A Bicycle In Good Repair

Q1:“I got up early, for me.” It implies that

1.he was an early riser.
2.he was a late riser.
3.he got up late that morning.
Ans:2. he was a late riser.
Q2:The bicycle “goes easily enough in the morning and a little stiffly
after lunch.” The remark is- (Mark your choice(s))
1.humorous 2.inaccurate 3.sarcastic 4.enjoyable
5.meaningless
Q3:Find two or three sentences in the text which express the author’s
disapproval of it.
Ans: 1.“Don’t do that; you’ll hurt it.”
2. “It doesn’t if you don’t wobble it.”
3.“Don’t you trouble about it anymore; you will make yourself tired.”
Q4:“ …..if not, it would make a serious difference to the machine.”
What does ‘if refer to?
Ans:‘It’ refers to ball bearings.
Answer the following questions.(pg.132)
Q1:Did the front wheel really wobble? What is your opinion? Give a reason for
your answer.
Ans:The front wheel wobbled occasionally, but it didn’t require any attention.
The bicycle was in good condition and the author was pleased with it.
Q2:In what condition did the author find the bicycle when he returned from the
tool shed?
Ans:When the author returned from the tool shed his friend had taken out the
front wheel of the bicycle. His friend was sitting on the ground with the wheel
between his legs. He was playing with the wheel while the other part of the
bicycle was lying on the gravel path beside him.
Q3:“Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case.” Comment on or
continue this sentence in the light of what actually happens.
Ans:“Nothing is easier than taking off the gear-case but it is an
impossible task to fix it back.” The author’s friend took out the gear-
case easily, but he was having a nightmare in putting- it back to its
place.
Q4:What special treatment did the chain receive?
Ans:Author’s friend tightened it to an extent that it didn’t move at all.
He then loosened it until it was twice as loose as it was before.
Q5:The friend has two qualities—he knows what he is doing and is absolutely sure it is good.
Find the two phrases in the text which mean the same.

Ans: 1.Cheery confidence 2.Inexplicable hopefulness

Q6:Describe ‘the fight’ between the man and the machine. Find the relevant sentences in the text
and write them.

Ans:The bicycle was in good condition, but the author’s friend unnecessarily disturbed it. He
first took out front-wheel and then the gear-case, his next victim was the chain. He really had a
tough time in fixing these parts back into their place.Then he lost his temper and tried bullying
the thing. The bicycle, I was glad to see, showed spirit and the subsequent proceedings
degenerated into little else than a rough and tumble fight between them and the machine. One
moment the bicycle would be on the gravel path and he on top of it; the next, the position would
be reversed – he on the gravel path, the bicycle on him. Now he would be standing flushed with
victory, the bicycle firmly fixed between his legs. But his triumph would be short-lived. By a
sudden, quick movement it would free itself and turning upon him, hit him sharply over the head
with one of its handles.
Q1.Rewrite each of the following sentences using should / ought to / must in place of
the italicised words. Make other changes wherever necessary.
Ans: 1.You must do your duty irrespective of consequences
2.You should study at least for an hour every day.
3.The doctor says she must sleep eight hours every night.
4.You ought to show respect towards elders and affection towards youngsters.
5.To stay healthy, you must exercise regularly.
6.You should take a walk, every morning.
7.You must not stand on your head.
8.As he has a cold, he should to go to bed.
Q2:Use should/must/ought to appropriately in the following sentences.

Ans: 1.should 2.must 3.must 4.should 5.must 6.ought to 7.should 8.should

Q3.Divide each of the following sentences into its parts. Write meaningful parts. If necessary, supply a
word or two to make each part meaningful.

Ans:1.I went to the tool shed.

I went to see

What could I find?

2.I came back.

He was sitting on the ground

3.We may as well see.

What is the matter with it?

Now, it is out.
4.He said.
He hoped.
We had got them all.
5.I had to confess.
He was right.
Q4.Now arrange the words given in the box under the three headings – prefix, suffix
and part of the word.
(i) en (prefix) en (suffix) en (part of word)
encourage dampen listen
endanger soften barren
 enable weaken even
enclose fasten enclave
(ii) evening garden enough when between dozen tighten loosen end
ten open forgotten sudden
1. en (prefix): endangered, enact, entrap.
2. en (suffix): tighten, loosed, forgotten.
3. en (part of word): evening, garden, enough, when, dozen, end,
ten, open, sudden.