Class 9 English Supplementary Reader Moments

 

Moments Chapter 1 The Lost Child

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 6)

Question 1.
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
Answer:
On his way to the fair the child sees toys, balloons of different colours, garland of gulmohur, a swing and a snake-charmer playing a flute. He gets attracted towards all these things. So, he lags behind.

Question 2.
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Answer:
The child wants many things in the fair. He wants to have toys, different sweets, garland, balloons of different colours and has a keen desire to enjoy the roundabout. He moves on without waiting for an answer because whenever he stops to see things, his parents gave him a cautionary call, “come, child, come!”

Question 3.
When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer:
The child sees a roundabout in the fair and gets attracted to it. He wants to have a ride on it. He asks his parents for permission to enjoy it. Having no response on the part of his parents he realises that he has lost his way. He starts crying bitterly at once and runs here and there in search of them.

Question 4.
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer:
The lost child loses interest in the things he had wanted earlier because he got lost in the fair. He is panic-stricken for being lost. Now he frist wants his parents. He is afraid and feels unsafe.

Question 5.
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer:
Yes I feel that the child finds his parents at last. The kind-hearted person must have tried his best to find his parents. On the other hand the parents of the child must have left no stone unturned to find their child.

Talk about it
(Page 6)

Question 1.
How to ensure not to get lost.
Answer:
It is very common that children get lost in fairs and crowds. Hardly a day passes when no child gets lost. It is the duty of both the parents and the children to ensure not to get lost. The parents need to be vigilant and more careful at crowded places. Before entering a crowded place the parents should fix a point where the child should wait in case of getting lost. They should make the child memorise home address and telephone numbers. They should put or pin up a note on the pocket of the child with full details. They should attend to the need of the child and never leave him behind, in case he happens to stand at some shop.

On the other hand the child should hold the hands of his parents at a crowded place. He should keep an eye on his parents so as not to lose sight of them. In case of any emergency the help of police, help centres and media can be taken.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
How did the child react when there was no sign of his parents ?(Board Term, Sept., 1,2013, K2G41GH)
Answer:
The child was very innocent. He gets confused and panic-stricken on not seeing his parents. He felt lonely without his parents amidst so much of crowd. The man who tries to console the child also does not achieve any success as the boy only needs his parents and no monetary benefit.

Question 2:
Where did the child go with his parents ? What did he want there ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
The child went to a fair with his parents. He wanted garlands, balloons and sweets over there. He also wanted to see the snake and take a ride on the swing.

Question 3:
Why did the lost child refuse to take his favourite things in the fair after loosing his parents ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
The child refused to take his favourite things in the fair after he lost his parents as he missed them and wanted to meet them only. Now, he had lost interest in all his favourite things.

Question 4:
How did the mother distract the child’s mind from the toy seller ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
The mother distracted the child’s mind from the toy seller by pointing towards a flowering mustard field. He saw colourful dragon flies and staffed running after them.

Question 5:
How was the child separated from his parents ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)
Answer:
The boy was attracted to toys, balloons and sweets in the fair. He got fascinated with the flute music being played by the snake charmer. While watching the roundabout swing he got separated from his parents.

Question 6:
What happened when the lost child reached the temple door ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
Answer:
When the child reached the temple door men jostled each other. The poor child struggled to thrust his way out but was knocked. He might have been trampled if he had not shouted at his highest pitch.

Question 7:
Who rescued the lost child ? What did he offer to buy him ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
The man in the shrine rescued the lost child. He lifted him up in his arms and tried to soothe him. He took him to the nearest roundabout swing and offered to buy him flowers, balloons and sheets.

Question 8:
Parents were in a hurry to reach the fair but the child was delaying them. How ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-029)
Answer:
The boy got distracted by toys which he wanted to buy, butterflies and dragon flies which he wanted to catch and ffc?wers that he wanted to gather. And, out of pine innocence he delayed his parents to reach the’fair.

Question 9:
What was tlje first reaction of the child when he realized that he had lost his parents?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-035)
Answer:
The child panicked when he realized (hat he had lost his parents. He was puzzled, angry and desperate. He cried and shouted for his parents. He ran here and there to look for his parents.

Question 10:
Why didn’t the boy wait for an answer after he had pleaded for sweets ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
The boy didn’t wait for an answer after life had pleaded for sweets because he knew that his parents would say that he was greed^ and would refuse to buy the sweets.

Question 11:
What happened when the “lost child” entered the grove ? How did he enjoy there ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-046)
Answer:
When the “lost child” entered the groye, a shower of young flowers fell upon him. He began to gather the raining petals. He heard the cooing of doyes and ran towards his parent^. He had a fun- filled splendid time in the grove.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
What changes do you notice in the behaviour of the child, once he is separated from his parents in the story “The Lost Child” ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-021)
Answer:
A child along with his parents had been to a fair. He was very excited and happy with the stalls of toys and sweets. He gets separated from his parents and starts crying. He runs hither and thither in search of his parents, but in vain. Since the place was overcrowded he got real scared. He started cryjng as he was all alone. A kind hearted man offers him many things but he refuses. The child who wanted everything from the fair was now not interested in any of these things as he only yearned to be with his parents.

Question 2:
Compare the attitude of the child before and after his separation from his parents.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
Before separation the child was very happy and excited at the fair. He was fascinated with all the things that were displayed at the stalls. He wanted to have all the things like his favourite toys, sweets, flowers, etc. He also wanted to go for a ride. But after separation the boy just wanted to be with his parents. He was not interested in any of those things which he kept longing to have from the stalls. In the absence of his parents these things did not give him any satisfaction.

Question 3:
How did the man who found the little boy in the fair, try to soothe him ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-031)
Answer:
The man who found the little boy in the fair tried every possible way to soothe him. He took him to a roundabout swing then offered a horse ride, tried to make him listen to the snake charmer’s song and offered him a balloon, as he thought that this would distract his mind, but in vain. He offered him flowers and sweets, but the child kept crying. The child could not be distracted by any of the things at the fair as he longed to be with his parents.

Question 4:
How do you know that the lost child was a nature – lover ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-047)
Answer:
The child was attracted to the nature’s little aspects because of his innocence. When his mother diverted his attention towards the mustard field he saw the flowers which were in the nascent stage and flowering. The flpwers of the field were pale like melting gold. He then saw a group of dragon flies which were bustling about on their gandy purple wings, intercepting the flight of a lone black bee or butterfly in search of sweetness from the flowers. The child wanted to catch those dragon this but they went away fluttering and flapping. He also got attracted to the little insects and worms along the footh that were teeming out from their hiding places to enjoy the Sunshine. A §hower of young flowers fell upon the child as he entered the fair. He forgot about his parents and began to gather the raining petals in his hands. Again when he heard the cooing of doves, he ran towards his parents shouting about them.

