Finish Line & Beyond

The Best Christmas Present in the World

The Ant and The Cricket

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 Finish Line & Beyond

The Best Christmas Present in The World

1. What did the author find in a junk shop?

Answer: The author found a roll-top desk made of oak wood in the junk shop. It
was badly out of shop and needed lots of repair. But as a new one would have cost
him a fortune he thought of buying it.

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

Answer: The author found a letter written by a person named Jim. It was Jim’s last
letter to the recipient Mrs. Macpherson. So, there is every likelihood that Mrs. Macph-
erson had put it there.

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

Answer: Jim Macpherson had written the letter to his wife Mrs. Macpherson on dur-
ing December 1914. It was written during the First World War.

4. Why was the letter written — what was the wonderful thing that had
happened?

Answer: German and British army was fighting a battle. The soldiers were living in
their trenches to fight enemy. For soldiers writing and receiving letter was the only
way to be in touch with their family members. Nowadays telephone has taken over
the role of letters. Think how painful and wonderful it would have been to wait for
weeks for a letter to arrive. The wonderful thing was, in spite of enmity they celeb-
rated Christmas together. This shows that festivals are above all personal enmity. In
our country there is a saying that during Holi you should embrace your friends and
foes alike.

5. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not
soldiers?

Answer: Hans Wolf was a musician playing cello in an orchestra and Jim Macpherson
was a school teacher. During early 20th century it was common for people to get en-
rolled into army during wars. Even today certain countries, like Israel, make it man-
datory for all adults to serve in military for a certain period.

6. Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?

Answer: Hans Wolf had never been to Dorset. He was fond of reading books and
had good command over English language. He read so much about Dorset in books
that he was familiar with Dorset. That is why he said that he knew Dorset.

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

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 Finish Line & Beyond

Answer: The written statement on the letter saying that that was the last letter
from Jim and that should be buried with Mrs. Macpherson indicates that Jim didn’t
return from war.

8. Why did the author go to Bridport?

Answer: The author wanted to ensure that the letter should reach the real owner
and her last wish should be fulfilled. Even a criminal going to the guillotine is asked
his last wishes and efforts are taken to fulfill those wishes. The address written on
the envelope gave a hint to the author to try finding Mrs. Macpherson in Bridport.

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

Answer: Mrs. Macpherson was now over hundred years old. She was of the opinion
that electricity was costly so was using candles to lighten her home. Because of
candle her house caught fire and she was injured. She was getting treatment in a
nursing home.

10. Who did Connie Macpherson think her visitor was?

Answer: Mrs. Macpherson thought the author to be Jim himself. Probably her old
age, her poor health coupled with her sense of void after Jim’s death created such
hallucination for her.

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

Answer: Author’s statement about how he found the desk and ultimately the letter
shows that he did not try to hide his identity.

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 Finish Line & Beyond

The Ant and the Cricket

A silly young cricket, accustomed to sing
Through the warm, sunny months of gay summer and spring,
Began to complain when he found that, at home,
His cupboard was empty, and winter was come.
Not a crumb to be found
On the snow-covered ground;
Not a flower could he see,
Not a leaf on a tree.
“Oh! what will become,” says the cricket, “of me?”

This is a poem about a silly young cricket. The cricket used to enjoy his good times
during favourable season. But when the winter arrives the cricket cann’t find a
morsel to eat. Most animals are known to store some extra food which will last them
the bad weather. But the silly cockroach didn’t plan for the future.

At last by starvation and famine made bold,

All dripping with wet, and all trembling with cold,
Away he set off to a miserly ant,
To see if, to keep him alive, he would grant
Him shelter from rain,
And a mouthful of grain.
He wished only to borrow;
He’d repay it tomorrow;
If not, he must die of starvation and sorrow.

Now the silly cricket can foresee a bleak future ahead, so thinks of going to a miser
ant to borrow food and to get shelter. It plans to repay during favourable weather.

Says the ant to the

cricket, “I’m your servant
and friend,
But we ants never
borrow; we ants never
lend.
But tell me, dear cricket,
did you lay nothing by
When the weather was
warm?” Quoth the cricket,
“Not I!
My heart was so light
That I sang day and night,
For all nature looked gay.”
“You sang, Sir, you say?
Go then,” says the ant, “and dance the winter away.”

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 Finish Line & Beyond

Thus ending, he hastily lifted the wicket,

And out of the door turned the poor little cricket.
Folks call this a fable. I’ll warrant it true:
Some crickets have four legs, and some have two.

The ant gives a very important lesson of life during its conversation with the cricket.
Ant says that ants neither borrow from somebody nor lend to somebody. Ants are
hardworking creatures and save for the future. The ant asks the cricket what it was
doing during happier times. On hearing the cricket indulged in dancing and singing
and making merry, the ant asks the cricket to try dancing and singing once again
during rough times.

This is a good lesson for human beings as well. It is good to enjoy happy moments
but while doing so we should not ignore our future. Careful planning ensures a se-
cure future for everyone.

-- adapted from Aesop’s

Fables

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