2. TOO DEAR!
Leo
Tolstoy
Comprehension I
1) Why was ‘Monaco’ called a ‘toy kingdom’?
Ans: 'Monaco' was called a 'toy kingdom' because there were only seven thousand people living in that kingdom.
OR
Monaco had quite a little land that if all the land in the
kingdom were distributed, there would not be even an acre of land for every one
of its 7,000 inhabitants. So, Monaco was known as a toy kingdom.
2) Name the commodities that were taxed in
Monaco.
Ans: Tobacco, wine and spirit were the commodities taxed in Monaco. Even
a poll tax was paid by the people. There was also a gaming tax.
3) What was the source of the King’s special
revenue? Who were its beneficiaries?
Ans: The King’s special revenue was the percentage of profit given by
the gaming housekeeper to the kinglet. Its beneficiaries were the king, his
ministers, courtiers, his servants, a bishop, his generals, and his army.
4) Why
did the Germans stop gaming houses in their country and how did it benefit
Monaco?
Ans: Germans stopped gaming houses in their country because the gaming houses caused much harm. The people who played risked money and lost it. As a result of the loss, they would commit suicide. There remained only one gaming house in Monaco and people came here to play.
5) What was the punishment given to the
murderer?
Ans: Sentenced to death was the punishment given to the murderer. The juries condemned the criminal to have his head cut off.
6) The death sentence was converted into
imprisonment for life because
a) Monaco had abolished the death penalty.
b) Carrying out the death sentence was
expensive.
c) Monaco wanted to show mercy to the
criminal.
Ans: b) Carrying out the death sentence was expensive.
7) How much did the king spend on the
criminal annually?
Ans: 600 francs, the king spent on
the criminal annually.
8) On
what condition did the criminal agree to go away from the prison? How was his
demand fulfilled?
Ans: The condition was to pay 600 francs as pension for a year regularly
until his death that the criminal agreed to go away from the prison. If the
prisoner refused to run away from the prison then his demand was fulfilled. The
king would have been forced to keep a guard over to watch and feed him until
his death.
9) Where is the kingdom of Monaco situated?
Ans: The kingdom of Monaco was
situated near the borders of France and Italy.
10) How many inhabitants are there in the
kingdom of Monaco?
Ans: Seven thousand inhabitants are there in the kingdom of Monaco.
11) If the kingdom of Monaco were divided
among its inhabitants, how much land would each inhabitant get?
Ans: If the kingdom of Monaco were divided among its inhabitants, then
each inhabitant would get less than an acre.
12) How many men are there in the army of
Monaco?
Ans: Only sixty men are in the army of Monaco.
13) Name the special source of revenue in the
kingdom of Monaco.
Ans: The special source of
revenue in the kingdom of Monaco was the large sum of money paid by the gaming
housekeeper, out of his profits from the gaming house.
14) How did the king of Monaco supplement the
kingdom’s revenue?
Ans: The king of Monaco supplemented the kingdom’s revenue by keeping to
himself the monopoly of the gaming business.
15) Which was the only place of gambling in
Europe as mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: Monaco was the only place of
gambling in Europe as mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’
16) What business does the Prince of Monaco monopolies?
Ans: The business of gaming at the roulette table is the Prince of
Monaco monopolies.
17) What unusual crime was committed in the
kingdom of Monaco?
Ans: A murder was unusual crime committed
in the kingdom of Monaco.
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18) Mention one of the reasons for altering
the death sentence to life imprisonment in ‘Too Dear!’
Ans: The reason for altering the death sentence to life imprisonment in
‘Too Dear!’ was that the Kingdom of Monaco did not have either a guillotine
machine or a professional executioner.
19) To whom did the ministers of Monaco write
first to help them with the execution?
Ans: The ministers of Monaco wrote first a letter to the French
Government to help them with the execution.
20) Where was the criminal’s food fetched
from in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: The criminal’s food fetched from the palace kitchen in ‘Too Dear!’
21) Who brought food from the palace kitchen
for the prisoner?
Ans: The food was brought by the guard who was appointed to keep watch
over the prisoner from the palace kitchen for the prisoner.
22) What was the new item of expenditure
noticed by the Prince?
Ans: The money spent on keeping a guard to watch the criminal and to
feed the criminal was the new item of expenditure noticed by the Prince.
23) What was the pension offered to the
criminal?
Ans: The pension offered to the
criminal was 600 francs.
24) How much did the criminal receive as an
advance of his annuity before leaving Monaco?
Ans: The criminal received one-third of his annuity as an advance before
leaving Monaco.
25) What did the criminal do to earn his
living after his release?
Ans: The criminal bought a bit of
land and started market gardening to earn his living after his release.
26) Name the ‘Toy Kingdom’ mentioned in ‘Too
Dear!’
Ans: The ‘Toy Kingdom’ mentioned in ‘Too Dear!’ is Monaco.
27) Who is referred to as ‘a rascal’ by the
king in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: The king referred the criminal who committed a murder as a rascal
in ‘Too Dear!’
28) Where did the criminal settle after
emigrating in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: The criminal settled in a place just across the frontiers, which
could be reached by rail in only a quarter of an hour after emigrating in ‘Too
Dear!’
