PODAR INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
TEXTBOOK ANSWER SCHEME
Topic: The Dear
Subject: English Grade: VI
Departed
1. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that
follow.
a) ABEL: What's the matter with little Vicky? (He sees BEN and
MRS JORDAN) Hello! What brings you here? How's yourself, Ben?
i. What surprises awaited Abel Merry Weather when he came from
the world of the 'dead?'
Ans: Abel Merryweather was surprised to find his daughters and
their husbands gathered in his house, seemingly mourning his
supposed death, and already dividing his possessions. He also
discovered their true intentions and greed when he overheard them
discussing his will and belongings.
ii. How did Ben react when Mr. Abel offered him his hand for a
shake? Why did he do so?
Ans: Ben was startled and hesitant to shake Mr. Abel's hand because
he believed Abel was dead and had just come back to life. He did so
out of shock and fear of touching a "dead" man.
iii. What makes this scene the most dreadful and painful for the
others?
Ans: This scene is dreadful and painful for the others because Abel's
unexpected return exposes their deceit and greed. They are caught in
the act of dividing his belongings and discussing his will, leading to
embarrassment and the potential loss of their inheritance.
b) I don't call that delicate, stepping into a dead man's shoes in such
haste.
i. Who makes this comment?
Ans: This comment is made by Mrs. Slater.
ii. What prompts the speaker to say this?
Ans:Mrs. Slater says this in response to Mrs. Jordan suggesting that
they should take some of Abel's belongings, specifically his slippers,
before he is buried, implying a lack of respect and haste in claiming
his possessions.
iii. Bring out the significance of this statement.
Ans:This statement highlights the hypocrisy and insensitivity of the
characters. It reveals their focus on material possessions and their
disregard for the deceased, even while pretending to mourn him. It
also foreshadows the later revelation of Abel being alive and the
resulting embarrassment for the family.
Q 2. Answer each of the following questions in three or four
sentences.
a. Was Mr. Merryweather really dead? What happened to him?
Ans. No, Mr.Merryweather was not really dead.He said that he
had a headache and felt a bit dazed.
b. What change does Mr. Merryweather make in his new will?
What effect does it have on his daughters?
Ans. Abel Merryweather said that he would change his will to see
that his money and his bits of things would go to whomever he
was living with when he died. His daughters at once began to fight
as each of them wanted to keep him with her, while earlier they
had fought over not wanting to keep him.
c. What are the three things that Mr.Merryweather planned to do
on the next monday?
Ans. On Monday next, grandfather planned to do three things. He
planned to go to the lawyer and alter his will, leaving all he had to
the person he was staying with, at the time of his death. He also
planned to go to the insurance office and pay his premium. The
third thing was to go to St Philip’s Church and get married to
Mrs John Shorrocks.
3. Answer each of the following questions briefly.
a) Bring out the irony in the title of the play.
The irony in the title likely stems from a contrast between the
expectation created by the title (e.g., suggesting death or
mourning) and the actual outcome, where the supposedly dead
character is alive, exposing the hypocrisy and greed of others.
b) How does the argument between his daughters lead to Mr.
Merryweather discovering the truth?
The daughters' argument, likely over the inheritance or their perceived
share, reveals their true intentions and the extent of their greed to Mr.
Merryweather, who is observing their behavior while feigning death.
Their bickering and lack of genuine sorrow expose their self-serving
motives.
