UP Board Solutions Class 11 English Chapter 2 After Twenty Years

STORY At A Glance

Silky Bob and Jimmy Wells were two intimate friends. They lived in New York. They were young. They wanted to choose their career. Bob was very ambitious. He wanted to be rich soon. So he decided to go to Chicago. Jimmy did not want to leave New York. He thought it to be the best place on the earth. So he decided to live in New York. One day they parted from each other. They dined at 'Big Joe'-Brandy's restaurant. They promised to meet together after twenty years at this place, date and time. They parted at 10 o'clock. Jimmy Wells was appointed in police. One day he was on his beat duty. At about 10 p.m. he saw a man in the door-way of a hardware store. When Jimmy reached that man, he told him that he was waiting there for a friend. Then, he lighted his cigar. In light of cigar Jimmy Wells recognised him that he was Bob. He was a criminal. He was wanted by Chicago police. It was the duty of Jimmy to arrest him. Now Jimmy was in a fix what to do. Either he should do his duty as a policeman or as a friend. So he left Bob there and went away. He told the story to another policeman. He sent him to Bob in plain clothes. That man pretended to be Bob's friend Jimmy. They talked for sometime as friends. Then the man in plain clothes invited him to a suitable place so that they might talk for sometime. They reached a drug-store. There was enough light. Bob recognised him by his nose. He cried, “You are not Jimmy Wells. He has a Roman nose while yours is a pug nose.” Then the man informed Bob that he was then under arrest. He was wanted by Chicago police. He would take him to the police station. Then he gave him a note. It was Jimmy Wells. In it Jimmy told him, “I had recognised you when you lighted your cigar. I have kept my promise. But you are a criminal and you are wanted by chicago police. I could not arrest you as you are my friend. So I am sending this man in plain clothes to arrest you." Reading it Bob trembled a little.

कहानी पर एक दृष्टि

सिल्की बॉब और जिमी वैल्स दो घनिष्ठ मित्र थे। वे न्यूयॉर्क में रहते थे। वे नवयुवक थे। वे अपना भविष्य । चुनना चाहते थे। बॉब बहुत महत्त्वाकांक्षी व्यक्ति था। वह शीघ्र ही धनी होना चाहता था। इसलिए उसने शिकागो जाने का निश्चय किया। जिमी न्यूयॉर्क को छोड़ना नहीं चाहता था। वह इसी को पृथ्वी पर सर्वोत्तम स्थान मानता था। इसलिए उसने न्यूयॉर्क में ही रहने का निश्चय किया। एक दिन वे एक-दूसरे से विदा हुए। उन्होंने बिग जोई नामक होटल में खाना खाया । उन्होंने वायदा किया कि वह बीस वर्ष बाद इसी स्थान पर, इसी दिन और इसी समय पुनः मिलेंगे। वे 10 बजे विदा हुए। जिमी वैल्स पुलिस में भर्ती हो गया। एक दिन वह अपनी गश्त डयूटी पर था। लगभग 10 बजे रात को उसने एक लोहे की दुकान के दरवाजे में एक आदमी को देखा। जब जिमी उस आदमी के पास पहुँचा तब उसने उसे बताया कि वह अपने मित्र की प्रतीक्षा कर रहा है। फिर उसने अपना सिगार जलाया। प्रकाश में जिमी वैल्स ने उसे पहचान लिया कि वह बॉब है। वह एक अपराधी था। शिकागो पुलिस को उसकी तलाश थी। जिमी का यह कर्तव्य था कि वह उसे गिरफ्तार कर ले। अब जिमी वैल्स परेशानी में पड़ गया कि क्या करे। या तो वह सिपाही के रूप में अपने कर्तव्य का पालन करे या एक मित्र के रूप में। इसलिए उसने बॉबको वहीं छोड़ दिया और चला गया। उसने सारी कहानी एक-दूसरे सिपाही को बता दी। उसने उसे बॉब के पास सादे कपड़ों में भेजा। उस आदमी ने ऐसा बहाना किया कि वह बॉब का मित्र जिमी है। उन्होंने कुछ समय तक मित्र के रूप में बातचीत की। फिर सादे कपड़े पहने हुए आदमी ने उपयुक्त स्थान पर चलने का निमन्त्रण दिया ताकि वे कुछ समय तक बातचीत कर सकें। वे एक देवा-विक्रेता की दुकान पर पहुँचे । वहाँ पर्याप्त रोशनी थी। बॉब ने उसे उसकी नाक से पहचान लिया। उसने कहा, “तुम जिमी वैल्स नहीं हो। उसकी नाक तो रोमन जैसी है, जब कि तुम्हारी नाक चपटी है।” फिर उस आदमी ने बॉब को सूचित किया कि वह गिरफ्तार हो चुका है। शिकागो की पुलिस को उसकी तलाश थी। वह उसे थाने ले चलेगा। फिर उसने उसे एक लिखित पत्र दिया। यह जिमी वैल्स का था। इसमें जिमी ने उसे बताया था, “मैंने तुम्हें उस समय पहचान लिया था जब तुमने सिगार जलाया। मैंने अपना वायदा पूरा कर दिया है। किन्तु तुम एक अपराधी हो और शिकागो की पुलिस को तुम्हारी तलाश है। तुम मेरे मित्र हो इसलिए मैं तुमको गिरफ्तार नहीं कर सका। अतः मैं सादे कपड़े पहने हुए इस आदमी को तुम्हें गिरफ्तार करने के लिए भेज रहा हूँ।” यह पढ़कर बॉब थोड़ा-सा काँपा ।