29) Which government is Republican and has no
proper respect for the King in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: The French Government is Republican and has no respect for the King
in ‘Too Dear!’
30) What does the keeper of the gaming house
pay the Prince in ‘Too Dear!’?
Ans: A large sum out of his profits from the gaming house the keeper
pays the Prince in ‘Too Dear!’
LEO TOLSTOY
Answer the following questions in two or three sentences each. 2 Marks
1) Where is the kingdom of Monaco located in “Too Dear”?
Ans: The kingdom of Monaco is located near the borders of France and
Italy, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
2) How many inhabitants does the kingdom of Monaco have, and what would happen
if all the land were divided among them?
Ans: Monaco has about 7,000 inhabitants. If the land were divided, there
wouldn’t be enough for each person to get even one acre.
3) What are the main sources of revenue for the Prince of Monaco, as
mentioned in “Too Dear”?
Ans: The main sources of revenue are taxes on tobacco, wine, and
spirits, and money earned from a gambling house.
4) Why did some German Sovereigns stop operating gaming houses in “Too
Dear”?
Ans: They stopped because gambling caused many people to lose money they
didn’t have, leading to despair and even suicides.
5) What difficulties did the Prince of Monaco face when trying to carry
out the death sentence for the criminal?
Ans: Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or an executioner, and hiring them
from France or Italy was too expensive.
6) How did the cost of executing the criminal compare to the overall
population’s financial burden, and how did this influence the Prince's decision?
Ans: The cost of the execution was more than two francs per person,
which the Prince found too high, so he decided to change the sentence to life
imprisonment.
7) What challenges did the Prince encounter with the imprisonment of the
criminal, and how did this affect the decision-making process?
Ans: The cost of maintaining the prisoner was high, and there was no
suitable prison. This led to offering the prisoner a pension to leave Monaco.
8) How did the criminal react to the offer of a pension and the
suggestion to leave Monaco?
Ans: The criminal agreed to leave if he received the pension regularly. He
later moved near Monaco and visited often to collect his pension.
9) What does “Too Dear” suggest about the nature of governance and the
impact of economic considerations on legal and ethical decisions in Monaco?
Ans: It suggests that financial limitations play a big role in
decisions, leading the Prince to make choices based on cost rather than
justice.
10) How does the story “Too Dear” reflect on the moral implications of
using gambling as a major source of revenue for a government?
Ans: The story shows that relying on gambling for money is morally
questionable, as it causes harm to people, but the Prince continues because of
financial need.
11) Why is Monaco described as a “tiny little kingdom” in “Too Dear”?
Ans: Monaco is called “tiny” because it has very little land and only
about 7,000 people.
12) How does the Prince of Monaco make money from the gaming house, and
why is this important for him?
Ans: The Prince gets a percentage of the money people lose while
gambling, which helps him run the kingdom and pay his officials.
13) What problem did the Prince face when trying to carry out the death
sentence, and how did he try to solve it?
Ans: The problem was that Monaco didn’t have a guillotine or
executioner. The Prince tried to hire one, but it was too expensive, so he
changed the sentence to life imprisonment.
14) Why did the Prince decide to change the criminal’s sentence from
death to life imprisonment?
Ans: The execution was too costly, so the Prince decided life imprisonment
would be cheaper.
15) How did the criminal feel about being offered a pension and told to leave Monaco?
Ans: The criminal felt unhappy and thought it was unfair since he had
nowhere to go and believed his life was ruined.
16) What did the Prince and his ministers discover about the cost of
keeping the criminal in prison?
Ans: They found that keeping the criminal in prison would cost over 600
francs a year, which was too expensive.
17) What was the final decision regarding the criminal’s situation, and
what did it involve?
Ans: The final decision was to offer the criminal a pension of 600 francs
to leave Monaco, which was cheaper than imprisonment.
18) What did the criminal do after he left Monaco with his pension?
Ans: The criminal bought land, became a gardener, and lived comfortably.
He also gambled occasionally.
19) Why did the Prince of Monaco have to make tough financial decisions
about justice and imprisonment?
Ans: Monaco had limited resources, so the Prince had to find
cost-effective solutions, even for legal matters like imprisonment.
20) What lesson can we learn from “Too Dear” about how governments might
handle difficult situations?
Ans: The story teaches that governments may prioritize financial
concerns, leading them to make compromises, sometimes at the expense of ethics.
21) Where is the kingdom of Monaco located, and how many people live
there?
Ans: Monaco is located near France and Italy, and about 7,000 people
live there.
22) What was the special way the Prince of Monaco made money for his
kingdom?
Ans: The Prince made money through a gambling house where people lost
money playing roulette.
22) What crime did the man in “Too Dear” commit, and what was his
punishment?
Ans: The man committed murder, and his punishment was execution.
23) Why did the Prince and his ministers have trouble carrying out the
execution?
Ans: Monaco didn’t have the necessary tools for execution, and borrowing
them was too expensive.
24) What solution did the Prince and his ministers finally decide on
instead of executing the criminal?
Ans: They changed the sentence to life imprisonment because it was
cheaper.
25) Why didn’t the prisoner try to escape when the guard was dismissed?
Ans: The prisoner didn’t escape because he had nowhere to go and
believed his life was ruined.
24) How did the story “Too Dear” end? What happened to the criminal?
