Triumph of Surgery
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. Mrs Pumphrey as a pet owner was :
(i) indulgent.
(ii) carefree.
(iii) rich.
(iv) foolish.
Choose the correct option:
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (ii) and (iv)
(d) (i) and (iv) (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey not deserve to keep a pet? (2021 C)
3. What was the major flaw in Tricki? (2020)
SA II (3 marks)
4. Why was Mr. Herriot shocked at Tricki's appearance? (2023)
5. How did Mrs. Pumphrey treat Tricki? (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. What does the exclamation, "This is a triumph of surgery!", by Mrs.
Pumphrey, mean?
(a) The surgery was successful.
(b) The mistress could take back her pet.
(c) The doctor was a great veterinarian.
(d) The planned venture was fruitful. (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
,2. Why was it important for Mrs. Pumphrey to be a little cruel in order to be
kind towards Tricki? (2020-21)
SA II (3 marks)
3. Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.
(2022-23)
ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (d): (i) and (iv)
2. Mrs. Pumphrey is a good woman who overindulged her pet, Tricki. Because
of her inability to control herself from feeding Tricki, the dog only got fatter.
This makes him lose his appetite and thus, prone to diseases.
3. Tricki was Mrs. Pumphrey's pet dog. She loved him and pampered him a lot.
But Tricki was a greedy dog who wanted to eat anything and everything which
was served to him. He had never refused to eat food and used to have meals at
any hour of the day or night. He had become sick because of his habits.
4. Mr. Herriot was shocked at Tricki's appearance because the dog had become
over-weight. Mr. Herriot compared the dog to a bloated sausage with a leg at
each corner. The dog's eyes were bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead
and his tongue lolled from his jaws. It made Mr. Herriot worried about the
Tricki.
5. Mrs. Pumphrey was a young, rich and well to do lady. She pampered her pet
dog Tricki. She used to spend on the well-being and maintenance of her pet.
Once she overfed her dog by giving him malt, cod-lover oil and
fruits and vegetables and what not. That dog also loved to eat sweets, ice-
creams and chocolates. So, she couldn't be strict and deny him the sweet
treats. She gave in to Tricki's greedy demands. She was worried when her dog
became listless. She could not live without him.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (d): The planned venture was fruitful. (1)
,2. Tricki was a greedy dog. He could never refuse to eat whatever and
whenever it was given him. He also hated exercise and these traits led him to
serious health conditions. Mrs Pumphrey had to be cruel and deny Tricki
his food and force him to move in order to save his life. That is the reason why
Mrs Pumphrey needed to be cruel to Tricki for Tricki's sake. (2)
3. James Herriot treats Tricki just like an overweight dog should be treated. He
cuts down his food intake and keeps him under strict observation for the
initial days at hospital. He gradually increases Tricki's food and denies him the
additional treats sent by Mrs. Pumphrey for him. Mr. Herriot sets Tricki free to
run and play with the other dogs in the hospital for physical exercise to
improve his health. This proves that Dr. Herriot knew his patient as well as
their owners really well. (3)
The Theif's Story
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Hari Singh says - "He knew it but neither his lips nor his eyes showed
anything." (2024)
Anil successfully addressed the situation by not addressing it at
all. Elaborate based on your reading of The Thief's Story.
Answer. Hari Singh returns after regretting stealing money from Anil.
• Anil knew Hari was a thief
• Next Morning, Hari offers tea
• Anil didn’t refer to the incident/ doesn’t show any signs of anger
MCQ (1 mark)
1. After cooking a bad meal and told to go away, Hari stayed on as he :
(a) needed a job.
(b) needed shelter.
(c) wanted to steal something.
(d) found Anil to be very simple. (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Comment. (2020 C)
, 3. Why does Anil not hand Hari Singh over to the police? (2020)
4. In which queer way did Anil make a living? (2020)
5. In which queer way did Anil make a living? (The Thief's Story) (2018)
SA II (3 marks)
6. How did Hari Singh justify to himself his stealing Anil's money? (2023)
7. On what condition did Anil employ Hari Singh? How did Hari Singh fail in
his job? (2021 C)
LA II (6 marks)
8. Trust and compassion can reform a person. Justify this statement in the
light of the lesson 'The Thief's Story' (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. Anil's carelessness made stealing from him _________ for Hari Singh.
(a) uninteresting
(b) difficult
(c) systematic
(d) predictable (Term I, 2021-22)
LAI (5 marks)
2. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:
I followed casually.
"Hello again," he said.
I gave him my most appealing smile. "I want to work
for you," I said.
"But I can't pay you."
I thought that over for a minute. Perhaps I had
misjudged my man. I asked, "Can you feed me?"
"Can you cook?"
"I can cook," I lied again.
"If you can cook, then maybe I can feed you." He took me to his room over the
Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony.
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. Mrs Pumphrey as a pet owner was :
(i) indulgent.
(ii) carefree.
