1. THE SMALL WOMAN…COMPANION EX
A 1 the hills were unstable with two feet of snow and the roads were narrow
2
he was spending his Christmas with a group of children in an orphanage in a war
torn area.
3 enemy activity 4 they were wary of the strangers
5
as the camp leader told that they were welcome even if they came with nothing to
give
6
they express it in their own words and they truly learnt the Christmas spirit of
loving and giving
7 obscure, perilous, devastated, destitute
B 1 Little did she know that the basket was torn.
2 Only then did I realise that I was wearing two different socks.
3 Hardly did she expect a frog to jump out of the kettle
4 Seldom have I met such a tall man.
D 1 bright-eyed 2 absent-minded 3 high-handed 4 dim-witted
5 hard-hearted
E 1 B 2 C 3 C 4 a
5 B
F 1
a, b, c
2
a, b
3
b, c
4
B
EVEREST REACTIONS
1. What was Thambi’s habit?
Answer: It was Thambi’s habit to go out and come back now and then with
different types of news and reports on cricket scores, flying saucers, traffic
accidents, etc, for the members of his household.
2. What was the news that Thambi brought that day?
Answer: Thambi brought the news that the Everest has been conquered.
3. What did Thambi normally do when he gave such news?

2. Answer: Thambi would normally run away after arousing the interest of the old
people, leaving them engaged in conversation.
4. Describe the immediate reaction of the people on hearing the news.
Answer: Thambi was caught by the ear and was rebuked for having gone to the
neighbour’s house without studying. It was difficult for them to believe the news.
5. Why did Thambi go to the neighbour’s house?
Answer: Thambi went to the neighbour’s house to listen to the radio.
6. Why was the news taken with a sort of gloomy resignation?
Answer: The people felt that this news should have arrived in a spectacular
manner and with a fanfare of trumpets for which they have been waiting for over
a century. They were disappointed that it came through Thambi.
7. Why does astrology feature in the conversation?
Answer: One member of the group said that from an astrologer’s point of view,
the secret of success lies in getting hold of the horoscope of the persons concerned
and fixing the time according to it. If it is done accurately, it would solve most of
the problems of any venture.
8. What was the comment of the person with the business temperament?
Answer: The person with the business temperament commented that people
would quarry the ice from Everest and as a result refrigeration and air-
conditioning industries may have to be shut down and people would have to find
alternate employment .
9. How was the discussion on Everest stopped?
Answer: Thambi stormed into the room once again and said that his friend’s
father had bagged five tigers simultaneously when he had gone hunting.