Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (15)

1. Q1Long answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : (a) Evaluate the elements of humour and endearment in "A Triumph of Surgery". OR (b) Discuss how the play "The Book that Saved the Earth" depicts how misunderstanding of cultural differences and lack of awareness about other races cause confusion and conflict.

   

   Medha Ma’am

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   Model answer · Humour and endearment, Tricki

   1. 1.In "A Triumph of Surgery", James Herriot mixes gentle humour with warm endearment. Most of the humour comes from Mrs Pumphrey's silly pampering of her dog. Tricki owns "a whole wardrobe" of little tweed coats, and even a raincoat for wet days. When Herriot takes the sick dog away, the maids rush out with his day bed, night bed, toys, breakfast bowl, lunch bowl and supper bowl. Mrs Pumphrey even throws an armful of coats through the car window. Later she sends eggs, wine and brandy "to enrich Tricki's blood", and it is Herriot and his partners who happily drink them. The biggest irony is in the title. She calls Tricki's recovery "a triumph of surgery", but there was no operation at all. The cure was simply no food for two days, plenty of water and running about with the other dogs.3 marks
   2. 2.The story is also full of endearment. Mrs Pumphrey's love is foolish, but it is sincere and touching. She is "distraught" when Tricki falls ill and is sure he will "pine and die" without her. When she comes to collect him, her lips tremble. Tricki is lovable too: although he is weak, he makes "a brave effort to wag his tail". When he is home again, he leaps into his mistress's lap and licks her face. Herriot himself is kind and tactful. He calls the dog "Poor old lad" and quietly keeps the secret of the simple cure.2 marks
   3. 3.In this way, Herriot's light humour makes us laugh at overindulgence, while the deep affection between the dog, his mistress and the veterinary surgeon leaves the reader smiling warmly at the end.1 mark

   • Back up each point with words from the text, such as "a whole wardrobe", "to enrich Tricki's blood" and "a brave effort to wag his tail".
   • Explain the irony of "a triumph of surgery": the cure was only no food, plenty of water and exercise, with no operation.
   • Give humour and endearment one paragraph each, then finish with a one-line conclusion that joins the two.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

2. Q2Short answer6 marksAsked: 2023

   9. Answer ANY TWO of the following in about 40-50 words each : (a) How did Mrs. Pumphery treat Tricki ? (The Triumph of Surgery) (b) How did Ausable get rid of Max without using a weapon. (The Midnight Visitor) (c) Why did Richard Ebright raise a flock of butterflies ? (Making of a scientist)

3. Q3Long answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   11. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : I. Evaluate how "A Triumph of Surgery" is a lesson in thoughtful parenting. II. Evaluate how "The Necklace" critiques the obsession with appearances and social status.

4. Q4Long answer6 marksAsked: 2026

   Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 – 120 words : (a) Compare and contrast Tricki’s condition before and after his stay at the surgery. How does this contrast help in understanding the role of proper care, discipline and environment in ensuring Tricki’s well-being ? (A Triumph of Surgery) OR (b) How does Think-Tank’s arrogance and ignorance contribute to the theme of wit over power in ‘The Book that Saved the Earth’ ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. (a) Before his stay at the surgery, Tricki was ill because Mrs Pumphrey pampered and overfed him. She gave him cream cakes, chocolates, malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks, and he got little exercise. He became hugely fat,…

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5. Q5Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any two of the three questions, in 40-50 words each : (i) What does Mr. Herriot mean by "happy period" for himself and his partners ? Explain. (A Triumph of Surgery) (ii) Justify how Ebright's mother played an important part in his becoming a scientist. (The Making of a Scientist) (iii) A well known book of nursery rhymes saved the world from a Martian invasion. Comment with reference to 'The Book that Saved the Earth'.

   How the model answer begins

   1. During Tricki's stay at the surgery, Mrs. Pumphrey kept sending fresh eggs, bottles of wine and brandy to 'build him up'. Tricki was put on a diet, so Herriot and his partners enjoyed these luxuries themselves. For them…

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6. Q6Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any two of the following three questions in 40 – 50 words each : 2x3=6 (i) "We are often over-indulgent towards people we care about." Explain with reference to the story "A Triumph of Surgery". (ii) How did Apprentice Noodle act smartly by suggesting something about the book without offending Think-Tank ? (The Book That Saved The Earth) (iii) Despite his unusual appearance, Ausable's presence of mind helped him get rid of Max. Comment with reference to the story 'The Midnight Visitor'.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Mrs. Pumphrey loved her dog Tricki so much that she could not bear to refuse him anything. She overfed him with cream cakes, chocolates, malt, cod-liver oil and Horlicks. Her over-indulgence made him hugely fat,…

