Chapter 4 – The treasure within Solutions

Content Structure

  • 1. Theme
  • 2. Summary
  • 3. Unit wise explanation
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
  • 4. About Hafeez Contractor
  • 5. Word meanings
  • 6. Comprehension Check
    • Unit – I
    • Unit – II
  • 7. Exercise questions & answers
  • 8. Additional questions & answers
    • Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
      • Unit – I
      • Unit II
    • Fill in the blanks
    • True or false
    • Match the following
    • Short-type questions & answers
      • Unit – I
      • Unit – II
    • Long-type questions & answers

1. Theme

  • Firstly, in this interview Hafeez talks about his childhood memories.
  • Secondly, the narrator discusses Hafeez’s journey, how he became an architect without ever dreaming of it and without achieving excellent marks or serious studies.
  • The narrator shares that as a child, Hafeez didn’t know which career he would follow, but without realizing it, he was already preparing to become an architect. He understood this only after becoming successful.
  • Fourth, in the interview, Hafeez shares his personal life experiences to teach us the value of hard work. He says that hard work leads to success.

2. Summary

Hafeez was a good student in his early school years, but after third grade, he slowly lost interest in studies. He didn’t even try to cheat during exams and liked playing more than studying. He loved games and won many prizes. In eleventh grade, his principal spoke to him about how hard his mother worked and how important it was to take care of the family. That talk really touched him and changed his life. From then on, Hafeez began to study seriously and got 50% in his exams.
After school, he wanted to join the army, but his aunt didn’t allow him. Then he thought about joining the police, but his mother told him to finish college first. So, he joined a college in Bangalore to study French. After seven years, he felt French was too hard and switched to German. But sadly, just a few days later, his German teacher passed away. So, he went back to learning French. Even with all these problems, Hafeez didn’t give up and later became an architect.

One day, Hafeez visited his cousin’s husband’s office and saw an architect drawing a window sketch the wrong way. He pointed out the mistake, which surprised everyone there. The architect was impressed and told Hafeez he had a natural talent and should join an architecture college. That moment reminded Hafeez of his school teacher, Mrs. Gupta, who once told him that he wasn’t great at studies but had a gift for drawing and could become an architect one day. As a child, Hafeez was never interested in books, but he loved doing hands-on work. He often spent time with his friends building forts and designing boats, which later helped him in his career. Today, Hafeez is a successful architect who brings his clients’ dreams to life.

3. Unit wise explanation

Unit – I

Hafeez was a contractor. As a child, he used to have nightmares about math exams, but now he was busy with work and didn’t worry about school anymore. In his early school days, he was a good student, but after third grade, he became more interested in playing games, running around, and making jokes. He didn’t enjoy studying and even got bored of cheating during exams because he never kept up with classwork.

When he reached the eleventh grade, his principal called him for a talk and spoke about how hard his mother was working. He told Hafeez it was time to take responsibility for his family. That talk had a big impact on him and changed his thinking. Even though he loved sports and had won many prizes, he chose to take his studies seriously. He worked hard for his final exams and scored 50%, which made his principal proud. That became a special day in Hafeez’s life.

As a child, Hafeez often played a game called ‘Chor Police’ just to avoid studying. He didn’t care much when teachers scolded him. On Saturdays, he and his friends would plan movie outings. Hafeez would collect money from everyone to buy tickets and snacks. As the leader of the group, he always found ways to have fun and stay away from books. His schoolbooks were always clean and looked new because he only opened them right before exams.

Unit – II

Hafeez wanted to join the army, but his aunt didn’t allow it. Then he thought about joining the police, but his mother told him to finish college first. So he joined a college in Bangalore, where he had to choose between French and German. He chose French, but after seven years, he found it too difficult and switched to German. Sadly, just a few days later, his German teacher passed away, so he went back to studying French.

