Hi Everyone!! This article will share Tabby’s Tablecloth Questions & Answers.
In one of my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of A Stitch in Time, Cypress Street and Saving Dory so, make sure to check these posts as well.
Tabby’s Tablecloth Questions & Answers
Word Galaxy
- Vigor – physical or mental energy
- Flutter – to wave rapidly
- Doze – to sleep lightly
- Slender – slim and graceful
- Purring – a low vibrant sound plan for an illegal purpose
- Retreat – to withdraw when faced with danger
- Plotting – making a secret plan for an illegal purpose
Question 1: What kind of environment prevailed in Concord, Massachusetts at the beginning of the story?
Answer: Those were dangerous times in Concord, Massachusetts. The newly founded United States was at war with Britain. In nearly every house, gun powder, axes, tents, guns and cartridges were hidden. The cannons were hidden in the woods. A guard of ten men patrolled the town at night and the brave farmers were getting ready for what they felt must come.
Question 2: Describe Tabby’s attempt to spy on the British soldiers.
Answer: Tabby went to Mrs. Bliss’ house with some eggs. Mr. Bliss was a well-known Tory and it was important to keep track of his activities. Tabby hid herself under the table. She heard the conversation going on between Bliss and the two British soldiers. She immediately ran towards her uncle and told him about the conversation she heard at Mr. Bliss’ home. This coming danger was informed to everyone in the United States.
Question 3: Describe what happened when
(a) Tabby was under the table?
Answer: When Tabby was under the table. She tried to hear the conversation between Mr. Bliss and the two British soldiers. The Captain swore and stamped Tabby’s hand which nearly forced a cry from her. Though faint with pain, she bit her lips and never stirred.
Tabby’s Tablecloth Questions & Answers
(b) The gentleman prepared to leave?
Answer: When the gentlemen prepared to leave, Tabby was overcome by a sudden sneeze. She thought she was lost. She hid her face, expecting to be dragged out at any moment. But suddenly, the cat came to save her. The cat had come to doze on her warm skirts. When the tablecloth was raised, the cat came out and everyone thought that the sound was made by the cat.
Question 4: Who saved Tabby and how?
Answer: When Tabby sneezed she thought that she would be caught. But fortunately, she was saved by the cat. When the tablecloth was raised, the cat sleeping on her skirt walked out from under the table and everyone thought that the sound was made by a cat.
Question 5: What do you think, would have happened if Tabby had not spied on the British soldiers?
Answer: If Tabby had not spied on the British soldiers, nobody would have known the intentions of the British and the people of the United States would not have got the time to be ready for war and ship their valuable supplies to other towns.
Question 6: Do you think that the title suits the story? Why/Why not? Suggest another title for the story.
Answer: I think the title is apt for the story as it was under the long folds of the tablecloth that Tabby hid herself and spied on the British soldiers. Since the tablecloth made it possible for her to hide and spy, it was Tabby’s tablecloth in the true sense.
Question 7: Read the lines and answer the questions:
They exchanged a few whispered words. Then they came forward. “My pretty lass, can you tell me where Mr. Daniel Bliss lives?” asked the younger man with a smile.
(a) Who are ‘they’ in the above lines?
Answer: ‘They’ in the above lines refer to the British soldiers.
(b) Why did they want to go to Daniel Bliss?
Answer: The British soldiers wanted to go to Daniel Bliss because they wanted to find out where the supplies were stored and how well the town was guarded.
(c) How did the pretty lass answer?
Answer: The ‘pretty lass’ Tabby answered politely to the soldiers and said that Daniel Bliss’ house was a little further down.
(d) What did the pretty lass suspect about them? Did her suspicion prove to be true?
Answer: Tabby suspected them to be British soldiers. Yes, her suspicion about them was absolutely true.
Tabby’s Tablecloth Questions & Answers
Question 8: Read the lines and answer the questions:
He gave a stamp that brought his heavy heel down on Tabby’s hand as she leaned forward. The blow nearly forced a cry from her. Though faint with pain, she bit her lips and never stirred. When she could listen again …. .
(a) Where is Tabby now?
Answer: At that time, Tabby was under the table, hidden among the long folds of the tablecloth at Daniel Bliss’ house.
(b) What is Tabby doing at this place?
Answer: Tabby has come at Daniel Bliss’ house for she was trying to listen to the conversation between Daniel Bliss and the British soldiers.
(c) Who is he in the extract? Why did he come here?
Answer: He is referred to Captain Brown in the extract. He went to Daniel Bliss’ house to know where the supplies were stored and how well the town was defended.
(d) What did Tabby do after the men left the room?
Answer: Tabby jumped out of the window and took her basket and told everything she had heard at Daniel Bliss’ house to the others.
Question 9: Read the lines and answer the questions:
But the warning……… Tabby received great praise for her hour under the table.
(a) What was the warning about?
Answer: The warning was about the sudden attack by the British army.
(b) Explain what does the phrase ‘her hour under the table’ mean?
Answer: ‘Her hour under the table’ means the time spent by Tabby under the dining table.
(c) What else did Tabby receive for her hour under the table?
Answer: Other than praise, Tabby received the tablecloth from her uncle for ‘her hour under the table’.
(d) Write any two character traits of Tabby.
Answer: Some character traits of Tabby are that she was brave, intelligent, smart, patriotic, daring and full of vigor.
So, these were Tabby’s Tablecloth Questions & Answers.