First year at Harrow/Questions and answers

by Sir Winston S.Churchill

First Year at Harrow by Sir Winston S. Churchill

Summary

In this essay, the writer has explained the place of examinations in the life of a student and the choice of the right subjects. He tells that he never liked examinations because he could not perform well in the examinations. He tells that examiners asked the questions he could not produce a satisfactory answer for.

In the entrance examination at Harrow, the author got zero marks in Latin paper. He just wrote his name and returned the empty answer sheet back. The Headmaster, Mr. Weldon, however, let him be admitted at Harrow. It was both surprising and pleasant for the author.

The writer narrates that he was only two from the bottom of the merit list of admissions. While clever boys went for Latin and Greek because in that time these subjects were most important. He was taught English because of his apparent inability to study Latin and Greek.

The author worked hard and got good grades in English. His English teacher, Mr. Somervell taught him English thoroughly in an effective way. He surpassed all grammar rules and English prose. He had a long-term advantage over the clever boy. They had to improve their English later when they were in their jobs. The author is not sad for having not learned Latin and Greek. He says that he would whip those boys for not knowing English.

Questions Answers Notes

Q. 1:Who is the writer of ‘First year at Harrow’?
  Ans: Sir Winston Churchill is the author of the essay “First year at Harrow".

Q. 2: The writer says that the examiners ask the questions which students cannot answer and not those which they can answer. Is the complaint just?
  Ans: To some extent, this complaint is true but mostly it does not happen. It is the complaint of dull students. The hardworking can answer any question asked in the exam.

Q. 3: What sort of questions is asked by your examiners?
  Ans: Our examiners ask easy as well as difficult questions in the examinations. They ask such questions which can distinguish a diligent student from an ordinary one.

Q. 4: Why did not Churchill do well in examinations?
  Ans: He liked poetry and essay writing but the examiners were interested in Latin and Mathematics. He did not know the answers of the questions. So he could not do well in the examination.

Q. 5: How did he do his Latin paper?
  Ans: He did his Latin paper badly. He just wrote his name, question ‘1’ and after much reflection put a bracket around it thus (1). Then, unknowingly, he put a blot and many smudges on the paper.

Q. 6: Churchill was taught English at Harrow and not Latin and Greek. Was it a gain or a loss?
  Ans: Churchill was taught English at Harrow and not Latin and Greek it was a gain for him. This knowledge proved very useful for him in future to earn his livelihood and a promising career.

Q. 7: What good did his three years stay at Harrow do him?
  Ans: His three stay at Harrow was very important for Churchill. Here he learnt the basic rules of English. This knowledge proved very useful for him in future to earn his livelihood and a promising career.

Q.8: In after years how did the knowledge of English stand him in good stead?
  Ans: In after years, the knowledge of English proved very useful for him in his practical life.By knowing his national language, he faced no difficulty in the daily affairs of life. He became a successful politician.

Q. 9: What happened to boys who had learnt Latin and Greek?
  Ans: Those boys who had leant Latin and Greek and had won many prizes. They had to learn English again to earn their livelihood.

Q.10: What is Churchill’s advice regarding learning English?
  Ans: His advice is that all English boys should learn English first. They should get it into their bones. Later on, clever ones may learn Latin as an honor and Greek as a treat.

Q.11: Who was Mr. Welldon?
  Ans: Mr. Welldon was the head of Harrow. He was an intelligent man. He judged the hidden qualities in Churchill and granted him admission. Churchill had great regards for him.

Q.12: Who was Mr. Somervell and how did he teach English?
 Ans: Mr. Somervell was a delightful teacher of English at Harrow. He had his own method of teaching. He taught English by means: of red, blue, black and green inks.

13. The writer says that the examiners ask questions which students cannot answer & not those which they can answer. Is the complaint just?
Examinations are a test of the abilities of students. Examiners set question papers in such a way as to test the understanding of students about their respective subjects. They should keep in mind the mental level of students while setting the papers. They should not set out of course questions. The question papers should be balanced so that both the average and bright students can answer.

14. What sort of questions are asked by your examiners?
Our examiners ask different type of questions. These questions are conceptual and creative. A question paper generally comprises three sections namely A,B, and C. In these sections, objective, short and long questions are set to test the understanding of students about their syllabus. Sometimes they repeat the same questions.

