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Supplementary/Story by Hector Hugh Munro - A Shot in the Dark: Questions and Answers | 11th English : UNIT 2 : Supplementary: A Shot in the Dark

Chapter: 11th English : UNIT 2 : Supplementary: A Shot in the Dark

A Shot in the Dark: Questions and Answers

English Supplementary: A Shot in the Dark by Saki. (Book back answers and solution for Exercise questions)

Essay Question;

Write an essay of about 200 words by developing the following hints:

Philip Sletherby travelled-to meet Saltpen Jago, the influential-lady-Bertie - Son of Saltpen Jago - searching for something - could not find - lost his purse with crest - his mother’s hair dark brown- Bertie needed money - suspicion - arrived Claude People K.C. - realized the truth.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Author : Saki

Genre : A Short Story

Theme : Misconception

Introduction

In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor. His intention of travelling was to get a seat in the parliament re-election. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, an influential lady.

Lost the purse with crest

His companion on 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 the thing he sought. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse. Often he cursed himself.

Suspicion of Sletherby

Bertie stated that it was the Jago crest. He 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.

Critical Situation

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 but Bertie said that she had a dark brown hair.

Ironical situation

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.

Conclusion

Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him. He realized that he had mistaken him for a fraud.



SUMMARY:

1. In the story ‘A Shot in the Dark’, Philip Sletherby travelled by train towards Brill Manor.

2. His intention of travelling is in order to get a seat in the parliament re-election.

3. He relied on one lady named Saltpen Jago, a sort of influential lady.

4. His companion in the train introduced himself as Bertie.

5. He was the second son of Saltpen Jago.

6. He was searching for something frantically.

7. But he could not find out the thing he sought.

8. He had left his purse behind after sealing an envelope with the crest on the purse.

9. He stated that it was the Jago crest.

10. He further added that his mother’s hair was dark brown similar to his.

11. He explained that the Saltpen crest was that of a demi lion.

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

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

14. But Sletherby was under the suspicion of foul play.

15. He was not ready to give money since he knew Mrs. Saltpen Jago was a blonde.

16. Sletherby was received by Claude People K.C.

17. Sletherby came to know that Bertie’s mother Jago had changed her dark brown hair to a blonde just five weeks ago.

18. Now only Sletherby could realize that Bertie had not lied to him.

19. He realized that he had mistaken him for a fraud.


Charcter of Philp Sletherby 

In the story A Shot in the Dark, Philip Sletherby is portrayed as a person who takes time to analyze people. He does not allow people to get the better of him or fool him. He asks many questions about the person with whom he is going to stay to his co-passenger who is a stranger to him although he knows his host very well. This helps him from losing his money to the stranger. Philip also makes it clear to the stranger that he knows the man was trying to cheat him.


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


a. Why did Phililp 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 demi-lion 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 Brill Manor.

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

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

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 greyhound courant.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

l. His companion in the train was a young man who was searching for something frantically.

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

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:

a.        on approval

- the act of approving or a sanction

- My uncle’s request of loan with the bank is on approval.

b.        a rustic holiday

- country side holidays

Contract labourers enjoy rustic holidays once in two years.

c.         a double-distilled idiot

- absolute idiot

Don’t behave like a double distilled idiot often.

d.        a tinge of coldness

When one speaks emotionally the voice usually trails off.

- Rita’s voice is mixed with a tinge of coldness when she is in fear.

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 behaviour when he was in the train.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

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?

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

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?

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

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 behaviour? Give reasons.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

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 humorously disproved in this story? Bring out the irony in the situation.

Topic : A shot in the dark

Authour : Saki

Theme : Misconception

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.


Tags : Supplementary/Story by Hector Hugh Munro , 11th English : UNIT 2 : Supplementary: A Shot in the Dark
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11th English : UNIT 2 : Supplementary: A Shot in the Dark : A Shot in the Dark: Questions and Answers | Supplementary/Story by Hector Hugh Munro


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