THE LAST LESSON

1. Why was Franz reluctant to go to school that day? Franz had started late for school and dreaded the
scolding he has coming for him as he has not prepared for a test that was to be conducted on that day. This
tempted Franz to skip class and spend the day outdoors. But he managed to resist the temptation and hurried
to school.

2. What tempted Franz to stay away from school that day? Franz’s temptations were fuelled by the bright
warmth of the sun, the chirping birds at the edge of the woods, the Prussian soldiers training in the open fields.

3. What was the order from Berlin and what changes did it cause for school? The order from Berlin stated
that only German could be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. As a result of this order, Franz’s
teacher, M. Hamel had to leave the country to continue his job as a teacher.

4. What did Franz notice to be unusual in school that day? On a usual day, when school began there was a
great bustle, the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison and the teacher’s great rules
rapping on the table. However, on that day, none of the usual sounds were to be heard and the silence
resembled that of a Sunday morning.

5. Who did M. Hamel blame for not giving due attention to their language? M. Hamel blames the residents
of Alsace, including himself, for neglecting their language. He criticizes their indifference towards their native
tongue and reflects on how they failed to appreciate their linguistic heritage until it was too late.

6. “This is your last lesson…”. How did Franz react to this declaration? Franz reacted with disbelief and
sorrow to M. Hamel’s announcement of the last lesson. He regretted not appreciating his education sooner
and felt the weight of missed opportunities. The realization of this loss left him saddened and reflective about
the value of education.

7. What was usually put up in the bulletin board in the town hall? In the town hall bulletin board, official
notices, decrees and announcements were typically posted, including notifications about conscription,
mobilization and orders from the Prussian authorities.

8. How did M. Hamel praise the French language? M. Hamel praised the French language as the most
beautiful, clearest and most logical language in the world. He lauded its elegance, richness and superiority,
emphasizing its significance as the language of their ancestors and their homeland France.

9. “Franz was able to understand everything that day”. Explain. Franz was able to understand everything
on that day because it was his final French lesson, and he was determined to absorb as much knowledge as
possible. With M. Hamel’s realization of the impending loss of his language, Franz’s attentiveness heightened,
allowing him to grasp the lesson’s content with clarity and depth.

10. What was M. Hamel’s contribution to the school of Alsace? M. Hamel’s contribution to the school of
Alsace was his unwavering dedication to teaching despite the challenges posed by political turmoil. He
instilled a sense of pride in the students for their language and heritage, fostering a deeper appreciation for
French culture and identity amidst the oppression of German rule.

11. Describe the last lesson of M. Hamel. On the last lesson, M. Hamel was much more invested in his work,
as if he wanted to impart all his knowledge in one go. He explained everything with a lot of patience, to put all
his knowledge into their heads at one stroke. Post the grammar lesson, there was a lesson in writing and M.
Hamel had brought new copies for them to write in. These copies were written in beautiful round-hand –
France, Alsace, France, Alsace. As everyone set to work, M. Hamel sat motionless in his chair and gazed at
one thing, then another as if he wanted to fix how everything was in the school as the last measure before he
had to leave. There was an urgency in his work that day as he wished to fill them in with as much knowledge
as possible.

12. “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?”. Explain. Franz was quite shaken on hearing
the news that only German would be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine. When Franz wonders if the
Prussians would even make the pigeons sing in German, it shows the extent of his concern regarding the loss
of his native language. He was worried that the Germans would go to any lengths to establish their linguistic
superiority and force the French people to cut ties with their motherland by depriving them of their language.

13. “How well I remember it, the last lesson”. Explain. On the day of the last lesson, Franz had been shocked
to find out that French had been banned as a subject. This shock turned into resolve when M. Hamel began
his teachings for the day one last time. He concentrated for that day’s lessons more than ever before and
understood better than ever. Even as he thinks back to the incident many years later, he remembers every
detail of the class like it only happened the previous day.