15. Why did Churchill not do well in examinations?
Churchill disliked exams. He was interested in History, Poetry & Essay writing. But, his examiners did not value these subjects. They liked to ask questions from Latin, Greek & Mathematics. But, Churchill was not interested in these subjects. As a result, he could not show satisfactory performance in exams and failed.

16. How did he do his Latin paper?
Churchill had to appear for entry test for admission to Harrow school. He was not interested in Latin. He could not show satisfactory performance in this paper. He just wrote his name at the top of the paper and also wrote question number and put a bracket round it. He remained sitting for two hours and could not answer even a single question. But, the headmaster saw through his ability and gave him admission.

17. Churchill was taught English at Harrow & not Latin & Greek. Was it a gain or loss?
Churchill was considered a duffer because he was weak in Latin & Greek. It was decided to teach him only English because he was unable to learn anything valuable. He remained in this school for three years. He was taught English by an able teacher, Mr. Somervell. He learnt English very well. He had a strong grip over this language. At that time English language became popular. All the bright students had to learn English. Therefore, Mr.Churchill was not at a loss. It was a gain for him.

18. What good did his three years stay at Harrow do him?
His three years stay at Harrow was very useful for him. It was a blessing in disguise that he was taught English language. He became expert in English. He could use it correctly & comfortably. Mr.Somervell was an able teacher. His method of teaching was very effective. Churchill outclassed bright boys who were learning Latin & Greek.

19. In after years how did the knowledge of English stand him in good stead?
The knowledge of English language helped him a lot. It was useful and beneficial for him to learn English. It was a blessing in disguise that he was taught English language. He became a good writer. He became a politician and made effective speeches that convinced people. He had bright chances of success. At last, he became Prime Minister of Great Britain due to his mastery of English language.

20. Write an appreciation or criticism of Churchill’s views in regard to the study of Latin, Greek & English and their value in earning a living.
Churchill says that students should first learn English for their bright and successful career. He even suggests to punish those students who do not learn English language. He says that the knowledge of English language is a must for them. Afterwards, they can learn Latin as an honour and Greek as a treat.

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The Jewel of the World /Questions Answers

by Philip K. Hitti

1. Give an account of the early career of Abd-al-Rahman I, his dramatic escape and his adventures in Africa.
Abd-al-Rahman was a young man of twenty. He was a striking young man. He was tall, lean and had sharp aquiline features. He had red hair. He was a youth of matchless strength and ability. One day, he was chased by his enemies. He jumped into the river and swam to safety. His enemies could not catch him. He was friendless and helpless. After bearing many hardships, he reached North Africa. His maternal uncles were Berbers. They gave him refuge.

2. How did Abd-al-Rahman deal with the governor appointed by the Abbasid caliph to contest his rule?
Abd-al-Rahman proved himself a strong rival. He gave a befitting response to Abbasid caliph who was against his rule. He cut off the head of his governor. He preserved the head in salt and camphor and covered it in a black flag. He presented this head as a gift to the caliph.

3. What did the Abbasid caliph say on receiving the head of his governor?
The Abbasid caliph was quite terrified when he received the head of his governor. His fervent rejoinder was,”Thanks be to Allah for having placed the sea between us and such a foe!” This remark of the caliph showed that he was at heart very much afraid of Abd-al-Rahman.

4. What did Abd-al-Rahman do to make himself strong and to beautify his capital?
Abd-al-Rahman developed a well-disciplined, high trained army of forty thousand or more Berbers. He won their loyality by giving them generous pay. He beautified the cities of his kingdom. He built an aqueduct for the supply of pure water. He built for himself a glorious palace named al-Zahra. He introduced many exotic plants. He also set up the great Mosque of Cordova.

5. Give an account of the all-round progress made by the Arabs under Abd-al-Rahman III.
The Arabs under Abd-al-Rahman III made matchless progress in every field of life. The capital city of Cordova became the most cultured city in Europe. It had seventy libraries, many book shops, paved streets, mosques and palaces. It got international fame. Spain became wealthy and prosperous. It progressed in leather industry, wool and silk fabrics, glassware and brass work, pottery,etc. The Spanish Arabs also promoted agriculture and industry.

