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

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Q1. What makes you know that Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was clearly a wealthy lady. She employed numerous servants and had a pet that she pampered extensively. She fed her pet a variety of dishes, sweets, and snacks, indicating her affluence. Additionally, she provided a separate room and wardrobe for her pet, further demonstrating her wealth and lavish lifestyle.

Q2. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call the doctor?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was deeply worried about Tricki because he had not eaten for several days, refusing even his favourite dishes. He was also experiencing bouts of vomiting and spent most of his time lying on a rug, panting. Additionally, he showed no interest in going for walks. These concerning symptoms prompted her to seek help from the doctor.

Q3. How does Dr. Herriot treat Tricki?
Ans: Dr Herriot treated Tricki without using any medicine or surgery. He managed Tricki's diet by controlling the amount of food he consumed and ensuring he had plenty of water. Additionally, Dr Herriot encouraged Tricki to play and exercise with the other dogs at the surgery. As a result, Tricki regained his energy and enthusiasm once he received the right amount of food and sufficient exercise.

Q4. Why were the household dogs not interested in Tricki initially?
Ans: Initially, Tricki was a newcomer in the household, which made him unfamiliar to the other dogs. Additionally, he was quite lethargic and uninterested in playing, leading to a lack of interaction with them. However, after a few days, Tricki began to enjoy their company and discovered the joys of being part of the group. Eventually, he became an accepted member of the pack.

Q5. Why was Dr. Herriot confident that Tricki will be in hospital soon?
Ans: Dr. Herriot was concerned about Tricki's health after seeing him in the street. The dog appeared overweight, resembling a bloated sausage, and had bloodshot eyes. As a veterinary surgeon, Dr. Herriot recognised that such a condition could lead to serious health issues. He predicted that, given Tricki's state, the dog would likely need to be hospitalised soon.

Q6. Why was the entire staff of Mrs. Pumphrey at work while Tricki was going to the hospital?
Ans: When Tricki, Mrs. Pumphrey's beloved dog, was taken to the hospital, the entire staff sprang into action. They loaded his day and night beds, favourite cushions, toys, rubber rings, and food bowls into the narrator’s car. This was a clear indication of their dedication to ensuring Tricki had everything he needed during his stay.

Q7. What was the main cause of 'Tricki’s ill-health'?
Ans: Tricki's ill-health was primarily caused by being overfed by Mrs. Pumphrey. He became extremely fat and inactive due to her indulgence with cream cakes, chocolates, and hot links. This excessive pampering led to his serious illness.

Q8. Why did Mr. Herriot ask Mrs. Pumphrey to admit Tricki in a hospital?
Ans: Dr. Herriot advised Mrs. Pumphrey to admit Tricki to a hospital because she was overindulging him instead of reducing his food and encouraging exercise. This excessive pampering was detrimental to Tricki's health.

Q9. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey treat Tricki in a special way?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey, a wealthy lady, treated her dog, Tricki, with excessive indulgence. She pampered him with cream cakes, chocolates, and cod liver oil, as she viewed Tricki as her own son. This over-the-top care stemmed from her emotional attachment to him.

Q10. Why was Dr. Herriot worried about Tricki?
Ans: Dr. Herriot was concerned about Tricki because he had become excessively fat and inactive. He advised Mrs. Pumphrey to reduce his food intake and provide him with more exercise, but she was hesitant to follow this advice.

Q11. Why was Tricki sent to the hospital?
Ans: Tricki was sent to the hospital because he had become sluggish and was struggling to walk due to his rapid growth. He was constantly panting, vomiting, and had stopped eating, which made him appear very ill. Consequently, it was necessary for him to be hospitalised for proper care.

Q12. What was Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction when Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was shocked and worried when Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion. She believed he was seriously ill and suspected he was suffering from malnutrition.

Q13. What did she do to bring him back to normal health? Was she successful?
Ans: She believed that Tricki was suffering from malnutrition, so she increased his food intake. However, this made Tricki very slow and lazy, indicating that her efforts were not successful in restoring his health.

Q14. What was Mr. Herriot’s strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey heed his advice? What excuses did she make?
Ans: Mr. Herriot advised Mrs. Pumphrey to reduce Tricki's intake of sweet foods and ensure he received ample exercise. However, she did not follow this advice. Believing Tricki to be weak, she continued to give him cream cakes and chocolates. Additionally, due to the gardener's illness, Tricki had very little exercise.

When questioned about her adherence to the diet, Mrs. Pumphrey admitted, "I did for a bit, but he seemed to be so weak I had to relent. He does love cream cakes and chocolates so." She also mentioned that while Tricki had short walks, the lack of playtime was due to the gardener's condition.

Despite Mr. Herriot's insistence on a strict diet and more exercise, Mrs. Pumphrey found it challenging to comply, expressing her difficulty in denying Tricki the foods he loved.

Q15. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey make a frantic (anxiety with fear) call to Mr. Herriot?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey made a frantic call to Mr. Herriot because Tricki was very ill. He had stopped eating, even refusing his favourite dishes. Additionally, he experienced bouts of vomiting and spent all his time lying on a rug, panting and showing no interest in going for walks or doing anything.

Q16. Describe the parting scene between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s household.
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey was in distress, crying loudly as the entire household was awakened. The maids hurriedly brought out Tricki's beds and bowls to the doctor's car. When the doctor drove away, everyone in the house was in tears, reflecting the deep bond they shared with the little dog.

