Tamil Nadu 11th Standard English Book Answers | A Shot in the Dark

11th English : A Shot in the Dark

Unit 2.3 > A Shot in the Dark

Glossary

• embarked – boarded
• espied – caught sight of
• ineffectually– in vain
• ruefully – regretfully, sorrowfully
• pantomime – exaggerated behaviour
• quid – (British) one pound sterling
• exchequer – national treasury
• crest – a symbol representing a family, reproduced on writing paper
• tackle – equipment required for a task or sport
• discrepancy – difference
• soi- disant – self styled
• astuteness – cleverness
• sedately – in a dignified manner
• sumptuous – expensive looking
• chaise – horse-drawn carriage
• expounded – explained
• volubility – fluency, talkativeness
• blonde – pale yellow hair
• Honoria /hɒˈnɔːrɪə/ – (Latin) honour, a woman of reputation
• mater /ˈmeɪtə/ – (Latin) mother
• courant -/kʊˈrɑːnt/ – animal represented in the act of running

1. Answer the following questions in about 30 – 50 words each:

a) Why did Philip Sletherby visit Brill Manor?

Philip Sletherby visited Brill Manor in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election.

b) How would Sletherby gain from his friendship with Honoria Saltpen – Jago?

Honoria Saltpen –Jago was a person of some social importance in London. Sletherby could gain a chance to contest in the re-elections because of the influence of Jago.

c) Why did his travel companion curse and mutter?

His travel companion was searching for something frantically. But he could not find out the thing he sought. So he cursed and muttered himself.

d) Describe Bertie’s problem.

Bertie had come away without his sovereign-purse, with four quid in it, all his worldly wealth for the moment. He was engaged in searching it.This was his problem.

e) “There was a tinge of coldness in his voice”. Why?

When Bertie told of his mother, his voice became cold and he was emotional.

f) Compare the two crests.

The two crests are Jago and Saltpen. The grey hound courant is the Jago crest. The demilion is the Saltpen crest. They have the right to use both the crests but Bertie prefers the usage of demi-lion.

g) What was Sletherby’s response to Bertie’s request?

Sletherby was very grave at the request of lending three quid.

h) What caught his attention about the car door?

The door panel with the display of two crests : a grey hound courant and a demi lion holding in its paw a cross-crosslet caught his attention.

i) Describe Honario Saltpen Jago.

Honario Saltpen Jago was a brilliant woman, level headed and a clear thinker. She knew exactly when to take up an individual or a cause, exactly when to let him or it drop. She was an influential woman but spoiled herself and her chances by being too restless. She had good appearance till she made that idiotic change.

j) Why did K.C’s words shock Sletherby?

K.C. said that Bertie’s mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago. This shocked Sletherby.

2. Rearrange the sentences given below and write a summary of the story in a paragraph. Begin with Philip Sletherby was travelling by train to Bill Manor.

1. The young man introduced himself as Bertie, the son of Saltpen Jago.
2. Bertie needed three pounds desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him.
3. All the time Sletherby was gazing at the door panel of the car, on which were the two crests – a demi-lion and a greyhound courant.
4. He was received by Claude People. K.C., who had kept on talking about various things.
5. Bertie had left his purse behind, after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse.
6. Bertie stated that it was the Jago crest. He further added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his.
7. While describing the appearance of Honario Saltpen-Jago, K.C. referred to her altered hairstyle.
8. Sletherby realized that Bertie had not lied to him, but that he had mistaken him for a fraud.
9. He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi-lion.
10. Sletherby sat dumbstruck on learning that Mrs. Honario Saltpen Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde, just five weeks ago.
11. Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a greyhound courant crest.
12. His companion in the train was a young man who was searching for something frantically.
13. Suspecting foul play, Sletherby did not give him any money, as he knew Mrs. Saltpen-Jago was a blonde

Ans:-

l) His companion in the train was a youngman who was searching for something frantically.

a) The young man introduced himself as Bertie, the son of Saltpen Jago.

e) Bertie had left his purse behind, after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse.

f) Bertie stated that it was the Jago crest. He further added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his.

i) He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi-lion.

k) Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a greyhound courant crest.

b) Bertie needed three pounds desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him.

m) Suspecting foul play, Sletherby did not give him any money, as he knew Mrs.Saltpen-Jago was a blonde.

d) He was received by Claude People. K.C.,who had kept on talking about various things.

c) All the time Sletherby was gazing at the door panel of the car, on which were the two crests – a demi-lion and a grey hound courant.

g) While describing the appearance of Honario Saltpen-Jago, K.C. referred to her altered hairstyle.

j) Sletherby sat dumbstruck on learning that Mrs. Honario Saltpen Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde, just five weeks ago.

h) Sletherby realized that Bertie had not lied to him, but that he had mistaken him for a fraud.

3. Explain the following phrases selected from the story in your own words and work with a partner to make sentences using these phrases:

e) Making up for lost time – managing the time which is wasted

– If you watch TV serials, you can not make up your lost time.

4. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100 -150 words each:

a) Describe the youth’s strange behavior when he was in the train.

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie. The young man was about twenty two. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something frantically. But he could not find out the thing he sought. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse. Often he cursed himself.

b) One has to be cautious and not be carried away by stories. How did Sletherby exhibit caution?

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something frantically. But he could not find out the thing he sought. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse. He stated that it was the Jago crest. He further added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his. He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi lion. Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a greyhound courant crest. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde.

c) How did Sletherby’s judgement of Bertie turn out to be a wrong one?

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something frantically. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde. Then Bertie alighted from the train. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago. Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had mistaken him for a fraud.

d) As Sletherby, would you apologise to Bertie for your rude behavior? Give reasons.

As Sletherby I would certainly apologise to Bertie for the rude behavior of mine. Appearances are often deceptive. We can’t find out the real qualities of a person by seeing him outward. Like a geode one has good qualities. It is a common saying that one should not judge a book by its cover. We should not come to the conclusion that he is good or bad by merely seeing a person. It is libel to judge a man or woman outwardly. First of all I express my frank forgiveness for my wrong judgment. I also decide that in future I should not do the same mistake. My experience is the lesson for my aeons. Hence I warn them not to behave like me.

e) ‘Seeing is believing’ How is this humourously disproved in this story? Bring out the irony in the situation.

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago. He was searching for something frantically. Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him. But Sletherby was very cautious. He was under the suspicion of foul play. He was not ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde. Then Bertie alighted from the train. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago. Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had mistaken him for a fraud.

Gist of the lesson

• In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor.
• He went to meet a lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady.
• In the train, he met Bertie who was the second son of Saltpen Jago.
• He told that his mother’s hair was dark brown.
• He explained about the Saltpen crest.
• But Sletherby pointed out to him that his mother’s letter had a Jago crest.
• Bertie needed three quid desperately and asked Sletherby to lend it to him.
• Sletherby was not ready to give money, since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde.
• Later he came to know that Bertie’s mother had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago.
• Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied and he had mistaken him for a fraud

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