THE BOY WHO BROKE THE BANK Paraphrase, glossary and question-answers

 

The Boy Who Broke the Bank

The main characters in "The Boy Who Broke the Bank" by Ruskin Bond are:

1. Nathu: A poor sweeper boy at the Pipalnagar Bank. He is frustrated because his salary has not been paid on time, which leads him to grumble and unknowingly start the rumour that the bank is in trouble.Sitaram: The washerman's son and friend of Nathu. He innocently spreads the initial piece of gossip about Nathu's complaint.

2. Sitaram: A washerman’s son and friend of Nathu. He is talkative and friendly, but careless with information. He spreads Nathu’s complaint to others, setting off the chain of rumours.

3. Mrs. Srivastava: A customer looking for a sweeper, who spreads the rumour further after hearing it from Sitaram.

4. Mrs. Bhushan: A friend of Mrs. Srivastava who amplifies the rumour as it spreads in the market place.

5. Mr. Bhushan: Mrs. Bhushan's husband who hears the rumour and passes it on.

6. Kamal Kishore: The photographer who learns about the rumour and helps spread alarm.

7. Deep Chand: The barber who hears the rumour and warns others.

8. Ganpat: A beggar with savings, who surprisingly runs to withdraw his money on hearing the rumour.

9. Seth Govind Ram: The wealthy owner of the Pipalnagar Bank, who is on holiday in Kashmir, unaware of the rumour and panic.

10. The Bank Manager: Who struggles to manage the panic when the bank runs out of cash and the crowd becomes uncontrollable. These characters together drive the story's progression, showing how a simple complaint by Nathu unleashes widespread panic and chaos in the town due to rumour and misinformation.

Supporting characters: The people of Pipalnagar

 

Here is a sequence of actions showing the complete flow of the rumour in "The Boy Who Broke the Bank" by Ruskin Bond, from its start to its chaotic end:

 

1. It started with Nathu, the sweeper at the Pipalnagar Bank, complaining to Sitaram, the washerman’s son, that he had not received his salary.

2. Sitaram shared this grievance with Mrs. Srivastava, who was looking for a sweeper.

3. Mrs. Srivastava then told her friend Mrs. Bhushan, complaining that the bank wasn't paying employees.

4. Mrs. Bhushan passed the rumour to her husband Mr. Bhushan, saying the bank was going bankrupt.

5. Mr. Bhushan shared the news with Kamal Kishore, the photographer.

6. Kamal Kishore told Deep Chand, the barber.

7. Deep Chand spread the news further, alarming the townspeople.

8, Ganpat, the beggar who had savings in the bank, hastily ran to withdraw his money.

*. The rumour culminated in a panicked crowd gathered at the bank, demanding withdrawals.

*10. Chaos ensued with stones thrown, windows broken, and widespread confusion.

*Meanwhile, the bank owner Seth Govind Ram was away on holiday, unaware of the panic.

This diagram represents how a small complaint from one person escalated through a chain of people to create a widespread panic in the town. Since the previous tree diagram showed the primary chain of rumour passing, this explanation completes the chain by including the consequences at the bank and mentioning the bank owner’s absence, which marks the end of the rumour’s impact.

Passage 1: Nathu grumbled ………………… and see me tomorrow.

Paraphrase

Nathu, the sweeper of the Pipalnagar Bank (owned by Seth Govind Ram), was grumbling as he swept the steps. He used his small broom carelessly, so that the dust rose in the air and settled again on the steps. While he was banging his pan against a dustbin, Sitaram, the washerman’s son, passed by carrying freshly pressed clothes on his head.

Sitaram asked Nathu why he was raising so much dust. He teased him, asking if he was angry because the bank refused to pay him two extra rupees per month.

Nathu complained that he hadn’t even received his regular salary and it was already the twentieth of the month. He said that it was shocking for a bank to withhold a poor man’s pay, and he decided he would leave the job as soon as he got his money. To show his anger, he banged the pan loudly against the dustbin.

Sitaram wished him luck and promised to look out for jobs for him. He walked barefoot down the road with his big bundle of clothes.

At the fourth house on his round, Sitaram heard the lady (Mrs. Srivastava) saying she needed a sweeper. He immediately suggested Nathu, telling her that the bank wasn’t paying him his wages and he wanted to leave. Mrs. Srivastava told him to send Nathu to her the next day.

Glossary

Grumbled – complained in a low, bad-tempered way.

Swept – cleaned with a broom.

Pipalnagar Bank – the fictional bank in the story, owned by Seth Govind Ram.

Hurriedly – quickly.

Carelessly – without attention or effort.

Dustbin – a container for rubbish/garbage.

Delivery round – the daily route followed to deliver things.

Plodded – walked slowly and heavily, as if tired.

Bundle – a collection of clothes tied together.

Barefoot – without shoes or sandals.

Mention – to say or refer to something.

In need of – requiring or wanting something.

Suit – to be right or appropriate for.

Withhold – refuse to give or delay giving.

MCQs

1. Who owned the Pipalnagar Bank?

a) Mrs. Srivastava

b) Sitaram

c) Seth Govind Ram

d) Nathu

Ans: c) Seth Govind Ram

2. Who was Nathu?

a) Washerman’s son

b) The sweeper of the bank

c) A shopkeeper

d) The owner of the bank

Ans: b) The sweeper of the bank

3. How did Nathu sweep the steps?

a) Carefully

b) Cheerfully

c) Hurriedly and carelessly

d) Slowly and neatly

Ans: c) Hurriedly and carelessly

4. What happened to the dust after Nathu swept?

a) It disappeared

b) It rose and settled again on the steps

c) It blew away

d) It turned to mud

Ans: b) It rose and settled again on the steps

5. Who passed by while Nathu was banging his pan?

a) Mrs. Srivastava

b) Seth Govind Ram

c) Sitaram

d) A policeman

Ans: c) Sitaram

6. What was Sitaram carrying on his head?

a) Books

b) A basket of fruit

c) A bundle of freshly pressed clothes

d) Pots and pans

Ans: c) A bundle of freshly pressed clothes

7. What did Sitaram ask Nathu not to do?

a) Shout loudly

b) Raise so much dust

c) Quit his job

d) Throw rubbish on the road

Ans: b) Raise so much dust

8. Why was Nathu annoyed?

a) Because the bank refused him a bonus

b) Because he had not received his pay

c) Because the broom was broken

d) Because people mocked him

Ans: b) Because he had not received his pay

9. What extra payment had Nathu demanded?

a) Two rupees per day

b) Two rupees a week

c) Two rupees a month

d) Five rupees a month

Ans: c) Two rupees a month

10. What date was it when Nathu complained of no salary?

a) 10th of the month

b) 15th of the month

c) 20th of the month

d) Last day of the month

Ans: c) 20th of the month

11. What did Nathu decide to do after getting his salary?

a) Ask for more work

b) Leave the bank job

c) Buy new clothes

d) Fight with Seth Govind Ram

Ans: b) Leave the bank job

12. What did Nathu bang against the dustbin?

a) His broom

b) His pan

c) His bundle of clothes

d) His fist

Ans: b) His pan

13. How did Sitaram promise to help Nathu?

a) By giving him money

b) By speaking to the bank manager

c) By finding a job for him

d) By buying him food

Ans: c) By finding a job for him

14. How did Sitaram walk?

a) Quickly

b) Lightly

c) Barefoot and plodding

d) In a hurry

Ans: c) Barefoot and plodding

15. What hid most of Sitaram’s head and shoulders?

a) His turban

b) His shawl

c) His big bundle of clothes

d) His hat

Ans: c) His big bundle of clothes

16. Who needed a sweeper?

a) Mrs. Srivastava

b) Seth Govind Ram

c) Sitaram

d) A policeman

Ans: a) Mrs. Srivastava

17. Who suggested Nathu’s name to Mrs. Srivastava?

a) Seth Govind Ram

b) Sitaram

c) A neighbour

d) Nathu himself

Ans: b) Sitaram

18. Why did Sitaram say Nathu wanted to leave the bank?

a) Because of too much work

b) Because he had no house

c) Because he wasn’t getting his pay

d) Because he was sick

Ans: c) Because he wasn’t getting his pay

19. When did Mrs. Srivastava ask Nathu to come?

a) Today

b) Tomorrow

c) Next week

d) Never

Ans: b) Tomorrow

20. What quality of Sitaram is shown when he recommended Nathu?

a) Laziness

b) Selfishness

c) Helpfulness

d) Carelessness

Ans: c) Helpfulness

One-Mark Questions 

1. Who was sweeping the steps of the Pipalnagar Bank?

Nathu, the sweeper-boy, was sweeping the steps of the Pipalnagar Bank.

2. Who owned the Pipalnagar Bank?

Seth Govind Ram owned the Pipalnagar Bank.

3. What kind of broom did Nathu use?

He used a small broom.

4. How did Nathu sweep the steps?

He swept hurriedly and carelessly.

5. What happened to the dust when Nathu swept?

The dust rose in a cloud above his head and settled back on the steps.

6. Whom did Nathu meet while sweeping?

He met Sitaram, the washerman’s son.

7. What was Sitaram carrying?

He was carrying a bundle of freshly pressed clothes on his head.

8. What did Sitaram tell Nathu when he saw the dust?

He told him not to raise so much dust.

9. Why was Nathu annoyed?

Because he had not received his regular pay from the bank.

10. Which date of the month was it when Nathu complained?

It was the twentieth of the month.

11. What extra payment was Nathu asking for?

An extra two rupees a month.

12. What did Nathu decide to do after getting his money?

He decided to leave the bank job.

13. Why did Nathu bang the pan against the dustbin?

To emphasize his point and give himself confidence.

