Q1. Where did the narrator find the two young boys and what were they doing there?
Ans. The narrator and his driver found the two young boys on the foothills of the Alps. Those two were selling wild strawberries.
Q2. Why did the `cautious’ driver show his disapproval of the two small boys selling wild strawberries?
Ans. Driver showed his disapproval of buying those wild strawberries from them because he found it so unhygienic because of how shabby those two boys were dressed and he also thought that he can find better strawberries in Verona.
Q3.Describe the physical appearance of Nicola and Jacopo as they are described by the narrator.
Ans. Nicola was wearing a worn jersey and cut off khaki pants, Jacopo was in a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds around his skinny body. Both had brown skins, unevenly tangled hairs and dark earnest eyes and the younger one Jacopo was much shorter in height.
[pt_view id=”6d2a668jw4″]
Q4.Why were the narrator and Luigi surprised to see the boys in the public square? [Imp.]
Ans. Narrator and Luigi were surprised because they saw those kids selling strawberries on the outskirts of verona. They thought fruit selling was the only thing Nicola and Jacopo do for their living, so they were surprised to see the same boys bending over shoeshine boxes in the public square and doing a brisk business. They were surprised at the various works undertaken by the young boys to earn a living.
Q5. “We do many things, sir,” Nicola answered. Describe the various jobs undertaken by the boys to earn a living. [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The narrator thought that the small boys sold fruit only to earn a living. However, Nicola told him that they did many things. They sold fruit and hawked newspapers. They took the tourists out to their places of interest. They shined shoes and ran errands to make a living.
Q6.Describe the ‘remarkable demeanour‘ of the boys[ V.Imp•]
Ans. The two small boys had a ‘remarkable demeanour’. It provoked the interest of the narrator in them. They were childish enough and even artless. Jacopo was lively as a squirrel. Nicola’s smile was steady and engaging. However, their boyish faces betrayed a seriousness which was far beyond their years.
Q7. Draw the contrast between `’ childish ‘ and ‘artless’ faces and the ‘seriousness’ beyond their years visible on them. [ V.Imp•]
Ans. Both the boys were of a tender age. Outwardly their faces looked ‘boyish’ and ‘artless’. They were far from being clever or cunning. However, their responsibilities had made them mature much before their age. Hence, there was a seriousness far beyond their years and it was clearly visible on their faces.
Q8.How did Nicola and Jacopo prove extremely useful to the narrator and Luigi?
Ans. Nicola and Jacopo proved extremely useful to the narrator and Luigi. They could do many things for them. In the following weeks they used their services quite frequently. If they wanted a pack of American cigarettes, or seats for the opera or the name of a good restaurant, the boys to undertake any work were always ready quite willingly. They could be relied upon to satisfy their needs. Those two kids acted as a great guide for them.
Q9. Why were Nicola and Jacopo resting on a stone pavement beneath the lights on a windy night?
Ans. Nicola and Jacopo resting on a stone pavement because Nicola and Jacopo also used to sell newspapers to earn, one day their so many newspapers left unsold so they were waiting for the last bus from Padua to sell those to the travellers of that bus.
Q10. Why did Nicola smile ‘uncomfortably’ when the narrator asked them about their ‘future plans’? Why was Nicola evasive? [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The narrator thought that the two young boys were saving money to emigrate to America. Nicola replied that for the time being they had ‘other plans’ than going to the States. The narrator wanted to know about their future plans. Nicola was evasive on this question. He didn’t want a stranger to know their immediate family plans. They saved money to pay for the treatment of their ailing sister. Hence, he was evasive and only uttered “Just Plans, sir” and smiled uncomfortably.
Q11. Luigi might have Sunday off. Even then why did the narrator agree to drive them to Poleta?
Ans. The narrator told the boys that they were leaving Verona on Monday. He asked if he could do anything for them before going. Nicola remained silent but Jacopo burst out. He asked if he could drive them to Poleta, 30 kilometre’s from Verona on Sunday. The narrator knew that Luigi might have the Sunday off. He was highly impressed by the sincerity and devotion of the boys. He agreed to drive them himself to Poleta on Monday.