Question 5:
What all things did the child get attracted to, once be entered the fair ? Was he able to get all the things he desired ? What happened when he made a bold request to his parents ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-053)
Answer:
With a wide mouth, he stared at the sight of burfi. Later he was attracted to a garland of gulmohur and was carried away by the rainbow glory of the coloured balloons. He wanted them all but, on the other hand, he also knew the answers of his parents, so he convinced himself and did not ask them for anything. Finally, he made a bold request for going on the roundabout. As he turned to get their reply, he could not find them behind him.

Chapter 2 The Adventures of Toto

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 11)

Question 1.
How does Toto come to grand-father’s private zoo?
Answer:
Grandfather loved animals. One day he saw this attractive monkey with a tonga- driver. The monkey was tied to a feeding- trough and seemed out of place there. Grandfather had great liking for animals. So he decided to buy Toto from the tonga- driver and bought it for five rupees.

Question 2.
“Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?
Answer:
Toto had bright eyes sparkling with mischief, pearly white teeth, quick and wicked fingers and a gracious tail which served as a third hand. The smile of Toto was cute and frightened elderly Anglo- Indian ladies. Altogether all these qualities made him pretty.

Question 3.
Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how? Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?
Answer:
Toto was a mischievous monkey. He kept disturbing all other animals in grandfather’s private zoo. It seemed that only grandfather could manage him properly. So, he took Toto to Saharanpur in a bag. The ticket collector called Toto a dog as the monkey did not qualify the category of human beings.

Question 4.
How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?
Answer:
Toto cunningly tested the temperature with his hand then gradually stepped into the bath. He stepped first one foot, then the other, until he was into the water up to his neck. He rubbed himself all over with the soap. He learned it all from the author. Some day Toto got in a large kitchen kettle which was on fire to boil. He enjoyed the warm water but when the water turned out to be hot he jumped up and down. Suddenly the grandmother arrived at and pulled him out in half-boiled condition.

Question 5.
Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?
Answer:
Author’s statement about Toto proves itself if we take Toto’s misdeeds into consideration. Nobody could afford the frequent losses. He disturbed all other animals too. Obviously Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.

Talk about it
(Page 11)

Question 1.
Do you have a pet? Is your pet mis-chievous? Tell the class about it.
Answer:
Yes, I have a pet dog named Moti. My father had brought him from my maternal uncle’s house when he was very small. Moti is like a member of my family. I have special attachment to him. He is very active and vigilant. He is an epitome of loyalty. He keeps sitting beside the main gate at night. Whenever there is any unknown sound inside my house, he starts barking. All the members of my family love Moti very much. Moti proves to be really a gem many a time. He keeps us safe all the time. Our Moti is not mischievous. He is very sensible and sensitive as well. We feel secure in his presence. I pray to God to keep him healthy.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
Why did the author’s grandfather decide to buy Toto ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Grandfather was an animal lover and took pity on Toto as it was kept tied to a feeding trough. Toto looked out of place and grandfather decided to bring it to his private zoo. He was much impressed by Toto.

Question 2:
Why could not Toto and Nana become friends? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
Answer:
Toto was very naughty and wicked and could not stay still for a long time. Nana was a well behaved and docile animal. When they were together Toto bit on the long ears of Nana and Nana got annoyed with Toto. Thus, Nana and Toto could not become friends.

Question 3:
How does Toto become a problem to grandfather while going to Saharanpur?
(Board Term 1,2012; ELI-020)
Answer:
While going to Saharanpur, Toto behaved well. When grandfather was producing his ticket, Toto suddenly poked his head out of the bag. He gave the ticket collector a wide grin. The ticket collector insisted that grandfather must buy the ticket for the pet. And proved to be a big problem for grandfather.

Question 4:
Where was Toto kept immediately after grandfather got him ? Why ?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
Toto was kept in a closet. He was tied securely to a peg because his presence was to be kept a secret from the writer’s grandmother as she abhorred animals.

Question 5:
Who was Nana ? How did Toto tease Nana ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-023)
Answer:
Nana was the family donkey. Toto was kept in the stable with Nana, where Toto U9ed to tease Nana by fastbiting on to her long ears with his sharp little teeth. Even Nana got fed up with Toto.

Question 6:
In what sense was Toto “a pretty monkey”. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-027)
Answer:
Tito’s bright eyes sparkled with mischief beneath deep-set eye brows. His pearly white teeth often displayed a smile that had the innocence of a child yet there was an underlined tinge of naughtiness and mischievousness.

Question 7:
how did Toto’slove for taking bathe almost led to his being half – boiled ?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-030)
Answer:
Toto used to love taking bathe in hot water. Once when a kettle was kept on fire with water to boil for tea, Toto sat in it. When the water began to boil, Toto tried getting up but found outside cold. So he again sat down. He kept on hopping outside and then again inside and after sometime he started enjoying this game.

Question 8:
Why did the grandfather give aw^y Toto, the monkey ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-031)
Answer:
Toto was very naughty and he troubled everyone. The other pets were not happy with him and he broke a lot of dishes, tore clothes, curtains and wall papers. He had become very difficult to handle and so grandfather gave Toto away.

Question 9:
Why did the grandfather hide Toto for some time when he brought him home?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-035)
Answer:
Grandmother was not very fond of animals. When he used to bring a new artftnal or bird, she used to make a lot of fuss. To avoid this, grandfather hid Toto for some time and announced his arrival to her when she wps in a good mood.

Question 10:
Why did grandfather decide to take Toto along with him to Dehra Dun ?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
Grandfather decided to take Toto along with him to Dehra Dim as there were many other pets also / that lived there. But Toto would not allow any of his companions to sleep at night. So, he made this decision.

Question 11:
Give-the names of Grandfather’s pets. Where did they live ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-045)
Answer:
The names of the Grandfather’s pets were Nana the donkey and Toto the monkey a tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel and a goat. They lived in a big cage in the servant’s quarters.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
Write your views in the form of short paragraph on the topic “Should animals be kept as a pet”. (SA-1,2014-15)
OR
While keeping pets at home, what all things should be kept in mind ?
(Board Tenn, Sept 1,2013 K2G41GH)
Answer:
Before bringing a pet in the house, we should remember that these animals can neither speak nor express as humans. As a pet owner we should know that there are a number of dangers that lurk in our households for these little creatures. We should always keep pesticides and medicines at a bay from the animals and children as they are a potential threat to them. The areas where pets might start fire inadverently such as kitchen or fire places or plugs should be covered, we should never have pets unattended around the open flames. Small electrical couds are also harmful for them hence they would be wounded and kept at distance. All the pots and oil bottles should be properly closed.

Question 2:
How can you say that Toto was a mischievous pet ? (Board Term 1,2012, EL1-Q13)
Answer:
Toto was indeed a very mischievous pet. He tore the wall papers of the rooms, and also tore the school blazer. He troubled other fellow animals. He even managed to get himself into trouble by nearly half boiling himself in a kettle. He made holes in dresses and curtains. Once he even scared the ticket checker. He even broke dishes in the houses. He proved to be a big troublemaker for everyone. Thus, we can say that Toto was a mischievous pet.

