Chapter 3
LORE OF VALUES
1. Have you coше астова any person with mmportunate behaviour? How did you feel about it? Describe your experience.
Answer: Yes, I have come across someone with importunate behaviour. Once, during a long train journey, a co-passenger kept asking me too many personal questions, even though I tried to keep my answers short and polite. He kept insisting on talking, even when I clearly showed that I was tired and wanted to rest. At first, I tried to be patient, but after a while, it became uncomfortable and annoying. I felt irritated and slightly helpless, as I didn’t want to be rude, yet I also wanted some peace. Eventually, I put on my headphones and pretended to sleep so he would stop talking. That experience taught me how important it is to respect other people’s space and silence.
2. Ww was the narrator not interested in the man who was watching him?
Answer: The narrator was not interested in the man who was watching him because he wanted to rest and avoid the boredom of casual and unwanted conversations on the ship. He preferred to stay away from unnecessary social interactions during the voyage and gave no sign of noticing the man, even though he was aware of being watched.
3. The narrator olmerved the man and described hum in vivid terms. How did he desertbe hum?
Answer: The narrator described the man as being in his early forties, rather short in build, with a fair complexion and clear blue eyes. His hair was thin and had started to recede from his forehead. He wore a dark suit, a sober tie, and rimless spectacles, which gave him a serious and reserved appearance. The narrator also noticed that the man seemed shy, troubled, and hesitant in a way that was almost touching.
4. What made the narrator notice the fellow voyager the best day?
Answer: The narrator noticed the fellow voyager the next day because he was once again watching the narrator closely from his deck chair. This time, the man was accompanied by his wife, which made the situation more intriguing for the narrator.
5. What was the purpose of the visit of the voyager and lus swthe to America?
Answer: The purpose of the visit of the voyager and his wife to America was not entirely for a holiday. They were touring the New England states to inspect summer recreational camps for young people. They also visited settlement houses in New York and other cities.
6. I found myself liking hins instinctively. Why?
Answer: The narrator liked him instinctively because there was a genuine enthusiasm in the man’s voice, manner, and whole personality that was disarming and sincere. His passion for helping troubled youth and his humble, honest demeanor made a positive impression on the narrator.
7. What did Cronin leen about the man alter questioning him further!
Answer: After questioning him further, Cronin learned that the man and his wife had been working in the field of youth welfare for the past 15 years. Although he was a solicitor by profession, he also served as the director of a charitable organization that helped boys and girls from city slums who had been in trouble with the law. They rehabilitated these young people by placing them in a healthy environment, healing them mentally and physically, and training them in useful crafts to help them become responsible members of society.
8. Hove did the couple help derelict adolescents to lead normal lives?
Answer: The couple helped derelict adolescents by taking them out of juvenile courts and placing them in a healthy and supportive environment. There, the adolescents were healed both mentally and physically. They were also given training in useful handicrafts, which enabled them to find meaningful work and rejoin society as responsible and worthy individuals. Their work was a true act of care and redemption.
9. What did Cronin mean by the expression the veils parted?
Answer: By the expression "the veils parted," Cronin meant that something was revealed to him, bringing clarity to his memory. It refers to the moment when he suddenly remembered the man after he whispered something in his ear. This revelation triggered a recollection from his past, allowing him to recall the sole occasion when he had met the man before.
10.I was awakened by a loud banging on the door. Who was hanging on the door? Why?
Answer: The person banging on the door was a police constable. He had come to call Dr. Cronin urgently because a young man had attempted to take his own life by swallowing poison. The constable needed the doctor’s help to save the boy’s life.
11. What did the doctor do to save the life of the young man?
Answer: The doctor, with the help of the sergeant, worked tirelessly for over an hour to revive the unconscious young man. They performed resuscitation despite no signs of success. Just as they were about to give up, the patient gasped faintly. Encouraged, they renewed their efforts for another half an hour until the young man regained consciousness and sat up, realizing the seriousness of his condition.
12. Utterly friendless, he had fallen victim to the loose society of the streets What does the author mean by this statement?
Answer: The doctor, with the help of the sergeant, worked tirelessly for over an hour to revive the unconscious young man. They performed resuscitation despite no signs of success. Just as they were about to give up, the patient gasped faintly. Encouraged, they renewed their efforts for another half an hour until the young man regained consciousness and sat up, realizing the seriousness of his condition.
13. Why did the young man by to comit suicide?
Answer: The young man tried to commit suicide because he had stolen £7.10 from the office safe to bet on horses in a desperate attempt to recover his losses. When his final gamble failed, he was terrified of prosecution and, feeling hopeless and alone, decided to end his life by turning on the gas in his room.
14. Why does the author say that it was the best investment he had ever made?
Answer: The author says it was the best investment he had ever made because his small act of kindness—giving £7.10 to the young man—helped save a life and gave the young man a chance to reform. Although it did not bring him any financial return, it brought deep emotional satisfaction and showed the power of compassion and second chances.
15. The sergeant, the land lady and the narrator helped the young man Complete the following table.
Answer:
| Helper | Help Given |
|---|
| The sergeant | Chose not to report the incident, preventing any legal action or prosecution. |
| The landlady | Offered a month's free board until the young man could support himself again. |
| The narrator | Gave £7.10 to replace the money taken from the office safe. |
