Amar’s Classes for English Presents,
This blog covers the complete Chapter 1, “The Pace of Living,” from the Prose section of the English Class 10 syllabus for the Bihar Board Exam.
THIS BLOG IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTION:
ABOUT POET R.C.HUTCHINSON
- FULL NAME – Ray Coryton Hutchinson
- BORN – 23 Jan 1907
- DIED – 3 July 1975
- EDUCATION – Oxford (BA)
- WIFE – Margaret Owen Jones
- NOVEL – Rising (Short listed for the Booker Prize in 1976)
SUMMARY OF THE PACE FOR LIVING
The chapter talks about an old corn-merchant in a small Irish town who is dismayed by the fast pace of modern life, which is symbolized by the invention of an airplane that travels at 1,000 miles per hour. The corn-merchant’s complaint, despite his own anxieties and difficulties, draws attention to the discrepancy between the advancement of technology and the rhythms of everyday life.
After reflecting on their personal relationship with technology and speed, the narrator admits that they enjoy the thrilling experiences made possible by fast cars and amusement park rides. They do, however, recognize the possible drawbacks of living in a culture that values efficiency and quickness over meaningful interactions and experiences.
The author thinks that he is a slow-thinker. He realizes that he would get the lowest marks in the intelligence test. As such slow-thinkers like him are awfully incapable of earning their livelihood. Though it is not required for the practical use of one’s mind to get enjoyment.
The author uses personal experiences to highlight his slow-thinking behaviors, relating how he had trouble telling one character from another in a movie and had to ask his wife to help him. He blames this on his slower cognitive processing and highlights that in order to thrive, one must adjust to the fast-paced nature of modern life.
Using humor and sarcasm throughout the story, Hutchinson emphasizes the ridiculousness of contemporary life and how its unrelenting speed can worsen feelings of isolation and anxiety. But even in the middle of the mayhem, there are thoughtful and insightful moments that give hope. The narrator makes the argument that, despite the difficulties brought on by today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it is important to take it slowly, enjoy life’s small joys, and build deep relationships with people.
SUMMARY IN HINDI
कहानी एक बूढ़े मक्के के व्यापारी के साथ शुरू होती है जो एक छोटे से ऐरिश शहर में रहते हैं। वह आज के तेज जीवन से परेशान हैं, खासकर जब एक बहुत तेज विमान का उल्लेख होता है। जो 1,000 मील प्रति घंटे की गति से उड़ता है। यह उनके और तेज़ जीवन के बीच एक अंतर को दिखाता है।
कहानी के आगे बढ़ते हुए, कहानीकार अपने तेज़ विचारों के बारे में भी बात करते हैं। उन्हें तेज गाड़ियों और आम्यूजमेंट पार्क के राइड्स में मज़ा आता है, लेकिन वे समझते हैं कि इसमें भी कुछ खराबियाँ हो सकती हैं।
लेखक को लगता है कि वह एक धीमे सोचने वाले हैं और उन्हें यह भी लगता है कि वह किसी भी बुद्धिमत्ता परीक्षा में कम नंबर ला सकते हैं। वे इसे तकलीफ़ मानते हैं कि धीमे सोचने वाले लोग एक तेज जीवन में अपनी रोज़ी-रोटी कमाने में असमर्थ हो सकते हैं।
कहानी में हास्य और ताने का उपयोग किया गया है जो आधुनिक जीवन के तेज धार की मूर्खता को दिखाता है और कैसे इससे अलगाव और चिंता बढ़ सकती है। लेकिन इस सब के बीच, आशा और ज्ञान की कुछ अच्छी पल होती हैं। इसे याद दिलाया जाता है कि जिंदगी का आनंद लेने के लिए धीरे-धीरे चलना और सरल खुशियों का आनंद लेना कितना महत्वपूर्ण है
SHORT SUMMARY
The chapter talks about an old corn-merchant in a small Irish town who feels worried about how fast life has become, especially with things like planes that go super fast. The writer reflects on how they sometimes like the excitement of speed, but also see how it can make life shallow. They admit to being a slow-thinker and feeling like they wouldn’t do well on an IQ test, which makes it hard to keep up in a fast-paced world. Through funny and sarcastic moments, the author shows how crazy and stressful modern life can be. But they also argue for taking things slow, finding joy in simple things, and building strong connections with others.
