4.4 My Financial Career
Complete textbook exercise solutions for the story "My Financial Career" by Stephen Leacock — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Nine.
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Warming Up!
Note: This is a practical activity. Students should fill out the sample bank deposit slip with their own name, account number, branch, date, cash denomination breakdown, and contact details.
(a) Why does the bank need so many details of its customer?
The bank needs detailed information (such as address, contact numbers, PAN, and KYC documents) to verify the customer's identity, prevent financial fraud, ensure legal compliance with government regulations, and maintain secure communication regarding account transactions.
(b) What problems do customers face when they have to make a cash deposit at a bank?
Customers often face long waiting queues, the hassle of correctly filling out deposit slips, counting cash accurately, dealing with limited working hours, and sometimes interacting with unhelpful staff.
(c) What are the latest modern methods of depositing money in your own or somebody else's account?
The latest modern methods include using Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) at bank branches, Mobile Banking apps, Net Banking via NEFT, RTGS, or IMPS, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm.
Margin Questions
◆ What makes the narrator nervous at a bank?
The mere sight of everything inside a bank—the clerks, the wickets, the money, and the formal atmosphere—rattles the narrator completely, making him feel like an irresponsible idiot.
◆ What word should he have avoided in his request to see the manager?
He should have avoided the word 'alone', as whispering it solemnly made his request sound like a dark, mysterious secret.
◆ Why was the manager alarmed? Who did he think was his visitor?
The manager was alarmed because the narrator's secretive, solemn manner and his demand to see him 'alone' made him think that the visitor had an awful secret to reveal or was a detective from Pinkerton's agency, a young Gould, or a son of Baron Rothschild.
◆ What procedure did the author have to follow to open the account?
The author had to write the sum of money on a slip, sign his name in a book, and hand over the cash to the accountant.
◆ What error did the author make in the cheque? Did he correct it?
The author mistakenly wrote fifty-six dollars instead of six dollars on the cheque. No, he did not correct it; out of sheer panic, embarrassment, and being "too far gone to reason," he decided to withdraw the entire amount instead.
◆ Why did the author pretend to appear like a bad-tempered man?
He pretended to have a fearfully quick temper as a desperate attempt (an "idiot hope") to make the clerks think he was insulted while writing the cheque and had changed his mind, rather than letting them know he was just completely confused and foolish.
◆ What decision has the author taken after the episode at the bank?
After the humiliating episode at the bank, the author decided never to bank again. He chose to keep his cash in his trousers pocket and his savings in silver dollars hidden in a sock.
◆ Is the author's last decision wise?
No, the author's decision is highly unwise and impractical. Keeping cash in pockets and savings in a sock at home is unsafe, prone to theft or loss, and misses out on earning interest. However, it humorously highlights how deep embarrassment and anxiety can lead to irrational choices.
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English Workshop
- (a) afterwards × beforehand
- (b) spending × saving
- (c) careful × careless
- (d) withdraw × deposit
- (e) confidently × timidly / hesitantly
- (f) cheerful × gloomy / sepulchral
- (a) The detective solved the mysterious crime.
- (b) In the examination, I did not know the answer, so I made a plunge.
- (c) He was dizzy and he stumbled into the room.
- (d) While arguing with his elders he had lost his head.
- (e) The sight of a snake rattled him.
- (f) As soon as I cross the threshold of my home, I greet my family.
Character Sketch of Stephen Leacock (The Narrator)
- (1) Diffident and timid: The narrator is naturally shy and lacks self-confidence. He admits that the moment he crosses the threshold of a bank, he becomes a "hesitating jay" and an "irresponsible idiot."
- (2) Unusual behaviour: His extreme nervousness leads him to act bizarrely. He insists on seeing the manager "alone" in a hushed whisper, which alarms the manager into thinking he is a dangerous detective or a secret agent.
- (3) Ignorant about banking: He has zero familiarity with routine banking procedures. When the manager opens the door to his private office, the author mistakes the big iron safe door for the exit and steps right into the vault.
- (4) Nervous and careless: Overwhelmed by panic, he makes silly mistakes. While depositing money, his face turns ghastly pale, and later he carelessly writes fifty-six dollars instead of six on his withdrawal cheque.
- (5) Economical: He decides to open a bank account simply because his salary has been raised to fifty dollars a month, wanting to save his hard-earned money safely, though his fear ultimately ruins the plan.
- (a) "Can I see the manager?" I said, "Certainly," said the accountant.
→ I asked the accountant if I could see the manager. The accountant replied that I certainly could. - (b) "Good morning," I said and stepped into the safe. "Come out," said the manager coldly.
→ I wished him good morning and stepped into the safe. The manager coldly told me to come out. - (c) ..... the words seemed to mean, "Let us do this painful thing while the fit is on us."
→ ..... the words seemed to mean that they should do that painful thing while the fit was on them. - (d) "What! Are you drawing it all out again?" he asked in surprise. "Yes, the whole thing," I said.
→ He asked in surprise if I was drawing it all out again. I replied in the affirmative, saying that I was withdrawing the whole thing. - (e) "How will you have it?" he said. "In fifties," I said.
→ He asked how I would have it. I replied that I would have it in fifties.
Views (In favor):
Online and net banking have completely revolutionized how we handle our finances, making banking infinitely more convenient, fast, and accessible 24/7. Gone are the days of standing in long, exhausting queues, filling out tedious paper slips, or rushing to reach the bank before closing hours. With just a few taps on a smartphone or clicks on a computer, anyone can transfer funds instantly via NEFT/IMPS/UPI, pay utility bills, check statements, and open fixed deposits from the comfort of their home. It saves precious time, reduces paperwork, and minimizes human errors. In today's fast-paced digital era, net banking is undoubtedly a safer, smarter, and superior choice for all routine financial transactions.
Counterview (Against):
While online banking offers undeniable convenience, it comes with serious drawbacks and risks that make traditional branch banking still relevant. The biggest threat is cyber fraud, phishing attacks, and online hacking, which can empty a person's bank account in seconds, particularly for those who lack digital literacy or technical awareness. Furthermore, technology is not infallible; server outages, network glitches, and technical errors can leave a customer stranded during urgent payments. Personal human interaction is completely lost in net banking; older generations or people with complex loan and account queries often find automated chatbots and customer service helplines extremely frustrating. Sometimes, visiting a physical branch and speaking face-to-face with a bank officer provides a level of trust, clarity, and reassurance that no screen can ever replace.
Note: This is an independent reading activity. Students are encouraged to read the humorous short story by P. G. Wodehouse to enjoy classic comedic English literature.