HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED - Chapter 17 English Class VIII

(Anundoram Borooah Academy)

English - Class VIII
Chapter 17
HOW MUCH LAND DOES A MAN NEED

EXERCISE (অনুশীলনী) :

A. Answer the following questions
(তলত দিয়া প্ৰশ্নবোৰৰ উত্তৰ দিয়া) :

1. How did the younger sister stand up for the life of a peasant?
(কৃষকৰ জীৱনৰ সপক্ষে কিদৰে সৰু ভনীজনীয়ে যুক্তি দৰ্শাইছিল ?)
Answer : The younger sister stood up for the life of a peasant and said that the peasants might live roughly but they were free from anxiety. Though a peasant's life was not a fat one but was a long one. They might not grow rich but they had enough food to eat throughout the year.

2. Why were the peasants alarmed when they heard that the lady was going to sell her land?
(ভদ্র মহিলাজীনয়ে যেতিয়া তাইৰ মাটি বিক্ৰী কৰিব বুলি খেতিয়কসকলে শুনিছিল তেতিয়া সিহঁত কিয় সচকিত হৈছিল?)
Answer : The peasants were alarmed when they heard that the lady was going to sell her land. It was becasue the new land lord might worry the peasants with fines worse than the lady's steward.

3. Why did the peasants decide to buy the land individually?
(খেতিয়কসকলে কিয় মাটিখিনি ব্যক্তিগতভাৱে ক্ৰয় কৰিব বিচাৰিছিল?)
Answer : The peasants tried to arrange for the Commune to buy the whole estate so that it might be held by them all in common. But they could not settle the matter because the Evil One sowed discord among them. At last the peasants decided to buy the land individually.

4. How did Pahom manage to collect half the purchase money needed for buying the land?
(মাটিখিনি ক্ৰয় কৰিবলৈ প্ৰয়োজনীয় টকাৰ আধাখিনি কেনেকৈ সংগ্ৰহ কৰিছিল?)
Answer : Pahom wanted to buy a part of the land. So he considered how he would manage to buy the land. He had one hundred roubles laid by. Then he sold a colt, and half of their bees, hired out one of his sons as a labourer and took his wages in advance and borrowed the rest from his brother-in-law. Thus he collected half the purchase money needed for buying the land.

5. Why did Pahom's neighbours begin to bear him grudge?
(পাহোমৰ চুবুৰীয়াসকলে কিয় তেওঁৰ প্ৰতি অসন্তুষ প্রকাশ কৰিবলৈ লৈছিল?
Answer : Being Pahom's cornfield and meadows
tresspassed by the cattle of his neighbours, he gave them a lesson. He fined two or three peasants. Since then Pahom's neighbours began to bear him grudge.

6. Why was Simon summoned to the court? Why was he acquitted?
(চাইমনক কিয় আদালতলৈ মতা হৈছিল? তেওঁক কিয় নির্দোষী বুলি এৰি দিয়া হৈছিল ?
Answer : Simon was guessed to cut down some lime trees. That is why Simon was summoned to the court. But there was no valid evidence against him. So Simon was acquitted.

7. Why did Pahom decide not to leave his land when many people were moving to new parts?
(যেতিয়া বহুতো মানুহে নতুন ঠাইলৈ উঠি গৈ আছিল তেতিয়া পাহোমে কিয় তেওঁৰ ঠাই এৰি নাযাব বুলি সিদ্ধান্ত লৈছিল ?)
Answer : When Pahom heard that some people of his "village were moving to new part of the country, he decided not to leave his land. It was because he thought that he would take over their land and make his estate a bigger one.

8. What did the stranger from beyond the Volga tell Pahom?
(ভল্গাৰ সিপাৰৰ পৰা অহা অচিনাকি ব্যক্তিজনে পাহোমক কি কৈছিল?)
Answer : The stranger from beyond Volga told Pahom that some people of his village had settled there. They had joined the Commune and had twenty five acres of land per man granted to them.

9. What did the dealer tell Pahom about his land at Bashkirs?
(ব্যৱসায়ীজনে বাস্কিৰত থকা তেওঁৰ ভূমিৰ বিষয়ে পাহোমক কি কৈছিল?)
Answer : The dealer told Pahom that in Bashkir there were available land. He himself had bought thirteen thousand acres of land for one thousand roubles only. People could buy land almost for nothing if they could make friends with the Chief of the Bashkirs.

10. What did the Bashkirs give Pahom to eat?
(বাস্কিসকলে পাহোমক কি খাবলৈ দিছিল ?)
Answer : The Bashkirs gave Pahom tea and kumiss and had a sheep killed and gave him mutton to eat.

11. Why were the Bashkirs disputing among themselves?
(বাস্কিসকলে সিহঁতৰ মাজত কিয় কাজিয়া কৰিছিল ?)
Answer : The Bashkirs were disputing among them selves on the matter that some of them thought they ought to ask their Chief about the land and not act in his absence. The others thought that there was no need to wait for his arrival.

