My Lost Dollar: Solutions Summary and Meanings Class 8

My Lost Dollar: Solutions Summary and Meanings Class 8

My Lost Dollar: Here are given Summary, Word meanings, solutions to the textbook exercise and video tutorial with line by line explanation in Hindi.

Main Headings hide
1. Video Tutorial Explanation in Hindi
2. Summary
3. Textbook Solutions
3.1. Vocabulary
3.2. Grammar

Video Tutorial Explanation in Hindi

Summary

Todd, the close friend of the narrator, is going on a holiday to Bermuda. Just before his departure, Todd asks the narrator to lend him a dollar for the taxi. The latter gives it to him without hesitation. Todd goes to Bermuda and writes a letter to the narrator from there, but there is no dollar bill in the envelope. Twelve months go by, and Todd returns from Bermuda, but he hasn’t returned the one dollar to the narrator. The narrator is too decent to ask his friend for the dollar back, but he tries many ways to remind Todd about the debt. However, Todd seems to have forgotten about it completely.

The narrator lists out the ways he has attempted to remind Todd. He went to the railway station to receive Todd when he returned from Bermuda, but Todd wasn’t embarrassed at all. The narrator also brought up the topic of American dollars in Bermuda during an evening chat, but Todd still didn’t remember the unpaid dollar. The narrator meets Todd every day in the club, but Todd never mentions the debt. Todd even claims he doesn’t remember much about his Bermuda trip. The narrator becomes exasperated and resigned to the loss of his dollar. In desperation, he writes it off and adds Todd’s name to his list of people who have similarly defaulted in repaying their one-dollar loans. He remains as friendly with Todd as before.

One day, the narrator has dinner with Todd, who disapprovingly mentions how Poland has defaulted on its debts. To the narrator’s distress, Todd doesn’t seem to think of his own unpaid debt. The narrator becomes introspective and feels guilty. He realizes that forgetting loans is a human thing, and he himself could have done the same. This realization unsettles him, and he feels morally guilty. He wants his creditors to come forward and claim their refunds. The narrator wants to start a “Back to Honesty” campaign, convinced that honesty should be the foundation of all great nations.

In conclusion, the narrator hopes that Todd, the “forgetful” friend, won’t know the torment his non-payment has caused him. He even comically asks the readers not to bring copies of this story to the University Club Montreal, where Major Todd frequents.

Textbook Solutions

A. Answer these questions briefly.

  1. What was the narrator hoping Todd would remember?
  2. What made the narrator feel that Todd had forgotten that he had borrowed anything from him?
  3. What did Todd write in his note to the narrator?
  4. Why did the narrator suggest that they take a taxi to the club?
  5. What did the narrator hope that Todd would remember when he mentioned Poland? How was Poland connected to what the narrator was thinking about?
  6. What did the narrator feel about money he might have borrowed from various people?
  7. Why do you think the narrator asked Todd about the currency used in Bermuda?
  8. What kind of a movement would the narrator like to start and why?

Answers:

  1. Hoping that Todd had not forgotten his debt, the narrator wished that he would remember owing him a dollar.
  2. Despite his repeated attempts to remind Todd about the borrowed money, the narrator felt that Todd had forgotten about it. However, he remained friendly and frank with him.
  3. In his letter, Todd informed the narrator that the temperature in Bermuda was nearly a hundred.
  4. Suggesting they take a taxi, the narrator hoped that it would jog Todd’s memory about the money he had borrowed from him to pay for a taxi.
  5. Drawing a comparison between Todd’s debt to the narrator and Poland’s debt, the narrator hoped that Todd would remember that he owed him money.
  6. The narrator believed that Todd would not be bothered about paying back anything less than a dollar borrowed to pay for a taxi in Bermuda.
  7. In an attempt to remind Todd of his debt, the narrator asked him a question that he hoped would make him recall owing him a dollar.
  8. The narrator proposed the idea of a movement called BACK TO HONESTY, which would encourage people to repay all the odd dollars they borrowed during their moments of expansion.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

