Answer any four of the following questions in 30 – 40 words each:

(a) Why were some elderly persons occupying the back benches that day ? (The Last Lesson)

(b) Why did Jansie discourage Sophie from having dreams ?

(c) Having looked at her mother, why does Kamala Das look at the young children ?

(d) How would keep quiet affect life in and around the sea ?

(e) Why did the Maharaja decide to get married ?

(f) What is mother Skunk’s role in the story?

(a) Some elderly persons were occupying the last benches as it was the last day of French class in their country. An order which states that German should be taught instead of French in schools has been issued by the government. Now the elderly persons are repenting for not attending the class earlier. Also, this is a mark of respect to bid farewell to Mr.Hamel who taught French for forty years. This gesture of the elderly persons is due to the love for their mother tongue.

(b) Jansie was a practical girl while Sophie’s dreams were unrealistic and unattainable. She knew that they were earmarked for the biscuit factory and Sophie’s dream of setting up a boutique is not easy to happen. So she discouraged Sophie from having unrealistic dreams

(c) Kamala Das want to drive away the pain and anguish associated with the thought of her mother’s death. As her mother was ageing the fear of separation from mother is engulfing her. The child are a symbol of the dynamic life and happiness. She looks at the young children after looking at her mother to distract this disturbing thought

(d) Keeping quiet will affect the live in and around the sea in different ways. The fisherman will not kill the whales and other sea life for some time. This will help in maintaining the ecological balance. Also, the person gathering salt will get some time to heal his hurt hands. In total, keeping quiet will provide everyone some time for self-introspection

(e) The Maharaja decided to get married in order to achieve his target of killing hundred tigers. There was no tiger left in his kingdom, Pratibandapuram as he had killed all the seventy tigers in the forest. So he wants to marry a princess from a kingdom which has huge tiger population.

(f) Mother Skunks role in the story is to make Roger Skunk realise the importance of his individuality and self-identity. He should not be ashamed of his individual abilities. She plays the role of a decisive and protective parent in the story.