Comprehension

A. State whether these sentences are True or False.

Q1. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker.
Answer: This statement is False. Albert Edward was a non-smoker, though he did enjoy a cigarette when he was tired.

Q2. Albert Edward was very particular about his gowns.
Answer: This statement is True. He took great care of his verger’s gowns, pressing and ironing them himself, and he even kept his old ones wrapped up at home.

Q3. The churchwardens were young men.
Answer: This statement is False. The churchwardens were both elderly men who had served for a long time.

Q4. The verger learnt to read and write only upon entering into business.
Answer: This statement is False. He learned to write only his name when he started his business, but he still could not read or write otherwise.

B. Answer these questions in one or two words.

Q1. For how long had the verger been at St Peter’s?
Answer: The verger had been at St Peter’s for sixteen years.

Q2. In the course of how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?
Answer: He acquired ten shops in the course of ten years.

Q3. From where did the new vicar hail?
Answer: The new vicar came from the East End of London.

Q4. How much money did Albert Edward have at the bank?
Answer: Albert Edward had a little over thirty thousand pounds in the bank.

Q5. Which brand of cigarettes did the verger want to buy?
Answer: The verger wanted to buy a packet of Gold Flake cigarettes.

Q6. How much time did the new vicar propose to give the verger to learn reading and writing?
Answer: The new vicar gave the verger three months to learn to read and write.

C. Answer these questions in a sentence or two.

Q1. What did Albert Edward do before he became the verger at St Peter’s?
Answer: Before becoming a verger, Albert Edward had a long career in domestic service, rising from a page-boy to a single-handed butler and then a butler with two men under him.

Q2. What did the new vicar discover?
Answer: The new vicar discovered, to his astonishment, that Albert Edward could neither read nor write.

Q3. What is the opinion of the verger regarding the new vicar?
Answer: The verger did not like the new vicar, feeling he was too much of a “hustle” and not the right type for their “classy congregation”.

Q4. What does the bank manager suggest to Albert Edward?
Answer: The bank manager suggests that Albert Edward invest his money in “gilt-edged securities” to earn a better interest rate, as it was a very large sum to simply have on deposit.

D. Answer these questions briefly.

Q1. What was the condition put forth by the new vicar to the verger?
Answer: The new vicar’s condition was that the verger had three months to learn how to read and write, and if he failed to do so, he would have to resign.

Q2. Briefly describe the verger’s attitude towards his gowns.
Answer: The verger was very proud of his gowns, which he considered a “dignified symbol of his office”. He meticulously cared for them, pressing and ironing them himself, and he never threw away a single one.

Q3. Explain the significance of the following sentence: ‘The vergers of St Peter’s, like the Popes of Rome, were there for life’.
Answer: This sentence signifies the deep-rooted security and permanence Albert Edward felt in his position. He believed his job was for life, much like the Pope’s, and the unexpected turn of events—his dismissal—left him feeling lost and without a future.

Q4. How did the manager react upon his discovery that Mr Foreman could neither read nor write?
Answer: The manager was so surprised that he “jumped up from his chair”. He was utterly astonished that Foreman had built up such an “important business and amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds” without being able to read or write, and he asked what he would have become if he had been literate.

Q5. Briefly describe the career of Albert Edward.
Answer: Albert Edward’s career began in domestic service, where he worked his way up from a page-boy to a butler. He then became the verger of St Peter’s for sixteen years before being forced to resign. After his dismissal, he became a successful tobacconist and newsagent, eventually owning ten shops and amassing a large fortune.

E. Answer these questions in detail.

Q1. Describe, in detail, how Albert Edward lost the job of the verger at St Peter’s.
Answer: Albert Edward lost his job as the verger due to a new vicar’s discovery that he was illiterate. Although the previous vicar had known and did not mind, the new vicar, along with the two churchwardens, considered the situation “untenable at St Peter’s”. They had no complaints about his work, but they insisted that he learn to read and write within three months to avoid the risk of an “accident”. Feeling that he was too old to learn new things and believing his illiteracy had not hindered him, Albert Edward refused the condition and chose to resign.

Q2. Would you consider that the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy was a blessing in disguise for the verger? Write a persuasive answer.
Answer: Yes, the new vicar’s discovery was definitely a blessing in disguise for Albert Edward Foreman. Losing his job, which he thought he would hold for life, forced him out of his comfort zone and into a new path. His misfortune led him to discover a business opportunity, which he seized by opening a tobacco and newsagency shop. This venture was so successful that within a decade, he became a wealthy businessman, accumulating a fortune of thirty thousand pounds. Had he stayed as a verger, he would have remained a dignified but humble servant, never achieving the financial success and independence that his new career brought him. The vicar’s seemingly cruel action ultimately unlocked Foreman’s true potential and led to a far more prosperous and independent life.