Introduction
Short Stories Questions and Answers (Volume 2)
This collection brings together important questions and answers from some of the most frequently studied short stories in the WBCHSE English syllabus. Students preparing for Higher Secondary examinations, school tests, and competitive examinations can use these questions and answers for quick revision.
The post includes:
- Heaven’s Lake Questions and Answers
- The Emergence of Zoo Questions and Answers
- Father’s Help Questions and Answers
- Postmaster Questions and Answers
All questions and answers have been preserved in their original form for easy reference and exam preparation.
About Heaven’s Lake
Heaven’s Lake is a travel narrative that describes a memorable journey to the beautiful Heaven Lake situated near Mount Bogda in Xinjiang, China. The author vividly portrays the changing landscapes, from sunflower fields and deserts to green mountain slopes and crystal-clear streams. The story combines travel experiences with reflections on nature, culture, and personal observation. Through detailed descriptions of the lake, local people, and the surrounding mountains, the narrative presents the beauty and serenity of one of China’s most picturesque locations. The following questions and answers will help students understand the important events, characters, and themes of the story.
Heaven’s Lake Questions and Answers
Q(01) Briefly describe the author’s journey from Urumqi to Heaven Lake . What does Heaven Lake look like ?
Ans: Author went to Heaven Lake from Urumqi by a public bus . Soon, they were in open country side , with fields of sunflower as far as the eye could see. Where there was no water , the land reverted to desert .In the distance , the tall range of Mount Bogda was his destination .As the bus climbed, the sky brilli ant before had grown overcast and rain began to fall . The bus window leaked inhospitably but revealed a beautiful view. The ground is then green with grass, the slope dark with pine . A few cattle were drinking at a clear stream. The stream changes into a white torrent as they climb higher. Heaven lake is a long , fish -shaped and fed by snow melt from a stream at its head.
Q(02) How did Mr Cap react when the author expressed his desire to go for a swim in the in the lake ?
Ans: When author asked Mr. Cao whether the lake was good for swimming in or not, he questioned him in return if author was not thinking of swimming . When authord asked him about the nature of the water in the Heaven Lake , he did not answered him immediately , turning instead to examine some receipts with exaggerated interest.
Q(03) How did John and the author spend a day at the smallice blue pool?
Ans: The day John was leaving ,they went down to the small ice-blue pool with a picnic lunch provided by Mr. Cao. It drizzled and was brilliantly sunny turns.They made a fire in the lee of a rock, swim , sun themselves or shiver before the fire as the weather alternate.They ate drank and were merry.
Q(04) After John left , how did the author spend the ‘extra day or two’at Heaven Lake?
Ans: Author spent the days roaming around by the head of the lake, watching herdsmen crossed the stream delta with cattle and horses walking towards the snowline or reading confucuis Analects. He lay on the rock and read very slowly , pausing of orange. He walked back along the shore by boulders and junniper bushes.
Q(05) Describe, in brief , the author’s experience of buying a cap at Urumqi.
Ans: Author led to a shop with all kinds of shop displayed by it’s doorway. The The interior of the shop was dengy . Inside the shop , there was an old be apectacles , bearded man and the boy of about twelve .Author selected a cap which costs three yuan. When the old man and the boy that the author was from Hindustan , they not only reduced the price of the cap but also restricted it firmly , as the author would be
travelling a long way .Many children gathered at the door of the shop to gaze the man from India.
The Emergence of Zoo Questions and Answers
About The Emergence of Zoo
The Emergence of Zoo is an autobiographical piece by Gerald Durrell, a famous naturalist, conservationist, and writer. In this essay, Durrell narrates his experiences as an animal collector and explains how his dream of establishing a zoo eventually became a reality. The story highlights his deep love for animals and his commitment to wildlife conservation. Through humorous anecdotes and fascinating encounters with exotic creatures, the author emphasizes the importance of protecting endangered species from extinction. The essay also reveals the challenges involved in caring for animals and running a zoological park.
Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why was the author’s career as an animals collector short lived?
Answer 1:Author as an animal collector discovered that most dealers cram twenty creatures into a cage designed for ine . Most of the creatures would die of suffocation . Whatever survived , the dealers increased their price. Author could not indulge in this sort of slave traffic , so his cage were spacious and animals well-cared for . Therefore author lost all his money.
Question 2: ‘However the experience proved invaluable .’ Which experience is the author?
