MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Students get through the MP Board Class 12th English Important Questions Special English Chapter 20 Swami and Friends which are most likely to be asked in the exam.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

A. Answer the following questions in about 50 – 60 words each:

Chapter – 1

Question 1.
Why was Swaminathan apprehensive of Mondays? Which sentence in the lesson suggests that it was a five day week in Swaminathan’s school? (M.P. 2010, Imp.)
Answer:
Swami hated Mondays for it meant activity, discipline and work. After the holiday he had enjoyed on Saturday and Sunday, Monday was unpleasant for him. As Swami sat on the table in his room he found that he had a lot of homework to do and only two hours for doing it. The sentence in the text that suggests that it was a five day week in Swaminathan’s “After a delicious freedom of Saturday and Sunday it was difficult to get into the Monday mood of work discipline.”

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 2.
Write about the four persons who were Swami’s friends. (M.P. 2015, Imp.)
Answer:
Swami is a boy, ten years old. He is a student of Albert Mission School. First form (A). He is quite happy at school, despite the tyranny of the teachers, and also despite the fact that he is not a good student, and net at all interested in his studies. His happiness results from the fact that he has got four fast friends, who were Somu, Mani, Shankar and Samuel, the Pea. Later on he gets another friend, Rajam.

In the company of these friends he cuts jokes, plays pranks and also sometimes, is engaged in friendly quarrels. With Mani and Rajam his relations are personal and human; these three (Swami, Mani and Rajam) constitute a sort of an inner circle. Swami’s relations with the other three – Somu, Shanker and the Pea are scholastic and impersonal.

Question 3.
Describe Mani’s personality. (M.P. 2009, 10, Imp.)
Answer:
Mani is one of the closest friends of Swami. He is known as “The mighty good for nothing”. He towers head and shoulders above the other boys of the class, and is friend and admired by all. He is a sort of bully, and says that his strength lies in the two clubs he has at home. He can easily break the neck of those with it who offend him. Swaminathan was proud of his friendship. While others crouched in awe, he could address him as ‘Mani’ with gusto and pat him in the back familiarly.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 4.
What were the similarities between Swaminathan and Samuel, the Pea? (M.P. 2009, 18, Imp.)
Answer:
Swami’s another bosom friend was Samuel, the Pea. He was called the Pea as he was very small in size. There is nothing uncommon about him, for he is neither a good student nor physically remarkable. The only thing common between them was laughter. They were able to see together the same absurdities and incongruities in things. The most trivial and unnoticeable things to others would tickle them to death.

Chapter – 2

Question 5.
Who was Rajam? Why was Mani angry with him? (M.P. 2010, 12, 14, 16, 18)
Answer:
Rajam was a new student. He was the son of the Superintendent of Police. Swami admired Rajam and was much impressed by his carefree conduct and manners, and by his brilliance as a student. Even on the very first day, Rajam had much to impress him by his non-chalance, he dressed very well. He was the only boy in the class who wore socks and shoes, fur cap and tie, and a wonderful coat and knickers.

He came to the school in a car. He was a very good student too. It was said that he had come from some English boys school somewhere in Madras. He spoke very good English, exactly like a “European”. In his manner to Mani, he assumed a certain non-chalance to which Mani was not accustomed. If Mani was the overlord of the class, Rajam seemed to be nothing less. And add to all this the fact that Rajam was a regular seventy-percenter, second only to Shankar.

These were sure indications that Rajam was going to be the new power in the class. Day by day as Mani looked on, it was becoming increasingly clear that a new menace had appeared in his life. So Mani was jealous of Rajam.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 6.
What did Mani decide to do with Rajam? (M.P. 2014, 17)
Answer:
Mani wanted to bundle him into the river or to crack his shoulders with his club.

Question 7.
How did Swaminathan react when Mani told him about his intention? (M.P. 2009, Imp.)
Answer:
When Swami came to know about Mani’s plan he warned him to be careful for his father was the Superintendent of Police, and the police are an aw fill lot. But Mani did not care for all this and was determined to put the vile upstart down.

