A House is not a Home-
Extra Questions and
Notes
INTRODUCTION
This
story reflects the challenges of being a teenager and the problems of growing
up. In our life sometimes such changes take place that our life becomes
intolerable for us and sometimes we (teenagers) want to end this life. But
again we find the things change which makes us enjoy life fully. In this story,
the same things happen with the author. He finds himself in such an awkward
situation when he joins a high school. After some days his house catches fire
and he finds that his life has ended. But when his schoolmates show their
concern for him, his whole vision for the life changes and he again starts
taking interest in life.
(यह कहानी
किशोरावस्था की चुनौतियोंऔर बड़े होने की समस्याओं के बारे में वर्णन करती है । हमारे जीवन में कई बार ऐसे परिवर्तन आ
जाते हैं कि जीवन हमारे लिए असहनीय हो जाता है और कई बार हम इस जीवन का अंत कर देना चाहते हैं । लेकिन
पुन: फिर हम चीजों को परिवर्तित होते हुए देखते हैं जो हमें पूर्ण रूप से जीवन
का आनंद प्रदान करती हैं । इस कहानी में
लेखक के साथ इसी प्रकार की घटनाएँ घटती है । वह हाई स्कूल में प्रवेश पाने पर
स्वयं को एक ऐसी ही विचित्र स्थिति में पाता है । कुछ दिनों के उपरांत उसके घर में
आग लग जाती है और उसे लगता है कि उसके जीवन का अंत हो गया है । लेकिन
जब उसके स्कूल के साथी उसके प्रति अपनी चिंता
का प्रदर्शन करते है तो जीवन के प्रति उसकी पूरी सोच बदल जाती है और वह पुन: जीवन
में आनंद लेना शुरु का देता है ।)
THEME
The
story is based on the theme of adjustment issues encountered by teenagers.
Routine problems of life appear grievous and difficult to children in their
growing years. They fail to acknowledge the little blessings offered by life
and focus on the small missing things. It takes some time, but love and support
from people around them rebuild their faith in the goodness of life. Zan felt
so pressurized by the changes in his life that he thought of death, the extreme
way to escape. However, genuine outpouring of concern from his schoolmates made
him realize that his fear and insecurities were unfounded. He connected back
with life with the help of his new friends.
TITLE
The
word ‘house’ denotes a structure made of concrete material while the word
‘home’ connotes a place where love and concern bind the people inhabiting a
space. “A House is Not a Home” is an appropriate title because Zan did not lose
his home when he lost his house. Zan took to heart the burning down of his
house and the things like his backpack, his shoes and other belongings. When he
received love, support and concern from everyone around him, he realised that
the emotion which was present in his house had grown even stronger after the
fire tragedy. He had lost the house but the home was still there, stronger than
before. Hence, the title aptly conveys the main idea that material losses can
be recovered but they cannot cause the loss of genuine emotions.
MESSAGE
The
story conveys the message that camaraderie and bonhomie are two strong factors
that help build genuine relationships. Zan felt awkward, isolated and
embarrassed by the changes that marked his early teenage. But when new people
approached him with open arms and extended a hand of friendship, he was
overwhelmed. All his worries, fears, and insecurities faded away. Helping
others in need and being grateful while getting help, are the two values one
should acquire. The teenagers, especially, should volunteer to make newcomers
feel at home. Another message conveyed by this story is that one should not
grieve over material loss. As long as one has emotional support, one can
overcome any loss.
Justification of the Title
Only if happiness, warmth and comfort are
present in a house we can call it home. The house of the narrator, a teenage
boy, get burned down and the family
moves into another accommodation. There is a great sense of loss to the boy. He
also loses his pet cat which he loved so much. So the boy feels the loss of his
home. But things change and he becomes happy again. He gets back his lost
things and also his lovely cat. He again gets back his home. So the title is
justified.
Character Sketch
The narrator (Zan): The narrator is a
schoolboy who moves from Junior school to High School. Initially, he finds some
problems in adjusting to life in the new school. Unfortunately, his house gets
burned down in a fire and he is in deep trouble. But his schoolmates help him
out by providing everything to him. A neighbour also greatly increases his joy
by helping him to find his lost cat. So the narrator manages to become happy
again after facing a lot of troubles. The affection he got from many people
touched him. He was able to get rid of his insecurity and open up to others. A
new chapter opened in his life.
