Chapter 9 – The Proposal Additional Questions and Answers

Content structure

A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
B. Fill in the blanks
C. True or False
D. Short questions & answers
E. Long questions & answers

A. Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. How old is Natalya in the story?
(a) 18 years old
(b) 30 years old
(c) 25 years old
(d) 22 years old

Ans: (c) 25 years old

2. Who is Stepan Chubukov’s daughter?
(a) Natasha
(b) Natalia
(c) Natalya
(d) Nadia

Ans: (c) Natalya

3. What is the name of the man who comes to propose?
(a) Stepan Chubukov
(b) Anton Chekhov
(c) Ivan Lomov
(d) Natalya

Ans: (c) Ivan Lomov

4. Who wrote the play “The Proposal”?
(a) William Shakespeare
(b) Anton Chekhov
(c) Ruskin Bond
(d) Leo Tolstoy

Ans: (b) Anton Chekhov

5. Where does the scene take place in the beginning of the play?
(a) In a garden
(b) In a drawing-room
(c) In a kitchen
(d) In a market

Ans: (b) In a drawing-room

6. What does Chubukov think Lomov has come for at first?
(a) To play a game
(b) To borrow money
(c) To eat lunch
(d) To visit a doctor

Ans: (b) To borrow money

7. How old is Ivan Lomov?
(a) 25
(b) 35
(c) 40
(d) 20

Ans: (b) 35

8. What is Ivan Lomov wearing when he enters?
(a) Casual clothes
(b) Sports outfit
(c) Dress-jacket and white gloves
(d) Pajamas

Ans: (c) Dress-jacket and white gloves

9. What health problem does Lomov mention?
(a) Fever
(b) Toothache
(c) Palpitations
(d) Headache

Ans: (c) Palpitations

10. What is Natalya doing when she enters?
(a) Playing with her pet
(b) Reading a book
(c) Shelling peas
(d) Cooking dinner

Ans: (c) Shelling peas

11. What does Natalya offer Lomov?
(a) Some sweets
(b) Tea
(c) Lunch
(d) Peas

Ans: (c) Lunch

12. What land is being argued about?
(a) Oxen Meadows
(b) Sunny Fields
(c) Green Garden
(d) The Orchard

Ans: (a) Oxen Meadows

13. How long does Natalya say her family has had the land?
(a) 50 years
(b) 200 years
(c) Nearly 300 years
(d) Since yesterday

Ans: (c) Nearly 300 years

14. What does Chubukov call Lomov during the fight?
(a) A good man
(b) A kind neighbour
(c) A landgrabber
(d) A joker

Ans: (c) A landgrabber

15. How does Lomov feel during the argument?
(a) Relaxed
(b) Sleepy
(c) Nervous and sick
(d) Hungry

Ans: (c) Nervous and sick

16. What does Lomov accuse Natalya’s family of?
(a) Being kind
(b) Being poor
(c) Embezzlement and cheating
(d) Being brave

Ans: (c) Embezzlement and cheating

17. What does Chubukov call Lomov at the end?
(a) A brave man
(b) A scarecrow and frump
(c) A kind neighbor
(d) A soldier

Ans: (b) A scarecrow and frump

18. What do Natalya and Lomov start talking about next?
(a) Money
(b) Dogs
(c) Weather
(d) Books

Ans: (b) Dogs

19. What is the name of Natalya’s dog?
(a) Rex
(b) Bruno
(c) Squeezer
(d) Flash

Ans: (c) Squeezer

20. What is the name of Lomov’s dog?
(a) Max
(b) Tiger
(c) Guess
(d) Squeezer

Ans: (c) Guess

21. How much did Lomov pay for Guess?
(a) 100 roubles
(b) 85 roubles
(c) 50 roubles
(d) 125 roubles

Ans: (d) 125 roubles

22. What does Chubukov call Lomov during the dog fight?
(a) A kind boy
(b) A good hunter
(c) A milksop and fool
(d) A smart man