Question 8.
How did Mani and Rajam, instead of fighting, become friends? (M.P. 2010, Imp.)
Answer:
It was at last agreed that Mani and Rajam would meet on the banks of the river near Nallappa’s Grove. Accordingly, Mani came to the place with his clubs, and Rajam came there with his air gun. When Mani pointed out that he should not have brought the gun as it was to be a hand-to-hand fight, Rajam pointed out that he ought not to have brought his clubs.

Both the air gun and the clubs were then dispensed with, the Complaints which they had against each other were re-counted and hotly denied.The upshot was that the two suddenly decided to be friends, quite against the expectations. This conclusion was much to the relief of Swami, for he admired Rajam and wanted to be friends with him.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 9.
Mani and Swaminathan wanted to play a prank on Rajam. Describe how the prank turned upon them? (M.P. 2016)
Answer:
Mani and Swami wanted to play a prank on Rajam and later was exposed as he was not annoyed. He knew what they had done was out of jealousy and enmity among themselves. He did not mind their dirty trick, instead he praised their performance as the kitten and puppy.

Chapter – 3

Question 10.
Where did Swaminathan’s grandmother live? What were her belongings? (M.P. 2014, Imp.)
Answer:
Swaminathan’s grandmother lived in a room which was ill-ventilated passage between the front hall and dining room. Here she lived with all her belongings. Her bed was made of, “five carpets, three bed sheets, and five pillows, a square box made of jute fibre, and a smgUAvooden box containing copper coins, cardamoms, cloves and areca nut”.

Question 11.
What did Swaminathan tell his grandmother about Rajam? (M.P. 2013, 17, Imp.)
Answer:
Swami told his grandmother that Rajam was a brilliant boy. He was the son of the Superintendent of police. He used to secure 90% of marks.

Question 12.
What did grandmother tell Swaminathan about his grandfather? What did grandmother do with grandfather’s medal?
Answer:
The grandmother was a garrulous lady and liked to talk about events in the distant past. When Swami told her about Rajam she began telling him about his grandfather. She told that his grandfather was a powerful magistrate and the police trembled before him and dacoits ran away is fear. He got 200 marks in the subject and got gold medal.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 13.
Describe in your own words the story of Rajam’s bravery as told by Swaminathan to his grandmother.
Answer:
Swami narrated a story of Rajam’s bravery. He told that once when Rajam’s father was camping in a forest Rajam was also with him. Two tigers came upon them suddenly one knocking down the father from behind and other chasing down Rajam. Rajam took shelter behind a bush and shot it dead with his gun.

Question 14.
What was Swaminathan waiting for while his father was preparing to go out? What did Swaminathan do in the meanwhile?
Answer:
One Saturday afternoon Swami was eager to go off to his friends, and impatiently waited for the departure of his father for his office. He pretended to read but in reality watched closely every detail of his father’s preparation to go to his office. He watched him as he tied his turban, took his watch, his snuffbox, his handkerchief and his umbrella.

He went out but was called in by the mother to the great annoyance of Swami, who had almost stood up to go out. She wanted some money, and the father returned to give it to her, and then went out a second time.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 15.
How did Rajam entertain his friends at his house? (M.P. 2009, 16)
Answer:
Swami and Mani together went to Rajam. They were much amazed to see the large room of Rajam with his books arranged neatly on a big table, with a time-piece. Rajam kept them waiting for a few minutes and then came to them. He showed them his almirah full of toys. They beheld astounding things in it, miniature trains and motors, mechanical marvels, and a magic lantern with slides, a good, many large picture books and a hundred other things.

What interested Mani most was a grim air gun that stood in a comer. Rajam gave them permission to handle anything they pleased. In a short while Swaminathan was running an engine all over the room, Mani was shooting arrow after arrow from a bow, at the opposite wall. When he was tired of it, he took up the air gun devastated the furniture around with lead balls.

Question 16.
Do you approve of Rajam’s behaviour with the cook? Give reasons in support of your answer. (M.P. 2009)
Answer:
No, we do not approve of Rajam’s behaviour with the cook. At Rajam’s house coffee with some snacks was brought for Mani and Swami by the cook. Rajam tried to snub him in order to impress his friends with the power and authority he had. But the cook was more than a match for him. First he tried to argue with Rajam, and then walked off with the snacks telling him to come to the kitchen if he wanted the eatables. He had to go to the kitchen and bring in the snacks and the coffee himself. In order to hide his humiliation, he told his friends that he kicked the cooks for his impertinence and at that time he was lying unconscious in the kitchen.

