CBSE Class 9EnglishQuestions & AnswersChapter level
Carrier of Words Questions & Answers | Class 9 English | CBSE NCERT
Chapter-wise questions and answers for Carrier of Words in Class 9 English, with a clear summary, key points, and exam-ready model answers.
What you will find on this page: a clear chapter summary, revision notes, word meanings, important questions, MCQs, and exam-ready question answers for Class 9 English.
After reviewing the chapter explanation, answer the short-answer, long-answer, extract-based, and objective questions below.
About 104 min readCarrier of WordsUpdated 29 Sep 2026
Questions and answers
1 marks · mcq
1. Q1. (MCQ) According to the extract, in earlier times mail was finally delivered by —
(a) the internet
(b) the postman in our letter box
(c) the mail train
(d) the telephone
"Though we are just a click away from sending mail at present, can you imagine how it was before the internet became the way of life? The mail was dropped in the post box, then through the postal system finally it was delivered by the postman in our letter box. The areas beyond the last railhead and after the road crumbles into sand, Gramin Dak Sewaks still serve as the sole link between the oases of humanity in India's extremes and their faraway families."
Show answer
(b) the postman in our letter box
1 marks · mcq
2. Q2. (MCQ) The phrase "oases of humanity" refers to —
(a) green patches in the desert
(b) small, scattered settlements of people in India's extreme, remote regions
(c) cities on the border
(d) post offices in Rajasthan
Show answer
(b) small, scattered settlements of people in India's extreme, remote regions
1 marks · mcq
3. Q3. (MCQ) Gramin Dak Sewaks serve areas that lie —
(a) beyond the last railhead, after the road crumbles into sand
(b) near big railway stations
(c) inside the state capitals
(d) only around Jodhpur
Show answer
(a) beyond the last railhead, after the road crumbles into sand
1 marks · direct
4. Q4. What does "sole link" mean in the extract? (1 mark)
Show answer
It means the only connection — the GDS are the only tie between the families of these remote regions and the outside world.
1 marks · direct
5. Q5. How is mail sent at present, according to the extract? (1 mark)
Show answer
At present we are just a click away from sending mail — through the internet.
1 marks · direct
6. Q6. In the past, where was the mail finally delivered? (1 mark)
Show answer
The mail was dropped in the post box, passed through the postal system, and was finally delivered by the postman in our letter box.
1 marks · mcq
7. Q1. (MCQ) Khetaram's left shoulder has slumped because —
(a) of an old injury
(b) of years of carrying a mailbag
(c) he sleeps on one side
(d) of old age
"Khetaram is a Gramin Dak Sewak. His left shoulder slumped from years of carrying a mailbag, he is the sole postman of Somarad Branch Post Office. For the last 15 years, he has been a trusted link between the people attached to this Rajasthani village post office and their families. Defying all elements of the harshest desert of India, the Thar, he is the lone face of the state who reaches the far-flung hamlets, or dhaanis, of this remote area just 2.5 km short of the Indo-Pakistan border."
Show answer
(b) of years of carrying a mailbag
1 marks · mcq
8. Q2. (MCQ) The hamlets or dhaanis of Khetaram's area lie just ______ short of the Indo-Pakistan border.
(a) 10 km
(b) 25 km
(c) 2.5 km
(d) 50 km
Show answer
(c) 2.5 km
1 marks · mcq
9. Q3. (MCQ) "He is the lone face of the state" means —
(a) he is the only government representative the villagers ever see
(b) he is a famous man
(c) he works alone in Jodhpur
(d) he never shows his face
Show answer
(a) he is the only government representative the villagers ever see
1 marks · direct
10. Q4. Name the desert in which Khetaram works. (1 mark)
Show answer
The Thar, the harshest desert of India.
1 marks · direct
11. Q5. For how many years has Khetaram served Somarad Branch Post Office? (1 mark)
Show answer
For the last 15 years.
1 marks · direct
12. Q6. What are 'dhaanis'? (1 mark)
Show answer
The far-flung hamlets or small settlements of the remote border area that Khetaram reaches.
1 marks · mcq
13. Q1. (MCQ) Mail dispatched from Jodhpur is delivered at the border within —
(a) 48 hours
(b) one week
(c) 24 hours
(d) 12 hours
"Some 120 km beyond the last railhead at Barmer, 50 km beyond the last phone and 10 km beyond where the Barmer–Chohtan road crumbles into sand so soft that even bicycles can't ply, that's where Khetaram's footprints appear along sand beds and dunes. It is his bodily effort that ensures that the mail transferred from the mail train onto buses before being hefted onto his shoulders is delivered at the border, within 24 hours of dispatch from Jodhpur, around 330 km away."
