Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory - Reading Comprehension
AP / NCERT Reading Comprehension Passages
Grade 8 Honeydew Chapter 8
Bepin Choudhury's Lapse of Memory
Reading Comprehension 1
1. What kind of books did Bepin Choudhury buy at Kalicharan's every Monday?
(a) Scary stories
(b) Newspapers and magazines
(c) School books
(d) Fiction novels
2. How did Bepin Babu feel when he was at Kalicharan's one day?
(a) He felt like someone was watching him.
(b) He felt happy.
(c) He felt bored.
(d) He felt scared.
3. What did the man tell Bepin Babu?
(a) He told Bepin Babu that they had met before.
(b) He told Bepin Babu that he had arranged for a car to take him to a waterfall.
(c) He told Bepin Babu his name.
(d) All of the above.
4. Where did Bepin Babu and the man meet in 1958?
(a) New Market.
(b) Kalicharan's.
(c) Ranchi, India.
(d) Hudroo falls.
5. What did Bepin Babu ask the man?
(a) Who are you?
(b) Have we met before?
(c) What's your name?
(d) Where did we meet before?
Reading Comprehension 2
Now Bepin Babu realised that it was not he but this man who was making a mistake. Bepin Babu had never been to Ranchi. He had been at the point of going several times, but never made it. He smiled and said, “Do you know who I am?”
The man raised his eyebrows, bit his tongue and said, “Do I know you? Who doesn’t know Bepin Choudhury?”
Bepin Babu now turned towards the bookshelves and said, “Still you’re making a mistake. One often does. I’ve never been to Ranchi.”
The man now laughed aloud.
“What are you saying, Mr Choudhury? You had a fall in Hudroo and cut your right knee. I brought you iodine. I had fixed up a car for you to go to Netarhat the next day, but you couldn’t because of the pain in the knee. Can’t you recall anything? Someone else you know was also in Ranchi at that time. Mr Dinesh Mukerji. You stayed in a bungalow. You said you didn’t like hotel food and would prefer to have your meals cooked by a bawarchi. Mr Mukerji stayed with his sister. You had a big argument about the moon landing, remember? I’ll tell you more: you always carried a bag with your books in it on your sight-seeing trips. Am I right or not?”
1. Why did Bepin Babu realize that the man was making a mistake?
(a) Because he had never been to Ranchi.
(b) Because he had never met the man before.
(c) Because he had no recollection of the events the man was describing.
(d) All of the above.
2. What did the man say when Bepin Babu told him that he had never been to Ranchi?
(a) "You're making a mistake."
(b) "Do I know you? Who doesn't know Bepin Choudhury?"
(c) "What are you saying, Mr Choudhury?"
(d) All of the above.
3. What did the man say that Bepin Babu had done in Ranchi?
(a) Fallen in Hudroo and cut his right knee.
(b) Had an argument about the moon landing with Dinesh Mukerji.
(c) Stayed in a bungalow.
(d) All of the above.
4. What did the man say that Bepin Babu always carried with him on his sight-seeing trips?
(a) A bag with his books in it.
(b) A camera.
(c) A water bottle.
(d) A map.
5. What word best describes Bepin Babu's relationship with Ranchi?
(a) Unfulfilled
(b) Regretful
(c) Imagined
(d) All of the above
Reading Comprehension 3
Bepin Babu spoke quietly, his eyes still on the books.
“Which month in ’58 are you talking about?”
The man said, “October.”
“No, sir,” said Bepin Babu. “I spent Puja in ’58 with a friend in Kanpur. You’re making a mistake. Good day.”
But the man didn’t go, nor did he stop talking.
“Very strange. One evening I had tea with you in a veranda of your bungalow. You spoke about your family. You said you had no children, and that you had lost your wife ten years ago. Your only brother had died insane, which is why you didn’t want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi...”
When Bepin Babu had paid for the books and was leaving the shop, the man was still looking at him in utter disbelief.
1. What was Bepin Babu doing when he spoke to the man?
(a) Looking at the books
(b) Paying for the books
(c) Leaving the shop
(d) Drinking tea in a veranda
2. What did Bepin Babu say he was doing in October 1958?
(a) He was in Kanpur with a friend.
(b) He was in Ranchi at a bungalow.
(c) He was at Kalicharan's buying books.
(d) He was at the mental hospital in Ranchi.
3. What did Bepin Babu say about his family?
(a) He said he had no children and had lost his wife ten years ago.
(b) He said he had a brother who was insane.
(c) He said he didn't want to visit the mental hospital in Ranchi.
(d) All of the above.
4. What was the man's expression when Bepin Babu was leaving the shop?
(a) Utter disbelief
(b) Confusion
(c) Anger
(d) Sadness
5. What is the most likely explanation for the man's mistake?
(a) He mistook Bepin Babu for someone else.
(b) He was having a flashback to a dream or memory.
(c) He was making up stories.
(d) He was delusional.