  1. I can realise whenever I meet him that he has forgotten that he owes me a dollar.
    a. Who does ‘him’ refer to here?
    b. What makes the narrator realise that ‘he’ has forgotten that he owes the narrator a dollar?
    c. When had ‘he’ borrowed it and why?
    d. How does the narrator feel about ‘him’?
  2. He merely said ‘Let me have a dollar, will you!’ And I said, ‘Certainly. Is a dollar enough?’
    a. Who is ‘he’?
    b. What does the word ‘merely’ show you about ‘his’ attitude towards the fact that he was borrowing a dollar?
    c. What does the word ‘certainly’ reveal about how the narrator felt about lending the dollar?
    d. At this point, did the narrator think that he would get his dollar back?
  3. He merely said that the temperature was up to nearly a hundred. The figure misled me for a moment.
    a. Who is ‘he’ and where did he mention about the temperature?
    b. Which temperature was he referring to?
    c. Which figure misled the narrator?
    d. Why did the figure mislead him?

Answers:

  1. a. Todd.
    b. He never mentions it and he is as warm and friendly as he always was.
    c. He had borrowed it when he was about to board a taxi on his way to Bermuda. It was on the eighth of April.
    d. He does not hate him but wishes he would remember to pay him back.
  2. a. He is Todd here.
    b. This shows that the narrator feels that it was very easy for Todd to ask for the money as though it was of no great consequence.
    c. It shows that he was quite willing to give the dollar and was polite.
    d. Yes, he did think that he would get it back.
  3. a. He was Todd. He mentioned that the temperature in Bermuda was nearly a hundred degrees.
    b. He was referring to the temperature in Bermuda.
    c. The figure ‘hundred’ misled him.
    d. He thought Todd was referring to the dollar.

C. Answer these questions.

  1. How does the narrator feel about lending and borrowing money?
  2. What makes the narrator feel that he would like to return all the money he has ever borrowed?
  3. What kind of a man was Todd? Support your answer with details from the text.
  4. Why is the title ‘My Lost Dollar’ justified?
  5. What did the narrator do when Todd returned from Bermuda? Why did he do it?
  6. Which thought pained the narrator and why?
  7. What all did the narrator do and say in order to remind Todd about the dollar he had borrowed?
  8. What techniques does the narrator use to create humour in the story?
  9. Do you think the narrator was justified in being upset about the dollar his friend owed him? Give reasons.
  10. What would you do if someone owed you something? Describe how you would try to get back what they owed you.

Answers:

1. The narrator is now apprehensive about lending money because Todd has not repaid his debt. The experience has left a lasting impression on him, and he worries that he will never be able to forget it if someone borrows money from him. He wonders how people must feel if he has forgotten to repay money that he has borrowed from them. As a result, he expresses a desire to return all the money he has borrowed, even if it is only one dollar. This shows the narrator’s sense of responsibility and desire to do the right thing, as well as his empathy for others who may be in a similar situation.

2. The pain he feels due to the fact that Todd doesn’t return him his dollar makes him feel like returning any money he might have borrowed.

3. Todd was a casual man who did not worry about little things. He borrowed money from the narrator without a thought and never thought of returning it to him. He was forgetful. He was also quite dense as he didn’t take the hint each time the narrator tried to draw his attention to the fact that he had borrowed a dollar from him. He was too caught up within himself to worry about other people.

4. It is justified because the story is about the dollar that was lent but not returned.

5. He went to pick him up from the station and also suggested that they take a taxi. He did this to remind Todd about the dollar he had borrowed when he had left for Bermuda and how he had borrowed it for a taxi.

6. The thought that pained him was he too might have borrowed money from people and might have forgotten to return it. It pained him because he was upset as Todd had not returned his dollar to him.

7. First of all, the narrator went to the railway station to receive Todd when he returned from Bermuda. Todd had borrowed money when he had to take a taxi when he left for Bermuda. The narrator suggested that he take a taxi once Todd came back. He hoped the taxi would remind him about the borrowed money. Then the narrator broached the subject of the American dollar by asking if it is circulation in Bermuda too. When Todd mentioned disapprovingly how Poland had defaulted in its debts, the narrator tried to remind him about his dollar by asking Todd about the Polish currency and whether the American dollar was at par.

8. Here are given three answers and students can choose any one of them.

Short Answer:

The narrator does not directly tell Todd that he wanted his dollar back. Instead, he indirectly hints at the ‘lost dollar’ through different references to incidents and events that create humour in the story. For example: ‘My dollar has clean gone out of his mind.’