Show answer
(c) 24 hours
1 marks · mcq
14. Q2. (MCQ) According to the extract, even ______ cannot ply on the soft sand beyond the Barmer–Chohtan road.
(a) camels
(b) buses
(c) bicycles
(d) mail vans
Show answer
(c) bicycles
1 marks · mcq
15. Q3. (MCQ) The word 'hefted' in the extract most nearly means —
(a) weighed
(b) lifted
(c) posted
(d) dropped
Show answer
(b) lifted
1 marks · direct
16. Q4. Where is the last railhead? (1 mark)
Show answer
At Barmer, some 120 km away from Khetaram's beat.
1 marks · direct
17. Q5. How far away is the last phone? (1 mark)
Show answer
50 km away.
1 marks · direct
18. Q6. How does the mail reach Khetaram's shoulders? (1 mark)
Show answer
The mail is transferred from the mail train onto buses, and is then hefted onto his shoulders before he delivers it at the border.
"Often, the impression of his footprints reveals the weight of his mailbag. Regulations stipulate that his load cannot exceed 28 kilos. But in the summers, when the sands sizzle under his traditional mojri-clad feet, Khetaram says, 'Even a single delivery is tiring, as I have to cover 20 km for it.' He delivers even on days when his body sends blazing signals that the temperature has crossed 50 degrees celsius, but is recorded as 49.9 degrees celsius, since 50 degrees celsius would mean a state holiday. Sometimes severe heat forces him to postpone deliveries till after sundown."
Show answer
(b) 28 kilos
1 marks · mcq
20. Q2. (MCQ) The temperature is recorded as 49.9 degrees celsius because —
(a) the thermometer is faulty
(b) 50 degrees would mean a state holiday
(c) it is cooler in the shade
(d) the radio says so
Show answer
(b) 50 degrees would mean a state holiday
1 marks · mcq
21. Q3. (MCQ) In summer, a single delivery tires Khetaram because —
(a) the mailbag is too heavy
(b) he must cover 20 km on foot
(c) the bus does not come
(d) he is too old
Show answer
(b) he must cover 20 km on foot
1 marks · direct
22. Q4. What often reveals the weight of his mailbag? (1 mark)
Show answer
The impression of his footprints along the sand beds and dunes.
1 marks · direct
23. Q5. What does 'stipulate' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
To specify or lay down as a rule or requirement.
1 marks · direct
24. Q6. What does severe heat sometimes force him to do? (1 mark)
Show answer
It forces him to postpone deliveries till after sundown.
1 marks · mcq
25. Q1. (MCQ) Khetaram's only protection against the desert's furies is his —
(a) tent
(b) khaki turban and uniform
(c) umbrella
(d) jeep
"On other days, his khaki turban and uniform are his only protection against the desert's furies, the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms which turn him into a walking sandman. 'Water is too precious to waste on washing, so I can only wipe my body. When I finish, there is a sand dune at my feet every evening,' he says. Till 2001, Khetaram was known as a 'delivery agent', operating in rural areas devoid of schools and primary healthcare centres. Since then, India's three lakh plus delivery agents like Khetaram were accepted as Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS), who constitute more than 50 per cent of the total workforce."
Show answer
(b) khaki turban and uniform
1 marks · mcq
26. Q2. (MCQ) "There is a sand dune at my feet every evening" because —
(a) the wind piles sand at his door
(b) the sand wiped from his body collects at his feet
(c) he brings sand home
(d) he builds dunes for exercise
Show answer
(b) the sand wiped from his body collects at his feet
1 marks · mcq
27. Q3. (MCQ) Till 2001, Khetaram was known as a —
(a) patwari
(b) postmaster
(c) 'delivery agent'
(d) Gramin Sanchar Sewak
Show answer
(c) 'delivery agent'
1 marks · direct
28. Q4. Why can Khetaram only wipe his body? (1 mark)
Show answer
Because water is too precious to waste on washing in the desert.
1 marks · direct
29. Q5. What does 'devoid of' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
Completely lacking or without something.
1 marks · direct
30. Q6. What proportion of the total workforce do the GDS constitute? (1 mark)
Show answer
More than 50 per cent.
1 marks · mcq
31. Q1. (MCQ) Which of the following is NOT a GDS territory?
(a) the frozen desert of Ladakh
(b) the isles of Lakshadweep
(c) the riverine communities of the northeast
(d) the beaches of Goa
"The frozen desert of Ladakh, the isles of Lakshadweep, and the riverine communities of the northeast are all GDS territories. 'The role of GDS is invaluable, since they deliver in interior areas that are often inaccessible by any means besides foot,' explains the Postmaster-General of Rajasthan Western Region. Unlike the British postal system set up in India to relay company dak between administrative centres, after independence, the mandate of India Post was to bring the entire population within the mailing ambit. Compared to 25,000 post offices in 1947, today we have about more than a lakh and a half post offices throughout the country."