VVI MCQs OF THE PACE FOR LIVING
1. The Pace for Living” is written by
- Aung San Suu Kyi
- Toni Morrison
- R.C. Hutchinson
- Satyajit Ray
2. Where did the writer of The Pace For LIving watch the play ?
- Dubai
- Dublin
- Delhi
- London
3. R.C. Hutchinson was _____
- American Novelist
- British Novelist
- French Novelist
- Italian Novelist
4. The main Character in ” The Pace for Living” , which the author saw a/an _____ corn merchant.
- elderely
- handicapped
- young
- diabetic
5. The author admits that quick travel does not give the traveller the real of travel.
- pains
- pleasure
- living
- holidays
6. In “The Pace For Living”, the writer captures the agony of _____ man.
- modem
- ancient
- future
- uncivilized
7. Where the author saw a play in which a corn-merchant was the chef character?
- Budapest
- Milan
- Dublin
- Conteburry
8. Who has the fantastic notion of spending 10 pound on a holiday ?
- Son of corn-merchant
- Daughter of corn-merchant
- Father of corn-merchant
- Wife of corn-merchant
9. Who was cheating the corn-merchant ?
- His son
- His Nephew
- His Daughter
- His Wife
10. Who did like fast travelling?
- The Corn-merchant
- The wife of Corn-merchant
- The Author
- None of these
11. Who didn’t dislike the rapid movement of life ?
- Corn-merchant
- Nephew of corn-merchant
- The Author
- Wife of Corn-merchant
12. Which word in the passage stands for worship?
- Adore
- Esprit
- Despair
- Escapiert
13. Which tribe did the author belong ?
- Fast thinkers
- Slow thinkers
- Steady thinkers
- None of these
14. How many girls were in film?
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
15. The main character in the play which the author saw was a/an _____ corn-merchant.
- elderly
- handicapped
- young
- diabetic
16. Slow thinkers have a disadvantage when it comes to earning a _____
- car
- factory
- living
- holiday
17. Who was a man of many anxieties and had a dicky heart ?
- R.C.Hutchinson
- Corn-merchant
- The Nephew of corn-merchant
- The wife of the corn-merchant
18. Who exhibits an exceptional flair for touching the sensitive issues of the contemporary society ?
- William Cowper
- Joan Lexau
- John Donne
- R.C. Hutchinson
19. The speaker goes in a car at ______
- nineteen miles an hour
- fourteen miles an hour
- sixteen miles an hour
- ninety miles an hour
20. The elderly corn-merchant was a man of _____
- wealth
- property
- anxieties
- dicky
21. Slow thinkers are terribly _____ in the business of getting a living.
- capped
- handicapped
- disabled
- tortured
22. All the tests, today are designed to measure _______
- the speed of a bus
- the speed of a train
- the speed of mind
- none of these
23. The speaker adores the machines the hurl one about at
- Dublin
- Rapid movement
- Snorgrill
- Battersea
24. Those who do not think fast in the High street nowadays may not get another chance in this world to
- think slow
- think fast
- think very slow
- think at all
25. Weak-hearted’ means same as
- Quicky
- Freaky
- Dicky
- Despair
26. He is going to fail in love with girls _____ in that order.
- A,B,C
- B,A,C
- C,B,A
- B,C,A
27. When the narrator goes to cinema, he finds himself in
- a peculiar seat
- great trouble
- a hopeless fog
- a cheerful mood
VVI QUESTION & ANSWERS OF THE PACE FOR LIVING
1. Where did the writer watch the play?
Ans. The writer watched the play in Dublin, not long ago.
