CBSE Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Important Questions Set 02

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). Tricki was of which colour? How had he changed?
Answer: Tricki was of golden colour. He had transformed completely in two weeks, from being lethargic and losing all of his extra weight into an active, playful, and hard-muscled self.

(b). What happened to Tricki two weeks ago?
Answer: Tricki was fat and overweight which made him slow and lethargic. Mr. Herriot decided to treat him by taking him to the hospital where Tricki was kept on a strict diet and exercising to shed off his body weight and become active.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Answer: Mrs Pumphrey is worried about Tricki because he has become listless and weak. She feels that the condition of Tricki is very serious.

Question 2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
Answer: She gives him malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks to make him energetic. She gives him an extra diet of cream cakes and chocolates to make him feel better as he loves to eat all this. She does not make him exercise as he seems very weak and the gardener is not well enough to take him for long walks. She is not being wise; she is spoiling her greedy dog.

Question 3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Answer: ‘I’ refers to the veterinary surgeon, Mr Herriot, who is the narrator of this story.

Question 4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?
Answer: No, the narrator was not as rich as Tricki’s mistress, because Mrs Pumphrey was spending lavishly even on her pet whereas the narrator could not afford luxuries like owning a big car.

Question 5. How does he treat the dog?
Answer: He is very strict with the dog, especially regarding the diet. He treats him by curtailing his food in the hospital and keeping him under strict observation. For two days he is given only water and no food at all. Then he gets exercise, plays with the other dogs and eats in measure.

Question 6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Answer: The doctor was tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest because Mrs Pumphrey used to send two dozen fresh eggs at a time and bottles of wine and brandy. The doctor did not want to lose the treat that he and his partners were relishing.

Question 7. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think that the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’?
Answer: Mrs Pumphrey thought that the dog’s recovery was a triumph of surgery because she believed the dog was very seriously ill and had been operated upon to save his life. In fact, he had only been given a controlled diet and exercise, which cured him.

Question 8. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Answer: The narrator, Mr Herriot, is a tactful doctor. He uses his practical wisdom in curing his patients. He does not want to give treatment to the dog if he can manage without it. When he sees Tricki swollen like a ball, he at once concludes that the dog needs freedom from the excessive love and care of Mrs Pumphrey. Instead of giving him medicine to be taken at home, he advises Mrs Pumphrey to send the dog to the hospital. He frightens Mrs Pumphrey a little about the dog’s condition and makes her leave Tricki with him. He is able to cure the dog by being strict about his diet.

Question 9. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Answer: At home Tricki had no company and no friends to play with, but in the hospital he knew the pleasures of sharing food and playing with other animals. He even enjoyed catching rats. Naturally, he would not feel comfortable at Mrs Pumphrey’s house with no friends and no games at all. He may soon become fat and lethargic again if Mrs Pumphrey goes back to overfeeding him.

Question 10. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Answer: The story seems to be quite real because rich people do overfeed their children and pets. As Mrs Pumphrey loved Tricki like her own child, she overfed him. She was very emotional towards her pet and could not bear separation from him. There is nothing unusual in a wardrobe of coats for a dog, as some rich people like to show the world how rich they are by spoiling even their pets. It is perhaps a mixture of real life and some humorous exaggeration.

Question 11. What made Tricki get well so soon?
Answer: Tricki was not suffering from any disease. His main ailment was his greed for overeating. When Mr Herriot gave him a controlled diet, he recovered from the lethargy caused by overeating and excessive fat.

Question 12. Why did Mrs Pumphrey suffer in the absence of Tricki?
Answer: Mrs Pumphrey loved Tricki very much. She suffered thinking that Tricki was undergoing treatment and was to be operated on. She felt that he would not survive if he did not see her daily.

Question 13. What was the main cause of Tricki’s problem?
Answer: Tricki was a greedy dog. He could never refuse to eat whatever and whenever it was given to him. This was the main cause of Tricki’s problem.

Question 14. How did lunch become ‘a ceremonial occasion’ for Mr Herriot and his partners?
Answer: Mrs Pumphrey sent fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to build up Tricki’s strength. Mr Herriot and his partners began to take two eggs each at breakfast. They enjoyed it a lot.
Then bottles of wine began to arrive to enrich Tricki’s blood. This way lunch became a ceremonial occasion for them, with two glasses of wine before and several during the meal.

Question 15. Was Tricki suffering from any ailment in reality? If not, then what made him inactive and lethargic? (CBSE 2019)
Answer: Tricki was not suffering from any ailment in reality. In fact, the cause of his suffering was his obesity caused by Mrs Pumphrey’s overly luxurious treatment. Mrs Pumphrey fed Tricki lots of sweets and other foods instead of maintaining a healthy diet for him. This caused him to grow fatter and fatter until he was so obese that he became inactive and lethargic.

