6 VIRTUALLY TRUE

ä By Paul Stewart

BEFORE YOU READ

What is Virtual Reality?
‘Virtual reality’ is a term that applies to computer simulated environments that can simulate physical presence
in places in the real world as well as in imaginary worlds. Users can interact with a virtual environment either through
the use of standard devices like keyboard and mouse or through wired gloves, as is seen in this story. Virtual reality
can be for two purposes :
u The simulation of a real environment for training and education.
u The development of an imagined environment for a game or interactive activity.
In this lesson, two boys remote from each other, interact in strange manner, without actually meeting and manage
to create miracles.
dgkuh i<+us ls igys
^^yxHkx lp gh** D;k gS\
;g inca/] dEI;wVj ls fdlh O;fDrµoLrq dh 'kDy ;k vkdkj ysus osQ fy, ç;ksx fd;k tkrk gSA ;g okLrfod vkSj dkYifud
nksuksa txr esa ç;ksx fd;k tk ldrk gSA bl lsok osQ miHkksDrk] ,d nwljs ls esy&tksy] ,d yxHkx lR; ls lEioZQ] dh cksMZ vkSj ekml
}kjk vFkok rkj osQ nLrkuksa ls dj ldrs gSaA ^yxHkx lR; gh* 'kCn osQ ç;ksx djus osQ nks dkj.k gSaA
— çf'k{k.k vkSj f'k{kk osQ fy, ,d okLrfod okrkoj.k cukus osQ fy,A
— ,d dkYifud okrkoj.k dk :i /kj.k djuk] fdlh [ksy vFkok vkilh lEioZQ osQ fodkl osQ fy,A