Show answer
(d) the beaches of Goa
1 marks · mcq
32. Q2. (MCQ) The British postal system in India was originally set up to —
(a) serve village families
(b) relay company dak between administrative centres
(c) deliver money orders to farmers
(d) employ Gramin Dak Sewaks
Show answer
(b) relay company dak between administrative centres
1 marks · mcq
33. Q3. (MCQ) In 1947, India had about ______ post offices.
(a) 2,500
(b) 25,000
(c) one lakh
(d) a lakh and a half
Show answer
(b) 25,000
1 marks · direct
34. Q4. Who said that the role of the GDS is 'invaluable'? (1 mark)
Show answer
The Postmaster-General of Rajasthan Western Region.
1 marks · direct
35. Q5. What was the mandate of India Post after independence? (1 mark)
Show answer
To bring the entire population within the mailing ambit.
1 marks · direct
36. Q6. What does 'inaccessible' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
Unreachable or impossible to reach.
1 marks · mcq
37. Q1. (MCQ) Rural depositors entrust their ______ to the post office in their area.
(a) gold
(b) monthly savings
(c) land records
(d) letters
"Through the GDS, India Post has also been able to reach rural depositors, who entrust their monthly savings to the post office in their area. Every post office in the country has many operational accounts of the people which reflects their trust in the postal system. The essential criterion for GDS selection is access to another means of livelihood. They are required to work only five hours in a day and are also allowed to serve after the age of 60, till the age of 65."
Show answer
(b) monthly savings
1 marks · mcq
38. Q2. (MCQ) The essential criterion for GDS selection is —
(a) a university degree
(b) physical strength
(c) access to another means of livelihood
(d) owning a bicycle
Show answer
(c) access to another means of livelihood
1 marks · mcq
39. Q3. (MCQ) A GDS may serve till the age of —
(a) 55
(b) 58
(c) 60
(d) 65
Show answer
(d) 65
1 marks · direct
40. Q4. What do the many operational accounts in every post office reflect? (1 mark)
Show answer
They reflect the people's trust in the postal system.
1 marks · direct
41. Q5. How many hours a day are GDS required to work? (1 mark)
Show answer
Only five hours in a day.
1 marks · direct
42. Q6. What does 'entrust' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
To hand over something valuable, trusting the person to take care of it.
1 marks · mcq
43. Q1. (MCQ) The special conditions of GDS service exist so that —
(a) they can be paid a salary ensuring an assured income
(b) they work longer hours
(c) they retire early
(d) they can avoid training
"All this is so that they can be paid a salary to enable them to have an assured income. The salary of regular postmen gets revised as the other government employees. 'Only by applying such different conditions could we retain a large workforce of Gramin Dak Sewaks to serve remote outposts,' explains a postmaster. Khetaram's appointment more than a decade ago gave him a new lease of life. 'Akaal or famine is a way of life here. In a good year, I get one crop of bajra. That cannot feed my family of five. We would starve without this job,' he says."
Show answer
(a) they can be paid a salary ensuring an assured income
45. Q3. (MCQ) In a good year, Khetaram gets —
(a) two crops of wheat
(b) one crop of bajra
(c) three crops of rice
(d) no crop at all
Show answer
(b) one crop of bajra
1 marks · direct
46. Q4. What gave Khetaram "a new lease of life"? (1 mark)
Show answer
His appointment as a Gramin Dak Sewak more than a decade ago.
1 marks · direct
47. Q5. How many members does Khetaram's family have? (1 mark)
Show answer
Five.
1 marks · direct
48. Q6. Who explains that only different conditions could retain a large workforce of GDS? (1 mark)
Show answer
A postmaster.
1 marks · mcq
49. Q1. (MCQ) Story of the Indian Post Office was written by —
(a) Ruskin Bond
(b) Mulk Raj Anand
(c) R. K. Narayan
(d) Khushwant Singh
"And for each family which resides in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative. When writing about the social significance of the money order in his book, Story of the Indian Post Office, Mulk Raj Anand says, 'In no other country a person in remote villages is so dependent on the post office for transmission of small sums of money … It reflects the absolute confidence which most Indians place in the post office.' In fact, a few years ago, a scheme to scrap the GDS and transfer the job to patwaris (village record keepers) was proposed and summarily rejected. 'We knew they would not be able to do the job,' says Budh Singh, a village elder."
Show answer
(b) Mulk Raj Anand
1 marks · mcq
50. Q2. (MCQ) The scheme to scrap the GDS and transfer the job to patwaris was —
(a) accepted
(b) postponed
(c) summarily rejected
(d) partially implemented
Show answer
(c) summarily rejected
1 marks · mcq
51. Q3. (MCQ) Patwaris are —
(a) postmasters
(b) village record keepers
(c) border soldiers
(d) money lenders
Show answer
(b) village record keepers
1 marks · direct
52. Q4. On what is survival partly dependent for each family of this arid land? (1 mark)
Show answer
On money orders remitted by a relative.
1 marks · direct
53. Q5. Who is Budh Singh? (1 mark)
Show answer
A village elder.
