Chapter 4 – Bepin Chowdhury’s Lapse of Memory

Content Structure

  • A. Exercise questions and answers
    • Glossary
    • Unit I – Comprehension Check
    • Unit II – Comprehension Check
    • Unit III – Comprehension Check
    • Unit IV – Comprehension Check
    • Working with the text
    • Working with language
    • Speaking and writing
  • B. Additional questions and answers
    • Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
      • Unit – III
      • Unit – Iv
    • Fill in the blanks
    • True or false
    • Match the following
    • Short-type questions & answers
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
      • Unit – III
      • Unit – Iv
    • Long-type questions & answers
  • C. Grammar questions and answers

A. Exercise questions and answers

Glossary

Idle chatTalking about small things that don’t matter
MeekQuite
Utter disbeliefTotally surprised
(His) Head reeledHe felt shocked and confused
Losing his mindGoing crazy
IntimateVery personal and secret
BracingRefreshing and energizing.
Going nutsActing crazy
Getting into people’s hairBothering and annoying others
SleuthingSearching for clues like a detective
Carry onContinue
ConscientiousDoing something carefully and the right way
Head was in a whirlFeeling very confused
Gather his wits togetherTrying to calm down and think clearly
Having a rough time:Going through problems
Turning up like a bad pennyShowing up again when not wanted
Didn’t beat about the bushSpoke directly without wasting time
Off and onSometimes
Throw your mind backTry to remember something
Must see about consultingMight need to ask someone for help
In retribution forA medicine to help relax
ProcuredGot something with some effort
Came roundWoke up after fainting
His Head reeledAs a punishment

Unit I – Comprehension Check

1. Why did the man stare at Bepin Babu in disbelief?
Ans: The man was shocked when he told Bepin Babu that he had met him in Ranchi, but Bepin Babu couldn’t remember ever going there.

2. Where did Bepin Babu say he went in October ’58?
Ans: Bepin Babu said that in October 1958, he lived in Kolkata and did not go to Ranchi.

3. Mention any three (or more) things that Parimal Ghose knew about Bepin Babu.
Ans: Parimal Ghose knew that:

  • His wife had passed away ten years ago, and he had no children.
  • Bepin Babu had a fall in Ranchi and hurt his knee.
  • He always carried a bag with books while traveling.

Unit II – Comprehension Check

1. Why did Bepin Babu worry about what Parimal Ghose had said?
Ans: Bepin Babu was worried because Parimal Ghose was sure they had met in Ranchi, but Bepin Babu couldn’t remember ever being there. He began to question his memory and worry that there was something wrong with him.

2. How did he try to decide who was right—his memory or Parimal Ghose?
Ans: Bepin Babu tried to be sure of the truth by asking people who might remember where he had gone. He chose to ask his old friend Dinesh Mukerji, who he thought had been on the trip to Ranchi with him.

3. Why did Bepin Babu hesitate to visit Mr. Mukerji? Why did he finally decide to phone him?
Ans: Bepin Babu didn’t want to go see Mr. Mukerji because he was ashamed of his memory loss and didn’t want other people to think something was wrong with him. But his rising anxiety made him want answers more than anything else, so he called Mr. Mukerji instead.

4. What did Mr. Mukerji say? Did it comfort Bepin Babu or add to his worries?
Ans: Mr. Mukerji confirmed that Bepin Babu had gone to Ranchi in 1958. This didn’t make Bepin Babu feel better; in fact, it made him even more worried because he couldn’t figure out why he had forgotten all about the trip.

Unit III – Comprehension Check

1. Who was Chunilal? What did he want from Bepin Babu?
Ans: Bepin Babu had known Chunilal for a long time. Because he was having money problems, he asked Bepin Babu to help him find a job. However, Bepin Babu didn’t want to help him.

2. Why was Dr. Chanda puzzled? What was unusual about Bepin Babu’s loss of memory?
Ans: To Dr. Chanda’s surprise, Bepin Babu’s memory loss was very odd. As a rule, people forget everything after being sick or having an accident. But Bepin Babu only remembered his trip to Ranchi. The case was strange because he remembered everything else in his life.

Unit IV – Comprehension Check

1. Had Bepin Babu really lost his memory and forgotten all about a trip to Ranchi?
Ans: No, Bepin Babu didn’t really forget anything. Chunilal pulled a trick on them. Chunilal planned to get back at Bepin Babu by making him think he forgot about the trip to Ranchi.

