Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - A Triumph of Surgery

Q1: Tricki was more than a dog. He was more like a spoilt child of an overindulgent mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey. Comment.

Ans: Tricki was more than just a dog; he was like a spoiled child to Mrs. Pumphrey. He was a small dog, but his only flaw was his love for food. Overfeeding him with sweets, cakes, and chocolates made him very overweight. He became weak and lost his energy, with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The doctor advised Mrs. Pumphrey to put Tricki on a strict diet and give him plenty of exercise.
Tricki suffered from too much pampering and overfeeding. Mrs. Pumphrey didn't follow Dr. Herriot's advice, and Tricki lost his appetite and started vomiting. Dr. Herriot recommended that Tricki stay in the hospital under his care for two weeks. Tricki was so attached to Mrs. Pumphrey that she almost fainted at the thought of being separated from him. He was extremely pampered, with the staff and maids always ready to cater to his needs with beds, cushions, toys, and more.
Tricki's recovery was surprisingly quick. He wasn't given food but plenty of water. After a few days, he began to take an interest in his surroundings. He transformed into a fit and strong dog. When Mrs. Pumphrey came to pick him up, Tricki showed his love by jumping into her lap.

Q2: The chapter shows the silly and negligent behaviour of rich people like Mrs. Pumphrey who may harm their near and dear ones by their extra caring nature. Tricki's declining health was the outcome of Mrs. Pumphrey’s over-caring nature. Do you think such people’s actions can prove to be fatal for the health of their kind? What values would you suggest to such people to emulate in themselves and why? 

Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy woman with a pet dog named Tricki, who was very dear to her. Because of this, she took extra care of him, pampering him with all sorts of comforts. Tricki had many coats for different weather, various cushions for his comfort, and a variety of dishes to eat. She even gave him extras between meals, like malt, cod-liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks at night to help him sleep. He was also treated to cream cakes and chocolates. This made him very fat and lazy. He became so overweight that he looked like a bloated sausage. His eyes became bloodshot, and his tongue hung out of his mouth.
I believe Mrs. Pumphrey’s overly caring nature caused Tricki’s health to decline. Such an attitude can have serious consequences for their well-being. It's important not to overindulge them. Exercise and a proper diet are crucial for good health. Dr. Herriot took care of this, leading to Tricki's quick recovery.

Q3: "He had never been known to refuse food; he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night." Herriot believed that Tricki’s problem was his greed. Did he lack tolerance? What values would you like Tricky to imbibe? Elucidate.

Ans: Dr. Herriot wasn’t wrong in thinking that Tricki's problem was his greed. Tricki was indeed greedy, but Mrs. Pumphrey made things worse by feeding him too much rich food. Herriot wasn’t being harsh; he was just pointing out the obvious. As a vet, he was worried about Tricki’s poor health and noticed the issue right away. Tricki needed to control his eating habits and not eat everything placed in front of him. Mrs. Pumphrey herself admitted that Tricki loved cream cakes and chocolates a lot. Tricki should have been less greedy and more like a normal dog.

Q4: How did Herriot save Tricki’s life?

Ans: Tricki was seriously ill. He refused food. He had bouts of vomiting. Mrs. Pumphrey was very much worried about him. She called Mr. Herriot who was a vet. Herriot and knew Tricki’s disease well. He told Mrs. Pumphrey that the dog must be hospitalized for a fortnight immediately. He carried the dog in his car to his surgery. There he put him in a separate room. He was given no food for two days but plenty of water. After two days the dog felt better. He started enjoying games with other dogs. In this way, Herriot cured Tricki of his illness without any medicine or surgery.

Q5: Mrs. Pumphrey says, “This is 'A Triumph of Surgery'. Why did she say so? Did she know what ‘, Ticki’s ailment was?

