NO.
1 AIR FORCE SCHOOL, GWALIOR
AN OLD FRIEND(CLASS WORK)
-
Jayanti Adhikari
General Instructions:
1.
The following questions and answers must be completed in your
English Classwork notebook.
2.
Kindly write the questions and answers neatly.
B. Answer the following questions in a few lines.
.
1 Describe
the
friendship
between
Shyamal's
grandfather
and
Nimai
using
examples from the story.
ns:
A Shyamal's grandfather shared
quite a
deep and
affectionate bond
with
Nimai.
Nimai
wasplantedbyShyamal's grandfather on
theday
their familymoved
into
their
new
house,
and
the tree
then grewtobecomeapartoftheirlives.
Nimai
witnessed
the
grandfather's morning prayers, provided him
shade in
the
afternoons,
and was
a
source of comfort to
him. Shyamal says that his
grandfather
waschattingwith Nimai
before he passedaway.Hisgrandfather had
a
profound connection with Nimai,
and the
tree held
sentimental value as
a
constant companion throughout his life.
.
2 How
do
you
think
Shyamal
felt
when
his
grandfather
died?
Do
you
think
Shyamal's love towards Nimai was because of his grandfather?
ns:
A Shyamal
felt
a
deep
sense
of
loss
and
sorrow
when
his
grandfather
died,
and
hegrievedfor
several months.Hislove
forNimaiwasindeed
influencedby
his
grandfather's connection with
thetree.
Nimairepresented not
only
a
living
memory
of
hisgrandfatherbut also
asource
ofemotionalcomfortand
a
tangible
link to his family's history.
3. What was Nimai's last act of kindness?
ns:
A Nimai’s last
act of
kindness
was
protecting
Shyamal’s
father
from
a
lightning
strike. Thetree
absorbedthelightning,
preventing
harmto
Shyamal’s
father
as
he
got
out
of
thecar.
In
doingso,Nimai
sacrificed
itselffor
the
safety of the family, displaying a final act
of kindness.
.
4 What
was
the
situation
at
Shyamal's
house
throughout
the
day
after
he
left
home?
ns:
A After Shyamallefthome,the situation at
hishouse was
tense. Shyamal’s
parents
were worried
about
how
the loss
would
affect the
boy,
who
was
deeply
attached
to
the
tree.
They grew
more and
more worried
when
Shyamal did
not
return
home.Asa
result,theparents, alongwithShyamal’s uncles
and friends,
went
out to search
for
him at
his friends’ houses, hospitals and police
stations.
NO.1 AIR FORCE SCHOOL, GWALIOR
.
5 What
do
you
think
of
the
fact
that
Shyamal's
father
was
saved
by
the
very
tree he wanted to cut down?
ns:
A Shyamal’sfather,
whoinitially
insisted oncutting downNimai,
wassaved
by
the
tree
when
a
lightning
bolt
struck it. If
it hadn’t
been
for Nimai
absorbing
the
lightning,
Shyamal’s
father
could have been
harmed.
This
ironic
twist
highlightsthe
interconnectednessofthefamily’s fatewith
the
very tree
they
were
consideringremoving,emphasising the
symbolic roleof
Nimaiin
their
lives.
LIFE SKILL QUESTIONS
. The friendship between a tree and a human being is a bond that does not need
1
any
exchange
of
words. W
hat
do
you
think
of
the
title
of
the
story
with
reference to this statement?
ns:
A The
title
‘An
Old
Friend’ aptly
reflects
thedeep,
wordlessbondbetween
humans
and
nature. Shyamal's
grandfather's quiet
companionship
with
the
neem
tree,
Nimai,showshowsuchfriendships offercomfortwithout
words.Thetitle
suggests
that
the
tree, like
a
true
old
friend,
provides
silent
support
and
emotional connection.
.
2 Do
you
think
Shyamal's
grandfather felt
lonely
afterhis
wife passed
away?
Support
your
answer
with
lines
from
the
story.
Suggest
ways
in
which
you
can
make
your grandparents
or other
elderly
members
of
the
family
feel
loved
and
cared for.
ns:
A Yes,
he
did
feel lonely.
The
line
“The
old
man
didn't
utter
a
word,but
sat
all
day under the tree, perhaps looking
at
his age-old
companion for
strength”
shows his solitude. To
support elderly family
members, we
should
spend
timewiththem, listentotheir
stories, showaffection,involve themin
decisions,
and
help
with daily
tasks.
Such
gestures makethem
feel valuedand
less alone.
