Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits as a fabrication of somebody thoughts because iswaran had told him that the ghosts were living on a funeral site and kept narrating the stories of various ghosts to him which he had faced. On the full moon night, Mahendra woke up from sleep and could hear a low groan which was close to his window. He thought that it was a cat romping around for a mice. But the sound was too deep and didn't seem like a cat. He avoided looking outsides as he didn't wanna counter whatever was there and wanted to avoid that sight which was breath taking. But the groaning became very louder and less faint. He couldn't resist that noise anymore so he calmed and lowered himself out of the windowsill. He looked out the moonlight at outside and saw a dark cloudy figure that holding a bundle. He started sweating due to fear and fell back on the pillow puffing.
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?
How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
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?