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7. Q7Case-based5 marksAsked: 2025

   (b) Tricki was tottering along in his little tweed coat.... He struggled on, drooping in his harness. I thought it wouldn’t be long before I heard from Mrs. Pumphrey. The expected call came within a few days. Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught. Tricki would eat nothing. Refused even his favourite dishes; and besides, he had bouts of vomiting. He spent all his time lying on a rug, panting. Didn’t want to go for walks, didn’t want to do anything. I had made my plans in advance. The only way was to get Tricki out of the house for a period. I suggested that he be hospitalized for about a fortnight to be kept under observation. The poor lady almost swooned. She was sure he would pine and die if he did not see her every day. But I took a firm line. Tricki was very ill and this was the only way to save him. (A Triumph of Surgery) (i) Why had the author made his plans in advance ? (A) Mrs. Pumphrey was worried that Tricki would pine and die without her. (B) The author was aware of the severity of Tricki’s medical condition. (C) The author knew about Mrs. Pumphrey’s financial condition. (D) The author had planned his own vacation. (ii) The author firmly proposed the need to remove Tricki from the house for a specified period. Elaborate the reason for doing so in about 40 words. (iii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the brackets. The word ‘swooned’ in the following sentence indicates almost ________ (tripped/fainted). (iv) “Mrs. Pumphrey was distraught.” What does this suggest about her character ? Mention any one reason.

8. Q8Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   Considering the emotional attachment of Mrs. Pumphrey with Tricki, state the impact of the word ‘convalescing’ on her. (A Triumph of Surgery)

   How the model answer begins

   1. 'Convalescing' means recovering from an illness, that is, a gradual recovery. When Mr Herriot told Mrs Pumphrey that Tricki was out of danger and convalescing rapidly, the word seemed to do something to her, because she…

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9. Q9Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

   In ‘A Triumph of Surgery’, how does Tricki’s condition reflect the consequences of pampering pets excessively ? What does this suggest about human attachment ?

   How the model answer begins

   1. Tricki's condition shows that excessive pampering can make a pet extremely sick. Mrs Pumphrey never said "No" to his food demands. She fed him cream cakes, chocolates and extras between meals because she could not bear…

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10. Q10Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

    Analyze how Herriot uses Tricki and Mrs. Pumphrey's relationship to comment on societal attitudes towards pets and the responsibilities associated with their care. (A Triumph of Surgery)

    How the model answer begins

    1. Herriot uses Mrs Pumphrey's love for Tricki to show that many pet owners mistake overindulgence for care. She over-pampers Tricki and keeps overfeeding him with cream cakes, chocolates and extras between meals, so he…

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11. Q11Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    What does Mr. Herriot mean by “happy period” for himself and his partners ? Explain. (A Triumph of Surgery)

    How the model answer begins

    1. By "happy period", Mr Herriot means the days when he and his partners enjoyed the rich food that Mrs Pumphrey sent for her dog, Tricki. Tricki had become seriously ill from overeating, and Mrs Pumphrey was very worried.…

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12. Q12Short answer3 marksAsked: 2024

    "We are often over-indulgent towards people we care about." Explain with reference to the story "A Triumph of Surgery".

    How the model answer begins

    1. We often spoil the people and pets we love, and in "A Triumph of Surgery" Mrs Pumphrey does exactly this with her little dog, Tricki. She loves him so much that she overfeeds and over-pampers him. He gets cream cakes,…

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13. Q13Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

    What was Mr. Herriot's strict advice ? Did Mrs. Pumphrey agree to his advice ?

    How the model answer begins

    1. Mr. Herriot strictly told Mrs. Pumphrey that Tricki must be kept on a very strict diet. She must cut his food right down and give him more exercise, or he would become really ill.

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14. Q14Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

    Why was Mr. Herriot shocked at Tricki’s appearance ?

    How the model answer begins

    1. Mr Herriot was shocked because Tricki, Mrs Pumphrey's little dog, looked very unhealthy when he saw him in the street with his mistress. Tricki had become hugely fat, like a bloated sausage with a leg at each corner.…

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15. Q15Short answer3 marksAsked: 2023

    What excuses did Mrs. Pumphrey make about Mr. Herriot's advice?

    How the model answer begins

    1. Mrs Pumphrey made excuses for not following Mr Herriot's advice to cut down Tricki's sweet things and give him more exercise. About the sweets, she said Tricki loved cream cakes and chocolates so much that she could not…

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Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "A Triumph of Surgery" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 2 marks and about 1 questions a year; by marks it ranks 10 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "A Triumph of Surgery"?

The 15 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 15 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the AskMedha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.