I.

Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
There's a whisper down the line at 11.39When the Night Mail's ready to depart,

Saying "Skimble where is Skimble has he goneto hunt thethimble?We must find him
or the train can't start
(i)What's the whisper down the line who allare whispering?
Ans:

In the poem "Whisper down the line"refers to a message being passed along to
thetrain sta
"
at 11:39 pm when the Night Mail isready to depart. The message is
aboutSkimbleshanks, the railway cat, and askswhere he is because the train
can't startwithout him. The guards, porters, and eventhe stationmaster's daughters
are allsearching for Skimbleshanks.
(ii)Who is the Skimble? what work does hedo?
Ans:

Skimble is a "The Railway cat" in thepoem

Skimbleshanks. He is a cat who workson the Night Mail train and is responsible
forsupervising the train's crew, including thedriver, guards, and
bagmen. Skimbleshanks isdescribed as being in charge of the SleepingCar Express,
and he is highly respected by hiscolleagues for his dedication and diligence. Heis
also known for his ability to solve problemsand keep the train running smoothly.
(iii)What does "hunt the thimble" mean?What was Skimble doing at this time?
Ans:

"Hunt the thimble" is likely a playfulphrase used to describe Skimble'swhereabouts. It

refers to the doubt many havearound the sense of responsibility that
Skimbledisplays. On finding him missing at theplatform they assume he's doing
some o
"
-work hobbies that is hunting the thimble.

Thestruggle of this Skimbleshanks is that he ismistrusted by the indeterminate

andsuspicious voice of the wider society.
(iv)Why can't the train start withoutSkimbleshanks? How did the tray finallystart?
Ans: The train cannot start withoutSkimbleshanks because he is the one who is
incharge of the Sleeping Car Express. Hesupervises everyone from the driver
andguards to the bagmen playing cards. WhenSkimbleshanks disappears, there is
panicbecause the train cannot start without him.

He has been busy in the luggage van. He givesone flash of his glass-green eyes,
and thesignal goes "All Clear." And finally, the trainstarts its journey to the northern part of
theNorthern Hemisphere.
(v)Did it depend on time? How did the sceneat the train change after Skimble appeared?
Ans:
Yes, the train departed on time afterSkimbleshanks appeared. The scene at thetrain
changed from one of frantic searchingand worry to one of relief and calmness.
Theguards and porters stopped searching forSkimble and the passengers were
no longerfrantic. Skimbleshanks' appearance andassurance that everything was
under controlgave everyone the confidence that the trainwould depart on time and
without any issues.
II. Read the extract givenbelow and answer thequestions that follow:
All the guards and all the porters and thestationmaster's daughtersThey are
searching high and low, Saying"Skimble where is Skimble for unless he's
verynimbleThen the Night Mail just can't go
(i) Identify and name two figures of speechused in this extract?
Ans: One figure of speech used in this extractis hyperbole, which is an exaggeration
used toemphasize a point. The line "They aresearching high and low" exaggerates
theintensity of the search for Skimble. Anotherfigure of speech used is alliteration,
which isthe repetition of the same sound at thebeginning of neighbouring words. The
line"Saying 'Skimble where is Skimble for unlesshe's very nimble" uses alliteration
with therepeated "s" and "n" sounds.
(ii) Why is it important for Skimbleshanks tobe on the train?
Ans: Skimbleshanks is important for thesmooth operation of the train because
hesupervises and keeps control over the variousworkers on the train, including the
driver,guards, and bagmen. He patrols the train,ensuring that everything is in order, and
hecan quickly respond to any issues that mayarise. Additionally, he helps ensure that
thepassengers are comfortable and well takencare of. Without Skimbleshanks, it is
suggestedthat the train would not be able to run ase
#
ciently, and problems could potentiallyoccur.
(ii) Why would Skimble need to be verynimble?
Ans:

In the poem, Skimble is described as a catwho is responsible for supervising the

trainand ensuring that everything runs smoothly.As such, it is important for Skimble
to be verynimble so that he can move quickly ande
#
ciently throughout the train to perform hisduties, whether it is checking the luggage
van,patrolling the corridors, or helpingpassengers.

(iv) Who are 'They' in the second line? Whyare they frantic? Did they calm down? How?
Ans:'They' in the second line refers to thepassengers waiting to board the Night
Mailtrain. They are frantic because the train cannotstart without Skimbleshanks, and
they fear thedelay may cause them to miss importantappointments or connections.
However, onceSkimbleshanks appears and the train departs,the passengers become
calmer and morerelaxed, enjoying the comfort of their berthsand the smooth journey
provided bySkimbleshanks' watchful presence.
(v) Imagine you are onboard this train,describe the manhunt for Skimble.
Ans:
III. Read the extract givenbelow and answer thequestions that follow:

You may say that by and large, it is Skamblewho's in chargeOf the Sleeping
Car Express
From the driver and the guards to the bagmenplaying cardsHe will supervise them
all, more or less.Down the corridor, he paces and examines allthe facesOf the travellers in
the First and the Third;

He establishes control by a regular patrolAnd he'd know at once if anything occurred.

