May 14, 2026

NCERT English Class 10th – A Triumph of Surgery

Exercise Question Answers (Simple Words)

Chapter by James Herriot

Think About It

1. Why is Mrs. Pumphrey worried about Tricki?

Mrs. Pumphrey is worried because Tricki has become very fat and lazy. He does not play or run. He also stops eating and starts vomiting. She thinks he is seriously ill.

2. What does she do to help him? Is she wise in this?

She gives him extra food like cream cakes, chocolates, eggs, malt, and Horlicks. She also keeps him very comfortable.

No, she is not wise because too much rich food and no exercise make Tricki unhealthy.

3. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?

‘I’ refers to Dr. Herriot, the veterinary doctor and narrator of the story.

4. Is the narrator as rich as Tricki’s mistress?

No, the narrator is not as rich as Mrs. Pumphrey. She is a wealthy lady, while Dr. Herriot lives a normal life.

5. How does he treat the dog?

Dr. Herriot treats Tricki by:

stopping rich food,
giving simple food,
allowing rest,
making him exercise and play with other dogs.

He gives no medicine.

6. Why is he tempted to keep Tricki as a permanent guest?

He is tempted because Mrs. Pumphrey sends many delicious and expensive food items like eggs, wine, and brandy for Tricki every day. The doctor and his staff enjoy them.

Read and Find Out

1. Why had Tricki fallen ill?

Tricki had fallen ill because he ate too much rich food and did not get enough exercise.

2. What made Mrs. Pumphrey think that Tricki was ill?

Tricki became lazy, stopped eating, vomited, and spent all his time lying on the carpet. This made her think he was ill.

3. What does Dr. Herriot do to help Tricki?

Dr. Herriot takes Tricki to his surgery and puts him on a strict diet with exercise and rest.

4. Do you think Tricki was happy to go home? What do you think will happen now?

Yes, Tricki was happy to go home because he loved Mrs. Pumphrey.

But Mrs. Pumphrey may again spoil him with too much food and care.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of dog was Tricki?

Tricki was a small, pampered, and overfed dog.

2. Why did Dr. Herriot decide to take Tricki to the surgery?

He decided to take Tricki because the dog’s condition had become serious due to overfeeding and lack of exercise.

3. How did Tricki become healthy again?

Tricki became healthy through:

controlled diet,
exercise,
rest,
playing with other dogs.

4. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey call Tricki “poor little fellow”?

She loved Tricki deeply and felt sorry for him whenever he looked sick or weak.

Long Answer Question

Describe the relationship between Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki.

Mrs. Pumphrey loved Tricki like her own child. She always worried about him and gave him rich food and comfort. Because of too much pampering, Tricki became fat and unhealthy. Although her love was genuine, it was harmful for the dog. Finally, Dr. Herriot cured Tricki through proper diet and exercise.

Extra Important Questions

1. Why is the story called “A Triumph of Surgery”?

The story is called “A Triumph of Surgery” humorously because Tricki recovers without any operation or medicine. He becomes healthy only through proper diet and exercise.

2. What lesson do we learn from the story?

We learn that:

too much pampering is harmful,
discipline is important,
healthy food and exercise are necessary for good health.

Very Short Answers

Question	Answer
Who wrote the story?	James Herriot
Who was Tricki?	A pet dog
Who owned Tricki?	Mrs. Pumphrey
What was Tricki’s problem?	Overeating
Where was Tricki taken?	To the surgery
Did Tricki need medicine?	No
What cured Tricki?	Diet and exercise

Important Exam Points

Tricki was overfed.
Mrs. Pumphrey spoiled him.
Dr. Herriot used natural treatment.
No surgery was actually done.
The title is humorous.