chapter 11:My Elder Brother by Leo Tolstoy

The two brothers were not much different in age or built. But the younger brother says, “ I was no companion for him.” Give two reasons why Nicky felt so.

• Nicky felt he was no companion for Valodya as his elder brother because he was impulsive and large hearted.

• Nicky felt he was no companion for Valodya as his elder brother was enthusiastic and impulsive.

• Nicky felt he was no companion for Valodya as his elder brother was very superior.

• Nicky felt he was no companion for Valodya as his elder brother was better in games.Also, he was also better in arguments and manners. 

Nicky says, “It even seemed to me that Valodya was himself aware of his superiority and was proud of it.”

Do you think Valodya was really proud? Please provide one reason for your response. What made Nicky feel so?

• Yes, Valodya was really proud. He strutted around in his new linen shirt.

• No, Valodya was not really proud. If he had been proud, then perhaps he would show off his talent to his younger brother, but he never did so. Nicky felt so because of his own vanity.

• No, Valodya was not really proud. He was large hearted and loved Nicky a lot.

• Yes, Valodya was really proud. He was good at arguments and had better manner than Nicky.

Which two qualities of Valodya have been highlighted by the author?

• Two qualities of Valodya that have been highlighted by the author are his superiority and good manners.

• Two qualities of Valodya that have been highlighted by the author are his mania for novels.

• Two qualities of Valodya that have been highlighted by the author he was older than Nicky and collected curios.

• Two qualities of Valodya that have been highlighted by the author are his impulsiveness and enthusiasm and his large heartedness.

How did the quarrel between the narrator and his brother start?

• The quarrel started when the narrator accidentally broke the fragrance bottle that belonged to his older brother.

• The quarrel started when the narrator accidentally broke the entire collection of curios.

• The quarrel started when the narrator was jealous of Valodya's new linen shirt.

• The quarrel started when Nicky's mother blamed him for breaking the curios.

Was the narrator sorry for his behaviour after he broke the fragrance bottle? How do you know?

• No, the narrator was not sorry. He just walked out of the room.

• Yes, the narrator was sorry because he apologized and hugged his brother.

• No, the narrator was not sorry for his behavior because he said, “What does it matter?”

• Yes, the narrator was sorry because he started crying.

What did the narrator do when Valodya dragged him?

• When Valodya dragged him, Nicky ran away from him.

• The narrator fought with his brother.

• The narrator held on to the leg of the table when Valodya tried to drag him

• When Valodya dragged him, Nicky started screaming on the top of his lungs.

How did Valodya annoy Nicky every time? OR What action of Valodya, the elder brother, irritated the younger brother the most?

• Valodya was superior to Nicky and that annoyed and irritated him.

• Valdoya had a new shirt but Nicky did not have such a shirt. Nicky felt irritated and annoyed every time Valodya arranged the collar of his new linen shirt.

• Valodya loved to collect curios and Nicky would get annoyed.

• Valodya annoyed Nicky by making fun of him.

How did Nicky feel after the day’s incident?

• After the day’s incident, Nicky was too scared, uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother. He also felt sorry as he realized that he was in the wrong.

• After the day’s incident, Nicky ran off to play with his friends.

• After the day’s incident, Nicky went and complained to his mother.

• After the day’s incident, Nicky did not care about Valodya.

Why did Nicky feel uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother?

• Nicky was scared, uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother because he was afraid Valodya would tell his parents.

• Nicky was scared, uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother because Valodya was older than him.

• Nicky was scared, uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother because he felt guilty.

• Nicky was scared, uncomfortable and ashamed to be alone with his brother because he knew he had no courage to look into his brother’s eyes. He was afraid that the topic of the fight would come up when they were alone.

What did Nicky do to show that he was sorry for all that he had done in the morning?

• Nicky swept up the pieces of the broken curios.

• Nicky apologized and asked for Valodya’s forgiveness. This shows that he was sorry for all that he had done in the morning.

• Nicky bought flowers for Valodya.

• Nicky begged to be forgiven and said he would never be mean again.