Important Questions for Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Chapter 1 (Footprints Without Feet)
Summary of Class 10 Engish Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Engish Chapter 1 A Triumph of Surgery
40-50 Words
Question 1:
How did Mrs. Pumphrey spoil Tricki?
Answer
Mrs. Pumphrey spoiled Tricki by overfeeding and overpampering him. She constantly gave him rich food like cream cakes, chocolates, and cod-liver oil. She worried excessively about his health and avoided giving him proper exercise, which made him obese and unhealthy.
Question 2:
What was the major flaw in Tricki?
Answer
The major flaw in Tricki was his greed for food. He would eat everything given to him without control. This overeating, encouraged by Mrs. Pumphrey’s overpampering, made him obese, lazy, and unhealthy.
Question 3:
Analyze how Herriot uses Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s relationship to comment on societal attitudes towards pets and the responsibilities associated with their care.
Answer
Herriot uses Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey’s relationship to show that excessive affection without discipline can harm pets. Mrs. Pumphrey treats Tricki like a child and overfeeds him, reflecting a common societal attitude of pampering pets. Herriot highlights that true care involves responsibility, proper diet, and balanced treatment rather than blind love.
Question 4:
Evaluate the transformation of Tricki during his hospitalization. What factors contribute to his recovery and return to health?
Answer
During his hospitalization, Tricki transforms from a weak, overfed, and lethargic dog into an active and healthy one. His recovery is due to a strict diet, regular exercise, discipline, and a natural environment. Herriot’s firm but caring treatment removes excessive pampering and restores Tricki’s physical strength and normal behavior.
Question 5:
Lunch transformed into a significant ceremonial event for Mr. Herriot and his associates. Do you agree? Explain with reference to ‘A Triumph of Surgery’.
Answer
Yes, lunch becomes a ceremonial event for Mr. Herriot and his associates. Mrs. Pumphrey sends lavish hampers with eggs, wine, brandy, and food meant for Tricki. Since Tricki eats very little, Herriot and his colleagues enjoy the treats regularly, turning lunch into a grand daily ritual.
Question 6:
Was Tricki suffering from any ailment in reality? If not, then what made him inactive and lethargic?
Answer
No, Tricki was not suffering from any real illness. He had become inactive and lethargic because of overfeeding and lack of exercise. Mrs. Pumphrey’s excessive pampering, rich food, and no physical activity made him obese and unhealthy.
Important Questions for Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Chapter 1 (Footprints Without Feet)
Long-Questions (120 words)
Question 1:
Imagine that Mrs. Pumphrey, from Triumph of Surgery, writes a diary entry, realizing her mistake, how she overfed Tricki and how her over pampering led to Tricki’s disaster, in the context of her own experience. Write this diary entry, as Mrs. Pumphrey, in about 120 words.
Answer
Diary Entry – Mrs. Pumphrey
Dear Diary,
Today has opened my eyes in a way I never imagined. My dear Tricki’s illness was not fate but my own doing. I showered him with love, cream cakes, chocolates, and rich food, believing it was affection. I now realize that my blind pampering weakened him instead of making him happy. Watching him grow dull and lifeless broke my heart, yet I failed to understand the cause. Dr. Herriot’s firm care taught me a valuable lesson — love must be guided by responsibility. Tricki’s recovery has filled me with relief and guilt at the same time. I promise myself that henceforth my love will be sensible, disciplined, and truly caring. Tricki deserves health, not indulgence.
Question 2:
In the story ‘A Triumph of Surgery’, a wealthy woman’s nonsensical behaviour, is depicted. Do you think such individual are merely displaying foolishness or could their actions potentially, inflict harm upon others? Support your answer from the text.
Answer
In “A Triumph of Surgery”, Mrs. Pumphrey’s behaviour may appear foolish, but it clearly has the potential to cause harm. Her excessive affection and overindulgence make Tricki obese, inactive, and seriously ill. She feeds him rich food like cream cakes and chocolates, ignoring the doctor’s advice. This shows that her actions are not harmless but dangerous, as they threaten Tricki’s health. The story suggests that blind emotional attachment, without responsibility or discipline, can lead to serious consequences. Herriot’s firm treatment proves that sensible care, not emotional foolishness, is essential. Thus, such behaviour can indeed harm others.
Question 3:
Was Tricki suffering from any ailment in reality? If not, then what made him inactive and lethargic?
Answer
In “A Triumph of Surgery” by James Herriot, Tricki was not suffering from any real illness. He had become inactive and lethargic because of overfeeding and lack of exercise. Mrs. Pumphrey pampered him excessively and kept giving him rich food like cream cakes, chocolates, and cod-liver oil, even when he was not hungry. As a result, Tricki became extremely fat and lazy. His problem was not a disease but obesity caused by overindulgence. When Dr. Herriot took him to the surgery and kept him on a strict diet with regular exercise, Tricki gradually became active and healthy again. This shows that his condition was due to careless overfeeding, not illness.
Important Questions for Class 10 English A Triumph of Surgery Chapter 1 (Footprints Without Feet)