14. What did Sitaram promise to do for Nathu?

He promised to look out for a job that might suit him.

15. How did Sitaram walk on the road?

He plodded barefoot along the road.

16. What hid most of Sitaram’s head and shoulders?

The big bundle of clothes.

17. Whose house did Sitaram visit at the fourth stop?

He visited Mrs. Srivastava’s house.

18. What did Mrs. Srivastava need?

She needed a sweeper.

19. What did Sitaram tell Mrs. Srivastava about Nathu?

He told her that Nathu was looking for work as the bank wasn’t paying him.

20. When did Mrs. Srivastava ask Nathu to come and see her?

She asked him to come the next day.

Two-Mark Questions 

1. Why was Nathu unhappy with his job at the bank?

Nathu was unhappy because he had not received his regular salary, even though it was already the twentieth of the month. He also felt insulted that the bank had refused to pay him an extra two rupees per month. This made him angry and frustrated.

2. What did Nathu plan to do after receiving his pay?

Nathu planned to leave his job at the bank once he got his pending salary. He was upset with the management for withholding his pay and felt he could not continue working there any longer. He wanted to look for another job immediately after being paid.

3. How did Nathu express his anger while sweeping?

Nathu swept hurriedly and carelessly, raising a lot of dust. He grumbled to himself in frustration. To make his point stronger, he banged his pan against the dustbin several times. This action gave him confidence and emphasized his determination to quit the job soon.

4. What was Sitaram’s profession and what was he doing?

Sitaram was the washerman’s son. He worked by delivering bundles of freshly pressed clothes to customers’ homes. In the story, he is described walking barefoot along the road with a large bundle of clothes balanced on his head, visiting different houses on his delivery round.

5. What did Sitaram promise to do for Nathu?

Sitaram was sympathetic towards Nathu’s situation. He promised to keep a lookout for any job opportunities that might suit him. This shows his helpful nature. Later, when he visited Mrs. Srivastava’s house, he even recommended Nathu for the sweeper’s job she needed filled.

6. What conversation took place between Nathu and Sitaram about money?

Sitaram asked if Nathu was annoyed because the bank refused to pay him two extra rupees a month. Nathu angrily replied that he had not even received his regular pay, though it was already the twentieth. He complained bitterly that a bank should not withhold wages.

7. What did Mrs. Srivastava tell Sitaram when he mentioned Nathu?

When Sitaram told her that Nathu was looking for work because the bank had not paid him, Mrs. Srivastava responded with interest. She said that she was indeed looking for a sweeper. She asked Sitaram to send Nathu to her house the next day to discuss it.

8. How did Sitaram describe Nathu’s job situation to Mrs. Srivastava?

Sitaram told Mrs. Srivastava that Nathu was presently employed with the bank but wanted to leave because they weren’t paying his wages. He suggested that Nathu would be available for work from the following month, indirectly creating a rumour about the bank’s financial condition.

9. What qualities of Sitaram are revealed in the extract?

Sitaram is shown as helpful, friendly, and observant. He notices Nathu’s problem and offers to help by finding him another job. He also takes initiative when he hears about Mrs. Srivastava’s need for a sweeper, suggesting Nathu immediately. His kindness contrasts with Nathu’s irritation.

10. How did Mrs. Srivastava react to Sitaram’s information?

Mrs. Srivastava was surprised but pleased to hear that a sweeper was available. She immediately expressed her interest and asked Sitaram to send Nathu to her house the next day. Her response was practical and opportunistic, as she needed someone urgently for household work.

Three-Mark Questions 

1. Why was Nathu angry with the bank and how did he show it?

Nathu was deeply annoyed because, despite it being the twentieth of the month, he had not received his regular wages. He felt humiliated that a bank, of all places, could delay the salary of a poor man like him. Moreover, his request for an extra two rupees a month had been refused. To express his anger, he grumbled aloud, swept carelessly, and banged his pan against the dustbin to give himself confidence and assert his decision to quit.

2. Describe the meeting between Nathu and Sitaram.

While Nathu was angrily sweeping the steps of the Pipalnagar Bank, Sitaram, the washerman’s son, passed by with a heavy bundle of freshly pressed clothes balanced on his head. Seeing the dust rise, Sitaram asked Nathu not to raise so much dirt and teased him about not getting his two extra rupees. This prompted Nathu to complain about not even receiving his regular pay. Sitaram sympathized and promised to find him another job, showing his concern and friendliness.

3. What impression do you form of Nathu’s character from this extract?

Nathu appears to be a hardworking but frustrated sweeper. He feels undervalued and exploited by the bank authorities because they withheld his pay. His constant grumbling and careless sweeping reflect his irritation. Yet, his decision to quit once paid shows his sense of self-respect. He is poor, insecure, and dependent on his wages for survival. His actions, like banging the pan, reflect both anger and helplessness. Overall, he is a victim of circumstances, struggling for financial stability.

4. How did Sitaram help Nathu without his knowledge?

Sitaram, on hearing Nathu’s complaints, sympathized with him and promised to look for suitable work. Later, when he visited Mrs. Srivastava’s house, he overheard her need for a sweeper. Without hesitation, he suggested Nathu for the job, mentioning that the bank was not paying him. Though innocent in intention, his words unintentionally planted a seed of doubt about the bank’s financial stability, which would later spread as a rumour. His kindness indirectly triggered the larger crisis of the story.

5. What role does Mrs. Srivastava play in carrying forward the plot?

Though her part is brief, Mrs. Srivastava plays a key role in continuing the chain of misunderstanding. When Sitaram mentioned that Nathu wanted to leave the bank due to non-payment of salary, she took interest and asked to see him. This seemingly small conversation added credibility to the rumour that the bank could not pay its employees. Her acceptance of Sitaram’s version without questioning reflects how quickly gossips spread. Thus, she unknowingly helps in developing the rumour that eventually causes panic in Pipalnagar.

RTC Questions 

Extract 1

Nathu grumbled to himself as he swept the steps of the Pipalnagar Bank, owned by Seth Govind Ram. He used the small broom hurriedly and carelessly, and the dust, after rising in a cloud above his head, settled down again on the steps.

Q1. Who was Nathu and what work was he doing here?

Ans. Nathu was a sweeper employed at Pipalnagar Bank. He was cleaning the steps of the bank with a small broom.

Q2. Why was Nathu grumbling?

Ans. He was upset because he had not received his salary for two months and was worried about managing his expenses.

Q3. Who was the owner of the bank?

Ans. The bank was owned by Seth Govind Ram, a wealthy businessman of Pipalnagar.

Q4. What does the line “hurriedly and carelessly” show about Nathu’s mood?

Ans. It shows that Nathu was annoyed and frustrated, so he was not doing his work properly.

Q5. How does this extract set the tone of the story?

Ans. It introduces Nathu’s irritation, which later triggers gossip and misunderstanding that leads to the rumour about the bank’s collapse.

Extract 2

“I don’t get my pay on time. How am I to live? My landlord is after me for the rent. He has given me notice. If I don’t pay him this week, out I go.”

Q1. Who is the speaker here?

Ans. Nathu, the sweeper of Pipalnagar Bank, is the speaker.

Q2. Why was the landlord after him?

Ans. The landlord was demanding rent, and since Nathu had not been paid his salary, he could not pay it.

Q3. How did Nathu express his frustration?

Ans. He complained angrily and shared his difficulties with Sitaram, the washerman’s son.

Q4. To whom did Nathu say these words?

Ans. He said them to Sitaram, who had stopped to talk while passing by.

Q5. How does this complaint play a role in the spreading of rumours?

Ans. Sitaram repeated Nathu’s complaint to others, and it was twisted into a rumour that the bank itself was facing financial trouble.

Extract 3

“Have you heard?” said Sitaram to his mother, “the bank hasn’t paid Nathu for two months. He is shouting about it all over the place.”

Q1. Who was Sitaram?

Ans. Sitaram was the washerman’s son who carried clothes to customers.

Q2. Who had told him about the non-payment?

Ans. Nathu himself had told Sitaram while complaining about his difficulties.

Q3. What was Sitaram’s mistake in retelling the matter?

Ans. He exaggerated Nathu’s complaint, making it sound as if the bank itself had no money, instead of just Nathu not being paid.

Q4. How did Sitaram’s words affect the listeners?

Ans. They became suspicious of the bank’s stability and started gossiping about its possible collapse.

Q5. What theme of the story is highlighted here?

Ans. The theme of gossip and rumours spreading quickly in small towns is highlighted.

Extract 4

“Is it true the bank is going bankrupt?” asked Mrs. Srivastava. “That’s what I heard,” said another lady. “My cousin withdrew all her money yesterday.”

Q1. Who were these ladies?

Ans. They were local townspeople gossiping about the Pipalnagar Bank in the bazaar.

Q2. What rumour were they discussing?

Ans. They were discussing the rumour that the Pipalnagar Bank was going bankrupt.

Q3. Was this rumour true?

Ans. No, it was completely false. The bank was stable, but gossip distorted the facts.

Q4. How did such conversations affect the public?

Ans. They caused panic among depositors, who rushed to the bank to withdraw their money.

Q5. What does this show about human psychology?

Ans. It shows that people are quick to believe rumours and act out of fear without verifying facts.

Extract 5

By noon, there was a crowd outside the bank, demanding their money. Clerks and cashiers tried to handle the rush, but the rumour had spread too far. The bank was said to have collapsed, although Seth Govind Ram was holidaying in Kashmir, unaware of the chaos.

Q1. Why had people gathered outside the bank?

Ans. They had gathered in panic to withdraw their money because of the rumour that the bank had collapsed.