14. How did M. Hamel conclude his last lesson? M. Hamel stood up from his chair. He looked very pale and
tall. He wanted to say some parting words, but the sorrow choked him. He picked up a piece of chalk and
wrote in big clear letters, “Viva Le France!” on the blackboard. He leaned his head against the wall, and without
a word, he made a gesture to the students with his hand to permit them to leave as the lesson was over.

15. Pen a portrait of M. Hamel. M. Hamel was the most dedicated, hardworking and a learned teacher of
French. He served the society in the same school for about 40 years towards the cause of education. He had
specific regard for his own language and told upon the students about the independence of learning their own
language.

16. Write a character sketch on Franz. Franz was a boy who lived in the district of Alsace. He was not fond of
attending school and studying. He liked the outside world more than the environment of his school. Though
scared of his teacher, M. Hamel, Franz never gave much importance to French. However, upon finding out that
he would be attending his final French lesson, his attitude took a sharp turn. He sympathized with M. Hamel
and focused and gave it his all for the last lesson. He was able to understand and remember the teachings of
the lesson very clearly. He could do well when he was motivated to do so and did it of his own volition.

17. Describe the change in attitude of Franz towards the language and teacher. Franz found out that M.
Hamel would not be teaching him French anymore because only German was going to be taught in the
schools. This news changed Franz’s attitude towards his teacher and school. He regretted that he has never
learned his lessons properly. He used to regard his books as a nuisance but now he began to think of them as
old friends whom he never wanted to part with. He even started feeling a fondness and respect for M. Hamel
and forgot how cranky or strict he was.

18. “We’ve all a great deal to reproach ourselves with”. Why did M. Hamel blame the parents and himself
for not showing due attention and care to the learning of French? M. Hamel blamed the parents for the
neglect of learning on the part of boys like Franz because they wanted them to work to earn some money
instead of focusing on education. M. Hamel also blamed himself for his negligence in his teaching. He made
the boys work in his garden. Which made them miss their lessons and whenever he wanted to go fishing, he
gave them a holiday.

19. What is the significance of the elders being present in the classroom? On the day of the last lesson by
M. Hamel, children were joined by the village elders for the class. The village elders were there to pay tribute
to their native language. The presence of village elders helped the children realise the essential role played by
native language in the developments of one’s identity.

20. Identify and describe the sensory details in the opening of the story. Warm, so bright! ; birds were
chirping at the edge of the woods ; Prussian soldiers drilling in the open field ; Usually, there was a great bustle
– the opening and closing of desks, lessons repeated in unison, the teacher’s ruler rapping on the table ; as
quiet as a Sunday morning. These sensory details, mostly auditory in nature not only provide a better visual of
the story but also describes the mood and atmosphere at each instance. The day begins with a warm greeting
from the sun, and he watches many things on his way. But as he approaches the school, the mood becomes
duller, indicated by the silence and break from the normal routine of proceedings.

21. How is the mother tongue important to a person? What does M. Hamel, the teacher, say about it? A
person’s mother tongue is of great value and importance. It can unite people and give them a sense of
belonging. According to M. Hamel, even if people are enslaved their mother tongue can act like a key to a
prison. He believed that French was the most beautiful and logical language in the world, and he wished that
his countrymen has given it more importance.

22. Why does the writer open the story with sights and sound of nature? Using sensory words engages the
readers in a much deeper sense than without such words. The mood and a mental image of the story are
clearly conveyed by describing sights and sounds.

23. Critically evaluate the significance of the silence in the classroom when Franz arrives. When Franz
reached the schools, he was surprised to note how quiet it was because usually there was a great bustle.
Despite being late, Franz was given permission to attend M. Hamel’s class. When he entered the class, he
found the village elders seated silently in the backbenches. This silence also indicates the sullen mood in the
room and utmost respect for M. Hamel. They wanted to treat M. Hamel very well as he would be leaving the
country after the lesson.

