Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 5 A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Textual Questions
A. Answer the following questions in two or three lines.
Question 1.
Why did Francis Bennett wake up with a bad temper?
Answer:
Francis Bennett woke up with a bad temper because he was feeling lonely and bored. It was eight days, since his wife had gone to France.
Question 2.
What was a mechanized dressing room?
Answer:
The machine in the mechanised dressing room washes a person, shaves him, dresses him and buttons him from top to toe on the threshold of his office.
Question 3.
How was food served to him?
Answer:
Food was served to him through a network of pneumatic tubes. It was an expensive system, but cooking was better.
Question 4.
Why was Bennett curious about astronomy?
Answer:
Bennett was curious about astronomy because one of the astronomers had just determined the
elements of the new planet ‘Gandini’. He was delighted to know about the accuracy of it.
Question 5.
Why did he visit Niagara?
Answer:
He visited Niagara to see his accumulator works. There after using the force of the cataracts to produce energy, he sold or hired it out to the consumers.
Question 6.
How did Bennett travel?
Answer:
Bennett travelled by aero-car which shot across space at a speed of about four hundred miles ‘ an hour. Within half an hour, he reached his works at Niagara.
Question 7.
Give three instances of how mechanization has changed life at home in 2889?
Answer:
At home through phonotelephote, vision and speech are transmitted. In two minutes, without the help of an attendant, the machine gets a person to be ready, to his office. Food can be served through pneumatic tubes. ri 5 ^ ,
Question 8.
How is advertising in this age different from what we have today?
Answer:
The gigantic advertisement signs are reflected on the clouds, so large that they can be seen all over the country. From that gallery, a thousand projectors were unendingly employed in sending to the clouds, on which they were reproduced in colour, these exorbitant advertisements.
B. Identify the character/speaker.
Question 1.
As soon as he woke up, he switched on his phonotelephote.
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 2.
Well, Cash, what have you got?
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 3.
‘Phototelegrams from Mercury, Venus and Mars, Sir.’
Answer:
Cash
Question 4.
‘Interesting! And Jupiter?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 5.
‘Not yet, Mr.Bennett.’
Answer:
Cash
Question 6.
‘No, it’s the inhabitants.’
Answer:
Corley
Question 7.
‘Where are we going, Sir?’
Answer:
Aero-coachman
Question 8.
‘Then, Sir, I shall really have discovered the absolute.’
Answer:
A young man/petitioner
Question 9.
‘Are you saying you’re going to be able to construct a human being?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 10.
‘I’m going to start this moment.’
Answer:
Edith
Character or Speaker – Additional
Question 1.
‘You dare tell me that the moon is uninhabited?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 2.
‘Complete… The only thing missing will be the soul!’
Answer:
The young man/petitioner
Question 3.
’‘Then you’ll be here?’
Answer:
Francis Bennett
Question 4.
‘No, no! … Centropolis time’.
Answer:
Edith
Question 5.
‘On the face it turns towards us, at any rate, Mr. Bennett.
Answer:
Corley
C. Choose the best answer.
1. Bennette’s wife was in_____ .
(i) Germany
(ii) Australia
(iii) France
(iv) Holland
Answer:
(iii) France
2. The data from the stellar world was gathered by _______.
(i) Bennette
(ii) astronomical
(iii) the computer
(iv) telephote
Answer:
(ii) astronomical reporters
3. The food was being delivered through _______ tubes.
(i) pneumatic
(ii) shallow
(iii) hollow
(iv) virtual
Answer:
(i) pneumatic
4. The wayfarers were carried to one place to another by the.
(i) bullet train
(ii) jet
(iii) moving pavement
(iv) heli-taxi
Answer:
(iii) moving pavement
MCQ – Additional
1. It will be to make the _____ of all forms of matter easy.
(i) wonders
(ii) creation
(iii) elements
(iv) aspects
Answer:
(ii) creation
2. A careful ______ was being kept for Francis Bennett to return for the daily audience.
(i) project
(ii) examination
(iii) look out
(iv) check
Answer:
(iii) look out
3. ______ Francis Bennett had reached his works at Niagara
(i) Immediately
(ii) Within half an hour
(iii) After three hours
(iv) After 295 minutes
Answer:
(ii) Within half an hour
4. ‘When do you expect to ________ Centropolis, dear Edith?’