12. What was Pahom's mother tongue ?
(পাহোমৰ মাতৃভাষা কি আছিল?)
Answer : Pahoms' mother tongue was Russian.

13. Though afraid of death why couldn't Pahom stop running ?
(মৃত্যুৰ ভয় থকা সত্বেও পাহোমে কিয় দৌৰা বন্ধ কৰা নাছিল?)
Answer : Though Pahom was afraid of death yet he could not stop running because he thought that if he stopped then the Bashkirs would call him a fool.

14. What did the servant see when he came running up and tried to raise Pahom?
(চাকৰজনে দৌৰি আহি পাহোমক উঠোৱাৰ চেষ্টা কৰাৰ সময়ত কি দেখিছিল?)
Answer : When the servant came running up and tried to raise Pahom, he saw that Pahom was dead.

15. How much land was needed to bury Pahom?
(পাহোমক কবৰ দিবলৈ কিমান পৰিমাণৰ মাটিৰ প্ৰয়োজন হৈছিল?)
Answer : It needed six feet of land from his head to feet to bury Pahom.

Composition :
A. Answer the following questions (তলত দিয়া প্ৰশ্নবোৰৰ উত্তৰ দিয়া) :

1. Describe the series of events that helped Pahom to have land of his own.
(নিজৰ বাবে ভূমি পাবলৈ পাহোমক সহায় কৰা ঘটনাক্ৰমবোৰ বর্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer :
Pahom was a peasant but he had no land of his own. One day he heard that a land lady was selling her estate and an innkeeper was bargaining to buy it. He thought that if the innkeeper got the land then he would worry the peasants with fines worse than the lady's steward. So Pahom went to the Commune and asked them to buy the whole estate so that they might be held by them in common. They met twice but could not settle the matter, The Evil One (Devil) sowed discord among them and they could not agree. So they decided to buy the land individually each according to his means.

       After some days Pahom heard that a neighbour was buying fifty acres. Pahom felt envious. He wanted to buy at least twenty acres of land for himself. He had one hundred roubles laid by. Then he sold a colt, and half of their bees, hired out one of his sons as a labourer and took his wages in advance and borrowed the rest from his brother-in-law. Thus he collected half the purchase money needed for buying the land.
       Thus Pahom got land for his won.

2. Elucidate the reasons why Pahom's place in the Commune was much worse than before even though he had more land.
(যদিও পাহোমৰ অধিক ভূমি আছিল তথাপি কিয় তেওঁৰ স্থান সমাজখনত অধিক বেয়া হৈছিল কাৰণ বৰ্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer :
       With so much difficulty Pahom bought some acres of land from the lady. He sowed seeds on some of his land and some were used as pastures. With the passing of time the cattles of his neighbours began to tresspass on his cornfields and meadows. First he appealed to them most civilly, but they still went on. At last Pahom lost his patience and lodged a complaint against them and gave them a lesson. He fined two or three of the peasants. After that Pahom's neighbour began to bear him a grudge.
       Some days later, Pahom noticed that some of his lime trees had been cut down by someone. His doubt rested on Simon. He lodged a complaint against him. Simon was summoned to the court but as there was no valid evidence agaisnt him so Simon was acquitted. Then Pahom quarrelled with the Judges and with his neighbours. Thus enmity between Pahom and his neighbours began and the villagers began to threat him by burning his building.
       So Pahom's place in the Commune became much worse than before even though he had more land.

3. What did the stranger coming from Volga tell Pahom? What effect did his words have on Pahom's mind? Describe how Pahom got ready to go to the new settlement.
(ভল্গাৰ পৰা অহা অচিনাকী ব্যক্তিজনে পাহোমক কি কৈছিল? পাহোমৰ মনত তেওঁৰ কথাই কি প্ৰভাৱ পেলাইছিল? পাহোমে নতুন ঠাইলৈ যাবলৈ কিদৰে সাজু হৈছিল বৰ্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer : The stranger from beyond Volga told Pahom that some people of his village had settled there. They had joined the Commune and had twenty five acres of land per man granted to them. The land was so good that five cuts of a sickle made a sheaf. The words of the stranger fell a great effect on Pahom's mind. He thought, "Why should I suffer in this narrow hole, if one can live so well elsewhere?" Then he decided to sell his land and homestead to move to that new place. Towards summer he got ready and started. He went down the Volga on a streamer to Samara, then another three hundred miles on foot and at last reached the place.

4. What thought came to Pahom's mind when he was lying on the feather bed? Describe the dream that Pahom had dreamt just before dawn.
(যেতিয়া পাহোমে চৰাইৰ পাখিৰ বিচনাত শুই আছিল, তেওঁৰ মনত কি চিন্তা আহিছিল? দোকমোকালি হোৱাৰ অলপ আগতে পাহোমে দেখা সপোন বর্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer :

       Pahom was provided feather bed by the Bashkirs to sleep on for the night. Pahom was lying on the bed but he could not have sleep. He lay awake all night and dozed off only just before dawn. Hardly were his eyes closed when he had a dream, He thought he was lying in that same tent, and heard somebody chuckling outside. He wondered who it could be. He rose and went out and saw that the Bashkir Chief was sitting in front of the tent. Going nearer to the Chief he saw that it was no longer the Chief, but the dealer who had stopped at his house and told about the land. Then he saw that it was no longer the dealer but the peasant who had come up from Volga to Pahoms' old home. After then he saw that it was not the peasant either but the Devil himself with hoofs and horns. Then he saw that a man was lying there but he was dead and it was none but Pahom himself. He awoke up horror stricken.
       That was the dream that Pahom had dreamt just before dawn.