6. What did Al-Hakam do to promote learning and scholarship in his kingdom?
Al-Hakam was himself a scholar and patronized learning. He was lover of books. He was generous to scholars. He established twenty-seven free schools in the capital mosque. Students from Spain, Europe, Africa and Asia used to come here to seek knowledge. He also set up a big library with forty thousand books. He invited professors from the East and gave them generous salaries.

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My Financial Career	The Man Who was Hospital	On Destroying Books	End of Terms
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Hunger and Population Explosion / Questions Answers

by Anna Mekenzie

1. What does hunger mean on a large scale as viewed by the author?
Hunger does not mean missing one meal or even meals for a whole day. It means never having enough to eat.It means, when you have had something to eat at least as much again. It also means a situation in which you are always wondering where the next meal is coming from or even if there will be a next meal.

2. Describe some great famines of the past.
In the past, there were very destructive famines. There were seven years of famine in Egypt during the time of Joseph. There was one famine every five years in Europe and one major famine every ten years in England in 350 different years. China had ninety major famines in one century. There was worst famine of the century in India in 1964-65. A large number of people were killed in these famines.

3. How do famines occur?
Famines may be caused by many things. It may be that there are just too many people for the amount of food available. It may be that crops have failed due to disease. Lack of rain also leads to famines.

4. What is the main reason for population increase today?
The main reason for population increase today is due to the number of people who are born in any year being greater than the number who die. In the past only a small number of babies grew up. Nowadays, 19 out 20 babies grow up due to modern medicines. The death rate has been decreased to the minimum.

5. What is meant by birth-rate and death-rate, and how do they affect the population of a country?
Birth-rate means number of births per 1000 population and death-rate means number of deaths per 1000 population. The difference between these rates affects the population of a country. The high birth-rate and the low death-rate mean that population is increasing and low birth-rate and high death-rate mean that population is decreasing.

6. What have public-health measures to do with increase in population?
The public-health measures are largely responsible for increase in population. In the past many people were killed by various diseases like typhoid, cholera, small-pox, diphtheria, measles, etc. Child mortality rate was very high. Nowadays, science has very successfully discovered the treatment of various incurable diseases. The average life expectancy has increased. And the death-rate has been reduced.

7. Account for the high birth-rate in under-developed countries?
The birth-rate is very high in under-developed countries. Their population is mainly uneducated. They are not aware of the benefits of small families. Their population is increasing at alarming levels. As a result, they face extra burden on their small resources. Their economy is unable to meet the needs of increasing population.

8. Why is birth-rate not so high in the more advanced countries?
The birth-rate is not so high in the more advanced countries. Their population is educated. They know the benefits of small families. They act upon family planning. They use modern contraceptive methods to reduce population. The government also encourages small families through various incentives.

9. Give a brief account of the poor economic conditions prevailing in under-developed countries.
The under-developed countries suffer from poverty. Many people live below poverty line. Beggars wander everywhere. These countries lack industries and factories. They suffer from energy crisis. They have poor road and railways. Hospitals and schools are not enough. Many people are uneducated. Their economies are weak.

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First Year at Harrow	The Jewel of the World	Hunger and Population Explosion	China way to Progress
My Financial Career	The Man Who was Hospital	On Destroying Books	End of Terms
Why Boy Fail In College	Using the Scientific Method	The Dying Sun	Good Bye Mr. Chips

 

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China’s way to Progress/Questions Answers

by Galeazzo Santini

1. Why has the world changed its attitude towards China?
The world has changed its attitude towards China because it has made matchless progress in every field of life. Its advancement in science and technology is amazing and remarkable. It is now fast becoming super power of the world. It is a giant economically. The world is naturally attracted towards China.

2. Discuss Chinese agriculture system.
China is a powerfully agricultural and peasant country. The Chinese agriculture system is modernized. It is based on communes. The Chinese farmers use modern machinery and tools. These machines are cheap and durable because they are locally made. The farmers do not run away towards the cities. They are provided basic facilities in their own areas.

3. How does China rely on its own resources?
The Chinese people rely on their own resources. They use their own machines and technology. These machines are cheap and durable because they are locally made. They do not borrow money from other countries. They use their own raw material to make goods. Their products are internationally recognized and have great demand abroad. As a nation, they are very hard-working and dedicated.

4. Describe a day in the life of a Chinese student.
The writer took interview of a Chinese student and came to know about her daily routine. She is sixteen years old. She is a pupil of class 3. She gets up at 6 a.m. She does some house work. Then she takes breakfast and goes to school at 8. She finishes at 11 a.m. She comes home and takes lunch. She comes back to school at 1:30 until 3 p.m. She does home work at school. Then she relaxes and enjoys sports and games with her friends.

