Flamingo Chapter 1 The Last Lesson
Q.1. What was Franz expected to be prepared with for school that day?
Answer: Franz was expected to be prepared with the rules of participles because M. Hamel, his teacher, had said he would question the class on them.
Q.2. What did Franz notice that was unusual about the school that day?
Answer: Franz noticed an unusual silence in the school. M. Hamel was wearing his special dress, and villagers were sitting at the back of the class, showing respect for their language and teacher.
Q.3. What had been put up on the bulletin-board?
Answer: An order had come from Berlin to teach only German in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine.
Q.4. What changes did the order from Berlin cause in school that day?
Answer: The order from Berlin made the school very quiet and serious. M. Hamel wore special clothes, and village people came to attend the last lesson.
Q.5. How did Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school change?
Answer: Initially, Franz disliked school and his teacher, but after realizing it was the last lesson, he regretted not learning French and started respecting M. Hamel and his efforts.
Q.6. How did M. Hamel pay a tribute to the French Language?
Answer: M. Hamel paid tribute to the French language by praising it as the most beautiful, clear, and logical language. He told everyone to never forget their language and always protect it.
Q.7. Why was M. Hamel wearing his special dress?
Answer: M. Hamel was wearing his special green coat, frilled shirt, and black silk cap because it was his last day as a teacher and he wanted to honor the occasion.
Flamingo Chapter 2 Lost Spring
Q.1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
Answer: Saheb is looking for something valuable like coins or useful items in the garbage. He lives in Seemapuri and has come from Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Q 2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
Answer: The author says some children are too poor to buy shoes. Some say it’s a tradition or custom to stay barefoot.
Q.3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.
Answer : No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. He earns money now but has lost his freedom.
Q.4. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?
Answer: Firozabad is famous for its glass bangle industry. Almost every family in the city is involved in making glass bangles.
Q.5. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
Answer: Working in the glass bangle industry is dangerous. Workers suffer from burns, poor eyesight, and many become blind. They work in dark and hot places which affect their health badly.
Q.6. Who is Mukesh? What is his dream?
Answer: Mukesh is a boy from Firozabad who works in a bangle-making family. His dream is to become a motor mechanic.
Flamingo Chapter 3 Deep Water
Q.1. What is the “misadventure” that William Douglas speaks about?
Answer: William Douglas speaking about the “misadventure” when he was thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool by a big boy. He nearly drowned and became very afraid of water.
Q.2. How did this experience affect him?
Answer: This experience made William Douglas very afraid of water. He avoided swimming and felt fear whenever he went near water.
Q.3. Why was Douglas determined to get over his fear of water?
Answer: William Douglas was determined to get over his fear of water because he did not want fear to control his life. He wanted to enjoy swimming and live freely.
Q.4. How did Douglas overcome his fear of water?
Answer: William Douglas overcame his fear by taking swimming lessons from an instructor. He practiced regularly, learned swimming step by step, and slowly became confident.
Q.5. How did the instructor “build a swimmer” out of Douglas?
Answer: The instructor trained William Douglas step by step. He used a belt and rope for safety, taught him to float, kick, and move his arms. Slowly, Douglas gained confidence and became a good swimmer.
Flamingo Chapter 4 The Rattrap
Q.1. From where did the peddler get the idea of the world being a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler got the idea from his own work of making and selling rattraps. While thinking about life, he felt that the world is like a big rattrap that traps people with riches and pleasures.
Q.2. Why was he amused by this idea?
Answer: He found it funny because people run after money and things, just like rats go after cheese in a trap.
Q.3. Why was the crofter so talkative and friendly with the peddler?
Answer: The crofter was lonely and had no one to talk to. So, he became very friendly and talkative when the peddler came.
Q.4. Why did he show the thirty kronor to the peddler?
Answer: The crofter had told the peddler that by selling his cow’s milk, he had received thirty kronor. The peddler seemed to doubt it, so, in order to assure him the crofter showed thirty kronor.
Q.5. When did the ironmaster realize his mistake?
Answer: The ironmaster realized his mistake when he saw the peddler clearly in the daylight. He understood that he was not Captain von Stahle but a poor peddler.
Q.6. What made the peddler think that he had indeed fallen into a rattrap?
Answer: The peddler thought he had fallen into a rattrap when he took the money from the old man and later got lost in the forest. He felt that the world had trapped him just like a rat is trapped with bait. The forest seemed like a prison, and he couldn’t find a way out.
Flamingo Chapter 5 Indigo
Q.1. Why is Rajkumar Shukla described as being ‘resolute’?
Answer: Rajkumar Shukla is described as being resolute because he remained firm in his request and followed Gandhi for weeks until he agreed to visit Champaran.
Q.2. Why do you think the servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant?
Answer: The servants thought Gandhi to be another peasant as he wore simple clothes and looked like a common rural man without any signs of wealth or status.
