How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
He began the story of an elephant by giving a preface in which he called an elephant a big and huge well- fed beasts. He said that after absconding from the timber yard, the elephant began roaming around carved on bushes and tore apart the wild creepers. Elephant came to the main road of the town and broke all the stalls which were selling fruits there, mud pots, broke down the volleyball net and crushed the drum which was kept for water and uprooted the shrubs. All the teachers and students were so afraid that they started climbing up to the school building's terrace. According to Iswaran, he was in the junior class. He took a cane from one of the teachers and ran into the open. The elephant was groaning and stamping its feet hardly. The entire scene was very frightening. But still, he moved slowly towards him and when the elephant rushed towards him, he moved and dead beat its third toe nail. It looked surprising and then fell down. This story does not appear to be acceptable so it is not plausible.
How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
Can you think of some other ending for the story?
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
What havoc has the super cyclone wreaked in the life of the people of Orissa?
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?
What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?
Why do you think Bill Bryson’s wife says to the children, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy”?
Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” 5Why does he say so? Is he right in saying this?
How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?