Short Answer Type Questions

Answer one of the following questions in not more than 30 words :

(A) Comprehension Text Questions

Question 1. what was the policeman doing on his beat? (सिपाही अपनी गश्त पर क्या कर रहा था ?)
Answer: The policeman was moving up and down the avenue. He was checking all the doors and locks. (सिपाही रास्ते की ओर ऊपर-नीचे जा रहा था। वह सभी दरवाजों एवं तालों को चेक कर रहा था ।)
In simple words: The policeman was patrolling an avenue, carefully checking all the doors and locks on his beat.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on specific details of police duty to score points in descriptive answers.

Question 2. what was Bob's face like ? (बॉब का चेहरा कैसा था ?)
Answer: Bob's face was pale and square-jawed. His eyes were keen. He had a little white scar near his right eyebrow. (बॉब का चेहरा पीला और चौकोर जबड़े वाला था। उसकी आँखें पैनी थीं। उसकी दाहिनी भौंह के पास एक छोटा सफेद निशान था।)
In simple words: Bob's face was pale, with a square jaw, keen eyes, and a small white scar near his right eyebrow.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize key character descriptions as they often appear in exams to test your attention to detail.

Question 3. How was the face of Bob recognised by the constable in the dark of night? (रात्रि के अँधेरे में कॉन्स्टेबल ने बॉब का चेहरा कैसे पहचान लिया ?)
Answer: When Bob lit his cigar, the constable saw his face clearly and recognised him even in the dark of night. (जब बॉब ने सिगार जलाया तब कॉन्स्टेबल ने उसका चेहरा स्पष्ट देख लिया और रात्रि के अन्धकार में भी पहचान लिया ।) .
In simple words: Bob's face was recognized by the constable in the dark when he lit his cigar, illuminating his features.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding crucial plot points like character recognition is vital for answering questions about the narrative flow.

Question 4. How many characters are there in the story? who are they? (इस कहानी में कितने पात्र हैं? वे कौन-कौन हैं ?)
Answer: There are only three characters in this story. They are :
1. Jimmy Wells-the constable
2. Bob-an old friend of Jimmy
3. another policeman in civil dress. (इस कहानी में केवल तीन पात्र हैं। वे हैं :
1. जिमी वैल्स-एक सिपाही
2. बॉब-जिमी का पुराना मित्र
3. एक अन्य सिपाही जो सादे कपड़ों में है।)
In simple words: The story features three main characters: Jimmy Wells, Bob, and the plain-clothed policeman.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying all characters and their respective roles is essential for overall story comprehension and specific character-based questions.

Question 5. Out of the two policemen which one is Jimmy? (दो सिपाहियों में जिमी कौन-सा है ?)
Answer: The policeman on beat duty with a Roman nose is Jimmy. (रोमन जैसी नाक वाला गश्त की ड्यूटी पर जो सिपाही है वही जिमी है ।)
In simple words: Jimmy is identified as the policeman on beat duty who has a distinctive Roman nose.

