RBSE Solutions Class 10 English Supplementary Reader Chapter 6 Feast of the Dead

A. Tick the correct alternative:

Question 1. Dursun Agha's entire capital consisted of ........... water cans.
(a) three
(b) two
(c) four
(d) five
Answer: (b) two
In simple words: Dursun Agha had only two water cans, which he used for his work. These cans were all he owned to make a living.

🎯 Exam Tip: For fill-in-the-blank MCQs, always check the surrounding text in the story to find the exact detail mentioned.

Question 2. The older boy asked the grocer to give him a pound of :
(a) rice
(b) flour
(c) potatoes
(d) All of the options
Answer: (d) All of the options
In simple words: The older boy asked the shopkeeper for rice, flour, and potatoes. He needed all of these food items.

🎯 Exam Tip: When an option says "all of the options," make sure each individual item is mentioned as needed in the story before choosing it.

Question 3. The older boy's ........... lasted for an hour and a half or more.
(a) trembling
(b) fever
(c) stretching
(d) hunger
Answer: (c) stretching
In simple words: The boy's stretching movements lasted for more than an hour and a half. This shows how long the effects lasted on him.

🎯 Exam Tip: Carefully read the exact duration mentioned in the text for any events or feelings.

B. State whether the statements given below are True (T) or False (F) :

Question 1. Dursun Agha had no source of livelihood.
Answer: False
In simple words: Dursun Agha did have a job. He earned money by selling water.

🎯 Exam Tip: For True/False questions, identify the key claim in the statement and find specific evidence from the story that supports or contradicts it.

Question 2. Gulnaz refused to accept the food coming from neighbours.
Answer: False
In simple words: Gulnaz did not refuse food. Her family actually took food from neighbors.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to negative words like "refused" or "not" in True/False statements, as they can change the meaning entirely.

Question 3. Dursun's family had no money to buy goods from the market.
Answer: True
In simple words: Yes, this is true. Dursun's family was very poor and did not have money to buy food.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for descriptions of the family's financial situation or their attempts to buy things to confirm their economic status.

Question 4. The older boy's coat was made of fur.
Answer: False
In simple words: No, this is false. The boy's coat was old and thin, not made of fur.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember small descriptive details about characters and their belongings, as they are often used in True/False questions.

Question 5. The younger boy did not go the shopkeeper.
Answer: True
In simple words: Yes, this is true. The older brother went to the shopkeeper, not the younger one.

🎯 Exam Tip: Distinguish between characters and their roles in the story, especially when specific actions are attributed to them.

Question 2. Who was Gulnaz? Why did she panic?
Answer: Gulnaz was Dursun Agha's wife. She panicked because her husband, Dursun Agha, died suddenly. He slipped on ice while collecting water and hit his head, causing his death. This left her and their children without a provider. The sudden loss of a family's main earner can bring extreme fear and uncertainty about the future.
In simple words: Gulnaz was Dursun Agha's wife. She was scared because her husband died. He fell on the ice while getting water and hit his head.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked "Who was X and why did Y happen?", provide a clear identification for X and then a concise, step-by-step explanation for Y.

Question 3. What did the older boy wear to keep out the cold?
Answer: To protect himself from the intense cold outside, the older boy wore his old, shabby coat. However, this coat was not thick or warm enough to properly shield him from the bitter weather. This shows the family's poverty. In harsh climates, proper warm clothing is essential for survival and well-being, especially for children.
In simple words: The older boy wore his old, thin coat. But it was not warm enough to keep the cold out.

🎯 Exam Tip: Describe the clothing clearly and add why it was or wasn't suitable, linking it to the context of the story.