24. How is Franz’s shift in perception of M. Hamel significant and indicative of a deeper understanding
and appreciation for his teacher? Franz comes to value M. Hamel’s dedication to teaching, especially during
the last lesson. This shift signifies Franz’s recognition of the importance of education and cultural heritage,
highlighting the profound impact M. Hamel has had on shaping his values and outlook.

25. How does M. Hamel’s compassionate response to Franz’s inability to recite the rule of the participle
contribute to the overall message of the story? M. Hamel’s compassionate response to Franz’s inability to
recite the rule of the participle underscores the theme of understanding and forgiveness. Instead of
reprimanding Franz, M. Hamel empathizes with him, recognizing the broader significance of their final lesson.
This moment emphasizes the importance of patience, empathy and human connection, reinforcing the story’s
overarching message of valuing education, culture and compassion in the face of adversity.

26. Why does the writer open the story with sounds and sights of nature? The opening reflects the contrast
between the calm, eternal nature and the fleeting human world, emphasizing the impending loss of cultural
identity due to the Prussian takeover.

27. Critically evaluate the significance of the silence in the classroom when Franz arrives. The silence
symbolizes the gravity of the situation, with students and villagers mourning the loss of their language. It also
reflects respect for M. Hamel, who delivers his “last lesson” with dignity.

LOST SPRING

1. Why did Saheb's family migrate to Delhi from Dhaka? Saheb's parents left Dhaka where they lived amidst
the green fields that were constantly tormented by many storms that swept away their fields. They led a
nomadic life, and the green fields didn't bring any prosperity to them. They came to Delhi in search of a way to
survive.

2. “But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world.” Explain. Saheb's world is filled with
hollow promises given by people who never come back. He was used to these kinds of promises and living
with an uncertain future. The narrator's promise is one such promise which probably could never be fulfilled.

3. Bring out the ironic element in Saheb's name. Saheb-e-Alam, which meant Lord of the Universe, had
immense significance whereas this Saheb was unaware of what his name meant. He was roaming around the
street with his friends, barefooted, living as a rag picker. He may not have believed the meaning of his name.

4. “I wonder if this is only an excuse to explain a perpetual state of poverty.” Explain. The narrator listened
to various views of the rat pickers on wearing mismatched footwear to cover their inability to wear them. The
children said that it was their tradition and not lack of money which forced them to not wear footwear. The
narrator wonders if this was an excuse to explain their poverty.

5. Why is Seema Puri on the periphery of Delhi but miles away from it metaphorically? Geographically,
Seema Puri is a place on the outskirts of Delhi. It housed hundreds of migrants from Bangladesh who earned
their living as ragpickers. It was a rundown place which lacked the basic facilities like sewage, drainage, clean
water etc. Unlike the prosperity of Delhi, people in Seema Puri lived in a perpetual state of poverty.

6. How is garbage different to the children than the parents? Garbage meant different things for the adults
and children who lived in Seema Puri. To the adults, rag picking meant survival. It assumed the proportions of
profound art. But for the children, garbage is wrapped in wonder. They scrounge around to discover new
things.

7. Does Saheb dislike working in the tea stall? Yes. Even though Saheb received his wages and was given
regular meals at the tea stall, which ensured security, he had lost his freedom and the time he spent with his
friends. This dissatisfaction can be seen on his face. Face which had lost the glow that it had before. He was
also no more his own master.

8. Mukesh insists on being his own master. What is the significance? Mukesh was determined to be a
motor mechanic. He was not prepared to compromise on his dream for any reason. He's even ready to walk
to the garage every day if he was allowed to learn the skills required to be successful as a motor mechanic. He
insisted on being his own master and paving his way or his own path towards his passion rather than being a
bangle maker.

9. Describe the working conditions of the bangle makers. Working in the glass industry was very hazardous.
Workers spent long hours near the glass furnace, working in high temperatures in dingy cells without air and
light. The children were also forced to work with the adults in these conditions due to the middlemen and
stealing the rewards of their hard work. There are many instances of people losing their eyesight due to
polishing bangles.