2. Who was the chief character in the play?
Ans. The chief character in the play was an elderly corn-merchant residing in a small Irish country town.
3. Does the writer dislike rapid movement in every field?
Ans. No, the writer does not dislike rapid movement in every field. He expresses enjoyment in certain activities like driving at high speeds and experiencing thrill rides. However, he does highlight concerns about the mental pace of modern life.
4. In which situation, does the writer find himself in the cinema?
Ans. The writer finds himself in a situation of confusion or “hopeless fog” when he goes to the cinema. He struggles to follow the plot of the movie and often has to turn to their wife for clarification.
5. How does the writer classify himself as a thinker?
Ans. The author describes themselves as slow thinkers. He playfully describes having “l’esprit de l’escalier,” a tendency to come up with clever responses too late, often after the moment has passed.
LONG TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Write a few sentences about the elderly corn-merchant.
Ans. The elderly corn-merchant is shown as someone who appears to be burdened by the difficulties of daily life. His worries, which range from family issues to health issues, show how difficult it is to get by in a small Irish town. His frustration at the idea of airplanes reaching unthinkable speeds represents his inability to keep up with the quick changes taking place in the modern world. In spite of this, he provides readers with a window into the challenges of adapting in a modern world.
2. “They tell me there’s an airplane now that goes at 1,000 miles an hour. Now that’s too fast!” What light does the remark of the corn-merchant throw on the fast life today?
Ans. In a world that is moving faster than ever, the corn merchant’s comment perfectly captures the feeling of being left behind. His disbelief about the airplane’s speed reflects a deeper fear of the modern world’s fast speed. The statement shows an imbalance between traditional and old lifestyles and the rapid progress of technology which is the modern lifestyle, emphasizing the difficulties of adjusting to a modern society. The remark thus, provides a look at the difficulties and fears that come with fast-paced realities of modern life.
3. What sort of excitement do we have today which our ancestors lacked ? Is it an advantage or a disadvantage?
Ans. In our fast-paced world, we have access to technologies that our ancestors could only dream of. This brings excitement as we can do things quickly and easily, like traveling long distances in a short time or using advanced gadgets. However, this fast-paced lifestyle can sometimes make us overlook the simple joys and moments in life, such as spending quality time with loved ones. While the advancements do bring benefits, they also have their own downfalls like disconnecting us from what truly matters and making life feel less meaningful.
4. Who are taken to be slow thinkers? How are the slow thinkers, handicapped today?
Ans. Slow thinkers, such as the narrator, are individuals who process information at a slower pace and struggle with quick responses. In today’s fast-paced world, they face challenges in keeping up with the rapid flow of information. They may find themselves at a disadvantage in situations where quick thinking is required, thus impacting their performance in tasks like intelligence tests or job interviews, and limiting their opportunities for advancement and success. As a result, slow thinkers may feel handicapped in a society that values speed and efficiency.
5. What enlightenment does the writer seek from his wife? What does it suggest about the plight of the modern man?
Ans. When he can’t keep track of the plot or tell one character from another in a movie, the writer asks his wife for enlightenment. It means that people may find it challenging to analyze and understand complex events in the current world due to an endless amount of information. It captures the difficult situation of the modern man, who often struggles with an overload of information and the fast-paced nature of modern life. Asking people for clarification about something shows how important it is to have connections and relationships when managing modern life.
6. Summarize the central idea of this essay.
Ans. The essay talks about how fast-paced modern life can be overwhelming for some people, especially those who can’t keep up easily, like slow thinkers. It discusses the pros and cons of fast advancements in technology and society. The author suggests that while progress is good, we shouldn’t forget about slower, more meaningful things in life. The essay also mentions how technology affects our thinking and the importance of holding onto old values. Overall, it advises being thoughtful about how we deal with the fast changes happening around us.
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