SYBCom Sem3 Comprehension Passage 6 Quality _ By John Galsworthy

Passage 6  Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Quality    By John Galsworthy

A week later, passing the little street, I thought I would go in and tell him how splendidly the new boots fitted. But when I came to where his shop had been, his name was gone. Still there, in the window, were the slim pumps, the patent leathers with cloth tops, the sooty riding boots.

I went in, very much disturbed. In the two little shops—again made into one—was a young man with an English face.

'Mr Gessler in? I said.

He gave me a strange, ingratiating look,

'No, sir', he said, 'no, But we can attend to anything with pleasure, We've taken the shop over. You've seen our name, no doubt, next door.

We make for some very good people,'

'Yes, yes', I said; 'but Mr Gessler?'

'Oh!' he answered; 'dead.'

'Dead! But I only received these boots from him last Wednesday week.'

'Ah!' he said; 'a shockin' go. Poor old man starved 'imself.' 'Good God!'

‘Slow starvation,the doctor called it! You see he went to work in such a way! Would keep the shop on; wouldn't have a soul touch his boots except himself.  When he got an order, it took him such a time, people won't wait. He lost everybody. And there he'd sit, goin' on and on- I will say that for him—not a man in London made a better boot! But look at the competition! He never advertised! Would 'ave the best leather, too, and do it all 'imself. Well, there it is. What could you expect with his ideas?'

'But starvation-‘  That may be a bit flowery, as the sayin' is—but I know myself he was sittin' over his boots day and night, to the very last. You see I used to watch him. Never gave 'imself time to eat; never had a penny in the house. All went in rent and leather. How he lived so long I don't know. He regular let his fire go out. He was a character. But he made good boots.'

'Yes', I said, 'he made good boots.'

And I turned and went out quickly, for I did not want that youth to know that I could hardly see.

Questions and Answers:

Choose the correct answer from the choices provided in the following sentences:

1. Mr Gessler was a

      a.  shoemaker.       b.  tailor.         c. draper.           d.       baker.

2. What did the narrator notice was missing from the shop?

      a.  Mr Gessler's name on the shop              b.     the windows in the shop

      c.   the display of shoes                                    d.      the shop assistant

3. The narrator received his boots from Mr Gessler the previous

      a.  Monday.                  b.          Wednesday.               c.      Thursday.              d.        Friday.

4. Mr Gessler's death is probably due to

      a.  tuberculosis.              b.    starvation.          c.       Pneumonia.           d.     heart attack

 5.  What thought does the narrator have as he passes by Mr Gessler’s Shop?

The narrator thought he would go in and tell Mr. Gessler how well the new boots fitted.

6. Whom does the narrator meet in the shop?

The narrator meets a young man with an English face who has taken over the shop.

7. Why does Mr Gessler's business decline? What happens to Mr. Gessler?

Mr. Gessler's business declines because he took a long time to make boots, didn't advertise, and insisted on making them himself using the best leather. He starved himself because he spent all his money on rent and leather, eventually leading to his death.

8. How does the narrator react to the news regarding Mr Gessler?

The narrator is shocked and saddened, and he leaves the shop quickly to hide his tears.

9. Briefly describe Mr Gessler's work routine.

Mr. Gessler worked day and night on making boots, never allowing anyone else to touch them. He spent all his money on materials and rent, often forgetting to eat and letting his fire go out.

10. Summarize the passage in your own words.

The narrator visits Mr. Gessler’s shop to compliment him on new boots but finds the shop under new management. The new owner informs him that Mr. Gessler has died of starvation because he was so dedicated to his craft that he neglected his own well-being. The narrator is deeply saddened by the news.

11. Find out the meanings of the following words and use them in sentences:

a.      sooty - covered with or colored like soot.

Sentence: The old fireplace was sooty after years of continuous use.

b.     ingratiating - intended to gain approval or favour.

Sentence: His ingratiating smile made everyone trust him instantly.

c.      starvation - suffering or death caused by lack of food.

Sentence: The reason for the death of the poor man was starvation.

d.     flowery - full of elaborate or literary words and phrases.

Sentence: Her flowery speech was beautiful but hard to understand.

12. Identify the tense in the sentence, "I went in, very much disturbed."

The tense used in this sentence is - past simple tense.