Question 1
Why does Tricki become ill?
He receives rich food and treats and gets too little exercise. His problem results from overindulgence rather than a disease that needs surgery.
Chapter guide: central idea and structure
Mrs Pumphrey’s excessive feeding and pampering leave Tricki unhealthy. At the veterinary surgery, a simple routine of controlled food, exercise and companionship restores him. The title is humorous because no operation is needed.
Key ideas
- Care can become harmful when affection ignores an animal’s needs.
- Routine, moderation and exercise support health.
- The narrator uses gentle humour to criticise overindulgence.
Reading checklist
- Identify who is speaking and what changes.
- Support each interpretation with a detail from the text.
- Explain how the title, structure or ending develops the central idea.
Plot or image sequence
- Tricki is overweight and inactive when the narrator sees him.
- The vet takes him to the surgery and controls his diet.
- Other dogs and regular exercise help Tricki recover.
- Mrs Pumphrey mistakes ordinary recovery for a medical miracle.
Important vocabulary
- listless — lacking energy
- pampered — treated with excessive attention
- convalesce — recover after illness
Answer-writing tip: Begin with a direct response, support it with a relevant event or image, and finish by linking the detail to the question. Avoid retelling the entire text.
Activity for close reading
Make a pet-wellness checklist with food, movement, clean water and veterinary advice. Use the story to distinguish responsible care from overfeeding.
This is an original study activity based on the text; use the prescribed book for the full work and exact exercise wording.
Solved questions in CBSE/PYQ style
Newly written practice modeled on common extract, inference, theme and character question patterns; these are not copied past-paper questions.
Question 2
What treatment helps Tricki recover?
The vet provides measured meals, water, exercise and interaction with other dogs. The simple, consistent routine restores his health.
Question 3
Explain the humour in the title.
The title sounds like a major operation, but Tricki improves without surgery. The contrast gently exposes Mrs Pumphrey’s dramatic misunderstanding of the cause of his recovery.
Self-check
- Can I state the central idea in one or two sentences?
- Can I explain one important turning point, image or technique?
- Can I support my interpretation with evidence without copying long passages?
- Can I answer in the required word limit and keep the response focused?
Prepared as supplementary revision for CBSE Class X English Language and Literature 2026–27. Consult the current CBSE syllabus and your prescribed NCERT edition for assessment details.