(i)Who will supervise them all (the staff)?Who are they who need supervision?
Ans:

Skimbleshanks will supervise all the sta

"
on the Sleeping Car Express, including thedriver, the guards, and the bagmen
playingcards. The passengers in the First and theThird classes also need supervision
fromSkimbleshanks, as he paces down the corridorand examines all their faces.

(ii) Whose faces does the supervisorexamine? What can he gauge from theirfaces?.
Ans:

The supervisor, Skimbleshanks, examinesthe faces of the travelers in the First and
Thirdclass compartments of the train. By examiningtheir faces, he can gauge their
comfort level,satisfaction with the service, and any issues orconcerns they might
have. This helps himestablish control and ensure that everythingruns smoothly on
the train.
(iii) Briefly describe how he establishescontrol. Why does he pace the corridor?
Ans:

Skimbleshanks establishes control byconducting regular patrols along the

traincorridor. He paces down the corridor,examining the faces of the passengers.
Hekeeps a watchful eye on the train's activitiesand can identify any potential
problemsimmediately.

He paces the corridor to maintain a constantand visible presence, making sure

thateveryone knows he is in charge. This way, thesta
"
and passengers feel that they are beingwatched, and they are less likely to break
anyrules or engage in any misbehaviour.

(iv) Do you think the supervisor can do thesame in other modes of transport plane,
bus,metro? State how
Ans:

The role of a supervisor in ensuring thesmooth operation of transport services

isessential and can be applied to other modes of transport such as planes,
buses, and metros.
(v) Why do you think the train is calledSleeping Car Express? How does
thesupervisor ensure that the name holds true?
Ans:

The train is called Sleeping Car Expressbecause it likely has sleeping carriages
orcompartments where passengers can sleepduring their journey. The supervisor
ensuresthat the name holds true by regularlypatrolling the train's corridors and
checking onthe passengers to make sure they arecomfortable and secure. This
helps create asafe and comfortable environment for thepassengers, thereby fulfilling
the train's nameas a Sleeping Car Express.
IV. Read the extract givenbelow and answer thequestions that follow;

Oh, it's very pleasant when you have foundyour little denWith your name written up on
the door.

And the berth is very neat with a newly foldedsheet

And there's not a speck of dust on the floor.There is every sort of light-you can make itdark
or bright;

There's a handle that you turn to make abreeze.

There's a funny little basin you're supposed towash your face inAnd a crank to shut
the window if you sneeze.
(i) Why is the cabin called your little den?What kind of security does it offer
thepassengers?
Ans:

The cabin is called a "little den" because itprovides a personal and private space for
thepassengers to rest during the journey. It o
"
ersa sense of security to the passengers as theyhave their own space with their
name on thedoor and not a speck of dust on the floor.
(ii) Describe the little den, as mentioned inthe extract.
Ans:

In the extract, the little den refers to thecabin on the train where the
passengers sleep.The cabin is described as

a pleasant and neatcabin with the passenger's name written onthe door. It has a newly
folded sheet and nospeck of dust on the floor. There is an optionfor di
"
erent types of lighting and a handle tocontrol the breeze. It also has a small basin
towash the face and a crank to shut the windowif needed.
(iii) Were the passengers scared of Skimbleshanke? Give reasons for youranswer.
Ans:

No, the passengers were not scared of Skimbleshanks. Passengers feel relax
andtension free in the prersence of Skimbles.Skimbleshanks' presence had a
positive e
"
ecton all sta
"
of train. Skimbleshanks is describedas a friendly and helpful presence on the
train,and he is appreciated by both the sta
"
 and thepassengers.
(iv) What were the arrangements made forthe comfortable journey of the
passengers?
Ans:

The extract mentions severalarrangements made for the comfortable journey of the
passengers:

1. Passengers have their own privatecabins or "little dens" with their namewritten up
on the door.

2. The berths are neat with newly foldedsheets and there is no speck of dust onthe
floor.

3. There are di
"
erent types of lights thatpassengers can adjust to make theircabin bright or
dark.4. There is a handle that passengers canturn to create a breeze.

5. There is a basin provided for passengersto wash their face.

6. There is a crank to shut the window if apassenger sneezes.

(v) Compare the facilities of the train cabinwith the facilities of a cabin in today's
train.Would you find a Skimbleshanks today? Why?
Ans:

The facilities mentioned in the poem forthe train cabin, such as a personal berth
with anewly folded sheet, di
"
erent kinds of lights, ahandle to control the breeze, a washbasin, anda crank to shut
the window, are still availablein today's train cabins. However, modern trainso
"
er more advanced facilities, such ascharging ports, Wi-Fi, entertainment
systems,and more comfortable seating arrangements.Regarding finding a
Skimbleshanks on a traintoday, it is possible to find a supervisor whoensures the
smooth functioning of the trainand makes passengers feel secure. However,the specific
character of Skimbleshanks maynot exist in the same way.
V. Read the extract givenbelow and answer the
Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat
This solution is for theBeeta publicationworkbook, if you
haveEvergreen PublicationWorkbook refer to this link
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