Question 1 - Chapter 1 - The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse - Snapshot - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 11

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

We were poor. We had no money. Our whole tribe was povertystricken. Every branch of the Garoghlanian1 family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. Nobody could understand where we ever got money enough to keep us with food in our bellies, not even the old men of the family. Most important of all, though, we were famous for our honesty. We had been famous for our honesty for something like eleven centuries, even when we had been the wealthiest family in what we liked to think was the world. We were proud first, honest next, and after that we believed in right and wrong. None of us would take advantage of anybody in the world, let alone steal

(The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse )

Question (i)

 What does the word 'poverty-stricken' mean in this context?

• (a) Affected by a disease
• (b) Lacking in education
• (c) Suffering from hunger
• (d) Lacking in money

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The word 'poverty-stricken' means (d) lacking in money in this context.

 Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

•    To answer this question, we need to understand what the word 'context' means and how to find clues or hints in the extract that can help us to guess the meaning of the word 'poverty-stricken'.
•    Context is the situation or background that helps us to understand something better . In this case, the context is the extract from the story that we have read.
•     Clues or hints are words or phrases in the extract that can give us some idea about the meaning of the word 'poverty-stricken'. For example, we can see that the narrator says that his family had no money and that nobody could understand how they managed to survive.
•    Using our logic and common sense, we can eliminate the wrong options and choose the correct one. For example, we can see that option A (affected by a disease) does not make sense because there is no mention of any disease in the extract. Similarly, option B (lacking in education) and option C (suffering from hunger) do not fit with the clues or hints that we have found. Therefore, option D (lacking in money) is the correct answer.
•    The word 'poverty-stricken' means extremely poor or suffering from poverty. In this context, it means that the narrator's family had no money and lived in a very difficult situation.

Question (ii)

Complete the sentence with an appropriate word or phrase.

The narrator says that they liked to think that they were________________

Answer:

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Answer as written by the student:

The narrator says that they liked to think that they were the wealthiest family in the world.

 Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

•    To answer this question, we need to understand what a word or phrase is and how to find the missing word or phrase in the extract that can complete the sentence.
•    A word or phrase is a group of letters or sounds that has a meaning. It can be a single word or a combination of words. For example, 'poverty-stricken' is a phrase that means extremely poor.
•    The missing word or phrase is the part of the sentence that is left blank. We need to fill in the blank with a word or phrase that makes sense and matches with the rest of the sentence. For example, we can see that the sentence begins with 'The narrator says that they liked to think that they were', which means that the missing word or phrase should describe something that they imagined or wished to be true about themselves or their family.
•    Using our logic and common sense, we can find the missing word or phrase in the extract that can complete the sentence. For example, we can see that the narrator uses the phrase 'what we liked to think was the world' to show that they had a high opinion of themselves and their family history, even though they were poor. This phrase matches with the beginning of the sentence and makes sense in the context of the story. Therefore, the missing word or phrase is 'the wealthiest family in the world'.
•    The narrator says that they liked to think that they were the wealthiest family in the world because it shows their pride and dignity. They did not let their poverty affect their self-esteem or happiness.

Question (iii)

Identify the line from the extract that shows that the narrator's family was poor for a long time.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The line from the extract that shows that the narrator's family was poor for a long time is 'Every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world.'

 Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

•    To answer this question, we need to understand what a line is and how to find the line in the extract that shows that the narrator's family was poor for a long time.
•     A line is a row of words or sentences in a text. It can be a part of a paragraph or a separate sentence. For example, 'We were poor.' is a line in the extract.
•    The line in the extract that shows that the narrator's family was poor for a long time is the one that gives us some information or clues about how long they have been poor and how poor they were.
• For example, we can see that the line 'Every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world.' gives us some information or clues about how long they have been poor and how poor they were. It tells us that every branch of their family was poor, which means that their poverty affected all of them. It also tells us that they were living in the most amazing and comical poverty, which means that their poverty was extreme and unbelievable. It also uses the word 'was', which indicates that their poverty was not a recent or temporary situation, but a long-term or permanent one.
•    The line from the extract that shows that the narrator's family was poor for a long time is 'Every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world.' because it gives us some information or clues about how long they have been poor and how poor they were. It shows that their poverty was widespread, extreme, and lasting.

