Never Never Nest (Play): Questions and Answers

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

Jack and Jill - bought — instalments - salary 6 pounds - Aunt Jane - criticized- absurd - not paid - hospital charges - delivery of - Jane gave cheque - pay off any bill - Jill want - pay off delivery charges

Title : The Never - Never Nest

Author : Cedric Mount

Genre : An One Act Play (Comic)

Theme : Buy Now Pay Later - Marketing System

A. Reading Comprehension Questions:

1.        What did Aunt Jane like about Jack’s ‘little nest’?

Aunt Jane liked “the cosy little room”. She also liked “such pretty furniture.”

2.        Aunt Jane seemed to think that there was a mistake in the wedding present she had given Jack. Why?

When Aunt Jane praised the fridge, the car and the furniture Jack said, “we owe it to you”. Aunt Jane thought Jack bought all the things with ready cash. She had given them a wedding gift a cheque for 200 pounds. Now she wondered whether she had committed a mistake and had w'ritten 2,000!

3.        What would make Jack the owner instead of being the tenant?

Payment of ten pounds and a few quarterly instalment would make Jack the owner of the house instead of the tenant.

4.        What sounded absurd to Aunt Jane?

The instalments for all the things came to seven pounds eight shillings eight pence a week. But his income was only six pounds. So, the instalment purchase seemed absurd to Aunt Jane.

5.        How did Jack manage to pay seven pounds eighty and eighty pence out of six pounds?

He borrowed the rest of the amount from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation.

6.        What advice did Aunt Jane offer the couple?

Aunt Jane gave a cheque to Jack and asked him to pay off just one of his bills. Then at least one thing would be completely theirs (Jack and Jill).

7.        For what purpose did Aunt Jane wish to use the cheque given by Aunt Jane?

Jack wanted to pay off instalments on the car with Aunt Jane’s cheque. Jillwanted to send the cheque to Dr. Martin in order to pay off the. delivery charges of her baby.

8.        ‘Just one more instalment and BABY’S REALLY OURS!’ This tells us that the couple __________.

“Just one more instalment and the Baby is really ours” This statement tells us that Jack and Jill had not paid even the hospital charges for the delivery of the baby.

B. Answer the following questions in about a paragraph of 100 – 150 words each:

1. Why is there a double negative in the title: The Never – Never Nest? Elucidate with reasons from the play.

The title “The Never-Never Nest” has a double negative for the sake of emphasis. Jack earns a meagre salary. But he has bought the house, the car, the furniture and the radiogram on monthly instalments. Even the hospital charges for the delivery of the baby is not fully paid. Therefore Jack and Jill can never own anything fully. Even the baby is not theirs. So title uses double negative “The Never-Never Nest” refers to their house.

2. Bring out the humorous elements in the play.

Jack and Jill buy everything on instalment basis -  House, car, furniture, radiogram. Jack’s salary is six pound, a week, but the instalments come to more than eight pounds! For the extra 2 pounds he will borrow from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation. The most interesting part of their life is this: They have not fully paid the hospital charges for the delivery of their baby! Aunt Jane never borrows from anybody and she has the policy of Ready cash. The juxtaposition of the aunt and the couple adds to the humour.

3. How does the play ‘The Never – Never Nest’ expose the harsh reality of modern living?

play “The Never-Never Nest” exposes the life of the salaried class. Many salaried people want to enjoy a luxurious life with all comforts. Therefore they apply for bank loans to buy things. Many dealers have attractive hire-purchase scheme with monthly instalments. So, modern life is entangled in instalments. This is the harsh reality.

4. Jill said that they owned the steering wheel of a car, one of the tyres, two of the cylinders and leg of the sofa. What does this convey?

Jack and Jill had bought a car on instalment basis. They had paid only a small amount to the car company. More instalments had to be paid. That is why Jill said that the steering wheel, one of the tyres and one of the cylinders belonged to them. The rest belonged to the company. The sofa was also bought on instalments. So, only one leg of the sofa belonged to them.

C. Listening Activity

Listen to the passage read out aloud by the teacher or played on a recorder and answer the questions that follow.

Questions:

i. The speaker says that our income is sufficient to meet our needs. Is it true or false? False

ii. EMI is the only option for people who buy very expensive things.

a) consolation             b) setback

c) option                       d) debt 

iii. One is able to buy costly things with monetary power offered by EMI.

a) physical                   b) withstanding

c) honorary                  d) monetary 

iv. If people fail to pay EMIs, they may be subjected to legal action.

a) expulsion                 b) high pressure

c) legal action              c) dejection 

v. People should learn to spend within their means.

a) within                       b) beyond

c) above                        d) beneath

D. Speaking Activity

Based on your understanding of the play ‘The Never – Never Nest’, organise a classroom debate on the topic: ‘Is Equated Monthly Instalment Scheme - a boon or bane to middle-class families?’

Ramesh: Monthly instalment scheme is a bane to middle class families. As seen in the short play “Never-Never Nest”, many salaried buy things on instalment basis. Their desire is to live a comfortable life without strain'to the body. Therefore they buy a car or a motorbike, fridge and other things. They find it difficult to pay off the monthly instalments. Therefore I felt that instalment scheme is a bane.

Ganesh: Ramesh, you see only one side of the coin. There is the other side. Instalment scheme is boon, a blessing. We must use the scheme meaningfully. My father is a government servant with a salary of Rs.25, 000. He plans the family budget carefully and my mother (housewife) spends money economically. My father bought a scooter on instalment basis and paid off the loan in 24 months. And then only he bought a fridge for 12 instalments. Thus careful planning leads to happiness. Buy one at a time-buy one by one. So, my conclusion: Monthly instalment scheme is a boon- a blessing to middle class families.

E. Writing Task

Aunt Jane was shocked to see the life of Jack and Jill during her visit to their place. Put yourself in the place of Aunt Jane and write a letter to the couple advising them not to spend beyond their means. Make more suggestions to enable them lead a debt-free life.

Aunt Jane was shocked to see the life of Jack and Jill during her visit to their place. Put yourself in the place of couple advising them not to spend beyond their means. Make more

suggestions to enable them lead a debt-free life.

My dear nephew and niece, I am really shocked by the way in which you buy things. Of course, there is no harm in buying things on instalment basis. That is a good scheme for salaried class.

But you must buy one thing at a time, and when all the instalments are paid off, apply for another loan. You have bought a car, a house, a fridge and a radiogram all at once. Your weekly earning is 6 pounds but your instalments come to 8 pounds! How foolish you are. See right, I give you a cheque so that you can pay off the instalments at least for one article you are under financial strain and it will lead to mental strain. Hereafter plan your life carefully. If it is possible, return to the company one or two things, and reduce your instalment burden. This is my advice.