Class 10 Literature Reader


Virtually True

Paul Stewart

Summary

This story is about virtual reality and can be termed a science fiction. The narrator of the story has bought a computer and virtual reality equipments with some fancy games. The narrator and his father appear to be deeply interested in computers. While on a train, the narrator comes to know about the news of a miracle recovery of a boy named Sebastian Shultz who had been in coma for a long period.

After that, the narrator remembers how he helped in saving Sebastian in many computer games which he played. The story carries fanciful details of all the games he played. The narrator thinks about the possibility of Sebastian entering the world of virtual reality and comes to the conclusion that Sebastian’s memory must have been transferred to computer when he may have accidentally hit his head against screen.

It is said that a computer never forgets anything, so the computer in this story remembered everything. The narrator ends up exchanging e-mail with Sebastian in real life as well.

Exercise Questions

Answer the following questions:

Question 1: According to the newspaper, what had happened to Sebastian Shultz?

Answer: Sebastian was badly injured in a motorway accident and went into coma. He was in coma for a very long period and doctors had lost all hopes. Then a miracle happened and Sebastian came out of the coma.

Question 2: 'Dad's nutty about computers.' What evidence is there to support this statement?

Answer: The narrator’s dad buys a computer with latest configuration of that time. He also buys virtual reality equipments and all the necessary peripherals. He believes that a computer never forgets anything. These facts tell that the dad was really nutty about computers.

Question 3: In what way did the second game seem very real?

Answer: The second game was called DRGONQUEST. It was about rescuing a princess from a dragon. The princess appears like Rapunzel; with really long hairs. Everything in the game has been explained in detail; right from long hairs of the princess to the hot breathe of the dragon. Thus, it can be said that the second game seemed very real.

Question 4: The last game has tanks, jeeps, helicopters, guns and headings would you put this and the other games under?

Answer: All the games can be put under adventure category.

Question 5: What was Michael's theory about how Sebastian had entered the games?

Answer: Michael thought that Sebastian must have hit the computer screen accidentally and that is how all the data from his brain got transferred to the computer’s memory. This enabled Sebastian to enter the games.

Question 6: Read these lines from the story, then answer the questions.

'That was my idea' said Sebastian excitedly.' If only it would go a big faster.

  1. Where was Sebastian when he spoke these word?

    Answer: Sebastian was in the midst of the game called Jailbreak.
  2. What was his idea, and what was he referring to?

    Answer: Sebastian was referring to a helicopter and he was referring to the speed of helicopter. He believed that a faster helicopter would help in saving him.
  3. Was the idea a good one, and did it eventually succeed? How?

    Answer: It was indeed a good idea. Sebastian could finally be saved because of helicopter.

Answer the following questions briefly

Question 1: Why did the news of the 'miracle recovery' shock Michael?

Answer: The news of the ‘miracle recovery’ shocked Michael because he had been deeply involved in rescuing Sebastian from imminent death.

Question 2: Michael's meeting with Sebastian Shultz had been a chance meeting. Where had it taken place and how?

Answer: Michael met Sebastian in the midst of a computer game. This was indeed a highly unlikely place for meeting of two real human beings.

Question 3: What kind of computers fascinated Michael and his dad? Why?

Answer: Michael and his dad were fascinated by latest computers which had all the necessary peripherals. They were eager to explore the huge potential which a computer could offer.

Question 4: Describe the first place where Michael was virtually transported.

Answer: It was a game called Wildwest. He was in a classical bar of the Wild West. The bar had swinging doors and many cowboys could be seen in that.

Question 5: What help did Sebastian Shultz ask Michael for? How did he convey this message?

Answer: Sebastian wanted Michael to rescue him and save his life. He conveyed his message by sending it through the printer.

Question 6: Why did Michael fail in rescuing Sebastian Shultz the first time?

Answer: In the first game, when Michael was trying to dodge the bullets, something hit Sebastian. A bullet probably hit Sebastian and he fell in a heap. Thus, Michael failed to save Sebastian.

Question 7: The second attempt to rescue Sebastian Shultz too was disastrous. Give reasons.

Answer: In the second attempt, Michael was playing Dragonquest. When they were trying to flee from the dragon, Sebastian fell down in a ditch. Hence, the second attempt too was disastrous.

Question 8: Narrate the accident that injured Sebastian Shultz.

Answer: It was a motorway accident which injured Sebastian.

Question 9: How had Sebastian Shultz entered the games?

Answer: According to the narrator, Sebastian must have banged his head to computer screen. It resulted in all the data from his brain getting transferred to the computer’s memory. Thus, Sebastian could have entered the game.

Question 10: How was Sebastian Shultz's memory stored on Michael's disk? Did Michael discover that?

Answer: Same as previous question