Exercise (Page 14)

Answer the following questions:

Question 1:
The enclosure in which Kari lived had a thatched roof that lay on thick tree stumps.
Examine the illustration of Kari’s pavilion on page 8 and say why it was built that way.
Answer:
Kari’s pavilion was built under a thatched roof having its support on a thick tree trunk. The support was necessary to save the roof from falling down when he moved about and bumped against the bamboo poles.

Question 2:
Did Kari enjoy his morning bath on the river? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, Kari loved to be taken to the river for his bath. He lay down on the sand bank. The narrator rubbed his body with clean sand. Then he washed his body with water. He used to make sounds joyfully.

Question 3:
Finding good twigs for Kari took a long time. Why?
Answer:
The narrator had to work hard to gather soft new twigs for Kari. He had to climb all kinds of trees. If the twigs were deformed, Kari refused to eat them.

Question 4:
Why did Kari push his friend into the stream?
Answer:
Kari pushed his friend (the narrator) into the stream because a boy was drowning in the water. Kari himself could not save and carry the boy to the shore.

Question 5:
Kari was like a baby. What are the main points of comparison?
Answer:
Kari was like a human baby. He had to be taught a few lessons to become good. Like a baby he too played some mischief. He used to steal away the fruits from the dining-table.

Question 6:
Kari helped himself to all the bananas in the house without anyone noticing it. How did he do it?
Answer:
Kari was a mischievous but intelligent creature. He started taking away the bananas kept on the dining-table. He used his black long trunk to steal fruits, through the window.

Question 7:
Kari learnt the commands to sit and to walk. What were the instructions for each command?
Answer:
Kari learnt the commands to sit down or stand up and walk fast or slow. The word “Dhat” was the command to sit down. The word ‘Mali’ was the command to walk.

Question 8:
What is “the master call?” Why is it the most important signal for an elephant to learn?
Answer:
The master-call was a strange kind of hissing like a snake and howling like a tiger. It sounded like a fight between a snake and a tiger. The sound had to be made in the elephant’s ear. It was a necessary signal for Kari to uproot trees and make a passage through the dense forest for the house.

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
How old were Kari (the elephant) and the narrator?
Answer:
Kari, the elephant, was five months old when he was given to the narrator. The narrator was nine years old then.

Question 2:
What did Kari eat and how much?
Answer:
Kari ate twigs. He did not eat much. Still he needed forty pounds of it daily. He chewed the twigs and played with them.

Question 3:
What did the narrator do with the hatchet?
Answer:
The narrator had to bring some luscious twigs for Kari’s dinner. He used to cut down the twigs with a very sharp hatchet.

Question 4:
Why did the narrator climb the trees?
Answer:
The narrator had to get twigs for Kari. The most tender and delicate twigs were found on the trees. So he used to climb the trees.

Question 5:
Why was it necessary to train kari to he good?
Answer:
Kari was like a naughty boy. He took pleasure in making mischief. Therefore, he had to be trained to be good.

Question 6:
Who were wrongly blamed for the theft of the bananas?
Answer:
The bananas were stolen again and again. First of all, the narrator’s family blamed the servants for eating all the fruit. The next time, the narrator himself was blamed for the theft. Both the narrator and the servants were wrongly blamed. Kari used to steal the bananas every time.

Question 7:
What did the narrator do when he found Kari stealing the bananas?
Answer:
The narrator found Kari stealing the bananas. He pulled out Kari from the pavilion by the ear. He showed Kari to his parents. He also scloded the elephant.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1:
Give a character sketch of Kari.
Answer:
Kari, the elephant lived in a pavilion under a thatched roof. Once he saved the life of a drowning boy with the narrator’s help. He was fond of eating luscious twigs. He enjoyed rolling in sand and bathing in the river. He was a sensible elephant. He made a call to the narrator when he saw a boy drowning in the river. He helped the narrator fully in bringing out the drowning child. He was a naughty elephant. He took pleasure in making mischief. He had to be a great love for ripe bananas. He used to steal the bananas. Soon he was found out stealing the bananas. When the narrator scolded him his ego was hurt. He never stole anything in future. He was willing to be punished for his wrong. He was a slow but good learner like a child.

Question 2:
Give the character sketch of the narrator.
Answer:
The narrator was a boy of nine years when the five months old Kari was given to him. They grew together. He was not a good swimmer. However, he saved the life of a drowning boy with the help of the elephant. He grew friendly with the elephant. He climbed up the trees to get luscious twigs for Kari. He took Kari to the river and rubbed him with clean sand. He cut the twigs with a sharp hatchet. He always heeded to the elephant’s call. He was a boy of ego. He got angry with his parents when they blamed him for the theft of the bananas. He was a good observer. Soon he discovered that Kari was the thief. He pulled Kari by the ear and scolded him in harsh language. He learnt how to make the elephant sit down, walk, go fast or go fast or go slow by saying ‘D hat’and ‘Mali’.