Short-Answer Questions
1. Why was Aram surprised to see Mourad riding a horse?
Answer: Aram’s family was poor and could not afford a horse. Moreover, his
family was famous for its honesty. Therefore, seeing Mourad riding a
beautiful horse early in the morning made Aram suspect that the horse had
been stolen.
2. Why did Aram not believe that Mourad had stolen the horse?
Answer: Aram knew that the Garoghlanian family was famous for its honesty.
He could not imagine that a member of his family would steal. He therefore
tried to find an innocent explanation for Mourad’s possession of the horse.
3. Why did Aram consider the horse to be a “beautiful white horse”?
Answer: Aram was fascinated by the horse's beauty, energy and grace. For a
boy who had never owned or ridden a horse, riding such a magnificent
animal seemed like a wonderful dream.
4. What was Uncle Khosrove’s characteristic expression? What does it reveal
about him?
Answer: Uncle Khosrove frequently said, “Pay no attention to it.” It shows
that he was short-tempered, impatient and dismissive. He believed that
many problems were not worth worrying about.
5. Why did Aram think Mourad had a special connection with animals?
Answer: Mourad could understand and handle animals unusually well. He had
a natural ability to control the horse and make it respond to him. His
behaviour showed his love and understanding of animals.
6. Who was John Byro? Why was he important to the story?
Answer: John Byro was an Assyrian farmer whose horse had been stolen. He
later saw Aram and Mourad with the horse but did not accuse them directly
because he trusted the Garoghlanian family's reputation for honesty.
7. Why did John Byro suspect that the horse was his?
Answer: John Byro recognised the horse because it resembled his missing
horse. He noticed its appearance and behaviour and strongly suspected that
it was his own horse.
8. Why did Aram feel guilty when John Byro visited their house?
Answer: Aram knew that the horse was probably John Byro’s stolen horse.
When John Byro spoke about his missing horse and expressed his trust in the
Garoghlanian family, Aram felt ashamed because he knew the truth.
9. Why did Mourad return the horse?
Answer: Mourad eventually returned the horse because he realised that
keeping it was wrong. The family's reputation for honesty and John Byro's
trust influenced him to correct his mistake.
10. What does the story teach us about honesty?
Answer: The story shows that honesty is an important family and social
value. Even when people make mistakes, they should recognise them and
correct their behaviour. The Garoghlanian family's reputation ultimately
influences Mourad to return the horse.
Long-Answer Questions
11. Describe Mourad’s character.
Answer: Mourad is adventurous, energetic, independent and somewhat
eccentric. He loves animals and has a special understanding of them. He
enjoys freedom and does not care much about conventional rules. Although
he takes the horse without permission, he does not appear to be motivated
by greed. Eventually, he returns it, showing that he understands the
importance of honesty.
12. Describe the relationship between Aram and Mourad.
Answer: Aram and Mourad are cousins and share a close bond. Aram admires
Mourad's adventurous personality and is fascinated by his ability to ride the
horse. Although Aram is more cautious and morally conscious, he joins
Mourad in riding the horse. Their relationship is based on affection, trust and
shared adventure.
13. “The story is a beautiful blend of humour, adventure and moral values.”
Discuss.
Answer: The story combines humour through characters like Uncle Khosrove,
adventure through Aram and Mourad's horse-riding experiences, and moral
values through the theme of honesty. The boys enjoy their freedom but
eventually realise that the horse belongs to someone else. John Byro's trust
in their family further highlights the importance of honesty and reputation.
14. Why did John Byro not accuse the boys of stealing his horse? What does
this reveal about him?
Answer: John Byro strongly suspected that the horse was his, but he could
not believe that members of the Garoghlanian family would steal because
their family was famous for honesty. His decision not to accuse them shows
that he was trusting, respectful and willing to give people the benefit of the
doubt.
15. “The Garoghlanian family was poor but rich in honesty.” Explain.
Answer: The family had very little money and often struggled financially, but
they were proud of their reputation for honesty. This reputation was so strong
that even John Byro could not believe that they had stolen his horse. The
story shows that moral values can be more valuable than material wealth.
⭐ Most Important for Examination
Focus especially on these:
Character sketch of Mourad
Character sketch of Aram
Why did Aram suspect that the horse was stolen?
Why did John Byro trust the Garoghlanian family?
“The story is about honesty and integrity.” Discuss.
Significance of the horse in the story
Role of Uncle Khosrove
How does the story show the importance of family reputation?