Question (iv)

 List any two sensory details present in this extract.

Answer:

 Answer as written by the student:

Two sensory details present in this extract are:

• The sound of the opening and closing of desks
• The sight of the teacher walking up and down with his iron ruler

Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

• To answer this question, we need to understand what sensory details are and how to find them in the extract.
• Sensory details are words or phrases that appeal to the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. They help the reader to imagine the scene and feel the emotions of the characters.
• To find sensory details in the extract, we need to look for words or phrases that describe what the narrator sees, hears, smells, tastes, or feels. For example, we can see that the narrator hears the opening and closing of desks and sees the teacher walking up and down with his iron ruler. These are sensory details that appeal to the sense of sight and sound.
• Two sensory details present in this extract are:
• The sound of the opening and closing of desks
• The sight of the teacher walking up and down with his iron ruler

Question (v)

 Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line, ‘We were proud first, honest next, and after that we believed in right and wrong.’

Answer: 

Answer as written by the student:

One possible inference that can be drawn from this line is that the narrator’s family had a very high sense of self-esteem and dignity. They valued their reputation and honor more than anything else. They also had a clear moral code that guided their actions and decisions.

Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

• To answer this question, we need to understand what an inference is and how to draw one from the line in the extract.
• An inference is a logical conclusion or assumption based on evidence or clues from the text. The writer does not directly state the inference, but implies it through words or phrases. The reader has to use their background knowledge and reasoning skills to figure out the inference.
• To draw an inference from the line in the extract, we need to look for evidence or clues in the line that can help us to guess what it means or implies. For example, we can see that the narrator says that they were proud first, honest next, and after that they believed in right and wrong. These words show what they considered important or desirable in life. They also show their order of priority or preference.
• Using our logic and common sense, we can use the evidence or clues in the line to make a logical conclusion or assumption about what it means or implies. For example, we can see that the narrator says that they were proud first, which means that they had a very high sense of self-esteem and dignity. They did not let their poverty affect their happiness or confidence. They also say that they were honest next, which means that they valued their reputation and honor more than anything else. They did not cheat or lie to anyone, even when they were poor. They also say that after that they believed in right and wrong, which means that they had a clear moral code that guided their actions and decisions. They did not do anything that was against their principles or conscience.
• One possible inference that can be drawn from this line is that the narrator’s family had a very high sense of self-esteem and dignity. They valued their reputation and honor more than anything else. They also had a clear moral code that guided their actions and decisions because this is a logical conclusion or assumption based on the evidence or clues in the line. It shows what kind of people they were and what kind of values they had.

Question (vi)

How does the narrator's tone suggest his attitude towards his family's poverty?

• (a) He is ashamed and embarrassed by it.
• (b) He is angry and resentful about it.
• (c) He is amused and optimistic about it.
• (d) He is indifferent and detached from it.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

The narrator's tone suggests that (c) he is amused and optimistic about his family's poverty.

 Step-by-step explanation of the answer: 📊

   To answer this question, we need to understand what tone is and how to find the narrator's tone in the extract that suggests his attitude towards his family's poverty.

•    Tone is the attitude or emotion that the writer or speaker expresses through their words or voice. It can be positive, negative, or neutral. It can also vary depending on the purpose, audience, or situation. For example, the tone of a joke can be humorous or sarcastic.
•    The narrator's tone in the extract that suggests his attitude towards his family's poverty is the one that shows how he feels or thinks about their situation. For example, we can see that the narrator uses words like 'amazing', 'comical', and 'liked to think' to describe their poverty. These words show how he feels or thinks about their situation.
•    Using our logic and common sense, we can eliminate the wrong options and choose the correct one. For example, we can see that option A (ashamed and embarrassed) and option B (angry and resentful) are not consistent with the narrator's tone in the extract. The narrator does not use words that show that he feels guilty or unhappy about their poverty. Similarly, option D (indifferent and detached) is not accurate because the narrator does not use words that show that he does not care or feel anything about their poverty. Therefore, option C (amused and optimistic) is the correct answer.
•    The narrator's tone suggests that he is amused and optimistic about his family's poverty because he uses words that show that he finds their situation funny or interesting. He also uses words that show that he has a positive or hopeful outlook on their situation.

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