Seventeen Oranges Intext Questions

Question 1.
Where did the narrator work?
Answer:
The narrator worked in Swift Delivery Company.

Question 2.
What was the narrator’s job in the docks?
Answer:
The narrator’s job was to drive a little pony-and-cart in and out of the
docks.

Question 3.
What was Clem Jones carrying in the box?
Answer:
Clem Jones was carrying a ship’s cat in the box.

Question 4.
What happened when the box was opened?
Answer:
When the box was opened, a ship’s cat jumped out and ran into the docks.

Question 5.
Did the narrator believe Clem’s story?
Answer:
No, the narrator did not believe Clem’s story because he knew that Clem
was planning for a theft.

Question 6.
What was the narrator carrying in his pockets?
Answer:
The narrator was carrying seventeen oranges in his pockets.

Question 7.
Who is Pongo?
Answer:
Pongo is a policeman.
Question 8.
Why did Pongo want to bring another policeman?
Answer:
Pongo wanted to bring another policeman to be a witness against the
narrator in the court because the narrator was not answering to his
questions regarding the oranges found in his pocket.

Question 9.
What did the voice in the narrator’s head tell him to do?
Answer:
The voice in the narrator’s head asked him to eat all the oranges so that
there will be no evidence of his theft.

Question 10.
Why did the policemen arrive a little late to the cabin?
Answer:
The policemen arrived a little late to the cabin because they were talking to
some cart drivers near the dock gate.

Question 11.
What did the narrator do with the pips and peels?
Answer:
The narrator swallowed the pips and peels too.

B. Answer the following questions briefly in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
Why did the narrator call Clem Jones a careful planner?
Answer:
Clem Jones planned a theft carefully and executed it well.

Question 2.
What was Clem Jones carrying in the box during his second attempt?
Answer:
Clem Jones was carrying a large Dutch cheese in the box during his second
attempt.
Question 3.
Why did the policeman suspect the narrator?
Answer:
The police man caught the narrator red-handed because the string of the
narrator’s apron broke and the cop noticed that the narrator’s pockets were
bulging.

Question 4.
What did Pongo consider as evidence against the narrator?
Answer:
The policeman considered the seventeen oranges as evidence against the
narrator.

Question 5.
How did the narrator feel when he was alone in Pongo’s cabin?
Answer:
When the narrator was locked in the cabin, he lost hope in life and felt
afraid that he would lose his job.

Question 6.
What did the narrator do to get rid of the evidence?
Answer:
The narrator ate all the oranges to get rid of the evidence.

Question 7.
What did Pongo do when he found no oranges on the table?
Answer:
Pongo looked everywhere for the oranges. He looked in the narrator’s
pockets and in his apron. He became angry and shouted at the narrator.

Question 8.
Why were the policemen not able to bring any charges against the
narrator?
Answer:
As there was no evidence left against the narrator, the policemen were not
able to bring any charges against the narrator.
Question 9.
How did the narrator feel after eating seventeen oranges?
Answer:
The narrator felt sick for a week and the oranges kept working away in his
stomach.

Question 10.
What happened to the narrator’s love for oranges after the incident?
Answer:
He was never crazy for oranges after that incident.

Additional Questions
Question 1.
Why did the narrator make his own big apron?
Answer:
The narrator made a big apron so that he could hide from the policeman
the things which he used to take from the docks.

Question 2.
Does the narrator steal?
Answer:
No the narrator does not steal; he only picks up some fallen items or his
friends would throw him a bunch of fruits.

Question 3.
According to the narrator why was Clem holding the lid down tightly?
Answer:
According to the narrator, Clem was holding the lid down tightly because
he was hiding a large Dutch cheese inside it.

Question 4.
Why was Pongo able to easily notice the bulging pockets of the narrator?
Answer:
Pongo was able to easily notice the narrator’s bulging pockets because the
strings of his apron broke. .

Question 5.
Why did the narrator not answer to Pongo’s questions?
Answer:
The narrator had read many detective stories from which he had leamt that
if he had said anything, it would be used against him. So he did not answer
to any questions asked by Pongo.

