A Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 workbook solution, A Doctor's Journal Entry for August 6, 1945 Workbook Answers Question Answers Treasure chest poem ICSE

Section B: Context Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm.
Sprawling half-clad, I gazed out at the form
Of shimmering leaves and shadows. Suddenly
A strong flash, then another, startled me.
I saw the old stone lantern brightly lit...
Magnesium flares?

(i) How is the morning described in the extract? In what mood was the narrator?

Ans: In the extract, the morning is described as calm, beautiful, and warm. The mention of "shimmering leaves and shadows" adds to the sense of tranquillity and natural beauty. The narrator was in a relaxed and peaceful mood after waking from sleep.

(ii) What startled the narrator? What did he think of it?

Ans: The narrator is startled by the consecutive strong flashes of light coming from the old stone lantern. He's thinking of the magnesium flare that is seen during the wars.

(iii) What was the impact of the explosion on the place and the people?

Ans: The roof and the wall of the building collapsed. Timber and debris are scattered all around and there was dust rising up from the pile. The doctor found himself thrown into the garden and the drawers, and undershirts he had been wearing were burnt off.

(iv) How much did the narrator personally suffer in the explosion?

Ans: The narrator personally suffered significant injuries in the explosion. They experienced a mangled thigh with a protruding splinter, bleeding from the right side, a torn cheek, and dislodged a piece of glass. Additionally, the narrator's drawers and undershirt disappeared.

(v) Give the meaning of
(a) The morning stretched calm, beautiful, and warm
(b) A strong flash, then another, startled me.

Ans: (a)the morning was calm, beautiful and warm.
(b) two consecutive strong flashes one after another made the narrator surprise.

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:...My blood gushed out.

The artery in my neck? Scared for my life,
I called out, panic-stricken, to my wife.
Pale, bloodstained, frightened, Yecko-san emerged,
Holding her elbow.

(i) What made the blood gush out? Why was the narrator panic-stricken?

Ans: Injuries due to the strong flash made the blood gush out from the artery of the neck.

(ii) What in the extract shows that Yecko-san was badly injured?

Ans: Yecko-san emerged before the Narrator as pale, holding her elbow, bloodstained can be seen on her and she was frightened. She was equally injured as her husband in the given situation of war and agony.

(iii) What did the narrator tell his wife consoling her? What does it say about the narrator?

Ans: The narrator tells his wife, Yecko-san, "We'll be fine." i.e narrator assured his wife that they will be fine very soon for now we have to get out quickly to protect ourselves. It shows that the narrator is trying to remain calm and composed despite the circumstances. The narrator is concerned about his wife and motivating her.

(iv) Describe the object they found on the street. What was the reaction of the narrator after finding the object?

Ans: They found a human head on the street. He gasped in shock. He then apologised but realised the person was dead. Then he felt afraid.

(v) By giving two examples, state how an atmosphere of fear was created by the explosion in the minds of the narrator and his wife.

Ans: In the poem, there are many scenarios depicted that state how an atmosphere of fear was created by the explosion in the minds of the narrator and his wife. Everything around them had collapsed only timber and debris are left over. Both were bleeding and their conditions are horrifying. They nearly tripped on a human head. All these examples create an atmosphere of fear due to the explosion.

III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:...He was dead:

A gate had crushed him. There we stood, afraid.
A house standing before us tilted, swayed,
Toppled, and crashed. Fire sprang up in the dust.
Spread by the wind.

(i) Who was dead? What had killed him?

Ans: The human being on whose head the narrator and his wife tripped and nearly fell. A gate had fallen on him and crushed him.

(ii) Describe the strange things that happened as stated in the extract,

Ans: A house was standing and like a pack of cards swayed, tilted and collapsed. The swirling dust gave rise to a fire that was spread by the winds.

(iii) Immediately after the extract, what two decisions does the narrator make?

Ans: The narrator makes the decision to go to the hospital for help and also to aid the hospital staff. When he could not get up he asked his wife to go alone and seek help.

(iv) Why couldn't the narrator aid his staff at the hospital?

Ans: The narrator himself condition is horrifying he is bleeding profusely. His legs gave way and he was forced to sit on the ground.

(v) What physical inconveniences did the narrator suffer after the incidents referred to in the extract?

Ans: The narrator couldn't walk due to injuries in his thigh, forcing them to sit on the ground in exhaustion. They were thirsty but lacked water, and due to smoke and dust, they feel shortness of breath. Despite being naked, their focus was on survival, not shame.

IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions thatMy breath was short, but bit by bit my strength

Seemed to revive, and I got up at length.
I was still naked, but I felt no shame,
This thought disturbed me somewhat, till I came
Upon a soldier, standing silently,
Who gave the towel round his neck to me.

(i) Why was the breath of the speaker short? "But bit by bit my strength/Seemed to the post-war history of Japan, what is the symbolism involved in this expression?

Ans: They were Badly injured and bleeding profusely walking in order to get help makes them tired therefore they feel shortness of breath. The Japanese withstood the calamity, and with their indomitable spirit and hard work rose up (bit by bit my strength/Seemed to revive) and gradually rebuilt their shattered
City and their world.

(ii) The narrator was conscious that he was naked. Who helped him? How did the offer help the narrator to have self-confidence?

Ans: A soldier helped him, he gave the towel he had on his neck to the narrator. This act symbolized the soldier's willingness to give what he had to help another, showcasing basic human goodness. The gesture provided the narrator with a sense of care and support, boosting his self-confidence amid the distressing situation.

(iii)Why did he send Yecko-san alone to the hospital? How did he justify his decision to let his wife go alone to the hospital?

Ans: Realizing his legs were stiff from dried blood and burnt, the narrator found himself unable to walk. In a justified decision, he sent his wife alone to seek help, as they had no other options at the time. His physical condition and the urgency of the situation led to this difficult choice, emphasizing the dire circumstances they faced.

(iv) What did the narrator feel when Yecko-san left for the hospital? Explain the symbolism?

Ans: The narrator feels lonely when Yecko-san left for the hospital. His mind was working but his body could not keep its speed. The powerful nations like the United States of America cause destruction and suffering to common people to display their power and isolate their enemies. Nobody comes to rescue the vanquished.

(v) Describe the appearance of the people whom the narrator saw.