Short Answer Questions: Keeping It From Harold

Read the extract and answers the questions that follow.

Q1. "A slight frown marred the smoothness of Harold Bramble's brow."

(a) What made Harold 'frown'?
Ans: Harold frowned because his mother continually treated him like a small child, using babyish mannerisms and pet names. This embarrassed him and made him uncomfortable, so he showed his displeasure by frowning.

(b) What kind of student was Harold?

Ans: Harold was an excellent student. He was highly disciplined, devoted to his books and exemplary in behaviour, so his mother proudly regarded him as a genius.

(c) What type of prizes had he won in the last term ?

Ans: In the last term he won several prizes, especially in spelling and dictation competitions, which showed his accuracy with language and his scholastic ability.

Q2. "The fight's over ..... And Bill's won, with me seconding him".
(i) What is the context of the above statement?
(ii) Who makes the above statement?
(iii)Why does he make such a statement?

Ans: (i) The remark refers to the upcoming boxing match in which Bill was due to fight Murphy; the speaker is declaring that the contest is effectively over because Bill will not take part.
(ii) Major Percy makes this statement to his sister, Mrs. Bramble.
(iii) Percy says this because Bill has withdrawn from the contest; Percy treats Bill's withdrawal as a victory and claims that he himself supported or influenced that decision (hence "with me seconding him").

Q3. "You were such a pleasure to train as a rule? It all comes of getting with bad companions".

(i) Who is the speaker and who is the listener?
(ii) Who is being accused of being in a bad company? Why?
 (iii)Why is he being accused?

Ans: (i) The speaker is Mr Jerry Fisher, Bill's trainer, and the listener is Mr Bramble.
(ii) Mr Bramble is accused of keeping bad company-specifically of associating with Major Percy. Fisher suggests this association has led to poor decisions.
(iii) Fisher accuses him because Percy influenced Bramble to withdraw from the fight; Fisher believes Percy's influence was harmful and is the reason Bramble no longer behaves as he used to.

Q4. 'There's a fellow at our school who goes about swanking in the most rotten way because he once got Phil Scott's autograph.'

(i) Who is the speaker and what is the reason for the above statement?
(ii) Explain 'swanking'.
(iii) Do you feel the speaker is hurt at being deprived of something?

Ans: (i) The speaker is Harold, and he says this to point out that some boys show off when they have a famous person's autograph; Harold is comparing that behaviour to his own pride in being the son of "Young Porky".
(ii) "Swanking" means showing off or boasting ostentatiously to gain attention or admiration.
(iii) Yes. Harold feels hurt because he is denied the honour or recognition he expected from being connected to his father's reputed fame; he is upset about not being able to enjoy that pride openly.

Short Answer Questions

Q1. Give two reasons to prove that Bill was a 'domestic creature'.
 Ans. (i) He yielded to family pressure: Bill agreed to hide his profession and to withdraw from the fight when Major Percy and his family urged him, showing that he placed family opinion above his own public pride.
(ii) He was mild and family-centred: In private life he was gentle, obliging and concerned for his family's feelings-he sacrificed his boxing career's public recognition because he believed it was better for his son Harold and the household.

Q2. Why was Mrs. Bramble amazed by bringing forth such a prodigy like Harold?
 Ans. Mrs Bramble was amazed because Harold was so different from ordinary children: he was highly intelligent, deeply devoted to his studies, behaved impeccably and seemed almost perfect in manners and achievement. His character and achievements made her feel proud and astonished that she had produced such a prodigy.

Q3. Give two character traits of Major Percy Stokes.
Ans. (i) Persuasive and manipulative: Percy is skilled at persuading others; he convinces Mr Bramble to withdraw from the fight and to conceal his profession from Harold.
(ii) Scornful and domineering: He enjoys criticising and controlling others, takes a superior attitude, and does not hesitate to influence decisions even when it harms his sister's family interests.

Q4. How did the birth of Harold change the Bramble household?
 Ans. The arrival of Harold shifted the family's priorities: Mr Bramble no longer boasted of his boxing career and became anxious about any publicity that might harm Harold's reputation. Both parents decided that boxing was unsuitable for their son's image, so they hid Mr Bramble's profession and devoted themselves to protecting Harold's future and social standing.