NCERT English - Class 6

A Pact With The Sun

Chapter 10: A Strange Wrestling Match

Questions:

Part I

Question 1. What was Vijay Singh’ weakness? Which awkward situation did it push him into?

Answer:Vijay Singh was a wrestler. He was fond of boasting and it was his weakness. Vijay said he wanted to meet a ghost and teach him a lesson. This put him into an awkward situation where he has to actually meet a ghost.

Question 2. Was the old woman’s gift to Vijay Singh eccentric? Why?

Answer:No, the old woman’s gift to Vijay Singh was not an eccentric act. Her gift – an egg and a lump of salt helped Vijay to defeat the ghost. Though, Vijay cheated the ghost but it was done in order to save his own life.

Question 3. Why did Vijay Singh ask the ghost disguised as Natwar to come closer?

Answer:Vijay Singh asked the ghost disguised as Natwar to come closer so that he could make an estimate of his enemy. He wanted to analyse his enemy’s strength.

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Question 4. What made the ghost speechless? Why?

Answer:Vijay Singh told the ghost that he was fed up of wrestling with men. He wanted to fight with a ghost for thrill and action. This statement made the ghost speechless because people are usually very afraid of ghosts and this man wanted to fight with a ghost.

Question 5. Why did Vijay Singh say “Appearances can be deceptive”?

Answer:The ghost doubted Vijay Singh’s strength and potential as a wrestler. The ghost told Vijay that he did not appear to be a strong man. This made Vijay say that appearances could be deceptive. He was ready to display his strength in front of the ghost.

Part II

Question 1. How did Vijay Singh use the egg? How did he use the lump of salt?

Answer:Vijay Singh told the ghost to crush a piece of rock. The ghost could not crush it. Vijay demonstrated his strength by crushing what the ghost thought was a piece of rock. Vijay actually crushed an egg in the darkness to fool the ghost. Then he told the ghost to crush another stone which contains salt. The ghost could not crush the stone for the second time. Vijay took out the lump of salt and crushed it, conquering the ghost through cheating twice.

Question 2. Why did Vijay Singh conclude that the ghost would not be a worthy opponent to him? Was he fair in his judgement?

Answer:Vijay Singh concluded that the ghost could not be a worthy opponent because he defeated the ghost twice. He told the ghost to crush a piece of rock two times. The ghost could not be successful. Vijay demonstrated his strength by crushing what the ghost thought was a piece of rock. Vijay actually crushed an egg and a lump of salt in the darkness to fool the ghost. No, Vijay was not fair in his judgement because he conquered the ghost by playing tricks with him.

Question 3. Why did Vijay Singh ask the ghost to accompany him to town next day?

Answer:Vijay Singh wanted to show off that he was not afraid of ghosts and has conquered a ghost in wrestling. He wanted to display his trophy of victory to the people of his village so he asked the ghost to accompany him next day.

Question 4. What made the ghost believe Vijay Singh was dead?

Answer:The ghost planned to kill Vijay Singh but he slipped off his bed at proper time and placed a bolster on the bed. The ghost struck the bolster with a stout club seven times. The ghost could not hear any groan and believed that Vijay was dead.

Question 5. Vijay Singh complained of insects in the cave. What was he referring to and why?

Answer:Vijay Singh referred to the ghost, while complaining of insects in the cave. As the ghost struck Vijay with a stout club seven times, he compared it with flappings of the insect wings to insult the ghost. Vijay Singh wanted to prove that he was more powerful than the ghost so he was taunting over the ghost’s action.

Question 6. Was it really a ghost who Vijay Singh befooled? Who do you think it was?

Answer:No, it was not really a ghost whom Vijay Singh befooled. Nobody could see a ghost. A ghost is capable of crushing anyone. Ghosts neither live in caves, nor eat dry fruits. They don’t need to acquire wealth. They did not panic and run away in fear. The ghost in the story was a robber who just wanted to rob and kill people. He was scaring people in the name of a ghost.