CBSE Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Assignment Set 02

Short Answer Type Questions
 

Question. What does Mr. Herriot mean by "happy period" for himself and his partners? Explain.
Answer: Mr. Herriot was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest as he and his friends enjoyed eggs for breakfast, wine and brandy for lunch. He therefore calls it a happy period.

Question. The story, A Triumph of Surgery is a powerful example of the importance of saying "no". Explain.
Answer: The story, 'A Triumph of Surgery' is a powerful example of the importance of saying "no". When Dr. Herriot met Tricki with her owner Mrs. Pumphrey, he asked her to say "no" to overeating for Tricki as it would lead him to get ill. However, she was not able to say "no" to Tricki's overfeeding and over-pampering and thus, had to send him to the hospital as he got seriously ill.

Question. What was the impact of the goodies that came for Tricki during his convalescence, on the household?
Answer: The impact of all the goodies on the household was that they led to a period of indulgence and luxurious living. The household members, including the doctor and his partners, enjoyed the extra eggs, wine, and brandy. It added a sense of festivity to their daily routines, with lunch becoming a ceremonial occasion and evenings by the fire becoming more enjoyable.

Question. What was Mr. Herriot's strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey agree to his advice?
Answer: Mr. Herriot's strict advice to Mrs. Pumphrey was to restrain from giving her pet dog Tricki, unnecessary rich diet that would cause him serious illness and to give him plenty of exercises. No, Mrs. Pumphrey did not agree to his advice as she continued spoiling her dog's health by giving him unrequited things like malt, cod liver oil, cupcakes, etc. and no exercise.

Question. What do you think would happen to Tricki after he went back to Mrs Pumphrey?
Answer: I think Tricki would again be over-pampered by Mrs Pumphrey. He might develop the same health issues gradually because Mrs Pumphrey was not aware of the actual treatment given to him.

Question. "I was really worried about Tricki this time." Comment on the writer's choice of beginning the story in this manner. What purpose does it serve?
Answer: The writer chose this statement to begin the story to put the reader's focus entirely on Tricki and his health from the very beginning of the lesson. Moreover, Tricki is the main character of the story.

Question. Do you think the narrator's decision to not reveal the actual treatment to Mrs Pumphrey was unprofessional? Justify your stance.
Answer: I think it was not unprofessional. Mr Herriot knew that Mrs Pumphrey would never allow him to keep the dog on fasting which was the only and the natural treatment to save the dog.

Question. "Tricki's only fault was greed", says the narrator. What might be Mrs. Pumphrey's "only fault"?
Answer: Mrs Pumphrey's only fault was her richness and over caring nature. She had provided luxurious things to an animal that replaced his actual needs and made him ill and obese.

Question. According to a popular quote- Where there is no struggle, there is no strength. In what way is this quote relevant to the events of the story?
Answer: The quote given above is quite relevant to the events of the story. The beginning of the story proved that Tricki was lifeless because he did not struggle to digest his food. In the later part of the lesson, Dr Herriot authenticated that real strength comes only after struggle and hard work. He helped the dog to regain his strength by involving him in regular exercise and food regime. Food without exercise can lead to disease and discomfort for everyone.

Question. 'Privilege often confuses actual needs for perceived ones.' Evaluate this statement with reference to Mrs Pumphrey.
Answer: It is a fact known to all that animals do not need silk clothes, playful toys, and various utensils to stay happy. But Mrs Pumphrey had provided these privileges to an animal. Being a pet to a rich lady, these luxuries replaced the dog's actual needs and made him ill and dull.

Question. Why was it important for Mrs Pumphrey to be a little cruel in order to be kind towards Tricki?
Answer: She was overfeeding Tricki; being overindulgent – she needed to cut down Tricki's food intake to help him regain his health (be cruel to be kind).
 

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. "We are often over-indulgent towards people we care about." Explain with reference to the context of the story "A Triumph of Surgery".
Answer: In the story "A Triumph of Surgery" from James Herriot's collection, the over-indulgence towards those we care about is depicted through the relationship between Mrs. Pumphrey, a wealthy lady, and her Pekingese dog, Tricki. Mrs. Pumphrey's deep affection for Tricki leads her to pamper him excessively with luxurious treats and little exercise, mistakenly believing that this is the best way to express her love. This indulgence results in Tricki becoming grossly overweight and lethargic, a direct consequence of his owner's overbearing love and lack of understanding of his actual needs. The story illustrates how our affection can sometimes cloud our judgment, leading to actions that may not be in the best interest of those we care for. It's a cautionary tale on the importance of balancing love with wisdom, especially when it comes to the health and well-being of others.

