CBSE Class 10 English The Proposal Worksheet Set A

The Proposal

INTRODUCTION
Anton Chekov (1860-1904) was a famous writer. He is chiefly known for his short stories. This story ‘The Proposal’ is a romantic story of a neighbour named Ivan Lomov. He is a landowner and often gets money from Chuhukov’s another landowner. Chubukov has a daughter named Natalya. Lomov comes to Chubukov with a marriage proposal for his daughter Natalya.

GIST
`The Proposal’ is a one-act play. Actually, it is a farce written by Anton Chekhov in 1888-89. The play is about the tendency of wealthy families to seek matrimonial ties. The real purpose is to increase their estates and landed properties. Ivan Lomov was a wealthy neighbour of another wealthy farmer Stepan Chubukov. Lomov comes to seek the hand of Chubukov’s twenty-five-year-old daughter, Natalya.
Tomov, Chubukov and Natalya’-all three are quarrelsome people. They quarrel over petty or small issues. Each one of them has a claim over a particular piece of land. They also quarrel over their
dogs. Amidst this quarrelling, they completely forget the real issue — the marriage proposal. But good sense prevails in the end. Economic good sense ensures that the proposal is made. Chubukov doesn’t want to miss the opportunity. He puts his daughter’s hand into Lomov’s hands. He doesn’t waste any time and blesses them. However, old habits die hard. The newly married couple starts their married life with a fresh quarrel.

DETAILED SUMMARY
When the play begins we see that Lomov comes to meet Chubukov at his house. Chubukov who is a farmer welcomes Lomov. He asks him why he is wearing formal clothes and whether he is going to attend a function. Lomov replies that he is not going anywhere; he has come only to meet him. Lomov appears excited and perturbed. He calms himself down and begins to tell him the purpose of his visit. He tells him that he came to him many times in the past also for his help but he did not help him. Before telling the purpose of his visit. Lomov is excited once again. Chubukov thinks that perhaps he has come to ask for a loan. He makes up his mind not to help him in any way.

Lomov once again begins to tell Chubukov about the purpose of his visit. But he once again becomes excited. He talks about himself in exaggerated terms. Chubukov asks him not to beat about the hush and to talk about his purpose of coming. Lomov gathers courage and tells him that he has come to ask for his daughter Natalya’s hand in marriage. On hearing this Chubukov becomes very happy, he goes in to call Natalya. But before this Lomov asks him whether Natalya would give her permission for this. Chubukov replies that she will readily accept a match like him.

Lomov is left alone in the room. His body is trembling with excitement. He thinks about his present life. He wants to settle the question of his marriage at once. He thinks that now he should not delay. He thinks about Natalya. She is a skilled house-keeper. She is educated and is not bad to look at. At this age, he should not expect a better girl than her. Now he is thirty-five years old. Now he should lead a regulated life. He is suffering from serious diseases like palpitation, excitement and insomnia. Because of these reasons, he should marry.

Just then Natalya comes in. Her father has not told her that Lomov has come to meet her. He only told her that a customer had come. Even then she welcomes Lomov. Before Lomov can speak, she starts speaking-When she mentions his beautiful dress, he is again excited. Before he can talk about his marriage to her, he starts trembling. Natalya encourages him and he recovers. He says that he will tell her everything in brief. Even then he cannot talk in a straight-forward manner. He beats about the bush. He tells her that for the Iasi many decades their families have had good relations. Their estates are also adjoining. His Oxen Warbles touch their birchwoods. Natalya protests against this. She says that the Oxen Meadows belong to her. They lay their claims to it. They start quarrelling about the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. They shout loudly at each other. They do not calm down in any way. Chubukov comes in and finds them both quarrelling. He is greatly surprised. But when he finds that they are quarrelling about the ownership of the Oxen Meadows. He also becomes angry. Instead of calming them down, he also starts quarrelling. He claims to be the owner of the Meadows. He insults not only Lomov but also his family members. Lomov becomes more excited. He uses insulting words for Chubukov, Natalya and their family members. Lomov’s palpitation increases and he becomes very perturbed. He goes out of the room. Chubukov says how the foolish Lomov dared to bring a proposal for Natalya’s marriage. When Natalya hears this, she is deeply shocked. She is almost unconscious. She starts weeping and asks her father to bring tomor back. Chubukov feels sad. He says that it is the biggest misfortune to be the father of a girl. He goes out to call Lomov.