Q12.Did Nicola like Jacopo’s asking the narrator to drive them to Poleta on the coming Sunday? If not, why did he glare his brother in vexation?
Ans. Both the boys were self-respecting and hardly looked for favours persons. However, Jacopo, the younger brother showed a little weakness. He got ready to take a little favour from the narrator. The narrator asked if he could do anything for them before leaving Verona on Monday. The younger brother was tempted to ask if he could drive them to Poleta on Sunday. The self respecting and proud Nicola didn’t relish it. He didn’t want to take favour or put others in trouble for them. He looked glaringly at Jacopo in vexation.
Q13.Where did the two passengers leap from the narrator’s car and disappear? Why didn’t they take the narrator with them? [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The narrator was asked to stop the car before a large red-roofed villa at a tiny village. The two passengers, Nicola and Jacopo leaped from the cat. They promised to come back only in an hour. They disappeared beyond the corner of the wall. They didn’t take the narrator with them. They didn’t want to share their reason of earning and family’s secrecy with a stranger. They preferred to keep their secrets to themselves.
Q14. Why couldn’t the narrator scarcely believe his eyes and was out of breath when the boys stopped at a large red-roofed villa at Poleta?
Ans. The narrator couldn’t scarcely believe his eyes and was out of breath when the boys stopped at a large red-roofed villa at Poleta because the narrator had hoped to stop before a small house but it was totally opposite of what he thought.
Q15. What did the narrator see when he looked through the glass partition? .
Ans Through the glass partition he saw the two boys seated at the bedside of a girl. The girl propped on the pillows listening to their chatter, later the narrator realized that it was their ill sister.
Q16. Why did the nurse put her fingers to her lips? Why did she ask the narrator to go in after some time?
Ans. The nurse took the narrator to the door of a little cubicle. Reaching there she paused and put her fingers to her lips. She asked the narrator to look only through the glass partition. The ailing girl Lucia was talking to her brothers sitting at the bedside. The nurse didn’t want to alarm them. She assessed the situation and allowed the narrator to go in after some time.
Q17. Why didn’t the narrator go in to see the boys and their sister in the cubicle inspite of the nurse’s insistence on it?
Ans. The nurse asked the narrator to go inside as Lucia would be pleased to see him. But the narrator dropped the idea of going inside. He shook his head and turned away. He didn’t want to intrude upon that happy family party and privacy.
Q18. Describe how the war destroyed Nicola and Jacopo’s family and made them homeless. [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The war brought disaster and ruin for Nicola and Jacopo. Their father, a widower and well-known singer, had been killed in the early part of the war. A bomb destroyed their home. They were homeless and orphans. They had tough times and remained without food and shelter for long. Nicola and Jacopo had no one to call their own except their sister Lucia.
Q19.Why did the boys grow to hate the Germans? [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The Germans were responsible for their ruin. They brought trouble for their family. Their father, a well-known singer, died in the early part of the War. Their mother had died much earlier. The bombing destroyed their house. The Germans occupied the city for three years. The boys hated the G. “mans. They were among the first to Join the resistance movement against the Germans.
Q20. How did they meet their sister and in what condition did they find her? [Imp.]
Ans. The war had separated them. When they came back to their sister after the war was over they find that Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
Q21. Describe Lucia’s illness and her progress in the hospital.
Ans. Lucia, the beloved sister of Nicola and Jacopo suffered from a terrible disease. She was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. Her brothers moved her to the hospital and she lay there as a patient. She had made good progress within those twelve months. It was hoped that she would walk and sing again one day.
Q22.What did Nicola and Jacopo do for her ailing sister? How could they manage to pay off the hospital bills? [ V.Imp•]
Ans. Nicola and Jacopo did everything to make her ailing sister comfortable and happy. Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They got her admitted in a hospital. They visited her on Sunday every week. They worked very hard and did all kinds of jobs such as shining shoes, selling fruits and newspapers to earn money to pay off their sister’s medical bills. They never gave up and regularly arranged the money to pay the bills.
Q23. Why did the narrator not say a word to Nicola and Jacopo during their return journey to Verona? Why did the boys sit beside him without speaking?
