question_answer

  The once-iron muscles slacked on the rangy frame. Secretly, Marcy cried as she watched the big man's grin fade away. Severe face lines set in like cement, as Chuck stared at the ceiling for hours, then out of the window, then at Duke. (i) Identify 'the big man' in the current extract. (ii) Why did the big man's grin fade away? (iii) Explain 'Severe face, lines set in like cement as Chuck stared at the ceiling'.

Answer:

                  (i) 'The big man' refers to the paralysed Charles Hooper. (ii) The big man's grin faded away because he had met with an accident and got subdural . haemorrhage, paralysing his left side completely. (iii) Just as the lines in cement are clearly visible, similarly empty face expressions could be seen on Chuck's face clearly as he watched at the ceiling silently.