2. Why do you think Chunilal did what he did? Chunilal says he has no money; what is it that he does have?
Ans: Chunilal pulled this trick on Bepin Babu because he was mad and hurt that his old friend Bepin Babu didn’t help him when he needed it. Chunilal didn’t have any money, but he was smart and creative, so he made up a story that made Bepin Babu believe it.

Working with the text

1. The author describes Bepin Babu as a serious and hardworking man. What evidence can you find in the story to support this?
Ans: Bepin Babu was known for living a strict life. He worked in an office all the time and never spoke to anyone. He also didn’t want to hang out with other people and was interested in reading a book. He was a serious and hardworking man.

2. Why did Bepin Babu change his mind about meeting Chunilal? What was the result of this meeting?
Ans: Bepin Babu didn’t want to meet Chunilal at first because he thought the other person would need help again. Later, though, when Bepin Babu began to worry that he was forgetting things, he chose to meet Chunilal in the hopes that he would remember something about the trip to Ranchi. He confirmed that Bepin Babu had gone to Ranchi during the meeting, which made him even more confused and worried.

3. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls. What do you think was the reason for this?
Ans: Bepin Babu fell out at Hudroo Falls because he was so stressed out and scared about losing his memory that he lost consciousness. He felt weak because he couldn’t remember the trip and was afraid he was going crazy. He eventually passes out.

4. How do you think Bepin Babu reacted when he found out that Chunilal had tricked him?
Ans: When Bepin Babu found out that Chunilal had lied to him, he was probably shocked, embarrassed, and mad. He had been worried about his memory for a long time when there was really nothing wrong. He may have also felt bad that he hadn’t helped Chunilal earlier.

Working with language

Fill in the blanks below using ‘had to’/ ‘have to’/ ‘has to’.
(i) I ____________ cut my hair every month.
(ii) We _______________ go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She _______________ tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They ____________________ take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We _________________ complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit ________________ finish his homework before he could come out to play.
(vii) I _________________ repair my cycle yesterday.
Ans:
(i) I have to cut my hair every month.
(ii) We had to go for swimming lessons last year.
(iii) She has to tell the principal the truth.
(iv) They have to take the baby to the doctor.
(v) We have to complain to the police about the noise.
(vi) Romit had to finish his homework before he could come out to play.
(vii) I had to repair my cycle yesterday.

2. Here are a few idioms that you will find in the story. Look for them in the dictionary in the following way.
First, arrange them in the order in which you would find them in a dictionary. (Clue: An idiom is usually listed under the first noun, verb, adjective or adverb in it. Ignore articles or prepositions in the idiom). To help you, we have put in bold the word under which you must look for the idiom in the dictionary.)

(i) at/from close quarters (close: adjective)
(ii) break into a smile (break: verb; look under ‘break into something’)
(iii) carry on (carry: verb)
(iv) have a clean record (you may find related meanings under both these words)
(v) beat about the bush (verb)
Now refer to your dictionary and find out what they mean.
Ans:

Idioms Meaning
At/from closeTo look attentively
Break into a smileTo give cheerful smile
Carry on Continue the same work
Beat about the BushTo say something in a roundabout manner

3. Study the sentences in the columns below.

A B
I saw this movie yesterday.I have seen this movie already.
Bepin Babu worked here for a week
last year.		Bepin Babu has worked here since
2003.
Chunilal wrote to a publisher last
week.		Chunilal has written to a publisher.
I visited Ranchi once, long ago.I visited Ranchi once, long ago.I have visited Ranchi once before.

Compare the sentences in the two columns, especially the verb forms. Answer the following questions about each pair of sentences.
(i) Which column tells us that Bepin Babu is still working at the same place?
(ii) Which column suggests that Chunilal is now waiting for a reply from the publisher?
(iii) Which column suggests that the person still remembers the movie he saw?
(iv) Which column suggests that the experience of visiting Ranchi is still fresh in the speaker’s mind.
Ans:
(i) Column B
(ii) Column B
(iii) Column A
(iv) Column A

4. Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences. You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.

One sentence has been worked out for you as an example.

Jumbled sentence: vanished/ The car/ seemed to/ into thin/ have/ air.
Ans: The car seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Idiom:
vanished into thin air: disappeared or vanished in a mysterious way.

(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush
(ii) don’t pay/If you/ attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/board
(iii) The villagers/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor’s/eat early/that he was
(v) the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/they had revised
Ans:
(i) Stop/and tell me/beating about/what you want/the bush
Ans: Stop beating about the bush and tell me what you want.

  • Idiom: Beating about the bush
  • Meaning: Avoiding the main topic and speaking in a roundabout way.

