P.P.

SAVANI
CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE
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SUB: ENGLISH CLASS – VIII

Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of Memory

Comprehension Check (Page 62)
Questions:
1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu’s is disbelief?
2. where did Bepin Babu say he went in October’ 58?
3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Answers:
1. The man, Parimal Ghose, was taken aback when Bepin failed to recognise him. He didn’t believe that
Bepin had a lapse of memory.
2. Bepin Babu said that in October 58 he was in Kanpur.
3. Parimal Ghose knew that Bepin Babu’s wife was dead, and his only brother had died in the same year
in a Ranchi lunatic asylum. He also knew that Bepin Babu had no children and he was a lover of books.

Comprehension Check (Page 65)

Questions:
1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
2. How did he try to decide who was right— his memory or Parimal Ghose?
3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
4. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Answers:
1. Bepin Babu was taken aback to hear the intimate details about his life from Parimal Ghose. There
seeded no reason why he should tell a lie. He wondered if he really had forgotten about his visit to Ranchi.
2. In order to resolve the puzzle about his visit to Ranchi, Bepin Babu decided to contact Dinesh Mukerji.
Parimal had said that Mukerji was also in Ranchi at that time
3. Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji thinking that it would be ridiculous if he had really visited
Ranchi. Mukerji would think Bepin Babu had gone mad. Hence, Bepin babu finally decided to phone him.
4. Mukerji didn’t reply clearly. But he said that he had been to Ranchi twice. He was not sure about the
trip. Bepin Babu exactly wanted to know. It made Bepin Babu more puzzled. He lost his appetite.

Comprehension Check (Page 68)

Questions:
1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
2. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Answers:
1. Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin Babu. He wanted a favour from Bepin Babu in his job.
2. Paresh Chanda was a young physician. He had never dealt a case of memory loss. So he was puzzled.
He gave a suggestion to Bepin Babu to visit Ranchi again.
Comprehension Check (Page 70)
Questions:
1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does
have?
Answers:
1. Perhaps not. He finally recollected his memory and admitted that he had visited. Ranchi in 1958.
2. Chunilal wanted some money from Bepin Babu, his old friend. So he went to him for help. He assured
Bepin that the term of his fortune would be back again. Chunilal had no money but he had mind and wit.

Working With the Text (Page 70)

Question 1: The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can
you find in the story to support this?
Answer: Bepin Babu was a serious, honest and hardworking fellow. He went to office regularly. He was
doing a responsible job. He was not a good mixer. Being serious minded, he didn’t waste time in idle chat.
Question 2: Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this
meeting?
Answer: Bepin Babu first refused to meet Chunilal. He was in no mood to help Chunilal out of his trouble.
But he changed his mind soon. He thought Chunilal might remember something about his trip to Ranchi in
1958.
Question 3: Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for
this?
Answer: Bepin Babu might have slipped near Hudroo Falls that made him unconscious.
Question 4: How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
Answer: Bepin Babu’s first reaction was that he regretted having refused to help Chunilal. He saw
through Chunilal’s trick to test him, and learnt a lesson.

Working With Language (Page 71)

Question 1: Look at these two sentences.
He had to buy at least five books to last him through the week.
Bepin had to ask Chunni to leave.
Had to is used to show that it was very important or necessary for Bepin Babu to do something. He had no
choice. We can also use “have to’/ ‘has to’ in the same way.
Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/have to’/ ‘has to’.
(i) I _________________ cut my hair every month.
(ii) We _______________ go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She_______________ tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They_____________ take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We________________ complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit_________________ finish his homework before he could come out to play.
(vii) I _________________ repair my cycle yesterday. ——————– Bepin Choudhury’s Lapse of
Memory
Answer:
(i) have to
(ii) had to
(iii) had
(iv) had to
(v) have to
(vi) had to
(vii) had to
Question 2: Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the
following way.
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary. (Clue: An idiom is usually
listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom). To
help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)
(i) at/from close quarters (close: adjective)
(ii) break into a smile (break: verb; look under “break into something”)
(iii) carry on (carry: verb)
(iv) have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words).
(v) beat about the bush (verb) (verb)
Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.
Answer:

Question 3:
Study the sentences in the columns below:

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Answer the following questions
about each pair of sentences.
(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?
(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?
(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker’s mind?

