Std 10 English chapters › Unit 2
In short: A small complaint by a sweeper about his unpaid salary grows into a town-wide rumour, and panic makes a healthy bank collapse.
(पगार न मिळाल्याबद्दल एका सफाई कामगाराची छोटी तक्रार अफवा बनून गावभर पसरते, आणि घबराटीमुळे एक चांगली चाललेली बँक कोसळते.)
- Type: Prose (short story)
- Author: Ruskin Bond
- Setting: Pipalnagar, a small town
- Main characters: Nathu (the bank’s sweeper), Sitaram (a washerman’s son), Mrs Srivastava, Seth Govind Ram (the bank’s owner) and various townspeople
- Unit: 2
2.2 The Boy Who Broke the Bank: English Workshop Question Answers
Answers to every activity in the Std 10 English Kumarbharati textbook (Maharashtra Board), written by a practising English teacher. Read the lesson in your textbook first, then try each activity here before you check the answer.
Warming up: Fact or rumour?
👉 Tap Fact or Rumour for each statement. (सत्य की अफवा?)
A cow gives birth to a calf.
Answer: Fact. Cows are mammals and give birth to calves.
The sun will swallow the earth in 2025.
Answer: Rumour. There is no scientific evidence for this. The year has passed and the earth is safe.
A message says you have won a lottery of ₹5 crore.
Answer: Rumour. Such messages are usually scams to steal money or personal details.
Honeybees beat their wings hundreds of times a second.
Answer: Fact. Honeybees beat their wings over 200 times every second, which makes the buzzing sound.
Ships and planes mysteriously vanish in the Bermuda Triangle.
Answer: Rumour. Studies show no more accidents there than in other busy areas of the ocean.
Driverless cars are no longer a dream.
Answer: Fact. Self-driving cars are already being tested and used in some cities.
Sophia is the world's first robot to get citizenship.
Answer: Fact. Saudi Arabia gave citizenship to the robot Sophia in 2017.
Ghosts live in banyan trees.
Answer: Rumour. This is a superstition with no evidence.
You should not step out on a new moon day.
Answer: Rumour. This is a superstition. Nothing bad happens on a new moon day.
Aliens will soon conquer the earth.
Answer: Rumour. There is no evidence at all for this.
मराठी टीप: कोणतीही बातमी पुढे पाठवण्याआधी तिचा स्रोत (source) तपासा, पुरावा आहे का ते पाहा आणि विश्वासार्ह बातमीपत्रात तपासा.
How the rumour spread: arrange the chain
Put the steps of the rumour in the order they happened:
- Nathu complains to Sitaram that the bank has not paid his wages.
- Sitaram tells Mrs Srivastava that Nathu is looking for a new job.
- Mrs Srivastava tells Mrs Bhushan that the bank cannot pay its staff.
- Mrs Bhushan tells her husband at Kamal Kishore's shop that the bank is going to fail.
- Kamal Kishore warns his neighbour Deep Chand, the barber.
- An elderly customer phones Seth Govind Ram's home and announces, "The bird has flown!"
- The news spreads through the whole bazaar.
- Ganpat the beggar runs to the bank, and a huge crowd gathers to withdraw money.
- Nathu hears from Sitaram the next morning that the bank has collapsed.
Answer key: correct order
- Nathu complains to Sitaram that the bank has not paid his wages.
- Sitaram tells Mrs Srivastava that Nathu is looking for a new job.
- Mrs Srivastava tells Mrs Bhushan that the bank cannot pay its staff.
- Mrs Bhushan tells her husband at Kamal Kishore's shop that the bank is going to fail.
- Kamal Kishore warns his neighbour Deep Chand, the barber.
- An elderly customer phones Seth Govind Ram's home and announces, "The bird has flown!"
- The news spreads through the whole bazaar.
- Ganpat the beggar runs to the bank, and a huge crowd gathers to withdraw money.
- Nathu hears from Sitaram the next morning that the bank has collapsed.
Q1. Who am I?
