Question 1

What was the importance of the watch to the author?

Accepted Answer

The watch was very important to the author as it was a valuable possession that he cared deeply about. It was originally expensive, costing two hundred dollars, and he was keen to have it repaired and working properly. The watch symbolized reliability and precision, and the author’s repeated attempts to fix it show his attachment and the significance he placed on it. — The author’s detailed narration of the watch’s condition and the multiple repairs it underwent indicate its importance. Despite the watch’s erratic behavior, the author’s persistence in getting it repaired shows his emotional and practical investment in it.

Question 2

What were the attempts made by the author to get his watch repaired?

Accepted Answer

The author took the watch to several watchmakers for repairs. The first watchmaker said the barrel was 'swelled' and promised to reduce it in three days. The second watchmaker said the king-bolt was broken and repaired it. The third watchmaker noticed the hands would stick together at ten minutes to ten. The fourth watchmaker fixed the bent crystal and mainspring. Finally, the last watchmaker, an old acquaintance, examined the watch and humorously remarked that it 'makes too much steam' and suggested hanging the monkey-wrench on the safety valve. Despite all these attempts, the watch continued to malfunction. — The author’s narrative details each watchmaker’s diagnosis and repair attempts, showing a progression of fixes and new problems. This sequence highlights the watch’s persistent issues and the author’s frustration.

Question 3

Why did the author finally give up on his watch?

Accepted Answer

The author gave up on his watch because despite spending two or three thousand dollars on repairs (far more than the original cost), the watch continued to malfunction in unpredictable ways. It would run erratically, stop suddenly, and sometimes the hands would spin rapidly making it impossible to tell the time. The repeated failures and the high cost of repairs made the author lose hope in fixing it. — The narrative shows the author’s growing frustration and the watch’s worsening condition, culminating in the decision to stop trying to repair it due to impracticality and expense.

Question 4

What was Uncle Williams' comment on the 'tinkerers' of the world?

Accepted Answer

Uncle William commented that a good horse was a good horse until it had run away once, and similarly, a good watch was a good watch until the repairers got a chance at it. He wondered what became of all the unsuccessful tinkers, gunsmiths, shoemakers, engineers, and blacksmiths, but nobody could ever tell him. This implies that repairers often spoil things that were originally good, and many repairers fail in their trade. — The comment reflects a humorous and cynical view of repairers, suggesting that their interventions often worsen things rather than improve them.

Question 5

Explain these lines
 a. 'I seemd to detect in myself a sort of sneaking fellow-feeling for the mummy in the museum, and a desire to swap news with him.'
 b. 'Within a week it sickened to a raging fever and its pulse went up to a hundred and fifty in the shade.'
 c. 'She makes too much steam—you want to hang the monkey wrench on the safety valve!'

Accepted Answer

a. The author humorously compares himself to the mummy in the museum, feeling a secret sympathy for it because both are old and out of place. This shows his growing attachment and empathy for his malfunctioning watch.

b. This line uses a metaphor comparing the watch to a sick person. The 'raging fever' and 'pulse' rising to 150 indicate the watch running too fast and erratically, as if it were ill.

c. This is a humorous metaphor where the watchmaker says the watch 'makes too much steam' and suggests hanging the monkey wrench on the safety valve, implying the watch is overworking or malfunctioning like a steam engine that needs to release pressure. It reflects the watch’s uncontrollable behavior and the watchmaker’s witty diagnosis. — Each line uses figurative language to humorously describe the watch’s condition and the author’s feelings, enhancing the narrative’s comic effect.

Question 6

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. Replacing old machines with new is better than getting them repaired.
2. It is difficult to part with personal items like a watch which have a sentimental value attached to them.

Accepted Answer

1. Replacing old machines with new ones can often be more efficient and cost-effective than repairing old, malfunctioning machines. Repairs may be expensive and may not restore the item to its original condition, as seen in the author’s experience with his watch.

2. Personal items like watches often carry sentimental value, making it emotionally difficult to part with them. The author’s repeated attempts to repair his watch despite its faults reflect this emotional attachment. — These discussion points encourage students to think critically about the practical and emotional aspects of repairing versus replacing items, relating to the text’s themes.

Question 7

APPRECIATION

1. How is humour employed to comment on the pains that the author took to get his watch set right?
2. 'The author's treatment of the subject matter makes the readers identify themselves with the experience.' Comment on this statement.
3. Identify some of the improbable images the author has used to effect greater humour.