🎯 Exam Tip: Differentiating between characters based on their unique physical descriptions or roles is a common exam requirement.

Question 6. Who was the man to discover that Bob was wanted by the police ? Mention his source of information. (वह व्यक्ति कौन था जिसने यह पता लगाया कि पुलिस को बॉब की तलाश है ? उसकी सूचना का स्रोत बताओ ।)
Answer: Jimmy Wells was the man to discover that Bob was wanted by the police. His source of information was Chicago police. (जिमी वैल्स वह व्यक्ति था जिसने पता लगाया कि पुलिस को बॉब की तलाश है। उसकी सूचना का स्रोत शिकागो की पुलिस थी ।)
In simple words: Jimmy Wells discovered Bob was wanted by Chicago police, as the information came directly from the Chicago police department.

🎯 Exam Tip: Tracing the source of critical information within the story is important for providing detailed and accurate answers.

Question 7. How did Jimmy manage to get his friend Bob arrested? (जिमी ने अपने मित्र को कैसे गिरफ्तार कराया ?)
Answer: Jimmy sent another policeman in civil dress and got his friend arrested: (जिमी ने सादे कपड़ों में एक अन्य सिपाही को भेजा और अपने मित्र को गिरफ्तार करा दिया ।)
In simple words: Jimmy arranged for Bob's arrest by sending another policeman, dressed in plain clothes, to apprehend him.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the sequence of events and Jimmy's cleverness in fulfilling his duty without directly betraying his friend.

Question 8. Why did Jimmy get Bob arrested? (जिमी ने बॉब को गिरफ्तार क्यों कराया ?)
Answer: Jimmy got Bob arrested because he thought that sense of duty was stronger and more important than love for a friend. (जिमी ने बॉब को गिरफ्तार करवा दिया क्योंकि उसने सोचा कि कर्तव्य की भावना एक मित्र के प्रति प्रेम की अपेक्षा अधिक शक्तिशाली और आवश्यक है ।)
In simple words: Jimmy had Bob arrested because he believed his duty as a police officer outweighed his personal feelings of friendship.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explaining the conflict between duty and friendship is a core thematic element and is frequently tested in questions about character motivations.

Question 9. who was Bob wanted by ? (बॉब की किसको तलाश थी ?)
Answer: Bob was wanted by Chicago police. (बॉब की शिकागो पुलिस को तलाश थी ।)
In simple words: Bob was wanted by the police department in Chicago.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing which authorities are involved in the plot is a basic factual question often asked to check comprehension.

Question 10. who had sent the plain-clothed man to arrest Bob? (बॉब को गिरफ्तार करने के लिए सादे कपड़ों में अन्य व्यक्ति को किसने भेजा ?)
Answer: Jimmy Wells had sent the plain-clothed man to arrest Bob. (जिमी वैल्स ने सादे कपड़ों में अन्य व्यक्ति को भेजा ।)
In simple words: Jimmy Wells was the one who dispatched the plain-clothed officer to arrest Bob.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying who initiated key actions in the plot is important for understanding the story's development and character responsibilities.

Question 11. How do the two friends differ from each other? (दो मित्र एक-दूसरे से कैसे भिन्न हैं ?)
Answer: Jimmy is a true friend, as well as a faithful police officer. For him duty is first. He is honest and sincere. But Bob is ambitious and money-minded. He has no importance of moral and law in his mind. He wants to earn money by fair or foul means. (जिमी एक सच्चा मित्र भी है और एक वफादार पुलिस अफसर भी। उसके लिए कर्त्तव्य सबसे पहले है। वह ईमानदार और सच्चा है। दूसरी ओर बॉब महत्त्वाकांक्षी और धन-लोलुप है। उसके मस्तिष्क में नैतिकता तथा कानून का कोई महत्त्व नहीं है। वह किसी न किसी प्रकार धन कमाना चाहता है।)
In simple words: Jimmy is honest, loyal, and prioritizes duty, while Bob is ambitious, money-minded, and disregards legal or moral principles in his pursuit of wealth.

🎯 Exam Tip: Contrasting character traits reveals deeper understanding of the story's themes and helps in analytical questions.

