STD-IX Extra questions of Three men in a boat Ch 4 to 9

	Subject: English	Topic: Three Men in a Boat ch 4-9	Grade: IX

Answer the following questions in 100 -150 words.

1.             What was the contribution of Harris and George to the task of packing?

George and Harris started packing in a typical fashion. They started with breaking a cup. They packed strawberry jam on top of the tomatoes and squashed them. Then they packed pastries at the bottom and heavy things were loaded on them. Naturally, pastries were smashed. Moreover, they tried to put butter in the kettle. It would not go in and what was in it would not come out. Finally George and Harris managed to get it out and they put it on the chair and Harris sat on it. When packing was completed, Harris sat on the hamper hoping nothing would be found broken.

2.             What problems do the pungent cheeses create for the author? What did Tom do to get rid of them?

Tom once requested the author to take a couple of cheeses from Liverpool to London. The smell of cheese made the horse dash off in terror. He could be controlled only when a clever porter put the handkerchief over the horse’s nose. In the train people ran out of the bogey as the smell was so strong as they were not able to tolerate it. Even his friend, Tom’s wife reacted sharply to the smell of cheeses and decided to go a hotel with her children until the cheeses were eaten. Finally, Tom had to take them to the beach and bury them there.

3.             Describe the china dog that ornamented the bedroom of the author? Why are we not able to see the beauty of the china dog in the current age?

The china dog that ornamented the bedroom of the author was a white dog. Its eyes were blue and its nose was a delicate red, with black spots. Its head was painfully erect, its expression was amiability carried to the verge of imbecility. It irritated the author, his thoughtless friends jeered at it and even his landlady had no admiration for it.

We are not able to see the beauty of the china dog in the current age as we are too familiar with it. It is like the sunset and the stars. We are not awed by its loveliness because it is common to our eyes.

4.             How do the friends reach Kingston to start their holiday trip on the river Thames?

On the day that the friends were to start a journey, they took a cab and reached waterloo at eleven, but nobody knew where the eleven five for Kingston started from. Since they were not sure about the train they asked the porters about it, who themselves seemed confused. Then they asked the traffic superintendent and the station master and the authorities of number three platform but they gave them contradicting information. Much to their surprise even the engine driver didn’t know either as to where they were

headed. They bribed him and reached Kingston by London and South Western Railway. It was later found that the train was really the Exeter mail.

5.             What actually happened to Harris at the maze in Hampton Court?

Harris went into maze to show it to his country cousin. Theymet some people who were lost in the maze for about three quarters of an hour. Harris asked them to follow him. Harris kept on turning to the right but it seemed a long way till they passed the half of a penny bun on the ground that Harris’s cousin swore he had noticed seven minutes ago. Harris thought they should go back to the entrance and try again but he failed. They called the young keeper who not able to locate them and also got lost. The old keeper came after lunch and rescued them.

5.             Describe the incident in the party where Herr Slossenn Boschen sang his song?

It was a highly cultured party. Two young men who just returned from Germany said that Herr Slossenn Boschen would sing a comic song for them. They said nobody could sing it like Her Slossenn Boschen. As the song started, everyone in crowd including the narrator fixed their eyes on young men as they didn’t understand German. When they laughed everyone laughed and when they roared, all roared. The German Professor did not seem happy and the expression on his face was one of intense surprise. After he finished singing, the audience remarked that it was really the funniest thing that they ever heard in their lives. Actually, the German Professor had sung a sad song. The two young men disappeared. He told that he only knew to sing the song in German. He felt very insulted and the party ended.

6.             Describe the incident when the narrator went on a boating trip with two beautifully dressed ladies.

Once the narrator went on a boat trip with two ladies. They had put on silky stuff, ribbons, dainty shoes and light gloves and were beautifully dressed. But they were dressed for a photographic studio and not for a river picnic. While stepping in boat, the first thing that they noticed was that the boat was not clean so the narrator and his friend dusted all the seats for them but the ladies did not believe them. They thought that a drop of water would destroy their dress. The narrator tried his best, but could not prevent a few drops of water falling on their clothes. The girls did not complain but huddled close together and every time a drop touched them, they visibly shrank and shuddered. The ladies felt relieved when he asked another man to row. But the man spread more than a pint of water on their dresses, they began to protect themselves with their lace parasols and drew rugs and coats over themselves.

7.             What happened to George’s father and his friend in ‘The Pig and Whistle’ inn?

George’s father and his friend had a jolly evening at the ‘The Pig and Whistle’ inn and were to sleep in the same room, but in different beds. They took the candle and went up. When they got into the room the candle lurched and went out. They undressed in dark and instead of getting into separate beds, they climbed into the same bed unknowingly. The only difference was one lay with his feet next to the other's head. Each thought that there was another man in his bed. They both fought with each other not knowing that the other person was his friend. Each complained to the other that there was someone else in their bed then the other advised them to throw out the intruder. Finally they threw each other out and all landed on the floor. They thought that it was not a very nice inn as strange things happened in it.

8.             Describe the incident when narrator went with his cousin on a river trip.

Once the narrator went on a river trip with his cousin who was a young lady. They reached Benson's lock at half-past six and his cousin was eager to reach home before evening. The narrator drew out a map and found that they would reach Walling ford Lock in half an hour and in another five minutes they would reach Cleeve. They rowed on, and did not see a lock. His cousin thought that they were lost and started crying. Jerome got nervous but he still went on pulling. The river grew more and more gloomy and mysterious under the gathering shadows of the night but still there was no lock. Suddenly, they heard the sweet sounds of an accordion and a boat came along. Jerome asked them about Walling ford Lock. They told him that there was no Wallingford lock for the last one year but they were very close to Cleeve now. They got home in time for supper.

9.             How did Harris and Jim get blackmailed at Kempton park? Describe their reaction.

Harris and Jerome stopped under the willows in Kempton Park for lunch. It was a pretty little spot with a pleasant grass plateau. They had just begun to eat the bread and jam when a gentleman in shirt-sleeves and a short-pipe came along. He said that they were trespassing and it was his duty to turn them off. They replied that they had not thought about this matter. Harris was a well-made man and looked hard and bony so he asked him how he would accomplish his task. He said that he would consult his master and then come back and chuck them both into the river. Then he went away but never returned. Actually he wanted a shilling and was trying to blackmail them. But both Harris and Jim refused to be blackmailed. This made them angry and Jerome wanted to kill the owner but Harris wanted to kill him, his family, relatives and burn down his house.