CLASS VIII CHAPTER 1 THE BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT IN THE WORLD

Q1. What did the author find in the junk shop?

Ans. The author found an old 19^th century roll top desk in a junk shop. It was made of oak and was in very bad condition. The roll top desk was broken at several places, one leg was clumsily mended and there was a scorch mark on one side.

Q2. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it there?

Ans. In a secret drawer of roll top desk, the author found a small tin box. There was a piece of lined note paper sellotape to its top.  It contained Jim’s last letter, received  on January 25, 1915. To be buried with me when the time comes” written on it.

Q3. Who had written the letter, to whom and when?

Ans. The letter was written by Jim Macpherson, who had gone to fight in the First World War engaged in war with the Germans. Jim had written the letter to his wife Mrs. Connie Macpherson on 26^th December 1914.

Q4. Why was the letter written – what was wonderful thing that had happened?

Ans. Jim wrote the letter to narrate to his wife a wonderful thing that had happened on the Christmas Day. The British and the German soldiers were engaged in war with each other. Yet, on the Christmas day they met in the no man’s land, extended warm greetings, shared food and drink and even played a football match. It was a wonder to see how the two warring reacted on the blessed day of Christmas.

Q5. What job did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?

Ans. In their lives before they joined the army, Jim was a school teacher at Dorset in the West of Englad and Hans Wolf used to play cello in an orchestra at Dusseldorf.

Q6. Has Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?

Ans. No. Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He came to know about Dorset from the school and by reading books in English. His favourite author was Thomas Hardy from whose novel he must have learnt a lot about the English country side.

Q7. Do you think Jim Macpherson came back from the war? How do you know this?

Ans. No, it is not very likely that Jim would have returned back from the war. In the sellotaped letter it was mentioned that it was the last letter written by Jim. Further, the neighbours mentioned that she was alone when the fire broke out. From the nurse, he came to know that Connie never had any visitors.

Q8. Why did the author go to Bridfort?

Ans. The letter which the author got from the secret drawer contained the address of Mrs. Macpherson as 12 Copped Beaches, Bridport, Dorset. He wanted to return the letter to her.

Q9. How old was Mrs. Macpherson now? Where was she?

Ans. Mrs. Macpherson was hundred and one year old. She was in a nursing home in Burlington house, on the Dorchester road, on the other side of the town.

Q10. Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?

Ans. Connie thought that her visitor was her husband Jim.

Q11. Which sentence in the text shows the visitor did not try to hide his identity?

Ans. The sentence in the text which shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity is, ‘I explained about the desk, about how I found the letter, but I don’t think she was listening.’

Q12. For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Connie must have Jim’s letter for a long time as she mentions to the author how she used to read the letter everyday so that she could feel his presence.

Q13. Why do you think the desk was sold and when?

Ans. The desk might have been sold after Connie’s house had caught fire and destroyed most part of her house. After the fire Connie was taken to the nursing home.

Q14. Why do Jim and Hans think that games or sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree.

Ans. Jim and Hans thought that games or sports are good ways for resolving conflict because nobody dies in matches, no children become orphaned and no wives become widows. Wars only brought loss to life and property. I do agree with them as it is probably the best way to resolve conflict if the world nations agree and reach a consensus.

Q15. Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other or different from each other? Find evidence from the story to support your opinion.

Ans. The soldiers of the British and the German army were similar/ like each other. Both armies celebrated Christmas, they shared their food and drinks, spend time together laughing and signing Christmas songs. They played a football match in the no man’s land and felt that sports are the best way to resolve conflicts. Behind their different uniforms, they were human beings having similar feeling about war and they looked forward to a peaceful life with their families.

Q16. Mention the various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends and find things in common at Christmas.

Ans. On the cold and frosty Christmas morning, the British and the German soldiers celebrated the Christmas together. They shared their food and drinks, spend time together laughing and signing Christmas songs. Jim shared the Connie’s marzipan with Hans and talked about Bathsheba, Sergeant Troy and Dorset. They talked about their favourite books. Both the troops, even played a friendly match of football in the no man’s land.

Q17. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it ‘the best Christmas present in the world’?

Ans. When the author came to return the letter to Connie, she mistook him to be her husband, due to memory loss and old age. She thought as mentioned in the letter, Jim had come back home to celebrate Christmas with her and she was extremely happy seeing him.