Answer:
(i) Column A_______
(ii) Column A_______________
(iii) Column B_____________
(iv) Column A________
Question 4:
Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form
correct sentences.
You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the
lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.
 One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.
Jumbled sentence: vanished/The car/seemed to/into thin/have/air.
Answer: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Idiom: vanished into thin air: disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way.
(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush.

Answer: Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.
Idiom: beating about the bush—talk vaguely
(ii) don’t pay/if you/attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/ board.

Answer: If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.
Idiom: Pay attention: be careful
(iii) The villagers/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin.

Answer: The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.
Idiom: Pin the crime on (implicate the wrong person)
(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor’s/eat early/that he was.
Answer: Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s order to eat early.
Idiom: Under one’s order (doctor’s): under instruction of someone
(v) the students/the teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/ raised/they had revised.
Answer: The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons,
(showed his assessment).
Idiom: Raised the eyebrows—to feel annoyed: showing annoyance.

Speaking and Writing (Page 73)

Question 1: What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth?
Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend
in need?
Answer: Bepin Babu came to know the truth what Chunilal had done. In fact Chunilal had only played a
trick with him to test his friendship. Bepin Babu had a mixed feeling of relief as well as anger. He was
happy to know that he had not suffered the lapse of memory. He was a little angry with his friend who was
not really helpful. But he had made Bepin feel awkward. He must have decided not to disappoint a friend
in need.
Question 2: Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed
that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for
him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
Or
A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your
friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.

Answer:
15th November, 20XX
My Dear Chunilal,
Let me first thank you for your letter dated 10th November. I am really feeling sorry for disappointing you. I
can understand your resentment. Now allow me to give you a happy news. I spoke to my friend in Delhi,
and he has agreed to engage you as assistant manager in his firm.
Please come to me on Sunday. I shall then introduce you to my friend.
With regards
Yours sincerely
Bepin Choudhury
Or
On March 26, I received a letter from one of my friends. It contained a happy news that I had been granted
scholarship from back date. He asked me to call on him in April, so that both would go together to the
office of the Superintendent of the school. I was very glad. I even distributed sweets to my neighbours. But
when I reached my friend’s house, I found him laughing at me. It was April the first. All Fools Day.’ I got
over it soon and admired the practical joke or the prank.

Extra Quesitons

I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1: What was Bepin Babu’s hobby? What would he do every Monday?
Answer: Bepin Babu’s hobby was reading books. Every Monday, he would purchase books of crime
stories, ghost stories and thrillers from Kalicharan’s shop.

Question 2: What type of man was Bepin Babu?

Answer: Bepin Babu was a loner. He was not a good mixer. He had a few friends and he didn’t like
spending time in idle chat.

Question 3: What was Bepin Babu sure about?

Answer: Bepin Babu was sure that he hadn’t visited Ranchi in ’58, during the Pujas.

Question 4: How can you say that Bepin Babu’s encounter with Parimal Ghose made him restless?
Answer: Bepin Babu’s encounter with Parimal Ghose made him really very restless. Even in the office, he
noticed that with every passing hour, his encounter with Parimal Ghose was occupying more and more of
his mind.

Question 5: Why couldn’t Bepin Babu ignore what Parimal Ghose had said to him?
Answer: It was because Parimal Ghose knew a great deal about him. He knew about his (Bepin Babu’s)
wife’s death, his brother’s insanity… If the man knew so much about him, how could he make such a
mistake about the Ranchi trip.

Question 6: What was wrong with Bepin Babu? What did Dr. Chanda suggest him?
Answer: He had completely forgotten about his visit to Ranchi. Dr. Chanda suggested him to go to
Ranchi once again in order to get back his lost memory.

II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question 1: What was Bepin Choudhury’s ailment or problem? Was it real or deliberate?
Answer: Bepin Babu was a lonely map. His wife had died some 10 years ago. His ailment was the lapse
of memory. He clearly forgot that he had been to Ranchi in ’58. Nothing could revive his memory. Finally,
he hit against some rock in Ranchi and became unconscious. On returning home he received Chunilal’s
letter. The letter had an electrifying effect. And Bepin Babu felt relaxed.

