Page 2 - HOME ASSIGNMENT- A ROADSIDE STAND

4. Of all the thousand selfish cars that pass,
Just one to inquire what a farmer’s prices are.
And one did stop, but only to plow up grass
In using the yard to back and turn around;
And another to ask the way to where it was bound;
And another to ask could they sell it a gallon of gas

(i)Why did the first car stop by the roadside stand?
(ii)Why did the second car stop?
(iii)Why did the third car stop?
(iv)Why is the poet annoyed with the last car?

SHORT QUESTIONS

1. What was the plea of the folk who had put up the roadside stand ?
2. What is the ‘childish longing’ that the poet refers to ? Why is it ‘vain’?
3. The government and other social service agencies appear to help the poor rural
people, but actually do them no good. Pick out the words and phrases that the poet
uses to show their double standards.
4. How did the village folk mar the landscape ?
5. Why do people who are running the roadside stand 'ask for some city money' ?
6. Who has betrayed the village people ? How ?
7. How did the travellers on the highways react to the roadside stand ?