JAMAICAN FRAGMENT COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS TEXT AND VIDEO FOR CLASS 10 ENGLISH FOR SCERT TS SYLLABUS

 

Jamaican Fragment

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Everyday, I walk a half-mile from my home to the tramcar lines in the morning and from the lines to my home in the evening. The walk is pleasant. The road on either side is flanked by red and green-roofed bungalows, green lawns and gardens. The exercise is good for me, and now and then, I learn something from a little incident. One morning, about half- way between my front gate and the tram track, I noticed two little boys playing in the garden of the more modest cottages. They were both very little boys, one was four years old perhaps, the other five. The bigger of the two was a sturdy youngster, very dark, with a mat of coarse hair on his head and coal-black eyes. He was definitely a little Jamaican — a strong little Jamaican. The other little fellow was smaller, but also sturdy — he was white, with hazel eyes and light-brown hair. Both were dressed in blue shirts and khaki pants. They wore no shoes and their feet were muddy. They were not conscious of my standing there, watching them; they played on. The game, if it could be called a game, was not elaborate. The little white boy strode imperiously up and down, and every now and then shouted imperiously at his bigger playmate. The little brown boy shuffled along quietly behind him and did what he was told.

'Pick up that stick!' The dark boy picked it up. 'Jump into the flowers!' The dark boy jumped.

'Get me some water!' The dark boy ran inside. The white boy sat down on the lawn. I was amazed. Here before my eyes, a white baby, for they were little more than

babies, was imposing his will upon a little black boy. And the little black boy submitted. I puzzled within myself as I went down the road. Could it be that the little dark boy was the son of a servant in the home and therefore had to do the white boy's bidding? No. They were obviously dressed alike, the little dark boy was of equal class with his playmate. No. They were playmates, the little dark boy was a neighbour's child. I was sure of that. Then how was it that he obeyed so faithfully the white boy's orders?

Was it that even as a boy he sensed that in his own country he would be at the white man's beck and call? Could he, at his age, divine a difference between himself and the white boy? And did the little white youngster, so young, such a baby, realize that he would grow to dominate the black man? Was there an indefinable quality in the white man that enabled his baby, smaller and younger than his playmate, to make him his slave? I could find no answer. I could not bring myself to believe such a thing, and yet, with my own eyes I had seen a little dark boy take orders from a little white boy — a little white boy, obviously his social equal, and younger and smaller. Were we, as a race, really inferior? So inferior that even in our infancy we realised our deficiencies, and accepted a position as the white man's servant?

For a whole day I puzzled over this problem. For a whole day my faith in my people was shaken. When I passed by that afternoon the little boys were not there. That evening I thought deeply on the subject.

The next morning the boys were there again, and a man was standing at the gate watching them. I stopped and looked, just to see what the white boy was making his little servant do. To my utter astonishment the little dark boy was striding imperiously up and down the lawn, while the white youngster walked abjectly behind him.

'Get me a banana!' The little boy ran into the house and reappeared shortly with a banana. 'Peel it for me!' the little white boy peeled the banana and handed it to his dark master.

I saw it now. It was indeed a game, a game I had played as a child. Each boy took it in turn every alternate day to be the boss, the other the slave. It had been great fun to me as a youngster. I smiled as I remembered. I looked at the man standing by the gate. He was a white man. I remembered what I had thought yesterday. He, no doubt, I thought to myself, was wondering if the black race is superior to the white. I laughed gently to myself. How silly grown-ups are, how clever we are, how wonderfully able we are, to impute deep motives to childish actions! This man, I said to myself, will puzzle all day on whether the blacks will eventually rise and rule the world because he thinks he sees a little black boy realizing at a tender age his superiority over the white. I will save him from his puzzle. I will explain it to him. I went across to him.

'I know what you're thinking,' I said. 'You're thinking that may be the black race is superior to the white, because you just saw the little dark youngster on the lawn ordering the little white boy around. Don't think that; it's a game they play. Alternate days one is the boss, the other the servant. It's a grand game. I used to play it and may be so did you. Yesterday I saw the little white boy bossing the dark one and I worried all day over the dark boy's realisation of his inferiority so young in life! We are silly, we grown-ups, aren't we?'

