Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 

Granny knew I'd been in the train for two nights, and she had a huge breakfast ready for me. Later she told me there'd been a letter from Uncle Ken.
'He says he's the manager in Fitpo's hotel in Simla,' she said. 'The salary is very good. It's a steady job and I hope he keeps it.' Three days later Uncle Ken was on the veranda steps with his bedding roll and battered suitcase. 'Have you given up the hotel job?' asked Granny. 'No,' said Uncle Ken. 'They have closed down.' I hope it wasn't because of you.' 'No, Aunt Ellen_ The bigger hotels in the hill stations are closing down. 'Well, never mind. Come along and have your lunch. Over lunch; Uncle Ken talked very seriously about ways and means of earning a living. There is only one taxi in the whole of Debra, he mused. 'Surely there is business for another?' `I'm sure there is,' said Granny. 'But where does it get you? In the first place, you don't have a taxi. And in the second place, you can't drive.' I can soon learn. There's a driving school in town. And I can use Uncle's old car.' 'I don't think it will run now,' said Granny. 'Of course, it will. It just needs some oiling and greasing and a spot of paint.' 'All right, learn to drive.' So, Uncle Ken joined the driving school.After a month Uncle Ken announced that he could drive and that he was taking the car out for a trial run. 'You haven't got your license yet,' said Granny. 'Oh, I won't take it far,' said Uncle Ken. 'Just down the road and back again.' He spent all morning cleaning up the car. Granny gave him money for a can of petrol. After tea, Uncle Ken said, 'Come along, Ruskin, hop in and I will give you a ride. Bring Mohan along too.' Mohan and I needed no urging. We got into the car beside Uncle Ken. 'Now don't go too fast, Ken,' said Granny anxiously. 'You are not used to the car as yet.' Uncle Ken nodded and smiled and gave two sharp toots on the horn. He was feeling pleased with himself. Driving through the gate, he nearly ran over a cat. Miss Kellner, coming out for her evening rickshaw ride, saw Uncle Ken at the wheel of the car and ran indoors again. [40] Uncle Ken drove straight and fast, tootling the horn without a break. At the end of the road there was a roundabout. 'We’ll turn here,' said Uncle Ken, 'and then drive back again.' He turned tt;e steering wheel, we began going round the roundabout, but the steering wheel wouldn't turn all the way, not as much as Uncle Ken would have liked it to... So, instead he went on - and straight through the Maharaja of Jetpur’s garden wall. It was a single-brick wall, and the car knocked it down and emerged on the other, side without any damage to the car or any of its occupants. Uncle Ken brought it to a halt in the middle of the Maharaja's lawn. Running across the grass came the Maharaja himself. When he saw that it was Uncle Ken at the wheel, the Maharaja beamed with pleasure. 'Delighted to see you, old chap!' he exclaimed. 'Jolly decent of you to drop in again. How about a game of tennis?'

(a) Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: 
One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. 

(i) battered 

(ii) bused 

(iii) emerged 

(b) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.
(i) Why did Granny hope Uncle Ken would keep his job at  Fitgo's hotel? 

(ii) When Uncle Ken arrived with his luggage, Granny remarked that she hoped the hotel had not closed down because of him. What does this remark tell you about Uncle Ken? 

(iii) Why did Uncle Ken think that driving a taxi in Dehra would be profitable? 

(iv) Which sentence tells you that the narrator and his friend were waiting to be invited for a drive in a car? 

(v) Why did Miss Kellner run indoors when she saw Uncle Ken at the wheel of the car? 

(vi) What was Uncle Ken's intention at the roundabout? 

(c)
(I) In not more than 60 words, describe what happened after the car went through the wall. 

(ii) Give a title to your summary in 3(c)(i). Give a reason to justify choice of the title. 

Answer 1

(a) 
(i) battered - damaged by repeated use 

(ii) bused - say to oneself in a thoughtful manner

(iii) emerged - more out of or away from something & become visible.

(b) 

(i) Granny had a hope that Uncle Ken would keep his job at Firpo’s hotel as it was a steady job with a good salary.

(ii) The remark of granny tells us a lot about Uncle Ken that he may not be stable at work or did he create any kind of issue due to which the hotel was closed down as she know him very well. It clearly shows us that may be granny wanted to point Uncle Ken that he is trying to be serious about ways & means of earning a living. 

(iii)  Uncle Ken thought that driving a taxi in Dehra because there was only one taxi in the whole of Dehra so there was business for another. 

(iv)  The sentence which tells us that the narrator & his friend were waiting to be invited for a drive in a car is: After tea, uncle ken said, ‘come along, Ruskin hop in & I will give you a ride. Bring Mohan along too.’ Mohan & I needed no urging. We got into the car beside uncle ken.

(v)  Miss Kellner saw Uncle Ken driving through the gate & he nearly ran over a cat. Therefore, she ran indoors when she saw Uncle at the wheel of the car.

(vi)  Uncle Ken’s intention was to take a turn & drive back again at roundabout.

(c) 

(i)  The car went through the wall and Uncle Ken brought it to a halt in the middle of Maharaja’s lawn. Looking at this, the Maharaja himself came to see. When he saw it was Uncle Ken & he was beamed with pleasure. He exclaimed to Uncle Ken that he was delighted to see his old chap & if he would like to play a game of tennis with him.

(ii)  The suitable title for the given extract is “Everything is possible”. When we look at the attitude & behaviour Uncle Ken he is a person who never loses hope or give up. Even though he lost his job, he had the willingness to do something & that’s how he learned driving & thought of another business. No matter how many obstacles come into his ways he kept going.