NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

The NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – “A Triumph of Surgery” provides detailed answers to all the questions in the chapter. This humorous and heartwarming story, written by James Herriot, revolves around a pampered dog named Tricki who falls ill due to overfeeding by his indulgent owner, Mrs. Pumphrey. Tricki is taken to the veterinary clinic where Dr. Herriot helps the dog recover by putting him on a strict diet and exercise regimen.

Here Are The NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Question 1:

Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey was concerned and upset about Tricki’s health because he was not eating anything. He refused to eat his favourite dishes and vomited frequently. He spent his entire time lying on a rug, panting, and showed no interest in going for daily walks either.

Question 2:

What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

Answer:

Mrs. Pumphrey assumed Tricki had become listless since he appeared to lack vitality. She felt he was malnourished, so she began feeding him tiny extras between meals to bulk him up, some malt and cod liver oil, and a bowl of Horlicks at night to help him sleep. She would also overindulge in cream cakes and chocolates and fail to provide him with adequate exercise.

With all of this pampering and indulgence, Tricki got extremely big, resembling a bloated sausage with a leg in each corner. His mistress’s decision to overfeed him was certainly not good, as it aggravated his condition and made him more sluggish and fat. Mrs Pumphrey was upset when she saw Tricki’s situation and visited a veterinary surgeon, Dr Herriot, to assist improve his health.

Question 3:

Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

Answer:

In the story, ‘I’ refers to Dr James Herriot, a veterinary surgeon.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Read and Find Out

Question 1:

Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

Answer:

There are some moments in the story that show Dr Herriot was not as wealthy as Tricki’s mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. This is evident from the fact that the narrator was unable to provide a luxurious life for Tricki, such as a cozy bed stuffed with favorite cushions, toys, and rubber rings, as well as bowls for various meals of the day; instead, he made Tricki a bed in a warm loose box next to the one where the other dogs slept. The doctor couldn’t afford a complete crew of maids and nannies, like Mrs Pumphrey, to look after her pet, Tricki.

Question 2:

How does he treat the dog?

Answer:

Dr. Herriot did not provide Tricki with unnecessary food products. He treated him more like an overweight and lethargic dog who needed regular exercise and a regulated diet. He limited his food intake and kept him under careful supervision for the first four days. In due course, he raised Tricki’s food intake with a balanced diet and freed him up for physical activities that would benefit his health. The dog’s condition gradually improved, and he no longer required any medical care and recovered quickly.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Question 3:

Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey began bringing along fresh eggs, two dozen at a time, to help Tricki gain strength. Later, bottles of wine and brandy started to arrive. The narrator and his partners had breakfast with two eggs each, as well as wine and brandy intended for Tricki. They were days of deep contentment, beginning with an extra egg in the morning, improved and sustained by the midday wine, and concluding luxuriously around the fire with brandy. It was a tremendous temptation for Herriot to keep Tricki as a permanent visitor to savor the lavish inflow of all these food things.

Question 4:

Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey believed Tricki was gravely unwell when she saw Dr Herriot, but he recovered fully within two weeks. She was relieved to find that he had evolved into a supple and strong-muscled beast. When Dr Herriot brought Tricki to Mrs Pumphrey, he sprang into his mistress’ lap. His recuperation without medical intervention was remarkable, and she said that the dog’s recovery was “a triumph of surgery” to show her gratitude and satisfaction to the doctor.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Think about it

Question 1:

What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?

Answer:

The storyteller, a veterinary surgeon, was an astute and diplomatic doctor. He handled Tricki professionally and compassionately, knowing that the dog was not unwell. He could tell by the dog’s sluggish demeanor that he had gained weight as a result of his mistress’ over-feeding. As a result, he did not perform any surgery on him but instead treated him by changing his diet and engaging in physical exercises. Tricki recovered from his ailment in two weeks while under the care of a doctor.

