Question

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

The post office, one of the most uninteresting buildings in the world, became his place of pilgrimage. He always occupied a particular seat in a particular corner of the building, and when the people got to know his habit, they laughed at him. The postmen began to make a game of him. Even though there was no letter for him they would call out his name for the fun of seeing him jump up and come to the door. Still with boundless faith and infinite patience, he came every day, and went away empty-handed.

(i) Select the option which displays an example of ‘make a game of’.

Situation 1 Nikhil and Harish are interested in developing an app for a new video game they have invented. They are working hard for it.

Situation 2  The football team of a school plans to conduct an interschool tournament. The Sports Secretary plans to conduct a meeting.

Situation 3 Raju has recently joined a school. One of his classmates hides his lunch box and tells his friends to watch the fun when he searches for it.

Situation 4 It is recess time. Laya trips and falls while running in the field. Shruthi helps her back to her feet and takes her to the first-aid room.

1. Situation 1
2. Situation 2
3. Situation 3
4. Situation 4

(ii) Identify any two characteristics of the postmen that are revealed via their behaviour towards Ali.

(iii) Give one reason why the writer refers to the post office as “One of the most uninteresting buildings in the world.”

(iv) Choose the option that displays the thoughts of Ali as he walks out of the post office.

1. Option 1
2. Option 2
3. Option 3
4. Option 4

(v) Identify two words from the extract that imply ‘without limits’.

Answer 1

(i) Situation 3

(ii) Insensitive and disrespectful

(iii) The same tedious task of gathering letters, locating addresses, and delivering them is carried out by all staff, including the postmaster and postmen. People get bored after a while because there is nothing new to discover or learn, making the post office one of the least interesting buildings in the entire world.

(iv) Option 2

(v) Boundless and infinite