Comprehension Unit 2

Std 10 English — Section A Solutions

Unit 2: The Human Robot

(1) At Super Robots Plaza

...brightly-lit, richly-carpeted gallery into a huge dome-shaped hall glowing with fluorescent light. The right corner appeared to be crowded with robots in metallic silver, electric blue and green. Some were moving about as if practising to walk while some stood still - switched out of operation. Just as Prem Chopra stepped on the threshold of the hall, one of the robots swiftly came forward. "Good day, sir, welcome to Super Robots Plaza. We hope your visit here proves worthwhile," the silver robot said in a metallic voice. "Brilliant," mumbled Prem Chopra, somewhat bewildered.

1. What did Prem Chopra see in the right corner of the hall?

Ans - Prem Chopra saw robots in metallic silver, electric blue and green in the right corner of the hall.

2. What were the robots doing?

Ans - Some robots were moving about as if practising to walk while some stood still - switched out of operation.

(2) Efficient Servant in the Market

"If Ram Singh-070, my robot, can shop for groceries, then why not for better things like jewels?" thought Prem Chopra.

In the market, robots carrying heavy packets, buying theatre tickets, carrying groceries to the cars were a common sight but still strange and amusing servants. Ram Singh-070 was thoroughly efficient. With tremendous speed and accuracy, he collected the groceries into the shopping trolley and paused for the next command. "Two kilograms of mangoes - ripe and juicy," commanded Prem Chopra from a distance, seeing a huge pile of mangoes. In no time Ram Singh-070 had selected the best ones.

1. What did Prem Chopra think after buying the robot?

Ans - After buying the robot, Prem Chopra thought that if the robot could shop for groceries, then why not for better things like jewels.

2. What was a common sight in the market?

Ans - Robots carrying heavy packets, buying theatre tickets and carrying groceries to the cars were a common sight in the market.

(3) The Theft and Arrest

One day Prem Chopra guided Ram Singh-070 to Jhaveri Brothers for lifting precious gems. The police was waiting in readiness and the computerized cameras capable of split second recording, clicked him in the act. Ram Singh robot was caught, but Prem Chopra fled as soon as he saw, through the binoculars, two persons noting down Ram Singh's licence number printed on his metallic neck.

Prem Chopra was arrested from his home, as the owner of Ram Singh-070 the thief.

1. Where did Prem Chopra guide Ram Singh-070? For what?

Ans - Prem Chopra guided Ram Singh-070 to Jhaveri Brothers to steal precious gems.

2. Why was Prem Chopra arrested?

Ans - Prem Chopra was arrested because he was the owner of Ram Singh-070, the thief.

(4) In the Courtroom

"Your honour," counsel Goel began, "I am told by Super Robots that the memory tape designed in these types of robots contains information of the previous week."
"But the case started a fortnight after the incident; the needed information must be wiped out," the judge said.
Counsel Goel smiled softly staring at Prem Chopra. "Sir, the robot has been switched out of operation ever since."
Prem Chopra's face fell but he was confident Ram Singh-070 would obey his master. The secrets were sealed.

1. Why did the judge feel that the needed information must have been wiped out?

Ans - The judge felt that the needed information must have been wiped out because the memory tape contains information of the previous week and the case had started a fortnight after the incident.

2. Why was Counsel Goel sure that the information was not wiped out?

Ans - Counsel Goel was sure that the information was not wiped out because the robot had been switched out of operation since the incident.

(5) The Robot's Dilemma

"Oh, no," cried the salesman of Super Robots. "He is defused, he is dead." There was a hush in the court room. Silence prevailed for long in the court room. The counsel cleared his throat and said, "Robots do not cause harm to people and neither can they disobey their masters. Those instructions from Mr Prem Chopra were not to be revealed. They could have been injurious to his own existence - a threat to the robot's life. If he revealed them, he would disobey his master; if he did not, he would harm others."

1. Why was there a hush in the court room?

Ans - There was hush in the court room because the robot had defused - he was dead.

2. What was Ram Singh-070's conflict?

Ans - Ram Singh-070's conflict was that if he revealed the instructions, he would disobey his master and if he did not, he would harm others.