1 marks · direct
54. Q6. What does 'remit' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
To send money to someone.
1 marks · mcq
55. Q1. (MCQ) Khetaram is "a warmly received man" because of —
(a) his wealth
(b) such aspects of trust
(c) his uniform
(d) his salary
"Such aspects of trust make Khetaram a warmly received man. He can dwell on any threshold, read out letters and write replies in his slightly shaky hand. Everyone feels comfortable asking him to read the letters and draft the replies. 'People are kind to me; the BSF always gives me a lift. Since their camp came here last year, when I distribute their dak, I get a cup of tea.' In the village, a piece of jaggery is all that can be offered when he brings news of a birth or weddings."
Show answer
(b) such aspects of trust
1 marks · mcq
56. Q2. (MCQ) Khetaram gets a cup of tea when he distributes dak at the —
(a) school
(b) BSF camp
(c) temple
(d) post office
Show answer
(b) BSF camp
1 marks · mcq
57. Q3. (MCQ) When Khetaram brings news of a birth or weddings, the village offers him —
(a) money
(b) sweets
(c) a piece of jaggery
(d) fruit
Show answer
(c) a piece of jaggery
1 marks · direct
58. Q4. In what kind of hand does Khetaram write replies? (1 mark)
Show answer
In his slightly shaky hand.
1 marks · direct
59. Q5. What does 'threshold' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
The entrance to a home.
1 marks · direct
60. Q6. What does the BSF always give Khetaram? (1 mark)
Show answer
A lift.
1 marks · mcq
61. Q1. (MCQ) The envelope with the right corner torn off signifies —
(a) good news
(b) news of death
(c) a money order
(d) a wedding invitation
"There is one letter delivery he dreads. The envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. 'Ashubh Samachar cannot be carried into the house,' says Khetaram. So, he stands outside, reads out the letter twice, then tears it to bits. 'Bad news must be destroyed,' he mutters philosophically. Today, after more than a decade and a half of bearing words across this desolate geography, Khetaram says his spine is strong."
Show answer
(b) news of death
1 marks · mcq
62. Q2. (MCQ) Khetaram tears the death letter to bits because —
(a) it is already torn
(b) "bad news must be destroyed"
(c) he cannot read it
(d) the postmaster orders him to
Show answer
(b) "bad news must be destroyed"
1 marks · mcq
63. Q3. (MCQ) 'Ashubh Samachar' means —
(a) good news
(b) an auspicious message
(c) inauspicious or bad news
(d) a festival greeting
Show answer
(c) inauspicious or bad news
1 marks · direct
64. Q4. What does 'missive' mean? (1 mark)
Show answer
A letter.
1 marks · direct
65. Q5. How many times does Khetaram read out the death letter, and where? (1 mark)
Show answer
Twice, standing outside the house.
1 marks · direct
66. Q6. What does Khetaram say about his spine after a decade and a half of bearing words? (1 mark)
Show answer
He says his spine is strong.
1 marks · mcq
67. Q1. (MCQ) When the phone lines arrive, Khetaram might become a —
(a) Postmaster-General
(b) patwari
(c) Gramin Sanchar Sewak
(d) school teacher
"'I am grateful that as a Gramin Dak Sewak, I can serve the people even after 60.' He is waiting for the arrival of phone lines, now only 50 km away, for then he might become Gramin Sanchar Sewak, when his duty will entail carrying a cell phone and the post, from home to home. 'Main tayyar hoon' (I'm ready), he says, before striding off with his sack on his shoulder to deliver Panna Devi's dak before sundown. People like Khetaram are a part and parcel of our social fabric, and are a great support! Our salute to all the people like Khetaram!"
Show answer
(c) Gramin Sanchar Sewak
1 marks · mcq
68. Q2. (MCQ) "Main tayyar hoon" means —
(a) I am tired
(b) I'm ready
(c) I am leaving
(d) I am grateful
Show answer
(b) I'm ready
1 marks · mcq
69. Q3. (MCQ) A Gramin Sanchar Sewak's duty will entail —
(a) carrying a cell phone and the post, from home to home
(b) only delivering parcels
(c) teaching in schools
(d) repairing phone lines
Show answer
(a) carrying a cell phone and the post, from home to home
1 marks · direct
70. Q4. Whose dak does Khetaram deliver before sundown? (1 mark)
Show answer
Panna Devi's.
1 marks · direct
71. Q5. How far away are the phone lines now? (1 mark)
Show answer
Only 50 km away.
1 marks · direct
72. Q6. How does the author describe people like Khetaram? (1 mark)
Show answer
As a part and parcel of our social fabric, and a great support.
1 marks · direct
73. Q1. How was mail delivered before the internet became a way of life? (2 marks)
Show answer
The mail was dropped in the post box, passed through the postal system, and was finally delivered by the postman in our letter box. Beyond the last railhead, Gramin Dak Sewaks are still the sole link for faraway families.
