Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English The Gift of the Magi Important Question Answers from Kumarbharti Book
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- The Gift of the Magi Textbook Exercise
- The Gift of the Magi Multiple Choice Questions
- The Gift of the Magi Extract Question Answers
- The Gift of the Magi Vocabulary Based MCQs
Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Lesson The Gift of the Magi Textbook Questions
- The moment you hear the word ‘Gift’, what feelings do you experience? Complete the web with those feelings.
- ‘Gifts’ need not be material gifts. They can be abstract and yet priceless. For example, favours, kindness, help in times of need etc.
Think of and enlist such unforgettable gifts given to you by :
(1) Parents/ Grand parents : ……………………………………………….
(2) Siblings/ relatives : ……………………………………………….
(3) Friends : ……………………………………………….
(4) Strangers : ……………………………………………….
Answer-
(1) Parents/ Grand parents: Unconditional love and support, Life lessons
(2) Siblings/ relatives: A listening ear
(3) Friends: Laughter and fun times
(4) Strangers: Kindness
- Say whether the words underlined are infinitives/ participles or gerunds.
(1) The athletes wanted to take part in the running race.
(a) ……………………………………. (b) …………………………………….
(2) Would you like to eat at the dinning table?
(a) ……………………………………. (b) …………………………………….
(3) Reading is good for the mind and soul. So take up reading books.
(a) ……………………………………. (b) …………………………………….
(4) I like to eat fruits rather than eating sweets.
(a) ……………………………………. (b) …………………………………….
(5) Listening and speaking sharpen your language skills.
(a) ……………………………………. (b) …………………………………….
Answer-
- The athletes wanted to take part in the running race.
(a) to take – infinitive (b) running – gerund
- Would you like to eat at the dining table?
(a) to eat – infinitive (b) dining – gerund
- Reading is good for the mind and soul. So take up reading books.
(a) Reading – gerund (b) reading – gerund
- I like to eat fruits rather than eating sweets.
(a) to eat – infinitive (b) eating – gerund
- Listening and speaking sharpen your language skills.
(a) Listening – gerund (b) speaking – gerund
- Why do you think Della counted the money three times?
Ans. Della counted the money three times because she was desperate. Each count was a renewed attempt to believe that she had more than she actually did.
- What signs indicate that Della was very poor?
Ans. Della’s poverty is evident in several ways:
Their living situation: They live in a small flat.
Financial struggles: She has to save pennies to buy a Christmas gift, and even then, it’s a small amount.
Sacrifice: She cuts and sells her most prized possession, her hair, to buy Jim a gift, indicating their financial hardship.
- What was the cause of Della’s disturbed mind?
Ans. Della’s disturbed mind was caused by her poverty and the desire to provide a perfect Christmas gift for Jim. She was faced with the heartbreaking dilemma of having very little money to buy a meaningful present for her husband.
- What were the couple’s prized possessions?
Ans. Jim’s prized possession was his gold watch, inherited from his father. Della’s was her long, beautiful hair.
- What made Della look at her reflection critically?
Ans. Della looked at her reflection critically because she had cut off her hair. She was unsure how she looked without her beautiful hair and was anxious about Jim’s reaction.
- What good habits did Della have?
Ans. Della saved every penny she could and was willing to make significant sacrifices for the one she loved.
- Why did Jim stare at Della?
Ans. Jim stared at Della because he was shocked by her appearance.
- What gift had Jim brought for Della?
Ans. Jim had bought a set of tortoise-shell combs for Della’s hair.
- Why did the beautiful present flash?
Ans. The beautiful present, the watch chain, flashed because it reflected Della’s bright and ardent spirit. It symbolized her love and sacrifice for Jim.
- Why are Jim and Della referred to as the magi?
Ans. Jim and Della are referred to as the Magi because they exemplify the spirit of selfless giving associated with the wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. They sacrificed their most prized possessions for each other, demonstrating the true meaning of Christmas.
- Complete the following.
(a) Della had saved ………………………..
(b) Della wanted to buy ………………………..
(c) Della’s beautiful hair tell about ………………………..
Answer-
(a) Della had saved money for a Christmas gift for Jim.
