Question

Answer any three of the following questions in 30-40 words each:

(a) What did M. Hamel tell them about the French language? What did he ask them to do and why?

(b) Why does Asokamitran call Subbu, ‘a charitable and improvident man’?

(c) How did the instructor turn Douglas into a swimmer?

(d) Why did Sophie like her brother, Geoff more than any other person?

Answer 1

(a) During the last French lesson, M. Hamel told them that French was the most beautiful, the clearest and the most logical language in the world.

He asked them to safeguard their language as it can serve as a ray of hope in times of enslavement and captivity.

(b) Subbu was a kind and helpful man. He showered genuine love on “anyone he came across”. He fed and supported many people, and never considered them a burden. Thus, the author refers to him as 'a charitable and improvident man'.

(c) The instructor worked gradually on Douglas’ psychology and moved on to his physical movements or steps. He made Douglas master each step till he gained perfection. Finally, he integrated each part to build a swimmer out of Douglas.

(d) Sophie liked her brother, Geoff, more than anybody else because he did not talk much and remained lost in his own thoughts. She envied his silence and thought that he had access to an unknown world, of which she too wanted to be a part.