The man was surprised at my outburst. He looked at me smiling. 'I know all about the game,' he said. 'The boys are brothers — my sons.' He pointed to a handsome brown woman on the veranda who had just come out to call in the children. 'That's my wife', he said.

I smiled. My spirit laughed within me. This is Jamaica, I said in my heart, this is my country — my people. I looked at the white man. He smiled at me. 'We'll miss the tram if we don't hurry,' he said.

JAMAICAN FRAGMENT (class 10 English Questions and Answers)

Factual Questions and Answers:

1. What is the daily routine of the author mentioned in the text?

·        Answer: The author walks half a mile from home to tramcar lines in the morning and back in the evening.

2. Describe the appearance of the two little boys playing in the garden.

·        Answer: One boy is dark, with coarse hair and coal-black eyes, while the other is white, with hazel eyes and light-brown hair. Both wear blue shirts and khaki pants.

3. What was the game the two boys were playing in the garden?

·        Answer: The game involved taking turns being the boss and the servant, with commands given and obeyed alternately.

4. What puzzled the author about the interaction between the two boys?

·        Answer: The author was puzzled by the little dark boy's seemingly obedient behavior towards the little white boy.

5. How did the author feel about the situation initially, and how did it affect his faith in his people?

·        Answer: The author was initially amazed and puzzled, and it shook his faith in his people for a day.

6. What was the realization the author had the next day about the boys' interaction?

·        Answer: The author realized that it was a game, where the boys took turns being the boss and the servant.

7. Who was the man standing at the gate watching the boys, and what did the author assume about his thoughts?

·        Answer: The man was a white man, and the author assumed he was pondering whether the black race is superior to the white.

8. What was the man's reaction when the author explained the situation to him?

·        Answer: The man was surprised but confirmed that he knew about the game, and the boys were his sons.

9. Who turned out to be the wife of the man, and how did the author react?

·        Answer: The woman on the veranda turned out to be the man's wife, and the author smiled, feeling a sense of connection to his country and people.

10. What did the author realize about the situation, and what conclusion did he draw?

·        Answer: The author realized it was a game, and he concluded that grown-ups sometimes impute deep motives to childish actions.

11. What is the setting of the daily walk described by the author in the text?

• Answer: The setting is a road flanked by red and green-roofed bungalows, green lawns, and gardens.

12. Describe the physical appearance of the little white boy in the passage.

• Answer: The little white boy is smaller, with hazel eyes and light-brown hair, dressed in a blue shirt and khaki pants.

13. What was the author's initial reaction upon seeing the little white boy bossing the dark boy around?

• Answer: The author was amazed and puzzled, leading to a temporary shaken faith in his people.

14. How did the author feel the next morning upon realizing the nature of the boys' interaction?

• Answer: The author felt a sense of relief and smiled upon realizing that it was a game the boys played.

15. What did the little white boy command the dark boy to do when the man was watching them at the gate?

• Answer: The little white boy commanded the dark boy to get him a banana, which the dark boy promptly did.

16. How did the author's perception of the boys' interaction change after learning they were brothers?

• Answer: The author's perception changed from puzzlement to understanding, realizing that it was a familial game between brothers.

17. What did the author compare the boys' game to from his own childhood?

• Answer: The author compared the boys' game to a childhood game where each boy took turns being the boss and the servant.

18. What caused the author's faith in his people to be temporarily shaken?

• Answer: The author's faith was temporarily shaken by the initial puzzlement and amazement at the little dark boy seemingly obeying the little white boy.

19. What revelation about the boys surprised the author when he explained the situation to the man?

• Answer: The revelation that the boys were brothers surprised the author.

20. How did the man, who turned out to be the father of the boys, react to the author's explanation?

·        Answer: The man was surprised but confirmed that he knew about the game, and he pointed to the boys' mother on the veranda.

