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2. He ran to his mother. He felt her sitting up in bed. ‘The gun,’ he said, ‘get me the gun!’

She pushed the rifle into his hand. He opened the bolt and closed it. The cartridge slid
into the breach.

He found the door and opened it. The approaching horse had not slowed down.

‘Light the lamp,’ Sukhram said. ‘Then come and stand beside me.’
He stood in the middle of the doorway. His bare feet gripped the stone floor. His gun was

held across him, ready to raise.
a. What does Sukhram’s action of seeking the gun from his mother indicate?

i. His urgency and readiness to face the approaching threat.

ii. His need to display an act of bravery.
iii. His wish to prove that he can take care of his family.

iv. His displeasure that his mother kept the gun away from him.

b. Complete the following with a suitable explanation.
The pace of the approaching horse indicated that the rider .

c. State whether True or False.

Sukhram’s stance with the gun resemble a guard protecting a fortress.
d. How can we say that Sukhram’s actions demonstrate more bravery than
recklessness?

B. Answer the given questions briefly.
1. What were the ‘fancies’ of Sukhram? Whom did he share these with?

2. Why did Sukhram’s family decide to leave their home and go to his grandfather’s?

3. Give a reason why Sukhram thought it was strange that the English riders
couldn’t see where the Indian soldiers had gone.

4. Explain Sukhram’s confidence to be able to lead the troops up the goat trail.
5. How does Sukhram’s ability to navigate his surroundings using his senses

contribute to the plot development of the story?
6. Support the old man’s belief that people would sing ballads of Sukhram Lodhi.

C. Answer in detail.

1. This story reveals Sukhram as brave, daring, quick-witted and patriotic. Justify
with references to the story.

2. Sukhram had never been to the top of the mountain before. Thus, he was
irresponsible in risking his life and the lives of Tantia Tope and his troops by
leading them up the goat trail. Do you agree? Why/why not?
life skill critical thinking

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