Important Question Answers Vistas

Important Question Answers
Vistas

Q. What does ‘Third level refer to?

Ans. There is a subway in New York called The Grand Central Station which basically has two levels from where passengers go to their respective destinations by train. When Charley was in hurry to catch his trains from first and second level of the station, he found an unknown way which led him to the another station which was the third level which made him think about the period of 1980s which was very peaceful that is not there in that present era but in actual there was no third level ever built it was all his imagination.

Q. Do you think, the third level is an escape from reality? Why? Why not?

Ans. Yes, because according to Charley the present era is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and he was unhappy in the present conditions but when he imagined the third level, he found it peaceful and pleasant and he felt happy in that period of time so definitely it proved third level a medium of escape for charley.

Q. What is the theme of the story ‘The Enemy’? How is Humanity kept at the helm by Dr. Sadao?

Ans. The story emphasises the subject of prejudice and its damaging impact on interpersonal relationships. The plot centres on the connection between a Chinese doctor and an American soldier, who are originally strangers, and in fact enemies amid the period of the second world war. Despite the difference in nationality, the Japanese doctor, Sado remained loyal to his profession and thus, saved the life of the injured enemy soldier. However, this did not go well with his fellow men who considered him not to be loyal towards his country. The narrative shows us how the Japanese doctor, Sadao balances these two duties and emphasizes on the importance of humanity over his nationalism, patriotism and everything else.

Q. The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Ans. The story 'The Tiger King' is a satire on the pride and conceit of those in power. The Maharaja of Pratibandapuram tried to belie what was written in his fate. The result was ironical as well as tragic. The chief astrologer had foretold that the tiger would be the cause of his death. King, being intoxicated in power tried to kill 100 tigers to save himself but he couldn’t escape his death. He wasn’t killed by a real tiger but wooden toy tiger.

The proud King’s death episode is quite dramatic. When the king refused to leave the forest in order to kill the hundredth tiger, a very old and weak tiger was brought by his dewan and left in the forest but the king missed his aim and tiger wasn’t shot by him. Later, the hunters shot the tiger.

Here, the author employs the literary device of dramatic irony in the story. The irony is that the King thinks himself safe after killing the hundredth tiger but the hundredth tiger didn't die of his bullet. Ironically, danger was looming large on the king and when he along with his son were playing with the wooden tiger, the slivers on its rough surface caused infection and it resulted into the death of the Tiger King. Even after lot of drama, sincere efforts and danger faced by the king, he got killed due to a tiger though a wooden one.

Q. How will you compare and contrast the characters of Derry and Mr. Lamb?

Ans. Derry and Mr. Lamb are two distinct personalities with completely different characteristics, most probably due to their age difference. Derry is a boy of 14 years who suffers from inferiority complex. He got his face burnt in an accident, which made him lonely and withdrawn. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg as one of his legs was blown off in the war. Darry came to Mr. Lamb's garden where everyone is welcome. It is a meeting of two minds with totally opposite view points. Derry is withdrawn. Mr. Lamb is very social. Darry avoids men and their company as he doesn't want their reactions and comments. He can't stand their cruel remarks. Mr. Lamb has a positive outlook towards life, people and things. He accepts life as it comes and tries to comfort others. He lives alone but rarely he displays the sign of loneliness and disappointment on his face. He likes to talk to people and likes their company. He has friends and everybody knows him. Kids come for the apples, pears and toffees. There is nothing that doesn't interest him. He enjoys sitting in the sun and reading books. He doesn’t have curtain in his house.

Mr. Lamb leaves the stamp of his personality on Derry. He shows the young boy the ways of the world. He motivates him to move forward in life and accept his reality bravely.

Q. Why is Antarctica the place to go to, to understand the earth’s present, past and future?

Ans. Antarctica is a part of earth’s history so it becomes the place to visit in order to understand the earth's past, present and future. This place gives us an idea of how the earth was millions of years ago. About 650 years ago there was one super continent, Gondwana and India and Antarctica were the part of the same land mass which was forced to get divided into countries as we have today. It was quite warmer earlier and now again it is getting warm. The melting of ice sheets and glaciers give us an idea what kind of future we are heading to. Thus, visiting Antarctica gives us an idea of earth’s past, present and future.

Q. What are Geoff Green’s reasons for including high school students in the Students on Ice expedition?

Ans. ‘Students on Ice’ programme by Geoff Green aims at providing the students with inspiring educational opportunity. Geoff Green, a Canadian took high school students on an expedition to the southern end of the Earth. He wants to make them realise the impact that human intervention could have made  on nature. He perceives the students as the future policy – makers and projects them to life changing experience. He wishes them to realise how difficult it would be to sustain life with the rising global temperature. He successfully made them see the melting glaciers and collapsing ice shelves and estimate the trouble that mankind may be facing very soon so that they can do something to bring a positive change.

Q. What message is conveyed through ‘Memories of Childhood’?

Ans. The chapter ‘Memories of Childhood’ teaches us a beautiful lesson that we should not discriminate or harrass other people just because they belong to different caste, religion or community. More importantly staying quiet and not speaking against any injustice or harrassment is even worse. Sometimes such bullying or harassment may result in grave issues such as suicides, mental trauma and psychological problems but if we speak up and spread awareness against such injustice and educate ourselves and our children, there will be revolutionary change in the society. The writers, Bama and Zitkala Sa, through their articles speak about the discrimination faced by them in their childhood so that all become at par in the society.