Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in .

This section includes InterviewSolutions, each offering curated multiple-choice questions to sharpen your knowledge and support exam preparation. Choose a topic below to get started.

1.

What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?

Answer»

The two strange things that the guru and his disciple found in the kingdom of fools were that the whole kingdom was asleep during the day and carry out their work at night, and whether it was a measure of rice or a bunch of banana everything cost the same in the kingdom, one duddu (one rupee).

2.

Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?

Answer»

The disciple decided to stay in the Kingdom of Fools because he was delighted that everything cost a single duddu and everything was very cheap. All that he wanted was good and very cheap food. According to the Guru, staying there was not a good idea as they were all fools and so he felt this situation would not last long and was not sure about what they would do in the future.

3.

What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?'

Answer»

The guru’s words of wisdom were that it was the city of fools. He advised the disciple to leave the city because he would not know what they would do next. The disciple remembers this when he was going to be executed.

4.

Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Answer»

Toto was a real menace for every living soul in the household. Other animals in grandfather’s zoo were at Toto’s mercy even during night. So, grandfather decided to provide some relief to other animals in the zoo and thought of taking Toto to Shaharanpur. He was taken in a big black canvas kit-bag with some straw at the bottom. When the bag was closed, all his efforts to get out were restrained. The ticket collector was following his rule books. As there seems to be no rule for fixing a monkey’s fare so he equated Toto with a dog's fare. The ticket collector’s ingenuity tried to categorize all pets of a certain size as dogs.

5.

“Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?

Answer»

Toto was a pretty monkey. His bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath the deep-set eyebrows, and his teeth, which were a pearly white, were very often displayed in a smile that frightened the life out of elderly Anglo-Indian ladies. Even though his hands looked dried-up as they had been pickled in the sun for many years, his fingers were quick and wicked. His tail, while adding to his good looks served as a third hand. He could use it to hang from a branch and it was capable of scooping up any delicacy that might be out of reach of his hands.

6.

How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?

Answer»

Toto was in the captivity of a tonga owner. The grandfather gets sympathetic with the monkey and thinks that his private zoo would be a better place for Toto. So he purchased Toto from the tongawallah for five rupees.

7.

Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?

Answer»

The lost child loses interest in the things that he had wanted earlier because he was panic stricken on being separated from his parents. All he wanted was to be united with them. All the things that attracted him in the fair no longer tempted him and now the only thing that mattered was finding his parents.

The child lost interest in the things that he wanted earlier as he was lost and wanted to see his parents.

The child lost interest in the things that he wanted earlier as he was lost and wanted to see his parents immediately. The man who saw that he was lost tried to distract his attention so that he would not panic. He tried to soothe him by taking him to the roundabout, but the child refused asking only for his parents. The man then asked the child to listen to the music played by the snake-charmer. However, the child shut his ears and shouted that he wanted his parents. Then, the man asked if he wanted a balloon, but the child’s reply was the same. The man still kept trying to make him happy and asked if he wanted a garland to put around his neck. He also took him to the sweetmeat shop. However, the child’s answer to all his questions was the same. He only wanted to see his parents. He had lost interest in everything because he wanted only one thing: he wanted to be with his parents. Since he was lost nothing else pleased him.

8.

What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?

Answer»

In the end the parents, who continuously kept checking to see if he was with them right from the beginning of their journey may have suddenly realized that he was missing and come looking for the lost child. The kind and understanding man who tried to console the little boy by offering him various things at the fair may have also asked him for some description of his parents and helped him to be reunited with them.

9.

What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?

Answer»

The child sees a number of things which fascinate him on his way to the fair 

  • First, he saw toys at a shop. 
  • Then he saw a flowering mustard field. 
  • In the fields, the child saw dragon flies bustling about on their wings and a lone black bee in search of sweetness from the flowers. 
  • Then while walking on the footpath he was attracted by the insects and worms. 
  • As he neared the village with his parents, he saw huge crowds of people going to the fair. 
  • The child also came across a sweetmeat seller selling sweets like burfi and gulab jamun. 