5. Write a note on the Chinese women.
The Chinese women are very hard-working and dedicated. They do not use cosmetics. They equally participate in the progress and development of their country. They have a lot of social benefits. They have to work 8 hours a day. They enjoy free medical care, nursery and infant schools. They are given leave of 56 paid days before child birth. They retire at the age of 50 or 55.

6. What are the social security benefits provided to the Chinese workers?
The Chinese workers enjoy a lot of social security benefits. All medical and hospital treatment is entirely free for every Chinese worker or peasant. A sick worker receives his total pay cheque for the first six months. They retire at the age of 60. Each factory has a cafeteria where the workers can eat three meals a day for 10-12 Yuan a month. Many workers are housed within the factories.

7. “It is the people and not the things that are decisive.” Discuss.
The Chinese people have proved that the people are decisive for the progress and development of their country. It is the geat men of a nation that take their nation towards peaks of glory and success. They work hard and produce wonders for their country. All the progress in the world is a proof of this that people are decisive and not the things.

8. “The heart of the matter is the need to root out selfishness.” Discuss.
Selfishness is the root cause of evils in a society. The Chinese model shows us how to finish this selfishness to bring harmony and peace in the society. The Chinese have proved Thomas Hobbes wrong that man is at war with man. The Chinese are selfless and dedicated. They believe in collective welfare. That is how we can promote equality and justice in a society.

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My Financial Career/Questions and answers

by Stephen Leacock

1. What light do the following expressions throw on Leacock’s state of mind when he entered the bank: ‘looked timidly round’, ‘shambled in’?
These expressions show that he was quite nervous and upset when he entered the bank. He was very much afraid of the bank and its clerks. He was acting like a fool. He could not show confidence. He was mentally confused. His condition was quite miserable.

2. Why did the manager come to think that Leacock had an awful secret to reveal?
Leacock was mentally confused. He was acting like a fool. His movements were quite mysterious. He wished to see the manager alone. The manager guessed that he had some great secret to reveal in private.

3. What was the attitude of the manager towards Leacock on learning that he only wished to deposit 56 dollars in the bank?
The manager was feeling quite uneasy. But, when the writer told him that he only wished to deposit only 56 dollars, his attitude was very unfriendly. He was angry and displeased. He told the writer to leave his room and go to the respective clerk.

4. What other blunders did Leacock commit after leaving the manager’s office?
Leacock committed many blunders after leaving the manager’s office. For example, he entered the safe instead of going out. The manager showed him the way. He wrote 56 dollars on the cheque instead of just 6 dollars.

5. After this misadventure in the bank where did Leacock keep his money?
He decided not to keep his money in the bank after his misadventure. He decided to keep his money in the pocket of his trousers and his savings in silver dollars in a sock.

6. Give as many examples as you can to show that Leacock was feeling completely lost in the bank all the time he was there.
Leacock was quite lost in the bank all the time. He was quite nervous and upset when he entered the bank. He was very much afraid of the bank and its clerks. He was acting like a fool. He could not show confidence. He was mentally confused. His condition was quite miserable. He entered the safe instead of going out. He wrote 56 dollars on the cheque instead of just 6 dollars.

Mustafa Kamal	Louis Pasteur	Sir Alexander Fleming	Hitch Hiking across the Sahara
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My Financial Career	The Man Who was Hospital	On Destroying Books	End of Terms
Why Boy Fail In College	Using the Scientific Method	The Dying Sun	Good Bye Mr. Chips

 

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The Man who was a Hospital / Questions Answers

by Jerome K. Jerome

1. How did Jerome K. Jerome come to suspect that his liver was out of order? What were the diseases he thought he was suffering from on reading a book on the treatment of diseases?
The writer came to suspect that his liver was out of order when he read patent liver-pill circular. He read the symptoms of this disease and felt he had them all. He then consulted a book on various diseases. He was surprised to find that he had all the diseases.

2. What was the disease he discovered he did not have?
3. Was he pleased to find he did not have it?
He came to know that he had all the diseases of the world except one disease. He did not have housemaid’s knee. He was not pleased to find this. Rather he felt hurt. He was feeling sorry that why he did not have this disease.

