Mrs. Packletide had already designed in her mind the tiger-claw brooch that she was going to give Loona Bimberton on her next birthday. In a world that is supposed to be chiefly swayed by hunger and by love Mrs. Packletide was an exception, her movements and motives were largely governed by dislike of Loona Bimberton. 

a. What plan did Mrs. Packletide make to outshine Mrs. Bimberton? 

b. Why did she want to gift Loona Bimberton a tiger-claw brooch? 

c. What was Mrs. Bimberton’s reaction when she got the tiger-claw brooch? 

Where do you think the story is set? Give evidence to support your answer.

How did the tiger die? Did it have anything to do with its age?

How did Loona Bimberton react when she got to know about Mrs Packletide’s success?

Why did Mrs Packletide invite Loona Bimberton to the luncheon party when we are told that Packletide’s movements and motives were largely governed by the dislike of Loona Bimberton?

How did Louisa Mebbin use her knowledge about the tiger’s death to her advantage?

What did Mrs Packletide mean when she said, “The incidental expenses are too heavy”?

Do you think the story was humorous? What, in your opinion, made the story funny, the characters and their motivations, such as Mrs Packletides’ childish and trivial priorities, or the events like the hunt of the tiger?

List the virtues and flaws of the characters given in the table below. Also, write the instances from the story that justify them.
        Miss Mebbin                      Virtues: __________________                     Instances:
                                                        Flaws: __________________                      Instances:
        Mrs Packletide                   Virtues: __________________                   Instances
                                                        Flaws: __________________                      Instances

What is the narrator’s stance towards the major characters in the story? Does he reproach them for their faults, or does he use them to present a neutral picture of human beings?

Fill in the blanks with pleonasm or oxymora from the above table.
a.    It was the dead of the night, no one uttered a word; there was a …………………………… all around. (oxymoron)
b.    Who made these? These cookies are …………………………… . (oxymoron)
c.     According to the law, obtaining money through …………………………… is a punishable crime.      (pleonasm)
d.    You are not allowed to talk about it although everybody knows it, It’s an …………………………… .
        (oxymoron)
e.    As an …………………………… I got a backstage pass with the tickets I bought. (pleonasm)
f.     These fossils are not found anywhere else in the world, they are …………………………….        (pleonasm)

Read the sentences given below, underline the pleonasm in them. Some of them are collocations while some can be removed to make the sentence better. Write ‘C’ for collocations. Write the words that can be removed in the blanks at the end of the sentences.
a.    I can tell from my past experience that our team will win.                               ……………………………
b.    I sawt the fire with my own eyes.                                                                               ……………………………
c.     I can definitely see some positive improvement in my health.                        ……………………………
d.    There was a time when the photocopier machine was thought of as a
        novel innovation.                                                                                                             ……………………………
e.    We will head up north from the base camp.                                                          ……………………………
f.     Please read the terms and conditions before signing the document.           ……………………………

Read the sentences and pick out the verbs that fit into both the sentences from the verb box. Change the tense of the verb wherever required. Write R against the sentences that have reflexive verbs in them.
        cut                          enjoy                     prepare                teach                     behave                 blame
a.    The students were not …………………………… themselves in the bus.                               ………………
        The athlete ……………………….. very unprofessionally at the sports meet.                     ………………
b.    The men were told to ………………………… a fire for the feast.                                             ………………
        The men were told to ………………………….. themselves for the battle.                            ………………
c.     I hope you ………………………… the party last night.                                                                ………………
        I hope you ………………………… yourselves at the party last night.                                     ………………
d.    He ……………………………. Himself how to paint.                                                                       ………………
        No one ……………… him how to paint.                                                                                        ………………
e.    Everybody ………………………… the bus driver for getting late.                                            ………………
        The bus driver ………………………… himself for getting late.                                                  ………………
f.     The boy …………………………… himself while rehearsing for the play.                                ………………
        The boy …………………………… his finger while rehearsing for the play.                            ………………

Rewrite these sentences using the reflexive verbs and reflexive pronouns given in the box below.
        reflexive verbs: check     treat      have      avail       ask         tire
        reflexive pronouns: themselves                  yourself                himself                 ourselves        itself
a.    The movie was a blast, we all enjoyed it thoroughly.
b.    The man was about to hit his friend in anger, but he stopped in time.
c.     They used the opportunity to go to the concert.
d.    The dog went to sleep after it was exhausted.
e.    Think about your mistakes and try to find out why you made them.
f.     After we won the tournament, we went to the best restaurant in the city and had a hearty
        dinner.

Fill in the blanks with the correct spellings.

There is a spelling error in each of the following sentences. Underline the misspelt word and write its correct spelling in the space provided.
a.            Things are slightly merryer on the other side of the road.                                …………………….
b.            You will forfied the match if you are late.                                                                …………………….
c.             The argument went on for more than an hour.                                                     …………………….
d.            The weather is very changeable in this part of the country.                             …………………….
e.            The novel is a certifyable hit around the world.                                                    …………………….
f.             The general made an utterly mystifying decision on the last day of the battle.