(ii) don’t pay/If you/ attention/you might/the wrong train/to the announcement/board
Ans: If you don’t pay attention to the announcement, you might board the wrong train.

  • Idiom: Pay attention
  • Meaning: To listen carefully and focus on something.

(iii) The villagers/tried/the crime/on the young woman/to pin
Ans: The villagers tried to pin the crime on the young woman.

  • Idiom: Pin the crime on someone
  • Meaning: To blame someone for a crime.

(iv) Bepin Babu/orders to/telling people/under/loved/doctor’s/eat early/that he was
Ans: Bepin Babu loved telling people that he was under doctor’s orders to eat early.

  • Idiom: Under doctor’s orders
  • Meaning: Following a doctor’s advice.

(v) the students/The teacher/his eyebrows/when/said that/all their lessons/raised/they had revised
Ans: The teacher raised his eyebrows when the students said that they had revised all their lessons.

  • Idiom: Raised his eyebrows
  • Meaning: To show surprise or shock.

Speaking and writing

1. What do you think happened after Bepin Babu came to know the truth? Was he angry with this friend for playing such a trick on him? Or do you think he decided to help a friend in need?
Ans: Before Bepin Babu knew the truth, he was probably shocked, embarrassed, and maybe even angry at first. He had worried a lot about losing his memory, but in the end, he realized that Chunilal had played a trick on him. He may have felt foolish for believing the lie and panicking for no reason. However, thinking about it later, he might have felt guilty for not helping Chunilal when he needed it. Since Chunilal had no money but was smart enough to come up with such a clever plan, Bepin Babu may have realized he was wrong and chosen to help his old friend. He might have forgiven Chunilal and helped him if he needed it. By doing so, Bepin Babu may have learned an important lesson about friendship and kindness.

2. Imagine you are Bepin Choudhury. You have received Chunilal’s letter and feel ashamed that you did not bother to help an old friend down on his luck. Now you want to do something for him. Write a letter to Chunilal promising to help him soon.
Ans:

Dear Chunilal,

I hope all is well with you. After reading your letter, I feel very bad that I wasn’t able to help you when you needed it the most. I was so focused on my own problems that I missed an old friend’s issues.

Your smart trick helped me see what I had done wrong, and I now know how hard things must have been for you. I’m sorry for what I did and want to make things right. Tell me how I can help you. In any way I can, I will do my best to help you, whether it’s getting a job or something else.

I’m sorry for hurting your friendship, and I hope you can forgive me. Let’s meet soon. I want you to get the help if you need it.

I will be waiting for your reply.

Yours sincerely,
Bepin Choudhury

A prank is a childish trick. Do you remember any incident when someone played a prank on you or your friends? Describe the prank in a paragraph.
Ans: One day, during lunch, my friend did a funny trick on me at school. He shifted out my water bottle for one that looked the same but had salty water in it. It was so bad that I made a funny face when I took a big sip. I was shocked when everyone started laughing. I didn’t know what was going on at first, but when I saw my friend smile, I laughed too. We all had a good time with the joke. We ate the rest of our lunch together after I got my real water bottle back.

B. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Unit – I

1. Where did Bepin Choudhury stop every Monday after work?
(a) Library
(b) Kalicharan’s in New Market
(c) Coffee shop
(d) Movie theater

Ans: (b) Kalicharan’s in New Market

2. What kind of books did he buy?
(a) Love stories
(b) History books
(c) Crime, ghost, and thriller stories
(d) Poetry

Ans: (c) Crime, ghost, and thriller stories

3. How many books did he buy at a time?
(a) 10
(b) 8
(c) 6
(d) 5

Ans: (d) 5

4. What day did he visit the bookshop?
(a) Monday
(b) Wednesday
(c) Friday
(d) Sunday

Ans: (a) Monday

5. How did Bepin Babu go to Hudroo Falls?
(a) Bus
(b) Train
(c) Car
(d) Bicycle

Ans: (c) Car

6. Who met Bepin Babu at the bookshop?
(a) Chunilal
(b) Parimal Ghose
(c) Dr. Chanda
(d) Mr. Mukerji

Ans: (b) Parimal Ghose

7. When did Parimal Ghose say Bepin Babu went to Ranchi?
(a) October 1958
(b) March 1960
(c) December 1955
(d) June 1962

Ans: (a) October 1958

8. Why was Bepin Babu surprised?
(a) He lost his book
(b) He forgot his office work
(c) He had forgotten his Ranchi trip
(d) He saw a ghost in the bookshop

