Question

Complete the introduction given below to the story The Story Teller by Saki (H.H. Munro), by using ‘a’ ‘art’ or ‘the’’:

The afternoon was hot, and so was (a) ______ railway carriage. (b) ______ next stop was at Templecombe, nearly (c) ______ hour ahead. In the carriage were a small girl, (d) ______ smaller girl, and a small boy. (e) ______ aunt belonging to (f) ______ children sat in (g) ______ comer seat, and in (h) ______ further comer seat on (i) ______ opposite side, was a man who was a stranger to them, but (j) ______ small girls and the small boys were (k) ______ ones who filled the compartment. The children chatted on and on to their aunt, like (l) ______ housefly that refuses to be put off. Most of the aunt’s remarks seemed to begin with “Don’t”, and nearly all of (m) ______ children’s remarks began with “Why?”

Answer the following questions:

1. Where were the characters at the time of narration?
2. Who was travelling with the aunt?
3. How did the children pass their time?
4. How long would they take to reach Templecombe?
5. How does the aunt respond to the children’s antics? Elucidate

Answer 1

The afternoon was hot, and so was (a) the railway carriage. (b) The next stop was at Templecombe, nearly (c) an hour ahead. In the carriage were a small girl, (d) a smaller girl, and a small boy. (e) an aunt belonging to (f) the children sat in (g) the comer seat, and in (h) the further comer seat on (i) the opposite side, was a man who was a stranger to them, but (j) the small girls and the small boys were (k) the ones who filled the compartment. The children chatted on and on to their aunt, like (l) a  house fly that refuses to be put off. Most of the aunt’s remarks seemed to begin with “Don’t”, and nearly all of (m) the children’s remarks began with “Why?”

1. The characters were travelling in a railway carriage.
2. Two small girls and a small boy were travelling with the aunt.
3. The children passed their time by talking continuously to their aunt and asking many questions.
4. They would take nearly an hour to reach Templecombe.
5. The aunt tries to control the children by repeatedly telling them “Don’t”. She appears impatient and is unable to satisfy their curiosity or keep them quietly occupied.