Question 3:
Describe the incident at Dehradun railway station after reading the story, The Adventures of Toto’. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
Grandfather had to go to Saharanpur. So, he decided to put Toto in a big black canvas bag for the train journey. When they reached the station Toto started jumping on the platform and everyone was surprised to see a bag jumping and moving about. When the ticket collector came then Toto poked his head out of the bag. The ticket collector wanted grandfather to buy a ticket for him and grandfather did not want to. Finally the ticket collector had his way.

Question 4:
“Toto was not good enough to be kept at home.” Do you agree to this state-ment. Why/why not.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
Yes, Toto was not good enough to be kept at home. He was upto some kind of mischief all the time. He tore the wall papers of the rooms, and also tore the school blazer. He troubled other fellow animals. He even managed to get himself into trouble by nearly boiling himself in a kettle. He made holes in dresses and curtains. Once he even scared the ticket checker also. He even broke dishes in the houses. Thus, it was not easy to keep him at home. ‘

Question 5:
“Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” Explain giving examples from the text.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-027)
Answer:
“Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long.” because he was very mischievous. He scratched the plaster of the walls, tore the school blazer and qpnt’s dresses. He threw plates at grandmother and glasses of water at one of the aunt’s face. He used to break the dishes of pulav into pieces. And they could not afford the frequent loss of dishes, clothes, curtains and wallpaper.

Question 6:
Grandfather was a great lover of animals. Describe. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-039)
Answer:
Narrator’s grandfather had a great liking for animal. He had tortoise, a pair of rabbits, a tame squirrel, a goat but no monkey. With the coming of Toto his mini ZQQ was transformed into a real zoo. He had a variety of pet animals in that zoo. He frequently bough^tnany varieties of animals to keep them in his zoo. Due to this, he even faced tra anger of his wife at times and when he brought Toto he was very happy with his cleverness.

Question 7:
How does Toto take a bathe ? Where has he learnt to do this ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-041)
Answer:
Toto takes bathe in a tub’ of warm water. It puts its legs in the water one by one and applies soap as well. As monkeys are good at aping others, so Toto has learnt proper steps of bathing while watching the narrator doing the same. He wanted to take a bath and in order to do it, he sat in the boiling water of kettle also.

 Chapter 3 Iswaran the Storyteller

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 18)

Question 1.
In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra?
Answer:
Iswaran was an obedient person. He was Mahendra’s cook. He was very caring and hardworking. He did all the jobs such as cooking meal, washing clothes and chatting with Mahendra at night. He obeyed his master with full dedication. So, he was an asset to Mahendra.

Question 2.
How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway? What effect does he want to create in his listeners?
Answer:
Iswaran was greatly influenced by the Tamil authors. He was in the habit of creating suspense. He had the quality of narrating even the smallest incident in impressive way. He presented the incident related to the uprooted tree on the highway in a dramatic way. He was alone and the road was deserted. He saw something that looked like an enormous beast lying across the road. But as soon as he came closer, he found there nothing but a fallen tree. His main purpose was to create suspense and surprise.

Question 3.
How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?
Answer:
Iswaran narrated the story of the tusker exaggeratedly. The Tusker, having escaped from the timber yard, stamped on bushes, tore up wild creepers and broke the branches at his will. The elephant became uncontrollable and entered the school ground. It created chaos there. Everyone in the school tried to escape. No one dared to face the tusker. In the meantime Iswaran grabbed a cane from a teacher and moved towards the elephant. He hit its third toenail and the beast collapsed. He claimed that he had used the Japanese art to control the tusker. But this story seems totally implausible as it is very difficult to believe that a child can control a mad elephant.

Question 4.
Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?
Answer:
Iswaran was an expert in telling adventurous and mysterious stories in a dramatic way. It was his daily routine to entertain Mahendra at night. Mahendra could listen to and watch the development of the story. Thus Iswaran seemed to more than make up for the absence of a TV.

Question 5.
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?
Answer:
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of the imagination as he did not believe in ghosts. One day Iswaran told him about a female ghost holding a foetus in her arms. On a full-moon night he woke up from his sleep and looked outside the window. He got shocked to see the same figure and began to sweat profusely.

Question 6.
Can you think of some other ending for the story?
Answer:
The present story ends with Mahendra’s resolve to leave the haunted place. But it is not the appropriate ending. Mahendra should not have decided to leave the haunted place without knowing the reality. The story could end like this: Courageously Mahendra approached the woman and tried to know the reality. As soon as Mahendra caught the woman, it became the revelation of the mystery. It was none but Iswaran in the guise of a ghost of woman.

Talk about it
(Page 18)

Question 1.
Is Iswaran a fascinating storyteller? Discuss with your friends the qualities of a good storyteller. Try to use these qualities and tell a story.
Answer:
Undoubtedly, Iswaran is a fascinating storyteller. He is well-versed in story telling. Telling stories is an art. It is not everybody’s cup of tea. He has the quality of making others realise the true spirit of story. He makes use of gestures and dramatic skills to give sound effect.

A good story-teller should be an epitome of the qualities below mentioned:

1.    should have vivid imagination.

2.    should have good oratorical skills.

3.    should be able to act during narration.

4.    should use punctuation properly during narration.

5.    should have the ability to vary the tone according to the situation.

6.    should have amusing personality.

7.    should be capable of creating and maintaining interest of the listeners.

Students should tell their own stories in the class.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
What impact did Iswaran’s story of a female ghost have on Mahendra ? (SA-1,2014)
Answer:
Mahendra avoided looking out of the window when the moon was full. He went to bed with a certain unease and peered into the darkness to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes outside.

Question 2:
Why did Mahendra become fond of Iswaran ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
Mahendra became fond of Iswaran because he was a very resourceful person and took very good care of him. He was a trained cook and could also arrange for things at a desolate place. In addition to this he took very good care of Mahendra.

Question 3:
Why did Mahendra decide to leave the haunted place ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
He was afraid of the haunted place after hearing and watching a ghastly experience at night. He
found that he often dreamt of that woman ghost. Therefore, he wanted to leave the place.

Question 4:
What sets Iswaran apart from other domestic helps ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Iswaran was a class in himself. He was highly resourceful and a big help to Mahendra. He was a trained  cook and to top it he narrated captivating and interesting stories to Mahendra at night.

Question 5:
How did Iswaran tackle the elephant ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
The elephant had caused much terror, children and teachers ran here and there to save their lives.
Iswaran dared it and hit it on the third toe with a rod. Thus, the mad elephant was controlled.

Question 6:
Why was Iswaran called Mahendra’s asset ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Or
How did Iswaran show his usefulness to the narrator ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-031)
Answer:
Iswaran was not only a trained cook but also very attached to his master, Mahendra, as he followed him everywhere he was posted. He not only took care of him by washing his clothes and cooking food but also gossiped with him in the night and told him various modified folk tales.

Question 7:
What did Mahendra decide after he had seen the ghost ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
Mahendra was convinced that there were ghosts around his house. He was scared and did not want to live there any longer and so, he resigned his job.

