Chapter 2
1. What is the secret that Meena shares with Mridu in the backyard?
Meena shares the secret that she, Ravi, and Lalli are hiding a kitten in the backyard. They found it outside the gate that morning and are secretly feeding it milk without letting the adults know, especially Paati.
2. How does Ravi get milk for the kitten?
Ravi tricks Paati by pretending that he wants to drink the milk himself because he's hungry. He takes the milk in a tumbler, drinks some to avoid suspicion, then secretly pours the rest into a coconut shell for the kitten. He quickly washes the tumbler and returns it before Paati can notice.
3. Who does he say the kitten's ancestors are? Do you believe him?
Ravi claims that the kitten, Mahendran (M.P. Poonai), is a descendant of the Mahabalipuram Rishi-Cat and originally from the line of the Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet.
Do I believe him? Not really—it’s clearly a made-up, imaginative story. Ravi is just having fun and showing off his creativity.
4. Ravi has a lot to say about M.P. Poonai. This shows that:
(iii) he has a rich imagination.
I agree with this statement the most. Ravi builds a whole fantasy around the kitten, blending history, mythology, and humor.
You could also argue for:
(iv) he is an intelligent child.
Because he uses his knowledge of history and culture in a clever way.
But mainly, it’s his vivid imagination that stands out.
5. What was the noise that startled Mridu and frightened Mahendran?
Ans: The weird screeching sound came from Lalli learning to play the violin. Her attempts at playing startled Mridu and scared Mahendran so much that he jumped and spilled red chillies on himself.A Gift of Chappals .
1. The music-master is making lovely music. Read aloud the sentence in the text that expresses this idea.
Answer:
“The music-master's notes seemed to float up and settle perfectly into the invisible tracks of the melody. It was like the wheels of a train fitting smoothly into the rails and whizzing along.”
2. Had the beggar come to Rukku Manni's house for the first time? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
No, the beggar had not come to Rukku Manni’s house for the first time.
This is clear because Rukku Manni says, “He has been coming here every day for the past week, and it's time he found another house to beg from!”
Also, the beggar himself says, “I have kept my body and soul together on their generosity for a whole week.”
3. "A sharp V-shaped line had formed between her eyebrows." What does it suggest to you about Rukku Manni's mood?
Answer:
This description suggests that Rukku Manni was angry or upset. The sharp V-shaped line between her eyebrows is a common physical sign of frustration or disapproval. Her stern and quiet approach also shows she was trying to control her anger.
Here are the answers to the Working with the Text section from A Gift of Chappals:
1. Complete the following sentences:
(i) Ravi compares Lalli's playing the violin to
❤derailing of a train.
(ii) Trying to hide beneath the tray of chillies, Mahendran
❤tipped a few chillies over himself.
(iii) The teacher played a few notes on his violin, and Lalli
❤stumbled behind him on her violin, which looked quite helpless and unhappy in her hands.
(iv) The beggar said that the kind ladies of the household
❤had kept his body and soul together for a whole week.
(v) After the lesson was over, the music teacher asked Lalli if
❤she had seen his chappals.
2. Describe the music teacher, as seen from the window.
Ans: The music teacher was a bony figure with a mostly bald head and a fringe of oiled black hair. He had an old-fashioned tuft, wore a gold chain around his neck, and a diamond ring on his finger. He wore a gold-bordered veshti, and his big toe was scrawny, which he used to beat time on the floor as he played the violin.
3. (i) What makes Mridu conclude that the beggar has no money to buy chappals?
Ans:Mridu notices the blisters on the beggar’s bare feet, and he also complains about the hot road tar burning his feet. This made her believe he couldn’t afford to buy chappals.
(ii) What does she suggest to show her concern?
She suggests finding an old pair of chappals in the house that the beggar could use.
4. "Have you children..." she began, and then, seeing they were curiously quiet, went on more slowly, "seen anyone lurking around the verandah?"
(i) What do you think Rukku Manni really wanted to ask?