Q2. How did the bank staff react to the situation?

Ans. The clerks and cashiers tried to control the rush but could not stop the panic.

Q3. What was the rumour about the bank?

Ans. The rumour was that the Pipalnagar Bank had collapsed or gone bankrupt.

Q4. Where was Seth Govind Ram at this time?

Ans. He was holidaying in Kashmir, unaware of the crisis in Pipalnagar.

Q5. What irony is shown in this ending?

Ans. The bank did not actually collapse, but people’s panic caused by rumours made it appear so—ironically, “the boy who broke the bank” was Nathu, though unknowingly.

Passage 2: And Sitaram, glad that …………………………..a flower garden.

Paraphrase

Sitaram, happy that he had helped both a customer and his friend, carried his bag on his shoulder and walked away.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Srivastava needed to shop. Before leaving, she instructed the ayah (maid) to take care of the baby and told the cook not to delay the midday meal. She then left for the Pipalnagar market to visit the cloth shops, as usual.

             At one end of the market stood a big tamarind tree, giving plenty of shade. Under it, Mrs. Srivastava found her friend, Mrs. Bhushan, resting from the heat. Mrs. Bhushan was fanning herself with a large handkerchief. She complained about the summer, saying it was the hottest ever in Pipalnagar. Then she showed her friend a piece of cloth she intended to buy, and for five minutes they talked about its colour, quality, and design.

          After this topic was over, Mrs. Srivastava told her friend: “Do you know that Seth Govind Ram’s bank cannot even pay its staff? The sweeper complained to me this morning that he hasn’t been paid for more than a month!”

          “Terrible!” said Mrs. Bhushan. “If they cannot pay the sweeper, then surely no one else is being paid either.”

She then left her friend and went to find her husband, who was sitting outside Kamal Kishore’s photo shop, chatting with the owner.

When she saw him, she said angrily: “So here you are! I’ve been searching for you for an hour. Where did you vanish?”

          “Nowhere,” replied Mr. Bhushan calmly. “If you had stayed in one shop, I could have found you easily. But you keep moving from one shop to another, like a bee hopping from flower to flower.”

Glossary

Hoisted his bag – lifted/carrying his bag

Ayah – maid or female servant

Customary – usual, habitual

Tamarind tree – a large tropical tree giving shade

Bazaar – market place

Sheltering – taking cover, resting from heat

Affirmed – declared with certainty

Shade, texture, design – qualities of cloth (colour tone, feel, pattern)

Shocking – surprising and disturbing

In a bad way – in financial difficulty, troubled

Stationary – staying in one place

Like a bee in a flower garden – simile meaning moving quickly from one shop to another, restless

MCQs 

1. Who carried a bag on his shoulder and went away?

a) Nathu

b) Sitaram

c) Govind Ram

d) Kamal Kishore

Answer: b) Sitaram

2. Before leaving for shopping, what did Mrs. Srivastava do?

a) Locked the house

b) Gave instructions to the ayah and cook

c) Went straight to the bazaar

d) Called her husband

Answer: b) Gave instructions to the ayah and cook

3. Where did Mrs. Srivastava go for shopping?

a) Kamal Kishore’s shop

b) Seth Govind Ram’s bank

c) Pipalnagar marketplace

d) Bus stand

Answer: c) Pipalnagar marketplace

4. What type of tree grew at the bazaar?

a) Neem

b) Tamarind

c) Mango

d) Banyan

Answer: b) Tamarind

5. Who was fanning herself with a handkerchief?

a) Mrs. Srivastava

b) Ayah

c) Mrs. Bhushan

d) Cook

Answer: c) Mrs. Bhushan

6. What did Mrs. Bhushan complain about?

a) Expensive cloth

b) The extreme summer heat

c) Her husband’s laziness

d) Noisy market

Answer: b) The extreme summer heat

7. What was shown by Mrs. Bhushan to Mrs. Srivastava?

a) Jewellery

b) A sample of cloth

c) Fruits

d) A handkerchief

Answer: b) A sample of cloth

8. What did the two ladies discuss for five minutes?

a) Market gossip

b) Price of vegetables

c) Cloth’s shade, texture, and design

d) Ayah’s behaviour

Answer: c) Cloth’s shade, texture, and design

9. Who complained about unpaid wages?

a) The cook

b) The sweeper (Nathu)

c) Kamal Kishore

d) Mr. Bhushan

Answer: b) The sweeper (Nathu)

10. How long had the sweeper not been paid?

a) A week

b) Fifteen days

c) One month

d) Two months

Answer: c) One month

11. What was Mrs. Bhushan’s reaction to unpaid wages?

a) She laughed

b) She was shocked

c) She ignored it

d) She scolded Nathu

Answer: b) She was shocked

12. Who did Mrs. Bhushan go to find after meeting Mrs. Srivastava?

a) Nathu

b) Her ayah

c) Her husband

d) Govind Ram

Answer: c) Her husband

13. Where was Mr. Bhushan sitting?

a) Inside the bank

b) At home

c) Outside Kamal Kishore’s photo shop

d) Under the tamarind tree

Answer: c) Outside Kamal Kishore’s photo shop

14. With whom was Mr. Bhushan talking?

a) Seth Govind Ram

b) A customer

c) Kamal Kishore

d) The sweeper

Answer: c) Kamal Kishore

15. How long had Mrs. Bhushan been looking for her husband?

a) Half an hour

b) One hour

c) Ten minutes

d) Two hours

Answer: b) One hour

16. What did Mr. Bhushan say about his wife’s shopping habit?

a) She spent too much

b) She moved like a bee in a flower garden

c) She was too slow

d) She disliked shopping

Answer: b) She moved like a bee in a flower garden

17. What does the simile “like a bee in a flower garden” suggest?

a) She was hardworking

b) She moved quickly from one shop to another

c) She loved honey

d) She was noisy

Answer: b) She moved quickly from one shop to another

18. Who was the owner of the photographic shop?

a) Govind Ram

b) Kamal Kishore

c) Nathu

d) Sitaram

Answer: b) Kamal Kishore

19. Who spread the rumour about the bank first?

a) Mrs. Srivastava

b) Mrs. Bhushan

c) Mr. Bhushan

d) Sitaram

Answer: a) Mrs. Srivastava

20. The passage is taken from which story?

a) The Model Millionaire

b) The Pedestrian

c) The Boy Who Broke the Bank

d) A Doctor’s Journal Entry

Answer: c) The Boy Who Broke the Bank

One-Mark Questions 

1. Who hoisted his bag on his shoulders?

Ans. Sitaram.

2. Whom had Sitaram helped before leaving?

Ans. Both a customer and his friend.

3. Where did Mrs. Srivastava go after giving instructions at home?

Ans. She went to the Pipalnagar marketplace.

4. What was Mrs. Srivastava’s main shopping interest?

Ans. Cloth shops.

5. Where did Mrs. Srivastava find her friend?

Ans. Under a shady tamarind tree in the bazaar.

6. Who was fanning herself with a large handkerchief?

Ans. Mrs. Bhushan.

7. What did Mrs. Bhushan complain about?

Ans. The extreme summer heat.

8. What did Mrs. Bhushan claim about the heat?

Ans. That it was the hottest summer in the history of Pipalnagar.

9. What did Mrs. Bhushan show Mrs. Srivastava?

Ans. A sample of cloth she planned to buy.

10. For how long did the two ladies discuss the cloth?

Ans. For five minutes.

11. What three aspects of cloth did they discuss?

Ans. Shade, texture, and design.

12. Who mentioned Seth Govind Ram’s bank’s problems?

Ans. Mrs. Srivastava.

13. Who complained about unpaid wages to Mrs. Srivastava?

Ans. The bank sweeper, Nathu.

14. How long had the sweeper not been paid?

Ans. For over a month.

15. What was Mrs. Bhushan’s reaction to the news?

Ans. She said, “Shocking!”

16. What did Mrs. Bhushan assume if the sweeper wasn’t paid?

Ans. That no other employees were getting paid either.

17. Where did Mrs. Bhushan go after leaving her friend?

Ans. In search of her husband.

18. Where was Mr. Bhushan found?

Ans. In front of Kamal Kishore’s photographic shop.

19. Who was Mr. Bhushan talking with?

Ans. Kamal Kishore, the owner of the shop.

20. What comparison did Mr. Bhushan use for his wife’s shopping habit?

Ans. He compared her to a bee in a flower garden.

Two-Mark Questions 

1. What did Mrs. Srivastava do before leaving for the market?

Ans. She instructed the ayah to look after the baby and told the cook not to be late with the midday meal. After giving these instructions, she set out for the Pipalnagar marketplace to make her usual round of the cloth shops.

2. Describe the setting where Mrs. Srivastava met Mrs. Bhushan.

Ans. At one end of the Pipalnagar bazaar, there was a large shady tamarind tree. It was under this tree that Mrs. Srivastava found her friend, Mrs. Bhushan, who was resting there and trying to escape the scorching summer heat.

3. How did Mrs. Bhushan protect herself from the heat?

Ans. Mrs. Bhushan was fanning herself with a large handkerchief while sitting under the shade of the tamarind tree. She also complained about the hot weather, insisting that it was the hottest summer in the history of Pipalnagar.

4. What cloth-related discussion took place between the two ladies?

Ans. Mrs. Bhushan showed Mrs. Srivastava a sample of cloth she intended to buy. For about five minutes, they discussed the cloth’s shade, texture, and design before moving on to other topics of conversation.

5. What information did Mrs. Srivastava share about the bank?

Ans. She told her friend that Seth Govind Ram’s bank could not even pay its employees. She said the sweeper, Nathu, had complained that he had not received his wages for over a month, which she considered alarming.