10. Give a brief description of the living conditions of the bangle makers. The people working in the bangle
making industry lived a pitiful life. They live in slums surrounded by stinking lanes choked with garbage. Their
homes remain hovels with crumbling walls, no windows, wobbly doors crowded with families of humans and
animals living in a primeval state.

11. Can a God-given lineage ever be broken? Explain. God-given lineage refers to the profession of bangle
making carried on by families through generations. Children are taught from a young age that it was their
destiny to become a bangle maker as they were born in that caste. Years of mind-numbing toil kills any
creativity and initiative which could have been found in these young bright minds.

12. “She still has bangles on her wrist but no light in her eyes.” Explain. Savita's grandmother was a married
woman who still had bangles in her hands but no light in her eyes. She cries of not having had a single full meal
in her life. While her hands shine through the bangles, her eyes have lost their shine that the bangles have.

13. Why are the bangle makers unwilling to organize themselves into a cooperative? Despite being
exploited, the bangle makers were unwilling to organize into a cooperative as they would get into trouble with
the law for employing children to make bangles.

14. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically. Explain. In "Lost
Spring", Seemapuri is described as a place on the periphery of Delhi, yet metaphorically miles away from it.
This highlights the stark contrast between Seemapuri's impoverished, marginalized existence and the
prosperous, urban centre of Delhi. While geographically close to the city, Seemapuri is disconnected from its
opportunities, wealth, and progress. The people of Seemapuri live in poverty, scavenging for survival, and are
excluded from the benefits of urban development, making the area metaphorically distant from the city’s
prosperity and modernity. This metaphor emphasizes the social and economic divide between the rich and
poor, even within the same geographical region.

DEEP WATER

1. What handicap did Douglas suffer from? Douglas had an aversion to water. When he was around three or
four years old, he had accompanied his father to a beach in California. There he was knocked down by huge
waves and was almost buried under water. This fear had become his handicap.
8. “Sophie’s dreams and disappointments are all in her mind” Explain. Undoubtedly, Sophie's dreams and
disappointments are all in her mind. As a young girl, she is engrossed in the world of fantasy. She talks about
buying a shop and having her own boutique. To earn money, she would work as an actress or a manager. She
imagines meeting Danny Casey, the Irish football star, and even fantasizes going on a date with him. She goes
to the wharf and waits for him, but he does not come, and she feels sad and disappointment. In fact, it is all in
her mind. She herself had created a story in her mind and finally starts hallucinating. But when she realizes
that it is all her fantasy, she feels disappointment. Both the things take place in her mind. Thus, her dreams
and disappointments are all in Sophie's mind.

9. Why did Sophie like her brother Geoff more than any other person from her perspective? What did he
symbolize? Sophie liked her brother Geoff more than any other person. She hero worships him. Geoff was
three years out of school and was working as an apprentice mechanic. She used to confide in him all her
secrets. Geoff was silent most of the time, and Sophie was curious to know the areas of his life about which
she knew nothing. In fact, she wanted to be admitted more deeply into her brother's affections and hoped that
someday he would take her along with him. She wanted to be a part of her other world, which Geoff belonged
to. She wanted to visit that world, riding with her brother on his motorcycle. He would be in new shining black
leathers, and she would wear a yellow dress, and then the entire world would applaud and rise to greet them
both. Thus, for Sophie, her brother Geoff was close to her heart.

10. Why was Sophie jealous of Geoff's silence? For Sophie, Geoff's silence symbolized freedom. Geoff
worked as a mechanic. He used to ride his motorcycle and visit places where she had never been to. Sophie
believed that he moved into a different exotic world which was far away from home and their reality. She was
jealous of a silence which does not reveal that world to her.

11. What did Sophie tell Geoff about her meeting Danny Casey? Sophie told her brother Geoff that she had
met Danny Casey, a sports star, a footballer in the arcade. She said that she was looking at the clothes in the
Royce's window when Danny Casey came and stood beside her. He had gentle green eyes but was not very
tall. She asked him for an autograph for little Derek, but neither of them had any pen or paper.

