Question

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“The ears are bad,” he said; “droop them a little more. Thank you. Now the eyes. Roll them in under the lids. Put the hands on the knees, please, and turn the face just a little upward. Yes, that’s better.

1. Describe the photographer’s appearance. Why did he look at the author without enthusiasm? What impression did he get of the photographer? (Recall and Analysis)
2. Where did the photographer make the author sit? Describe the photographer’s initial attempt to take a picture. (Recall and Understanding)
3. What instructions did the photographer give the author before taking his photograph? (Recall)
4. Which feature in the author’s photograph had some resemblance to his face? How did the photographer offer to set this right? (Recall)
5. Comment on the photographer’s retouching and altering of the author’s photograph. Mention one modern-day equivalent of what the photographer attempted to do. Give one reason why the photographer’s action was insensitive. (Analysis)

Answer 1

1. The photographer was a drooping man in a grey suit with the dim eyes of a natural scientist. He looked at the narrator without enthusiasm because he immediately began critically examining his face rather than showing any warmth. He appeared serious, detached, and excessively critical.
2. The photographer made the narrator sit on a stool in front of the camera. He then went under the black cloth covering the camera and examined the narrator through it. After only a brief look, he came out and began making adjustments, saying that something was wrong with the narrator’s face.
3. The photographer gave several instructions about the narrator’s posture and facial features. He asked him to adjust his ears, roll his eyes under the lids, place his hands on his knees, and turn his face slightly upward. He kept adjusting his position until he was satisfied.
4. The narrator’s ears were the feature that still seemed to resemble his real appearance. The photographer considered them unsatisfactory and suggested altering them by making them droop more so that they would look better in the photograph.
5. The photographer excessively retouched the narrator’s photograph, altering his natural features instead of simply capturing his real appearance. A modern-day equivalent would be using photo-editing or beauty filters to change facial features. His action was insensitive because he repeatedly criticised the narrator’s appearance without considering how his comments or alterations might make the narrator feel.