Question 1 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
“There’s a lady in my office asking to speak to you,” he whispered, standing with his back to the class to avoid being overheard. “As you know, I never allow parents access to the staff, but she has told me the reason for wanting to see you and I think you would be doing her a service by doing so. I will stay with your class until you return.”
(i) Who is ‘he’ in the above extract? To whom is ‘he’ talking to? Where is the conversation taking place?
Answer : ‘He’ in the above extract refers to Mr Florian, the Headmaster of the Greenslade School. He is talking to Mr ER Braithwaite, the incharge of the top class at the school. They are presently in the classroom.
(ii) Who is the lady visitor? With what trouble has be visited the listener?
Answer : The lady visitor is Mrs Dare, Pamela’s mother. She was very troubled at the conduct of Pamela. Pamela had been staying out of home even at nights. She would not listen to her mother or tell here where she had been. Mrs Dare was very concerned for her daughter.
(iii) How did the listener react to the request of the lady?
Answer : When Mrs Dare came to Braithwaite and told him that she had come to talk about Pamela, Braithwaite grew nervous. He did not know what the matter was. However, he was a bit relieved after it was told that Mrs Dare wanted him to talk to Pamela about her conduct. Braithwaite told her that he would surely talk with Pamela.
(iv) Why do you think that she has come to particularly meet the listener?
Answer : Braithwaite had gained too much reputation in his class. Even the parents of his students knew that they held their teacher in high-esteem and would surely listen to him. Therefore, when Pamela started to ignore her mother, she came to Braithwaite seeking help. Moreover, she thought as Pamela had lost her father and missed him, she looked up to Braithwaite. Hence, she wanted him to have a talk with her over the matter.
(v) Was the listener able to help the lady?
Answer : Braithwaite wanted to help Mrs Dare. He obliged to her request to talk to Pamela. He had a chat with Pamela but as he came to know more of the matter, he thought that it was a bad idea to get so much involved in the life of the students. Later, he visited Mrs Dare upon Pamela’s request. He was able to bring peace between the daughter and mother but not before resolving to never to get into the matters of others.
Question 2 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Gillian was right, I shouldn’t have come. I suddenly felt angry with myself for being so short-sighted; my conceit in overestimating my importance to the children had led to this, and I was sobered by the thoughts which now crowded my mind. What would the other children think or say if they knew of my visit to Pamela’s home?
(i) Whose thoughts have been presented in these lines? Who is Gillian?
Answer : ER Braithwaite’s thoughts have been presented in these lines. He is a teacher at Greenslade School. Gillian Blanchard is also a teacher at the same school and Braithwaite’s love interest. Pamela Dare is a lively young girl of Braithwaite’s class.
(ii) Why had ‘I’ visited Pamela’s home?
Answer : Braithwaite has visited Pamela’s home upon her request. Earlier, Pamela’s mother had come to Braithwaite asking him to have a talk with Pamela for she had been staying out late at nights and was ignoring her. He talked with Pamela and she in turn asked him to come to her home and have a talk with her mother.
(iii) Earlier, why had Pamela’s mother visited Braithwaite?
Answer : Mrs Dare was very troubled at the conduct of Pamela. Pamela had been staying out of home even at late nights. She would not listen to her mother or tell her where she had been. Mrs Dare was very concerned for her daughter. Mrs Dare thought that Pamela had high regard for her teacher and would surely listen to him. Moreover, she thought that Pamela looked up to him.
(iv) Why is ‘I’ cursing himself for visiting Pamela’s home?
Answer : Braithwaite thought that his conceit had led him to meddle in the affairs of his students. He had no experience about the situation he was confronted with. He could not think of anything to say to Pamela or her mother. He was sure that any chatter about a teacher and his girl students, no matter how unfounded, would be viewed unfavourably and in the mouth of someone like Weston could assume grave proportions.
(v) What does ‘I’ tell Pamela after the extract? Does Pamela oblige?
Answer : Braithwaite told her that he knew how she was feeling; but in spite of that, he could not see that Pamela was doing any good by staying out late and making her mother anxious. He wanted Pamela to behave outside the school as commendable and ladylike as he had always found her in the classroom. He further added that it was her duty to show courtesy towards her mother. Moreover, there were many risks of being out at night. Pamela promised him that she would mend her ways.
Long Questions
Question 1 : What made Mrs Dare come to Braithwaite seeking help? Was Braithwaite able to help her? Why do you think in spite of Gillian’s warnings, Braithwaite took this task upon himself? What did he resolve at last?
Answer : One morning, Braithwaite was informed by the Headmaster that a woman had come to see him. She was Pamela Dare’s mother. She was in tears and told Braithwaite that Pamela had distanced herself from her. Pamela would stay out late at nights and would not tell her mother where she had been. She was very much disturbed by Pamela’s behaviour. She wanted Braithwaite to have a chat with Pamela as she was sure that Pamela would listen to him. Braithwaite was quite reluctant but could not say no to her. Even Mr Florian thought that it would have to be done for Pamela’s sake.
Braithwaite told Gillian about this and she told him to be careful with her. He told Pamela that he would like to talk with her if she did not consider it as in intrusion. Pamela came after the class to have a chat. Braithwaite asked her what the matter was and Pamela replied that her mother did not care much about her. She further informed him that at night she used to be at her Nan’s (maternal grandmother’s) house which was nearby. She was apparently disappointed and thought that her mother had time only for her friends and not for her daughter. Pamela in turn asked Braithwaite to have a talk with his mother about this.
Gillian again was not sure about Braithwaite getting so involved with his students. Braithwaite went to the Dares and was himself anxious. Then the truth came out. Pamela had gone on holidays and Mrs Dare was at home. She was alone and invited one of her friends. Pamela came unannounced and saw them in a compromising situation. She was shocked and locked herself. Mrs Dare started crying and told Braithwaite that she did not want Pamela to do anything silly. Braithwaite was in a tense situation now. He did not know what to say. However, they called Pamela in and Braithwaite asked her to be a bit more courteous towards her mother. Braithwaite told her that he knew how she was feeling; but in spite of that, he could not see that Pamela was doing any good by staying out late and making her mother anxious. He wanted Pamela to behave outside the school as commendable and ladylike as he had always found her in the classroom. Pamela obliged. Braithwaite cursed himself for his conceit had led him to meddle in the affairs of his students. Now he wanted to get out as soon as possible. He made up his mind that he would never get this much involved again.