NCERT Solutions: Quality

Working with the Text

Q1: What was the author’s opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker?
Ans: The author had a high opinion about Mr Gessler as a bootmaker. Heknew that Mr Gessler made only what was ordered, and the boots that he made never failed to fit. The author felt that to make such boots as Mr Gessler did seemed mysterious and wonderful.

Q2: Why did the author visit the shop so infrequently?
Ans: The author visited the shop so infrequently because the boots made by Mr Gessler lasted for a long time.

Q3: What was the effect on Mr Gessler of the author’s remark about a certain pair of boots?
Ans: When the author remarked that a certain pair of boots he had got earlier creaked, Mr Gessler looked at him for a time without replying, as if expecting him to withdraw or qualify the statement. Then, he said that the shoes should not have creaked. He then asked the author to send the boots back, and if he could do nothing of them, he would take them off his bill.

Q4: What was Mr Gessler’s complaint against ‘big firms”?
Ans: Mr Gessler’s complaint against big firms was that they got customers only because of advertising, and not because of any quality work. Mr Gessler, who loved his job and who used to make good quality boots, had very little work because people preferred the big firms.

Q5: Why did the author order so many pairs of boots? Did he really need them?
Ans: The author knew that Mr Gessler made good quality boots. Every single pair of boots was good enough to last a long time. He came to know from Mr Gessler himself that in spite of his love for his job he could not get much work. This was because people preferred buying boots from big firms. Seeing his hardship and struggle, the author decided to order many pairs of boots even though he really did not really need them.

Working with Language

Q1: Study the following phrases and their meanings. Use them appropriately to complete the sentences that follow.

1. look after: take care of
2. look down on: disapprove or regard as inferior
3. look in (on someone): make a short visit 
4. look into: investigate
5. look out: be careful 
6. look up: improve
7. look up to: admire

(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is __________________ at last.
 (ii) We have no right to ____________________people who do small jobs.
 (iii) Nitin has always _________________ his uncle, who is a self-made man.
 (iv) The police are ____________________ the matter thoroughly.
 (v) If you want to go out, I will ______________________ the children for you.
 (vi) I promise to __________________ on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.
 (vii) _________________ when you are crossing the main road.

Ans:
(i) After a very long spell of heat, the weather is looking up at last.
(ii) We have no right to look down on people who do small jobs.
(iii) Nitin has always looked up to his uncle, who is a self-made man.
(iv) The police are looking into the matter thoroughly.
(v) If you want to go out, I will look after the children for you.
(vi) I promise to look in on your brother when I visit Lucknow next.
(vii) Look out when you are crossing the main road.

Q2: Read the following sets of words loudly and clearly.

 Ans: This question requires you to use your own perspective as well as your analytical skills. The answer to the question would vary from one person to another. It is suggested that you read the text carefully and try attempting it on your own.

Q3: Each of the following words contains the sound ‘sh’ (as in shine) in the beginning or in the middle or at the end. First speak out all the words clearly. Then arrange the words in three groups in the table on page  

 Ans: 

Q4: In each of the following words ‘ch’ represents the same consonant sound as in ‘chair’. The words on the left have this sound initially. Those on the right have it finally. Speak each word clearly. 

Underline the letters representing this sound in each of the following words.
 (i) feature (iv) reaching (vii) riches
 (ii) archery (v) nature (viii) batch
 (iii) picture (vi) matches (ix) church

Ans:
(i) Feature
(ii) Archery
(iii) Picture
(iv) Reaching
(v) Nature
(vi) Matches
(vii) Riches
(viii) Batch
(ix) Church