PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 1 Bed Number-29 Important Question Answers from English Literature (Supplementary Reader) Book
PSEB Class 10 English Bed Number-29 Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 10 English Literature (Supplementary Reader) Book Chapter 1 Bed Number-29? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 1 Bed Number-29 now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
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PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 1 Bed Number-29 Textbook Questions
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. How did the author of ‘Bed Number-29’ lose his eyesight?
Ans. The author of ‘Bed Number-29’ lost his eyesight due to a car accident.
2. What did the author of ‘Bed Number-29’ do before he lost his eyesight?
Ans. The author of ‘Bed Number-29’ used to paint landscapes before he lost his eyesight.
3. Who did the author of ‘Bed Number-29’ meet in the hospital ward? Why was he there?
Ans. The author of ‘Bed Number-29’ met a soft-spoken and cheerful man named Naeem. The author did not know this, but Naeem was there for the same illness as the author- blindness.
4. When did the author regain his confidence and how?
Ans. The author was motivated to continue painting by Naeem. The author was anxious that since he was blind, his paintings would not be good. However, when he heard Naeem praise every painting he made and call him a genius for every painting, he regained his confidence and began to believe in his talents more.
5. What happened when the author’s second operation failed? Who consoled him then?
Ans. When the author’s second operation failed, the author laid down on his bed and buried his head in the pillow, feeling depressed again. Naeem was the one who sat beside him and consoled him.
6. How did the author of ‘Bed Number-29’ get the money to get operated the third time? Who helped him?
Ans. The author of ‘Bed Number 29’ got the money from a friend of Naeem’s who loved art. When he told Naeem that he could not afford the third operation, Naeem tried to persuade the author to take money from him. When the author refused to take his money out of pride, Naeem found a way to trick the author into taking his money. He pretended that he had a rich friend who was an art lover and would like to buy his paintings. The author believed him and sold his paintings, but the author didn’t know that the buyer was none other than Naeem himself.
7. Where was Naeem when the author regained his eyesight?
Ans. Naeem was not at bed number twenty nine when the author came back to the room. He had left the hospital because he could no longer afford the third operation.
8. Did the author know that Naeem was also blind like him? Give reasons to support your answer.
Ans. No, the author did not know that Naeem was blind like him. When Naeem spoke of the beautiful scenery, the author thought that Naeem was looking outside the window and describing the scene outside in great detail. He thought that the paintings were genuinely mind-blowing because of the praise he got from the wardmate. He was shocked when he learned from the nurse that Naeem was blind just like him.
9. Why could Naeem not get his treatment done?
Ans. Naeem could not get his treatment done because he had given all his money to the author for his third operation.
10. How did the author feel when he learnt that Naeem had left the hospital because he had no money for the treatment?
Ans. The author was first in shock and disbelief when he learnt that Naeem had left the hospital because he had no money for the treatment. He then asked the nurse why he had no money, which shows that he was confused why his wardmate suddenly did not have enough money for the treatment.
11. How could Naeem describe different seasons in detail?
Ans. Naeem described each of the four seasons in great detail. This was because he used to be a painter too and he had made four paintings, each representing each season. When he lost his eyesight, he lost his passion for painting. So he used the art he had made before to inspire and motivate the author, who was also a painter before he became blind in the car accident. This also shows that Naeem knew the importance of art, and that it is not just pretty to look at, but has the ability to inspire and motivate people.
12. What does the message “The goddess of art smiled on me…. and then it vanished” mean?
Ans. When the author asked the nurse where Naeem was, the nurse handed him a letter that Naeem wrote for him. In the letter, Naeem wrote the message “The goddess of art smiled on me…. and then it vanished”. This meant that Naeem used to paint just like the author did. However, due to his illness, he lost his passion for art. This also means that Naeem understood the author’s depressed state when he could not paint any longer due to his blindness. Therefore, he did everything he could to make sure that the author never lost the zeal he had for painting landscapes.
DISCUSSION
What would you like to be: the author or Naeem? Discuss it with your group.
Ans. In my opinion, being Naeem would be better. Naeem is a soft-spoken and cheerful man. His optimism and motivational demeanor would make me more approachable and friendly. If I were like Naeem, I would motivate people to follow their passion and dreams. My inspiring words and caring nature would cheer people up and I would be admired and respected for my selfless and kind nature. People would be in awe of the way I inspire blind people despite being blind myself.
