CBSE Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Assignment Set 04

Short Answer Type Questions
 

Question. What was Mrs. Pumphrey's reaction when Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion?
Answer: When Tricki showed little enthusiasm for exertion Mrs. Pumphrey assumed he had no energy and thought he was suffering from malnutrition. She decided to give him some little extras between meals to build him up.

Question. Which two suggestions did Mr. Herriot give to Mrs. Pumphrey at the initial stage? Did she follow?
Answer: At the initial stage Dr. Herriot told Mrs. Pumphrey to cut down Tricki's food and to give him more exercise or he would become really ill. No, she did not follow his advice.

Question. What immediate step did Dr. Herriot take to save Tricki? Or "I think I know a cure for you." What was Dr. Herriot's 'cure' for Tricki?
Answer: Seeing the miserable condition of Tricki, Dr. Herriot at once decided to keep him away from his mistress Mrs. Pumphrey for a while. So, he suggested that Tricki should be hospitalized for about a fortnight as he had to be kept under observation.

Question. How can you say Tricki had an affluent life?
Answer: Tricki had a rich mistress Mrs. Pumphrey. He lived an affluent life. Tricki wore a little tweed coat. He had a whole wardrobe of coats and rain coats. He had many beds and bowls. He was given two dozen eggs and many glasses of wine in the hospital. He was fond of cream, chocolates and cakes.

Question. Why was Dr Herriot confident that Tricki would be in hospital soon?
Answer: Tricki was tottering slowly in the house. He was not eating anything, not even his favourite dishes and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. Dr Herriot was sure that if his food was not cut down and more exercise was not given to him, he would be really ill soon.

Question. Why was the entire staff of Mrs. Pumphrey at work while Tricki was going to the hospital?
Answer: Tricki was Mrs. Pumphrey's beloved dog, and when he was going to the hospital, the entire staff got to work. His day and night beds, favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, and food bowls were loaded into the narrator's car by them.

Question. Describe the 'parting scene' between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey's household.
Answer: 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. Dr. Herriot realised that his car would not hold all the stuff, so he started to drive away. As he moved off, Mrs. Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window. Everybody was weeping.

Question. How do you know that Tricki had an affluent life?
Answer: Tricki led an affluent life which included extravagant meals of Horlicks, cream cakes, chocolates etc. His beds, cushions, toys, bowls and coats were of premium quality and rather expensive.

Question. What was the main cause of 'Tricki's ill-health'?
Answer: Tricki was overfed by Mrs. Pumphrey. He became hugely fat and inactive. He was pampered with a lot of cream cakes, chocolates and Horlicks. This was the main cause of his illness.

Question. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey treat Tricki in a special way?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was an extremely rich lady but was foolishly indulgent in pampering her dog, Tricki. She served him with cream cakes, chocolates and cod-liver oil. She did so because she treated Tricki like her son.

Question. What were Mrs. Pumphrey's queries when she called to enquire about Tricki in the hospital?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey rang a dozen times for the latest bulletins on Tricki. Her queries were whether Tricki's cushions were being turned regularly or was he wearing the correct coat according to the weather.
 

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Give a brief character sketch of Tricki.
Answer: Tricki is thoroughly pampered by his mistress Mrs. Pumphrey. He has become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. His eyes, bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead and his tongue lolled from his jaws. He is greedy and never refuses food. His mistress 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 Tricki is sent to the veterinary hospital, the entire staff of Mrs. Pumphrey's house rushes to bring his day bed, his night bed, favourite cushions, toys and rubber rings, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl, supper bowl. It all shows that Tricki has an affluent living. At the hospital, Tricki is given plenty of water and he joins other dogs in a couple of days. Within a fortnight, he becomes fit and fine and returns back to his mistress. It is evident that the little fellow is over-pampered by his mistress.

Question. Mr. Herriot, a Veterinary surgeon is tactful as well as full of common sense. Do you agree? Justify your answer giving instances from the story you have read.
Answer: When Mr. Herriot saw Tricki with his mistress, he was shocked to see his physical appearance. He questioned Mrs. Pumphrey whether she was following his instructions to ensure good health of the little fellow. She made excuses to hide her failure to adhere to his suggestions. The vet doctor was expecting a call from the mistress any time soon to inform him about the dog's severe illness. He had made his plans in advance. He knew that the only way to save Tricki was to get him away from his mistress for a period. He suggested that the dog be hospitalized for about a fortnight to be kept under observation.
Mr. Herriot knew well that the dog had no real disease except over-pampering by his mistress. He gave the dog a strict diet and provided him ample physical exercise. When Mrs. Pumphrey got the news of her pet's rapid recovery, she began to send eggs and wine to build him up. Mr. Herriot distributed that stuff among his staff to relish.
Mr. Herriot kept the medication of the dog a secret and made his mistress believe that the dog was undergoing a serious treatment. Thus he tactfully, by using common sense, rescued the dog.