Question 4. What did Bodos tell the boy cancelling his order?
Answer: बोडोस ने लड़के से कहा कि उसे पहले पैसे लाने होंगे, तभी वह सामान देगा। उसने यह भी कहा कि लड़का बहुत पतला हो गया है, और जिनके पास घर पर पैसे होते हैं, वे इतने पतले नहीं होते। इससे बोडोस ने पैसे की कमी के कारण लड़के का आदेश रद्द कर दिया। यह घटना दिखाती है कि गरीबी में लोगों को अक्सर दूसरों से मदद मिलने में भी मुश्किल होती है।
In simple words: बोडोस ने लड़के से कहा कि पहले पैसे लाओ, तभी सामान मिलेगा। उसने यह भी कहा कि गरीब लोग ही पतले होते हैं।

🎯 Exam Tip: For questions asking for direct speech, try to quote or paraphrase accurately what was said, along with the speaker's implied motive.

Question 5. Why could the younger boy not sleep?
Answer: The younger boy could not sleep because he was very, very hungry. After his father, Dursun Agha, died, the family received food from neighbors for a few days. But then the neighbors stopped giving food, and the family went without eating for several days, causing the younger boy intense hunger. Hunger is a strong physical need that can make it impossible for a person, especially a child, to rest or sleep peacefully.
In simple words: The younger boy could not sleep because he was extremely hungry. His family had not eaten for many days.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining 'why' something happened, trace the sequence of events that led to that outcome.

D. Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each :

Question 1. What were the belongings of Dursun Agha?
Answer: Dursun Agha owned very little because he was extremely poor. His belongings included only two water cans, a pole, and chains attached to both ends of the pole. He used these simple tools every day to carry and sell water, which was his only way to earn money. In harsh living conditions, people often rely on minimal tools to perform their daily work and support their families.
In simple words: Dursun Agha was very poor. He only owned two water cans, a pole, and some chains. He used these to sell water.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the items clearly and briefly explain their purpose in the context of the character's life.

Question 2. Who was sending the food for Dursun's family?
Answer: दर्सन के परिवार के लिए पड़ोसी खाना भेज रहे थे। यह तुर्की में एक मुस्लिम परंपरा है कि जब किसी घर में कोई मौत हो जाती है, तो अमीर पड़ोसी कुछ दिनों के लिए खाना भेजते हैं। पहला भोजन गुलनाज और उसके बच्चों को 'श्वेत घर' से आया था, जहाँ एक अमीर व्यापारी रहते थे। अगले दिन एक और पड़ोसी ने भोजन भेजा। यह परंपरा समुदाय में एक-दूसरे की मदद करने और दुःख के समय में समर्थन देने की भावना को दर्शाती है।
In simple words: दर्सन के परिवार को पड़ोसी खाना भेज रहे थे। तुर्की में ऐसी परंपरा है कि कोई मर जाए तो पड़ोसी कुछ दिनों के लिए खाना भेजते हैं। 'श्वेत घर' से पहला खाना आया था।

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the specific people or groups involved and mention any cultural context if provided in the story.

Question 3. Why did Gulnaz send the older boy to Bodos?
Answer: Gulnaz sent her older son to Bodos, the grocer, because her family had gone without food for many days and was suffering from extreme hunger. She asked the boy to request rice, flour, and potatoes on credit, promising to pay the grocer back soon. This was a desperate attempt to feed her starving children. In situations of extreme need, parents often send their children to seek help from others, even if it means asking for credit.
In simple words: Gulnaz sent her older boy to Bodos because her family had no food and was very hungry. She asked him to get rice, flour, and potatoes on credit, promising to pay later.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the main problem (hunger) and the solution Gulnaz attempted, including the specific items requested.

Question 4. Why did no food come from the neighbours after a few days?
Answer: After a few days, food stopped coming from the neighbors because of a specific Turkish Muslim tradition. According to this custom, neighbors send food to a family for only three or four days after a death. Once this period was over, Dursun Agha's neighbors stopped providing meals. Cultural traditions often guide social support systems, defining how and for how long communities help those in mourning.
In simple words: Food stopped coming because of a tradition in Turkey. Neighbors only send food for a few days after someone dies. So, after three or four days, they stopped sending it to Dursun's family.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the tradition and its duration to answer why the food supply ceased.

