Important Questions: The Adventure | English Class 11 PDF Download

Very Short Answer Questions

Q1. In which train did the professor travel?
Ans: The professor travelled on the Jijamata Express between Pune and Bombay.

Q2. Who was Khan-Sahib?
Ans: Khan Sahib was a fellow traveller on the professor's train journey to Bombay.

Q3. What was the first stop during his journey?
Ans: The first stop was the city of Lonavala, which was reached in 40 minutes.

Q4. What does Khan Sahib answer when the professor asked him how he would go to Peshawar?
Ans: Khan Sahib informed the professor that he would take the Frontier Mail from Central station, rather than the Victoria Terminus. He explained that the train travels from Bombay to Delhi, then to Lahore, and finally to Peshawar. It is a long journey, and he expected to arrive in Peshawar the day after tomorrow.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q5. Who was Professor Gaitonde? What did he plan in Bombay?
Ans: Professor Gaitonde, also known as Gangadharpant, was a historian who authored five books on his field. While travelling to Bombay, he planned to visit a large library to explore historical texts. This was part of his ongoing investigation into the current state of affairs, aiming to understand how past events shaped the present.

Q6. What was the reason behind the professor canceling his thousandth address?
Ans: The professor informed the seminar organisers in Panipat that he could not fulfil his commitment due to an incident at Azad Maidan. During this event, a hostile mob refused to listen to him and responded by throwing eggs and tomatoes at him.

Q7. Why did professor Gangadhar go inside the Forbes building?
Ans: The professor entered the Forbes building to meet his son, Vinaya. He was shocked to discover that his son's name was not listed in the phone directory or the personnel records. This unexpected absence made him realise how unclear his son's existence had become.

Q8. What things were the professor looked for in the history books?
Ans: The professor sought to understand how the Marathas achieved victory in the Battle of Panipat. He found a clue in the historical texts known as Bakhars. One account revealed that Vishwarao narrowly escaped a bullet, which inspired the Maratha army to fight with renewed courage.

Q9. In the Town Hall Library, in volume five of the history book related to India, what was the precise point where history had taken a different turn?
Ans:  The page that chronicled the Battle of Panipat was the precise point in history where history had taken a different direction. According to the book, the Marathas defeated Abdali, led by Sadashivrao and young Vishwasrao. After being soundly defeated, Abdali was forced to return to Kabul.

Q10. What did the professor experience at the meeting in Azad Maidan?
Ans: Upon arriving at Azad Maidan, the professor found a lecture already in progress. Noticing a vacant presidential chair, he took a seat, which sparked objections from the audience. They insisted he vacate the chair, explaining its symbolic significance. When the professor attempted to speak, he was swiftly removed from the platform by the crowd.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q11. Write in brief the journey of Gangadharpant by train from Pune to Bombay.
Ans: Gangadharpant, also known as Professor Gaitonde, embarked on his journey from Pune to Bombay aboard the Jijamata Express. The train's first stop was Lonavala, a familiar sight for him. It then paused briefly at Karjat before speeding past Kalyan. As a professional historian, he had plans to visit a large library in Bombay to explore history books, aiming to understand the current state of affairs. He also intended to meet Rajendra Deshpande upon his return to Pune. After passing through a long tunnel, the train stopped at a small station named Sarhad, where an Anglo-Indian officer checked permits. Gangadharpant was intrigued by the journey, especially as he had never been to Bombay before. He engaged in conversation with a fellow passenger, Khan Sahib, who shared details about his travels to Peshawar via the Victoria Terminus. The train continued through the bustling suburban rail traffic, with the blue carriages of the Greater Bombay Metropolitan Railway serving as a reminder of British presence. As the train approached its destination, it slowed down and finally stopped at the Victoria Terminus, which was remarkably clean and well-maintained. Upon exiting, Gangadharpant was surprised to see the East India House, the headquarters of the East India Company, which he thought had ceased to exist after 1857. This revelation sparked his curiosity about the true course of history. After a day of research at the library, he was reminded by the librarian that it was closing time. As he left, he requested to reserve some books for the next day, eager to continue his exploration of the past.

