Question

What did Seibei apply to get rid of the unpleasant gourd smell?

• A. tea-leaves
• B. neem-leaves
• C. banana-leaves
• D. tulsi-leaves

Hint:

Neem-leaves have natural disinfectant and deodorizing properties and are often used in traditional remedies.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understand the context of the story.
In the short story "The Gourd" by Shashi Tharoor, Seibei uses neem-leaves to rid himself of the unpleasant smell of the gourd he has been carrying. Neem leaves are known for their strong, natural deodorizing properties.
Step 2: Analyze the options.
- (A) tea-leaves: Incorrect. Tea-leaves are not used to counter the smell in the story.
- (B) neem-leaves: Correct. Neem-leaves are used by Seibei to eliminate the gourd smell.
- (C) banana-leaves: Incorrect. Banana-leaves are not mentioned in the story as a remedy for the smell.
- (D) tulsi-leaves: Incorrect. While tulsi leaves are often used for various purposes, they are not used to eliminate the gourd smell in this context.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Seibei uses neem-leaves to get rid of the unpleasant gourd smell.