👉 Choose the character for each clue, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| Clue | Character | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I am the washerman's son. | Sitaram | Given in the textbook. |
| I am the owner of the bank. | Seth Govind Ram | He owned the Pipalnagar Bank. |
| I am the sweeper. | Nathu | He swept the steps of the bank. |
| I am the friend of Mrs Srivastava. | Mrs Bhushan | They met under the tamarind tree. |
| I am the hairdresser. | Deep Chand | He was the barber next to Kamal Kishore's shop. |
| I have a crooked leg. | Ganpat | The beggar with a crooked leg, who ran to the bank. |
Q2. Match the columns
👉 Choose the correct ending, then tap Check my answers.
Answer key
| A | B | Pair |
|---|---|---|
| Sitaram was looking out for any job… | that might suit Nathu. | (i) – (c) |
| According to Mrs Bhushan… | it was the hottest summer in the history of Pipalnagar. | (ii) – (d) |
| Govind Ram was… | holidaying in Kashmir. | (iii) – (a) |
| The manager told the customers… | to go home and come back the next day. | (iv) – (b) |
Q3. Who said to whom?
- “Don’t raise such dust!” → Sitaram to Nathu
- “Who would have thought the bank would collapse!” → Nathu, when he heard the news
- “Where did you disappear?” → Mrs Bhushan to Mr Bhushan
- “The bird has flown!” → the elderly customer to Deep Chand (“the bird” means Seth Govind Ram)
Q4. The manager’s problem
The manager was in a difficult situation. A huge crowd of customers had gathered, and everyone wanted to withdraw their money at once. The bank did not have enough ready cash to pay all of them. Emergency funds were available from another bank, but it was about thirty miles away. He could not contact Seth Govind Ram, who was holidaying in Kashmir. So he had no choice but to ask the customers to go home and come back the next day, which only made them more worried.
Q5. Cross out the odd one
👉 Tap the word that does not belong.
Which word is the odd one out?
Answer: declare. “declare” is a verb. The others are nouns.
Which word is the odd one out?
Answer: salary. “salary” is a noun. The others are adverbs.
Which word is the odd one out?
Answer: pavement. “pavement” is a noun. The others are adjectives.
Which word is the odd one out?
Answer: morning. “morning” is a noun. The others are -ing forms of verbs.
Q6. Find the describing words used for the nouns
🎯 Game: tap a describing word and its noun.
Describing word + noun
Answer key
customary tour · general (merchant’s) shop · plate-glass window · crooked leg
Q7. Complete the word-class table
| Verb | Noun | Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| pay | payment (given) | payable | – |
| – | suddenness | sudden | suddenly (given) |
| declare (given) | declaration | declared | – |
| cheer | cheerfulness | cheerful (given) | cheerfully |
Q8. Write a few sentences about the characters
✍️ Write 2–3 sentences about each character first.
Show sample answers
- Nathu: Nathu is the sweeper of the Pipalnagar Bank. He is angry because he has not been paid for two months and keeps grumbling about it. His harmless complaint starts the rumour that breaks the bank, though he himself is the last to know.
- Mrs Srivastava: She is a talkative lady who loves gossip. She twists Sitaram’s simple news about Nathu into a story that the bank cannot pay its staff.
- Seth Govind Ram: He is the owner of the Pipalnagar Bank. He is careless about paying his staff on time. While the town panics, he is away holidaying in Kashmir.
- Sitaram: He is the washerman’s son. He is friendly and wants to help Nathu find a new job, but he unknowingly passes on the news that grows into a rumour.
Q9. Expand the theme (about 20 lines)
✍️ Choose one theme and write your own first.
Show model write-ups
Rumours are spread by fools and accepted by greater fools
A rumour is a piece of news that has not been checked. Some people spread it without thinking, and others believe it without asking a single question. In “The Boy Who Broke the Bank”, Nathu only complained about his late salary. As the news passed from Sitaram to Mrs Srivastava, Mrs Bhushan, Kamal Kishore and Deep Chand, everyone added something of their own. Within a day, a whole town believed that the bank had failed, and a crowd rushed to take out their money. The bank really did collapse, not because it was weak, but because people believed a rumour. Today rumours travel even faster through WhatsApp and social media. A false message can cause fear, fights and even violence. Before believing or forwarding any news, we should check its source, look for proof and read reliable news. A wise person stops a rumour; a fool spreads it.