6. How did Mrs. Bhushan react to the bank news?

Ans. She was shocked. She immediately assumed that if the bank was unable to pay even its sweeper, then the other employees must also not be receiving their salaries, indicating serious financial trouble for the bank.

7. Where did Mrs. Bhushan go after talking to her friend?

Ans. She left Mrs. Srivastava at the tamarind tree and went to look for her husband. Eventually, she found him sitting outside Kamal Kishore’s photographic shop, engaged in conversation with the shop’s owner.

8. What complaint did Mrs. Bhushan make to her husband?

Ans. She complained that she had been searching for him for nearly an hour. She expressed her irritation at his absence, asking where he had disappeared during her long search.

9. What was Mr. Bhushan’s witty reply to his wife?

Ans. He said that if she had stayed in one place instead of moving around from shop to shop, he could have found her easily. He compared her constant shopping to a bee moving among flowers in a garden.

10. How does this passage show the spread of rumours?

Ans. The passage shows how gossip spreads quickly: Nathu’s private complaint about wages was passed to Sitaram, then to Mrs. Srivastava, and further to Mrs. Bhushan, who exaggerated its seriousness. Each repetition spread the rumour more widely in Pipalnagar.

Three-Mark Questions 

1. Explain how the conversation between Mrs. Srivastava and Mrs. Bhushan reflects the theme of gossip in the story.

Ans. The story shows how a simple complaint can grow into a damaging rumor. Mrs. Srivastava casually repeats the sweeper’s grievance to her friend, Mrs. Bhushan. Instead of checking the facts, Mrs. Bhushan immediately assumes the worst—that none of the employees are being paid. This exaggeration fuels suspicion and contributes to the rapid spread of false information in the community, eventually leading to panic about the bank’s stability.

2. What role do Mrs. Srivastava and Mrs. Bhushan play in the chain of events?

Ans. Both women act as carriers of gossip. Mrs. Srivastava passes on Nathu’s personal complaint without concern for its accuracy. Mrs. Bhushan exaggerates the news further, assuming all employees are unpaid. Their careless conversation, though casual, becomes part of the rumor chain that spreads throughout Pipalnagar, showing how ordinary people unknowingly escalate small issues into community-wide concerns.

3. Describe the significance of the tamarind tree scene in the passage.

Ans. The tamarind tree serves as both a resting place and a centre of gossip. In the hot bazaar, it becomes a meeting point for Mrs. Srivastava and Mrs. Bhushan. Their idle conversation under its shade triggers the spread of a damaging rumour about the bank. The tree, therefore, symbolizes how informal public spaces can become breeding grounds for misinformation, influencing the flow of events in small towns like Pipalnagar.

4. How is humour used in the interaction between Mr. and Mrs. Bhushan?

Ans. The author uses light humour to portray the couple’s banter. Mrs. Bhushan scolds her husband for being difficult to find, while Mr. Bhushan cleverly replies that her constant movement made her hard to locate. His comparison of her shopping habits to a bee in a flower garden adds a playful touch, reflecting marital teasing and everyday humour, which lightens the otherwise serious theme of spreading rumours about the bank’s crisis.

5. In what ways does this passage highlight the dangers of miscommunication?

Ans. The passage highlights how small, unchecked remarks can have large consequences. Nathu’s simple complaint about unpaid wages, repeated by Mrs. Srivastava and misinterpreted by Mrs. Bhushan, quickly turns into alarming news. Each retelling magnifies the problem. Without verification, such miscommunication spreads fear and distrust. This demonstrates how misinformation, even when spread casually, can escalate into public panic, showing the fragile nature of trust in communities like Pipalnagar.

E. Reference to Context

Extract 1

“And Sitaram, glad that he had been of service to both a customer and his friend, hoisted his bag on his shoulders and went his way.”

Q1. Who was Sitaram?

A1. Sitaram was the washerman’s son in Pipalnagar.

Q2. Whom had he served in this line?

A2. He had served both Mrs. Srivastava (a customer) and his friend Nathu (the sweeper).

Q3. How did he help his friend?

A3. He told Mrs. Srivastava about Nathu’s need for work, thereby trying to find him employment.

Q4. What action of Sitaram is described here?

A4. He hoisted his bag on his shoulders and left.

Q5. What impression do we get of Sitaram’s character?

A5. He appears helpful, cheerful, and content after doing a small service.

Extract 2

“Mrs. Srivastava had to do some shopping.”

Q1. Who was Mrs. Srivastava?

A1. She was a housewife from Pipalnagar and a customer of Sitaram’s family.

Q2. What was she preparing to do?

A2. She was preparing to go shopping.

Q3. Where was she going for shopping?

A3. She was going to the Pipalnagar marketplace.

Q4. What kind of shopping did she usually do?

A4. She usually visited cloth shops, making her customary tour there.

Q5. How is this shopping linked to the story’s main incident?

A5. During her shopping, she spread the rumour about the bank, causing public panic.

Extract 3

“She gave instructions to the ayah about looking after the baby, and told the cook not to be late with the mid-day meal.”

Q1. What instructions did Mrs. Srivastava give before leaving home?

A1. She told the ayah to look after the baby and instructed the cook to be on time with lunch.

Q2. What does the mention of an ayah suggest about her family?

A2. It suggests that she came from a well-off family that could afford domestic servants.

Q3. Why did she give such instructions?

A3. She wanted to ensure her home duties were in order before going shopping.

Q4. What does this reveal about her as a homemaker?

A4. She was responsible and cared for her family’s smooth functioning.

Q5. Which meal is referred to in this passage?

A5. The mid-day meal (lunch).

Extract 4

“Then she set out for the Pipalnagar marketplace, to make her customary tour of the cloth shops.”

Q1. Where did Mrs. Srivastava go?

A1. She went to the Pipalnagar marketplace.

Q2. What kind of shops did she usually visit?

A2. She usually visited cloth shops.

Q3. What does the word customary indicate here?

A3. It shows that this was her regular habit or routine.

Q4. How does her outing affect the chain of events in the story?

A4. During her outing, she spread the bank rumour which eventually caused a crisis.

Q5. What does this line reveal about her lifestyle?

A5. It shows she had leisure time and financial comfort to shop regularly.

Extract 5

“She gave instructions… and then she set out for the Pipalnagar marketplace…”

Q1. What preparations did she make before leaving?

A1. She gave instructions to her servants and ensured her home was in order.

Q2. Why is her shopping trip important in the story?

A2. Because she becomes one of the first carriers of the false news about the bank.

Q3. What role does gossip play in this part?

A3. Gossip is shown as a casual activity that can unexpectedly lead to serious consequences.

Q4. Who had given her the idea that the bank was in trouble?

A4. Sitaram, the washerman’s son.

Q5. What theme of the story does this highlight?

A5. It highlights the theme of how rumours spread quickly and create panic in society.

Page 3: Don’t start grumbling ……………………….. on the pavement.

Paraphrase

Kamal Kishore was told that the Pipalnagar Bank had stopped paying its employees and might go bankrupt. Shocked, he passed this information to his neighbour, barber Deep Chand, warning him to withdraw his money quickly. Deep Chand, startled, accidentally cut an elderly customer’s ear while shaving. The customer, distressed both by the injury and the alarming news, rushed to the general merchant’s shop to make a phone call to Seth Govind Ram, the bank’s owner. On learning that the Seth was away in Kashmir, he wrongly assumed the banker had run away to avoid responsibility. He returned to the barber’s shop and spread the “confirmed” rumour that the bank had collapsed. The story spread rapidly through the bazaar, from shopkeepers to beggars, like a raging forest fire.

Glossary

Bankrupt – unable to pay debts

Collapse – complete failure or breakdown

Partition – a divider or wall between two places

Startled – suddenly shocked or surprised

Nicked – made a small cut

Yelped – gave a short, sharp cry of pain

Distress – suffering, pain, or worry

Beeline – the shortest, quickest path

The bird has flown – an expression meaning someone has escaped or run away

Rapid as forest fire – spreading very quickly

MCQs 

1. Who first spread the news of the bank not paying employees?

(a) Nathu

(b) Sitaram

(c) Kamal Kishore

(d) Sitaram told Kamal Kishore

Ans. (d) Sitaram 

2. What shop did Kamal Kishore own?

(a) A grocery shop

(b) A furniture shop

(c) A photographic shop

(d) A jewellery shop

Ans. (c) A photographic shop

3. Who was Deep Chand?

(a) A grocer

(b) A banker

(c) A barber

(d) A fruit vendor

Ans. (c) A barber

4. Whom did Deep Chand accidentally cut?

(a) Kamal Kishore

(b) An elderly gentleman

(c) Seth Govind Ram

(d) A beggar

Ans. (b) An elderly gentleman

5. Why did the elderly gentleman run to the merchant’s shop?

(a) To complain about the barber

(b) To use the telephone

(c) To buy something

(d) To meet Seth Govind Ram

Ans. (b) To use the telephone

6. Where was Seth Govind Ram at the time?

(a) Delhi

(b) Calcutta

(c) Kashmir

(d) Pipalnagar

Ans. (c) Kashmir

7. What did the elderly gentleman assume about Seth?

(a) He was genuinely on holiday

(b) He had run away

(c) He was in hospital

(d) He had closed the bank

Ans. (b) He had run away

8. How did the news spread through the bazaar?

(a) Slowly

(b) Secretly

(c) Like a forest fire

(d) It did not spread

Ans. (c) Like a forest fire

One-Mark Questions 

1. Who informed Kamal Kishore about the bank? – Another man in conversation

2. Which bank was rumoured to be collapsing? – The Pipalnagar Bank

3. Why did Kamal Kishore sit up suddenly? – He was shocked at the news

4. Whom did Kishore ask about the bank? – Deep Chand, the barber

5. What warning did Kishore give Deep Chand? – To withdraw his money quickly

6. Who was getting a shave in Deep Chand’s shop? – An elderly gentleman

7. What mistake did the barber make? – He nicked the customer’s ear

8. Why did the customer yelp? – From pain and bad news

9. Where did the customer run after leaving the shop? – The general merchant’s store

10. Why did he go to the general merchant’s? – To use the telephone

11. Whose number did he dial? – Seth Govind Ram’s

12. Was Seth at home? – No

13. Where was Seth? – Holidaying in Kashmir

14. Did the elderly man believe this? – No

15. What did he assume instead? – That Seth had run away

16. What words did he use for Seth’s escape? – “The bird has flown”

17. Where did the elderly man rush after making the call? – Back to the barber’s shop

18. What did he announce there? – That Seth had left town and the bank would collapse

19. How did the news spread? – Rapidly, like a forest fire

20. To whom did the news spread in the bazaar? – Traders, vendors, and beggars

Two-Mark Questions 

1. Why did Kamal Kishore get alarmed?

Ans. Kamal Kishore was told that the Pipalnagar Bank had stopped paying employees and was close to collapsing. As a shop owner, he feared the consequences of such financial failure. This news worried him and made him pass it on quickly to others, starting the rumour chain.