During this time, Hafeez spent some time at his cousin’s husband’s office. There, he saw an architect making a mistake while drawing a window. Hafeez pointed out the mistake and redrew the sketch correctly. Everyone was surprised by his skill and suggested he join an architecture college because he clearly had a natural talent for design. But since the college only accepted students with high marks, Hafeez took the entrance exam and, to his surprise, scored an A+. This helped him get into the architecture course.

Later, Hafeez realized that his childhood hobbies—like building forts and designing buildings with friends—had already prepared him for this career. He also remembered his school teacher, Mrs. Gupta, once telling him that even though he wasn’t good at studies, he had a gift for drawing and could become an architect. At that time, he didn’t understand her words, but now he sees she was right.

Hafeez was never interested in book learning, but he always enjoyed doing things with his hands. He loved building small dams when it rained or making chalk buttons for classmates who lost theirs. Today, as a successful architect, he understands exactly what his clients want and can quickly sketch designs to match their needs. Even though he didn’t enjoy math in school, he now finds it useful because architecture brings together design, construction, and a bit of psychology—just like solving a puzzle.

4. About Hafeez Contractor

Hafeez Contractor was born in 1950. He completed a diploma in architecture from Mumbai in 1975 and later went to New York to study at Columbia University on a Tata Scholarship. In 1977, he began his career as a trainee architect with T. Khareghat and later became a partner in the firm. From 1977 to 1980, he was also active at the Academy of Architecture in Mumbai. He was part of important groups that worked to protect old and historic buildings in Mumbai and New Delhi. In 1982, Hafeez started his own company with just two team members. Today, his firm has grown to over 350 people, including designers, civil engineers, draftsmen, and other experts. His company handles many types of projects, such as offices, banks, malls, hospitals, and hotels.

5. Word meanings

WordsMeaning
Terrible nightmareA very bad dream
DisappearedWent away
PsycheHow we think and feel
ApproachedCame closer
DistinctionA special difference
IncurredSuffer
CaningHitting as punishment
StrategiesSmart plans
AcademicsSchool learning
DistractionSomething that takes attention away
Stumbled onFound by accident
OffbeatA little different
InfluenceThe power to change things
CakewalkVery easy
AmmunitionBullets and weapons
copeHandle problems
CurriculumSchool subjects.
GiftednessBeing very smart
Street smartClever in real life
DefiedDidn’t follow rules
SpontaneouslyHappened suddenly
InstinctivelyDid without thinking
InstinctA natural feeling
InterpretationHow someone understands something.
DerivedCame from something else.

6. Comprehension Check

Unit – I

1. What did Hafeez Contractor have nightmares about?
Ans: Hafeez was very scared of math, so before his exams, he would often have bad dreams about them. These dreams made him feel nervous and worried about the exams.

2. What did the principal say to him, which influenced him deeply?
Ans: Hafeez’s principal talked to him about his mother’s hard work to pay for his education. He also told Hafeez that he had a responsibility to help his family. This encouraging talk made Hafeez think seriously about his studies and his future.

3. “… that year I did not step out onto the field.” What was he busy doing that year?
Ans: Hafeez was busy studying for his eleventh-grade final exams. Earlier, he used to cheat and avoid studying, but after his principal’s advice, he took his studies seriously and worked hard for his exams, avoiding all games.

4. (i) What “distraction” did Hafeez Contractor create one day?
(ii) Would you have liked to participate in the “distraction” had you been with him?
Ans:
(i) Hafeez didn’t enjoy studying, so he played a game called “Chor Police.” This game helped him avoid studying and brought him fun.
(ii) No, I like learning, so I wouldn’t want to spend my whole day playing games to avoid studying. I had chosen to focus on my schoolwork and learn something new.

Unit – II

1. Hafeez Contractor wanted to join the police force. Why didn’t he?
Ans: Hafeez wanted to join the police force because he was interested in it. However, his mother told him that he should finish his college education before making such an important decision.

