the soldier
made her feel nauseous. She rushed out to the garden to vomit. Dr. Sadao was aware of Hana's distress,
and his inability to comfort her made him impatient and irritable with his patient, who was preventing him
from being with his wife.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q4. Do you think Dr. Sadao’s final decision was the best possible one in the
circumstances? Why/Why not? Explain with reference to the story, ‘The Enemy’.

Dr. Sadao acted with compassion and bravery when he chose to save the young American soldier's life
and help him escape, despite the soldier being his enemy. He recognized the universal value of human life
and the responsibility of his profession as a doctor to save anyone in need, regardless of their nationality.
He put aside any prejudices or narrow-minded thinking and acted based on the principles and ethics of his
profession. This decision was not an easy one, but he ultimately chose to respect his duty as a doctor and
his love for humanity above all else.

Q5. What did Dr. Sadao understand more about the wound on peering into it?

Upon examining the American soldier's injury, Dr. Sadao realized that the soldier had been shot several
days prior and had not received medical treatment. The bullets had not yet reached the soldier's kidney,
but were still lodged in his body.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. What peculiar things does Derry notice about the old man, Lamb?

Derry perceives Mr. Lamb, the elderly man, as peculiar and prone to making odd remarks. Derry becomes
aware that despite Mr. Lamb's references to his friends, he never receives any visitors, living all alone.
When Derry inquires about Mr. Lamb's friends, Mr. Lamb is unable to provide any names, but refuses to
acknowledge his loneliness. Additionally, Mr. Lamb poses questions to Derry that he struggles to
comprehend. Unusually, Mr. Lamb's house lacks curtains on its windows, and he prefers the play of light
and dark, listening to the wind through an open window.

Q2. In what sense is the friendship between Mr. Lamb and Derry fruitful?

Derry is able to let go of his insecurities and find happiness again after meeting Mr. Lamb. Mr. Lamb
boosts Derry's confidence and inspires him to move forward in life. Derry's brief interaction with Mr. Lamb
leaves a permanent mark on the boy's mind, causing a significant shift in his outlook on life.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q3. Who was Derry? What problems did he have?

At 14 years old, Derry is burdened by a multitude of complexities, stemming from an inferiority complex
resulting from an accidental acid spill that burned one side of his face. His disability has left him bitter, and
his own negative beliefs about how others view him amplify his pain. Meanwhile, Mr. Lamb delights in his
bountiful garden, which boasts an array of fruits, flowers, trees, and herbs. He takes pleasure in harvesting
ripe crab apples from the trees and crafting jelly for the young children who frequent his garden.

Q4. Both Derry and Lamb are victims of physical impairment, but much more painful for
them is the feeling of loneliness. Comment.

It is my duty as a responsible member of society to comprehend and assist individuals with disabilities. I
am committed to offering my support and showing consideration towards them, treating them as equals
and encouraging their participation in all activities. I will strive to prevent them from experiencing feelings of
isolation and will advocate for inclusive education. By promoting their social acceptance, I aim to instill
hope and empowerment in them. Each one of us has a responsibility to make a difference in the lives of
those who are physically impaired and facing loneliness.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q1. Why did the landlord’s man ask Bama’s brother, on which street he lived? What
was the significance?

In the past, when untouchability was widespread, people could determine someone's caste by asking
about the street they lived on since each caste typically had their own designated street. This was
exemplified when the landlord's assistant inquired about Bama's brother's street in order to ascertain his
caste.

Q2. When did Bama first come to know of the social discrimination faced by the people
of her community?

Bama, who was in the third grade, walked home from school one day and saw an elderly man carrying a
small package of food. The man held the package by its strings and did not touch it as he extended it to
the landlord, who opened it and began eating. Bama found it amusing, but her elder brother, Annan,
explained to her that the man was not trying to be funny. Rather, he was from a lower caste and could not
touch the food packet because of social customs.
 IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

Q3. What is common between Zitkala-Sa and Bama?

Zitkala-Sa and Bama share a common experience of suffering due to their marginalized status.
Zitkala-Sa faced cultural invasion that threatened her own cultural identity, while Bama
experienced untouchability as a form of class struggle.

Q4. What did Bama’s brother want her to do? Why?

Annan is deeply affectionate towards his sister Bama and serves as her mentor and advisor. He
explained to her that, as Dalits, they would never be afforded any dignity or honor. He
encouraged her to focus on her studies and advance herself in order to escape this indignity. He
counseled her on the traditional strategy of surpassing the upper class by excelling in their exams
and thereby earning their admiration.