Question 2: Who was Chunilal? What is his role in the story?

Answer: Chunilal had once been Bepin Babu’s schoolmate. He was facing hard times and looking for a
job. He called on Bepin with hope to get help. But Bepin even refused to see him. Later Chunilal confirmed
Bepin Babu’s visit to Ranchi. He recalled several instances in his support but Bepin was not convinced. A
letter from Chunilal gave such a news that Bepin became all right. The news was that Chunilal’s novel had
been accepted for publication and he would get a handsome amount.
Short Answer Type

Question 1. Why did Bepin Choudhury drop at Kalicharan’s in new market?

Answer: On every Monday, Bepin Choudhury dropped at Kalicharan’s new market to buy books. Crime
stories, ghost stories and thriller stories he had to buy at least 5 at a time to last him through the week.

Question 2. Why did Bepin like to read books?

Answer: Bepin Chaudhary was fond of reading books. He lived alone and did not mix up with others
neither did he like to waste his time in idle chats.

Question 3. Who was observing Bepin Choudhary at book shop?

Answer: The man was Parimal Ghose, who met Bepin in 1958 in Ranchi. He used to meet Bepin whole
week to arrange car to take him to the Hudroo Falls.

Question 4. What happened with Bepin Choudhary at Ranchi? How did Mr. Parimal help him?
Answer: Bepin Choudhary had a fall in Hudroo and cut his right knee. Then Parimal brought iodine to
him. He also fixed up car for him to go to Netarhat, the next day.

Question 5. According to man, where was Bepin Choudhary in ’58?

Answer: According to man, Bepin Babu was in his bungalow in Ranchi. But according to Bepin, he spent
a puja in ’58 with a friend in Kanpur.

Question 6. How did you know that the man knew Bepin Chaudhary?
Answer: We got to know that the man knew him because he gave a brief description about Bepin that is:
He always carries books with him. He had no children and his wife passed away 10 years ago. He didn’t
like hotel food and so he had his meal cooked by Bawarchi.

Question 7. Who was Paresh Chandra? And what he suggested for Bepin?
Answer: Paresh Chandra was a young physician with a pair of bright eyes and a sharp nose. He
suggested Bepin to go to Ranchi once again that can make him to remind the entire trip. Dr. Chandra also
doesn’t know much about this kind of disease but he gave suggestion and some tranquilliser and a nerve
tonic to make him sleep well.

Question 8. Why did Bepin Babu said that there is no hope for him?
Answer: Bepin Babu said that there is no hope for him because when he reached to Ranchi he did not
have memory of his trip. He went to Hudroo Falls also but found nothing, and now he thought that he
would lose everything; his will to work, his confidence, his ability etc.

Question 9. Who sent the letter to Bepin and what was written there?
Answer: The letter was sent by Chunnilal. He wrote that he had no money, his resources were limited.
What he had was imagination, which he had used to write a novel and it would be published soon.

Question 10. At last what did Bepin said to Dr. Chandra?

Answer: Bepin said that “I’m fine. It all came back as soon as I got off the train at Ranchi”, and he called
him because he had pain in his hip because he fell in Ranchi and a painkiller could work on it.

Question 11. What happened at Kalicharan’s shop?

Answer: Bepin Babu used to buy books every Monday. One day, he observed that someone was looking
at him keenly. He introduced himself as Parimal Ghose.
Question 12. What did the man say about himself?
Answer: The man was surprised and said that they met every day for a whole week. He also arranged a
car for him to take him to the Hudroo Falls in Ranchi in the year 1958.

Question 13. How did Bepin get a cut on his right knee?
Answer: Bepin Choudhary could not recollect about the reason of the scar. He was told by Parimal
Ghose that he had a fall in Hudroo and cut his right knee. He bought him iodine.

Question 14. What arrangements were made during his stay in Ranchi?
Answer: Parimal informed Bepin that he stayed in a bungalow as he didn’t like hotel food and preferred to
have his meals cooked by ‘bawarchi’.

Question 15. What details of the family were known to Parimal and how?
Answer: Parimal told him that he spoke about his family. He had no children and his wife died about ten
years ago. His younger brother had died insane. He said that he had revealed all the details by himself.
Yet Bepin didn’t believe him.