2. In the architect’s office, Hafeez Contractor was advised to drop everything and join architecture. Why?
Ans: In the architect’s office, Hafeez was told to become an architect because his drawing skills were outstanding. He had a great understanding of design and when he pointed out a mistake in a window sketch, the architects were impressed by his ability to notice such details. This showed them that he had a natural talent for architecture.

3. (i) What was Mrs. Gupta’s advice to Hafeez Contractor?
(ii) What made her advise him so?
Ans:
(i) Mrs. Gupta, Hafeez’s school teacher, told him that although he wasn’t good at studies, he was excellent at drawing and should consider becoming an architect.
(ii) Mrs. Gupta gave him this advice because she noticed his amazing drawing skills, even though he was not strong in academics. At the time, Hafeez didn’t understand her words, but later in life, he realized that she was right.

4. How did he help fellow students who had lost a button?
Ans: When Hafeez’s friends lost a button on their uniform, he found a creative way to help them. Since the school had strict rules about wearing a neat uniform, Hafeez used a blade to shape a new button out of chalk.

5. Which rules did he break as a school boy?
Ans: Hafeez didn’t plan to break any rules. But when his friends lost their buttons, he helped them by making new ones out of chalk. This happened because his school had strict rules about wearing a neat uniform, and if a button was missing, they could get into trouble.

6. (i) What is Hafeez Contractor’s definition of mathematics?
(ii) How would you want to define mathematics? Do you like the subject?
Ans:
(i) Hafeez was always afraid of mathematics, but as an architect, he began to enjoy it because architecture involves design, construction, psychology, and sociology, all of which are connected to math.
(ii) Yes, I enjoy solving math problems. It’s an interesting subject that helps develop logical thinking and has many practical uses.

7. Exercise questions & answers

Answer the following questions.

1. Is it likely that someone who is original and intelligent does not do very well at school? Should such a learner be called a failure? If not, why not?
Ans: No, some intelligent and creative students may not perform well in school, but that does not mean they are failures. Success is not only determined by school grades. Some students learn in different ways and do really well in areas outside of academics. For example, Hafeez was not a good student in his class, but he became a successful architect, while others who were better at academics worked regular jobs.

2. Who, in your view, is an ‘unusual’ learner?
Ans: An unusual learner is someone who thinks and learns in their own unique way. They may not use the usual methods of learning but have special talents and different ways of understanding things.

3. What can schools do to draw out the best in unusual learners? Suggest whatever seems reasonable to you.
Ans: Schools should support unusual learners by using various teaching methods that make learning fun and engaging. Teachers should encourage these students by identifying their strengths and helping them develop their skills. Schools should also offer creative activities that allow students to learn at their own pace.

8. Additional questions & answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Unit – I

1. What does “psyche” mean?
(a) A dream
(b) The mind
(c) A ghost
(d) A school subject

Ans: (b) The mind

2. What title did he win in sports?
(a) Fastest runner
(b) Best teacher
(c) Senior champion
(d) Chess master

Ans: (c) Senior champion

3. Who worked hard to pay his school fees?
(a) Hafeez’s father
(b) Hafeez’s mother
(c) Hafeez teacher
(d) Hafeez uncle

Ans: (b) Hafeez’s mother

4. Which sport was he very good at?
(a) Cricket
(b) Swimming
(c) Football
(d) Badminton

Ans: (a) Cricket

5. When did Hafeez lose his interest in studies?
(a) First grade
(b) Fourth grade
(c) Third grade
(d) fifth grade

Ans: (c) Third grade

6. What did the teachers do when Hafeez did badly in school?
(a) Gave him extra homework
(b) Ignored him
(c) Sent him home
(d) Gave him caning

Ans: (c) Gave him caning

7. What did he love the most in school?
(a) Studying
(b) Playing games and pranks
(c) Writing stories
(d) Singing

Ans: (b) Playing games and pranks

8. How often did he get caning?
(a) Every day
(b) Never
(c) Once a month
(d) Every week

Ans: (d) Every week

9. Why did he skip lunch on Saturdays?
(a) He was not hungry
(b) He was saving money for tickets
(c) He was studying
(d) He was playing football