Ans: (c) He had forgotten his Ranchi trip

9. What part of Bepin Babu’s body got injured?
(a) Left Knee
(b) Right knee
(c) Head
(d) Left foot

Ans: (b) Right knee

10. Where did Bepin Babu have a fall?
(a) Netarhat
(b) Ranchi
(c) Hudroo
(d) Kolkata

Ans: (c) Hudroo

11. What medicine was brought for Bepin Babu?
(a) Painkiller
(b) Bandage
(c) Iodine
(d) Antibiotic

Ans: (c) Iodine

12. Where was Bepin Babu to go the next day?
(a) Ranchi
(b) Netarhat
(c) Hudroo
(d) Kolkata

Ans: (b) Netarhat

13. Who went to Ranchi with Bepin Babu (as per Parimal)?
(a) Chunilal
(b) Parimal Ghose
(c) Dinesh Mukerji
(d) No one

Ans: (c) Dinesh Mukerji

14. Why didn’t Bepin Babu stay in a hotel?
(a) Too expensive
(b) Didn’t like hotel food
(c) No rooms available
(d) Preferred camping

Ans: (b) Didn’t like hotel food

15. Where did Bepin Babu stay in Ranchi?
(a) Hotel
(b) Guest house
(c) Bungalow
(d) Friend’s house

Ans: (c) Bungalow

16. Who is a bawarchi?
(a) Driver
(b) Shopkeeper
(c) Watchman
(d) Cook

Ans: (d) Cook

17. When did Bepin Babu and Mr. Mukerji have a big argument?
(a) During dinner
(b) About the moon landing
(c) While booking tickets
(d) About hotel food

Ans: (b) About the moon landing

18. Where did Mr. Mukerji stay?
(a) With his friend
(b) In a hotel
(c) With his sister
(d) In a bungalow

Ans: (a) With his sister

19. What did Bepin Babu always carry on his sightseeing trips?
(a) A camera
(b) A water bottle
(c) A bag with books
(d) A walking stick

Ans: (c) A bag with books

20. Where did Bepin Babu spend Puja in 1958?
(a) Ranchi
(b) Kanpur
(c) Kolkata
(d) Delhi

Ans: (b) Kanpur

21. Where did Bepin Babu have tea with Parimal Ghose?
(a) In a hotel
(b) In a restaurant
(c) In the veranda of his bungalow
(d) In a park

Ans: (c) In the veranda of his bungalow

22. How long ago did Bepin Babu lose his wife?
(a) Five years ago
(b) Ten years ago
(c) One year ago
(d) Twenty years ago

Ans: (b) Ten years ago

23. What did Bepin Babu say about his family?
(a) He had two children
(b) He had no children
(c) He lived with his brother
(d) He had a big family

Ans: (b) He had no children

24. What happened to Bepin Babu’s only brother?
(a) He moved abroad
(b) He became a doctor
(c) He died insane
(d) He was missing

Ans: (c) He died insane

Unit – II

1. Where was Bepin Babu’s car parked?
(a) Strand Road
(b) Near his house
(c) Bertram Street
(d) Outside a bookshop

Ans: (c) Bertram Street

2. What did Bepin Babu ask his driver to do?
(a) Drive home
(b) Drive by the Ganga
(c) Go to Ranchi
(d) Stop at a restaurant

Ans: (b) Drive by the Ganga

3. Which road did the car take after leaving Bertram Street?
(a) Strand Street
(b) Park Road
(c) College Street
(d) Rashbehari Avenue

Ans: (a) Strand Street

4. Which cinema was near Bepin Babu’s parked car?
(a) New Market Cinema
(b) Lighthouse Cinema
(c) Grand Theatre
(d) Metro Cinema

Ans: (b) Lighthouse Cinema

5. What was the driver’s name?
(a) Parimal
(b) Mukerji
(c) Sitaram
(d) Dinesh

Ans: (c) Sitaram

6. How long ago did the event take place?
(a) 10 years ago
(b) 2 years ago
(c) 6 or 10 years ago
(d) 6 to 7 years ago

Ans: (d) 6 to 7 years ago

7. How long did he speak at the important meeting?
(a) 10 minutes
(b) 1 hour
(c) Half an hour
(d) 2 hours

Ans: (c) Half an hour

8. What was the name of Bepin Babu’s friend in Kanpur?
(a) Dinesh Mukerji
(b) Haridas Bagchi
(c) Parimal Ghose
(d) Chunilal

