MY BANK ACCOUNT

SUMMARY: The author, Stephen Leacock, has always been afraid of a bank. On entering in he looks an irresponsible fool. He recounts his own experience of opening an account with a bank. That was when he got an increment. He walked in and asked the accountant if he could see the manager in private. His request was complied with. The manager took him to a private room believing that he was a detective. But when he told that he only wanted to open an account and make an initial deposit of fifty-six dollars, he was indifferent. He directed him to a clerk and curtly took leave of him.

      As soon as the account was opened, he said that he wanted to draw a cheque. He wanted to withdraw only six dollars, but he wrote a check of fifty-six dollars, which was the whole amount of his deposit. When he presented the cheque to the clerk, he was surprised and ejaculated if he was drawing it all out again. He realised his mistake but was so miserable that he made carelessly a decision. So he replied in the affirmative saying that he wanted to

      withdraw the whole of his deposit without her putting anything more in the account. His

account was closed and he walked out of the bank hearing a big roar of laughter from behind the door.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Q.1 According to the author, what is the effect upon his entering a bank to do business?

Ans. The author says that he is frightened whenever he enters a bank to do business.

Q.2 Why did the author decide to open an account?

Ans. The author decided to open an account with a bank because his salary had been raised fifty-six dollars a month and he could put by some money.

Q.3 What was the manager’s reaction when the author told him that he would like to see him alone?

Ans. The manger took the author for a detective.

Q.4 Why did the manager look relieved when he knew the purpose of the author’s visit?

Ans. He felt relieved to hear that the author had come to him for making a deposit. The relief was brought about by the knowledge that the author had not come for any investigation.

Q.5 What is the equivalent of fifty-six dollars in Pakistan Currency?

Ans. One dollar is valued at Rs.4.80 in Pakistan money. Hence fifty-six dollars would amount to Rs.268.80.

Q.6 What mistake did the author make when he wrote the cheque?

Ans. When writing the cheque the author put the figure 56 instead of 6.

Q.7 Explain the meaning of clerk’s question, ‘How will you have it?’

Ans. The clerk wanted to know from the author in what denominations of currency note or coins would he like to get his cheque cashed.

Q.8 Why was there a roar of laughter when the author left the back?

Ans. A roar of laughter was heard from inside the back after the author left. Everyone there had laughed at the fool that the author had made of himself by his nervousness.

Q.9 The author, Stephen Leacock, was a respected University teacher and a highly successful writer. Do you think this is a true story?

Ans. Prof. Stephen Leacock was a famous humorous writer. He could never have been so nervous. Actually he has invented the story, like another storywriter, and only related in the first person to amuse his readers. It is just a fiction.

Q.10 Why is it wiser to keep one’s money in a bank than to hoard it in one’s home?

Ans. It is wiser to keep one’s money in a bank, rather than to hoard it is one’s home for a number of reasons. In bank it is not only safe from burglars and one’s own temptation to spend, also because it earns interest. It is wiser to keep it in a bank even from the national viewpoint, because while the hoarded money would just be lying idle, the money lying in the bank would be lent out by it to finance the country’s project.