Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger

Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger Question answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse through different chapters Assam Board HS Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger and select needs one.

Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger

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Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given Assam Board Class 12 Alternative English Chapter 3 The Verger Solutions for All Subject, You can practice these here.

The Verger

Chapter: 3

PROSE

A. State whether these sentences are True or False.

1. Albert Edward was a habitual smoker.

Ans: False.

2. Albert Edward was very particular about his gowns.

Ans: True.

3. The churchwardens were young men.

Ans: False.

4. The verger learnt to read and write only upon entering into business.

Ans: True.

B. Answer these questions in one or two words.

1. For how long had the verger been at St Peter’s?

Ans: For sixteen years. 

2. In the course of how many years did Albert Edward own ten shops?

Ans: Ten years.

3. From where did the new vicar hail?

Ans: East End.

4. How much money did Albert Edward have at the bank?

Ans: Thirty thousand pounds.

5. Which brand of cigarettes did the verger want to buy?

Ans: Gold Flake.

6. How much time did the new vicar propose to give the verger to learn reading and writing?

Ans: Three months.

C. Answer these questions in a sentence or two.

1. What did Albert Edward do before he became the verger at St Peter’s?

Ans: The Verger was a page boy in the house of a merchant prince, for a year he served as a single handed butler to a widowed peeress. Then he worked as a butler with two men under him in the house of a retired ambassador and finally he joined St. Peter’s church as a Verger.

2. What did the new vicar discover?

Ans: The new vicar discovered that the verger was an illiterate man and was unable to read or write.

3. What is the opinion of the verger regarding the new vicar?

Ans: The verger did not like the new vicar. He thought that the new vicar wanted to control everything according to his own way. The verger regretted his predecessor because the new vicar always wanted to rule every activity of the church.

4. What does the bank manager suggest to Albert Edward? 

Ans: The bank manager suggested to Albert Edward that he should invest his money as he had saved a large amount in the bank.

D. Answer these questions briefly.

1. What was the condition put forth by the new vicar to the verger?

Ans: The condition laid down before the Verger by the vicar and the two church wardens was that the Verger must learn letters within three months. Failing to do so, he would lose his job as they could not take the risk of some accident caused due to his lamentable ignorance.

2. Briefly describe the verger’s attitude towards his gowns.

Ans: The Verger was very much fond of his gowns as he considered them a dignified symbol of his office. He had never thrown away his old gowns; rather he kept them in the bottom drawer of his wardrobe. He used to wrap them in brown paper. He had a succession of such old gowns, in a complete series.

3. Explain the significance of the following sentence: ‘The vergers of St Peter’s like the Popes of Rome, were there for life’.

Ans: The sentence “The vergers of St Peter’s, like the Popes of Rome, were there for life” highlights the significance of the role of the vergers at St Peter’s, drawing a parallel to the lifelong tenure of Popes in Rome.

The comparison to the Popes of Rome emphasizes the permanence and stability associated with the position of the vergers at St Peter’s. Just as the Popes held their position for life, the vergers, who are responsible for the care and maintenance of the church, were also appointed to serve in their role indefinitely.

This sentence underscores the long-standing tradition and continuity in the institution of St Peter’s. It suggests that the position of a verger was not a temporary or rotating role but rather a lifelong commitment, implying a deep sense of dedication, loyalty, and responsibility to the church and its community.

4. How did the manager react upon his discovery that Mr Foreman could neither read nor write? 

Ans: The manager reacted positively and saw potential in Mr. Foreman when he discovered that he couldn’t read or write. Instead of being disappointed or critical, the manager proposed a solution to help Mr. Foreman learn these skills, showing support and encouragement.

5. Briefly describe the career of Albert Edward. 

Ans: The Verger, Albert Edward Foreman, had a simple and dedicated nature. He faithfully performed his duties as the Verger of St. Peter’s church for sixteen years, diligently taking care of all the manual tasks. He took great pride in his job, and there were no complaints about his work until a new vicar discovered that he was unable to read or write. Despite the vicar’s insistence that he learn these skills or risk losing his job, the Verger, being an independent man, chose to maintain his dignity and refused the proposal. Instead, he decided to resign, believing that it was too late for him to learn.

Undeterred by his lack of education, Foreman embarked on a new venture and opened a tobacco shop, which turned out to be incredibly successful. Even the banker was amazed by his capabilities despite his illiteracy. He eventually owned a total of ten shops, showcasing his resilience and adaptability in overcoming challenges. Despite his financial success, Verger remained humble and content with a simple life. He recognized that being illiterate did not hinder his ability to fulfill his duties.

Albert Edward Foreman’s practical thinking, dedication, and strong work ethic were key factors that contributed to his success. These qualities were lacking in the new vicar, highlighting the stark contrast between their approaches to life and work. Verger’s wisdom was not derived from academic knowledge but from keen observation and experience gained from his interactions with the world.

E. Answer these questions in detail.

1. Describe, in detail, how Albert Edward lost the job of the verger at St Peter’s.

Ans: Albert Edward lost his job as the verger at St. Peter’s church due to the new vicar’s chance discovery of his illiteracy. After serving as the verger for sixteen years, the new vicar called him into the vestry and expressed his astonishment at the fact that Albert Edward could neither read nor write. Although the vicar did not have any specific issues with Albert Edward’s performance or conduct, he deemed the situation unacceptable for a verger at St. Peter’s. The vicar gave Albert Edward an ultimatum: he had three months to learn how to read and write or else he would have to resign.

However, instead of accepting the vicar’s proposal and attempting to learn these skills, Albert Edward chose a different path. He did not have a favorable opinion of the new vicar and felt that his appointment at St. Peter’s was a mistake. Missing the old vicar, who was more adept at socializing with the parishioners, Albert Edward believed that the new vicar did not understand the true essence of being a verger. In response, Albert Edward decided to maintain his dignity and independence. He offered to resign as soon as a replacement was found, asserting that he had managed well without being able to read or write.

2. 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.

Ans: Yes, the new vicar’s chance discovery of Foreman’s illiteracy can be considered a blessing in disguise for the verger. While it initially led to the loss of his job, it ultimately set in motion a series of events that changed the trajectory of Albert Edward’s life for the better.

Upon leaving his position as the verger, Albert Edward took a wrong turn and found himself in need of cigarettes. To his surprise, he couldn’t find a shop in the entire street. This prompted him to seize the opportunity and open his own tobacco shop and newsagent business the next day. This venture turned out to be immensely successful, leading to Albert Edward becoming a wealthy man with a substantial fortune.

In retrospect, if the new vicar had not discovered Albert Edward’s illiteracy and given him the ultimatum to learn how to read and write, Albert Edward may have continued in his role as a verger without exploring his potential in other areas. His illiteracy, which seemed like a limitation at the time, actually pushed him to venture into the business world, where he thrived and achieved financial success beyond what he could have imagined.

Albert Edward’s story serves as an example of how setbacks and unexpected discoveries can sometimes lead to new opportunities and growth. By embracing the situation and adapting to the circumstances, Albert Edward was able to overcome the challenges and find success in a different path. Thus, the chance discovery of his illiteracy by the new vicar can indeed be seen as a blessing in disguise for the verger.

Dev Kirtonia

Hi, I’m Dev Kirtonia, Founder & CEO of Dev Library. A website that provides all SCERT, NCERT 3 to 12, and BA, B.com, B.Sc, and Computer Science with Post Graduate Notes & Suggestions, Novel, eBooks, Biography, Quotes, Study Materials, and more.