The game made him feel that he was also one of the
SUMMARY
characters and he had a Sheriff’s badge pinned on his shirt.
The narrator is a young boy, who is travelling by
As he burst into the swing doors of the saloon, everyone
train. His attention is attracted by a big woman, sitting
glared at him. He drank a glass of some fizzy red stuff and
opposite, reading a newspaper. The headline and the cover-
on hearing a loud crash, he spun around. There in the
story was regarding a 14-year-old school boy named
doorway was Black-Eyed Jed, with the fastest gun in the
Sebastian Shultz, who awoke from a coma that the doctors
west. He called the narrator who was Sheriff Dawson out.
feared would last forever. The story further elaborated that
The narrator slammed the glass down and went out.
Sebastian had been injured in a motorway accident and did
Surprisingly the game took a strange and unexpected turn.
not regain consciousness. The mother of Sebastian hoped
A second Sheriff appeared through the back door, shouting
that their son would get out of coma, but only a miracle
and waving. The narrator wondered what way the game
could save him. The narrator sees the boy’s photograph
was shaping. The second Sheriff forbade the narrator from
also and he is shocked to discover, it is the same Sebastian
going out. The narrator noticed that he was very different
whom he had got to know. But the newspaper story stated
from other computer images. He was young, like the
that the boy had been in coma throughout. The narrator felt
narrator and he did not move like other images. The
nervous and confused. He couldn’t figure out how could
second Sheriff told the narrator to follow him. They raced
this have happened.
down a corridor, through another door, then another and
It all started a month back, when the narrator along ended back in the saloon itself. The second sheriff dived
with his Dad had brought the latest psycho-drive games through the window and the narrator followed him. He
with a virtual reality, visor and glove. Some of these games was sitting on a horse and the narrator sat behind him.
didn’t appear new but the narrator was not bothered. He There were other men on horse back chasing them. The
was thrilled with the latest technology and was getting sound of a gunshot shocked the narrator and he realised
impatient to start playing. that the second Sheriff had collapsed. Immediately bright
The first game that he started was called Wild West. neon lights appeared and score ‘GAME OVER’. As the
D – 54 New Wave Communicative English – X
narrator took out his visor, he noticed a piece of paper on narrator jumped into the helicopter. But Sebastian was not
the tray. there, he could not get out of the jeep and the jeep had
It carried a picture of the second Sheriff with the crashed with the tank. Sebastian was thrown out and
message.” I’m stuck. Please help to retrieve me. Try landed near the helicopter with a great thud. The narrator
Dragon Quest”. — Sebastian Shultz. could not see anything because of the dust and the game
Next morning, the narrator started playing the game got over. When he removed the visor, he had scored
of DRAGON QUEST. The aim of the game was to rescue 40,000,000 points and realised that he had cracked the
a golden haired princess Aurora from the wicked dragon game.
and also to collect the dragon’s treasure on the way. The The narrator wanted now to cross-check the facts. He
narrator was on the verge of saving the princess, when he got out of the train and surfed the net for some details. He
is stalled by Sebastian’s voice in the background, asking found out what he was looking for. Apparently at the time
to be saved first. Sebastian was the second knight this time of the accident, Sebastian was using his lap-top to play one
and he cut off the golden plaits of the princess, made them of the psycho-drive games that the narrator had bought.
into a rope and jumped out. The narrator also jumped out. The narrator realised that Sebastian’s memory had been
They tried to run through a secret passage with the dragon stored on disk because the computer had saved Sebastian’s
pursuing them. They take to the dungeons later and then memory as its run, when Sebastian had banged his head in
the dragon suddenly appeared and jumped on them. The the accident. But how did it end up in the narrator’s com-