Chapter – 4

Question 17.
How did Swaminathan know that the boys of his class called him tail? (M.P. 2015)
Answer:
Swami was surprised at the behaviour of his friends. He asked for his place in game. Nobody paid attention to him. His friends were talking amongst themselves. Again and again they were referring the word ‘tail’ like what is a tail, whether there was anyone like a tail etc.

When they said that there was someone present there who was a tail. Swaminathan could comprehend very little expect that remark contained some unpleasant references to himself. He became very hot and wanted to cry, then he asked about that remark and got confirmed that they were calling him tail of Rajam.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 18.
Whom did Swami suspect for writing ‘Tail’ on the blackboard? What did he do then? (M.P. 2014,18)
Answer:
Swami entered the classroom one day and a giggle went along the benches. Somebody had written ‘tail’ on the blackboard in huge letters. Swami suspected that the Pea and Shankar had done it. So he slapped them on the face. Pandemonium broke out in the class with Shankar, Pea and Swami rolling over and tearing clothes. The fight stopped with the entry of the teacher.

B. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

Chapter – 1

Question 1.
Describe how Swaminathan passed Monday in his school? (M.P. 2014, 16)
Answer:
Swami is a student of the first form (Section A). It is Monday morning and Swami hates Mondays, for it means activity, discipline and work, after the holiday he has enjoyed on Saturday and Sunday. As Swami sits on the table in his ‘room’ he finds that he has a lot of home work to do, and only two hours for doing it. He feels bored and tired, and is in no mood for work.

He reaches the class in time, and we are introduced to the fire-eyed Vedanayagan, the class-teacher and also arithmetic teacher. Swami does not like him and criticizes him that his face was that his eyes were too near each other, that there was more hair on his chin than one saw from the bench, and that he was very-very bad-looking. All the sums of Swami are wrong, they are crossed out, the remark ‘very bad’ is given and he is very severely pinched over his left ear, and told to go back to his seat.

Then comes the history period, and the teacher is Dr. Pillai. His method of teaching is interesting, but it does not conform to any known principles of education. It is followed by the scripture period and the teacher, Ebenezar, is a fanatic Christian. He constantly criticises and abuses Hindu Gods who, for him, are merely so many pieces of stone. When Swami puts a question, his ear is severely pulled and pinched.

Swami complains to his father, who writes a long letter to the Headmaster asking him to take action against the teacher, otherwise Hindu boys will be withdrawn from the school and the matter will be referred to higher authorities. But nothing comes out of it, except the reprimand to Swami from the Headmas¬ter who is there to take care of the boys. He tells Swami, “you must come to me if you want any help, before you go to your father.” Swaminathan furtively glances at Ebenezar, who has writhed in his chair.

“I am sorry”, said the headmaster, “that you should have been so foolish as to go to your father about this simple matter. I shall look into it. Take this letter of your father.“ Thus things remain where they were.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Chapter – 2

Question 2.
What were the reasons of animosity between Mani and Rajam? (Imp.)
Answer:
Rajam was a new student to the class of Swaminathan. He was a son of the Superintendent of police. He had been transferred from an English school of Madras. He was well dressed and well mannered. He was wear shoes and socks and tie. He came in a car. He was well built and knew all tacts.

On his first day at school he walked up to the last bench and sat beside Mani and felt comfortable till Mani gave him a job in the ribs which he returned. He had impressed the whole class on the very first day. He could speak English fluently. No other student in the class was able to compete with him in any way. By that time Mani was the boss as there was no one to challenge his strength. Rajam became a rival of Mani.

In his manner to Mani he assumed a certain non-chalance to which Mani was not accustomed. If Mani jabbed, Rajam jabbed; if Mani clouted, he clouted; if Mani kicked, he kicked. If Mani was overlord of the class, Rajam seemed nothing less. More than that Rajam was a brilliant student which Mani was not. So Rajam was now the new centre of power which was not acceptable to Mani. There were the remains of animosity between them.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 3.
Despite their friendship, Swaminathan was afraid of Mani. What incident in the chapter shows this? (Imp.)
Answer:
Mani and Swaminathan were good friends. Swami had respect for Mani. Mani was the hero for he was well built and able to do anything which was beyond imagination for many. He could break neck of anyone with his clubs. Swami was proud of his friendship with him. While other crunched in awe,he could address him as ‘Mani’ with gusto and pat him on the back familiarly. Swami turns angry with him when he begins rivalry with Rajam.

