A BAD DREAM II CLASS-8 II DAV II ENGLISH LITERATURE II COMPLETE QUESTION AND ANSWER II LESSON-12

BY_ DONN BYRNE

Summary in English

It was afternoon. Mr. and Mrs.  Hill took lunch that had been cooked by Annie but Mr. Hill was not satisfied with the quality of the lunch. After that, they took coffee which was also terrible. 

Mr. Hill wanted that they should sack (to remove someone from Job) Annie as she never cooked well. Mrs. Hill answered that Annie had served them for twenty years. She was no longer young to get a new job at this age.  Mr. Hill listened to nothing and answered that she must speak to her and give her three months to search for another job. After saying this Mr. Hill slept. It was two o’clock.

There was a knock at the door. The assistant manager of his bank Mr. Briggs and his cashier, Mr. Winter came. Mr. Hill was surprised to see them on Sunday but it was necessary for them to meet him. Mr. Hill asked them to sit. Mr. Briggs asked Mr. Hill when he was going to resign from his post. Mr. Hill was surprised to hear this. Mr. Briggs and Mr. Winter said that he did not behave properly with all the bank employees. All wanted that he should resign. 

Mr. Hill said that he was working in the bank for 30 years. The employee also said that he did not work hard. He used to come late and spent at least 2-3 hours on lunch. They had written to head office. They had agreed that Mr. Hill must resign. They went away.

After some time,  Mr. Hill’s wife came. She told him that she was going to have a long holiday with her sister. Mr. Hill wanted her support. But she left. Soon Annie came and asked him for the tea. Mr. Hill said to Annie that he had no money to pay for her service. Annie said no matter she was not working for money. She would not leave the home.

Soon Mr. Hill woke up from his dream. At the same time,  Mrs. Hill came inside. Mr. Hill was surprised to see her as she was supposed to leave for her sister’s place. But  Mrs. Hill said that she had not gone anywhere. He asked if she had talked to Annie. Mrs. Hill answered ‘no’. Mr. Hill said now not talk to her on this matter of sacking her from the job. Further, he thought that Annie wouldn’t get a new job at this age. They would keep some helper instead. Mr. Hill was a sensible man now.

Important Key Points

1. Mr. Hill is dissatisfied with Annie’s cooking and wants to sack her.
2. Conflict at work – colleagues ask Mr. Hill to resign due to work ethic.
3. Mrs. Hill is considerate of Annie and has a compassionate soul.
4. Annie remains loyal despite the threat of being sacked and refuses to leave.
5. Mr. Hill has a change of heart after a dream, decides not to sack Annie, and seeks a different solution.

Vocabulary with Meaning, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Sentences

S.NO	WORDS	MEANING	SYNONYM	ANTONYM	SENTENCE
1	Day-dream	A pleasant and imaginative thought, fantasy, or vision that occurs when a person is awake but not actively concentrating on their surroundings.	Fantasy Reverie Imagination	Reality Concentration	During class, I often daydream about going on exciting adventures with my friends.
2	Terrible	To describe something that is extremely bad, unpleasant, or causing fear or distress.	Awful Horrible Dreadful Frightening	Wonderful Excellent Pleasant Delightful	The horror movie we watched was so terrible that I had nightmares afterward.
3	Manager	A person who is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing the activities and resources of a group or organization.	Supervisor		The manager of the store ensures that everything is well-organized and running smoothly.
4	Explain	To make something clear or easy to understand by providing information, details, or reasons.	Clarify Elaborate Describe Expound	Confuse Baffle Mystify Complicate Obscure	Can you please explain how photosynthesis works in plants?
5	In fact	Used to introduce a statement that provides additional information, emphasizes the truth of a previous statement, or corrects a misconception.	Actually Truly Indeed Really Veritably		The movie seemed scary at first, but in fact, it turned out to be quite funny.
6	Assistant Manager	A person who helps and supports the manager in various tasks			The assistant manager helped organize the files and paperwork in the office.
7	Resign	To formally give up a position, job, or responsibility.	Quit	Retain	He decided to resign from her job because she wanted to spend more time with her family.
8	Pleasure	A feeling of happiness, enjoyment, or satisfaction derived from doing or experiencing something that brings joy or gratification.	Delight Joy Happiness Enjoyment Satisfaction	Pain Displeasure Suffering Misery	Reading a good book can be a source of pleasure for many people.
9	Surprised	The feeling of being taken aback by something unexpected or startling.	Astonished Amazed Startled Stunned	Expectant Unfazed Predictable	Shreya and Kavya were surprised by the unexpected gift from their friends.
10	Trouble	Problems, difficulties, or situations that cause worry, inconvenience, or distress.	Difficulty Problem Disturbance	Ease Peace Comfort Solution	The student was in trouble when he forgot to do his homework.
11	Perhaps	To indicate uncertainty or possibility	Possibly	Certainly Definitely Absolutely	Perhaps you can find the answer in the back of your textbook.
12	Glad	Feeling happy, pleased, or delighted about something.	Happy Joyful Delighted Content Ecstatic	Sad Unhappy Miserable Displeased Sorrowful	She was glad to receive a surprise gift on her birthday.

