BCA Semester I
Additional English Notes
Seven Slaves
Answer the following questions in a sentence or two each
1. Why did the Emperor say that his daughter’s interruption was most
inopportune?
Ans. The Emperor said that his daughter’s interruption was most
inopportune because the Emperor would be giving a special audience to the three
sons of Wong- Tao who wished to decide a matter concerning their father’s will.
2. How does the Emperor illustrate his point that ‘some things are
better done quickly’?
Ans. The Emperor illustrates that picking up a piece of red-hot metal is
as essential as having a tooth drawn when a person has pain.
3. ‘No, no, my daughter , such a match is not for you. Quite
impossible!’ Why does the Emperor say so?
Ans. The Emperor was displeased when he came to know that Precious Jade
fell in love with Shen-Su, as Shen-Su was a traveler and a merchant. So the
Emperor said that Shen-Su was not suitable for Jade.
4. ‘Then let him return there as soon as possible’. What does the
Emperor imply?
Ans. When Precious Jade praises the qualities of Shen-Su that he has
travelled to Arabia and learned
Mathematics then the Emperor implies that let him return back to Arabia
as soon as possible.
5. What plans does the Emperor have for his daughter’s future? Does she
agree with his plans for her?
Ans. The Emperor has already decide to give his daughter’s hand to a
elderly philosopher of noble blood who had recently shown a commendable
interest in Jade. No, She doesn’t agree with his plans for her.
6. Why does the Emperor want Precious Jade to remain in the Court during
the audience?
Ans. The Emperor wants Precious Jade to remain in the Court during the
audience because she should learn solemn matters of law, and to realize that
she is a Princess of the royal blood and forget silly ideas.
7. What was the dispute relating to Wong- Tao’s will?
Ans. According to Wong-Tao’s will all the various items had to be
divided into equal parts and that had to been done to satisfaction of all. The
dispute was that the seven slaves should be divided into his sons, as the
eldest son should get one-half, the second son should get, one-quarter and the
youngest son should get, one-eighth.
8. ‘My time has been taken up with a most unnecessary discussion. What
is the discussion that the
Emperor hints at?
Ans. The Emperor hints at the discussion with Precious Jade about her
affair and marriage with Shen-Su.
9. What solution did the Emperor suggest for the knotty problem? Was it
acceptable to the sons of Wong –Toa?
Ans. Emperor suggested all the three sons of Wong-Toa to sell the slaves
and divide the money according to the shares which was written in the will. No,
it wasn’t acceptable to the sons of Wong-Toa.
10. Why did the Emperor tell the second son of Wong-Tao that he was
treading on dangerous ground?
Ans. When the second son of Wong- Tao refused to sell the slaves and
mentioned about the condition of
the slave market where Emperor had imposed latest taxes on sold, so the
Emperor said him that he was
treading on dangerous ground.
11. What solution to the problem did the First Counsellor suggest?
Ans. The First Counsellor suggested slicing up the slaves into their due
proportions.
12. Why, according to the Eldest son, was slicing up the slaves not
acceptable to them as a solution?
Ans. According to the Eldest son, slicing up the slaves was not
acceptable to them as solution because the Eldest son share was three and a
half slaves; of what would be use of a half slaves, in same way remaining two
brothers also get dead slaves.
13. ‘Talk sense, fellow! I am an Emperor, not a magician!’ When and to
whom does the Emperor say this?
Ans. These words Emperor said to the Eldest son when he was explaining
about some spell or charm could divide up the slaves and they would remain
alive and in good health.
14. What does the Emperor mean when he threatens the Counsellors with a
very sharp disaster?
Ans. The Counsellors failed to solve the puzzle of Wong – Tao and later
the Third Counsellor added Spirits would displeased if injustice was done, at
that moment the Emperor got angry and said that if any disasters occurred then
Executioner would cut the Counsellors heads.
15. What is the Emperor’s honest opinion about his Counsellors?
Ans. The Emperor was disappointed with his all Counsellors, who failed
to solve the case. Even the Emperor said that he was surrounded by fools and
dolts who could do nothing at all, except to make a difficult thing still more
difficult.
16. Why does Precious Jade prevent the slicing up of the slave?
Ans. Precious Jade prevents the slicing up of the slave because to save
the life of slave as well as she said that there would be another way to solve
the problem.
17. ‘Now is your chance to shine!’ How would you explain the satiric
tone of the Emperor?
Ans. Emperor was already displeased by the behaviour of Precious Jade as
she exclaimed about her love. When Shen-Su entered the court then Emperor kept
a challenge in front of him to solve the case. This proves that Emperor was
sure that Shen-Su would fail to solve the case and he would punish Shen-Su to
death.
18. When and how does the Emperor show the first sign of his
appreciation of Shen- Su?
Ans. When Shen- Su solved the problem without wasting much of time by using his mathematical knowledge that moment the Emperor showed the first sign of his appreciation by saying ‘incredible!’
19. ‘I am most happy to accept this privilege’. What privilege does
Shen-Su mean?
Ans. Shen-Su solved the case by using his mathematical knowledge that
moment the Emperor appointed him as official teacher of mathematics to the
Imperial Court then Shen-Su accepted that proposal.
20. How do Shen-Su and the Emperor characterize mathematics?
Ans. Shen-Su had learnt mathematics in Arabia and he used his knowledge
to solve the mystery of Wong- Toa’s will that pleased the Emperor, whereas the
Emperor thought mathematics was a sort of very powerful kind of magic.