narrator tries to strike him but is not successful. The puter. This was also solved later because the narrator came
dragon only charged towards Sebestian, who was his to know that when Sebastian had been in the hospital,
prime target. Before the narrator could do anything to save someone had stolen the games and sold them. And the
Sebastian, the game got over. This time the message in the narrator had ended up buying them. There was a message
printer was ‘BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. OTHERWISE from Subastian that said, “DEAR MICHAEL, THANK
I’LL HAVE TO STAY HERE FOREVER. TRY JAIL- YOU. I’M NOT SURE HOW IT HAPPENED. BUT YOU
BREAK. I THINK IT MIGHT WORK”. SAVED MY LIFE. LET’S MEET UP SOON, CHEERS.
The narrator had no need to study the rules of the SEB. PL. KEEP THE GAMES. YOU’VE EARNED
game JAILBREAK. He knew his sole objective to save THEM”.
Sebastian. His cellmate in the games was prisoner: 02478 : This was a real and direct message from Sebastian. It
Shultz. With the help of a skeleton swipe-card, they both was clear that by reliving the accident, something wonder-
were out of the cell, with dogs chasing and sirens wailing. ful had happened. But then again, what can someone say
They manage to evade the guards and reach the roof. about miracles. And what is true or what is virtually true—
Sebastian is waiting for a helicopter to rescue them. But by no one can say with finality. The narrator had undergone
that time the guards and dogs were hurtling towards them an experience that had proved to be virtually true.
and before the narrator could do anything, Sebastian had lkjka'k
taken a step backwards and landed on the concrete below.
The game ended there and then, much to the shock of the dFkkokpd ,d fd'kksj gS] tks ,d Vsªu esa lIk”Qj dj jgk gSA
narrator. This time, the narrator was shocked to discover mldk è;ku ,d yEch&pkSM+h efgyk dh vksj vkd£"kr gksrk gS] tks
that there was no message from Sebastian. The narrator mlosQ lkeus cSBh lekpkji=k i<+ jgh gSA v[kckj dh lq£[k;k¡ ,d
ran through all the three games over and over again, but he pkSng o"khZ; yM+osQ] LcSlfp;u 'kqYV~t osQ ckjs esa gSA ;g yM+dk
couldn’t find Sebastian again. Then one day a message dksek ls ckgj vk x;k tcfd mlosQ MkWDVjksa dks bldh dksbZ vk'kk
was there, “CAN WE HAVE LAST ONE TRY ... HELI-
COPTER WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA... THERE’S GOT
ugha FkhA lekpkji=k us ;g Hkh crk;k Fkk fd LcSlfp;u ,d eksVj
TO BE SOME ACCIDENT TRY WARZONE. IF THIS nq?kZVuk dk f'kdkj Fkk vkSj gks'k esa vHkh rd ugha vk;k FkkA mldh
DOES NOT WORK I WON’T BOTHER YOU AGAIN”. ek¡ dks vk'kk Fkh fd og gks'k esa vk tk;sxk ij ,d peRdkj gh mls
CHEERS. SEB. cpk ldrk FkkA dFkkokpd LcSlfp;u dh rLohj ns[kdj LrfEHkr
The narrator tried WARZONE. He was facing a city jg tkrk gS] D;ksafd og mldks tkuus yx x;k FkkA ij] v[kckj dk
with tall buildings. Machine guns were firing, bombs were dguk Fkk fd og rks yxkrkj dksek (çxk<+ csgks'kh) esa FkkA dFkkokpd
exploding but the narrator was clear that Sebastian and he
had to reach the helicopter in one piece. They ran to a no
vR;Ur mÙksftr vkSj pDdj esa FkkA mldks le> gh ugha vk jgk Fkk
man’s land, got into a waiting jeep started the engine. A fd ,slk oSQls gks ldrk gSA
tank was speeding towards them. Sebastian slammed the ;g lc ,d ekl igys 'k: gqvk tc mlus vius firk osQ
brakes all of a sudden, the jeep went into a spin and the lkFk tkdj lcls vk/qfud ,d euksoSKkfud dEI;wVj xse] yxHkx
Literature D – 55
lp gh okyh] eq¡g dh gsyesV vkSj nLrkuksa osQ lkFk [kjhnhA blesa oqQN bl ckj lans'k esa fy[kk FkkA µ ^^nwljh ckj ”;knk liQyrk ugha
[ksy rks iqjkus Fks] ij dFkkokpd dks dksbZ viQlksl ugha gqvkA og feyh rks eq>s ges'kk osQ fy, ;gk¡ jguk iM+sxkA ^tsyczsd* [ksy [ksyksA
lcls vk/qfud rduhd okyk [ksy [ksyus osQ fy, vfr mRlqd FkkA 'kk;n og dke vk;s!**
igyk [ksy tks mlus 'kq: fd;k mldk uke ^okbYM osLV* FkkA dFkkokpd dks tsyczsd [ksy osQ fu;e i<+us dh vko';drk
;g [ksy [ksyrs gq, mls yxk fd og Hkh [ksy dk ,d ik=k gS vkSj ugha FkhA mls ekywe Fkk fd mldk y{; LcSlfp;u dks cpkuk gSA
'kSfjiQ dk cSt mldh deh”k ij yxk gqvk gSA tSls gh og lSywu osQ mlosQ tsy dk lkFkh oSQnh uEcj 02478 & 'kqYV~t FkkA ,d oaQdky
?kwers gq, }kj ls vUnj ?kqlk mlus lcdks mls Øksf/r n`f"V ls ns[krs :ih dkMZ dh lgk;rk ls] nksuksa tsy dh dksBjh ls ckgj fudy vk;s