12. How did the evening blacken the window of Sophie's mood too? Sophie was a daydreamer who had
carried her fantasy too far. She had imagined her meeting with football star Danny Casey for a date. All this
imagination gave her a lot of pleasure. But when she met with reality, when Danny Casey did not come to meet
her, this made her sad and despondent and blackened her mood like the black sky.

13. How is the title Going Places most appropriate? In literary terms, going places refers to achieving
success. The title Going Places is most appropriate as it very clearly describes the protagonist, Sophie. She is
deeply enthusiastic about her successful life and fantasies with all good and successful things for her. In her
imagination, she fantasizes herself to be an actor or a manager and then finally a boutique owner. She also
fantasizes to have met the football star Danny Casey as her close friend and going for a date with him. The title
Going Places clearly depicts the exotic journey of Sophie into the dream world.

MY MOTHER AT 66

1. What is the kind of pain and ache that the poet feels? The poet is pained to see her mother's dull and
colourless face. She feels agonized at the thought of her mother growing old. The realization that her mother
was inching towards death made the poet sad, and she is plagued by the thought of her old mother departing.
She also feels guilty of not being able to take good care of her mother in her old age.

2. Why are the young trees described as printing? The poet, to distract her mind from the painful thought,
looks out of the window. The young trees appear to be sprinting because the car was speeding past them in
the opposite direction. A young tree symbolizes youth and vibrant life. Kamla Das compares the trees to young
children with boundless energy running past the window. They seem to be full of life, vitality and energy while
her mother is in the last stage of her life.

3. Why has the poet brought in the image of the merry children spilling out of their homes? The poet, while
returning from her native place, happens to see the joyous children rushing out of their homes to play. These
young children are full of energy and life, which was a sharp contrast to the ashen visage of her mother, who
is weak, dull and lifeless at the age of 66. The end to the enthusiasm and vitality of the children brings home
emphatically the painful realization that her mother may breathe her last day any day soon.

4. Why has the mother been compared to the late winter's moon? Just as the late winter's moon looks hazy
and appears to lack brightness and lustre due to mist and fog, similarly, the poet's mother, who is now old,
looks pale and void of exuberance. Her face looks dull and colourless due to old age.

5. What do the parting words of the poet, and her smile signify? The poet feels guilty to leave her mother
all by herself. The parting words of the poet and her smile signify her pain and fear of losing her mother. She
tries to put on a brave front by hiding her fear behind a smile. She tries to hide her insecurities from her mother
as she calls out, “See you soon, Amma.” The smile might also mean a forced optimism which allows her to
believe that her mother might yet live for a long time. Her smile and words would have brought a faint ray of
hope to her mother also that they will meet again.

6. What did Kamla Das think when she looked at her mother? As the poet drove to Kochi airport, she
watched her mother dozing open mouthed. The poet thought that she looked old and withered which
disturbed the poet and she wondered whether her mother would stay alive till she returns next time. Her
childhood fear of losing her mother again fronted her.

7. How does Kamla Das try to put away the thoughts of her aging mother? Kamla Das finds it hard to accept
the fact that her mother was growing old as it brings back her childhood fear of losing her mother forever. She
makes a deliberate effort to put away those thoughts by looking outside at the sites passing by.

8. Having looked at her mother, why does Kamala Das look at the young children? Kamala Das looked at
the young children as they represented youth which is full of life and energy. She wanted to drive away the
fearful and disturbing thought that her mother was getting old and weak and might die soon.

9. What was the poet's childhood fear? During her childhood, Kamala Das was insecure about losing her
mother, just as all young children often are. The same old feelings come back to haunt her when she sees her
mother mother's pale face and lifeless face. She's tortured by the fact that she may not see her alive again.
She hides her feeling by smiling in the last line of the poem My Mother at 66.

10. Why does the poet use the word smile repeatedly? In the last line of the poem, the poet has used the
word smile repeatedly to mask her painful feelings of parting with her mother. She also wanted to reassure her
mother of hope and happiness by smiling in front of her.