Question 16. Do you think that Parimal successfully convinced Bepin about his visit to Ranchi?
Answer: Bepin was sure that he never visited Ranchi. Although Parimal gave him evidence and
references. Bepin left him in utter disbelief.

Question 17. Why do you think was ‘Bepin Babu’s head reeled’?
Answer: Bepin Babu was sure that he never visited Ranchi. But the intruder narrated incidents with so
much of conviction that Bepin Babu started doubting himself. He tried to find the reason of his
forgetfulness.

Question 18. Who was Haridas? Where did he go?

Answer: Haridas was a friend of Bepin who stayed in Kanpur. Bepin visited him in October 1958 during
puja. When Bepin was in a conflict with Parimal, he wanted to write to him. Then he realized that Haridas
had left with his wife for Japan.

Question 19. What was Bepin ‘sleuthing’ about?

Answer: Bepin Babu called up Dinesh Mukerji to enquire about his visit to Ranchi. As Parimal Ghose
mentioned him name when he was narrating incidents about Ranchi.

Question 20. Why was ‘his head in a swirl’?

Answer: Bepin was in dilemma because Parimal concocted a fake story about Bepin’s visit to Ranchi. He
was at one of the important position in his office. He was doing his job perfectly. So he felt why such an
important trip was slipped off his mind. ‘Is he getting insane’ he started losing faith over himself.

Question 21. Who was Chunni? What kind of relationship do they share?
Answer: Chunni Lai had been at school with Bepin Babu. He was not well off so he often visited him to
get help in finding work. But Bepin Babu disliked him.

Question 22. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Answer: The man stared at Bepin Babu in disbelief because Bepin Babu did not recognise him even
though he was sure that he knew him and had met him in Ranchi.

Question 23. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October’ 58?
Answer: Bepin Babu said that in October 58 he was in Kanpur.
Question 24. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Answer: Bepin Babu’s intimate secrets were known to Parimal Ghose:
He knew Bepin Babu had no children.
He had lost his wife 1 year ago.
His brother was died insane.

Question 25. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Answer: Bepin Babu continuously worried about what Parimal Ghose had said because he had shown
that he
knew many intimate facts about him. He knew about the bag of books, his wife’s death and his brother’s |
insanity. Considering that Parimal Ghose knew so much about him. Bepin Babu couldn’t say with
conviction that he was making a mistake about the Ranchi trip.

Question 26. How did he try to decide who was right in his memory or Parimal Ghose?
Answer: Bepin Babu tried to check the people who were supposed to have a link with the Ranchi trip. He
asked Dinesh Mukherjee about the trips. Dinesh Mukherjee increased his duality as he made a positive
statement for Ranchi trip.

Question 27. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Answer: Bepin Babu hesitated to visit Mr. Mukerji thinking that it would be ridiculous if he had really
visited Ranchi. Mukerji would think Bepin Babu had gone mad. Hence, Bepin Babu finally decided to
phone him.

Question 28. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu, or add to his worries?
Answer: Mr. Mukerji confirmed that Bepin Babu had been to Ranchi in October 58. This further made him
uncomfortable. Bepin Babu became so worried that he even lost his appetite.

Question 29. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Answer: Chunilal was an old schoolmate of Bepin Babu. He had been having a rough time lately and had
been – coming to see Bepin Babu for a job.

Question 30. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Answer: Paresh Chanda was a young physician. He had never dealt a case of memory loss. So he was
puzzled. He gave a suggestion to Bepin Babu to visit Ranchi again.

Question 31. Had Bepin Babu really Toast his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Answer: No, Bepin Babu had not really lost his memory. In fact, he had never been to Ranchi. It was all a
plan made by Chunilal to teach him a lesson.

Question 32. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he had no money: What is it that
he does have?
Answer: Chunilal did what he did because Bepin Babu did not help him at a time when he had no money
and required a job. However, Bepin Babu did not do anything for him. So he wanted to punish him by
rekindling haunting memory of his fall near Hudroo. Chunilal seems to be a good writer with very fertile
imagination. That is what he believes would help him to tide over his bad phase.