gq, ik;kA mlus ,d fxykl esa yky jax dk is; fi;k vkSj ,d ”kksj ijUrq tsy osQ lk;ju vkSj oqQÙks mudk ihNk djus yxsA os igjsnkjksa ls
dh /ekosQ dh vkok”k lqudj rqjar iyVkA }kj ij dkyh vk¡[kksa okyk cprs gq, Nr ij tk igq¡psA tc LcSlfp;u gsyhdkWIVj dk bar”kkj dj
tsM [kM+k Fkk vkSj mlosQ gkFk esa lcls 'kh?kz pyus okyh cUnwd FkhA jgk Fkk] rc igjsnkj vkSj oqQÙks mudh vksj yidrs gq, vk igq¡psA
mlus dFkkokpd] tks 'ksfjiQ MksC'ku Fkk] ls ckgj vkus dks dgkA blls igys dFkkokpd oqQN djrk] LcSlfp;u us ,d dne ihNs dh
dFkkokpd us fxykl iVdk vkSj ckgj x;kA bl le; [ksy us ,d vksj fy;k vkSj og Nr ls fxj dj uhps lhesaV ij tk fxjkA [ksy ogha
vk'p;Ztud vçR;kf'kr eksM+ ys fy;kA [kRe gks x;k vkSj dFkkokpd dks cM+k /Ddk yxk tc mlus ns[kk
,d nwljk 'ksfjiQ] fiNys }kj ls fpYykrk gqvk vkSj gkFk fd bl ckj LcSlfp;u dk dksbZ lans'k ugha FkkA dFkkokpd us lc
fgykrs gq, fudykA dFkkokpd dks le> ugha vk;k fd [ksy fdl [ksyksa dks ckj&ckj [ksyk ij mls fiQj LcSlfp;u ugha feykA rc] ,d
vksj tk jgk gSA nwljs 'ksfjiQ us dFkkokpd dks ckgj tkus ls euk fnu] ,d lans'k mlus ns[kkµ
fd;kA dFkkokpd us è;ku ls ns[kk fd nwljk 'ksfjiQ nwljh dEI;wVj ^^D;k ge ,d vkf[kjh dksf'k'k djsa\ gsfydkWIVj dh vPNh
Nfo;ksa ls fHkUu FkkA og dFkkokpd osQ leku ,d fd'kksj ckyd Fkk ;kstuk ugha FkhA ,d nq?kZVuk gksuh vko';d gSA okWj”kksu xse [ksyksA
vkSj nwljh Nfo;ksa osQ leku ugha py jgk FkkA mlus dFkkokpd dks vxj ;g vliQy gks tkrh gS rks eSa rqEgs fiQj ijs'kku ugha d:¡xkA
vius ihNs vkus dks dgkA og ,d xfy;kjs ls rs”kh ls Hkkxrs gq, ,d t; gks µ lsc
nwljs }kj }kjk] vkSj fiQj ,d }kj ls fudy dj okil lSywu esa tk dFkkokpd us okWj”kksu [ksykA og ,d 'kgj esa Å¡ph bekjrksa osQ
igq¡psA nwljk 'ksfjiQ ,d f[kM+dh ls owQn x;k vkSj dFkkokpd Hkh lkeus [kM+k FkkA lc rjIk”Q e'khuxuas py jgh Fkha] ce iwQV jgs Fks ij
mlosQ ihNs owQnkA 'ksfjiQ ,d ?kksM+s ij lokj Fkk vkSj dFkkokpd dFkkokpd dks ;g ekywe Fkk fd LcSlfp;u vkSj Lo;a mls gsfydkWIVj
mlosQ ihNs cSB x;kA ogk¡ vkSj nwljs ?kqM+lokj Hkh Fks tks mudk ihNk osQ ikl lgh lyker igq¡puk FkkA og nkSM+dj vuf/o`Qr Hkwfe ij
dj jgs FksA ,d cUnwd dh vkokt us dFkkokpd dks pkSadk fn;k vkSj igq¡ps vkSj ,d bar”kkj djrh gqbZ thi dks pykus yxsA LcSlfp;u us
mls irk pyk fd nwljk 'ksfjiQ fxj iM+k gSA mlh oDr pedrh gqbZ ,d ne czsd nckbZ vkSj thi iwjh ?kwe xbZA dFkkokpd owQn dj
jks'kuh gqbZ vkSj ^^[ksy [kre** fy[kk gqvk vk;kA tSls gh dFkkokpd gSyhdkWIVj esa cSB x;k ijUrq LcSlfp;u thi ls ugha fudy ik;k vkSj
us viuk gsyesV mrkjk] mlus Vsª esa ,d dkx”k dk iUuk ns[kkA thi tkdj ,d VSd a ls VdjkbZA LcSlfp;u thi ls mNydj gsfydkWIVj
mlesa nwljs 'ksfjiQ dh rlohj osQ lkFk ,d lans'k Fkk ^^eSa i¡Ql osQ lkeus /ekosQ osQ lkFk fxj iM+kA /wy mM+us osQ dkj.k dFkkokpd
x;k gw¡] eq>s fudkyus esa lgk;rk djks] MSªxu Dq;SYV [ksy [ksyksA** µ oqQN Hkh ns[k u ik;k vkSj [ksy [kRe gks x;kA tc mlus viuk gsyesV
LcSlfp;u 'kqYV~tA nwljs fnu lqcg] dFkkokpd us ‘‘Dragon Quest’’ gVk;k rks dFkkokpd us ns[kk fd mlus xse thr yh] vkSj 40]000]000
[ksy 'kq: fd;kA ml [ksy dk y{;] ,d lqugjs ckyksa okyh vad cuk;sA dFkkokpd lR; dh rg rd igq¡puk pkgrk FkkA Vªsu ls
jktoqQekjh vkSjksjk dks ,d nq"V MSªxu ls cpkuk Fkk] vkSj ml MSªxu dk mrj dj mlus usV ij [kkst dhA mls tks og <w¡<+ jgk Fkk fey x;kA
[k”kkuk Hkh ywVuk FkkA dFkkokpd jktoqQekjh dks cpkus gh okyk Fkk] okLro esa LcSlfp;u nq?kZVuk osQ le; vius dEI;wVj ij ,d
rHkh LcSlfp;u dh vkok”k us mls ihNs ls jksdk] vkSj igys mls euksoSKkfud xse [ksy jgk FkkA ftl le; nq?kZVuk ?kVh] dEI;wVj us
cpkus dks dgkA LcSlfp;u bl le; nwljk ukbZV Fkk] mlus jktoqQekjh LcSlfp;u dh Lej.k'kfDr dks fMLd es tek dj fy;k FkkA ij og
dh lqugjh pksVh dks dkVdj ,d jLlh cukbZ vkSj owQn x;kA dFkkokpd osQ dEI;wVj esa oSQls vk;h\ ;g leL;k Hkh rc gy gks
dFkkokpd Hkh owQn x;kA os nksuksa ,d [kqfiQ;k ekxZ ls Hkkxus yxs vkSj xbZ] tc dFkkokpd dks irk pyk fd vLirky ls fdlh us LcSlfp;u
MSªxu mudk ihNk djus yxkA os ,d rg[kkus esa ?kql x;s vkSj rHkh osQ [ksy pqjk fy;s vkSj mUgsa csp fn;k vkSj dFkkokpd us pksjh dh
MSªxu vpkud muosQ lkeus vk x;k vkSj mu ij owQnkA MSªxu osQoy gqbZ xse [kjhnhA ,d vkSj lans'k LcSlfp;u dks feyk µ
LcSlfp;u dh vksj yidk D;ksafd ogh mldk fu'kkuk FkkA blls ^^fç; ekbdy] /U;okn! eq>s ugha ekywe ;g oSQls gqvk] ijUrq
igys fd dFkkokpd mldh lgk;rk osQ fy, oqQN djrk] [ksy rqeus esjh tku cpkbZA gesa 'kh?kz gh feyuk pkfg,] t; gks! lsc] rqe
lekIr gks x;kA ;g [ksy vius ikl gh j[kks] rqeus mUgsa esgur ls dek;k gSA**

