Answer:

Key terms: -

1. appendicitis- a condition in which the appendix – a small

organ attached to the intestine – becomes infected and

has to be removed through operation.

2. spellbound- fascinated

3. Solomon- an ancient king known for his wisdom

4. staggering- walking with difficulty

5. pathetically- in a way that would make people PITY him

6. prodding- poking or pushing with a pointed object

7. ruptured- broken or burst

8. inflammation- a painful swelling caused by an infectionA. Understanding the text

Q1. Why did the speaker think that he may sound silly? How

did he argue that he was not silly?

ANS- The speaker thought that he might sound silly for

thinking that as a nine-year old he could make a number of

grown-ups BELIEVE that he had appendicitis when he did not

and thus get sent home from school. He argued that he was,

in fact, not silly, by explaining that not long before one of his

sisters had actually had appendicitis, and he had observed

closely how she behaved – how she hurt on the lower right

side of her tummy, kept being sick and ran a temperature.

So he knew exactly how to pretend to be ill so that he would

be believed.

Q2. How did the speaker and his sisters react to the event of

an operation in side their home?

ANS- The speaker and his sisters were very excited about the

event of an operation inside their home. They lurked in the

corridor outside the nursery while the operation was going

on. They stood fascinated outside the nursery door, listening

to the soft murmurs that could be heard from inside. They

could smell the ether through the crack under the door and

imagined what the patient might be looking like.Q3. Who are the adults in the story? How did the speaker, as

a child, feel towards them? why do you think he felt that

way?

ANS- The adults in this story are the speaker’s Nanny, the

school doctor, the speaker’s mother and Dr Dunbar. The

speaker, as a child, admired Nanny as being very wise, and

believed everything she told him. This could be because she

had a ready reply for every question. He was rather afraid of

the school Matron. It could be because she was rather stern

with him. He loved his mother and wanted to go home to

her. He also admired Dr Dunbar greatly because Dr Dunbar

was a skilful doctor as well as a wise and KIND person. He

listened to his advice and was grateful to Dr Dunbar for

helping him.

Q4. Dr Dunbar taught the speaker a lesson but he also helped

him. How did he do that?

ANS- Dr Dunbar taught the speaker a lesson by pointing out

that life is tough and the sooner he learned to cope with it,

the better it would be for him. He explained why the speaker

needed to face his homesickness. At the same time, he was

kind, understanding and sympathetic. He told the school that

the speaker had to stay at home for few days so that the

speaker’s plan was not a complete failure and he did get to

spend some time with his family.B. Read these lines and answer

the questions.

1. “For YEARS after that, I used to get nervous whenever I

found a toothbrush bristle on my tongue”

(a) Why did the speaker get nervous finding a

toothbrush bristle on his tongue?

ANS- The speaker had asked his Nanny what causes

an attack of appendicitis and she had said that if

loose toothbrush bristles were swallowed, then

they get stuck in the appendix and turn it rotten.

That is why he would get nervous if he found a

loose toothbrush bristle on his tongue.

(b) What can you understand about the speaker’s

attitude to his Nanny from this statement, which

are other words support your answer?

ANS- From this statement it is clear that the

speaker had great faith in his Nanny’s wisdom. He

believed whatever she told him. The other words

that show his attitude towards his Nanny are

‘Nanny, who in my eyes was filled with more

wisdom than Solomon...’

2. I entered the ROOM clutching my stomach on the right –

hand side and staggering pathetically.

(a) Which room is being referred to?

ANS- The Matron’s room in the speaker’s school is

being referred to here.(b) Why was the speaker clutching his stomach on the

right-hand side?

ANS- The speaker was pretending to have an attack

of appendicitis.

(c) Why was he ‘staggering pathetically’?

ANS- The speaker was staggering pathetically

because he was pretending to be in great pain. He

was putting on an act of being very ill-so ill that he

could not eat or walk properly.