Unit 7 – Supplementary – The Dilemma

 Unit 7 – Supplementary – The Dilemma

Video Explainer of the lesson 

A. Read the given lines carefully and identify the character / speaker:

1. I suppose you think me queer. I will explain.

2. Don't come back. It won't hasten things.

3. He thought it simply a cruel jest.

4. He did not desire to do so.

5. He would think it over and come back later.

1. “I suppose you think me queer. I will explain.”
   ➡️ Uncle Philip
2. “Don’t come back. It won’t hasten things.”
   ➡️ Uncle Philip
3. “He thought it simply a cruel jest.”
   ➡️ Tom’s father confessor
4. “He did not desire to do so.”
   ➡️ Professor Clinch
5. “He would think it over and come back later.”
   ➡️ The government tax collector

 

B. Based on your understanding of the story, answer the following briefly

1. What did the uncle do as soon as he bought a stone?
   ➡️ He carried the new stone in his pocket for about a month, occasionally taking it out to look at it before adding it to his collection in the safe.
2. What did the uncle bequeath to the narrator?
   ➡️ He left an iron box said to contain rubies, diamonds, and pearls.
3. What was the condition laid by the uncle to inherit his property?
   ➡️ Tom had to open the iron box, but the uncle warned that opening it would trigger an explosive mechanism filled with dynamite.
4. Why do you think Tom happily looked forward to the expenditure for his uncle’s funeral?
   ➡️ Tom disliked his malicious uncle and found joy in finally putting him to rest, believing he would soon inherit wealth.
5. Write a few words about the mechanism used in the iron box.
   ➡️ The iron box contained a mechanism designed to explode with nine and a half ounces of dynamite if the lock was turned, destroying anyone who tried to open it.
6. What was the counsel offered to the narrator?
   ➡️ His friends and the doctor advised him to stop thinking about the box and forget his obsession with the rubies.
7. Why and when was the narrator shocked?
   ➡️ He was shocked when he read his uncle’s letter stating that the box contained precious gems and explosives that would detonate if unlocked.
8. What was the doctor’s warning to Tom?
   ➡️ The doctor warned that Tom might lose his sanity if he continued to obsess over the box.
9. Why didn’t Tom dare to assign the task of unlocking the box to someone?
   ➡️ He felt it was immoral and dangerous to risk another person’s life for his own gain.

 

C. Answer the questions given below in a paragraph of 150 words

1. Describe briefly the contents of the letter written by Tom’s uncle.

Tom’s uncle’s letter to him was filled with both promise and menace. It claimed that the iron box contained a great collection of rare and valuable gems — rubies, diamonds, and pearls, including the famous green and blue pearls. However, the letter also revealed that the box had a deadly mechanism that would explode nine and a half ounces of his improved dynamite if unlocked. The uncle mockingly told Tom that he could either doubt the truth and risk death or believe him and live forever with unfulfilled expectations. The letter reflected the uncle’s cruel humour and his hatred for Tom’s mother’s family. It left Tom in a state of fear and confusion, torn between greed and the dread of death.

 

2. Explain the efforts taken by Tom to open the iron box. Did he succeed? Why?

Tom was both frightened and fascinated by the iron box. At first, he planned to open it from a safe distance by using wires to trigger the lock, but he feared the explosion would destroy the precious stones. He then spent many sleepless nights thinking of ways to open it safely, even consulting experts like Professor Clinch and Dr. Schaff. He read books on dynamite and explosives, and his obsession grew so intense that people thought he was insane. Despite all his efforts, he never dared to open the box, fearing it might blow up and kill him. His attempts ended in failure because his fear overpowered his greed, and the mystery of the box remained unsolved.

 

D. Fill in the blanks with the right options and write down the summary of the story ‘A Dilemma’.

1. The narrator was sent for, by his uncle when he was ______________.

(on his deathbed / on his travels / in his workplace)

2. The uncle had collected precious______________.

 (jewels / stones / articles)

3. His uncle announced Tom as his heir and wanted him to pay forhis ______________.

 (rented house / marriage / funeral)

4. Leaving an iron box for Tom, his uncle instructed him not to ______________ the box.

(throw / carry / shake)

5. The letter read that the box contained ______________.

(a sensitive dynamite / jewels /money)

6. He started thinking of all possible ways to open the box without being ______________.

(wounded / killed / maimed)

7. He planned to explode the box at ______________ but dropped the plan in fear of losing the rubies.

 (home / a safe distance / a waste land)

8. His consultation with ___________ did not yield him any fruitful solution.

(Uncle Philip / Professor Clinch / Susan)

9. He failed in his attempts to open the box. His efforts to read about explosives led to

(hopes / confusions / suspicions) and he had to change his ______________.

(name and occupation / lodgings / appearance)

10. At last, he bequeathed the box to______________ . (his offspring / his friends / the Society)

 

1. The narrator was sent for by his uncle when he was on his deathbed.
2. The uncle had collected precious stones.
3. His uncle announced Tom as his heir and wanted him to pay for his funeral.
4. Leaving an iron box for Tom, his uncle instructed him not to shake the box.
5. The letter read that the box contained a sensitive dynamite.
6. He started thinking of all possible ways to open the box without being killed.
7. He planned to explode the box at a safe distance but dropped the plan in fear of losing the rubies.
8. His consultation with Professor Clinch did not yield him any fruitful solution.
9. He failed in his attempts to open the box. His efforts to read about explosives led to suspicions, and he had to change his name and occupation.
10. At last, he bequeathed the box to the Society for the Preservation of Human Vivisection.

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✅ Summary (in short):
Tom’s uncle, a wealthy inventor and gem collector, left him an iron box said to contain priceless jewels but warned it also held dynamite that would explode if opened. Torn between greed and fear, Tom became obsessed with finding a safe way to open it. His endless anxiety drove away his fiancée and led people to think he was insane. Unable to resolve the dilemma, Tom finally gave up, changed his name, and left the deadly box to a society — forever haunted by the mystery his uncle left behind.