2. How did the rumour affect Deep Chand?

Ans. Deep Chand was shaving an elderly customer when Kamal Kishore told him the bank might collapse. Startled by the news, his hand shook, and he accidentally cut his customer’s ear. This shows how sudden rumours can disturb people’s concentration and cause unexpected accidents.

3. Why was the elderly gentleman in distress?

Ans. The elderly customer was distressed both because of the pain from the cut on his ear and because of the shocking news that the bank might collapse. He felt insecure about his money and immediately rushed to confirm the situation, showing panic caused by gossip.

4. Where did the elderly man run, and why?

Ans. He ran to the general merchant’s store where there was a telephone. He wanted to contact Seth Govind Ram, the owner of the Pipalnagar Bank, to check the truth of the rumour. His hurried action shows how quickly fear spreads in a community.

5. What happened when he called Seth Govind Ram?

Ans. When the elderly man called, he was told that Seth Govind Ram was away in Kashmir. Instead of accepting this simple explanation, the man assumed that Seth had run away to escape financial responsibility. His mistrust fuelled the rumour further.

6. What conclusion did the elderly man draw?

Ans. He concluded that the banker had fled and the bank would definitely collapse. This conclusion was not based on facts but on fear and suspicion, proving how gossip twists truth into panic and spreads like wildfire among people.

7. How did he spread the news further?

Ans. After hearing that Seth was away, the elderly man rushed back to the barber’s shop and loudly declared that Seth had left town and the bank was finished. His words acted like confirmation for everyone listening, and they carried the news forward.

8. How did the rumour spread in the bazaar?

Ans. The rumour spread with the speed of a forest fire. From the general merchant’s shop, it moved to the grain dealer, then to other customers, and finally reached every shopkeeper, vendor, and beggar in the bazaar. Gossip made the entire town restless.

9. What does the phrase “the bird has flown” mean in the story?

Ans. In the story, the phrase means that Seth Govind Ram had supposedly run away to escape his duties. The elderly man used this idiom to exaggerate the situation, and it became evidence for others that the bank was collapsing.

10. What role did mistrust play in spreading the rumour?

Ans. Mistrust made the elderly man doubt Seth’s holiday in Kashmir. Instead of believing the truth, he assumed escape. This mistrust spread panic, turning an ordinary absence into a sign of crisis. Thus, mistrust acted as fuel for the rumour’s wildfire spread.

Three-Mark Questions 

1. Describe how Kamal Kishore reacted to the news of the bank.

Ans. When Kamal Kishore heard that the Pipalnagar Bank had stopped paying salaries and was about to collapse, he became alarmed. Although he did not personally have an account, he knew his neighbour did. He quickly called out to Deep Chand, the barber, and advised him to withdraw his money. This shows how even those not directly involved become messengers of fear, spreading half-baked news without confirming its truth.

2. How did Deep Chand’s accident show the impact of rumours?

Ans. Chand was shaving an elderly gentleman when Kamal Kishore warned him about the bank’s collapse. The shocking news startled him so much that his hand shook, and he accidentally cut his customer’s ear. The customer’s pain and the bad news combined to create panic. This incident shows that rumours can have immediate physical and social effects, disturbing normal work and spreading anxiety in unexpected ways.

3. What was the reaction of the elderly customer to the rumour?

Ans. The elderly customer was deeply troubled. Already in pain from the barber’s cut, he was alarmed by the news of the bank’s possible collapse. Without even finishing his shave, he ran to the general merchant’s shop to make a phone call to Seth Govind Ram. On hearing Seth was in Kashmir, he assumed the banker had fled, spreading further panic by telling everyone that the bank was ruined.

4. How did the elderly man’s assumption worsen the situation?

Ans. The elderly man refused to believe that Seth Govind Ram was simply on holiday. Instead, he assumed that Seth had run away to avoid responsibility. This false assumption became “proof” for others that the bank had collapsed. He carried this news back to the barber’s shop and spread it further. His mistrust and hasty judgment gave the rumour more credibility and caused widespread panic in the bazaar.

5. Explain how the rumour spread like a forest fire in the bazaar.

Ans. The rumour began with Kamal Kishore and spread quickly through Deep Chand, the elderly customer, and finally into the bazaar. From the general merchant’s shop it passed to the grain dealer, then to the bootmaker, fruit vendor, jeweller, and even beggars. Everyone repeated it, adding their own doubts and fears. Like a forest fire, it needed no proof—just fuel from gossip and mistrust. Very soon, the entire bazaar believed the bank had collapsed.

RTC Extracts with Questions

RTC 1

“The Pipalnagar Bank is about to collapse. You’d better get your money out as soon as you can!”

Q1. Who is the speaker here? – Kamal Kishore

Q2. To whom is this addressed? – Deep Chand, the barber

Q3. What was the rumour about the bank? – That it was about to collapse

Q4. Did Kamal Kishore himself have an account in the bank? – No

Q5. Why did he still spread the rumour? – Because his neighbour had an account

RTC 2

“Deep Chand, who was cutting the hair of an elderly gentleman, was so startled that his hand shook and he nicked his customer’s right ear.”

Q1. Why was Deep Chand startled? – He heard about the bank’s collapse

Q2. Who told him the news? – Kamal Kishore

Q3. Who got hurt because of this? – The elderly customer

Q4. What was the barber doing at that time? – Shaving the gentleman

Q5. What does this show about rumours? – They disturb and harm people suddenly

RTC 3

“The bird has flown! Seth Govind Ram has left town. Definitely it means a collapse.”

Q1. Who said this? – The elderly gentleman

Q2. Where was Seth actually? – Holidaying in Kashmir

Q3. What did the speaker assume? – That Seth had run away

Q4. What does the phrase “the bird has flown” mean? – The person has escaped

Q5. How did this statement affect the rumour? – It gave false confirmation and spread panic.

RTC 4

“With one side of his neck still unshaven, he sped across the road to the general merchant’s store where there was a telephone.”

Q1. Who is “he” here? – The elderly gentleman

Q2. Why did he leave the barber’s shop? – To call Seth Govind Ram

Q3. Why was his shave incomplete? – He left in panic after hearing the news

Q4. What does this show about his state of mind? – He was anxious and impatient

Q5. How does this add humour to the story? – A half-shaved man running in panic looks comical

RTC 5

“The news spread through the bazaar with the rapidity of forest fire.”

Q1. What was the news? – That the Pipalnagar Bank was collapsing

Q2. Who first started the rumour? – Nathu, indirectly, then Sitaram

Q3. How did it reach the bazaar? – Through Kamal Kishore, Deep Chand, and the elderly man

Q4. What is compared to a forest fire here? – The spread of the rumour

Q5. What does this simile suggest? – That rumours spread fast and uncontrollably.

Passage 4: Old Ganpat the beggar ………………………aggravated their mood.

Paraphrase

Old Ganpat, a beggar with a crooked leg, had spent years sitting on the pavement, begging. People had only seen him being carried away in a trolley at night. No one had ever seen him walk. But the moment he heard that the bank was about to collapse, he shocked everyone by jumping to his feet and running fast towards the bank. People soon learned that he had a thousand rupees in savings there!

In Pipalnagar, men gathered in groups on street corners to discuss the crisis. The town rarely faced disasters like floods, earthquakes, or droughts. So, the news of the bank’s possible failure made everyone restless. Some people bragged about being wise enough to withdraw their money earlier, or about never trusting the bank in the first place. Others tried to explain the bank’s downfall by blaming Seth Govind Ram for overspending. Rumours spread—some said he had fled the State, others the country, another claimed he was hiding in Pipalnagar, and one even said he had hanged himself on the tamarind tree and was discovered by the sweeper-boy.

By noon, the small bank had run out of cash. The worried manager faced a dilemma. Emergency funds could be arranged only from a bank thirty miles away, but he doubted the crowd would wait. Seth Govind Ram, who lived comfortably on his houseboat in Kashmir, was unreachable.

People were turned away from the counters and asked to return the next day. This angered them. They gathered outside the bank shouting, “Give us our money or we’ll break in!” and “Fetch the Seth—we know he’s hiding in a locker!” Mischief-makers, who had no money in the bank, also joined the crowd and worsened the situation.