D – 56 New Wave Communicative English – X

 ;g ,d lPpk vkSj lh/k lans'k LcSlfp;u ls FkkA ;g Li"V gS other l futuristic: relating to future l Sheriff : chief
fd nq?kZVuk dks nqckjk ls thuk ,d vuks[kk vn~Hkqr vuqHko FkkA dksbZ law-enforcing officer l slammed : applied
peRdkjksa osQ fo"k; esa D;k dg ldrk gS\ ij D;k lR; gS vkSj l slumped : to fall backwards l massive : huge
yxHkx lp D;k gS dksbZ Hkh iwjs fo'okl ls ugha crk ldrk gSA l knight : honourable military rank l battlements :

dFkkokpd ,d ,sls vuqHko ls xq”kjk tks yxHkx lp gh fudykA parapets with gaps at the top of the wall
l dungeons : underground places l wailed : noisy
WORD–MEANINGS sound l howled: barked l tramping : sound made
coma : prolonged deep unconsciousness l miracle : by first steps l dodging : evaded l pounded : ran
remarkable supernatural event l fantastic : upwards l vicious : frightening l furiously :
imaginary, fanciful l interactive : act with each nervously l raked : filled

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

Answer the following questions briefly. see Sebastian’s photo also. If Sebastian had been in coma
1. (a) According to the newspaper, what had happened throughout, then how was it possible for him to play
to Sebastian Shultz? computer games with Michael?
Ans : Sebastian Shultz, a 14-year-old boy, was badly (f) Michael’s meeting with Sebastian had been a
injured in a motorway accident. He had gone into coma chance meeting. Where had it taken place and
and and he was taking a lot of time to regain consciousness. how?
(b) ‘Dad’s nutty about computers.’ What evidence Ans : Michael was playing a game called Wildwest,
is there to support this statement? and he was playing the Sheriff. There was an altercation
Ans : The narrator’s father was most crazy for with Black-eyed Jed and he was going to meet him out
computer for he bought a lot of such things at the Computer of the saloon. Before he could go, he saw another Sheriff,
Fair. He bought a Pentium Processor, a Ram, 1.2 GB very different from the other computer images. Later he
hard disk and 16 speed CD ROMs, with speakers, printer, discovered it had been Sebastian Shultz.
modem and a scanner. (g) What kind of computers fascinated Michael and
(c) In what way did the second game seem very his dad? Why
real? Ans : Both Michael and his father were obsessed
Ans : The second game was more thrilling called about the latest type of computers, complete with speakers
DRAGON QUEST. The narrator felt that he was really and everything. They liked the latest gizmos that came
walking in the Dragon’s castle where they were being in the market, specially the latest interactive psycho-drive
pursued by the dragon, the narrator felt it was like a real games.
chase and even felt the dragon’s hot breath on his face. (h) Describe the first place where Michael was
(d) What was Michael’s theory about how Sebastian virtually transported?
had entered the games? Ans : While playing Wildwest, Michael felt that he
Ans : Michael believed that Sebatian had been was not standing in the powerbase but was transported
plugged into the computer when he banged his head in down the dusty track to the centre of town. A Sheriff’s
the accident, the computer had saved his memory in its badge was pinned to his shirt and he entered a saloon
own. These games were stolen from the hospital and where everyone glared at the narrator. There he had a fizzy
Michael had purchased them in the Computer Fair. drink and he was challenged by Black-Eyed Jed, the fastest
(e) Why did the news of the ‘miracle recovery’ gun in the world.
shook Michael?
(i) What help did Sebastian Shultz ask Michael
Ans : Michael was surprised to read in the newspaper
for? How did he convey the message?
that Sebastian Shultz had awakened from a coma that the
doctors had feared might last forever. He was shocked to Ans : Sebastian Shultz had sent a message through
Literature D – 57
the printer saying that he is stuck and Michael should try the dragon obstructed their path and attacked Sebastian.
to retrieve him. And that could be done through the game Michael swung his sword but Sebastian was the target of
DRAGON QUEST. the dragon’s fury, so before he could mediate further, the
(j) Why did Michael fail in rescuing Sebastian game was over.
Shultz for the first time? (l) Narrate the incident that injured Sebastian.
Ans : Michael had followed Sebastian through the Ans : It happened in WARZONE, where both
chase and they ended up in the saloon. Then Sebastian Sebastian and Michael were trying to escape a city which
dived out and both were sitting on the horseback, chased was exploding with machine-guns and bombs. They jumped
by men on horseback. Sebastian told Michael to keep his into a jeep and Michael managed to get into a helicopter
head down but he himself was shot by a bullet and slumped but Sebastian couldn’t get out of the jeep. The jeep had
back near him. Before Michael could do anything the game clashed with a tank and Sebastian landed on the ground
got over. injured.
(k) The second attempt to rescue Sebastian Shultz (m) How was Sebastian Shultz’s memory stored on
too was disastrous. Why? Michael’s disk? How did Michael discover it?
Ans : The second time Michael was playing Ans : When Sebastian had met with an accident, the
DRAGON QUEST and both he and Sebastian were knights computer had saved his memory as its own. Michael
trying to save a princess from the dragon’s castle. They discovered later that the games disk had got stolen in the
both had barely got away when they were chased by the hospital and he had ended up buying those computer
dragon himself. They passed secret passages, dungeons but games.

OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

1. Michael cannot get over this miracle and his Sebastian that he’s stuck and to retrieve him, I must try
involvement in saving Sebastian’s life. The Dragonquest. In this game also he became the second
playing of games and effort to help Sebastian knight with me and was again attacked by the Dragon.
has taken a toll on his health and emotions. After Again a personal message by Sebastian was a frantic call
a gap of time, Michael writes a letter to his friend, for help, telling me not to give up and try JAILBREAK. I
reliving this experience. tried again but Sebastian again fell down. I had constantly
failed him again and again and felt very depressed. The
Ans : 42, Chelmford Street
last call again gave me hope. This time Sebastian sug-
Chennai
gested that I must try WARZONE and there had to be
10, July, 20 XX some kind of accident. A similar thing happened in the
Dear Peter, game and Sebastian met with an accident. The game had
I wanted to write earlier but was not in a state of got over and I had scored 40,000,000. Lo! Can you believe
mind to relate a miracle that took place in my life. We have it! I had cracked the game. Later I discovered that
read often of imaginary experiences that obliterate or pen- Sebastian had recovered.
etrate reality but you will be surprised to know that I had I vowed to solve this mystery. Peter you’d never
also got involved in it. Get ready for some shockers! You believe that such things can happen. When Sebastian had
are also a wizkid at computer games, so brother get ready an accident he had been plugged into the computer and the
for some explosive action! Put-on your visor! computer saved his memory as its own. These games were
One day, while travelling in the train, I read about stored on the disk and got stolen. I bought those games at
a 14-year-old boy, Sebastian Shultz, who had been injured the Computer Fair. Imagine two boys, so far, came so near,
in an accident and gone into coma. After looking at the in an unspeakable bond. And to your friend goes the credit
picture, the earth beneath me started shaking. Now hear it of saving Sebastian, though not consciously. Is it reality?
out. Sometime back I was playing WILDWEST, donning a Was that a miracle, a fantasy? I don’t know but it hap-
Sheriff’s badge and getting ready for some gala action pened to me.
with Black-Eyed Jed when another Sheriff entered, look-
Do write your reaction.
ing strangely different and changed the course of the game.
He was shot down during a chase in the end. Then the Your friend
game got over and I was surprised to see a message by Michael
D – 58 New Wave Communicative English – X
 REFERENCE TO CONTEXT – MCQ
MCQss

Read the following extract and write the correct option. (iv) This means that
1. “It couldn’t be Sebastian Shultz I’d met. I leant for- (a) Sebastian would have to remain in hospital
ward to read the rest of the article.” (b) Sebastian will only remain a computer image
(c) Sebastian would remain in a coma only
(i) Michel said the because (d) Sebastian will never learn to play computer games
(a) the Michael had met a different Sebastian.
(b) it was a case of mistaken identity. 5. “I felt really bad. I’d failed Sebastian, I’d failed the
(c) it was the same Sebastian who had played game.”
games with him. (v) Michael felt bad because
(d) the author could not believe that it was the (a) Michael had blundered in forgetting some key
same Sebastian, since the real one had been factors while playing the game
in coma. (b) Michael had failed Sebastian as he had made
2. “The second Sheriff groaned and slumped back half hearted efforts
against me”. (c) The game used to get over before Michael
(ii) The narrator was shocked because could help Sebastian
(a) The second Sheriff died (d) Michael didn’t know that Sebastian was a real
(b) The second Sheriff fainted boy, that time
(c) The second Sheriff fell down from the horse 6. “I found what I was looking for quickly enough.
Apparently, at the time of the accident, Sebastian
(d) The game got over so it could not be
was using his lap-top to one of the psycho-drive
ascertained what had happened to him
games that I’ve got.”
3. “The aim of the game was simple. I had to rescue (vi) Michael could help Sebastian because
the fair princess Aurora from the wicked dragon.” (a) Sebastian had stolen Michael’s games
(iii) The game was simple because (b) Sebastian could play any psycho-drive game
(a) Michael had played it before from far with remote control.
(b) Michael already had read the instructions (c) Sebastian was playing those games and later
(c) Sebastian was the one who had given him all they were bought by Michael at a Computer
the clues Fair.
(d) Sebastian was only a computer image so he
(d) Michael was well prepared for he knew the
could play games any time.
real objective of the game
Answers : (i) (d) (ii) (c) (iii) (d)
4. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. PLEASE DON’T
(iv) (c) (v) (c) (vi) (c)
GIVE UP, MICHAEL, OTHERWISE I’LL HAVE TO
STAY IN HERE FOREVER.

