The Gold Frame: Question and Answers Class 8 English New Voices

The Gold Frame is a story given in the book New Voices Class 8 English. here you would find answers to chapter exercise questions. Click here to see notes & explanations of “The Gold Frame”

‘The Gold Frame’ Q/Ans.

Comprehension

A. Answer these questions briefly.

1. What kinds of things were found in Dutta’s shop?
2. What did the customer want Dutta to do?
3. What did Dutta think of the photograph that the customer had brought?
4. What was the customer’s attitude towards the photograph that he had brought?
5. How did the customer describe the person in the photograph?
6. What had Dutta observed about customers when it came to collecting the frames that they had ordered?
7. What kind of a mess did Dutta find himself in with regard to the old man’s photograph that had to be framed? 8. How did Dutta try to cover up the accident with the photograph?
8. Did Dutta succeed in covering up the accident that had ruined the original photograph? How?

Answers:

1. Dutta’s shop contained various odds and ends used for framing, likely including things like wood scraps, glass pieces, nails, paint, and different frame mouldings. (Passage doesn’t explicitly list everything, but mentions miscellaneous framing materials)
2. The customer wanted Dutta to frame a faded sepia-toned photograph of an old man.
3. The passage doesn’t directly say what Datta thought about the emotional value of the photograph. However, he focuses on the business aspect, presenting frame options, suggesting he might not share the customer’s reverence.
4. The customer displayed immense respect and reverence for the photograph. He described the man with admiration and wanted a special frame to honor him.
5. The customer used extravagant descriptions like “noble,” “compassionate,” and “God in my home,” highlighting his high regard for the man.
6. Dutta noticed customers were often unreliable with pick-up times. They might come much earlier than expected or very late, or not show up at all.
7. Dutta accidentally spilled white enamel paint all over the photograph, ruining it beyond repair.
8. Fearing the customer’s reaction, Datta searched through a box of unclaimed photographs and found one with a faint resemblance to the old man. He framed this substitute picture in a flashy gold frame, hoping to deceive the customer.
9. The story ends before revealing if the customer notices the switch. The suspense lies in whether the gold frame and Datta’s confidence will distract the customer from recognizing the different person in the picture.

Another Set of Answers:

1. What kinds of things were found in Dutta’s shop?
   Ans. The passage describes Dutta’s shop as cluttered with various odds and ends he uses for his craft, likely including things like frames, glass, matting materials, tools, and leftover bits from previous projects.
2. What did the customer want Dutta to do?
   Ans. The customer wanted Dutta to frame a faded sepia-toned photograph of an old man.
3. What did Dutta think of the photograph that the customer had brought?
   Ans. The passage doesn’t explicitly state Dutta’s thoughts on the photograph itself. He focuses on the business aspect, presenting frame options.
4. What was the customer’s attitude towards the photograph that he had brought?
   Ans. The customer displayed immense reverence for the photograph. He described the man with admiration and portrayed him as a highly respected figure.
5. How did the customer describe the person in the photograph?
   Ans. The customer used extravagant qualities like “nobility, compassion, and charity” and even called him “God in my home!”
6. What had Dutta observed about customers when it came to collecting the frames that they had ordered?
   Ans. Dutta observed that his customers were often unreliable with pick-up times. They might come much earlier than expected or very late, or sometimes not at all, leaving their pictures unclaimed.
7. What kind of a mess did Dutta find himself in with regard to the old man’s photograph that had to be framed?
   Ans. Dutta accidentally spilled white enamel paint all over the photograph, ruining it beyond repair.
8. How did Dutta try to cover up the accident with the photograph?
   Ans. Dutta searched through a box of unclaimed photographs and found one with a faint resemblance to the old man. He framed this picture in a gold frame, hoping to deceive the customer.
9. Did Dutta succeed in covering up the accident that had ruined the original photograph? How?
   Ans. The story ends before we know for sure if Dutta’s deception worked. The customer focuses on the frame’s shape being wrong, leaving the question of the picture itself unanswered.

B. Answer these questions with reference to the context.

1. I want a really good job done, no matter how much it costs.”
   a. Who said this and to whom?
   b. Which ‘job’ was the speaker talking about?
   c. Why wasn’t the speaker concerned about the cost?
2. They are out to disgrace his name and destroy his memory. But he is God in my home!
   a. Who said this and to whom?
   b. Who was ‘he’ and who were the ‘they’ that the speaker referred to?
   c. Why did the speaker consider ‘him’ to be God?
3. “Look, my dear man’, he would say, ‘I don’t know who has been fooling you!’
   a. Who would say these words and to whom?
   b. Why would the speaker say this?
   c. What do these lines tell you about the speaker?

Answers:

1. “I want a really good job done, no matter how much it costs.”

• a. The customer said this to Datta, the shop owner.
• b. The speaker was talking about framing the photograph of the old man.
• c. The passage suggests the customer placed a high value on honoring the man in the photograph. The cost seems insignificant compared to the importance he attaches to the picture.