Write a paragraph of about 100 words on each of the following.
1. Precious Jade’s talk with her father, the Emperor, on her love for
Shen-Su.
Ans. The Emperor of China was busy in his daily schedule and was reading
a document, which was related to Wong-Toa’s will. At that moment Precious Jade
interrupted him by adding to discuss an important matter with him. By this
interruption the Emperor was disappointed and said that he didn’t want to waste
his time on trifles. But Precious Jade convinced the Emperor to hear her
matter. Meanwhile the Emperor was disturbed by such behaviour and commanded her
to share as soon as possible the matter. Precious Jade exclaimed that she was
in love with Shen-Su and decided to marry him. The Emperor astonished by this
news and asked had she lost her senses. The Emperor was displeased and said her
that he had already planned for her future and decided to give her hand in an
elderly philosopher of noble blood and ordered her to remove the thought of
marriage with Shen-Su.
2. The various solutions suggested for solving the problem before the
arrival of Shen-Su.
Ans. There was a dispute in the court of the Emperor of China and it was
related to Wong- Tao’s will, where he had mentioned to divided seven female
slaves among his sons as to the eldest son, one-half, to the second son,
one-quarter and to the youngest son, one-eight. The Emperor advised Wong-Toa’s
to sell all slaves and divide the money among them, but they were dissatisfied
with that decision. The Emperor asked his counsellors to solve the problem,
then first counsellor advised to slice up the slaves into their due proportions
but the sons were not ready to slice. When the Emperor asked to second
counsellor then he said that the law was that no blood should be shed within
palace, later he added that didn’t know anything about how to solve problem.
Finally the Emperor asked third counsellor then he advised to slice expect
palace any other place that would be proper justice.
3. The Emperor’s attitude towards his Counsellors.
Ans. The Emperor was baffled when he came across the dispute of
Wong-Tao’s will. At first the Emperor tried to solve the problem but he failed
to solve. Then he enquired his wisest counsellors of his court to solve the
problem which was mentioned as in will to divide seven female slaves among
Tao’s sons, but all the counsellors failed to solve the problem then king was
displeased by them. The Emperor exclaimed that he was surrounded by fools and
dolts, who could do nothing at all except to make a difficult thing still more
difficult. Even he was disturbed by hearing words from counsellor about
disasters if he would do injustice and he threatened all the counsellors that
if some disasters occurred then he would slice all the counsellors.
4. Shen-Su’s solution to the problem.
Ans. The problem had puzzled everyone in the court. The Emperor and his
counsellors had failed to solve the problem. By the request of Precious Jade to
the Emperor Shen-Su was allowed to solve the problem with a condition. Shen-Su
accepted condition of the Emperor, later he walked around those slaves and
requested the Emperor for a lady for his service as slave. The Emperor allowed
him to choose anyone among all ladies in court but all refused to become slave,
and then Precious Jade walked forward to be the slave of Shen- Su. Shen-Su
advised Precious Jade to stand at the end of the line of slaves, and then asked
the eldest son to take his share that was half of the slaves (first four) and
he was satisfied. He asked the second son to take his share that was a quarter
of eight was two and he was satisfied. Finally he asked the youngest son to
take his share that was one-eighth of the total, which was one slave and he was
satisfied. In such a way Shen-Su solved the problem and he got his reward.
5. The role of Princess Precious Jade.
Ans. Princess Precious Jade had played a very important role this play.
Being a Princess she always had kind and merciful heart for all. She always
obeyed the words of the Emperor until she fell in the love with a traveler and
a merchant Shen-Su, her attitude had completed changed after that and she was
disobeying her father and refused to marry a noble blood elderly philosopher
which was selected by the Emperor for her. She interrupted many times in her
father’s matters. Even when the Emperor ordered to slice slave that moment even
she interrupted to save the life of that slave and requested the Emperor to
give an opportunity to Shen – Su to solve the problem, she was right and Shen-
Su solved the problem and won her from the Emperor. In all the aspect Precious
Jade had shown her intelligence and smartness, even she had shown strength and
courage to her father to save the slave.
Essay Type.
Narrate briefly how the Wong-Tao problem was solved to the satisfaction
of all.
Ans. The Wong- Tao had made a will. According to it seven female slaves
should be divided equally among his sons as mentioned in will. The Emperor
tried to solve the problem but he failed to solve it, then he asked his
counsellors to solve it but even they too failed. Then, the Emperor got
distressed and order to slice the slave that moment Precious Jade requested to
the Emperor to give a chance to Shen-Su to solve the problem. The Emperor
accepted the request of Precious Jade with a condition that if Shen-Su fails to
solve the problem then penalty would be death. Shen-Su accepted condition of
the Emperor, later he walked around those slaves and requested the Emperor for
a lady for his service as slave. The Emperor allowed him to choose anyone among
all ladies in court but all refused to become slave, and then Precious Jade
walked forward to be the slave of Shen- Su. Shen-Su advised Precious Jade to
stand at the end of the line of slaves, and then asked the eldest son to take
his share that was half of the slaves (first four) and he was satisfied. He
asked the second son to take his share that was a quarter of eight was two and
he was satisfied. Finally he asked the youngest son to take his share that was
one-eighth of the total, which was one slave and he was satisfied. In such a
way Shen-Su solved the problem and he got his reward.