Vocabulary
Awkward—inconvenient,
difficult; Seniority—being older or of a higher rank; Afford—provide;
Freshman—a new student; Isolated—alone; Probably—perhaps; Nonetheless—despite the
fact; Windy—with strong winds; Fireplace—hearth; Purring—mewing of a cat;
Occasionally—now and then; Swatting—to hit; Entertainment—amusement;
Rescued—saved; Stoke—to burn the fire; Pouring in—flowing in; Groping— to
search with hands in dark; Flames—areas of brightly burning gas; Spread—become
larger; Documents—important papers; Certain—completely sure; Scream—to cry;
Hold—catch; Fireman—a person whose job is to extinguish fire; Grasp—hold;
Yell—to cry; Firefighter—fireman; Logically—with logic; Wrap—to put something
around; Emerge—come out; Hug—to embrace; Argue—to make dispute; Vanish—to end;
Inhaled—breathe air in; Struck—suddenly came in mind; Horror—fear;
Suffering—facing; Realise—to feel; Regardless—in spite of; Piled into—to go
into quickly; Kicked off—take off; Casualty—struck; Embarrassed—agitated;
Weird—strange and unusual; Geek—disturbed; Destined—decided future; Curl up—to
curve; Zombie—ghost; Surreal—not real; Ripped away—snatched; Put out—to
extinguish; Rescue—to save; Ache—feeling of pain; Grieve—to mourn; Rush—to run;
Identification—recognition; Withdraw—to take out; Rubble—debris; Cleared
off—cleaned; Apartment—a set of rooms; Debris—remains; Robe—a long loose piece
of clothing; Crawl—to walk on knee; Plight—bad state; Responsible—answerable;
Gym—a hall with equipment for doing physical exercise; Shove—to push;
Sweatsuit—sweater; Genuine—real; Outpouring—outflowing; Concern—to worry;
Instant—moment; Relief—comfort; Focus—attention; Insecurity—unsafe; Curb—slope;
Holding—gripping; Leap—jump; Grab—catch; Freak—frightened;
Overwhelming—overpowering; Tragedy—very sad event; Diminish—lessen;
Gratitude—the feeling of being grateful.
DETAILED SUMMARY
After
passing junior high school the author joined a high school. It was a big
school. The author felt awkward during his first year of high school. Ile
missed his old school badly. He often went to meet his old teachers. They
encouraged him to get involved in school activities.
One
Sunday afternoon, not long after he had started high school, he was sitting at
home doing his homework. His little cat was sitting on the table. tie smelt
something strange. Then he noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the
ceiling. Soon the whole room was engulfed in flames. The author and his mother
came out of the room.
The
author ran to the neighbours to call the fire brigade. He saw his mother run
back into the house. She came out after sometime holding a metal box containing
important documents. Dropping the box in the lawn she ran back into the house.
The author was about to run after her but a fireman stopped him forcibly. The
other firemen rushed in to save the mother. They could bring her safe.
After
five hours, the fire was finally out. The house was completely burned down. Now
the author realized that his cat was found nowhere. He broke down in tears and
cried and cried. He wanted to go inside the house but the fireman did not let
him go inside that night.
The
author and his mother went to the author’s grandparents house to spend the
night. The next day it was Monday and the author was to go to school. He was
wearing the school uniform but he had no shoes. He borrowed tennis shoes from
his aunt. His school bag had burned in the fire. He thought that everything had
been finished for him. He walked around school like a zombie. Everything felt
surreal and was not sure what was going to happen. He was feeling insecure.
When he walked through what used to be his house after school that day, he was
shocked to see how much damage there was. There was no time to grieve. His
mother rushed him out of the house. They borrowed money from the author’s
grandparents. They rented an apartment nearby. When the debris of their burned
house was being cleared off, the author came there daily hoping that his cat
was somewhere to be found.
The
news of this fire tragedy spread in the school. The next day at school, the
people were acting even more strange than usual. They had taken up a collection
and had bought him school supplies, notebooks and all kinds of different
clothes. They were introducing themselves to the author very warmly. The author
made friends that day.
A
month later of the fire tragedy, their house was being rebuilt. The author’s
friends were with him. A kind lady came with the author’s cat and gave it to
him. It brought a new life for the author.
EXTRACTS
(I)
She was never far from me. I had rescued her
when she was a kitten, and somehow she knew that I was the one responsible for
giving her ‘the good life’.
1.
Who is ‘I’ in these lines? Whom had he rescued?
Ans:
‘I’ in these lines is the author, Zan. He had rescued a red tabby cat when she
was still a kitten.
2.
Why was ‘she’ never far from the speaker?
Ans:
She was never far from the speaker, Zan, because he loved her a lot and took
good care of her. She was his pet and he tended to all her requirements for
food, play and love. She, in turn, responded to his love and care with loyalty.
3.
What does the speaker mean by ‘good life’?
Ans:
‘Good Life’, according to the speaker, Zan, means a life where the pet cat was
fed well, pampered, and taken care of in every way.
4.
How did ‘she’ know that the speaker was the one responsible for giving her ‘a
good life’?
Ans:
She, the red tabby cat, knew that Zan was responsible for giving her a good life
because he was quite liberal with her. He allowed her to lie over his papers
and punch at his pen while he did homework.
(II)
He
held on to me while other firefighters ran into the house. He knew that I
wasn’t acting very logically and that if he were to let go, I’d run. He was
right.
1.
Who held on to whom and why?
Ans:
One of the firefighters held on to Zan because he tried to run after his mother
who was inside their burning house.
2.
Why did the other firefighters run into the house?
Ans:
The other firefighters ran into the house to rescue Zan’s mother.
3.’He
was right’. Why?
Ans:
‘He’, the firefighter, was right because Zan would have certainly run into the
burning house after his mother and would have thus endangered his life too if
the firefighter had left him.
4.
Which trait of the speaker do these lines highlight?
Ans:
The speaker’s abundant love for his mother and his strong emotional dependence
on her is highlighted here.
(III)
Regardless,
I had to go. We piled into the car with just the clothes on our backs and a few
of the fireman’s blankets and made our way to my grandparents’ house to spend
the night.
1.
Who is the speaker? Where did he have to go and why?
Ans:
The speaker is Zan and he had to go to his Grandparent& house since his
house had been burnt down and was unsafe to stay in even after the firefighters
had doused the fire.