(b) Della wanted to buy a platinum fobchain for Jim’s watch.
(c) Della’s beautiful hair tells about her pride and beauty.
- Answer the following questions:
(a) How much did Della save for Christmas? What does it show?
Ans. Della saved only $1.87 for Christmas. This shows how poor they were and how much they loved each other, because even with so little, she wanted to get Jim a special gift.
(b) Why did Della take pride in the beauty of her hair?
Ans. Della took pride in her hair because it was her most prized possession. It was like a crown for her, and she felt beautiful with it.
(c) Why and how did Della sell her hair? Do you think she did well?
Ans. Della sold her hair because she wanted to buy Jim a perfect Christmas gift, a platinum fob chain for his watch. She went to Madame Sofronie, a hair buyer, and sold her hair for $20. It was a huge sacrifice, but she did it out of love. I think she did something amazing, even though it was really sad.
(d) Why did Jim sell his gold watch? Do you think he did well?
Ans. Jim sold his gold watch, a family heirloom, to buy Della some beautiful combs for her hair. He did this because he loved her and wanted to make her happy. It was a tough decision, but he did it without hesitation. I think he was also amazing, but it’s sad they had to sell such valuable things.
(e) Why did Jim and Della want to present the gifts?
Ans. Jim and Della wanted to present the gifts to show their love and affection for each other. They wanted to make each other happy on Christmas.
(f) Why did Della feel sad on losing her hair?
Ans. Della felt sad because she loved her hair. It was a part of her beauty and she felt less confident without it. She also felt that her husband might not love her the same without her beautiful hair.
(g) What did Jim bring out from his coat? Describe the scene.
Ans. Jim brought out a small, beautifully wrapped package from his coat. Della was excited and curious. She opened it and found the combs she had always wanted, but then she burst into tears because she had no hair to wear them with. Jim was shocked and confused at first.
(h) How beautiful was the gold watch chain? Would you have liked to own it?
Ans. The gold watch chain was described as perfect, and Jim was really excited about it. It sounds really beautiful, and I would love to own something so shiny and fancy.
(i) How did the Magi want to celebrate their Christmas (OR) Who were the first people to give Christmas gifts?
Ans. The Magi were the first people to give Christmas gifts. They gave gifts to baby Jesus.
(j) What is the moral of the story?
Ans. The moral of the story is that the true meaning of Christmas and gift-giving is love and sacrifice. It’s about giving without expecting anything in return. Jim and Della showed the ultimate act of love by sacrificing their most prized possessions for each other.
- Complete the following activity :
Map the problems and solutions in “The Gift of the Magi” on the diagram below. Two problems have already been filled in.
Answer-
- Read the following and answer.
(A) Say WHAT
(a) ……………. troubled Della on Christmas Eve?
(b) ……………. was the current family income?
(c) ……………. could have outshone Queen of Sheba’s jewels?
(d) ……………. was the cost of the fob chain?
(e) ……………. sent Jim into a trance, on his return?
Answer-
(a) Della had only one dollar and eighty-seven cents with which to buy Jim a present. She had spent a lot of time thinking about a good present for him but with the money she had saved she could not find anything worthy of him.
(b) Twenty dollars a week was the current family income.
(c) Della’s beautiful long hair could have outshone Queen of Sheba’s jewels.
(d) Twenty-one dollars was the cost of the fob chain.
(e) The sight of Della’s short hair sent Jim into a trance, on his return.
(B) Say WHY
(a) ……………. did Della sell her lovely long hair?
(b) ……………. was Della a bit apprehensive after she had sold her hair?
(c) ……………. did Jim avoid checking the time in his gold watch, in a public place?
(d) ……………. did Della’s scream of joy change to loud wails?
(e) ……………. in the end, did Jim ask Della to put the chops on?
Answer-
(a) Della sold her lovely long hair because she wanted to buy a special Christmas gift for Jim and she didn’t have enough money to buy anything worthwhile.
(b) Della was a bit apprehensive after she had sold her hair because she loved her hair very much and was worried about how Jim would react to her new appearance.
(c) Jim avoided checking the time in his gold watch, in a public place because the watch was old.