Swami likes Rajam very much for his qualities. Mani doesn’t like Rajam because he appears to be a challenge to him. Mani decides to bundle Rajam into the river or to crack his shoulders with his club. Swami worns him to be careful for his father is the Superintendent of police. When Mani doesn’t show reluctance Swami cries in protestation which makes Mani surprised. This incident shows that he was also afraid of Mani.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Chapter – 3

Question 4.
“Swaminathan had good rapport with his grandmother.” Do you agree with this statement? Give instances in support of your answer.
Answer:
Swami had good rapport with his grandmother. Swami used to feel very snug and safe in the faint atmosphere of cardamon and cloves. After the night meal, with his head on his granny’s lap he nestled close to her. Some of the instances of his rapport with granny is seen when he talks with her. Let us see how he talks:

“Oh, Granny: he cried ecstatically.” You don’t know what a great fellow Rajam is.” He told her the story of the first enmity between Rajam and Mani and the subsequent friendship.

“You know he has a real police dress.” Said Swaminathan,
‘Is it? What does he want a police dress for?’ asked Granny,

The grandmother is rather garrulous and likes to talk at length about wants in the distant past, the memories of which crowd in upon her and make her discourse at length, when Swami tells her about Rajam she herself begins to talk incoherently about her own part. Her narration is often inaccurate and confused and rambling. Still Swami enjoys it.

Question 5.
Swaminathan was waiting impatiently for his father to go out, but his exit was taking too long. Describe how his father took so long to leave the house? (Imp.)
Answer:
One Saturday afternoon Swami had a plan to visit Rajam’s house. So he was waiting impatiently for his father’s departure. But his father was taking time for preparing himself. He stood before mirror, winding a turban round his head. He had put on his silk coat. Swami was watching him keenly. Now only his spectacles remained and then the watch.

Swami felt gland that it was the cast item and after that his father would leave for the court. But then his mother came with a tumbler of water in one hand and a plate of betel leaves and nuts in the other father drank water and held out his hard. Mother gave him a little areca nut and half a dozen neatly rolled betel leaves. He put them all into his mouth, chewing them with great contentment.

Swami read at the top of his voice the poem about a woolly sheep. His father about a little for his tiny silver snuffbox and took his handkerchief. He hooked his umbrella which was the signal for starting. Swami had almost closed the book and risen. In the meantime mother stopped his father. He again came back. He opened his bureau, gave money to mother, adjusted his turban before mirror, took a heavy pinch of Snuff and wiping his nose with hanky went out. Now Swami was relieved.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

C. Answer the following questions in about 50 – 60 words each:

Chapter -1

Question 1.
Why did Swaminathan go to the infant standards? What did he find children doing there? (Imp.)
Answer:
As the geography teacher was absent, the boys of the first A i.e., Swami’s class were in leisure. Swami missed his friend and he was alone. He wandered along the corridor of the infant standards. He saw the infants dabbling in wet clay and trying to shape models. For Swami it was ridiculous things to do in school.

Question 2.
Where did Swaminathan find Sankar, Somu and others? How did they behave with him? (M.P. 2017)
Answer:
Swaminathan found Shankar, Somu and other under a tamarind tree. This was secluded place in the school campus. They were playing some games. Swami joined them with a low, ecstatic cry. But they responded indifferently. It disappointed him. They turned their faces to him with a faint smile and returned to their game.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 3.
Describe Swaminathan’s state of mind when Sankar, Somu and others stopped talking to him. (M.P. 2011, Imp.)
Answer:
Swami was feeling restless when Shankar, Somu and others stopped talking to him. He was feeling lonely. His friends were also hostile to him. It was very painful for poor Swami, but he could not help it. He wanted to talk to them and crack jokes but, he was helpless. He was feeling uncomfortable.

