The Last Truck Ride by Ruskin Bond - Literary Reader 7 - Class 7 Q&A Solved

Summary of 'The Last Truck Ride' by Ruskin Bond

The story begins with Pritam Singh, a Sikh truck driver, driving his own truck along a mountain road with his young companion, Nathu. Pritam makes a living by transporting limestone from quarries to the depot, and Nathu works as his helper. Nathu had left his village due to a failed crop and found work with Pritam.

As they journey through the mountains, they encounter mules on the narrow road and the challenging conditions of the terrain. The story touches on their conversation about the barren landscape, the effects of limestone quarrying, and Nathu's memories of his village.

At the quarry, they load the truck with limestone rocks. Nathu helps the laborers with the loading, despite the contractor's objection. After loading, they begin their journey back, but a dangerous situation arises when a stray mule appears on the road. Pritam loses control of the truck, and it goes over the edge of a cliff, tumbling down the hillside.

Nathu, though injured and shaken, manages to find Pritam trapped inside the truck. With the help of others who arrive at the scene, they rescue Pritam and take him to the hospital. Pritam survives with injuries, but his beloved truck is beyond repair.

In the end, Pritam realizes that he can no longer continue as a truck driver and must return home to live with his sons. Nathu also decides to return to his village and work on the land, preferring to cultivate it rather than exploit it for its resources.

Pritam acknowledges the role of the scraggy old oak tree in saving his life during the accident and imparts a valuable lesson to Nathu about the importance of nature and the land.

This story explores themes of nature, environmental impact, the bonds formed in difficult circumstances, and the realization of the value of land and life.

Word/Meaning

1. Turbaned (adjective): Wearing a traditional head covering called a turban, often worn by Sikh men.

   Meaning: A type of headgear tied in a special way.

2. Quarry (noun): A place where stones, minerals, or other valuable materials are extracted.

   Meaning: A location where rocks are taken from the ground.

3. Dependant (noun): Someone who relies on or is supported by another person.

   Meaning: A person who needs help or support from someone else.

4. Independence (noun): Freedom from being controlled by others; self-sufficiency.

   Meaning: Being able to make decisions and live on your own.

5. Contractor (noun): A person or company hired to perform specific work or services.

   Meaning: Someone who is hired to do a particular job.

6. Overseer (noun): A person who supervises or manages the work of others.

   Meaning: Someone who watches over and directs the work of others.

7. Precipitous (adjective): Very steep or sheer, typically referring to a slope or hill.

   Meaning: A very steep and almost vertical incline.

8. Accelerator (noun): A pedal or control in a vehicle that makes it go faster.

   Meaning: A part in a vehicle that makes it speed up.

9. Collarbone (noun): The bone that connects the shoulder blade to the breastbone.

   Meaning: A bone in the upper chest area.

10. Dislocated (verb): To force a bone out of its normal position in a joint.

    Meaning: When a bone is moved from its usual place.

11. Fractured (verb): Broken, typically referring to a bone.

    Meaning: When something, like a bone, is cracked or broken.

12. Bandaged (adjective): Covered with bandages, usually to protect an injury.

    Meaning: Wrapped in cloth to protect or heal an injury.

Let's Infer

Q1. Was the relationship between Pritam Singh and Nathu 

a. warm and affectionate?

b. cold and formal?

Give a reason for your choice.

ANSWER:

The relationship between Pritam Singh and Nathu was a. warm and affectionate.

Reason: Throughout the story, Pritam and Nathu share a camaraderie. Pritam treats Nathu with kindness and defends him when the contractor objects to Nathu helping with the loading. Nathu also cares for Pritam's well-being when the accident occurs.

Q2. Nathu said, 'It will retire before you do.'  

a. Who is 'it' here? b. What does it tell us about 'its' age?

ANSWER:

'It' in the statement 'It will retire before you do' refers to Pritam Singh's truck. This statement tells us that the truck is quite old, as it has been in use for a long time and is showing signs of aging.

Q3. Select the words which describe the road to the quarry.

a. narrow

b. steep

C. uneven

d. well-maintained

C. tarred

(Tick all the right choices.) 

ANSWER:

The words that describe the road to the quarry are:

a. narrow

b. steep

c. uneven

Q4. What kind of a driver was Pritam Singh?

a. good

b. careful

C. rash and reckless

Give an example in support of your choice. 

ANSWER:

Pritam Singh can be characterised as c. rash and reckless as a driver based on his behaviour in the story. One example to support this choice is when he was driving fast on sharp bends in the challenging mountain terrain despite Nathu's discomfort and request to slow down. This risky driving behaviour ultimately leads to the accident where the truck goes off the road, endangering their lives.

Q5. What did Nathu mean by the statement, 'It's better to grow things on the land than to blast things out of it"?

ANSWER:

Nathu's statement, "It's better to grow things on the land than to blast things out of it," means that he believes farming and cultivating the land for crops is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of living compared to mining and extracting resources from the land, which can harm the environment.

