A Pair of Mustachios Extract Questions | English Class 11

Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 1

Reading Set

Extract 1

Passage

There are various kinds of mustachios worn in my country to mark the boundaries between the various classes of people. Outsiders may think it stupid to lay down, or rather to raise, lines of demarcation of this kind, but we are notorious in the whole world for sticking to our queer old conventions...

The author compares Indian conventions regarding mustachios to the habits of the Chinese, Americans, and the __________.

English

Mustachios are described as unique and __________ symbols of social class.

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Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 2

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Extract 2

Passage

Next there is the goat moustache—a rather unsure brand, worn by the nouveau riche, the new commercial bourgeoisie and the shopkeeper class who somehow don’t belong—an indifferent, thin little line of a moustache, worn so that its tips can be turned up or down as the occasion demands...

The goat moustache is described as a thin little line belonging to the __________ class.

shopkeeper

Turning the tips of the moustache down can indicate __________ to a prosperous client.

humility

Why is the goat moustache called an 'unsure brand'?

It is called 'unsure' because the people who wear it—the 'nouveau riche'—do not have a fixed place in the traditional hierarchy. Their status depends on their current wealth and the specific person they are dealing with at any given moment.

How does the goat moustache reflect the flexible nature of the merchant class?

The tips of the goat moustache can be turned 'up or down.' This physical flexibility allows the wearer to show power to a social inferior, like a coolie, or to show humility to a wealthy client, reflecting their opportunistic and business-minded nature.

What does the phrase 'who somehow don’t belong' imply about the merchant class?

This phrase suggests that despite their new money, the commercial bourgeoisie is not yet fully accepted into the ancient, established social orders. They are in a transitional state, lacking the historical 'blue blood' of the gentry or the clear status of peasants.

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Extract Questions

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Extract 3

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Extract 3

Passage

‘Since when have the lentil-eating shopkeepers become noblemen?’ he asked sourly... ‘I tell you, turn the tip of your moustache down if you value your life!’ raged Khan Azam Khan.

Khan Azam Khan uses the insulting term '__________' to refer to Ramanand.

seed of a donkey

The Khan's anger is triggered by the __________ tendency of Ramanand’s moustache hair.

upturning

What does the term 'lentil-eating' suggest about the Khan's view of Ramanand?

The term is used mockingly to highlight the shopkeeper's perceived lowliness and lack of martial or noble qualities. It contrasts the merchant's simple, vegetarian lifestyle with the 'valiant' and 'noble' meat-eating traditions the Khan associates with his Afghan ancestry.

How does Khan Azam Khan justify his demand that Ramanand change his moustache?

Khan believes that Ramanand is 'aping' or imitating the 'tiger' moustache, which is the sacred symbol of the noble class. He views this as an direct insult to his 'order' and believes he is simply enforcing the traditional rules of social demarcations.

What does this extract reveal about Khan Azam Khan's temperament?

The extract shows that Khan is highly emotional, 'headstrong,' and prone to 'rage.' He is willing to threaten Ramanand's life over a trivial matter of facial hair, indicating that his sense of honor and pride far outweighs his sense of reason.

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Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 4

Reading Set

Extract 4

Passage

And this document, transferring all his household goods and chattels, was signed in the presence of the five elders of the village and sealed. And the moneylender forthwith brought both tips of his moustache down and kept them glued in the goat style...

The deed was prepared by the __________ of the village who sat under the tree.

petition writer

After the deal, Khan Azam Khan had effectively become a __________.

pauper

Why did the moneylender finally 'glue' his moustache in the goat style?

Ramanand finally complied because he had successfully 'drawn up a deed' and acquired all of the Khan's possessions. Having achieved his financial goal, he could afford to be 'humble' and adhere to the goat style as the bargain was complete.

What was the role of the 'five elders' in this final transaction?

The elders served as official witnesses to the signing of the legal document. Their presence ensured that the transfer of property was legitimate and prevented Ramanand from breaking his word, providing the 'proof' that the Khan demanded for the deal.

What is the irony in the Khan's walk away after this event?

The irony is that although the Khan has lost every 'worldly possession' and is now a pauper, he walks away with a 'special twist' to his moustache. He feels victorious for preserving his honor, while the villagers laugh at his total ruin.

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Chapter sections

Chapter a-pair-of-mustachios: A Pair of Mustachios | Extract Questions

Extract 1

The author compares Indian conventions regarding mustachios to the habits of the Chinese, Americans, and the __________.

Mustachios are described as unique and __________ symbols of social class.

Why does the author think mustachios are more 'convenient' than European clothing?

What is the purpose of the 'lines of demarcation' mentioned in the extract?

How does the author characterize the Indian attitude toward their old conventions?

Extract 2

The goat moustache is described as a thin little line belonging to the __________ class.

Turning the tips of the moustache down can indicate __________ to a prosperous client.

Why is the goat moustache called an 'unsure brand'?

How does the goat moustache reflect the flexible nature of the merchant class?

What does the phrase 'who somehow don’t belong' imply about the merchant class?

Extract 3

Khan Azam Khan uses the insulting term '__________' to refer to Ramanand.

The Khan's anger is triggered by the __________ tendency of Ramanand’s moustache hair.

What does the term 'lentil-eating' suggest about the Khan's view of Ramanand?

How does Khan Azam Khan justify his demand that Ramanand change his moustache?

What does this extract reveal about Khan Azam Khan's temperament?

Extract 4

The deed was prepared by the __________ of the village who sat under the tree.

After the deal, Khan Azam Khan had effectively become a __________.

Why did the moneylender finally 'glue' his moustache in the goat style?

What was the role of the 'five elders' in this final transaction?

What is the irony in the Khan's walk away after this event?