Chapter 5 QUALITY
Working with the Text
1. What was the author's opinion about Mr. Gessler as a shoemaker?
Answer: The author highly respected Mr. Gessler as a shoemaker. He regarded him as an artist who took immense pride in his work and created boots of exceptional quality. The author admired Mr. Gessler’s dedication, skill, and passion for his craft.
2.Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
Answer: The author visited the shop infrequently because the boots made by Mr. Gessler lasted a long time. They were so well-made that the author did not need to order new ones often.
3.What was the effect on Mr. Gessler of the author's remark about a certain pair of boots? Answer: The author’s remark about the boots creaking affected Mr. Gessler deeply. He seemed to internalize the criticism, feeling personal responsibility for the imperfection. It caused him emotional distress, and he even offered to take the boots off the author's bill if he could not fix them.
4.What was Mr. Gessler's complaint against "big firms"?
Answer: Mr. Gessler’s complaint was that "big firms" relied on advertising and mass production rather than craftsmanship. He felt that they took business away from skilled artisans like himself, who poured love and care into each product, and as a result, he was losing work. He also criticized these firms for lacking self-respect, as they didn’t prioritize quality.
5.Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Answer: The author ordered many pairs of boots out of guilt and sympathy after hearing about Mr. Gessler’s struggles. He felt that he needed to support Mr. Gessler, who was clearly in a difficult situation. The author didn’t really need the boots but ordered them to help the shoemaker continue his business.
Working with Language
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Study the following phrases and their meanings. Use them appropriately to complete the sentences that follow.
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Look after: Take care of
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She promised to look after her elderly mother while she was away.
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Look down on: Disapprove or regard as inferior
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It’s wrong to look down on people just because they don’t have the same education as you.
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Look in (on someone): Make a short visit
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I’ll look in on my grandmother this afternoon to see how she’s doing.
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Look into: Investigate
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The police have promised to look into the matter thoroughly.
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Look out: Be careful
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Look out for the car, it’s coming fast!
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Look up: Improve
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After a rough start, things started to look up for the business.
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Look up to: Admire
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Many young athletes look up to their coaches for guidance and inspiration.
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Let me know if you'd like any further explanations or help with other questions!Working with Language
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Study the following phrases and their meanings. Use them appropriately to complete the sentences that follow.
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Look after: Take care of
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She promised to look after her elderly mother while she was away.
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Look down on: Disapprove or regard as inferior
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It’s wrong to look down on people just because they don’t have the same education as you.
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Look in (on someone): Make a short visit
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I’ll look in on my grandmother this afternoon to see how she’s doing.
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Look into: Investigate
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The police have promised to look into the matter thoroughly.
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Look out: Be careful
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Look out for the car, it’s coming fast!
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Look up: Improve
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After a rough start, things started to look up for the business.
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Look up to: Admire
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Many young athletes look up to their coaches for guidance and inspiration.
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Here are the answers to the exercises you’ve provided:
Fill in the Blanks with Correct Phrases:
(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is at last looking up. (ii) We have no right to look down on people who do small jobs. (iii) Nitin has always looked up to his uncle, who is a self-made man. (iv) The police are looking into the matter thoroughly. (v) If you want to go out, I will look after the children for you. (vi) I promise to look in (on) your brother when I visit Lucknow. (vii) Look out when you are crossing the main road.
Pronunciation Exercise:
Here’s how the words can be grouped based on pronunciation:
/oʊ/ sound (long 'o' sound):
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cot
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coat
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goat
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bloat
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toast
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rote
/ɔ/ sound (short 'o' sound):
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cost
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toss
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got
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knot
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note
Other variations:
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rot
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blat
Words with the 'sh' sound:
Beginning:
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sheep
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shoe
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shore
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sure
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shriek
Middle:
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anxious
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portion
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fashion
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nation
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pushing
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marsh
End:
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trash
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ashes
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polish
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fish
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moustache
1. Initial, Medial, and Final 'ch' Sound:
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Initial 'ch' sound (as in 'chair'):
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choose
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child
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cheese
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chair
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charming
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Final 'ch' sound (as in 'march'):
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bench
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march
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peach
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wretch
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research
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Underline the letters representing the 'ch' sound in each word:
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feature: ch
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reaching: ch
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riches: ch
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archery: ch
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nature: ch
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batch: ch
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picture: ch
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matches: ch
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church: ch
Speaking Questions:
1. Do you think Mr. Gessler was a failure as a bootmaker or as a competitive businessman? ANS:Mr. Gessler was not a failure as a bootmaker—he was a true artist, dedicated to his craft and making boots of exceptional quality. However, in terms of being a competitive businessman, he was at a disadvantage. He struggled against larger firms that focused on mass production, advertising, and commercial strategies rather than craftsmanship. His refusal to compromise on quality and his personal dedication to every pair of boots ultimately led to his downfall in a competitive market.