Question. Imagine that Mrs. Pumphrey from 'A Triumph of Surgery', reflects upon her behaviour, learns from her mistakes, and writes a diary entry about the consequences of overindulgence. Write this diary entry as Mrs. Pumphrey in about 120 words.
Answer: January 20XX, Tuesday
9 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, I had a dreadful realisation. I love my dear Tricki, but I fear that that love has caused me to excessively indulge and pamper my dear pet. The sight of him, bloated and unhealthy, broke my heart. I believed that showering him with treats was a sign of care.
But instead, I was causing him more harm than good. Thank goodness for Mr. Herriot. He aptly deduced that the reason for Tricki's decline in health was my lack of strict boundaries with Tricki. When he noticed that I was not following his advice, he took Tricki away from me to take care of him. During Tricki's absence, I began to reflect on my actions. Old habits die hard, but I will try my best to be a better caretaker for Tricki now that he is back home.
Mrs. Pumphrey

Question. Imagine that one of Mr Herriot's partners can understand dogs' language and listen to Tricki on his last night with them
(a) What might Tricki share about his experience?
(b) How would he evaluate it in comparison to his home experience?
Answer: (a) Tricki might share that he gets less to eat at the surgery but he feels more energetic there. He has to fight with other dogs to grab his share of the meal. Though his mates kick him and bowl him over, he loves and enjoys their company. He might say that he is getting to be quite stronger at the surgery.
(b) He would evaluate from Tricki's experience that overprotectiveness and overeating without exercise can make anyone unhealthy. We must understand that life is not about eating all the time. Besides, every discomfort does not need medicine or surgery. Lifestyle disorders can be treated with the right routine and eating habits. He might conclude from Tricki's experience that richness does not guarantee health and happiness.

Question. Mrs Pumphrey and Dr Herriot have been invited to speak at a community pet adoption drive. There were some differences in Mrs Pumphrey and Dr Herriot's notions of responsibility and experiences of keeping a pet. As a reporter for the local pet magazine, write an article recording and comparing their perspectives. Don't forget to give it an interesting title.
Answer: Community Pet Adoption Drive
The veterinary society invited Dr Herriot, a senior vet and Mrs Pumphrey to share their experiences of keeping a pet on the occasion of the Pet adoption drive. Mrs Pumphrey believes in providing luxurious clothes and toys and tasty food to pets. Whereas Dr Herriot explained that overfeeding without any physical work or exercise can make the animals ill and sluggish. According to him discipline and simple food is the key to the pets' health. Both shared different pet parenting tips for pet lovers. Every dog has its day, they say. The event came to an end with the handing over of 10 pets to the interested veterinarians. Finally, the pets looked happy with their new family.

Question. Imagine that Walt Whitman shares his poem 'Animals' in response to Dr Herriot's narration of Tricki's story. Dr Herriot reflects on the poem and his experience with Tricki and Mrs Pumphrey draws a connection between them and records his thoughts in his diary. Write the diary entry as Dr Herriot.
You may begin this way:
12 May 1950, Friday 9.30 pm
Walt's poem has compelled me to think again about my experience with Tricki and Mrs Pumphrey. All those materialistic playthings ....
Answer: 12 May 1950, Friday 9.30 pm
Walt's poem has compelled me to think again about my experience with Tricki and Mrs Pumphrey. All those materialistic playthings are useless in front of the natural habitat and mates of animals. Mrs Pumphrey does not feel happy and satisfied even after offering heavy privileges to her pet dog. It made the dog ill. Still, he did not weep about his condition. Animals do not aspire for material things. They are calm and self-sufficient. Tricki was happy and healthy without any fancy toys, clothes, food or wine. Mrs Pumphrey exemplifies that the life of humans is full of stress, depression, anxiety and unhappiness. Like Walt Whitman, I, too, wish to live with animals in their natural surroundings.

Question. Imagine Mrs Pumphrey came to know how Tricki was actually treated. Write a brief note to the narrator on her behalf.
You may begin this way:
Dear Mr Herriot
I recently met Mrs Mallard when she brought her Pixie to visit dear Tricki. I spoke to her about the great triumph of surgery that had brought him back to me. Imagine my surprise when she told me how mistaken I was! I am writing to you to share......
(continue).........
Answer: Dear Mr Herriot,
I recently met Mrs Mallard when she brought her Pixie to visit dear Tricki. I spoke to her about the great triumph of surgery that had brought him back to me. Imagine my surprise, when she told me how mistaken I was. I am writing to you to share that I am full of guilt and regret for my mistakes. My little Tricki had to suffer because of my ignorance and over possessiveness. You had warned me earlier also but I did not take your words seriously. You did it right by hiding the secrets from me. Still, I would call it a triumph of surgery but a natural surgery.
Thank you,
Mrs Pumphrey