Question. Why did the dogs at the surgery reject Tricki as "an uninteresting object"? How did he become an accepted member of the gang?
Answer: At the surgery, the household dogs surrounded Dr. Herriot when he entered with Tricki. Tricki looked at the noisy pack with dull eyes and, when he was put down, he lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs sniffed him for a few seconds and then rejected him after deciding that he was "an uninteresting object." Later, as he was progressing, he gradually lost weight and became more active. Slowly, he discovered the joys of being bowled over, tramped on and squashed every few minutes. He then became an accepted member of the gang and joined the household dogs in their various feats.

Question. Give a brief character sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey. What values are reflected through her character?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was a rich lady with a lot of love for her pet dog, Tricki. She loved to live comfortably in a luxurious way. She took extra care of Tricki by overfeeding him. She was not very intelligent as she was not able to make out that the excess of weight and the fur coats did not allow the dog to move and play. She thought that her loving pet was serious. She was so fond of her dog that she had got a wardrobe separate for daytime and night-time beds, and a number of lovely fur coats. She pampered Tricki by giving him the food that should not be given to a dog. She was really a loving lady, as the news about the surgery of her pet dog shocked her and her eyes brimmed with tears. She could not refuse delicious and favourite food to Tricki, which made him overweight and inactive. Even in the hospital, she sent him eggs and brandy. Her fondness for the dog and extra care showed that she had a motherly attitude towards Tricki.

Question. Write a brief character sketch of Mr. Herriot, the veterinary surgeon. What value in his character impresses you the most? Do you think he is a good judge of human nature?
Answer: Mr. Herriot was a genius veterinary surgeon and above that, he was a good human being.
Mr. Herriot had a deep understanding of veterinary medical science and psychology. Mr. Herriot was quick to analyse the factors responsible for the lack of fitness and ill health of Mrs. Pumphrey's pet. Apart from being an expert veterinary surgeon, he also had a lighter side which is evident from what he did with the eggs and brandy sent for Tricki. Hence, we can say that Mr. Herriot was a successful veterinary surgeon with a caring heart for animals as well as for human beings.

Question. How is an unduly kind attitude of Tricki's mistress responsible for his ailment?
Answer: Tricki was a small pet dog of Mrs. Pumphrey. He lived an affluent life. He loved to eat fatty foods like cream cakes and chocolates. He was very greedy for food. He could eat at any time. He was fed thrice a day, but whenever he looked slow, Mrs. Pumphrey thought it better to feed him extra times. She gave him malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks to make him build up. The greed of Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey's pampering him, along with doing no exercise, were the main reasons behind his ailment. The vet had directed dieting and regular exercise for Tricki, but the ailment of her gardener left Tricki with no exercise at all.

Question. How did the 'parting scene' between Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey's household come to end?
Answer: Tricki, the dog, was very ill. He had to be sent to the surgery for a fortnight. There was quite a sensation at the time of parting. Mrs. Pumphrey, the owner, started wailing. The entire staff was roused. The maids rushed in and out. They ran to collect Tricki's things. Mr. Herriot saw that his car could not hold all these things. So he sat in with Tricki and started his car. Mrs. Pumphrey was carrying a number of coats on her arm, which she threw in through the window of Mr. Herriot's car. Mr. Herriot reached the corner of the street. He looked in the mirror and noticed everybody was in tears.

Question. Herriot seems to be a duty-bound doctor who values others' emotions than his personal interests. Elucidate the above statement. Mention those values of Herriot which you would like to emulate in yourself also and give reasons for the same.
Answer: Herriot was a duty-bound veterinary doctor. He used to visit Mrs. Pumphrey's house regularly for the check-up of her dog, Tricki. Mrs. Pumphrey was a very rich lady who had pampered her dog. Dr. Herriot was quite worried about Tricki's health. He knew that the dog was over-fed by his owner. He advised Mrs. Pumphrey to keep him off rich diet and give him a lot of exercise. But she didn't bother. Hence, in order to improve Tricki's health, he decided to take him away from Mrs. Pumphrey. He told her that Tricki needed to be kept under observation. He made Tricki cut down his diet and made him do certain exercises which improved his health. Although he knew Mrs. Pumphrey was very rich and much attached to the dog, he did not take any advantage of it. He just performed his duties. We should also learn the same values in our life.

