7. The Shoeshine || NIOS - SECONDARY COURSE || ENGLISH-202 CLASS-X

Chapter 7 . The Shoeshine  

INTEXT QUESTIONS 7.1

Answer these questions in about 30-40 words each: 

i) Why could the youngman not afford to buy even a plate of potato chips and a cup of coffee?

Ans: He was unemployed and had just five rupees in his pocket.
 

ii) Why did the youngman refuse to get his shoes polished?

Ans:He didn’t have sufficient money to pay for a cup of coffee and a plate of potato chips, even though he was hungry. Getting his shoes polished was not important for him. 

iii) ‘Instantly the thought seized me’. To what thought does the speaker refer to?

Ans: That he should start polishing shoes and work as a shoeshine to earn his livelihood.

iv) What does the expression ‘he read it’ in this context mean?

Ans: He should understand what he meant.

v) Had you been in such a situation -‘no job,’ ‘no money in the pocket’ ! What would have been your reaction?

Ans: 

vi) How much money did the author have in this pocket? Pick out the words which help you to find the answer.

Ans: Just five rupees. ‘But the simple fact is that I only have five rupees and some loose change’.
 

vii) “There was a puzzled and hurt expression on his face”. Why was the shoeshine puzzled and hurt?

Ans: That an educated man would think of polishing shoes was beyond his imagination. He was hurt at such an idea from an educated man.

viii) The shoeshine suggested that the author should get his shoes polished. What reason did he give?

Ans: An unemployed educated man can impress the officer in the office and that might help him to get a job. 

ix) “But if I can persuade the others”, Shovan lal said, breaking into my thoughts 

(i) Who were the ‘others’? 

(ii) What thoughts of the narrator are being hinted?

Ans: (i)Other Shoeshine boys working in Connaught Circus. 

        (ii) To work as a Shoeshine became his goal.

 INTEXT QUESTIONS 7.2 

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each: 

(i) Why did Shovan Lal initially show his reluctance to accept the youngman’s proposal?

Ans:He feared his other friends (shoe-shine boys) would not approve of the inclusion of the youngman for possible loss of their earning to some extent as one more shoe-shine would reduce each shoe-shine boy’s earning.
 

(ii) (a) Why was polishing shoes on the pavement treated like   begging? 

     (b) What trouble was the Shoeshine Union having with the            authorities? 

     (c) How did Shovan Lal and his friends help the author?

Ans: (a) They (shoeshine boys) didn’t have any establishment                as other business men had. 

        (b) They (authorities) didn’t grant recognition to the                        Shoe-Shine Association. They (Shoeshine boys) were              treated as beggars and their profession equivalent to                 begging. 

       (c) They collected money to buy the kit for the                                youngman to start as Shoe Shine. 

            

(iii) What quality of Shovan Lal’s character is evident in his efforts?

Ans:(a) Cooperative gesture, large heartedness 

       (b) empathy. 

(iv) What solutions was offered by Shovan Lal and others to solve the problem?

Ans: That the youngman will help the members of the Shoeshine Association in their correspondence with the authorities as others were not good at drafting in English.

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

 A. Answer the following question in your own words. 

1.How did Shovan Lal react to the young man’s proposal to start as a shoeshine?

Ans: Shovan Lal was shocked, surprised, and hurt and didn’t believe that an educated man didn’t have money enough to get his shoes polished. 

2. Describe the first meeting of the youngman and Shovan Lal, the Shoeshine boy.

Ans: Shovan Lal insists on getting the Youngman shoes polished.. • The young man explains his problem and offers to work as a Shoeshine. It surprises Shovam Lal but he understands the problem involved in the offer. • Ultimately they are agreed to accept him as member of the Shoeshine Association on the condition that he would help the Association in undertaking correspondence with the authority 

3. What objections did the member of the Shoeshine Association have in accepting the young man as a member? How far do you agree to their objections? Give reason (s).

Ans: Other members were initially reluctant. Their income would be reduced and thus they will be suffering due to financial loss. 