Question 4.
How did grandmother react when Swaminathan told her about Rajam’s visit? What instructions did Swami give her?
Answer:
It was Saturday and Rajam was to visit Swami in the afternoon. Swami wanted to create a good impression on his friend who was a V.I.R, the son of a Superintendent of Police. He first cleaned his table and arranged his books properly. Then he told to his Granny that she was too old, and so she should not come in when Rajam was with him. He told her so quite frankly even though it must have been rather painful for her.

Question 5.
What provoked Swaminathan to slap the Pea? What followed thereafter? (M.P. 2016, Imp.)
Answer:
One day when Swami entered the class, a giggle went along the benches. Somebody had written ‘Tail’ on the blackboard in huge letters. Swami suspected that the Pea and Shankar had done it. So he slapped them on the face, pandemonium broke out in the class, with Shankar, Pea and Swami rolling over and over and tearing each others hair, faces and clothes. The fight stopped for a moment when the teacher entered. But a moment later they left the class, to fight it out in the fields adjoining the school.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 6.
Why did Mani take the boys out of the class to a secluded place? Why could he not succeed in bringing about a reconciliation? (M.P. 2017)
Answer:
Swami told his friends that Pea and Shankar wrote the ‘Tail’ on the blackboard, and that they called him “Rajam’s tail”. Somu sided with Shankar and Pea, and Mani stood up for Swami. In order to settle the matter Mani took the boy to a secluded place in order to bring about a reconciliation. A fierce fight between Main and Somu followed.

Mani swung his hand and brought it down on Somu’s nape. Sonu pushed it away with a heavy blow. Mani aimed a kick at Somu, which would send him rolling. Somu stepped aside and delivered one himself, which nearly bent the other. He could not succeed because they went on fighting with none to aim.

Chapter – 3

Question 7.
What prank did Mani and Swaminathan want to play on Rajam? (Imp.)
Answer:
Mani and Swami knocked at the door of Rajam’s room and as soon as he opened the door, they pretended to be a blind kitten and a blind and crawled into the room as such. As they had closed their eyes, they did not see that Somu, Shanker. and Pea were there. Indeed, they touched and fondled their feet and when they did open their eyes they saw that they had the feet of Somu, Shanker and the Pea.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 8.
What made Mani to boil with rage? How did Rajam assuage his anger? (M.P. 2011, 13, 16)
Answer:
They were angry with Rajam, for they thought he had played a dirty trick on them. But Rajam soon pacified them by praising their performance as the kitten and the puppy. He then proceeded to give them a long lecture on the value of friendship, and the infinite torture to which those who harbour enmity are subjected to in hell. So vivid and eloquent was he, that the boys were terrified.

Question 9.
What impressive things did Rajam tell them about friendship? (Imp.)
Answer:
In the end, he offered them handsome gifts, if they would become friends and give up their hostility. The gifts were attractive, they were already terrified, and so they soon shook hands and left as very good friends.

Question 10.
What, according to the Vedas, was the punishment for those who foster enmity?
Answer:
Rajam gave an eloquent lecture on those who harbour jealousy and enmity with other. He cited instances and lines from the great religious book Vedas. He said that it is written there that a person who fostered enmity should be locked up in a small room after his death.

He would be made to stand, stark naked, on a pedestal of red hot iron. There were beehives all around with bees as big as lemons. If the sinner stepped down from the pedestal he would have to put his foot on immense scorpions and centipedes that crawled about the room in hundreds.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 11.
What made the boys end their enmity – Rajam’s lecture on friendship or the prizes he offered to each of them? Support your answer with arguments. (M.P. 2017)
Answer:
Rajam’s lecture on friendship put greater effect on each of the friends. They got afraid of the religious interference and they were not in mind to continue enmity and get punishment in the life hereafter. The gift offered by Rajam may have also put them in pressure.

Question 12.
What thoughts crossed Swaminathan’s mind when he gazed at the maps in the atlas? (M.P. 2016, 18)
Answer:
Swaminathan when sat with the atlas he wandered what the shape of the people might be who lived in places where the outline narrowed and how he managed to escape being strangled. He wondered if he would able to see India as it looked in the map, if he stood on the top of Town hall.

D. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

Chapter – 1

Question 1.
What preparations did Swaminathan make for Rajam’s visit to his house? (M.P. 2014)
Answer:
On a Saturday afternoon Rajam had promised to visit Swami’s house. He was very much excited. As he had already visited Rajam’s house, he did not want to show himself inferior to Rajam in any way. First he was confused about the room where he would entertain his friend. He selected his father’s room. He cleansed the table and arranged his books so neatly that his father was surprised. Then he instructed his mother to prepare something nice and sweet.

He suggested not to make usual coffee but very good and hot. He asked his mother to serve the coffee and tiffin as he had seen Rajam’s cook serving them. He asked his cook to wear a clean, white dhoti and shirt. Then he asked mother to ask father to allow him to use his room for Rajam’s visit father agreed. Then he asked his granny to change her dhoti and not to interrupt between them.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 2.
Narrate the incident in the class which ultimately led to the fight between Mani and Somu.
Answer:
On the Monday morning after Saturday’s visit to Rajam’s house, Swami come to school. But it was not at all pleasant for him. Someone has written the word ‘tail’ on the blackboard in huge letters. Swami suspected that the Pea and Shankar had done it. So he slapped them on the face. There was a silence in the class. Swami, Shankar and Pea were rolling over and over and tearing each others, hair faces and clothes. The fight stopped for a while when the teacher entered the class. But a moment letter they left the class to fight.

E. Answer the following questions in about 50 – 60 words each:

Chapter -1

Question 1.
Why was Swaminathan cold and reserve to his mother when he was taken to her room? (Imp.)
Answer:
Swamiriathan’s mother was in labour pain. She had been bedridden for two days. Swami didn’t see her in kitchen. He felt uncomfortable in her absence. When he was taken to her room he found her lying disherited and pale on the bed. She called him closer to her. As Swami was not so mature he couldn’t understand what was going on. Therefore was cold and reserved when he came in the room.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 2.
How did Swaminathan describe his little brother to the Pea? (M.P. 2012, 14)
Answer:
Swami was confused at the birth of his new baby brother. When he came to school next day he told his friend Pea about it. For him the baby was funny. He said “Oh like him. He is hardly anything. Such a funny looking creature. Further he said “this thing was wonderful pair of hands. So small and plump, you know! But I tell you, his face is awful, red, red like milk.

Chapter – 2

Question 3.
What change did swaminathan observe in his father’s behaviour toward him before the examination?
Answer:
It was the month of April, just two weeks before the annual exams. Swami’s father, quite naturally, now wanted that his son should devote more time to his studies and often rebuked him when he saw the boy wasting his time. Swami thought he was changing and growing more fussy and difficult every day.

However, his words had some effect on him when he warned him that, if he failed, his juniors would become his classmates, and his friends would become his seniors, and would no longer like to mix up with him.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 4.
What changes did Swaminathan find in his friends behaviour before the examination? (M.P. 2013)
Answer:
At school also everybody seemed “to be overwhelmed by the thought of the examination”. His friends hardly exchanged even a few words with him, they were busy with their preparations.

Question 5.
What hints did the school clerk give to Mani? Was Mani satisfied with them?
Answer:
The boys were under the impression that the school clerk knew all about the question papers and he could help them a lot. So one day, Mani visited him with a gift of brinjals. The clerk was pleased, welcomed Mani, and talked a great deal about various matters. When he did not come to the point, Mani asked him bluntly to tell him a few important questions.

The clerk did not refuse but told him vaguely that it is good to prepare maps, to solve five problems every day for Maths, and as regards English, there is nothing to worry about it he has read all the lessons.

Question 6.
Do you agree to what Mani did to succeed in the examination? Give reasons in support of your answer. (M.P. 2015)
Answer:
I think what Mani did to know the questions from the school clerk was not good. When he know that the clerk had the idea about the questions he went to meet him. He took a gift to impress him. Though the clerk did not say anything clearly, Mani thought it right and prepared accordingly. It is not good for a good student. It is unjustified.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 7.
Why did Swaminathan find his brother more interesting as he grew up?
Answer:
In the beginning Swami was skeptical of his brother but as he grew he become more interesting for him. He was six months old now and was charming. He made shrill noises wherever he saw anybody, thrust his fist into his mouth, damped his round arms up to the elbow and vigorously kicked the air. He also displayed his base red gum in a smile. Swami loved each of his activities. Swami was feeling more attached with him.