C. Answer the following in about 80-100 words.

Question 1.
Narrate the clever strategy followed by Clem Jones to deceive Pongo.
Answer:
Clem Jones was one of the narrator’s friends who worked with him at the
dock. Clem was amazingly smart about stealing things from the docks and
boats that he easily fooled the policemen with his great cunningness. Once,
he carried a box and came out of the docks. The cop Pongo stopped him
and investigated about the box. Clem told that it had a cat. The cop insisted
on opening it.

When Clem did so, a ship’s cat jumped off and escaped into the docks.
When Clem Jones returned with the box of cheese, he looked angrily at the
policeman Pongo to make the policeman feel guilty of his previous act of
opening the box, in which the cat was kept inside. By making Pongo feel
guilty, Clem was able to avoid any more security check and thus was able to
steal a large Dutch Cheese.

Question 2.
Describe the confrontation between the narrator and Pongo.
Answer:
The narrator used to work at a shipyard, carrying fruits and other goods to
the docks in his pony cart. The narrator loved oranges so much that he
could eat a number of oranges without a break for hours. The narrator was
once caught with his seventeen oranges because his apron string broke and
a policeman Pongo noticed that the narrator’s pockets were somewhat
bulged.

So, the policeman looked into the narrator’s pockets and found there were
seventeen oranges. Pongo wanted to set an example for the rest of the
employees at the dock of the necessity of being honest and of the dire
consequences of stealing anything from the dock. When the narrator was
locked in the cabin, he lost hope in life, felt afraid that he would lose his
job. The narrator ate all the oranges to get rid of the evidence. Pongo
looked everywhere for the oranges. He looked in the narrator’s pockets and
in his apron.

As there was no evidence left against the narrator, the policemen were not
able to bring any charges against the narrator. He felt sick for a week and
those oranges kept working away in his stomach.

The Spider and the Fly Textual Questions

A. Read the following lines from the poem and answer the questions in a
sentence or two.
1. “The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve many curious things to show when you are there ”

Question (a).
How to reach the spider’s parlour.
Answer:
The spider’s parlour can be reached through a winding stair.

Question (b).
What will the fly get to see in the parlour?
Answer:
The fly will get to see many curious things in the parlour.

2. “Oh no, no, ” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see! ”

Question (a).
Is the fly willing to enter the spider’s pantry?
Answer:
No. The fly is not willing to enter the spider’s pantry.

Question (b).
Can you guess what was in the pantry?
Answer:
Only remains of dead flies may be found in the pantry.
3. “Sweet creature! ” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!”

Question (a).
List the words used by the spider to describe the fly.
Answer:
Sweet, witty, wise, handsome, gauzy, brilliant.

Question (b).
Why does the spider say that the fly is witty?
Answer:
The spider calls the fly witty because the fly is clever to avoid entering the
web.

4. The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:

Question (a).
Why is the poet using the word ‘den’ to describe the spider’s web?
Answer:
The spider is like a lion in its web. So the poet uses the word.

Question (b).
Why was the spider sure that the fly would come back again?
Answer:
The spider has flattered the fly of its beauty, so he was sure it would come
back again.

With buzzy wings, she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue-

Question (a).
Who does’she’refer to? ON)
Answer:
She refers to the fly.

Question (b).
What was’she’thinking of? 0
Answer:
She was thinking of her beautiful eyes and the colours of her wings.

6. And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you never give heed:

Question (a).
Who does ‘I’ refer to?
Answer:
I refer to the poet.

Question (b).
What is the advice given to the readers?
Answer:
The poet advises us not to fall a prey to flattery and sweet words.

Additional Questions
1. “I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the spider to the fly.

Question (a).
Why is the fly weary?
Answer:
The fly is weary because of the fact that it flies high up in the sky.

Question (b).
What does the spider ask the fly?
Answer:
The spider asks the fly if it will rest on his bed.

2. So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.

Question (a).
What is meant by subtle?
Answer:
Subtle means delicate or faint or mysterious.
Question (b).
Pick out the rhyming words.
Answer:
The rhyming words are ‘sly’ and ‘fly’.

3. “There are pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in.”