(iii) rich.
(iv) foolish.
Choose the correct option:
(a) (i) and (ii)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (ii) and (iv)
(d) (i) and (iv) (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. Why does Mrs. Pumphrey not deserve to keep a pet? (2021 C)
3. What was the major flaw in Tricki? (2020)
SA II (3 marks)
4. Why was Mr. Herriot shocked at Tricki's appearance? (2023)
5. How did Mrs. Pumphrey treat Tricki? (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. What does the exclamation, "This is a triumph of surgery!", by Mrs.
Pumphrey, mean?
(a) The surgery was successful.
(b) The mistress could take back her pet.
(c) The doctor was a great veterinarian.
(d) The planned venture was fruitful. (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
,2. Why was it important for Mrs. Pumphrey to be a little cruel in order to be
kind towards Tricki? (2020-21)
SA II (3 marks)
3. Dr. Herriot knew his patients as well as their owners really well. Discuss.
(2022-23)
ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (d): (i) and (iv)
2. Mrs. Pumphrey is a good woman who overindulged her pet, Tricki. Because
of her inability to control herself from feeding Tricki, the dog only got fatter.
This makes him lose his appetite and thus, prone to diseases.
3. Tricki was Mrs. Pumphrey's pet dog. She loved him and pampered him a lot.
But Tricki was a greedy dog who wanted to eat anything and everything which
was served to him. He had never refused to eat food and used to have meals at
any hour of the day or night. He had become sick because of his habits.
4. Mr. Herriot was shocked at Tricki's appearance because the dog had become
over-weight. Mr. Herriot compared the dog to a bloated sausage with a leg at
each corner. The dog's eyes were bloodshot and rheumy, stared straight ahead
and his tongue lolled from his jaws. It made Mr. Herriot worried about the
Tricki.
5. Mrs. Pumphrey was a young, rich and well to do lady. She pampered her pet
dog Tricki. She used to spend on the well-being and maintenance of her pet.
Once she overfed her dog by giving him malt, cod-lover oil and
fruits and vegetables and what not. That dog also loved to eat sweets, ice-
creams and chocolates. So, she couldn't be strict and deny him the sweet
treats. She gave in to Tricki's greedy demands. She was worried when her dog
became listless. She could not live without him.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (d): The planned venture was fruitful. (1)
,2. Tricki was a greedy dog. He could never refuse to eat whatever and
whenever it was given him. He also hated exercise and these traits led him to
serious health conditions. Mrs Pumphrey had to be cruel and deny Tricki
his food and force him to move in order to save his life. That is the reason why
Mrs Pumphrey needed to be cruel to Tricki for Tricki's sake. (2)
3. James Herriot treats Tricki just like an overweight dog should be treated. He
cuts down his food intake and keeps him under strict observation for the
initial days at hospital. He gradually increases Tricki's food and denies him the
additional treats sent by Mrs. Pumphrey for him. Mr. Herriot sets Tricki free to
run and play with the other dogs in the hospital for physical exercise to
improve his health. This proves that Dr. Herriot knew his patient as well as
their owners really well. (3)
The Theif's Story
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Hari Singh says - "He knew it but neither his lips nor his eyes showed
anything." (2024)
Anil successfully addressed the situation by not addressing it at
all. Elaborate based on your reading of The Thief's Story.
Answer. Hari Singh returns after regretting stealing money from Anil.
• Anil knew Hari was a thief
• Next Morning, Hari offers tea
• Anil didn’t refer to the incident/ doesn’t show any signs of anger
MCQ (1 mark)
1. After cooking a bad meal and told to go away, Hari stayed on as he :
(a) needed a job.
(b) needed shelter.
(c) wanted to steal something.
(d) found Anil to be very simple. (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. Hari Singh is both a thief and a human being. Comment. (2020 C)
, 3. Why does Anil not hand Hari Singh over to the police? (2020)
4. In which queer way did Anil make a living? (2020)
5. In which queer way did Anil make a living? (The Thief's Story) (2018)
SA II (3 marks)
6. How did Hari Singh justify to himself his stealing Anil's money? (2023)
7. On what condition did Anil employ Hari Singh? How did Hari Singh fail in
his job? (2021 C)
LA II (6 marks)
8. Trust and compassion can reform a person. Justify this statement in the
light of the lesson 'The Thief's Story' (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. Anil's carelessness made stealing from him _________ for Hari Singh.
(a) uninteresting
(b) difficult
(c) systematic
(d) predictable (Term I, 2021-22)
LAI (5 marks)
2. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:
I followed casually.
"Hello again," he said.
I gave him my most appealing smile. "I want to work
for you," I said.
"But I can't pay you."
I thought that over for a minute. Perhaps I had
misjudged my man. I asked, "Can you feed me?"
"Can you cook?"
"I can cook," I lied again.
"If you can cook, then maybe I can feed you." He took me to his room over the
Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony.
