Extract Based Questions: A Triumph of Surgery | English Class 10 PDF Download

Passage 1

The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed, favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. Realising that my car would never hold all the stuff, I started to drive away. As I moved off, Mrs. Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window. I looked in the mirror before I turned the corner of the drive; everybody was in tears. Out on the road, I glanced down at the pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side. I patted the head and Tricki made a brave effort to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you.”

Q1: For Tricky's present condition ________ status in society is to be blamed. 

Ans: Mrs. Pumphrey's

Q2: What might be the atmosphere of the household in the above extract signify?

(a) Mrs. Pumphrey’s status in society reflected in Tricki’s lifestyle. 
(b) The staff’s love for Tricki, which matched that of Mrs. Pumphrey. 
(c) The grand life of comforts and luxuries that Tricki enjoyed. 
(d) Mrs. Pumphrey’s indulgence and anxiety acted upon by the staff.

Correct answer is option (d) 

The staff was highly influenced by the behaviour and reactions of Mrs. Pumphrey.

Q3: Given below are some well-known quotes shared by the staff to console Mrs. Pumphrey, after Tricki’s departure. Choose the option that correctly identifies the quote that is NOT appropriate to the consolation offered.

(a) Option (i) 
(b) Option (ii) 
(c) Option (iii) 
(d) Option (iv)

Correct answer is option (d)

Q4: What cure did the speaker have in his mind? Explain ‘you haven’t a kick in you......... .’

Ans: The speaker, Dr. Herriot, had decided that the dog needed a strict diet and nothing else. These words describe the health condition of Tricki who was listless because of bouts of vomiting and breathlessness.

Passage 2

He discovered the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He became an accepted member of the gang, an unlikely, silky little object among the shaggy crew, fighting like a tiger for his share at meal times and hunting rats in the old hen house at night. He had never had such a time in his life. All the while, Mrs. Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background, ringing a dozen times a day for the latest bulletins.

Q1: Read the following statements, each of which describes the gist of the given extract. Select the option that captures the essence of the extract correctly. 

Statement (i) – It highlights the kind of comforts and luxuries that Tricki was used to at Home. 
Statement (ii) – It brings out a contrast between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s state of being. 
Statement (iii) – It reflects that Tricki was happier at the surgery and loved being with other dogs. 
Statement (iv) – It shows Tricki’s journey with his peers at the surgery and documents of his recovery. 

(a) Statements (i) and (ii) 
(b) Statements (iii) and (iv) 
(c) Statements (i) and (iii) 
(d) Statements (ii) and (iv) 

Correct answer is option (d)
Statement (i) is not correct as Tricki found having meal at Doctor’s place more satisfying than at Home. Statement (iii) is not correct as Tricki enjoyed his company more than others initially. So, only Statements (ii) and (iv) are correct.

Q2: What does the reference to Tricki as a “silky little object” signify? 

Ans: 'Silky' here refers to Tricki's well grooming and 'little' refers to his delicate luxury living and grooming which was very different from other dogs' lifestyle.

Q3: Why does the narrator describe being “tramped on and squashed” as joys?

Ans: To mention the simple pleasures of canine life. Explanation: Although these are treated as pathetic in human life, but in canine behaviour, these are normal routines or pleasures that need to be enjoyed.

Q4: Pick the option that reveals Tricki’s characteristics in the context of ‘fighting like a tiger for his share at meal times and hunting rats in the old hen house at night.’ 

(1) selfish (2) happy (3) greedy (4) confident (5) sturdy (6) cruel

(a) 2, 4 and 5 
(b) Only 2 
(c) 1 and 5 
(d) 3, 4 and 6 

Correct answer is option (a)