People At Work, My English Reader, Class VII, DAV Board, The Best Solutions – A

Section – A

Summary in English: The New Assistant

“The New Assistant” by Bonn Byrne is a humorous short play set in an antique shop. The story follows Mr. Higgins, the shop owner, and Tom, his new assistant, on Tom’s first day at work. Mr. Higgins teaches Tom how to handle customers and make profits from selling old and sometimes worthless items. Tom learns how prices are marked and how to bargain.

Mr. Higgins sells a glass vase cleverly, making more profit than he admits. When Tom is left alone, he manages to sell a ring at the correct price and a painting at a small profit. A rich lady offers £100 for an ugly vase that actually costs only £1.10, but Tom refuses, thinking it is valuable. Mr. Higgins returns and is furious to learn that Tom lost the chance to earn £100.

The play reflects business tactics, human error, and the irony of misjudgment.

हिंदी में सारांश

“द न्यू असिस्टेंट” बॉन बर्न द्वारा लिखित एक हास्यपूर्ण नाटक है, जो एक पुराने सामान की दुकान पर आधारित है। मिस्टर हिगिंस दुकान के मालिक हैं और टॉम नया सहायक है। टॉम के पहले दिन, मिस्टर हिगिंस उसे व्यापार की चालें सिखाते हैं—कैसे पुराने सामान को अच्छे दामों पर बेचना है।

मिस्टर हिगिंस एक फूलदान बेचते समय ग्राहक को झूठी कीमत बताते हैं और अच्छा मुनाफा कमाते हैं। जब टॉम अकेला होता है, वह एक अँगूठी और एक पेंटिंग बेच देता है। एक अमीर महिला एक बदसूरत फूलदान को खरीदने के लिए 100 पाउंड देने को तैयार होती है, लेकिन टॉम मना कर देता है क्योंकि वह सोचता है कि उसकी कीमत 110 पाउंड है। असल में वह सिर्फ 1.10 पाउंड का होता है।

मिस्टर हिगिंस लौटकर बहुत नाराज़ होते हैं। यह नाटक व्यापार, सीखने की गलतियों और मज़ेदार गलतफहमियों को दर्शाता है।

Word Meanings (English – Hindi)

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Who is the owner of the shop?

(a) Tom

(b) Mr. Higgins

(c) The Rich Lady

(d) First Customer
✔ Answer: (b) Mr. Higgins

2. What does Mr. Higgins sell first?

(a) A ring

(b) A picture

(c) A vase

(d) A chair
✔ Answer: (c) A vase

3. How much profit did Mr. Higgins make on the vase?

(a) 25 pence

(b) 50 pence

(c) £1.25

(d) £0.75
✔ Answer: (c) £1.25

4. What item did Tom try to sell to the rich lady for £110?

(a) A ring

(b) A silver pot

(c) A painting

(d) A vase
✔ Answer: (d) A vase

5. Why did Mr. Higgins get angry at Tom?

(a) He broke a vase

(b) He sold items at low prices

(c) He refused to sell a vase for £100

(d) He lost the ring
✔ Answer: (c) He refused to sell a vase for £100

Short Question and Answers:

1. Q: Who is Tom?
   A: Tom is the new assistant in Mr. Higgins’ antique shop.
2. Q: What does Mr. Higgins teach Tom?
   A: He teaches Tom how to sell items by negotiating prices and making profits.
3. Q: What mistake did Tom make?
   A: Tom refused to sell a cheap vase for £100, thinking it was worth more.
4. Q: What kind of customer was the lady who wanted to buy the vase?
   A: She was a rich lady dressed in expensive clothes.
5. Q: What does the play teach us?
   A: It teaches us about business skills, the importance of judgment, and how misjudging something can lead to a big loss.
6. Q: How did Mr. Higgins trick the first customer?
   A: He lied about the cost price of the vase to make a bigger profit.

A.2 – On the basis of your reading of the play, complete the following statements.

