Packing | Question and Answer |
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Thinking about the Text
Question I Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30 – 40 words).
Question 1 How many characters are there in the narrative? Name them. (Don’t forget the dog!).
Answer There are mainly four characters in the narratives. They are Jerome (narrator), George, Harris and Montmorency (the dog)
Question Why did the narrator (Jerome) volunteer to do the packing?
Answer The narrator (Jerome) volunteered to do the packing because he thought that he was the best packer. He was very proud of his packing and wanted to show it to everyone.
Question 3 How did George and Harris react to this? Did Jerome like their reaction?
Answer George and Harris readily accepted Jerome suggestion. Harris lit a cigar and put his legs on the table while George smoked a pipe and spread himself over the easy chair when Jerome was packing. He was irritated by their reaction.
Question 4 What was Jerome’s real intention when he offered to pack?
Answer The real intention of Jerome when he was offered to pack was to show his capability through the supervision skills. George and Harris sat down to relax while all the work was shifted to his shoulders.
Question 5 What did Harris say after the bag was shut and strapped? Why do you think he waited till then to ask?
Answer Harris told Jerome that he didn’t pack the boots after the bag was strapped. To make Jerome realise his mistake and ridicule his packing skills for which he is very proud , he waited till then to ask.
Question 6 What “horrible idea” occurred to Jerome a little later?
Answer The horrible idea occurred to Jerome a little later was that whether or not he had packed his toothbrush. Whenever he travelled he always forgot if he had packed his toothbrush or not. This very thought haunted him to the core and made his life a mess.
Question 7 Where did Jerome finally find the toothbrush?
Answer The toothbrush was found in the boot when he was putting things into place again, after unpacking them out and scattering them everywhere.
Question 8 Why did Jerome have to reopen the packed bag?
Answer Jerome had to reopen the packed bag twice because of his habit of forgetting things. First, he forgot to pack his boots and next time he had to unpack again because he packed his tobacco pouch in with other things.
Question 9 What did George and Harris offer to pack and why?
Answer George and Harris offered to pack the hampers because Jerome was talking too much time and it was also getting late. They also wanted to show their packing skill to Jerome.
Question 10 While packing the hamper, George and Harris do a number of foolish and funny things. Tick the statements that are true.
(i) They started with breaking a cup.
(i) True
(ii) They also broke a plate.
(ii) False
(iii) They squashed a tomato.
(iii) True
(iv) They trod on the butter.
(iv) True
(v) They stepped on a banana.
(v) False
(vi) They put things behind them, and couldn’t find them.
(vi) True
(vii) They stepped on things.
(vii) True
(viii) They packed the pictures at the bottom and put heavy things on top.
(viii) False
(ix) They upset almost everything.
(ix) True
(x) They were very good at packing.
(x) False
Question II What does Jerome say was Montmorency’s ambition in life? What do you think of Montmorency and why?
Answer Jerome says that Montmorency’s ambition in life was to get in the way and he sworn at it. He was a little dog who due to his mischievous nature created troubles for everyone. Whenever he would get bored, he would come in between the work and try to get involved. He never meant trouble intentionally, but people would shout at him or throw things at his head. He would then get tired and hurt and would go back to his place and sit. The narrator called this the fulfilment of his conceit.
III. Discuss in groups and answer the following questions in two or three paragraphs (100 –150 words)
1. Of the three, Jerome, George and Harris, who do you think is the best or worst packer? Support your answer with details from the text.
Answer Out of three , Jerome was the best packer. He knew how to pack the things systematically but the only issue was that he forgot about the items he packed and where he kept them. Both George and Harris usually messed things up. George stepped on the butter , Harris packed the strawberry jam on top of tomato and squashed it. Jerome took time in packing, but the job was done well. Harris and George would sometimes even kept things behind them and then keep searching it .
2. How did Montmorency ‘contribute’ to the packing?
Answer The packing was already a messy job and Montmorency contribution made it even more troublesome and tiresome. He was a joyful dog and he loved creating trouble for people around him. He sat on the things that were meant to be packed. He pretended that the lemons were rats .So he got into the hamper and killed three of them before Harris could land him with frying pan. He tried to create trouble when he would notice everyone around him busy. The narrator called his acts the fulfilment of his conceit.
3. Do you find this story funny? What are the humorous elements in it? (Pick out at least three, think about what happens, as well as how it is described.)
Answer Yes , this story is certainly funny. The way in which three friends pack for the trip is quite amazing to watch.
The first humorous incident is when the whole matter of packing is left on the shoulders of Jerome when all he wanted to do was to supervise the work.
The second one is when Harris sat on the butter placed on the chair by George. They walk around the whole room to search for packing, which was finally discovered on Harris’s back.
The third moment is when Montmorency squirms in when he wants someone to stumble over him. He pretended that the lemons were rats and played with them.
