BEFORE YOU READ (Page 57)
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1. Do you like to look at yourself in the mirror? What do you think about at such times? Have you ever seen a dog, a cat or a bird look into a mirror? What do you think it sees?[cite: 1]
Yes, I like to look at myself in the mirror. I usually think about my appearance and how I look. I have seen a cat look into a mirror. It usually gets confused, thinks there is another cat, and tries to touch or investigate the reflection.
Thinking about the Text (Page 60)
I. Discuss in pairs and answer each question below in a short paragraph (30-40 words).
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1. "The sound was a familiar one." What sound did the doctor hear? What did he think it was? How many times did he hear it? (Find the places in the text.) When and why did the sounds stop?[cite: 1]
The doctor heard a noise from above when he opened the door and while looking in the mirror[cite: 1]. He thought it was the familiar sound of rats that shared the room with him[cite: 1]. He heard the sound three times[cite: 1]. The sounds stopped after a dull thud, which was the snake falling to the ground, likely because the rats were frightened by the predator's presence[cite: 1].
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2. What two "important" and "earth-shaking" decisions did the doctor take while he was looking into the mirror?[cite: 1]
The doctor made the important decision to shave daily and grow a thin moustache to look more handsome[cite: 1]. His "earth-shaking" decision was to always keep that attractive smile on his face to enhance his looks[cite: 1].
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3. "I looked into the mirror and smiled," says the doctor. A little later he says, "I forgot my danger and smiled feebly at myself." What is the doctor's opinion about himself when: (i) he first smiles, and (ii) he smiles again? In what way do his thoughts change in between, and why?[cite: 1]
(i) When he first smiles, he is proud of his appearance, feeling handsome and confident as an unmarried doctor[cite: 1]. (ii) When he smiles feebly, he views himself as a poor, foolish, and stupid doctor[cite: 1]. His thoughts change from extreme pride to helplessness because a deadly cobra has coiled around his arm, making him realize he doesn't even have medicines for a snakebite[cite: 1].
II. This story about a frightening incident is narrated in a humorous way. What makes it humorous? (Think of the contrasts it presents between dreams and reality. Some of them are listed below.)
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1. (i) The kind of person the doctor is (money, possessions) (ii) The kind of person he wants to be (appearance, ambition)[cite: 1]
(i) The doctor is poor with meagre earnings, has only sixty rupees, a few clothes, and lives in a small rented room with rats[cite: 1]. (ii) In contrast, he is highly ambitious about his appearance, wanting to look very handsome, grow a moustache, keep a constant smile, and present himself importantly[cite: 1].
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2. (i) The person he wants to marry (ii) The person he actually marries[cite: 1]
(i) He wants to marry a fat woman doctor with plenty of money and a good practice, so she wouldn't be able to catch him if he made a mistake and ran[cite: 1]. (ii) He actually marries a thin, reedy person who has the gift of a sprinter[cite: 1].
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3. (i) His thoughts when he looks into the mirror (ii) His thoughts when the snake is coiled around his arm[cite: 1]
(i) When looking into the mirror, his thoughts are full of vanity and pride about his bachelorhood, his medical profession, and enhancing his beauty[cite: 1]. (ii) When the snake coils around his arm, all his vanity vanishes; he turns to stone, thinks of God, and realizes he is just a poor, foolish, and stupid doctor[cite: 1].
Thinking about Language (Page 61)
I. Here are some sentences from the text. Say which of them tell you, that the author: (a) was afraid of the snake, (b) was proud of his appearance, (c) had a sense of humour, (d) was no longer afraid of the snake.
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1. I was turned to stone.[cite: 1]
(a) was afraid of the snake
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2. I was no mere image cut in granite.[cite: 1]
(d) was no longer afraid of the snake
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3. The arm was beginning to be drained of strength.[cite: 1]
(a) was afraid of the snake
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4. I tried in my imagination to write in bright letters outside my little heart the words, 'O God'.[cite: 1]
(a) was afraid of the snake
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5. I didn't tremble. I didn't cry out.[cite: 1]
(a) was afraid of the snake
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6. I looked into the mirror and smiled. It was an attractive smile.[cite: 1]
(b) was proud of his appearance
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7. I was suddenly a man of flesh and blood.[cite: 1]
(d) was no longer afraid of the snake
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8. I was after all a bachelor, and a doctor too on top of it![cite: 1]
(b) was proud of his appearance
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9. The fellow had such a sense of cleanliness...! The rascal could have taken it and used it after washing it with soap and water.[cite: 1]
(c) had a sense of humour
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10. Was it trying to make an important decision about growing a moustache or using eye shadow and mascara or wearing a vermilion spot on its forehead.[cite: 1]
(c) had a sense of humour
II. Expressions used to show fear
Can you find the expressions in the story that tell you that the author was frightened? Read the story and complete the following sentences.
- 1. I was turned to stone.[cite: 1]
- 2. I sat there holding my breath.[cite: 1]
- 3. In the light of the lamp I sat there like a stone image in the flesh.[cite: 1]
III. Match the meanings with the words/expressions in italics, and write the appropriate meaning next to the sentence.
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1. I knew a man was following me, I was scared out of my wits.[cite: 1]
very frightened
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2. I got a fright when I realised how close I was to the cliff edge.[cite: 1]
is frightened by something that happens suddenly
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3. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw the bull coming towards him.[cite: 1]
is very frightened / is frightened by something that happens suddenly
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4. You really gave me a fright when you crept up behind me like that.[cite: 1]
makes another feel frightened
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5. Wait until I tell his story — it will make your hair stand on end.[cite: 1]
makes another feel frightened
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6. Paralysed with fear, the boy faced his abductors.[cite: 1]
is too scared to move
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7. The boy hid behind the door, not moving a muscle.[cite: 1]
is too scared to move
Reported questions (Page 62)
IV. Report these questions using if/whether or why/when/where/how/which/what. Remember the italicised verbs change into the past tense.
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1. Meena asked her friend, "Do you think your teacher will come today?"[cite: 1]
Meena asked her friend if she thought her teacher would come that day.
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2. David asked his colleague, "Where will you go this summer?"[cite: 1]
David asked his colleague where he would go that summer.
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3. He asked the little boy, "Why are you studying English?"[cite: 1]
He asked the little boy why he was studying English.
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4. She asked me, "When are we going to leave?"[cite: 1]
She asked me when we were going to leave.
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5. Pran asked me, "Have you finished reading the newspaper?"[cite: 1]
Pran asked me if I had finished reading the newspaper.
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