Chapter 7: The Shoeshine Textbook Solutions

NIOS Class 10 English Chapter 7 Question Answer

INTEXT QUESTIONS 7.1

Answer these questions in about 30-40 words each:

i) Why could the young man not afford to buy even a plate of potato chips and a cup of coffee?

Ans: He was unemployed and had just five rupees in his pocket.

ii) Why did the young man refuse to get his shoes polished?

Ans: He didn’t have sufficient money to pay for a cup of coffee and a plate of potato chips, even though he was hungry. Getting his shoes polished was not important for him.

iii) ‘Instantly the thought seized me’. To what thought does the speaker refer to?

Ans: That he should start polishing shoes and work as a shoeshine to earn his livelihood.

iv) What does the expression ‘he read it’ in this context mean?

Ans: He should understand what he meant.

v) Had you been in such a situation -‘no job,’ ‘no money in the pocket’! What would have been your reaction?

Ans: Personal and individual responses.

vi) How much money did the author have in this pocket? Pick out the words which help you to find the answer

Ans: Just five rupees. ‘But the simple fact is that I only have five rupees and some loose change.

vii) “There was a puzzled and hurt expression on his face”. Why was the shoeshine puzzled and hurt?

Ans: That an educated man would think of polishing shoes was beyond his imagination. He was hurt by such an idea from an educated man.

viii) The shoeshine suggested that the author should get his shoes polished. What reason did he give?

Ans: An unemployed educated man can impress the officer in the office and that might help him to get a job.

ix) “But if I can persuade the others”, Shovan lal said, breaking into my thoughts

(i) Who were the ‘others’?

(ii) What thoughts of the narrator are being hinted at?

Ans:

(i) Other Shoeshine boys working in Connaught Circus.
(ii) To work as a Shoeshine became his goal.

LET US LEARN NEW WORDS 7.1

1. Find out the difference between unemployment and underemployment.

Ans: Unemployment is the complete absence of work that someone is actively seeking. Underemployment on the other hand is when an individual is employed but it is inadequate for their skills or income needs.

2. Select suitable phrases from the ones given and complete the following sentences one of them is additional.

make fun of, pull a long face, makes a living, gave another chance, pulled down

(i) (a) Rani’s sister has lost her husband. She ___________by giving music lessons.

Ans: makes her living.

(b) We should not ________________________people who stammer.

Ans: make fun of

(ii) (a) Ahmad had broken a glass vase, when his mother scolded him he ______________.

Ans: pulled a long face.

(iii) Amit was strong and healthy. Last month he had influenza. He looks _____________now.

Ans: he looks pulled down now.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 7.2

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

(i) Why did Shovan Lal initially show his reluctance to accept the youngman’s proposal?

Ans: He feared his other friends (shoe-shine boys) would not approve of the inclusion of the young man for possible loss of their earnings to some extent, as one more shoe-shine would reduce each shoe-shine boy’s earnings.

(ii) (a) Why was polishing shoes on the pavement treated like begging?

Ans: They (shoeshine boys) didn’t have any establishment as other businessmen had.

(b) What trouble was the Shoeshine Union having with the authorities?

Ans: They (authorities) didn’t grant recognition to the Shoe-Shine Association. They (Shoeshine boys) were treated as beggars, and their profession was equivalent to begging.

(c) How did Shovan Lal and his friends help the author?

Ans: They collected money to buy the kit for the young man to start as a shoe shiner.

(iii) What quality of Shovan Lal’s character is evident in his efforts?

Ans: Cooperative gesture, large-heartedness

(b) empathy.

(iv) What solutions were offered by Shovan Lal and others to solve the problem?

Ans: The young man will help the members of the Shoeshine Association in their correspondence with the authorities, as others were not good at drafting in English.

LET US LEARN NEW WORDS 7.2

Complete the following sentences by using the following phrases appropriately:

had come and gone, letting in, taken up, reluctantly agreed, jumped with joy, pay back, .

