Unit 2
Reading A
The Never-Never Nest
Comprehension
1) Read the questions or the statements given in column I and say who asked these questions or made these statements to whom and in which context?
I | II | III | IV | |
Questions or statements | Who said | To whom | In which context | |
| i | What do you think of our little nest, Aunt Jane? | Jill | Aunt Jane | While showing their house |
| ii | No, No, Aunt Jane.You misunderstand me. | Jack | Aunt Jane | When Aunt Jane asked about the rent of the house |
| iii | I’m expecting ten this Christmas | Jack | Jill | When Jill said about Jack’s rise to five shilings |
| iv | They’re only too glad to loan you any amount you like, on note of hand alone. | Jill | Aunt Jane | While telling about the loan they got it from |
| v | Aunt Jane! Is anything the matter? Would you like to lie down? | Jack | Aunt Jane | When Aunt Jane comes to know about the installments of everything they bought |
| vi | Er-thank you. Aunt Jane.It’s very nice of you. | Jill | Aunt Jane | When aunt Jane gives them cheque of ten pounds |
| vii | Good-bye, Aunt Jane— and thanks so much for the present. | Jill | Aunt Jane | When she aunt Jane handed her the cheque |
2) Answer the following questions.
1> Choose the correct answer from the options given below each of the following questions.
i) Why didn’t Jack and Jill pay rent for their house? They didn’t pay the rent
because
(a) they were too poor to pay the rent.
(b) they were staying in the house illegally.
(c) they had bought the house on instalments
ii) How much did Aunt Jane give Jack and Jill as their wedding present?
(a) one hundred pounds
(b) two hundred pounds
(c) one thousand pounds
iii) How much did Jack and Jill pay to get a car?
(a) five pounds
(b) ten pounds
(c) five hundred pounds
iv) Why did Aunt Jane refuse to lie down on the bed? She didn’t lie down on the bed because
(a) she was angry with Jack and Jill.
(b) the bed did not belong to Jack and Jill.
(c) she was in a hurry to leave the house of Jack and Jill.
v) Why did Aunt Jane gift a cheque of ten pounds to Jack and Jill?… because
(a) Jack and Jill asked Aunt Jane to help them with a cheque.
(b) Jack and Jill wanted to repay their loAnswer:
(c) Aunt Jane thought that Jack and Jill could make full payments for at least one of their bills.
vi) What did Jack intend to do with the ten pounds cheque?
(a) He wanted to pay off the instalments to the doctor.
(b) He wanted to pay off the instalments for the houses.
(c) He wanted to pay off the instalments for the car.
vii) How many persons were present in the house when Aunt Jane visited Jack and Jill?
(a) four
(b) five
(c) six
2) Describe Jack and Jill’s house and the things that impressed Aunt Jane.
Answer: Jack and Jill’s house was a charming one. They had a cute little room and pretty furniture. They had a radiogram, a refrigerator, and a piano too. They had a beautiful house with all the luxury that impress Aunt Jane.
3) Why was Aunt Jane worried about her gift cheque ?
Answer: Aunt Jane was worried because when she saw Jack and Jill’s house she thought that she had given them cheque of two thousand by mistake instead of two hundred pounds.
4) Why did Jack say that it was better ‘to be Mr. Owner than to be Mr. Tenant’?
Answer: Jack thought that paying rent year after year would be not economic . And it would not give them feeling of enjoyment and satisfaction, so he preferred to be Mr. Owner than to be Mr. Tenant.
5) Why did Aunt Jane say that she would take a bus rather than go by Jack’s car?
Answer: Almost everything of Jack and Jill was on installment and this made Aunt Jane worried. The car he had didn’t belong to him completely and he owned only steering wheel and a tire.Aunt Jane felt that it would be better for her to take the bus than to go in the car.
6) What did Jill do with the ten pound cheque presented by Aunt Jane?
Answer: Aunt Jane gave the couple ten pounds. Jill took it and in envelope she sends it to the doctor to pay his fees.
7) Many people are in the habit of buying things on instalment? Do you support this trend? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: I don’t like the idea of buying things on installments. It makes me worried that what if I am not able to pay installments on time. And there is constant pressure until the installment is paid. So, this trend is definitely not for me.
8) Describe a situation which you find most humorous in the play.
Answer: When Aunt Jane came to know about Jack’s car, that he owned only a steering wheel and a tire this made Aunt Jane worried. When she was about to leave, Jack said that he would drop her to the station in his car, then Aunt Jane said that she would not go in the car which had only one tire.
9) What do you understand by the title ‘The Never, Never Nest’? Can you suggest a new title?
Answer: The title’ The Never, Never Nest’ is an apt one. This means that everything that Jack and Jill was not completely theirs, it was on installment. This tells us that they were not completely owner of their house.
Vocabulary –
1> Tick (P) the words which are similar to the words given in bold.
1) Charming! Such a cosy little room.
(a) costly
(b) cute
(c) comfortable
2) Aunt Jane (suddenly): Jack! I’ve just thought of something. That car—is it yours?
Jill: Of course it’s ours.
Aunt Jane: All yours?
Jack: Well, no. Not exactly all.
(a) immediately
(b) completely
(c) correctly
3) Now, tell me, how much do all these instalments come to?
(a) loans
(b) full payment
(c) part payment
4) Yes, Jack, that’s what’s
Mother: Why did she refuse to sit on the furniture? That’s amazing!
Jack: But Aunt Jane was very kind and considerate. Do you know what she gave us at the time of her departure?
Mother: What did she give you?
Jill: A ten pound cheque.
Mother: She gave you a ten pound cheque!
Jill: Yes, yes. A ten pound cheque.
Mother: What do you propose to do with that extra money?
Jill: We have spent it already.
Mother: Good heavens, you spent it already! What didyou do with that money?
Jill: I sent it to Dr. Martins.DidI do a good thing, Mum?
Mother: To Dr. Martins? Why did you send it to Dr. Martin?
Jill: For the last instalment
Mother: Oh, I see. How nice of you! You did the right thing, my dear.
Jill: Thanks, mum.