Introduction
a pinch of snuff vvi questions
Bihar Board Class 12 English Chapter 3, A Pinch of Snuff, is a delightful and satirical story that uses humor to explore human nature, societal norms, and the absurdities of social conformity. Written in a witty and engaging tone, this chapter holds significant relevance for students preparing for their exams while offering a unique reading experience.
“A Pinch of Snuff” is a captivating and humorous story written by Manohar Malgonkar. The narrative revolves around the quirky and cunning character of Nanukaka, the narrator’s maternal uncle, who is a master of deception and trickery. The story begins with Nanukaka arriving at his sister’s house in Delhi, intending to meet a minister. Despite the narrator’s reluctance to host him, his mother insists, compelling the narrator to take leave from work and pick up Nanukaka from the railway station. Nanukaka’s journey itself is a testament to his crafty nature. Traveling in a second-class compartment with a third-class ticket, he gets caught by the ticket checker but manages to wriggle out of trouble with ease. His main mission in Delhi is to meet a minister, but securing an appointment proves challenging. Nanukaka, however, is undeterred and devises ingenious schemes to achieve his goal. In one such ploy, Nanukaka convinces the narrator to hire a royal car and pretends to be the narrator’s driver. Using this facade, he impresses influential people and sets the stage for his plan. Later, he takes his deceit a step further by dressing up as an astrologer. At the minister’s residence, he registers himself in the visitors’ book as the “Hereditary Astrologer to the Maharaja of Ninnore.” Intrigued by this lofty title, the welfare minister becomes eager to meet him.
Nanukaka’s wit and resourcefulness pay off when the minister personally visits him, believing him to be a distinguished astrologer. Through his clever manipulations, Nanukaka successfully achieves his objective, leaving everyone astonished. This story is brimming with humor and irony, offering an entertaining portrayal of human ingenuity and the absurdities of societal norms. Manohar Malgonkar masterfully blends satire and wit, making “A Pinch of Snuff” a delightful read.
1. Who is the author of the prose piece “A Pinch of Snuff”?
(A) Murli Manohar Joshi
(B) Manohar Pandya
(C) Manohar Malgonkar
(D) Vikram Naipal | Ans- (C)
2. Nanukaka’s meeting with Sohanlal Ratiram was—
(A) Businessman
(B) Welfare minister
(C) Estate minister
(D) Zamindar | Ans- (B)
3. The new role Nanukaka gave the narrator/under-secretary, was of
(A) Cook
(B) Driver
(C) Professor
(D) Minister | Ans- (B)
4. Nanukaka was coming from Delhi to see some ……….
(A) ministers
(B) doctors
(C) friends
(D) governors | Ans- (A)
5. Nanukaka took out his cheque book and wrote a cheque for …….
(A) five thousand rupees
(B) two thousand rupees
(C) a thousand rupees
(D) three | Ans- (C)
6. Ratiram was the son of ……….
(A) Sohanlal Ratiram
(B) Mohanlal Ratiram
(C) Devanlal Ratiram
(D) Herolal Ratiram | Ans- (A)
7. ………. is a humorous story.
(A) The Artist
(B) A Pinch of Snuff
(C) A Child is Born
(D) The Earth | Ans- (B)
8. There is nothing like honesty was said by ….
(A) Nanukaka
(B) Bhanukaka
(C) Raushankaka
(D) Monukaka | Ans- (A)
9. I was waiting on the ……….. when the train comes in.
(A) platform
(B) verandah
(C) elevators
(D) staircase | Ans- (A)
10. Nanukaka was the …………… of Manohar Malgonkar’s mother.
(A) brother
(B) father
(C) sister
(D) son | Ans- (A)
11. Nanukaka has a unique quality of telling ……
(A) truths
(B) lies
(C) stories
(D) dicta | Ans- (B)
12. Nanukaka has to meet a minister in the …
(A) North Block
(B) South Block
(C) West Block
(D) East Block | Ans- (A)
13. Nanukaka managed to travel in 2nd Class on a ticket of ……..
(A) 1st Class
(B) 3rd Class
(C) General Class
(D) Sleeper Class | Ans- (B)
1. Why Under- Secretary always obey Nanukaka?
Ans- Under-Secretary (Narrator) always obeyed Nanukaka because e was his Mother’s brother (maternal uncle) and his mother insisted on it and he couldn’t displease his mother.
2. What is the relation between Sohanlal Ratiram and Ratiram ?
Ans- They are father and son. Sohanlal Ratiram is the party Boss in Delhi.
3. In what dress did the writer go to the Minister along with Nanukaka ?
Ans- The writer went there in a Jodhpuri coat. Nanukaka had tied a huge orange turban around his head.
4. What was the writer ? Why did he always obey Nanukaka ?
Ans- The writer was the Under-Secretary, on probation. He did not like the frequent arrival of Nanukaka but he obeyed him because he was the brother of his mother.