2.
Who does ‘we’ stand for?
Ans:
“We” stands for Zan and his mother.
3.
Why did they take ‘so few’ belongings with them?
Ans: They took so few belongings with them
because everything they owned had got burnt down in the house.
4.”
Regardless, I had to go”. Why does the speaker say this?
Ans:
The speaker, Zan, says this because he had to go without knowing whether his
cat was dead or alive. This was a crisis situation, and his priority was to
ensure his and his mother’s safety and to start life fresh.
(IV)
Everyone
in the high school, including my teachers, was aware of my plight. I was
embarrassed as if somehow I were responsible. What a way to start off at a new
school! This was not the kind of attention J was looking for.
1.
Who is the speaker of these lines and what was his plight?
Ans:
The speaker is Zan and his plight was that his house had been burnt down in the
fire. All his belongings – his clothes, his books, his backpack – everything
had been destroyed.
2.
Why was he embarrassed?
Ans:
He was embarrassed because he held himself responsible for his shabby
appearance at school. He did not have a proper dress, shoes, or even backpack
like other children.
3.
Why was he uncomfortable about starting school in this manner?
Ans:
He was uncomfortable about starting school in this manner because he thought he
looked like a geek and an outcast without proper clothes, shoes and a backpack.
4.
Why didn’t he want this kind of attention?
Ans:
He had been ahead of his class in the previous school and was loved by his
teachers for his grades. But now he was embarrassed as he had to attend school
in awkward clothes and without notebooks or bag.
(V)
There
was a big table set up with all kinds of stuff on it, just for me. They had
taken up a collection and bought me school supplies…
1.
Who is the speaker and who are ‘they’ in these lines?
Ans:
Zan is the speaker and ‘they’ are his new schoolmates.
2.
Where was the big table?
Ans:
The big table was in the school gym.
3.
Why had the collection been taken up?
Ans:
The collection had been taken up to help Zan after he had lost all his
belongings in the fire that had burnt his house.
4.
What was the speaker’s response to this gesture?
Ans:
The speaker, Zan was overwhelmed by this gesture and felt as if the school
supplies, notebooks, and different clothes kept on the table for him, were like
Christmas gifts.
Main Characters of the
Story
Zan
Gaudioso
Zan is a teenager who is struggling with the
changes in his life. He feels awkward, strange, isolated and embarrassed like
any other teenager. Little matters gain massive proportion for him. However, he
is very alert as he notices the fire as soon as it begins and he rushes out to
call the firefighters.
He
is also very attached to his mother. He tries to follow her when she goes back
into the burning house to recover his father’s photos and letters. He knows
that his action is illogical but he loves her too much to worry even about his
own safety. He runs over and hugs her when the fireman rescues her. The thought
of losing her blurs the times when he hated her or argued with her. He obeys her
even when he finds it difficult. He goes to school the next day after the fire
Just because his mother asks him to. He feels weird in Sunday church clothes
and borrowed tennis shoes but does not throw any tantrums for not going to
school.
Zan’s insecurities and embarrassment are also
like those of any teenager who is conscious about appearance. However, he is a
sensitive boy who keeps hoping to find his cat even in the rubble of his house.
Zan
is a little reluctant in taking the initiative but is otherwise a friendly boy.
He welcomes the hand of friendship extended to him and happily accepts new
friends He has values of gratitude and thankfulness for the little gifts
bestowed upon by God. Overall, Zan is like an adorable teenager who needs a
little love and concern to get back his smile.
Zan’s
Mother
Zan’s
mother is a brave woman who faces life with grit. Her husband died when her
only son was very young, still, she took upon herself the responsibility to
raise him singlehandedly. She heroically retrieves the photos and letters of
her husband when fire engulfs their house. Her attempt to save the only
memories of her late husband arouses admiration from her son as well the
readers.
She
is a responsible parent who can be firm if need be. She knows that going back
to school would normalize things for Zan. Therefore, she compels him to go to
school and even Zan does not resist this decision because he knows that she is
his well-wisher.
The
manner in which she quickly starts the process of resettling by renting an
apartment shows that she does not get deterred by challenges. Overall, she is
an admirable woman of love, compassion, self-respect and grit.
Very Short Answer Type
Important Questions
Q.1
How was the author’s first year in the High School?
Ans.
His first year of high school was awkward.
2.
What did the author notice one Sunday afternoon?
Ans.
lie noticed some smoke pouring in through the seams of a ceiling.
3.
What did the author’s mother carry out of the house first of all?
Ans.
She ran out of the house carrying a small metal box full of important
documents.
4.
What had happened to the author’s father?
Ans.
His father had died when he was young.
5.
Why did the author’s mother run into the house for the second time?
Ans.
She ran into the house for the second time to collect her husband’s letters and
pictures.
6.
Who stopped the author to run into the house?
Ans. A firefighter stopped the author to run
into the house.
7.
What was the author worried about after the fire tragedy?
Ans.
He was most worried about his cat because it was missing.
8.
Where did the author and his mother spend their night after the fire tragedy?
Ans. They spent their night in the house of
the author’s grandparents.
9.
Why did they have to borrow money?
Ans.
They had to borrow money because their credit cards, cash or even
identification to withdraw money from the bank had burnt in the fire.
10.
How did the students help the author at school?
