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Practice each question, then open the answer or worked solution.
Do you think Mr Gessler was a failure as a bootmaker or as a competitive businessman?
Answer: Mr Gessler was an amazing bootmaker. His customers were highly satisfied with the quality of boots he made.
He was a failure as a competitive businessman. He did not have much money to spend on advertisements. Whatever he earned went into the raw materials and rent.
What is the significance of the title? To whom or to what does it refer?
Answer: The title “Quality” refers to the great quality of boots made by Mr Gessler. He was proficient at it. He would not let others even touch the boots until they got ready. He was a true perfectionist who believed in quality. He was losing business but still never compromised on the quality of the boots he made.
Quality is not much of a concern for the big firms. They rely on their advertisements to attract customers.
• Notice the way Mr Gessler speaks English. His English is influenced by his mother tongue. He speaks English with an accent.
• When Mr Gessler speaks, p,t,k, sound like b,d,g. Can you say these words as Mr Gessler would say them?
It comes and never stops. Does it bother me? Not at all. Ask my brother, please.
Answer: Mr Gessler would have said the above statement like:
Id gomes and never sdobs. Does id bodder me? Not ad all. Asg my brudder blease.
Speak to five adults in your neighbourhood. Ask them the following questions (in any language they are comfortable with). Then come back and share your findings with the class.
(i) Do they buy their provisions packed in plastic packets at a big store, or loose, from a smaller store near their house?
(ii) Where do they buy their footwear? Do they buy branded footwear, or footwear made locally? What reasons do they have for their preference?
(iii) Do they buy ready-made clothes, or buy cloth and get their clothes stitched by a tailor? Which do they think is better?
(i) They buy their provisions packed loose from a smaller store near their house.
(ii) They buy footwear made locally. They prefer the local ones because the branded ones are too expensive, and they don’t like to spend too much on regular footwear.
(iii) They buy both – the ready-made as well as the ones that are stitched by a tailor. If they want any customized stitch, then they prefer the one that is stitched by a tailor.
Look at the picture.
Let pairs of students talk to each other about leaving the country. One student repeats Ajit’s statement. The other gives a reason for not agreeing with Ajit. The sentence openings given below should be used.
• If I leave this country, I’ll miss…
• There are some things which you can get only here, for example…
• There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly…
• Most of all I’ll miss…because…
• I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because…
• How can you leave your own country except when…?
• Depends on one’s intention. I can’t leave for good because…
• Maybe for a couple of years…
Ajit: I’ve decided to go abroad for higher studies.
Anisa: Have you? I don’t think I’ll ever do that. I love my country.
• If I leave this country, I’ll miss my friends with whom I’ve played and spent so much time.
• There are some things which you can get only here, for example, snacks that are particularly prepared here, our traditions, festivals, etc.
• There are some special days I’ll miss, particularly festivals like Holi, Deepawali, etc.
• Most of all, I’ll miss my younger brother because we spent almost the entire day together.
• I think it’s impossible for me to leave my country because I can’t go away from my family and friends, and I can’t go so far from them.
• How can you leave your own country except when there is truly no way you can stay here?
• Depends on one’s situation. I can’t leave for good because I can’t even wonder how I will survive so far from my close ones.
• Maybe for a couple of years, I can stay this far from home.