 

Inferential Questions and Answers:

1. What can be inferred about the author's initial thoughts on the interaction between the two boys and its impact on his faith in his people?
• Answer: The author's initial amazement and puzzlement temporarily shook his faith in his people, indicating the significance he attached to the observed behavior.
2. Based on the author's pondering about the little dark boy's obedience, what assumptions did he consider regarding social class and the boy's future?
• Answer: The author considered whether the little dark boy might be from a lower social class or if he sensed his future role as subservient to the white man.
3. What does the author's laughter at his own thoughts reveal about the adult perspective on children's actions?
• Answer: The author's laughter suggests that adults often impute deep motives to childish actions, realizing the innocence and simplicity behind children's games.
4. In the context of the author's initial worry, what can be inferred about his perception of racial dynamics in Jamaica during that time?
• Answer: The author's worry suggests a sensitivity to racial dynamics, questioning whether the observed behavior reflected deeper societal inequalities.
5. What might the author's realization about the boys playing a game imply about the nature of assumptions made by adults?
• Answer: The author's realization suggests that adults sometimes misinterpret children's actions, attributing complex motives when the reality is simpler and more innocent.
6. Considering the author's thoughts about the little dark boy's potential realization of inferiority, what inference can be drawn about societal expectations during that time?
• Answer: The author's thoughts suggest a recognition of societal expectations and the potential impact on a child's perception of race and social roles.
7. What can be inferred about the author's relief and sense of connection upon realizing the true nature of the boys' interaction?
• Answer: The author's relief and sense of connection suggest a positive outlook and a desire to dispel negative assumptions about racial dynamics in the observed scenario.
8. How does the revelation about the boys being brothers affect the inference about the dynamics of their game?
• Answer: The revelation emphasizes that the boys are brothers, indicating that their game is a lighthearted, familial activity rather than a reflection of broader societal issues.
9. What can be inferred about the importance of communication and understanding in dispelling misconceptions, as illustrated in the passage?
• Answer: The passage highlights the significance of communication and understanding in dispelling misconceptions, as the author's explanation to the man changes the interpretation of the boys' actions.
10. Considering the man's surprise at the author's explanation, what inference can be drawn about the prevalence of assumptions and stereotypes related to race in society?
• Answer: The man's surprise suggests that assumptions and stereotypes related to race may be prevalent, leading to unexpected reactions when these assumptions are challenged.

Extrapolating Questions and Answers:

1. If the author had not taken the time to observe the boys and inquire about the situation, how might his initial assumptions have influenced his perception of racial dynamics?
• Answer: Without observation and inquiry, the author's initial assumptions might have perpetuated negative perceptions of racial dynamics, leading to a continued sense of puzzlement and concern.
2. Considering the boys' game of taking turns being the boss and the servant, how might this childhood activity reflect broader societal attitudes towards hierarchy and authority in Jamaica?
• Answer: The boys' game might reflect a lighthearted exploration of hierarchy, authority, and roles, potentially mirroring societal attitudes towards these concepts in Jamaica.
3. If the boys had been from different families rather than being brothers, how might the dynamics of their game have been interpreted differently by the author and the man?
• Answer: If the boys were from different families, the author and the man might have interpreted the dynamics more seriously, potentially reinforcing assumptions about racial and social hierarchies.
4. How might the passage have unfolded differently if the author had not encountered the man and had the opportunity to explain the nature of the boys' game?
• Answer: Without encountering the man, the author's initial worries might have persisted, leading to a prolonged sense of concern and potentially influencing his views on racial dynamics.
5. Considering the impact of the author's explanation on the man's perception, how might open communication and sharing of perspectives contribute to breaking down racial stereotypes in society?
• Answer: The passage suggests that open communication and sharing perspectives can dispel stereotypes and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of racial dynamics.
6. If the author had not laughed at his own initial thoughts and had continued to harbor negative assumptions, how might this have influenced his interactions with others in the community?

·        Answer: If the author had not laughed at his own thoughts, negative assumptions might have colored his interactions,

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