Read the poem and answer the questions given below it.
The Umbrella Mender
Under the neem tree by the post office
old Kasim sits on a sack, his tools laid out:
a coil of wire, black thread, a pair of pliers,
spare ribs and handles in a biscuit tin.
All summer no one stops. The sun is harsh,
and people hurry past him to the shade.
But when the first clouds gather over the hills,
the lane remembers him and his small trade.
They bring him broken things: a schoolgirl’s red one,
a clerk’s black giant with three ribs snapped,
a grandmother’s faded one with flowers on it,
older than the lane, and patched and patched.
He turns each one slowly, like a doctor
who listens to a heartbeat through his hands,
then bends a wire, ties a knot, and gives it back
with the same nod for coins or for thanks.
And when the rain comes down at last in sheets,
the lane goes home beneath the roofs he made.
Kasim pulls a plastic sheet over his head
and waits, unhurried, in the dripping shade.
Which of the following best describes the tone of the speaker towards Kasim?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Warm and admiring
The speaker watches Kasim closely and with respect.
- His care is compared to a doctor “who listens to a heartbeat through his hands”. This shows admiring respect for his skill.
- The umbrellas he mends are called “the roofs he made”. The speaker gives his small trade a warm, kindly importance.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 2: Pitying and sorrowful — Incorrect. Only partly true: Pitying means feeling sorry for someone. The speaker does say that in summer “no one stops”. But Kasim waits “unhurried”, calm and at peace. The speaker respects him more than feels sorry for him. Example: She gave the wet puppy a pitying look.
Option 3: Detached and matter-of-fact — Incorrect. Contradicted: Detached means not showing any personal feeling. The first lines do list his tools plainly. But the doctor simile and “the roofs he made” show the speaker’s warm feeling. Example: The officer read out the list of names in a detached voice.
Option 4: Nostalgic and longing — Incorrect. Wrong time: Nostalgic means feeling a sad longing for the past. The poem shows Kasim at work now. The speaker does not look back at old days. Example: Old school photos always make my father nostalgic.