Lomov again enters the room. Natalya thinks that she will not annoy him this time. She tries to please him. She says that the Meadows belong to him. She tries to change the topic so that he could propose to her. But he is still not all right. He is feeling disturbed. He does not come to the point. Lomov starts praising the qualities of his dog Guess, which he has purchased for 125 roubles. But Natalya says that her dog Squeezer which she purchased for 85 roubles is much better than Lomov’s dog Guess. Both of them praise the qualities of their dogs. Now they start quarrelling on this topic. They again start shouting at each other. In the meantime, Chubukov comes. Instead of putting an end to their quarrel, he also starts quarrelling. In this dispute. Lomov’s condition deteriorates and he falls on the chair, unconscious. Both the father and the daughter think that he has died. Natalya starts lamenting that her chance of getting married has gone.

After sometime. Lomov comes to his senses. Chubukov tells Lomov that Natalya is willing for marriage. So he should marry her. Natalya expresses her willingness. Chubukov does not want to lose even a moment and joins their hands. He asks them to kiss each other. But soon, they start quarrelling again. They start debating the qualities of their respective dogs. Chubukov tries to calm them down. With this, the play comes to an end.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. And it’s impossible for me not to marry. In the first place I am already 35-a critical age, so to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations. I’m excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling, and there’s a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. I no sooner get into bed and begin to go off, when suddenly something in my left side gives a pull and I can feel it in my shoulder and head ……

Question. Who is the Speaker ?
(i) Stephan
(ii) Lomov
(iii) their neighbour
(iv) Natalya
Answer.(ii) Lomov

Question. There was a trembling in his ____________ and a twitch in his right eyebrow.
(i) feet
(ii) lips
(iii) hands
(iv) body
Answer.(ii) lips

Question. Which is the age of Lomov now ?
(i) thirty
(ii) thirty five
(iii) forty
(iv) twenty five
Answer.(ii) thirty five

Question. Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘sad’.
(i) critical
(ii) excitable
(iii) awfully
(iv) upset
Answer.(iv) upset

2. But, please, Stephen Stopanovitch, how can they be yours? Do be a reasonable man. My aunt’s grandmother gave the meadows for the temporary and free use of your grandfather’s peasants. The peasants used the land for forty years and got accustomed to it as if it was their own, when it happened that ..................... .

Question. The meadows were given by my aunt’s grandmother for the temporary and free use of your grandfather’s_______.
(i) labourers
(ii) peasants
(iii) servants(iv) drivers
Answer.(ii) peasants

Question. Find out the antonym of ‘permanent’ from the passage.
(i) reasonable
(ii) meadows
(iii) accustomed
(iv) temporary
Answer.(iv) temporary

Question. For how many years had peasants used the land ?
(i) forty
(ii) thirty
(iii) fifty
(iv) twenty
Answer.(i) forty

Question. Who is the speaker of above lines ?
(i) Stephan
(ii) Natalya
(iii) Ivan
(iv) Stranger
Answer.(iii) Ivan

3. I can make you a present of them myself, because they are mine! Your behaviour, Ivan Vassilevitch, is strange, to say the least ! Up to this we have always thought of you as a good neighbour, a friend; last year we lent you our threshing machine, although on that account we had to put off our own threshing till November, but you behave to us as if we were gypsies. Giving me my own land, indeed! No, really, that is not at all neighbourly; in my opinion, it is even impudent, if you want to know.

