Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery
1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Mrs Pumphrey is worried because Tricki looks very fat, listless, and sick. He has no energy and has been vomiting, refusing food, and not even going for walks.
2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
She tries to feed him more food, including malt, cod-liver oil, Horlicks, cream cakes, and chocolates, thinking he is malnourished.
No, she is not wise because overfeeding made Tricki worse and caused his illness.
3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
‘I’ refers to Mr James Herriot, the veterinary surgeon (doctor for animals), who treats Tricki.
4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?
No, the narrator is not as rich as Mrs Pumphrey. Her lifestyle is luxurious with servants, a chauffeur, and special food for the dog, while the narrator lives a simple life.
5. How does he treat the dog?
He treats Tricki with care and common sense. He doesn’t give any medicine, just stops overfeeding and lets Tricki exercise and mix with other dogs. Tricki becomes active and healthy again.
6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
The narrator and his staff enjoy the rich food like eggs, wine, and brandy sent by Mrs Pumphrey for Tricki. So, he is tempted to keep Tricki as a guest for longer.
7. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”?
Mrs Pumphrey thinks that Tricki’s fast recovery is due to some special medical or surgical treatment. She does not know that simple diet control and exercise cured him. That’s why she emotionally calls it “a triumph of surgery.”
THINK ABOUT IT (Longer Questions)
1. What kind of a person do you think the narrator is? Is he tactful and full of common sense?
Yes, the narrator is sensible, kind, and tactful. He understands that Tricki’s problem is due to overfeeding, not illness. He doesn’t upset Mrs Pumphrey by blaming her and handles the situation with care and practical knowledge. He uses humour and patience to treat the dog.
2. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Yes, Tricki was excited and happy to see Mrs Pumphrey and jumped into her lap. However, if Mrs Pumphrey continues pampering him the same way, Tricki might fall ill again unless she follows the vet’s advice strictly.
3. Do you think this is a real-life episode or fiction? Or a mixture of both?
It seems to be a mixture of both. The story is realistic with believable characters and situations but may be exaggerated for humour and literary effect.
1. Is Mrs Pumphrey merely silly or can her actions cause harm?
She may appear silly because of her excessive love and pampering, but such behaviour can cause serious harm. Her overindulgence made Tricki very sick, so it’s not just silliness but dangerous ignorance.
2. Are there parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Yes, many parents overpamper their children, giving in to all their demands, and harming their discipline and health. This behaviour can spoil children and lead to problems later.
3. If you were: (i) a staff member, (ii) a neighbour — what would your life be like?
(i) As a staff member, life might be luxurious but stressful due to unrealistic demands.
(ii) As a neighbour, one might be surprised by her lifestyle or feel pity for the spoiled dog.
4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
If I were the narrator, I would have done the same — taken Tricki away from the overindulgent atmosphere, controlled his diet, and given him proper exercise to help him recover naturally.