The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?
The author had great fondness towards his cat. He cried inconsolably when he couldn’t find his cat after the fire. He regularly goes to the site of his house in the hope of finding his cat. He remembered how the cat would crawl into his pocket and fall asleep. He missed her terribly. The cat was so freaked by the fire and ran a mile away from the burning house. One woman found the cat and took her in. she find the author’s number on the cat’s collar. However, she couldn’t reach them as the phone had been disconnected because of the fire. The women then made personal efforts to find the author to returned back his cat.
What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?
Why does he break down in tears after the fire?
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?
Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?
How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Bill Bryson “ached to be suave”. Is he successful in his mis- sion? List his ‘unsuave’ ways.