Punjab Board Class 10 English Chapter 1 Bed Number-29 Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based questions
A.
Brakes shrieked, something struck, someone cried and there was darkness spreading all around me. Pain leapt in my whole body and a gentle voice said, “Please don’t move, sir. It might be dangerous.” I tried to understand what had happened – I recalled the pre dawn glow; trees and flowers, the dew bathed grass, – all waiting for the sunrise – I had imprisoned this all on the canvas, my masterpiece, the joy of life. So I named it ‘Life’ – then I remembered the busy street scene, the roar of traffic, the car and the crash. My hand touched the bandages on my eyes. “No God,” I moaned, “not this.”
My life was a nightmare of sounds, feelings, smells, tastes and dreadful depression. It was a cage of darkness which held me prisoner-darkness and me, that’s all. Time stood still, the sun rose no more for me, the bloom of flowers, the streams and the clear sky were just memory. Life seemed to be dying with me. Hour after hour I would lie on the bed as if staring at the ceiling. “How do you do?” He was my wardmate, Naeem, who was known as Number Twenty Nine, that being the number of his bed.
Q1. What had happened with the narrator?
Ans. He had met with an accident.
Q2. Who was the patient on bed number 29?
Ans. The patient on bed number 29 was Naeem.
Q3. Naeem was also known as _____
Ans. Number twenty nine
Q4. What happened to the narrator in the accident?
Ans. His eyes got injured which made him blind.
Q5. Why does the narrator find his life to be a nightmare?
Ans. His life was a nightmare because it was full of darkness.
B. “Listen”, he said one morning. “Start painting, which, as you said, was your hobby before.” I lashed out at him. I shouted, getting hysterical, that he had no right to joke about my art. He limped away to his bed.
Days passed. Then one day I asked him if he had been moved by anything. “Yes,” he began slowly, “well, many things.” He suddenly brightened. “Ah yes! Once I walked by a farmhouse, on a golden October evening and I saw a haystack. It wasn’t straw, it was pure gold. All around the world was ablaze with colour – red leaves, white ducks, basking in the last golden rays of the sun setting on the blood-red west. There I stood and gasped, unable to move” – “What?” I cried, “didn’t you paint it?” There was an uneasy silence which embarrassed me for having asked such a question, after all, I thought, everyone is not an artist. “I mean, I would have painted it,” I said hurriedly. “Why don’t you paint? It is in my mind, and I know you can paint. Do, please, say yes.” He pleaded, and before I knew what I did, I said, “Yes”.
Q1. Naeem suggested the narrator to start ______
A. Singing
B. Dancing
C. Painting
D. Teaching
Ans. C. Painting
Q2. Find a synonym for ‘hysterical’.
A. serious
B. Emotionless
C. careless
D. Emotional
Ans. D. Emotional
Q3. Why did the narrator lash out at Naeem?
Ans. He lashed out at Naeem’s suggestion to start painting because now that he had lost his vision, he found his suggestion to be a joke.
Q4. What did Naeem convince the narrator for?
Ans. He convinced the narrator to paint.
Q5. Did the narrator accept Naeem’s suggestion?
Ans. Yes, he agreed to paint.
C. My life took a new turn. He had provided everything needed for painting, and when the hospital attendants cried out in surprise as they entered the room, he made them quiet. Then the miracle started, with eager but almost trembling finger, I started drawing a scene I had once admired. I laboured on and on sketching the scene from the canvas of my memory on the paper, too absorbed to think of my blindness. I finished the scene and in a shaky voice called for Naeem. He bounded to my bed, for a while I heard nothing. My heart sank. “I must have bungled it,” I thought. Then his voice broke the silence. “It’s marvellous. It’s unbelievable, you’re a genius, man, a genius, who would say you are blind,” I felt relaxed and I said, “Really! I could never believe, had it not happened with myself.”
Every morning, after breakfast, Naeem would come to my bed, in a dreamy voice he would describe a scene, which I would work from dawn to dusk, as if the day would never end. One canvas finished and another started. It was wonderful. Naeem would make me draw all the magic dreamland scenery. Losing myself in his world of colours, forgetting my blindness, I created on paper all he said. He always praised me and I became more and more convinced of my genius. He would himself mix the colours, and suggest a faint shade here, a dark line there.