2. What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer? ANS: The title "Quality" refers to the exceptional craftsmanship of Mr. Gessler's boots. It represents both the physical quality of his work—his boots being unmatched in durability and design—and the higher moral quality he held in his dedication to his craft. The title reflects the essence of the story: how true quality, in both work and character, is often overshadowed by commercial success in an increasingly impersonal world. It can also refer to Mr. Gessler himself, as a person who maintained a high standard of quality in both his profession and his life.
3. Mr Gessler’s Accent:
Mr Gessler’s pronunciation is influenced by his German accent. He pronounces:
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p as b
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t as d
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k as g
So, his sentence:
"It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please."
Would sound like:
"Id gomes and never sdobs. Does id bodder me? Nod ad all. Ask my brodder, blease."
4. Interview with Adults – Sample Answers:
You could conduct a short survey and summarize answers like this:
(i) Where do you buy your provisions?
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3 people said they buy loose items from small local shops because they’re cheaper and fresher.
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2 people prefer packed items from big stores because they trust the quality and brands.
(ii) Where do you buy footwear?
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2 people buy branded shoes for durability and comfort.
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3 people prefer local shoes as they are more affordable and support small businesses.
(iii) Clothes – Ready-made or Tailor-made?
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4 people said they buy ready-made clothes because it’s quick and convenient.
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1 person prefers tailor-made clothes for better fit and custom design.
5. Dialogue Practice – Agree or Disagree About Going Abroad
Ajit: "I've decided to go abroad for higher studies."
Anisa (Disagreeing):
"I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I love my country. I want to study here and contribute to its development."
Or
Anisa (Different reason):
"I’d rather stay close to my family. I believe there are good opportunities here too."
Here’s the story based on the given points from Page 83 – HONEYCOMB: THREE QUESTIONS:
Last month, my aunt decided to visit her parents who live in a nearby town. She told my uncle to take care of himself and manage the cooking. My uncle, though a kind and gentle person, is quite absent-minded.
On the first day itself, he decided to cook lunch all by himself. He chopped the vegetables neatly and put them on the stove to cook. Then he remembered that his bicycle was very dusty and needed cleaning. So, he stepped outside, leaving the vegetables on the stove, and began wiping the bicycle with great concentration.
Suddenly, our neighbour, Mrs. Mehra, called out loudly, "Something’s burning!" Uncle dropped the cloth in his hand and ran into the kitchen in a panic. A strong smell filled the air. In his hurry to save the half-burnt vegetables, he grabbed a nearby bottle of oil and poured it generously into the pan.
Too late, he realised—it wasn’t cooking oil, but machine oil from his toolbox!
The vegetables sizzled strangely, and an awful smell spread through the house. Of course, the food was ruined, and my uncle had to throw it all away. That afternoon, he ended up eating bread and butter and decided to order food the next day.
When my aunt came back and heard the story, she just shook her head and said, “Next time, just stick to toast!”
Trees
1. What are the games or human activities which use trees, or in which trees also 'participate'?
Trees are part of many human activities and games. Some examples are:
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Children play hide and seek behind trees.
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People climb trees for fun or adventure.
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Swings are tied to tree branches.
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Picnics are often held under trees.
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Trees are used for tree houses.
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People rest or read under the shade of trees.
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Some outdoor yoga or meditation is done under trees.
2. (i) "Trees are to make no shade in winter." What does this mean? (Contrast this line with the line immediately before it.)
Meaning: This line means that in winter, trees shed their leaves and so they don’t provide shade.
Contrast: The previous line may talk about how trees provide shade in summer. So, this shows the difference—trees are leafy and shady in summer, but bare and leafless in winter.
2. (ii) "Trees are for apples to grow on, or pears." Do you agree that one purpose of a tree is to have fruit on it? Or do you think this line is humorous?
Yes, one purpose of some trees is to bear fruits like apples or pears. This line is both factual and slightly humorous—because it’s written in a childlike, simple tone, just like the rest of the poem. It sounds like the poet is listing every possible use of trees in a fun way.
3. Try to rewrite some lines in the poem, or add new ones of your own.
Here are a few original lines in the style of the poem:
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Trees are for butterflies to dance around.
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Trees are for children to tie ribbons on.
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Trees are for monkeys to swing on.
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Trees are for rain to sing on.
Now, try to compose a similar poem about Water or Air.
Here’s a short poem on Water in a similar style:
Water is for rivers that flow free.
Water is for fish and the deep blue sea.
Water is for washing our face and hands.
Water is for splashing and making wet sand.
Water is for tea, and soup, and rain—
Without water, we’d all complain!
