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प्रश्न
The unexpected presence of a criminal wielding a gun triggers different reactions in the two men who entered the room. In this light, discuss the appropriacy of the title.
उत्तर
A visitor usually comes during the wakeful hours. Nocturnal visitors are usually thieves. They don’t inform one in advance because the purpose of their visit is never noble enough to inform in advance. People involved in shady businesses only choose midnight to break into someone’s house. In this story, a spy is after an important report about missiles, a secretly guarded report, which is expected to be delivered to the private detective Ausable at 12.30 am. The spy gets the secret information from his trusted connections. So, he arrives earlier than Ausable and sneaks into his room using a passkey. The spy is brandishing his pistol to coerce the private detective to pass on the report as and when it arrives. Ausable outsmarts him by cooking up a story about a non-existent balcony beneath his window which extends from the neighboring apartment. He connects brilliantly the knock of Henry the waiter to that of police who might fire at Max as he is armed. So, the title of the story, “The Midnight Visitor” is very pertinent.
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संबंधित प्रश्न
While many would seek vengeance or feel sorry for themselves, some may put their trust in God, forgive others for the wrongs done to them and move on in life. What is your take on this? Discuss.
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What impact did the book “The Lives of Saints” have on Aksionov?
Richard Parker's survival seemed incredible to Pi. Why?
Why was Pi not afraid of the hyena?
We judge people around us, based on their qualities and actions. We brand some people as good and some bad. What qualities, do you think, characterise a gentleman? Some of them may be merely external and some others internal
Rearrange the following sentences in a meaningful sequence and write the summary of the play.
| a) Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial. |
| b) The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money. |
| c) Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt. |
| d) Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank. |
| e) To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him. |
| f) Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham. |
| g) Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members. |
| h) Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him. |
| i) Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity. |
| j) The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him. |
How is Martha’s strong conviction in Baldwin’s integrity revealed?
John feels Gresham deserves punishment. Why?
When would Baldwin part company with Gresham?
Sketch the character of:
i) Robert Baldwin
ii) John Gresham.
Who do you think exhibits true friendship–Baldwin or Gresham? Justify your answer.
Now match the idioms under column A with their meanings in column B:
| A. IDIOMS | B. MEANINGS |
| save one’s skin | a sudden unexpected event or news |
| make both ends meet | to be the most powerful |
| a bolt out of a clear sky | viewed with suspicion and distrust |
| go to grave | to protect oneself from difficulty |
| have the whip hand | manage one’s expenses within one’s income |
| under a cloud | to exit the world |
Let us try to picturise people in a few interesting professions (based on common perception there can be exceptions).
How did Ausable describe the balcony and the manner in which one could get into his room, through it?
Who was Fowler? Why did he meet Ausable?
Do you think physical appearance matters most for a secret agent? Answer giving reasons in the context of the story ‘The Midnight Visitor.
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What does Margot like the most - the sun or the rain?
What was Margot waiting for? Why did William say that it was a joke?
Margot could recall what the sun looked like while the other children could not. Why?
How did Margot describe the sun to others?
Find out and encircle the following words in the word grid. (The words have been placed horizontally, vertically, diagonally and even back to front)
| fades | predict | discriminate | locks | reminded |
| experience | anticipated | unlock | recalls |
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
The scientists______ that the Sun would come out on Venus that day after seven years.
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
The Sun ______ behind a stir of mist. Again it started raining on Venus.
Why was the speaker keen to know what day it was?
Whose life was of ‘great value’ to England? In what way?
