NCERT Solutions
Exercises (NCERT Page 29)
Answer the following questions.
- What are some of the signs of approaching winter referred to in the text?
Ans. Birds flying to South, people purchasing new coats and falling of dead leaves are some of the signs that indicate approaching winters.
- Write ‘True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.
(i) Soapy did not want to go to prison. …………….
(ii) Soapy had been to prison several times. …………….
(iii) It was not possible for Soapy to survive in the city through the winter. …………….
(iv) Soapy hated to answer questions of a personal nature. …………….
Ans. (i) False (ii) True
(iii) True (iv) True
- What was Soapy’s first plan? Why it did not work?
Ans. Soapy’s first plan was to go to a big restaurant and order a sumptuous meal. Thereafter, he would tell the waiter that he had no money to pay the bill. This plan, however, failed because the guard at the restaurant did not allow him to enter, seeing his shabby clothes and shoes.
- “But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy”. What did the cop not consider and why?
Ans. Soapy threw stones on a big glass windowed shop in order to be arrested by the cops. However, because he continued to stand there waiting for the cops to come, the cop refused to believe that Soapy could be the culprit.
- “We have orders to let them shout”. What is the policeman referring to?
Ans. Soapy began to shout and cry as loud as possible in yet another attempt to be arrested by the cops. The cops again refused to consider arresting him because they thought he was one of those college boys who would shout but not harm anyone. And the cops had the orders to these boys shout.
- Write True’ or ‘False’ against each of the following.
(i) Soapy stole a man’s umbrella. …………….
(ii) The owner of the umbrella offered to give it to Soapy. ……………..
(iii) The man had stolen the umbrella that was now Soapy’s. …………….
(iv) Soapy threw away the umbrella. …………….
Ans. (i) True (ii) True (iii) True (iv) True
- “There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul”. What brought about the change in Soapy?
Ans. Soapy was very upset because all his plans failed one after the other. While walking towards the Madison Square, Soapy came across his childhood house. Reaching the house, Soapy was overpowered with happy memories, of his mother and flowers.
Discuss the following topics in groups.
- Suppose no cop came at the end. What would Soapy’s life be like through the winter?
Ans. At the onset of the story, it seemed that if no cop came at the end, it would have been impossible for Soapy to survive through the winters. However, by the time the story comes to an end, it seemed that Soapy would have managed to survive and sustain himself even if no cop came. Soapy had found a meaning and direction for his life.
- Retell an episode in the story which is a good example of irony in a situation.
Ans. The Titanic ship was promoted as a cent per cent unsinkable ship, but in 1912 it sunk on its very first voyage. This is an example of irony.