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“VIRTUALLY TRUE”

By:- Paul Stewart

CHAPTER-6 ENGLISH

--------------------Textual Questions------------------------
1. Why did the news of the ‘miracle recovery’ shock Michael?

Ans. The news of the ‘miracle recovery’ shocked Michael as Sebastian Shultz, the boy
who had gone into coma in real life, was the same character with whom he had been
playing in the world of his video games.

2. Michael’s meeting with Sebastian Shultz had been a chance meeting. Why had
it taken place and how?

Ans. Michael met Sebastian Shultz in the world of the video game called Wildwest.
This meeting took place when Shultz, the second sheriff, warned him not to go out to
flight with Black-Eyed Jed.

3. What kind of computers fascinated Michael and his Dad? Why?

Ans. Michael and his Dad were fascinated by more and more advanced and futuristic
computers. They bought the latest gadgets and gizmos and interactive-drive games.
They wanted to derive pleasure and thrill while playing video-games.

4. Describe the first place where Michael was virtually transported?

Ans. Michael was transported to a new world and entered a saloon, while playing
Wildwest. It was in the saloon that he met Black-Eyed Jed, the fastest gun, and the
second sheriff (Sebastian Shultz).

5. What help did Sebastian Shultz ask Michael for? How did he convey this
message?
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Ans. Sebastian Shultz asked Michael to retrieve him as he was stuck and suggested him
to try the game ‘DRAGONQUEST’. He conveyed this message through the Net.

6. Why did Michael fall in rescuing Sebastian Shultz the first time?

Ans. In the world of the game Michael met Sebastian Shultz as a knight who asked him
not to rescue the princess but him. They jumped out of the window to reach the
dungeons. However, the dragon appeared, who seemed to be interested only in
Sebastian. Michael’s sword proved ineffective and he failed to rescue Shultz.

7. The second attempt to rescue Sebastian Shultz too was disastrous. Give reasons.

Ans. In the world of Jailbreak Michael and Shultz came out of the cell. Sebastian had
arranged a helicopter for the rescue on the roof. When the guards with their dogs
advanced towards them. Sebastian moved back and slipped down the staircase and was
lost.

8. Narrate the accident that injured Sebastian Shultz.

Ans. Sebastain Shultz was badly injured in a motorway accident. He went into coma,
and the doctor said he might be in that condition for ever.

9. How did Sebastian Shultz enter the games?

Ans. While Sebastian Shultz was travelling in a car, he was using his laptop to play one
of the psycho-drive games that Michael had got. When his head struck the computer,
the computer saved his memory in its own. Thus, he entered the world of video-games.

10.How was Sebastian Shultz’s memory stored on Michael’s disk? Did Michael
discover that?

Ans. When Sebastian’s family was in the hospital, someone stole some of the games
which might have been bought by Michael and his Dad from the computer fair. Thus,
Shultz memory saved on one of the games came to be stored on Michael’s disk.
Michael discovered that after realizing the identity between Sebastian of his games and
Sebastian who miraculously came from his coma.
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--------------------Additional Questions--------------------
1. Who was Sebastian Shultz? What happened to him?

Ans. Sebastian Shultz was a 14 year-old schoolboy from South London. He was
badly injured in a motorway accident and went into coma.

2. What was he doing at the time of accident? What strange thing happened?

Ans. He was playing a psycho-drive game on his laptop. When his head struck the
laptop during the accident, it was possible that the computer recorded his memory.

3. How did Michael help Shultz come from coma?

Ans. Shultz’s memory was stuck in one of the games he was playing. Michael
happened to play the same game and succeeded in rescuing him. The moment he did
it Shultz came out from his coma. It was described as a ‘miracle recovery’.

4. What kind of person was Michael’s father?

Ans. Michael’s father had a real passion for computers and its latest accessories. He
bought a Pentium 150 Mhz processor, when 256 of Ram, 1.2 GB hard disk drive and
16 speed CD Rom. His computer could do anything-from painting, playing music,
creating displays, Rom. His computer could do anything-from painting, playing
music, creating displays, etc.