(d) Della’s scream of joy changed to loud wails because she realized that the gift she had bought for Jim was useless as he had sold his watch to buy her a gift.
(e) In the end, did Jim ask Della to put the chops on because they had sacrificed their most prized possessions for each other and realized that the true gift was their love, not material possessions.
(C) Say WHEN
(a)……………. had Jim added ‘Dillingham’ as his middle name?
(b) ……………. did a tear or two drop on the old red carpet?
(c) …………… did Della go through goods in the stores?
(d) …………… did Della say a silent prayer to God?
(e)……………. did Jim try to divert their attention for ten seconds, at least?
Answer-
(a) When Jim was paid $30 per week, Jim added ‘Dillingham’ as his middle name.
(b) Della made up her mind to cut off her beautiful hair.
(c) A day before Christmas, Della went through goods in the store to find her husband a good gift.
(d) When Della had sold her beautiful hair and had come back to her home, she prayed to God.
(e) When Jim realised that Della was upset seeing as Jim was shocked to see her new appearance with short hair.
- Complete : Use the chart below to explain situational irony in ‘The Gift of the Magi’. For each character, identify what is expected to happen and what actually happens.
Answer-
| SITUATIONAL IRONY | |
| What Della plans : To give Jim a wonderful fob chain for Christmas. | What actually happens : Jim cannot use Della’s gift of a fob chain for his watch because he had already sold his watch to get her a Christmas gift. |
| What Jim plans : To give Della a wonderful Christmas gift in the form of a set of tortoise shell combs. | What actually happens : Della cannot use Jim’s gift of combs because she has cut and sold her hair to get him a Christmas gift. |
- Complete the following activity.
Word List :
agile cascade coveted
instigate prudence assertion
chronicle inconsequential predominating
subside gobbling
Fill in each set of blanks with the correct word from the word list. The boxed letters will spell out something that Della receives.
Answer-
- Complete the following basic plot diagram :
Answer-
- Pick out from the story words that mean the following.
Against each consumer write (N) if it is a Noun (V) for Verb and (Adj) for Adjective.
(1) reluctance to spend money …………………….. ( )
(2) relating to …………………….. ( )
(3) urge …………………….. ( )
(4) reduce in value …………………….. ( )
(5) wisdom …………………….. ( )
(6) very huge …………………….. ( )
(7) foolishness …………………….. ( )
Answer-
(1) reluctance to spend money – parsimony (N)
(2) relating to – appertaining (V)
(3) urge – coax (V)
(4) reduce in value – depreciate (V)
(5) wisdom – prudence (N)
(6) very huge – mammoth (Adj)
(7) foolishness – idiocy (N)
- Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.
(a) What would you do if you ran short of money, to buy a birthday gift for one of your
parents/ siblings?
(b) Think of two alternatives that could have prevented Della and Jim from selling their
most precious possessions.
(c) Justify the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’.
(d) Gifts that you buy have fixed prices/ rates. How can the buyer increase the value of a gift
bought for someone very dear in the family?
(e) What situation is the climax of the story? How does it end up as an anticlimax?
(f) If you share this story with some friends in a junior class, how would they react in the
end?
(g) Who were the very first people to give Christmas gifts? What had inspired them to do
so?
(h) At the end of the story, O Henry remarks that of all who give gifts, Della and Jim were
the wisest. Think and explain this paradoxial remark.
Answer-
(a) If I were short on money for a birthday gift, I’d probably try to make something handmade. Maybe a card with a heartfelt message, or a small piece of artwork. If I had a little extra time, I could bake something special or even plan a surprise outing or activity.
(b) Della and Jim could have tried to find part-time jobs to earn extra money, or they could have combined their money to buy a less expensive but meaningful gift together. They could also have talked about their financial situation and agreed to celebrate Christmas in a simpler way.
(c) The title “The Gift of the Magi” is perfect because it compares Della and Jim to the wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus. Just like the Magi, they sacrificed their most prized possessions out of love, making their gifts truly magical and selfless.