Ans.
They collected money to buy for him school supplies, notebooks, all kinds of
clothes.
11.
Did the author get his cat back?
Ans. Yes. he got his cat back
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.Why
did Zan feel awkward and isolated during his first year of high school?
Ans:
Zan’s position during his first year of high school as the junior most class
made him feel awkward. The big size of the new school and the separation from
his closest friends made him feel isolated.
Q2.Why
did the author miss his old teachers?
Ans:
The author missed his old teachers because they would encourage him to get
involved in school activities so that he could meet new people. They also
assured him that he would soon adjust to his new school. Their affection,
warmth, and cooperation in making him feel special made the author miss them.
Q3.
What kind of day it was when a fire broke out in the author’s house? What were
the author and his cat doing at that time?
Ans:
It was a Sunday afternoon of a cold and windy winter when the fire broke out.
The author was at the dining-room table doing homework with the fire burning in
the fireplace. His red tabby cat was lying over his papers, purring loudly and
sometimes swatting at his pen.
Q4.
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s
reaction? What does she do? (Textual)
Ans:
One Sunday afternoon, the author smelled something strange and noticed smoke
pouring in through the seams of the ceiling of his house. His mother reacted
promptly and the two of them ran out into the front yard. However, she ran back
into the house and brought out a small metal box full of important documents.
Q5.
What happened to the narrator’s mother when she had run into the burning house?
Ans:
The author’s mother inhaled a little smoke when she ran into the burning house.
She was rescued by the firemen who put an oxygen mask on her after bringing her
out. However, she was fine soon.
Q6.
How did Zan’s mother save important documents from the burning house?
Ans:
Zan’s mother saved important documents from the burning house by courageously
rushing inside the house on fire and bringing out a small metal box that
contained those documents. She thus risked her life but eventually succeeded in
her mission.
Q7.
Why did Zan’s mother run back into the house after having saved the important
documents?
Or
“I knew what she was after”. Why does Zan make
this observation?
Ans:
Zan’s mother ran back to save the pictures and letters of his father who had
died when Zan was young. Zan knew that these memories of her husband were
extremely precious for her and she did not want them to go up in flames.
Q8.
Why did Zan try to run after his mother and why did the fireman hold him back?
Ans:
Zan tried to run after his mother because he was afraid of losing her. He was
afraid that she might get burnt in the fire. The fireman held him back because
Zan’s act was very rash and illogical. the lie could not have saved his mother
and would have risked his life as well.
Q9.
Who brought out Zan’s mother from the burning house? Why was an oxygen mask put
on her?
Ans:
A fireman brought Zan’s mother out of the burning house. She had inhaled a
little smoke and so he rushed her to the truck and put an oxygen mask on her to
facilitate better breathing.
Q10.When
did the author realise that his cat was missing?
Ans:
After five hours of a raging fire that burnt down the author’s house almost
completely, he realised that his cat was missing. He had not seen her all this
while and realised to his horror that she was nowhere to be found.
Q11.
Why does the narrator say, “I was suffering loss, big time”?
Ans:
The author feels that he was suffering loss, big time because he had lost his
old dear school and teachers, he had lost his house to the fire, and now he had
lost his dear cat whom he loved dearly.
Q12.
Why does Zan break down in tears after the fire? (Textual)
Ans:
Zan breaks down in tears after the fire because he had lately been suffering
losses. His old school, his house and his cat – all had been lost. The tears
were an emotional outburst of a teenager who was struggling with adjustment
issues.
Q13.
In what condition does the author go to school after the fire incident?
Ans:
After the fire incident, the author goes to school wearing the dress that he
had worn to church on Sunday morning and the tennis shoes that he had borrowed
from his aunt. His shoes, clothes, books, homework, and backpack had been
destroyed in the fire.
Q14. Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next
day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity? (Textual)
Ans:
The author is embarrassed because he feels that his appearance is weird without
uniform, books and a backpack. His fear and insecurity are shown by the words: “Was
I destined to be an outcast and geek all my life?”.
Q15.
Why did the author dislike growing up?
Ans:
The author disliked growing up because he felt that growing up had brought so
many losses with it. He had lost his old school, his friends, his house and
most of all his dear pet cat.
Q16.What
is surreal? Why does the author feel that everything was surreal?
Ans:
Surreal means something strange or unreal. The author felt that everything was
surreal because too many unfortunate things had happened to him – his house was
burnt down, his cat was lost, his mother was left with no money and he had no
books, shoes, clothes and school uniform. His secure zone had been ripped away
suddenly and the changes were too much and too many for him to handle.
Q17.
What was the extent of the damage caused by the fire?
Ans:
All belongings except photo albums, documents and some personal items had got
burnt in the fire. Whatever remained had got destroyed by the water and
chemicals that had been used to put out the fire.
Q18.
The author’s heart ached for his cat but there was no time to grieve. Why? The
author felt pain at the loss of his cat but life had to move on.
Ans:
He could not grieve as a new place to live had to be found and new clothes had
to be bought for school.
Q19.Why
did Zan’s mother have to borrow money from his grandparents?
Ans:
Zan’s mother had to borrow money from his grandparents because her credit
cards, cash and even identification that was needed to draw money from the bank
had got burnt up in the fire. She had to rent a new place, buy new clothes for
Zan and resettle quickly. She did not have time to wait for the recovery of her
lost documents till then.
