UNIT – 03: GENTLEMAN OF RIO EN MEDIO
I. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LESSON
Don Anselmo’s house was small but quaint, his orchard was beautiful and a small creek ran
through his farm.
He agreed to sell his land to the Americans for twelve hundred dollars as they were
good people.
After the land survey, the Americans found that he had owned more than eight acres of land
and they offered to pay more money for the extra land.
But Don Anselmo refused to take more money from the Americans as he was a man of
principles.
The Americans moved to their new house.
Every day the children of Rio en Medio played in the orchard and the Americans complained to
Don Anselmo.
Don Anselmo had planted a tree when a child was born in Rio en Medio.
He told them that he had sold them only the land and not the trees as the trees belonged to
the children of Rio en Medio.
The Americans had to purchase the trees individually from the descendants of Rio en Medio
and it took the following winter.
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each: (2/3 mark)
1. Don Anselmo’s appearance and manners were quite unusual. Explain briefly.
Ans: Don Anselmo wore an old green faded coat. He wore torn gloves and a hat.
He had the skeleton of an umbrella as his stick.
2. Don Anselmo was passionate towards the children of Rio en Medio. Justify. OR
Don Anselmo had concern for the children of Rio en Medio. Explain.
Ans: Don Anselmo planted a tree for every child born in his village. When he sold his property, he
said that he had sold only the land to the Americans and not the trees as they belonged to the
children of the village.
3. What makes you think that Don Anselmo was a man of principles? OR
Don Anselmo was a generous man. Justify the statement? OR
What makes you think that Don Anselmo was a gentleman?
Ans: Don Anselmo agreed to sell his property for twelve hundred dollars to the Americans. The
Americans surveyed the land and found extra land and were ready to pay for it. Don Anselmo did
not take extra money from the Americans. He took only the money which he had agreed in the
beginning.
4. How can you say that the Americans were truthful and generous? OR
The Americans were really good people. Justify/ Explain.
Ans: The Americans surveyed the land and found extra land and were ready to pay for it.
After the Americans shifted to the house, the children of Rio en Medio occupied their property.
The Americans complained but Don Anselmo told that he had sold only the land and not the trees.
They did not take any legal action against Don Anselmo.
UNIT – 03: GENTLEMAN OF RIO EN MEDIO
I. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LESSON
Don Anselmo’s house was small but quaint, his orchard was beautiful and a small creek ran
through his farm.
He agreed to sell his land to the Americans for twelve hundred dollars as they were
good people.
After the land survey, the Americans found that he had owned more than eight acres of land
and they offered to pay more money for the extra land.
But Don Anselmo refused to take more money from the Americans as he was a man of
principles.
The Americans moved to their new house.
Every day the children of Rio en Medio played in the orchard and the Americans complained to
Don Anselmo.
Don Anselmo had planted a tree when a child was born in Rio en Medio.
He told them that he had sold them only the land and not the trees as the trees belonged to
the children of Rio en Medio.
The Americans had to purchase the trees individually from the descendants of Rio en Medio
and it took the following winter.
MOST LIKELY QUESTIONS
II Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each: (2/3 mark)
1. Don Anselmo’s appearance and manners were quite unusual. Explain briefly.
Ans: Don Anselmo wore an old green faded coat. He wore torn gloves and a hat.
He had the skeleton of an umbrella as his stick.
2. Don Anselmo was passionate towards the children of Rio en Medio. Justify. OR
Don Anselmo had concern for the children of Rio en Medio. Explain.
Ans: Don Anselmo planted a tree for every child born in his village. When he sold his property, he
said that he had sold only the land to the Americans and not the trees as they belonged to the
children of the village.
3. What makes you think that Don Anselmo was a man of principles? OR
Don Anselmo was a generous man. Justify the statement? OR
What makes you think that Don Anselmo was a gentleman?