Ans: (b) Haridas Bagchi

9. Where did Haridas go some weeks ago?
(a) USA
(b) Japan
(c) England
(d) Australia

Ans: (b) Japan

10. Where was Bepin Babu when he decided to check his knee?
(a) Near Lighthouse Cinema
(b) At home
(c) Around Hastings
(d) At a hospital

Ans: (c) Around Hastings

11. Where did Dinesh Mukerji live?
(a) Park Street
(b) Beninandan Street
(c) Strand Road
(d) Bertram Street

Ans: (b) Beninandan Street

12. What was Bepin Babu doing in his living room?
(a) Reading a book
(b) Sipping a cold drink
(c) Talking on the phone
(d) Watching TV

Ans: (b) Sipping a cold drink

13. Which other trip was mentioned in the conversation?
(a) A trip to Ranchi
(b) A trip to Darjeeling
(c) A trip to Japan
(d) A trip to Mumbai

Ans: (a) A trip to Ranchi

14. Where did Bepin Babu travel in February?
(a) Kanpur
(b) Krishnanagar
(c) Ranchi
(d) Delhi

Ans: (b) Krishnanagar

15. Why did Bepin Babu go to Krishnanagar?
(a) For a business trip
(b) To visit a friend
(c) For his nephew’s wedding
(d) For a holiday

Ans: (c) For his nephew’s wedding

16. What was in Bepin Babu’s tiffin box?
(a) Fruits
(b) Sandwiches
(c) Sweets
(d) Rice and curry

Ans: (b) Sandwiches

Unit – III

1. How long did Bepin Babu work at the firm?
(a) 10 years
(b) 20 years
(c) 25 years
(d) 30 years

Ans: (c) 25 years

2. How was Bepin Babu’s work attitude described?
(a) Lazy
(b) Conscientious
(c) Irresponsible
(d) Unreliable

Ans: (b) Conscientious

3. What time did Bepin Babu’s servant come?
(a) 6:00 PM
(b) 9:30 PM
(c) 8:00 PM
(d) 7:30 PM

Ans: (d) 7:30 PM

4. How did Bepin Babu know Chunilal?
(a) They were school friends
(b) They were office colleagues
(c) They met in Ranchi
(d) They were neighbors

Ans: (a) They were school friends

5. Where was Chunilal waiting?
(a) At the gate
(b) In the living room
(c) On the balcony
(d) In the garden

Ans: (b) In the living room

6. Where did Chunilal sit?
(a) On a chair
(b) On the floor
(c) On the sofa
(d) On the bed

Ans: (c) On the sofa

7. Why did Chunilal play a trick on Bepin Babu?
(a) For fun
(b) To take revenge
(c) To test his memory
(d) He didn’t get help in his time

Ans: (d) He didn’t get help in his time

8. Where did Chunilal say goodbye to Bepin Babu?
(a) At the airport
(b) At the railway station
(c) At the bus stop
(d) At his home

Ans: (b) At the railway station

9. What problem did Bepin Babu face in his train compartment?
(a) A broken window
(b) There were no lights
(c) The seat was missing
(d) A fan was not working

Ans: (d) A fan was not working

10. What was special about Paresh Chanda’s appearance?
(a) He had curly hair
(b) He had a sharp nose and bright eyes
(c) He was very tall
(d) He wore glasses

Ans: (b) He had a sharp nose and bright eyes

11. Who was Paresh Chanda?
(a) A teacher
(b) A lawyer
(c) A young physician
(d) A writer

Ans: (c) A young physician

12. When was Bepin Babu’s train to Ranchi?
(a) The next morning
(b) Evening
(c) The next week
(d) Afternoon

Ans: (b) Evening

13. What ticket did Bepin Babu get?
(a) A bus ticket
(b) A second-class train ticket
(c) A flight ticket
(d) A first-class train ticket for Ranchi

Ans: (d) A first-class train ticket for Ranchi

14. When did Bepin Babu call his office?
(a) Before breakfast
(b) After breakfast
(c) In the afternoon
(d) In the evening

Ans: (b) After breakfast

Unit – IV

1. How did Bepin Babu travel after leaving the station?
(a) By bus
(b) By taxi
(c) By bicycle
(d) On foot

Ans: (b) By taxi

2. What places did Bepin Babu see while driving?
(a) Only hotels
(b) Only markets
(c) Streets, buildings, hotels, bazaars, Morabadi Hill
(d) Just the railway station

Ans: (c) Streets, buildings, hotels, bazaars, Morabadi Hill

3. What did Bepin Babu do after taking a taxi?
(a) Went straight to a hotel
(b) Drove around the town
(c) Met a friend
(d) Visited a temple

