A.
Answer these questions briefly.
1. Why was Nicholas in disgrace and not allowed to join the other children
on the trip to Jagborough sands?
Nicholas was in disgrace because he refused to eat his bread-and-milk, claiming
there was a frog in it. His aunt disbelieved him and punished him by excluding
him from the trip.
2. How did Nicholas prove the older, wiser, and better people wrong?
Nicholas proved them wrong by showing that there was a frog in his
bread-and-milk. He had placed it there himself, which confirmed his claim and
exposed their assumption as incorrect.
3. Why did the aunt decide to take the children to the sands of Jagborough?
The aunt decided to take the children to Jagborough sands as a special treat,
likely to enjoy the beach and have fun. It was also a way to exclude Nicholas,
who was in disgrace.
4. Describe the lumber room.
The lumber room was large and dimly lit, with only one high window for
illumination. It was filled with treasures, including a framed tapestry
depicting a hunting scene, candlesticks shaped like snakes, a teapot shaped
like a china duck, and a carved sandalwood box packed with aromatic cotton-wool
and small brass figures.
5. What objects caught Nicholas’s attention in the lumber room, and why
were they of particular interest to him?
Nicholas was particularly fascinated by the tapestry, which depicted a
hunting scene with a man, a stag, and dogs. He was intrigued by the vividness
of the scene and the details, such as the stag being only a few paces away from
the hunter. The other objects, like the candlesticks and the teapot, also
caught his attention due to their unique and whimsical designs.
6. How did Nicholas interpret the scene depicted in the tapestry
differently from others?
Nicholas imagined the scene in the tapestry as dynamic and alive. He visualized
the stag as a real animal that had just been shot, the dogs as actively
participating in the chase, and the vegetation as thick and growing. This
interpretation made the scene more vivid and engaging for him.
7. What happened to the aunt when she was looking for Nicholas in the
gooseberry garden?
The aunt accidentally fell into the rainwater tank while trying to retrieve a
ladder. She became stuck and called for help, but Nicholas, hearing her voice,
pretended not to recognize her and refused to assist.
8. Why did Nicholas refuse to obey the voice coming from the rainwater
tank, even when he was told he could enter the gooseberry garden?
Nicholas refused to obey because he recognized the voice as his aunt’s, despite
her attempt to disguise it. He was amused by the situation and enjoyed the
irony of her being trapped, especially since she had forbidden him from
entering the gooseberry garden. He also wanted to assert his independence and
defiance.
B. Answer these questions with
reference to the context.
1. "He told you twice, but you weren’t
listening. You often don’t listen when we tell you important things."
"You are not to go into the
gooseberry garden," said the aunt, changing the subject.
·
a. Who is the
speaker? Who does 'he' refer to in the first sentence?
The speaker is Nicholas. The "he" in the first sentence refers to Bobby, Nicholas's cousin,
who had told the aunt about his boots hurting him.
·
b. Why did the aunt
change the subject?
The aunt changed the subject to avoid acknowledging her mistake in not
listening to Bobby earlier. She likely wanted to assert her authority and
redirect the conversation to Nicholas's punishment.
·
c. Why did the aunt
say that the speaker did not have the permission to go to the gooseberry
garden?
The aunt said this because Nicholas was in disgrace for his earlier behavior
(refusing to eat his bread-and-milk). She used this as a way to punish him
further and reinforce her control.
2. "Presently the angry repetitions of
Nicholas’s name gave way to a shriek, and a cry for somebody to come quickly.
Nicholas crept from the room, locked the door, and replaced the key exactly
where he had found it."
·
a. Who shrieked and
cried out for help?
The aunt shrieked and cried out for help after falling into the
rainwater tank.
·
b. Why did the
person shriek?
The aunt shrieked because she was stuck in the rainwater tank and needed help
to get out.
·
c. Why does the
author use the word "crept" to describe how Nicholas came out of the
room?
The word "crept" suggests that Nicholas was moving quietly and
stealthily, likely to avoid being noticed or caught. It highlights his
mischievous and cunning nature.
3. "I know there are four jars of it in the
store cupboard, because I looked, and of course you know it’s there, but she
doesn’t, because she said there wasn’t any. Oh, Devil, you have sold
yourself!"
·
a. What did the jars
contain?
The jars contained strawberry jam.
·
b. Who had said that
"there wasn’t any"?
The aunt had said there wasn’t any strawberry jam.
·
c. Why did the
speaker say, "Oh, Devil, you have sold yourself!"?
Nicholas said this because the aunt had lied about the strawberry jam, and he
had caught her in the lie. This revealed her inconsistency and exposed her attempt
to deceive him.