1 marks · direct
74. Q2. "He is the lone face of the state who reaches the far-flung hamlets." Explain why Khetaram is described this way. (2 marks)
Show answer
Khetaram is the only representative of the government whom the dhaanis near the Indo-Pakistan border ever see. Beyond the last railhead, road and phone, he alone walks the sand beds and dunes to reach them.
1 marks · direct
75. Q3. Why has Khetaram's left shoulder slumped, and what does it show? (2 marks)
Show answer
His left shoulder has slumped from years of carrying a heavy mailbag. It shows the physical toll that his work as the sole postman of Somarad Branch Post Office has taken on his body over fifteen years.
1 marks · direct
76. Q4. Describe Khetaram's beat, as given in the text. (2 marks)
Show answer
Khetaram walks to hamlets lying 120 km beyond the last railhead at Barmer, 50 km beyond the last phone and 10 km beyond where the Barmer–Chohtan road crumbles into sand, just 2.5 km short of the Indo-Pakistan border.
1 marks · direct
77. Q5. How do the khaki turban and uniform serve Khetaram in the desert? (2 marks)
Show answer
They are his only protection against the desert's furies — the scorching summer winds and swirling sandstorms, which turn him into a "walking sandman". He has no other shield while crossing the Thar.
1 marks · direct
78. Q6. Why does Khetaram find even a single delivery tiring in summer? (2 marks)
Show answer
In summer the sands sizzle under his mojri-clad feet and he has to cover 20 km for a single delivery, sometimes in heat that has crossed 50 degrees celsius; severe heat sometimes forces him to postpone deliveries till after sundown.
1 marks · direct
79. Q7. Why does Khetaram say, "there is a sand dune at my feet every evening"? (2 marks)
Show answer
Water is too precious to waste on washing, so he can only wipe his body. The sand wiped off collects at his feet every evening, forming, in his words, a small sand dune.
1 marks · direct
80. Q8. What changed for Khetaram and others like him in 2001? (2 marks)
Show answer
Till 2001 Khetaram was known as a 'delivery agent'. Since then, India's three-lakh-plus delivery agents were accepted as Gramin Dak Sewaks (GDS), who now constitute more than 50 per cent of the total postal workforce.
1 marks · direct
81. Q9. Why would Khetaram's family starve without his job? (2 marks)
Show answer
"Akaal or famine is a way of life" in his arid land. Even in a good year he gets just one crop of bajra, which cannot feed his family of five. His GDS salary keeps them from starvation.
1 marks · direct
82. Q10. How do the BSF and the villagers show their kindness to Khetaram? (2 marks)
Show answer
The BSF always gives him a lift, and since their camp came he gets a cup of tea when he distributes their dak. A piece of jaggery is offered when he brings news of a birth or weddings.
1 marks · direct
83. Q11. Explain the expression "walking sandman". (2 marks)
Show answer
In sandstorms, swirling desert sand coats Khetaram from head to foot as he walks, so that he looks like a man made of sand. The image captures how thoroughly the desert engulfs him on his rounds.
1 marks · direct
84. Q12. Why was the scheme to transfer the GDS's work to patwaris rejected? (2 marks)
Show answer
When a scheme to scrap the GDS and transfer the job to patwaris (village record keepers) was proposed, it was summarily rejected because village elder Budh Singh said, "We knew they would not be able to do the job."
1 marks · direct
85. Q13. Why is Khetaram a "warmly received man"? What can he do on any threshold? (2 marks)
Show answer
Aspects of trust make him warmly received everywhere. He can dwell on any threshold, read out letters and write replies in his slightly shaky hand; everyone feels comfortable asking him to read letters and draft replies.
1 marks · direct
86. Q14. Which letter delivery does Khetaram dread, and why? (2 marks)
Show answer
He dreads the envelope with the right corner torn off, which signifies that the missive bears news of death. Such "Ashubh Samachar" cannot be carried into the house, so he reads it outside and then destroys it.
1 marks · direct
87. Q15. How does Khetaram deliver news of death? (2 marks)
Show answer
He stands outside the house, reads out the letter twice, and then tears it to bits, muttering philosophically, "Bad news must be destroyed." He believes inauspicious news must not be carried into the home.
1 marks · direct
88. Q16. How would phone lines help Khetaram in his job? (2 marks)
Show answer
Once the phone lines — now only 50 km away — arrive, Khetaram might become a Gramin Sanchar Sewak. His duty would then entail carrying a cell phone and the post from home to home, making communication easier for villagers.
1 marks · direct
89. Q17. Why is Khetaram grateful to continue as a GDS even after the age of 60? (2 marks)
Show answer
He is grateful that, as a Gramin Dak Sewak, he can still serve the people after 60 — a facility not available in most jobs. It also gives him continued dignity and income where farming alone cannot sustain his family.
