Question

Based on the novel you have read, write about an interesting character. Give
reasons and examples to support your answer.
Model Answer
I read the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbit. In this novel, I find that Bobbie is a
very interesting character.
I find her interesting because, she is a brave girl. This is shown when there was a landslide.
Half of the hillside crashed down onto the railway line. The train was in danger. The children
used the girls red petticoat to make six flags to warn the train.The train came down the track too
fast. Bobbie ran onto the railway line waving two flags. The train stopped twenty metres away
from Bobbie. Here, it is very clear that Bobbie is a brave girl and I am sure not many children her
age would do this.
She is an interesting character because she is very loving. This is shown when Mother was ill.
The children did not have money to buy the things listed by the doctor. Bobbie and her siblings
got help. She loved her mother very much and got all the things in the doctors list for her mother
with the help of the old gentleman. The old gentleman gave all the things in the list and some
extra things.
Bobbie has many good qualities and that is why I find her interesting. We should make her
our role model.

Question : Based on the novel you have read, write about a character you dislike. Give reasons
and examples from the novel to support your choice.
Model Answer:
I studied the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbit. The character I dislike is Mother.
Mother has many positive qualities a mother should have but , I dislike some of her actions
toward the children. One example is when she fell ill. The doctor listed out all the things needed
for her to get well. They did not have the money to buy all the things listed. The children asked
the old gentleman to help them get the things on the doctor's list. That evening, Perks delivered a
large box to the children's house. It was given by the old gentleman. Inside the box were all the
things in the list with some extra things. Mother recovered and the children told her about what
they had done. However, she was very angry with them. I think this is unfair to the children. They
did what they could so that Mother get well and I think what they did is not wrong and should be
praised by Mother.
I also dislike Mother because she did not tell the children what had really happened to Father.
She kept it a secret. On the evening of Peter's birthday, two men came and took their father away.
Mother was upset. She tried to comfort the children but did not tell them what had happened.
They moved to the country and began a new life there. The children had no idea what really
happened. They always thought of their father but did not talk about it as they were afraid it would
upset Mother. I disagree with Mother for keeping it a secret. I feel that the children have the right
to know what happen to their father. Although they are still young to understand, they should
know the real story about their father so that they are mentally prepared to face the change in
their life.

Although Mother had her own reason for doing the things she had done; scolded the children
when they seek the old gentleman's help and did not tell the children about what happened to
their father, I think that she was being unfair to the children

Question:
Thoughtfulness is the key to happiness. Based on the novel you have learnt, describe
an event that shows thoughtfulness.
Model Answer
I read the novel, "The Railway Children" by Edith Nesbitt. In this novel, there are many events
which show thoughtfulness. One of them is when the children asked to have cakes on Thursday.
They wanted to make a birthday tea for Perks. Peter wanted to ask everybody in the village to
help them give Perks a nice birthday. On Thursday, the children went around to collect presents
the people had promised. At three oclock, the children took the presents and the pram to Perks
house. When Perks came home and saw the pram and the presents, he was angry. He thought
people would laugh at him for being poor and needing their things. Bobbie explained that the
people wanted to give him the presents because they liked him. Perks calmed down. He was glad
that his neighbours thought so kindly of him. By being thoughtful, the children had made Perks
happy.
In this event, Bobbie and her siblings had made Mrs Ransome happy. They found out that Mrs
Ransome was not happy because no one remembered her birthday and she did not want to join
them and give Perks a birthday present. The next day, Bobbie and Phyllis gave Mrs. Ransome
roses and a handkerchief for her birthday. Old Mrs Ransome thanked them for the roses. She
gave them apples for Perks. By being thoughtful, the children had made a lot of people happy and
this definitely proves that 'thoughtfulness is the key to happiness.

SYNOPSIS
Roberta ( Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis lived in London with their loving parents. They
were happy and contented. One day, two strangers came to their house and took
their father away. After this sudden event, the children and their mother moved to a
small house in the country. There was a railway line near their new house. The
children became friends with the people who worked at the railway. They enjoyed
waving to the passengers on the 9.15am train. An old gentleman who travelled on
the train always waved back at them. This gentleman became their friend. The
children had several adventures with the railway. They stopped the train when a
landslide covered the tracks. They also saved a boy who was hurt in the train tunnel.
The children often thought of their father . Then Roberta ( Bobbie ) found out why
their father was taken away. She wrote to the old gentleman for help. With his help,
their father finally returned to the family.