1. When Rita saw her lost puppy in her father’s arms she ___________________.

Ans: jumped with joy

2. Mother didn’t want me to spend the night at my friend’s house but when my friend’s mother called her and assured her she____________________________.

Ans: reluctantly agreed

3. I am awaiting my results but in the meantime I have ____________ a temporary job.

Ans: taken up

4. My friend lent me some money and I promised to ____________ by the next month.

Ans: pay back

5. The old man was sitting at the same table in the coffee house since morning many people _____________ but his son did not show up.

Ans: had come and gone

6. The security at the bank has been tightened. They are not ______ anyone without an ID Proof.

Ans: letting in

2. Separate the clauses in the given sentences and say whether it is a Principal clause or a subordinate clause.

a) Rajesh informed the visitor that the admission notice has been published in the Hindustan Times dated 8th August.

b) My friend, who was coming from Mumbai, has postponed his visit.

c) Yogesh cannot take the final exam because he is unwell. No. Principal Clause Subordinate Clause Functions of the clause

Ans:

S.No	Principal clause	Subordinate clause	Function
(a)	Rajesh informed the visitors	that the admission notice has been published in the Hindustan Times dated 8thAugust.	Noun clause functioning as an object.
(b)	My friend has postponed his visit	who was coming from Mumbai	Adjective clause defines the noun ‘friend’ in principal clause
(c)	Yogesh cannot take the exam	because he is unwell.	Adverb clause – showing reasons

TERMINAL QUESTIONS

A. Answer the following question in your own words.

1. How did Shovan Lal react to the young man’s proposal to start as a shoeshine?

Ans: Shovan Lal was shocked, surprised, and hurt, and didn’t believe that an educated man didn’t have enough money to get his shoes polished.

2. Describe the first meeting of the young man and Shovan Lal, the Shoeshine boy.

Ans: Shovan Lal insists on getting the Youngman shoes polished..

The young man explains his problem and offers to work as a Shoeshine. It surprises Shovam Lal, but he understands the problem involved in the offer.
Ultimately, they agreed to accept him as a member of the Shoeshine Association on the condition that he would help the Association in undertaking correspondence with the authorities.

3. What objections did the member of the Shoeshine Association have in accepting the young man as a member? How far do you agree to their objections? Give reason (s).

Ans: Other members were initially reluctant. Their income would be reduced, and thus they would suffer due to financial loss.

4. Had you been in place of the young man, what would have been your choice of profession? Give reasons.

Ans: Individual responses and varied reasons.

5. Do you think the young man will continue to work as a shoeshine? Give reason for your answer.

Ans: Individual responses and varied reasons.

6. Shovan Lal, though poor, was large-hearted. Give at least one example in support of your answer.

Ans: Individual responses and varied reasons.

B. Think and write your answers

1. The narrator ‘literally jumped with joy’ when he was allowed to become a shoeshine. What does this mean?

Ans: He was excited at the acceptance.

2. Did the narrator look down upon the work of a Shoeshine? Give reasons.

Ans: No. offered to be a Shoeshine himself, though he was an educated young man.

3. It is what kind of people we are-that is more important than the way we earn our living. How is this exemplified in the story?

Ans: Example of Shovan Lal and his friends helping the narrator proves their human values. Attitude to work counts.

4. Imagine you are the young man. Write a page in your diary recording your reaction to the cooperative gesture of the members of the Shoeshine Association.

Ans: Individual answers.

5. Write how Shovan Lal had convinced the members of the Shoeshine Association about the rationale behind his suggestion to include the young man as a Shoeshine.

Ans: Individual answers

6. Suppose you are a young educated man. Your father has come to know about your new profession and is unhappy at your decision. Write a letter to convince your father that your decision was the best option in these circumstances.

Ans: Individual answers

7. Write a paragraph on “PROFESSION OF MY CHOICE”.

Ans: Individual answers