Chapter: 13. The Malgudi Cricket Club
A. Answer these questions.
Why did Swaminathan’s father admit him to Board School? What was the “great satisfaction” Swaminathan found in his new school? Besides “Friends Union” and “Excelsiors,” what other names did Rajam struggle to come up with the previous night? What was Mani’s specific role or activity when the boys were choosing sports goods from the catalogue? What was the condition under which the boys agreed to send the order letter as Rajam had written it? What was R.K. Narayan’s youngest brother famous for? B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.
“He still believed that his Albert Mission set was intact, though, since the reopening in June, the set was not what it had been before.”
a. What does “Albert Mission set” refer to in this sentence?
b. What does the phrase “the set was not what it had been before” imply about Swaminathan’s old friendships?
c. Which two friends from his old set did Swaminathan still consider “intact”? “The Government seems to tax everything in this world. My father’s pay is about 500. But nearly 200 and over is demanded by the Government.”
a. Who is the speaker of these lines?
b. What was the speaker’s main point about the government in this context?
c. What prior question from Swaminathan prompted this response? “Bare courtesy made Rajam offer the authorship of the letter to Mani, who declined it.”
a. What task is “the authorship of the letter” referring to here?
b. Why do you think Rajam offered it to Mani out of “bare courtesy”?
c. Why do you think Mani “declined it”? C. Think and answer.
The story mentions the concept of ‘vernacular words’ and ‘Indian English’. How do the boys’ conversations and their attempts at formal communication (like the letter) reflect the unique blend of language that R.K. Narayan often portrays? If you were Rajam’s father and found the order letter he planned to send, what specific changes or advice would you offer him to make it more appropriate for a business? The boys face several “complications” while trying to start their club. What does this suggest about the challenges of moving from an idea to actual implementation, even in a simple childhood project? D. Word Wonder.
Complete the sentences using the correct idiom from the box.
(down to the wire, across the board, drop the ball, out of someone’s league, sticky wicket)
The manager warned the team not to __________ on the new project deadline. Winning the championship against such strong opponents felt completely __________ for our rookie team. The election results were so close; it came right __________ until the final votes were counted. Facing difficult questions from the press, the spokesperson found herself on a __________ situation. The company decided to implement a salary increase __________ for all employees.
Practice Paper