Ans: (c) A milksop and fool

23. What drink does Chubukov shout for?
(a) Tea
(b) Milk
(c) Champagne
(d) Water

Ans: (c) Champagne

24. Why do they still agree to the marriage?
(a) For fun
(b) For love
(c) For land and money
(d) To stop fighting

Ans: (c) For land and money

25. Why does Lomov say Squeezer is not a good dog?
(a) He is too small
(b) He is overshot
(c) He is slow
(d) He is shy

Ans: (b) He is overshot

B. Fill in the blanks

1. Chubukov is very ________________ when he hears about the proposal. (happy)
2. Natalya gets angry and says the land has been in her family for ______________ years. (three hundred)
3. Natalya becomes upset and asks her father to bring ___________________ back. (Lomov)
4. In the end, Chubukov forces them to ____________________ and stop arguing. (marry)
5. Natalya says she will send her _____________ to Oxen Meadows. (mowers)
6. Chubukov says that Squeezer is the best dog in the _________________. (district)
7. Lomov says the land was given by his aunt’s ____________ to peasants. (grandmother)
8. Lomov says he wouldn’t take five Squeezers for his dog _______________. (Guess)
9. Lomov keeps saying he sees ______________ and mist when he faints. (stars)
10. Natalya gets into ____________ after hearing Lomov came to propose. (hysterics)

C. True or False

1. Lomov wears a dress-jacket and black gloves when he visits. (False)
S/S: He wears a dress-jacket and white gloves, not black gloves.

2. Natalya gets upset and cries when she hears Lomov came to propose. (True)
S/S: She gets very emotional, falls into a chair, and cries for her father to bring Lomov back.

3. The first fight is about which dog is better. (False)
S/S: Their first argument is about who owns a piece of land called Oxen Meadows.

4. Lomov has no documents to prove the land is his. (False)
S/S: Lomov says he has papers to prove the land belongs to him.

5. Chubukov tries to keep peace between Lomov and Natalya. (False)
S/S: He joins the fight and even insults Lomov.

6. Squeezer is the name of Natalya’s dog. (True)
S/S: Natalya proudly says that her dog, Squeezer, is better than Lomov’s dog.

7. Natalya refuses to marry Lomov after the fights. (False)
S/S: She agrees to marry him and says she is happy too.

8. The characters in the play value relationships more than land and property. (False)
S/S: They argue more about land and dogs than showing care or love, even during a marriage proposal.

9. The proposal scene shows that love and understanding are the main reasons for marriage. (False)
S/S: The marriage happens not out of love, but because it helps their families and land.

10. The ending suggests that the couple will live happily and continue the fights. (True)
S/S: They start arguing again right after agreeing to marry, showing their habits won’t change easily.

D. Short questions & answers

1. What land do Lomov and Natalya fight about?
Ans: Lomov and Natalya argue about Oxen Meadows, a small piece of land that both families say belongs to them. Lomov says it’s his because of an old family deal, while Natalya believes it’s her family’s property. This small disagreement quickly turns into a big and unnecessary fight.

2. How does Natalya react when she hears about Lomov’s proposal?
Ans: Natalya feels shocked and upset when she finds out that Lomov had actually come to propose. She bursts into tears, falls into a chair and begs her father to bring him back. Natalya truly likes Lomov but she was so busy arguing with him that she didn’t realise why he had come.

3. What does Natalya say to prove the land is hers?
Ans: Natalya argues that her family has owned Oxen Meadows for nearly 300 years. She explains that both her grandfather and great-grandfather always believed the land belonged to them, so she refuses to accept Lomov’s claim over it.

4. What health problem does Lomov complain about during arguments?
Ans: Lomov says he has heart problems and often feels very nervous during arguments. He talks about his heart beating fast, pain in his side, his eyebrow twitching, and his foot going numb. These symptoms show how scared and stressed he becomes whenever arguing with someone.

5. Why does Lomov say Squeezer is not a good dog?
Ans: Lomov says Squeezer is not a good dog because his jaw is not shaped right which makes him a bad hunter and even says that any street dog is just as good.

