Class 9th

The Happy Prince important Questions Class 9 English

Short Answer Type Questions for The Happy Prince

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1: How was the statue of the Happy Prince built?

Answer

The statue of the Happy Prince was built in lead covered with gold. The eyes of the Prince were made of precious gems and his sword had a ruby on it. It was built on a tall pillar in the middle of the town.

Question 2: How did the swallow happen to meet the Happy Prince?

Answer

The little swallow’s friends had gone to Egypt but he had decided to stay behind initially. Later he decided to go to Egypt. On the way, he stopped for a night at the statue of Happy Prince to rest.

Question 3: How did the Happy Prince get to know about the miseries of the people after becoming blind? 

Answer

After becoming blind, the Happy Prince sent the swallow to see around the town. The swallow went around, observed the people and returned to the Prince to inform what he had seen in the town.

Question 4: How did the Mayor and Councillors feel when they saw the Happy Prince’ dull appearance and the dead swallow at its feet?

Answer

The greedy Mayor and his Councillors felt angry and disappointed when they saw the dull appearance of the Prince and the dead body of the swallow. They wanted to remove the statue from the pillar and build a new one in its place.

Question 5: What did God ask his angels to bring from the earth? What did they bring from the earth?

Answer

God asked His Angels to bring two most precious things from the town of the Happy Prince. The Angels brought the heart of the Happy Prince and the dead body of the swallow.

Question 6: Do you think that the angels had really brought the most precious things? Support your answer. 

Answer

Yes, the angels had brought the most precious things. The Happy Prince’ gave up everything he had without caring how he would look to help other people in need. The bird was to go a warmer place and be with his family and friends. But, he also gave up his life with the Prince to help the needy people.

Question 7: The world is full of two kinds of people – the kind and the unfeeling. How does the story of the Happy Prince present this truth?

Answer

This story presents two kinds of people in the world- The kind and the unkind When the prince was alive, he had never known unhappiness. However, when he became a statue, he saw people in dire situations whereas the administrators did not care about them.

Question 8: Whom do you like more- the Prince or the swallow? Why?

Answer

It is hard to say who is sweeter because both, the Prince and the Swallow, are equally sweet and good. The Prince is sweet because he was full of sympathy for the suffering poor of the city. Similarly, the swallow was sweet, too. It had a heart that was as soft as that of the Prince’s. Although it was going far away to join its loved ones, it stayed back to help the people.

Question 9: Where was the swallow going? Why?

Answer

Winter had set in. The swallow was migrating to the warm climate of Egypt. His friends had already gone there and were flying up and down the Nile.

Question 10: What broke the heart of the Prince?

Answer

The swallow was going to die. He gave the prince the last kiss and died. This grief broke the Prince’s heart.

Question 11: What do you think is the most pathetic event in the story?

Answer

The swallow flew over the city and saw the misery of the poor. He took gold leaves which covered the statue to help the poor as commanded by the prince. Winter had set in and it was too cold. There was snow and frost. It still stayed back and finally sacrificed its life.

Question 12: For whom does the prince send the sapphire and why?

Answer

The prince sends the sapphire to the poor playwright. The playwright’s hands are cold and numb. He cannot write. He has to finish the play for the director. He cannot buy fire-wood to keep himself warm. So, the prince sends the sapphire to the playwright.

Question 13: What does the swallow see when it flies over the city?

Answer

The swallow flies over the great city. He sees the rich making merry in their beautiful houses. He sees poor beggars at the gates. In dark cold lanes, he sees starving children, and hungry boys being pushed out of the archway of a bridge into the rain.

Long Answer Type Questions

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words.

Question 1: Write a character-sketch of the Happy Prince.

Answer

When the Prince was alive, he was unaware of the miseries of the poor people of his city. After his statue was placed on a high pedestal, he wept at seeing the plight of the poor people. He wanted to help them but he could not move. Once he befriended a swallow, it would send his precious stones to the poor people in need. He didn’t care of about how he would look in the end or become blind. All he cared for was to see the poor people happy. He loved the swallow and when he died the Prince’s heart broke with grief. He was kind and noble.

Question 2: How has the writer brought out poverty in the story “The Happy Prince”?

Answer

The writer has brought out poverty in a very heart-touching manner. The son of the tailor is suffering from fever. He is thirsty and asks for oranges. However, she is a poor tailor. She cannot buy oranges for her son. She is embroidering passion flowers for the Queen’s maids-of-honour. Her poverty is very touching. The poverty of the writers of the Victorian age has also been reflected very beautifully. The young writer is cold and hungry. Hunger has made him faint.

The little weeping match girl also depicts the poverty of the Victorian age. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. The beggars are sitting at the gates of the houses of the rich people. In dark lanes, there are children who have white starving faces. They are looking out listlessly at the black streets. People do not have their own houses. The two little boys are lying under the archway of a bridge. It is cold so they are lying in one another’s arm to keep themselves warm. They are very hungry. 

Therefore, all these suggest the poverty of the Victorian age.

Question 3: The story describes exploitation of the poor and weak by the rich and affluent people. Elaborate. 

Answer

The writer has brought out exploitation of the poor and weak in a very touching. The people at court and the rich are exploiting the poor. The Mayor and the Town Councilors represent the exploitation of the power. The son of the seamstress is suffering from fever, but she cannot attend to him. She is embroidering passion flowers for the Queen’s made-of-honour to wear at the next court-ball. The poor are working hard, but they cannot buy even oranges. This is the worst kind of exploitation.

On one side, some people are so poor that they are starving and on the other hand the rich are making merry. The writers of that time have also been exploited. They are cold with hunger. The Mayor and the Town Councilors are exploiting their powers. Each one of them wants to have a statue. The Mayor even issues a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die there. This is purely an exploitation of power.

Question 4: Write an essay on the themes in the story “The Happy Prince”?

Answer

The story “The Happy Prince” has at least three themes.

The first theme of the story is that outward beauty is nothing it is just a show. The real beauty is love and sacrifice. The end of the story gives this idea. The Happy Prince has a lead heart, but this heart is full of sympathy for the poor and the needy. The same happens with the Swallow. He sacrifices his life for the love of the Happy Prince. Nevertheless, he also achieves spiritual beauty. He will sing evermore in God’s garden of Paradise.

The second theme is that love and sacrifice are two saving forces. This world is full of poverty, hypocrisy, and exploitation. If there was no love and sacrifice, the world could not go on its axis. It is because of love and sacrifice that this life is going on.

The third theme of the story is that there was a great gap between the rich and the poor, the rulers and the masses. The Happy Prince did not know about the poor and their problems when he was alive. Therefore, it means that the rulers at that time did not know about the problems and the difficulties of the masses.

Question 5: Why does the Happy Prince weep?

Answer

The Happy Prince weeps because he cannot bear the sufferings and the miseries of the poor and the needy. He weeps because he has a very soft heart, although it is made of lead. This heart had nothing but the sympathies for the poor and the needy.

The Happy Prince used to live in a palace where life was full of comforts and hence happy. At that time, the Happy Prince did not know what tears were. His courtiers called him Happy Prince. After his death, his courtiers made his statue and set it up on a very tall column. Now from that height, he could see all the ugliness and all the miseries of the city. Therefore, he weeps because he has very soft heart and he cannot stand the miseries of the people. It is because of this soft heart that he sacrifices his beauty and sapphire eyes.

Question 6: What did the Swallow tell the Happy Prince about the city and the people? Or What did the Swallow report to the Happy Prince about human misery or suffering?

Answer

When the Happy Prince gave away his sapphire eyes, he could not see any more. Therefore, he asked the Swallow to fly over his city and tell him what he saw there. The Swallow flew over the great city and reported to the Happy Prince what he had seen.

He told the Happy Prince about the condition of the rich and the poor. The rich were making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. In the dark lanes, he saw the white faces of starving children. These children were so hungry that they were looking out listlessly at the black streets.

Therefore, the Swallow told the Happy Prince about the condition of the rich and the poor who were hungry and homeless. When the Happy Prince heard this, he asked the Swallow to give his gold covering to the poor and the needy.

Question 7: Discuss the end of the story “The Happy Prince”.

Answer

The story “The Happy Prince” is a fairy tale and the end of a fairy tale is always happy. In a fairy tale, characters face difficulties and they endanger their lives to achieve their desired goals. They face so many hardships that it appears that they would not succeed. However, at the end they always succeed and live happily ever after.

In the story, “The Happy Prince” the end appears tragic. The Swallow and the Happy Prince both die and are thrown on a dust heap. However, this is not the real end of the story. The Swallow and the Happy Prince have sacrificed their lives to help the poor and the needy. God is happy with their sacrifices. Therefore, God rewards them and orders that the Swallow will sing in the garden of paradise forever and the Happy Prince will praise him in his city.

Therefore, we see that this is quite a happy ending. It fulfills the most important requirement of a fairy tale. This end cannot be called a tragic end.

In the Kingdom of Fools important Questions Class 9 English

Short Answer Type Questions for In the Kingdom of Fools

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1: How was the kingdom of fools different from other places?

Answer

Everything was strange and abnormal in the city of fools. People used to sleep in the day and work in the night; the price of everything was same-a single duddu. It was all very strange. Such things were available nowhere. So the kingdom of fools was different from other places.

Question 2: How according to the king had justice come a full circle?

Answer

According to the king, the first accused was a merchant. He blamed the bricklayer who blamed the dancing girl. She blamed the goldsmith who in turn blamed the merchant. Thus, justice had come to a full circle.

Question 3: Why did the guru want to leave the kingdom quickly? Why did the disciple decided to stay on? 

Answer

The guru realised that the place was dangerous. Anything could happen to him as it was the kingdom of fools. So, he decided to leave it. But the disciple decided to stay on as he wanted to enjoy cheap and good food.

Question 4: Who was finally blamed for the crime and why?

Answer

The rich man was finally blamed. It was because his father was the real murderer of the thief, but he had died. However, his son had inherited his property and his sins. Therefore, he was to die for his father’s crime.

Question 5: Why did the servants of the king catch the disciple?

Answer

The rich merchant was very thin. He was not fit for the stake. The king decided to find a person fat enough to fit the stake. The disciple had grown fat with all the food he had been eating. Thus, the king’s servants caught him.

Question 6: Why were the people of the kingdom confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and his minister?

Answer

The people of the kingdom were confused as to how their king and the minister were dead instead of the guru and the disciple. The people were not able to see through the plan which was executed by the guru against their King and the minister.

Question 7: When does the disciple remember the words of his Guru?

Answer

The disciple did not pay any heed to the advice of his Guru, when the Guru asked him to leave the kingdom of fools. When the king decided that the disciple was the suitable person for execution, he remembered the words of the Guru.

Question 8: Why did the Guru want that he and his disciple should die first?

Answer

The Guru had hatched a plan to save his disciple’s life. Hence, he put forth the proposal to the King to kill the Guru and then his disciple.

Question 9: On what conditions did the Guru and his disciple agree to rule the kingdom?