Answer 2: Author was talking about his experience as an animal collector. Author wanted to make his own zoo from his childhood . His experience as an animal collector gave him a wide schooling in the tropies , their illnesses and their peculiar behaviour . It taught him that zoos were not all that it thought then to be.
Question 3: What brought about a change in the author’s fortunes?
Answer 3: Author on his elder brother insistence started to write . His first book was a smash hit and all his subsequent books were equally popular . This change his fortune.
Question 4 :In brief describe the bizcorre jappening that the author’s mother was subjected?
Answer 4: One afternoon when no one was around , Chumeley and Lulu the two half grow Chempanzees, had come out of their cage and reached author’s maner house. On hearing a bang on the front door , author’s mother opened it and found the two Cherrpanzees on the front stairs. She did not lose her head but invited the aper in. She made them sit down on a sofa and ofened a large box of chocolates and a tin of biscuits.While the apes were noisily feeding on those , author’s mother phoned the people of the zoo and reported where about of the chimpanzees.
Question 5:Who was Pythagoras ? Describe the author’s adventure with Pythagoras.?
Answer 5:Pythagoras was an enormous and very beautifully reticulated phython. Cleaning Pythagoras cage was a three main job, two to restrain phytagoras and bundle him into a giant cloth basket while the third man cleaned out . One, evening author was passing the reptile house at desk after the zoo had closed ,he heard muffled shout for help imanahim ting from inside . Investigating he found John had done the unforgiveable. He had trying to clean out Pythagoros alone. The great snake had thrown his coil around and bound him immobile .Author’s seized the reptile tail and began to unwind him. The problem was that as fast as he unwound from John, he threw his coil around him. Soon they were both linked as Siamese twins and they both started to shout for for help.Fortunately their cries were heard by a member of the mammal’s staff and with his help they were rescued.
Question 6: Describe some of the creatures that were a part of the author’s zoo?
Answer 6: Author’s zoo had a glittering and snakes , tortoises like huge animated walnuts. He had a collection of chocolate brown gorillas , their leader Jumbo was like a sumo-wrestler . There were tapestry of birds , cranes, peasants and flamingoes. There were tamarins and marmosets clad in brown orange and black fur. The Babirusa was the most beautiful ugly animal in the world . The cheetahs sat bold upright in a picture frame of tall grass.
Question 7:What was the reason behind the author’s wish to reason behind the author’s wish to?
Answer 7:Author had over a thousand animals in collection and ninety percent of them are threatened with extinction.They are threatened primarely by man’s activity. So author built this zoo to provide sanctuary for these animals and save them from getting extinct.
Question 8: What proof of Durrell’s sense of humour do you find in the text?Cite a few examples?
Answer 8:Gerald Durrell was naturalist, conservationist and author who is best remembered for his experiences as an animal collector and zookeeper . The proof of Gerald’s sense of humour in this text are- (I) Gerald Durrell sarcastically said that the neighbours of his system heaved a collective sign of relief when the animals were taken away from his sister’s back garden. (II) Gerald Durrel very funnily tells the story how the two chimps reached his house welcomed by his mother and according to his mother they were more will-behaved then some of the people in the zoo. (III) Gerald Durrel very humorously compared himself and John Hartly with the Siamere twins when both were coiled together by Pythagoras.
Seventeen Oranges Questions and Answers
About Seventeen Oranges
Seventeen Oranges is a humorous and engaging short story by Bill Naughton that revolves around a railway worker who develops the habit of stealing small items from goods trains. The narrator considers these acts harmless until he is caught with seventeen oranges. What follows is a tense yet amusing sequence of events as he desperately tries to destroy the evidence before he can be punished. Through humour and irony, the story explores themes of temptation, dishonesty, guilt, and clever escape. The narrator’s actions and their consequences make the story both entertaining and thought-provoking for students.
1.Nevertheless it was very rarely……. how during the day.”
A.What did the narrator usually state
Answer A: The narrator usually picked some food So that has something to chew for the rest of the day like if a banana box was being unloaded , he would usually take his little cart along side and grab some banana which were often loose and dropped off from the main stock.
B.where did he is we hide stolen goods ?
Answer B: He usually hid his stolen goods, under his brat.
C. what was a brat ?
Answer C: The brat was an appron made from sugar bag supposed to be a good protection against rain but the narrator used it mostly for concealing things.
