THE ADVENTURES OF TOTO: ncert solution Class 9

Think about It: Page-11.

1. How does Toto come to grandfather’s private zoo?

Ans: Grandfather comes across a tonga driver who had a red little monkey tied to a feeding trough. He noticed the monkey looking out of place. So he decided to buy the monkey to add to his private zoo. In this way, Toto(the monkey) comes to grandfather’s private zoo.

2. "Toto was a pretty monkey.” In what sense is Toto pretty?

Ans: Toto was considered to be a pretty monkey because of the following reasons.

(i)There was hidden mischief in his sparkling eyes.

(ii) Anglo-Indian ladies were afraid of his white teeth when he used to smile.

(iii) He used his fingers and tail in an extraordinary way.

3. Why does grandfather take Toto to Saharanpur and how?

Why does the ticket collector insist on calling Toto a dog?

Ans: As we know, the monkey is a kind of animal which is found unnecessary active and busy. Toto is also a monkey. Due to his unnecessary activities, the other animals in the zoo do not sleep at night. That is why grandfather took Toto to Saharanpur.

He arranged a big and strong canvas kit bag with some straw at the bottom. Now Toto was not able to get his hands through the openings, and so, it was safe and sound.

The ticket collector insisted on calling Toto a dog because of his presence of mind and grandfather’s annoyance. He qualified the monkey to be a quadruped(four-legged animal) and claimed for the fare.

4. How does Toto take a bath? Where has he learnt to do this? How does Toto almost boil himself alive?

Ans: Toto takes a bath imitating his master(a man). He has learnt to do this by viewing men taking a bath. He has learnt to sense the heat of the water to be used for bathing. One day, Toto jumped into the kettle full of water being heated. Heated water compelled him to jump up and down. But in the meantime grandmother saw and saved him from being boiled alive.

5. Why does the author say, “Toto was not the sort of pet we could keep for long”?

Ans: The author says “Toto was not a sort of pet we could keep for long” because of the following reasons.

(i)He was fond of tearing clothes.

(ii)He was a creator of new problems.

(iii)He did not allow any other animals in the private zoo to sleep at night.

(iv)He used to break the plates and tear wallpapers.

The author is not well-to-do to bear the loss made by Toto.

Iswaran The Storyteller: ncert solution Class 9

Think About It  Page (18)

1. In what way is Iswaran an asset to Mahendra? Or What was Mahendra’s most valued asset?

Ans: Iswaran is appointed to cook food, wash cloths, and help Mahendra whenever he needs to be done so. Iswaran packs food for Mahendra so that he can have it during his office hours. Iswaran has an extraordinary skill to entertain Mahendra and that is storytelling. His fertile brain produces impressive and appreciable anecdotes which lay an indelible impact on Mahendra. He is not only a cook but a good source of entertainment also. That is why he is an asset to Mahendra.

2. How does Iswaran describe the uprooted tree on the highway?

Ans: Description about the uprooted tree made by Iswaran is curious and full of suspense. He describes the tree in a  way that it seems he is describing an enormous giant. During his explanation, he raises his hands and changes the poses of his eyebrows. He expresses his views by saying that it was an enormous bushy beast spreading across the road. The listener is bound to concentrate on his tales. Consequently, the impact of the story is seen in the behavior and attitude of the listener.

3. How does he narrate the story of the tusker? Does it appear to be plausible?

Ans: He narrates the story of a tusker by trying to provide a real situation. He tries to imitate the sound. He wants to convey that the tusker was controlled by him just with a stick and it was collapsed. I don’t think the episode of a tusker is praiseworthy and plausible. It is because he is a cook and storyteller. He is not even a mahout who can get hold of an elephant.

4. Why does the author say that Iswaran seemed to more than makeup for the absence of a TV in Mahendra’s living quarters?

Ans: Iswaran is a cook, but he has a hidden talent for telling tales. His stories are full of suspense and curiosity. His magnificent gestures of making background are worthy of respect. He is a great source of entertainment in the absence of TV. So the author says that Iswaran seemed to more than makeup for the absence of TV in his living quarters.

5. Mahendra calls ghosts and spirits a figment of the imagination. What happens to him on a full-moon night?

Ans: It is true that Mahendra calls ghosts and spirits a figment of imagination, but this is also true that he himself saw a cloudy form taking shapes in the bundle and his intuition considered the shape to be a female ghost carrying a fetus in her hands. Consequently, the darkness about the non-existence of ghosts is removed from his mind, and he prepares to desert the place then and there.

6. Can you think of some other ending of the story?

Ans: I think Mahendra prepares to leave the place just after he saw the female ghost. On the way to his village, the ghost appears and asks him to hold the fetus as he has no heir. Mahendra rejects the proposal. The ghost caught the neck of Mahendra to kill him. Mahendra starts shouting for help. In the meantime, Iswaran appears and recites some spells to save his life. Thus Mahendra was saved from being killed by the ghost.

The Lost Child: ncert solution class 9

Think  About It

1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?

Ans: The things the boy sees on his way to the fair are blooming mustard fields, insects, worms and dragonflies. On the very way he wants to catch one of the dragonflies, and so he lags behind.

2. In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?

Ans: The child wanted so many things available in the fair such as rosogulla, burfi, jalebi and gulab-jamun. Also, he is interested in the garlands made of Gulmohar. He likes balloons very much. The child knows very well that he will not be allowed to get any of those things available in the market. And so he moves on without waiting for an answer.

3. When does he realise that he has lost his way? How has his anxiety and security been described?

Ans: The child loses his way during his staring at the merry-go-round in the fair. He looks quickly towards his parents anticipating favourable answers, but he does not get any answer from his parents.  Then and there he realises that he has lost his way in the fair.

His anxiety and insecurity are exhibited with his tears and shabby clothes. The child now behaves like a fish out of water.

4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?

Ans: The child experiences the value and importance of the fair after he loses his way. He finds that when he was moving to the fair with his parents, everything was likely and beautiful, but in the absence of his parents, nothing was left more important than his parents. As we know loneliness for a child is unbearable pain.

5. What do you think happened in the end? Does the child find his parents?

Ans: I think the end is pleasing. The child finds his parents. A village fair is considered a very important centre of enjoyment in India. People from the villages visit the fair in groups made of their neighbours. They bring their children with them and take care very well. In case, if any child misses, all the villagers find it very soon and hand over the child to his respected parents.