Answer

He laid the condition that he would be free to change all the old and foolish laws. Hence, night was considered as night and day as day. People would work during the day and not the night. Also, the prices of different materials would be different according to their values.

Question 10: Why did the Guru not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools?

Answer

The Guru did not want to stay in the Kingdom of Fools as the people and the administration were all foolish and he was very doubtful about such a place. He feared that only harm could come in such a place.

Question 11: Why did the disciple not want to leave the Kingdom of Fools?

Answer

The disciple did not want to leave the Kingdom of Fools as everything was very cheap and easily available. This would make his life easy and simple.

Question 12: Why did the King decide to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciple?

Answer

The Guru had convinced the King that people dying on the stake would rule the kingdom in their next birth. The foolish king fell for the Guru’s words and wished to hatch a plan to die himself. Hence, he postponed their execution.

Question 13: Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape from the punishment?

Answer

According to the king, the rich merchant was the real culprit. He had inherited everything from his father.. the riches as well as the mistakes. The king had got a special stake made for him. However, he was too thin to be properly executed. Hence, the king changed the order and asked for a fat man who would fit the stake. Thus, the merchant escaped the punishment.

Question 14: What advice did the Guru give to the disciple before going from the city?

Answer

The Guru told his disciple that it was too dangerous to stay in a Kingdom of Fools. He said that there was no justice, the people of the Kingdom were foolish and had unpredictable behaviour.

Question 15: Guru was a wise man. Explain. When does the disciple realize this?

Answer

The Guru’s wisdom was that there was no justice in the Kingdom of Fools and due to the unpredictable behaviour of the fools, he wanted to leave the kingdom at once. The disciple remembered these words when the king decided that the disciple was the suitable person for execution based on his size.

Question 16: Why did the king want to punish the merchant?

Answer

The king wanted to punish the merchant because the wall of his house had fallen on the thief killing him. Since the merchant had inherited his father’s wealth, he inherited his sins too. Therefore, he should be punished.

Question 17: Who became the king and the prime minister of the kingdom?

Answer

As the kingdom was without a king, the people of the kingdom persuaded the Guru and the disciple to take over the throne. So, the holy man became the king and his disciple took the charge of Prime Minister.

Long Answer Type Questions for In the Kingdom of Fools

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words.

Question 1: The disciple in the story didn’t look into the depth of the matter and took a hasty decision of not leaving the kingdom of fools. What light does the story throw on the importance of good decision making in one’s life?

Answer

The disciple in the story didn’t look into the depth of the matter and took a hasty decision of not leaving the kingdom of fools. The disciple was waylaid by the prices of the commodities. Anything could be bought with a `duddu’. Either it could be a mass of rice or a bunch of bananas. So, the disciple decided to stay back not listening to his Guru who advised his disciple that it was dangerous to stay back in the kingdom of fools. There was no justice in that kingdom. It was when the disciple was chosen as the suitable person for execution that he realized his mistake. He regretted his decision of staying back. Just one small decision risked his life.

Question 2: You are the disciple in the story. You are in trouble as you are about to be hanged. You decide to write a letter to your guru regretting your decision to stay in the kingdom of fools and requesting him to help you. Write the letter in 80 words.

Answer

Respected Guruji,

I am writing this letter out of sheer desperation. I sincerely regret not paying heed to your advice of leaving this Kingdom of Fools. I fell prey to my temptation for cheap and tasty food. But now, I am in serious trouble. I have been trapped and will shortly be hanged. Everyone here is foolish and there is no point in reasoning with them. You are my only hope. Please save me from this situation. I promise to pay heed to your advice and keep myself in control.

Sincerely,

Yours disciple

Question 3: How did the Guru and his disciple become the king and the minister of the kingdom?

Answer

The Guru knew that his king and his minister were fools. In order to save his disciple, Guru hatched a plan. He said that the first one to be executed at the stake would become the king in his next life. The second one to be executed would become the minister. The foolish king and his minister freed the guru and his disciple and took their place in the cell instead. They were beheaded instead of the guru and his disciple. As the kingdom was without a king, the people begged the guru and his disciple to rule them. The guru agreed. 

Question 4: How did the Guru manage to save his disciple?

Answer

The king ordered to execute the disciple. He prayed to his Guru to save him. The Guru heard his prayer in his vision and appeared to rescue his disciple. First, he whispered something in his disciple’s ears and then asked the king to execute him first. The disciple followed the suit, which puzzled the king. Knowing the secret, the king fell into the trap of his temptation and wanted to be the king in his rebirth. He went to the prison that night and set the guru and his disciple free. He himself got executed. Thus, the guru managed to save his disciple.

Question 5: “Guru was a wise man”. How does the story reflect it?

Answer

The story clearly reflects the guru was a wise man. The guru had advised his disciple not to stay in the kingdom as the people were foolish and only bad could happen. As the disciple thought that the future is uncertain, he did not pay any heed to his Guru and stayed on. When he was imprisoned by the King’s men, he realized the significance of his guru’s words and repented not following it. Then, the guru was able to save his disciple through a very clever plan. He tricked the king and the minister into believing that the one to be executed will be the king and the minister in the next life. This way, the king willingly set the guru and the disciple free and got himself and his minister executed. This way, the guru not only saved his disciple’s life but also the lives of the people living in the kingdom. Finally, when the people asked him to become their king, he made the kingdom a normal city.

Iswaran The Storyteller important Questions Class 9 English

Short Answer Type Questions for Iswaran The Storyteller

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1: Who was Mahendra?

Answer

Mahendra was a junior supervisor in a firm which offered supervisors for different construction sites like factories, bridges and dams. His job was to keep a watch on the activities at the work site. He had to keep moving from place to place frequently.

Question 2: What was Ishwaran’s job?

Answer

Mahendra considered Ishwaran as an asset. He was not only his cook but he also washed Mahendra’s clothes. He also entertained Mahendra at night by talking to him and sometimes telling him stories.

Question 3: Where was Mahendra’s working place and what was the thing he used to keep always with him?

Answer

Mahendra worked with a firm which sent him to different construction locations. So he had to keep moving from place to place every now and then. He always used to keep with him his cook Iswaran.

Question 4: What did the tusker do when it escaped from the timber yard?

Answer

When the tusker escaped from the timber yard, he reached the outskirts of Iswaran’s town. He broke down fences like they were mere matchsticks. On the main road, he smashed all the stalls selling fruits and clothes, sending people in a state of panic.

Question 5: Where was Iswaran when the tusker reached in school? In which class was he studying?

Answer

When the tusker reached the school, Iswaran was on the rooftop watching all the destruction it had caused on the main road and how it had caused all the people to be in a state of frenzy. He was in junior class.

Question 6: Who made the tusker collapse at last in the school?

Answer

Iswaran was on the rooftop when the elephant reached the school. He grabbed a teacher’s cane and went slowly towards it. When it lifted its trunk, he whacked its third toenail swiftly and hard. The tusker collapsed at last.

Question 7: When Iswaran would leave the story unfinished, and return what would happen?

Answer

Iswaran would many a times leave a story unfinished at the climax This would make Mahendra even more excited to listen to it. He would not pick up thread of the story where he left off right away. Mahendra would have to remind him about the story.

Question 8: What did Iswaran ask Mahendra on one auspicious day?

Answer

On one auspicious day, Iswaran asked Mahendra if he could make something special for dinner that night. He also said that according to tradition, various delicacies should be prepared to feed the ancestors’ spirits.

Question 9: What happened after the most delicious dinner on that auspicious day?

Answer

That day, after dinner when Mahendra enjoyed most delicious dinner, Iswaran unexpectedly launched into a most garish account involving the supernatural and on that day after dinner Iswaran started to tell the story, which involved some supernatural elements.

Question 10: What was the most garish account of supernatural?

Answer

Once, Iswaran told the most garish account involving the supernatural. He said that the entire factory area is a burial ground. He also saw a woman with matted hair and shrivelled face, holding a foetus in its arm.

Question 11: What was Mahendra’s reaction on the woman ghost story?

Answer

Mahendra shivered at the description and interrupted Iswaran sharply saying there were no such things and that they were merely figments of imagination.

Question 12: What did Mahendra like before hearing Iswaran’s story of female ghost?

Answer

Mahendra liked to admire the milk-white landscape on the full moon nights before hearing Iswaran’s story of female ghost. But after hearing Iswaran’s story, he avoided looking out of his window altogether when the moon was full.

Question 13: Why did Mahendra wake up one night?

Answer

Mahendra was woken up from his sleep by a loud moan close to the window. At first he thought it was a cat prowling around for mice. But the sound was too deep to be of a cat.

Question 14: What did he find outside the window sill?

Answer

One night, Mahendra woke up on hearing a low moan close to his window. He realised it was not of a cat. Lowering himself to the level of the windowsill, he looked out and found a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle.

Question 15: Why did Mahendra resolve to leave the haunted place?

Answer

Iswaran had told some supernatural stories pertaining to the current place. But, Mahendra didn’t pay much attention. However, when he saw some cloudy shadow near his window sill, he resolved to leave that haunted place the very next day.

Question 16: Who was Mahindra? What did he do?

Answer

Mahendra was a young man. He was a junior supervisor in a firm. His firm offered supervisors work at different construction sites. His job was to keep an eye on the activities at the work site. He had to travel frequently from one place to another. He was a bachelor and his needs were simple. He could adjust himself to all conditions.

Question 17: Describe Iswaran’s amazing capacity to produce vegetables, etc.

Answer

Mahendra had a cook, Iswaran. He was quite attached to Mahendra and went wherever Mahendra was transferred. Iswaran was a good cook. He had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables from nowhere and cooked amazing dishes from them.

Question 18: What did Iswaran do after Mahendra left for office?

Answer

When Mahendra left for office, Iswaran would do his work and take a leisurely bath. While taking bath, he kept muttering a prayer. After lunchtime, he would read for a while before going to sleep. He read popular Tamil thrillers. The stories that he narrated were greatly influenced by these stories.

Long Answer Type Questions for Iswaran The Storyteller

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words.

Question 1: Iswaran was a master storyteller. Describe his amazing capacity of narrating stories and anecdotes. 

Answer

Iswaran was a master storyteller. He was fond of reading popular Tamil thrillers. The stories that he narrated were greatly influenced by these novels. He narrated the smallest of incidents by creating a lot of suspense. For instance, if he had to describe a fallen tree, he would not simply say that he had seen an uprooted tree on the highway. He would say, “The road was deserted and I was all alone. Suddenly I spotted something that looked like an enormous bushy beast lying sprawled across the road. I was half inclined to turn and go back. But as I came closer I saw that it was a fallen tree, with its dry branches spread out.” In order to make stories interesting, Iswaran added dramatic gestures to it. He would give the stories a surprise ending. Sometimes, he would not end the story in order to heighten his master’s curiosity. Often he was excited while telling a story. Then, he would jump and stamp his feet in excitement.

Question 2: Describe Iswaran’s encounter with the elephant.

