Question 2 - Chapter 5 - The Snake and the Mirror - Beehive - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 9

Read the extract and answer the following questions-

Extract:

I went back into the room and sat down on the chair. I opened the box beneath the table and took out a book, the Materia Medica. I opened it at the table on which stood the lamp and a large mirror; a small comb lay beside the mirror. One feels tempted to look into a mirror when it is near one. I took a look. In those days I was a great admirer of beauty and I believed in making myself look handsome. I was unmarried and I was a doctor. I felt I had to make my presence felt. I picked up the comb and ran it through my hair and adjusted the parting so that it looked straight and neat. Again I heard that sound from above.

(The Snake and the Mirror)

Question (i)

 What does the book Materia Medica contain?

• (a) A collection of medical stories
• (b) A guide to medical practice
• (c) A list of medicinal substances
• (d) A history of medical science

Answer :

Answer as written by the student:

(c) A list of medicinal substances

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to know what the book Materia Medica is about.
•  Materia Medica is a Latin term that means "medical material" or "medical matter".📚
•  It is a genre of books that contain information about the sources, properties, effects, and uses of various drugs and remedies.💊
•  Therefore, the correct option is C. A list of medicinal substances.👏

Question (ii)

 What does the narrator's temptation to look into a mirror reveal about his personality? Answer in one word.

Answer :

-lock-

Answer as written by the student:

Vain

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to infer what the narrator's temptation to look into a mirror reveals about his personality.
•  The narrator tells us that he felt tempted to look into a mirror when it was near him and that he was a great admirer of beauty and believed in making himself look handsome.👀
•  This suggests that the narrator was vain, which means that he had a high opinion of his own appearance and wanted others to admire him too.😎
•  Therefore, the answer is vain.😒

Question (iii)

 How does the narrator's occupation as a doctor contrast with his obsession with his appearance? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer :

Answer as written by the student:

The narrator's occupation as a doctor contrasts with his obsession with his appearance because a doctor is supposed to be concerned with the health and well-being of others, not with his own looks and vanity. A doctor should also be humble and professional, not arrogant and superficial.

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to analyze how the narrator's occupation as a doctor contrasts with his obsession with his appearance.
•  The narrator tells us that he was unmarried and a doctor and that he felt he had to make his presence felt by making himself look handsome.👨‍⚕️
•  This contrasts with his occupation as a doctor because a doctor is expected to have different values and priorities than the narrator.😕
•   A doctor should care more about helping others than impressing them with his looks. A doctor should also be modest and respectful, not conceited and self-centered.😠
•  Therefore, the answer is The narrator's occupation as a doctor contrasts with his obsession with his appearance because a doctor is supposed to be concerned with the health and well-being of others, not with his own looks and vanity. A doctor should also be humble and professional, not arrogant and superficial.😮

Question (iv)

 What is the significance of the sound that the narrator heard from above in relation to the title of the story?

• (a) It foreshadows the appearance of the snake.
• (b) It symbolizes the reflection of the mirror.
• (c) It creates suspense for the reader.
• (d) All of the above.

Answer :

Answer as written by the student:

(d) All of the above.

Step-by-step explanation:

• To answer this question, we need to relate the sound that the narrator heard from above to the title of the story, which is "The Snake and the Mirror".
•  The sound that the narrator heard from above was made by a snake that later came down from the roof and confronted him in front of the mirror.🐍
•   The sound foreshadows the appearance of the snake, which is one of the main characters of the story and part of its title.👀
•   The sound also symbolizes the reflection of the mirror, which is another main element of the story and part of its title.💡
•  The mirror reflects both the snake and the narrator, creating a contrast between them and revealing their different perspectives and reactions.👥
•  The sound also creates suspense for the reader, who does not know what it is or what will happen next until they read further.😲
•  Therefore, the correct option is D. All of the above.👏

-endlock-