E. Answer the following questions in about 60-80 words each:

Question 1. What did Dursun's family do after the neighbours had stopped sending food?
Answer: After the neighbors stopped sending food, Dursun's family initially hoped for more help. But by night, they realized they would have to find food themselves. After their own supplies ran out, they went to bed with empty stomachs. Gulnaz then tried asking a man with a horse for two loaves of bread, but he refused. Finally, she sent her older son to Bodos, the grocer, to borrow groceries, but he also refused. The family's desperate attempts show how challenging it is for impoverished families to survive when all avenues of help close.
In simple words: When neighbors stopped sending food, Dursun's family tried to find food. They ran out of their own food and went to bed hungry. Gulnaz tried to get bread from a man, but he said no. Then, she sent her son to the grocer to borrow food, but the grocer also said no.

🎯 Exam Tip: Detail each step the family took, from initial hope to various failed attempts to secure food, showing their escalating desperation.

Question 2. How did the older boy try to convince Bodos for grocery items?
Answer: The older boy tried to convince Bodos, the grocer, by pretending to have forgotten his money. First, he asked for the groceries. Then, he put his hand into his pocket as if searching for money, before saying he must have left it at home. He told Bodos he didn't want to go back in the cold weather and asked him to write down the debt, promising to pay the next day. However, Bodos realized it was a trick and refused to give him any food. This clever but unsuccessful attempt highlights the difficult measures people resort to when faced with extreme hunger and poverty.
In simple words: The older boy pretended to forget his money at home. He asked Bodos to write down the cost and said he would pay tomorrow, as it was too cold to go back for money. But Bodos knew it was a trick and did not give him anything.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the boy's strategy, the specific actions he took, and the reason he gave, concluding with the grocer's response.

Question 3. What were the difficulties faced by the older boy due to chilly weather?
Answer: Because of the bitter cold, the older boy caught a cold while returning from the grocer. His body began to tremble violently. His mother wrapped him in all the blankets and clothes she could find. After about two hours, the trembling stopped, but then he developed a high fever and felt very tired. This shows how quickly his health worsened due to the cold. Exposure to severe cold without proper protection can quickly lead to serious health issues like fever and exhaustion.
In simple words: The older boy caught a cold because of the freezing weather. His body shook a lot for two hours. Then, he got a high fever and felt very tired.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the physical symptoms and stages of his illness, showing the progression of the difficulties he faced.

Question 4. What happened after the older boy returned home empty handed?
Answer: When the older boy came home without food, he immediately took off his clothes and lay in bed, complaining of extreme cold. He had caught a severe cold, and his body was trembling. His mother covered him with all available blankets and clothes. Although his trembling stopped after two hours, he then developed a high fever that kept increasing. His mother was desperate and did not know how to help him. The lack of resources in poverty often means that simple illnesses can quickly become life-threatening without proper care.
In simple words: After the boy came home with no food, he felt very cold and went to bed. He was shaking and had a bad cold. His mother covered him. After two hours, the shaking stopped, but he got a high fever that kept rising. His mother did not know what to do.

🎯 Exam Tip: Detail the boy's immediate actions, his symptoms, his mother's attempts to help, and her ultimate helplessness.

Activity

Question 1. "Poverty is a curse”, Do you agree with the statement? How did it affect Dursun's family? Discuss.
Answer: Yes, I strongly agree that "poverty is a curse." Poverty creates many hard challenges for people. Many sick people die because they cannot afford treatment. Babies can even grow up with physical problems because they don't get enough good food due to poverty. Poor people also face disrespect in society.
Dursun's family suffered terribly when he died. No one helped them. They went many days without food, and even the grocer refused to give them credit for food because they were poor. The family was facing death only because of their poverty. If they had money, they would not have been in such a bad situation. Poverty is a complex global issue that affects every aspect of a person's life, from health and dignity to basic survival.
In simple words: Yes, poverty is very bad. It makes life very hard. Poor people face many problems, like sickness and no food. Dursun's family almost died because they were poor and had no money for food or help.

🎯 Exam Tip: Start by clearly stating your agreement (or disagreement) with the statement. Then, use specific examples from the story to explain how poverty impacted Dursun's family, covering different aspects of their suffering.