Answer

One day, Iswaran told Mahendra the story of a mad elephant. The elephant worked in a timberyard. Once, it reached the town. Everyone ran here and there in terror. The elephant entered the school ground where children were playing. All the boys ran into rooms and shut the doors. The elephant pulled out the football goalpost, tore the volleyball net and broke the class drum kept for water. Everyone watched helplessly. Iswaran was studying in the junior class at that time. He grabbed the stick of a teacher and went in front of the elephant. He struck the elephant on his toenail. It shivered and fell down. A veterinary doctor was called. After two days, the elephant’s mahout came and took it away. Iswaran told Mahendra that he had made the elephant unconscious using the Japanese art karate of jujitsu.

Question 3: What did Iswaran tell Mahendra about a ghost? Describe Mahendra’s horrible experience one night. Why did he resolve to leave that place?

Answer

Iswaran told Mahendra that the entire factory area where he worked was once a burial ground. Iswaran told Mahendra that he had often seen ghosts at night. Sometimes, there appeared a horrible ghost of woman holding a foetus in her arms. Hearing this tale, Mahendra shivered. He told Iswaran that there were no ghosts in reality. From that time onwards, Mahendra felt uneasy at night. One night, Mahendra was awakened up from sleep by a moaning sound. The moan became louder. He looked out of the window and saw a dark cloudy form of a woman, not very far from the window. She was carrying a bundle in her arms. Mahendra began to sweat with fear. The next morning, Iswaran told Mahendra that he had also heard the moaning sound. He had seen Mahendra looking out of the window at the ghost of the woman. Mahendra became cold with fear. As soon as he reached office, he handed his papers for transfer from that place.

Question 4: Do you think the ghost seen by Mahendra was only a trick played by Iswaran? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer

First, Iswaran created the background by telling Mahendra that the place used to be a burial ground. Then, he told the story of a ghost. One night, Mahendra saw a figure outside his window. The figure looked like the ghost described by Iswaran. The next morning, Iswaran told Mahendra that he had seen Mahendra looking out of the window at the ghost. This shows that it was only a trick played by Iswaran. 

The Adventure of Toto important Questions Class 9 English

Short Answer Type Questions for The Adventure of Toto

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1: What did Toto do in the author’s room?

Answer

Toto was kept in a little store. It opened into the narrator’s bedroom. He was tied to a peg on the wall. A few hours later, the narrator found a change in his bedroom. Toto had made himself free by pulling out the peg. He had removed the wallpaper of the bedroom and had torn the narrator’s school blazer.

Question 2: Where was Toto transferred from the author’s bedroom? Did he remain peaceful there?

Answer

Toto was transferred to a big cage. It was in the servants’ quarters. There, other animals of grandfather’s private zoo were also kept. The zoo included a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a pet squirrel and a pet goat. The monkey did not allow the animals to sleep in peace at night.

Question 3: Describe how grandfather took Toto with him to Saharanpur.

Answer

The next day, grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to get his pension. He decided to take Toto along with him. He got a big black canvas bag and put Toto into it. The bag was too strong for Toto to bite or tear. Toto remained in the bag till they reached Saharanpur. There, he suddenly stuck his head out of the bag and grinned at the ticket collector.

Question 4: How many pets did the author’s grandfather have? Where were they kept?

Answer

The author’s grandfather was fond of keeping pets. He had a small private zoo of his own. In it he had a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, and the narrator’s pet goat. Toto, the monkey, was the latest addition to his zoo. Apart from these animals, the grandfather had a donkey as well.

Question 5: How did Toto get along with other animals?

Answer

Toto did not get along well with other animals. He troubled, Nana, the family donkey. He often fastened himself on to her long ears with his sharp teeth. He did not allow other animals to sleep in peace.

Question 6: Why did Toto throw a plate at grandmother?

Answer

One day, Tote saw a large plate full of pullao on the dining table. He started eating it. When grandmother came in and saw Toth eating rice, she screamed. Toth did not like it. So, he threw the plate at grand-mother. The plate broke into pieces.

Question 7: Why was Toto sold back to the tonga-driver?

Answer

The grandfather realised that Toth could not be kept for long in house. The family could not bear the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpapers. At last, the grandfather found the tonga-driver. He sold Toto back for only three rupees.

Question 8: Did Toth get along with other animals? Elucidate.

Answer

Toto was kept in a big cage along with other animals. He did not allow any of his companions to sleep at night. He also did not get along well with the family donkey, Nana.

Question 9: What did Toto do with the dish of pullao?

Answer

One day a large dish of pullao was kept in the centre of the dining-table. Toto started stuffing himself with rice. He ran away with the dish when Grandfather arrived there. Grandmother screamed at him. He threw the plate at her. It broke into many pieces.

Question 10: Why did grandfather sell Toto back to the tonga driver?

Answer

The writer’s family was not well-to-do. They could not afford the loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper. So, Toto was sold back to the tonga-driver.

Question 11: Why did Grandfather decide to include the monkey in his private zoo?

Answer

The tonga-driver kept the monkey tied to a feeding-trough. The monkey looked out of place there. So, Grandfather decided to include him in his private zoo.

Question 12: How did Toto behave when he was put in a closet?

Answer

Toto behaved very naughtily when he was in the closet. He tore off the wallpaper. He pulled off the peg in the wall from its socket. The writer’s school blazer had been hanging there. He tore that also into pieces.

Long Answer Type Questions for The Adventure of Toto

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words.

Question 1: Describe in brief, the adventures of Toto, the monkey.

Answer

Toto was a pretty monkey. He was very mischievous. Grandfather bought him from a tonga-driver for three rupees. At first, Toth was kept in a little store. It opened into the narrator’s bedroom, where Toth removed the wallpaper and tore the narrator’s school blazer. After this incident, Toth was transferred to grandfather’s private zoo. Toto did not allow the animals to sleep in peace at night. He would trouble the donkey a lot. Tote travelled with grandfather to Saharanpur. Grandfather had to pay three rupees extra on account of Toto’s ticket. Once, Toth put himself in a kettle which was on the stove. He was saved by the grandmother. One day, Toth saw a dish of pullao and ran out with the dish of pullao. He started eating the rice. Then, he threw the plate and broke it into pieces.

Question 2: Describe the situation in which grandfather found himself at the Saharanpur railway station.

Answer

Toto’s presence had still not been disclosed to grandmother. The next day, grandfather had to go to Saharanpur to get his pension. He decided to take Toth along with him. He got a big black canvas bag and put Toto into it. The bag was too strong for Toth to bite or tear. Toth remained in the bag as far as Saharanpur. At the gate, as the ticket-collector was checking grandfather’s ticket, Toto put his head out of the bag and grinned at the ticket-collector. He told the grandfather that there was a dog with him. Grandfather told him that it was not a dog, but a monkey. But the ticket-collector was adamant and charged three rupees extra. Then, grandfather showed him his pet tortoise. The ticket-collector said that it was not a dog and hence there would be no ticket for it.

Question 3: Describe Toto’s mischief at lunchtime. How did the author’s family get rid of Toth in the end?

Answer

Toto’s mind was full of mischiefs. One day at lunch time, he found a large dish of rice on the dining table. He started eating the rice. When grandmother found Toto eating rice, she screamed. Toth threw the plate at her. An aunt of the narrator came forward.Toto threw a glass of water at her. Then Toto picked the dishes and ran out. He sat on the jackfruit tree. He remained there all the afternoon, eating the rice. After that he threw the plate and broke it into pieces. At last, grandfather realised that Toto could not be kept for long in the house. The family could not bear the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpapers. At last, grandfather found the same tonga driver.He sold Toth back for only three rupees.

Question 4: Describe how Toto took a bath during winter evenings.

Answer

During winter evenings, Grandmother gave Toth a large bowl of warm water for his bath. Toto very cleverly tested the temperature of the water with his hand. He then gradually stepped into the bath. He would put one foot first, then the other until he was into the water up to the neck. He then took the soap in his hands or feet. He rubbed himself all over with it. When the water became cold, he got out. Then he ran as quickly as he could, to the kitchenfire. He dried himself there. Toth had seen the writer taking bath. Thus, he had learnt to copy him accordingly.

Question 5: How did Toth nearly boil himself alive?

Answer

One day a large kitchen kettle had been left on the fire. The water was to be boiled for tea. Toto had nothing to do. He removed the lid. He found the water just warm enough for a bath. So, he got inside. His head was sticking out from the open kettle. For a while, it was fine but soon the water began to boil. Toth raised himself a little, but it was cold outside. So, he sat down again. He continued to hop up and down for some time. Then Grandmother arrived and pulled him out of the kettle. Toth was nearly half-boiled.

The Lost Child important Questions Class 9 English

Short Answer Type Questions for The Lost Child

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1: How did the fair distract the child’s mind from the toy-seller?

Answer

The child saw a toy-seller. He told his parents that he wanted to buy a toy. But his father was stern and looked at him with anger. The child was familiar with his father’s strict ways. So, he did not insist on buying the toy.

Question 2: What were some of the things that the parents would not buy the child?

Answer

The child knew his parents well. He wanted to have a garland of gulmohur flowers, but he knew that his parents would say that the flowers were very cheap. Then, he wanted to buy balloons. However, he knew that his parents would say that he was too big to play with them. So, he did not ask his parents for garlands and balloons.

Question 3: How did the child try to catch one of the dragon-flies? Was he able to catch one?

Answer

There was a mustard-field before the child. He saw a swarm of dragon-flies in the field. He was attracted towards them. One dragon-fly stilled its wings and rested. The boy tried to catch it. But it flew away and the child could not catch it.

Question 4: Describe the village scene when people were heading towards the fair.

Answer

It was spring time. A crowd of men, women and children was going to the fair. They were dressed in colourful clothes. Some of them were on foot, some rode on horses, while others went in bullock carts. There were many shops on the way. People were in a joyful mood.

Question 5: What was the child’s reaction on seeing the sweets-seller?

Answer

The child saw a man selling sweets. He was crying “gulab-jaman, rasagulla, burfi, jalebi.” His shop displayed a number of sweets which looked mouth-watering. Burfi was the child’s favourite sweet. So he told his parents that he wanted some burfi.

Question 6: Why did the child go to the snake-charmer? Why did he not stay there?

Answer

The child saw a snake-charmer. He was playing a flute before the snake. The music charmed the boy greatly. But he did not stay there and moved away. He knew that his parents had forbidden him to hear such music. They thought that it was coarse music.

Question 7: What did the man do to make the child happy?

Answer

The man saw the child crying. He lifted him up in his arms and tried to soothe him. He took the child to the snake-charmer. Then he offered to buy balloons for him and flowers. Then he took him to the sweets shop. But the child did not want to buy anything. He wanted only to be united with his parents.

Question 8: How did the child get lost?

Answer

The child saw a roundabout. He saw how people were laughing and enjoying themselves. He didn’t realise when he had stopped to look at it. Finally, when he asked his parents that he wanted to go on the roundabout and didn’t hear their reply, he turned to see that his parents were nowhere to be found.

Question 9: Describe the roundabout scene and what attracted the child.

Answer

The child saw a big roundabout. He saw men, women and children, enjoying and laughing in it. It was carrying them in a circular motion. The child watched with strong interest, showing his longing to go on it too.