1 marks · direct
90. Q18. What does the impression of Khetaram's footprints often reveal? (2 marks)
Show answer
Often the impression of his footprints along the sand beds and dunes of the Thar reveals the weight of his mailbag; regulations stipulate that the load he carries cannot exceed 28 kilos.
1 marks · direct
91. Q19. How does the author conclude the chapter, and why? (2 marks)
Show answer
The author concludes that people like Khetaram are a part and parcel of our social fabric and a great support. The author salutes them for their dedicated service in the country's remotest corners under the harshest conditions.
1 marks · direct
92. Q20. What do the operational accounts in every post office reflect? (2 marks)
Show answer
Every post office in the country has many operational accounts of the people, which reflects their trust in the postal system. Through the GDS, India Post has also reached rural depositors who entrust their monthly savings to it.
1 marks · direct
93. Q1. Describe the route Khetaram's mail takes before it reaches his shoulders. (3 marks)
Show answer
The mail travels from Jodhpur on the mail train, is transferred onto buses, and finally is hefted onto Khetaram's shoulders. His own bodily effort then ensures that it is delivered at the border within 24 hours of dispatch from Jodhpur, roughly 330 km away.
1 marks · direct
94. Q2. What does the Postmaster-General of Rajasthan Western Region say about the role of the GDS? Why is it 'invaluable'? (3 marks)
Show answer
He says, "The role of GDS is invaluable, since they deliver in interior areas that are often inaccessible by any means besides foot." It is invaluable because without the GDS, people in such regions would receive no mail, money or connection with the outside world at all.
1 marks · direct
95. Q3. How was the purpose of India Post after independence different from that of the British postal system? (3 marks)
Show answer
The British postal system was set up to relay company dak between administrative centres, serving the rulers. After independence, India Post's mandate was to bring the entire population within the mailing ambit. Post offices grew from 25,000 in 1947 to over a lakh and a half.
1 marks · direct
96. Q4. State any three special working conditions granted to Gramin Dak Sewaks, and explain why they exist. (3 marks)
Show answer
(i) The essential selection criterion is access to another means of livelihood; (ii) they are required to work only five hours a day; (iii) they may serve even after 60, till 65. These conditions let them be paid an assured income and retain a large workforce for remote outposts.
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97. Q5. What did Mulk Raj Anand write about the money order in his book Story of the Indian Post Office? (3 marks)
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He wrote that in no other country is a person in remote villages so dependent on the post office for the transmission of small sums of money. He said it "reflects the absolute confidence which most Indians place in the post office".
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98. Q6. "People trusted the Gramin Dak Sewaks." Support this statement with any two instances from the text. (3 marks)
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(i) Everyone feels comfortable asking Khetaram to read their letters and draft replies; villagers entrust their monthly savings to the post office. (ii) A scheme to scrap the GDS and give the work to patwaris was summarily rejected — villagers knew the patwaris could not do the job.
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99. Q7. Describe the hardships Khetaram faces while delivering mail in the Thar. (3 marks)
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Khetaram defies the elements of the Thar: sizzling sands under his mojri-clad feet, heat that crosses 50 degrees celsius, scorching winds and swirling sandstorms that turn him into a walking sandman. A single delivery means covering 20 km, and severe heat sometimes forces him to postpone deliveries till after sundown.
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100. Q8. What role do the GDS and the post office play in the economic life of rural families? (3 marks)
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Through the GDS, India Post reaches rural depositors, who entrust their monthly savings to their area post office. Further, for each family in this arid land, survival is partly dependent on money orders remitted by a relative — sums the post office alone transmits safely to remote villages.
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101. Q9. "Khetaram's appointment more than a decade ago gave him a new lease of life." Explain the statement. (3 marks)
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Before his appointment, Khetaram could grow only one crop of bajra even in a good year, which could not feed his family of five; akaal or famine was a way of life. The job gave him an assured income, saving his family from starvation — a new lease of life.
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102. Q10. What does the chapter tell us about the reach of the GDS across India? (3 marks)
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GDS serve India's remotest territories — the frozen desert of Ladakh, the isles of Lakshadweep and the riverine communities of the northeast. They deliver in interior areas often inaccessible by any means besides foot, and constitute more than 50 per cent of the total postal workforce.
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103. Q1. Draw a character sketch of Khetaram, citing evidence from the text. (5 marks)
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Khetaram is a Gramin Dak Sewak — the sole postman of Somarad Branch Post Office, just 2.5 km from the Indo-Pakistan border. He is hardworking and duty-bound: for 15 years he has walked sand beds and dunes, delivering mail within 24 hours of its dispatch from Jodhpur, even at 49.9 degrees celsius, sometimes after sundown. He is humble and honest — his left shoulder has slumped from the mailbag, yet he says his spine is strong and he is grateful to serve even after 60. He is trusted and warm: he reads letters and writes replies in his shaky hand for villagers, and is welcomed on any threshold. He is also compassionate — he dreads death letters, reads them outside, and tears them to bits because "bad news must be destroyed". He is hopeful: "Main tayyar hoon," he says, ready to become a Gramin Sanchar Sewak when phone lines arrive.
