Three Questions SAQ

 

       Three Questions SAQ

1.What is the meaning of the word Tsar ? 

Ans. Tsar is a Russian word that denotes a king. 

2. What kind of short story is Three Questions?  

Ans. Three Questions is written as a Parable that contains a moral preaching in the form of a short story.

3. What were the three questions that occurred to the Tsar ? 

Ans. In Leo Tolstoy’s short story the three questions that occurred to the Tsar were— what is the right time for every action, who are the most important people to listen to and whom to avoid, and what is the most important thing to do. 

4. Why did the Tsar need the answer of his questions?

Ans. The Tsar sought the answer of his three questions so that he would not be failed in anything he might undertake in future and cope with any occurrence. 

5. What did the Tsar do once he had the thought to get the answer of the questions? 

Ans. Once the thought of having the answer to these critical questions occurred to the Tsar, he proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to anyone who would guide him with the answers.

6. How did the learned men differ in answering the second question of the Tsar ? 

Ans. As to the second question of the Tsar about the most important people to listen to, the learned me varied in their opinions. Some replied that the Tsar mostly needed his counselors to advise him, others said the priests, some regarded the doctors to be more important, while others said that the warriors are the most necessary men of all. 

7. How did the learned men differ in answering the third question of the Tsar ? 

Ans. As to the third question of the Tsar about the most important occupation, the learned men’s answers varied. Some replied in favour of science, while for others it was the skill in warfare. Others preferred religious worship to be the most important occupation.

8. Why did the Tsar give a reward to none ? 

Ans. All the answers of the learned men being different failed to satisfy the Tsar. So he agreed with none of them and gave reward to none.

9.Whom did the Tsar decide to consult ? 

Ans. The Tsar, being utterly dissatisfied with the varied answers of the learned men, decided to consult a hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom.

10. Where did the hermit live ? 

Ans. The hermit whom the Tsar wanted to consult to get the answers of his questions, used to live in a wood which he never quitted. 

11. Whom did the hermit receive ? 

Ans. The hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom, used to receive none but common folks. 

12. Why did the Tsar put on simple clothes? 

Ans. The wise hermit whom the Tsar sought to consult received only common folks, so the Tsar put on simple clothes, dismounted from his horse and left his bodyguard behind.

13. What was the hermit doing when the Tsar approached him ? 

Ans. When the Tsar approached the wise hermit he was digging the ground in front of his hut.

14. What did the hermit do on seeing the Tsar ? 

Ans. Seeing the Tsar the hermit greeted him and went on digging the ground in front of his hut. 

15. How did the hermit look ? / How was the condition of the hermit when the Tsar met him ? 

Ans. The hermit, widely renowned for his wisdom, was physically frail and weak and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

16. What did the hermit reply after listening to the questions of the Tsar for the first time? 

Ans. The hermit listened to the Tsar but replied nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

17. Why did the Tsar take the spade from the hermit and dig? 

Ans. The hermit was physically frail and weak and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily. The Tsar thought that he might be tired and felt mercy on him and took to the spade to dig.

18. What did the hermit do when he gave the spade to the Tsar ? 

Ans. The hermit thanked the Tsar to dig the ground for him and sat down on the ground. 

19. When did the Tsar repeat his questions for the second time ? 

Ans. When the Tsar had dug two beds, he stopped and repeated his questions to the hermit.

20. What did the hermit reply after listening to the questions of the Tsar for the second time? 

Ans. Listening to the questions of the Tsar for the second time the hermit again gave him no answer, instead he rose from the ground, stretched out his hand for the spade from the Tsar to dig.

21. When did the Tsar repeat his questions for the third time ? 

Ans. When one hour passed, and another, the sun began to sink behind the trees, the Tsar at last stuck the spade into the ground and sought answers of his questions from the hermit for the third time.

22. How did the Tsar implore/ request the hermit third time to answer his questions? 

Ans. The Tsar did humbly implore the wise men either to answer his questions or to tell him straight if the answers were not known to him, so that the Tsar would return to his home.

23. Who was coming from the wood ? 

Ans. The Tsar saw a bearded man come running out of the woods. 

24. What was the condition of the bearded man ? 

Ans. The bearded man who came running out of the woods, held his hands pressed against his stomach,as blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the king, he fell fainting on the ground, moaning feebly. 

25. What did the Tsar and the hermit do immediately to help the bearded man?

Ans. The Tsar and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing as there was a large wound in his stomach.

26. From where was the blood flowing? 

Ans. The bearded man’s blood was flowing from a large wound in his stomach.

27. How did the Tsar nurse the wounded man? 

Ans. The Tsar washed the wound of the bearded man and bandaged it initially with his handkerchief and then with a towel given by the hermit. The Tsar again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, washed it and rebandaged him till the blood ceased flowing. 

28. When the blood ceased flowing what did the man ask? 

Ans. When the blood ceased flowing, the wounded man revived and asked for something to drink.

29. What did the Tsar give the wounded man to drink? 

Ans. The Tsar brought the wounded man fresh water to drink and quench his thirst. 

30. Why did the Tsar bring the wounded man into the hut ? 

Ans. As the sun had set, it had become cool. So the Tsar, with the hermit’s assistance carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed.

31. Why did the Tsar have a sound sleep?

Ans. The Tsar was so tired from his walk and from the work he had done that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night.

32. Which season is mentioned in the story ?

Ans. The story Three Questions by Leo Tolstoy carries reference to the season of Summer.

33. Who was the bearded man ?

Ans. The bearded man was the sworn enemy of the Tsar who sought revenge upon the Tsar for executing his brother and seizing his property.

34. How did the bearded man get wounded?

Ans. The bearded man resolved to kill the Tsar on his way back from the hermit as he was alone. But when the day passed and the Tsar did not return, the man came out of his ambush to look for the Tsar and incidentally came upon the Tsar’s bodyguard who recognized him and wounded him consequently.

35. What did the wounded man promise the Tsar?

Ans. Out of gratitude to save his life, the wounded man promised the Tsar to serve him as his most faithful slave, and would bid his sons to do the same. 

36. Why was the Tsar glad ? 

Ans. The Tsar was glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend.

37. What did the Tsar promise the wounded man?

Ans. The Tsar promised the wounded man that he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

38. Where did the Tsar go after departing from the wounded man?

Ans. Having taken leave of the wounded man, the Tsar went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit in an attempt to get the answers of his questions for the last time.

39. What was the hermit doing when the Tsar met him for the last time?

Ans. When the Tsar met the hermit he was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.

40. What did the Tsar approach the hermit?

Ans. The Tsar humbly approached the hermit for the last time and prayed to him to answer his questions.

41. What is the most important time as per the hermit?

Ans. According to the hermit there is only one time that is important —-now. Because it is the only time when we have any power that can predict the future course of action.

42. What is the most important person as per the hermit?

Ans. According to the hermit the most necessary man is the one with whom we are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with anyone else.

43. What is the most important work as per the hermit?

Ans. The most important affair, according to the hermit, is to do that person good with whom we are present, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life.