4.Had you been in place of the young man, what would have been your choice of profession? Give reasons.

Ans: If I were in a place of the young man my profession would be a newspaper delivery boy.

Many educated young men could not get a job he wanted. It would end up in depression. Instead, the unemployed youth can do an honest job that could give him some money.

With the money earned, he can think of perusing his passion or doing business in the future. Being a newspaper delivery boy, I can even continue my education because the work would be in the morning hours. In the evening I can also work part-time in restaurants or shops nearby.

The profession should be chosen wisely in such a way that it should not affect our passion. The temporary job that the youth chose should not become his job for survival. Any job done with interest and care would be a successful job.

5. Do you think the youngman will continue to work as a shoeshine? Give reason for your answer.

Ans: Ans. No, I don't think the young man will continue

to work as a shoeshine because his qualification does

not match with this profession.

6. Shovan Lal, though poor, was large-hearted. Give at least one example in support of your answer.

Ans:  Shovan Lal, though poor, was large hearted

because he helped the author who was unknown to

him but Shovan Lal talked to his friend and the union

for author's work and tried to arrange the required

goods starting his work.

B. Think and write your answers 

1. The narrator ‘literally jumped with joy’ when he was allowed to become a shoeshine. What does this mean?

Ans: He was excited at the acceptance. 

2. Did the narrator look down upon the work of a Shoeshine? Give reasons.

Ans: No. offered to be a Shoeshine himself though he was an educated young man.

3. It is, what kind of people we are-that is more importatn than the way we earn our living. How is this exemplified in the story.

Ans: Example of Shovan Lal and his friend’s helping the narraotr proves their human values. Attitude to work counts. 

4. Imagine you are the youngman. Write a page in your diary recording your reaction to the cooperative gesture of the members of the Shoeshine Association.

Ans: Today, the union held a discussion at Connaught circus to accept me as the members of the Shoeshine Association. The conversation continued for some time among the members. Ultimately they became agree to accept me on the condition that I would help the association in undertaking correspondence with the authority. I jumped with a Joy because I was excited at the acceptance.

5. Write how Shovan Lal had convinced the members of the Shoeshine Association about the rationale behind his suggestion to include the young man as a Shoeshine.

Ans:Shovan Lal told the members of the Shoeshine

Association that the author would be helpful in

undertaking correspondence with the authority

because he knew English language better than the

head of the union. In this way Shovan Lal convinced

the members of the Shoeshine Association.

6. Suppose you are the young educated man. Your father has come to know about your new profession and is unhappy at your decision. Write a letter to convince your father that your decision was the best option in these circumstances. 

Ans: 16, Pal Nagar

         Lake Rode

         Mainpuri

         25th October, 2013

         My dear father,

                       I hope you and mother will be hale and

healthy there. I am quite well here. I heard that you are

not happy with my decision. I want to explain you that

I Will not continue the work of shoeshine for long. It is

my compulsion that I have to work as a shoeshine

here. But after some time I will quit this job when I

would have enough money, So you do not need to

worry about this. I profession and career.I have taken this 

decision because I tried many days to search a white collar iob

but I could not find. My money was about to finish.

        With love to mummy and brother.

Yours affectionately

Anubhav

7. Write a paragraph on “PROFESSION OF MY CHOICE”.

Ans:Profession of My Choice: :I have a great

interest in Biology. I secured very good 1narks in the

High School Examination. I hope to get a good

division in the Intermediate examination also. I shal

appear for C.P.M.T. I have a thorough knowledge of

the subject. I am sure that I shall definitely compete

the test successfully. After passing M.B.B.S., I shall

become a doctor. This is the profession I like most.

This is the dream of my life. It is my real aim. As a

doctor I shall render a great service to the suffering

humanity. I shall help the sick and the poor. My aim

will not be to earn money. I shall work in villages so

that the poor and sick patient may get relief. If my aim

is fulfilled, my life will be sweet and worth living.