Books are our real friends
Friends may come and go, but books stay with us for life. A good book teaches us, entertains us and comforts us when we are sad. It never argues and never leaves us alone. Books take us to faraway lands and introduce us to great people we could never meet. They improve our language, vocabulary and thinking. Reading the lives of people like Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam or Savitribai Phule fills us with courage and hope. Books also keep us away from bad habits and wasting time on mobile phones. A person who reads regularly becomes wise, calm and confident. That is why books are rightly called our real and best friends.
Q10. Project: Ruskin Bond’s books
Some famous books by Ruskin Bond: The Room on the Roof, The Blue Umbrella, Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra, The Night Train at Deoli, Rusty (stories), A Flight of Pigeons.
Language Study: Question Answers
1. Make sentences with adjective clauses
✍️ Write sentences using who, which, where, when and that first.
Show sample sentences
- I know a boy who topped the state exams.
- This is the bank which collapsed because of a rumour.
- Pipalnagar is the town where the story takes place.
- I remember the day when I first rode a bicycle.
- The book that you gave me is very interesting.
मराठी टीप: Adjective clause नामाबद्दल अधिक माहिती देतो आणि बहुधा who, which, that, where, when ने सुरू होतो.
2. Join the sentences using when, where, which or why
- Sitaram had a bundle of freshly pressed clothes. He balanced it on his head. → Sitaram had a bundle of freshly pressed clothes, which he balanced on his head.
- A large shady tamarind tree grew at one end of the bazaar. Mrs Srivastava found her friend Mrs Bhushan there. → A large shady tamarind tree grew at one end of the bazaar, where Mrs Srivastava found her friend Mrs Bhushan.
- The Pipalnagar Bank has stopped paying employees. It is about to collapse. → The Pipalnagar Bank, which has stopped paying employees, is about to collapse.
- He had finished his work. He sat down on the highest step. → When he had finished his work, he sat down on the highest step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote 'The Boy Who Broke the Bank'?
'The Boy Who Broke the Bank' is written by Ruskin Bond.
Who is the boy who broke the bank?
Nathu, the sweeper of the Pipalnagar Bank. His complaint about not getting his salary turned into a rumour that made the bank collapse.
How did the rumour start in 'The Boy Who Broke the Bank'?
Nathu complained to Sitaram that he had not been paid. Sitaram told Mrs Srivastava, and as the news passed from person to person it became a rumour that the bank was about to collapse.
What does 'The bird has flown' mean in the story?
It means Seth Govind Ram, the bank owner, has run away. In fact, he was only holidaying in Kashmir.
What is the message of 'The Boy Who Broke the Bank'?
Rumours spread very fast and can cause great harm. We should check facts before believing or spreading any news.
Summary in English
Nathu, who sweeps the steps of the Pipalnagar bank, grumbles that he has not been paid for weeks. Sitaram, a washerman’s son, hears him and passes the complaint on to Mrs Srivastava while delivering clothes.
From there the story changes each time it is repeated. Soon people are saying that the bank cannot pay its staff, then that it has no money at all, and finally that its owner, Seth Govind Ram, has run away. Frightened customers rush to withdraw their savings. The bank runs out of cash, crowds gather, and a brick is thrown through the window.
The next morning Nathu arrives to sweep and finds glass and stones everywhere. When he hears that the bank has collapsed, he wonders how such a thing could happen, never realising that his own complaint started it all.
मराठीत सारांश (Summary in Marathi)
पिपलनगरमधील बँकेच्या पायऱ्या झाडणारा नथू तक्रार करतो की त्याला आठवडे पगार मिळालेला नाही. परटाचा मुलगा सीताराम ही तक्रार ऐकतो आणि कपडे पोहोचवताना श्रीमती श्रीवास्तव यांना सांगतो.