Ans: The Prince offered the criminal a pension to leave Monaco. The
criminal accepted, moved just outside Monaco, and lived a peaceful life.
25) Do you think it was fair for the Prince to offer the criminal a
pension? Why or why not?
Ans: Answers may vary. Some might think it was unfair, but it was a
practical and cheaper solution for the kingdom.
26) Why do you think none of the soldiers wanted to cut off the
prisoner’s head?
Ans: The soldiers didn’t want to do it because they weren’t trained for
executions and only knew how to fight in wars.
27) What lesson do you think Leo Tolstoy wanted readers to learn from
“Too Dear”?
Ans: Tolstoy may have wanted to show that trying to save money can lead
to strange, unfair outcomes and that justice can become complicated in small
places like Monaco.
28) What kind of place is Monaco, and how many people live there?
Ans: Monaco is a tiny kingdom with about 7,000 inhabitants.
29) What special way does the Prince of Monaco make money for his
kingdom?
Ans: The Prince earns money through a gambling house, where people play
roulette and lose money.
30) What crime did the man in “Too Dear” commit? What was the punishment
given to the criminal?
Ans: The man committed murder, and he was sentenced to be executed by
guillotine.
31) Why couldn’t the Prince carry out the punishment of cutting off the
criminal’s head?
Ans: The Prince couldn’t carry it out because Monaco didn’t have the
equipment or an executioner, and hiring them was too expensive.
32) What were some of the taxes in Monaco mentioned in “Too Dear”?
Ans: Some taxes included those on tobacco, wine, spirits, and a poll
tax.
33) What did the Prince and his ministers decide to do instead of
executing the criminal?
Ans: They decided to change the sentence to life imprisonment because it
was cheaper.
34) How did the criminal get his food after the guard was dismissed?
Ans: The criminal went to the Prince’s kitchen to get his own food.
35) Why didn’t the criminal leave the prison when there was no guard?
Ans: The criminal didn’t leave because he had nowhere to go and felt his
reputation was ruined.
36) What was the final decision the Prince made about what to do with
the criminal?
Ans: The final decision the Prince made about the criminal was to give
him pension of 600 francs annuity.
37) Where did the criminal go after he received his pension?
Ans: The Prince decided to offer the criminal a pension, and the
criminal moved just outside Monaco to live a peaceful life.
38) What did the criminal do with some of his pension money after moving
out of the kingdom?
Ans: The criminal sometimes used part of his pension to gamble at the
gaming tables.
Answer the following questions in about 60 words each. 3 Marks
1) What is Monaco like, and how does the Prince make money for his
kingdom?
Ans: Monaco is a very small kingdom near France and Italy, with only
around 7,000 people. It is located along the Mediterranean Sea. To run the
kingdom, the Prince collects money from taxes on tobacco, wine, and spirits.
However, because Monaco is so small, he also depends on a gambling house, where
people play roulette. The Prince gets a percentage of the money people lose at
the gambling tables, which helps cover the costs of running the kingdom and
paying his officials and other expenses.
2) What was the problem with executing the criminal, and how did the
Prince try to solve it?
Ans: The main problem with executing the criminal was that Monaco didn’t
have a guillotine or an executioner. Bringing one from France or Italy was too
expensive for the small kingdom. To solve this, the Prince and his ministers
considered asking their soldiers to perform the execution, but none of them
were willing to do it. After trying different options, they decided to change
the criminal’s punishment from execution to life imprisonment because it was a
more affordable solution for the kingdom.
3) Why did the criminal stay in the prison even when there was no guard
to watch him?
Ans: The criminal stayed in prison even when the guard was dismissed
because he had nowhere to go. His reputation was ruined after his crime, and he
believed that no one would accept him. He also admitted that after being in
prison for so long, he had become used to not working and felt unprepared to
start a new life. Because of this, he stayed in prison, even though he was free
to leave, as he had no other options for survival or a future.
4) How did the Prince finally solve the problem with the criminal?
Ans: The Prince finally solved the problem with the criminal by offering
him a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. Since keeping him in prison
was expensive and the execution was not possible, this was the cheapest option.
The criminal accepted the offer, left the kingdom, and settled just outside
Monaco. He used the money to start a new life as a market gardener. This
solution worked for both sides because it was affordable for the Prince and
gave the criminal a way to live independently.
5) What lesson do you think the Prince learned from this situation?
Ans: The Prince likely learned that trying to save money in the wrong
way can make things more complicated. At first, he thought that executing the
criminal would be the cheapest option, but it turned out to be very costly. In
the end, paying the criminal a pension was the easiest and cheapest solution.
The situation taught the Prince that sometimes, trying to avoid spending money
at the start can create bigger problems later. It shows how important it is to
consider all options carefully when making decisions.
6) Where is Monaco, and how many people live there?
Ans: Monaco is a small kingdom located on the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea, near the borders of France and Italy. It is known for being
one of the smallest countries in the world, with a population of only about
7,000 people. Despite its small size, Monaco has a Prince, a palace, and even a
small army. The kingdom relies on tourism and its famous gambling house to
support its economy, as well as the taxes it collects from its citizens.
7) What taxes are collected in Monaco, and why does the Prince rely on a
gambling house?