Question. Suppose you are Mr. Herriot, the veterinary doctor. You are worried about the condition of your rich client Mrs. Pumphrey's dog Tricki. Write in your diary about the condition and reasons of Tricki's ailment.
Answer: Sunday
16 August, 20XX
11:10 p.m.
Dear Diary,
When I saw Tricki today, I was really worried. I was rather shocked at Tricki's appearance. Tricki had become very fat. His bloodshot, watery eyes stared straight ahead and his tongue lolled from his jaws. He looked like a bloated sausage.
Mrs. Pumphrey told me that Tricki seemed to have no energy. She thought that he was suffering from malnutrition. So, she was giving him some malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks. Also, I had advised her earlier not to give sweet things to Tricki. But, she has been giving him cream cakes and chocolates regardless. Before things get worse, I have decided to keep Tricki at the surgery. I have planned in advance how I'm going to treat him. Of course, the plan is less food and more exercise. Tricki's problem has always been greed and over-eating. Plenty of food and too little exercise had made him lethargic and listless. So, I have decided to finally solve this problem.
Bye for now,
James

Question. Compare and contrast Tricki's condition in the beginning and in the end of the story.
Answer: In the beginning of the story, we find Tricki to be extremely fat. His eyes were bloodshot and rheumy, while his tongue lolled from his jaws. He was lethargic and listless and never seemed to have any energy. So, it was very difficult for him to move along the road. On the other hand, he was very greedy. He would not refuse food at any hour of the day. Therefore, as the days passed, his condition worsened. He even refused to touch food and did not want to go for walks. Because of his declining health, Tricki refused his favourite dishes and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. He didn't want to do anything. He was in such a pathetic state that he could hardly wag his tail. Later, at the surgery, when he was put down, he lay motionless on the carpet. He looked at the household dogs with dull eyes. The other dogs, after sniffing round him for a few seconds, found him to be an uninteresting object and ignored him.
At this place, he was given no food but plenty of water on the first day. This place seemed to have had a positive impact on Tricki. Because within some days, Tricki ran about with the dogs, joining in the friendly scrimmages. Eventually, in two weeks, he had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.

Question. Imagining yourself as Mrs. Pumphrey, write a letter to your friend Anne, expressing how you felt when Tricki was away for treatment. Your address is, 33, Heritage Mansion, Hamilton Road, London.
Answer: 33, Heritage Mansion,
Hamilton Road,
London.
5 August, 20XX
Dear Anne,
These days everything seems so dull because my poor, little Tricki is away from me. Mr. Herriot has taken him to his hospital for treatment for a fortnight. Tricki's condition was worsening day by day. Finding him listless and without energy, I had served him some malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks at night. But due to his deteriorating condition, I was forced to send Tricki away.
Anne, I nearly swooned when Mr. Herriot told me that for Tricki to become healthy again, he had to be taken away. I could not resist weeping when he was taken away. Several times a day, I call Mr. Herriot for the latest news of Tricki. Recently, I have heard that he is improving and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing him soon.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs. Pumphrey

Question. Herriot enjoyed the lavish meal during Tricki's stay but still, he felt compelled to inform Mrs. Pumphrey about the recovery of Tricki. Why did he not keep Tricki for a longer time? Did he feel concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey?
Answer: Tricki was a fat dog, pet of Mrs. Pumphrey. He became listless and seemed to have no energy. It fell ill. So, Mrs. Pumphrey called the veterinary surgeon, Dr. Herriot, for help. Dr. Herriot took Tricki to his surgery. He kept an eye on him for two days and gave him no food but plenty of water. At the end of the second day, he started showing some interest in his surroundings and on the third day, began to whimper at the sound of other dogs. During his stay at the surgery, Mrs. Pumphrey started to bring fresh eggs, two dozen at a time. She also sent bottles of wine and brandy for Tricki's health. But that was consumed by Mr. Herriot and his colleagues. Hence, Herriot enjoyed the stay of Tricki. He did not want to keep Tricki for a longer time because he felt concerned for Mrs. Pumphrey. He did not want to separate the pet from its owner. He could understand Mrs. Pumphrey's concern for the little dog. So he returned him back.

Question. What was the narrator's cure for the lad?
Answer: Dr. Herriot knew that the only way to 'cure' Tricki was to get him out of Mrs. Pumphrey's house for a period. For two days, Dr. Herriot gave him no food, but plenty of water. Gradually, Tricki was seen jostling his way towards his feeding bowl and trying to follow the other dogs, rolling slightly with his surplus fat. Later, his progress became rapid. He had no medicinal treatment of any kind but all day he ran about with the dogs and discovered the joys of being bowled over and tramped on. He even learnt to fight like a tiger for his share at meal times and hunt rats in the old hen house at night. In two weeks, Tricki had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.

