Reading

Reading

Read the following incident carefully to answer the questions that follow

The tie that does not bind

“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back…..?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.

Now, two months before a trip, I stop talking to people so they won’t suspect I’m about to travel. But someone always catches me.” I’ve heard you’re going to New York, and I want you to get something for me. It’s just a little thing you can find anywhere. I don’t know exactly how much it costs, but it shouldn’t be much. We’ll settle up when you get back”.

What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initial. Look , this is a special flight, I explained . We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see ties bearing various letters in more than one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.

On Monday, lunch lasted the whole afternoon. Then it was Tuesday morning, time to leave. It was only when I saw our airport bus waiting outside the hotel that I remembered the tie.

I told the group to go on. I would get a taxi to the airport. And so I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties.

But I couldn’t find it. I walked further down the street -one, two, three blocks - all in vain. Back at the hotel, a bit anxious now, I took my suitcase, got a taxi and asked the driver to rush to the street where I had seen them.

The driver stopped at each shop we passed so I could look from the window. The stores had all sorts of ties, but not the kind I was looking for.

When I finally thought I had located the right shop, I decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?

The salesman was unbearably slow. When I realized that the smallest change I had was a ten dollar note , I grabbed ten ties of different colours so I wouldn’t have to wait for change. I rushed out with the ties in a paper bag.

On the street I looked around. The taxi had vanished, taking my suitcase. What is more, I was going to miss the plane.

I ran to the corner, and hope flared up again: the taxi was waiting in the next street. Quick to the airport! As I settled down inside the taxi. I sighed with relief. Gilson was going to have enough initialized ties to last him a lifetime.

When I reached the airport, I paid the taxi driver the double fare and grabbed my suitcase. Panting, I boarded the plane under the reproachful gaze of the other passengers, all primly seated with their seat belts fastened. Ready to take off. Departure had been delayed because of me.

“At least I hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story.

“I did”, I answered triumphantly.

After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties.

I had left it behind; in the taxi.

Fernando Sabino.

H. Read the incident again and answer the following questions.

1.           What was the writer always asked to do whenever he planned to go abroad?

The writer was always asked to buy some gifts from abroad whenever he planned.

2.           What did Gilson want the writer to bring for him?

Gilson wanted to bring a tie with a letter ‘G’ embroidered on it.

3.           When did the writer remember the fact that he had to buy something for Mr. Gilson?

When the writer saw the airport bus on Tuesday morning, he remembered to buy a tie for Mr. Gilson.

4.           Why were the other passengers in the flight gazing at the writer?

The flight was delayed due to the writer’s late arrival. And so the other passengers in the flight were gazing at the writer.

5.           What is the humour element in the above incident?

The humour element was that the writer had left the tie in the taxi. All his efforts became vain.

I. Suggesting titles:

Title summarises the story. Each paragraph is a part of the story. Look at the following expressions and find out the paragraphs that best suit these expressions.

1.           Oh, No! But it happens!

2.           Don’t let out your travelling dates

3.           Anyway, people will be people

4.           Search begins

5.           Things are not that easy

6.           Hurry invites worry

1. Oh, No! But it happens!

“Oh, so you’re going abroad? Can you bring me back...?” I’ve been asked to bring back a vaccine for a course. Once I searched the suburbs of Paris for two days for a special brand of ceramic paint. Having spent a lot of money for Cartier lighter refills, I had them confiscated at the airport just before boarding because the gas might be dangerous in the air.

2. Don’t let out your travelling dates

Now, two months before a trip, I stop talking to people so they won’t suspect I’m about to travel. But someone always catches me.” I’ve heard you’re going to New York, and I want you to get something for me. It’s just a little thing you can find anywhere. I don’t know exactly how much it costs, but it shouldn’t be much. We’ll settle up when you get back”;

3. Anyway, people will be people

What Gilson asked me to buy was, in fact a little thing: a tie. But not just any tie. He wanted a tie with a small embroidered G. Any colour would do, as long as it had his initial. Look, this is a special flight, I explained. We are only staying Saturday through Tuesday. On the day we arrived I didn’t have time to think about the tie, but strolling around on Sunday I did see one shop window. They were cheap, just a dollar, but all the shops were closed.

4. Search begins

I told the group to go on. I would get a taxi to the airport. And so I went in search of a nearby shop where I had seen ties. But I couldn’t find it. I walked further down the street-one, two, three blocks - all in vain. Back at the hotel, a bit anxious now, I took my suitcase, got a taxi and asked the driver to rush to the street where I had seen them. The driver stopped at each shop we passed so I could look from the window. The stores had all sorts of ties, bill not the kind 1 was looking for.

5. Things are not that easy

When 1 finally thought I had located the right shop, i decided to go in and check. The driver refused to wait. Parking was prohibited, he said. I promised to double the fare, jumped out and ran into the shop. Was I going to miss the plane just for a damned tie?

6. Hurry unites worry

When I reached the airport, I paid the taxi driver the double fare and grabbed my suitcase. Panting, I boarded the plane under the reproachful gaze of the other passengers, all primly seated with their seat belts fastened. Ready to take off. Departure had been delayed because of me. “At least 1 hope you found your tie”, said one who knew the story. “I did”, I answered triumphantly. After making myself comfortable, I reached for the paper bag to show the ties. I had left it behind; in the taxi.

J. Look at the following situations the writer was in. He could have avoided the situation and saved himself. Glance through the write up again and comment on what the writer should have done in the following situations.

·              Gilson asked the writer to bring a tie.

Answer: The writer could have avoided Gilson by explaining that the stay was a short period. And so he cannot go for shopping.

·              On the day of arrival, the writer had no time to think about the tie.

Answer: He should have bought the tie when he have a lot of time on the day of arrival.

·              The writer remembered about the tie when the bus was leaving for the airport.

Answer: He should have gone directly to the airport. It is wrong time for shopping.

·              The writer walked down in search of the shop.

Answer: The writer should have taken the address of the shop from a local person instead of wasting his time.

·              The writer rushed out with the tie in a paper bag.

Answer: The writer should have kept the tie in his coat pocket.

K. State whether the following statements are true or false.

1.           The narrator searched for three days to buy ceramic paint. - False

Correct Statement: The narrator searched for two days to buy eeramie paint

2.           The author was going to New York. - True

3.           Gilson asked the narrator to buy a tie. - True

4.           The taxi driver took away the narrator’s suitcase. - False

Correct Statement: It was not a parking area. So he was waiting in a corner.

5.           Departure was delayed because of the author. -True

6.           The author left the ties in the taxi. - True