swer the following questions in one or two sentences each based on your understanding of

the story.
a. Who did the narrator meet at the outskirts of Verona?
The narrator met two
boys selling wild strawberries at the outskirts of Verona.
b. Why did the driver not approve of the narrator buying fruits from the boys? (August 2021)
The two boys had a shabby
appearance. 'They were wearing old and worn-out clothes. So, the
driver did not approve of the narrator
buying fruits from the boys.
C. The boys did not spend much
clothes and food. Why?
on
They had to save money for medical treatment of their sister. So, they did not spend much on
clothes and food.
d. Were the boys saving money to go to the States? How do you know?
No, they were not saving money to go to the States. They told the narrator that they would like
to go to the States,
but they had other plans.
e. Why did the author avoid going to Lucia's room? (QY. 19)
The author avoided going to Lucia's room because he did not want to intrude into the privacy of
the brothers and sister.
f. What was Lucia suffering from?
Lucia was suffering from Tuberculosis of the spine.
8. What made the boys join the resistance movement against the Germans? (PTA-3)
The boys joined the resistance movement against the Germans because they hated the Germans
as they destroyed their family.

h. What made the boys work so hard?

The boys worked só hard to pay for their sister's medical bills and food.
. Why didn't the boys disclose their problem to the author?
The boys did not disclose their problems to the author, as they didn't like to be pitied.
2. Answer the
following questions in three or four sentences each.
a. Describe the appearance of Nicola and Jacopo. (PTA-1 & 6; Sep.2020
Theelder an
boy was wearing old damaged Jersey and cut-off Khaki pants. The other boy was
slim and was wearing a shortened army tunic gathered in loose folds. Both of them had uncombed
hair and brown skin. Nicola, the
elder, was 13 years old and Jacopo was 12 years old.

4
 March 2020);
b. What the various jobs undertaken by the little boys?
were (Govt. MQP;
newspaperdi
During the summer days, the little bovs shined shoes, sold fruits and hawked
They conducted tourists round the town and ran errands.
C. How did the narrator help the boys on Sunday? (HY 19)
When the and
boys requested the narrator to drive them to a village, he readily agreed drove
them to the tiny village 'Poleta' set high upon the hillside. He also waited for the boys to rejoin them
and then drove them back to the city.
d. Who took the author to the
cubicle?
A
pleasant-looking woman, with steel-rimmed spectacles, was dressed in the white unitorm of a
trained nurse. She took the author to the
cubicle.
e. Describe the girl with whom the
boys were talking to in the cubicle?
Lucia, the boys' sister, was a young girl of
twenty. She was wearing a pretty lace jacket and was
listening to her brothers' chatter. Her eyes were soft and tender. She had a resembiance to her brothers,
who took good care of her.
f. Recount the untold sufferings undergone by the siblings after they were rendered homeless.
After the siblings were rendered homeless, they suffered horribly from near starvation and
exposure to the cold winter. For months, they lived in the shelter made of broken building walls and
bricks. The boys hated the Germans and stood against them as rebels. After the war,
thev got back too
their sister and found her suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.
The natrator did not utter a word and preferred to keep the secret to himself. Why? Substantiate
the statement with reference to the story.
The narrator had understood their character well and he knew they wouldn't like to be
sympathised. Therefore he did not confront the boys and kept the secret to himself. Their spirit and
selfless action brought a new nobility to human life.
e. Justify the title of the story 'Two Gentlemen of Verona. (Govt. MQP; PTA-2; QY. 19)|

A.). Cronin had used the title Two Gentlemen of Verona' in an ironic manner. At
very young
a

age,the
boys
faced the hardships of lifetheir mother died early in their life, their father became a
Victim of the early war, their
village suffered due to German occupation, their home got destroyed,
Suffered starvation and cold
winter. The family
struggled for life. They found their sister suffering
from lubercuiosis of the
spine. It was another shock to those poor kids. Despite facing so many
problems in their early childhood, they did not lose hope. Their positive approach and determination
enabled them to give their sister, the best they could. They did various jobs, but lived a poor life to
save money for their sister's treatment and food. They never tried to seek anyone's sympathy. Hence

these two young boys have every quality of being called "The Gentlemen of Verona.