Question. "A Triumph of Surgery" highlights the absurd and negligent behaviour of rich people like Mrs. Pumphrey who may harm their near and dear ones by their extra caring nature. Tricki's declined health was the outcome of Mrs. Pumphrey's over-caring nature. Do you think such people's actions can prove to be detrimental for the health of their kinds?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was a wealthy lady with a fat pet dog named Tricki. Tricki was too dear to Mrs. Pumphrey. Hence, she took extra care of him. She had pampered the dog with all kinds of comforts. The dog had many coats worn according to the weather, had different cushions for his comfort, and also had various dishes to eat. Some extras between meals were given to him, some malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night to make him sleep. He was also given cream cakes and chocolates. This made him fat and lethargic. He became hugely fat, like a bloated sausage. His eyes bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead and his tongue lolled from his jaws. I think Mrs. Pumphrey's extra-caring nature resulted in Tricki's declined health. Such an attitude can be fatal for the health of their kins. One should not over-care for them. Exercise and proper meals are important for one's health. The same was taken care of by Dr. Herriot, which resulted in the speedy recovery of Tricki.

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. Do you think a little tolerance would have done him good? 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 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 and to control 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 revealed 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!
 

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
Out on the road’, I glanced’ down at the pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side. I patted the head and Tricki made a brave effort to wag his tail. “Poor old lad,” I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you.”
At the surgery, the household dogs surged round me. Tricki looked down at the noisy pack with dull eyes and, when put down, lay motionless on the carpet. The other dogs, after sniffing round him for a few seconds, decided he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.

Question. State any one inference about Tricki from the given context. The other dogs, after sniffing around him for a few seconds, decided he was an uninteresting object and ignored him.
Answer: Tricki was not as active, energetic, and noisy as them.

Question. Which of the terms (a) to (d) given below, can be applied to the question?
‘Out on the road, I glanced down at the pathetic little animal gasping on the seat by my side.’ What was wrong with the gasping dog?
(a) A hypothesis - a proposed explanation for a phenomenon Maybe, Mrs. Pumphrey had not given him Horlicks that day
(b) An assumption - something that is taken for granted or assumed to be true without proof He had eaten more than on other days
(c) A premise - a proposition that forms the basis of an argument He had been indifferent and sickly the past few weeks.
(d) A theory - a well-substantiated explanation for a natural phenomenon Dogs need ample playtime, and regular food for good health.
Answer: (c) A premise — a proposition that forms the basis of an argument He had been indifferent and sickly the past few weeks.

Question. What does the author calling Tricki ‘pathetic’ and the expression “You haven’t a kick in you” mean? Elaborate in about 30-40 words, with reference to the extract.
Answer: The doctor pitied the dog because he was listless, indifferent, and sick due to overindulgence. He had no thrill in life because he was busy dragging his weight around and eating whatever was given to him to recuperate.

Question. Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘surged’ as given in the extract? At the surgery, the household dogs surged round me.
Answer: rushed

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
In two weeks he had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal; he was keeping up well with the pack, stretching out in great bounds, his chest almost brushing the ground.
I carried him back along the passage to the front of the house. The chauffeur was still holding the car door open and when Tricki saw his mistress he took off from my arms in a tremendous leap and sailed into Mrs Pumphrey’s lap. She gave a startled “Ooh!” And then had to defend herself as he swarmed over her, licking her face and barking.

Question. State any one inference about Tricki’s show of emotions from the given context. And then had to defend herself as he swarmed over her licking her face and barking.
Answer: Tricki overwhelmed Mrs. Pumphrey with his love because he had never stayed apart from her.

Question. Which of the explanations given below can be applied to this statement that captures Tricki’s mood? Label it TRUE making others automatically FALSE.
The chauffeur was still holding the car door open and when Tricki saw his mistress he took off from my arms in a tremendous leap and sailed into Mrs Pumphrey’s lap.
(a) Tricki had not enjoyed his stay at the vet’s hospital.
(b) He was relieved to be rescued from the big, shaggy dogs.
(c) Tricki had recognised his dog-parent and was happy to see her.
(d) He wanted to go home and be pampered again.
Answer: (c) Tricki had recognised his dog-parent and was happy to see her.(TRUE)

Question. ‘...he was keeping up well with the pack, stretching out in great bounds, his chest almost brushing the ground.’ Which treatment had transformed Tricki? Elaborate in about 40 words, with reference to the extract.
Answer: Tricki had become as healthy as the pack, discovering the joys of being bowled over, tramped on, and squashed every few minutes. He also learned to fight like a tiger for his share at mealtimes and hunt rats in the old henhouse at night with his gang.

Question. Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘lithe’ in the given sentence from the extract? He (Tricki) had been transformed into a lithe, hard-muscled animal.
Answer: agile or active