Class - VI

Chapter 3: The Four Feathers

A. Answer these questions with reference to the context:

1. We can’t have lost babies in the school.
a) Who said these words and to whom?
Ans. Mr Fisher said these words to Mrs Fisher.
b) Who is the ‘lost baby’ is the above line?
Ans. The ‘lost baby’ in the above line is the baby of the wild-eyed woman.
c) What happened to the lost baby?
Ans. The lost baby was left by its mother under a plum tree when the latter climbed up to
collect plums. It was from there that the Four Feathers picked it and brought it to their
dormitory.
2. Quiet Adams.
a) Who said these words and to whom?
Ans. Mr Fisher said these words to villagers.
b) Why is the narrator denoting the listener as ‘Adams’?
Ans. The narrator is denoting the listeners as ‘Adams’ because he did not know the villagers
personally.
c) Are these words said in an angry tone?
Ans. No, these words are said in a friendly manner.
3. By then I was glad to be rid of it!
a) Who said these words?
Ans. Bond said these words.
b) Why was the speaker glad?
Ans. The speaker was glad because the baby had created much nuisance by crying aloud, by
goo-ing on shirt, and by inviting the anger of villagers and the baby’s mother.
c) Why do you think the word ‘it’ is used?
Ans. The word ‘it’ is used because the narrator is not sure about the gender of the baby.
C. Answer the Questions:
1. What was the significance of the word ‘feathers’?
Ans. The word ‘feathers’ signified that Bimal, Riaz, Bran and Bond were companions in
adventure, comrades-in-arms and Knights of the Round Table.
2. Give a brief description of the pillow fights.
Ans. The school dormitory was structured in a way that was ideal for pillow fights, i.e. there
was plenty of space for leaping, struggling small boys, pillows flying, feathers flying, until
either Mr Fisher or Mr Oliver, came to put an end to them. They were allowed, up to a
point, nobody got hurt.
3. What was the reaction of each member of Four Feathers on seeing the baby? Who do
you think gave the most suitable advice?
Ans. The following were the reactions of each member of Four Feathers on seeing the baby:
 ‘Who would leave baby on the hillside?’ asked Bimal of one in particular.
 ‘Someone who doesn’t want it’ said Bran.
 ‘And hope some good people would come along and keep it’ said Riaz.
 ‘A panther might have along instead’ I said. ‘Can’t leave it here.’
The advice given by Bond that the baby can’t be left unattended for grown-ups to come and
take care of, was the most suitable.
4. What impression did the villagers have of the boys’ actions? Explain your answer.
Ans. The villagers thought that the boys had kidnapped the boy.
D. Think and Answer:
1. Mrs Fisher’s reaction to the baby was that of consternation; why do you think so?
Ans. Mrs Fisher’s reaction to the baby was that of consternation as Bond asked her if she
would want to drop it.
2. What do you know about the narrator’s hobby? Was it his choice or had he acquire it?
Ans. The narrator’s hobby was to invent stories. It was his choice.
3. Do you think the boy scouts were compassionate? Why?
Ans. Yes, I think the boy scouts were compassionate because they didn’t leave the baby
unattended, instead they brought it to their dormitory.
4. The situation was handled very well by the headmaster. Elaborate.
Ans. The situation was handled very well by headmaster:
 When he pacified the angry villagers by telling them that the boys were not
kidnappers but scouts whose business is to help people.
 When he turned the tables on the villagers by telling them the plum trees belonged
to the school.
5. What Boy Scout rule did the narrator quote at the end of the story? What was its
implications?
Ans. The boys scout rule quoted by the narrator at the end of the story was: A Scout Smiles
and Whistles under all difficulties. Its implications was that smiling Bond and his friend,
solved the situation they faced with the angry villagers.