AHSEC| CLASS 12| ALTERNATIVE ENGLISH| CHAPTER - 1| THE VERGER| SOLVED QUESTIONS FOR 3 MARK EACH| H.S. 2ND YEAR

THE VERGER

Solved questions for 3 mark each:

(A) SHORT ANSWER:

1. What did Verger do with her old gown?

Ans: Verger loved his gowns because he considered them a dignified symbol of his office. He never threw away his old gowns but kept them in the bottom drawer of his wardrobe. Wrapped in brown paper. They had a whole range of vintage gowns like this one.

2. What was the talent of the new pastor?

Ans: The new clergy, who represented an educated modern generation, had a special talent for handling babies. He could almost always silence a crying child with his way of holding it. He could easily cradle the child in his outstretched arm and it was a source of suppressed pride for him.

3. Why did Verger remember the past priest?

Ans: Verger remembered the previous priest because Albert had a good relationship with him and had no complaints about his abilities.

4. What were the most extraordinary circumstances mentioned by the pastor?

Ans: The 'most extraordinary circumstances' cited by the priest were that Verger was illiterate. He could neither read nor write. He had been visiting St Peter's Neville Square for sixteen years and had never learned to read and write. Then he neglected his years of dedicated service on the ground of his illiteracy.

5. What was Verger's reaction to the priest's sudden disclosure of his shortcomings?

Ans: When the priest exposed Verger’s 'deficiency', i.e., his illiteracy, the priest's eligibility was challenged. Verger was shocked but reacted without embarrassment. He stuck to his opinion that despite having no formal education, he could always manage things very well. Verger’s face turned red and he felt uneasy, yet he did not argue. He declined the offer to read and write only and preferred to resign, believing it was too late to learn. He maintained his dignity.

6. Why couldn't Verger learn the alphabet when he was little?

Ans: Verger could not learn the alphabet when he was young because he went into service at the early age of twelve. At first the cook tried to teach him but during that time Albert was not used to it. Later he got plenty of time to learn the alphabet. Furthermore, he never felt lacking as it seemed that he could do very well without education. So due to lack of time and enthusiasm, Wager could not learn the alphabet when he was young.

7. What decision did the priest take regarding Verger? What kind of person was the new pastor?

Ans: The priest decreed that Verger must learn the alphabet within three months or else he would lose his job as he could not tolerate some of the mishaps caused by his lamentable ignorance. It was a matter of conscience as well as principle.

The new pastor, a red-faced energetic man in his forties, represented the educated modern generation. He was a stern man who wanted to be involved in all matters of the church with the least amount of generosity. He was a man who kept his pride and vanity intact.

8. Why can't a new pastor be expected to blend in completely? With the fashionable parishioners of St. Peter's? domestic

Ans: The new priest could not be expected to blend in fully with the fashionable parishioners of St Peter's as he always maintained his pride and arrogance as he came from the East End. The new pastor was a strict man, so he was not immediately impressed by the discreet ways of his fashionable congregation.

9. Where was Verger serving before starting work at St. Peter's?

Ans: Verger began his career as a page boy in the household of a merchant prince, for a year he worked alone as a butler for a widowed peer. He then worked as a butler in a retired ambassador's house with two men under him, and eventually he joined St. Peter's Church as a priest.

10. What is Verger's opinion about reading?

Ans: According to Verger he could manage everything well even without education. Formal education is not of much importance in real life. A lot of time of young fellows is wasted in reading when they could have done some useful work. In his opinion, instead of education, practical thinking, hard work and dedication are the keys to success in life.

11. What condition did the priest and the two church wardens put forward to Verger?

Ans: The condition put forward to Verger by the priest and two church wardens was that the priest would have to learn the alphabet within three months. Failing to do so, he would lose his job as they could not tolerate an accident caused by his blatant ignorance.

12. What was Verger’s response to the condition put forward by the priest?

Ans: The priest put a condition before Verger that he must learn the alphabet within three months, but Verger refused the condition saying that he was too old a dog to learn new tricks. He could not learn the alphabet when he was young, much less likely to do so when he was older. Even he did not feel the need for it as he could handle all the matters very well even without education. He refused to accept the condition and preferred to resign believing that it was too late to learn at that level.

13. What reason did the priest give for the decision to relieve the priest of his duties at St Peter's?

Ans: The new clergy, representing the educated modern generation, found Verger's position of illiteracy impossible. He said that he has the highest regard for both his character and ability. Still, he could not afford any mishap because of his abject ignorance. It was a matter of conscience as well as principle. Furthermore, a church such as St Peter's Neville Square could not have a clergyman who could neither read nor write.

14. What answer did Albert Foreman give to his wife about his business?

Ans: Albert Foreman's wife did not like his business as a tobacco salesman because it had gone into dire straits after St. Peter's closed. So, Albert replied to his wife that everyone must move with the times. The church had changed over time. That is why they also had to keep pace with the changing situation.

15. Why did the manager of the bank want to meet the foreman, Albert?

Ans: Verger was earning money from hand to hand and kept the money in the bank. So, the manager of the bank wanted to meet Verger to talk about the money deposited in the bank. He also wanted to suggest her to invest her money as she had saved a huge amount in the bank.

16. What suggestion did the manager give to Albert Foreman?

Ans: The manager suggested to Albert Foreman to invest a part of his savings in buying securities which would fetch a very high rate of interest. Albert did not want to take the risk. The manager told him that there was no reason to worry as he would create an inventory of gilt-edged securities.

17. Why did Albert Foreman get upset when he heard about stocks and shares?

Ans: Albert Foreman was troubled to hear about stocks and shares because he was hesitant to invest his money, even though the bank manager had assured him of gilt-edged securities. Since Verger was quite a simple person, he never had anything to do with stocks and shares. Also, he was illiterate, so he could not read papers related to the stock market and did not know what he was signing. He had to leave everything in the hands of the bank manager. All these things related to shares and stocks used to bother him.

18. Explain what is meant by 'render to Caesar what Caesar has earned a handful of money'?

Ans: The phrase "to render to Caesar what was Caesar's" means to do one's duty with honesty and dedication. According to the Bible, it means giving worldly possessions to those who belong to them. The idiom 'to earn money hand over fist' means to make or earn a large amount of money in a limited amount of time or in a very short period.

19. Surprised to learn that Albert Foreman had amassed a lot of wealth without any education, what did the bank manager ask him?

Ans: Verger was making money hand over fist and keeping the money in the bank. When the bank manager learned that Verger had amassed thousands of pounds of wealth without studying, he was astounded. They asked him if he meant that he had set up that important business and amassed wealth worth thousands without being educated. He further asked him what would happen if he became educated.

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