Word Meaning
1. seemed - looked
like, appeared
2. absorbed - suck,
take in
3. pretending -
acting, showing off
4. infuriated -
angered
5. extent - limit
6. crazy - silly,
mad
7. huddled -
gathered
8. wandered about -
moved around
9. hedge -
boundary, fence
10. maze - a network
of paths design to puzzle
11. plucked up
courage - regaining confidence and courage
12. procession - a
line of people moving forward in an orderly direction
13. impostor - a
fraud
14. unanimity -
agreement among everyone
15. trailed after -
followed
16. consulted -
looked up for information
17. at length - for a
long time
18. mob - large crowd
of disorderly people
19. confused whirl -
dizzy with confusion
20. grasping - understanding
A. Choose the right option to complete these sentences.
1. Harris thought the best way of walking through a maze was
a.
to keep taking the first turn to the left.
b.
to keep taking the first turn to the right.
c.
to follow the keeper.
c. to refer to the map that he had with him.
Answer: b. to keep taking the first turn to the right.
2. We know that Harris was confident about exiting the maze because
a.
he whistled while he walked.
b.
he told the baby not to be afraid.
c.
he told other people to follow him.
d. he had done so before.
Answer: c. he told other people to follow him.
3. Harris was called an imposter because
a.
he had taken money from all the others.
b.
he had pretended to know his way around the maze.
c.
they were all trapped in the maze.
d. the keeper had to rescue them.
Answer: b. he had pretended to know his way around the maze.
4. The young keeper who came to rescue them
a.
became angry with Harris.
b.
could not get to them.
c.
went away for lunch.
d. got lost himself.
Answer: b. could not get to them.
B. Answer these questions.
1. Why did Harris go to the maze?
Harris took his country cousin and went in the maze just to tell everyone that they had been there.
2. Why did the people in the maze pluck up courage at the sight of Harris?
The people in the maze plucked up courage because Harris had told them that they could follow him if they wished to get out of the maze.
3. Why was it useless to consult the map?
The map would not be useful because no one knew whereabouts in it they were then.
4. How do we know that they were walking in circles?
They were all walking straight ahead without taking any turn. Still, they reached in the same place. This is possible only if they walk in a circle.
5. Why did Harris feel that he had become unpopular?
People called him impostor, many stopped following him and stayed back wherever they were. Finally, when he took out the map, the sight of it infuriated the mob. These are all the signs of Harris becoming unpopular.
C. Think and answer.
1. Why is it difficult to find your way in a maze? Illustrate your answer with Harris's experience.
A maze consists of several paths that appear very similar. And this construction easily confuses people who enter inside the maze. Due to this people most often keep taking round and round reaching nowhere.
2. Harris who was welcomed at the beginning was quite unpopular towards the end. Discuss why.
In the beginning, Harris presented himself as if he knows how to get out of the maze. Therefore people who were tired of making attempt; believed easily when he assured them a way out. But ultimately they all came to know Harris himself was lost and would not be able to take them out.
3. What are your impressions of Harris after reading about him in this extract?
Harris was an over-confident and humorous person. He boasts himself and tells about his abilities.He tries to present himself as the knower of everything and puts himself into the centre of confusion. Even then he easily does not accept his folly and makes fool of himself. However, the readers find him very interesting due to this nature of Harris.
D. Discuss in class.
It is good to be sure of our own capabilities before we try to lead others. Explain this with reference to the story.
It
might be true but again I think it depends according to the situation. First of
all, is the person reliable or whose capability we are speaking about. Say or
example in this story, Harris is very sure about taking the people out of the
maze and he himself goes in. But eventually, he leans it is too complicated and
he cannot help anyone, rather he himself needs help.
Therefore I think it is best to know our own capabilities and also to know the context or the situation in which our abilities are required.
---:THE END:---