Accepted Answer

1. Humour is used through exaggerated descriptions of the watch’s erratic behavior and the author’s frustration with repeated repairs. The watch’s actions are personified with comic effects, such as the hands spinning like a spider’s web or the watch ‘kicking back like a musket.’ This light-hearted tone makes the author’s troubles amusing rather than merely frustrating.

2. The author’s detailed and relatable narration of the watch’s problems and his emotional investment allow readers to empathize with his experience. The use of everyday language and humorous metaphors makes the story accessible and engaging.

3. Improbable images include the watch’s hands shutting together like scissors, spinning rapidly like a delicate spider’s web, and the watch ‘making too much steam’ like a steam engine. These vivid and exaggerated images enhance the humour by making the watch’s behavior seem absurd and comical. — The appreciation questions focus on literary devices and the author’s style, encouraging deeper understanding of humour and imagery in the text.

Question 8

LANGUAGE WORK

Make a list of the expressions that imbue the watch with human attributes.

Accepted Answer

Expressions that give the watch human attributes include:
- 'It would keep on slowing down and fooling along'
- 'It would kick back like a musket'
- 'The hands would shut together like a pair of scissors'
- 'The hands would travel together'
- 'Everything inside would let go all of a sudden and begin to buzz like a bee'
- 'The hands would spin round and round so fast that their individuality was lost'
- 'She makes too much steam'
These expressions personify the watch, making it seem alive and capable of intentional actions, which adds humour and vividness to the narrative. — Identifying personification helps understand how the author uses language to create humour and engage readers by making the watch a character in the story.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the tone of Khushwant Singh's poem "The Portrait of a Lady"?

Accepted Answer

Humorous and affectionate — The poem uses gentle humor and affectionate language to portray the poet's grandmother, highlighting her personality with warmth and familiarity.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: In "The Portrait of a Lady," the poet describes his grandmother's habit of _____ the poet's ear when he misbehaved as a unique way of expressing affection.

Accepted Answer

pinching — The poem mentions the grandmother's habit of pinching the poet's ear as a disciplinary yet affectionate gesture, showing her unique way of expressing love.

Question 11

Explain the significance of the cultural context reflected in "The Portrait of a Lady" regarding Indian family relationships.

Accepted Answer

"The Portrait of a Lady" reflects the Indian cultural context where grandparents play a significant role in upbringing and nurturing. The poem emphasizes family bonds, respect for elders, and the warmth of intergenerational relationships, showing how elders influence and shape the lives of younger generations. — The poem portrays the grandmother as a central figure in the family, highlighting her influence and the affectionate bonds typical in Indian households, thus teaching respect and love for elders.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes Captain Lawrence Oates's action during the Antarctic expedition?

Accepted Answer

He sacrificed himself by walking into a blizzard to save his companions. — Captain Oates, suffering from severe frostbite, chose to sacrifice himself by leaving the tent during a blizzard to improve the survival chances of his team.

Question 13

Assertion (A): Captain Oates's decision to leave the tent was an act of cowardice.
Reason (R): He wanted to avoid the hardships of the expedition.

A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
B) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
C) A is true but R is false
D) A is false but R is true

Accepted Answer

D — Assertion is false because Captain Oates's decision was an act of bravery and self-sacrifice, not cowardice. Reason is true in that he left to avoid endangering the team, but not to avoid hardships for himself. Hence, R is true but does not justify A.

Question 14

Describe the main challenges faced by Captain Scott's expedition team in the Antarctic as narrated in "We’re Not Afraid to Die... if We Can All Be Together."

Accepted Answer

The expedition team faced extreme cold temperatures, severe frostbite, dwindling supplies, physical exhaustion, and harsh blizzard conditions. These challenges tested their endurance and spirit, culminating in Captain Oates's self-sacrifice to help the group survive. — The narrative highlights the physical and psychological hardships of Antarctic exploration, emphasizing the team's courage and teamwork under adversity.

Question 15

Which of the following artifacts was famously discovered in Tutankhamun's tomb by Howard Carter in 1922?

Accepted Answer

The golden mask of Tutankhamun — Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922, which contained the famous golden mask, a significant artifact of ancient Egyptian civilization.

Essays (Introduction)

Essays (Introduction) — Study Notes

INTRODUCTION

My Watch - Part I

My Watch - Part II

Practice Questions — Essays (Introduction)

All 27 Chapters in Woven Words