Q20.
Why did the narrator go over to his burnt house even though they had rented an
apartment nearby?
Ans:
The narrator went over to his burnt house even though they had rented an
apartment nearby because he hoped that his cat would be found somewhere. He
would watch the clearing away of the debris expecting to see his cat.
Q21. What thoughts crossed Zan’s mind when he
missed his cat?
Ans:
Zan thought of his cat as the vulnerable little kitten who would tag along
after him in the morning. He thought of how she would climb up his robe and
crawl into his pocket to fall sleep.
Q22.How
and why were people acting stranger than usual at Zan’s school?
Ans:
When Zan was getting ready for gym class at his locker, people were gathering
around him asking him to hurry up. This was stranger than usual as they almost
seemed to shove him into the gym. They behaved so because they had put up a
surprise collection of school supplies and clothes etc for Zan in the gym.
Q23.What
help did the author get from his schoolmates after the fire accident?
Or
What kind of gesture did Zan’s schoolmates
show to hint?
Ans:
The author’s schoolmates helped him by getting him school supplies, notebooks,
and different clothes – jeans, tops sweatshirts. Those who had never spoken to
him introduced themselves and many invited him to their homes.
Q24.
Why was the author overcome by emotions when he got help from his schoolmates?
Ans:
The author was overcome by emotions when he got help from his schoolmates
because they had gone out of their way to bring him the things he needed. He
was touched by their genuine outpouring of concern.
Q25. When does the author say “It was like
Christmas”? Why?
Ans:
The author says this when he gets inside the gym to see the surprise load of
school supplies and different clothes on the big table only for him. This
seemed like Christmas because these assorted gifts were similar to the surprise
gifts that one gets from loved ones on Christmas.
Q26.
What made the author finally breathe a sigh of relief?
Ans:
The thought for the first time that things were going to be okay made the
author finally breathe a sigh of relief. He had made friends in the new school
who had a genuine concern for him.
Q27.Why
was it different for Zan to see his house getting rebuilt? How did the fire
help him?
Ans:
It was different to see his house getting rebuilt because Zan wasn’t alone this
time. Two of his new friends from school were with him. The fire had helped him
by diverting his mind away from his feelings of insecurity. He now opened up to
the wonderful people around.
Q28.
Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?
Or
(Textual)
How
did Zan get back his beloved cat?
Ans:
The cat had been so freaked by the fire that she had run away over a mile away.
A woman brings her back by locating the owners through different sources
because the phone number etched on the cat’s collar could not be reached as it
had been disconnected due to the fire.
Q29. How did the author’s feelings of loss and
tragedy seem to diminish?
Ans: The author felt gratitude for life, his new
friends, the kindness of the woman who had rescued his cat and certainly for
the life of his beautiful cat. This gratitude diminished his feelings of loss
and tragedy.
Q.30. What problem does the author face when
he moves to a new school?
Ans. In the junior school,l he was the head
boy of his class. He was very close to all the teachers. He enjoyed the
seniority. But when he joins a new school at senior level, he faces many
problems. This school was twice as big as his old school. He felt very
isolated.
Q.31.
Even after taking admission in a new school, why did the author keep visit his
teachers at the old school
Ans.
The author felt very isolated in the new school. It was a big school and nobody
knew him there. All his fellow at the junior school had taken admission in
other schools. But he was very close to the teachers of the previous school. So
he visited them often.
Q.32.
What was the effect of the smoke on the author’s mother?
Ans. Their house got a big fire. In a crazed
state, she ran inside the house to get the pictures of her dead husband. The
second time also she rushed inside. But this time she inhaled smoke. A fireman
rescued her from inside the house.
Q33.
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s
reaction? What does she do?
Ans.
The author, while doing his homework, noticed the smoke pouring in through the
seams of the ceiling. The room was filled with the smoke very quickly. The
author and his mother ran outside to save their life. His mother ran out of the
house with a small metal box full of important documents. She became so crazy
that she rushed back to the house just after dropping the box.
Q34.
Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show
his fear and insecurity?
Ans. The author was full of remorse as he was
left with nothing. He didn’t have a proper dress and study material. He had no
backpack. He had a feeling of insecurity. All things appeared strange to him.
He was shocked deeply and seemed frustrated. The words uttered by him “Was I
destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life? I didn’t want to grow up,
change or have to handle life, if it was to going to be this way. I just wanted
to curl up and die”. These words reveal his fear and insecurity.
Q35. What was the author’s mother doing on a
Sunday afternoon?
Ans.
It was blowing cold on that Sunday afternoon. And the author was doing homework
at the dining table. His mother was fuelling the fire at the fireplace to keep
the room warm.
Q36. How did Zan’s mother save important
documents from the burning house?
Ans.
When the house caught fire, the narrator and his mother were in the house.
Zan’s mother ran out of the house carrying a small metal box full of important
documents. She again ran back to bring back her husband’s pictures and letters.
Q37.
Why did the firemen hold the author?
Ans. The author loved his mother too much. He
saw his mother running into the burning house. He got emotionally charged out
and trying to follow her. The fireman stopped him forcefully, otherwise, he
would have jumped into the fire he could have lost his life.
Q38. Which three things made the author’s
house a home?
Ans. The fire tragedy changed the author’s
life. He was so depressed that he did not want to grow up and wanted to die.
