ENGLISH-1ST PAPER- PROSE(XI) CHAPTER-1

Lesson -1

                                            My Struggle for An Education            - Brooker T. Washington

 Short answer types questions:

Q 1.) Who were talking about an unusually good school? Where did the writer hear them?

                                                                    OR

          From whom did Washington learn about the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute?

Ans.) The two miners were talking about a good school. The writer heard them while working in the coal

           mine.

Q 2.) Where was the school for coloured people situated?

Ans.) The school for coloured people was situated in Hampton Virginia.(U.S.A)

Q 3.) What was the full name of the school?

Ans.) The full name of the school was Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, Virginia.

Q 4.) When did Washington make up his mind to go to Hampton?

Ans.) The writer made up this mind to go to Hampton after the fall of 1872.

Q 5.) What was the only ambition of the writer?

Ans.) The only ambition of the writer was to go to Hampton and joined the school.

Q 6.) What fear did the author’s mother have?

                                                                    OR

          What was the author’s mother afraid of?

Ans.)  The author’s mother was afraid of her son’s educational plan. She thought that her son was starting                     out on a wild goose-chase.

Q 7.) Why was the author sad on leaving his mother?

Ans.) The author was sad on leaving his mother because, she was ill and weak at that time. He hardly expected to see her again.

Q 8.) Who gave the author money to meet his expenses on clothes and journey?

Ans.) The author’s elder brother (john) gave him money to meet his expenses on clothes and journey.

Q 9.) How for was Hampton from Malden?

Ans.) The distance from Malden to Hampton about 500 miles.

Q 10.) What problems did the author face when he reached Richmond?

Ans.) The writer faced many problems after reaching Richmond. He had no money there ,He was hungry and tired. He did not know the way of city. Due to the lack ness of money, No one gave him food to

eat and place to stay.

Q 11.) How did the writer reach Richmond?

Ans.) By walking and begging rides, both in Wagons and in the car after a number of days. He reached Richmond city.

Q 12.) Why was Washington very unhappy on reaching Richmond?

Ans.) The writer was very unhappy on reaching Richmond city because he was a stranger in that city. it was a very big city and he was quite alone there. He was tired and hungry too.

Q 13.) How much money did the author have on reaching Hampton?

Ans.) The author saved 50 cents on reaching Hampton.

Q 14.) Why could the writer not make a favorable impression upon the head teacher?

Ans.) The writer could not make a good impression upon the head teacher because He was hungry and dirty.

            He was also without bathe and changing of cloth.

Q 15.) Why did the author received the order with great delight ?

Ans .) The writer received the order with great delight because he thought that by cleaning of that room he

           Could please the teacher .This order also gave him a chance of admission to school.             

Q 16.) What exactly was Washington’s college examination and why?

Ans.)   The sweeping of music room was the college examination for the writer it was just like his test .It was also a test of his courage and wisdom. He showed his true wisdom and passed it. Then he got admission there.

Long answer types question:

Q 1.) What difficulties did the author face to achieve his aim of life on the way to Hampton?

                                                                    OR

What is the moral of the lesson ‘My Struggle for an Education ,?

                                                                    OR

What lesson do you learn from the from the essay ‘My Struggle For An Education’ ?

Ans.) ‘My Struggle For An Education’ is a very useful lesson by Brooker T. Washington.

The writer was a poor negro boy. He worked in a coal mine. But he had a strong desire for education. One day he heard two miners were talking about a great school for coloured people. He at once made up his mind to go there. This was the only aim of his life.

                  To get success in his aim he has to face many difficulties. His mother was weak and sick. She was not ready to send him on a long way(Hampton). But any how he took her permission and started his journey. He had a small bag and little money given by his brother(John).

                  By walking and begging rides, both in wagons and in the cars, he  reached Richmond city. It was a very big city. There he was tired, hungry and dirty. He was moneyless and friendless there. No one helped him as he had no money. He passed his night under a footpath. Next day he worked on a ship and took his breakfast. He did not loose his courage at any time.

                  After saving some money he again started his journey for Hampton. When he reached there he presented himself before the head teacher. She was not impressed with his look. As he was very dirty. She ordered him to clean a music room.

                  The writer cleaned the room with great love and labour. The head teacher was much impressed with his nice work. She at once allowed him for the admission.

Thus the writer got success in his aim of life. Though he has to face  many difficulties on the way. He proved-‘Nothing is impossible in the world, if a man has strong will power. And poverty is no bar to success.’

                                                                    Explanation

1. I had only………………………………………………………………………..through it all.

Reference: These lines have been taken from the lesson ‘My Struggle For An Education’ written by  Brooker T. Washington.

Context : Here the writer has told us that what problems did he face in his aim of  life and how he get success in his aim.

Explanation:  The writer says that he had only a few things to take with him like his clothes which he put in to a cheap school bag. He also says that at that time his mother was so weak and in so poor health that he did not hope her to survive for long. For this he had to leave her with a heavy heart. But his mother faced the parting with courage and showed no sign of sadness.

2. I was one………………………………………………………………………… I ever passed……..

Reference-context: previous.

Explanation: when the writer cleaned the music room, the head teacher impressed with his delightful work. And she gave the permission to him to enter in the institution. After that the writer says that he was the happiest sprite on the earth. The sweeping of that room was his first and thrilling college examination. The decision of the head teacher about his admission was the greatest event in his life. He thought himself as in the heaven. He felt himself one of the happiest man in the world.

                                                                    Comprehension

1. The next morning…………………………………………………………………ever eaten.

 Q .1) How did the writer feel when he got up next morning?

Ans.) The writer felt himself  refreshed but hungry when he got up next morning.

Q .2) What request did the writer make to the captain of the ship?

Ans.) The writer requested the captain of the ship to allow him to unload the ship.

Q .3) Describe the captain of the ship.

Ans.) The captain of the ship was kind- hearted white man.

Q .4) How did the writer like his breakfast and why?

Ans.) The writer liked his breakfast very much because he was very hungry and he got it after working hard.

Q .5) What was being unloaded from the large ship?

Ans.) A cargo of pig iron was being unloaded from the ship.

2. When I had saved enough………………………………………………………..new life.

Q .1) When did the writer thank the captain?

Ans.) The writer thanked the captain when he had earned enough money to reach Hampton.

Q .2) What was the amount of money with which the writer reached Hampton?

Ans.) The writer reached Hampton with an amount of fifty cents.

Q .3) What rewarded the writer for all he had undergone?

Ans.) The first sight of the beautiful school building rewarded the writer for all he had undergone.

Q .4) What gave a new life to the author?

Ans.) The sight of the Hampton school gave a new life to the author.

Fill in the blanks

1. To reach the moon is not a bed of roses.

2. In spite of having no money, I was on fire to go to London.

3. In good colleges an assignment is given to the student seeking admission.

4. During the days of practical examinations most of the students linger about their teacher.

5. The author over heard some miners talking about Hampton institute.

6. In Delhi there are many buildings more  pretentious that the buildings of meerut .

7. The author saw the head teacher admitting other students.

8. The author resolved at once to go to school.

9. The school was more pretentious that the little colured school in our toun.

10. In spite of having no money, Washington on fire to go to Hampton.