Question 8:
Who was Iswaran ? What all he did for his master ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-026)
Answer:
Iswaran was Mahendra’s cook, he was an asset to him. He cooked for him, washed his clothes and chatted away with his master at night. He often narrated stories which were very convincing.

Question 9:
What impact did Iswaran’s story of a female ghost have on Mahendra ?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-027)
Answer:
Mahendra avoided looking out of the window when the moon was full. He went to bed with a certain unease and peered into the darkness to make sure that there was no movement of dark shapes outside.

Question 10:
How does Iswaran describe the story of the elephant ? Does it appear to be plausible?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-028)
Answer:
One day an elephant went mad, stamping oh bushes, breaking fences, smashing fruit stalls, mud pots and clothes. He even entered a school ground breaking through the brick wall. Iswaran who was in the junior class, whacked its third toe nail with a rod and it collapsed. No, the story does not appear to be plausible.

Question 11:
What destruction did the elephant cause in the town ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-030)
Answer:
The elephant caused a lot of destruction in the town. He broke branches, fences and smashed stalls. He entered a school play ground and broke a brick wall, pulled out a football goal post, tore down a volleyball net and flattened a water drum.

Question 12:
Do you think the ghost Mahendra saw bn the night of the full moon was a real ghost?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-034)
Answer:
No, I think the ghost Mahendra saw was a creation of a weak mind. Iswaran had made Mahendra’s mind a little weak by telling him the ghost story. When Mahendra rebuked him for believing in ghosts, he felt offended. To prove that he was right he himself posed as a ghost. So, that is why Mahendra thought that he had seen a ghost at that full moon night.

Question 13:
Mahendra calls ghosts or spirits a figment of imagination. What happens to him on full moon night ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-036)
Answer:
Mahendra never believed in ghosts and spirits but one night he had woken up from his sleep by a low moan near the window. He could not resist his curiosity and tried to look out. To his horror, he saw a dark cloudy form clutching a bundle. Mahendra was in cold sweat from top to bottom and fell back on the pillow panting.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
What are qualities of a good listener ? Express your views in reference to Mahendra who a would listen to Iswaran’s tales uncritically. (Board Term, Sept 1,2013 9KK73AP)
Answer:
Listening is an essential part of any story telling. Being a good and a patient listener helps you achieve not only meaning of the story but also the expressions and the intentions of the story teller.Iswaran was an amazing story teller but Mahendra was an equally good listener, Iswaran used to create such a magnificent aura around the story that Mahendra used to listen to him with rapt attention he used to make eye contacts with Iswaran to either depict awe or horror depending upon the story. Mahendra would let his own mind and imaginations see the story in reality. For example, during the narration of tusker story, Mahendra could actually feel the tension and fear in his mind. Mahendra never spoke during the entire story telling session, he would never interfere in Iswaian’s story, he would occassionally nod his head and only towards the end of the story show his compressions. Mahendra would listen to Iswaran as incritically.

Question 2:
How can you say that Iswaran was a fascinating story teller ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
Iswaran was a very fascinating and a drama story teller. He gave imaginative descriptions of various events. He used dramatic language and gestures to describe events and changed a simple event in suspense. His stories had surprise endings and unexpected narrations. He was influenced by thrilling novels and stories of Tamil authors. All stories had adventure, horror and suspense. All these elements made him a fascinating story teller and he could captivate any audience with his stories.

Question 3:
How was Iswaran, the cook, an asset to Mahendra ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-028)
Answer:
Iswaran, the cook, was very attached to Mahindra. He followed Mahendra whenever Mahendra got a posting. He not only washed his clothes but also chatted with him at night. He was a trained cook and could cook delicious meals really fast. He could tidy the sheds as well as narrate unbelieving accounts with utmost conviction and mostly were true accounts.

Question 4:
Write a brief character sketch of Iswaran. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-034)
Answer:
Iswaran, Mahendra’s servant, was very devoted to him. He was not only a very welltrained and wonderful cook but also a good story teller. He was fond of reading thrillers and his narrations were influenced from those styles. He had to give up his job due to a practical joke played on Mahendra, his master. Life was not possible for Mahendra without him, as he was his asset, and he started living totally isolated.

Question 5:
“Iswaran was a good cook as well as a good story teller “Elaborate with the help of example.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
Iswaran was Mahendra’s <Jook and wholesale caretaker of Mahendra. He had an amazing capacity to produce vegetables and cooked ingredients seemingly out of nowhere. He not only could cook delicious meals but he was a good story teller. His descriptions were influenced by the Tamil authors he read. Even while narrating the smallest of incidents, he would try to make the account thrilling and full of suspense. Mahendra enjoyed listening to the stories told by Iswaran because of the way they were told. Thus, Iswaran was a real asset for Mahendra.

Question 6:
Iswaran was a fascinating storyteller. What other skills he had ? How was he an asset to Mahendra? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-060)
Answer:
Iswaran was a fascinating story teller. He read a lot of story books and narrated incidents in a very vivid manner to Mahendra, his master. He could perform all kinds of actions and gestures to make the stories extremely interesting. Other than storytelling, he had excellent culinary skills. He was a trained cook and could cook delicious meals for Mahendra in very less time. He proved to be an asset for Mahendra. On the other hand, Mahendra also loved his stories and the excellent way of telling them.

Chapter 4 In the Kingdom of Fools

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 27)

Question 1.
What are the two strange things the guru and his disciple find in the Kingdom of Fools?
Answer:
The Guru and the disciple found that in the Kingdom of Fools people used to work during nights and sleep during days. Everything was cheap and cost the same.

Question 2.
Why does the disciple decide to stay in the Kingdom of Fools? Is it a good idea?
Answer:
Everything was cheap in the Kingdom of Fools. The disciple had peculiarity of diet. He was tempted by the cheap food. So, he decided to stay in that kingdom. It was not a good idea to stay there for a long time as one could be in danger any time because of the unpredictable behaviour of fools.

Question 3.
Name all the people who are tried in the king’s court, and give the reasons for their trial.
Answer:
The owner of the house i.e. the merchant, the bricklayer, the dancing girl and the goldsmith were tried in the king’s court. They all were tried because the thief died when the wall of merchant’s house had collapsed. The merchant was tried for building a weak wall. The bricklayer was tried for doing his work carelessly. The dancing girl was tried for disturbing the concentration of the bricklayer. The goldsmith was blamed for making the dancing girl walk up and down to his house a dozen times.

Question 4.
Who is the real culprit according to the king? Why does he escape punishment?
Answer:
The merchant’s dead father was held responsible for making the wall weak. But according to the king the rich merchant was the real culprit because he had inherited both sins and riches of his father. He escaped the punishment because he was too thin to fit the stake.

