Swami hoped that with this his father would be made to see
why he must avoid school for the day. But Father’s behavior took an unexpected
turn. He proposed to send a letter with Swami to the headmaster. No amount of
protest from Swami would make him change his mind.
By the time Swami was ready to leave for school, Father had
composed a long letter to the headmaster. He put it in an envelope and sealed
it.
“What have you written, father?” Swami asked apprehensively.
“Nothing for you. Give it to your headmaster and go to your
class.”
“Have you written anything about our teacher Samuel?”
“Yes. Plenty of things.”
“What has he done, Father?”
“Everything is there in the letter. Give it to your
headmaster.”
Swami went to school feelings that he was the worst boy on
earth. His conscience bothered him. He wasn’t at all sure if his description of
Samuel had been accurate.
He felt he had mixed
up the real and the imagined.
Swami stopped on the roadside to make up his mind about
Samuel. Samuel was not such a bad man after all. Personally he was much more
friendly than the other teachers. Swami also felt Samuel had a special regard
for him.
Swami’s head was dizzy with confusion. He could not decide
if Samuel really deserved the allegations made against him in the letter. The
more he thought of Samuel, the more Swami grieved for him. To recall Samuel’s dark
face, his thin moustache, unshaven cheek and yellow coat filled Swaminathan
with sorrow.
1 1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the
following sentences:
(a)
Father decided to send the headmaster a
(i)
Telegram
(ii)
Notice
(iii)
Letter
(iv)
Report
(b)
While going to school Swami was bothered by
(i)
conscience
(ii)
headache
(v)
toothache
(vi)
fever
(c)
The colour of Samuel’s coat was
(i)
Black
(ii)
Blue
(iii)
White
(iv)
yellow
(e)
as Swami went to school he felt he was
(i)
bothered
(ii)
the worst boy
(iii)
gentle
(iv)
the best boy
(f)
“His conscience bothered him.” in the sentence bothered means
(i)
sorrow
(ii)
disturbed
(iii)
inspired
(iv)
pleased
(g)
Swami was ready to leave for
(i)
doctor
(ii)
school
(iii)
Samuel’s home
(iv)
post office
(h)
Swami’s head was imbalanced with
(i)
anger
(ii)
confusion
(iii)
headache
(iv)
joy
(i)
Swaminathan stopped on the roadside to
(i)
find a post office
(ii)
change his mind
(iii)
look for his friend
(iv)
take rest
(j)
Swaminathan felt very sorry for
(i)
his father
(ii)
the headmaster
(iii)
his teacher
(iv)
his friend
2
2. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
2. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:
(a)
Father’s behavior took an
_______________________________________
(b)
Swami went to school felling
________________________________________
(c)
Swami stopped on the roadside to
____________________________________
(d) Swami felt he had mixed up ________________________________________
(e) Personally Samuel was _________________
(f) Swami was filled with sorrow recalling _____________________
(g) As a teacher Samuel was _____________________
(h) In the letter there was _______________________
(i) Swami's conscience bothered his as ____________________
(j) Samuel was more friendly _________________________-
(d) Swami felt he had mixed up ________________________________________
(e) Personally Samuel was _________________
(f) Swami was filled with sorrow recalling _____________________
(g) As a teacher Samuel was _____________________
(h) In the letter there was _______________________
(i) Swami's conscience bothered his as ____________________
(j) Samuel was more friendly _________________________-
3 3. Answer the following questions:
(a)
Where did Father put the letter?
(b)
What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?
(c)
How did Samuel look?
(d) Why was Swamis's head dizzy?
(e) Why did Swami's conscience prick him?
(f) Give a brief description of Samuel's appearance?
(g) Where did Swami stop to make up his mind?
(d) Why was Swamis's head dizzy?
(e) Why did Swami's conscience prick him?
(f) Give a brief description of Samuel's appearance?
(g) Where did Swami stop to make up his mind?
4.State whether the following statements are True or false. Provide Sentences/ Phrases/ words in support of your answer:
(a) Samuel was such a bad man after all.
Supporting statements
_________________________________________________
(b) Swami went to school feeling that he was the best boy on the earth.
Supporting statements
_________________________________________________