Ans: In Monaco, the Prince collects taxes on tobacco, wine, spirits, and
a poll-tax from the citizens. However, because the kingdom is so small and has
only a few people, these taxes do not provide enough money to cover all the
costs of running the country. That’s why the Prince also relies on the profits
from a gambling house, where people lose money while playing games like
roulette. The Prince gets a percentage of the money from these losses, which
helps him run the kingdom more smoothly.
8) What crime did the man commit, and what was his original punishment?
Ans: The man in the story committed murder, a serious crime in Monaco.
According to the law, his original punishment was execution, which meant he was
to have his head cut off by a guillotine. However, Monaco did not have the
equipment or an executioner to carry out the sentence. This created a problem
for the Prince and his ministers because they couldn’t execute the man without
spending a large amount of money to bring the necessary tools and a
professional executioner from another country.
9) Why did the Prince change the criminal’s punishment from execution to
life imprisonment?
Ans: The Prince decided to change the criminal’s punishment from
execution to life imprisonment because the cost of executing him was too high.
Hiring an executioner and renting a guillotine from France or Italy would have
cost thousands of francs, which was too expensive for a small kingdom like
Monaco. The Prince thought that keeping the man in prison for life would be a
cheaper option. Even though it wasn’t the original sentence, it seemed like a
more practical and affordable solution.
10) How did the criminal eventually leave Monaco, and what did he do
afterward?
Ans: The criminal eventually left Monaco after the Prince offered him a
yearly pension of 600 francs. This was a cheaper option than keeping him in
prison. The criminal accepted the offer and moved just outside Monaco’s
borders. With his pension, he started a new life as a market gardener, growing
vegetables and living a peaceful life. He continued to collect his pension
regularly, and sometimes he even used the money to gamble, but overall, he
lived quietly after leaving the kingdom.
11) Why did the Prince of Monaco rely on the gambling house for money?
Ans: The Prince of Monaco relied on the gambling house for money because
Monaco is a tiny kingdom with only around 7,000 people, and the taxes collected
from citizens were not enough to cover the kingdom’s expenses. Taxes on
tobacco, wine, and spirits provided some income, but it wasn’t sufficient. The
gambling house, where people came to play games like roulette and often lost
money, gave the Prince a steady income. The percentage of the money lost by
gamblers went directly to the Prince, which helped him run the kingdom.
12) What challenges did the Prince face in trying to execute the
criminal?
Ans: The Prince faced several challenges in trying to execute the
criminal. First, Monaco did not have a guillotine, the tool needed for the
execution, nor did they have an executioner. Borrowing one from neighboring
countries like France or Italy was extremely expensive, costing thousands of
francs. The Prince also tried to have one of his soldiers carry out the
execution, but none of them were willing to do it, as they were trained for
war, not for executions. This left the Prince in a difficult situation.
13) Why did the criminal refuse to leave the prison even after the guard
was dismissed?
Ans: The criminal refused to leave the prison even after the guard was
dismissed because he felt he had nowhere to go. He believed his life was ruined
after committing the crime, and no one in society would accept him anymore. He
also mentioned that after spending so much time in prison, he had forgotten how
to work and didn’t know how to start a new life. His feelings of hopelessness
and isolation kept him in prison, even though he had the opportunity to leave.
14) How did the Prince resolve the problem with the criminal in the end?
Ans: In the end, the Prince resolved the problem with the criminal by
offering him a yearly pension of 600 francs to leave Monaco. This was much
cheaper than keeping him in prison, which cost more every year. The criminal
agreed to the offer, left Monaco, and moved to a nearby town just across the
border. There, he used the pension to start a new life as a market gardener.
This solution worked out for both the Prince, who saved money, and the
criminal, who found a new way to live.
15) What does the story suggest about the challenges of ruling a small
kingdom like Monaco?
Ans: The story suggests that ruling a small kingdom like Monaco comes
with unique challenges, especially when it comes to handling legal matters and
justice. Since Monaco has limited resources and a small population, the Prince
has to make decisions based on what is affordable, rather than what is ideal.
The cost of carrying out a simple execution turned out to be too high, leading
the Prince to find a cheaper solution. This shows how small kingdoms often have
to compromise on justice because of financial constraints.
16) Why do you think the Prince chose to offer the criminal a pension
instead of keeping him in prison?
Ans: The Prince chose to offer the criminal a pension instead of keeping
him in prison because it was a much cheaper option. Keeping the criminal in
prison cost more than 600 francs every year, and over time, this would become
too expensive for the small kingdom of Monaco. By offering the criminal a
pension of 600 francs a year, the Prince saved money while also finding a way
to get rid of the problem. The decision reflects the Prince’s focus on saving
money rather than focusing on justice alone.
17) How did the Prince’s decision-making show the difficulty of
balancing justice and money?
Ans: The Prince’s decision-making showed how difficult it can be to
balance justice and money in a small kingdom like Monaco. At first, the Prince
wanted to execute the criminal, but the cost of doing so was too high. Instead,
he had to settle for a cheaper option, which was life imprisonment. When even
that became too expensive, he decided to offer the criminal a pension. This
showed that while the Prince wanted justice, his decisions were driven by
financial concerns, highlighting the challenge of balancing morality with
economic realities.
18) If you were one of the ministers, how would you have handled the
situation differently?