पुढे प्रत्येक वेळी सांगताना ही गोष्ट बदलत जाते. आधी बँक कर्मचाऱ्यांना पगार देऊ शकत नाही, मग बँकेकडे पैसेच नाहीत, आणि शेवटी मालक सेठ गोविंदराम पळून गेला, अशी अफवा पसरते. घाबरलेले ग्राहक आपली बचत काढण्यासाठी धाव घेतात. बँकेतील रोकड संपते, गर्दी जमते आणि खिडकीवर वीट फेकली जाते.
दुसऱ्या दिवशी सकाळी नथू झाडायला येतो तेव्हा सगळीकडे काचा आणि दगड पडलेले दिसतात. बँक कोसळल्याचे ऐकून तो आश्चर्य करतो की असे कसे झाले; ही सगळी सुरुवात आपल्याच तक्रारीतून झाली हे त्याला कधीच कळत नाही.
Theme and Message (मध्यवर्ती कल्पना)
Rumours spread fast and grow bigger with every telling. When people believe them without checking, panic can cause real damage.
अफवा वेगाने पसरतात आणि प्रत्येक वेळी मोठ्या होतात. खातरजमा न करता त्यांवर विश्वास ठेवला तर घबराट खरे नुकसान करू शकते.
Useful Words (शब्दार्थ)
| Word | मराठी अर्थ | Use it in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| rumour | अफवा | Do not spread a rumour without checking it. |
| withdraw | (पैसे) काढणे | He withdrew money from his account. |
| panic | घबराट | The news caused panic in the market. |
| gossip | कुचाळक्या, गप्पा | They spent the afternoon in gossip. |
| collapse | कोसळणे | The old bridge collapsed in the flood. |
| irony | उपरोध, विरोधाभास | The irony is that Nathu never knew he started it. |
For the Exam (परीक्षेसाठी)
- Be ready to trace how the rumour grows from person to person, and to explain the irony of the ending.
- The story is full of people repeating what others said, so it is ideal practice for reported speech. Revise with Lesson 10: Reported Speech and the reported speech practice set.
Think and Write (विचार करा, लिहा)
- Have you ever seen a rumour spread in your school or village? What happened?
- What should people do before they believe and share news?
- Write a WhatsApp message warning people not to forward unchecked news.
🎮 Practice Games: The Boy Who Broke the Bank
Extra practice for revision, beyond the textbook activities. Play every game, then check your total score and stars! (उजळणीसाठी खेळ.)
🗣️ How the rumour grew
Put the spreading rumour in order.
From a grumble to a crash
- Nathu grumbles that he has not been paid.
- Sitaram passes the complaint to Mrs Srivastava.
- People say the bank cannot pay its staff.
- People say the bank has no money.
- People say Seth Govind Ram has run away.
- Customers rush to withdraw their savings.
- The bank collapses and Nathu finds broken glass.
🔤 Word meanings
🎯 Tap the English word and its Marathi meaning.
English ↔ मराठी
⚡ Quick quiz
👉 Tap the correct answer.
Where is the story set?
Answer: Ruskin Bond’s Pipalnagar bank.
What is ironic about the ending?
Answer: He wonders how such a thing could happen.
The main message of the story is about ___.
Answer: Each person changed the story a little.
✅ Fact or rumour?
🗂️ Was it true, or just a rumour?
Fact or rumour?
Online test · 15 questions
2.2 The Boy Who Broke the Bank: Lesson Test
Multiple choice · instant score with answers · certificate for 80% and above · free, no login
शिक्षकांसाठी: धडा शिकवून झाल्यावर ही test वर्गाला पाठवा. प्रत्येक विद्यार्थ्याचे गुण तुम्हाला आपोआप मिळतील.
These are original study notes and answers by englishresources.in to help you revise. Read the chapter in your Balbharati textbook first: these notes do not replace it. Only short phrases from the lesson and the activities are quoted, for reference.