First Year at Harrow

                                                                  

                                                 11. First Year at Harrow

                                                                          (Sir Winston S. Churchill)

                                                                   SHORT QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 

Q-1. Why did not Churchill do well in examinations? (OR) What was the writer's experience regarding examinations? (OR) Why were the examinations a trial to Churchill? (OR) Why did Churchill dislike examinations system? (OR) What does the writer mean by inhospitable region?

Ans:- Churchill did not do well in the examinations because the examiners asked questions mostly from those subjects in which he was not interested. He liked History, Poetry and Essay writing. Thus, he disliked the examinations system and called it inhospitable region because it did not test the mental abilities of the students.

 

Q-2. In which subjects did the writer want to be examined?

Ans:- The writer wanted to be examined in History, Poetry and Essay writing because he liked these subjects.

 

Q-3. What did Churchill do in the entrance examination at Harrow? (OR) How did Churchill do his Latin paper? (OR) How did Churchill perform in his entrance examination at Harrow?

Ans:- He could not answer even a single question in the Latin paper. He wrote his name at the top of the page. Then the number of the question 'I' and after much reflection put a bracket round it, thus '(I)'. A blot and several smudges were also formed on the paper.

 

Q-4. What was the attitude of the headmaster, Mr. Welldon? (OR) Why did Churchill have the greatest regard for the headmaster, Mr. Welldon? What sort of man was the headmaster at Harrow? How was Churchill admitted to Harrow despite his poor performance?

Ans:- Churchill had the greatest regard for the headmaster, Mr. Welldon. He had a positive approach so he could see beneath the surface of things. That is why, he was able to judge the hidden qualities of Churchill and gave him admission to the school.

 

Q-5. Why was Churchill placed in the lowest division? (OR) Where was Churchill placed in the merit list at the school?

Ans:- In the alphabetic list of the entrance test, Spenser Churchill's name was third from the bottom. Unfortunately, the last two students disappeared and he remained at the bottom.

 

Q-6. What were the intelligent boys taught at Harrow? (OR) Where from do you come to know that least importance was given to English as a subject at Harrow?

Ans:- Churchill tells that all the intelligent and clever boys were taught Latin and Greek whereas the dull and average students were offered only English at Harrow. It shows that in the order of priority, English was the lowest.

 

 

 

 

 

Q-7. Who was Mr. Somervell? (OR) What is the writer's opinion about his English teacher? (OR) How did Mr. Somervell teach English? (OR) What do you know about the teaching method of Mr. Somervell? (OR) How did Mr. Somervell teach English analysis to the students?

Ans:- Mr. Somervell was the English teacher at Harrow. Churchill had much appreciation for him. He had his own method of teaching. He took a fairly long sentence and broke it up into its components by means of black, red, green and blue inks to highlight different parts of speech. Moreover, the students were given a type of drill which they exercised daily.

 

Q-8. Churchill was taught English at Harrow and not Latin and Greek. Was it a gain or loss? (OR) What advantage did Churchill get out of English? (OR) In after years, how did the knowledge of English stand Churchill in good stead? (OR) What good did Churchill's three years stay at Harrow do him?

Ans:- By remaining in the same class for three years, Churchill learnt English thoroughly. He found it useful in practical life where medium of communication was English.  Thus, it proved a great blessing for him.

 

Q-9. Write an appreciation or criticism of Churchill's views in regard to the study of Latin, Greek and English and their value in earning a living? (OR) Why does the writer prefer English to Latin and Greek?

Ans:- Churchill prefers English to Latin and Greek because both Latin and Greek have become dead languages in the modern age and English has become the language of the day. Churchill thinks it necessary for students  to learn English for earning their living.

 

 

 

 

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