Glossary

Alms – money or food given to the poor

Trolley – a small wheeled cart used to carry things or people

Crooked leg – bent or deformed leg

Collapse – sudden failure or breakdown

Speculating – forming theories or guesses without firm evidence

Excesses – overindulgent, reckless spending or behaviour

Harassed – troubled, stressed, or worried

Dilemma – a difficult situation with no easy solution

Emergency funds – money kept aside for urgent use

Counters – desks in a bank where transactions take place

Mischief-makers – people who deliberately create trouble

Aggravated – made worse, intensified

MCQS

1.    Who was Old Ganpat?
(a) A shopkeeper
(b) A beggar
(c) A bank clerk
(d) A farmer
Answer: (b) A beggar

2.    What physical deformity did Ganpat have?
(a) Blind eyes
(b) Crooked leg
(c) Hump on his back
(d) Bent arm
Answer: (b) Crooked leg

3.    Where did Ganpat usually sit?
(a) In front of the temple
(b) On the pavement
(c) Near the market gate
(d) Outside the bank
Answer: (b) On the pavement

4.    What did Ganpat do for years?
(a) Sold fruits
(b) Worked as a porter
(c) Begged for money
(d) Cleaned the streets
Answer: (c) Begged for money

5.    How was Ganpat usually taken away at night?
(a) In a bullock cart
(b) By his family
(c) In a trolley
(d) On a stretcher
Answer: (c) In a trolley

6.    What had no one ever seen Ganpat do before?
(a) Speak
(b) Eat
(c) Walk
(d) Laugh
Answer: (c) Walk

7.    What news made Ganpat jump up and run?
(a) His son had come back
(b) The bank was about to collapse
(c) He had won a lottery
(d) A thief had stolen his money
Answer: (b) The bank was about to collapse

8.    How did Ganpat surprise everyone?
(a) By singing aloud
(b) By running fast
(c) By crying loudly
(d) By dancing
Answer: (b) By running fast

9.    How much money did Ganpat have in the bank?
(a) 100 rupees
(b) 500 rupees
(c) 1000 rupees
(d) 2000 rupees
Answer: (c) 1000 rupees

10. What did people in Pipalnagar do after hearing the news?
(a) Stayed home quietly
(b) Gathered in groups to discuss
(c) Went to pray
(d) Fled the town
Answer: (b) Gathered in groups to discuss

11. What kind of town was Pipalnagar?
(a) A big city
(b) A disaster-prone area
(c) A quiet, rarely troubled town
(d) A hilly region
Answer: (c) A quiet, rarely troubled town

12. What disasters did Pipalnagar rarely face?
(a) Droughts
(b) Floods
(c) Earthquakes
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these

13. How did the townspeople react to the crisis?
(a) They were calm
(b) They became restless
(c) They ignored it
(d) They celebrated
Answer: (b) They became restless

14. Some people boasted about what?
(a) Their wisdom
(b) Withdrawing their money earlier
(c) Never trusting the bank
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c)

15. Whom did people blame for the bank’s downfall?
(a) The manager
(b) The government
(c) Seth Govind Ram
(d) The cashier
Answer: (c) Seth Govind Ram

16. What reason did they give for the bank’s failure?
(a) Fraud
(b) Overspending by the Seth
(c) Natural disaster
(d) Robbery
Answer: (b) Overspending by the Seth

17. What rumours spread about Seth Govind Ram?
(a) He had fled the State
(b) He had fled the country
(c) He was hiding in Pipalnagar
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these

18. What was one strange rumour about the Seth?
(a) He had gone mad
(b) He had hanged himself
(c) He was kidnapped
(d) He became a monk
Answer: (b) He had hanged himself

19. Who was said to have found the Seth hanging?
(a) The watchman
(b) The peon
(c) The sweeper-boy
(d) The police
Answer: (c) The sweeper-boy

20. By what time did the bank run out of cash?
(a) Morning
(b) Noon
(c) Evening
(d) Midnight
Answer: (b) Noon

21. What kind of bank was it?
(a) Large national bank
(b) Small local bank
(c) Private foreign bank
(d) Cooperative society
Answer: (b) Small local bank

22. Who was facing a dilemma?
(a) The cashier
(b) The manager
(c) The Seth
(d) The police
Answer: (b) The manager

23. What was the manager worried about?
(a) His salary
(b) Angry customers
(c) Shortage of cash
(d) Locking the bank
Answer: (c) Shortage of cash

24. From where could emergency cash be arranged?
(a) From Delhi
(b) From a bank thirty miles away
(c) From the Seth’s houseboat
(d) From the treasury
Answer: (b) From a bank thirty miles away

25. Why was the manager doubtful about the plan?
(a) The crowd would not wait
(b) There was no transport
(c) He had no permission
(d) It was too late in the day
Answer: (a) The crowd would not wait

26. Where was Seth Govind Ram at that time?
(a) In Pipalnagar
(b) In Delhi
(c) On his houseboat in Kashmir
(d) Abroad
Answer: (c) On his houseboat in Kashmir

27. What was Seth Govind Ram doing there?
(a) Resting comfortably
(b) Running a business
(c) Fishing
(d) Meeting clients
Answer: (a) Resting comfortably

28. Could the manager contact Seth Govind Ram?
(a) Yes
(b) No
Answer: (b) No

29. What were the people told when the bank ran out of cash?
(a) To come next week
(b) To return the next day
(c) To wait outside
(d) To go to another branch
Answer: (b) To return the next day

30. How did the people react when turned away?
(a) They became quiet
(b) They got angry
(c) They laughed
(d) They went home
Answer: (b) They got angry

31. Where did the crowd gather?
(a) In front of the post office
(b) Outside the bank
(c) Near the Seth’s house
(d) At the railway station
Answer: (b) Outside the bank

32. What did the angry crowd shout?
(a) “Close the bank!”
(b) “Give us our money or we’ll break in!”
(c) “Save Pipalnagar!”
(d) “Long live the Seth!”
Answer: (b) “Give us our money or we’ll break in!”

33. What else did the people shout?
(a) “Fetch the Seth!”
(b) “Open the treasury!”
(c) “Call the police!”
(d) “Send the money!”
Answer: (a) “Fetch the Seth!”

34. Where did they say the Seth was hiding?
(a) In his car
(b) In a locker
(c) In his office
(d) Under the table
Answer: (b) In a locker

35. Who joined the angry crowd though they had no money in the bank?
(a) Clerks
(b) Mischief-makers
(c) Farmers
(d) Policemen
Answer: (b) Mischief-makers

36. What did the mischief-makers do?
(a) Helped calm people
(b) Spread rumours
(c) Worsened the situation
(d) Protected the bank
Answer: (c) Worsened the situation

37. What does the story mainly show about human nature?
(a) People’s greed and panic
(b) People’s patience
(c) People’s kindness
(d) People’s honesty
Answer: (a) People’s greed and panic

38. What quality of Ganpat is revealed when he runs to the bank?
(a) Laziness
(b) Greed and selfishness
(c) Courage
(d) Faith in God
Answer: (b) Greed and selfishness

39. What is the tone of the passage?
(a) Humorous and ironic
(b) Tragic and sad
(c) Romantic and dreamy
(d) Violent and angry
Answer: (a) Humorous and ironic

40. The overall theme of the passage is—
(a) The downfall of a rich man
(b) The panic caused by rumours
(c) The greed and hypocrisy of people
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer: (d) Both (b) and (c)

41. What surprised everyone about old Ganpat?

a.     He was taken to the bank in a trolley

b.    He ran on his own legs

c.     He shouted loudly

d.    He had no savings

Answer: b) He ran on his own legs

42. What did people blame Seth Govind Ram for?

a.     Theft

b.    Excesses and reckless living

c.     Cheating the customers

d.    Bribery

Answer: b) Excesses and reckless living

43. Where was Seth Govind Ram actually staying?

a.     Abroad

b.    Hiding in Pipalnagar

c.     On his houseboat in Kashmir

d.    At the tamarind tree

Answer: c) On his houseboat in Kashmir

One Mark Questions 

1. Who was Ganpat?

Ans. A beggar with a crooked leg.

2. What surprised everyone about Ganpat?

Ans. He suddenly ran on his own feet.

3. How much money did Ganpat have in the bank?

Ans. One thousand rupees.

4. Where did Ganpat usually sit?

Ans. On the pavement.

5. How was Ganpat usually carried away?

Ans. In a trolley or barrow.

6. What was rare in Pipalnagar?

Ans. Floods, earthquakes, and droughts.

7. What made people restless?

Ans. The news of the bank’s possible collapse.

8. What did some men boast about?

Ans. Taking out their money earlier.

9. Who was blamed for the crash?

Ans. Seth Govind Ram.

10. What did one rumour say about the Seth?

Ans. That he fled the country.

11. Where did another rumour say the Seth was hiding?

Ans. In Pipalnagar.

12. What did one claim about the tamarind tree?

Ans. That Seth had hanged himself there.

13. What problem did the manager face?

Ans. The bank ran out of ready cash.

14. How far was the nearest bank for emergency funds?

Ans. Thirty miles away.

15. Where was Seth Govind Ram staying?

Ans. On his houseboat in Kashmir.

16. What happened by noon?

Ans. The bank had no ready cash left.

17. What did the crowd shout outside the bank?

Ans. “Give us our money or we’ll break in!”

18. Who joined the angry crowd?

Ans. Mischief-makers without deposits.

19. What did people accuse the Seth of doing?

Ans. Hiding in a safe deposit locker.

20. How did the mischief-makers affect the crowd?

Ans. They worsened their mood.

Two-Mark Questions 

1. Why was Ganpat’s running surprising to the people?

Ans. Ganpat was a beggar with a crooked leg who had always been seen sitting on the pavement or carried away in a trolley. His sudden ability to run at top speed shocked everyone.