Thinking about Language
Question I. Match the words/phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| A | B |
| 1. slaving | (i) a quarrel or an argument |
| 2. chaos | (ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
| 3. rummage | (iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain |
| 4. scrape out | (iv) finish successfully, achieve |
| 5. stumble over, tumble into | (v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
| 6. accomplish | (vi) complete confusion and disorder |
| 7. uncanny | (vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
| 8. (to have or get into) | (viii) working hard |
Answer I
| A | B |
| 1. slaving | (viii) working hard |
| 2. chaos | (vi) complete confusion and disorder |
| 3. rummage | (v) search for something by moving things around hurriedly or carelessly |
| 4. scrape out | (ii) remove something from inside another thing using a sharp tool |
| 5. stumble over, tumble into | (vii) fall, or step awkwardly while walking |
| 6. accomplish | (iv) finish successfully, achieve |
| 7. uncanny | (iii) strange, mysterious, difficult to explain |
| 8. (to have or get into) | (i) a quarrel or an argument |
Question II) Use suitable words or phrases from Column A above to complete the paragraph given below.
A Traffic Jam
During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter______ at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by_____ over their right of way, and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen_____ at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having______ something.
Answer II) During power cuts, when traffic lights go off, there is utter chaos at crossroads. Drivers add to the confusion by rummage over their right of way, and nearly come to blows. Sometimes passers-by, seeing a few policemen slaving at regulating traffic, step in to help. This gives them a feeling of having accomplished something.
Question III) Look at the sentences below. Notice that the verbs (italicised) are all in their bare form.
• Simple commands:
– Stand up!
– Put it here!
• Directions: (to reach your home)
Board Bus No.121 and get down at Sagar Restaurant. From there turn right and walk till you reach a book shop. My home is just behind the shop.
• Dos and don’ts:
– Always get up for your elders.
– Don’t shout in class.
• Instructions for making a fruit salad:
Ingredients
Oranges – 2
Pineapple – one large piece
Cherries – 250 grams
Bananas – 2
Any other fruit you like
Wash the fruit. Cut them into small pieces. Mix them well. Add a few drops of lime juice. Add sugar to taste. Now add some cream (or ice cream if you wish to make fruit salad with ice cream.)
1. Now work in pairs. Give
(i) two commands to your partner.
(i) Sit down and stand up
(ii) two do’s and don’ts to a new student in your class.
(ii) Do’s: Submit your work regularly.
Ask teachers for help.
Don’t: Avoid using vulgar words and being rude to anyone.
Avoid bringing electronics to class.
(iii) directions to get to each other’s houses.
(iii) My house is ten minutes, right from the fork on the main road.
(iv) instructions for moving the body in an exercise or a dance, or for cooking something.
(iv) Lift your chin up, exhale and hold the posture for at least three minutes.
2. The table below has some proverbs telling you what to do and what not to do. Fill in the blanks and add a few more such proverbs to the table
| Positive | Negative |
| (i) Save for a rainy day. | (i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
| (ii) Make hay while the sun shines. | (ii) Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
| (iii) before you leap. | (iii) a mountain out of a mole hill. |
| (iv) and let live. | (iv) all your eggs in one basket. |
Answer
| Positive | Negative |
| (i) Save for a rainy day. | (i) Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
| (ii) Make hay while the sun shines. | (ii) Don’t put the cart before the horse. |
| (iii) Look before you leap | (iii) Don’t make a mountain out of a mole hill. |
| (iv) Live and let live. | (iv) Don’t hatch all your eggs in one basket. |
| (v) Like father , like son | (v) Don’t rub Peter to pay Paul. |
| (vi) Let the past bury the dead. | (vi) Don’t make castle in the air |
Writing
You have seen how Jerome, George and Harris mess up their packing, especially of the hamper. From their mistakes you must have thought of some dos and don’ts for packing. Can you give some tips for packing by completing the paragraph below?
First pack all the heavy items, especially the ones you don’t need right away. Then …
Here are some words and phrases you can use to begin your sentences with:
• Then
• Next
• Now
• Remember
• Don’t forget
• At last /Finally
Answer: First pack all heavy items, especially the ones that you don’t need right away. Then pack delicate crockery. Pack it in bubble wrap or newspapers to avoid breakage. Try to pack all the upholstery together and in an accessible way. This helps as you won’t have to go through everything to find them. Pack food ideas in another box and try to keep them above everything to avoid spillage or breakage. Put your toiletries and skincare in a separate pouch and keep them accessible so that they could be used easily if required. Store electronics together and based on their requirements. Finally check if everything is packed, especially the items you require during the trip.
Speaking
Look at this sentence.
“I told George and Harris that they had better leave the whole matter entirely to me.”
The words had better are used
• in an advice or suggestion:
You had better take your umbrella; it looks like rain.
• in an order
You had better complete your homework before you go out to play.
• as a threat
You had better leave or I’ll have you arrested for trespass!
When we speak, we say you’d/I’d/he’d better, instead of you had better, etc.
Work in pairs to give each other advice, orders or suggestions, or even to threaten each other.
Imagine situations like the following: Your partner
1. hasn’t returned a book to the library.
2. has forgotten to bring lunch.
3. hasn’t got enough change for bus fare.
4. has found out a secret about you.
5. has misplaced your English textbook.
Answer
(1) You had better return the book to the library before you leave for trip.
(2) You had better bring your lunch before you leave for school.
(3) You had better get enough chance for the bus fare or you will feel odd.
(4) I had feel better find out a secret about you before you say anything.
(5) You had better make a trace of your English book before misplacing it.
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