Ans. The narrator didn’t say a word to Nicola and Jacopo while returning to Verona because he knew it well that they would prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret. He didn’t want to share their family secrets and embarrass them. Meanwhile the boys didn’t speak anything when they were returning because they were unwilling to make public their personal sufferings.
Q.24. Nicola said to the narrator, ••Waiting for the last bus from Padua. we shall sell all our papers, when it comes in.” Why were the boys waiting for the last bus?
Ans. : Both the brothers — Nicola and Jacopo were desperate to make as much money as possible to provide medical care for their sister Lucia, who was undergoing treatment for T.B. They worked late at night and were waiting for the last bus to sell the unsold newspapers.
Q.25. Why did the two boys survive only on black bread and figs, despite making a decent earning?
Ans. : The boys did not wish to spend any money on them. They just ate the minimum required for survival. Lucia’s treatment was expensive so they willingly gave away all the money they earned for her recuperation. Their own misery or poverty did not mean anything to the boys.
Q.26. Why does the narrator make an offer for help to the two buys? What does it entail?
Ans.: The narrator was very impressed by the hard work and zest exhibited by the two brothers. His visit was coming to an end, so the narrator offered help as the last sign of goodwill. Jacopo requested the narrator to take them to Poleta, which was 30 km away. Since the narrator had already given the day off to his driver, he volunteered to drive the boys himself.
Q.27. For what reason does Jacopo request for a lift to Poleta?
Ans. : Lucia is Jacopo’s and Nicola’s sister who was undergoing medical treatment for tuberculosis of the spine at Poleta. The boys were working very hard to provide for their sister and went frequently to look up. Jacopo wanted to save the expenses of the trip, so he requested the narrator for a lift to Poleta.
Q.28. Why did the narrator enter the large red roofed Villa?
Ans. : Both the boys looked poor and bedraggled. When they halted before a beautiful villa, the narrator was surprised. Out of curiosity, he couldn’t restrain himself, and entered the red-roofed villa to know the reason for the trip made by the two boys.
Q.29. What did the narrator discover regarding the family background of the two boys? How did the war affect their family?
Ans. : The nurse, who was looking after Lucia, told the narrator the entire story of the two boys. All the three children belonged to a prosperous family and Lucia was training to be a singer. The war waged by Germany killed their father, their house was destroyed by a bomb and the boys were separated from their sister. Due to neglect, Lucia contracted T.B.
Q.30. The nurse said regarding the two boys, “I don’t know what they do, I don’t ask. Work is scarce in Verona.” What does this remark reflect upon the speaker?
Ans. : The nurse was very surprised how the boys managed to bring in sufficient money for the treatment of their sister, when work was scarce in the city. The nurse had no idea how hard the boys worked and how they tried to pitch in for all kinds of work that was available. The comment reveals that even the nurse respected the privacy of the boys and wanted to retain their dignity by not prodding them.
Q.31. Why didn’t the two boys disclose their problems to the author?
Ans. : The boys were working hard to provide all possible help to their sister, Lucia, who was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They did not disclose their problems to the author as they wished to retain their pride and dignity. They did not want their private suffering to be made public.
Q.32. What traits of the boys attracted the narrator to them? How were the children helpful to the narrator?
Ans. : The narrator was attracted towards the boys due to their zest and willingness, demonstrated by them for undertaking all kinds of work. The boys were also very eager to provide all kinds of comfort to the author. They were always at the beck and call of the author.
Q.33. What were the hardships faced by Nicola and Jacopo?
Ans. : The children’s father had died in the war waged by Germany. A bomb had destroyed their house, their sister had contracted tuberculosis due to cold and starvation. The two boys worked day in and day out, took every possible job, starved themselves to provide for their sister’s treatment and built, from the rubble of their house, a shelter for themselves.
Q.34. What provoked the author’s interest in the two boys of Verona?
Ans. : The author found the zest and willingness of the boys for undertaking all kind of work-selling strawberries, polishing shoes, taking tourists round the city — remarkable. The author found the boys to be very innocent and friendly.
