How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
He began the story of an elephant by giving a preface in which he called an elephant a big and huge well- fed beasts. He said that after absconding from the timber yard, the elephant began roaming around carved on bushes and tore apart the wild creepers. Elephant came to the main road of the town and broke all the stalls which were selling fruits there, mud pots, broke down the volleyball net and crushed the drum which was kept for water and uprooted the shrubs. All the teachers and students were so afraid that they started climbing up to the school building's terrace. According to Iswaran, he was in the junior class. He took a cane from one of the teachers and ran into the open. The elephant was groaning and stamping its feet hardly. The entire scene was very frightening. But still, he moved slowly towards him and when the elephant rushed towards him, he moved and dead beat its third toe nail. It looked surprising and then fell down. This story does not appear to be acceptable so it is not plausible.
How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
Can you think of some other ending for the story?
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?
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?
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?
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
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?
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.
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?
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?