Question 10: Why does child lose interest in the things he wanted earlier?

Answer

The child loses interest in the things when he realized that he is separated from his parents. Earlier, he wanted many things dearly. But now he needed nothing but this parents. Children feel secure only with their parents.

Question 11: Why did the lost child go towards the temple? What happened there?

Answer

The lost child went towards the temple where many people had gathered. He ran towards the entrance of the temple. The crowd was becoming thicker. People jostled each other. He struggled to push his way but was knocked. He might have been trampled if he had not shouted at highest pitch.

Question 12: Who rescued the lost child? What did he offer to buy him?

Answer

At the temple the lot child was caught in the crowd. He shouted at the top of his voice. A man in the crowd saw the child crying. He lifted him up and tried to soothe him. He took him near the roundabout. He also offered to buy him flowers, balloons and sweets. But the child had lost interest in them.

Long Answer Type Questions for The Lost Child

Answer the following questions in 100-150 words.Question 1: Write a note on the theme of the story ‘The Lost Child’.

Answer

The story The Lost Child’ is based on child psychology. A child is curious by nature. He is attracted by beautiful things. He wishes to possess everything which looks attractive. However, he takes interest in these things only when he is in the company of his parents. But when he is lost, these things lose their charm for him. In this story, a child goes to a fair with his parents. He is attracted by different things. He wishes to buy balloons, sweets and garlands of gulmohur. He wishes to enjoy a ride in the roundabout. But, suddenly, he finds that his parents are missing. Then, he starts weeping. A kind man tries to console him. He offers to buy him a number of things. But the child goes on weeping. He wants only his parents.

Question 2: Give a description of the festival of spring.

Answer

The festival of spring was a gay occasion. It was held in a village. A number of people were going to the fair. They were wearing new clothes. Some of them were on foot. Others were in bullock carts and on horses. The fair was full of joy. A little boy was also going to the fair along with his parents. He was very happy. There were several shops selling toys, sweets, balloons. etc. At a shop, garlands of gulmohur flowers were also being sold. The child wanted to buy balloons, sweets and other things. But his parents rejected his demands. There were jugglers also. Near the temple, the crowd was very thick. Some people were enjoying ride in a roundabout. The child also wanted to have a ride in it. But he lost interest when he found his parents missing.

Question 3: What were the things that the boy wanted to possess or do when he was with his parents?

Answer

The child went to a village fair with his parents. He saw several stalls of sweets and toys. At first, he liked a beautiful toy. He asked his parents to buy him that toy, but his father called him away from that shop. Then he tried to catch a butterfly, but he did not succeed. After that he saw a sweet seller. He wanted to have some burfi, but his father rejected his demand. Then he saw someone selling garlands of gulmohur flowers. The child wanted to buy a garland, but this demand was also rejected. After that he wanted to buy a balloon. His father did not buy it for him. Then the child saw a juggler. He wanted to stop and hear the music of his flute, but he feared his father. So, he went on. In the end, he wanted to have a ride in a roundabout but when he turned around, his parents were nowhere to be seen.

Question 4: Describe the changes that occurred in the child in the spring festival.

Answer

The child went to the fair along with his parents. He was very happy. He was attracted by the colourful and beautiful things. He saw balloons, flower garlands, toys and sweets. He saw a juggler showing tricks. He also saw a roundabout. But he was sad because his parents rejected all his demands. They did not purchase anything for him. He could not enjoy the juggler’s tricks. Then he wanted to have a ride on the roundabout, but when he turned to ask his parents, he found them missing. He was separated from them. Now a sudden change came in the child. He started crying for his parents. A kind man tried to console him. But the child had lost interest in everything. He wanted to join his parents again. He cried, “I want my mother. I want my father!”

Question 5: Why would the parents, as the boy thought, turn down his request?

Answer

The boy had gone to a fair with his parents. The place was full of his favourite things. But he did not make a request to his parents for purchasing any of them because he knew that his parents’ reactions would be negative. They would have one or the other reason to refuse. If he had asked for `burfi’, they would have said that he was being greedy. For gulmohur, they would say it was cheap. They would refuse balloons also by saying that he was older to play with balloons. According to his parents, the music of the snake-charmer’s flute was rough.

Question 6: Compare the attitude of the child before and after his separation from the parents.

Answer

In the beginning, the child was with his parents. He was very happy and excited. He wanted to buy many things like burfi, toys, garland, balloon etc. But he knew that his parents would refuse all his demands. Then, he saw a snake charmer and liked the music of his flute. He wanted to enjoy the ride of the roundabout. He was so absorbed in watching the roundabout that he got separated from his parents. 

Now, his mood changed completely. He started crying. He rushed towards a crowded temple. He tried to enter the shrine but got stuck at the gate. A kind-hearted person picked him up. He offered him many things but the child had lost interest in them.

If I Were You Class 9 Important Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Describe Gerrard’s appearance.

Answer: Gerrard is a man of medium height and wears horn-rimmed glasses. When the play opens, he is dressed in a lounge suit and a great coat. He talks in a cultured voice and his demeanour is confident.

2. What did Gerrard tell the intruder about himself? Was he telling the truth? Why/Why not?

Answer: Gerrard told the intruder that as a child, he was stolen by the gipsies and now in his thirties, he was all alone in life. He was not telling the truth; he was just being funny as he wished to make it clear that he was not afraid of a gun-toting criminal. In fact, Gerrard had already started concocting stories about himself.

3. What sort of information does the intruder want from Gerrard?

Answer: The intruder wants personal details from Gerrard like whether in lives alone, what his Christian name is, whether he has a car and whether people visit him. All this information is necessary for the execution of his plan to dodge the police by disguising it himself as Gerrard.

4. What made Gerrard ask the intruder, are you an American”?

Answer: Gerrard asked the intruder if he were an American as he had called him a ‘wise guy’. The guy is colloquial American expression for a man. Hence, the usage of this word by the intruder made Gerrard ask him this question.

5. What sort of a person is the intruder? Give examples to illustrate.

Answer: The intruder is a dangerous person as he is carrying a pistol and claims to have killed a cop. He is mean, heartless and crafty, for he plans to kill Gerrard and assume his identity in order to escape the police. He is over-confident because he claims that Gerrard is no match for him. He is also boastful, uncouth and uncultured so as is evident from a remark he makes, ‘Put up your paws’.

6. The intruder announced, “I’m going to kill you”. Was Gerrard in nervous? How would you describe Gerrard’s reactions?

Answer: Confident of his presence of mind, Gerrard remained unruffled of on being threatened by the intruder. He remained so calm and too nonchalant that the intruder was irritated. His sense of humour also enraged the intruder. Thus, Gerrard reacted in a calm and composed way.

7. Why does the intruder intend to kill Gerrard?

Answer: The intruder is a criminal who is being chased by the police for having murdered a cop. As per his plan, the intruder intends to kill Gerrard in order to take on his identity and avoid being caught by the police. In this way, he can lead a peaceful life without being haunted by the fear of arrest and punishment.

8. Who was the intruder in Gerrard’s house? Why did he break into his house?

Answer: The intruder, who broke into Gerrard’s house, was a criminal. He had murdered a cop and was being chased by the police. He intruded into Gerrard’s house with the intention to murder him and impersonate his identity to evade the police.

9. How did Gerrard behave on seeing a gun-toting stranger in his cottage?

Answer: Gerrard kept his cool and remained absolutely unruffled when he saw the gun-toting stranger in his cottage. There was neither any panic nor any ring of tension in his voice. He remained his normal self and talked to him casually.

10. Why does the intruder not kill Gerrard immediately?

Answer: The intruder does not kill Gerrard immediately because he first wants to get all the necessary information from him. Without this information, his plan to disguise and act as Gerrard will not succeed.

11. Where did Gerrard live? Why was it a suitable place for the intruder’s plan?

Answer: Gerrard lived in a lonely cottage in a secluded place in the wilds of Essex. With hardly any population around, it was easy for one to commit a crime without getting detected. In addition, the place was visited by only a few people. Therefore, it was suitable for the intruder to carry out his plan successfully over here.

12. Why does the intruder call himself ‘a poor hunted rat’?

Answer: The intruder describes himself as ‘a poor hunted rats’ because he is being chased by the police and he has to keep dodging them. He has killed a cop and is trying to escape punishment by hiding like a rat being chased by a cat.

13. Why did the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wanted to take on?

Answer: The intruder picked Gerrard because both of them were of the same physical structure. Moreover, as Gerrard lived alone, did not meet any people, and had irregular hours and habits, he thought it would be easy to kill him and assume his identity, and this way lead a life of peace. He will be away from the reach of the law.

14. Why has the criminal been called an intruder all through the play?

Answer: An intruder is a person who forces his way uninvited and unwelcome like a criminal. He is called an intruder throughout the play as after forcing his way into Gerrard’s cottage, he is trying to grab Gerrard’s identity as well. Moreover, he refuses to tell Gerrard anything about himself, even his name.

15. Bring out the contrast between Gerrard and the intruder.

Answer: Coarse, crude, boastful and an irritable egoist, the intruder is overconfident and thinks that he is the smartest one around. Gerrard, on the other hand, is pleasant, cool-headed, refined, lively and very intelligent, but a modest and humble person. Although Gerrard does not brag, he proves to be much smarter and more intelligent than the intruder.

16. Why did very few people come to Gerrard’s house? Who were the few people who visited him?

Answer: Gerrard lived all alone in a secluded place and his theatrical performances made his schedule irregular. He was hardly at home, so very few people came to his house. He was visited only by his regular suppliers like the baker, the greengrocer and the milkman.

17. “They cannot hang me twice.” Who says this and why?

Answer: The intruder says this because he is already wanted for having murdered a cop. If he manages to kill Gerrard, as per his plan, the punishment for this murder too, like the first one, will be a death sentence. Hence, he cannot be hanged twice by the police.

18. “A mystery I propose to explain.” What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?

Answer: Gerrard, the speaker, proposes to explain the mystery about his queer life in which he has an irregular routine, refuses to see tradesmen, goes away and comes back to the house hurriedly. Gerrard has already concocted a story attributing his strange behaviour to his being a criminal wanted in many cases of crime.

19. “This is your big surprise”. Who says these words in the play? When and where? What is the surprise?

Answer: This has been said by Gerrard when the intruder asks him to clarify how he could still be killed after assuming Vincent Charles Gerrard’s identity. This is a surprise for the intruder who never suspected Gerrard to be a criminal. According to his information, Gerrard seemed to be the perfect person who could be easily eliminated and then impersonated.

20. Why and how did Gerrard persuade the intruder to get into the cupboard?

Answer: Gerrard concocted a story about his own criminal background. He gave the intruder the impression that the police were looking for him and he expected a telephone call from a friend informing the police’s arrival. So when the telephone rang, he hurried the intruder into the cupboard and told him that it was connected to the garage which was an escape route.