Question 8.
Waht did Swaminathan’s father do when he saw the list?
Answer:
After preparing the list of the items for his examination when Swami approached his father. Father became angry. He said that there is no need to buy anything as everything was available there. His father said that he neither had any clip nor Swami need them. He asked what was the use of pad when there were benches in school. Then he said that he didn’t need anything. They were useless. Swami felt bad at such response from his father.

Chapter – 3

Question 9.
What were Swaminathan’s friends doing when he left the examination hall?
Answer:
Examinations were going on in school. Swaminathan came out of the examination room. But he found none of his friends had come out. They were still in the examination room. Shankar was lost to the world with his left shoulder against the wall. Rajam had become a writing machine while Mani was still gazing at the rafters scratching his chin with the pen. The Pea was leaning back in his seat revising his answers.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 10.
How did Swaminathan solve the question paper?
Answer:
Swami came out of the exam hall twenty minutes before the time. Out of six question set he had answered the first question to his satisfaction. The second was doubtful, the third was satisfaction, the fourth was clearly wrong. But the sixth answer was the best of all. It took only a minute to answer it.

Question 11.
Which two morals did Swaminathan draw from the story in the question paper? Which of them did he write in the answer book and why? (Imp.)
Answer:
There was a story given in the sixth question. The question was to give the moral of the story. Swami had never thought that this story contained a moral. But later he thought it must have one as the question said. Then it took a minute to decide whether the moral was: “we must never accept a gold bangle when it is offered by a tiger” or “Love of gold bangle costs one’s life”. He saw more logic in the latter and wrote it down.

Question 12.
Why did Swaminathan lie about the length of the answer of the last question about moral of the story?
Answer:
When the friends of Swami came out of the examination room they began discussing how they answered the question. At the question of moral of the story one of them had written a full page, Rajam had written only three quarter of a page. While Shankar had written a little more than half. As Swami had written only a line he felt disclosing it would be befooling himself, so he said he also wrote about half a page.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 13.
What did the Headmaster ask the student to do during the vacation?
Answer:
The headmaster came and announced the closure of school for the vacation. He hoped that the boys would not waste their time but read story books and keeps glancing through the books prescribed for their next classes.

Question 14.
What mischief did the boys play while returning home? Why did they do it?
Answer:
After the headmaster’s speech the assembly was dispersed. Boys began making mischief out of jubilation for the vacation. Ink bottles were broken and ink was poured over one another’s head and clothes. Mani was the leader of the jubilant team of the boys. All the stationery items here destroyed.

Question 15.
Why did Singaram, the peon rush into the crowd of boys with a stick?
Answer:
In the midst of merry making the boys broke more bottles of ink on the ground. Mani cried to bring the turban of Singaram the school peon to dye in the ink. As Singaram was the only man to oppose such liberty of the boys he became a target of the boys. But as Singaram heard something about himself he became infuriated and he rushed into the crowd dispersed the revellers.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 16.
name all the characters of the Novel. In your view who is the best one out of all of them?
Answer:
The characters of the Novel ‘Swami and Friends’ are: (a) Swami, (b) Mani, (c) Rajam, (d) Pea, (e) Samuel, (f) Somu and (g) Shankar.

Swaminathan: Swaminathan is the hero of the novel though he is unheroic in his deeds, yet, the whole story is centred around him. Swaminathan is just an ordinary boy with no outstanding intellect. He was a student of First Form (A). He is not a good student and every Monday is unpleasant for him.

After the freedom of Saturday and Sunday it is difficult for him to get into the Monday mood of work and discipline. At school he is rebuked by his teachers for his unsatisfactory work and at home his father keeps a watch on him that he does not loaf around in afternoon on weekends.

School is a bad place for him although he feels happy in the company of his friends, particularly, Rajam and Mani. He admires Rajam, the son of Police Superintendent, and likes his company. He was seen with him so much that his other friends started calling him ‘Tail’ of Rajam.

Swami himself is weak and nervous about things and therefore feels protected in the company of Rajam and Mani who are stronger than him. For him, they are heroes and he follows them. Mani is his good friend yet he is afraid of him. At home, he has a good rapport with his Granny. She is his friend at home. He shares with her everything that occurs in his life.

He is not so close to his mother as to his granny. He sleeps at night listening stories from her and gets emotional support from her. He is afraid of his father and waits impatiently for his departure from home on weekends as he has to go out to meet his friends.

