Short & Long Questions: The Too-Many Professors

Short Answer Questions

Q1: Who is the main character of the story?
Ans: The main character of the story is Professor Branestawm.

Q2: What does Professor Branestawm invent?
Ans: Professor Branestawm invents a special liquid that can bring pictures to life.

Q3: What happens when Professor Branestawm applies the liquid to a picture of apples?
Ans: Real apples come out of the picture.

Q4: Why does Mrs. Flittersnoop run away from the house?
Ans: Mrs. Flittersnoop runs away because a real elephant comes to life and follows her.

Q5: Why does the Professor want to dry the liquid off the photos?
Ans: The Professor wants to dry the liquid to make the things go back into the pictures.

Q6: What do the duplicates of Professor Branestawm and others keep saying?
Ans: They keep repeating the same things they were saying when the photograph was taken.

Q7: Why do Professor Branestawm and Colonel Dedshott burn the photographs?
Ans: They burn the photographs to make sure nothing else comes to life from them.

Q8: What does the real Colonel Dedshott think when he sees his photo duplicate?
Ans: He thinks the duplicate is an impostor and chases after it.

Q9: What is the one regret that Professor Branestawm has about his invention?
Ans: His regret is that it costs more to make the liquid than it would to buy the things.

Q10: What does Professor Branestawm write a book about?
Ans: He writes a book about his wonderful liquid, but nobody believes him.

Long Answer Questions

Q1: Explain what happens when Professor Branestawm applies the magic liquid to a picture of apples.
Ans: When the liquid is applied, the picture gets wet. After a little while, the apples in the picture start to swell up, the picture becomes wobbly, and green smoke rises. Finally, four real rosy apples roll out of the picture.

Q2: Describe the chaos that ensues when things start coming to life from the photographs.
Ans: Multiple duplicates of Professor Branestawm, Mrs. Flittersnoop, Colonel Dedshott, and even a half policeman come to life from the photographs. They all say the same things repeatedly, creating a lot of confusion. It becomes difficult to distinguish the real ones from the duplicates.

Q3: Why does Mrs. Flittersnoop run away from the house, and who follows her?
Ans: Mrs. Flittersnoop runs away because a real elephant comes to life and follows her. The cat also follows her because its picture showed it meowing and it couldn't stop.

Q4: Explain why Professor Branestawm and Colonel Dedshott decide to burn the photographs.
Ans: They decide to burn the photographs to ensure that nothing else comes to life from them. The magic liquid was wearing off, and they wanted to prevent any more chaos.

Q5: Do you think Professor Branestawm's invention was a success or a failure? Why?
Ans: While Professor Branestawm's invention was successful in bringing pictures to life, it caused a lot of chaos and confusion. Additionally, the cost of making the liquid was a drawback. In the end, it led to more trouble than it was worth, so it could be considered a partial success but also a failure in practicality.

Q6: What do you think would have happened if the magic liquid didn't wear off, and all the duplicates continued to roam around?
Ans: If the magic liquid didn't wear off, the chaos and confusion would have continued, and it would have been even more difficult to distinguish between the real people and their duplicates. The situation would have become increasingly unmanageable.

Q7: How did Professor Branestawm and Colonel Dedshott manage to catch the duplicates and dry off the liquid?
Ans: They used blotters to catch the duplicates and tried to dry off the liquid. They chased them around the house, using blotting paper to absorb the liquid and make them go back into the photographs.

Q8: Explain why Professor Branestawm wore multiple pairs of spectacles.
Ans: Professor Branestawm wore multiple pairs of spectacles because each pair had a special function. Some were for reading and writing, while others were for specific tasks like looking over the top of something or finding lost spectacles.

Q9: Why did the Professor refer to his lab as an 'inventory'?
Ans: The Professor referred to his lab as an 'inventory' because it was filled with various items, equipment, and inventions that he had created and accumulated over time. It was like a complete list of his inventions and experiments.

Q10: What do you think could have been a better use for Professor Branestawm's invention?
Ans: A better use for Professor Branestawm's invention could have been in the field of art or education. It could have been used to bring historical images or paintings to life for educational purposes. Additionally, it could have been used in the entertainment industry to create interactive visual experiences.

Value Based Questions

Q1: In the story, the professors face confusion due to the presence of multiple people with similar names. Why is clear communication important in our daily lives?

Ans: Clear communication is essential to avoid misunderstandings and confusion. In the story, the professors struggled due to similar names, which led to mix-ups. This teaches us that in real life, we must express our thoughts clearly, listen carefully, and confirm important details. Whether in school, at home, or in a workplace, good communication helps in building strong relationships and solving problems effectively.

Q2: The story highlights the humorous consequences of mistaken identity. What does this teach us about handling unexpected situations with patience and a positive attitude?

Ans: Life often presents us with unexpected situations, and handling them with patience and a positive attitude helps us find solutions rather than panic. In the story, the confusion caused by multiple professors could have led to frustration, but it was handled in a humorous way. This teaches us that instead of getting upset over small problems, we should stay calm, think logically, and sometimes even laugh at life's little surprises.

Q3: The professors in the story had a mix-up due to their similar names. Why is individuality and having a unique identity important?

Ans: Every person is unique and has their own strengths, talents, and personality. In the story, the mix-up happened because of similar names, showing how important it is to have something that distinguishes us. In real life, being true to ourselves, developing our skills, and embracing our differences help us stand out and make meaningful contributions to society.

Q4: The professors found themselves in a complicated situation due to a simple misunderstanding. How does paying attention to details help us in life?

Ans: Paying attention to details prevents mistakes and improves efficiency in everything we do. In the story, if the professors had been more careful about names and identities, the confusion could have been avoided. This teaches us that being observant and double-checking facts-whether in studies, work, or daily life-can help us avoid errors and make better decisions.

Q5: The story humorously highlights a case of mistaken identity. Why is it important to verify facts before jumping to conclusions?

Ans: Verifying facts before assuming anything helps in making informed and correct decisions. In the story, the characters could have avoided confusion if they had clarified identities earlier. This applies to real life too-whether it's believing news, judging people, or making choices, we should always check facts before forming opinions or taking action.