PARAGRAPH BASED NON-MCQ

NON-MCQss
Read the following extracts and answer the questions (c) What kind of miracle was required and for
given thereafter. whom?
1. “The doctors were doing all they could, but in our Ans : Sebastian could only be cured by a miracle.
hearts we knew we needed a miracle”.
(d) What was surprising about the miracle to
[C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)] Michael?
(a) Who made the above remark? Ans : Michael was surprised to see the photo because
Ans : Mrs. Shultz, Sebastian’s mother, made the he knew Sebastian and was surprised to know about the
above remark. accident.
(b) Discuss the context of the remark? 2. “With the help of the skeleton swipe-card we were
Ans : Sebastian had gone into a coma and he was soon out of the cell and racing down corridors.”
not recovering.
Literature D – 59
 (a) Who are the partcipants and what is the Ans : If WARZONE does not work, then Sebastian
game? would never trouble Michael again.
Ans : This game was called JAILBREAK and it was
(d) What kind of help does the sender seek?
played by Michael and Sebastian.
Why?
(b) Why is Michael playing this game?
Ans : There had to be some kind of accident only
Ans : Michael is playing this to rescue Sebastian.
then he would be saved.
(c) Why had Sebastian urged Michael to play
this game? 4. “At least, that was what I thought then. Now I knew
Ans : In the earlier game Michael had not been that Sebastian Shultz, the boy in the game, really did
successful in rescuing Sebastian so he had asked him to exist.”
play this game. (a) How did the speaker know that Sebastian
(d) Did Michael succeed in his efforts? Why/ Shultz existed?
Why not? Ans : Michael had seen the proof in the newspaper
Ans : No, in this game also he had fallen down on by seeing Sebastian’s photo that he did exist.
the concrete, when dogs had charged towards them. (b) What had been the source of his
3. “There’s got to be some kind of accident... go into information?
WARZONE. If this doesn’t work I won’t bother you Ans : The article and Sebastian’s photo in the
again.” newspaper.
(a) Who has sent the above message and to (c) How did this information help the narrator
whom? in solving the mystery?
Ans : This frantic message was sent by Sebastian Ans : Michael also checked the net and discovered
to Michael. that real Sebastian did exist.
(b) What is the objective behind this message?
(d) Sebastian exists in the game and in real life?
Ans : In every game Michael had failed to save
Sebastian. So this was to be the last game. Ans : At the time of his accident, Sebastian was
playing those psycho-drive games and the computer saved
(c) What are the fears and apprehensions faced his memory as its own. When Michael played those games,
by the sender? Sebastian was at the other end.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. How did Michael notice the story of Sebastian 3. Who was Black-Eyed Jed and what did he convey
Shultz? to the Sheriff?
Ans : Sitting in the train, Michael saw a big lady, reading Ans : Michael was the Sheriff in the game
a newspaper. There was a story with a title ‘Miracle ‘WILDWEST’. When he was enjoying a drink in the saloon,
Recovery’. It was written that Sebastian Shultz, a 14-year- he was challenged by a Black-eyed Jed the fastest gun
old boy from London, had been badly injured in a motor in the west. He wanted to confront the Sheriff. So he was
accident and had gone into a coma. His mother hoped called out of the saloon.
that one day her son would be well and only a miracle 4. What was the objective of the second game called
could save him. Dragon quest? In what role did Sebastian appear
2. While playing Wildwest, Michael found himself in it?
in a particular role. What was it and how did Ans : The aim of the game DRAGON QUEST was
he behave in the game? simple. It was to rescue fair princess Aurora from the wicked
Ans : To his surprise, Michael was playing the role of dragon and to collect the wicked dragon’s treasure.
a Sheriff and he burst into a saloon. Everyone was surprised Sebastian appeared in the form of a knight and even Michael
by his entry. He had some fizzy kind of drink when a was also supposed to be a knight.
black-eyed Jed, the fastest gun, called him out of the saloon. 5. How did the two knights try to escape from the
As he was going, a second Sheriff appeared and he did
castle of the dragon? Were they successful?
not look like other characters. His movement was also not
Ans : Both the knights were chased by the wicked
like a computer image. His entry made the game more
dragon. They ran across the battlements down a spiral
complicated.
D – 60 New Wave Communicative English – X
staircase and through a secret passage on the other side games were stolen when Sebastian was in the hospital.
of the tapestry. The dragon was near them and they could These games were sold in the market and Michael bought
feel his fiery breath. Both of them, then decided to try them from a Computer Fair.
going through the dungeons which was their only hope. 9. What were the contents of Sebastian’s last
6. Point out the desperation in Sebastian’s message message? Why did Sebastian thank Michael?
to Michael. What did he tell Michael to do? Ans : The last message was full of heart felt emotions.
Ans : When Michael was unable to save Sebastian in Sebastian thanked Michael for saving his life and working
the earlier two games, Sebastian’s message becomes so hard in every game to rescue him. Sebastian extends
desperate. He earnestly requests Michael not to give up, an invitation to meet him and wishes him well. He also
otherwise he would remain stuck up whereever he was. tells Michael to keep these psycho-drive games as he
So he wishes him luck and tells him to try the game deserveds to keep them.
‘JAILBREAK’.
10. Who was Sebastian Shultz? How did he meet
7. How did Michael and Sebastian escape from Jail
wuth an accident? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
in Jailbreak? Why was Sebastian injured in this
escape? Ans : Sebastian Shultz was a fourteen years old from
Ans : Sebastian was Michael’s cell-mate in the game London. He met with an accident in a motorway and had
‘JAILBREAK’. They use a skeleton swipe card to open gone into a coma. At the time of accident Sebastian was
the cell-door and run away. Sirens wail, guards run after playing psycho-drive games.
them, fiery dogs howl and chase them. Both of them run 11. In the second game ‘Dragon Quest’ Michael came
upstairs but they are chased. Before Michael can do to rescue Princess Aurora? Who cried out that
something, Sebastian falls down on the concrete below. he needed rescuing first and why?
8. How did Michael connect Sebastian’s recovery Ans : In the second game, Dragon Quest, Michael was
from coma with the result of his last game? supposed to rescue Princess Aurora from the wicked dragon
Ans : Apparently, at the time of an accident, Sebastian and also to collect dragon’s treasure on the way. He was
was using his laptop to play one of the psycho-drive games. on the verge of saving the princess, when he heard a voice
He had been plugged into the computer and when he banged asking to be saved first. It was Sebastian who was in the
his head, the computer saved his memory as its own. Those form of second knight.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