Text Question and Answer (A BAD DREAM)

Understanding the Play
Answer the following questions in about 30 words each.

1. Why was Mr. Hill upset with Annie?
Ans- Mr. Hill was upset because she did not prepare good food.

2. What did Mr. Hill expect his wife to do at the parties?
Ans- He expected from his wife that instead of spending time in the kitchen, she should meet his guests.

3. How can we say that Mrs. Hill was a kind-hearted, considerate lady?
Ans- Mrs. Hill was a kind–hearted and considerate lady because she advocated Annie’s side whereas Mr. Hill wanted to sack Annie.

4. What was Annie’s reaction when she came to know that Mr. Hill had lost his job?
Ans- She said that she would not leave the house and serve them like her own house without taking a salary.

Extract Based Questions

Read the extracts from the play and answer the questions that follow.

1. “How will she find a new job?”

a. Who is ‘she’ and why should she look for a new job?
Ans- She refers to Annie and she should look for a new job because she was not a good cook. So she was told to find a new job.

b. Why will it be difficult for her to find a new job?
Ans- She was an old lady who had been working for 20 years for her master. Now at the middle of the age, it was difficult for her to find a new job as nobody was going to offer her a job at the middle of the age.

c. Why does the speaker react in such a manner?
Ans- The speaker reacts in such a manner because the speaker is a kind-hearted lady and has a human feeling having a soft corner for her servant.

2. “We had done it, sir. We were only thinking of the bank.”

a. Who does ‘Sir’ refer to? Who are ‘we’ here?
Ans- ‘Sir’ refers to Mr. Hill and ‘We’ refers to Mr. Brigs, the assistant bank manager and Mr. Winter, the cashier of the bank respectively.

b. What did they have to do?
Ans- They had to take the resignation of Mr. Hill.

c. What was their reason for doing so?
Ans- Their reasons for doing so as Mr.Hill was not punctual and friendly with bank and staff.

3.”But, George, Why have you changed suddenly.”

a. What kind of a man was George earlier?
Ans- Earlier Mr. George was aggressive, strict, and overconfident.

b. What changes have come over George?
Aans- George is now a kind man. He wants Annie not to be removed from the job as she works hard. He realizes that the dinners are not so important and can be managed.

c. What is the reason for these changes?
Ans- His dream is the main reason for these changes.

Question Based on Compare and Contrast the Character of Mr. Hill and Mrs. Hill.

(Q. C ) The words given below described either Mr. Hill or Mrs. Hill. Read them carefully. Now group them appropriately in the table given on the next page. Also, find the lines from the text to support each description.

Ans-

Character	Words	Lines from the Play
	Rude	Annie must go. She can find a new job.
Mr. Hill	Arrogant	I don’t know. She must go.
	Self- Centred	You are my wife and you must meet these people. You can’t spend your time in the kitchen.
	Indiffenent	I don’t know. She must go. Things are different now.

Character	Words	Lines from the Play
	Accomodating	We can’t do this to her.
Mrs. Hill	considerate	She isn’t a young woman now. How will she find a new job.
	Compassionate	But Annie has been with us for a long time, George.
	Sensitive	I will speak to her today. Poor woman!

Hots

‘Mr. Hill had a bad dream.’ Was the dream really bad?

Mr. Hill had a daydream that he had been sacked from the job of the bank after the services for several years. In a way, it was a bad dream but indeed it was not.

This dream made him a changed man. He was now a rational man who knew the importance of the hard work of other people and also respected them.

Life Skills

A. Assuming the dream to be a reality, do you support Mrs. Hill’s decision to leave Mr. Hill at the time when he needed her most?

Ans. If we assume, that it is not a dream but a reality, it was wrong on Mrs. Hill’s part to leave Mr. Hill when he needed her most. She might have lived with him and given him her utmost support being a wife.

B. What, according to you, should be the code of conduct of a bank manager with their employees and their customers?

A bank manager should treat their employees and customers with respect and fairness. Here’s a simple code of conduct:

Respect: Treat everyone politely and fairly. Listen to their concerns and be courteous.

Fairness: Be fair and impartial in decisions. Treat all customers and employees equally.

Professionalism: Maintain professionalism at all times. Follow banking regulations and guidelines.