Ans: Tricki was seriously ill. He refused food. He had bouts of vomiting. Mrs. Pumphrey was very much worried about him. She called Dr. Herriot who was a vet surgeon. Dr. Herriot knew about Tricki’s disease. He took the dog to his surgery. He gave Tricki no food for two days. He gave him a lot of exercise. 
When Mrs. Pumphrey went to Dr. Herriot’s surgery to take Tricki back she found him totally transformed. He had been very lazy and flabby. But now he had been transformed into a lithe and hard-muscled animal. All this made him say, "This is 'A Triumph of Surgery'. No, Mrs. Pumphrey did not know about Tricki’s ailment. She also did not know how he was cured.

Q6: Dr James Herriot was a competent veterinary surgeon. His practical approach and common sense helped in the rapid recovery of Tricki. Comment.

Ans: Dr James Herriot, no doubt, was a competent veterinary surgeon. He was really worried about Tricki. He understood that the real fault of the dog was his greed for food. He never refused food. The dog had become hugely fat and listless. Dr Herriot instructed Mrs Pumphrey to keep Tricki on a very strict diet. He also asked her to give him a lot of exercises. Dr Herriot also suggested cuttting down sweets to him. He advised her that Tricki must be hospitalised for a fortnight under his observation.
Dr James Herriot was practical and pragmatic (sensible). He didn’t give any medical treatment to the dog. The dog was not given any food but lots of water. His method worked. Tricki’s recovery was surprisingly rapid. Tricki was transformed into a flexible and hard-muscled dog. He was not only out of danger but was soon handed over to his mistress. The grateful mistress thanked Dr. Herriot and called his feat (achievement)”A Triumph of Surgery”.
Dr. James Herriot was clever enough to enjoy the best of both worlds. He was tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest. It was a happy period for Dr. Herriot and his friends. He enjoyed eggs for breakfast, and wine and brandy for lunch.

Q7: Why did Dr James Herriot say that he was tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest? Give a reasoned answer.

Ans: Dr. James Herriot was not only a competent veterinary surgeon but also a clever man of the world. No doubt, Tricki was in a highly miserable state when he was brought to Dr. Herriot’s surgery. The doctor gave no medical treatment to the dog. He didn’t give food but plenty of water for a few days. Tricki’s recovery was rather rapid. Soon, he was transformed into a flexible and hard-muscled dog. The grateful mistress obliged Dr. Herriot and his friends. His partners and he himself had two eggs each for breakfast. Lunch became a ceremonial occasion. The grateful and fabulously rich mistress of Tricki treated him warmly with liberal (wide-ranging) servings of wine and brandy.
Dr. James Herriot was enjoying the best of both the worlds. He had no hesitation in accepting Mrs. Pumphrey’s tempting services. Naturally, it was a temptation for him to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest. Those were days of deep content. Fresh eggs in the morning, wine at noon and finishing luxuriously around the fire with brandy. Who wouldn’t like such a pleasant situation? After all, Dr. Herriot was a clever and worldly-wise man.

Q8: The foolish indulgence and pampering of the rich mistress, Mrs Pumphrey was the real cause of Tricki’s miserable condition. Give a reasoned answer.

Ans: Overindulgence and pampering beyond a limit becomes unproductive. Be it a pet or a child, discipline is very necessary. The fabulously rich and resourceful mistress was the main cause of Tricki’s miserable condition. The entire staff and maids were there to look after the needs of Tricki. His day-bed, night-bed, cushions, toys, rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl and supper(dinner) bowl were always kept ready. 
Dr. Herriot rightly found out that Tricki’s only fault was his greed for food. Overfeeding of sweets, cakes and chocolates made Tricki hugely fat and listless. Had Mrs. Pumphrey followed Dr. Herriot’s instructions sincerely, things would not have worsened so far. The doctor advised her to put Tricki on a strict diet and give him plenty of exercises. It was necessary to cut down his intake of sweets. But foolish indulgence of the mistress ignored his healthy advice. The result was disastrous(harmful). 
Tricki lost his appetite and started vomiting. Only when Mrs. Pumphrey was ready to send Tricki to Surgery to Dr. Herriot’s for a fortnight, things started improving. The doctor gave him no food but plenty of water for a few days. It worked and Tricki’s recovery was rather fast.