2. “They are out to disgrace his name and destroy his memory. But he is God in my home!”

• a. The customer said this, most likely to himself or muttering under his breath. The passage doesn’t explicitly mention him speaking to Datta at this point.
• b. ‘He’ refers to the old man in the photograph. The identity of ‘they’ is unclear. They could be people the customer believes have wronged the old man or spoken badly of him.
• c. The passage doesn’t elaborate on the reason for the customer’s extreme reverence. It could be due to the old man’s character, achievements, or personal connection to the customer.

3. “Look, my dear man’, he would say, ‘I don’t know who has been fooling you!'”

• a. Datta would say these words to the customer. This is part of a hypothetical scenario Datta imagines where he confronts the customer if his deception is discovered.
• b. Datta would say this in a defensive way, trying to deny any responsibility for the switch and potentially placing the blame on someone else.
• c. These lines show that Datta is worried about being caught and is prepared to lie to protect himself. They also suggest he might be somewhat arrogant, attempting to shift the blame.

C. Answer these questions.

1. How do you know that Dutta was a disorganised man?
2. What impression do you form about Dutta’s attitude towards his work?
3. How did Dutta manage to confuse the customer after ruining the picture?
4. Would you agree with the fact that Dutta was a resourceful man? Give reasons for your answer.
5. ‘Attack is the best form of defense’. How does this proverb apply to Dutta?
6. What does the customer’s response to the framed photograph show you about his attitude/feelings towards the person in the photograph?
7. In what way is the ending of the story humorous?

Answers:

1. Dutta’s shop has been described as disorganised: The shop itself is described as cluttered with various odds and ends, which could suggest a lack of tidiness. He seems unprepared for situations like the missing pencil stub, leading to a series of unfortunate events.

2. Dutta seems skilled and meticulous in his craft. He takes pride in his work, evident in his frustration when the paint ruins the photograph and his later satisfaction with the framed substitute. However, he initially appears impersonal and focused on the business aspect, lacking the customer’s reverence for the pictures.

3. Dutta replaces the ruined photograph with a vaguely similar one found in a box of unclaimed photographs. He then frames this substitute in a flashy gold frame, hoping the overall presentation would distract the customer from noticing the switch.

4. Yes, Dutta can be considered resourceful. Despite the stressful situation, he comes up with a solution (replacing the picture) to avoid facing the customer empty-handed. He also manages to find a somewhat similar photograph and frames it in a way he believes might divert attention.

5. This proverb applies to Datta’s planned response (“I don’t know who has been fooling you!”). If his deception is discovered, he plans to deny responsibility and put the blame on someone else, taking an aggressive defensive stance.

6. The customer’s focus on the frame’s shape (square vs. oval) being wrong is surprising. It creates uncertainty about his true priorities. Does he genuinely revere the person in the picture, or is there more emphasis on how the picture is presented?

7. The humor in the ending is situational and ironic. Datta goes through a lot of trouble creating an elaborate deception, only for the customer to fixate on a minor detail unrelated to the picture itself. It’s a humorous subversion of expectations.

Another Set of Answers:

1. How do you know that Dutta was a disorganized man?

Ans. The text doesn’t explicitly say Dutta was disorganized. However, we can infer it from details like:

• His shop being filled with “various odds and ends” – This suggests a cluttered workspace.
• His initial inability to find a simple tool like a pencil stub – This hints at a lack of tidiness.

2. What impression do you form about Dutta’s attitude towards his work?

Ans. Dutta seems skilled in his craft. He takes pride in his work, evident in his initial presentation of frame options and his later satisfaction with the substitute picture’s framing. However, he also appears somewhat indifferent to the sentimental value customers place on their photographs.

3. How did Dutta manage to confuse the customer after ruining the picture?

Ans. Dutta replaced the ruined photograph with a vaguely similar one found in a box of unclaimed photographs. He then framed this substitute picture in a flashy gold frame, hoping the customer wouldn’t notice the switch.

4. Would you agree with the fact that Dutta was a resourceful man? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Yes, Dutta can be considered resourceful. Despite the stressful situation, he comes up with a solution (replacing the picture) to avoid facing the customer empty-handed. He also demonstrates resourcefulness by using readily available materials (unclaimed photographs and a gold frame) to create a substitute.

5. ‘Attack is the best form of defense’. How does this proverb apply to Dutta?

Ans. This proverb suggests that sometimes the best way to defend yourself is to take the offensive. Dutta’s planned response (“I don’t know who has been fooling you!”) embodies this idea. If caught, he plans to deny any wrongdoing and put the blame on someone else.

6. What does the customer’s response to the customer’s framed photograph show you about his attitude/feelings towards the person in the photograph?

Ans. The customer’s initial focus on the frame’s shape (square vs. oval) being wrong is surprising. It creates doubt about whether his reverence truly lies with the person in the picture or if the frame itself holds more importance to him. The story leaves this open to interpretation.

