11 SNAPSHOTS 2 MARKS

 Lesson 1 – The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse by William Saroyan 

1. What were the hallmarks of the Garoghlanian tribe?
The Garoghlanian tribe was famous for honesty and trust. They never stole or cheated anyone, even if they were poor. Their hallmark was their belief in truth, morality, and simplicity. People respected them for their good character and clean reputation.

2. What according to Aram, was his first longing?
According to Aram, his first longing was to ride a horse. He loved horses deeply but could not afford one because his family was poor. The sight of Mourad with a beautiful white horse filled him with excitement and happiness.

3. What was the name of the horse? Who had an understanding with the horse?
The horse did not have a specific name mentioned in the story. It was a beautiful white horse. Mourad had a special understanding with the horse. The animal obeyed him easily because of his love for it.

4. What sort of understanding did Mourad have with the horse?
Mourad had a natural bond with the horse. He talked to it, calmed it, and rode it fearlessly. The horse trusted Mourad and behaved gently with him, showing a connection of love and friendship between them.

5. When did the boys return the horse?
The boys returned the horse after six weeks of secretly keeping and enjoying it. Though they loved riding the horse, they realized it was wrong to keep it away from its rightful owner, John Byro, for so long.

6. Why did the boys return the white horse to its owner?
The boys returned the horse because they belonged to an honest tribe that never stole. When John Byro expressed trust in their family’s honesty, they felt guilty. Their conscience forced them to return the horse to him secretly.

7. What happened when Aram tried to ride the horse?
When Aram tried to ride the horse, he could not control it. The horse ran wildly and threw him off its back. He fell down, but fortunately he was not badly hurt. It showed his inexperience with horses.

8. Where did the boys hide the horse for the night?
The boys hid the white horse in a deserted barn of an abandoned vineyard belonging to a farmer named Fetvajian. They chose this place because it was safe, quiet, and nobody could find the horse there at night.

9. Who was John Byro? What concern did he express at Aram’s place?
John Byro was the rightful owner of the white horse, a poor farmer who needed it for transport. When he visited Aram’s house, he expressed his sadness over the missing horse but also said he trusted the honesty of Garoghlanian family.

 Lesson 2 – The Address by Marga Minco 

1. Why did the author wait for such a long time before visiting ‘The Address’?
The author waited for a long time before visiting “The Address” because after the war she felt broken and unsure. She needed time to recover from the painful memories of losing her mother and home before facing those belongings again.

2. Why did the objects lose their value for the author?
The objects lost value because they only reminded the author of her mother and the war. Without her loved ones, the furniture and household items were meaningless. They no longer gave her comfort; instead, they increased her pain and sadness.

3. Why had the author come to visit Mrs. Dorling?
The author visited Mrs. Dorling to reclaim her family’s belongings. Her mother had given Mrs. Dorling those valuable household items for safekeeping during the war, but after the war ended, the author wanted to bring them back to her home.

4. How did Mrs. Dorling treat the author when the author visited her?
Mrs. Dorling treated the author coldly and rudely. She did not welcome her inside the house and pretended to be busy. Her unfriendly and suspicious behavior showed she did not want to return the author’s family belongings.

5. Why did the author of the story ‘The Address’ want to forget the address?
The author wanted to forget the address because the household items she saw there reminded her only of loss and death. They belonged to her dead mother, but now looked strange and empty. She realized memories were more important than objects.

6. Whom did the author desire to meet in Holland? Why?
The author wanted to meet Mrs. Dorling in Holland because her mother had told her that Mrs. Dorling was keeping their precious belongings safe during the war. The author hoped to collect those items after the war ended.

7. When did the narrator first learn about the existence of Mrs Dorling?
The narrator first learned about Mrs. Dorling’s existence when her mother mentioned her during the war. Her mother said Mrs. Dorling was helping them by keeping their valuable household items safely to protect them from being destroyed or stolen.

8. Why did the narrator return to Marconi Street after a long time?
The narrator returned to Marconi Street after the war ended to reclaim her family’s belongings from Mrs. Dorling. She wanted to reconnect with her past and recover things that had been taken away during those difficult and painful war years.

 Lesson 5 – Mother’s Day by J.B. Priestley 

1. Who was Mrs. Fitzgerald? What did she advise Mrs. Pearson?
Mrs. Fitzgerald was the Pearson family’s neighbor and a fortune-teller. She advised Mrs. Pearson to stop being a slave to her husband and children. She told her to become firm and make her family respect her feelings and hard work.

2. What was Mrs. Pearson’s reaction to Mrs. Fitzgerald’s advice?
At first, Mrs. Pearson felt nervous and doubtful about Mrs. Fitzgerald’s advice. She thought her family would not accept sudden changes. However, she agreed to try when Mrs. Fitzgerald suggested exchanging personalities to deal with the family more confidently.

3. How was Mrs. Pearson responsible for her own misery?
Mrs. Pearson was responsible because she always obeyed her husband and children blindly. She did all household work silently, never demanded respect, and sacrificed her own wishes. Her kindness was misused, making her family careless and selfish towards her.

4. How did Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Fitzgerald exchange their personalities and how do they react after their bodies were changed?
Mrs. Fitzgerald used her magic to exchange personalities with Mrs. Pearson. After the change, Mrs. Pearson behaved strong and bold, shocking her family. Mrs. Fitzgerald, in Pearson’s body, behaved calmly and guided her. The family slowly realized their mistakes.

