Lesson 2: Clearing in the Sky

i. Why didn’t the old man follow the advice of the doctors?

The old man didn’t follow the advice of the doctors because he was the only bread-winner of a family of
five children. He had to work pretty hard for the survival of his family. In spite of getting helpless and
hopeless, he took his illness as a challenge and proved his doctors wrong with his unflinching
determination and will-power.

ii. What had the doctors told the old man?

The doctors had advised him not to

work in future as he was a heart patient. They forbade him to walk even the length of a city block. They
told him to sit still and live and enjoy the few remaining days of his life with his family.

iii. Where did the old man take his son?

The old man took his son to the top of the mountain to show him a small clearing where he had grown
potatoes, yams and tomatoes.

iv. Had the son ever been there before?

The son had gone there many times except the last three years.

v. What were the names of the vegetables the old man grew on his farm?

The old man grew potatoes, yams and tomatoes on his farm.

vi. Why did the old man take the steep path?

The old man took the steep path because he had strong determination. He also wanted to test his
physical fitness and stamina. Moreover, he wanted to show his son that he was still healthy and
energetic.

vii. Why did the son at the age of six cry?

The son cried at the age of six because he had lost the wooden plough, made by his gather, in a furrow.
He kept on crying until his father made him another plough. But he never loved the second plough as he
did the first one.

vii. What were the feelings of the old man at the seventy?

At the age of seventy, the old man felt happy that he had spent the natural span of his life allotted by
the Good Book. He was satisfied that he looked after his family successfully.

ix. Why had the old man planted his secret garden?

The old man planted his secret garden because it and was a very fertile land with a lot of sun shine. He
knew that anything grown in a new ground like that would have a better flavor. He also wanted to prove
that if man had determination, he could overcome all the difficulties of life.