In the end he speaks about his wish to start a movement ‘Back to Honesty’ that also makes the story humorous till the end.

Long answer:

(i)The narrator uses the technique of word play, for example:

  • ‘My dollar has clean gone out of his mind.’
  • He merely said that the temperature was up to nearly a hundred. The figure misled me for a moment. (he thought the figure referred to money Todd had sent back to him)
  • ‘I asked him what currency is used in Bermuda, and whether the American Dollar goes at par. I put a slight emphasis on the American Dollar.’ (he emphasises the word to remind him about his dollar)
  • ‘If there are such men, I want them to speak out. Not all at once, but in reasonable numbers, and as far as may be in alphabetical order. I will immediately write their names down on paper.’( he seems to be very serious about this exercise)

(ii)The technique of moralising, for example: ‘More than that, I want to start a general movement, a BACK TO HONESTY movement, for paying all these odd dollars that are borrowed in moments of expansion.’

(iii)The technique of Irony, for example: ‘In conclusion, may I say that I do particularly ask that no reader of this story will be careless enough to leave this copy round where it might be seen by Major Todd of the University Club of Montreal.’ (He actually wishes Todd would see it).

Another answer:

The narrator employs several literary techniques in the story, including wordplay, moralizing, and irony.

In the first example of wordplay, the narrator uses the phrase “clean gone” to describe how his dollar has vanished. In another instance, the narrator misinterprets the temperature being “up to nearly a hundred” as referring to the money Todd sent him. When asking about currency in Bermuda, he emphasizes “American Dollar” to remind Todd about his missing money. The narrator’s playful use of language adds humor and wit to the story.

The narrator also moralizes throughout the story, particularly in his desire to start a “BACK TO HONESTY” movement. He suggests that people should be more responsible and honest about paying back borrowed money, rather than treating it casually or forgetfully. His moralizing tone reflects his frustration with the way people handle money.

Finally, the narrator employs irony in his conclusion when he asks readers not to leave the story where it might be seen by Major Todd. In reality, he hopes Todd will see the story and perhaps feel guilty about not repaying his debt. The narrator’s ironic tone reveals his true feelings about Todd and his missing money.

Overall, the combination of these literary techniques creates a humorous, moralizing, and ironic tone in the story.

9. The narrator deserved getting back his dollar as it was lent and not given in charity. But he creates too much fuss about that dollar just to create humour. So, in my opinion he is justified in his approach towards his lost dollar.

Vocabulary

A. Tick (✓) the phrases that mean almost the same as the one’s used in the story.

  1. frank friendly way (warm and open manner/loud and casual manner)
  2. clean gone out of his mind (cleared the confusion in his mind/been forgotten completely)
  3. bear no grudge (carry no responsibility/have no anger against)
  4. rock basis of absolute honesty (strong foundation of truth/on the basis of rocks)

Answers:

  1. warm and open manner
  2. been forgotten completely
  3. have no anger against
  4. strong foundation of truth

B. Match the idioms in Column A with their meanings in Column B.

Answers:

1.c,   2. h,   3. g,   4. a,   5. f,   6. d,   7. e,   8. b

C. Make sentences with each of the idioms listed above.

Answers:

  1. If you think that I stole the money, you’re barking up the wrong tree.
  2. Now that I’ve presented my proposal, the ball is in your court to decide whether to proceed with it or not.
  3. I wouldn’t be caught dead if I sit alone abstaining for a week.
  4. He tried to steal his opponent’s thunder by interrupting their speech with his own.
  5. We don’t always see eye to eye, but we try to understand each other’s perspectives.
  6. I accidentally let the cat out of the bag and now everyone knows our secret plan.
  7. I don’t want to miss the boat on this amazing opportunity.
  8. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of the new trend.

Grammar

A. Underline the phrases in these sentences.

  1. Mother made biscuits for the children.
  2. Shailesh’s aunt lives in a foreign country.
  3. Grandma is walking towards the door.
  4. The children are playing in the backyard.
  5. Neeta’s cook comes only in the evening.
  6. The children completed the collage work very quickly.
  7. Dr Neeta is a surgeon of great fame.
  8. It was a day full of work.
  9. I enjoy swimming in the pool in the morning.
  10. We sang songs by the campfire.

