Before you read (page 9)
Do you know which events the dates below refer to?
(a) 4 July 1776 -- Declaration of American Independence
(b) 17 December 1903 -- Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first flight in the air for 12 seconds and 120 feet.
(c) 6 August 1945 -- An Atom Bomb was dropped on Hiroshima in Japan.
(d) 30 January 1948 -- Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated.
(e) 12 April 1961 -- Yuri A. Gagarin became the first to orbit the planet earth.
(f) 20 July 1969 -- Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon.
Comprehension Check ( page 10 )
1. What did the author find in the junk shop?
Ans:-The author found an old roll-top desk made of oak in the junk shop. It had scorch marks all around, and one of its legs was repaired a little.
2. What did he find in a secret drawer? Who do you think had put it in there?
Ans:-The author found a small black tin-box in a secret drawer. A letter was kept in the box properly. On the top of the letter was a piece of lined and sello-taped notepaper. On the notepaper someone scribbled these words. "Jim's last letter, received January 25, 1915. to be buried with me when time comes." The address on the envelope indicates exactly the same address of Mrs. Jim Macpherson (wife of Jim Macpherson). So I think Mrs. Jim Macpherson had put it in there.
Comprehension Check (page 14)
1.Who had written the letter to whom, and when?
Ans:-Jim Macpherson a captain of the British Army had written the letter to his wife Connie on December 26, 1914.
2. Why was the letter written – what was the wonderful thing that had happened?
Ans:-The letter was written to express unprecedented incidents took place on the Christmas day of 1914. The soldiers of both British and German Army forgot their enmity and joined their hands together to celebrate Christmas Day. It was a wonderful experience, experienced by Jim Macpherson. They eat, drank and played together wishing Merry Christmas. Jim Macpherson wanted to share his happiness with his wife Connie conveying that everything was right on the border. He wanted to inform her that he was about to meet her very soon.
3. What jobs did Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson have when they were not soldiers?
Ans:-Hans Wolf's job was to play Cello in the orchestra, whereas Jim Macpherson was a teacher in Dorset when they were not soldiers.
4. Had Hans Wolf ever been to Dorset? Why did he say he knew it?
Ans:-No, Hans wolf had not ever been to Dorset. He was fond of reading books of Hardy. He went through "Far From The Madding Crowd" and got the ideas about it through the book. So he said that he knew very well about Dorset.
5. Do you think Jim Macpherson came from the war? How do you know this?
Ans:-I think Jim Macpherson did not come from the war. Connie (his wife) wrote, "Jim's last letter, received, to be buried with me when the time comes". These words prove that the information about the death of her husband Jim Macpherson, was known to Connie. This is how I know this.
Comprehension Check (page 15)
1. Why did the author go to Bridport?
Ans:-The author went to Bridport to hand over a very important letter to Mrs. Jim Macpherson which she had kept carefully as her remembrance.
2. How old was Mrs. Macpherson now? Where was she?
Ans:-Mrs.Macpherson was 101 years old now. She was now in the nursing home at Burlington House.
Comprehension Check (page 16)
1. Who did Connie Macpherson think the visitor was?
Ans:-Connie Macpherson thought the visitor was Jim Macpherson, (her husband).
2. Which sentence in the text shows that the visitor did not try to hide his identity?
Ans:-The sentences in the text "I explained about the desk, about how I found it" show that the visitor did not try to hide his identity.
Working with the text (page 16)
1.For how long do you think Connie had kept Jim’s letter? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:-Jim Macpherson wrote the letter on December 26,1914 and it was received by Connie on January 25, 1915. The then Jim was an army officer in the British Army. At the time Mrs. Macpherson was surely a young lady. Now she is 101 years old. So it is quite clear that Connie had kept the letter for a long time. It may be 70 years or more.
2. Why do you think the desk had been sold, and when?
Ans:-I think the desk had been sold because it was damaged and had burn mark on it. It might have been sold when her house along with its furniture was damaged badly. It was of no use.
3. Why do Jim and Hans think that games and sports are good ways of resolving conflicts? Do you agree?
Ans:-Jim and Hans think that games and sports are good ways of resolving conflicts. Both Jim and Hans are soldiers, both have seen the damages caused by war and conflicts. Both the soldiers are lover of human beings. They don't want to resolve the conflicts by damaging each other. They don't need any suffering caused by war. So they welcome games and sports to put forward their friendship and remove conflicts. They think that games and sports bring them peace and prosperity.
Yes, I agree that games and sports bring the people very close. This close relationship helps them resolve the conflicts between two countries and groups.
4. Do you think the soldiers of the two armies are like each other? Find evidence from story to support your answer.
Ans:-Yes I think that the two armies are like each other. Both armies fight for their countries. Both want peace to be maintained and their conflict to be resolved. They don't want any battle which can stop them returning from the battle field. They want immediate relief from the burden of war and so they mange to, use rum and play games affectionately. As a result,they hold their hands warmly to show their eagerness of pace and goodwill.
5. Mention the various ways in which British and the German soldiers become friends and find things common at Christmas.
Ans:-The various ways in which the British and the German soldiers become friends are as follows.
(i) The German soldiers initiated biding 'Merry Christmas' but the British soldiers thought their conduct to be a trick of the enemies. When the British soldiers saw them without arms they believed that it was not a trick. So the British soldiers also got ready to celebrate Christmas together. Both the British and German soldiers shook their hands warmly to show their real affection.
(ii)They shared their rum and foods, play together, sang their carol and at last they behave in a way that both were ready to resolve war and conflict very soon. They wanted to meet their families. They talked about their past lives and experiences very friendly.
6. What is Connie’s Christmas present? Why is it the best Christmas present in the world?
Ans:- Connie's Christmas present is the letter. It was the best Christmas present in the world for her because she thought the author to be her husband who had come with the letter which was kept for a long time. The then she was not well enough to sense reality, so she said it was the best Christmas present in the world. Also, she kissed the author thinking that her husband came to her life after all.
7. Do you think the title of the story is suitable for it? Can you think of any other title?
Ans:-Yes, I think the title of the story is suitable for it. The story revolves round Christmas. A letter written by a husband has become the best Christmas present in the world. It is quite evident that a husband for his wife is more important than her life. When a wife gets her husband after such a long time she thinks she has got her life. So in the story both the letter and the Christmas have a reciprocal relationship which makes the title appropriate. "A Christmas Letter" may be another title for the story.
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