21. How does Gerrard propose to use the intruder’s episode?

Answer: Being a man of the theatre, Gerrard is amused at being able to turn the tables on the intruder. He finds the episode of outwitting a criminal by a clever but an innocent man so interesting that he proposes to use it as a plot for his next play.

22. Gerrard describes this encounter with the intruder as an amusing spot of bother’? What light does this attitude reflect on Gerrard?

Answer: Any other person in Gerrard’s place would have been paralysed with fear under such circumstances. But Gerrard finds it an amusing spot of bother’ as his nonchalant (calm and casual) approach makes him handle the situation comfortably and outwit the intruder with ease.

23. Why was Gerrard’s schedule so irregular?

Answer: Having a theatrical background, Gerrard devoted time to writing, producing and directing the plays. He also supplied other theatrical companies with props and make-up items. Therefore, his schedule was irregular as it had to suit the requirements at the theatres.

24. Gerrard said, ‘You have been so modest’. Was Gerrard being ironical or truthful?

Answer: Gerrard’s remark ‘you have been so modest’ was ironical. The intruder had been boasting of his intelligence and smartness. Hence, Gerrard taunted him about his modesty and asked him to say something about himself.

25. Why did the intruder enter Gerrard’s cottage?

Answer: The intruder resembled Gerrard. He had committed a murder. He made a plan to save himself from the police. He decided that after killing Gerrard he would take on his identity and live without any fear. So he entered Gerrard’s cottage.

26. Why did the intruder want Gerrard to speak to him?

Answer: The intruder wanted to take on Gerrard’s identity after killing him. But before killing him he wanted to know how Gerrard talked and how he dealt with people. He could know this only when Gerrard spoke with him. So he wanted him to speak with him.

27. What crime had the intruder committed?

Answer: ‘the intruder was a jewel thief. When he was being chased by the police, he killed a policeman. So he was wanted for murder also

28. Why did he send for the sergeant?

Answer: A jewel thief and murderer entered Gerrard’s cottage. He wanted to kill Gerrard also. Gerrard shut the murderer in a cupboard. Then he phoned the police. Ile sent for the sergeant to get the intruder arrested.

29. How does Gerrard imprison the intruder and save his life?

Answer: Gerrard asks the intruder to run away from there with him because the police may come at any time. He opens a door. He says that this door leads to the garage. The intruder steps in. It was the cupboard door. Gerrard pushes the intruder in and shuts the door. Thus he imprisons the intruder and saves his life.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. ‘They can’t hang me twice’. Who said this and to whom in ‘If I were you’? What did the speaker mean?

Answer: The Intruder said this to Gerrard. The Intruder said this because he was a criminal and was wanted by the police for a murder he had committed. So, he felt it would not matter if he murdered Gerrard also because the punishment given by the police would be the same, i.e., he couldn’t be hanged twice for two murders.

2. ‘I said it with bullets.’ What is the speaker’s reason for saying this?

Answer: Gerrard said these words to convey that he had fired a bullet in return. Gerrard said these words because the Intruder wanted to kill him to use his identity and escape from the police. Gerrard wanted to mislead the Intruder. He wanted to show that he himself was a criminal.

3. What work does Gerrard do? How do you know this?

Answer: Gerrard is a dramatist who works for a theatre. The disguise outfit, false moustaches and other similar items in his cottage support this point. The last dialogue in which he says, ‘‘ Hello. Yes, speaking. Sorry I can’t let you have the props in time for rehearsal, …….’’ also supports this point.

4. Why did the Intruder come to Gerrard’s house?

Answer: Gerrard lived alone in a house at a solitary place and he sometimes suddenly went off and came back just the same. The Intruder was most wanted criminal and so he wanted to assume Gerrard’s identity by killing him and then live in his house to escape the police.

4. Sometimes we think we cannot be cheated since we consider ourselves over-smart. Was this proved correct for Gerrard, in the play If I were you? Discuss the values required to be stronger and not be cheated.

Answer: It is true that our over smartness fails sometimes. This was proved correct for Gerrard. As once, he was alone in his cottage. All of a sudden an Intruder entered there. He had a revolver in his hand and he wanted to kill Gerrard. At that time, Gerrard was busy on the phone. Seeing the Intruder, Gerrard did not lose his peace of mind. The Intruder revealed that he was a jewel thief. He had killed a policeman and the police was after him. He wanted to avoid the police by taking Gerrard’s identity. Gerrard concocted a story and told that he too was a criminal like him. As a proof, he showed his travelling bag. He told the Intruder that by killing him he would be accused of double murder. He told the Intruder that his friend was standing below on the road. As soon as the police arrived, he would inform Gerrard. Gerrard took the Intruder to the door to show the man. When they reached near the cupboard, Gerrard pushed him into the cupboard and locked it from outside. Gerrard called the police to arrest the Intruder.

5. How did Gerrard befool the Intruder to be able to save himself?

Answer: Once Gerrard, the playwright, was alone in his cottage. All of a sudden an Intruder entered his cottage. He had a revolver in his hand and he wanted to kill Gerrard. At the time, Gerrard was busy over the phone. Seeing the Intruder, Gerrard did not lose his peace of mind. The Intruder revealed that he was a jewel thief. He had killed a policeman and the police was after him. He wanted to avoid the police by taking Gerrard’s identity. Gerrard concocted a story and told that he too was a criminal like him. As a proof, he showed him his travelling bag. He told the Intruder that by killing him he would be accused of double murder. He told the Intruder that his friend was standing below on the road. As soon as the police arrived, he would inform Gerrard. Gerrard took the Intruder to the door to show the man. When they reached near the cupboard, Gerrard pushed him into the cupboard and locked it from outside. Gerrard called the police to arrest the Intruder.

Kathmandu Class 9 Important Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Where did the writer stay in Kathmandu? Which two different places of worship did he visit and with whom?

Answer: The writer, Vikram Seth, stayed in a cheap room in the centre of Kathmandu town. He visited the Pashupatinath temple, sacred to Hindus, and the Baudhnath stupa, the holy shrine of the Buddhists. He went with his acquaintances Mr. Shah’s son and nephew.

2. What is written on the signboard outside the Pashupatinath temple? What does the proclamation signify?

Answer: Outside the Pashupatinath temple, the signboard announces: “Entrance for the Hindus only”. It signifies the rigid sanctity that this place of worship associates with and the dogmatic discrimination practiced saving this place from being treated like a tourist destination.

3. What does the author imply by ‘febrile confusion’ in the Pashupatinath temple?
Or
What made the atmosphere in and around the Pashupatinath temple full of ‘febrile confusion’?

Answer: The author makes this remark to show the hectic and feverish activity that causes utter chaos. Around the temple, there is a huge crowd of priests, hawkers, tourists, and even cows, monkeys and pigeons. Inside the temple, there are a large number of worshippers who elbow others aside to move closer to the priest. Together, they create utter confusion.

4. Why did the policeman stop the Westerners wearing saffron-coloured clothes from entering the Pashupatinath temple?

Answer: The policeman stopped the saffron-clad Westerners from entering the Pashupatinath temple as the entry of non- Hindus is banned in this temple and he didn’t believe that they were Hindus, despite their saffron clothes.

5. How does the author describe the fight that breaks out between the two monkeys around the temple of Pashupatinath?

Answer: The author describes the fight that breaks out between two monkeys in which one chases the other. The monkey being chased jumps onto a shivalitiga, then runs screaming around the temples and finally goes down to the holy river, Bagmati.

6. What activities are observed by the writer on the banks of the Bagmati river?

Answer: The writer observes some polluting activities on the banks of river Bagmati. He notices some washerwomen washing clothes, some children taking a bath and a dead body being cremated on the banks of this sacred river. He also observes someone throwing a basketful of wilted flowers and leaves into the river.

7. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug? 

Answer: There is a small shrine on the banks of the holy Bagmati in the Pashupatinath temple. Half of this shrine protrudes from a stone platform. It is believed that when the shrine will emerge completely from the platform, the goddess in the shrine will escape and that will mark the end of the Kaliyug.

8. What are the author’s observations about the streets in Kathmandu?

Answer: The author finds the streets in Kathmandu ‘vivid, mercenary and religious’. Extremely narrow and busy, these streets have many small shrines and some images clad in flowers. Stray cows roam about mooing at the sound of the motorcycles. Vendors sell their wares shouting loudly and radios are played at a loud pitch. In addition, the horns of the cars and the ringing of the bicycle bells increase this din.

9. What picture of the Boudhanath stupa does the author portray?

Answer: The author gives a brief but vivid picture of the Boudhanath stupa. He admires the serenity and calmness of this shrine. There are no crowds even on the road surrounding the stupa which has some shops run by the Tibetan immigrants. The stupa has an immense white dome with silence and stillness as its distinctive features.

10. Describing the streets around the Boudhanath stupa, why does the narrator say this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around?

Answer: The narrator observes a sense of stillness at the Buddhist shrine, the Boudhanath stupa. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road with small shops selling items like felt bags, Tibetan prints, and silver jewellry. The quietness of the stupa stands out amidst the busy business activities that go around it. Thus, the narrator regards this place as a haven of quietness in the busy streets around.

11. The writer says, “All this I wash down with Coca-Cola”. What does all this’ refer to?

Answer: All this’ refers to the eatables that the writer enjoys on the road surrounding the Boudhanath stupa. It includes a bar of marzipan and a roasted corn-cob that he enjoys along with the fizzy, carbonated drink, Coca-Cola. Besides, he also gets some comics with love-stories and a copy of the Reader’s Digest magazine to indulge himself mindlessly.

12.Which is the longer route from Kathmandu to Delhi? Which route does the author opt for?

Answer: The longer route from Kathmandu to Delhi is to first reach Patna by bus and train. Then go past Benaras, sail on the Ganges and reach Allahabad. Then cross the Yamuna and finally reach Delhi via Agra. The shorter option taken by the author is to fly via air, straight from Kathmandu to Delhi.

13. Why does Vikram Seth decide to buy a ticket directly for the homeward journey?

Answer: Vikram Seth has been away from home since quite some time. He is feeling very exhausted and homesick. Though his enthusiasm for travelling tempts him to take a longer route to reach back home, his exhaustion and homesickness impel him to buy an air-ticket directly for the homeward journey to Delhi.

14. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers? 
Or 
How is the flute player’s way of selling flutes different from that of the other hawkers around?

Answer: The author points out that while other hawkers shout loudly to attract the customers for their wares, the flute seller plays upon his flute slowly and meditatively. He does not indulge in excessive display nor does he show any desperation to sell his flutes. Although the flute player does not shout, the sound of the flute is distinctly heard above the noise of the traffic and of the hawkers.

15. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Or
Where did Vikram Seth find the flute seller? What did he compare his flutes to?

Answer: Vikram Seth found a flute seller in Kathmandu standing in a corner of the square near his hotel. He held a pole in his hand which had an attachment at the top. In this attachment, around fifty to sixty flutes were stuck that bulged out in all directions. The author compares these protruding flutes to the sharp, stiff and standing quills of a porcupine.

16. Name five kinds of flutes.
Or
Listening to the music of the flute in the square, the author is reminded of various kinds of flutes. Which kinds does he describe?