Question 12. what is the significance of the title After Twenty Years'? ('बीस वर्ष बाद' शीर्षक का क्या महत्त्व है ?)
Answer: The title ‘After Twenty Years' is quite significant because Jimmy and Bob had promised to meet after twenty years. It was a considerable long period. Yet they met on the same day at the appointed place. ('बीस वर्ष बाद' शीर्षक बिल्कुल अर्थपूर्ण है क्योंकि जिमी और बॉब ने बीस वर्ष बाद मिलने का वायदा किया था। यह काफी लम्बी अवधि थी। फिर वे उसी दिन निश्चित स्थान पर मिले ।)
In simple words: The title 'After Twenty Years' is significant because it highlights the twenty-year promise between Jimmy and Bob, emphasizing the long passage of time and their fateful reunion.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explaining the significance of the title demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the story's core idea and central conflict.

Question 13. When and where had the two friends parted twenty years ago? (बीस वर्ष पूर्व दोनों मित्र कब और कहाँ से विदा हुए थे ?)
Answer: Twenty years ago Jimmy and Bob parted from each other at 10 in the night at 'Big Joe-Brandy's Restaurant. (बीस वर्ष पूर्व जिमी और बॉब एक-दूसरे से रात्रि के दस बजे 'बिग जोइ'-ब्राण्डीज़ रेस्तरां से विदा हुए थे ।)
In simple words: Twenty years prior, Jimmy and Bob parted ways at 10 PM at 'Big Joe-Brandy's Restaurant'.

🎯 Exam Tip: Specific details like time and place are often asked in factual recall questions, so ensure you remember them accurately.

Question 14. Do you think Jimmy wells was fair in his dealings with Bob, his friend (क्या आप समझते हो कि जिमी वैल्स अपने मित्र बॉब के साथ व्यवहार में उचित था?)
Answer: Yes, Jimmy Wells was fair in his dealings with Bob because he did his duty as a policeman as well as a friend. (हाँ, जिमी वैल्स बॉब के साथ व्यवहार में उचित था क्योंकि उसने पुलिस के सिपाही के रूप में भी और मित्र के रूप में भी अपना कर्तव्य निभाया ।)
In simple words: Yes, Jimmy Wells acted fairly by balancing his duty as a policeman with his loyalty as a friend, ensuring justice was served.

🎯 Exam Tip: Justifying character actions requires analytical thinking and moral reasoning, connecting actions to their duties and relationships.

(B) Appreciating The Story

Question 1. what is Bob's estimate of Jimmy? (बॉब का जिमी के विषय में क्या अनुमान है ?)
Answer: Bob's estimate of Jimmy in his own words is “Jimmy Wells is my best chum and the finest chap in the world.” (जिमी के विषय में बॉब का अनुमान उसके स्वयं के कथन में है : "जिमी वैल्स मेरा सबसे अच्छा एवं घनिष्ठ मित्र है और वह संसार का सबसे अच्छा लड़का है।”)
In simple words: Bob regarded Jimmy as his closest and finest friend in the entire world.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding character perspectives and how they describe others helps in analyzing their motivations and relationships.

Question 2. why did Jimmy conceal his identity from Bob? (जिमी ने बॉब से अपनी पहचान को क्यों छिपाया ?)
Answer: Jimmy was a true and sincere friend. But he was also a true and duty bound policeman. So he could not arrest Bob himself and concealed his identity from Bob. (जिमी एक सच्चा तथा ईमानदार मित्र था। किन्तु वह एक सच्चा और कर्तव्यपरायण पुलिस का सिपाही भी थी। इसलिए वह बॉब को स्वयं गिरफ्तार नहीं कर सका और उसने अपनी पहचान को बॉब से छिपाया ।)
In simple words: Jimmy concealed his identity because he was both a true friend and a duty-bound policeman, unable to personally arrest his old friend.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explaining motivations behind character actions is key to higher-level analysis and understanding plot developments.