Q17. “I think I know a cure for you.” What was the `cure’?
Ans: The cure involved controlling Tricki's diet. For two days, he received no food but was given plenty of water. Instead of medicine, he was encouraged to exercise, which helped him become more active. This approach revitalised Tricki, allowing him to regain his energy and interest in his surroundings.

Q18. The household dogs at the surgery rejected Tricki as “uninteresting objects.” Why?
Ans: At the surgery, the household dogs gathered around Tricki. He looked at them with dull eyes and remained motionless on the carpet. After a brief sniffing, the other dogs deemed him an uninteresting object and chose to ignore him.

Q19. How did he become an accepted member of the gang and start enjoying the company of other dogs?
Ans: After two or three days, Tricki's health began to improve rapidly. He started to mix with the other dogs and enjoyed playing various games with them. This interaction helped him become an accepted member of the gang, and he truly relished their company.

Q20. What was Mrs. Pumphrey’s reaction when the doctor said that Tricki must be taken to the hospital for a fortnight?
Ans: Upon hearing the doctor's recommendation that Tricki must be taken to the hospital for a fortnight, Mrs Pumphrey was nearly overcome. She believed that if Tricki did not see her every day, he would pine and ultimately die.

Q21. How did the gang of the household dogs accept Tricki as their member?
Ans: After two or three days, Tricki began to mix with the household dogs. He had a lot of fun and exercise, running around with them. He enjoyed being rolled over, trampled on, and squashed. This playful interaction helped the other dogs accept him as one of their own.

Q22. How did Tricki treat his mistress when she went to collect him?
Ans: When Tricki spotted his mistress, he leapt from Mr Herriot's arms and soared into Mrs Pumphrey's lap. She gasped in surprise as he excitedly swarmed over her, licking her face and barking joyfully.

Q23. What special diet did Mrs. Pumphrey give to build Tricki up?
Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey noticed that Tricki had become listless and lacked energy, leading her to believe he was suffering from malnutrition. To help him regain his strength, she started giving him some special items between meals. This included malt, cod-liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks at night. Despite being advised to reduce his sweet intake, she found it hard to deny Tricki his beloved cakes and chocolates.

Q24. What was the only fault of Tricki as diagnosed by Dr. Herriot?
Ans: Dr. Herriot identified the only fault of Tricki as his greed for food. This issue stemmed from the overindulgence and pampering by his mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey. Tricki had never refused food and was constantly fed, leading to his excessive weight gain and lethargy. The lack of proper exercise further contributed to his condition, making him both fat and dull.

Q25. What plans did Dr. Herriot make to get Tricki out of the house?
Ans: Dr. James Herriot recognised that as long as Tricki remained with Mrs. Pumphrey, he would continue to be unhappy. He proposed that Tricki should be hospitalised for a fortnight to be monitored closely. Upon hearing this, Mrs. Pumphrey was nearly overwhelmed, fearing that Tricki would suffer without her daily presence. However, Dr. Herriot maintained a firm stance, asserting that the dog was quite ill and that this was the only way to save him.

Q26. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react when she heard from the doctor that Tricki needed to be hospitalised for a fortnight?
Ans: When Dr. Herriot informed Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki needed to be hospitalised for a fortnight, she was almost overcome with distress. The thought of being separated from her pampered pet for that long was unbearable for her. She only agreed to the arrangement after Dr. Herriot explained that it was the only way to save Tricki's life.

Q27. How was Tricki treated at the surgery?
Ans: Dr. Herriot did not provide any medical treatment for Tricki. He recognised that Tricki's main issue was his greed for food. For two days, he monitored Tricki closely, offering him no food but ensuring he had plenty of water. Dr. Herriot prepared a comfortable bed for him in a warm, loose box adjacent to where the other dogs slept.

Q28. Describe the gradual progress of Tricki at the surgery.
Ans: Tricki’s main issue was his greed for food. For two days, Dr. Herriot provided no food, only plenty of water. On the first day, Tricki lay motionless on the carpet. By the second day, he began to show some interest in his surroundings. On the third day, he started to whimper when he heard the dogs outside. After this, his recovery progressed quickly. He eagerly sought his share of food and even began hunting rats at night.

Q29. How did the word ‘convalescing’ affect Tricki’s mistress, Mrs. Pumphrey?
Ans: The word ‘convalescing’ had a significant impact on Mrs. Pumphrey, Tricki’s mistress. When she heard it, she felt a sense of relief and hope regarding Tricki’s condition. This term suggested that he was recovering, which prompted her to take action to support his health.

In her eagerness to help, Mrs. Pumphrey began bringing fresh eggs to the veterinary practice, believing they would strengthen Tricki. Her concern for his well-being led to an influx of food and drink, including wine and brandy, which she thought would enrich his blood. This resulted in a rather indulgent atmosphere at the surgery, where the staff enjoyed the benefits of her generosity.

Ultimately, the mention of ‘convalescing’ not only reassured Mrs. Pumphrey but also transformed her approach to Tricki’s recovery, leading to a period of unexpected luxury for everyone involved.

Q30. Why was Dr. Herriot tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Ans: Dr. Herriot was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest because the little dog was pampered by his owner, Mrs. Pumphrey, who indulged him excessively. During Tricki's stay, Dr. Herriot enjoyed a lifestyle of comfort, including extra eggs for breakfast and generous amounts of wine and brandy. These moments of deep content made the idea of keeping Tricki appealing. However, he recognised that Mrs. Pumphrey was suffering and felt it was his duty to inform her that Tricki had recovered and was ready to go home.