Question. Natalya had helped Ivan in lending her :
(i) sewing machine
(ii) threshing machine
(iii) cutting machine
(iv) processing machine
Answer.(ii) threshing machine

Question. Which word in the passage mean the same as ‘not normal’ ?
(i) threshing
(ii) account
(iii) strange
(iv) gypsies
Answer. (iii) strange

Question. Who is the speaker of these lines ?
(i) Ivan
(ii) Stephan
(iii) their neighbour
(iv) Natalya
Answer. (iv) Natalya

Question. What is the reason of dispute between two ?
(i) Bullock meadow
(ii) Oxen meadow
(iii) Cow meadow
(iv) Sheep meadow
Answer.(ii) Oxen meadow 

4. What more do I want ? But I am getting a noise in my ears from excitement. (Drinks) And it is impossible for me not to marry. In the first place, I am already 35-a critical age. So to speak. In the second place, I ought to lead a quiet and regular life. I suffer from palpitations, I am excitable and always getting awfully upset; at this very moment my lips are trembling and there is a twitch in my right eyebrow. But the very worst of all is the way I sleep. 

Question. From which ailment was Lomov suffering ?
(i) blood pressure
(ii) diabetes
(iii) palpitation
(iv) thyroid
Answer.(iii) palpitation

Question. Whom is Lomov speaking to ?
(i) Natalya
(ii) Stephan
(iii) other person
(iv) himself
Answer. (iv) himself

Question. Which age is critical age according to Lomov ?
(i) thirty five
(ii) twenty five
(iii) forty five
(iv) forty
Answer.(i) thirty five

Question. Find the noun form of word ‘excite’ from the passage.
(i) excitedly
(ii) excitement
(iii) excitable
(iv) exciting
Answer.(ii) excitement

5. What a surprise ! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness. 

Question. She couldn’t believe her own ___________ .
(i) eyes
(ii) brain
(iii) ears
(iv) mind
Answer.(iii) ears

Question. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘astonishment’ ?
(i) dessiatins
(ii) unfairness
(iii) surprise
(iv) roubles
Answer.(iii) surprise

Question. Who is the speaker of these lines ?
(i) Stephan
(ii) Natalya
(iii) Ivan
(iv) The old lady
Answer.(ii) Natalya

Question. What is that which Natalya can’t tolerate ?
(i) unfairness
(ii) lie
(iii) rudeness
(iv) gossip
Answer.(i) unfairness

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow in one or two lines.

(I) CHUBUKOV: (Interrupting) My dear fellow… I’m so glad, and so no…Yes, indeed, and all that sort of thing. [Embraces and kisses Lomov] I’ve been hoping for it for a long time. It’s been my continual desire.

Question. What makes Chubukov so happy?
Answer. Chubukov, being the father of a grown up daughter, is always worried about her marriage. When Lomov tells him that he has come to him with a proposal of marriage for Natalya, he feels extremely happy.

Question. What had been the ‘continual desire’ of Chubukov?
i. to see his daughter, Natalya, married to Lomov.
ii. to buy Oxen Meadows
iii. buy a farm house in the village
iv. to wear an overcoat like Lomov
Answer. A

Question. What has Chubukov been hoping for a long time?
Answer. Chubukov claims that he has been hoping for a long time that Lomov would come and propose to his daughter Natalya.

Question. Why does Chubukov kiss and embrace Lomov?
i. because Lomov had returned from foreign
ii. to express his feeling of gratitude for Lomov
iii. because Lomov was looking smart
iv. Lomov had sung his favourite song
Answer. B

Question. What is the meaning of the word ‘continual’?
i. happening continuously
ii. happening again and again
iii. Occasional
v. Everyday
Answer. B

(II) Dear one, why yell like that? You won’t prove anything just by yelling. I don’t want anything of yours, and don’t intend to give up what I have. Why should I? And you know, my beloved, that if you propose to go on arguing about it, I’d much sooner give up the Meadows to the peasants than you. There!

Question. Who is the speaker of these lines?
i. Lomov
ii. Natalya
iii. Sqeezer
iv. Chubukov
Answer. D

Question. What does the speaker not intend to do?
i. does not intend to take what belongs to others
ii. does not intend to give what belong to others
iii. does not intend to borrow anything from others
iv. does not intend to insult others
Answer. A

Question. What is the speaker’s warning to the listener?
Answer. Chubukov warns Lomov that if the latter goes on arguing about the ownership of the Oxen Meadows, he would give them away to the peasants instead of giving them to him.