2. What did people learn about Ganpat’s savings?

Ans. They learned that he had a thousand rupees deposited in the Pipalnagar Bank, which explained his sudden concern.

3. Why was the crash of the bank a big issue in Pipalnagar?

Ans. Pipalnagar seldom faced disasters like floods, droughts, or earthquakes, so the bank crisis was unusual and created panic.

4. What did some men boast about during the crisis?

Ans. Some bragged that they had already withdrawn their money or had wisely never trusted the bank with deposits.

5. What reasons did people give for the bank’s collapse?

Ans. They speculated that Seth Govind Ram’s excessive lifestyle and wasteful spending caused it.

6. What rumours spread about Seth Govind Ram?

Ans. Rumours claimed he had fled the state, fled the country, was hiding in Pipalnagar, or had even hanged himself.

7. What was the dilemma of the manager?

Ans. The bank ran out of cash, and though funds could be arranged from a bank thirty miles away, he feared the crowd wouldn’t wait.

8. Why couldn’t the manager contact Seth Govind Ram?

Ans. Because the Seth was staying far away on his houseboat in Kashmir.

9. How did the people react when told to come back next day?

They grew angry, gathered outside, shouted threats, and demanded their money immediately.

10. How did mischief-makers worsen the situation?

Ans. Though they had no money in the bank, they joined the crowd, spread anger, and encouraged violent threats.

Three-Mark Questions 

1. Describe the transformation in old Ganpat’s behaviour when he heard about the bank’s collapse.

Ans. Ganpat, a beggar with a crooked leg who had always been immobile, shocked everyone by suddenly jumping to his feet and running quickly to the bank. His unusual energy revealed his anxiety about the safety of his thousand-rupee savings.

2. How did people in Pipalnagar react to the news of the bank’s possible failure?

Ans. Groups gathered at street corners, discussed, speculated, and spread rumours. Some felt proud of having withdrawn their money earlier, others blamed Seth Govind Ram, and several rumours circulated about his whereabouts and fate.

3. What rumours circulated about Seth Govind Ram during the crisis?

Ans. Rumours varied—some said he fled the State, some claimed he fled the country, others insisted he was hiding in Pipalnagar, and one even declared he had hanged himself from a tamarind tree.

4. What difficulties did the bank manager face by noon?

Ans. By noon, the bank had no ready cash left. The manager could only arrange emergency funds from a bank thirty miles away, but feared the crowd’s impatience. Moreover, he could not contact Seth Govind Ram, who was far away in Kashmir.

5. How did the crowd outside the bank become violent?

Ans. When customers were turned back and told to return the next day, they shouted angrily, threatening to break in and demanding the Seth’s presence. Mischief-makers joined them, further aggravating the mood.

Reference to Context

Extract 1:

“Old Ganpat the beggar, had a crooked leg… But now, on learning that the bank was about to collapse, Ganpat astonished everyone by leaping to his feet and actually running at top speed in the direction of the bank.”

Q1. Who was Ganpat? – A beggar with a crooked leg.

Q2. Why was his running surprising? – Because he was always seen sitting or carried away in a trolley.

Q3. Why did he suddenly run? – To protect his savings in the bank.

Q4. How much money did he have in the bank? – One thousand rupees.

Q5. What does this incident reveal about panic? – It shows how fear of losing money can cause dramatic behaviour.

Extract 2:

“Men stood in groups at street corners discussing the situation… rushing about in frenzy.”

Q1. Where was this scene taking place? – In Pipalnagar.

Q2. Why were people gathered in groups? – To discuss the bank crisis.

Q3. What disasters were rare in Pipalnagar? – Floods, earthquakes, and droughts.

Q4. How did the townspeople react to the crisis? – They speculated, boasted, and spread rumours.

Q5. What does this tell us about human nature? – People panic easily and spread gossip in uncertain times.

Extract 3:

“The Seth had fled the State, said one… found that morning by the sweeper-boy.”

Q1. Who is the Seth referred to here? – Seth Govind Ram, owner of the bank.

Q2. What did people speculate about him? – That he had fled or even committed suicide.

Q3. What does this show about rumour-spreading? – People exaggerate and invent stories in crises.

Q4. Were any of these rumours true? – No, he was in Kashmir.

Q5. Why did people believe such rumours? – Because they were frightened and lacked real information.

Extract 4:

“By noon the small bank had gone through all its ready cash… on his houseboat in Kashmir.”

Q1. What was the situation in the bank by noon? – It had run out of ready cash.

Q2. What was the manager’s dilemma? – Whether the crowd would wait for funds from another bank.

Q3. How far away was the other bank? – Thirty miles away.

Q4. Why couldn’t Seth Govind Ram be contacted? – He was staying in Kashmir.

Q5. What does this reveal about the bank’s preparedness? – It was poorly equipped to handle emergencies.

Extract 5:

“They did not like the sound of that. And so they gathered outside… aggravated their mood.”

Q1. What did the manager tell the people? – To return the following day.

Q2. How did the crowd react? – They grew angry and shouted threats.

Q3. What slogans did they raise? – “Give us our money or we’ll break in!”

Q4. Who made the situation worse? – Mischief-makers without deposits.

Q5. What does this scene highlight? – The dangerous spread of mob mentality.

Passage 5: The manager stood ……………………………. it could have happened.

The bank manager tried to calm the angry crowd outside the Pipalnagar Bank. He assured them that the bank had enough money but lacked the means to pay it out immediately. He requested them to return the next day. The crowd grew impatient, demanding their money at once. In anger, someone threw a brick, breaking the bank’s glass window.

The following morning, Nathu, the sweeper, came to clean the bank steps. He was horrified to see broken glass, stones, and rubbish scattered everywhere. Complaining that his work was already hard and his wages were paid late, he angrily swept the steps. Just then, Sitaram, the washerman’s son, stopped on his bicycle and teasingly asked if Nathu was ready for a new job, since the bank was closing down.

Confused, Nathu asked how that was possible. Sitaram cheerfully told him to wait and see, as half the town would soon arrive to demand their money. He then rode away happily, not worried as he had no bank account. Nathu muttered to himself while cleaning, then sat down on the steps to wait for the manager and to claim his pay. Looking thoughtfully, he wondered in surprise how the bank could have collapsed.

Glossary

1. Placate – to calm or pacify angry people.

2. Immediate means – available resources at the moment.

3. Hurtled – moved or flew with great speed.

4. Plate glass – a large sheet of clear, flat glass used in windows.

5. Refuse – waste or rubbish.

6. Cluttering – making a place untidy with scattered objects.

7. Gesture of horror – movement of hands showing shock or disgust.

8. Hooligans – troublemakers or rowdy people.

9. Sons of donkeys – (insult) foolish or stupid people.

10. Muttering – speaking in a low or unclear voice.

11. Collapse – sudden failure or breakdown.

12. Smote – struck forcefully.

13. Cheerfully – in a happy and carefree manner.

14. Determine – firmly decide.

15. Claim – demand something as a right.

MCQs 

1. Who tried to placate the angry crowd?

a) Nathu

b) Sitaram

c) The manager

d) The ayah

Ans. c) The manager

2. What did the manager say the bank lacked?

a) Customers

b) Immediate means to collect money

c) Safety

d) Account books

Ans. b) Immediate means to collect money

3. What did the crowd chant?

a) “Pay us tomorrow”

b) “Now, now, now!”

c) “Close the bank”

d) “We want justice”

Ans. b) “Now, now, now!”

4. What object broke the bank’s glass window?

a) A stone

b) A brick

c) A bicycle

d) A chair

Ans. b) A brick

5. Who arrived next morning to sweep the steps?

a) Sitaram

b) Nathu

c) The manager

d) The ayah

Ans. b) Nathu

6. What did Nathu see on the steps?

a) Flowers

b) Broken glass and rubbish

c) Money

d) Empty sacks

Ans. b) Broken glass and rubbish

7. How did Nathu feel seeing the mess?

a) Happy

b) Shocked and disgusted

c) Excited

d) Careless

Ans. b) Shocked and disgusted

8. What insult did Nathu shout?

a) “Idiots!”

b) “Hooligans! Sons of donkeys!”

c) “Lazy fellows!”

d) “Dogs!”

Ans. b) “Hooligans! Sons of donkeys!”