11. What do the speaker’s conflicting emotions reveal? The speaker’s conflicting emotions of fear and
helplessness reveal her struggle to accept her mother’s aging and mortality, reflecting universal human fears
of loss and separation.

12. What can we infer from the lack of input from the mother in the poem? The absence of the mother’s
voice emphasizes her silent resignation to aging. It also reflects the speaker’s internal focus on her emotions,
making it a deeply personal tribute.

13. How does the poem’s setting add to the overarching theme? The fleeting images of the landscape
outside the car mirror the transient nature of life, underscoring the theme of impermanence and aging.

KEEPING QUIET

1. What will counting to 12 and becoming still help you achieve? Counting to would help us to put a brake
on the rush and monotony of life. It would help us to introspect and experience silence and peace. In that
moment of silence, we could find a solution to all our problems and predicaments.

2. Do you think the poet advocates total inactivity and death? The poet does not advocate total inactivity
and death. In fact, he wants human beings to live life completely and boldly. But by advocating quietness or a
pause he wants a mixture of physical and spiritual aspect of life.
 Third level
1. Why does the narrator visit the psychiatrist? The narrator went to the third Level at the grand Central
station that did not exist. So, Charlie wanted to know the psychiatrist's opinion about it, therefore he visited
the psychiatrist.

2. What was the explanation offered by Sam? Some analysed it to be awaking dream wish fulfilment, he
said that Charlie was unhappy with the harsh realities of the modern world that was full of fear, war and worry.
This served as a medium of escape.

3. What did everybody think about Charlie's stamp collection? Everybody including Charley's friends
considered his practice of stamp collecting as a temporary refuge from reality. They thought that he found
solace in it as he couldn't cope with the harsh realities of the modern world.

4. Why was it easy to get out of the grand Central station? Charley had gone in an out of grand Central
station hundreds of times and each time he found a new path, doorways, and stairs that would lead to
different locations, such as the lobby of the Roosevelt hotel or the office building on the 46th Street.

5. To what the Charley compare the grand Central station and why? Charlie compared to a tree pushing
out new corridors, doorways and stairs like roots because it led to different locations of exit such as the lobby
of Roosevelt hotel, the office at the 46th street or even at the Times square.

6. How did Charley reach the third Level? When Charlie worked into the second level where suburban trains
left from, he bumped into an arched doorway. While heading for the subway he followed it, and it was a long
corridor angling left and downward sometime later he could hear people talking when he to sharp left turn in
the Tunnel climb down a short light of the entered the third level of the grand Central station

7. How did he understand that he had gone back to 1890s? The third Level was smaller and had fewer ticket
windows and train gates. The information booth was made of wood, the man sitting inside was wearing green
eye shades and long sleeve protectors, the open flame gas lights were dim and flickering. A man walking by
pulled out a gold watch from his vest pocket. A woman wearing a dress with a leg of mutton sleeves and a skirt

8. What proof the Charley's stumble upon, regarding the third level? Among his oldest first day covers
Charley found a rare, marked envelope, addressed to the grandfather at his home in Galesburg, the post mark
showed the date of 18th July 1894, but the letter was addressed to Charley by Sam who claimed to have found
the third level.

9. Why was Charley desperate to buy two tickets to Galesburg? Charley wished to enjoy the serene life of
leisure and a peaceful world. Houses had huge lawns, men smoking cigar and women waving palm leaf fans.
He wanted to buy two tickets to Galesburg first for himself and his wife Louisa.

10. What act of Charley worried his wife Louisa the most? Louisa was worried when Charley told her that
he had drawn 300 dollars in the bank and bought old style currency for the same. From then onwards he had
been looking out for the corridor at the grand Central station that would lead to the third level.

11. What do you understand by the first day covers? When new stamps are issued stamp collectors would
buy some stamps and mail envelopes on the very first day to themselves, the post mark used to prove the
date. The envelope is called the first day cover, but they are never opened, only a blank paper is kept inside of
them.

