English(Moment) Class 9 : Lesson 10 - The Beggar

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Lesson 10
The Beggar

 

Talk about it
(Page 67)

1. Has Lushkoff became a beggar by circumstances or by choice?
Ans: No,Lushkoff did not become a beggar by choice.He was the victim of circumstances.In fact,he was a singer in the Russian choir.This middle-aged man was a habitual drunkard.He was shunted out from his job due to his habit of getting drunk.His physical inability force him to turn to begging.

2. What reasons does he give Sergei for his telling lies?
Ans: Lushkoff admits that he has been telling lies everywhere.He says that he tells lies to get money.If he tells the truth that he was thrown out of job because of his drinking habits,no body will give him money.

3. Is Lushkoff a willing worker?Why,then,he does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?
Ans: No,Lushkoff is not a willing worker.He is physically weak.He can do nothing except begging.But he is trapped in his own words said to Sergei.He has to agree to chop wood for Sergie to save his face.

4. Sergei says,"I am happy my words have taken effect."Why does he say so?Is he right in saying this?
Ans: When Sergie shifted to another house,he hired to help in packing and hauling of the furniture.He paid him and remarked that he was happy he had learnt to earn through work.But Sergie was not right in his assessment.Lushkoff was still and idle person.In fact,he was too weak to do any work.

5. Lushkoff is earning thirty-five rubles a month.How is he obliged to Sergie for this?What value is displayed in the act of Lushkoff?
Ans: Lushkoff was only a beggar,telling lies to get money.Sergei scolded him for all this and offered him the work of chopping wood for him.He was unable to do physical labour due to his drinking habit. Sergei sent him to his friend with a letter to work as a copying clerk.Now Lushkoff had become a notary and was earning thirty-five roubles amonth.He was obliged to Sergie for giving him an opportunity to lead an honest and self-respecting life.Lushkoff grateful to Serrgie for his help and guidance.Thus,gratitude and gratefulness are the values displayed by Lushkoff.

6. During their conversation Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga, is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?
Ans: Olga was a social and sympathetic lady. She loved humanity. She realised the condition of Lushkoff and tried her best to improve the same. She did the work of his part as she wanted to change him. She kept criticizing him in order to improve him. He realised her feelings towards him and a change took place in his heart. So, Olga was responsible for the positive change in him.

Talk about it
(Page 68)

7. How can we help beggars/abolish begging?
Ans:The whole world is facing the nuisance of begging. The number of beggars is increasing day by day. Beggars can be seen at all public places. Some of the beggars have made it a business. It has become a serious problem. Our society and the government should take necessary steps to solve this problem. Global spread of education is required. Our government should pass strict laws against begging. Beggars should be given an opportunity to work. Financial support can be provided to them in order to set up some work. Beggars may be turned into skilled labourers. The government should set up beggar’s home only for the handicapped. Begging is a bad practice and is an impediment in the way of progress. So, we should discourage begging and beggars.

Extra Questions

1. What made Sergei doubt Lushkoff’s story ?
Ans: Sergei and Lushkoff had met earlier on Sadovaya street when Lushkoff had told the story of him being an expelled student. However when he came to Sergei’s home, Lushkoff tried to swindle money out of Sergei by saying he was a poor teacher who needed money to go to Kaluga where he had been offered a position. But something about Lushkoff’s appearance seemed familiar to Sergei and when his eyes fell on Lushkoff’s shoes, one of which was higher and the other lower, Sergei recalled their earlier meeting and realised that Lushkoff was lying.

 

2. Why did Sergei threaten to send Lushkoff to the police ?
Ans: Sergei threatened to send Lushkoff to the police when he detected that Lushkoff was lying about himself and his circumstances to try acquire money from people.


3. What lie did Lushkoff tell Sergei when they first met ? Why ?
Ans: Lushkoff and Sergei had met for the first time on Sadovaya street when Lushkoff had lied to Sergei saying that he was an expelled student and needed money.
Lushkoff’s unwillingness to work coupled with his addiction to alcohol had caused him to be thrown out of every job. Yet, instead of trying to sober up and earn money in a respectable fashion, Lushkoff had chosen the easier way of lying to people about himself and make them sympathise with his condition and give him money. Sergei was just another of his victims. So Lushkoff had lied to Segei out of habit, trying to swindle money from him.


4. What were the various jobs given to Lushkoff by Sergei ?
Ans: Sergei, taking pity on Lushkoff, appointed him to chop wood at his place and paid him half a rouble for it. This continued for several months, with Lushkoff earning twenty to forty copecks on the firs of every month by chopping wood at Sergei’s. He was also giver other tasks from time to time like shovelling snow, putting the wood shed in order, beating the dust out of rugs and mattresses. He was even employed to help in packing and hauling of the furniture where Sergei moved from one house to another.


5. “This is swindling-I shall send the police for you, damn you!”
(a) Who is the speaker ?

(b) Who is the speaker accusing of swindling ? Why ?

(c) Give the meaning of the word ‘swindling’.
Ans: (a) The speaker of the above quoted sentence is Sergei.
Ans: (b) The speaker, Sergei, is accusing Lushkoff of swindling. Lushkoff had begged Sergei for money claiming that he wanted the money to get to the province of Kaluga where he had been offered a position. But on observing Lushkoft closely, Sergei recalled that he had seen the same man few days ago on a street, and on that occasion he had asked Sergei for money, claiming to be an expelled student Realising that Lushkoff was nothing but a drunkard and was lying to people and swindling them of money, Sergei was disgusted and lost his temper. So he accused Lushkoff on swindling.
Ans: (c) ‘Swindling’ means cheating or trickery in any form leading to loss of money for the victim.