5. What kind of game was Wildwest?

Ans. In Wildwest Michael was to encounter and overcome Black-Eyed Jed, the
fastest gun in the west. When Black-Eyed Jed challenged Michael to come out, the
moment he was ready to do so, the second sheriff (Sebastian Shultz) asked him to
follow him. They rode a fast horse. But the gunshot seemed to hit the second sheriff
and he slumped back against Michael. The game was over.

6. What was the Dragonquest about?

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Ans. The aim of the Dragonquest was to kill the dragon and rescue a fair princess
Aurora. However, a knight (Sebastian Shultz) advised Michael against rescuing the
prince and asked him to rescue him instead.

7. Who was to be saved in Jailbreak?

Ans. In Jailbreak Michael was to save this cell mate, Shultz. The guards followed
them. Michael failed to save Shultz. Shultz slipped from the staircase and fell down
on the concrete below.

8. It was in Warzone that Michael hit the jackpot. How?

Ans. Michael found himself with Sebastian in a war zone where there was nothing
but machine gun fire and explosion of bombs. Sebastian had arranged a helicopter,
which he could not alight. Michael had to pull him into the helicopter. The game
was over and he had hit the jackpot with a score of 4,00,00,000.

9. What do you mean by ‘virtual reality’?

Ans. ‘Virtual reality’ refers to images created by a computer that appear to surround
the person looking at them and seem almost real.

10.Human intelligence entered into the computer memory in the story. Do you
think it is a reality or fiction?

Ans. It is, no doubt, at this stage a fiction. It is not possible for the transformation of
human memory into that of a computer. It may be a theoretical possibility at this
time.
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--------------------Reference to Context--------------------
Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. At that moment, the woman’s hand moved. I suddenly saw the photograph that
went with the story, and gasped. The boy in the picture was Sebastian. There
was no doubt. “But how? “ I muttered.
i. Which woman is referred to here?
The woman referred to here is the one holding and reading the newspaper.
ii. What was so surprising to the narrator?
The picture of Sebastian in the newspaper surprised the narrator greatly
because it resembled a character by the same name in his video games closely.
iii. In which mood was the narrator?
The narrator was surprised and puzzled.

2. ‘My hero!’ she squealed. ‘Take me away from all this’. Behind me I could hear
the dragon roaring. ‘Rescue me now, ‘the princess said urgently. ‘Never mind
her’, came a voice, and a second knight appeared from the wardrobe. ‘It’s me
who needs rescuing!’
i. In which video-game did this event occur?
The event occurred in the game named Dragonquest.
ii. Who had tormented and imprisoned the princess?
It was the wicked dragon who had tormented and imprisoned the princess.
iii. Who is the ‘second knight’ who himself wanted to be rescued?
The ‘second knight’ was none else but Sebastian Shultz in the game.

3. This time, the message in the printer said: BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.
PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP, MICHAEL. OTHERWISE L’LL HAVE TO
STAY IN H ERE FOR EVER. TRY ‘JAILBREAK’. I THINK IT MIGHT
JUST WORK!.
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i. Who sent the message?

It was Sebastian Shultz who sent the message.
ii. What do you mean by Jailbreak?

‘Jailbreak’ is the name of a psycho-drive game.

iii. Who was to be rescued?

The cell mate of Michael, prisoner Shultz, was to be rescued.

4. I’d done it! I’d rescued Sebastian at last! Before I had a chance to say anything
to him though, the helicopter flew into thick cloud. It turned everything
blinding white. I couldn’t see a thing-until ‘GAME OVER’ flashed up.
i. How did the narrator rescue Sebastian?
The narrator pulled Sebastian into the helicopter and rescued him.
ii. In which mood was the narrator?
The narrator was in a mood of pleasant surprise.
iii. Which games ended with the rescue of Sebastian?
It was the game called Warzone.

5. ‘It was while we were in the hospital, someone stole the lot. I don’t know what
happened to them’.
i. Who were in the hospital? Why?
The parents of Sebastian Shultz were in the hospital because Shultz had gone
into come due to an accident.
ii. What had been stolen?
Some games of Shultz had been stolen.
iii. What did Michael guess from the statement?
Michael guessed that he came to buy Shultz’s stolen games at the Computer
Fair.