Exercise (Page 46)

1.What was Vijay Singh’s weakness? Which awkward situation did it push him into?
Ans: Vijay Singh was a wrestler. He was proud of his physical strength. His chief weakness was that he was boastful. He wanted to meet a ghost and teach him a lesson.

His weakness pushed him into a difficult situation. He was told to go to the Haunted Deserts to meet the ghost. He could not say ‘No’ to the suggestion.

2. Was the old woman’s gift to Vijay Singh eccentric? Why?
Ans: The old woman was known to be eccentric or whimsical. She put a small packet into Vijay Singh’s hand. It contained a lump of salt and an egg. It was not an eccentric act. Both the gifts proved very useful in his fight against rhe ghost.

3. Why did Vijay Singh ask the ghost disguised as Natwar to come closer?
Ans: Vijay Singh asked the ghost in the guise of Natwar to come closer. Like all good wrestlers, he wanted to size up his enemy ghost.

4.What made the ghost speechless? Why?
Ans: ‘ Vijay Singh tried to sound brave. He looked at Natwar’s face. He declared that Natwar was a plain, lying ghost. The ghost felt insulted, shocked and speechless.

5. Why did Vijay Singh say “Appearances can be deceptive”?
Ans: The ghost first tried to demoralise Vijay Singh. He said that Vijay Singh was no match to him. At this Vijay Singh also tried to frighten the ghost. He agreed to demonstrate his strength.

Exercise (Page 51)

1. How did Vijay Singh use the egg? How did he use the lump of salt?
Ans: Vijay Singh challenged the ghost to squeeze a piece of rock. The ghost tried his best but could not crush the piece of rock. Vijay Singh took advantage of the darkness. He took out the egg from his pocket. Taking the rock as well as the egg, he pressed the egg and claimed victory. Next time, he picked up another piece of rock and gave it to the ghost to crush it. The ghost again tried his best to crush the stone but in vain. Meanwhile Vijay Singh took out the lump of salt from his pocket and crushed it easily. This time too, he proved himself victorious. Thus, by using the egg and the lump of salt he successfully outwitted the ghost.

2. Why did Vijay Singh conclude that the ghost would not be a worthy opponent to him? Was he fair in his judgement?
Ans: Vijay Singh claimed victoiy over the ghost dishonestly. He gave the ghost a piece of rock on both the occasions. The ghost failed to crush them while Vijay Singh made use of the salt and the egg successfully. Thus he proved the ghost a weakling in an unfair manner.

3.Why did Vijay Singh ask the ghost to accompany him to town next day?
Ans: Vijay Singh wanted to take the ghost to his town to impress his people. He wanted to present the ghost there as his prisoner.

4.What made the ghost believe Vijay Singh was dead?
Ans: Vijay Singh saw through the ghost’s plan. He got out of the bed and put a round pillow in his place. The ghost struck the bolster hard with his mace or heavy stick. Since he didn’t hear any groan, he took into his head that Vijay Singh was dead.

5. Vijay Singh complained of insects in the cave. What was he referring to, and why?
Ans: Vijay Singh complained of insects in the cave. He was, in fact, referring to the ghost. He compared the ghost to a hateful weakling like an insect.

6.Was it really a ghost who Vijay Singh befooled? Who do you think it was?
Ans: The story of the trial of strength between a ghost and Vijay Singh cannot be true or believable. Nobody can see a ghost in human form. It does not live in a house or a cave. It does not collect wealth. It does not panic or run away in fear.The ghost in the stoiy was, only a dacoit who used to rob the rich and kill them

I.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Who was Vijay Singh? What did he look like?
Ans: Vijay Singh was a famous wrestler. He was unbeatable. He had big shoulders and strong arms. He was so tall that he looked like a giant.

2. This pahalwan had but one shortcoming. What was that?
Ans: Vijay Singh’s one shortcoming was his habit of boasting. He wished to fight with a ghost and teach him a lesson.

3. How did Vijay Singh feel when he was told to go to the Haunted Deserts?
Ans: Vijay Singh was frightened when he was asked to go to the Haunted Deserts. His heart missed a beat or two at the thought of fighting with a ghost.

4. Who really helped Vijay Singh in defeating the ghost? How?
Ans: An old woman really helped Vijay Singh against the ghost. She gave him a packet containing a piece of salt and an egg. These two things helped him befool the ghost.

5. Quote words that Vijay Singh uses to insult and demoralise the ghost.
Ans: A plain, lying ghost, stupid ghost, a worthless ghost, a rascal of a ghost.

II.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. In what respect was the wrestling match strange? Who were the two ri­vals? Who was the winner?
Ans: The wrestling match was strange because it was a light between a man and a ghost. The wrestler Vijay Singh had one weakness. He was boastful of his strength. This pushed onto an awkward situation. He accepted the challenge to fight a ghost in a haunted desert. The two gifts given by an old woman proved veiy useful. One was an egg and the other a lump of salt. It was in fact a trial of wit and wisdom. Finally Vijay Singh won the match and returned home with lots of gold.

2. Give a character sketch of Vijay Singh. How did he outwit the ghost?
Ans: yijay Singh was a famous wrestler. He was boastful of his physical strength. He declared that he was unbeatable. His tall claim pushed him into trouble. He was challenged to fight a ghost. He went through the Haunted Desert. He carried a small packet containing an egg and a piece of salt. He used them wisely to befool and frighten the ghost. He crushed easily the lump of salt and cracked the egg. As it was dark, the ghost couldn’t understand Vijay’s trick and accepted his defeat. Thus Vijay won the match by cheating and his su­perior wit.

3. How did the old woman’s little gifts help Vijay Singh in vanquishing the ghost?
Ans:  Vijay Singh was a bom and unbeatable wrestler. But his one great weakness 1 was his boastfulness. Once he was called upon to prove his power and fear­lessness. He went through a haunted desert to fight the ghost. An old woman’s gift of an egg and a piece of salt helped him befool and outwit the ghost. He squeezed the egg as well as the salt to prove his prowess. In the ghost’s cot­tage too he acted wisely and saved his life.

4. How did Vijay Singh outwit the ghost with his wit and wisdom?
Ans:  Vijay Singh made good use of the old woman’s gift—an egg and a lump of salt. He challenged the ghost to squeeze a piece of rock. The ghost failed to do that. Vijay Singh took out the egg from his pocket and squeezed it easily. The ghost was non-plussed and he accepted defeat. Vijay Singh then threw another chal­lenge. He gave another piece of rock to the ghost to crush. The ghost failed to crush the rock. Vijay Singh took out the piece of salt from his pocket and cmshed it easily. The ghost felt demoralised and again accepted his defeat.

5. How did the ghost make a plan to trick Vijay Singh finally?
Ans: The ghost invited Vijay Singh to his cave. He vowed silently to kill the wres­tler. He offered Vijay Singh a comfortable bed to sleep on. Vijay Singh saw through the ghost’s trick. He lay awake and at mid night, he slipped off his bed. He put a bolster in his place on the bed. Early next morning the ghost hit the bolster with his club. He took his enemy for dead. But. Vijay Singh faced the ghost who panicked. He fled from the cave leaving behind all his wealth for Vijay Singh.