Question 3. why didn't the patrolman arrest Bob ? (गश्त वाले सिपाही ने बॉब को गिरफ्तार क्यों नहीं किया ?) Or Why did not Jimmy himself arrest Bob? (जिमी ने स्वयं बॉब को गिरफ्तार क्यों नहीं किया ?)
Answer: The patrolman was Jimmy Wells himself. He was the true friend of Bob. He had recognised Bob. But being a friend Jimmy did not arrest Bob. (गश्त वाला सिपाही जिमी वैल्स स्वयं था। वह बॉब का सच्चा मित्र था। उसने बॉब को पहचान लिया था। अतः एक मित्र के नाते जिमी ने बॉब को गिरफ्तार नहीं किया।)
In simple words: Jimmy, being Bob's true friend and the patrolman, chose not to arrest Bob himself after recognizing him due to their long-standing friendship.

🎯 Exam Tip: Differentiating between indirect and direct actions is important in plot analysis, especially when character relationships influence decisions.

Question 4. If you had been Jimmy how would you have treated Bob? (यदि आप जिमी के स्थान पर होते तब बॉब के साथ कैसा व्यवहार करते ?)
Answer: If I had been Jimmy, I would also have treated Bob in the same manner as Jimmy did. I also believe that duty is supreme. (यदि मैं जिमी होता तब मैं भी बॉब के साथ वैसा ही व्यवहार करता जैसा जिमी ने किया। मैं भी इस बात पर विश्वास करता हूँ कि कर्त्तव्य सर्वोपरि है ।)
In simple words: If I were Jimmy, I would have acted similarly, prioritizing duty as the supreme principle.

🎯 Exam Tip: Personal opinion questions require a clear stance and justification, ideally aligning with the story's core themes like the importance of duty.

Question 5. Who is the reader of the note and why did he tremble a little by the time he had finished the letter? (पत्र को पढ़ने वाला कौन है और वह पत्र को समाप्त करते-करते क्यों काँप जाता है ?)
Answer: Bob himself is the reader of the note. When he starts reading it, he knows nothing. But by the time he finishes it, he comes to know that he is under arrest and Jimmy has sent that man. So he trembles a little. (बॉब स्वयं पत्र को पढ़ने वाला है। जब उसने इसे पढ़ना आरम्भ किया, तब उसे कुछ पता नहीं था। किन्तु जब उसने पत्र समाप्त किया तब उसे पता लगा कि वह गिरफ्तार हो गया है और जिमी ने ही उस आदमी को भेजा है। इसलिए वह थोड़ा-सा काँपा ।)
In simple words: Bob was the reader of the note, and he trembled upon realizing he was arrested and that Jimmy had orchestrated it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focusing on the emotional impact of plot twists on characters enhances answer quality and demonstrates deep story comprehension.

Question 6. What lesson (or moral) do you learn from this story? (इस पाठ से आपको क्या शिक्षा मिलती है ?)
Answer: From this story we learn that we should be loyal and sincere to our duty. Friendship or worldly relations are not so important. (इस कहानी से हम यह सीखते हैं कि हमें अपने कर्तव्य के प्रति वफादार और सच्चा होना चाहिए। मित्रता या सांसारिक सम्बन्ध इतने आवश्यक नहीं हैं ।)
In simple words: The story teaches us that loyalty and sincerity to duty should always be prioritized over personal friendships or worldly connections.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identifying the central moral lesson is crucial for questions on themes and messages of the story.

Question 7. In which city is Jimmy, the policeman, employed? (जिमी नाम का सिपाही कौन-से नगर में नौकरी करता है ?)
Answer: Jimmy, the policeman, is employed in the city of New York. (जिमी नाम का सिपाही न्यूयॉर्क नगर में नौकरी करता है ।)
In simple words: Jimmy, the policeman, works in New York City.

🎯 Exam Tip: Factual recall about settings and character roles is often tested, so pay attention to geographical details.

Question 8. Put a tick (✔) mark against the most appropriate answer : Jimmy didn't arrest his friend Bob because :
(a) he couldn't recognise Bob in the dark.
(b) he wanted Bob to run away.
(c) he didn't reach the right place on time.
(d) he didn't like to arrest his friend himself.
Answer: (d) he didn't like to arrest his friend himself. (जिमी ने अपने मित्र बॉब को इस कारण गिरफ्तार नहीं किया क्योंकि वह अपने मित्र को अपने हाथों गिरफ्तार करना नहीं चाहता था।)
In simple words: Jimmy avoided arresting Bob himself due to his reluctance to personally apprehend his long-time friend.

🎯 Exam Tip: For MCQs, carefully evaluate each option against the story's details and character motivations to choose the best fit.