Ans: (b) He was saving money for tickets

10. When did he open his textbooks?
(a) Every day
(b) Every week
(c) One day before exams
(d) Never

Ans: (c) One day before exams

Unit – II

1. What percentage was needed to get into the architecture college?
(a) 30-40%
(b) 50-60%
(c) 80-85%
(d) 90-100%

Ans: (c) 80-85%

2. What job did he want to do first?
(a) Be an architect
(b) Join the Army
(c) Become a police officer
(d) Work in a bank

Ans: (b) Join the Army

3. Which college did he join to continue studying?
(a) Jaihind College
(b) Delhi University
(c) Oxford University
(d) Mumbai College

Ans: (a) Jaihind College

4. Who was told by Hafeez to complete her college studies?
(a) Hafeez’s mother
(b) Hafeez’s sister
(c) Hafeez’s father
(d) Hafeez aunt

Ans: (a) Hafeez’s mother

5. In college, which two languages could Hafeez choose from?
(a) Spanish or Italian
(b) Hindi or Marathi
(c) French or German
(d) English or Sanskrit

Ans: (c) French or German

6. Who helped him learn French again?
(a) His teacher
(b) His cousin
(c) His friend
(d) His mother

Ans: (b) His cousin

7. What mistake did Hafeez see in the drawing?
(a) The window was too big
(b) The window was the wrong color
(c) The window would not open
(d) The window had no glass

Ans: (c) The window would not open

8. Which things help Hafeez to make buttons?
(a) Chalk
(b) Paper
(c) Wood
(d) Plastic

Ans: (a) Chalk

9. Where did Hafeez live in childhood?
(a) Own house
(b) Aunt’s house
(c) Boarding schools
(d) Sister’s house

Ans: (c) Boarding schools

10. What did Hafeez think about when it rained?
(a) Building a dam
(b) Playing in the rain
(c) Sleeping in class
(d) Running outside

Ans: (a) Building a dam

Fill in the blanks

1. Hafeez Contractor was very good at ___________. (drawing)
2. Hafeez loves the game of ______________. (cricket)
3. Hafeez’s ____________ changed his life by giving him advice. (principal)
4. Hafeez used _____________ to make buttons for students. (chalk)
5. In school, Hafeez loved playing and making ______________. (pranks)
6. Hafeez plays a game of _______________ to avoid studies. (chore police)
7. Mrs. Gupta was a Hafeez ______________. (teacher)
8. Hafeez learned best by _____________ things instead of reading. (seeing)
9. Hafeez designed a ______________ when his cousin’s husband asked him to. (house)
10. He made designs for forts, ___________, and ammunition with his friend. (guns)

True or false

1. Hafeez’s mother wants him to join the police. (False)

2. Hafeez wanted to learn both German and French words. (False)

3. Hafeez’s aunt forced him to join the army. (False)

4. Hafeez saved money for movie tickets. (True)

5. Hafeez fulfilled all clients dreams about houses. (True)

6. As an architect, Hafeez loves the subject of mathematics. (False)

7. Hafeez never helped his friends. (False)

8. Hafeez’s teacher was given advice about his mother’s hard work. (False)

9. Hafeez was a leader of his friends group. (True)

10. Hafeez got an A+ in his architecture entrance test. (True)

Match the following

Column AColumn B
(i) Architecture entrance exama) Mrs. Gupta
(ii) Changed Hafeez’s lifeb) Hafeez’s aunt
(iii) Made for students with missing buttonsc) Hafeez got an A+
(iv) Tore his admission letterd) Chalk button
(v) Told Hafeez he would be an architecte) Principal’s advice

Ans:

Column AColumn B
(i) Architecture entrance examc) Hafeez got an A+
(ii) Changed Hafeez’s lifee) Principal’s advice
(iii) Made for students with missing buttonsd) Chalk button
(iv) Tore his admission letterb) Hafeez’s aunt
(v) Told Hafeez he would be an architecta) Mrs. Gupta

Short-type questions & answers

Unit – I

1. Which speech changed Hafeez’s life?
Ans: In the eleventh grade, Hafeez’s principal spoke to him about how hard his mother worked to pay his school fees. He told Hafeez that it was time to take responsibility for his family. That conversation made Hafeez understand the value of hard work and brought a big change in his attitude.