❤ She really wanted to ask if the children had anything to do with the missing chappals.
(ii) Why did she change her question?
❤ She noticed that the children were unusually quiet, which made her suspicious but also cautious, so she softened her approach.
(iii) What did she think had happened?
❤She thought someone might have stolen the music master's chappals—possibly a vendor or passerby.
5. On getting Gopu Mama's chappals, the music teacher tried not to look too happy. Why?
Ans:He tried to hide his happiness because he knew the slippers were nicer and newer than his own, and he probably felt a little guilty for benefiting from the situation, especially since they belonged to someone else.
6. On getting a gift of chappals, the beggar vanished in a minute. Why was he in such a hurry to leave?
Ans: The beggar was in a hurry to leave because he feared someone might change their mind about giving him the slippers, and he also wanted to escape the hot ground quickly now that he had something to protect his feet.
Important Topics from the Chapter:
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Kindness and Compassion – Helping the beggar with chappals.
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Imagination and Creativity – Ravi's story about the kitten’s royal lineage.
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Childhood Innocence – The children's actions driven by empathy.
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Respect and Responsibility – Taking things without asking.
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Humour and Irony – Music teacher's reaction and Ravi’s boldness.
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Family Relationships – Interaction among cousins and elders.
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Social Issues – Poverty and homelessness through the beggar’s condition.
Great! Here are the 10 additional questions from “A Gift of Chappals” along with their answers to help with comprehension and exam preparation:
✅ 1. Why was the kitten kept as a secret from Paati? What does this tell you about Paati?
Answer:
The kitten was kept a secret from Paati because she did not like animals in the house and might leave for Paddu Mama’s house if she found out. This shows that Paati was strict and did not approve of pets indoors.
✅ 2. How did Ravi justify giving away someone else's slippers? Do you think he was right?
Answer:
Ravi justified it by saying that the beggar needed them more and compared his act to that of the generous Karna from mythology. However, he was not entirely right because he gave away something that did not belong to him.
✅ 3. What does the children's behavior show about their understanding of right and wrong?
Answer:
The children understood the importance of kindness and helping others, but they didn’t fully understand the importance of taking permission. Their hearts were in the right place, but they acted impulsively.
✅ 4. Describe Ravi’s story about Mahendran's ancestry. What does it reveal about him?
Answer:
Ravi claimed that the kitten, Mahendran, descended from the Pallava lions and even from the Egyptian cat-goddess Bastet. This shows that Ravi has a rich imagination and a flair for storytelling.
✅ 5. How does the author use humour in the story to make it more engaging?
Answer:
The author uses humour through Ravi’s exaggerated stories, the way Lalli struggles with the violin, and the children’s nervous reaction to the missing chappals. The unexpected twist of the chappals being the music master’s adds to the fun.
✅ 6. Why was Rukku Manni angry when she found out about the missing chappals?
Answer:
She was angry because the children had given away the music master’s new, expensive slippers without permission. She was worried about the consequences and the embarrassment it might cause.
✅ 7. Do you think Mridu agreed with what Ravi did? Why or why not?
Answer:
Mridu seemed unsure. She felt sorry for the beggar but was also nervous about taking someone else’s slippers. She followed along but didn’t actively support the idea like Ravi did.
✅ 8. How is the music teacher portrayed in the story? What are some details that make him a funny character?
Answer:
The music teacher is shown as dramatic and slightly vain. He has an old-fashioned look, a large toe that beats time, and is very concerned about his new chappals. His reaction to getting new ones adds humour to the story.
✅ 9. What lesson do you think the children learned by the end of the story?
Answer:
The children learned that while it’s good to help others, it should not come at the cost of using others’ belongings without permission. They also saw how actions have consequences.
✅ 10. If you were in Mridu’s place, would you have supported Ravi's idea to give away the slippers? Explain.
Answer:
(Example answer) If I were Mridu, I would have tried to ask an adult for help instead of giving away someone else’s slippers. It’s important to help, but it’s also important to respect other people’s property.
THANK YOU