(d) The value of a gift isn’t just about its price tag. It’s about the thought and effort put into choosing it. You can increase the value by adding a personal touch like a handwritten note or by wrapping it in a special way. The most important thing is to show that you care and have put thought into the gift.
(e) The climax of the story is when Della and Jim reveal their gifts to each other. They’re both shocked and disappointed because their gifts are now useless. This is an anticlimax because it’s the opposite of what they expected.
(f) I think my friends would be surprised by the ending. They might feel sad for Della and Jim, but they would also appreciate the message of love and sacrifice. It might inspire them to think about the true meaning of giving.
(g) The first people to give Christmas gifts were the Wise Men, also known as Magi. They were inspired by a star and brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus.
(h) It seems like a paradox because Della and Jim’s gifts were useless. But the true wisdom lies in their selfless love and sacrifice. They gave up their most prized possessions for each other, showing that the greatest gift is love, not material things.
- Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly imply the following :
(a) Della was not too happy about bargaining for grocery etc.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(b) The flat was in a dilapidated condition.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(c) King Soloman would express his jealousy of Jim.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(d) Della spent a joyful time, for two hours.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(e) Della’s elated mood underwent a change as she opened her gift.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(f) The weekly income amount does not matter.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(g) Let us set aside our gifts and get ready for dinner.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Answer-
(a) Della was not too happy about bargaining for grocery etc.
Ans. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.
(b) The flat was in a dilapidated condition.
Ans. It did not exactly beggar description, but it certainly had that word on the look out for the mendicancy squad.
(c) King Soloman would express his jealousy of Jim.
Ans. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.
(d) Della spent a joyful time, for two hours.
Ans. Oh, and the next two hours tripped by on rosy wings.
(e) Della’s elated mood underwent a change as she opened her gift.
Ans. An ecstatic scream of joy; and then, alas! a quick feminine change to hysterical tears and
wails
(f) The weekly income amount does not matter.
Ans. But whenever Mr. James DillinghamYoung came home and reached his flat above he was called ‘‘Jim” and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della which is all very good.
(g) Let us set aside our gifts and get ready for dinner.
Ans. And now suppose you put the chops on.
- Frame wh-questions to get the underlined answers.
(1) Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(2) Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(3) Her hair reached below her knee.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(4) She was ransacking the stores for Jim’s present.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(5) At 7 o’clock the coffee was made.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(6) The magi were wise men.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Answer-
(1) What is life made up of?
(2) Who had spent many a happy hour planning for something nice for him?
(3) Where did her hair reach?
(4) What was she ransacking the stores for?
(5) When was the coffee made?
(6) Who were the magi?
- (A) Add appropriate question tags.
(1) Della leaped up, …………………….?
(2) You’ll have to look at the time, ………………….?
(3) They were expensive combs, ………………..?
(4) I just had to do it, ……………………..?
(5) I am still pretty, ………………………..?
(6) Give it to me quick , …………………?
(7) There was clearly nothing to do,…………..?
(8) My hair grows so fast, …………………?
(9) Let’s put our Christmas presents away, ………………….?
(10) She had a habit for saying a silent prayer, ………………….. ?
Answer-
(1) Della leaped up, didn’t she?
(2) You’ll have to look at the time, won’t you?
(3) They were expensive combs, weren’t they?
(4) I just had to do it, didn’t I?
(5) I am still pretty, aren’t I?
(6) Give it to me quick, won’t you?
(7) There was clearly nothing to do, was there?
(8) My hair grows so fast, doesn’t it?
(9) Let’s put our Christmas presents away, shall we?
(10) She had a habit for saying a silent prayer, didn’t she?
(B) Supply short answers (Pronoun + Auxiliary Verb)
Questions Answers
(1) Don’t you like me ? Yes, ………………..
(2) Have you cut off your hair ? Yes, ………………..
(3) Shall I put the chops on ? Yes, ………………..
(4) Isn’t it a dandy ? Yes, ………………..
(5) Does it make difference ? No, ………………..
(6) Will you buy my hair ? No, ………………..
(7) Can you afford it ? No, ………………..
(8) Are you fooling me ? No, ………………..
Answer-
(1) Don’t you like me ? Yes, I do.
(2) Have you cut off your hair ? Yes, I have.