Ans: (b) Drove around the town

4. When did Bepin Babu leave for Hudroo?
(a) In the morning at 6 o’clock
(b) In the afternoon at 5 o’clock
(c) In the evening at 7 o’clock
(d) At night, 5 o’clock

Ans: (b) In the afternoon at 5 o’clock

5. Where was Bepin Babu lying?
(a) Near a hotel
(b) Beside a big rock
(c) In a taxi
(d) At the station

Ans: (b) Beside a big rock

6. What were the Gujarati men doing?
(a) Waiting for a bus
(b) Having a picnic
(c) Looking for Bepin Babu
(d) Climbing a hill

Ans: (b) Having a picnic

7. Who sent the letter to Bepin Babu?
(a) Dinesh Mukerji
(b) Haridas Bagchi
(c) Paresh Chanda
(d) Chunilal

Ans: (d) Chunilal

8. Why did Chunilal send the letter to Bepin Babu?
(a) To remind him about their school days
(b) To ask for financial help
(c) To invite him to a wedding
(d) To play another prank

Ans: (b) To ask for financial help

9. Why did Bepin Babu call the doctor?
(a) He had a headache
(b) He had a pain in his knee from a fall
(c) He had a pain in his hip from a fall
(d) He wanted a routine check-up

Ans: (c) He had a pain in his hip from a fall

10. Who wrote the story “Lapse of Memory”?
(a) Rabindranath Tagore
(b) Ruskin Bond
(c) R.K. Narayan
(d) Satyajit Ray

Ans: (d) Satyajit Ray

Fill in the blanks

1. Bepin Babu would buy books from ________________ in New Market.
2. Parimal Ghose claimed that Bepin Babu had visited ______________ in 1958.
3. Bepin Babu traveled to Ranchi by ______________.
4. At Hudroo, two Gujarati men found Bepin Babu lying ______________.
5. Haridas Bagchi was Bepin Babu’s friend from ______________.
6. Bepin Babu arranged for a car to visit ______________________.
7. Bepin Babu He preferred reading ____________, ghost stories, and thrillers.
8. _____________ had been Bepin Babu’s friend since school.
9. Bepin Babu had worked at the firm for ________________________.
10. He asked his driver, _____________, to take him for a drive by the Ganga.
11. Chunilal waited for Bepin Babu in the ____________________.
12. The two Gujarati men who found him were ________________.
13. Bepin Babu’s car was parked in Bertram Street near the ________________.

Ans:
1. Kalicharan’s
2. Ranchi
3. Train
4. Unconscious
5. Kanpur
6. Hudroo Falls
7. Crime stories
8. Chunilal
9. Twenty-five years
10. Sitaram
11. Living room
12. Picnickers
13. Lighthouse Cinema

True or false

1. Mr. Dinesh Mukerji confirmed that Bepin Babu never went to Ranchi.
Ans: False.

2. Chunilal claimed to have met Bepin Babu in Ranchi.
Ans: False.

3. Bepin Babu checked his right knee for a scar.
Ans: True.

4. Bepin Babu traveled to Ranchi to confirm the truth.
Ans: True.

5. Parimal Ghose was Bepin Babu’s school friend.
Ans: False.

6. Chunilal was wealthy and had no financial struggles.
Ans: False.

7. The two Gujarati men ignored Bepin Babu when they found him unconscious.
Ans: False.

8. Bepin Babu took a taxi to visit different places in Ranchi.
Ans: True.

9. Bepin Babu felt guilt after reading Chunilal’s letter.
Ans: True.

10. Dr. Paresh Chanda was an old doctor with a white beard.
Ans: False.

11. Bepin Babu lost consciousness at Hudroo Falls.
Ans: True.

12. Bepin Babu took a bicycle to visit different places in Ranchi.
Ans: False.

13. Bepin Babu had 2 children.
Ans: False.

14. Chunilal sent Bepin Babu a letter explaining his trick.
Ans: True.

15. Chunilal had been Bepin Babu’s friend since school.
Ans: True.

Match the following

Column AColumn B
(i) Kanpura. A doctor consulted by Bepin Babu
(ii) Chunilalb. A serious and hardworking man
(iii) Paresh Chandac. The place where Bepin Babu fainted
(iv) Parimal Ghosed. Claimed to have been with Bepin Babu in Ranchi
(v) Hudroo Fallse. The place where Bepin Babu spent Puja in 1958
(vi) Bepin Babuf. A stranger who claimed to know Bepin Babu
(vii) Dinesh Mukherjig. Bepin Babu’s old friend who played a trick on him

Ans:

Column AColumn B
(i) Kanpure. The place where Bepin Babu spent Puja in 1958
(ii) Chunilalg. Bepin Babu’s old friend who played a trick on him
(iii) Paresh Chandaa. A doctor consulted by Bepin Babu
(iv) Parimal Ghosef. A stranger who claimed to know Bepin Babu
(v) Hudroo Fallsc. The place where Bepin Babu fainted
(vi) Bepin Babub. A serious and hardworking man
(vii) Dinesh Mukherjid. Claimed to have been with Bepin Babu in Ranchi

Short-type questions & answers

Unit – I

1. When and why did Bepin go to New Market?
Ans: Bepin Babu went to New Market every Monday after work because he loved reading books. He would buy new books, especially crime stories, ghost stories, and thrillers.

2. Who claimed to know Bepin Babu?
Ans: Parimal Ghose claimed to know Bepin Babu and said that they had met before in Ranchi.

3. Which trip did Bepin forget?
Ans: Bepin Babu forgot about his trip to Ranchi but many people claimed that he had gone to Ranchi in 1958.

4. Who was Dinesh Mukherji?
Ans: Dinesh Mukherji was an old friend of Bepin Babu. Parimal Ghose claimed that Dinesh had gone to Ranchi with Bepin but he did not remember it.

5. How many family members did Bepin Babu have?
Ans: Bepin Babu had no family. His wife had passed away ten years ago, and he had no children.

6. Where did Bepin Babu fall?
Ans: Bepin Babu fell at Hudroo Falls and hurt his right knee, but he couldn’t remember how or when it happened.

7. Why did Bepin stay in a bungalow?
Ans: In Ranchi, Bepin Babu stayed in a bungalow because he didn’t like hotel food so he wanted a comfortable place and chosen food cooked by a bawarchi.

8. Why did Bepin argue with Dinesh?
Ans: In Ranchi, Bepin Babu and Dinesh Mukherji argued about the moon landing.

9. How many family members did Dinesh have?
Ans: Dinesh Mukherji lived with his sister.

10. Where did Bepin spend Puja in 1958?
Ans: Bepin Babu thought he had spent Puja in 1958 in Kanpur with his friend Haridas but Parimal Ghose claimed that he had gone on a trip to Ranchi with his friend Dinesh.

Unit – II

1. Where did Bepin park his car?
Ans: Bepin Babu parked his car on Bertram Street near a Lighthouse Cinema hall.

2. Why did Bepin go to the Ganga?
Ans: Bepin Babu went to the Ganga with his driver, Sitaram, to relax because a man had told him that he had been to Ranchi in 1958, but he couldn’t remember it.

3. How and where did Bepin Babu’s brother die?
Ans: Bepin Babu’s brother had passed away in a mental hospital due to mental illness.

4. Who was Haridas Bagchi?
Ans: Haridas Bagchi was an old friend of Bepin Babu and lived in Kanpur.

5. Why did Bepin decide to roll up his trousers?
Ans: Bepin Babu wanted to check his right knee because a man had told him that he had fallen and hurt himself at Hudroo Falls but he couldn’t remember it so he rolled up his trousers to see a cut mark on his knee.

6. Where did Dinesh live?
Ans: Bepin Babu’s old friend, Dinesh Mukherji, lived near Beninandan Street.

7. How many trips did Dinesh say Bepin took in 1958?
Ans: Dinesh Mukherji told Bepin Babu that he took two trips in 1958—firstly, he went to Krishnanagar for his nephew’s wedding and the second trip was to Ranchi.

8. What food did Bepin take in his tiffin?
Ans: Bepin Babu had sandwiches in his tiffin box.

Unit – III

1. Who was Chunilal? Where was he waiting?
Ans: Chunilal was an old friend of Bepin Babu. He played a prank with his friend on the Rachi trip. He was waiting in the living room to meet him.

2. Who was Paresh Chandra?
Ans: Paresh Chandra was a young doctor with sharp eyes and a pointed nose.

3. Which medicine did the doctor prescribe to Bepin?
Ans: The doctor gave Bepin Babu a nerve tonic and a tranquilizer and advised him to rest.

4. Why did the doctor tell Bepin to go to Ranchi again?
Ans: The doctor thought that if Bepin Babu visited Ranchi again, he might remember everything and feel better because he believed Bepin’s memory loss was caused by stress.

Unit – IV

1. After reaching Ranchi, what did Bepin realize?
Ans: After reaching Ranchi, Bepin Babu realized that he did not remember anything about his previous trip.