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104. Q2. "The role of the GDS is invaluable." Justify this statement of the Postmaster-General with evidence from the chapter. (5 marks)
Show answer
The GDS are invaluable because they reach where no one else can. Khetaram serves hamlets 120 km beyond the last railhead, 50 km beyond the last phone, where the road itself crumbles into sand — areas "inaccessible by any means besides foot". GDS territories cover the frozen desert of Ladakh, the isles of Lakshadweep and the riverine northeast — together, they form more than 50 per cent of the postal workforce. They link families by letter, bring survival through money orders, and carry rural depositors' savings to the post office, reflecting the absolute confidence Indians place in it. Villagers themselves rejected a plan to replace them with patwaris. People like Khetaram, who serve past the age of 60 for a piece of jaggery or a cup of tea, are truly a part and parcel of our social fabric.
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105. Q3. The chapter is titled "Carrier of Words". Justify the title in the light of Khetaram's life and work. (5 marks)
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The title is literal as well as symbolic. Literally, Khetaram carries words — letters hefted onto his shoulders are physically borne across dunes to the far-flung dhaanis near the border. But he also "carries words" in a deeper sense: he reads out letters to villagers, drafts replies in his shaky hand, and thus carries their voices to faraway families. He carries words of joy (births and weddings, rewarded with jaggery) and words of grief (the dreaded torn-corner envelope with Ashubh Samachar). His words bind the oases of humanity to the wider world. In an area devoid of schools, phone networks and healthcare, a single man's back becomes the bridge of human communication — hence, he is rightly called the Carrier of Words.
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106. Q4. Imagine you are Khetaram. Describe a day in your life, in 120–150 words. (5 marks)
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(Sample answer) I wake before dawn in my hut near Somarad, sling the mailbag — never more than 28 kilos — onto my left shoulder, and set off in my mojris across the sand. Today the sun is fierce; the radio says 49.9 degrees. I trudge past the khejri trees where the camels slump, and the BSF camp gives me a lift and a cup of tea with their dak. At Panna Devi's threshold, I read out her son's letter and draft her reply in my shaky hand. A family gives me jaggery for news of a wedding. Then I see it — an envelope with its corner torn. I stand outside, read the Ashubh Samachar twice, and tear it to bits. Bad news must be destroyed. I am grateful I can still serve after 60. Main tayyar hoon.
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107. Q5. Describe the hardships Khetaram faces in his work and the spirit in which he bears them. (5 marks)
Show answer
Khetaram, the sole postman of Somarad Branch Post Office, battles the harshest desert of India, the Thar, every single day. In summer the sands sizzle under his traditional mojri-clad feet, and he must cover 20 km for even a single delivery. He delivers even when his body sends blazing signals that the temperature has crossed 50 degrees celsius — recorded as 49.9, since 50 would mean a state holiday — and severe heat sometimes forces him to postpone deliveries till after sundown. On other days his only protection against scorching winds and swirling sandstorms, which turn him into a walking sandman, is his khaki turban and uniform. Water is too precious to waste on washing, so he can only wipe his body, leaving "a sand dune at my feet every evening". Yet his spirit never breaks: after a decade and a half, he says his spine is strong.
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108. Q6. The chapter is as much about trust as about postal service. Discuss with examples from the text. (5 marks)
Show answer
The chapter shows that the postal system, and Khetaram in particular, rests entirely on the people's trust. Villagers feel comfortable asking Khetaram to read out their letters and draft replies in his slightly shaky hand; he can dwell on any threshold as a warmly received man. Rural depositors entrust their monthly savings to the post office, and every post office has many operational accounts, which reflects people's trust in the postal system. Mulk Raj Anand observed that in no other country is a person in remote villages so dependent on the post office for the transmission of small sums of money — it reflects the absolute confidence Indians place in it. Finally, when a scheme to scrap the GDS and transfer the job to patwaris was proposed, it was summarily rejected, for the villagers knew the patwaris would not be able to do the job.
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109. Q7. "People like Khetaram are a part and parcel of our social fabric, and are a great support!" Justify the author's tribute to people like Khetaram. (5 marks)
Show answer
The tribute is fully deserved. In regions 120 km beyond the last railhead at Barmer, 50 km beyond the last phone, and 10 km beyond where the Barmer–Chohtan road crumbles into sand, Khetaram is the lone face of the state. He ensures that mail dispatched from Jodhpur, about 330 km away, is delivered at the border within 24 hours. He links families separated by distance, carries money orders on which survival in the arid land partly depends, and keeps rural savings safe in post offices. He reads letters for villagers, writes replies in his shaky hand, shares their joys (rewarded with a piece of jaggery) and shields households from grief by destroying letters bearing Ashubh Samachar. In places devoid of schools and healthcare centres, such dedicated servants bind India's remotest citizens to the nation.