Answers:

  1. for the children
  2. in a foreign country
  3. towards the door
  4. in the backyard
  5. in the evening
  6. very quickly
  7. great fame
  8. full of work
  9. in the morning
  10. by the campfire

B. Complete these sentences with suitable prepositional phrases.

  1. I saw them walking ……………………………….
  2. The car drove ……………………………….
  3. My mother will reach her office ……………………………….
  4. The dog was sleeping ……………………………….
  5. The train arrived ……………………………….
  6. I left my bag ……………………………….
  7. She has been away ……………………………….
  8. The power bank is ……………………………….
  9. I gave you the packet ……………………………….
  10. The magazine is ……………………………….

Answers:

  1. in the market streets.
  2. off the lane
  3. on time
  4. on the couch
  5. from Delhi
  6. behind the table
  7. at work
  8. in the bag
  9. at the shop
  10. in the drawers

Note: There can be many other answers.

C. Complete these sentences with suitable noun phrases.

  1. Sally wants ………………………………………………………….
  2. We hoped ………………………………………………………….
  3. I would like ………………………………………………………….
  4. ………………………………………………………… is not a good idea.
  5. She gave me ………………………………………………………….
  6. We love ………………………………………………………….
  7. Some people are ………………………………………………………….
  8. ………………………………………………………… very easy.
  9. ………………………………………………………… is very expensive.
  10. We bought ………………………………………………………….

Answers:

  1. a blue dress
  2. for a good result
  3. delicious ice-cream
  4. The black paint
  5. red jewellery box
  6. dogs that bark
  7. true heroes
  8. These questions
  9. The golden dress
  10. a copper jar

Note: There can be many other answers.

D. Replace the adjectives in these sentences with adjective phrases of the same meaning.

  1. I wore a cotton dress.
  2. The teacher praised her for her kind act.
  3. He sold a copper button.
  4. She is the talkative one.
  5. The homeless man slept on the pavement.
  6. We bought a fast car.
  7. Do you have a working pen?
  8. She is a multi talented girl.
  9. Generous people donate a lot of money.
  10. Blessed are the healthy!

Answers:

  1. I wore a dress made of cotton.
  2. The teacher praised her for her act of kindness.
  3. He sold a button made of copper.
  4. She is the one who talks a lot.
  5. The man without a home slept on the pavement.
  6. We bought a car that runs fast.
  7. Do you have a pen that works?
  8. She is a girl with many talents.
  9. People with great generosity donate a lot of money.
  10. Blessed are those whose health is good

E. Underline the adverb phrases in these sentences. Then replace the adverb phrases with appropriate adverbs given in the brackets.

1. The girl searched for her diary in every possible place. (everywhere)
2. Rima is reaching at the very moment. (now)
3. She thanked us with all her heart. (warmly)
4. No such diseases were known on those days. (then)
5. My sister ran at a great speed. (fast)
6. The doctor went through his papers again and again. (repeatedly)
7. Please behave in a decent manner. (well)
8. We will be leaving for Mumbai on the next day. (tomorrow)
9. They left for Canada at a recent date. (recently)
10. We waited for the guests with great eagerness. (eagerly)

Answers:

  1. The girl searched for her diary in every possible place. (everywhere)
  2. Rima is reaching at the very moment. (now)
  3. She thanked us with all her heart. (warmly)
  4. No such diseases were known on those days. (then)
  5. My sister ran at a great speed. (fast)
  6. The doctor went through his papers again and again. (repeatedly)
  7. Please behave in a decent manner. (well)
  8. We will be leaving for Mumbai on the next day. (tomorrow)
  9. They left for Canada at a recent date. (recently)
  10. 10. We waited for the guests with great eagerness. (eagerly)

F. Write P against phrases and C against clauses in these sentences:

  1. Therefore, he is a lucky man ………….
  2. In the end ………….
  3. Before the film starts ………….
  4. She works very hard ………….
  5. My car works well ………….
  6. Doesn’t know how ………….
  7. towards the south ………….
  8. If they wish to come ………….
  9. I will let you know ………….
  10. Please inform me ………….
  11. Until she finds a house ………….
  12. I can lend it to you ………….
  13. How did you now ………….
  14. Inside the cave ………….
  15. Whose house is this ………….

Answers:

1. C    2. P    3. P    4. C    5. C    6. P    7. P    8. C    9. C    10. C    11. P    12. C    13. C    14. P    15. C

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