2. Why did Bepin arrange a car?
Ans: Bepin Babu arranged a car to go to Hudroo Falls in the afternoon, thinking that visiting more places would help him remember his previous trip.

3. Bepin Babu was lying unconscious beside a boulder.” – Why?
Ans: Bepin Babu fainted and fell near a big rock because he realized that he did not lose his memory. He was very happy and lay beside the rock.

4. Why did Chunilal give a letter to Bepin?
Ans: Chunilal gave a letter to Bepin Babu to teach him a lesson. When he was in trouble, Bepin had refused to help Chunilal so Chunilal played a trick to make him anxious and worried.

5. After reaching Hudroo, which people did Bepin notice?
Ans: After reaching Hudroo, Bepin Babu noticed a group of Gujarati men who were having a picnic near the Hudroo waterfall.

6. Why did Bepin call Dr. Chandra again after coming back from Ranchi?
Ans: Bepin Babu called Dr. Chandra again to tell him that he had realized his memory was perfectly fine and that he had been tricked by Chunilal.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What are the main characteristics of Bepin Babu?
Ans: Bepin Babu was a hardworking and serious man. He was disciplined in his daily life and enjoyed reading literature, especially crime stories, ghost stories, and thrillers. He followed a strict routine and did not like wasting time on unimportant activities. At work, he was extremely responsible and had never taken a single day off in 25 years. However, Bepin Babu was not very friendly or helpful. When his old friend Chunilal needed support, he ignored him. He also had a habit of only believing things if he had solid proof. When people insisted that he had visited Ranchi, he refused to accept it because he had no memory of the trip. He was somewhat proud, believing that his memory was flawless. However, by the end of the story, he learned an important lesson about friendship and kindness.

2. Why is the title “Lapse of Memory” important to the story?
Ans: The title “Lapse of Memory” is important because the entire story revolves around Bepin Babu’s supposed memory loss. The word “lapse” means a temporary gap or break, which perfectly describes Bepin Babu’s confusion about his trip to Ranchi. Even though multiple people insist he went, he refuses to believe them, leading to deep anxiety and self-doubt.

The title also highlights the importance of memory in a person’s life. Bepin Babu prided himself on his sharp memory, but he was tricked into thinking he had lost it. This teaches a valuable lesson—not to be overly confident in our abilities, as anyone can make mistakes. Additionally, the story reminds us that helping friends in need is more important than being too focused on our own lives.

3. How does the story show the theme of revenge?
Ans: The story highlights the theme of revenge through Chunilal’s clever trick on Bepin Babu. Chunilal, an old friend of Bepin Babu, was facing hardships and needed help. However, Bepin Babu refused to support him, which hurt Chunilal deeply. Feeling rejected, he decided to take revenge in a smart but harmless way. Chunilal fabricated a story and convinced others to tell Bepin Babu that he had visited Ranchi. Since Bepin Babu could not recall the trip, he began to believe he was losing his memory. The fear and confusion troubled him so much that he even consulted a doctor. In the end, when he discovered the truth, he felt ashamed for neglecting his friend in his time of need.

The story conveys that revenge does not always have to be cruel. Chunilal’s trick was harmless, yet it taught Bepin Babu an important lesson—never ignore a friend in need.

C. Grammar Questions and Answers

Given below are jumbled sentences. Working in groups, rearrange the words in each sentence to form correct sentences. You will find that each sentence contains an idiomatic expression that you have come across in the lesson. Underline the idiom and write down its meaning. Then use your dictionary to check the meaning.

1. ears / on / fell / words / her / deaf.
2. the / nail / the / head / on / hit.
3. gave / him / feet / cold / at the last minute.
4. cloud / nine / was / she / on.
5. the / beans / she / the / let / out of / bag.
Ans:
1. ears / on / fell / words / her / deaf.
Ans: Her words fell on deaf ears.

  • Idiom: fall on deaf ears
  • Meaning: No one listened to her.

2. the / nail / the / head / on / hit.
Ans: He hit the nail on the head.

  • Idiom: hit the nail on the head
  • Meaning: Did something exactly right

3. gave / him / feet / cold / at the last minute.
Ans: He got cold feet at the last minute.

  • Idiom: get cold feet
  • Meaning: Became too scared to do something.

4. cloud / nine / was / she / on.
Ans: She was on cloud nine.

  • Idiom: on cloud nine
  • Meaning: Very happy.

5. the / beans / she / the / let / out of / bag.
Ans: She let the cat out of the bag.

  • Idiom: let the cat out of the bag
  • Meaning: Accidentally revealed a secret.

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