Question. What does the speech reveal about the character of the speaker?
Answer. The speech reveals that Chubukov, though excitable, is firm in his ideas. He knows how to protect his right. Hence, he is not ready to relent when there is a dispute about the ownership of Oxen Meadows. 

Question. The meaning of the word ‘peasants’ means:
i. goldsmiths
ii. confectioners
iii. Choppers
iv. farmers
Answer. D

(III) Don’t excite yourself, my precious one. Allow me. Your Guess certainly has his good points. He’s purebred, firm on his feet, has well-spring ribs, and all that. But, my dear man, if you want to know the truth, that dog has two defects;…

Question. Who is speaking to whom?
i. Natalya to Lomov
ii. Lomov to Chubukov
iii.Chubukov to Lomov
iv. Natalya to Chubukov
Answer. C

Question. What or who is the speaker talking about?
i. about the shortcomings of Natalya
ii. about the shortcomings of Lomov’s dog
iii. about the shortcomings of Natalya’s dog
iv. about the quality of Lomov’s dog
Answer. B

Question. Why does the speaker ask the listener not to excite himself?
Answer. Chubukov advises his guest Lomov not to get excited because it is just a trifle that is being discussed. Moreover, he suggests that Lomov’s claim about his dog is baseless, hence it is not worth getting worked up about it.

Question.Why does the speaker address the listener as ‘my precious one’?
Answer. Knowing fully well that the gentleman had come to propose to his daughter, Chubukov doesn’t want to annoy him. Hence, to diffuse the situation, he addresses him lovingly and calls him, ‘my precious one.’

Question. Which two defects in the dog ‘Guess’ does the speaker talk about?
i. he is short in height
ii. he is old in age and his muzzle is short.
iii. he is young in age and his muzzle is too long
iv. he is a good runner
Answer. B

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. Its cold… I’m trembling all over, just as if I’d got an examination before me. The great thing is, I must have my mind made up. If I give myself time to think, to hesitate, to talk a lot, to look for an ideal, or for real love, then I’ll never get married.

Question. Why did Loom not want to wait for real love?
Answer.This was because he was anxious to get married.

Question. What is the great thing that the speaker is talking about?
Answer.The speaker is talking about real love and marriage.

Question. Who is saying, “I’m trembling all over as if I had got an examination before me”?
So that she would be loved for what she is and not for the colour of her hair.
Answer. Ivan Vassilevitch Lomov.

Question. What state of Loom’s mind does the passage reflect?
Answer.His mind reflects that way he would never get married because it is difficult to get an idea or real love.

2. “Then you make out that I’m a land grabber? Madam, never in my life have I grabbed anybody else’s land and I shan’t allow anybody to accuse me of having done so. Oxen Meadows are mine!”

Question. In which situation does Lomov call himself a ‘land grabber’?
Answer.Natalya accuses Lomovof grabbing Oxen Meadows. So, Lomov says that he is not a land grabber.

Question. Who is ‘Madam’ in the above lines?
Answer.Natalya

Question. What will he not allow the other?
Answer.He will not allow anybody to accuse him of having grabbed anyone’s land.

Question.What had happened to the speaker?
Answer.The speaker got infuriated with Natalya for having called him a land grabber.

3. What a surprise! We’ve had the land for nearly three hundred years, and then we’re suddenly told that it isn’t ours! Ivan Vassilevitch, I can hardly believe my own ears. These Meadows aren’t worth much to me. They only come to five dessiatins and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I can’t stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can’t stand unfairness. 

Question. How much are the meadows worth?
Answer.They worth perhaps 300 roubles.

Question. Who speaks the above lines and to whom?
Answer.Lomov speaks these lines to Natalya.

Question. What is difficult for the speaker to believe?
Answer.That the Meadows don’t belong to the speaker.

Question. Who is the speaker of these lines?
Answer.Natalya Stepanovna