(i) leave
(ii) get back to
(iii) go away from
(iv) come back from
Answer:
(ii) get back to
5. It brought in a daily average of ______million dollars.
(i) three
(ii) four
(iii) five
(iv) six
Answer:
(i) three
6. Francis Bennett, attracted by this project, agreed to take a _____ in it.
(i) ten percent share
(ii) twenty percent share
(iii) half – share
(iv) full share
Answer:
(iii) half – share
7. This was _____ since his wife had been in France.
(i) ten days
(ii) two months
(iii) one year
(iv) eight days
Answer:
(iv) eight days
8. He quickly jumped out of bed and went into his ______ dressing room.
(i) mechanized
(ii) large
(iii) luxurious
(iv) small
Answer:
(i) mechanized
9. The aero-car shot across space at a speed of ______ miles.
(i) two hundred
(ii) four hundred
(iii) six hundred
(iv) eight hundred .
Answer:
(ii) four hundred
10. One of the Earth Herald’s astronomers had just determined the elements of the new planet ______.
(i) Ashwini
(ii) Rohini
(iii) Gandini
(iv) Jovian
Answer:
(iii) Gandini
D. Fill in the story map given below.
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Additional Questions
I. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate phrases.
1. The year is (i)______, the date 25th July and the place is the office block of the Managing (ii) of the Earth Herald, the world’s (iii) ______ newspaper. In this futuristic story written in 1889, the writer (iv) ________ how he visualizes the world a (v) ______ years later.
(a)largest
(b) describes
(c) thousands
(d) 2889
(e) Editor
Answer:
(i) (d)2889
(ii) (e) Editor
(iii) (a) largest
(iv) (b) describes
(v) (c) thousands
2. His name, spoken by that (i)_____ voice, gave a happier turn to Francis Bennett’s (ii) ______ . He quickly jumped out of bed and went into his (iii) ______dressing room. Two minutes later, without (iv) _____ the help of a valet, the machine deposited him, washed, shaved, shod, dressed and (v) ______ from top to toe, on the threshold of his office.
(a) mood
(b) needing
(c) buttoned
(d) mechanized
(e) sweet
Answer:
(i) (e) sweet
(ii) (a) mood
(iii) (d) mechanized
(iv) (b) needing
(v) (c) buttoned
II. Match the following.
(a)
Answer:
1 – (d)
2 – (c)
3 – (e)
4 – (b)
5 – (a)
(b)
Answer:
1 – (c)
2 – (a)
3 – (d)
4 – (e)
5 – (b)
III. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. That morning Francis,Bennett awoke in rather a bad temper. This was eight days since his wife had been in France and he was feeling ahttle lonely. As soon as he awoke, Francis Bennett switched on his phonotelephote whose wires led to the house he owned in the Champs-Elysees. He saw his wife appear in the telephotic mirror.
(a) Where did Francis Bennett’s wife go?
Answer:
She went to France.
(b) How many days was Francis alone at home?
Answer:
He was alone for eight days.
(c) What did Francis do, as soon as Jie awoke?
Answer:
As soon as he awoke, Francis switched on his phonotelephote.
(d) Where did he own a house?
Answer:
He owned a house in Champs-Elysees.
(e) What did he see in the telephotic mirror?
Answer:
He saw his wife in the telephotic mirror.
2. Francis Bennett went on into the reporters’ room. His fifteen hundred reporters, placed before an equal number of telephones, were passing on to subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth. In addition to his telephone, each reporter has in front of him a series of commutators, which allow him to get into communication with this or that telephotic line. Francis Bennett questioned one of the ten astronomical reporters – a service which was growing because of the recent discoveries in the stellar world.
(a) Where did Francis go?
Answer:
He went on into the reporters room.
(b) How many reporters were there?
Answer:
There were fifteen hundred reporters.
(c) What were they doing?
Answer:
They were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth.
(d) What does each reporter had in front of him?
Answer:
Each reporter had a telephone and a series of commutators in front of him.
(e) Whom did Francis question?
Answer:
Francis questioned one of the astronomical reporters.
IV. Mind map.
1.
Answer:
(i) Earth Herald
(ii) Switched on his phonotelephote
(iii) mirror
(iv) mechanized dressing room
(v) buttoned from top to toe
2.
Answer:
(i) run out of money
(ii) all forms of matter easy
(iii) a human being?
(iv) the soul
(v) scientific editorial department
V. Paragraph questions.
1. How does Francis Bennett spend his day on 25th July?
Answer:
Francis Bennett got ready on 25th July and started off to his day’s work. He went into the reporter’s room. His fifteen hundred reporters were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come during the night from the four quarters of the earth. Francis Bennett questioned one of the ten astronomical reporters about what he had got. They had just determined the elements of the new planet ‘Gandini’. The astronomer gave accurate information about it. Francis got delighted and moved to the gallery which was devoted to Publicity. He inspected that and had his meals. Then he went to his accumulator works at Niagara. He returned to receive the petitions from the public. He selected the best proposal and finally after the day’s work, he decided to take a bath.