35. Why was the narrator surprised to see Nicola and Jacopo working as shoeshine boys?
Ans. The narrator had encountered the two boys Nicola and Jacopo the previous day as fruit-pickers and fruit-sellers. Therefore, he was surprised to see them working as shoeshine boys in the town square the next day.
36. What impression did the narrator form of the boys at first?
Ans.The narrator saw that the boys worked very hard. They worked at many jobs till late at night. They lived frugally and spent very little money on themselves. He thought that the boys were saving money to emigrate to the United States to lead a better life.
37. Why did the narrator say that what struck one most was their willingness to work?
Ans.The narrator says this as though the boys were fairly young, they were extremely hard-working. Even when they were tired, they worked without complaint. They did many jobs and worked willingly and cheerfully.
38. Why were the two boys in the deserted square at night? What quality of their character do they exhibit by their action?
Ans.The boys were in the square at night waiting for the last bus from Padua. They wished to sell the papers to the passengers who came off the bus. This shows their capacity for hard work and their commitment. They were unmindful of their own tiredness or discomfort.
39. Why was the square deserted?
Ans.The square was deserted because it was very late at night. People had returned home.
40. Were the boys quite happy to work? Which sentence tells you this?
Ans.Yes, we know that the boys were happy to work as the narrator observes,’What struck one most was their willingness to work.’
41. What made the narrator think that they were earning much?
And. The narrator saw the boys doing multiple jobs. They shined shoes, sold fruit, hawked newspapers, conducted tourists round the town, and also ran errands. Therefore, the narrator thought they were earning a good amount of money.
42. The narrator asks the boys, ‘Must you work so hard? You both look rather tired.’ The boys reply, ‘We are not complaining, sir.’ What do you learn about the boys from their reply?
Ans.The boys worked hard and without any complaints despite their physical fatigue. This shows their sense of commitment and devotion. Their dignity and self-respect did not allow them to take help from anyone even though they had to pay for their sister’s treatment.
43. The narrator feels that the boys worked very hard but spent very little. What impression has he formed of their character?
Ans.The narrator saw the boys worked very hard at many jobs. He also noticed that desPite. their earnings, they spent nothing on clothes and ate very frugal meals. He assumes that the boys were hoarding money to emigrate to the United States.
44. When the narrator asks the boys about their plans, they are evasive. Why do they not disclose their problems? What do you learn about the boys from their attitude?
Ans. The boys were dignified and self-reliant. They did not want anyone to pity them. They wanted to discharge their responsibilities themselves, therefore they were evasive when the narrator presumed they were hoarding up their money to emigrate to the United States. They did not want him to know about their invalid sister.
45. Where did the boys go every Sunday? Why did they do so?
Ans. Every Sunday the boys went to the hospital in Poleta to meet their sister Lucia who was admitted there. Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
46. Do you think the boys looked after Lucia willingly? Why/Why not?
Ans.Undoubtedly the boys looked after Lucia willingly. They worked at various jobs and performed errands for people cheerfully, spending little on themselves. They neither looked to others for help nor for sympathy. They could have easily taken help from the narrator and other people, but they preferred to look after their sister themselves.
47. How does the story of the ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ give promise of greater hope for human society?
Ans. The two boys—one thirteen and the other twelve—shouldered responsibility for their ailing sister without complaints, exemplified great hope for human society. They worked hard and tirelessly, not looking for help or pity. They did not shirk from their duty towards their family or country. They were the embodiment of selflessness, nobility and gentlemanliness. The two boys prove that hope, faith, positive thinking and hard work can help overcome all troubles in life.
48. What were Nicola’s feelings when the narrator commented on his frugal lifestyle?
Ans. When the narrator commented on the fact that the boys worked hard and probably earned a good deal of money yet lived very frugally, Nicola was embarrassed and he did not say anything, just looked down.
49. Why did the narrator follow the boys to the villa? Why did he not meet Lucia?
Ans. The narrator was curious about why the boys had gone to the villa. He wanted to find out more about them, so he followed them to the villa. He did not go in to meet Lucia as he did not wish to embarrass the boys.