6. What does Natalya say about Lomov’s family during their fight?
Ans: Natalya gets very angry during the fight and begins insulting Lomov’s family. She says his dog is no good, calls his grandfather a drunkard, and even makes fun of his aunt. Her rude remarks show how people can lose control when they are angry.

7. What does the play say about the purpose of marriage in their society?
Ans: The play shows that in their society, marriage is seen as a way to gain land, money, and social status rather than being based on love. Lomov and Chubukov view marriage more as a practical arrangement where property and family name matter more than real emotions or love.

8. What makes the ending of the play both funny and meaningful?
Ans: The ending is funny because Lomov and Natalya begin arguing again right after they agree to marry. The scene is also meaningful because it shows that people like them do not easily change. Their repeated fighting shows how pride and the need to always be right can ruin even joyful moments.

9. Do Lomov and Natalya agree to marry in the end?
Ans: Yes, Lomov and Natalya finally agree to get married after all the shouting and arguments. Natalya says she is happy about the decision, and although Lomov still seems a bit confused he also agrees.

10. How does Chubukov respond when Lomov wakes up?
Ans: Lomov finally wakes up and Chubukov, overjoyed to see him alive, quickly joins his hand with Natalya’s and announces that they should get married. Chubukov supports the proposal completely because he wants to end the quarrels and bring peace to the family.

E. Long questions & answers

1. What is the significance of the title “The Proposal”? Do you think it suits the play?
Ans: The title “The Proposal” is a good choice because the whole play is about a marriage proposal. The interesting part is that the proposal does not lead to love but turns into a series of unnecessary arguments and confusion. The title shows how something simple can turn into a funny and messy situation.
Yes, the title matches the play well because it clearly shows what the story is about and also hints at the humour that follows. It also shows that in some places, people see marriage more as a deal than a matter of love, which makes the title both suitable and a little funny in an unexpected way.

2. Describe the second argument between Lomov and Natalya. What does it show about their personalities?
Ans: The second argument is about their dogs, Lomov’s dog Guess and Natalya’s dog Squeezer. Lomov says that Guess is strong and expensive, while Natalya argues that Squeezer is younger and belongs to a better kind of dog. The argument grows more serious, and they begin insulting each other’s pets and even each other’s families.
This argument shows that both Lomov and Natalya are very stubborn, proud, and quick to get angry. Although they agree to marry, they still continue to fight, which shows that their relationship may be full of problems if they don’t learn to understand each other.

3. What is the argument about Oxen Meadows? How does it affect the proposal?
Ans: The argument begins when Lomov claims that Oxen Meadows belongs to his family. Natalya disagrees and says that the land has always been part of her family’s property. Lomov and Natalya both try to prove they are right by giving different stories about their family history.
The argument becomes loud and emotional, and both of them completely forget about the marriage proposal. Lomov gets angry and walks out of the house. This small and unnecessary fight over a piece of land ruins what could have been a happy and peaceful proposal.

4. How does Chekhov use humor to present serious ideas in the play?
Ans: Chekhov uses humor by showing the characters arguing over silly things during an important event like a marriage proposal. The loud fights, health complaints, and dramatic reactions make the scenes funny. However, the humor also highlights serious ideas like how people value property and pride more than relationships. Chekhov shows that even educated people can act foolishly. His use of farce makes the audience laugh but also think about human behavior and values.

5. What does the play tell us about human nature and relationships?
Ans: The play shows that people can be proud, selfish, and foolish even during serious moments. Lomov and Natalya do not calmly discuss marriage; instead, they get into arguments about land and dogs, showing that they care more about proving they are right than about understanding each other. Although they agree to marry, they start fighting again, which shows that their relationship is full of pride and misunderstanding. The play teaches that some relationships are based more on ego or social status than on love and respect.

6. Explain how the characters’ behavior during the proposal reflects societal attitudes towards marriage.
Ans: The characters treat marriage more as a way to gain wealth and social status than as an expression of love. Lomov wants a practical wife from a respectable family, and Chubukov supports the match for personal benefit. Lomov and Natalya argue several times, but they still go ahead with the proposal. Their behavior shows that in their society, marriage is seen more as a deal or agreement than a true emotional bond.