C. Answer these questions.
1.
Why do you think the
lumber room fascinated Nicholas so much?
The lumber room fascinated Nicholas because it was filled with unique and
intriguing objects, such as the tapestry, candlesticks shaped like snakes, and
a teapot shaped like a china duck. These items sparked his imagination and
curiosity, offering him a world of exploration and discovery that contrasted
with the restrictive environment imposed by his aunt.
2.
Analyse the
relationship between Nicholas and the aunt. How does their interaction change
throughout the story?
The relationship between Nicholas and his aunt is one of conflict and
defiance. Nicholas is clever and mischievous, often outsmarting
his aunt, while the aunt represents authority and control. Their interactions
change as Nicholas gains the upper hand, particularly when the aunt gets stuck
in the rainwater tank. Nicholas enjoys the irony of the situation and refuses
to help her, which shifts the power dynamic in his favour.
3.
What do you learn
about Nicholas’s character from his interaction with the aunt when she was in
the rainwater tank? Give instances from the story to support your answer.
Nicholas’s character is revealed as clever, defiant, and resourceful. For example:
o He recognizes his aunt’s voice despite her attempt to disguise
it.
o He refuses to obey her commands, enjoying the irony of her
predicament.
o He tests her by asking about strawberry jam, exposing her
inconsistency.
These instances show his ability to think quickly and use humor to assert his
independence.
4.
Why did Nicholas
refuse to obey the voice coming from the rainwater tank, and how did he test if
it was really the aunt?
Nicholas refused to obey the voice because he recognized it as his aunt’s and
enjoyed the situation. He tested if it was really her by asking about
strawberry jam, knowing that she had previously lied about its existence. When
she admitted there was jam, he confirmed it was her.
5.
What does the
incident with the strawberry jam reveal about Nicholas’s cleverness and ability
to outsmart others?
The incident reveals Nicholas’s sharp mind and quick thinking. He uses his
knowledge of the strawberry jam to expose his aunt’s lie, demonstrating his
ability to out manoeuvre her and assert his cleverness.
6.
How does the story
explore themes of disobedience, curiosity, and the struggle between adults’
authority and children?
The story explores these themes through Nicholas’s actions:
o Disobedience:
Nicholas defies his aunt’s rules, such as entering the lumber room and refusing
to help her from the rainwater tank.
o Curiosity:
His exploration of the lumber room highlights his curiosity and desire for
discovery.
o Struggle between authority and children: The aunt represents adult authority, while Nicholas embodies
the child’s resistance to it. Their interactions show the tension between
control and independence.
7.
What emotions and
thoughts might have gone through Nicholas’s mind as he contemplated the fate of
the huntsman and the wolves while having tea with his family?
Nicholas likely felt amusement and satisfaction as he imagined the
huntsman’s predicament with the wolves. His thoughts might have included a
sense of superiority and cleverness, as he enjoyed the irony of the situation
and his own ability to outsmart the adults around him.
8. What did Nicholas consider might happen to the huntsman in the framed
tapestry, and why did he think the man and his dogs were in a tight corner?
Nicholas considered that the huntsman in the tapestry might be in danger from
the four galloping wolves approaching him. He thought the man and his
dogs were in a tight corner because:
o The huntsman had only two arrows left in his quiver, which might
not be enough to fend off the wolves.
o The wolves could be hidden behind the trees, making the situation even
more precarious.
o Nicholas imagined the huntsman might miss his shots, leaving him vulnerable
to the attack.
9. Describe the atmosphere during tea that evening and the contrasting
reactions of Nicholas and the aunt.
The atmosphere during tea that evening was tense and silent. The aunt
maintained a frozen muteness, likely due to her earlier humiliation in
the rainwater tank. Nicholas, on the other hand, was amused and satisfied,
enjoying the irony of the situation and his own cleverness in outsmarting her.
The contrast highlights Nicholas's triumph and the aunt's discomfort.
10.
How would you describe Nicholas’s
character based on his actions and attitudes in the story?
Nicholas’s character can be described as:
- Clever and Resourceful: He outsmarts
his aunt and others, such as proving the existence of the frog in his
bread-and-milk and exposing her lie about the strawberry jam.
- Defiant and Mischievous: He disobeys
his aunt’s rules, enters the lumber room, and refuses to help her from the
rainwater tank.
- Imaginative: He vividly interprets the tapestry scene and
enjoys exploring the lumber room’s treasures.
- Witty and Humorous: He uses
humor to assert his independence and enjoys the irony of his aunt’s
predicaments.
- Observant: He notices details others miss, such as the
frog in his bread-and-milk and the jars of strawberry jam.
Comments
Post a Comment