Paragraph Answer Questions (Section – A, Q.No. 5, Marks : 4)
Question 1.
Is the title, “The Short-sighted Brothers” apt to the story ? Explain?
Answer:
Yes. The name “The Short-sighted Brothers” and the content of the story look like made-for- each-other things. The title matches perfectly well with the theme. Three brothers are the lead characters. All the three brothers were very short-sighted. It was a physical disability. And they all suffered from the related mental disability too. They failed to see the possible result of their crooked,plans. They were selfish. They were greedy. They tried to cheat one another. Finally their follies were exposed. As the entire story deals with their physical and mental short- sightedness, the title is appropriate to this ancient chinese folk tale.
Question 2.
How did the three brothers try to outsmart one another ?
Answer:
“The Short-sighted Brothers” is a famous Chiness folk story. It exposes the folly of the three brothers. All the three brothers were very short-sighted. Even their personality suffered from the same flaw. They tried to deceive themselves and one another. The youngest brother one day proposed to take charge of their family finances.
He cited his eldest brother’s short- sightedness to support his claim. The second brother too joined the race. The eldest brother proposed a test to prove the power of their sight. They should read the inscription on the newly installed tablet on the door way of the nearest monastery. To outsmart one another, each met the monk secretly and learnt about the writing on it.
Question 3.
Were the three brothers successful in executing their tricks ? Support your answer.?
Answer:
No. The three brothers failed in their efforts. The famous Chinese folk tale “The Short-sighted Brothers”, explains their failure. All the three brothers were very short-sighted. Once, they wanted to prove the power of their sight. They were to read an inscription. Each learnt secretly from the monk about the writing.
They thought they could outsmart the others. They visited the monastery the next day. They started READING from the TABLET. Each one READ out. Then the monk came out. He told them that the TABLET was not yet put up! They READ from the TABLET that WAS NOT there! Their folly was exposed. They realised it!
Question 4.
Does the story “The Short-sighted Brothers’ support the wise saying, ‘Honesty is the best policy’ ? Discuss. * (Imp) (Model Paper)?
Answer:
Yes. Honesty is undoubtedly the best policy. It is certainly very difficult to practise the policy. The story, The Short-sighted Brothers’ proves both these points clearly. All the three brothers were short-sighted. They were selfish. They had no ethical values. They thought they could easily cheat others.
They got by heart the inscription ‘Be Honest At All Times’. But they never understood its meaning or its importance. They followed dishonest means to prove the power of their sight. Their follies were exposed. Thus, they learnt that their deceptive tricks failed. Only honesty shines forever! And through the brothers, the readers too get a valuable lesson.
The Short-sighted Brothers Summary in English
The folk tale, ‘The Short-sighted Brothers’ makes an interesting reading. With its gripping narration, the story excites the reader thoroughly. In the end takes a sudden twrist, stunning and surprising the reader. Equally shocked were the brothers in the story. It exposes the follies of the brothers, prompting many a reader to introspent.
The three aged brothers were the central characters in the story. They were short sighted, both physically and mentally. They were selfish and greedy. Citing their eldest brother’s short- sightedness as a reason, the youngest brother proposed to manage their family finales. He was blind to his own disability. All of them suffered from the same flow, sight problems and lack of values. Yet, each tried to outmart the other.
Therefore, they planned to test their own vision by reading the inscription above the doorway of nearby monastery. Each knew that he couldn’t read it. So, they secretly and separately enquired with monk there as to what was written on the tablet. And later, they pretended they were reading the inscription with their own eyes. In the process, they fooled themselves they memorised the quotation, “Be honest at all times”. But, they did not adopt it in their own lives! They failed to see the outcome of their evil plans. It was then, that the monk revealed that the tablet was not put up yet. The brothers realized how foolish they were !
Finally, the story clearly shows the physical weakness of the brothers. It also exposes their follies. Hence, we can very strongly say that the title suits the story well. If at once tells us what we are going to find in it.
