Answer the following questions briefly.
a) Why does Jeanne want to buy a villa?
b) Why is Gaston not interested in buying the villa in the beginning?
c) Mrs. Al Smith makes many statements about the French. Pick out any two and explain them.
d) Juliette says “………….. now I have only one thought that is to get the wretched place off my hands. I would sacrifice it at any price”. Doe she stick to her words? Why/Why not?
e) Who is better in business − Juliette or Gaston? Why?
f) Do you like/dislike Gaston? Give your reasons.

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Solution

a)Jeanne wants to buy a villa because of two reasons, which are
She wants to accommodate her parents in the villa
She wants to spend a holiday with her husband at the villa
b) Gaston was not interested in buying the villa in the beginning because he knew that the villa was being bought by his wife for his in-laws and not for their personal use.
c) Mrs. Al Smith makes the following statements about the French:
(1) “You French people have a cute way of doing business”. By this statement, Mrs. Al Smith is pointing towards the cleverness of the French in doing business. They would attract a prospective buyer by advertising for sale but will negotiate the price later.
(2) “Frenchmen usually have to consult about ten people before they get a move on.”
Here, Mrs. Al Smith is indicating towards the indecisive nature of the French people.
d) Juliette did not stick to her words because she quotes a hefty price of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the villa and she finally sells it for two hundred thousand dollars.
e) Gaston is better than Juliette in business because he manages to earn one hundred thousand dollars out of a property that was not owned by him. He sells Juliette’s villa to Mrs. Al Smith for three hundred thousand dollars.
f) Try attempting this answer on your own.

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Juliette says “... now I have only one thought that is to get the wretched place off my hands. I would sacrifice it at any price.” Does she stick to her words? Why/Why not?

Who is better in business -Juliette or Gaston? Why?

Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play using the clues given in the box below. Remember that there are more clues than required.

Sell, buying, house, enthusiastic, comes, 200 thousand francs, taking, favour, get, sleeps, money, 300 thousand francs, unhappy, his in-laws, walks in, strikes, keep

Juliette, the owner of a villa wants to _________ it as she is in need of __________. Moreover, she is not in _________ of the house. Jeanne and Gaston, a couple visit her with the aim of __________ the Villa. While Jeanne is ___________ about buying, Gaston detests the idea as he does not want his __________ in that house. Also, he finds the asking price of ___________ to be expensive. When Jeanne and Juliette go around the house, another customer __________ and starts talking to Gaston _______ him to be Juliette’s husband. Gaston _________ a deal with the customer by which he is able to give ___________ to the owner and __________ one thousand francs for himself.

Why is Gaston not interested in buying the villa in the beginning?

Read the following extracts and answer the questions that follow by choosing the correct options.

(A) ‘But the sign has been hanging on the gate for over a month now and I am beginning to be afraid that the day I bought it was when I was the real fool.’

a) Why is Juliette disappointed?

(i) She is unable to get a role of cook in the films.

(ii) Her maid is leaving as she has got a role in the films.

(iii) She is unable to find a suitable buyer for her villa.

(iv) Gaston is offering a very low price for the villa.

b) Why does she call herself a fool?

(i) She has decided to sell her villa.

(ii) There are no buyers for the villa.

(iii) She had bought the villa for more than it was worth.

(iv) The villa was too close to the film studios.

(B) ‘But your parents would take possession of it, every year from the beginning of spring until the end of September. What’s more they would bring the whole tribe of your sister’s children with them.’

(a) What does Gaston mean by ‘take possession’?

(i) Her parents would stay with them for a long time.

(ii) Juliette’s sister has many children.

(iii) Gaston does not like children.

(iv) Juliette’s sister’s children are badly behaved.

(a) What is the discrepancy between what Gaston said earlier and what he says now?

(i) Earlier he did not want Juliette’s parents to stay with them but now he is showing concern for them.

(ii) Earlier he wanted Juliette’s parents to stay with them but now he does not want them to come over.

(iii) Earlier he wanted to buy a house for them but now he wants them to come and stay in their villa.

(iv) Earlier he stayed in Juliette’s parents’ villa but now he wants them to stay with him and Juliette.

(b) What does the above statement reveal about Gaston’s character?

(i) He is selfish.

(ii) He is an opportunist.

(iii) He is a caring person.

(iv) He is a hypocrite.

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