1. Why did Norma consider the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive?
Norma considered the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive because his behaviour was rude. He was nearly forcing her to take interest in his offer. He lacked decency and politeness in his conversation with Norma. He wanted to enter her house but she told him that she was busy. He should have walked away but he still insisted her to take interest in his offer.
Norma considered the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive because his behaviour was rude. He was nearly forcing her to take interest in his offer. He lacked decency and politeness in his conversation with Norma. He wanted to enter her house but she told him that she was busy. He should have walked away but he still insisted her to take interest in his offer.
2. Why did Arthur disagree with his wife?
Arthur disagreed with his wife because he thought that it was immoral to kill someone just for the sake of money. It was a murder. He was a kind and sympathetic fellow. He tried his best to stop Norma from pushing the button. He even forbade Norma to discuss this offer any more.
Arthur disagreed with his wife because he thought that it was immoral to kill someone just for the sake of money. It was a murder. He was a kind and sympathetic fellow. He tried his best to stop Norma from pushing the button. He even forbade Norma to discuss this offer any more.
3. Why did Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?
Norma tried her level best to convince her husband to agree with her to accept the offer of fifty thousand dollars. She wanted to improve her life style. She dreamt of living a luxurious life. She was not satisfied with her present standard of living. She thought that this offer was a golden opportunity to realize her dreams.
Norma tried her level best to convince her husband to agree with her to accept the offer of fifty thousand dollars. She wanted to improve her life style. She dreamt of living a luxurious life. She was not satisfied with her present standard of living. She thought that this offer was a golden opportunity to realize her dreams.
4. What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?
Norma wanted to improve her life style. She gave many reasons to her husband to accept the offer. She told him that they would visit Europe. They would buy a cottage on the Island. They would purchase nicer apartment, nicer furniture, nicer clothes and a car. She tried her best to convince him.
Norma wanted to improve her life style. She gave many reasons to her husband to accept the offer. She told him that they would visit Europe. They would buy a cottage on the Island. They would purchase nicer apartment, nicer furniture, nicer clothes and a car. She tried her best to convince him.
5. Why did Mr. Steward continue persuading Norma?
Mr. Steward was a very clever person. He was a mind reader. He had known the nature of Norma. He saw through her greedy nature. He knew it well that her greedy instinct would force her to take interest in his offer. Finally, he succeeded and got Norma to push the button.
Mr. Steward was a very clever person. He was a mind reader. He had known the nature of Norma. He saw through her greedy nature. He knew it well that her greedy instinct would force her to take interest in his offer. Finally, he succeeded and got Norma to push the button.
6. What was the message Norma received on pushing the button?
Norma received a very shocking message on pushing the button. Someone informed her on phone about the subway accident in which her husband had died. This message jolted her emotionally and physically. She was not in her senses. She lost control over herself.
Norma received a very shocking message on pushing the button. Someone informed her on phone about the subway accident in which her husband had died. This message jolted her emotionally and physically. She was not in her senses. She lost control over herself.
7. What is the significance of Arthur’s life-insurance policy?
Arthur had purchased a life-insurance policy of 25 thousand dollars which was to become double in case of his death. It was very ironic that Norma was about to receive her cherished 50 thousand dollars over the death of her husband. She had unintentionally killed her husband to get money.
Arthur had purchased a life-insurance policy of 25 thousand dollars which was to become double in case of his death. It was very ironic that Norma was about to receive her cherished 50 thousand dollars over the death of her husband. She had unintentionally killed her husband to get money.
8. Did Norma remain normal on hearing the news of the accident of her husband?
Norma did not remain normal on hearing the news of the accident of her husband. She was emotionally and physically broken. A wave of chill went through her. Her voice began to tremble with fear. She was breathing quickly. She struggled to stand on her feet. She lost control over herself. She was shrieking with grief and pain.
Norma did not remain normal on hearing the news of the accident of her husband. She was emotionally and physically broken. A wave of chill went through her. Her voice began to tremble with fear. She was breathing quickly. She struggled to stand on her feet. She lost control over herself. She was shrieking with grief and pain.
Long textual questions and answers.
1. Write a note on the character of Arthur.
Arthur was a very kind-hearted and sympathetic fellow. He was an honest and caring person. He thought it immoral to kill someone for the sake of money. He tried to stop Norma from pushing the button. He was content and satisfied with his life style. Norma could not understand him. He died in subway accident.
Arthur was a very kind-hearted and sympathetic fellow. He was an honest and caring person. He thought it immoral to kill someone for the sake of money. He tried to stop Norma from pushing the button. He was content and satisfied with his life style. Norma could not understand him. He died in subway accident.
2. Why did not Norma remain true to her husband?
Norma did not remain true to her husband. She was a greedy woman. She was not satisfied with her standard of living. She wanted money by hook or crook to improve her life style. She could not understand the feelings of her husband. She was a complete contrast to him. She was blinded by her greed for money. She ignored the wishes of her husband and pushed the button. Indirectly she committed a murder. It was proved that she could kill anybody for the sake of money.
Norma did not remain true to her husband. She was a greedy woman. She was not satisfied with her standard of living. She wanted money by hook or crook to improve her life style. She could not understand the feelings of her husband. She was a complete contrast to him. She was blinded by her greed for money. She ignored the wishes of her husband and pushed the button. Indirectly she committed a murder. It was proved that she could kill anybody for the sake of money.
3. Do you agree with Norma’s assertion ( opinion) that the death of someone you have never seen is not important?
We cannot agree with Norma’s assertion ( opinion) that the death of someone you have never seen is not important. Every life is valuable. Human life is more important than money. We cannot kill anybody for the sake of money. Only a mad or cold-blooded person can do such an inhuman act. Norma proved herself to be a selfish and cruel lady. Her greed brought about her destruction.
We cannot agree with Norma’s assertion ( opinion) that the death of someone you have never seen is not important. Every life is valuable. Human life is more important than money. We cannot kill anybody for the sake of money. Only a mad or cold-blooded person can do such an inhuman act. Norma proved herself to be a selfish and cruel lady. Her greed brought about her destruction.
4. Write the story in your own words.
Norma was a working lady. Arthur was her husband. Norma was a greedy woman. She wanted money by hook or crook. A salesman named Mr. Steward gave her an offer of 50 thousand dollars as a reward for pushing a button unit due to which some unknown person in the world would die. Norma was entrapped by him due to her greedy nature. Her husband tried to stop her from pushing the button but she did not listen to him. Finally, she pushed the button and indirectly got her husband killed.
Norma was a working lady. Arthur was her husband. Norma was a greedy woman. She wanted money by hook or crook. A salesman named Mr. Steward gave her an offer of 50 thousand dollars as a reward for pushing a button unit due to which some unknown person in the world would die. Norma was entrapped by him due to her greedy nature. Her husband tried to stop her from pushing the button but she did not listen to him. Finally, she pushed the button and indirectly got her husband killed.
5. What moral lesson does the story teach?
The story teaches us the moral lesson that greed is a curse. We should not kill anybody for the sake of money. Every life is valuable. Our greed should not blind us to basic human values of sympathy, care and kindness for others. Norma was blinded by her greed and consequently she lost her husband.
The story teaches us the moral lesson that greed is a curse. We should not kill anybody for the sake of money. Every life is valuable. Our greed should not blind us to basic human values of sympathy, care and kindness for others. Norma was blinded by her greed and consequently she lost her husband.
