8th Standard, English First Language, SUPPLEMENTARY READING – SECTION 19
THE MISER
Glossary:
miser : a person who loves wealth for his own sake and spends as little as possible, stingy.
barns : building for storing grains, hay, …..
dowdy : dull, unfashionable
gruel : simple dish made of oatmeal
raisins : dried sweet grape
ingredients : the list of items combined to make a particular dish
crave : to have a strong desire for something
drool : let saliva flow from the mouth with a wish to eat something.
rumble : make a deep heavy continuous sound
groan : deep sad sound, complain irritably
misery : great suffering or discomfort
appall: horror or deep shock
remorse : sense of regret for having done something wrong
crumb : a very small piece.
delight : great pleasure, joy
impostor : person pretending to be somebody else
solemn : done in a serious and committed way
hoard : carefully collected and guarded store of money or other objects
plunder : steal, rob
rage, wrath : violent or extreme anger
deceiver : person who misleads or misguides purposefully
reluctant : unwilling
ordeal : difficult or painful experience
Comprehension
I. Answer in a sentence or two each:
1. What was there in Surender’s hoard to call himself wealthy?
Answer: There was three huge barns heaped high with gold and silver, rare diamonds and precious stones in Surender’s hoard to call himself wealthy.
2. What did he see in the market place one day?
Answer: He saw a man eating a ladoo in the market place one day.
3. How did he savour the thought of having a ladoo?
Answer: It was a large, soft, yellow ladoo rich with raisins and cashew nuts. Surender’s mouth began to water. It looked so delicious! Surender could almost feel its sweetness tickling his tongue. He wanted to eat and thought of having a ladoo.
4. How did Surender’s longing for a ladoo make him suffer?
Answer: When he got home, Surender found that his craving for a ladoo would just not go away. He wanted to eat one so badly that he began to drool. His legs grew weak and his stomach began to rumble loudly.
5. Why was Vandana happy when Surender asked for a ladoo?
Answer: Vandana thought that she can makes dozens of Ladoos. Then they can share them with their children and neighbours and servants, too. So she was very happy when Surender asked for a ladoo.
6. Why didn’t Vandana’s happiness last long?
Answer: Surender did not allowed to make ladoos for not only for neighbours and servants but also Vandana and his children too. That is why Vandana’s happiness didn’t last long.
7. How many ladoos did Vandana finally make? Why?
Answer: Vandana made only one ladoo finally. Because Surender did not allowed to make ladoos for not only for neighbours and servants but also Vandana and his children too.
8. Who was witnessing the whole course of Surender’s miserliness?
Answer: Sakka, the King of the Gods and Ruler of the Heavens was witnessing the whole course of Surender’s miserliness.
9. When did Sakka assume Surender’s own form and walk into his house?
Answer: The next day, when Surender went for his morning walk, Sakka assumed Surender’s own form and walked in through his front door.
10. Why was Vandana astonished?
Answer: “Today I am going to share my wealth,” said by Surender to Vandana. That is why Vandana astonished.
11. What was the warning given by the make- believe Surender to the crowd at his barns?
Answer: The make- believe Surender warned the crowd that do not be afraid if an impostor who looks like him comes to threaten and stop them. He told the crowd to drive him away fearlessly.
12. What was the real Surender’s complaint to his Majesty?
Answer: Surender complained that he was robbed and looted of all his treasure by the people of the town. He also complained that the people began chased him when he had protested.
13. Whom did the puzzled king request to decide on the two look alike Surenders?
Answer: The puzzled king requested Vandana, the wife of real Surender to decide which one is her husband Surender.
14. What was Vandana’s trial?
Answer: Vandana asked the question to both Surender. She asked the both Surenders “Is it better to be generous to yourself, your family, your neighbours and friends, or your servants?” That was the trial of Vandana.
15. How did Sakka convince Surender to mend his miserly ways?
Answer: Sakka convinced Surender to overcome from his miserliness. Because of his miserliness even his own wife and children did not want him. Sakka said that only hope for salvation is for Surender to stop being a miser. Sakka also ordered to Surender to be a lot more generous in his life.
16. How did Vandana want to celebrate when the ordeal was over?
Answer: Vandana decided to make dozens of ladoos for celebrate when the ordeal was over.
II Answer the following questions in about fifty words each:
- Explain Surender’s miserliness.
Answer: Surender was so wealthy that he had three huge barns heaped high with gold and silver, rare diamonds and precious stones. But he was a terrible miser, too. He was so stingy that he was loathe to spend any of his carefully hoarded treasure. He bought the cheapest and the dowdiest and the most ordinary clothes for his children. For food, he stopped just short of starving his family. They supped on gruel most of the time, so that more money could be saved.
- Why didn’t Surender ask his wife to make a ladoo?
Answer: His wife, Vandana, was an excellent cook and Surender knew that if he asked her, she would make him a ladoo. But she would naturally make one for herself, too, and one for each of their four children, and perhaps some for their servants and their friends, too. The thought of wasting all that money on the ingredients made him quite ill. That is why Surender decided didn’t ask his wife to make a ladoo.
- How did Sakka, the King of the Gods teach a lesson to Surender?
Answer: Sakka, the King of the Gods and Ruler of the Heavens was witnessing the whole course of Surender’s miserliness and decided to teach him a lesson. The next day, when Surender went for his morning walk, Sakka assumed Surender’s own form and walked in through his front door. He told Vandana that he will share all his wealth to the people of the city. He asked Vandana to open the doors of all his treasure houses, and invite all the townsfolk to take what they wish. As per the instruction of the Sakka, the people began to chase the real Surender. Surender ran to the king’s palace complained about the whole incident before the king. The king sent a messenger to Surender’s house and soon the make – believe Surender arrived with Vandana and the children. The King asked Vandana to identify the real Surender. She asked one question both of the Surender and decided that Sakka is her husband. Then God Sakka reverted to his original form and convinced the real Surender to be generous because of his miserliness even his own wife and children did not want him. Surender promised to be a more generous. That is how Sakka, the King of the Gods teach a lesson to Surender.
- Describe Surender’s ordeal in the King’s palace.
Answer: Surender ran to the king’s palace complained about the whole incident before the king. The king sent a messenger to Surender’s house and soon the make – believe Surender arrived with Vandana and the children. Now there are two Surenders. The puzzled king looked from one to the other. The King asked Vandana to identify the real Surender. She asked one question both of the Surender and decided that Sakka is her husband. She asked the both Surenders “Is it better to be generous to yourself, your family, your neighbours and friends, or your servants?”
‘To all!’ Sakka replied promptly. But real Surender replied “To none!”
After these answers from both, Vandana drew close to God Sakka and told the king the he is her husband and he is the real Surender. The real Surender let out an agonized cry of grief and disbelief. Then God Sakka reverted to his original form and convinced the real Surender to be generous because of his miserliness even his own wife and children did not want him. Surender promised to be a more generous.
III Vocabulary:
Fill the missing letters to get the synonyms of the following:
1. stone: p_b _l_
2. inactive: p_s_ _ ve
3. forgive: p_ _ d_ n
4. suffering: p _ _ n _ ul
5. location: p_ _c_
6. choose: p _ _f_ _
7. artist: p _ _ nt _r
8. couple: p _ _r
9. picture: p _ o _ o _ r _ _ h
10. strong: p _w _ _ f _l
Answer:
1 . pebble
2. passive
3. pardon
4. painful
5. place
6. prefer
7. painter
8. pair
9. photograph
10. powerful
