13 THE LAST STONE MASON || NIOS - SECONDARY COURSE || ENGLISH-202 CLASS-X

 CHAPTER-13 THE LAST STONE MASON

INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.1 

A. Based on your understanding of Part I answer the following questions. 

1. What was the old man’s profession? What was his attitude to his work?

Ans: The old man’s profession was carving stone and making statues.

 He was dedicated to his work. For him work is worship.

2. The young man threw his hammer and the chisel to the ground. Why do you think he did so? 

Ans: He was angry/dissatisfied with his work and his life, as it did’t pay enough.

3. How did the old man learn carving? What did he expect from his son? 

Ans:He learnt carving from his father. He expected his son to carry forward his traditional craft.

4. Tick, þ the suitable option to complete the statement given below. The young man decided to leave his father and his work because: 

a. he was not good at carving. 

b. he did not love his father.

 c. he wanted to earn more money. ✅

d. he wanted to enjoy city life. 

5. What was the young man’s opinion about his father’s work? Do you think he was right? 6. What did Gopal suggest to his father? What was his father’s response?

Ans:He thought his father’s work didn’t fetch money. He was right because it was not a paying job.

6. What did Gopal suggest to his father? What was his father’s response?

Ans: He suggested that his father should shift to Agra and change his profession. The old man’s response was that it was service to God and that he wanted to keep the 100 year old tradition and continue to do his work.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.2 

I. On the basis of your understanding of Part 2 answer the questions given below: 

1. When Salim came to the old man to serve him tea, “his voice was filled with concern.” What do you think Salim was concerned about? 

Ans: His concern was about the old man’s physical condition.

2. Who was Salim? What was his relation with the old man?

Ans: Salim was a boy who worked in the stone mason’s house, served him tea and took care of him. He was a servant boy and the old mand was his master.

3. What was the old man’s worried about? 

Ans:He was worried about how he would finish the statue all by himself.

4. Why did he wish Gopal was with him? 

Ans:He was not good at carving the face and hands of statues. He wished Gopal was with him to help him to finish the statue, because he himself was too weak to use the hammer vigorously.

5. Salim said “….. it comes from somewhere deep inside you.” Explain the meaning of the plnasi in you own words in 2-3 sentences.

Ans: “It” refers to the ability to master the skill.

II. 1. Which word in para I of Part 2 means the same as ‘worry’? 

Ans: concern 

2. Which word in para 3 of Part 2 means the same as ‘job’? 

Ans: work

3. Pick out the word from para 4 of Part 2 which means the opposite of ‘spoke loudly’. 

Ans: whispered

4. Which word in para 6 of Part 2 means the opposite of ‘weakness’? 

Ans: strength

III. Imagine you are Salim. You served the old man after his son left him. What inspired you to help him? Express yourself in 50-60 words.

Ans:If I am in the place of Salim, there might be two reasons to serve the old man after his son left him. First in the bad condition of the old man because he is too weak to work and the second reason is to learn the art of stone carving from the old man.

 INTEXT QUESTIONS 13.3 

I. On the basis of your understanding of Part 3 of the story answer the following questions. 

1. ‘When the old man opened his eyes he found himself on the cot in his room’. Who do you think put him on the cot? 

Ans:Salim put him on the cot.

2. The old man heard the sound of ‘strong blows of hammer on chisel’. What was the first thought that came to his mind? 

Ans:On hearing sound of strong blows of hammer on chisel the old man's first thought was that his son Gopal had come back.

3. Why did the old man admire Salim?

Ans:Salim’s concern for the old stone mason, his timely help in carving the statue, and his skill in carving made the old man admire Salim.

4. Why did the old man believe that there was nothing that he could teach Salim?

Ans:Salim was carving the face of the statue like an expert craftsman.

II. Based on your understanding of Part 3, complete the following sentences: 

1. The old man was stunned to see Salim working on the statue because because he had expected to see Gopal, and because Salim was working on the face of the statue like a perfect sculptor, because he had not expected that Salim could carve stone.

2. Salim was able to help the old man in finishing the sculpture because because he had been practising carving secretly at the quarry.

III. 1. Pick out the word in para 1 Part 3 which means the same as ‘surprised’. 

Ans: stunned

2. Which word in para I Part 3 means the opposite of ‘heavy’?

Ans: light

3. Look at the word ‘admiration’ in para I Part 3. Different meanings of this word are given in the box below. Tick the most suitable meaning in the given context. praise, appreciation, respect, adore, think highly of somebody 

Ans: think highly of somebody

IV. If you were in Salim’s place what would you do to improve the relationship between the old stone mason and his son? Express yourself in 50-60 words.

Ans:If I were in Salim's place, then I would ask the old man's son to come in the village and to live with his father because he has not any support besides him and the old man cannot do his work alone. He was too weak to worl: I would grasp both to work together in the village. In this way, I would try to improve the relationship between the old stone mason and his son.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS 

I. Read the following statement and write ‘true’, ‘false’ or ‘not sure’ against each one. 

1. The old man was committed to his work.-True    

2. Salim was an orphaned boy.-True  

3. Salim lived with the old man in his room.-False 

4. Gopal was an ambitious boy and wanted to earn more.-True 

5. The old man fainted because of Gopal’s behaviour not only physical exhaustion.False 

6. Gopal had requested Salim to look after his father during his absence.-False 

7. The old man trained Salim in the art of carving.-False 

II. Write your impression of the old stone mason as an artist in about 100 words.

Ans:The old man really loved his work. He loved to work with chisel and hammer. Touching the tools made him happy and confident. He did not like to do any work. He worked continuously without taking any rest. He did not eat well. He wanted the sculpture to be the best he had ever carved. He was dedicated to his work. His work was workship for him. When his son told him to go to the city to earn more money, he refused it. Money was not important for him.

III. Imagine you are the old stone mason. You are stunned to see Salim working on the statue. The sight makes you compare Salim with your son Gopal. Express your thoughts on how Salim is different from Gopal. Write your answer in 100 words.

Ans:      Gopa                                                      Salim

lacks spirit of an artist                         orphaned boy but more human and helpful

ambitious to earn money                      feels concern for old man’s health.

inconsiderate to parents                      urge for learning

no a good sculpture                             practises carving secretly

no dedication and commitment           no formal training in skills

towards his traditional work               humble and considerate, sense of responsibility.