Activities on On Saying Please

Std 12 English Yuvakbharti

Question and answer on On Saying'Please'.

Read the extract and complete the activities given below: (12)

The young lift-man in a City office who threw a passenger out of his lift the other morning and was fined for the offence was undoubtedly in the wrong. It was a question of “Please.” The complainant entering the lift, said, “Top.” The lift-man demanded “Top-please,” and this concession being refused he not only declined to comply with the instruction, but hurled the passenger out of the lift. This, of course 

was carrying a comment on manner too far. Discourtesy is not a legal offence, and it does not excuse assault and battery. If a burglar breaks into my house and I knock him down, the law will acquit me, and if I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate with reasonable violence. It does this because the burglar and my assailant have broken quite definite commands of the law. But no legal system could attempt to legislate against bad manners or could sanction the use of violence against something which it does not itself recognize as a legally punishable offence. And our sympathy with the liftman, we must admit that the law is reasonable. It would never do if we were at liberty to box people’s ears because we did not like their behaviour, or the tone of their voices, or the scowl on their faces. Our fists would never be idle, and the gutters of the city would run with blood all day. I may be as uncivil as I may please and the law will protect me against violent retaliation. I may be haughty or boorish and there is no penalty to pay except the penalty of being written down an ill￾mannered fellow. The law does not compel me to say “Please” or to attune my voice to other people’s sensibilities any more than it says that I shall not wax my moustache or dye my hair or wear ringlets down my back. It does not recognize the laceration of our feelings as a case for compensation. There is no allowance for moral and intellectual damages in these matters.

A1. Read the following statements and pick out the statement which expresses the 

intention of the writer. (2)

i. There is an importance of good manners and civility.

ii. The wound on one’s self-respect is more painful than physical wound.

iii. One needs to be courteous with a liftman.

iv. Strict laws can civilize people.

A2. Pick out some examples of behaviour from the extract that are not punishable under law. (Any four) (2)

Ans :  The following behaviours are not punishable. 

A) Showing dislike for others' behaviour, or the tone of their voices, or the scowl on their faces. 

B) One can be uncivil as much as he likes.

C) Not waxing moustache or dye hair. 

A3. “The passenger damaged the liftman’s self- respect”. Support your answer with some facts from the extract. (2)

Ans : The complainant entering the lift, said, “Top.” The lift-man demanded “Top-please,” and this concession being refused he not only declined to comply with the instruction, but hurled the passenger out of the lift. This, of course was carrying a comment on manner too far

A4. What if- ‘Discourtesy is a legal offence?’ Write your response in about 30 words.(2)

Ans : If discourtesy is a legal offence, police station will have pouring complaints. The courts will have a long pending cases. The people will be seen fighting here and there. 

A5. Do as directed. (2)

1) If I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate.

(Choose correct alternative to use ‘unless’)

i. Unless I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate.

ii. Unless I am physically assaulted, it would not permit me to retaliate.

iii. Unless I am physically assaulted, it will not permit me to retaliate.

iv. Unless I am not physically assaulted, it will not permit me to retaliate.

2) The law will protect me against violent retaliation.

(Choose correct alternative to use a modal auxiliary showing ‘obligation’)

i. The law can protect me against violent retaliation.

ii. The law could protect me against violent retaliation.

iii. The law may protect me against violent retaliation.

iv. The law must protect me against violent retaliation.

A6. Find out the words from the passage which mean the following: (2)

i. Lack of courtesy-  discourtesy

ii. Fight with the fists - box

iii. Uncultured - boorish

iv. An attacker - assailant