Class 11 English Notes Chapter 1 Button, Button for Punjab and Rawalpindi board, MCQ’s, True / False, Match the Columns, Grammar, Questions Answers, and 1st Year FSc Part-1 notes.
Class 11 English Notes Chapter 1 Button, Button Punjab & Rawalpindi Board
- Question Answers
Why did Norma consider the tone and attitude of Mr. Steward offensive?
Norma considered Mr. Steward’s tone offensive because it was businesslike. Despite her lack of interest, he maintained that it could be monetarily valuable to her.
Why did Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?
Norma tried to persuade her husband to agree with her because accepting the offer could facilitate her in the fulfillment of her materialistic desires. She saw the possibility of taking a trip to Europe, buying a cottage on the Island and in this way an opportunity to improve her lifestyle by getting a better apartment, furniture, clothes, and a car.
What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?
Norma told her husband that this offer might be for research purpose aimed at analyzing the possible reactions of people or some rich man might be playing tricks with people. She argued that it is not immoral to kill person unknown to them and the money would help them improve their lifestyle.
Why did Arthur disagree with his wife?
Arthur disagreed with his wife’s idea because he believed that pushing the button in order to get money at the cost of someone’s life is an immoral and inhumane practice. He considered it a murder.`
Why did Norma try to persuade her husband to agree with her?
Norma tried to persuade her husband to agree with her because accepting the offer could facilitate her in the fulfillment of her materialistic desires. She saw the possibility of taking a trip to Europe, buying a cottage on the Island and in this way an opportunity to improve her lifestyle by getting a better apartment, furniture, clothes, and a car.
What were the reasons Norma gave to her husband to accept the offer?
Norma told her husband that this offer might be for research purpose aimed at analyzing the possible reactions of people or some rich man might be playing tricks with people. She argued that it is not immoral to kill person unknown to them and the money would help them improve their lifestyle.
Why did Mr. Steward continue persuading Norma?
After Arthur refused his offer, Mr. Steward continued persuading Norma because he observed that she is a woman of weak character, unlike her husband. Therefore, he could entice her with the prospect of the monetary gain of fifty thousand dollars.
What was the message Norma received on pushing the button?
Norma received a message from Lenox Hill Hospital revealing the tragic news that her husband had met a subway accident. She was informed that Arthur had been pushed from the platform in front of the train by a crowd of people.
What is the significance of Arthur’s life insurance policy?
Ironically, Arthur’s life insurance policy is significant because it was equal to the amount that was offered by Mr. Steward with double compensation in case of accidental death. In other words, Norma had to pay a very high price for the execution of her desire.
Why didn’t Norma remain true to her husband?
Norma was a woman of frail character conflicted between materialism and morality, who was lured by the prospect of acquiring a huge sum of money, that is, fifty thousand dollars by doing a job as simple as the pushing of a button. She is enticed by the prospect of uplifting her lifestyle at the expense of the money earned in no time. However, Arthur is surprised at her weak sense of morality; he is shaken by surprise at her wife’s notions.
Norma, on the other hand, remains indifferent towards his opinion and the inhumane aspect of the offer made by Mr. Steward. Regardless of the fact that the money earned in such a way will result in the death of a person, overcome by temptation, she gives in to the offer.
In spite of the opposition of her husband, she calls Mr. Steward in his absence and accepts the offer which indicates that Norma did not remain true to her husband. However, the wrong decision made by her brings her everlasting sorrow as her husband dies in a Subway accident soon after she pushes the button of the gadget.
Do you agree with Norma’s assertion that the death of someone you have never seen is not important?
No, I strongly oppose Norma’s assertion that the death of someone you have never seen is not important. Since “killing of a single person is the murder of the entire humanity”. Life of every human is precious, no matter to which country, land or religion he or she belongs. Norma’s point of view that earning money at the stake of the life of a person unknown to her is acceptable because it does not affect her life directly is not only inhumane, but it also depicts the frailty of her character.
So, in order to accomplish her self-centered desire of improving her lifestyle, she accepts the offer made by Mr. Steward. However, money earned by such effortless means and at the cost of the life of a person does not bring her happiness, but results in unbearable loss and everlasting misery for Norma. In short, murder of a person is a heinous crime against humanity and not justifiable in any way.
What moral lesson does the story teach?
