NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter A Triumph of Surgery

This worksheet is designed for Class 10 students studying English and is based on the NCERT Chapter A Triumph of Surgery from the book Footprints without Feet. This chapter tells the story of Tricki, a small dog who becomes seriously ill due to overfeeding and excessive pampering by his mistress, Mrs Pumphrey. It highlights the importance of discipline, balanced care, and practical wisdom. This worksheet provides complete and accurate NCERT Solutions strictly aligned with the chapter content and NCERT guidelines, making it useful for students, parents, and teachers preparing for school assessments and board exams.

Chapter summary: stories, poems & themes

This chapter is a prose story written by James Herriot. It focuses on the humorous yet meaningful episode of a veterinary surgeon treating a spoiled and overfed dog. The main theme revolves around the dangers of overindulgence and the value of common sense. Through the characters of Mrs Pumphrey, Tricki, and the narrator, students learn about responsible care, moderation, and practical problem-solving. The chapter also includes “Read and Find Out,” “Think about it,” and “Talk about it” sections that encourage comprehension, analysis, and value-based discussion.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

• Understanding character traits and behaviour  
• Identifying themes such as overindulgence and discipline  
• Reading comprehension through structured questions  
• Value-based and opinion-based answers  
• Analytical thinking through discussion questions  
• Clear explanation of story events in sequence  

How to use these NCERT solutions?

Students should first read the chapter carefully and attempt all questions in this worksheet independently. After writing their answers, they can refer to these NCERT Solutions to check accuracy and clarity. Parents and teachers can use these solutions to guide students in structuring answers properly. The solutions follow the exact NCERT order and structure of the chapter sections, which supports systematic revision and better understanding.

Student tips & learning tricks

Students should focus on understanding the cause and effect in the story, especially how overfeeding affects Tricki’s health. While answering, they should write clear, pointwise responses as expected in Class 10 English exams. Avoid writing lengthy, irrelevant details. In value-based questions, answers should be balanced and practical. Revising key character traits of Mrs Pumphrey and the narrator helps in analytical questions.

Why NCERT solutions are important?

NCERT Solutions ensure that students prepare strictly according to the prescribed syllabus. They strengthen conceptual understanding and help students answer questions in the format expected in school and board exams. Using accurate NCERT-aligned solutions builds confidence and improves performance in assessments.

Complete answer key – NCERT solutions

Read and find out

1. Mrs Pumphrey is worried because Tricki has become hugely fat, listless and has no energy. His eyes are bloodshot and he seems very ill.  

2. She gives him extra food like malt, cod-liver oil, Horlicks, cream cakes and chocolates. She does not cut down his sweets. No, she is not wise because overfeeding is making him more ill.  

3. ‘I’ refers to the narrator, Mr Herriot, a veterinary surgeon.  

Read and find out

1. No, the narrator is not as rich as Tricki’s mistress. He lives a simple professional life.  

2. He hospitalises Tricki, gives him no food for two days, plenty of water, exercise and allows him to mix with other dogs.  

3. He is tempted because Mrs Pumphrey keeps sending eggs, wine and brandy for Tricki, which he and his partners enjoy.  

4. She thinks Tricki’s recovery is due to the doctor’s surgical skill, though no surgery was performed.  

Think about it

1. The narrator is kind, practical and intelligent. He understands that Tricki’s illness is due to overfeeding. He tactfully convinces Mrs Pumphrey to let him hospitalise the dog. He uses common sense instead of medicines to cure Tricki. Yes, he is tactful and full of common sense.  

2. Yes, Tricki was happy to see his mistress and jumped into her lap. However, if Mrs Pumphrey starts pampering him again, he may fall ill once more.  

3. It appears to be a mixture of both. James Herriot was a real veterinary surgeon, so the incident may be based on real experiences. However, some details are presented humorously like fiction.  

Talk about it

1. Such people are not merely silly; their actions can cause harm. Mrs Pumphrey’s overindulgence made Tricki seriously ill. Excessive pampering can spoil and weaken others.  

2. Yes, some parents overindulge their children by fulfilling all their wishes. This can make children dependent and unhealthy.  

3. (i) As a staff member, I would politely suggest reducing Tricki’s food and ensuring proper exercise.  
  (ii) As a neighbour, I would advise Mrs Pumphrey not to overfeed him.  
  Life around her would be dramatic and full of unnecessary worry.  

4. I would have done the same as the narrator — hospitalise Tricki, control his diet and provide exercise instead of medicines.  

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