Question (а).
What do you understand by the term, ‘snugly’?
Answer:
‘Snugly’ means to be secured or have a feel of comfort.

Question (b)
Mention the figure of speech in the above lines.
Answer:
Assonance is the figure of speech employed.

For example:
The sound of ‘aw’ in drawn and around.
The vowel sound in snugly and tuck.

4. I have within my pantry good store of all that’s nice;

I’m sure you’re very welcome; will you please to take a slice?”

Question (a).
What is a pantry?
Answer:
A pantry is a storeroom for foods or wines.

Question (b).
Give the rhyming word for nice.
Answer:
The rhyming word for nice is ‘slice’.

5. Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,

Hearing his wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
Question (a).
Why is the little fly silly?
Answer:
The little fly is silly because it came back enticed by the spider’s flattering
words.

Question (b).
What is ‘wily’?
Answer:
‘Wily’ is cunning.

B. Complete the summary by filling in the spaces with suitable words.

The poem begins with the spider’s (1) …………………. of the fly. He (2)
…………….. to the fly to come into its home. The spider describes his parlor as
the (3) …………………. one. The spider kindles the curiosity of the fly so that
she may enter his home. Fortunately, the fly was (4) ………………… and
refused to get into his home. Now the spider pretends to be a (5)
…………………. and asks her to come and rest in his home. He offers her (6)
……………………. and a (7) ………………….. to rest. This time also the fly (8)
………………… the spider’s offer very politely. The next weapon that the spider
uses is (9) …………………. The spider praises the (10) ……………….. and (11)
…………………. of the fly and also praises her (12) …………………….. He invites her
to look at herself in the (13) ………………………. which is in his parlour. The fly
is (14) …………….. by the words of the spider and she falls a (15)
…………………… to her (16) ………………… .
Answers

1. welcoming
2. reaches out
3. prettiest
4. wise/intelligent
5. friend
6. sheets
7. bed
8. declines
9. flattery
10. wings
11. eyes
 12. crest
13. looking-glass
14. flattered
15. prey
16. enticement/invitation

C. Answer the following questions in about 80-100 words.

Question 1.
Write a character sketch of the spider.
Answer:
This poem takes us through a spider’s ultimately successful attempts in
enticing a fly into its web. The spider is cunning in capturing its victim. It
ensnares the fly through the use of seduction and flattery. In stanza one, it
does its best to trap the fly into its parlour with the promises of pretty
things to see. Next, it tries a different tactics, offering the fly a pretty and a
comfortable place to sleep, and lovely food. Finally, it tries to flatter the fly
by praising its beauty and traps the fly into his den.

Question 2.
What happens if we fall a prey to flattery? Give instances from the poem
‘The Spider and the Fly’.
Answer:
If we fall a prey to flattery, we have to face evil consequences, just like the
fly who falls a prey to the spider’s flattery and seduction. The spider uses
different tactics to entice the fly into its web. It invites the fly into its parlour
with the promises of pretty things to see. When the fly refuses, it entices
him by offering a pretty, comfortable bed and lovely food. When the fly
refuses again, finally it flatters the fly for its beautiful appearance. The fly
gets flattered and gets trapped into its den. This poem teaches us that we
should be cautious against those who use flattery and charm to disguise
their true evil intentions.

Question 3.
In your own words, give a detailed description of:
(a) The Spider’s Parlour.
Answer:
The Spider’s Parlour had winding stairs. It is the prettiest parlour that had
ever been seen by the fly. It has been filled with many pretty things, which
would arouse the curiosity of the fly. There are also pretty curtains, whose
sheets are fine and thin. It had a pretty and a comfortable bed.

(b) The Fly’s Appearance

Answer:
The fly had gauzy wings and brilliant eyes. But the spider flattered it saying
that it had pearl and silver wings, green and purple body and its antenna is
like a crown on him.

Additional Questions:

1. What are the four ways by which the spider lures the fly?
There are four ways by which the spider lures the fly:
(i) The spider invites the fly to his home.
(ii) The spider pretends to be concerned over the weary fly and offers his
bed.
(iii) He tries to influence the fly to come and have a look into his pantry.
(iv) He compliments the fly’s intelligence, gauzy wings and bright eyes.
At last, the spider is successful in luring the fly.