Question 2.
What does the story of ‘A day in 2889 of an American Journalist’ convey to us?
Answer:
This story speaks about the people of the twenty-ninth century who live in fairyland. Overfed as they are with marvels, they are indifferent to the presence of each new marvel. To them, all seem natural: This story is about the world in the year 2889. It was written in 1889 by Jules Verne. The writer describes how he visualizes the world a thousand years later – a world of technological advancements, where newspapers are not printed but ‘spoken. The story takes place in the office block of the Managing Editor of the ‘Earth Herald’ the world’s largest newspaper. It’s about how Francis Bennett spends his time at home and office with the technological advancements.
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist By Jules Verne
Jules Verne (1828 – 1905) is a French Novelist, poet and playwright. His adventure novels are part of a series. He draws inspiration from his own sailing adventures. He is one of the most translated authors in the world. He has been called the Father of Science Fiction and has had an incalculable influence on the development of science fiction writing. More interesting, perhaps, is his place as a prophet or predictor of technology which wasn’t to be invented until long after his death
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Main Characters
Francis Bennett – Managing Editor
Edith – Wife of Francis Bennett
Cash – Astronomical reporter
Corley – Astronomical reporter
Gandini – New planet
Earth Herald – World s largest newspaper
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Key Points
- This story takes place in the office of the Managing Editor of the Earth Herald, the world’s largest newspaper.
- In this story, the writer visualizes the world, a thousand years later. It is a world of technological advancements.
- Francis Bennett’s wife had gone to France eight days back. So Francis felt lonely and bored.
- He gets ready without the help of an attendant by switching on a button on the mechanised dressing room.
- He went to the reporter’s room and enquired about its proceedings.
- He gets the news from one of his astronomers about the new planet ‘Gandini’.
- Then he travels to his accumulator works at Niagara, inspects them and returns to Centropolis by 5 ’O clock.
- At the waiting room of the Earth Herald, he receives different proposals from the audience.
- Out of these, two young men’s proposals were brilliant. So he engages them at his office.
- His wife gives him the news that she is starting from Paris by‘tube’.
- The tube travels from Paris in two hundred and ninety-five minutes.
- Finally, he gets tired and touches a button to take a bath.
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Summary
The year is 2889 and the date is 25th July. The story takes place in the office block of the Managing Editor of the Earth Herald, the worlds largest newspaper. In this story, written in 1889, the writer describes how he visualizes the world a thousand years later. It is a world of technological advancements. Here newspapers are not printed but spoken.
Francis Bennett awoke in a bad temper, as it was eight days since his wife had been in France. He was feeling lonely. He saw his wife appear in the telephotic mirror. He quickly jumped off his bed went into the mechanized dressing room. Without any attendant, the machine performed all the tasks of getting him ready to his office,
Francis went to the reporter s room. His fifteen hundred reporters were passing on to the subscribers the news which had come in during the night from the four quarters of the earth. Francis went to the service room of the astronomical reporters and enquired about its proceedings. One of the Earth Herald s astronomers had just determined the elements of the new planet Gandini. It is at a distance of 12,841,348,284,623 metres and 7 decimetres. The next room was a broad gallery. It was devoted to publicity. It brought in a daily average of three million dollars.
Francis then went to his accumulator works at Niagara in his aero-car. After visiting that, he returned to Centropolis about 5’0 clock. After waiting in the room of the Earth Herald, there were different proposals given by the crowd. Out of these, two young mens proposals were brilliant. He assigned them work and went to have his meal. He gets the news from his wife that she is coming to Centropolis by tube which travels from Paris in two hundred and ninety-five minutes. He touches a button to take a bath and goes in.
A Day in 2889 of an American Journalist Glossary
audition room – demonstrating room
cataracts – water falls
Centropolis (n) – (in this story) the new name of New York in 2889.
Champs-Elysees (n) – a prestigious avenue in Paris, famous for the Cafes, cinemas and shops
conveying – carrying
gigantic – enormous
glimpse – quick look
immense – huge
impracticable – impossible to carrying out
inhabitants (n) – a person or animal that lives in or occupies a place.
inordinate – excessive
jovians (n) – inhabitants of planet Jupiter
petitioner – a person who presents a request to an authority
phonotelephote (n) – A means of transmitting and receiving both voice and picture for a personal conversation.
phototelegrams (n) – A telegraphic transmission including images
precision – accuracy
rumbling – a continuous deep sound
solitude – loneliness
stellar – relating to stars
surfeited – overfed
transmission – the process of passing on
unceasingly – never-endingly
valet (n) – a man’s personal male attendant, who is responsible for his clothes and appearance