7. In what way is the ending of the story humorous?

Ans. The humor in the ending is situational. Datta spends a lot of time and effort crafting a complex deception, focusing on replacing the entire photograph. The customer, however, completely misses this and gets hung up on a minor detail about the frame. This unexpected turn creates a comedic irony, highlighting the absurdity of Datta’s elaborate plan.

Vocabulary

A. Tick (✔) the phrases that mean almost the same as the ones used in the story.

1. heart began to race (began to feel scared/began to feel unhappy)
2. losing his nerve (beginning to get excited/beginning to feel anxious)
3. clouded with perspiration (became dirty with sweat/became foggy due to sweat)
4. scurried helter-skelter (ran quickly here and there/walked slowly around)

Answers:

1. heart began to race (began to feel scared)
2. losing his nerve (beginning to feel anxious)
3. clouded with perspiration (became foggy due to sweat)
4. scurried helter-skelter (ran quickly here and there)

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

Answer:

Idiom (A)	Meaning (B)
1. Bark up the wrong tree	c. to look for something in the wrong place
2. The ball is in your court	h. it’s up to you to make the next move
3. Wouldn’t be caught dead	g. would not like to be in a particular situation
4. Steal someone’s thunder	a. to take credit for something done by someone else
5. See eye to eye	f. to agree with someone
6. Let the cat out of the bag	d. to share information that was hidden earlier
7. Miss the boat	e. miss the opportunity
8. Jump on the bandwagon	b. join a popular activity

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

1. Bark up the wrong tree: The police were barking up the wrong tree by questioning the librarian; the robber had already fled the city.
2. The ball is in your court: It’s up to you to decide (the ball is in your court) whether you want to accept the job offer.
3. Wouldn’t be caught dead: I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those ripped jeans to a job interview.
4. Steal someone’s thunder: The marketing team stole the designer’s thunder by taking all the credit for the successful ad campaign.
5. See eye to eye: My parents and I don’t always see eye to eye on curfew, but we’re working on a compromise.
6. Let the cat out of the bag: When Sarah accidentally mentioned the surprise party, she let the cat out of the bag and ruined the surprise.
7. Miss the boat: We missed the boat on investing in that tech company; now their stock prices have skyrocketed.
8. Jump on the bandwagon: Since everyone else was starting a podcast, Maya decided to jump on the bandwagon and launched her own.

Another Set of Sentences:

1. Bark up the wrong tree: The salesman was barking up the wrong tree trying to sell sports equipment to the librarian. (He was looking for customers in the wrong place)
2. The ball is in your court: The director told the marketing team, “The ball is in your court. Come up with a new campaign to boost sales.” (It’s up to them to take the next step)
3. Wouldn’t be caught dead: I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those ripped jeans to a job interview! (I would strongly avoid being in that situation)
4. Steal someone’s thunder: Sarah won the award for the science project, but her partner felt she stole his thunder by taking all the credit.
5. See eye to eye: My parents and I don’t always see eye to eye on curfew, but we’re working on a compromise. (We don’t always agree)
6. Let the cat out of the bag: When Michael accidentally mentioned the surprise party, he let the cat out of the bag and ruined the surprise for Sarah.
7. Miss the boat: If you don’t apply for the scholarship now, you might miss the boat and lose this great opportunity.
8. Jump on the bandwagon: Since everyone was talking about the new fitness app, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and give it a try.

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 at a quick pace.
7. Dr Neha 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. 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 at a quick pace.
7. Dr Neha 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.

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. I saw them walking down the street.
2. The car drove past the red light.
3. My mother will reach her office by 9 o’clock.
4. The dog was sleeping under the couch.
5. The train arrived at the station.
6. I left my bag on the chair.
7. She has been away for a week.
8. The power bank is in my backpack.
9. I gave you the packet yesterday.
10. The magazine is on the coffee table.

C. 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 know
14. Inside the cave
15. Whose house is this

Answers:

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

D. Complete this paragraph using the correct linking words.

Gaurav left home early ………. he had to catch a train. He was going to Shillong to visit his aunt ……… he wasn’t very fond of her. He resented her ……… she always treated him like a child. ……… he thought
he would spend some time with her as she was old and lonely. ……… bought some books for her and packed them in a bag. ……… his aunt knew he was coming, she cooked a delicious meal for Gaurav. ……… she could not see very well, she made sure she had added all the necessary spices to it. ……… Gaurav was looking forward to giving his aunt the books, ……… he was dreading the conversation she would have with him.

Answers:

Gaurav left home early because he had to catch a train. He was going to Shillong to visit his aunt, although he wasn’t very fond of her. He resented her because she always treated him like a child. However, he thought he would spend some time with her as she was old and lonely. Therefore, he bought some books for her and packed them in a bag. Since his aunt knew he was coming, she cooked a delicious meal for Gaurav. Although she could not see very well, she made sure she had added all the necessary spices to it. Though Gaurav was looking forward to giving his aunt the books, still/yet he was dreading the conversation she would have with him.

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