But his reunion with his cat, his new friends in the school and his new house
made his house ‘a home’ where he could live.
Q39.
What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and
people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how
does he start participating in life?
(NCERT)
Ans.
His schoolmates bought him school supplies, notebooks, all kinds of different
clothes for the author in order to help him. It was a matter of surprise and
too difficult to believe for him. He got emotional satisfaction. People who had
never spoken, introduced themselves one by one. All things seemed new and got back
his interest in life. Now, he had all the things whatever he used to have. He
started enjoying his life as usual.
Q40. What happened to the author’s cat after
his house was burned down?
Ans. When the fire broke, almost the entire
house was burnt. The author realised that the cat was nowhere to be found. It
was clear that the cat might have been injured due to fire or run away due to
fear.
Q41.
How did Zan go to the school the next day after a fire burned down his house?
Ans. Next day, the author went to school in an
embarrassing situation. He was not in school uniform. He looked weird in his
clothes. He had neither books nor bag. He felt as if he was an outcast and
wanted to die.
Q42.
Why did the author, Zan, love his cat so much?
Ans. He had a pet cat which was his constant
companion and source of entertainment. He was fond of her and could never think
of living away from her. He had a special bond with her because he had rescued
her when she was a small kitten.
Q43.
How did the narrator realise that he was not alone in the world?
Ans.
Unfortunately, a fierce fire had burnt down the narrator’s house. He had lost
everything in the fire and become deserted. But he went to school the following
day and found that his friends were also worried about this incident. They gave
him many things. Thus, the feeling of his insecurity gradually vanished and he
realised that he had many friends to decrease his problems. He became open up
to all the wonderful people around him.
Q44.
What happened to the narrator’s cat?
Ans.
The narrator loved his cat very much. Unfortunately, a fierce fire broke into
his house and burnt down everything. His cat was found nowhere in the house.
Anything might have happened to the cat. It might have been either injured in
the fire or run away to save its life.
Q45. When the narrator’s house was on fire,
how did his mother try to save the threads of life?
Ans. When the fierce fire broke out in the
narrator’s house, his mother ran to the house repeatedly. She had to save the
threads of life. She ran to the house to collect important documents. She also
tried to save the pictures of her husband and letters because they were the
precious gifts of time for her.
Q46.
How did the author get rid of his feelings of loss and tragedy?
Ans. His new friends in the new school and the
kindness of the lady, who returned his cat, helped the author in getting rid of
his feelings of loss and tragedy. He regained confidence. Now he wanted to live
happily in his new home.
Important Long
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.
The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in
the story? (Textual)
Ans:
The red tabby cat had been rescued by the author when she was a helpless kitten.
She would never be far from him and knew that he was the one responsible for
giving her a good life. He would get up early in the morning and teasingly
disturb her. She would then tag along after him, climb up his robe and crawl
into his pocket to fall asleep. Zan loved her so much that he would allow the
cat to sit over his papers and swat at his pen while he did his homework. He
missed her terribly after losing her and would go over to watch the clearing of
debris with the hope to find her somewhere. When she was restored back to Zan,
the cat purred as happily as the author felt elated to get her back. Even the
woman who rescued the cat knew that she was loved and sorely missed.
Q2.
What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and
people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how
does he start participating in life?
Or
(Textual)
What
role did Zan’s school play in normalising his life after the fire accident?
Ans:
After the loss of all his belongings in the fire that ravaged his house, Zan,
the narrator, started feeling depressed and embarrassed. At this time, the
friendly and helpful actions of his schoolmates changed his understanding of
life and people and comforted him emotionally. His schoolmates took up a
collection and bought him school supplies, notebooks, and all kinds of clothes
– jeans, tops, and sweats its. Those who had never spoken to him before came up
to him and introduced themselves. Many invited him to their houses. Their
genuine concern touched Zan. He felt relieved and began to believe that
everything would be okay. He stopped focussing on his feelings of insecurity
and opened up to all the wonderful people around him. The company of his new
friends and sharing joys with them made his loneliness vanish and reconnected
him to live.
Q3.
What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone
anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?
(Textual)
Ans:
Zan’s cat was brought back home after more than a month of absence. She had run
away due to fear of fire and could not be brought back early as her collar had
those phone numbers that had got disconnected due to the fire. Zan too was back
to his normal cheerful life. His absence was emotional unlike the physical
absence of his cat. Zan says that he is also back since he wants to point out
the return of his faith in the goodness of life. He had drifted away from joys
of friendship and comfort of familiarity on moving to a new school. By the time
his cat returned, his gratitude for life had also returned in the company of
new friends.
Q4. Describe the fire tragedy that struck
Zan’s house?
Ans: What was stoked to keep the house nice and
warm, triggered a major fire break out that turned Zan’s house to cinders and
left him and his mother devastated.
At first, Zan only smelled something strange
but soon noticed smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. The smoke
filled the room quickly and Zan and his mother could barely see. Somehow, they
groped their way to the front door and ran out into the front yard.
No
sooner had they made their way outside than the whole roof was engulfed in
flames, and the fire spread quickly. Zan ran to his neighbours to call the fire
department and his mother ran back into the house and soon came out carrying a
small metal box full of important documents. She rushed back into the house to
retrieve his husband’s pictures and letters – the only things she had to remember
him by.