Answer: As the author listens to the music of the flute being played by the flute seller, he is reminded of different kinds of flutes. He mentions certain kinds of them like the ‘cross-flutes’, the ‘reed new’, the recorder, the Japanese ‘shakuhachi’ and the Hindustani ‘bansuri’. Other flutes are distinguished by their tonal quality like ‘the clear or breathy flutes’ of South America and the ‘high-pitched’ flutes of China.

17. What is the impact of the music of the flute on Vikram Seth?

Answer: The music of the flute has a hypnotic effect on Vikram Seth. He finds it difficult to ‘tear’ himself away from the square where this music is being played by the flute seller. It has the power to draw him into the commonality of all mankind and he is moved by its closeness to the human voice.

18. Why does the author describe the music of the flute as “the most universal and most particular of sounds”?

Answer: The music of the flute, according to the author, is the most ‘universal’ because this musical instrument, made of hollow bamboo is found in every culture in the world. But at the same time, its sound is the most ‘particular’ because each flute, though played in almost similar manner, emits a distinct, unique, and individual kind of music.

19. What did the saffron-clad Westerners want?

Answer: The saffron-clad Westerners wanted to go inside the temple of Pashupatinath. But the policeman stopped them. He did not let them go inside the temple because they were not Hindus. The entrance was only for Hindus in the temple.

20. How did the author want to return to Delhi? What made him change his mind?

Answer: From Kathmandu, the author wanted to go Patna by bus or train. Then he would sail the Ganga though Benaras to Allahabad. Then he would sail the Yamuna through Agra to Delhi. But the author was already very tired. So he decided to return to Delhi by air.

21. Describe how the flute seller sells his wares?

Answer: The flute seller has tied fifty or sixty flutes on a pole. He does not shout out his wares. From time to time, he selects a flute and plays on it. He plays slowly and thoughtfully. Sometimes, he makes a sale. But his attitude is carefree.

22. To hear any ‘flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.’ Explain.

Answer: The flute is found in each culture in one form or the other. Thus the sound of the flute draws a person into the commonality of mankind.

23. What is the belief of the people at Pashupatinath temple?

Answer: It is the belief of the people at Pashupatinath temple that when a small shrine emerges fully on the river Bagwati, the goddess inside will escape and the evil period of the Kalyug will come to an end on the earth.

24. What activities did the author see going on at the bank of the river Bagmati?

Answer: The author saw two monkeys fighting and chasing each other, a corpse was being cremated, washerwomen at work, children bathing on the bank and he even saw withered flowers being dropped from a balcony in the river Bagmati.

25. How is the temple of Pashupatinath different from Baudhnath Stupa?

Answer: At Pashupatinath Temple there was an atmosphere of feverish activities, i.e., there was disorder and chaos all around whereas the atmosphere at Baudhnath Stupa was calm, peaceful and quiet with no crowd jostling around.

26. Give a brief description of Kathmandu Bazaar.

Answer: Kathmandu Bazaar has narrow and busy streets, shops selling cosmetics, film rolls, chocolate, utensils, postcards, etc. It was a vivid, religious and mercenary city, where hawkers, cows, flute sellers, fruit sellers, every colour was present.

27. How does the writer pass his time in Kathmandu Bazaar?

Answer: The author buys a bar of Marzipan, eats a corn-on-the-cob roasted in charcoal, buys a couple of love story comics, a Readers’ Digest, and then has Coca-Cola and orange drink and watches the flute seller playing his flute, for long.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. What observations does the author make about the Kathmandu Bazaar?

Answer: Kathmandu Bazaar had narrow and busy streets. The author saw chaos, confusion and disorder everywhere in the bazaar. There were fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers selling postcards, shops selling western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolates. Copper utensils and Nepalese antiques were also being sold. There was noise of film songs, car horns, cycle bells, stray cows and vendors shouting out their wares. The author made a very detailed and vivid observation of the Kathmandu Bazaar.

2. ‘To hear any flute is to be drawn into commonality of all mankind.’ Why does the author say this?

Answer: Music appeals to all mankind and gives pleasure to them. The flute seller had many kinds of flutes belonging to various cultures and different customs. In order to attract prospective buyers, the flute seller plays melodious tunes on his flutes. Music is universal and soothes everyone’s heart, no matter which part of the world one belongs to. There is no culture that flute does not have. We have bansuri in Hindustani classical music. The flutes of South America are clear and breathy. The flutes are high pitched. The music of flute is universal. That is why the author says that hearing a flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.

3. How does the author describe the flute seller? What does he say about the flute music?

Answer: The author finds a flute seller in a corner of the square near his hotel. There is a pole in his hand. There is an attachment at the top of the pole. Fifty or sixty flutes are stuck on it. These flutes protrude in all directions. The author compares these flutes to the quills of a porcupine. These flutes are made-of bamboo: From time to time, he stands the pole on the ground. Then he selects a flute and plays on it for a few minutes. The sound rises clearly above the noise of the traffic and the hawkers’ cries. He plays the flute slowly and thoughtfully. He does not shout out his wares. Occasionally someone buys a flute from him. But the flute seller’s attitude is carefree. The author likes his attitude. He imagines that this has been his pattern of life for years. The author finds it difficult to come away from there. He has always been attracted by the flute music: He says that the flute is a very common musical instrument. It is found in almost all cultures. It is the common link of all mankind.

4. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with that in the Pashupatinath Temple.

Answer: The Pashupatinath Temple, sacred to what idea do y Hindus, and the Baudhnath shrine of the Buddhists stand in contrast with regard to their ambiance.
The noisy confusion of the Hindu Temple is opposite to the tranquillity that reigns supreme in the Baudhnath shrine. In the Pashupatinath temple, utter chaos is created by a large number of unorganized worshippers who try to push each other to reach closer to the priest and the deity. At Baudhnath stupa, there aren’t many people inside the structure.

The atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple is made noisy by the heterogeneous crowd consisting of priests, hawkers, devotees, and tourists. The animals like cows and dogs freely move around and the pigeons to contribute to the confusion. Even monkeys play about and fight in the premises of the temple. Confusion is also created by some Westerners who wish to enter the temple.

The Boudhanath stupa, on the contrary, gives a feeling of stillness and silence. Although there are small shops on the road around the temple, run by Tibetan immigrants, there is neither noise nor chaos. The author is so fascinated by the serenity in and around the temple that he calls it ‘a haven of stillness’ standing quietly amidst the busy streets.

5. How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?

Answer: The author presents the busiest streets of Kathmandu as ‘vivid, mercenary and religious’. It is a place with the beautiful, vivid, landscape, and a lot of religious activity goes on all the time. Besides the famous places like the Pashupatinath temple and the Boudhanath stupa, Kathmandu also has small shrines and deities-It is ‘mercenary’ as it is a tourist place and a lot of business – flourishes in the narrow streets. One can find fruit sellers, flute sellers, and hawkers selling postcard photographs. As in any other tourist place, there are shops selling various things like cosmetics from western countries, rolls of film, chocolates, antique things of Nepal, and copper pots and pans.

There is a bedlam of noises created by radios playing film songs, sounds of car-horns, bells of bicycles and vendors shouting to invite the customers. There are also the cows bellowing as they hear the sounds of motorcycles. Thus, the streets of Kathmandu are full of noise and din.

6. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?

Answer: The author hears the music of a flute played by a flute seller in a square near his hotel in Kathmandu and is reminded of the various kinds of music produced by various types of flutes found in various cultures. However, the flute is universal because almost every culture has flutes, though each has a different tone and pitch.

The author further describes the variety of flutes named differently as the shakuhachi in Japan and the bansuri in India. They have different fingering methods and ranges of sound. The Indian bansuri has a deep sound, the South American flute emits clear, breathy sound and the Chinese flute gives out loud, high-pitched melodies.

Despite the variety of flutes and the variations in their music, the author emphasizes that the music of all the flutes closely resembles the human voice. To produce music, every flute needs pauses and breaths in the same manner in which phrases and sentences are uttered in the human voice. These pauses and breaths are generated through fingering of the holes of a flute. This characteristic feature of the flutes gives the author a feeling of being “drawn into the commonality of mankind”, which gives him a sense of universality and harmony.

7. What ideas do you get about the author from the extract “Kathmandu”?

Answer: The extract “Kathmandu” taken from Vikram Seth’s travelogue, ‘Heavenly Lake’, brings forth certain traits of his personality. As a traveller, Seth displays a keen sense of observation, and as a person with a fine aesthetic sense, his ability to capture the vivid details comes to the fore.

The pictures of the temples of Kathmandu and its crowded streets become alive with his vivid descriptions. Though indirectly, he also appears to be a lover of serenity and tranquillity when he terms the stupa as a ‘haven of quietness’. He also shows his concern as an environmentalist who does not approve of the polluting activities carried on the banks of the Bagmati river. Vikram Seth’s fondness for travelling is obvious by the fact that although tired, he still contemplates taking a longer route back home to Delhi.

His fondness for music is brought forth when we find him so enchanted by the music of the flute that he has to force himself to leave the square where the flute is being played by the seller.

His choice of reading reveals that when tired, he prefers to read light and popular stuff. Like a typical traveller, he indulges himself with the eatables he finds available in the bazaar of Kathmandu.

Thus, the author emerges as a man with a profound fondness for travelling, love for music, a keen sense of observation, reflective mind, and an ability to portray places and people minutely and realistically.

8. Where does the author find the flute seller and what are his observations about him? What draws the author to the music of the flute?

Answer: The author finds a flute seller along with many other hawkers in a corner of the square near his hotel in Kathmandu. But the flute seller’s style of selling his ware differs absolutely from that of the other vendors. He does not shout to attract the customers nor does he show any kind of desperation to sell.

He carries a pole with about fifty to sixty flutes attached at the top. The author compares these flutes protruding in all directions to the sharp quills of a porcupine. Most of the flutes on the poles are of the varieties of ‘recorders’ and ‘cross-flutes’. The flute seller, instead of hawking loudly, places the pole on the ground every now and then, selects a flute and plays upon it slowly and in a meditative manner without ever resorting to excessive display.

The sound of the flute is distinct and clear and can be heard even above the noise created by the traffic horns and the shouts of the hawkers. He does not seem to run a very brisk business and it appears as if playing the flute is his chief activity and selling of flutes is incidental to it.

The mesmerizing music of the flute draws the author to it. He is left spell-bound by its hypnotic notations. The impact is so deep that he has to force himself to leave the square where the flute is being played. This music is etched in his memory and he carries it with him to his home in India.

The Bond of Love Class 9 Important Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

1. Bruno once got paralysis. Why? How was he treated?

Answer: Once the author kept barium carbonate in his library for killing rats. Bruno ate most of it. It was poison. So he got paralysis. He was taken to a veterinary doctor. He gave Bruno two injections of antidote. It cured Bruno.

2. “The hear became attached to the dogs, to the children in the neighbourhood.” Which qualities of the bear arc highlighted in this statement?

Answer: It shows that the bear had human qualities. Like human beings, it also needed love and knew how to respond to love. He developed friendship not only with animals but with human beings also.