12. What did Sam write to Charley? Sam wrote a letter to Charlie on 18th July 1894. He mentioned that he
was right about the third level he claims to have been there for two weeks, and it was a peaceful world where
you could hear someone playing a piano singing "Nelly home" from the post down the street. He invited
Charley and Louisa to keep looking for it.

13. Did Charley ever go back to the ticket counter? No though Charley withdrew 300 dollars from the bank
and bought old style bills, he never found the corridor to the third level at the grand Central station, hence he
couldn't buy tickets to Galesburg.
14. What do you infer from Sam's letter to Charley? Sam's letter was a proof of reaching a third level. It
indicated Sam's yearning for an escape from the insecure world. His belief in its existence made it manifest
that it was a fantastic world of peace which gave him relief, it was doubtful if this was an imagination of Charley
or if he really found the place.

15. Do you see an intersection of time and space? Firstly, the first two levels of the grand Central station are
present in the present day, but the third Level was in the 1890s. Secondly Charley lived in the present, yet he
went to the third level to buy tickets. Thirdly the presence of Galesburg, Illinois was in both present time and
in the past at the same time.

16. Apparent illogicality sometimes terms out to be futuristic projection, discuss. It is true that art and
science, that were thought logical at a point of time turned out to be a futuristic projection. Likewise, Charley
unable to cope with the heart realities of the modern world indulged in a convenient medium of escape to
1894 and that escape is not in the past but in a futuristic world of fantasy.

THE TIGER KING

1. What gave the astrologers the greatest surprise of their life while they were studying the horoscope of
the 10-day old prince? When the astrologers were studying the horoscope of the 10-day old prince, the infant
suddenly began to speak clearly and wisely. This miracle of the ten-day old Prince speaking and raising
intelligent questions gave the astrologers the greatest surprise of their lives.

2. What made the chief astrologer place his finger on his nose? When the prince was only ten days old, he
opened his lips in speech and raised intelligent questions to the chief astrologer. He asked him about the
manner of his death this made the chief astrologer place his finger on his nose.

3. What warning did the astrologers give the tiger king when he killed the first tiger? Did his prediction
come to be true? When the maharaja killed the first tiger the astrologer warned them to be careful of the
hundredth tiger. He said that he may kill ninety-nine tigers in this manner, but he must be very careful with the
hundredth tiger. Yes, his prediction came to be true as the Maharaja was not able to kill the hundredth tiger.

4. Why did the Maharaja ban tiger hunting in the state? When he killed the first tiger, the chief astrologer
informed him that he would have to kill hundred tigers to fulfil the prophecy. So, the maharaja banned tiger
hunting in the state so that he could kill the required number of tigers.

5. What led the Maharaja to start out on the tiger hunt? When the Maharaja was born, a prophecy was made
that the reason of the Maharaja's death would be a tiger, the Maharaja wanted to disprove the prediction. After
he killed his first tiger, the astrologer said that he would have to kill hundred tigers in as the prophecy was that
the hundredth tiger, would cause his death. So, the Maharaja started out on a tiger hunt to save his life.

6. What sort of hunt did the Maharaja offered organise for the high-ranking British officer? What trait of
the officer does it reveal? When the British official came with a request for a tiger hunt the Maharaja offered
to organise a boar hunt or a mouse hunt or even a mosquito hunt for him but not a tiger hunt. The Maharaja
was informed that the official would even be happy to simply pose with the tiger's carcass for a photograph,
while the Maharaja could do the actual killing. This shows the shallowness of the officer.

7. When was the tiger king in danger of losing his throne? The Maharaja had banned killing of tigers in
Pratibandapuram, so he refused to give permission to the British officer for hunting tigers there because of
this refusal, the king was in danger of losing his throne and his kingdom.

8. How does the tiger king manage to retain his Kingdom? The Maharaja did not permit the British officer to
hunt tigers in his kingdom due to which he displeased the officer and was in danger of losing his Kingdom. To
counteract this, he sent the officers wife, a selection of fifty diamond rings from which he thought she would
keep one or two that she like but the lady kept all of them helping the Maharaja retain his kingdom.