Ans: If I were one of the ministers, I might have suggested giving the
criminal some community service as a punishment instead of life imprisonment or
a pension. This way, the criminal could work for the benefit of the kingdom and
give something back to society. It would also save the kingdom money, as there
would be no need for costly imprisonment or a yearly pension. This option would
help balance justice with financial concerns and ensure that the criminal still
contributed to the kingdom in some way.
19) Why do you think none of the soldiers wanted to carry out the
execution, even though they were trained to fight?
Ans: The soldiers likely didn’t want to carry out the execution because
it felt very different from fighting in a war. In battle, soldiers fight to
defend their kingdom, and they may see their enemies as threats. But executing
someone who is a fellow citizen, even if he is a criminal, feels more personal
and morally difficult. It’s not something soldiers are trained for, and they
probably didn’t feel comfortable taking a person’s life in this way. It was a
task outside their normal duties and likely troubled their conscience.
20) What does the criminal’s behaviour after being offered the pension
tell you about his character?
Ans: The criminal’s behaviour after being offered the pension shows that
he was practical and willing to accept his situation. Instead of trying to
fight or escape, he agreed to the offer and used the money to start a new life.
This suggests that the criminal was realistic and understood that accepting the
pension was his best option. He didn’t cause any more trouble and lived a
peaceful life as a market gardener. His actions show that he adapted to his
circumstances and made the best of his situation.
21) Why do you think the Prince’s ministers considered multiple options
before deciding on a solution for the criminal?
Ans: The Prince’s ministers considered multiple options because they
needed to find a solution that balanced justice with the kingdom’s financial
limitations. They first thought about executing the criminal, but the cost was
too high. Then they considered life imprisonment, but that was also expensive.
After carefully thinking through all the possibilities, they decided that
offering a pension was the cheapest and most practical option. The ministers
had to weigh the financial realities of running a small kingdom against the
need to uphold justice, which required exploring several solutions.
22) How does the story reflect the difficulty of making ethical
decisions when money is involved?
Ans: The story reflects the difficulty of making ethical decisions when
money is involved by showing how financial concerns can affect justice. The
Prince wanted to carry out the proper punishment for the criminal’s crime,
which was execution, but it was too expensive. As a result, he had to choose a
cheaper option, which may not have seemed fair or ethical. This shows how
sometimes, leaders have to make compromises when they don’t have enough money
to carry out the ideal solution. Balancing ethics and finances can be very
challenging.
23) Do you think the Prince’s final decision to pay the criminal a
pension was the best choice? Why or why not?
Ans: The Prince’s final decision to pay the criminal a pension was
probably the best choice, given the circumstances. It was much cheaper than
keeping the criminal in prison or carrying out the execution. While it may seem
unfair to pay a criminal, it solved the problem in a practical way. The
criminal accepted the offer and left the kingdom, allowing the Prince to save
money. Even though it wasn’t a perfect solution, it was a reasonable decision
for a small kingdom like Monaco with limited resources.
24) How might the criminal’s refusal to leave the prison without help
reflect his experience in prison and his view of society?
Ans: The criminal’s refusal to leave the prison without help reflects
his feelings of isolation and hopelessness. After spending so much time in
prison, he likely felt disconnected from society and didn’t believe anyone
would accept him because of his crime. His long imprisonment also made him lose
his confidence and ability to work, making it hard for him to imagine starting
a new life. This shows how prison can change a person’s view of themselves and
the world, leaving them feeling helpless and unprepared to rejoin society.
25) What does this story teach us about the challenges small countries
face when it comes to law enforcement and justice?
Ans: The story teaches us that small countries like Monaco face unique
challenges when it comes to law enforcement and justice. Because they have
limited resources, they cannot always afford to carry out punishments like
larger countries can. For example, Monaco couldn’t afford to execute the
criminal because it didn’t have the equipment or money to do so. This forced
the Prince to find creative solutions, like offering a pension. The story shows
how small countries have to make compromises due to financial constraints,
which can affect their ability to deliver justice.
Answer the following questions in about 100 words. 4 Marks
1) Where
is the kingdom of Monaco, and what is its population?
Ans: Monaco is a small kingdom located along the Mediterranean Sea,
close to France and Italy. It has a population of about 7,000 people. Even
though it is a tiny country, Monaco is an independent state with its own ruler,
called a Prince. The country’s small size and population mean that it has
limited resources compared to larger nations. Monaco is famous for its luxury
lifestyle, particularly its famous casino, which attracts many tourists and
provides the country with much-needed revenue. The Prince and his government
face challenges in managing the country with such a small population,
especially when it comes to handling justice and finances, as seen in the story
"Too Dear!".
2) What was the crime committed in the story, and what was the criminal's
original punishment?
Ans: In the story "Too Dear!", the criminal was found guilty
of committing murder, a serious offense in the kingdom of Monaco. His original
punishment was to be executed by guillotine. However, the execution turned out
to be a problem for the small kingdom. Monaco did not have the proper
equipment, such as a guillotine, or anyone skilled to carry out the execution.
The Prince tried to arrange the execution by seeking help from the neighboring
countries of France and Italy, but they demanded a high cost for the service.
Due to these financial obstacles, the Prince decided to change the criminal’s
punishment from execution to life imprisonment, hoping this would be a more
affordable solution for the kingdom.