2.’An example has to be made .-.-… –.. than an lucky one.’
A. Who said this and to whom ?Click for Answer >>
Answer A:Pongo said these words to the narrator .
B.Where did Pongo immediately go ?Click for Answer >>
Answer B: Pongo had immediately go to bring up a colleague as a witness to the fact that narrator had stolen Seventeen oranges ; which were placed carefully on the table.
C.What did the narrator did to remove the evidence?Click for Answer >>
Answer C: in order to remove the evidence that nikita had followed that arranges including its pips and peels.
D.Was he successful in his adventure ? What was his outcome?Click for Answer >>
Answer D:Yes , the narrator was successful in his adventure . The outcome of his act was that he was left free by without any charges of stealing because of lack of evidence against the narrator.
Father’s Help Questions and Answers
About Father’s Help
Father’s Help is a humorous short story by R. K. Narayan featuring the well-known character Swami. The story revolves around Swami’s attempt to avoid going to school by pretending to be ill. However, his strict and practical father becomes involved, creating a series of amusing situations. The narrative highlights childhood fears, innocence, imagination, and the complicated relationship between parents, teachers, and students. Narayan’s simple style and gentle humour make the story engaging while also revealing important truths about growing up.
Questions and Answers
At nine-thirty, when he ought to have been shouting…………
Q ( A): What would Swami usually do during prayer time at school?
Ans. A: Swami used to shout during prayer time at school.
Q ( B ): What, According to father,is the cause of Swami’s headache?
Ans.B : According to father playing too much on weekends is the cause of Swami’s headache.
Q ( C ): Is Swami honest in his words? When he give the excuse.
Ans.C : No Swamy is not honest in his word. Swamy changed his tactics as per the situation.
Q ( D ): What was usual activity of Swami mentioned in the first para.
Ans. D : Swami used to shout out in the School Prayer Hall during prayer time. This was the usual activity of Swami in the school. Perhaps he doesn’t like the system of continuous teaching period after period. And also it may be that he used to feel uneasy in the system of the school.
Q ( E ): Why did Swami change his tactics while giving excuse in front of his father?
Ans. E: Swami knew his father cannot be made fool easily. Also he knew his father was stubborn and strict. Therefore he changed his tactics while giving excuse in front of his father.
2. As he approached the yellow building he realized…………he grieved for him the dark face,.
Q ( A ): Why was Swami in fears for the consequences of delivering letter to the headmaster?
Ans. A: Swami was in fear for the consequences of delivering the letter, because he new that if he deliver the letter , the Samuel would be dismissed by the headmaster and he would be chained by police and would be finally put in jail.
Q ( B ): Why was Swami was thinking more about Samuel>?
Ans. B: Swami was thinking more about his teacher because his inner soul was good and he didn’t wanted the punishment of his teacher. He was much angry on his father for raising the issue unnecessarily that put an unnecessary mental pressure on Swami for unwanted consequences. It was just a matter of excuse for not going to school as small part of his dislike about the school.
Q ( C ): Why Swami realized that he was purjuing himself?
Ans. C: Swami was feeling guilty for telling lie to his father about his teacher Samuel. This was big concern for his mental puzzle.
Postmaster Questions and Answers
About Postmaster
The Postmaster is a touching short story by Rabindranath Tagore that explores loneliness, human relationships, and emotional attachment. The story focuses on a young postmaster who is transferred to a remote village and develops a close bond with Ratan, an orphan girl. As their relationship grows, Ratan begins to see the postmaster as a member of her family. However, circumstances eventually separate them, leading to one of the most emotional endings in Bengali literature. The story beautifully portrays themes of affection, separation, and unfulfilled expectations.
Questions and Answers
(1)Thus they talked about half forgotten incidents, forgetting about matters of greater importance, and often it would get very late.
Q(a): Who does ‘they’ refer to? What would they talk about ?
Ans. : They referred to Ratan and the Postmaster. They would talk about Ratan’s family.Postmaster used to ask Ratan if she remembered her matter and their conversation would start.
Q ( b ): What happened when it got very late?
Ans. : If they got very late the postmaster would feel too lazy to cook and Ratan would quickly light a fire and toast some unleavened bread.This along with the cold leftover of the morning meal was enough for this supper.
Q ( c ): What does ‘forgetting about matters of greater importance’ mean here?
