Question

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

Ashamanja Babu lived in a small flat in Bhowanipore. A clerk in the registry department of Lajpat Rai Post Office, Ashamanja Babu was fortunate as he could walk to his office in seven minutes flat without having to fight his way into the buses and trains of Calcutta. He lived a rather carefree life as he was not the kind of person to sit and brood about what might have been had fate been kinder to him. On the whole, he was quite content with his lot. Two Hindi films and fish twice a week-these were enough to keep him happy. The only thing that 10 perturbed him at times was his lack of companionship. A bachelor with few friends and relatives, he often wished he had a dog to keep him company. It need not be a huge Alsatian like the one owned by the Talukdars, who lived two houses down the lane; it could be any ordinary little dog which would follow him around·morning and evening, wag its tail when he came home from work and obey his orders faithfully. Ashamanja Babu's secret desires were that he would speak to his dog in English. 'Stand up', 'Sit down', 'Shake hands' - how nice it 20 would be if his dog obeyed such commands! That would make him really happy. On a cloudy day marked by a steady drizzle, Ashamanja Babu went to the market in Hashimara to buy some oranges. At one end of the market, beside a stunted kul tree, sat a man. As their eyes met, the man smiled. Was he a beggar? His clothes made him look like one. Ashamanja Babu noticed at least five sewn-on patches on his trousers and jacket. But the man didn't have a begging bowl. Instead, by his side was a shoe-box with a 30 little pup sticking its head out of it. 'Good morning!' said the man in English. Ashamanja Babu was obliged to return the greeting. 'Buy dog? Dog buy? Very good dog.' The man had taken the pup out of the box and had put it down on the ground. 'Very cheap. Very good. Happy dog.' The pup shook the raindrops off its coat, looked at Ashamanja Babu and wagged its minuscule two-inch tail. Ashamanja Babu moved closer to the pup, crouched ' on the ground and stretched out his hand. The pup gave 40 his ring finger a lick with its pink tongue. Nice, friendly dog. 'How much? What price?' 'Ten rupees.' A little haggling and the price came down to seven rupees. Ashamanja Babu paid the money, put the pup back in the shoe-box, closed the lid to save it from the drizzle, and turned homewards, forgetting all about the oranges.

1. For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:    (2)
   1. perturbed  (line 11)
      1. frightened
      2. unsettled
      3. confused
      4. mocked
   2. stunted  (line 25)
      1. prevented from growing
      2. prepared for tricks
      3. prevented from taking action
      4. allowed to do stunts
2. Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'expensive'?  (1)
   1. carefree
   2. ordinary
   3. cheap
   4. haggling
3. Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:
   1. What kept Ashamanja Babu happy?  (2)
   2. What does this tell you about him?   (2)
   3. What is that one other thing he needed to complete his happiness?  (1)
   4. Why did Ashamanja Babu think the man was a beggar?   (2)
   5. Why did Ashamanja Babu forget about his oranges?   (2)
4. In not more than 50 words, narrate the series of events from the time the puppy was taken out of the box till it was paid for.  (8)

Answer 1

1. 1. unsettled
   2. prevented from growing
2. cheap
3. 
   
   1. Twice a week fish and two Hindi flicks kept Ashamanja Babu, the clerk, delighted. He had a free life and had few wants.
   2. Ashamanja Babu felt his life was good. He never grumbled or worried about what he lacked or about what may happen going forward. It required quite little to keep him content. Ashamanja Babu led an ordinary, carefree life.
   3. The only thing missing in Ashamanja Babu's life was a companion. He wanted a dog to give him company and complete his happiness.
   4. One end of the market Asheranja Babu visited to purchase some oranges revealed a man seated with at least five sewn-on patches on his trousers and jacket on an overcast day. This let him believe the man to be a beggar.
   5. In the excitement of bargaining and buying the puppy which he had wanted for a long time, Ashamanja Babu forgot to buy oranges.
4. Rough Draft:
   

   When	Brought	out,	the	pup
   shook	Away	raindrops,	looked	up,
   and	Wagged	its	tail.	Crouching,
   the	man	extended	his	hand.
   The	Pup	licked	his	finger,
   proving	friendly.	The	seller	quoted
   ten	rupees	but	after	haggling,
   sold	it	for	seven.	Ashamanja Babu
   paid	the	money,	and	took
   it	Home	in	the	box.

   
   Fair Draft:
   

   When	brought	out,	the	pup
   shook	away	raindrops,	looked	up,
   and	wagged	its	tail.	Crouching,
   Ashamanja	Babu	extended	his	hand.
   The	friendly	pup	licked	his
   finger.	The	seller	quoted	ten
   rupees;	however,	after	haggling	he
   sold	it	for	seven.	Ashamanja
   paid	the	money,	and	took
   it	home	in	the	box.