Q12. What points did Rajendra make while explaining the mystery of reality?
Ans: The phrase absence of determination in quantum theory suggests that we experience reality through our senses, but this perception is not the full story. For instance, when an electron is fired from a source, it can travel in any direction, seemingly breaking the rules of physics. Rajendra Prasad explains that a professor has moved from one universe he knows to another that may or may not exist. While observations can be made, it is also possible to consider the existence of alternate realities. Experiments with tiny systems, such as atoms and their particles, reveal that their behaviour cannot be predicted even if all the governing physical laws are known. For example, when firing an electron, its location cannot be determined with certainty, unlike a bullet. Instead, one can only provide probabilities for its position at a given time. Professor Gaitonde remarks on the lack of determinism in quantum theory, envisioning multiple worlds where the electron could be found in various locations. Once an observer identifies its position, they understand which world they are in, but all those alternative worlds could still exist simultaneously. Rajendra further explains that transitions between these worlds may occur during significant events, allowing an observer to experience different realities, albeit one at a time. Ultimately, while all alternatives may be possible, the observer can only perceive one reality at a time. This leads to the intriguing question of why a transition occurs, a mystery that remains unsolved in science.

Q13. Describe the Professor's experience at Town Hall library.
Ans: Professor Gaitonde visited Bombay's Town Hall Library to find the five history books he authored. He noted that there had been no changes in history since Aurangzeb's death, except for the last volume. Flipping to the relevant page, he discovered that the Maratha Army had defeated Abdali in the Battle of Panipat. The account highlighted the young Vishwasrao leading the Maratha forces, marking the beginning of ongoing conflicts in India. This victory diminished the East India Company's power, confining its influence to Bombay. In the nineteenth century, the Peshwas sought British help for their scientific and technological advancements, which allowed the Company to expand its reach. As he read, the professor reflected on the parallels between the history he had written and the current situation he observed. He felt compelled to understand how the Marathas achieved their victory and searched for detailed accounts of the battle. Among the books, he found Bhausahebanchi Bakhar, which, despite being less reliable, contained intriguing insights. One passage described how close Vishwasrao came to death during the battle, illustrating the perilous nature of the conflict. As the library closed, Gaitonde realised he was the last reader. He requested to reserve the books for the next day and left with a sense of purpose, eager to continue his exploration of history.

Q14. Write in gist about the lesson “The Adventure”.
Ans: The Adventure is a narrative about a professor named Gangadharpant Gaitonde who finds himself in a strange and unfamiliar universe. He boards the Jijamata Express train from Pune to Bombay. Upon arrival, he realises that everything is vastly different from his expectations. To his surprise, he learns that the East India Company was not disbanded during the events of 1857, but was still thriving in the city. Motivated by curiosity, he embarks on a historical investigation. During his research, he uncovers the astonishing fact that the Marathas won the Battle of Panipat. However, it is revealed that Professor Gaitonde was actually involved in a car accident, which left him unconscious for two days. During this time, his mind wandered into an alternate reality, detached from the actual historical facts he had known.

Q15. How Rajendra Deshpande applied the theory of catastrophic experience concerning the Battle of Panipat?
Ans: Gangadhar shared his experience from the Azad Maidan meeting, where an accident left him in a coma for two days. Upon regaining consciousness, he asked Rajendra where he had been during that time. He revealed that he had been contemplating the catastrophic theory and its potential impact on history just before the accident. To illustrate his thoughts, Rajendra referenced a page from his Bakhar, which indicated that Vishwasrao did not evade the bullet; instead, he was struck and killed by it. This revelation contrasted sharply with what he had learned from his history books, and he expressed a desire to understand the details better. Rajendra, under mental strain, attempted to rationalise Gangadhar's experience using scientific theories. He noted that the Battle of Panipat serves as an excellent example of the catastrophe theory, as the Maratha army faced Abdali's troops with comparable strength and equipment. The turning point came when Vishwasrao, the Peshwa's son, was killed, which severely affected the troops' morale. Rajendra concluded that had Vishwasrao survived, the outcome of the battle might have been different, potentially boosting the Maratha's morale and altering the course of history.

Q16. What explanation did Rajendra give on the concept of reality with the example of the movement of an electron?
Ans: Rajendra Deshpande explained the concept of reality to Professor Gaitonde by referencing two scientific theories. He suggested that Gangadhar experienced a significant event that altered the morale of the Maratha Army during the Battle of Panipat. Rajendra argued that the moment Vishwas Rao was killed marked a turning point, leading to the Marathas' defeat. He then introduced the idea that reality is not limited to what we perceive through our senses. Instead, it can manifest in different ways. He referred to the lack of determinism in quantum theory, which illustrates that an electron does not always follow predictable paths. Instead, it can exist in multiple locations simultaneously, each being a valid reality due to transitions. Rajendra concluded that just as the electron's position can vary across different states, so too can our understanding of reality, which may not be singular but rather multifaceted. The professor resonated with this notion, drawing parallels between the present and potential futures.