3) Why did the Prince decide to offer the criminal a pension, and how
much did he agree to pay?
Ans: The Prince decided to offer the criminal a pension because the cost
of keeping him in prison was too high for Monaco’s small budget. Each year, the
kingdom had to pay more than 600 francs for the criminal’s food and the salary
of the guard watching over him. Since Monaco had limited financial resources,
these ongoing expenses became too much to handle. To save money, the Prince and
his ministers decided that it would be cheaper to offer the criminal a pension
to leave the country. They agreed to pay the criminal 600 francs per year. The
criminal accepted the offer and left Monaco, starting a new life just across
the border.
4) How did the criminal respond to being offered a pension, and what did
he do afterward?
Ans: When the criminal was offered a pension by the Prince, he accepted
the deal without any hesitation. The criminal realized that this was a chance
for him to start a new life while still receiving financial support. After
receiving part of the pension in advance, he moved to a neighboring town just
outside Monaco. There, he used the money to buy a small piece of land and began
working as a market gardener. He lived quietly, collecting his pension every
year and occasionally visiting the gambling house. The pension allowed him to
live peacefully and without further trouble, solving the issue for both him and
the Prince’s kingdom.
5) What taxes were collected in Monaco, and why were they not enough to
sustain the kingdom?
Ans: In Monaco, the government collected taxes on items like tobacco,
wine, and spirits, as well as a poll tax. However, the kingdom’s population was
very small, with only about 7,000 people living there. Because of this, the
taxes collected were not enough to fully support the kingdom’s needs, including
paying for the Prince’s government and maintaining public services. To make up
for this financial shortfall, the kingdom relied heavily on income from its
famous casino, where many visitors came to gamble. The revenue from the casino
helped cover the expenses that the limited tax revenue could not, allowing the
Prince to keep the kingdom running.
6) Why did the Prince of Monaco decide not to execute the criminal?
Ans: The Prince of Monaco decided not to execute the criminal because it
was too expensive. Monaco did not have the necessary equipment, like a
guillotine, or anyone skilled to carry out an execution. The Prince asked
France and Italy if they could help with the execution, but they demanded large
sums of money—16,000 francs from France and 12,000 francs from Italy. The
Prince felt that paying such a high price for just one criminal was not worth
it, especially for a small kingdom like Monaco with limited financial
resources. Instead of spending the money, the Prince searched for cheaper
alternatives and eventually changed the criminal’s sentence to life
imprisonment.
7) What difficulties did the Prince face in keeping the criminal in
prison, and how did he solve them?
Ans: The Prince faced financial difficulties in keeping the criminal in
prison. The cost of the criminal’s food and the guard’s salary added up to more
than 600 francs each year. For a small kingdom like Monaco, these expenses were
significant and difficult to sustain over time. As a result, the Prince
realized that continuing to pay for the criminal’s imprisonment was not
practical for the kingdom’s budget. To solve the problem, the Prince decided to
offer the criminal a yearly pension of 600 francs, which was the same amount as
the yearly cost of keeping him in prison. The criminal accepted this offer and
left Monaco, which allowed the Prince to save money and solve the issue.
8) Why did the criminal refuse to leave the prison when there was no guard,
and what does this show about his situation?
Ans: The criminal refused to leave the prison even when there was no
guard because he felt he had nowhere to go and no place to belong. After being
in prison for so long, he became dependent on the system and lost his ability
to live independently. His reputation was also ruined because of the crime he
committed, and he believed that society would not accept him. The criminal had
grown used to being cared for in prison, where he had food and shelter. His
refusal to leave shows how imprisonment can make a person lose confidence and
feel disconnected from the outside world, making it difficult for them to
reintegrate into society.
9)How did the Prince balance justice and cost in dealing with the
criminal?
Ans: The Prince balanced justice and cost by finding a solution that
saved money while still punishing the criminal. Initially, the criminal was
sentenced to execution, but the cost of carrying it out was too high for the
small kingdom of Monaco. The Prince then changed the punishment to life
imprisonment, thinking it would be more affordable. However, the cost of
keeping the criminal in prison also became too much over time. To save money,
the Prince decided to offer the criminal a yearly pension to leave the country,
which was cheaper than keeping him imprisoned. This solution allowed the Prince
to serve justice in a way that was financially practical for the kingdom.
10) What does the story suggest about the challenges of running a small
kingdom like Monaco?
Ans: The story suggests that running a small kingdom like Monaco comes
with unique challenges, especially when it comes to financial management and
justice. Since Monaco is a tiny country with a small population and limited
resources, it cannot afford the same types of solutions as larger countries.
For example, the Prince faced difficulty in executing the criminal because
Monaco did not have the equipment or people to carry out the execution, and it
was too expensive to ask for help from neighboring countries. Every decision in
a small kingdom must be carefully weighed against the cost, and creative
solutions are often necessary to manage the limited resources effectively.
Comprehension II
* Where was the criminal in 'Too Dear!' kept and what were the arrangements made for him?
