Prose
- O’Henry has used different words to indicate prison where Soapy wants to reach. Make a list of those words the island 1
- Write an incident in which you did something wrong and repented for it later. Give reasons. A lady who stayed in my building used to shout at me for playing noisily under her window. One day, she shouted at me as usual from her wind... 1
- After listening to the sweet and solemn organ notes, Soapy decides to: 1. pull himself out of the mire, conquer the evil that had enslaved him and make a man of himself again 2. resurrect his old eager ambitions... 1
- Soapy’s earlier life was much different from his present life. Complete the table to show this contrast. Earlier lifePresent life (a) contained friends and roses(a) unworthy desires (b) eager ambitions(b) dead hopes, degraded days (c) clean thou... 1
- ‘He would make a man of himself again’ – The word ‘man’ in the sentence means ……………….. . ‘He would make a man of himself again’ – The word ‘man’ in the sentence means a responsible and worthy human being. 1
- Listening to the anthem, Soapy remembered his good old days. He had known it well in the days when his life contained such things as mothers and roses and ambitions and friends and immaculate thoughts... 1
- Soapy actually did not want the umbrella. He hurled the umbrella angrily into the excavation. 2
- Soapy was not caught by the cop for throwing stones at the glass. The policeman refused to accept Soapy even as a clue The policeman saw a man half-way down the block running to catch a car. With drawn club... 1
- Soapy was afraid that he won’t be able to enter the prison. It seemed that his route to the coveted island was not to be an easy one. Some other way of entering the limbo must be devised. 1
- Soapy wants to enter the cafe for two reasons. 1. A roasted mallard duck, thought Soapy, would be about the thing with a bottle of wine and then some cheese, a cup of coffee and a cigar.... 1
- Give reasons and complete the following: (The answers are given directly and underlined.) (a) Soapy had confidence in himself because he was shaven, his coat was trim and he had a neat, black bow. The portion of him that showed ab... 1
- Read the story and match the incidents given in Column A with the consequences given in Column B. Soapy tried to enter a cafe – Strong and ready hands of the head waiter turned him around. Soapy broke a glass window – The cop ran after an... 1
- Describe the atmosphere when Soapy reached near the Church. (a) A soft light glowed through the violet-stained window. (b) Sweet music drifted out of the quaint, old church. (c) There was a full, radi... 1
- Discuss with your partner and find out the different ways in which Soapy tried ; to get arrested. The first one is given (a) Tried to enter a luxurious cafe. (b) Threw a stone and broke a shop window. (c) Ate heartily at a restaurant and then said he had no mon... 2
- Discuss some of the motivating things that can change a person’s life : (a) Listening to an inspiring speech (b) Reading motivating books and biographies of great people (c) Reading epics and religious books (d)... 1
- When you see a cop approaching, you feel either ‘relieved’ or ‘scared’. Discuss with your partner and write down the Relieved: (a) You are walking alone in a dark street. (b) There is a fight taking place near you. (c) A group of rough-looking people are co... 1
- Give your opinion about the conductor’s behaviour. The conductor was really a good and kind human being who saw the best in everyone and believed everyone. He was ready to pay the fare for th... 1
- Describe a pleasant/unpleasant experience you have had with a bus conductor. This is an experience I had when I was new to Mumbai. I got into a bus and asked the conductor for a ticket to Dadar. The conductor shook hi... 1
- Describe a person you have come across who is always polite and helpful. What do you think about him/her? The security guard of our building is always polite and helpful. He will help senior citizens get in and out of their cars or into the lift;... 1
- Describe the narrator’s justification of his praise of the conductor. The narrator says that if the famous poet Wordsworth could gain wisdom from a poor leech-gatherer, he sees no reason why ordinary people sho... 1
- Describe the experience which made the narrator comfortable in the bus. The conductor had trampled on the narrator’s sensitive toe, causing him pain and agony. However, the conductor had then explained matters an... 1
- Describe the reactions of the bus conductor. No, the conductor did not think that the narrator was dishonest. He cheerfully accepted what the narrator said without doubting him and offe... 1
- Describe the stale old trick, according to the conductor. Pretending that you have forgotten your purse at home, and hence do not have the fare for the ticket is a stale old trick, according to the... 1
- Name the ‘unpleasant specimen’ mentioned in the extract and describe his behaviour. The ‘unpleasant specimen’ mentioned in the extract is the type of bus conductor who regards his passengers as natural enemies whose chief pu... 1