A little further he came across a flower seller who was selling a garland of gulmohar

  • Walking ahead, he saw a man selling rainbow-coloured balloons. 
  • He also saw a snake charmer who stood playing a flute to a snake. 
  • Finally, he saw a roundabout in full swing. 

The child keeps lagging behind his parents because the child is fascinated by all the things he sees on his way. At times, he stops to be able to buy toys and at other times he stops to admire the beauty of the nature – collecting flowers, catching butterflies.

10.

In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an Answer?

Answer»

The child wants many things in the fair. They are

  • A particular toy and all the balloons.
  • Burfi from the sweetmeat seller.
  • Garland of gulmohar.
  • A ride in the roundabout.

The boy moved on without waiting for an Answer because he knew that his request would be denied at each step.

11.

What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?

Answer»

The super cyclone devastated everything in Ersama,a small town in coastal Orissa. As a result, majority of the houses were destroyed,people lost their families and belongings,trees were uprooted. Only the strong cement houses were spared. The air was filled with screams .As far as the eye could see,the land was seen covered with dirty brown with bloated animal carcasses and human corpses floating on that water.The scenes were gruesome.People could be seen trying to save whatever they could lay their hands on. There was shortage of food. People were sad and helpless and a pall of gloom had descended on the people all around.

12.

Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?

Answer»

On one occasion, while on a plane, Bryson was pondering over his notes in his notebook and kept sucking on the end of his pen. He was careless enough to notice that the pen had leaked and his gums, teeth, tongue and chin were all colored with navy blue ink.

13.

Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife’s reaction?

Answer»

His finger gets stuck in the zip of his bag and starts bleeding. His wife is astonished by the way he has created a mess all around himself.

14.

What is the significance of the title?

Answer»

The title is significant because it is about a man who travels a lot and is always confused. He gets into trouble because of his acts which are not deliberate. The story depicts humorous travel experiences – like being pinned in a crashed position, spilling drink or food on a co-passenger, unknowingly gets his gums and teeth covered in ink and many more such instances are there when the author accidentally gets into trouble, thus justifying the title.

15.

Why do you think Bill Bryson’s wife says to the children, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy”?

Answer»

Bill Bryson’s wife knew his knack of creating misery for himself and putting others in trouble.So, to avoid being in such kind of a situation again ,she asked the children to take the lids off the food for Bill .She knew that if Bill tried to do that himself, then he might take it off in such a manner that the lid would be flying away to some part of the plane and the food might spill all over the place or on some passenger.

16.

Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?

Answer»

Bill Bryson claims that he gets easily confused and cannot even do his routine work without creating a mess. Many times he went looking for the lavatory in a cinema and ended up standing in an alley on the wrong side of a self-locking door. He would forget his hotel room number and would return twice or thrice to the reception to confirm.He would spill his drink on others or just scatter his things.That is why he said that he was easily confused.

17.

Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?

Answer»

The author is deeply embarrassed the next day in school.As he was still wearing the  same clothes that he had worn to the church the morning fire broke out. He had no shoes,so  he had to borrow some tennis shoes from his aunt. The clothes he was wearing looked weird,  he had no books or homework, and his backpack was gone, everything seemed embarrassing to him.  

Words used in the lesson that show his fear and insecurity are “…outcast and geek…” , “…like a zombie.”, “…wanted to curl up and die.” , “Everything felt surreal”, “All the security…had  all been ripped away”.

18.

What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?

Answer»

Everybody in the school developed an empathy with the author's plight.The schoolmates showed genuine concern for the author in spite of not knowing him well. The schoolmates pooled resources to buy a set of everything he needed.People whom he had never spoken to before started coming to him and befriended him. They also invited him to their houses. The author made new friends. He was overwhelmed by their love and cooperation. He realized that his new school and new people around him were good. This motivated him to move ahead in life and overcome his past trauma.

19.

What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?