Reading Comprehension 4
Bepin Babu’s car was safely parked in Bertram Street by the Lighthouse Cinema. He told the driver as he got into the car, “Just drive by the Ganga, will you, Sitaram.” Driving up the Strand Road, Bepin Babu regretted having paid so much attention to the intruder. He had never been to Ranchi — no question about it. It was inconceivable that he should forget such an incident which took place only six or seven years ago. He had an excellent memory. Unless — Bepin Babu’s head reeled.
Was he losing his mind? But how could that be? He was working daily in his office. It was a big firm, and he was doing a responsible job. He wasn’t aware of anything ever going seriously wrong. Only today he spoke for half an hour at an important meeting. And yet...
And yet the man knew a great deal about him. How? He even seemed to know some intimate details. The bag of books, wife’s death, brother’s insanity... The only mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake; a deliberate lie. In ’58, during the Pujas, he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place. All Bepin Babu had to do was write to — no, there was no way of writing to Haridas. Bepin Babu suddenly remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for Japan some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.
1. What did Bepin Babu tell his driver to do?
(a) Drive by the Ganga.
(b) Drive to his office.
(c) Drive to Bertram Street.
(d) Drive to the Lighthouse Cinema.
2. What did Bepin Babu regret?
(a) Having paid so much attention to the stranger.
(b) Having parked his car in Bertram Street.
(c) Having spoken at the meeting.
(d) Having gone to Ranchi.
3. What was Bepin Babu worried about?
(a) That he was losing his mind.
(b) That he had made a mistake.
(c) That the stranger was lying.
(d) All of the above.
4. Why couldn't Bepin Babu write to his friend Haridas?
(a) Because Haridas had left for Japan with his wife.
(b) Because he didn't have Haridas's address.
(c) Because he didn't want to bother Haridas.
(d) All of the above.
5. What is the most likely explanation for the man's mistake?
(a) The man was delusional and thought that Bepin Babu was someone else.
(b) The man was trying to scam Bepin Babu.
(c) The man was making up stories.
(d) All of the above.
Reading Comprehension 5
The river breeze was bracing, and yet a slight discomfort lingered in Bepin Babu’s mind.
Around Hastings, Bepin Babu decided to roll up his trousers and take a look at his right knee.
There was the mark of an old inch-long cut. It was impossible to tell when the injury had occurred. Had he never had a fall as a boy and cut his knee? He tried to recall such an incident, but couldn’t.
Then Bepin Babu suddenly thought of Dinesh Mukerji. The man had said that Dinesh was in Ranchi at the same time. The best thing surely would be to ask him. He lived quite near — in Beninandan Street. What about going right now? But then, if he had really never been to Ranchi, what would Dinesh think if Bepin Babu asked for a confirmation? He would probably conclude Bepin Babu was going nuts. No; it would be ridiculous to ask him.
And he knew how ruthless Dinesh’s sarcasm could be.
1. The river breeze was bracing, and yet a slight ________ lingered in Bepin Babu’s mind.
2. Around Hastings, Bepin Babu decided to roll up his trousers and take a look at his right ________.
3. What did Bepin Babu see on his right knee?
(a) A fresh cut
(b) An old cut
(c) No cut
4. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to ask Dinesh Mukerji about Ranchi?
(a) He was afraid Dinesh would think he was going nuts.
(b) He was afraid Dinesh would make fun of him.
(c) He was afraid Dinesh would not know anything about it.
5. State True or False:
Bepin Babu was sure that he had never been to Ranchi.
Reading Comprehension 6
Sipping a cold drink in his air-conditioned living room, Bepin Babu felt at ease again. Such a nuisance! Just because they have nothing else to do, they go about getting into other people’s hair.
After dinner, snuggling in bed with one of the new thrillers, Bepin Babu forgot all about the man in New Market.
Next day, in the office, Bepin Babu noticed that with every passing hour, the previous day’s encounter was occupying more and more of his mind. If the man knew so much about Bepin Babu, how could he make such a mistake about the Ranchi trip?
Just before lunch Bepin Babu decided to ring up Dinesh Mukerji. It was better to settle the question over the phone; at least the embarrassment on his face wouldn’t show.
Two-Three-Five-Six-One-Six. Bepin Babu dialled the number.
1. Where did Bepin Babu feel at ease again?
(a) In his air-conditioned living room
(b) In the office
(c) In bed
(d) At New Market
2. What did Bepin Babu forget about after dinner?
(a) The man in New Market
(b) The Ranchi trip
(c) The phone call to Dinesh Mukerji
(d) The thriller he was reading
3. What was occupying more and more of Bepin Babu's mind the next day in the office?
(a) The previous day's encounter
(b) The thriller he was reading
(c) The work he had to do
(d) The phone call to Dinesh Mukerji
4. What did Bepin Babu decide to do just before lunch?
(a) Ring up Dinesh Mukerji
(b) Read the thriller he was reading
(c) Go to lunch
(d) Go to New Market
5. Why did Bepin Babu want to settle the question over the phone?
(a) So that he wouldn't have to see Dinesh Mukerji's face
(b) So that he could do it quickly and easily
(c) So that he could avoid embarrassment
(d) All of the above
Reading Comprehension 7
After lunch-time, Bepin Babu realised that he couldn’t possibly carry on sitting at his desk and working. This had never happened in the twenty-five years he had been with the firm. He had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker. But today his head was in a whirl.