Question 5.
What are the Guru’s words of wisdom? When does the disciple remember them?
Answer:
The Guru was full of wisdom and knew well that the unpredictable behaviour of the fools could create danger anytime. The Guru’s words were, “They are all fools. This won’t last very long, and you can’t tell what they’ll do to you next”. The disciple remembered them when he was arrested by the men of the king to execute merely because he fitted the stake. It was because of the Guru’s words of wisdom that the execution was postponed.

Question 6.
How does the Guru manage to save his disciple’s life?
Answer:
The Guru arrived on time to save his disciple and created a drama. He told the king that it was not an ordinary stake and whoever went to the stake first would become the king in next life. The second to die would become his minister. The king wanted to avail himself of the opportunity. The Guru and his disciple were released. Thus the Guru managed to save his disciple’s life.

Talk about it
(Page 27)

·         In Shakespeare’s plays the fool is not really foolish. If you have read or seen Shakespeare’s plays such as King Lear, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, you may talk about the role of the fool.

·         Do you know any stories in your language about wise fools such as Tenali Rama or Gopal Bhar? You can also read about them in Ramanujan’s collection of folk tales.

Answer:
Classroom Activity.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
Why were the people of the kingdom confused when they saw the dead bodies of the king and his minister ? (SA-1,2014)
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 peoplevere not able to see through the plan which was executed by the Guru against their king and minister.

Question 2:
When does the disciple remember the words of his Guru? (SA-1, DDE-2014)
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 3:
How was the kingdom of fools different from any other place ? (SA-1,2014-15)
Answer:
Everything was different at the kingdom of fools. The night was considered as day and day as night. Not only the human beings even the animals stayed awake at night. Anything and everything could be bought for a Dudu.

Question 4:
Why did the Guru want that he and his disciple should die first ?(Board Term Sept 1,2013, K2G41GH)
Answer:
The king had ordered the execution of the rich merchant. Since the rich merchant could not be executed the disciple was chosen to fit the stake. The disciple’s Guru had a vision and saw everything. In order to save his disciple, the Guru hatched a plan.

Question 5:
On what conditions did the Guru and his distiple agree to rule that kingdom ?
(Board Term Sept 1,2013, GKK73AP)
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 was regarded as a normal working day. Even persuaded prices were changed according to the value of the material.

Question 6:
Why did the Guru not want to stay in the Kingdom of fools ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
The Guru did not wanted to stay in the Kingdom of fools as the people over there were foolish. He was not sure about them and felt that they could harm him.

Question 7:
Why does the disciple not want to leave the Kingdom of the fools ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
The disciple did not wanted to leave the place because of the sale of cheap eatables and other commodities and since everything was easily available and life seemed to be very simple and easy.

Question 8:
Why did the king decide to postpone the execution of the Guru and his disciple ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
The Guru befooled the king. He told him that the people dying now would be the king and minister in their next birth. The foolish king fell for the words of the Guru and postponed their execution.

Question 9:
What was so strange about the Kingdom of fools ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
The strange thing about the Kingdom of fools was that not only humans but animals were also made to sleep during the day. Everything in this kingdom used to come for a dudu.

Question 10:
Who is the real culprit according to the king ? Why does he escape from the punishment ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)
Answer:
The rich merchant was thjB real culprit. He had inherited everything from his criminal father. He was too thin to be properly executed on the newly made stake. The worried king started searching foolishly for a fat man to fit the stake and the merchant escaped the punishment.

Question 11:
What advice did the Guru give to the disciple before going out of the city ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
Answer:
The Guru told his disciple that it was dangerous to stay in a Kingdom of fools. He said that there was no justice only foolish, unpredictable behaviour. According to him the kingdom would not last long.

Question 12:
What is the Guru’s wisdom ? When does the disciple realize this 7 (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
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 remembers these words when the king decided that the disciple was the suitable person for execution was weak.

Question 13:
Why did the king want to punish the merchant 7 (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
The king wanted to punish the merchant because the wall of his house and it fell 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 14:
Who became the king and the prime minister of the kingdom 7(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-023)
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.

Question 15:
What two things were different in the kingdom of fools 7(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-024)
Answer:
Two things that were different in the Kingdom of fools were that the people worked in the night and slept during the day. Everything was sold at the same price. A ‘Dudu’ could buy a mass of rice as well as a bunch of bananas.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
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 importnce of good decision making one’s life ? (SA-1,2014)
Answer:
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. Disciple was waylaid by the prices of the commodities. Anything could be • bought with a ‘Dudu’. 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 as there was no justice, prevalent in such 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 costed his life.

Question 2:
Do you believe in the fact that our prayers are often heard and answered ? There are miracles which change the course of life. Which miracle took place in the story. ‘In the Kingdom of Fools? What lesson do you learn from the Guru’s word of wisdom ? (SA-1,2014)
Answer:
It is often believed that our prayers are often heard and answered which was proved in the story. ‘In the Kingdom of Fools’. The king had ordered to execute the disciple. He prayed to Guru to save him. It was a miracle that his Guru heard his prayer and came to rescue him. He whispered something in his ears and then asked the king to execute him first and then the disciple. The king released them both on knowing that whoever died first would be the king in his next birth. It was his Guru’s advice and presence of mind that saved the disciple. The disciple realized his mistake for Guru’s not listening to the Guru’s words of wisdom.

Question 3:
You are the disciple in the story, “Kingdom of the fools”. You are in trouble as you are about to be hanged. You decide to write a letter to you Guru regretting your decision to stay in the kingdom of fools and requesting him to help you. Write the letter in 80 words.(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Respected Guru ji,
I am writing this letter out of sheer desperation. I regret not paying heed to your advice of leaving this Kingdom of fools. I fell a prey to my temptation for cheap and tasty food and 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 who can save me from this situation. I request you to please come here at the earliest and save my life. I promise in future I will always pay heed to your advice and keep myself in control.
Your erring disciple.

Question 4:
How did the Guru and his disciple become the king and the minister of the kingdom?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-022)
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 state, would become the king in the next life and the second to be executed would be the king’s minister. The foolish king and his minister got themselves executed. As the kingdom was without king, the guru and his disciple were made the king and the minister.

Question 5:
How did the Guru manage to save his disciple ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-024)
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. And the disciple followed 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 into the prison at night and set the guru and disciple free. In their place, he and his minister disguised themselves as the guru and the disciple and got executed. Thus, the Guru managed to save his disciple.

Question 6:
“Guru was a wise man” – how does the story “The Kingdom of fools” reflect it ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
“The Kingdom of Fools” clearly reflects that “Guru was a wise man” as he advised his disciple not to stay in that kingdom. 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 on his not following his Guru’s advice. So, it is proved that Guru was really very wise. And it was because of his wisdom that disciple was saved and they were made king and prime-minister of the kingdom.

Chapter 5 The Happy Prince

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 36)

Question 1.
Why do the courtiers call the prince ‘the Happy Prince’? Is he really happy? What does he see all around him?
Answer:
He was a prince when he was alive. Being a prince he never knew sorrow and suffering. So, the courtiers called him ‘the happy prince’. But he was not happy in real sense as his heart could feel the misery of needy people. He saw the miserable conditions of people around him.