Answer»

One Sunday afternoon, the author notices some strange smell. Suddenly he could see smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling and filling the room very quickly. The smoke was so thick that they could barely see anything. By the time they ran out into the front yard, the roof was already engulfed in flames and was spreading very quickly. His mother frantically runs back into the house. She had brings out a small metal box full of important documents. She wants to bring out important things from the house one by one. She is in a ‘crazed state’.

20.

For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?

Answer»

The Happy Prince sent the sapphires to two people: the young writer who lived across the city and the match girl.  

The young writer was trying hard to finish a play for the Director of the Theater. As there was no fire in the grate and hunger had made him feel faint, he was too cold to write anymore, The young playwright could sell the sapphire to the jeweler, He could then buy firewood, and finish his play. On seeing the sapphire, the young man felt appreciated and believed that he could finish his play.  

The Happy Prince then saw a little match girl who was standing in the square just below him.  

All her matches had fallen into the gutter and were all spoiled. The prince knew that the matchgirl's father would beat her if she did not bring home some money. When the swallow slipped the jewel into the palm of the little girl’s hand, she ran home happy and laughing.

21.

Is Lushkov a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?

Answer»

No, Lushkov is not a willing worker. He agrees to chop wood for Sergei not because he was hungry and wanted work but because Sergei had caught him telling lies to him and Lushkoff felt ashamed . His conscience pushed him to work for Sergei.His strength had been undermined by drinking too much vodka and he was unhealthy and did not feel the slightest inclination to do any work.

22.

Lushkoff is earning thirty five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for this?

Answer»

Lushkoff is obliged to Sergei.Had there been no encounter with Sergei, Lushkov would have still been begging on the streets.Sergei gives him an opportunity of meeting Olga. The whole incident has changed the way Lushkov thinks about his future.His stint with Sergei and Olga gives him a new lease of life and helps him in getting a decent job where he earns thirty five roubles a month.

Answer = Lushkoff is obliged to sergei. Had there been no encounter with sergei, Lushkov would have still been begging on the streets. sergei gives him an opportunity of meetimg olga. The whole incident has changed the way lushkov thinks abouy his future. Hits stint with sergei and olga gives him a new lease of life and helps him in getting a decent job where he earns thirty five roubles a months.
23.

Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?

Answer»

The price having given away the two sapphires of his eyes had become blind.  Therefore, the swallow decided to be with the prince all the time. Probably the swallow was  so touched by prince’s kindness that instead of flying to Egypt and be with his friend, he  decided to stay back. This clearly suggests that kind hearted people always attract friends  who will stay with them forever.

24.

Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?

Answer»

The courtiers called the prince ‘the Happy Prince’ because he was always happy. When he was alive, he did not know what tears were. After all, he lived in a palace where sorrow was not allowed to enter. However, things changed when he died. He was made into a statue and he was no more happy. He could now see the misery and ugliness of the city around him. This caused tears to flow down his eyes. He was sad on seeing the state of his city.

25.

What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies?

Answer»

He says that if he would tell the truth people would not give alms. We can correlate it with the way beggars dress and crib about being hungry for days. In some bigger cities there are criminal gangs keeping an army of beggars. They do the required cosmetic make up and drop off beggars at strategic traffic points. They train those beggars to cry properly so that people would show mercy on them. At the end of the day the ganglord gets a hefty commission out of day’s booty.

Lushkov gives reasons to Sergei that since he was fired for being an alcoholic, he had to tell lies. And, if he would tell ,the people would not give him any alms.

26.

Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he right in saying this?

Answer»

When Sergei got Lushkoff to work for him the first time, he wasn't a willing worker. But after chopping wood for Sergei and helping him move houses, Sergei noticed that Lushkoff had developed a willingness to work. On seeing this, Sergei felt content that because of his timely advice ,Lushkov could get rid of begging and has become financially independent.He is now on the right path and that he wouldn't have to beg again for a living. If Sergei had not helped Lushkoff, he would still be telling lies and begging on the streets.

27.

What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

Answer»

Johnsy is suffering from pneumonia. Only the willingness to live, could cure her. She had made up her mind that she was not going to get well. The doctor said that if she did not want to live, then medicines would not help her.