English

Chapter: The tale of melon city


1. Narrate ' The Tale of Melon City ' in your own words .

Ans . The Tale of Melon City ' runs like a folk tale . The city is called Melon City because its ruler is a melon. Once a fair and easy - going king ruled over a state. He got an arch built across the street. As he passed under the low arch, his crown fell down. He thought it a disgrace and ordered the builder to be hanged. The builder blamed the masons. The masons put the blame on the architect. The king called a wise man. He held the arch guilty and ordered it to be hanged. A councillor objected to it as it had touched the king's head. The people became restless. They wanted to see someone hanging. Only the king's head could fit the noose, so ultimately he was hanged. It was now announced that the next man who passed the city gate would choose the king . An idiot happened to pass the city gate. He suggested ‘a melon' . So, the ministers crowned a melon as the king. From that day,  people named it ' The Melon City " . 

2. What impression would you form of a state where the King was 'just and placid' ? 

Ans. A state where the king is just and placid, enjoys peace, liberty and justice. The citizens enjoy freedom of all kinds. The real governance of the state is in the hands of the citizens. In the poem, the king had to be hanged as the citizens ultimately wanted someone to be hung. The king could not defend himself. This shows that in such a state where the king was just and placid, the citizens influenced the fate of a king. 

3. How , according to you , can peace and liberty be maintained in a state ? 

Ans. Peace and liberty can be maintained in a state by good governance as rulers. There should be a fair balance between state interference Whatever is well - administered is most fruitful for the citizens as well and citizens ' rights. Discrimination based on religion, region, caste etc. should not be encouraged as this is a threat to internal security. Only then one can expect peace and liberty to be maintained in a state .

4. Why the king ordered an arch to be built over the public road ? 

Ans. The king ordered an arch to be built over the public road to enlighten and uplift the onlookers morally .

5. What was a disgrace for the king ? 

Ans. It was a disgrace for the king that his crown fell on the road and was lost . 

6. How was the behaviour of the ministers ? 

Ans. The ministers of the king were very practical people . They were the firm believers of traditional ceremomies .