Question 33. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can
you find in the story to support this?
Answer: Bepin Babu was a serious and hardworking man. He worked daily in his office. He did not like to
mix with the people and had few friends. He lived alone and didn’t like to spend time in idle chat.
He had been working for a big firm for the past 25 years and had a reputation for being a tireless
conscientious worker.

Question 34. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this
meeting?
Answer: Bepin Babu changed his mind about meeting Chunilal because he thought that it might be
possible that the latter remember something about the Ranchi trip. When Chunilal confirmed that Bepin
Babu had been to Ranchi Bepin Babu decided to see a specialist doctor.

Question 35. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Answer: Bepin Babu might have slipped near Hudroo falls that made him unconscious.

Question 36. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
Answer: Bepin Babu must be regretting when he found the truth about Chunilal. He must be upset for not
helping his old friend who was in such a bad condition. Bepin Babu would be also angry on Chunilal for
creating so much of chaos in his peaceful life.

Long Answer Type

Question 1. Bepin Chaudhary was losing confidence because of the force created around. What would
you do to restore faith and confidence?
Answer: Chunni Lai manipulated everything. He sent a man who concocted story with conviction. At first,
he was unmoved, but later started interrogating himself. He tried to relive the places then only he realized
the truth. If were at his place, I would have snapped the intruder and won’t let him disturb my inner peace.

Question 2. Chunni Lai was talented yet ‘kept turning up like a bad penny’. What do you get about the
character of Chunni Lai?
Answer: Chunni Lai was a creative person. He was full of imagination and depicted the force as a reality.
He successfully be fooled Bepin Babu and manipulated him so well that he started doubting himself.
Although he was close to perfection and skill, yet he used it in a wrong way. He thrived the one whom he
visit seeking help. He should have understood his talent and used it constructively rather than harassing
an intelligent man who was busy doing his own work. Chunni Lai was revengeful and tricked Bepin Babu.

Reference to Context

Passage 1.
Every Monday, on his way back from work, Bepin Choudhury would drop in at Kalicharan’s in New Market
to buy books. Crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers. He had to buy at least five at a time to last him
through the week. He lived alone, was not a good mixer, had few friends, and didn’t like spending time in
idle chat. Today, at Kalicharan’s, Bepin Babu had the feeling that someone was observing him from close
quarters. He turned round and found himself looking at a round faced, meek looking man who now broke
into a smile. “I don’t suppose you recognise me.” “Have we met before?” asked Bepin Babu. The man
looked greatly surprised. “We met every day for a whole week. I arranged for a car to take you to the
Hudroo falls. In 1958. In Ranchi. My name is Parimal Ghose.” “Ranchi?”
Question 1. What did Bepin do every Monday?
Answer: Bepin Choudhary bought books of crime stories, ghost stories and thrillers from Kalicharan’s
new market every Monday.

Question 2. Why was Bepin engrossed in reading?

Answer: Bepin lived alone in his house. He was not a good mixer. He had only a few friends and didn’t
like spending time in idle chat.
Question 3. What was Bepin Babu suspicious of?
Answer: Bepin Babu felt that somebody was keeping at an eye on him who was observing him.

Question 4. What did Parimal tell about himself?

Answer: Parimal Ghose revealed that he met him every day during his stay in Ranchi in 1958. He had
arranged a car for him to take him to the Hudroo falls.

Question 5. Choose a word/ phrase from the passage which means ‘direst and close contact’.
Answer: Close quarters.

Passage 2
Was he losing his mind? But how could that be? He was working daily in his office. It was a big firm, and
he was doing a responsible job. He wasn’t aware of anything ever going seriously wrong. Only today he
spoke for half an hour at an important meeting. And yet… And yet the man knew a great deal about him.
How? He even seemed to know some intimate details. The bag of books, wife’s death, brother’s insanity…
The only mistake was about his having gone to Ranchi. Not a mistake; a deliberate lie. In ’58, during the
Pujas, he was in Kanpur at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place. All Bepin Babu had to do was write to — no,
there was no way of writing to Haridas. Bepin Babu suddenly remembered that Haridas had left with his
wife for Japan some weeks ago, and he didn’t have his address.
Question 1. What was the conflict in Bepin Babu’s mind?
Answer: Bepin Babu was working in office and he was performing his duties with responsibility. He spoke
for half an hour at an important meeting. Yet he was not sure of his mental state.