4. What was his first reaction?
The writer thought that he was a hospital now. He began to think that he had become quite an interesting case. He thought that he was a rare person of the world. Nobody could have as many diseases as he had.

5. Why should he be an acquisition to the medical class?
He thought that he had become quite valuable from medical point of view. He would prove an asset for medical class. He thought that medical students should not visit various hospitals for research on diseases. Instead they should visit and study him and get medical diploma.

6. Describe his visit to the medical man.
He became quite nervous and upset to find that he was suffering from all the diseases. He ran towards the doctor who was his friend. The doctor listened to his hard-luck story and wrote him a prescription.

7. He thought he was doing the doctor good turn by going to him. Why?
He thought that he had become quite valuable from medical point of view. He thought that a doctor could add to his knowledge and experience by studying him because he had more diseases than seventeen hundred patients.

8. What was the prescription given to him by the doctor?
The doctor wrote him a prescription which contained practical instructions for him. The doctor wrote that he should eat beefsteak every 6 hours, walk ten mile every morning, sleep at 11 sharp every night and not stuff his head with things he does not understand.

9. Describe his visit to the chemist.
The writer visited the chemist to get medicines. He saw the prescription and told the writer that he could not help him. He told the writer that he was not the owner of a hotel or co-operative stores.

10. What is the significance of the doctor’s advice: do not stuff your head with things you do not understand?
The doctor gave the writer a very valuable and useful advice. He told him that he should not focus on things which he could not understand. Sometimes we begin to worry about doubtful things that we could not understand. It is better to leave them. The writer followed the advice of the doctor and became healthy in a few days.

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On Destroying Books/Questions Answers

by J.C. Squire

1. What sort of books were presented by the British public to soldiers?
The British public presented various kinds of books to soldiers. Most of them were quite ordinary and suitable. They also presented magazines which were twenty years old. Some other books included guides to the Lake District and back numbers of Whitaker’s Almanac.

2. Was it interest of soldiers that prompted their action, or was it the wish to get rid of useless books?
The British public presented the books to the soldiers. It was clear that they wanted to get rid of their old books and magazines. They did not gift these books out of interest. In fact, they thought that it was a golden opportunity to discard their useless and old books.

3. Why should bad books be destroyed?
We should destroy bad books to make room for new and latest books. So that we could gain new knowledge and information. It is also not useful to keep bad books with us as decoration. We should rather discard this rubbish as soon as possible.

4. Why is it difficult to destroy books?
It is always difficult to destroy books. They may not have as many lives as a cat but they certainly die hard. It is sometimes difficult to find a scaffold for them. We cannot burn them or throw them easily.

5. Why could not the author burn the unwanted books?
The author could not burn his unwanted books because he had not kitchen range. He lived in a small rented room where this facility was not available. He could not burn them on the gas cooker because there were bundles of books.

6. How did he decide to get rid of them?
The writer thought that nobody would buy these useless books. He hit upon a plan to get rid of his unwanted books. He decided to pack them into a sack and throw them into the river. It was the only way for him to part with his useless books.

7. Describe the author’s midnight venture to throw the books in the river and the suspicions which his actions were likely to arouse.
The writer packed his books into a sack and loaded the sack on his shoulder. He came down in the street at midnight. He was full of fears and doubts when he was going to the river. He thought that some policeman might arrest him. He was terrified to see a passer-by. He wandered on the bridge here and there. He was feeling uneasy and nervous. He thought that people might suspect that his sack contained the dead body of a baby.

8. How did he muster up courage at last to fling them into the river?
For a long time, the writer remained confused and hesitant. He could not overcome his fear. He cursed himself. He called himself a coward. At last, he took heart and decided to take the final step. He lifted the sack of books and threw it down into the river.

9. Did he come to have a feeling for those books once he had got rid of them?
The writer felt sad as well as glad for the books. He was glad to part with these useless books. He was also sad to lose these books which provided him company for a long time. He called them poor innocent books. He also called them horrible bad books.

Mustafa Kamal	Louis Pasteur	Sir Alexander Fleming	Hitch Hiking across the Sahara
First Year at Harrow	The Jewel of the World	Hunger and Population Explosion	China way to Progress
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Why Boy Fail In College	Using the Scientific Method	The Dying Sun	Good Bye Mr. Chips

 

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