Meanings and Explanations
short-sighted (adj) /sɔ:(r)t saıtıd/ (షో(ర్)ట్ సైటిడ్) (trisyllabic) = not able to see things etc clearly when they are not very near to that person; హ్రస్వదృష్టి లోపం కల; దగ్గరి వస్తువులను మాత్రమే చూడగల.
folklore (n) /fǝuklɔ:(r)/ (ఫఉక్ లో(ర్)) (disyllabic) a collection of conventional tales passed on to posterity orally : మౌఖికంగా భావితరాలకు అందించబడే సాంప్రదాయ కథలు; జానపద గాథలు
to take charge of (phrasal verb) to be in the control of; to take responsibility of : అదుపులో, అధీనంలో ఉంచుకొను; బాధ్యత వహించు
to take advantage of (phrasal verb) = to make use of a situation for one’s selfish interests: ఒక పరిస్థితిని తమ స్వార్థ ప్రయోజనాలకు వాడుకొను
sneer (v) /sniǝ(r)/ (స్నిఅ(ర్)) (monosyllabic) = speak harshly; say something without respect: కఠినంగా, అవమానకరంగా మాట్లాడు, अवहेलना, तिरस्कार
monastery (n) /monǝstri/ (మొనస్ ట్ రి) (trisyllabic) = a place where sages, ascetics, etc. live: సన్యాసాశ్రమము, मट
tablet (n) /tæblet/ (ట్యాబ్ లెట్ ) (disyllabic) = a slab of stone/clay for carving: రాతి (మట్టి) పలక; pill = మాత్ర; an electronic device = ఒక ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ పరికరము; చిన్న కంప్యూటర్, गोली
inscription (n) /inskripsən/ (ఇన్ స్ క్రిప్ షన్) (trisyllabic) = writing or carving on a stone surface : రాతిపలకపైని రాత
strain (n) /strein/ (స్ట్రైఇ న్) (monosyllabic) pressure; difficulty: ఒత్తిడి, కష్టము, कसकर तीनाना
in unison (phrase – functions as an adverbial) = all together and at a time: అందరూ కలిసి ఒకే సమయంలో (చెప్పు)
get a few winks (idiom) = sleep for a little while: కొద్దిసేపు నిద్రించు
sneak (v) /sni:k/(స్నేక్ ) (monosyllabic) = go without anyone’s knowledge: ఎవరికీ తెలియకుండా (రహస్యంగా) వెళ్ళు, जाव
monk (n) /maŋk/ (మంక్ ) (monosyllabic) a member of an all male-member religious group : సన్యాసి; అందరూ మగవారు మాత్రమే ఉండే మత బృంద సభ్యుడు, मट
Confucius (proper noun) /kənfjʊ:səs/ (కన్ ఫ్యూషన్) = a very famous philosopher from ancient China (550-479 B.C) : చైనాకు చెందిన ప్రాచీన కాలపు ప్రఖ్యాత తత్వవేత్త
chuckle (v) /tsakǝl/ (చకల్) (disyllabic) = laugh silently and inwardly : తమలో తాము నిశ్శబ్దాన్గా నవ్వుకొను
triumphantly (adv) /trai^mfǝntli/ (ట్రయ్ అమ్ షన్ ట్ లి) (polysyllabic-4 syllables) over the success : విజయ గర్వంతో, ఆనందంగా
applaud (v) /ǝplɔ:d/ (అప్లౌడ్) (disyllabic) = praise; appreciate; పొగడు, మెచ్చుకొను
besides (preposition) /basardz/ (బసైడ్) (disyllabic) = in addition to : అదనముగా
face falling (phrase) = looking sad; విచారంగా కనిపించు
intone (v) /Intaun/ (ఇన్టఉన్) (disyllabic) = say something and emphatically; నెమ్మదిగా, నొక్కి, నొక్కి అను, చెప్పు
follies (n-pl. of ‘folly’) /foliz/ (ఫొలిజ్) = foolishness; మూర్ఖత్వము, క్లాత్
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