Hi Everyone!! This article will share A Clump of Lilac Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of My Wheelchair Had Wings and The Story of An Invitation so, you can check these posts as well.
A Clump of Lilac Questions & Answers
- Countenance – the face or facial expression
- Accustomed – usual or customary
- Gloomy – despairing or sad
- Clump – a small group of things (here plants) together
- Shrugged – to draw up and drop shoulders as a sign of indifference or doubt
- Fatigue – extreme physical or mental tiredness
- Rubles – the standard monetary unit of Russia and Tadzhikistan
Question 1: Without his wife he would never have found enough energy and would have given up. How did Vera prove this true?
Answer: Kolya’s wife helped him keep his spirits high. She kept him happy and hopeful in spite of his failures. She sacrificed many luxuries to give him what he needed. She copied his papers, drew his plan, read for him and was a great help in every way.
Question 2: ‘Kolya was bestowed with perseverance and determination’. Quote an instance from the story to prove this.
Answer: Kolya made two attempts to gain entrance in the staff college and so despite failing, he made a third attempt and was successful. He worked till 3 a.m. to get the map finished. This shows that he was bestowed with perseverance and determination.
Question 3: How did Vera make the green spot on the map a reality?
Answer: Vera sold off whatever few treasures she had and with the money she went to the gardener’s house. She told him their sad story and requested him to plant a clump of lilac on that very spot. So, the green spot on the map finally became a reality.
Question 4: Then I thought I would draw a clump of bushes over the space. Explain the circumstances which lead him to draw a clump of bushes on the map.
Answer: After Kolya had worked till 3 a.m., on the map, he was very tired. His hands trembled and he made a green spot on the map. Rubbing it made it worse, so he decided to draw a clump of bushes over the spot.
A Clump of Lilac Questions & Answers
Question 5: There is a woman behind the success of every man. How far this saying is proved true in this story?
Answer: The saying has been successfully proved true in the story because Vera had not only helped Kolya to keep his spirits high in the face of failures, but she had even thought of the brilliant idea of planting a bush on the place, which was represented by a green spot that was mistakenly made by Kolya on the map.
Question 6: What would have happened if the professor had discovered that the clump of lilac wasn’t genuine?
Answer: The professor would have sent Kolya back to the regiment and it would have meant a disgraceful end of college for him too.
Question 7: Write a paragraph about Almasov, highlighting his basic nature and also his relationship with his wife.
Answer: Almasov was hardworking and determined. He did not give up easily. He kept making attempts until he succeeded in entering the staff college. He worked till 3 a.m. to complete his map. But he got irritated and angry when he felt an injustice had been done to him. He had a very close relationship with his wife. He depended on her for everything. She constantly encouraged and supported him. He could face failures in life only because of her untiring efforts. In the end, his wife helped him in becoming successful.
Question 8: Read the lines and answer the questions:
His wife saw his gloomy face and understood that something unfortunate had happened.
(a) Name the two characters mentioned in the extract.
Answer: Kolya and his wife Vera are being mentioned in the extract.
(b) What was the reason for the gloom on his face?
Answer: The reason was that the map that he had made as a part of his practical examination had been reflected by his professor.
(c) In what way does she help him at home?
Answer: At home, Vera helps him by copying his papers, during his plans and reading for him. She had sacrificed luxuries to give modest comfort to her husband who was doing a lot of brainwork.
A Clump of Lilac Questions & Answers
Question 9: Without hearing a word, how did Vera make out that the story of the bush had ended happily?
Answer: When Vera noticed her husband walking vigorously she knew the story of the bush had ended well.
Question 10: Read the lines and answer the questions:
I should have told him there and then how it had happened. He might only have laughed. But I said to him there is a clump of bushes.
(a) Whom does ‘I’ refer to?
Answer: ‘I’ refer to Nicolai Yevgrafovitch Almasov, nicknamed Kolya.
(b) What does it in the given lines mean?
Answer: It refers to the green spot on the map.
(c) I should have told him there and then how it had happened. Explain what had happened.
Answer: Kolya’s hand had trembled and he had made a green spot on the map. To cover it he made a clump of bushes. He then lied to his professor that there was indeed a bush at that very spot.
Question 11: Read the lines and answer the questions:
The man closed his eyes with a look of weary indifference; but another of her treasures was valued highly, and altogether they managed to get twenty-five roubles, which was more than enough.
(a) Who is the man referred in the first line of the extract? Who are the other two persons with him now?
Answer: The man is the pawnbroker. The other two persons are Kolya and his wife Vera.
(b) Why do they come to this man at this time?
Answer: They have come to him to sell off whatever pieces of jewellery they have.
(c) Where do they go the next moment?
Answer: The next moment, they go to the gardener’s house.
(d) For what purpose do they need the money at this time?
Answer: They need the money to buy bushes, which they want to plant in the soil, to show that the green spot on the map is a reality.
So, these were A Clump of Lilac Questions & Answers.