Ans: Don Anselmo agreed to sell his property for twelve hundred dollars to the Americans. The
Americans surveyed the land and found extra land and were ready to pay for it. Don Anselmo did
not take extra money from the Americans. He took only the money which he had agreed in the
beginning.
4. How can you say that the Americans were truthful and generous? OR
The Americans were really good people. Justify/ Explain.
Ans: The Americans surveyed the land and found extra land and were ready to pay for it.
After the Americans shifted to the house, the children of Rio en Medio occupied their property.
The Americans complained but Don Anselmo told that he had sold only the land and not the trees.
They did not take any legal action against Don Anselmo.
5. How did the Americans solve the problem of ownership? OR
How did the Americans get the ownership of the trees?
Ans: When the Americans were disturbed by the children of the village, they complained to the
narrator. Don Anselmo told them that he had only sold the land to them and not the trees. So the
Americans bought the trees from each person individually.
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow:
1.“The trees in that orchard are not mine, senor”.
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Don Anselmo
b) Who is ‘Senor’ referred to? Ans: The story teller / Narrator
c) When did the speaker say so? Ans: When the narrator requested Don Anselmo to stop the
children of the village from entering the orchard.
d) Who according to the speaker do the trees belong to? Ans: To the children of Rio en Medio.
e) Why does the speaker say that the trees do not belong to him?
Ans: Whenever a child was born in the village, Don Anselmo planted a tree in its name. So, the trees
belonged to the children of the village.
2.“I have agreed to sell my land and my house for twelve hundred dollars and that is my price”.
a) Who is the ‘I’? Ans: Don Anselmo
b) Who had he agreed to sell his property to? Ans: The Americans
c)When did the speaker make thisstatement?
Ans: When the narrator told Don Anselmo that the Americans have discovered extra land and
they were ready to pay double the amount for it.
d)What does it reveal about the speaker? Ans: Don Anselmo was a man of principles.
3.“It took months of negotiation to come to an understanding with the old man”.
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Narrator
b) What was the negotiation about? Ans: The sale of the old man’s property.
c) Why do you think it took months to come to an understanding?
Ans: The old man was in no hurry. He had a lot oftime.
d) Who is the old man? Ans: Don Anselmo
4.“Don Anselmo”, I said to him. “We have made a discovery”.
a) Who is the speaker? Ans: Narrator
b) Who had made the discovery? Ans: The Americans
c) What was the discovery? Ans: Don Anselmo had owned more than 8 acres of land.
5.“I did not sell the trees because, they are not mine”.
a) Who is the speaker? / Who is the ‘I’? Ans: Don Anselmo
b) Who according to the speaker did the trees belong to? Ans: The Children of Rio en Medio.
c) When did the speaker say so? Ans: When the Americans complained about the children.
d) What made the speaker say that the trees were not his?
Ans: Whenever a child was born in the village, Don Anselmo planted a tree in its name.
Therefore, the trees in orchard did not belong to him but to the children.
6.“I argued with him but it was useless”.
a) Who argued? Ans: The narrator
b) Who does ‘him’ refer to? Ans: Don Anselmo
c) What was the argument?
Ans: The narrator told Don Anselmo that his land was more than 8 acres and almost the double. The
Americans were ready to pay for the extra land.
d) How did the seller react to it? Ans: Don Anselmo said that he had already agreed to sell his land
for twelve hundred dollars and that was the price.
7.“One day they came back to the office to complain”.
a) Who do ‘they’ refer to? Ans: The Americans
b) Who is the speaker? Ans: The narrator
c) Who did they complain about? Ans: The children of Rio en Medio.
d) What was their complaint?
Ans: The children came to the orchard and played under the trees every day.
8. “Friend, I do not like to have you speak to me in that manner”.
a) Who is referred to as ‘you’? Ans: The narrator
b) Who is the ‘I’ mentioned in the above sentence? Ans: Don Anselmo
c) What was the speaker’s decision?
Ans: He decided to sell his orchard for twelve hundred dollars and that was the final price.