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110. 1. Somarad, where Khetaram serves, lies just ______ short of the Indo-Pakistan border.
A. 10 km B. 25 km C. 2.5 km D. 50 km
Show answer
C. 2.5 km
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111. 2. Mail from Jodhpur reaches the border area within ______ of dispatch.
A. 12 hours B. 24 hours C. 48 hours D. one week
Show answer
B. 24 hours
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112. 3. Jodhpur, from where the mail is dispatched, is about ______ away.
A. 120 km B. 50 km C. 2.5 km D. 330 km
Show answer
D. 330 km
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113. 4. Khetaram's only protection against the desert's furies is his —
A. camel B. umbrella C. khaki turban and uniform D. tent
Show answer
C. khaki turban and uniform
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114. 5. "There is a sand dune at my feet every evening," says Khetaram, because —
A. he builds dunes for exercise
B. the sand wiped from his body collects at his feet after washing
C. the wind piles sand outside his door
D. he brings sand home for construction
Show answer
B. the sand wiped from his body collects at his feet (water is too precious to waste on washing, so he can only wipe his body)
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115. 6. Which of the following is NOT a GDS territory?
A. the frozen desert of Ladakh
B. the isles of Lakshadweep
C. the riverine communities of the northeast
D. the beaches of Goa
Show answer
D. the beaches of Goa
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116. 7. The British postal system in India was originally set up to —
A. serve village families
B. relay company dak between administrative centres
C. deliver money orders to farmers
D. employ Gramin Dak Sewaks
Show answer
B. relay company dak between administrative centres
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117. 8. The essential criterion for GDS selection is —
A. a university degree
B. physical strength
C. access to another means of livelihood
D. owning a bicycle
Show answer
C. access to another means of livelihood
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118. 9. A GDS may serve up to the age of —
A. 55 B. 58 C. 60 D. 65
Show answer
D. 65
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119. 10. In a good year, Khetaram's land yields —
A. two crops of wheat B. one crop of bajra C. three crops of rice D. no crop at all
Show answer
B. one crop of bajra
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120. 11. Story of the Indian Post Office, quoted in the text, is written by —
A. Mulk Raj Anand B. Ruskin Bond C. R. K. Narayan D. Khushwant Singh
Show answer
A. Mulk Raj Anand
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121. 12. The plan to scrap the GDS and hand their work to patwaris was rejected because —
A. the patwaris went on strike
B. villagers knew the patwaris would not be able to do the job
C. it was too expensive
D. the postmasters protested
Show answer
B. villagers knew the patwaris would not be able to do the job ("We knew they would not be able to do the job," says Budh Singh, a village elder)
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122. 13. When Khetaram brings news of a birth or a wedding, the village offers him —
A. sweets made of gram B. a cup of tea C. a piece of jaggery D. money
Show answer
C. a piece of jaggery
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123. 14. Khetaram gets a cup of tea whenever he distributes dak at the —
A. school B. BSF camp C. panchayat office D. temple
Show answer
B. BSF camp (Border Security Force)
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124. 15. When phone lines reach his area, Khetaram might become a —
A. Postmaster-General B. patwari C. Gramin Sanchar Sewak D. school teacher
Show answer
C. Gramin Sanchar Sewak
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125. 16. "Main tayyar hoon" means —
A. I am tired B. I'm ready C. I am leaving D. my back hurts
Show answer
B. I'm ready
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126. 17. In 1947, India had about ______ post offices; today there are more than a lakh and a half.
A. 2,500 B. 25,000 C. 2.5 lakh D. 50,000
Show answer
B. 25,000
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127. 18. Khetaram delivers Panna Devi's dak —
A. at midnight B. before sundown C. after a week D. by postman train
Show answer
B. before sundown
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128. 1. Khetaram has been a trusted link between the people of the village and their families for ______ years.
Show answer
15
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129. 2. The small settlements of the remote border area are called hamlets or ______. (Rajasthani word)
Show answer
dhaanis
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130. 3. True or False: Khetaram's mailbag can legally weigh more than 30 kilos.
Show answer
False — regulations stipulate the load cannot exceed 28 kilos.
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131. 4. The desert in which Khetaram works is the ______, India's harshest desert.
Show answer
Thar
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132. 5. People in the remote area relied on ______ (expand: BSNL) to connect to the world.
Show answer
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited
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133. 6. Khetaram writes replies to letters for villagers in his slightly ______ hand.
Show answer
shaky
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134. 7. True or False: Khetaram says his spine is strong after more than a decade and a half of carrying words.
Show answer
True
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135. 8. Money orders sent by a relative help families in the arid land to ______.
Show answer
survive
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136. 9. The word ______ in the chapter means 'entrance to a home'.
