Class 11 English Snapshot Chapter 1 – The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse (William Saroyan) Short Question answers

 

NCERT Solutions For Class 11 English

Snapshot

Chapter 1 – The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse (William Saroyan)

Short Question answers

Question 1:

Certainly, you might agree that this narrative lacks breathless adventure and exciting action. What, in your view, contributes to its interest?

 

Answer:

The eccentric behavior of the Garoghlanian family adds an interesting element to the story. Uncle Khosrove's consistent response to every loss, big or small – 'Pay no attention to it. It's no harm' – further piques interest. The story becomes truly fascinating with Mourad's innocence and his mysterious approach in dealing with the 'horse,' 'dog,' and even the 'farmer.'

 

Question 2:

Was the return of the horse by the boys driven by a sense of guilt or fear?

 

Answer:

The boys returned the horse out of fear. The narrator discovered that the horse belonged to Farmer John Byro, whose surrey had become useless due to the lost horse for a month. Despite the narrator's advice to Mourad not to return the horse immediately, fear set in when they unexpectedly encountered John Byro, prompting them to secretly place the horse in Byro's barn the next morning.

 

Question 3:

To which tribe did Aram and Mourad belong? What was distinctive about their tribe?

 

Answer:

Aram and Mourad were members of the Garoghlanian tribe, renowned for its honesty and trustworthiness. Individuals from this tribe were known for being neither liars nor thieves.

 

Question 4:

Why did Mourad take John Byro's horse, and when did this happen?

 

Answer:

Mourad, driven by a peculiar streak in his character, took John Byro's horse because of his passion for horse riding. As a member of a poor family, he couldn't afford to fulfill his dream of riding a horse. He "stole" the horse one day and kept it hidden for at least a month before revealing it to Aram.

 

Question 5:

Why did Mourad bring the magnificent white horse to Aram?

 

Answer:

Mourad brought the horse to Aram, his cousin, knowing Aram's equal fondness for horse riding. After enjoying joyrides on the wonderful white horse for a month, Mourad wanted his cousin to experience the same joy.

 

Question 6:

How did Mourad manage to keep his 'deed' a 'secret'?

 

Answer:

Mourad ensured the secrecy of his action by enjoying joyrides on the white horse only during the early morning hours. As daylight broke, he would hide the horse in a deserted barn, providing oats and dry alfalfa to satisfy the horse's hunger.

 

Question 7:

How did the narrator discover the real owner of the horse, and what was his reaction?

 

Answer:

The narrator learned about the horse's true owner when an Assyrian visitor named John Byro, expressing sadness, revealed that his white horse had been missing for a month. The narrator, realizing that Mourad had the horse, felt panicky and went to disclose the news but requested Mourad to delay the return.

 

Question 8:

Why did the boys hesitate to return the horse immediately, and was their wish fulfilled?

 

Answer:

The boys hesitated to return the horse immediately because they both wanted to learn how to ride a horse properly. Mourad suggested keeping it for at least six months, but unfortunately, their wish was not fulfilled.

 

Question 9:

Why did the boys return the horse earlier than planned?

 

Answer:

One morning, while taking the horse to its hiding place after a joyride, the boys encountered John Byro, the real owner. John's claim that the horse looked identical to his own raised suspicions, making the boys fear exposure. Due to this fear, they returned the horse to its owner's barn the next day.

 

Question 10:

Who was John Byro, and why did he visit the narrator's house?

 

Answer:

John Byro, an Assyrian farmer, had settled somewhere in Armenia, about ten miles away from the narrator's home. He visited the narrator's house to express his distress over the loss of his only horse, missing for a month.

 

Question 11:

What impression did Khosrove leave on you?

 

Answer:

Khosrove, the uncle of Mourad and Aram, was characterized by a unique family trait: a crazy streak. An imposing figure with a powerful head of black hair and the largest mustache in the San Joaquin Valley, Khosrove easily lost his temper but often dismissed losses with the repeated phrase, "It is no harm; pay no attention to it."

 

Question 12:

'I couldn't believe what I saw.' What was so incredible to the speaker, and who is the speaker?

 

Answer:

The speaker, Aram, expresses disbelief when his cousin Mourad invites him to a joyride on a magnificent white horse one summer day before dawn. The incredibility stems from Aram questioning how Mourad obtained the horse without resorting to theft.

 

Question 13:

How was the act of taking someone else's horse and hiding it without the owner's knowledge not considered theft by the boys?

 

Answer:

According to the boys, taking John Byro's horse for joyrides did not constitute theft since they had no intention of selling the horse. They believed that it was only borrowing for enjoyment, not a criminal act until they offered it for sale.