FICTION: VIRTUALLY TRUE
SUMMARY
The story is a science fiction and the story line is very difficult to believe but it is virtually true or at least it may be true in near future.
The narrator of the story, a young child named Michael, comes across a news item related to miraculous recovery of a boy, named Sebastian, to life from the state of coma.
The narrator is puzzled as he believes that he has met Michael somewhere.
He recalls that he has met him while playing different ‘psycho drive games’, he knows him to be a computer character so how can that computer character ‘Michael’ be a real man.
The narrator also recalls that his computer ‘nutty’ dad had brought several psycho-drive computer games a few months back and it was in those games like- Wild west, Dragon quest, Jailbreak and War Zone that he had met this boy requesting him to rescue him.
The narrator is also reminded of the fact that he could not rescue the boy in different computer games as he was not allowed to control the games.
He again recalls that while he was attempting ‘War Zone’, he could rescue the computer character named Sebastian the previous day.
The narrator finds everything mysterious about Sebastian and his recovery.
He tries to unfold the mystery by surfing the internet and finally his curiosity is addressed.
The narrator comes to know that Sebastian is a real character and his memory had got transported to the computer memory of his lap top on which he was playing the same psycho-drive games when an accident took place and when the narrator found the same games from a computer fair he came across Sebastian Shultz- the computer character.
He realises that by cracking the last psycho-drive game War Zone, actually he has been able to bring out Sebastian from the state of ‘coma’.
The mystery is unfolded for the narrator and he receives a mail from the real Sebastian who thanks him for rescuing him and wishes to meet him.
EXTRACT BASED COMPREHENSION QUESTION EXERCISES
[A] “Sebastian Shultz, the boy I’d got to know so well recently, had apparently been in a coma for all that time. I felt nervous and shivery. It didn’t make any sense at all.”
Question. How does the narrator know Sebastian?
Answers. The narrator knows Sebastian as a computer character whom he has met in different psycho-drive games.
Question. What had happened to him?
Answers. Sebastian Shultz had met an accident and had gone to the state of coma.
Question. What is the meaning of the word ‘shivery’?
Answers. frightened
[B] “‘Can we have one last try’ it said, ‘I think the helicopter was the right idea. There’s got to be some kind of an accident… go into ‘Warzone’. If this doesn’t work I won’t bother you again. Cheers, Seb.”
Question. What did Sebastian want to have a last try for?
Answers. Sebastian wanted the narrator to have a last try in rescuing him by attempting the psycho-drive game named ‘War Zone’.
Question. What is the ‘War zone’?
Answers. War zone is a psycho-drive computer game in which the target of the player is to safely pass through the battle field.
Question. What does Sebastian mean by- I won’t bother you again?
Answers. Sebastian means that he would not disturb the narrator for helping him in getting him rescued any more if this attempt fails.(a)
[C] “He jumped in, turned the ignition key and revved the engine. ‘Jump in’. I climbed into the passenger seat and we were off.”
Question. Who are ‘we’ in these lines?
Answers. The narrator and Sebastian Shultz are ‘we’ in the lines.
Question. Where are they off to?
Answers. They are off to a grounded helicopter which is landed on the other side of the ‘war zone’ in the computer game ‘War Zone’.
Question. What is the meaning of the word- ‘revved’?
Answers. to prepare/to start.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
Question. Why does Michael fail in his first three attempts in rescuing Sebastian?
Answers. Michael fails in his first three rescuing attempts as he is not allowed to play in all these attempts. The entire happening is controlled by Sebastian himself but in the fourth attempt Michael gets an opportunity to act and by doing so he helps out Sebastian in rescuing his life.
Question. How does the communication take place between both of them?
Answers. The communication between both of them takes through printing tray. Mostly it’s Sebastian who conveys message by using printing tray.
Question. What are the questions that trouble the narrator after he finally saves Sebastian?
Answers. The narrator is curious to know about two things-(i) How Sebastian’s memory gets stored inside the computer and (ii) How he has been led to play the weird version of the psycho-drive games with Sebastian.
Question. Why does the narrator term his father as ‘nutty’ about computers?
Answers. The narrator terms his father to be very nutty about computers because his father has all the latest computer accessories as well as computers which can do a variety of things. Also, he shows his keen interest in new gadgets and gizmos that are launched in the market.
Question. Describe the sequence of events that led to Sebastian Shultz’s miraculous recovery.How did Sebastian enter Michael’s games? Do you think the real Sebastian will ever meet Michael one day?
Answers. Sebastian Shultz injured in a motor way accident ,declared critical and remained in coma.
Miraculous recovery,Sebastian Shultz enter Michael’s psychodriven games.
Sebastian’s head banged into computer memory saved.
Quite possible Michael and real Sebastian may meet.
VALUE BASED QUESTION WITH ANSWER
Question. ‘Will power and determination bring success against all odds.’ Comment on the statement in the context of whatever happens in the story ‘Virtually True’.
Answers. The story teaches us the lesson of ‘never giving up’ attitude in life. It shows us how will power and determination help an individual in achieving whatever one strives for.
In the story we find Michael working relentlessly to rescue Sebastian despite failing in one effort after another. He finally succeeds in rescuing Sebastian and later on he comes to know that by doing so he has actually saved a real human. In our life also we can ensure success in any field and of any nature by remaining determined and focussed. We need not to give up at any juncture of our endeavour. Real heroes are born out real tests. Human civilization is also full of such examples.
“Dear Michael, it said. Thank you! I am not sure how it happened, but thanks. You saved my life.”
Even though Michael did not know Shultz personally, he made every attempt to save him.
What values did Michael display?
Value Points
- Compassion
- Empathy
- Never give up attitude
- Concern for the other
- Responsible citizen, helping a fellow citizen.
Answering a reporter’s question as to what the family was going to do next, Mr. Shultz said that they were off to stock up on some games.
Computers, especially computer games, are a rage with children as well as adults. They play an important role in our lives but they are also a major distraction and have their hazards. In about 150 words, write an article on the hazards of addiction and how to overcome it.
Value Points
- Technology here to stay – move with times
- Advantages – education, entertainment, stress buster
- Disadvantages – addiction, distraction, one becomes anti-social, affects health, games inculcate violence
- Need to exercise self-control – strike a balance
- Time management
ADDITIONAL SHORT ANSWER/VALUE BASED QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q.1. What does the narrator come to know about Sebastian Shultz from the newspaper and why is he so amazed about it?
Q.2. The narrator terms his father ‘nutty’ about computers. Why does he make such a statement?
Q.3. Where does the narrator meet Sebastian Shultz at first?
Q.4. What is the request made by Sebastian to the narrator?
Q.5. Why does the narrator fail in rescuing Sebastian in first three psycho-drive games?
Q.6. How does the narrator help him in the last video game?
Q.7. How does Sebastian become part of psycho-drive games?
Q.8. How does the narrator get the psycho-drive games of Sebastian?
VALUE BASED QUESTIONS
Q.1. “The computer games are causing a lot of harm to a child’s psychological, physical, emotional and social life.” Express your views on the statement.
Q.2. ‘Life is full of surprises and miracles.’ Share your views on this. Do you think that these add up to the charm of life?