Question 2.
Why does the Happy Prince send a ruby for the seamstress? What does the swallow do in the seamstress’ house?
Answer:
The seamstress was tired due to overwork. She was so poor that she could not buy oranges for her little sick son. Her son was thirsty. The Happy Prince saw the poor lady and her son. He felt pity for them. So, he sent a ruby for her. The swallow came to the poor woman’s house and laid the ruby on the table beside her. The bird fanned the boy’s forehead with wings and flew back to the Happy Prince.

Question 3.
For whom does the prince send the sapphires and why?
Answer:
The playwright was very poor. He was incapable of buying food and firewood. The prince sent the sapphires for the playwright so that he could finish a play for the director of the theatre in time. The princes sent his second sapphire to a poor match girl. Her matches had fallen into the gutter. She was afraid that her father would beat her for this loss. So, she was helped by the prince by sending her the second sapphire.

Question 4.
What does the swallow see when it was flying over the city?
Answer:
The swallow saw all categories of people. He found the rich making merry in their beautiful houses and beggars begging sitting at the gates. He also saw a group of wandering children who were poverty- stricken.

Question 5.
Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt?
Answer:
At first, the swallow was willing to go to Egypt just after discharging his duty properly. But when he saw Prince’s activities of charity and kindness he got impressed. On the other hand now the Happy Prince had become totally blind due to the deeds of charity. In this condition, he could not leave the Prince helpless. He left the idea of going to Egypt and decided to serve the Prince.

Question 6.
What are the precious things mentioned in the story? Why are they precious?
Answer:
The leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow are the two precious things mentioned in the story. They are precious as they did various deeds for the welfare of people and sacrificed their lives for the sake of others.

Talk about it
(Page 36)

Question 1.
The little swallow says, “ft is curious, but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold.” Have you ever had such a feeling? Share your experience with your friends.
Answer:
Man is a social animal. He is social because he is dependent on others to lead a satisfactory life. In this regard mutual help is required. Whenever we help others, there is a feeling of satisfaction. Whenever we are helped by others, we feel grateful. It is because helping others is the essence of life.

In this chapter the little swallow feels warmth when he helps the needy people. He does his act of selfless service with utmost dedication and sacrifice. Owing to this selfless service he becomes satisfied. Yes, I have experienced such a feeling many a time. I believe in helping others. Others too help me whenever I am in need. I help others considering it my duty. I remember the day when I started helping others. Since the day I feel more confident and have become a successful citizen. I feel the presence of God around me.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
Why did the Swallow cry when the Happy Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires ?(SA-1, DDE-2014)
Answer:
The swallow cried when the Prince asked him to pluck out one of the sapphires because the Prince would go blind. The Prince himself suffered too much so as to help the poor and needy people.

Question 2:
Where was the swallo going ? Why did he decide not go there ? (SA-1,2014)
Answer:
The little swallow was going to Egypt to join his friends. The happy Prince looked so sad that the swallow decided to stay back and be his messenger. The swallow died helping the happy Prince in the service of poor people.

Question 3:
What were the drops of the rain actully ? Why did they fall ?
(Board Term 1, Sept., 2013,9KK73AP)
Answer:
The drops of rain were actually the Happy Prince’s tears. The Happy prince was sad and moved by the widespread poverty and misery. He had always seen happiness around him. He could not fathom that people were sick and crying because of the misery around them.

Question 4:
Describe the statue of the Happy Prince as described in the beginning of the story ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
At the beginning of the story the statue was fixed on a tall column, full of thin leaves of gold on the
body, and had two sapphires for eyes. It had a large red ruby fixed on the hilt of the sword.

Question 5:
How did the Happy Prince help the poor children in the city ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
As per the orders of the Happy Prince, the gold leaves and the jewels on his boy were taken out by the swallow and distributed among the poor. Thus, the Happy Prince was able to help the poor children in the city.

Question 6:
In the story “The Happy Prince” what are the two most precious things ? What makes them so precious ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
The two most precious things were the leaden heart of the Happy Prince and the dead swallow. The former wept for the poor and helped them by giving sapphires, gold leave and ruby. While the latter helped the prince in his noble cause and sacrificed her life while staying with him.

Question 7:
How did the Happy Prince help the seamstress ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
The Happy Prince asked the swallow to take the ruby out of his sword, where it was hidden and give it to the seamstress, whose son was lying on the bed with fever. The swallow took the ruby and placed it on the table.

Question 8:
How did the prince and the swallow enable the playwright to finish his work ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-022)
Answer:
The playwright was very poor. He could not buy food and firewood. It was difficult for him to write a play without food and firewood. The Prince took pity on him and decided to help him by sending the sapphires with the help of the swallow.

Question 9:
What were the drops of the rain actually ? Why did they fall ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-025)
Answer:
The drops of rain were actually tears of the Happy Prince because he was weeping on seeing the misery and suffering of the people.

Question 10:
Why was the “Happy Prince” not really happy ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-026)
Answer:
When the ‘Happy Prince’ was alive, he did not know what tears and sorrow were. After his death, he could see the ugliness and misery of the city. Therefore, he weeps and is not really happy.

Question 11:
Why did the swallow not leave the prince and go to Egypt ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-028)
Answer:
The Happy Prince looked so sad that the little swallow felt sorry for him. He agreed to stay with him for one night and be his messenger. He picked out the great ruby from the prince’s sword and flew away to deliver it to the poor woman.

Question 12:
What is the moral of the story The Happy Prince ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)
Answer:
The moral of the story is that we must help the poor and the needy. The prince set an example of this by giving his jewels to the poor. The swallow also proved to be a great example of love and sacrifice.

Question 13:
What happened when the little swallow was getting ready to sleep ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-043)
Answer:
When the little swallow was getting ready to sleep a large drop of water fell on him. It was the Prince crying on seeing the misery and suffering of the people.

Question 14:
What did the Happy Prince ask the swallow to do for helping the young man in the garret ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-044)
Answer:
The Happy Prince ordered the swallow to pluck one of his eyes which were made of sapphire and take it to the man living in the garret who was very poor and could not write with an empty stomach.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
How did the little swallow carry out the wishes of the Happy Prince ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)
Answer:
The swallow wanted to go to Egypt just like his friends who had already gone there. He had rested • at the base of the statue of the Happy Prince for just a night. He postponed his trip as he had to carry a ruby to the needy playwright and another to the seamstress. When the Happy Prince gave the sapphire from his eye to the match girl he became blind. So the swallow decided to stay there and help the needy just like the prince. The swallow died carrying out the wishes of the Happy Prince in the service of the needy.

Chapter 6 Weathering the Storm in Ersama

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 42)

Question 1.
What havoc has the super cyclone wrecked in the life of the people of Orissa?
Answer:
It was a devastating storm which washed the houses away and destroyed hundreds of villages. It killed thousands of people and uprooted a large number of trees. There were dead bodies all around. People became homeless and many children who had lost their parents became orphans. This crazed destruction continued for the next thirty-six hours. The condition seemed grim after the super cyclone.

