A Triumph of Surgery - Extract Based Questions

  Home / Textual Notes /Grade 10 /  A Triumph of Surgery

A Triumph of Surgery - Extract Based Questions

1. ‘And did you cut down on the sweet things as I told you?’

(a) What sweet things are referred to in the extract?

The sweet things mentioned in the extract are cream cakes and chocolates.

(b) Why does the speaker enquire if the sweet things have been cut down?

The speaker enquires if the sweet things have been cut down because these were spoiling Tricki’s health and he needed to be put on a strict diet.

(c) What is the meaning of the phrase ‘cut down’?

The phrase ‘cut down’ means ‘to reduce the quantity of something’.

(d) What is the opposite of ‘sweet’?

‘Sour’ is its opposite.

2. I tried to sound severe: “Now ! really mean this. If you don’t cut his food right down and give him more exercise he is going to be really ill. You must harden your heart and keep him on a very strict diet”.

(a) Why did the speaker try to sound severe?

The speaker tried to sound severe to make Mrs Pumphrey take his advice seriously and act on it.

(b) For whom was the advice given and why?

The advice was giverf’for Tricki because he had become obese and listless. He was unwell and the speaker wanted him to be on a strict diet.

(c) Find the word in the extract which is a synonym of the word ‘serious’.

The word is ‘severe’.

(d) What is the antonym of ‘hardened’?

Its antonym is ‘softened’.

3. As I moved off, Mrs Pumphrey, with a despairing cry, threw an armful of the little coats through the window. I looked in the mirror before I turned the corner of the drive; everybody was in tears.

(a) Where was the speaker going and with whom?

The speaker was going to the hospital with Tricki.

(b) Why was everybody in tears? ‘

Everybody was in tears because Tricki was being hospitalised as he was ill. Everyone was worried about his health.

(c) Find the word in the extract which is an antonym of the word ‘cheerful’.

The word is ‘despairing’.

(d) What is the opposite of ‘before’?

‘After’ is its opposite.

4. “Poor old lad”, I said. “You haven’t a kick in you but I think I know a cure for you”.

(a) Why does the speaker say “poor old lad”.

The speaker addresses Tricki as a poor old lad because he is unwell and listless.

(b) What cure did the speaker know?

The speaker knew that the cure for Tricki’s illness is to put him on a strict diet.

(c) What is the meaning of ‘a kick’ in the extract?

The phrase means ‘any alertness’.

(d) Write a synonym of ‘cure1.

‘Heal’ is a synonym of‘cure’.