3. Bruno was sent off to Mysore zoo. What happened to 
(i) the author’s wife, 
(ii) Bruno after this? Why?

Answer: (i) The author’s wife felt very sad. She wept bitterly. She was uneasy and inconsolable. For the first few days, she refused to take food.
(ii) Bruno’s condition was similar. He also refused food. He became thin and sad. Both of them missed each other badly.

4. Why did Bruno become very special after he returned from Mysore zoo?

Answer: The author’s wife wanted to make Bruno feel at home. They made a special island for him. She would sit there for hours and Bruno would sit in her lap. Thus he became special after his return from the Mysore zoo.

5. Why was Bruno sent to the zoo?

Answer: Just as the months rolled by Bruno outgrew even the Alsatians in height. As the tenant’s children were very scared of him, he had to be kept in chains all the time. And he was also too big to be kept at home. So Bruno was sent to zoo.

6. With what tricks would Baba entertain the author’s family?

Answer: Baba would obey commands and would tackle anyone for rough and tumble when commanded to wrestle or box. He would point a stick when asked to hold a gun. If someone asked where the baby was, then he would produce and cradle affectionately a stump of wood.

7. How was the problem of what to do with Bruno finally solved?

Answer: The author’s wife loved Bruno deeply and missed him very much. So Bruno was driven back to Bengaluru. An island, 20 feet long and 15 feet wide surrounded by a dry moat was made for Bruno. He was kept there in a wooden box with some straws in it. His toys were also put back for him to play with.

8. The author decided to send Bruno to zoo. What does it reveal about his character? Discuss the values highlighted in his character.

Answer: The author decided to send Bruno to zoo as he knew that Bruno was growing and he had to be kept chained most of the time. He was getting too big to be kept at home. This shows that he was a man of practical wisdom and a responsible citizen. He did not like that an animal should be kept chained all the time. He wanted that Bruno should live in the natural atmosphere.

9. Narrate incidents from the lesson, The Bond of Love to show that the author’s wife and Baba, the bear, were extremely fond of each other.

Answer: The author’s wife got the bear cub when he had lost his mother and she took charge of him and brought him up. She named him Bruno, treated him like her own son and he also became much attached to her. They fretted and stopped eating when he was sent to the zoo. They were overwhelmed when she went to see him at the zoo, so she decided to bring him back. She made arrangements for him in the house, a special island was constructed for him and they both found great joy in each other’s company.

10. Animals too feel the pain of separation. Elucidate with reference to the story The Bond of Love.

Answer: Not only humans but animals also feel the pain of separation. When Bruno was sent to the zoo, he became depressed as he missed the author’s wife, who had been like a mother to him. He started fretting and refused to eat food. This resulted in him becoming very thin. When after three months the author’s wife went to meet him, on catching a glimpse of her he howled in happiness and stood over his head in delight. All this shows us that the animals too experience the pain of separation.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Can the company of an animal give undiluted pleasure to a human being? Give some examples from the story.

Answer: Yes, it can give pure pleasure to a human being. The bond of love between man and animal is better than between man and man. Human beings are selfish and their love is seldom pure and selfless. We often do not respond to love given to us. On the other hand, an animal’s love is pure. Like human beings, animals too need love and respond to that love. In this story, the author’s wife loves a pet bear. He too responds to that love. She plays with him, fondles and loves him. When the bear is sent to the zoo, she becomes inconsolable. On the other hand, the bear also does not like his separation from her. He refuses to take food in the zoo. When she goes to meet him at the zoo, he shouts with pleasure, In the end, she brings him back from the zoo. Thus she finds that the company of an animal gives undiluted pleasure to a human being.

2. ‘Love is mutual’. Illustrate this with reference to the story ‘The Bond of Love’.

Answer: The Bond of Love’ is the story of love and friendship between an animal and a human being. One day the author found a bear cub in a field. He took it home and presented it to his wife. The bear and the author’s wife developed a great love for each other. When the bear grew up, it was sent to the zoo at Mysore. She became very sad. After three months, she visited the zoo. The bear, whose name was Baba, at once recognized her and danced with happiness. She came back. But she could not live without the bear. So she got the permission of the zoo superintendent to get the bear back. A special place was made at home for the grown-up bear. Now both the bear and the writer’s wife were happy. The story shows that animals too have as much love and affection as human beings have. Thus, the title of the story is very appropriate.

3. How did the author’s wife behave in the absence of the bear? Describe Baba’s condition at 7.00 in Mysore.
Or
“Animals also feel the pleasure of love and the pains of separation.” Support your view by giving examples from the text.

Answer: With the passage of time, the bear became too big to be kept at home. The author, his friends and his son advised the author’s wife to gift Baba to the zoo at Mysore. After some weeks of such advice, she finally agreed. A letter was written to the curator of the zoo. He agreed to take the bear. Baba was sent to the Mysore zoo in a cage. But the author’s wife felt very sad. She wept and for the first few days, refused to take food. She wrote a number of letters to the curator of the zoo. She asked in her letters about the condition of Baba. At the zoo, Raba was also in a similar position. He was inconsolable. He also did not take food for the first few days. He was well but looked thin and sad.

4. What makes you feel that the mother is more attached to Bruno than the other members of the family? Give reasons.

Answer: The author brings the bear cub and presents it to his wife. Very soon, the baby bear becomes the darling of everyone. The author’s wife and son love him. All the children of the tenants in that bungalow develop a loving relationship with him. But the author’s wife develops a special affection for him. It is a motherly affection. She looks after the bear as if he were her own child. At first, she gives him milk with a bottle. But very soon, the bear is able to eat everything. She spends a lot of time with him. She teaches him to perform a number of tricks. When Bruno is sent to the zoo, she weeps bitterly. After three months she goes to meet him. In the end, she brings him back. Thus, we see that she is more attached to Bruno than the other members of the family.

5. How did the writer get a baby-bear for his wife?

Answer: Two years ago, the author and his friends were passing through the sugarcane fields near Mysore. People were driving away the wild pigs from their fields by shooting at them. Suddenly a sloth bear came out of the field. One of the writer’s companions shot at the bear. It fell dead. They came near the fallen animal. They saw a bear cub riding on its mother’s back. The cub was making pitiful howls. The writer tried to catch it. But the bear cub ran away into the field. The writer and his companions ran after it. At last, they were able to catch it. The baby bear tried to free itself. It tried to scratch the author with its long, hooked claws. They put the bear into a gunny bag and brought it to Bangalore. The author presented the little creature to his wife. She was very happy. She named the bear cub Bruno.

6. Describe the two accidents that befell Bruno or Baba. How did he recover from them?

Answer: One day an accident befell Bruno. There were rats in the author’s library. In order to kill them, he had put down barium carbonate in the library. It was poison. Bruno entered the library and ate some of the poison. He suffered from a stroke of paralysis. But dragged himself slowly to the author’s wife. He was weakening rapidly. He was breathing heavily and vomiting. The author at once took him to a veterinary doctor. The vet gave him I0 cc of anti-dote through an injection. But his condition remained unchanged. Then another 10 ccs were injected. This improved his condition. Bruno got up and enjoyed a good meal. At another time, the little bear drank a lot of old engine oil. But fortunately, it had no effect on him.

7. Describe the meeting of the author’s wife with the bear at the zoo. Why did she bring it back home?

Answer: The author’s wife was very sad at her separation from the bear. For three months, the author restrained her from visiting Mysore. At last, he took his wife to Mysore zoo to meet Baba. The author and his friends had guessed that the bear would not recognize her after three months. But as soon as Baba saw her, he recognized her. He cried with happiness. She ran up to him and patted him. He stood up on his head in delight. For the next three hours, she did not leave the cage. She gave him tea, lemonade, cakes, ice-cream and other things. At last, the ‘closing time’ came and she had to leave. The author’s wife wept bitterly. She felt that she could not live without the bear. She requested the superintendent to send Baba back. He was a kind man. He consented and Baba was brought back into the author’s home.

---

Reach for the Top Class 9 Important Questions

Part 1 Santosh Yadav
Short Answer Type Questions

1. How was Santosh different from other girls in her village?

Answer: Santosh was different from other girls in her village. She was not contended with the traditional way of life. She had begun living a life on her own terms from the very beginning. She did not wear traditional Indian dresses meant for village girls.

2. What decision Santosh had to take when she turned sixteen?

Answer: When Santosh turned sixteen, it was time for her to get married like other village girls. Most of the girls of her village got married when they turned sixteen. Her parents also pressed her for marriage. But Santosh refused to get married at an early age. She decided to continue her education.

3. What did her seniors think about Santosh’s ability as a climber?

Answer: Santosh was always appreciated by her seniors for her abilities and leadership qualities. They found her climbing skills, physical fitness and mental strength admirable. Her helping nature brought her very close to her fellow climbers.

4. How did Santosh save the life of a fellow climber, Mohan Singh?

Answer: During one of her expeditions to Mount Everest, she saved the life of her fellow climber Mohan Singh who was short of oxygen. When Santosh noticed him dying, she shared her oxygen with him and saved his life.

5. What difficulties did Santosh face in her childhood?

Answer: Though Santosh was born in a rich family who could easily send their children to the best schools, Santosh was sent to the local village school. She was not provided with the proper facilities to achieve success.

6. What shows Santosh’s concern for environment

Answer: Santosh had set the record as the only woman to climb Everest twice. She was also an ardent lover of environment and wanted to work for the betterment of it. Her concern for the environment can be seen when she brought 500 kg of garbage from the Himalayas.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Determination and correct choice of path always lead to success. Do you agree? Elaborate with reference to the success story of Santosh Yadav.

Answer: Santosh Yadav was quite determined to choose her correct path. Born in a traditional family, she had to face many difficulties and opposition from her own family. Her parents wanted her to get married at the age of sixteen. She firmly opposed it and warned that she would never get married unless she got proper education.

She went to Delhi and got herself enrolled without her father’s permission. She decided to work part-time to meet her educational expenses. She went to Jaipur and joined the Mountaineering Institute. Her firm determination and hard work put her on the top of the world. She proved that nothing is impossible in this world if we are determined.

2. What inspired Santosh Yadav to be a climber? How does her life inspire you?

Answer: Santosh Yadav was different from the girls of her age. She was determined to choose her own way of life. She joined Maharani College at Jaipur. Her room in the hostel faced the Aravalli Hills. One day, she saw some villagers climbing the hills. She was fascinated to see them. She decided to climb the hills.

She went there and met some climbers. Seeing her mental toughness and strong determination, the climbers encouraged her to take climbing seriously. She polished her climbing skills at Nehru School of Mountaineering rapidly and conquered the Mount Everest twice.

She is an insipiration for all the ambitious girls. Her mental toughness, strong determination and willpower inspire us to undertake any task that we dream of, for nothing is impossible if one is determined and clear about one’s aim like Santosh.

3. Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova reached the top of the world in their respective fields. How are they alike and different? Out of the two whom would you make your role model and why?

