Chapter: 13. The Malgudi Cricket Club
A. Answer these questions.
What was the name of the new school Swaminathan joined after leaving Albert Mission School? What specific item was Swaminathan trying to fix his spectacle lens into when Rajam arrived? Who was Jack Hobbs, and why was his name mentioned by Rajam? What two names did Rajam and Swaminathan decide to “underline and give special consideration” from their list of potential team names? According to Rajam, why did he not want to address Messrs Binns as “Sir”? What was R.K. Narayan’s youngest brother famous for? B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“This was very pleasing to hear. Probably Hobbs too was shy and sceptical before he took the bat and swung it.”
a. What specific statement or idea was “very pleasing to hear” for Swaminathan?
b. What did Rajam imply about Hobbs by mentioning him in this context?
c. What does the comparison to Hobbs suggest about Swaminathan’s initial feelings about playing cricket? “Are you dried up?” Rajam asked.
a. Who was Rajam asking this question to?
b. What did Rajam mean by asking if the person was “dried up”?
c. What activity were they engaged in that led to this question? “It is all very well for a rich team like your Waller’s. But suppose the Government demands two taxes from us?”
a. Who said these lines, and to whom?
b. What concept was being discussed just before this line about “Waller’s” and “two names”?
c. What does this statement reveal about the speaker’s understanding of financial rules? C. Think and answer.
How does Swaminathan’s initial uncertainty about his new school contrast with his later enthusiasm for the cricket club idea, and what does this show about the role of friendship in his life? Why do you think Mani reacted so strongly when Swaminathan said the Junior Willard Bat looked like any other bat? What does this tell you about Mani’s character and his passion for the club? Based on the boys’ discussion and their final letter to Messrs Binns, what challenges might they face when trying to establish their cricket club in the adult world? 
Comprehension