What Happened to the Reptiles
Exercise
Questions
1.In what way is Pambupatti different from any other village?
Answer: When the tortoises, snakes and lizards left the forest, it went through a tough phase. The forest filled with a rotting smell of fruits and animals due to the absence of the tortoises. Once the snakes left, the forest was taken over by the rats as there was no one to eat them. Finally, the nasty insects grew bigger and multiplied in millions due to the absence of the lizards.
5: Why do you think Prem wants to tell the story of the reptiles to the people of his village?
Answer: Prem wanted to tell the story of the reptiles to the people of his village because he understood that they had unnecessarily involved themselves in communal violence. He wanted the people of his village to live peacefully and maintain law and order. The story of the reptiles underlined the significance of living together in peace and harmony like Pambupatti.
6: Do you agree that it is difficult not to go along with someone who is very strong and powerful? Express your views frankly and clearly.
Answer: The people in Pambupatti lived harmoniously, they did not fight or get involved in communal riots in the name of religion or language. This way they were different from other villages.
2: Why is Prem determined not to return to his village?
Answer: Because communal riots of hate and violence were happening in his village. He felt that it was unsafe for them to reside in the village where houses were being burnt in fire and people were killing each other and getting involved in communal violence.
3: Why did Makara dislike tortoises, snakes and lizards? Write a line about each.
Answer: The reasons for disliking tortoises, snakes and lizards by Makara were following:
2: Why is Prem determined not to return to his village?
Answer: Because communal riots of hate and violence were happening in his village. He felt that it was unsafe for them to reside in the village where houses were being burnt in fire and people were killing each other and getting involved in communal violence.
3: Why did Makara dislike tortoises, snakes and lizards? Write a line about each.
Answer: The reasons for disliking tortoises, snakes and lizards by Makara were following:
- Tortoises were slow and stupid, and carried their houses on their backs.
- Snakes were slimy, made funny noises and were poisonous in nature.
- Lizards had the strangest habits such as changing colour which made them unreliable.
Answer: When the tortoises, snakes and lizards left the forest, it went through a tough phase. The forest filled with a rotting smell of fruits and animals due to the absence of the tortoises. Once the snakes left, the forest was taken over by the rats as there was no one to eat them. Finally, the nasty insects grew bigger and multiplied in millions due to the absence of the lizards.
5: Why do you think Prem wants to tell the story of the reptiles to the people of his village?
Answer: Prem wanted to tell the story of the reptiles to the people of his village because he understood that they had unnecessarily involved themselves in communal violence. He wanted the people of his village to live peacefully and maintain law and order. The story of the reptiles underlined the significance of living together in peace and harmony like Pambupatti.
6: Do you agree that it is difficult not to go along with someone who is very strong and powerful? Express your views frankly and clearly.
Answer: Most of the ordinary people do have fear of the strong and powerful people due to their tyranny and unjust exercise of authority. It is a fact of human nature of ordinary people to adhere to the interests of the strong in order to maintain their own safety and security. But if such common people raise their bar by standing up against the injustice they are likely to suppress oppression and maintain peace and harmony in the society.
7: If you were a baby crocodile, would you tell Makara that he was wrong? What would you say to convince him?
Answer: Being a baby crocodile, I would definitely explain to Makara the consequences if the other reptiles left it. Besides, I would also mention that it is imperative for the strong people to protect the ordinary masses and not take undue advantage of their weaknesses. Every living being is interdependent upon each other and has a vital role to play to maintain the ecological balance in the beautiful environment of the Earth.
7: If you were a baby crocodile, would you tell Makara that he was wrong? What would you say to convince him?
Answer: Being a baby crocodile, I would definitely explain to Makara the consequences if the other reptiles left it. Besides, I would also mention that it is imperative for the strong people to protect the ordinary masses and not take undue advantage of their weaknesses. Every living being is interdependent upon each other and has a vital role to play to maintain the ecological balance in the beautiful environment of the Earth.
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