How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
For every three months he was attached with a belt. He went back and forth across the pool. On each trip across the pool a bit of panic seized him. Each time instructor made him waved his hold on the rope and he went under, come of the old terror returned and freezed his legs. Then he taught him to put his face under water and exhale, and to rave his nose and inhale held him at the ride of the pool and taught him kick with his legs. He practiced a lot and finally instructor told him that you are ready to swim. Thus piece by piece he built a swimmer.
How did this experience affect him?
How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
How does Douglas make clear to the reader the sense of panic that gripped him as he almost drowned? Describe the details that have made the description vivid.
Why does Douglas as an adult recount a childhood experience of terror and his conquering of it? What larger meaning does he draw from this experience?
How did Douglas make sure that he conquered the old terror?
What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
What were the series of emotions and fears that Douglas experienced when he was thrown into the pool? What plans did he make to come to the surface?
What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Strike out what is not true in the following.
a. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) a sharecropper.
(ii) a politician.
(iii) delegate.
(iv) a landlord.
b. Rajkumar Shukla was
(i) poor.
(ii) physically strong.
(iii) illiterate.
What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up’?
What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Why was he amused by this idea?
Why was he amused by this idea?
How would you describe the character and temperament of Sophie’s father?
Why did he show the thirty kroner to the peddler?
The author has used gentle humour to point out human foibles. Pick out instances of this to show how this serves to make the piece interesting.
What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Who was Subbu’s principal?
Why is the Englishman’s visit referred to as unexplained mystery?
What caused the lack of communication between the Englishman and the people at Gemini Studios?
Sophie and Jansie were class-mates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Why was the office boy frustrated? Who did he show his anger on?