The story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson emphasizes the idea of the frailty of human character in the face of egocentric worldly desires. Norma, the central character of the story is lured by the prospect of improving her lifestyle and is willing to go to any length in order to ensure the accomplishment of her materialistic desire of improving her lifestyle by buying a nicer apartment, furniture, clothes, and a car, even at the cost of humanity.
In order to achieve her purpose, she accepts the offer of fifty thousand dollars in return for the task of pushing the button on the button unit, although she is aware of the fact that it would result in the death of some person unknown to her.
This tragic story revolves around the theme of lack of modesty as Norma, who belongs to a middle-class family is not happy with what she has and is tempted by the scheme of earning a huge amount of money effortlessly. In this way, she has to pay a huge price for the fulfillment of her desires as her tragic flaw and brings her own doom as it leads to the death of her own husband and she becomes the face of everlasting misery. Norma’s misfortune indicates that money acquired at the cost of morality cannot result in the prosperity of a person.
Q 4. Write Down The Answer to The Following Questions in 100-150 words.
i. Write a note on the character of Arthur.
Answer:
Arthur Lewis is one of the protagonists of the story ‘Button, Button’ by Richard Matheson. In this story, he has been portrayed as a humane, honest, and celebrated citizen. He is a strong-minded person who adheres to his moral values. When Arthur and his wife encounter the prospect of earning fifty thousand dollars at the cost of someone’s life, not only he rejects the offer but also opposes his wife’s notions. He is shaken by surprise at Norma’s desire for a better lifestyle at the cost of humanity.
He considers it a heinous crime against humanity and regards it as a “murder”. Since Norma is lured by the possibility of the improvement of their lifestyle at the expense of the monetary reward for doing a job as simple as pushing a button, she is not ready to give up. Overcome by the temptation, despite Arthur’s objection against the idea, she executes the task of pushing the button in his absence as which results in Arthur’s death in a subway accident.
Write the story in your own words.
Answer:
On reaching home, Norma receives a package labeled “Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Lewis…” containing a button unit accompanied with a note stating that Mr. Steward will be calling them at 8:00 am. A man visits them while Norma is busy doing dishes. He reveals that he is Mr. Steward, an agent of an international organization and puts forth an offer of fifty thousand dollars in return for the task of pushing of the button of the gadget that would result in the death of some unknown person somewhere in the world.
Arthur opposes the idea as he considers it a “murder”, whereas Norma is enticed by the prospect of earning such a huge amount effortlessly as she sees the possibility of improvement in their lifestyle at the expense of this money. After a series of arguments between them, Norma is still unable to convince Arthur who is shaken by surprise at her wife’s weak sense of humanity.
Despite her husband’s opposition, she calls Mr. Steward in his absence and accepts the offer. As soon as she pushes the button unit, she is informed about the death of her husband in a Subway accident. It is then that she realizes that the money she has been offered is equal to Arthur’s life-insurance with double indemnity in case of his accidental death.
Grammar
Q 6. Use The Correct Form of Verbs given in brackets
i. Norma (unlock) the door, and (go) into the apartment.
ii. She (turn) the unit over.
iii. She (reread) the typed note smilingly.
iv. He (remove) his hat as Norma (open) the door.
v. Mr Steward (look) surprised.
Answer:
i. Norma unlocked the door, and went into the apartment.
ii. She turned the unit over.
iii. She reread the typed note smilingly.
iv. He removed his hat as Norma opened the door.
v. Mr Steward looked surprised.
Q 7. Punctuate the following lines.
mr steward looked embarrassed i m afraid i m not at liberty to tell you that he said however i assure you the organization is of international scope
Answer:
Mr. Steward looked embarrassed. “I’m afraid I am not at liberty to tell you that,” he said. “However, I assure you the organization is of international scope.”
Q 8. Write down the following lines in indirect narration.
i. “Don’t you want to know about it?” The salesman asked the customer.
ii. “I hope everything goes well with you,” said Asif to his friend.
iii. “Where shall we meet tomorrow, at my home or at yours?” The lawyer asked his client.
iv.“All is well that ends well!” said the father when he had finished the story.
Answer:
i. The salesman asked the customer if he didn’t want to know about it.
ii. Asif wished his friend that he hoped everything goes well with him.
iii. The lawyer asked his client where they should meet the next day, at his home or his. iv. The father exclaimed when he had finished his story that all is well that end well.
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