When postmaster and Ratan would strike up a conversation they would forget that the dinner needed to be cooked.
(3) It got late, but he never called out for her. Slowly she entered the room and found him stretched out on the bed.
Q ( ):
Ans. :
Q ( 3-a ): Why was Ratan waiting outside for the call ?
Ans. : Ratan was waiting outside for the call of the postmaster because postmaster was teaching her to read and write .The little student was waiting for the call of her master so tha she could start her daily class.
Q (3-b ): Why do you think he never called out for her ?
Ans. : The postmaster was not feeling well .He was sick so he did not call Ratan.
Q ( 3-c ): How did she responded when he called out to her ? What does this tell out about her nature ?
Ans. : Ratan thought that the postmaster was asleep. So she tip-toed her way out of the room. Then she heard him call her.She asked the postmaster if he was sleeping. It tells us Ratan was introvert and she never stepped into a place where she was not wanted. She knew her position and never disobeyed her master.
(4) Relieved from her nursing duties , Ratan once gain took up her old place outside the door ,but now she no longer heard the familiar call.
Q ( 4-a ): Who was Ratan nursing and why?
Ans. : Ratan was nursing the postmaster because the postmaster was sick and he had no one there to look after him.
Q ( 4-b ): How had the illness affected her patient ? What did he do as a result of it ?
Ans. : The postmaster was depressed due to his illness. He remembered his mother and sister and missed the comfort of their presence. As a result of this, postmaster applied for his transfer.
Q ( C ): How did their routine change due to this?
Ans. : Ratan stepped into the roll of mother and nursed the postmaster . She called the village doctor, gave him medicine and cooked his meal .After postmaster recovered,Ratan once again took up her own place outside the door. But she was no longer called by the postmaster.
Q ( D ): Wht was Ratan no longer called for ? What had happened?
Ans. : The postmaster had applied for his transfer .He was very eagerly waiting for a response to his application .So Ratan was not called. Postmaster was highly tensed if his application would he accepted or not.He was absent minded and spent more of his time sitting on his chair or lying on his bed.
(5 ) Ratan asked no further questions.
Q ( a ): Who did Ratan not question further and why?
Ans. : Ratan did not asked any further question to the postmaster because she was shocked to hear about the final departure of the postmaster from the villege .Morepver, she tried to stay within her limits .As a maid servant it was not possible for her to ask any further question.
Q ( b ): Did Ratan get an explanation ?
Ans. : Yes, Ratan got an explanation .The postmaster of its own accord , went on to tell her how he had applied for a transfer and his application had resigned and was going home.
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(6) Dada ,will you take me home with you?
Q ( a ): What led Ratan to ask this question?
Ans. : The postmaster had resigned from his job and was going back home.Ratan,an orphan girl , had statred depending on the postmaster and thought herself as a member of his family .If postmaster leaves,she would become alone again.So, she had asked this question.
Q ( b ): What response did she get?
Ans. : What response did she get? Ans:In response to her question ,she was taunted by the postmaster.The postmaster laughed and said that it was not possible to take her alon with him.But he did not find it necessary to explain to her why it was an impossible idea.
Q ( c ): Having heard the reply ,how did she fed?
Ans. : Ratan herself felt humiliated .All through the night ,she could not sleep properly .In her dream, the postmaster’s laughing reply haunted her.
Why These Questions Are Important
These questions are frequently asked in:
- WBCHSE Higher Secondary Examination
- Class 11 English Examinations
- Class 12 English Examinations
- School Unit Tests
- Semester Assessments
- Competitive English Literature Examinations
Students should practice both short-answer and descriptive questions to improve their understanding of the stories and score better in examinations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which stories are included in this question-answer collection?
This collection includes Heaven’s Lake, The Emergence of Zoo, Father’s Help, and Postmaster.
Are these questions important for WBCHSE examinations?
Yes. Many of these questions are useful for revision and examination preparation.
Can I use these notes for last-minute revision?
Yes. The questions and answers are arranged in a simple format that helps students revise quickly before examinations.
Are descriptive questions included?
Yes. Both short and long-answer questions are included.
Is this suitable for Class 11 and Class 12 students?
Yes. These questions are helpful for Higher Secondary English students.
Conclusion
These Short Stories Questions and Answers provide a useful revision resource for students preparing for school and board examinations. Regular practice of these questions can help improve comprehension, writing skills, and examination performance.