Question 16. Why was it tempting to keep Tricki in surgery as a permanent guest?
Answer: As soon as Mrs Pumphrey came to know that Tricki was recovering rapidly, she started sending fresh eggs and bottles of wine and brandy to build up Tricki’s strength. The doctor and his partners were enjoying those eggs and drinks. Therefore, he felt the temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest.

Question 17. Why was Mrs Pumphrey not able to control Tricki’s diet?
Answer: She was not able to control his diet because, according to her, he was very weak. Secondly, he loved cream cakes and chocolates. Being a very loving mistress, she could not refuse him all this.

Question 18. Why did Mr Herriot expect a call from Mrs Pumphrey?
Answer: On seeing the condition of Tricki, Mr Herriot was able to understand that he would be in trouble soon due to overeating and extra pampering and also because he was not doing any exercise. From his experience he could guess that Tricki would fall ill and he would get a call from Mrs Pumphrey.

Question 19. “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 to begin the story in this manner to show that it wasn’t the first time he had met Tricki. He was a vet who would have met Tricki earlier, in a little bit better condition. But this time, the writer was worried, as Tricki had gained more fat than ever.

Question 20. ‘Privilege often confuses actual needs for perceived ones.’ Evaluate this statement with reference to Mrs. Pumphrey.
Answer: The statement "Privilege often confuses actual needs for perceived ones" can be linked to the character of Mrs. Pumphrey in the story. She confuses Tricki's actual needs, such as a healthy diet and exercise, with perceived needs like excessive pampering. Her privilege and love for Tricki lead her to believe that providing him with luxurious items and overfeeding him is beneficial. However, this misunderstanding leads to Tricki's poor health and the need for medical treatment.

Question 21. The story, A Triumph of Surgery is a powerful example of the importance of saying “no”. Explain. (CBSE SQP 2023)
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 22. What was the impact of the goodies that came for Tricki during his convalescence, on the household? (CBSE Practice Set - 2, 2023)
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 23. Was it actually a triumph of surgery in reference to Tricki? Why/ why not? (Delhi Gov. 2021)
Answer: No, it wasn’t actually a ‘triumph of a surgery’, as no surgery was ever done on Tricki by the doctor. The doctor recovered Tricki’s health by giving him a correct diet and making him do a lot of exercise.

Question 24. What did Mrs. Pumphrey do to bring her dog back to normal health? Was she successful? (Delhi Gov. QB 2022)
Answer: When Mrs. Pumphrey found Tricki weak, she started giving him extra snacks between meals to build him up. She gave him some malt and cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night. She never forgot to give him cream cakes and chocolates, which Tricki really loved. She was not successful; rather, she put her dog in more trouble. He started gaining weight, which made his condition worse.

Question 25. What made James Herriot expect a call from Mrs. Pumphrey? (CBSE 2015)
Answer: When Dr. James Herriot saw an extremely fat Tricki with Mrs. Pumphrey, he was sure that Tricki’s overeating and lack of physical exercise would lead to his bad health. Hence, he expected a call from Mrs. Pumphrey.

Question 26. Why is Mrs. Pumphrey responsible for Tricki’s condition? (CBSE 2020)
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey was overly-concerned for her pet Tricki. She spoilt him with lots of ‘rich food’, which wasn’t appropriate for him. She fulfilled all unnecessary demands as well. Even after being warned many times, she didn’t cut down on Tricki’s food and didn’t make him do any physical exercise.

Question 27. Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss. (CBSE SQP 2022)
Answer: Dr. Herriot knew that Tricki would fall sick even before Mrs. Pumphrey had called to inform him. He knew that Tricki’s situation would not improve if he was left in the care of his owner because she was too soft on him and overindulged him with food. Thus, we can say that Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well.

Question 28. What was Mr. Herriot’s strict advice? Did Mrs. Pumphrey agree to his advice? (CBSE 2023)
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, cupcakes, etc and no exercise.

Question 29. The story challenges the notion of excessive indulgence and overfeeding as a form of love and care for pets. Justify.
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey shows her love for Tricki through cream cakes, chocolates, malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks. As a result, Tricki becomes fat, lethargic and ill. He recovers only when Mr. Herriot puts him on a plain diet and lets him exercise with other dogs. The story shows that overfeeding is not love and care.

