Comprehension check…
1. Velu stood on the platform but he felt “as if
he was still on a moving train”. Why?
Ans: Velu had never travelled in a train. He stood on the platform but his legs were feeling wobbly. So he felt as if he was still on a moving train.
2. What made him feel miserable?
Ans: He felt miserable because he was very much
hungry and tired.
3. (i) Velu travelled without a ticket. Why?
Ans:
He had no money to buy a ticket. So he
travelled without a ticket.
(ii)
How did Velu escape the ticket collector’s attention?
Ans: He travelled in an unreserved compartment. The
ticket collector did not come to that compartment. So he escaped the ticket
collector’s attention.
4. Why did Velu run away from home?
Ans: Velu’s father was a drunkard. He beat Velu
badly and snatched away all the money he and his sister earned. So he ran away
from home.
5. Why did he decide to follow the ‘strange
girl’?
Ans: Velu did not know anyone in Chennai. He did
not know where to go and what to do. He found the strange girl friendly to him.
So he decided to follow her.
Comprehension check…
1. Can Velu read Tamil and English?
How do you know?
Ans: Velu can read Tamil. He could read ‘Central Jail written in Tamil.
2. “If you are not careful, you will
soon be counting bars there,’’ the girl said.
(i)
What is she referring to?
Ans: She is referring to being caught by the police and
put into jail.
(ii)
What does she mean when she says “If you are not careful…? ( She says something
a little later which means the same. Find that sentence.)
Ans:
She is referring to being caught
by the police even while not committing any crime. The sentence that confirms it
is “You don’t have to do anything. Just don’t get caught. That’s all.”
3. (i) Where did the girl lead Velu to?
Ans: The girl led Velu behind a big hall where garbage was placed.
(ii) What did they get to eat?
Ans: They got squashy bananas and a vada to eat.
4. What work did she do?
Ans: She did the work of ragpicking.
Comprehension check…
1. (i) What materials are the
‘strange huts’ made out of?
Ans: The strange huts are made out of metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood and
plastic.
(ii) Why does Velu find them strange?
Ans: They stood crookedly and looked as if they would fall any moment. So
he finds them strange.
2. What sort of thing did Jaya and children like her collect and what did
they do with those things?
Ans: Jaya and other children like
her collected things like paper, plastic and glass from the rubbish bins. They sold those things to Jam Bazaar Jaggu.
3. Is Velu happy or unhappy to find work? Give a reason for your answer.
Ans: No, Velu is not happy with this work. He says that he will do this
work for now until he finds a better job.