Q.3. List the places that Gandhi visited between his first meeting with Shukla and his arrival at Champaran.
Answer: Gandhi visited Patna, Rajendra Prasad’s house, then Muzaffarpur before reaching Champaran.
Q.4. Why did Gandhi agree to a settlement of 25 per cent refund to the farmers?
Answer: Gandhiji explained that the amount of the refund was less important than the fact that the landlords had been obliged to surrender part of the money and, with it part of their prestige. So he agreed to the settlement of 25 percent refund to the farmers.
Q.5. What was Gandhiji’s politics intertwined with?
Answer: Gandhiji’s politics was intertwined with his principles of non-violence and truth.
Q.6. How did the episode change the plight of the peasants?
Answer: The episode improved the condition of the peasants. They became confident and fearless. They realized that they could stand up against the British landlords.
Flamingo Chapter 6 Poets and Pancakes
Q.1. What does the writer mean by ‘the fiery misery’ of those subjected to make-up?
Answer: The phrase ‘fiery misery’ refers to the intense discomfort experienced by actors who had to endure the heat and irritation caused by layers of make-up under hot studio lights. The make-up often caused burning sensations on their skin.
Q.2. Why did the author appear to be doing nothing at the studios?
Answer: The author was in the story department where very little actual work was done. He was expected to gather and compile information, but the environment was such that his role seemed passive, making it appear as if he was doing nothing.
Q.3. Who was Subbu’s principal?
Answer: Mr. S.S. Vasan, the founder of the Gemini Studios, was Subbu’s principal.
Q.4. Subbu is described as a many-sided genius. List four of his special abilities.
Answer: Subbu’s special abilities were:
- He could write poetry.
- He was a talented actor.
- He had a flair for storytelling and film-making.
- He was an excellent troubleshooter and organizer at the studio.
Q.5. Why was the legal adviser referred to as the opposite by others?
Answer: He was officially known as the legal advisor. He had unwillingly brought to an end the career of a promising young actress. Hence he was referred to as the opposite by others.
Flamingo Chapter 7 The Interview
Q.1. What are some of the positive views on interviews?
Answer: Some people believe that interviews are a useful tool to learn about people’s thoughts, personality, and behavior. It helps reveal the truth and understand public figures better.
Q.2. Why do most celebrity writers despise being interviewed?
Answer: Many celebrity writers feel that interviews disturb their privacy and reduce the depth of their thoughts. They think their creative expression cannot be properly conveyed in an interview.
Q.3. What do you understand by the expression “thumbprints on his windpipe”?
Answer: This expression suggests that the person feels extreme pressure or discomfort, as if someone is choking him. It is used to describe how uneasy a person feels while giving an interview.
Q.4. Do you think Umberto Eco likes being interviewed? Give reasons for your opinion.
Answer: Yes, Umberto Eco seems to enjoy being interviewed. He answers questions calmly, explains his thoughts clearly, and uses interviews as a platform to share his ideas.
Q.5. How does Eco find the time to write so much?
Answer: Eco says he uses the empty spaces of time – the small gaps in daily life – to write. He believes in managing time wisely rather than waiting for long free hours.
Q.6. What was distinctive about Eco’s academic writing style?
Answer: Eco’s academic writing was unique because it was not dry or boring. He added a personal touch and wrote in a lively, narrative style that made complex ideas easier to understand.
Q.7. What is the reason for the huge success of the novel The Name of the Rose?
Answer: Eco himself was surprised by the novel’s success. He believed it became popular because it combined mystery, history, and philosophy, making it interesting for a wide range of readers.
Flamingo Chapter 8 Going Places
Q.1. Where was it most likely that the two girls would find work after school?
Answer: It was most likely that Sophie and Jansie would find work in a biscuit factory after school, as they belonged to a lower middle-class background.
Q.2. What were the options that Sophie was dreaming of? Why does Jansie discourage her from having such dreams?
Answer: Sophie dreamt of opening a boutique, becoming an actress or a fashion designer. Jansie discouraged her because she knew that such dreams were unrealistic for girls of their economic status.
Q.3. Why did Sophie wriggle when Geoff told her father that she had met Danny Casey?
Answer: Sophie wriggled because she had lied about meeting Danny Casey, and she feared that her father would not believe her and might get angry.
Q.4. How does Sophie include her brother Geoff in her fantasy of her future?
Answer: Sophie imagines sharing her glamorous dreams with Geoff. She believes he will take her to places where exciting things happen, and that he understands her better than others.
Q.5. Which country did Danny Casey play for?
Answer: Danny Casey played football for Ireland.
Q.6. Sophie and Jansie were classmates and friends. What were the differences between them that show up in the story?
Answer: Sophie is a dreamer who imagines a glamorous life beyond her reality, while Jansie is practical and grounded. Jansie accepts their social status, but Sophie tries to escape it through fantasies.