Q6. What did Pritam Singh learn from the accident?

ANSWER:

Pritam Singh learned from the accident that life is precious and that nature, represented by the scraggy old oak tree, can significantly save lives. He also likely realised the fragility of his own existence and the importance of valuing the land and the environment.

Let's Discuss

1. It is important to grow trees:

Growing trees is undeniably essential for numerous reasons:

• Environmental Benefits: Trees are vital for maintaining a healthy environment. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and help mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They also provide habitat for wildlife, which is crucial for biodiversity.
• Air Quality: Trees act as natural air purifiers, filtering out pollutants and particulate matter from the air. They help improve air quality in urban areas, reducing the risk of respiratory diseases in humans.
• Erosion Control: Tree roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion, particularly in hilly or forested regions. This helps maintain fertile soil for agriculture and prevents landslides.
• Shade and Cooling: Trees provide shade and help cool the environment, reducing the urban heat island effect. They also conserve energy by reducing the need for air conditioning.
• Aesthetic Value: Trees enhance the beauty of landscapes, making cities and rural areas more attractive and pleasant to live in.

2. A boy of Nathu's age should have been going to school. Making Nathu work was a violation of the rights of a child:

• Right to Education: Every child has the fundamental right to education, as recognized by international conventions and most national laws. Denying a child access to education not only hampers their personal development but also hinders the progress of society as a whole. Education is crucial for acquiring knowledge, skills, and opportunities for a better future.
• Child Labor: Making a child work when they should be in school is considered child labor and is widely condemned. Child labor deprives children of their childhood, subjects them to exploitative conditions, and often perpetuates the cycle of poverty.
• Development and Well-being: Education is a pathway to personal development, empowerment, and social mobility. It equips children with the tools they need to make informed choices and contribute positively to society. Depriving children of education can have long-term negative consequences for their well-being.
• Alternative Solutions: Rather than subjecting children to labor, societies should prioritize ensuring access to quality education and creating an environment where children can thrive academically and socially. Governments and communities must work together to eliminate child labor and promote education as a right for all children.

In the context of Nathu's situation in the story, his inability to attend school and being forced to work due to economic hardships is indeed a violation of his rights as a child. Efforts should be made to address such issues, provide opportunities for education, and protect the rights of children to ensure their well-being and future prospects.

Lemon-Yellow and Fig by Manohar Malgonkar - Literary Reader 7 - Class 7 Q&A Solved

Lemon-Yellow and Fig

Contents

• Story Summary
• Word Meanings
• Let's Infer: Questions & Answers
• Important Questions
• Interactive Quiz

Summary of Lemon-Yellow and Fig

In the story "Lemon-Yellow and Fig," the protagonist is a young salesman who has recently secured a job selling saris and choli pieces in a shop in Bombay. His employer, Mr. Ratnam, hired him based on his perceived honesty. The protagonist takes his job seriously and is doing well, even making significant sales in a short time.

However, a strange coincidence occurs when two women, one wearing a distinct perfume, visit the shop on the same day. The first woman purchases a sari and pays with a one-hundred-rupee note. When the second woman, wearing the same perfume, comes in later, the protagonist becomes suspicious. He thinks they might be attempting a scam where one woman distracts him while the other claims to have given a one-hundred-rupee note for a smaller purchase.

To outsmart any potential trick, the protagonist discreetly removes the one-hundred-rupee note from the cash box, pretending to send it to his brother in a nearby shop. He then serves the second woman, who pays with smaller notes. Everything seems fine until the arrival of Mr. Ratnam, the owner.

Mr. Ratnam conducts a stock check and praises the protagonist's skills, revealing that he had sent his own daughter and sister to the shop to test his honesty. However, when they open the cash box, they discover that one hundred rupees are missing. Stunned and unable to explain the discrepancy he himself created, the protagonist is seen as a thief. Mr. Ratnam, disappointed, fires him on the spot. The story ends with the protagonist, now unemployed, ironically having to re-emphasize the very honesty that his own cleverness caused to be questioned.

Word Meanings

1. Saris: Traditional Indian women's garments, typically made of silk or cotton and draped elegantly around the body.

2. Choli: A short-sleeved, midriff-baring blouse worn with a sari.

3. Munim: An accountant or clerk responsible for financial matters.

4. Accomplice: A person who helps another in committing a crime or wrongdoing.

5. Cursory: Hasty, done quickly with little attention to detail.

6. Discrepancy: A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.

7. Denomination: The face value of a banknote or coin.

8. Scam: A fraudulent or deceptive scheme to trick someone.

9. Hunch: An intuitive feeling or guess based on limited information.

10. Bohni: The first sale of the day in a shop, believed by some to influence the day's success.

Let's Infer: Questions & Answers

1. The narrator describes an experience that he had:

   b. in the morning.