(a) Mr Higgins felt that he made a mistake when he bought the silver pot because he paid ten pounds for it, more than its actual worth of seven pounds.

(b) Mr Higgins told Tom that he would prove to be the right assistant for him only if he didn’t lose money while selling items in the shop.

(c) Tom could not change the price of the ring because he was only an assistant and not the owner of the shop.

(d) The actual price of the picture was fifteen pounds, and Tom sold it for twenty-seven pounds.

(e) The rich lady didn’t buy the vase because Tom asked for a very high price—one hundred and ten pounds—which she was not ready to pay.

(f) At the end of the play, Mr Higgins was angry at Tom because Tom didn’t sell an ugly vase for one hundred pounds, although its actual price was only one pound ten pence.

A.3 – Tom’s Performance Appraisal

Good sales assistants should possess certain attributes. Some attributes are mentioned below. Put a tick (✓) against the ones which you think Tom had.

Good sales assistants should—

A.4 – HOTS

How many stars would you give Tom for his performance on the first day at work? Give reasons.

I would give Tom ⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars out of five because
he was polite, sincere and handled customers well on his first day.
He made a profit on the picture and did not lose money on the ring.
However, he lacked product knowledge and missed a chance to make a big profit on the vase.

A.5 – Life Skills

‘Oops! I made a mistake.’

‘‘I’ve sold them all my life, but I still make mistakes,’’ says Mr Higgins. All human beings are fallible. All of us commit mistakes.

Please indicate how often you react in the following manner when you realise that you have committed a mistake.

Which reactions are appropriate? Why? Discuss in a group.
The most appropriate reaction is to learn from mistakes and try to improve, because mistakes help us grow. Sharing with friends is also good as it gives us new perspectives.

A.6 – While reading the play, you must have come across a few pairs of opposite expressions, e.g.

I’ve marked the price behind the picture. Tom puts some rings in front of them.

12Seven pairs of opposite words are hidden in the grid below. Identify them and write them in the space provided. Move diagonally, vertically or

horizontally to locate them. One is done for you.

1. Take – Give ✅ (Already done)
2. Behind – Front
3. Young – Old
4. Bad – Good
5. Sell – Buy
6. Big – Small
7. Right – Left

A.7 – Listen to what Tom feels about Mr Higgins at the end of his first day at the shop. As you listen complete the given blanks.

Listen and Complete the Blanks

Mr Higgins is:

• a shopkeeper
• good in bargaining skill
• lacks tolerance
• Mr Higgins manipulative shopkeeper
• tells lies/stories
• cautious about his customers

A.8 – Cast your vote.

Read the following questions.

1. Do you think Tom was responsible for the loss of hundred pounds to Mr Higgins?
2. Did Tom prove to be a good assistant?

(Activity for students)

• Each student casts their vote: “Yes” or “No” for both questions.
• Teacher collects and calculates the percentage:
  • e.g., 60% say “Yes”, 40% say “No” to Q1.
  • 45% say “Yes”, 55% say “No” to Q2.
• Teacher initiates discussion with two groups representing opposite views.

Discussion Setup Tips (for the Teacher):

• Divide the class into two groups: One supporting “Yes” and the other supporting “No”.
• Each student gets one turn to speak.
• Encourage counter-arguments to promote critical thinking and reasoning.

A.9 – Diary Entry by Tom

Day: Monday
Time: 9:00 PM
Date: 12th June 2025

Diary Entry:

Today was my first day at Mr Higgins’ shop. I had been so eager to help and learn, but I’m ending the day feeling unsure and upset. Mr Higgins got angry when I made a small mistake—I hadn’t expected him to be so impatient. I feel bad for not selling the vase, but I wasn’t sure if the customer was really interested or just browsing. Maybe I hesitated too much. Was it a mistake not to push the sale? Mr Higgins surely thinks so. I wonder if I’ll ever live up to his expectations. I just hope I get a chance to prove myself tomorrow.