5. What kind of girl was Doris? How did she trouble her mother?
Doris, Mrs. Pearson’s daughter, was selfish and rude. She ordered her mother to iron her clothes and prepare tea without thanks. She thought only about her outings and fun, showing no care for her mother’s feelings or hard work.

6. Who was Cyril? How did he behave in the family?
Cyril, Mrs. Pearson’s son, was careless and demanding like his sister. He always expected his mother to serve tea and look after him. He never helped at home or respected her efforts, showing a casual and selfish attitude.

7. Describe the personality of George. What was his attitude towards Mrs. Pearson?
George, Mrs. Pearson’s husband, was dull, weak, and unappreciative. He spent evenings at the club instead of helping his wife. He never valued Mrs. Pearson’s work or emotions. He behaved as if she was only meant to serve the family.

8. What reason did Mrs. Pearson give Cyril for not making tea?
Mrs. Pearson shocked Cyril by refusing to make tea. She told him she was tired of always working for the family. She said it was time they learned to do their own work and respect her.

9. What, according to Mrs. Pearson, were her plans for the weekends?
Mrs. Pearson declared that she would not cook or stay at home during weekends. Instead, she would enjoy herself by playing cards with neighbors at the club. She wanted to break free from her family’s selfish expectations.

10. What was the truth about Mr. George Pearson that hurt him the most?
Mrs. Pearson told George that at the club, people mocked him. They called him “poor George” and laughed behind his back. This truth shocked and hurt him the most, making him realize how others disrespected him.

11. What was Mrs. Fitzgerald’s advice to Mrs. Pearson after she had put back the family members in their proper place?
Mrs. Fitzgerald advised Mrs. Pearson to remain firm and confident. She told her not to go back to her old soft behavior. If she continued being strong, her family would respect and support her in the future.

12. What was the change that came over the Pearson family in the end?
In the end, the Pearson family realized their mistakes. Doris, Cyril, and George felt guilty for their selfish behavior. They promised to help their mother, respect her more, and spend time together, bringing harmony and happiness into the home.

Lesson 7 – Birth by A.J. Cronin 

1. What does the author refer to as ‘a miracle’?

The author calls it a miracle when the baby, who was not breathing at birth, came back to life. Everyone thought the baby was dead, but Dr. Andrew worked hard and saved it.

2. How did Andrew try to save the child?

Dr. Andrew:

• Put the baby in hot and cold water to shock its body.

• Then used artificial breathing (Sylvester method).

• After trying for a long time, the baby finally started breathing.

3. How did Andrew save Susan Morgan?

Susan was very weak and in danger after the difficult delivery.

• Dr. Andrew gave her an anaesthetic during delivery.

• After she fainted and bled a lot, he gave her an injection and treated her quickly.

• She slowly regained strength and was safe.

4. How did Andrew feel at the end of the story?

Andrew felt very happy, proud, and satisfied.
He had saved both the mother and the baby, and it made him feel like he had done something really special.

5. How was Andrew feeling before the delivery?

Andrew was feeling sad and tired.
He had a fight with the girl he liked and was emotionally upset. But even though he was not in a good mood, he still went to help Joe Morgan’s wife.

6. Why was Joe Morgan waiting for Andrew even though it was nearly midnight?

Joe Morgan was waiting because his wife was about to have their first baby after 20 years of marriage.
It was a very important and emotional moment for him, so he wanted Dr. Andrew to come quickly.

 Lesson 8 – The Tale of the Melon City by Vikram Seth 

1. Why did the king order to build an arch?
The king ordered to build an arch  to honour his victory and show the greatness of his kingdom. He wanted a symbol of triumph that people would admire. It was meant to remind citizens of his power and success.

2. What happened on that day when the king rode under the arch?
When the king rode under the arch, he felt the arch was not properly built. Instead of being pleased, he became angry. He believed justice was necessary, so he punished the workers and began blaming everyone involved in its construction.

3. How did the workmen escape themselves from being hanged?
The workmen saved themselves by blaming the chief of builders. They said they only followed instructions. Shifting the blame upward, they argued that the chief was responsible for the faulty arch. The king agreed and decided to punish the chief instead.

4. What is called laissez faire?
Laissez faire means “let people do as they wish.” In the story, the citizens followed this principle. They believed in freedom and never interfered with their king’s decisions. After his death, they happily accepted a new king of their own choice.

5. Why did the king call the issue a strictly thing?
The king called the issue a “strictly fair matter” because he believed justice had to be done. He insisted on punishing someone for the faulty arch, even if the fault was small. His obsession with fairness led to strange decisions.

6. What did the workmen say in their defence when the king ordered them to be hanged?
The workmen defended themselves by saying they only followed the chief builder’s instructions. They claimed they were not responsible for the design or construction mistakes. Their clever defense shifted the blame to the chief, saving themselves from punishment.

7. Who did the chief of builders’ blame?
The chief of builders blamed the king himself. He argued that the king approved the plan of the arch, so the responsibility lay with him. Surprisingly, the king accepted this reasoning and declared that he should be punished for the mistake.

8. Who was the wisest man? What did he say?
The wisest man in the city was a very old man. He said the king himself must be punished because he approved the design. His words influenced the crowd, and strangely, the king also agreed to accept his own punishment.

9. Why were the people happy with their Melon King?
The people were happy because they valued personal freedom. Their motto was laissez faire—“let the people live as they like.” A Melon King never interfered in their lives. They enjoyed peace and independence, so they felt satisfied under his rule.

10. How was the new king chosen?
The new king was chosen according to the city’s tradition: the ruler would be selected based on the people’s choice. When asked, they simply said they wanted a king who looked like a “melon.” So, a melon was crowned king.