Question 30. How does Dr. Herriot play a transformative role in Tricki's life?
Answer: Dr. Herriot takes Tricki to his surgery and gives him no food for two days, only water. Then he lets him play and run with the other dogs. Within two weeks, Tricki becomes a healthy, active and lively dog. Herriot changes him from a sick, bloated pet into a fit one.

Question 31. The story 'A Triumph of Surgery' is laced with humour. Comment.
Answer: The story is full of gentle humour. Tricki ‘sends’ gifts of eggs, wine and brandy, which Herriot and his partners happily enjoy. Tricki leaps into his mistress’s car, and Mrs. Pumphrey calls his recovery ‘a triumph of surgery’ although no surgery was done. The narrator’s witty, understated tone adds to the fun.

Question 32. What was the major flaw in Tricki? (CBSE 2020)
Answer: Tricki was Mrs. Pumphrey’s pet dog. She loved him and pampered him a lot. But Tricki was a greedy dog who wanted to eat anything and everything which was served to him. He had never refused food and used to have meals at any hour of the day or night. He had become sick because of his habits.

Question 33. What does Mrs. Pumphrey do to help Tricki? Is she wise in doing so?
Answer: Considering his listlessness to be weakness, Mrs. Pumphrey gives Tricki extra snacks like malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks. She also gives him cream cakes and chocolates to satisfy his sweet tooth. She does not give him any physical exercise. No, she is not wise in doing so because overfeeding is worsening his condition, making him even more fat and lazy.

Question 34. What kind of a person do you think the narrator is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Answer: The narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is a very practical man. He is a capable and wise doctor with great common sense. He at once understands Tricki’s illness and condition. He does not operate upon the dog unnecessarily but cures him by making changes in his diet and increasing his physical activity.
As a tactful person he knows how to convince Mrs. Pumphrey to hospitalise Tricki. He is even tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest because of the supplies Mrs. Pumphrey sent for Tricki.

Question 35. What kind of treatment was given to Tricki? How did it help in his recovery?
Answer: The vet at once understands Tricki’s condition. He decides to hospitalise him and give him a non-medical treatment. He prescribes huge changes in his diet. The doctor keeps the dog on liquids for the first two days and then gradually increases his diet. At the end of the second day, Tricki shows changes. He starts showing interest in his surroundings. The treatment helps in building energy in him. On the third day, he whimpers and in a fortnight he transforms into an energetic and healthy dog.

Question 36. How did the narrator enjoy Tricki’s stay at the hospital?
Answer: The time Tricki stayed at the hospital was indeed a time of enjoyment for the doctor. He used to enjoy the treats and supplies Mrs. Pumphrey sent for Tricki, as he could not afford all this for himself. The doctor used to enjoy fresh eggs for breakfast, wine before and during lunch and brandy at night.

Question 37. Do you think Tricki enjoyed his stay at the hospital?
Answer: When Tricki arrived at the hospital, he was quite lethargic and no dog showed any interest in him. But after the third day, as signs of improvement started showing in his condition and he became a little energetic, he started enjoying his surroundings. He befriended the gang of household dogs. The greyhound Joe showed interest in him. He started enjoying being bowled over, trampled on and squashed. He started playing and running around all day long with the other dogs.

Question 38. How did Mrs. Pumphrey react when she heard that Tricki could be collected as he had got well?
Answer: When Dr. Herriot called to tell Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki had recovered and that she could collect him, Mrs. Pumphrey drove there within minutes. She eagerly wanted to know if he was all right. She had tears of joy in her eyes and her lips were trembling too. Tricki was also very happy to go back home because he jumped into his mistress’s lap and licked her lovingly.

Question 39. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest?
Answer: With her dog convalescing at the surgery, Mrs. Pumphrey sends eggs, wine, brandy for Tricki to help him in his recovery. However, all this is enjoyed by the doctor and his staff. These daily goodies tempt him to keep Tricki as a permanent guest.

Question 40. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’?
Answer: Mrs. Pumphrey believes that the doctor has cured her pet dog of his malaise by performing a major surgery. She believes that Tricki’s recovery is all due to the surgery. This is why she calls it “a triumph of surgery.”

Question 41. This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly or can their actions cause harm to others?
Answer: Although the lady in the story may have caused harm to her pet by being excessively indulgent but she didn’t mean to do so. She was just blind to her excesses and loved her pet a lot. However, sometimes such actions can cause great harm to others and one has to avoid that.

Question 42. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs. Pumphrey?
Answer: Yes, there are parents who are like Mrs. Pumphrey who in their indulgence and over enthusiastic show of love tend to go overboard and do not realise the harmful effects of their actions.