Question. What advice did the doctor give to Mrs. Pumphrey? Why did she not follow it? What excuses did she make? Or What was Mr. Herriot's strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey pay heed to his advice? What excuses did she make?
Answer: The doctor told Mrs. Pumphrey that she should control Tricki's diet. She should cut down on the sweet things. He had to be given plenty of exercise or he would really become very ill. He advised her to harden her heart and keep Tricki on a very strict diet. But Mrs. Pumphrey found it rather difficult to follow the doctor's advice. She felt that Tricki was rather listless and seemed to have no energy. She assumed he was suffering from malnutrition so she gave him little extras between meals. She told the doctor that Tricki could not exercise as the gardener was unwell, so there could be no ring-throwing lately.

Question. What was the problem with Tricki? How did Mr. Herriot cure it?
Answer: Tricki had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. When he inquired of Mrs. Pumphrey whether she had cut down the sweet things given to him and whether Tricki was given exercise or not, she made excuses to hide her failure to follow the vet's suggestions. Dr. Herriot knew that over-pampering was the real cause of the miserable condition of the little fellow. Later on, he advised to hospitalize the dog to keep him under observation. He behaved tactfully to keep the dog away from his mistress. No medicine was given to Tricki. He was kept on a strict diet and provided enough physical activities to shed down his listlessness. He was allowed to mingle with the other dogs of the surgery. It proved miraculous and he recovered within a fortnight.

Question. 'Over-pampering is not only bad for humans but also for animals'. Prove this statement in the light of the lesson 'A Triumph of Surgery'.
Answer: We all know that children are over-pampered by the parents due to their sentimental attachment to them. In the story 'A Triumph of Surgery' a dog Tricki is over-pampered by his wealthy mistress Mrs. Pumphrey. She believes that her little dog is suffering from malnutrition so she gives him some little extras between meals to build him up, some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night to make him sleep. Above all, he gets cream cakes and chocolates. To make things worse he had been doing no exercise. When Dr. Herriot takes the dog to his veterinary hospital, it seems all the items of Tricki's comfort would be sent with him. Even during his stay in the hospital, Mrs. Pumphrey tries to provide him all the comforts. But Dr. Herriot deals with the situation cleverly and the dog cures rapidly to return back to his mistress.

Question. Mrs. Pumphrey said, 'This is a triumph of surgery.' Did she know what Tricki's ailment was?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey had unwittingly made Tricki sick by over feeding. Due to her over-pampering the dog had grown hugely fat. She felt that the little fellow must be suffering from malnutrition so she began to over feed. The dog grew greedy and found it hard to refuse food offered to him anytime of the day. Dr. Herriot knew it well that the only way to rescue the dog was to keep him away from his mistress for a while. He convinced Mrs. Pumphrey to get the dog admitted to hospital to keep under observation. Mrs. Pumphrey did not know what medicines were being given to Tricki. The dog was given plenty of water for a couple of days. Later on he was given a strict diet. The vet doctor ensured that he got sufficient physical exercise. Within a fortnight the dog recovered fully. When Mrs. Pumphrey came to receive him, she was surprised to see him fit and fine. So she declared it a triumph of surgery.

Question. "He had never been known to refuse food, he would tackle a meal at any hour of the day or night." Herriot believed that Tricki's problem was his greed. Did he lack tolerance? What values would you like Tricki to imbibe? Elucidate.
Answer: Dr. Herriot was not entirely wrong in believing that Tricki's problem was greed. Tricki was indeed greedy, but Mrs. Pumphrey only made matters worse by stuffing him with rich food. Herriot did not lack in tolerance, he was just stating the obvious. Tricki's ill-health made him concerned, and he made the observation as a veterinary doctor. Tricki, on the other hand, needed to exercise control on his eating habits. It would have been good if he did not greedily gobble up everything that was placed in front of him. Mrs. Pumphrey herself reveals that Tricki loved cream cakes and chocolates very much. Thus, Tricki ought to have been less gluttonous and luxury-loving, and behaved more like a dog.

Question. Everyone at Mr. Herriot's Surgery was tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest. Why? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer: During Tricki's stay at Surgery, his mistress used to send extra eggs and wine to build him up. As Tricki was kept on a strict diet these things were consumed by the vet and his partners. Lunch became a ceremonial occasion with two glasses of wine before and several during the meal. Mrs. Pumphrey began to send brandy. It was also consumed reverently by them. For Dr. Herriot and his partners, they were days of deep content, starting well with the extra egg in the morning, improved and sustained by the mid-day wine and finishing luxuriously round the fire with the brandy. So it was a temptation to keep Tricki as a permanent guest.