Zan
tried to run after her but was stopped by a fireman. The fire truck had already
arrived and was busy dousing the fire. Some firefighters ran into the house and
safely brought out Zan’s mother and gave her an oxygen mask because she had inhaled
smoke.
It
took five hours to finally put out the fire but the house was almost completely
burnt and there was the sign of Zan’s pet cat. Zan feared that she was burnt
alive.
Q5.
What values in Zan’s mother endeared him to her? Zan’s mother was his sole
support after the death of his father. She carried out her responsibilities as
a single parent with complete devotion. Zan loved her a lot and obeyed all that
she
Ans: asked him to do because he respected her for
her value of devotion towards him. He willingly changed school and tried to
adjust to the new environment because he knew his mother was doing everything
for his good. She valued memories and knew the significance of the letters and
pictures of her late husband. She risked her life to recover these things and
thus displayed the value of courage. Her son, Zan, acknowledged this value when
he evaluated the few things that could be saved from the fire, all because of
his mother’s courage. She possessed the value of emotional strength and hence
quickly brought back normalcy to Zan’s life by sending him to school the next
day after the fire incident. Zan admired her because of her positive values
both as a mother and as a human being. That is why he rushed after her to save
her from the fire, without worrying about his own safety, because he did not
want to lose her at any cost.
Q6.
Suppose you are the woman who rescued Zan’s cat. Write a diary entry in about
150 words describing how you found the cat, what efforts you had to make to
trace its home, and how happy you felt after handing over the cat to its
rightful owner.
Ans:
(Day
& date)
(Time)
Dear Diary
A month ago, I found a beautiful red tabby cat
strolling in my porch. The cat was healthy and clean. Her appearance indicated
that she was a much loved and adored pet. I moved closer to the scared little
thing and saw that it had a collar on it. I noted down the phone number etched
on its collar and took the cat in before calling up its owners.
I
fed milk and biscuits to the cute furry thing and she purred gently as if
expressing gratitude for having rescued her. Then I put an old rug in a basket
and made it her new comfortable home.
I
sat down by the fire and tried to call the number of its owners.
Unfortunately,
the number seemed out of order. Then I searched the telephone directory to
locate the address of the owners given against the phone number. Somehow, the
directory did not have the complete address but the name of the locality and
the city mentioned therein helped me reach the right place. On reaching there,
I asked a few locals who guided me to a house under construction.
Lo
and behold! I had reached the correct place. I handed over the cat to Zan, its
rightful owner. The expression of joy, relief and gratitude on this young boy’s
face made my day. I was elated to see his friends jumping around and hugging
each other. It was a wonderful day for me because God had given me the
opportunity to bring joy to a young boy, his mother and his friends. Tonight I
go to bed with gratitude to God for choosing me as an instrument of His
goodwill.
Good
night!
Mrs
Hillary G. Thomas
Q.7.Describe the author’s experience at school
after the fire tragedy.
Ans. The author had just joined a new school.
He was facing a big problem to make himself fit in the new school. Just after a
couple of days,s his house caught fire. His school bag and shoes had burnt in a
fire.
The next day he went to school. He was around school
like a wanderer. Everything appeared to him strange. He did not know what was
going to happen him. He returned home with a broken heart. He was experiencing
terrible developments in his life.
The
next day when he went to school; he found a strange atmosphere all around.
People were getting together all around him. They had collected money for him
and arranged school supplies and clothing for him. This changed his vision for
life once again.
Q8. Have any of your classmates/schoolmates
had an experience like the one described in the story where they needed help?
Describe how they were helped.
(NCERT)
Ans.
Two years ago, my friend Raju visited the market to buy some household things.
It was a crowded market and a shop caught fire due to short circuit. The
panic-stricken people rushed here and there. My friend too was trying to leave
that place. He with three people got himself locked in a nearby shop to escape
from the smoke. But the shop was filled with smoke within a little span of
time. They felt suffocated by the fumes. They considered that their end was
near. In the meantime, a team of an NGO broke open the shutter and took them
out of the shop. They were hospitalised quickly. I could get my friend back
because of the team and the grace of God.
Q9.
Sometimes, unexpected trouble strikes our life. But people around us come to
our aid. Describe this with reference to the lesson ‘A House Is Not a Home’.
Ans.
In ‘A House Is Not a Home’, the narrator falls into deep trouble. His house is
burned down in a fire. He has also shifted to a rented house. His joining in a
new school also makes him feel isolated. But very soon, all his problem comes
to an end. His schoolmates contribute all the things he needs, including books
and clothes. Further, he is greatly sad about the loss of his pet cat. A woman
in the neighbourhood locates his cat and gives it to him. The narrator feels
very happy. He feels that normalcy had been restored in his life. Thus, people
around him played a big role in making him happy again.
Q10. The value of a person in one’s
surrounding is truly known in one’s hardship. Comment with reference to the
story ‘A House is not a Home’.
Ans.
People in one’s surroundings are sometimes indifferent and less co-operative.
They keep busy in their own business but they are truly known in one’s hardship
when they come forward to support whole-heartedly to the sufferer. In the story
‘A House is not a Home’, the author felt uncomfortable in the new school
because he was not familiar with the school environment, teachers and
classmates. When he lost each and everything in the fire, he felt insecure and
in this harsh time, his schoolmates introduced themselves to him. They all
contributed and gifted his school supplies. As everyone was aware of his
plight, all the teachers knew about his hardship. Thus the sympathy and
co-operation in school comforted him. Now his opinion changed about his new
school and he started making friends.