The Spider and the Fly Summary:

‘The Spider and the Fly’ teaches the reader not to be misled by flattery and
be trapped. Here a spider lures a fly to enter its web, upon which he can
feast upon her. He invites the little fly to enter its pretty parlour using the
winding stairs, since there are so many curious things to see there. The fly
refuses by saying that whoever enters the parlour can never be freed.

The spider further persuades the fly saying that she must be tired by flying
so high and that she can come and take rest in his bed. For this, the fly
replies that she has heard that whoever sleeps in his bed never wakes up
again. The spider then tries to tempt the fly asking her to come and see his
pantry where all nice things are available for her to taste and see.

The fly answers the spider saying 1 have already heard what is available in
your pantry and I am not willing to see them. When all the attempts failed,
the spider praises the fly saying that she is very witty and wise, with her
gauzy wings and brilliant eyes. He asks her to come and have a look in the
mirror that he has in his parlour. For this the fly thanks him and says she will
come some other day. The spider knowing that the fly has been flattered,
and will surely come to his web, makes ready his table to dine upon the fly.
Then the spider comes out and starts to sing merrily describing the
beautiful features of the fly once again comparing it with his. After hearing
these words, the fly cannot resist herself from thinking about her beauty
and falls into the spider’s web. The spider quickly grabs her and traps her in
his den from where she never comes out. The poet now asks the little
children not to fall a prey to such silly, flattering words and also, never
listen to an evil counselor.
The Cat and the Pain-killer by Samuel Langhome Clemens About The
Author:
Samuel Langhome Clemens (1835-1910), better known by his pen name
Mark Twain, was an American writer, humourist, entrepreneur, publisher
and lecturer. Twain grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, the influence of which
can be seen in his novels. His wit and satire, in prose and in speech, earned
praise from critics and peers, and he was a friend to presidents, artists,
industrialists, and European royalty. His first success as a writer came when
his humourous tall tale The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
was published on November 18, 1865, in the New York weekly The
Saturday Press, bringing him national attention. His famous works were The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The Cat and the Pain-killer Summary:

“The Cat and the Pain-killer” is one of the episodes from the novel “The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer”. Tom Sawyer is a mischievous young boy
growing up along the Mississippi river with his aunt Polly and brother Sid.
He is up to all sorts of mischief, but somehow manages to escape from the
punishments. Though he finds the school life miserable, the arrival of Becky
Thatcher makes him happy. That happiness does not last long as Becky falls
ill and stops coming to school.

At home, his Aunt notices that Tom is disturbed and uninterested in doing
anything. So Aunt Polly, who is infatuated with patent medicines, tries them
on Tom. She tries all kinds of treatments on Tom to make him cheerful
again, but to no avail. Tom being fed up with Aunt Polly’s treatment says
that he wants pain-killers. Aunt Polly notices that the medicines are
diminishing, though she is not aware that Tom is using them to mend the
crack in the sitting room floor.

One day while Tom is mending the crack with the pain-killer, the cat Peter
arrives and almost begs to taste the medicine. Tom feeling pity towards the
cat gives him a spoonful to taste, on which Peter springs up in the air and
keeps jumping and dancing, disturbing the furniture and flower pots. Aunt
Polly hearing weird noises enters just in time to see the cat perform
summersets and carry some flower pots out the window. The old lady is
petrified seeing all the mess and Tom’s uncontrollable laughter. Aunt Polly
questions Tom regarding the cat’s behaviour. Tom replies that the cats act
like this when they’re having a good time.

Aunt Polly finds the teaspoon and understands that Tom has fed the cat
with the medicine. She scolds him for being so cruel to the cat, for which he
answers that the cat doesn’t have an aunt like her to take care of it and that
he has given the cat the medicine out of pity. Aunt Polly suddenly realizes
that if the cat would feel so miserable after taking a small sip of the
medicine, how the boy must be feeling. Then she puts her hand on Tom’s
head saying that she was only trying to do the best for him. Tom replies
that he too was only trying to do the best for the cat. Aunt Polly finally says
that she wouldn’t try any more medicines on him.