Question. Tricki was more a member of the family than a mere dog. Explain by giving examples from the text.
Answer: Tricki was more a member of the family of Mrs. Pumphrey than a mere dog. She was always concerned about his health and unwittingly over-fed him. When he is taken to hospital all the household got emotional. The entire staff was roused and maids rushed in and out bringing his day bed, his night bed, favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. During his stay in the hospital, Mrs. Pumphrey kept asking whether his cushions were being turned regularly or his correct coat worn according to weather. Mrs. Pumphrey had over-pampered the dog as normally children are over-pampered by their parents.

Question. Tricki showed less enthusiasm for exertion. What steps were taken by Mrs. Pumphrey to bring him back to normal health? Was she successful in her efforts?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was deeply worried when Tricki showed less enthusiasm for exertion. She was in the gross misunderstanding that he was suffering from malnutrition. She gave Tricki some little extras between meals to build him up. No, she was not successful. She could not bring his health back to normal.

Question. Mrs. Pumphrey gave many excuses for not following Dr. Herriot's advice. What were these? What had happened to the dog then?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was very worried about Tricki when she found him to have grown listless. She thought that he must have been suffering from malnutrition. She told Doctor Herriot that she had been giving little extras like malt and cod liver oil to build him up. Mrs. Pumphrey also could not follow Dr. Herriot's advice of keeping him away from cakes and chocolates.
 

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
The expected call came within a few days. Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki would eat nothing. Refused even his favourite dishes; and besides he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. Didn’t want to go for walks, didn’t want to do anything.
I had made my plans in advance. The only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a period. I suggested that he be hospitalised for about a fortnight to be kept under observation.

Question. Which of the following is not a reason why Mr. Herriot thinks Tricki needs to be taken out of the house for a period?
(a) He wanted to keep Tricki away from Mrs. Pumphrey.
(b) He wanted to keep Tricki under observation.
(c) He wanted to do an experiment on Tricki.
(d) He wanted to improve Tricki’s health.
Answer: (c) He wanted to do an experiment on Tricki.

Question. What was the main reason for Mrs. Pumphrey to be distraught? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught because Tricki, her beloved pet, refused to eat any of his favorite dishes and had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting, and showed no interest in going for walks or doing anything.

Question. State True or False: When Mr. Herriot says, "I had made my plans in advance" — what he actually means is, he had already seen this trauma coming for Tricki.
Answer: True

Question. Which of the following best describes Mrs. Pumphrey?
(a) unkind and inconsiderate
(b) impractical but compassionate
(c) anxious and ambitious
(d) fearful but confident
Answer: (b) impractical but compassionate

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
All the while Mrs. Pumphrey hovered anxiously in the background, ringing a dozen times a day for the latest bulletins. I dodged the questions about whether his cushions were being turned regularly or his correct coat worn according to the weather, but I was able to tell her that the little fellow was out of danger and convalescing rapidly. The word ‘convalescing’ seemed to do something to Mrs. Pumphrey. She started to bring round fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength. For a happy period, my partners and I had two each for breakfast, but when the bottles of wine began to arrive, the real possibilities of the situation began to dawn on the household.

Question. State any one inference about Mrs. Pumphrey from the given context.
Answer: She called the vet at least a dozen times a day for details of Tricki's recovery.

Question. State TRUE or FALSE. None of the options displays how the doctor 'successfully' tackled Mrs. Pumphrey’s constant queries regarding Tricki’s health and convinced her.
(a) He was vague about the details of Tricki's coats and cushions.
(b) He told her that Tricki was stable after the surgery.
(c) He told her that Tricki was eating well and exercising.
(d) He told her that Tricki was well and recovering.
Answer: FALSE (option (a) and (d) display how the doctor successfully tackled Mrs. Pumphrey's constant queries regarding Tricki's health and convinced her)

Question. The word 'convalescing' seemed to do something to Mrs. Pumphrey. Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract what does the conduct of the lady portray about her?
Answer: The word ‘convalescing’ had a magical effect on the incorrigible Mrs. Pumphrey. She was happy and hopeful to have Tricki back home soon. In her enthusiasm, she began to bring fresh eggs two dozen at a time to build up Tricki's strength. Later, she sent in bottles of wine too to nourish her pet.

Question. Which phrase would correctly substitute 'ducked,' in the given sentence from the extract? The batsman at the crease ducked and avoided a bouncer that came at him with lightning speed.
Answer: dodged