Question

Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) In 1953, Hooper was a favoured young man. Explain.
(b) They said that they would create a desk job for Hooper at headquarters.

• Who are ‘they’?
• Why did they decide to do this?

(c) Duke was an extraordinary dog. What special qualities did he exhibit to justify this? Discuss.
(d) What problems did Chuck present when he returned to the company headquarters?
(e) Why do you think Charles Hooper’s appointment as Assistant National Sales Manager is considered to be a tribute to Duke?

Answer 1

(a) The year 1953 had been quite an auspicious year for Hooper. This youngman of six-feet- one-inch,’played in the university football team. He was already a ‘hard-charging’ zone sales manager for a chemical company. He was a man of highly competitive nature and always had a big genuine grin of satisfaction over his face. He was a favoured youngman liked by all. Everything was going well for him.

(b) They were men from Hooper’s chemical company. After the fifth week of the accident, some men from his company came to the hospital and told Hooper to take a year off

• Hooper’s company told him to take a year off. They also promised to create a desk job for him at headquarters. A man in a wheelchair with paralysed arm and leg couldn’t do the mobile job of a ‘hard- charging’ zone sales manager. Hence, a desk job was especially created for him at headquarters.

(c) Duke was a four year old Dobermann pinscher weighing 23 kilos. Chuck Hooper liked Duke for his energy and cheerfulness. Duke knew what he had to do for Hooper.
Once while jumping he hit Hooper about the belt, causing him to fight to keep his balance. He never jumped on Chuck Hooper again. With Hooper standing, the dog walked to the end of the leash and tugged steadily. Leaning against the pull, Hooper learned to keep his balance. In this way, Duke helped Hooper to go on for short walks.

(d) Chuck’s company had created a especial desk job for him. But when he returned to the company’s headquarters, this move created some problems. Chuck was fighting very hard for his come back. The people there didn’t know that Hooper had already set his next objective: ‘March 1, a full day’s work’. But no one dared to tell him that he couldn’t do justice to his job as a salesman. He couldn’t move properly and worked only an hour a day.

(e) Charles Hooper was finally appointed Assistant National Sales Manager. Hooper’s appointment letter was so worded as if it was a special tribute to Duke. The words were “………. therefore, to advance our objectives step by step, ………..” It was just ‘step by step’ that Hooper learnt to maintain his balance and go for short walks. Duke made Hooper walk again like a normal man only ‘step by step’.