Comprehension check… (Page 49)
1. In what way is the
forest pool different from the one which Ranji knew in the Rajputana desert?
Ans: The forest pool was
clean, cold and inviting, whereas the Rajputana desert had sticky, muddy pools.
Que 2 The other boy
asked Ranji to ‘explain’ himself.
(i) What did he expect
Ranji to say?
(ii) Was he, in your
opinion, right or wrong to ask this question?
Ans: (i) He expected Ranji to apologize to him and
immediately leave the pool.
(ii) He was wrong to ask this question because
the pool was in the forest. It was not his personal property.
3. Between Ranji and the
other boy, who is trying to start a quarrel? Give a reason for your answer.
Ans: The other boy was
trying to start a quarrel. Ranji was prepared to be friendly but the other boy
was in hostile tone. He said that it was his pool and started a fight by
calling himself a ‘warrior’.
4. “Then we will have to
continue the fight,” said the other.
(i) What made him say
that?
(ii) Did the fight
continue? If not, why not?
Ans: (i) When even after a lot of
fighting Ranji refused to leave the pool, the other boy said that they would
have to continue their fight.
(ii) No, the fight
did not continue. After they decided to continue the fight, neither of them
took the initiative. Then, the other boy said that they would continue the
fight the next day.
Comprehension check…
(Page 53)
1. What is it that Ranji finds difficult to explain at home?
Ans: Ranji found it difficult to explain the cuts
and bruises on his face, legs and arms.
2. Ranji sees his
adversary in the bazaar.
(i) What does he wish to
do?
(ii) What does he
actually do, and why?
Ans: (i) When Ranji saw his adversary in
the bazaar, he wished to turn away and look elsewhere. Then, he wished to throw
the lemonade bottle at his enemy.
(ii) He actually
stood his ground and scowled at the other boy. He did not throw the lemonade
bottle because he did not want to start a fight in the bazaar.
3. Ranji is not at all
eager for a second fight. Why does he go back to the pool, then?
Ans: Ranji is not eager
for a second fight, but he still goes back to the pool because if he has not
gone, it would have been an acknowledgement of his defeat. He does not want to accept
his defeat.
4. Who was the better
swimmer? How do you know it?
Ans: Ranji was the
better swimmer. Ranji dived straight into the water and surfaced at the other
end with hardly a splash. The boy was amazed. He said that he did not know how
to swim underwater and asked Ranji to teach him swimming..
5. What surprises the
warrior?
Ans: The warrior was
surprised to see how Ranji crossed the pool in one breath. .
6. Now that they are at
the pool, why don’t they continue the fight?
Ans: The warrior asked
Ranji to teach him swimming. Ranji agreed. They became friends. So they do not
continue the fight.
7.Ranji’s superiority
over the other boy is obvious in the following:
physical strength, good
diving, his being a fighter, sense of humour, swimming under water, making a good point, willingness to
help.
Underline the relevant
phrases.
Ans: Do yourself.
8. What, according to
you, makes the two adversaries turn into good friends in a matter of minutes? Explain it as you have
understood it.
Ans: The two adversaries
admired each other’s strength. The other boy saw how well Ranji can dive
and swim underwater, and asked him to teach him these skills. Ranji’s
willingness to help the other boy made their friendship possible. Noticing
Ranji’s thin body, the other boy promised him that he would turn him into a
wrestler like himself. As a result, in a matter of minutes, the adversaries
turned into good friends.