Ans: Once, a murder was committed in the toy kingdom of Monaco. The judges assembled and tried the case in the most judicial manner. The barristers and jurymen argued and judged and at last they condemned the criminal to have his head cut off. The king confirmed the sentence and he ordered for his execution. But they had neither a guillotine for cutting the head off the criminal nor an executioner. They tried to borrow from some other country, but it was very expensive. The king thought that the rascal was not worth the money. So, he ordered his ministers to find a cheaper way of punishing the criminal. The ministers reconsidered the case and forced the king to alter the death sentence into imprisonment for life. But crime free Monaco did not have a strong prison. The criminal was put up in a small lock up room, and placed a guard over him. The guard had to watch the criminal and had to fetch him food from the palace kitchen.
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* Why were the series of meetings held in Monaco in 'Too Dear'?
* Describe the attempts made by the Ministers in solving the problem of cutting off the criminal's head?
*Describe the efforts of the ministers in carrying out death sentence in 'Too Dear'.
Ans: Once in Monaco a murder was committed. The Judges assembled and tried the case in the most Judicial manner. The barristers and jury man argued and judged. At last they condemned the criminal to have his head cut off as the law directed. The matter is that, they had neither a guillotine for cutting off the criminal's head nor an executioner. The king ordered to address an inquiry to hire the guillotine from France and later Italy. But hiring was quite expensive and there were meetings again. They altered the death enforcement to imprisonment. The criminal was put as in a small lock up, and placed a guard over him to watch the criminal and to fetch him food from the palace kitchen. They found this also very expensive. The next committee dismissed the guard, and waited for criminal to run away. At last the council reflected and considered that the only way to get of him was to offer him a pension and the sum fixed was 600 francs.
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*How does the kinglet in 'Too Dear!' feed his courtiers and officials and keep himself?
Ans: Monaco was a small kingdom. There were only seven thousand inhabitants. If the land was divided each of them would not get an acre of land. It was a tiny kingdom and it had a real kinglet. The king has palace, courtiers and ministers, a Bishop, generals and an army. In order to maintain his courtiers and others and to keep himself in royal splendor the prince had to generate funds through taxes. There were taxes on tobacco, wine and spirits. The prince found it hard to feed his courtiers and officials. He had to find a new and special source of revenue, i.e., income from a gaming house, where people played roulette. The gaming house keeper had to pay a large sum to the prince as it was only gambling establishment left in Europe. Although it caused a lot of harm to the gamblers, yet there was not one to stop the Prince of Monaco. He had the absolute monopoly over the gambling business.
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*How did the criminal benefit from the pension he was offered in the lesson 'Too Dear'?
Ans: The teasing irony of the little of the story is that the criminal becomes 'Too Dear' to the king's income. The criminal agreed to accept 600 francs pension on the condition that they must pay him regularly. He received one third of his annuity in advance and he left the king's domain. He emigrated and settled just across the king's domain. He bought a bit of land, started market-gardening and lived comfortably. He always went at the proper time to draw his pension. He went to gambling tables and spent two or three francs. Sometimes he won and some times he lost. He led a peaceful life. He was lucky not to have committed the crime in a country which would either cut off his head or to keep in prison for life.
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*Why does the criminal refuse to escape from the prison in 'Too Dear'?
OR
* What were the arguments put forth by the prisoner for not running away from the prison?
Ans: The criminal refused to run away from the prison even when the guard was taken off, he said that he had no place to go. He complained that they had ruined his character by altering the death sentence, they had got out of the way of working. They had treated him badly. Once they had sentenced him to death, they ought to have executed him. He did not complain when they altered death sentence into imprisonment for life. Even when the guard was taken away he had to fetch his own food and he did not complain for it. He did not agree to their idea to run away from the place. At last the council reflected and considered that the only way to get rid of him was to offer him a pension and the sum fixed was 600 francs per annum.
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* Briefly describe the kingdom of Monaco mentioned in "Too Dear'?
Ans: The story "Too Dear" begins with the description of the Monaco Kingdom. It was a small Kingdom with the small population of about seven thousand and if the land was to be shared, each would get hardly an acre. As in other countries, it too had a King, a palace, ministers, army courtiers and Bishop. There were taxes on tobacco, wine and spirits, which were the source special revenue.
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*Why did the authorities fail to carry out the death sentence given to the criminal in "Too Dear"?
Ans: The judges and barristers condemned the criminal to have his head cut off as the law directs. The real problem was, they had neither a guillotine for cutting hands nor an executioner. The king decided to address an inquiry to the French Government to provide a machine and an expert to cut off criminal's head. The French Government replied positively quoting 16000 Francs for the same. The king thought the wretch was not worthy for the money, and he wanted it to be cheaper. Similar inquiry was sent to the Monarch of Italy. The reply revealed that it would cost 12000 Francs including travelling expenses. Though it was cheaper, the king thought that the rascal was not worth the money. He would have to levy two more Francs on the taxes. But the king wanted it to be cheaper. Besides none of the soldiers were trained to kill thus the king was forced to alter the death sentence into imprisonment. The criminal was put in a lock up room as there was no air, and the guard was appointed to watch the criminal to get him food from the king's palace. As this was costing too much, next committee dismissed the guard and criminal was told to go out. But the criminal did not do so as his reputation had ruined. Finally he agreed to leave when he was offered regular pension.
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1) Though gambling is a dirty business, why does the king of Monaco resort to it?
