TOPIC : A VISIT TO CAMBRIDGE
REFER TO CONTEXT
(A) "I haven't been brave," said his disembodied computer-voice, the next afternoon.
"I've had no choice." Surely, I wanted to say, living creatively with the reality of his
disintegrating body was a choice? But I kept quiet, because felt guilty every time I spoke
to him, forcing him to respond. There he was, tapping at the little switch in his hand,
trying to find the words on his computer with the only bit of movement left to him, his
long, pale fingers. Every so often, his eyes would shut in frustrated exhaustion. And
sitting opposite him I could feel his anguish, the mind buoyant with thoughts that came
out in frozen phrases and sentences stiff as corpses.
(i) Why didn't the author agree with Stephen Hawking's belief that he had no
choice?
Ans. The author didn't agree with Stephen Hawking's belief that he had no choice
because he could see that Hawking had chosen to live creatively
(ii) How did Stephen Hawking show his frustration at being unable to find the
appropriate words?
Ans. Stephen Hawking would show his frustration at being unable to find the
appropriate words by closing his eyes.
(iii) What is the meaning of the word 'disembodied'?
Ans. The word 'disembodied' means separated from or
existing without the body.
(B) REFER TO THE CONTEXT
Cambridge was my metaphor for England and it was strange that when I left it had
become altogether something else, because I had met Stephen Hawking there. It was
on a walking tour through Cambridge that the guide mentioned Stephen Hawking, “poor
man, who is quite disabled now, though he is a worthy successor to Issac Newton,
whose Chair he has at the university”. And I started, because I had quite forgotten that
this most brilliant and completely paralysed astrophysicist, the author of A Brief History
of Time, one of the biggest best-sellers ever, lived here.
(i)Who was the predecessor of Stephen Hawking?
Ans. Isaac Newton was the predecessor of Stephen Hawking.
(ii) What is the name of the best selling book written By Stephen Hawking?
Ans. The name of the bestselling book written by Stephen Hawking is ‘A Brief History of
Time’.
(iii)Write a synonym and antonym for the word “worthy’?
Ans. The synonym for the word worthy’ is ‘deserving’. Its
Antonym is unworthy.
WORKING WITH THE TEXT
Q.1 Did the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking make the writer nervous? If so,
why?
Ans. Yes, the prospect of meeting Stephen Hawking made the writer nervous. This was
because Stephen Hawking was a brilliant man and a big source of inspiration for Firdaus
Kanga, not only for his reputation as a genius but also because of the fact that just like
Kanga, Hawking was also a differently-abled man.
Q.2 What is the scientist’s message for the disabled?
Ans. The scientist’s message for the disabled people is that they should do what they
are good at and not what people want to extract out of them to view disabilities in a
glorious light.
Q3. How is Professor Hawking an inspiration beyond cliché for people?
Ans. Professor Stephen Hawking is an inspiration beyond cliché for people because he
not only challenged the stereotypical notion of people towards differently-abled people,
he is also a recognised and celebrated genius.
