Class 11 English Hornbill Chapter 4 – The Adventure (Jayant Narlikar) Short Question Answers

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Hornbill

Chapter 4 – The Adventure (Jayant Narlikar)

Short Question Answers

Question 1:

Can you speculate about when the events in the story might have occurred?

 

Answer:

The events in the story likely took place after 1857 during the British Raj. The narrator discusses the rule of the East India Company in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras, while his present residence in Pune remains unaffected.

 

Question 2:

How did the librarian react to Professor Gaitonde's presence, and why?

 

Answer:

The librarian at the large Town Hall library felt, in the presence of Professor Gaitonde, that a genuine researcher and scholar with a thirst for knowledge had arrived. This impression arose as Professor Gaitonde avidly delved into the books, losing track of time until the librarian had to remind him of the closing hour.

 

Question 3:

What mistake did Gangadharpant make at the library? How did it turn out to be beneficial for him?

 

Answer:

Upon leaving the library, Gangadharpant inadvertently revealed a page of written notes in his right pocket and, unintentionally, showed 'Bakhar' in his left. Later, when Rajendra Deshpande attempted to dismiss his experience as a mere product of his mind, Gangadharpant presented both items, proving the authenticity of his experience. Thus, it turned out to be a boon.

 

Question 4:

What theories did Rajendra Deshpande try to associate with Gaitonde's experience at Azad Maidan?

 

Answer:

Rajendra Deshpande attempted to connect Gaitonde's experience at Azad Maidan in Bombay first with the Catastrophic theory, suggesting it was a figment of Gangadharpant's mind. Subsequently, he more seriously linked it with 'quantum theory,' emphasizing the inherent lack of determinism in that theory.

 

Question 5:

Could Rajendra successfully convince Gangadharpant by rationalizing his experience?

 

Answer:

No, despite Rajendra's adept attempts at rationalizing Gangadharpant's experience, he failed to convince him. Gangadharpant remained dissatisfied with the rational explanations, asserting that his firsthand experience at Azad Maidan had profoundly shaken him, leading him to decide against addressing any public meetings.

 

Question 6:

How did Rajendra Deshpande explain Gangadharpant's two days of absence from Pune?

 

Answer:

When asked about his two days of absence from Pune, Rajendra Deshpande explained that although Professor Gaitonde lived in the present world, he simultaneously experienced the past. In simpler terms, he was moving in two different worlds concurrently.

 

Question 7:

Rajendra Deshpande also became puzzled by one of the Professor's queries. What was that?

 

Answer:

When Gangadharpant asked how it was possible to experience a past world while living in the present, Rajendra struggled to provide a scientific explanation. Instead, he admitted that certain questions still lacked definitive answers.

 

Question 8:

The chapter discusses a crucial war. Which war is it, and why was it crucial?

 

Answer:

The chapter 'The Adventure' discusses a critical war between the Marathas and the Moghals. This war was crucial as it marked the Marathas' struggle while the British Raj had not yet extended its dominion into this region. However, the British rule had already gained a foothold in the Moghul provinces.

 

Question 9:

The story mainly features two characters, yet it doesn't seem dull. Why or why not?

 

Answer:

Although the story primarily revolves around two characters, physicist Rajendra Deshpande and historian Professor Gangadharpant Gaitonde, with brief appearances of Khan Sahib, the English receptionist, and the audience at Azad Maidan, it remains engaging. The story's appeal lies in Rajendra Deshpande's endeavor to correlate Gaitonde's genuine experience with various scientific theories.

 

Question 10:

What was the initial shock Gangadharpant experienced upon arriving in Bombay?

 

Answer:

Gangadharpant encountered a transformed Bombay station and noticed entirely new sets of shops and buildings resembling those in a British town. The most significant shock came at the 'Forbes Stores,' where he had previously worked; however, the company had no record of his name in the list of employees. Gangadharpant felt a profound loss of identity in his native place.