Question 2.
How has Prashant, a teenager, been able to help the people of his village?
Answer:
On reaching his village, Prashant found deplorable conditions all around him. He had leadership qualities so he took the initiative to rehabilitate people. He made a team of young volunteers and cleaned urine, filth, vomit and floating carcasses. His team was fully dedicated to serve others. He persuaded grief-stricken women to look after children. In this way he became a ray of hope for all.

Question 3.
How have the people of the community helped one another? What role do the women of Kalikuda play during these days?
Answer:
Prashant took the initiative and mobilised everyone to help one another. In this time of distress the people of the community joined hands together and started relief work. Women started working in the food for work programme and looked after the orphans.

Question 4.
Why do Prashant and other volunteers resist the plan to set up institutions for orphans and widows? What alternatives do they consider?
Answer:
Prashant and other volunteers resisted the plan as they felt that it would not be proper to set up separate institutions for orphans and widows. The group of volunteers was of the opinion that in these institutions children would not be able to get love and widow would suffer from stigma and loneliness and isolation. The group decided to rehabilitate them in their own community. New families were made and the childless widows took care of the orphan.

Question 5.
Do you think Prashant is a good leader? Do you think young people can get together to help people during natural calamities?
Answer:
Undoubtedly, Prashant is a good leader. He has all the qualities of a leader. He has a special quality of taking initiatives. His vision is quite clear. He faces adverse circumstances courageously. He is a source of energy for others and has great motivational power. I think that youth is power. This power can be used to assist society during natural disasters. Whatever job is assigned to the youth in such circumstances they perform their duty with full spirit.

Talk about it
(Page 43)

Question 1.
Talk about the preparedness of the community for a natural disaster.
(You can talk about evacuation plans and rehabilitation; permanent safe shelters; warning system; relief efforts; building materials to withstand cyclone/flood/ earthquake, i.e. safe housing; peoples’ organisation of their own rescue; the survival instinct, etc.)
Answer:
We are the part of community. Natural calamities may occur any time. We have witnessed many such natural disasters which caused devastation all around. Occurence of such calamities is not under our control but to prepare ourselves to face such devastation is under our control. If precautions are taken timely, the effects of such calamities may be reduced. For this purpose we should adopt the following points and discuss them :

·         Evacuation plans

·         Rehabilitation process

·         Permanent safe shelters

·         Warning systems

·         Relief efforts

·         Building materials to withstand cyclone/ flood/earthquake

·         People’s organisation of their own rescue

·         The survival instinct etc.

                             Chapter 7 The Last Leaf

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 48)

Question 1.
What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?
Answer:
Johnsy, a young artist, was ill. She was suffering from pneumonia. But later on she suffered from a misconception that she would die as soon as the last leaf on the creeper would fall down. The medicine had no effect on her. Her willingness to live could cure her.

Question 2.
Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?
Answer:
Life has two aspects i.e. positive and negative. It depends upon us how we take it. Nowadays it is very common that teenagers are getting depressed because of cut-throat competition. On the other hand, a majority of teenagers who take life positively and faces difficulties boldly never lose hope and proceed further.

Question 3.
Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Answer:
Behrman had a dream to paint a masterpiece in his life. He kept waiting for the opportunity to give it a practical shape. Yes, he could materialize his dream when he painted the last leaf of the ivy creeper.

Question 4.
What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Answer:
Behrman was a 60-year old artist who had a dream to paint a masterpiece. His painting of an ivy leaf was his masterpiece which saved the life of Johnsy. It was such a painting that it was not easy to make out whether the leaf was real or it was just a painting. When Behrman died painting this life-saving painting, Sue called it a masterpiece.

Talk about it
(Page 48)

Question 1.
Have you ever felt depressed and dejected? How did you overcome such feelings? Share your experience with your classmates.
Answer:
Our life is full of troubles. To move ahead we have to face the troubles boldly. Sometimes because of troublesome conditions we get depressed and dejected. We lose interest in the world around us. Pessimism surrounds us. In this state of mind, we should try to think positively and get rid of this condition. Our faithful friends can also be helpful in this regard. I felt depressed and dejected when I could not score good marks in the final examination of Class VI. I was a meritorious student. I was sure that I would get the highest marks in the class. Unfortunately, a month before the final exam, I suffered from severe typhoid. It continued for 15 days. I became weak and could not prepare properly for the exam. As a result, I got the lowest marks in the class. But my parents and teachers consoled me by telling that it happens with everyone. They said me to be confident and be prepared to do best in the next class.

Chapter 8 A House is Not a Home

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it 
(Pages 54 & 55)

Question 1.
What does the author notice one Sunday afternoon? What is his mother’s reaction? What does she do?
Answer:
The author, while doing his homework noticed the smoke pouring in through the seams of the ceiling. The room was filled with the smoke very quickly. The author and his mother ran outside to save their life. His mother ran out of the house with a small metal box full of important documents. She became so crazy that she rushed back to the house just after dropping the box.

Question 2.
Why does he break down in tears after the fire?
Answer:
The author’s house was completely burned down. Five hours later when the fire was finally put out, he realised at once that his cat was nowhere. He had to face the loss of old school, his house and cat. In such a state, he cried and broke down in tears.

Question 3.
Why is the author deeply embarrassed the next day in school? Which words show his fear and insecurity?
Answer:
The author was full of remorse as he was left with nothing. He didn’t have proper dress and study material. He had no backpack. He had the feeling of insecurity. All things appeared strange to him. He was shocked deeply and seemed frustrated. The words uttered by him “Was I destined to be an outcast and a geek all my life? I didn’t want to grow up, change or have to handle life, if it was to going to be this way. I just wanted to curl up and die” reveal his fear and insecurity.

Question 4.
The cat and the author are very fond of each other. How has this been shown in the story? Where was the cat after the fire? Who brings it back and how?
Answer:
The author loved his cat very much. He never considered her far from him. She kept sitting beside him when he did his homework and other household work. When the author found his cat back, his happiness was beyond the limits. He grabbed her quickly and felt relieved. This proved that they were very fond of each other.

The cat ran over a mile away when the house was on fire. A stranger lady brought it back as there was a phone number written on the collar of the cat.

Question 5.
What actions of the schoolmates change the author’s understanding of life and people, and comfort him emotionally? How does his loneliness vanish and how does he start participating in life?
Answer:
His schoolmates bought up school supplies, notebooks, all kinds of different clothes for the author in order to help him. It was a matter of surprise and too difficult to believe for him. He got emotional satisfaction. People who had never spoken, introduced themselves one by one. All things seemed new and created his interest in life. Now, he had all the things whatever he used to have. He started enjoying his life as usual.

Question 6.
What is the meaning of “My cat was back and so was I”? Had the author gone anywhere? Why does he say that he is also back?
Answer:
Here the author wants to point out that life without affection is useless. He was depressed after a great loss in all fields. His old school and teachers were always in his mind. The fire had reduced his house to ashes. His cat was also not with him. In such circumstances he considered himself dead and had no interest in life.