Transparency: Provide clear information to customers and employees. Be honest and open in communication.

Support: Help employees grow by providing training and support. Assist customers with their financial needs.

Moreover, a good bank manager creates a positive environment by being respectful, fair, and supportive of both employees and customers.

Values

‘Compassion for our fellow beings should be an integral part of our existence.’ Discuss.

Ans- Caring about others is a big part of our lives. Compassion means we’re there for people when they need support or assistance. It’s like having a wish to help those who are in dire need of a helping hand. This kindness makes our world a better place for everyone.

Writing Skills

V. Imagine you are Mr. Hill. Your unpleasant conversation with Mr. Briggs and Mr. Winter awakens your conscience and changes your attitude towards Annie. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings for her before and after your meeting with the visitors.
Ans-
8th January YYYY 10:00 PM
Dear Diary,
Today, I am very upset. Mr. Winter and Mr. Briggs came to my house. They told me to resign. They said that nobody liked me in the bank. Even head office is ready to sack me. But it was a dream, the unpleasant conversation between me and Mr. Winter, and the dream was not real.

But I have come to know that we must understand the hard work of others. Now, I shall not make Annie out of the job. She has been working at my home for the last twenty years. Where will she get a job in this middle age? Before meeting visitors, I wanted to make her out of my service because she prepared bad food.

But now, I keep her as a cook. I am a changed person now. I should understand the feelings, sentiments, and present circumstances of others before making any decision.
Thanks

character sketch

Character Sketch of Mr. Hill

Mr. Hill is a man who values efficiency and work but struggles with empathy. He is initially dissatisfied with Annie’s work and jumps to the idea of sacking her without considering her loyalty or circumstances. He faces a wake-up call through his dream, prompting a change in heart towards compassion and understanding.

Character Sketch of Mrs. Hill

Mrs. Hill is a kind-hearted woman torn between her loyalty to her husband and her empathy towards Annie. She understands Annie’s predicament, having served the family for 20 years, and worries about her finding a job at her age. Although she doesn’t take action initially, she also doesn’t agree with Mr. Hill’s decision to sack Annie.

Character Sketch of Mrs. Annie

Annie is a dedicated worker who has served the Hill family for two decades. Despite Mr. Hill’s dissatisfaction with her work, she remains loyal and committed, even stating that she doesn’t work for money. Her dedication and loyalty are evident when she insists on staying even when Mr. Hill claims he can’t afford her services. She’s portrayed as a committed, older woman devoted to her job and the family.

internal questions

1. How might someone feel dedicating years to a job, only to face the threat of losing it due to dissatisfaction despite their efforts, as Annie did?

Ans- It would be very difficult to pour heart and soul into something for so long period, only to face the risk of losing it all. It’s like working somewhere without dedication and hard work.

2. Can you empathize with the emotional weight of unfair treatment towards someone close, similar to what Annie experienced, and how might it affect them?

Ans- Absolutely, being unfairly treated after giving your best can be soul-crushing. It takes away your confidence and self-worth, especially when it comes from those you’ve dedicated yourself to.

3. Have you considered the impact of decisions on others’ lives, like Mr. Hill’s choice to consider sacking Annie without understanding her situation?

Ans- Yes, the impact of decisions can change someone’s life. Especially, when it’s a matter of someone’s livelihood. That’s why any decisions that impact someone’s livelihood should not be made hastily or without understanding their circumstances. It’s very important to consider the human side and the years of dedication someone has given.

4. When faced with a dilemma between practicality and fairness, how can one balance decisions to ensure fairness while considering practicality?

Ans- It’s challenging, but fairness should never be sacrificed entirely for practicality. Finding a middle path, acknowledging both sides and exploring alternative solutions might bridge the gap.

5. How might one empathize with the struggle between supporting a spouse and understanding another’s predicament, as Mrs. Hill did?

Ans- It’s a tug-of-war between loyalty and fairness. It’s heart-wrenching when supporting a loved one conflicts with doing what’s right for someone else.

6. What lessons can be drawn from Mr. Hill’s dream about reconsidering actions and showing more compassion towards others?

Ans- It’s a wake-up call to reconsider our actions and approach situations with more empathy. Compassion and understanding can transform decisions and relationships in a better way.

7. How can the insights from this story be applied in real-life interactions, ensuring fairness, empathy, and understanding guide decisions?

Ans- By reflecting on the character’s experience, I can approach a situation with compassion, proving the value of dedication, devotion, fairness, and empathy, and will try to keep a balance between mind and heart.

You can also go through the following topics.

1. How To Take Care Elderly at Home
2. Value of Games and Sports
3. How to Deal with Exam Stress

Frequently Asked Questions

A BAD DREAM CLASS-8 (DAV)