Q11.
The lady who handed over Zan’s cat to him did a noble deed. Write a few reasons
to appreciate her deed.
Ans.
The author loved his cat very much. He lost his cat when his house caught fire.
He tried to find the cat but did not get her. After a month, a woman came to
him with his cat. He could not believe it. He grabbed his cat and started
jumping. The wonderful woman somehow handed over his cat to him. She tried her
best to find the owner of the cat. On seeing the collar and the phone number
written on it, she decided that the cat was loved and missed. She was a good
lady. She realized the feeling of the owner of the cat. The author called her
wonderful as getting his cat back was no less than wonder for him. Really, she
did a noble deed.
Q12.
Zan’s life, one month after the fire incident, was happier than his earlier
life. Discuss a few reasons for this change.
Ans.
Zan is a schoolboy who moves from Junior school to High School. He finds some
initial problems in adjusting to life in the new school. Unfortunately, his
house gets burned down in a fire and he is in deep trouble. But his schoolmates
help him out by providing everything to him. A neighbour also greatly increases
his joy by helping him to find his lost cat. So the narrator manages to become
happy again after facing a lot of troubles. The affection he gets from many
people touched him. He is able to get rid of his insecurity and opens up to
others. A new chapter has opened in his life.
Q13. How is a Home different from a House?
Explain with reference to the lesson ‘A House Is Not a Home’.
Ans.
Life without love is not life. Human relationship is based on love. The title
itself indicates it clearly that a house is not a home without love. The author
had to face adverse circumstances in his life. He was a fatherless boy. He led
a satisfactory life with his old friends and teachers. But when he changed his
school, he could not adjust himself in the new environment. He felt alienated.
Later, on his house caught fire and he lost all the things including his cat.
He started feeling dejected and isolated. Life had no interest in him any more.
He started building a new house. But it was not home, as a house is a home only
when there are love and happiness. The author did not have any attachment to
the new house. His reunion with his cat, his new friends and the new house made
his house a home.
Q14.
The teachers and students in the school were aware of Zan’s plight. What did
they do to help him?
Ans.
The author’s friends played a vital role in rebuilding his life. He was a
fatherless boy. His mother looked after him. He had a chat with him and he
loved her very much. %Then his house caught fire, he lost everything. He, in
his new school, did not feel good. He kept visiting his old school and
teachers. His life had become dull. He had lost all hopes to live. When he
visited his new school the next day, he found the atmosphere strange. His new
friends provided him with all the necessary items. They invited him to their
homes. All this contributed a lot to the author. He lost the feeling of
isolation, dejection and insecurity. He started leading a happy life again.
QUICK
REVIEW OF THE CHAPTER’
1.Of
which age group challengers does the story *A House is Not a Home’ reflect?
(A) childhood
(B) teenage
(C) Youthful
(D) old
age
Ans.
(B) teenage
2.In
the begging how does the author fed in the new high school?
(A) happy
(B) excited
(C)
isolated (d)
all of the above
Ans.
(C) isolated
3.What
does the author notice one Sunday afternoon?
(A) smoke pouring in through the ceiling (B) water pouring
in through the ceiling
(C) wind breaking windows
(D) all of the above
Ans.
(A) smoke pouring in through the ceiling
4.What
was the author did when he saw smoke pouring in through the window?
(A) playing in the courtyard
(B) doing his homework
(C)
taking his meal
(D)
Watching Television
Ans.
(B) doing his homework
5.What
did the mother being out of the burning house?
(A) a metal box full of important
documents (B) some
pictures of the author’s father
(C)
both (A) and (B)
(D) none of the above
Ans.
(C) both (A) and (B)
6.Who
caught the author when he rushed after his mother in the burning house?
(A)
a policeman
(B) a neighbour
(C)
a fireman
(D) a friend
Ans.
(C) a fireman
7.Who
did the author find missing after the fire accident?
(A) his dog
(B) his mother
(C) his monkey
(D) his cat
Ans.
(D) his cat
8.How
long did it take to blow out the fire?
(A)
two hours
(B) three hours
(C)
four hours (D)
five hours
Ans.
(D) five hours
9.
On which day did the fire accident take Place?
(A)
Saturday
(B) Sunday
(C) Monday
(D) Tuesday
Ans. (B) Sunday
10.Where
did the author and his mother spend their night OM- the fire accident?
(A)
in the house of grandparents
(B) in the house of neighbours
(C)
in the fire brigade building
(D) in the author’s school
Ans.
(B) in the house of neighbours.
11.What
did the author borrow from his aunt to go to school?
(A)
tennis shoes
(B) bag
(C)
uniform
(D) books
Ans.
(A) tennis shoes
12.What
did the author lose in the fire?’
(A)
school shoes
(B) uniform
(C)
bag and -books (D)
all of the above
Ans. (D) all of the above
13.Where
did the author and his mother have to borrow money?
(A)
grandparents
(B) neighbours
(C)
bank
(D) private financial institutions
Ans.
(A) grandparents
14.Who
made a collection of money for the author?
(A)
the students in the new high school
(B) the teachers in the old primary school
(C) neighbours
(D) social workers
Ans. (A) the students in the new high school
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