9. Who came on a bicycle?

a) The bank manager

b) The cook

c) Sitaram

d) A policeman

Ans. c) Sitaram

10. What job did Sitaram offer Nathu?

a) Cook

b) Sweeper at a new place

c) Clerk

d) Farmer

Ans. b) Sweeper at a new place

11. Why did Sitaram say Nathu needed a new job?

a) Because the bank was going out of business

b) Because he was lazy

c) Because he was rude

d) Because he was sick

Ans. a) Because the bank was going out of business

12. Did Sitaram have a bank account?

a) Yes

b) No

c) Only a little money

d) He closed it

Ans. b) No

13. What was Nathu determined to get?

a) His broom

b) His pay

c) His food

d) His house

Ans. b) His pay

14. Where did Nathu sit after cleaning?

a) On the highest step

b) Under a tree

c) On a bench

d) On his bicycle

Ans. a) On the highest step

15. Who was Nathu waiting for?

a) Sitaram

b) The manager

c) The ayah

d) Seth Govind Ram

Ans. b) The manager

16. What did Nathu think had collapsed?

a) The crowd

b) The bank

c) His broom

d) The manager’s house

Ans. b) The bank

17. How did Sitaram wave goodbye?

a) Angrily

b) Cheerfully

c) Sadly

d) Quietly

Ans. b) Cheerfully

18. What was Nathu muttering about?

a) His late pay and work

b) His lost broom

c) His family

d) His food

Ans. a) His late pay and work

19. Who broke the bank’s window?

a) Sitaram

b) The crowd

c) Nathu

d) The manager

Ans. b) The crowd

20. What was Nathu’s final reaction?

a) He laughed

b) He was thoughtful and surprised

c) He shouted

d) He slept

Ans. b) He was thoughtful and surprised

One-Mark Questions

1. Who is the sweeper at Pipalnagar Bank? – Nathu

2. Who owned the bank? – Seth Govind Ram

3. Who tried to pacify the crowd? – The manager

4. What did the crowd demand? – Money immediately

5. What crashed through the glass window? – A brick

6. Who called the rioters “sons of donkeys”? – Nathu

7. Who arrived on a bicycle? – Sitaram, the washerman’s boy

8. What job offer did Sitaram mention? – New job from next month

9. Why did Sitaram tease Nathu? – Because the bank was closing

10. Who did not have a bank account? – Sitaram

11. What did Nathu see on the steps in the morning? – Broken glass and refuse

12. What did Nathu do with his broom? – Struck the steps angrily

13. Who sped away cheerfully? – Sitaram

14. Why was Nathu determined to wait? – For his pay

15. Where did Nathu sit after sweeping? – On the highest step

16. Who was supposed to pay Nathu? – The manager

17. What did Nathu think had collapsed? – The bank

18. What was Nathu muttering about? – His late pay and hard work

19. What did the manager assure the crowd? – That the bank had plenty of money

20. How did Nathu feel at the end? – Thoughtful and surprised

Two-Mark Questions 

1. Why did the crowd grow restless outside the bank?

Ans. The crowd grew restless because they wanted to withdraw their money immediately. The manager told them the bank had funds but no immediate way to release them. This angered the people, who began chanting “Now, now, now!” until someone threw a brick through the glass window.

2. What did Nathu find when he came to sweep the steps?

Ans. When Nathu arrived at the bank the next morning, he found the steps littered with rubbish, broken glass, and stones. Shocked and angry, he raised his hands in disgust and complained that his work had increased though he was already paid late.

3. How did Nathu express his anger on seeing the mess?

Ans. Nathu cried out “Hooligans! Sons of donkeys!” to insult the troublemakers. He was annoyed that he had to clean the extra mess. He struck the steps forcefully with his broom, scattering the rubbish, while continuing to complain about his hardships and late wages.

4. What was Sitaram’s news about the bank?

Ans. Sitaram told Nathu that the bank was going out of business and half the town would soon come to claim their money. He even suggested Nathu should look for another job, teasing him about losing his present employment.

5. Why was Sitaram not worried about the bank’s failure?

Ans. Sitaram was cheerful because he did not have a bank account. He had nothing to lose even if the bank closed. For him, it was only gossip and entertainment, so he could joke freely about Nathu’s future.

6. Why did Nathu sit on the highest step after cleaning?

Ans. Nathu sat on the highest step after sweeping the rubbish to wait for the manager. He was determined not to leave without collecting his overdue wages, since he was already frustrated by delayed payments.

7. What was the manager’s assurance to the crowd?

Ans. The manager tried to calm the crowd by assuring them that the bank had plenty of money. However, he explained that there was no immediate means of collecting and distributing it. He urged them to go home and return the next day.

8. How did the crowd respond to the manager’s request?

Ans. The crowd refused to listen and shouted “Now, now, now!” in unison. Their impatience turned into aggression, and soon a brick was thrown through the large glass window of the Pipalnagar Bank, causing destruction and panic.

9. What did Nathu wonder at the end?

Ans. Nathu sat thoughtfully, wondering how the bank could have collapsed. He had never expected such a downfall. While still worried about his pay, he was surprised by the sudden turn of events and the spreading rumours about the bank’s closure.

10. What shows Nathu’s frustration in this passage?

Ans. Nathu’s frustration is shown in his complaints about late payment, his angry insults toward the hooligans, his violent broom strokes scattering the rubbish, and his muttering to himself. He also showed determination to stay until he received his wages.

Three-Mark Questions 

1. Describe the incident that led to the breaking of the bank’s glass window.

Ans. The Pipalnagar Bank faced unrest when anxious depositors gathered to withdraw their money. The manager tried to calm them, saying the bank had funds but lacked immediate means to release them. This explanation failed to satisfy the impatient crowd. They chanted “Now, now, now!” in anger. The situation quickly escalated, and in the heat of the moment, someone threw a brick through the bank’s large glass window, symbolizing the growing panic and mistrust among the people.

2. How did Nathu react to the mess outside the bank the next morning?

Ans. Nathu, the sweeper, arrived at the bank early to find broken glass, stones, and refuse scattered across the steps. Horrified and disgusted, he cried out angrily, calling the rioters “hooligans” and “sons of donkeys.” Already upset about being paid late, he complained that his workload had increased unfairly. He struck the steps with his broom violently, venting his frustration. His reaction showed both his irritation at the extra work and his broader anger about his poor treatment as an employee.

3. What role did Sitaram play in spreading the rumour of the bank’s collapse?

Ans. Sitaram, the washerman’s son, played a key role in spreading the rumour. He teasingly told Nathu that he would need a new job because the bank was going out of business. He added that half the town would soon arrive to claim their money. Though he was cheerful and unconcerned since he had no account in the bank, his words helped strengthen the idea that the bank had collapsed. This gossip contributed to the wider panic in Pipalnagar.

4. How does Ruskin Bond show the difference between Nathu and Sitaram’s attitudes?

Ans. Ruskin Bond contrasts the two characters effectively. Nathu is worried, frustrated, and angry because of his late wages and extra work. He feels insecure about his livelihood and determined to get his pay. In contrast, Sitaram is carefree and cheerful. He jokes about the bank’s failure and rides away happily because he has nothing to lose. This contrast highlights how rumours spread more easily among those who are not directly affected, while the vulnerable feel anxious and insecure.

5. Why does Nathu find the bank’s collapse unbelievable?

Ans. At the end, Nathu sat thoughtfully, wondering how the bank could have collapsed. He did not fully understand the financial matters behind the rumours, but he was aware of the chaos around him. His disbelief reflects his confusion: although he heard gossip about the bank failing, he could not imagine such an established institution shutting down. His only concern was his pending salary. Ruskin Bond uses Nathu’s innocent disbelief to show how rumours can create panic even without facts.

Reference To Context

Extract 1.

 “We want it now! chanted some of the crowd. ‘Now, now, now!’ And a brick hurtled through the air and crashed through the plate glass window of the Pipalnagar Bank.”

Q1. Who were demanding money?

– The angry depositors gathered outside the Pipalnagar Bank.

Q2. Why were they impatient?

– They wanted to withdraw their money immediately and did not trust the manager’s assurance.

Q3. What happened as a result of their anger?

– A brick was thrown and it smashed the glass window of the bank.

Q4. Who had earlier tried to calm them?

– The bank manager.

Q5. What does this incident signify?

– It marks the beginning of panic, violence, and the spread of rumours that the bank had collapsed.

Extract 2

“Hooligans! Sons of donkeys! As though it isn’t bad enough to be paid late, it seems my work has also to be increased!”

Q1. Who said these words?

– Nathu, the sweeper of the bank.

Q2. What had he seen that made him so angry?

– The bank steps covered with refuse, broken glass, and stones after the crowd’s violence.

Q3. Why did he complain about being paid late?

– Because his salary was often delayed by the bank management.

Q4. How did he vent his anger?

– By insulting the rioters and striking the steps with his broom.

Q5. What does this passage reveal about Nathu’s state of mind?

– He is frustrated, overworked, poorly treated, and resentful, though still responsible enough to do his duty.

Extract 3.

“Are you ready to take up a new job from the first of next month? You’ll have to I suppose, now that the bank is going out of business.”

Q1. Who is the speaker?

– Sitaram, the washerman’s son.

Q2. To whom is this said?

– To Nathu, the sweeper.

Q3. Why does the speaker say Nathu must find a new job?

– Because he believes, or pretends to believe, that the bank is closing down.

Q4. Was this information correct?

– No, it was only gossip and part of the spreading rumour.

Q5. What does this show about Sitaram’s character?

– He is carefree, light-hearted, and does not realize how his words fuel panic.

Extract 4.

“Well you’d better wait here until half the population of Pipalnagar arrives to claim their money.”

Q1. Who is the speaker here?

– Sitaram, the washerman’s boy.

Q2. Why does he make this remark?

– To tease Nathu and suggest that everyone will soon rush to the bank to withdraw their money.

Q3. What does this remark imply about the bank?

– That it has collapsed and people no longer trust it.

Q4. Did Sitaram himself have a bank account?

– No, he had no account and was not worried about the bank’s fate.

Q5. What is the effect of such remarks on others?

– They help spread rumours and increase panic in Pipalnagar.

Extract 5.

“Who would have thought the bank would collapse!’ he said to himself, and looked thoughtfully into the distance.”

Q1. Who is the speaker?

– Nathu, the bank sweeper.

Q2. What was he doing before this?

– He had finished sweeping the steps and was waiting for the manager to get his pay.

Q3. Why does he think the bank has collapsed?

– Because of the rumours spread by Sitaram and the behaviour of the crowd.

Q4. What does this show about Nathu’s understanding of the situation?

– He does not know the truth and simply accepts gossip.

Q5. Why is this line ironic?

– Because Nathu’s innocent remark strengthens the rumour, making him unknowingly responsible for helping “break the bank.”

 

COURTESY: Meta AI & ChatGPT

Compiled by Dr. Shankar D Mishra

 

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