A Triumph of Surgery NCERT Solutions Class 10 English

This post, “A Triumph of Surgery NCERT Solutions Class 10 English,” provides comprehensive NCERT solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 1. We recommend reading the summary of A Triumph of Surgery first to understand the chapter’s questions much better!

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 1)

Q.1. Why is Mrs Pumphrey worried about Tricki?
Ans. Mrs Pumphrey was worried because Tricki had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner. His eyes were bloodshot and rheumy and his tongue hung out of his jaws. He had become listless and had no energy at all.

Q.2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?
Ans. Thinking that he was suffering from malnutrition, she gave him extra food between meals: malt, cod-liver oil and a bowl of Horlicks at night. She also could not stop giving him cream cakes and chocolates. No, she was not wise at all. Overfeeding was the very cause of his illness. By pampering him she only made his condition worse.

Q.3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Ans. ‘I’ refers to Mr James Herriot, the veterinary surgeon who treats Tricki and also the narrator of the story.

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 3)

Q.1. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?
Ans. No, he is not. Mrs Pumphrey is very rich; she has a big house, many maids, a chauffeur and a huge, gleaming car. The narrator is an ordinary vet who is delighted to receive extra eggs, wine and brandy sent for Tricki.

Q.2. How does he treat the dog?
Ans. He does not give Tricki any medicine at all. He keeps him in the surgery for two days with no food but plenty of water, and then lets him run and play freely with the other dogs. Gradually Tricki begins to eat normal food along with the pack and becomes healthy again.

Q.3. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest?
Ans. Mrs Pumphrey kept sending fresh eggs, wine and brandy to build up Tricki’s strength. The narrator and his partners enjoyed all these luxuries themselves. So it was a great temptation to keep Tricki on as a permanent guest.

Q.4. Why does Mrs Pumphrey think the dog’s recovery is “a triumph of surgery”?
Ans. Mrs Pumphrey did not know that no medicine or operation had been used. She saw only that her weak, sickly dog had returned as a lively, hard-muscled animal within two weeks. She therefore believed that this wonderful change was the result of Mr Herriot’s medical skill and called it “a triumph of surgery”.

A Triumph of Surgery Think About It Question Answer

Q.1. What kind of a person do you think the narrator, a veterinary surgeon, is? Would you say he is tactful as well as full of common sense?
Ans. The narrator is an experienced, kind and intelligent vet who truly understands animals. He is very tactful; instead of blaming Mrs Pumphrey directly, he politely insists on hospitalising Tricki, knowing she would never keep the dog on a strict diet at home. He is also full of common sense. He realised that Tricki needed no medicine but only proper food, exercise and the company of other dogs. He was honest too, for he returned the dog as soon as it recovered, even though he was enjoying the eggs, wine and brandy.

Q.2. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?
Ans. Yes, Tricki was very happy to see his mistress. He leapt into her lap, licked her face and barked with joy. But it is likely that Mrs Pumphrey will again start pampering and overfeeding him out of love. Tricki will slowly become fat and lazy once more, and will probably have to be sent back to Mr Herriot for another “triumph of surgery”.

Q.3. Do you think this is a real-life episode, or mere fiction? Or is it a mixture of both?
Ans. It appears to be a mixture of both. James Herriot was himself a veterinary surgeon, and the details about the dog’s illness, its treatment and the behaviour of a doting owner are very true to life. However, incidents such as the flow of eggs, wine and brandy, and the humorous exaggerations, seem to have been added to make the story entertaining. So it is a real-life experience presented in a fictional, humorous style.

A Triumph of Surgery Talk About It Question Answer

Q.1. Do you think such people are merely silly, or can their actions cause harm to others?
Ans. Such people are not merely silly; their actions can cause real harm. Mrs Pumphrey’s foolish indulgence nearly killed Tricki, as the poor animal could neither eat nor walk properly. Excessive pampering harms the one who is pampered. It also wastes money and time, and sets a bad example for others. A truly loving person shows care with discipline, not with indulgence.

Q.2. Do you think there are also parents like Mrs Pumphrey?
Ans. Yes, there are many such parents. Out of love, they give their children everything they demand, like rich food, costly gadgets, money and complete freedom, without any restrictions. Such children often grow up lazy, stubborn and unhealthy, and are unable to face hardship in life. Real love means guiding children and saying ‘no’ when necessary.

Q.3. What would you have done if you were: (i) a member of the staff in Mrs Pumphrey’s household, (ii) a neighbour?
Ans. (i) As a member of the staff, I would have found the work tiring and rather foolish, arranging the dog’s beds, coats, bowls and toys all day. But since it was my job, I would have done it politely and, if given a chance, would have gently advised the mistress to feed the dog less. (ii) As a neighbour, I would have felt amused and a little irritated by such behaviour. I would have tried to make her understand that overfeeding was harming the dog, and would have suggested that she take him for regular walks.

Q.4. What would you have done if you were in the narrator’s place?
Ans. I would have done exactly what Mr Herriot did. I would have removed the dog from that pampering environment, kept him on a light diet with plenty of water, and allowed him to exercise freely with other dogs. However, I would also have told Mrs Pumphrey the truth at the end that no surgery or medicine had been used, and that the dog recovered only through proper diet and exercise, so that she would not repeat her mistake.

Glossary (Quick Revision)