Question

Read the passage carefully and complete the activities given below :
A1 True or False

(i) Cross-cutting swords were used to seal the wall.

(ii) Hearing Mataprasad’s footsteps the cobra glided out of the wall.

                                               Passage

“Go, tell Neel,” I whispered to Akhil. “Tell him to get help.

”While I waited, I prayed that Rex would not make any sudden movements. The cobra would lash out in swift, sure revenge. I do not know how long I stood there, riveted by the horrifying tableau being enacted before me. At last, I heard footsteps coming along the passage. It was Mataprasad, the mali, with a solid reassuring stick.

At the sound of his approach, the cobra lowered its head and glided out of a hole in the wall.

 

The next day, masons came to seal the hole through which the cobra had slid in. And men in gumboots armed with scythes and grass-cutting swords cleaned up the compound. They hacked away at the tall grass. And what had lain hidden for years surfaced. For instance, we discovered that someone had laid out a badminton court many years ago. And we discovered a grave. It was a small grave, close to the boundary wall. There was a moss blackened stone at its head with just the faintest trace of the words engraved on it. We identified the words with our fingers.

A2  Mention the two things that were found when the tall grass was hacked.

A3 The narrator prayed that Rex should not make any sudden movements meets. Explain giving reasons.

Answer 1

A1
(i) False
(ii) True

A2 When the tall grass was hacked, a badminton court that had laid hidden for years surfaced and a small grave close to the boundary wall with a moss blackened stone at its head having the faintest trace of words engraved on it was also discovered.

A3 The narrator was scared that if Rex made a sudden move the cobra would lash out at him in revenge. The narrator was of the opinion that if Rex remained still, the cobra would recede without causing any harm to him. Because of these reasons, the narrator prayed that Rex should not make any sudden movements.