In the end as soon as the conditions took the turn he felt relieved. Now he had all the things with him. The author had not gone anywhere. It was his state of mind. He recovered from this gloomy state and started enjoying life when he got his cat back.

Talk about it
(Page 55)

Question 1.
Have any of your classmates/schoolmates had an experience like the one described in the story where they needed help? Describe how they were helped.
Answer:
Two years ago, my friend Raju visited the market to buy some household things. It was a crowded market and a shop caught fire due to short circuit. The panic-stricken people rushed here and there. My friend too was trying to leave that place. He with three people got himself locked in a nearby shop to escape from smoke. But the shop was filled with smoke within a little span of time. They felt suffocated by the fumes. They considered that their end was near. In the meantime, a team of an NGO broke open the shutter and took them out of the shop. They were hospitalised quickly. I could get my friend back because of the team and the grace of God.

Chapter 9 The Accidental Tourist

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 60)

Question 1.
Bill Bryson says, “I am, in short, easily confused.” What examples has he given to justify this?
Answer:
Bill Bryson never had a pleasant journey. He got easily confused. Citing examples, he said that he could not easily find lavatory in a cinema hall and finally found himself standing nearby a self-locking door. At the hotels too, he asked his room number many a time in a day.

Question 2.
What happens when the zip on his carry-on bag gives way?
Answer:
The author got much confused in that condition. When the zip on his carry-on bag gave way, everything within fell on the ground and scattered all over. Newspaper cuttings, loose papers, tobacco packet, magazines, passport, English money and film spread over a large area.

Question 3.
Why is his finger bleeding? What is his wife’s reaction?
Answer:
His finger gashed while he tried to pull the zip forcefully and it started bleeding. At this his wife looked at him with an expression of wonder and remarked, “I can’t believe you do this for a living”.

Quesstion 4.
How does Bill Bryson end up in a “Crash position” in the aircraft?
Answer:
Once while he was travelling in an aeroplane, he leaned over to tie up his shoe laces. As soon as he leaned over for this purpose, someone in the seat ahead of him threw his seat back. Thus, the author ended up in a “crash position”.

Question 5.
Why are his teeth and gums navy blue?
Answer:
Strange things used to happen with him. It was his worst experience. He was sucking on the end of his pen while writing important thoughts. He was lost in talking with an attractive lady and could not notice the leakage in the pen. When he visited the lavatory he found his teeth and gums navy blue.

Question 6.
Bill Bryson “ached to be suave”. Is he successful in his mission? List his ‘unsuave’ ways.
Answer:
It is quite clear that Bill Bryson ached to be suave. He is not successful in his mission. He got himself in a car and closed the door without leaving 14 inches of coat outside, wore light-coloured trousers without discovering at the end of the day that he had at various times sat on chewing gum, ice cream, cough syrup and motor oil.

Question 7.
Why do you think Bill Bryson’s wife says to the children, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy”?
Answer:
Bill Bryson’s wife was aware of the travelling habits of her husband. To avoid any awkward situation, she says, “Take the lids off the food for Daddy” as she did not like her husband to take the lid off the food in his particular style.

Question 8.
What is the significance of the title?
Ans.
The title is quite significant. After going through the whole story it becomes quite vivid that Bill Bryson is The Accidental Tourist. There are various such examples which prove the appropriateness of the title. The title itself suggests about the various strange and accidental experiences of the author.

Talk about it
(Page 61)

Question 9.
To get confused and behave in ‘unsuave’ ways like Bill Bryson is normal and human. Tell your class about any similar situation that you found yourself in.
Answer:
On January 1,20061 was invited to attend a party in a hotel. I was excited about it. When sitting round the table we were discussing about our past experiences, I got up to attend a telephonic call and moved outside. I was in such a hurry that I did not notice the waiter coming. I hit the tray and all the edibles fell upon the ladies and gentlemen sitting over there. Their clothes went dirty and they became furious. They started criticising me for my carelessness. It was such a scene where I felt embarrased. I left the party at once.

Chapter 10 The Beggar

NCERT Textbook Questions

Think about it
(Page 67)

Question 1.
Has Lushkoff become a beggar by circumstance or by choice?
Answer:
Lushkoff was a middle-aged man and belonged to the Russian choir. He was not a bom beggar. He was sacked from the choir because of his drinking habits. He became a beggar by choice as he did not like to work hard at that stage.

Question 2.
What reasons does he give to Sergei for his telling lies?
Answer:
Lushkoff told the truth and accepted that he was a liar. Formerly he used to be a singer. He told lies to seek the favour of others. If he had spoken the truth none would have helped him. So, he decided to tell lies.

Question 3.
Is Lushkoff a willing worker? Why, then, does he agree to chop wood for Sergei?
Answer:
No, he was not a willing worker. He was too weak to work. He had lost his strength and stamina due to his habit of drinking and secondly he was a middle aged man. He agreed to chop wood because of pride and shame and he had been trapped by his own words. So he had no other way but to accept Sergei’s offer.

Question 4.
Sergei says, “I am happy that my words have taken effect.” Why does he say so? Is he right in saying so?
Answer:
Sergei looked satisfied with the performance of the beggar and felt happy. When Lushkoff’s job of packing and hauling of the furniture was over, he praised him while handing him a rouble. But he was not right in saying so because Lushkoff had not developed the habit of working hard. He was still an idle fellow.

Question 5.
Lushkoff is earning thirty five roubles a month. How is he obliged to Sergei for this?
Answer:
Sergei played very important role in improving the condition of the beggar. It was because of Sergei that Lushkoff could earn thirty five roubles a month. He offered him the job to chop wood at his home. Later on he sent him to one of his friends to do the job of copying. Lushkoff was highly obliged to Sergei because now he was a notary because of him.

Question 6.
During their conversation Lushkoff reveals that Sergei’s cook, Olga, is responsible for the positive change in him. How has Olga saved Lushkoff?
Answer:
Olga was a social and sympathetic lady. She loved humanity. She realised the condition of Lushkoff and tried her best to improve the same. She did the work of his part as she wanted to change him. She kept criticizing him in order to improve him. He realised her feelings towards him and a change took place in his heart. So, Olga was responsible for the positive change in him.

Talk about it
(Page 68)

Question 1.
How can we help beggars/abolish begging?
Answer:
The whole world is facing the nuisance of begging. The number of beggars is increasing day by day. Beggars can be seen at all public places. Some of the beggars have made it a business. It has become a serious problem. Our society and the government should take necessary steps to solve this problem. Global spread of education is required. Our government should pass strict laws against begging. Beggars should be given an opportunity to work. Financial support can be provided to them in order to set up some work. Beggars may be turned into skilled labourers. The government should set up beggar’s home only for the handicapped. Begging is a bad practice and is an impediment in the way of progress. So, we should discourage begging and beggars.