2. What things did Hafeez forget?
Ans: Hafeez usually forgot the lessons that were boring and did not have any pictures or fun activities. However, he found it easy to remember things when they included drawings or practical work, as he enjoyed those more.

3. Why did Hafeez’s teacher cane him every week?
Ans: Hafeez’s teacher caned him every week because he never completed his homework or studied his lessons properly. He also played a game of chor-police to avoid studying.

4. When and where did Hafeez go to watch movies?
Ans: Every Saturday, Hafeez and his friends would go to the town to watch a movie. They would spend the whole day there, enjoying the movie and eating their favorite snacks together.

5. Why were Hafeez’s books always new?
Ans: Hafeez’s books always looked new because he only opened them the day before an exam, so his friends often asked to borrow them.

Unit – II

1. Which language did Hafeez choose for his graduation?
Ans: Hafeez had the option to choose between French and German language for his graduation. He had studied French for seven years but later realized it was difficult, so he moved to the German language. But after a few days, the teacher passed away so he continued his studies in French and completed his graduation in it.

2. What did Hafeez notice in the architect’s office?
Ans: In the architect’s office, Hafeez noticed that the architect had drawn a building sketch incorrectly, where the windows would not open properly.

3. What did Hafeez say about mathematics when he became an architect?
Ans: As an architect, Hafeez began to enjoy mathematics because he realized that math was an important part of designing buildings, constructing them, and understanding how people interact with the spaces. He also found that psychology and sociology were linked to math.

4. How did Hafeez make sketches?
Ans: Hafeez made sketches by closely observing his clients, their faces, clothes, the way they spoke, and even the kind of food they liked. All these small details helped him create better designs.

Long-type questions & answers

1. How did Hafeez feel about mathematics?
Ans: Hafeez didn’t like math during his school days. Before exams, he would have nightmares because he found it too hard. But after becoming an architect, he saw how useful and interesting math really is. It helped him with design, measurements, and construction. Even though some problems were tough, there were also simple solutions. While drawing building plans, he used math to get the right size and balance. As a student, he didn’t see how math and drawing were connected—but now he clearly understands it.

2. How did Hafeez become an architect?
Ans: Hafeez loved drawing, but he never planned to become an architect. One day, he went to his cousin’s husband’s office to learn French. While there, he noticed that an architect had drawn a building sketch incorrectly; the windows in the sketch wouldn’t open properly. He pointed out this mistake, which surprised everyone because it was unusual for someone without architectural training to notice such a detail. The architects in the office encouraged him to join their college, but he didn’t have high marks. So, he decided to sit for the entrance exam, and to everyone’s surprise, he got an A+ grade. As a result, he was admitted to an architecture college. This is how Hafeez became a great architect without planning for it. He could easily create sketches by observing a client’s face, clothing, speech, pronunciation, and even food choices.

3. What did Hafeez realize when he became an architect?
Ans: When Hafeez became an architect, he realized many things about his childhood that he hadn’t understood before. He had always enjoyed practical activities, and as a child, he designed forts, guns, and bullets with his friend instead of studying. He also struggled to remember boring lessons but could never forget a design or drawing once he saw it. At the time, he did not understand the reason but now he realizes that those childhood experiences helped him in his career. He also remembered that his school teacher, Mrs. Gupta, once told him that although he was not a good student, he had a great talent for drawing. At that time, he did not understand her words but now he realizes that his childhood activities had unknowingly prepared him to become an architect.

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