(3) Shall I put the chops on ? Yes, you shall.
(4) Isn’t it a dandy ? Yes, it is.
(5) Does it make difference ? No, it doesn’t.
(6) Will you buy my hair ? No, I won’t.
(7) Can you afford it ? No, I can’t.
(8) Are you fooling me ? No, I’m not.
- Pick out the infinitives/ gerunds/ participles from the following sentences and
state what each one is.
(1) I want to see how it looks.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(2) I don’t like frightening stories.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(3) We decided to settle in Pune.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(4) Playing sitar is Arjun’s hobby.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
(5) It was a horrifying experience for all of us.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Answer-
(1) to see – infinitive
(2) frightening – participle
(3) to settle – infinitive
(4) playing – gerund
(5) horrifying – participle
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Maharashtra State Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Lesson The Gift of the Magi Extra Questions
Multiple-Choice Questions
- How much money did Della have?
- a) $1.87
- b) $2.47
- c) $1.27
- d) $0.60
- How did Della save her money?
- a) Through investments
- b) By working overtime
- c) By bargaining with shopkeepers
- d) By winning a lottery
- What was Della’s financial situation like?
- a) She was wealthy.
- b) She was struggling financially.
- c) She had a comfortable income.
- d) She was independently wealthy.
- What was Della saving money for?
- a) A vacation
- b) A new wardrobe
- c) A gift for Jim
- d) To pay off a debt
- What was Della’s most prized possession?
- a) Her jewelry
- b) Her hair
- c) Her clothes
- d) Her home
- How much money did Della receive for her hair?
- a) $10
- b) $20
- c) $30
- d) $40
- What did Della buy with the money she earned from selling her hair?
- a) A watch
- b) A chain for Jim’s watch
- c) A new dress
- d) A gift for herself
- What can be inferred about Della and Jim’s relationship?
- a) They are wealthy and have a luxurious lifestyle
- b) They are struggling financially but deeply in love
- c) They are often arguing about money
- d) They are indifferent to each other’s feelings
- What did Jim buy for Della?
- a) A new dress
- b) A watch
- c) A set of combs
- d) A necklace
- The story “A gift of Magi” is written by-
- a) O Henry
- b) Jack London
- c) John Milton
- d) Anton Chekhov
Answer-
- a) $1.87
- c) By bargaining with shopkeepers
- b) She was struggling financially.
- c) A gift for Jim.
- b) Her hair
- b) $20
- b) A chain for Jim’s watch
- b) They are struggling financially but deeply in love
- c) A set of combs
- a) O Henry
Vocabulary Based MCQs
Choose the most appropriate synonym of the underlined word.
- Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.
The word “bulldozing” in the sentence suggests the speaker is:
a) Gently persuading
b) Forcefully bargaining
c) Skillfully negotiating
d) Carefully considering
- She fluttered out the door and down the stairs to the street.
a) Strolled
b) Dashed
c) Danced
d) Marched
- Dear friends–a mammoth task.
a) Tiny
b) Huge
c) Quick
d) Easy
- As if he had not arrived at that patent fact yet even after the hardest mental labour.
a) Obvious
b) Hidden
c) Uncertain
d) Complex
- Out of his trance Jim seemed quickly to wake.
a) Dream
b) Focus
c) Confusion
d) Anger
- For ten seconds let us regard with discreet scrutiny some inconsequential object in the other direction.
a) Important
b) Trivial
c) Significant
d) Crucial
Choose the most appropriate antonym of the underlined word.
- Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.
a) Generosity
b) Miserliness
c) Extravagance
d) Stinginess
- A very thin and very agile person may, by observing his reflection.
a) Clumsy
b) Nimble
c) Quick
d) Speedy
- Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.
a) Appreciate
b) Diminish
c) Decrease
d) Belittle
- She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love which is always a tremendous task.
a) Huge
b) Insignificant
c) Massive
d) Enormous
Answer-
- b) Forcefully bargaining
- c) Danced
- b) Huge
- a) Obvious
- a) Dream
- b) Trivial
- a) Generosity
- a) Clumsy
- a) Appreciate
- b) Insignificant