Back home at two-thirty, Bepin Babu lay down in bed and tried to gather his wits together. He knew that it was possible to lose one’s memory through an injury in the head,but he didn’t know of a single instance of someone remembering everything except one particular incident — and a fairly recent and significant one at that. He had always wanted to go to Ranchi; to have gone there, done things, and not to remember was something utterly impossible.
At seven thirty, Bepin Babu’s servant came and announced, “Chuni Babu, sir. Says it’s very important.”
State True or False
1. Bepin Babu had a reputation for being a tireless, conscientious worker.
2. Bepin Babu knew that it was possible to lose one's memory through an injury in the head.
3. Bepin Babu didn't know of a single instance of someone remembering everything except one particular incident.
4. Bepin Babu had always wanted to go to Ranchi.
5. At seven thirty, Bepin Babu's servant came and announced that Chuni Babu was there to see him.
Reading Comprehension 8
Getting off the train at Ranchi next morning, he realised at once that he had never been there before.
He came out of the station, took a taxi and drove around the town for a while. He realised that the streets, the buildings, the hotels, the bazaars, the Morabadi Hill — with none of these had he the slightest acquaintance. Would a trip to the Hudroo Falls help? He didn't believe so, but, at the same time, he didn't wish to leave with the feeling that he hadn’t tried enough. So he arranged for a car and left for Hudroo in the afternoon.
At five o’clock the same afternoon in Hudroo, two Gujarati gentlemen from a group of picnickers discovered Bepin Babu lying unconscious beside a boulder. When he came round, the first thing Bepin Babu said was, “I’m finished. There’s no hope left.”
Next morning, Bepin Babu was back in Calcutta. He realised that there was truly no hope for him. Soon he would lose everything: his will to work, his confidence, his ability, his balance of mind. Was he going to end up in the asylum at...? Bepin Babu couldn’t think any more.
1. Where did Bepin Babu realize that he had never been to Ranchi before?
A. At the train station
B. In the taxi
C. On Morabadi Hill
D. At Hudroo Falls
2. Why did Bepin Babu go to Hudroo Falls?
A. He thought it might help him remember something about his trip to Ranchi.
B. He wanted to see the waterfalls.
C. He was lost.
D. He was trying to escape his problems.
3. What did Bepin Babu say when he came round after being found unconscious?
A. "I'm finished. There's no hope left."
B. "Where am I?"
C. "What happened?"
D. "I'm hungry."
4. What was Bepin Babu worried about?
A. Losing his job
B. Losing his mind
C. Losing his family
D. Losing his money
5. What was Bepin Babu's state of mind when he returned to Calcutta?
A. He was hopeless.
B. He was determined to find out what happened to him in Ranchi.
C. He was relieved to be home.
D. He was angry at the Gujarati gentlemen who found him unconscious.
Reading Comprehension 9
Above the name it said ‘Urgent and Confidential’. In spite of his condition, Bepin Babu had a feeling that he ought to go through the letter. He tore open the envelope and took out the letter. This is what he read —
Dear Bepin,
I had no idea that affluence would bring about the kind of change in you that it has done. Was it so difficult for you to help out an old friend down on his luck? I have no money, so my resources are limited. What I have is imagination, a part of which I used in retribution of your unfeeling behaviour.
Well, you’ll be all right again now. A novel I’ve written is being considered by a publisher. If he likes it enough, it'll see me through the next few months.
Yours, Chunilal
When Dr Chanda came, Bepin Babu said, “I’m fine. It all came back as soon as I got off the train at Ranchi.”
“A unique case,” said Dr Chanda. “I shall certainly write about it in a medical journal.”
“The reason why I sent for you,” said Bepin Babu, “is that I have a pain in the hip from a fall I had in Ranchi. If you could prescribe a pain killer…”
1. What was the purpose of Bepin Babu's letter to Chunilal?
A. To apologize for his behavior
B. To ask for help
C. To explain what happened to him in Ranchi
D. To tell Chunilal that he is now wealthy
2. Why did Bepin Babu imagine the trip to Ranchi?
A. As punishment for not helping Chunilal
B. To escape from his problems
C. To have an adventure
D. To experience what it would be like to be wealthy
3. Why did Dr. Chanda say that Bepin Babu's case was unique?
A. Because Bepin Babu's memory had returned suddenly
B. Because Bepin Babu had imagined a trip to Ranchi
C. Because Bepin Babu had a pain in his hip
D. Because Bepin Babu had been wealthy
State True or False
4. Bepin Babu was wealthy before he received the letter from Chunilal.
5. Bepin Babu's memory returned after he got off the train at Ranchi.
Very useful to teach in class. This can be used in the lesson plan as a digital teaching aid. Thank you very much teachers for being a great help to the teaching fraternity. Keep doing the good work.
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