5. Describe how Pahom got himself ready to measure the land at the steppe.
(উপত্যকাটোত পাহোমে মাটি পৰিমাপ কৰিবলৈ কিদৰে সাজু হৈছিল ?)
Answer : Pahom and the Bashkirs went up a hillock. The Bashkir Chief took off his fox-cap and placed it on the ground. Pahom took out his money and put it on the cap. Then he took off his outer coat, remaining in his sleeveless undercoat. He unfastened his girdle and tied it right below his coat and tying a flask of water to his girdle, he drew up to the tops of his boots, took the spade from his man and got ready to measure he land at the steppe.

6. Narrate briefly Pahom's desperate attempt to measure as much land as he could from sunrise till he turned straight towards the hillock.
(পাহোমে সূর্য উদয়ৰ পৰা পোনাপুনি টিলাটোৰ পিনে উভতাৰ সময়লৈকে যিমান পাৰে সিমান মাটি পৰিমাপ কৰাৰ হতাশজনক প্রচেষ্টা সংক্ষেপে বর্ণনা কৰা।)
Answer :
After getting ready to measure the land, Pahom started walking neither slowly nor quickly After having gone a thousand yards, he stopped, dug a hole and placed turf one on another to make it visible. Then he went on. He quickened his space and going some distance he dug another hole. Then he looked back and saw that the hillock behind him was distinctly visible in the sunlight. At a rough guess he concluded that he had walked three miles. It was getting warmer, he took off his undercoat, and went on. He went straight on another three miles. The further he goes the better the land seemed. Then he thought that he had went far enough in that direction. So he stopped and dug another hole and untied his flask and had a drink. With the passing of hours, he began to feel tired and sleepy. But he did not lie, instead he took some rest and gone a long way in this direction. When he was about to turn to the left again he perceived a long damp hollow. He went on and passed the hollow and dug a hole on the other side. The heat made the air hazy. Then he went straight along the third side stepping faster towards the hillock. Thus Pahom attempted to measure as much land as he could from sunrise till he turned straight towards the hillock.

7. Describe how Pahom tried hard to reach the hillock before sunset. What was the consequence?
(সূর্য অস্ত যোৱাৰ আগতে পাহোমে কিদৰে টিলাটো পাবলৈ কঠোৰ চেষ্টা কৰিছিল?)
Answer :
       After getting ready to measure the land, Pahom started walking neither slowly nor quickly. After having gone a thousand yards, he stopped, dug ting warmer, he took off his undercoat, and went on. He went straight on another three miles. The further he goes the better the land seemed. Then he thought that he had went far enough in that direction. So he stopped and dug another hole and untied his flask and had a drink. With the passing of hours, he began to feel tired and sleepy. But he did not lie, instead he took some rest and gone a long way in this direction. When he was about to turn to the left again he perceived a long damp hollow. He went on and passed the hollow and dug a hole on the other side. The heat made the air hazy. Then he went straight along the third side stepping faster towards the hillock.
       Thus Pahom attempted to measure as much land as he could from sunrise till he turned straight towards the hillock.

7. Describe how Pahom tried hard to reach the hillock before sunset. What was the consequence?
(সূর্য অস্ত যোৱাৰ আগতে পাহোমে কিদৰে টিলাটো পাবলৈ কঠোৰ চেষ্টা কৰিছিল? )
Answer :
After getting ready to measure the land, Pahom started walking neither slowly nor quickly. After having gone a thousand yards, he stopped, dug a hole and placed turf one on another to make it visible. Then he went on, took off his undercoat, and went on on. He went straight on another three miles. The further he goes the better the land seemed. Then he thought that he had gone far enough in that direction. So he stopped and dug another hole and untied his flask and had a drink. With the passing of hours, he began to feel tired and sleepy. But he did not lie, instead he took some rest and went a long way in this direction. Then he went straight along the third side stepping faster towards the hillock. This time he become very much tired and exhausted. He walked with difficulty. His bare feet was cut and brusied and his legs began to fail. He was still far from his goal and the sun was already near the rim. He began to walk quicker and quicker throwing away his coat, boots and flask and kept only the spade which he used as a support. He was afraid of death, but could not stop. Pahom looked at the sun which had reached the earth. With all his remaining strength he rushed on. He took a long breath and ran up the hillock. His legs gave away beneath him and he fell forward and reached the cap with his hands. Consequently, Pahom's servant came running up and tried to raise him but he saw blood flowing from his mouth. Pahom was dead.