Textual Question Answers (MCB Page -8)

(NOTE – All these questions are to be done in classwork copy with proper index
entry. All questions must be copied before writing answers.)

Exercise - C.
Q1. Why did Damu leap up?
Ans -1. Damu was daydreaming that he was singing at a concert while students
from his school were looking up at him in adoration and tears of joy and remorse
were flowing down his father’s and uncle’s cheeks. He was caught up in his own
world when the words uttered by his sister, Smriti, startled him and he leapt up in
surprise from his bed.

Q2. Why had Damu’s excitement at meeting his sister ‘quickly soured’?
Ans - 2. According to Damu, Smriti had changed after getting married and staying
with her in-laws for just a year. Unlike earlier times, when, according to Damu,
Smriti had been untidier than him, she now wanted everything to be neat and tidy.
Even her laughter seemed to have changed and Damu’s excitement at meeting his
sister, whom he had been eagerly waiting to meet, had ‘quickly soured’.

Q3. How did Damu and Naushad feel about water?

Ans -3. Naushad said that he saw many different things when he looked at water,
depending on the position of the sun. When it was noon and the water glittered in
the sunlight, the water seemed like gold. And when the sun was about to set, the
water seemed warm and heavy like honey as it had absorbed the sun’s heat.
Hearing this, Damu said that when he looked at water, he felt that water was a
living thing because when the water was clear at dawn, he could see fish, and dirt
and leaves, and movement. Naushad told Damu that there was a whole universe
down there and that water-bodies occupied more space on Earth than land. He
kindled Damu’s imagination when he said that there were probably continents of
fish, fish rulers, and perhaps even different communities of fish. Damu even
cracked a joke by saying that a fish in a different water-body would be called a
‘foreigner’.

Q4. How do you know that Damu’s uncle, father and mother were proud of
his good haul?
Ans - 4. Arvindan was proud that Damu had become responsible and the decision
of the family council had yielded results. Devaki was proud that Damu had been
able to show Sudhakaran that he would be a good fisherman and Sudhakaran
would not scold Damu as much as he used to. Sudhakaran felt proud that his son
had a vivid imagination and was like him. He was also happy that Damu would be
a good fisherman.

Q5. Did Sudhakaran understand Damu better at the end of the story? How do
we know that?
Ans - 5. Yes, Sudhakaran understood Damu better at the end of the story. He
realised that Damu was actually just like him. Damu had a vivid imagination, just
like his father and enjoyed doing things which he did not perceive as ‘work’.

Exercise -D. Do you think Naushad understood Damu and knew how to get
across to him? Give reasons for your answer. (80-100 words)
Ans – Naushad was an octogenarian fisherman. His wisdom, gathered from his
experience and age helped him to understand and connect with Damu easily. He
knew that he needed to be at the same level as Damu to be able to make Damu talk
to him and draw him out. Unlike Damu’s father and uncle who always scolded or
advised him, Naushadappan did not try to advise Damu but talked to him about
something that would be of interest to him.

While rowing the boat together in the unearthly hours to catch fish, they discussed
about the water. Naushad fanned Damu’s imagination and Damu easily opened up
and started talking freely with him. During their talk, Damu’s eyes were both alert
and dreamy. The words of the old man drew pictures in the eyes of Damu & the
result was the two of them caught plenty of fish.

EXTRA TEXTUAL QUESTION-

Q.1 Complete the given table after reading the text again -
What was Damu’s Dream? Where was Damu while Why his dream ended?
daydreaming?
(1.) To become a famous Standing on his bed holding a His sister, Smriti scolded him
singer knotted rope imagining it was for not tidying the house as
a mike & the dotted floor tiles told by Amma.
were his audience

(2.) On the seashore walking

towards their boat at the
unearthly hour

(3.) Participating in a snake Naushad asked him a

boat race question.
Q.2 Complete the columns by putting the correct character traits & qualities
under the correct heading. Some of these traits & qualities can be repeated
and used for more than one person.
(Look up a dictionary for meanings before completing the table)

Worried Seeks appreciation

wise Helps Damu realize his true passion
Authoritative Recollects his own childhood
Like a coconut indecisive 
Just like Damu once critical
His priorities changed as he grew up Becomes interested in fishing
Understanding by nature Becomes understanding at the end
full of experience octogenarian
day dreamer imaginative
Nurturer Sees the world through Damu’s eyes
Critical carefree
Proud of Damu’s natural talent cheerful & friendly disposition

DAMU SUDHAKARAN (Father) NAUSHADAPPAN

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