Q1. What new turn took place in the narrator’s life?
Ans. The new turn was that he started painting again.
Q2. While drawing, the narrator forgot about ____________
Ans. his blindness.
Q3. What did the narrator use the canvas for?
Ans. He used it for painting.
Q4. How did Naeem react to the narrator’s paintings?
Ans. He would praise his talent.
Q5. What suggestions would Naeem give?
Ans. He would give suggestions to improve the painting, like adding some shade or darkening some lines.
D. It was then that the doctors operated upon me again. Naeem had taken over the work of reading to me, or describing a scene from my window, as I was unable to move from the bed. As days passed, my anxiety increased – partly because I wanted to see the world of colours with my own eyes, but mostly because I had spent my last rupee on this very operation, and in case of failure, I would have to lead the wretched life of darkness and misery.
I went to the doctors’ room with the nurse, when Naeem came and said, “It’s a beautiful day, I hope you see it soon.” I tried to answer but there was a lump in my throat.
I smelt the smell of the operation theatre, I felt gloved hand touching me gently. My bandage was being unwound. The clock ticked and a voice said, “Open your eyes” and I opened my eyes. There was the same unending darkness.
I was back in my room, helped by the nurse. So there was my life – full of darkness. I buried my head in the pillow. Naeem was on my side – consoling me. “I will be going soon, Naeem,” I said sadly one day. “I have no money now, this operation cost me all I had.” He was shocked. “Oh No! I have some money, you can have it,” he said softly. I replied firmly, “Thanks, Naeem. I have never begged nor will I, thanks all the same.” He tried to persuade me, but I didn’t listen.
Q1. What made the narrator anxious?
Ans. The narrator had spent all his money on the operation and if it failed, he would spend his life in darkness and the associated misery. This made him anxious.
Q2. The lump in the throat indicates _______
Ans. emotions
Q3. Find the word closest in meaning to ‘unwound’.
A. closed
B. wrapped
C. unwrapped
D. broken
Ans. C. unwrapped
Q4. Who offered money to the narrator?
Ans. Naeem
Q5. How did the narrator react to Naeem’s offer?
Ans. He refused his offer.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. Naeem is also known as ____
A. blind man
B. patient number twenty nine
C. number twenty nine
D. All of these
Ans. C. number twenty nine
Q2. The narrator had met with __________
A. a friend
B. an accident
C. a relative
D. destiny
Ans. B. an accident
Q3. What happened to the narrator after the accident?
A. He lost a leg
B. He died
C. He became deaf
D. He became blind
Ans. D. He became blind
Q4. How did the narrator know Naeem?
A. He was his doctor
B. They were friends
C. They were wardmates
D. They were officemates
Ans. C. They were wardmates
Q5. Find the meaning of ‘urge’-
A. to request
B. to order
C. to beg
D. to obey
Ans. A. to request
Q6. Why did the narrator feel that Naeem was joking about his talent?
A. artists were not paid well
B. no one liked painters
C. he was blind so couldn’t paint
D. none of these
Ans. C. he was blind so couldn’t paint
Q7. What is the irony of the story?
A. Naeem was suffering from a life-threatening disease
B. Naeem was also blind
C. The narrator was Naeem’s stepbrother
D. none of these
Ans. B. Naeem was also blind
Q8. While painting, the narrator forgot ________
A. about his accident
B. about Naeem
C. about his blindness
D. everything
Ans. C. about his blindness
Q9. On seeing the paintings, who cried out in surprise?
A. narrator’s mother
B. hospital staff
C. Naeem
D. all of them
Ans. B. hospital staff
Q10. Why were the narrator’s fingers trembling while drawing?
A. he was ill
B. he was doing it forcefully
C. he couldn’t see
D. none of these
Ans. C. he couldn’t see
Q11. Who said – “It’s marvellous. It’s unbelievable, you’re a genius, man, a genius, who would say you are blind,”
A. the doctor
B. narrator
C. Naeem
D. no one
Ans. C. Naeem
Q12. When did Naeem dance with joy?
A. when the narrator agreed to seel his paintings
B. when Naeem got his vision
C. when they got donation money
D. when Naeem was being discharged from hospital
Ans. A. when the narrator agreed to seel his paintings
Q13. Naeem’s ______ wanted to buy the narrator’s paintings.