2. What is the job that the narrator is referring to? Did he like his job? How can you tell?

   The narrator's job is selling saris and choli pieces in a shop. Yes, he liked his job. We can tell because he describes it as a "good job" and mentions that he was "beginning to excel at it."

3. 'I was lucky to get the job.' Why does the narrator say this?

   He says this because the owner, Mr. Ratnam, hired him not based on experience but on a "hunch" that he had an honest face. The narrator recognized this as a fortunate opportunity based on trust.

4. Why do you think the young lady gave the narrator a one-hundred-rupee note rather than 40 in, say, ten-rupee notes?

   In the context of the narrator's suspicion, a large denomination note is a key element of the classic scam he fears. It creates the potential for a dispute over the amount of change owed.

5. How did the narrator conclude that the two customers belonged to the same household? Did he guess correctly? How do you know?

   He concluded they were together because they both wore the same distinct perfume. He did guess correctly. We know this because the shop owner, Mr. Ratnam, later reveals that the two women were his own daughter and sister, whom he sent to the shop together.

6. Why did the narrator examine the notes? What had he already concluded about the two women? Why was he not sure that it was the same 'old trick'?

   He examined the notes because he was still suspicious of a scam. He had already concluded the two women were working together as accomplices. He was not sure it was the same "old trick" because the second woman paid with smaller notes, which didn't fit the pattern of the scam he was expecting.

7. Was Mr Ratnam's visit to the shop related in any way to the visit of the two ladies to the shop earlier? How do you know?

   Yes, his visit was directly related. We know this because Mr. Ratnam explicitly tells the narrator, "I sent my daughter and then my sister to your counter" to test his customer service and honesty.

8. What did Mr Ratnam do when he found that a sum of one hundred rupees was missing from the cash box? Why did he do so?

   When Mr. Ratnam found one hundred rupees missing, he immediately fired the narrator. He did so because, from his perspective, the missing money was clear evidence of theft, and he was deeply disappointed that his trust in the narrator's "honest face" had been broken.

Important Questions

1. Why was the narrator's honesty so important to Mr. Ratnam?

   Mr. Ratnam hired the narrator based on the "hunch" that he had an honest face. His trust was the foundation of the narrator's employment, which is why he decided to test it and why he was so disappointed by the apparent theft.

2. What was the "old trick" or scam the narrator was afraid of?

   The narrator was afraid of a scam where two accomplices work together. The first person pays with a large note (like 100 rupees). Later, the second person makes a small purchase and then claims they also paid with a large note, hoping to confuse the salesman into giving extra change.

3. Describe the protagonist's plan to outsmart the suspected scammers.

   To prevent the suspected scam, the protagonist took the one-hundred-rupee note from the cash box and pretended to send it to his brother via a helper. This way, if the second woman claimed to have paid with a large note, he could prove it wasn't in the cash box.

4. What is the main irony in the story's ending?

   The main irony is that the narrator, in his attempt to be clever and prevent being cheated, ends up creating a situation that makes him look like a thief. His own actions to prove his diligence led to him being fired for dishonesty.

5. How did the protagonist's overthinking and suspicion lead to his downfall?

   Instead of simply trusting the process and his own ability to handle transactions honestly, the protagonist overthought the situation. His suspicion led him to take a secretive action (removing the money) which he couldn't explain later, directly causing Mr. Ratnam to believe he had stolen it.

Interactive Quiz

1. On what basis did Mr. Ratnam initially hire the narrator?

a) His previous experience b) A strong recommendation c) He had an honest face d) He was a family friend

2. What specific detail made the narrator suspect the two women were accomplices?

a) They looked alike b) They wore the same distinct perfume c) They arrived at the same time d) They bought the same saris

3. Why did Mr. Ratnam send the two women to the shop?

a) To buy saris for a wedding b) To help the narrator with sales c) To test the narrator's honesty and skills d) To check on the shop's inventory

4. What action did the narrator take that ultimately cost him his job?

a) He argued with a customer b) He gave the wrong change c) He closed the shop early d) He secretly removed money from the cash box

5. What was the value of the sari bought by the first woman?

a) 90 rupees b) 100 rupees c) 40 rupees d) 10 rupees

6. The narrator's "clever" plan backfired because it created a...

a) profit for the shop b) happy customer c) cash discrepancy d) new sales record

7. What does the term "Bohni" refer to in the story?

a) A type of sari b) The shop owner's name c) The last sale of the day d) The first sale of the day

8. What was Mr. Ratnam's final emotion towards the narrator?

a) Anger b) Disappointment c) Confusion d) Happiness

9. Who were the two women customers revealed to be?

a) Famous actresses b) Plainclothes police officers c) Mr. Ratnam's daughter and sister d) Professional scammers

10. The central theme of the story revolves around...

a) The difficulty of finding a job b) The art of selling saris c) The importance of family d) Irony and misjudgment