Ans: The king of Monaco imposed taxes on tobacco, wine and spirit, apart from a poll tax. But there were such a few people in the country that the tax earned by these sources was not enough for the king to maintain his courtiers, officials and his kingdom. He had all the luxurious in his kingdom. He has to maintain his kingdom and prosperity. Therefore, he had to resort to the tax obtained from gaming houses.
2) Why did the king of Monaco keep changing
his mind in dealing with the criminal?
Ans: A criminal was brought to the king to carryout death sentence. He faced many hitches in executing the order. In his kingdom there was neither a guillotine for cutting heads off, nor an executioner. So, he consulted for these things to French and Italian Government. He thought the cost was more and the criminal was not that worth. The General told that they had no trained man to execute the order so he decided to change the death sentence to one of imprisonment for life. Then he faced another hitch. The total expenditure spent on him was 600 francs and the criminal was young and healthy and would live longer.
Again he kept on changing his mind. Then he dismissed the guard who watched the criminal to cut down expenditure. Then the criminal did all his essential things himself and didn't run away. When asked the reason he said he was imprisoned and the people would not receive him cordially. They would be afraid of him so the king again changed his mind and sent him out saying that he would be paid pension. He did all this to curtail the expense.
Ans: The criminal’s character had been destroyed by capital punishment given to him and he had no place to go. He told the minister that the minister did not carry out the execution and he didn't complain. He further accepted life imprisonment and put a guard to watch him. Then the guard was dismissed and he had to fetch his own food and he didn't complain so he told him that he would not run away and told him to do whatever he like.
4) How did the criminal lead his life after
his release?
Ans: The criminal moved to another country and settled right across the
frontier, with the cash he had received as an annuity in advance, and he
purchased a bit of land, started market gardening and lived serenely after his
release from the prison.
Comprehension III
1) “You can’t earn stone palaces by honest
labour.’ Justify with reference to the story.
Ans: The King got revenue through tax. He taxed some commodities. But he received special tax by permitting gaming houses where people played roulette. He received a large sum. Those who want to gamble should come to Monaco. Whether the people won or lost didn't matter for the prince because he got the percentage. In this context the above proverb is made. The king knew that it was a dirty business but he had no alternative to receive money. He couldn't get by honest means.
OR
Ans: The source of the King of Monaco’s income was imposed taxes on tobacco, wine, and soul. He also demanded a poll tax. The king thought that it was hard to take care of his courtiers, his authorities, and to meet his own costs. No one could carry on with a king's existence with the small pay as the Prince of Monaco got from his subjects. Consequently, to commute home the reality of this assertion he cites the maxim, ‘You can’t earn stone palaces by honest labour. It possibly implies that in the event that one needs to maintain an unsustainable lifestyle, legit work alone can't get him enough cash for his extravagances.
It suggests that one needs to take plan of action to bring in additional
cash by some untrustworthy or deceptive methods. The King of Monaco likewise
had a wellspring of extra or elective income. He used to get an enormous amount
of cash consistently from a gaming housekeeper, who paid it out of his benefits
acquired from his gaming house. The king realized that making money by running
a gaming house where individuals took a chance with their cash at the roulette
table was a grimy business. However, he had permitted it to run since he
required more cash. Thus he wouldn't fret gathering extra income by this messy
business also.
2) Though the trial and imprisonment of the
criminal is depicted in a comic mode in this story, it does give rise to
serious questions. What are they?
Ans: The author’s will likely satire the endeavors of the cutting edge state to fiercely control wrongdoing. Monaco had a little population, a little armed force and was controlled by a kinglet. Individuals lived calmly yet by one way or another way a murder was committed. The criminal was attempted according to the current guidelines of the state and was at last condemned to death. However, there was neither a guillotine machine nor a killer in the state. Consequently the king and the ministers made true endeavors to get them from their neighbors the French Government and the King of Italy.
Subsequent to gauging the advantages and disadvantages of causing an
immense consumption the king surrendered getting the criminal executed and
transformed it to imprisonment for life. This cost the lord 600 francs. At the
point when the king reflected over the cost, its truck him that the expense
would turn into a major weight if the criminal experienced an additional few
years. The king and his ministers planned to flee the criminal by excused the
guard but criminal wouldn’t go. At last, the criminal was offered a little
benefit and paid one third of his annuity as advance. He left the jail and
moved to another nation. In this way, there is a dash of humor in the story.
3) Were there other ways of dealing with the
criminal? Discuss in the light of the story.
Ans: A very small kingdom Monaco was having a small population and a small armed force. Additionally, its income was pitiful. However, the king figured out how to lead like some other lord with retainers, judges, and clergymen getting a charge out of the extravagances and advantages of a king. The king figured out how to make the most of his majesty, using the extra income created from hoarding the betting business. It is profoundly condemnable that a king should turn to doing a filthy business to appreciate imperial solaces.
In the King’s kingdom a murder was committed by a criminal whereas the
king did not have a guillotine machine or an executioner. It was very ludicrous
to set up an arrangement of exacting viciousness to dispense with brutality.
One potential elective punishment would have been sending the criminal into
oust. Another elective punishment would have been to sentence such criminals to
hard, actual work forever or for a restricted period until they improved their
conduct. It would be unquestionably more reasonable, conservative, and
empathetic to utilize the state's assets to decrease wrongdoings, along these
lines.