1. Sebastian Shultz writes his diary on his games. Like other children of his age he was a computer
miraculous escape from going into oblivion—as freak and was really fascinated by psycho-drive games that
doctors call it coma. Write this for him. make one forget the reality and one plays character like
Ans : Dear Diary, a Sheriff, a prisoner, knight etc. Michael is also very kind-
Sometimes life takes a strange turn and things that hearted and tried his best to rescue Sebastian. He was
you had heard or read about become true. Virtual lives intelligent enough to understand the objective of each game.
and realities take concrete shape. I just remember that I By strange luck he got connected to Sebastian, whom he
was crazy for those psycho-drive games and loved playing had never seen but proved his perseverance and
WARZONE, DRAGON QUEST etc. My last memory is determination in rescuing him from his coma. Michael is
when my head banged in the accident. After that I have a young child but mature beyond his years.
no memory but a very distinct feeling of playing some 3. Sebastian sends an e-mail to Michael on his
games. I have read my report in the newspaper, how I recovery thanking him for all that he had done.
had gone into a coma. It can only be called a miracle Complete it for him.
that I was playing games with another boy called Michael,
which I discovered later strange! So very strange. Ans : Date : 15 Sept, 2010
Sebastian. From : sebastian@hotmail.com
2. Write a brief character sketch of Michael, giving To : michael@gmail.com
his outstanding qualities that led him to save Subject : Thank you note
Sebastian’s life. Dear Michael,
Ans : Michael was of Sebastian’s age and he loved I cannot thank you enough for being the miracle
adventure, war, pursuits, fights, confrontation and violent
Literature D – 61
to save my life. Your perseverance, tenacity and time of accident, Sebastian was using his laptop to play
determination prove that you are extraordinary. No wonder one of the psycho drive games. He had been plugged into
you saved my life and now I have fully recovered from the computer, and when he banged his head, the computer
my coma. I hope to meet you soon. saved his memory as its own. Those games were stolen
Lots of love. when Sebastian was in the hospital.
Sebastian After these games were sold in the market, Michael,
who was a computer freak and was really fascinated by
4. How did Sebastian’s memory stored on disk end psycho-drive games, bought them from a computer fair.
up on Michael’s Computer? How had Sebastian Michael was intelligent enough to understand the
Shultz enter the game? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)] objective of each game. By strange luck he got connected
Ans : Sebastian Sultz, a 14 years old boy from London, to Sebastian, whom he had never seen but proved his
met with an accident and went into a coma and the doctors perservance and determination in rescuing him from his
feared that his coma would last forever. Apparently, at the coma.

FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Generation Netsters
Virtual lives is their real world
Children are often happier with their online lives than they are with reality, a survey
has revealed. They say they can be exactly who they want to be – and as soon as
something is no longer fun they can simply hit the quit button. Researchers for
children’s charity Kidscape assessed the online activities of 2,300 11- to 18-years-
olds from across the UK and found that 45 per cent said they were sometimes
happier online than in their real lives.
The report – Virtual Lives : It is more than a game, it is your life – lays bare the
attitudes of children today to the internet and includes revealing insights into how
they feel when they are on the web.
One researcher told “It’s easier to be who you want to be, because nobody knows
you and if you don’t like the situation you can just exit and it is over.”
Another said : “You can say anything online. You can talk to people that you don’t normally speak to and you can
edit your pictures so you look better. It is as if you are a completely different person.” Psychotherapist Peter
Bradley, who is also deputy director of Kidscape, said that the desire for so many to adopt a different identity online
was a cause for concern because the children were being divorced from reality. He added : ‘These findings suggest
that children see cyberspace as detachable from the real world and a place where they explore parts of their
behaviour and personality that they possibly would not show in real life. We can’t allow cyberworlds to be happier
places than our real communities, otherwise we are creating a generation of young people not functioning adequately
in our society.’
SURVEY REPORT : One in eight young people is in contact with strangers when on the web and often lies about
their appearance, age and background.
Around 47 per cent of children said they behaved differently online than they did in their normal lives.
Around 10 per cent said they changed aspects of their appearance and their personality for their online activity.
(Source : Times of India)
1. Read the article given above and answer the (d) How can Internet lead to malfunctioning in
questions that follow. youngsters?
(e) List out the disadvantages of leading virtual
(a) Why are children happier working online?
lives.
(b) What freedom does Internet offer to 2. Describe your favourite computer game in
children? detail.
(c) How can children appear to be completely l Compare it with the choice of your friends.

different on Internet? l Discuss.

D – 62 New Wave Communicative English – X