50. What were the narrator’s feelings about the two boys at first? What change did they undergo and why?
Ans.At first the narrator was impressed by the hard work the boys put in. He became fond of them as they were friendly and ran errands for him. But when he saw them with Lucia and realized that they were working hard to shoulder the responsibility of an ailing elder sister, he was filled with admiration and respect for them.
51. Who asked the narrator to drive them to Poleta? Did the other brother approve of the request?
Ans.The younger of the two brothers, Jacopo, requested the narrator to drive them to Poleta. His elder brother, Nicola did not approve of the request as he did not wish to ask for or accept favours from anyone. He did not wish to be beholden to the narrator.
52. Did the boys try to prevent the narrator from finding out the real purpose of their visit to Poleta? Did they succeed?
Ans. The boys tried to prevent the narrator from finding out the real purpose of their visit. They jumped out of the car as soon as it stopped and rushed off after telling the narrator that they would meet him in an hour’s time. They did not succeed because the narrator, fired by curiosity, went inside later and found out the truth.
53. The two boys were of great help to the narrator while he stayed in the town. How?
Ans. The boys were of real help to the author. They brought for the narrator and his companion American cigarettes, booked seats for the opera and told them about the names of good restaurants in the city.
54. What different jobs did the ‘two gentlemen of Verona’ do?
Or
“We do many things, Sir,” Nicola answered seriously. Illustrate this statement.
Ans. By this statement Nicola meant that apart from selling strawberries j they earned their living by doing various little jobs like newspaper selling, shining shoes, showing tourists the town as guides and this added to their confidence. Therefore, Nicola looked at the author hopefully.
55. What did the nurse tell the writer about the boys?
Ans. The nurse explained that the boys were quite alone in the world except their sister Lucia. Their father, a widower and a well-known singer, was killed in war. Added to that, a bomb blast destroyed their house. The boys and their sister were left to the streets, suffered horribly from starvation. They had always known a comfortable and a cultured life before these tragic happenings in their lives. The boys grew to hate the German and soon joined groups to protest against them. As soon as the war was over, the boys ran back to find their ailing sister and admitted her to that hospital where her treatment was going on at that time.
56. What led the boys to dislike the Germans?
Ans. The boys were led to dislike the Germans because their beloved father was killed in the war with the Germans. Had the bomb in the war not destroyed their home and life, they would have been living with all comforts and leading a cultured life. They were thrown out Into the streets suffering horribly from starvation. Exposure to the cold winter led their sister to suffer from tuberculosis. All this filled them with hatred for the Germans.
57. What impressed the author and his companion about the boys ?
Ans. It was the boys’ willingness to work that impressed the author and his companion the most. They found that the boys did not hold grudges doing any sort of work, whether it was selling fruit, shining shoes, selling newspapers, conducting tourists and even running errands.
58. “Tell me, what do you do with your money ?” Why did the author ask Nicola this question ?
Ans. The author realized that the boys must be earning quite a bit by doing many odd jobs and still they were not spending money on clothes and food. So he wanted to know what they spent their money on.
59. Although Nicola and Jacopo are young boys, the narrator refers to them as ‘gentlemen’. Why does he do so?
Ans- In order to pay for the medical expenses of their ailing sister, Nicola and Jacopo worked hard; sold fruit and newspaper, polished shoes, etc. They had tremendous patience, self-respect, love and devotion. Family values along with their pride and determination make the narrator call them gentlemen.
60. What sight did the narrator and his friend see on the next day, in Verona?
Ans.- Next day in Verona, when they were coming out of their hotel, they saw the two boys bent over shoeshine boxes beside the fountain in the public square, doing a brisk business. They were surprised as they had thought that the two boys sold only fruits.
61. What opinion did the narrator make of the two brothers when they went on a round to visit places?
Ans.– As they went on a round, the narrator’s interest in them was redeveloped by their striking conduct. He found them childish enough, and in many ways quite simple. Jacopo was bubbly as a squirrel. Nicola’s smile was stable and appealing. Yet in both the boyish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their years.