A. rich friend
B. relative
C. mentor
D. cousin
Ans. A. rich friend
Q14. ________ did not get the third operation.
A. Narrator
B. Naeem
C. both A and B
D. Any patient
Ans. B. Naeem
Q15. Why did Naeem not get the third operation?
A. he died
B. lack of funds
C. he got vision before the third operation
D. none of these
Ans. B. lack of funds
Q16. Naeem gave all his money to ____
A. poor
B. painters
C. narrator
D. hospital
Ans. C. narrator
Q17. _______ had actually bought the narrator’s paintings.
A. doctor
B. Naeem
C. charitable trust
D. no one
Ans. B. Naeem
Q18. ________ got his vision restored.
A. Narrator
B. Naeem
C. both A and B
D. Any patient
Ans. A. Narrator
Q19. What shocking thing did the narrator see?
A. the paintings were mere scribbles
B. the money was fake
C. the paintings were worth more money
D. none of these
Ans. A. the paintings were mere scribbles
Q20. How many paintings were kept under Naeem’s pillow?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 2
D. several
Ans. B. 4
True or False
State whether the following are true or false-
1. Naeem was suffering blindness due to an accident.
2. The narrator got his vision back.
3. Naeem was also a painter.
4. Naeem would describe the scenes to narrator that he had painted earlier.
5. Naeem gave all his money to the narrator
6. The doctor had bought the paintings
7. The paintings were masses of haphazard lines
8. Naeem left the hospital
9. Both the narrator and Naeem were blind.
10. Naeem had lied to the narrator.
Answers-
1. False
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. True
10. True
Fill in the blanks
1. Naeem was also called _________
2. The narrator had met with an _______ which took away _______
3. _________ was the narrator’s hobby in the past.
4. Naeem would _________ the scenes to the narrator.
5. Naeem had no money for __________
6. _________ had actually bought the narrator’s paintings.
7. ________ was also a painter.
8. The narrator did not know that Naeem was ________
9. __________ left the hospital due to lack of funds
10. The narrator could see because of ____
Answers-
1. Number Twenty Nine
2. Accident, vision / eye sight
3. painting
4. describe
5. The third operation
6. Naeem
7. Naeem
8. blind
9. Naeem
10. Naeem
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. How did Naeem help the narrator?
Ans. Naeem was a ward mate of the narrator. He motivated the narrator to continue his hobby of painting and would describe the scenes to the narrator. Naeem would praise his creations which inspired the narrator. When the narrator became sad as he did not have money for another operation, Naeem offered to sell the narrator’s paintings to a friend and thus, arranged money for the narrator’s operation.
Q2. What sacrifice did Naeem make for the narrator?
Ans. Naeem gave away all the money he had to the narrator, saying that a rich friend had purchased the narrator’s paintings. However, Naeem was left with no money for his treatment and left the hospital. Thus, he gave up his chance of regaining his eye sight for the narrator’s cause.
Q3. Why did Naeem dance with joy?
Ans. When Naeem proposed the idea of generating funds by selling the narrator’s paintings to a rich friend, he danced with joy.
Q4. Why was the narrator sad?
Ans. The narrator had two operations but his eye sight was not restored. He was left with no funds for another operation and this made him sad.
Q5. How did the narrator lose his eye sight? How did he meet Naeem?
Ans. The narrator met with an accident which turned his world into darkness. He met Naeem at the hospital. Both of them were wardmates there.
Q6. What did the narrator came to know after Naeem left?
Ans. He came to know that Naeem was also blind, and that Naeem had been a painter too. Naeem would describe the scenes which he had already painted and would falsely praise the narrator’s paintings. Naeem had himself bought the narrator’s paintings which were just masses of haphazard lines.
Q7. Why did Naeem leave the hospital?
Ans. Naeem was left with no money and so he had to leave the hospital without getting the third operation.
Q8. Why was Naeem known as number twenty nine?
Ans. Naeem was a patient in the hospital and occupied bed number twenty nine in the ward. So he was known as number twenty nine.
Q9. Why did Naeem falsely praise the narrator’s paintings?
Ans. Naeem wanted to motivate the narrator. So, he indulged in false praise of his paintings.
Q10. How does the story end?
Ans. In the end, the narrator gets the third operation and his eye sight is restored. Naeem leaves the hospital due to lack of funds and does not get the third operation for his blindness.