Question 2. Where was Bepin Babu in October 1958?

Answer: Bepin Babu was in Kanpur October 1958 at his friend Haridas Bagchi’s place.

Question 3. Why did Bepin say ‘No, there was To Haridas’?

Answer: Bepin wanted to contact Haridas, then he remembered that Haridas had left with his wife for
Japan some weeks ago.

Question 4. What were the ‘intimate details’ that Parimal Ghose was aware of?
Answer: Parimal Ghose knew about the intimate details about the bag of books, wife’s death, brother’s
insanity etc.

Question 5. Explain ‘losing his mind’.

Answer: Bepin was initially confident that Parimal mistook him for someone else. But his lie shook him.
He started doubting himself.

Passage 3.
Doubtless it was Bepin’s condition which made Chunilal leave without mentioning anything about a job.
Paresh Chanda was a young physician with a pair of bright eyes and a sharp nose. He became thoughtful
when he heard about Bepin Babu’s symptoms. “Look, Dr Chanda,” said Bepin Babu desperately, “You
must cure me of this horrible illness. I can’t tell you how it’s affecting my work.” Dr Chanda shook his head.
‘You know what, Mr Choudhury,” he said. “I’ve never had to deal with a case such as yours. Frankly, this
is quite outside my field of experience. But I have one suggestion. I don’t know if it’ll work, but it’s worth a
try. It can do no harm.” Bepin Babu leaned forward anxiously.
Question 1. What did Chunni Lai come for?
Answer: Chunni Lai visited Bepin’s place to take his help in finding a suitable job for him.

Question 2. Describe the appearance of Paresh Chanda.

Answer: Paresh Chandra was a young physician with a pair of bright eyes and a sharp nose.
Question 3. Why was Bepin Babu desperate?
Answer: Bepin Babu was desperate to get cure of his horrible illness of forgetfulness.

Question 4. What was the analysis of Dr. about mental condition of Bepin Babu?
Answer: Bepin Babu visited the doctor to analyse the medical condition and he could not find anything
suspicious in him.

Question 5. What was the suggestion of his doctor?

Answer: The doctor suggested him to visit Ranchi. Once again to get real experience he could make
out if he had really visited those places.

Passage 4
Getting off the train at Ranchi next morning, he realised at once that he had never been there before. He
came out of the station, took a taxi and drove around the town for a while. He realised that the streets, the
buildings, the hotels, the bazaars, the Morabadi Hill – with none of these had he the slightest
acquaintance. Would a trip to the Hudroo Falls help? He didn’t believe so, but, at the same time, he didn’t
wish to leave with the feeling that he hadn’t tried enough. So he arranged for a car and left for Hudroo in
the afternoon. At five o’clock the same afternoon in Hudroo, two Gujarati gentlemen from a group of
picnickers discovered Bepin Babu lying unconscious beside a boulder. When he came round, the first
thing Bepin Babu said was, “I’m finished. There’s no hope left.”
Question 1. How was he sure that he had not visited Ranchi before?
Answer: Bepin Babu visited Ranchi by hiring a taxi. He realized that the streets, the buildings, the hotels,
the bazaars etc were not familiar at all.

Question 2. Why did the trip to the Hudroo Falls plan?

Answer: Bepin Babu was sure that he had not visited the place before. But he did not want to take a
chance so he went to Hudroo Falls.

Question 3. What had happened to Bepin Babu in Hudroo?

Answer: Bepin Babu was lying unconscious beside a boulder. Two Gujarati gentleman found him.

Question 4. Why do you think Bepin said ‘I’m finished’?

Answer: Bepin visited Ranchi with the hope to remember any incident or place to relate his previous trip
to Ranchi. But he couldn’t relate anything. He was thus in a state of shock that he had lost his memory.

Question 5. Why was ‘no hope left’ for Bepin Babu?

Answer: Bepin Babu lost faith in his memory. He was totally devastated. He worked hard and managed
solution by engaging himself in reading books. The false story had so much of impact on his mind that he
lost all his hope of leading a normal life.