Answer: Both Santosh Yadav and Maria Sharapova started from scratch. They faced opposition right from the beginning. But their strong determination, hard work and mental toughness helped them to fulfil their dreams.

Their background and monetary status differed. Maria Sharapova, unlike Santosh Yadav, did get the parental support in studies or career. Both are role models for me. Both reached the top in different situations. Both of them are fighters, determined and inspiring.

However, being an Indian, Santosh had to face both social and economic problems. She did not get the professional and economic support from her parents as Maria got. So if I have to choose one, I would choose Santosh Yadav as my role model.

4. Santosh Yadav saved the life of one of her fellows on expedition. It is an example of team spirit. What would you do under such a condition?

Answer: Santosh Yadav was on her expedition when one of the six members, Mohan Singh, exhausted his oxygen cylinder. All the team members were worried about Mohan Singh as there was no extra source of oxygen. It was a question of life and death for them.

Santosh Yadav could not see a team member dying like that. She had a sense of sacrifice and team spirit. Like a true Indian and a proud daughter of the country she decided to help her fellow climber, Mohan Singh. She risked her life and gave her share of oxygen to Mohan Singh.

She could never forget that moment, which sparkles in his eyes. Yes, it was the real team spirit that every sportsman must display. I would also have done the same in such a situation.

5. Do you think, that if girls like Santosh are allowed to go to school in village, it will improve our society? Justify.

Answer: Yes, I agree that if girls like Santosh Yadav are allowed to go to school in villages, it will bring a change in our society. Girls are talented and if they get an opportunity, they can excel in all the fields. An educated girl can educate the entire family and can enhance the moral of the society.

Gender bias is rooted deeply in our society. In the story, Santosh Yadav was not allowed to go out of her village school for higher education. She fought against the traditional system. Truly, Santosh is the role model to all village girls in India. In fact, the village girls are doing well in all fields. They have shown that they are not lagging behind in any field. So, they should be given equal chances to grow.

6. According to you, what are the social customs that do not allow the girls to get proper education? Should we revolt against the old social system? Why/Why not?

Answer: There are many social customs like early marriage, looking after household chores, social insecurity, etc. which do not allow the girls to get proper education in rural areas. Girls are expected to lead a traditional way of life. Revolt against the social customs and age-old tradition will bring unrest in society. If we revolt against any system, we pay a heavy cost. But it does not mean that we should continue to be victims of the system.

We need education and awareness. We need to change the mindset of people. We need to lead the battle. Mere modernity and westernization will not bring desirable changes. A remarkable change has come in our society. Now, girls are excelling in all the fields. So, ‘revolt’ is not a solution, reform is the need of the hour.

7. Like Santosh Yadav, your parents want you to settle like other girls in your society. But you are an ambitious girl and want to do something more in life. We see that some of the girls revolt against their parents and fall in bad company. They are misled and exploited. What will you do in such a situation? Elaborate.

Answer: It is true that most of the girls in our society do not get an opportunity to grow in their lives. They are confined to the four walls of their houses. There are many examples of ambitious girls who broke away from their families and tried to lead their own life. But how many of them succeeded is a pertinent question. Most of them fell in bad hands and got exploited.

They turned out to be depressed, desolute and isolated in their prime lives. We cannot have a satisfied and happy life without the support of family and society. Being an ambitious girl one should try to win over the family, seek their support and assure them of protection of values of family. I will not revolt against my family. I will take my parents into confidence before taking any step. I am sure our parents always think of our well-being.

Part 2 Maria Sharapova
Short Answer Type Questions

1. What is the most significant achievement of Maria Sharapova so far?

Answer: Maria Sharapova’s first major achievement was to win the women’s singles crown at Wimbledon in the year 2004. Another significant achievement of Maria was on 22 August 2005 when she reached the number one position in the world women tennis.

2. How did Maria’s father contribute to the success of Maria?

Answer: Maria was a Russian girl. Her father Yuri contributed significantly in shaping her future. He managed her training in the United States. He took her from Russia to Florida, the United States. He worked hard to earn money to make Maria continue her training.

3. How was Maria treated by her fellow students at Florida?

Answer: Maria was the youngest trainee. She was just nine years old. She would go to her bed at 8 p.m. but her seniors would return at 11 p.m. They used to wake her up and force her to do their work. She had to clean the room for them. She was insulted by them.

4. How did Maria react to humiliation and insults she faced during her training at Florida, the United States?

Answer: Maria was the youngest trainee. She was frequently ill-treated and humiliated by her seniors. But she was never depressed. She became more determined and mentally tough. She learnt how to adjust herself in an adverse situation.

5. What was the secret of Maria’s success?

Answer: Strong determination and mental toughness were the secret of Maria’s success. She was highly competitive and worked hard at whatever she did. She was never depressed. All her adverse conditions made her more alert and mentally sound.

6. What shows that Maria was proud of being a Russian?

Answer: Maria Sharapova is a Russian. She spent most of her time in the United States. She speaks with a pronounced American accent but she feels proud of being a Russian. She declared that she was ready to represent Russia in Olympics.

7. What are, other than tennis, Maria’s likings?

Answer: Maria Sharapova spent most of her time in playing tennis. But she has some other likings too. Her hobbies are fashion, singing and dancing. She is fond of wearing pretty evening gowns. She likes pancakes with chocolate spread and fizzy orange drinks.

8. Can Maria Sharapova be considered as a patriot? Substantiate your answer with examples.

Answer: Maria Sharapova was a patriot. She says that though America has played a major role in her life yet she is proud to be a Russian. She says that she holds the Russian citizenship and her blood is totally Russian. She is ready to play the Olympics for Russia if they would invite her to play.

9. Why did Maria Sharapova feel so lonely while getting her tennis training in the US?

Answer: She felt lonely because her mother was compelled to stay back in Siberia because of visa restrictions thereby had to bear two years of separation from her mother. Her father had to work hard to pay for her tennis training.

10. What motivated Maria to keep going?

Answer: Maria’s determination, mental toughness and her hunger for success to prove herself to the world motivated her to keep going.

11. How did the senior tennis players bully young Maria?

Answer: As Maria was quite young, she used to go to bed early. The senior tennis players came late in the night and would wake her up asking her to clean up the room for them. This made her more determined and mentally tough.

12. What does Maria say about her Russian origin?

Answer: Maria Sharapova says that though America has played a major role in her life yet she is proud to be a Russian. She says that she still holds the Russian citizenship and her blood is totally Russian. She is ready to play the Olympics for Russia if they would invite her to play.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Describe Maria Sharapova’s rapid ascent to number one position in tennis. What do you learn from her life?

Answer: Maria Sharapova is a Russian. She belonged to a poor family of Siberia. She was just nine years old when her father took her to Florida for training in tennis. Her mother could not come with her because of some visa problems. She was alone. She shared her room with other pupils who were older to her. She was the only non-American student and had to bear the insults and humiliations.

She was never depressed but all the more determined. Her mental toughness and physical strength helped her reach the top at the age of eighteen. Maria Sharapova is an inspiring personality. She teaches us that success comes with sacrifices and hard work. If one is ready to sacrifice the luxuries of life in the beginning, one is sure to reap the fruit of hard work. Had she not sacrificed the pleasure of living with her family, she would not have succeeded in her life.

2. It is the attitude towards goal and not the money that matters. Do you agree? How did Sharapova prove it?

Answer: Maria Sharapova reached the number one position in women’s tennis at the age of eighteen. She won fame and riches through tennis. She became the teenagers’ idol. She wears gaudy and fantastic clothes. Like other teenagers, she loves fashion, dancing and singing. But she is not complacent. She thinks tennis as both a business and a sport.

Monetary gains motivate her but she considers being number one in the world more important than anything else. Success has not made her arrogant. She is a true patriot. She is still working hard to retain her position. One learns from her life that success should not make one arrogant if one wants to remain on the top. Winning a trophy or title is important but more important is to win people.

3. One has to sacrifice something to achieve something good in life. Do you agree? Justify with reference to Maria Sharapova. If you have to live alone in a boarding school, would you accept it?

Answer: Yes, without sacrifice one can never achieve good things in life. Maria Sharapova is an example of it. She had to sacrifice her childhood luxuries in order to become a tennis star. She remained all alone at the age of nine as her mother could not accompany her. If she had not sacrificed her childhood, she would not have become a star. Maria Sharapova left her home at a tender age to achieve her goal in life.

Yes, I will accept the challenge of living away from the family like Maria for a good cause. One cannot achieve success without sacrifice. If we crave for luxuries during our student life, we can’t afford it when we are grown up. If one dreams to live a successful life one has to work hard, sacrifice luxuries during one’s student life, i.e. to live in a boarding house for higher studies.

4. Determination is necessary for success. Do you agree? Justify with reference to the life of Sharapova.

Answer: Determination is necessary for success. Maria Sharapova was only nine years old when she had to live alone in the United States. She was the youngest player and was constantly humiliated by fellow players. But Maria never gave up. Her strong determination made her mentally tough.

If Maria had not been determined, she would have left the training camp when she was humiliated by her follow players. It was only her determination that supported her. She never gave up due to any pressure. She managed everything at her own. It is the determination that leads one to success.

5. And that something in her lifted her on Monday: 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women tennis. What do you think, was that something in Maria due to which she reached the top?

Answer: Maria Sharapova became the number one in women’s tennis on 22 August 2005. It was not an easy journey for her. She had a life full of struggles and sacrifices. She suffered from insults and humiliation from her fellow players. But all this made her mentally tough.

She became more determined and stronger. This mental toughness and strong determination is that something which lifted her on Monday, 22 August 2005 to the world number one position in women’s tennis. It proves that those who are determined with a clear vision, are destined to succeed in their life.

6. Do you think, despite living in the United States, Maria Sharapova is a Russian at heart? If you were in place of Maria, would you have accepted the citizenship of the United States?

Answer: Maria left her country Russia at the age of nine years. She spent her prime time in the United States. She speaks English with a pronounced American accent. She admits that the United States is a big part of her life. She likes American food, clothes and lifestyle but she is proud to display her Russian identity.

Her blood is totally Russian. Her ambition to represent Russia in Olympics shows that she loves her country. In my opinion, Maria Sharapova, despite living in the United States, is Russian at heart. If I had been in place of Maria, I would have also taken the same decision. I am proud to be an Indian.

7. “The other tennis pupils would come in at 11 p.m. and wake me up and order me to tidy up the room and clean it.” This treatment of Maria by her seniors was like bullying the junior mates. How would you treat your junior mates if you were in the same situation?

Answer: Maria was in Florida. She shared her room with other pupils who were older than her. They ordered her to clean the room at midnight. She was the only non-American student and had to bear the insults and humiliations. This treatment by the seniors was, no doubt, a kind of bullying. It is something that we all should condemn. It is an attack on one’s self-respect.

We should never forget that we were also junior to someone. Being senior means having more responsibility towards our juniors. We should win over our juniors by helping them and not by bullying them. Love begets love. Affection begets affection. We should always remember it and condemn the act of bullying or any kind of ragging. I will treat my juniors with love, care and affection.