2nd PUC English Textbook Answers Too Dear!
Here in this page we have given Springs English Textbook for 2nd Year Pre University Course (2nd PUC) Solution for Chapter 2 Too Dear!. Here 2nd PUC English Textbook Answers full Solution by Teachers.
Comprehension I
1.) Why was ‘Monaco’ called a toy kingdom?
Ans. Monaca was a small kingdom with only population of seven thousand people so it was called a toy kingdom.
2.) Name the commodities taxed in Monaco?
Ans. The commodities taxed in Monaca were tobacco, wine, spirits and a poll-tax.
3.) What was the source of the king’s special revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
Ans. The source of the king’s special revenue was from a gaming house. The Prince of Monaco, his courtiers and officials were its beneficiaries.
4.) Why did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit Monaco?
Ans. The Germans forbade gaming houses in their country because it made men to try their luck. It made men risk all things they had and lose it. In the case of despair, they would drown or shoot themselves. In Monaco, the money received from the gaming house was major revenue for the prince so it benefitted the king of Monaco.
5.) What was the punishment given to the murderer?
Ans. Initially the murdered was given the punishment of death sentence and later life imprisonment.
6.) The death sentence was converted into life imprisonment because carrying out death sentence was expensive.
7.) How much did the king spend annually on the criminal?
Ans. 600 Francs.
8.) On what condition did the criminal agree to do away from the prison? How was his demand fulfilled?
Ans. The criminal agreed to do away from the prison on one condition of paying him 600 Francs as annual pension. His demand was fulfilled to avoid the burden on the shoulders of the Prince.
Comprehension II
1.) Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to it?
Ans. The king of Monaco ruled a tiny kingdom that had population of only seven thousand people. He was a real kinglet and he had a palace, countries, ministers, bishops, generals and an army which he had to look after. The sources of income he had were sufficient to pay it to everyone and this is why he earned revenue from a gambling house. He knew that the gambling is a dirty business which risked lives of the people, but he had no other choice but to collect from this business as it fulfilled the money needs of the people who were with him.
2.) Why did the king of Monaco keep changing his mind in dealing with the criminal?
Ans. Initially the punishment for the criminal was of death sentence but the only hitch in the matter was that they had neither a guillotine nor an executioner. Then the matter was discussed in the ministers and a letter was sent to the French government to lend the machine and inform its cost. It would cost them 16,000 francs which was too much to spend for them. Then the letter was sent to Italian government to lend the machine and a expert. The Italian government asked to pay less than French government, i.e.12,000 francs, but it still was expensive for the king of the Monaco. Again the matter was discussed by considering one the soldiers to cut the criminal’s head. But the soldier couldn’t do it. Then they took the decision of changing the punishment to life imprisonment. But soon the king realized that the punishment cost him more than he expected. Finally to get rid away from him, the criminal was paid pension of 600 francs annually.
3.) Why was the criminal reluctant to go out of the prison?
Ans. The criminal was reluctant to go out of the prison because he felt that the changing in the punishment ruined his character and people would turn their backs on him. Also he had lost his way of working.
4.) How did the criminal lead his life after his release?
Ans. After his release, the criminal received one-third of his annuity in advance. Then he bought a bit of land across the frontier and started market-gardening. In this way, he lived his life comfortably.
Comprehension III
1.) ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour.’ Justify with reference to the story.
Ans. By just an honest means of earning, one cannot go beyond a certain limit. The king of Monaco had many people to feed. What he earned from the tax was a lit amount in which he had to take care of many people. The revenue he earned from the gambling house was more than enough which was major source of income not just for him but also for the other people. If one has to go beyond certain limits, one has to start other ways of income too, which might not be an honest ones. For the sake of the people and kingdom, and its maintenance, he had no other choice but to retort to dirty business like gambling.
2.) Though the trail and imprisonment of the criminal is depicted in a comic mode in this story, it does give rise to serious questions. What are they?
Ans. Though the events in the story are quite humorous, it does raise serious questions on the law and order of the kingdom. How can a criminal get pension for the wrong act he did? Was not there any other punishment for him?
3.) Were there other ways of dealing with the criminal? Discuss in the light of the story.
Ans. Unemployment raises the chances of criminal rates in the society. The man didn’t do anything and gambled. This led to a series of serious things that make the whole kingdom think over it. If there was a ban on such gambling houses, obviously it would not allow such people to such illegal activity and risk their and others lives. He could have given some serious work to do rather than giving him pension and lead a happy life.
Vocabulary
Look at the following sets of sentences. The possible meanings of the homonyms used are given in brackets. Match them.
1.) a.) The valedictory address of the Chief guest impressed everyone. (Speech)
b.) She made a mistake in writing the address.(Location)
2.) a. The poor man’s mind was full of worry. (Thoughts)
b.) Do you mind passing the jam? (to be upset or annoyed)
3.) a. The soldier gave a complete account of the prisoner’s escape. (Description)
b.) The officer checked the ledger account. (Financial record)
4.) a. He went to the ATM to draw some money. (Take out)
b.) The teachers draw pictures on the blackboard. (Sketch)
c.) Don’t draw hasty conclusions without ample proof. (Infer)
d.) The offer of free balloons draws children to the park. (Attract)