He is not good at studies and is very bad in arithmetic. He is everytime rebuked by his father for studies before his examinations. Though he is not a good student yet, he does not think about using unfair means to pass in examination like his friend Mani. He does not think about going to the school clerk’s house to know the important questions for exams. He is therefore, honest.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 17.
Who was the cord or communication between Mani and Rajan? (M.P. 2015)
Answer:
There was animosity between Mani and Rajam. They were sitting on the back bench in the classroom. Swaminathan acted as a cord of communication sitting between them, with an exchange of message in writing. He was like a link between them.

Question 18.
Who challenged Mani’s authority? (M.P. 2015, 18)
Answer:
Somu challenged Mani’s authority. The fighting was violent. They both roled over the ground to beat each other which frightened the other boys of the class. The headmaster ended the fight.

Question 19.
How did Swaminathan prepare the list of things he wanted for the examination?
Answer:
The examination of Swaminathan were very near. Two days before starting the examination, he prepared a list of things that he needed for the examination. He wrote un-rolled paper – 20 sheets, Nibs – 6, Ink – 2 bottles, clips and pins. He nibbled his pencil and re-read the list. It was not good. He thought that it was short. Then he scrutinized it and made another one monitoring:

  • Unruled paper – 20 sheets
  • Ruled white paper – 10 sheets
  • Black ink – 01 bottle
  • Clips – 3-6-12
  • Pins – 6-12

The list was not satisfactory even then. He pondered over it and added cardboard pad – 01 and one rupee for additional expenses.

F. Answer the following questions in about 150 words each:

Chapter – 1

Question 1.
Describe in your own words the activities that took place in Swaminathan’s house on the night when his new brother arrived. (Imp.)
Answer:
Swami’s mother was to give birth to a baby. One day his Granny said to him that he was going to have a baby brother. That night he was allowed to sleep on Granny’s bed. The lights kept burning all night. Whenever he opened his eyes he was conscious of busy feet scurrying along the passage. Late at night when he woke up he saw a lady doctor in the hall. She behaved as if the house belonged to her. She entered mother’s room.

A mingled noise was coming out of that room. Then she came out and commanded Swami’s father to do something. He went away and returned with a small bottle in his hand. He hovered about uncertainly. The hushed voices, hurry, seriousness, agitation, hot water, and medicine preparations for ushering on new person were all beyond comprehension of Swami.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Chapter – 2

Question 2.
Why did Mani go to the school clerk’s house? Do you approve of his behaviour? Give arguments in support of your answer. (M.P. 2015)
Answer:
As the examination was coming nearer the students were becoming more worried. They were totally confused but overwhelmed. In the meantime a rumour spread that the school clerk had the secret idea about the question paper. Mani was more concerned about it. So one day he took a meat bundle of fresh brinjals and reached the clerk’s house and laid the bundle at his feet.

The clerk was pleased. The clerk was a clever fellow. He talked all about cat and other things but he was not coming to the point of examination. Finally, Mani’s patience broke down and he directly asked him about the question paper. The clerk replied vaguely about all the subjects. However Mani was satisfied.

He came back and began preparing in that direction, what Mani did was absolutely improper and ill-ways for a sincere student. No one will call him a read student. A student duty is to read labour honestly. Mani never paid attention to his study but wanted to know the question using unfair means. I condemn such a boy.

MP Board Class 12th Special English Important Questions Chapter 20 Swami and Friends

Question 3.
How did Rajam bring about reconciliation between his fighting friends? (M.P. 2011, Imp.)
Answer:
Rajam was a tactful boy. He belonged to a high society. He was a brilliant student. He always wanted to be cordial and friendly with everyone so when Swami and Mani wanted to play pranks on him and later was exposed he was not annoyed. He knew what they had done was out of jealousy and enmity among themselves.

So, he tried to give an elaborate and effective lecture to time explaining what friendship was and how enmity can spot their life. He did not mind their dirty trick. Instead he praised their performance as the kitten and puppy. Then he preached them on the value of friendship and said that those who harbour enmity are subjected hell. They are tortured. Later they all realised their faults. Then Rajam offered them gifts. Thus Rajam enough reconciliation between his friends.