The story seems to be a blend of fiction and a real-life incident. It is quite natural for rich people to overfeed their pets due to love and affection, just like Mrs Pumphrey did. We have observed how due to her pampering, the dog was overeating and became lazy and bulky. Similarly, it isn’t unusual for rich people who try to provide a luxurious life for their pets and indulge them often. However, it might be unlikely for a veterinary doctor like Dr Herriot who go out of his way and lied about surgery to the owner in order to save her pet from unnecessary indulgences.

Question 2:

Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?

Answer:

The story seems to be a blend of fiction and a real-life incident. It is quite natural for rich people to overfeed their pets due to love and affection, just like Mrs Pumphrey did. We have observed how due to her pampering, the dog was overeating and became lazy and bulky. Similarly, it isn’t unusual for rich people who try to provide a luxurious life for their pets and indulge them often. However, it might be unlikely for a veterinary doctor like Dr Herriot who went out of his way and lie about surgery to the owner in order to save her pet from unnecessary indulgences.

Question 3:

Do you think this is a real-life episode or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?

Answer:

The story seems to be a blend of fiction and a real-life incident. It is quite natural for rich people to overfeed their pets due to love and affection, just like Mrs Pumphrey did. We have observed how due to her pampering, the dog was overeating and became lazy and bulky. Similarly, it isn’t unusual for rich people who try to provide a luxurious life for their pets and indulge them often. However, it might be unlikely for a veterinary doctor like Dr Herriot who go out of his way and lie about surgery to the owner in order to save her pet from unnecessary indulgences.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Talk about it

Question 1:

This episode describes the silly behaviour of a rich woman who is foolishly indulgent, perhaps because she is lonely. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their actions cause harm to others?

Answer:

Mrs Pumphrey’s careless actions of overfeeding Tricki had a negative impact on her pet’s health. She was encouraging Tricki to overeat and indulge in fatty foods in the name of love and devotion. This deteriorated his condition to the point that he was too sluggish and bulky to go for short walks. Rich people, such as Mrs Pumphrey, frequently pamper their pets in ridiculous activities such as overfeeding in order to improve their health, which might have serious consequences for them.

Question 2:

Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?

Answer:

Yes, some parents, such as Mrs Pumphrey, spoil their children by indulging and pampering them. They attempt to overfeed their children or pets despite recognizing the negative consequences of overeating on their health. It is critical for parents like Mrs Pumphrey to monitor and maintain a healthy lifestyle for their children and pets.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery

Question 3:

What would you have done if you were: (i) a member of the staff in Mrs. Pumphrey’s household, (ii) a neighbour? What would your life have been like, in general?

Answer:

If I were a member of her domestic staff, I would not have mindlessly obeyed Mrs Pumphrey’s orders to feed Tricki without considering the negative consequences. I would have fed him according to the vet’s advice and made sure he had enough physical exercise to keep him active and healthy. Furthermore, I would have provided Tricki with a portion of balanced, easy-to-digest food and avoided sending extraneous items, such as toys and cushions, to the hospital.
If I were Mrs. Pumphrey’s neighbour, I would have urged her to stick to a strict diet and involve Tricki in physical activity like playing, running, or going on walks. If his condition had deteriorated, I would have advised her to see a veterinarian and closely follow his recommendations to keep her pet’s health in check. Furthermore, I would have been helpful and sympathetic at such a vital time when Tricki was due to be hospitalized. I would have done my utmost to be empathetic and compassionate to Mrs Pumphrey.

Question 4:

What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?

Answer:

If I were the narrator, I would have treated Tricki similarly, with love and care. I would have been cautious and caring, much as Mr James Herriot was with Tricki. However, given Mrs Pumphrey’s affection for Tricki, I would have been a little more severe in recommending she put Tricki on a balanced diet. Furthermore, I would not have consumed Tricki’s part of the eggs, wine, and brandy brought by Mrs Pumphrey, and I would have resisted the desire to maintain Tricki as a permanent guest in my hospital.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 1 – A Triumph of Surgery