9. Why was Maharaja sunk in gloom even after having killed seventy tigers? The tiger king's mission to
prove the prophecy wrong, that he would be killed by the hundredth tiger was not accomplished because the
tiger population became extinct in the forests of Pratibandapuram, after he at killed seventy tigers. The
Maharaja sunk in gloom as the prophecy still hung over his head.

10. Why was the Maharaja so anxious to kill the hundredth tiger? The astrologer had foretold that the
Maharaja should be wary of the hundredth tiger. Killing the last tiger would mean he had proved the prophecy
wrong and thus saved his life, that is why he was anxious to kill the hundredth tiger.

11. Why did the Maharaja order the Deewan to double the land tax? When the hundredth tiger was hard to
find, people near the hillside village reported that a tiger was to be loitering in the village. The angry Maharaja
ordered the deewan to double the land tax for that village in frustration and anger.

12. Why did the Deewan decide to buy a tiger to be killed by the Maharajah? The Maharaja refused leave
the forest until he had killed the last tiger. Many officers lost their jobs and the Deewan feared that he may lose
his job too. So, to save his job the Diwan decided to bring a tiger from the People's park in Madras and thus
enable the Maharaja to kill the hundredth tiger.

13. How did the tiger king kill the hundredth tiger? When the tiger king shot at his target, the bullet missed
the target. But the old tiger fainted from the shock of a bullet whizzing past it. So, although the tiger appeared
to be dead it was only unconscious, but the Maharaja thought he had killed the tiger. Later the tiger was killed
by one of the hunters who had accompanied the Maharajah.

14. How did the Tiger king celebrate his victory over the killing of the hundredth tiger? When he thought
that he had killed hundred tigers his joy knew no bounds. The elated King returned to his capital and ordered
his staff to bring the dead tiger in a grand procession. The tiger was buried, and a tomb was erected over it.

15. What happened to the tiger provided by the Deewan? The Deewan took the tiger to the forest where the
Maharaja was hunting. The Maharaja took careful aim and fired at the tiger. The tiger fell in a crumbled heap,
but the bullet had missed the tiger. The tiger had fainted from the shock of the bullet whizzing past him. The
hunters did not dare to tell this to the king and after the Maharaja left one of the hunters shot the tiger.

16. The manner of his death is a matter of extraordinary interest. Comment. The manner of the tiger king's
death is a matter of extraordinary interest because it is ironical that all though he killed ninety-nine live tigers,
a harmless wooden toy tiger caused his death as a tiny sliver of wood, on it, pierced the Maharaja's right hand.
It became infected and the Maharaja died because of it. Toes his death was destined, and he failed to survive
the ominous prediction.

17. What considerations influence the tiger king to get married? To defeat the astrologer's prophecy, the
Maharaja had to kill hundred tigers. He had already killed seventy tigers and their population in his state
neared extinction. For this reason, he wished to marry a girl from royal family, hailing from a state with a rich
tiger population where he could kill the rest of the required number of tigers.

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE EARTH

1. What was the objective of the ‘Students on Ice programme’? The objective was to offer the future
generation policy makers a life changing experience at an early age. At this age, the students were willing to
learn, absorb the information and most importantly act. Mr. Geoff Green provided high school students an
opportunity to understand and develop a respect for our planet.

2. The world 's geological history is trapped in Antarctica. How is the study of this region useful to us?
There was a giant southern super continent 650 million years ago, the Gondwana. Around 500 million years
ago, Gondwana disordered into countries which exist today. Antarctica then was at the centre of Gondwana.
The study of Antarctica gives us knowledge about where we have come from and where we are heading. It may
help us to know the importance of Cordilleran folds, pre-Cambrian granite shields, ozone and carbon,
evolution and extinction.

3. What are Geoff Green's reasons for including high school students in the ice expedition? Geoff Green
had always carted celebrities and retired rich people to Antarctica. He visualised that they would give back in