62. What did the narrator see in the deserted square?
Ans.- One night, in the windy and deserted square, the narrator saw the two brothers resting on the stone pavement beneath the lights. Nicola sat upright, tired. A bundle of unsold newspapers lay at his feet. Jacopo was asleep with his head resting upon his brother’s shoulder.
63. Why did the boys hate the Germans?
Ans.– Due to German attack on Italy, the boys’ father was killed in the war. A bomb blast destroyed their house. They, along with their sister, came on the streets. Meanwhile, Lucia developed tuberculosis of the spine. Their life became very difficult, all because of the Germans and hence, they hated them.
64. Where did the nurse take the author in the hospital and what did she do?
Ans– The nurse led the author through a cool, tiled hall into the villa which was more of a hospital. At the door of a little cubicle the nurse paused, put her finger to her lips, and with a smile gestured him to look through the glass partition.
65. Standing outside the cubicle, what did the nurse ask the author? What did the author do?
Ans.– The nurse asked the author if he would like to go inside to meet Lucia as it would make her happy. He shook his head and turned away as he could not bear to intrude upon that happy family union.
66. Did the family of the boys have a comfortable life before? What made them impoverish?
Ans.-– Yes, the family was living a very cultured and comfortable life. Their father had been a well-known singer and sister Lucia had also been training as a singer. They had been living a peaceful life until the war between Germany and Italy which took away their father and all happiness, leaving Lucia suffering from the deadly tuberculosis of the spine.
67. How did the friendship develop between the narrator and the two boys ?
Ans.- For the first time, the narrator had met the boys at the outskirt of Verona and bought some fruits from them. He was impressed with them for some strange reasons. Thereafter, they frequently met at various corners of the city and developed a sort of instant friendship.
68. What did the boys usually do on Sundays?
Ans.– Every Sunday, the duo usually hire bicycles to visit their village Poleta which is 30 kilometres from Verona city. They used to reunite with their beloved sister Lucia for an hour or two, pay her treatment charges and return to the city again.
69. Why did the narrator not tell the boys that he had come to know everything about them from the nurse?
Ans.– The narrator observed that the boys preferred to keep their sister’s illness and their family’s misfortune secret. He simply did not want to interrupt the earnestness displayed by the two boys and hurt their pride by intruding upon their privacy.
70. Why do you think Nicola and Jacopo would prefer to keep their family misfortune secret from the narrator?
Ans.– The two brothers were epithet of courage and confidence. They clearly did not like to live on charity and benevolence. They worked tirelessly with all sincerity to earn for the treatment of their ailing sister and sent across a message nothing is impossible if there is a will to do. They did not prefer people to take them as\ helpless boys and be sympathetic towards them.
71. Where did the narrator find the two young boys and what were they doing there?
Ans. The narrator and his driver found the two young boys on the foothills of the Alps. Those two were selling wild strawberries.
72. Why did the `cautious’ driver show his disapproval of the two small boys selling wild strawberries?
Ans. Driver showed his disapproval of buying those wild strawberries from them because he found it so unhygienic because of how shabby those two boys were dressed and he also thought that he can find better strawberries in Verona.
73.Describe the physical appearance of Nicola and Jacopo as they are described by the narrator.
Ans. Nicola was wearing a worn jersey and cut off khaki pants, Jacopo was in a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds around his skinny body. Both had brown skins, unevenly tangled hairs and dark earnest eyes and the younger one Jacopo was much shorter in height.
74.Why were the narrator and Luigi surprised to see the boys in the public square? [Imp.]
Ans. Narrator and Luigi were surprised because they saw those kids selling strawberries on the outskirts of verona. They thought fruit selling was the only thing Nicola and Jacopo do for their living, so they were surprised to see the same boys bending over shoeshine boxes in the public square and doing a brisk business. They were surprised at the various works undertaken by the young boys to earn a living.
75. “We do many things, sir,” Nicola answered. Describe the various jobs undertaken by the boys to earn a living. [ V.Imp•]
Ans. The narrator thought that the small boys sold fruit only to earn a living. However, Nicola told him that they did many things. They sold fruit and hawked newspapers. They took the tourists out to their places of interest. They shined shoes and ran errands to make a living.
