12th Class English Ch 5 On Destroying Books Short Question Answer
1.What sorts of books were presented by the British public soldiers?
Most of the books sent to troops were suitable. But some people sent them magazines twenty years old. Some sent them guides to the Lake District And some sent them back numbers of Whitaker’s Almanac.
2.Was it interest I soldiers that prompted people’s action or was it the wish to get rid of useless books?
People had no interest in troops. They sent them books because they wanted to get rid of their worthless books.
3.Why should the bad books be destroyed?
Bad books should be destroyed. It makes room for the good and new books. It also saves one’s heirs from the trouble of sorting them out and storing them.
4.Why is it difficult to destroy books?
Usually, it is not easy to destroy books. It is hard to burn them. One may throw them into the river. But even this may not be easy.
5.Why could the author not burn the unwanted books?
The author had a small kitchen. He could not burn books on the gas cooker. He could not burn them in his small study fire.
6.How did the writer decide to get rid of his books?
The writer decided to throw his books into the river. He faced a lot of difficulties on his way to the river. But at last he succeeded in throwing his books into the river.
7.Describe the author’s midnight venture to throw the books in the river and the suspicions which his action were likely to arouse?
It was midnight. The writer was carrying his books to the river. He feared that he might be arrested as a thief or a baby killer. But finally he succeeded in throwing his books into the river.
8.How did the writer muster up courage at last to fling the books into the river?
While throwing the sack of books into the river the writer feared that he might be arrested as a baby killer. But then he scolded himself for being a coward. Finally he threw the sack into the river.
9.Did the writer come to have a feeling for those books once he had got rid of them?
The writer felt a bit sad for the books. He thought that the books would lie in the river lonely and forgotten.
10.What kinds of books were presented to the troops?
Most of the books sent to troops were ordinary and suitable. But some people sent them odd things. Some sent them magazines twenty years old. Some sent them guides to the lake District. And some sent them back numbers of Whitaker’s Almanac.
11.Why did the writer want to get rid of his books? OR How much space did the books in the flat of the writer occupy?
The books occupied so much room in his flat that he had no option except either to remove tilter or leave the place himself to settle somewhere else.
12.Could the writer get rid of his books by burning them?
No he could not burn them as he had a small kitchen. He could not burn them leaf by leaf on the gas cooker or in his small study fire. And to try to burn a book without opening it is like to burn a piece of stone.
13.What did the writer finally decide to do with the books?
Finally he decided to throw them into the river.
14.Why did the writer decide to throw the books into the river?
The writer did not want to send the useless books to troops. He could not burn them elther as e had a small kitchen. The only way to burn a book was to burn it leaf after leaf. And it was not an easy task. Therefore he decided to throw them into the river.
15.At what time did the writer proceed to the river and how did the surroundings look?
It was midnight. He stepped into the street. It was blowing cold. The sky was full stars. The lamps were throwing their long gleams across the road.
16.Whom did the writer pass by first on his way to river and what was he doing?
He passed by a policeman who was flashing his lantern on the catches of the basement windows.
17.What did the writer do first when he reached the embankment of the river? OR What did the writer see into the river?
When the writer reached the embankment he leaned against the walls of the river and looked down into the dimly shining whirl of the river.
18.What did the writer do when he heard a step near him when he was leaning against the parapet of the river?
When he heard the step he sprang back from the wall and began walking on the bridge posing to be indifferent. He pretended to be lost in his thoughts.
19.What thought flashed /came into the writer’s mind when he was ready to throw books into the river?
When he was ready to throw the books into the river he suddenly thought of the splash that the fall of sack might produce.
20.What were the fears/apprehensions of the writer while he was thinking about the splash?
He feared that some people would hear the splash and come to seize him. They would not believe that he had thrown the books of poetry into the river at this time of cold night. They would think it was a baby.
21.From which part of the bridge did the writer throw his books?
He went to the first of projecting circular bays in the middle of the bridge knelt on the seat there and finally threw the books into the river.
22.How did the writer scold/rebuke reproach himself while he felt hesitant at the last moment of throwing books? OR What did the writer say to himself to muster up courage at the last moment?
He scolded himself for being coward under the mask of a resolute man. He said that if he failed at that moment he must not walk with his head up again. He had better be hanged than withdraw.
23.How did the finally throw his books? OR In what condition did the writer throw the books finally? OR What happened when the writer finally threw the books into the river?
He took a heave and dropped the sack sheer. There was a loud splash. Then silence fell down again. No one came there to arrest the writer. Finally he returned.
24.What did the writer feel for/think of the books while returning home?
The writer felt a bit sad for the books. He thought that the innocent books would be lying at the cold dark bottom of the river. They would lie there lonely and forgotten forever. He thought that with the passage of time they would be covered with mud.
25.Why do people want to get rid of useless and old books?
The people want to get rid of useless and old books because their destruction makes room for the good and new books. Second it saves one’s heirs from the trouble of sorting them out and sorting them out and storing them.
26.Why did people send old and odd books to soldiers?
People sent old and odd books to soldiers because they wanted to get rid of their useless books.
27.Why did the writer want to get rid of useless books?
A lot of useless books had accumulated in writer’s apartment. He had two options only. He should either get rid of books or leave the room himself.
