CBSE Class 10 English NCERT Solutions: The Proposal

Initially, Chubukov suspects that Lomov has visited his home to borrow money. This suspicion arises because Lomov is dressed in his formal evening attire, which Chubukov interprets as a sign of a request for financial assistance. Chubukov is not sincere when he later expresses deep affection for Lomov, calling him 'my angel' and like his 'own son.' His insincerity is evident because he had already decided not to lend Lomov any money. It is only when Lomov reveals his true intention – to ask for Natalya's hand in marriage – that Chubukov's attitude dramatically shifts. He immediately becomes welcoming and rushes to call his daughter, demonstrating that his earlier words of affection were conditional and opportunistic, not genuine.

Yes, it is reasonable to agree with Chubukov's assessment that Natalya is 'like a lovesick cat.' Her behavior upon learning that Lomov came to propose clearly indicates she is deeply in love. When she finds out Lomov has left because of their argument, she becomes distressed, starts weeping, and urgently implores her father to bring Lomov back immediately. This strong emotional reaction and her insistence on his return highlight her affection and eagerness for the marriage proposal.

1. Words and Expressions Used by Characters About Each Other:

• Chubukov: Described by Lomov as an 'intriguer.' Chubukov himself calls Lomov a 'malicious, double-faced intriguer,' 'old rat,' 'grabber,' and 'villain.'
• Natalya: Described by Lomov initially as 'an excellent housekeeper, not bad-looking, well-educated.' Chubukov refers to her as 'a lovesick cat.'
• Lomov: Described by Natalya and Chubukov as 'impudent,' 'pettifogger,' 'malicious, double-faced intriguer,' 'rascal,' 'blind hen,' 'turnip ghost,' 'scarecrow,' 'stuffed sausage,' and a 'villain.'

2. Adjectives to Describe the Characters:

• Chubukov: Opportunistic, short-tempered, manipulative, boastful, anxious.
• Natalya: Emotional, stubborn, demanding, affectionate (when she gets her way), quick-tempered.
• Lomov: Hypochondriac, anxious, persistent, argumentative, status-conscious.

3. Future Quarrels: Given their propensity for arguing over trivial matters, it is highly likely that Chubukov, Natalya, and Lomov will quarrel again. Potential future quarrels could arise from disagreements over the quality or pedigree of their dogs (like the earlier argument about the shooting-right dogs), the management of their estates, social etiquette, or even minor perceived slights in conversation. Their tendency to escalate small issues into major disputes suggests that peace between them is temporary.

Yes, there are expressions and ways of speaking in the play that might seem more characteristic of Russian culture or older forms of address than contemporary English. For instance, the use of terms like 'my angel,' 'my beloved,' and 'my beauty' by an older man (Chubukov) to address a younger man (Lomov) is quite unusual in modern English, where such endearments are typically reserved for romantic partners or children. Similarly, the phrase 'all that sort of thing,' used without specific explanation, and the somewhat formal inquiry 'how may you be getting on?' (in reported speech) might reflect stylistic choices influenced by the original language or a different era of English usage.

Here are the completed sentences detailing the changes in reported speech:

1. To report a question, we use the reporting verb asked (as in sentence set 1).
2. To report a declaration, we use the reporting verb declared.
3. The adverb of place here changes to there.
4. When the verb in the direct speech is in the present tense, the verb in reported speech is in the past tense (as in sentence set 3).
5. If the Verb in direct speech is in the present continuous tense, the verb in reported speech changes to past continuous tense. For example, is getting changes to was getting.
6. When the sentence in direct speech contains a word denoting respect, we add the adverb respectfully in the reporting clause (as in sentence set 1).
7. The pronouns I, me, our and mine, which are used in the first person in direct speech, change to third person pronouns to such as he, him, their or his in reported speech.